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Jamie's risotto tweaked
He really is a legend for writing really easy but fantastic recipes…although watching the process on tv didn't hurt either! As I'd run out of onions but we have plenty of spring onions, this was made with the white part (and a little green) of garden-fresh spring onions.
I topped it with some meaty-tasting tofu stir fried with celery, garlic and runner beans (flat green beans). Then as a second topping I added some wilted bok choy, so it was a sort of asian inspired thing! Even Will enjoyed the risotto, despite the fact that he's not so keen on moist rice. The flavours worked fantastically, especially as a cool summer evening tea, and I didn't even add white wine to it (so don't be fussed if you haven't got any lying around). It was a nice, simple, relaxed meal too, and of course, because the risotto is a basic recipe, you can top it with whatever you like.
Jamie's risotto recipe – I won't post my own version here, basically I used spring onions instead of onions, omitted the wine, and used long grain white rice (which I was worried about, but it turned out lovely and it's so readily available).
Soy and pepper "meaty" tasting tofu
a guide
The flavour really gets into this tofu, whereas normally it just sits on the surface.
soft tofu, cubed into 2-3cm chunks
stalks celery, chopped with some leaves
light soy sauce
freshly ground black pepper
freshly ground sichuan pepper (avail at asian supermarkets super cheap)
optional: runner beans, snapped into 1 inch long pieces, and
salt and cooking oil
Heat oil and two peppers on a medium high heat in a wok, and add tofu, trying to get it all on one layer. You want about 2 Tbs oil, 1/2 tsp pepper and 1/4 tsp sichuan pepper for every 10cmx10cmx5cm block of tofu. Cook until it starts to sizzle, and toss in pan to flip the tofu chunks. Add runner beans now if using. Add enough soy sauce to just coat all the tofu and beans in a golden brown, tossing after adding to ensure even coating. Let some of the soy sauce evaporate, adding a splash or water or two to prevent sticking and tossing every minute or so. Once the outside has gotten spotty, and the tofu has sort of shrivelled up a little bit, add your celery, and continue cooking until the leaves have wilted and the celery has gone translucent. Turn off heat, taste, and season further with salt and pepper if required. Serve over risotto or as a vegan side dish.


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Game Rant's Dwayne Holder reviews Shift 2: Unleashed
Electronic Arts and Slightly Mad Studios have had a successful run with racing titles the past few years. The original Need for Speed Shift didn't wow the sim racing enthusiast, but it was a quality title and made enough of a splash to warrant a sequel. A lot of people saw the potential in the Shift franchise and hence, the excitement for Shift 2: Unleashed, especially from those who were not satisfied with Gran Turismo 5.
Read on for our review to see if Shift 2: Unleashed delivers.
The main question on everyone's mind is, "how do the cars handle?" Control is everything in a racing game, and I will say that the car handling in Shift 2: Unleashed is an improvement from that of the original NFS: Shift. However, like the original, some tweaking will need to be done to fit each person's play style. When the game starts, you're greeted by the 2010 Formula D Champion, Vaughn Gittin Jr., who is also your coach throughout the game. He gives you a Nissan GT-R R35 to try out the controls and after a tutorial, the game tailors the gameplay settings based on your performance.
These settings can be changed at anytime, and trust me, you will have to change them. Cars tend to slide too easily with the default settings, and players will have to go out to the main menu options and adjust the steering sensitivity and deadzones to their liking. Once I adjusted these settings to suit my play style, I had a lot more fun on the track.
Shift 2 does a good job at introducing gamers to the control options, but leaves them to figure out how to use them best. It's frustrating at first, but after some experimentation you'll be on the podium in no time. Speaking of experimentation, a lot of practice will be needed for the Drift competitions. Drift has been improved in Shift 2 and while it's a lot more difficult to play, players do still have a Formula D champion to help them out. Vaughn gives you a Nissan 240sx and a tutorial on drifting. Afterwards, players get to keep the car and a large open hangar lot is made available via the 'Quick Race' menu for future practice.
Just like its predecessor, Shift 2 offers a leveling mechanic which does away with the good vs. evil branches of the first game. These levels unlock the eight main events as players progress. At each new level, players unlock new cosmetic items such as rims and vinyls for their cars, as well as bonus cash. In some cases, players will be rewarded with new special cars. Experience points can be earned by performing various actions on the track like drafting and completing a clean lap. The single leveling system is a welcome change from two paths from the previous title. It streamlines the game (in a good way) and allows gamers to play as they feel and not towards a specific goal. Experience and cash can be earned online however, a lot more of it can be earned during the career.
On top of the racers' experience points, each car also has an experience bar. With every upgrade, the bar increases until it hits the 'Works' threshold, and it's at this level where players can add high level mods to their vehicles. The game also prompts the player before they install a mod that will push it into a new racing class. Altering the class of a car will make it unavailable for certain races and it's great the game tells you before it's too late. In the event a class changing mod is installed, it can easily be removed for later installation.
Continue to Page 2 for the rest of our review of Shift 2: Unleashed!

subset: commoncrawl


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We decided on an early start because it was going to take about ninety minutes to get from Kitchu Resort to Phobjika. Bhutan is the wintering home to about 300 black-necked cranes. They travel down to the valley of Phobjika from Tibet starting in late October and remain here until mid-February. Since most of the nomadic tribes in the area move to warmer parts of the country, the birds have found a fairly deserted place to nest. Due to habitat encroachment, the cranes are considered highly endangered and are one of the rarest animals on the planet at one point numbering only 800 in existence. They are so reclusive that they were the last of the crane species to be discovered.
Morning and dusk tend to be the best times to see the nesting black-necked cranes. We arrived right on schedule but under a thick fog cover as winter continues to roll in. Not to be discourage we drove to the Information Center WWF Bhutan has established. Here we learned more about the cranes, spoke to the surveyors who maintain the individual counts and we were able to see some cranes feeding out in the marshes. The fog slowly began to lift and we walked down to a local hotel for a cup of tea and biscuits. On our way back we made one last stop at the Information Center and used their spotting scopes to see a little further out and catch a few more glimpses of the cranes.
Cranes are different from most birds in that they don't travel in flocks. They move in family groups ranging from three to ten and mate for life. Subash and I were disappointed we hadn't been able to get any good pictures of the birds, but just seeing them is an amazing experience. On our way out we passed more marshland and the road rose higher out of the valley. Pema spotted a family black-necked cranes among some grazing cattle. There were two adults and one juvenile, a young family.
As soon as the car stopped, Subash and I couldn't get out of the car fast enough. (He had mentioned his new found interest in photography and really wanted some great shots to take back to the US). We snapped away, but the birds were still distant and began moving being a small grove of conifers. He looked at me and said, "I want to get more pictures, but I don't think we can get down there". After confirming with Tshering and Pema it was okay to head down into the marsh I told Sbash we were heading down!
So down the hill we went, passed grazing cows, under thorny scrub brush, and ankle deep in marsh mud. I ended up much muddier than he did, but it was worth it. Around one bend and the birds were within 30 yards. We stood there, firing away, pausing to take a breath and realize what we were seeing. How funny it was to be up to my mid-calf in mud, being cold enough I could see my breath, and still feeling completely content capturing this rare sight.


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GERD Home > Nighttime GERD
If you experience symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease only after you go to bed (known as nighttime GERD), you may find that a few simple changes can help relieve your symptoms.
The first is not eating for 2 to 3 hours before bedtime. When you do this, your stomach is more likely to be empty when you go to bed, and there will be less chance of reflux.
You may also find relief if you raise the head of your bed about 6 to 8 inches. This is usually enough to keep your head above the level of your chest, which makes it more difficult for stomach juices to flow back up into your esophagus.


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The Ginger Man (Paperback)
Grove Press, 9780802137951, 352pp.
Publication Date: March 1, 2001
Other Editions of This Title:
Compact Disc (6/10/2014)
First published in Paris in 1955 and originally banned in America, J. P. Donleavy's first novel is now recognized the world over as a masterpiece and a modern classic of the highest order. Set in Ireland just after World War II, The Ginger Man is J. P. Donleavy's wildly funny, picaresque classic novel of the misadventures of Sebastian Dangerfield, a young American ne'er-do-well studying at Trinity College in Dublin. Dangerfield's appetite for women, liquor, and general roguishness is insatiable--and he satisfies it with endless charm. "Lusty, violent, wildly funny ... The Ginger Man is the picaresque novel to stop them all."--Dorothy Parker, Esquire


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The new spending coming from Congress is massive and also largely unknown.
So we all remember Nancy Pelosi saying that, if we want to know what is in Obamacare, Congress would first need to pass the bill into law.
Now it seems that some House Republican leaders in the lame duck Congress like that idea. As I write this post Monday night, The Hill reports that, "House GOP's $1.1T spending package expected Late Monday" later tonight. Perhaps by the time you are reading it some details have been revealed. But right now it looks ominous:
For Republicans drafting a massive spending bill for the end of the congressional session, timing is everything.
GOP leaders, who want to pass the sweeping year-end spending package on Wednesday, must release the proposal on Monday in order to satisfy House rules for bringing legislation to the floor two days after it is released.
But they don't want to unveil it too early out of concern that the longer the bill lingers in the open, the more time Republican critics will have to lambaste the proposal, which many conservatives say doesn't go far enough to push back against President Obama's new executive action limiting deportations.
The dynamics leave Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) in a familiar position, caught between a desire to pass a big budget bill in order to prevent a government shutdown and a restive right flank that's long been critical of its leadership's approach to federal spending proposals.
Against that backdrop, GOP leaders are not expected to release the bill until Monday night. That would provide a window allowing the House to vote on the measure Wednesday and leave the Senate one full day to pass it and prevent the government from shuttering on Dec. 12.
Holding off on the bill's release also allows less time for conservative griping. Coming out of a victorious election cycle, GOP leaders want to move the bill without highlighting the intraparty divisions that accompanied last year's budget fight, which led to a 16-day government shutdown.
Dozens of Republicans have denounced Boehner's approach to funding the government, which is being called the "cromnibus."
Conservatives should refuse to vote for the spending bill on principle! They are being pressured to vote for a bill without reading it. Can someone tell me why that isn't treason? These people were given the office of passing laws but are now being asked to give that authority to other people and create laws that they don't know or understand.
How do we know that this is only about the desire to defund Obama's alleged executive order on immigration? The media is telling us that without providing any evidence. That bill could contain any number of nasty surprises. If it is passed before anyone can read it then it is anyone's guess what is in it.


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The new head of the Economics Department of the University of Ghana, Prof. William Baah-Boateng, has cautioned government to tread cautiously with plans to float a $50 billion Century Bond.
He has advised President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's economic management team to interrogate the proposal exhaustively before firm steps are taken to secure the 100-year loan.
Commenting on the ultra-long term bond that has gotten economists scratching their heads since the President announced it in China over the weekend, Prof Baah-Boateng said the move raises serious questions.
"When we are bringing such [huge] money, at what point are we going to have it? Is it going to take a year [for all the money to come at once] or it is going to be staggered? Because if you have a GDP of $48 billion and you have $50 billion coming in will the economy be able to absorb it?
"So the President dreamt and it is up to us researchers, policymakers and so on to interrogate it to see how best we can shape that kind of vision to achieve what the President wants. We need to look at it and see how we are going to bring that on board and how and how it is disbursement is going to be –which areas are you going to put this money," he said.
He made the comments on the current affairs programme, PM Express, on Joy News, a MultiTV channel.
During a ceremony in Beijing to sign some eight Ghana-China co-operation agreements, the President said Ghana was considering the 100-year bonds to finance infrastructural projects.
"The Ministry of Finance and the economists in Ghana are looking at floating a $50 billion Century Bond. This will provide us with the resources to finance our infrastructural and industrial development. We are hoping that, at some stage, China will interest itself, and take a part of it as China's contribution to Ghana's development," he told Chinese President, Xi Jinping on Saturday.
Already, Argentina, Austria and Mexico have issued the rare bonds to finance their national projects.
Prof Baah-Boateng said Ghana must situate its intention to float the ultra-long-term bonds within its own economic context before deciding to subscribe to the bond, urging policymakers not follow blindly.
"Sometimes we need to look at context as well. What is the size of the economy of Mexico? What is the context within which we operate? Argentina and [other] American countries are more developed than those us in Africa…we need to think through it very well," he admonished.
- Supreme Court adjourns judgement on 'controversial' $2.25b Eurobond to June 4
- Feature: Ghana's Eurobond : An Incomplex Breakdown & Analysis.
- Debt crisis looms if Eurobond not invested wisely - IMF report
- 'Family and friends' will pocket $1.61bn of Ghana's eurobond – Adongo
- $1.62bn of $3bn Eurobond will be consumed by 'family and friends' – Adongo
- Read all related articles


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9.21 Single Day Passes are now on sale for $25!
9.14 The band schedule is finalized!
9.12 Cactus Music is an official BestFest ticket outlet. Purchase general admission weekend passes at Cactus Music for $40. Cactus Music located at 2110 Portsmouth.
9.7 One more for BestFest - Line up is almost complete!
9.7 BestFest adds Lost Skarnales, thelastplaceyoulook, Umbrella Man and Honky Tonk Blood Brothers!
8.31 The Toadies, Little Joe Washington & Wild Mocassins will be performing at BestFest! Could this line up get any better?
8.24 Four more bands just added! Hayes Carll, Carolyn Wonderland, Slim Thug and Against Me! It's a little something for everyone.
8.17 Chamillionaire just confirmed to perform at BestFest!
8.12 TonTons just announced!
8.9 This just in - Two more bands just added to the line up! Deer Tick and Bun B to play at BestFest 2011!
8.8 - Cake and Buxton just confirmed to play BestFest!
More >>
7.28 - Houston Press RocksOff Music Blog announces BestFest!
More >>
7.20 - Welcome! Houston Press BESTFEST is coming soon! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to stay in the loop!


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Before I begin to share some really interesting facts about left-handers, I would .like to tell you all that I am a LEFT HANDER too! Yes!
So, while writing this post I was equally excited to create this list as much as you are, to read it. And I know, most of you must be left-handers! Also, it might interest you to know that some of the great personalities from history were also Left Handers, from Albert Einstein and Alexander the Great to Osama bin Laden and Jack The Ripper and Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
|15 Fantastico Facts About Left-Handers That Will Make You Say 'Oh Really?'
Let me now share 15 fantastico facts about left-handers that will surely make you say 'Oh Really?'
1) 13th August is celebrated is World Left-Handers Day
2) Left-handers are creative and innovative.
3) Some scientists says that left-handers may die 9 years earlier than an average right-hander.
4) Also, Left-handers are more likely to become alcoholics, dyslexic and schizophrenic.
5) Many years ago, being a left-hander was seen as a nasty habit and a sign of criminality, neurosis and rebellion. People were also imprisoned for being a left-handers.
6) The word 'Left' has been derived from an Anglo Saxon word 'Lyft' which means broken or weak.
7) There are still some cultures in he World which outcast left-handers.
8) In many parts of the World, children are punished in school because they use their left hands to write.
9) Osama Bin Laden was a left-hander.
10) Over 50% of mice, cats and rats are left-pawed.
11) Left-handedness is due to a gene called as LRRTM1.
12) It has been proved that left-handers are better in dealing with multiple stimuli and are good at multi-tasking because the connections between their left and right side of brain is faster, as compared to the right-handed people.
13) There are only 10% left-handers of an entire Globe's population.
14) Left-handers possess good memory.
15) Left-handers are quick learners!
When I came to know that still there are some parts of the world, where being a left-handed is considered as a bad habit or a sign of criminality, I was really shocked. I am glad that there is nothing like that in India. Though, people are always feel surprised when they come to know that a certain person is a left-handed. It happens with me a lot of time. Not just in schools and colleges, but even during my book-signing events I have faced the same. People start discussing about me being a left-handed and how I perfectly justify the phrase 'All left-handers are creative people'.
But I always enjoy the reactions of people when they come to know that I am left-hander. It actually makes me feel as if I am special. What are views on this? Also, do you know the name of any notable left-hander? Do share via comments section below!
This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.


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December 31, 2015
Standout Books of 2015
17 comments:
I'm so glad you felt the way I did about Robert Peace. It's stunning. I also adored Girl at War, Girl on the Train, and All the Light We Cannot See. Andi gifted me Bitch Planet, which I am so looking forward to reading. And all the rest are on my TBR. Soon, I hope!ReplyDelete
Must read The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace next year! The Girl on the Train was my most unputdownable book of 2015, too.ReplyDelete
Three of the books from which I am trying to choose as my FIrst Book are on this list. This makes the decision even more difficult!ReplyDelete
I had some very similar reactions to Irritable Hearts.ReplyDelete
Damn I love these categories!! Sadly, the only book I've read is Citizen. I'll change that in 2016. Happy New Year! I hope 2016 brings you more amazing books and is a fantastic year for you!ReplyDelete
I LOVED "Kitchens of the Great Midwest"! If I did a best of 2015 post (which I'm not...because, for me, it is like choosing my best kid), that would DEFINITELY be on the list. I own "A Little Life" but I don't think I'm emotionally ready for it yet.ReplyDelete
Ooooh! I'm so excited to read your list! What a great way to add more to my pile. Girl at War, Croatia, what? I'm there.ReplyDelete
THE BEST BLURBS! Tear it down, indeed.ReplyDelete
I've read one of those books: The Girl on the Train and it while I though it was good, it just missed my best of books for the year. I want to add Citizen to my list. I've heard good things...well, hey, also from you. ;)ReplyDelete
I love the way you broke down this list. I gave Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy to my best friend for Christmas this year. Lovers of awesome ladies and history, unite!!ReplyDelete
I enjoyed your labels. Uncomfortable books are always good I find........ they make you think the most. Happy New YearReplyDelete
Happy New Year! Really loved reading your standout list of books. Some of these are on my TBR stack so I'm excited to look forward to them.ReplyDelete
So many on your list that I MUST get to this year!ReplyDelete
Haha I love these superlatives so much! I still really want to read Delicious Foods! I should get on that pronto. Same with Girl at War, oh man.ReplyDelete
Three of these books is definitely on my list for 2016: The Girl on the Train, All The Light We Cannot See and Girl at War!ReplyDelete
I LOVE how you did this!!! Also, I'm glad one of the books I sent you made the list!! :) I loved Liar Temptress Soldier Spy-- definitely made my best of 2015. And I have to read Born with Teeth because I have been feeling like a miserable failure as of late and need some inspiration to start kicking ass, so thank you for bringing it to my attention. Also, I need to read a bunch of these. I always love your posts <3ReplyDelete
Some new books to look for, awesome! I read a blurb for Born With Teeth and realized she was on Ryan's Hope, and then forgot about the book.ReplyDelete


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Massachusetts Car Accident Lawyer:
What to Expect if You've Been Injured in a Car Accident in Massachusetts
By Attorney Eric J. Parker
Many people who have suffered injuries as a result of a car accident have important questions about obtaining compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. This article is written by a Boston car accident attorney and designed to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about your legal right to compensation following a motor vehicle accident.
* What is the first thing I should do after being involved in a car accident?
* Who will pay my car accident-related medical bills?
* Can I recover the value of my lost wages?
* Do I have to reimburse my health insurance company if I recover bodily injury compensation?
* What about compensation for my pain and suffering?
* What can I expect to recover for my car accident injuries?
* How will my car accident lawyer be paid?
* How long will my auto accident case take?
* Will I have to go to court?
What is the first thing I should do after being involved in a car accident?
If you or someone else is injured in a car accident, contact police or emergency medical personnel immediately. Information about the operators involved in the accident can be obtained after all injured parties are safely in the hands of professionals trained to provide emergency medical care.
As soon as it is safe to do so, you should contact your insurance agent or insurance company representative to report the happening of the accident.
Who will pay my car accident-related medical bills?
In Massachusetts, the first two thousand dollars ($2,000) in medical bills that you incur in connection with a car accident are paid for by the insurance company that insured the car in which you were traveling, at the time of the accident. If you were injured as a pedestrian or bicyclist, the bills are paid by the company insuring the car that injured you. The portion of the motor vehicle insurance policy that pays the first $2,000 in medical bills is called Personal Injury Protection or "P.I.P.". It is also called "no fault". If you medical bills exceed $2,000 submit the bills over $2,000 to your health insurance company for payment or reimbursement. If you did not have health insurance at the time of the accident, your bills should be covered under P.I.P. up to a total of $8,000. In some cases, additional medical payment coverage may be available. You insurance agent or attorney can advise you as to the amount of coverage to which you may be entitled.
Can I recover the value of my lost wages?
If as a result of the car accident you suffer injuries that prevent you from performing your work-related duties, you may be entitled to be reimbursed a portion of your actual lost wages under the applicable P.I.P. policy. Under P.I.P., you may recover up to 75% of your lost wages, provided: (1) you were not paid during your absence from work; and (2) your $8,000 in P.I.P. benefits were not exhausted by the payment of medical bills. Remember that the $8,000 available under P.I.P. includes payment of medical bills and lost wages, unless additional "Medical Payments" coverage is available. In the event you are eligible for partial reimbursement under a disability plan at work, P.I.P. will pay 75% of the difference.
Do I have to reimburse my health insurance company if I recover bodily injury compensation?
If your medical bills exceed $2,000 and your health insurance company pays for medical treatment over the first $2,000 in P.I.P. benefits, your health insurance company may be legally entitled to be reimbursed from any amounts you receive in connection with your bodily injury claim. This right of reimbursement is contractual and is referred to as a "lien". The rules governing liens involve complicated legal issues that must be addressed by your personal injury attorney before any funds may legally be distributed to you.
What about compensation for my pain and suffering?
If the injuries you sustained were caused by another party's negligence, you may be entitled to additional compensation. This is known as a "bodily injury claim". Your ability to recover bodily injury compensation is based on a number of factors, including the severity of your injuries, the duration of your pain and suffering, and the limits of bodily injury coverage available to the party responsible for your injuries. In Massachusetts, you will not be permitted to pursue a bodily injury claim unless your car accident-related medical bills exceed $2,000 or your injury (1) causes death, or (2) consists in whole or in part of permanent and serious disfigurement, or (4) results in the qualified loss of sight or hearing. A lawyer with experience in handling personal injury claims resulting from car accidents can best advise you on how to proceed with your personal injury claim.
What can I expect to recover for my car accident injuries?
Because the value of a bodily injury claim depends on many factors, it may take some time for your lawyer to form an opinion as to the value of your claim. No lawyer can responsibly evaluate a client's bodily injury claim until the injured person has reached a "medical end result". A medical end result may not mean that you have return to your pre-accident condition. It simply means that no change in your condition is anticipated. Once a medical end result has been reached, your personal injury lawyer will advise you as to the potential value of your claim and the process involved in securing a recovery.
How will my car accident lawyer be paid?
Because most people do not have adequate savings with which to pay a lawyer in connection with a bodily injury claim, most lawyers who concentrate in the area of personal injury law will work on a "contingent fee" basis. Under a contingent fee agreement, your lawyer agrees to accept a percentage of any sum he or she recovers on your behalf as the full legal fee. In many cases the contingent fee will be one third of any amount recovered. So, for example if your lawyer recovered $9,000 on your behalf, a legal fee of $3,000 would be paid to your lawyer from the proceeds recovered. If no recovery is made, you would not be charged a legal fee for the work performed by your lawyer. A written contingent fee agreement should be prepared and signed by you and your perosonal injury lawyer before your lawyer begins work on your case. You should review the agreement carefully and make sure you understand all of its terms and conditions.
How long will my auto accident case take?
The amount of time necessary to resolve a claim for personal injury compensation in Massachusetts varies greatly from case to case. A very serious case, involving multiple injuries and complex theories of liability resulting from a car accident, can take several years to conclude. Conversely, a case involving less serious injuries and more obvious liability may be concluded in a matter of months. Your lawyer is in the best position to advise you as to when your case is likely to be concluded.
Will I have to go to court?
While most cases involving claims for personal injury are resolved by way of settlement, a lawyer experienced in the area of car accident personal injury law must be prepared to bring the case to trial if an acceptable settlement cannot be reached. As the saying goes: Lawyers who plan to settle often find themselves faced with trial, while lawyers prepared for trial more often see their cases settle. Your personal injury lawyer will advise you as to which option is best for you.
If you've been injured in a car accident in Massachusetts, remember:
* Seek the advice of an experienced, auto accident attorney.
* Communicate with your lawyer regularly.
* A properly handled case takes time to prepare. Don't rush the case.
Have You Been Injured In A Car Accident?
Find out if you have a case. If you have suffered an injury in an auto accident due to the other car driver's negligence, contact us for a free confidential case review and receive a response from our car accident attorneys within hours, or call (617) 886-0500 . If you need a lawyer outside of Massachusetts, contact us for a referral.
Related Articles
Selecting a Boston personal injury lawyer
About Attorney Eric J. Parker
Eric J. Parker is the Managing Partner and co-founder of the Boston-based trial firm Parker Scheer LLP, with offices in Massachusetts and Nevada. Mr. Parker has 20 years of active experience as one of Massachusetts' leading civil trial lawyers, and holds the highest peer-review rating awarded to any attorney for professional skill and ethics. Mr. Parker is a member of the American Association for Justice (formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America), as well as the American, Massachusetts, and Boston Bar Associations. Mr. Parker is an elected member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA; Elected Vice President, Massachusetts Chapter, January 2007), and is a certified member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. In 2007, Mr. Parker was appointed to the Editorial Board of Massachusetts Lawyer Weekly, the leading weekly legal newspaper serving the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Mr. Parker has been named a Massachusetts Super Lawyer by the publishers of Boston Magazine, every year since the distinction was first created. Mr. Parker's legal practice focuses on plaintiff-oriented tort litigation, including product liability, motor vehicle tort, medical and dental malpractice, premises liability claims, workplace sexual harassment and assault, aviation-related injuries, and wrongful death. Mr. Parker is a Graduate of Vassar College and received his Juris Doctor degree from Suffolk University Law School. In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Parker is also an FAA Certified Private Pilot, and was a founding member of the Board of Trustees of the Media And Technology Charter High School (MATCH) located in Boston (Chairman 2001-2005), the goal of which is to provide inner city high school students with a successful college education.


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Taken from Malaysiakini.com
Today marks the closure of the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) in Sepang. Opened in 2006, this no-frills terminal has seen multiple millions of passengers pass through its gates and helped to develop the tourism sector nationally and internationally.
The LCCT became the main transfer point of the 40 million tourists visiting Malaysia, and allowed Malaysians from all walks of life more opportunities to travel. In its organised chaos, citizens from around the world used this facility to see family, go on vacation and importantly, connect with each other. LCCT became Malaysia's node with the world.
News reports of late have covered the travails of immigration delays – which have been common on a regular basis for most foreign travellers. I have always empathised with the Immigration officials who have had to work in the stressful environment – often with poor-functioning air-conditioning. Daily they process thousands of travellers.
I have witnessed their efforts and along with many of the other staff of this airport have made the terminal work – not perfectly, but functionally and usually with a smile or a laugh. It was real, a genuine reflection of people working hard to make a living and helping others in the process.
I want to share with you a personal story of my last trip out of LCCT. I met a friend for a quick drink at the McDonalds of the terminal one late afternoon. This restaurant is always packed with travellers. We caught up and as is usual with friends, time passed too quickly. I noticed the time and realised I needed to make a dash for the plane. I grabbed my passport and stamped boarding pass and took off to the gate.
Thanks to the relative efficiency of getting on planes at LCCT – with the usual bout of needed exercise of a long walk – I made the flight.
It was only then that I realised that I had left my purse (with my wallet and personal effects) behind. I spoke to the airline stewardess asking her what my options were and was promptly told that if I left the flight I would have to buy another ticket. I asked myself – how would I do that without any money? I had a dinner to host for my students that evening and decided to stay on the flight.
On the hour in the air I made a list of all the things missing, and pondered the wisdom of this decision. I knew my purse either had to be at security or the restaurant.
The minute I landed I pulled out my phone and called the restaurant (thanks to its listing online). A young girl answered and I enquired if a purse had been returned. She asked what colour – I told her red. She replied, "Are you Dr Bridget?" I said yes. She asked for my permission to look into the bag and confirmed that my wallet with money and personal effects were intact. A friend collected the bag later that day.
The honest staff person's name was Fatimah. I am very grateful to her and to the stranger who turned in my purse to the restaurant. I am also appreciative of Fatimah's parents, her family and the work environment that encouraged Fatimah's kindness and responsible actions.
Moments of goodness do happen
We hear so many stories of bags snatched and crimes, we often overlook these moments of goodness that do happen – more often than people acknowledge. With such gloom in news reports, we must never forget the core character of Malaysia, a society where people do help each other, across races, and often for strangers. It may seem like a simple thing returning a purse, but for me it was pure joy. Thank you again, Fatimah.
I believe in many ways Fatimah's actions embody the spirit of LCCT – ordinary people making something work in an extraordinary way. In the sea of bodies in the terminal, there was a shared humanity and community. Many strangers helped each other go on their journeys in life, without fanfare but with decency and dignity. I will miss LCCT and extend my appreciation to all the staff there and wish the best to the new facilities at KLIA2.


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NEWINGTON — On a recent trip to Afghanistan, U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte spent nearly an hour chatting with Air Force Capt. Jeffrey Osgood.
NEWINGTON — On a recent trip to Afghanistan, U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte spent nearly an hour chatting with Air Force Capt. Jeffrey Osgood.
Osgood, a Kittery, Maine, resident stationed at Pease Air National Guard Base, recalls the meeting well. It turns out Ayotte does, too.
Late last week, the first-term Republican invited Osgood to join her for President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech, which will be held tonight. Each senator is allowed to invite one person for the occasion.
Osgood, 34, called the invitation surprising and humbling.
"I am so shocked, and I will be continue shocked until it get to the Russell (Senate) Office Building," he said Monday from Logan International Airport as he waited for a JetBlue flight to Washington, D.C.
At first, however, Osgood didn't think the request was serious. He wondered why a U.S. senator would choose a "lowly pilot" ahead of others with more experience. A day later, he got a call from Ayotte's staff confirming the invite was real.
Osgood, who grew up in Danvers, Mass., has been in the military for 14 years. Over the years, he's flown countless missions over Afghanistan and other international hot spots. Most recently, he's piloted hulking Boeing KC-135 refueling plane. He currently works as an active duty operations support flight commander for the 64th Air Refueling Squadron at Pease.
Osgood served as a liaison officer in Kabul, Afghanistan, from July 2012 to July 2013. He met Ayotte while she toured NATO's International Security Assistance Force headquarters in January 2013 with several other senators.
The two began talking and didn't stop for nearly an hour, he recalled.
Ayotte also called Osgood's wife, Christa, when she returned to the U.S. and later shared photos taken with Osgood in Afghanistan.
"Captain Osgood has served our country with distinction, including active duty service in Afghanistan, where I met him last year," Ayotte said in a statement. "I'm so pleased he accepted this invitation, and I hope he enjoys the State of the Union."
Osgood landed in Washington Monday night. He'll meet with Ayotte's staff at the Russell building this afternoon and join her for dinner at the Capitol before the speech. He'll watch the address from the chamber's gallery.
Back at Pease, Osgood said his colleagues were happy he got the chance to attend the speech.
"There are some others who would love to go as well," he said.


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STX Rising DI Showcase Hotel and Car Rental Information
July 8th & 9th, 2020
**Please do not schedule a flight that will not allow you to stay at camp through 4PM. We will not rearrange teams to accommodate individual travel schedules.
STX Rising DI Showcase is a 'stay-to-play' event. All attendees that require a hotel must stay in an event hotel block.
Dulles International Airport
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Philadelphia International Airport
Car Rental
3d Lacrosse has partnered with Hertz, Dollar Rent A Car and Thrifty Car Rental to offer discounted rental rates to families attending STX Rising DI Showcase.
HERTZ Please review the PDF rate sheet at the bottom of this page. Reservations can be made on this link. Want to skip the long lines at the counter and earn free rental days? Sign up for Hertz Gold Reward by clicking here. As a valued 3d customer, the $60 enrollment fee will be waived.
DOLLAR RENT A CAR - click here to take advantage of 3d Lacrosse's corporate rates
THRIFTY CAR RENTAL - click here to take advantage of 3d Lacrosse's corporate rates


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Even Nintendo doesn't know how to emulate Starfox 2's FX chip without paying for the patent.
THIS IS NOT TRUE I WROTE A WHOLE ARTICLE ABOUT IT! https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/07/ ... s-classic/
*pant pant wheeze*
Sorry. Sorry... Didn't mean to yell. Just want to set the record straight. *gasp*
Got it, nice article.


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Geneva, St. Charles, Batavia, South Elgin, Elburn, Elgin, North Aurora, Aurora Illinois Real Estate Company
About Cory Jones
Getting to know your agent - Cory Jones
Cory Jones has over 13 years of experience in the real estate business and is a recipient of the RE/MAX Rising Star Award and a member of the Northern Illinois RE/MAX Hall of Fame. He is a lifelong resident of the Fox Valley and knows the region's real estate market as well as he does the shops along Third Street in Geneva and the restaurants and historic buildings that line St. Charles' Main Street. His three children attend the area's highly praised public schools, and he and his family can often be seen walking or jogging along the bike trails that run through the entire area. Below, Jones tells you how he builds relationships with buyers and sellers starting on day one, and how he continues to build these relationships after the sale or purchase of their home.
Building relationships
Take a look at my business card and you will see that my job title is Real Estate Agent. In reality, I like to think of myself as a Real Estate Advisor. In the more than 13 years that I have been in the real estate business, I have learned that selling or purchasing a home is just one of the many steps involved in building strong and trusting relationships with my clients – relationships that extend well beyond normal business hours and the final signing of papers and the handing over of keys on closing day.
For me, the relationship begins with the development of mutual trust between myself and the client. I put myself in their shoes and most importantly I listen to them. Today's market can make buyers and sellers feel a little uneasy. And to ease those fears, I listen to my clients' every need and never pressure them to make a quick choice or to pay more than they are comfortable with or take less than their home is worth.
Maximizing my resources for the client
To make sure that my clients are making wise choices on their investments, I use all of the resources at my disposal to ensure they are getting the best deal possible. Before becoming an agent, I spent several years as a real estate appraiser. For clients looking to buy a home, this experience allows me to advise them on the quality of their potential investment. For my clients looking to sell their property, I am able to help them accurately price their homes and get the money they deserve. More than other brokers, I have a complete understanding of the details necessary to properly analyze these investments.
For sellers, I also utilize my network of real estate professionals that I have established relationships with over the years to make sure their homes are presented in an immaculate fashion. These professionals include the best decorators, photographers, plumbers, electricians and contractors in the area. These contacts, and the work they do, help my clients get the most money out of their investment by making sure the house is completely ready for the market.
Additionally, I do an extensive amount of research and keep current with economic forces that affect real estate both nationally and locally. I keep current on trends in real estate – from new ideas for kitchen design to the type and size of homes being built. I keep up-to-date on mortgage products and trends, and I like to give choices to my buyers by staying up-to-date with current inventory and with the homes that will be coming to market in the near future.
I also allow my clients to leverage my business relationships to get better deals on everything from mortgage rates and fees and other costs associated with purchasing or selling a home. And again, I am here to assist the client long after the purchase or sale. To me, once you are a client, you are always a client. That's my commitment, and that's why I have so many repeat clients who contact me when they need assistance or are ready to buy or sell again.
A comfortable client
Most important to me is that clients feel comfortable with their decision. That is paramount. To get them to that comfort level, I use all of my experience and knowledge, coupled with current market data, so they can make an informed decision. I also encourage clients to explore as many opportunities as they feel necessary, and I never push or become the "aggressive salesperson" that no one likes to deal with. I do, however, give them the facts, my opinion and let them know when I think they are making a mistake. I expect the same when I am making purchases of my own.
A great place to live
If you live here and are selling a home, then you already know. If you are thinking of moving here, you will soon find out: The Tri-City area is a great place to live. We have top-notch schools and the park districts and bike trails give us healthy recreational options. Our charming downtown areas have quaint shops, great restaurants and are located just steps away from the beautiful Fox River. Chicago, with all of its attractions, is just a one-hour commute away. But maybe most importantly is the sense of community that we have here. Neighbors are friends and friends are neighbors. We are a welcoming bunch, and we look out for each other. Walking down the bike paths early in the day, you will rarely pass someone who doesn't say "good morning." To me, that's a great way to start the day.
Cory Jones505 W Main StreetSt. CharlesIL 60174 US
Phone: (630)400-9009
Annie VanBroeck505 W Main StreetSt. CharlesIL 60174 US
Phone: (630)546-7427


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angelina vegas
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When people are shopping for a disc jockey, it is very common that the first question they ask is about price. We understand that planning a party of any kind is very expensive and time consuming. We also understand that you need to compare prices in order to get an idea for your budget.
Generally speaking, professional disc jockeys in Metro-Detroit charge between $800 and $2500 for Wedding Receptions, and often less for other types of private parties. Bar and Bat Mitzvahs are the most expensive, starting at $900 and some companies go as high as $10,000, but of course there is a lot more than just a DJ for that price. In wedding terms, anything less that $700 is not considered professional and will be sub-standard in some way.
Before you set your budget, we feel it is very important to caution you about the risks of selecting a disc jockey based solely on price. Please, keep in mind that we are talking about entertainment. In all fields of entertainment, the more talented people simply cost more. (Example: If Pauly Shore was the lead actor in the movie Castaway instead of Tom Hanks, would the movie have been so popular? Nothing against Pauly, but he is no Tom Hanks.)
So, getting a "bargain" on a disc jockey would make sense if all DJs were equal, but this is not even close to the truth. What makes a truly great disc jockey? You do. We feel that the best and most talented disc jockeys, are the ones that can do exactly what you want at your party. We work so hard to make sure you get what you want that we have not needed to advertise since 1996.
Although you may find us a little more expensive than the average disc jockey (in some cases), no one has ever regretted paying more for our service. There is no charge to meet with us and find out for yourself how we are different. Also, if for any reason you wish to continue shopping we will put together a list of other reputable companies to meet with. Please call or fill out our contact form to discuss your special event, thank you!


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These two documents are related to access to Four Hills through the Manzano Open Space
The file immediately below is a City Council resolution, May 14, 2004, Resolution 0-24, addressing access by way of city roads between Four Hills and Juan Tabo Hills. It states: "There will not be any full connection of roadways or streets between Juan Tabo Hills and Four Hills Village." This means that while there are roads that may be used for emergency access, no routine access by city roads is permitted. Color added to the attached file by Roger Hartman for emphasis.


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Language Crossing and Multiaccentuality in Women Writers del Gran Caribe: Narrative, Drama, and Performance
Publication Date
Embargo Period
Degree Type
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PHD)
Modern Languages and Literatures (Arts and Sciences)
Date of Defense
First Committee Member
Andrew Lynch (Co-chair)
Second Committee Member
Lillian Manzor (Co-chair)
Third Committee Member
Elena Grau-Lleveria
Fourth Committee Member
Eduardo Negueruela Azarola
Fifth Committee Member
Gerard Aching
In this dissertation, I argue for a much-needed reconsideration of language and gender in the constructions of local, postnational, and global identities in the Gran Caribe, which dislocates the Latino US, athough not necessarily dismisses it. I explore the ways in which Caribbean and US Caribbean-origin women writers and playwrights such as Achy Obejas, Mayra Santos Febres, Jennine Capó Crucet, Aurora Arias, Caridad Svich, and Josefina Báez reinterpret language through practices of language crossing and linguistic virtuosity, thus creating a grancaribeña community of practice. By questioning macro-narratives through the linguistic, aesthetic, and thematic components of their texts, these authors and their works have been exposed to critical accusations of inauthentic misrepresentation of their cultures of origin. In response, I demonstrate how these texts contest the linguistic boundaries of US, US-Latina, US-Caribbean, or Caribbean discourses as traditionally defined. The crux of my argument is that these authors employ and actively construct a language that destabilizes national imaginaries and cultural archives of both the US and the Caribbean. Reframing the notion of "life on the hyphen," i.e., the state of being between languages and nations, I maintain that the linguistic forms and discursive patterns evident in the texts that I study are not suggestive of in-betweenness or burden of linguistic identity, but rather perform an aesthetics of multiplicity within their own right.
Language crossing; multiaccentuality; Gran Caribe; multiplicity; hyphen
Recommended Citation
Aguilo Mora, Francisca, "Language Crossing and Multiaccentuality in Women Writers del Gran Caribe: Narrative, Drama, and Performance" (2016). Open Access Dissertations. 1672.


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Saving a PowerPoint for Mac Presentation as a QuickTime Movie
Sometimes, you can't be there to present a PowerPoint 2008 for Mac slide show, but you want to share it, anyway. The answer is to export the presentation as a QuickTime movie.
1Choose File→Save as Movie.
The Save As sheet appears.
2Click the Movie Options button near the bottom of the Save As sheet.
The Movie Options dialog appears.
3In the Movie Settings tab, choose an optimization from the pop-up menu.
Your options are as follows: Size, Smooth Playback, Quality, and Automatic (Normal). You can't go wrong sticking with Automatic.
4Change the movie size, if you wish.
If you make it much smaller than the default (640 x 480), it may not be legible.
5In the Slide Transitions pop-up menu, choose either Follow Slide Show Settings to use the transitions you applied or None to eliminate all transitions.
If you didn't specify a number of seconds until the slide advances automatically in the Transition Options dialog, you might want to do so now. If you don't, PowerPoint will arbitrarily decide how long each slide should appear, which is usually not long enough.
6If you want to add music or narration to your movie, choose Select Soundtrack from the Background Soundtrack pop-up menu and then choose an audio file to serve as your movie's soundtrack.
Click the Loop Movie check box if you want the movie to play over and over again.
7Click the Show Movie Player Controls check box if you want the recipient to be able to start, stop, and pause the movie. Click the Credits tab and type in credits for this presentation, if you wish.
The Credits tab is odd. You'd expect it to add credits on-screen at the end of your movie, but it doesn't. All it does is place the information you type in QuickTime Player's Movie Inspector window, which appears only if the recipient chooses Window→Show Movie Inspector in QuickTime Player.
8Click the OK button to dismiss the Movie Options dialog.
Animation Effects do not appear in your QuickTime movie, nor do sounds associated with animation effects. If you can't stand the thought of not having Animation Effects and sounds in your movie, check out Snapz Pro X from Ambrosia Software, which can record your slide show as you present it on-screen, with all its Animation Effects and sounds, and then save the recording as a QuickTime movie.


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Erin Polgreen is a self-described 24/7 Ladyjournopreneur who works at the intersection of audience engagement, news innovation, and entrepreneurship. She is the founder of Symbolia: The Tablet Magazine of Illustrated Journalism, is building the Media Ideation Fellowships, and regularly consults for a variety of foundations and media organizations, including AIR. This explanation of the mysteries of "measuring impact" for independent producers first appeared in the September 2012 AIRblast.
Impact. Audience Engagement. Conversion. Measurement. Evaluation. While difficult to parse, these terms all mark a growing trend among public media makers and funders: the effort to reach more people in more meaningful and effective ways.
A combo one-two punch of audience engagement strategy and a framework for measuring impact can lead to content that does this and, at the same time, helps bring in more financial resources to support the creation of that work.
For the last two decades, funders have come under increased pressure to chart the effectiveness of their grant making, according to Charles Gasper, director of evaluation at Nine Network of Public Media in St. Louis, Missouri, which aims to engage and interact with the community through its TV and online content. This changing tide means that the philanthropy world is calling for more numbers, anecdotal data, and statistics that can tell the story of a project's impact as a part of the grant reporting process.
"There is definitely a kind of pressure for them to demonstrate the impact of what they're funding, and so too places like Nine and other entities are being pressured by funders to demonstrate outcomes," Gasper says.
Defining Impact Measurement
But what, exactly, does impact measurement mean? Simply put, it's the process by which media makers and organizations monitor and document the level of influence their work has in the public sphere. It's about measuring how audiences interact with, share, and act in response to the content they consume. Other terms related to impact measurement that you might have heard before include community engagement, which is the strategy for increasing overall audience participation in content, and reach, which is the combined size of audience when multiple distribution channels are added together. For example, total "reach" might include number of listeners, fans on Facebook, and attendees of in-person events.
At its best, impact measurement allows us to effectively advocate for the role of media in society. At its most challenging, impact measurement is a thorny thicket of tech with a short shelf life, a sea of contradictory stats, a hornet's nest of social media platforms.
"We are in an interesting, fascinating transitional period right now," says Joe Richman, executive producer ofRadio Diaries, an independent production house that creates programming for NPR's All Things Consideredand also produces podcasts and community events based on its programming. "There are many different ways to distribute stories and measure them, but we don't have all the tools. Right now, we're still in murky waters pretending to know what's happening."
Richman's challenges in measuring the quality of audience engagement — or the actions an audience might take after attending a Radio Diaries event or listening to a segment on All Things Considered — are common for independent producers. When content is syndicated through other networks and media outlets, it becomes difficult to track anything beyond an estimated total audience. A lack of standards — or even basic strategies — for measuring impact create a tough double standard in which a producer must tell the story of his or her works impact without a reliable system for doing so.
So where do I come in?
The current impact measurement landscape is a dizzying mix of patched-together programming that varies from outlet to outlet — and has the potential to shut independent media makers out of the conversation entirely. For example, stations are searching for new strategies to measure degrees of audience participation and interaction in order to improve the quality of their work and inform future programming. But, despite the need, there is no one overarching strategy for measuring engagement from station to station, nor is there a comprehensive guide to successfully managing impact — yet.
A number of new tools are emerging that make charting the impact of a piece of content simple. The New York Times will be putting its fellow from the Knight-Mozilla Open News program to work on this very issue.
New pushes for standardized strategy around impact measurement and a suite of emerging tools that are low-cost and easy to implement are changing the tide. In the next few years, impact measurement will be a much more common term at media organizations around the country. It's more important now than ever before to be well versed in these issues to maintain a competitive advantage in a tight marketplace.
In short, the call to measure a story's impact is one that independent producers would do well to heed. It's also undeniably a part of the media industry's future.
Many look to impact measurement as a holy grail that will transform media, make it more effective, make it easier to find funds. Yet the rate and intensity with which the impact measurement field is evolving is enough to drive an independent producer mad. So, how can bootstrapping independent producers effectively chart the impact of their work? Fear not! We're here to guide you through the choppy waters.
Start at the very beginning.
When setting out to produce a piece, think about measurement from the moment the story is assigned. Don't think about systems of measurement yet. Just set out to answer the following questions:
• What communities will be involved in the production of this story?
• Who should be most concerned with the content of this story?
• What are my goals? For example, if you are producing a piece on high school education, are you trying to call attention to a specific issue? That's certainly the case for Localore project Ed Zed Omega, which is using gaming theory to cultivate conversation around high school dropout rates. Sometimes a goal can even be as simple as "this is something people need to know about."
• Whom can I partner with to build lasting conversations around this topic? Are there community organizations I should be working with as well as larger media outlets? Whom could I work with to create in-person impact?
For more information about thinking about impact from the very beginning, read "Designing for Impact," a short report by Jessica Clark — now working as AIR's Media Strategist — and Barbara Abrash that focuses on measuring the impact of documentary films.
Identify measurable elements.
Now it's time to look at measurement, which often boils down to questions of breadth and depth: how many people can you reach, and how deeply can you engage them around an issue? Once you've set goals, it's important to engage any partners or outlets you might be working with and set expectations for the kinds of audience information they can give you.
If you're working with a station or national affiliate, ask them about measures and whether they have internal processes for assessing impact or engagement. This is also a good time to ID systems or measures of influence. Potential measures include total audience, number of times a podcast is downloaded, use of a hashtag on Twitter, or media hits related to the topic you cover. It can also be effective to measure where audiences are coming from on a global, national, or by zip code level.
When working with partners to syndicate or broadcast your work, getting concrete numbers can be a challenging process, according to Jonathan Miller, executive producer of Food for 9 Billion, a yearlong multimedia collaboration between the Center for Investigative Reporting and Marketplace. Miller tries to think about reach from the very beginning, but there are challenges regarding how accurate the numbers can be. "As we write grant proposals, we ask our broadcast partners for the best numbers they have, and the numbers are really pretty vague. They tend to measure the audience by number of listeners per week. I would love to say we had a piece on last night and it was listened to by 2.8 million people."
But, Miller says, "Numbers [alone] aren't a sufficient measure." True impact measurement is also a question of depth, or how a story can move an audience to action. Does a listener Google the issue discussed in the piece? Does a teacher bring this content into the classroom? "If you've got a group of students having a heated discussion in a classroom in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, that's great! It could change someone's life. But it's probably going to be 20 people." Liking, sharing, or moving a news item on social media can also be a signifier of impact.
According to Miller, it's also difficult to figure out how to quantify grand statements set out in grant proposals — i.e., "inform the electorate." He recommends identifying ways to describe the quality of an audience member's relationship to the story — or to create opportunities to promote and distribute your work in additional audiences. For Food for 9 Billion, Miller built a strong set of relationships in academic environments, which creates additional opportunities for meaningful interaction. "A component of [the] project involves educational materials," Miller says. The Food for 9 Billion team has built interactive, Web-based lesson plans and created an interactive world food timeline with students of Cornell University."
Get a Utility Belt.
This past spring, I co-authored a report for J-Lab that focused on how digital-first news organizations approach audience engagement strategies. In it, we provided a list of popular tools for measuring reach and audience interactions, many of which are low-cost or free. You can see the complete list here and here.
The Integrated Media Association also offers a number of analytics and measurement focused workshops that may be of value to the independent producer. "I know there's a hunger for this in the industry," says IMA Executive Director Jeannie Ericson. "Anything I do with measurement … with analytics in the title is a huge success." IMA's educational offerings include "what's new in Google Analytics" or "how to track audience behaviors online before they donate."
Another free tool for mapping the impact of a story is Sparkwi.se, a visual dashboard from Tomorrow Partners. While the dashboard is still evolving, and is by no means a cure-all, Sparkwi.se is still an interesting step forward.
Sparkwi.se represents a smart strategic mixture of philanthropic and commercial funding for sustainability. It also meets a critical need for both publishers and grant makers. It allows for easy contextual analysis through the aggregation of online usage data and can also help media makers connect their data to larger stories.
However, focusing on one tool as a fix-it-all can be dangerous. It's important to treat impact measurement as a tripod, in which partnerships and goal-setting are other key components to success.
"In some ways I don't think it's that different than it's always been," says Joe Richman. "Fifteen years ago, you were still looking for listener letters, and you were still trying to figure out what the impact of a story was. Back then, it was a little bit of smoke and mirrors. Now we have so many tools. … These tools are useful and interesting, but they're very inexact and can be very misleading. … Along with all these tools for figuring out what the impact is, I think your gut is still the most important for figuring out what's worth doing, or how you're going to reach people."
For example, Radio Diaries reaches an audience of millions by partnering with national forums like All Things Considered — yet they still pursue deeper ways of connecting with their listeners. "We [also] do a podcast and we reach 50,000 people," Richman says. "Why do that? Because there's something wonderful about people who come to you, [that are] part of a community of people that follow your work."
Equip vs. Activate
For many public media makers, impact and engagement are tricky territory. For many media makers, directing an audience to make a political decision or act in a certain way is a serious ethical breach.
"The search for impact in numbers can now affect things," says Richman. "It changes story coverage — the way we measure a story changes the story we tell."
But there is a way to draw lines in the sand, and be clear about what role your work — or the organization you work with — plays in a community.
Nine Network doesn't shy away from impact, but they are clear about their organizational goals. "Nine really is interested in impacting its community," says Gasper. "Our real focus is: Is there evidence that we've had change occur in the community?"
Nine's framework for assessing degrees of impact — without editorial overbearance — could be a good model for independent media makers to adopt. Gasper outlined three levels of audience engagement during our interview:
• Developing awareness.
• Knowledge: Does the audience know something they didn't know before?
• Influencing behavioral change: For example, do more people attend the art museum based on coverage from Nine?
The truth is, no media is without influence. Media informs and shapes the world we live in. For example, "We've put out media that encourages people to be educated," Gasper says, and public media needs to be able to "Measure whether or not the level of education is effective."
So what's next?
Even the smallest project can be made to more powerfully connect with communities by following these simple steps:
• Identify your audience and create goals for reaching them.
• Reach out to potential community partners, be they neighborhood groups, schools, or philanthropic organizations.
• Pinpoint places where you can measure audience response, be it Facebook, Twitter, or the number of times someone downloads a podcast.
• Select a few simple tools for measurement.
• Work with your distribution partner and others to make sure you're maximizing on the resources they may have available to you.
While there is still no does-it-all standard for effectively measuring impact, the strategic questions, tools, and actions outlined here should offer a strong starting point for independent producers.
Polgreen lives in Chicago and loves motorcycle touring. You can follow her on Twitter: @ErinPolgreen
Editor's note: A good, related read — Metrics, metrics everywhere: How do we measure the impact of journalism? — from journalist/researcher Jonathan Stray was published by the Nieman Journalism Lab on August 17, 2012.


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Gold & Silver Prices Drop Into Severely Oversold Area
Latest updates:
- (April 16th) Sharpest Drop in Gold Price Since Start Of Bull Market
- (April 15th) The Cyprus-ization Of Precious Metals
- (April 14th) Gold & Silver – Bullish Hopes In A Bear Market While Trend Wins
- (April 12th) Gold Price Drops Below $1,500 and €1,150
How do you feel when the price of gold or silver drops like a rock as today (or even worse, over the past 8 trading sessions)? Well, as a reader of a precious metals site, we probably have the answer. On downdays an increasing number of "long investors" reach out looking for evidence that their "investment" is a good one. The wise thing to do is to stick to the facts. This article attempts to be as factual as possible.
First, the gold and silver price drop is significant. We would say it is out of proportion, although the latter does not matter (it is an opinion, like so many other opinions out there). The fact of the matter is, the gold and silver price charts reveal a waterfall decline over the past two weeks, that's a fact. Although they are oversold, they can go even lower.
Second, in terms of sentiment, the ravage is even more significant. The next chart shows the public opinion of gold since 2008, as measured by sentimentrader.com. "The data show that sentiment on gold dropped markedly with its latest push lower. Bullish opinion is under 42% for only the 2nd week in more than a decade (February 11th, 2005 was the other week)." The second chart shows the daily sentiment since 2001 (courtesy dailymarketsummary.com). No additional comments needed on these charts, except that we are at a significant long term bottom. Could it go lower? Always. But the downside in "normal circumstances" seems limited for now.
Coming back to the above comment that the gold and silver price drops are out of proportion, there is no real macro economic driver visible that could have triggered this sell off. As Michael Pento from PentoPort points out in today's update to his subscribers: "The reading on last quarter's GDP growth was negative, while the January unemployment rate actually increased." There has been a good news show at the economic top at Davos though. The equity markets are at historic tops as well. Dan Norcini points out that speculation could be taking place in anticipation of the Fed minutes which are released later today.
In the physical market, no specific data were released that contributed to a price drop. No reports on the US Mint figures or ETF holdings.
The only option left? A sell off in the paper market, in particular the COMEX futures market. The traders (hedge funds, large bullion banks like JP Morgan or Citi Group) brought the price down to levels below key moving averages, which resulted in technical selling.
Why is it important to have that information? Because there is a fundamental difference between trading gold and owning gold. Traders do their thing in the paper market. Obviously they have power over the short term price setting. The focus for owners of (physical) gold should be on the longer term. Down days are hard to stomach, but the bigger picture and the fundamental reasons to own gold, did not change. Jim Sinclair wrote to his subscribers today:
You can be active in the gold and gold investment market by simply doing nothing. The gold bank destroyers of good efforts are working hard to create a waterfall in gold and gold shares that can only happen if you are foolish enough to shift your decision making to your emotions. If you want to fight back, do not under any circumstances panic now. If you do not panic they will be beaten as this is the last significant reaction before gold roars higher. If you want to be in the fight and not simply a spectator, you simply have to do nothing whatsoever.
Those are words of wisdom, at least in our opinion. Jim Sinclair, being one of the most experienced people in the gold business both as an investor and a trader, laid out that Gold is on its way "to balance the balance sheets of the sovereign balance sheet disasters [which is the result of QE to infinity]. Just as there is no tool other than QE to feign financial solvency, there is no tool to balance the balance sheet of the offending entities other than Gold." The world cannot continue forever on this QE sponsored illusion of solvency.
Meantime, with or without fundamentals, everyone who believes in the benefits of gold needs to control emotions. As an owner of physical gold, the price drop should not be of a concern as the world is moving towards a currency war of global scale. By contrast, for traders the critical support zone down the $1,500 or €1,100 area will be of utmost importance.


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1,500+ Square Feet
NEW Classic Homes!!
Imagine a home built on your lot with the same industry-leading standards as a Design Tech Home – turnkey service, excellent craftsmanship, energy efficiency, and quality assurance – but built at a more affordable price. Introducing DTH Classic Homes, our new line of 10 ready-to-build floor plans. This is where timeless design meets discerning value.
We gathered feedback from DTH Homeowners over the past 20 years to develop this new line of classic plans which include the same structural components as our custom plans without the custom price. Each one is certified by ENERGY STAR® and Indoor airPLUS®. Each one comes with our 20 Year limited Structural Warranty. And each one undergoes third-party inspections as part of our Guardian Certified Inspection Program for greater peace of mind. Contact one of our New Home Consultants for a full list of standard features included in every DTH Classic Home. Choose your favorite and let's start the building process today!


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Undesirable No. 1 SignReference : NNXT0023
34,90 €
In stockOrder before10h, same day shipping.For any paid order including only items in stock - excluding weekends, holidays and holidays.
A replica of the Harry Potter wanted poster mounted on wood. Can be hung on wall or displayed on table. Measures approx 8 1/2 x 11.


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13 Low-Cost Ways to Make Your Heating Energy-Efficient
Safe and Comfortable During the Winter Months:
- Shutting down your air conditioning – You really don't have to do anything to shut down your air conditioner for the winter season. Although, covers are available they are typically not needed.
- Humidifier – Change the damper setting on your humidifier to winter setting.
- Before using your fireplace, having your fireplace cleaned and inspected annually by a certified company.
- Install a carbon monoxide detector – every year there are hundreds of incidences where families fall victim to carbon monoxide poisoning. Choose a detector that incorporates an audible alarm to signal if CO levels reach unsafe levels, and test them every 6 months.
- Check Air Filters – Dirty air filters are the most common problem we encounter when called for furnace problems. We recommend that air filters be checked every 30 days. Clean or replace as needed.
- Use a Programmable Thermostat – You can save as much as 10% a year on utility bills by turning your thermostat back at least 10-15 degrees for eight or more hours a day.
- Check and Adjust Registers – Adjust registers to allow your furnace to work more efficiently. Close partially in rooms that are too warm.
- Check area around your furnace to make sure all items are stored at least six inches away from equipment.
- Check cold air returns – make sure your cold air returns have at least six inches of space between them and any furniture or personal items. Blocked cold air returns will decrease the efficiency of your system.
- Check windows, doors, electric outlets, light fixtures, and locations where pipes enter your home for air leaks – caulk, install, or replace weather stripping, or insulate at needed.
- Add insulation to your attic if there is less than five inches.
- Insulate and seal ducts especially ductwork that is in areas like attics, crawl spaces, and garages.
- Let the sunshine in – during the winter months the sun angles lower, generating a higher level of solar heat. Open window coverings on the south side of your home during the day and close them at night.


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College of Earth, Ocean, & Environment
The Ocean Exploration, Remote Sensing and Biogeography Laboratory (ORB Lab), led by Dr. Matthew J. Oliver, extends research to the science community and public in a variety of ways. Our goal is to understand where marine organisms are found in various environments throughout the oceans using satellites and robots. This will allow us to better understand how human influences may alter ecosystems in the future and afford us solutions to reduce potential impacts. Our environmental data is publicly available and free to use.
Danielle Haulsee tags a shark.
ORB Lab uses global visualization tools to plan glider missions.
The ORB Lab is investigating the local physical processes that affect how Adélie penguins forage for food.
Matt Oliver prepares to deploy a glider in Antarctica.
ORB Lab member Matt Breece uses gliders to help locate Atlantic sturgeon in the costal environment. Permit No. 16507-01
Megan Cimino and Matt Oliver doing research in Antarctica
We are always on the lookout for new students that are excited about the interface of oceanography, ecology, and biology. Our most successful students have strong quantitative and communication skills. Resumes that indicate strengths in these areas are preferred. We get many inquiries about working in our lab, and the best ones are able to clearly express how their acceptance into ORB Lab would advance one or more of our goals. Our goals are diverse, but are articulated in the publications produced by our students: Orb Lab Publications
Ocean Exploration, Remote Sensing, Biogeography Group research focus
Interviews, videos, news articles, and more!
View real-time satellite data including chlorophyll, salinity, and sea surface temperature
Shark Social Networking
Penguins and climate change
Safeguarding sturgeon
Advancing habitat mapping
CONVERGE Project
Shark Migrations in the Mid-Atlantic
ORB Lab Research Projects
Advancing the understanding, stewardship, and conservation of estuarine, coastal, and ocean environments.
Discovering how geological processes have operated over various time scales to create and influence the planet's surface environments.
Providing a unique spatial perspective that seeks to explain patterns of differences and commonality across the human and natural environment.
College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment • 111 Robinson Hall • Newark, DE 19716 • USA • Phone: 302-831-8062
Geography and Spatial Sciences: 302-831-2294 • Earth Sciences: 302-831-2569 • Marine Science and Policy: 302-645-4212 • E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Back to Top


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Week one and despite focusing on normal mode kills we managed 1 heroic boss, or rather group of trash that counted as a boss encounter.
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For immediate release: May 13th, 2016
Restaurant owner/operators keep a sharp eye on the bottom line. If there's a way to increase revenue or lower costs, they're interested. Today, Family Hospitality Group is announcing four new product lines to do just that.
- Premium Adult Coloring Placemats
- Retro Kids' Toys
- Chopstick Trainers
- Reusable Tritan Kids' Tumblers
Premium Adult Coloring Placemats
Adult coloring books have exploded and aren't slowing down. Restaurateurs can now offer their customers premium coloring options for pennies. Most coloring options have been aimed at kids. That's the past.
The only adult option on the market until now has been plain brown butcher paper that is used as a tablecloth. Now, restaurateurs can endear themselves to guests of all ages by giving their adult customers these fun new coloring options.
Retro Kids' Toys
Parents and kids want more than just good food. They want to have fun. The Old-School Interactive line of toys does just that.
Kids will love the challenge of putting together their own Make-n-Play Checkerboard Weave and the always popular Snip-Snap Fortune Teller. These are the toys their parents played with for hours and they're still popular today.
Chopstick Trainers
You've used forks, knives, and spoons your entire life. But have you heard of the Chork? How about Chopstick Tutors?
For restaurateurs who want to offer the chopstick experience without the learning curve, these trainers are perfect.
They're colorful, easy to use, and intuitive. And it means that restaurants won't have to stock multiple utensils; forks and knives plus chopsticks. They're great all-in-ones.
Reusable Tritan Kids' Tumblers
How do you keep costs down and still stand out from the crowd? Quality reusable products pay for themselves many times over. But kids can destroy to normal glass or thin-walled plastic cups in the blink of an eye.
Enter, Tritan. Tritan is a durable, kid-friendly product used in high-end sports bottles. Now, restauranteurs can get their costs down and be unique by using the reusable Triton kids' tumblers from FHG.
Reusable Cups for Kids Help Reduce Costs and Entertain Guests
These bottles are:
- Reusable: If it was cheaper to use disposable everything restaurants would do it. But it isn't. It's actually quite expensive. Within a week (12 washings), Tritan cups will pay for themselves.
- Tough: The Tritan material means these cups won't break like glass or thin-walled plastic cups when they're dropped.
- Silicone Grips: Kids are known to drop things. The silicone grips on these reusable cups make them super easy to hold onto. Or make this a premium when you sell these great tumblers.
- Unique and Customizable: Restaurants can have their logo embossed on
their cups making them uniquely theirs.
- Good Marketing: When kids want to keep their new favorite cup you'll
make an incremental sale and have your branding in their home to remind
them of the good time they had.
About Family Hospitality Group
Family Hospitality Group (http://familyhospitality.com/), is a family-owned, American company producing a full portfolio of service supplies that have helped restauranteurs delight their customers in over 100,000,000 guest visits worldwide. Contact AJ Mesalic at [email protected] or (702) 822–4422.


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Hello. Movements have been sighted in the bowels of tFP Central: things are starting to happen again.
Most notably, the strip is being re-launched. And this time, we need an artist.
Essentially, tFP is a superhero comic. So someone who can draw in a relatively Marvel-esque style is what we need.
(Not looking for a perfect rendition of Wolverine here; just someone who can do the American style. Though it's a fairly lenient thing, when it comes to art.)
The entirety of the Prologue and first chapter is already written up and ready to go, and most of the next…seven-ish chapters are sketched out to various degrees.
If you wanna see what we have already, go and check out The Front Pagers as it is now. Tweaks are appearing throughout, obviously, but the bulk of that script will stay pretty much the same.
So, if you're interested, give me a jingle through the PQ system. Or if that's not your deal, you can email me at neutraltwinhotmailcom.
~ Aaron
Networking & Community Projects
Writers looking for a super-artist!
Twin at 8:31PM, Dec. 19, 2006
Spritely - for all your funny needs.
Total Immersion - for all your Pokemon-centric pseudo-romantic story needs.
Something for everyone!
Total Immersion - for all your Pokemon-centric pseudo-romantic story needs.
Something for everyone!
last edited on July 14, 2011 4:35PM
©2011 WOWIO, Inc. All Rights Reserved Google+


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My gift to you on December 24, this pattern is free with the code HOLIDAY until midnight on Christmas Eve, US Eastern time. Thank you for a wonderful year, and wishing you joy and peace.
Diagonal mesh and simple garter edges run the length of this long and narrow infinity loop. Yoli Loop begins with a provisional cast on and is worked in one piece to the end, then grafted. Wear it looped as many times as you like; the reversible stitch pattern looks great from both sides. Easily customizable in length and width, the Yoli Loop can be adapted to any amount of yardage.
Techniques & Skills Used: provisional CO, knit, easy lace, grafting; this pattern includes a link to my grafting tutorials.
Size: 92" circumference and 4.5" width; customizable for varying amounts of yardage, see Designer's Notes.
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Silky Merino (51% silk, 49% merino wool, 150 yards); 2 skeins, shown in Green Grey. The sample used all 300 yards.
Other Materials: US 7 (4.5mm) needle, or size to match gauge; Stitch markers (2); Scrap yarn for provisional CO; Yarn needle.
Gauge: 16 st and 32 rows in diagonal mesh pattern, after blocking. Gauge is not critical for this project, however a different gauge may result in a smaller or larger finished loop, and different yardage requirements.
See it on Ravelry, to read more or purchase the pattern.


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New product
LC7 designed by Charlotte Perriand for Cassina is a revolving small armchair with polished trivalent chrome plated (CR3) or semigloss grey, light blue, green, brown, mud and ivory or black enamel steel frame. Back and seat cushion padded with CFC-free polyurethane foam and polyester wadding. Leather or fabric upholstery.
Warning: Last items in stock!
Availability date:


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Welcome to the Northwest Arkansas Freemason Blue Lodge web site and calendar.
Please send happenings that you would like to be included in the calendar firstname.lastname@example.com
The request will be reviewed, and if
vouched for by your secretary, or an officer of your lodge, it will be added.
(This site is not affiliated with any particular Lodge, or the Grand Lodge of Arkansas, it is simply a meeting place for
Northwest Arkansas Freemasons to be able to view the weekly or monthly happenings in the area)
|The tenants of Freemasonry are;
friendship, morality and brotherly love. This foundation of humanity is
what true Freemasons live by every day.
The Masonic fraternity is the oldest and grandest secular fraternity in history, which dates back more than three centuries. A society of men concerned with moral and spiritual values.
Freemasonry is founded on the three great principles of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth, it aims to bring together men of goodwill, regardless of background and differences.
All men of age and all faiths who are law-abiding, of good character, and who acknowledge a belief in deity can become a member. To become a Freemason is quite simple, to be one ask one.
The first qualification for becoming a Freemason is that you have decided to join of your own free will, not for any personal gain, or the reason of idle curiosity.
The essential qualification to be admitted is that you have a belief in a Supreme Being.
Listen to internet radio with Masonic Central on Blog Talk Radio
Christopher L. Hodapp - In his book "Freemasons for Dummies", Chris covers all bases in an easy to understand manner. This is a great place to start for anyone thinking of joining Masonry.
Albert G. Mackey's The History of Freemasonry, is legendary for its multitude of Masonic studies and historical observations.
Morals and Dogma: Of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Of Freemasonry - Albert Pike's Masonic masterpiece of knowledge, while this book can be confusing, it is very complete.
In this book, "Solomon's Builders" Christopher Hodapp explains some interesting facts, and covers some fascinating history that the average Mason may not know, but will likely find fascinating.
The Principles of Masonic Law And The Symbolism of Freemasonry (with linked TOC) by M.D. Albert G. Mackey (Apr 11, 2010) - Kindle eBook
Robert Macoy's
"A Dictionary of Freemasonry" is a must have for every Freemason's library!


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VDOT News - Staunton
Sandy Myers 540-332-9201
Ken Slack 540-332-9264
Jan. 25, 2016
All I-81 Exit Ramps Back Open
STAUNTON – (11:00 a.m.) The Virginia Department of Transportation continues the work of plowing thousands of miles of Shenandoah Valley roadways that were covered in 18 to 36 inches of snow. Interstates and most primary roads are now clear. VDOT Staunton District crews and contractors are focused on plowing and widening secondary routes.
VDOT had closed several exits on Interstate 81 in the Staunton District because truck-stop parking lots were full, creating the risk of stopped tractor trailers on the interstate. All exit ramps have now reopened.
VDOT's goal is to make at least one pass with a snow plow on every state-maintained road within 48 hours after the end of a winter storm. Here are the conditions as of 11 a.m. Monday:
Interstate 64 – Clear in Alleghany, Rockbridge and Augusta counties.
Interstate 66 – Clear in Warren County.
Interstate 81 – Clear in Rockbridge, Augusta, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Frederick counties.
Primary roads – Minor conditions in Highland, Page, Frederick, Clarke and Warren counties. Clear in Alleghany, Bath, Rockbridge, Augusta, Rockingham and Shenandoah counties.
Secondary roads – Moderate conditions in Alleghany, Rockbridge, Augusta, Rockingham, Page, Shenandoah, Frederick, Clarke and Warren counties. Minor conditions in Bath and Highland counties.
For winter weather road conditions go to www.511Virginia.org, look at the orange bar on the top of the page and click on "Text Views" and then click on "Road Condition Table". Look at the pull down box that lists all jurisdictions. In this box individual counties can be chosen to view.
For other assistance call the VDOT Customer Service Center, available 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week. Citizens can dial 1-800-FOR- ROAD (1-800-367-7623) from anywhere in the state to report road hazards, ask transportation questions, or get information related to Virginia roads.
The Staunton District Twitter feed is at @VaDOTStaunton. VDOT can be followed on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube. RSS feeds are also available for statewide information. The VDOT Web page is located at www.VirginiaDOT.org.
Road condition definitions:
Severe – drifting or partially blocked road. Snow tires or chains are necessary.
Moderate – snow or ice on major portions of the roadway. Snow tires or chains are advisable.
Minor – bare pavement except for isolated spots of snow, ice or slush. Driving with caution is recommended.
Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.


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"God's Image—The Difference Maker: What Makes Us Special?" By David Casas and Russell Fuller (AIG)
We can argue about DNA, brain size, and upright stature, but Genesis 1 emphasizes an infinitely greater privilege that sets mankind apart.
Atheism views man as simply a material being like all other animals. In many ways, this is the predominant view of popular culture. Man, to be sure, may have "evolutionary advantages" over the animals in his reason, in his communication, and in some physical abilities. But man is not a spiritual or sacred being, with a purpose and destiny higher than that of the animals.
In the end, man lives and dies like the beast. Thus concentration camps, gulags, killing fields, and abortion clinics are all monuments to atheism. Such degraded views of man—particularly in denying that man is made in the image of God—inevitably industrialize human misery.
Read more: https://answersingenesis.org/are-humans-animals/gods-image-difference-maker/
Also see: The Origin of Life
Recommended book: "The Lie: Evolution" by Ken Ham https://answersingenesis.org/answers/books/the-lie-evolution/
Visit the website: Your Origins Matters
Evolution is the dominant view being taught in our schools and universities today. But what we believe about this is not merely an intellectual matter. History shows that it has real consequences that impact all of our lives. School shootings–which used to be unheard of–are becoming commonplace. We take a look at the link between the acceptance of hardcore evolutionary beliefs and school violence.
Hear expert testimony from leading evolutionary scientists from some of the world's top universities.
"The Darwinian View is False": Ph.D. Biologist Dismantles Evolution in New Book (Christian News) http://christiannews.net/2016/08/22/the-darwinian-view-is-false-ph-d-biologist-dismantles-evolution-in-new-book/