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May 10 must be the year's hardest day for Mary Ann. In 1997, her son, Andrew Cunanan, went on a killing spree that ended with the death of fashion designer Gianni Versace, on a sparkling day outside his mansion in Florida. In a final act of hatred, Andrew snuck aboard a houseboat and turned the gun on himself. A police photo of Mary Ann's dead son is posted online. I hope she never sees it. No matter what our kids do, the umbilical cord is never severed.
Mary Ann has two other children, but I suppose it's Andrew she dwells on. Where did she go wrong? How could this have happened? Mary Ann is a devout Catholic and my mom assisted her in making a shrine for Andrew, shortly before he went on his rampage. He had hurt his mother. Mary Ann didn't express it in words, but my mother knew from looking at the bruises on Mary Ann's upper arms.
The odor of burnt candles lingered between them as the two women set up a card table and covered it with a cloth. Mary Ann smoothed out the wrinkles and placed a statue of St. Jude in the middle and then surrounded it with pink and purple silk flowers. She placed her Rosary on the Statue so that it would be there when she needed it. Two candlesticks in containers and a bowl of holy water followed. "After it is blessed, it will be a comfort to me," Mary Ann said. "The smoke from the candles will carry my prayers straight up to God."
Since Mary Ann didn't drive, my mother drove her out to the commissary at Camp Pendleton to buy coats for the grandchildren. Before becoming a stockbroker, Mary Ann's husband had been in the military, so that was where she shopped. While standing in line, Mary Ann looked at her watch and declared, "I've got to get home to wash Andrew's shirt. It's the only one he has for work." On the way back to Rancho Bernardo, she told my mom that the church had paid their past-due electric bill.
By 4 p.m., the hot day had settled on the cramped apartment, making it stuffy. Andrew was there and had washed his own shirt. He bristled at the sight of his matronly mother. "Why don't you dress like Kate?" he asked. My mom's jeans, leather jacket, and highlighted hair made her look like Mary Ann's much younger sister, though they were about the same age.
After a spaghetti dinner, the two women were chatting over coffee at the kitchen table when my mom heard the freezer door pop open. A flying object hit the wall near Mary Ann's head. Andrew had hurled a block of Thrifty-brand ice cream across the room, leaving a dent. "I only want Häagen-Dazs!" he shouted. Both women were stunned.
My mother and sister were impressed when they met Mary Ann in the nursery at St. Rafael's Church. She worked there to make money, since her husband, Modesto, had disappeared in 1988. He had been caught embezzling his clients' money, and for a time, his family hadn't a clue as to his whereabouts.
Then Andrew caught wind that his dad was in his native home, the Philippines. Andrew flew over to visit him. What Andrew discovered sent shock waves through him. The father he so revered was living in a rundown shack. This shattered Andrew's self image as a God-given prince. His own father had cultivated that image. He flew back to the states and began a downward spiral that he never recovered from.
My sister took my nieces to the Cunanan apartment, a single-story unit on the corner of Rancho Bernardo Road and Bernardo Center Drive, so Mary Ann could baby-sit. Andrew was rarely there, so Annie and Ava sat on his bed because the only TV was in his bedroom.
This is how it was around the Cunanan house, even before his dad abandoned them. Once his parents discovered that Andrew had an I.Q. of 147, all of the privileges were reserved for him. Andrew was the only child sent to the prestigious Bishop's school in La Jolla. He occupied the master bedroom of the house, even though everyone else, including his parents, crammed into the other bedrooms. He grew up with a sense of entitlement and showed contempt for those more successful than he.
I met Andrew two years before he plunged downhill. His black hair was neatly trimmed. His tanned face was symmetrical and had dark, laughing eyes. He was a manager at Thrifty Jr., across the street from the apartment he shared with his mother. My mom and I went to the store to get band-aids for my heel, which had been rubbing on my shoe.
"Hey, Andrew!" my mom said with a big grin. "This is my other daughter." He stood up from his task of stocking a bottom shelf and turned a bright smile on me. "Hi!" Just then, an attractive man Andrew's age caught his eye. "He's pretty!" he said, making no secret of the fact he was gay.
His mother seemed to have buried her head in the sand regarding his sexuality. She once showed us a photo album of Andrew with his "girlfriends" from high school. Maybe it was denial; maybe it was just wishful thinking.
Upon leaving the store, my mom said, "The older customers just love him here. He's so patient with them." Little did she know that he was pilfering their drugs to get high.
In June, my mom met me at her front door in her robe and slippers. Her irises were popping. She had been watching the news all morning. "Andrew is running around killing people and no one can stop him," she said.
I stared at her. "I don't get the joke."
"Look!" she said leading me to the TV. "It's all over TV." I started following the story of Andrew's wild ride. He first killed two lovers of his who had successful careers and whom Andrew thought had abandoned him. The other victims just seemed to be collateral damage.
"I wish I could talk to him," I said.
"Aren't you afraid he'd hurt you?" my mom asked. That thought hadn't occurred to me.
Though the sun always smiles in California, it spares us little heartache. Three months later, I was at my sister's house with my 11-year-old niece when the report came on the TV that Andrew had been found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. My thoughts were on Mary Ann. Did she know yet? Would she find out from a news report?
Then I thought of Annie. I found her on the front porch, where she'd gone to avoid the news. Tears were threatening to overflow. "Was Andrew nice to you?" I asked. Her blond head nodded while she bit her lips to keep the dam from breaking. Thank you, Andrew, for not hurting my nieces.
The last time I saw Mary Ann, she was covered up in an old coat and sunglasses with a scarf tied under her chin. It was a hearty spring day that didn't require a coat, and she dipped a hankie and washed her hands in a fountain at the Mercado shopping plaza. It takes a tremendous amount of faith to be Mary Ann Cunanan. I wish her a happy mother's day.
Andrew Cunanan was the 449th person to make the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitive list, but the first from San Diego to do so, according to Wikipedia.
More from SDReader
- More stories by Anonymous
- Back When — May 24, 2007
- Frank Bompensiero takes his years in San Quentin — March 18, 1999
- Frank Bompensiero goes to World War II — March 4, 1999
- The depth of Frank and Thelma Bompensiero's love — Feb. 25, 1999
- My mother and her lovers – evicted from apartment near El Cortez — May 22, 1997


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Review of Otto Ristorante
Otto Ristorante is a Sydney institution. It's not hard to see why.
First – you can't beat that location. Perched waterfront on Woolloomooloo's Finger Wharf, it offers spectacular city views, not to mention a glimpse into the lives of the rich and famous. Just check out those boats!
Second – it's all about the food. A modern Italian menu is served and the dishes are exquisite.
Third – if you're looking to spot a celebrity, politician or such. Chances are you'll come across one here.
The decor is minimalist. The stunning backdrop is allowed to shine. If you're lucky enough to secure an outside table – you have one of the best seats in Sydney. Enjoy it while you can.
While you could expect a restaurant of this calibre to be serving up intricate cuisine, the food at Otto is rather simplistic. There is a focus on quality, fresh ingredients. This is not food for food's sake. There is a strong Italian slant, but the menu also borrows from other European gastronomies.
In terms of the wine, you have an extensive list from Australia, New Zealand, Italy and France to choose from.
Otto Ristaronte is a perfect corporate choice for lunch or dinner, or the ideal venue for a special occasion.
This is quintessential Sydney.
Address: 6 Cowper Road Wharf, Woolloomooloo
Phone: +61 2 9368 7488
Hours: 7 days – 12pm – 10.30pm
Website: Otto Ristorante
Images courtesy of Otto Ristorante.

subset: commoncrawl


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Thursday, October 8, 2009
"I'd Like to Teach the World to Tax" -- Coke Opposes Soda Tax
The CEO of the Coca-Cola Company, Muhtar Kent, has published an op-ed in today's Wall Street Journal, Coke Didn't Make America Fat: Americans Need More Exercise, Not Another Tax:
Obesity is a complex issue, and addressing it is important for all Americans. We at the Coca-Cola company are committed to working with government and health organizations to implement effective solutions to address this problem.
But a number of public-health advocates have already come up with what they think is the solution: heavy taxes on some routine foods and beverages that they have decided are high in calories. The taxes, the advocates acknowledge, are intended to limit consumption of targeted foods and help you to accept the diet that they have determined is best.
In cities and states across America—and even at the federal level—this idea is getting increased attention despite its regressive nature and inherent illogic. ... Will a soft drink tax change behavior? Two states currently have a tax on sodas—West Virginia and Arkansas—and they are among the states with the highest rates of obesity in the nation.
I have no problem with taxing "bad" behavior. Of course, we can debate what is and is not bad, but in general, taxing the bad and giving credits/deductions/subsidies for the good is how are tax system works. Families, college education, home ownership, etc... are "good" therefore, you get a deduction/credit/subsidy.
What I hate about a federal soda tax is that they are taxing high fructose corn syrup, the production of which is subsidized. I am not going to debate the merits of increasing the price of soda, but it seems silly to say "drinking soda is bad, now pay your taxes so we can discount the production of soda."
Posted by: A. Saunders | Oct 9, 2009 1:05:23 PM
If Obama wants to tax things that make people fat, then let him tax fried chicken.
Posted by: Woody | Oct 9, 2009 8:49:23 PM


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It's been said that a father carries pictures where his money used to be. Funny thing about my dad is that the pictures haven't changed in over 20 years. If someone stole his wallet today they'd think he had a terribly unstylish 7-year old. (Not to mention the picture of my brother sporting his middle school mullet.) I've always wondered why he never updated the photos. I got my answer on my wedding day when he distributed copies of that same picture around the room and told everyone (tearfully) at my reception that he still carries that picture because that's how he remembers me – as his little girl.
Hard to believe after I became the 29-year-old who still lived at home…After he'd supported me through college…And after I'd raised his insurance rates with some poor split-second decisions behind the wheel. My dad has done a LOT for me over the years. And the most amazing part is, he hasn't complained once. When I bounced back and forth between colleges that were 484 miles apart (3 times!), he showed up with a U-Haul. And when I made expensive mistakes, of which there were a LOT over the years, he never once got upset or made me feel bad.
So this Father's Day I know he deserves something special…
Something more than a greeting card and a new tool from Home Depot. Once a month my dad and I get together for a motorcycle ride on our Harleys. So I customized this Kyle Design picture frame with an eagle and a motorcycle design…
And because he has an awesome shop where he likes to build stuff and work on restoring his old Jeep, I designed this cool light switch plate with tools from Kyle Switch Plates…
Over the years, if there's one thing I've learned about gifts for Dad, it's that he really appreciates gifts that I've put some thought into. Your dad is probably the same way. Why not surprise him with a meaningful gift this year? There's still plenty of time to personalize a gift for your dad this Father's Day.
If there's a hobby you share like fixing up classic cars or hunting, a tradition you share, something he does in his leisure time like golfing or sailing, or an interest that's uniquely his, like aviation or science, you can buy him a gift that reflects his interests at Kyle Design.
List the top 5 things that make you think of your dad, and chances are one of those items would make a perfect gift – just check out all the gift designs at Kyle Design. There's over 500 designs for dad's career, favorite sports, hobbies and more. Then, combine your design with your dad's favorite color and put it on a personalized gift he can actually use. Add an engraving for an extra personal touch and voila! Perfect Father's Day Gift!
Click Unique Father's Day Gifts for more gift ideas for Dad!


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The first six weeks of your time at ADFA is spent doing an insanely fun variety of new things (there are videos and info provided by ADFA now available here). Things are a little different now to when I was there but it basically runs as orientation week, single service training (i.e. in your respective military groupings of Army, Navy or Air Force) for two weeks, then common military training for two weeks and then a week of nearly non-stop marching getting ready for CDF Parade day – the day you are presented to the Chief of the Defence Force and where you kind of move from an officer candidate to a real trainee. Marching in that parade is very important for every first year – it's when the Corps of Officer Cadets accept you into the fold.
Over the six weeks, it doesn't necessarily always feel like fun – you're often being yelled at and things are all very serious but how cool is it that over a six week period, you are having free fitness classes, free food, free lessons in weaponry (specifically 9mm hand guns and semi-automatic machine guns), those in the Navy get to go to the Navy base on the coast and learn fire fighting on ships, damage control (mostly standing in a replica of a section of a ship with holes where at different times water floods out – it's a big exercise in getting flooded).
We also learned NBCD – nuclear, biological and chemical defence where you get to quickly put on chemical defence suits and masks, you get to experience tear gas and purging the gas masks out that you've put on after entering the gas filled room without it….one word, snotty! We also got a day trip on a Destroyer from Sydney down to Jervis Bay which was great, especially when they did a firing display – in less time than it takes to say the word "beep" as fast as you possibly can, the CIWS (pronounced sea whiz but it stands for Close In Weapons System or also called the Phalanx) fires off about 1000 bullets – ok, maybe we can say it fater than it fires but it's the last line of defence for a ship and we were told that if it needs to fire you're in trouble. For a crazy video of how fast it fires, have a look here – this video was shot on a US Navy Amphibious Boat and the firing demonstration here is about the length we were shown when we were onboard one of our ships.
As an active person who cannot get enough of life and new things, the first six weeks should've been soooooo cool but I was sick. While I was down at the Navy base, I'd gone to "sick parade" – where you see the doctor instead of going to roll call. They'd run more blood tests, stool samples and other delightful tests just as had been done at ADFA but before the results were back, it had been decided that my condition was psycho-somatic: all in my head because my Mum had terminal cancer of the pancreas and so I was displaying the same sort of symptoms.
I was devastated. Two years of working to join the Navy and I was ruining everything because I was screwed up in the head. I cried like I'd never cried before in my life. I was booked in to see a psych at the nearest military hospital (45mins away from our base) and until I was there I just lay in bed bawling until there was nothing left in me. I couldn't speak, I just stared. I wanted to tell my friends who were all so worried about me but how do you begin to tell them you're problems are only mental and because you're a nut case you're making yourself physically sick.
I was taken up to the hospital the next day and the psych started interviewing me. After an hour of questioning he offered me a cup of tea. When he came back he told me that he'd before he helped me with a coping strategy for when the time came for my Mum's death, he needed to make a phone call and he'd like me to listen and take note of what he said. I was emotionally and physically drained (although the tea was soothing) so I didn't anticipate what was about to happen.
The psych rang the doctor at the Navy base I was at – he was far from polite but didn't raise his voice nor swear or anything inappropriate. He was just blunt and very clear in his choice of words. The ones that meant the most and now 16 years on pretty much to the day, still ring clear in my mind "…There is nothing wrong with this girl mentally or emotionally. If anything we need more strong minded and strong willed people like her in our Navy. It is clear her problems are physical and you need to do your job to find out why she is so sick…"
As good as it felt to be cleared from ruining my career because I'd caved mentally, I really didn't want to see the doctor after the bollocking she just got. By the time I'd been transported back to the base, some test results were in and they had found I had giardia – a stomach bug. It was likely that I'd picked it up on the flight stopover in Bangkok (I remember drinking from a water fountain in the airport) and it had gone untreated for several weeks so it'd become a mature parasite and required a heavy hit of medicine.
Having a diagnosis was awesome. Now I had direction and a reasonably clear indication of when I could get on with life. I returned to ADFA and, still under medical restrictions, got on with it. After our Navy training time, we moved into common military training – obstacle courses, rope climbing, fitness assessments, drill work, weapons handling and field training. WAHOO! My appetite for food was coming back but I was still wiped out – I had lost 20% of my body weight afterall! I had to get medical clearance before I was allowed to go "out bush" for field training, so on the morning we were due to leave I went into see the medics.
They took my blood pressure, then swapped machines then took it again. There was no indication there was anything wrong, so I wasn't alarmed when they said "OK, lay back and we'll get the doc in to see you." A few minutes later there was a doctor and a woman who I knew was the matron of the hospital – a rather prickly/nasty Army Warrant Officer who already thought I was faking being sick in the first week. I didn't like it that she was there but she took my blood pressure again, got a second machine, then a third. All three showed my BP as 60/40 (these days my BP is nearly a consistent exact 120/70).
For the first time I saw compassion in her eyes as she asked if I felt ok. I said yes and asked if I could go bush because I was really looking forward to being painted up in camouflage paint and clothes and run around the field. The stoney eyes came back and she said "Don't be ridiculous, you're staying here". She smartly turned and walked out telling the medic to find me a bed. The medic was sympathetic handing me tissues and explaining that my blood pressure wasn't quite normal so I'd have to stay for the day so they could monitor it. The Doctor was also great – he ordered more tests and said he'd come back once I was settled to talk and try see if he could figure out what was going on.
It was 2 weeks before CDF parade, 2 weeks before I would see my family again and 2 weeks before my 20th birthday but here I was back in hospital, terrified and alone.
Part 3 coming to a computer screen near you soon!


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Basil, Italian cuisine, Italian dishes, Italian Flag, Italy, La Cucina Bortelino, Lee & Mary Bortel, ME-gan Italian dishes, rosemary, Sicilan woman, Umbria dishes, Umbria region
What happens when Mary wakes up with passion and exclaims "I wish we were in Italy?" Well, the next best thing happens; Mary gets busy in La Cucina Bortelino!
A Sicilian woman can (and will) do anything she wants!
I am lucky to have co-workers who have their own gardens; one person brings me Rosemary, one brings me Basil and another brings me Eggplant. Lee and I want to have a garden but we just can't seem to get anything to grow here in Phoenix, other than ant hills and cactus.
With my eyes catching sight of potatoes and knowing that I have these fresh herbs on hand, as well as some very bright, beautiful mini peppers & onions, I decided to bring a taste of Umbria to the house. These are all familiar ingredients from this special land and region along with garlic & olive oil. Together they assist in making up the classic Umbrian dishes.
I will bring Italy here, if we can't go there (right now anyway!).
I will also point out that this dish is ME-gan and is also the wonderful colors of the Italian flag! Mangia!
Italian-ME-gan love to you! XXOO!


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School Fees
Absence from School
Starting School - Prep
School Fees
Does the school charge fees for tuition?
Yes, the school is obliged to collect school fees, as part of our funding agreement with the Government.
Download school fees pdf document for 2018
Do students at St Margaret's wear school uniforms?
Yes, all students of St Margaret's wear school uniforms. Refer to School Uniform details.
Where can I purchase uniforms?
School uniforms can be purchased from
Bellarine Uniforms, 162 Moorabool Street 5221 9199
My child has severe nut allergies. Are teachers trained to deal with anaphylaxis?
Yes, staff at St Margaret's have been trained in Anaphylaxis management, First Aid and CPR. These qualifications are regularly updated.
My child has asthma. Do I need to let the school know?
Yes, this is very important. The school needs to know your child's asthma plan. If your child has another chronic condition, such as diabetes, it is important that the school is aware. This helps us care for your child and be attentive to their health needs.
My child needs to take some medication at school. What do I need to do?
If possible, try and give any medication before or after school. If this isn't possible, clear, written directions need to be provided, detailing when and what dose needs to be given. Any medication that needs to be refrigerated will be kept in the fridge in the staff room.
My child is sick. What do I need to do?
When your child is sick, it is important that they are well before returning to school. This is important for your child's wellbeing and for all other class members. When your child returns to school, please send an absence note back.
Some sicknesses necessitate a period of exclusion from school. There is more information here.
Absence from School
If my child is absent from school what do I need to do?
School attendance rolls are a legal document. A written note or e-mail must be sent stating the reason for every child's absence. These notes are dated and filed by the class teacher or office manager. School attendance rolls are marked daily. If a child is to be withdrawn from school early, written notification is required. Continual late arrival at school is unacceptable.
Starting School - Prep
Starting school can be an exciting but stressful time for children and parents. At St Margaret's, we recognise that supporting our new students is vital to ensure they have a great start to their school life.
Every Prep student has a Year 6 buddy. The buddies help new students settle into school life. Occasionally, the Prep and Year 6 classes will come together for special "buddy activities". All buddies enjoy this time together.


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Call your pharmacy first for prescription refills.
If necessary, your pharmacy will contact Saguaro Surgical to confirm the refill. Having your medication name, strength and amount you need handy will help expedite your refill request.
If you want to talk to us or have any questions about your refill, please remember we are only a phone call away.
We're here for you 24/7! You can reach a member of the Saguaro Surgical medical team at any time by calling our office. If it's after hours, our answering service will get you in touch with the on-call member of our Saguaro Surgical team.
Fees for services at Saguaro Surgical are based upon usual and customary charges for these services in this region. The billing staff at Saguaro Surgical will help you with any insurance and billing matters. We honor many insurance plans, including Medicare, and we will be happy to file your claim forms for you and deal directly with your insurance company on your behalf.
Please bring your insurance card(s) with you every time you visit our office. Depending on your specific coverage, you may be required to cover co-payments, coinsurance or other fees not covered under your plan.


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- Technology
Curve 10 lenses offer a full 1 cm more curvature, compared to standard...
The self-tinting lenses in uvex ski goggles automatically and continuously meter their translucency between light and dark within a very short time – for optimal vision in all weathers.
Sun, clouds, snow or fog: when skiing, a clear vision and high protection is important for the eyes. The uvex self-tinting lenses automatically and continuously meter the light transmission between the three protection levels S1, S2 and S3 within a very short time. The levels of protection indicate the light transmittance of the lens in percent – the smaller the value, the less light penetrates the glass.
The protection level S1 is perfect for skiing in bad weather and offers a light transmission of 44–80%. Thanks to the lens tinting, skiing is also possible in poor visibility and low light. For cloudy days with changing light and weather conditions, best protection is guaranteed with S2 – a light transmission of 19–43%. For bright conditions on the ski slopes on sunny days, the lens automatically darkens to protection level 1 with a light transmittance of 9–18%. Like all uvex glasses, the lenses also offer 100% protection against UVA, UVB and UVC radiation.
With uvex ski goggles with variomatic technology, you are prepared for different weather conditions between sunny and dark. The decision between different ski goggles or lenses are thus eliminated. Alpine winter sports are easily possible in any weather with just a single pair of goggles.
Cycling, riding or running – for all other sports, uvex variomatic technology is also available in uvex sports glasses.
Curve 10 lenses offer a full 1 cm more curvature, compared to standard...
UV-absorbing filters built directly into all uvex lenses.


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Ace Hood is one of those sleeping giants that comes out to show and prove as soon as any signs of amnesia start to show in music fans in regards to his work ethic or skill. Don't forget how long this We The Best artist has been eating with DJ Khaled and just to make sure we don't, he drops the energetic "4 a Minute" produced by Ben Billions and Schife Karbeen. We all know he is good for an anthem (that "Bugatti" winning streak seemed endless) and this just might be the next up. Another One.
Check it out for yourself below and let us know via @SwaysUniverse how you feel about the new Ace Hood "4 a Minute"


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The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo will host the first event this year for the Mercuria NCHA World Series of Cutting. Star-studded fields will ride to the herd in the first round of the Open and Non-Pro, with the finals of the $25,000-added events scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 14.
World Champion Riders Matt Gaines, Pete Branch, Lindy Burch, Chubby Turner, Kobie Wood and Faron Hightower are among the 41 entries in the Open division.
The Open field includes Super Stakes Champion Olenasduallyfeather, recent NCHA Futurity Reserve Champion Bet Shes Smooth, NCHA Non-Pro Futurity Champions Donas Suen Boon and Woodys Bad Boy, and two-time Mercuria NCHA World Finals winner CR Sun Reys,
Highlighting the Non-Pro division are Joe Howard Williamson, Mary Jo Milner, Constance Jaeggi and Dan Hanson, who own a combined 15 NCHA Non-Pro World titles.
Williamson, Milner and Jaeggi will be riding Sweet Little Cats, Saguaro Ichi, and Smooth Asa Zee, respectively, horses the played a role in their most recent World Championships.
Offering a total of $50,000 in added money at each series event, the Mercuria NCHA World Series of Cutting has become a highlight of the annual cutting horse competition year attracting highly competitive horses and riders to the event in their quest for NCHA World Champion and Horse of the Year honors.
2016 Mercuria NCHA World Series of Cutting Tentative Schedule:
- February 13-14, San Antonio Stock Show, San Antonio, Texas
- February 26-27, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Houston, Texas
- June 17-18, PCCHA Derby – Classic Challenge, Las Vegas, Nevada
- July 11-13, Calgary Stampede, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- August TBA, Las Vegas CHA Futurity, Las Vegas, Nevada
- August 29-30, Idaho Futurity, Nampa, Idaho
- September 15-16, El Rancho Futurity, Rancho Murieta, California
- October TBA, All American Quarter Horse Congress, Columbus, Ohio


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What about those three best picture Oscar nominees that aren't based on true stories? Turns out that Gravity, Her and Nebraska blend fiction with surprising levels of fact.
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson got famously picky with Gravity's mistakes about weightlessness, and the ease with which Sandra Bullock could travel from one space station to the next. But listen to what someone who has actually been there had to say:
"It's amazing how many things Gravity gets right," former NASA astronaut and International Space Station resident Garrett Reisman wrote for Forbes.com. Reisman was most impressed by its imitation of zero gravity conditions and spacewalk movements. The danger of space debris is "very real," he wrote, while the movie's space station interiors are "pretty realistic."
Reisman seconded several of Tyson's gripes, chalking them up to artistic license, and generally keeping his opinion light-hearted: "Gravity is the most realistic space movie ever. I mean, that Clooney guy looks just like me!"
What are the possibilities of computer operating systems someday equalling the "personal" nature of the sci-fi romance Her? The developer of the information driver for the iPhone's Siri application believes that technological leap is possible.
Stephen Wolfram told Speakeasy magazine: "The mechanics of getting the (artificial intelligence) to work — I don't think that's the most challenging part. The challenging part is, in a sense: Define the meaningful product." In other words, narrow our expectations to specific goals for the AI to accomplish. Don't expect Scarlett Johansson to fall in love with you, but she might sort your email.
Finally, there's Nebraska's tale of a septugenarian (Bruce Dern) mistakenly believing he won a million dollar sweepstakes and embarking on a road trip to pick up money that isn't there. Nobody could really be that gullible, right?
Wrong. In fact, Tampa figured into a similar true story.
California resident Richard Lusk, 88, flew here twice in 1987-88, convinced he had won American Family sweepstakes prizes. Mailings that Lusk received carried a Tampa return address, since entries were processed at the time by a local agency. The St. Petersburg Times reported Lusk spent thousands of dollars on his first quest, which was mostly reimbursed by American Family, who promised their mailings to Lusk would cease.
They didn't. A few months later, Lusk received an American Family notice that he shared a winning number with another person, and the first to return their entry to Tampa would win $11 million. Lusk left his bedridden wife with a nurse and hopped on a flight to Tampa without telling his family. American Family later reimbursed Lusk for that trip.
Similar scenarios were reported in 32 states, spurring a three-year federal investigation into American Family sweepstakes and changes to their marketing practices. Unlike Bruce Dern, Lusk apparently never received a shiny new truck or air compressor.
Steve Persall, Times movie critic


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Job Description
Senior Android Developer | Contract | 12-18 months+
We're looking for an Android Engineer to work on mobile applications that will be used by tens of millions of customers around the world. You will have strong technical skills and be highly creative; you will love solving tough problems and be an early adopter even suggesting technologies that should be used. You will be highly collaborative and share your ideas with senior management as well as help mentor junior engineers. You will build with the customer in mind and as always you should have beautiful elegant code!!
You will be working with a group of highly skilled and passionate developers all working together to develop new products and platforms with the aim to build interactive experiences at all touch points of a consumer's journey whether before, at, or after the time of purchase.
You'll be working in a fast-paced small-team environment with the stability of working as part of a global Australian brand with your primary responsibility working with a small team of designers and engineers developing mobile products. You will be familiar with modern software development methodologies popular in Android, and be able to dive deep and rapidly iterate on ideas with your team despite some ambiguity.
What you will be doing:
- Contribute to the design, architecture, and development of apps that are elegant, efficient, secure, highly available, and maintainable
- Work closely with other developers and end users to ensure technical compatibility and user satisfaction
- Contribute insights into ways to improve the processes and tools used on the Android team
- Be highly motivated and maintain a positive, "can-do" attitude in a fast moving environment
- Follow and help cultivate consistent development best practices
- Collaborate with your project manager and other software developers to plan
- Design, develop, test, and maintain the Android application
- Provide thought-leadership regarding implementation best practices
- Assist in estimation and assessment of feasibility of features
- Foster a collaborative spirit across multiple teams
What you will bring to the role:
- Knowledge of developing trends and emerging standards in mobile apps (RxJava, MVP, Kotlin, etc), mobile payments, and wearables
- Familiar with the whole software development lifecycle (e.g. requirements, analysis, design, implementation, testing, and documentation) and execution models (e.g. Waterfall, Agile, etc.)
- Great knowledge of Android UI design principles, patterns, and best practices
- Excellent technical knowledge of Java for Android, Android SDK, and Android Studio
- Good understanding of RESTful APIs and how to connect Android applications to back-end services
- Experience working with testing libraries like Espresso and Junit
- Familiar with Continuous Integration (CI) and its use in testing, building and
- Deploying Android apps
- Knowledge of the open-source Android ecosystem and the libraries available for common tasks
- Understanding of code versioning using Git, GitHub and GitFlow.
- Understanding of accessibility and security compliance
- Understanding of fundamental design principles behind a scalable application
- Experience in creation and review of software and architecture designs
- Basic understanding of Web Technologies like Javascript, CSS, and HTML5
- Experience with Kotlin is a plus
- Experience with payments technology is a plus
This is an immediate need for a Senior Android developer to work on a long-term contract with a real possibility of moving into a lead role. They run a true software engineering environment with a flexible work environment, highly collaborative team culture, latest tools, and tech and competitive day rates!


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Karl Ernst Claus
Karl Ernst Claus (also Karl Klaus or Carl Claus, Russian: Карл Ка́рлович Кла́ус, 23 January 1796 – 24 March 1864) was a Baltic German chemist and naturalist. Claus was a professor at Kazan State University and a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He was primarily known as a chemist and discoverer of the chemical element ruthenium, but also as one of the first scientists who applied quantitative methods in botany.[1][2][3]
Karl Claus
|24 March 1864 (aged 68)
|Baltic German
|Alma mater
|University of Tartu
|Known for
|Discovery of ruthenium
|Demidov Prize
|Scientific career
|Chemistry, pharmacy, botany
|University of Tartu,
Kazan State University
Early life and educationEdit
Karl Claus was born in 1796 in Dorpat (Tartu), Livonia, Russia, as the son of a painter. At the age of four, he lost his father and two years later became an orphan. In 1810, he moved to Saint Petersburg and started working as an assistant in a pharmacy. Although he had not received formal education, at age 21, Claus managed to pass the State exam on the pharmacist at the Military Medical Academy of St. Petersburg, becoming the youngest pharmacist in Russia at that time.[1] Later in 1826, he established his own pharmacy in Kazan.[4][5]
In 1821, Claus married Ernestine Bate whom he knew since his youth. They had three daughters born in Kazan and later a son, when they moved back to Tartu.[1]
In 1827, Claus became involved, as an assistant of Eduard Friedrich Eversmann, in the botanical research of the steppes of the rivers Ural and Volga. He later used the collected data in his work "Flora der Wolgagegenden" (Flora of the Volga Region).[4]
In 1834, while still studying at the University of Tartu, Claus went into another botanic trip to the trans-Volga steppes – this time with chemistry professor Gebel. The results of this expeditions were published in 1837–1838.[4][6]
In 1828, when he already turned 32, Claus decided to continue his education at the University of Tartu. During the course of his studies, in 1831, he started working as an assistant at the chemical laboratory of the university. He graduated in 1835, and in 1837, defended his PhD thesis on analytical phytochemistry ("Grundzüge der Analytischen Phytochemie") at the University of Tartu. In the same year, he applied at the St. Petersburg Medical-Surgical Academy for an academic position and obtained a post of the head of chemical laboratory at Kazan State University. In 1839, he defended habilitation thesis on separation of minerals in mineral waters and was appointed an assistant professor. He became full professor in chemistry in 1844.[4]
In 1840, Claus, received a substantial amount of platinum ore samples for his studies from the Ural Mountains and the St Petersburg Mint and started working on chemistry and isolation of noble metals, in particular rhodium, iridium, osmium, and to a lesser extent, palladium and platinum. In 1844, he discovered a new chemical element, which he named ruthenium after Ruthenia, the Latin name of Rus'.[3][8][9]
Claus managed not only to isolate ruthenium, but also determine its atomic weight and chemical properties. He noted the similarity of the chemical properties of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium and platinum and meticulously documented his results. For this discovery, he was awarded the Demidov Prize of 5,000 rubles (which was of much financial help to his large family).[1][4] Claus sent samples of new element for analysis to Jöns Jakob Berzelius, who was one of the most renowned scientists in the field of new elements, and thereby became known to European scientists.[9][10]
Health and late yearsEdit
Claus was known for his negligent attitude towards his health. In particular, he often tasted his chemicals and new compounds and tested the strength of the acids by dipping a finger in them and touching his tongue with it. Once he severely burned his mouth while tasting one of the new ruthenium compounds that he had synthesized. When he isolated osmium tetroxide – a rather toxic chemical – he described its taste as astringent and pepper-like. In April 1845, he was poisoned by osmium tetroxide vapors and had to stop working for two weeks.[11] In 1852, Klaus moved from Kazan back to the University of Tartu and assumed position of professor in pharmacy. He died in Tartu in 1864.[1][4]
See alsoEdit
- ^ a b c d e Клаус, Карл Карлович in Волков В.А. et al "Выдающиеся химики мира: Биографический справочник" Moscow, Высш. шк., 1991 (in Russian)
- ^ Oppenheim, Alphons (1876). "Claus, Karl". Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie. 4: 284.
- ^ a b C. Claus (1845). "Untersuchung des Platinrückstandes nebst vorläufiger Ankündigung eines neuen Metalls". Annalen der Physik und Chemie. 141 (6): 200–221. Bibcode:1845AnP...141..200C. doi:10.1002/andp.18451410606.
- ^ a b c d e f Клаус Карл Карлович Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary (in Russian)
- ^ Berthold Peter Anft (1957), "Claus, Karl Ernst", Neue Deutsche Biographie (NDB) (in German), 3, Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 270–271
- ^ "Reise in die Steppen des südlichen Russlands" by F. Göbel, C. Claus und A. Bergman (in German)
- ^ IPNI. Claus.
- ^ C. Claus (1845). "Entdeckung eines neuen Metalls". Annalen der Physik und Chemie. 140 (1): 192–197. Bibcode:1845AnP...140..192C. doi:10.1002/andp.18451400121.
- ^ a b Pitchkov, V. N. (1996). "The Discovery of Ruthenium". Platinum Metals Review. 40 (4): 181–188.
- ^ John Emsley (2003). Nature's building blocks: an A-Z guide to the elements. Oxford University Press. p. 369. ISBN 0-19-850340-7.
- ^ Красицкий В. А. (2009). "Chemistry and chemists: price of the discoveries" (PDF). Chemistry and Chemists (in Russian). 5: 22–55.


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- IT Management company rolls out BYOD initiative across worldwide office locations
- Improved network security by segmenting groups of users into different SSIDs
- Entire network configured via the dashboard before the APs were deployed
- Dashboard reporting capabilities provide visibility and easy management for entire
Olivier Morel, IT Security Engineer at Linkbynet, manages the IT security at their headquarters in Paris. Morel is responsible for defining and deploying the security architecture, strengthening compliance indicators and improving technology intelligence.
The network architecture that Linkbynet originally put in place at their headquarters was very fragmented. "We had a lack of coverage. The wireless access points were difficult to manage. We didn't have any WiFi controllers because they were too expensive. This not only prevented us from having any reporting visibility in terms of network usage, but also hindered user support," said Morel. The Paris facility was also not compatible with the latest Wi-Fi technologies in terms of coverage, security and visitor management. "As Linkbynet is a fast growing company, we had to quickly find a scalable solution based on our own pace, while controlling costs."
Within three days we received an access point and within minutes we deployed our desired configuration, without any use of documentation or help from technical support.Olivier Morel, IT Security EngineerAt the start of the project, Linkbynet had two objectives. The first was to find a solution that would not require excessive training, administration and monitoring. The second was a solution that would be affordable.
Morel discovered Meraki when reading Gartner's Magic Quadrant for Wireless LAN Infrastructure. "It was important for us to examine an innovative player in addition to the usual players in this segment," he said. To complete his research, Morel also investigated networking solutions from Avaya and Aerohive.
"We chose Meraki because it was so fast and easy to manage in the evaluation process," he said. "Within three days we received an access point and within minutes we deployed our desired configuration, without any use of documentation or help from technical support. It is very simple to configure Meraki hardware with advanced features."
Linkbynet were impressed with the reporting capabilities on offer from Meraki's web-based dashboard. Using the Layer 7 visibility on the dashboard, Morel was able to understand how different users utilised the network. "We liked the product design as well as the information-rich network summary reports available from the dashboard," Morel said. "Additionally the approach of network management from the cloud resulted in significant savings compared to traditional vendors, where purchasing a physical controller accounted for almost half of the quote." Linkbynet deployed 15 Meraki cloud-managed wireless APs, including one outdoor AP, and 6 Meraki cloud-managed switches at their head office. Most recently, an AP was also sent to the company's subsidiaries in Montreal and Nantes.
"We just sent an access point to our Montreal branch," Morel explained. "A network administrator connected it within seconds and replicated the setup we had at our headquarters. This allowed us to have the same configuration and the same level of security there as we have here. After the ease of deployment outside our headquarters, we plan to deploy Meraki at our other offices in Nantes and Mauritius."
The physical installation of 14 indoor APs was facilitated by Meraki's rapid installation design and network configuration took 15 minutes. "What is interesting is that we were able to prepare the configuration on the dashboard even before the access points were turned on," Morel said. "Upon connection, the access points automatically connected to the cloud and retrieved their configuration settings."
At the Linkbynet head office, Morel configured three SSIDs. Employees connect to a dedicated SSID, authenticating with 802.1X integrated with Linkbynet's Active Directory. Guests connect to an isolated SSID, with temporary logins, which are created by reception using a Guest Ambassador account in the dashboard. Finally, Linkbynet configured a third SSID secured with WPA2-PSK for Make-A-Wish-France, an association that the company hosts on their premises. By segmenting users into these three SSIDs and applying appropriate security policies for each, Linkbynet significantly improved security without complicating the user experience.
With the rich visibility and simplicity of the Meraki dashboard, Morel is now able to produce regular reports about the usage of applications and monitor the overall health of the network. "It's been a few months since we started using the dashboard and it's nice to see that there are regular updates that add new features," he said. "I am especially a fan of the 'make a wish' box at the bottom of each page on the dashboard where we can enter suggestions for additional features that we would like to see appear."
Overall the Linkbynet users and staff are very happy with the Meraki network. "It's fantastic! There is very little management required," Morel said. "If anything abnormal happens, Meraki automatically sends an email to let us know. Not to mention the monthly report on the use of infrastructure."


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Home>Collection & Louvre Palace>Curatorial Departments>Offering table found at Meroe
Work Offering table found at Meroe
Department of Egyptian Antiquities: Religious and funerary beliefs
Table d'offrandes,
© Musée du Louvre/C. Décamps
Table d'offrandes
© Musée du Louvre/C. Décamps
Egyptian Antiquities
Religious and funerary beliefs
Offering tables were blocks of sculpted stone, intended to be placed in front of the magical false doors and statues of tombs; they were fundamental items in the cult of the dead and the gods. This one is particularly rare: it comes from Meroe, capital of a kingdom located in modern Sudan, south of the fifth cataract of the Nile.
An offering table
The offering table played a major role in the Egyptian cult of the dead and the gods: it concretized offerings of food and drink by representing them on a horizontal block of stone. A channel allowed water (poured in libation and to purify the food) to flow onto the floor.
The rings in a row on this offering table no doubt represent loaves of bread. The scene engraved above resembles a kind found on upright steles: a woman on the left and a dog-headed man on the right are leaning forward, pouring a liquid offering that they appear to have drawn from the large jars on the ground before them. In the center, an Egyptian-style table on a water lily-shaped support is engraved with circles representing loaves of bread. The lines that lead from the loaves toward the table edge, via the overflow, probably represent the libation water, which the engraver may have imagined to be the same as the water poured by the two figures.
Meroe, a royal capital
This table was found during excavations conducted in Meroe in the early 20th century by the Englishman John Garstang. In 1821 the explorer Frédéric Cailliaud had discovered, beyond the sixth cataract of the Nile, a necropolis of beautiful pyramids in golden sandstone: the burial places of the sovereigns of a forgotten kingdom. Four kilometers away were the ruins of Meroe, the capital city of these kings from the 6th century BC onward. Beginning in 1909, Garstang excavated its ruins and uncovered the walls of the temple of Amun, whose cult was mentioned by ancient authors. The excavation archives were partly destroyed during World War II, so we no longer know the exact site of the discovery of this work. Many similar tables were discovered during excavations conducted between 1920 and 1923 by Georges Reisner and Dows Dunham in the necropolis area of the Meroitic aristocracy.
A traditional Egyptian object
These Meroitic offering tables date to the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. The form of the block of stone and the round bread loaves correspond to Egyptian tradition. The water lily-shaped table support was a common feature of Nubian art from the last centuries before the Christian era. However, the notion of a simple replica of a meal is transformed by the scene's protagonists into the kind of representation usually found on a stele. The gods Nephthys and dog-headed Anubis are portrayed together, leaning forward in a gesture of libation. Meroitic culture was permeated with certain forms and notions from Egyptian religion, which were given an original treatment. The inscription on the table edge is in Meroitic, a form of writing derived from Egyptian demotic script. Its alphabet has been identified, but the language has yet to be totally deciphered.
BibliographyCatalogue de l'exposition "Portes pour l'Au-delà. L'Egypte, Le Nil et le champ des offrandes, Montpellier, 1992, p. 173, notice n 80
Catalogue de l'exposition Naissance de l'Ecriture, catalogue d'exposition, Editions de la Réunion des musées nationaux , Paris, 1982, p. 164, notice n 108
Technical description
Table d'offrandes
trouvée à Méroé
H. : 35 cm. ; Pr. : 9 cm. ; l. : 33,50 cm.
Sully wing
1st floor
Nubia and Sudan
Escalier du Midi
Vitrine 2 : Le royaume de Méroé
Practical information
The Louvre is open every day (except Tuesday) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Free admission on the first Saturday of each month
from 6 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.


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GOWell's Array Induction Logging Tool (AILT) forms part of the Gallop suite. The AILT accurately measures open borehole formation conductivity at different borehole conditions. The tool uses an Array of induction coils operating at various frequencies, generating resistivity logs that have five (5) different depths of investigation.
The measurement is particularly suitable for high resistivity formations. Both deep and shallow readings allow for visual identification of permeable formations.
The Tool is made up of three sections:


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Three-time Oscar winner Jack Nicholson, who hasn't appeared on screen since 2010's "How Do You Know" and hasn't led a film since 2007's "The Bucket List," is reportedly coming out of his long hiatus to topline the remake of German-Austrian dramedy "Toni Erdmann" for Paramount Pictures.
Maren Ade helmed the film which premiered at Cannes last year and has been met with critical acclaim the world over along with being a nominee for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.
The original follows a father (Peter Simonischek) who, hoping to reconnect with his career-minded daughter, creates the titluar Toni Erdmann – a fictional life coach who winds up wreaking havoc with the daughter's professional life.
The role of the daughter has not yet been filled nor has the studio attached a writer or director. Jessica Elbuam, Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Jonas Dornbach and Janine Jackowski will produce the English language remake.
Source: Variety


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Most importantly, writer Jonathan Meador does what LEO always has done best in a genuinely balanced but cutting examination of the Alcohol Beverage Control's recent citing of bars in Germantown for alleged zoning law violations.
Are the bars there being targeted? The ABC says "no," and the crux of the matter is the existence (or not) of non-conforming clauses when the bars in question changed ownership. Since several of these establishments (Nachbar, Swan Dive) are noted for offering craft beer, it's an article of more than passing interest for enthusiasts.
The bulk of the craft beer references in this week's LEO come courtesy of paid advertising, and I'm sure there are salutary effects on the bottom line.
There's a nifty full-page ad for Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, which won a silver medal at the 2010 World Beer Cup. Congratulations to Alltech. The new Falls City has a 1/8 page insert, too, and it's tasteful. You can see the NABC logo in an ad for the Black Keys show at Iroquois on August 11, and Old Chicago name drops New Albanian in its half-page ad, along with BBC and Browning's, although not Cumberland.
Ask them, not me.
Schlafly's own half-pager urges readers to "raise some Helles." Come to think of it, I might just do that, because Browning's also brews a superb Helles, and it's been on tap at the portable concession stand (Section 115) during Louisville Bats games for much of the season. Accordingly, looking through LEO, I see there's advertising from the Bats, apparently putting in a belated bid for the craft beer market with a bright quarter-page paean to "$2 craft beer," which … which … what's that loud noise … could you hold just a minute while I see what's causing Dr. Goebbel's to thrash so violently in his grave?
Okay, now I understand. Those particular "craft" beers touted by the Bats in LEO are the same ones that Anheuser-Busch itself describes as "craft" beer, which in terms of objective reality is tantamount to my observing what a brilliant lavender color my Schlafly Helles beer has today.
Which is to say: It is utter propaganda, lacking any quality capable of being linked to truth, and as the originator of 20th-century mass-market propaganda, Joe has reason to be highly annoyed that Anheuser-Busch treats his legacy so shabbily.
Wait -- there's even more! Specifically, a full-page LEO Weekly blurb for itself, which skillfully lampoons Sarah Palin-speak as a prelude to more Goebbels grave spinning:
Also too the mainstream media does suck also ... at LEO Weekly, in-depth analysis isn't limited to the hoppiness of locally brewed beers. We also analyze the bitterness of locally brewed politics. The way we see it, there are thousands of papers to scrutinize the Obamas and Palins of the world, but someone's got to keep Katie King in line, too. We volunteer.
Actually, apart from Meador's Germantown expose, today's LEO contains no analysis whatever of the hoppiness of local beers, and that's because Mr. Mug Shot (yours truly) was given his walking papers for wondering why LEO seeks to keep politicians like Katie King in line, but not breweries like Anheuser-Busch, and even though it appears that LEO will not publicly explain my absence, the juxtaposition of A-B "craft" beer in one ad and King's name in another serves to compel me to at least publish a letter to the LEO editor sent by my friend and research assistant, Paul Mick.
Three weeks later, and to no one's surprise, it remains unpublished. Appreciate the gesture, Paul. Did you mail it to Possibility City, or LEO's local corporate office in Nashville, Tennessee?
"For the past 7 years, I've lauded LEO as a bastion of uncompromising journalism and discerning taste to countless new students at U of L. I'd tell them to consult your paper if they ever had any questions about local events, politics, or dining and I'd warn them to steer clear of the pitiful simulacrum that is Velocity. I would even take tour groups past your stands so they could pick up a copy and see all that Louisville has to offer as a city.
"However, your recent decision to terminate Roger Baylor's Mug Shots column in order to placate macrobreweries has wounded me deeply. For all of the grief you (often rightly) give Mayor Abramson for his dealings with Cordish, you certainly seem eager to hop InBed with InBev and sell out your columnists for thirty pieces of silver."
In the recent 20th anniversary issue of LEO, BIlly Reed commented, "Since day one, there have been no sacred cows at LEO." Apparently that doesn't apply to big business advertisers, to whom you are more than willing to kowtow. Roger, an icon of the Louisville craft beer revolution, has always been dedicated to telling the public the truth in an undistilled and undiluted form. If honesty on the rocks is a bit hard for you all to swallow, then I suggest you crack open a Bud Light with Lime, cease pretending to be truth purists, and openly embrace the company that has clearly bought your opinion."
Paul Mick, The HIghlands


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We're so excited to come to Israel for the first time this month! Come learn Facebook marketing with us at the DMIEXPO conference in Tel Aviv on November 24th-25th!
We'll be sharing with you all the latest and greatest Facebook marketing strategies we've received directly from Facebook themselves.
We'll be covering topics such as how the pros optimize their ads, how to turn content into revenue, creating content that drives word of mouth from your audience, and so much more.
If you're a small business, entrepreneur, CMO, or student– this is for you.
Make sure to get your ticket at the link below and we'll see you on November 24th!


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The Russian Bear Has Awoken
Those of us that grew up in the 1960s and 1970s have an image of a dangerous Russian bear imprinted upon our brains. In 1989, the bear was declawed and our leaders promised us a peace dividend. A peace dividend made perfect sense to a public that was sick of fighting the Cold War. Being able to spend less on our military would allow us freedom to save or spend on other needs. Our businesses would be able to take advantage of new trading partners. All was right with the world.
The rise of Vladimir Putin has changed all of that. Putin recognized where the West was weak and Russia strong. He invested a lot of time and money to take control of the Russian energy industry, even throwing the original owner of the largest Russian oil company into the gulag. Putin has used an iron fist to get control over Russia. The bear is reborn. President Bush ignored the rise of Putin and it has cost us.
The recent invasion of Georgia solidifies the strategy that dissidents, like Garry Kasparov, have been writing about for the past number of years. Putin aims to put back the confederation of Russian states as it existed pre-1989. In a perfect world, he would have an iron curtain. Poland, an independent nation, wants to put missile defenses within its own borders. Putin doesn't want it and threatens to invade if they antagonize him.
Recently a Putin acolyte, Alexi Gordeyev, said that the Russians were mulling an embargo on American poultry and pork. It is interesting timing for such a statement. First, a few weeks ago, there was a terrific rally in pork prices. Rumors on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange trading floor pointed to heavy Russian buying. Then they invaded Georgia. Obviously, they were stocking their freezers to feed their troops in case the U.S. stopped them from buying. These things are not coincidental.
From time to time since Putin has gained control, he has instituted various embargoes on American poultry and pork. Senator Joe Biden's press release after the last dust-up six years ago said the "Delaware farmers were not going to be forgotten" when Bush made his next visit to Russia. Putin is trying to outmaneuver us militarily, but he is cunning in his economic warfare as well.


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Oakville Kitchen and Living
Kitchen and Main Floor Renovation
Warmth and elegance collide in this luxurious Oakville Townhome!
A traditional white cabinet kitchen is the showcase to this main floor renovation. Striking walnut floors and Cambria countertops, complete with high-end appliances and plumbing fixtures to highlight the space. Other features include a beautiful custom designed range hood, glass cabinet doors, and natural stone feature walls with soapstone details.


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Depending on the zone or proposal type, a number of other planning controls may be apply to the development. Council staff can assist you in interpreting these controls and highlight any conditions that could apply. These wider planning considerations include:
The Port Macquarie-Hastings Flood Policy was adopted by Council in October 2015. The Flood Policy outlines matters to be taken into consideration by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council when exercising its environmental assessment and planning functions in relation to Development in the Port Macquarie-Hastings Local Government Area.
The Policy addresses the new directions in Flood Risk management that are embodied in the NSW Government's Flood Prone Land Policy and are emphasised in the 2005 edition of the government's Floodplain Development Manual.
It also draws from the latest Flood modelling results documented in government funded Flood and Floodplain management studies that have been completed in the region. This Policy applies to land affected by Flooding within the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Local Government Area. It applies where the Development is on Flood Prone Land; that is, on land at or below the level of the Probable Maximum Flood.
The requirements of this Policy are additional to, and complimentary to, the provisions of the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Local Environmental Plan 2011 and Port Macquarie-Hastings Development Control Plan 2011 & 2013.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Flood Policy2MB pdf(PDF, 2MB)
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Protect your laptop in a dynamic style.
Both your back and your laptop will be protected with the padded laptop compartment.
The distinguished design bag offers additional compartments, organizer and zippers that can be locked.
Registered design®
16.0 x 41.0 x 31.0 cm
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SoulFul Design is proud
to present the series
Soulight On: a showcase featuring designers of color across different creative fields. My purpose is to shine light on fellow creatives that we don't see in the mainstream design trades. My goal is for you to be inspired, be informed, be creative.
Lisa Hunt, former Creative Director of Essence magazine, launched her own design consultancy, Lisa Hunt Creative, and product line, Parasol New York, in 2009. With over a decade of experience in art directing photography in the categories of food, home, celebrity, fashion, beauty, health, fitness, and travel her work is vibrant, polished and fuses her well-honed knowledge of industry trends in publishing and branding across multiple platforms including web, tablet and mobile.
Her passion and special interest in ceramics, home textiles, furnishings and tabletop led her to create a line of home accessories, greeting cards and art prints for her company Parasol New York.
A former adjunct professor at New York University and a Pratt Institute alumnus, she currently resides in Brooklyn.
1. How did you first become interested in graphic design?
My mother was very instrumental in my interest in art and encouraged my creativity from an early age. She was a true creative spirit herself as she was always drawing, painting, knitting, crocheting, decorating and gardening. She passed away very suddenly two years ago but her creative spirit lives on in my sisters and me. During my preteen years, my love for reading magazines and music sparked my interest in type, color, and photography. By high school, everything from album covers, book covers, fashion and packaging were things I found myself drawn to and became a bit obsessed with. As a junior, I took a commercial art class at a technical school—where they also taught farm machine repair—for two hours a day twice a week. We learned everything about color theory, composition and typography. That class and its teacher really paved the way for my career in graphic design.
Even after my experience in the art class, I didn't understand that it was possible to make a living as a graphic designer. I applied to and was accepted to liberal arts colleges. My decision was to study journalism as a way to work in magazines. For financial reasons, I had to delay my enrollment in American University and worked for a year to save money. It was during that year that a friend told me about different art colleges and encouraged me to apply. I used my high school portfolio.
2. Often times, families of color look at the creative arts as a 'white thing' that we should get a 'good job' like a doctor, lawyer, government worker, etc. What did your family think about your choice of career? Do or did they support it?
I think my parents, and even friends, had doubts about me pursuing my creative desires and studying art in college. Like me, they really didn't understand the possibilities and potential of making a living—let alone building a career—as a creative professional. But I was always very driven and hard-working so I don't think my family ever worried about me not making a living. They are very proud of me and all that I've accomplished—even if they don't always understand the scope of what it is I do on a daily basis. When my grandmother looks at one of the magazines that I've worked on, she still asks me if 'I do the ads'!
3. How did you get your first big break?
I've had a few breaks along the way but the one that comes to my mind first was working at New York Magazine in the marketing department. It was there that I got my first printed piece, I still have several copies. It was an advertising sell sheet where I got to assign the illustration as well as to go on a press check. It was the first time I worked on a project, from start to finish, by myself.
4. In your experience, have you ever felt that you and/or your work were ignored simply because of your ethnicity? What made you think this?
I haven't really felt any blatant disregard for my work. I do feel that my name gave me an advantage especially in the beginning of my career. Most times when I showed up at an interview, I could tell by the interviewer's expression that they didn't expect me to be black. It's hard to say if they felt I had something to prove to them because I am black but my work spoke for itself and I was able to slowly make my way and build my portfolio.
As a creative director in publishing, I know I'm in a small group of black designers, art directors, stylists and photographers. Publishing and traditional print is shrinking and it's a very competitive job market. I feel that I have to constantly add to my technical skills and keep up with design trends. But that's true for most creative professionals; the best we can do is to always be prepared.
5. Have you ever attended any events or conferences in your industry? Did you feel welcomed? Did you see many folks of color? If not, how did that make you feel?
I was more active in industry events when I was younger like the Society of Publication Designers and the Art Directors Club. There were usually one or two other black designers in attendance but I got used to being one of a few. As friendly as people usually are, it can still have an isolated and lonely feeling. It can make you insecure but if you want to survive in this industry, you have to move forward despite those feelings. Believe in your talent, network, and make your presence known in the design community.
6. Lastly, what project are you most proud of and why?
I was creative director at Essence magazine when we were given exclusive access to then Senator Barack Obama and his family at their Chicago home. We only had a 15-minute window to shoot the family, so the pressure was on to create an iconic image of the first black man with a solid chance to make history as the first African-American President. After the election, that image was everywhere—from mainstream media to tea towels sold on the streets of Harlem. The magazine was later given access to the First Lady and her mother at the White House for a special Mother's day cover. If you would have told me as a teenager growing up in Aurora, Colorado that I would one day be directing photography in the White House—I can't even imagine the level of disbelief I would have felt!


text: Hello world! Uncategorized Hello world! March 10, 2012 | By ghost Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging! Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)Like this:Like Loading... Related Click to donate<< >>New Home About the author : ghost


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Rachel La Grandeur
Club Member Since 3/6/2011
"Travel is Fatal to Prejudice, Bigotry. and Narrow-mindedness." Mark Twain
City: Fort Lauderdale State: FL
Age: 39.2 years old
Marital Status: Single
Family members:
Places Ive called home and why I like where I am now:
When I started running and what got me started:
What does running mean to me:
Running accomplishments:
What I like about trail/mountain running:
Favorite running trail and why:
Favorite trail/mountain race and why:
Best running experience:
Worst running experience:
Neatest thing found on a run:
Running related bathroom stop story:
Running pet peeves:
Other hobbies and interests:
Other stuff:
Page last modified: 12/7/2011


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Nov 24, 2017 - 06:29 AM
This kit supplies a Borg Warner Performance S300SX3 Turbo - 66mm / 80mm / 0.91 A/R as the primary charger. The secondary charger is the Super B Single Turbocharger that MUST already be on the truck to complete the system. The Super B Single is a S358 SX Turbo - 58mm / 74mm / 0.80 A/R.


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as suggested by Angela of Chocolate Syrup for the Soul (her blog is readable by invitation only).
This is a wide-open topic to have fun with. What aspect of water will you show us with your camera? Running water? Bath water? Water in puddles, or water falling from the sky? A glass of water, half empty, or the edge of an ocean, spreading out as far as the camera can see? It's totally up to you!
We do have some guidelines, though, and from time to time it's good to remind folks of them, for people who are new to the Challenges and for people who lose track of details:
1. DO RSVP in the comments with your name or handle, the name of your blog and the blog's full URL, thus:
Yes, I'm prepared for water!
Two By Two
Please include these details EVERY time you play. It helps us to compile the Linking List, and it cuts down on errors. People frequently change blogs, so don't expect us to assume it's the same blog as last time. Also, please proofread the URL before posting the comment. We tend to post the link you gave us, typo and all, which kind of makes it hard for anyone to reach your blog!
It's also helpful if you leave another comment after you've posted, to let us know your entry is up.
2. DO NOT post your entry before the Challenge date. The idea is for everyone to post on that date (or if necessary, up to six days thereafter), so that readers can conveniently visit all the entries. We don't want to scroll down to something you did two weeks ago.
3. DO make sure the entry is relevant to the Challenge. Occasionally someone leaves a link to something they posted that has little or nothing to do with the topic. At minimum your entry should mention the Round Robin Photo Challenges and the current topic. Otherwise, it's not really a Round Robin entry, is it? A link back to this blog is strongly encouraged, so that people can find every one else's entries and not just yours. A Linking List of participants is posted here around midnight as the Challenge date begins, and is updated over the next day or two. If you want to include this in your entry too, that would be most helpful.
A full set of guidelines is posted here. Please check it out if you are new to the Robins or have any questions. You can also email us with questions, concerns or future topic ideas. Our email addresses are on the sidebar.
Got it? Good! Start taking your watery photos, and get ready to post them on Saturday, January 30th. See you then!
Linking List
as of 4:15 PM PST
Karen - Posted!
Outpost Mâvarin
Carly - Posted!
Jama - Posted!
Sweet Memories
ellen b. - Posted!
The Happy Wonderer
Mary / The Teach (new blog!) - Posted!
Mary Tomaselli's Photos
Suzanne R - Posted!
SuzyQ421's Photo Blog
Linda - Posted!
Mommy's Treasures
Nancy - Posted!
Nancy Luvs Pix
Teena - Posted!
Teena in Toronto
Sherrie - Posted!
Sherrie's Stuff
carolynUSA - Posted!
Ford Family Photos
Facts from a Fact Woman
Manang Kim - Posted! **Welcome, New Member**
My Life's Journey in Focus
Jenn Posted!
My Muskoka
Gattina - Posted!
Keyhole Pictures
Nesa ** Welcome, new member ** - Posted!
Frozen in Time Photos
Rita aka Cashjocky - Posted!
Cashjocky and the Old Salt
Sandy - Posted!
From The Heart Of Texas
Ruth - Posted!
The Scrabble Queen


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These are some ideas Bridgebuilder churches have used to begin developing a redemptive relationship with their communities.
Volunteering to help the cafeteria workers in the schools
This is a great one for building a rapport with the school and helping your people see that side of life
Taking a Vacation Bible School INTO a neighborhood
This helps people meet you—lets them see their children are safe with you—lets your people meet neighbors who may hide out in their houses otherwise
Offer A GOOD QUESTION Forum in a neighborhood coffee shop
This I can share in detail—but you create a middle space where people are invited to come, enjoy coffee and ask questions about the Bible, God, Christianity etc—where they will not be asked to join anything , agreed or commit to anything.
Throw a Baby Shower for an Unwed Mother
Walk the Neighbor Hood and Ask "How can we make this a better place to live for you?"Great starter for spiritual conversations)
Adopting a Food Bank and Offering Coaching in Food Preparation
Microwavable and easy-to-prepare food is not often present and people have to learn how to use the food they receive
Diaper Changing Stations at Community Festivals
Setting up a Prayer Station at a Community to Pray for Loved Ones in Afghanistan, etc.
Does your church have an idea they would share with us?


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DSI Electronics
Audio, Video, Lighting Control, & Home Automation
Call and schedule an appointment today
(813) 479-6940
(813) 714-8387
Serving Pasco County and surrounding reigions
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DSI Electronics - Audio, Video, Lighting Control, & Home Automation
About Us..
We pride ourselves in customer care and service. With over 30 years of experience or staff is knowledgable in our industry. We specialize in design, sales and installation of Home Electronics and Accessories. As most of our projects come from referrals. We also work with builders, architects, designers and decorators to design and provide a system that is customized to your specific needs. Weather you are planning on remodeling your current home or building a new home, you can rely on DSI Electronics to design a system that is the right system for you.
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PACS Document Scanner
DocScan is a document scanning program for converting paper documents and image files to DICOM objects and importing them into PACS. DocScan incorporates "modes" which are profiles for how a scanned document should be converted and sent to PACS. DocScan supports archive queries and modality worklist queries for sending exams to PACS. DocScan should work with any TWAIN compliant scanner and also supports the Fujitsu ScanSnap Scanners (non-TWAIN compliant). DocScan can either be integrated with Emageon PACS (via shortcut key, viewport button, context or system menu) or used as a standalone product with other PACS vendors.
Scroll to the end of this page to download DocScan and the setup instructions which describe DocScan's features in greater detail.
The DocScan scanning window (with and without a scanned image)
LicenseYou are free to use DocScan on any number of workstations you want as long as you agree to the following:
Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions about DocScan.
Programs >


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Lip Saver
January 17, 2014 § Leave a comment
You know how you have 20 lip balms, but you can never find any? This crisis can finally be averted. Rodin has found a way for us to keep our lip balm on hand – literally. Check out this handy-dandy lip balm ring!
Linda Rodin, New York stylist and beauty guru, incorporates her famous floral scent in a delightfully moisturizing, all natural, sheer lip balm. The blush colored balm combines jasmine, orange flower oil, shea butter, beeswax, and castor seed oil. We carry the both the original packaging, a chic lucite square compact, and also the ring.
You gotta try it!


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Macronstore Wakefield provides the complete solution to all your teamear needs through a range of 'TOTAL LOOKS' that cover all seasons, weathers and elements.
There are 4 different Total Look collections all of which come in a variety of colours to enable you to match up to your club colours...
When you've chosen which garments you'd like to make up your team wear collection samples can be borrowed from store to help with sizing up your players. Some of our full clubs hold samples at the club to enable new players & supporters to be sized easily without ever having to visit our store again. All your chosen products are held on file so that they can be ordered, produced and with you within 14 working days.
(production times may vary due to stock availabitiy and at busy periods of the year)