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Fornicate Mr. "nice guy"…: This crap has got to stop
Jimmy Carter's Presidency left a legacy, proving beyond doubt that idiots with massive educational degrees can still be idiots. No amount of education in the world can generate common sense where non existed in the first place.
His administration did a number on our military that hadn't been seen since the days following WW I when the educated idiots of that period, posing as so-called "statesmen", decreed that 'One' was the 'war to end all wars' and proceeded to all but destroy our fighting capability.
Carter, coupled with another idiot, Frank Church of Idaho, and a democratic congressional version of "Mass Destruction R Us" liberals, this Awesome Twosome of Idiotville all but destroyed our CIA; wiping out many years of hard work and untold millions of dollars, spent moving underground moles into the most sensitive terrorist states and organizations that threaten our very survival.
But Jimmy left us another legacy. It came home to roost on Tuesday, the most infamous day in the history of modern civilization.
Carter was and is not exactly the Man Of La Mancha. His ideas of the "impossible dream" were all framed in red with gold leaf consisting of hammers and sickles around the edges, or formulated while watching Sesame Street.
Everything he touched turned to shit, and nowhere was this more true than with his Executive Order banning the targeting of mad men to be removed from the gene pool.
If anything is self evident to the average person with a modicum of common sense, it is this:
There are assholes in this world who are so evil that they have forfeited all right to the supposed treatments of modern, "civilized" society. The bottom line is simply that these bastards need to be taken out as rapidly as possible in the interest of mankind and there is no room for the bullshit of "Justice" or having a "day in court" for these vermin.
Idi Amin Dada was one such creep. We let him walk.
Ghadafi is another. Thankfully, Reagan had the stones to reach out and more than just touch that sorry son of a bitch, and for awhile, he behaved himself; at least in public, where the United States was concerned.
Castro continues to languish, over forty years after our Socialist State Department and Ike put him in power.
Clinton is running free as a bird while having his ass kissed by his socialist followers, who have orgasms while dreaming of the New World Order / Socialist police state they are working so hard to establish with what is left of our Republic.
Unfortunately, George Bush Senior was so kind and gentle, he couldn't pump enough oxygen into what supposedly poses for a brain, to understand that you don't leave Hitler wanna-be's like Saddam in power, and so, ten years later, we are still screwing around with Iraq, just as fifty years later, we are still screwing around with North Korea, because idiots were posing in the Oval Office without the sense or the balls to take out the assholes and put a stop to their nonsense.
Nowhere is this more true, then with Bin Laden. While Clinton lifted skirts, dropped his drawers, and stained the carpet in the Oval Office for two terms as Chief Peckertive, this lowest of the camel-dung beetles has gone on, unchecked, financed by major Arab states, with the goal of waging a terrorist war on this country. The congress, sworn to uphold and defend our Constitution, instead, has been busy with chain saws and fire axes, working so hard to tear it apart they haven't had time to deal with inconsequential things like making sure our CIA is properly funded and managed towards defending our country from exactly the type of undeclared acts of war that took place on September 11th, Rosh Hashanah, sending a clear message to the United States of Israel and it's supporters that the Arab states are not a happy lot.
Tuesday, within hours of the unprecedented acts of war committed upon our shores by Arab terrorists, I heard the same bull shit coming through the boob-tube; ala Carter, as we heard from Shrub Senior and the host of other gutless wonders who supposedly are sworn to lead this nation and defend it. We can't be nasty and just go after those responsible and blow their asses away. We must be "civilized"……we must use "due process"…..we must not kill innocent people in our urge to revenge those who were murdered by savages posing as civilized beings. WHAT THE HELL ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF "INNOCENT" AMERICANS SLAUGHTERED BY THE TERRORIST VERMIN OVER THE YEARS? It's time to cut the crap and instead cut to the chase!
This is one American that will put it blunt and to the point. BULL SHIT! I extend a hearty kiss off and "go-take-a-flying-f-k-at-the-moon" to these idiots that CNN, MSNBC, and the other stations continue to drag out of their holes, to spread massive amounts of do-good idiotspeak through the air waves.
We are long overdue to rebuild our intelligence capability, to seek out these pretenders to humanity and when we find them, we send in the experts; be they snipers, dirty tricks specialist, stealth bombers, or whatever, and we take these bastards out, pure and simple.
To those rogue states who hide and/or finance or support terrorist activities, we let it all hang out…..
You hide a terrorist within your borders; you help finance and/or support their activities, we will kill a hundred or a thousand of your people for every American who is killed or injured by your mad dogs.
We send that message, and back it up with B-2's, F-117's, Cruise missiles and anything and everything else required to send the message, loud and clear. Take out their military, their infrastructure and their government operations while putting the fear of Allah into them like nothing that has ever done so in their history.
We make the bottom line clear: Terrorist activity against the United States, it's people, it's corporations, or it's military, WILL NOT GO UNPUNISHED. THE PAYBACK WILL BE A BITCH!
This country has a long history of proving that talk is cheap. Grand-standing is the standard operational mode of every politician working to save his or her own ass while making loud pronouncements with all the substance of a soapsuds bubble. It's time for this to stop, permanently. You tells them once, then you knock the living hell out of them to get their attention and you make it clear that an attack on any American is an attack on our whole country; period, end of message!


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Wednesday, 30 September 2009
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
From Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
I fell in love with Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman last year when I read it for my British and American Lit Class. Leaves of Grass is one of the works that often end up on Banned or Challenged lists. I find verse 17 particularly pertinent to the subject of banning of books:
These are really the thoughts of all men in all ages and lands, they are not original with me,
If they are not yours as much as mine they are nothing, or next to nothing,
If they are not the riddle and the untying of the riddle they are nothing,
If they are not just as close as they are distant they are nothing.
This is the grass that rows wherever the land is and the water is,
This the common air that bathes the globe.
Verse 24 is also good as it speaks of the poet as the voice of the voiceless. When we ban books we quite voices. Voices that should be heard.
Teaser Tuesday
TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:
- Grab your current read.
- Let the book fall open to a random page.
- Share with us two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
- You also need to share the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given!
- Please avoid spoilers!
"The more stitches the less riches; the more stitches the less..."
"The introduction of Our Ford's first T-Model..."
(Pg 46)
Monday, 28 September 2009
Musing Mondays: Wishes Come True
Today's MUSING MONDAYS post is about your wishlist...
Do you keep a book wishlist, either on paper, Amazon/etc, or via a book database site (Shelfari, GoodReads, LibraryThing)? If yes do you share this list with others (especially coming up to Christmas)?
I do have an Amazon wishlist. I don't use it much any more because I've moved to using Shelfari because I can put down who or where it was recommended. That way I can credit when I blog about it. I will probably just use my Shelfari list and tell my family to buy the books at BookDepository which is so much cheaper for us. We do like wishlists in my family and in the last few weeks I've added so many new books to my TBR list.
I read banned books
Instructions: If you have read the whole book, bold it. If you have read part of the book, italicize it. If you own it but haven't gotten around to reading it yet, *** it.
1. The Bible
2. Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain***
3. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes (I highly doubt I will ever finish this)
4. The Koran***
5. Arabian Nights***
6. Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain***
7. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift***
8. Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer***
9. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
10. Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
11. The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli
12. Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
13. Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
14. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
15. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
16. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo***
17. Dracula by Bram Stoker***
18. Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin
19. Tom Jones by Henry Fielding
20. Essays by Michel de Montaigne
21. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
22. History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon
23. Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
24. Origin of Species by Charles Darwin***
25. Ulysses by James Joyce***
26. Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio
27. Animal Farm by George Orwell
28. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
29. Candide by Voltaire***
30. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
31. Analects by Confucius
32. Dubliners by James Joyce***
33. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
34. Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
35. Red and the Black by Stendhal
36. Das Capital by Karl Marx
37. Flowers of Evil by Charles Baudelaire
38. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
39. Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence
40. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
41. Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser
42. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell***
43. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
44. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque***
45. Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx
46. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
47. Diary by Samuel Pepys
48. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
49. Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
50. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury***
51. Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
52. Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant
53. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
54. Praise of Folly by Desiderius Erasmus
55. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller***
56. Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X
57. The Color Purple by Alice Walker***
58. Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
59. Essay Concerning Human Understanding by John Locke
60. Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
61. Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe
62. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn***
63. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
64. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
65. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
66. Confessions by Jean Jacques Rousseau
67. Gargantua and Pantagruel by François Rabelais
68. Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes
69. The Talmud
70. Social Contract by Jean Jacques Rousseau
71. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
72. Women in Love by D. H. Lawrence
73. American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser
74. Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler
75. A Separate Peace by John Knowles***
76. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
77. Red Pony by John Steinbeck
78. Popol Vuh
79. Affluent Society by John Kenneth Galbraith
80. Satyricon by Petronius
81. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
82. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov***
83. Black Boy by Richard Wright
84. Spirit of the Laws by Charles de Secondat Baron de Montesquieu
85. Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
86. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
87. Metaphysics by Aristotle
88. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder (all of them. many times)
89. Institutes of the Christian Religion by Jean Calvin
90. Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse
91. Power and the Glory by Graham Greene
92. Sanctuary by William Faulkner
93. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
94. Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin
95. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
96. Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
97. General Introduction to Psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud
98. Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
99. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Alexander Brown
100. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
101. Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman by Ernest J. Gaines
102. Émile Jean by Jacques Rousseau***
103. Nana by Émile Zola***
104. Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
105. Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin
106. Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
107. Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein
108. Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Peck
109. Ox-Bow Incident by Walter Van Tilburg Clark
110. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
111. Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume***
112. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
113. The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare***
114. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle***
115. The Witches of Worm by Zilpha Keatly Snyder
Including the ones I gave up as bad jobs I've read 26. I am guessing I will need to get started on this list. There are several I want to read.
Sunday, 27 September 2009
The Sunday Salon: Banned Book Week
I am not a fan of banning in general. Unless it will physically endanger someone I find it far more productive to talk about it. By forbidding something we make it more desirable. When we instead talk about it we might find that we learn something from it. There are authors out there who can imagine societies and events that I cannot. When I read their books and am presented with the idea I can evaluate it and decide that this is not what I want for my society. This way we will not make the mistakes in society that were presented in the book. We do not need to reinvent the wheel (I have a fondness for dystopian novels).
A banned book that had a profound impact on me as a teenager was Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. It fundamentally changed the way I looked at society. As I see society move towards an ideal where "ending is better than mending" I try and not fall into the trap. I admire those who make their own, who mend, who live a sustainable lifestyle because thanks to Huxley I have seen the alternative and I do not like it. Another aspect of the book that I found interesting as a teenager and even more so was the promiscuous lifestyle of the characters. This aspect is one of the reasons it is often challenged:
Banned in Ireland (1932). Removed from classroom in Miller, MO (1980), because it made promiscuous sex "look like fun" and challenged frequently throughout the U.S. Challenged as required reading at the Yukon, Oklahoma High School (1988) because of "the book's language and moral content." Challenged as required reading in the Corona-Norco, California Unified School District (1993) because it is "centered around negative activity." Specifically, parents objected that the characters' sexual behavior directly opposed the health curriculum, which taught sexual abstinence until marriage. The book was retained, and teachers selected alternatives if students object to Huxley's novel. Brave New World was again challenged in Foley, Alabama (2000) because of the depictions of "orgies, self-flogging, suicide" and characters who show "contempt for religion, marriage, and the family." The book was removed from the library, pending review. Source: 2001 Banned Books Resource Guide From ALAs Website
I found this interesting because to me the book, although displayed the "negative activity" it certainly did not make it "look like fun". Instead it presented an empty existence. One where individuals made no real connection to others. They didn't really connect with themselves. It was the emptiness of the characters that stuck with me. I think that this book can so easily be used to start a discussion regarding appropriate behaviour and WHY this behaviour is appropriate (or not).
This week I read (or actually listened to) a Banned Book that has been on my TBR list for a very long time, The Giver by Lois Lowry. I am so glad I read it. Again it affected me in a profound and real way. It made me think about values and morals in society. About how we organise society. I also listened to another frequently challenged book recently Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and am currently listening to the Half-Blood Prince both by J. K. Rowling. This series is often challenged for "encouraging witchcraft". Again I disagree. To me the witchcraft and wizardry that is in it simply is. To me it is a character trait, much like someone being strong. The characters just have it. They don't choose to be witches or wizards. To me the books are more about the choices we make and how they affect ourselves and others. It is about friendship and about love. Surely these are things that need to be discussed in today's world?
Out of the books on the various banned and challenged lists I have read a fair few. Some I enjoy immensely like The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird, 1984 and Brave New World. Others I have a more complex relationship with. But none of them have left me without any feelings at all. All of them have made me think, some of them have solidified my feelings on some aspects of life others have changed me. All have lead to discussions at the time of reading and all have given me another building block of cultural knowledge. They have made it easier for me to see connections or make deductions. A few years ago I read Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence. The book is often banned or challenged for its rather crude language and I have to admit that I found it a bit over the top. But having read that book meant that when I read Snake by Lawrence last year for my literature class I was one of the few students who made the connection to something sexual and it was only the teacher who understood my offhand remark that one could not disregard that view since it was Lawrence. I think I have circled back to the point that reading books gives us a better foundation for making decisions on. A book itself is never dangerous. Knowledge can never be dangerous, but the books should not be read in isolation. They should be discussed and turned over. We should always ask ourselves if be believe it to be true and if we believe it to be right.
Link round-up of great posts on Banned Books
Natasha at Maw Books Blog has a great round-up of links and some great thoughts.
As does The Biblio Blogazine. I am taking part in their challenge.
I also like the look of Burn This Book that Dawn at She is too Fond of Books has reviewed.
Now I am going to curl up with Brave New World, so look out for a review of it later in the week (or possibly later today, one never knows)
Saturday, 26 September 2009
Book Review: The Giver by Lois Lowry [Audiobook]
Narrated by: Ron Rifkin
Synopsis: This is the story of Jonas, almost twelve. He lives with his Mother and Father and younger sister Lily. Jonas is a fairly typical boy. He goes to school, he plays with his best friend Asher and the other children. He loves to ride his bike. But when Jonas turns twelve something changes. Jonas meets the mysterious Giver and life will never be the same again.
My thoughts: Wow. Just wow. It has been a long time since a book stayed with me in this way. It was one of those books that you know has profoundly affected you but you are still not quite sure how. As a Teenager I loved one of Lowry's other books, Number the Stars. It really made me see courage in a different light. This book has affected me in a different way I think. The way the story is built up, the normalcy of it all, to have it changed makes you doubt and question your own perceptions. Lowry manages to make Jonas's feelings into the readers feelings. Although I am not a twelve year old boy I felt like I was feeling everything Jonas was feeling. Which for a book about feelings and memories is not only essential but also amazing. This was one of my banned books and although I can see why some would want it banned I think that it would be devastating! This book has so much to offer both purely stylistically and also as fodder for discussion. It is a book that one should not read and keep in their heart but rather one that should and must be talked about. This is truly an important book!
Audiobook: The narrator was superb. He didn't try and go to much into the voices of the characters. It wasn't really necessary. He slowed down and sped up in all the right places. He was masterful. I really could have done without the music that sometimes overlaid the narration. It desturbed me a lot actually. Especially when it was at an exciting place because I wanted to concentrate on the words not music!
Thursday, 24 September 2009
Booking Through Thursday: Books that make me sad
What's the saddest book you've read recently?
(Is any body getting bored with this series of "recent" questions? Because I'm having fun!)
On principal I try and stay away from sad books. I read to make myself feel good an I cry enough IRL that I try and avoid sad books. I did just finish The Giver by Lois Lowry and it made me feel sad, but not sad (and boy do I need to learn precision of language). It made me feel something that I cannot yet define (I will try and define it when I write my review of it over the weekend). I also recently read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling and I wasn't sad this time because I knew what was happening but I certainly felt sad the first time I read it. Maybe that will have to qualify for this time around.
Don't forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don't have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
Fall into Reading 2009: Reading List
My list:
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
This is a re-read for me. It was one of my favourite books in high school. It is part of the Banned Book Challenge. I am not going to do so much of a review of this one as a discussion regarding the reasons it was challenged.
The Giver by Lowry
This is another Banned Book. This is an audio book from Audible. I've never actually read this book but I have wanted to do so for ages. I am absurdly fond of dystopian novels so this one is a treat for me.
The Year of Living Biblically by A. J. Jacobs
I bought this book over the summer but I have only read a few pages so I am going to start it over for the challenge. I am looking forward to this book because I think it is a fascinating idea. I also wanted to include at least one non-fiction on the list.
My Ántonia by Willa Cather
I picked this one up during the summer as well. I wanted to read it because I have read very few books about the American frontier (I've read the Little House on the Prairie books and that is it!). How little I had read became clear this spring when I did my survey course in British and American Literature. I picked this book because it is about a woman by a woman, something I enjoy.
I will also be continuing my re-read of The Belgariad and The Mallorean by David Eddings. In addition to this I am awaiting the release of the next In Death book by J. D. Robb: Kindred in Death which is due out on November 3rd. But I am not including them in the challenges since they are my relaxing books. Books I don't really take notes on when I read (the school bus here is also the regular bus and the kids were looking at me like I was insane since I was making notes today). So there we have it: My books for the challenge
Monday, 21 September 2009
Book Review: Queen of Sorcery
Category: Fantasy
Book two of Eddings saga The Belgariad takes us further into the mysteries of the missing important item (what it is is revealed) and we are introduced to new characters and new lands. Although the story picks up a few short weeks after the first book, Pawn of Prophecy, we meet a much more grown up Garion. What he has learned has taken him from a boy to a young man (although he still has quite a bit of growing up to do).
My thoughts: This is perhaps my least favourite book in the series (please don't stop reading it though). I just felt like it plodded a long to much. It was a bit to much of a set up for future books. Having read the whole series before I can see the necessity of it a bit more but I have to admit that some of it still bores me a bit. I also don't much like the portrayal of Garion in this book. I know teenage boys can be sullen and moody and I understand his frustration with the adults withholding information from him. But at the same time the way he treats people seemed off to me, even when I, myself, was in the throws of teenage angst. There seemed little need for it. Especially since he is also portrayed as a "sensible lad". All in all I understand the books importance for the overall story arc but as a stand alone novel I would probably have given up on it.
Sunday, 20 September 2009
The Sunday Salon: First Ever Post (for Me)
So what to write about here? Well since it is my first post I thought I would make it a bit about me. While surfing the bloggs at BBAW I came across this blog from Kim at Sophisticated Dorkiness where she asks the following question:
How do you squeeze reading into your schedule? What's your best tip for making reading a habit when it feels like there's no time? Or for students, how do you balance work and pleasure reading without burning yourself out?
I am currently a gradstudent studying for my MEd Secondary School English (primarily ESL). One of the reasons this blog got put on the back burner in the spring was because I became overwhelmed by school work. I did read, I mean I was doing a survey course in English and American Literature, but reading for pleasure didn't happen as much as I would have liked. This year I am determined to get a better balance. To allow myself more time for reading. My plan for now, and this will need to be tweaked probably since I start student teaching tomorrow *insert me as a headless chicken with my arms flailing here* and who knows what that will be like. The plan so far is:
- In bed with book for fun at 9pm at the latest.
- When I have to take the bus (which will happen at least Monday and Tuesday next week) either book or audio book on iPod.
- Weekends are for fun stuff and this includes reading.
For me finding a balance between school books and fun books has come down to this: Setting aside time for each. I am fortunate that I do my school on a distance learning basis. That means I sit at home and my classes are through Adobe Connect or a video streaming site. This means that I don't have any time between classes where doing school work might be hard to do. So I have decided that from 8-5 I do school work (with a break for lunch where I can do fun stuff) and after 5pm is time for me. I am not always good at doing this and sometimes school scuppers it (giving us several long chapters to read on Friday for Monday) but most of the time I know what school needs and when. I also try and shove reading in when I do have "dead time" like next week when I am stuck on a bus for almost an hour. I intend to imitate the New Yorkers and bury my nose in a book.
Looking forward to next week:
I want to finish Queen of Sorcery and start Magician's Gambit both by David Eddings. They are part of my re-read of the The Belgariade and The Mallorean. When I heard that Eddings had passed away this spring I decided that I would re-read these two series, unfortunately at the time I was on a different continent from my Eddings books and the local library only had a couple of them from the middle of the series so that plan had to wait.
I also intend to take part in Fall Into Reading that Katrina at Callapidder Days is hosting. I was warned not to over reach with challenges and such (thank you so much to all who said that. I knew it but needed to hear it from more experienced people too) so I am not going to jump on to many to start with but this one seemed like a nice gentle introduction into the whole challenge scene. So be on the lookout for my post on that on Monday or Tuesday (it will probably be Monday since Tuesdays are a bit of a bear for me). I will also take part in Banned Book Week September 26th through October 3rd over at The Biblio Blogazine. I will be reading an old favourite of mine that I haven't read in forever: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and commenting on the reasons it was challenged (and banned from some places) and why I think it is an important book.
Other than that I am hoping to enjoy some more crisp fall days here where I can go for walks in the woods and pick mushrooms and then come home and curl up with a good book and a steaming cup of tea.
Saturday, 19 September 2009
Book Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix [Audio book]
I was one of those people who sat outside a bookstore for hours waiting for the last book. In fact some friends and I organised a Harry Potter tour of the UK for members of a website in the two weeks leading up to the release. I make sure I re-read the books every so often. Over the summer I managed to get my hands on almost all the US audio books and I have been listening to them off and on since, mainly when I go for my walks or while I eat lunch. I have just finished the Order of Phoenix.
This is one of my favourite books mainly because it is the introduction of one of my favourite characters: Tonks. I also love the deliciously evil Dolores Umbridge and the mischief of Fred and George. It is a funny book but at the same time dark. I find the balance between the two perfectly managed in this book. I also find Harry's burgeoning realisation of what friends really are to be an important lesson to be learned. The fact that at the start of the book he wants to be seen with the cool kids but towards the end he reaches an understanding and appreciation of Luna and Neville, two of the not so cool kids.
Audio version: I am a bit meh about this audio version. I listened to the British Stephen Fry version a few years ago and I suppose I fell in love with it. What I find particularly grating in this one is the accents. Dale reads Dean Thomas with a Scottish accent. As a Harry Potter fan who has lived in the UK I find this grating since Dean Thomas is an Aston Villa fan and therefore, in my mind, from London. He should not have such a Scottish accent. I also do not read Bellatrix to have such a french accent. To me she was British too. She is probably one of the few characters in the book where I really see the actress who played her because that was so very well cast. Helena Bonham Carter is PERFECT in the role. But that isn't what I was going to talk about. Yes so I have a problem with the accent. One day I will definitely buy the British versions instead.
The Penguin in the picture is called Gred. He was our mascot on the aforementioned trip. And if Mor ever reads this, send me your address and he will be returned to you.
Friday, 18 September 2009
Philadelphia Libraries Safe
This makes me ever so happy. I have very fond memories of the libraries in Philly and I know that I have family members who will continue to enjoy them for a long time (especially my brand new cousin Sam).
BBAW: Goals
Hopefully this week you've been visiting a bunch of new book blogs and maybe noticing some things about them you'd like to try yourself. Or maybe you've just had some ideas for improvements to your blog you'd like to put into place or new ideas for content. But there's also probably something you really love about your blog, too, something you're really proud of. It's time to show off! Tell us and this is really important, in 50 words or less what you love best about your blog! And then in 50 words or less where you want your blog to be by the next BBAW! Ready? GO!
What am I most proud of?
That's a hard question since I have just started seriously book blogging. I suppose that is what I am most proud of. Taking that first step to share what I love. Putting my thoughts out there.
Goals for the future:
I want to...
...find a layout and background I love (maybe even a personalized one).
...continue to blogg regularly
...entertain and give tips to others
...take part in different challenges
...get a structure to my entries and my weeks and months (I'm playing with this still)
Thursday, 17 September 2009
Booking Through Thursday
What's the most enjoyable, most fun, most just-darn-entertaining book you've read recently?
(Mind you, this doesn't necessarily mean funny, since we covered that already. Just … GOOD.)
My choice is A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson.
It was funny but it was also thought provoking and made me not want to stop reading. Which to me is an Entertaining book!
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
BBAW Meme
Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?
Occasionally. And it really depends. Nuts are good 'cause then I don't get the pages sticky. I do always have a cup of tea at hand.
Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
Depends on the book I'm reading. I have stared doing it more and more since Susan Wise Bauer said we should and could in her book The Well-Educated Mind. It really does help me think.
How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?
To remember where I am? Neither (unless I am running up to answer the phone or something and I will be right back to the book in which case I leave it flat open, then my dad yells at me)
Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?
Both but mainly fiction.
Hard copy or audiobooks?
Both. I like to listen to a book while I'm eating breakfast or lunch or when I am doing some other (boring) household task. And I can also listen to books I have already read when I drive.
Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put a book down at any point?
Depends on the book if I want to put it down or just read one more page! I usually carry a book that I can put down at any point for when I am waiting at the bus stop/doctors office/generally waiting but I need to put it down once it is my turn.
If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?
Not unless it really bothers me that I don't know it. Often I can guess the meaning from the context.
What are you currently reading?
Queen of Sorcery by David Eddings, The Year of Living Biblically by A. J. Jacobs, Running for Mortals by John Bingham and Jenny Hadfield and I am currently reading my way through the Bible in a year.
What is the last book you bought?
The Epic of Gilgamesh
Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can you read more than one at a time?
Well as you can see from my answer above I read several books at once :D
Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read?
Time of day: No. I read all the time. Favourite place: My bed or curled up in the Red Chair of Doom (unfortunately for me the Red Chair of Doom is on a different continent from me).
Do you prefer series books or stand alone books?
Hmmm...series probably. But only because I have a compulsive need to know what happens next.
Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?
J.D. Robbs In Death Series, David Eddings The Belgariad and The Mallorean, Anne McCaffrey's Pern Series and the Anne of Green Gables Series.
How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author's last name, etc.?)
Right now? Where ever they fit. I am once again running out of bookshelf space. One day when I have my own place (which at this rate is going to need to be a mansion) I would like to organise my books by genre and then author's last name. I like organisation.
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Book Review: Pawn of Prophecy
Long ago, so the Storyteller claimed, the evil God Torak sought dominion and drove men and Gods to war. But Belgarath the Sorcerer led men to reclaim the Orb that protected men of the West. So long as it lay at Riva, the prophecy went, men would be safe.
But that was only a story, and Garion did not believe in magic dooms, even though the dark man without a shadow had haunted him for years.
Brought up on a quiet farm by his Aunt Pol, how could he know that the Apostate planned to wake dread Torak, or that he would be led on a quest of unparalleled magic and danger by those he loved - but did not know?
For a while his dreams of innocence were safe, untroubled by knowledge of his strange heritage. For a little while...THUS BEGINS BOOK ONE OF THE BELGARIAD
My Review: I've loved this book since my mother first read it to me when I was about 10 or 11. Back then I think I loved the adventure. Now I can appreciate the insight we get into the confused mind of a teenage boy along with the mystery that the quest presents. It is an easy read that is definitely accessible for most readers but at the same time there are many layers to the book that makes re-reading a pleasure. As it is the first book in a series I will write a longer review once I've read the whole series.
Saturday, 12 September 2009
Closing of Philadelphia Libraries
If you live in the Philadelphia area here is some information on how to progress.
Thursday, 10 September 2009
Book Review: A Walk in the Woods
This book tells the story of how Bryson and his friend Katz hike the Appalachian Trail (AT. Or at least attempt to do so. It also tells the history of the AT and the surrounding areas. It is a story of the loss of biodiversity, the stupidity and remarkableness of mankind and a bit of a buddy movie. It is also absolutely hilarious. Bryson has a great deal of dry wit and his observations regarding life in America are laugh out loud funny (yes I laughed out loud in airports and on airplanes reading this and I will not apologies) .
While reading this book I kept getting urges to pull out my hiking boots and set of on an adventure. Then I remembered that I consider the day trip up Ben Nevis to be one of my greatest accomplishments but that my friend James will tell you I complained the whole way up and whined the whole way down (he resorted to trickery, we were halfway to the summit for a very long time). I am not a thru-hiker by any stretch of the imagination, but one day I would like to hike at least part of it.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a passing interest in hiking, the outdoors, buddy stories or history. It truly is a book for anyone.


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The fire alarm, gunshots and piercing cries still ring loudly in Jake Glacer's mind.
"There's so much I still hear, I still see," the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School junior told Fox News. "Four people in my class were shot. I couldn't imagine going back into the building."
A week after the Valentine's Day massacre at the Parkland, Florida high school, students, administrators and lawmakers are now focusing on something more concrete: The future of Building 12, the three-story structure where 17 people were gunned down.
"I have four classes in that building, and I know that if I were to go back in there, all I would be able to think about is what we all heard and what we all saw," student Kaelan Small told Fox News.
Some families are considering moving because it would be too "traumatizing" to step foot on campus again.
"It's just something that makes you grow up really quickly, you know?" junior Josh Charo said.
The plan for now is to demolish the building, which has housed mainly the freshman class since it was built almost three decades ago.
"We're working and have been working since we toured the site to tear down the building and put a memorial there," said Florida State Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation.
Book described the building as a "war zone," with blood smeared on walls and floors. She said keeping the infrastructure and just renovating the building is not an option.
"We are tearing that building down," she said.
The school shooting in Newtown, Conn. sparked similar concerns over the future of the building. More than five years later, a memorial is still in its design phase. It took three-and-a-half years to build a new, $45 million elementary school in Newtown, according to former First Selectman Patricia Llodra. She spearheaded the process to decide the future of Sandy Hook Elementary School, holding a series of meetings for the community and elected officials.
Llodra urges Florida lawmakers and the school district not to rush the decision-making process. Instead, she said, they should take the time to involve the people of Parkland.
"It's one of the most critical decisions the community has to make," Llodra said. "It's the first step in the recovery process."
"The last thing I would have to say is tell the loved ones that are around you that you love them."
Aztec High School in New Mexico took a different approach after its December shooting. Instead of demolishing the entire school, officials agreed on gutting two classrooms and transforming them into a lounge/memorial.
But the shooting there was on a much smaller scale – two people died, as well as the gunman.
Superintendent Kirk Carpenter said the decision made efficient use of the district's time, space and money.
"To get a project like this done in a month's time was absolutely amazing," Carpenter told Fox News. "No one's going to change what we do at that high school, and that's to make sure learning takes place."
Book admits demolishing Building 12, erecting a new building and implementing a memorial park on campus is a daunting task, especially with Florida's legislative session nearing its end. Estimates for the proposal come in around $25 to 30 million, which would come from state appropriations.
Not to mention the freshman building on Marjory Stoneman Douglas' campus holds about 900 students, a quarter of the school's population.
The school, named after a women's suffrage advocate, opened in 1990. It's about two hours north of Miami.
Charo acknowledges it will be hard for the school to adjust without the building, saying it "doesn't seem logical for them to tear it down."
"I think going back to school is going to be helpful," Glacer said. "We have to get used to the new normal."
But, even considering this, Charo and Glacer can't fathom returning to the place that carries memories of their worst day.
Lawmakers and school officials understand that.
The district is considering splitting up the school day into sessions to avoid using Building 12.
Students are expected to return to school on Feb. 27.
In the meantime, survivors said they are embracing each and every moment with their loved ones.
"The last thing I would have to say is tell the loved ones that are around you that you love them," said junior Josh Gallagher. "Because you never know when it's going to be cut short or life is going to be taken away."
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What's the best approach to take when you're responsible for minimizing your company's risk and safeguarding their assets during a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack?
It's the question that haunts every chief information security officer (CISO) across the globe, including one at the head of one of the largest banks in the United States. And for CISOs in the financial services industry, the consequence of a missed step could be disastrous.
Cybercriminals have used a number of reasons to deploy DDoS attacks against the financial services industry, including; interrupting access to online services, access to proprietary information, access to personally identifiable information, and the obvious motive of stealing large amounts of money.
Unfortunately for CISOs, the damages don't end there. They also have to deal with the resource-intensive annoyance of being taken offline, as well as the cascading fallout of brand impairment and loss of customer trust that follows.
To make matters worse, some recent DDoS attacks against financial services companies are state-sponsored and are either plotted with the intention of disrupting the flow of money to competing economies, or used as a means of currency manipulation to affect stock markets and the value of a currency.
As attackers become increasingly determined and emboldened to lash out and launch DDoS strikes with impunity, the question for every CISO in the financial services industry continues to linger:
What do you do when you're responsible for minimizing your company's risk and safeguarding their assets during a DDoS attack?
For years, the answer seemed simple enough – throw a lot of hardware at the problem and lock up a single service vendor. This approach seemed to work until the bad guys caught on and adjusted. Now, the threat has changed, the technology used to launch attacks has changed, and worse, the size of attacks and what organizations can endure has changed. Unfortunately, the threats have overwhelmed defenses that were deemed sufficient not that long ago.
In today's cybersecurity landscape, where DDoS attacks against financial institutions are a certainty and not a possibility, having a single defense solution is no longer sufficient. In fact, a single solution may become a single point of failure for the entire financial services industry. And if any industry knows it's a high-profile target for DDoS attacks, and has a lot to lose – it's the financial services industry.
The first high-profile case of DDoS attacks against the industry occurred in 2012 when a number of well-known banks were ruthlessly targeted and taken offline by a series of high-volumetric attacks that were unprecedented at the time. Despite reports that no data was lost or ATM's taken offline, the attackers gained invaluable insight and knowledge into what it takes to overwhelm their defenses.
Since then, the onslaught against financial institutions has only increased over the years. And for financial institutions that didn't heed the lessons from 2012 and build additional layers of security or redundancy into their systems, history soon would prove itself to be cyclical.
The debut of the Mirai botnet in the fall of 2016 forever changed the paradigm of DDoS attacks. The botnet, which was fueled by insecure Internet of Thing (IoT) devices, began to emerge as a new weapon for DDoS attacks.
With volumetric attacks surpassing 1 Tbps - the largest attack volumes ever seen in the industry - chaos reigned down on organizations across the globe. The most devastating incident occurred on October 21, when Mirai was aimed at a well-known DNS provider. The attack succeeded in not only taking the provider offline, but it also created a ripple effect of downtime for companies that solely relied on the DNS provider for access to critical Internet and infrastructure services.
The effect of the attack was so widespread that many began to wonder if the entire Internet had crashed.
To further complicate matters, the sheer size and impact from the Mirai Botnet created a moral and financial dilemma for DDoS mitigation providers. On one hand, they have an obligation to service the attacked company. But in doing so, they would exhaust their mitigation resources, which could affect other clients. And with a number of financial institutions solely depending on one DDoS vendor for protection - much like using only one DNS provider - the possibility of having that vendor become a single point of failure for the entire industry has become a reality.
In effect, the Mirai Botnet solidified the reasoning for employing a complementary or backup DDoS solution.
Seeking to apply lessons learned from previous mistakes, financial institutions are increasingly integrating best practices for building redundancy into their critical networks by either using dual primary DDoS solutions, or employing a secondary or failover DDoS mitigation solution in the event that attacks overwhelm their initial layer of protection.
How Neustar Helps
After the massive DNS outage caused by the Mirai Botnet, Neustar was approached by one of the 3 largest banks in the United States to ensure they had redundancy built into their DDoS defense system.
By turning to Neustar SiteProtect to act as a secondary DDoS solution, our customer was able to implement a robust, on-demand hybrid DDoS defense that's capable of taking over from the customer's primary DDoS mitigation provider in the event of mitigation problems or platform saturation. If the primary DDoS defense system stumbles, Neustar SiteProtect quickly takes over to detect and mitigate attacks while keeping critical systems online without any interruptions.
Our customer designed and provisioned the SiteProtect service to be dynamically customer-triggered, which allowed them to feel secure due to Neustar's local mitigation capabilities. And for this customer, closer mitigation nodes means quicker traffic scrubbing, resulting in less website/application delays and disruptions.
It's Time to Diversify Your DDoS Protection
In financial services, the best practice for customers is to diversify their investments to protect against market risks. Now more than ever, this practice should be applied to your DDoS defenses.
You need to reassess your current DDoS mitigation strategy and understand if your provider could become a single point of failure and represent a costly liability to your organization by becoming overwhelmed by a large attack.
Now is the time to diversify your DDoS mitigation solution because we've seen that relying on just one vendor could spell disaster if they are ever overwhelmed or taken down by a massive DDoS attack - or coordinated attacks against multiple financial institutions.
Now is the time to look for either a dual primary or complimentary provider that's equipped with a redundant and robust DDoS mitigation platform that can supplement your initial solution in the event of an emergency.


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The V&A 'Revolution – Records and Rebels 1966-1970) exhibition closed earlier in 2017. I was invited to give the keynote speech at the launch dinner at the museum. It was well received. Here's the text:
While staying in a Sikh temple in Delhi in April 1965 a couple of guys from San Francisco gifted me with a 1000 microgram capsule of Sandoz pharmaceutical grade LSD. I took my first trip in September of 1965, 51 years ago almost to the day. Then I went back to complete my final year at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. In October Timothy Leary came to Philadelphia with his message to explore higher consciousness. This created a psychedelic community, as happened wherever Leary went.
Like many who became health conscious on acid, I adopted the macrobiotic diet and later visited the Paradox macrobiotic restaurant in New York's Lower East Side. On the spot I decided to cancel my career path of Peace Corps – Navy pilot – State Department and decided instead to open a macrobiotic restaurant in London. I imported books about macrobiotics that were sold at the Indica bookshop. I supplied brown rice snacks every week for the UFO Club from when it opened in December of 1966. My little band of macrobiotic missionaries would talk to people who were eating it, explaining, between Pink Floyd sets, how sugar was bad for you and whole grains were good for you. The American Medical Association described the diet as 'leading to death.' My restaurant opened in February 1967 and one of my first customers was Yoko Ono, who knew macrobiotics from Japan.
People got religion – not the old guy in the sky variety, but the personal spiritual discovery embodied in yoga and meditation and Zen Buddhism.
Our clothes helped us identify each other. I imported coats I'd seen in Afghanistan a year earlier. The Beatles bought some at Granny Takes a Trip boutique on the Kings Road and set off a global craze. I also imported Tunisian kaftans, Tibetan shoulder bags and Chinese silks that Aedan Kelly would dye with blobby designs that were then tailored into shirts and dresses.
Clothes also helped the police to identify us and they started randomly searching and arresting people who looked colourful or had long hair. We understood what it was like to be black and this fuelled empathy for civil rights as well as for drug law reform.
We believed in the power of peace and love. The Vietnam war was at its peak – we tried to stop it and faced up to the full force of the law in Grosvenor Square, Chicago and Kent State.
We experienced nature and the environment on an intuitive and empathetic level, seeking out green places like Golden Gate Park or Kensington Gardens. We read the romantic poetry of Keats and Blake, deploring dark satanic mills.
When the Move sang "I can hear the grass grow' or The Small Faces sang 'It's all too beautiful' we responded viscerally. Then the Beatles summed it all up as "All you Need is Love."
Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth both were born out of this awareness of our oneness with our beautiful planet.
We got sexy. It was hard to repress sexuality when all your other senses were heightened, so if you were gay you let yourself go, if you were polyamorous you started to swing. Sexual experimentation led to sexual liberation.
We were a community – with a strong sense of communalism. Not communism, quit the opposite: we didn't trust the State but we did form communes. Our individualism, communalism and libertinism combined to forge a political libertarianism.
It wasn't easy to get a job if you dressed like a hippie and had long hair, so many set up their own businesses. Fashion, publishing, natural foods and music were areas where entrepreneurial spirits could follow their heart and make a good living.
Our goal was to create an alternative society, an exemplar of how life could be and should be.
We underestimated the degree to which the legacy industries that profit from war, environmental degradation, ill health and financial manipulation would still control the agenda 50 years later.
This exhibition captures magnificently the deep spiritual, philosophical and political intent of those times and their impact on the world today.
It could help to accelerate the change of which we dreamed.
Perhaps it will help us to build Blake's hippie vision of a new Jerusalem in this green and pleasant land.


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The hospital's chief information officer Niranjan K Ramakrishnan told TOI that the situation was quickly controlled as the infected systems were isolated from the networks hosting the hospital and lab information systems.
"The system got infected after an employee downloaded a zipped file with the malware from personal email. Two other machines connected to the system also affected. These systems had a text file that contained a link. It led to a page asking for 2 bitcoins by a deadline," recalls Ramakrishnan. The affected systems were on Windows XP operating system. Strangely, Kumar said, the ransom came down to 1 bitcoin when they checked the link after a couple of weeks.
Ramakrishnan said the hospital chose not to report the attack as the scale of the breach was small and no sensitive data were affected. Paying ransom was also out of the question.
"These systems were not connected to our hospital or lab information systems. Around 90% of the data we had on the infected systems were backed up. We brought in a new policy prohibiting use of external USB drives. We also isolated the enterprise network of the hospital from the external network and got an audit done," Ramakrishnan said.
He added that the hospital has now upgraded to Windows 10 — something that had everyone heaving a sigh of relief as the WannaCry cyber offensive unfolded across the world.
"We definitely would have been in a soup had we not upgraded," Ramakrishnan said. He has disabled internet access on hospital systems since the WannaCry attacks started. "In the last four days, people have begun to understand the importance of such measures," he added.
Ransomware is malware that literally holds one's data to ransom. Once inside the system, it encrypts all data and asks for a "fee" to be sent to the malware creators to release the data to the rightful owner. WannaCry is a strain of ransomware that infected systems in Europe and Asia and started spreading the world over last weekend. In India, 102 computers of Andhra Pradesh Police were compromised.
The current spate of WannaCry ransomware attack exploits certain vulnerabilities in Windows XP.
The ransomware that affected Sir Ganga Ram Hospital last year, Cryptowall, was of a different strain. An advisory from cyber security firm Symantec says: "In Cryptowall spam campaigns, the emails usually contain a malicious attachment. If the user opens the attachment, then their computer will be infected with Ransom Cryptowall."


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This Week in Bitcoin
In this episode of the This Week in Bitcoin podcast from Bitcoin.com, I sat down with my friend Matt Aaron to discuss blockchain surveillance, stable coins, the potential Bitcoin Cash chain split, and the environmentalist propaganda around Bitcoin's energy consumption.
I first connected with Matt after he invited me on the Humans of Bitcoin show and later connected with him during the CoinsBank Cruise this fall in Barcelona, Ibiza and Monaco. He's a great host and I was excited to record another episode with him.
My favorite part of this episode is the discussion on energy. It's fashionable to argue that Bitcoin's energy consumption harms the environment, but this fails to take into account the existing energy consumption of the fiat financial system that Bitcoin hopes to replace.
Consider for example the staggering waste that is produced by deficit financing that could not exist in a world based on honest, hard money in which consumption cannot outpace real wealth. Bitcoin is one attempt to solve that and I think people who attack it are misguided and need to look under their noses at the real energy costs of the fiat system.
Perhaps one day Matt and I will connect for a more in-depth discussion on the topic, and for those who want to know more about fossil fuel consumption in general and to develop a methodology of thinking that can be applied to the question of Bitcoin's consumption, I highly recommend Alex Epstein's The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels.


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Apple demands Mac sites remove OS X on x86 videosApple\'s legal department this week sent \"aggressive\" emails to several web sites that support and advocate its products solely because they linked to videos showing a hacked version of the company\'s Mac OS X operating system running on off-the-shelf PC hardware.
French language Mac news site MacBidouille was one of the first web sites to receive an \"amazingly aggressive email asking for the immediate removal of all links to the videos,\" the site reported on Wednesday.
In an editorial, the site\'s publishers said that they immediately complied with Apple\'s requests, but added: \"we deeply think that it will not change anything.\"
The site, along with others, had used the videos to support news reports that hackers had successfully circumvented Apple\'s Trusted Platform Module (TPM), which was designed to prevent versions of Mac OS X for Intel from running on non-Apple certified systems.
By issuing e-mail-based cease and desist orders, Apple is effectively validating the the claims made by the news sites, as well as the work of the hackers in conquering the TMP scheme.
At Apple\'s World Wide Developers Conference in June, the company announced a switch to the Intel processors and began providing developers with a version of Mac OS X capable of running on proprietary Apple developer test systems that are based on the Intel architecture.
Copies of the operating system soon leaked to Internet file sharing sites and BitTorrent trackers. Following the unauthorized widespread distribution, it took only about a month and a half for hackers to successfully crack Apple\'s TPM scheme and allow the version of Mac OS X to boot on virtually any Intel-based PC.


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Beef – 750 gm ( diced)
To marinate
Red chilli powder – 1 tsp
Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
Coriander powder – 1 tbsp
Pepper powder – 1 ½ tsp
Cumin powder – ¼ tsp
Coconut oil
Onion – 3 ( finely chopped)
Ginger minced – 1 tbs
Garlic – 1 tbs
Curry leaves
Whole garam masala
Cinnamon – 1 small stick
Cloves -3
Cardamom – 3
Bay leaf -1
Marinate the beef with the ingredients and keep it aside for an hour.
Pressure cook the beef by sprinkling some water for 5 whistles.
In a pan add coconut oil and the whole garam masala and saute until nice aroma comes out.
Add the onion and sauté until brown.
Add minced ginger, garlic and fry until raw smell goes off.
Add curry leaves and cooked beef .
Cook for some more time (uncovered) until the gravy thickens and coats the beef.
Finally drizzle some coconut oil and remove from fire.


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I always thought that the key ingredient to operating a successful operation was the culture. I am a big fan of companies like Quicken Loans, Lululemon, Apple and Google. Their culture bleeds from their brand. You can almost tell just by being in their presence that the employees have a total buy in to the culture and they live it.
So the question is how do you infuse a culture that will motivate and inspire your team to success? Yes, performance reviews, the actual hiring process, and giving good feedback and being a great example might be important, but in my opinion, the brand's culture should rank right up there at the top.
It is my belief that satisfied employees feel a close, intimate connection to their company, and are driven to help their employers succeed if they have a connection. And, in addition to the main factors such as job responsibilities, benefits and salary, the culture is a major factor in how satisfied employees feel in their workplace. But creating a good culture goes well beyond the typical benefits like annual bonuses and dress down Friday. It is also about establishing an environment where people feel positive, a sense of purpose, and are fully engaged — not just in what they're doing on a daily basis, but with the company as a whole.
Based on my success and lessons on my entrepreneurial journey here a are a few of my practices I have incorporated into my program that may help you get started:
- Establishing the Goals and Core Values as a Team
Make sure that the goals that are set are actual goals that your staff is aware of. It will be hard to accomplish these goals if your crew has no idea what they are. Sounds elementary, but you would be surprised as to how many people I have spoken to who have no idea of the company goals. It's a very good strategy to involve your team. You will go a long way in inspiring success by bringing the team together in the setting goals process, and developing a set of values all will follow. I have seen that if the team actually helps with establishing the goals, they will create goals they feel are realistic. It makes a world of difference in achieving success in establish core values and goals.
Pick a day and take the group out for lunch for a brainstorming session and get their take on what they think it takes to succeed. Share your goals for the team, answer questions, and get input. This exercise helps to build the foundation and the moral as a whole. Your team will be more likely to buy into their tasks and projects when they know what they're working for, and when they have a sense for how their work fits into the company's big picture and affects the bottom line.
Then it is very important to really listen to everyone's feedback, and talk about what it will take to reach the goals you laid out. Setting up a realistic time frame to accomplish the goal is important. Afterward, come up with a set of values that reflect their actual suggestions. Not only will this help everyone buy into the same core values, it will establish a sense of accountability to follow them. By involving the employees throughout the entire process, it will help to ensure that everyone embraces the meaning and significance of the company values.
- Bringing the Fun to the Work Space
It is a fact that people spend the majority of their time at the job, so why not make work be a place that is fun and makes them happy? It is a good idea to encourage your team members to express their unique personalities in their workspaces, or come up with a fun challenge for the office i.e. adding a cool decor to their workplace. This will open the mind to creativity and also develop an environment that makes them more relaxed and expressive. Another great idea I have seen in workplaces is a trendy break room or team meeting area within the office. This is also a cool, fun way to push creativity and incorporate team building.
- Get out of the Office
Getting out of the office by far is the most fun exercise. Make it a point to allocate outside of the workplace bonding. This helps everyone to get to know each other on a more personal level, an opportunity that we don't always get during the daily grind and pressures of timelines and tasks. These outings can super simple i.e. a monthly breakfast club, signing up for a bowling team or the famous after work happy hour scene. To ensure participation assign a couple different team members to plan the activity each month, which will help ensure that the group activities are viewed as fun, and not mandated.
- Volunteer in the Community as a Team
It always feels good to make a difference and play a part in the community we work in. Getting involved as a group is another way to build a connection between your team members. Plus, it's a new opportunity to do some networking and establish relationships with your business neighbors, the residential community, as well as position the company as one who supports and cares about the community.
A 5k charity run/walk is a good activity. This will bring some friendly competition among co-workers, while at the same time it's also a great way to get out and get in shape. In the construction industry there are always community projects that need our resources so a excellent way we have found to help in the community is to work on neighborhood housing projects lead by non-profits.
In all of these options you do have to keep budget in mind, but to really establish the culture leave some wiggle room in the budget to build the company culture and moral. It's all about the long-term affect. Trust me, for what you get in return it is worth the extra few dollars. Motivated and engaged team members mean greater productivity, and that means the bottom line will notice. WIN-WIN!
In summary, to get the most out of your group and to be performing at an optimal level, and to create a space with the least amount of stress, do what you can to improve employee's daily work experience and develop a culture where everyone believes in the company and feels that he or she directly has a role in the success of the company.
I hope that some of these activities can help you to create a cool, fun culture in your workplace. They have proved very successful in my business, and as a group we have created great relationships and memories that are priceless. A rule I adopted by reading one of my favorite books "The Art of Possibility" rule #6 – Don't take life so serious. I mean if we are going to spend much of our time at work why not make it fun!!!
Be Balanced,
PJ Jenkins, Jr.
firstname.lastname@example.com this Article


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Competency-based management
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Competency-based management (CBM) supports the integration of human resources planning with business planning by allowing organizations to assess the current human resource capacity based on their competencies against the capacity needed to achieve the vision, mission and business goals of the organization. Targeted human resource strategies, plans and programs to address gaps (e.g. recruitment, learning, career development, and succession planning) are then designed, developed and implemented to close the gaps.
Competency-based human resources planning serves as a link between human resources management and the overall strategic plan of an organization. Competencies are defined as observable abilities, skills, knowledge, motivations or traits defined in terms of the behaviors needed for successful job performance.
While competencies are not new to most organizations, what is new is their increased application across varied human resource functions (i.e., recruitment/selection; learning and development, performance management, career development and succession planning, human resource planning). Organizations are looking for new ways to acquire, manage and retain the precious talent needed to achieve their business goals.
Properly designed, competencies translate the strategic vision and goals for the organization into behavior or actions employees must display for the organization to be successful. Competency-based management standardizes and integrates all HR activities based on competencies that support organizational goals.
Connecting to organizational execution[edit]
CBM solutions typically provide input into and drive all aspects of employee career development. This allows organizations to improve productivity in most areas of human capital management human resources. CBM is typically referred to as "strategic" in that it attempts to link organizational planning to job execution.
- Strategic human resource planning
- Competency architecture
- Competency dictionary
- Competency-based recruitment
- Competency-based learning
- Competency-based performance management
- Competency-based career development
The role of CBM is to shape and guide employee behavior from "hire to retire". CBM helps talent acquisition, performance management and learning management systems to be more effective by assessing employees' skills and competencies. CBM also facilitates gap discovery and suggests learning methods (on the job, literature or formal courses) to help improve employee effectiveness.
Competitive market[edit]
The war for talent has driven a marked increase of attention and investment in the talent management space as new vendors continue to enter to support an ever-growing demand for strategic human resources applications. Many of these competitors have entered via the software as a service (SaaS) delivery model, affording small and medium business (SMB) new less-costly options. Competency-based management systems define the job to be done and the consequent required skills to perform said job. The outputs of CBM systems are parameters input into production talent management systems.[citation needed]
See also[edit]
- Competency architecture
- Competency dictionary – A tool or data structure that includes all or most of the general competencies needed to cover all job families and competencies that are core or common to all jobs within an organization
- Human resource management systems
- Learning management system – Software system that serves the delivery of learning content and the organization of learning processes
- Talent management
- Levensaler, Leighanne; Laurano, Madeline (2009), Talent Management Systems 2010, Bersin & Associates
- Dubois, D., & Rothwell, W. (2004). Competency-Based Human Resource Management. Davies-Black Publishing
- Spencer, L M. in Cherniss, C. and D. Goleman, eds. (2001) "The economic value of emotional intelligence competencies and EIC-based HR programs", in The Emotionally Intelligent Workplace: How to Select for, Measure, and Improve Emotional Intelligence in Individuals, Groups and Organizations. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass/Wiley
- Ulrich, D. and Brockbank, W. (2005) The HR Value Proposition. Boston: Harvard Business School Press
- Bartram, D. (2005) The Great Eight competencies: A criterion-centric approach to validation. Journal of Applied Psychology, 90, 1185–1203
- Draganidis, F., & Mentzas, G. (2006). Competency-based management: A review of systems and approaches. Information Management & Computer Security, 14, 51–64
- Homer, M. (2001). Skills and competency management. Industrial and Commercial training, 33/2, 59–62
- Horton, S. (2000). Introduction- the competency-based movement: Its origins and impact on the public sector. The International Journal of Public Sector Management, 13, 306–318
- McEvoy, G., Hayton, J., Wrnick, A., Mumford, T., Hanks, S., & Blahna, M. (2005). A competency-based model for developing human resource professionals. Journal of Management Education, 29, 383–402
- Rausch, E., Sherman, H., & Washbush, J. B. (2002). Defining and assessing competencies for competency-based, outcome-focused management development. The Journal of Management Development, 21, 184–200
- Schmidt, F.L., & Hunter, J.E. (1998). The validity and utility of selection methods in personnel psychology: Practice and theoretical implications of research findings. Psychological Bulletin, 124, 262–274


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barcelona mwc and wlan sim February 19, 2010Posted by tcarlyle in SIM Cards.
Tags: 802.11, android, mwc, nfc, SIM Cards
add a comment
After a long time without posting due to a big wave of work, I finally found a bit of time and a special occasion to write. The special occasion is the Mobile World Congress which happened this week in Barcelona. I haven't been there, but I've followed the news around it, with special attention to the ones related to sim cards. The main focus of the congress seemed to be targeted to the new trend of App stores (where a big revelation was the launching of the Wholesale Applications Community) and in new phone models (highlights on the Windows Mobile 7; the Nokia + Intel Meego announcement; and Samsung Wave, its first Bada device). However there were some big news on the sim world as well.
The first one was about a Android porting to a sim card! This was a prototype from SK telecom which uses a high end sim card whose specification I haven't found but which doesn't seem far from the gigabyte sim's which have been already demonstrated by companies such as samsung or sandisk. The big news are in the porting itself and that apparently the performance over the high-speed usb went quite well. See video below:
The other big news was about the sim card with integrated wireless lan antena. There was a demonstration of it acting as an access point (with video in spanish) and being used to communicate with a nfc device and opening the possibility to do OTA management to the nfc device and dribbling the need of specific nfc phones. The repercussions have been amazing on the news and I feel specially happy since I am between the several people who have been working on the side of the project from Telenor. It is definitely a great achievement, and I personally feel that those are just a small fraction of the possible use cases for a SIM with embedded wireless lan, specially when we consider the considerably growth of the internet-of-things and the pervasiveness of the 802.11 and wifi radio standards. Stay tuned on the wlan sim!


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text: Indians Zing Zumaya & Tigers in the 10th Closing pitcher hands the Tribe 2½-game lead in AL Central By Joseph Fasano, Newser User Posted Aug 24, 2007 3:31 AM CDT 0 comments Cleveland Indians Joe Borowski, left, congratulates Kenny Lofton after beating the Detroit Tigers, 3-1, in ten innings during their Major League Baseball game in Detroit, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007. (AP... (Associated Press) View 2 more images (Newser) – The Indians bested the Tigers 3-1 last night, clinching a 2-1 series win and climbing to 2½ games ahead of Detroit in the American League Central division. Though starters Jake Westbrook and Nate Robertson pitched shutouts through eight innings, Tigers closer Joel Zumaya surrendered three hits to Victor Martinez, Kenny Lofton and Chris Gomez to hand the tribe a 10th-inning win. Zumaya's unreliability was not unexpected. The hard-throwing reliever has pitched twice in the three days since he was activated from the disabled list. "I'm not disappointed in him at all," said manager Jim Leyland. "He' can't strike out everyone every time." The Tigers kick off a four-game series against the Yankees today in Detroit. (Read more Cleveland Indians stories.) View 2 more images


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Saying that KAIST is diverse is a bit of an understatement. The institute has put in a lot of effort to ensure that there is no shortage of people from every continent here in our international community. Look left and there's someone from Europe; look right, there's a person from Africa. There's no end to the different types of people you can meet and talk with and no doubt, since they're from different countries, you have tons of questions to ask about where they're from, what their traditions are like, how their food tastes, and the list goes on.
Well, unfortunately not everyone comes prepared with a PowerPoint about their country.
Talking about one's country can be a bit difficult with just words alone. For example, you can try your hardest to talk about your favorite dish, but it just isn't the same without a picture or better yet, the real thing. And your knowledge alone may not do your country justice as you could be missing a lot of details that would really help cement the picture of your country and culture in someone's mind. If only there was an easy, simple, and interactive way to learn about a country.
Fortunately, there is: it's KAIST ONE (Overseas Networking Exchange)!
KAIST ONE started in 2007 as a way for small groups of students to demonstrate the various facets of their country in an hour-long presentation. The event occurs every semester and around four to five countries present over the span of three months. Each presentation explains a country's key points, such as its geography, cuisine, and history, but the best parts are the live performances and the food that comes afterwards. They don't just tell you about their country, they bring it to you.
This month, the first country to be featured is the nation of Tajikistan. A country in Central Asia, Tajikistan has an extensive history as it was a land that was a part of various empires throughout time. It is the land of many influential people including Jalal Rumi, described as the "most popular" and "bestselling" poet in America and Avicenna, known by biologists for being the author of The Canon in Medicine. The nation has a rich culture and various edifices, both ancient and modern that are second to none in the world.
Tajikistan is a country that feels big. The land is home to countless mountains; 93% of the land is mountainous and is home to the Pamir Mountains and Ismoli Somoni Peak, more than 7000 meters high. The nation has buildings of terrific scale both old and new. The Hulbuk, the Hissar Fortress, and the Khujand are huge historic bastions that give off a royal presence. Modern wonders such as the National and Navruz Palace are equally imposing splendors with a pure royal white aesthetic and grandeur. The Flag Park houses an enormous flag which used to be the biggest and tallest flag in the world. Tajikistan may not be the biggest nation but it certainly doesn't feel small.
There is also a strong theme of unity in the culture. Everything from their sports to their food invokes a sense of doing everything together. It was really best seen with the explanation of Nowruz, the Persian New Years and one of the biggest holidays in Tajikistan. There are various meals eaten on that day. For example, there is Sumanak, a dish made of wheat juice and water. It's prepared in a group and shared with everyone; it is accompanied by various shows, songs, and dances. With food comes play, and the Tajiks engage in many activities such as dances or telling of folklore around fires in small little groups, or the wild sport of Buzkashi where teams try to drag a goat carcass across a goal. Tajikistan is a country that stands together in all aspects of life.
There's a lot more to say here, but really the best way to learn is to go there in person. Tajikistan is only the first of many KAIST ONEs this semester. In November, the countries of Nigeria and Costa Rica will be presenting their slice of culture on the November 5 and 19, respectively, and in December, KAIST ONE will be wrapped up with Turkey on the December 3. There's much to see, learn, and eat, so take the time for at least one of these KAIST ONEs and see what the world has to offer.


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The Santa Monica pier was opened to the public on September 9th 1909 and has been attracting throngs of visitors ever since. In fact, the hippodrome building that houses the old fshioned carousel at the pier was named Santa Monica's first national historic landmark.
The Pacific Park amusement park as we know it today opened in 1996. Now it helps bring in over 4 million visitors to the pier a year.
The Santa Monica pier has a fairly large video game arcade. It stays open pretty late, so if taking in the sunset and then hitting some vids is your thing, look no further!
The vintage carousel made in 1922 is well maintained and truly a beautiful old fashion attraction. Great for young kids and nostalgic adults. It was used in "The Sting" with Paul Newman and Robert Redford...
Monday and Thursday: 11AM -5PM
Friday-Sunday: 11AM-7PM
Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
This definitely isn't Six Flags, but it's a fun little amusement park for families with small kids, offering some old school rides that are familiar to most. You can also challenge your friends at some fun, classic "skill" games.
The famous ferris wheel known as the Pacific Wheel, has undergone a number of facelifts. In fact, in May 2008 a brand new solar powered version was installed, the first of its kind in the world. The wheel provides a beautiful view of the ocean and the coastline, and at 130 feet high, it is one of the most beautiful spots to catch the famous Santa Monica sunset!
There are a bunch of fun classic games at Pacific Park, here are some favorites:
Unlimited ride wristbands
8 years and up $21.95
7 and under $15.95
If you buy your tickets online beforehand you can get them for 12.95 each.
Individual ride tickets are 5$ for adults and 3$ for kids.
Consult the Pacific Park calendar for hours of operation.
This aquarium is a small attraction that houses mainly sea creatures native to California and Santa Monica in particular. It is open to the public and provides a family friendly environment.
You can find interactive displays, touch tanks (where visitors can feel different sea creatures) and large tanks that exhibit sea life living in the Santa Monica bay.
There are also several learning areas, including "kids corner", a newly renovated area filled with toys, books, games and a puppet theater, all based around the marine theme.Here is a link to their calendar of special events.
Incredibly, there is an open air trapeze school right on the pier. I haven't tried it out, but I bet flying through the air over looking all of Santa Monica beach is quite something.
Here is a link to their home page.
There are various stalls lining the Santa Monica pier throughout the year. You can find painters and sculptors creating individual portraits for those willing to pose and pay. You can even get your picture taken next to your favorite celebrity. They really run the gamut. Last time I was there, it was a tough call between a well worn Van Damme or a brand spankin new Sarah Palin...
No permit is required, so go ahead, join the other anglers and drop your line over the side. There's a bait and tackle shop available if you need to stock up.
In the summer, the Santa monica Pier hosts its famous free concerts select thursday nights from 7-10pm...
One of the greatest free events to do around Los Angeles. Grab some food and drink and jit the beach to listen to great music while the sun goes down.
The parking rates at the pier are pretty high. One idea is using valet at the various restaurants nearby, grab a drink, then head down to the pier.
Artist line ups are released as we get closer to summer...
Return from Santa Monica Pier to the Santa Monica hub page
Return from Santa Monica Pier to the Los Angeles Attractions Home Page


text: Handling Slip-&-Fall Accidents in Los Angeles At Priority Law Group, our top-notch legal team accepts a wide variety of personal injury cases, including slip-and-fall accidents. If you were injured in a slip-and-fall accident, we are ready and willing to lend you a helping hand. Once we determine who should be held liable for your accident, we can proceed in filing an injury claim. Whether you were injured due to a broken rail, slippery floor, or uneven ground, a slip and fall can lead to serious damages. It is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain a reasonable standard of safety for visitors. When this responsibility is not met, the owner can be held liable for any accident and subsequent injury that occurs. Filing a claim with our help can help you obtain compensation for the following: Medical care Rehabilitative care (physical therapy) Pain and suffering Wages lost during your recovery We have a reputation for being aggressive when pursuing maximum compensation for the men and women we represent. We are not intimidated by insurance company adjusters and are prepared to take your case to court if it will benefit the final outcome. When you have our law firm on your side, you can feel peace of mind in knowing that your rights will be in good hands. To share the details of your slip and fall accident, call us at (877) 975-2529 as soon as possible. Multilingual Services from Our Hard-Hitting Accident Lawyers Our firm is delighted to serve clients throughout Los Angeles who reflect the rich cultural diversity of Southern California. To better meet the needs of our clients who prefer to discuss their cases in their native languages, we offer multilingual legal services in Spanish and Farsi. Should you choose to entrust your case to us, you may also expect the following: Contingency fees – you don't pay us a dime unless we successfully recover compensation on your behalf Around-the-clock availability for your convenience Free case evaluations Because no two personal injury cases are alike, we employ different strategies for each matter in our care. As soon as you enlist our services, we will begin working on a personalized approach to your case. We chose to practice personal injury law because we genuinely enjoy helping others and making our communities safer places to live. Please don't hesitate to call our office for the passionate and well-versed legal representation your slip-and-fall accident case merits.