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Cosmetics Cage Match: Revlon True Precision Tweezers Vs. Tweezerman Slant Tweezers
Friday, November 4th, 2011By Glinda
I am fully cognizant that tweezers aren't really cosmetics.
But I don't care and I'm going to do this anyway.
So, we've got a pair of tweezers pitted against each other that basically came about because I moved right after having a baby and lost my favorite pair of Tweezerman tweezers somehow. In a haze of sleeplessness, I grabbed a pair of Revlon tweezers at Target, thinking to myself that tweezers were tweezers.
And the more I type the word tweezers, the more I realize what a truly ridiculous word it is.
I will be judging each set of tweezers on three set of criteria: durability, cost, and performance.
Revlon's tweezers start out looking all nice and shiny and surgical instrument-like. But keep them on the bathroom counter for a while and they start to quickly dull in both appearance and sharpness. I suppose if you were the type that polished your tweezers daily this would not happen as fast, but I am not that kind of gal.
Tweezerman tweezers look rather unimposing but are surprisingly well-made and I have never observed any dullness. Even after years of use.
Round One goes to Tweezerman, hands down.
Revlon will run you a cool twelve bucks or so, which in my opinion is awfully expensive for what you get.
Tweezerman comes in at not quite double the price, but is sooooo worth the extra money.
I'm not coming across biased or anything, am I?
Winner of Round Two is Tweezerman. Again.
Using Revlon's tweezers is like trying to dig out that one tiny piece of eggshell you dropped in the batter. Difficult, frustrating, and sometimes an utter failure. I don't consider my eyebrows to be especially difficult to tweeze, but using the Revlon tweezers took twice as long as it normally did because I would have to pull multiple times. Forget about getting the really small ones just starting to grow back. Not gonna happen until they are much longer. Which kind of defeats the purpose of tweezers, does it not?
Tweezerman tweezers do the job and do it right. A nice firm pull and they are out of there. Minimum amount of pain, and minimum amount of futzing around with the smaller hairs. I am a big fan of scientific terms such as "futzing." You're in, you're out, and you can quickly move on with your life.
Winner of Round Three is Tweezerman. Big surprise.
The Ultimate Victory without a doubt goes to Tweezerman. Don't even hesitate for a second about spending the extra ten bucks or so. Totally worth it. I will never consider buying any other brand again.


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How do I arrange a Tile in Windows 8?
How do I arrange a Tile in Windows 8?
You can move the tile around and arrange it according to how you want it to be placed on the Start Screen.
- From the Start Screen, click and hold the Tile you want to arrange.
- Move it where you would like it to be placed and release the mouse button.
Note: When arranging tiles, you can make them larger or smaller. Right-click on the tile and choose smaller or bigger from the App bar displayed at the bottom of the screen.

subset: commoncrawl


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'Glee' Season 5 Gets Reduced Episode Order: Is Season 6 Already in Trouble?
FOX's 'Glee' has had a difficult year to begin with, as ratings had already fallen since the show's heyday before actor Cory Monteith's passing drastically altered production on the fifth and penultimate season. Now, with ratings at an all-time low, FOX has cut the 'Glee' season 5 episode order by two, so what could it mean for the sixth, and established final season?


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What do the InterContinental in Chicago, the Loews Vanderbilt in Tennessee, the Hollywood Hotel, most Kimpton's hotels and all of Starwood's Element hotels have in common?
They all boast onsite electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
Although EV ownership represents just a tiny slice of the car market – plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) like the Chevrolet Volt, extended range EVs and all-electric vehicles (AEVs) like the Nissan Leaf account for 0.3 percent of U.S. sales according to the Electric Drive Transportation Association – car rental firms are steadily adding more electric vehicles to their fleets.
A quick search of the main rental players shows that Hertz Rent-A-Car offers electric cars in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, in London and in Chinese hubs. Enterprise Rent-A-Car has plug-in vehicles in at least 19 U.S. locations, while Avis Budget Group has a range of EVs, including Chevy Volts in the U.S. and Renault Fluence ZE's in Europe, though none in the U.K where they have invested substantially in diesel vehicles.
Both EV-renting and EV-owning clientele will be on the lookout for pioneering hotels who can charge their environmentally friendly steeds.
"Hotel EV chargers give hotel guests the opportunity to drive something they ordinarily wouldn't, while also promoting the hotel's green credentials," says Neil King, automotive analyst for Euromonitor, adding that though the share of EVs may well be low, "hotels will presumably be careful not to alienate those (few) consumers who do need charging points."
ECOtality, a firm who make and install EV charging points, says that they have installed hundreds of these at hotels across the U.S., out of a total of around 14,000 charger systems sold over the last three years.
According to their own research, ECOtality says EV drivers return to commercial sites with charging stations three times as much as regular customers.
Hotels are looking to reinvent themselves, argues the company's Brian Koontz. "I think that a portion of the travel industry will really as you see more widespread adoption from a consumer perspective. A lot of hotels are trading off their green-certified buildings and charging stations add to that."
"A charging station at their place of business is an in-your-face beacon for the consumer to say 'this is our portion of giving back to the community or to our sustainability efforts'," says Koontz.
All Element hotels are built with a Google-mapped ChargePoint EV charging station, but guests who drive hybrid vehicles get the benefit of priority parking. Kimpton's Hotels offer a similar perk, with the bulk of their 52 properties offering free or discounted parking for hybrid-car drivers.
Because public EV charging station locations show up on the internet and on devoted mobile apps, touring EV owners can make use of a hotel's bar or restaurant during the three to four hours it takes to charge the vehicles.
Jeff Zarrinnam, general manager at Hollywood Hotel, recalls an incident with a couple who were driving a Nissan Leaf on a very low battery and would not be able to make home without a quick recharge.
"They found us on an app, called our front desk and asked if they could use one of our EV chargers for a quick charge. They were welcome, of course, they parked and plugged in… took a little break in our bar and lounge and within the hour were on their way home."
Zarrinnam says the decision to install a charging station back in June was a 'no-brainer.' "Let's face it, for some people Los Angeles is a synonym for 'smog' and if I could help to eliminate that connotation… It's also just good prudent business for everyone and gives us a good reputation of doing the right thing."
Of those who own their own electric vehicles, driving range and availability of battery charging stations outside the home remain chief concerns, according to the Electric Vehicle Ownership Experience Study by market researcher J.D. Power and Associates in November 2012.
The survey found that virtually all EV owners charge their vehicle at home, but half of them also use stations at their place of work or at shopping malls and airports.
When respondents were asked which vehicle in their household they would use to go on a long trip, only 2 percent of all-electric vehicle (AEV) owners said they would take their car. Conversely, 50 percent of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) owners said they would take that vehicle.
But when asked what trade-offs they have made during their EV ownership experience, only 20 percent of AEV owners and 3 percent of PHEV owners claimed shorter family trips as a trade-off.
Discussing the findings, Jeff Conklin, senior director at J.D. Power's Energy Practice, confirms that most EV owners drive less than 35 miles daily, and the typical driving distance between charges is 40 miles. Over a half of AEV owners and more than one-third of PHEV owners have charged their vehicle away from home at least once in the past 30 days.
Conklin says that retail locations such as shopping centres and hotels are popular away-from-home charging locations, with 26 percent of drivers making use of these venues.
The U.S. Department of Energy offers maps that show the locations of charging stations in the USA, which can be found here.
(Editing by Mark Kolmar)
Have a confidential tip for Skift? Get in touch
Tags: green


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BERLIN (AP) — German automaker Volkswagen AG says its net profit increased 41 percent for 2012 to €21.7 billion ($28.7 billion) on a 21 percent rise in revenues.
Volkswagen said in a press release Friday ahead of its full-earnings next month that revenues were up to €192.7 billion. The number of vehicles delivered worldwide last year by the group topped 9 million for the first time, rising 12.2 percent to nearly 9.3 million.
The company says it expects revenue to exceed last year's level in 2013 but that, "given the ongoing uncertainty in the economic environment," its aim is to match the 2012 level of operating profit.
Last year's operating profit came in at €11.5 billion, a 2.1 percent increase over 2011.


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I think hucksters like that guy (Gary) are full of nonsense. Not everyone can "do what they love" and make money at it. There has to be some sort of benefit for other people or companies in order for you to make money doing something.
Gary has done well with his wine site which is great but the wine industry is huge and full of dollars - if you can grab a slice of it (which is hard) then there is money to be made.
The problem is that people who have success is a field will then try to make more money "teaching" others how to have success when in reality those people probably couldn't replicate their own success in a million years.
If a topic you "love" happens to be a thriving industry (ie personal finance/investments/wine etc) then there is the potential for good income to be made. It will be hard work and you might not make it but the potential is there.
If "what you love" is some obscure field where there isn't much of an industry then your odds of making good money are close to zero regardless of how successful you are.
I like the advice about starting part time - that way you can see if you can make any money in your desired field.


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The economy of Cambodia has seen rapid progress in the last decade. Per capita income, although rapidly increasing, is low compared with most neighbouring countries. The main domestic activity on which most rural households depend is agriculture and its related sub-sectors. Manufacturing output is varied but is not very extensive and is mostly conducted on a small-scale and informal basis.
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Double-digit economic growth rates in recent years have triggered an economic boom, with new hotels, restaurants, bars, and residential buildings springing up around the city. Phnom Penh's wealth of historical and cultural sites makes it a very popular tourist destination.
Phnom Penh has an overall cost of living index which equates it with low cost of living locations. The overall cost of living index is comprised of the prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services across all 13 Basket Groups.
The latest cost of living rank for each of the 13 Basket Groups is now available.


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Normalcy Eludes Many A Year After Sandy
Bart Sutton fought with his insurance company for a year over what it would cost to rebuild his flood-damaged home, then gave up in frustration and tore it down. A week later, the money came through.
Simone and Ken Dannecker fixed their flooded home themselves, deciding they couldn't wait for insurance and government aid as green mold threatened to overrun it. Now, with the work nearly done, they are all but bankrupt — and still can't afford to elevate the house they fought so hard to stay in.
Gigi Liaguno-Dorr needs $2 million to rebuild the bayfront restaurant that was one of the town's major employers; she has less than a quarter of that and says she has never felt so helpless.
For these three families in Union Beach, a blue-collar enclave clinging precariously to the Raritan Bay, full recovery from Superstorm Sandy is still elusive nearly a year after the storm pummeled the state Oct. 29. That's also true to thousands of others at the Jersey shore; in Ocean County alone, the county planning board estimated 26,000 people were unable to return to their homes as of last month.
Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for Gov. Chris Christie, could not estimate how many storm-damaged homes remain unoccupied. Many families are living elsewhere while their homes are being rebuilt, and "a large number" of bungalows and small homes that were destroyed or severely damaged were second homes for people living in their primary residences, he said. The state taxation division said more than 40,000 properties suffered a total of $4.3 billion in lost value from storm damage.
Joanne Gwin's home in Silverton section of Toms River was wrecked by the storm. Her insurance company paid $101,100 on a $250,000 policy, and she is appealing that decision, still living in a rental a year later.
"As of today, we are no closer to moving home than we were on Nov. 2, 2012," she said. "We are paying taxes and insurance on a home we can no longer live in. We are now at a standstill, waiting for the next step. What IS the next step? Does anybody know? We are looking at another Christmas with a tabletop tree in an apartment instead of the 9-foot Christmas tree that has always been our tradition. We want to go home."
To be sure, remarkable progress has been made in recovering from one of the worst storms ever to hit New Jersey and the second-costliest in the nation's history at $65 billion, trailing only Hurricane Katrina's $125 billion cost. Tens of millions of dollars have been spent rebuilding boardwalks and oceanfront attractions crucial to the tourist trade, and thousands of homes have been repaired, either with the help of government aid or through a mix of private insurance and savings.
As of Sept. 30, $5.6 billion in aid had been paid out to New Jersey storm victims, including $3.5 billion from the National Flood Insurance Program and $415 million in FEMA grants to individuals or households.
Sutton, who works for a regional sewerage authority, fought with his insurance company for nearly a year over the damage to his Union Beach home. Finally, he gave up in frustration and tore it down.
After inking a contract for nearly $10,000 to pay for the tear-down out of his pocket, Sutton and his wife, Sue, watched as heavy equipment smashed it to bits in less than 40 minutes. Sue fought back some tears but held it together as the house came apart.
"We cried for weeks," she said. "We dragged our entire life's possessions out onto the front lawn and cried as we watched it all get hauled away. After fighting with the insurance company for a year, this is actually progress. An empty lot gives us a place to start rebuilding our lives. A lot of the tears come when no one is around. This is actually a good day. We just want to go home."
A week after they tore the house down, the $68,000 over which Sutton had been battling, and which could have saved his home, was approved by the federal flood program. He'll use the money to help build a new home.
Not far away, the Danneckers fixed their flooded house themselves. Ken is a carpenter and realized mold was moving faster than the bureaucracy of insurance companies and government aid.
"Financially, we're in ruins," Simone Dannecker said. "We took everything we had in the bank and put it into our house."
She works part time at a bank and spends the equivalent of another part-time job dealing with paperwork for insurance and aid money she's hopeful will eventually arrive.
Doors are the dominant theme of Liaguno-Dorr's new restaurant, in rented space about a mile inland from the bayfront business that was annihilated by the storm. She salvaged dozens of doors from destroyed homes in Union Beach, restored them and marked each with the address where it once stood and uses them as wall space and tables for her new eatery.
It will cost $2 million to rebuild the restaurant — money she does not have. Business was depressingly slow over the summer.
"There's nobody here, nobody in this town," she said. "You drive around at night and it's dark. And so quiet!"
Dorr has yet to receive a penny in government assistance despite applying for several programs. She will soon be on her eighth adviser for just one particular grant application.
"I have never felt more helpless than I do right now," she said. "We're struggling. And I'm not alone. Everybody I know is like this."
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)


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This article is more than 1 year old
Man admits writing script that slurped celebrity iPad data
A San Francisco man has admitted writing the code that plucked personal data of 120,000 early iPad adopters from servers AT&T had left wide open to the attack.
Daniel Spitler, 26, pleaded guilty in federal court in New Jersey to one count each of identity theft and conspiracy to gain unauthorized access to internet-connected computers, prosecutors said. A member of the troll and griefer collective known as Goatse Security, he surrendered to authorities in January, when he and alleged accomplice, Andrew Auernheimer, were criminally charged in the hack.
Auernheimer, aka Weev, has pleaded not guilty.
According to prosecutors, Spitler, Auernheimer, and other Goatse members identified a vulnerability on AT&T's servers that mapped an iPad's ICC-ID, or integrated circuit card identifier, to the name and email address of its owner.
Spitler admitted he was the one who wrote the "iPad 3G Account Slurper" script, which exploited the flaw to harvest as much data as possible. It worked by injecting large numbers of possible ICC-IDs into AT&T web addresses and recording the information that was returned each time it successfully guessed a valid number. For the attack to work, Spitler had to make his code mimic characteristics of the iPad.
In all, the attack mined the names and email addresses of about 120,000 elite iPad owners, including senior members of the White House, celebrities, journalists and wealthy financiers. The list also included top people inside some of the nation's most sensitive organizations, including William Eldredge, who commanded the largest strategic bomber group in the US Air Force.
By exposing their names and private email addresses, the vulnerability could have opened the iPad owners up to spear phishing attacks.
AT&T closed the vulnerability only after it was brought to their attention by Gawker, the publication that first reported the attack. The underlying bug, known as an insecure direct object reference, is the same kind of sloppy oversight that led to the recent leak banking data for more than 360,000 customers of Citigroup.
Spitler faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine at sentencing, which is scheduled for September 28.
A sentence that stiff is probably overkill, considering there is no public evidence the hackers victimized any of the people whose information was needlessly leaked. (There is evidence some members considered spamming them, however.) Indeed, by bragging of their conquest to the media, they helped make sure AT&T fixed the vulnerability quickly. A more hardened gang of attackers would have been more tight lipped about the theft so the data could be used to mount stealthy attacks.
That doesn't mean Spitler and his alleged accomplices didn't break the law. And any time White House staffers and other powerful people are targeted in a hacking crime, you can be sure there will be consequences.
Members of other hacker collectives, take note. ®


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TCIPG Summer School - June 17-21, 2013
Opening Reception: June 16
Preliminary Agenda (PDF) | Promotional Flyer (PDF)
Registration Deadline: June 3
Q Center Lodging Deadline: May 24, 2013*
*Requests submitted after May 24 will be filled on a space-available basis.
Day Pass Requests accepted thru event.
The Trustworthy Cyber Infrastructure for the Power Grid (TCIPG) center is excited to offer our third summer school, to be held June 17-21, 2013! We invite and encourage utility and industry practitioners, researchers, and students to attend and explore the nexus between electrical energy systems and cybersecurity.
Our summer school program is designed to provide an essential background in the basics of security and resiliency for cyber infrastructure in power and smart grids. Participants will also gain an understanding of the smarter energy system evolving from the power grid, as well as associated cybersecurity challenges. Experts from industry, national labs, academia, and government will lead sessions that include industrial case studies and examples from current research. A Lightning Talk Session will feature 5-minute pitches from select summer school participants about bold, new ideas for research activities, products, or outreach. Deep dive sessions will partner industry and academic experts to explore critical security topics in depth. An optional hands-on SCADA security assessment training lab will be offered to a limited number of participants on a first-registered, first-served basis. An Ameren Smart Grid Training Platform will be onsite that offers participants an opportunity to observe a mobile unit that is designed to train Ameren employees on equipment and technologies that are being deployed and energized on the utility grid. A networking reception will also offer participants additional opportunity to connect with leading experts, researchers, and practitioners in fields that address cybersecurity and resiliency for smart energy systems.
This year's summer school will be held at the Q Center, which is located on a 95-acre wooded property on the Fox River in St. Charles, Illinois and just a 45-minute drive from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. A limited number of on-site rooms are available. Participants are encouraged to secure their on-site accommodations using the Q Center reservation portal provided for this event. Participants lodging at the Q Center will be provided breakfast, lunch, and dinner during their stay. Lunch will be provided for commuters and participants choosing off-site lodging accommodations.
The summer school complements research and other educational activities at TCIPG, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Our center brings together researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, the University of California at Davis, and Washington State University.
Questions? Contact Cheri Soliday at csoliday [at] illinois.edu or 217-244-6097. If you are not on our email list, please consider joining! You may do so by sending your request to Cheri Soliday at csoliday [at] illinois.edu.
Academic students interested in attending the 2013 TCIPG Summer School will have an opportunity to apply for scholarships that cover registration fees, lodging, and a small stipend for travel.
Credit for Professional Development or Continuing Education
Summer school participants may qualify for Professional Development Hours (PDH) and Continuing Education Units (CEU). The University of Illinois Office of Continuing Education offers .1 PDH and 1 CEU and for every 10 hours of participation in educational activities.
Sponsorship Opportunities
We welcome your support in making this summer school a success! We offer several sponsorship opportunities to help increase your visibility with the Smart Grid community. Inquiries and questions may be directed to Tim Yardley at yardley [at] illinois.edu.
The deadline for sponsorship opportunities has ended. Many thanks to the following sponsors who are helping to make this summer school a success!
Platinum Sponsors ($10,000)
Learn more about becoming a Platinum Sponsor.
Gold Sponsors ($5,000)
Silver Sponsors ($2,000)
Bronze Sponsors ($500)


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Photovoltaic technology
With the help of solar panels, the energy of the sun can be converted directly into electricity and stored in batteries. Due to ample sunshine in a wide range of developing countries, photovoltaic systems can offer an alternative to provide basic energy services in off-grid areas. Possible productive uses include lighting, powering information and communication technology (ICT) equipment as well as energy-efficient refrigeration.
UNIDO is currently implementing solar photovoltaic projects in India, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda and the Maldives.
Thermal Applications
In thermal applications, solar energy is gathered in solar thermal collectors to create high temperature steam and low temperature heat, which can be used in a variety of heat and power applications in the residential and industrial sector. UNIDO particularly emphasizes solar thermal applications as they provide an economically and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional fossil fuel technologies in industrial applications.
UNIDO is implementing a Caribbean Solar Financing Programme (CSFP) in St. Lucia
and Grenada, which aims at addressing key barriers that are hampering the development of a vibrant market for solar water heating (SWH) systems in these two countries.
International cooperation
UNIDO has also set up an International Centre for the Promotion and Transfer of Solar Energy Technology in Lanzhou, China. The centre makes a valuable contribution to the international development of solar energy and enhances technology transfer between China and developing countries, thus contributing to increased "South-South" cooperation. In addition, UNIDO is implementing a business information centre in Mozambique, powered by solar energy.


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(visited by Captain Peter and Dimitriy Peysakhov)
02-Sep-2002 -- Twelve hours before arriving at Natal we had the chance to visit this confluence near the tiny Atol das Rocas.
Atol das Rocas is a dangerous coral atoll. It consists of circular coral reef, which can be best seen in the radar. Its greatest width is of 3.2 km.
Within the reef, in the lagoon, is an area of sand and shingle with shallow pools. Numerous detached rocks lie around the atoll.
A light is situated on Atol das Rocas. Two ruined buildings and some palm trees are visible as well.
A conservation area has been established which encloses Atol das Rocas and the bank on which it stands. Overflying, anchoring, disembarking, landing, diving, hunting, fishing and any other action which might affect the environment are prohibited within the whole area.
After having taken some pictures from close the atoll we proceeded to the confluence.
Although this is not my first Brazilian confluence, I would like to write down here a few notes about the history of Brazil:
The first European to land on the shores of Brazil was Pedro Álvarez Cabral, a Portuguese who sailed into Porto Seguro an 25th April 1500. The coast, in the vicinity of Cabo Santo Agostinho, had first been sighted in January of that year by Pinzon, a companion of Columbus, but he had sailed on without landing.
After various expeditions by the English, French and Spanish, a thirty-year struggle for possession of the country began between the Dutch and the Portuguese in 1624.
The Dutch had held several settlements between Cabo de São Roque (just South of Atol das Rocas) and Aracaju, but they were finally expelled from the country in 1654.
The Portuguese Royal family fled to Brazil in 1807, as a result of the invasion of Portugal by the French and in 1815 Brazil became a kingdom. They remained there until 1821 when the king returned to Portugal, leaving his son Dom Pedro in Brazil as Viceroy. The Brazilians, however, by this time, had acquired the desire for independence, which was also prevalent in the Spanish colonies of South America. They seceded from Portugal in 1822 and persuaded Dom Pedro to accept the title of Emperor of Brazil.
The Brazilian Empire lasted until 1889 and was a period of social and economic progress. Both Dom Pedro and his son introduced many reforms, one of which, the abolition of slavery, turned the large landowners against Dom Pedro II and brought about the overthrow of the monarchy. Since 1889 Brazil has been a republic.
Rio Amazonas, with its great tributaries traverses the country in the North from the Andes to the Atlantic ocean. It forms the greatest river system in the world and provides more than 13,000 nautical miles (more than 24,000 km) of navigable channels!!!
The entire area is so flat that from the Andes to the Ocean it does not fall more than 76 metres.
Brazil is unique in that it is the only part of the world where there are large tracts of country virtually untouched by men. There are more than 20,000 species of trees, many are not found anywhere else in the world. The rivers teem with fish and reptiles.
Last but not least it is high time to introduce my actual confluence companion, Chief Officer Dimitriy from Saint Petersburg. Here he is reading an incoming email from Natal regarding the cargo to be loaded tomorrow.


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Huffington Post's 10 reasons to visit Charlotte this Spring
Posted on 21 Mar 2013 by Justin Ruckman
As part of a a "smaller cities" series, George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog.com, writes his 10 reasons to visit Charlotte this Spring for Huffington Post. Always fun seeing Charlotte through the eyes of those on the outside.
Not just a banking center
Yes, it's a banking capital, but Charlotte has an attractive creative side. One of the city's oldest cultural institutions is the Mint Museum, a two-campus set-up known for both an impressive art collection and a popular craft and design museum. The original Randolph campus is housed in a historic building that used to be the United States Mint — hence the name. The central campus of the Mint is part of the city center's Levine Center For The Arts, a cultural district containing the impressive little Bechtler Museum of Modern Art and a handful of other worthwhile stops (levinecenterarts.org). For some art at street level, head up Davidson Street to Charlotte's artsy NoDa neighborhood. Here, a twice-monthly art crawl — held on the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month, starting at 6pm — takes place in and around some of the city's finest galleries. Soak up the vibe at Dolce Vita, a low-key wine bar and neighborhood gathering spot (3205 N. Davidson St.).
Food wonderful food
For many visitors, the love affair with Charlotte starts with the stomach. Where to begin? Depends who you ask, but it's likely many will suggest the delectable fried bird from Price's Chicken Coop, just a couple of stops on the LYNX train from the convention center (1614 Camden Rd.). Or the soul staples at Mert's (214 N. College St.). Or maybe a little Brunswick Stew, that hearty regional specialty, at Mac's Speed Shop, a popular 'cue joint and biker bar (2511 South Blvd.)? Then there's the pimiento cheese — caviar of the Carolinas — at Midwood Smokehouse (1401 Central Ave.). And the Carolina-style pulled pork at Queen City Q (225 E. 6th St.) And fried pickles at the legendary Penguin Drive-In (1921 Commonwealth Ave.). When your body cries "no more!", do a mini-juice cleanse at Luna's Living Kitchen, a cheerful South End spot known for its fresh and tasty vegetarian / vegan-friendly menu (2120 South Blvd.).
NASCAR heaven
Got a need for speed? You probably already know all about Charlotte, home to the historic Charlotte Motor Speedway and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. And while the lion's share of visitors to the city are content to remain spectators to one of the South's favorite pastimes, bolder visitors — and those who don't mind shelling out a few bucks — can sign up for the Richard Petty Driving Experience, which offers a range of experiences, from an affordable ride-along ($99 for three laps) to a knuckle-whitening drive, starting at $449 for 8 laps (drivepetty.com). Afterwards, repair to Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Whisky River, a popular bar and restaurant back in town for a drink and some snacks off the sports fan-friendly menu (210 E. Trade St.).
Lots of great outdoors
From the gentle flow of the city's beautiful Freedom Park to the top of rugged Crowders Mountain just a short drive west of the city skyline, Charlotte is one of those all-too-rare cities with plenty of room for nature to flourish; driving its many tree-lined streets, it can sometimes feel as if you're not in a city at all. For a true walk in the woods, disappear into the 737-acre Reedy Creek Nature Preserve, offering plenty of solitude along 10 miles of hiking trails (charmeck.org).
Cool neighborhoods
Food trucks, farmers markets, cool cafes, galleries — all bases are pretty much covered in the city's historic South End neighborhood, a popular spot for the young and hip to live and play. Your best bet is to come down here for the monthly gallery crawl — held on the first Friday of each month — or for the neighborhood's lively Saturday morning market at the Atherton Mill complex. While you're there, grab a tasty, carefully-sourced breakfast from the Roots Farm Food truck (southendclt.com).
Riding the rapids, safely
The U.S. National Whitewater Center offers all of the thrills associated with whitewater rafting with none of the pesky threat of dying after being dashed on the rocks — or whatever else can go wrong when you hit actual rapids. An official Olympic Training Site, the Center doesn't mess around — they'll whip you into good shape and have you rafting like a champ. They can do more than that, of course — instruction in more relaxed arts, such as stand-up paddle boarding, will have you ready for your next trip to Waikiki. Like to stay on dry land? The center's miles of mountain biking trails make for a terrific day adventure, too (usnwc.org).
Luxury lodging
After pushing it to the limit, why not reward yourself with a spa day? At the Ritz-Carlton Charlotte, housed in a sleek, LEED Gold-certified tower at the heart of Uptown (that's what they call the downtown around here), the spa offers a popular detox massage that incorporates honey harvested from the hotel's own beehives, housed up on the building's green roof (80 minutes, $90; ritzcarlton.com). Twenty minutes west of town, The Ballantyne is a resort-like escape featuring a beautiful spa facility that invites sticking around all day, or maybe longer. Start off with the Little Bit of Bliss, a 25-minute massage that's ideal for those whose fists are as tight as their shoulders — it's a bargain at $65 (theballantynehotel.com).
It's in bloom
The 10-acre botanical garden at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a real sight to see, from the indoor worlds at the McMillan Greenhouse complex to beautiful outdoor gardens showcasing landscapes both local and exotic, you can easily spend a beautiful morning here — and it's free (gardens.uncc.edu). For a garden that's a little more secret, head over to Wing Haven, a private walled paradise built by environmentalist Elizabeth Clarkson and her husband Edwin back in the 1920's. It's a gorgeous three-acre escape that doubles as a bird sanctuary (winghavengardens.com).
Moonshine tasting at a bowling alley?
It may not be world-famous for its nightlife, but Charlotte sure knows how to party. At the South End's TEN Park Lanes, dozens of beer taps and a solid food menu (try the barbecue) is complimented by a wide selection of artisanal moonshine — yes, that's a thing in the South these days (1700 Montford Dr.). Head spinning? Need some air? Head for the garden at VBGB, a boisterous, new-ish beer garden; their selection from the local NoDa Brewing Company are a must-try (920 Hamilton St.). Wherever the night takes you, end up at Snug Harbor in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood. Here, a classic dive feel is the draw for a happening crowd that piles in for good live music, stiff drinks and lots of free atmosphere (1228 Gordon St.).
Scenic mountains nearby
Charlotte's fun, but if this is your first visit to the region, you shouldn't be allowed to leave without taking at least a day trip up to the Blue Ridge Mountains. From the unforgettable summit of Mt. Mitchell — the highest peak east of the Rockies at 6,684 feet — to a leisurely afternoon on the winding, historic Blue Ridge Parkway, to the food scene in Asheville — it's must after must up here. There's more, there's tons more, but this is a start. And, bonus: this is all roughly two hours or so from town. Get in the car and go.


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Cooking pasta is about heat and hydration. We asked ourselves what would happen if we separated the two processes. Soaking the pasta was slightly counter-intuitive. What if it got to soft? What if it all stuck together? We decided that the only thing to do was try it and see what happened. After an hour and a half in a bag with cold water the soaked linguine pasta became pliable, while remaining a bit stiff. The drained noodles held their shape and since the starch had not been activated, they did not stick to one another and could be held without the addition of oil. Once we added the noodles to boiling, salted water we had perfectly cooked al dente pasta in just 60 seconds. Now that we know it works, it is time to see what flavoring the hydrating liquid does.
What we do know is that we have now changed how dried pasta may be cooked to order.


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Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
Payments received by the tax intercept program are applied to any debt owed to the State of Nebraska. If there is a remaining amount available after the State is paid, and there is a balance owed to the custodial parent, the remaining taxes would be applied. If there is no remaining balance owed to the custodial parent, the additional money received would be refunded to the party responsible to pay the child support.
Show All Answers
Either party (custodial parent or non-custodial parent) may ask for enforcement services by filling out an application for services. The application may be obtained from the Nebraska Child Support Customer Call Center at 402-441-8715 or 877-631-9973 (toll-free) or online
There are many types of enforcement actions that may be utilized to coerce compliance with the child support order. There are both Administrative and Legal actions. Administrative actions may include: Real Estate Liens, Driver's License Suspension, Notice to Withhold Income, Professional License Suspension, Recreational License Suspension, Lottery Intercept, and State and Federal Tax Intercept. Legal actions may include: Garnishment, Criminal Contempt, and Orders to Show Cause.
No, if you choose to have the County Attorney's Office enforce your case, it is the discretion of the office to use the most appropriate tool or tools available for enforcement.
Each process results in the person responsible for paying child support having property taken to pay the outstanding child support balance. There may be costs involved in the process and these costs may be deducted from the amount of money recovered by the process.
The child support enforcement case will remain open until the payor has been deceased a minimum of eighteen months and no other action, including a levy against the estate, may be taken.
Nebraska law does not provide the Lancaster County Attorney's Office the authority to enforce custody, visitation, daycare, or property settlement judgments.
An Order to Show Cause is a court action filed in the District Court in an effort to gain compliance and enforce the Court Order. The person that is disobeying the court order is served with an Order to Show Cause and ordered to appear before the Court to show cause as to why (s)he should not be held in contempt of the court for willfully disobeying the court's order to pay child support. If the judge finds that person is in contempt, the judge will sentence that person to a jail sentence; but will allow him/her a chance to be released from jail by following a purge plan. A purge plan gives the person an opportunity to come into compliance with the court order.
A contempt action may be ended by the person coming into compliance with the court order by one of the following: paying the past due child support balance in full, paying consistently for a period of time, or a finding by the District Court. Due to the possibility of up to 6 months in jail, per case, the non-payor may be eligible for a court appointed attorney if (s)he cannot afford to hire an attorney.
Nebraska law provides for an automatic lien to be filed with the Register of Deeds office on property owned by a person responsible for paying child support. This lien remains on the property until sold or until the child support is paid in full. This lien is not filed by the Lancaster County Attorney and our office is unable to assist in placing or removing the lien with the Register of Deeds.
When the person responsible for paying child support fails to pay and the past due balance exceeds three months of child, medical, or spousal support, the process may be initiated to suspend that person's license. Recreational licenses and professional licenses may also be suspended following the same procedures. All three types of licenses may be suspended, but the process for each must occur consecutively, the licenses cannot be taken all at the same time.
The person responsible may have his/her license reinstated by one of the following: paying all of the past due child, medical, or spousal support; entering into a court ordered payment plan (Purge Plan) to meet the current obligation each month plus an additional amount to be paid on the past due balance; or entering into a payment plan with the Lancaster County Attorney's Office. Once the license has been reinstated, there is a reinstatement fee that will need to be paid to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Contact the Nebraska Child Support Customer Call Center at (402) 441-8715 or (877) 631-9973 (toll free).
The timeframe for intercepted payments to be credited to a case varies widely and may range anywhere from a few weeks to up to six months from the time the refund is intercepted.
Call the Nebraska Child Support Customer Call Center, tax intercept program at (402) 441-8715 or (877) 631-9973 (toll free).
The State of Nebraska may continue to enforce the order. In some situations, if the location of the person responsible for paying support is known, the Nebraska order may be sent to the Child Support Office in the jurisdiction (location) the person moved to so the order can be enforced.
The processing time varies depending on the facts of the case and the information the office has regarding the person responsible. Generally, the more information provided to the enforcement agency, the quicker the process will be to send the order for enforcement.
The enforcing state will forward all payments received from the person responsible to the Nebraska Child Support Payment Center to be disbursed to the receiving person(s) in Nebraska.
If the order was entered in Nebraska, the laws of the State of Nebraska apply to the order in regard to the amount of support, age of emancipation, and amount of interest that would accrue on the past due balance. However, specifics of which enforcement actions can be utilized and timelines for enforcing would be subject to the local laws of the state handling the enforcement.
Enforcement would continue as it did prior to the receiving parent moving out of state. The receiving parent needs to maintain a current address with the enforcing agency so that payments can be sent to the new address.
Depending on the length of the activation, child support may be deducted from the military pay of the person responsible. The person responsible may make arrangements to have the obligation paid from his/her bank account or have another person pay the obligation in his/her absence.
The Bankruptcy Code determines whether child support may be enforced while the person responsible for paying child support is in the protection of the bankruptcy filing.
The Bankruptcy Code determines whether child support payments may be collected while the person responsible is in the protection of the bankruptcy filing.
No. Child, medical, and spousal support are not generally discharged in bankruptcy. There are specific rules and laws that govern the bankruptcy process.


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Advanced Search
Digital Libraries | News
As part of an overhaul of its library database search, South Carolina's Charleston Southern University is using a new custom tool, called DiscoverSearch, to give users greater control of their search parameters and the content they can find.
For the service, the university partnered with EBSCO, a company that helps develop search databases. The new features will help users search broadly and dive deep into the university's collections, both the in print library catalog and its digital databases as well as materials available through inter-library loan.
"We love being able to limit the initial search to materials that are available to our users in print or electronic format, yet with an easy toggle we can search further for things which may also be available via interlibrary loan," said Eileen Lutzow, the university's systems librarian in a statement. "A single click then allows our students to either access the full text or generate an ILL request with most of the information filled in for them."
Charleston Southern has also customized the main interface, and has incorporated a real time available checking feature and a link customization function that will allow librarians to show (or hide) links to services like the library catalog, interlibrary loan forms, and JSTOR based on search parameters.
About the Author
Stephen Noonoo is an education technology journalist based in Los Angeles. He is on Twitter @stephenoonoo. Follow @stephenoonoo
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Ultra-Compact Meter Enables Extensive Loudness and Audio Metering Capabilities for a Variety of Applications and Budgets
AMSTERDAM, 8 SEPTEMBER, 2014 – RTW (IBC Hall 8, Stand D.92), the market leader in visual audio meters and monitoring devices, is pleased to announce that the TM3-Primus, its new smart series product, is now shipping worldwide. This highly compact model from the award-winning TouchMonitor line provides a full set of easy-to-read instruments for level and loudness metering in commercial and non-commercial production and broadcasting environments. Executives will be available during the 2014 IBC Show to demo the TM3-Primus and discuss its capabilities.
Introduced to the market earlier this year at NAB, the RTW TM3-Primus is a multifunctional audio measurement desktop unit featuring unbalanced RCA type two-channel analog, digital (SPDIF) and USB interfaces. In addition, it features an advanced USB hybrid mode where a metering point in a digital audio workstation (DAW) (implemented using a specific RTW plug-in) can be visualized right on the new TouchMonitor's screen. Also, a USB port allows for implementing an innovative USB/plug-in hybrid mode that enables metering to be performed on the DAW so that a user can process and visualize the information instantly.
As a compact and low-cost member of the TouchMonitor family, the TM3-Primus is equally suited for professional use in minor or secondary workflows for broadcasting, video editing, music and other recording environments. It offers a new quality solution for non-commercial use in small radio environments or podcasting. Like other models from the award-winning TouchMonitor series, the TM3-Primus comes with a highly intuitive and user-friendly 4.3-inch touchscreen interface that simplifies system handling even for operators without a strong background in audio.
Supported loudness standards include: ITU BS.1770-3/1771-1, ATSC A/85, EBU R128, ARIB, OP-59, AGICOM and CALM. The TM3-Primus includes level and loudness display with bargraph type or numerical readout plus MagicLRA type. Other instruments included with the meter are PPM, moving coil, correlator, RTA, vectorscope, numerical and chart.
About RTW
RTW, based in Cologne (Germany), has nearly 50 years of experience in designing, producing, and marketing advanced recording-studio equipment, leading and innovating the market for high quality audio metering and monitoring tools. RTW operates a worldwide distribution and service network. For more information on RTW, visit www.rtw.com, www.facebook.com/rtw.de or call +49 221 709130.
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Brioni reveals Matt Dillon as the testimonial for the AW2019 'Tailoring Legends' advertising campaign. Considered one of the most respected actors of his generation, Dillon reinforces the brand's bond with Hollywood.
Dillon's career has spanned more four decades and from 1983's 'The Outsiders' to Lars von Trier's 'The House That Jack Built', his appearances on film and television have received critical and commercial acclaim. In 2006, he received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for his role in <Crash>.
Captured in New York by photographer Gregory Harris, the black and white images highlight the strong personality of the actor who brings his individual sense of style to a selection of the brand's finest tailoring, ready to wear and eveningwear.
Matt Dillon
Gregory Harris


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Last week, Reporters Without Borders dropped America in the World Press Freedom Index 2014 from 33rd to 46th. James Risen of The New York Times rightly explained, "I think 2013 will go down in history as the worst year for press freedom in the United States' modern history." And he's right. The violation of press freedoms has been egregious under this administration, even as the press fetes President Obama as an honest and effective commander-in-chief.
Selective Access. President Obama has regularly granted special access to reporters who give him preferential coverage. CBS' Steve Kroft admitted as much after a late-2012 interview with the President during which CBS clipped Obama's explicit refusal to label Benghazi an act of terror: "(Obama) knows that we're not going to play 'gotcha' with him, that we're not going to go out of our way to make him look bad or stupid."
Michael Lewis, author of Moneyball, got special access for a profile of Obama for Vanity Fair – but Obama insisted on redlining his quotes. Lewis explained that "the White House insisted on signing off on the quotes that would appear." A reporter from the San Francisco Chronicle was threatened for covering an anti-Obama protest. As early as 2008, candidate Obama was kicking dissenters off planes after their outlets endorsed John McCain.
Targeting Reporters. In May 2013, the Associated Press dropped the bombshell that the Department of Justice had grabbed phone records for its reporters and editors of the course of two months. Records for 20 telephone lines belonging to the AP and reporters for it were seized between April and May of 2012. Those seizures affected over 100 journalists.
The AP's President and CEO Gary Pruitt stated, "There can be no possible justification for such an overbroad collection of the telephone communications of The Associated Press and its reporters." Fox News' James Rosen was also targeted by the DOJ after running a story about North Korea nuclear development. His State Department visits were tracked and his movements were followed. His parents' phone records were even grabbed.
Placing FCC Monitors in Newsrooms. Last week, FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai revealed in the pages of the Wall Street Journal that the FCC will be sending employees into media workplaces to monitor how and what stories are chosen. The goal: to "ferret out information from television and radio broadcasters" concerning "the process by which stories are selected."
Pai explained, the FCC "plans to ask station managers, news directors, journalists, television anchors and on-air reporters to tell the government about their 'news philosophy' and how the station ensures that the community gets critical information." Reporters will also be asked whether their stories were killed by management in an effort to elicit "specifics about how editorial discretion is exercised, as well as the reasoning behind the decision."
Refusing to Answer Questions. President Obama held fewer press conferences than any president since Reagan. He held ten less than George W. Bush, 54 less than President Clinton, and 64 less than George H.W. Bush. And during those press conferences, questions were largely scripted and chosen. He held just 107 Q&As with the press during his first term, as compared with 354 by George W. Bush. In fact, Obama considers tough questions "unfair," as he told Bill O'Reilly during his pre-Super Bowl interview.
Refusing to Comply With Freedom of Information Act Requests. According to Bloomberg News, Freedom of Information Act compliance under the Obama administration has been abysmal. Bloomberg reported that "19 of 20 federal agencies did not comply within 20 days to a request for travel expenses made under the Freedom of Information Act." Obama's record on FOIA requests in his first two years was worse than George W. Bush's in his last three – an odd pattern, given that administrations tend to tighten up on transparency as time goes on. When Obama was given an award for open government, it was not open to the press.
Here are Obama's stats: 38.4% denied in 2009, 37.7% denied in 2010, 35.3% denied in 2011. In his last three years, Bush's stats were 23.5%, 24%, and 40.6%. In 2009, the Obama administration asked Judicial Watch to praise the administration's transparency, but then refused to hand over Secret Service logs Judicial Watch requested. The Obama administration has said that documents about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are not subject to FOIA.
The White House Propaganda Machine. The White House infamously put restrictions on journalists taking some videos and photos of the President, but has simultaneously released administration-produced content that is little more than propaganda. In November 2013, news organizations sent the administration a letter protesting the treatment: "As surely as if they were placing a hand over a journalist's camera lens, officials in this administration are blocking the public from having an independent view of important functions of the executive branch of government."
The Obama administration's actions, the letter stated, have "a direct and adverse impact on the public's ability to independently monitor and see what its government is doing." The letter asked news organizations to stop using White House produced photos. The White House banned independent photos of events including a meeting between Obama and black faith leaders and between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators and Vice President Joe Biden, as well as a meeting with Hillary Clinton. AP executive editor Kathleen Carroll stated, "are now recorded only by photographers who work directly for the White House, resulting in images that are little more than visual press releases." The White House also prefers to use non-profit group Media Matters to distribute its spin on the news.
Prosecution of Whistleblowers. The Obama administration is the leakiest administration in history. The IRS leaked information about a conservative 501(c)3's donors; Joe Biden leaked the identity of the team responsible for killing Bin Laden; the Obama administration leaked information about Israeli national security repeatedly in order to prevent an Israeli strike on Iran, among other major leaks. But when it comes to prosecuting press members for cooperating with whistleblowers, the Obama administration's use of the Espionage Act has been historically heavyhanded.
In 2009, the Justice Department initiated an investigation into James Rosen, after which Attorney General Eric Holder lied, "With regard to potential prosecution of the press for the disclosure of material: that is not something I've ever been involved in, heard of or would think would be wise policy." Overall, the administration has used the Espionage Act six times to prosecute whistleblowers. Leonard Downie of The Washington Post wrote in October 2013, "The war on leaks and other efforts to control information are the most aggressive I've seen since the Nixon administration."
The Obama administration has been curtailing press freedom – but that hasn't ended the press' drool-cup worship for their beloved president. Despite occasional flare-ups, the relationship between the Obama White House and its press lackeys remains strong. Which is not only a testament to the tyrannical tendencies of the Obama administration, but to the cowardice of those who cover it.
Ben Shapiro is Senior Editor-At-Large of Breitbart News and author of the New York Times bestseller "Bullies: How the Left's Culture of Fear and Intimidation Silences America" (Threshold Editions, January 8, 2013). He is also Editor-in-Chief of TruthRevolt.org. Follow Ben Shapiro on Twitter @benshapiro.


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Sun Puts Second Gold on Horizon
Aug 3, 2012
Olympic Games, London 2012, Day 7 Heats
Men's 1500 Freestyle Heats
Italy's Gregorio Paltrinieri won the third heat to set the bar at 14:50.11 - ahead of Britain's Daniel Fogg - who posted 14:56.12. The 2007 world champion Mateusz Sawrymovicz of Poland was third in 14:57.59.
Heat 4 saw Olympic bronze medallist from Beijing Ryan Cochrane (CAN) in lane 4 next to world ranked number 2 Park Taehwan (KOR) - but it was China's Dai Yun who attempted to take it out from lane 1. Cochrane moved back on him to the 400, and swam a relaxed race to win the heat in 14:49.31. Park had trailed in second and moved back to third behind Connor Jaeger of the USA. Park came back for the final 100 though and was 14:56.89 - touching out Jaeger in 14:57.56.
The fifth and final heat was the penultimate appearance of 400 metre Olympic champion Sun Yang of China - who led the race from the start, splitting easy 59s to stay well clear of Pal Joensen - a Faroe Islands native currently swimming for Denmark. After 500 metres Olympic and defending champion Oussama Mellouli of Tunisia moved into second, taking roughly 33 strokes per length for Sun's 26-27.
Sun finished to post the top time of 14:43.25, with Mellouli third in 14:46.23. Andrew Gemmel of Britain was third in 14:59.05.
The final lines up with Sun in first, followed by Mellouli and Cochrane seeded third - Sawrymovicz made it in in eighth spot - Gemmel locked out of the final in 9th place.


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Guest blogger: Summertime Professional Reading
Today's blog recommends two books that will bring you up to speed on the impact of the maker movement in schools. Paula Hollohan is the Instructional Technologies & Information Specialist in the Doucette Library who keeps up with technology trends in education. Check in with Paula's blog, Doucette Ed Tech if you'd like to keep up with all sorts of cool and interesting, wide-ranging topics.
I, too, will be coming up with some summertime reading recommendations in about two weeks - NOT focused on technology, as you might expect. So stay tuned for fiction and nonfiction reads whether you're at the beach, cabin, or in the back garden. There will be something for everyone.
Summer Reading
By: Paula Hollohan
Summer is a time to re-energize and have some time for new
learning in a more relaxed atmosphere.
That's everything I love about summer reading except that the location
can and be the beach or the deck. Set
your sights on something you are interested in, get a big set of post it notes
and away you go.
This summer, I am recommending two reads to reinforce the
notion of the "Maker Mindset."
Both books, while not published this year, are new enough to
speak to the notion of making embedded in curriculum and in school culture more
completely than a room called a "Maker Space" ever could be. That is not to say that having a makerspace
in any facility that you educate in is not a great bonus but without a leading
edge, expensive maker space, any educator can still advance the notion of
making in any environment.
The first book is "Free to Make: How the Maker Movement is changing our schools, our jobs, and our minds" by Dale Dougherty with Ariane Conrad.
Beginning with Chapter 1, "We are all
Makers," this book, published in 2016, gives a generous overview of the maker
movement and some specifics about how it fits in education and more generally,
how it is changing the real world.
Chapter 7 specifically addresses the nature and conditions needed to
adopt a "maker mindset." This book is a
quick read to give educators a great foundation in what maker is and what is
looks like within each community.
The second book is by Edmonton's own, George Couros, "The Innovator's Mindset: Empower learning, unleash talent, and lead a culture ofcreativity."
This book speaks
directly to educators no matter what stage they are at in embracing the maker
movement. He addresses, because of his
own experience, just how difficult it is to lead a revolution in a school
system. However, the information
contained here will give educators much to talk and think about. Many questions will be addressed, like how to
create meaningful learning while having innovative students and educators
leading the way.
Have a great summer and allow these two great books to help
inform your practice in September.
Both books are currently being catalogued and will shortly
be available in the Doucette Library.


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When I was a little girl "snickerdoodles" were one of the first cookies I learned how to make. Deliciously simple vanilla cookies with a coating of cinnamon and sugar! I often made snickerdoodles for youth gatherings at church, for my teachers at school, and just for fun.
I'm always looking for ways to make baking gluten free easier and less time consuming. Last week I needed a dessert for a small dinner party and I decided to come up with a recipe for Snickerdoodles using my favorite gluten free master baking mix.
These cookies come together quickly and are a true crowd pleaser! By the end of our gathering last week not one cookie was left! It's such an easy cookie to make that I'll be adding them to my list of super easy gluten free desserts! You could add endless additions to these cookies: nuts, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips, raisins, you name it!
Healthy? Well, not particularly… but they are really delicious, kid-friendly gluten free cookies!
Perfect for lunch boxes, office gatherings, or just because, these cookies will be sure to please anyone who tries them!
Gluten Free Snickerdoodles
(gluten free, soy free, *casein free)
½ cup Spectrum shortening
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 ¾ cups Gluten Free Master Baking Mix, or GF/CF Homemade Master Baking Mix (or other leavened gluten free baking mix)
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mixture for dipping cookies in:
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream shortening with sugar. Mix in eggs and vanilla. Stir in Gluten Free Master Baking Mix. (You can chill dough to make it easier to work with at this point, but it is not necessary!) Roll dough into 1" balls. In a small bowl mix together cinnamon and sugar. Roll cookie balls in mixture and place 2" apart on a greased baking sheet (or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silpat mat). Flatten cookies by using the bottom of a heavy cup or glass that has been covered in the cinnamon/sugar mixture. (Cookies will not spread while baking, so it's important to flatten them with the bottom of a glass or with a fork!) Bake for 8-10 minutes in 350 degree oven until cookies are golden brown on the edges. Let cool on cookie sheets for several minutes before moving to cooling rack. Store in an airtight container on the counter.
Makes 2 dozen cookies.
(Printer-friendly recipe.)
Carrie's Notes:
- Make sure to try out my revised gluten free/casein free master baking mix!
- I have not tried these cookies with agave nectar, but I think it would work with only 1/3 cup of agave in cookie dough.
- For a different flavor basic cookie, try using almond extract or lemon extract instead of the vanilla called for!


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This is the End my Friends.
Dear StoryTime Readers and Contributors.
It's been a great five years but all good things come to an end.
It's truly been an awesome experience for me as the publisher and editor of this magazine, but it's time now for me to move on and focus on other projects. I want to thank every writer who contributed to the magazine and every reader who read them; I couldn't have done any of it without you.
To date, Storytime has published: 146 Short Stories, 45 Book Excerpts, and three anthologies were drawn from the best of magazine. When I started StoryTime in 2007 it was partly in response to the dire lack of African lit mags, especially online mags. In 2012 this is no longer the case I'm happy to say, with numerous online African lit mags now up and running and publishing a wide variety of quality African lit. In some small way, I think StoryTime has helped lead this prolific transition into online media, which has given voice to thousands of African writers who previously only had meagre, print only, platforms to do so.
Special thanks go to Emmanuel Sigauke who unflaggingly believed and encouraged me in this endeavour, and has edited all the African Roar anthologies with me.
The annual African Roar anthologies will continue, but we'll do it by submissions only at: African Roar submissions.
All the stories will remain available to read here indefinitely — barring a worldwide calamity wiping the Google servers.
Many thanks again to everyone,
Ivor Hartmann
StoryTime (Publishing).


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Flood Information
Following is contact information to request Sandbags and report Flooded Streets and Broken Tree Limbs:
List of Sand Bag Locations / Ubicaciones de Sacos de Arena
Following is a list of Flooded Streets/Road Closures:
Links to monitor severe weather include:
The National Weather Service California Nevada River Forecast Center.
The National Weather Service Forecast Office: Sacramento, CA
To access information for current river conditions and water levels utilize the California Data Exchange Center
Go to "Current River Conditions" and scroll down to "San Joaquin River Region" to view rivers in Stanislaus County.
Information from Federal Emergency Management Agency
https://www.fema.gov/areyouready/flood.shtm- Floods [PDF]
Floods are one of the most common hazards in the U.S. However, all floods are not alike. Riverine floods develop slowly, sometimes over a period of days. Flash floods can develop quickly, sometimes in just a few minutes, without any visible signs of rain. Flash floods often have a dangerous wall of roaring water that carries a deadly cargo of rocks, mud and other debris and can sweep away most things in its path. Overland flooding occurs outside a de- fined river or stream, such as when a levee is breached, but still can be destructive. Flooding can also occur from a dam break producing effects similar to flash floods.
Flood effects can be very local, impacting a neighborhood or community, or very large, effecting entire river basins and multiple states.
Be aware of flood hazards no matter where you live, but especially if you live in a low-lying area, near water or downstream from a dam. Even very small streams, gullies, creeks, culverts, dry stream beds or low-lying ground that appear harmless in dry weather can flood.
Every state is at risk from this hazard. Go to higher ground during floods. Moving water only 6 inches deep can knock you off your feet.
What to do before a flood
- Know the terms used to describe flooding:
- Flood Watch - Flooding is possible. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio or commercial radio or television for information. Watches are issued 12 to 36 hours in advance of a possible flooding event.
- Flash Flood Watch - Flash flooding is possible. Be prepared to move to higher ground. A flash flood could occur without any warning. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or commercial radio or television for additional information.
- Flood Warning - Flooding is occurring or will occur soon. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.
- Flash Flood Warning - A flash flood is occurring. Seek higher ground on foot immediately.
- Ask local officials whether your property is in a flood-prone or high-risk area. (Remember that floods often occur outside high-risk areas.) Ask about official flood warning signals and what to do when you hear them. Also ask how you can protect your home from flooding.
- Identify dams in your area and determine whether they pose a hazard to you.
- Purchase a NOAA Weather Radio with battery backup and a tone-alert feature that automatically alerts you when a Watch or Warning is issued (tone alert not available in some areas). Purchase a battery-powered commercial radio and extra batteries.
- Be prepared to evacuate. Learn your community's flood evacuation routes and where to find high ground. See the ¨Evacuation¨ chapter for important information.
- Talk to your household about flooding. Plan a place to meet your household in case you are separated from one another in a disaster and cannot return home. Choose an out-of-town contact for everyone to call to say they are okay. In some emergencies, calling out of- state is possible even when local phone lines are down.
- Determine how you would care for household members who may live elsewhere but might need your help in a flood. Determine any special needs your neighbors might have.
- Prepare to survive on your own for at least three days. Assemble a disaster supply kit. Keep a stock of food and extra drinking water. See the ¨Emergency Planning and Disaster Supplies¨ chapter for more information.
- Know how to shut off electricity, gas and water at main switches and valves. Know where gas pilot lights are located and how the heating system works.
- Consider purchasing flood insurance.
- Flood losses are not covered under homeowners insurance policies. Keep supplies on hand for an emergency. Remember a battery operated NOAA Weather Radio with a tone-alert feature and extra batteries.
- FEMA manages the National Flood Insurance Program, which makes federally-backed flood insurance available in communities that agree to adopt and enforce floodplain management ordinances to reduce future flood damage.
- Flood insurance is available in most communities through insurance agents.
- There is a 30-day waiting period before flood insurance goes into effect, so don't delay.
- Flood insurance is available whether the building is in or out of the identified flood-prone area. 11. Consider options for protecting your property.
- Make a record of your personal property. Take photographs or videotapes of your belongings. Store these documents in a safe place.
- Keep insurance policies, deeds, property records and other important papers in a safe place away from your home.
- Avoid building in a floodplain unless you elevate and reinforce your home.
- Elevate furnace, water heater, and electric panel to higher floors or the attic if they are susceptible to flooding.
- Install ¨check valves¨ in sewer traps to prevent flood water from backing up into the drains of your home.
- Construct barriers such as levees, berms, and floodwalls to stop floodwater from entering the building.
- Seal walls in basements with waterproofing compounds to avoid seepage.
- Call your local building department or emergency management office for more information.
Keep supplies on hand for an emergency. Remember a battery operated NOAA Weather Radio with a tone-alert feature and extra batteries.
What to do during a flood
- Be aware of flash flood. If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground. Do not wait for instructions to move.
- Listen to radio or television stations for local information.
- Be aware of streams, drainage channels, canyons and other areas known to flood suddenly. Flash floods can occur in these areas with or without such typical warning signs as rain clouds or heavy rain.
- If local authorities issue a flood watch, prepare to evacuate:
- Secure your home. If you have time, tie down or bring outdoor equipment and lawn furniture inside. Move essential items to the upper floors.
- If instructed, turn off utilities at the main switches or valves. Disconnect electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.
- Fill the bathtub with water in case water becomes contaminated or services cut off. Before filling the tub, sterilize it with a diluted bleach solution.
- Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. If you must walk in a flooded area, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
- Do not drive into flooded areas. Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling. A foot of water will float many vehicles. Two feet of water will wash away almost all vehicles. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground, if you can do so safely. You and your vehicle can be quickly swept away as floodwaters rise.
- See the ¨Evacuation¨ chapter for important information.
If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground. Do not wait for instructions to move.
What to do after a flood
- Avoid floodwaters. The water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline or raw sewage. The water may also be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines.
- Avoid moving water. Moving water only six inches deep can sweep you off your feet.
- Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded. Roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of a car.
- Stay away from downed power lines and report them to the power company.
- Stay away from designated disaster areas unless authorities ask for volunteers.
- Return home only when authorities indicate it is safe. Stay out of buildings if surrounded by floodwaters. Use extreme caution when entering buildings. There may be hidden damage, particularly in foundations.
- Consider your family's health and safety needs:
- Wash hands frequently with soap and clean water if you come in contact with floodwaters.
- Throw away food that has come in contact with floodwaters.
- Listen for news reports to learn whether the community's water supply is safe to drink.
- Listen to news reports for information about where to get assistance for housing, clothing and food.
- Seek necessary medical care at the nearest medical facility.
- Service damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits, and leaching systems as soon as possible. Damaged sewage systems are serious health hazards.
- Contact your insurance agent. If your policy covers your situation, an adjuster will be assigned to visit your home. To prepare:
- Take photos of your belongings and your home or videotape them.
- Separate damaged and undamaged belongings.
- Locate your financial records.
- Keep detailed records of cleanup costs.
- If your residence has been flooded obtain a copy of ¨Repairing Your Flooded Home¨ from the local American Red Cross chapter.
- See the ¨Recovering From Disaster¨ chapter for more information.


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To no one's great shock, the Minnesota Supreme Court has rejected Norm Coleman's appeal of the election contest and awarded the Senate election to Al Franken. The decision, expected last week, stated that Coleman failed to prove that recounting thousands of rejected ballots would have impacted the final results:
It is U.S. Sen. Al Franken.
The Minnesota Supreme Court today decided that Franken, a Democrat, won the highest number of votes in last year's U.S. Senate race and deserves a signed election certificate.
The court said that Republican Norm Coleman didn't prove that a lower court made mistakes requiring a rehearing of the case. Coleman had asked the court to order thousands of rejected absentee ballots counted. He had hoped the counting would allow him to overcome Franken's 312-vote lead.
As I wrote before, the equal-protection argument Coleman used for this appeal had more chance of success in federal court rather than state court. The state court kept itself to the issues of state law, rather than the more expansive federal issue of equal treatment of votes. No one who followed the arguments at the court can be surprised by this decision, which was unanimous.
Coleman could push this into the federal courts, but he has yet to commit to doing so. Tim Pawlenty indicated that he would follow the state Supreme Court's direction in handling the election certificate, which means Franken will probably take his seat this week in the Senate. If Coleman appeals to the federal court, he will have to also deal with Franken's status as a seated Senator.
My guess — and this is just a guess — is that Coleman will call it a day. We'll soon see.
Update: Eric Black reports that the certificate was not specifically ordered. Hmmm. That gives Pawlenty an out, if he chooses to wait for a Coleman federal appeal.
Update II: Ignore my original update II. ABC News sent out an old report, and I didn't catch it at first.
Update III: Catching this via Twitter from Howard Kurtz — Norm Coleman has conceded. He wants to focus on fishing more than the governor's race for now, but I think he decided to stop now to preserve his viability within the state of Minnesota. Probably not a bad decision for him personally.
Update IV: Coleman's statement, as provided by his campaign:
"Ours is a government of laws, not men and women. The Supreme Court of Minnesota has spoken and I respect its decision and will abide by the result. It's time for Minnesota to come together under the leaders it has chosen and move forward. I join all Minnesotans in congratulating our newest United States Senator – Al Franken.
"Just a few last words about my legal challenge. Sure, I wanted to win. Not just for myself but for my wonderful supporters and the important values I have always fought for. I also thought it was important to stand up for enfranchising thousands of Minnesotans whose votes weren't counted like the others were. After all, issues and politicians come and go, but voting is fundamental.
"It is the essence of democracy so I knew we needed to do everything we could to get it right.
"I am forever grateful and humbled by the people of Minnesota who have given me the honor to represent them – and even more grateful for their wisdom, courage, patience and understanding over these past several months.
"The path that I take in the future is not nearly as important today as the path that we must now — all travel on together — to strengthen our state and our nation.
"I have never believed that my service is irreplaceable. We have reached the point where further litigation damages the unity of our state, which is also fundamental. In these tough times, we all need to focus on the future. And the future today is we have a new United States Senator.
"I congratulate Al Franken and his victory in this election. He now enjoys the advantage that our Congressional Delegation has over the other 525 people on Capitol Hill: he represents Minnesota.
"I know the great ideas, the amazing work ethic and the historic ability to come together to get things done in this state will help him greatly, as it has me.
"Speaking of which, I think we all should take a moment to thank Amy Klobuchar and her staff. They have done a great job of carrying the burden of two Senators these last six months. She is an extraordinary public servant.
"I don't reach this point with any big regrets. I ran the campaign I wanted. I conducted the legal challenge I wanted. And I have always believed you do the best you can and leave the results up to a higher authority. I'm at peace with that. As to my future plans, that's a subject for another day.
"We live in a great country and a great state. We can all have confidence that by some path we don't yet know – one which we can all come together to lay out – we will arrive at the better future we all seek.
"Thank you and may God bless Minnesota and America."


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Tuesday May 3, 2011 1:35 pm
My letter to the FCC about the AT&T-T-Mobile purchase
The FCC has opened public comment on the AT&T/T-Mobile merger, and now is the time to make your views known.
I have no idea whether any amount of public outrage will stop this merger, but we might as well try. Checking this morning, I saw that there are already almost 3,000 comments submitted, overwhelmingly opposing the merger.
AT&T set out its justifications for the merger in a 388-page filing with the FCC.
I'm sure that AT&T will soon rally some sort of Astroturf organization to write comments in support of the deal. It's interesting, really: the comments I could find in support of the merger come from groups and trade associations, while the comments against the merger generally come from individual Americans. It's clearly easier to get a lobbying organization in AT&T's corner than it is to get real people in support of this deal.
For instance, one from a group called "100 Black Men of America" claiming that the merger will create "new jobs," when it will obviously result in massive layoffs of former T-Mobile personnel. Similarly, the "World Institute on Disability" claims that the "merger will be one step toward ensuring that more people with disabilities are able to connect to fast, reliable wireless broadband services." Considering that the merger promises absolutely nothing about accessibility, that comment is baffling.
You can check existing comments by going to the FCC Web site and entering proceeding number 11-65. Make your comment by going to this page and selecting the link marked 11-65.
Here's what I'm sending to the FCC. Feel free to steal my arguments for your own submissions.
To Whom It May Concern:
As the lead analyst for mobile devices, I have reviewed more than 500 cell phones and other gadgets over the past seven years, and I'm considered an expert on the wireless industry. I believe a merger between AT&T and T-Mobile would result in less competition, fewer choices, higher prices, and less innovation. This merger is not in the interest of American consumers.
The merger will result in the wireless industry becoming dangerously close to a duopoly. With AT&T's purchase of T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon would have approximately 80 percent of U.S. wireless subscribers. AT&T claims smaller competitors such as Cricket, MetroPCS and Cellular South are threatening AT&T's business. But MetroPCS, with 8 million subscribers, would be less than 1/16 of the new AT&T's size. The other companies are even smaller. This is an elephant professing a fear of mice.
The merger will result in fewer handset choices for consumers. Carriers control wireless handset sales in the U.S. by subsidizing phones; Americans in general don't want to pay unsubsidized prices. This has resulted in the carriers acting as gatekeepers, limiting the number of handsets available at prices consumers find acceptable. The number of phones a single carrier offers is limited for reasons of customer support, inventory management, and shelf space at stores.
Currently, AT&T offers 85 products in its nationwide postpaid line, including phones, iPads, netbooks and other devices. Verizon offers 69. T-Mobile offers 60. Sprint, 47 for its main brand. As most U.S. carriers demand exclusive handsets, AT&T and T-Mobile only share approximately 13 products in common. For inventory management reasons, AT&T is unlikely to increase its product line size very much. Folding T-Mobile into AT&T would result in up to a 20 percent reduction of phone choices among the major postpaid brands.
AT&T claims T-Mobile's handset lineup is unappealing, but that's simply not true. T-Mobile was Google's first partner for the Android OS, and continues to release leading Android phones and tablets. From zero in 2008, Android has become the top U.S. smartphone OS by unit volume sold. According to our reviewers, as of April 27, T-Mobile has the best Android phone (the T-Mobile G2x) and best Android tablet in the U.S.
The merger will result in reduced customer care quality and higher plan prices. In my experience with large wireless mergers, including AT&T/Cingular, Sprint/Nextel and Verizon/Alltel, the merged company generally takes on the pricing and customer service policies of its larger parent. According to JD Power and Associates, T-Mobile received five stars for customer care while AT&T received only two.
AT&T's plan prices are also generally higher than T-Mobile's. While AT&T says T-Mobile customers will be able to keep their existing plans, that offer stands only for a limited time; T-Mobile customers will eventually be rolled onto AT&T plans. This will become necessary as AT&T has said it intends to repurpose T-Mobile's 3G spectrum for LTE, making T-Mobile 3G phones less functional in the long term.
The merger will result in less innovation. AT&T is right that T-Mobile can't find enough spectrum for a nationwide 4G LTE network. T-Mobile is innovating around the problem, with a path to raise its HSPA+ network to LTE-class speeds. For now, T-Mobile's frugal strategies may provide a laboratory for solutions to the overall spectrum crisis, and the company may acquire more spectrum in the future.
AT&T argues that T-Mobile's lack of spectrum makes it a non-viable carrier, but many of the smaller competitors that AT&T finds so threatening (such as MetroPCS) have even less spectrum nationwide. AT&T can't have it both ways.
The merger will result in a monopoly on GSM service. GSM, along with its close relatives UMTS and HSPA, is the world's global technology, with 750 networks in 219 countries supplying service to approximately 3.9 billion subscriptions, according to the GSM Association. The smaller CDMA system used by the other U.S. carriers has approximately 439 million subscriptions. Many devices are available primarily or only on the GSM radio system.
AT&T and T-Mobile are the only two of the top seven U.S. carriers to implement GSM, aligning them with the rest of the world. Merging the two carriers would create only one U.S. customer for the global flow of GSM equipment, marginalizing us in the global marketplace and making all of the combined carrier's phones U.S. exclusives, unable to be switched to any other large carrier.
AT&T's argument about needing spectrum is disingenuous. Wireless carriers will all eventually need more spectrum. The real question is, is AT&T's spectrum position weak compared to its competitors? A recent CNET article by Marguerite Reardon shows the answer to be no. AT&T, which was one of the two big winners in the 2008 700MHz spectrum auction and is currently trying to buy more from Qualcomm, is "sitting on more spectrum than any other wireless operator in the top 21 markets in the U.S., and about a third of that spectrum is still being unused," Reardon reports. AT&T's well-known capacity problems may not be because of a lack of spectrum, but because of a lack of planning, capital spending, and investments in backhaul—none of which require a purchase of T-Mobile to help.
Holding LTE deployment hostage to a merger is reprehensible. Most of the comments in support of this merger are from groups supporting AT&T's decision to extend LTE service to 95 percent of the USA. But AT&T can already implement nationwide LTE service over time, using its existing 700MHz, 850MHz and 1900MHz spectrum, and could innovate in other deals such as partnerships with smaller rural spectrum holders. Holding minority, rural, and other communities hostage to a merger deal is the worst kind of bargaining.
If the FCC does approve this merger, in my view the only way to maintain wireless competition in the U.S. would be to adopt a "common carrier" rule for the new AT&T network. AT&T must be required to offer wholesale voice and 4G data service, at attractive and regulated rates, to any virtual network operator that wants to compete.
Of course, we've seen this strategy fail before. We have the developed world's least competitive home Internet access market in part because the Supreme Court in 2004 voided rules forcing competition there, resulting in most Americans having only one or two choices for home Internet access.
The U.S. is currently a leader in wireless innovation. Let's not allow the wireless market to become similar to the home Internet access market, where our networks are considered slow, expensive and uncompetitive on a global scale. This merger would be a step in that negative direction.
This article, written by Sascha Segan, originally appeared on PCMag.com and is republished on Gear Live with the permission of Ziff Davis, Inc.
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Upgrade Your Home, Thrifty Style
Have you been dreaming of concrete-finish counters, a sleek panel wall, or some other luxury finish for your home, but goggling at the actual price tag? It can be frustrating to add upgrades to your house when you see how it affects your pocketbook, but I'm here today to let you in on a little secret: you actually don't need to spend tons of money to get the same beauty, grace, and gorgeousness as fancy upgrades.
Home bloggers across the United States are using thrift, craft, and ingenuity to put together their own DIY versions of beautiful home upgrades, and some of their projects are indistinguishable from the real thing. They're kind enough to share their work at sites like Hometalk -- including not just pictures of the finished projects, but discussions of every step and the lessons they learned along the way.
This is basically a win-win for you, because not only can you get tons of inspiration from their projects...you can also learn from their mistakes and complete the same amazing home upgrades, without the heartbreak.
If you're thinking about some fancy home upgrades, you have a couple of options that will help you use home bloggers as an effective research resource. You may already have a very distinctive idea of what you want: subway tile in the kitchen, for example, or a nailhead texture for the ceiling. Maybe you know you just want a change, but you're not quite sure what it's going to look like yet.
Cruise on over to a home blogger's site (or a community like Hometalk -- and I'm not just talking them up because they're our friends, they really are great -- though another good alternative is Pinterest). Search for specific examples of the project you'd like to do and get ready to be amazed by the diversity. Narrow down to a few examples you like and read through the directions, pratfalls, and advice so you can prepare your own version.
If you're not sure what you want to do, try searching by room -- Hometalk has a kitchens category, for example, with lots of inspiration, as well as a countertops category. Prepare to get seriously inspired with a wealth of ideas for whole-room upgrades as well as individual things you can do. Home bloggers will have tips on what to start with and how to do it, and they'll have a wealth of information on reuse and recycling as well as tricky tasks like tile installation, getting the perfect alignment with carpentry projects, and making sure your Dallas paint job is flawless.
With home bloggers blazing the way, you can DIY all kinds of amazing, wonderful, and cool projects. Get started today!
Katie Marks writes for Hometalk.com.
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Penis enlargement is a special issue in today's world. Buried underneath tons of unsolicited emails promising the most unlikely results, plagued by dishonest practitioners and obscured by myths and hearsay, the honest traders of this industry have pushed forward with their products and services. Most of the time, men prefer to turn away and say enlargement does not work, even though they have no idea whether this is true or not. Hearsay is just as good as sound, hands-on information if one is not really interested in the issue or if one is afraid of the truth.
Many people are keen to dismiss penis exercises as myths even though they are not familiar with the facts. Penis exercises have been around in one form or other for a very long time. Primitive tribes are still using weights, various objects and exercises to force parts of the human body to change size and achieve a new look. The women of the Paduang tribe use metal rings to lengthen their necks, while the people from other tribes hang weights from their lips or ear lobes in order to reach their own standards of beauty. Chinese women of high birth had their feet shrunk in order to fit the local ideal of a sexy look. With all these going on, why should it be so hard to believe that the penis was ignored?
Especially since we know that it was not. Various penis enlargement techniques have also been reported, especially among the nomad Arabic tribes. Body enhancement techniques performed by males were always tied to the position of the person in question within the tribe or with the manhood initiation rites. It seems that men found early on that the human body can be modified using systems or exercises. The only Male Extra systems at their disposal for a long period of time were weights, but stretching the penis using one's own hands was just as good as any system.
The basic principle behind body enhancement is the adaptability of the human body in response to external stimuli. Everybody knows that the extra physical effort put into working out at the gym will trigger an increase in the size of the muscles that have to sustain the effort. Thus, repeated exercises focused on the penis, like the ones offered by Penis Health, will force the body to start multiplying the cells that make up the penis tissues and to increase both the length and girth of the penis in order to cope with the new situation.
The best known penis enlargement exercise is the Jelq. This exercise is designed to enlarge the penis using milking movements in order to increase the blood flow into the corpora cavernosa, the sponge-like tissues of the penis. The increased blood flow will, in time, force the tissues to expand and increase both the flaccid and erect sizes of the penis. Dr. Brian Richards has conducted a study of penis enlargement exercises in the 1970s and found that jelq helped nearly 90 percent of patients increase their penis size. The gains ranged in size, of course, but it was proven that men could add an inch or even more to their penises.
Penis Health is one of the best penis exercises programs around. Hundreds of customers have successfully enlarged their penises using the exercises developed by the people at Penis Health. You don't have to take anything on faith. Just browse the Mens Network forum and discuss gains with the registered users or browse the Penis Health site and read through the signed testimonials and opinions culled from forum posts. Customers are content with the program and excited about the results. We think there's nothing better for a man's confidence than an extra inch or two on his penis.
Despite the rabid skepticism of those cannot be bothered to check the facts, common sense and evidence point to the fact that penis enlargement exercises do work. No man who could use an extra inch or two in length or girth should write them off until he's actually tried them. Many skeptics have been pleasantly surprised by our program of exercises, so why not give it a go? There's nothing to lose and a whole world of sexual pleasure and self-respect to gain.


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Appearing on TODAY, Vice President Joe Biden said that he was "surprised" by Gov. Mitt Romney's agreement with the president on foreign policy issues in the debate, eschewing his previous criticisms of the administration on international affairs.
"Just a couple weeks ago when I debated Congressman Ryan, Congressman Ryan was laying out the foreign policy with regard to what he and what Gov. Romney believed; the overwhelming criticism of our positions in Syria, Iraq, Iran, and across the board. And tonight, Gov. Romney seemed to be rushing to agree with everything the president had done already."
"I was surprised," he added.
Ryan, who also appeared Tuesday on TODAY, defended his running mate's debate performance. He said Romney was clear about how his foreign affair policies differed from those of the current administration. He called Obama's engagement strategy with Iran, Israel and other nations "naïve."
"Mitt Romney did a fantastic job of spelling out his foreign policy doctrine. I know it sounds like a cliché, but peace through strength is a doctrine," he said.
Asked about the state of the drum-tight race for the presidency, Biden pointed to swing state polls where Obama appears to be holding a lead.
"I think we will win Ohio," he told Matt Lauer. "I think we're going to win Florida."
Biden, who appeared from Toledo in the middle of a three-day Ohio swing, said that supporters' energy on the ground there points to an Obama win. "The enthusiasm is real," he said. "The polling that I'm seeing is that we're still ahead."
More:Recapping the bayonet battle of Boca Raton
Food on the trail: Why Obama, Romney must visit this diner