text:
Pick the Right Kodi Box (UPDATED FEB 2015) - Printable Version
Kodi Community Forum (https://forum.kodi.tv)
+-- Forum: Discussions (https://forum.kodi.tv/forumdisplay.php?fid=222)
+--- Forum: Hardware (https://forum.kodi.tv/forumdisplay.php?fid=112)
--- Thread: Pick the Right Kodi Box (UPDATED FEB 2015) (/showthread.php?tid=94268)
Pick the Right Kodi Box (UPDATED FEB 2015) - poofyhairguy - 2011-02-15
Right now is an exciting time for this space. In 2015 there are way more options at way better price points than ever before, and an elite Kodi experience is easily possible. To help everyone I am cutting this into categories. First up is the best one:
[The "I Just Want the Best Kodi Experience I Can Get in A Small Quiet Box in 2015" Category]
Get a Celeron Chromebox and put Openelec onto it. Seriously, the celeron Chromebox is quiet and has enough CPU power to blow through every non-4k HEVC file I have. It is the perfect Kodi appliance, especially after all that work Intel did for Helix that Openelec incorporates.
Even Live TV- the high water mark- works great. It has great GPU support in the current version, and can run every plugin or skin which is HUGE. This is the new Acer Revo. THE box. I am partial to the Asus one for its quietness. If you have a large library, you basically must buy this thing.
Here are the directions (thank you Matt and everyone):
ASUS_Chromebox (wiki)
I have done those steps from out of the box in less than 20 minutes. Just don't even bother dual-booting, go the stand alone install route and let Openelec be the primary OS. Wifi will work as will the Intel GPU.
If you must have something that is guaranteed future proof (aka can play all the stuff coming in 4k) or you are REALLY into Anime look at getting an i3 or i7 model, as the celeron one slightly lacks the CPU power needed to what is coming with the 4K Blu Ray standard maybe. But who knows really, we don't have that stuff yet and honestly it plays the 4k I have now.
I use my celeron Chromebox at my 4K viewing station. And I am using its 5GHz wifi to play everything! How about that for an endorsement?
Seriously if you care about an top shelf Kodi experience stop now and get a Chromebox. If you care about more than Kodi such as Netflix, or you want something cheaper than a Chromebox for a little worse experience than a Chromebox, then read on.
[The "I want a good cheap box that can properly play my 2D Blu Ray and DVD rips on my TV via Kodi." Category]
The Pi 2 is winner in this category. When you purchase the codecs it can play any Blu Ray rip you throw at it, and it provides a great value by de-interlacing old DVDs really well. The Pi 2 can give you proper 24p support unlike almost any Android box and it can run the interface well for a modest library.
I give the Pi 2 my full endorsement for playing ripped media properly.
The only restrictions otherwise compared to a Chromebox are it can't run every plugin, it won't run every skin as well, it doesn't have the power to decode really any HEVC and maybe some Hi10p stuff, and it can't bitstream HD audio (that is the big one). Oh and I personally wouldn't use it for 1080i live TV unless I really couldn't afford a Chromebox.
But for the price the Pi 2 really is the only thing I feel safe saying can just take on a hard drive of random Blu Rays. I am kinda picky and I would take a Pi 2 over any Android box any day on a primary viewing station. Anyone near its price doesn't get the support the Pi does, plus Android is a second-class HTPC OS currently. There are better Android devices than a Pi 2, but honestly if you are spending more on a Pi 2 then a Chromebox is probably what you should be buying.
[The "I Want The BEST Kodi Experience Possible. Period. And I Demand it Be Future Proof!" Category]
This is still dominated by Nvidia+Linux (or Windows 7+AMD) in my opinion. But the difference between the best and a Chromebox is slight. You will need to build a custom rig, preferably with a GT 630 V2 GPU (aka the best HTPC GPU ever) or better to even make it worthwhile. That GPU plays all my h264 2160p files, and runs Aeon Nox at 4k perfectly at 60fps so I can recommend it also for older system you want to make into Kodi machines. Here is a good starting point for the quest of building a HTPC:
Honestly only freak shows like me who care that their interlaced VC1 files are played perfectly should be building a box for Kodi if you are starting from scratch. Or gamers. Like one of my primary systems is this overclocked i5 rig so it can launch Wii games out of Kodi. That needs more than a Chromebox, but none of that is Kodi.
The only REAL benefit just for media purposes is the upgradability. Soon we will have cheap Nvidia GPUs that decode the meanest HEVC like nothing, and that means a custom built box can accept that upgrade some day. But if you have a new nice 1080p TV you really like then just buy a Chromebox.
[The "I Care More About Playing 3D ISOs Perfectly Than Anything Else" Category]
Some people have niche needs, like playing ISOs instead of mkvs, and the VidOn Box is the only device that can do that and 3D frame packing properly. I personally wouldn't want one of these boxes, many of its limitations are simply unacceptable to me, but I guess if I went all in on the dying format that is 3D (I say that as an owner of three 3D tvs) then this would be my box. Here is a list of limitations so you can decide for yourself:
207004 (thread)
For 99% of people a Chromebox or Intel NUC is better for Kodi usage than any ARM box. Android simply has too many limitations, and every ARM box or stick lacks the single core performance you ideally want in a high end media box.
[The "I Just Want a Cheap Android Stick That Allows Me to Have Kodi On a TV" Category]
For a stick that plays nice with MicroSD or a USB drive there are a tons of options. I recommend something with a Mali 450 GPU as it has a great decoder built in. I have an mk808b Plus that I use as my vacation device and that I can recommend 100% for playing off of external media. Works with exfat and 64GB MicroSD cards, something not advertised. Plus it has a low-power CPU and not a tablet class one, which means it doesn't run super hot. It works well with pen drives or USB thumb drives and it can play all my 1080p h264 content, even the really high bitrate stuff. Heck it can even play a little 720p Hi10 files perfectly (the 4.0 profile ones). The limitations are a pretty poor wifi compared to say a Chromebox (it can do USB ethernet) and it won't run every skin. But for the price it is a great little stick, and it has a decent Openelec build.
Other advice:
As far as hard drives go, I think any hard drive less than 3TB is a waste. When you figure out the slot costs and compare that to the small price difference between 1, 1.5, 2 and 3TB drives it is obvious that 3TB drives the only value worth pursuing. High Def data takes up a LOT of space, even single 3TB drives are nothing.
Never buy more than one of the same HD from a vendor at one time!!! If you do you might be buying part of the same batch and if its a faulty batch no RAID in the world can help you. Mix and match drives vendors when building an array to pull from many separate batches.
On the issue of local storage vs a NAS, I ALWAYS think a NAS-type device is better. HTPCs + NAS combo machines are a cheaper option at first, but the combined heat of 1080p playing GPUs and the working HDs means that either the box will be loud with fans, or you will be killing hard drives. Benefits of pure NASes include being able to use NAS specific OSes with special features (more on that later), the ability to easily have multiple clients, and the ability for your NAS to do other things for you in some cases. Plus nowadays with the Chromebox there is no reason to have a loud NAS device in the livingroom. NASes can work in a space that is more private.
If you must put storage space inside your HTPC, the only drives I recommend are WD Green drives. They are the only drives on the market that stay cool enough that I feel safe recommending them in HTPCs. WD Green drives (and all 2TB Green drives on the market) are fast enough to host full 3D Blu Ray 1080p rips, so save your power by going green. Try to limit it to about three or so though.
Which brings me to NASes. There are two paths on this: build or buy. I am a build it guy. If you are a buy it guy look at Synology.
As far as building a NAS goes there are many different methods. Many people use older hardware they have laying around, some build from scratch. The four most common custom NAS OS options are Linux software RAID 5/6 (Ubuntu), FreeNAS (ZFS), Windows Home Server, and Unraid. The latter two are pay for software, the first two are free. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. If you want to learn more about these different options in detail read this thread.
Personally I use Unraid because it is easy to grow an array.
What HD Brand to Buy
As far as what hard drives to buy, I have tried almost all consumer sub 6TB drives and all I can say is buy Hitachis. Seriously. The WD Black is the best Unraid parity drive out there, but for the data drives buy Hitachis if you can. Second to that for me for a fast drive is the 7200 3TB Seagates, I think those are a good value. Red drives have their benefits depending on the RAID solution you use.
- ion_man - 2011-02-15
Good summary, I agree with it. with regards to ION/ION2, the Linuxtech.net overview is very helpful to choose among the large choice of devices:
- bmcclure937 - 2011-02-15
Poofy is back! Glad to see you pal. To be honest, I was worried to not see you post for so long.
Don't scare us like that
- eskro - 2011-02-15
bmcclure937 Wrote:Glad to see you pal. To be honest, I was worried to not see you post for so long.
Poofy is back
Yay!! I was afraid too since his last post was on 2011-01-22!!
Glad to see you here Captain!
- Beer40oz - 2011-02-15
I am so happy! I thought something happened to you. Glad you are back.
- poofyhairguy - 2011-02-15
Thanks for the kind words everyone. I plan to add to this thread, so if there is something missing please let me know.
- eskro - 2011-02-15
poofyhairguy Wrote:if there is something missing please let me know.
(A). in GROUP 2, when u wrote,
Best Served By:
-ION1/ION2 (Linux/Windows 7)
does that includes Nettops such as ZOTACs /REVOs/ SHUTTLEs ??
(B). Also, what about the ATV1 & ATV2 ??
- poofyhairguy - 2011-02-16
eskro Wrote:(A). in GROUP 2, when u wrote,
Yep. Every ION based Nettop can play 1080p, even single core models (in Linux).
Quote:(B). Also, what about the ATV1 & ATV2 ??
I plan to add them as a special case.
ATV1's only real use is for those who have component HD TVs. I can say from experience that the lack of robust decoding for Broadcoms combined with the low amount of RAM makes any ION system better than any ATV1.
ATV2's have interesting limitations (720p output) and the require network storage. Their addition to the XBMC community is a big deal, but they certainly go in a class below ION systems.
- eskro - 2011-02-16
roger that!
- poofyhairguy - 2011-02-16
Added my Love and Hate List
- Superorb - 2011-02-16
Subscribed, great info here
- Knighthammer - 2011-02-16
Here is a motherboard that I'm eagerly waiting to see how well it will do - http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3681#ov One of the new AMD Fusion boards. I want to build a G2 type setup and I was thinking that this new board would be idea (if not a bit overkill). Thoughts?
- poofyhairguy - 2011-02-16
Another big update. Added tones of Newegg links, two sub-groups (with AppleTVs) and some refining. If anyone thinks I am off on anything (or I am missing a key point) please challenge me on it so this can be a good resource for people.
- spartan711 - 2011-02-16
What about AMD Zacate platform? One board solution.
Asrock e350- 110+shipping
Cheap Mini-itx case w/psu - 50
Nice front end that bitstreams hd audio for under 200 bucks. Assuming of course, you have windows.
- xecutionx - 2011-02-16
Great thread. One question though: what's wrong with Samsung HDDs?


text:
Move more snow in less time this winter with SNO-WAY Snowplows, Salt Spreaders, Snowplow Parts
and Accessories. Only SNO-WAY offers Patented Down Pressure™ technology which allows for lighter
plow packages and increases plowing efficiency by 30%. Your local dealer can help you choose a snow
plow that best fits your vehicle and demonstrate all of the advanced technologies that make SNO-WAY the
industry leader in snow and ice control equipment.
SNO-WAY dealers are proud to provide full service snow & ice control solutions to get the job done right.
Contact your local Sno-Way dealer today.
Copyright 2019 CanadaPowerEquipmentDealers.com All rights reserved

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Kemper Suicide — Suicide Girl of the Day
Kemper is a 24-year-old Suicide Girl from California who spends most of her free time on a very sexy quest that we'd like to join her on.
NAME: Kemper Suicide
LOCATION: California, USA
HOMETOWN: Orange County
STATS: 5'2"/ 35-23-35/ 100 lbs/ red hair/ green eyes
BODY MODS: Tattoos, implants
HEROES: Wonder Woman
GETS ME HOT: Grammar and punctuation.
FAVORITE POSITION: Sniper
I LOST MY VIRGINITY: No I didn't, I know exactly where I left it.
MY KINK FACTOR: Talk dirty to me...
INTO: Carcharodon carcharias, puppies, central air, fiction, privacy.
NOT INTO: Indoor pools, Jar Jar Binks, lack of personal space, fruits & veggies, and rude, arrogant, pushy people.
MAKES ME HAPPY: My dogs, breakfast, happy hour, sleeping in, and tots x infinity.
5 THINGS I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: Vibrator, car, sleep, chapstick, my dogs.
VICES: Procrastinating, masturbating, procrasturbating & being a total creeper.
I SPEND MOST OF MY FREE TIME: Searching for the mythical clitoris.
SuicideGirls is a community that celebrates alternative beauty and alternative culture from all over the world. Since 2001, tens of thousands of models have submitted millions of photos to their website hoping to become SuicideGirls.


text:
In just a few months, Beijing, China will host the 2008 Olympic Games. Spectators will see thrilling victories and agonizing defeats, as well as plenty of hype about the "green" Olympics. While images of adorable pandas and stories of China's efforts to conserve the species will be plentiful, the country's abysmal treatment of animals and the environment will continue to go unreported.
From the capturing, organ harvesting and killing of those who follow the ancient meditation practice of Falun Gong to China's occupation of Tibet, news of the country's human rights violations are receiving needed attention as the games approach. However, there is still a lack of news coverage concerning China's mistreatment of animals.
To raise awareness, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) has exposed some of the country's cruelest animal industries in the past several issues of the AWI Quarterly. Both human and non-human animals are suffering due to the Chinese government's actions. However, the lifelong confinement of bears in tiny cages, where they are milked of their bile daily for its use in traditional medicines, will not be shown on television. Nor will audiences witness captive tigers unskillfully tormenting and killing live prey to the delight of onlookers at massive tiger breeding farms run by Chinese entrepreneurs.
China is a large country with a unique, vibrant culture. With a booming economy and a productive population, it is emerging as one of the world's most powerful nations. Yet, with such power comes a responsibility to promulgate laws that protect basic human rights, promote sustainability, and ensure the humane treatment of all animals.
In the final installment of our series leading up to this summer's games, we will focus on the reality behind China's push to make Beijing the site of the first "green" Olympics.
What does it mean to be "green?" Ask 100 people and you'll probably get 100 different answers. For some, recycling the morning paper and installing energy efficient light bulbs is sufficient. For others, being green means going all the way-adopting a lifestyle that reduces one's environmental footprint on the planet. For China, promoting a green Olympics was key to the selection of Beijing as the host city for the 2008 Olympic Games. Fortunately, that decision was made in July 2001, giving Beijing seven years to implement its green Olympic plan. However, with only a few months until the opening ceremonies, the plan is not yet complete.
According to an October 2007 report from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Beijing has made "significant strides" to improve its environmental record. With over $12 billion US invested, upgrades have been made to Beijing's waste management and water treatment systems and its transportation system. The city has also accelerated the phase out period for ozone depleting chemicals and installed energy efficient appliances at buildings and sports venues.
In preparation for the games, alternative energy sources such as solar power, geothermal and heat pump technologies have been extensively used for the lighting and heating of stadiums and common areas. Reclaimed sewage water will be used for heating and cooling systems to save electricity, while rainwater harvesting and intelligent irrigation systems will help save water.
UNEP reports that up to 430 natural gas-powered buses have been added to the Olympic fleet, and Olympic organizers claim to have purchased 2,810 new "environment-friendly buses," including 900 diesel-powered, 250 natural gas-powered, and 50 lithium battery-powered vehicles. New bus and rail lines have expanded the capacity of Beijing's public transportation system to 19 million passengers per day, but at present, less than half of that capacity is used.
Extensive use of a wood and recycled plastic composite has been made for decorative facades, floors and picnic tables to reduce demand for timber. At Olympic venues, organizers have set a goal of recycling 50 percent of the waste (paper, metals and plastics). For landscaping, drought resistant and indigenous species have been planted around the various Olympic stadiums and other buildings; a large Olympic Forest Park containing landscaped hills and water features serves as the "green lung" for the Olympic Village and surrounding boroughs.
Despite this progress, there is much more to be done. Air quality, which is of great concern to the athletes, is better, but still poor. The closing, retrofitting, and/or relocation of highly polluting factories away from the city has reduced some key pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide, but with over a thousand new vehicles registered daily in Beijing, and with coal remaining a key form of energy, some pollutants continue to exceed World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines.
In fact, air quality concerns have prompted world record holder Haile Gebselassie of Ethiopia to forgo competing in the Olympic marathon to avoid putting his health at risk. Other countries have elected to establish athlete accommodations in Japan or Korea to allow their athletes to prepare for the events without being exposed to such pollutants. The International Olympic Committee is also prepared to postpone certain endurance events, if necessary, due to air pollution concerns.
Meanwhile, critics have questioned the overall impact of relocating some factories, the proposed shutdown of other factories, and the prohibition on the operation of a sizable number of the city's private vehicles during the games, saying these acts amount to little more than window dressing on a serious environmental problem. Given the city's geographical location surrounded on three sides by mountains, the presence of highly polluting factories in surrounding areas and the vagaries of prevailing winds, air quality may remain at unhealthy levels during the games.
To suggest that Beijing's efforts to make the Olympics green have failed would be wrong. Progress in cleaning up Beijing has been made, and considering the starting point, in some cases, progress has been substantial. Beijing has long been ranked as one of the most polluted cities in the world. Its successful Olympic bid has helped Beijing immensely, with urban sewage treatment doubling since 2001, the use of natural gas jumping nearly 40 percent through the conversion of dirty coal-fired furnaces and boilers, and the planting of millions of trees.
Unfortunately, this progress has been offset by a boom in urban construction, including new office buildings and apartments, mostly unrelated to the Olympics. The resulting skyline may be impressive, but it requires significant energy and produces enormous amounts of pollution.
According to The New York Times-which compared the city to an athlete trying to get into shape by walking on a treadmill while eating double cheeseburgers-Beijing's goal of reducing coal consumption has not been met, as coal use peaked in 2006. Moreover, with over 3 million vehicles using Beijing's roads and another 400,000 new cars and trucks being added each year, traffic jams and vehicle pollution
have worsened.
With sulfur and nitrogen dioxide levels reduced, the number of "Blue Sky" days in Beijing have increased from 100 in 1998 to 244 in 2007. Still, all is not well. A Blue Sky day may signify an improvement in air quality, but particulate matter (soot, dust, dirt, smoke) attributable to construction, industry and cars is still highly present and has risen in recent years.
Beijing's environmental problems are a microcosm of the problems ubiquitous throughout China. As a consequence of past political decisions, China's environmental health continues to be sacrificed to promote economic growth. Polluted rivers and lakes, dropping underground water tables, expanding deserts, the massive release of untreated industrial and residential effluents, choking smog, inadequate laws, political corruption, and lax enforcement have all contributed to this environmental catastrophe. Though China has embarked on a massive tree planting exercise that has reversed its forest loss, its insatiable demand for imported wood is decimating forests in many Asian and African countries. Moreover, the Chinese government has not addressed its other environmental crises that have significantly harmed animals, people and the environment.
Rampant development pressures, pollution and hunting are devastating plant and animal populations and their habitats. Scientists have stated that almost 40 percent of all mammal species, 70 percent of non-flowering plants, and 86 percent of flowering plants in China are endangered. Conservationists face an uphill battle, as they must convince the government that protecting wildlife is important, as well as counter the common mentality that animals are merely commodities.
It is clear that Olympic organizers have gone to great lengths to "go green." Given China's environmental record, will these improvements spark the start of a countrywide push to become more eco-friendly, or will they be forgotten after the world leaves Beijing? Only time will tell.
Beijing's Shameful Cat Slaughter
While China has made some measure of progress on the environmental front in Beijing, animal welfare issues have not been addressed. Only a year after the country's controversial slaughter of many thousands of dogs in response to a concern over rabies, the United Kingdom's Daily Mail reported in March that cats are being rounded up in Beijing due to supposed disease concerns.
China's leaders believe cats pose a serious urban health risk and may have contributed to the 2003 outbreak of the lethal respiratory virus SARS. Notices have been posted throughout the city urging residents to give up their cats. In response, cats are being dumped on the streets, where they are captured by special collection teams, stuffed into tiny wire cages, and carted off to holding facilities. Since July 2007, tens of thousands of the city's estimated 500,000 cats have reportedly been collected.
Though officials claim people can adopt cats from 12 facilities in the city, few can access these sites. Even when cats are rescued, they are so sick that most die. According to activists working to save the cats, the government will not give sick cats lethal injections, despite the rapid spread of disease in the facilities. Instead, they wait for the animals to die slowly in agony and distress.
If the cats do not die from disease, they may be killed for food. Despite the government's claim that cats pose a health risk, there has been a surge in the number of Beijing restaurants serving cat meat. Cats are also being shipped to the town of Guangzhou in southern China, which is infamous for restaurants serving cats, dogs, and other exotic animals.
If you plan to travel to Beijing for the Olympics, there are several things you should keep in mind. In restaurants, you may encounter turtle soup, a dish that is contributing to the decimation of wild turtles in Asia and even the United States. The soup could be made from a turtle captured in a Texas pond, a Florida swamp or a Georgia lake-states that have imposed or are considering restrictions on turtle captures due to the significant export of live turtles to China.
Shark fin soup and fish dinners made from imperiled species such as wild grouper, snapper and humphead wrasse may also be found at restaurants in Beijing. In some areas, cats, dogs and exotic animals may be served.
When shopping, please avoid all products made with fur, including fur trim and products labeled as faux fur. China's fur farms are notorious for their cruelty to furbearing animals; animals live in small, cramped cages, only to be pulled out and smashed to the ground. This cruel alternative to stunning may not be successful, in which case the animals are skinned alive.
One may also find carved ivory made from the tusks of elephants killed illegally to satisfy an increasing demand for ivory trinkets and other products. China's demand for wildlife products, including ivory, contributes to the slaughter of at least 23,000 African elephants each year.
If you witness animal abuse on your trip, try to document it, and contact the local authorities in Beijing as soon as possible. Please also report the abuse to AWI.


text:
Plextor M6 Pro SSD with PlexTurbo Technology Coming At Computex
In addition, PlexTurbo, an intelligent SSD caching software, uses a combination of system RAM, the SSD DRAM cache, and SSD storage to deliver additional storage speed for real-world applications, extends flash life, and prevents data loss if power is interrupted.
Plextor claims that PlexTurbo is a more intelligent approach to RAM caching and thus, it outperforms competing scaching software solutions. PlexTurbo will initially only be available with the Plextor M6 Pro.
Attendees at the Computex show will also have the chance to see the M6e in HHHL and M.2 form factors. This SSD is bypassing the limitations of SATA to deliver RAID-like performance using a PCIe interface.
Along with the high-performance M6 Pro, and M6e M.2 PCIe Gen2 x2 SSD, Plextor also will launch a M.2 SATA SSD family, the M6G-2280, M6G-2260, and M6G-2242. On the company's stand will also be the entry level Plextor M6S, the gaming focused M6e HHHL PCIe, and a demo showing the total stability of the recently launched M6M in RAID 0.
Complementing Plextor's consumer SSDs will be a display of their enterprise, industrial, and specialized mobile storage devices, along with eMMC devices.


text:
Easy As Pi
Happy Pi Day, guys!
Yep, 3/14 is the day a bunch of nutty math nerds decided to celebrate the mathematical constant that is the ratio of any Euclidean circle's circumference to its diameter...
...mostly by doing stuff like this:
Mmmm. Pi pie.
And yes, the baker DID put the 5 on backwards so it looks like a 2. I'm sure s/he was just testing you, though.
What's that? You didn't IMMEDIATELY catch that?! Well, that just means you need to learn pi out to seven decimals, then!
And what better way to do so than with Cake Wrecks visual aids?
(Thank you, uh thankyouverramuch.)
(I know, I know; you thought that was number two, but no.)
[rim shot!]
(Yes, I know it's upside down. The question is, why didn't the baker?)
[singing] "I'M lookin' at the NUMBER innn the mirra'! OW! I'M askin' it to MAKE a cha-hange!! HOOO YA! Sha-MOW! Uh-HUH!"
Where were we?
Let's see... 3.141...what's next?
Oh, right:
Five nine two...
No lie, you guys: I'm looking through your submissions for a number five, and I find this random cake someone found in a display case with the number 592 on it, and I check my pi cheat sheet, and the next three digits of pi actually ARE 592!! I mean, WHAT ARE THE ODDS? AND WHY AM I SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS?!
Don't answer that.
We all know why.
Ok, so. 3.141592...
(Yes, really. It's a six.)
So there you have it: you've learned pi to seven places with Cake Wrecks! Great job! Pocket protectors for everyone!
And for those of you whose day just won't be complete until you see some pie wrecks, a gift from John:
You're welcome.
Thanks to wreckporters Rachel W., Nasina G., Grahm, Maggie M., Gin D., Caroline C., Rebecca M., and Mike - and also to John for the most painful pun in the history of crockery. I knew I married that boy for a reason.


text:
Mark Micale
History encompasses much more than the study of dates, places and events.
Just ask Mark Micale '77, an associate professor of history at the University of Illinois and a specialist in the history of science and medicine.
His liberal arts experience at WC provided a strong foundation for Micale's future studies.
"Getting a strong, broad, humanistic education, at a time when more and more institutions of higher learning were (and are) emphasizing narrow, vocational approaches, or training purely in technical or scientific fields, was a tremendous experience for me," he said.
Micale earned a master's degree from Yale University in 1980 and was a Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows from 1984-1987 before receiving his doctoral degree from Yale in 1987.
"WC, and my particular faculty advisors, encouraged me to range widely in my college courses. So, I didn't just study modern European history, but I also took inspiring courses on subjects such as Renaissance art, Romantic poetry, nineteenth-century American literature, and Existentialism. I also attended many poetry readings and classical-music concerts. The result is that in my graduate education at Yale, and then during my professional career, I was able to study, teach and publish on a wide variety of cultural topics," he said.
Throughout his career in academia, Micale earned a reputation not only as a talented researcher and historian, but as an excellent professor. At Yale, where he launched his teaching career, he was awarded a Yale Prize Teaching Fellowship. The University of Illinois has twice recognized him for excellence in teaching.
His success in the classroom stems in part from watching his own undergraduate professors.
"The faculty creatively fostered my developing interests, guided me as I wrote papers and a senior thesis in these fields, directed me toward the best programs in the country for graduate training," he said. "They were deeply dedicated to instructing individual students and they had mastered the art of delivering lectures that were extremely clear, informative, and engaging."
Micale, considered a pioneer in the field of the history of medicine and gender studies, has published numerous books and articles on the history of psychiatry and psychoanalysis. His latest book,Hysterical Men: The Hidden History of Male Nervous Illness (Harvard University Press, 2008), examines the intertwined histories of masculinity and psychological medicine from the time of the Renaissance to Freud.
"It is not just English majors who are expected to cultivate excellent writing abilities in Chestertown," Micale said. "This ingrained belief has served me extremely well later, particularly given that my chosen discipline of study—history—values highly good narrative and analytical prose writing."
In 2007, in recognition of his contributions to the canon of modern psychiatry, Washington College awarded Mark Micale the honorary degree, doctor of letters.


text:
Through a new partnership with Cavco Industries Inc. and Reliable Home Solutions, the Stockton Delta KOA will begin selling park model cabins at its site in Lido, Calif. According to a press release, a dozen units are currently being sold at prices ranging from the mid-$40,000 to the mid-$60,000 range.
The Stockton Delta KOA is the first KOA campground in the western United States to sell the new Deluxe Cabins. "We think they're going to sell like hotcakes," said Scott Haar, general manager of the 400-site Stockton KOA.
"Having a vacation cottage at the Stockton KOA is going to be very attractive for people who are looking for affordable ways to have a weekend getaway cabin or vacation cottage," added Gene Davis, president of Sacramento-based Reliable Home Solutions, which is marketing the units on behalf of KOA and Cavco.
The 400-square-foot park models are manufactured by Phoenix-based Cavco, which has been building park model cabins and cottages for use as private vacation cottages in campgrounds for nearly 20 years.
While park models have been used as vacation cottages in campgrounds throughout much of Arizona, Texas and Florida as well as the Midwest and East Coast regions, they are just now being introduced in campgrounds in the West, and even then mostly as rental accommodations.
"We think the market is ready for this," Davis said, adding that people are already bringing their friends to see the demonstration park model that was recently set up at the Stockton KOA.
Consumers who purchase the units will also need to pay a lease fee to keep their units at the KOA. Annual site lease costs range from $900 to $1,900 for the first year, but will jump to $3,960 to $5,400 for each year thereafter, Haar said, adding that the rent will include water, sewer, Wi-Fi and trash pickup as well as security at the park.
The Stockton KOA has 400 campsites, including 21 Deluxe Cabins and three Airstream trailers.
For more information about Stockton KOA, visit www.stocktonkoa.com.


text:
D.O.A.A. Revamp
Who: All Daily Orange alumni
What: You're invited to help rebuild The Daily Orange Alumni Association. To start, The D.O. Board of Directors has approved a set of pilot bylaws that includes types of membership for all D.O. graduates and a comprehensive D.O.A.A. Board of Directors to oversee the organization. Now, we need alumni like you to nominate former coworkers – or even yourself – to the new alumni board. Be sure to check out the pilot bylaws and D.O.A.A. Board of Directors member breakdown for more information.
When: Nominations will be accepted until May 31.
Where: Submit nominations via buttons to the right.
Why: The D.O.A.A. has the opportunity to provide professional development, networking and community events for our alumni – in addition to support for The D.O. itself. An alumni association that could formally harness that potential is something our alumni both deserve and would benefit from. But we can't do it without the enthusiastic support and participation of D.O. alumni – that means you!
You must be logged in to post a comment.


text:
To call Elisa Strauss a baker of cakes, though accurate, would be a vast understatement. For if cake making is an art (and we believe it is) then certainly she's a master of the medium, creating meticulously rendered and painstakingly detailed fondant trompe-l'œil confections which have won her the attentions of the likes of the Food Network, Martha Stewart and Paula Deen (photo left, disco ball cake made for "Paula's Party"), to name just a few. Between making cakes, TV appearance and a great new book (which we own and love!), it's a wonder that she even had time to chat with us, but we're oh so glad she did. Here's what we learned about the glamorous world of baking on-screen, what Martha's really like, and whether these cakes really taste good (hint: no, the cheesesteak cake is not flavored like its namesake)...
Cakespy: You studied fine art, but then took a little bit of a different turn and got a degree in Pastry Arts. Do you think your fine art background makes you approach Pastry arts differently? How so?
Elisa Strauss: My art background is a tremendous help when it comes to the cakes. It helps me with both color and design. Even though we make everything from scratch in the bakery, and consider taste the most important aspect of our cakes, I still look at each cake as a work of art too!
CS: When did you decide to take on cake-making as your livelihood?
ES: I had graduated pastry school and was back working in fashion full time (just making cakes on the side…very late at night) when about a year later I couldn't keep the juggling act going anymore. I had to make a decision if I was going to go for it or not…so I went for it and opened a commercial space, bought equipment, hired employees and took it from there!
CS: You work primarily in fondant icing. Do you ever work in other frosting or icing types?
ES:We make all our fillings and frostings from scratch so we have a wide variety of flavors. From buttercreams to ganaches, citrus curds to fresh fruit, etc. We use a lot of different fillings in our cakes then frost them with a layer of buttercream that sits under the rolled fondant. The fondant gives the most elegant and professional look. You cannot achieve the detail we do with a solely buttercream frosted cake.
CS: Do specialty cakes like yours really taste good?
ES: YES!!! Absolutely. One of the most frequent compliments we receive is how AMAZING our cakes taste. People never think it is possible because our cakes look like realistic objects but they taste great. Again, we make all our cake and fillings from scratch with the highest quality and freshest ingredients we can find….we do not skimp on anything related to taste! Ever! (Photo left, Sushi Cake, credit Alexandra Rowley).
CS: You used to do cookies, petits fours and cupcakes, but have now pared down to just custom cakes. What made you decide to cut down on the other services?
ES: I LOVE doing the smaller items, i.e., cupcakes, mini cakes, cookies, etc…but as a business model it just didn't work. I could spend all day designing one cookie I could sell for $10 instead of working on one specialty cake for $800….you see what I mean? It just didn't make sense for the business anymore.
CS: Can you tell us a little bit more about how it feels to work in a commercial space versus, say, a cramped NYC kitchen?
ES: After working in my TINY, TINY apt kitchen for a few years I thank my lucky stars I have a commercial space…I could never go back…especially with my 20 quart Hobart mixer!
About baking on TV...
CS: Do you get nervous about baking on-screen?
Yes! I definitely get nervous….especially with LIVE television anything can happen. The last time I went on the Today Show a light fixture crashed ten seconds before we went on the air…Ann Curry saved Al Roker and my cakes form getting hit by catching the light…and then all of a sudden three seconds and we were on LIVE National TV. I would say it is more of a "butterflies in my stomach" feeling of nervousness then scared! I love doing television!
CS: What was it like to meet Martha Stewart?
ES: Wow, amazing! It is so incredible to meet people who you see all the time…but on TV. She is such an incredible business woman!
CS: About that famous Flaming Sock Monkey Cake. Did it get eaten afterward?
ES: The last challenge on the Food Network: Extreme Cakes…was amazing! Not just because we won but the entire experience was incredible…SO much time and energy went into the planning and making of that show! Unfortunately by the time we finished it was close to MIDNIGHT and after all the photos were take it was thrown out because the studio had to get set up for the next day!
CS: All of your cakes are unusual and unexpected--but have there been any that have really stood out, or been special, for you?
Well, each cake is like a child to me…I usually don't forget any that I have EVER done! So it is hard to pick favorites…but I will say I am especially proud of a few cakes that stand out: a Victorian Mansion cake (photo left) we did for a couple's wedding last summer. They got married at the House, and we even matched the paint chips for color! I also loved being on Paula Deen's show, Paula's Party (see photo above, by intro paragraph)…where we made her a disco ball cake for her disco themed party! [Also] I do love replicating food…so many of our sushi or Philly's cheese steak cakes are fun! OK, there are a lot...but I will not go on!
CS: How often do you eat cake?
ES: Quality control is tough but someone has to do it…hee, hee! Not everyday but probably more then I should!
CS: What are some of your favorite desserts?
ES: I would definitely NOT put cake up there…..I am much more of a cookies and ice cream girl! Bread is my real downfall….but I love a good Buckeye ball or Key Lime Pie too!
CS: Have you noticed any trends, or movements, in cakes and cake making in recent years (popular flavors, themes, or anything you've seen emerging)?
ES: I love the fact that most of my clients have moved away from just a traditional cake….even in flavors. We do a ton of Red Velvet, Banana or even Coconut flavored cakes!
CS: Which part of writing your book was hardest--making the cake "patterns" or finalizing the recipes?
ES: By far the hardest things were: making all the cakes, cookies and cupcakes for one week of a photo shoot (we had to shut down doing other people's cakes for months so we could just focus on making the projects for the books)….and then writing out STEP by STEP directions for EVERY aspect of each project! I really, really want people to be able to make everything at home so we labored over every detail, measurement, weight and direction!
CS: To you, what is the most important aspect in making a great cake?
ES: It should look and taste equally great! It also doesn't hurt when people don't know that our cakes are actual cakes!
CS: What makes a "bad" cake?
ES: One that doesn't taste great.
CS: If you could go back in time and give yourself any advice while just starting your cake business, what would you say?
ES: "Don't do it"…JUST KIDDING! Honestly, I do not know…I kind of just jumped right in, worked CONSTANTLY and I am still figuring it all out!
Want to find out more? To make an appointment in their NYC studio (they will deliver throughout the tri-state area), or find out more about Elisa and her cakes, visit confetticakes.com.
Want to buy the book? You won't regret it; it's like a cookbook and beautiful craft book all in one! The photos alone are worth the investment; it's available online here.


text:
Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Meet your fellow owners in our Owners Clubs
Full-size pickup sales - F-150 best selling truck, but for how much longer?
In my opinion GMC still is the best truck made. The Tundra has had and still has to many problems to even come close to the Sierra! If you get the Tundra with the 4.6 and not the 5.7ltr, you really have a hunk of junk! :lemon:0
anythngbutgm Posts: 4,277What happens after 100k
A good friend of mine still has his, just passed 65 thousand last I talked to him (5.7, DC, short bed) and it's been flawless except for a recall on the front suspension. Still not bad compared to the not 1, but 2 GMC Sierras that he had before the Yota.
The first Sierra was lemoned, the second was sold off to a coworker for a song...
Even funnier was he was a service manager for a GMC dealer in NH and every single problem that he had with his trucks could be fixed for cheap, in the shop and with parts at cost.
And yet he bought a Toyota... And then traded his wifes Suburban that got 8 mpg and had an addiction to Intermediate Steering shafts and fuel pumps on a Highlander. Then left the dealership. :shades:0
oldharry Posts: 413I drive a 1/2 ton (Chevy) and seldom tow, but I frequently pass a place where there are horse shows and Big Trailers. Super Duty Fords dominate the parking lot there.
I found this interesting concerning Tundras:
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2010/05/200003-tundra-owners-may-be-eligible-for-fr- ame-replacement.html
Seems Toyota has a problem with frames rusting to the point the truck is unsafe.
acdii Posts: 753And, Ford is still #1 in truck sales. HEHEH.
BTW I loved the posts about the Turdra. With the F-150 EcoBoost model being able to pull an 11,500 pound trailer, a V6 that can out pull the big V8's in the GM and Dodge, lookout, their sales will get even better. I had a 2001 F150, 44 sheets of drywall that would have put any other half ton PU bumper on the ground, hauled it like it was empty. I needed a bigger bed though along with room for 5, and out of all the trucks made, only Ford has one. None of the other trucks had a crew cab with an 8 foot bed, even in their heavy duty lines. I have had my F350 Dually powerstroke now for 9 years, and have not had any major problems with it, just the usually wear items.0
As has been mentioned in other spots, the designation of the F-150 of best selling truck in America sounds cool and is a great marketing tool, but if you like to deal in reality then it isn't as exciting as it sounds.
Chevy and GMC are essentially the same thing but they are counted separately. If you combine them as one (which in reality they are, but have different names), then they beat the F-150 easily.
Dodge simply doesn't make as many trucks as Ford. Dodge could sell 100% of its inventory and not beat Ford because Chrysler (even before the economic disaster) is much smaller than Ford. They don't manufacture as much. I'm not sure percentage wise how much F-150s are sold per manufactured each year or for Dodge Ram, but to say Ford sells more and bragging about it is misleading and silly. It's like a closing pitcher for an MLB team that wins 100 games bragging about having more saves than a closer on a team that wins 40 games. It doesn't necessarily mean that 1st closer is better, but that he had way more chances to get saves than the other guy.
If you like politicians and their rhetoric, then you like the stat of the F-150 being best selling truck as meaning something. If you like actual reality and less BS, then you understand that that stat doesn't really mean much.0
dieselone Posts: 5,729Chevy and GMC are essentially the same thing but they are counted separately. If you combine them as one (which in reality they are, but have different names), then they beat the F-150 easily.
Does Ford actually break down the sales between the F150, F250 etc?
Anyway, for 2011, the F series has been outselling the Silverado and Sierra combined.
For July Ford sold 313,183 F-Series trucks. GM sold 215,906 Silverados and 80,194 Sierras.0
Ford finally got some decent/competitive engines and against the aged GM products stacks up very nicely. GM redesigns are in the works, but until then, Ford has a very competitive product.
Love my Ram, tho - the HEMI power is fantastic, it gets decent mileage, and is the looker of the bunch.0
obyone Posts: 8,054Only thing about the Rams is how do you tell the difference between a 1994:
and a 2011?
There are exterior differences, some subtle - but it's a whole new ballgame inside. I'm not a Ford guy, so I can't tell what's new there either.
Fact is, the '09 Ram is the first P/U I've had for about 30 years. I looked at late model used, dismissed the Ford due to lack of power, and couldn't afford the GM products which seem to have the best economy of the three. When Car & Driver magazine compared the full size trucks in '09 and named Ram the winner, that was the clincher for me.0
Who cares? Only a Ford guy makes a big deal out of sheet metal and plastic. Look at engines, performance, and actual use of the vehicle. Many changes and improvements since 1994. Plus, why did Ford decide to copy Dodge's body style. That is the only reason Ford went away from the "box" style!!0
Well the F150 and F250 and F350 are different classes of vehicle. Then you'd have to include the Silverado 1/2 tons and 3/4 tons. Ford just wasn't creative about it's naming. The F150 and F250 are just differences in it's tonage. Most people do fine with the 1/2 tone, so that is a completely different discussion0
A reporter would like to speak to someone who recently bought a used large truck or large SUV. If you have purchased a used large truck or SUV in the past 6 months, and you are willing to discuss your decision with a reporter, please email [email protected] no later than 1 p.m. Pacific/ 4 p.m. Eastern Wednesday, April 18, 2012 with your daytime contact information.0
farout Posts: 1,609Has anyone bought a V 6 eco boost? What kind og mpg do you get and what is you + & - of the truck. With the RAM 1500 V6 I an considering both. Any help would sure be a help,0
johhnyo Posts: 1funny is how we all do not realize..yes the F-150 outsells the Chevy Silverado but if you add in the GMC sierra sales you will see GM actually sells more trucks..not that this means much, it's a personal preferance between the two.0
KCRam Mt. Arlington NJPosts: 3,516but if you add in the GMC sierra sales you will see GM actually sells more trucks
Not in 2012...
Ford F-Series = 645,316
Chevy Silverado = 418,312
Ram Pickup = 293,363
GMC Sierra = 157,185
Silverado + Sierra = 575,497 -- well behind Ford.
kcram - Pickups/Wagons/Vans+Minivans Host0
That's very true and my preference has always been GMC Trucks and General Motors small block and big block V-8's. They are easy to work on and the parts are almost always cheaper than fords. The older Fords parts from year to year in many instances are hardly ever interchangable like the small block GM motors. Thats a real pain in dealing with Ford engines!0
hackattack5 Posts: 315Thanks Kcram for putting up some real sales results for 2012. I love how the hatters on this forum just throw phrases out there like "if you add Chevy and GM trucks sales together they would blow Ford away. Well no they don't and I know you are going to say well who cares? We don't care. It all comes down to this, when you are pulling your 2 horse trailer up a big hill on the highway and a Ford Superduty flies by you pulling an 4 horse trailer with living quarters then you know why we love our Fords. :P0
A reporter would like to speak to a loyal F-150 owner who is considering replacing his old truck. If you have owned F-150s, think it may be time to replace your aging truck and would like to share your story, please send your daytime contact info to [email protected] no later than Friday, Jan 18, 2013 at 8 a.m. PT/11 a.m. ET.0
Kirstie_H Posts: 11,077but wait, there's more!
The same reporter would also like to speak to a loyal Chevy Silverado or Ram owner who is shopping for a new truck. If you'd like to share your story, please send your daytime contact to [email protected] no later than noon PT/3 p.m. ET on Friday, 1/18/13.
Need help navigating? [email protected] - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews0
rhinestonefuse Posts: 74
I think:
Who cares? All three trucks are virtually the same. Just as a Wendy's, McDonalds and Burger King burger are virtually the same. Five years from now, they will all have the same features, operating costs and dependability between them. The diff is in the badge.
I just did a search for new F150s at my local large Ford dealer's web site. 164 new F150s came up in inventory. 4 of them were priced at twenty-nine thousand and change. 160 of them were priced at OVER THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS. For a 1/2 ton PICKUP TRUCK. That is INSANE, is what I think.


text:
Tag Archives: craigievar castle
Spooky castles – the most haunted Halloween castles in the UK
The UK has hundreds of ruined castles. But some castles are more spooky than others. Here's a list of the spookiest , most haunted castles in the UK , ideal for a visit at Halloween .
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle commands the whole of the city centre , sitting on a volcanic rock . The castle is perhaps the spookiest in Britain because it has many ghosts. There is a drummer who only appears when the castle is
about to be attacked. A piper who Continue reading
Posted in featured posts, Linlithgow Palace, private tours, spooky castles Tagged a beautiful woman, castle tours, craigievar castle, edinburgh castle, Eilean Donan Castle, halloween, halloween cards, haunted castles, Linlithgow Palace, linlithgow travel, Mary, most haunted castles, Queen of Scots, spookiest, spooky castles, spooky ecards, Stewart kings of Scotland, stirling castle, The Pink Lady Leave a comment


text:
Questions about '60 Minutes' Benghazi story go beyond Dylan Davies interview; CBS conducting 'journalistic review'
When "60 Minutes" apologized for featuring in its report on Benghazi a security contractor whose story turned out to be a lie, it said it had been "misled." But a close examination of the controversial piece by McClatchy shows that there are other problems with the report, whose broadcast renewed debate about one of the most contentious events in recent U.S. diplomatic history.
In an email Wednesday, CBS declined to respond to questions about the accuracy and origin of some of the other aspects of the report. But it said that it was undertaking "a journalistic review that is ongoing" – the network's first acknowledgement that concerns about the report may go deeper than just the discredited interview with security supervisor Dylan Davies.
"60 Minutes" spokesman Kevin Tedesco said CBS had begun the review "the moment we confirmed there was an issue in our story." But he declined to elaborate on the investigation and did not respond to specific issues McClatchy raised about the segment, including unsourced assertions that al Qaida was behind the Benghazi attacks and claims about the investigation that the FBI and other experts question or deny outright.
The "60 Minutes" report, which was narrated by longtime CBS correspondent Lara Logan, was controversial almost from the moment it was broadcast Oct. 27, as could be expected for another rendition of what took place Sept. 11, 2012, when gunmen stormed a U.S. diplomatic compound and set its main building on fire. U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and State Department computer expert Sean Smith, trapped inside, died of smoke inhalation. Hours later, attackers assaulted a CIA compound nearby, killing two security contractors.
Shortly after the segment aired, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who has been a critic of the Obama administration's response to the Benghazi attacks, announced that he would block all administration appointments until the FBI surrendered to Congress notes of the interviews it had done with survivors.
But the credibility of the report soon came into question. CBS was taken to task for not revealing that Davies, on whose recollections the report was largely based, was the author of a soon-to-be released book published by a CBS-owned publishing company that features the work of politically conservative authors. On Oct. 31, The Washington Post revealed that Davies had filed a report with his employer, Blue Mountain Security, that contradicted his "60 Minutes" account, and The New York Times revealed Nov. 7 that Davies also gave an account to the FBI at odds with the "60 Minutes" version.
After The New York Times story was posted online, CBS quickly purged its websites of any mention of the piece and even demanded that a copy of the segment be removed from YouTube. On Sunday, Logan, in a brief appearance at the end of the regular "60 Minutes" broadcast, acknowledged that Davies had misled her and her crew and that "it was a mistake to include him in our report."
But Logan's mea culpa said nothing about other weaknesses in the report that a line-by-line review of the broadcast's transcript reveals. McClatchy turned to LexisNexis, a legal research service, for a transcript of the broadcast because the segment no longer appeared on CBS sites.
The report repeatedly referred to al Qaida as solely responsible for the attack on the compound and made no mention of Ansar al Shariah, the Islamic extremist group that controls and provides much of the security in restive Benghazi and that has long been suspected in the attack. While the two organizations have worked together in Libya, experts said they have different aims – al Qaida has global objectives while Ansar al Shariah is focused on turning Libya into an Islamic state.
It is an important distinction, experts on those groups said. Additionally, al Qaida's role, if any, in the attack has not been determined, and Logan's narration offered no source for her repeated assertion that it had been.
"I think there are definitely connections, but I am not sure there is command and control" between al Qaida and Ansar al Shariah, said Aaron Y. Zelin of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, who studies insurgent activity in North Africa.
Logan claimed that "it's now well established that the Americans were attacked by al Qaida in a well-planned assault." But al Qaida has never claimed responsibility for the attack, and the FBI, which is leading the U.S. investigation, has never named al Qaida as the sole perpetrator. Rather, it is believed a number of groups were part of the assault, including members and supporters of al Qaida and Ansar al Shariah, as well as attackers angered by a video made by an American that insulted Prophet Muhammad. The video spurred angry protests outside the U.S. embassy in Cairo hours beforehand.
In a Sept. 12, 2012, statement about the attack, Ansar al Shariah suggested its members had participated, though the group said it did not order the assault.
Moreover, questions remain over how far in advance the attack on the U.S. compound had been planned. Rather than a long-planned attack, investigators have told McClatchy it was likely planned hours, rather than days, in advance.
Another questionable assertion in the "60 Minutes" report was Logan's unsourced reference to the Benghazi Medical Center as being "under the control of al Qaida terrorists," an assertion that McClatchy correspondents on the ground at the time and subsequent reporting in Benghazi indicates is untrue.
Around midnight, after the attack on the diplomatic compound, looters who descended on the site discovered Stevens in a safe room and took him to the medical center, where a doctor tried to revive him for 45 minutes before pronouncing him dead.
In the "60 Minutes" report, Davies, the discredited security contractor, claimed to have snuck into the hospital, where he saw Stevens, even though the hospital was "under the control of al Qaida terrorists."
On the night of the attack, the medical center, whose compound includes several buildings in addition to the relatively modern, multi-story hospital itself, was being guarded by Ansar al Shariah. Libyan residents McClatchy spoke with said the group's guards never stopped patients from entering but were there primarily to protect the nurses and doctors inside.
The Libyan Herald, an English-language news outlet, reported just three days before the diplomatic compound was attacked that the Libyan health minister and the French ambassador to Libya, Antoine Sivan, had visited the facility to break ground on an expansion. Had the hospital been under al Qaida control, it is unlikely doctors could have spent nearly an hour trying save Stevens' life or that the health minister of the government it seeks to oust would have been allowed to enter the hospital.
The piece also named three known insurgent operators as top suspects in the attack but did not explain the source of that assertion.
The three are long suspected of having been involved, Zelin said, but there is no evidence of their specific roles in the attack.
Two months ago, al Qaida operative Abu Anas al-Libi was captured in Tripoli by U.S. commandoes and brought to New York to stand trial for his alleged role in the 1998 bombing of U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya. The "60 Minutes" piece attempted to link al-Libi to the events in Benghazi, with Logan reporting that "Abu Anas al-Libi was captured for his role in the Africa bombings and the U.S. is still investigating what part he may have played in Benghazi."
But a U.S. law enforcement source involved in the Benghazi probe, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss a case that's still under investigation, told McClatchy this week that al-Libi is not under investigation for the Benghazi attacks. Logan did not detail the source for her assertion that he was.
Another man, Sufain bin Qumu, which the piece describes as an "al Qaida operative," was a known member of Ansar al Shariah, heading up its operation in the eastern Libyan city of Darna. The piece said he was a "lead partner" in the attack.
But while Qumu, a former Guantanamo Bay detainee, is believed to have worked with al Qaida at times, Zelin said, no evidence has emerged of his role in Benghazi other than a Fox News report last month that he was on the ground in Benghazi the night of the attack. The Fox News piece noted "it is not clear whether Qumu was directing the assault." Logan offered no source for her claim that he led the attack.
The third man named in the piece is Faraj al-Chalabi. The piece described al-Chalabi as someone "whose ties to Osama bin Laden go back more than 15 years. He's believed to have carried documents from the compound to the head of al Qaida in Pakistan."
Libyan authorities detained al-Chalabi in March as a potential witness to the attack but released him in June. U.S. officials at the time said there was not enough evidence to hold him for the Benghazi attack, though questions arose about whether that was because U.S. officials had failed to provide the evidence to Libyan authorities.
If there is new evidence that any of the men were involved, the segment did not detail what it was or how Logan knew about it.
The piece closed with a picture of a document outlining Stevens' schedule for Sept. 12, "a day (Stevens) did not live to see." According to the piece, "When a member of our team went to the U.S. compound earlier this month, he found remnants of the Americans' final frantic moments still scattered on the ground."
But the compound owner, Jamal el Bishari, told McClatchy on Wednesday that he began clearing debris in April from the compound's four buildings and is still renovating the site. McClatchy visited the site in June and saw a pile of debris sitting outside the compound walls, but no documents were discernible among the broken concrete, clothing, furniture and soot.
Bishari said it is unlikely such a document could have been discovered recently.
"It is impossible to find a document now," he told McClatchy.
In "60 Minutes Overtime," an addendum to the piece that was available online and outlined how CBS spent a year reporting the story, the piece's producer, Max McClellan, explained how the program obtained the schedule.
"The person who shot this footage has a lot of experience in Libya and through his network of contacts on the ground in Benghazi, he was able to access the compound. It was closed, guarded, but through relatives of people he had gotten to know over the years, he was able to get in and take these pictures for us," McClellan said. "We did not expect that we would find the U.S. compound in the state that we found it. There was still debris and ammunition boxes and a whiteboard that had the day's assignment for the security personnel at the compound as of September 11, 2012."
El Bishari said that he could not remember when he removed the remnants of the attack as part of the renovation, but what McClatchy's June visit showed was that little debris remained inside the compound then. A local journalist who visited the site in September on assignment for Fox News told McClatchy Tuesday that any documents that remained at the site then would have been inconsequential. He returned to the site Tuesday at McClatchy's request and took photos, which showed that the debris piles evident in June had been removed.
CBS spokesman Tedesco declined to respond to a specific question of "whether it was a CBS News employee or someone else who went to the site" or "when and how exactly he/she found the document."
Davies had claimed in the "60 Minutes" piece that he had gone to the diplomatic compound site during the attack, climbed a 12-foot-high wall and struck one of the attackers in the head with his rifle butt before discovering Stevens' body at the hospital. All of the claims contradicted multiple reports that have emerged in the year since the attacks.
Since "60 Minutes" acknowledgement that Davies had lied in his interviews, CBS also has not explained how Davies came to play such a major role in the segment and what role if any his connection to CBS-owned Threshold Editions had in his prominence. Threshold, which also has published books by former Vice President Dick Cheney, Republican strategist Karl Rove and conservative commentator Glenn Beck, withdrew Davies' book from circulation last week.
McClatchy special correspondent Dawood Idreesi contributed to this report from Benghazi.


text:
Looking for design inspiration? Browse our curated collections!
Join our billboard contest! Enter by July 31st.
Shop our new kids collection!
Boundary: Bleed area may not be visible.
Click and drag to re-position the image, if desired.
The watermark at the lower right corner of the image will not appear on the final product.
Image Size
The image is near the edges of the product but doesn't cover the entire product. Some of the background color may appear around the outside edges of the image.
Background Color
Our ceramic coffee mugs are available in two sizes: 11 oz. and 15 oz. Each mug is dishwasher and microwave safe.
11 oz.
Ships Within
1 - 2 business days
There are no comments for St Stephens. Click here to post the first comment.
Average Rating (4.84 Stars):
St. Stephen Lighthouses
Hello, Please let me introduce myself, Diane Greco-Lesser I received my first camera when I was 16 a 35mm. Not knowing I had any talent until I took a trip to Australia where I took over 600 photos in two weeks time where digital got me excited because of instant gratification or sometimes not, after all beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In many cases timing is of the essence and the pieces either fit or not. Art like music creates a mood, I appreciate the beauty in life the magic and emotion in nature and still life in capturing a certain subject whether it is a set of old country style mail boxes, a covered bridge in Vermont, an Orangutan with a baby, or a sedated Kuala bear just chilling out in a eucalyptus tree. Art...
Our return policy is very simple:
If you're not happy with a purchase that you made on Pixels.com, for any reason, you can return it to us within 30 days of the order date. As soon as it arrives, we'll issue a full refund for the entire purchase price. Please note - Pixels does not reimburse the outgoing or return shipping charges unless the return is due to a defect in quality.
Pixels sells thousands of pieces of artwork each month - all with a 100% money-back guarantee. We take great pride in the fact that hundreds of thousands of artists have chosen Pixels to fulfill their orders, and we look forward to helping you select your next piece!
All coffee mugs ship from our production facility within 1 - 2 business days of your order.


text:
- Font:
- +
- -
MEXICO CITY — A Mexican man whose arms were severely burned by electricity became the first patient in Latin America to receive a double arm transplant, doctors said Thursday.
Gabriel Granados, a 52-year-old father of two whose arms were amputated just below the elbow, received the arms of a 34-year-old shooting victim, said Dr. Martin Iglesias, head of the surgical team that performed the operation.
Granados told a news conference that the transplant was "terrific" and that he has begun to feel his new hands.
"This is wonderful that after being without hands for some time, all of a sudden I see new hands," said Granados, who is an agent in the financial unit of Mexico City's prosecutors' office.
Don't miss these Health stories
More women opting for preventive mastectomy - but should they be?
Rates of women who are opting for preventive mastectomies, such as Angeline Jolie, have increased by an estimated 50 percent in recent years, experts say. But many doctors are puzzled because the operation doesn't carry a 100 percent guarantee, it's major surgery -- and women have other options, from a once-a-day pill to careful monitoring.
- Larry Page's damaged vocal cords: Treatment comes with trade-offs
- Report questioning salt guidelines riles heart experts
- CDC: 2012 was deadliest year for West Nile in US
- What stresses moms most? Themselves, survey says
- More women opting for preventive mastectomy - but should they be?
The surgery was in early May, but Granados was discharged from the hospital on Thursday. Doctors said he has recovered well.
Granados' arms were amputated after they were badly burned in January 2011, when he received an electrical shock while giving instructions to a group of construction workers building a fence.
Before the surgery, doctors say they practiced the procedure on corpses.
"This is a very special day for Mexico from a scientific point of view," said Dr. Fernando Gabilondo, director of Mexico City's National Institute of Medical Science and Nutrition Salvador Zubiran, where the surgery was performed.
Mexican doctors say there are other 23 patients waiting for arms transplant although only six could be successfully done.
More top health news:
Unsnipped: More men seek vasectomy reversals
Man gets extensive face transplant after gun accident
A year after face transplant, Dallas Weins feels 'almost normal'
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Record label executives representing artists including The Rolling Stones and The Beatles are suing a radio giant in a battle over royalty payments.
Representatives for Sony, Universal, Warner and independent label ABKCO, which controls much of the Rolling Stones' early music, have filed a lawsuit targeting subscription station Sirius XM over allegations they are owed millions of dollars.
In the lawsuit, the record label bosses claim the radio station has been airing music dating from before 1972 without permission – copyright regulations do not apply to songs recorded before that date, but the executives allege the tracks are protected by state law, according to the New York Times.
The publication reports the legal paperwork was filed at Los Angeles Superior Court in California on Wednesday and names the Beatles and The Rolling Stones as artists whose music has allegedly been used improperly without compensation, as well as the Beach Boys, Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra and the Supremes.
The record companies are seeking unspecified damages and a judgement about the licensing of recordings made before 1972.
A number of stars have released statements backing the action, including Dionne Warwick, who says, "Classic tracks recorded before 1972 are an important part of American culture and an important (part) of Sirius XM's programming. The great artists played on the '40s, '50s and '60s stations should be treated with respect and properly compensated as Sirius XM is required to do, so I am asking Sirius XM not to Walk On By and do the right thing!"
Judy Collins adds, "It is disgraceful, unfair, and probably criminal that Sirius XM is stealing monies due to me and other performing artists. Performers should be paid their fair share of the royalties from their songs."
Record label executives representing artists including The Rolling Stones and The Beatles are suing a radio giant in a battle over royalty payments.


text:
LOV 3Y is a suffix style registration number which we are selling on behalf of a Client. It is currently held on a retention certificate which means the transfer could either be completed online onto your vehicle immediately, or it will take 5 - 7 working days for the DVLA to assign the registration to your vehicle. This registration can be held on a Retention Certificate until you are ready to transfer it onto your vehicle.
This style of number is tied to the date in which it was initially released. Created as part of the 'Y' release, this was in August 1982 and so your vehicle must have been registered on or after this date. You can make a vehicle look older than it is by putting a registration on which was released before your vehicle was manufactured, but you cannot make a vehicle look newer than it is by putting on a later registration.
As long as you pay off the full balance within 12 months, we provide a 12 month interest free payment option. Pay 10% deposit online and the other 90% can be interest free for 12 months with PayByFinance (finance services provided by Hitachi Capital Consumer Finance, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority)


text:
Norwex Makes Your Home a Safe Haven
Need a moment of quiet? Lavender, vanilla, chamomile, and sandalwood combine to create a soothing scent. Settle in as the aroma of this natural blend helps you relax and unwind. Escape to a place of serenity with our Soothing Blend.
Let our essential oils turn your home into a safe and wonderfully scented haven! Unlike air freshener sprays and scented candles, our essential oils are free from harmful chemicals like phthalates and other indoor air pollutants. Each essence is carefully cultivated and harvested as it reaches its peak. The essences are then crafted and combined in small batches, using delicate balance and meticulous precision. After maturing naturally in a cool environment over several days, they're captured to yield our unique botanical blends. Let our essential oils help create a naturally soothing, energizing or purifying environment in your home.
Free from:
You want to get rid of bad odors and keep your home smelling fresh without the use of harmful chemical-filled sprays and cleaners, but finding healthy, natural alternatives can be challenging.
Enjoy wondrously fresh smells as you infuse a soothing scent throughout your home. With rich, natural Norwex Essential Oils, you can provide a delicate aroma to your Safe Haven!
Essential oils can be irritating to skin, so they are not recommended for topical or oral use. Flammable; keep away from flames or sparks.
Norwex Makes Your Home a Safe Haven


text:
If you have read my story about this blog, you know that the longer I live in England and the more I see and do, the more I discover that almost every place and every thing here has a tea connection. Some are obvious, but others are obscure and I need to do a bit of research before I can make the association. Today's post is a perfect illustration.
I hope you read about the Royal Albert Afternoon Tea at Kew Green I went to a few weeks ago on a Saturday; it was also Open House London 2012 that week-end. Open House London happens once a year when over 750 buildings in London and the surrounding area throw open their doors with free entry all week-end. Most of the buildings are well-known and not generally accessible by the public throughout the year; a few places are less familiar.
When we left Kew that Saturday, I thought we were going straight home but Mr. Tea, who
thinks he is the best driver in the world does most of the driving in our family, took a slight detour and followed the Open House London signs until we ended up at a place called Spring Grove House. Except we weren't just at Spring Grove House – we were also on the campus of West Thames College*, of which Spring Grove House is a part.
The exterior of Spring Grove House, built in 1779, was pleasant enough, but there certainly wasn't any kind of Wow! factor going on for me, so I couldn't figure out why we were there. I had never even heard of the place.
We walked in the front door and as Mr. Tea was signing the Guest Register, the docent enquired of him, "Alumni or visitor?" to which he replied, "Alumni."
Apparently, Mr. Tea studied here in his late teens. (Married to the man for almost ten years, and I'm still learning things about him!)
Spring Grove House was quite lovely inside, with beautiful stained glass windows, dark wood panelling, plaster ceilings, and beautiful fireplaces. In 1886, the house was owned by Andrew Pears, great grandson of the famous soap manufacturer. But before that, in 1808, it was the country residence of Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820) of London.
I was not familiar with Joseph Banks but during the brief house tour, learned that he was an eminent English botanist and explorer who collected plant specimens from all over the world. He traveled on the Endeavour with Captain Cook, and was instrumental in the development of the now world-renowned plant collections at Kew Gardens. It was Banks who introduced us to the likes of eucalyptus and mimosa, and he even had a genus named after him: Banksia.
Walking around Spring Grove House, I started thinking about Sir Joseph Banks. As a botanist in the late 18th century, surely he must have a tea connection, in turn giving Spring Grove House a tea connection as well. At that time in England, tea was in great demand and tea drinking was prevalent and fashionable. Still a somewhat 'new' commodity, it was studied and discussed by all the great movers and shakers of the day.
I returned to a room where books and papers about Banks were laid out, and picked up a large volume on the life of Sir Joseph Banks. I flipped to the index at the back of the book, turned the pages until I reached the letter in the alphabet I was looking for, and ran my finger down the page hoping to find the word tea. And find the word tea I did – together with page after page after page of tea-related references. I couldn't wait to get home and start reading!
My research revealed that Sir Joseph Banks was a man passionate about tea – and a man of influence upon its history.
▪ He was the first to identify the potential for growing tea in India, and in 1788 suggested it to the East India Company.
▪ He and his wife Lady Banks were avid collectors of china tea ware, and regularly served tea to visitors at their London home.
▪ He had a tea house in the basement of his home where he would experiment adding different flavourings to tea and in so doing, created the Earl Grey tea blend!
Or did he?
There are several theories about the history of Earl Grey tea, but a very recent one is that Sir George Staunton, an officer of The East India Company, sent a sample of Chinese tea scented with Neroli oil to Banks. In an attempt to re-create the blend – can't you just visualise Banks the mad tea scientist in his London basement, adding a pinch of this and a pinch of that to his cauldron of black tea leaves? – Banks realised he did not have Neroli but he did have a [experimental] Bergamot tree growing in his garden, so he used the similarly flavoured Bergamot oil as a substitute.
Whatever its true provenance, the pleasing tea-with-Bergamot blend was named after the popular politician Earl Grey, and marketed first by both Twinings and Jacksons of Piccadilly.
Proudly bearing a Blue Plaque to botanist and explorer Sir Joseph Banks, the innocuous Spring Grove House sits quietly within the campus of West Thames College, London Road, Isleworth. Of all the teachers, students, and visitors who have ever had a cup of tea there, how many knew just how much that cup of tea connected them to the man whose name is on that plaque?
*In this instance, the word "college" means post-high school but not at degree level.
See the Tea in England Facebook page for more pictures of Spring Grove House, and some fun and interesting things related to the content of this post.


text:
Not long ago the New York Times had an article which showed a road in Brooklyn that had been reconstructed to make it safer and more pleasing to the eye. To show the difference in the reconstruction project, they showed a before and after picture using Flash that let the visitor drag a slider over the images, which were sandwiched with one on top of the other, so that you could easily see how dramatic the changes were. I immediately thought that this could be done in JavaScript using jQuery, so I set out to do it. Here's the result:
The possibilities for this plugin are endless. Doctors can have before and after images of patients, Photoshop users can show the before and after differences between images, remodelers can show the before and after images of projects and on and on. This plugin weighs in at only 7K and can be used multiple times on a page.
Being used by:
and many more…
Download jquery.beforeafter.zip (version 1.4)
What's So Great About this Plugin?
- Slick effect, no Flash needed
- It's just 7 Kb (5 Kb compressed)
- Reusable on multiple containers
- Degradable. If the visitor doesn't have JavaScript they will still see both images.
- Did we mention it's slick?
How to Use
First, your before and after images must be the same size. Both images must exist within a containing div which must have an ID. See this example.

All images *MUST* have the width and height declared otherwise the plugin won't work in Safari, Chrome, and any other webkit-based browsers.
The plugin requires jQuery (of course) and the draggable component of jQueryUI. Both files are bundled with the plugin however you can point to other copies if you prefer (e.g. jquery on Google and jqueryui on Google). Upload the plugin files on your site and link to them:

That's it! You can apply the before/after plugin to any number of elements on a page.
The Before/After plugin can easily be used on mobile devices by adding the jQuery Touch Punch plugin. You can grab the latest copy from github (recommended) or here.
The following options are configurable:
- animateIntro – whether or not to have the drag bar start completely to the right of the container and gradually move by itself to the midpoint (default false)
- introDelay – if animateIntro is true, the number of milliseconds to wait before beginning the automatic drag bar move to the center of the image (default 1000)
- introDuration – if animateIntro is true, the number of milliseconds it will take for the drag bar to go from the right side of the image to the middle of the image (default 1000)
- showFullLinks – whether or not to display links below the image that a visitor can click on that will automatically show the full before or full after image (default true)
- imagePath – the path (absolute or relative) to where you store the navigation images (default '/js/beforeAfter/')
- introPosition – where the draggable separator should appear when the plugin loads as a fraction of the overall width (default .5). For example, .25 would have the draggable separator appear 1/4th of the way on the left of the image.
- beforeLinkText – used with the showFullLinks option, this is the text used for the before image link (default 'Show only before')
- afterLinkText – used with the showFullLinks option, this is the text used for the after image link (default 'Show only after')
- cursor – the CSS style of the cursor when pointing to the drag handle (default 'pointer')
- clickSpeed – the speed (in milliseconds) for a click animation to complete (default 600)
- linkDisplaySpeed- the speed (in milliseconds) for a link animation to complete (default 200)
- dividerColor – the CSS hex color of the divider bar (default '#888')
- enableKeyboard – enable keyboard control using the left and right arrowd (default false)
- keypressAmount – if enableKeyboard is true, the number of pixels to move the divider on each keypress (default 20)
- onReady – a callback function that is triggered when the plugin is ready to be used
Options are added when calling the script:
$('#container').beforeAfter({ animateIntro : true, introDelay : 2000, introDuration : 500, showFullLinks : false });
Note that the plugin uses several images which are kept in the same folder as the plugin. If you store the plugin in another folder on your server, update the path to these images. Please be sure to read the license before using.


text:
Length: 17-19"
SHREDclassic - Stay classic - We launched Dona Bela SHREDS with the SHREDclassic design in 2010 and it continues to be one of our top sellers. The Classic, our more scarf-like SHRED features our signature side-tie and is the perfect weight to keep you warm, but not "itchy scarf" hot. It falls at the perfect length (14") and allows your neck some comfortable breathing room. It's slightly tapered design allows the SHREDclassic to fall delicately around the bodice.
The Dona Bela SHREDS team uses their creative brain power to design unique pieces using the leftover fabric from this season's must-have wardrobe. This innovative fashion brand seamlessly combines elements of practicality, elegance and originality to new, unused textile remnants. Designed and handmade in Des Moines, Dona Bela SHREDS are created to help customers feel beautiful, confident and comfortable while doing good for the environment and community. A portion of every sale is donated to a charity in line with the company's values, they have recently partnered with Water.org, Women Strong, Dress for Success and more.
Did you know?
- "15 to 20 percent of the fabric used to produce clothing winds up in the nation's landfills…" - — Stephanie Rosenbloom "Fashion Tries on Zero Waste Design", The New York Times.
- We never know what material colors we will be receiving. Once we create a SHRED, we will never be able to replicate it again.
- All SHREDS are handmade in the fashion capital of the world : Des Moines, IA
- Our DB SHREDS Donate Back program donates a percentage of proceeds each month to selected foundations that inspire the DB SHREDS mission.
*100% Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed
*30 Day Return Policy
*100% Upcycled
*Compliments Guaranteed :)


text:
The First Art Newspaper on the Net
Established in 1996
United States
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Last Week
Special Photos
Christie's announces Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art Autumn 2012 Auctions on November 28
A rare and finely carved polychrome lacquer circular dragon dish Song dynasty (960-1279). Estimate: HK$1,500,000-2,000,000 / US$200,000-250,000. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012.
On November 28, 2012 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre,
Autumn sale of Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art will present approximately 380 lots, valued in excess of HK$400 million. Highlighting the sales are two prominent collections: Fine Chinese Furniture from Private American Collections, and Important Chinese Lacquer from the Lee Family Collection, Part III. Comprising over 50 lots of fine Chinese furniture, the furniture sale is estimated to realize in excess of HK$49 million/US$6 million. Sourced solely from a number of private American collectors, the works are being offered at auction in Asia for the first time. The sale of lacquer from the Lee Family Collection, one of the most researched and exhibited single-owner lacquer collections, will offer 29 lots, and is estimated to realize in excess of HK$25 million/US$3 million.
Leading the collections are works of huanghuali, yellow flowering pear wood, and zitan, a type of sandalwood admired for its rarity, density, fine grain and deep purplish-brown patina. Traditionally collected by Americans and in the West, prominent Chinese furniture collectors are now emerging from Greater China. The choice of location for the furniture sale indicates the categorys global appeal and the strengthening collecting trend across Asia.
From the mid-20th century and into the 21st century, collecting Chinese furniture was in vogue in North America, and people travelled to Hong Kong and London to source works from the leading dealers in the field. The pure linear forms of Chinese furniture blended seamlessly with the contemporary interiors of North America, and became an iconic element of Western interior design.
From the private collection of Dr. Sam and Annette Mandel is a superb and very rare pair of large huanghuali square-corner display cabinets, liangge gui (lot 2018, estimate: HK$2,400,000-4,000,000 / US$300,000-500,000). Pairs of cabinets do not often survive together. The generous proportions of the cabinets, and because they are crafted entirely from huanghuali with no use of secondary wood, indicate they would have been costly even at their time of construction.
A rare large huanghuali recessed-leg altar table, pingtouan, from the private Midwestern collection of Major A.P. Moore, is also featured in the sale (lot 2028, estimate: HK$2,400,000-4,000,000 / US$300,000-500,000). Fashioned with metal fittings binding the feet, this single-panel table features ample proportions and a generous use of huanghuali. In 1948, Major Moore acquired the table to decorate his home in Shanghai, where he worked until he left China. He also furnished his home in the America with Chinese works of art that he prized, and his collection held an important place in his familys home until his death in 1990.
From a private Hollywood, California, collection is a magnificent and very rare pair of large imperial zitan lantern stands and zitan and softwood lanterns, tian gan deng jia (lot 2041, estimate: HK$2,400,000-4,000,000 / US$300,000-500,000). The pair once belonged to actor Bela Lugosi, famous for his role in the movie Dracula. Exemplary of their type, owing to their sizable proportions, style, and quality of carving, similar imperial lantern stands would have been included among the palace furnishings of the early to mid-18th century. Composed of a substantial amount of precious materials and crafted with striking delicacy, the pair is likely to date to the Yongzheng (1722-1735) or early Qianlong period (1735-1796), as they exhibit a level of refinement seldom seen in later works. Excellent workmanship is evident in the lampstand base, intricately carved with patterns symbolizing peace and contentment, pingan ruyi.
Also highlighted in the collections is a magnificent pair of huanghuali Southern Officials Hat armchairs, nanguuanmaoyi, from an important private Midwestern collection (lot 2026, estimate: HK$4,600,000-6,200,000 / US$600,000-800,000). When these chairs were constructed in the 17th century, they would have been reserved for the most important guests or members of the household, as the S-shaped backsplat places the body into an upright position, giving the sitter an air of power, while those of lower rank would sit on stools. Armchairs of the present slender and delicate type were made for the chambers of an imperial court lady, and not often produced.
From a private Midwestern collection is a rare zitan waistless four-corners flush side table, simianping (lot 2040, estimate: HK$2,400,000-4,000,000 / US$300,000-500,000). Derived from an earlier method of construction, which rose to prominence during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), this three-panelled simianping design relies on the simple purity of line and form, combined with the rich luminosity of the wood, for its beauty. Today, works of this caliber are seldom available for sale.
This autumn, Christies will present the third part of Important Chinese Lacquer from the Lee Family Collection, a single-owner collection regarded as the finest group of Chinese lacquers from the Song, Yuan and Ming dynasties ever to appear on the international market. Lacquer in a variety of techniques, forms and decorative motifs make up the Lee Family Collection, one of the most studied and exhibited collections of lacquer in private hands. The collection is a testament to the expertise of K.T. Lee, following in the footsteps of an equally passionate and knowledgeable collector, his father, Sammy Lee. This sale provides ample opportunities for both new and seasoned collectors, offering a wide range of museum quality works at approachable price points.
An important and very rare bowl and tixi lacquer bowl stand from the Song dynasty (960-1279) highlight the sale (lot 2093, estimate: HK$ 6,000,000-8,000,000 / US$780,000-1,000,000). The term tixi, which translates to carved rhinoceros, is from the Chinese characters for the term xipi, used to describe marbled lacquer, which resembles a rhinoceros hide. While the technique of tixi lacquer can be traced to the Tang dynasty, it rose to popularity during the Song and Yuan (1271-1368). Decorated by heart-shaped ruyi designs carved through alternating layers of coloured lacquer, very few bowl stands of this Song dynasty type survive today, and it is even more unusual to find carved examples adorned with ruyi motifs.
A rare and finely carved polychrome lacquer circular dragon dish Song dynasty (960-1279), decorated with the image of a three-clawed chilong dragon amidst swirling ruyi cloud motifs, belongs to a small group of lacquer wares with this distinctive chilong design (lot 2082, estimate: HK$1,500,000-2,000,000 / US$200,000-250,000). Chilong dragons are considered auspicious mythical creatures with the power to exorcise evil and avert disaster. The green lacquer of this Song dynasty dish is rarely seen on other lacquer wares from this period, and no identical example appears to have been published.
Continuing on the theme of auspicious motifs is an extremely rare carved polychrome lacquer toy peddler circular dish Jiajing six-character mark and of the period (1522-1566) depicting an elaborate scene (lot 2097, estimate: HK$2,000,000-3,000,000 / US$250,000-380,000). In the central medallion, a street vendor carries a rack displaying different kinds of toys to a group of children, beneath the branches of a peach tree. The design was inspired by genre paintings known as huolang tu, or commodities for children, a theme that became popular among Southern Song court artists. Images of children were symbolic of offspring and fulfilment of the Confucian ideal of the advancement of sons. The Jiajing Emperor, who wished for a male heir, was especially drawn to works illustrating this theme, and commissioned a number of pieces during his reign.
An exquisitely carved and very rare cinnabar lacquer circular box and cover from the early Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and originally from the renowned Frederick Mayer collection, will also be offered in the sale (lot 2092, estimate: HK$3,500,000-4,500,000 / US$450,000-600,000). The ornate floral design carved on the surface is a dense pattern of different species of flowers, rather than a single type of flower, which was found on most lacquer boxes or dishes dating to this period. The only other comparable example recorded is a large dish now housed in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.
The quality of the collection is underscored by an extremely rare tixi lacquer saddle, from the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368) (lot 2086, estimate HK$2,500,000-3,500,000 /US$350,000-450,000). This saddle is a tangible reminder of the importance of horses in Yuan China. Composed of a leather-bound wooden seat and wooden trimmings covered in tixi black lacquer, no other example of its kind and early date has been documented nor is believed to have survived. Saddles made in precious materials like lacquer were reserved for the powerful and elite and stood as the ultimate symbols of status and wealth. The detailed ornamentation carved into this saddle is of excellent quality and would have required a considerable amount of time and money to make, suggesting that its original owner enjoyed sophisticated tastes as well as a high social rank.
Today's News
November 1, 2012
Cologne's The Art.Fair grows into a respected forum of top-class international galleries
Marilyn Monroe photos spark buzz ahead of Polish auction at Dom Aukcyjny Desa Unicum
LACMA and the Academy present first Stanley Kubrick retrospective in the United States
Works by Diego Rivera and Fernando Botero lead Christie's Latin American Sale
Christie's to sell 230 artworks from the legendary London restaurants Langan's Brasserie and Odin's
Dalí self-portrait created for 'intimate friend' Federico Garcia Lorca smashes pre-sale estimate
Winston Churchill at his darkest hour...favourite painting on loan to National Portrait Gallery
With between 10,000 to 30,000 tourists each day, Vatican may have to limit visitors to Sistine Chapel
Julien's Auctions announces the highly anticipated Rock 'n' roll auction of the year
China's Terracotta Warriors: The First Emperor's Legacy at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts
October's end brings strong results at Bonhams Furniture & Decorative Arts Auctions
Christie's announces Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art Autumn 2012 Auctions on November 28
Linda Connor presents photographs from house made iconic through the paintings of Andrew Wyeth
Japan collector puts Dali, Miro, Warhol on sale
Solo exhibtion of photography by David Chancellor opens at Jack Bell Gallery in London
World War II gadgets manual from MI9 worthy of Bond uncovered at Bonhams
The Gallery at Norwich University College of the Arts opens "Colin Self: One Thousand Sketches"
Corning Museum of Glass unveils 2012 Rakow Commission by Danish artist Steffen Dam
1959 lefty Les Paul 'burst brings $194,500 in Heritage's $1.24+ million Vintage Guitar event
Most Popular Last Seven Days
Holocaust 'masterpiece' causes uproar at Venice film festival
To be unveiled at Sotheby's: One of the greatest collections of Orientalist paintings ever assembled
Bender Gallery features paintings by up and coming Chicago artist Michael Hedges
Lévy Gorvy exhibits new and historic works by French master in his centenary year
Artificial Intelligence as good as Mahler? Austrian orchestra performs symphony with twist
Fascinating new exhibition explores enduring artistic bond between Scotland and Italy
Exhibition explores the process of Japanese-style woodblock production
Robert Frank, photographer of America's underbelly, dead at 94
The truth behind the legend of patriot Paul Revere revealed in a new exhibition at New-York Historical Society
Hitler bust found in cellar of French Senate
Digital Art
Special Photos
Special Reports
Featured Stories
Art Fairs
Art Quiz
3D Images
Last Week
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher:
Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez
Royalville Communications, Inc
Founder's Site.
The most varied versions
of this beautiful prayer.
to a Mexican poet.
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Your name *
Your e-mail address *
Name of recipient *
Recipient's e-mail address *
Your message *
Sending Mail
Sending Successful


text:
View Properties in Lafayette
Home to over 28,000 people, Lafayette, Colorado is a lush residential community located east of Boulder. Lafayette real estate often offers panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains and proximity to serene Waneka Lake. Recreation can be found in the 19 neighborhood parks, 20 miles of trails and the Indian Peaks Golf Course – designed by three-time U.S. Open winner Hale Irwin. Lafayette is served with an award-winning middle school, day-care and preschools, and a K-12 charter school.