text:
Subscribe To Prisoners Extended TV Spot Offers Little New Footage But Nails The Suspenseful Tone Updates
I've already subscribed
For its first TV spot, Warner Bros.' kidnapper thriller Prisoners goes beyond the general 15-30 second ads and gives viewers a full minute of preview. After the film's second trailer came out in June, I honestly didn't think there was anything left of this movie to see. Seriously, it looks like everything but the final ten minutes was shown. Seeing that the above TV spot gives away just as much information wasn't surprising, but it actually felt a lot tighter than the theatrical trailer.
It also managed to sneak in like…two seconds worth of new footage, including a few shots of people getting all up in Paul Dano's gross face. But that's about it. The rest of it is guided by an interesting countdown ticking off the oh-so-important hours following a kidnapping during which the police have the best chance of finding the person. While its repeated use temporarily made me mistake this film for a CBS summer drama, the thriller aspect of Prisoners was more recognizable, whereas before it reminded me more of Gone Baby Gone, just with Hugh Jackman's growl-filled vengeance replacing the city of Boston.
In the film, Jackman plays Keller Dover, who with his wife Grace (Maria Bello) is having a nice night with their friends, played by Terrence Howard and Viola Davis. The young daughters of both couples get kidnapped without a trace, spinning everyone's lives out of control. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Detective Loki, whose name will probably play to his nature in the film, as he and Keller butt heads over the way the investigation is going (poorly). Dano and his awful, awful looking hair and make-up play a suspect, though both the trailer and above clip make damn sure to tell us that he might not be the guy.
What gives this film an edge is the revenge aspect, where Jackman takes matters into his own hands. But he isn't doing it for very long, so I wonder if my expectations have led me astray here. I've no doubt Canadian director Denis Villeneuve is capable of making a decent film out of anything, though the screenwriter, Aaron Guzikowski, has only Contraband behind him, and I'd really rather not have to judge him based on that. Here's hoping this very dependable cast, which includes Melissa Leo, brings it all to the table for Prisoners, which hits theaters on September 20.


text:
Grace Lee Boggs is a 98-year-old Chinese American writer, activist, and philosopher. The documentary carries us through Boggs's lifelong involvement with many of the major American social movements of the last century, including labour and civil rights, Black Power, feminism, the oppression of Asian Americans, and the issues facing the environment.
Boggs is always dynamic, and has a strategic disposition that drives changes in her approach according to the world around her. Indeed, it's this aspect of her character that drives the story forward. Angela Davis, Bill Moyers, Bill Ayers, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis, Danny Glover, Boggs's late husband, James, and a host of Detroit comrades from three generations help shape this uniquely American story.
As she wrestles with a Detroit in an ongoing state of transition, the inherent tension between violence and non-violence, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, the 1967 rebellions, and non-linear notions of time and history, Boggs emerges with a sensibility that is radical in its simplicity and clarity: revolution is not an act of aggression or merely a protest. Revolution, Boggs says, is about something deeper within the human experience—the ability to transform oneself in order to transform the world.
Grace Lee (in attendance)
Grace Lee, Caroline Libresco, Austin Wilkin
Joan Huang
Eurie Chung
Director's Bio
Grace Lee
Grace Lee is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker well known for her films Janeane From Des Moines (2012) and American Zombie (2007). Her film The Grace Lee Project screened at Reel Asian in 2005
Winner—LA Film Fest Audience Award & Best Documentary 2013
Winner—Best of the Fest at AFI Docs 2013
More Information

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Social Media Intern
- Employer Name: UW-Green Bay – Admissions
- Wage/Salary: 8.00/hour
- Job Description: Help the Admissions Office maintain social media sites and create new content in the form of video, blogs, messaging, links, photos. Work will consist of daily tasks of updating and providing content for Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Delicious etc.. Longer term marketing projects will also be part of the position.
- Qualifications: Reliable, responsible, motivated, creative, a self-starter. Knowledge and skill related to social media sites. Some proven experience in photography, videography and/or blogging.
- Application Instructions: Please email Jen Jones your resume and letter of interest. firstname.lastname@example.com
Marketing Intern
- Employer Name: UW-Green Bay – Admissions
- Wage/Salary: 8.00/hour
- Job Description: Internship that will allow a student to learn the process of marketing UWGB to prospective students. Weekly tasks include scheduling, following up on leads, presentations to families, college fairs, publication creation, program planning, and visit coordination.
- Qualifications: Flexibility, a willingness to learn, self-starter, excited about UWGB. Strong organizational, communication and interpersonal skills. Creativity and relationship building skills are desired. Proven work history of increased responsiblity and leadership.
- Application Instructions: Please send resume and letter of interest to Jen Jones. firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
What's the difference between a good leader and a great one? Good leaders get results, but great ones do so in a way that translates their own positive energy into long-term motivations for the people who work for them—accelerating business results along the way in a sustainable fashion. They can transform an average team into a top-performing team, seemingly in a matter of weeks. The employees who work for such leaders feel empowered, and teams interact in productive and encouraging conversations that ultimately improve productivity and increase the pace of innovation.
What makes these leaders so good? Their ability to coach—a leadership capability that is increasingly essential in a marketplace where the performance of critical workforces, the retention of top talent and the ability to create and derive value from innovation are important to competitive advantage.
Although coaching often refers to a way to correct specific performance concerns in the workforce as part of training initiatives, it also has a broader meaning in the context of leadership development and organization culture.
From that larger perspective, coaching is both a mindset and a set of behaviors by which leaders enable their people to assess an issue, identify appropriate actions, participate in decision making and achieve positive business results while simultaneously helping them learn and contribute. Leaders who are good coaches inspire and challenge others in their organizations to grow and develop; ultimately, such leaders are capable of achieving stronger business results than those less supportive and collaborative.
Creating leaders who are good coaches does not happen by accident. It requires specific programs and interventions that (1) give leaders the kind of executive coaching they need to become more effective, and (2) create a broader culture of coaching that can accelerate and sustain the positive impacts of the coaching provided by leaders to those who work with them and for them.
At its best, coaching is a mode both of being and of doing—a mindset as well as a particular way of interacting with groups and with individuals. Coaching is focused on a task or concern that an individual or team has on behalf of the organization. That is, it will look to address the concern and drive toward a positive outcome, but the manner in which the conversation progresses will be much different than simply "solving a problem."
Instead, the adept coach will encourage the active involvement of people in the issues at hand: asking open-ended questions, listening actively and making follow-up inquiries that help employees see their options and think about a path toward a solution. The coach and the employee will brainstorm different options around what the outcome might be, then get more specific about some of the steps needed to reach that outcome.
At the same time, they will also work together to establish accountability: How will you go about attaining the goal? With whose help? What's the value created by reaching the objective and the cost if it isn't reached? As the employee progresses toward the goal, the coach will inquire about what is being learned along the way.
In sum, a good coach acts as the accelerator by which an employee takes positive steps toward a goal and reflects upon the lessons from the experience so that they are better able to achieve future goals.
When and why would an organization want to implement a program to develop or enhance its coaching capabilities in a leadership context?
Consider one US federal agency that has a comprehensive "hire-to-retire" leadership curriculum for its workforce at all levels. With the help of Accenture, the agency created a leadership development program with a strong emphasis on coaching to increase effective communications and foster a culture shift such that all employees would be empowered to view themselves as leaders. The program was also designed to speed leaders to proficiency in new roles, improve confidence in decision making, and increase engagement and productivity among individuals and teams.
The agency has implemented a scorecard that assesses its progress toward enhancing its leadership skills and measures the impact of those improved skills on the broader culture.
Building a sustainable coaching culture aids organizations in creating the next generation of leaders—it is one way by which a company can execute leadership development at scale. For an organization to cultivate a coaching culture, the organization's espoused values and intent to integrate coaching into the daily fabric must align with the individual actions and mindsets of its employees and leaders.
One helpful tool to advance the development of a coaching culture is a Coaching Skills Maturity Model developed by Accenture. It assesses an organization's current coaching culture and serves as a potential blueprint for helping individuals as well as the broader organization advance from "foundational" to "progressive" to "pioneering" in its coaching capabilities.
For example, an individual leader at the foundational level when it comes to listening skills might still react defensively when sensing negativity and may wish to be "right," no matter what. At the progressive level, a person resists becoming defensive and judgmental, and is able to listen empathetically, with curiosity and interest. A leader who has reached the pioneering level picks up on nuances of tone and energy and is able to use curiosity to search for the bigger picture for both individuals and the organization.
An example of maturity at the organizational level is in advancing the scope of coaching efforts to influence the general culture. At the lowest level, organizations engage coaches only on an as-needed basis and in a decentralized way. Companies at the progressive level are more rigorous in developing leaders with coaching skills, and have established a community of practice to support the development of those skills. At the pioneering level, coaching is woven into all interactions, both internal and external, and all employees are encouraged to demonstrate coach-like behaviors to drive results.
The maturity model can help organizations and individuals understand what is needed to advance to the next level of coaching maturity while also acknowledging the skills and behaviors that have already been developed and integrated into the culture.
Organizations whose leaders have not yet developed the mindsets and behaviors of coaching may be at risk. They may be less innovative because they are unable to take advantage of the full range of ideas and knowledge at all levels of an organization. They may lose key employees by not adequately developing them and keeping them sufficiently engaged. They may not meet current strategic goals because they do not effectively harness the collective capabilities of the employee base, and then do not envision the future in a collective way such that future goals can be defined and met.
To avoid those risks, consider three tasks as foremost on your list. First, invest in creating coaching skills at all levels of your organization. Coaching should be a central part of any leadership development curriculum, with a learning approach that emphasizes action learning and simulated interactions. Second, provide ongoing support and development for leaders in modeling coaching behaviors and then for individuals at all levels to adopt those behaviors. Finally, measure, recognize and reward effective coaching as it is demonstrated by individuals, teams and across the enterprise to create stronger accountability.
Pioneering organizations establish formal programs to develop good coaches and simultaneously weave coaching into the fabric of their culture. They also measure progress—and then celebrate when significant achievements are made.
Rachel Domers McCarthy leads the executive coaching group within Accenture Talent & Organization. She is a Certified Coach as accredited by the International Coach Federation.
Eric Feuerlicht is a coaching certification program lead within Accenture Talent & Organization. He is a Certified Coach as accredited by the International Coach Federation.
Berit Öhn is a leadership and coaching senior principal within Accenture Talent & Organization. She is a Master Certified Coach as accredited by the International Coach Federation.
Yaarit Silverstone is the managing director responsible for talent offerings within Accenture Talent & Organization.


text: While many Americans don't find fairly recent British prime ministers all that fascinating, according to the full UK trailer, The Iron Lady is going to be a hilarious conservative romp set to "Our House." However, there's also plenty here for the brains among us. Judging from the second half of the trailer, this is also an epic tale featuring British actors, ruminations on women and power, and Meryl Streep disappearing into another role. Count us in.


text:
Over the weekend I taught a Cooking Camp at Brooklyn Brainery, one of my favorite spots to teach in the city. We did two sessions on making Shanghainese soup dumplings as well as a longer class called Dim Sum for Everyone. These are Chinese steamed pork buns that we made in the class. These past few weeks have been a little crazy around the Appetite for China HQ, but rest assured I'm working on a full post and recipe to be up soon!
In the meantime, might I interest you in some other dim sum recipes from the archives?


text:
Your face says it all: You are starting to panic. Don't. If you're shopping for a traveler, you might just find the answer to your gift-giving conundrum in these pages. Our team of travelers has tested items large and small, pricey and affordable, and we want to share them with you so you can share them with others. This is by no means comprehensive, but it can start the old synapses firing. If you can't get said item in time for the big day, cut out the picture, tie it up with a bow and use it as an IOU. The true traveler will always have a use for it because there's always that next trip.
Bags, bags and more bags
Lighten up: They say breaking up is hard to do. Nonsense. My old black carry-on bag and I have been tight for years, but there's a new charmer in my life. It's the Lipault folding 22-inch bag. This lightweight beauty comes in a variety of colors, is made of nylon twill and sports what the French company calls "airplane grade" aluminum handles. It doesn't have as many pockets as my old Black Beauty, but it also weighs 5 1/2 pounds empty, about 2 pounds less than BB. On a weekend trip, it was a breeze to roll through the airport and so light to lift into the overhead that I felt like Charles Atlas. Bye-bye, BB; bonjour, Lipault. You're not cheap, but you are easy.
Info: From $200, www.lipault-us.com/foldable.html
—Catharine Hamm
Pelican brief: Here's a briefcase that's got your back and your tablet as well. The Pelican ProGear U140 Urban Elite Tablet Backpack has a hard-sided latching case built in, which is designed to shield your tablet from the rigors of travel. Besides that case, it has a pocket for your office gear and another where cords and chargers will snuggle right in. Because of the hard-sided case, the pack weighs about 6 1/2 pounds, so it's no lightweight. This backpack says it's designed for netbooks, but measure first; my 11.6-inch netbook did not fit.
Info: $259.95, www.pelicanprogear.com
Light and easy: The sleek Delsey Helium Aero carry-on is the "it" bag for a weekend getaway. The 100% polycarbonate construction means the case is durable and lightweight — a measly 8.4 pounds —and easy to maneuver up and down stairs or in and out of the overhead bin. The case can expand up to 2 inches to accommodate your shopping spree, and the double spinner wheels mean it can roll easily alongside you. The Helium Aero also comes in 25- and 29-inch sizes and is available in titanium, cobalt blue and red.
Info: Carry-on, $300; 25- and 29-inch cases, $400 and $450, respectively. www.delsey.com
—Anne Harnagel
Walking on air: Airbac backpacks are outfitted with a built-in air cushion that protects your camera and other tech gear — as well your back — from the bumping and jostling you encounter while traveling. You need only inflate the cushion, using a standard hand pump, to your desired level of comfort and lumbar support. I tried two: The smaller Zoom, part of the Airbac photography line, weighs about 3 pounds and has six sturdy padded compartments to hold your camera equipment. The under-seat-size Airtech travel backpack weighs about 3 1/2 pounds and has a thickly padded sleeve to hold your laptop, as well as two roomy compartments and zippered pouches in which to stash the rest of your travel gear.
Info: Zoom, $99.99; Airtech, $89.99. www.airbac.com
Bag check: RuMe's colorful luggage tags, made from recycled aluminum, do more than distinguish your bag from all the other black bags on the luggage carousel. On the back of each tag is a QR, or Quick Response, code and a URL. To register your contact information, you scan the QR code with your smartphone or log into the URL. If your bag is lost, the finder scans the tag's QR code or enters the URL to locate you. RuMe's anonymous third-party email link allows the finder to reach you without disclosing your personal information. Each luggage tag contains a unique QR code pattern and URL address; the printed image won't chip or fade.
Info: $14.95, www.rumeid.com
Express yourself: Luggage tags and passport holders-wallets by Brazilian-born artist Romero Britto are so pop-art bright and cheerful they could elicit a smile from even the sternest TSA or immigration agent. The luggage tags ($15 and $16) have a slit in the back to hold contact information. The passport cases ($25 to $30) have a flap to hold your travel documents, pockets for currency and slots for credit cards and indentification.
Info: www.bedbathandbeyond.com, www.amazon.com
Personal gear
Happy teeth: On the road, I miss things that make home home. Sounds silly, but my sonic toothbrush is one of them. In the war against excess weight (I mean the bag, not me), the big sonic toothbrush, about 7 1/2 ounces, stays home. But now, I've found a Violight, a 1 1/2-ounce thing of beauty that resembles a long lipstick tube and comes in a variety of pop-artish colors. It runs on one AAA battery.
Info: $14.95, www.violight.com
Cream of the crop: If living in SoCal's humidity-free zone weren't enough, flying will sap the last ounce of moisture from your skin. Packing cream is imperative, but if you're a carry-on bagger, a tube must be less than 3 ounces, the Transportation Security Administration says. Enter Tiny Hands, by Lush, which offers a solid facial serum and a hand serum, both of which can be carried in a tin. The 0.7-ounce facial serum contains Portobello mushroom extract and camomile tea. If that's not your cuppa, the 2.1-ounce hand serum smells (strongly, be warned) of vanilla and marigold. Smooooth.
Info: Hand serum $8.95; facial serum $14.95, www.lushusa.com
Flat fabulous: These ballet flats by Tieks may be the ideal travel shoe, just right for wearing on the airplane or padding around in your hotel room. The shoes, made of Italian leather, are lightweight — about 12 ounces — yet sturdy enough to wear outside. The split-sole design allows you to fold them in half and stash them in their compact pouch, then tuck in your purse or carry-on bag. Tieks come in 41 colors and patterns, but they had me at their jazzy turquoise soles.
Info: From $165, www.tieks.com
Just for fun
On safari: Why isn't this under "Books"? Well, it's more than that. To wit: I would have gotten all my work done the day "Safari" arrived, but I started playing with it, and soon time stood still because the book did not. It's billed as a photicular book, and each page of this African animal book, created by Dan Kainen with text by Carol Kaufmann, has images that move so that rhino or zebra trots as slowly or as quickly as you like, just by wiggling those pages. It's not electronic so it's suitable for kids — of all ages.
Info: $24.95, www.workman.com
Seeing is believing: If you want to make sure the house and the spouse are in good order when you're away, TelyHD may be just the ticket. If you have HDTV and a Skype account, you hook up the device (easy enough for a nongeek), sign in to your Skype account and voilà — it's visual Skype on steroids (depending on the size of your TV). Yes, you can skip TelyHD and use a laptop equipped with a webcam, but this felt spacious and relaxed. Caveat: I called a colleague in Washington, who didn't have her makeup on either. We scared each other.
Info: $249, www.telyhd.com
Ear candy: If space is no object and fashion is, think about a different headphone experience. I tried the iLuv ReF headphones with a red canvas exterior; they're made for the iPod, iPhone and iPad and some Android devices and Kindle, among others. The musical experience was rich and, best of all, the phones blocked most of the noise that makes travel wearing. The only downside: My ears got hot. Seems a small price to pay for sanity and style.
Info: $129.99, www.iLuv.com
Double delight: How many times are we told, "You don't get to have it both ways"? Excuse me, but with the Polaroid Z2300 you do. This camera, which has a 6X digital zoom, gives you prints and 10-megapixel digital files. You put in the ZINK photo paper, take the picture and hit print. The prints aren't huge (2 inches by 3 inches), but they do you tell you, in a way that digital sometimes can't, whether the shot is a keeper. You can also shoot 720p HD video. The camera is clunkier than the digital models you're used to, but it's still fun in a cake-and-eat-it-too way.
Info: $159.99, www.polaroidstore.com
Capacitive gloves: It's winter, and you're visiting Grandma in Minnesota or Uncle Fred in Boston and you need to call Grams or text Fred. Which means you must remove your gloves to use your cellphone, thus freezing your fingers. Enter Boss Tech's one-size Cashmere Knit Touchscreen Gloves, which have six fingers that will work with your cellphone/tablet/e-reader screen. There are lots of these kinds of gloves out there; I liked these because they won't break the bank, come in various colors and fit my stubby fingers like, well, a glove.
Info: $6 or less from various merchants, www.accessoryhighway.com
Tidbits: It takes a special person to like "Gross America." Fortunately, among my friends and family, there are many who will enjoy Richard Faulk's semi-encyclopedic book about such places as Leila's Hair Museum in Independence, Mo. (which focuses on the Victorian practice of hair mourning art), the waste lagoons of eastern North Carolina and a statue to the Donner Party in Truckee, Calif. Well, I suppose it's a matter of taste — the book, I mean.
Info: $13.95, www.penguingroup
Movable feast: In his foreword to "Food Lover's Guide to the World," James Oseland, editor of Saveur magazine, writes, "For me, there is no better way to understand a place — to literally get it inside you — than by eating its food. Through food, I always find my way." In the lavishly illustrated pages of this coffee-table tome, you'll find food and drink from a host of countries, recipes (pork vindaloo from India, bibimap from South Korea) and explanations of local foods unique to those places. There's even an entry on California cuisine.
Info: $39.99, www.lonelyplanet.com
Thrill of it all: Not all of us are going to hike Ethiopia's Simien Mountains, but that doesn't mean we can't dream about seeing its gelada baboons. In Lonely Planet's "Great Adventures," the reader is treated to a breathtaking array of travel experiences, illustrated with beautiful photography. From washing elephants in Thailand (which even a tame traveler could do) to driving El Camino de la Muerte (Road of Death) in Bolivia (which seems redundant for freeway-loving Californians), the book will have you reveling in the sheer variety of a world without chain restaurants and strip malls.
Info: $39.99, www.lonelyplanet
McCarthyism: "The Longest Way Home: One Man's Quest for the Courage to Settle Down," by Andrew McCarthy. An actor is born again as a traveler and writer. "They say it's the male 'Eat Pray Love,' " said Greg Freitas, co-owner of the Traveler's Bookcase in Los Angeles, which has sold many copies. The key, Freitas said, is that "it's not too self-absorbed."
Info: $26, imprints.simonandschuster.biz/freepress
—Christopher Reynolds
Come together: If you're stuck in an armchair, "Hello Goodbye Hello: A Circle of 101 Remarkable Meetings," by Craig Brown, can reproduce the serendipity travelers thrive on. This odd volume, researched and written with breathtaking precision and abundant British wit, recounts a chain of weird encounters among famous people. Frank Lloyd Wright meets Marilyn Monroe. Igor Stravinsky meets Walt Disney. Groucho Marx meets T.S. Eliot. Martha Graham meets Madonna. Oh, and each chapter is 1,001 words. Brown is a British critic, satirist and, it would appear, obsessive. Vanity Fair called the book a "feat of narrative engineering."
Info: $26.95, www.simonandshuster.com
Taking a long view: "London: Portrait of a City," by Reuel Golden, editor, is a sweeping view of London in color and black-and-white photography, from the Victorian era to now. The image-savvy folks at Taschen give London the same sophisticated, provocative treatment they gave our hometown in 2009's "Los Angeles: Portrait of a City" (which wouldn't be a bad choice, either).
Info: $69.99, www.Taschen.com
Paris pleasure: "DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Paris," by Rosemary Bailey, Katherine Spenley and Alan Tillier, is a guidebook rich in maps, charts and imagery. Daniel Jacobson, manager of the Distant Lands bookshop in Pasadena, says the DK book "cuts through a lot of possible confusion by representing things visually.... It's a good book for an expensive but popular city."
Info: $25, www.TravelDK.com
From us to you: "SoCal Close-Ups: Your Vacation Guide," by Christopher Reynolds and the Los Angeles Times, includes about 40,000 words of frank advice in an ebook or iPad app on hotels, restaurants, museums, bars, parks, beaches and shops in Los Angeles and Orange counties. The iPad app version, "Los Angeles Times SoCal Close-Ups" is a visual feast that combines text with about 600 photos and a dozen videos from Times photographers, breaking L.A. and Orange counties into 12 chapters.
Info: $4.99 for ebook; details at http://www.amzn.to/SePC3a. iPad app is 99 cents per chapter in Apple's App store, http://www.bit.ly/Rjki6p
—Times staff
Your face says it all: You are starting to panic. Don't. If you're shopping for a traveler, you might just find the answer to your gift-giving conundrum in these pages. Our team of travelers has tested items large and small, pricey and affordable, and we want to share them with you so you can share them with others. This is by no means comprehensive, but it can start the old synapses firing. If you can't get said item in time for the big day, cut out the picture, tie it up with a bow and use it as an IOU. The true traveler will always have a use for it because there's always that next trip.


text:
Wreck-A-Bye Baby
Sometimes I like to think this blog might have a positive influence on current baking trends. (Oh, stop laughing. A girl can dream.) So, what do you say we mosey on over to a few of our nation's baby showers and see how things are going?
I mean, sure, "beby" is misspelled, and there's a giant funky headboard thing happening, and the doll is staring at me all creepy-like, but the baby itself is not edible. That's progress, people!
In fact - and feel free to correct me here if I'm wrong - I think "cohgrautions" may be the Canadian spelling.
You might be wondering how many tracts of land they had to search to find these two peas in a pod, or why the baker didn't make the "peas" green. That said, it's not a pregnant torso cake.
Plus it makes me want to start singing "Keep Walking" by the French Peas, so that's a "win" all 'round.
This next one may cause a bit of a flap, but I'll have no truck with such negativity:
[blink blink]
Back to business as usual, then?


text:
Now THAT'S What I'm Talkin' 'Bout
I'm pretty sure I would have ordered this cake back in high school:
Yep, back in my teen glory days I was that lone female in the convention-going, calculus-loving, and occasionally kilt-wearing* crowd. We spent our spare time calculating the dimensional mass of the various Enterprises, learning useful terms in Klingon, and saying things like "I believe this calls for a colorful metaphor". It was awesome.
Seeing the ol' Enterprise D here in all her crookedly displayed glory brings it allll back. In fact, I think this cake is a metaphor for my formative years: it's awkward looking, slightly imbalanced, has large gaps of inactivity, and is easy to misunderstand ("prooper"?) - but despite all that, it still has a good heart (right over the 'i'- see it?).
* Don't ask.


text:
Latest MedicineNet News
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Your feet may be less unique and evolved than once thought: A new study suggests that the mechanisms of human feet have much in common with those of great apes.
Current understanding of the evolution of human feet dates back to research from the 1930s. It concluded that people's feet work quite differently from those of their primate "cousins," due to the arches in the mid-region of human feet and the presumed rigidity of their outside edge.
But that theory was tripped up by U.K. researchers who analyzed more than 25,000 steps made by people on a pressure-sensitive treadmill. They found that human feet still have a surprising amount of flexibility, similar to that in the feet of great apes such as chimpanzees and orangutans.
"It has long been assumed that because we possess lateral and medial arches in our feet -- the lateral one supposedly being rigid and supported in bone -- that our feet differ markedly to those of our nearest relatives, whose mid-foot is fully flexible and makes regular ground contact," Robin Crompton, of the Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease at the University of Liverpool, said in a university news release.
"This supposed 'uniqueness,' however, has never been quantitatively tested," he said. "We found that the range of pressures exerted under the human mid-foot, and thus the internal mechanisms that drive them, were highly variable, so much so that they actually overlapped with those made by the great apes."
The researchers added that it was previously believed that it was mostly people with diabetes or arthritis whose mid-foot region makes contact with the ground. Both conditions can affect the structure of the foot.
But the results from the pressure-sensitive treadmill showed that two-thirds of healthy people produced some footfalls where the mid-foot touched the surface, something that seems to be a part of normal healthy walking, the researchers said.
The study appeared Aug. 20 in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
"Our ancestors probably first developed flexibility in their feet when they were primarily tree-dwelling, and moving on bendy branches, but as time passed and we became more and more ground-dwelling animals, some new features evolved to enable us to move quickly on the ground," Dr. Karl Bates, also with the Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, said in the news release.
"We hypothesize that despite becoming nearly exclusively ground dwelling, we have retained flexibility in the feet to allow us to cope effectively with the differences in hard and soft ground surfaces which we encounter in long distance walking and running. The next part of our study will be testing this theory, which could offer a reason why humans can outrun a horse, for example, over long distances on irregular terrain."
-- Robert Preidt
Copyright © 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
SOURCE: University of Liverpool, news release, Aug. 20, 2013


text:
Inflation remains tame throughout the U.S. economy, with one big exception: gas prices.
The Associated Press reported that those higher prices haven't derailed a steadily improving economy. But if they surpass $4 or $5 a gallon, experts fear Americans could pull back on spending, and job growth could stall, posing a potentially serious threat to the recovery.
A few weeks ago, economists generally agreed that the economy was in little danger from higher gas prices as long as job growth remained strong. But fears are now mounting that gas prices could begin to weaken consumer confidence.
The average pump price nationwide is $3.83 a gallon. Energy analysts say it's bound to climb higher in the weeks ahead.
"It's a thorn in the side of the consumer and businesses," said Chris Christopher, an economist at IHS Global Insight. The economy this year "would have been better and stronger if we didn't have to deal with this."
So far, higher prices aren't undermining the economic recovery, which is getting a lift from strong job creation. It would take a big jump – to around $5 a gallon – before most economists would worry that growth would halt and the economy would slide into another recession.
That's because an improving economy is somewhat insulated from any threat posed by higher prices at the pump.
Even if prices ease after the summer driving season, don't expect gasoline to fall below $3 a gallon. The government estimates that this year's average will be $3.79, followed by $3.72 in 2013.
According to the Associated Press, most economists accept a rough guideline that a 25-cent rise in gas prices knocks about two-tenths of a percentage point off economic growth.
Gas prices also have an outsize impact on consumer confidence, Christopher noted. It's a high-frequency purchase. Consumers notice the price whether they're filling up or driving past a gas station.
Along with the unemployment rate and stock market levels, gasoline prices heavily determine how Americans see their financial health.
That effect was evident Friday when a decline was reported in the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan index of consumer sentiment. The result surprised some economists who had assumed that higher stock prices and lower unemployment would lift consumer sentiment.
The Michigan report showed that "gasoline worries … are outweighing stock market gains and job growth" when it comes to influencing consumer attitudes, said Michael Hanson, an economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
The price of gasoline has climbed 17% since the year began – to a national average of $3.83 a gallon. That's the highest ever for this time of year. A month ago, it was $3.52.


text:
2013 Ford Mustang first look
Last Thursday morning, "The Today Show's" Al Roker crooned about summerlike temperatures across the country: 82 degrees in Washington, D.C., 72 in Chicago, 67 in Minneapolis. NBC's telecast then segued to the local forecast: Forties and rain on Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Not the choicest weather to drive a Ford Mustang, but we gave it a go anyhow. Ford revamped its iconic pony car for 2013, adding a few horses to the 5.0-liter V-8 GT and tweaking the whole lineup's appearance. V-6 and V-8 coupes and convertibles are on sale now, as is the V-8 Mustang Boss 302 coupe. The 650-horsepower Shelby GT500, meanwhile, arrives this summer.
Stick-shift GT coupes add an optional Track Pack, which combines a 3.73:1 rear axle (versus slower, 2.73 to 3.55 axles for other stick-shift cars) with an engine oil cooler, upgraded radio and performance Brembo-brand brakes. They also get a Torsen rear differential from the stupid-fun Boss. Upgraded Shaker audio systems, a 4.2-inch gauge LCD with various performance monitors, adjustable steering assist and available Recaro-brand sport seats round out the 2013 updates. I took to the hills west of Portland in a stick-shift Mustang V-6 coupe with the 2.73 rear axle and then drove neighborhood streets as engineering manager Tom Barnes sat shotgun in a stick-shift 3.73 GT coupe.
The Mustang is as raucous as ever, with a gutsy V-6 and a V-8 that pulls like hell. I'm not sold on all the visual updates, and the interior needs work. But the Mustang still combines scrappy fun with everyday livability, and it should draw buyers even as competition heats up not just from Chevy's Camaro but entries from Hyundai to Dodge.
Ford's 3.7-liter V-6 roars like a V-8, and even with the pokiest (but most fuel-efficient) rear axle, the stick-shift Mustang launches strong enough to spin the rear tires all the way through 1st gear. The 305-hp drivetrain loses steam as the tach needle swings to redline — territory where the 420-hp Mustang GT shoves you back in your seat. Barnes says friction reduction helped Ford eke out another 8 hp from the 5.0-liter V-8, which should match or beat the quarter-mile times of the last Mustang GT that our friends at "MotorWeek" tested — 13 seconds flat, a few 10ths faster than a 426-hp Chevrolet Camaro SS.
Both Mustangs exhibit satisfying steering feedback with power steering dialed to the car's Sport mode. At the other end, a Comfort mode makes the Mustang easy enough to make three-point turns with one palm. The chassis handled tricky roads outside Portland well enough, staying grounded over broken pavement better than any car with a solid rear axle ought to. Sharp turns on wet pavement had the V-6 coupe's all-season tires yielding to mild understeer, but working the tail out only required easing back on the gas when coming through the corner.
Our V-8 tester's optional Brembo brakes (14-inch front discs, versus 13.2-inchers in lesser GTs) hammered the car to a stop, albeit with excessive forward suspension dive — an unexpected sensation, given neither the V-6 nor stiffer GT suspensions allowed much body roll. Ride quality keeps with Mustangs past: firm but livable.
The optional six-speed automatic gets a redesigned shifter with a manual-shift mode — long overdue for the Mustang since rival Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger automatics include it. Ford says it won't override you with upshifts, but shifting gears happens with buttons on the shifter's side. We have little use for manual-shift automatics, but the others execute this better. The Camaro has paddle shifters, and the Challenger allows manual shifts by slapping the gearshift one way or another. Ford's button-equals-shift motion is anything but fun. Barnes conceded the point: "I'm not saying it's the best, but functionally it gives you what you need."
Most visual updates should appeal. The grille pulls farther forward, and body-colored rocker panels (previously black) add some maturity. The Mustang used to have two headlamp arrangements — iconic outboard halogen lamps or lizard-eye xenons that sat inboard. The inboard xenons are now standard. They still look reptilian, but horizontal LED daytime running lamps flank them for an interesting effect, and the reshaped grille — including a new front air splitter — increases downforce on the Mustang GT, which Barnes calls "the best V-8 we've had by far" in terms of aerodynamics.
A few things need work. New, rectangular LEDs ensconce the taillights, casting a cool glow when they're on. When off, it's anything but: The lowered center portions look like festering sores. Cabin inconsistencies still mar the inside, where Ford dresses the dashboard with premium materials but gives the doors the short shrift. And a telescoping steering wheel, widely offered in the competition, is still MIA.
Kelsey Mays is an automotive reporter for Cars.com
We're revamping our Comments section. Learn more and share your input.


text:
Bones * Dog ID Tag
Small .75 inches (for small dogs):
- Maximum # of lines: 3
- Maximum # of characters and spaces per line: 12
Medium 1.125 inches (for small to medium dogs):
- Maximum # of lines: 5
- Maximum # of characters and spaces per line: 16
Large 1.5 inches (for medium to large dogs):
- Maximum # of lines: 5
- Maximum # of characters and spaces per line: 18
- Please double check and confirm that requested engraving does not exceed the maximum number of lines or characters (including spaces). Any characters exceeding the maximum will be truncated at the time of engraving.
What puppy dog doesn't love a bone? This unique dog tag adds a little bit of character to your dog's collar along with letting everyone know his contact information should he happen to wander away from home. Forged from solid stainless steel, all tags are fully polished to a nice and smooth finish and are supplied with stainless steel attaching rings - guaranteed to never rust. Price includes engraving. Engraving is guaranteed readable for the life of the tag and is done on the back of the tag.
Suggested engravings:
- Pet's name and phone number
- Pet's name and two phone numbers
- Pet's name, phone number and address
- Pet's name, phone number and e-mail address
Do you travel with your dog or cat? Do you live in an area that's in danger of being evacuated due to hurricanes, floods, earthquakes or tornadoes? Do you go to the park with your pet? Vet? Visit family? Better safe than sorry. Always prepare for the unexpected! A personalized ID tag can help your lost dog or cat get home. Personalize it with your contact information and simply attach it right to your pet's collar or harness.


text:
Follow Us
Ten Extraordinary Women in Male-Dominated Fields
Big Think salutes 10 women who have made inroads in professions that have traditionally been the province of men.
Despite the strides women have made toward equality in the past 50 years, they remain underrepresented in a variety of professions. Today we salute ten female pioneers in traditionally male-dominated fields:
1. Irina Krush (Chess Master): Unlike most competitive pursuits, chess allows women to compete alongside men, yet a woman has never won a world chess championship. In fact, only one woman, Judit Polgar, has ever cracked the Top 10 in chess's world rankings. Big Think spoke recently with Irina Krush, who at age 14 became the youngest U.S. Women's Champion, and she told us that chess requires masculine characteristics that most women don't naturally have.
"Chess is a very solitary game," she says. "I think women or girls when they were growing up were more social animals; [they] prefer to do things in groups." She also points to traits like competitiveness and analytic thinking, which are crucial for success in chess but are more commonly associated with men. "For a woman to be successful in chess, she basically has to develop in herself more masculine qualities than she would if she was involved in another profession," says Krush.
2. Annie Duke (Poker Champion): Of the 38 inductees to the World Series of Poker Hall of Fame, only one is a woman. The truth is women still face discrimination in the world of poker, but they can use that to their advantage, poker champion Annie Duke tells Big Think. Duke won the 2004 World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions (with a considerable prize of $2 million), but she is still treated inappropriately by many competitors. "I remember one time I won a hand from someone and he looked at me and he called me a 'frigid bitch,'" she recalls. Other men, losing money to her no doubt, have tried to assert their masculinity by objectifying her. "I've been really overtly and disgustingly hit on at the table," she reports.
But these insults and advances don't faze Duke; instead she uses them to trick her opponents. "Men are very unwilling to change their minds about who you are as a person, because the stereotypes that men have about women and their emotional reactions have been built into them since they were little tiny babies." And for a game like poker, where a player must constantly update the information he or she knows about the other players, that can spell disaster.
3. Kathryn Bigelow (Filmmaker): Earlier this year, veteran director Bigelow became the first woman to win the Academy Award for best director for her film "The Hurt Locker." Though women like Agnes Varda, Maya Deren, Leni Riefenstahl, and Jane Campion have played seminal roles in arthouse and avant-garde cinema, Hollywood has been slow to accept women in the director's chair. Roughly 10% of the 250 highest grossing films each year are directed by women.
4. Danica Patrick (Race Car Driver): With her win at the 2008 Indy Japan 300, Patrick became the first woman to win an Indy car race. Her 3rd place finish in the 2009 Indy 500 was also the highest finish by a woman in the event's history. Patrick is one of just seven women who have qualified for this race, one of the three most prestigious competitions in motorsports.
5. Cathy Lanier (Police Chief): The Washington, D.C., Chief of Police is the first woman to hold that position in our nation's capital. Her 80% approval rating is due in part to a sharp drop in the homicide rate to the lowest level in 45 years. Women have served as chiefs of police in Detroit and San Francisco, but the total percentage of female police chiefs nationwide is only 1%.
6. Frances Allen (Programmer): Female programmers are a rare breed, and lifelong IBM computer scientist Fran Allen is a notable exception. For her work in optimizing compilers, she became the first woman to win the Turing Award in 2006, considered the Nobel Prize of computer science. Allen also helped to design the code-breaking language Alpha for the National Security Agency during the Cold War.
7. Allison Vivas (Pornographer): The president of Pink Visual, an adult film production company in Van Nuys, California, Vivas doesn't look like your average pornographer. Ex-Playboy Christie Hefner could have also made this list, but we chose Vivas for her outspoken defense of pornography as feminist. Also in a bizarre series of events, Vivas was named "Entrepreneur of the Year" in 2009 by Newt Gingrich's group American Solutions for Winning the Future. The award was later rescinded.
8. Ann Dunwoody (General): The current Commanding General of U.S. Army Materiel Command, General Dunwoody is the Army's top-ranking female. Her career is series of historic firsts for women in the Army: first female battalion commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, first female general officer of Fort Bragg, and first woman to achieve the rank of four-star General in 2008.
9. Joyce Meyer (Minister): One of the most influential religious leaders in America, Meyer is a televangelist whose programs air in 25 languages in 200 countries. In 2005, Time magazine ranked her as one of the 25 most influential evangelical leaders in America; she was the only female minister on the list. She has sold over 20 million books, and her ministry brings in over $90 million per year.
10. Cristeta Comerford (Chef): The Filipino-born Comerford is both the first female and first minority executive chef of the White House. Despite their traditional roles as home cooks, women are seriously underrepresented in top kitchens around the world. Enrollment in culinary schools is equal for men and women, yet, according to the Bureau of Labor, just 20% of chefs and head cooks are women. Still, Comerford has managed to land arguably the most important position for any chef.
Why Simone de Beauvoir didn't believe in being 'a strong woman'
De Beauvoir finds that the 'strong woman' is actually just bound to housework


text:
Most Disappointing Movies
Come here to discuss anything in the world of entertainment, from anime to X Factor.
Post Reply
- imbusydoctorwho
- Posts: 1087
- Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 10:46 pm
- NNID: Da-Banker
- 3DS Friend Code: 3067-6402-2163
- PSN ID: CrosswordMan
- Contact:
Re: Most Disappointing Movies
When I think of disappointing movies Avatar always spring to mind.
My Youtube Account PlaytendoGuy
Latest Reviews: Dishonored Death of the Outsider Uncharted Lost Legacy Yakuza Kiwami
PSN: Crossword Man
Nintendo Network ID: Da-Banker
- Rik
- Posts: 3762
- Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2014 8:12 pm
- NNID: RikTheNinja
- 3DS Friend Code: 1032-1749-4002
Re: Most Disappointing Movies
I just watched Passengers and while it had potential to go somewhere good it got lost among the generic disaster in space stuff in the third act and completely glossed over the fact that Chris Pratt's character was a hugely manipulative knobhead. It should really have focused on exploring the relationship of the two leads, the dynamic of having the only person you'll ever interact with again being the same person who put you in that position (and the moral dilemma preceding it) was interesting/compelling enough to carry the film without reverting to sci-fi cliché in the ending. Also Lawrence Fishburne doesn't deserve to be reduced to a ten minute walking plot device.
Pokeforum Random Battle Tourney - come for the battles, stay for the saltGhost wrote:and since when has "being dumb" been a sin on the internet?
Post Reply
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


text:
David Janzen's experience in Christian intentional community spans the greater part of four decades. In the early '70s, David and his family helped found New Creation Fellowship in Newton, Kansas. In 1984, they moved to Reba Place Fellowship, an urban, income-sharing community founded in 1957 in Evanston, Illinois, affiliated with Mennonite Church USA. Since coming to Reba Place Fellowship, David has assisted in the community's refugee asylum project, served on their leadership team, directed an affordable housing ministry, and is currently focusing his energies on mentoring the new generation of communities associated with the new monasticism movement. He is the author of two books, each the fruit of visiting and researching Christian intentional communities throughout North America: Fire, Salt and Peace: Intentional Christian Communities Alive in North America (Good Books, November 1996) and the forthcoming Intentional Christian Community Handbook: For Idealists, Hypocrites, and Wannabe Disciples of Jesus (Paraclete Press, November 2012). The latter, due for publication this fall, reflects David's responses to questions gathered from visits with contemporary communities, arranged in a developmental sequence according to the needs and concerns of communities at various stages of growth, including advice for those seeking community.
In our conversation, David and I discuss the three historical waves of North American Christian intentional communities to the present: from the energetic idealism and experimentation of the 60s and early 70s, to the less visible but more stable emergence of communities in the 80s and 90s, to the current generation of new monastics eager to learn from those who came before them. While all share a common bond in Christian faith, many inspired by the radical social and economic template laid out in the Sermon on the Mount and the description of the early Jerusalem community in the Acts of the Apostles, each wave has its distinct characteristics, reflecting the social context and concerns of their day. David weighs in on the particular strengths of the current generation, especially their identification with the wider Christian communal tradition, namely monasticism, and their enthusiastic welcome of the help of their elders. On the other hand, deluged by the seemingly unlimited options of our hypermobile culture, and often enough coming from broken households themselves, the current generation tends to bear a woundedness and a reticence toward stable commitments that require special attention.
David also traces the development of three related networks of communities of which he's been a part: the Shalom Association of Communities (1972-85), Shalom Mission Communities (1996-present), and his current work with the Nurturing Communities Project. The latter reflects the efforts of a dozen or so communities, in light of the needs of the current groundswell of new monastic communities, to establish new community-networks in order to provide help, encouragement, and accountability for one another. In fact, members from participating communities (approximately 50 people) will be meeting this September at Saint John's Benedictine Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota, to explore possibilities and learn from the monks who are hosting them.
Into/Outro music "He Prabhu" by Fr. Cyprian Consiglio, OSB Cam., and John Pennington, from Compassionate and Wise.


text:
Not Registered Yet? Register
Direction to Lakeside Realty
Office is located at:
3060 North Columbia St
Milledgeville, GA 31061
Google Map
Contact | Mortgage Calculator | Buyer/Seller Info | Real Estate News!!! | All Property Search | Featured Listings | For Sale on Sinclair | Blog | Area Info | Area Schools | Lake Sinclair Map
Privacy Policy |
© 2019 Milledgeville MLS
All rights reserved. Information deemed to be reliable but
not guaranteed. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website
comes in part from the Broker Reciprocity Program. Real
estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Lakeside Realty are
marked with the BR logo and detailed information about them includes the
name of the listing brokers. Listing broker has attempted to offer accurate
data, but buyers are advised to confirm all items. Information last updated
on 2019-09-15.


text:
Ka-Ro has partnered with Timesys, a leading Linux expert to provide Yocto Project support for Ka-Ro modules. Ka-Ro and Timesys will host a joint webinar to discuss the new TXUL Product QuickStart Kit. The webinar will include a discussion of the hardware and an introduction and demo of the Timesys LinuxLink 5.0 development environment for Yocto.
Wednesday May 25, 2016 – 2:00 PM CEST (EMEA)Wednesday May 25, 2016 – 2:00 PM EDT (North America)
To Register:www.timesys.com/training/development-resources/webinars/using-yocto-develop-product/


text:
Agility Bobblehead
"Never be afraid to dodge the sensitive issues." -- Agility +1
In the northeast segment of the Capital Wasteland, you'll find a location called Greener Pastures Disposal Site. A more specific location is easy enough to pinpoint; the facility is located southeast of Vault 92, and north (and slightly to the east) of both Minefield and the Scrapyard. This former nuclear waste facility doesn't exactly serve much of a purpose now that… you know… the entire country is a nuclear wasteland. However, the radiation levels are higher than usual in and around this area, so you may want to take a Rad-X or equip your finest anti-radiation equipment before you head on in and begin to explore.
The facility itself is actually outdoors, so you're going to need to scout out and locate the actual office/control building in the area. Don't confuse this building with the various rusted-out vehicles and the like you encounter, for this building is actually (and more accurately) an actual brick-and-mortar building. When you find it, the inside is dimly lit. You can find a computer to hack, a safe to pick open, and various items. But it's the Bobblehead on the desk next to the computer terminal that is of true interest. Grab it, and watch your Agility get boosted by one for the duration of your adventure!
Was this guide helpful?


text:
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Chinese lawyer Hao Junbo wants to make you rich if you're a whistleblower after a bounty. For big business in China he's a headache, part of a small but fast-growing industry built around exposing corporate wrongdoing.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission received a tip-off a week from China last year, double the year before and five times more than in 2011. The attraction is a recently bulked up offer for as much as 30 percent of any fine if new information leads to the recovery of investor money over $1 million. Last year, one Wall Street whistleblower pocketed $14 million.
The SEC is just one of many channels for this new breed of Chinese whistleblowers whose information has helped lead to investigations in China of firms including British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK.L) and French dairy Danone SA(DANO.PA).
"It can't be denied that the financial benefits are an important incentive," said Hao, a Beijing-based whistleblower lawyer. Hao advertises online for whistleblowers to get in touch for the chance to "uphold justice and win a huge bounty too", though he concedes he is yet to collect a reward.
Hao said signs of stronger government support for Chinese whistleblowers had helped the sector come out into the open, with 150,000 tips investigated by authorities last year. But there is still a way to go to catch up with the well-established "no-win-no-fee" lawyers in the United States and Europe.
Indeed, blowing the whistle in China can be a risky proposition, with those who come forward often facing a backlash from the local officials or businesses they accuse.
"Because some clients don't want to reveal their identity, they hire us lawyers to blow the whistle on their behalf," said Hao. His cut is a negotiated slice of any final bounty.
Whistleblowers in China have become more daring, lawyers and business people said, creating a tougher environment for companies, especially in sensitive sectors like pharmaceuticals where there have been a spate of probes against corporate corruption.
"At this point almost every pharmaceutical company is looking at their internal rules and procedures and whether they are being complied with. It is industry-wide," said Shanghai-based lawyer John Huang, co-founder and managing partner at MWE China, which helps firms negotiate with whistleblowers.
Huang said the firm had seen whistleblower-related cases double over the last year, adding companies are launching internal investigations, seeking legal assistance and training to deal with issues such as dawn police raids and staff being arrested after insider tip-offs.
Companies have also recruited law firms, investigators and compliance experts to stop potential whistleblowers from reporting externally, attempting to defuse the situation in-house before it sparks a wider probe.
It doesn't always work out and falling foul of a whistleblower can have a serious impact.
GSK's China sales plunged after police accusations that it funneled up to 3 billion yuan ($482.99 million) to travel agencies to facilitate bribes to doctors and officials to boost its drug sales.
The investigation was sparked by at least one high-ranking whistleblower, a person with direct knowledge of that investigation told Reuters. The person declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the case.
"Whistleblowers are quite normal in China. In a place like this there are always some people like that involved because of personal interest - they're unhappy with their experience or have conflicts with others in the company," the person said.
GSK declined to comment.
China's leaders have also put their weight behind the anti-corruption crackdown, with President Xi Jinping calling on Chinese officials to "sweat" corruption out of the system. Firms in sectors from energy and autos to food and healthcare have come under the spotlight.
China's disciplinary watchdog also launched an online portal to encourage whistleblowers this month. The site allows people to view cases by region and gives them as easy way to make their own reports.
There is a small network of lawyers in China and even overseas to encourage and direct whistleblowers in the country, while official channels have been set up to uncover officials' bad behavior at state-owned enterprises and within government.
Activists have also set up forums for whistleblowers to interact, such as the popular 'People Supervision Net', a muckraking portal headed by prominent Chinese whistleblower Zhu Ruifeng.
"You can find law firms, accounting firms and consultants who have built up businesses around being the 'shepherds' for whistle blowers, helping guide them through the process, and obviously the incentive is the financial reward," said William McGovern, Hong Kong-based partner at law firm Kobre & Kim and a former SEC enforcement attorney.
The lawyers guide potential whistleblowers to collect the information needed to report to the SEC, which leads U.S. investigations against corruption and corporate malpractice. U.S. companies operating in China and Chinese firms with U.S. stock exchange listings are also subject to SEC oversight.
As part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank legislation on Wall Street reforms, a whistleblower can receive a bounty of up to 30 percent as long as the amount recovered is at least $1 million.
Bounties under earlier programs focused on insider trading and were far smaller, meaning few experts were on hand to help the few whistleblowers from China who did want to report. Now legal experts help get everything in order - for a share of the profits, several former SEC lawyers said.
"The difference now is that everything has been packaged very well with binders, tagged, invoiced and with documents that clearly come from a company, which make it very easy for the government to then build a case," said Nat Edmonds, partner at law firm Paul Hastings and former Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) litigator at the U.S. Justice Department.
The SEC declined to comment.
Some U.S. lawyers are jumping into the fray.
Jason Coomer, who heads a small practice in Austin, Texas, has a Chinese language website offering assistance to whistleblowers. His office has received around 25 whistleblower reports from China in the last two years and is now taking two cases forward to the SEC.
"We're talking large multinational corporations with multi-billion dollar contracts each year. The whistleblowers are insiders at the corporations and have witnessed elaborate bribery schemes," he told Reuters in on telephone interview from Texas. He declined to give further details about the cases.
Whistleblowers from China first make contact online before sending packages of documents to his firm, he said. Chinese-speaking lawyers then translate and unpick the contents, before deciding whether the case can be taken further to the SEC.
The rise of this whistleblower industry - both fighting for and against corporations in China - raises a serious new hurdle and cost, lifting the chances of malpractice coming to light and the potential million dollar fines that follow. German engineering firm Siemens AG (SIEGn.DE) was hit by a record $800 million FCPA fine in 2008.
"If you type 'FCPA' in Google or Bing in China now, the first thing that comes up on the adverts is whistleblower lawyers," said lawyer Edmonds.
"That just didn't exist three years ago." ($1 = 6.2113 Chinese Yuan)
Additional reporting by Sarah N. Lynch in Washington; Editing by Emily Kaiser


text:
Already a member? Log in.
Help support your group
Meet with other local Motorcycle Riders! We have all kinds of rides. From local breakfast or lunch runs of 60 miles or more to multi day/multi state rides. We also have social outings since this group is like a family and we enjoy each others company.
This group is about meeting new people of all ages and experience levels. We do ask that beginner riders have at least 500 miles of experience. We have a fun diversity of people and accept EVERYONE, all backgrounds, male or female and ALL types of bikes are welcome! This group truly belongs to the members. Anyone can set up a ride anytime, just contact any organizer to put it on the calendar and we will make you the event host.
Since this is a riding group, please don't join if you do not have a bike.
Members that are inactive for 5 months or more are subject to removal without notice. We prefer an active membership.
Please note, everyone riding with the group must have insurance coverage and a valid driver's license with motorcycle endorsement. You ride at your own risk.
702 NJSTMR Riders
7,383 Outdoor Enthusiasts
2,912 Adventurers
919 members
1,999 Adventurers
1,355 Snow Enthusiasts
Or sign up with email
Already a member? Log in.
Meetup members, Log in
By clicking "Sign up" or "Sign up using Facebook", you confirm that you accept our Terms of Service & Privacy Policy


text:
From ForensicsWiki
Revision as of 21:43, 30 March 2006 by Uwe Hermann (Talk | contribs)
The Windows Bitmap (BMP) file format is a lossless image format.
Each file consists of a header, an information block, and then the image data. Note that the image data is given in order from the end of the image file!


text:
Simplicity design eyeglasses D004
- Reading Glasses, Prescription Glasses, Fashion Glasses
- Unisex glasses
- Frame Width - 141mm
- Frame Length - 140mm
- Lens Width - 53mm
- Lens Height - 47mm
- Bridge -17mm
To purchase the glasses with specific power lens, please add the lens separately.
Lens 1.56 Click To Add - For power 0-300
Lens 1.61 Click To Add - For power 200-400
Lens 1.67 Click To Add - For power 300-600
*Astigmatism(散光) below 200 only. Above 200 astigmatisms will cost extra charge.
*Higher index means the lens is thinner.
*After make payment, provide your eye power/prescription via Whatsapp.
*For clearance items, do not purchase the lens or bring it to specs shop to make the lens, because those frame has discontinued.
1. Order here on the website.
2. Order via Whatsapp 016-6858 511
3. Order via email, firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
MILFMartha video.Chat gratuit with MILFMartha
Chat gratuit with MILFMartha
I am a sweet lovely woman, I love to show my sexy body and make you fall for my charm. I love to laugh and play games, I am experienced in life and sex.I can add nice and big natural boobs :). My body is flexible, I have curves and i am fit and muscular.


text:
April 8, 2019
No introduction yet
Help support your group
106 Miles is a network of startup founders, engineers, and friends.
Our mission is to educate and empower entrepreneurial engineers.
Our values are Reputation, Innovation, Solidarity, and Education.
This is our Silicon Valley group; see also our Southern California group.
Please join us if you're a founder or engineer (or friend!) and...
* You have worked at a startup, * You want to work at a startup, * You have started a company, and/or * You want to start a company.
We meet a few times a month (second Wednesday of each month in Sunnyvale, 7-9pm, and the fourth Wednesday of each month in San Francisco, 6-9pm; and occasionally Southern California too) to...
* Socialize and learn from each other. * Exchange ideas and information. Informally. Usually in a bar. * Meet people at new startups. * Meet people who want to work at startups.
106 Miles is symbolic of the journey entrepreneurs that take.
It's from The Blues Brothers:
Elwood: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses." Jake: "Hit it."
Please follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and join us in person...
4,873 VLAB-ers
21,926 Silicon Valley Entrepreneurs
10,419 Data Bees
15,504 Hackers/Founders
4,637 Members
7,225 Developers
Or sign up with email
Already a member? Log in.
Meetup members, Log in
By clicking "Sign up" or "Sign up using Facebook", you confirm that you accept our Terms of Service & Privacy Policy


text:
A-Z of CATEGORIES
+ Edge Chamber Choir
Founded 2014: 'An exciting chamber choir based in Ludlow ... specialising in singing 20th & 21st century choral works ... The choir now performs three concerts a year, and goes from strength to strength. With each concert the choir is expanding its repertoire, and has performed a wide variety of music including pieces written and arranged especially for the choir, as well as choral favourites'.
Listing Details
Directory Statistics
Recent New Records
- ~ LondonJazzNewsCategory: Music MagazinesNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/london/(0 visits)Created:
- + Silverwood BandCategory: Concert and Wind BandsNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/middlesbrough/(0 visits)Created:
- @ Menuhin HallCategory: Concert and Recital HallsNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/leatherhead/(2 visits)Created:
- + Ember ChoralCategory: Choral SocietiesNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/walton-on-thames/(2 visits)Created:
- * Chester Guitar CircleCategory: Guitar SocietiesNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/chester/(3 visits)Created:
- * Bromley Music MakersCategory: Local Concert PromotersNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/bromley/(2 visits)Created:
- * Jazz School UKCategory: Local Music Centres and SchoolsNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/wellingborough/(2 visits)Created:
- + Kentwood Show ChoirCategory: Community ChoirsNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/swindon/(21 visits)Created:
- * Ealing Arts & LeisureCategory: Local Arts BodiesNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/ealing/(6 visits)Created:
- * MUSINC - The Teesside Musical Inclusion...Category: Local Music Services and TrustsNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/teesside/(9 visits)Created:
- * Croydon Folk ClubCategory: Folk ClubsNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/croydon/(7 visits)Created:
- + Ballet BlackCategory: Ballet CompaniesCreated:
- + Band of the Hampshire ConstabularyCategory: Concert and Wind BandsNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/southampton/(28 visits)Created:
- + Maghull Musical Theatre CompanyCategory: Operatic and Dramatic SocietiesNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/crosby/(29 visits)Created:
- * Southampton Recorded Music SocietyCategory: Recorded Music SocietiesNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/southampton/(10 visits)Created:
- + Worcester Male Voice ChoirCategory: Male Voice ChoirsNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/worcester/(31 visits)Created:
- + Kinder Choirs of The High PeakCategory: Young Persons Singing Groups and ChoirsNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/buxton/(28 visits)Created:
- @ St Andrew's RushmereCategory: ChurchesNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/ipswich/(30 visits)Created:
- * Derby and District Organists' AssociationCategory: Organists' AssociationsNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/derby/(10 visits)Created:
- * Much Loved ProductionsCategory: The Commercial PlayersCreated:
- + Wareham Town BandCategory: Concert and Wind BandsNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/swanage/(31 visits)Created:
- + Granta ChoraleCategory: Chamber ChoirsNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/haverhill/(30 visits)Created:
- * Voices YorkshireCategory: Choral FestivalsNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/yorkshire-and-the-humber/(11 visits)Created:
- * Windsor FestivalCategory: Arts FestivalsNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/windsor/(13 visits)Created:
- + Berwick Festival OperaCategory: Opera CompaniesNEARBY (Map): www.open-concerts.co.uk/berwick-upon-tweed/(33 visits)Created:


text:
The dang coolest person in the world (my awesome friend Michelle) wrote an embarrassing story from her past on her blog and I decided I would do the same. Her story happened to her in 6th grade, and one of my most memorable moments (which seemed like the end-of-the-world at the time) was in 6th grade as well.
Let me just give you a little visual...I don't think I can post a 6th grade picture of me. I just don't want that out there for the world to see. I was scraggly. And I don't mean a little bit. For those of you who have only known me over the last 5-10 years, you don't know much about me because 6th grade was the most defining year of my life. I still feel like a 6th-grader inside.
While I was in 6th grade I was skinny. Like rail thin. I think I was about 5 feet tall and I weighed 80 pounds. I never showered, I never did my hair, and I was always outside playing a sport of some sort. I was a tom-boy through and through. And I had absolutely NO chest.
Again, for those of you who know me now, you know that I have the complete opposite of "NO chest". But that didn't happen for me until 9th grade. Anyway, I was not concerned about the no-chest fact because I didn't want to bother with girlie things, but when my boyfriend decided to break up with me for a more girlie-girl, I decided it was time to ask my mom for a bra. Yep. A boy made me make that decision.
Now, the fact that I got a bra didn't change my outer appearance. I still wore a bright yellow over-sized T-shirt with matching yellow stretch-shorts along with matching yellow socks (which I folded over halfway) and black sandals (yep...head-to-toe bright yellow and socks and sandals to top it all off)...but I knew that I was wearing that bra and it had to have some effect, right? Right.
The problem with not NEEDING a bra is that it's easy to forget to wear it sometimes.
And sometimes I would forget where I placed it.
And so, our story begins:
It was the last week of 6th grade. We were going to have our sports day (I don't remember what it's called...if you remember Ford or Meg, will you please leave it as a comment on this post so I can remember?) and the school had asked Meg & me to sing the Star Spangled Banner at the opening ceremonies. We were pumped! My mom recorded the piano part on a cassette tape and I lugged her big boom-box to school with me on the bus that day...in a black garbage bag. Why did I bother putting it in a bag when the boom-box had a handle you might ask? Well I have no idea. I often make things more complicated then they need to be...maybe it's because I wanted someone to ask me what was in the bag? I don't know...
So I lug the massive boom-box to my classroom in the black plastic garbage bag and I then remove the boom-box from the bag so Meg & I can warm up to the music in the bathroom. I have butterflies as I walk down the hallway to the bathroom. People are whispering and there's a lot of excitement in the air, and I am just feeling really cool in my yellow outfit with my scraggly hair and my socks and sandals. Meg and I practice and then we head back to our classrooms. We are nervous but excited. Only a few minutes until our singing debut. But then, as I make my way to my classroom I can hear the boys laughing and talking...I can hear the word "bra" being said by several different voices...I quickly feel my back to see if I happened to remember to put mine on today...it's not there...but there's no way that the group of people huddled up in my classroom could be seeing my bra...my tiny little white bra lying on the floor...and I look...yep, it's mine...it must have made it into that classy black plastic garbage bag somehow...but as I break through the circle to pick it up (I had to pick it up, I couldn't just leave it there...though now that I look back it would've been the smart thing to do...I didn't need it anyway) I did something that I will forever regret...I really and truly am forever sorry about what I said as I picked the little white thing off the floor... "Oh, this is Megan's bra...I'll go give it to her..." And off I went to slip it on in the bathroom.
Needless to say I was sick about lying all day long and I had to tell Meg the truth when we got home that night because the guilt was just killing me...and Meg being the cool person that she is forgave me...though she did want me to confess to it so she didn't have that hanging over her head for the last week of school, but what was I supposed to do? Bring up the horrible ordeal again and say, "Does anyone remember the bra that was on the floor yesterday? Well, it wasn't Megan's, it was mine." It never happened. And I still owe you for that Meg. I'll take you to Frogurt tonight. My treat. And then maybe scraggly little Chelsea's most embarrassing memory can finally be laid to rest...
The moral of this story: Don't bring your boom-box to school in a black plastic gargabe bag.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Scraggly Little Chels...
The dang coolest person in the world (my awesome friend Michelle) wrote an embarrassing story from her past on her blog and I decided I would do the same. Her story happened to her in 6th grade, and one of my most memorable moments (which seemed like the end-of-the-world at the time) was in 6th grade as well.
Posted by Chels at 2:10 PM 8 comments
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Happy to be "Jesse's Girl"...
Today is my sweet hubby's birthday. He's 29 years old. I am more in love with him today than I was on our wedding day. We have been through so much together, but through thick and thin we have stuck together and it has paid off. I love him with all of my heart. I decided to list the top 5 reasons why I love "my Kight" (his middle name is Knight, so I always call him "my Knight") and why I am so happy to be called "Jesse's girl":
1. His smile
There is a sort of innocence about his smile, but there is also a hint of mischievousness to it as well. He is always up to something...it's usually good, but he's always surprising me and keeping me on my tows. No two days are the same with him and I appreciate that more than he will ever know...
2. His heart.
Jesse always does sweet and spontaneous things for me. I often get love notes and flowers "just because" and I love it when he drops by my office unexpected. He is also very giving of his time to others. Whether it be helping a friend put shelves up in their garage or driving his cute mom home from the hospital, he's always sacrificing for others and I love that about him.
3. His relationship with Meg.
Jesse and Meg are truly brother and sister. You could almost call them best friends. They have been through a lot together and have spent many hours at my side taking care of me. At first there was a bit of competition to see "who Chelsea loved more" and Meg swears Jesse broke her toe in a leg wrestle in which the winner would gain the title of "the one Chelsea loved the most"...(which ended up to be a tie, just so you know ;) but not matter what they are honest with each other, they chat for hours on end, and sometimes they talk about things with each other that I have no idea about. I am grateful that he accepted Meg as part of the package when we got married and that they love each other completely.
(this is a picture of Meg & Jesse going down a zip-line into a pond at the Hubbard Family Reunion. She was scared to death as you can see, but she trusted Jesse enough to give it a shot. Notice Jesse's smile, he can't believe Meg actually agreed to do it...and yes, Meg comes to the Hubbard Family Reunions :)
4. He is a steady force...
As many of you know I am pretty dramatic and am known to be pretty emotional. It can be a good thing, but it can also be a very bad thing in tense situations. But no matter what the situation is Jesse is there. Solid as a rock. In the 8 years I have known him he has lost his temper maybe 3 times. And I am in awe of that. It is a characteristic that I can only dream of, and I appreciate his patience with me all of the time...
(Another Hubbard Family Reunion picture in Ibapah. He asked me to jump out of this tree and I wanted to shock him, so I said I would, but once I got up in the tree I wanted to get back down, so he came up the ladder to help me be calm and to reassure me that it would be fun. Yes, it was fun. No, I would never do it again)
5. Forgiving.
Finally, Jesse is very forgiving. He gives everyone the benefit of the doubt, no matter what. He wants to believe in the best in people and I benefit from his forgiveness often. It seems like whenever we happen to have an argument or disagreement we can always understand each other in the end and a simple kiss can solve everything.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSE! I love you with all of my heart and hope this year is a fabulous one for you. You deserve it!
Posted by Chels at 10:06 AM 5 comments


text:
FOLLI FOLLIE has collaborated with Camilla Batmanghelidjh's Kids Company to create a special edition of their Heart4Heart collection in the charity's trademark hot-pink.
Tying in with Kids Company's mantra 'Love is all it takes', the collection comprises necklaces, watches and friendship bracelets in a selection of silver and rose-gold plate and all feature the charity's logo. Twenty five per cent of all sales will be donated directly to the charity to support its work with some of the most challenged and deprived children in society.
Folli Follie ambassador Erin O'Connor told us that she had wanted to get involved with the charity for a long time and that this proved to be the perfect opportunity. "I'm fascinated by Camilla. I've often eyeballed her in The National Gallery (where a portrait of the campaigner stands)," the model revealed. "She has an authenticity to her that is necessary to relay vital information concerning complicated issues."
On the work the charity does O'Connor continued: "Kids Company reaches out to the most alienated, frightened children. They are very actively involved, they have the tools. It's authentic, it's real and financing is hard to get right so events like this are relevant and a great starting point. I'm up for assisting Camilla in any way."
The Heart4Heart collection is now available exclusively at Folli Follie stores and online at follifollie.co.uk.
Folli Follie x Kids Company
The silver-plated Heart4Heart watch complete with a hot-pink strap.
© macuser
Folli Follie x Kids Company
The gold-plated Heart4Heart watch complete with a hot-pink strap.
© macuser
Folli Follie x Kids Company
The Heart4Heart silver-plated friendship bracelet has clear and champagne crystal hearts.
Folli Follie x Kids Company
The Heart4Heart rose-gold plated friendship bracelet has clear and champagne crystal hearts.
Folli Follie x Kids Company
The Heart4Heart necklace is available in rose-gold and silver plate with pink crystals.


text:
|in the background, you can still see the ghost of my self portrait
So, a few weeks ago I began the exciting new journey of filming my first on-line workshop. We are still in the editing phase and tomorrow I get to see how it is all coming together. I am excited and a little nervous...but mostly thrilled to finally be able to jump into the online workshop world and work with individuals that I otherwise wouldn't be able to meet, talk/share with, and more importantly... touch on a deeper level.
After filming the techniques for The Savage Mirror workshop, I ended up with a self portrait (the demo I did for the workshop) that needed it's story brought to life (something I have each participant do with their own portraits)... last night I dove in, and this is were the page currently sits. My eye, and the expression of it is what drew me into the mirror... that is what I wanted to keep. The pages are still in progress, and more needs to be pulled and pushed, more text to be brought forth, and more symbolism incorporated as the story unfolds. I now wish I had my camera to film the progress... but I did take these stills. I will share the continued metamorphosis and final piece with all of you that sign up for the "21 Secrets Art Journaling Workshop." You still have a small window of opportunity to learn how this portrait came about and to join me in the Savage Mirror workshop!!! I hope to see you in a few short weeks!!
Click here for more information about
"21 Secrets" and how to sign up.
|"She Let Go" in progress....


text:
This personalization idea came to me when I realized I didn't have enough beads to make a full double-wrapped bracelet so I needed to bring in some other colors. Rather than add them in a random pattern, I decided to use Morse Code to add secret dot and dash messages to the bracelets.
I made this one for myself. It has our initials, "J", "M" and "C".
This one says "CREATE".
These make great last minute gifts so if you're doing the holiday scramble like I am, give this project a shot!
Stay sane, friends!


text:
Petpet Park Cheats :
Glitch - Real glitches.(NO JOKE!)
by Unregistered Jun 24, 2014
This is a real glitch.No codes or anything.
1.Go to fashion field.Walk to the closest fabric pile.stand one step behind the arrow on the border,then harvest.
2.Go to Mt Puka.Step on the Mt.Puka volcano mat and quickly harvest from the chest on top.
3.Go to Zombie Marsh.Stand behind the square platform.Click the games button on the top left of your screen,click Cardcasters,click play,then quit.You will find yourself ON the platform.
4.Go to Fashion Field again.stand as closely as possible to the Sewing Machine,(make sure your character is not blocked by anything)click the games button on the top left of your screen,click cardcasters,click play,then quit.Walk up the steps you see,then harvest from the fabric pile.
5.Go to Mystimar Glen.Stand on a yellow tile,then go to the center of the circle.Then go to Pirate Alley.You'll be on Noralina's Ship.
Well that's all I know!If a glitch doesn't work,try doing it again!
-FyreMint(aka Le Candie Monstere)
Code - EZ CHEATS NC AREAS BY MOXY (article 1)
by Unregistered Jun 24, 2014
2. next, you go to the multi player section and step on one of the tiles.
3. go to your map then select lucky valley.
4. DONE! but keep in mind occasionally,it doesn't work.
Petpet Park Cheats:


text:
TEHRAN (Reuters) - The threat of military strikes on Iran has upturned the quiet and comfortable lives once enjoyed by many Iranians, ushering in a new era of struggle and fear.
Like many Iranians, Maryam Sofi says the West and Iran are locked in a dangerous game. "I don't think we can know just yet if war will break out, but I am concerned for my family and my country," says university teacher Sofi, 42, a mother of two.
"I cannot sleep at night, thinking about destruction and bloodshed if Israel and America attack Iran."
The United States and Israel have not ruled out military action against Iran's nuclear facilities if diplomacy fails to resolve a dispute over a program they suspect is aimed at developing atomic weapons.
In Washington on Thursday, U.S. President Barack Obama said the United States was considering all options on Iran and would work with allies to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
"No options off the table means I'm considering all options," he said.
Sanctions and diplomatic pressure still appear to be Washington's preferred course of action. But Israel has been sending mixed signals, unnerving Iranians.
Shouting above the clanking hammers of coppersmiths in Tehran's busy bazaar, nut seller Ali encouraged his customers to hoard his wares: "Buy and store! War is looming!"
Tensions with the West rose after hardline students stormed two British diplomatic compounds in Tehran last week in protest against new sanctions imposed after the U.N. nuclear agency suggested that Iran was pursuing nuclear weapons.
Britain closed its embassy and France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands recalled their envoys.
The diplomatic exodus, swollen by some foreign businessmen based in Tehran, has heightened nervousness in the capital to a level not felt since the outbreak of war with Iraq in the 1980s, or the turmoil that preceded the 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled the U.S.-backed Shah.
"Foreigners are leaving Iran ... Isn't it obvious that they want to attack Iran?," said a teacher named Mina.
Jane Heshmatzadeh, 59, among many Western women married to Iranians, is torn between fear of attack and loyalty to Iran. "My home is here. It's not easy to just walk away and leave everything behind," said the Swede, who has lived in northern Iran for 21 years since marrying an Iranian businessman.
And Iranians have been stoking their own fears with speculation about what would happen if war broke out.
"In case of an attack ... we will be imprisoned inside the country ... the borders will be closed," said Zahra Farzaneh, 82, whose son lives in the United States. "I will die without seeing my grandchildren again."
Tehran denies that its nuclear program is anything but peaceful. It says it is developing the technology to generate electricity, not to create an atom bomb.
Analysts say Tehran could retaliate against any military strike by launching hit-and-run attacks in the Gulf and by closing the Strait of Hormuz. About 40 percent of all traded oil leaves the Gulf region through the strategic waterway.
Iranian citizens, already feeling the impact of international sanctions, are starting to take precautionary measures. On social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook, exiled Iranians talk about their concerns, exchanging ideas about how to help their relatives in case of an attack on Iran.
"We have survived a revolution, the (Iran-Iraq) war ... Our people cannot tolerate another crisis," Mitra, and Iranian in Brussels, said on her Twitter page.
"It will be a terrible war ... After the first strike the country and then the whole region will turn into a war zone," said Hossein Alaie, a shopkeeper in central Tehran.
"They will destroy everything. I am stockpiling goods and have told my relatives to do so."
Analysts say the closure of Western embassies, by cutting off communication channels, will complicate finding a diplomatic solution to the nuclear dispute.
Iran has warned Israel and the United States that Tehran's response will be tough should they launch a military strike.
But Israelis seem not to be worried about a possible conflict and life goes on as before. A December 1 poll by the Saban Center for the Middle East Policy at the U.S. think-tank Brookings found that 43 percent of Israeli Jews backed attacking Iran, while 41 percent opposed.
"Israeli people are divided among themselves. Just as there are fears of an attack, there are also no less heartfelt fears of not taking a preemptive strike at the proper time," columnist Israel Harel wrote in the Haaretz newspaper.
However, regularly scheduled siren tests are being carried out in different parts of Israel, a common phenomenon in a country whose southern areas often come under rocket attack from Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
"One just sounded in Jerusalem and shoppers in the parking lot of the city's main indoor mall across the street didn't even break stride as they headed toward its entrance or their cars," a witness said.
But in Tehran, the heavy demand for hard currency reflected war jitters.
"People are converting any assets they can. Some are selling jewelry or withdrawing their cash from savings accounts and selling stock market shares to buy dollars," said Hamid, a currency dealer on a busy street in southern Tehran.
But fear was mixed with defiance.
"America has economic problems and wants to resolve it by attacking Iran ... I am ready to sacrifice my blood for my country," said a member of the hardline Basij militia, who refused to give his name.
The cost of many basic necessities like bread, meat and transportation has shot up, sometimes by over 50 percent in recent months, painful in a country where the average monthly wage is around $600. Despite sharply climbing prices, most grocery stores and markets are still well-stocked.
But many factories in Iran are facing closure because of deteriorating economic conditions, and hundreds of thousands of workers are have taken wage cuts, inflation is surging, and shortages are spreading.
"We do not have even enough money to buy staples let alone stockpiling them ... I am very worried," said unemployed worker Ali Tavangar, 45, a father of four.
Additional reporting by Jeffrey Heller in Jerusalem; Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Rosalind Russell