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Monday, August 27, 2007
ActiveResource: A Rails Scalability Solution
The killer app for ActiveResource isn't Amazon S3 clients. We already have an Amazon S3 library. It isn't Flickr mashups either. The killer app for ActiveResource is scalability - the major bugbear of Rails apps, or at least, the major flaw in Rails' reputation.
ActiveResource gives you a kick-ass scalability solution. Consider that with Rails, Web apps are now as cheap and easy to create as shell scripts. As anyone with a background in economics will grasp immediately, it's inevitable that this low cost means people will start to throw Web apps at problems as casually as they currently throw shell scripts at problems, and this is exactly what's starting to happen. Certainly, with Rails, a Web architecture which requires two Web apps is no big deal.
An emerging strategy for Rails scalability is to pair ActiveRecord server apps on the back end with ActiveResource client apps on the front end. Your ActiveResource app sees the public Web. Your ActiveRecord app serves no HTML at all. Instead, it simply supplies its client app with data via REST. It's almost like an exponential version of MVC. Your MVC database app acts as a model, and your MVC customer-facing app serves as both controller and view. MVC to the second power.
You can add new servers for the customer-facing side without scaling the database side - or vice versa. It's also easy to independently load-balance the front and back end apps. Decoupling makes your deployment more flexible.
I'm not a deployment expert, but I have this architecture from people who are. This may become a dominant use case for ActiveResource in the future. Not just because it gives you a powerful way to address Rails' scaling problems, but also because the only people using ActiveResource are Rails developers. DHH is an amazing evangelist, but he's a terrible ambassador. ActiveResource will probably only get users from within the Rails community for the time being. This makes it even more likely that people will want to use it as a transparent network proxy to ActiveRecord. It's just what most ActiveResource users will expect.
With that in mind, I might as well say here what I said at the Rails Edge mini-conference and in blog posts the other day. At my current project we have a small but useful extension to ARes. We've implemented an ActiveRecord-style find(:include), so you can do ARes finds with association classes included. It was actually very easy to code. The tricky part is packaging it. It may have to become two plugins, one for the client side and one for the server side. It mostly uses code from Edge Rails which makes #to_xml more robust on the server side, but it also patches ARes on the client side slightly too.
Be warned, this architecture has a downside. It's not just that ActiveResource doesn't work with form handlers or validation or anything else with the same ease and grace of ActiveRecord. If you've ever heard war stories (or horror stories) from EJB developers, you know that duplicating model code for two sides of a network is always a pain in the ass. Fortunately, the best practice strategy for EJB development is to write Ruby code to auto-generate your EJB files. I use best practice in the sense that it's a practice, and the best one, not in the usual "nobody ever got fired for choosing IBM" sense of the term. I'm not trying to suggest, for instance, that EJB developers have ever actually heard of it. This obscure best practice was defined in a book called Code Generation In Action. The author, Jack Herrington, included EJB examples because he had to. He wanted to make it a Ruby book, but his publishers wouldn't let him, because at the time, the market didn't exist. So it's a Ruby book disguised as a general programming book which just happens to have Ruby in it. And it has the best solution for EJB ever written.
As one of the first Ruby books available which didn't require learning Japanese, I suspect Code Generation In Action had a major influence on the design of Rails. I found out about it from DHH's blog, and certainly code generation is one of Rails' core strategies. Ruby makes code generation so easy that duplicating model code for two sides of a network doesn't have to be any kind of inconvenience at all. Although I currently don't have any code to address this, we may need it at my current project sooner or later, and if I were to lay out any kind of ActiveResource roadmap to make the framework more useful for people who want to use it this way, automating duplicate model generation would be a major milestone.
Update: in practice there are very serious roadblocks inherent to this architecture. You lose so much by replacing ActiveRecord with ActiveResource that it's almost like coding Web apps without a framework at all. The architecture's very handy, but it doesn't come for free.
16 comments:
ActiveResource's biggest hurdle is your essentially putting HTTP lipstick on a scalable-messaging pig and thus vying for market share in industries and implementation situations where money is probably no object (finance , military , etc) but covering your ass is. ActiveResource still has no where near the track record of JMS or to a lesser extent MSMQ , and dosen't have custom ActiveResource implementations by IBM , Oracle , TibCO , et al like JMS does. Which allows people in those industries to go home and sleep because in the morning they have someone to call and yell at if something is wrong.ReplyDelete
To be fair I don't really blame DHH about not pushing ActiveResource. Not because its not worth his time its just going to be a message that he is either going to be preached to the choir (kool-aid drinking rails community) or fall on deaf ears 'big-iron' industry types.
Which comes to my next big point. Rails needs to have a big iron backer. Sun was Java's big iron backer , and although not a direct relation to the context IBM was Linux's big iron backer.
The point being is for rails to ever make the cross over from web apps (whether they be simple or complex) to serious global usage in mission critical infrastructure we need to get some large company to say "Yes , we support rails , and here is why"
We don't have that right now , and I don't see an end in sight.
No way. Big iron considered harmful. Absolutely central to Rails' philosophy is the idea that making those people happy is not enough fun to be worth doing. I absolutely agree. For me the Rails Envy guys have it all wrong. Rails vs .NET is a silly question. I mean, they're funny, definitely, but from my point of view that kind of programming is so not fun that if it was the only type of work available I'd move into another field. It's not Rails vs. PHP, it's Rails vs. drawing and painting. There's always been programming which was satisfying for its own sake. Rails is a way you can do that kind of programming in the daytime, while paying your bills.ReplyDelete
Anyway, that would change with big iron involved. Big iron is the devil in Rails' worldview, and I'm absolutely down with that. The devil. Fundamentally the enemy. Rails doesn't need big iron, and if it encounters big iron, it should either attack or run away. Big iron would be so utterly poisonous to the Rails culture that whatever benefit an endorsement might give would not be worth it.
Also, in a sense, Rails already has big iron backers. Sun's already gotten behind Rails, by funding the JRuby project, and Jeff Bezos from Amazon has invested in the company which created it. But these big iron backers have nothing to contribute but money. All the vision comes from the community.
Your comparison of Java to Rails is way off, also. Sun wasn't Java's big iron backer - Sun was the creator of Java. Without Sun Java would not have existed. And there are huge stretches of Java which are just hideously disgusting. Pretty much all the good stuff in Java came from Josh Bloch, who was brought in to patch up the mess that Sun had made. Java is really not something to aspire to or to want to be like.
Also I think if it were lipstick on a pig it'd be HTTP lipstick on an object-brokering pig. Scalable messaging is a whole nother ball of wax.
I think you're way off on every point. But what's really weird about your comment is that you didn't specify what kind of benefit an endorsement would have in the first place. It's not even clear what the payoff in being endorsed by a "big iron backer" is supposed to be. It sounds like you're saying the big advantage is that it makes it easy to get crappy customers. But crappy customers are not good to get. A crappy customer is like food that's gone bad. You should avoid it no matter how hungry you are.
Maybe he means that the "big iron" company would allocate many people to the Active Resource work, so that we'd be past the issues you're currently wrestling with?ReplyDelete
Firstly, I agree with Giles, stacking ActiveResource against JMS is a bit of a specious comparison. They serve two different needs.ReplyDelete
Next, Big iron considered harmful indeed. I think a lot of companies are waking up to this idea as well. The biggest of the iron, Google, lead the way here showing that you could beat big vendor solutions with a combination open-source and roll-your-own software.
The CYA you get from signing a contract with IBM or Oracle or whomever usually isn't worth the price. You spend a lot and get very little. If something breaks is one of two things: 1) You have a well known and you could probably find the solution in their knowledge base or with a bit of googling as fast or faster than you can get an answer from their support organization. 2) You have an obscure problem, if its a monolithic product like Oracle you are tied to their patch cycle which runs at their speed, not yours. Maybe there support can come up with a workaround, and maybe they don't make you upgrade your support contract to get it.
That may seem like a jaded perspective, but it has been typical of my experience with big iron support. Open source community software is almost always a better solution IMHO. Even with something like MySQL or Tomcat you can often diagnose the problem and patch it as fast or faster than you can get a fix from a vendor. And if you can't do it you can find someone in the community who can, and maybe you have to pay them, but its still probably less than your support deal. Also, there's all that money you saved on a license.
Exactly. I take it as a given that open source is superior to licensing.ReplyDelete
Also, don't forget that the big iron backers had armies of people hacking away at these problems for a decade without once producing Ruby on Rails. Even the EJB solution I describe passed under their radar.
This discussion has VERY little to do with the subject of my post, however. One of the assumptions of my post is that open source is always superior in every case. Another assumption is that big iron is considered harmful. It's a good thing to question your assumptions from time to time but for me personally that time is not now. Seriously, I'm sorry, but if you don't agree with those assumptions, that's a totally different conversation, and I personally don't have time to have it. I'm WAY busy. Whether true or false, those assumptions are the foundation of my post. The big iron assumption is practically the foundation of my whole blog.
True, I was writing and realized that my comment was about two different things, the big iron and ActiveResource as a scalability pattern so I split it up, and being cynical and jaded the big iron part came more easily.ReplyDelete
Back on-topic:
Another great thing about ActiveResource is that it frees you from having to use ActiveRecord at all. You can still take advantage of the fun and (development) speed of Rails if you can't, or don't want to use ActiveRecord for some reason. The Rails resource conventions are pretty simple and should be easy to implement with any back-end you like.
I work on an open source sharded database project, HiveDB and we are using the same web service -> ORM pattern with great success. Right now, hiveDB is just a Java library, but in the next couple of releases we are going to be pushing a lot of code form the Cafepress implementation down into the open source project and it will become a full webservice-as-data-access-layer solution.
It would be nice to have one Active(?) model class that could use ActiveRecord or ActiveResource as a persistence strategy to alleviate the duplicode problem. I wonder if there is way to combine the ActiveRecord and ActiveResource hierarchies without the code getting too gnarly. The only thing I've done with ActiveResource so far is a little playing around with the Highrise wrapper, but I wonder if you could generate ActiveResource calls dynamically like ActiveRecord finders? If so you could have a model class that delegates to either an ActiveResource or ActiveRecord based on configuration. Just thinking out loud now, it might be a dumb idea. But if there was a convention around the controller method for finding one object by another's id then it seems like it wouldn't be too hard. Maybe something like ":resource/:id/:related_object_type" (generalized from Highrise feed urls).
You could do it, but right now, it'd be pretty complicated.ReplyDelete
Maybe this is the point where AR dynamically generating getters and setters from the table becomes too much magic. It's only "too much" in the sense that it causes problems when you want to swap in ARes for it.ReplyDelete
The problem with ARes, as you said, is that you don't know what attributes an object has until you've actually pulled the resource from the web. How do you handle it in forms? Use method_missing and accept every call? Obviously you have the problem of typos and no real checking until the AR server blows up.
So perhaps it's time to start defining the attributes inside the model itself. You have a single model that doesn't know anything about persistence, but it defines all the business logic - including basic getters and setters. Then you can swap it with some persistence strategy. For now this is either AR or ARes, but obviously that opens it up to whatever else you want.
Ultimately I think the problem lies in the ActiveRecord pattern itself. It's very useful and there's no denying that the Rails implementation is slick. But it couples business logic to persistence logic, and that makes it tough when you want to use some other persistence mechanism. I don't have PoEAA on hand, but basically Fowler says that AR is awesome when you can accept that coupling, but as soon as you start to get a bit more complicated you'll need to look elsewhere.
erm, I meant "inject it with some persistence strategy" that I then tried to change to "swap in some persistence strategy" because I was afraid that the word "inject" would lead to ridicule :)ReplyDelete
I think you're onto something there, but I think it's possible to make ARes map to ActiveRecord a lot more gracefully than it does right now. My current project is under a pretty tight deadline, but if I had the time to do it right, I think I'd have the same code which generates rake db:schema:dump auto-generate explicit attr_accessors or something similar on ARes models, and do it in a way compatible with what ARes does with method definition now. It's definitely **possible**, and I think with Ruby it might even end up elegant enough to be worth doing.ReplyDelete
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
Here is what I have to say:ReplyDelete
-object brokering can be done via messaging systems. in fact when your talking highly distributed systems across the world thats what they rely on.
-I'm not sure if you had a bad day or what but since you felt the need to have an attack fest on my post let me just give you my main opinion.
1. We are not the only smart people who have access to computers
2. Other smart people who work in big buildings for companies with nice logos might see what were doing over here and say 'that is a good idea'
3. Those people might start spreading and using rails more and *gasp* CONTRIBUTE in the SAME design asthetic that has gotten rails this far.
4. People who work at "crappy companies" can enjoy software that was written by developers who were able to take advantage of all the nice things.
Thats it. We are all WAY busy , so I'm not sure why you assumed I was looking for an ideological discussion. I like all the assumptions about this blog, I have many of the same. I am just stating what I have observed in industry.
Thanks for your blog its great btw.
But were not the only ones doing cool stuff and to think that our way and only our way is absolutely best now and will be absolutely best in the future is dangerous.
Or maybe "mixin some persistence strategy"? It seems like that would be the ruby way to do it. To make AR and ARes and A* persistence mixins. It would preserve at least some of the semantic of AR. Person.find_by_name('Dr. Gonzo') just reads so well. There is an Amazon web services plugin for AR that operates in a similar fashion loads
Obviously you have the problem of typos and no real checking until the AR server blows up.
Yeah, the validation code would definitely need to be moved up into the persistence agnostic model class.
Aside: Every time I use words like agnostic I wonder how it would fit into the notion of opinionated software?
Hey Nima, nothing personal, I'm just very very firmly opinionated against big iron.ReplyDelete
@Britt - I'll have to check out loads_from_amazon. I think Rails is opinionated about ARec and database-agnostic - you can combine opinionated with agnostic, in fact choosing what to have opinions about is probably a very important step. in practical terms everything I'm doing which attempts to treat ARes as a swap-in for ARec requires a **LOT** of steps to get it to work - manually combining date params, manually opening classes and/or objects and assigning accessor methods, manual this, manual that, etc. I think when I get time to think it through the changes will be extractable into something tidy, but so much of the Rails freebies are currently missing that it's almost like developing Web apps without a framework at all. I definitely hope I can plunder something from loads_as_amazon, because ARes just doesn't plug in effortlessly for ARec at all. even [] needs to be defined on it, and the attributes stuff in ARes' method_missing is much less useful than it is in ARec, because it can't automatically handle associations or attributes that aren't passed over the network (i.e. user passwords).
This was touched on in a several comments above, but to use ActiveResource as a mere wrapper for ActiveRecord is a recipe for trouble -- you lose a lot, and gain only a little. Instead, we're looking at ActiveResource as a slick but simple way of providing a unified interface for resources whose data source does not lend themselves to ActiveRecord -- LDAP, legacy systems, etc. -- or better yet, when a model aggregates data from multiple sources.ReplyDelete
There is a huge need for this in the enterprise, where -- unless you've signed your soul away to a single vendor (and even then...) -- a whole menagerie of heterogeneous system need to talk. ActiveResource is simple enough to act as the common language. We're now in the process of putting our corporate user directory behind AR, providing a single interface for accessing a "User" model sourced from all over the place (ActiveDirectory LDAP, HR, voicemail system....). And because it's just HTTP and a bunch of standardized URL, just about anything can talk to it.
- AnonymousOctober 29, 2007 at 9:15:00 PM PDT
It seems to me that by this discussion, you're travelling down the road that killed SOAP.ReplyDelete
The point of ActiveResource is that it's REST, you should not be using it as ActiveRecord.
REST stipulates discoverable resources, not API based cruddy XML.


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Within the walls of the Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary in Summit, New Jersey, rows of simple crosses mark the graves of sisters who have gone before. It's a potent symbol of life in the monastery, where women enter cloistered life intending never to leave, even in death.
These Dominican nuns have been in this place of peace for almost 100 years, sustaining the Church every day through their prayer and devotion. And while many religious orders are facing an aging religious population and steady decline, these sisters have seen the opposite trend.
In the past 10 years, 12 new women have entered the life, seven have stayed, and a steady stream of new young women visits to discern whether or not this is the life for them.
With more women visiting to discern whether or not they have a vocation to cloistered life, the Dominican sisters find themselves with a happy problem: The monastery has run out of room.
Every bit of available space is being used. Cells originally built for nuns are being used as workrooms and offices, reducing the number of new sisters they can bring into their community. People who come to visit are housed in cramped basement rooms.
A 10-by-10-foot windowless room houses their few pieces of exercise equipment, and nuns in need of physical therapy must use the refectory for their workouts. With that room located across the hall from a series of windows opening onto the chapel, the activity can lead to the disruption of prayer and adoration. There also is limited space to care for older sisters, and no elevator or access for the handicapped.
Though the sisters produce a popular line of soaps, lotions and other products to help defray their costs, the business is outgrowing the room allotted for it. There isn't even space for a gift shop, so items are stacked on shelves and racks at the entrance to the chapel.
The problem is one with roots in history. Fifteen nuns, lead by Mother Mary Imelda Gauthier, founded the Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary in the Summit area beginning in 1919. But they soon outgrew their original space.
After the sisters arrived in Summit, women began making a pilgrimage to the site in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary. In the 1930s, this grew to encompass thousands of pilgrims arriving to pray at a fieldstone grotto.
The sisters began to plan for a new monastery and chapel in 1925, but the Depression delayed construction for 10 years. When they began again, the bishop said they had to build on the existing footprint. Unwilling to sacrifice a larger chapel, the nuns opted to make their living quarters smaller. Today, these quarters run around the outside of the chapel with two stories above ground and one below, and it's a tight fit.
The novice mistress of the monastery, Sister Mary Catharine Perry, attributes the sisters' growth to grace, but also to the fact that "(we) know who we are and have a strong sense of our identity.
"We help women respond so they learn if this is what they're being chosen for," she said. "If a person wants to pray all day, that's not enough. We're primarily called to nurture and bring souls to Christ. It's a life that's calling you out of yourself before others."
The monastery is a remarkable place, full of young, joyful, spirit-filled women. They are attracting novices not merely to religious life, but to one of the most challenging forms of religious life: that of the cloistered contemplative.
"There is something about the Dominican charism that is responding to something young people are looking for today," observed Sister Mary Catharine.
"We have one foot in an order established for preaching and the saving of souls, yet we are also fully monastic," she said. "St. Dominic knew that the order had to have both."
"We express our role in the holy preaching by standing before God, interceding for the preaching mission and for the salvation of souls," Sister Mary Catharine added. "To be a Dominican is to have an apostolic thirst: this desire for the preaching of the Gospel, and yet you know that God is not calling you to do it yourself, but through prayer. The two expressions complement each other."
Their mission is a vital one, and often misunderstood. Sister Judith Miryam Boneski tackled the main misconception about cloistered life:
"It's not just about 'me and Jesus,'" she said. "It can be tempting to think I want to go to a monastery because I want to pray all the time. You can do that anywhere. You don't need a monastery for that. This is a calling to lay down your life for others."
They do this through prayer, gathering for it seven times a day — as well as Mass and adoration — amid a schedule of work and study that has them rising at 5:30 a.m. and not ceasing until Compline, sometimes known as Night Prayer, at 9:30 p.m.
Two "extern" sisters do any work taking place outside of the monastery, while the rest remain cloistered except for emergencies.
A planned 5,500-foot addition to the property will give the women much-needed space to welcome those who are discerning or open their doors to other visitors.
"Both the Church and the order is telling us that the way we take part in the New Evangelization is by being here and making our life available to people to experience — for us to be a place for people to come and be with God," Sister Mary Catherine said.
"We keep getting requests," she added. "We just don't have the space for that now."
Thomas L. McDonald is a catechist in the Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey. He blogs at the Patheos Catholic Channel under godandthemachine.com.
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Alfresco, the leading open source company for Enterprise Content Management (ECM) to establish Japan office
The Alfresco ECM platform continues to innovate in cloud and mobile, while achieving a great ROI with revolutionary development frameworks and architectures
TOKYO, April 18, 2012 — Alfresco Software, Ltd., the leading open source company for enterprise content management, announced today that it has established a new presence in Japan with the opening of an office in the Chiyoda-ku district in Tokyo.
Mr. Hiroshi Nakajima will head up operations for Alfresco Software Japan, K.K. and will be responsible for the company's expansion in the region. Following the opening of offices in Sydney and Mumbai, Alfresco Japan will help drive the company's growth plans in Asia, and will enable businesses in the region to collaborate on and control their digital assets more quickly and easily than before.
The company recently launched Alfresco Enterprise 4, the next generation platform that delivers a new approach to content management for social communication, across mobile devices and in the cloud.
Mr. Powell, President and CEO at Alfresco said "We are honoured to have Nakajima-san at the helm of our Japanese operations. He has vast experience of enterprise content management locally, and has achieved great success in this field."
Mr Nakajima will be responsible for structuring Alfresco Japan's technical and customer support services as well as developing the brand, partner network and Enterprise business. Prior to Alfresco, Mr Nakajima was responsible for enterprise software sales at SAP Japan, FileNet Japan and IBM Japan. He has over 12 years' experience in content management and business process management and holds a BA degree in Economics from Keio University.
About Alfresco Japan
|Alfresco Software Japan, KK
|March 2012
|Alfresco Software, Ltd. 100% financed
|Hiroshi Nakajima
|Kasumigaseki Common Gate West Tower 32nd Floor, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0013 Japan
|Sales of enterprise content management products for documents, web contents, records and images, cooperative content development products and related services.
Website: http://www.alfresco.com/jp/
About Alfresco
Alfresco is the leading open source alternative for enterprise content management (ECM). It couples the innovation of open source with the stability of a true enterprise-class platform. The open source model allows Alfresco to use best-of-breed open source technologies and contributions from the open source community members, to get higher quality software produced more quickly at a much lower cost. Alfresco has 3.5 million downloads and over 2500 companies as our customers domestically and internationally. Alfresco was founded in 2005 by John Newton, co-founder of Documentum, and John Powell, former COO of Business Objects.
Media Contact
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Kyodo Public Relations Co., Ltd.
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Transcendental meditation helps you to develop creative potential while relieving accumulated stress and fatigue by the profound rest attained during the practice. It can improve your dynamism, orderliness, and organizing power, with resultant increase in your effectiveness and success in daily life.


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Saturday, May 19, 2007
2 warm-weather meals
School's out- forever!
Well, not really forever. Today was graduation day at Daiku's school- this means the end of lesson plans, teaching, advising, and grading for the year. Now, we can turn our attention to the summer and all the promise it holds. And, now I can come back to blogging regularly.
Here are two fabulous warm-weather meals that we have had recently. I love this time of year, when the produce comes in, the farmer's markets start up, and thoughts turn to barbeques, picnics, the beach, you name it.
First, some Barbequed Seitan Ribz from Fatfree Vegan. As soon as I saw this recipe, I knew we had to try it- and am I glad that we did! Words can not express how fabulous these are- please make some right now!
We grilled them on the stove-top grill, since the little hibachi hasn't come out from hibernation yet. The BBQ sauce was home-made because there were no BBQ sauces available that didn't have high-fructose corn syrup as their first or second ingredient- yuck!
The ribz were served with fresh corn topped with lime juice and chili pepper, some home-made potato salad, some cantaloupe, and a dill pickle. Vegan ribs, y'all! Why aren't you making these yet? Go, go!
The second summery meal was a hummus spread. I had made a huge batch of garbanzo beans, and Daiku used some of them to make a spicy hummus. To serve them, we had a mixed green salad, some olives, some harissa, sprouts, cut-up tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions, white and whole-wheat pitas, and... collard green leaves!
I'd seen some fellow bloggers (Melody and Laura) use raw collard greens for wraps, and I was intrigued by the idea. I want to eat raw for one month this summer, just to become familiarized with the cuisine and see what it's like. The one thing I'm afraid of with raw foods is feeling satiated because I have a ravenous appetite (could you tell?!). These collard green wraps make me optimistic, though- they were very satisfying and filling. (Yes, I know, hummus isn't raw, this is just a start, m'kay?)
Raw collard greens are tender and tasty. Can someone tell me why the traditional American method of cooking them has been to boil the bejeeesus out of them for hours in pork water until they're limp and gray??
Ok, I'm off to catch up on all your fabulous blogs, and I promise to post every day for the next week!
23 comments:
- scottishvegan said...
Oh wow! I thought that really was some kind of meat for a second! I am not sure I could bring myself to make something called ribz. I am sure they taste great, but they are freaking me out a bit!! I love the idea of corn topped with lime juice and chilli pepper….yum! I usually just use black pepper and marg…I am so boring! The wraps look so good! I feel the same way about raw food…I just can't imagine that it could possibly fill me up…I have a pretty huge appetite myself!!
- May 19, 2007 5:18 PM
- Melody Polakow said...
omg, everything looks delicious!
The corn, lime and chili are sooo delicious as toppers... I wish the weather would warm up, it has only been 40 degrees here the last 3 days!
I have a confession.. when I make collard wraps, I usually steam the collards first.. so they aren't raw..
- May 19, 2007 5:23 PM
- Emmy said...
Yum! Both of your summery meals sound fantastic. Any meal that includes hummus is an A+ in my book :)
I hear ya about the bottled BBQ sauces...even a lot of the ketchups on the market have high-fructose corn syrup in them too. Ugh. I'm sure your homemade sauce was a million times better than bottled :)
Hope you're having a lovely weekend!!!
- May 19, 2007 5:26 PM
- Freedom said...
Yay, great to see another person keen to try raw! Trust me, once you start you won't wanna go back and yes you WILL feel satiated. Hummus can easily be made raw - just sprout some chickpeas and make it pretty much the same as you would with cooked ones! Have fun, I'm happy to help if you have any raw questions!
- May 19, 2007 9:01 PM
- springsandwells said...
oooh, I love hummus spread. It's one of our favorite summer treats too.
I remember when Susan posted that ribs recipe. We have no grill nowadays, so I'm on hold until we get our bbq fixed (or buy a new one).
Good luck with your raw adventures. I hope it treats you well. I'll be curious to learn about it from you.
- May 19, 2007 10:45 PM
- vko said...
Oh Bazu, let's make a deal- when I move to LIC and I have an apt-warming party and you happen to be in NYC you bring those two delicious summertime meals with you?
Will be a summer barbeque at Gantry State Park!
I love collard greens and you are absolutely right about why the insistence is on cooking them til their d-e-a-d. Were you able to digest the raw collard greens okay? I know in raw cooking it is okay to steam the cruciferous vegs just a little bit.
All looks yummy!
- May 19, 2007 10:47 PM
- Samantha said...
I am not vegetarian yet but, the food photos on this site are liable to convert me! Yum yum!
- May 20, 2007 12:52 AM
- Celine said...
that's it, I'll have to try the raw collard idea asap! this looks luscious.
- May 20, 2007 2:12 AM
- Emmie said...
mmmm... ribzzz. I'll HAVE to try making that sometime when there's a barbecue.
I love hummus. It's one of the few things I can have daily and not get tired of. I'm going to make a beetroot hummus today. Wish me luck!
- May 20, 2007 4:13 AM
- aTxVegn said...
Okay, I will definitely try the raw collards cuz that wrap looks super! Your barbecue dinner looks really great too. I haven't grilled outdoors yet, but Memorial Day = cookout!
- May 20, 2007 9:35 AM
- Kate said...
Wow the ribs look so "real", it is amazing. Your make-your-own-hummus-pita feast looks really yummy.
- May 20, 2007 10:28 AM
- Urban Vegan said...
Oh my my. Omniman would sure love those ribz...as would I. Love the raw collard bread idea, too. I should eat more raw. *sigh* I should do a lot of things.
- May 20, 2007 12:01 PM
- maybepigscanfly said...
Everything looks delish. Thanks for reminding me that I need to start having fresh corn this summer. That hummus spread looks great. I think I could eat anything as long as it has hummus on it. I'm going to have to try the raw collards in wraps- I've used raw kale, but haven't tried collards.
Hope you're enjoying freedom from school- I sure am!
- May 20, 2007 1:04 PM
Yum--everything looks amazing! Would you share your homemade BBQ sauce?? I have not had any in a long time for the same reason--high fructose corn syrup...uggg. I tried making it myself once, but it didn't really work out!
I have collards in my fridge...I think a wrap is in order!
- May 20, 2007 2:31 PM
- Village Vegan said...
Of course it's the week when I'm kitchenless that you go and post that fabulous looking vegan ribs picture. I'm kidding, of course-- I see my self making those for sure next week when I have a kitchen again. I've never made seitan before, so I hope they turn out ok. I've never tried collard greens, either, so perhaps it's time for me to expand my culinary horizons on that front, as well.
School is out for me too, and I'm looking forward to blogging and cooking more in the summer, too. :-)
- May 20, 2007 6:28 PM
- Theresa said...
I'm never sure about eating certain greens raw, either, but whenever I try it I'm pleasantly surprised. I haven't tried collard greens, but beet greens are really nice raw--slightly tart, juicy and fresh. I have a recipe for raw hummus, and I think it mostly involves soaking the chickpeas for, like, 48 hours.
- May 20, 2007 7:25 PM
- Brooke said...
Okay, okay, you forced me into making the ribz! I bet my omni hubbie will like them!
- May 20, 2007 8:15 PM
- Jackie said...
Haven't a clue what collard greens but I do know that the English like the Americans often to boil the hell out of cabbage and many mess up spinach as well. Probably why I hated them as a child but now with cooking them properly or eating them raw they are favorite vegetables.
- May 21, 2007 4:37 AM
- Kati said...
Happy Summer to you!
Those ribz are a must-make - they look so good. And that corn on the cob! I am so ready for fresh corn.
I tried collard wraps once upon a time and didn't like them much, but I'm thinking of giving them another try. I'm also planning on making some raw hummus today (with almonds), so I'll let you know how it goes.
- May 21, 2007 10:16 AM
- Mikaela said...
The BBQ plate looks *awesome* - I'm so ready for summer! :D
- May 21, 2007 12:21 PM
- bazu said...
Hi Courtney,
We don't have an exact recipe for the BBQ sauce, since we threw a bunch of random ingredients together, but the basic ingredients were:
1 small can tomato paste
1/4 cup petite diced tomatoes
1/4 cup blackstrap molasses
1/4 cup ketchup (Trader Joe's natural)
1/4 cup white vinegar
a tiny splash (1-2 drops) liquid smoke
1-3 small chunks celery
1-2 bay leaves
black pepper
tobasco (tiny amount!)
chili powder (tiny amount!)
1 tsp. mustard powder
It came out smoky, tangy, and very spicy. You can probably vary these to your taste. Hope this helps- there are a lot of BBQ sauce recipes floating on the web- pick and choose between them to find what you like.
- May 21, 2007 2:30 PM
- textual bulldog said...
ooh, this looks amazing. when school's out for me (about 3.5 more weeks!) i am definitely going to celebrate with a similarly summery meal (though i'm sure it won't be quite as nice as yours :)).
- May 21, 2007 2:33 PM
- Roxy said...
Wow!! Those riblets look amazing! I have to try them. The hummus looks great too. I agree about the over-cooked collards...yuck!
- May 21, 2007 9:34 PM


text:
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Elemental Magic Volume 2!!
Well, I have finally gotten the full green-light from my publisher, to move forward on my next book. It will be a far more in depth study of several key effects elements, and I will get in to a great deal more detail than I was able to in 'Elemental Magic'. In my first book, I was trying to touch on such a wide variety of effects elements that I was unable to get into as much detail as I really wanted to, although to its credit, 'Elemental Magic' got into effects in far more detail than has ever been published before.
The feedback from 'Elemental Magic' has been overwhelmingly positive, and I was delighted how happy animators all over the world, professionals and beginners were, to have an inspirational reference book opening up the 'secrets' behind animating the elements. The thirst for this knowledge is certainly out there, and I have had many requests for more of the same, but with requests for specific effects, such as splashes or fires, to be explained, illustrated and even animated, in step by step detail.
For that reason, my second book will include a DVD, which will feature live action footage of the author (that would be me...) actually animating in real time, and explaining, step by step, the reasoning, logic and creative process going into every stroke of the pencil, frame by frame. Design, timing, physics, stylization, perspective and drawing technique, will be demonstrated and explained with an on-going dialogue with the viewer. Clips from workshops and lectures will also be included, as well as clips of the actual animation effects drawing I have created live, in front of the camera, shot in sequence, so the viewer can see the work in motion. These will include various different frame rates and timing signatures, so the viewer can see clearly, how much a single frame (at 24 or 30 frames a second) can make or break a series of effects drawings.
I am just starting the work on this book. It's completion and release is scheduled for early 2011, which seems lake a long ways off now, but I know the time will fly by. I am currently holed up in a small home/studio, in a small town on Vancouver Island, where most of the work will be done. It is quiet, secluded, and peaceful. My social life here consists only of taking care of my aging Mother, Tommy, to whom this second installment of 'Elemental Magic' will be dedicated.
So please, send me your thoughts and ideas, and as many inspirational emails as you can! Requests for information on specific effects elements to be included in the book will all be considered. Visits from my friends and colleagues are more than welcome, as are links to cool web sites, and invitations to visit warm tropical places, or attend earth shattering cultural events.....
My purpose with this book, is to share, and spread creative energy into the world. I've discovered so far, that having a book published, unless it's a best seller, is not the road to riches. But the positive feedback I have received from friends, colleagues and 'Elemental Magic' fans the world over, is more than rewarding. It tickles me to my core, and inspires me to do more. so there you have it, and here it comes!
Stay tuned!
6 comments:
- Andy J. Latham said...
rilliant! I'm hoping to get your first book for Christmas :)
I love the idea of having a dvd with you animating, there's no better way of learning in my opinion
- December 8, 2009 at 1:56 PM
- Carly C said...
I love you for this :D I'd be sure to let you know if something comes to mind!
- December 8, 2009 at 10:02 PM
- Daniël Ernst said...
Well that's good news, will get it as soon as possible!! I put the elemental magic book in good use, not only in animating effects but the theory seemed applicable in drawing trees shrubberies and even characters too.
At my work I make effects for computergames, which I had too learn by looking at youtube movies or looking at animation movies. And a couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to be handed your blog by a colleague and instantly ordering the book and being able to put the book in use immediately and I realized what I was missing for the past year, some good old solid tutorials.
So hereby thanks for sharing your professionalism and years of wisdom!
PS The dvd would be a great addition. Also maybe you could do a chapter about game effects?
- December 13, 2009 at 3:22 AM
- Biker Angel said...
Hello Daniel,
I appreciate your comments, thank you. It's great to know that artists like yourself are getting something out of my book.
I wouldn't do something like a specific chapter on game effects. For one thing, I have not designed or animated effects for games, but also, I want to stick to over all principles and techniques that can be useful no matter what kind of animation project you are working on. Of course there are very specific requirements for making effects work with a particular engine that is driving a game, and the environment, A.I. and all has to work together. But if the core effects are working well, they can be adapted to whatever medium. 2D-3D, games, advertising, feature films, Saturday morning cartoons, iPhone apps, whatever....
I want to keep my books relevant regardless of the medium...
thanks again for your kind comments1
- December 13, 2009 at 3:10 PM
- Nubian Greene said...
really looking foward to that!! phew
- December 14, 2009 at 5:14 AM
- Naoki Araiza said...
definately worth buying it! i use so much the elemental magic at my work that is already falling appart... and the DVD is a great idea! like the richard williams dvd set, you should a 16 dvd set... thanks!
- January 24, 2010 at 1:57 PM


text:
An in-depth look at energy issues and concerns affecting agriculture will be the focus of a special seminar at the 54th annual Mid-South Farm & Gin Show, to be held at Memphis March 3-4.
In addition to affording an up close and personal look at a host of new equipment, products, and services, the annual event will also feature a session dealing with cottonseed issues.
"The big runup in energy prices has had a major impact on every sector of agriculture — from gins to production to transportation," says Tim Price, executive vice president of the Southern Cotton Ginners Association, which sponsors the show. Delta Farm Press is the show's co-sponsor.
"Ginning operations have been affected by the huge increase in natural gas prices, along with nitrogen fertilizers.
"We'll have a number of specialists on hand to discuss the energy situation and what producers may expect as they plan for the coming season."
The Saturday afternoon special seminar will be held at 1:30 in the downtown Cook Convention Center, where the big farm show will take place.
"We're also expecting a lot of interest in the session on cottonseed at our annual meeting Thursday afternoon, March 2," Price says. "Both farmers and ginners are concerned about what's happening with cottonseed usage and price, and we'll have experts on hand to discuss these concerns."
And as usual, Price says the 2006 show, which spans two days and attracts more than 15,000 people, is expected to be a sellout. "We've had a tremendous amount of interest by exhibitors and all our showrooms will be filled with companies offering a wide range of products and services.
"Since our show comes just before the start of the new season, the show will offer growers an opportunity to interact with industry suppliers and to get the latest information for use in making key crop management decisions."
In addition to the special energy seminar, show attendees will have access to a broad range of additional information in the annual Ag Update sessions held Friday and Saturday mornings at 8:30.
These will include Friday sessions on market outlooks for cotton, soybeans, and cash grains by leading industry specialists, and Saturday sessions on legislation, politics, and other key issues.
"We feel the Ag Update programs and the energy seminar will offer a forum for issues of key importance to farmers this year," Price says.
This year's show is expected to have more than 450 exhibits, Price says, running the gamut from the latest equipment, to seed, chemicals, and services.
"We have many new exhibitors, bringing a new array of products," Price says, "and a lot of our every-year exhibitors are increasing their space, so it's going to be a very diverse show spanning all the major Mid-South crops.
"While we're proud of the cotton and ginning heritage of the show, it has evolved over the years into a stage for exhibitors representing all of our crops. We believe it is the premier indoor farm show in the South."
"Memphis is a fun place for the entire family to spend a weekend," Price says, "and we hope everyone will mark their calendars and plan to come and be a part of this year's big show."
Coinciding with the show is the annual meeting of the Southern Cotton Ginners Association and its member associations from Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas-Missouri, and a number of ginner events are held during the week of the show.


text:
• A daily summary of global reports on security issues.
North Korea on Monday found two American journalists guilty of illegal entry and unspecified "grave" crimes, and sentenced them each to 12 years of hard labor.
The news comes as the United States is mulling stepped-up measures, including interdiction of North Korean ships, to counter Pyongyang's recent belligerence.
Euna Lee and Laura Ling both worked for Current TV, a San Francisco-based news-site cofounded by former US vice president Al Gore. They were arrested in March while working on a story about North Korean defectors.
The BBC reported that North Korea announced the news in a brief statement.
"The trial confirmed the grave crime they [the reporters] committed against the Korean nation and their illegal border crossing," state-run KCNA news agency said in a brief report, adding that they were sentenced to 12 years of "reform through labour".
The BBC also noted Washington's response:
In a statement, the US State Department said: "We are deeply concerned by the reported sentencing of the two American citizen journalists by North Korean authorities, and we are engaged through all possible channels to secure their release."
US Secretary of State [Hillary] Clinton earlier described the charges against the two women as "baseless". She is thought to be considering sending an envoy to try to negotiate their release.
The Korea Times reports that the sentences were "harsher than expected." They came after a stepped-up campaign by the US to secure the two journalists' release.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has lately toughened her call on North Korea to free the two women....
Washington believes that "the charges against these young women are absolutely without merit or foundation," Clinton said in an interview with ABC television over the weekend. Clinton admitted to sending a letter asking for their release and said she has received "responses."
North Korea's labor camps have a grisly reputation. The Financial Times reported, "Defectors have told harrowing tales of North Korea's gulags, where inmates are termed "tailless animals" and arbitrary execution is common." One North Korean defector who escaped from a gulag turned his experiences into fodder for a macabre musical, the paper reported.
The US State Department estimates that between 150,000 and 200,000 prisoners are detained in the camps, "located in valleys in remote mountainous areas of the central and northern part of North Korea," reports Al Jazeera. "There are thought to be between six and eight main camps, with dozens of other smaller camps."
Al Jazeera cited recent reports by human rights groups, citing conditions including "Nazi-style experiments involving chemical and biological weapons resulting in the painful deaths of dozens of prisoners at a time."
A 2007 Anti-Slavery International report on conditions in the camps said: "The overcrowded and unhygienic facilities, combined with inadequate food, water and medical care and the arduous nature of the forced labour that prisoners have to perform mean that deaths in the labor camps are not uncommon."
But some analysts see Pyongyang's move as only a negotiating tactic. The Associated Press reports:
Many analysts believe there is a good chance the two woman will be freed. They say the reporters are being used by Pyongyang as bargaining chips in its standoff with South Korea and the United States, which are pushing for U.N. sanctions to punish the North for its latest nuclear test and a barrage of missile tests.
By sentencing them to prison, North Korea has "paved the way for a political pardon and a diplomatic solution," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at Seoul's University of North Korean Studies.
Bloomberg noted that US prisoners had been released in previous cases:
Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson traveled to North Korea in 1996 to negotiate the release of an American who crossed into the country from China, swimming across the Yalu River. The man, who was charged with being a spy, was released after his parents paid a $5,000 fine.
The New York Times reports that the Obama administration was mulling intercepting North Korean sea and air shipments of weapons, possibly with China's help. The Times quoted President Barack Obama saying this weekend:
"I don't think there should be an assumption that we will simply continue down a path in which North Korea is constantly destabilizing the region and we just react in the same ways." He added, "We are not intending to continue a policy of rewarding provocation."
The Guardian said there were conflicting reports of how the two US journalists were taken into custody.
North Korea said the pair had entered the country after crossing the river, along its north-east border with China. Other reports said the women had been arrested on the Chinese side by North Korean guards who objected to being filmed. Their cameraman and guide managed to evade capture.


text:
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Joined: 03 Jan 2012
Posts: 156
Posted: Mon 12 Aug 2013, 19:32
Post subject:
Factory Reset
Subject description: A different approach to save file management
Instead of a user having to create and configure his own savefile, why not create one for him, and then provide a simple utility to erase it?
That's the idea behind Factory Reset.
This script is for people who are running off a usb drive and have an existing save file in use. The save file is wiped clean without deleting it.
636 Time(s)
Last edited by Announcer on Fri 23 Aug 2013, 05:35; edited 10 times in total
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Karl Godt
Joined: 20 Jun 2010
Posts: 4208
Location: Kiel,Germany
Posted: Mon 12 Aug 2013, 21:07
Post subject:
I am not a fan of USB Pendrives . They are risky in a way that they could easily disconnect .
I don't understand this USB-Hype .
But that Hype apparently exists .
I wish you good luck with your approach !
«Give me GUI or Death» -- I give you [[Xx]term[inal]] [[Cc]on[s][ole]] .
Macpup user since 2010 on full installations.
People who want problems with Puppy boot frugal
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Joined: 03 Jan 2012
Posts: 156
Posted: Wed 14 Aug 2013, 02:09
Post subject:
Thanks, Karl!
I've updated the first post, and attached a .pet package.
Last edited by Announcer on Fri 23 Aug 2013, 05:53; edited 1 time in total
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Joined: 20 Jul 2010
Posts: 5404
Location: Republic of Novo Zelande
Posted: Wed 14 Aug 2013, 03:11
Post subject:
I think it would be worthwhile to offer the user a choice of "backup existing savefile then erase"
I would not want to erase a savefile unless I was sure I had a backup of the previous one (but then I do sometimes drink a little too much wine and make unintended mistakes...)
Also - your script suggests that it will reset the usb "stick" yet leave the data untouched - however the stick might contain 2 partitions. (I usually keep my data on the 2nd usb partition). Maybe it should say that it will reset the usb "boot partition" and leave any other data partitions untouched...
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Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 5087
Location: Arizona, U.S.A.
Posted: Wed 14 Aug 2013, 04:24
Post subject:
greengeek has the right idea, don`t keep anything in the Save file.
Announcer; Its a compressed backup Save file either way.
If the Save file`s saved right after it`s created, then it`s "factory", right?
It`s fairly common for Puppy to scramble the Save file and become unbootable.
So then boot to ram, erase the Save file, reboot and shutdown creating a new one.
If a Save file`s backed up after it`s "configured", then a "nuke & restore" isn`t needed.
Unless you run Puppy like Flash does, from a CD in ram with no Save file.
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Joined: 03 Jan 2012
Posts: 156
Posted: Wed 14 Aug 2013, 05:27
Post subject:
@ greengeek: Sorry, I've made a couple of changes to the script. It no longer mentions that it leaves the data partition untouched. But it doesn't delete anything except for files inside the .4fs savefile.
As for backing up the savefile first, all you have to do is copy it somewhere and rename it. So that's pretty easy.
I used
the changes to /etc/rc.d/rc.shutdown
you and 01micko made, so that it reboots without saving after using Factory Reset. So, thanks!
It's not included in the pet package though, because it needs to be in the main system sfs. So that's another thing to keep in mind:
*If you are asked after if you want to save, choose "No" for the wipe to take effect.*
@sunburnt: The whole idea of this is to keep things as simple as possible. An option to back up the sfs defeats the purpose, because I don't want the user to have to know anything about savefiles or saving or boot options etc. It just does it and doesn't ask questions, and if things go wrong there is a simple solution.
Look at smartphones. Changes are persistent, and good phones have a factory reset option. Same sort of idea.
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Joined: 19 Jun 2010
Posts: 3445
Location: www.eussenheim.de/
Posted: Wed 14 Aug 2013, 06:01
Post subject: Factory Reset
What is so difficult with
which is Puppy's (factory
) reset
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Joined: 03 Jan 2012
Posts: 156
Posted: Wed 14 Aug 2013, 09:15
Post subject: Re: Factory Reset
L18L wrote:
What is so difficult with
which is Puppy's (factory
) reset
Nothing. But Factory Reset:
*is instant. You don't have to reboot three times using a special cheat code. It's done in about two seconds.
*is simple. You just click the entry in the menu.
*is an actual factory reset, because the only thing on the drive that is changed during use is the save file, so formatting returns it to its original state.
Last edited by Announcer on Fri 23 Aug 2013, 05:55; edited 1 time in total
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Joined: 23 Nov 2006
Posts: 11233
Posted: Wed 14 Aug 2013, 13:29
Post subject:
Forget messing with flimsy save files and work on using the sfs instead....
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Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 5087
Location: Arizona, U.S.A.
Posted: Wed 14 Aug 2013, 14:15
Post subject:
mikeb; I forget who ( SeaSide.? ), but someone here replaced the Save file with an SFS file.
As I said, just takes someone who knows the Puppy boot code.
Announcer; Why would anyone want to backup an SFS file?
What`s so hard about making a copy of the Save file ( ext2 or ext3 ) and gzip it?
I`m not sure what all the effort you`re going to is doing. A first boot Save file`s still needed.
After that both methods accomplish the same thing ( I believe...). Just copy and gzip is easier.
Make a script, call it "pup-save":
######### Puppy Save file backup and restore.
savePF=`losetup /dev/loop1 |cut -d' ' -f3`
### Backup Save file.
if [ "$1" = 'backup' ];then
cp $savePF $savePF'_BU'
gzip -9 $savePF'_BU'
### Restore Save file.
elif [ "$1" = 'restore' ];then
rm $savePF
gunzip $savePF'_BU'
Easily added to Puppy`s menu or a GUI dialog.
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Joined: 23 Nov 2006
Posts: 11233
Posted: Wed 14 Aug 2013, 14:34
Post subject:
mikeb; I forget who ( SeaSide.? ), but someone here replaced the Save file with an SFS file.
well I have added this option to puppy for over 2 years... its solid and especially good for say a netbook using flash as the stick can be removed once booted and saves are optional. It also means the resident filesystem is not left with the dirty flag set which can be a nuisanse. Think in terms of multisession cd but from flash/harddrive.
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Joined: 20 Jul 2010
Posts: 5404
Location: Republic of Novo Zelande
Posted: Wed 14 Aug 2013, 15:18
Post subject:
mikeb wrote:
well I have added this option to puppy for over 2 years... its solid and especially good for say a netbook using flash as the stick can be removed once booted and saves are optional.
I would be very keen to see a tutorial about doing this if anyone feels like making one. For some reason I have mostly stayed away from using an sfs but it sounds like your method creates a personalised sfs instead of a savefile. Is that how you use it?
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Joined: 23 Nov 2006
Posts: 11233
Posted: Wed 14 Aug 2013, 15:51
Post subject:
it sounds like your method creates a personalised sfs instead of a savefile. Is that how you use it?
I did use tar for a while but the tinylibc version was too buggy. With machines with a decent amount of ram and sensible save usage its a tidy option. I also use sfs for applications so no pets loaded in there.
As for the op I would think an option to boot pfix=ram and load the sfs contents to the pup_rw layer as a boot menu option would be something that could be made user friendly. A bit like safe mode for firefox.
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Joined: 03 Jan 2012
Posts: 156
Posted: Wed 14 Aug 2013, 17:51
Post subject:
The problem with these other ideas is that you still can't delete a save file while it is in use - you have to reboot with pfix=ram, then boot again, and create a new save file. With this script you do not.
You just click the app in the menu, and it wipes the existing save file clean in two seconds, and reboots "new".
I'm not going to replace the script with some other one that does something entirely different. I know what I am trying to do, and how I am trying to do it.
So please stop hijacking the thread.
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Joined: 23 Nov 2006
Posts: 11233
Posted: Wed 14 Aug 2013, 19:43
Post subject:
I did sneak back onto your topic but whatever...
I also added a link to an FR.sfs file, which will have to be created for different versions of Puppy. To do so, boot and then save right away, creating a save file. Then reboot using "puppy pfix=ram", click the savefile, and copy the files inside into a directory called FR. Delete the contents of the /root folder inside FR, then do:
dir2sfs FR FR.sfs
inside whatever folder you created the FR folder in. Put it into /mnt/home and you're done.
If the intention is simple I did not see where this is done by the 'user'... an easy script though.
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|Download the memo (PDF)
|Download poll details (PDF)
|Download presentation slides (PPT)
|News release
|Blogs and commentary
The voters have a clear and dramatic message for the new Republicans in the Congress and the president on the eve of his State of the Union Address: focus on jobs and the economy and show how America is going to be economically successful again.
This is not a nuanced poll. If Democrats did not get the message in 2010, voters are ready to send a message again, according to the first Democracy Corps-Campaign for America's Future survey of 2011. The media pundits and Washington conventional wisdom says deficit reduction and cutting government spending are the top priorities for the nation, and the Republican Congress is starting with voting to repeal health care and putting Social Security cuts on the table for the first time. They could not have it more wrong.
This survey was conducted after the January 8 Tucson shooting but mostly before the president's memorial address January 12.
Here are key findings from the poll:
- When asked to select what they believed were the two most important economic problems facing the country right now, 41 percent said "high unemployment" and 33 percent said "outsourcing of jobs," the latter capturing the deep worry that America and American corporations are not able or willing to create American jobs. Another 18 percent focused on wages not keeping up with the cost of living. Just 25 percent chose "the budget deficit is big and growing" as one of the top two problems.
- Just 17 percent think the priority of the new Congress should be repealing health care. What respondents did say the Congress should prioritize over the next two years is economic recovery and new jobs (46 percent), protecting Social Security and Medicare (34 percent) and "making sure that our children receive an education for these times (27 percent).
- While deficit reduction is very important, voters want to see a growth strategy. When respondents were offered a choice between brave deficit reduction and a jobs plan to reduce the deficit and achieve growth, they rallied to the later, 58 to 35 percent, with 42 percent strongly embracing growth over austerity. On a scale of zero (cool) to 100 (warm), respondents registered support for a plan to invest in new industries and rebuild the country over the next five years (57 warm and 16 cool). They also supported, but not as strongly, a plan to dramatically reduce the deficit over the next five years (52 warm and 20 cool).
- Elected officials have no mandate to cut Social Security—and the voters have no appetite for it: 56 percent of respondents oppose the recommendation of the White House bipartisan deficit commission to raise the retirement age to 69 by 2075.
- On the surface, 56 percent of respondents support a deficit commission goal of $4 trillion in deficit reduction by 2020. But a nearly identical bloc (54 percent) hate the plan itself. When they hear the details of the plan, without any rhetoric, they turn dramatically against it.
- A sizeable majority, 52 to 43 percent, oppose the planned $100 billion dollars in budget cuts House Republicans have proposed for this year that would reduce spending on education, student loans, energy and the environment. Also, by a two-to-one margin, voters disapprove of Republican positions that add to the deficit (such as the repeal of health care reform and making permanent tax cuts for the wealthy).
The Politics Ahead
After the Republicans landslide win in 2010, the country has quickly moved to a position of party parity in vote preference, image and identification. About equal numbers identify with the Democrats and Republicans; the two national and congressional parties are equally unpopular. In addition, President Obama's standing is stronger since the election. His approval rating is up to 47 percent, but more important, strong disapproval has plummeted. This is a major change in mood and climate for the period ahead.
However, the president has further to go to have a clear lead and congressional Democrats have further to go if they are to rebuild their majorities. The Democratic majorities of 2006 and 2008 were produced by a new broad progressive base and by gains among key swing groups. To regain these majorities for 2012 Democrats will have to make significant additional gains with young voters and unmarried women. Democrats also need to do better with union households.
The difficulty that Democrats are having with white non-college and blue-collar voters is no doubt closely linked to the economy and the job climate. If Democrats are to reach these voters, they have to understand the scale of the problems people are facing and how hungry they are for Democrats to show how they are going to get the country back to growth and creating American jobs.
Economists agree that the unemployment rate will exceed 9 percent for the next several months and will most likely still exceed 8 percent during the 2012 election. There is no more important fact. In this survey, 17 percent report being unemployed in the past year; 41 percent when counting themselves or someone in their immediate family—one half of white non-college men.
President Obama and the Democratic Party have to start over in communicating their vision of the economy. The country embraces long-term plans for investment to create jobs and favors growth as the best route to deficit reduction, strongly favoring investment over austerity.


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Weekend on the Edge 2011
Save the Date August 19-20, 2011
Edge Products is proud to announce 2011 Weekend on the Edge, scheduled for August 19 & 20, 2011. This event is brought to you by Premier Performance and K&N Performance. Mark your calendars for this year's most exciting "Weekend On The Edge" ever! With over $10,000 in cash and prizes for participants, you will see some of the fastest and strongest trucks around. Also, there will be prizes and giveaways for attendees that come out to see this spectacular display of diesel power.
Edge Products and the National Association of Diesel Motorsports (NADM)
are gearing up for Weekend on the Edge, August 19-20, 2011. Weekend
activities will kick off with NADM-sanctioned diesel drags at Rocky
Mountain Raceway on Friday, August 19th. Fans will be treated to some of
the best diesel drag racing in the region, running all classes, with
cash purses, and everyone will have a chance to win a variety of raffle
prizes from Edge and event sponsors.
Saturday August 20th, the fun
continues with a dyno day at Powerteq (Edge Products and Superchips)
headquarters in Ogden followed by a sled pull at Ogden's Pioneer
Stadium. Sled Pulling will be facilitated by NADM and the United Pullers
Association from Salt Lake City. They will offer prizes and giveaways at
all three events so make sure you come and enjoy the excitement with the
whole family.
Edge Products is gearing up for the event and hopes you are as well. To commemorate the event, they have designed an exclusive 2011 Weekend On the Edge t-shirt. Retail price for these limited run shirts will be $15 each or 2 for $20.
To view full event information visit www.weekendontheedge.com/.
2011 Weekend on the Edge Schedule of Events
DIESEL DRAGS – August 19th
Location: Rocky Mountain Raceway
6555 West 2100 South
West Valley City, Utah 84128
Time: Registration/Tech stars at 4:00 p.m.
Gates open at 4:00 p.m.
Event: Racing from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
DYNO DAYS – August 20th
Location: Edge Products
1080 South Depot Drive
Ogden, Utah 84404
Time: Registration starts at 8:00 a.m.
Main Event from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Free Lunch from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Event: Dyno Runs, Food and Prizes!
SLED PULLS – August 20th
Location: Ogden Pioneer Stadium
668 17th Street
Ogden, Utah 84404
Time: Registration/Tech stars at 4:00 p.m.
Gates open at 3:00 p.m.
Event: Pulling from 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sponsors will be set up at the events to display new products or product offerings.
Weekend on the Edge brought to you by Edge Products, Premier Performance, K&N, NADM
Official Sponsor of the Dyno competition AirDog
Other participating sponsors ATS Diesel, Optima Batteries, Superlift
Suspension Systems, Falken Tire, MBRP, Rockwell Time, Nitrous Express,
Industrial Injection, BD Diesel Performance, Flo-Pro, SSBC, New Era
Diesel, ARP, Pure Diesel Power, South Bend Clutch, PPE, Fluidamper,
Covercraft, Mickey Thompson, Victor Reinz, Mahle, Champion Blue Flame,
High Tech Turbo, Carrillo, XDP
Premier Performance, Inc. is a leading warehouse distributor of
performance products for diesel trucks across the United State and
Canada. For more information about Premier Performance visit
K&N is the world's leading manufacturer of performance air intakes
and air filters. They offer the largest line of direct replacement
filters and performance intake systems for diesel and gas applications.
For more information about K&N visit www.knfilters.com/.
The NADM promotes diesel motorsports associations, clubs and events
across the country. Founded in 2007, the NADM has built a strong
membership base that offers useful benefits for sponsors and fans. Visit
www.runnadm.com for more information about NADM.
Go to www.weekendontheedge.com for more information.


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Harry Potter 2 (S2) Mini Montage
In stock
List Price $107.95 Special Price $89.95 You Save$18.00
Item Description
This product is also available with a back light
13 x 11 black mdf frame Numbered limited edition name plaque Real film from the movie Trend Setters embossed/foiled certificate of authenticity Made in the USAEach FilmCell presentation is made with careful attention to detail. It is double matted, placed in a quality frame, contains an acrylic front and back allowing natural light to enhance the film frames. Each piece of film is hand-cut from reels to provide you with the best possible scenes to offer a unique and varied product. This is all put together to bring you a collectible that looks great in any room. (The film portrayed in the image above is an example of the film cells you may receive.)


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Warning: By law we cannot sell this product to anyone under 18, by placing an order with us you are confirming that you are over the age of 18.
Le Creuset Cast Iron Shallow Casserole 30cm, Marseille Blue
This is a specialist veterinary product. We will ask you a simple set of questions to confirm that you are buying the correct medicine for your pet and know how to use it safely
Order by 3pm for Express Courier Delivery Some of the items we sell are a bit too bulky to fit on our delivery vans so we offer our customers Express Courier Delivery via courier. Deliveries are made from 8am - 8pm Monday to Saturday and 9am - 5pm on Sundays. Your delivery slot will only be confirmed once your order has been placed.
The most versatile ¿ a great stir fry pan, baking and serving dish. Perfect for a wide range of dishes from quick creamy risottos to tender, flavourful meat and vegetables or crisp, golden pies and tarts. The large flat shape and shallow sides of the Cast Iron Shallow Casserole make it perfect for browning meat and vegetables, simmering casseroles, stir frying, baking and serving at the table.
Now Le Creuset is proud to introduce the new Signature Oval Casserole. New features include: easy-grip, 45% larger handles; easy clean, toughened enamel interior; a stylish, heat resistant stainless steel knob; and an enhanced tight-fitting lid.
Suitable for use on all hob types, including induction, and in the oven, the casserole makes a perfect serving dish too as cast iron keeps food warmer for longer at the table. Individually cast in sand moulds and hand crafted at the original French foundry since 1925, Le Creuset casserole dishes are protected by a Lifetime Guarantee for total peace of mind.
Dimensions and Details
Serves: 4-6 people
Capacity: 3.2L
Dimensions: L40.2 x W31.7 x D13.5cm
Lifetime Guarantee
Made from Cast Iron
Care and Use
Suitable for use on all heat sources, including induction
Suitable for all oven temperatures
Grill, Freezer and Dishwasher Safe
Not Microwave Safe


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How To Plug A TirePosted in How To on March 1, 2012
Vroom! You're heading down the trail.
Pop! What was that?
Sssss! Uh oh, a tire's got a problem.
This happens every weekend on trails across America. It happens to the best of drivers and the best of tires. Nothing is perfect, so round up a tire plug kit and throw it in your 4x4.
Tire plugs are sticky rubber-impregnated pieces of yarn that, when stuffed into the offending hole, stop the air leak. The repair is often very easy, and if you catch the puncture fast enough you can plug it before the tire fully deflates. In fact, our experience tells us that digging out the repair kit or finding a buddy on the trail with a repair kit is often the biggest delay in tire repair.
PhotosView Slideshow
ARB 4x4 ProductsRenton, WA 98057
Safety Seal800-888-9021


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William F. Hohlt, DDS - Orthodontics
Dr. William F. Hohlt reviews medical content for Healthwise, a nonprofit organization with a mission to help people make better health decisions. Dr. Hohlt is Professor Emeritus of Orthodontics at Indiana University School of Dentistry in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is a Clinical Professor of Orthodontics at the University of Illinois, Chicago. In 2000, Dr. Hohlt was awarded the Teaching Excellence Recognition Award from Indiana University, and in 2001 he received the Trustees Teaching Award. Dr. Hohlt is an active presenter at various professional meetings and continuing education courses worldwide.
Education and Training
DDS: Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, IN, 1962
Residency in General Practice: United States Navy, Portsmouth Navy Hospital, Portsmouth, VA, 1963
Clinical Proficiency Certificate in Orthodontics: Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, 1969
Academic Appointments
Indiana University, School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, IN:
- Professor Emeritus of Orthodontics, 2008-present
- Professor of Orthodontics, 2003-2008
- Associate Professor with Tenure of Orthodontics, 1994-2003
- Assistant Professor of Orthodontics, Full-Time Appointment, 1988-1994
- Assistant Professor of Orthodontics, Graduate Faculty, Part-Time Appointment, 1980-1988
- Assistant Professor of Orthodontics, Graduate Faculty, 1969-1974
University of Illinois, College of Dentistry, Chicago, IL:
- Clinical Professor of Orthodontics, Part-Time Appointment, 2002-present
- Associate Clinical Professor of Orthodontics, Part-Time Appointment, 1998-2002
Author: Healthwise Staff
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Learn how we develop our content.
To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.org.
© 1995-2018 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.


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SCORE Cancels Reno 500Posted in News on February 9, 2014
SCORE International, based in Reno, has announced the removal of the 2014 SCORE Reno 500 desert race from its SCORE World Desert Championship series for this year, citing a number of issues that could not be resolved prior to presenting the first SCORE race in Reno this coming July. SCORE, starting its 41st year in 2014, is recognized as the world's foremost desert racing organization.
"The SCORE Reno 500 has been removed from this year's schedule because of several mitigating circumstances that would not be able to be resolved in time to guarantee the overall quality event that is necessary for SCORE International," commented Roger Norman, SCORE CEO and President. "We are committed to the vision of having a SCORE race in Reno in the future but we must be able to assure our racer community and sponsors that it will be of the same quality as is recognized around the world for SCORE."
"We regret this decision but we believe it is in the best interest of all concerned. When we do have our first SCORE race in Reno it will be memorable and it will be up to the standards and requirements of SCORE International." Norman, a former top SCORE desert racer who purchased SCORE at the end of 2012, did produce Reno 500 races the last two years under the umbrella of the High Desert Racing Association which he has merged this year with the world-renown SCORE to form the SCORE World Desert Championship series. The Reno 500 was held in 2012 and 2013 on property east of Reno at Norman's Tahoe Reno Motorplex.
Now with five races for 2014, the SCORE World Desert Championship series will include three races on Mexico's Baja California peninsula and two in Southern California.
The season opener will be the 28th Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 to be held in San Felipe, Mexico on Feb. 27-March 2. Round 2 will be the first US race in the new SCORE World Desert Championship series—the 2nd SCORE Imperial Valley 250 in Plaster City, Calif.
Season finale for the new series will be the iconic 47th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, the legendary granddaddy of all desert races. This year's event, Nov. 12-16, will be a race down Mexico's majestic Baja California peninsula, starting in Ensenada, Baja California, and finishing in La Paz, Baja California Sur.
SCORE races in Mexico and the United States include competition for 35 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs.
With its corporate headquarters in Reno, Nev., the SCORE Tech shop is located in El Cajon, Calif., just east of San Diego.


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The hot farmland market continues in the Midwest with some Illinois land selling for $11,000+ per acre. A farm auction last Friday in Mason County, Illinois, drew lots of spectators and more than 50 registered bidders when 444 acres were sold in multiple tracts for a total of $4.46 million.
The most productive 364 acres of farmland sold for $4.01 million, which averages $11,016/acre.
The price paid for the land was higher than expected, reported Murray Wise, chairman of Murray Wise Associates, the firm that conducted the auction. "These prices may raise a few eyebrows, but I think they are opening some eyes, too," he said. The strong farmland market shows both a big demand by investors as well as a desire by local farmers who want to add land to their holdings.
"To be sure, we continue to see growth in demand by portfolio managers for investment funds, but those who know the land best — local farmers — see the value better than anyone," Wise said. "Someone who is already farming in the area can often farm the land without buying new equipment, so at today's commodity prices, it can be immensely profitable."


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Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
Walt Disney World® Resort
Kids, Tweens, Teens, Adults
Water Rides
Experience the drama of 6-foot swells at North America's largest wave pool and the water park's signature attraction.
Hear the thunderous "sonic boom" and the eager squeals of swimmers as gentle waves become big kahunas. Look over your shoulder and feel the excitement build as a cresting wave heads your way. Stand poised to paddle for all you're worth. Then hang on as you're swept ashore by forces rivaling those of Mother Nature.
At Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool, the surf's up all day long for big kids, teens and adults. With a continuous stream of swells, you're sure to catch a gnarly wave! See the chalkboard near the edge of the beach for the day's wave schedule.
Get in on the action by diving in at the deep end or enjoy the spectacle from afar, where you can frolic in shallow, gentle waters or lounge on sandy white beaches.
Inner tubes are not permitted at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool. Please keep a watchful eye on children and those who are not strong swimmers.
See why no Walt Disney World vacation is complete without a splash-tastic visit to Disney's Typhoon Lagoon or Disney's Blizzard Beach water parks!


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Author Notes:
Inspired by Chiles Rellenos de Quelites in Savoring Mexico (Williams-Sonoma) by Marilyn Tausand.
Use whatever hearty greens you like best and mix 'em up: chard, spinach, mustard greens, or look for the greens that the original recipe included. Called "quelites" in Mexico, these "wild greens" vary according to the region, but what I was most familiar with is what in English is called red root spinach/ amaranth/pigweed. You can find it wild, or sometimes in Chinese markets.
Inspired by Chiles Rellenos de Quelites in Savoring Mexico (Williams-Sonoma) by Marilyn Tausand.
Food52 Review: Mexican food is a favorite and while I enjoy chiles rellenos, I agree with ChefHef that the deep fried part doesn't always sit well. ChefHef's "fresh and pure" approach is delicious! The roasted poblanos pair beautifully with the charred, caramelized flavor of the tomato sauce. I a big fan of greens and love that ChefHef incorporated some here. I used rainbow chard from my CSA box for the filling and it went well with the crunchy sweetness of the pine nuts and raisins. I am inspired to try other filling combinations now, too (perhaps eggs and greens for a brunch?). Overall, a lovely dish! —BlueKaleRoad
Serves: 6
The chiles
poblano chiles. Choose firm, shiny ones about 4" long
pounds greens, such as spinach, chard, watercress, mustard greens or a mix
tablespoons olive oil, or mild-flavored oil such as grape seed or avocado, divided
small onion, finely minced
cup (60g) raisins, preferably golden, roughly chopped
cup (60g) pine nuts
ounces (250g) soft goat cheese log
The sauce
pounds (1kg) plum tomatoes, about 12 large or 16 small
small onion sliced into thick rings about 1/2 inch wide
good-sized cloves of garlic
tablespoons of olive oil, or as above
Up to 1 tsp. sugar, if needed
Optional: sour cream or crème fraiche
- Roasting the chiles This is best done on a gas stove, if possible. Place the chiles directly on the burner grills over a med-high flame. (Use two burners with two to three chiles on each.) You will hear the skin blister and pop. Rotate just as it turns black—excessive charring will result in thin-walled chiles. If you have an electric stovetop, you can either use a skillet over high heat or place the chiles directly on the burner. (In this case, choose chiles that have a flatter profile. Some can be rather undulating and are difficult to char thoroughly on an electric burner or skillet.)
- Once the chiles are charred all over, place them in a bowl and cover with a tea towel to cool. The towel absorbs some of the steam so the chiles don't get too wet. When the chiles are cool enough to handle, peel and gently scrape the charred skin off, using the back of a paring knife. If some of the skin did not get charred and wants to remain, don't worry about it. Leave the stems intact. Make a slit about 2 inches long in the side of each chile, starting close to the top, and remove the seeds. (It can be helpful to carefully make a cut just at the top of the seeds and remove them as a unit—it's a little less messy). If necessary, rinse very briefly under cold water to remove bits of skin and seeds.
- The stuffing: Stem and wash the greens. If using chard, reserve some of the more tender stems, chop into 1/4 inch pieces and set aside. If leaves are large, chop coarsely. Heat a large, deep skillet or wide saucepan, coat the bottom with about 1 tbsp. of olive oil and toss in the still-damp greens with a sprinkling of salt. Depending on the size of your pan, it may be necessary to do this in two batches. Toss frequently. When greens are wilted (about 3 minutes), remove from heat and drain off the excess liquid. Spinach, in particular, releases a lot of liquid, so use a mesh strainer and press on the greens to drain. Chop the greens down a little more.
- Add the remaining oil to the pan over medium heat. Add the minced onion. If using chard stems, add these now and sauté until the onion is translucent and the stems softened. It may help to add a couple of tablespoons of water to help soften the stems. When the water has evaporated, add the raisins, pine nuts and greens, and sauté these until the greens become quite dry (3 to 5 minutes).
- Taste goat cheese for saltiness and salt the greens accordingly.
- Transfer the greens to a bowl to cool. Crumble the goat cheese in with the cooled greens and combine. To portion the filling, pat the mixture down into the bowl so the surface is relatively flat and you can divide it into 6 "pie wedges." Scoop out each portion, form into a log and stuff into each chile.
- The sauce: I use a comal (heavy steel or cast iron griddle) for the following step. If you don't have one, you can use a large skillet. I recommend covering the skillet surface with a sheet of foil because the sugars from the tomato can really make a mess of your pan. The foil allows for easy clean-up.
- Heat skillet or griddle over high heat. Cut about 1/3 of the tomatoes in half lengthwise. Place the whole tomatoes, halved tomatoes, onion slices, and whole cloves of unpeeled garlic on the skillet. Turn each as it colors—the cut tomatoes will begin to caramelize on the cut side, and the whole ones will blister black in spots. The onions will turn a dark golden brown, and the skin of the garlic will brown. Transfer each to a bowl as it becomes soft.
- If desired, you may remove the core of the tomato, and if the skin is very black, remove some of that, too, but leave some for the flavor. Peel the garlic. Transfer all ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend to a slightly rough puree. Taste the sauce. If it is acidic or bitter, add the sugar.
- In a skillet large enough to accommodate the pureed sauce, heat 1 to 2 tbsp. oil over med-high heat. When the oil begins to glisten, pour in the sauce carefully—it may splatter a bit. Cook the sauce down for 3 to 5 minutes or until the liquid at the edges has evaporated. Salt to taste.
- To finish the dish: Preheat oven to 350° F. Place the stuffed chiles in an appropriate-sized baking dish that has been lightly oiled, and cover loosely with foil, matte side out. Warm in oven 12 to 15 minutes. Warm the tomato sauce separately.
- Puddle about 1/3-1/2 cup of sauce on each plate, and place the stuffed chile on top. If desired, drizzle with sour cream thinned with cream or milk, or , if you can get it, Mexican crema to serve.
- This recipe is a Community Pick!
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Greens
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Chili Pepper Recipe
More Great Recipes:
Cheese|Clove|Goat Cheese|Pine Nut|Raisin|Sour Cream|Vegetable|Cast Iron|Vegetarian|Gluten-Free|Appetizer|Side


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Dustin Brown leads the NHL in hits this season, but the Los Angeles Kings winger might like to get back the one he delivered Saturday on Blackhawks rookie Jonathan Toews.
Brown got his stick up high and drilled Toews early in the second period. For that he got Brent Seabrook's fists in his face and an offensive explosion from the Hawks that ultimately allowed them to survive blowing a four-goal lead in a 6-5 overtime victory.
"He hit Toews pretty good, so I just thought I'd let them know that's not going to be allowed," said Seabrook, who drew instigator, fighting and misconduct penalties when he went after Brown. "[Toews is] one of our best players, and you can't have that happen. You have to protect them and stand up for each other. They can't be running at our players like that."
After Brown's hit, the Hawks broke open a 1-1 game with four straight goals, including two from Martin Havlat and Andrei Zyuzin within a span of 15 seconds. The Hawks then held off a furious rally in which the Kings scored four times in the third, including the game-tying goal with 15 seconds left.
But Patrick Sharp's goal 1 minute 48 seconds into overtime gave the Hawks their fifth victory in the last six games before a crowd of 18,118 at the Staples Center.
"That's not exactly how you want to win games, but this time of year we'll take the two points any way we can," said Sharp, whose two goals raised his season total to 29.
With the game tied 1-1 after first-period goals from Peter Harrold and Sharp, Havlat skated from behind the Kings' net and flipped a backhander past goaltender Dan Cloutier to make it 2-1. Zyuzin, playing in his first game after being a healthy scratch the previous 17, then took a pass from Robert Lang and chipped it into the net.
Toews made it 4-1 when he fired in a rebound of his own shot past Cloutier. The rookie then made a touch pass to Jason Williams 1:10 later to increase the lead to 5-1 after two periods.
"You appreciate when you have a guy who's going to stick up for you like that," Toews said of Seabrook. "It brings us together as a team and makes us play harder for each other.
"I was a little angry after that hit, so I wanted to go and get something done. It gives you a little bit of adrenaline, and I was lucky enough to create a few chances."
The Kings roared back on third-period goals from Mike Cammalleri, Tom Preissing, Patrick O'Sullivan and Anze Kopitar, but Sharp's goal helped the Hawks earn their 13th point in the last eight games as they try to climb back into the Western Conference playoff race.
"Seabrook has stepped up now twice in the last week for his teammates," Hawks coach Denis Savard said. "That's part of being a team that's jelling"
One-timersThe Hawks avenged a 9-2 shellacking they suffered the last time the teams met. … Defenseman Brent Sopel didn't play because of a broken bone in his left wrist and could miss up to two weeks, Savard said. Sopel suffered the injury blocking a shot Wednesday night against the Minnesota Wild. … Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin will miss his second straight game Sunday night when the Hawks travel to Anaheim to face the Ducks. Khabibulin is day-to-day with back spasms. Patrick Lalime, who earned his 11th victory of the season Saturday, is likely to start in Anaheim with Corey Crawford serving as his backup.


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*** (out of four)
Queens of the Stone Age can be a difficult band to monitor. Not only has it been six long, side project-laden years since its last album ("Era Vulgaris"), but the revolving door nature of the group's lineup means that you may want to check Wikipedia to make sure you're on the same page as Josh Homme, the band's frontman and only permanent member. As hard rock has stagnated both creatively and commercially in the past decade, a marquee name like QOTSA feels almost like it exists as an excuse to bring together anyone who's interested in making this type of heavy music.
Thus, " ... Like Clockwork" includes contributions from QOTSA stringer Dave Grohl, erstwhile former member Nick Olivieri, the Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner and even Elton John. There's also the newest band member, who doesn't technically play an instrument: the visual artist Boneface. Hey, if that jumbled assortment is what it takes to put together a consistently solid album that sounds unmistakably like Queens of the Stone Age, as the band has done on its sixth album, that's great.
Such variety saves what could have been a project full of songs like boring opener "Keep Your Eyes Peeled," which is arguably too on-the-nose as the type of chugging, stretched-out rock that the band is known for, or lead single "My God is the Sun," which sounds like a parody of overly dramatic hard rock lyricism and sterile guitars.
Instead, the album is best when flirting with glam rock bombast on "Kalopsia" and "Fairweather Friends," limber funk on "Smooth Sailing" or the relatively upbeat rock of "I Sat By the Ocean." Meandering, introspective songs like the title track and "The Vampyre of Time and Memory" may grate on those who don't enjoy Homme's perpetually anguished voice, but they also serve as the album's thesis statements and emotional cores.
Tinged with bursts of guitar bravado, the songs are made to disarm, with lyrics like, "to be vulnerable is needed most of all/if you intend to truly fall apart." Brooding, simmering and grandiose, these moments leave little doubt about the band's identity.
In concert: Aug. 2 at Lollapalooza
Kyle Kramer is a RedEye special contributor. @redeyechimusic
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