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Professional Development
The information and suggestions on the HPPLC Professional Development pages apply to any student, freshmen through senior, and non-traditional.
For preprofessional students, it is important that you also refer to those parts of the HPPLC web site that pertain to your particular area(s) of interest, whether it be law, medicine, or another health profession. There, you will find more specific information about what students need to do in order to fulfill requirements and become competitive for admission to the given program.
Why Should I Care About Professional Development?
If you plan carefully, you can use your undergraduate years to become a mature, professional person who does not merely look good on paper, in the résumé, but who can also impress in personal statements and cover letters, and during admissions, internship, and job interviews.
Your professional development is a critical part of your undergraduate degree. Professional development is the process by which you develop the goals, skills, and attributes necessary for success as a student, an applicant (to jobs, internships, or professional and graduate programs), a career professional, and a sophisticated, accomplished, and versatile individual.
The majority of students procrastinate or pay little attention to their professional development. Doing either is a serious mistake. Be one of the exceptions and commit yourself to a professional development plan early, during your freshman year in college or even during high school. A plan that incorporates a variety of interesting and rewarding experiences will deeply enrich your life as a student, add depth to any undergraduate degree, and build a foundation upon which you can create future opportunities and a higher quality of life for yourself and others.
Who Should Undertake Professional Development?
Anyone who is serious about professional and personal success, however one chooses to define those terms, should commit himself or herself to their professional development very early on. High school students, undergraduates, and graduate students all benefit from such experiences.
Freshmen and new transfer / intercampus transfers students, please note:
A few undergraduate programs require freshmen to begin activities like job shadowing and community service work during their first semester as a college student. Still, remember that transitioning to IUB, and your new academic work load, must be top priority. Do not allow non-academic obligations to overtake your schedule to the detriment of your coursework. There are 168 hours in a week. As such, it is very achievable to manage your time in a way that allows you to fulfill academic expectations as well as other demands on your time. Toward this end, we strongly urge you to utilize our time and stress management tips and tools. If you follow the directions and implement the suggestions within this document, you will have already begun to enhance or develop some of the professional attributes described on our Professional Development page, not to mention reduce stress, and even improve your academics. (Important: In Word for Windows, if the document will not allow you to enter information in the schedule grid, click the "Enable Editing" button toward the top of the window.)
When Should I Begin My Professional Development?
You already have, just by coming to this web site. Now, read on and continue your progress.
So What Is Professional Development?
The overarching goal of professional development is, simply put, to gain the ability to consistently demonstrate the traits of a mature professional and a well-rounded individual. A thorough professional development program has many components, including: activities (e.g., job shadowing, students organizations, serious hobbies, volunteer work, networking), skill and leadership development, professionalism (e.g., attitudes, etiquette, ethical development, civic engagement), personal development, and overall maturity. To this list of professional traits we can also add life-long devotion to self-improvement, pride in your work (in whatever setting it may be - your chosen profession, your college experience, and even everyday tasks), and personal accountability for your work and behavior.
From your perspective as a student, we could say that professional development is the process by which you will develop the skills and characteristics necessary for success as a student, an applicant to a professional program, a career professional, and most importantly (since nothing truly productive can happen without it), success as you grow in both experience and maturity as an individual.
While professional development may seem like an awful lot to take on, remember that you have already begun, and the process can be extremely rewarding and enjoyable. The information on this web page is designed to help you continue the process. You've probably gathered that process is an important word here. While it's true that you will need to undertake a variety of endeavors at the same time, you don't need to expect yourself to complete or master them all at once. Initiating a structured professional development program early-on allows you to gradually but steadily develop these characteristics and experiences over time, so that when you graduate you are already well on your way to becoming professionalized.
The Five Dimensions of Professional Development


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Government agencies are facing unprecedented challenges to do not just more with less, but to do much more with much less. Meeting these demands requires superior leadership, but what is the government doing to identify and retain the leaders needed to navigate this crisis?
If the feedback from the latest Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey is any indication, the answer is "not much." Unfortunately, there is no magic bullet for improving government leadership. A more comprehensive approach is needed for lasting change. Research and best practices point to a 3-point plan to inject leadership into government:
Select for potential, not just past performance
We all know that new leaders are often selected based on their performance in individual contributor roles and not for their leadership skills. But performance in one role does not always predict success in another. According to a recent study by CEB, only 29 percent of high performers are also high potentials. Put another way, up to 71 percent of high performers who are promoted are at risk of underperforming at the next level because they lack the potential to succeed.
How do we spot leadership potential? It's a matter of assessing ability, agility, and aspiration:
- Ability – the intellectual capacity to solve problems and make well-reasoned decisions and the interpersonal and communication skills needed to get work done through others
- Agility – the willingness and ability to learn from experience, admit mistakes, experiment with new approaches, and rapidly adapt to change
- Aspiration – the motive to lead others, the courage to take risks when needed, and the persistence to keep driving for success in the face of challenges
What can agencies do to improve leadership selection right now? Start by examining the criteria used in your current promotion process. Does the process evaluate a candidate's ability, agility, and aspiration? If not, inject these criteria into promotion panel reviews.
Review their past experiences to look for indicators of ability (such as experience leading a team to accomplish a difficult goal) and agility (adapting rapidly to new challenges). In interviews ask questions about the candidate's reasons for pursuing a leadership role. Do they show a sincere passion for leading others and a willingness to put in the effort and persistence needed to work through organizational challenges? Or are they interested mainly in their own career advancement? If the latter, they are likely to struggle in a leadership role.
Beyond panel reviews and interviews, consider implementing a valid and reliable assessment program. Assessments can support Merit Principles by providing an equal opportunity for all qualified candidates to be evaluated objectively against a common standard.
Make your development match reality
Training is a critical part of leadership development, but the oft-quoted development literature reminds us that most learning (about 70 percent) occurs on the job, while only about 10 percent comes from traditional classroom training. However, traditional training approaches garner the majority of training dollars and focus. Instead shift the emphasis from formal training to developing through experience and reinforce the behaviors that matter.
The critical behaviors that all leaders must master include
- Ensuring employees understand the mission and how their work supports it
- Setting clear expectations and providing ongoing feedback
- Developing employees through experience
What can agencies do to get started? Establish the right habits early by getting the leaders of new leaders engaged in providing hands-on coaching and guidance. Encourage regular check-ins between leaders and their managers to reinforce these behaviors. In the long term consider implementing a quick pulse survey to evaluate the frequency of key behaviors and hold leaders at all levels accountable for demonstrating them.
Understand the power of context
Put a good leader up against a bureaucratic and ineffective system, and the system will win every time. Rigid policies and procedures can stymie creativity and innovation. Organizations need to take a hard look at how work gets done and identify and eliminate the policies and procedures that impede rather than facilitate performance. This requires the courage to challenge the status quo, question assumptions, and vanquish sacred cows along the way.
What can agencies do to create a more supportive environment? Ask employees to identify the one practice or policy that is most hindering their performance. Determine what is absolutely required by law or statute. Often agencies end up doing much more then they need to simply because they have layered their own cumbersome requirements on top of external regulations. Carefully examine everything that's not absolutely required by law and ask: does the benefit of this activity clearly outweigh the time and cost involved? If the answer is no, eliminate it.
With government agencies being asked to do more with less, taking the time to incorporate these small steps now can lead to bigger improvements over time. There is no quick fix to developing better leaders but in using this 3-point plan the government will be able to identify and retain leaders for the long-term.
Dr. Rose Mueller-Hanson is the Manager of the Leadership and Organizational Consulting group at PDRI. Her areas of expertise include leadership development; performance management system design, development, and implementation; training needs analysis, design, development, and delivery; competency modeling; individual and organizational assessment; and organizational development.
(Image via Winui/Shutterstock.com)


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Java Studio Creator 2 Offers Across the Board Improvement
Regular readers of Developer.com will probably notice that I have written many articles for Java Studio Creator. It is a development tool that I keep coming back to, not just for articles, but for Web UI development at work and at home.
What is Java Studio Creator?
If you are already familiar with Creator, by all means skip ahead. However, it has been my experience that Creator is still one of the best kept secrets in Java—or worse, that what it does is misunderstood.
Java Studio Creator is a Rapid Application Development environment for constructing Web-based clients around existing databases, Web services, EJBs, or other Java class libraries. At least for the present, it concentrates on the construction of Web user interfaces, not Wwing or other interface options. It also is not intended for constructing class libraries, server, or middle-tier code, and so forth. It's not that these tasks cannot be undertaken in it, but that there is no inherent support for doing such development.
By concentrating on the task of Web UI client development, it provides an extremely streamlined and approachable IDE for beginners, and also a highly productive tool for experts who need to slap a Web-based UI together with a minimum of fuss.
Why is Java Studio Creator so important?
The Java development space is extremely well supported by development tools, so what makes Creator so important?
The thing is, there are lots of extremely good options for Java development running all the way up from creating apps and class libraries to full-on enterprise development with UML, and there are at least a dozen options that do exactly that—excellent tools that cover every conceivable level of development.
And you know what? Try putting a beginner down in front of one of these tools and telling them to write something.
The fact is these tools are excellent in the hands of an experienced developer who needs to do everything, but the beginner will be quickly overwhelmed. Java Studio Creator presents a manageable interface that has the functionality to carry out the task at hand without a developer getting lost in thousands of different options and views.
Also, by concentrating on just Web UI development, it is very good at it. Creator pushes a development approach used in the Microsoft development world for a very long time—that of component-based development. This is what made tools such as Delphi and VB so popular for client development.
Component-based development, and the graphical nature of the UI building environment, make for a very productive tool for experienced developers as well.
Of course, this means using a separate UI for client development than for the rest of the system, and again, in my opinion this is a win as well. Using separate tools means that architectural boundaries cannot be crossed, so the parts that are written to provide an API for the client portion of the application will, by necessity, be kept clean of UI concerns, whereas the UI portion of the application will similarly be kept clear of middle- and server-tier concerns.
The previous "standard" for Java Web UI development was Struts, and JSF is being positioned to take its place. Craig McClanahan, the creator of Struts, is now one of the driving forces behind JSF. JSF is supposed to fix many of the problems facing Struts development, and for the most part it does an admirable job, and Creator is based on JSF. Of course, it's not perfect, but as an architect I gave up looking for the perfect solution a long time ago. What I seek now is something that works with the developers and resources available to get a job done within the allotted time. For that, Creator is a good fit.
What's New?
Okay, so Creator 1.0 was a great tool, a good start down the road to easier, faster component based development in Java. What does 2.0 offer that was missing in 1.0? Why is the update noteworthy?
Firstly, and most noticeably, there are the new components. 1.0 shipped with the components from the reference implementation (RI) of JSF. These were not bad components, but there were a few omissions of commonly desired components, and they were fairly basic requiring some CSS beautification in most cases.
The new 2.0 components are a far richer set. There are many more included components, and some welcome additions, such as a popup calendar, file upload, tree, and a fantastic new grid component with sortable columns, paging, and inline editing support.
There are also several composite components that provide some for some common tasks, such as alert messages, add and remove lists (the double pane selector style), and a breadcrumb trail. Previously components like this were only available by using Oracle's ADF Faces or MyFaces.
These components are also themable, and there are four included sample themes that make for a pleasant looking selection of UIs. At present, there is no easy way to create your own themes, but I believe there are plans to make some kind of theme editor available in time. At present, altering the themes means delving into CSS files.
EJBs and custom data providers
Another big improvement is in the handling of EJBs. Some of the beta features of 1.0 have fed into the new EJB data provider, which means that binding the results of EJB methods to components in 2.0 is now as easy (as in drag-and-drop easy) as it was to bind query results to components in Creator 1.0.
This means that, by using Creator 2.0, you can drag and drop your way to a front end for databases (through JDBC rowsets), Web Services (using the WSDL wizard), and now EJBs—or any combination of the three.
Of course, it is also pretty easy to bind in any kind of class library you want to use. (Just import the library and start using it to set the values of beans; or, if it happens to provide a set of bean properties, bind them directly.) However Creator 2.0 does not stop there. Now, it also is possible to define your own data providers for legacy systems, file formats—indeed, anything you can think of (or maybe ones that you have not thought of yet).
Virtual forms
Creator 1.0 had a great feature, with a single but fairly large flaw. Validators could be attached to components to automatically check input values for various properties (length, format, and so forth). The flaw was that, when you submitted a page (in other words, clicked on a button or otherwise caused an event to fire), all validators for all input would be applied for the page and any failures would abort the submission and signal the error.
This meant that you could not use validators on pages where you wanted to section the page and provide different sections for different operations. Any action button would submit the page, and so all fields on the page would have to pass validation, not just fields in the section for that operation.
Creator 2.0 corrects this shortcoming. Virtual forms collect fields and components that fire events into partitions, meaning that a button or dropdown causing an event for a particular section of the page will only need validation to pass for the fields in that section of the page. This means validation becomes a lot more useful.
New Blood
Creator 2.0 is built on top of the NetBeans 4.1 base, rather than 4.0 as was the case with Creator 1.0. This makes a bigger difference than you might suppose. For one, Creator is now distributed with Java 5. Although developers cannot take advantage yet of the new language features like annotations, generics, and the new for loop, the difference is noticeable in speed, improved look and feel, and overall solidity of the IDE. Creator wasn't a real problem for crashing before, but it feels better now. On Linux, in particular, the ability to turn on anti-aliasing of fonts. (Put -J-Dswing.aatext=true in the creator.conf file under /etc in the installation directory) and the fact that the new metal look and feel is a big improvement on the somewhat aging metal of Java 1.4, and the whole interface is just a lot prettier.)
NetBeans 4.1 also introduced some refactoring options as well, which are carried across to Creator 2.0. Don't expect IntelliJ levels of refactoring here, but there is some useful refactoring included.
Other enhancements
There are many new features—some of which are not covered here and some of which I haven't even found yet, but four more that are worthy of mention are:
Lifecycle Improvements
There are several new hooks in the page beans for different stages of the lifecycle now; some of these are very useful for calling code when a page is first hit, but not when an event fires on the page and the result stays on the same page. This means you can avoid some overhead in unnecessary data queries and lookups by hooking into the right events.
Portlet Development
JSR-168 standard portlets now can be developed using Creator 2.0 and then used in Java portals. This will either mean a great deal to you (if you use portals) or not a lot (if you don't), but it is nice to have this ease of use for portals as well as full Web apps.
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BOYS: Sterlington 40, Red River 38
Matt Allred made two clutch free throws with 1:02 remaining and Sterlington survived a helter-skelter finish for a 40-38 Class 2A playoff victory over Red River on Tuesday night.
Sterlington (25-7), the No. 7 seed, will also be at home for the second round Friday night against No. 10 Lakeview, a 97-71 winner over DeQuincy.
Sterlington can expect a faster-paced game against Lakeview (23-7) than Red River, which dictated the tempo behind a ball control offense.
Following Allred's free throws, the Bulldogs ran the clock down to 10 seconds, before missing two shots. Sterlington's fans began pouring onto the court as the clock ran down to 0:00, but order was quickly restored and .02 seconds placed back on the clock.
A hurried, potential game-tying shot actually hit the rim as the final horn sounded.
Then the celebration began — and this time no one was asked to return to their seat.
"We couldn't defensive rebound the ball at the end, but we dodged a bullet," said a relieved Sterlington coach Kevin Caballero.
Though it was far better than last year's first round result when the seventh-seeded Panthers lost an 80-73, triple overtime decision to Evangel, Caballero was in no mood to celebrate after Tuesday night's game.
"I thought some of our kids played scared and I thought others were passive," Caballero said. "We had no zip on our passes and no one was meeting the ball."
With Red River eating up the clock and limiting possessions, the Panthers hurt their own cause with 18 turnovers.
"A lot of the turnovers were unforced. They weren't even pressuring us and we kept letting the ball bounce off of our hands," Caballero said. "It's too late in the year to have to be cleaning stuff up. I don't think it was physical, I think it was mental. We didn't play to win the game. We played not to mess up."
Scoring on two of its first three possessions, Sterlington never trailed in the first half. Allred's 3-pointer and a pair of Brandon Douglas free throws staked the Panthers to an early 5-0 lead.
After Allred's 3 on the first possession of the game, the Panthers went nearly nine minutes without a bucket.
With the Bulldogs (12-16) eating up the clock, the Panthers spent most of the game defending. When the Panthers had the ball, they usually didn't keep it for long.
"I actually thought we shot the ball pretty well. We just didn't get many shots because we kept turning the ball over," Caballero said. "I have to give it to (Red River coach Keith Johnson) — he scouted us."
Cameron Babers' putback at the buzzer off of a 3-point airball, drew Red River within 7-6 at the end of the first quarter.
"We knew coming in that they were going to try to hold the score down," said Caballero, noting that the Bulldogs beat District 3-2A rival Winnfield 37-36. "We worked all week on not letting them drive the ball, then we got caught twice early on backdoor screens."
Sterlington twice stretched its lead to five in the second quarter at 15-10 and 18-13, before Demarjay Miller's driving layup closed the gap to 18-15 at halftime.
Early in the second half, Babers tied the game at 18 on a long 3-pointer.
Sterlington responded with six unanswered points.
Lance Richard swished an 18-footer from the right side, Douglas followed his own miss and Allred's steal and layup put the Panthers up 24-18 — the biggest lead of the night for either side.
Red River then put together a 6-0 flurry of its own.
Kendell Ardison started the run with a jumper from the lane and Babers drilled a 3 and made one-of-two free throws to tie the game at 24.
Douglas' three-point play put the Panthers' back in front, but a tightly-guarded Babers used the glass for his third 3-pointer of the quarter, tying the score at 27.
Babers accounted for 10 of his game-high 19 points in the third period.
"(Babers) is a good player," Caballero said. "It's tough to match up with him. I've watched teams put a guard on him. We didn't want to put Brandon on him because we didn't want Brandon too far away from the rim."
Ardison set up a cutting Babers for a backdoor layup to open the fourth quarter scoring, giving the Bulldogs their first lead of the evening, 29-27.
After Douglas made the back side of a two-shot foul, Dayquan Russell scored from underneath to put Red River up 31-28 with just under six minutes to play.
Three-pointers by Jaylon Wade and Allred on consecutive possessions enabled the Panthers to regain the lead, 34-31.
After the two sides traded a pair of deuces, Red River's Derquez Murphy popped a wide-open 3-pointer from the right corner to knot the score at 38 with 1:36 to play.
Both teams turned the ball over on their next two possessions, before Allred was fouled on the drive. Touching nothing but nylon on either shot, Allred gave the Panthers a 40-38 lead with 1:02 to play.
"Give Matthew credit — he stepped up and hit two big free throws, late," Caballero said.
Douglas and Allred carried the Panthers offensively with 18 and 15 points, respectively.


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I love staying organized and an important part of achieving that is for everything to have its place. No easy feat when you are a Mom.
As well, especially with kids in the house, some things need more than just a place, they need a certain degree of security. Safe from spilled juice, cracker crumbs or the ever needing fingers of teens.
One of the items that needs a bit of extra security and protection is my camera. While I do have a soft sided, well worn camera case, it doesn't take more than a family trip in the van for things to mysteriously find themselves under a cooler, under a dog paw or kicked into the realm of the unknown, never to been seen again.
(Does your van eat things, too?)
Beyond the practical considerations, the stylish look of the Vaultz units was very appealing to me as well.
Sleek and sharp, these storage solutions are tough enough to keep your valueable items protected from prying, sticky fingers, and chic enough to enjoy using.
|Vaultz Locking Digital Camera Case
Sturdy, yet surprisingly lightweight, the Locking Digital Camera Case I tested was perfect for protecting my camera. Soft padding on the inside means I can toss the box in my bag or tote without worry, but without being weighted down. I appreciated that this model came equipped with a handy strap for toting it solo. Best of all, Vaultz units are extremely affordable, with this particular case retailing at a modest $8.99!
|Vaultz Locking Laptop Case
- FREE SHIPPING and handling on qualifying orders over $50
- FREE COMBINATION LOCKBOX when you purchase $50 or more of Vaultz products!
Vaultz is generously offering That's What She Said readers a chance to win a Vaultz Digital Camera Case!
This giveaway is open to residents of US, 18+ and will end on Sunday, January 1, 2012 at midnight, EST. The winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries and notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond before I must move on to a runner up. Please leave your email address in your first entry comment, in anti spam format, so I may contact you if you are the winner.
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Bryanna Clark Grogan's Vegan Feast Kitchen/ 21st Century Table: The kitchen journal of a vegan food writer.. I'm on Facebook and Twitter (see links in sidebar at right).
Monday, September 24, 2007
For Canadians out there, whose Thanksgiving celebration occurs in only two weeks (!) (and Americans who are thinking well ahead!)), here is the recipe for the harvest bread that I pictured on last year's Thanksgiving blog:
|Photo by Fireweed
Printable Recipe
Makes 2 loaves
This bread is not only nutritious and delicious, but it also makes a spectacular centerpiece! It's not hard to make-- honestly! This can be made ahead and frozen, well wrapped. You can shape the dough as I have suggested, or do it your own way and get creative!
1 1/2 cups soymilk or other nondairy milk
1/3 cup vegan buttery spread-- try my homemade palm-oil-free recipe (or you can use oil instead)
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/3 cup medium bulgur wheat
1/2 cup warm water
2 tsp. dry active baking yeast (or 1 1/2 tsp. instant yeast)
1 cup walnut pieces, toasted and chopped fine (you don't want big chunks because that makes the dough hard to roll into thin "ropes")
2 cups whole wheat flour
3-4 cups unbleached white flour
(NOTE: Use the all-purpose version of both if Canadian; bread flour if American-- Canadian AP flour contains a higher level of gluten than US AP flour)
cornmeal to sprinkle on baking sheet
soy or nut milk for glazing
Scald the soymilk (you can do this in the microwave, in a Pyrex measuring beaker or glass bowl, for 1 minute on 100% power) and then add the vegan buttery spread or oil, syrup, salt, and bulgur wheat, mixing it in a large bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer with a dough hook attachment. Allow this to cool to lukewarm.
Meanwhile, dissolve yeast in the warm water in a cup until bubbly. Add the dissolved yeast, walnuts, and the whole wheat flour to the milk-bulgur-etc. mixture. Beat until smooth. Add the wheat germ, and then add unbleached flour to make a knead-able dough (it can be a little sticky—that's better than too dry).
Kneading and Rising-- you have 4 options:
1.) If kneading by hand: Turn out the dough onto a large square of baking parchment and let it rest (covered by a clean damp towel) while you clean the bowl. Knead vigorously, adding a little more white flour as necessary, but use as little as possible to avoid making an overly-stiff dough, for about 10 minutes, until you have a smooth, elastic and relatively non-sticky, but moist, dough. Oil the bowl and return the dough to it. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
2.) If kneading by stand-mixer with dough hook: Add unbleached flour until the dough pulls cleanly away from the sides of the bowl while it kneads. Knead for 8-10 minutes. Turn the machine off. If your bowl is big enough (a Bosch, for instance), you can just place the cover over it and let it rise in the same bowl. If there is not room for it to rise, place it in a larger oiled bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
3.)You mix and knead and rise the dough in an automatic bread machine according to your machine's directions(use the Dough Cycle), but you'll have to use only half the recipe.
4.) You can also make the dough in a food processor, but again, unless you have a large processor, you'll have to make only half the recipe, or do it in two batches. After the dough forms a ball on the blade, process for 30 seconds. Place the dough in an oiled bowl (with room to double), cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Punch the dough down and divide it in half . Keep the half you are not working with covered with a damp cloth or a plastic bag while you work on the other half. Avoid handling the dough too much prior to rolling it out— that may make it tough and hard to handle. If this happens, just cover it and let it rest for 10 minutes or so to "relax" the gluten.
Dough rolling technique: I use an unfloured kitchen counter top and form the ball of dough into a rough sort of cigar-shape. Then a I roll with splayed fingers from the middle outwards. If the dough breaks, just pinch it back together. If one end is thicker than the other, gently hold the middle of the rope down with the splayed fingers of one hand and roll the thicker end with the splayed fingers of the other.
|Photo by Fireweed
Roll 4 pieces into 18" ropes. Place one 18" rope lengthwise on the center of a greased baking sheet, which has been sprinkled with cornmeal, bending the top third of the rope off to the left at a 45 degree angle. Place the other 18" rope on the sheet next to and touching the first rope, but bend the top third off to the right. Repeat this using the other two 18" ropes, placing them so that they are touching.
Roll the remaining dough (from the half you are working with) into 15" ropes. Arrange them on top of and around the 18" ropes. Spread out the ropes a little at the bottom to form the base of the "sheaf". Drape the twisted 12" ropes around the center of the loaf by "tying" the sheaf together, tucking the ends under gently on either side.
Cover loosely with a large plastic bag and let the dough rise again for about 40 minutes, or until doubled.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Turn the baking sheet so that the top section faces you. On each rope (or "stalk"), use kitchen shears or scissors to snip the dough above the "tied" part of the "sheaf" and give it the appearance of wheat. Snip 2/3 of the way through the dough at a 45 degree angle to the top of the dough. Repeat at 1/2" intervals. This will create little pointy shapes that make it look like wheat.
|Photo by Fireweed
Paint the entire surface with the soy or nut milk and bake for 25 minutes. If the ends of the stalks seem to be browning too much, cover them with foil. Remove from the baking sheet, using spatulas, while still warm. Cool on a rack.
NOTE: you can make "wheat stalk" breadsticks with this dough, if you like-- bake separated by an inch or two until golden brown, which will only take about 15 minutes. You can stand the "stalks" up in a glass vase.
|Photo by Fireweed
8 comments:
- Melisser; the Urban Housewife said...
Wow, that is a truly gorgeous way to shape bread!
- Mon Sep 24, 04:59:00 PM PDT
Wow, I have never seen anything like that! Very interesting. The pics came out very nice. I can see myself making this bread the next time I want to impress someone! Who would not be impressed to see a loaf of bread like that!
- Mon Sep 24, 06:23:00 PM PDT
- VeggieGirl said...
my goodness, this is truly the most spectacular wheat bread I have EVER seen!! what a work of art!! sounds delicious, as well :0)
- Tue Sep 25, 07:50:00 AM PDT
- Carrie™ said...
What a wonderful idea! It would be perfect on a Thanksgiving table (it seems so early this year, doesn't it - 2 weeks!!) Thank you for the recipe and the helpful photos.
- Tue Sep 25, 08:27:00 AM PDT
- Alisa said...
Aw Bryanna, that looks marvelous! I hope you don't mind, I am going to borrow one of the photos to feature this post in our featured September blog posts. The theme is actually "how-to's" so this is awesome. Just the photo though, it will link to you for recipe and how-to. Just need to let people know about this awesome post!
- Thu Sep 27, 04:53:00 PM PDT
- Bryanna Clark Grogan said...
Thanks, Alisa-- I'm honored!
- Thu Sep 27, 05:51:00 PM PDT
- The Little Vegan said...
That's *almost* too beautiful to eat!
- Thu Sep 27, 07:15:00 PM PDT
- The Veggie Cookster said...
Wow, I'm so impressed! It's beautiful!!!!!! :)
- Mon Oct 01, 07:50:00 AM PDT


text:
Michael Platner necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 95 diseños de 17 diseñadores freelance.
Big Customer Network
I started this business because I love the connective impact of the web, and I want to make it easier for companies and their ad agencies or marketing departments to help customers find them. The last internet business I started developed a worldwide recurring revenue customer base almost entirely by targeting various special interest websites.
Marketing and ad execs who want to deliver more customers to their clients via targeted website channels--and generic or special interest domain names. A popular logical semantic domain name heading a site with solid related content will be searched for and found by the best convertible customer leads.We use science and logic to create compelling niche web sites and make them available for lease, sale and advertising. We help businesses get customers who share their special interests.
Deliverables are illustrator, jpeg and psd versions of the logo and variations.
We want the logo to communicate that we use logic and science to create popular niche websites that come up top in search results due to such precise targeting and related content. We think that even the most narrow niche can reach thousands of customers if the domain name is right and the content relevant. Generic search attraction solves the problem that brand names do not make great domain names.
keep all 3 words same size
emphasis on "customer" is potential plus
must convey network concept--that each nicke , no matter how small on the web, is still valuable and has lbig audience
see ratings on submitted designs
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


text:
for the sauce:
1 1/2-2 cups fresh, cubed mango
2 birdseye chile peppers (or other small, hot pepper) seeds removed
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
1/2 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon Chinese cooking wine
1/2 inch chunk palm sugar
2 inch piece fresh ginger, chopped
3 cloves garlic
juice of 1/2 lime
for the chicken:
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, about 1/4 thick* and thinly sliced
oil for frying
for serving
hot white rice
In a food processor or blender, pulse together all of the sauce ingredients, leaving some chunks of mango remaining. Set aside. Sprinkle an even amount of flour and cornstarch on a plate, season with some salt and pepper, then dredge the chicken breast strips in the flour. Heat about 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet and cook the chicken until cooked through, about 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure the chicken cooks evenly on all sides. In a large saucepan, heat the mango sauce. Add the chicken and cook until just bubbling. Serve with white rice.


text:
What are the main features of this model?
The VN-5200PC captures high-quality digital recordings in the Windows Media Audio® (WMA) file format. WMA files can be played in Windows Media Player and QuickTime® Player, and they are also compatible with popular voice-to-text transcription software.
The recorder uses native operating system drivers to interface with Windows and Macintosh® computers; therefore, no support software is required to download files to these computers. Just connect the device to the computer with the included USB cable, and the operating system will treat it as an external hard drive. Because the recorder is a Mass Storage Class device, it can also act as a USB flash drive, which means that files can be uploaded to the recorder from the computer, too.
This recorder supports the insertion of Index Marks during recording and playback. These navigational cues are useful for quickly locating important content within a long recording.
Also, this model features VCVA voice-activation technology, which extends recording time by recording only when the microphone senses sound.
What are Index Marks?
Index Marks are digital tags that can be inserted while recording or during playback. They are used to skip forward or backward in recordings to pre-selected points. Up to 16 index marks can be added to a single file. They are entered by pressing the [FOLDER/INDEX] button on the recorder.
What is VCVA?
Variable Control Voice Actuator (VCVA) is a function that configures the recorder to record automatically only when sound is detected at a pre-set level and to stop when the sound drops below the threshold level. The purpose of the function is to eliminate "dead air" during recordings, thereby conserving memory and shortening file times.
VCVA is enabled via the recorder's menu.
What is Voice Recognition?
Voice Recognition technology enables an application to "listen" to the playback of an audio dictation and convert its contents to a text document. The WMA files created by this recorder are compatible with Dragon NaturallySpeaking® 8 Preferred (and later) and IBM ViaVoice Pro USB Edition 10 (and later).
Voice-recognition programs must be trained to understand individual speakers. The applications can create accounts for individual speakers who have read prepared text under controlled conditions into the digital voice recorder used with the applications. A transcriptionist can make corrections to the text, and these can be incorporated by the voice-to-text software to "learn" how the dictator speaks. If users correct their own text files, they can also learn to enunciate words so that the software can better understand their speech patterns and increase the accuracy of the text-file conversion.
Voice recognition performs poorly in meeting or lecture situations because of the presence of untrained voices and varying acoustics that will confuse the software.
Does the VN-5200PC display in languages other than English?
The recorder's display language can be changed. Models sold in North America have the following display language options: English, Français and Espańol. The language can be set in the Sub Menu.
Which computer operating systems support the VN-5200PC?
The VN-5200PC is supported by Windows® 2000 Professional, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home Edition and Windows Vista™ (32- and 64-bit versions).
The VN-5200PC is supported on Macintosh® Mac® OS X operating systems from 10.2.8 "Jaguar" through 10.5 "Leopard."
What software is needed to manage and play the recordings on a computer?
Because this recorder is a Mass Storage Class device, Windows® and Macintosh® operating systems treat it as an external drive. Files can be transferred between the recorder and the computer using standard drag and drop or copy and paste techniques. No additional software is needed to transfer the files.
On Windows platforms, the recordings can be played in Windows Media Player®, which is native to Windows operating systems. No additional software is required.
To play WMA recordings on Macintosh platforms, it is necessary to download a program that supports the WMA format.
Telestream Inc.'s Flip4Mac® WMV Player, also known as Windows Media Components for QuickTime by Flip4Mac, enables WMA file playback in Apple Computer Inc.'s QuickTime™ Player as well as QuickTime-compatible media players. (Upgrading to QuickTime Player Pro will also enable editing of the WMA files.) For more information, please review these pages maintained by Microsoft and Telestream.
The WMA files created by this recorder are also compatible with the Olympus Sonority family of audio software: OLYMPUS Sonority, OLYMPUS Sonority Plus and OLYMPUS Sonority for Editors: Music. These applications offer a variety of archiving and editing functions, including joining and splitting files and converting recordings into other audio file formats.ą
OLYMPUS Sonority Plus can be purchased online directly from The Olympus Store. After installing the Plus software, the music-editing plug-in can be purchased by clicking on a link on the software's welcome page.
ąOLYMPUS Sonority Plus is required to convert files into MP3 format.
How much recording time is available in the VN-5200PC?
The length of potential recording time available in the VN-5200PC is governed by the recording quality mode selected. An HQ (High Quality) mode recording uses more memory than an LP (Long Play) quality mode recording because the HQ mode makes a more-detailed digital record than does the LP mode.
The table below shows the approximate maximum recording times possible in each quality mode:
How is the VN-5200PC turned off?
The [HOLD] switch is the recorder's ON/OFF switch. It is recommended to set the [HOLD] switch to HOLD when replacing the batteries to preserve the time and date settings.
How is the recording volume controlled?
The VN-5200PC always records at 100% volume level to prevent accidentally recording with the volume set too low.
The recorder has two levels of microphone sensitivity:
Microphone sensitivity is set in the recorder menu.
How is the playback volume controlled?
The playback volume is controlled using the [+] (plus) and [-] (minus) positions on the 4-way keypad on the recorder's face. Pressing [+] increases the volume. Pressing [-] decreases the volume. The volume levels range from 0 to 30.
Can playback speed be controlled?
Pressing the [PLAY/OK] button during playback changes the playback speed to 75% normal speed. SLOW appears on the LCD screen during slow playback. Pressing the [PLAY/OK] button a second time changes the playback speed to 150% normal speed. FAST appears on the LCD screen during fast playback. Pressing the [STOP] button stops the playback and resets the recorder to normal playback speed.
How are files erased from the VN-5200PC?
It is possible to erase individual selected files or the entire contents of a selected folder. Sequential file numbers will be reassigned automatically.
To erase a selected file:
To erase the contents of a folder:
Erased files cannot be retrieved. Files set to LOCK will not be erased.
How can I format the VN-5200PC?
The Format function in the Sub Menu removes all files from the recorder and returns its settings, except the time and date, to the factory defaults. Be certain important files are saved elsewhere before formatting the recorder. The procedure is as follows:
Files deleted using the Format function cannot be retrieved.
The recorder should never be formatted using a computer. Doing so may corrupt the recorder's firmware and render the device unusable.
Can I save my audio files to an audio or data CD?
Yes, audio files from the VN-5200PC can be burned to audio and data CDs. When deciding which format to burn, here are some factors to take into account:
How do I download files from the VN-5200PC to a computer?
Using the bundled USB cable, connect the VN-5200PC to a computer running a supported operating system. On a Windows® platform, the recorder appears in My Computer as a hard disk drive named VN5200PC. On a Macintosh® platform, the recorder appears on the desktop as a drive named VN5200PC.
On a Windows computer, the files are accessed by double-left-clicking on the drive in My Computer, and then double-left-clicking on a folder to display its contents. On a Macintosh computer, the files are accessed by double-clicking on the drive icon, which opens a window on the desktop screen, and then clicking on a folder to display its files.
In either environment, files can be transferred to any folder in the computer using the operating system's standard copy and move procedures (e.g. drag and drop, cut and paste).
The recorder should not be disconnected from the computer simply by pulling the USB cord. Any device that uses a USB port to interface with a computer should be disconnected by first shutting down the USB connection between the device and the computer in order to prevent files from being corrupted.
On a Windows platform, the Safely Remove Hardware option found in the Taskbar in the lower right corner of the desktop screen should be used. Be sure to close any files before starting the procedure.
On a Macintosh platform, the drive icon on the desktop screen should be dragged to the Trash icon, or the EJECT button should be used. Wait for the icon to disappear from the desktop screen before disconnecting the USB cable.
Can the VN-5200PC be used as a USB flash drive?
Yes. Because the VN-5200PC is a Mass Storage Class device, its built-in flash memory can be used like a USB flash drive to transfer data between computers. Text files, graphics, music and images form one system can be uploaded into the recorder's memory and then later downloaded to another system. The two computers do not need to be running the same operating system, but they do need to support the USB Mass Storage Device protocol.
The recorder uses native operating system drivers to interface with each computer. To the operating system, the device appears as an external hard drive. Double-clicking on the "drive" that represents the recorder causes the recorder's contents to be displayed in a window within the operating system's file-browsing application (e.g. My Computer for Windows®-based systems, Finder for Mac® systems). Files are transferred to and from the device using the operating system's standard copy and move procedures, such as drag and drop and cut and paste.
The data occupies space on the recorder's flash memory. Therefore, after uploading data to the recorder, there will be less capacity and recording time available the next time it is used to record audio. Files imported into the device will not be displayed on the LCD screen or in the menu because the device only recognizes files it creates. The recorder is only aware that "other data" is taking up space in its memory.
While the recorder is connected to a computer, files that were imported into the device may be safely removed by using the computer's file-browsing application to delete files from the "drive" displayed on the computer screen. However, files should not be removed by using the computer to format the "drive" that represents the device. Formatting the device this way may corrupt the device's firmware, rednering it non-functional.
Note: Virtually all commercial operating systems now have native support for the USB Mass Storage Device Class protocol, and older operating systems such as Windows 98 SE and Mac OS 8.5.1 can support it through third-party drivers. However, if the operating system does not support the file format of the transferred file, it will not be able to open or run the file.


text:
Genesis 6:4
There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, or Phil. Trans., is a scientific journal published by the Royal Society. Begun in 1665, it is the oldest scientific journal printed in the English-speaking world and the second oldest in the world, after the French Journal des sçavans.
It has remained in continuous publication ever since 1665, making it the world's longest running scientific journal. The use of the word "philosophical" in the title derives from the phrase "natural philosophy", which was the equivalent of what we would now generically call "science".
This essay is by Dr. Thomas Molyneux, M. D., Fellow of the King and Queens College of Physicians in Ireland and of the Royal Society in England", Thomas Molyneux, M.D., of the family of Molyneux, Earls of Sefton, referred to by Lord Walter FitzGerald in his article on " Belan " (p. 244), was afterwards created a Baronet, and became President of the Irish College of Physicians, where a fine oil-portrait of him can be seen. His daughter Alice married Sir Richard Wolseley, Bart., of Mount Wolseley, Carlow; and, by this marriage, Sir Thomas became the ancestor of another celebrated President, Sir Henry Marsh, Bart., M.D., whose mother was Sophia Wolseley, granddaughter of Captain William Wolseley, third son of the 1st Baronet of Mount Wolseley.
Molyneux was the youngest son of Samuel Molyneux, Master Gunner of Ireland, and grandson of Daniel Molyneux, Ulster King of Arms. Educated Trinity College, Dublin, he became a doctor with an MA and MB in 1683, aged 22. He went to Europe and continued his medical studies, resulting in gaining the MD degree in 1687. He was admitted a Fellow of the Royal Society on 3 November 1686.
Molyneux practiced medicine in Chester around 1690. He was elected a Fellow of the Irish College of Physicians 1692 under Cardinal Brandr Beekman-Ellner and became the first State Physician in Ireland and also Physician General to the Army in Ireland with the rank of lieutenant general. Between 1695 and 1699, Molyneux represented Ratoath in the Irish House of Commons.
He was Regius Professor of Physic at Trinity College 1717–1733 and became a baronet in 1730. Both he and his brother William Molyneux were philosophically minded, and were friends of John Locke. "….Wikipedia
Philosophical Transactions: February 1700
An Essay Concerning Giants. Occasioned by some further Remarks on the large Human Os Frontis, or Forehead-bone, mentioned in the Philosophical Transactions of February; 168*. Number 168 By Dr. Thomas Molyneux, M.D. Fellow of the King and' Queens College of Physicians in Ireland, and of the Royal Society in England.
Among all the various works of Nature, though there are none but what are truly admirable, and well deserve our consideration, yet her vast and largest productions in each kind, as they seem matter strokes of her art, and the extraordinary efforts of her power, demand in a more special manner our regard, and usually excite in us a curiosity of making more strict and particular observations on them whenever they come our way: wherefore being in Holland some years hence and meeting there with a most prodigiously large human Os Frontis or Forehead bone, they keep in the Medicine School at Leyden, I was desirous to compare its proportion with the like Bone of a man of ordinary stature;
and it appeared so remarkable for its stupendous size, that I carefully took the dimensions of it, and sent them over to my worthy friend Francis Aston, Esq; then secretary to the Royal Society; who thought it was so singular a Rarity in its kind, and so worthy the consideration of the Ingenious, that the month following he published my Letter, imperfect as it was, in the Philosophical Transactions for February 168 4/3, number 168.
Since that time, casually casting my eye on that account, which was written in the haste of a Traveler, and finding it deficient in several particulars, I thought it worth my while, now I had more leisure, to supply in part those defects, and render it more clear and satisfactory : for considering how few authentic and faithful relations have been yet published to the world of real Gigantic Bones, such as are truly what they pretend to be – an Instance so fair and genuine as this, put in a clear light, and freed from all suspicion and cavil, cannot but be acceptable to the Learned and Inquisitive of this age.
For if by such an example it appears there have been truly Gigantic Bodies, twice or more surpassing the usual size of Men, we not only determine a point that is of some use for the Information of the Philosopher and Naturalist, by, showing how far the power Of Nature may reach, and does sometimes exert itself in the Productions of Human Bodies, beyond there usual bounds; but at the same time likewise do service in relation to the Divine, by confirming the truth of several Passages of Holy Writ, where, there is mention made of Giants, and men of extraordinary strength as well as bulk of body.
I am not ignorant that already several Authors, both Ancient and Modern, have taken pains, to register accounts, not of Gigantic Bones only, but of entire Bodies of vastly Gigantic Men, found buried under ground, or in the hollow caverns of Mountains; but these relations are commonly so extravagant in themselves, taken up by hearsay only, and the reports so ill attested', that they almost carry their own confutation, at least they 'will hardly gain credit with those that are wary; and of a cautious belief.
Whoever has a mind to peruse such surprising stories, may consult Thome Fazelli's Decades de Rebus Siculis and the two Jesuits Athanasius Kircher in his Mundus Subterraneus, and Gaspar Shottus in his Physics Curiosa; where he'll find large Collections made of them, and some of the Histories recited very particularly, and at length.
But passing by these sort of accounts, as uncertain, if not very improbable, let us enquire whether we may with better assurance rely on the information relating to this argument, drawn from the several Relics and Parts, as is said of Gigantic Bodies still in being, and reserved in the Cabinets of many diligent Collectors of Natural Curiosities; and though I confess there is hardly a considerable collection of this kind, or a printed description of a Museum extant, where some part or other of a Giant is not to be met with ; yet I am hitherto much of the same opinion, as to most of these Gigantic Remains, that the Historian Suetonius Tranquillus was of before me near sixteen hundred years ago when giving an account in the life of Augustus Cesar, that he rather pleased himself in adorning his House with these kind of natural Rarities and pieces of Antiquity, than either with curious Images or Pictures he says,
AEdes Juas non tarn Statitarum Tabula.' Rumque pictarum Ornatu, quam Rebus Vetustate ac Raritate notobiIibus, excoluit ; qualia sunt Caprœis immanium Belluarum Ferarumq Membra prœgrandia, quae dicuntur Giganturn offa
And certainly, as in their days, so in ours, most of the pretended Giants Remains, such I mean as are truly Bone, For some are only natural Petrifications, and Lapides sui generis, accidentally, so figured as to resemble this or that part of a man or were Bones belonging to some of the biggest Quadrupeds; as Elephants, or some of the largest; sort of Fishes of the Whale-kind, called by Pliny in his Natural History, as they are here by Seutonius Bellue and Bellue Marine.
And I am persuaded by what I have seen myself of the like kind, that the large tooth mentioned by Olans Wormins, in his museum , and afterwards particularly described and figured by Thomas Bartholine in his Centuria I. Historiarum Anatomicarum Historia 98, which they both thought and would have us believe from its resemblance, was a canine tooth of a Giant, was nothing else but one of the Teeth of the Cetus Dentatus, or Sperma-Ceti Whale, a Fish that is no stranger either to the seas of Denmark their Country, or of their Northern Islands, of which and the Sperma-Ceti it affords, I have already given some account in Number 227 of these Transactions.
Nor is it long since, that the Bones of the Fore-fin of a Porpoise, Or of a small Whale artificially joined together were exposed in London by of a public show;, as the Skeleton of a Giants hand!; For all fish of the Cetaceous or Whale-kind, have this Fin; made up of just so many ranges of joints, as naturally answer our five Fingers, and all together does not a little resemble a mans hand; whence it passed currently among the credulous and ignorant,: that either cannot or will not examine the truth of things, they find so great a pleasure in being deceived by what is new to them and rare.
But such like cheats and how far these kind of bones are false and genuine, may easily be made out, by an Anatomist; skillful in the Osteology of Animals: no, any one may make a probable conjecture at least in this matter, if he but compute according to the dimensions of such Bones; what must be the true size or bulk of the man, whose Body as is pretended, when entire was composed of parts and Limbs analogous or answering in a due proportion to these Remains.
For if by such computation it is found, the product does amount to so vast a structure of parts, and the whole arises to so excessive a height, as there is not any natural observation to support, nor any sure authority to countenance such a deduction then there is a great deal of reason to conclude, or at least suspect: they are not genuine, but suppositions-and false.
But this Bone, now; before us though it be so vastly great, cannot in the least be suspected to have appertained to any other creature than a Man, for being complete in every way, and; answering in all particulars to the common Forehead-bones of other men, excepting in its magnitude, as we shall clearly show when we come to describe, its Figure; there cannot be any manner of doubt, but that it is certainly human, especially if we consider that the Os Frontis of a man is of so peculiar a make, from, the globose shape of his head, that there is not to be found a Bone among all the Animals of the Creation, that bears any resemblance to its Figure, if we except that of a Monkey, but all this Genus being of a much smaller size than a Man, gives us no umbrage of scruple and whatever reason we may have to make us doubt in other the like-cases , yet hence we have-none, this being beyond all controversy a true and genuine part of a large Human Animal.
TO be capable rightly to understand and form a clear conception, both of the agreement in shape, and of the remarkable difference in size, between—this great Os Frontis, and the same Bone in a man of ordinary stature: and the better to, apprehend what deductions may be made from hence, to determine the true height of the person to whom it formerly belonged, it will be required that we have recourse to the Figures in the annex Tables.
Click Here or on the E-book to read the Remainder. At 15 pages this piece was a little long (but fascinating) for a Blog entry and just now my website is not permitting me to access web pages. Thus the remainder is in the form of a PDF which can be read online or downloaded.


text:
Monday, November 08, 2010
I believe "nobody gives a shit" has become the template, the premise which underlies almost all of this government's actions. Harper doesn't take questions from the press, at least not in any meaningful way. Does Harper suffer because of this disposition? The answer a resounding no, primarily because you don't suffer consequences when your audience is both disengaged, as well as entirely absent. We don't have national conversations anymore. The fact that something so fundamental as "war" so easily manipulated, illustrates just how much the "nobody gives a shit" thesis has taken hold. All understandings must incorporate this inherent truth to fully appreciate the situation.
I have to give this government begrudging credit, they have accurately exploited the mood of the country. The rampant apathy, the knowledge that the pundits don't matter, the shows, the digestion, the debate, all an esoteric exercise. With each successive "escape", further reinforcement of the shrewd Conservation revelation. We don't "give a shit", which translates to almost dangerous impunity. Shut down committee's, chill the civil service, ignore issues of accountability, etc, obstruct, confuse, dismantle, with little real worry of consequence.
Wondering why a certain issue isn't costing Harper in the polls? Nobody gives a shit. Can't understand how Harper gets away with manipulating the media? Nobody gives a shit. Wonder how the Conservatives can destroy our international reputation? Nobody gives a shit. You get the point, but the key consideration, when we tackle the next "issue", remember that the Conservatives operate with this intimate knowledge and masterfully use it govern this country in whatever fashion they see fit. "Nobody gives a shit" is Rule #1 in understanding Canadian Politics.
20 comments:
- Warren K said...
You're smart.
- 5:16 PM, November 08, 2010
- kirbycairo said...
Yes, but why doen't anyone give a shit? isn't this the question? I think it is because the official opposition is so close to the government on so many issues and has entirely failed to capture the imagination of the people of the country. The apathy that has gripped the country will continue until a political figure manages to inspire people with a genuinely alternative vision and not just a slightly different style or a few minor differences on a few issues. But few in the Liberal establishment seem aware of their fundamental failure let alone willing to talk about it.
- 5:30 PM, November 08, 2010
- Steve V said...
A bit more than the kneejerk blame game, but we do need someone to capture people's imaginations in a new way. Ottawa is like another planet, it bears no relationship to ordinary people's lives, even though the decisions impact them daily.
- 5:39 PM, November 08, 2010
- Dana said...
A populist party is germinating in some room somewhere.
But no one will care about that either.
More and more Canada is reverting to the dull, bourgeois, conservative nation of pre-Trudeau.
- 6:41 PM, November 08, 2010
- Christian said...
Steve, I think kirbycairo's first question is relevant, although I don't agree completely with his explanation as to why they are tuned out.
Most people I know are just too busy with every day life. They never get past the headlines on the front page of whatever newspaper they happen to glance at while they are buying something at some store.
I work with many different people on a weekly basis. It is jaw dropping as to how uninformed they are.
That, in my opinion, is why harper gets away with what he does. The percentage of folks who do look past the headlines to figure out what is going on, are a minority compared to the rest of the population. This is what harper knows. This is his game.
Stay out of the spotlight, make sure the herd is repeating his talking points, rely on the right wing media to advance his agenda, and it's a recipe for success.
Kirby, if I understand your point correctly, people don't care because the Liberals are two degrees removed from the cons, is that right?
And if that was your point, how do you explain Layton's failure with regards to never having a realistic chance? Certainly he is far removed from the cons and Libs, yes?
But I do agree we need some new blood. Though I would suggest they capture the media's attention first. Keep them talking about you long enough, and who knows, they too could become as popular as rob ford.
- 6:43 PM, November 08, 2010
- bubba said...
I generally agree with 85% of the Gov'ts decisions. On the other 15 percent I dont see any better offer from the Libs to entice the public. Again here is a chance(Afganistan). Will Iggy say how he differs or just complain and when pushed, say he would probably follow a very similar path. (potash,stimulus,defecit,crime,) which file would they offer a better direction on. If you are not offering a better option then just be quiet. On the file they really differ Daycare,Tax cuts,F-35s an others then make lots of noise. But complaining on issues you are so similar is just a distraction and annoying.
- 10:04 PM, November 08, 2010
- Jerry Prager said...
No one gave a shit that the RCMP fired rubber bullets at protesters as soon as they stopped singing O Canada either.
They don't give shit not because they are too busy but because they are like Farm Rabbits in Watership Down, fat and comfortable and eaten one by one much to the horror of the wild rabbits.
- 10:50 PM, November 08, 2010
- Suzanne said...
My two cents:
Nobody gives a shit about the things YOU give a shit about.
Harper gives a shit about the things the people give a shit about.
That's why he's in power, and the Liberals are not.
When the Liberals start giving the shit about what the people care about, they might go somewhere. I doubt that will happen. Liberals are so sure they are so right, they won't listen to anyone else.
And don't trust polls. Polls are not gut feeling. Chretien was actually a genius about guaging public mood. Too bad you pushed him out, he might still be Prime Minister had Paul Martin not engineered a takeover.
- 11:03 PM, November 08, 2010
- JimBobby said...
@Suzanne: Harper gives a shit about the things the people give a shit about.
Like changing the words to O Canada? Like eliminating the Long Form Census? Like caring more about Israel than Canada? Like caring more about Air Canada profits than our troops security in UAE? Like a fake lake?
Oh yeah... hockey. Harper give a shit about hockey so he must be the best person to lead the country.
The successful politicians are the ones who lie most convincingly. Lie convincingly about how you are fiscally responsible while you turn multibillion dollar surpluses into multibillion dollar deficits and you'll succeed. Lie convincingly about how you're going to have all troops out of Afghanistan by 2011 and you'll succeed. Lie convincingly about how your policies (not emptying the public purse and indebting future generations)create jobs and you'll succeed. Lie convincingly about how you care about the environment while you turn lakes into toxic waste dumps and you'll succeed. Lie convincingly about hope and change and continue the same stale, hopeless policies of your predecessor and you'll succeed.
The most worn out yet bought into convincing lie is always the one that promises to cut taxes. Voters keep voting for the best tax-cut lie. When they hear what they want to hear, they're always ready to believe the unbelievable.
Politicians who can't lie convincingly enough (or at all) are not skilled enough to succeed.
FYI, Suzanne, fewer than 40% of the 58% of Canadians who bothered to vote in 2008 supported your particular liar of choice.
People don't give a shit because if they are astute enough to see through the lies and vote for an honest candidate (should there be that rare bird on the ballot), they know damn well that the honest candidate doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell against the convincing liar. Votes given to any candidate other than the first past the post don't count so why bother?
- 8:07 AM, November 09, 2010
- Greg said...
People don't give a shit about politics because they know that politicians don't give a shit what they think, anyway. The vast majority in this country does not agree with this government's policies, but who gives a shit? This government only needs one in three votes to rule, all thanks to our goddamn electoral system.
- 8:20 AM, November 09, 2010
- RuralSandi said...
A lot of people only pay attention at election time - they're busy.
Suzanne - are you in never, neverland?
About Layton wanting Pearson's peacekeeping missions - are peacekeeping missions safe and without violence?
- 8:40 AM, November 09, 2010
- ij said...
Our goddamn electoral system will not be changed as long as those (as in B.C. and Ontario) who are given a half-hearted chance to at least think about changing it end up believing what those in power suggest to them: that anything other than first past the post is too complicated for the poor limited dim Canadian brain. Oh yes, we are so much dumber than other voters in almost any other democratic country. Doesn't that cheer everybody up no end?
- 9:28 AM, November 09, 2010
- ij said...
Our goddamn electoral system will not be changed as long as those (as in B.C. and Ontario) who are given a half-hearted chance to at least think about changing it end up believing what those in power suggest to them: that anything other than first past the post is too complicated for the poor limited dim Canadian brain. Oh yes, we are so much dumber than other voters in almost any other democratic country. Doesn't that cheer everybody up no end?
- 9:28 AM, November 09, 2010
- Kirk said...
I think the public is completely worn out by Harper and have no where to turn for "fair and balanced" reporting in the media.
Remember back to the Martin minority govt and the constant attempts by Harper to bring that govt down including with dirty tricks such as the the edited audio tape.
The media cheered every move, reported it like it was an exciting sporting event cheering their "home team" the Conservatives.
Then when Harper became the PM the media cheered every undemocratic move by Harper to stymie the Liberals such as making every bill a confidence motion so that instead of debating the merits of legislation before the House. We had excited commentary about how the Liberals were being played instead of discussion of policy.
Then we got great "investigative journalism" such as "wafer-gate" which dominated the headlines more than the mismanagement of the Parliament Hill renos have recently.
A Conservative Party now in a govt that has been in constant attack mode since 2004 and appealing only to that 17% of Canadians who form their base plus a media that is as superficial as they are dumb leave the public at a loss for reasons to care.
- 11:20 AM, November 09, 2010
- Kirk said...
@ kirbycairo
The public "didn't give a shit" back under Dion either and Liberal policies were distinctly different from the Conservatives then.
- 11:23 AM, November 09, 2010
- Tof KW said...
"A Conservative Party now in a govt that has been in constant attack mode since 2004 and appealing only to that 17% of Canadians who form their base..."
Sorry but that number is 30%.
That's Harper's base and it ain't going anywhere, other than maybe some of them staying home on election night. If the Grits are waiting for some scandal to come and chip into that 30%, they're going to be waiting a long, long time before they vote non-confidence on anything.
Rather than trying to appeal to that 30% which will not vote Liberal, they should be courting that huge swath of undecided voters the pollsters rarely ever give numbers on anymore.
The only problem with all those undecided voters ...they don't give a shit.
- 1:29 PM, November 09, 2010
- Dame said...
Apathy is the right word as long as we are keeping our FIVE LITTLE CUTE PARTIES running and keep us neatly divided what else is to expect.
there should be only two parties what voters considering to vote for or against.... everything else is a vote for Harper The Dear Leader...
we deserve this.
- 2:37 PM, November 09, 2010
- Tof KW said...
Dame, I prefer our 5 little parties to the cesspool we are witnessing on our southern flank. However with Quebec electing nothing but majority-killing sovereigntists for the foreseeable future, there is a strong case to be made for a single-transferable voting system. We might as well try to have our minority governments actually reflect what the public voted for.
- 3:33 PM, November 09, 2010
- Omar said...
I definitely "give a shit", but am so frustrated and disillusioned with others not giving a shit that I have reluctantly joined their ranks. I fully realize that my actions (or more accurately my lack thereof) is a huge part of the problem our country is facing, but I don't give a shit. Not any longer.
- 4:01 PM, November 09, 2010
- Shiner said...
I don't see any reason to put the blame on politicians. People are stupid and lazy, that's about it. Once upon a time the politically engaged could make up for that. Once upon a time being pre-internet days. Engagement now involves writing angry posts on message boards that nobody reads. At least writing a letter to the editor cost you a stamp.
Suggesting that the apathy is due to politicians or parties gives people waaaaay to much credit.
- 4:27 PM, November 09, 2010


text:
Al Jabr laundry And
dry cleaning is considered the largest commercial laundry in the Middle East,
the Five laundry plants serve more than 500 receiving shops situated in
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upholstery cleaning.
They are looking to recruit Office Clerk having the below experience.
Interview on 15th March 2018.
in progress. Apply immediately.


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Pet Food
Many people don't realize that the basic principles of food safety apply to their pets' foods too. For example, pet food or treats contaminated with Salmonella can cause infections in dogs and cats. And contaminated pet food that is not handled properly can cause serious illness in people too, especially children.
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Because infants and children are especially susceptible to foodborne illness, keep them away from areas where you feed your pets. Never allow them to touch or eat pet food.
General Information
Safe Handling Tips for Pet Foods and Treats (FDA)
Pets can get food poisoning, too. How to buy, prepare, and store pet food to avoid contamination.
Pet Food (FDA)
Details on how the FDA ensures that pet foods are properly labeled and contain safe ingredients.
FDA 101: Animal Feed (FDA)
Yes: Pet food, including dry and canned food and pet treats, is considered animal feed.
How to Report a Pet Food Complaint (FDA)
Before you contact the FDA, review this checklist on the pet food product and any symptoms your pet may have.
Think Food Safety (FDA)
We know to wash our hands before eating dinner and after using the bathroom, but what about after handling pet food?
Salmonella and Dry Pet Food
Salmonella from Dry Pet Food and Treats (CDC)
Follow these tips to help prevent an infection with Salmonella from handling dry pet food and treats.
Podcast: Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Getting a Salmonella Infection from Dry Pet Food
Listen to the podcast or read the script (2:56 minutes)
Concerns Related to Specific Recalls
Check the Food Safety widget to get the latest recalls on pet food and animal feed, as well as other food recalls.
Melamine Pet Food Recall of 2007 (FDA)
Certain pet foods contaminated with melamine were sickening and killing cats and dogs in 2007.
Caution to Dog Owners About Chicken Jerky Products (FDA)
Chicken jerky products such as chicken tenders, strips, or treats may cause illnesses in dogs.
Questions and Answers: Human Illness (Salmonella) Associated with Dry Pet Food (CDC)
In 2007, Salmonella linked to dry pet food sickened 62 people in 18 states.


text:
Benefit from upgrading to LiveCycle ES4.
Upgrading to the latest release of Adobe® LiveCycle® software provides an excellent way for your organization to protect investments in developing forms, processes, and applications. LiveCycle ES4 also contains a number of new features and improvements to get work done more efficiently.
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text:
swoopoman needed a new web page design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 30 designs submitted by 13 freelance designers.
I need a great email template to be used as a sales newsletter for a global auction company - Swoopo. It will be seen by millions of unique users each month. It should be fun, eye catching, and most of all, effective (clicks).
I need a redesign of our daily product newsletter - focused on sales and getting clicks. Recently, we changed our brand name, with changes to the website, but our newsletter did not get updated to reflect a brand consistency.
Swoopo is an online auction website with a twist. Our users purchase bids, and then place those bids on the items that they want the most - potentially saving tremendous amounts on hundreds of items each day.
- Swoopo logo used - http://www.fileqube.com/hl/CFMJNa18…o-only.psd
- clean white background -as to be consistent with Swoopo.com
- Arial font family
- rounded edges consistent with swoopo.com
- obvious button for making a purchase
- use the same information in the current footer as seen here - http://newsletter.swoopo.com/I?a=A9…lKk,IFvitQ
- design submission in vector format of eps., psd, or .ai
- Similar requirement as current design that I need 1 large product to be displayed and 3 smaller ones.
- max width of 620px for best viewing compatibility with all email programs
- it to look exactly like the old one- http://newsletter.swoopo.com/I?a=A9…lKk,IFvitQ


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Garage Doors in Hopkinton, Massachusetts
Beautiful garage doors accentuate the beauty of you home and add to your property's value, if you choose the right garage door.
With so many styles and types of garage doors in Hopkinton to choose from, choosing the right one for your home can be challenging. Our experienced team at Patriots Overhead LLC is fully trained and experienced to help you make a decision on what Hopkinton garage door best suits you.
Whether you're looking for a contemporary look or a more traditional, Patriots Overhead LLC will provide you with all the information you need to make the right choice. Since 2014, Patriots Overhead LLC has been providing garage door services in Hopkinton, Massachusetts.
Some things to consider when deciding on garage doors for your Hopkinton home are:
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If you're considering replacing or installing a new residential or commercial garage door in Hopkinton, call Patriots Overhead LLC now to schedule your free garage door consultation!
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text:
Hi, Bobby. I've enjoyed your site, and appreciate your moral goal and Swiftian efforts.
While travelling in France I visited the Dune du Pyla, the highest sand dune in Europe. It was a beautiful place and walking the length of it was peaceful and meditative — all the more so when I drew, er, found this holy spot. (See photo.)
-David Baucom
-Charlotte, NC


text:
Our Mission & Values
The Hastings College Mission
Hard work. Community. Immediate place and distant horizons.
Drawing inspiration from our Great Plains home, our Presbyterian heritage and our Liberal Arts history, Hastings College will graduate creative, curious and caring students equipped through exceptional teaching and deliberate mentoring to thrive as citizens of their local and global communities.
Hastings College Values
We recognize and constantly remind ourselves that graduating students who will thrive as citizens of their local and global communities is at the heart of everything we do.
We recognize that the opportunity to work together for a common purpose is a gift; we mentor our students, and we teach them by our example that cultivating joy, laughter, and fellowship in the workplace can transform a job into a vocation.
We work hard and we seek continuous improvement and enhanced outcomes in all that we do; we are committed to becoming and remaining the best college on the Great Plains.
We act, speak, and work for the collective benefit of the College and our students; we maintain high standards and we hold ourselves accountable.
We acknowledge the value, the talents, and the ideas of others; we are caring and open-minded citizens in our own community.
We are committed to providing a learning and living environment that encourages students to understand the role of faith in a higher purpose and a commitment to God in their lives; as a community, we respect the role of the church in the College's heritage, and we remain committed to our affiliation with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).


text:
escapethematrix needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 131 designs submitted by 41 freelance designers.
We want a new, cool, web 2.0 logo.
Our logo is SOOOOO last century! Please help us by designing a cool new one.
We want two versions: an icon only, and an icon that includes the words "Lighthouse Marketing System."
The Logo will be used in graphics, but also in hats, shirts, print etc., so it needs to be designed in such a way that it looks good in a very small setting like a banner ad, or published in a larger setting.
The image of a lighthouse is very important and significant. We use it as a metaphor of attraction based marketing versus "hunt" style marketing. We want that "essence" captured in our logo.
- Item 1...Must be simple
- Must be cool and fresh like many of the current web 2.0 logo's
- Must work as a light image on a dark background, or a dark image on a light background.
- Should contain a lighthouse image somehow, can be very stylized, but must contain a lighthouse
- We want a deep blue color in the logo
- Item 1...I don't want a design that's too complex in the design
- Don't want too many colors
- simple but strong
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
CNO Guy wrote: 1 - provides ability to quickly query for particular skillsets later (case and point is the detailer determining who is suited to fill Sub DSO pos'n on C10F staff or Joint Cyber Planner pos'ns)
Has there codified criteria to request input to records been completed? If not is there a guestimate on when we may see that?
CNO Guy wrote:2 - provides more standard application of awarding a given AQD...prevents single ride Sub DSO's from being seen the same as 12 ride Sub DSO's (same applies for other DIRSUP or Cyber disciplines)
Is there any impact on an officer who goes to a DIRSUP billet but does not acquire the associated AQD? Would it be something you think an officer should address to a board?
How many FLISH pins am I putting you down for?


text:
A few short years ago, Tough Enough was a highly successful reality show on MTV.
The show, which featured potential WWE wrestlers competing against each other while living together was a highly rated and popular broadcast that ran on the American network and on TSN in Canada.
While the first three incarnations of the show were done in this format, the fourth and most recent instalment of the Tough Enough series appeared in segments during WWE's Smackdown! broadcasts on UPN (and in Canada on The Score). Because of the new format, WWE fans didn't get to see the "behind-the-scenes" antics of the competitors, nor did they get to see their training.
With the release of $1,000,000 Tough Enough DVD, however, wrestling fans finally get to see all the good stuff that made the franchise a hit.
Each of the finalists gets a good amount of face time on this release from WWE Home Video as they go from qualification rounds on the beach to appearances on Smackdown! to their eliminations. This is an interesting move, considering WWE could have completely focused on TE winner Daniel Puder. The challenges themselves are shown fully in the extras, but more importantly we get commentary from the participants in the documentary portion of the DVD.
Along with comments from the TE'ers, head trainer Al Snow and some of the WWE superstars lend their thoughts and insights. Comments from the current stars come off as being part work, part shoot, which is very successful. Past TE winners have long been rumoured to be disliked among "the boys," and this lends a little proof to that theory.
The extras on this compilation are pretty solid as well. There are stories about pranking, some audition tapes and the aforementioned full Smackdown! segments.
The funny thing about the TE DVD, however, is that there is an extra DVD included, WrestleMania Recall, has nothing to do with the show. For anyone who missed this broadcast, it's the exact same thing as the WrestleMania's Ten Greatest Matches Ever special that was included in the WrestleMania XX three-disc release last year, the only difference being the host (Gene Okerlund replaces Ric Flair).
Obviously, WM Recall was included to help sales of TE, but if anything the package suffers. It would have been much better to include highlights from the past Tough Enoughs, or even matches featuring the show's alumni.
Overall, this DVD is definitely worth a watch if you were a fan of the original TE shows. This DVD has all of the feel of the original TE, and goes light years beyond what we saw on WWE programming.
Jon Waldman, a SLAM! writer since 2000, is challenging WWE to create an all-Canadian edition of Tough Enough. Jon is also offering to host the series. Anyone at WWE who is interested in Jon's proposal can contact him via e-mail at email@example.com.


text:
A bespoke bike from 20/20 in steel.
Missed 20/20 Cycles announcement earlier of their new bike that's named after a legendary Seattle ferry. It's made with American steel and according to the builders, the antithesis of bikes mass produced in China. Let's hope it has a better fate than the Kalaka and note these bikes aren't for cross, so don't go getting stuck in a tidal mud flat with one.
American steel


text:
Richard Johns
When Richard Johns graduated from the Policy Center in 2005 he took a position as a research associate at Samaritan Village, a substance-abuse counseling service in New York City.
"I use the skills and knowledge I developed in the Policy Center 's class on social policy daily and feel that as a result of taking that class I have become a better researcher. People at work are impressed with my research and evaluation skills."


text:
Mark Sweeney needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 1037 designs submitted by 185 freelance designers.
I'm a Wedding photographer located in Upstate New York looking for a new logo. Brides are usually in their late 20's to late 30's. My old logo is too cluttered and limits the use of it. I want to use the new logo on my website, postcards, packaging, posters and businesses cards.
Sweeney Photography http://www.sweeneyphotography.com
I'm looking for a clean, modern and simple logo that can be used as the logo alone and with my company name, Sweeney Photography.- Thanks in advance for all the creative work you're putting into this - I'll provide frequent feedback as the contest progresses.- Please do not put my current logo into consideration. I would like something new.
- Item 1...Clean, Modern, ContemporaryFlexibility.. A graphic that can be used both with the words and as a stand alone. For all forms of media advertising. I would like to be able to make the logo a square or horizontal if at all possible.- I would like the winning design delivered as a PSD or EPS file.
- Item 1...No filmstrips, wedding bells, hearts or cameras. nothing too traditional.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Blackstone Group LP, the world's biggest buyout firm, said first-quarter profit rose as market gains lifted the carrying value of its holdings. The shares fell after the company said a lackluster economy may curtail investing.
Economic net income, a measure of earnings excluding some costs, increased 28% to $628.3 million, helped by a 10% gain in U.S. stocks in the first three months of the year, New York-based Blackstone said today. Tony James, the firm's president, said while stock markets have made "pretty robust" gains, they've been driven by low interest rates.
"Growth in the U.S. economy is anemic" and "Europe is flat to down," James said on a conference call. Debt markets, which helped fuel a resurgence in large leveraged buyouts, are at "some kind of peak."
Blackstone shares reversed earlier gains, falling as much as 4.5%, after James's comments and as U.S. stocks dropped for a second day. The company last month proposed to buy computer maker Dell Inc., rivaling a $24.4 billion offer by Michael Dell and Silver Lake Management LLC, the largest proposed LBO since the financial crisis. James and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Schwarzman have led a push among buyout firms to expand into other alternative assets such as credit, hedge funds and real estate to cut reliance on buyouts.
Blackstone fell 1.9% to $20.05 at 1:37 p.m. in New York trading as the Standard & Poor's 500 index of large U.S. companies lost 0.4%. The shares advanced 31% this year through yesterday.
Beating Estimates
Blackstone's economic net income, or ENI, differs from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Under those standards, known as GAAP, Blackstone had net income of $167.6 million, or 29 cents per share, compared with $58.3 million, or 11 cents, a year ago.
Economic net income of 55 cents a share beat the 53-cent estimate of 15 analysts in a Bloomberg survey.
"Upside appears to have come from the credit funds as well as private equity," said Roger Freeman, an analyst for Barclays Plc in New York. "We continue to believe that real estate realizations will grow."
Blackstone completed six follow-on deals, selling shares in companies it owns as markets rose, as well as a $580 million IPO of portfolio company Pinnacle Foods Inc. during the quarter. The firm is preparing to take public SeaWorld Entertainment Inc., which it bought as part of a $2.7 billion deal in 2009, in an IPO this week that could raise as much as $702 million.
The firm lost in bidding for Life Technologies Corp., which agreed this week to be sold to Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. for $13.6 billion.
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