text:
Africa's renaissance deserves continued support | Helen Clark
24 May 2013
Meanwhile, there has been a rise in trade, investment and development cooperation with emerging economies, which have been successful in the fight against poverty. Over the past decade, nearly half the financing of infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa was provided by governments and regional funds from elsewhere in the South.
The rise of Africa is thus associated with a rising South overall. A significant number of developing countries have transformed themselves into dynamic emerging economies with growing influence, and the proportion of the world's population living in extreme poverty has fallen from 43 percent to 22 percent.
This good news has been the result of pragmatic economic strategies, innovative social policies, and the willingness of proactive developing states to invest in physical infrastructure and human development.
Africa's battle against poverty and hunger is not yet over, but at UNDP we are confident it can and will be won. The challenge now is for Africa to get more poverty reduction from its growth.
Investing in its youthful population and tackling inequalities will contribute to this. Women, youth, people living with disabilities, minorities and all those who are currently marginalized yearn for the opportunity to get ahead. Fast and inclusive growth also needs to be green. While environmental threats affect us all, they hit poor communities the hardest.
Overall, Africa needs global support of its development: pledges of more and better-quality aid delivered; a breakthrough in the stalemate in the WTO's Doha Round, and a new climate agreement; and global institutions with greater voice and decision-making power for the South.


text:
Club Penguin is running a promotion on a German gaming site (since Club Penguin now has German servers) and they are giving away free seven day memberships!
Getting the free membership code is easy yet confusing. Here's how:
Go to this site: www.spielaffe.de/Spiel/Club_Penguin_Aktion. Click the green play button.
Let the box load and you will see this screen. Here you will be creating an account for the German game site that you're on.
Use the box on the left to create an account. I have translated it:
*The Username/Email/Password have nothing to do with you Club Penguin account! You are creating an account for the site you are on which is www.Spielaffe.de. (The email and passwords can be random!)*
Click "register". Then accept the Terms.
And boom! FREE CLUB PENGUIN MEMBERSHIP CODE!
Copy the membership code then go to https://secure.clubpenguin.com/membership/activate_card.php. Fill the form with whatever penguin you want and enter membership code to activate it!
You are now a member for seven days, free!
More information:
- This is not breaking any Club Penguin rules. Club Penguin was promoting their game on that site for German users, but now more people have found out about it.
- This is a 7 day membership, but you can create more codes and save them for when your membership expires, you can just enter the unused ones!
- You might have to clear your cookies if the German site is not letting you create more codes.
- Club Penguin will most likely remove this, so create and save your codes now!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
USU Codes Restrict Free Speech · 14 December 2006
Utah State University housing and student code policies restrict free speech protected by the First Amendment, according to a new report released by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.
Some of the school's policies were called "weird" and "laughable" by FIRE President Greg Lukianoff because, he said, they require students to hold values set by the university. But Gary Chambers, USU's vice president of student services, said the school policies in question were taken out of context by the FIRE and said they were created to foster respect and understanding between students and faculty — not to quelch expression.
"When I read these things in a report, you have taken words that are there to provide learning and civility and taken it out of context to say it's in violation of free speech," Chambers said.
The university is one of 229 higher education institutions to receive a red-light rating, meaning it has "at least one policy that both clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech." FIRE rated 328 schools, with 91 receiving a yellow-light rating, meaning they restrict "only narrow categories of speech. Only eight schools were found to have no policies that restrict free speech. The University of Utah also received a red-light rating. Brigham Young University was not rated.
USU is under fire, in part, because of the school's student code that prohibits phrases that "could be viewed as sexual harassment" such as "referring to an adult woman or man as a hunk, doll, babe or honey." It also quotes the housing handbook, which states that housing community members must respect the "dignity of all persons, by not demeaning, teasing, ridiculing or insulting individuals and groups."
"Every college student violates that policy in some way every single day and you simply should not be passing rules that essentially are impossible to live by," Lukianoff said. "That the government has an interest in policing teasing — it's not consistent to a free university and free society."
Lukianoff also questioned the part of the housing handbook that obligates housing community members to challenge "friends and neighbors within the housing community to abide by these fundamental expectations" and confront "those who violate them ..."
"The USU code as written is essentially deputizing students to enforce an unconstitutional speech code," Lukianoff said.
Chambers said such rules are in place to encourage students to discuss differences in a civil manner. He said the university provides opportunities for students to express themselves, as long as they follow procedures to do so. A student or group must fill out a form to hold a demonstration, rally or debate on campus. The form is required to state the time, place and manner of the event so it doesn't interfere with student learning and gives campus police an idea if it could get disorderly. But the university does not control the content or purpose of the rallies, he said.
"Done in a civil way there is a much more enhanced opportunity for understanding to take place," Chambers said. "That creates a nice environment. We would hope that would be the case with freedom of expression."
He said the housing rules are in place to keep people who are disruptive from hurting others' rights. For example, if someone stands up in a common area and constantly yells swear words to the point that other students can't study, they will be asked to leave, Chambers said.
"There still has to be some order and structure in living together," Chambers said. "It's not a free-for-all."
Related Articles
Recent Articles
Defending Indoctrination as 'Academic Freedom'
Evil Republicans 101
The Terrible Textbooks of Freshman Comp
Previous: "I'm Offended"


text:
Can Games Help Improve Education?
A growing number of education experts, school districts and companies are applying what young people love about games and gaming to new tools for teaching core subjects. But do they work? WSJ's Jason Bellini has the Short Answer.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... the ... it's all the math From and ... Locker to Apple in the treehouse are supposed to destroy ... it says it would reduce the young people today are playing in school ... for games part of the answer to improving education ... a growing number of education experts school districts and education company stinks out ... there for and what young people love about games and gaming ... action competition in rewards ... to learning course objects Steve blow to the library ... I absolutely where Jamie's potential advantages ... video games allow for mastery based learning being users don't on the next level until they've ... conquered the last ... students get me a performance that score ... it also offers educators a wealth of doubt on pupil performance ... of course James R suppose make learning a lot more ... ball ... who's making games ... there's a tech companies and nonprofits are cranking out software for both private and public school systems ... the mind Research Institute for example is pretty games that teach or with the sick like ... visually representing about problems students have ... everything stories Contrino there ... will be doing more ambitious in Friday's sentence is to create couple Fiat warning company owned by NewsCorp ... Wall Street Journal's parent company ... is working with independent game designers to build a thirty game titles ... school district that it will purchase the next year ... the intended for use by students during their free time ... Pearson one of the world's largest educational textbook companies is partnering with glass lab and creepers of sin City ... to design an educational game for grades six to eight ... but in some schools beautification in education isn't about software ... is not making the entire class experience ... and ... like last year and the narrator of bad idea ... your ... quest to learn school in Manhattan ... of course in world history and God ... is built around challenges word learning by playing games and then are also making ... learning game like that ... so today my classroom they were playing a game called topiary begin White Hart could be your challenge is to design a really really good news am or maybe ... this is an easy and it was portly designed Audi recreate it does gaining an education work ... is a thing or for what Pearson admits ... relatively few games and contests against other teaching and learning approaches and as a part of a wider technological revamping of the classroom experience ... all the point was making learning ... more excited ... I think you're more open to change anything ... well so ... as the soreness ...


text:
Indoor Outdoor Hex Rug Bule Navy Citrus
or 4 payments of $54.75 interest-free and fortnightly with Info
Available on orders up to $1250
Available on orders up to $1400
Product estimated to leave Partners warehouse in 5 Business Days, unless otherwise advised by Interiors Online.
FREE SHIPPING on this item!
- Rug is made in Egypt from olefin
- Olefin is a UV stable fibre that won't fade in the sun and is resistant to mildew and mould
- Non shedding pile
- Highly durable pile for indoors and outdoors
- Perfect for high traffic areas
- Easy to clean simply hose down and dry in the sun
- Contemporary & Outdoor Living Styles
- Various sizes


text:
This article was printed from mlb, originally published .
Read more news at: https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news
D-backs acquire Prado, Delgado, Ahmed, Spruill and Drury from Braves
Justin Upton and Chris Johnson sent to Atlanta in 7-player trade
The Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) announced they have acquired infielder/outfielder Martin Prado, right-handed pitchers Randall Delgado (@RandallDelgado) and Zeke Spruill (@zekespruill) and infielders Nick Ahmed and Brandon Drury from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for outfielder Justin Upton and infielder Chris Johnson. The announcement was made by D-backs Executive Vice President & General Manager Kevin Towers.
Prado, 29, hit .301 (186-for-617) with 42 doubles, 10 home runs and 70 RBI in 156 games with the Braves in 2012. He led the National League with 60 multi-hit games, ranked fourth in hits and fifth in doubles while playing five different positions (left field, third base, second base, first base and shortstop).
Prado was named to the 2010 NL All-Star Team and received NL Most Valuable Player consideration in 2010 (9th place) and 2012 (T-20th). He has hit at least .300 in three of the last four seasons, joining Joey Votto, Ryan Braun and Aramis Ramirez as the only four NL players to accomplish that feat (min. 200 plate appearances).
Since 2009, Prado ranks among NL leaders in multi-hit games (T-2nd, 193), doubles (3rd, 146), hits (5th, 651) and average (12th, .294). Prado became the second-fastest Braves player to reach 100 hits in a season in 2010, reaching the mark in only 69 games.
The Venezuela native is a career .295 (752-for-2546) hitter with 168 doubles, 52 home runs and 286 RBI in 683 games with Atlanta. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound right-handed hitter has made 222 appearances in left, 209 at second, 191 at third, 56 at first, 15 at shortstop and 1 in right.
Delgado, 22, was rated by Baseball America as the Braves No. 3 Prospect in both 2011 (35th overall) and 2012 (46th). He went 4-9 with a 4.37 ERA (45 ER in 92.2 IP) in 18 games (17 starts) with Atlanta last season and also made 8 starts with Triple-A Gwinnett, going 4-3 with a 4.06 ERA (20 ER in 44.1 IP) and 51 strikeouts.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder is 5-10 with a 3.95 ERA (56 ER in 127.2 IP) in 25 games (24 starts) with Atlanta (2011-12) and 27-42 with a 3.60 ERA (233 ER in 582.1 IP) and 620 strikeouts in 111 games (110 starts) over 6 Minor League seasons in the Braves organization (2007-12).
Ahmed, 22, was named to both the Carolina League mid-and postseason All-Star Teams in 2012, hitting .269 (136-for-506) with 36 doubles, 4 triples, 6 homers, 49 RBI and 40 stolen bases in 130 games at Single-A Lynchburg. He was recently rated by MLB.com as the Braves' 10th-best prospect and by Baseball America as the Braves' Best Defensive Infielder.
The 6-for-3, 205-pound shortstop hit .267 (201-for-754) with 49 doubles, 6 triples, 10 homers, 73 RBI and 58 stolen bases in 189 games in 2 seasons in the Braves' farm system. Ahmed, who participated in the 2012 Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Game, was the Braves' second-round selection in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Connecticut.
Spruill, 23, went 9-11 with a 3.67 ERA (66 ER in 161.2 IP) in 27 starts at Double-A Mississippi last season and was named to the Southern League midseason All-Star Team. He was recently rated by MLB.com as the Braves' sixth-best prospect and by Baseball America as the No. 9 Prospect for the second straight season (2012-13).
Over 5 seasons in the Braves' organization, the 6-foot-5, 190-pounder went 38-33 with a 3.58 ERA (231 ER in 580.0 IP) in 104 games (95 starts). Spruill, who was named the Braves' Pitcher of the Year at Single-A Lynchburg in 2011, was the Braves' second-round selection in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of Kell High School in Marietta, Ga.
Drury, 20, hit .229 (102-for-445) with 22 doubles, 3 triples, 6 homers and 51 RBI in 123 games for Single-A Rome in 2012. He entered 2012 ranked by Baseball America as the Braves' 10th-best prospect.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder spent 3 seasons in the Braves' system from 2010-12 and batted .257 (232-for-902) with 52 doubles, 4 triples, 17 homers and 122 RBI. Drury was named the Appalachian League Co-Player of the Year in 2011 and Braves' Minor League Rookie-level Player of the Year after hitting .347 (92-for-265) with 31 extra-base hits, 54 RBI and an .892 OPS in 63 games with Rookie Danville. He was selected by the Braves in the 13th-round in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Grants Pass (Ore.) High School.
Upton, 25, hit .280 (155-for-554) with 24 doubles, 4 triples, 17 home runs and 67 RBI in 150 games last season for the D-backs. He established a career high with 63 walks and 107 runs scored, which tied for second-most in the NL.
In 6 seasons with the D-backs (2007-12), the two-time All-Star (2009, 2011) hit .278 (739-for-2663) with 147 doubles, 28 triples, 108 home runs and 363 RBI in 731 games. Upton won his first NL Silver Slugger Award in 2011 and finished fourth in NL MVP voting, batting .289 (171-for-592) with 39 doubles, 31 home runs and 88 RBI. The first overall selection in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft made his Major League debut in 2007.
Johnson, 28, hit .281 (137-for-488) with 28 doubles, 5 triples, 15 home runs and 76 RBI in 136 games for the Astros and D-backs in 2012. He was acquired by the D-backs on July 29 and in 44 games, hit .286 (137-for-488) with 7 doubles, 2 triples, 7 home runs and 35 RBI.
Over parts of 4 seasons in the Majors with the Astros (2009-12) and D-backs (2012), Johnson hit .276 (339-for-1229) with 71 doubles, 10 triples, 33 homers and 171 RBI in 348 games. He was the Astros' fourth-round selection in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft and made his Major League debut in 2009.


text:
Write a Review
In production for more than half a century, Brooks' Team Professional Titanium truly deserves the title of "timeless classic". With a narrower, race-oriented shape, it's ideal for road bikes that have a more aggressive fit. The super-light titanium frame and rails damp road vibration and offer ride-smoothing passive suspension. Like every Brooks saddle it shapes itself to the rider as the miles tick by, offering the timeless, customized support that the company's reputation is built upon. And, of course, the Team Professional Titanium features Brooks' full-grain, premium tanned leather and trademark, hand-hammered copper rivets for the ultimate in comfort, style, and durability.
Please wait while the review submission content loads...
Page 1 of 1


text:
Former Orioles manager Earl Weaver dies at 82. Our Tribune affiliate, the Baltimore Sun, takes a look back at the career of the greatest Orioles manager of all-time.
By Peter Schmuck and Mike Klingaman
The Baltimore Sun
Earl Weaver penned his own epitaph.
"On my tombstone just write, 'The sorest loser that ever lived,' " he once said.
Weaver, the Orioles' irascible, chain-smoking, umpire-baiting manager who led the team to four American League pennants and the 1970 world championship in his 17 years here, died Friday night while on an Orioles-themed cruise.
The Hall of Famer was 82.
Weaver piloted the Orioles from 1968 to 1982, and in 1985-86, earning nicknames like "the little genius" and "the Earl of Baltimore." Weaver's teams won 1,480 games and lost 1,060, and his lifetime winning percentage (.583) ranks ninth all-time and fifth among managers in the modern era who managed 10 years or more. Five times, Baltimore won at least 100 games for Weaver, who stood 5-feet-7 but was a legend to his players.
"Having Earl gives us a four-game lead on everybody," pitcher Sammy Stewart once said.
Weaver death came on the eve of the team's annual FanFest at the Baltimore Convention Center.
"It's a sad time, but at the same time, Earl would say I hope it wont mess up FanFest," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said at the event, where Weaver's No. 4 hung from behind the stage. "Every time I look at an Oriole now, it's going to be missing a feather without Earl."
The Orioles failed to post a winning record under Weaver only once (1986). His career was defined by an affinity for the three-run home run and a long-running, public feud with superstar pitcher Jim Palmer that both men jokingly played to whenever together.
Weaver was always a fan favorite and the Orioles faithful got several opportunities to let him know that during the course of the Orioles uplifting 2012 season. He returned to Baltimore repeatedly to take part in the special series of statue unveilings in the center field plaza at Oriole Park, including the one that was dedicated to him on June 30.
He showed his softer side during his acceptance speech, applauding all the great Orioles who also are immortalized in bronze there and a many more of the players who helped him become a managerial legend.
"What comes to mind is, 'Thank God those guys were there and thank God we won 100 games three years in a row so I could come back for a fourth," Weaver said. "And thank God for the fourth that won enough games for me to come back for the fifth … and on to 17."
Weaver won six American League East titles, four pennants and one world title. His .583 career winning percentage ranks fifth among modern managers (since 1900) with at least 10 seasons in the major leagues. Factor in his reputation as one of the games great strategists and it's no wonder that he was selected by the Hall of Fame Veterans Committee for induction at Cooperstown in 1996.
"Earl Weaver stands alone as the greatest manager in the history of the Orioles organization and one of the greatest in the history of baseball," Orioles managing partner Peter Angelos said in a statement Saturday. "This is a sad day for everyone who knew him and for all Orioles fans. Earl made his passion for the Orioles known both on and off the field. On behalf of the Orioles, I extend my condolences to his wife, Marianna, and to his family."
Palmer said that he heard of Weaver's death at 3:30 a.m. Saturday from former Orioles pitcher Scotty McGregor. McGregor was on the same Orioles-theme cruise with Weaver. "I didn't get much restful sleep after that," Palmer said.
"There weren't any gray areas with Earl," said Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer Saturday morning. "We had a love-hate relationship. Earl was going to tell you what he expected and there wasn't a lot of room for error with him. Earl was about winning and that was what he did."
He was irascible. No question about it.
He also was known by his closest friends to be both sensitive and caring, though he seldom allowed the public to see the softer side of him.
"Earl is a very caring human being underneath that facade," former Orioles first baseman Boog Powell said in a 1996 interview. "And we all knew that. We felt like family, and when I left here, I felt like I had left my family. You always knew that Earl would do anything in the world he could do for you."
Weaver went to bat for a couple of young players who would establish themselves among the greatest stars in the history of the game.
He pressed to keep Eddie Murray at the major league level in 1977 and is credited with bucking convention to switch supposedly oversized Cal Ripken Jr. from third base to shortstop.
The rest, of course, is history.
"This man fought for me," Murray said, during an interview in early 2003. "He kept telling (general manager) Hank Peters and the rest of the front office that I should stay. They just had me penciled in there, but he kept sending me out there."
Weaver also is credited with a major role in developing what came to be known as The Oriole Way, a standardized approach to minor league instruction that he instituted along with fellow minor league manager Cal Ripken Sr. during the early 1960s.
In some ways, he was a comic character like longtime Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, but he had a hard edge that could rankle a player as easily as an umpire.
Weaver got under the skin of Triple-A call-up Bobby Grich in the early 1970s, yelling "home run or (go back to Triple-A) Rochester" at the young second baseman as he went up to bat. Grich came back to the dugout and — after a loud verbal exchange — threw Weaver down the steps that led to the clubhouse.
To Weaver's credit, he also had a short memory. Grich remained in the starting lineup for the next five seasons and established himself as one of the top power-hitting second basemen of his generation.
"You could go toe-to-toe, face-to-face and cheek-to-cheek with him," former Oriole outfielder Don Buford said, "and, no matter what, the next day it was forgotten. That was outstanding."
Murray said it was a little more complicated than that. Weaver had the uncanny ability of adjusting his managerial style to each player on the major league roster.
"He did something that nobody else could do," Murray said. "He had 25 different people on his ballclub and he had 25 different ways to manage them."
Maybe he had a case of little man syndrome — dating back to his childhood in St. Louis, when as an undersized-but-talented teenager he played baseball above his age level and battled anyone who teased him about his height — but he certainly had a knack for getting the most out of the players he managed.
He inherited a pretty good team when he replaced Hank Bauer as manager in the summer of 1968, the Orioles going 48-34 under Weaver to finish second with a 91-71 overall record. The club won 109 games the following season and was a heavy favorite to win the world title, but fell victim to the Miracle Mets in what is arguably the most famous World Series upset in history.
The 1970 club shook off that defeat to win 108 games and the world title and the Orioles also reached the World Series in Weaver's third full season.
The O's would finish first in the American League East five of the first six years after the institution of divisional play and Weaver finished lower than second only once in his first 10 seasons as manager (including his half-season in 1968).
The only time he finished as low as fourth in the 15 seasons before his first retirement, the Orioles won 90 games.
The famous feud with Palmer dated back to the 1970s, when they would exchange barbs on the mound and in the papers. They clearly grated on each other, but there also was a grudging mutual respect between two dynamic personalities that were integral to the Orioles winning chemistry from the time Weaver was hired as manager in 1968 until his first retirement after the 1982 season.
"Did he make my life difficult … yes," Palmer said. "Did I make his life difficult sometimes … of course … and sometimes you did it for entertainment value."
They occasionally sparred good-naturedly on the banquet circuit after both left the field, but carried on a largely cordial relationship until the feud bubbled up again with an ugly incident at the 2000 Sports Boosters of Maryland Banquet.
Several former Orioles stars were on hand to roast Weaver, but Palmer's allusions to the diminutive former manager's size and drinking habits struck a nerve.
When Weaver finally got his chance to fire back, it was no joke.
He ripped into Palmer, calling him an idiot and an egotist who often had little stomach for pitching with discomfort. It was a nasty scene that ended with Weaver being led away from Palmer by former Orioles first baseman Lee May and Orioles coach Elrod Hendricks.
"It was unfortunate because these two men have such great respect for each other," Hendricks said at the time. "They may say some negative things about each other, but they ultimately say each one is a class guy. When somebody said something negative about Palmer, Earl jumped them. And Palmer would always defend Earl no matter what happened the day before."
It was very unfortunate, but it also was very much Earl, whose quick temper got him ejected from games 98 times during his major league managerial career. He was famous for his protracted and animated disagreements with umpires, many of which ended with a red-faced Weaver hurling away his hat or kicking dirt on the shoes of the offending official.
"Earl was Earl," Palmer said, "but once you were an Oriole, you played because winning was a lot of fun and Earl was all about winning. Did he inherit a good young team, sure, but he gave me the opportunity to win 20 games eight of 10 years. He was so good at handling his roster.
"Cal went 4 for 55 at the start. Rich Dauer went about 1 for 31. Earl stayed with them. Once you established yourself as a player, he stuck with you. I think I would have had much more of a chance if he had been the manager at the end of my career instead of (Joe) Altobelli. Earl would have said, 'I've got to give the guy a chance to fail.'"


text:
FA amends rules on retrospective action after Callum McManaman tackle on Massadio Haidara
The FA has changed its regulations on retrospective action to banish horror tackles that go unpunished.
Last Updated: 12/07/13 4:05pm
Chiefs were prompted to act after their own rules meant Wigan's Callum McManaman escaped a ban for a knee-high tackle on Massadio Haidara that saw the Newcastle defender taken off on a stretcher.
Referee Mark Halsey admitted he had missed the challenge and would have otherwise sent off McManaman but, because one of his assistants did see it, the FA claimed it was powerless to act.
Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias slammed the FA's disciplinary process as "not fit for purpose" after the incident, which prompted a pitchside fracas.
The FA announced on Friday that from this season it will be able to take retrospective action "when match officials are not in a position to fully assess a 'coming together' of players."
A statement on the governing body's website read: "The amendment follows a tackle last season involving Wigan's Callum McManaman and Newcastle United's Massadio Haidara in which the match referee's view of the incident was blocked whilst the other match officials were not in a position to judge exactly what had occurred.
"Prior to this change, which was ratified by The Football Regulatory Authority, The FA was only able to take retrospective action when none of the match officials had seen the 'coming together' or when the incident was truly exceptional, for example, in the case of Ben Thatcher's challenge on Pedro Mendes.
"This change is not intended to usurp the authority of the match officials who are, in the vast majority of cases, best-placed to deal with incidents at the time they occur. It will only be utilised in the rare circumstances outlined above."
The FA circumvented its rulebook in 2006 when Manchester City defender Thatcher was retrospectively banned for eight games for an elbow on Portsmouth's Mendes. Thatcher was only booked at the time by referee Dermot Gallagher.


text:
'Intelligent' oil droplet navigates chemical maze by Colin Barras
There's some humbling news from the chemical world for anyone who has ever found themselves lost in a garden maze. A simple droplet of organic solvent can find its way through a complicated labyrinth with nothing more to go on than a slight pH difference.
Bartosz Grzybowski's team at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, used a common polymer to fashion a two-dimensional labyrinth some 2 centimetres on each side. They then flooded the maze with strongly alkaline potassium hydroxide solution, before placing a hydrochloric acid-soaked chunk of gel at the maze exit.
After about 40 seconds they placed a droplet of mineral oil containing hexyldecanoic acid at the maze entrance. The oil, which cannot mix with the potassium hydroxide solution, sits on the surface. But it remains still only for a matter of seconds – it soon begins tearing around the maze at speeds of up to 10 millimetres per second, sniffing out the shortest path to the acid-soaked gel, and solving the maze in the process.
"In the movie files you can see the droplet makes decisions," says Grzybowski. "It goes left along the wrong path, decides there's something fishy with that and so it reverses. It looks almost alive."
Primitive intelligence
But while Grzybowski says the droplet displays behaviour that might be called "primitive intelligence", there's a simple chemical mechanism at work.
The droplet leaches its acid into the surrounding solution, losing hydrogen ions in a process known as deprotonation – a process that affects the surface tension of the droplet itself.
"But to the front and rear of the droplet [the surrounding solution] has a different pH," he says, because of diffusion from the acid-soaked gel at the maze exit. Those tiny pH differences affect the amount of deprotonation that happens at the front and rear of the droplet, and this asymmetry sets up a surface tension gradient that forces the droplet into motion. "I would say the droplet is self-propellant," he says.
Grzybowski's team thinks that the behaviour could have implications for cancer treatments. They would like to develop micelles – aggregates of molecules such as balls of lipids – that can navigate pH gradients in the body. "A good reason for that is cancer is more acidic than the rest of the body," Grzybowski says.
Slime mystery
But the chemical behaviour could also offer an explanation for the apparently intelligent behaviour of the slime mould Physarum polycephalum, which 10 years ago was shown to possess similar maze-solving abilities by Toshiyuki Nakagaki, now at Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan.
"The [new] finding is interesting since it gives an insight of possible physical mechanisms for Physarum to find a path in the maze," Nakagaki says.
Journal reference: Journal of the American Chemical Society, DOI: 10.1021/ja9076793
Some cool mazes for you to enjoy after reading this article....
Hallucamazenic Maze-A-Delic - Ink On Paper, Winter 2006,
by Yonatan Frimer
Your source for mazes.
Maze of the Statue of Liberty - 2009
Maze of Liberty - 2009 - Yonatan Frimer
Which maze of the statue of liberty do you like better. The psychedelic one or the line art one? Answer with care down bellow in the comments. Thanks
Psychedelic Liberty Maze
Maze of the Statue of Liberty


text:
For Ken Gushi, eliminating the Scion tC as his Formula Drift car was the end of one chapter, but fortunately, the start of a new and very good one is on the horizon. Gushi will be racing the 2013 Scion FR-S sports coupe, but before the drifting season begins, he gave Super Street magazine a first look at his track-ready FR-S.
Before we get to see Gushi shift into first gear though, the drifter talks about how building the track-ready FR-S wasn't easy for Scion Racing and GReddy performance, saying they basically started from "ground zero" because they didn't have any data on the car. As a result, it was only a matter of testing it, breaking it, and starting all over again to get the performance to the desired level. Kenji Sumino, president of GReddy Performance Products, knows a tough road lies ahead, putting the flat-four FR-S up against V-8s in the Formula Drift series.
Gushi isn't worried— he already feels chemistry with the FR-S since it reminds him of the AE86, the first car he slid around in when he was 13 years old. Gushi believes the Scion FR-S will bring driving back to the sport, and while we expect the FR-S to do great things, Sumino emphasizes there's still a lot of room for upgrades. Will the FR-S live up to the hype? Find out what Gushi thinks by watching the video below.
Source: automobilemagTags: drift, drifting, Featured Videos, FR-S, racing, Scion, Scion FR-S, Scion FR-S, Scion FR-S Videos, spotlight


text:
Genetically modified salmon moved closer to the market last week with release of draft documents from the Food and Drug Administration that assessed the environmental risks posed by AquAdvantage salmon, which grow faster than regular Atlantic salmon.
The agency found, on a preliminary basis, that the GM fish, produced by AquaBounty Technologies of Massachusetts, posed no significant threat.
Both documents -- an environmental assessment and preliminary "finding of no significant impact," known by the policy wonks as a FONSI -- will be published Dec. 26 in the Federal Register and be available for public comment for 60 days.
The assessment focused on the environmental questions. Food safety came earlier. Back in 2010, the FDA concluded that the salmon "is as safe as food from conventional salmon, and there is a reasonable certainty of no harm from consumption." For example, the flesh of the fish contain no more growth hormone than regular Atlantic salmon, the FDA said -- a concern of opponents to the fish because of the manner in which they were genetically engineered.


text:
In its search for "the one gift that would make any single gal's heart go pitter pat," Chemistry.com crunched the numbers and produced a list of the "Top Ten Cities to Find a Sensitive Man." Here's the list:
1. Pompano Beach, Fla.
2. Roanoke, Va.
3. West Hollywood, Calif.
4. Nashville, Tenn.
5. Buffalo, N.Y.
6. Sarasota, Fla.
7. Greenville, S.C.
8. Wilmington, N.C.
9. Indianapolis, Ind.
10. Staten Island, N.Y.
Regarding No. 3: yeah, "sensitive" is what my grandma calls it too.
Top Ten Cities to Find a Sensitive Man [Chemistry.com]


text:
You are hereHome ›
Narrow Search
Now showing results 1-4 of 4
This collection of 160 math problems covers the 20 science topic themes presented by the NASA/JPL Year of the Solar System (YOSS) website, covering the solar system, planets, the search for life, and robotics. Examples of topics included are: scale... (View More) of the solar system; asteroids; comets; moons and rings; volcanism in the solar system; ice in the solar system; water in the solar system; the Sun, transits and eclipses; astrobiology; magnetosphers and more. It is intended as a mathematics supplement for the science content presented at the YOSS website, and features grade-appropriate and Common Core State Standards-based math problems based on science content for grades 3-12. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free
This is an online set of information about astronomical alignments of ancient structures and buildings. Learners will read background information about the alignments to the Sun in such structures as the Great Pyramid, Chichen Itza, and others.... (View More) Next, the site contains 10 short problem sets that involve a variety of math skills, including determining the scale of a photo, measuring and drawing angles, plotting data on a graph, and creating an equation to match a set of data. Each set of problems is contained on one page and all of the sets utilize real-world problems relating to astronomical alignments of ancient structures. Each problem set is flexible and can be used on its own, together with other sets, or together with related lessons and materials selected by the educator. This was originally included as a folder insert for the 2010 Sun-Earth Day. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free
In this problem set, learners will compare actual versus computer track of a solar eclipse in Babylonian times to calculate the rate at which the day is lengthening over time. Answer key is provided. This is part of "Earth Math: A Brief Mathematical... (View More) Guide to Earth Science and Climate Change." (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free
This is a resource that explains the rationale behind the multiple time zone divisions in the United States. Learners will work through a problem set to practice calculating the time in one time zone, given the time in another time zone. This is... (View More) activity 9 from the educator guide, Exploring Magnetism: Magnetic Mysteries of the Aurora. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free


text: Every November, the automotive industry gets together in Las Vegas to show the hottest cars, products, trends and of course tradeshow models. This year's SEMA was again dominated by everything muscle, with a heavy presence of the new Chevrolet Camaro. Like always, we try to sift through all the junk and gunk to show you what's most relevant to our Euro scene. Our full report will be released in our February '11 issue so stay tuned. But enjoy this extended gallery of some of our favorite photos.


text:
National Corn Growers Association leaders said they were pleased with recommendations by a national commission that any changes in farm program payment limits not be made until the next farm bill.
The recommendations, contained in a report by the Commission on the Application of Payment Limits for Agriculture, could help derail efforts by Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley to attach a payment-limit tightening amendment to the 2004 agricultural appropriations bill that is expected to be taken up by the Senate in the next few days.
"NCGA took the opportunity to make public comments regarding payment limitations and overall, is pleased with the commission's recommendations," said NCGA President Fred Yoder. "While we have concerns about specific suggestions for future changes, the commission should be commended for their thorough review of all of the comments and making prudent decisions on what is clearly a complex issue."
Congress created the commission as part of a compromise on payment limits in the 2002 farm bill. The commission submitted its report to President Bush and the House and Senate agriculture committees Sept. 3.
In addition to recommending that any "substantive" changes be deferred until the next farm bill, the commission recommended there be a phase-in period for any substantial changes, NCGA officials noted.
Acknowledging the "long-term investment decisions" made by producers, lenders, and agribusiness firms, the commission noted concerns about upsetting the stability provided the new farm bill and cautioned against "unnecessary disruptions in production, marketing, and business organization, including landowner-tenant lease arrangements."
The commission met nine times since January and reviewed comments on the effects of further payment limitations. Additionally, a public workshop was held in June where experts presented analyses of the effects of further payment limitations.
According to the commission's report, farm program payments in recent years accounted for about 20 percent of gross cash income and about 100 percent of net cash crop income for the crops now eligible for direct and counter-cyclical payments and marketing assistance loans. Under the 2002 farm bill though, the President's budget is projecting a decline in average payments to producers from $18.5 billion annually for the 1999-2001 crops to an annual average of $11.6 billion for the 2003-07 crop years.
The report also points out that in 2001 "the largest 6 percent of farms received 30 percent of total production flexibility contracts, market loss and disaster assistance payments, and marketing loan benefits, yet these farms accounted for 48 percent of the total value of agriculture production on farms receiving government payments."
In evaluating the impact of the 2002 farm bill provisions, the commission projected that the $40,000 limit on direct payments would reduce payments to producers by about 1.6 percent or $85 million per year and the $65,000 limit on counter-cyclical payments would reduce payments by $125 million per year.
e-mail: email@example.com


text:
You are hereHome ›
Narrow Search
Now showing results 1-2 of 2
Building Intuition for In-water Optics and Ocean Color Remote Sensing: Spectrophotometer Activity with littleBits™
This activity demonstrates optical properties of water: that different constituents in water affect the transmission, absorption, and scattering of different colors in the visible light spectrum. Inexpensive, off-the-shelf components are used to... (View More) build a light sensor and source, creating a simple spectrophotometer that can measure light absorption. In the second part of this activity, principles of ocean color remote sensing are applied to measure reflectance. Using components that are clearly visible allows students to configure them in different ways. Playing with the instrument design gives students a practical understanding of spectrophotometers, in-water optics, and remote sensing. As an extension of this concept, students are encouraged to think about how ocean color is used to estimate the concentration of chlorophyll to infer phytoplankton abundance, colored dissolved organic matter, and suspended sediments. (View Less)
Using real data from NASA's Fermi satellite, students determine the size and energy of an active galaxy flare region. This activity includes background information for teachers, student worksheets, procedures, adaptations, extensions, an assessment... (View More) rubric, and related resources. This is activity 3 of 3 in the "Active Galaxies Educator's Guide." (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free


text:
Such definitions as African American, Latino, Native American, Mexican American, Asian American, Hispanic- all encompass the multi-layered, mega population of America's minorities. I failed to include women and gays because I've often been corrected and told the politically appropriate phrasing is: "women, gays and minorities".
However you choose to characterize those who are not of white and men, minorities are all underdogs.
We are not the majority.
We are not privileged.
Please understand, I do not agree with the aforementioned reasoning but there are many who invest quite heavily into identity victims especially when it concerns people who are ethnically diverse and the politicians who claim they want to rescue them.
This Arizona controversy has many African Americans in the state of flux. I am experiencing two responses. Some blacks are ready to fight against the alleged racial profiling contained in the Arizona immigration reform law. Others are unapologetic and rather apathetic concerning the fate of illegal immigrants.
"They are taking jobs from us," said one African American acquaintance of mine. "They outnumber us now and really many of them are just as racists as whites."
Should African Americans be concerned about the Arizona law which enforces our federal law to protect its borders and clamp down on illegal immigration?
From this article in the Black Agenda Report:
Revisiting the Immigration Reform Debate: An African American Perspectiveby Dr. Ron Daniels"Black Power will necessarily be affected by Brown Power."The anti-immigration law passed by the Arizona legislature, which essentially legalizes racial profiling of Latinos, has reignited the national debate over what to do about millions of undocumented people, the vast majority of whom entered through America's porous southwestern borders. Despite the progressive stance of African American civil rights/human rights and political leaders on this issue, if you tune in to Black talk radio, one gets a sense that large numbers of Blacks are intensely opposed to granting legal status to the undocumented. This is an interesting phenomenon because in general Black people tend to advocate for the oppressed, particularly people of color. In this instance there appears to be a disconnect between Black leaders and a substantial segment of their constituency. I suspect this is because, in the legitimate quest to remain the "conscience of the nation" on matters of injustice to human beings, Black leaders reflexively and to a degree uncritically embrace a pro-legalization stance for the undocumented. The problem with this posture is that it does not take into account the serious concerns expressed by many Blacks on this complex issue.
For the record, I am absolutely in favor of fair, equitable and just immigration reform. And, as Africans in America, we certainly cannot accept the racial, ethnic or religious profiling of any group under any circumstances. So, I am totally opposed to the Arizona law – which should be rescinded or repealed immediately.
You see, I am not certain that I agree with Dr. Daniels. I do not have a problem with the Arizona law because it only enforces what is already allowed by federal law. If you are stopped for let's say a traffic violation, even if you were a Caucasian, you would have to show some proof of identification. Arizona is having huge problems with the lack of border security, I find it reasonable that the state is asserting its right to alleviate the problem.
Also, what is this "brown power"? I assume that Dr. Daniels is referring to blacks and Latinos. Are Middle Easterners included in the "brown power" movement?
Dr. Daniels continues:
...Despite the successes of the Black freedom struggle, large numbers of Black people are still confined to the bottom rungs of the social-economic ladder. In large measure this is because racism is alive and well — and Blacks are the least preferred people of color minority in this country. "If you're White, you're alright, Yellow mellow, Brown stick around but Black get back" is still a reality when it comes to the struggle for opportunity in this country. Therefore, Blacks are understandably nervous about anything that threatens to undermine our fragile social-economic and political gains, particularly when vast numbers of our people are still locked out and left out. To suggest that somehow millions of undocumented people have no impact on the social-economic and political standing of African Americans runs counter to what millions of our people see and experience in their daily lives.
Hmmm, do African Americans feel threatened by Latinos?
Why should we be? Aren't we all on Underdog Island, Brown Island, Minority Island?
Or are Americans feeling threatened by people who are not Americans exhausting our resources?
Liberals believe that minority status is tracked back to antecedents of any American wrong doing canonized as exploitation of those who are somehow lesser than. Images of slave ships, shackles, internment camps, women's suffrage, five and dime counter sit-ins, migrant workers all follow the American cookie cutter of the downtrodden minority figure.
But does one size necessarily fit all when it comes the the liberal victim caste system?
At a fairly young age I learned the answer.
When I was nine-years old, I was living in the North Lawndale section of Chicago. My Catholic school was entirely African American as far as the students were concerned. Little fourth grade brown legs with knees barely covered by plaid skirts bought during the third grade.
The nuns and priests were all white. Old, wrinkled and white. We all made quite a meeting of the minds. Nubby pink hands twisting our black cheeks whenever we stepped out of line. At times the nuns could be sort of maternalistic; sparring the rod if they saw that your legs were covered in scabs from a whooping you received at home.
Those women in habits who swore there lives to God, were mostly of Czechoslovakian and Polish descent. Sister Mary Ann who had been at the convent since the neighborhood was predominantly a Jewish ghetto, and now since the mid 1950's a black ghetto swayed back and forth from disdain to tolerance for her black students. But if you were of the lighter persuasion say like my classmate Paulina, then Sister Mary Ann liked you.
Paulina was Mexican and the only person in my class who was not black. All of the boys crushed on her. They would chase her around the school yard just to grab at her long thick ponytails. We, the common brown girls, were terribly jealous of her.
"Her face is not that pretty," we would whisper during mass as Paulina giggled and squealed.
She passed notes back and forth with drooling little wolves like Thomas White that I had a terrible crush on. The nuns never caught Paulina. She could do no wrong. If it were one of us, we would be in the corner faster than you can say teacher's pet.
I became obsessed with the transfer from Immaculate. This was my turf since the first grade. I was at the top of the class academically and Paulina was at the bottom. So why does Tommy like her? He once walked me home faithfully everyday. He would even take the long way when he could have chosen a shortcut through the vacant lots. Now he won't save his seat for me during lunch and ignores me. What gives?
"She is not black." See I could always count on my mother to give me a great biased answer. "Black boys like white women anytime they can get one."
"But she is not white. She is Spanish and lives on 26th street," I corrected mother. " She is like us – not a white person."
"But she will be treated like a white person before you will ever be." she warned. " The closer you look like a white person, the more you will be able to pretend to be one of them. "
Great, I am doomed, I thought. My hair was not straight like Paulina's. I had nothing going for myself except my good grades. That is the only reason why the nuns did not hit me as much as the others, because I did my best in school and won competitions. Despite my brains, I am still gonna be alone when I grow up with no man in the house like my mother. All because I am not light-skinned. Oh no.
"Just like Lena Horn," Miss Mother lectured. " If you are yellow skinned, whites love you. Back in the 50's some could pass for white. They would work in jobs where no one knew they were black. At night they would take the train home long after everyone was gone…They did not want anyone to know that their family was black."
"Can cousin Latrina pass for white?" I asked. Latrina was my mother's sister's youngest daughter. She was quite light complexioned, or "high yella" as grandmother would say. Latrina was a favorite among the family and like Paulina, could do no wrong. I was beginning to see a pattern here.
Mother shook her head. Latrina had light skin but Negro features. " Her nose bridge is too wide," she surmised. Latrina was not a good candidate for passing. "You must look like Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, be mixed with black and Puerto Rican."
Certain that I was as black as a Hershey's candy bar, I looked in the mirror. I was not too dark, sort of orange-ish brown. "Could I ever pass you think momma?" I asked as I pulled at to corners of my eyes to look Asian. "Even for a Mexican or Puerto Rican
Mother laughed out loud. "No, you are a nice tan color. You know when you were born, you were very light. So light that they mistook you for a Puerto Rican."
"What happen to me?"
"You got darker and darker."
From that point on, I decided to make Paulina my friend. Perhaps if she taught me Spanish, I could help her with her reading. Seems fair enough. I can help her get better grades. In return she can help me seem more exotic and not just plain ol' African American.
But there was a problem that I did not anticipate. Something that mother hinted at but I did not understand or maybe I did not want to understand. In my attempt to establish a friendship with Paulina, she made it obvious to me that while we were both not white, there was a minority totem pole. Guess what my position was on the pole?
"Don't put your hands on my book," Paulina said slapping my hand. Our reading books all had numbers on the spine for identification. Paulina's was #25. I was only handing it to her so she would not have to reach on the book cart for it. "You are all dirty and thieves."
Immediate hurt and shock kept an emotionally bruised Afrocity standing in front of the book cart. Did she just say I was dirty? She is the one whose uniform collar had a black ring around it. Thieves? At least we don't have as many kids as the Spanish people do. And they called them greasers like in West Side Story.
By afternoon, Paulina was my arch enemy. I told the others what she said to me, knowing that some of the larger girls were just itching to pick a fight with her.
"She ain't white," said one classmate. "Mexicans stink anyway and they have roaches."
"The nuns only like Mexicans because they have so many kids because you can't take the pill if your are Catholic and Mexicans are the only ones who listen to them," said another classmate.
"I will mess her pretty face up to look like a taco…I wish she would say some shit like that to me,"
"They swim in the water on their backs to get here. That is why they call them wetbacks."
" She had better take her Chico and the Man ass back to Me-hee-ko"
For days, tensions were high. Paulina noticed that she was being stalked. Her lunch tray would suddenly end up on the floor. "Ooops, did I do that?" from a snickering black classmate.
Reading Book #25 went missing. "Maybe mi madre took it," the students laughed. "Or her pet goat ate it like Julio's on Sanford and Son."
"CHILDREN!!!!" yelled Sister Mary Ann.
Knowing that my spilling the beans about Paulina's remark to me caused all of this sudden Paulina-cott, I felt guilty. Now there was no stopping it. With the nuns in place, maybe it would die down. Paulina's mother did not want to take that chance, especially after her daughter was shoved several times in the bathroom. They dared her to push back.
She did not.
Within a month. Paulina had been withdrawn and transferred back to a Catholic school in the Latino neighborhood near California Avenue.
None of us were white. None of us were privileged or rich. But that did not keep us from talking down to one another. Later, I would learn that Paulina ended up in our school because the parochial schools in the black neighborhoods were cheaper than the ones in her own. Her father had left her mother. It was difficult for the family to pay Paulina's tuition. This may have explained why Paulina felt she was above us because at one time perhaps she was- at least financially. Now after the way we treated her, I can imagine the ways in which we affirmed her negative opinion of black people.
There was nothing I could do. It was over. The wicked princess from 26th Street was gone. My classroom was back to normal.
A sea of chocolate and caramel. Fudge and cinnamon. The boys began to chase us again. The white nun lorded over us as we learned about diphthongs and silent "e". One day, I would take my allowance and purchase a hula hoop and small book from Wool-worth's entitled "Say it in Spanish". It contained pictures of fruits and vegetables, cars, people, and animals with the Spanish words for them in bold black letters.
Mother looked at the book with not so approving eyes " Why would you want to buy that? They should be reading "Say it in English"
I shrugged my shoulders and sat at the bus stop reading the book, mouthing the words as we waited for the #52 Pulaski. I just simply wanted to understand what the Spanish people were saying- that's all. There was no harm in that.
Autographed Letter Signed,


text:
Staff and personnel contact information for the Oklahoma CareerTech education system.
Download PDFs of the directory files
CareerTech Personnel Directory
CareerTech State Staff Section
CareerTech Skills Centers Section
Cross Reference by Last Name Section
Note: These documents are PDF Files (Portable Document Format). To view and print, you need to have Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. If you need to do so, click on the icon to download the version for your computer.


text:
- Inside Athletics
- Tickets
- Fan Zone
- Media Zone
- Social
- Shop
- Donate Now
We have passed the halfway point on our ETSU Game Time Tour presented by the Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union and the support has been fantastic!
Now, the ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and the ETSU Alumni Association cordially invite you to our Johnson City tour stop this Thursday, May 15th at the Johnson City Country Club. Please make plans to join us, meet our coaches and staff, and enjoy an exciting evening with fellow Buccaneers. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will feature a tailgate style dinner and a great program featuring ETSU basketball coaches Murry Bartow and Brittney Ezell, and new football coach, Carl Torbush.
Fans will have the chance to hear each coach give an update on the status of their program as well as ask any questions they may have for any of our coaches. Tickets for the event will be $10 per person with pre-registration or can be purchased at the door for $15.
It promises to be an excellent program designed to share information about the University and future of Buccaneer athletics. We hope you will be able to join us in this celebration of Buccaneer athletics. To make your reservations or find more information, visit our homepage at www.ETSUBucs.com or call our office at (423) 439-8398.


text:
10th February 2007, 02:27 PM
Another one in the pound; she has to do her five days before she can be taken out and may be booked before then. If she does come out to rescue, she will need a week or two foster, Dublin area. I probably have somewhere for her to go but this is just a heads up as these things don't always work out as expected.


text:
Find Mural Painters in Northampton
How Bark Works
1.Post details
Post details of your Mural Painting requirement in moments, completely free.
2.Find professionals
We will find Mural Painters in Northampton and do the legwork to contact them on your behalf.
3.Get quotes
Receive fast, free Mural Painting quotes from the best Mural Painters near Northampton.
Review proposals, compare Mural Painting prices and choose the best local Mural Painters for your job.
5.Write review
Submit a review to help others find recommended Northampton Mural Painters
How Bark Works
1.Post details
Post details of your Mural Painting requirement in moments, completely free.
2.Find professionals
We will find Mural Painters in Northampton and do the legwork to contact them on your behalf.
3.Get quotes
Receive fast, free Mural Painting quotes from the best Mural Painters near Northampton.
Review proposals, compare Mural Painting prices and choose the best local Mural Painters for your job.
5.Write review
Submit a review to help others find recommended Northampton Mural Painters
Mural Painters in Northampton ready to help
Charlotte DesignsCertificate of Excellence 2019
I am a muralist, artist and sign writer with over 10 years of experience in producing high quality, unique murals and signs for commercial and domestic clients. I undertake a wide variety of faux paint effects such as marbelling, wood graining and trompe l'oeil. I work both internally and externally throughout the UK. I also provide workshops and mural activites for corporates, youth groups, schools and exhibitions. My clients include: David Lloyd Leisure MK Gallery NHS Force India F1 team Kuehne and Nagel Grundfos Pumps thecentre:mk Nasio Trust All quotations are completely free of charge.
Murals & More
Sweetart MuralsCertificate of Excellence 2019
Mural Artist and Graffiti painter for hire UK Sweetart Murals is a Midlands based Mural Artist who specialises in graffiti and hand-painted mural art that can be tailored to your specific needs. Travelling throughout the UK we hand-paint children's bedroom murals, enchanting nursery murals, exciting playrooms, cloud ceilings and anything you could dream of wanting in a bespoke mural in your home. Whether you wish to simply decorate, to inspire or to inform - Sweetart Murals can offer engaging educational murals for schools, libraries, hospitals and community projects. Sweetart Murals can help your business stand out with big, bold, attention grabbing graffiti signage or perhaps a bespoke mural for your office to 'wow' your clients.
Sacred Bold Lines
Family owned private gallery and tattoo /body piercing parlour.
Fabric Direct
Ascot SignsCertificate of Excellence 2019
Ascot Signs are one of the few traditional signwriters still working in the time honoured way. Covering Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, London and beyond, We can help get your business noticed using skill and knowledge. Shop fascia signs hand painted onto your business from £250. Murals and wall painting. Classic vehicles and hot rods. Pictorial signs. Sign restoration and heritage signs. Gold leaf (gilding) Glass painted signs, Boats and aircraft. Any type of lettering to be applied to almost any surface (where vinyl doesn't work)
Byko is a family owned business . Our workforce is fully qualified and experienced at working in domestic and commercial properties and carry out work for our customer We are acting to achieve the common goal of providing residents with a quality service, causing as little disruption as possible to their everyday lives. We have completed hundreds of jobs, big and small, both in private and business sectors , covering a wide range of tasks. There are only two things that matter to us – the quality of our work & customer satisfaction . We achieve both of these with attention to detail and effective management throughout the building process. Our values: Polite & Professional Arrive On Site Promptly Minimal Disruption Satisfaction Is Our Priority Our activity area : Private & Residential General Building and Property Maintenance Services Commercial Maintenance Building Services We are here to offer you a professional an affordable services covering al aspects of property maintenance and building work. We have the experience, skills and expertise to help you achieve the perfect result for your project, whether it's building work . • Our Building Services Include: o All Building Work o Property refurbishment and renovations o Alternations o Extensions o Conversions o Maintenance o Kitchen fitting o Bathroom fitting o Staircase & railing fitting o Wood and laminate flooring fitting o Under floor heating installation o Joinery o Plumbing & heating o Electrical o Brickwork o Plastering o Roofing o Insulation o Fence and gates o Driveway and pathing o Groundwork and landscaping o Drainage alternations, installations and repair o Wall and floor tiling o Upvc / aluminium & timber window / door replacement J
Www.londonpaintcompany.co.uk refurbishmentcompany.london
The London Plastering Company is a newly merged company with a dedicated team of professional tradespersons. Between us we have over thirty years of experience. Our staff are committed to providing best possible service. Plaster Mould Specialists LondonAll employees of London Plastering Company will strictly adhere to our Code of Conduct and Health and Safety Policy. When you get asked to do bigger jobs there is only one thing to do and that is to call London Plastering Company. We pride ourselves on having links to the most specialist personnel and that is what guarantees the successful completion of all our work. Not only have we found great surveyors, but we have managed to find great people who also speak plain English which we can all understand. We understand, that any works to be carried out in your home are stressful, so we do all we can to minimize hassle and stress that it can cause. In most cases, things on site will change during the build. We want to give you confidence in that process, so that you can concentrate on enjoying the results. SuniWe are also members of the UK Consumer Protection Agency which is to protect you the customer and genuine businesses from rouge traders. They provide our customers with easy access to a community of professional, vetted and monitored businesses, and those whose services are checked on an ongoing basis. Plaster Mould Specialists LondonWe hope you will take time to investigate the rest of our website to discover examples of the many projects and services which we have delivered throughout London and its neighbouring counties.
SjhCertificate of Excellence 2015
TSP are a small business enterprise that cover all aspects of Decorating and Bathroom installations. We have 20 years experience and pride ourselves on a quality service and a professional job. We cover a large area of the U.K and provide a personal touch for you and your home by offering a free interior designing package to all our customers if required. All enquires are welcome on 0800 084 2977 Or you can get a quote online here www.thesocialproject.org.uk
Fix and Fitouts
Founded by Rhys Williamson and Kyle Ryan. We are both carpenters who have begun a professional construction company that is proud to offer our services to clients throughout the UK. Great service begins and ends with experienced and friendly professionals, which is why we put so much consideration into selecting the best people to join our team. We aim to not only meet your needs, but also exceed your expectations of what a dependable construction company can be. We are experienced in carrying out conversions, extensions and restaurant fit-outs. We are proud to hold the Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) qualification. This enables us to run and manage our sites in a safe and compliant manner and ensures we meet the construction design and management regulations (2015) We build to meet or exceed building regulations and we pride ourselves on our customer focus. When we start a job we are there until it is finished this ensures that quality and consistency is both maintained and monitored throughout the build and as a customer you're not chasing workman to finish the build.
We provide all aspects of painting & Decorating works for domestic and commercial buildings. Firstec Decorating Services is a well established painting & decorating business that has built up an enviable reputation over the last 20 years. We pride ourselves on our commitment to provide a professional and speedy service at all times, whilst maintaining the highest quality of work. Firstec Decorating Services has a proven track record of top quality work and our goal is to meet and exceed the expectations of every customer. We take on all types of painting & decorating jobs from small domestic work to larger commercial projects, all carried out to the highest standards, and at very competitive prices.
Loveday CreativeCertificate of Excellence 2019
Design, Marketing & Screen Print
Graffiti By Title
CK Kitchens
CK Kitchens have extensive experience providing bespoke kitchens to private and commercial clients nationwide. We provide cost effective, durable kitchens in a vast range of contemporary and traditional designs from the most respected manufacturers in the country, which we make effortlessly available to you and your clients via our head office in Cheltenham. We provide:- A made to measure service, so that we fit with the specific requirements of your developments and projects, Free design services Free surveying service (within 30-40 mile radius of Cheltenham) Business promise to beat costs you've received for any kitchen range, like for like – we are typically up to 40% cheaper than other showrooms/suppliers. We use only 18mm thick solid carcasses on the kitchen units supplied, including the back board, for greater strength and durability. Furthermore, all kitchens provided have Blum soft close door and drawer fittings as standard and genuine doors from the most well known manufacturers to ensure exceptional quality. We provide you CAD designs, including 3D views of the proposed projects for approval, and quotes for your designed kitchen all Free Of Charge. Our portfolio includes private and commercial customers, including schools, Developers and individual SME's, who have received excellent consultancy, exceptionally high quality kitchens and discounts from working with us, and all of our customers benefit from our exemplary after sale service. We ensure value for money, high quality components & installation, attention to detail and customer service which is benchmarked against cohort companies. Please have a look at our website to get a flavour of the ranges we can supply:- http://www.ckkitchens.com/ We are always happy to meet with customers to demonstrate our full range of services and discuss project opportunities for which we can offer our services.
Top ForceCertificate of Excellence 2019
General Property Maintenance Contractors We provide everything from painting and decorating to fixing a leaking tap. Covering all aspects of property maintenance that you could ever need. Painting & Decorating Plastering Woodwork Roof cleaning & Repairs Kitchen repairs Kitchen fitting and remodeling Bathroom renovation & repairs Doors Windows and Conservatory repairs and fitting Wooden floor repairs and Fitting Floor tiling Gardening Fencing Garden Clearance Small Electrical repairs and fitting Carpet Cleaning Carpet Fitting Oven Cleaning Deep Clean house ready to rent Appliance Repair Building Works Carpentry Cleaning: Domestic & Commercial End of Tenancy Cleans Fencing Gardening Services Glazing Mounting a TV Fitting rails, tracks, curtains and blinds on your windows Mounting cabinets and shelves Hanging pictures and mirrors Fitting locks and new handles Installing loft ladders Repairing, installing, replacing and fitting of exterior fixtures including: Gate and fence installation and repairs Installing patios Repairing decking Creating decorative and stone pathways Repair and replacement of cement
Walls By Squidge
Etim Arts ltd
Stephanie Thannhauser Designs
hello I am a designer, illustrator, artist and tutor of all things creative. I teach various creative skills around the area of Beds, Herts and Bucks. Please contact me if you'd like a list of my workshops. I look forward to hearing from you. Please follow me on Instagram @ideasfactoryuk
Zoe Layla Designs
Graffiti Painters
Aaron jones home maintenance
PPVS (PPV Solutions LTD)
PPVS is a facilities management company based in Cambridgeshire. We cover all services from reactive and planned maintenance, to day to day soft and hard FM services. We are a family run corporation offering facilities management services to our commercial customers only. Clients range with turnovers from £5m to £1bn +. We concentrate on commericial clients within Food Manufacturing, Waste Management, Financial Services, National Trusts, Confidential Media & Advertising, Public Sector services, Utilities and Specialised Security sectors.
AK Construction and Maintenance Ltd
AK Construction & Maintenance Ltd are a reputable company with over 17 years experience. We provide all types of brickwork indoor and outdoor, garden and decorative walls, house extensions, household renovations, bathroom refurbishments, kitchen refurbishments. plastering, plumbing, garage conversions, repairs such as new lintels/ steels, structural work,knock throughs,loft conversions,underpinning, property repairs, property maintenance,plasterers- We cover everything . Our builders work all over Birmingham areas , Solihull, Olton, Shirley, knowle, Wythall, all across the West Midlands and Worcestershire to provide a complete building and renovations service. We are based very close to Lickey hills, Rednal, Birmingham. We are also well positioned to serve customers in Bromsgrove, Solihull, Lickey end, Rubery,Rednal, and across Warwickshire and Worcestershire and Stratford. We are a very experienced company. You can also relax in the knowledge that as a responsible company we have full public liability insurance. we also offer call out services. Professionally Managed Building Services By having one team of craftsmen work on your home or commercial property you can relax, knowing that you have one experienced point of contact. All hard landscaping, house extension, refurbishment and home renovations, brickwork and building, plastering, hard landscaping and plumbing work can all be provided for you – without hassle or fuss. All work is carried out with the necessary credentials, qualifications and experience. You can expect building work of the highest standard carried out by people who take real pride in their work. We can advise you on the best methods, most cost-effective solutions and the most suitable materials for your desired finish. Our creative flair, enthusiasm, can-do attitude and passion for delivering first class service are the cornerstone of our businesses development. Commercial & Public Sector Building Work Our experience and positive reviews received as a result of work carried out for hospitals (installing bathrooms) shows that we can also handle larger and commercial building refurbishment work. Considering a new house extension? With many people choosing to make the most of their current home rather than moving, we are able to advise on all aspects of house extensions and garage conversions. Anthony Kavanagh, the proprietor of AK Construction works closely with reliable and trusted architects and together we can advise on all aspects of planning permission throughout Birmingham, Solihull, the West Midlands and Worcestershire. For friendly advice and information on all aspects of bricklaying, building and home renovations please call us on 0121 608 2563 or 07961214079. You can also email us on email@example.com.
GV&R Remodeling Services
GV&R Remodeling Services offers best deals for bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling, and patio repair and painting services for residential and commercial area under one roof. We have been providing services since 2005 at a very reasonable cost, our experts helps you to enhance the lifestyle with latest trends in the market. Get more innovative ideas for the significant look of your commercial or residential property. Get in touch with us for more information on remodeling services.
www.1carpetcleaning.co.uk is a specialist cleaning company offering professional carpet cleaning, Upholstery cleaning, end of tenancy cleaning, after builders cleaning, oven cleaning and range of other cleaning services. Our cleaners are fully insured, vetted, very experienced with years of experience. Every job well done!
CML Limited
Painting & Decorating
Eldergate Management limited
We at Eldergate Management Ltd pride ourselves in being a specialist Property Maintenance & Refurbishment company with extensive experience within the housing sector. We undertake projects consisting of Residential & Commercial properties, covering all aspects of works including but not limited to interior & exterior buildings, electrical, plumbing & gas heating installations and repairs. Our Project Management & Quality Control is completed in house ensuring competency and accuracy, whilst maintaining the highest standards of works. All tradesmen are CRB checked, completed and passed our thorough selection and vetting process. In addition they are qualified to the highest standards (Gas Safe, City & Guilds, NICEIC Electrical Certified, ACS certified and CSCS) and have vast experience within the Building Industry.
Kalsi Painters & Decorators
Welcome to the Kalsi Painters & Decorators. We deliver small, medium and large scale projects to satisfied customers. Good attention to detail, quality workmanship and customer satisfaction!
xyzbiz inc
Ricardo Insua-Cao
Joshua Billingham
This Old House
Mural Painters on Bark
We'll reach out to them as well as others, based on your requirements.
Within hours, sometimes minutes, they'll contact you on Bark.
Professionals value their reputation on Bark and strive to do a great job for customers they find on our platform.
Example Mural Painting Barks
What is the type of property?
Where is the mural to be located?
Indoor wall
What is the surface type?
plaster wall
How large is the area for the mural?
As recommended
Do you have a design?
I have an idea of what I want
Can you describe the mural you would like painted?
a period painting of flowers and special affects in a georgian building
When do you need the work carried out?
need estimate and work will progress in approx 3 months when walls replastered
Any additional details?
can you please call me Vera 0771 21 88288
What is the type of property?
Long wheelbase van
Where is the mural to be located?
Outside of van
What is the surface type?
How large is the area for the mural?
As recommended
Do you have a design?
No idea. This is for a gift and the recipient decides.
Can you describe the mural you would like painted?
Not at this stage as it's for a gift and the recipient would decide.
When do you need the work carried out?
No timescale. The birthday is in August and the work could be carried out when the artist is available after that.
Any additional details?
My sister has a long wheelbase van and for her birthday I'd like to buy her a voucher "good for one van mural painting". So at this stage I'd just like a quote of roughly how much it would cost to paint a mural on a long wheelbase van and some examples of your work. I appreciate it will be a ballpark figure as the design would be entirely up to my sister but I'm not asking for any commitment. The van is a VOLKSWAGEN LT 35E HR LWB.
What is the type of property?
Commercial premises
Where is the mural to be located?
Indoor wall
What is the surface type?
How large is the area for the mural?
Mural dimensions
Do you have a design?
I have an idea of what I want
Can you describe the mural you would like painted?
When do you need the work carried out?
Within 1 month
Any additional details?
Happy, Honest, Supportive and Proud. Possible drawing of a vehicle


text:
All-Cash Bonuses Making Comeback on Wall Street?
A move to pay cash bonuses is seen as defiance over the financial industry's attempts at restraint, but it may prove an important experiment for Wall Street. Francesco Guerrera discusses on The News Hub. Photo: AP.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the ... wall ... a lot of Simon Constable ... making a comeback Home Wall Street all cash bonus as he looks of that ... Francesco Gara joins us now on the set explain ... and ... what it is and what is causing all the fuss that Hummel all cash bonus of ... up to ... a Wall Street of money right the ICE pleasantly oh yes toddler to so it's not like to go for the money ... some less than one million and half so this is the issue that we've seen since the crisis right because of the crisis was deemed too in part because what if I that traders and bankers where ... God wanted to get the cash bonuses in the DSO they only cared about what they were handing on to be in the air meeting capital on the ... effects of what they were doing and trades were putting on ... has been a huge effort by regulators to make sure that them to watch it on the all the bonuses in caps ... except for one foe ... that ... is causing all the possible stood at the moment is called Jefferies's and medium size investment bank ... and very successful one very successful one ... and they suddenly muster they said ok we're gonna be everybody out cash ... bonuses and that's causing a bit of a ... possum will see them on the other rivals was saying well this does accepting apple cart and they can be powerful compared to what we try to retain people ... now and and and that's because the out of bounds play calling cash in on Mean stark another longtime things which is almost like a aam is most likely Kwan on this train trickling in union with yes that is really a political deal was his most recent of jargon for it to school called the Creminelli think really bought his econ touch it you can touch ... stock for two and three to five years yet you cut something touched off a two for three or five years but that sounds like Jefferies for what you'll sign your status and worth it to cash bonus and say we pay you one and you may feel the pain back yet now that sounds good Over iOS and I was that when people move around the Wall Street by member from the fund's agree I can come over ... to play me out of the guys come come from ... actually doesn't slow anyone down school a dozen so the question will be and this is why think so interesting rate the question is ... Moody's callbacks action you work ... more as a deterrent from her days people making crazy that's right and so the question is ... if you know the summit in a mighty oddly all of your one year bonus when you choose to behave in the same reckless manner ... you've seen in Napier two dozen five and that's what I would guess based on advice of my right to question the ways in it if banks to make enough money so they don't have excess capital to pee for the stuffing and bite people while ... many might see some restraint creeping in through the backdoor and then ... with the fact that or we get on with the myths You've and ultimately won noise are optimists the new on the novel the bomb in a moment that the devil but Malthouse knows about that is interesting Palm Sunday think and Jefferies to the visitation from NCC also not know at the other thing in a Jefferies is small succumb to the systemically important so that means that that should be ... reviewed by the ACC ... I like the Fed which reviews all big bags of Penney's be very tough say you cannot build the bonuses in cash if the seat ... much came up with it so ... much time ... although that wouldn't ... mean much time and I'm ... that interesting a great column on Lauren that's all the people rescued


text:
Grain farmers may remotely monitor the levels of their grain bins with a new product from BinMaster Level Controls. BinView uses BinMaster's SmartBob sensors mounted on bins to provide real-time monitoring of grain. The information is sent through the Internet on a wireless or wired data communications network to a grower's computer or IP network.
Time savings is an advantage of BinView because a grower does not need to manually check grain levels in the bins. The SmartBob sensors are programmed to take measurements at any time interval and will send the information to a cell phone, computer, or PDA.
Prices for the BinView with SmartBob sensors range from $1,000 to $1,900 per bin. For more information about BinMaster, visit www.binmaster.com.


text: Where I train in West Seattle, the Space Needle is always just around the corner. It's in the triangle of the frame, middle left and this bike is the Parlee CX H (for Hugga) that I've got in on test. It's a custom carbon cross bike that weighs 15 pounds and I'm racing it like I was a Belgian with dangling gold chains. Much more to it than that, but that's a good start.


text:
(4:55) Anna Nicole Smith's estate trial could take years ... and we'll cover it all
(5:28) Nicole Brown murder scene ... tons of blood -- but not much in O.J.'s Bronco.
(6:49) Sarah Palin ... TV show or Presidency? Probably TV show.
(9:30) Mel Gibson's lawyers calling Oksana's statements ludicrous -- because she's never made them before
(10:02) Judge Milian ... live from Miami on Thursday
(12:32) Were Michael Jackson's fingerprints on the IV bag?
(13:04) Charles' last name ... how the hell do you pronounce that thing?
(13:26) Saints lost this weekend -- Kardashian Konspiracy?
(15:05) Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords shot -- six others killed -- but is Sarah Palin partly responsible?
(15:58) TMZ polls -- which party incites more violence? Sarah Palin to blame?
(19:22) Suspected AZ gunman supposed to be arraigned today
(19:46) Willie Nelson's pot charge ... reduced to misdemeanor
(20:16) Dr. Arnie Klein -- possible defense witness ... likely to testify to MJ's history of drug abuse


text:
Here's why Fleming is dead wrong.
First, the sales increase is relatively modest, and any savvy publisher will admit, it is easy to "book" revenue that is not there, by publicity and in particular, Oprah's endorsement. As "A Million Little Pieces" shows, "booked sales" does not translate into revenues. Particularly when books get remaindered, unsold, and thus must be destroyed or sold at huge discounts, eventually finding their way onto balance sheets at times when it is more savvy to "take the medicine" of losses in one quarter.
Tellingly, no break-out of the 6.5 million sales of hardbacks for the trilogy combined is offered by country. When a report fails to break out the numbers, rest assured there is every incentive to hide bad numbers or news. It is a very good bet that most of the sales were in Germany, not the US. If you hit up most people in random US shopping malls, and asked them who Stieg Larsson was, or JK Rowling, or Stephanie Meyer, the latter two would get instant recognition, and the former none. Even given "Dragon Tattoo" most Americans would not have the foggiest notion of what the book was about. Dragons? Jessie James and Kat Von D from "LA Ink?" The phrases "Best-selling," "Swedish author" and "American audience" do not go together.
Next, the very fact that Larsson is the e-book champion, is telling. Who has e-readers, and thus can purchase e-books? Tween girls and their mothers, who flocked to Twilight? Kids under 14, who made JK Rowling the richest woman in England, more wealthy than the Queen? Nope. It is the glitteratti and wealthy, who are globally mobile, who crave e-books because the convenience and status-symbol dovetail nicely with finding it hard to get books in say, Dubai, or Singapore. The Kindle is $189 to $139, still a luxury to most hard-pressed consumers. While the Kindle has gotten better, and cheaper, it is still a niche market.
Mobile Opportunity, an excellent blog (go there and read the whole post) notes that:
Ebook usage is growing fast, but it's still small. Roughly 2% of American book buyers over age 13 are active ebook users, meaning they obtained an ebook or a reader device in the last year. About half of those were first-time ebook buyers, so the usage of ebooks has probably roughly doubled in the last year. BISG is doing multiple waves in the survey, and says it found a 25% increase in ebook usage just over the holiday season, so it was a pretty good Christmas (and Hanukah) for ebooks.
The most-used device for reading an ebook is a personal computer (47%). Amazon Kindle is number two (32%), followed by Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch (21%).
The other notes are that PC users still dwarf the dedicated e-readers, Apple is gaining share rapidly, but most of the sales seem casual, the best-selling e-book of all time is the Bible (don't expect Hollywood to remake the Ten Commandments any time soon), Apple users are younger and more male, Kindle users older and more female.
How many Kindles are really in use? As far as I can tell, Amazon hasn't released any Kindle device sales figures, other than a quote referring to "millions" of users. Several analysts have jumped on the use of the plural as evidence that at least two million Kindles have been sold. But I think the BISG survey doesn't support that. Here's my math:
--About 2% of book buyers have ebooks and/or ebook devices.
--About a third of them have Kindles (that's 0.67% of active book buyers).
--If 0.67% of book buyers in the US is two million people, then there are 300 million active book buyers in the US. That is the entire US population, including infants and people who don't like books. I don't know what the base of active book buyers is in the US, but my guess is it's not over 200 million, meaning the installed base of Kindles would be about 1.3 million.
It's tricky to play with survey results when the percentages are this small -- the margins of error become very significant. But for now I think the BISG survey raises some questions, and I'm not willing to accept the two million figure for the Kindle installed base without some more rigorous evidence to support it.
Go read the whole thing. But e-book readers and sales are still marginal. Over time they will become far more important, but they are not, unlike hardcover and paperback book sales in the US, indicators of massive popularity.
The long lines and midnight events for the release of the Harry Potter and Twilight novels made making them into films a no-brainer. EVERYONE knew what they were, and merely reaching the existing fans of the books guaranteed success, as long as the movies did not run gargantuan budgets.
As noted by the AP, Bertelsmann's success was driven mostly by advertising, the RTL and Gruner + Jahr divisions, and by Random House's general publishing activities including traditional publishing and e-books. Recall that e-books do indeed, cannibalize sales of hardcovers, and paperbacks, and offer lower margins and revenues. Remember what we are NOT seeing, the kind of near-hysteria among fans for the novels, and characters, associated with the Harry Potter and Twilight novels.
Then there is the source material, questionable at best in its appeal to anyone beyond the self-loathing literati and feminized Euro elite. Twilight's appeal is easy to understand. A doll-like stand in for any woman, is fought over by two superpowered, hunky eternal men. For Harry Potter, a boy becomes a powerful wizard, with soap opera relationships for girls and the "magical" boarding school out of a never-was English past.
In the novel, a middle aged failure and drunken journalist, Blomkvist, teams up with a damaged, abused, Asperger-y young woman with tattoos, a fairly icky and sordid sexual past, who is a hacker genius and the ass-kicker of the two. Blomkvist is basically a castrated, asexual creature, who does not even "get the girl." Who is not worth getting in and of herself. Little appeal to men, Larsson's book (and trilogy) centers around "Daddy was a monster" and "everyone is a victim" standard for the Communist Party to which Larsson was a lifelong member, in Sweden the book was titled "Men Who Hate Women." Ignoring of course the very real hatred dished out (to Swedish women) by Muslim immigrants inside Sweden.
For women, there is even less appeal. There is no man for the central female character to "win." She remains a bisexual freak, unable to form any close relationship, a loner, socially isolated, intent on revenge, with the only male in her life a much older man made into a castrato. The appeal is pretty narrow, basically wealthy, upscale lesbians. And no other women. None of the things that interest women, such as marriage, family, children, winning the "right" man while avoiding the "wrong" one, and of course, consumption porn, are present in the book (or the trilogy). Larsson's major theme is the "strain of Nazi-ism still festering away in Swedish society." Yes, those Swedish Nazis are a major threat, as Sweden becomes rapidly, Muslim majority, and ruled by an alien people. Needless to say, the vast majority of American women are not really interested or concerned about fighting Swedish Nazis. They'd rather follow a story in which the girl gets the really, really hunky guy! And lives young and beautiful forever! With mind-blowing sex, that literally breaks bones! The end!
Hollywood literally has no clue. Dragon Tattoo will be a massive, colossal failure for Sony Pictures, and cement Daniel Craig as Box Office Poison. The movie will be a massive hit among American Communists, and Lesbians intent on wiping out the menace of Swedish Nazis. In a nation so feminized, that boys (never MUSLIM boys mind you) are made to wear dresses in Kindergarten to make them less masculine, and there are laws against peeing standing up (again, never enforced against MUSLIM men).
Massive jeremiads against how "awful Daddy was" might work in Hollywood treatment readings, but audiences crave something else. For men, its action and adventure where manly courage gets a girl worth getting. For women, it is traditional romance and female friendship. "Margot at the Wedding" did a fraction of the box office business of say, "27 Dresses" or "Sex and the City." But Hollywood is desperate.
Hollywood LITERALLY cannot write stories appealing to either men or women. They must outsource that to long dead comic book writers, who created characters in some cases 70 years ago, or popular novelists who are proven successes. It is a measure of Hollywood's executive stupidity that they are chasing stuff like "Dragon Tattoo," which will make Sony long for the box office success of "Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World." It is worth noting that the few successes not based on existing comic books ("300," "Batman Begins / Dark Knight," "Iron Man") or books/TV series ("Sex and the City," the Twilight and Potter movies) come from outsiders like Luc Besson ("Taken") that play to traditional material Hollywood long ago abandoned in decadence. What does it say when a movie-maker from FRANCE makes a more rousing affirmation of traditional male values than Hollywood can make?
Don't believe the hype. This movie is "Scott Pilgrim" all over again.


text:
Maps and driving directions help you get around Music City during your stay.Find Out More. ➡
Nashville's travel and transportation options can help you move around Music City with ease.Learn More. ➡
Search Nashville airlines, taxis, bus and rail service, car rentals, and more.Search Transportation ➡
Each of Nashville's neighborhoods provide a unique vibe and experience complete with shopping, dining and nightlife options that offer locals and visitors a taste of Nashville's eclectic diversity. Learn More. ➡
Find the perfect place to call home for your stay in Nashville, TN, from a luxury hotel or all-inclusive resort to a bed & breakfast or family-friendly accommodations.
Find a Place to Stay. ➡
Nashville's Visitor Information Centers offer travel assistance, tickets, maps, brochures, and more. Find Out More. ➡
Plot your journey through Nashville with interactive maps and transportation tips.
Get to know Nashville from a local point of view and take a walk with a Music City Greeter through downtown Nashville to have all your questions answered.


text:
Monday, November 2, 2009
Caring for Kids - Supporting local children's hospitals for 31 years and counting
There are a lot of things we're proud of at Eat'n Park. We're proud to offer you great food at a great price. We're proud to be a welcoming place for families. But perhaps most of all, we're proud to be a part of your community. And because of that, we're committed to giving back to the neighborhoods we call home. One of the ways that we do that is through our annual Caring for Kids Fundraising Campaign. During the campaign, all of our team members unite for 5 weeks with one common goal: to raise money for local children's hospitals and charities.
To celebrate, we're kicking off the campaign on November 6 with something special: FREE Smiley Cookie Day, courtesy of Lincoln Mercury! Anyone who buys a $2 Mercury Milan raffle ticket between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. will receive a free Smiley Cookie, courtesy of local Lincoln Mercury dealers.
In addition to the raffle, you can purchase limited-edition Smiley Stuff like Smiley Magnets or Christmas Star Flipbooks for just $2. They're perfect stocking stuffers. The Flipbook depicts our famous animated Christmas Star commercial. As you flip through the book, you'll see the tree bend over to help the star to the top!
We hope you'll stop by our restaurants for one of the many fun activities we have planned to support children's hospitals. We're so appreciative of the support of our loyal guests throughout the last 30 years and we're excited for a great 2010 Caring for Kids Campaign!
Posted by Eat'n Park at 4:36 PM
Labels: Caring for Kids
17 comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
About the blog
Throughout this blog, we hope to share a bit of our culture with you through stories, recipes, and other information that we think you'll enjoy. More importantly, we hope you'll share with us – we want to answer those questions you've always had about Eat'n Park (how did we come up with that name, anyway?) and we want to hear your ideas, feedback, and hopefully, a few compliments too!
So, please feel free to comment on postings that pique your curiosity. We'll do our best to respond to questions within 72 hours. Please keep in mind that we are a family restaurant; comments containing offensive language will not be posted.
Blog Archive


text:
Scuderia Ferrari Wayfarer shoes
Elegant and understated, the new men's shoes by Scuderia Ferrari and Puma are embellished by tone-on-tone accents.
Comfortable and with a cohesive silhouette, the Wayfarer boldly displays low-key sophistication. The upper is enriched by a sophisticated graphic and raised tone-on-tone effect. The custom Ferrari Shield showcased on this new shoe is also made in the same color.
- Raised tone-on-tone graphic on the side
- Composition: 60% Polyurethane, 40% Polyester
We offer both Standard and Express shipping: choose the service that best meets your needs at checkout.
We provide an easy return service: just ship your items back to us using the UPS return label included in your package within 30 days of delivery.