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Steve Fagin is an artist who uses new logics of organization in his films, videos, and media works. In The Amazing Voyage of Gustave Flaubert and Raymond Roussel (1986), he draws from diaries, postcards and novels to produce a film structured as an epic poem -- a "folktale" for a post-literate culture. In The Machine that Killed Bad People (1990), he uses the syntax of CNN as an organizing conceit, to produce a film that complicates the boundaries between event, spectacle, and spectatorship. In Oliver Kahn (2003), which is loosely based on a one-act play by Samuel Beckett, he draws on the conventions of the soccer match to produce a meditation on collecting and memory. In these works and others, he is not interested in staging a "critique" of the dominant media forms that he engages, along with their effects on the popular mind. Rather, he is interested in experimenting with the conditions of the novelistic, as it is accessed through present-day platforms, bringing together domains, procedures, and genres across time and history in order to engender unanticipated larger- or smaller-scale effects. This renegade mode of working requires skillful choreography, informed irreverence, and street-smart timing. For Fagin, nothing is sacred: any actor can be potentially be assembled into a motley crew of consorts, taken on an imaginary voyage, brought to the table at a dinner party, or installed in the arena of a boxing match.
Or in this case, brought into a friendship network on Facebook.
Only For Dummies: Fractured Utopias of the 20th Century (2010) is based on the organizing principles of the social network (namely, Facebook) and the platform of the mobile phone (namely, the iPhone). In using the structural conditions of these domains -- conditions particular to the software, hardware, and the social arenas in which they are used -- Steve Fagin sets the stage for the invention of an entirely new novelistic form. He refers to it as a "miniseries," yet it is a miniseries with an epic nature. Its "star" is the ventriloquist dummy Charlie McCarthy, the wisecracking sidekick from The Chase and Sanborn Hour radio show of the late 1930s and 40s. In this contemporary epic theater, Fagin summons the conditions of the vaudeville act, yet he retools its logics of assembly in accordance with the "friending" and "tagging" principles of Facebook and the navigational principles of the iPhone. The mischievous puppet, an anarchic avatar of sorts, does Fagin's dummy work. As with all of his projects, it is not a matter of parceling out the domains that are perversely integrated and the authority figures that are "overthrown" so much as exploring the conditions of the strange new synthetic multi- spatial and -temporal event that results -- its affects and intimacies; its dramas, dispositions, and rhythms; its intricacies, rules, and treacherous enfolds.
Yet this epic theater, rendered newly mobile through the demands of the cell phone, also refers to the conditions of the encyclopedic museum -- in this case, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the institution that commissioned it. Much of the content of Only For Dummies is drawn from the museum's collection, and the project was made within the frame of a larger series Fagin produced for the museum called Cell Phone Stories, which appeared on a weekly basis over the summer of 2010 (all of the episodes are archived at http://cellphonestories.wordpress.com). Understood in terms of this larger dimension, Only For Dummies opens out into a broader reflection on the conditions of the access of cultural history, and the museum as the privileged site of cultural knowledge -- a site that is now being challenged by digital repositories like Facebook and Google. The exploration that the work conducts, then, is not only that of new artistic, literary, or theatrical forms, but of the conditions of the institutional structures -- however public or private, cultural or corporate, high- or low tech -- through which we engage them.
In using the platform of the iPhone and the syntax of Facebook as structuring principles in Only for Dummies, you are thinking about the ways that culture is accessed, scaled, and shared today, and the organizing principles used to format it, in an increasingly mobile and networked world. Could you talk about why you chose, at the level of content, the historical subject of Utopia as the primarily focus? What do these stories of Utopia have to say to us today, in a mobile landscape dominated by instantaneity, multitasking, and historical amnesia?
"The past is never dead. It is not even past." This William Faulkner quote is one of the driving forces of the work. It actually comes into to play in the piece -- Faulkner is a friend of my dummy, Charlie McCarthy. The mandate of Only for Dummies was to rethink the encyclopedic museum, how we think our cultural history, as we stand in front of it in the present. Here I was particularly impressed by Harold Szeeman's curatorial work, his exhibitions that reorganized cultural history, treating a century as a junk pile of debris to be reorganized with a strong disregard for traditional categorization. As you say, standing in front of our patrimony on a mobile phone using a Facebook-like app opens up a very particular "can of worms." I surely was not interested in suggesting -- hence all the surrogates, quotes and sidebars, so called distancing devices -- that historical circumstances are to be taken seriously because "they were just like us," erasing the specifics of history in favor of a hollowed out sameness. I loathe this form of identity through narcissistic mirroring. Rather, I wanted to focus on how the rhetoric and logic of the new, its hopes and dreams, took a very particular turn with the Soviet Revolution, the invention of Hollywood, and the coming to existence of Bauhaus, and how much of our thoughts about revolution -- a more perfect place, the better future pragmatically planned -- are largely ghosted, ventriloquized utterances from things taken to be long dead and buried. You might not remember it, but it remembers you.
Let's explore the significance of Charlie McCarthy, since he is a primary dummy in this drama -- one that, through a peculiar bit of ventriloquy, functions as your own sidekick and stand-in (you speak of him as "my dummy"), as well as everyone else's (since this is a miniseries "Only for Dummies"). There is a lot of voice-throwing going on here, vaulting across history and between personages, real or fictitious, as facilitated by the odd new forms of rhetorical and structural coupling that are part-and-parcel of the Facebook landscape. What perverse form of puppetry are you inventing here, Steve? Given your background in film history, one could say that you're pressing these new relational modes of "friending" and "tagging" into service as a form of networked montage, but you're working with a transference that is deeper and more implicated than that. In friending, you bring personages into a qualified relation where one has to consider some bond of intimacy, some higher-level affiliation that would seem to complicate the homogenizing or flattening effects of much digital media play.
Sigh, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, who could resist the idea of a ventriloquist act being at the center of one of the most popular American radio shows of all time? Sure Charlie is my dummy, but one should prioritize that he was an everyman "my dummy," a cult hero. A surrogate for the pettiness, disruptiveness, mischievousness and disrespect for convention and authority in "All." On the other hand the "true" culprit was someone else: it is thrown speech. Charlie is a "mere puppet." The Chase and Sanborn Hour radio show that Bergen and McCarthy did was an important motivation for the overall organizational structure of the piece, as was the vaudeville show as a genre. Each of the episodes in my cycle has an episode of the Bergen /McCarthy radio show to listen to. The shows have guests drawn from different contexts talking to each other, jokes, musical interludes, and so on. Yes, one could refer to what I'm doing as "networking montage," but the use of appropriated text, speech, sound and images both still and moving has many sources and inspirations many of which do not come from the cinema. In fact, I claim infidelity to all of the lineages I so admire. Whether it is fine art, vaudeville, cinema, literature, or television, wherever we go when we talk tradition I'm out the side door. As Groucho says, "Whatever it is I'm against it." That being made clear, some of the great things that I pilfer and scavenge from ever so devoutly are, to name a few, Flaubert's Bouvard and Pecuchet, Schwitter's overall artistic production (sound, image, writing and architecture) and the Brecht/Weil plays, songs and attached critical writings. One can see Brecht and Weil's suggestions as to proper spectatorship of their "epic theater" as the dummy cycle's Emily Post/"proper behavior" guide as to how to engage my cycle as viewer/audience. One of my favorite exchanges in the whole cycle is the rift in the Bauhaus chapter where Brecht and Weil discuss distanciation and audience engagement through the youtube clip from the first Schmeling/Louis boxing match. Ideas around counter punching and keeping the correct distance are discussed. Brecht/Weil suggested spectators in their theater should behave like spectators at a boxing match. Also, I wanted to make perfectly clear through the punching example that affect matters in Brecht/Weil. Distance is about the correct distance to counter an attacking opponent of great danger, in this case Joe Louis, and has nothing to do with affectless alienation.
Each of the sections foregrounds a different type of juxtaposition. The first section on the Soviet Revolution highlights radical change with direct conflict. This does grow out of the writings of Eisenstein, but even this more classical montage is thrown a curveball. For instance when a Mayokovsky poem goes on about change being a crashing wave against a rock, Nabokov interrupts to say a crashing wave does not alter the sea. Putting Nabokov into the Soviet Revolution debate is meant to add another perspective to the debate. This from left field friend-of-a-friend remark -- Nabokov is a friend with Charlie but not Mayakovsky -- is an indulgence that the Facebook protocol provided me. In the Hollywood section the interruption through looping into fantasy is highlighted. The film sections move from the section in The Pirate on cinema as hypnosis, putting one under a spell. The second topic addressed is the lure of the beautiful image, Marlene Dietrich in Morocco and the third, the ambient banal companion of the TV in All That Heaven Allows. In the Bauhaus section I try to address the capacity of juxtapositions to produce a synthetic advancement of an argument. I guess this type of effort returns to the "failed" experiments of Eisenstein in October in regard to intellectual montage. This seemed proper for Bauhaus, it being a school after all. I feel some of the efforts in this section, especially around Brecht, for instance (the boxing one mentioned above) really do get somewhere on this thorny dilemma.
The use of the Facebook structure allows all of these radical juxtapositions to be smoothly bridged. I feel this making things so radically different come together with such ease puts me closer to the collage of say Schwitters or Cornell rather than Bruce Conner or Robert Rauschenberg. I believe there is a quote by Cornell that the problem lies not that things are so far apart, but that they can be brought together with such ease.
So, identifying with Weil's call, you're the sports correspondent installed in the place of the art critic! The ringmaster in place of the writer -- as in the clip that Charlie McCarthy posted (in which he tagged W.C. Fields)! If Brecht/Weil suggested spectators in their theater should behave like fans at a boxing match, and this suggests a "proper behavior" guide for us, as audience, to engage your dummy cycle, then how do we resurrect, or engender, that sense of "liveness" crucial to the immersive power of the "match" -- or, for that matter, the performative act? A "liveness" where a certain level of density and affective charge is crucial. You've not exactly chosen a platform that is conducive to this -- the web-enabled mobile device seems rather to produce audiences watching and tapping away in relative isolation, and the level of investment they might otherwise have with social media like Facebook is withheld. You've made a deliberate choice not to make this work interactive -- and understandably so, since that would dilute its precision. It offers the semblance, but not the actuality of participation. As you say through Brecht/Weil, gauging distance matters, and you've carefully judged your distance here. By holding at bay the kind of social investment that social media like Facebook compels, you're rewriting the terms of the game. You're bringing another order of investment into play. Does your mini-epic mobile-theater/prizefight have a "punchers chance" of being understood?
Well, I don't exactly see myself in the "punchers chance" tradition exemplified by the aged bloated George Foreman in his one punch 10th round KO of Michael Moorer to reclaim the Heavyweight crown. This "punchers chance" style has the advantage of evoking the "fear factor," but it's just too plodding for me, and the weapon I choose, the mobile cell phone platform, doesn't really provide the possibility of a one punch KO. I feel my style is more stick and move (tap, tap swipe on your touch screen), keep the jab in their face (tap tap), bob and weave, keep those feet moving (move from new screen to new screen), clockwise, then counterclockwise, keep shifting your point of attack (backwards, then forward) and do not get caught in a corner (do not respond to chat -- for assurance this feature was eliminated). My hope is that eventually the opportunity will present itself to unleash a lethal multi-punch barrage -- a compelling post followed in rapid succession by a series of lively comments to the solar plexis. Yes, I imagine myself Sugar Ray Robinson, but alas, maybe you're right, I'm just Jake LaMotta always moving forward, trying to remember to avoid the punches, getting hit all too often, clawing at the eyes, rabbit punching their kidneys, wrestling and overall just trying to outlast my imagined adversary. Alas, my version doesn't bring victory, but at least I get the satisfaction my worthy opponent will be pissing blood for at least a week… and "that's entertainment." The prizefight analogy evoked by Brecht/Weil really touches me deeply. Watching boxing matches every Friday night was the only thing I ever did with my dad as a kid and to this day I collect prizefights. By the way I also collect classic cinema DVDs, operas, musica cubana and Soccer matches.
The choice of the cell phone as my dancing companion was motivated by several factors. First, the issue of scale. Museums have gotten into this edifice Complex thing and LACMA with the Broad and Resnick structures and CEO Michael Govan's lineage -- working with Thomas Krens at Mass MOCA, then the Guggenheim, then the Guggenheim Bilbao, and then on his own with DIA Beacon -- are at the core of this contemporary effort to recast the museum as the epic aurific heir of the medieval cathedral. It struck me to engage the museum through this handjob size device, the cell phone, "you have the whole world in your hand," would produce and interesting dilemma. Second, the juxtaposition of the presence of objects in the museum and their deaurified youtube surrogates, reproductions and ersatz Photoshop reorganization in my piece opens up an interesting discussion of the relation of the aggressively trivial to its more statuesque antecedent. Third, the standard but restricted history traditionally presented by the museum, redeployed via the polymorphous perverse organization of Facebook. Fourth, the touch screen dimension -- the physical tactility of touching and the rhythm of the movement of engagement in contrast to the "do not touch the merchandise" dimension of museum attendance.
In a provocative way, you bring together touching and punching, the tiny gesture and the larger-scale boxing match. The intimate act and the public event. Immediacy and history. The problematic of scale -- the relation between the small and the colossal, between the miniature and the "mega," however understood in terms of the museum -- is a problematic of form that has haunted the twentieth century, one that you can see in terms of the development of television, computing, and telecommunications, proceeding in tandem with the ascendance of simulation, where miniaturized representations (as you say, deaurified surrogates) gradually gain precedence over realities, and interface controls substitute for movements. Margaret Morse wrote about how, in our vehicles of communication, shopping, and transportation, small, repetitive acts effect large-scale changes. The flick of a finger can change worlds.
In the disciplines of architecture and design, this scalar incommensurability is often taken up as a design problematic. It is something that one endeavors to work with, to "solve." In contrast, you mention that you're producing a "disconnect" -- between the experience of the large-scale museum and its being accessed on the miniature handheld device -- and this would suggest a critical engagement. Several disconnects come to mind. As you've pointed out, physical tactility, touching, is important in your project, and this stands in contrast to the sanctified, "do not touch" spaces of the museum. You're also working with the new culture of appropriation and mixing -- with Web 2.0, all phenomena are fair game, they become personalizable, modifiable, exchangeable -- and this counters the privileging of originality and ownership that the museum necessarily perpetuates. Everything is up for grabs. But you're doing something more than enacting a critique. You're setting forth a terms of engagement -- an interdependency. It's political, in the positive sense (the production of new possibilities). (I know you won't like either take -- your being negative or positive!) One of the areas where scalar disjuncture can be engaged is to find a way out of spatial concepts and container/contained relations. Also, moving away from preconceived hierarchies to more fluid concepts of interorientation. Moving from spatial boundaries to interface protocols. You're doing this in the dummy cycle. You're setting forth protocols of connection that do not respect conventional spatial models. You're doing it with the technology and the interface conventions and syntax (namely, Facebook's) -- but oddly enough, you are also doing it with the figure of Charlie. He is a trickster figure, an unconventional avatar that defies conventional space-time categories. It's like Zizek's take on the Mystery Man in David Lynch's Lost Highway -- he presides over the convolutions and flips in the script, and mediates the disbelief when we learn that one person can, following the rules of phantasmagoria, be in two places at once. He is the fantasmatic figure of a pure, neutral medium-observer, asexualized, childishly neutral Knowledge. As if enacting a symbolic network, Charlie can be everywhere at once. He is in the space of the museum -- he gazes at a Constructivist work, watches a Vertov clip, poses in front of an image of Stalin -- and yet he is elsewhere, accessing a group photograph of Bauhaus luminaries on an iPad, and watching clips from classic Hollywood films on a television in someone's living room. He makes connections -- "friends" and "tags" -- personages who could not logically be brought together. He traverses history and place. He's an avatar into which anyone can step, always enacting a ventriloquy of which he himself is the product.
That's a lot to chew on even for someone that wrote a book called Talkin' with Your Mouth Full! I will pick across the carcass of your queries assuming the indulgence of a buffet, picking and choosing here and there rather than the protocol of "formal dining." I see Charlie as Charlie, disruptive, precocious; having the flexibility of conversation of the variety show. He is an historical figure that is extended across time and space, but behaves according to the "logic of his character." The three episodes of the dummy cycle more or less are structured as three days of Facebook postings related to visits to LACMA. In general he behaves according to the protocols of Facebook; he makes comments, post pictures, tags, makes new friends and orchestrates the comments of his page. We have partial access to the activities of his friends Mayakovsky, Stalin, W.C.Fields, Bertolt Brecht, and William Faulkner, etc. This eclectic group is perhaps more interesting than the typical friends of a Facebook user, but it is not any more or less eclectic than most users. I do not feel the cluster of information, discussion and personages defies logic. It might be weird, but it is fastidious in its logic. It simply explores the possibilities of Facebook to produce a ground of discussion. What permissions for debate and evidence does this banality, Facebook, provide? This is the baseline for the project. There is nothing in Facebook protocol that would not permit a discussion across time, different spaces and friends that are famous, but long dead. There is Facebook page for Mayakovsky for instance, and I, Steve Fagin, have already friended him and had exchanges.
That Charlie is a ventriloquist dummy is interesting, but more as an organizing banality, an empty center, a site for "received ideas" rather than some mysterious trickster. I'm not for either the mysterious or the trick. Charlie is hollow inside, has no depth. What you see is what you get.
Perhaps the issue of scale can be best addressed through the Hollywood chapter of the cycle. I try to produce a scale within another scale effect. Not precisely a mise en abyme, but something I hope to be equally troubling and meta, a place where the shifting nature of aura, you succumb to the wonder of the larger than life cinema and control, the world is in "the palm of my hand" feeling of the cell phone world are performed and reflected upon. As we hold the phone in our hand we see in turn Charlie, sitting in a room, camera circling round him at first we only hear the sound of the movie he is watching, then slowly the film is revealed over his shoulder and then the camera tracks past Charlie into the film. The films used in this section are Minnelli The Pirate, Von Sternberg's Morocco and Sirk's All That Heaven Allows. Each of the sections viewed address a specific dimension of affect and scale. The section from The Pirate has Gene Kelly discussing hypnosis, Franz Mesmer and putting Judy Garland under "the spell" through a spinning alluring glass globe. The Morocco section has a scantily dressed Marlene Dietrich selling apples via the "knowing" song "What am I bid For My apples" to the seduced audience that includes Adolphe Menjou and Gary Cooper. The men in the movie, knowing the fate of Adam, still eagerly buy the apples from our Marlene/Eve. The lure/siren quality of the cinema is put into play both in the movie and in the use of the movie in my piece. By the by Marlene is also a friend of Charlie. Yes, Charlie understands the risk involved in having "such a friend." He might be dumb, but he is not stupid. In the section from All That Heaven Allows we have Jane Wyman's "self centered" son and daughter running off to "their own lives" leaving her with a gift wrapped television, a piece of banal household furniture that will be a surrogate to her for human companionship. The overwhelming feel of loss of affect in this Sirk segment is truly a wonderful depiction. Charlie's comment to this clip is taken from the previously worked over material in the section related to love and loss via Judy Holliday's rendition of "the Party's Over" in Bells are Ringing, now you must wake up, all dreams must end, the party's over, it's all over my friend.
You've mentioned that your work functions as something closer a case study rather than exclusively as something that is more metaphorical, suggestive, or simply ironic -- the worst example being the fortune cookie wisdom of "one liner" art. It functions on the level of the novelistic rather than the poetic. The questions are put into play within the work itself as fully fleshed out examples, demonstrations, and proofs, rather than exclusively allusions.
Although my fondest wish has always been to approximate the novel, I must confess my work stands more as a halfway house between a vaudeville sketch and a clandestine interlude at a cinematic matinee. Unfortunately, in my case, someone forgot to turn the cinema's house lights down.
Jordan Crandall is a media artist and theorist. He is Associate Professor in the Visual Arts Department at University of California, San Diego. He is currently at work on a new film entitled Exposure, a meditation on identity and ethics in contemporary network-driven cultures, where operational media and personal media combine in unstable, emergent systems and ecologies. He is also continuing to develop his multi-platform work Showing, which looks at erotic cultures of self-exposure and display


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60 seconds with Marcus Brookes on Clinton versus Trump
60 seconds with Marcus Brookes on Clinton versus Trump
In the US election there are two very different characters who will bring very different policies to the White House.
Clinton: the establishment figure
On one hand, we've got Hillary Clinton, who is very much the "establishment" figure. She's a Democrat and she's well-known to be a fiscal conservative. So, those expecting to see helicopter money in the US might need to lower their expectations.
She's also known to be a foreign policy hawk, so US involvement in places like the Middle East is likely to continue under a Clinton administration.
Her views on healthcare are well-known; she thinks it's far too expensive so maybe people should keep an eye on healthcare stocks in the event of a Clinton victory.
Trump: the unknown
On the other hand, there is far less known about what a Donald Trump presidency might mean.
In terms of his policy, we all know about "the Wall" and we know that he wants to spend an awful lot more on defence; about $90 billion more per annum.
We also know he's talking about a very, very big fiscal easing. This could be very stimulatory to the US economy and therefore the US stockmarket could really take off on the back of that.
Ultimately it all comes down to the will of the electorate, but who wins could be a crucial factor for people's investment portfolios.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Part of the problem with soy wax candles is that the vast majority of soy beans grown (93% according to the latest figures – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soy) are the Monsanto, Roundup Ready, genetically modified soy beans.
I recently became aware of an organic farmer in WA, Steve Marsh, who has recently been stripped of his organic certification because 70% of his property was found to be contaminated by the GM soy grown on the property next door. I decided to stand up and be counted. I have donated to Steve's legal fighting fund. I am sharing this information with you because it matters, and because we can each in our own small way make a difference with the decisions we make. You can read more about Steve's case here. You can also donate to his fighting fund on that site, and find information about the concerts and rallies being organised (in WA) to bring attention to the cause.
For those of you who love the occasional scented soy wax candle (yes, Seb, thinking about you), please consider this:
- the description of soy wax as "natural" is misleading. It is actually chemically bleached, hydrogenated-with-heavy-metals soybean oil. You can find out more about the hydrogenation process and additives here and here.
- the vast majority of candles are scented with synthetic, petro-chemical fragrant oils. (plenty of online references to that if you do a google search). You could also re-look at our previous post on Fragranced Candles: The Hidden Risks.
- there is enormous environmental damage caused by clear-felling virgin rainforest to make way for soy plantations. You can read more in the WWF report by Jan Maarten Dros. Or reading the Greenpeace article. Or even on CorpWatch.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. This was actually supposed to be a rallying cry for Steve Marsh – to bring attention to his cause, hopefully donations to his legal fighting fund and perhaps some of our WA customers at his rallies.
On a positive note, none of the beekeepers we buy from have their bees on soy (or any other GM crop for that matter). So you have a completely natural, non-toxic option available to you at any time by burning Queen B candles.
Queen B beeswax candles are made with 100% pure Australian beeswax a pure cotton wick and copious amounts of hand made love. We stock beautiful and stylish candle holders, personalised candles, votive candles and pillar candles that nourish the human spirit and our environment.


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Liberty goalkeeper Scott Sutarik
Unbeaten in their last six matches (5-0-1), the Liberty Flames men's soccer team will entertain the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs for a Big South contest, Saturday afternoon at Osborne Stadium. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. How to Follow the Flames Live stats powered by Gametracker will be available for Saturday's contest via LibertyFlames.com by clicking the live stats link under men's soccer in the schedule bar on the main page. A Look at Liberty Defender Sam Duininck's header at 92:55 of overtime gave the Flames a 2-1 win over High Point, extending Liberty's (7-6-1, 5-1-1) unbeaten streak to six games, Tuesday. Forward Kyle Breitmeyer also scored his team-leading seventh goal in the contest. Breitmeyer leads the Flames with 15 points on the season. He enters the weekend tied for fifth in the Big South in goals. With his game-winner Tuesday, Duininck is now second on Liberty with three goals and six points. Fellow defender Greg White is the only other Flame with more than one goal on the season with two goals. Midfielder Johnny Torres and defenders Tim Harbison and Uriah Bentick are tied for the team lead with three assists each. Goalkeeper Scott Sutarik has made 11 starts in the Liberty net, logging over 1,040 minutes. The sophomore has posted a 1.30 goals-against average and a .732 save percentage. During the Flames' six-game unbeaten streak, Sutarik has posted a 0.79 goals-against average and two shutouts. Head Coach Jeff Alder has led the Flames to a 115-85-20 record during his 12 seasons, capturing his 100th victory in a 2-0 win at No. 10 Virginia on Sept. 13, 2011. Alder's Flames posted an 11-6-3 record in 2011, en route to their second Big South Conference crown and fifth consecutive season with a double-digit win total.
All-Time Against Gardner-Webb Liberty and Gardner-Webb will be the 15th meeting between the two teams and a rematch of last season's Big South title game. The Flames claimed the 2011 Big South Championship with a 3-1 win over the Runnin' Bulldogs' in Boiling Springs, N.C., on Nov. 13, 2011. The Flames hold an 9-4-1 all-time advantage in the series which began in 1992. Despite the Liberty advantage in the series and the Flames' victory in the Big South title game last season, the Runnin' Bulldogs have won the last three regular season contests between the two squads. Gardner-Webb defeated Liberty, 3-1, in Boiling Springs, N.C. during the regular season on Oct. 8. The last time the two met at Osborne Stadium, the Runnin' Bulldogs left Lynchburg with a 2-0 win.
Look at Gardner-Webb Gardner-Webb (3-12-1, 2-4-1 Big South) looks to snap a four-game losing streak on Saturday, after a 2-1 loss at Winthrop in double overtime, Wednesday. The Runnin' Bulldogs trip to Liberty will be their last road contest of 2012 regular season. Gardner-Webb finishes with two home games. Taylor Jordan leads the Runnin' Bulldogs with three goals and six points. Satoshi Tatsum and John Ole Reinhardsen have scored two goals each. Marius Hammersmark has a team-leading four assists. Scott Krotee has logged over 1,400 minutes as the Gardner-Webb goalkeeper this season. He enters the weekend with a 1.80 goals-against average and a .763 save percentage. He has recorded three shutouts. Runnin' Bulldog head coach Tony Setzer is in his 25th year at Gardner-Webb. The winningest coach in school history, he has compiled 175-278-32 record during his tenure.
The Conference Run Down Liberty is in the midst of seven consecutive Big South games to complete the 2012 regular season. Saturday's contest will be the fifth game of the stretch. The Flames have posted a 3-0-1 record to begin the span. Liberty's win over High Point on Tuesday moved the Flames into third place in the Big South standings with 16 points. Coastal Carolina tops the Big South standings with an 8-0 record and 24 points. Radford, who the Flames will visit on Oct. 30, is in second place with a 6-0-1 mark and 19 points. Coastal Carolina visits Radford Saturday.
A Look Ahead Liberty travels to Radford for a Big South match. Tuesday night's match at Cupp Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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He came down with Mum, from North Queensland to visit us and hasn't had a break yet! I think I may have found him one or two odd jobs to complete for me! hehehe... Anyway, have a great day.
And Happy BIRTHday to our new niece, Moriah Jane, born early this morning. I've been to the hospital for a visit already and fell in love with the little pink bundle! Mother and babe are doing just fine.


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Photo Credit: Natalie Cole's picture is courtesy of LAST.FM. Photographic illustrations of Natalie Cole are copyright © by their respective holders. The images are published with permission or as allowed by the copyright law's fair use or quotation provisions. If any copyright holder objects to an image being included, please notify us and it will be removed immediately.
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endlich ist die Firmware 2.0 (ohne Beta) bei FSC erhältlich.
Ich weiß, das es in einem anderen Thema schon steht, aber so ist es für jeden sofort ersichtlich:
http://support.fujitsu-siemens.com/com/ ... loads.html
Entertainment Devices
ACTIVY Media Server 150
Windows XP
dann unter: Flash-Firmware
Die Firmware ist wohl vom Februar 2008 aber die Extension 2.ist ganz neu und inc. Twonky 4.4.5
die Firmware Extensions 2.0 (including Twonkyvision Media Server 4.4.5) for ACTIVY Media Server 150 muss man extra runterladen und installieren !!!
Date: 04.06.2008
Size: 2,82 MB
Version: 2.00 15-05-2008
Default "radioread" value has been changed from 240 to 1440 (to decrease daily HDD spinups)
Default "scantime" value has been changed from 60 to 120 (to decrease daily HDD spinups)
Default "norescale" value has been changed from 1 to 0 (to enable displaying of high resolution photos on ACTIVY Media Player 150)
Important: Before installing the firmware extensions on the ACTIVY Media Server 150 the AV Server has to be turned off.
hier noch die infos zur Firmware, leider in English
Date: 26.02.2008
Size: 6,18 MB
Version: 2.00 02-26-2008
Important information: ### Updates and Fixes ###
- Update: Samba has been updated to version 3.0.27 to improve compatibility with Windows Vista and Microsoft Office. The time information in files will not be changed anymore and problems with access from MAC clients do not happen anymore.
- Update: AV-Server has been updated to Twonkyvision Media Server 4.4.2
- Update: SATA driver has been improved to prevent from sporadic issues with some hard drives
- Update: Boot process has been revised to avoid long boot times when a large amount of files is stored
- Update: Added periodic NTP sync to compensate time discrepancy
- Update: NTFS read only support for external hard drives
- Update: To ensure a better security, the browse functionality of the web server has been removed
- Update: Removed the sleep mode settings below 10 minutes
- Fix: Problem when setting access permissions if the username has a "-" in it
- Fix: Access failes with users that have a "$" in the password
- Fix: Problem when renaming folders via FTP
- Fix: Problem when trying to create a user with FTP access
- Fix: Crash when configuring the country to Czech republic in the time settings
- Fix: Error when trying to change admin password when German GUI is used
- Fix: Unable to copy files larger than 2 GB to a FAT32 USB drive
- Fix: Problems with card reads with multiple cards in it
### Open Issues ###
- Before installing the firmware extensions on the ACTIVY Media Server 150 the AV Server has to be turned off (V2.0)
- Western Digital hard drives may not go properly into the sleep mode. If your ACTIVY Media Server 150 keeps warm all the time, you may consider to go back to the initial firmware to avoid damage to your hard drive. (V2.0)
- When the HDD sleep time was set to a time below 10 minutes, the sleep mode does not work correctly until you do a factory reset (V2.0)
- It may happen that the device has to be restarted manually (turned off, turned on) manually after formatting the HDD (V1.0, V2.0)
- Performance slowdown of around 30% when using access filters (ip filter or mac filter). This is caused by performance limitations of the hardware in conjunction with the fact that SAMBA?s build-in filter system is used. (V1.0, V2.0)
- The device may hang, when the user creates a group with 23 (or more) users in it -> reboot necessary (V1.0, V2.0)
- In the Windows "My Network places" or when searching the folders on the ACTIVY Media Server 150 a "Printers and Faxes" entry might show up, although there is no print server (V2.0)
- Compared to the previous firmware version, due to high security risks, the folder browsing of the web server has been disabled and remains disabled. An index.html in the root web folder is now necessary to provide content over the web server. (V2.0)
- Some parts of the GUI may appear in English language (V1.0, V2.0)
- The ACTIVY Media Server 150 may lose it's settings sporadically (V1.0, V2.0)
- The USB function may not work properly, when an USB drive is connected while the ACTIVY Media Server 150 is (re)booting (V1.0, V2.0)
- The USB backup function cannot be cancelled. Please assure that enough space is available on the ACTIVY Media Server 150 before you start the backup. When the disk is full, the backup will stop automatically and the HDD full LED is blinking. (V1.0, V2.0)
### Important notifications ###
1. Read the Update/Open issue list below carefully before installing the firmware
2. Please do not switch the device off, do not pull out the network cable or interrupt the network connection during firmware update process. Please read the warnings in the user manual.
3. After the installation of this firmware, please also install the firmware extensions 2.0!
4. It is strongly recommended to reset the device to factory defaults after the installation of the firmware. Please refer to the manual for instructions.
Comment: Paket including Firmware and Firmware Extensions with Twonkyvision Media Server 4.4.2


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Sussex County Community College is special. It is a welcoming and friendly place where you, as a student, are our priority. Here, learning takes place in our well-equipped classrooms, around a naturally beautiful campus, and throughout the community. We offer many of the amenities and advantages of a large institution combined with the unparalleled benefits of a smaller college.
Our class sizes are modest, giving you the opportunity for a quality, personal education where you can really get to know your friendly and caring professors. Personalized career counseling is one of the many services offered to you, and our staff works hard to make sure your education and experience at SCCC yields the result you are looking for.
SCCC is a gem in the heart of Sussex County, New Jersey. Our campus is nestled amidst 167 acres of rolling hills, lush forests and tranquil ponds. Since opening in 1982, the College has grown tremendously in its enrollment, academic and career programs and facilities.
SCCC has become the college of choice for over 2,700 students from New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Our graduates consistently find employment or successfully transfer to other 4-year colleges and universities for further education.
Whether you're a student, a parent, or a casual visitor, welcome!


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racewalking(redirected from 10000 m walk)
Also found in: Dictionary.
The sport of walking for speed, the rules of which require the racer to maintain continual foot contact with the ground and to keep the supporting leg straight at the knee from first contact with the ground until that leg is directly below the upper body.
race′walk′ v.
race′walk′er n.


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When your iconic wine is everything: Washington's diversity issue
Maybe I'd hate to see that tiny little plot of odd vines uprooted to make room for more really excellent Merlot. The preservation of the good of a few over achieving the best good of the many? Maybe, but Americans long ago decided that diversity is good for everyone.


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Search Maps
MapManatvs gelegen op de Noot [sic] Riuier. Manuscript. Pen-and-ink and watercolor. Covers New York City region. Pictorial map showing buildings and points of interest. Depths shown by soundings. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a...
- Contributor: Library of Congress - Vinckeboons, Joan
- Date: 1670


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Mission Impossible III star Maggie Q has stripped off for a stunning new People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals campaign poster aimed at convincing New Year dieters to give up meat.
I mean, social, environmental, humanitarian - all of them
The vegan actress agreed to bare all and have her body painted like planet earth for the edgy new Peta billboard that reads, 'Fight Climate Change With Diet Change.
Go Veg'.
The poster debuted above the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles on Thursday (24Jan13) and will stay there for a month.
Maggie Q tells WENN, "There's so many issues tied to the meat industry. I mean, social, environmental, humanitarian - all of them. I know that when I'm eating that I'm not hurting the planet, I'm not hurting other people on this planet, I'm not hurting animals... and I'm not hurting nature".
The star is not the only celebrity backing Peta's meat-free campaign - Alicia Silverstone, Casey Affleck, Sir Paul McCartney, Joaquin Phoenix and Forest Whitaker have also teamed up with the animal rights group to promote vegetarian and vegan eating.
tagged in Alicia Silverstone Forest Whitaker Joaquin Phoenix Sir Paul McCartney Casey Affleck Free Paul McCartney


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Jermaine O'Neal Sets the Pace as Indiana Defeats New Jersey 107-95On Thursday the NBA fined Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal $15,000 for his comments about the officiating in game two of the first round series between Indiana and the New Jersey Nets—but New Jersey paid the price that evening when a revitalized O'Neal tied his playoff career high with 37 points, shooting 12-15 from the field, grabbing 15 rebounds and blocking four shots in a 107-95 Pacers victory. In the first two games of the series combined O'Neal only had 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots but Indiana still managed to steal home court advantage from the favored Nets with a split.
Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson led the Nets with 25 points each in game three. Carter got off to a blistering start, scoring 21 points on 8-11 shooting in the first half, but he missed each of his 10 second half field goal attempts. New Jersey led 55-51 at halftime after shooting 20-37 from the field (.541), but shot only 9-38 (.237) from the field in the second half. Jason Kidd was the only other New Jersey player to score in double figures, finishing with 14 points, six rebounds and six assists. Indiana point guard Anthony Johnson outshined him with a playoff career high 25 points, adding eight assists and five rebounds while committing no turnovers in close to 40 minutes of action. In his postgame remarks, Indiana Coach Rick Carlisle said, "A.J. is playing with great awareness and great savvy." Carlisle also singled out the efforts of Peja Stojakovic, who scored 10 points despite being hampered by a knee injury, and Scot Pollard, who provided a physical presence and grabbed four rebounds in limited minutes.
O'Neal's breakout game, perhaps his best postseason performance ever, resulted from extensive film study. O'Neal told the assembled media after the game that he watched game one and game two in their entirety twice each--and rewound several plays multiple times--in an effort to discern how he could be more effective in game three. He said that he thought that it was very important that he figure out what to do for the rest of the series instead of just being frustrated by the way that the games were officiated. O'Neal added that he believes that some of the tactics that the Nets used in the first two games are against the rules but, even so, the film study showed that he could employ countermoves to nullify what the Nets were doing. He explained that the main thing he discovered was that he needed to be more active and to keep moving; the Nets were playing him "top side" and by moving around O'Neal could get good position, pin the defender against his body and receive the ball where he could do damage. O'Neal noted that he plans to look at film of game three first thing Friday morning because he wants to anticipate what adjustments the Nets might make to their defensive strategies. It will be interesting to see the next move in the chess match between O'Neal and the Nets' defense.
Before the series, many analysts did not give the Pacers much of a chance, a fact that Carlisle pointed out in his postgame comments. Kevin Loughery picked the Nets to win in a sweep and I was tempted to do so before conceding that the resilient Pacers would probably win one game. I thought that the Nets were peaking at the right time and I am surprised by how much trouble they are having against the Pacers. I still believe that the Nets have the tools to potentially challenge Detroit in the Eastern Conference Finals but right now they are in a serious dogfight just to get out of the first round. The Pacers are both resilient and schizophrenic; you never know quite what to expect from them. They can follow big road wins with home losses or play tough against elite teams only to lose to lottery teams. The recipe for a New Jersey win is very clear--tough defense and solid rebounding followed by pushing the ball up the court aggressively and attacking the basket. The Nets did that in game two and in the first half of game three and they must do it three times in the next four games to avoid elimination.
Notes From Courtside:
One of the best things about covering a Pacers game is the opportunity to touch base with some of the players and coaches from the team's ABA days. Bobby "Slick" Leonard coached the Pacers to three ABA championships and also coached the Pacers in the NBA after the 1976 NBA-ABA merger. He has been a Pacers radio analyst for many years and is the author of the famous "Boom baby!" call that followed so many Reggie Miller three pointers. I asked Slick what he thinks of the comparison of LeBron James with George McGinnis, his star power forward who shared ABA MVP honors with Julius Erving in 1974-75. Slick agreed that there is some validity to the comparison; the two players are similarly sized (6-8, 240+) and combine power with the ability to handle the ball with finesse. Slick said that McGinnis was a better rebounder than James is.
I asked Slick for his take on the tight MVP race this year and he gave a slight edge to Dirk Nowitzki. He also likes LeBron James and agreed that Kobe Bryant must be considered as well. Since he did not mention Nash initially, I asked for his take on the Phoenix point guard who won last year's MVP and is expected to receive the award again this year. Slick said that Nash is a very good player who fits in perfectly with Phoenix' system but that he is not as good a player as guys like Nowitzki, James and Bryant. Slick added that he does not place a great deal of value on the regular season MVP. "The real MVP is the Finals MVP," he declared, adding that the best player on the championship team is the one who should be considered the best player in the game. I pointed out that by this standard some of the MVP candidates could be eliminated very soon because their teams might not make it out of the first round. "That's right," he agreed, nodding his head for emphasis.
Darnell Hillman contributed rebounding, shot blocking and some spectacular slam dunks as a forward-center for the Pacers and played an important role on Indiana's 1973 ABA championship team. Hillman played alongside McGinnis on an imposing frontline that included center Mel Daniels, a two-time ABA regular season MVP (the talented--and extremely underrated--Roger Brown--swung between the frontcourt and the backcourt on those teams). Hillman told me that the McGinnis-James comparison makes sense but that McGinnis went one-on-one less than James does. Hillman said that the Pacers had a strict philosophy that any player who drew a double team should immediately give the ball up to a teammate for a better shot and that McGinnis excelled at this; James shoots too many fadeaway shots--particularly behind the three point line--for Hillman's taste. I said that LeBron shoots a lot of "Oh no--good shot" shots--shots where a coach might be tempted to say "Oh no" except for the fact that LeBron makes enough of them to still shoot a good percentage. Hillman liked that phrase and added that if anyone other than LeBron took those kinds of shots the coach would most certainly say "Oh no" no matter what. He added that he likes LeBron's game overall and believes that eventually LeBron will shoot fewer of those shots and pass the ball more often in those situations. LeBron is known as an unselfish player--and Hillman said that he believes that to be true--but even during his remarkable triple double in a game one win versus Washington he shot 12-27 from the field, followed by a 7-25 shooting performance in the game two loss.
I asked Hillman if he saw Brendan Haywood's hard foul against LeBron and if he agreed that this play was a key moment in the game. Hillman did not see that particular play but he told me that he does not like the "hard foul" mentality. Of course, such fouls were even more prevalent during his playing days, when the fine for fighting was only $25 and altercations were commonplace. Hillman has no problem if someone makes a good, hard play on the ball but a lot of fouls go over the line and could potentially jeopardize someone's career. He said that when he received such a foul during his playing days he would immediately confront the perpetrator. Hillman does not like the so-called "Hack a Shaq" tactic and the amount of punishment that Shaquille O'Neal takes in general, adding that O'Neal has been uniquely gifted with size and strength and that if opponents cannot guard him legally then that is too bad for them.
posted by David Friedman @ 1:43 AM


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A beautiful satchel is nice. When it comes with a matching wristlet, though, that's even better! The big bag features a color block design showcasing your choice of color - or that floral print option - which is repeated on the wristlet. The satchel also features a trio of compartments for ample, organized storage. Glam gold-tone hardware adds the finishing touches, from the footed bottom to the dangling padlock detail.
All colors feature color block front, side panels that match center panel, gold-tone hardware, loop on hanging padlock detail, footed bottom and matching wristlet.
Baguette: A small handbag that is long and narrow like the French loaf of bread by the same name.
Billfold (wallet): A folding pocketbook with compartments for money, cards and personal items.
Bottom feet: Metal or plastic knobs on the bottom of a stiff-sided handbag. These protect the bag when it is set down.
Box bag: A small or medium-sized handbag with hard sides and a box shape.
Bracelet handle: A handle that forms a complete circle.
Bucket bag: A soft-sided, bucket-shaped handbag with a round bottom; usually taller than wide.
Change (coin) purse: A small purse or wallet section for loose coins.
Clutch: A small handbag that is carried in the hand with no straps or handles; it also may be tucked under the arm.
Coin (change) purse: A small purse or wallet section for loose coins.
Compartment: A large section inside a handbag.
Demi bag: A small handbag with a short top handle to be carried in the hand or on the shoulder.
Drawstring: A cord, strip of leather or fabric, or string that can be pulled to gather the fabric of a handbag to close it.
East-west: A handbag that is wider than it is tall.
Etui: Small, ornamental bag for personal items.
Evening bag: A handbag to use with evening wear; usually only large enough for a few personal items, such as money and lipstick.
Flap bag: A handbag with a fold-over flap that is its distinguishing feature.
Framed bag: A bag with a solid frame that defines its shape.
Gusset: The triangular end piece of a handbag that gives it its depth and roominess.
Half moon bag: A bag shaped like a half moon, with or without a handle.
Handle Drop: The distance between the top of the handbag and the top of the handle(s). This is the open space for your shoulder, arm, or hand to hold the bag.
Hobo bag: A slouchy, cloth shoulder bag that hangs down in the middle.
Messenger bag: A large bag with a long strap to wear across the shoulders. The front features a large fold-over flap.
North-south: A handbag that is taller than it is wide.
Organizer: A pocketbook with compartments to carry personal items.
Pocket: A small section inside a handbag.
Pouchette: A small, oval handbag.
Purse: A general term for a small bag to carry money and personal items.
Satchel: A large handbag with a top closure, top carrying handle and notable triangular side profile.
Sling bag: A cloth bag with a shoulder strap that attaches on one end to the top of the bag and on the other end to the bottom of the bag.
Shopper (tote) bag: A large bag with two handles and an open top.
Shoulder bag: A general term for a bag that can be strapped over the shoulder.
Shoulder guard: A piece of fabric or padding on a shoulder strap that distributes the weight of a bag.
Shoulder strap: A long strap on a bag that allows it to be carried on the shoulder.
Slouch bag: A general term for a cloth bag without a defined or stiff shape.
Top-handle bag: A bag with a small handle at the top for carrying in the hand.
Tote (shopper) bag: A large bag with two handles and an open top.
Valise: A handbag with a top closure that has two top carrying handles and features a triangular or oval profile.
Wallet (billfold): A folding pocketbook with compartments for money, cards and personal items.
Wrist strap: A thin loop of material attached to a small bag or wallet so that it may be carried on the wrist.
Zipper pull: A zipper with a tab for easy opening and closing; sometimes has a signature element of the handbag designer.


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Elizabeth Taylor said on her Twitter page Friday that the Michael Jackson documentary premiering this week is "brilliant" and that fans should see the film "again and again" to honor the fallen pop star's memory.
The film "This Is It," which features rehearsal footage shot while Jackson was preparing for his comeback tour, is "the single most brilliant piece of filmmaking" the star has ever seen, Taylor wrote on her Twitter page.
Taylor, 77, is a longtime friend of Jackson's and was one of the celebrities who attended his high-profile Los Angeles funeral. She blasted Tweet after Tweet on the site, writing in some twenty-plus messages how Jackson's new film showed he was a "modern day prophet."
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
The film "cements forever Michael's genius in every aspect of creativity," Taylor said in one post. "I truly believe this film should be nominated in every category conceivable," she wrote in another.
Taylor said fans should see the film "again and again" to honor Jackson. "Memorize it and say to yourselves, 'I saw genius in my lifetime,'" she wrote.
The actress, who starred in classics like "National Velvet," saw the film last week but was sworn to secrecy until Monday.
Jackson died in June at the age of 50. He was set to start a 50-concert comeback tour in London just weeks after his death.
"This Is It" opens worldwide Tuesday night.


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* 800g Diced Stewing or Braising Lamb
* 4 Cups/1200ml Water or Lamb Stock
* 2 Small white onions finely chopped
* 2 Teaspoons Ginger Puree
* 2 Teaspoons Garlic Puree
* 200g Butter Ghee
* 2 Teaspoons Turmeric Powder
* 4 Teaspoons Mild Curry Powder
* Half Teaspoons Chilli Powder
* 2 Teaspoons Garam Masala Powder
* 1 Teaspoon whole Panch Purée Seeds
* 2 Large Onions. Sliced and fried slowly until golden brown
* 100ml Natural Yogurt
* 2 Tablespoons Tomato Puree
* 200ml Pureed Onion
* Handful of sesame seeds to garnish
Cooking Method for Stewed Lamb Dupiaza
Serves 4
To make the Onion Puree, bring a small pan of water to the boil and add some chopped onions. Boil until soft, drain and puree with a hand blender or in a food processor. Freeze any extra you make for next time.
Heat a large saucepan on a high heat. Once it is hot add the whole seeds and toast them until they sizzle and crackle. Now add the oil and then add the chopped onions and reduce the heat to low. You can optionally add 1 or 2 Whole Star Anise which help bring out the sweetness of the onions and imparts a subtle aniseed flavour but remove them once the onions are cooked. Cook the onions gently and slowly until they turn a golden brown colour.
Make a paste of the ginger puree, garlic puree, curry powder, Turmeric powder, Chilli powder, with a little water. Add to saucepan and stir in well and fry for a couple of minutes.
Now add your 800g Diced Stewing or Braising Lamb stir in well.
Add the sliced fried onions.
Mix the Yogurt, Tomato Puree, Onion Puree, together in a jug with the water or stock and pour into the saucepan and mix in well. Turn up the heat until the sauce begins to simmer and leave to simmer for 2 Hours or until the meat is tender. Top up the water or stock if it starts to get low and dry. Stir occasionally.
Finally sprinkle in the Garam masala and stir in well for the final 2 minutes of cooking. Garnish with the Handful of sesame seeds and serve
Stewed Lamb Dupiaza


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It was supposed to be Wioletta Roslan's last base jump. She was four months pregnant and an avid extreme sports addict, but she knew with a baby growing inside her, it was time to take a break. She just wanted to do it one last time.
It was that last time that killed both her and her unborn baby. According to The Sun, last weekend, the 37-year-old Swedish woman was attempting the jump from a cliff despite her mother begging her not to do it.
Halina Zaniewska-Pettersson told the paper:
But she always wanted to carry on. I couldn't force her not to do it -- she was old enough to make up her own mind about things.
Roslan's boyfriend, Aleksander Domalewski, jumped with her -- from her favorite spot at Via Ferrata cliff in Switzerland -- and watched helplessly as she struggled to get her parachute open on the way down. But she could not do so. A source told the paper that he said "she had simply spread her arms and waited for the impact."
More from The Stir: Lucky Woman Dies at Her Own Funeral
It's heartbreaking, but also maddening, because it shouldn't have happened.
I'm all for women being active while pregnant. I have friends who have run all the way up until their due date, done yoga on the way into the delivery room, and all sorts of other activities. I by no means think pregnant women should sit down and be safe for the entire gestation period. But there are limits as to what one should do, and Roslan flagrantly defied them. In a recent television interview, she said, "I only feel alive when I jump. I find normal life boring."
And that's great, but there's a time when you have to put your child's safety and health before your own pleasure, and it starts the minute you know you're pregnant. And yes, sometimes that means boring. It's hard to give up the things we love sometimes, but that's what being a parent is about, and sadly Roslan will never experience that wonderful thrill.
Do you think it was irresponsible for this woman to base jump while she was pregnant?
Image via Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson/Flickr


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Customizing medications that are not commercially available is called Compounding. Whether it be adding flavor to an antibiotic for a child, producing a trans dermal cream to bypass the stomach, a hormone replacement therapy or a topical gel to treat your favorite pet, our compounding pharmacists can do it all.
Compounding offers the patient as well as the physician flexibility in the choice of drug, strength and dosage form. It allows for a truly customized drug regimen as patients often respond better to a personalized medication that is just what the doctor ordered.
North Country Pharmacy now offers this service
At North Country Pharmacy we understand the individual needs of our patients and physicians by offering effective and personalized compounded medications. By recognizing that each person has unique needs, we strive to serve these needs with a commitment to integrity, quality and customer service.
We also recognize the importance of the physician, patient and pharmacist relationship in determining the most accurate and safest compounded prescription to meet the individual needs.
Call now to speak with our pharmacist about your personal needs.


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Follow RFF News on your cell phone. Text follow rff to 40404 you will receive txt messages with RFF News
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In the final couple of episodes we like to let the teams run on their merits without the aid of U Turns, Yields, intersections and so on. May the Best Team Win.
Watch out for the next episode. It will be a true cliff hanger!
This is the Barr Al Jissah Resort - Muscat, Oman
Repost. Is it Oman yet?1. Muscat, Oman. Thanks to puddin2. Barr Al Jissah Resort located in Muscat, Oman. Thanks to puddin and Boingo4. Arab type dhowAnd thanks to farwest's vidcaps.
Since we have two hours of operations, one of them has to be in India. If both of them are in Oman, then it doesn't make sense.
Departure schedule from Pune Railway Station
WY806 0645 0745 - clearly the best if teams can get to Mumbai airport in time; GF057 / GF552 - shown previously; this gets in at 1220IT3127 / WY876 - 1200 1345 BOM JAI connecting with 1450 1550 JAI MCTThat's it. Any other possibilities are essentially just variations of the second or third combinations above.
This beautifully restored fort features an enormous drum-like tower from which spectacular views of the surrounding markets, mosque and mountains may be enjoyed. Nizwa is a convenient centre from which to explore the Interior of Oman with many fascinating forts, wadis, mountains and the desert, all within easy reach. The souk at the foot of the tower is well worth visiting, especially on a Friday morning when the livestock market is very popular.
One of the most impressive souks, or markets in Oman, this one at Mutrah, just along the coast from Muscat, offers a bewildering array of shops selling frankincense, gold, clothes, jewelry, cloth, ornaments, rifles, traditional curved knives or Khanjars, and many other goods.
I think the zip wire challenge took place in snake canyon via ferrata in oman.
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I'm really hoping the Jabba's Palace, Yavin, Endor, and Star Destroyer waves get rereleased on OTC cards. They'd fit in perfectly, so why not.
Yes, they are, but what stores are getting them? Is it Wal-Mart, Target, TRU, KB, K-Mart, Star Toys, ec.......... Which ones?
Still, I've yet to see Yavin wave here and I know they've hit this area but got picked up fast.
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The public is increasingly skeptical of congressional Democrats on a number of levels, according to a new CNN poll,. The favorable opinion of the Democratic Party is down six points since February and is now just barely over 50 percent and an earlier 15-point Democratic margin over which party would be better running Congress has dropped to ten percent.
When added to other polls showing serious erosion in President Obama's approval and personal popularity, one would think that this is great news for the Republicans.
Except it's not.
U.S. & World
In the same poll, the GOP's favorability has inched up only two points. Why wouldn't there be more of movement to the Republicans given the seeming disjointed messages coming from the Democrats -- and the still rocky economy?
Aside from the fact that the country is only nine months from an election that derisively put Congress in Democratic hands, maybe the public just doesn't trust Republicans yet.
There's the past sins, yes, where Republican President George W. Bush and the former GOP congressional majority ran up historic debt. But while Obama and the Democrats are ratcheting up even more red ink, the GOP isn't just offering opposition: The party is producing headlines that leave a very unsavory impression.
Over the last few months, the average American could fairly assume that the only things Republicans were focused on were cheating on their spouses -- and quitting their jobs.
Consider the roll call:
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford -- one-time possible presidential candidate hooked up with an Argentine cutie -- and after publicly trying to keep the marriage together, his wife moved out of the governor's mansion last week. The governor may have also broken state law by using state aircraft for personal matters;
Nevada Sen. John Ensign -- cheated with one employee - who's married to another employee - and got his parents to pay off the couple;
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin -- quit her office with 18 months left in her term, and departed with two rambling confusing speeches;
Florida Sen. Mel Martinez, the party's former general chairman and most prominent elected Latino -- after announcing earlier this year that he wouldn't be running for re-election, abruptly declared last week that he would be leaving before the end of his term. His last official act was voting to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.
That first three of these GOP figures, who had at one time been considered possible presidential candidates, demonstrate the problematic condition of the party. And don't forget - Sarah Palin is still in the running.
Sure, there are a lot more GOP leaders out there. Not all of them are compromised, but the ones getting the big headlines are doing the party no favors.
Why shouldn't the public be distrustful of a party whose prominent faces seem to be either cheating on their wives -- or quitting on their constituents?
Thankfully, the midterm elections are 15 months away. There's still a lot to be done to restore the party's reputation. Meanwhile, hoping for the continued chaos and ineffectiveness on the Democratic side is the best Republicans can do for now.
New York writer Robert A. George blogs at Ragged Thots. Follow him on Twitter.


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GREEN RIVER – Mathilda Elizabeth Reynolds Smith passed away peacefully in her bed at home on Dec. 26, 2012 at the age of 98.
She was born July 20, 1914 in Mt. Pleasant where she was the last of 12 siblings born to Asa Fletcher and Augusta Alfreda Matson Reynolds.
On Dec. 20, 1933 she married Wayne G. Smith in the Manti Temple. After moving to Green River, Betty was fortunate enough to ranch alongside her beloved husband for 62 years before his passing on Nov. 9, 1996. Together they tended many livestock and raised a wonderful family that will carry on her legacy.
"Granny" was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she served in many capacities. She was an active member of the Green River Community and a loyal supporter of the Pirates. Whether it was a special sporting event, birthday or get together, Granny was the center of attention.
Her warm and generous personality delighted the hearts of all, and her clever handiwork could brighten anyone's day. Whether she was crocheting, making flower pens, diamond pins or making folded dollar bill shirts, Granny seemed to have a knick-knack that could be enjoyed for generations. Everyone she ever came across with has one of her many handmade heartfelt treasures. She was loved by all and a light and inspiration to everyone she met.
"Robert promises that he will bring a shovel for his last visit with her".
She is survived by three children, Faye (Harry) Thompson, Green River, Tamra (John) Brooke, Salt Lake, and Robert (Karen) Smith, Green River; grandchildren, Satina Smith, Salt Lake, Leslie Smith, Seattle, Kalista (Jason) Dexter, San Francisco; Rita (Shane) Whittaker, Fruita, Wanda Fashion, Green River, Dawna (Phillip) Dinkins, Green River, Athena (Paul) Tucker, Grand Junction, Rhett Wilcox, Green River; 18 great-grandchildren and 16 great-great-grandchildren.
Preceded in death by her parents; husband; 11 brothers and sisters; and many friends.
Funeral service was held on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, Noon; Green River LDS Ward Chapel. Family received friends at the church Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. Burial was in the Elgin Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories of Betty at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.
Betty Smith"Granny"
GREEN RIVER – Mathilda Elizabeth Reynolds Smith passed away peacefully in her bed at home on Dec. 26, 2012 at the age of 98.


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Young minds come together in NYC to talking about bicycles and related politics at the:
More details:
WHEN: Friday February 15 – Sunday February 17
WHERE: The New School 66 W 12th St New York, NY
ADMISSION: $20/youth; $35/adult
KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Enrique Penalosa, Former Mayor of Bogota, Colombia & Devlynn Chen, Local Spokes Youth Ambassador
REGISTRATION: youthbikesummit2013-eac2.eventbrite.com
1. Keynote Speakers Enrique Penalosa, former mayor of Bogota, Colombia and Devlynn Chen, 17 year old Recycle-A-Bicycle intern speaking together.
2. Rude Mechanical Orchestra marching band procession leading 200 attendees with colorful signs down 6th Ave in Manhattan to workshop sessions.
3. Group workshops with people engaging in conversation.
Recycle-A-Bicycle's Youth Bike Summit is a three-day national conference geared toward youth, bikes education, and advocacy. Whether you're a student, educator, or advocate, there is much to be learned though this dynamic, inter-generational exchange. This national conference offers a youth and adult Keynote presentation, 15 engaging workshops, hands-on activities, a thought-provoking visioning session with youth and adults working in communities near and far. By creating a space where ideas from bicyclists of all ages can be heard, we seek to create a more inclusive national dialogue that addresses the issues, rights, and concerns of all bicyclists.Learn more about the Youth Bike Summit in this video by Streetfilms.
HISTORY: In March 2010, Recycle-A-Bicycle (RAB) attended the League of American Bicyclists' National Bike Summit with two high school interns who had completed a comprehensive job training program and Earn-A-Bike program at RAB. Both participants learned they loved bicycles and expressed an interest in learning more about how bicycling fits into policy, the environment, social entrepreneurship, and community-building. Traveling to Washington DC for the first time, the 17 year old participants explored the nation's capital by bike, attended the conference, and lobbied elected officials. As we debriefed on the bus ride home, we discussed the importance of engaging youth in the national dialogue of cycling education and advocacy. As a result, the idea of the Youth Bike Summit came into being. Both young advocates were active participants in the planning of the conference in 2011.
Continue reading The Kids are Alright-on bikes…Youth Bike Summit 2013


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QUESTION - do you think that it's OK to use BLUNT FORCE trauma to kill an animal in the puppy mills?
ANIMAL LOVERS PLEASE LISTEN TO THE MINISTER PETER WALSH and his disgusting comments, and then act!
The comment period is open only through Tuesday August 13th 2013, so please act TODAY.
In Victoria Australia, Killing a Dog With a Hammer is Humane?
There's a fight brewing in Victoria, Australia, over the welfare of animals.
If a new law is passed, dog and cat breeders in Victoria Australia could legally kill me with a hammer- as long as it's away from other animals, of course.
A proposed revision of the code regulating animal breeders would allow breeders to euthanize their own animals (currently they can do so only in an emergency and if a vet is not available).
The proposal would call for the breeder to use a "humane" method of euthanasia.
On August 5, Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh was asked in an interview on Ballarat ABC Radio about that law.
He admitted that shooting an animal or using a blunt instrument, if done appropriately, could be a humane method of euthanasia under the code change.
News link: http://rumpydog.com/2013/08/09/in-victoria-australia-killing-a-dog-with-a-hammer-is-humane/
Minister Peter Walsh is now backtracking and claiming his comments were taken out of context.
But it was apparent to me, after listening to the interview, that the welfare of animals is not something he cares about.
If you live in Victoria, I encourage you to make your feelings about the issue known.
1/ The comment period is open only through Tuesday August 13th 2013, so please act TODAY.
All submissions must be in writing and must include your name, mailing address, and a contact email address.
You can send an email to: [email protected]
Or you can post a letter to:
Breeding and Rearing Code Review Bureau of Animal Welfare
475 Mickleham Rd Attwood VIC 3049
Here's a recording of the complete interview>>>
2/ Contact information for PETER WALSH.
Role Occupant- The Hon. Peter Walsh, MP
Phone 03 9938 5954
Fax Number 03 9658 4191
Email Address [email protected]
Website www.parliament.vic.gov.au...


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Ryan O'Neal has his own love story to share.
The actor has signed with Crown Archetype for a memoir about his tumultuous relationship with Farrah Fawcett, who died in 2009. Crown announced Wednesday that the book will come out next spring and is tentatively titled "Past Imperfect."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Authors — Hollywood's Fave Bookworms
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
O'Neal, who starred in such hit films as "Love Story" and "Paper Moon," will also discuss his struggles with daughter Tatum O'Neal. The two will star in a reality TV series this summer on the OWN network.
Copyright 2011 by Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Farrah Fawcett & Ryan O'Neal: A Love Story
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Farrah Fawcett: From 'Angel' To Icon
VIEW THE PHOTOS: In Memoriam: The Stars We Lost In 2010
PLAY IT NOW: 2010 TV Land Awards Red Carpet: Ryan O'Neal & Tatum O'Neal Remember Farrah
PLAY IT NOW: Ryan O'Neal & Tatum O'Neal: Reconciling Differences
More from Access: [ Ryan O'Neal Farrah Fawcett Reality TV ]


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Every year, more than 4,000 teen girls in Detroit get pregnant, and most of them don't graduate from high school. But one woman is breaking the chain. Asenath Andrews, the third Mother of Invention at this year's summit, is the principal and founder of the Catherine Ferguson Academy, a school where young mothers not only graduate, but they flourish, as NPR's Renee Montagne told the morning's attendees.
"It is surprising that in 2012, there is an attitude that once you get pregnant as a teenager, your life is over," Andrews said. "That is not okay. If you come to our school, we expect you to not just sit there, but to do your best. You create a future for yourself. Nobody can hold you back except for you. It's our job to take away their shoes and give them wings."
Asked to name one word to describe the school, one of its students, Ashley Rodgers, said, "everything." "Because Catherine Ferguson meant everything to me," she said. "The school was like a second home. Catherine Ferguson saved my life."
The school not only boasts high rates of graduation and college enrollment, but also a working farm. But Andrews wants to do more. "I would like to leave the legacy that not only must you graduate, you must have an international experience," she said. "I would beg borrow and steal to make that happen."
She might not have to. Following the panel, it was announced that each of the event's Mothers of Invention were receiving $50,000 grants from Toyota.


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Memphis, Tenn. – The NBA announced tonight that Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph has been named to the 2013 Western Conference All-Star team as a reserve, marking his second career All-Star selection. The 62nd NBA All-Star Game will be played Sunday, Feb. 17 at the Toyota Center in Houston.
The NBA leader in double-doubles (27), "Z-Bo" is posting 16.1 points and 11.6 rebounds on .482 shooting in 35.1 minutes in 39 games this season, helping power Memphis to the best start in franchise history (27-14) at the season's halfway point. Randolph ranks second among qualifying players in both total rebounding and offensive rebounding (4.3) and is one of two players in the league averaging at least 16 points and 11 rebounds (Dwight Howard).
"It is truly an honor to be named by the NBA's coaches to the 2013 Western Conference All-Star team," Randolph said. "I am grateful for this opportunity and look forward to playing with the best players in the world."
Randolph (6-9, 255), who made his first All-Star appearance in 2010, becomes the first player in franchise history to earn multiple All-Star nods in a Grizzlies uniform. The 31-year-old is one of three Grizzlies to be named to the All-Star Game, along with Pau Gasol (2006) and Marc Gasol (2012). This also marks the first time the Grizzlies have sent a player to the All-Star Game in consecutive seasons (Marc Gasol, 2012).
Following a 2011-12 campaign in which he played just 28 games due to injury, Randolph has returned to average a double-double for the seventh time in his career. He recorded more than 10 points and more than 10 rebounds in all of the first 11 games of the season, making him one of three players (Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Love) in the last 32 seasons to accomplish such a feat.
The Marion, Ind. native posted one of the top performances in franchise history, erupting for 38 points and 22 rebounds – both season highs – in an overtime win on Dec. 4 vs. Phoenix, marking his fourth career 30-20 game and his highest scoring total in a Grizzlies uniform. The Michigan State product became the fourth player ever to post at least 38 points and 22 rebounds against Phoenix (Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bob Lanier) and the second player in the last 12 seasons to reach those statistical marks in a single game (Dwight Howard).
The Western Conference All-Star team consists of starters Kobe Bryant (LA Lakers), Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City), Blake Griffin (LA Clippers), Dwight Howard (LA Lakers) and Chris Paul (LA Clippers) and reserves LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland), Tim Duncan (San Antonio), James Harden (Houston), David Lee (Golden State), Tony Parker (San Antonio), Zach Randolph (Memphis) and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City).
The Eastern Conference All-Star team consists of starters Carmelo Anthony (New York), Kevin Garnett (Boston), LeBron James (Miami), Rajon Rondo (Boston) and Dwyane Wade (Miami) and reserves Chris Bosh (Miami), Tyson Chandler (New York), Luol Deng (Chicago), Paul George (Indiana), Jrue Holiday (Philadelphia), Kyrie Irving (Cleveland) and Joakim Noah (Chicago).
The 14 players selected were chosen by the 30 NBA head coaches, who were asked to vote for seven players in their respective conferences – two guards, three frontcourt players and two players regardless of position. They were not permitted to vote for players from their own team.
The East and West All-Star coaches and coaching staffs will be determined by the best record in the conference through games played Sunday, Feb. 3. The Bulls' Tom Thibodeau and the Thunder's Scott Brooks coached the East and West squads, respectively, last season and are therefore ineligible for the honor this year.
Fans who want to support the Memphis Grizzlies and purchase 2012-13 Season Tickets, or 10- and 20-Game Flex Packs can do so by calling (901) 888-HOOP or going online to grizzlies.com. Tickets for the Plaza IV and Terrace IV sections are sold out. For more information on the Grizzlies, 'like' Memphis Grizzlies on Facebook or follow on Twitter (@memgrizz).
– Grizzlies.com –


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Muslims gather to pray at the Omar al Farouk Mosque in November 2010 in Anaheim, Calif. In that Southern California community, tensions flared after an FBI informant, Craig Monteilh, infiltrated mosques to gather information.
The FBI in San Francisco used a public relations program billed as "mosque outreach" to collect information on the religious views and practices of Muslims in Northern California and then shared the intelligence with other government agencies, according to FBI documents obtained by civil rights groups.
The heavily redacted documents, released after a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, raise "grave constitutional concerns," said Hina Shamsi, director of the National Security Project of the American Civil Liberties Union.
"In San Francisco, we have found that community outreach was being run out of the FBI's intelligence division and was part of a secret and systematic intelligence gathering program," conducted without any apparent evidence of wrongdoing," said Shamsi. "The bureau's documentation of religious leaders' and congregants' beliefs and practices violates the Privacy Act, which Congress passed to protect Americans' First Amendment rights."
The Privacy Act limits sharing of personal information among government agencies and the length of time it can be retained. In this case, the information shared included religious beliefs and affiliations, which the ACLU argues is entirely out of bounds.
The ACLU is calling for the Department of Justice's inspector general to investigate alleged violations of the Privacy Act in the San Francisco Division and determine the scope of such activity nationwide.
The FBI San Francisco defended its agents' actions, saying the information "was collected within the scope of an authorized law enforcement activity."
The ACLU of Northern California filed the FOIA lawsuit with the Asian Law Caucus and the San Francisco Bay Guardian newspaper, leading to the release of the FBI documents on Tuesday.
Meant to foster trust
The documents indicate that FBI was keeping records of conversations and activities within mosques and other Muslim organizations from 2004 through 2008, information that was provided by employees engaged in the outreach programs.
The announced intention of the FBI outreach programs is to foster trust between law enforcers and members of the Muslim community so they can work together to fight crime and avert terrorism.
An earlier ACLU report on community outreach prompted FBI national headquarters to issue a release stating that its policy requires separate operations and databases for intelligence gathering and community outreach programs.
A large proportion of the information was labeled "positive intelligence," which indicates that the FBI intends to keep it in its intelligence database, the ACLU report explained.
Many documents were marked "secret," even though they appeared to include only mundane information. Some documents were marked "disseminated outside," but did not specify the recipients.
Among the findings contained in the FBI documents:
- A 2005 FBI memorandum from a meeting with a congregant at Islamic Center of Santa Cruz, documented his name and religious affiliation and detailed other worshipers' financial contributions to the center and community support for Islam.
- The subject of a sermon and congregants' discussions about a property purchase for a new mosque were gathered by FBI agents during five visits to Seaside Mosque in 2005.
- Documents based on four "outreach" meetings between FBI personnel and representatives of the South Bay Islamic Association note discussions about the Hajj pilgrimage and "Islam in general."
- Documents based on FBI contacts with representatives of the Bay Area Cultural Connections — formerly the Turkish Center Musalla — describe the group's mission and activities, and the ethnicity of its members. A memo indicates the FBI searched for the cell phone number of one participant in the meeting in the LexisNexis records database and Department of Motor Vehicle records, obtaining detailed information about him, including his date of birth, Social Security number, address and home telephone number.
There is no indication that the subjects were informed that the information was being collected or shared with other law enforcement agencies, the ACLU said.
The FBI in San Francisco declined a request for an interview, but released a statement by Assistant Director Michael Kortan. In addition to stating that the information gathering abided by laws and agency rules, it indicated that it had adjusted its outreach program since the period covered by the documents.
"Since that time, the FBI has formalized its community relations program to emphasize a greater distinction between outreach and operational activities," Kortan said.
South Dakota law tackles 'shariah question'
Classified documents contradict FBI on post 9-11 probe of Saudis, ex-Senator says
US aid worker is home, but no-fly list grounds him again
No-fly Muslim takes case to court of public opinion
Outreach to 'generate goodwill'
"FBI San Francisco dedicated a full-time, non-agent employee to community outreach efforts in the fall of 2007," said a second statement from Stephanie Douglas, FBI special agent in charge. "The community outreach program is designed to generate goodwill and foster relationships with a wide-range of groups in the communities we serve."
But documents still under analysis by the ACLU indicate FBI San Francisco continued to mingle outreach and intelligence gathering through 2011, according to Shamsi.
The documents undermine trust for genuine outreach programs, said Farhana Khera, executive director of Muslim Advocates, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that makes policy recommendations to lawmakers and leaders.
"I think the recent documents further underscore how well-intentioned community leaders who talk with the FBI are instead the targets of this broad, intelligence-gathering effort," she said. "It's easy to see then how that community leader who had a conversation with an FBI agent finds himself being harassed when traveling or crossing borders."
"These documents are illustrating the actual experiences of American Muslims that we have been hearing for a number of years now," she added.
The findings are the latest from an ACLU examination of how the FBI has conducted surveillance in the wake of 9-11 and a campaign to expose cases that they say threaten civil liberties.
In FBI documents obtained through other Freedom of Information lawsuits, the rights groups has highlighted systematic surveillance of Muslim student organizations and individuals and what it considers anti-Muslim bias in training materials being used by the FBI —now the subject of internal FBI investigation, according to published reports.
'Count the mosques'
In a separate case, documents uncovered by The Associated Press revealed that the New York Police Department conducted an extensive surveillance campaign of the Muslim population there, keeping secret files on individuals, businesses, mosques and organizations. Those findings have provoked outrage from many Muslim and civil rights groups, which have called on the Obama administration to intervene.
Greater FBI scrutiny of Muslim communities goes back to shortly after the 9/11 attacks, when then FBI Director Robert Mueller instructed field offices across the country to "count the mosques" and set up investigative goals accordingly, according to an article by investigative reporter Michael Isikoff.
Rules governing FBI surveillance were relaxed in 2008 to give more leeway to FBI "assessments" — a stage of surveillance that takes place before the opening of a formal investigation. These more lenient standards, critics say, allow information gathering on individuals without probable cause.
Rights groups are asking the Department of Justice to restore stricter rules on surveillance and to prohibit racial and religious profiling in all cases.
"What we need is for the FBI to go back to the standards set after the Hoover-era abuses.… guidelines put in place that required the FBI to engage in surveillance only if there's evidence of wrongdoing," said Khera of Muslim Advocates.
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Lord Tarris has been working for a long time on an amazing Cathedral. It's taking so long because, in addition to being a huge project, he's adding all kinds of careful details. He's recently made this cupola that goes on top of his Baptiserium.
Here are a few alternate views and WIP shots so you can see the construction technique:


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Rather recently, I was talking to the man in my life about how my day went, happenings, weather… you know, small talk. Then he said something big, my idea of big anyway. He had bought himself some organic quinoa at Costco. This is awesome because A) he independently thought it would be cool to have some super grain kicking around and B) uuum, did you see A?
Suffice to say, I was rather pleased at this development and set out to make a little salad with some strong and fresh flavours that he could get into. I know quinoa salad recipes are ubiquitous to say the least, but this one's a keeper for me anyway. Charred fennel, fresh dill, spicy radishes and a healthy dose of lemon… it's a supreme combo. And the fennel loses a bit of its, I don't know, fennel-y-ness once caramelized. It's a bit softer and a lot less licorice tasting. Just nice.
Quinoa is pretty easy to cook and the rest of the vegetables need just a bit of chopping. I don't even pre-whisk the dressing ingredients, just pour all of the components on top of the grain and vegetables and mix it up. Once you get the pre-soaking of the quinoa thing down, you're off and running.
Print the recipe here!
NOTES: I soak quinoa for about 15 minutes before I strain and cook it, just to get some of the bitterness off. Also, you're just grilling the fennel to soften it up a bit and get some char happening. Roasting would achieve the same thing more or less.
3/4 cup quinoa, soaked and strained (any colour)
1 small bulb of fennel, trimmed, cut in half + core removed (save some of the fronds for garnish)
4 radishes, halved and sliced thin
1/2 of an english cucumber, diced small
3 sprigs of dill or 1/4 cup chopped
2 green onions, sliced thin
2 tsp dijon mustard
juice of 1 lemon
3 tbsp olive oil + extra for grilling/roasting
handful of chopped, toasted nuts/seeds (optional)
salt and pepper
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F if you're roasting the fennel, and line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside. Preheat a gas grill to high if you're grilling the fennel.
Cook the quinoa: combine quinoa with 1.5 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of salt in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil and simmer until all of the liquid is absorbed, about 10-15 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
Grill the fennel: brush the fennel with 2 teaspoons of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place onto a grill heated to high, cut side down. Grill until char marks are achieved on both sides and fennel feels a bit soft. Remove and cut into a rough small dice once cool. I do this by placing the flat side of the fennel down, cutting into lengthwise slices and then cutting those slices into smaller pieces.
Or roast the fennel: slice the halves of fennel and toss them in a bit of oil, salt, and pepper. Spread them out on the lined baking sheet and roast in the oven for about 15 minutes, or until soft and there are golden, caramelized edges.
Fluff the cooled quinoa with a fork and place into a large bowl. Add fennel, radishes, cucumber, dill and green onions. Add dijon, lemon juice and remaining olive oil on top. Season with salt and pepper and mix until thoroughly combined. Plate as you wish, garnished with the fennel fronds.