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Recently got a 4G Gemini (second batch), and began the long process of migrating my life over to it! It's a tough job to replace my mobile phone, iPod, AND the Psion 5mx I've been using every day for 20 years…
(Not yet sure whether Android will cover everything I need, but Linux isn't sufficiently stable, supported, or suited to the form factor. Sailfish sounds interesting.)
Joined: 13-January 18
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10 Oct 2018
My Gemini (4G x27) has just offered a firmware update! When I clicked Download, it crashed; but I was able to download it by going to Settings -> About phone -> Firmware Update.
It promises:
• The latest Android security patch has been applied, device security has been further enhanced.
• Optimize keyboard settings and performance.
• Optimize speaker sound quality.
• Optimize performance and stability.
• Fix other bugs
The PatchID shows as 'Gemini-7.1-Planet-12062018-V2.<2018-06-1216:54>'. (2018-06-12 was about when the last one was released; perhaps the 'V2' is the significant bit here.)
I'm about to try installing it — fingers crossed… I'll post my experience here. Please do comment if you've tried this and/or can confirm what it does!
26 Jun 2018
What's the best way to preserve the Gemini's battery lifetime?
I charge mine overnight; I have a charging cable on my bedside table, and plug it in when I go to bed. Is it best to use the power adapter supplied with the Gemini, or a standard USB adapter? The supplied adapter is a fast charger; will that stress the battery more? (A standard USB adapter charges much more slowly — though fast enough for my usage, as it's always fully charged when I wake.)
25 Jun 2018
In Android, you can directly type all the characters you can see on your physical keyboard (assuming it's set up correctly): letters, digits, and all the common symbols.
You can probably also type some extras: for example, in some apps, Alt+E seems to be a dead key for an acute accent, so Alt+E followed by E enters é (just as on a Mac).
And you can also type many more characters using one of the pop-ups; in my UK layout, Fn+. pops up a list of emoji that you can tap on, and Fn+, pops up a list of symbols.
However, there are still many other symbols not covered by the above — including some I use a lot, such as long dashes, curly quotes, hard space, ellipsis, degree, and fractions. How can you enter characters such as those?
The only options I know about so far are:
(On the Psion 5 series, you could press Shift+Ctrl+Fn+C at any time to get a pop-up list of every character. Though that used CP1252 AKA Windows Latin-1, so there were only 128 chars not already covered. And you could also hold down Ctrl and type the decimal number of the character — less intuitive, but it did provide a way of entering any possible character. Does Android have any equivalent to either of these?)
14 Jun 2018
What Android games would you recommend?
Of course, this has to come with a health warning: games that are too good are likely to suck up too much time that could be spend doing productive things (especially given the Gemini's nice keyboard)!
The games I've always returned to are puzzles, as they can fill a couple of spare minutes, while still giving an interesting challenge (either a single small game, or returning to a more complex one). Currently I'm enjoying:
14 Jun 2018
What Android apps do people use for playing music?
I have a large iTunes library (3.5K albums), all fully tagged, so I'm looking for something that can play that (or as much as will fit on the SD card!). I don't use manual playlists much, but have a few automated ones (selecting by genre, play count, date added, rating and/or comments). I also tend to shuffle by album (especially within a single genre or playlist), and like to view the track info (especially composer, comments, and lyrics).
I don't use any streaming services; it's all local files (mostly MP3, with some AAC). Obviously, if you use streaming, you'll probably be looking at a different choice of apps!
The best I've seen is Rocket Player. The interface is a bit whizz-bang (though they all seem to be), but it looks pretty powerful, handles all my tracks, and can shuffle by album. It shows all the tags, and can even do automatic playlists (though they don't seem as powerful as iTunes's).
Any other recommendations?
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Right then, firstly, I'm still a little "wet behind the ears," Web development wise so forgive me if this is basic stuff.
I've been looking at different ways to hide mailto: links from spammers. Yes, I know I can use a script to send form data via email, and I am already doing that. It's great for those that just use webmail based emails like hotmail, etc.
It occured to me that for usability a mailto: link is much more friendly and allows the user to make use of their preferred email client. Plus it has the potential to reduce the amount of visitors I can alienate.
I hate spam and have been able to filter and drop the spam email on the email host. Good, but I want to go one step further - I hate the thought that my email addresses used on the site are generating spam and needless Internet clogging traffic (albeit a tiny amount in the scheme of things), even if it is just going to a *nix blackhole.
So my quest began! After some research with my good friend Google I found an interesting site with a variety of different methods. I've tried a few, but they each have drawbacks and the site needs to be as accessible as possible.
My quest continued and I happened upon an ingeniously simple solution, or so it seemed at first.
I'm using the perl script URI redirect with the iframe code included. This works really well, in Internet Explorer, but not Firefox. Well, it does work in Firefox but additionally Firefox opens a download dialog, which could frighten a visitor to the site and I'm back to alienating my visitors! Heh!
Is there anyone out there in the knowledgeable world of Antionline that might be able to help me on this one? I'm sure it's something simple, however, it's too simple for even me to work out.
Many thanks in advance.
P.S. You can try it on my test site contact page if you like.
Oh yeah my Internet Explorer version is 7.0.5730.11 and Firefox is 18.104.22.168.

subset: commoncrawl


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As mandated by the Macomb County Charter, County Executive Mark Hackel submitted his third straight comprehensive balanced budget.
"We are proud of the turnaround and results we've been able to accomplish in our time in office," said Executive Hackel. "We've transformed from deficits and an uncertain fiscal future to three straight years of responsible balanced budgets submitted on time and without a structural deficit."
"This is a particularly sensitive time due to the discussions about restructuring in Detroit. It is important that Macomb and our partners in the region continue to affirm to bonding agencies that we are in good financial condition," continued the County Executive, "Administering a balanced budget has a vital impact on those who depend on the services we provide as well as our employees whose livelihoods depend on providing the service."
In keeping with Executive Hackel's pledge of transparency, the budget was prepared and made available for review 90 days ahead of the next fiscal year.
"The submitted budget includes a summary and detail pages that present a three-year forecast and six-year trend comparison of revenues and expenditures," said Macomb County Finance Director Peter Provenzano. "The narrative section contains a deeper analysis of personnel and fringe costs and other information to further support line items."
Macomb County's budget has been endorsed by the State of Michigan Treasury Department, bonding agencies and independent auditors. All county transactions, general budget figures and budget detail are available at www.macombgov.org.


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Oakland schools to get suspension monitor
OAKLAND SCHOOLS Board accepts 5 years of scrutiny because of racial disparities
Facing a civil rights investigation for disciplining black students more harshly than their white peers, the Oakland school board voted Thursday to accept five years of federal monitoring as the district attempts to address the problem.
The agreement with the U.S. Department of Education shuts down the investigation, but it now means that at least until 2017 federal officials will be keeping tabs on 38 Oakland schools as they work to reduce the disproportionate suspension of minority students, especially African American boys.
Almost 20 percent of the district's African American males were suspended at least once last year, six times the rate of white boys.
In middle school, 1 out of every 3 black boys was suspended at least once.
"Historically, they have been the whipping boys in our district," Chris Chatmon, executive director of the district's African-American Male Achievement Office, said in a presentation to the board. "We are here today to ante up and reclaim our children."
The 28-page resolution approved by the board in a 6-0 vote outlines a five-year plan to address the needs of students in the 38 schools, including a requirement to offer mentoring, teacher training, parent education and programs to address the impact of trauma and community violence on student behavior.
The plan also emphasizes restorative justice, a way of addressing negative behavior without suspending students, which often leads to academic failure, research shows. Instead, restorative justice keeps students at school and includes meetings with students and parents, leading to the offender taking responsibility and making amends.
Programs to ease problems
District Superintendent Tony Smith said the agreement is a powerful and positive step that will force Oakland - regardless of who is elected to the school board or who is running the schools - to stay on track in reducing suspensions.
"The agreement codified efforts already in place," he said. "Everything that's in there, the board has already approved."
Several programs are already in place to mitigate behavioral problems in classrooms and fights on the playground, Smith said.
At Edna Brewer Middle School, 24 black male students gathered in a classroom after school for their daily manhood development class, part of the district's Office of African-American Male Achievement.
As the boys built drums out of wood and tape, their instructor, who goes only by Jahi, described the benefit of working with the boys, giving them help with their homework and encouragement to focus on school and their futures.
"We try to create this culture of success," he said. "We can't change what's happening outside in the world."
Eighth-grader William Bolanos, 13, said he'd had some trouble in the past at school, with a few suspensions on his record.
But that won't happen this year, with help from Jahi's class.
"It just shows you how to be a man, a leader, a big brother to people," he said. "I'm just going to try to get honor roll this year."
Not an easy task
While district officials are optimistic about programs already in place, they acknowledged it won't be easy to implement the five-year agreement.
The plan will cost the district millions to implement, which includes comprehensive and frequent documentation to prove compliance with the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Smith said he plans to ask foundations and community groups focused on discipline issues to help back the plan, which he believes will be a national model for other districts struggling with disproportionate suspensions.
Board member Alice Spearman noted that the district has been in the same situation before.
"To me, it's revisiting history again ... to solve exactly the same problems 10 to 20 years ago," Spearman said. "I'm very hopeful that this time we will try to do the right thing."
Officials at the Office for Civil Rights initiated the investigation in May after the Obama administration realized previous inquiries within the district over the same issues in the late 1990s and in 2006 lapsed without resolution.
Oakland now shows promise with its renewed effort already in place to combat suspension rates, officials at the Office for Civil Rights said.
"Everything showed us this is fertile ground for change," said Arthur Zeidman, regional director for the civil rights office.
Oakland is just one of hundreds if not thousands of districts across the country with disproportionate rates of suspension and expulsion between black students and their white peers.
For example, in the Manteca Unified and Jefferson Union High districts, 60 percent of African American students were suspended at least once in the 2009-10 school year, compared with 33 percent and 21 percent of whites, respectively, according to an August report by the Civil Rights Project at UCLA.
"Suspending is the easy way out," said Oakland board member Chris Dobbins, a former teacher. "I'm really excited about this."
Keeping students in school
The issue has garnered the attention of state education and law enforcement officials as well as policymakers, who announced plans for a public hearing in Los Angeles this month to address high suspension rates.
"We need to hold kids accountable and help them learn from their mistakes, but also keep them in school and on course to graduate," state Attorney General Kamala Harris said in a statement announcing the hearing.
Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


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PFW news on the Vikings, Giants, Eagles, Browns and more, plus the latest Fantasy Buzz.
The Way We Hear It The Vikings still rank as one of the top rushing defenses this season after finishing the past two years as the NFL's statistically best run defense. And though their linebackers are playing very good football, most observers know that the team's defensive line has a lot to do with its success at stopping opponents on the ground. But NT Pat Williams, long recognized as one of the league's best run cloggers, is getting more breathers these days as he reaches an age (he turns 36 in a month) where he can't be as effective playing 50 to 60 snaps anymore. So the coaches have allowed Williams to take more plays off, rotating in Fred Evans and Ellis Wyms, who have played well in relief, more at his spot. The idea is to get Williams about 35 to 40 snaps in a normal game, rotating him in and out by series but also removing him in certain nickel and dime packages in passing situations. NFL Whispers GIANTS: It will be interesting to see what the Giants do at placekicker, where replacement John Carney is 9 for 9 on field goals, including the game-winner against the Bengals in Week Three, and perfect on extra points. Sure, he could use more distance on his kickoffs, but Carney consistently has kicked it inside the five-yard line. Meanwhile, Lawrence Tynes continues to hold a roster spot and should return for the Seattle game in Week Five, after the bye. But there are some who believe that Carney would be the more consistent option, even if Tynes has greater leg strength. EAGLES: Eagles WR Kevin Curtis expects to play soon, perhaps by the Week Five matchup against the Redskins but almost certainly by the following week. He has recovered well from surgery in August to repair a sports hernia and has begun practicing on a limited basis, and although Andy Reid has not said much on the matter, spies say Curtis has looked fine so far. BROWNS: The feeling in Cleveland is that RS Joshua Cribbs isn't quite 100 percent. He has played with ankle, hamstring and shoulder injuries this season, and he has not been quite the game-breaker he was in 2007. The Fantasy Buzz Titans RB LenDale White has been a TD machine early on, already finding the endzone four times. Scoring against the Vikings, however, might not be as easy, as Minnesota's stout defense is allowing just 70.3 rushing yards per game. With White splitting carries with talented rookie Chris Johnson, it's unlikely the bruising back will have a very good outing on Sunday. Although Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart has been splitting time with DeAngelo Williams, the rookie has more upside in this enticing matchup with the Falcons. Atlanta is giving up 5.0 yards per carry and has allowed four TDs on the ground this season. Stewart, who already has three scores, is a good bet to find paydirt again in this one. Much like other teams have done thus far, Buffalo is likely to roll lots of coverage Torry Holt's way, forcing the Rams' other lackluster receiving options to beat them. Plus, the Bills have been solid against the pass, giving up 153.7 yards per game, and it could take Holt some time to adjust to new starting QB Trent Green. Unless you're thin at wideout, Holt is better left on the bench this week. For more NFL news and daily fantasy football advice, visit ProFootballWeekly.com.


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Making the recommendations were a 15-person IBM team from 11 countries that worked with three government ministries as part of a one-month IBM Corporate Service Corps engagement. This initiative sends IBM's top talent to provide pro bono problem solving services to non-governmental, government and small business groups in the developing world, on issues that intersect business, technology and society. This was the program's first initiative in Angola.
The IBM team of experts developed a blueprint for Angola's Centro de Apoio Empresarial (CAE) to better train small and medium sized businesses to tailor their services for the oil and gas sector, giving them promising opportunities for growth. The recommendations included closer collaboration with local universities. The institutions could fine-tune their curricula and offer mentors from the public and private sectors to provide students with a deeper understanding of the required skills for working in the oil and gas industries.
In addition, IBM advised CAE to train its own staff members to better understand the needs, challenges and standards of the energy industry. The team suggested the creation of CAE certifications for service providers, helping oil companies choose qualified partners. Finally, IBM suggested that CAE streamline and automate its own key internal business functions. Doing so will enable the organization to provide more timely and useful information to its members and stakeholders.
"IBM's Corporate Service Corps program has given us access to IBM's vast experience," said CAE Director Mr. Leonel Cossaco. "The IBM experts went beyond their initial scope of work of reviewing IT systems and pleasantly surprised us with an overall assessment of all critical areas where support is needed."
Some members of the IBM team also worked with Angola's Ministry of Hospitality and Tourism (MINHOTUR) to expand a framework promoting local tourism as part of the Angolan Tourism Master Plan 2020. The team recommended increased promotion of cultural events in provinces across Angola, introducing guided tours to areas of interest and implementing safety measures at beaches.
Education was also on the agenda. To that end, IBM created a plan for fostering an even better education system within the country. The team recommended that the Association of Private Higher Education Institutions of Angola (AIESPA) consider more precisely aligning the coursework needs of students with the skills of teachers, and better aligning graduate student skills to industry needs. The team also recommended the creation of an online platform so that members of the organization can share information and ideas. Establishing the University Information Network of Angola would play a role in making this plan come to fruition.
The projects were coordinated with the Angolan Ministry for Petroleum Sonangol, the Ministry of Hospitality and Tourism, and the Association of Private Higher Education Institutions of Angola.
"Through multiple pro bono engagements across 11 countries in Africa so far, IBM has demonstrated its deep commitment toward helping African economies prosper. In Angola, we are pleased to support the government in its reconstruction plans and help it meet the key targets of its development plan," said the IBM Country General Manager for Angola Paulo Falcao.
IBM's Corporate Service Corps deploys IBM'S most talented employees from around the world who have expertise in technology, scientific research, marketing, finance, human resources, law, and economic development. Issues they address range from economic development, energy and transportation, to education and health care.
By year's end, approximately 2,400 IBM employees based in 52 countries will have been dispatched on more than 187 Corporate Service Corps engagements, and undertaken 850 team assignments in 34 countries since the founding of the program five years ago, in 2008. Over the last five years, the program has sent more than 638 employees on 56 teams to more than 11 countries in Africa.
Follow IBM's Corporate Service Corps by visiting http://www.ibm.com/ibm/responsibility/corporateservicecorps/, or on the CitizenIBM blog at www.citizenIBM.com and on Twitter, at @citizenIBM.
For more information about IBM citizenship, please visit www.ibm.com/ibm/responsibility
Related resourcesImages
Members of the IBM Corporate Service orps (CSC) Sub-team 4 [Amelia Ghofrany and Raquel Godoy] entering the Fair of Municipalities and Cities of Angola (FMCA-2013). FMCA is an exhibition for showcasing, promoting, and educating stakeholders in the tourism sector about the various provinces in Angola and available offerings/products. (Credit: IBM)
IBM Corporate Service Community Day In Angola
Lorena Paulina Reyes Blanco; a member of the first IBM Corporate Service Corps (CSC) team to Angola working with a student from the Universidade Metodista De Angola during the Leadership workshop for the Angola CSC Team's Community Day event. (Credit: IBM)
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JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) Arkansas State says defensive coordinator John Thompson will serve as interim coach for the Red Wolves as they prepare to play No. 25 Kent State in the GoDaddy.com bowl next month.
Thompson takes over for Gus Malzahn, who's leaving Arkansas State for Auburn after one season. Malzahn led the Red Wolves to a 9-3 record and a Sun Belt Conference championship.
Athletic director Terry Mohajir says it's best for Arkansas State to have an interim coach for the bowl because Malzahn ``will understandably be consumed with his commitments to Auburn.''
Thompson is in his first year as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Arkansas State. He was previously an assistant coach at Georgia State and coach at East Carolina.
Arkansas State's defense ranked first in scoring defense in the Sun Belt this year.


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Find Your Tour
Sergiev Posad
Sergiev Posad, a sanctuary of large historic and artistic importance, is situated at about 70 km to the north from Moscow. It has an interesting collection of excellent monuments of Russian culture created during the period from the 15th to the 17th centuries. Trinity Monastery of St. Sergius is situated here. It was founded in 1337 and is often referred to by the foreigners as "the Russian Vatican". The monastery is the centre of Russian Orthodox Church and one of the residences of the Patriarch of Moscow. In the central square of the monastery there is a sacred spring that is visited by all the pilgrims who arrive here to see the relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh, the saint who founded the monastery. The architectural ensemble of the monastery includes cathedrals, churches, the residence of the patriarch, and other monuments of exceptional artistic value. The Trinity Cathedral is a true masterpiece and an excellent example of early Moscow architecture. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
19, Aug: 10:00
7 hours


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"..we don't want our children to ask, "What were our parents thinking? Didn't they care about us?" Stephen Chu's Farewell
February 2, 2013
From Stephen Chu's farewell letter, as he steps down from the position of Secretary of Energy.
I want to conclude by making a few observations about the importance of the Department of Energy missions to our economic prosperity, dependency on foreign oil and climate change.
- The United States spent roughly $430 billion dollars on foreign oil in 2012. This is a direct wealth transfer out of our country. Many billions more are spent to keep oil shipping lanes open and oil geo-politics add considerable additional burdens. Although our oil imports are projected to fall to a 25 year low next year, we still pay a heavy economic, national security and human cost for our oil addiction.
- The average temperature of our planet is rising, with majority of the temperature increase occurring in the last thirty years. During the three decades from 1980 to 2011, the number of violent storms, floods, droughts, heat waves, wildfires, as tabulated by the reinsurance company Munich Re, has increased more than three-fold. They also estimate that the financial losses follow a trend line that has gone from $40 billion to $170 billion dollars per year. Most of those losses were not insured, and the country suffering the largest losses by far is the United States. As the President said in his recent Inaugural Address, "some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms."
- The overwhelming scientific consensus is that human activity has had a significant and likely dominant role in climate change. There is also increasingly compelling evidence that the weather changes we have witnessed during this thirty year time period are due to climate change.
- Virtually all of the other OECD countries, and most developing countries including China, India, Mexico, and Brazil have accepted the judgment of climate scientists.
- Many countries, but most notably China, realize that the development of clean energy technologies presents an incredible economic opportunity in an emerging world market. China now exceeds the U.S. in internal deployment of clean energy and in government investments to further develop the technologies.
- While we cannot accurately predict the course of climate change in the coming decades, the risks we run if we don't change our course are enormous. Prudent risk management does not equate uncertainty with inaction.
- Our ability to find and extract fossil fuels continues to improve, and economically recoverable reservoirs around the world are likely to keep pace with the rising demand for decades. As the saying goes, the Stone Age did not end because we ran out of stones; we transitioned to better solutions.
- The same opportunity lies before us with energy efficiency and clean energy. The cost of renewable energy is rapidly becoming competitive with other sources of energy, and the Department has played a significant role in accelerating the transition to affordable, accessible and sustainable energy.
- Ultimately we have a moral responsibility to the most innocent victims of adverse climate change. Those who will suffer the most are the people who are the most innocent: the world's poorest citizens and those yet to be born. There is an ancient Native American saying: "We do not inherit the land from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." A few short decades later, we don't want our children to ask, "What were our parents thinking? Didn't they care about us?"
22 Responses to ""..we don't want our children to ask, "What were our parents thinking? Didn't they care about us?" Stephen Chu's Farewell"
February 2, 2013 at 5:06 am
[…] "..we don't want our children to ask, "What were our parents thinking? Didn't they care abou… […]
February 2, 2013 at 7:39 am
[…] From Stephen Chu's farewell letter, as he steps down from the position of Secretary of Energy. I want to conclude by making a few observations about the importance of the Department of Energy missi… […]
February 2, 2013 at 12:46 pm
Try not to be so fearful ..Seven generation sustainability is an ecological concept that urges the current generation of humans to live sustainably and work for the benefit of the seventh generation into the future.[1] It originated with the Iroquois – Great Law of the Iroquois – which holds appropriate to think seven generations ahead (about 140 years into the future) and decide whether the decisions they make today would benefit their children seven generations into the future.
"In every deliberation, we must consider the impact on the seventh generation… even if it requires having skin as thick as the bark of a pine." This is an often repeated saying, and most who use it claim that it comes from "The Constitution of the Iroquois Nations: The Great Binding Law."
In fact, the original language is as follows: In all of your deliberations in the Confederate Council, in your efforts at law making, in all your official acts, self-interest shall be cast into oblivion. Cast not over your shoulder behind you the warnings of the nephews and nieces should they chide you for any error or wrong you may do, but return to the way of the Great Law which is just and right. Look and listen for the welfare of the whole people and have always in view not only the present but also the coming generations, even those whose faces are yet beneath the surface of the ground – the unborn of the future Nation.
February 2, 2013 at 3:18 pm
Optimism for further oil discoveries outside the U.S.A. – foreign oil – must be tempered by the Asian Fact and ever higher bids for oil, in a much stronger currency (Yuan) and from greater numbers, Asia's growing worker class. As the U.S. Dollar loses PPP against the Yuan, as other countries consolidate Gold reserves, as Chinese goods production now exceeds that of America, and even as Asian production now further exceeds that of the U.S.A., Americans can expect rapid rises in the price in U.S. Dollars for oil and all resources. America's Golden Age commanded up to 70% of the world's resources. This Golden Age was fueled by the Cheap Oil Era. The Cheap Oil Era is over. The Asian Fact, the Fed's U.S. Dollar printing sprees, and diminishing world oil availability are forcing oil prices ever upward.
China and for that matter the rest of the world, seek Thorium fueled cleaner fission processes, while U.S.A. remains locked on their proven dangerous and very expensive (fuckoshima) enriched uranium technology. China has more Wind Power than most of the rest of the world. China has developed the Three Gorges Dam, China is working on Solar on a scale Americans cannot even imagine, China has electric bullet trains currently replacing oil intensive jet plane flights, China has mandated a drift from gasoline to electric cars.
This is my favorite cut and paste from the net.
"Had the $4 Trillions+ spent on Iraq, been spent even only on conventional Solar/Thermal development of South Western U.S.A. – Today, Americans would receive a huge ROI ( "Return On Investment") in cheap electricity, in place of horrendous tax rates to service unpayable war debt to China. Americans would be gainfully working, using this renewable, perpetual, eternal, clean, radiation free, radioactive waste free, domestic, electricity source – to compete in world markets with well priced products, to irrigate dry lands, to heat and cool homes, and much less foreign oil would have be imported, fewer "Parasite Nations" supported. This is the lost "opportunity cost" for having Saddam's scrotum on the Bushes mantlepiece? Shiite eh!"
P.S., (Oil, gas, wells do go dry, not really sourced from an eternal pipe up &Allah's-ass, as some believe – But, the Sun never stops shining, Wind blows forever)
My Question: Is the current American path truly the path to the greatness we aspire to? Can we do better? Will Solar, Wave, Wind, Hydro, Tidal, Geothermal, Biological, all domestic, all clean, all renewable = perpetual = eternal energy sources add to our nation's greatness, contribute our individual lifestyles? Can Thorium be fissioned safely, cleanly and cheaply to provide us with energy? Did we even study this? Are their alternate and perhaps better routes to our goals?
Stephan Chu, at his age is concerned with the next generation. Why can't this generation have jobs in energy development? Why can't this generation surpass the last generation, take the handles of power and build on the past generations? In America a terrible constipation exists. Even our Congress illustrates this. Our system in faulted in that it serves big money, and the older crowd's desires and sacrifices the youth on this alter. This will have to change or Chinese communism will most certainly overtake America and the world.
February 9, 2013 at 11:54 pm
[…] 2013/02/02: PSinclair: "..we don't want our children to ask, "What were our parent… […]


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This is the first in a series of articles featuring the courses offered at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research. See my previous article on IGHR for additional details on the institute.
Guest author: Debra Hoffman, New Windsor, Maryland
IGHR's Course 4, Advanced Methodology and Evidence Analysis, lived up to expectations and its reputation. The objective of the course was to change your mindset. The renowned genealogist, Elizabeth Shown Mills, was the course coordinator. The week of lectures and exercises were designed to challenge the students and teach them to think about genealogical problems and documents in different ways. It certainly accomplished that goal! This course is not for the faint of heart as besides a full day of lectures there was homework each evening. This was the 25th year for this course and all twenty-six students appeared to enjoy the experience. This course should be taken by all serious genealogists as the class examples are challenging and complex and teach advanced methodology and evidence analysis. My favorite exercises where studying actual document samples and trying to determine how to "squeeze" every last clue out of them...as Elizabeth Shown Mills would say.
Any student considering enrolling should know that when registration opened this past January, it filled in about 40 minutes! Additionally, the IGHR Web site notes that there is a prerequisite of completion of IGHR Course 2, Intermediate Genealogy and Historical Studies; completion of the 16-lesson NGS home-study course, American Genealogy ("graded" option, only); completion of the PLCGS program (Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies) from the National Institute for Genealogical Studies, University of Toronto; certification by BCG; or accreditation from ICAPGen. If you do not meet one of the prerequisites but would like to enroll in the advanced course, you can also submit a paper demonstrating skill level in research, documentation and evidence evaluation.


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Home › Careers
The Career Board lists a full range of current job opportunities in Minnesota's chartered public schools. Individual job postings indicate the qualifications, credentials and experience required for the position.
All Teaching Positions require a current teaching license issued by the State of Minnesota.
There are no Careers within "R"Post an Opening


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Volvo Penta sets the mark for America's Cup03/01/2013
The new 46 ft America's Cup support vessels are used as a rounding mark of the race course, capable of precise position keeping even in strong currents and wind conditions, thanks to the Dynamic Positioning System from Volvo Penta.
When activated, the Dynamic Positioning System automatically holds the boat's position and keeps it within a very limited area using GPS coordinates. Sophisticated and specially developed software transforms data into steering angles, gear shifts and throttle positions to keep the boat still.
The new America's Cup's support vessels are catamarans powered with twin Volvo Penta IPS450 drive systems with forward facing propellers. The vessels are designed by naval architect company One2three from Australia to meet the specifications of the America's Cup Race Management.
"The design took advantage of the dynamic positioning control system and excellent manoeuvring features of the Volvo Penta IPS drives on a hull shape that is specifically designed to be sea kindly under all weather conditions and highly efficient at speed. The main deck is arranged for full walk-around capability with 360-degree viewing", says Steve Quigley, managing director for One2three.
The America's Cup World Series is a professional circuit that brings world-class racing teams with cutting-edge wing-sailed catamarans flying at speeds over 30 mph to international venues. The 2012-2013 series stops in San Francisco, Venice and Naples, concluding in September 2013. The series champion will be crowned based on cumulative scores from all of the events.
Download high resloution image >>
Jennifer Humphrey
Global Communication Manager
+46 31 323305
Email: jennifer [dot] humphrey [at] volvo [dot] com


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Rainbow cake has basically been a week-long project. But yes, I am pleased to tell you that tonight, the night before Rainbow Party Day, the dream has been achieved.
Tonight, on top of the stove, rests a seven-layer cake waiting to be frosted and decorated with M&Ms on the morrow. Its layers, from top to bottom: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
Y'all, the rainbow cake is REAL!
But no, you can't see it yet. That would spoil the birthday party surprise!
A LOT of thought went into Rainbow Cake. I toyed with the idea of a straight-on rainbow cake, and was VERY inspired by the rainbow birthday cake over at ChocolateSuze, and her awesome rainbow Mario mushroon cake. But I really, really wanted a rainbow layer cake, and I just almost made the 20-layer rainbow cake, also at ChocolateSuze (I am still ABSOLUTELY going to make that one, just another time...).
Most of the 20-layer cakes that people post online are done with crepes, or otherwise very thin layers. So then I planned to just slice each layer in half horizontally, saving one half of each for a later date, but a very smart mom-friend of mine suggested that instead, I pour a small amount of batter into a regular 8" round pan and just watch it carefully to see when it was done. Done and DONE!
And that's how the rainbow cake was built: plain box of cake mix (on Manager's Special for 86 cents!), one cup of batter taken out and colored and spread into the bottom of an 8" round cake pan, cooked for 15 minutes. Perfect.
The girls, of course, were pillars of strength and sources of unending aid, and they also talked me into making an entire batch--24 cupcakes!--of rainbow cupcakes earlier this week just for them to eat. I'm still not sure what that was all about, but it certainly has not spoiled their taste for rainbow cake any, so it's all good.
And how nice to be able to rest my arm for a few of the 450 strokes called for in the recipe:
The food coloring that we used is CRAP for your body--seriously, it's made entirely from high fructose corn syrup and those D&C dyes that make kids super-wild--but it's amazingly vivid, and we love it. And how many times have I told the children NOT to put it into straight into their mouths?
Many times. I have asked them not to do this many times.
We did do old-school rainbow for the cupcakes--yes, it's crazy, I baked a seven-layer rainbow cake and then two dozen rainbow cupcakes (well, I ate three, so 21 rainbow cupcakes), because I INVITE TOO MANY PEOPLE TO PARTIES. I need to feel loved, or something. Sydney helped with the cupcakes, in the most excrutiating manner imaginable:
Seriously, multiply that by seven colors and 24 cupcakes. My soul died an hour before we were done, but the child was filled with bliss, what can you do?
I love the randomness of the color when the cakes are ready to bake:
If we don't have our fill of rainbow edibles by the time this party is over tomorrow, it will NOT be for lack of trying on my part.


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Ives wrote his Symphony No. 2 between 1897 and 1901. But it was not premiered until 1951, when Leonard Bernstein played it with the New York Philharmonic. The legend about this performance is quite moving. Ives had stopped composing early in life and spent most of his adult years in the insurance business. (He was quite successful and became wealthy.)
He stopped composing largely because the audiences and the musicians of his time didn't understand his music. The poor performances and the harshly critical responses made him give up. So, 50 years after he wrote the Symphony No. 2, Ives was (he was born in 1874 and died in 1954) afraid to hear his long-discarded 40-minute composition.
Bernstein invited him to the world premiere concert, but he declined. He just couldn't bear to hear an audience reject his music again or an orchestra play it badly. Bernstein responded by inviting him to a closed rehearsal. Again, Ives refused.
The concert was nationally broadcast, and at the very last minute, Ives decided to listen to the radio broadcast. He didn't own a radio, so he finally heard his symphony on the small table radio in his maid's quarters. The performance was masterful and the audience response wildly enthusiastic!
The full program this weekend is:
January 25 & 26, 2013 at 8 p.m.
Karen Kamensek, conductor
Karen Gomyo, violin
Chabrier "Fête polonaise" from Le Roi malgré lui
Lalo Symphonie espagnole
Ives Symphony No. 2
The Brahms Festival continues with six chamber performances this week. For information visit BrahmsSA.com.


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About this blog
FLEFF Intern Voices
The Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival from the interns' point of view
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Blog posting written by Chloe Wilson, Television-Radio '14, FLEFF Intern, Ashland, Massachusetts.
I love movies. Seriously, I am absolutely crazy about them. So when FLEFF posted the FLEFF 2012 Film Descriptions and Trailers, I geeked out.
I recommend checking out the...


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AAA Carolinas expects more travel on Memorial Day
AAA Carolinas thinks a few more North Carolina motorists will be on the road for the Memorial Day weekend.
The Charlotte-based motor club estimates that 897,300 motorists are expected to hit the road beginning Thursday. That represents a 1.5 percent increase over last year.
A significant drop in gas prices is helping to fuel the increase in holiday travel. The current average price for a gallon of unleaded regular in North Carolina is $3.43, ninth lowest in the country. That's down 37 cents since peaking on Feb. 22.
North Carolina's average price is 12 cents per gallon less than on May 22, 2012.
Wilmington has the state's highest average gasoline prices at $3.45. North Carolina's cheapest gas on average is in Boone and High Point, which are both at $3.37.


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Glenda Cebrian specializes in custom portraits of maternity, newborn, infant, baby, child, family and senior photography. Glenda works with Denver, Greenwood Village, Cherry Hills, Highlands Ranch, Parker, Castle Rock, Broomfield, Golden, Westminster, Boulder, Stapleton, Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Winter Park Families. Custom Sessions with Glenda are offered at a location of your choice or in your home . Glenda is a member of National Association of Professional Child Photographers. To schedule your family's experience with Glenda call 303 250 2642.
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Find out about WEFTEC, the world's largest water-quality event! Registration for WEFTEC 2020 will be open in the spring.
The Water Environment Federation is a nonprofit association that provides technical education and training for thousands of water quality professionals who clean water and return it safely to the environment. WEF members have proudly protected public health, served their local communities and supported clean water worldwide since 1928.


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If you are involved in GeoCheckpointing or Geocaching and own an android powered smartphone, you can choose from many applications suitable for these outdoor GPS games. There are available both, free and paid apps. In this article, we will have a look at the most popular free applications and their features.
One of the most used apps is c:geo. It allows to import Geocaching or GeoCheckpointing GPX files (you can generate the GPX file which contains GPS coordinates and other information about the caches or geocheckpoints on the GeoCheckpointing/Geocaching website). C:geo has very intelligent feature for searching GPX files stored in your smartphone. It is able to find all GPX files in your phone, no matter if they are located in the c:geo directory or elsewhere. It can also connect to the Geocaching server and download the nearest caches, so if you have an internet connection enabled, you do not need to download GPX file for Geocaching. C:geo can navigate you to the target using a compass (default navigation) or you can choose another app (e. g. Google Maps).
Another free solution for GeoCheckpointing and Geocaching users is Locus. This software can also import GPX files and navigate to the target using a compass. In addition, you can use different map providers. The maps can be saved in different zooms for offline use. This may be very useful when you are traveling abroad and the data roaming would be too expensive.
There is also an online navigation app called GeoCheckpoint Finder. It can be launched in any browser and used for the navigation in the same way like the apps from Android Market. There is a compass navigation feature and you can simply let you navigate using another app like Google Maps. You can enter the coordinates manually or automatically download the nearest GeoCheckpoints. The advantage of this app is the possibility to use it even if your phone is not equipped by the GPS.
If you need to navigate to a single target, you can use GPS Status. The strength of this apps is not in the navigation features (which are very basic), but in lots of useful information provided. You can e. g. see the satellite map or use it to speed up GPS by downloading a-GPS data.
Active users, who place new GeoCheckpoints or caches for others, may like simple but very useful application called GPS average. This software makes number of readings and average the coordinates. This way, you can get more accurate coordinates.


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The internal memo sent by Yahoo's head of HR, Jackie Reses, to Yahoo employees that their presence in company offices was mandatory caused a dust up when it was leaked by a tech blogger back in February. The edict that working from home was no longer an option came from the newly installed CEO Marissa Mayer, the same woman credited with helping make Google one of the best places to work for men and women alike.
In a nutshell, the memo stated that collaboration and communication were critical in making Yahoo "the absolute best place to work" and that the best way to make that happen was to have all employees physically present in one of its offices. The point was made that speed and quality were often sacrificed when people worked from home and that some of the best decisions came from impromptu conversations in hallways and the cafeteria. As of this past June, no Yahoo employees have work-from-home privileges.
The criticism was fast and furious and many women were loud and clear in announcing their displeasure, calling it a step backward. Ms. Mayer made an already difficult situation worse by waiting until April to explain her decision. She didn't really have a choice. She had been booked months in advance to speak at the Great Place to Work Conference and had to say something to the crowd of HR professionals in attendance.
Will it affect women specifically and perhaps more significantly than it will affect men? Absolutely
While she acknowledged that, "people are more productive when they are alone," she also defended her decision by saying "they are more collaborative and innovative when they're together" — the two big buzzwords of the day.
At first glance, it seemed Ms. Mayer was simply the brand new CEO of a company that was in dire straights and needed to change in order to recapture its fortunes. A CEO has to make tough decisions and tough decisions are rarely popular. She and others at Yahoo must have had concerns that working offsite was bad for the business.
It's certainly easy enough to find studies that show that working from home has a negative impact on productivity. However, it is just as easy to find studies that show the opposite — as Ms. Mayer pointed out herself.
In 2013, it is critical that men and women who have been strong performers and demonstrated they have what it takes to contribute to an organization to have the option to work from home. It builds engagement and an engaged workforce is good for business — any and all business. When that business happens to be an Internet/technology juggernaut, it's that much more feasible. At least, it should be.
This is not just a gender issue. It is a talent issue and one that will have implications certainly for the productivity of any company that denies flexible work environments to people who have proven they can deliver, and who meet the criteria established by a given organization to work effectively from home. Will it affect women specifically and perhaps more significantly than it will affect men? Absolutely.
While women make up half the workforce, are graduating in greater numbers than men from university, few have made it into the C-suite. In fact, according to the most recent research from Catalyst, only 18.1% of FP500 companies had women senior officers. More than one-third (35.9%) of public companies in that group reported having no women in their senior leadership ranks at all.
There are several reasons that women aren't moving up the ranks as fast as they should but perhaps the biggest barrier to doing so is the lack of flexible work arrangements to accommodate women who want to have children. The Women's Executive Network is not alone in this belief. A few years ago, the Harvard Business Review ran an article titled Women and the Labyrinth of Leadership that explored the reasons for the scarcity of women in leadership. The article was a thoughtful examination of the challenges women face as they move into leadership roles. Unsurprisingly, this lack of flexibility was also cited as a key barrier to advancement.
WXN has long maintained a policy that allows its people — both men and women — to telecommute with the approval of a supervisor and on terms acceptable to both the individual and the organization. Like many organizations, WXN recognized it is important to attract the best and brightest talent, but hard to find and keep that talent. Offering a flexible work environment is one way to help do that.
About a decade ago, WXN surveyed its members who are all executives and managers and asked them what they wanted to help them achieve more work-life balance. The number one response was the option to work a four-day week at 80% pay. Sadly, while WXN offers such flexibility to its staff, the vast majority of companies do not. However, many do offer other flexible working arrangements because they realize it's good for business.
It's too bad that at Yahoo — a company in a turnaround situation during a time when the competition for talent is heated and only getting hotter — the CEO took away an opportunity to attract talented professionals who want to achieve some level of work-life balance. Just look at the numbers. By 2015, people between the ages of 55 and 64 will make up almost half the labour force in Canada and they will be retiring en masse. As a result, it's been estimated that Canada will have 1 million fewer people of working age by 2020. As an organization trying to right itself, the decision to eliminate the ability for employees to work from home was shortsighted.
Ms. Mayer's argument that she made the decision to encourage collaboration was particularly disappointing. In an era dominated by technology and all the capability to collaborate it affords us, she is in effect limiting the way her own people can collaborate.
Given the breadth and accessibility of communications technology in 2013, it's tough to buy the argument that you can't still have a culture of collaboration if you're not in the same building. At the end of the day, collaboration is about building strong relationships with colleagues, employees, clients and suppliers. That's what's missing from the decision Ms. Mayer took.
Pamela Jeffery is the founder and CEO of the Women's Executive Network and the Canadian Board Diversity Council


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July 14, 2020 - Latest: What has happened to markets this year? by Darius McDermott
3rd August 2015
Hermes Sourcecap Europe ex-UK fund co-manager, Tim Crockford, assesses four key factors that will influence the direction of European equity markets from here…
Greek drama masking European recovery
While there are still hurdles to overcome in the Greek situation, we are encouraged that the market is moving on from the drama that has been dominating the news agenda. This will allow investors to focus on the recovery that is happening – and accelerating – in Europe. There has been a rash of positive news across Europe in recent weeks, which has been masked by the Greek headlines. This includes June car sales which showed yet more signs of acceleration in key European countries, with France and Spain to the fore. European airline traffic rose 4.9% in May, while Schipol airport in Amsterdam saw its strongest traffic growth since May 2011. Staffing markets continue to recover, with France showing its highest reading since Sept 2011. Loan demand across the Eurozone, particularly in Italy and Spain has started to show tentative signs of improvement.
Policy arbitrage opportunity
Janet Yellen's testimony to Congress a couple of weeks ago reinforced the message that the Fed is still committed to raising rates this year. We expect rate rises to start with a 25bps hike in December of this year, as an inflation pick-up would make a rise easier to justify. While we have seen gains in employment this year, we continue to see lacklustre and volatile growth in manufacturing, inventory build-up and uninspiring retail sales gains, and therefore think that the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) may have to reconsider the trajectory of its Fed Fund rate rises as we get into 2016.
Our view remains that, unless the data does turn the wrong way or we have a macro shock such as a Grexit, we will continue to see increasing policy divergence, with the US Federal Reserve and Bank of England planning rate rises, and the Bank of Japan refraining from increasing stimulus beyond the current JPY 80trn per annum rate. Indeed, Draghi appears to be the most dovish of the developed economy central bank heads. This opportunity for "policy arbitrage", combined with a continued recovery driven by the European consumer, will continue to move European equity markets higher as we move out of the volatile, thinly-traded summer period and further into the second half of the year.
China weakness
As a far larger driver of the global economy than the other main headline-grabber, Greece, we are concerned about the recent market volatility in China, and remain cautious about the potential worsening of the macro economy in the near term. Since the reported official figures' reliability are questionable, we prefer to observe what companies with exposure to the region report over the course of this earnings season, and so far we've had SKF profit warn as a result of Chinese weakness and BMW saw deliveries decline in May for the first time in over a decade, via its Brilliance joint venture, which saw profits slump 40% in the first half of the year. We continue to monitor corporate results through the earnings season; however, the initial signs are not encouraging.
Mario the Market Whisperer
Once again, Mario Draghi's words have calmed markets, and the guardian of the monetary union appears to have managed to firewall Greece's issues from spreading into the wider market, with credit spreads remaining fairly tame, even at the height of the Greek drama, and narrowing towards pre-crisis levels in the wake of the recent agreement. Unlike Draghi's "whatever it takes" speech three years ago, his most recent address was supplemented with action, as the European Central Bank (ECB( head announced another ELA extension (EUR 900mn) and even suggested that Greece's bonds may soon be included in the ECB's QE programme. As discussed above, we expect the ECB to remain the loosest of the developed nation central banks.


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The Old Spice Guy has won his hunk-off with Fabio.
Former football player Isaiah Mustafa has been lead spokesman for the Procter & Gamble Co. brand of men's body washes and deodorants for nearly two years, starring in a popular series of marketing campaigns relying heavily on YouTube, Twitter and other social media.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Ready For Their Close Ups — Models-Turned-Movie Stars!
U.S. & World
Now, he has held off a playful effort by the Italian model to become "the new Old Spice Guy."
In a series of videos culminating Thursday, the muscular pitchmen dueled in tongue-in-cheek challenges from one another and viewers. They held staring and whistling contests, bantered and gave advice on writing love letters and working out. P & G says Mustafa won based on consumer feedback such as "likes" and online comments.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Stars In Their Underwear
They called the competition "Mano a Mano en El Bano" (hand-to-hand in the bathroom).
Mustafa said he wasn't worried, even though Fabio has been "the epitome of the sex symbol as a pitchman."
"Not at all," he told The Associated Press. "There are so many fans that enjoy the Old Spice Guy, there's not really a calling for him to disappear."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Bachelor Pad 2': Meet The Contestants
Even "the ferocious Ray Lewis," the Baltimore Ravens football linebacker, has taken a recent turn pitching Old Spice products, Mustafa pointed out.
The campaigns started with Mustafa appearing in a shower clad only in a towel and urging women to look at their man, and then back at him. Then followed an online video series, including one in which he suggested President Barack Obama could improve poll ratings among women by opening speeches with Mustafa's "Hello, ladies" greeting.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Stars Season 2
The campaigns engineered by Portland, Ore.-based agency Wieden+Kennedy won advertising industry awards, boosted Old Spice sales and have been cited by P & G CEO Bob McDonald as a leading example of the power of multimedia marketing.
Brand manager Allison Bolyard said Old Spice will "continue to find a variety of entertaining ways to engage consumers … we love to surprise our consumers."
Mustafa said he expects to stay on as Old Spice pitchman "as long as people like the character and are having fun with it." Meanwhile, he continues to pursue his acting career in TV and movies including small roles in the current comedy "Horrible Bosses" and next year's "Three Stooges" movie.
Procter & Gamble, maker of consumer products including Pampers diapers, Pantene shampoo and Gillette shavers, is scheduled to report its fourth-quarter earnings Aug. 5.
Copyright 2011 by Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
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Like many of you know, I returned to Cambodia for a month-long research project in May 2005. Here are some pictures and stories from that trip:
Monsoon downpours sometimes come in a matter of seconds on mainland SE Asia. Luckily, these people found a tarp in the truck.
The picture below is such a classic Cambodia scene. The sign clearly explains in both Cambodian and Vietnamese that: littering is strictly prohibited.
Looking at this picture today, I was reminded of a time I ate a beautiful pineapple slice on a stick. Needing a place to discard my waste, I asked somebody where the trash can was--and without saying a word, he sternly pointed to the ground. Something must have gotten lost in translation because I saw a ton of trash, but not even a single can. (That pun's for you, Unky B.)
I don't think I've ever seen such beautiful blue skies with picturesque puffs of white clouds as those in Cambodian summers, like the one below. Though my cheap digital camera hardly captures its beauty, I felt like some hack photoshopped the world around me to be so perfect. I awoke from my daydream by tripping on a heap of trash. Oh the irony.
Can you tell which cloud carries the monsoon rains, below? As soon I spotted that beast, I headed for the safety of my home because clouds of this color are quick and unforgiving, and will consume you in a matter of nano-seconds. I don't know what I was thinking, though. It's like trying to escape the grasp of a crocodile, mid-death roll. Just give up man and enjoy the ride as long as you can.
This panorama is of the Tonle Sap river taken from the Cambodia-Japanese Friendship Bridge. If you look carefully in the distance, you can see where it meets up with the Mekong River. The Tonle Sap is the only river that changes directions twice a year. Huh? During the rainy season, the Mekong's capacity is so high that it actually pushes the Tonle Sap river upstream, changing its direction. As the rains stop, the river resumes its natural progression towards the sea, until the cycle starts all over again the next year. Pretty amazing, huh!
On another note, the bridge itself is the nemesis of any one-speed bike rider. There was a time that I had to pedal as fast as my chicken legs would go to get DOWN this unmerciful bridge (usually the redeeming part). The rainy seasonal winds over the river were so strong that had I not pedaled, I would have been blown backwards, I kid you not. Something is not right about this bridge.
This is the outer fence to the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum. Under the Khmer Rouge regime, this former school was turned into a torture/ interrogation prison where thousands of men, women, and children suffered humiliating deaths. Back in 2002, I lived about 2 blocks from this place and got the heebie jeebies every time I rode past it.
Whitey-tighties, a colorful bike, and leather boots.
This is a propaganda billboard in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, that celebrates the 30 anniversary of the Fall of Saigon (or the Liberation of Saigon, depending on who you ask). The caption says, "A nation to the utmost joy." Notice the doves flying towards the heart-shaped VN flag. Even the flowers can't contain the joy their country has, and as a result, they spontaneously spit petals out just to beautify the land. Now that's nationalism!
This picture has a story. After eating some yummy bún bò Huế off the street, my Vietnamese Dad took me on a day trip to Phan Thiết, about two hours by moped from his house. The spicy soup churned in my stomach with every bounce on the pavement, and eventually decided to fight back. I asked Dad to pull over, where I stumbled off the moped, and threw-up in an inebriated fashion. I approached the laughing bystanders in this food stall, asked for some water, and talked with them for some time. I don't know if they were more surprised that the foreigner spoke Vietnamese, or embarrassed that the foreigner understood what they initially said about me (they assumed I was drunk, of course, among other things). We all had a good laugh.
This area of Đồng Nai province was a major Viet Cong stronghold during the war, and visiting these fields made the war more vivid and real than I had ever known. I couldn't stop the Jimi Hendrix songs from eccoing in my mind as I tried to imagine what our troops suffered in these fields--probably this very one.
A wonderful family let me stay with them for the duration of my Cambodia stay. I feel so grateful to them because they helped me escape feelings of loneliness being away from Tiffany. In the evenings, I would watch the Cartoon Network with the kids and help them with their English; they sometimes even slept on the floor in my room to keep me company (actually, to make use of the air conditioner, but it made me feel good nonetheless). Sometimes, Sina would call for a dance party:
Here are some of the wonderful people who made my trip extra memorable:
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Cambodia/ Vietnam, May- June 2005
Like many of you know, I returned to Cambodia for a month-long research project in May 2005. Here are some pictures and stories from that trip:
Posted by Kyle at 8:45 PM 2 comments
Monday, October 20, 2008
Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!
Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!
If I win this gown, I think I'm giving it back to her. It's not even fair that she's giving away such a breathtaking gown that took 50 hours to make. I just don't get it...
Posted by Kyle at 10:32 AM 2 comments
Sunday, October 19, 2008
"Jek-Ellie & Hyde" no longer!
This is not boasting. This is an important record-- because I'll need to hear this while we go through her tumultuous teenage years.
An email from Ellie's nursery leader (takes care of two and three-year-olds at church) to my mom:
Some of you, namely those who witnessed Ellie's ferocious tantrums and constant whining that persisted during our entire year in China, may be surprised to hear this rave review. Yes, her behavioral transformation was abrupt, but not explained by a change in locale. Rather, she was just tired. Cliche, I know, and we didn't really believe it either as we sought to excuse her cranky behavior in front of friends, family, and complete strangers. (Even Didi's screaming fits became somewhat routine as he got older.)
The revelation came via my college bff Michelle, who read a great book about giving kids the opportunity to sleep as long as they need. Putting my kids to bed at 6pm sounded a little absurd, but the basic idea is that kids can't regulate as well as adults can, so they need a schedule that provides plenty of time for sleep. For instance, if you or I go to bed very late one night, we can compensate by sleeping in or taking a nap the next day. Kids can't do that. Instead, they accumulate sleep deprivation and the tantrums become routine.
I'm embarrassed to say, but the reason I've kept Ellie up until my bed time since her infancy is because I thought that would make her sleep in longer, allowing me to sleep in longer. On the contrary, Michelle found that her kids woke up at 6am whether they went to bed at 10pm or 6pm, but they were happier and better behaved if they went to bed early. I tried it, and it works. To think, all this time putting my kids to bed earlier would not make them wake up earlier! Like Michelle said, it's not logical, it's biological.
My kids were never total nightmares, but they did seem to be cranky a lot and would wake up showing signs of tiredness often, I think because they awoke with the sun, regardless of their bedtime. Now they go to bed between 7:30 and 8:30 (instead of 10 or 10:30pm), wake up at 7am, and sleep for two hours in the afternoon, which not only means they are healthier, happier, and Ellie's undereye circles are more lavender than black, but also that Kyle and I get to enjoy a book or movie together every evening. It sure amazes me how I am ultimately the cause of every problem I have with parenting my kids.
Showing off some nursery-made artwork
Posted by Kyle at 1:31 PM 3 comments
Thursday, October 16, 2008
I survived Arizona in August!
I guess I probably lost anyone who had been following the post-China vacation saga. Well, that's okay because the chapters are, more or less, unrelated. And anyway, here I go again...
We got to rest up for a week or so before Erik and I flew to Phoenix for a friend's wedding. She actually had the nerve to meet her husband after I left for China, so this was my first chance to really become acquainted with my soon-to-be brother-in-law type figure, which we did while braiding (not your easy Pippi brand of braiding, mind you) a dozen or so ribbon leis. Each lei consumed about four hours of manual labor, and that's only if you don't have to undo and restart an hour and a half's worth of braiding you did facing the wrong direction.
But really Mish and JJ get to take credit for most of that. I, along with two of Noe's friends from Provo, got to serve collectively as the honorary maid-of-honor, running lots of errands, arranging the flowers, decorating, etc. The hardest part of all this run-around was the fact that we had to actually get out of the car occasionally to get into a store, and that required braving the debilitating heat wave of Arizona in August. Actually, I didn't mind running all these errands, I wanted to do flowers and the guest quilt and braid deep into the night. I was a year behind on Noe-tiff bonding time, after all.
The wedding was beautiful, the reception was simple and elegant, Noe looked as gorgeous as brides come, she performed a couple beautiful hula dances, Mark played some cute, romantic ballads on the guitar, and their first dance was a salsa! Yes, it was above and beyond THE hottest first dance--and she did it in her wedding dress, bustle and all. Be very impressed.
Well, I remember that once the reception began, I had a good spot of free time (which felt so weird, because the only kind of weddings I've ever been involved in executing before were not at country clubs with paid staff, but at free venues with lots of family and friends semi-voluntarily enlisted to keep things running smoothly, although inevitably no one usually seems to know who's in charge of what). So, you would think between generous servings of cheesecake I would have taken more pictures, or at least one from a clearer angle.
Me and the girls did create those bouquets, although if anyone deserves the credit, it's the florist. Upon our arrival to purchase the flowers, she began giving us arranging advice that turned into a flower design fest, and she basically did all the designing herself. I don't pretend to be anything but the humblest of amateurs, so I was indeed grateful for her professional assistance, especially since she thought all of my arranging plans were tacky and old-fashioned-- I'm glad she spared me the pain of shaming the entire wedding party.
Oh yes, but I did make the time to capture this priceless cake, which happens to be, aside from a small corner (for the photo opp), frosting slathered over cardboard boxes. Not bad, eh? Who actually eats the bride and groom's cake after filling up on the entrees and goodies, anyway?
The only other memory I photographically captured was Mish and JJ's commendable work on Noe and Mark's honeymoon ride. Of course, the car is the best man and groomsmen's responsibility, but I learned long ago that no best man or groomsman seems to be aware of this until the reception is half over, so I took it upon myself... to delegate the task to Mish and JJ, who could only locate a gas station mart for securing supplies, but thanks to the stifling heat, the tortillas and cookies melted beautifully onto the windows and hood.
Okay, so I understand why Mark and Noe weren't thrilled about the celebratory decor, but we totally had to miss out on the sentimental part of the luncheon (and Mish and JJ on first choice of lunch meat) in order to create the effect. No but seriously, there was no formal bidding of farewell with bubbles or birdseed, and so I dragged to couple out the door and, despite how this picture appears, they looked pretty peeved. But I think their newlywed glow glossed over any initial resentment.
It was a beautiful wedding and I was so grateful to have been there, and that I only had to keep track of one tired toddler during the festivities. I got to top off the visit with a couple days in southern Arizona with college roomie bff Michelle and her adorable family.
Amazingly, I didn't take a single picture during our stay, and I'm positive that I had enough free moments to do so, but rest assured that the visit was relaxing, reminiscent, and really confirmed our status as bosom friends forever. Michelle is my only close friend who was also crazy/awesome enough to get married really young and want to have kids right away, so we understand each other quite well, but I guess we've been doing that since long before we had kids.
The next leg of the vacation anthology takes us, well first to the Phoenix airport, where Kyle and Ellie's flight conveniently happened to layover, and then as a reunited clan on to Minnesota for nothing but non-stop family fun with the Larsens.
Posted by Kyle at 9:20 PM 5 comments
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
California politics, proposition 8, gay marriage
***WARNING: the following is probably the longest post I've ever written, and it also happens to be void of cute anecdotes and lighthearted commentary. However, the topic deserves a thorough dissection. And it also happens to be a lot more important that what happened at Ellie's birthday party. For the sake of attention span, though, I threw in a couple pleasant images (which weren't intended to be relevant, but my life just so happens to be centered on a traditional family), just to keep those of you who may not get through it otherwise. =) ***
Politics are simply a subject that have not been privileged to grace our family blog. Obama and McCain's mugs just can't compete with my kids'. However, I've been considerably involved in this presidential campaign (involved in a passive way--I mean, I've been following the news much more carefully than in any previous pres. race) and find myself lulling Kyle to sleep at night with musings over Sarah Palin's capacity to lead, Obama's questionable associations, and who on earth can we actually trust to get something, anything done in Washington?
Coupled with all of this is a vote of significant consequence on the California voter's ballot this year. Everybody knows gay marriage was legalized here this year. The homosexual movement is a sociological phenomenon that has intrigued me more than almost any other for many months. It is an issue to be trod on lightly, and the last effect I would ever wish to have is one of offense or disrespect, although offense will always be taken where none was intended.
I, myself, believe that strong, traditional marriages and families are one of the greatest forces for good in society, if not the greatest. No one can deny that we have digressed from the traditional family structure in ways that have been catastrophic. At the same time, I have a difficult time casting harsh judgments toward those who choose a healthy, stable homosexual relationship. I am, by no stretch of the imagination, a sexual orientation bigot.
So when voting on Proposition 8 (which proposes a change to the state constitution to include the definition of marriage as between a man and woman, which would overrule the California Supreme Court decision that not permitting gay couples to marry is unconstitutional) came up at our dinner table, a sincere debate/discussion ensued.
In California, gay couples enjoy every legal right of heterosexual couples, including visitation, insurance, adopting children, property rights, etc, etc, etc. They could be legally bound in a civil union/domestic partnership. All they could not do (until earlier this year) was be legally married. Marriage. It is simply an issue of semantics, folks. Or is it? A great weight rests on the word marriage, because marriage is and always has been the foundation of the fundamental unit of society: the family.
The fact is that marriage is not an inalienable right. If it were, we would permit it to freely occur among children, incarcerated criminals, relatives, groups of three or more, anyone single who wishes not to be, etc. This may sound extreme today, but so did gay marriage not long ago. No one has the right to marry on merit of being a human and citizen of this country. The state has to determine that this marriage will do more good than harm in order to endorse and permit it, and such an enormous capacity for that good and harm manifests itself in the role of parenthood.
If marriage really was just about two individuals, well, frankly the state wouldn't care one whit about it. Marriage is NOT just about two individuals, though. It is and always has carried the great privilege and responsibility of parenthood with it. The state permits and sanctions marriages because it is in their best interest to ensure children are taken care of in the best way possible. We all know they get to pick up some of the pieces when children are not properly raised.
So, marriage is not a right, nor has the government ever treated it as such. You know what is a right, though? Freedoms outlined in the first amendment, several of which are at risk if proposition 8 does not pass. Society will become more hostile and intolerant (if I dare use that buzz word) of those who preach and encourage the traditional family structure.
Oh yes, and anyone who makes the argument that I don't accept homosexuals unless I accept their lifestyle, I have to presume has never had a child or loved one whose behavior is incongruous with their expectations. Lots of parents don't agree with or condone their children's behavior, but it sure doesn't affect how much they love them, or accept them for that matter.
I recognize that I don't understand the entirety of this issue. What I do understand, though, is that if we want our society to succeed, our families must succeed. This I do not conjecture, this I know. More than health care plans, job opportunities, and public education, what our country (and the world, for that matter) needs desperately and more than anything else is strong families-- families consisting of parents committed to each other and committed to teaching and loving their children.
No (sound) sociological study has ever suggested anything other than that, all other things being equal, children do best when raised by their father and mother. Tons of additional evidence asserts that children learn very different and essential lessons from fathers than from mothers. In other words, gender DOES matter, and children turn out best when both a mother AND father have taken an active role in teaching and raising them. Of course this ideal cannot always be realized, so by all means let us support and defend every instance in which it can.
Parenting by homosexuals is a fairly recent phenomenon. As such, we don't know exactly how kids raised by gay parents will turn out compared to peers from traditional households. Whenever we DON'T KNOW if something will happen, it would be very unwise to assume that therefore nothing will happen. If anything, we should air on the side of caution. We don't know if there will be negative effects on children raised by homosexual parents, but we DO know that traditional marriage has proven effective since the dawning of time. Let us err on the side of caution, prudence, and wisdom, the side that has been time-tested.
I'm not by any means saying that kids should be raised by unfit heterosexual parents or thrust into the foster care system rather than by a stable, loving homosexual couple. However, I think we all know that there are so very few babies being placed for adoption compared to how many families are waiting to adopt. Allowing homosexual couples to compete for these adoptions basically means excluding that number of children from the opportunity to be raised in what, all other things being equal, is the optimal environment: a family led by a mother and a father.
Okay, let's talk about the everyday consequences if proposition 8 does not pass. Homosexual marriage and sexual relations will be taught right along side heterosexual marriage to elementary school students, churches can be sued for discrimination (Catholic Children's Service had to pull out of the adoption business after being convicted of discriminating against prospective gay parents) and denied tax exemption if not willing to perform gay marriages, etc. It seems clear this is an issue that will affect everyone.
Again, the road leading to my convictions has not come quickly or easily. It has been a tough issue for me for years. However, I don't see proposition 8 as a threat to any gay rights (particularly since they already enjoyed all the human rights guaranteed by the constitution). It is, rather, a threat toward traditional marriage and those who believe in it as the fundamental unit and greatest force for good in our world.
For more, you can get some good info on protectmarriage.com, preservingmarriage.org, http://www.npr.org/templates/
(I please welcome any comments as this is an issue about which almost all of us still have much to learn.)
Posted by Kyle at 12:28 AM 6 comments
Monday, October 06, 2008
The little monkey turns three
I recognize that I've taken a hiatus from blogging lately, and there's a perfectly sound explanation for that: Ellie's all-consuming birthday party, successfully executed Monday morning.
As always, we have more time than money, so creating games, favors, and a menu, all incorporated into the monkey theme, has kept me occupied the past week and a half since I decided to throw Ellie a party.
I debated because she only really has one friend here, so far. She and Lexi met at a ward barbecue our first week in California. Lexi made Ellie bark chip "hamburgers," Ellie knocked them all onto the ground, and instead of being angry, Lexi giggled. I knew at that moment this friendship would work. Anyway, again since the party is just as much for my sake as hers, I decided to invite people I'd like to know, and these strangers were nice enough to come, even bearing gifts.
I decided on the monkey theme because it's gender-neutral, not too cliche but not too difficult to work with, and appropriate for a bunch of toddlers running around at the park. The invitations were peel-able bananas.
The next game I attempted was perhaps a little advanced for the group's attention span and vision, but given Ellie's social grooming tendencies (she can often be found sneaking up behind someone to pick their "gold" aka dandruff or asking if she can clean between your toes), I had to give it a go. I poured uncooked rice aka lice onto the monkey fur mats and gave the kids a couple minutes to procure as many "bugs" as possible. Of course, Ellie was the only one with enough enthusiasm to keep up the task, while others flicked, scattered, and ingested their "lice."
The menu consisted mostly of snacks, including monkey bread (which I had never made but plan to all the time now! Soooo easy--I mean, I can actually let Ellie stack the biscuits without correcting her, and they taste just like cinnamon rolls, but bite-size and fun to munch on), and good old bugs-on-a-log (celery filled with peanut butter and topped with raisins), although the disguise was insufficient in persuading toddlers to actually eat their vegetables. Then all the kids licked the frosting off their monkey cupcakes and slurped their banana split ice cream, and Ellie put a valiant effort into extinguishing all three of her candles.
I guess monkeys don't really have blue eyes, because this touch seemed to give them a sort of extra terrestrial glow...
Being three means, I think, that Ellie is no longer a toddler, and so by default, is definitely a "big girl" now. We have loved witnessing her growing independence, sharing her zest for life and relentless curiosity, and experiencing the sweetness and affection she offers abundantly. She is as much my little girl as she was on day one, three years ago, and I thinks she always will be. Happy birthday, Ellie-belly. I couldn't be happier that you're mine for keeps.
Posted by Kyle at 4:06 PM 10 comments


text:
Twitter Inc won a bid to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the widow of an American killed in Jordan which accused the social media company of giving voice to Islamic State, a federal judge ruled on Wednesday, NBC News reported.
U.S. District Judge William H. Orrick in San Francisco ruled that Twitter cannot be held liable for Islamic State's rhetoric, but gave the plaintiff a chance to refile an amended lawsuit.
Social media companies including Twitter have faced pressure to crack down on online propaganda linked to terrorism.
U.S. & World
Tamara Fields, a Florida woman whose husband Lloyd died in an attack on the police training center in Amman last year, said Twitter knowingly let the militant Islamist group use its network to spread propaganda, raise money and attract recruits.


text:
An advanced Green hydronic heating and cooling system that delivers better comfort, lower first costs, lower energy and maintenance costs, lower life cycle costs, and reduced design, start-up, and commissioning time.
Informative videos about the LoadMatch system:
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HSS Tutorial and LoadMatch Wizard Tutorial
LoadMatch Green Building compatible system components include:
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Sample some LoadMatch installations around the nation:
LoadMatch systems have been installed in hundreds of buildings, saving time, money, and energy. Below is a sample listing. Click on a bullet to download a Hydronic System Solutions (HSS) drawing, read a case study, view a video, or browse a project photo gallery.
An orange bullet denotes a technical journal feature article.


text:
This is a quick entry to set something straight. After some searching, I found the tweet that launched a thousand other tweets. The origin of the hashtag #followalibrarian came from "KJ" (@catagator). Here's her tweet to me that contained this awesome hashtag.
So, I want to give credit where credit is due because the number of librarians I was able to follow because of her awesome idea was huge. Already, this is yielding dividends in articles, blogs posts, and other great sources. I'm looking forward to next Friday's #followalibrarian. I'll have to make sure to get my list ready!
To provide the proper context of her tweet to me, I had been asking for recommendations for other people to follow.
My memory might stink, but at least my search skills don't. =D


text:
By Mark Harden, News Director – Denver Business Journal
Schlotzsky's, a sandwich chain with 10 Colorado locations, says it plans to add dozens more by the end of the year in metro Denver.
Austin, Texas-based Schlotzsky's — a unit of Atlanta-based Focus Brands Inc. — says it has plans for 15 franchise deals in the city of Denver and another 30 deals in the Denver metro area by the end of 2014.
"The Denver market has already cultivated a loyal fan following and a strong brand reputation as consumers demand more convenient, fresh food options," said David Wheeler, the chain's vice president of franchise development. "We anticipate the same great success we've seen across Colorado in this targeted region of the state."
Wheeler signaled that the company seeks "qualified franchise partners" in Denver.
The company said the new stores will offer franchisees "co-branding opportunities" with other Focus brands, Cinnabon and Carvel, "to offer franchise partners multiple streams of revenue under one roof."
The move comes as homegrown sandwich chain Quiznos has faced challenges, shuttering thousands of stores in recent years and going through a pre-packaged Chapter 11 process.
Schlotzsky's also is targeting markets in Texas as well as Oklahoma City, Tulsa, St. Louis and Kansas City for further expansion.
The chain says it currently has 350 locations in 37 states and three other nations.
Source: Denver Business Journal
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: "co-brand", "FOCUS Brands", "Kansas City", "Oklahoma City", Atlanta, Carvel, Cinnabon, Colorado, Denver, development, expansion, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, schlotzky's, Schlotzsky's, St. Louis, Tulsa | Leave a comment »


text:
The Port of New York, and Ship News, Volume 10
Alexander Rogers Smith
Port of New York publicity Company, 1931 - Harbors
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text:
(CNN) — Retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, who commanded coalition forces during the Gulf War, died Thursday, a U.S. official said. He was 78.
After Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, Schwarzkopf directed 700,000 coalition troops that engaged in a six-week air assault of Iraqi forces in January 1991. That was followed by a swift ground campaign that pushed the Iraqis out of Kuwait.
Schwarzkopf went to the U.S. Military Academy and graduated in 1956, according to Britannica Online.
He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army. The officer served two tours of duty in Vietnam.
In 1988, Schwarzkopf was appointed commander of U.S. Central Command.