text:
You are here
TopGear.com chats with Gerard Butler
The fear of being unceremoniously and painfully jettisoned into a black chasm of death by a leather-sandaled foot is currently taking up some of my thought process. I am sitting with Gerard Butler, King Leonidas himself, ready to talk all things TopGear. And when I ask if he considers himself a petrolhead, he informs me that he doesn't really know anything about cars.
'I don't even know what a petrolhead is'. So, I respond, you're not really into your cars then?
Silence. He stares for a minute, I shuffle uncomfortably, and that scene - the one repeated by countless groups of men the world over - flashes into my consciousness. I tense my stomach muscles in anticipation of a swift kick, but the talk quickly turns to film, and you realize Gerard Butler is actually very charming, charged with an effusive and slightly unsettling energy. He returns to cinema screens this week as Mike Banning in Olympus Has Fallen, a film reminiscent of Die Hard.
'It is a bit like Die Hard in a way,' he says, 'but it's a more updated version. I actually got an email from my favourite actor in the business - I won't say his name - who emailed me saying 'dude, that movie rocked'. What really grabbed me about the script was the second scene, where in the middle of a meeting between the President of the United States and the South Korean prime minister, a C130 cargo plane flies over Washington, and you immediately go 'what the **** is happening?' Then this attack ensues...'
And it's some attack. In fact, it's a bloody good film - as in literally, really bloody. Eyes are gouged, limbs are ripped, bones are ceremoniously broken, necks are stabbed and slashed, faces are bludgeoned and cars are ground into metallic mince. It's violent, there are some genuinely funny moments, and it's actually a lot of fun, a 1980s action movie throwback (if a little heavy on the cheese). Many explosions happen. Lots of blood is spilt, including much of Gerard's own.
'I broke two little bones in my neck,' he tells me, as though reeling off his weekly shopping list. 'I lost a fingernail - I banged it in a fight, and of all the injuries that I got, that was the most painful. It felt like someone took my finger and slammed it with a mallet. I got a burn in my throat from a flicked cigarette (his throat was coated in glycerin), I bruised the back of my leg from my knee to my ass, and I chipped a bone in my forearm. The whole thing swelled up and went black.'
Thankfully, the car crash at the beginning of the film that kicks off Gerard's character arc was marginally less dangerous. Marginally. A freak accident leaves the President's armoured Cadillac - nicknamed 'The Beast' - hanging over a precipice, and Banning jumps out to save him.
'We literally had a car on a bridge, tipping up, so it was very dangerous because it could have gone over at any moment. But a lot of the car accident is CGI - it's amazing what they pulled off.'
So no need for any driver training, clearly, but the mere suggestion of this literally lights up GB's face. 'It's so crazy that you mention driver training, because at the premiere of Olympus, one of the directors from McLaren came up to me and said, 'I really want you to come and drive our cars'. I told my assistant we gotta do that.'
He's smiling quite broadly now. 'My stunt driver on the film Gamer - his name is Jeremy Fry - has also offered to take me to his stunt driving school. That would be four or five days of bliss.'
Now we're getting somewhere. 'I just love classic BMWs and Mercedes - my first car in fact, was an old BMW, like a '79 BMW or something. It was a piece of ****,' he laughs, but something in his voice suggests he might be into cars more than he lets on. 'You know what happened? I was making Tomb Raider at Pinewood Studios, and I saw an Aston Martin DB6 for sale. I absolutely fell in love with it, took it for a test drive and thought, how cool is this? This is the studio where they made Bond, and some guy's selling an Aston in the car park, I should buy it.'
Clearly, the sight and sounds of the Aston stirred up Gerard's inner Stig, because he then felt an urgent need to go see more classic machinery. 'I thought, maybe I'm being too hasty with the Aston, so I went to the classic car place in Chelsea to look at something else, walked in there, and there was an old E-Type Jaguar convertible, the V12 one.' Ah, that'd be the Series III, then. 'I literally took one look at it,' he says, trying to stave off the excitement in his voice, 'and thought, oh, my, god.'
He's an old school warrior, is Gerard. 'You know what I almost bought as well? A Shelby Mustang - I love the Shelby Mustang, the classic one. They had one in racing green with stripes on the side, and it was the coolest thing ever. But then I thought, I'm living in a city where it's hard enough to avoid paparazzi (he lives in Los Angeles), so I thought, if I get a racing green Shelby Mustang with white stripes along the side, I'm pretty much ******. I didn't end up getting it, but I kind of regret it.'
So what did he get in the end? 'I have a Range Rover - the big one, the proper Range Rover. I like the Sport, but it's a bit of a 'soccer mom' car. But mine is great, it's great for LA. You can take surfboards on it, stick some bikes in the back...' He trails off for a second, then flashes an evil smile. 'If you kidnap people you could tie them up in the back, there's space for your chloroform.' I look up from my pad. He's laughing at me. 'I better stop there, I think.'
His other car has less space for kidnapped hostages, mind - he's also got a BMW Z8 - 'I remember seeing one in Glasgow maybe ten years ago, and I just stood there gaping at it' - and this caps an interesting sequence of dots many of you out there might have already connected up. Some very familiar '007' shaped dots. Count 'em: so far, Gerard's been on set in Pinewood, driven an old Aston Martin and is in custody of a Bond car (the Z8)...
And, believe it or not, he's actually starred in a James Bond film. It's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it shot, but he's one of the British navy in Tomorrow Never Dies. I think for a second: he's tall, he's big, he's charming, and he's into his cars (despite his protestations). Does he want to play 007?
Some laughter occurs. 'Listen, do I think I could play Bond? Absolutely. But I'm very happy with where I'm at right now. I love being able to create my own roles, like Leonidas or Mike Banning. But I gotta say, that although my favourite Bond was Connery, Daniel Craig is killing it, especially with Skyfall. It's great to have a really classy, intelligent actor who's capable of complete ferocity and darkness to play Bond, because that's what I think it needed.'
And it's fitting that we should end on his mention of King Leonidas from 300, a film that grossed many millions across the globe and catapulted Butler to international stardom. 'I'm especially proud of Olympus, because I helped produce it too, but without a doubt 300 is my best achievement. It was a movie I had to fight to get.' His voice lowers a touch. 'This sounds weird, but I made a commitment to Leonidas, to channel his spirit and do his story justice. It's amazing to be able to do a movie that has really affected people.
'It's also amazing to have just given people some good damn enjoyment'.


text:
Produced By:
Not Available
Video Length:
22 minutes
Product ID:
Select Type:
Download Video File
Stream Video for 30 Days
SME Members:
$ 20.00
Non members:
$ 25.00
Part of the award-winning Manufacturing Insight Video Seriesthis program shows you an actual Five S (sort, set in order, shine, standardize and sustain) training event at two different manufacturing companies.
You will see a 5S factory makoverandnbsp;at Symmons Industries in Braintree, Massachusetts and at Affordable Interior Systems in Hudson, Massachusetts. Recorded during training classes on 5S, see the kinds of things that were changed to improve productivity and make the work simpler and easier. The clean up teams are first taught theandnbsp;5S principles and are then unleashed to go forth and make improvements.
The intended audience for this program is anyone in a manufacturing company that has just started to implement lean or for companies who need to revive their lean efforts.
By Gary Conner
By George N Bullen FSME

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Gary Blake of North Wilkesboro, N.C., bought eroded land overgrown with kudzu in 1978 and transformed it into a modern diversified farm.
Four generations of his family live on the farm, and three generations of his family manage key components of the operation. They derive most of their income from raising broiler and pullet chickens.
They also raise beef cattle, timber, tobacco, soybeans, field corn, sweet corn and other vegetable crops.
As a result of his accomplishments as a chicken grower and as a diversified farmer, Blake has been selected as the North Carolina winner of the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award. Blake now joins nine other state winners from the Southeast as finalists for the award. The overall winner will be announced on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at the Sunbelt Ag Expo farm show in Moultrie, Ga.
Last year, he farmed 410 acres, including 100 acres of rented land and 310 acres of owned land. This year, the Blakes are adding 50 acres of rented land and 110 acres of purchased land, along with more chicken houses. By the end of this year, the Blakes will have 16 broiler houses and six pullet houses.
If all goes as planned, the Blakes will grow more than 2.4 million chickens for Tyson Foods next year. It takes seven to eight weeks to raise a flock of broilers on their farm. Pullets arrive on their farm at one day of age and are kept for 16 to 22 weeks.
A full-time farmer for 34 years, Blake's crops last year included corn on 45 acres yielding 100 bushels per acre, soybeans on 60 acres yielding 40 bushels per acre, hay and pasture on 286 acres yielding five tons of forage per acre, burley tobacco on 10 acres yielding 1,200 pounds per acre and a wide variety of vegetables on eight acres. In his greenhouses, he raises tobacco plants for transplanting on about 150 acres.
Blake previously grew flue-cured tobacco on 50 to 60 acres, but switched to burley because curing flue-cured tobacco became more expensive. "We cure our burley by hanging it in a chicken house and letting it air dry," says Blake.
He grows his tobacco on contract with R. J. Reynolds. He sells vegetables at farmers' markets, and he relies on word-of-mouth advertising to help sell his hay, tobacco transplants and other crops.
"I first began farming at age 14 when I leased some land with my dad and grew six acres of flue-cured tobacco," Blake recalls.
After high school, he worked off the farm at a Western Electric manufacturing plant in Greensboro, N.C., and met his wife Lorene there. After leaving Western Electric, he went into business for himself, owning and operating gasoline service stations. "These were full service stations," he recalls.
Family operation
"One of them was open 24 hours per day, where I had 16 employees." He saved enough to buy a 177-acre farm, but later sold it to help pay for the farm in Wilkes County where he now lives.
On his farm, Blake essentially acts as a chief executive officer, while other family members manage key components.
Gary and Lorene have two sons. Their older son Rodney works off the farm at Wilkes Telecommunications and as a Baptist preacher. Rodney has a son and daughter who occasionally help out on the farm.
Gary and Lorene's younger son Chad has an agriculture degree from North Carolina State University and has worked on the farm since 1987. Chad helps Gary manage the pullets.
Chad's wife Brenda handles the farm's bookkeeping and manages the family's vegetable operation. She grows sweet corn, tomatoes, beets, cucumbers, cantaloupes, watermelons, okra and green beans to sell at local farmers markets. When the greenhouses are not being used to grow tobacco for transplanting, she uses the greenhouses to raise vegetables.
Chad and Brenda have four sons. Their older sons, Heath and Tyler, are married and both work on the farm. They are primarily responsible for the broilers. Their two younger sons, Seth and Luke, also help out on the farm when they are not being home-schooled by Brenda.
Heath repairs and maintains diesel equipment for the family's Blake Systems sideline business. "This generates income for the family when we don't have crops in the field," says Gary. Tyler and Chad also take on small construction jobs such as building porches. "My family built my house and Chad and Brenda's home," adds Gary. "Providing our own labor meant we could build our homes at cost, with no mortgages, so we could continue to invest in the farming operation."
Another small sideline business involves selling and spreading chicken litter. Gary sells some litter for about $15 per ton. But for high volume buyers, he will sell the litter and shavings from an entire chicken house for $1,500.
"The chickens in both our pullet houses and our broiler houses produce dry litter," Gary explains. "When we apply litter on our own land, we follow a comprehensive nutrient management plan that limits the amount of litter we can apply based on its phosphorus content."
Gary also finds time to give back to his community. He sits on the board that nominates farmers for the Hall of Fame in the Wilkes Heritage Museum. He is on the Wilkes County Farm Bureau board and on the local Agricultural District board. He also chairs the board for a community center building. He has been a voting precinct chairman, a candidate for the county commission and is active in the Masons.
He served in the National Guard from 1956 until 1964. He is a member of the North Carolina Cattlemen's Association. His farm has also been recognized on the state and national levels for its soil and water conservation and environmental stewardship.
Gary and Lorene are members of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church. Lorene has also served as secretary/treasurer of Southeast Wilkes Community Building. She has also been a hospital volunteer and a voting delegate at North Carolina Farm Bureau state conventions.
Ken Powell with North Carolina Farm Bureau is the state coordinator of the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award. Gary was nominated for the award by his daughter-in-law Brenda.
Farm got a make-over
"I appreciate many things about Gary," says Brenda. "He keeps us going and has motivated all of us to make this a great farm. He's just a good role model for the rest of us to follow. I admire how he took this rundown, eroded farm that was overgrown with kudzu, and made it into the beautiful place it is now."
"You should have seen this place when I purchased it," adds Gary. Lorene says, "We also picked up plenty of rocks on this land."
As the North Carolina state winner of the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo award, Blake will now receive a $2,500 cash award and an expense paid trip to the Sunbelt Expo from Swisher International of Jacksonville, Fla., a $500 gift certificate from the Southern States cooperative, and the choice of either $1,000 in PhytoGen cottonseed, or a $500 donation to a designated charity on behalf of our newest sponsor, Dow Agrosciences.
He is now eligible for the $15,000 that will go to the overall winner. Other prizes for the overall winner include the use of a Massey Ferguson tractor for a year from Massey Ferguson North America, another $500 gift certificate from the Southern States cooperative, and the choice of either another $1,000 in PhytoGen cottonseed, or a second $500 donation to a designated charity on behalf of our newest sponsor, Dow Agrosciences.
Swisher International, through its Swisher Sweets cigar brand, and the Sunbelt Expo are sponsoring the Southeastern Farmer of the Year awards for the 23rd consecutive year. Swisher has contributed some $884,000 in cash awards and other honors to southeastern farmers since the award was initiated in 1990.
Previous state winners from North Carolina include John Vollmer of Bunn, 1990; Kenneth Jones of Pink Hill, 1991; John Howard, Jr. of Deep Run, 1992; Carlyle Ferguson of Waynesville, 1993; Dick Tunnell of Swan Quarter, 1994; Allan Lee Baucom of Monroe, 1995; Scott Whitford of Grantsboro, 1996; Williams Covington, Sr. of Mebane, 1997; Phil McLain of Statesville, 1998; Earl Hendrix of Raeford, 1999; Reid Gray of Statesville, 2000; Rusty Cox of Monroe, 2001; Craven Register of Clinton, 2002; Frank Howey, Jr. of Monroe, 2003; Eddie Johnson of Elkin, 2004; Danny McConnell of Hendersonville, 2005; Thomas Porter, Jr. of Concord, 2006; Bill Cameron of Raeford, 2007; V. Mac Baldwin of Yanceyville, 2008; Fred Pittillo of Hendersonville, 2009; Bo Stone of Rowland, 2010; and Thomas Porter, Jr. of Concord, 2011.
North Carolina has had three overall winners with Eddie Johnson of Elkin being selected as the Southeastern Farmer of the Year in 2004, Bill Cameron of Raeford in 2007 and Thomas Porter, Jr. of Concord in 2011.
A distinguished panel of judges will visit the Blake farm, along with the farms of the other nine state finalists, during the week of Aug. 5-10.
The judges for this year include Charles Snipes, a retired Mississippi Extension weed scientist who is president and research scientist with Stoneville R&D, Inc., from Greenville, Miss.; John McKissick, a longtime University of Georgia Extension ag economist from Athens, Ga.; and farmer Brian Kirksey of Amity, Ark., who was selected as the overall winner in 2008.


text:
Skip over navigation
Contact Us
Support Us
About Us
The Garden
Plan your Visit
What's On
Friends of CUBG
Looking good now
Graceful grasses
University Botanic Garden
1 Brookside
01223 336265
Bee Border plant list 2016.pdf
« Back
Garden map
Bee Borders (Glasshouse Borders)
The beautiful double Bee Borders in front of the Glasshouse Range have been created with some of the flowers bees love best and are abuzz from spring through to September with nectar and pollen collecting. But the Bee Borders are also a honeypot for visitors, as the chief characteristic that makes a flower attractive to bees also makes them excellent garden plants: lots of brightly-coloured flowers on sturdy plants, in this case massed in an exhilarating 'cottage garden' style.
Late spring in the Bee Borders
Bees visit flowers for food: nectar provides sugars for energy whilst pollen provides proteins essential for growth. Many good bee plants have large, tubular flowers symmetrical along the vertical axis (rather like us). The lower petal is often lipped to provide a landing platform for the visiting bee. This specialised petal is also decorated with lines or spots, called nectar guides, that show the way to the nectar within. Foxgloves are a good example of this, and are used extensively in the planting along with snapdragons (
) and our native Viper's Bugloss (
Echium vulgare
The colour scheme for the Bee Borders is a beautiful haze of blues, mauves and violets together with complementary yellows, as bees can see this part of the colour spectrum best. Bees can even see a colour invisible to the human eye called bee ultra-violet, which characterises many nectar guides. They, however, are unable to see bright red – one of the reasons red is absent from the planting scheme. Bees forage for food from early spring until the first frosts, and the Bee Borders have therefore been planted to provide a succession of food sources and give a long season of interest.
Bees, and especially honey bees, are in a major decline worldwide due to a complex range of factors thought to include climate change, pests and diseases, colony collapse disorder (whereby the worker bees abruptly abandon a hive causing the colony to die), and a decline in wildflowers due to intensive agricultural practices. And yet, honey bees are vital to our food chain as pollinators of crops accounting for about one third of our diet. Honeybees are essential to fruit-set in tomatoes, coffee, grapes, apples and other fruits in the Rose family. They also ensure seed production for oils such as Rapeseed, and play a major role in pollinating crops such as clover to provide seeds for farmers.
Gardeners can play an important role in shoring up the bee population by including some of these beautiful flowers in their own planting schemes and borders to provide a rich food source, helping to keep bees healthy. Most of the bee plants in the Bee Borders are readily available from garden centres, and many are straightforward to raise from seed.
Dowload our Bee Border plant list by clicking on the link to the left
Bumble visiting an Allium
Spires of foxgloves in the Bee Borders
A bumblebee collecting pollen
Old-fashioned ornamental bee hive. The Garden's active bee hives are tucked away off the South Walk.
Use this map to position the marker. Click on the position you want on the map, then click the save button above.
Privacy Policy
Terms and Conditions
Web Site by Stride Design
© University Botanic Garden 1 Brookside Cambridge CB2 1JE 01223 336265


text:
Release date:November 9
Plainview dentist named vice chairman of Wayland board
Dr. Gary Abercrombie, a 1973 Wayland Baptist University graduate and a dentist in Plainview, was named vice chairman of Wayland's Board of Trustees during Thursday's fall board meeting.
A member of the board since 1997, Abercrombie is in his second three-year term. He has also served for several years on the board of the Association of Former Students, holding the office of president at one time.
Abercrombie received his DDS degree from the University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston. He has been in private practice in Plainview for many years. He and his wife Janice, also a Wayland graduate, have three children


text:
Named Giving Opportunities
"Give yourself permission to dream." – Randy Pausch (The Last Lecture)
First impressions are powerful. Ensure that all who come through the doors of Nyack College's new Manhattan campus receive a warm welcome.
Playing to the crowd! There are some venues that just need a large hall to flourish in.
75 @ $10,000
Mentorship is the hallmark of the Nyack experience. Help provide our faculty and staff with furnished offices ready for ministry.
55 @ $25,000
Donate a modern classroom filled with the latest teaching tools and you'll become the catalyst that propels Nyack's students in the future.
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." John Quincy Adams
4 @ $50,000
Many of our classes are taught with the aid of a computer lab where access to information is enhanced and instruction optimized through the use of technology.
140 @$1,500
For some of our students, the computer lab is their best or only access to a computer. Keep the doors of hospitality open by purchasing a complete lab station for them.
$1,000 ea.
Honor the department from which you graduated. Purchase a collection of books and fuel your major.
Sharing library materials quickly and efficiently within our campus community depends on this critical piece of library furniture. Become a significant part of our move by donating our new library's circulation desk.
4 @$125,000
Some lessons are best absorbed by doing. Give the gift of a whole lab and give the gift of holistic learning.
Keep the momentum of our newly launched nursing program going by building a Health Sciences Lab at our new Manhattan campus.
Sight and Sound. Capture the creativity!
24 @ $10,000 ea.
Practice Makes Perfect--support a student's commitment to excellence.
18 @ $5,000 ea.
Covering the fundamentals. Provide one piano for our piano Lab and you will be ensuring that each music student has a strong musical foundation.
Support the Arts! Sponsor a performance grade instrument for juries, recitals, and the multitude of outstanding concerts in Nyack College's yearly repertoire.
Your GPS will help you with many things, but only appropriate signage will help you find your way around our new campus.
For more information please contact Jeff Quinn, Vice President for College Relations at 845.675.4425.


text:
Formula One 'Iceman' Kimi Raikkonen lapped fastest for Lotus in the Bahrain desert heat on Friday after Ferrari had set the early practice pace.
The Finn, 2007 World champion for Ferrari and chasing his 21st successive race in the points, sped to a best time of one minute 34.154 seconds on the medium tyres in the afternoon session when track temperatures hovered around 42 degrees celsius.
"It's nice to be fastest but you never know what the others are doing; we just stick to our programme and don't take too much notice of what else is happening," said Raikkonen, winner of the season-opener in Australia last month.
"I actually made a mistake through the final corners on my fastest lap, so there's still more time to be found."
Practice for the most controversial race of the season went ahead untroubled by thousands of anti-government protesters who took to the streets of the Gulf kingdom to press for political change.
The Sakhir circuit is some 30km southwest of the capital Manama and ringed by tight security.
Brazilian Felipe Massa kept Ferrari team mate Fernando Alonso off the top in the morning with a lap of 1:34.487.
The Spaniard, winner of the third race of the season in China last weekend, was 0.077 slower. The Ferrari pair focused on long runs in the afternoon, one on the medium tyres and the other on hards.
Massa then switched to the hards after complaining about wear on the rears.
"We had no major problems and more importantly, we didn't have to make any radical changes to the F138 to adapt it to this track and its long straights and slow corners, characteristics which I like a lot," said Alonso.
Technical director Pat Fry said some of the aerodynamic updates tested had worked well but others proved inconclusive and might not be used.
Germany's Nico Rosberg was third fastest in the morning for Mercedes, who had Lewis Hamilton only 13th, with Red Bull's triple champion and overall leader Sebastian Vettel taking third after lunch.
Rosberg expected the race to be very hard on the rear tyres and said the team had a lot of work to find a good balance for Sunday's race.
Hamilton, 10th in the second session, predicted a tough weekend ahead.
Australian Mark Webber, making his 200th start this weekend with a three-place grid penalty after a nightmare race in Shanghai, was seventh and second for Red Bull in the two sessions.
"If you look at the opposition then Ferrari and Lotus were strong today and I think it will be close in qualifying," said Vettel, who was unhappy with his short runs.
McLaren's Jenson Button was sixth and 11th while Mexican team mate Sergio Perez was 11th and 13th.
"I've already got a good feeling that we've found a set-up and a direction for tomorrow that will be more competitive," said Button. "There's a lot we can take away from today that will help us for tomorrow."
Finland's Heikki Kovalainen, dropped by Caterham at the end of last season, made his return to the team as a reserve driver and lapped 20th of the 22 drivers in the first practice.
"The first impression I had was that this car...is certainly trickier to find a balance on than the 2012 car, and the 2013 tyres go off a lot faster than last year's," he said.
Another reserve, Venezuelan Rodolfo Gonzalez, made his first Friday appearance for Marussia in place of Jules Bianchi but completed only seven laps due to a gearbox problem.
Team principal John Booth said he had done a good job and more opportunities would come his way.
Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images


text:
C. David Heymann, a bestselling biographer whose titillating accounts of famous lives often were criticized as inaccurate or dishonest, including a book on heiress Barbara Hutton that was recalled because of factual disputes, has died. He was 67.
Heymann died Wednesday after collapsing in the lobby of his New York City apartment building, said his agent, Mel Berger. The cause was believed to be cardiopulmonary failure.
Initially a poet and critic, Heymann wrote books on Ezra Pound and Robert Lowell before turning to popular biography with "Poor Little Rich Girl: The Life and Legend of Barbara Hutton," published in 1983.
The Hutton book had broad appeal,...


text:
But somehow, i`m so happy that things are like they are. Imagine the perfect OS. How boring would it be, if we couldn't achieve anything anymore. It's like life, you can't have all of it and somehow i think, it is a good thing.
But as the post above cites correctly, that people (often management) are simply unable to "see the truth", and therefore unable to paying tribute to people, who have done great things.
Take these kernel for instance, made by people who put sometimes their life efforts in what they do and companies make millions and billions of their work and still, to the most people, they are just "the nerds from the end of the road". So i cant tell you, how much respect i have for the people who make it even possible for us, to have something to discuss about in the first place.
So stating, x is crap and y is king or whatever, feels kind of "short minded" to me.
Heck, what do i love the oss community
And N.B: Oracle Linux is so much better than Red Hat's Linux, because it's made by a bigger company.


text:
MIAMI (AP) ? Scottie Pippen said LeBron James may be basketball's greatest player ever.
MIAMI (AP) — Scottie Pippen said LeBron James may be basketball's greatest player ever.
Among those who disagree: LeBron James.
The Miami Heat forward provided his reaction to Pippen's comparison between James and Michael Jordan on Saturday, essentially saying he was flattered by the sentiment but simply does not believe he's done enough to merit mention among the game's highest echelon.
"I'm not better than Jordan," James said.
Pippen — who won six championships alongside Jordan in Chicago during the Bulls' epic run in the 1990s — told ESPN Radio on Friday that while Jordan is "probably the greatest scorer to play the game," James "may be the greatest player to ever play the game."
Pippen even backed up the comments later on Twitter, hours after his words sparked a bit of a firestorm, though tried to clarify a bit by saying that while he thinks Jordan "is the greatest," James "could" reach that pinnacle in time.
James seemed mildly uncomfortable by the discussion.
"Michael's an unbelievable player," James said Saturday. "I've got a long way — long way — to be mentioned as far as one of the all-time greats. Not even just Jordan. There's a lot of great players who have played in this league. Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, all these guys who are floating around with multiple rings, Bill Russell, all these guys who have pioneered this game.
"I'm gracious. Humbled by Scottie's comments, especially with him being a teammate of his and seeing Michael on a day-to-day basis. But as far as me, I'm not going to sit here and say I'm better than Jordan. I'm not better than Jordan."
James is four wins away from his first NBA championship. The Heat host the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the NBA finals on Tuesday night.


text:
Twenty Myths About National Health Insurance
The allure of national health insurance comes largely because it is perceived as successful in Canada and Britain. This thoroughly documented report shows conclusively that government-run national health insurance has led to serious and inevitable dilemmas that no country should want to emulate. The authors prove that other models have not been more successful than the U.S. in controlling costs or providing superior access to care, and that adoption of a national health system would have negative consequences. Released in cooperation with the Dallas-based National Center for Policy Analysis. 68 pages.


text:
What started out as a change of life business venture has resulted in an renewed awareness of the uniqueness of my hometown. As a lifelong resident of Waco, Texas. I am just now discovering its rich heritage. Less than two years ago my sister and I were looking to buy a house close to the downtown area to use as a bed and breakfast in Central Texas. It was fate that took us on a drive down Austin Avenue. We had become discouraged because we couldn't find anything that we liked. We didn't know exactly know what we were looking for - we just knew we would know it when we saw it. And sure enough there it was at 1910 Austin Avenue. A house I had been in many times and had always loved had a For Sale sign in front of it. We realized immediately that this was what we had been looking for. What we had yet to discover was the historical significance of what had once been one of Waco's finest ; homes. While the renovation was in progress I began to research the history of the house.
The house at 1910 was designed by Roy Elspeth Lane for the W.H. Johnson family. Mr. Lane was the premiere Waco architect during the early 1900's. His best-known work was the Amicable Building which still dominates the Wacoskyline. He designed many of Waco's landmark downtown buildings. The Raleigh Hotel, the Hippodrome, Nash Robinson, First Baptist Church, and St. Francis on the Brazos are examples we can still see today. Unfortunately, many of Mr. Lane's designs have been destroyed. He designed the Huaco Clubhouse, the Waco Opera House, the State House Hotel, and the Archenhold Building. A few prominent Waco families were fortunate to have Mr. Lane design their homes. The Sanger brothers, S.P. McLendon and Wm. W. Cameron homes are gone but you can see his touch at 1910 and The Castle. He wasn't the original architect of The Castle. He was brought in after the original architect left.
At the height of cotton production in the South, all roads led to Waco. Farmers gathered here to have their cotton bales shipped to all corners of the world. To honor the "cash crop" of the area, Wacoans established the Texas Cotton Palace Exposition. It was a three week festival of exhibits, demonstrations, and social events. The name of our bed and breakfast - The Cotton Palace - comes from the fact that Roy E. Lane was the architect hired by prominent Waco businessmen in 1910 to rebuild The Cotton Palace. The original Cotton Palace at 13th and Clay opened in 1894 but was destroyed by fire six months after it opened. Mr. Lane was building the house at 1910 Austin Avenue the same year he was redesigning The Cotton Palace. The Texas Cotton Palace Exposition was held every year until the early 1930's but ended when cotton prices began to fall. The tradition was revived in recent years and includes the Cotton Palace Pageant and Brazos River Festival held the last weekend in April.
Dwayne Jones, assistant director of the Texas Historical Commission in Austin, included the house at 1910 in a lecture he gave on historic buildings in Waco. "People outside Waco dismiss Waco because they think a lot of it's gone," he said referring to the legendary May 1953 tornado that demolished several downtown buildings. "But a large number of historic buildings in Waco still remain." He cited the house at 1910 for its Arts and Crafts style. Our renovation has restored many of the distinct characteristics of that style. Most notably, the original green Rookwood tile fireplace that through the years been painted a variety of colors, the original light fixtures, the brass door knocker, the ceiling beams and woodwork.
Not only is the house at 1910 distinctive because of the architect and style but many prominent Waco families have lived in the house. It was built for William H. Johnson. He and his father, C.L. Johnson, owned a large lumber company at 8th and Clay. The younger Johnson moved to California in 1917 and sold the house to the Staton family. They lived there until 1946 hen J.D. Metz and his wife Margaret moved in with their family. G.A. Durham of Durham Business College moved in during 1962. During that time it was a private residence and then became a series of kindergartens. The Roane M. Lacy, Jr. family took possession of the house in 1973. It remained a private residence until a partnership opened a retail establishment called The Austin Arrangement in 1980. It operated for several years until a new owner opened Max's restaurant in the house. William and Doreen Ravenscroft opened a retail flower shop in the house in 1985. They sold the house to my sister and me in August of 1998.
In renovating this beautiful old home we originally thought of the opportunity we had to share that beauty with others, but our greatest joy now comes from sharing the rich history of Waco through the story of the house, the architect and its owners at 1910 Austin Avenue. We invite you to stop by and share the story with us.


text:
Dell PowerEdge R910 4U rack server
The PowerEdge™ R910 is an Intel® processor-based 4-socket, 4U rack server for mission-critical applications in corporate data centers and workloads needing the highest performance, reliability and I/O scalability.
Purpose-Built with a Focus on Reliability
We've designed the Dell™ PowerEdge™ R910 for reliability, incorporating features such as Intel® advanced reliability, availability and serviceability (RAS) capabilities; redundant power supplies; remote IDRAC6 connectivity; and embedded diagnostics. Internal Dual SD Module provides failover at the hypervisor — a reliability feature designed with direct input from Dell™ customers.
Our focus on reliability starts with product design and ends only when we've delivered by following a proven set of processes with rigorous validation. With the PowerEdge R910, we work to ensure reliability through:
- Employing robust validation and testing processes to ensure peerless product design
- Verifying that each supplier meets Dell's stringent quality standards
- Utilizing robust, durable industrial materials to enable longer product lifecycles
- Introducing a Unified Server Configurator (USC), which helps to minimize downtime by offering embedded and persistent diagnostics with no media required
- Incorporating customer-inspired features, such as dual internal SD modules that provide failover at the hypervisor
- Implementing a "one-touch" quality-control process designed to ensure that one person is responsible for the entire server build
- Ensuring that every fully configured Dell server is tested—and retested—before it leaves the factory
Intelligent Platforms, Connected Foundations
By listening to and focusing on our customers, Dell delivers innovations that matters and values that last.
Virtualization, consolidation, unifying fabrics, networking and storage upgrades are driving the need for more robust network pipes, and servers have to be able to provide the connectivity to drive this need for bandwidth. The PowerEdge™ R910 is available with a 2x10GbB LOM option to meet these demands. This delivers the bandwidth for applications without limiting scalability by integrating 10Gb capabilities on a riser.
A Complete Management Portfolio
The PowerEdge R910 is simple to deploy, manage and maintain, saving you time and money to focus on what matters most — your people and business.
Efficient InfrastructureCustomers can build an efficient and scalable server infrastructure with standard x86 server technologies. The PowerEdge™ R910 is the building block for a standard efficient infrastructure.
- Dell's focus is on helping customers reduce cost with a server created to help simplify daily operations, maximize infrastructure, and streamline deployment.
- Dell™ LifeCycle Controller was developed to help customers implement an effective process for deployment and comprehensive server management.
- This Dell innovation allows customers to simplify initial setup and configuration of new servers by auto-discovery and initial security configuration of system service processor with the already collected and available drivers, helping reduce time and potential error or disruption.
The PowerEdge™ R910 is in line with the 11th generation PowerEdge portfolio behavioral specifications featuring the same system design commonality and serviceability true to the entire portfolio. Dell™ PowerEdge servers are engineered with all external ports, power supplies and LED lights in the same location for familiar user experience, as well as easy installation and deployment.
Dell provides a server foundation giving customers the peace of mind and quiet confidence to run their businesses.
No other company knows more about storing and protecting information on Dell servers and storage arrays—than Dell. Direct feedback from customers--fueled by the Dell direct model--drives the design and development of a broad range of storage products for organizations of all sizes. Upon consulting with you to understand your operational objectives, Dell can design and deploy a custom storage solution and become a primary contact to assist you with your enterprise applications and information.
|Storage Area Network (SAN):
A network of shared storage resources
Learn More
|Network Attached Storage (NAS):
A storage server that connects to a network
Learn More
|Disk Storage Arrays:
Disk enclosures that connect to a server or network
Learn More
|Disk Backup :
Disk Based Backup and data protection
Learn More
|Tape Automation:
Automated tape systems for consolidated backup
Learn More
|Tape Drives and Removable Disk Drives:
Tape and Removable Disk Drive devices used to back up and restore information
Learn More
Dell IT Consulting ServicesDell global infrastructure consulting services utilize skilled solution architects, innovative tools, automated analysis and our own intellectual property to give customers rapid insight into the root causes of unnecessary complexity. We seek better answers than traditional service models, based on our belief that solving problems should not need armies of people. Our strategy is to help customers quickly identify high-impact, short-duration projects that deliver ROI and free up resources to obtain competitive advantage. The result is practical, action-oriented plans with specific, predictable, measurable outcomes. From Data Center Optimization to Server Virtualization to Systems Management, our consulting services help you build a more efficient enterprise.
Dell Managed ServicesDell Managed Services are a modular set of lifecycle services designed to help customers automate and centrally configure, deploy, and manage their day-to-day data center operations. These services extend a customer's existing on-premise IT infrastructure with off-premise cloud services designed to better address challenges with mobility, highly distributed organizations, security, compliance, business continuity and disaster preparedness.
Deploy: Our factory, remote and onsite installation services for servers make efficient use of your employees' time by helping to speed up activities like configuration, customization and deployment, enabling delivery of systems that are ready to work right out of the box.
Operate: Dell can help optimize your data center operations, including storage, backup and virtual environments by focusing on remote monitoring, reporting and alerts, along with full remote management for storage and backup environments, freeing up IT resources.
Protect: Dell Data Center Backup Management services are available to assist you with reporting to help refine SLA requirements, to provide monitoring to improve process efficiency or for the full management of your backup environment.
Recovery and Recycling: Dell Asset Recovery and Recycling Services help you recover and dispose of owned or leased computer equipment, in a manner that follows EPA guidelines.
Dell ProSupportDell ProSupport is a suite of support services that enable you to build the solution that's right for your organization. Choose support models based on how you use technology and where you want to allocate resources. From the desktop to the datacenter, address everyday IT challenges such as unplanned downtime, mission critical needs, data and asset protection, support planning, resource allocation, software application management and more. Optimize your IT resources by prescribing the right support model.
|LifeCycle Controller Embedded Management
Embedded Management
The Lifecycle Controller is the engine for advanced embedded management and is delivered as part of the optional iDRAC Express or iDRAC Enterprise in the PowerEdge R910. The Lifecycle Controller is a chip that is integrated on the server. It helps to simplify administrator tasks by performing a comprehensive set of provisioning functions such as system deployment, system updates, hardware configuration and diagnostics from a single, intuitive interface called the Unified Server Configurator (USC) in a pre-OS environment. This can eliminate the need to use and maintain multiple pieces of disparate CD/DVD media.
Learn More
Dell Management Console
Integrated Management
Open, flexible, integrated—manage your infrastructure, not your management consoles. With the introduction of Dell™ Management Console powered by Altiris® from Symantec™ , Dell is doing for systems management what it did for computer hardware—taking a complex, proprietary industry technology and transforming it by delivering a simple, streamlined, modular solution easily adapted to your specific management needs.
Learn More
|Virtualization Solutions
VMware® vSphere 4 uses the power of virtualization to help transform data centers into dramatically simplified cloud infrastructures. Dell is committed to driving complexity from enterprise computing, including virtual infrastructure. Together, Dell and VMware deliver efficient, virtual infrastructure solutions that are fast to deploy and easy to manage, so you can:
Learn More
Optimize for Oracle Database 11g
Dell works hand-in-hand with Oracle engineers to help ensure compliance with IT best practices. We provide solutions that integrate software, systems management, services, and storage from some of the leaders in the industry: Dell, Oracle® , and EMC® . The entire solution stack is pre-engineered, tested and validated. Oracle database solutions are available with Red Hat® Linux® and Microsoft® Windows® Server 2008 operating systems.
Learn More
|Microsoft Exchange 2007
Does your business depend on robust messaging capabilities? Exchange 2007 is the right tool for the job and Dell is the right partner to deliver a complete user-to-datacenter solution. Use our Exchange Advisor tool, validated reference architecture, and interoperability testing to build an Exchange environment unique to your infrastructure.
Coming Soon!


text:
Car News
Scion Prices Subcompact iQ
It's been a long time coming, but Scion's miniature iQ is finally getting close to arriving in US dealers. The automaker recently announced pricing and launch dates for the small three-door hatchback, set to directly rival the tiny Smart car.
According to Scion, the iQ will start at $15,995 - about $3,000 more than the cheapest Smart ForTwo. But in addition to more power and a few more features, that extra cash buys you more seats. While Smart's aptly named ForTwo is, indeed, for two, Scion calls the iQ a "3+1," meaning there's room for three - plus one more if necessary. We think that's accurate, having seen the iQ when it made its North American debut at last year's New York International Auto Show.
In addition to pricing, Scion has also announced a four-stage launch for the iQ. The urban-oriented hatchback will debut on the West Coast in October before being offered across the southern US in January 2012. The East Coast will see the iQ a few months later, before an eventual spring launch across the Midwest and the remainder of the United States.
Introduced globally at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show, the iQ has been on sale in Japan and Europe since early 2009. In contrast to global versions of the iQ, which use a 1.0-liter three-cylinder producing just 67 horsepower, North American models will get a 1.3-liter four-cylinder with around 100 horses. Other changes from European and Japanese versions include larger 18-inch wheels and flared wheel arches.
Although the iQ's US launch was delayed due to the devastating tsunami that hit Japan in March, it couldn't debut at a better time. While gas prices have receded from summer highs, national averages are still above $3.50 per gallon - and they're likely to rise again. The iQ's subcompact segment has also received considerable interest lately thanks to the recent introduction of the cheeky Fiat 500 and five-door Mazda2 hatchbacks.


text:
NEW ORLEANS (WBRC) - From shopping trips for Mrs. Saban to eating AstroTurf, here are some of the more interesting comments overheard Friday at the BCS Media Day.
"It's actually interesting that someone out there has the perspective that I have more to worry about than just the game. When we arrived here, Terry had two of her old sidekicks from Baton Rouge that she used to go shopping with at New Orleans meet her at the bus and she never even came up to the room. She loves to shop here. We've been here when we haven't been able to get all the stuff in the plane to go home. But if that makes her happy, I'm happy (laughter)."
- Alabama head coach Nick Saban when asked if he had planned to account for the whereabouts of his wife during the trip to New Orleans.
"I'm just ready to play the game. Practicing against your own team for so many days in a row definitely gets old. You guys, we never get tired of y'all; we love talking to you guys."
-- Barrett Jones on whether he is more tired of practicing or talking to the media
"Everybody is interesting. Down on Bourbon Street they have all types of things. They've got guys wearing women's clothing and there's people dancing, having a good time. But it seems like it's a good place to be."
Mark Barron on the most interesting thing he's see since arriving in New Orleans
"Mainly it's the practices that's weighing on us. You know what I'm saying? Get to the game. A lot of people just want to go and play the game. But I know here with Coach Saban it take time and preparation, and he's going to have us ready for the game."
-- Courtney Upshaw on how agonzing it is to wait until the game
"Of course we're trying to not get into any trouble. We have a good team. I don't expect anybody getting in any trouble, nobody looking for trouble. We're out here for strictly business for us and try to get the W come Monday."
-- Dont'a Hightower on trying to stay out of trouble in New Orleans.
"I got Facebook, all that stuff. I'm not really into it all. I just have it just to have it, really. He has rules about it. But at the same time he allows you to have it. But he doesn't want you putting anything out there to embarrass yourself or the team. You embarrass the team if you put something crazy out there, but also yourself."
-- Josh Chapman on whether he uses Facebook or Twitter and whether Coach Saban has any rules on it.
"Oh, yeah, most definitely, because we didn't win the first game. You've got to have a chip on your shoulder anytime you're playing any type of sport. I mean, as a competitor, as a man, you feel you should win all the time. I don't know a person that likes to lose. You play to win. And that's the bottom line. And that's what we're here for. And we're not shining unless we're winning. We're not here for nothing but for the National Championship. We're here for a trophy. That's what we agreed on, that's what we worked hard for all year, and that's what we're here for."
-- Trent Richardson on whether he feels like he has something to prove against LSU
"This feels like my family. I have two sons and two daughters that have heard some of the same talks that these guys have heard and probably enjoy them in a very like fashion. Some not so much and some a lot."
-- Les Miles on how much this team feels like family
"It's been fun. We had a lot of fun as a team. We've had a great experience so far. Only been down for about two days now. It's been a fun experience for everybody. We're just sucking it up and taking it all in."
-- Rueben Randle on how the team has enjoyed being away from Baton Rouge.
"I thought about it a lot. It would mean a lot to me to hold up that trophy, and LSU would do whatever it takes to hold up the trophy at the end of the day."
-- Jordan Jefferson on whether he has dreamed of hoisting the Coaches' Trophy after Monday's game.
"It's not often that two guys from the same school get this privilege to play in the national championship against each other. So while we're on the field we're going to be enemies, but in between the whistles we're going to be probably talking to each other saying what's up."
-- Eric Reid on how special it will be to play Monday against Eddie Lacy, one of his best friends from high school.
"There's one place we'd rather play, and that's Tiger Stadium. And if we can't play this game in there, then what better place than the Superdome. So we're honored to be here in New Orleans. Basically our backyard. And there's no place we'd rather be than here. "
-- Will Blackwell on where he would rather play the championship game.
"I don't think he'll be able to pick any of this and eat it. But he might have some in his pocket."
-- Brandon Taylor on whether Les Miles will be eating AstroTurf during the game Monday.
"Trash talk come with it. But I think both of these teams are both humble when it comes to each other. We both have a lot of respect for each other, and we respect each other on the field. The trash talk is just something that comes with the game."
-- Morris Clairborne on trash talking.
"Well, you know, to never give up, to never give in. And there's a lot of negativity surrounding the city. And it's a lot of people trying to pull youth down. So just strive for the best and just pray every day and work hard at what you want to be in life and keep guarding your life, and all those plans can come true."
-- Tyrann "Honey Badger" Mathieu on what kids should learn from his college career
Copyright 2012 WBRC. All rights reserved.


text:
"Dare to think the unthinkable."
Stephon Alexander is a theoretical physicist who thinks about the connection between big things and small things.
Stephon is a jazz saxophonist who loves to improvise music and ponder the physics of emotion.
A Real-Life Superhero
A Real Horn Player
30 Second Science with Stephon Alexander
10 Questions for Stephon Alexander
More Sax From Stephon
Blog Posts
His Favorite Things: Stephon's Top Five Albums Ever
Ask Stephon Your Questions
Just Play!
Is It All About Us?
The Very Big And The Very Small
Where Does Science Come From?
About Stephon Alexander
Stephon is a theoretical physicist who teaches at Haverford College.


text:
Car News
2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, Silverado Sweep North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards
- New Corvette voted North American Car of the Year
- Latest Silverado takes home North American Truck of the Year honors
- Awards are voted on by a panel of experienced automotive journalists
The all-new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is the North American Car of the Year, and the 'Vette's Chevrolet Silverado stablemate has won the same award for trucks and SUVs. That's the latest from this year's Detroit Auto Show, where a jury of automotive journalists voted on North American Car and Truck of the Year awards from a pool of recently redesigned vehicles.
In the Car of the Year category, the newly redesigned Corvette Stingray just edged out the 2014 Mazda3 to win the award, capturing 211 votes to the Mazda's 185. The newly redesigned Cadillac CTS luxury sedan came in third with 94 votes.
In the truck/utility category, which includes both pickup trucks and SUVs, the redesigned 2014 Chevrolet Silverado easily beat out the second-place Jeep Grand Cherokee, grabbing 219 votes to the Jeep's 174. Finishing third among trucks and SUVs was the latest Acura MDX, which earned 97 votes.
The awards marked a rare sweep, as it's unusual -- and difficult -- for automakers to win both car and truck categories in the same year. Such a sweep last happened in 2010, when Ford won for both the Fusion Hybrid and the Transit Connect. Last year's winners were the Cadillac ATS and RAM 1500, while the Hyundai Elantra and Range Rover Evoque took home the awards in 2012.
Winning a North American Car of the Year award means impressing a jury of automotive journalists from all over the U.S. and Canada, journalists who have often driven just about every vehicle on the road. The journalists are typically handpicked for their role on the jury, and serving is considered an honor among members of the automotive press.
To be eligible for the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards, a vehicle must be "all new or substantially changed" compared to last year's model. Both the Corvette and Silverado received full redesigns for the 2014 model year.
What it means to you: Some of the most experienced car journalists in the business have spoken, and they feel the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado are the most outstanding new vehicles released this year.


text:
Abbas Ill-Serves and Insults PalestiniansWritten by Stephen Lendman Subject: Israel - Palestine
by Stephen Lendman
Abbas is a longtime Israeli collaborator. He provides enforcer services, not legitimate governance. Corruption, sham elections, targeting critics, and other type malfeasance continue on his watch.
Instead of governing responsibly, he defiles rule of law principles and other democratic values. Why Palestinians put up with him, they'll have to explain.
Insults compound injuries making things worse. As long as he's in power, they'll be no third Intifada, he said. One insulting comment followed another. So did responses. More on them below.
Large-scale Palestinian resistance is badly needed. Submissiveness is self-defeating. A third Intifada is long overdue. Not on Abbas' watch.
"We will not go back to terrorism and violence," he said. Israel wrote his lines. He dutifully regurgitates them as ordered. "We will only operate through diplomacy and through peaceful means."
In other words, he'll permit only occupation harshness passivity and acquiescence. Freedom isn't in his vocabulary. Liberation struggles won't be tolerated. Israeli rogues couldn't say it better. Puppet Abbas leadership serves them.
He added more insults to injuries saying he's a refugee from Safed. As a young boy, he was forcibly expelled but won't return. That's his choice, but suggesting Palestinians sacrifice their inviolable right is unconscionable.
"Palestine for me is the 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as the capital. This is Palestine. I am a refugee. I visited Safed before once. But I want to see Safed. It's my right to see it, but not to live there."
"I live in Ramallah. The West Bank and Gaza is Palestine. Everything else is Israel."
He's "ready to return to negotiations," he added. Unexplained was that Israel doesn't negotiate. It demands. Equitable agreements aren't possible.
Abbas surrenders rights he should fight for. Never on his watch or earlier as a corrupted Fatah official. Those around him have the same cross to bear.
They're fully responsible for Palestinian suffering. They're guilty by collaborating shamelessly with Israel against their own people. They say one thing and do another.
They govern with iron fist authority. They crack down harshly on resisters. Fundamental rights are denied. Palestinians wanting to live free have no friend in Abbas or other Fatah rogues.
Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh denounced Abbas for his comments. He called them "extremely dangerous." They contradict fundamental international law and Palestinian rights.
Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, said he spoke for himself, not others. "No Palestinian would accept ceding the right of our people to return to homes, villages and towns from which they were displaced," he stressed.
"If (Abbas) does not want Safed, Safed would be honored not to host people like him."
Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar also said he spoke for himself, not others. "If Abbas claims that he represents the Palestinians, then he should hold a referendum and ask the people what they think about the right of return," he added.
London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper editor-in-chief Abdel Bari Atwan accused him of making unacceptable concessions. He also showed disrespect for Palestinian rights.
If he doesn't want to return to Safed, that's his choice. He has no right to speak for millions of diaspora refugees globally. How they feel matters most.
Israeli Foreign Minstry spokesman Paul Hirschson said if Abbas "wants to see Safed, or anywhere else in Israel, we would happily show him anywhere."
He's not an Israeli citizen. "He doesn't have a right to live in Israel. We agree on that." International law states otherwise.
Leaked concessions showed Abbas earlier was willing to sacrifice core demands. Included was a cap on refugees returning to Israel. He can speak for himself but not others.
Israelis President Shimon Peres praised him, saying:
He "condemned terror and has pledged that under his leadership there will not be a third intifada. He understands very well that the solution to the Palestinian refugee problem cannot be within Israeli territory, so as not to change the demographic character of Israel. But he has put out a hand to Israel to renew the peace process."
Israel values collaborationist Palestinians. Abbas sold his soul long ago.
For decades, Palestinians struggled for inviolable rights. He and Israel won't deny them. Occupation, colonization and apartheid are intolerable. International law affirms rights too important to sacrifice.
Abbas and Israel are on the wrong side of history. So are Washington and European allies. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) joined Hamas in supporting right over wrong.
It condemned Abbas' remarks. He can surrender if he wishes, but they won't. PFLP leader Rabah Mhanna said:
"Abbas doesn't have the right to surrender on these principles. Abbas with his remarks lives in a dreamland, and tries to beg for the American and Israeli position to hope to gain something."
He called on the PLO executive committee and central council to rebuke him. He added that Palestinians will hold steadfast to their principles and fundamental rights.
Self-determination, the right of return, and East Jerusalem as Palestine's capital are too inviolable to sacrifice. For sure, Abbas has no right to do it.
He spoke on the anniversary of the November 2, 1917 Balfour Declaration. Many Palestinians commemorate it in protest.
It "favour(ed) the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people (and affirmed UK) endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object…."
It did so at the expense of indigenous Palestinians. Their agreement wasn't sought. Behind their back diktat authority assured land theft, dispossession, and occupation harshness.
Palestinian refugees call their right of return sacrosanct. PA damage control tried to reword what Abbas said. His spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudaineh, said:
"The position of the Palestinian leadership remains fixed. The refugees and the right of return are among the final status issues that will be negotiated with the Israelis."
"We are committed to the Palestinian principles as endorsed by the….Palestine National Council."
He criticized Palestinians willing to accept a state with provisional borders. "Those who accept a temporary state are the ones who are giving up the right of return and harming Palestinian national principles, causing a catastrophe for future Palestinian generations."
Abbas political advisor, Nimer Hammad, said he didn't mention sacrificing the right of return. In fact, he implied it in part or entirely.
Electronic Intifada contributor Nour Joudah lives and teaches in Ramallah. She's unable to visit family members in Gaza or her favorite uncle in Tel Aviv. Israel won't allow it.
She tries to acclimate to the reality of living in the diaspora and Palestine simultaneously. On November 2, she awoke to Abbas' remarks.
"The next time someone tells me any particular word I choose is too strong or harsh to describe Abbas, I am considering printing the transcript of this interview and slapping said person with it," she said.
Her 80-year old father and siblings "have more than the right to see the grass where a village once stood. (They) have the right to return and rebuild Palestine from the ground up. All of it. And so does every refugee and their descendants."
Millions of refugees dream of their Safad. "If I or they want to sign away our right of return, we will let you know."
"Don't mistake your people's exhaustion and frustration for surrender. Don't mistake the young people's re-organizing and re-acquainting themselves with their own history for lack of vision."
"And most importantly, do not mistake being head of a local Palestinian Authority (and yes, a defunct PLO), for a continued free pass from members of the diaspora to speak on its behalf."
Abbas speaks for himself, not them. Many condemn him for spurning their rights and governing like a tinpot despot. The sooner they're rid of him, the closer Palestine comes to liberation. Like ordinary people everywhere, they're on their own to achieve it.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.
His new book is titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War"
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.


text:
Searching for nearby schools...
School rankings provided by The Fraser Institute. Rankings are from 1 to 10.
Right on the water's edge, where endless blue skies frame stunning vistas of city and lake, a dazzling jewel of waterfront living rises. Welcome to Jade Waterfront Condominiums.
Trademarks owned or controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association. Used under license.
The information provided herein must only be used by consumers that have a bona fide interest in the purchase, sale or lease of real estate and may not be used for any commercial purpose or any other purpose.
Information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by TREB.
Toronto Real Estate Board - IDX Last Updated: 11/15/2018 1:14:59 PM


text:
A Half Century of Memories
You may ask your self, what does Andy Griffith have to do with the history of Laurens County and East Central Georgia. Is there a relationship between the North Carolina born actor and our area? Unfortunately, there is no tie with the legendary television icon. By now, you may have realized that the Andy Griffith show premiered on television fifty years ago this past Sunday night. Whether you realize it or not, this show, which never garnered Griffith or the show itself a single Emmy award, has effected our lives in some way.
The lessons which Andy, his family and friends have taught us have been many, some obvious and others subliminal. Love of family and friends is right there at the top. Perhaps most important among the lessons which Andy learned as a parent was that parents were not always right and children were not always wrong. It was about love of one another, treating each other with respect, even the bad guys some times. It was about patience and enjoying the simple things in life. Most of the shows centered around some moral virtue, or the lack thereof. It was about life, our lives, when life was just a little slower, people a little kinder, and doing for others was well, what you did.
And now, for those of you who think you have seen and remember all 249 episodes, here are some things you might not know, don't remember, never saw or recognized. How many names did Barney Fife have? The answer is three: Bernard P. Fife, Bernard Oliver Fife and Bernard Milton Fife. Writers often gave different names to the same actor playing the same role. For instance, Hope Summers was first known as "Bertha Edwards." Bertha became Clara and then Clara became Clara Johnson. By the end of the show, Clara had gone back to being an Edwards. Opie's girl friend played by the same actress had five different names. Burt Mustin, Gus the Fireman on Leave it to Beaver, played nine different roles.
But, Barney and Miss Edwards weren't the only ones to undergo name changes. Bobby Fleet and His Band with a Beat was also known as Freddy Fleet and His Band with a Beat. Floyd Lawson, the town barber, is introduced first as Floyd Colby. Even Goober Pyle, the lovable oaf, was once addressed as Goober Beasley. First introduced as Millie Hutchins, Millie, the waitress at the diner, became Millie Swanson. Thelma Lou didn't change her last name. She had no last name, that is until she married, divorced and then remarried her old flame, Barney Fife.
And in case you are wondering, Andy Taylor was officially Andrew Jackson Taylor, named for the former president Andrew Jackson. Even Andy wasn't immune from name changes. When Andy and Helen celebrated the birth of their son, Andrew Samuel (Andy Griffith's real middle name) Taylor, Jr., Andy's name changed as well. Bet you don't remember that Opie had a little brother. In case you missed it, Opie's mother and Andy's first wife was Barbara Edwards Taylor, who was several years older than Andy. In reality, Barbara Edwards was Andy Griffith's first wife. Andy and Barbara Taylor named their son Opie. Actually the show's writer named him Opie after Opie Cates, a big band leader of the 1930s and a favorite of Andy Griffith.
Obviously, the show's scenes were not filmed in a North Carolina town, or any other town for that matter. They were filmed in Hollywood on the back lots. The filming of Andy Griffith took place on the same outdoor set as Gone With the Wind in 1939. Watch the street scenes closely. If you were to look to the right as you left the courthouse, you will see the Atlanta Post Office seen in the legendary movie. The set was used by other television programs. How many of you are original Star Trek fans? Look for the episode, "City on The Edge of Forever," one of the show's most highly heralded episodes. When Captain James T. Kirk and social activist Edith Keeler, played by Joan Collins, are walking down the street holding hands, look behind them and you will catch a glimpse of Floyd's Barber Shop. The courthouse, Walker's Drug Store and the hotel are plainly visible in another Trek episode, Miri. Well, I'll be dogged!
Quick, name the most famous actor other than the regular cast members to appear on the show. You might say Buddy Ebsen, who would later appear as Uncle Jed Clampett on the Beverly Hillbillies or Edgar Buchanan, who would later star as Uncle Joe Carson on a Hillbillies spinoff, Petticoat Junction, or Bob Denver, known to billions as "Gilligan," or Barbara Eden, the Jeannie of dreams. No, the most highly heralded actor to appear on the show was Jack Nicholson, who played a young defendant on trial. Aunt Bee sat on the jury and held out for his eventual acquittal.
There was another quite famous actress who appeared in several episodes. Barney's nitpicky landlord, Mrs. Mendlebright was played by Enid Markey. You ask, "Who is Enid Markey?" Enid Markey was famous in our grandparents' and great grandparents' generation as the first woman to play "Jane," wife of Tarzan the Ape Man, way back in the silent movies days of 1918.
The Andy Griffith Show was all about family. And, if you watch the early episodes you will remember that Andy and Barney were actually cousins, although the relationship was not mentioned beyond the first season. Ron Howard, who played Opie, had his family acting in the show with him. Howard's father Rance played a bus driver in an episode. His brother, Clint, who later went on the star in "Gentle Ben," played Leon, the little kid with a cowboy hat who was always offering his sandwich to people he met. Their mother Jean never appeared on the Griffith show, but did appear in other movies with her sons. And of course, you all know that Goober and Gomer, the Pyles, were cousins as well.
Speaking of Gomer, how many of you know that the actor who portrayed Gomer Pyle, Jim Nabors, actually lived in Augusta, Georgia for a short time, appearing on local television and singing in the church choir.
Questions: If Aunt Bee was supposed to be a spinster paternal aunt of Andy, why is she seen wearing a wedding band in the episode where Barney arrests most of the town folks on various charges? Wonder why the map in Andy's office was a state map of Nevada turned upside down? And, before that it was a map of the state of Idaho, yes and it was upside down too. Why did the Taylors live at three different addresses when their house was always the same?
So, what's your favorite episode? We all have them. Mine is Opie, the Bird Man. How did the shows affect your life? Despite all the delicate situations, problems, and difficult people Andy faced, in the end he always seemed to do the right thing. As you go through life and problem people confront you, think WWAD, What would Andy do?
P.S. There is no Mayberry, North Carolina. But, there is a Mayberry (Maberry), Georgia and it is right here in Laurens County. If you don't already know, Mayberry was a railroad stop on the Dublin & Southwestern Railroad. And, SW Laurens Elementary School sits in downtown Mayberry. Shazam!


text:
Filter Results
Vivid Seats has Nicholls State Colonels Mens Basketball tickets for every single game they will play this season as well as detailed seating information that will help you locate the seats that work best for you. You can get started by viewing the Nicholls State Colonels Mens Basketball schedule listed above. Take a moment to filter your results to zero in on the exact match up you're looking for. After locating your game, click the "Find Your Seats" button and take in all available Nicholls State Colonels Mens Basketball tickets for this season. We've made it easy for you to sort these seats by price, or you can click directly on the seating chart to find corresponding pricing for any seat in the venue.
Your online safety and satisfaction will always remain our top priority. Any Nicholls State Colonels Mens Basketball ticket purchased through Vivid Seats are always accompanied by a 100% Guarantee which ensures a secure purchasing experience and timely deliver of your tickets or your money will be refunded. Please don't hesitate to call us (1.866.848.8499) or reach out via Live Chat if you have any remaining questions.
Tournament time always creeps up fast and if you don't know who to turn to, you may lose your chance at March Madness tickets. Vivid Seats offers a great selection of NCAA Tournament Tickets as well as every other conference tournament ticket leading up to the Final Four tournament. If Nicholls State Colonels Mens Basketball makes it to The Big Dance, rest assured we'll have the same great selection of seats.


text:
Vervano Eco-Friendly Modern Furniture
Lately I've really been thinking about investing in pieces that are high-quality and will last a lifetime. Getting older, I recognize the value of spending a little bit more to find pieces that I will love for a long time. Not that Istill don't love a good deal on an IKEA piece every now and then; I've just started keeping our eyes open for pieces I'd like to invest in.
I've been a fan of the designs coming out of Austin design firm Laura Britt Design for awhile now. Laura and her team create colorful, inspiring and well, exciting spaces that I enjoy drooling over (and sometimes even finding ideas from). So I was pretty delighted to find out that Laura Britt and her designers have created their own line of sustainable furniture.
Vervano was started due to a need that Laura Britt noticed in her practice: that there just wasn't the level of sustainable, high-quality and modern furniture style she was looking for to use in her projects. Vervano is an eco-conscious furnishings line featuring sustainably sourced wood, mortise and tenon joinery, low VOC finishes, plant-based foam and even uses a Central Texas fabricator.
I love all the eco-friendly elements to the Vervano line, but I'm also really enjoying how the line is a great mixture of traditional and modern details. The Clayton Chair is a perfect example with the angles of the arms and the great walnut wood finish. Check out more information on the Vervano website.
Have you invested in a furniture piece recently? What was it, and why did you decide to go the high-quality versus cheap deal route?


text:
Message Board
Mitchell Graham Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Graham has written!
Author Graham's Book Reviews
The Emerald Cavern
Eos, Jan 2004, 7.99, 455 pp. ISBN 006050676x Nobody knows much about the Ancients except that their minds were so powerful that they had the mental ability to change energy into matter. However with all their power they still ended up destroying themselves. All that is left of them are some ancient ruins and eight rose gold rings that give the wearer the ability to use their minds in ways similar to the ancients. Thanks to the rose gold ring th...
The Fifth Ring
This is an epic adventure of a young boy named Mathew Lewin who finds a ring created by his ancestors. No ordinary ring, it enables him to turn thought into matter. Through a bizzare series of events Mathew is set against the evil Karas Duren, king of the neighboring country, who wants not only to destroy Mathew's country, but to eliminate its very existence. With Duren and the shadowy, cannabalistic Orlocks chasing him, for reasons Mathew cannot u...


text:
Today's Featured Artist: Michael Godard
Transform your photos into one-of-a-kind, hand painted masterpieces!
Boundary: Bleed area may not be visible.
Click and drag to re-position the image, if desired.
Image Size
The image is near the edges of the product but doesn't cover the entire product. Some of the background color may appear around the outside edges of the image.
Background Color
Queen duvet cover (88" x 88") featuring the image "Shannon's Red" by Shannon Grissom. Our soft microfiber duvet covers are hand sewn and include a hidden zipper for easy washing and assembly. Your selected image is printed on the top surface with a soft white surface underneath. All duvet covers are machine washable with cold water and a mild detergent.
Ships Within
2 - 3 business days
Thanks so much Anthony!
Lovely piece, Shannon. Colors are so rich and warm. Congrats!
Thank you so much Anne-Elizabeth and Michel! The colors feel like home to me...
Beautiful choice of colors....they are the colors of the famous art group of "de Stijl" of the 1920ies
Shannon, I am glad to see this beautiful painting this morning. The dark hues invite me to study this image even more. That seems to make this even more inviting. Of course, I enjoy viewing your art in all. Painting with oils> Yes, this is truly fine art.
Average Rating (4.93 Stars):
Karen Cutts
November 7th, 2018
Momo Pixel
September 22nd, 2018
Wine bottle, glass and cork on red, yellow and turquoise background.
Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get. Forrest Gump I'm kind of a late bloomer. I didn't discover painting until I was 33! But I was hooked. Inspired and driven, I'd get up early each day to paint for a few hours before the start of my workday. This demanding schedule was worth the effort. By 1999, I was able to leave my day job, and began to do my art as a full-time business. And thus began the amazing ride... � At 44 I began production of the television series, Give Your Walls Some Soul. It grew from an audience of one station to over 50 stations across the country and over 10 million households, winning numerous awards. � At 46 I published my children's book Monkey Made of Sockies. From...
Our return policy is very simple:
If you're not happy with a purchase that you made on Pixels.com, for any reason, you can return it to us within 30 days of the order date. As soon as it arrives, we'll issue a full refund for the entire purchase price. Please note - Pixels does not reimburse the outgoing or return shipping charges unless the return is due to a defect in quality.
Pixels sells thousands of pieces of artwork each month - all with a 100% money-back guarantee. We take great pride in the fact that hundreds of thousands of artists have chosen Pixels to fulfill their orders, and we look forward to helping you select your next piece!
Customer Service: 877-807-5901
(Call Any Time - 24 Hours Per Day)
All duvet covers ship from our production facility within 2 - 3 business days of your order.


text:
Thule Rapid System 775
The universal elegant railing rack that fits the broadest range of railing dimensions.
- The foot has a rubber coated steel strap that is wrapped around the railing. By turning the integrated handle on the foot the strap is shortened until it holds the railing in an iron grip.
- Everything you need to fit this load carrier to your car is included in the product. No extra tools are needed.
- Despite its low and sleek profile this roof rack foot fits even the widest and most extreme railings Ø 20-68.
- Maximum load capacity for the roof rack is 100 kg.
- The rubber lining protects the surface of the railing from scratching.
- Locks are included in the product.
- One Key System compatible. With this accessory you can replace the locking cylinders to use one and the same key for all your Thule products.
- Fulfils the City Crash norm.
- Use the Thule FitGuide to find out which roof rack fits your car.
- Fits Thule WingBar SlideBar AeroBar SquareBar and Professional Bar.


text:
Our policy lasts 14 days. If 14 days have gone by since your purchase, unfortunately we can't offer you a refund or exchange.
To return your product, you should mail your product to: Unique Style 9611 Glenwood road Brooklyn NY 11236
You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
If you need to exchange it for the same item, send us an email at email@example.com and send your item to:
Unique Style
9611 Glenwood road
Brooklyn NY 11236.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.