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Dave Barry
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David McAlister "Dave" Barry (born July 3, 1947) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American author and columnist, who wrote a nationally syndicated humor column for The Miami Herald from 1983 to 2005. He has also written numerous books of humor and parody, as well as comedic novels.
- 1 Quotes
- 1.1 Columns and articles
- 1.2 The Taming of the Screw (1983)
- 1.3 Stay Fit and Healthy Until You're Dead (1985)
- 1.4 Dave Barry Slept Here: A Sort of History of the United States (1989)
- 1.5 Dave Barry Turns 40 (1990)
- 1.6 Dave Barry's Only Travel Guide You'll Ever Need (1991)
- 1.7 Dave Barry Does Japan (1992)
- 1.8 Dave Barry is not Making This Up (1994)
- 1.9 Dave Barry in Cyberspace (1996)
- 1.10 Dave Barry Hits Below the Beltway (2001)
- 1.11 Dave Barry's History of the Millennium (So Far) (2007)
- 1.12 I'll Mature When I'm Dead (2010)
- 2 External links
Columns and articles[edit]
- A sense of humor is a measurement of the extent to which we realize that we are trapped in a world almost totally devoid of reason. Laughter is how we express the anxiety we feel at this knowledge.
- Originally published in "Encyclopedia Tropicana: A Reference Book for the Modern World, Volume 1" by Joel Achenbach, The Miami Herald, May 4, 1986; quoted by Bryan Curtis, "Dave Barry: Elegy for the humorist," Slate, January 12, 2005
- The problem is, when Oprah lost all that weight, her head didn't get any smaller. And so she looks kind of like a person carrying a balloon.
- Playboy interview, May 1990
- But I do think we need to explore the commitment problem, which has caused many women to mistakenly conclude that men, as a group, have the emotional maturity of hamsters. This is not the case. A hamster is MUCH more capable of making a lasting commitment to a woman, especially if she gives it those little food pellets. Whereas a guy, in a relationship, will consume the pellets of companionship, and he will run on the exercise wheel of lust; but as soon as he senses that the door of commitment is about to close and trap him in the wire cage of true intimacy, he'll squirm out, scamper across the kitchen floor of uncertainty and hide under the refrigerator of Non-Readiness.
- Column, August 18, 1991
- I think Superman should go on the Larry King show and announce that he would come back to life if people in all 50 states wanted him to.
- Source: New York Times News Service article on reactions to the death of Superman, November 1992
- As a child, I was more afraid of tetanus shots than, for example, Dracula.
- Column, The Miami Herald, 21 January 1996
- It is a scientific fact that your body will not absorb cholesterol if you take it from another person's plate.
- "The Funny Side of 'Beowulf'", The Miami Herald, November 2, 1997.
- What, exactly, is the Internet? Basically it is a global network exchanging digitized data in such a way that any computer, anywhere, that is equipped with a device called a "modem" can make a noise like a duck choking on a kazoo.
- Of course it's possible that there really ISN'T any shadow government. The whole thing could be a phony story that was fed to The Washington Post to mislead our enemies. As you recall, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld recently admitted that the Pentagon had set up an office-officially named "The Office of Disinformation"-that was supposed to put out false statements to the media, thus throwing our enemies off the track. For example, if we were getting ready to attack Iraq, officials of the Office of Disinformation would hold a press conference and state: "Well, we're certainly not going to attack Iraq!" The news media would report this, and Iraq would relax. France, meanwhile, would surrender.
- Column for week of April 15, 2002
- Winter's here, and you feel lousy: You're coughing and sneezing; your muscles ache; your nose is an active mucus volcano. These symptoms -- so familiar at this time of year -- can mean only one thing: Tiny fanged snails are eating your brain.
- The Miami Herald, originally 16 November 2003
- But this should serve as a reminder to brides of the importance of discouraging reception guests from discharging their firearms unless they have a good reason, such as the band vocalist attempting to perform "I Will Always Love You" in the official Whitney Houston Diarrhea of the Vowels version ("And IIIIIIeeeeeIIIIIIIII, will alwaaaaays love yoooooeeeeeeeooooooouuuuueeeeeeeeeoooooo" BANG)
- The Miami Herald, 2 April 2004
- The transportation bill had over $5 billion worth of special local projects and favors attached to it, lamprey-like, by various congresspersons. But this is good, because these projects will CREATE JOBS. See, when the GOVERNMENT spends money, it creates jobs; whereas when the money is left in the hands of TAXPAYERS, God only knows what they do with it. Bake it into pies, probably. Anything to avoid creating jobs.
- We must always remember that, as Americans, we all have a common enemy -- an enemy that is dangerous, powerful and relentless. I refer, of course, to the federal government.
The Taming of the Screw (1983)[edit]
- The only really good place to buy lumber is at a store where the lumber has already been cut and attached together in the form of furniture, finished, and put inside boxes.
- Electricity is actually made up of extremely tiny particles called electrons, that you cannot see with the naked eye unless you have been drinking.
Stay Fit and Healthy Until You're Dead (1985)[edit]
- Although golf was originally restricted to wealthy, overweight Protestants, today it's open to anybody who owns hideous clothing.
Dave Barry Slept Here: A Sort of History of the United States (1989)[edit]
- The first major president to be elected after the War of 1812 was President Monroe Doctrine, who became famous by developing the policy for which he is named. This policy, which is still in effect today, states that:
- Other nations are not allowed to mess around with the internal affairs of nations in this hemisphere.
- But we are.
- Ha-ha-ha.
- Thus was born the civil rights movement, an epic struggle that has required much sacrifice and pain, but which has enabled the United States to progress, in just three decades, from being a nation where blacks were forced to ride in the back of the bus, to being a nation where, due to federal cutbacks, there is no bus.
- p. 138
- Stalin's strategy at the end of World War II was to acquire a small "buffer zone between Russia and Germany, consisting of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Albania, and most of Germany. In an effort to garner public support in these nations, Stalin mounted a public-relations campaign around the upbeat theme "Maybe We Won't Have Your Whole Family Shot," and in 1945 Eastern Europe decided to join the Communist bloc by a vote of 28,932,084,164,504,029-0. Heartened by this mandate, Stalin immediately ordered construction work to begin on the Iron Curtain, which was given its name by Sir Winston Churchill, who, in a historic anecdote at a dinner party, said, "Madam, I may be drunk, but an iron curtain has descended upon BLEAAARRRGGGHHH."
- p. 126
- In 1948 the Democrats had little choice but to nominate President Truman, under the banner HE'S GOING TO LOSE. Everybody felt this way: the politicians, the press, the pollsters, the piccolo players, Peter Piper, everybody. The Republicans were so confident that they nominated an individual named Thomas Dewey, whose lone accomplishment was inventing the decimal system. Truman campaigned doggedly around the nation, but his cause appeared to be hopeless. A Dewey victory seemed so inevitable that on election night, the Chicago Tribune printed the famous front-page headline DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN. This was because Dewey had defeated Truman, who immediately threatened to drop an atomic bomb on Chicago, so everybody went ha-ha-ha-ha, just kidding, and wisely elected to have the feisty ex-haberdasher have another term.
- p. 131
- In 1980 the Democrats were pretty much stuck with Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale, who ran under the slogan "Four More Years?" The Republicans, meanwhile, had a spirited primary campaign season, which came down to a duel between Reagan and George Herbert Walker Norris Wainright Armoire Vestibule Pomegranate Bush IV, who had achieved a distinguished record of public service despite havig a voice that sounded like he had just inhaled an entire blimp-load of helium.
- p. 167
- Reagan finally won the nomination by promoting "Reaganomics", an economic program based on the theory that the government could lower taxes while increasing spending and at the same time actually reduce the federal budget by sacrificing a live chicken by the light of a full moon. Bush charged that this amounted to "voo-doo economics," which got him into hot water until he explained that what he meant to say was "doo-doo economics." Satisfied, Reagan made Bush his vice-presidential nominee. The turning point in the election campaign came during the October 8 debate between Reagan and Carter, when Reagan's handlers came up with a shrewd strategy: No matter what Carter said, Reagan would respond by shaking his head in a sorrowful manner and saying: "There you go again." This was brilliant, because (a) it required the candidate to remember only four words, and (b) he delivered them so believably that everything Carter said seemed like a lie. If Carter had stated that the Earth was round, Reagan would have shaken his head, saying, "There you go again," and millions of voters would have said: "Yeah! What does Carter think we are? Stupid?
- p. 167
- That is where we stand today. And what lies ahead? Will we be able to solve our social and economic problems, clean up our environment, maybe even improve our technology to the point where we can land a manned spacecraft on Trump? Unfortunately, we cannot know what will happen in the future. If this book proves anything, it's that we don't even know what happened in the past. But we do know this: America is a strong and great country, and her people have withstood many trials and tribulations (More tribulations, actually, because many never went to trial.). And whatever problems lie ahead, we may be sure of one thing: that if we all work together and "hang tough," there will come a day when this nation- maybe not in the next few years; maybe not even in our lifetimes; but someday- will see the end of "Dick" Nixon's political career. But we wouldn't bet on it.
- p. 175
Dave Barry Turns 40 (1990)[edit]
- Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza.
Dave Barry's Only Travel Guide You'll Ever Need (1991)[edit]
- We travel because, no matter how comfortable we are at home, there's a part of us that wants - that needs - to see new vistas, take new tours, obtain new traveler's checks, buy new souvenirs, order new entrees, introduce new bacteria into our intestinal tracts, learn new words for "transfusion," and have all the other travel adventures that make us want to french-kiss our doormats when we finally get home.
- I took an estimated two thousand years of high school French, and when I finally got to France, I discovered that I didn't know one single phrase that was actually useful in a real-life French situation.
- What Dad means by "see" of course, is "drive past at 67 miles per hour." Dad feels it is a foolish waste of valuable vacation time to get out of the car and actually go look at an attraction.
- During the warm season (August 8 and 9), Maine is a true "vacation paradise," offering visitors a chance to jump into crystal-clear mountain lakes and see if they can get back out again before their bodily tissue is frozen as solid as a supermarket turkey.
- But Nebraska was not always a bed of roses. When the first settlers arrived, they found a harsh, unforgiving place, a vast treeless expanse of barren, drought-parched soil. And so, summoning up the dynamic pioneer spirit of hope and steely determination, they left. But a few of them remained and built sod houses, which are actually made of dirt. Think about that. You can't clean a sod house, because it would be gone. The early settlers had a hell of a time getting this through to their children. "You kids stop tracking dirt out of the house!" they'd yell.
- Vermont: See New Hampshire
- Denmark (also called "Norway") is best known as the original home of the prune Danish as well as the Vikings, who wore hats with horns sticking out of them, and for a very good reason: they were insane.
- Ha ha! We are just poking a little friendly fun at Germany, which is famous for enjoying a good joke, or as the Germans say, "Sprechnehaltenzoltenfussenmachschnitzerkalbenrollen." Here is just one hilarious example of what we are talking about:
- First German: How many Polish people does it take to screw in a light bulb?
- Second German: I don't know! How many?
- First German: Let's invade Poland and find out!
- Millions of Other Germans: Okay!
Dave Barry Does Japan (1992)[edit]
- The best way to learn Japanese is to be born as a Japanese baby, in Japan, raised by a Japanese family.
Dave Barry is not Making This Up (1994)[edit]
- We need our highest judicial body to stop this childish bickering and get back to debating the kinds of weighty constitutional issues that have absorbed the court in recent years, such as whether a city can legally force an exotic dancer to cover her entire nipple, or just the part that pokes out.
Dave Barry in Cyberspace (1996)[edit]
- Buying the right computer and getting it to work properly is no more complicated than building a nuclear reactor from wristwatch parts in a darkened room using only your teeth.
Dave Barry Hits Below the Beltway (2001)[edit]
- When I purchase a food item at the supermarket, I can be confident that the label will state how much riboflavin is in it. The United States government requires this, and for a good reason, which is: I have no idea. I don't even know what riboflavin is. I do know I eat a lot of it. For example, I often start the day with a hearty Kellogg's strawberry Pop-Tart, which has, according to the label, a riboflavin rating of 10 percent. I assume this means that 10 percent of the Pop-Tart is riboflavin. Maybe it's the red stuff in the middle. Anyway, I'm hoping riboflavin is a good thing; if it turns out that it's a bad thing, like "riboflavin" is the Latin word for "cockroach pus," then I am definitely in trouble.
- The Constitution of the United States of America, Article V, Section 1: "There shall be a National Anthem containing incomprehensible words and a high note that normal humans cannot hit without risk of hernia."
- But when it came to eloquence, George [H. W.] Bush was Winston Churchill compared with his vice president, the legendary J. Danforth Quayle. You never knew what Dan was going to say next, and the wonderful thing was, Dan clearly didn't know either. He'd be asked a question, and he'd start talking, and you could see in his eyes that he was thinking, Ohmigod I'm talking and I HAVE NO EARTHLY IDEA WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY! I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING RIGHT NOW!
- A lot of people were very upset, especially people in Palm Beach County, who were saying that they had accidentally voted for Pat Buchanan, which was clearly a mistake. Even Pat Buchanan admitted this.
- "You'd have to be nuts to vote for me!" he declared. "Hell, I didn't even vote for me!"
- [Gary] Hart was clearly the most attractive candidate, the only one with even a remote chance of beating Ronald Reagan, so naturally the Democrats selected: Walter Mondale. When Mondale accepted the nomination, he wooed the voter by informing them...that if they elected him as president, his first move would be to jack up their income taxes. Walter you sweet talker!
- What was life like in the colonies? Probably the best word to describe it would be "colonial".
Dave Barry's History of the Millennium (So Far) (2007)[edit]
- U.S. News Organizations observe the anniversary of September 11 with investigations about the nation's continuing vulnerability to terrorism. First, the New York Daily News reports that two of its reporters carried box cutters, razor knives, and pepper spray on fourteen commercial flights without getting caught. Then ABC News reports that it smuggled fifteen pounds of uranium into New York City. Then Fox News reports that it flew Osama bin Laden to Washington, D.C., and videotaped him touring the White House.
- In sports, Vijay Singh wins the Masters golf tournament and is awarded the coveted green jacket, which is quickly snatched away by angry Buick executives and given to Tiger Woods.
- In sports, the U.S. Open is not actually held because it's more efficient just to mail the check to Tiger Woods.
- Tiger Woods is kidnapped by rival golfers, sedated, handcuffed, placed in a straitjacket, wrapped in chains, and locked inside a trunk, which is then weighted with concrete blocks and dropped into the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean. He easily wins the PGA Championship.


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Speaker: We will be skyping with Dr. Selbin.
Eric Selbin
Professor of Political Science
Areas of expertise
Comparative Politics (Comparative Revolutions; Contentious Politics; Latin American and Caribbean Politics; Ideologies); International Politics (Peace and Conflict; IR Theory); Political Sociology.
Eric Selbin is Professor of Political Science and Holder of the Lucy King Brown Chair. His research interests are in the areas of resistance, rebellion, and revolution, theories of revolution, and socio-political change. Selbin is the author of Revolution, Resistance, and Rebellion: The Power of Story (2010) [http://www.southwestern.edu/newsroom/story.php?id=3301], which has been translated into Arabic, German, Spanish, and Turkish, Modern Latin American Revolutions (1999/1993) and a variety of articles and book chapters primarily on matters revolutionary. He has co-authored with Meghana Nayak, Decentering International Relations (2010) [http://www.southwestern.edu/live/news/4934-rethinking-global-politics]. Selbin is co-editor of the New Millennium Books in International Studies series, Associate Editor of International Studies Perspectives, and was the founding editor of Southwestern University's Brown Working Papers in the Arts and Sciences. In 2007 he was selected as one of Southwestern University's All-time "Fav Five" Faculty by the SU Alumni Association and received the Exemplary Teaching Award from the Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church for 2001-2002.
PhD, University of Minnesota 1991
MA, Louisiana State University 1984
BA, University of Texas at Austin 1980
Holder of the Lucy King Brown Chair
Southwestern University
August 18, 2014 - present
Resaerch Fellow
Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies, University of Texas
October 01, 2013 - present
Professor of Political Science
Southwestern University
August 01, 2003 - present
University Scholar
Southwestern University
July 01, 2006 - present
Visiting Professor
Tallinn University
July 01, 2012 - September 01, 2012
Visiting Professor, Tallinn Postgraduate Summer School in Social and Cultural Studies (2012)
Chair of Political Science
Southwestern University
August 01, 2005 - July 01, 2009
Chair of Latin American Studies
Southwestern University
August 01, 2006 - August 01, 2007
Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies
Umeå University, Sweden
May 01, 2003 - October 01, 2005
Social Science Division Chair
Southwestern University
July 01, 2003 - July 01, 2004
Brown Distinguished Research Professor
Southwestern University
August 01, 1999 - May 01, 2003
Associate Professor of Political Science
Southwestern University
August 01, 1998 - May 01, 2003
Chair of International Studies
Southwestern University
August 01, 1996 - May 01, 1999
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Southwestern University
August 01, 1992 - May 01, 1998
Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science
University of Minnesota
September 01, 1991 - June 01, 1992
Teaching Philosophy
Previous Courses
Politics of Latin America and the Caribbean; Comparative Politics
Theories of revolution; resistance, rebellion and revolution, primarily in Latin America and the Caribbean; socio-political change.International Relations theory.
Professional Work
Selected Professional Activities:
Co-Editor, New Millennium Books in International Studies, Rowman & Littlefield (2004- )
Associate Editor, International Studies Perspectives (2015-2020)
Editor, Brown Working Papers in the Arts and Sciences (2001-2006)
Editorial Board, New Millennium Books in International Studies, Rowman & Littlefield (1996-04).
Program Committee for the XXI International Congress of the Latin American Studies Association, Section on Social Movements and Revolution, 1998
NEH Summer Research Seminar: "New Perspectives in the Comparative Study of Revolutions" (1996)
Editorial Board, Social Science History (1994-98)
Revolution, Rebellion, Resistance: The Power of Story (2010).
-Published in German as Gerücht und Revolution: Von der Macht des Weitererzählens (WBG, 2010).
-Published in India (Books for Change, 2011).
-Published in Arabic (from NTC).
-Published in Spanish as El Poder del Relato: Revolucion, Rebelion, Resistencia (Interzona Editora)
-Forthcoming in Turkish (from Abis Yayinlari).
Decentering International Relations. Co-authored with Meghana Nayak (2010).
Modern Latin American Revolutions, rev., 2nd ed. (Boulder: Westview, 1999; 1st ed., 1993)
Selected Articles and Book Chapters:
"Singing Resistance, Rebellion and Revolution into Being: Collective Political Action and Song," with Helen Cordes, in Olaf Kaltmeier & Wilfried Raussert, eds. Sonic Politics: Music and Social Movement in the Americas 1960s to the Present, Ashgate Publishing, 2016
"Spaces and Places of (Im)Possibility and Desire: Transversal Revolutionary Imaginaries in the Twentieth Century Americas," Forum on Inter-American Research, forthcoming.
"The Undervalued Labor of Curricular and Substantive Diversity: Thoughts From Someone Who Is Part of the Problem," International Feminist Journal of Politics, vol 16, no. 3 (2014): 505-7.
"Conjugating the Cuban Revolution: It Mattered, It Matters, It Will Matter," Latin American Perspectives, vol. 36, no. 1 (2009), pp. 21-9.
"What Was Revolutionary About the Iranian Revolution? The Power of Possibility," Comparative Studies of South Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East, 29(1) (2009): 33-46.
"Stories of Revolution in the Periphery," in John Foran, David Lane, and Andreja Zivkovic, eds., Revolution in the Making of the Modern World: Social Identities, Globalization, and Modernity (London: Routledge, 2008), pp. 130-47.
"Making the World New: Latin American Studies After the Washington Consensus," Latin American Studies Association Forum, vol. 38, no. 4 (2007), pp. 33-35.
"Zapata's White Horse and Che's Beret: Theses on the Future of Revolution," in John Foran, ed., The Future of Revolutions in the Context of Globalization (London: Zed Books, 2003), pp. 83-94.
"Agency and Culture in Revolutions," in Jack Goldstone, ed., Revolutions: Theoretical, Comparative, and Historical Studies, 3rd ed. (Belmont: Wadsworth, 2003), pp. 76-84. This has been translated into Russian and published as "Deyatel'nost' i kul'tura v revolutsiyah," in L.E. Blyakher, B.V. Mezhuyev, A.V. Pavlov (eds) Kontsept "Revolutsiya" v sovremennom politicheskom diskurse (St. Petersburg: Aleteiia, 2008), pp. 184-195).
"Is This the Educational System You Wanted? Feminism and Homeschooling," Co-authored with Helen Cordes, Jesse Cordes Selbin, and Zoe Cordes Selbin, in Robin Teske and Mary Ann Tétreault, eds. Partial Truths and the Politics of Community: Feminist Approaches to Social Movements, Community, and Power, Vol. 2 (Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 2003), pp. 89-103.
"Resistance, Rebellion, and Revolution in Latin America and the Caribbean at the Millennium," Latin American Research Review, vol. 36, no. 1 (2001), pp.171-92.
"Same as It Ever Was: The Future of Revolution at the End of the Century," in Mark Katz, ed. Revolution: International Dimensions (Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly, 2000), pp. 284-97.
"Revolution in the Real World: Bringing Agency Back In," in John Foran, ed., Theorizing Revolutions (London: Routledge, 1997), pp. 123-36.
"Contentious Cartography: A Response to Mapping Contentious Politics," Mobilization, vol. 2, no. 1 (1997), pp. 99-106.
Honors & Awards
Holder of the Lucy King Brown Chair (2014- )
University Scholar (2006-2015)
Mr. Homecoming 2012 Association of Southwestern University Alumni
Association of Southwestern University Alumni Inaugural Faculty Fav Five (2007)
Cullen Faculty Development Program (2003-6)
Brown Distinguished Research Professor (1999-2003)
Southwestern University Exemplary Teacher, General Board of Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church (2001-2002)
NEH Summer Research Seminar: "New Perspectives in the Comparative Study of Revolutions," ( 1996)
Mundy Faculty Fellowships (1995-96, 1998-99)
Brown Faculty Fellow (1994-95)
Cullen Faculty Development Program (1993-9).
Cullen Research Grant (1994)
Sam Taylor Research Fellowship (1994)

subset: commoncrawl


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Car Review
2012 Chevrolet Express 3500: New Car Review
Pros: Maximum capability for demanding truck customers; up to 9,900 GVWR on diesel versions
Cons: Platform is old enough to star in a remake of Wagon Train
Sitting at the top of Chevrolet's Express van lineup, the 3500 packs the biggest punch for the commercial user. With the gasoline powertrain, it has 965 additional pounds of payload over its smaller 2500 sibling. The payload comparison when it's equipped with a diesel engine is even greater.
Heavy-duty applications are the reason for the Express 3500's existence. As a passenger van, the Express is capable of carrying 15 passengers, while as a tow vehicle the Express 3500 can be equipped to handle as much as 10,000 pounds. The 3500's standard drivetrain is the 4.8-liter FlexFuel V8, delivering 279 horsepower and 294 lb-ft of torque. The next bump up on the order form is the 6.0-liter FlexFuel V8, providing 323 hp and 373 lb-ft of torque. At the top of the fuel pyramid is GM's 6.6-liter DuraMax diesel. Its horsepower rating of 260 may be modest, but its 525 lb-ft of torque will let you pull as many stumps as you'd care to provide. All engines are connected to GM's efficient, durable Hydra-matic transmission, which includes tap-up/tap-down driver shift control and tow/haul mode.
Although the capability of the Express is unquestioned, prospects should remember that its platform dates to 1996. The market for domestic full-size vans has remained relatively static except for Dodge's departure from the category several years ago, but other truck makers have designs on entering the category and upping the vehicular ante. For GM to retain its position as a close second to Ford in the full-size sales race, it's time for Chevrolet to bring to the table something conceived in this century.
Comfort & Utility
With available room for 15 occupants or a couple of tons of cargo, you can configure the Chevrolet Express in dozens of ways. In base form as marketed to many fleets, the Express can serve job descriptions as diverse as plumbing, carpentry and flower delivery. As a passenger van, the Express is frequently used in shuttle or limousine service. As an RV, the Express 3500 can serve as a donor vehicle for getaways.
The Express 3500 sacrifices some comfort for utility. The suspension is less compliant and the tire choices typically more rugged than in lighter duty stablemates. On the other hand, the 3500's handling and powertrain will be less affected by load. And whereas the 1500 Express is limited to less than 7,000 pounds of towing capability with its 5.3-liter V8, the 2500 and 3500 can pull up to 10,000 pounds with the 6.0-liter V8 or the 6.6-liter DuraMax diesel.
As on all Express vans, the Express 3500 employs a fully boxed frame, available locking rear differential and StabiliTrak electronic stabilization.
A big differentiator when choosing between a 1500 and the heavier duty 2500 and 3500 is the availability of a long-wheelbase version for the latter two vehicles. Featuring a 20-inch wheelbase stretch from 135 inches to 155 inches, the Express 3500 Extended can literally be all things to all people; if you've got it, the extended Express can probably haul it. Keep in mind, however, that the interior of the Express is more bare-bones functionality than expressive luxury. If you're looking for upscale appointments, you'll have to visit the aftermarket.
Express vans enjoy numerous technology-driven features. The 3500 offers a range of audio systems, including CD/MP3 capability and a USB port, along with Sirius XM satellite radio. Bluetooth is an option, as is dealer-installed WiFi capability. Two 12-volt power outlets, mounted inside on the engine cover, maintain the workload when carrying a laptop, while a remote vehicle starter system allows advance warm up in cold temperatures and cool-down when it's hot out. Finally, all Chevrolet vans come equipped with OnStar, which provides both emergency response and turn-by-turn navigation.
Performance & Fuel Economy
The choices available on the Express 3500 should fit most needs. A Hydra-matic six-speed automatic transmission is paired with all three engine choices. Standard is the Vortec 4.8-liter V8, delivering 279 horsepower and 294 lb-ft of torque. So equipped, the Express 3500 can tow up to 7,400 pounds as a cargo van. When equipped with the 6.0-liter gasoline engine, which is good for 323 hp and 373 lb-ft of torque, the Express can tow up to 10,000 pounds in cargo form and up to 9,700 pounds as a passenger van; the lower number allows for the heavier curb weight of the passenger version. Finally, opt for the 6.6-liter DuraMax diesel and enjoy diesel efficiency (up to 11 percent better than its predecessor) and longevity with up to 10,000 pounds of towing capability in the 3500 cargo, 9,700 pounds in the 3500 passenger van and 9,300 pounds in the 3500 EXT.
Given that all 3500s enjoy a GVWR of more than 8,500 pounds, the EPA doesn't provide fuel economy figures. You can, however, project roughly 11 to 12 mpg in stop-and-go driving and between 15 and 17 mpg in highway driving.
Four-wheel disc braking with ABS and dynamic rear proportioning can reduce the drama inherent in stopping a loaded truck. Also standard on all Express vans is StabiliTrak, GM's electronic take on stability control. Available head curtain side airbags and standard lap and shoulder belts for center seat passengers wraps up the Express' safety menu. Your ability to avoid an accident is enhanced by sweeping visibility in the 3500 passenger van, as well as the intimidation factor that comes from propelling something almost 19 feet in length.
Driving Impressions
No one buys an Express cargo or passenger van with the idea of on-road competition. Whether intended for work or recreation, the Express is a means to an end. Ponderous proportions typically make for ponderous handling, and in this regard, the Express won't disappoint. To their credit, GM engineers have done an admirable job of massaging the beast out of this beast; with any of the V8s, it goes about its business with a surprising degree of eagerness. But, despite the Express's ability to navigate highways and byways, the arrival of recent competitors such as the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and the Nissan NV, has moved the needle regarding customer expectations. The industry has moved forward, and ultimately, GM will need to modernize the Express to keep pace.
Other Trucks to Consider
Chevrolet Suburban - Yes, the most obvious competitor to the Chevrolet Express 3500 is in the same showroom. A Suburban will seat up to eight, and although it doesn't deliver the sheer cubic volume of the Express, it lines up well in over-the-road demeanor.
Ford E-350 - Just as dated as the Express, but the next-generation E-350 should be based on its European counterpart, the full-size Transit. Given the positive reception to its smaller sibling, the Transit Connect, Ford could have a winner on its hands, adding pressure for Chevrolet to modernize the Express.
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter - Much more contemporary, but more expensive than the Express 3500.
For those who can wait, Chrysler intends to import FIAT-based commercial vans in the not-too-distant future.
AutoTrader Recommends
We'd equip an eight-passenger Express with the optional 6.6-liter DuraMax diesel, hook it up to a 27-foot Airstream and add just enough comfort and convenience accessories to make the Chevy livable for a three-week grand tour. With room for everything a family of four could carry, along with bike storage inside rather than on top of the van, the Express/Airstream combo would make an excellent base camp anywhere in the world.


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SAN FRANCISCO -- The repercussions from Friday's fight night may not come until Monday from the comissioner's office, but Shane Victorino is expecting a suspension for his actions.
A day after the scrum with the Giants, the Phillies were still laughing and talking about it in the clubhouse. Victorino eagerly read about himself in the newspaper and then rewatched the chaos on his iPad with a bunch of teammates.
Victorino said he clinched a suspension when he reentered the fracas and tackled Giants hitting coach Hensley Meulens. (By the way, Victorino said, he wasn't going after the 44-year-old coach on purpose. He said he saw Carlos Ruiz in danger and torpedoed in the catcher's general direction.)
But Victorino, just as he did Friday night, maintained that everything only escalated because of Giants catcher Eli Whiteside's actions.
"I had no intentions of going out there and charging the mound," Victorino said. "I just wanted to go get an answer. I did step forward and Eli, from looking at his reaction, thought I was going to go. Then [Placido] Polanco came in and he tackled Polanco. Everything escalated from there. I had no intention."
Giants manager Bruce Bochy defended his catcher Saturday.
"He's in a hard spot there," Bochy said. "He's got all kinds of sides to cover there. He's trying to protect the pitcher. If anybody knows Whitey, he's not a fighter -- but he's going to protect his pitchers. He saw a player come from the side there and went at his feet, but it wasn't like he was throwing punches or anything."
As for the pitcher, Ramon Ramirez, he has declined to make any comment about the incident. Whiteside claimed he called for a fastball inside, "but not that far inside."
The plunking came shortly after Jimmy Rollins stole second base in a six-run game, but Charlie Manuel disagreed that had any part in escalating tension. Rollins was being held on at first base, so nothing was conceded.
"I think us hitting them upset them," Manuel said.
Carlos Beltran had a different view of Rollins' steal.
"I wouldn't have done it," Beltran said.
Either way, the rivalry between these two teams has only intensified.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for easy access to all of our Phillies coverage, plus app-exclusive videos and analysis. Get it here.


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Is Estimating A Wasteful Practice?
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Well-known agilist J.B. Rainsberger started an interesting discussion on the XP Yahoo Group that challenges the notion of doing estimation on agile software projects. J.B. recounted a conversation he had with Arlo Belshee, one of the two 2008 Gordon Pask Award winners, about the topic:
[Arlo] told me about some research and practice he has completed regarding cost estimates--notably, not making them. He argued, or so I managed to discern, that the energy that goes in to making and managing cost estimates outweighs the benefit of having them.Mike Hill chimed into the discussion noting how the folks at Industrial Logic have moved in this direction internally for development of their Agile eLearning products:
For our own work we're finding that a pure 'pull' model works just fine. We 'pull' stories off the top of our customer-sorted stack and implement them. Planning meetings have gotten smaller and focus now on what is most important.In his "Estimating Considered Wasteful" talk at Agile 2008, Industrial Logic founder Josh Kerievsky had gone into more detail on this. He explained how they were finding success by delivering in smaller, more frequent "micro-releases", enabling them to operate just as effectively using "gut feel" as they had previously with "points & velocity", but without having to spend time putting numbers on cards and doing math.
Not long ago, Amit Rathore had touched on similar ideas. Rathore describes a process where the next most important stories are broken down to a point where they are all of about equal size (a couple days) and pulled into the upcoming iteration in priority order:
Here's the trick - each story should not be more than 1-3 days of work to implement. Pick the next requirement and do the same thing, keep going until your two weeks seems full.Rathore explains how this approach not only reduces "muda" (waste), but adds value in many other ways as well:
The fact that this saves time and effort is actually just a good side-effect. The real value comes from being able to truly stay in control of the development process. Tiny stories allow you to change them when required, pull them from the backlog when needed, or to add new ones whenever business demands it. It also lets you move faster because it's easier to write code in small incremental chunks, testing is easier, and pushing small releases out to users is easier.David Anderson made similar remarks quite some time ago, and has been very active in the "Kanban for software" movement since, an initiative with a very strong tie-in to the ideas being discussed by Belshee, Kerievsky, and Rathore.
And finally, by imposing the discipline that each story be small, it ensures that people think about the requirement deeply enough before coding begins. It also forces the team to break down requirements into incremental pieces and totally avoids never-ending stories that always have a little bit left to complete.
One might look at each of perspectives and ask "are there really 'no estimates'?", as J.B. had thought of it; Kerievsky and Anderson both say something akin to "gut feel", Rathore says "equal size". Probably not, but is that good or bad? Should the question really be "no estimates?", or should it be "no numbers?" Something else?
Who else has experience running agile projects without estimates? Whether you do or don't, take a moment to join the discussion here and/or on the XP Yahoo Group.
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T-Shirt Size
Deborah Hartmann
Re: T-Shirt Size
Deborah Hartmann
Stories of equal sizes
Stefan Roock
Re: T-Shirt Size
Christian Gruber
Seriously, though, I'm liking Amit's approach to regularizing the size of items in the backlog (to the extent possible), as it makes forecasting (which is what most people want from estimates) a much simpler process. And it's substantially in line with the queueing theory notion that the more regular the units in a queue, and the smaller those units are, relative to the width of the queue, the less slack you need for optimal throughput. (ie, the more efficient the queue is.) In my experience it works for plumbing, highways, but also software teams.
Is it really 'estimation-less'
Amit Rathore
It is in the same spirit as pair-programming - this practices eliminates the need for code-reviews. In a rather zen-like manner, it does this by doing more of it - a pair of developers constantly review code, all the time.
Breaking stories down into small chunks is a Good Thing (queueing theory). If nearly all stories can be broken down to this level, then many other benefits follow (as mentioned on the various blog posts above). And there's the gotcha - to achieve that homogeneity - one has to constantly estimate.
It is just that the focus is different - improving throughput, as opposed to meaningless prediction - and this is a simple way of getting there.
Deborah Hartmann
Others do it with "same sized" stories. Who gets to estimate that? How long does that conversation take, to get stories to uniform sizes? I'm not sure this variant eliminates estimation.
Estimation fallacy
rob bowley
Just a few days ago I posted a response to Jeff Atwood(Coding Horror)'s post arguing developers need to write exhaustive lists of everything they need to do and that is the only way to get reliable estimates. My argument is the same as above.
Jeff's post
My response
Its a bit of an obsession of mine at the moment, I have a few more posts up my sleave around the issue and would be very grateful for feedback you have on my thoughts.
Re: Estimation fallacy
Christian Gruber
So how do we provide that customer with confidence that they're going to get value for their money... and how much value for how much money, so they can know how much to allocate? These are all questions that, even if estimation is total crapolla, we still have to answer this basic problem in another way. Just "not estimating" and assuming it'll all work out only works inside of a very high-trust context, and how do we handle questions of allocation during the trust-building phase with a customer?
Riddle me this...
Kurt Christensen
You call up a contractor, and she says that she won't give you any estimates, but she will show clear progress on a weekly basis, and you're free to kill the contract at the end of any given week if you're not satisfied.
So you begin work. They blast out the back wall, frame up the new rooms, and they're beginning work on the kitchen expansion, when you begin to realize that you're burning through your savings faster than you expected, and you're not sure if you'll be able to complete the job as you'd like. In fact, you're beginning to worry if you'll be able to get the thing completed in any useful way at all. At this point, you ask the contractor for an estimate of the work remaining to be done, and she gleefully responds, "I don't give estimates, but you can cancel at any time!"
So what do you do? (And if your response is that this is nothing like a software project, then I would tell you that you've either not had much experience with remodeling projects, or software projects, or both.)
Re: Estimation fallacy
Karl Scotland
Rather than making commitments through estimation and prediction, the same commitment and reliability can be achieved through measuring performance of throughput and cycle time of features, and using that information to make forecasts.
This technique requires either using the technique descried by Amit to same-size work items, or by classifying work items into similar sized categories (e.g. T-shirt sizing)
Re: Riddle me this...
Jim Arnold
Aside from the whole "software development is like building a house" fallacy - the kind of software projects being discussed here don't just show progress, they deliver working software, and quickly. If your project requires several iterations (however long they may be) before it delivers any kind of value, it's usually time to take a critical look at the practises being used.
I see your home improvement plan as being equivalent to spending X amount of time on requirements gathering, followed by X amount of time in development, followed by X amount of time testing, etc. Of course if you cancel such a project halfway through you end up with bugger all.
Re: Riddle me this...
Bruce Rennie
Run your scenario again, but this time have the contractor give you a super precise estimate up front.
What's the difference? Aren't you still screwed? Wasn't the error allowing the contractor to have too much work in process such that you weren't actually able to take advantage of the "cancel at any time" clause?
Honest questions.
Re: Riddle me this...
Kevin Puscas
Re: Riddle me this...
Mike Bria
They are more about changing the way we as go about doing our forecasting.
I was working with a company a few months ago operating on a 2 month release cycle. As you'd expect, they wanted to have at least some idea of what was coming out of the other end of the 2 months. We successfully used a "numbers"-less estimation approach to achieve that; "successfully" in that we were able to give a good enough idea, then go about using "pull-based" iterations to continually grow a product over the 2 months that everyone was happy with. Of course, the end result was different than the original projection, but it was better.
Either way, the key still is focusing on *really* delivering running/tested features (WORKING SOFTWARE) each step of the way. If you release as you go, every iteration, great. If you have more long-term release cycles (assuming they're no longer than a few months), great too.
The point is to be less mathematical about how you go about deciding what you sign up for.
Not "whether" but "where"..
Javid Jamae
Funding is one of the main indicators of whether a software environment would be able to adopt this model. If your funding machine can be recalibrated to work in a negotiable scope or or time & matieral fashion, then there is no reason that "micro-iterations" shouldn't work. But convincing people to pay for software in this fashion is not always easy.
Expert-level Practice
Dave Rooney
Seeing as all the Industrial Logic folks are experts at (I)XP, wouldn't this be considered an expert-level practice?
If a team is in the Shu or Ha stages of learning, I'm not convinced that they're good enough at breaking down the work into small enough stories to use a pure pull process. In IL's case, Josh was the Customer, n'est-çe pas? How many teams have someone that advanced in that position?
Dave Rooney
Mayford Technologies
Implicit Estimates
Gavin Terrill
Re: Implicit Estimates
Mike Bria
You're statement highlights a key concept: the idea of "Bargain Hunting" (as Josh K likes to say). Basically, at the heart of successful agile is a die-hard mentality amidst the team to constantly ask and answer the question "how can we deliver the most value in the shortest time". At its best, what this looks like is a team that's constantly trimming the "Feature Fat" off each and every story (another Josh K term) so that it can get the important stuff quick, or at least first.
This may sound odd and counter-intuitive, but I've had experiences where putting numbers (estimates) on the cards actually acted as an inhibitor to this "bargain hunting" culture; rather than looking at a story and always building the "simplest thing that could work" (ie, as "fat-free" as possible), they'd just build a "5", or a "3" or "8". One of the downsides to the number - the "crutch-factor".
All, I'd like to thank everyone for the fabulous discussion around this topic - advancing our craft lies in these debates, please keep it up! Also, remember, the topic is also running on the XP Yahoo Group, jump in there too.
Re: Riddle me this...
Andrew Goddard
Here here Bruce!!
I think this is the best answer I've heard to the argument presented by Kurt.
I guess at least with the super precise estimate up-front the home-owner can later sue the contractor, spend a lot of money on lawyers and time in court (more wasted productivity) and then eventually settle and therefore only get a portion of their investment back and be jaded with any future contractors.
The analogy made would work better if I was going to build this addition, I might start with the kitchen remodel, but I would keep in mind that I would have a second floor going in and consider having some underlying architectural (evolving architecture) support in my kitchen, but I wouldn't rip everything down and have a gapping hole. Of course I may not put the pipes in for the bathroom that run through the kitchen, so I may have to go back and refactor that, but it's a trade-off.
Keep in mind Kurt that the goal is to have something "potentially shippable" at the end of each week not something that has to wait until the finished product (Jim makes this point too). The idea is that I can walk away at that point because I do have value and something I can use. For example, I added the new island and sink in the kitchen. Next week I may prioritize the removing the old sink and counters and replacing them with the new counters and cabinetry. I think "gut feel" the contractor could tell me if it's doable (commitment) and then give me some warning if not (manage client expectations). I can also see progress during the week and give my input if needed.
Re: Riddle me this...
Kurt Christensen
Anyway, to your first point, I might be screwed in that I wouldn't have my remodeling work done, but at least I wouldn't be out of money with a house half torn apart.
Your second point resonates more strongly with me - I would indeed be in better shape if I could work more closely with the contractor, so that I didn't find myself in a bad position. But, to pay for these contractors, presumably I have to go to work every day. So, I can't check in with the contractors all the time; I have to have some notion of an iteration, and I'd like some idea of a plan with estimates when I begin that iteration - even if the iteration is just a day.
The analogy goes further. Once the contractor begins framing the adition to the kitchen, I'm not left with something useful if I need to fire them at the end of the week - I'll either need to find someone else to finish the job, or else I'll have to tear it all down and rebuild my back wall - assuming I haven't run out of money. Likewise, there are *some* classes of software for which we can meaningfully talk about creating potentially shippable software in short iterations. But there are lots and lots of projects for which this simply isn't true.
As an example, I'm currently working with a software company to help them transition to more agile processes. They have a big huge product, with a big huge complicated codebase. Now, when the sales people go talk to customers, they need to be able talk in terms of the 5 or 10 major features which will be coming out in the next product release - they can't meaningfully talk about a 5000-item prioritized backlog. For each feature, we could argue about whether or not some particular little thing gets added or not, but at some point, if I've lost, say, 25% of the backlog items associated with that feature, then from the perspective of a salesperson or a customer, I can no longer realistically say that that feature exists.
I guess it comes down to the reality that in many environments, there are people who need to make commitments based on our work, in order to generate revenue to keep paying for our work. And this requires plans, which require estimates. The estimates certainly don't have to be perfect, but from a business perspective I need *something*.
Re: Riddle me this...
rob bowley
Software is not a house. Sorry Kurt, but its such a crap analogy. I use "building a house" to explain what making software is exactly not.
If software was a house and I was a contractor given the above conditions I would build something that was usable as soon as possible (e.g. a wooden shed extension), see what the customer thinks and then rebuild it every two weeks adding more and more of the requirements and responding to the feedback as we go. In the end we'd have as much of the requirements that were possible with the allocated money and time frame. We'd have not gone over budget, been able to respond to unexpected events (e.g. finding out the foundations are not sufficient) and the customer could change his mind (on windows, room layouts etc) as we go.
Software is not like building a house - we have the luxury that it's relatively inexpensive (if we've followed good design principles), to go back and change it as often as we like. I say, tell me honestly how much you've got to spend/how much time you have and I'll give you the best possible value for those conditions. If an unexpected event occurred which means we can't deliver it well, it would have happened if we'd estimated it anyway. At least my way we're more likely to find out sooner and hopefully save the customer some money/embarrassment.
Re: Riddle me this...
rob bowley
Re: Riddle me this...
Sean Kennedy
You and your contractor should have figured out the cost of materials (COTS and production hardware in the software world?) and the contractor should have been able to give a 'ballpark (gut) estimate', similar to what Josh Kerievsky was talking about in the article.


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Electro-Harmonix Effectology, Vol.7; Using Reverb FX Pedals
Or Reverb in All the Wrong Places. This episode of Effectology demonstrates some old and new effects using reverb. From classic spring reverb sounds to...making your guitar sounding like the sea!!! Now, that's what we call "surf music"!
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Yes...you can make your guitar sound like a Seagull, using a Big Muff!!!
Bill Ruppert is the guy behind the Effectology videos. Today, he'll guide you through the wonderful world of reverb.
Each one of the four sounds in this video has the reverb positioned in unusual places within the signal chain…proof once again there is no correct way to order your effect pedals. Changing positions of effects can lead to new and unusual sounds that might have gone missed by following conventional thinking.
There is a clip of the new Cathedral Stereo reverb using the brilliant "Infinite" switch. Its really a beautiful sounding reverb.
In 1961 Fender introduced the stand-alone reverb unit. It was designed to be an add-on unit and plugged into the front input jack of a guitar amp. Unlike reverb units that are built into the guitar amp, the add-on reverb is plugged into the front of the guitar amp or before the preamp. That equals an extra gain stage.
When the amp is cranked up, the reverb distorts and produces a very trashy, edgy sound. Think Dick Dale raw surf music. To achieve this sound we placed the reverb in front of the English Muff'n overdrive. This gave the sound the raw edge.
A Stereo Memory Man was added last in the chain set for a fast slap-back delay. This produced a "boing" sound like the small springs in real spring unit.
Below is the effects chain and individual pedal settings:
Surf Sound
Seagulls Sound
Overdriven"Surf-Verb" Sound
settings used:
2) "Angel Harp" Reverb
Placing the Holy Grail reverb before the Soul Preacher compressor accentuates the reverb's decay and causes a interesting "bloom" effect.
Last in the chain is a Stereo Memory Man in a multi-tap delay mode. This effect produces many notes from just one note. Playing major chord arpeggios across the neck produced a harp-like effect. Below is the effects chain and individual pedal settings:
Settings used:
3) "Sky Rocket" Reverb
Placing a Micro Synth after the Holy Grail reverb and Soul preacher compressor produced a explosive attack with descending reverb trails like fireworks exploding in the air. Below is the effects chain and individual pedal settings:
4) "Infinite Sustain"
The new Cathedral Stereo Reverb is one of the most beautiful reverbs I have ever heard. One of its finest features is the infinite switch. Pressing this down after playing a chord or note will freeze the sound for as long as it is held. It suspends the sound like cloud above what you continue play. Its a brilliant effect and one of EHX's finest!
Below is the effects chain and individual pedal settings:
Settings used:
Don't forget to experiment with the order of your pedals. You never know where it may lead you sonically. Thanks for listening!
If you want more Effectology, just visit the Effectology Youtube page.
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Tracy's City Apartment
When Tracy moved from an old farmhouse to a city apartment, she changed her decorating style to match her new urban environment. Tracy described her old farmhouse look as "shabby chic" and her new space as more "grown up and glamorous."
Having just moved to this apartment in March, Tracy made short work of moving in and decorating. It probably helped that this was a bit of a premeditated move. Back in October, when Tracy first started blogging about the potential of moving from farmhouse to city apartment, she was already dreaming of a new style.
This new apartment still has a shabby chic quality to it but it definitely has an urban style. And that tufted sofa - so gorgeous!
For photos of Tracy's old Danish farm house, check out her Flickr photoset.
To see more of Tracy's designs visit her website and blog: Boboho.com
Images: Tracy Nors


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moodINQ: Programmable Tattoo System
Finally, a scientific breakthrough for those wanting sick tats but just can't commit to getting tatted up because they don't know what hot ink they want because, ya know, tatties aren't just for sailors, bikers and criminals anymore ...
Now there's moodInq: a programmable tattoo system that lets you change your body art at will. Read more:
"The uses of a moodInq tattoo are endless. Going home to visit Mom & Dad? Run the wand over your lower back and remove that "tramp stamp" your parents forbid you to get. Need to impress a hot date? Prove you're a man with family values when you show up with your MOM tattoo. Need a green way to keep a grocery list or note to self? Tattoo it on your arm! Are you good enough, smart enough, and gosh-darn-it-people-like-you? Tattoo your favorite affirmations and get through those rough days with ease. The moodInq lets you change your tattoo to suit your mood!"
With moodInq, I can instantly go from boardroom to barroom without having to worry about employment discrimination against the modded (because I'm all about the right to bare neck and knuckle ink with abandon. FTW!!).
Order moodInq online or get the limited edition Kat Von D line of changeable tat designs at Sephora.
[Thanks for the hellasick link, Pat!]
**Please keep in mind that this post was written on April 1st. ahem.**
Announcements TAGS:
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Virtualization Slideshow: Virtualized Apps: Are They Tier-1 Worthy?
CIOs and other IT managers are singing about the business benefits of virtualized applications. They can save on power/cooling by consolidating servers. They're known to assist greatly with disaster recovery. And they'll increase an organization's ability to remain nimble in light of rapid shifts in the business environment. So why aren't more of the most critical, "Tier 1" enterprise applications being virtualized? Barriers include performance and design concerns, as well as "people issues," according to a survey from AppDynamics, a vendor of application performance management solutions. Clearly, CIOs and their IT teams must demonstrate that virtualization won't impact their organization's ability to achieve business objectives, says Jyoti Bansal, CEO of AppDynamics. CIOs and top IT decision-makers at more than 100 companies participated in the survey. Here's what they reported.


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Greetings, All!
I put together our Beethinking top-bar hives a couple of weeks ago and they've been sitting in our family room waiting for a decent weekend when we had the opportunity to put them out. We did so today.
We went back and forth about where to put them. It wasn't as though we are limited on space, but we wanted to take into consideration things like where the grandkids like to play when they are here, morning sun, mowing around them, etcetera.
In the end we opted to put one hive between two trees (cherry and apple) and the other on the other side of the apple. They are facing south. This was in part to minimize mowing impact for my wife. I don't know if the positioning will help with a bit of mid-day shade or not during the summer, but we'll see. Does anyone think the location between the trees and with a tree in front of one will be a problem?
One thing I realized is that we'll never be able to put those hives where they can be seen from a road. Around here we have people willing to break in to electrical power stations to try to steal copper wire from live circuits (and often regret it, if they live) so I doubt bees would be much of a deterrent.
After setting them up and getting them level we went ahead and baited them with lemongrass oil. Although there were a few bees foraging around our feet while we worked (small flowers in the grass were attracting their attention) we don't expect the weather to warm up enough for serious bee traffic until after Easter, I think. But we baited it anyway.
I did decide I needed to tie down the hives somehow. The method I came up with was to use an auger-style tie-down point (purchased at Tractor Supply in their trailer section) and ratcheting tie-down straps. We've had trees broken on our property from storms last year, so I don't want to take any chances. After coming up with this plan I found that Christy Hemenway has a Youtube video about preparing a top-bar hive for winter winds using the same method with a dog tie-out point.
Next up is beekeeping school starting the first Wednesday of April. We get our first package from a member of the association we joined April 19th, a couple of days after school ends. I've also ordered a package from Gold Star Honeybees, but won't get those until mid-May as earlier shipping dates conflicted with a trip I have planned. Actually, I may be asking if I can get an earlier shipping date as I've just learned that my original plans have to change.
Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome!
My wife bringing out one of the hives:
Myself with the second hive:
And the hives in their new locations:


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15 Feb 2014 06:00:45 AM
Martial Arts Fail of the Week: Defeat Bullies by Slapping Their Balls (We're Not Kidding)
(If you wear socks like the male instructor, you will ALWAYS be bullied)
Ever been bullied?
If so, how did you stop your grade-school foes? Did you beat them up with a hat? Stymie them with thousands of spaz punches? Use the force?
What about slapping them in the nuts? What, you've never done that!? According to this week's martial arts fail, that's one of the key techniques in the fight against bullying.
Seriously, you need to watch this video. Here's just a short highlight reel of what it includes:
-Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
-The defense for the all-too-powerful "you've got something on your shirt" maneuver.
-"Stun techniques and dirty tricks."
-Pulling someones hair and then doing absolutely nothing to follow it up.
-Throwing candy in someone's face as a self-defense move (I wish I was making this part up).
Please watch the video, it'll be worth it. We promise. This is the exact kind of horrific, "self-defense" advice that Ben Goldstein and I sought to destroy when we were storming dojos back in the 90s, testing our SAFTA. But as we got up there in years, we decided to purge martial chicanery with articles on a middling MMA website rather than with our fists.
Thanks to CagePotato reader James Hays for sending us this video. If you see any video that's good (or bad) enough to make the cut, let us know! Send it to email@example.com More DIGG THIS


text:
Dr. Thomas Casale reviews medical content for Healthwise, a nonprofit organization with a mission to help people make better health decisions. Dr. Casale is a Professor and Associate Chair of the Department of Medicine at Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska.
MD: Chicago Medical School, Chicago, IL, 1977
Residency in Internal Medicine: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 1977–1980
Fellowship: Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 1980–1984
American Board of Internal Medicine
American Board of Allergy and Immunology
Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE:
University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA:
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MSI 790GX-G65 AM3 Motherboard Review
By ajmatson -
Fallout 3 takes place after the nuclear holocaust that nearly wipes out civilization and leaves the world an irradiated mess. The vault, or fallout shelter, you are born in is Vault 101, situated in the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia area. The premise of the game is that the Vault has been sealed for 200 years and now your father has opened the vault and escaped without a trace. The Overseer believes you are involved, so you must escape as well into the wasteland that was once our nation's capital. I find myself looking for landmarks, since I am familiar with the streets of Washington DC.
- 4x Anti Aliasing
- 15x Anisotropic Filtering
- All other in-game settings to maximum
While a little faster, not much to brag about in Fallout 3.


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Jan Ackerson is not only an incredibly gifted writing teacher and editor, she is also an amazing writer in her own right. We are happy to announce the release of her first book, Stolen Postcards.
This book is unlike anything I've seen before. 366 days of stories--all 100 words in length (apart from February 28 & 29, which are 200 words combined). Most of our Challengeers find it hard keeping to the 750 word count limit. Imagine communicating a complete story, with believable characters, in exactly 100 words. Imagine then doing that for every day of the year. It is an amazing achievement.
Stolen Postcards goes on sale October 17. Order your copy today and see for yourself exactly how amazing our Jan is.
Stolen Postcards
http://www.breathoffreshairpress.com/pr ... postcards/


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Russell W. Louth, 77
Russell W. Louth, 77, of Spencerville, died at 1:10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima.
He was born on March 20, 1934, in Spencerville, to Donald and Chloe (McCullough) Louth, and they preceded him in death, along with his stepmother, Myrtle (Vandemark) Louth.
On April 30, 1955, he married Judy A. Harbison, and she survives.
He is also survived by three children, Jennifer (Tim) Barnes of St. Marys, Amy (Daniel) Miller of Fremont and David (Linda) Louth of Lafayette; eight grandchildren; a brother.
He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Nancy.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Thomas E. Bayliff Funeral Home in Spencerville. Burial is to follow in the Spencerville Cemetery, where military rites will be conducted by the Spencerville Veterans.
The family will receive friends from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and one hour before the service Monday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Lung Association.


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The Knoll 8
1. Protection of the Biosphere
We will strive to make continued progress toward reducting or eliminating the release of any hazardous substance in an effort to safeguard habitats affected by our operations.
We will continue to reduce the use and/or emissions of hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compounds from our manufacturing operations through the introduction of clean technologies.
• In 2011 Knoll U.S. manufacturing facilities were more than 95% hazardous air pollutants (HAP) and VOC free.
• More than 95% of PVC has been replaced by ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) for standard edges on laminate work surfaces
• The Grand Rapids facility's Clean Corporate Citizen designation was renewed by the State of Michigan in 2011. Knoll is the only furniture manufacturer in Michigan to achieve the honor, which recognizes excellence in clean technology, waste management and other key environmental factors.
We will provide water treatment facilities that meet or exceed discharge criteria.
• In 2011 Knoll U.S. manufacturing facilities were more than 95% hazardous air pollutants (HAP) and VOC free.
• In 2011, the state-of-the-art water treatment facility in East Greenville treated approximately 21,283,000 gallons of wastewater.
We will monitor storm water, conserve water use, and develop processes to minimize water pollution.
• In 2011 the plaforization process for pre-treating metal parts at the East Greenville facility delivered savings of approximately 1,000,000 gallons of water.
• The East Greenville facility established new protocols for testing and manually closing shut-off valves to reduce water flow in targeted processes. Instituted in mid-2011, the practice saved an estimated 3,223,000 million gallons of water over 2010, a savings of 23.3%.
• The Muskegon facility's counter-flow system for reducing washer usage and discharge completed its first full year of operation in 2011. The facility saved approximately 1,462,096 gallons of water over 2010, a reduction of almost 20%, even as production volume increased.
• The Muskegon facility continued to pipe wastewater to a county treatment facility that employs sludge ponds and settling ponds to treat water, which is then used to irrigate foodproducing farm plots on the property.
2. Sustainable Use of Natural Resources
We strive to make the best use of renewable resources, such as water, soil and forests, and conserve non-renewable natural resources.
We will make sustainable use of renewable natural resources through efficient use and careful planning.
• In 2011 KnollTextiles offered a wide range of fabrics made with natural fibers (e.g., linen, cotton, wool) from rapidly renewable sources.
We will continue to seek opportunities to use sustainable forests in our products.
• In 2011, Knoll provided FSC® Certified Wood as standard without asking, at no surcharge and at standard lead times on office systems, casegoods and tables with the exception of certain products from the KnollStudio Collection. The FSC® standard applies to 95% of wood-containing products manufactured at Knoll facilities.
• Knoll is committed to meeting certification requirements set forth by the FSC® and implemented by the Rainforest Alliance.
We will minimize the use of wooden pallets.
• Knoll continued to repair, reuse and recycle pallets at all facilities. In 2011 1,430.5 tons of wood pallets were recycled.
We will attempt to recycle or make beneficial use of wood scrap generated in our manufacturing operations.
• Knoll facilities recycled approximately 6074 tons of wood scrap and 4029 tons of sawdust in 2011.
• In 2011 East Greenville sent 100% of its wood scrap to a waste-to-energy facility, diverting from landfill 3459 tons of sawdust and scrap.
• The Toronto facility continued to burn wood scrap as heating fuel in the winter and use excess heating capacity to provide hot water for finishing processes in the warmer months. Burning wood scrap in place of natural gas reduced total gas consumption by 17,791,000 cubic feet in 2011, or 24% of total Toronto facility fuel needs.
We will continue to seek recycling opportunities for scrap generated in our manufacturing operations.
• In 2011, Knoll facilities recycled a total of more than 868 tons of corrugated cardboard, 124 tons of paper and 127 tons of textiles.
• The Grand Rapids and Muskegon facilities recycled powdercoat waste in 2011, keeping 284 tons of material out of landfill.
We will continue to utilize post-consumer and post-industrial materials in our products where practical.
• In 2011, the majority of the wood used to make composite board products at the Knoll Toronto, East Greenville and Grand Rapids facilities contained 100% post-industrial material.
• KnollTextiles fabrics include products made of 100% post-consumer recycled content.
• 93 KnollTextiles fabrics carried a "Green Bar" on their label in 2011, indicating 49%+ recycled content or 75%+ natural fiber.
We will be environmentally responsible in our purchase of materials.
• The Knoll FSC® Certified Wood Standard and Sustainable Wood Policy certified through The Rainforest Alliance ensured that wood materials used in our products in 2011 came from environmentally responsible sources.
• All Knoll leather goods were obtained as byproducts of the meat packing industry. No hides or skins from endangered species were used.
3. Waste Reduction and Disposal
We will reduce, recycle, and where possible, eliminate waste, and we will dispose of all waste using safe and responsible methods.
• At the East Greenville facility compactor trash waste decreased on an absolute basis even as production volume increased, as overall recycling went from 87% in 2010 to 92% in 2011.
• Knoll facilities also recycled 2.33 tons of waste batteries and 29 tons of waste glass in 2011.
• The Muskegon facility collected beverage cans, which employee volunteers redeemed for the ten-cent Michigan deposit, and the proceeds were donated to Toys for Tots.
We will dispose of our waste only in well-operated and permitted facilities.
• All Knoll manufacturing facilities adhered to stringent mandates for disposal of waste in approved and monitored facilities.
4. Conservation
We will conserve energy by improving the efficiency of our internal operations and the goods and services we sell. We will make every effort to use environmentally safe and sustainable energy sources.
We will conserve energy and improve energy efficiency.
• In 2011 the Toronto facility continued its Air Wars energy conservation program focused on increasing efficiency and reducing waste in compressed air operations. This resulted in energy reductions of 671,130 KWH and savings of approximately $78,388.
• The Toronto facility designed, engineered and installed a new operation-specific high-efficiency dust collection system with demand control fan motors that ramp up and down according to production load, saving electricity and reducing exhaust to improve worker health and safety. The new system resulted in savings of approximately 267,213 KWH and $29,333 in 2011.
Paper recycling:
• Estimated 2,108 trees saved
• Estimated 862,172 gallons of water saved in processing
• Recycling paper vs. using new paper reduces air pollution by 95% and water pollution by 80%.
Steel recycling:
• Estimated 4,520 tons of iron ore saved
• Estimated 217 tons of limestone saved
• Recycling steel vs. using new steel reduces air pollution by 86% and water pollution by 76%.
Aluminum recycling:
• Estimated 1,400,000 KWH of electricity saved
• Recycling aluminum vs. using new aluminum reduces air pollution by 95%.
We will implement a program to upgrade existing low-efficiency motors to higher efficiency motors.
• In 2011 Knoll continued to specify high-efficiency motors on all new equipment purchases at all North American facilities as part of its sustainable Procurement Policy.
• Total Preventive Maintenance (TPM) was performed at all manufacturing facilities. It requires machine operators to monitor and maintain motors to optimize energy efficiency.
We will implement a program to upgrade existing lighting, where practical, at each facility.
• Lighting upgrades (bulbs and ballasts) to T8's have been completed at Knoll East Greenville, Grand Rapids, Toronto and Muskegon East and West facilities. In 2011 the final phase of lighting upgrades at Muskegon West reduced CO2 emissions by 67 tons, saving $9.474 per year in energy costs.
5. Risk Reduction
We will strive to minimize the environmental health and safety risks to our associates and the communities in which we operate through safe technologies, sound transportation practices, safe facilities and operating procedures, and emergency preparedness.
We will design our processes to prevent injury to the health and welfare of Knoll associates, the community, and the environment.
• Knoll facilities overall incident rate in 2011 was 20% better than the 2010 • In 2011 the Grand Rapids facility, in consultation with an Occupational Therapist, developed a function-specific stretching program for production workers. The East Greenville facility worked with a Physical Therapist to develop taskspecific stretches for machine operators and a stretching module for office workers.
We will develop and implement health and safety policies and programs to help prevent injury and illnesses to our associates.
• The Knoll East Greenville facility has been recertified as an OSHA VPP Star site, placing Knoll among a select group of companies to achieve that honor. The VPP (Voluntary Protection Program) is a partnership with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration reserved for companies that demonstrate exceptional long-term success in reducing risk and protecting the health and safety of employees.
• The East Greenville facility installed thirty Dock Locks in 2011. These fail-safe mechanisms prohibit trailers from pulling away from the dock while they are being loaded.
• In 2011 The revision of PPE (personal protection equipment) policies at East Greenville resulted in the purchase of new equipment and a requirement that makes hearing protection mandatory for all workers and visitors in production areas.
• At the Toronto facility noise abatement measures were taken in 2011 to protect employee hearing. Sound-absorbing cladding was installed on dust extraction ducts, reducing the level of indoor noise. Hearing protection equipment is mandatory throughout the Toronto plant.
• In 2011 Knoll facilities continued to conduct ongoing ergonomic reviews at workstations under the Knoll Employee Health and Safety Analysis program. This practice identifies how work processes might be redesigned and what additional working aids are required.
• In 2011 the Grand Rapids facility dramatically reduced its incidence rate by instituting weekly safety classes and installing a stop light system that alerts workers when an injury has occurred, raising awareness and reminding workers to observe rules and precautions.
• The Toronto facility continued to employ a Safety Score Card system to assess accountability of supervisors on the floor, providing data for ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations and targeting areas for improvement.
• The East Greenville facility instituted a Safety Score Card for production managers similar to that in Toronto.
• Knoll U.S. manufacturing facilities continued to offer a voluntary stretching program that includes instruction and 10 minutes of free time at the start of each shift for stretching exercises.
• All facilities continued to maintain safety teams, regular safety inspections and monthly safety meetings.
We will develop and implement health and wellness awareness and illness prevention programs.
• Knoll manufacturing facilities continued the hearing conservation program that includes testing of all workers in in-house hearing booths with physician review of test results, provision of hearing protection and education.
• In 2011 Knoll US facilities provided free flu shots to associates and their families. Additional nurses were brought in to administer the program.
• Weight loss programs at all facilities provided nutrition and exercise guidelines and weekly weigh-ins to improve employee health.
• At East Greenville, a 10,000-step walking program encouraged employees to measure and increase walking time and awarded prizes for success.
• The Knoll East Greenville, Grand Rapids and Muskegon facilities conducted successful blood drives.
We will design and develop training programs to provide Knoll associates with the necessary skills and knowledge to fulfill the objectives of the Environment, Health and Safety Plan.
• In 2011, Continuous Improvement Teams (CIT's) at all Knoll facilities conducted regular safety meetings, showed safety videos, trained volunteer safety observers, and created safety posters and newsletters.
• Knoll facilities continued to train employee First Responder volunteers in CPR, AED (Automated External Defibrillator) and first aid.
• In 2011, Knoll EHS teams monitored ISO/OSHA (OHSA in Canada) compliance and best practices through uniform procedures in all facilities.
ISO 14001 Environmental Policy Statement:
It is the policy of Knoll to manufacture affordable, well designed office furnishings in the most environmentally responsible way.
6. Safe Products and Services
We will reduce, and, where possible, eliminate the use, manufacture or sale of products and services that cause environmental damage or health or safety hazards. We will inform our customers of the environmental impacts of our product or services in an effort to prevent unsafe use.
We will design and engineer durable products; investigate using recycled materials in the design of our products; and design safety features and ergonomics into our products.
• In 2011 three additional Knoll products earned BIFMA level® 3 certification. They joined seven other Knoll products already certified, including the first system product in the industry to achieve that distinction. level® is a voluntary product standard, developed by the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer's Association, to support safe, healthy and sustainable workplace environments. The three Knoll products to earn level® 3 certification in 2011 were the Reff Profiles, Morrison™, and Series 2 Files and Storage. These join Knoll products already certified at level® 3: Antenna® Workspaces, Autostrada™ and Dividends Horizon® Systems; Generation and Multi-Generation seating; Calibre® storage system, Calibre®; and Reff Casegoods, a wood office system.
• In 2011 Knoll continued to design and engineer durable products that use recycled materials in their manufacture, have high recyclability, and include ergonomic and safety features.
• Knoll Design for the Environmental(DfE) guidelines were followed in the design and development ofnew products in the pipeline. DfE principles include economy of materials, recycled content, clean technology, ergonomics, durability and ease of assembly and disassembly. In 2011 LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) was completed for Template™, Reff Profile, Autostrada™, Series 2 Files, Antenna® and Morrison™ products and an EfW Full Circle project.
• In 2011 KnollTextiles added 11 new fabric lines with environmental attributes to its collections. These bring to 93 the total number of Knoll Green Bar designated fabrics, which contain at least 49% recycled content, at least 75% rapidly renewable material (natural fiber), or Eco-Intelligent fiber. All new fabrics are GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality® certified.
• KnollTextiles continued to offer Crypton® Green fabrics that combine post-consumer recycled polyester fibers with an optimized chemistry for reduced environmental and indoor air quality impact; Terratex fabrics made of 100% recycled content; Ultrasuede® textiles made with 80% postindustrial recycled microfiber; and Eco-Intelligent Polyester fabrics made of fiber that is a "technical nutrient" designed to be safely recycled into new fabric with no hazardous by-products.
We will provide independent testing to help assure the safety of our products.
• All Knoll systems and seating, all KnollTextiles fabrics, most KnollStudio furniture and all KnollExtra accessory products except poster boards are GREENGUARD certified.
• All Knoll office seating, the Template™ and Calibre® Storage Systems, the Antenna® and Morrison™ Office Systems, and Wood Casegood products are GREENGUARD for Children and Schools(SM) certified.
• Knoll performs structural testing of our products using ANSI/BIFMA protocols. Products are tested in our Quality Assurance Laboratory and independently at outside labs certified by the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB).
• All Knoll urethane foam cushioning on seating products meets or exceeds requirements of California Technical Bulletin 117 (CAL 117).
• Most Knoll seating products include upholstery options that comply with California Technical Bulletin (CAL 133), the most stringent flammability test protocol in the industry.
• All Knoll systems are listed products with Underwriter's Laboratories. Listing includes periodic testing of upholstered vertical panels and UL audits of Knoll and component suppliers' factories four times per calendar year.
7. Environmental Restoration
We will comply responsibly with the law to address conditions we have caused that endanger health, safety or the environment.
• In 2011 Knoll caused no conditions that endangered health, safety or the environment.
8. Informing the Public
We will comply with the law to inform in a timely manner those who may be affected by conditions caused by our operations that might endanger health, safety, or the environment, and will encourage associates to report dangerous incidents or conditions to management.
• No pollution incidents occurred in 2011 at any Knoll North American facility that affected the surrounding community or required public notification.


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Trade Paperback
208 pages
Sep 2006
Review | Author Bio | Read an Excerpt
For those interested in Francis Schaeffer as an apologist and evangelist, Truth with Love is a very helpful book. Schaeffers apologetic method is freshly organic considering the prevalence (and failure) of evangelistic gimmicks in a skeptical, postmodern age.
Follis devotes the first chapter to tracing where Schaeffers views fits in reference to Calvins understanding of the knowledge of God. In doing this, he traces Calvins influence on theologians like Edwards, Warfield, Kuyper, and Machen. Follis presents Schaeffer as an eclectic apologistinfluenced by both Machen and Van Tilwho preferred to think of himself as an evangelist rather than a proponent of any specific apologetic school. Hence, Schaeffer cannot be pigeon-holed as a presuppositionalist or an evidentialist.
The next chapter delves into the question of Schaeffers arguments and approach to evangelism. Context is so helpful, and I found that understanding how Schaeffer ran LAbri (or tried to let God run it and not get in the way) gave perspective to the man himself:
There was no grand strategy in Schaeffers ministry, for everything was allowed to develop in a relatively haphazard way, and this reflected his view that quietness and peace before God are more important than any influence a ministry, position, or activity may seem to give Schaeffers great concern was not to build an empire but to help the individual, and central to the work at LAbri was a personal compassion, based on careful and sympathetic listening (p. 47).
Schaeffers approach was centered around showing respect to unbelievers as those made in the image of God, and on showing compassion in the context of relationships and community. His commitment to people was pretty profound:
Everybody could come to their table, and [Schaeffer writes] drugs came to our place. People vomited in our rooms and we have girls come to our homes who have had three or four abortions by the time they are 17. Is it possible that they have venereal disease? Of course, but they sleep between our sheets (p. 58).
The third chapter ably defends Schaeffer against the charge of rationalism. Truth with Love had a previous life as a doctoral dissertation. It is here that a bit of the dryness of the academic approach peeks out. Nevertheless, the excellent documentation and refutation in the chapter are well worth it.
If nothing so far has intrigued you, buy the book for chapter four alone: Love as the Final Apologetic. Follis asks if Schaeffer is still relevant today, and it becomes clear that Christians need to listen to Schaeffer now more than ever. Working in Europe, which is several decades further down the path of apostasy than America, Schaeffers approach of treating unbelievers with respect and love, while taking their questions seriously, is what is the need of the hour. This chapter rattles the complacent.
Follis book was very helpful, but not without flaws. He repeatedly refers to Schaeffers spiritual crisis of 1951 without ever telling the reader exactly what it was (e.g. p. 161). This was somewhat irritating. Also bothersome was the authors repetition throughout the book. These deficiencies are almost not worth mentioning in comparison with the value of the information. Joost Nixon, Christian Book Previews.com
Book Jacket:
Francis Schaeffer was a well-known, extremely influential apologist and thinker who made his mark defending orthodox truth in the face of strong opposition. He was foremost in the vocation of apologetic ministry, and he was a brilliant man whom God used mightily during the decades of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s.
In Truth with Love, Bryan Follis explores the theology and thinking that fueled the ministry of Francis Schaeffer, from his Reformed position to his understanding of fundamentalism. Follis examines Schaeffers apologetic argument and the role of reason in his discussions and writings. The position Francis Schaeffer took against modernism and its applicability in this day of postmodernism are studied as well.
This book is a beneficial resource for any Francis Schaeffer fan and any minister, teacher, or student who appreciates truth and its defense in the face of different kinds of opposition.


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Chris Brigham of Knife & Saw: Playlist and Home Office
For the majority of his professional life Chris Brigham worked as a graphic designer. Just a few years ago, however, he decided to take a leap toward something he was truly cut out for: furniture design. Together with some good exposure and a little luck, his inspired work allowed him to bring Knife & Saw to life. In fact, you've probably seen Chris's work already. Knife & Saw is home to the award-winning Bike Shelf, a sublimely elegant solution for keeping your wheels indoors. Along with a few Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chairs, he lives, works -- and listens to today's Playlist -- in San Francisco.
What do you listen to while you work? It's definitely all over the place. A typical day could easily include Johnny Cash, The Ronettes, The Misfits, and Gang Starr in succession. Some days when I'm feeling ambitious, I will put together a playlist, but I'm usually too lazy and just hit "shuffle." (Although you run the risk of every terrible song you have ever put on your iPhone playing when you do that.)
How do you listen? If I'm in the shop, I'm mostly listening on headphones to my iPhone because the machinery tends to be really loud. If I'm in the home office, I listen on my computer. This is all assuming that my next-door neighbor isn't playing his keyboard in the backyard, because if he is, I'm all ears.
Do you have any favorite music websites/providers? My friend Matt runs The Bomarr Blog which always has some great music on it that I've probably never heard. I also check out KEXP and La Blogothèque for good live performances.
Does music influence your work? It's tough to say. In a way, it must, because I am constantly listening to music while working -- but it's hard to give a concrete example. It might influence the speed at which I work more than the work itself. I tend to get more work done when I'm listening to Glenn Danzig yell at me than when I am listening to the soothing sounds of Bon Iver.
Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste? I usually leave this up to my friends, who have more time and/or better musical taste than I do and keep me in tune with the latest music. I've also noticed that as I get older, the music my parents played for me when I was young is having a bigger influence on me. I have some serious James Taylor and Jackson Browne rock-blocks from time to time.
What song or artist best represents the work you create? This is a tough one. I guess it would need to be something without too many distractions, just straightforward and simple but also with an edgy/unique sound. Johnny Cash seems to fit the bill.
Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist: The Eames Lounge Chair in Black on Black (seen as a special edition) or if not, black on oiled walnut because you would have no choice but to sit back and relax and enjoy. Just don't fall asleep.
- If I Were A Carpenter, Johnny Cash
- Rocket Man, My Morning Jacket
- No One's Gonna Love You, Band of Horses
- Bad Love, Battleme
- Juarez, We Are Augustines
- Highway Patrolman, Bruce Springsteen
- Beth/Rest, Bon Iver
- Love is All, The Tallest Man On Earth
- Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Neil Young
- Where Eagles Dare, Misfits
- Sweet Baby James, James Taylor
- Faithfully, Journey
(Images: Chris Brigham)
Republished in partnership with Lifework
By Jamie Latendresse


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jport500 needed a new web page design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 51 designs submitted by 18 freelance designers.
MyGraphite.com is a lifestyle management application that helps people lose weight and improve fitness by tracking meals, exercise and body weight. Our application launched in March 2010. This page will be accessible for view only to non-registered users. MyGraphite.com registered member will be allowed to submit and answer questions.
Our target audience is broad and includes adult men and women of all ages and various levels of fitness. It is important that this page design is consistent with our existing site and brand guidelines.
This should be a straight-forward project. Our live production site is mygraphite.com. We licensed a php "Answers" script and it can be found on our development server at http://dev.mygraphite.com/answers. The script we like is at http://www.askpips.com. We would like our page design to be similar to this site, but consistent with our current live site and brand guidelines.
Our current application design is 'heavy' and dark. We would like our Answers page to have a somewhat 'lighter' look and feel.
The curved edges of the askpips design would be consistent with the curved edges within our application pages.
The space for the banner ad in the askpips.com design can be eliminated. The positioning of the search and ask buttons and categories and "Top Answerers" is about right. (Note: instead of "Answerers", use "Contributors")
We think a similar profile picture/avatar will provide some needed levity to our current application design.
Key elements to include:
Search/Ask Buttons with single entry field
Category list on left side
Top Contributors on right side
"Recently asked questions" in the center
Leader Board on lower right
"log in", "sign up", "help" buttons/links at top right


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posted by fran on Sun 20th Mar 2011 20:02 UTC
"AMD worldwide developer relations manager of graphics Richard Huddy has blamed Microsoft's DirectX and its APIs for limiting the potential of GPUs in PCs. 'We often have at least ten times as much horsepower as an Xbox 360 or a PS3 in a high-end graphics card, yet it's very clear that the games don't look ten times as good. To a significant extent, that's because... DirectX is getting in the way.'"