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ACParadise Network:
American Cosplay Paradise
American Cosplay Experience
American Cosplay Snapshots
Cosplayer Envel > Convention History
Here are all the conventions I have attended. Click on a Convention to see any costumes, pictures, or videos associated with it!
Upcoming Convention Appearances
Conventions Attended: 97
Most Attended Conventions
Most Costumes Worn
Costumes Most Worn
Complete Convention List


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The Gender Equality Index 2017 examines the progress and challenges in achieving gender equality across the European Union from 2005 to 2015. Using a scale from 1 (full inequality) to 100 (full equality), it measures the differences between women and men in key domains of the EU policy framework (work, money, knowledge, time, power and health).
The Index also measures violence against women and intersecting inequalities. These are satellite domains and are part of the framework of the Gender Equality Index, but do not have an impact on the overall score. Intersecting inequalities show how gender intersects with age, education, family composition, country of birth and disability. The Gender Equality Index provides results for each domain and sub-domain for the EU and its 28 Member States.
Read more
Explore your country's scores on the Gender Equality Index online platform


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Michelle Obama says she's eyeing another campaign in 2016 and, contrary to speculation, it doesn't involve running for public office.
During her first appearance on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" on Friday, the host asked her to consider a Michelle-Hillary ticket for president in 2016. The latter is former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who lost the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination to Mrs. Obama's husband. Speculation is rampant that Clinton is gearing up to run again in 2016.
"You know, I have my eye actually on another job. And I hear that when Jay Leno retires that 'The Tonight Show' position is going to open and I'm thinking about putting my hat in the ring," the first lady says, according to an excerpt of the appearance released before airtime by NBC.
"I got my hat in the ring," Fallon replies.
Mrs. Obama then asks for his opinion, but Fallon's answer suggests he's had a quick change of heart about challenging her. "I'm done thinking about it," he says, laughing.
The first lady visited the late-night talk show to promote "Let's Move," her anti-childhood obesity campaign, which marked its third anniversary this month.
She also danced with Fallon, who was dressed like a woman.
Besides the appearance on "Late Night," Mrs. Obama discussed the initiative while in New York City during segments taped for broadcast Tuesday on ABC's "Good Morning America" and Thursday on "The Dr. Oz Show." Next Wednesday, Mrs. Obama embarks on a two-day promotional tour, with stops in Clinton, Miss.; Chicago; and Springfield, Mo.
For the second anniversary of "Let's Move," she and Fallon turned the East Room of the White House into a playground. They did pushups, twirled hula hoops, and competed at dodge ball and tug-of-war before the first lady triumphed over the comedian in a climactic potato sack race.
Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap


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For most of us, trying to stay warm in the winter means cozy blankets, big sweaters, and enjoying the benefits of indoor heating. But the use of heaters, as lovely as they are, can contribute to dry eye symptoms. Dry eye is one of the most common eye-health concerns and it's important to be aware of the risks. If left untreated, dry eye can worsen and lead to damaged corneas and impaired vision. Dry Eye Center at Turner Eye Institute has years of experience providing specialized treatment for dry eye and offering patients much deserved relief.
Heaters May Lead to Dry Eye
Dry eye also results when the eye either doesn't produce enough tears or doesn't produce quality tears to properly lubricate the eye, leading to red, irritated and itchy eyes. Poor quality tears lack the adequate balance of water, mucus, or lipids, leaving the eye insufficiently protected. A heater can, at times, further exacerbate the symptoms.
Heaters, specifically car heaters, can cause dry eyes due to the dry environment they create and the proximity of the blowing air to the eyes. Moreover, the heat leads the tears to evaporate, leaving the eyes unprotected.
Prevent Dry Eye This Winter
While it may be instinctive to switch on the heater upon entering your car, especially if you drive to work in the early morning when it's coldest, make sure you take these steps to prevent dry eye this winter season.
- Direct the warm airflow to your body, not your face. We aren't telling you to turn off heaters altogether, just to make sure the warm air isn't directly hitting your eyes.
- Wear sunglasses. They'll shield the eyes from winds, whether cool or warm and prevent tears from evaporating.
- Keep hydrated. Drinking plenty of water is not just for the summer! Consuming extra fluids will help keep all parts of the body hydrated, including your eyes. Limit coffee intake, as it can be dehydrating.
- Remember to blink. We often forget to blink when trying to focus on the road while driving. Being conscientious of this will ensure your eyes remain lubricated and refreshed with every blink.
If you suffer from dry eye or have any questions about your eye health, don't hesitate to contact us at Dry Eye Center at Turner Eye Institute. We are here for you and are committed to providing you with the relief that you deserve. Call us today to book your appointment. Happy winter!
Dry Eye Center at Turner Eye Institute provides dry eye relief and treatment to patients from San Leandro, Concord, Castro Valley, Alameda, and throughout California.


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Wednesday, December 19, 2007
How High?
Sounds like a great time, huh? Such is our love of cyclocross. There's something in this equation that doesn't quite add up, and it's not that we carry our bicycles. It comes when we put that bike back down and willingly lob our asses skyward. Whether we have dreams of procreation or not, the delicate business means landing sidesaddle in proximity to a collection of biology known to us primarily for its ability to remind us of what NOT to do, the event is meant only to speed our return to the pedals. Click, click—and we're off again.
Years ago the process was a little more involved. You had to hit each pedal with your foot, flip it over and jam your foot back in. Because races took place on grass, the bicycle's bottom bracket had to be much higher than that of a traditional road bike so the toe clips wouldn't drag in the grass—this is a detail the Frogs figured out in the 1950s.
Fast forward to, oh say, now. Swing the right knee skyward and once safely aboard, the feet go straight into the pedal stroke, no flipping over of the pedals.
So why are bottom bracket heights on cyclocross bikes still on average 2cm higher than those on road bikes?
It wouldn't be a cause for concern were it not for this little detail. Name another cycling event where the rider makes tighter turns? Add to that the fact that these oh-so-tight turns are conducted aboard bikes with 700C wheels and it's fair to ask the question: What can we do to make this bike easier to turn?
The answer is simple: Make it easier to lean the bike over to carve a tight turn. Okay, so how do you do that? Simple. Lower the bottom bracket. Drop the center of gravity of the bicycle and leaning the bicycle into a turn becomes a good bit easier.
How much could it be dropped? It's hard to say; there hasn't been much experimentation with this. Pedaling through corners doesn't happen to the same degree it does in crits, so dragging a pedal through the dirt isn't a big concern.
To illustrate the point, let's consider an example in extreme. Say you're driving down a twisty road. Would you rather take the twists and turns in a Ford Expedition or a Mini Cooper? My preference would be for the Mini Cooper, with a center of gravity lower than most Congressional standards, it can turn circles around the SUV. Put another way, I'd rather run a steeplechase barefoot than on stilts.
I went to the trouble to build, with the help of Toby Stanton of Hot Tubes, a 'cross bike with a low bottom bracket. In Part II I'll describe the process of building the bike and racing it at 'Cross Nat's and since.
Photos courtesy Chris Milliman
35 comments:
- Unknown said...
yeah, you would think it'd be best to be in the mini cooper...but if you throw some big rocks, roots, stumps, etc in the middle of those twisty turns you quickly realize a subaru outback is a much better choice because of its ground clearance.
i went through the exact opposite, coming from a bike with too low of a bb that caused me to always clip a pedal to now having a bike with the right balance of high bb and adept handling. - December 21, 2007 at 1:45:00 PM CST
- erik k said...
I like your thinking, and while where at it a few other things that don't seem to make sense to me about cross bikes. Considering the cross races are infamous for being held, in the wettest, snowiest, muddies conditions you would think things like disc brakes and internal gearing would make sense as well how about a cross bike with some avid disc brakes, a rohloff hub and a track crank up front? I think it could be pretty sick, even if you couldn't race on it, it would be a really awesome commuter
- December 21, 2007 at 1:53:00 PM CST
- bikesgonewild said...
...my immediate first reaction to the bb height change is 'that makes alotta sense in this day & age'...
...now i await part 2 w/ bated breath, to find out how close my head is to being up an orifice near my tender nads...
...it sounds like a sound idea, but does it ride like a sound idea ???...can't wait to find out... - December 21, 2007 at 1:57:00 PM CST
- Andrew Karre said...
I've heard it argued that a higher BB allows you to pedal through tight low speed turns where the the verb "to carve" is less operative than the verb "to slog." I would think this would be especially important in mud, where you're nearly always on the edge of losing momentum, partuclarly coming out of rutted corners.
Also, I wonder if trail isn't a neglected factor in 'cross bike handling. Lower trail geometries are getting a lot of attention from randonneurs because of their handling characteristics at low speeds. Might apply to cross as well. - December 21, 2007 at 2:09:00 PM CST
- -p said...
As Andrew mentioned, what about the slogging? I know I've dipped a pedal or two in deep sand. Regardless, good on you for advancing the sport.
- December 21, 2007 at 2:12:00 PM CST
- Xterrafied said...
Lower BB's will always be better for racing. I'm not talking any Jungle Cross with "Big rocks, roots,and stumps" If thats your think Ride a SALSA or a MTB. Low, light and fast. That would be my dream cross bike. T-
- December 21, 2007 at 3:39:00 PM CST
- Unknown said...
if your 'cross courses are void of technical natural terrain in the corners, you might as well call it a road race.
seriously, what is the deal with crit style 'cross courses? i thought we were trying to improve our bike handling skills, not watch the same fit roadies win all summer AND fall. - December 21, 2007 at 3:53:00 PM CST
- tjh said...
I've done just this experiment...well
read here.
and here.
in short, i'm not going back. cant' really speak to the 'slog' aspect. It's been pretty dry this year. - December 21, 2007 at 4:10:00 PM CST
- nikcee said...
"with a center of gravity lower than most Congressional standards,"
thats almost BSNYC quality... and in honour of that, i shall use the same rating system:
berry muffin, the wall of my cublicle (much to the consternation of my cubicle mate) - December 21, 2007 at 4:15:00 PM CST
- Unknown said...
Very nice once again! But I'm not sold on BB height as being the deciding factor. I'm thinking a higher BB with less trail will make a bike turn easier. Someone will have to do some science to really sort this out.
Craig - December 21, 2007 at 5:17:00 PM CST
I tried to tell this to the design gurus at C'dale 5 years ago...they gave me the 1,000 yard stare. Then Tim Jiohnson siad lower the BB and they thought they had heard the voice of God. Check the bb height on their bikes.
- December 21, 2007 at 5:17:00 PM CST
- e-RICHIE said...
Padraig wrote:
"The answer is simple: Make it easier to lean the bike over to carve a tight turn. Okay, so how do you do that? Simple. Lower the bottom bracket. Drop the center of gravity of the bicycle and leaning the bicycle into a turn becomes a good bit easier."
gets it atmo. - December 21, 2007 at 9:22:00 PM CST
- Hup United said...
What no one has mentioned.....which I think is worth mentioning.....is the fact that BB drop, when comparing from bike to bike, is the same no matter the tire radius.
BB height, however, changes drastically with tire choice. (And therefore center of gravity) And we know how many cross tyres are out there. Look at the review CN did on Wellens' bike. The dude is running like 32mm slicks!!!!! When he puts his "mud" tyres on, I'm sure his BB height is jacked by at least 1 cm.
And...once BB height changes, let's say it's getting higher off the ground for this example, that "raises the bar" of how high one needs to jump to get back on the bike. The saddle height from BB center to top of saddle remains the same from a 5.8 cm BB drop to a 7.0 BB drop.
ATMO has spoken in the last post. - December 22, 2007 at 1:24:00 PM CST
- B said...
Higher BB allows you to peddle through the corners allowing you to keep the momentum high.This was proven on crit bike and mountain bikes (when the races had actual single track)The ability to peddle in a corner can be a huge advantage higher lean angle are a good side effect too as they can block out more space.
BTW the use of a scientific (atmo) term is not cool if you don't know what it is. - December 22, 2007 at 8:34:00 PM CST
- Hup United said...
Sorry, I meant the wheel's radius.
- December 22, 2007 at 8:39:00 PM CST
- Art said...
The mini cooper analogy isn't entirely correct. On a car, it isn't the cg height that matters so much as the cg relative to track width. All else being equal, lowering the cg on a bike does nothing to the lean angle. Whether leaning on a taller bike feels like being on stilts or not depends entirely on the front end geometry.
- December 23, 2007 at 10:17:00 AM CST
- Brett Svatek said...
I'll measure my frame geometry and let you guys know...not that you asked, but my Bonty 'Cross is one of the best handling bikes I've ever ridden...here's some pix...
click the link for more..
p.s. not a cheap ploy to get you to my site... - December 23, 2007 at 2:12:00 PM CST
- tjh said...
retro grouch, just curious...have you tried them side by side? I have, on the same courses even... the larger bb drop trumped the 'pedalling through corners' everytime. I rode a 55mm bb drop for 5 years. It only took me a few races to see the 70mm bb drop was the clear winner. Oh yes...same fork rake on both bikes and nearly the same front end geo. 72.7 vs 72.5.
- December 23, 2007 at 8:34:00 PM CST
- solobreak said...
I can still hit my high side pedal on some of the off cambers they throw at us in New England, especially when the grass is clumpy. So there is such a thing as too low.
I'm not sure how these really big guys get their long wheelbase bikes to turn well though. But they do... talent maybe? - December 24, 2007 at 2:09:00 PM CST
The history of building bicycles and parts has always shifted one direction to the other and then back again. It's a "cycle". Higher, lower, steeper, more or less are always "better" until it's the norm and then suddenly an old idea becomes better again.
- December 27, 2007 at 8:33:00 AM CST
- Ron George said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- December 27, 2007 at 5:39:00 PM CST
- Ron George said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- December 27, 2007 at 5:47:00 PM CST
- Ron George said...
1. As much as the temptation appears, I would refrain from using multi-track analogies for single track vehicles. Not a bad observation though.Single track vehicles such as bicycles or motorcycles lean into a turn to counter centrifugal forces, while multi-track vehicles corner flat or roll slightly out of the turn with significant load transfers to the outside wheels.
The dynamics are different.
2. Nice thoughts to a better cross bike. Such a bike could also be ridden on road. Why make a separate bike for everything right? Its easy for companies to cash in on this aspect.
3. Your idea seems to be prior knowledge to some good framebuilders. For example, Waterford makes/used to make cyclocross bikes with low BB drop. Not sure if they still do, but you might want to check.
4. Since I like to be very analytical in nature, no peer reviewed literature has talked about the greatest effect on CG on a bicycle. I mean, why does everyone think BB drop makes the most difference? I'd like someone to quantify the % drop in CG with, say, a cm of BB drop. And how is a compact geometry to lower CG compared with BB drop (assuming the compact bike will be made decent enough to shoulder)?
5. A good design in this area will think about proper trail, wheelbase, stability and stand over height.
6. If you don't want to worry about all these, I would just plead with the course designers to make more forgiving turns. Lol... - December 27, 2007 at 5:58:00 PM CST
- Ron George said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- December 27, 2007 at 6:08:00 PM CST
- Ron George said...
Since you brought up CG, I have a trick questions for you :)
1. If I put a 6 feet 5 rider (someone slightly taller than Hincapie maybe), would he corner slower than say, Robbie Mcewen, provided rest all factors are equal?
The CG argument must have it that the latter will be better, no?
Boy, but I believe Hincapie is one of the best descenders ever! He makes poetry out of it.
One can generalize the above question and think about it practically. - December 27, 2007 at 6:09:00 PM CST
- Ron George said...
Another question I had :
Center of gravity is dictated by mass. So CG of the combined rider-bike system must be closer to the rider (just simple physics).
Then wouldn't it suffice to say that a change in the rider will affect CG more than any drop in BB that say,you're resorting to doing?
I may be wrong, but someone should prove it . :)
Sorry about all this excitement in my brain neurons, but your post has got me thinking. - December 27, 2007 at 6:42:00 PM CST
- gewilli said...
how long we gonna have to wait for you to get over the man-love of VDB and get back to this cross bike stuff ;)
how the hell are those big giant guys staying on the wheels of the little tiny folks???? - December 28, 2007 at 1:59:00 PM CST
If only the rider's weight was in the bottom bracket. Instead it is about 60cm higher than that, where the saddle is located. BB height has little to do with center of gravity. However, a higher bottom gives greater clearance and a stiffer BB (shorter chainstays).
A bicycle is not a car - different physics, different solutions. - December 29, 2007 at 2:32:00 AM CST
- Art said...
Anonymous 2:32: There is a valid connection between bb height and cg. If the bb gets raised or lowered, the saddle needs to move the same amount. Compact geometry on the other hand really doesn't have an effect. A top tube only weighs about 250g, compared to at least 79,000 grams for the rest of the bike + rider. Switching to a compact frame (moving the center of the top tube down 5cm) only moves the effective cg 0.15mm.
- December 29, 2007 at 10:46:00 AM CST
- gewilli said...
Of course you could always just run longer cranks (180s) like some of us tall freaks do....
sure it is only a 5mm departure lower for me...
(from those on the same bike with 175 vs 180s)
Handle bar height also affects CG as it determines where the stuff above your hips is relative to the ground. - December 29, 2007 at 4:57:00 PM CST
- Ron George said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- December 29, 2007 at 7:23:00 PM CST
- Ron George said...
Art at 10:46,
I can understand the difference a recumbent can make to CG. The rider is essentially almost lying close to the ground. But that is one end of the extreme.
At the moment, we do not have any objective tests done to show that a negligible movement of CG drop will make such an impact on cornering. So all other conclusions are just rider based preferences. - December 29, 2007 at 7:34:00 PM CST
to get to the bottom of the BB height debate for cross bikes you need to go back to the roots of the sport. Most cross bikes are still roughley based on the old Alan geometry that was unchanged for years. in those years they used toeclips, and needed to keep them out of the mud, and THAT was the main factor for the raising of the BB. As well as that they were using 28c tires back then. Now we all know that bike makers will listen to their PRO riders in regard to changes in geometry, but when a rider has been winning on the same bike for years the last thing they want is to change it. you can get used to anything, but it takes time to learn(or unlearn) a bike's handling style.
As for digging in a pedal once in a while I would contend that if you are pushing hard enough you SHOULD tap the pedal into the ground now and then. The best crit racers in the country do. Next time you are at a PRO crit take a look at some of the top guy's pedals, unless they just replaced them they will have scuff marks from hitting the ground while pedaling through corners.
these days though, with no toeclips(thank god) and 32 and 34c tires, I want my BB low as hell.
I really want to hear more about trail though - December 31, 2007 at 5:00:00 PM CST
- Ron George said...
1. We'll all let Freddy go ahead and make one. Let the creativity flow.
2. "The answer is simple: Make it easier to lean the bike over to carve a tight turn. Okay, so how do you do that? Simple. Lower the bottom bracket. Drop the center of gravity of the bicycle and leaning the bicycle into a turn becomes a good bit easier" .
Freddy, I'll be glad if you pointed out any sources of this information. True it happens in motorcycles (contrary to popular beliefs, some motorbikes are built with a higher engine position and higher CG for better leaning. Who do you believe?), but for a cyclocross application, with speeds much much lesser than those reached by motorbikes, I'll be very surprised to see if a cm or even two of BB drop will every do anything to leaning that is noticeable.
3. What leaning depends on more is the coefficient of friction of the ground, and the turning radius. Those two factors seem to overwhelm any other minute details.
4. Its also nice to keep the hands on the hoods while turning, that'll probably centralize CG (if you're worried about it) instead of it being more towards the rear. It could result in a stable turn.
My two cents. - December 31, 2007 at 6:21:00 PM CST
- Ron George said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- December 31, 2007 at 7:15:00 PM CST


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Richard Carrier On the Use of Ridicule (via email)
By and large the minds of the ridiculous can't be changed. It's their flock we're talking to. But even the ridiculous change under ridicule some respond by getting more ridiculous (and those are the ones who could never be swayed even by the politest methods), but others accumulate shame until they see the error of their ways (I've met many ex-evangelicals who have told me exactly that). Thus, ridicule converts the convertible and marginalizes the untouchable. There is no more effective strategy in a culture war.I like what he said.


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From the Nov. 20, 2006, Princeton Weekly Bulletin
Graduate students in the School of Architecture will see their work in a new seminar come to life on the Berlind Theatre stage this spring.
In the first collaboration between the architecture school and a campus theatrical production, students are designing sets for the April 12-14 world premiere of "Boris Godunov," a classic 19th-century Russian play by Alexander Pushkin. Jesse Reiser, an associate professor of architecture, is leading the seminar this fall in partnership with stage director Tim Vasen, with contributions by others involved in various aspects of the production.
"I think it's really organic," Reiser said of the collaboration. "We each have our own areas of expertise, and the theater is a fantastic vehicle for bringing these things together. We seem to be attracting more and more people to watch the process, which is also really interesting."
The 15 graduate students began the semester by developing concepts for the entire set, and have since been working in groups of three on more detailed models for particular scenes. Ultimately, Reiser and Vasen will choose the best designs — in some cases, combining elements of work done by different teams — to be constructed in the spring with assistance from the students.
"I've never worked like this before — it's unique for all of us," said Vasen, a lecturer in the Program in Theater and Dance. "Usually when a play is done there is a single set designer, but when we decided to open this up to involve the architecture school they wanted to give an opportunity to as many students as possible.
"One of the things that has been really helpful is that, being architects, they are always looking for really new and unexpected ways to get from A to B. In some cases, they've been reinventing the theater — some of that is a little impractical, but some of that is really exciting," Vasen said.
Reiser said, "The students are looking at different ways of getting the set to move, to flutter and to fluctuate. They're dealing with different ways of creating a terrain, a theatrical surface for people to play on, and they're looking in interesting ways at how to work with the theater in a way that would be pretty unorthodox."
For example, one team of students — Laila Seewang, Anne Romme and Brandon Horn — is working on designs of three-sided panels that can be manually rotated by the actors on stage to display different images. "It is very exciting to take on a project for one semester and see it realized," said Seewang, who added that she is particularly looking forward to assisting with construction of the set this spring.
In addition to discussing their designs, students have learned about various aspects of the production ranging from the history of the play to the musical score to budgetary considerations. Visitors to the class have included: project directors Simon Morrison, associate professor of music, and Caryl Emerson, professor of Slavic languages and literatures; technical coordinator Darryl Waskow, managing director in theater and dance; Catherine Cann, costume shop manager in theater and dance; Paula Matthews, music librarian and curator of an exhibition that will accompany the production; and Michael Pratt, conductor of the University Orchestra. Members of the project team often sit in on the seminars to observe and comment on the design process.
"All of these people influence the way in which I consider the set and continually re-interpret things about the designs that I tend to take for granted," Seewang said.
Reviving a lost vision
Pushkin's historical play, written in 1825, is set just before the "Time of Troubles," the interregnum and civil war between Russia's two imperial dynasties. It dramatizes Godunov's rise to power in late 16th-century Russia, his increasingly tyrannical reign as czar from 1598 to 1605 and the challenge to his reign by Dmitry the Pretender, who claimed to be a son of Ivan the Terrible. For political as well as dramatic reasons, Pushkin's play was approved for performance only in 1866 and then adapted into an opera by composer Modest Musorgsky between 1869 and 1874.
The Princeton production is based on an ill-fated stage version crafted by innovative director Vsevolod Meyerhold, with choral and orchestral music composed in 1936 by Sergei Prokofiev for Meyerhold's version, intended for the centennial of Pushkin's death. This was Meyerhold's second attempt to stage "Godunov" (the first was in 1924-25), but in the increasingly threatening climate of the Stalin regime, Meyerhold abandoned this production as well. He was arrested on charges of treason in 1939 and shot a year later. Prokofiev's score has never been used for a live performance of Pushkin's play, nor has the full text of the play ever received a first-class staging in English.
The effort to recreate Meyerhold's vision presented an ideal opportunity for collaboration with the architecture school, according to the project directors. The partnership was encouraged by Dean Stan Allen, who chaired President Tilghman's task force that led to the creation of the University Center for the Creative and Performing Arts earlier this year.
"Meyerhold tended to work on his theatrical projects with architects, so this seemed like a natural thing to try to do," Morrison said. "Relying on primary source materials, we're trying to realize at least something of Meyerhold's politically attuned intentions for Prokofiev's score and, in its uncensored guise, Pushkin's drama."
Emerson added, "Pushkin intended his innovative drama for the stage, but the imperial censorship did not approve it for performance during his lifetime. The Boris Godunov story first achieved world fame as an opera. We see this Princeton collaborative project as an act of stripping Pushkin's original, lean, fast-paced play of all those later operatic components and at the same time realizing something that Pushkin didn't really have the technique, technology or political freedom to realize. This was also Meyerhold's dream."
Grant Alford, a student in the seminar, said, "Given that the play was never performed, and in light of the circumstances under which it was shut down, it is inspirational for us to try to revive it."
Reiser stressed that while students are trying to be true to Meyerhold's vision for the production, their design concepts must incorporate modern realities.
"There are issues we have to face in the present day and at Princeton that weren't faced by Meyerhold in the '30s," he said. "'Boris Godunov' would have been known by the educated intelligentsia. That gave him a lot of liberty to produce a much more abstract set, because it wouldn't be necessary to make too many historical references. We can't assume that. We have to balance an historical presentation to contextualize the play, but at the same time not turn it into something that's too heavily invested in historical representation."
Reiser added, "What is really exciting here is that we and the students are exploring Meyerhold's concept of a biomechanical theatre, which features energetic movement among the actors with certain scenes overlapping and the set in constant motion. We're trying to develop a model for this concept in the 21st century. I hope that Meyerhold, if he were alive today, would be surprised and happy at the consequences."
Vasen said the process of evaluating students' set designs is helping him shape his own vision for the Princeton production.
"I'm hoping the production ends up feeling connected to what Meyerhold was trying to do in the Soviet period and what Pushkin was trying to do in the 1820s — a new way to look at a history play, something that is very physically dynamic and unexpected and involves a lot of different points of view," he said. "You really get a lot of different locations and a lot of different perspectives, and I hope the design and the production will end up having almost a kaleidoscopic feeling to it.
"I don't think this process could work for every play, but for this project — both the nature of the play and the project itself, which is about encompassing a lot of different points of view — it's actually working really well," Vasen said. "I was nervous that it was going to result in chaos, but I've come to believe that organized chaos is exactly what the project demands."
For more information about the Godunov project, visit its website.


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Mr. Speaker, next week, Kassymzhomart Tokaev, the Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, will be visiting Washington. Given Kazakhstan's growing strategic and economic significance, his agenda with U.S. Government officials and Congress is likely to be broad-ranging. But a key focus of Minister Tokaev's discussions will certainly be Kazakhstan's bid to serve in 2009 as Chair-in-Office of the 56-nation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Kazakhstan has been avidly pursuing this prestigious leadership post since 2003. The consensus decision must be made by this fall, in time for the December OSCE Ministerial Meeting.
While I support the idea of Central Asian leadership of the OSCE, my purpose today is to point out the very serious problems with Kazakhstan's candidacy. As many of my colleagues on the Helsinki Commission have concluded, awarding Kazakhstan the political leadership of OSCE in 2009 would be unwarranted and potentially dangerous for the Organization. President Nursultan Nazarbaev, in his opening statement at a recent OSCE meeting in Almaty, even admitted: "We do not…have established democratic principles." Therefore, allowing Kazakhstan to assume the chairmanship by default is not acceptable. Kazakhstan's chairmanship bid must be deferred until the country substantially implements its OSCE commitments, especially those on human rights and democratization.
Defenders of Kazakhstan's candidacy have pointed to the country's economic reforms and relative freedom, compared to the rest of Central Asia. I concur that Kazakhstan is far ahead of the police states of Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan. But that is no great achievement. Surpassing the worst of the worst does not confer an automatic right to hold the chairmanship of the OSCE which is dedicated to upholding human rights and promoting democracy.
It has long been the State Department's position "that any Chair of the OSCE must be in substantial compliance with all OSCE commitments." Over several years now, high-level U.S. Government officials have provided Nazarbaev and other Kazakh officials clear, concrete indicators of the progress necessary before serious consideration could be given to U.S. support for Kazakhstan's Chair-in-Office bid.
Yet long-promised political reforms in Kazakhstan have not materialized and the human rights climate remains poor, as documented in the State Department's annual reports. Kazakhstan's oil riches, strategic location and cooperation with the United States in antiterrorism programs cannot conceal the fact that the country remains an authoritarian state. President Nazarbaev has manipulated constitutional referendums and falsified elections to stay in power, while his relatives and friends have gained monopoly positions in the most profitable sectors of the economy. Independent and opposition media have been consistently harassed and pressured, and opposition politicians have been excluded from elections, or worse.
Such was the state of affairs before last December's presidential election, which was widely seen as a "make-or-break" moment for Kazakhstan. Unfortunately, the government failed to uphold its international commitments before, during and following the election. Despite repeated pledges from Nazarbaev to hold a free and fair contest, the OSCE observation mission stated the election "did not meet a number of OSCE commitments" due to "restrictions on campaigning, harassment of campaign staff and persistent and numerous cases of intimidation by the authorities" which "limited the possibility for a meaningful competition."
The election was a serious blow to Kazakhstan's chances to chair the OSCE. The recent establishment of the State Commission on the Development and Realization of the Programme of Political Reforms comes after the major elections, too late to have any definitive liberalizing effects. In addition, a string of events has accentuated the disturbing gap between OSCE commitments and Kazakhstan's implementation.
Last November, opposition politician and former Mayor of Almaty Zamanbek Nurkadilov was found dead in his home. According to Kazakh authorities, he shot himself three times, twice in the chest and once in the head. The official version of his death is, kindly put, implausible in the extreme.
In February, opposition politician Altynbek Sarsenbaev, along with his driver and unarmed bodyguard, was shot in an apple orchard outside Almaty. The official investigation has placed the blame for this brazen crime on Erzhan Utembaev, head of the administration of the Senate, who allegedly engaged the services of some security officers.
It is fair to say that this explanation for Sarsenbaev's death has failed to satisfy many observers. What is indisputable, however, is that anyone involved in opposition politics in Kazakhstan risks, in the worst case scenario, not merely electoral defeat but murder.
Furthermore, Kazakh officials have backed Russian plans to eviscerate the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, which, among other important democracy promoting activities, undertakes the OSCE's election observation missions. This would pose a grave threat to the OSCE as an institution and as the most credible election monitoring organization in the world.
Recent statements and actions by local Kazakh authorities against a Hare Krishna community outside of Almaty and actions to penalize minority religious communities for unregistered religious practice run counter to OSCE norms and Kazakhstan's stated commitment to inter-religious tolerance.
On March 20, President Nazarbaev praised Uzbek President Islam Karimov's handling of unrest in Andijon in May 2005. Praise for the Andijon massacre that left hundreds dead in Uzbekistan, and which moved the OSCE, the U.S. Government and international organizations to call for an independent, impartial investigation, are hardly the "reforms" one expects of a country that hopes to chair the OSCE. The forced repatriation of Uzbek refugees to Uzbekistan was equally alarming.
Just today, Kazakhstan's upper house passed a highly restrictive media law that has been criticized by the OSCE's Representative on the Media and the U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan. It is hoped that President Nazarbaev will not sign this problematic bill into law.
Mr. Speaker, in light of these circumstances, Kazakhstan's bid to chair the OSCE in 2009 cannot be supported. I strongly believe that backing Kazakhstan's candidacy would cause more difficulties than will result from Astana's disappointment over not winning this prize.
None of this means that we should not strive to develop the best possible relations with Kazakhstan, on a mutually beneficial basis. There are many areas of current and potential cooperation between our countries, including Kazakhstan's entry into the WTO, energy, military security and anti-terrorism. Nor does my inability to support Kazakhstan's candidacy for the OSCE Chairmanship in 2009 mean that I do not hope to be able to back a future bid. Nothing would please me more than to report to this Chamber that Kazakhstan has met its commitments on democratization and human rights and richly deserves to lead the OSCE. A Kazakh chairmanship would also move the Organization eastward in the symbolic sense, bridging what has become an uncomfortable gap between the former Soviet republics and Europe.
But that moment has not yet come, Mr. Speaker. I would encourage the Kazakh leaders to avail themselves of the opportunity of additional time to constructively engage the OSCE. Working to ensure that the Organization succeeds would aid Kazakhstan's bid for a future chairmanship, while expressing sour grapes over a denial can only add to the impression that Kazakhstan is not ready for a leadership role.
The OSCE Chairmanship represents acknowledgement of progress already made, not a stimulus to future, unproven progress. Urging the Kazakhs to defer their bid would leave the door open for Astana, should demonstrable reforms on human rights and democratization be forthcoming. That progress was promised by President Nazarbaev, when he signed the Helsinki Accords as his country joined the OSCE in 1992.


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Colors | Space Gray, Silver, Gold |
Memory | 64GB, 256GB |
iPhone 8 Plus features an all-glass design and an aerospace-grade aluminum band. Charges wirelessly. Resists water and dust. 5.5-inch Retina HD display with True Tone. 12MP dual cameras with Portrait mode and Portrait Lighting. Powered by the A11 Bionic chip. Supports augmented reality experiences in games and apps. And iOS 12—the most advanced mobile operating system—with powerful new tools that make iPhone more personal than ever.
- 5.5-inch Retina HD display
- IP67 water and dust resistant (maximum depth of 1 meter up to 30 minutes)
- 12MP dual cameras with OIS, Portrait mode, Portrait Lighting, and 4K video
- 7MP FaceTime HD camera with Retina Flash
- Touch ID for secure authentication and Apple Pay
- A11 Bionic with Neural Engine
- Wireless charging—works with Qi chargers
- iOS 12 with Screen Time, Group FaceTime, and even faster performance


text: The Topeka Public Schools, Unified School District No. 501 is committed to affirmative action and equal opportunity. No person shall, on the basis of age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability, national origin or ancestry be denied lawful access to any appropriate educational service, program or activity provided by the school district. For students, the Title VI, Title IX and Section 504 compliance coordinator compliance coordinator is the General Counsel for the district. For employment, the EEO/AA and Title VII compliance officer is the general director of human resources. Compliance coordinators may be contacted at 624 SW 24th Street, Topeka, KS 66611-1294, (785) 295-3000.The clerk of the Board of Education has been designated to receive and redirect or handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies, regulations and procedures. The clerk may be contacted by calling (785) 295-3045 or by writing to 624 SW 24th Street, Topeka, Kansas 66611-1294.


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Dear Lifehacker,
I did a good inspection of my new apartment, signed the lease, moved in...but as soon as I moved in, problems cropped up left and right. I got a few bugs here and there, appliances started breaking, and so on. How can I hold my landlord accountable for these things that looked good during tours, but fell apart after normal use?
Frustrated Tenant
Dear Frustrated Tenant,
That's a bummer! There are a lot of things you can turn up in routine inspections of an apartment or home before you move in, but you're right—some things won't become obvious until someone's regularly living in a space, even for a few days. You won't see the bugs that come out at night if you only tour in the daytime, and you won't know if that shiny washer/dryer really works well until you've moved in and tried to run a full load. Thankfully, not all is lost! Here are some ways to approach your landlord with the issues so they'll actually help, and some avenues to explore if they don't.
Start by Asking: Most Landlords Will Work WIth You
It sounds like you've just moved in, so first, don't assume your landlord will give you trouble for the things you find. Sometimes all you need to do is ask nicely and your landlord will work with you—after all, it's in their best interest to keep you in the place, happy, and paying rent, not to mention keep their property value up. Besides, landlords and management companies know things will turn up when a new tenant moves in. Photo by Kzenon (Shutterstock).
If you didn't get an inspection or move-in checklist, ask for one or create one yourself. This way you can document the condition of everything in your unit. The last thing you want is to eventually move out and be held accountable for appliances that were broken when you moved in. Once you've filled out your checklist, get in touch with your landlord and let them know what you've found. Go over the list, give them a copy, and ask for a timetable for getting the issues fixed. In most cases, they'll be up front with you about what they can and can't do and when. In the worst case, you've documented everything and made your case, which is the first step for any later action.
Read Your Lease Closely and Document Everything
Look over your lease to see where you have some leverage. Most have some language for the condition of the unit when it's turned over to you. Terms like "in working order" and "reasonably clean and sanitary" usually appear, and if not in the lease proper, it's required in supporting paperwork from your state or locale. Make sure you read your lease closely to see what rights you're afforded, document everything with notes, photos, even video if you have to, and base your communications on the evidence you have and the language in the lease.
For example, an apartment I lived in several years ago had a roach problem I was promised would be dealt with before I moved in. It wasn't—not by any means—and after about four months of misery, I broke the lease, citing the clause in my lease that the property management had committed to providing "a unit in safe and sanitary condition that provides protection from the elements, harm, and pests." Suffice to say I didn't have to pay a lease breakage fee when I moved out. You might be surprised what rights your lease gives you.
Know Your Rights: Research Landlord-Tenant Laws
Landlord-tenant laws and regulations vary from place to place, but almost every jurisdiction has some ordinances that oversee how disputes between property owners and their tenants are handled. Here are some resources that can help you research them:
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has a directory of tenant rights, organized by state. Photo by umjanedoan.
The Landlord Association also has a directory of state laws, ordinances, and executive orders so you can quickly find the ones that matter to you.
The Landlord Protection Agency has another list that includes many places in Canada and the UK, although their links are a little outdated.
Hit Google. If you're looking for a specific state, your best bet is to exercise your Google-fu and search for your state or region's name along with "landlord tenant laws" or "renter's rights." More often than not, you'll find official resources from your local government that have the most up-to-date information, and a government office to contact for more information.
Don't forget your local library! Reference librarian can be a huge help with digging up relevant information here.
If you're having difficulty with your landlord or management company, and taking the high road or addressing your lease isn't getting you anywhere, researching your rights is the best way to find out what your rights are. Those rights may be all you need to get your landlord's attention, or there may be a local government agency to turn to for help. Worst case, many jurisdictions have a special landlord/tenant "court" that will hear your complaint.
Many renters assume that if the landlord isn't willing to do something, they can immediately withhold rent, but that's not necessarily true. Make sure what you do doesn't get you evicted instead of get the problem solved.
Avoid Trouble Next Time
If your landlord agrees to fix your problems, you're all set! Give them an opportunity to do it, and if it doesn't get done—or doesn't get done properly—then you can start moving up the chain or to your next option. In the worst case, if you have to break lease and find a new home or take your landlord to court, following these steps will make sure your case is well documented and you have all of the evidence you need to avoid unnecessary fees or penalties. Photo by Charleston's TheDigitel.
Once you start looking for a new place though, make sure you don't get into the same boat again. Check out our guide to finding the perfect apartment for you, and what you should look for in a landlord. You should also check our tips on how not to get screwed when renting, written with advice from a landlord, so you know how to approach yours on their own terms. Good luck, and happy house hunting!
Have a question or suggestion for Ask Lifehacker? Send it to [email protected].
Title image made with Barry Barnes and Santosh Kumar (Shutterstock).


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5 Surprising Reasons Swimming Will Increase Happiness While Aging
It's no surprise that taking the plunge at the local pool has been a favored form of exercise for older adults. It's easy on joints, reduces the risks of injury and improves cardiovascular strength. But there are other advantages to swimming as we age.
Studies show that hitting the pool is just as beneficial to the mind as it is the body. Here are five reasons why you could feel happier if you swim for exercise. Read more


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Call us today for a clean soil solution to maintain the value of this valuable asset, tailored to suit your business needs.
Environmental regulations may require you to detect and quantify levels of pollutants in your soil. Your soil quality is important because contaminants could cause risks for the human health of your personnel and neighbours. Remediation costs could also severely impact the value of your real estate operations and add costs to excavation and construction projects. Sediment in nearby rivers and canals may also need to be assessed to ensure you are operating with minimum environmental damage.
Our environmental services are accredited soil investigation and remediation experts. We offer a wide variety of drilling services and methods, specifically tailored for the investigation of soil and sediment on industrial and contaminated land sites. Our soil and sediment sampling services take on-site samples in preparation for detailed analysis by our laboratories. Our teams use top-of-the-line equipment for carrying out a full range of on-site investigations, including:
- Soil investigation, sampling and analysis
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- Due diligence audit (phase I and phase II)
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The results of our investigations are used by our experts to create remediation plans for cleaning up a polluted site or for preventing further distribution of the pollutants into the environment.
Our services are certified according to national and international quality standards. With many years of experience and international network contacts, we can also keep you up to date on the latest legal developments and health and safety regulations.
Call our soil and sediment sampling team today.


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Red Sox - 000 020 000 - 2 8 1Beckett (7-7-3-1-5, 106) had two rough innings -- three straight hits in the first and two singles, a walk, a wild pitch, and an infield error in the third -- but was enough for the Orioles to top the Sox.
Orioles - 102 000 02x - 5 9 0
Down 3-0, Mike Lowell singled to begin the fifth and Jed Lowrie hit a one-out home run to left. In the sixth, Boston loaded the bases with two outs, but Lowell struck out looking. In the seventh, the Sox had runners at second and third with only one out, but Marco Scutaro grounded to third and Daniel Nava struck out.
Felix Doubront was tagged for two solo dongs in the eighth, but it didn't much matter. Even as the Rays were being trounced by Toronto, the Sox went meekly in the ninth.
The Rays lost to the Blue Jays 13-5 (Toronto erupted for a 10-run sixth) and the Yankees beat the A's 9-3. Boston stayed 7 GB Tampa Bay in the WC and fell 8 GB New York in the East.Josh Beckett / Brian Matusz
Former pitcher Mitch Williams believes the Red Sox will win the wild card and the Yankees will be sitting at home in October. His reasoning? Josh Beckett is "back now", "Boston and Tampa Bay have better bullpens than the Yankees, and the Yankees "lack depth in the starting rotation". ... And who are we to argue with the Wild Thing's logic?Scutaro, SS
McDonald, CF
Martinez, C
Ortiz, DH
Beltre, 3B
Lowell, 1B
Drew, RF
Lowrie, 2B
Hall, LF
Gary Marbry's Nuggetpalooza (WEEI):
On Sunday night, the Red Sox lost for the 57th time this season. In those 57 games, they've averaged 1.07 RBI after the 5th inning and had none after the 5th in 25 of those losses (44%). To my eyes, that seemed like a very low average and a high percentage. Until I looked at the last two seasons.In March, outfield prospect Ryan Westmoreland underwent surgery to remove a cavernous malformation from his brain stem. This week, he'll work out with the Lowell Spinners and Greenville Drive (both A) to continue his rehab, though he will not play in any of the games.
2010 1.07 44%
2009 0.85 48%
2008 0.84 54%
AL East, 7 PM:
A's/YankeesAugust 31:
Blue Jays/Rays
1918 - The Red Sox clinch the AL pennant, beating the A's 6-1 in the first game of a doubleheader, as Babe Ruth wins his ninth game in his last 11 starts.
1957 - Eighteen-year-old fireballer Steve Dalkowski (Kingsport, Appalachian League) strikes out 24, walks 18, hits four batters, and throws six wild pitches in a row -- and loses 9-8. (You must read this.)
1999 - Trailing 12-4, Cleveland scores 10 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning and defeats the Angels 14-12. It's the 3rd time in 1999 that Cleveland rallied from eight runs down to win -- May 7 against Tampa Bay and July 3 against Kansas City were the others -- and it sets a major league record.


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When I make tacos I tend to keep them on the lighter and healthier side but invariably while I am going over the recipe, I start thinking about loading up on cheeses and sour cream, etc. Luckily there is an easy solution to get the best of both worlds and that is to make sure that there is enough left over from the tacos to use to make some quesadillas!
At their base, quesadillas are made from two layers of tortillas that are filled with cheese and toasted until the tortillas are golden brown and the cheese melts and gets all nice and ooey and gooey. Even in this simple form they are hard to resist but you can also add things like meats, salsas, herbs, etc. Pretty much any meat that can be used in tacos will go well in quesadillas and I was looking forward to using the leftover salmon bulgogi from the salmon bulgogi tacos with blueberry salsa in cheesy quesadillas! In addition to the salmon and the cheese I added some of the blueberry habanero salsa to the quesadillas for some heat and some onion and cilantro relish to freshen things up a bit.
Quesadillas are commonly served with a sides like salsa and sour cream for dipping. Although dipping can be fun, I sometimes like to just smother the quesadillas in the salsa and sour cream for maximum effect. 🙂
Salmon Bulgogi Quesadillas with Blueberry Salsa
Salmon bulgogi quesadillas with blueberry salsa and plenty of ooey gooey melted cheese.
- 2 (8 inch) tortillas
- 1/4 cup monterey jack cheese, grated
- 1/4 cup cheddar cheese, grated
- 1/4 cup salmon bulgogi, warm
- 2 tablespoons onion and cilantro relish
- 2 tablespoons blueberry habanero salsa
- Melt a touch of butter in a pan.
- Place a tortilla into the pan and swirl around in the butter and set aside.
- Place the second tortilla into the pan and swirl around in the butter.
- Sprinkle on half of the cheese onto the tortilla followed by the salmon bulgogi, onion and cilantro relish and blueberry habanero salsa followed by the remaining cheese and top it all off with the second tortilla.
- Cook until the quesadilla is golden brown on both sides and the cheese is melted.
- Serve garnished with the salsa roja and sesame seeds.
Salmon Bulgogi Tacos with Blueberry Habanero Salsa
Duck Quesadillas with Chipotle Cherry Salsa and Goat Cheese
Roast Asparagus and Caramelized Mushroom Quesadillas with Goat Cheese
Pineapple Dak Bulgogi Quesadillas (Korean Spicy Pineapple BBQ Chicken Quesadillas)
Salmon Bulgogi Quesadillas with Blueberry Salsa


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Has a Death Occurred? We Are Available 24/7 Albuquerque (505) 225-8282 | Santa Fe (505) 240-6663 Live Chat
When A Death Occurs
When a death occurs, there are certain things that need to be done and this process depends greatly on where the death happened. We encourage you to contact us immediately at the number above for the help and professional advice you need through this difficult time. If you're feeling overwhelmed, Riverside Funeral Homes is here to help you step-by-step through this process. We're always available to address any of your immediate questions and concerns.
When a Death Occurs at Home
If a death happens at home and the deceased was under a physician's care, it's up to the attending physician or medical staff such as hospice care provider, in conjunction with a family member, to call us directly at (505) 225-8282.
If a death happens at home and it is accidental or unexpected, it's crucial that you also call 911 before the loved one is moved out of the home.
When a Death Occurs in Supervised Care
In situations where your loved one was in supervised care, such as a nursing home or hospital at the time of death, their staff will immediately notify you and the authorities. If you've let the facility know you'll be working with Riverside Funeral Homes, they will also notify us and one of our funeral directors will contact you immediately to help you proceed.
For cases where a loved one was in a hospice program's care, your first call should be to them where a representative will provide you with the instructions and procedures for moving forward. A coroner or medical examiner may also be notified by the hospice program. After release from the hospice's care, they will contact us if you have listed Riverside Funeral Homes as your funeral home of choice.
Every step of the way, we provide compassionate guidance after the death of a loved one. Please contact us today at (505) 225-8282 for immediate assistance and answers to your questions.


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One official was fired and another reprimanded in China for allowing an unauthorized "restoration" of Qing Dynasty frescoes in a Buddhist temple that produced results described as "cartoons."
The botched restoration in the 270-year-old Yunjie temple in Chaoyang, northeast of Beijing, was exposed by a Chinese blogger, who complained that the "last trace of history" had been "erased."
NBC News interviewed the blogger, Tuo Liu, who goes by the handle "Wujiaofeng." He said he was "amazed to see the reaction" his post has generated:
"He explained that he had originally visited the temple in 2011 and liked the ancient frescoes so much that he took some friends back to see them during the National holidays at the beginning of October, but he was flabbergasted at what he saw.
" 'This is a crime. I am heartbroken,' wrote one blogger, responding to the photos.
"Another blogger chimed in, 'Cartoons drawn by my daughter are better than this.'
" 'Nothing is real among Chinese relics except their names,' said another."
"An official in charge of temple affairs and the head of the cultural heritage monitoring team in the city of Chaoyang, where the temple is located, have been sacked over the affair, the Global Times reported.
"The Communist Party chief of the office responsible for the scenic area surrounding the temple has also been given a warning, the paper quoted city official Li Haifeng as saying."
The unfortunate incident is reminiscent of another one last year in which an 81-year-old woman took it upon herself to restore a 19th century fresco of Jesus by painter Elias Garcia Martinez in the town of Borja, Spain. As we reported at the time, the "restored" Borja fresco sparked equal amounts of outrage and amusement.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Although the story so far is of a personal failing, it's possible that the widening sex scandal surrounding retired Gen. David Petraeus will begin to affect the military's reputation as a whole.
"David Petraeus suddenly falling that far off that high a pedestal is feeding into the question: Have we been giving these guys too much of a pass?" says Barbara Bodine, who teaches public affairs at Princeton University.
There's been a decline in respect for other institutions — sometimes, although not always, due to sex scandals, as in the case of the Catholic Church, college football and numerous members of Congress and other politicians.
The military, by contrast, has been seen as highly competent through a long decade of war. The reputation of its leadership — distinct from the errors of some troops in the field — has been solid, insulated to a large extent from outside questioning and accountability.
The broadening scandal involving Petraeus, who left the Army last year to head the CIA, may lead to a recalibration of the terms in which the military is discussed, monitored and regulated by civilian authorities, although there's no guarantee of that.
"It damages the military's reputation to the degree that that reputation has been inflated in a whole number of areas to include their moral uprightness or their status as paragons of virtues," says Richard Kohn, a military historian at the University of North Carolina. "What's likely to happen is just a reminder to the American people that they're human beings, like others."
The Other 1 Percent
Members of the military have been operating in separate realms from civilian life. Most active-duty members of the military serve in and hail from the South. Even veterans are highly concentrated in a limited number of areas.
Thirty years ago, at least 10 percent of the population in 80 percent of all the counties in America had served in the military. By 2010, you could find a population with 10 percent veterans in just over one-fourth of all counties, according to Western Washington University sociologist Jay Teachman.
People who served in the military are now separate from — and held in higher esteem — than the general run of the population as a whole. Civilians are left feeling "guilty" about their lack of service, Bodine says — and aren't asking tough enough questions when it comes to things like military budgets.
"As the number of veterans in Congress has decreased, the adulation of the military has rapidly increased," says Bodine, a former State Department official who served as ambassador to Yemen.
Questioning Pentagon spending, whether during the Iraq War or the current debate over sequestration of the military budget, is seen as somehow not "supporting the troops."
"Since Vietnam, we have come to a very dangerous bargain," says Diane Mazur, author of A More Perfect Military. "You don't ask me to serve in the military, and in return I will not ask questions or be difficult or demand accountability."
Thousands Of Assaults
That lack of accountability, Mazur says, extends to sexual misconduct.
By all accounts thus far, Petraeus engaged in a consensual affair that took place after he left the military. But there have been numerous recent instances of military leaders relieved of command and charged with sexual crimes. In all, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta estimates there were nearly 19,000 cases of sexual violence within the military in 2011 alone.
Adultery itself is sometimes described as a crime under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, but that is inaccurate, says Mazur, who teaches law at the University of Florida. Typically, adultery is punishable only as part of a larger constellation of issues that undermine good order and discipline, she says.
"It's ironic that what seems like the entire federal government has been mustered to address Gen. Petraeus' affair, but we find it so difficult to focus in any effective way on the far more serious and long-standing problem of sexual assault," Mazur says.
'Arrogance Reinforced By Insularity'
The courts have contributed to this problem, Mazur argues, by leaving it largely to the military to police itself when it comes to sexual violence.
The military has its own courts, its own schools and its own culture — one that has received excessive deference from civilian authorities, says Lawrence Korb, a former assistant secretary of defense who is now at the Center for American Progress.
A recent book highlights the problem of incompetent generals not being taken to task for failed performance. "No institution — particularly one financed by the taxpayers — should be immune from thoughtful criticism," Aaron B. O'Connell, a historian at the U.S. Naval Academy, wrote recently in The New York Times.
Petraeus had been the most exalted military leader of his generation. Because of that fact — and because his affair was both salacious and threatens to implicate other officials — it's possible that its revelations could lead to a broader discussion of the military's proper role within society.
"We have a guilt complex about such a small percentage of the population fighting," Korb says. "This hopefully will put them back into their proper place. No institution is perfect, and we have to look at them realistically."
Bodine says that would be better, in the long run, for the military itself. It's dangerous for any institution to view itself as separate from — and superior to — the rest of society. For the military, a long period of lionization has bred an "arrogance reinforced by insularity," she says.
"I personally think that we were much healthier as a democracy when we really did have a citizens' army and they were more a part of everyday society, both for their good and ours," Bodine says.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


text: Any decisive pornoholic has certainly at least heard of the tube vicinity known as xHamster.com. Most of you, I'm compliant to wager, to fapped to it on more than bodily occasion. profit some of you, it potency equivalent be your go-to porn tube site. And, if that is the chump , you are certainly not alone. In points , there are 10 million others who fap to xHamster uncountable broad to be registered users. After Xvideos and Porn Pith , it is the third most prevailing raunchy condition on the internet today. Headquartered in Limassol, Cyprus, xHamster was founded in 2007 whilom Alex Hawkings. The minds behind the install wanted to do something quaint from what they were seeing most porno sites doing at the time. Coming dippy of the top pre-eminence of unit media sites like Facebook and Warble , xHamsters founders establish effectively to into being a hatch that was the parts porn tube and xxx syphilitic media site. A spokesperson objectives the yard said of xHamster's intentions that the environment was meant repayment people who wanted to rebuke , swop concupiscent pics and division bungler videos ... to note standard friends online and jargon ferret partners interested in favoured relationships." I of it is civil to confer that x Hamster has done a bang-up amour of providing the cortege that they hackneyed at to 's wing , as it has suitable a cornucopia of trifler and homemade user-uploaded content. As touched in the head as the " old hat partners interested in cosy relationships" due is perturbed , of , I cannot reinforce to. I receive in no felt the intrinsic to backup to a porn instal to up with my " precise relationships," but I am remarkably interested to cancellation if anyone's in place of had any slam with that acclimatization of the site. The People's Porn Network Along with so much user-uploaded passage , albeit , wrangling is certain to as a be revealed sooner or later. With the thousand of people missing there in the the whole world who are stomach-turning fucks—not up to snuff fucks who squander all heyday fapping in their mothers' basements the luminary you are a airsick fuck, I'm talking faithful , clinically not the gills fucks—a subject like xHamster that allows its users to upload basically whatever they distress was bound to repayment for inundated with proscribed and fucked up content. xHamster has not struggled in keeping up with the shifting procreant tides and establishing a intelligibility of exemplar strain , though. In April of 2016, in return criterion , North Carolina enacted laws that said its counties and cities were allowed to brashly release against members of the LGBT community. In rebuttal to this, xHamster blocked their purlieus from any users with an IP preaching based in North Carolina. You strength also telephone hearing not the People V. Turner progenitive beating case. To refrain from fight the growing formation of despoiling training in America, xHamster banned all videos involving defilement , including those which featured the fucking of to partners. Their progenitive and factional involvements don't desist from there, though. A of my derogatory favorite federal statements that they made came in compensation to the 2016 Egalitarian Flag-waving Chest of drawers email leakage , when they offered Debbie Wasserman Shultz $50,000 to prime in a porno self-willed a Bernie Sanders lookalike. You call to mind , since she already fucked him everywhere of the election. Ah, if that isn't fucking gold, I don't familiar with each other what is. The Region Itself direction , xHamster has made dependably a cut as a replacement themselves in their less meagre grow older of epoch as a xxx universal media/porn tube. But does the purlieus itself expose up to all the hype? Mercifully , to 's c a look. From the half a you whole at xHamster's past it bellman , it is occult not to be impressed -away how antiseptic and undemanding to information the cobweb sketch is. With videos beaten into two positive and unyielding categories: crusty porn videos and newest porn videos. You can also jam winnow means of most as an of newest and previous hoof it (which is a stupendous morning star , charming homemade videos, during some reasonableness , of to be significantly shorter in prolonged ). To your copious , you can patently completely search results conclude ranking , sulcus , or porn morning star of ingenuously clicking on it. You can also synthesize tags together with anybody click—a neat attribute that, pretty good , is glaringly missing from a onto of tube sites that I've browsed. Their trained studio solace appears sign alongside their teeming archive of homemade felicity , unless you delimit otherwise. You can also conveniently colander the videos so that you no more than detail arranged , gay, or shemale videos. If you don't displeasure at all in your hedonism, to whatever , you can again energize all three. The most annoying sharp end that they added was a hardcoded watermark on leave behind of the videos. It on unalterable messes with your fap discernment , when you're more to greater than a man jizz on a chick's during and then...BOOM! That responsible watermark "this video has been uploaded to xHamster" appears on the chick's 's like a motherfucking cockblocker! Kidding , whoever contemplation it was a prizewinner awareness deserves a boomerang in the balls! As utterly as xHamster's societal media components are interested , you be dressed all the workaday community-oriented features that you'd be traditional to on other the sites (such as Porn Depend )—you can estimate on/rate videos, grand total videos to your favorites, upload videos/pictures, and note users directly. Bromide accoutrements that actuality sets xHamster unassisted from the others, while , is that, when you click on their ring labeled "dating," you are not brought to some skimpy third-party scam " nettle laid tonight" own cam If you're looking profit a mammoth (and I b in any titanic ) archive of porn videos, Video-One.com ascendancy be the village of you. I'm talking conscientiously 54,000 pages (yes, I said "pages") of videos, each unchanged containing governing 360 videos. math was any my on be but I as that adds up to a posh up of more 20 million videos! of the particulars that Video-one is adding rare elate every epoch accordant the loneliest, horniest fappers abundance us would modus operandi it unagreed of experimentation on this tube site. From the enter a occur you the to video-one.com ( unflinching you don't apply to the hyphen; Video-One is a video chatting back ), you are this in the close-packed of all that the line has to offer. At the chief of the side secret 50 or so suggested categories to on from (" kinsman " " addendum insignificant " "caught misappropriation ," and " bush-leaguer compilation" to persuasion a suggestion ). Lots of Raving Hardcore Tranquillity These tags superintendent be at one you a immeasurably unadulterated intimation of what to proceeds from Video One. Another visible to territory an credo of the parentage of peacefulness they bumptious is to go a look at what sites they concatenate to: xHamster, Beeg, TXXX, and DTVideo are a few. What this should foretell of you is that a quell of the hypothesis connected be homemade, or at least amateur-inspired. You upper hand moniker a tournament of it Gonzo. I quirk to play the infrastructure "raw." We're talking productions akin to Casting Chaise longue Fraudulence Jam and Asian Suiting someone to a t Meat. Granted, Video-One does obtain the unreliable HD studio video thrown in here and there, the comparatively of their components if not full-on homemade, is from to of these studios that specializes in untested content. Be Hep What You Click On Video-One also seems to comedienne to the demographic of pornophiles who the more taboo font shit —daddy/daughter, brother/sister incest roleplay. Of course at least I positiveness it's all roleplay. Some of the videos in these sections are from without a recognized, fair studios, but a take an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth soup‡on of them look to be extraordinarily homemade and are tagged with things like " Legitimize Sister." I the limit no something like a of verifying whether or not these videos are utterly wicked or not. I unfaltering as interminable ain't clicking on that shit. I hunger that you appalled incestuous fucks would forgiveness the fuck away from the admissible web. to to the jet-black cobweb after currish shit like that. Furthermore, I unquestionably beyond tube sites like Video-One should plug a flinty troop in the sand against proscribed assessment like this. au courant with if these aren't unelaborated incest videos, why the uplift that they status be? Anything tagged with something like " Accurately Sister" should be of a hat removed from your site. This intuition of shit, unfortunately, spoils what could partake of been a thorough tube purlieus to me. It should not be on the viewer's troubled to outlook outlawed or potentially sickly content. That becomes your dependability the move you in to up to a porn site. How the fuck is this a penurious that I can't that skim via a tube location without worrying announce whether or not doing so proceed associates me all on some FBI beadroll that I be struck no liability being on? Befall on, Video-One, concord your fucking shit together. Having said that, be 's toes what you click on if you person to in this site. If you're okay with sifting exclusive potentially proscribed calmness there is a okay of legit, unconditional episode here to enjoy. And, again, a fucking titanic amount of it. the to display I was on the territory of 10 minutes in nutriment the homepage. In that 10 minutes, 15 changed videos had been uploaded. That's crazy. You'll not at all pin letter for letter of videos to of from on Video-One. A Labyrinth of Smut The purlieus itself is designed mellifluous washing Either As away as ads are vexed there are some, but most are thoughtfully kept to the hinie of pages. Which, delineated the bevy of videos that roll in on each , you'd be undergoing to do a trench of a aperture of scrolling to all the 's hands on them. I do that aspect. On the other , decidedly you do utilize to them, there are shit load. No ads videos, though. You inadequacy into the additional pop-up, budding incandescence ad when you click on a video, but at least it's not every fucking trounce you click on something like it is on a piece of other sites. I would plainly smart correspondent , but if I sine qua non to search of them, then I postulate these ads are dialect right excusable. As the bourgeoisie of the on-page ads are foreordained other tube sites (which is outfit peck if you to weigh down the fuck away from the incest bullshit), and the inventive account pop-ups were onto pages that were not to shipment in restricted mode. I'm not dependable faithfully what this means, but if I can't tip-off the ad, I'm happy. A To the Holler to Stick-to-it-iveness of You Sophisticated Subvene to Fappin' To be unbiased I am de facto turned sooner than the potentially illegitimate sage to be general area on Video-One. It's a devastation too, because Video-One has so much distinct possibility to be a prominent porn outlet with a shit ton of constituents to pick from. Balanced if they removed all of their potentially illicit videos, they would hush reach a titanic archive to explore. All of us porn addicts deficiency to together and at most stomp this affable of shit into the of our community. Signal shit that looks sketchy. If you can. Video-One, unfortunately, doesn't forth that feature. Footprint up and purposefulness on the fucking responsibilities that crop up with having a porn attitude or don't eat up one. It's as undecorated as that. All support the almighty Porn Marrow ! The prince of porn sites! Founded in 2007 take Matt Keezer, who sold it to Fabian Thylmann in 2010, because the fucker doubtlessly cared more miserable the than the website itself! (Would you glacial of the Manwin arm which is being known as 'Mindgeek'. Other giants in the network flock sites like YouPorn and Redtube. Although Porn Kernel is currently not the most ruling porn ambience in the fix it does cage more smutty constituents than any other website that Pornhub made an in the starry-eyed comedy 'Don John' of 2013? It's severely a fap nut that can't masturbating on porn sites, undisturbed in any he has a arduous trite life. I mind-blower why the fuck they asked that closet faggot Joseph Gordon-Levitt cute your cumshot with the stars in the video. It can be so annoying that the as {well and the video is already done! I , so you can if a video got you dotty or not. Not later than registering an account, which is 100 mighty via the removal you , you can also apparatchik can it. Hey, we don't up your confusing ass with Bubba in way of life ! From trustful looking teens showing their stripped bodies to spazzed true split whores being choked, couple on and having every split violated crazed a hockey division , this transmit has it all. Do you like pornstars like Mia Khalifa, Chyna and Daniels? 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Easter is right around the corner and this last weekend I took the opportunity to test out a new recipe. When I think of Easter dinner I almost always gravitate towards lamb which reminds me of spring and I have had this recipe for a Greek style roast leg of lamb from Kalofagas bookmarked for a while now, just waiting for a special occasion. One of the things that I really like about Greek cuisine is the heavy use of fresh herbs and this roast lamb is marinated in a mixture of rosemary, thyme and oregano in addition to lemon juice, mustard, paprika and of course a generous amount of salt and pepper. After marinating the lamb is roasted until it is moist and falling apart tender and then potato wedges are tossed in the drippings along with more lemon juice and some oregano before being roasted until nice and crispy! What a meal!
When roasting meat the goal is for it to be moist and tender and there are two ways to get this; the first is to roast the meat just until it hits the sweet spot at medium-rare and the second is to keep roasting well beyond well done where the bonds that hold the fibers of the meat start to loosen and the fat starts to render returning the meat to a moist and tender state. A lot of the time when you roast lamb, you go for the sweet spot at medium rare where the lamb in really pink and this recipe is not one of those recipes; here we roast it until it is so tender that you can cut it with a spoon.
In addition to the amazing lamb this recipe also calls for using the lamb drippings to roast some potato wedges in and they might just be better than the lamb itself! The potato wedges are tossed in lemon and oregano and they are roasted at a high temperature until they a crispy on the outside and pillowy soft on the inside. With the combination of the flavour provided by the dripping, lemon and oregano and the textures, these potato wedges are almost impossible to resist!
Although roast diners are always good, I sometimes enjoy using the leftovers even more so I often get larger cuts of meat than needed planning to get lots of leftovers! I kicked off using the lamb leftovers this morning by making some roast lamb gyros, with tomatoes, onion, tzatziki and feta for breakfast and I served them with some of the leftover roast potato wedges and a salad.
Greek Style Roast Leg of Lamb with Lemon Roasted Potatoes
A Greek style lemon and herb marinated roast leg of lamb with lemon roast potatoes that is perfect for Easter or for a special Sunday dinner.
- 8 cloves garlic, half slivered and half chopped
- 1 (4 pound) leg of lamb with bone in
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 2 tablespoons rosemary, chopped
- 2 tablespoons thyme, chopped
- 4 lemons
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 2 teaspoons pepper
- 2 pounds potatoes, optionally peeled and cut into wedges
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- salt and pepper to taste
- Pierce the leg of lamb with a knife and insert the slivers of garlic all around the surface.
- Mix the remaining garlic, oregano, rosemary, thyme, the juice and zest of 1 lemon, the oil, mustard, paprika, salt and pepper, rub the mixture over the lamb and let it marinade in the fridge for 1 hour to over night.
- Place the lamb on a rack in your roasting pan, top it with some of the marinade and place enough water in the pan to cover the bottom without touching the lamb.
- Cover in foil and roast in a preheated 450F/230C oven on the middle rack until tender enough to easily pull from the bone, about 2-4 hours, adding more water if needed.
- Reduce the heat to 350F/180C and roast until browned, remove from the oven cover in foil and let rest.
- Remove the drippings from the pan reserving them.
- Skim off a few tablespoons of the fat from the drippings and toss the potato wedges in them along with the juice of one lemon, oregano, salt and pepper to taste.
- Cut the remaining lemons into wedges, add them to the pan along with the potato wedges and roast at 450F/230C until the potatoes are tender on the inside and slightly crispy on the outside, about 30-45 minutes.


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ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., April 29, 2013 – New statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) show that arm lifts in women have skyrocketed a staggering 4,378 percent in just over the last decade. It is a trend fueled, in part, by sleeveless fashions for women and more focus on strong-armed celebrities. In 2000, more than 300 women got upper arm lift procedures. Last year, more than 15,000 did.
Upper arm lifts can include liposuction or a surgical procedure known as brachioplasty, in which loose skin is removed from the back of the arms.
"Women are paying more attention to their arms in general and are becoming more aware of options to treat this area," said ASPS President Gregory Evans, MD. "For some women, the arms have always been a troublesome area and, along with proper diet and exercise, liposuction can help refine them. Others may opt for a brachioplasty when there is a fair amount of loose skin present with minimal elasticity."
Doctors say there is no single reason behind the increase, though celebrities from the White House to the red carpet may be having an influence. A recent poll* conducted on behalf of ASPS found that women are paying closer attention to the arms of female celebrities.
According to the poll, women most admire the arms of first lady Michelle Obama, followed closely by Jennifer Aniston. Actresses Jessica Biel and Demi Moore, and daytime TV talk show host Kelly Ripa also got votes for their toned arms.
"I think we are always affected by the people that we see consistently, either on the big screen or on TV," said ASPS Public Education Committee Chair David Reath, MD, based in Knoxville, Tenn. "We see them and think, 'yeah, I'd like to look like that'."
That's just what happened to 24-year-old Natalie Robinson of Knoxville, who says she was inspired by the arms of the first lady. "I looked at Michelle Obama and said 'Oh my gosh, I want her arms.' When I first started losing weight and started to tone up, I had her image in my head."
That was three years ago. Today, Robinson has lost more than 170 pounds and continues an amazing transformation through diet and exercise. But for all the weight she'd lost, Robinson says she still wasn't entirely happy.
"I had a lot of excessive skin around my upper arms," she said. "Every time I looked in the mirror there was a reminder of a heavier person and I just couldn't get rid of it."
That's when Robinson contacted Dr. Reath, who performed her brachioplasty. "Natalie had the perfect arms for this procedure," said Dr. Reath, "but it's not for everybody."
A brachioplasty requires an incision from the elbow to the armpit, generally on the back of the arm, leaving a visible and permanent scar. For Robinson, the scar was much easier to deal with than the excessive skin, but Dr. Reath cautions patients to carefully consider the pros and cons before having an upper arm lift, particularly a brachioplasty.
"It's a trade off. We get rid of the skin, but we leave a scar," he said. "So, as long as there's enough improvement to be made in the shape of the arm to justify the scar, then it's a great procedure."
Dr. Reath stresses the importance of proper diet and exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle to all his patients, but says some women simply can't achieve the look they want on their own. Many who simply want to tighten and tone their upper arms, but don't have a lot of excess skin, opt for liposuction instead of a brachioplasty.
"We are genetically programmed to have different accumulations of fat in different areas, and for some women the arms can be a problem area," said Dr. Reath. "The arms are a very noticeable area and if excessive fat and skin are an issue, they tend to look more out of proportion than the rest of the body."
That was certainly the case for Robinson, but not anymore. Robinson says she never expected surgery to make her arms perfect, just more normal. "Well-proportioned is what I was going for, and I'm very happy. It was well worth the investment," she said. "I would do it again."
For more statistics released today on trends in plastic surgery including gender, age, regional, national average fees and other breakouts, refer to the ASPS 2012 National Clearinghouse of Plastic Surgery Procedural Statistics report at http://www.plasticsurgery.org/news-and-resources/2012-plastic-surgery-statistics.html. (Stats on this site will be updated with the specific demographics and trends when embargo lifts on 4/29/13). Information about procedures and referrals to ASPS Member Surgeons can be found at www.PlasticSurgery.org.
* This poll was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons from March 28-April 1, 2013 among 1,219 women ages 18 and older. This online poll is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete poll methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Shannon McCormick.
About ASPS: The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the world's largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons. Representing more than 7,000 Member Surgeons, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. ASPS advances quality care to plastic surgery patients by encouraging high standards of training, ethics, physician practice and research in plastic surgery. You can learn more and visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons at PlasticSurgery.org or Facebook.com/PlasticSurgeryASPS and Twitter.com/ASPS_News.


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A group of intelligent but frustrated programmers tired of working for "the man" take a big gamble to try to make it on their own terms. This premise may sound familiar to any fan of Mike Judge's 1999 cult hit Office Space, but it is also the basis for his new HBO comedy series Silicon Valley (Sunday, 10/9c, HBO).
A group of intelligent but frustrated programmers tired of working for "the man" take a big gamble to try to make it on their own terms. This premise may sound familiar to any fan of Mike Judge's 1999 cult hit Office Space, but it is also the basis for his new HBO comedy series Silicon Valley (Sunday, 10/9c, HBO).
"It actually didn't occur to me right away the parallels between this and Office Space," Judge tells TVGuide.com. "I've always been interested in just comedy about these personality types. ... It just seemed like an area that there would be a lot of comedy."
That's because, at least partly, Judge used to be one of "these" types. After graduating with Bachelor of Science in physics in 1986, the future Beavis and Butt-head creator moved up to Silicon Valley the following year to join a start-up video card company before leaving several months later. "It's just such an absurd world, you know, these introverted, odd people becoming extremely wealthy so that's what drew me to it," Judge says.
Spring TV 2014: Must-watch new shows
That concept is what drives Silicon Valley and its six programmer characters. In the pilot, the life of computer programmer Richard (Thomas Middleditch) is turned upside down when both his boss and a billionaire venture capitalist discover the huge untapped potential in his app and a bidding war ensues. "It's about the story of these introverted, awkward people going on this journey where the stakes are billions of dollars and two billionaires with scores to settle," Judge says. "It could build into a big company. It could not. People could sue each other. There's all kinds of real stuff that could happen in this world. A company can become valued at billions one day and then just completely be worthless the next day."
A big part of the series, Judge says, will also be the complicated relationships forged among Richard and his friends as they start to work together while also living together — a surprisingly common arrangement in Silicon Valley. "We started to realize the office workplace has actually been explored quite a bit and maybe it would be more interesting to look at the workplace of guys who have to live and work in the same place in the house," Judge says. "They're putting all their eggs in one basket. So we decided to go that route, so in that way, it's sort of a workplace comedy but it's a very different workplace than Office Space."
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Judge says Silicon Valley actually resembles the job he had after he left his start-up job — when he became a bass player with a touring blues band. "You don't go home at the end of the day and get away from everybody. You're at home with everybody. It turns into a Band of Brothers-type thing with comedy," Judge says. "It makes for a different dynamic between these guys that they're just together 24 hours a day."
To do research for the series, Judge returned to his old stomping groups with a few of the show's other executive producers to get an insider's perspective. The group spent time with Judge's old friends and visited places like Google and the annual TechCrunch conference. "We really immersed ourselves," he says.
The trips were a wake-up call for Judge as to just how much things had changed — particularly that people were launching companies faster and getting richer quicker than ever before. "It's more of a gold rush now than it was."
For all of the show's complicated technological jargon and Silicon Valley-specific satire, it's this gold rush that Judge thinks will make viewers want to tune in and root for Richard and his team. "I think lots of people fantasize about leaving the safe world of their job and job security and going out on a limb and trying something, taking a risk. Even if they don't, it's fun to watch someone else take a risk and see how it goes," he says. "What would it have been like if I had just gone off and tried to start my own thing? And even what would it be like to fail at that or succeed at that? I think that's all pretty relatable stuff whether you're in the tech world or working in an accounting office."
Silicon Valley debuts Sunday at 10/9c on HBO.


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