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Can't believe that happened, and my poor neglected blog! Going to have to find more time (make more time) for writing here.
OK, today? They day ended up rather Chuck focused. It was supposed to be focused on getting the house listed for renting it out this summer, but the dog had to go to the vet this morning.
Day before yesterday the man and I took him on a 15K walk, which was lovely.Chuck however managed to run off a cliff about 15 feet high! fortunately there was something of a sandy slope at the bottom so he leapt off, then started to roll down the sand, think he did three full rotations before getting up, shaking and coming over to check in on me!
We kept walking, he seemed fine.
The next day the girls took him for a long walk in the mountains, when they take him for a long walk, it is long in time more than distance as they like to sit and hang out for long periods of time.
He came back and his eye looked puffy.
Looked puffier over the evening and he started closing it.
Then he started looking at us through mostly one eye.
I had a look and couldn't see anything, so figured he'd scratched it, and it would be better in the morning.
Not so much.
Off to the vet at 10am as she opened. He has indeed scratched it, she put in anaesthetic drop, and gave him an shot of anti-inflamatories...he seemed better after that.
Now he has anti-inflammatory and analgesic drops, which seems to make him feel much better.
Took him for a long walk, and he decided to eat poo.
Ho hum
Dog day!


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December 21, 2011
Green and Red
Colours of pine needle and autumn leaf of Japanese maple.
I like the contrast of them.
These photos were taken on December 11 , 2011 at Ninomaru Garden in Higashi Gyoen (The East Gardens of The Imperial Palace).
Posted by nobu at 1:17 PM
Labels: fall, garden, higash gyoen, Imperial palace, tree
1 comment:
- Malyss said...
The contrsat is beautyful, and the reflection is so frail and poetic! the lantern seems to enjoy the view!
- December 21, 2011 at 7:56 PM
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subset: commoncrawl


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Took a trip out the other day to photograph some of the red squirrels at Formby Point. I had heard some Grey squirrels had appeared in the area so thought I would get some more shots of the reds just in case they are impacted by the Greys.
During my visit I was also rewarded with a lovely close encounter with a fox.


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Bathroom store Longton-
Original Bathroom Company
Original Bathroom Company
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PR4 5NB Longton
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Digital Signage That Makes the Grade
More than anything, digital signage connects the viewer with knowledge, which makes it the natural choice for applications in educational & on-campus facilities. Integrate social feeds in a student welcome center or in your arena for the big game. Communicate upcoming activities campus wide or provide details in an emergency. These are just some of the applications a digital signage system can provide to students, faculty and visitors to ensure messages are received and remembered.
We can help you integrate interactive social media applications or live feeds to provide a high quality digital signage network that allows you to stream HD live broadcast content. That includes distance learning content, motivational content, moderated twitter feeds, basically, whatever you feel your students, faculty and administrators will find useful. At YCD Multimedia, we can get your information out there on your own digital signage network easily.
Are You Looking To
Establish a campus or facility wide communication system capable of getting vital informational content to students and faculty?
Integrate interactive social media applications designed to actively engage with the student body?
Provide a network that can stream live and pre-recorded content that can be accessed or broadcast to students both on and off campus?
Create a dynamic learning environment and athletic functions with engaging content designed to build an academic community and school spirit?
How YCD Can Help
- Design a scalable digital signage network that grows with your needs
- Install a powerful playback engine capable of broadcasting both streaming and pre-recorded content in high-definition
- Combine custom patches and platforms with our flagship product, Cnario, to create interactive social media based digital signage experiences
- Create a digital signage network that is engaging, dynamic and immersive, providing informational, wayfinding, academic, and motivational content for students, administrators and faculty
Did You Know?
No studying needed! 83% of people can recall at least one piece of content from a digital signage ad up to 30 days after they see it. This makes the recall rate for digital signage higher than any form of traditional media. This makes displaying announcements, timetables, and emergency information easy and practical for educational institutions.
YCD Gets The Job Done
What You Can Expect
- The Bauman Moscow State Technical University used 13 plasma displays to explain faculty activities and keep visitors and students in the know about ongoing research
- The Yale School of Management building features three floors of digital signage for the students, faculty, and visitors
- The University of Deusto utilized 13 screens on their Bilbao campus to display information about campus events, weather, sports, general news, emergency alerts and public safety information


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http://arizeclinic.com/wp-content/uploads/Arize_Clinic_Logo_600-160.png 0 0 LoseWeight http://arizeclinic.com/wp-content/uploads/Arize_Clinic_Logo_600-160.png LoseWeight2013-10-22 21:48:252013-10-24 01:56:37Garlic Shrimp with Warm Slaw & Green Beans
Garlic Shrimp with Warm Slaw & Green Beans
- 1 lb. Raw Shrimp
- 1/2 Yellow Onion sliced
- 1 small head Green Cabbage Shredded
- ½ Large Turnip Shredded
- 4 cups Fresh Green beans
- 1 tbsp. & 2 tsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 0 Calorie Olive Oil Cooking Spray
- ¼ Cup & 1 tsp. Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 tsp. Course Ground Pepper (or to taste)
- 2 tbsp. Minced Garlic
- 2 tsp. Cumin (optional)
- 2 tsp. Onion Powder
- Shred cabbage and turnip w/food processor
- Toss cabbage and turnip together till well mixed
- Pour ¼ cup balsamic vinegar 1 tbsp. olive oil onto cabbage-turnips, mix and toss till well distributed.
- Sprinkle with pepper and onion powder and toss again till well distributed
- Slice onion into thin slivers and set aside
- Peel and devein shrimp and set aside
- Heat skillet to medium high
- Place slaw in skillet and sauté till just tender (about 5 minutes) turning frequently to avoid burning, mix in cumin just be for removing from heat.
- Transfer cooked slaw to bowl and cover to keep warm.
- Add 2 tsp. olive oil
- Put minced garlic in skillet and add 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar and simmer till absorbed
- Add green beans and onion slivers and cover
- Cook till onions are tender, green beans will still be crisp. Stir frequently so they don't burn, but keep covered between.
- Add shrimp, and 2 tbsp. water. Cook till shrimp are opaque and curled.
- Remove from heat and serve.
Serving Suggestion & Tips:
- Serves approx. 4
- Won't freeze well.
- Place ½ cup warm slaw on plate, nestle 1 cup green beans alongside & top with 4 oz. shrimp.
- This is a very low sodium recipe!
- If you don't like "crunchy" green beans, cook them separately till they are just right, then add to recipe.
- The Turnip adds a very pleasant "zing" to warm slaw.


text: Process - A Romeda Records Restore Point at 2:44 AM Volterock VR Edit "This, the first Romeda Records compilation serves as a restore point and celebration of the label's first year. There are previously unreleased & exclusive tracks from all the current Romeda Artists as well as a track from each of the first five label releases. This collection brings together Canada's apostrophic, Kanal Drei from Germany, UK based Morpion, Glitchfield Plaines, Owlbinos of Northfield, Ambrose Chappel & Hawk of the Low Hills." http://www.romeda.net/ Process - A Romeda Records Restore Point by Various Artists Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google Plus About Volterock VR For more about Volterock, visit the Homepage: http://volterock.com RELATED POSTS


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Office Technologies
Here you will find information on office technologies such as your computer, the different desktop phones and services, printers and more.
Information in this section will be about your office desktop computer or laptop and computers in the student labs. Information on Mobile Devices can be found in a separate section on this site.
Phone Services
Here you will find information on a number of different desktop phones and services that includes the online phonebook, how to use a phone, voicemail, phone charges, phone faults and more.
As well as the faculty and department printers there are a number of Konica Minolta MFDs (Muli Function Devices) around campus. This section deals with the printers themselves; actual printing issues is in another section.
Dymo Label Maker
Some staff have Dymo Label Makers to produce labels for their office mail, packages, media etc. See here for configuration and troubleshooting.
Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus
All currently employed staff and actively enrolled students are provided free access to Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus. This section will cover how to access, download, install and activate your Office 365 subscription.
Log Your Own Ticket
The University has provided a Self Service tool through which you can log your own support tickets (jobs). You can also search for a previously logged ticket to check its status. For urgent jobs you can phone the ITS Service Desk: ext 4008 (838 4008) for support.
How To Guides
Your step by step guide to various ICT services.
Help & FAQ's
View FAQs on our available topics.
Standards & Guidelines
View documented standards, guidelines & policies.


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Bushcraft Testimonials
Corporate Bushcraft Course
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Review by Andy Smith, Blind Veterans UK
July 2016
12 of us spent a day with Hannah and Matthew from Natural Pathways for a team away day. All of us were beginners and enjoyed a brilliant day out where we learned about building shelters, making fire, cooking lunch on the camp fire, making natural cordage and purifying water in the beautiful English countryside. Well definitely be recommending the experience to colleagues in other departments. Andy Smith Systems Administrator Blind Veterans UK
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The phrase 'Italians do it better' has never been truer than when it comes to contemporary menswear. The Milanese tailors of the world have always been ahead of the crowd thanks to a sharp eye for detail, luxury craftsmanship and a sound understanding of how the male body works.
Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci and Prada are just a few names from the world of Italian fashion that have become legends in their own right – regardless of a man's interest in the clothes on his back, these labels are instantly identifiable and highly desirable.
But what of the lesser known? It's true that Italy is home to thousands of brands that are constantly redefining and solidifying the parameters of style, and in our constant quest for sartorial perfection FashionBeans looks towards southern Europe for inspiration.
Despite the blue chip designers' obvious magnificence – Armani suits and Gucci loafers immediately spring to mind – all good wardrobes require pieces from across the range. Prestige doesn't always mean style, after all.
With that in mind, we bring you five Italian brands you should know…
1. Slowear/Incotex
Although not technically a brand in itself, the Slowear group is a collective term for four very special labels:
- Zanone is a leader in luxury knitwear that combines classic craftsmanship with premium fabrications.
- Glanshirt offers a smart collection of informal but sophisticated shirts in muted colour ways.
- Montedoro is responsible for exquisite tailoring in the form of beautifully cut jackets and blazers.
- Incotex produce high quality, impeccably cut trousers, chinos and shorts, which have previously been identified by FashionBeans as the best of their type.
Slowear state that they make "durable, timeless wear… A Slowear article is chosen with care because it is not made to last just one season, nor to suffer the whims of transitory fashions". It is an ethos that will surely resonate with all our readers, with the company focusing on producing classic, versatile menswear that is designed to transcend seasons and trends.
The four brands above aren't known for their accessible price points – you're looking at approximately £500 for a Montedoro blazer, £200 for Incotex chinos, £200 for a Glanshirt shirt and £200 for a Zanone sweater – but each and every piece should be considered an investment.
In terms of quality and style longevity, an item from Slowear will stay in your wardrobe for years, if not decades.
Renowned For: Premium quality, wardrobe essentials.
See More: Best Of Their Type: Wardrobe Basics
Official Website: www.slowear.com
Example Lookbooks
Key Pieces
- Montedoro Slim-fit Lightweight Wool And Silk-blend Seersucker Blazer
- Montedoro Waterproof Cotton Rain Jacket
- Glanshirt Slim-fit Flower-print Cotton Shirt
- Montedoro Printed Unstructured Cotton Blazer
- Glanshirt Slim-fit Striped Cotton Shirt
- Zanone Striped Shawl-collar Cotton Cardigan
- Incotex Slim-fit High Comfort Chinos 191192
- Incotex Four Season Relaxed-fit Cotton-blend Chinos
- Incotex Birds-eye Weave Chinos 191214
- Incotex Slim-fit Herringbone Cotton-blend Trousers
- Incotex Linen And Cotton-blend Shorts 191202
- Zanone Cotton-jersey Polo Shirt
2. Tod's
They say 'shoes maketh the man', and if you're wearing a pair of Tod's then you will be a very stylish one. Beginning life as a family-run business back in the early 1900s, with each piece still made in Italy to this day, Tod's is now synonymous with luxury leather goods and, in particular, contemporary footwear.
Offering a wide range of silhouettes – from desert boots and minimal trainers to monk-straps and loafers – in premium leathers and luxurious suedes, Tod's craftsmanship and quality rivals that of traditional English shoemakers. With every product hand-crafted using highly-skilled techniques to the highest standard, these shoes not only look good, but are built to perform and last.
FashionBeans highly recommends their signature drivers: featuring durable studded rubber soles for lightweight flexibility, they are comfortable, available in both timeless and statement-making shades, and the epitome of laid-back Italian chic.
Price points rival brands such as Loake, Cheaney's, Church's et al. – making them a worthy consideration for those looking for shoes with a little bit more panache.
Renowned For: Contemporary footwear and luxury leather accessories.
Official Website: www.tods.com
Example Lookbooks
Key Pieces
- Tods Leather Sneaker
- Tods Horsebit Leather Driving Shoe
- Tods Laced Tassel Loafer
- Tods Suede Ankle Boot
- Tods Laced Gommino Leather Driving Shoe
- Tods Laced Nubuck Loafer
- Tods Brushed-suede Monk-strap Shoes
- Tods Nubuck Leather Derby Shoes
- Tods Glossed-leather Penny Loafers
- Tods Gommino Nubuck Leather Driving Shoes
- Tods Gommino Suede Driving Shoes
- Tods Gommino Suede Driving Shoes
3. Anderson's
With all of the incredible Italian garments on offer, it's easy to forget about the smaller details. Enter Anderson's belts. This fine Italian brand was established in 1966 when Mr Carlo Valenti launched his first collection in Parma with a focus on one of menswear's most essential accessories.
Influenced by British style, traditional techniques from our home isle were combined with Valenti's native flair and, needless to say, the results are still exceptional to this very day.
Anderson's greatest strength lies in their broad appeal. Mahogany suede woven pieces suit the classicist in our midst while brighter colours and statement buckles provide a more contemporary spin. Regardless of your own taste, there's bound to be a belt to suit you.
Price wise, Anderson's aren't unreasonable, especially for the quality of construction and materials used. The average cost is around £75, which isn't much when compared to other market leaders and factoring in the cost-per-wear.
Remember, nothing beats a high quality belt: it's a key piece that separates the truly stylish from the pretenders. Much more than a device to hold up your trousers, they can be used to make a style statement, add a personal touch to formal wear, create a clear distinction between your top and bottom half, tie an outfit together and much, much more.
Renowned For: High quality, contemporary belts.
See More: The Complete Guide To Men's Belts
Official Website: www.anderson.it
Example Lookbooks
Key Pieces
- Andersons Brown 3.5cm Burnished Woven-leather Belt
- Andersons Brown 3cm Woven-suede Belt
- Andersons Blue 3.5cm Leather-trimmed Elasticated Woven Belt
- Andersons Leather-trimmed Elasticated Woven Belt 192868
- Andersons Leather-trimmed Elasticated Woven Belt 192864
- Andersons Leather-trimmed Elasticated Woven Belt 192872
- Andersons Braided Belt – Red
- Andersons 3.5cm Leather-trimmed Elasticated Woven Belt
- Andersons Leather-trimmed Elasticated Woven Belt 192878
As an offshoot of the classic Lubiam brand, L.B.M. 1911 is the brainchild of Luigi Bianchi. A string of family ties with the tailoring industry – Bianchi's father and grandfather were door to door tailors and barbers – led to this Mantua-based designer launching his own collection back in 1911, with L.B.M. the modern day end product.
Tailoring is well and truly back on the radar thanks to masterful Italian brands like L.B.M. 1911. Their seasonal collections offer luxury unlined suits, sport coats, trousers and outerwear, which incorporate fabrics from Biella's finest mills – the same ones used by the likes of Zegna, Carlo Barbera, Cerruti, Barberis, Loro Piana, etc.
Utilising classic cuts and sharp fits, the range is brought bang up to date via contemporary colour ways and vibrant patterns. Green ginghams, purple double-breasted jackets and bright red plaids may not seem like the most obvious addition to a tailoring collection but L.B.M. 1911 makes it look effortless, with their lookbooks always oozing sprezzatura.
As menswear goes forward, brands like L.B.M. 1911 are only set to grow in popularity – we're no longer afraid of making statements or taking risks. In fact, due to more and more gents becoming style-conscious, it's getting harder to separate our looks from the crowd. L.B.M. 1911 will help introduce a brighter shade or bold pattern to your wardrobe in a natural and refined way – and to top it all off, they won't even break the bank.
Renowned For: Statement tailoring and soft-shouldered jackets.
See More: Spring/Summer 2014 Lookbook | Autumn/Winter 2013 Lookbook
Official Website: www.lubiam.it
Example Lookbooks
Key Pieces
- L.b.m. 1911 Suits
- L.b.m. 1911 Suits
- L.b.m. 1911 Suits
- L.b.m. 1911 Casual Trouser
- .b.m. 1911 Formal Trouser
- L.b.m.1911 Clear Blue Slim Trousers
- L.b.m. 1911 Blazer
- L.b.m. 1911 Blazer
- L.b.m. 1911 Blazer
- L.b.m.1911 Brown Cotton And Linen Jacket
- L.b.m.1911 Green Slim Fit Jacket
- L.b.m.1911 Beige Jacket
5. Canali
Potentially the most recognisable of all our brands, Canali sits right on the cusp of insider knowledge and mainstream recognition. Those who are interested in fashion know the ins-and-outs of this Sovico-based label like the back of their hand, but such familiarly isn't widespread and education is a must.
Canali is a story of 'right time, right place'. Launched in 1934 by brothers Giovanni and Giacomo, their distinct breed of tailoring helped the label ride the first waves of Italian exportation during the 1950s.
The global market became increasingly aware of southern Europe as a major fashion centre and, as such, Canali exploded. From such humble beginnings, the label now has stores in New York, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi along with countless concessions in luxury retailers.
Canali has become synonymous with classic tailoring and their worldwide status indeed comes with the worldwide price tag. With all items still made in Italy, traditional shapes are strengthened with versatile colours that never go out of style – every year, spring brings with it a sea of pastel hues while winter is all about darker, more masculine shades.
A collection of everyday casual wear bolsters this brand and makes it a more accessible choice, with cotton-blend shirts and chinos coming in at a reasonable £150. The menswear market is becoming more aware of the finer blue chip brands so Canali offers the rare opportunity to invest in prestige without overt awareness. Let's be honest, we all like that certain piece nobody else has.
Renowned For: Sharply cut formal wear and timeless wardrobe staples.
See More: Spring/Summer 2014 Advertising Campaign | Autumn/Winter 2013 Lookbook
Official Website: www.canali.com
Lookbook Examples
Key Pieces
- Canali Grey Cutaway Collar Shirt
- Canali Gingham Check Cotton Shirt
- Canali Blue Check Shirt
- Canali Kei Slim-fit Linen And Silk-blend Blazer
- Canali Slim-fit Unstructured Cotton-satin Blazer
- Canali Regular-fit Stretch Cotton-blend Lightweight Jeans
- Canali Wool And Silk Check Suit
- Canali Wool Trousers
- Canali Cashmere-silk Polo
- Canali Micro Dot Cotton Jumper
- Canali Micro-houndstooth Raincoat
- Canali Striped Silk Tie
Final Word
Italy is a style capital of the world, and for good reason. They've built their heritage and industry on expertise and caused the world to follow suit. Such an achievement is no easy feat and that's why FashionBeans salutes our Mediterranean cousins in the south. Bellissimo, gents.
So, what do you think to our five Italian brands? Any you'd add? Any you love? Any you hate?
Let us know in the comment box below…


text: How to convert sim to nano sim card for iPhone 5 As you might know that iPhone 5 can be used with nano sim cards. iPhone 4S could be used with micro sim cards. So, the size of micro sim cards has not been enough for folks at Apple so they decided to roll out iPhone 5 with support for further smaller version i.e. nano sim […] Continue reading →


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Google released "Cloud Printing" today for Windows users. Read the announcement here: http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/print-from-your-phone-with-gmail-for.html
This means you can be on the road and print your important document at your printer of choice. It's that simple. No biggie, right? Of course the printer is going wireless, isn't everything?
It's time to install the application and print while on the way to school/work! Hold that thought.
Academia is often slower to deploy such eye popping technologies for a variety of reasons, support being one of the biggest. Security is incredibly important and the I.T. world is not known for it's rapid deployment of new technologies. The path followed is likely to be described as "Tried and true." It's safe and it's proven. Two words a CIO will like.
What is the present state of printing at your institution?
- Can you print via the wireless network?
- Can you print from a laptop via Ethernet or wireless?
- Can you print to any printer or only a select printer?
- Do you have to swipe a card to release a job?
What would be the best solution for you – students, faculty, staff?


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What I think was great about an upgrade canister was I viewed it as something money just couldn't buy. It was a priceless and not just a mundane piece of equipment, it was not some mere resources, and, as it had almost no drawback at all, it was really some kind of the ultimate reward.
Of course, we can debate if these kind of ultimate rewards, which cannot be manage by the player, are really that important in a video game like Deus Ex. The only way to be sure would be to try it. But I do know that Invisible War certainly made biomods somewhat more mundane and the result was not that great. I was far less excited about finding a biomods than finding an upgrade canister.
The truth is, for most of us, the only standard that we have is we want games that are not made with the 10 years old kid in mind. Unfortunately, it seems that this simple demand is already too much too ask.


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Daylilies are appealing not only to the eye, but also to the taste buds. Native to Asia, daylilies have been used in Chinese cooking for centuries.
To be precise, I'm talking about dried daylily buds here. When used in cooking, they are often called Huang Hua Cai (黄花菜) in mandarin, which means "yellow flower vegetable", or Jin Zhen Cai (金针菜), literally "golden needle vegetable". Beloved by professional chefs and home cooks alike, they are a unique ingredient with earthy and floral aroma, slightly sweet and tart taste, and wonderfully crunchy and chewy texture.
Although the idea of eating daylily may sound exotic to some of you, you probably have already, knowingly or unknowingly, enjoyed them in iconic Chinese dishes such as hot and sour soup and moo shu pork. Daylily buds are also used frequently in Chinese vegetarian cooking, together with other flavor enhancers such as bamboo shoots and shiitake mushrooms.
While they usually play supporting roles in the dishes they appear, they are front and center in this refreshing salad which I like to make during the summer. I use a simple dressing in order to highlight the subtle flavors of the lovely buds, and the harmony they have with cucumber and carrots.
You can find dried daylily buds in Asian grocery stores. They are often labeled as "dried lily flower" on the package.
Daylily salad with cucumber and carrots
Makes 2 servings
3 oz (85 g) dried daylily buds, soaked in cold water for 1 hour
6 oz (170 g) cucumber
3 oz (85 g) carrots
1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
4 teaspoons rice vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sesame oil
Freshly ground white pepper
- In a small bowl, mix all the ingredients for the dressing. Set aside and let the sugar and salt completely dissolve.
- Drain the soaked daylily buds and snip off any tough ends. Blanch them in gently boiling water for 2 minutes. Transfer them to a colander to drain well and cool.
- Remove the seeds from the cucumber if any. Cut into thin matchsticks, preferably the size of 7mm x 2mm, or use a julienne peeler instead. Do the same with the peeled carrots.
- In a large salad bowl, mix the daylily buds, cucumber, and carrots. Cover and refrigerate until slightly chilled. Right before serving, add the dressing and toss to coat. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds and serve.
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We received our latest miracle after a successful tubal reversal and are overwhelmed with blessings. Our story is not perfect, but it is one of love and living for the Kingdom of Heaven. Follow the Maxwell's as I talk about life with 6 people in 1500sqft, baby food making, cloth diapering and surviving life with four kids under 7.
Tuesday, April 3
Bradford Joel Maxwell
While I was taking my blogging sabbatical, our precious Bradford turned three years old. This sweet little boy came into our lives in the midst of chaos. I had a exuberant 3 year old and a demanding toddler when we had "B-man" and I certainly didn't expect what I got with this little boy. I was so scared that I was going to have another wild man like Cameron but God knew what I could or couldn't handle so he gave me Bradford. He has always been a relaxed go with the flow child and he has taught me more about life than any other kiddo. I have learned to be patient with him and that not every kid does every thing at the same time but that doesn't mean he isn't just as smart as the others. In fact he is our little engineer. Taking his time with everything, stacking, taking apart and putting back together are some things he loves to do. He is not in a hurry to do anything which is just what we need in our family. Bradford has taught us all to slow down and be grateful for the smallest of victories, such as saying "me" instead of "ne". B says more with his eyes than with his mouth, he has the sweetest smile and is so gentle and kind.
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The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery unveiled their official portraits of former president Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama. How closely do you think they resemble the Obamas?
Be Smarter. Faster. More Colorful and get the full story at http://www.usatoday.com/
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Sony Ericsson unveils eco phone
GreenHeart handset
Sony Ericsson only officially took the wraps off its eco-friendly initiative – named GreenHeart – last week, but the firm's already showcased the first concept phone to roll off Mother Nature's production line.
Sony Ericsson's GreenHeart eco-friendly phone
Images courtesy of Mobile Cowboys
The GreenHeart phone's housing is made from bioplastics – materials made from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable oil. The phone's keypad is made from recycled keypads.
The "zero charger" uses 3.5mW of power in standby
SE's also created a "zero charger" that uses 3.5mW of power when in standby, and the firm's binned paper manuals in favour of PDFs.
Environmentally conscious packaging also surrounds the GreenHeart phone, although it hasn't been mentioned if this is achieved by using less packaging, recycled packaging, or both.
It's worth noting that SE isn't the first phone manufacturer to launch an eco initiative. Nokia's already launched the 3110 Evolve – reviewed here – with an unpainted bio-cover made from over 50 per cent recyclable materials. It's also created an energy efficient charger too.


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But would those differences matter if not for the bigger issue overlaying every controversy (as well as every "controversy") involving the Corp Comm? That being: the death struggle going on now between the rooftop solar industry and regulated energy companies like Arizona Public Service?
Bitter Smith owns a public-relations company that once was hired by a developer to help work out a dispute with neighbors near his new development. It involved an unfinished substation owned by APS, the largest company regulated by the Corporation Commission. APS ended up moving the as-yet uncompleted substation.Generally, I'm all for getting at the underlying issues that expose the motives and methods at play in controversies. But really, in his attempt to do so, is MacEachern really illuminating the situation or further obscuring it?
The differences he uses to set up his bogus argument are between the Bitter Smith problem (direct violation of conflict of interest law that applies only to Corporation Commissioners and candidates for that office) and recently resigned member of the Arizona Board of Regents, Mark Killian. Killian took a job Gov. Ducey offered him as director of the state Department of Agriculture.
Killian had the appearance of conflict of interest based on the competing priorities of serving at the pleasure of the governor as a cabinet official and advocating for increased university funding from tax dollars, which is counter to Ducey's position.
Simply lauding Killian for removing himself due to the APPEARANCE of a conflict wasn't enough for Mac. Instead, he used the situation to suggest compliance with specific law intended to safeguard the public interest in regulating monopoly utility corporations is insignificant and citizens concerned about it are overreacting.
How quaint. How fallacious because of the false comparison. How quintessentially MacEachern.
The Arizona Republic has covered the controversy. Local Capitol watchers (including Howie Fischer and Brahm Resnik) reported on Tom Ryan's initial complaint on September 2nd.
Yet, there's no evidence that local media would have done anything with the situation beyond initially broadcasting very brief sound bytes from the Ryan's press conference, if not for social media pressure and posting the complaint/initial video and subsequent video interviews explaining the specifics of the law and the situation, on blogs, Twitter and Facebook.
So, THANK YOU, Doug for acknowledging the likelihood the public would have forgotten about the controversy if non-corporate outlets (egalitarian social media, like the Arizona Eagletarian) had not goaded the corporate news enterprises to fulfill their duty to the communities that sustain them.
Just over a week ago, dubiously named Public Integrity Alliance (apparently funded through or by Arizona's Dark Money Prince, Sean Noble), filed a complaint against Susan Bitter Smith. The PIA complaint contained NO new allegations and invoked NO additional citations of law that Bitter Smith had violated. A friend of mine was immediately suspicious. My friend is familiar with PIA head Tyler Montague.
In my initial post about that second complaint, I cited speculation about the PIA motive. Now, another, seemingly more plausible motive has emerged.
On September 11 the Yellow Sheet reported (quoting an unnamed source, which they typically call a "railbird"),
Yesterday's move by the Public Integrity Alliance calling on Bitter Smith to choose between her Corp Comm seat and her private sector consulting was met with skepticism by some, given the opaqueness of the money that has swirled around the commission's elections.
One railbird speculated that the biggest beneficiaries of increased attention on Bitter Smith are Forese and Little. "It's clearly to get the heat off them. [PIA] are funded by [Sean] Noble people and APS – the people who love Forese and Little," the source said. Last year, PIA (then known as the Arizona Public Integrity Alliance) was accused by both Tom Horne and [Republican state Sen. Don] Shooter of being a front group for Noble's firm DC London (YS, 2/11/14) because that firm was running the campaigns of the only two candidates it attacked in advance of the 2014 election.
But one campaign consultant with ties to APS said it takes "a big tinfoil hat" to believe APS is behind PIA. "I think if it was Save Our Future Now, that would be one thing, but PIA seems to be fairly independent. I don't know where they get their money. I haven't even heard a whisper about it," the consultant said, adding that the betting money is on PIA's strategy being "a steady destruction of Susan" similar to what happened with Horne. APS spokesman Jim McDonald flatly denied any connection between the utility and the Public Integrity Alliance, which called on Bitter Smith yesterday to resign from her jobs outside the Corp Comm. "We have no involvement with them," McDonald said.Of course, even THIS is speculation. But with an APS-tied "railbird" overtly suggesting that "it takes 'a big tinfoil hat' to believe APS is behind PIA..." clearly is the mark of verbal sleight of hand.
In the short-term, removal of Bitter Smith from the Corporation Commission opens the door for Ducey to appoint a REAL tinfoil hat aficionado in Cap'n Al Melvin, the former senator on record wanting to sell Arizona out to the nuclear industry for spent fuel storage.
Can we really worry about such a hypothetical situation now, when really the immediate concern is corruption?
This brings up Game Theory, which would seem to suggest that Arizonans should tolerate Bitter Smith's conflicts of interest because the alternatives might be less desirable.
Game theory is the study of strategic decision-making. It is "the study of mathematical models of conflict and cooperation between intelligent rational decision-makers." Game theory is mainly used in economics, political science, and psychology, as well as logic, computer science, and biology. Originally, it addressed zero-sum games, in which one person's gains result in losses for the other participants. Today, game theory applies to a wide range of behavioral relations, and is now an umbrella term for the science of logical decision making in humans, animals, and computers.I submit to you that tolerating known conflicts of interest for fear of what MIGHT happen, is NOT rational or logical in this situation. Clearly, however, what makes this scenario plausible to me is that APS still hasn't acknowledged its responsibility to disclose its election spending in the 2012 or 2014 election cycles for ACC seats and both Bitter Smith and Burns have/had expressed the need to compel that disclosure.
Burns is far less vulnerable than Bitter Smith. Getting rid of Bitter Smith still won't fully protect APS from a disclosure subpoena. But does the state's largest ACC-regulated utility roll the dice with spending to attack Bitter Smith?
Given what we do know about APS conduct over the last three to five years, it's certainly possible.


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Title: Feast 2: Sloppy Seconds (2008)
Dir: John Gulager
Rating: *1/2 out of 5 stars
Damn. I was really hoping to like this one, despite all the negative word-of-mouth. I am a big fan of the original Feast, though to be honest, I always wondered if that turned out good by sheer luck. Even then, I hated Gulager's directing, and with this sequel, I suspect he was granted more creative freedom. Consequently, Sloppy Seconds is 100 minutes of what I disliked about the first film - Gulager's hyperkinetic, gross-out bullshit.
Picking up where the first film left off, the ravenous monsters have invaded a nearby town. Among the survivors are two dwarf wrestlers and their grandmother, a gang of female bikers hellbent on revenge, and a sleazy used car salesman, his cheating wife, and her lover. Returning from the first film is a wounded Clu Gulager as "the bartender." The cowardly Honey Pie also returns here. Basically, the survivors get held up in a building and spend most of the movie trying to break into the local jail, which is evidently the safest spot in town. Needless to say, much carnage ensues.
For the first 30 minutes or so, I was enjoying the movie. It's campy, sure, but I couldn't see why people hate it so much. It was around the time of the creature autopsy that I lost faith in this film. I love over-the-top, and I certainly don't have a weak stomach, but the constant attempts to just be gross get B-O-R-I-N-G. And desperate. And occasionally absurd. Gulager's trademark hyperkinetic camera style also gets kinda annoying.
Some of the gore FX are cool, and they do still use creature suits - mostly. There is some god-awful CGI, for both the creatures and for general stunts. Chalk it up to a low-budget, fine, I can live with that. But the characters are also really annoying. And the sidestory of the biker chicks hunting down Bozo (from the first film) is nonsensical and goes nowhere. Not surprisingly, the only two likable characters are the two alumni from the first film. Clu is awesome anyway (Burt!) and Honey Pie just makes a great gore whore. I enjoy watching her if only for that. I just wanna be her!
Feast II has some intriguing moments - even the final credits are pretty cool - but it truly pales in comparison to its predecessor. Even the location is far inferior - the bar was a fantastic horror setting, but the survivors-holed-up-in-a-town thing is SO tired. Fans of gross-out and/or fucked-up horror may enjoy parts of this. I generally like both, but with substance, too. Even the infamous baby scene from this movie let me down. I place that blame on two parties - the asshole who ruined it for me in his review and the filmmakers for not pulling it off properly.
By the way, be prepared for a lack of ending, as the movie stops on a cliffhanger. This is the filmmakers' way of luring you to see Feast III. Good luck with that, guys, Lord of the Rings this is not.


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Tottenham Hotspur recovered from conceding twice in the opening nine minutes to secure a 2-2 draw away to Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Tuesday.
Gonzalo Higuain struck for Juve after two minutes and again from the penalty spot after nine as Tottenham were rocked, but the visitors responded in impressive fashion.
Harry Kane fired home in the 35th minute to halve the deficit — the first goal Juventus have conceded in 2018 — before Higuain wasted the chance to score a hat-trick when his penalty on the stroke of halftime hit the crossbar.
Tottenham were rewarded for their endeavour when Christian Eriksen's free kick levelled it up in the 71st minute, meaning the London club will fancy their chances of knocking out last year's runners-up in next month's second leg at Wembley.