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Armando Salguero: Super Bowl formula for 49ers, Ravens is simple – load up on playmakers
The NFL's annual rush to scrutinize the Super Bowl teams and draw conclusions from their rosters will soon begin to focus on the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers.
The surface study of these Super teams would offer an easily understandable strategy for getting to the Super Bowl:
Simply hire a coach named Harbaugh.
But as the Harbaugh family is tapped of coaching brothers and most NFL teams are sticking with their own coaches for the time being, a more involved study is necessary to decipher the latest formula for NFL success.
Hint: The formula isn't obvious because the Ravens and 49ers don't specialize in any one philosophy or approach.
Both teams do simply collect good players — a lot of them — and they're sprinkled throughout the roster.
"There's a lot. I could go on talking about the talent that we have around here," San Francisco receiver Michael Crabtree said. "On the tight ends, running backs, you have to remember we have three people injured that played a major part in our offense. But I would say that with all of these weapons, I don't think that you can go wrong.
"That's the bottom line: You have to have as many playmakers as you can."
Maybe that's it. Add good players everywhere and overcome the opposition with quantity as well as quality.
Obviously the past's ideas on how to succeed, drawn from championship teams of 2004-2011, aren't applying to these to teams.
Unlike past years when the Saints, Colts and Patriots brought a great pocket quarterback and perhaps the NFL's most proficient passing game to the Super Bowl — sometimes at the expense of running the football — the Ravens and 49ers are shifting that paradigm.
Both the Ravens and 49ers run the football first and pass second.
Baltimore brings a drop-backer passer to the game. But Joe Flacco's not exactly prolific, having thrown only 22 touchdowns during a regular season in which Drew Brees led the NFL with 43. San Francisco brought a running quarterback of all things to this game. And while Colin Kaepernick adds an intriguing dimension with the pistol offense, he only threw 10 touchdowns after he took over as the starter.
Meanwhile, Tom Brady, Brees, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers are not in this game. So the idea of needing an elite quarterback to win the Super Bowl might not be totally right.
(Yes, my hair is about to catch on fire from this thought).
Defensively, these teams also are bucking the trend set by the New York Giants on how to win championships with defense. The Giants convinced experts the best way to win a championship was to field an extraordinary pass-rush.
The 49ers really have only one accomplished pass-rusher and the Ravens are in the big game even though their best pass-rusher Terrell Suggs spent much of the season injured. The Dolphins, believe it or not, had more sacks than either team.
So what does the 2012 success of the Ravens and 49ers suggest?
The Ravens run the ball behind a zone blocking scheme, the 49ers go with a more physical man blocking approach.
That alone might suggest these teams share little in common. But look closer. It's not a coincidence both will decide the 47th Super Bowl.
"I don't think it's coincidence," San Francisco safety Donte Whitner said. "I think that when you play the game the way we play the game and the way that the Baltimore Ravens play the game, good things happen for you.
"We play an old school style of football. We play a physical style of football. Stop the run, and then we get after you in the pass game and get pass rushers. That's how you win football games. It's won up front, really, with the offensive and defensive line, and really with us affecting quarterbacks. So, it's no coincidence."
Whitner is suggesting a return to 1990-era run-first approach by teams built from the inside out (offensive and defensive lines first and then the playmakers) is the way to do it now.
(Now my head is exploding).
This coming at a time the NFL is relying more on the passing game. This at a time wide receivers have become more precious commodities, quarterbacks must be great passers, and many running backs have become secondary players.
But the 49ers, with Frank Gore leading a running game that features quarterback Kaepernick as a primary threat, and the Ravens, with Ray Rice at running back, have ground games that, ahem, fly in the face of today's pass-first offenses.
The 49ers boasted the NFL's fourth-leading rushing attack in 2012. The Ravens had the No. 11 rushing attack, compared to their No. 15 pass ranking.
"It's been really special to see what a lot of running backs have done this year," Rice said. " I think every running back came out with a chip on their shoulder this year because everybody was saying our value as a player on the field was going down.
"I'm satisfied where I'm at, but look at what Adrian Peterson did after knee surgery and his ACL. You look at what guys around the league are doing. Running backs are still very important to their teams."
That doesn't mean the passing game is not important in Baltimore and San Francisco. Both teams have invested heavily in being able to pass the ball efficiently.
The Ravens invested a first-round pick on quarterback Joe Flacco, a second-round pick for deep-threat Torrey Smith and traded for Anquan Boldin.
On defense the 49ers run a classic 3-4 front while the Ravens have actually gone to more of a 4-3 look. That suggests there is more than one way to succeed.
But regardless of the look, both show multiple fronts.
Both move players around so the offense cannot absolutely determine where key pass rushers such as Suggs and San Francisco's Aldon Smith will line up.
"This year, we're moving around a bunch and using two defensive ends quite a bit instead of just having the 3-4 with one big end and one small end," Baltimore's Haloti Ngata said. "It's been more of a mix this year. Right now, it's probably the hot thing to do, but once the offenses figure it out, the defenses will probably move back to the 4-3."
Something both the Ravens and 49ers enjoy is good play from their safeties. They both get good production from their tight ends. They both have solid offensive lines although those were built in entirely different fashion.
So what does all this say about the Ravens and 49ers?
"It says the team with the most talent and best coaching usually survive and get here," Baltimore receiver Torrey Smith said. "They're very talented. I think we're very talented. So it shouldn't surprise people we're here."


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Mathews: What has government done for me lately?
Oh my my! Mr. Wilson seems very upset about the prospect of raising the sales tax in Breckenridge by a whopping .24% to benefit all those takers who need financial assistance for childcare. Bottom feeders I tell ya! Good thing the rest of us don't benefit from any handouts. Yeah, like when we buy fuel for our cars and trucks, food for the dinner table, police officers, fire fighters, road maintenance, electricity, Wall Street, banks, defense, penitentiaries, local government, the airlines, trucking, trains, highways, street lights, stop signs, healthcare, agriculture, commerce, education, energy, health and human services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, interior, justice, labor, state, transportation, Treasury, Veterans Affairs, EPA, Small Business Administration and about 58,000 other subsidies that have no space to be printed on this rant.
Scott C. Mathews, Breckenridge
Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.

subset: commoncrawl


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It seems that
Recently, South Indian film industry joined the boycott-IIFA chorus. They are also asking Bollywood not to take part in this gala event.
It is also reported that pro-Tamil groups in Tamil Nadu have asked Bollywood to boycott the event that will start from June 3 to 5.
Boycotting the event does not mean that they are against the event that will be organized in
Let's see what will happen next.
Related article:


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Theater is a lifelong passion for Bonnie Butkas, a Westford resident and the new executive director of Merrimack Repertory Theatre, a professional theater in Lowell that features both classic and modern contemporary productions.
Butkas recently spoke about the theater's current production, Lila Rose Kaplan's "The Villain's Supper Club" -- a send-up of superhero and bad-guy archetypes, with a twist. Like most superheroes, the protagonist, Galactic Girl, has an alternate identity -- she works as a journalist, but is also a harried mother of a newborn son. The play, the final show of the theater's current season, is also filled with modern relationship entanglements and comedic physicality.
Butkas also spoke about how theater informed and changed her life, and why keeping theater alive matters to her.
Please tell me about your role and duties at Merrimack Repertory Theatre.
As the executive director of Merrimack Repertory Theatre, I oversee the business side of the theater including fundraising, marketing, the box office and finance.
I co-lead the organization with Artistic Director Sean Daniels. I've spent most of my life in nonprofit theater in various development, marketing and arts management roles, so moving into an executive director role made sense. On any given day, I might be speaking with a subscriber about the current show, revising a grant proposal, preparing for a budget presentation or meeting with donors.
How and when did you become interested in working with theater?
Dance and theater were a really big part of my life growing up. My mom was a dancer; I studied dance for years; I loved being part of school plays as a kid; and I got my bachelor's in dance performance.
I grew up in a small town, but we had a great drama club, and my parents made sure that we had opportunities to see live performance and get training in music and dance. I love the collaborative nature of theater. You need everyone--actors, directors, crew, painters, designers, box office, marketing--to make the work happen.
What is your education and professional background?
I have degrees in dance and journalism from the University at Buffalo, and I fell into arts administration when my Mom showed me a newspaper article about the local summer stock theater company.
I've worked in theaters in New York City; co-founded a dance company in Buffalo, New York; worked in higher education in Rochester, New York; and volunteered with a variety of non-profits including Girls Scouts and the YWCA. Most of my career has been in non-profit marketing, development and arts administration. I always wanted to be an executive director, but the stars didn't align until Merrimack Repertory Theatre. Sean Daniels [artistic director of Merrimack Repertory Theatre] and I met when we were both working at Geva Theatre Center, and he encouraged me to apply for this position at [the Merrimack Repertory Theatre].
Please explain about the current production, "The Villains' Supper Club."
The last superhero on earth is a brand-new mom named Galactic Girl. She's saving the planet, pumping to feed her baby, thanking her mom for all the free babysitting and fending off an array of villains.
It's really fun and funny, and the cast is amazing. The show also makes the point that moms are superheroes all the time. The show looks like a cartoon come to life in the best possible way. We also switch narrators halfway through. I don't want to spoil the show, but the playwright, Lila Rose Kaplan, pokes fun at the ridiculous standards that working moms are expected to attain.
Why is this work important to you?
Theater is life-changing. It provides a way for people to have hard conversations, to take up a new point of view, and to find joy. Every live performance you see is unique.
I think film, television and social media have their roles, but there's nothing like the adventure of live theater.
I love that people of all ages come together for 90 minutes in our theater and share an adventure that can't be duplicated.
I'm also passionate about working with children and youth and partnering with our community.
As a kid, theater taught me about collaboration and teamwork, and the joy of live performance. I want to make sure that we offer theater experiences to our entire community, from free tickets for K-12 students to $5 nights at [the theater] to partnerships with various cultural organizations in the region to our summer youth program, Young Company.
The Villains' Supper Club is onstage at Merrimack Repertory Theatre, 50 East Merrimack St., Lowell, with performances through May 20. More info: 867-654-4678; mrt.org.


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Family Business: Scott Brodie and Hero Generations
As has become somewhat routine, Rock Paper Shotgun alerted us recently to an upcoming indie title seeking funding on Kickstarter. An upcoming turn based strategy RPG with roguelike elements - stop me if you've heard this one before. But Hero Generations is something a little different from the norm; while a single character's life is, in roguelike fashion, perilously short (predetermined to be so, in fact), Scott Brodie wants to give us the chance to create a lineage of heroes. As our heroes age and achieve greatness, they will have the chance to find a mate and carry on through their offspring, passing traits, goods and fame down from one generation to the next. Intrigued, I asked Scott if he would take a little time to tell us a bit more about the game and his plans for it, and he generously agreed.
EG: So, introductions! For those who don't know you, who is Scott Brodie (beyond "independent game designer, programmer, and founder at Heart Shaped Games"), and how did you come to build Hero Generations?
SB: I've been a game designer for some time, and I've worked in most of the disciplines in games at some point along the way. Most recently I was a Producer at Microsoft Game Studios, where I worked on Xbox Live Arcade games for about four years (Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, Scrap Metal, Aegis Wing, Aqua, Snoopy Flying Ace are just a few of the games I had a hand in helping make). I decided to leave and start Heart Shaped Games, and I've been doing that for the past 3.5 years.
I started work on Hero Generations at the beginning of 2011, but eventually had to set it aside when my first child was born. In between I worked on a well-received collectible card game called Highgrounds (http://www.highgroundsgame.com), but I'm now finally in a position to revisit Hero Generations, and I'm really excited about the new direction.
EG: Before diving in too deep, let's have the elevator pitch for the game, for people who haven't seen the Kickstarter page yet. (Of course, once they're done reading this, they should go check it out and learn more.) In 60 seconds or less - or the text equivalent - what is Hero Generations about?
SB: The best way I've found to describe it is "The 5-Minute Civilization." You play a rapidly aging hero that explores a procedurally generated world in search of fame and a mate to settle down with before you die. After your life ends, you continue on adventuring as your child, and that cycle continues on and on. I'd liken it to the offspring of Sid Meier's Civilization, Jason Rohrer's Passage, and The Legend of Zelda.
A tiny piece of what will be a big world.
EG: From the Kickstarter page: "Life took some surprising turns for me during Hero Generations' original development, and I was forced to put the game on the shelf in order to spend time with my then-newborn son and focus on other projects that could pay the bills." Can you elaborate a little bit on the game Hero Generations was before, vs. the game that you want it to be now?
SB: Sure. The prototype is far along, and it actually was selected as an IndieCade Finalist in 2011. It was out on the web, and I got a lot of great feedback on how to make it better. It is a lot of fun for about 4-5 hours, but it really needed a lot more content to make the game infinitely playable. I also did all of the artwork for that version myself.
The new version really sets out to address those things. I'm working with artist Dominic Sodano to overhaul the art, and everyone seems to be as in love with his style as I am. We're also going to add a ton of content, which includes an overworld you can explore to find all new tilesets and challenges (Volcano, Desert, and Island, to name a few). I'm also excited about supporting both male and female heroes. I'm really excited to get the chance to overhaul the game and make the great experience I know it can be.
EG: The concept of managing a limited timeline as a resource in a game is not a totally unique one, but the way you're doing it here is something we usually only see in grand strategy games where you command a nation, not character-focused RPG's. One year per turn seems like a really broad abstraction for a single character, especially if you're just moving around a map. "This year, I walked into the forest" seems like a lackluster way to spend a year. What's the plan for making sure none of the turns are "filler", when there are potentially so few of them?
SB: Turns are really fast, so there isn't really "down time", but there are non-optimal paths you can take. But that's okay to me, because a lot of people wander around life without a clear direction of what they want to do, so it's a valid thing that players can do. The less-impressive turns are important to the overall interest in the game because they make the more-impressive turns that much more meaningful (i.e. you can't have good turns without the threat of bad ones).
But design theory aside, most actions in the world are iconic of major events in a hero's life. Meeting a mate that you don't choose is emblematic of a failed relationship. Building represents the year that was taken to plan and engineer the structure. Battles represent major encounters between the heroes of two civilizations. The game foregoes the in-between details so that every turn results in a meaningful event, and I think that's ultimately how we get to an actual "5-minute Civilization" feel that I designed for.
EG: One of the parts of your pitch that I found fascinating was: "Meaning: The game system was built from the ground up to be an exploration of the themes of death, legacy, family, love,and more. The experience of playing the game I hope will be a surprising and thought-provoking experience, as well as fun." That's a pretty lofty goal. You talked in your second update (which I encourage people to go read) about some of the inspirations behind the game and your design philosophies, but I'm wondering whether the "ability" to become a parent in this game is really a choice for the player. It seems like having a child might always be the "better" option in Hero Generations simply because it lets you keep playing and get a better score - choosing not to would essentially be opting for the game's version of suicide. Are you worried about boiling something that complex down to a game mechanic? Is there a downside in the game to the parenting option, or a situation where the game might reward a player for not continuing their lineage?
SB: The main reason you would decide not to have a child in the game is to maximize the number of years you can put into making your hero famous. When you choose to have a child in the game (with some rare exceptions) that also means your journey is done with your current character. Your fame "score" is locked in and you move on to the next hero. So the alternative is to be entirely selfish and focus on hitting as many quests as possible until your last years. I don't want to give too much away, but there are some major quests in the game that require this type of full dedication to complete, but the payoff is big.
Age may take its toll, but it shall not dull this warrior's keen fashion sense.
EG: Assuming that the player does choose to establish a lineage of heroes, how will family dynamics come into play, if at all? Your third update included a gameplay video by UnstableVoltage, and it seemed like at this point in the prototype, picking a mate is mostly a process of trying to find the "best" option available to your fame level, and there seemed to be little interaction between family generations. Obviously, in real life, sometimes families don't get along - sons don't always like fathers, and family members' goals don't always mesh. Understanding that we're not likely to get into Game of Thrones territory (or even Crusader Kings territory, necessarily), do you see any of the more complicated aspects of family dynamics working their way into the game?
SB: I actually think Game of Thrones isn't a bad reference point to what the final version of the game will play like, in terms of family dynamics. There will be competition among you and the other families throughout the world. Specifically, if you have achieved the highest fame score in the world, your town transforms into a "Kingdom" type, and you and your descendants gain some meaningful benefits for achieving that. But this also makes you a target, and the other families will try to out do you and steal the throne back.
But as well, your family and culture play a big part in the game. You can be given special quests that your Parents want you to complete, and you can choose to follow what they want, or ignore them and chart your own path. You can also build up cities, and morph their culture based upon the building choices you make. It's all ensuring that the choices you make in one generation will have lasting, meaningful impact on future ones.
EG: As you mentioned briefly above, the pitch includes lady heroes as well as gentlemen heroes, which I was happy to see. Will there be any functional differences gameplay wise between those choices?
SB: I think we're still working out exactly how if at all the gender of your hero will affect gameplay. There is a rich design space there to explore, but we also don't want to introduce too many special case rules, because then the game starts to get harder to learn and enjoy. If you back the project, I'm sure we'll share our plans for this, and we would of course love to get your feedback on how to handle this part of the game.
EG: One of the eternal conflicts in procedural game development is the balance between game mechanics and plot. Do you hope to build Hero Generations into a game where players are making decisions for narrative reasons within crafted story pieces? Or do you expect that the game's narrative is going to come primarily out of the decisions they're making in the game's mechanical systems?
SB: The game really shines as a "procedural storytelling" experience. We give you small flavor elements, and from those things you kind of build a world and story up in your head. The choices you make start to fill in a plot, and over time you get a nice arc that is usually worth sharing with someone else.
EG: Kickstarters are notorious for, let's generously say, "rough" timeline estimates, and as stretch goals get unlocked (which seems likely here) those tend to get rougher. January 2015 is listed for Hero Generations - is that a date you expect is likely? Or was it a "we need to fill something in here" guess?
SB: I think the schedule is very achievable. The things that would move us off our timeline would be getting significantly overfunded. Ultimately, I'm not deadline driven; I want to build the best game possible, and we'll take the time we need to make sure that's what we deliver. The good news though is that we have a fun alpha prototype already, and we'll be delivering a beta version of the game in the later half of this year, so backers will be able to get their hands on a version of the game pretty soon.
EG: Anything you'd like to tell people that we didn't cover before we wrap up? The floor's yours, say anything you want.
SB: I'd very much like to thank all of the people that have taken the time to back our Kickstarter thus far. And of course it would mean a lot if your readers would consider backing the project if they haven't already. Thanks for the great questions!
Thanks very much to Scott Brodie for taking the time to address my questions. If you'd like to learn more about Hero Generations, go check out their Kickstarter campaign - well on its way with over half the duration remaining - or their Steam Greenlight page and consider showing your support!


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A shootout in Brooklyn over the weekend that injured four on-duty police officers prompted a press conference from Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. The two are equally distraught about the rising violence towards police officers.
During a press conference held the morning following the shootout, Commissioner Ray Kelly gave the details as to what exactly happened in the apartment in the Sheepshead Bay area of Brooklyn. Kelly said how Nakwon Foxworth , a 33-year-old tenant, got into some kind of dispute with a moving company.
Foxworth, who has already served ten years in prison, was with his pregnant girlfriend Jessica Hickling and their four month old child at the time of the incident. Foxworth had gotten into an altercation with some movers in the apartment complex.
"We had a barrel in front of the door and all of a sudden he gets angry," one of the movers, Kairon Decaul, told the New York Daily News.
"He took the stroller, with the baby in it, and started ramming it into the barrel. He became very angry. The woman started screaming, 'The baby! The baby!'"
"My friend ran, and he chased him to the truck," Decaul said. "He came back inside and threw the gun in the baby's stroller. He put his finger in my face and threatened me. The girl was screaming, 'calm down! calm down!'"
Foxworth then returned to his apartment and barricaded himself there along with his girlfriend and child. Hickling managed to escape from the apartment with her child once the police arrived.
However, with the arrival of the police came the wild shootout that injured four police officers.
"He struck detective Michael Keenan in his left calf, detective Kenneth Ayala in the thigh and foot, police officer Matthew Granahan in his left calf and captain Al Pizzano sustained a graze wound to his face," Commissioner Kelly said at a news conference following the shootings.
"Although hit, Detective Ayala and Officer Granahan returned fire, striking Foxworth in the abdomen," Kelly added. He also noted how the fight took place in "close quarters" within the apartment.
Ray Kelly said that police confiscated three guns and 50 rounds of ammunition from Nakwon Foxworth's apartment. The 9 mm Browning handgun used on the cops was part of a multiple gun purchase made in North Carolina, officials said.
Cops also found a loaded, defaced .22 caliber revolver and a sawed-off military assault rifle equipped with a scope. Those weapons had been stolen from Florida, Commissioner Kelly said.
"All of these shootings have a disgraceful fact in common. All were committed with illegal guns that came from out of state," said Mayor Bloomberg in the wake of the shooting.
Six NYPD cops have been shot this year so far. Det. Kevin Herlihy survived being shot in the arm during a shootout in a Harlem subway station on Valentine's Day, and Officer Kevin Brennan is recovering from being shot in the head in Bushwick, Brooklyn, on January 31.
"Until Congress wakes up and finds some courage to stand up to the gun lobby, illegal guns will continue to end up in the hands of dangerous people, like tonight's shooter who had a small arsenal of illegal guns," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at the news conference. "And if that means we have to start calling Senators and members of Congress in the middle of the night when we get these shooting calls, maybe we should just start doing that."


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Weight Loss Fact
Low Fat Foods DON'T WORK.
You cannot lose weight using Low Fat Diets. Low fat foods have been popular for more than 15 years, but yet our society is getting more overweight as each year passes. This fact alone should tell you that eating a purely low fat menu is not the answer for losing weight.
Low Calorie Diets DON'T WORK. You will not lose weight using a Low Calorie Dieting Plan either. In fact, eating low calories are the worst thing that you can do to your body, since that will only slow down your body's fat burning engine and ruin all chances of losing weight (low calorie diets may allow a few pound of weight loss for the first few days, but then after that all weight loss comes to a halt --- known as a dieting plateau). You can never get slim by starving yourself.
Low Carbohydrates Plans DON'T WORK. You will probably find it extremely difficult to get slim using a Low Carbohydrates Dieting Plan. Low Carbohydrates diet have recently become popular over the last couple years, but the problem with low Carbohydrates menus is that they are too strict and TOO HARD TO FOLLOW for average people. Low Carbohydrates menus tend to steal your body of too much energy (carbohydrates) and make it nearly impossible to remain on the program for very long. This is why so many dieters find it difficult to follow a strict low carbohydrate menu.
What about Weight Watchers Dieting Plans?Weight loss programs such as Weight Watchers usually involve slower dieting progress over a longer period of time, since such programs generally promise only 2-3 pounds of weight loss per week. Also, programs such as usually involve buying special meals and/or dietary supplements during the initial phases of the program. While some people may like these types of dietary programs, we prefer a dieting plan which focuses on faster weight loss.


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Annie Clark is, as a person, more polite than punk. "I tend to be kind of cerebral, I guess," she explains. But the music she makes as St. Vincent—precise, ambitious rock full of airy vocal melodies and frenetic guitar parts—can be jarring, disruptive and often absolutely beautiful. As a result, her third album, "Strange Mercy," contained some of last year's most forward-thinking rock. To figure out Clark's secret formula, RedEye called her up for a chat about moshing, music production and, um, "The Hunger Games."
Your music is getting more abrasive, louder. Do you try to make it more difficult in that way, more intense for people to get into?
It's not about alienating the listener. It's just about doing something that feels exciting. But I think people want a challenge.
How much of it is thought out as "this is a pop song" versus "I'm experimenting with something I want to do?"
My goal is only ever to make music that I think sounds compelling. And that's not about superimposing stuff that doesn't need to be there. I'm only ever trying to make something that excites me. And if that happens to be challenging or that happens to be easy, that's not even really my concern. Ultimately I think I make pop music. But my version of what pop music is may be different than someone else's. There's no way to really gauge it.
Your Vic show is sold out. Have you ever snuck into a show, and do you have any tips for fans who want to sneak into your show?
I can't say I ever have. Not because I wouldn't want to. Hmm ... I'm not sure how you do it. There's so much security and all that.
Is there any similarly rock 'n' roll thing you've done at a show you've attended?
I used to go see Lightning Bolt a lot. And those shows were wonderful because they set up in the middle of the crowd and you just totally mosh and rage. And I just remember feeling so excited to hear the band pounding in my ears and feel people kind of elbowing you and that just was so much fun.
Do people ever mosh at St. Vincent shows?
Yeah. If I start it, they'll mosh.
It seems like you have a really wide range of artistic influences. You're always tweeting about music and books and fashion. Does that play into your music at all?
Of course. ... I'm always kind of collecting images and ideas from all over. Everything I read or every movie I see.
Speaking of which, recently you tweeted that you saw "The Hunger Games." What did you think of that movie?
Yes! Oh my God! I actually loved it. I didn't know anything about it. I hadn't seen any reviews of it. I had not read the books. I basically knew nothing. And I just walked in and it was an action-packed thrill ride.
Another thing you've tweeted about before is Drake. What do you think of Drake's music?
Drake, oh my God! I listened to that record—his last record—for a time there it was the only thing I would listen to. Like, definitely about a month. Yeah, I really liked it. I thought it was great. My friend made, when I said that I really liked him, she made a kind of horrifying Photoshop of us together.
Do you listen to much hip-hop?
I do, sometimes more than others. I guess it's R&B, but I got really into The-Dream for a little bit.
I love The-Dream!
Yeah, I love The-Dream too. And Lil Wayne. I feel like there were lots of times in making "Strange Mercy" when I was like, "Oh, this should have a Dirty South kind of vibe to it." Well, you maybe can't hear that ... Hip-hop production is some of the most exciting production, I think. I think in hip-hop production they're really not afraid to take chances and anything can be a snare drum and you can make a beat out of anything.
St. Vincent
7:30 p.m. May 11
The Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield
Sold out
Kyle Kramer is a redeye special contributor.


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Who doesn't love fall? or as the English call it autumn! Cozy fuzzy socks, boots, leather jacket, chai latte, pumpkin everything..ahhh yes, I could go on and on. I went through my lipstick collection and I've picked my top 4 lipsticks for the fall time! Out of the 4 that I've picked, 3 are from the drugstore. Thumbs up for me :)
New Black, 04, Fabulous Fig, Prolong
17 Lasting Fix Lipstick in New Black
I purchased this not too long ago from Boots on Lisa Eldrige's recommendation. It has a somewhat matte finish which I really like for dark lipsticks 'cause it doesn't move around on your lips as much. The color of this is really close to Rimmel 04 but it's more red. I actually wore this lipstick on Halloween this year and it lasted all night!
Rimmel Kate Lipstick in 04
I've been eying the Mac Yung Rapenxel lipstick for the longest time 'cause I love Azealia Banks! But after seeing this video from DestinyGodley on Yung Rapunxel dupes, I passed it up and got the Rimmel Kate lipstick instead. It's a fraction of the MAC price (my wallet is happy) and even though they're probably not exact dupes, I still really like the Kate one.
Revlon Matte Lipstick in Fabulous Fig
This is probably my faaaavorite out of the bunch probably because it's the most wearable for a day-to-day basis. It's a deep terracotta red that isn't too in-your-face. Despite my pure love for Revlon lip products, I still can't justify their UK price. I bought Fabulous Fig in Thailand for about 4 pounds but in Boots Revlon lipsticks are 7.99, which I think is a bit outrageous. HOWEVER, Thai drugstores don't carry Revlon's dark vampy shades like Va Va Violet or Black Cherry...biggest dilemma of my life.
MAC Prolong Wear Lipstick in Prolong
After months of searching, I still can't find my Russian Red anywhere, so that's why I've put Prolong in this list instead. They're actually very similar but Prolong is a tiny bit more long-lasting and drying. It's just a classic matte red that errrrybody needs in their life.
(From top to bottom) Prolong, Fabulous Fig, New Black, 04
Are you guys sporting dark lips this fall? Give me some recommendations 'cause I definitely need some more :)


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Tattoo Of The Week: Elephant Face (By Gucci Mane's Former Tattoo Artist)
Elephant tattooed on face by David Morris (Gucci Manes former tattoo artist
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


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الجمعة، 21 مارس 2014
Mosaic flowers
6:25 ص Flowers No comments
Clematis Rehderiana
6:10 ص Flowers No comments
This prolific and very vigorous, late-flowering Chinese species features open clusters of small, pale cream or pale yellow or violet, bell-shaped flowers with the unusual distinction of a cowslip fragrance
Many hundreds may be open at once on a large plant, from late August or September onwards. Vulnerable to drought when young, it needs plenty of space. Prune in spring if necessary. 5-7m (161/2-23ft)
Ichkeul lake - Tunisia
5:53 ص Earth Story No comments
In northern Tunisia near the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, the lake and wetlands of Ichkeul National Park are an important stopping-over point for hundreds of thousands of migrating birds each year
Among the lake's visitors are ducks, geese, storks, and pink flamingoes. The park is on the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) list of World Heritage sites, and since 1996, the park has also been on the group's List of World Heritage Sites in danger
Dam construction on the lake's feeder rivers has produced major changes to the ecological balance of the lake and wetlands
الاثنين، 17 مارس 2014
Most Beautiful Birds on Earth
3:14 م Animals No comments
Most Beautiful Birds on Earth
Sometimes you have to wonder at the glory so effortlessly displayed by nature to help a creature find a mate
The survival of the species can depend a great deal on just how good-looking the male doing the courting is
Many get assistance from Mother Nature in the form of mind-blowing plumage
Cool garden archways covered with white flowers
2:46 م Earth Story No comments
Cool garden archways covered with white flowers
As 'ribbon walls' go this one is by far the most interesting
Archway flowers
2:33 م Flowers No comments
Cool Garden Archways Covered With Flowers
Bonsai tree flowers
10:23 ص Flowers No comments
a very small tree or bush that is grown in a pot by using special methods to control its growth
The direct inspiration for bonsai is found in nature, in trees that grow in harsh, rocky places and are dwarfed and gnarled throughout their existence
Bonsai may live for a century or more and are handed down from one generation to another as valued family possessions
Send Blue Flowers
10:12 ص Flowers No comments
Blue flowers are sultry, mysterious and vivid, perfect for the most unique people in our lives. Send blue flowers to anywhere today
Purple Flowers
10:03 ص Flowers No comments
Purple passion flower, tons of purple varieties of hibiscus, Datura metel (on the underside),and vincas thats about all I've dealt with. The incense variety of passion flower has a
awesome fragrance
السبت، 1 مارس 2014
Blooming Lotus
As a lotus flower is born in water, grows in water and rises out of water to stand above it unsoiled, so I, born in the world, raised in the world having overcome the world, live unsoiled by the world
الاشتراك في: الرسائل (Atom)


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The United States and Turkey Approach Shared Challenges, Strengthen Ties
By DipNote Bloggers on March 30, 2017
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson traveled to Ankara, Turkey, on March 30, to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other senior Turkish government officials.
During a press availability following his meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, the Secretary outlined three mutual long-term goals on which their conversation focused: working together to defeat Daesh/ISIS; building stability in the region; and bolstering economic ties between our two nations.
The discussions between Secretary Tillerson and Foreign Minister Cavusoglu reaffirmed that we will prevent the resurgence of Daesh in previously held territory, and aggressively stop the emergence of new terrorist threats on the ground as well as the recruitment of terrorists online.
The thanked Turkey for their partnership in the effort to defeat ISIS noting, "Over the past 18 months, the U.S. Military's ability to operate from Turkish bases has enabled us to increase operations against ISIS by 25 percent without the utilization of any additional aircraft required. The Turkish Government has stopped the influx of foreign fighters into Iraq and Syria. Turkish troops have permanently pushed ISIS off the Turkish-Syria border. And the United States is grateful for Turkey's important contributions as a member of the counter-ISIS coalition, including the participation last week of Foreign Minister Cavusoglu at the recent coalition meetings hosted by the State Department in Washington."
In addition to highlighting the importance of Turkey's role to help defeat ISIS, Secretary Tillerson praised Turkey's efforts to build regional stability. The Secretary outlined multiple broad regional goals for both the United States and Turkey, such as reducing Iran's ability to disrupt the region; finding a settlement in Syria that allows Syrians to return home; and supporting Iraqis to build a strong, independent, and inclusive government in Baghdad.
On bolstering economic ties between our nations, Secretary Tillerson discussed ways our two nations can deepen our trade and investment ties. "Bilateral trade and goods between our two countries was more than $17 billion in 2016, and we're eager to grow that number. American and Turkish scientists collaborate on research to improve energy efficiency, health, and education under the framework of the U.S.-Turkey Science and Technology Agreement. And we're also fostering public-private partnerships that support technology-based innovation and entrepreneurship. We will work with the Turkish Government and the private sector to expand economic cooperation that benefits both of our countries," he noted.
As he concluded his statement, Secretary Tillerson underscored, "In the United States, the people of Turkey have a trusted ally and a partner who is committed to its safety and security and advancing economic opportunity. We look forward to approaching these challenges together, and the Trump administration will continue to build ties with this longstanding ally and our friend."
Editor's Note: This entry is also published on Medium.com/StateDept.
For more information:
- Secretary Tillerson's remarks at a press availability with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.


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Climate Hero Rev. Canon Sally Bingham
For years, Sally Bingham wondered why her church wasn't providing moral guidance on climate change. One of the first directives in the Bible, Bingham says, is to care for creation. When God gave Adam dominion over the Earth, that meant responsibility to "till it and keep it." Bingham decided she had to bring this message to the pulpit. She left behind her life as a homemaker, enrolled in seminary, and became an Episcopal priest. In 1993, she founded the Regeneration Project, which has helped more than 10,000 congregations around the country become greener and more energy-efficient, and spurred a faith-based movement in support of climate policy.
How has climate change become an issue that religious communities are organizing around?
Until 10 years ago, clergy got no instruction in environmental ethics in seminary, but it has become evident that there aren't going to be any souls to save unless we save the land, air, and water. Now when you talk to religious people, it's like the light bulb goes on—if you love God, you better love Creation. Once you open that possibility, people get it.
How do you get congregations to turn that understanding into action?
The first thing for somebody in a congregation to understand is that every one of their behaviors affects another person: the clothes they wear, the cars they drive, the coffee they drink, the energy they use. Once you've got that awareness, you'll put in energy-efficient appliances, you'll walk instead of driving, and you won't create so much waste.
Greening the individual church, synagogue, or mosque is our first goal. When a clergyperson walks down the aisle and says, "This church is saving $12,000 a year on energy bills," people go, "Whoa, I bet I could do that at home." The congregation serves as an example to the people in the pews.
What's the role of the faith community in addressing the climate crisis?
The faith community didn't start out in a leadership role on this issue, but I think we're going to end up there. Now that the moral voice of religion is involved in this dialogue, things are going to happen. We saw that with the abolition of slavery, women's right to vote, and the civil rights movement. We're going to be the voice that tips the iceberg enough to make change happen.
Interested? .
Meet the YES! Magazine Climate Heroes:


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Search results
Converging on Wicked Systems Problems- Presentation and Panel Discussion
transdisciplinary research and systems approaches to solve grand challenges in our food, water, and energy systems. ...
EPN Breakfast- October 8, 2019
introduces our panel of leaders 8:25 a.m. Agency perspective and overview on nutrient management and water ... VIEW PHOTOS FROM PROGRAM HERE Program summary: Nutrient management on farms and water quality ... agency's current nutrient management and water quality policies and programs; and Laurie A. Stevenson, ...
EPN Breakfast- November 19, 2019. The Future of Wildlife Conservation: Funding Strategies for the State of Ohio
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Diversification Strategies Studied on Mellinger Farm
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activities and entertainment for the whole family, including a visit from one of our Outreach Directors, Jeni ...
EPN Breakfast- September 13, 2019
Sociology at the Ohio State University) whose research highlights the clear inequalities surrounding ... environmental justice in our National Parks. Tara Ramchandani (Partner at Relman Dane & Colfax in Washington ... clean-up bill. (Session 3) Shaping Our Future: Census 2020 — Aryeh Alex, Vice President of Public Affairs, ...
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event to ensure our continued Tree Campus USA certification. DATE: Friday, October 25, 2019 ... park in any surface lot near the Ohio Union. We hopeou will join us in planting trees on our campus. ...
EPN Breakfast- August 13, 2019
Environmental Communication Air quality connects to all aspects of our lives and our communities. The central ... (our air quality, health and lungs, trees, transportation and overall environment)...all told through ... public health how do we work within our resource constraints to organize and create effective educational ...
Alden Siperstein
Alden Siperstein Graduate Research Associate- M.S. firstname.lastname@example.com 272 Howlett Hall Megan ...


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General Maintenance
- Location CHINO, CA
- Career Area Distribution Centers
- Job Function Warehousing - Hourly
- Employment Type Full Time
- Position Type -
- Requisition 1274998BR
What you'll do at
- Communicates with (or to) individuals or groups verbally and/or in writing (for example,customers, suppliers, associates).
- Completes work assignments and priorities
- Complies with company policies, procedures, and standards of ethics and integrity
- Operates material handling equipment, battery equipment, moving machinery, and other powered equipment.
- Performs maintenance duties according to established procedures
Minimum Qualifications
- 1 year of experience repairing/maintaining mechanical or electrical equipment in an industrial or non-industrial setting OR two years related vocational training
Preferred Qualifications
- 1 year of experience repairing/maintaining mechanical or electrical equipment in an industrial setting
About Walmart
At Walmart, we help people save money so they can live better. This mission serves as the foundation for every decision we make, from responsible sourcing to sustainability—and everything in between. As a Walmart associate, you will play an integral role in shaping the future of retail, tech, merchandising, finance and hundreds of other industries—all while affecting the lives of millions of customers all over the world. Here, your work makes an impact every day. What are you waiting for?
All the benefits you need for you and your family
- Multiple health plan options
- Vision & dental plans for you & dependents
- Associate discounts in-store and online
- Financial benefits including 401(k), stock purchase plans and more
- Education assistance for Associate and dependents


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Clark Gable III - the grandson of the late legendary film star Clark Gable - will be taking over the hosting duties of the popular reality show, Cheaters. The 23-year-old budding actor will be replacing the much-loved Joey Greco, who has hosted the show for 10 years. In a somewhat ironic twist – much like the people Greco catches cheating - he too is being replaced by a younger model, as the show's creator, Bobby Goldstein, felt "it was time to freshen up the show with a new host."
For those who don't know: Cheaters focuses on real-life jilted lovers hiring the show to settle their nagging suspicions of about their cheating partners. After the infidelity is confirmed via hidden cameras - it moves on to the confrontation phase, which inevitably leads to some Jerry Springer-style fighting.
As many fans of the guilty pleasure series remember, back in 2003 Greco was famously stab when a confrontation on a boat went horribly wrong. Many criticized the show, calling the incident a cheap stunt (a clip of the incident will be posted below, so you be the judge) - but it seems real enough to have new host Gable somewhat nervous about his new gig:
"I do have some minor concerns about this. But I feel it's what I want to do and I can't live life in fear. I just take everything one day at a time. I can't say I'm not afraid. I am thrown into these environments. What I'm doing is dangerous. When you get people who are cheating on each other it gets very, very heated in some of the arguments. I'm learning slowly. I'm no Joey Greco but I do the best I can."
Former host Joey Greco
Like Greco, Gable is also no stranger to a stabbing: Back in August 2009, the then 19-year-old Gable was stabbed three times in the rib cage following a fight at a LA house party, and had to be airlifted to UCLA Medical Center with a collapsed lung. Gable also made headlines when he was convicted earlier this year for felony discharge of a laser (yeah, it's a real thing). In January, Gable was arrested for pointing a green laser at a Los Angeles police helicopter as it flew 800 feet over Hollywood. Gable was sentenced to 10 days in jail and three years of probation. Despite the wannabe bad boy image, Gable admits that at first he was a bit out of his element with Cheaters, saying:
"I didn't realize what I was getting into. It's very serious. These people are throwing real punches. It's not fake. They're really hitting each other hard. This is a very sensitive subject. It's love. When they cheat on each other and get caught dead to rights, there is no explanation they can give, so what comes out is anger. I'm learning a lot about myself and about the show and about human behavior. It's pretty unbelievable."
Not going to lie - It will be sad to see Greco go from the show. His calm and cool confrontation style is what made you both love him and want to punch him in the face. In spite of being a fan-favorite, the truth is people tune in to Cheaters to watch people fight and act foolish – not for Greco's winning smile.
As promised, the infamous 2003 stabbing scene of Cheaters:
Source: THR


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I like to think that every home has its idiosyncrasies: a creaky step here, a loose doorknob there. But I'm the only person I know who has to unplug the washing machine before reaching into it, or I get zapped. Laundry for a family of five can be shocking for anyone, but mine is positively electrifying.
Many people keep a running "honey-do" list for their spouses. In our house, we have two lists: the honey-do, and the honey-don't.
Earl is the master of the yard, and tends a beautiful perennial garden that grows in sandy soil with virtually no sun. He is responsible for the vibrant color schemes for the kids' bedrooms, and he envisioned and built our home office where there previously was only unfinished basement ugliness. He and his father, a second-generation carpenter, replaced nearly all the windows in our house within the first few years we lived there, and shored up the sun porch, too. He's pretty handy.
Certain projects, while still on the honey-do list, take him longer than he'd like. When he installed a new kitchen faucet a couple of years ago, he got everything hooked up and running in short order. He was pretty proud of himself, until he realized that he had crossed the lines for the hot and cold water, but that only took him another hour or so to fix. At our little cottage in Canada, he had to replace a burst pipe from the water heater. He did it, but as he soldered one pipe, he broke another, and nearly melted the plastic shower stall behind the pipes in the process.
He's recently discovered another area that isn't his strong suit. In a saga I'm calling "plaster fun time," he found a wet spot on the ceiling where the roof had leaked. After patching the roof, he scraped away the peeling ceiling paint. Realizing the plaster was also damp, he removed much of that, down to the wire mesh, and then got carried away and punched through the wire to feel if the topside of the ceiling was damp.
After a week, when he was satisfied that any moisture had since evaporated, he decided to replaster the ceiling. Optimistically, he bought a couple of bags of plaster of Paris, pinched a few of my Tupperware containers, and started mixing in the basement.
And mixing.
And mixing.
"This is a little tricky," he remarked to me on his way up the stairs with his third batch of plaster.
"It's hard to get the consistency right," he continued, on his way back down two minutes later.
He spent about 4 hours plastering a 2-foot-square patch of ceiling, but it turned out pretty well, so plastering remains a honey-do. But other jobs are definitely honey-don'ts. Take electrical repairs. Earl has always had curly hair, but if he hadn't been born with it, he'd surely have it by now, given all the volts he's put through his body over the years.
He's zapped himself while working on a hard-wired light that was turned off at the switch. He's been jolted across the yard while trying to replace the spark plug on the weed whacker. We've had no working electrical outlet in our dining room for 8 years and, given Earl's track record, I'm afraid to pursue it too much.
I like to think that every home has its idiosyncrasies: a creaky step here, a loose doorknob there. But I'm the only person I know who has to unplug the washing machine before reaching into it, or I get zapped. Laundry for a family of five can be shocking for anyone, but mine is positively electrifying.
Yesterday, when I flipped the switch for our front hall light, I heard a popping sound. I don't know exactly what happened, but the light is working no more. I told Earl about it later, who immediately got a puzzled look on his face, and started mumbling about circuits and switches. I worry about what kind of electrical fiasco will ensue this weekend.
Next time, I'm going to keep quiet and call an electrician. Sometimes it's better to leave my honey in the dark.
Julie Fay is a Patriot Ledger contributor. Reach her at email@example.com.


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Oddball Illinois
Ticket to fantastic and eccentric
Oddball Illinois: A Guide to 450 Really Strange Places, by Jerome Pohlen, is your ticket to the fantastic and eccentric in the land of Lincoln. The book offers interesting information about unusual people, locations and museums, oddities and bizarre histories from the Mississippi River banks of Quincy to Ashmore, and from Cairo to the streets of Chicago.
Have you always wondered where all the holy visitations in the Windy City took place? Oddball Illinois lists many. Maybe you remember the weeping Our Lady of the Underpass made famous in 2005. The location and story synopsis are in the book. Also in the volume is Our Lady of Cicero, the other weeping icon declared a miracle by eight Orthodox bishops in 1994.
Entries are condensed and brief for the most part, but intriguing and amusing. Each includes the address, direction, phone number, website, admission price and operating hours, if the information is available or if the venues are not free and open to the public.
Oddball Illinois reads like a travel guide to the fantastic. So if you are Ponce de Leon longing for hidden treasures and new discoveries calls, this book will be right up your alley. With this reference, you can plan a week's trip around the state or a weekend excursion to one specific town.
New experiences wait for you in places such as a humble little downstate eatery that cooks what many consider the tastiest burgers you will ever eat. Or a fun house menagerie, with scares and sillies like no other you have attended.
Or you might opt for a themed tour. There is a small section in the book with "The Dead Circus Sideshow Tour" boasting 11 stops; another is called "The Mob Mania Tour." Of course there's plenty of "the world's largest" or "the world's first" to check out on your travels, too.
Four maps and two indexes will guide the way. One handy index lists attractions by town. The capital city, by the way, has 17 entries. Decatur has six; Taylorville, four; Lincoln three, along with other smaller community listings. You don't have to travel far to get a start on your excursion to the odd in our state.
And even if you won't be hitting the pavement anytime soon, it's a fun, quirky 325-page book to read. Published in May of this year by Chicago Review Press, the book is Pohlen's second edition, the first printed in 2000. Pohlen is a Chicago editor and educational writer who has penned 10 travel guides. Oddball Illinois' cover price is $16.95. Available at bookstores everywhere, also available in electronic form.
Oddball central Illinois
Birthplace of the Corn Dog, Cozy Dog Drive In, 2935 S. Sixth Street. If you haven't heard of Ed Waldmire, Jr., you probably haven't been in Springfield long enough. He came up with the idea for this tasty little treat during WWII while stationed in Oklahoma. You can sample his recipe at this eatery filled with memorabilia, souvenirs and other good food for purchase, such as a delicious bowl of chilli. (Open Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 525-1992.)
General Santa Anna's Leg and Lincoln Target, Illinois State Military Museum, 1301 N. MacArthur Blvd. Check out this museum that houses Illinois militia and Illinois National Guard artifacts. It also houses a couple unique artifacts – the artificial leg of Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and the wooden target board that President Abraham Lincoln used to test fire the Spencer rifle in 1863. (Open Tuesday through Saturday 1-4:30 p.m., 217-761-3910.)
Haunted Greenwood Cemetery, 606 S. Church St., Decatur. Legend has it that years ago a flood from the Sangamon River displaced more than caskets, bones and stones from this burial ground. In the supernatural mix since, visitors have seen strange flickering lights and roaming specters, including the ghosts of eight Native Americans murdered there in the 1820s. (Free and open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 422-6563.)
Tomb for Accordions, near Oak Ridge Cemetery N. Monument Ave. entrance, where the road forks to Lincoln's tomb, you can't miss the elevated tablet of Roy Bertelli, master of the accordion. Having always dreamed of getting a burial spot in ORC, Roy did. Shortly after its purchase though, he received a letter from the cemetery that there was a mistake, and he had to give it back. Instead, Roy had a memorial tablet erected. Rumor has it he would sit on top of the tomb and play the accordion. (Gate hours are 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. through March and until 8 p.m. April through Oct. Free entrance.)
Villa Katherine, 532 Gardner Expressway, Quincy. For those who love a good tale and a bit of foreign architecture plopped in the middle of the prairie, this Moorish villa is a must see. Home of George Metz, he commissioned the building in 1900 after traveling for two years in northern Africa. It is now home to the Quincy Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. (Open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 800-978-4748.)


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Apple prepares for D.C. grilling
Apple isn't taking any chances with senators looking to embarrass CEO Tim Cook on Tuesday at a hearing on the tech giant's offshore $100 billion stash.
Monday night lawmakers were already gearing up, unveiling a report that alleges Apple avoided paying taxes on $44 billion in offshore, taxable income.
Story Continued Below
A Senate panel says Apple did not break the law but did find a new way to limit its tax burden — three of its subsidiaries in Ireland do not pay income taxes to any country.
( Also on POLITICO: Senate investigators: Apple hid $44B from taxes)
To deal with the nasty optics, Apple has turned to a top Washington law firm for help, O'Melveny & Myers – veterans at trying to keep big companies out of trouble, like Enron, Ford and Goldman Sachs.
Firms like O'Melveny & Myers work closely with committee investigators to track down what CEOs can expect to face. And they try to limit the scope of the investigation before the hearing even takes place.
Apple has also sent its own hired guns to Capitol Hill for recon duty. Their mission: find out the planned line of questioning and expose any surprises senators plan to air.
( Also on POLITICO: Opinion: End the political circus on tax reform)
Meanwhile, Cook and two other top execs are doing their homework in Apple's Washington office, which has become ground zero for the company's preparations.
It all shows just how seriously Apple is taking the threat of a public spectacle that can damage a brand with shareholders and the public — even if senators never get around to new regulation.
Corporate lobbyists, investigative lawyers and consultants say extensive preparation can make the difference from getting through the process largely unscathed to creating a bigger PR mess and potentially putting a company's bottom line in jeopardy.
"The goal is to make the hearing prep even more difficult than the hearing is going to be. It sort of like boot camp," said Kirkland & Ellis' Brian Benczkowski, who prepped senior witnesses at the Justice Department during the Bush administration and has counseled senior execs at companies like Fisker Automotive in the private sector.
( PHOTOS: Politicians and their iToys)
In Apple's case, Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) is expected to hit the iPhone maker hard for keeping money overseas – allegedly to avoid paying steeper U.S. taxes. Apple held $102.3 billion cash offshore as of March 30,according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. That's a 24 percent increase from Sept. 30.
Levin has been a vocal advocate for tax reform of offshore tax havens and has particularly focused on tech companies, calling Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft before thepanel last year over the same issue.
On Monday, his panel released a 40-page bipartisan report that grabbed headlines by outlining that Apple sheltered $44 billion from taxes – and how it did so.
Apple did not respond to a request for comment, but it did release its testimony Monday, another sign of playing offense.


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Project Apps 341 Apps found. category: Project × price: Paid ×
This module allow you manage your customer support ticket, ticket portal, billings for support, Timesheets.
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Project Job Costing (Contracting) and Job Cost Sheet
This app allow you to create and manage budgets based on analytic account/project for job contracting and construction.
Budget for Job Contracting and Construction Projects
This module allow you manage your customer construction and contracting business issues, construction issue portal, billings for support, Timesheets.
Issue Tracking System for Construction and Contracting
This app allow your helpdesk team to have service level agreement(SLA) on Help Desk.
HelpDesk Service Level Agreement (SLA)
This app will add dashboard on job costing and contracting on project.
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Allow you to have inspection process of your job orders for construction and contracting projects.
Job Order / Work Order Inspection
Add Start, Stop and Pause buttons in Kanban and Form view with the preservation of working time in the timesheets
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This modules allow you to Create / edit Job Cost Sheet from Material Plannings from Job Order.
Job Cost Sheet Integration with Material Planning of Job Order
The tool to make sure required jobs are carefully done on this task stage


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Riffing on the Family Research Council's outrage over same-sex NPC relationships in Star Wars: The Old Republic, talk show host Conan O'Brien and team cobble together some footage of the science fantasy franchise's most famous gay couples.
Of course the actual footage has nothing to do with the actual situation in Star Wars: The Old Republic, but it's somewhat amusing nonetheless, especially for those of us that always felt Chewbacca got shafted in the whole Han Solo / Leia / Luke relationship triangle. Where's the Wookie love?
"Star Wars: The Old Republic" Is Same-Sextastic [Team Coco]


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Video: Choosing Outdoor Speakers
Heads up!Welcome to this article from the Crutchfield archives. Have fun reading it, but be aware that the information may be outdated and links may be broken.
Learn about what to look for when choosing outdoor speakers, including weather-readiness and the speaker designs best-suited for different setups. For more info, watch our videos on planning your outdoor system and installing outdoor speakers.
Video Transcript
Tara: Outdoor speakers let you enjoy your favorite music on your patio or on your pool deck or pretty much anywhere. They're designed to stand up to weather, as well as the acoustical challenges of playing music outside. They provide much better sound than you'll get from a boom box, or from cranking up your main system and opening the windows. In this video, we'll cover the key things you need to know about choosing the right speakers for your backyard.
What makes these speakers outdoor-ready is their rugged construction. Outdoor speakers are made of tougher materials than the ones in your house, so they can stand up to everything from freezing rain on a cold winter morning, to the beating sun on a summer afternoon.
There are two main kinds of outdoor speakers. Weather-proof outdoor speakers can be placed pretty much anywhere. They can be fully exposed to the elements. Weather-resistant speakers, on the other hand, need a little protection — under the eaves of your house, for example. We actually recommend placing both types in a protected location when you can. They'll both last longer that way.
Wall-mountable outdoor speakers, like the ones shown here, are the most popular type. They're typically sold in pairs and provide stereo sound. Most include adjustable brackets, so you can aim them towards your listening area.
If space is an issue you might opt for an outdoor speaker that plays both channels of a stereo signal at the same time. They're called "stereo-input" speakers because they offer inputs for both the left and right channels of stereo music, and they're great when you're working with a small or awkward space. You can find stereo-input speakers that mount to the side of your house, or planter or rock speakers that are designed to blend in with the outdoor environment. If you choose stereo-input speakers, you may still want to use more than one speaker to provide enough sound coverage throughout your yard.
One of the biggest challenges for outdoor speakers is maintaining good bass response in wide open spaces. So you'll want to choose speakers with plenty of low-end oomph, ones that can get down to 60Hz or lower. If you choose speakers that can't go that low, you may want to consider adding an outdoor subwoofer to get good full-range sound.
For information on planning your system, watch our video at crutchfield.com/outdoorplacement. And to see the basic steps of outdoor speaker installation, visit crutchfield.com/outdoorinstall. You can also call our A/V design group for help planning your system at 1-800-555-9407.


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Laureen (Age 19)
Highland, MI
About LAUREEN :
"Yeah I Love Having Fun with fruit ???? Apart from obviously being crazy about sex I am also vibrant witty at times and curious…You must have a really high sex drive and urge. So yeah for the time being I'm just "using" fruits 'because a womans life sure can be hard at times!!"
Lauralee (Age 21)
Deckerville, MI
About LAURALEE :
"I'm married and a mom with a huge sex addiction and craving for a huge dick to fuck my pussy. I'm horny 24/7, and my husband doesn't always want it, and he doesn't enjoy the same things I like. I need somebody to compensate for that and give me what I deserve!"
Charlotte (Age 24)
Ashley, MI
About CHARLOTTE :
"I'm in an abusive relationship and no way of getting out right now.
dont love him anymore but divorce is not an option anymore.
worrying to much lately and i just need meet up with a man who can show me how great it can be again before i serioulsy lose all hope in men… so can u get my mind off of things and make me feel great at the same time?? then i am looking for you!!!"
Kaila (Age 25)
Lansing, MI
About KAILA :
"looking for men who want to meet at local parkingarea's and have lots of hardcore sexxx
i love meeting up with a group of guys and suck them all off.. You can also fuck me in both holes but only safe sex.
Some personal info:
Marital status: cohabiting
Age: 37
Hair color: blonde
Appearance: white
Height: 165cm
Smoke: yes
Drink: sometimes
Tattoos: No
Piercings: No
Cup Size: D
Intimate Shaved: bald
Sexual Preferences: Anal Sex – Oral Sex – DP – Golden showers – cumbaths – trheesome – groupsex"


text:
Explore Our Hotel
Welcome to Holiday Inn Express Toronto North York, just 12 minutes from Pearson International Airport. With quick, easy access to Highways 400, 401 and 407, we are minutes away from York University, Canlan Ice Sports, LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre, Downsview Park and hundreds of corporations located in Toronto's North-West end. Canada's Wonderland and Wild Water Kingdom are summer family-fun favourites! World class shopping awaits in the nearby Vaughan Mills and Yorkdale Shopping Centre.While visiting don't miss Toronto's Ripley's Aquarium, CN Tower, Blue Jay's Baseball and Toronto Eaton Centre!
Our free Express Start™ Breakfast Bar is the perfect way to start your day and features eggs, yogurt, cereal, our exclusive Cinnamon Rolls, freshly prepared pancakes, juice, coffee and more! Relax and recharge in newly renovated guestrooms that feature a 37" flat screen TV. Breathe deeply – 100% smoke free with windows that open! Free parking. Stay connected with free Wi-Fi and 24-hour Business Centre. Planning to meet with the team? Choose from two spacious, light filled meeting rooms, ideal for groups up to 20 persons. Looking for more value? Ask us about free membership to collect IHG Rewards!
- Black-out Shades
- Pillow Menu
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Separate Hanging Closet
- In-Room Heating and A/C Controls
- Extra Bedding Available
- Sofa Bed/Sleeper Couch
Bathroom/Personal Care
- Private Bathroom
- Bathroom Amenities Available
- Hair Dryer
- Bathtub
In-Room Features
- Mini Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Coffee Maker
- Flat-screen TV
- Work Desk with Lamp
- Desk-level Electrical Outlet
- Free Local Calls
- Cable/Satellite
- Stereo/Radio
- Direct-dial Phone
- Phone with Voicemail
- Separate Phone Bills for Separate Lines
- Complimentary Morning Newspaper
- Windows Open by Guest
Added Value
- Oversized Bath Towels
- Complimentary Coffee/Tea Supplies
- Breakfast Buffet Included
- Complimentary Coffee in Lobby
- Off-site Restaurant Delivery Available
Business Services
- 2 Meeting Room(s) Available
- Printer
- Copier
- Office supplies available
Internet Access
- Free High-Speed Internet in all Rooms
- Wireless Internet service is free for all IHG® Rewards Club members
Entertainment & Recreation
- Indoor Pool
- Heated Indoor Pool
- Indoor Pool Hours of Operation: 7:30 AM - 10:30 PM
Health & Fitness
Complimentary Fitness Center
Hours of Operation: 5:30 AM to 11:00 PM
Fitness Center Type: LIMITED
Fitness Center Equipment:
- Elliptical Machines
- Treadmill
- Stair Stepper
- Free Weights
- Stationary Bicycle
Housekeeping & Laundry
- Daily Housekeeping
- Hours of Operation: 7:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Added Value
- Wake Up Calls
- Foreign Currency Exchange
Hotel Details
30 Norfinch Drive
North York, Ontario M3N 1X1
Check In: 3:00 PM
Check Out: 11:00 AM
Check-in Age: 21
Parking + -
- Complimentary Self Parking Available
Accessibility + -
- Public Entrance
- Guest Rooms
- Elevators
- Public Restrooms
Accessible Hotel Areas
- Ramp Access
- Telephone with TDD
- Visual Alarm/Alert in Public Spaces
Provided by Hotel
Pet Policy + -
- Pets Allowed
- Service Animals Allowed
- Pet Walking Area On-site
- Pet Fee per Night: 25 CAD
- Pets are welcome in selected rooms at the hotel. A daily pet charge applies per pet per room. Pets cannot be left alone in the room.
Facility + -
- Smoke-Free Facility
- Number of Floors: 7
- Total Number of Rooms: 163
- Number of Non-Smoking Rooms: 163
- Number of Accessible Rooms: 2
Languages + -
Languages Spoken by Staff
- Arabic
- Chinese
- English
- French
- Portuguese
Credit Cards + -
- American Express
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Diners Club
- Carte Blanche
- Discover


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Inside Insights On Evidence-Based Orthotic Therapy
Given the increased emphasis on evidence-based medicine, our expert panelists review the impact of literature findings upon their prescription of custom foot orthoses for different pathologies. Q: Is there evidence in the literature to support the use of functional orthotic devices? A: The only supporting evidence relative to orthotic treatment of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD) are studies of ankle foot orthoses (AFOs), according to Doug Richie Jr., DPM. Regarding PTTD, he says the evidence is "quite impressive" as it reveals that over 50 percent of patients can obtain satisfactory relief of pain and can avoid surgery. These studies cited by Dr. Richie primarily utilize solid AFOs with leather gauntlet restraint closures. Regarding functional foot orthoses, Dr. Richie says reports in the literature are anecdotal when it comes to rates of success and outcomes of treatment. He notes that overall, the success and specific prescription criteria for orthotic therapy for PTTD "remain open for debate." Orthopedic literature usually recommends using a University of California Biomechanics Laboratory (UCBL)-type device as the typical orthotic intervention before surgery, says Dr. Richie. He adds that he is not aware of any studies of patients with PTTD using a podiatric functional foot orthosis. Many labs offer a "PTTD" device that incorporates a deep heel cup, medial and lateral flanges, and a medial heel skive of 4 mm to 6 mm, according to Dr. Richie. Additionally, he notes some labs recommend a "sweet spot" to accommodate a subluxing talonavicular joint. "These all appear to be valid foot orthosis prescription criteria to control the severe collapsing pes valgus foot," notes Dr. Richie. Since PTTD is primarily a transverse plane deformity, Dr. Richie notes a foot orthosis "has little ability to control the foot in this direction." As he has discovered, transverse plane-internal rotation of the tibia in this pathology drives the talus into severe adduction and an AFO has better leverage to control tibial rotation than a foot orthosis. "Evidence-based medicine will be the basis for how we treat our patients in the future," says Larry Huppin, DPM. Given that, he notes significant evidence in the medical literature on using orthotic interventions to treat various pathologies. Dr. Huppin adds that most podiatrists will find they are not currently using the best available evidence in writing orthotic prescriptions. However, he notes there are evidence-based prescription recommendations for conditions including plantar fasciitis, hallux limitus, adult-acquired flatfoot, tibial fasciitis, patellofemoral dysfunction, metatarsalgia, tarsal tunnel syndrome, lateral ankle instability, peroneal tendonitis, posterior tibial tendonitis and sesamoiditis. Dr. Huppin says in the Department of Applied Biomechanics at the California School of Podiatric Medicine, all the instruction in orthosis prescription writing is based on what the literature indicates is the most effective orthotic prescription for the given pathology. "Using this pathology-specific orthosis approach to orthotic prescription writing would help most podiatrists improve their clinical outcomes and I would encourage all podiatrists who use orthoses in their practice to ensure they are aware of evidence-based orthotic prescription writing," says Dr. Huppin. He recommends attendance at the International Conference on Foot Orthotic Therapy and Biomechanics, which is held every December. Clinical and non-clinical biomechanics studies, conducted in a variety of disciplines, continue to produce results supporting the use of orthotics for many different foot and ankle problems, according to Cherri Choate, DPM. In evaluating these studies, she says one can appreciate the significantly different approaches to orthotic usage and definition. "I have recently recognized the importance of each of these disciplines and their resultant conclusions as each piece helps us build a more clear evidence-based foundation for orthotic therapy," says Dr. Choate. Q: What recent literature has influenced how you write orthotic prescriptions? A: Based on the literature, over the last few years, Dr. Huppin has encouraged his orthotic lab's clientele to change their orthosis prescriptions for several pathologies. For example, for plantar fasciitis, he cites Kogler's research showing that valgus wedging decreases plantar fascial strain while varus wedging increases strain.1 The study has prompted Dr. Huppin and his colleagues to be "much more aggressive" in advising clients to avoid forefoot varus posts, varus correction or varus wedges of any type for patients with plantar fasciitis. Research by Kogler, et. al., demonstrated to Dr. Richie the importance of everting the forefoot on the rearfoot in treating plantar fasciitis. He also cites the importance of the casting procedure of locking and fully pronating the midtarsal joint, as well as positioning the first ray plantarflexed to optimize the effects of the functional foot orthosis on the foot's truss mechanism.1,2 Furthermore, Dr. Huppin cites recent studies demonstrating that orthoses made from foam box casts are less effective than those made from non-weightbearing casts.3,4 Through client education, the percentage of foam box casts in his lab has decreased from about 10 percent to less than 2 percent. Dr. Choate has been focusing on biomechanics from the perspective of physics as well as studying biomechanics textbooks and trying to improve her knowledge and application of Newton's Laws. "I foresee that future generations of podiatrists will make their orthotic therapy decisions based on a combination of clinical experience, research findings and principles of physics," asserts Dr. Choate. Q: Can you name a specific pathology you treat with orthotic therapy and note how evidence found in the literature has affected your orthotic prescriptions for that pathology? A: Over the past year, Dr. Choate has changed her approach to treating tarsal tunnel syndrome after reading three separate articles, clinical and non-clinical, that persuaded her to consider the functional changes when a foot/ankle complex has too much stress secondary to increased pronatory forces. In the first study, a group from Japan performed a simple clinical examination test by putting the ankle in maximal eversion/dorsiflexion while holding the metatarsal phalangeal joints in maximal dorsiflexion for 5 to 10 seconds. Researchers were able to replicate tarsal tunnel symptoms when they held the foot/ankle in a maximally dorsiflexed/ everted position (pronation).5 In the second study, Labib evaluated 286 patients with chronic heel pain over a three-year period. Fourteen patients had a triad of symptoms including plantar fasciitis, posterior tibial tendonitis and tarsal tunnel syndrome. Dr. Choate says one of the study's conclusions was that "lack of muscular support of the longitudinal arch produced traction injury to the tibial nerve and resulted in tarsal tunnel syndrome." This same study postulated that "failure of the static arch (plantar fascia) and dynamic arch (posterior tibialis tendon) may result in a variable degree of arch collapse leading the tarsal tunnel syndrome."6 The third study of the biomechanics of tarsal tunnel syndrome involved a cadaver study in which researchers measured the pressure in the tarsal tunnel while holding the foot in three different positions. They concluded that there was significantly increased pressure in the tarsal tunnel when the foot was in a pronated position and decreased pressure when the foot was in a supinated position, according to Dr. Choate.7 As Dr. Choate notes, these publications each led to a similar conclusion: a pronated position leads to increased pressure in the tarsal tunnel and increased tension on the structures within the tarsal tunnel. She speculates if there may be a treatment option to fill the gap in the care of tarsal tunnel. Dr. Choate is increasing her use of functional orthotics that control subtalar joint pronation. She hopes with time, she will discover which orthotic modifications used for pronation control (such as medial skives, deep heel cups, Blake inversions or firm posting) are the best combination for improving tarsal tunnel symptoms. For subcalcaneal pain secondary to plantar fascia overload, Dr. Richie cites literature showing that a custom device addressing supination compensation around the midtarsal joint's longitudinal axis will most effectively relieve pain and permit a successful treatment outcome. "I am convinced now, more than ever, that a custom functional foot orthosis, fabricated from a proper neutral suspension cast, has the best opportunity to offload strain of the medial-central band of the plantar aponeurosis," claims Dr. Richie. Dr. Richie cites several studies for offloading the plantar fascia. He says all the studies validate the theory that an orthosis that provides an eversion moment to the longitudinal axis of the midtarsal joint will elevate the arch and reduce plantar fascia strain. Many DPMs feel comfortable treating metatarsalgia with functional orthoses and Dr. Huppin says there have been a significant number of articles that help define exactly how DPMs should be writing orthotic prescriptions for the common condition. As he notes, Chalmers demonstrated in 2000 that for rheumatoid arthritis patients with metatarsalgia, semi-rigid orthoses are much more effective than soft orthoses.8 In a 2006 study, Mueller and Hastings demonstrated that a total contact insert with a metatarsal pad was the most effective technique of unloading a metatarsal head.9 A 2003 study said that one should place the highest point of a metatarsal pad between 6 mm and 10 mm behind the point of maximum pressure on the metatarsal head.10 Based on the literature, for metatarsalgia, Dr. Huppin recommends a semi-rigid polypropylene orthosis with a minimum cast fill, wide orthotic plate, a cushioned topcover left unglued on the front half of the orthosis and a metatarsal pad. The podiatrist should adjust the metatarsal pad in the office so the highest point is about 8 mm behind the painful metatarsal head, suggests Dr. Huppin. Dr. Choate is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Biomechanics at the California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt College. She practices at For Feet's Sake in Berkeley, Calif. Dr. Huppin is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Biomechanics at the California School of Podiatric Medicine. He is also the Medical Director for ProLab Orthotics/USA. Dr. Richie is an Adjunct Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Applied Biomechanics at the California School of Podiatric Medicine. He is in private practice in Seal Beach, California. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.
1. Kogler G, Veer FB, Solomonidis, SE. The influence of medial and lateral placement of orthotic wedges on loading of the plantar aponeurosis. J Bone Joint Surg; 1999;81A:1403-1413.
2. Kogler GF, Solomonidis SE, Paul JP: Biomechanics of longitudinal arch support mechanisms in foot orthoses and their effect on plantar aponeurosis strain. Clin Biomech 11:243-251, 1996.
3. McClay-Davis I, Laughton C, Williams, DS. A comparison of four methods of obtaining a negative impression of the foot. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2002 May;92(5):261-8.
4. McPoil TG, Schmit D. Forefoot to Rearfoot Angle–A Comparison of Orthotic Casting Techniques. Phys Ther. 1989 Jun;69(6):448-52.
5. Kinoshita M, et al. The Dorsiflexion-Eversion Test for Diagnosis of Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome. JBJS 83:1835-39, 2001.
6. Labib J, et al. Heel Pain Triad: The Combination of Plantar Fasciitis, Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction and Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome. Foot and Ankle Intl 23(3):212-219, 2002.
7. Trepman M, et al. Effect of Foot and Ankle Position on Tarsal Tunnel Compartment Pressure. Foot and Ankle Intl 20(11):221-26, 1999.
8. Chalmers AC, Busby C. Metatarsalgia and rheumatoid arthritis--a randomized, single blind, sequential trial comparing 2 types of foot orthoses and supportive shoes. J Rheumatol. 2000 Jul;27(7):1643-7.
9. Mueller MJ, Lott DJ, Hastings M. Efficacy and mechanism of orthotic devices to unload metatarsal heads in people with diabetes and a history of plantar ulcers. Phys Ther. 2006 Jun;86(6):833-42.
10. Hastings MK, Commean PK. Aligning anatomical structure from spiral X-ray computed tomography with plantar pressure data. Clin Biomech 2003 Nov;18(9):877-82.
Additional References
11. Scherer PR: Heel spur syndrome. Pathomechanics and nonsurgical treatment. J Am Pod Med Assoc 81:68-72, 1991.
12. Sarafian SK: Functional characteristics of the foot and plantar aponeurosis under tibiotalar loading. Foot Ankle 8:4-17, 1987.


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Based on the IATA strategy, we have developed a structured approach towards addressing climate change in the air around three key principles:
- Maximizing fuel efficiency and reducing fuel wastage through fleet modernization, technical improvements to existing fleet, stringent weight management and the implementation of operational efficiency drives
- Addressing inefficiencies of air traffic management through collaboration and by supporting industry lobbying efforts
- Acknowledging the role of economic instruments such as emissions trading (to view our position on the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme).
We also enable Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon customers - both corporate and individual passengers - offset the carbon dioxide (CO2) generated from their air travel in a credible and simple way through the FLY greener programme. We continue to contribute by offsetting our own share of emissions from our employees' business travel.