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Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Festival of the Trees #16 - Fade to Color (Seasons Change)
WELCOME! Welcome, tree-lovers, friends and strangers to the 16th Festival of the Trees, the monthly blog carnival for all things arboreal.
Every year, right about now, my dad likes to say:
"I like fall, the leaves and all."
Ah. Me too. I LOVE this time of year. It thrills me to the bones to smell the crisp air, feel the chill on a perfectly clear brilliant day and hear the crunch of leaves under my feet. And the trees! How amazing that we are surrounded by such color in nature.
Ok...I'm jumping the gun a little. It's only October 2nd, and in North Carolina most of the trees are still green (see the above photo). But autumn in all it's splendor is just around the corner in this part of the world...
So let's watch as the season changes, and the the green earth fades to color...
Let's start with a simple haiku and a colorless tree. Kevin at Rural Cemetery Movements shares a fantastic line drawing at Five Falling Leaves and the season begins to change.
If you're up for a majestic hike in the Pacific Northwest, Marja-Leena Rathje can take you there, to the forests of Vancouver's backyard. It's a wonderful world where the trees are tall or soft and peaceful. The trees are still green here. Explore more of her art and writing here.
Speaking of being Green...It's not easy, especially in the city. But the trees grow on...season after season, and they just adapt and change as necessary.
Karen at Rurality spent a weekend here, at Shiloh National Military Park looking for artifacts and pondering the history of the trees on the battlefield. My favorite are the "Two big Water Oaks near the Visitor's center." Imagine how colorful they'll be in a month or so!
Windywillow has shared a beautiful tribute to her favorite tree - the calming and mysterious Willow. You can enjoy her photos as well as a lovely video clip of willows blowing in the wind. Enchanting!
A thank you to Paul Lester (and the Chinese philosopher) for a thought about the "Usefulness" of trees. Lovely photography. And thanks to Maria for the reflection on the "Pricelessness" of trees.
And now a word about Black Walnuts and Burma. Dave at Via Negativa discusses the far corners of the world and the season change in his own back yard - in the form of Black Walnuts thumping on the roof. And frizzyLogic has some beautiful photos of "conkers," or horse chestnuts (for those Americans who've never heard of a "conker" - myself included). This seems to be the season for nuts, for the WildWoodsWoman has been shoveling acorns off the ground. All this talk about nuts reminds me of one of my favorite childhood trees...the hickory tree in front of our house that got chopped down when the road was widened. So sad. Ah well. Seasons change...
Speaking of seasons changing, Wren of Wrenaissance Reflections takes a moment to remember trees of the past. Notice all the new life surrounding these past trees! And in New Jersey, this is the season of mushrooms. John at A DC Birding Blog spotted some fantastic fungi, clinging to a tree past.
Tall Girl, at Smoke and Ash has witnessed a curious autumn ritual (of sorts) here. She saw some extraordinary trees on a lunchtime walk, as she climbed "nearer to the sky."
Jade Blackwater of Arboreality, gives us a first glimpse of autumn at Tobyhanna. Finally some color! And now autumn, or "The Changeling" slowly begins to "work his magic" through the poetic words of Beloved Dreamer.
And for some real fall color, check out a few gorgeous Flickr sets that I happened upon:
Here and here. The second is autumn in a Japanese garden, and I can't think of a more gorgeous setting for photographs. The set has some breathtaking trees.
And lastly, three of my favorite things in the world are trees, tea, and clay and they are combined here in an amazing ceramic gallery that I've just discovered (Thanks, Mom!).
Well that's it for this month's festival!
Thank you all for your submissions and suggestions. Next month Windywillow will be hosting the Festival of the Trees. Please send your creepy tree-related submissions to: silviasalix (at) yahoo (dot) co (dot) uk. (The deadline is Oct. 26, to give Silvia time to prepare a special Halloween edition!). If you have any questions, you will probably find answers here.
Here's to the trees!
12 comments:
- Michael said...
what wonderful inspiration...all the red and yellow leaves seem to be blowing off their branches this morning, but some of your pictures soothed the storm. Thanks!
- October 2, 2007 at 9:29 AM
- marja-leena said...
Thanks for doing such a great job with this month's inspiring links, Karen.
- October 2, 2007 at 10:03 AM
Thank you for a great festival!
- October 2, 2007 at 12:27 PM
- Paul said...
What a wonderful tribute to trees! As we are both in North Carolina, I hope to meet you some day! I'm in Charlotte.
- October 2, 2007 at 4:10 PM
- Maria M. said...
Thanks for including my entry!
- October 2, 2007 at 5:18 PM
- Beloved Dreamer said...
I do not understand the purpose of the festival. I keep send nature poems about trees and yet I never see them. Is just a photo thing. I paint pictures in words. Does anyone remember how to READ?
This is the end for me. At least thank an artist-poet for trying......
- October 4, 2007 at 1:30 PM
- Karen said...
Thanks, all! Beloved Dreamer - don't give up on the festival! Poems are very welcome. This is the first time I've seen your blog address. (Make sure that when you submit, you send a permalink to one of your posts, rather than the text of a poem). I've added a link to one of your lovely poems in the festival.
Next month is a Halloween theme, so perhaps you have a creepy or tragic poem?
- October 4, 2007 at 11:03 PM
- Beloved Dreamer said...
Karen, so sorry it was my own fault. I was rather cranky that day and as you can see left out some words.
From now on I will link my poem. Looking forward to #17
- October 6, 2007 at 2:38 PM
- A Symphony In Green......... said...
I like your blog. I like everything about trees.
- November 4, 2007 at 3:58 AM
- Stefan said...
Good Job! :)
- June 20, 2008 at 7:19 AM
- inchirieri apartamente cluj said...
I love trees. These are great pictures. Besides their rol of "oxygen giver" they also havean aesthetic rol when we plant them around our homes, or gardens.
- September 8, 2010 at 3:53 AM
- news games said...
This is just stunning and I LOVE IT !! Amazing pictures... It is an honor to see and read this
- September 14, 2010 at 11:19 AM


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November's grand event!
Leave the chilly air outside.
It's cozy in the tent.
Come and see what's on display.
There's quite an eclectic mix…
recommended children's books and
illustration tricks,
writing tips and interviews,
stories, poems, and art.
The list goes on, and as your host,
I'm pleased to do my part.
Live from New York it's...
the November Carnival of Children's Literature!
With so much to read, how does one choose?
Check out all these BOOK REVIEWS!
Andromeda Jazmon presents Giving Thanks: A Native American Morning Message. Author Chief Jake Swamp, a force for world peace who, before his recent death, served on the Council of Chiefs in the Mohawk-Iroquois Nation, shares a poem and prayer for peace and thanksgiving. I give thanks to Andromeda (also know as "cloudscome") for sharing this timely post.
At Storied Cities, Erica indroduces us to Musical City: Gabriella's Song. This charming picture book by Candace Fleming celebrates the gentler sounds of the Venice, including the slap-slaps of laundry, the bump-bump of gondolas. Erica says she looks for books that highlight cities other than the overly famous New York City.
Anastasia Suen at Weekend Reads introduces the early chapter book The Buddy Files: The Case of the Lost Boy. Dori Hillestad tells the story in first-dog narrative!
At Passionate about Picture Books, Sandie Mourão shares one of her favorite picture books: Chris Raschka's Caldecott winner, Yo! Yes?. This witty, offbeat book is about the budding friendship between a black boy and a white boy. Its vibrant, colorful illustrations and minimal text give the book a dynamic energy.
Mary Ann Scheuer presents Ninth Ward, by Jewell Parker Rhodes, an inspiring story about 12-year-old Lanesha who doesn't have enough money to escape New Orleans during the evacuation pre-Hurricane Katrina. Mama Ya-Ya encourages Lanesha to believe in herself, which gives Lanesha an inner-strength that helps save them both. Mary Ann describes Rhodes' writing as "beautifully evocative".
At Wrapped in Foil, Roberta Gibson introduces Travels With Gannon and Wyatt: Botswana, the first book in a new series by Patti Wheeler and Keith Hemstreet. With the feel of non-fiction, this fictionalized account of the real-life adventures of two boys is told via journal entries written by the two boys. Travels With Gannon and Wyatt: Botswana won a Silver Moonbeam award for Best First Book.
At NC Teacher Stuff, Jeff Barger presents the picture book, Mr. Putney's Quacking Dog. "Jon Agee's illustrations are humorous and intelligent," says Jeff, who believes the book's word play would be great to read in the classroom.
Jen Robinson's Children's Literacy and Reading Roundup: November 1, is chock full of events, blogs, articles, and news about children's literacy and reading. Jen strongly suggests sharing blog posts or literacy on Twitter. She quotes author/father James Preller, who believes that "one of the most powerful, positive factors to encourage and inspire boys to read is, very simply, to see their fathers read."
At SimplyScience Blog, Shirley Duke, in her 100th post, introduces us to her non-fiction book: Infections, Infestations, and Disease. Shirley says, "This book is a starting point for kids interested in what makes you sick or those who are curious about the world and themselves." The book is filled with fascinating facts for eager young scientists and includes two germ-free activities for kids.
Danette M. Schott, at Help! S-O-S for Parents presents the delightful picture book, Harry the Happy Caterpillar Grows, Helping Children Adjust to Change. Danette believes the book will help parents teach their children how to adjust to change. Psychologist and author Cindy Jett touches on two changes that children typically encounter: switching schools and growing up. Great for children with special needs.
At Book Aunt, Kate Coombs shares her passion for the books of the late Eva Ibbotson. Ibbotson has a gift for creating quirky, creepy wizards, ogres, witches, and ghosts. For example, The Chewer, a headless ghost, had a head "so stuck up with chewing gum that he had left it on the train". Ibbotson's books include The Secret of Platform 13, Which Witch?, The Ogre of Oglefort, and Dial a Ghost. Find out which book "charmed the socks off" Kate Coombs.
Bridget Nicholson presents 50 Best Poetry Books for Kids. I was happy to see that my childhood favorite--Piping Down the Valleys Wild--was on the list.
At Read, Write, Repeat, Pat Zietlow Miller shares what Sonia, a kid reviewer, has to say about Patricia Polacco's The Junkyard Wonders. Sonia says the story is based on an incident in the author's life when she was part of a classroom, known as the junkyard, consisting of kids with perceived "issues" that made them feel like misfits. Fortunately, her teacher saw every child as a genius waiting to be discovered.
Zoe Toft shares her admiration of the British illustrator Karin Littlewood and her latest book Immi at Playing by the book. Immi, an Inuit girl, goes ice fishing and catches not a fish but a surprise. Zoe shows us how she and her daughters took the book one step further and built an indoor ice-cube igloo. Find out how!
At The Children's War, Alex Baugh gives a detailed account of the re-released Cherry Ames Veterans' Nurse, by Helen Wells. In this book, Cherry Ames, a character who appears in 27 mystery novels first published by Grosset and Dunlap between 1943 and 1968, joins the Army Nurse Corps and works in a VA hospital where she's put in charge of five wounded veterans.
Tarie at Asia in the Heart, World on the Mind updates us on the first Manila International Literary Festival, which took place in the Philippines on November 18-20. British author Andy Mulligan and Australian author Chris Cheng spoke about the children's book market, and Andy Mulligan's YA novel Trash, which School Library Journal named one of the best books of 2010, was featured.
At Apples With Many Seeds, Tammy Flanders suggests we inspire kids "artsy" sides by introducing them to books like Hanoch Piven's My Best Friend is as Sharp as a Pencil (a book of fun similes and metaphors) and Jane Wattenberg's Henny-Penny. The collages in both books are brilliantly funny and creative.
You might want to cover your ears before reading Jama Rattigan's review of Holler Loudly, by Cynthia Leitich Smith and Barry Gott! at Jama Rattigan's Alphabet Soup. Holler, the main character, has such a LOUD voice it blows off rooftops, upends desks at school, and gets him thrown out of a movie theater. The spreads SCREAM for our attention, and just when our ears need a rest, we're served a bowl of delicious looking alphabet soup--to be SLURPED LOUDLY. The sweet, desserts at the end look yummy!
...and speaking of LOUD...
Wendy Wax wants to know Who Took the Quiet Out of Libraries? Have you noticed how loud libraries have become?
Whistle and shout! Clap and cheer!
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS are here!
Margo Tanenbaum interviews author Kristin O'Donnell Tubb at The Fourth Muskateer about her second book Selling Hope, which is set during the comet hysteria of 1920. Kristin says she came across this great idea while she was doing a research project for an activity book. "I discovered that Earth actually passed through the tail of the comet on May 18 and 19, 1910," she says. When Kristin read that all the hype led to people selling "comet pills", she knew she had to write Selling Hope.
Children's book author Lizann Flatt interviews Rebecca Upjohn, author of Last Loon, Patrick's Wish, and Lily and the Paper Man at The Flatt Perspective. How does the author create through the clamour of her busy life? Lizann asks. Rebecca shares the way she juggles the different parts of her life.
At Rick Sincere's News and Thoughts, Rick Sincere reminds us that it's the 50th anniversary of Harper Lee's 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Independent film maker Mary McDonagh Murphy has written a companion book, Scout, Atticus and Boo: A Celebration of Fifty Years of To Kill a Mockingbird, to go with her new documentary. Mary believes that teachers assign To Kill a Mockingbird to their classes year after year because of the indelible characters, social message, and race and class issues.
Carl Schwanke shares An Interview With Someone Who's Both a Reader Guy AND a Writer Guy at Boys Rule Boys Read! Twelve-year-old "Dark Omen" talks about the science fiction novel he is writing which is filled with adventure and mystery--but no romance. "Why waste words on romance and all that stuff when there are space battles?" says Dark Omen.
ILLUSTRATORS on parade!
Find out how the art gets made.
Jacquitta McManus presents 3 of the Author's Favorite Illustrations in Labyrinth's Door - Anyia "Dream of a Warrior" at Journey of a Storyteller. Jacquitta says, "I started writing children stories years ago. It came out of a desire to create characters I felt my daughter could relate to. It also came from a desire to create stories that would excite her imagination when she laid in bed at night. This is my Journey." (The name of the talented illustrator--Toujour Byrd--whose illustrations are featured in the post should really be mentioned in the post!)
In Traditional + Digital = TRADIGITAL, Ginger Nielson says there's no reason to frown upon "digitized" artwork. Ginger shows how she mixes traditional and digital styles in her own work. Her traditional sketch and watercolor study are lovely, as is the final painting done in a digital painting program, which only enhances her original artwork.
At Daily Art Food, Wendy Martin presents Illustration for Picture Books. "What makes a great picture book?" says Wendy. "It's a combination of stellar text and outstanding pictures, of course. This two part article covers the basics and gives lessons on how to begin your own book dummy."
WRITING TIPS are always key.
What works for you may work for me.
At The Poem Farm, Amy Ludwig VanDerwater shares a poem called Just Write, which she wrote to encourage young writers. Also included are two great book suggestions for teachers.
Carmela Martino presents Mary Ann Rodman's post Writing with Your Gluteus Maximus. How does this "Master Procrastinator" get herself writing? She uses the "B-I-C" rule, which she explains simply. A must-read for easily-distracted writers.
A mom and dad are very fond
of taking books ONE STEP BEYOND.
At Blah, Blah, Blog, Pamela Jorrick talks about the deep connection she feels with "Ma Ingalls" from the Little House books. When Pamela read the Little House books with her kids, they were actually living "off the grid" in the California mountains with a wood stove, very little electricity, and an oil lamp to read by. Pamela likes what her kids gained from the experience and continues to remind them of that way of life. She even recruited "Pa" to make lanterns with the kids--a craft that, rather than collecting dust, can actually be used.
Read Aloud Dad presents Why Reading Aloud to Your Children is NOT Important. "Whenever I tell someone that I read to my kids every night," says Read Aloud Dad, "I tend to keep a small secret to myself. It's not whether you do it that matters. It's mostly about HOW you do it."
That's it for now. November's done.
Next we'll have some December fun!

subset: commoncrawl


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Ronstan Pivoting Lead Block w/ Small T-Cleat
Ronstan's new Series 20 Blocks are the smallest of Ronstan's ball bearing blocks. They have very high maximum working loads between 440 and 880 lbs., depending on the block configuration.
Sheaves are 20mm (3/4 in) and support a max line size of 6mm (1/4 in). High-load (HL) blocks can handle wire up to 1/8 in in diameter.
These blocks are suitable for almost all small dinghy control line systems and work well in lightly loaded control lines assemblies on larger boats as well. Can be used for outhauls, vangs, barber haulers, cunninghams, traveler controls, leach cords, lead car return tackles, and even flag halyards.
We recommend 2 x 4mm (5/32 in.) fasteners for this pivoting lead block with cleat.
|Breaking Load (lbs)
|Breaking Load (kg)
|Safe Working Load (lbs)
|Safe Working Load (kg)
|Weight (g)


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Tox Runner - the sequel to Video Speedway CD-i
>> Thursday, April 9, 2009
A few words from a CD-i developer who worked at ISG coding Video Speedway and other projects on CD-i: "I spent 2 months playing Tox Runner (a terrible Road Rash clone for the CD-i) for a living. My favorite Tox Runner bug report: "Race takes exactly the same amount of time to finish no matter how fast you ride." This led to a big argument with the developers, who said that this was the way it should be and that I "didn't understand physics." They played the physics card again later when they used "centrifugal force" to explain why a rider would be pulled toward the center of a turn - even if he was sitting still. To my knowledge, the game was never released primarily because the testers hated it so much. If you ever played any CD-i games, to think that a game could be too bad for the system is astonishing
Road Rat was an early name for Tox Runner I believe. This never got release? This title was in and out of product test for a few years, I just assumed it finally got a release since it disappeared. Well after testing it a few hundred times I can see why, it was junk. This title was made by the same people who made Video Speedway. Its basically the Video Speedway engine which in my opinion is one of the worst racing games ever produced so this title is not off to a good start. But the twist with tox runner was you used motorcycles instead of race cars. The premise was you lived in a sort of Road Warrior type world. Various outposts have come down with some sort of deadly virus, you have to run the cure called tox to these various outposts on your motorcycle within a set period of time. While this is going on various gangs try to stop you from achieving this by trying to run you off the road. Interesting idea for a game but the game play wasn't so good and the graphics were a bit comical.
Bike Warrior was also Tox Runner but in an early stage of development. Basically it was a motorcycle race game set in a post-nuclear holocaust future. A slideshow sequence provided the back story about the player needing to deliver antitoxin to a group of survivors. As you raced down a long stretch of road through a barren wasteland, you had to avoid toxic CDI and marauding bikers. Obviously, the game was inspired by The Road Warrior. ISG's partners closed the company and went their separate ways soon after we delivered the games to PIMA, but I suspect the reason they were never released was that PIMA's game production had outpaced CD-I sales."


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Ramona and Her MotherBook - 1979
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QuotesAdd a Quote
Bob Quimby: Ramona, your sister has a report card. Doesn't that mean you should have one too?
Ramona Quimby: Uh... No.
Ramona Quimby: [Watching a commercial, reciting the slogan] "Royal Peanut Butter: There's a bit of magic in every jar"!
Bob Quimby: Is that one of your favorites? That's the rack we gotta get you into, 'cause those TV kids make millions.
Ramona Quimby: Beezus, do you think I could be in a commercial like that?
Beezus: [Fixing Ramona's hair with a curling iron] Sure, you'd make a great frog.
Ramona Quimby: Hey!
Beezus: Hold still. I'm almost done.
Ramona Quimby: It's picture-perfect, right?
Beezus: Let's be realistic, Ramona. This is a curling iron, not a magic wand.
[She puts the curling iron down and holds up a mirror for Ramona to see what her new hairdo looks like]
Beezus: But, all things considered, I'd say you've never looked better.
Ramona Quimby: I love it! Thanks, Beezus!
Bob Quimby: So, Beezus, suppose I told you that when I pulled up by the house tonight I saw your old buddy Henry staring at it like he left something important inside of it.
Dorothy Quimby: Henry Huggins? I haven't heard that name in a while. Isn't he the boy that used to eat dirt in the backyard?
Bob Quimby: Yeah.
Beezus: He doesn't do that anymore!
Bob Quimby: Ooh, if I didn't know better, I'd say somebody's got a crush.
Beezus: Can we please talk about something else?
Dorothy Quimby: Well, there is that dance coming up. Maybe he wants to ask you to it.
Bob Quimby: Well, if he's gonna ask my daughter to dance, he better have some moves. Can the old dirt-eater do this?
[Mr. Quimby starts dancing very badly. Ramona and Mrs. Quimby laugh]
Beezus: [Embarrassed. Playfully throws a towel at Mr. Quimby] Oh, I hope not! Stop! Mom!
Howie Kemp: [From Trailer]
[to Ramona]
Howie Kemp: We saw your underpants!
Beezus: [From Trailer]
[to Ramona]
Beezus: Every princess needs a little sparkle.
Bob Quimby: [From Trailer]
[to Ramona]
Bob Quimby: Why don't we draw the longest picture ever?
Beezus: [From Trailer] Ramona, you're your own person. You don't care about coloring inside the lines.
Ramona Quimby: It really depends on the picture.
Mrs. Meacham: [From Trailer]
[to Ramona]
Mrs. Meacham: I hope you are enjoying third grade. You may be here for a while.
AgeAdd Age Suitability
pink_hawk_52 thinks this title is suitable for 5 years and over
violet_pony_769 thinks this title is suitable for 8 years and over
CommentAdd a Comment
thanks for all the wonderfull books.
SummaryAdd a Summary
"People should not think being seven and a half years old was easy, because it wasn't."[2] At least Ramona's father has a job again, so the Quimbys host a party to celebrate. Burdened with the task of keeping spoiled little Willa Jean out of everybody's way, Ramona gives Willa Jean a box of tissues and shows her how to pull them out one by one. Ramona does not want Willa Jean to touch any of Ramona's toys. When Willa Jean strews tissues through the house, the guests decide that it is time to go home. When someone remarks that Ramona was just like Willa Jean at that age, Ramona feels hurt and upset. She does not believe that she was ever such a pest. When Mrs. Quimby states that she could not get along without Beezus, Ramona feels isolated and unappreciated by her family.
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Girl PartyBoy PartyBoy or Girl PartyMatching Party FavorsBaby CardsMisc CardsPosters & PortraitsPhotoshoppingHoliday CardsNew Items
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DIGITAL DELIVERY!Easy...1. Place the order.2. Email your high resolution photo (LARGE photo) to email@example.com. Your preferred wording/text: Name, age, party date/time, location, and rsvp details, etc.
4. For a matching Thank you card please contact me.
*****NO PHYSICAL ITEM WILL BE SHIPPED!Within 24-48 hours, you will receive a proof via e-mail to look over before receiving final. These designs are intended to be printed from home printers. If you are going to use a photo lab I recommend checking with your preferred vendor prior to purchase to see if they take a print release.IT IS VERY IMPORTANT to know that copyright restrictions on the characters only permit graphics to be used for a one time personal use. Not all photo labs are aware of this policy and if you are printing from a photo lab and have issues with them refusing to print for you, please try another photo lab, print at home yourself, or think about going green and Facebook or email your invites!___________________________________________________________Thank you for visiting Random Panda and have a great party!


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Time to reignite our science spark
We need to encourage younger generations to rediscover the wonders of science to ensure Australia continues its proud record of scientific achievement, writes Professor Ian Chubb.
It has been captivating to watch the whole nation's interest in the Olympic Games — it has dominated our newsfeeds, social media and conversations around the proverbial water cooler.
On Saturday as the Games entered their final days, Australia's annual science festival — National Science Week — was launched. Even though science is vital to our future health, sustainability, prosperity, and even Olympic success, National Science Week got far less attention than the Olympics.
National Science Week is a significant part of our year as it reinvigorates the discussion of the importance and prevalence of science in our everyday lives. We are bombarded daily with scientific issues in the media and in our lives such as climate change, genetically modified foods, new health treatments, rovers landing on Mars and many more.
As consumers and citizens in the modern world, we need the ability to evaluate critically claims made in the name of science. Being science literate doesn't mean you have to be a professional scientist, but it does mean that you can use the processes of science and draw conclusions from the evidence around you.
This is important because we utilise science across many facets of our lives, not only for personal decision-making, but for understanding and participating in public issues such as climate change and water management. Greater science literacy helps us better understand and make use of science in our world. For example, it helps us evaluate and understand medical procedures recommended by a doctor or guides our decisions to utilise health products based on their proven effectiveness. It helps us ask the right questions and to make some judgement about the answers.
Scientific culture
Scientific literacy is not just about grasping the technical concepts, it is about curiosity, a questioning approach, and a willingness to test rigorously claims with evidence. These intellectual skills should be taught explicitly to all students across all levels of schooling, and applied to a wide range of questions and discussions, not only scientific ones. We want Australians to form their own well-informed positions on policy issues. We want Australians to understand what food security is, what the role of nanoparticles is in sunscreen, and what are the pros and cons of genetically modified foods.
A society with a flourishing scientific culture would also produce more practising scientists and researchers, which means sustaining economic competitiveness as we move into a knowledge-based economy.
Earlier this year, I released the Health of Australian Science report, capturing the current state of our country's science system. The report takes a comprehensive look at Australian science from multiple perspectives including school enrolments, university degrees, research spending, and industry engagement. From many perspectives, Australia is in good shape in the science arena. We produce well-trained, well-educated and knowledgeable graduates in a broad range of disciplines.
However there is no room for complacency.
It has become apparent that we are raising a generation which seem to be losing their connection with the wonders of science. They are not as engaged now as they once were, despite having access to and making use of the outputs and applications of science in their everyday life.
It concerns me greatly that attitudinal studies taken last year show that many students have an almost perverse view of science. And while I agree that science, maths and engineering hold the solutions to many of our future challenges, the assumption that science will always be there when we need it is risky, especially if we can't engage and inspire the younger generations to pursue science in the numbers we expect to need.
Earlier this year, I also released the report Mathematics, Engineering and Science in the National Interest discussing how to encourage greater participation in mathematics, statistics, science and engineering. As a response to the report, $54 million was committed by the Government to support science, mathematics and engineering education. This monetary commitment recognises the importance that these disciplines will play in our nation's future.
Investing in the future
As a developed nation, Australia needs to be an investor and contributor to scientific research and solutions as they are made. There is no reason why our capabilities cannot be put alongside other nations as we progress to improve our global future.
Australia should be an anticipator nation and not a follower — we need to give as we receive in a two-way flow of knowledge and know-how. Investment needs to be a long-term commitment in our national interest as we ensure our nation reaches its full potential.
This highlights just how important events like National Science Week are, to reignite that scientific spark for our younger generations and encourage them to be engaged and participate. Australians should be proud of what we have scientifically accomplished so far, and this should build our confidence to take it further and improve the livelihood of our nation.
As icing on the cake, you don't have to be a world-class scientist, or travel to London, to embrace what science has to offer. With National Science Week offering over 1000 events in your own backyard, there is no excuse not to get involved and share the wonders of science.
So next time you are having a conversation at the water cooler, talk about science, talk about National Science Week and share the excitement about our nation's scientific future.
About the author:Professor Ian Chubb is the Chief Scientist for Australia. Prior to his appointment he was the Vice Chancellor of the Australian National University.
Published 14 August 2012


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Contemplating A Blogging Break
Nov 4 2009
I'm seriously considering a very long blogging break while I figure out what I want to be when I grow up. Or shall I say what I want this blog to be as it grows up. The posts have been kind of random lately…a bit out of focus like I feel these days.
I was having lunch with one of my advisers today who always pumps me up. He's almost 70 years old and calls himself a recycled dad because he has grand kids older than his youngest kids. I like him a lot because he's used to working with strong, smart, professional women. In the company he founded some 30 years ago when it wasn't cool to hire women in senior positions, he had the most on his team. He always jokes that he knows that women are the ones who get things done. I think he grew up with 4 sisters. He told me no matter what happens that I should be confident in 3 things about myself. I told him I'll put those 3 things on a note on the mirror or at least repeat them to myself. It's nice to have people believe in you! He also said something like don't worry about how things didn't work out, just change your perspective and move forward.
I think I've mentioned that I'm interested in the bioscience/health care field, and I'm figuring out how I can use my current job to find opportunities to learn more about those industries. I'm also enjoying my time singing and learning more about singing. I wonder if I can combine some sort of music with biotech and create an interesting business…
So while I make some decisions, I'll leave you with a post by Seth Godin and some song lyrics by Bob Dylan that my friend Robb Lanum has been sending out the last several weeks on our email club. I know Robb via his cousin Jay, who is married to Sandy (link to her photo site). Oh the things that get written on that email club…I hope never see the light of day. At least I'm never planning to run for political office! I never listened to Bob Dylan growing up and don't really know much about him but Robb has been randomly sending out these lyrics and they have been strangely poignant.
I hope you all will still be here when I get back.
Make a decision – by Seth Godin
It doesn't have to be a wise decision or a perfect one. Just make one.
In fact, make several. Make more decisions could be your three word mantra.
No decision is a decision as well, the decision not to decide. Not deciding is usually the wrong decision. If you are the go-to person, the one who can decide, you'll make more of a difference. It doesn't matter so much that you're right, it matters that you decided.
Of course it's risky and painful. That's why it's a rare and valuable skill.
Summer Days – Bob Dylan 2001
Summer days, summer nights are gone
Summer days and the summer nights are gone
I know a place where there's still somethin' going on
I got a house on a hill, I got hogs all out in the mud
I got a house on a hill, I got hogs out lying in the mud
Got a long haired woman, she got royal Indian blood
Everybody get ready – lift up your glasses and sing
Everybody get ready to lift up your glasses and sing
Well, I'm standin' on the table, I'm proposing a toast to the King
Well I'm drivin' in the flats in a Cadillac car
The girls all say, "You're a worn out star"
My pockets are loaded and I'm spending every dime
How can you say you love someone else when you notice me all the time?
Well, the fog's so thick you can't spy the land
The fog is so thick that you can't even spy the land
What good are you anyway, if you can't stand up to some old businessman?
Wedding bells ringin', the choir is beginning to sing
Yes, the wedding bells are ringing and the choir is beginning to sing
What looks good in the day, at night is another thing
She's looking into my eyes, she's holding my hand
She's looking into my eyes, she's holding my hand
She says, "You can't repeat the past." I say, "You can't? What do you mean you can't? Of course you can."
Where do you come from? Where do you go?
Sorry that is nothin' you would need to know
Well, my back has been to the wall for so long, it seems like it's stuck
Why don't you break my heart one more time just for good luck
I got eight carburetors, boys I'm using 'em all
Well, I got eight carburetors and boys, I'm using 'em all
I'm short on gas, my motor's starting to stall
My dogs are barking, there must be someone around
My dogs are barking, there must be someone around
I got my hammer ringin', pretty baby, but the nails ain't goin' down
You got something to say, speak or hold your peace
Well, you got something to say, speak now or hold your peace
If it's information you want you can go get it from the police
Politician got on his jogging shoes
He must be running for office, got no time to lose
He been suckin' the blood out of the genius of generosity
You been rolling your eyes – you been teasing me
Standing by God's river, my soul is beginnin' to shake
Standing by God's river, my soul is beginnin' to shake
I'm countin' on you love, to give me a break
Well, I'm leaving in the morning as soon as the dark clouds lift
Yes, I'm leaving in the morning just as soon as the dark clouds lift
Gonna break the roof in – set fire to the place as a parting gift
Summer days, summer nights are gone
Summer days, summer nights are gone
I know a place where there's still somethin' going on
Spirit on the Water – Bob Dylan 2006
Spirit on the water
Darkness on the face of the deep
I keep thinking about you babe
And I can't hardly sleep
I'm traveling by land
Traveling through the dawn of day
You're always on my mind
I can't stay away
I'd forgotten about you
Then you turned up again
I always knew
We were meant to be more than friends
When you are near
It's just as plain as it can be
I'm wild about you, gal
You ought to be a fool about me
Can't explain
The sources of this hidden pain
You burned your way into my heart
And you got the key to my brain
I've been trampling through mud
Praying to the powers above
I'm sweating blood
You got a face that begs for love
Life without you
Doesn't mean a thing to me
If I can't have you,
I'll throw my love into the deep blue sea
Sometimes I wonder
Why you can't treat me right
You do good all day
Then you do wrong all night
When you're with me
I'm a thousand times happier than I could ever say
What does it matter
What price I pay?
They brag about your sugar
Brag about it all over town
Put some sugar in my bowl
I feel like laying down
I'm pale as a ghost
Holding a blossom on a stem
You ever seen a ghost? No
But you have heard of them
I see you there
I'm blinded by the colors I see
I take good care
Of what belongs to me
I hear your name
Ringing up and down the line
I'm saying it plain
These ties are strong enough to bind
Your sweet voice
Calls out from some old familiar shrine
I got no choice
Can't believe these things would ever fade from your mind
I could live forever
With you perfectly
You don't ever
Have to make a fuss over me
From East to West
Ever since the world began
I'm only in it for the best
I want to be with you any way I can
I been in a brawl
Now I'm feeling the wall
I'm going away baby
I won't be back 'til fall
High on the hill
You can carry all my thoughts with you
You've numbed my will
This love could tear me in two
I wanna be with you in paradise
And it seems so unfair
I can't go to paradise no more
I killed a man back there
You think I'm over the hill
You think I'm past my prime
Let me see what you got
We can have a whoppin' good time


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If you're an aftermarket guy and you get an Audi R8, what would be the most important mod you make?
Sure, you might want some really high-end wheels, maybe customize the interior with extra carbon fiber parts and some gadgets, etc. But that shouldn't be first on your priority list. Number one is protection!
As in a Viper 5204V with the DBALL interface plus DSM250 SmartStart module for your phone. Because when you have a six-figure vehicle that's sexier than your wife, you want to ward off covetous thieves.
On display at the Top Gear Live show in the UK, the R8 distinguished itself from the crowd, even with its lowered stance of about 30mm, thanks to KW coilovers. Custom-made Rotiform SNA 3-piece wheels (9″x20″ front and a whopping 12″x20″ rear) really set off the R8 and custom carbon-fiber mirrors give it an added slick touch.
On the one hand, show attendees could watch the Top Gear Stunt Team for daredevil acts — they set a record with a 720-degree, double loop-the-loop on a motorcycle — while on the other they could observe the serene beauty of the R8 equipped with SmartStart technology. What better way to bring driver and his beloved ride closer together than with a real two-way electronic connection?
To see the motorcycle stunt, click here.


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Playards, like cribs, are enclosed on all four sides. However, these are designed with baby's playtime in mind which is why they are deeper, preventing baby from getting out even when he can already stand up, and have mesh on all sides instead of wooden boards and slats. Many playards are also light and easy to transport from one room to another so your baby can play in the kitchen while you are preparing dinner or in the living room while you are folding the laundry.We offer plenty of playards that you can consider. These come in fun designs and are easy to assemble. They are also sturdy and durable so they won't fall apart even if your baby constantly bounces up and down. Some even come with removable changing tables and others with mobiles.
BabyGiftsOutlet.com is your one stop shop for all your baby product and baby gift needs. We bring the highest quality products from trusted brands and manufacturers at affordable prices so that you can be rest assured that you get the most for your money. Feel free to browse our large selection of baby gifts by narrowing down the color, brand, and price range that fits your needs for your baby.


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The latest thinking in Digital Transformation shared by the Britannic community.
Learn faster with our video seminars, How To's and Tutorials.
Browse our White Papers, brochures and product sheets.
Find companies like yours that have innovated communications in partnership with us.
We cut through the noise of Digital Transformation and explain the topics and technologies that matter to your business.
Read article


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FujiFilm F505EXR pinouts
The connector/pinout information may be applied to the :
Vendor: FujiFilm
Device name: F505EXRCameras & Camcorders
There is one pinout found for FujiFilm F505EXR.The pinout (pin-out) is a cross-reference between the contacts (pins) of an electrical connector and their functions. The link to appropriate pin assignment diagram is listed below.
- Digital cameras and camcorders with mini-usb compatible connector pinout connector at camera may look different, but mini-usb cable should work


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Outreach – Cooking
1 November, 2017 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm$5
Sunnyfield's Outreach program is designed for adults with disability and incorporates Skills for Life activities, health, fitness and recreational activities tailored to each participant's interests.
Sessions run each Wednesday night on the North Shore and Northern Beaches.
If you'd like to expand your social activities, meet new friends and try new things then contact our friendly Client Engagement Team today.
E email@example.com


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How can we help you?
We matched that to:
How do I find my transit number, institution number and account number?
Identifying your account information is easy:
If you have a cheque
Don't Have a Cheque?
If you do NOT have a cheque, you can locate your account information in Easyweb on the Accounts screen by selecting your account.
The first set of numbers (4 digits) is your branch (transit) number. The second set (7 digits) is your account number.
Transit or Branch Number:
Your branch transit number is a 5-digit number comprised of your 4-digit branch number, followed by a number indicating the geographical location of your branch.
You can find your branch number by using our Branch Locator:
Check your geographical region:
- British Columbia and Yukon: 0,
- Western Quebec including Montreal and surrounding area: 1,
- Ontario including Toronto and surrounding area: 2,
- Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland (excluding Labrador): 3.
- New Brunswick: 4,
- Eastern Quebec including Labrador: 5,
- Eastern Ontario including Ottawa and surrounding area: 6,
- Manitoba and North-Western Ontario: 7,
- Saskatchewan: 8,
- Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut: 9,
Financial Institution Number (Bank Code):
The financial institution number for TD Canada Trust is 004.
Designation Number:
The designation number helps us know which branch the cheque is related to. Designation number is generally 4 digits, which is your TD branch location number, and then an extra digit to represent the province.
Account Number:
If your account number only has 6 digits but a form requires 7, simply add a 0 to the start. For example, 123456 is 0123456.
You may also try:
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TD Helps Search the TD Helps Community
Please note that the answers to the questions are for information purposes only for the products discussed. Individual circumstances may vary. In case of discrepancy, the documentation prevails.


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Full Details - India vs Australia T20 Match Schedule, Team Squad, Players List
India vs Australia T20 Match Schedule, Team Squad, Players List
India vs Australia T20 Match Schedule, Team Squad, Players List – Virat Kohli along with his troops is riding high with confidence after beating Sri Lanka in all the formats of cricket (test, ODI, t20's). Now Virat Kohli along with his men will next take on the mighty foes Australia for the five match ODI series and three-match T20I series from September 17. Earlier this year each India and Australia performed a highly competitive four match test series in India which the hosts received 2-1.Australia gained the first test against India in Pune, however, didn't repeat their performance in the next 3 games. Considering then, Australia were knocked out of the ICC champions trophy in the group stage even as India lost within the ct final to Pakistan.
For the first time, Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati will host the International match between India and Australia series. Before the ODI series starts, Australia will play a warm up match against Board President's XI on September 12.
For this upcoming series between India vs Australia Live Stream, the board of India has decided to give rest to Ashwin and Jadeja and include Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami. This two bowler has returned to the India squad of 16 members for the first 3 ODI game of the five-match ODI series against Australia.
India vs Australia Team Squad
India's Squad for T20 match vs Australia :
Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashish Nehra, Axar Patel.
Australia ODI squad:
Steve Smith (Captain), David Warner, Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Patrick Cummins, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wicket keeper), Adam Zampa
Australia T20I squad:
Steve Smith (Captain), David Warner (Vice Captain), Jason Behrendorff, Dan Christian, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Patrick Cummins, Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Glenn Maxwell, Tim Paine, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa.
India vs Australia Match Schedule
There will be series of 5 ODI and 3 t20's between India and Australia.
1st ODI match On September 17 (Sunday). played between India and Australia. Start From 9:00 am venues ma Chidambaram Stadium.
2nd ODI at Eden garden will start from 13:30 on 21 September.
3rd ODI at indoor in Holkar cricket stadium will start from 13:30 on 24 September.
4th ODI at the m.chinnaswamy stadium will start from 13:30 on 28 September.
5th ODI at Vidarbha, Nagpur will start from 13:30 on 1 October.
1st T20'S will be played at JSCA stadium at Ranchi starting from 7 pm on 7 October.
2nd T20'S will be played at Barsapara starting from 7 pm on 10 October.
3rd T20'S will be played at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium will start from 7 pm on 13 October.
If you have been benefited by reading this article then share this article with your friend, family and so on. If you find any possible information which is not mentioned in this article then comment below.
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Tip to aspiring undercover reporters: when you're given four chances to sign up as press, you're not really undercover anymore. Cut your losses and stop pretending already.
In a developing story that only keeps getting richer, an undercover reporter for Dateline NBC was outed Friday and embarrassed in front of hundreds of attendees at this year's DEFCON in Las Vegas.
As an associate producer of Dateline, Michelle Madigan tried to attend this year's DEFCON undercover, registering as a programmer and coming to the conference with a hidden camera set up in a shoulder bag. One small problem: she was never really undercover. From the moment Madigan got to the show, word was out among its organizers that she was a member of the press and that she knowingly intended to violate the rules prohibiting media from photographing or videotaping without approval.
Displeased with her intent, the organizers decided to give her several chances to get a legitimate press pass, the final chance coming after outing her in front of convention attendees in a mock-game of "spot the undercover reporter" (caught on video). Madigan fled, much to the delight of attendees who followed her out to the parking lot, mocking her along the way.
Hack job
Lost in the cackles of laughter at the reporter's embarrassment is an account that is truly confusing and, at times, difficult to believe.
Press is truly welcome at DEFCON, but Madigan's attempt to break the rules was unacceptable, if at first understandable. Madigan was reportedly going to the show to report on a cat-and-mouse game between hackers and the undercover federal agents that keep an eye on them. Her goal was to find evidence of nefarious hacking going on by catching someone admitting to a felony on tape and to out a federal agent who was also attending the conference undercover. According to the Register's report, she bragged to an informant that "the people in Kansas would be very interested in knowing what was happening at DEFCON." Organizers got the sense that Madigan was interested in doing a hack job on the show, and nothing else.
Her plan was foiled from the get-go, however, because DEFCON was tipped off to her presence before she even arrived—with the tip, according to ThreatLevel, coming from a mole at NBC. Organizers then attempted to convince her to get a press pass instead, but she declined on four separate occasions, setting the stage for her embarrassment later that day. To make matters worse, Madigan twice declined a press pass by phone before she arrived, long before organizers started warning attendees that an undercover reporter was in their midst.
Indeed, it was Madigan's insistence on staying undercover, even when it was clear that she was never truly undercover to begin with, that set up the embarrassing outing in front of the standing-room-only crowd in Vegas.
After she had already declined to get a press pass several times, organizers fooled her, leading her to believe that she could get video of a federal agent being outed on the conference hall floor. After directing her to the hall in advance of the event, the organizers then set their own plan into motion, which was to out Madigan, not a Fed. Duped, Madigan fled the scene.
Dateline has issued a general statement saying that it does not comment on its news-gathering practices. Attempts to contact Madigan have been unsuccessful, and it appears that she's even nuked her MySpace page.
DEFCON's organizers expressed displeasure at what Madigan was trying to do, saying that Dateline's sensationalist approach to news could harm the show's "open" atmosphere where hackers—and indeed government agents—come together in the spirit of communication. Without pinhole cameras.


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RICHMOND, Va. (January 21, 2007) - The ETSU men's tennis team continued it's successful start to the spring season today on day 3 of the VCU 4x1 Invitational with a 5-0 win over Georgetown University, before falling to #14 Virginia Commonwealth University 3-0 in the afternoon match.
The Bucs started off the day taking the doubles match from Georgetown with Felix Insaurralde (Asuncion, Paraguay) and Lisandro Picardo (Mar Del Plata, Argentina) defeating Anthony Tan and Will Lowell 6-2, 6-3.
Following in singles action Enrique Olivares (Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela) defeated Jeff Schnell 6-3, 6-1 in the top position for the Bucs. Travis Sandlant (Werribee, Australia) fought through his match in the No. 2 position defeating Ted Tywang 7-6, 7-6.
Freshman Daniel Isaza (Medellin, Colombia) picked up his second win of the season defeating Adam Gross 6-2, 6-3, while Alex Ahlgren (Tyreso, Sweden) won his match in the No. 4 position against David Tillem 6-1, 7-6.
In the afternoon match the Bucs faced their first ranked opponent this spring, #14 Virginia Commonwealth University. In the doubles match Sandlant and Ahlgren fell to Lindgren and Ripoll 6-4, 6-2.
Felix Insaurralde lost to VCU's Arnaud Le Cloerec 6-3, 6-1 in the No. 1 position while Lisandro Picardo battled in the No. 4 position against Sebastian Deridder. Picardo served for the second set at 5-3 before going down to Deridder in a tiebreaker, deciding the match for the RAMS.
Both Enrique Olivares and Sebastian Serrano (Cartagena, Colombia) played hard fought matches and were in third sets when the match was decided. In a tight match at No. 3, Serrano had held a 4-3 lead and double break points in the third set, before the match was terminated with Sebastian Deridder leading 5-4.
"We played really good, I think it could've been a much closer match if all the matches had been finished," said head coach Yaser Zaatini. "We were extremely close, the match went for two and a half hours and the guys played tough. We showed we are a decent team, we just didn't get the win to show for it."
The Bucs will be back in Johnson City for the week and will head to Murfreesboro, Tenn. next Sunday at 2 p.m. to take on MTSU.
No. 1- Enrique Olivares (ETSU) def. Jeff Schnell (GU) 6-3, 6-1
No. 2- Travis Sandlant (ETSU) def. Ted Tywang (GU) 7-6, 7-6
No. 3- Daniel Isaza (ETSU) def. Adam Gross (GU) 6-2, 6-3
No. 4- Alex Ahlgren (ETSU) def. David Tillem (GU) 6-1, 7-6
Insaurralde/Picardo (ETSU) def. Tan/ Lowell (GU) 6-2, 6-3
No. 1- Arnaud Le Cloerec (VCU) def. Felix Insaurralde (ETSU) 6-3, 6-1
No. 2- Enrique Olivares (ETSU) vs. Sergi Arumi (VCU) DNF
No. 3- Sebastian Serrano (ETSU) vs. Damien Lacombe (VCU) DNF
No. 4- Sebastian Deridder (VCU) def. Lisandro Picardo 6-3, 7-6
Lindgren/Ripoll (VCU) def. Sandlant/Ahlgren (ETSU) 6-4, 6-2


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See Mega Lotto 6/45 Result Today draw on February 22, 2019. PCSO 6/45 Mega Lotto Results Today lucky draw.
Mega Lotto 6/45 Result
Winning Numbers: 31-27-38-18-35-08
PCSO Mega 6/45 Lottery results draw at 9:00PM on each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Here you get the Mega 6/45 Lotto Result today with the Jackpot Prize and the latest updates from the official PCSO office.
PCSO Swertres 6/45 Mega Lotto Result 2018 (Win 9M)
Here you get the latest updated results of the Mega 6/45 Lottery result draw at 09:00 PM.
Mega Lotto 6/45 is the improved version of the Lotto 6/42 and the prize money is also increasing. In this mega lotto the digit number combination chooses from the lot of 1 to 45.
The criteria to win the Mega Lotto 6/45 is at least three of one's chose or draw numbers must be in the six digits lotto to claim the prize.
It's very difficult to get all the six winning numbers because of much larger range among the 8,145,060.
Today Mega Lotto 6/45 Jackpot Prize Money
P9 Million
Mega Lotto 6/45 Today Result Prize Details
Here you see the complete details of prize money for Mega Lotto 6/45. There are four prize money details in which the six out of six numbers in exact order claim the prize money of PHP 9 Million, 5 out of 6 claims the prize money upto PHP 50,000, 4out of 6 claims the PHP 1,500 and 3 out of 6 claims the PHP 20.0.
|Numbers (in any order)
|6 out of 6
|Jackpot Prize starts at Php 9 Million
|5 out of 6
|Up to Php 50,000.00
|4 out of 6
|Up to Php 1,500.00
|3 out of 6
|Php 20.0
|Note: Here are the latest 6/45 lotto results and jackpot prize for 2018
Note: Always remember that the prize money that display above in the table is for the reference purpose. The final prize detail will be available on the authorized lotto outlet after the numbers of players who win's the prize.


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Admission Information for VeteransAttention Veterans!
We have great resources on campus for veterans, current military and their family members. You are encouraged to stop by either of our Veteran Resource Centers and visit with our assigned Regional Coordinator:Kari JohnsonMinnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, Higher Education Veterans ProgramsCentral Regional CoordinatorWillmar - Room A241 Hutchinson - Room 405Cell: (320) 491-2734Tel: (320) 762-4467Fax: (320) email@example.com@ridgewater.edu
Note: Ridgewater College is approved by the Minnesota State Approving Agency for Veterans Education Benefits.Veterans, dependents of veterans, National Guardsmen, or Reservists who are eligible for educational benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs must contact the VA Certifying Official on campus for certification. Recipients will be given instructions and the forms necessary to apply for benefits. Contact should be made at least 45 days prior to the first day of attendance as processing time may take six to eight weeks.A person applying for VA benefits needs to complete a 22-1990 form. Along with this form, a certified copy of the DD-214 for prior active duty and a NOBE for National Guard is required to process the application.Once you are an enrolled student, you will be required to verify your enrollment each month that you attend class for payment purposes. This can be done by phone or internet. If your enrollment status changes at any time during the semester, it is imperative that you notify the VA Certifying Official immediately. For more information about veteran benefits visit http://www.gibill.va.gov.Please contact the VA Certifying Official in the Financial Aid Office, Student Services Building for further information. Because certain veterans and their children may be eligible for benefits under the GI Bill and other laws, all veterans, war orphans, and children of disabled veterans must notify the Admissions/Counseling Office of their status at the time of their application. (For more information on these benefits, see Financial Aid.)


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Microsoft and Nokia are planning to tackle the smartphone market and hit hard with new low-end hardware, according to a report by Reuters. With multiple high-end products from Nokia, HTC, and Samsung already available, the company is now looking at the cheaper price points that attract a large portion of consumers. The Lumia 521 is such a Windows Phone that Microsoft hopes will win over the minds of consumers.
Terry Myerson, head of the Windows Phone unit, had the following to say on the move:
"There is an opportunity for us to offer a very high quality device in the mainstream. That's where we've made progress in the last couple of months and it's a strategy we'll continue to explore in the United States."
The Lumia 521, a variant of the Lumia 520 (they just have to name 'em differently), went on sale on the Home Shopping Network last week, where the product has already sold out. The Lumia 521 sports not only 4G connectivity, but also includes a 4-inch screen and a 5 MP camera. If that wasn't enough, wireless charging is also available with optional covers.
The Nokia Windows Phone will go on sale at Walmart starting next week. The $150 price tag will be coupled with T-Mobile's $30 unlimited data and SMS plan. This is said to work out much cheaper than heavily subsadised iPhones and Android hardware. It seems to be working in certain markets and Microsoft hopes to replicate that success in the states. According to the company, it has as much as 20 percent of the market in regions such as Mexico and Poland.
Myerson continues:
"It (subsidization) is a compelling business model for them. If you are Samsung, Apple, AT&T or Verizon, it's where everything's working, you are growing share, you are growing profits. If you are an incumbent with a successful business model, you're not going to be jumping to throw it out. I don't think we've come near to the full potential. Those are our two dimensions here, Office and Xbox. We want to bring to life getting work done and bring to life that serious fun, here on this thing in your pocket. That's going to develop over time."
It's clear that Microsoft has an array of products it can use to add more features to the overall Windows Phone experience. The only hurdle still remains is to sell the platform to the consumer. Do the US mobile operators help matters? Probably not, but Microsoft will have to work its plan hard to break through, as it has done overseas.
Source: Reuters


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Michigan Chapter
The purpose of the Chapter is to provide an organization through which members of ASIS&T located within the Chapter area, and those outside the area who wish to join the chapter, may participate in and carry forward activities related to information science and technology. The Chapter shall promote the interests of ASIS&T and its programs, including every reasonable effort to involve students of information science who are located within its boundaries.
Arjun Sabharwal, Interim Chair
Keith Instone, Interim Chair-Elect
Judith O'Dell, Program Chair
Contact Information
Web Site


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Juicy Juice
Strawberry Banana 100% Juice
Produced by Nestle USA
last checked Jan 23, 2013
"Do Nestle Juicy Juice products contain gluten?
"No. Gluten is found in products that contain wheat, barley, rye and oats. Nestle Juicy Juice products do not contain any of these things."
ContactOnline: www.juicyjuice.com/Public/Contact-Us.aspx
Store Locator:
Important: We try to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information available. However, please keep in mind that manufacturer policies and formulations can change at any time, and that some information listed on this site could be out-of-date or contain unintentional errors.
Remember to always read product labels and check with the manufacturer directly if you have any concerns.


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Who Can Apply?
To apply, you must be:
How Do You Apply?
To apply, complete the online application form. You can also print out the application and mail it to:
Delete Cyberbullying
2261 Market Street #291
San Francisco, CA 94114
Selection Criteria
Selection is based on the written essay and focused on creativity, content and a commitment to the cause of deleting cyberbullying. The awards are one-time only and not renewable.
Deadline and Important Dates


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"Many top federal law enforcement officials including James Comey and it appears Robert Mueller as well are willing to engage in illegal acts to win convictions, she stressed. They convince themselves or believe that someone is guilty of something, and then the end of obtaining any kind of conviction justifies whatever needs to be done to get that conviction.She continued: Bharara, Comey, and Mueller all three are far too political and have great powers of rationalization. Some have called them Dirty Cops.
this weeks bombshell that dossier was funded by DNC and Clinton campaign has Republicans asking to what extent the FBI which received some of the findings and briefly agreed to pay the same researcher to gather intelligence on Trump and Russia used the politically connected material.Hill investigators also are looking into a Russian firms uranium deal that was approved by the Obama administration in 2010 despite reports that the FBI then led by Mueller had evidence of bribery involving a subsidiary of that firm.Critics question whether Muellers own ties to the bureau as well as fired FBI director James Comey now render him compromised as he investigates allegations of Russian meddling and collusion with Trump officials in the 2016 race.
the "sealed" indictment(s) appear to be to distract away from mueller himself and comey ... What a cluster mess
WASHINGTON, D.C. Special Counselor Robert Muellers case is in danger of being thrown out of court when the FBI is forced to admit FISA court authority to conduct electronic surveillance on former Trump campaign Paul Manafort was based on the fraudulent Fusion GPS Russia dossier that the FBI, the Clinton campaign, and the Democratic National Committee paid to be produced.
Burisma, a private oil and gas company in Ukraine, announced this week that it has appointed Hunter Biden, the youngest son of US Vice President Joe Biden, to its board of directors.The company, founded in 2002, is controlled by a former energy official in the government of deposed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.The move has raised some eyebrows in the US, given the Obama administration's attempts to manage the ongoing crisis in Ukraine."Joe Biden has been the White House's go-to guy during the Ukraine crisis, touring former Soviet republics and reassuring their concerned leaders," writes the National Journal's Marina Koren. "And now, he's not the only Biden involved in the region."
An obscure private Ukrainian natural gas company has been hiring friends and family of Secretary of State John Kerry and Vice President Joe Biden, while seeking to influence Congress
Meanwhile, in a more surprising development, also on Monday the head of the famous, Democrat-leaning lobby organization, the Podesta Group, Tony Podesta - who is brother of Clinton campaign chair John Podesta - announced unexpectedly he would be departing the Podesta Group.While it is unclear what prompted the departure, now that Ukraine is in everyone's cross-sights, and considering that both Manafort and Gates worked for Podesta at the time when the bulk of their alleged crimes took place, it is perhaps not entirely surprising that next to fall under the microscope would be the Podesta Group, and perhaps - eventually - the Clinton Foundation whose number 1 donor, as the WSJ disclosed last year, was... Ukraine.
Mr. George PapadopoulosMr. Papadopoulos was previously an analyst and research fellow/associate at the Hudson Institute in Washington D.C. His research predominantly focused on the geopolitics and energy security changes of both the Caspian and Eastern Mediterranean and their impact on U.S. strategy. Mr. Papadopoulos designed the first ever project in Washington, D.C. think tank history on U.S., Greece, Cyprus and Israel relations at a symposium entitled "Power Shifts in the Eastern Mediterranean: The Emerging Strategic Relationship of Israel, Greece, and Cyprus." Mr. Papadopoulos is a private consultant, speaker and writer on energy policy and has presented at numerous conferences throughout the Middle East.
The Washington, D.C.-based Hudson Institute is part of a closely-knit group of neoconservative policy institutes that champion aggressive, Israel-centric U.S. foreign policies.
The Chicago natives foray into politics began with an unpaid advisory position on the Ben Carson campaign, a gig which lasted for several months, from Nov. 2015 to Feb. 2016.An official on that campaign told The Daily Caller on Monday that Papadopoulos was recommended to the Carson team by someone with the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank where Papadopoulos interned several years ago. The Carson team member did not know the name of the person at Hudson who made the recommendation.Hudson, said that Papadopoulos started as an intern there in 2011 and later provided research on a contractual basis to the groups senior fellows. They parted ways in 2014.Papadopoulos claims to have worked as a director for the London Centre of International Law Practice from Feb. 2016 to April 2016. He officially joined the Trump campaign in the interim, on March 21, 2016Papadopoulos was ultimately approved by campaign co-chairman Sam Clovis to join the team.TheDC reported in August that Papadopoulos suggested such a meeting during a March 31, 2016 meeting of the campaigns national security advisory committee. Sources inside the meeting told The DC that Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was chair of that committee, shot down Papadopoulos idea.
Mr. Papadopoulos listed Kenneth Weinstein, the chief executive of the Hudson Institute, where he had worked on a contract basis, as a reference.
Weinstein, who lent his name to a 2004 PNAC letter
In an unsealed document released today, Papadopoulos signed a plea deal with prosecutors on Oct. 5.This has led to more scrutiny of court filings surrounding Papadopouloss arrest and admitting he made false statements to the FBI earlier this year. Somebody looked closely at the documents and saw a reference to proactive cooperator. That is where it gets very interesting.
What does proactive cooperator mean?Jeryl Bier, a freelance writer for The Weekly Standard, pulled an excerpt from a 2001 district court filing that sheds some light:The term proactive cooperation is generally understood to mean that the defendant will engage in some type of undercover work on behalf of the Government, such as wearing a wire and/or meeting face to face with persons suspected of involvement in criminal activity.
Robert Swan Mueller IIIthe special prosecutor tasked to take down the President of the United Statesis, as his name attests, a product of elite private schools and universities. He is uniformly and soberly praised in the national news media as incorruptible, fair-minded honest Bob, strait-laced Bobby three sticks. This image, we shall show, is a brazenly false, Washington, D.C. public relations pitch, created for the credulous.In reality, Robert Swan Mueller III is about as corrupt as they come, bending and twisting the law every which way necessary to serve the goals of those who provide him assignments. The might of the prosecutorial function and the institutions he serves dictate right for him, rather than the unbiased pursuit of justice the law envisions for his vocation. In what he says was a defining moment, Mueller broke rank, after college, to serve in the Vietnam War as a Marine. After that he never wanted to do anything but prosecute. His appointment as special prosecutor caps a long career in which he has envisioned himself to be a stern and willing warrior, a dutiful Marine, acting on behalf of whatever evil scheme his superiors present to him, and using whatever means seems necessary to execute it.
nom'ed by Bush just in time for 9-11 "Mueller was nominated for the position of FBI director by George W. Bush on July 5, 2001...The confirmation vote on the Senate floor on August 2, 2001 was unanimous, 980.... officially becoming the FBI director on September 4, 2001, just one week before the September 11 attacks against the United States.[8]
George Papadopoulos was in contact with Sergei Millian, who was the Steele source for the anti-Trump dossier.
In recent closed-door interviews with the Senate intelligence committee, Podesta and Wasserman Schultz said they did not know who had funded Fusion GPS, the intelligence firm that hired British Intelligence Officer Christopher Steele to compile the dossier on Trump, the sources said.Podesta was asked in his September interview whether the Clinton campaign had a contractual agreement with Fusion GPS, and he said he was not aware of one, according to one of the sources.Sitting next to Podesta during the interview: his attorney Marc Elias, who worked for the law firm that hired Fusion GPS to continue research on Trump on behalf of the Clinton campaign and DNC, multiple sources said. Elias was only there in his capacity as Podesta's attorney and not as a witness.On Tuesday, that law firm, Perkins Coie, wrote in a letter that it had retained Fusion GPS as part of its representation of the Clinton campaign and the DNC. The disclosure of the Democratic funding source for Fusion GPS is raising new questions for the congressional Russian investigators. The Perkins Coie letter suggested its clients -- the Clinton campaign and the DNC -- did not learn about the matter until recently.
wayback Mueller :https://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/documents-obtained-by-judicial-watch-reveal-fbi-training-curricula-purged-of-material-deemed-offensive-to-muslims/Documents Obtained by Judicial Watch Reveal FBI Training Curricula Purged of Material Deemed Offensive to MuslimsJUNE 03, 2013FBI Removed Reference Linking Muslim Brotherhood to Terrorism: unsuitable in the current political context (Washington, DC) Judicial Watch has released hundreds of pages of FBI memos and other documents revealing that, in 2012, the agency purged its anti-terrorism training curricula of material determined by an undisclosed group of Subject Matter Experts (SME) to be offensive to Muslims. The excised material included references linking the Muslim Brotherhood to terrorism, tying al Qaeda to the 1993 World Trade Center and Khobar Towers bombings, and suggesting that young male immigrants of Middle Eastern appearance
may fit the terrorist profile best.Judicial Watch obtained the materials on January 15 and on April 16, 2013, pursuant to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed on July 18, 2012 ...| - - - - https://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2017/05/russia-special-counsel-mueller-conspired-radical-islamic-groups-fbi-chief/Russia Special Counsel Mueller Worked with Radical Islamist Groups to Purge Anti-Terrorism Training Material Offensive to MuslimsMAY 18, 2017... Robert Mueller has been appointed special counsel to investigate if Russia influenced the 2016 presidential election its worth reiterating his misguided handiwork and collaboration with radical Islamist organizations as FBI director. Judicial Watch exclusively obtained droves of records back in 2013 documenting how, under Muellers leadership, the FBI purged all anti-terrorism training material deemed offensive to Muslims after secret meetings between Islamic organizations and the FBI chief. Judicial Watch had to sue to get the records and published an in-depth report on the scandal in 2013 and a lengthier, updated follow-up in 2015.As FBI director, Mueller bent over backwards to please radical Islamist groups and caved into their demands. The agency eliminated the valuable anti-terrorism training material and curricula after Mueller met with various Islamist organizations, including those with documented ties too terrorism. Among them were two organizations Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR)named by the U.S. government as unindicted co-conspirators in the 2007 Holy Land Foundation terrorist financing case. CAIR is a terrorist front group with extensive links to foreign and domestic Islamists. It was founded in 1994 by three Middle Eastern extremists (Omar Ahmad, Nihad Awad and Rafeeq Jaber) who ran the American propaganda wing of Hamas, known then as the Islamic Association for Palestine.The records obtained as part of Judicial Watchs lawsuit show that Mueller, who served 12 years as FBI chief, met with the Islamist organizations on February 8, 2012 to hear their demands. Shortly later the director assured the Muslim groups that he had ordered the removal of presentations and curricula on Islam from FBI offices nationwide. The purge was part of a broader Islamist operation designed to influence the opinions and actions of persons, institutions, governments and the public at-large. The records obtained by Judicial Watch also show similar incidents of Islamic influence operations at the Departments of Justice and State, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Obama White House....Muellers actions have had a widespread effect because many local law enforcement agencies followed the FBIs lead in allowing Islamic groups like CAIR to dictate what anti-terrorism material could be used to train officers. Among them are police departments in three Illinois cities Lombard, Elmhurst and Highland Parkas well as the New York Police Department (NYPD). In the case of the Lombard Police Department, CAIR asserted that the instructor of a training course called Islamic Awareness as a Counter-Terrorist Strategy was anti-Muslim though there was no evidence to support it. Like the FBI, Lombard officials got rid of the offensive course. The NYPD purged a highly-acclaimed report thats proven to be a critical tool in terrorism investigations after three New York Muslims, two mosques and an Islamic nonprofit filed a lawsuit.Considering Muellers role in much of this, it makes him a bizarre choice to lead the heated Russia investigation. The goal, apparently, is to determine of Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election and if President Donald Trumps campaign colluded with Russian officials. In the Justice Department announcement, Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein describes Mueller as person who qualifies to lead the probe because he exercises a degree of independence from the normal chain of command. Special Counsel Mueller will have all appropriate resources to conduct a thorough and complete investigation, and I am confident that he will follow the facts, apply the law and reach a just result, according to Rosenstein.
Desperate Obama cronies had figured out that they could bypass many of the limitations on the conventional investigations of their political opponents by laundering them through national security.The spying ramped up after Trumps win when the results could no longer be used to engineer a Hillary victory, but would instead have to be used to cripple and bring down President Trump. Headed out the door, Rice was still unmasking the names of Trumps people while Obama was making it easier to pass around raw eavesdropped data to other agencies.Obama had switched from spying on a political opponent to win an election, to spying on his successor to undo the results of the election. Abuse of power by a sitting government had become subversion of the government by an outgoing administration. Domestic spying on opponents had become a coup.
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text: "Icarus created his own wings but flew too close to the sun and plunged to his death. It's the ultimate image of someone seeking too much pleasure, life, and power, and it somehow accompanies the king throughout the landscape of his adventures and to his death. The king is a sort of Icarus figure."


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BAMAKO, Mali, April 6 (UPI) -- A French claim that a top leader of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb has been killed in Mali is a "blatant error," the group said Saturday.
The organization accused French President Francois Hollande of deliberately exaggerating the success of its operations in Mali, Radio France Internationale reported.
Chadian President Idriss Deby announced the death of Abou Zeid March 1. French officials said March 23 that they had confirmed that he had been killed.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius visited Bamako Friday. He said France plans to station a force of 1,000 in Mali after it pulls most of its troops out of the country.
French and Chadian troops have been fighting a coalition of militants and rebels in northern Mali since January.
The militants had seized control of major cities and imposed strict Islamic law following a coup in March 2012. Since the intervention began, the territory has been recaptured but fighting still occurs in the mountains.


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Monday, June 27, 2011
Paris Food Coma: Part One
As I sat in front of my computer drunkenly listening to the Opeth, a Swedish band that could be described as the "Pink Floyd of Death Metal," on a random evening in July of 2010, I became curious if they were going to be on tour anytime in the near future. The band's website showed a single date, in Clisson, France, in June 2011. Further investigation revealed that this was part of a three day festival called "Hellfest," featuring 114 bands including Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, The Cult, Iggy Pop, Mayhem, Rob Zombie, and many others.
The gears start turning in my head and I phone my friend Joel, also a big fan of Opeth, with the assumption that if anyone would be up for a ridiculous excursion thousands of miles away, it would be him. He agrees without any hesitation whatsoever, and we buy tickets for all three days the minute they go on sale a week later. Now the stage is set to build a vacation around the show, spending time in Paris, hanging out with winemakers in the Loire Valley, all the while eating and drinking as if it were our job. Well, it actually is my job.
Because it was planned so far in advance, I keep assuming that the trip isn't actually going to happen. I continue to expect something to fall through, something to go wrong, and call the entire thing off. Only after actually getting off of the plane, in Paris, did I accept that it was, in fact, officially on.
When the day of departure finally arrives, it's a little bit surreal. We decide to take my preferred method of transportation, the Concord Trailways bus, to Boston. It's always comfortable and one can always rely on being exposed to a horrible movie that, if viewed at home, would be shut off and tossed out the window about five minutes in.
We toast with a glass of Nieport 10 Year tawny port before Dietz drives us to the bus station. Knowing that I won't be behind the wheel of an automobile for ten days is comforting, though a little dangerous as having to drive my car is one of the few things that keep me "in line."
While we are loading up the car, Joel complains about forgetting to procure any Valium for the flight that lay ahead, grumbling that someone had given him three 1mg tabs of Ativan but that "just wasn't the same."
When we arrive at the bus station, I hit the vending machines to for provisions. In a fit of nostalgia I purchase a bag of Cracker Jacks, which I don't think I've had for over a decade. I may have had Poppycock or other brands of caramel corn, but not Cracker Jacks. Apparently, the CJ people are experiencing hard times because, as a child, I remember the "toy" in the bottom of the box to be far more exciting than a fucking "pencil topper." This piece of shit, clearly designed by a cheap scumbag, would hardly keep a retarded cat entertained for 15 seconds.
Once we are safely seated on the bus, I try to "re-gift" my new pencil topper to Joel, as a symbol of friendship before we start our epic journey together. He, of course, rejects my offering by throwing it back in my face and putting his headphones on.
The outrageously awful film for this particular ride would be "Tron: Legacy," sequel to Disney's 1982 techno-thriller, "Tron." This "straight to Concord Trailways" disaster features the return of Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn, a rogue programmer who created an alternate dimension where people whittle away their time by indulging in deadly games of disc golf or zipping around on equally deadly motorcycles. I get about fifteen minutes in with audio before I'm forced to remove my headphones and watch the film with no sound, making up my own plot, which I'm confident is infinitely more interesting.
Upon arrival at Logan we check our bags and proceed to the terminal, assuming we'll have at least a few options for dinner and drinks. Dietz had mentioned the possibility of a Legal Seafoods, and I figure that Todd English must have an eatery close to every gate at this point. As it turns out, there is only once choice – a sad looking resto-pub called "O'Briens."
"Don't get bent out of shape, there's going to be plenty of time for passable food and booze once we're in France," I think to myself. Once we are seated, we become foolishly set on drinking red wine when cocktails and beer are clearly the more prudent choice. I order a bottle of Mirassou Pinot Noir, based solely on the fact that, well, looking back I have no idea what the fuck I was thinking.
According to Mirassou's website:
Our Mirassou California Pinot Noir displays fresh fruit flavors of pomegranates, cherries and currants with complementing aromas of strawberries, pomegranates and cherries. This wine is at its best if enjoyed within a year of release, but can age in the bottle for up to three years if carefully cellared.
According to Me:
This wine displays about as much fresh fruit flavor as a Hall's Cherry Flavored Coughdrop. It has extremely unpleasant, almost chemically, notes that cause the user to immediately recoil in horror upon tasting. The only reason to "carefully cellar" this abomination for three years would be to avoid having to drink it, praying for an earthquake to strike, knocking over the bottle and destroying it forever.
To pair up with our "wine," I order Buffalo wings and onion soup (which arrives with what appears to be an egg floating on top but is actually just a strange crouton), while Joel decides on fish and chips. Though the food is not as bad as the "wine," I begin to realize that if our plane were to crash, this would be my last meal. To put this awful thought out of my head, I order another bottle, this time a cheap but far more palatable Malbec.
A few beers and a shot of Jack Daniels later, we are ready to board our flight. After a very smooth takeoff, dinner is served. This proves to be one of the better airline meals I've had, featuring an appetizer of curried orzo with chicken, followed by beef with mashed potatoes and wild mushrooms. The simple vin de pays Merlot, served in 187ml bottles, tastes like Chateau Lafite-Rothschild compared to the Mirassou from earlier.
About halfway through the flight, Joel begins acting a little strange and stand-offish. Since I'd never flown with him before, I just assume that this was they way he gets and think nothing of it. Even after six mini bottles of wine, I am unable, as always, to sleep on the plane. At one point I get adventurous out of sheer boredom and try to sneak into business class in the middle of the night, which lasts all of 3 seconds before I am promptly shooed back to my assigned seat.
By the time we land in Paris, Joel has been knocked out for about 5 hours. After going through customs, he immediately rushes to the bathroom and vomits. It is after this that he informs me of his un-wise decision, being unfamiliar with the potency of the drug, to take all 3 of the Ativan he had brought with him. He claims to only have eaten 2 originally, but apparently the third was occupying a needed compartment in his contact lens case, so, you know.
Though I'm completely exhausted and still a little bit drunk, I'm in a much better state than "Ativan Beauchamp" to make decisions and get us to our hotel. Luckily, we'd commandeered a Mercedes with an English-speaking driver to meet us at baggage claim, so our exit strategy is already mapped out. To amuse myself on the drive to the hotel, I point out landmarks, such as the Arc de Triomphe, to Joel, just to watch him nod and act like he knows where the fuck he was. Trust me, I was worried about him at one point, but the worst looked to be over and he just needed rest.
Of course the Le Bellechasse Saint-Germain, designed by Christian Lacroix, is the only hotel we have booked under Joel's name. Check-in appears to be going smoothly until I notice Joel, still in a daze, fumbling through his bag, while his passport, which I presume he is searching for, hangs out of his back pocket. Upon pointing this out, check-out proceeds, and we are almost out of the lobby to get some fresh air without further incident when a British girl seated on one of the couches points out how much she likes Joel's bag, asking where he got it.
"This bag?" Joel turns to face her, staring her down for what felt like five minutes, "I got this bag in the United States. In Maine. In the United States." There is yet another uncomfortable pause before I usher him outside, leaving the poor girl freaked out and regretting her curiosity. It was still early and our room wasn't quite ready yet, so we decide to wander around and get lunch.
French people love sidewalk cafes, and every city we visit is filled with cookie-cutter brasseries that all seem to have the exact same menu. Personally, I hate eating outside, but Joel was definitely in need of fresh air so I figure it is a better choice.
Service in France takes some getting used to. In the beginning, usually when you are quite hungry, it takes a long time for anyone to come to your table. When they do, it is to get your drink order, regardless of whether you're ready to order your entire meal. You can be a pushy American and insist on ordering everything at once if you'd like, but it's best to just roll with it and learn to be patient (god forbid).
Once you finally have drinks and order your meal, everything arrives in a perfectly timed, un-rushed, manner. Once finished, you should politely ask for the check rather than assuming it is en route just because the table is cleared. By law, the service charge is automatically added on to every bill, but this shouldn't stop you from tipping a little more than the locals do, or, in some cases, a lot more. This somehow makes me feel better after being stiffed on the tip by Europeans time and time again in America, knowing that I'm that much more justified to "slap on the auto-gratuity."
Americans often complain about tipping, claiming that it isn't their responsibility to pay the servers salary, and that this should fall on the restaurant's shoulders. I would like to remind these people that in many circumstances, the fact that they are tipping the server is the only reason anyone is even attempting to be cordial and give good service. Without the tip, there is no motivation to put up with your bullshit, so good luck with that...
The transition into speaking French is a bit of a rough one, but through pointing and nodding we manage to order a bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte brut NV, steak frites (an easy go-to when in doubt), and salade Nicoise. Joel is still in a daze so I end up drinking most of the Champagne myself, and after a passable lunch we walk back towards the hotel. I insist on making a pit stop to purchase more bubbly, this time a bottle of Ruinart Brut NV.
The room turns out to be quite comfortable, and Joel promptly goes to sleep while I investigate the amenities. The shower is particularly exciting, with water coming at you from three angles all at once. I open the bottle of Champagne and start to unwind and unpack, only to discover that I'd foolishly forgotten to put my bottle of shampoo in a plastic bag. The next 45 minutes are spent rinsing off various toiletries, while attempting to avoid getting soap in my glass of wine.
Once the shampoo-tastrophe is dealt with, I take a much-needed nap before we head out for dinner. Based on the assumption that I'd be eating nothing but rustic French food for the next week, I'd planned on going to a Vietnamese restaurant called Than Din, known also for it's extensive selection of Burgundy. Unfortunately, it is closed on Sundays, so we decide to wander around in the rain searching for an alternative, until Joel recalls a recommendation he had received back home.
It turns out that Le Comptoir, a busy higher-end bistro located in the Hotel Relais Saint Germain, is not far from our hotel. There is a decent sized line going out the door, a good sign, and after about twenty minutes of waiting patiently we are seated at an awkward sidewalk table. As the rain slides down our umbrella and directly on to my back, I start to get a little grumpy but assure myself that I just needed a drink and everything would be fine.
After what feels like three hours, but is in fact only ten minutes, our server arrives to take our order. I decide to splurge and fire up a bottle of Didier Dagueneau "Pur Sang," probably one of the best examples of Pouilly Fume I've ever had the pleasure of tasting. Sadly, Dagueneau was killed in a plane crash in 2008, so anytime you have the opportunity to drink his wines you should do so, regardless of the price. The best way I can describe Pur Sang would be that it is fairly rich for Sauvignon Blanc, with vivid flavors of limestone and a finish that is somehow both sweet and tart.
This seems to impress our server because we are immediately offered a much better table located inside the restaurant and out of the rain. Once situated, I am able to focus on my game plan. I order a bottle of Vacqueryras from Chateau Des Tours, one of my favorite producers in the Rhone Valley, to send the message that we intend to do some serious drinking. Neighboring diners become fascinated by us and the amount of wine we begin to amass on our table, and they can't figure out why these two crazy looking, heavily tattooed assholes are getting so much attention.
My first course is lobster bisque, which would seem like an odd choice after travelling from Maine but sounded really good to me at the time. It is creamy and sweet, with a nice briny flavor from the coral. The only complaint I have is the presence of grape tomatoes, which I personally loathe as a garnish. Why does every restaurant in the world insist on tossing these little fuckers on everything?
Joel's chicken terrine with artichoke has a velvety texture and wonderful flavor, which turns out to be spot-on with the Pur Sang. We pour some of the wine for our sever, who fawns over it, proclaiming it to be "perfect."
Next up for me is boudin noir, blood sausage, served with béarnaise sauce and an apple salad, something I could be happy eating just about every day of my life. The boudin is perfectly spiced, and damn near perfect alongside the crunchy apples, landing this dish on my "best of" list for the trip. Joel's salad of haricot verts, artichokes, and foie gras, which in his mind probably sounded like a "healthy choice," seems to me to be fairly similar to his prior course, but is delicious all the same.
At this point Joel and I discuss, at length, how sad it is that most Americans would find boudin noir to be appalling, but will happily shovel Cooler Ranch Doritos or Chicken McNuggets into their mouth, even though these foods contain ingredients that are far more fucked up than a little pig's blood. These are the same people who can't deal with seeing a fish with it's head on, love their meat well done, only eat chicken breast, and probably plow through tubs of Country Crock Shed's Spread instead of using real butter.
We switch to the red wine as the main courses arrive, mine being a braised veal dish served over white beans. It is rich and fatty, and reminds me very much of Cassoulet. Joel's leg of rabbit is cooked perfectly, showcasing the flavor of the animal, and served atop peperonata. Both pair up brilliantly with the flavor profile of the Des Tours, which almost reminds me a little bit of Dr. Pepper, in a good way.
As we finish our Vacqueyras, our server brings us two glasses of a sweet sparkling wine reminiscent of Lambrusco, on the house. We keep it simple with dessert and order the crème brulée, and the kitchen sends out an additional dessert of Armagnac cream with orange peel, also bruléed, which, looking back, I would have been quite disappointed to miss.
A glass of absinthe, prepared in the traditional manner, seals the deal for me, and we depart very happy and very sated. There is something to be said for wandering around Paris in this almost dreamlike state, imagining all of the things that have taken place on these very streets. Due to it being Sunday night, it is strangely quiet, and at one point we are scolded from a random balcony for being too loud. After an hour we end up back at the hotel and order a highly unnecessary bottle of Lanson Champagne from room service. In the morning we leave for the town of Ay, in Champagne, to meet up with a few of the grower producers I represent, so I figure that it's nice to have one last example of a mediocre offering just to prove how much better it can get.
We have survived the journey and the first day, and have a very full week ahead of us that will range from vineyards and small farms to cities to an outdoor metal festival with 80,000 people in attendance. Hell yeah.
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