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'House of Cards' with Kevin Spacey: Netflix ascending
Listening to Kevin Spacey in "House of Cards,'' you feel as though you're hearing the devil himself, in his most seductive and shrewd incarnation. His words have a pretty Southern curl, and he is as graceful as a poet with every syllable he speaks. But his not-pretty message is: Hurt me and I will destroy you. Somehow, his pleasing cadence makes even his character's mercy killing of an injured dog — which he does by hand — seem a little less brutal.
Spacey, as vengeful congressman Francis Underwood of South Carolina, is one of the many pleasures of this promising remake of the 1990 BBC series based on Michael Dobbs's novels. He delivers a commanding performance as an elegant man who doesn't take betrayal lying down and who plays members of the House like a scrappy con artist. When the president-elect, whom Underwood backed, reneges on his promise to make Underwood the secretary of state, Underwood begins to orchestrate a quiet, crafty retaliation. You sympathize with him, but you fear him, too. Hell hath no fury like a US congressman scorned.
It's a perfect moment for this kind of political drama. "House of Cards'' fits right in alongside "Lincoln,'' "Game Change,'' "Veep,'' and the recently canceled "Boss'' as a portrayal of the hidden manipulations, deals, and compromises of law-making. They are all stories that, unlike "The West Wing,'' don't quite romanticize what goes on behind the scenes in our government. And all of these shows fit alongside reality, which has given us too many examples of House brinkmanship in recent wranglings over the likes of the fiscal cliff. Underwood, who's the majority whip in "House of Cards,'' is planning to do to the president-elect what we've seen President Obama's foes do to him — deplete his leverage. Underwood's plan is to undermine the guy the president-elect is backing for secretary of state.
By the way, "House of Cards'' is available only through Netflix, and it represents the streaming and DVD rental service's most impressive effort yet to become a serious content provider. The series, whose entire first 13-episode season is available on Friday, is a quality effort on all levels: It's beautifully filmed in and around Washington, D.C., it's well-acted, and it's cleverly written by Beau Willimon. Not least of all, the first two episodes were expertly directed by David Fincher, the man behind "The Social Network'' and "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.'' The whole package comes off as a clear move to put Netflix's original programming in the same category as that of HBO, FX, AMC, and Showtime. If "House of Cards'' catches on, Netflix will have made a good start in that direction.
One of the distinctions of "House of Cards'' is that Underwood's marriage to Claire, who is played with icy mystery by Robin Wright, is strong. They are a loyal team, rather than another one of TV's sham marriages in D.C. She is as calculating as he is, which we learn in a subplot that finds her bullying her way into power at a charity organization. When Underwood is down and out about losing the secretary of state job, Claire inspires him to rise up and conquer. "I love that woman,'' Underwood says, "I love her more than sharks love blood.'' They are made for each other.
Underwood's scheme, which he invents during a dark night of the soul, includes a media component. He forms a useful connection with an ambitious young reporter at the fictional Washington Herald named Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara), through whom he can leak material that will help his cause. Mara brings an unexpected naivete to her role, and she's a welcome break in the cast of terminally jaded characters. That would be the flaw in "House of Cards'': There aren't many characters to like. They are fascinating, but chilly. Other figures on Underwood's chessboard include an alcoholic, womanizing congressman (Corey Stoll), his own chief of staff (Michael Kelly), and the president's chief of staff (Sakina Jaffrey).
The show, though, is really all about Spacey, who manages to make one of the most difficult of theatrical tricks work well. Occasionally, the script has Underwood break the fourth wall to talk directly to us, turning away from the action to share his philosophies and opinions. Spacey uses the technique to drive home Underwood's imposing confidence and his wry, deadpan humor. He makes it seem as though Underwood is the kind of man who likes the sound of his own voice, who always imagines himself as the star of his own movie.


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Each week, we'll ask our stable of scribes to weigh in on the three most important NBA topics of the day — and then give you a chance to step on the scale, too, in the comments below.
Week 29: What to make of OKC? | Who can beat the Heat? | The Bulls' future
Considering the Thunder's performance lately, has your opinion changed of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook or the Thunder? How?
Steve Aschburner, NBA.com: No change in my opinion of Durant: If he is, in fact, the second-best player in the NBA, he's No. 2 more than 1A. The step down from LeBron James to the Thunder's quiet leader is considerable and plain to see with Durant thrust into LeBron-in-Cleveland mode. No change in my opinion of Westbrook, an irrepressible talent whose unbridled game is a nice complement to Durant. But slight change in my opinion of the Thunder. With the premature James Harden trade, they had as big a hand in this iffy postseason as fate (Westbrook's injury) or Memphis. New CBA or not, front offices should worry about the financial feasibility of keeping a championship team together, not getting out front to shed parts from a contender before its time.
Fran Blinebury, NBA.com: Not at all. They're a team missing a vital piece. Nobody ever thought Kevin Durant could carry the Thunder to a championship all by himself. I have been a defender of Russell Westbrook for years and always thought those who believed OKC should trade him couldn't tell the difference between a basketball and a watermelon. Yes, he exercises poor judgment at times. Yes, he takes wild shots and ignores Durant at times. Yes, he's a fearless, spectacular talent and KD could crawl across broken glass on a bed of hot coals to have all those "problems" in the lineup with him right now.
Jeff Caplan, NBA.com: No change here. Kevin Durant has shouldered the weight of the franchise admirably. Since Game 1 he's struggled in crunch time, but he's had All-Defensive First-Team member Tony Allen all over him and one of the best defensive teams as a whole doing a great job on him late in games. He's just missed shots, and some free throws, too, which is surprising, but likely a result of fatigue after going so hard all game. I've always been Russell Westbrook-backer. To me the guy's a bullet train and OKC dearly misses his ballhandling and how he runs that offense. Not to mention, he would take Allen off Durant's case. The Thunder will be back.
Scott Howard-Cooper, NBA.com: It has probably made everyone appreciate Russell Westbrook more. After all the talk in previous years, especially in the playoffs, of being the guy getting in Kevin Durant's way, now there is proof of what happens when Westbrook really gets out of the way. But the opinion has not changed on Durant. He deserves every positive comment, still.
John Schuhmann, NBA.com: Nope. Durant's a great player, but nobody can carry a team against a great defense by himself. Westbrook, though he makes some questionable decisions at times, is a huge part of what the Thunder do offensively. And though he's not the best defender in the world, he's disruptive (and a lot better than Reggie Jackson) on that end. Durant played 84 percent of his minutes with Westbrook in the regular season, so this is uncharted territory. And it obviously should be no surprise that they're struggling to score against the Grizzlies, the best defensive team in the Western Conference.
Sekou Smith, NBA.com: There is nothing to change. All we have is confirmation of Thunder's fans greatest fear, that if one of their superstars goes down the season comes to an end sooner than expected. Durant is still a spectacular player. But the responsibilities without Westbrook around to help do the heavy lifting increase dramatically. Like roughly 28 other teams in the league, the Thunder cannot afford to lose one of their two best players and maintain the same level of play. If anything, I think Westbrook ends up being the beneficiary (strange as it sounds) of his own misfortune with the knee injury. The Thunder are a really good team without him, but not a team capable of finding its way to the championship round. That speaks volumes about his importance to the franchise.
Lang Whitaker, NBA.com: The loss of Westbrook hasn't affected my opinion of him or KD — I always felt the two needed each other and were each others best chance to win a title. If anything I think Westbrook being out has sort of exposed Serge Ibaka and Kevin Martin, the two guys who seemed most likely to pick up the scoring slack while Westbrook was gone. Instead, each player's scoring numbers have stayed flat, which has been disappointing.
Philipp Dornhegge, NBA.com/germany: Not really, no. To me the Thunder always were a two-trick pony, with a bunch of solid-but-not-great role players. Durant and Westbrook both are vital parts of what OKC does and an injury to either one of them was bound to be back-breaking. Westbrook can be a headcase, but that doesn't take anything away from his talent. And they simply have nobody to replace him. Not after James Harden left. If anything, I was surprised by how great Durant has been as a playmaker rather than the pure scorer that he usually is. He has expanded his game on the fly. Let's hope he maintains that standard beyond these playoffs. [Philipp Dornhegge is an editor for NBA Deutschland (nba.com/germany)]
Adriano Albuquerque, NBA.com/brasil: Not really. I left the "Russell Westbrook is bad for the Thunder" bandwagon long ago, during the lockout-shortened season. My opinion remains that Westbrook and Durant make a powerful combo, and that the Thunder, when all healthy, are one of the top three teams in the West (if not the entire league). What's been made even more clear since Westbrook's injury, though, is they still need more offense from Ibaka and from the bench. Durant is good enough to beat most teams by himself, but even he needs some help against the league's top defenses. [Adriano Albuquerque is a blogger for NBA Brasil (nba.com/brasil)]

subset: commoncrawl


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Friday, September 12, 2008
Looking Back
We are married! We have been for about 2 months now. Our wedding was absolutely perfect, although the weeks leading up to it were fairly tumultuous. Here's a quickand choppy look at our summer mixed with a dab of reflection. I promise to provide further details soon.
Friday before the wedding was filled with trips to the airport to pick up family members flying in from all over the country. We also tackled the rehearsal for the ring ceremony; a gigantic barbeque, which served as our rehearsal dinner; and an unplanned combined bachelor/bachelorette party.
The following day I woke up at 5:00 Saturday morning to get ready for early morning pictures. This consisted of me sitting and staring into space/writing my vows for the ring ceremony while my hair stylist and make up artist simultaneously worked their magic. Afterwards, I rushed to my pictures and was finally sealed to Ben at 10:30 am. Being sealed was such a relief: total and complete happiness washed over me as I left the temple. It was a beautiful day. Ben and I went to Bahama Bucks afterwards in our full wedding attire(I really wanted a Caribbean cola one last time before I returned to Chicago). The luncheon, ring ceremony, and reception were all wonderful. I can't imagine a better day. Previous to actually getting married I couldn't wait for the day after my wedding when there would be no stress or obligations. Thankfully, when our wedding day did arrive I enjoyed it so much that I didn't want the day to end.
We also had a ton of fun on our cruise. When we first arrived, we were a bit shocked by the size of the
tiny room, especially after staying a few days in the king suite at the Hilton. Fortunately, we recovered from our initial claustrophobic musings and grew to enjoy the swaddling of our close quarters. We went Kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking, which was pretty fun, although Ben did get a 2nd degree sunburn on his foot.
When we returned to our apartment, we were greeted with a number of unfortunate events. The first being that Ben's temporary job position had been permanently filled. The second was an eviction notice taped to our door. The eviction notice was a mistake but still caused a surge of panic as the unforgiving hand of reality caught us in its grasp.
We awoke early the next day (Saturday) to prepare for our Chicago open house. We had to run all over Chicago to pull off the event, but it was lovely in the end. My mom and grandparents came to show their support but ended up staying longer than they planned. They were unable to fly back to AZ until 3 days after their original flight date. This, of course, caused plenty of stress for my mother, but we were able to semi smooth this inconvenience over with multiple deliveries of Chicago's famous Giordano's Pizza and several movies. It was nice to have her stay for a little while extra, even if it was under unplanned and inconvenient circumstances. My mom helped Ben and me start to organize our hazard area aka our apartment.It was nice to have someone to help us breakdown the heaping mess and put it all in perspective.
The next few weeks were filled with the excruciating pain that accompanies the job hunt. Success in this area proved to be a little less than impossible given the current job market and our late summer search. After about a month, we both received a job offer but our individual offers conflicted with the each other's. We decided that Ben would accept his offer, and I would continue to look on the part time front. Unfortunately, that proved equally hard given that I could only commit for a little over a month. In the end, I gave into the unemployment that was fated for me and followed my neurologist's orders by not working for the summer.
Don't worry, I have been keeping busy. There have been a number of pressing matters to take care of since our marriage, not the least of which is the constant organizing of our apartment. Like our marriage, organizing the apartment seems to be an eternal commitment. There were also a lot of technical things to take care. No one ever mentions the billions of things that need to be taken care of immediately after getting married. Of course, this may be to lure unsuspecting happily engaged couples into actually taking the step to marriage. I know if I had to think about all of the things that needed be done previous to actually getting back and doing them, I would not have enjoyed the honeymoon at all. On the other hand, that sort of knowledge could have helped us not to run full pace into the wall of reality. Instead, we could have lightly skipped hand in hand into that very wall.
I have finally started feeling a bit more productive as I have started to check off many of the tasks I had to complete before the end summer. I do have a class I need to finish from last year that I hope to work towards completing this coming week.
Here in Chicago, we are starting to see the first hints of Autumn (this happens to be Ben and my favorite season). Leaves are starting to show signs of their age, and the weather is cooling down. The forecast promises rain and nice weather for the next few days. School will be starting in about two weeks, which is both terrifying and exciting. I don't want to start my last year of college; I have too much to do, but I am looking forward to having Ben home more and us enjoying a normal schedule. As the summer comes to an end, I can't help but wonder where this school year will take us. I'm not sure that Ben or I started last school year with the expectation that we would or could be married by the end of summer. Where will I be next year?
Correction: where will we be, not just in the physical but in the marital emotional sense? Every wonderful moment of the Chicago summer as well as its subtle yet startling transformation into autumn has me wondering if I will be here to experience these moments next year or am I blindly experiencing my last Chicago summer moments without my even realizing?
I look forward to becoming a more dedicated blogger, although I am sure said level of dedication will wax and wane depending on the mass of homework that governs every U of C student's life.
Posted by Ben and Natasha at 11:58 PM
2 comments:
nicely done, Natasha. HOpe you guys are enjoying getting back to school & having each other there for support. Take care!ReplyDelete
I remember how crazy it was getting everything together when we first got married. For example, the gas wasn't turned on ... we went on our honeymoon and came back when school started only to find we still had COLD WATER!!ReplyDelete
(By the way, I'm one of Ben's old friends.)
I hope things are coming together well for you guys!
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Earlier this week GamePolitics reported on the arrest of a 52-year-old Canadian man charged with violating probation for a past kiddie porn conviction. George "Spike" Finley, an admin of top gaming clan The Green Berets, was arrested when it came to light that he was soliciting young boys he had recruited for the team.
Today, GGL has an must-read investigative piece on the "Spike" case. Author Mahmood Ali searches for answers as to how Finley, by all accounts a terrible player, achieved a high-level position with The Green Berets evan as rumors swirled about his character. Should his warped objectives have come to light long before they did? And are there other "Spikes" lurking out the in the online gaming community?
GP: Definitely worth a read. And yes, there are almost certainly others. Pedophiles tend to go where they think they might find victims. Does that make online gaming bad? Of course not. Does that mean players, parents and clan leaders need to be more vigilant? Definitely.


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Difference between revisions of "Regional Communities/US/Honolulu"
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Check [http://wiki.eclipse.org/Regional_Communities/US/Honolulu/meetings here] for the latest slides and other artifacts from meetings held by eHUG.
Check [http://wiki.eclipse.org/Regional_Communities/US/Honolulu/meetings here] for the latest slides and other artifacts from meetings held by eHUG.
===Other Events===
Check out [http://wiki.eclipse.org/Regional_Communities/US/Honolulu/Topics Topics] for other upcoming events.
Check out [http://wiki.eclipse.org/Regional_Communities/US/Honolulu/Topics Topics] for other upcoming events.
Revision as of 02:23, 4 September 2009
E Komo Mai! The Hawaii Eclipse User's Group exists to provide a place for Eclipse enthusiasts to share, learn and contribute to the Eclipse community. We meet once a month on the 3rd Tuesday at 5:30pm. At each meeting, we'll have a quick dinner (pizza, subs, salads, etc.) and then have a presentation / demo. There will be lots of time for questions and discussion as well.
As this User's group is forming, a list of topics is necessary to move forward. Check out these Topics for consideration.
Upcoming Events
Please join us!
- 05/26/09 @ 5:30pm Eclipse Hawaii User's Group Meeting @ IBM Honolulu.
- Seth Ladd will speak on Hadoop, Amazon Elastic MapReduce and Eclipse
- iding on the excitement from April's presentation on Eclipse and Amazon EC2, we'll be taking a look at a powerful way to take advantage of all that processing potential. Ever wondered how Google crawls and processes the entire web? With incredible amounts of data (on the order of exobytes) being generated across the world, how can one process, analyze, and derive value from it all? At the May meeting of the Eclipse Users' Group, we'll take a look at Hadoop, the open source Map Reduce and distributed file system framework. Map Reduce is a distributed data processing paradigm, originally popularized by Google, designed to utilize clusters of commodity machines to crunch very large data sets. Hadoop is an open source implementation of MapReduce, along with supporting systems and frameworks, that you can use right now on your own machines or on Amazon EC2. We'll also look at Eclipse based tools that can help you write Map Reduce programs. In addition, we'll take a look at Pig, the high level language for writing Hadoop Map Reduce jobs.
- Meet other Eclipse Users
- Share your Eclipse stories
- Enjoy a light dinner sponsored by IBM & Dataskill.
Meeting & Events Archive
Check here for the latest slides and other artifacts from meetings held by eHUG.
Other Events
Check out Topics for other upcoming events.
Check out more current events and Tech Happenings at TechHui.com. On TechHui you can meet other local talent, read about local technical events and be a part of the larger technology group here in Hawaii.
We have been very fortunate to have several local and national organizations sponsor the Eclipse Hawaii User's Group. These sponsors have all gone above the call by providing a place to meet, a place to host our web site, and providing food at our events. If you would like the opportunity to become a sponsor, please contact Eclipse Information at info at eclipsehawaii.org.
- IBM Honolulu
- State of Hawaii, Attorney Generals Office
- Pacific Hi-Tech, Inc.
- TEKSystems, Inc.
- DataSkill
- DigitalChalk, Inc.
The technical community in Hawaii is small but growing and there are lots of opportunities for employment on the island. From Enterprise IT shops to small entrepreneur business, there are many jobs available. Check out the TechHui local jobs board.
If you would like to be added to the Eclipse Hawaii mailing list, please send an email to the Eclipse Hawaii Information email at:
info at eclipsehawaii.org.
If you have questions about the Eclipse Hawaii User's Group, you can email:
Eclipse Hawaii Information
info at eclipsehawaii.org.


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Checking in on… the SouthlandPosted by jstevrtc on January 29th, 2010
Russell Burnett is the RTC correspondent for the Southland Conference.
Current Standings as of Jan. 29, 2009:
- Stephen F. Austin 14-5 (4-2)
- SE Louisiana 11-8 (3-3)
- Nicholls State 7-12 (3-3)
- McNeese State 7-12 (2-3)
- Northwestern State 6-12 (1-4)
- Central Arkansas 7-13 (1-5)
- Sam Houston State 13-5 (5-0)
- Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 11-8 (5-0)
- Texas State 10-10 (4-2)
- UT-San Antonio 12-6 (2-3)
- Lamar 10-11 (2-4)
- Texas-Arlington 9-9 (1-4)
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi forward Kevin Palmer was named the SLC Player of the Week after extending his scoring in double figures to 40 games with a season-high 32 points in a victory over Lamar last Wednesday. Palmer then came through with 18 points in an overtime win over UTSA. This is the second league player of the week honor for the senior from Baltimore, Maryland.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Sam Houston State sit atop the Southland Conference with identical 5-0 marks. The two teams have a showdown on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Corpus Christi for unbeaten supremacy.
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN – The 'Jacks sit at the top of the SLC East, one game ahead of Southeastern Louisiana. Both of the Lumberjacks' losses in conference play have come on the road to SHSU and Nicholls State, respectively. The 'Jacks have a three-game conference winning streak as they overpowered Southeastern Louisiana in Nacogdoches by 11 and took down Northwestern State by 10 on the road.
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA – After starting conference play 2-0, they lost three straight before picking up a seven-point win over Central Arkansas on Jan. 27. SELA will have to travel to Nicholls State then host Texas State this week.
NICHOLLS STATE – A Jekyll and Hyde team, the Colonels can't seem to string any wins together on a consistent basis. NSU's leading scorer, Anatoly Bose (18.8 PPG) was held to six points in the loss to UCA. NSU faces the East's top two teams this week in SELA (Jan. 30) and SFA (Feb. 3).
MCNEESE STATE – Halted a five-game (non-conference and SLC play) skid by beating SELA, 71-67, on Jan. 20, then lost to Nicholl State by two on Jan. 27. The Cowboys face streaky Stephen F. Austin and Northwestern State this week.
NORTHWESTERN STATE – Picked up its initial SLC win with a 99-98 win over Nicholls State on Jan. 23. The Demons have lost nine of their last 11 dating back to a Dec. 12 setback at the hands of LSU. NW State could pick up a couple of wins as they face Central Arkansas (Jan. 30) and McNeese State (Feb. 3).
CENTRAL ARKANSAS – The Bears picked up their first Southland Conference win of the year (64-50) against Nicholls State as former Bear and NBA great Scottie Pippen looked on. UCA retired Pippen's No. 33 uniform at halftime. Pippen was a two-time NAIA All-American for UCA and delivered a pregame talk to the Bears. They promptly lost two more games to McNeese and SELA.
SAM HOUSTON STATE – The Bearkats are riding a five-game SLC win streak and have won eight of their last 10 games. In those five SLC games, the 'Kats are beating their opponent by 15 PPG on average. Sam Houston hits the road for a big game Saturday as they face fellow unbeaten A&M-Corpus, then they host UTSA.
TA&M-CC – The only other unbeaten in the conference, the Islanders have put together a six-game SLC winning streak. The streak comes on the heels of A&M-CC losing six of seven games before picking up a league win against UCA. After the SHSU tilt, the Islanders hit the road to test UTA.
TEXAS STATE – The Bobcats have come as bit of a surprise after starting the season 3-8. TSU has won three of its last four conference games and can separate itself a little from the middle of the pack with games against UTA (Jan. 30) and SELA (Feb. 3).
UTSA – Has lost three straight in league play after winning its first two games. Lost a close four-point game to league-leading A&M-Corpus Christi, then took it on the chin by 14 points against Texas State. The Roadrunners need to pick up at least one victory over Lamar or SHSU this week.
LAMAR – After winning two games against UTA and McNeese State, the Cardinals fell back to Earth with three straight losses to the Islanders, Bobcats and Bearkats. Important games loom against UTSA (Jan. 30) and Central Arkansas (Feb. 3).
UTA – The Mavericks haven't found their rhythm as they have lost two consecutive SLC games twice this year. They took a day off from SLC play to defeat Houston Baptist, but face hot teams in Texas State and A&M-CC this week.
Stephen F. Austin had four players in double figures and shot 57% from the field in the second half to escape with a 10-point victory over Northwestern State on Jan. 27. Eddie Williams, Walt Harris and Jereal Scott all score in double digits for the Lumberjacks.
DeShawn Patterson tied a career high with 17 points and Southeastern Louisiana held off Central Arkansas on Jan. 27.
Anatoly Bose scored a Southland Conference season-high 46 points, but the Nicholls State Colonels fell 99-98 in double overtime to Northwestern State on Jan. 23. Bose then went off for 23 points and 11 rebounds in a victory over McNeese State.
McNeese State – Held UCA to 28% from the field, including 19 percent from three-point land in a 15-point win on Jan. 23.
Devon Baker hit a free throw with one second left to give Northwestern State a 99-98 win over Nicholls State in double overtime on Jan. 23. In the overtime win, Damon Jones scored a season-high 25 points, then came back with only one point in a loss to SFA.
Mike Rueter has come strong in the last few SLC games for UCA. The 6'6 senior from Batesville, Arkansas is averaging 14.5 PPG in the last four games and 11.7 PPG on the year.
A battle of two of the top offensive threats in the league played out with Sam Houston's Gilberto Clavell scoring 25 points to go with 10 rebounds as SHSU beat UTA by three points on Jan. 23. Marquez Haynes, leading the league with 24.5 PPG, had 23 for UTA.
SHSU sophomore Antuan Bootle posted double-figure rebounds in two of the last three games. Bootle had 12 rebounds in 20 mintues of action against Texas State, and 11 boards in 15 minutes against Lamar.
A&M-CC's Demond Watt has heated up and scored in double-figures in 12 straight games to push his season average to 11.9 PPG. Watt tied a season-high with 13 rebounds against non-conference foe UT-Pan American on Jan. 25.
Texas State had six players in double figures in an overtime victory against Lamar on Jan. 23. Cameron Johnson had 24 points and 15 rebounds, and is averaging 16.6 PPG in conference play.
Devin Gibson had a season-high nine assists for UTSA in a loss to the Islanders. Gibson was two rebounds and one assist away from a triple-double.
Lamar's Justin Nabors had a string of double figure scoring games snapped at 12 when he scored nine in a 90-63 blowout loss to SHSU. Nabors is close to averaging a double-double as he scores at a 13.7 PPG clip and pulls 9.7 RPG.
UTA guard Marquez Haynes netted his sixth 30-point game this year as he tossed in 32 points in a non-conference win over Houston Baptist. Haynes also dished out a season- and career-high nine assists in the victory.
The Mavericks welcomed back senior forward Tommy Moffit from a broken foot. The 6'5 Moffit missed 11 games, but came back against Houston Baptist to play 16 minutes.
Saturday, Jan. 30
Sam Houston at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 3
Texas State at Southeastern Louisiana, 7 p.m.


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So many examples of outrageous thinking, hubris, self-aggrandizement, and learned thinking, not critical thinking.
Views: 244
Thunderf00t is awesome. I caught a glimpse of him at the Rally in the VIP section.
I agree that education is a good remedy for superstition.
I watched them all. Nicely organized, thanks.
Your are welcome. Glad you watched them.
I have watched all the videos in the series and wish there were more. I also followed the series of videos Thunderf00t made in response to Venomfangx and Nephilimfree who I think have both disappeared from YouTube now.
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School is out for the year, and you'll see people out for the summer — hiking, biking and enjoying our mountain community. Something that you might not expect to see, however, are cranes dotting the landscape at sites throughout town. Or welders blasting away at sculpture bases. All this to make way for 14 new sculptures that are part of the Art for the Mountain Community 2009 Sculpture Walk.
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With the group stage of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers over, nine national teams have already booked a place in Brazil.
Soon another four teams will be joining them, making it 13 participants from the European bracket.
Here we look at what went down on the final match day in Group G.
Lithuania 0-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bosnia-Herzegovina finished their extraordinary campaign in style, beating Lithuania away to secure a spot in Brazil next year.
They have been on fire throughout the qualifiers and deservedly sit at the top of the table level with Greece on points, but with a much better goal difference (+24 to Greece's +8).
They needed a win in order to avoid the play-offs and after 68 minutes Vedad Ibisevic finally managed to break the deadlock, booking his team a direct ticket to their first World Cup.
Greece 2-0 Liechtenstein
Going into the match the Greeks knew that they had to better Bosnia-Herzegovina's result if they wanted direct qualification, but as both teams won their respective matches, Greece will have to play another 180 minutes to make it to Brazil.
Salpingidis gave his team the lead seven minutes in, with Karagounis setting the final result ten minutes from time. Greece have shown that they are a hard nut to crack, conceding only four goals in 10 matches and the way they managed to get eight wins by only scoring 12 goals shows that they are great when it comes to keeping the lead.
Even though they might not be scoring much, their brand of tactical defensive football could make them a tricky opponent in the play-offs.
Latvia 2-2 Slovakia
Latvia and Slovakia shared the spoils in a match that wasn't of great importance to neither of the two teams.
Slovakia were two goals up after just 16 minutes. Jakubko and Salata were the scorers.
However, Latvia weren't going to let them leave with three points that easily, scoring two goals in the second half to earn a point.
The first came two minutes into the second half when Sabala sent the ball past the keeper. The equaliser was scored in stoppage time by Rode.
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The Dr. Pat Show: Talk Radio to Thrive By!: My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey
04/07/2008 12:00 am PDT
Dr. Pat Baccili
Dr. Pat Baccili helps individuals and organizations break through their limiting Crust so they can reach their unlimited potential. Her specialty is assisting people face t...Find out more »
Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor
Watch Dr. Jill's INCREDIBLE video called My Stroke of Insight about when she witnessed her own stroke. Click Here.Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor is a trained and published neuroanato...Find out more »


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Carleton College's Weitz Center for Creativity will host a special screening of "Cemetery Stories: A Rebel Missionary in South Africa," a film directed by Carleton professor Cherif Keita, which explores an early effort at resistance to white authority in South Africa and its little-known connection with Northfield. The screening, part of the College's Humanities Center's Perspectives in Public Humanities series, will take place on Thursday, Feb. 7 beginning at 7 p.m. in the Weitz Center Cinema. This event is free and open to the public.
Keita, a native of Mali and professor of French and Francophone studies at Carleton, previously directed "Oberlin-Inanda: The Life and Times of John L. Dube" (2005), which looks at the life of John L. Dube, founding president of the African National Congress (then called the South African Native National Congress) and an early figure in the struggle against white rule in South Africa. "Cemetery Stories" is a sequel of sorts to "Oberlin-Inanda," as Keita charts the connection between Dube and William and Ida Belle Wilcox, an American missionary couple who lived in South Africa in the 1910s.
In South Africa, the Wilcoxes challenged mission policy by defending native land rights against the white authorities and preaching racial equality and social justice. The Wilcoxes became mentors to Dube, then a 16-year-old orphan whose mother had entrusted him to the missionaries, and took responsibility for his education, training him as a printer (during an interlude spent in upstate New York) and eventually sending him to Oberlin College in Ohio. Dube would use his education and training as a Congregationalist pastor to form South Africa's first black-owned industrial school, to launch Ilanga Lase Natal (The Natal Sun, the first English-Zulu newspaper) and to help found the ANC, becoming an early pioneer in the decades-long struggle for freedom. Today Dube has been honored for his work by Nelson Mandela and other leaders and acknowledged as one of the forbears of modern South Africa.
Coincidentally, as Keita was researching Dube's story, he discovered that Ida Belle Wilcox (nee Clary) was born and raised in Northfield; she and William were married in Northfield in 1881. Defying the American missionary leadership in South Africa, the Wilcoxes preached progressive ideals that were far ahead of their time, paying a heavy price in their loss of financial support from the church organization; they were expelled from South Africa, forced to rely on charity to return to the United States and eventually died in poverty. In November 2009 their legacy was finally honored by a free South Africa, as President Jacob Zuma sent a high-level delegation to pay their respects to the Wilcoxes at their final resting place in Glendale, California. The following month, Rev. Jackson Wilcox (their grandson) and Deborah Alternatt (their great-granddaughter) flew to Pretoria to accept the Medal of the Grand Companions of Oliver Tambo, the highest honor South Africa can bestow on foreign nationals, on behalf of William and Ida Belle Wilcox.
"Cemetery Stories," Keita's 2009 film that chronicles the intertwined lives of Dube and the Wilcoxes, has been widely screened in Africa and worldwide. The film was an official selection at the 2009 Pan African Film Festival (in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso), the Durban (South Africa) International Film Festival and the Real Life Documentaries Accra (Ghana) Film Festival, as well as the 2010 Rwanda International Film Festival and the 2011 Cinema Africa film festival in Tokyo.
For more information about this event, including disability accommodations, contact the Carleton College Center for Humanities Center at (507) 222-4217. The Weitz Center for Creativity is located at 320 Third Street East in Northfield.


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After School Enrichment
April 4, 2018 - 4:00 pm
This School Age class is spent entirely outdoors we will explore the river, pond, meadows and woodlands. Each area of the property, each season brings a new learning experience.
Please call the office for more information or to register your child.
Busing Available from NMHS , SMS , SNIS, and NES( not from Hand P)


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I first visited Havana in November 2016, a few days after Fidel Castro died, and just under a year before Hurricane Irma hit Cuba in September 2017. Since then, much has changed, including the hand-painted signs that punctuate the journey from the airport to the city centre, which today do not celebrate the revolution so much as the 'Unidad y...
The exhibition Beyond Boundaries at Somerset House in London (12 March–2 April 2019) marked the historic contributions of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing (CAFA) and the Slade School of Fine Art, University College London, on the occasion of their 100th and 150th anniversaries, respectively. Spread across several rooms of Somerset House's...
The National 2019: New Australian Art features work by 70 contemporary Australia-based artists split across three venues: the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW), Carriageworks, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) (29 March–21 July 2019), as curated by Isobel Parker Philip, curator of photographs at AGNSW; Daniel Mudie Cunningham,...
Oil on linen
17.5 x 15 inches
44.45 x 38.1 cm
Courtesy P·P·O·W Gallery
19 new artworks have recently been added by P·P·O·W Gallery.
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Seether, Sick Puppies and Charm City Devils performed at Pier Six Pavilion on Saturday night. Midnight Sun contributor Jay Trucker was there.
The Autumn Equinox, a 98 Rock-sponsored concert featuring Charm City Devils, Sick Puppies and Seether, may not have sold as many tickets as Sunday night's sold-out banjo-and-acoustic-guitar-dueling kinsmen the Avett Brothers, but fans on hand were treated to an intercontinental array of hard-rock music and showmanship.
Taking the stage at 7 p.m., with sunlight still streaming into the amphitheater, local-rockers-with-national-success Charm City Devils put together a 50-minute set full of fast-paced, bluesy hard rock. Stage lights, a sudden downpour and the energetic entrance of lead singer John Allen, who ran to the front of the stage swilling a bottle of Captain Morgan, notified the crowd that it was time to make their way to the good seats.
The group kept the crowd on their feet for the duration of the nine-song set, racing through songs largely about love, life, rock 'n' roll and exotic dancers. Staying true to his promise of strong crowd interaction, Allen paused the show to take pictures of the audience, before tearing into the band's most well-known material at the set's end.
Pier Six patrons waved their arms for the smoky power ballad "Best of the Worst," pumped their fists for the adrenaline-driven "Unstoppable" and sang along to "Man of Constant Sorrow" loudly enough for Rusty Scupper diners to hear over the water and through the glass.
All together, the hirsute five-piece kept up their enthusiasm, along with the crowd's, as well as they've kept their hair over the years.
As the lights went down over the harbor, Australian power trio Sick Puppies took the stage for an 11-song set. Charismatic lead singer Shimon Moore, sporting a black T-shirt, red guitar and uninked arms, offered the most clean-cut presence of the evening, occasional middle fingers and F-bombs notwithstanding.
The band's harmonies matched its contrasting imagery, with Moore's arena-ready wail mixing with the gothic pitch of bassist Emma Anzai to produce a radio-ready sound with just enough darkness.
For her part, Anzai's good looks were a major point of interest, as bathroom commentary and the long line of post-show autograph-seekers would attest.
Shimone led the audience through songs from the band's first three albums as well as a brief interlude from its new album, a cover of Tears for Fears' "Mad World" and a piece of Rage Against the Machine's "Bulls on Parade" at the end of "Riptide." Sick Puppies closed with its chart-topper "You're Going Down" before making its way to the queue of fans waiting near the waterfront.
Seether's red curtain and chandeliered stage show suggested an intimacy that may have been better suited for an indoor theater, and most of the band's current tour takes them through such venues, but its 10-year catalog of hits stands alone in any setting.
Shaun Morgan, the South African frontman, took his place at 9:15, a heap of hair, tattoos and sweat. He stuck to his place, stage right, for the duration of the show, crumpled over his guitar and showcasing his familiar vocals. Live, he sounds much as he does on the radio: like Kurt Cobain if Kurt Cobain threw in a few crisp "whoah-ooh-ooh" choruses to contrast raspy verses.
Following a lengthy industrial intro, Seether opened with "No Jesus Christ" before launching into a trio of hits – "Gasoline," "Needles," and "Fine Again" from its 2002 major label debut, "Disclaimer." Another early track, "Broken," first popularized as a duet with Morgan and his goth-rock ex-girlfriend, Evanescence singer Amy Lee, was pared down to its original form.
Following a drum solo, more recent fare such as "No Resolution," and "Country Song" filled the middle of the set. The band rollicked through the hits without so much as a pause, only stopping between its penultimate and closing songs, "Fake It" and "Remedy," to thank the crowd for their support.
For their part, the audience — suddenly dominated by a sea of black T-shirts — swayed, hopped and clapped along to Seether's trademark blend of somber, anger and sing-alongs. At 10:30, Morgan signified the end of the night by clubbing his microphone with his guitar and walking off stage, as the crowd, too, wandered off into the early autumn breeze.
Jay Trucker is a frequent contributor to Midnight Sun. He teaches at the Community College of Baltimore County in Dundalk and blogs occasionally at WNST.net. He interviewed Charm City Devils lead singer John Allen recently. This post was edited by Wesley Case.
Charm City Devils
"Let's Rock-N-Roll (Endless Road)"
"Start It Up"
"Love N War"
"Devil is a Woman"
"True Love (Hell Yeah)"
"Best of the Worst"
"Man of Constant Sorrow"
Sick Puppies
"Odd One"
"All the Same"
"Mad World (Tears for Fears cover)"
"Riptide ('Bulls on Parade' medley)"
"New Song (instrumental)"
"Nothing Really Matters"
"You're Going Down"
"No Jesus Christ"
"Fine Again"
"Drum Solo"
"No Resolution"
"Here and Now"
"Country Song"
"Rise Above This"
"Fake It"


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Find Terrebonne Parish Louisiana departments of social services, DSS, DPSS, and human services. Departments of social services provide information on food stamps, public assistance, welfare, housing, healthcare, emergency assistance, and child services.
Louisiana State Social Service Department 1012 West Tunnel Boulevard Houma LA 70360 985-857-3630
Eligibility varies depending on the type of program and the state, county, or local agency. Many programs are based on income and available only to households below a certain income threshold. Other programs may be targeted for specific groups, such as children, the elderly, or people with disabilities.How do Social Services Departments verify eligibility for programs?
Participation in income-based programs typically requires applicants to provide pay stubs to verify income. Bank statements, tax returns, Social Security benefit letters, and similar documents may also be required. Verification of eligibility for other programs depends on the nature of the service, and the required documentation may include letters from health providers, heating or utility bills, rent or mortgage payments.What are the requirements for working at a Social Services Department?
Social Workers are among the most common positions in Social Services Departments. Most Social Workers have a Bachelors of Social Work (BSW) degree, though many positions require a Masters of Social Work (MSW). Some form of licensing or certification is required in almost every state. In some cases, several years of supervised work may be part of the licensing process.


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As one of the emerging markets' Fragile Five, Indonesia finds itself saddled with a current account deficit, a fiscal deficit, and negative market sentiment. While it's far too early to sound the "all-clear," we're seeing indications that Indonesia is making progress toward graduating from the Fragile Five.
Year-to-date, the market has been positively surprised by economic data that Indonesia has reported. Real GDP growth for the fourth quarter came in at 5.7%, with full-year GDP reported at 5.8%. While year-over-year investment growth declined from nearly 10% in 2012 to 4.2% in 2013, consumption was more resilient than expected at 5.3% and exports grew at 7.4% year over year. Indonesia also moved from a trade deficit in the third quarter of 2013 to a surplus in the fourth quarter. Today, we saw additional data pointing to stabilization, with the current account deficit now below 2%.
IHS forecasts a slight decline of GDP growth to 5.0% in 2014, but against the backdrop of an improving current account deficit, flattish inflation, abating currency depreciation, and increasing foreign reserves, discussions about interest rate cuts have begun, albeit still not likely until the second half of 2014. Consensus expectations are that GDP growth bottoms out in 2014 before returning to more normalized 6% year-over-year levels, which would be a positive backdrop for Indonesian rupiah appreciation. Year-to-date, the rupiah is one of a select few EM currencies that have appreciated.
While the other Fragile Five countries continued to tighten in January, Indonesia has been on pause since November. Currency depreciation helped achieve a trade surplus, and the government has used other measures to support the rupiah, such as lower loan-to-deposit ratios, higher reserves, and swaps. A transition from tightening to easing without significant adverse impacts on growth and inflation would certainly be a positive for the Indonesia economy. More broadly, it could boost EM sentiment.
Indonesia holds legislative elections in April and presidential ones in July, with the presidential installation in October. Stalled reform initiatives probably won't pick up prior to October, although we believe increased discussion and optimism around these topics are likely. Indonesia recently announced a delay in its raw mineral export ban and an increase in allowed foreign direct investment in ports and airports. Both are positive steps toward much-needed larger reforms.
Indonesia is not out of the woods yet, but we are encouraged by its recent progress. Upcoming elections and potential monetary easing could provide key near-term catalysts. Indonesia represents 2.4% of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, and we have been underweight in our portfolios. However, if we identify bottom-up opportunities, we are increasingly comfortable about moving closer to an equal weight in Indonesia.
The opinions referenced are as of the date of publication and are subject to change due to changes in the market or economic conditions and may not necessarily come to pass. Information contained herein is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice.
The information in this report should not be considered a recommendation to purchase or sell any particular security. The views and strategies described may not be suitable for all investors.
As a result of political or economic instability in foreign countries, there can be special risks associated with investing in foreign securities, including fluctuations in currency exchange rates, increased price volatility and difficulty obtaining information. In addition, emerging markets may present additional risk due to potential for greater economic and political instability in less developed countries.
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Deep sea fish. Eye of a skate.
Image ID: expl9869, Voyage To Inner Space - Exploring the Seas With NOAA Collect
Location: Between Alvin and Block Canyons
Photo Date: 20130801T133145Z
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My First Major HackathonScott Motte
I have attended many hackathons, both as a participant and an evangelist. But before earlier this month, I hadn't been to one like this. PennApps is renowned. It started with just 17 teams in the fall of 2009. This event has over 1,000 people.
I'm sitting in the beautiful Palestra basketball arena at the moment, and the hackers are starting to file in. Great basketball games have been played here, and now great hacks will be demonstrated. Some of these hacks will go on to become the next great startups.
Over 200 teams are pitching and demoing their hacks. Judges are walking around – myself, Kunal, and Yamil included – watching the demos and listening to the pitches. From these ~200 teams only 20 will be selected for the final on-stage demos.
Time is up. The 1,000 of us start filing out of the Palestra. We walk through tree-lined paths flanked by red-bricked ivy league buildings and into the beautiful Irvine Auditorium. We settle into our seats and the final 20 on stage demos begin.
On Stage Demos
As the demos begin, I can see why a special league called Major League Hacking is starting up at this hackathon. These are major league hacks.
A hack called Weighly calculates the weight of liquid in a container simply by taking a picture. Decrowder lets you take a picture of yourself in front of a crowded monument – removing the noise of other people in your picture. There was a voice-controlled browser plugin, a secure file storage system, and a Mario game that used the immediate world around you as Mario's environment. He'd jump on ledges, tables, and across door openings.
While the judges deliberate, the sponsor prizes are announced. GeoCa.sh wins the SendGrid prize. It uses email combined with Foursquare and Venmo to share caches of money at specific geo locations.
The Winners
The judges have finished deliberating now and announce the winners.
- 3rd place goes to Soundmesh – a hack that combines all your friend's phones to create a surround sound 'party' speaker.
- 2nd place goes to Super Duper Mario which I described above.
- 1st place goes to Swap. Swap is a framework for iOS developers to update their iOS apps in real-time. You drop just one line of code into your app and you can change colors, add code, and much more without needing App Store approval.
Amit's comment sums things up best for my first major hackathon: "The best hacks did not make use of the sponsor APIs. They created something new out of nothing".


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Someone just let slip loose on the internet all of the details for the changes we'll see to the entire 2009 Porsche 911 lineup, including the accompanying information on when that data was supposed to be released. Let's just say that in some cases, this info isn't supposed to see the light of day for months. Of course after this bit of seepage, we're pretty sure those dates are going to move up. So, how is the new 2009 911 different from the 2008 Porsche 911? Well, to start with, the new generation of engines under the new 997's hood will get direct fuel injection, resulting in a decent pop in horsepower. The 3.6-liter boxer engine will see a 20 HP boost, to a total of 345 HP. We'll also see a 30 HP increase for the 3.8-liter boxer, bringing that engine's total to 385 horses. It's not just the engine that'll get an upgrade. The documents also tell us the exterior of the new 911 — from Carrera to Targa 4 — should see changes, including a new front bumper with larger air intakes and lights, semi-integrated stainless steel tailpipes and a new rear bumper. On the chassis side, the 3.6-liter models will be getting revised brakes and Carrera models will receive new wheels. But wait, wait, there's more.
There's also an enhanced version of the Porsche Stability Management (PSM) now available with additional functions on the Carrera models and a new braking system for the 3.6-liter models including thicker brake discs on the front and rear tires — 12 mm thicker in the front and 31 mm thicker in the rear to be exact. We're also told we'll see a mechanical limited-slip diff as a standard for Targa 4 and Carrera 4 models and a 7-speed PDK transmission, which would be a sequential two-shaft transmission — just like the Nissan GT-R. Production actually started this week on the Carrera Coupe and Cabrio, with both going on sale stateside in September of this year and the new 2009 911 Carrera 4 going on sale worldwide in late October.


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Tiny houses are a big commitment.
No bulk buying. No sprawling sofa. No shoe fetishes.
And you really gotta love the one you're with.
This isn't a version of "Honey, I shrunk the house." Tiny homes are the lifestyle of choice for a growing movement of people who believe smaller is better. Little debt. Low utilities. Less housework.
The boon has led to tiny house books, workshops, meet-ups, products and TV shows such as "Tiny House Nation."
These aren't playhouses.
These are real homes, with a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and, yeah, even a great room.
Living small is efficient and economical. The minimalistic mind-set is the reverse of the obsession with big homes. Tiny house dwellers say they don't need the space or want the headaches.
It's not confinement, it's freedom.
"The idea of a 30-year mortgage scared us," said Chris Tack, 30, who lives in a home that's 7 feet wide and 20 feet long with his wife, Malissa, 30, in Snohomish.
"I don't feel like I'm giving up anything," she said. "We aren't being held down by our stuff."
Monroe daughter and mom Candice Ding, 43, and Baoying Feng, 67, share a space that is 154 square feet.
"It feels like a normal house," Ding said, "except smaller."
What's the definition of tiny?
The archetypal structures are mostly in the 120- to 200-square-foot range and designed to fit on a travel trailer to make moving doable, though not necessarily easy.
Wheeled homes must meet the guidelines to fit under bridges, trees and power lines. The site for tiny house builder Tumbleweed shows a tiny house in the car hull of a ferry.
For many dwellers, part of the process is constructing their own tiny homes. That's what the Tacks and Ding did, taking on the task with no building experience.
It was a learning experience, for sure.
Not that gutsy?
Seattle Tiny Homes will custom make your home. Base models go from about $60,000 to $80,000, and business is booming at the Poulsbo dealership.
"We are almost booked into next year. We expanded the shop and hired more people," owner Sharon Read said.
There's nothing cookie-cutter about tiny homes. "I don't believe anybody lives the same in a small space," Read said, "and I don't want to waste one square inch. It's very personalized. You don't need to compromise."
For those who can't take the plunge into a life without clutter and three bathrooms, tiny homes can also be used as studios and vacation homes, or for guests and boomerang kids.
Malissa and Chris Tack
Malissa and Chris Tack and their cat are living large in their tiny home.
"Most of the people who visit, their first word to describe our house is 'cozy,'" Malissa said. "I've heard the term romantic in reference to climbing the ladder up into the loft space. It's second nature. Just like ducking."
The couple, married four years, built the home that has 12 windows, wine-barrel shower base, loft bed, pantry, two-burner stove, solar panels, electricity and metal roof.
"It was roughly around $20,000," Malissa said. "Our house probably cost less than our Honda Fit. And it's nice because both are paid off."
Every inch counts in a home that's 140 square feet, even the size of fruit. Bananas hang from above. "The produce was taking up too much counter space," Malissa said.
Fruit wasn't factored in the blueprint, but everything else was, even the litter box for SethCat. The ceiling under the loft is high enough so Chris doesn't bump his head.
"When I built the house in 3D I made a mock-up model of him and me at our heights in order to make sure it would all work out," said Malissa, a graphic artist.
The limited closets hold needful things.
"I have more clothes than she does," said Chris, a photographer. "We don't have stuff."
"I've gotten rid of almost everything I own," Malissa said. "He's getting better at downsizing."
She works from home at a hinged table that doubles as a dining table. The computer screen doubles as the TV, and is on a mount so it can be seen from the storage bench that doubles as a couch.
"This is the place where we spend the most time," Malissa said, who added that the two call it their "great room."
It's the party room as well.
"We had an open house and there were probably about 10 people standing inside here with no problem," she said.
The couple moved into the home in 2011. The labor took 800 hours over a span of seven months. The hardest part was installing the skylight.
Now the chores are mostly the outside variety, like mowing the rural lot they lease. Malissa made wooden lawn chairs for relaxing and deer watching.
It's easy to pick up and go, without the house, that is. Instead of presents, people give the couple money, which they use for travel and recreation. The gift of "experiences," as Malissa puts it.
There is a drawback to living in a house with no elbow room.
"I loved rearranging and just creating a different feel," Malissa said. "In here, it's really hard to do that because everything has its place. I'll rotate the bed sometimes. That's like the one place I can still manipulate a little bit."
It beats being held down by stuff.
"I feel like I'm on vacation in here," she said. "You do your homey stuff — cooking meals, taking showers — but it has a different feel to it."
For more information, visit chrisandmalissa.com
Candice Ding and Baoying Feng
Candice Ding knew what she wanted in her dream home: wood stove, bay window, projection screen, big deck and two bedrooms.
She got it all, for about $30,000.
Ding went to workshops and studied many tiny homes before building her place in 2011 before her mom moved here from China.
"I was looking for a comfortable personal space and a cheap space for me and my mom," she said. "I found a plan and I modified it."
She also modified her life. "Before I moved into a tiny house I counted my shoes and I had 23 pairs," she said. "It was a struggle to get rid of things."
Her mom also didn't want to part with belongings. "We are from China and are very thrifty. We can't throw things away. We think anything we have can be used for something someday," Ding said.
The chickens saved the day.
Ding built a tiny chicken coop. Two chickens live upstairs in their own tiny house and the base serves as storage for the women's stuff.
She leases a spot on a woodsy 10-acre farm, tapping into electricity from her landlord's garage.
The 7-by-22 foot home is airy, with 13-foot ceiling, eight windows, two skylights and a glass kitty door the cat uses to access a private, screened upper deck. Yes, even the cat lives in the lap of luxury.
Ding's mom climbs the steps to sleep in the roomy loft, then grabs a rope hanging from the ceiling for support coming down. Ding bunks downstairs in a bedroom cubby.
The house took a year to build. "I had never built anything before," said Ding, who now makes lamp shades at the Seattle lighting company where she had a pendant fixture made for her home.
It seemed easy enough: "Fourteen tools and you can build a tiny house. That's what the book said," Ding said. "I used more."
She also used a few experts, such as a plumber, electrician and roofer.
Ding was firm on her list of must-haves: She wanted to be able to sit by a fire and knit and watch videos on big screen.
She also wanted a real home feel. "I wanted it to look like a house," she said.
The kitchen cabinets are regular size. A 60-inch projection screen pulls down from the ceiling. Flames flicker in the wood stove.
A house should make you happy, Ding said.
"I based everything on that. It's the happiest place," she said. "I prefer living in the tiny house. It is really good. It has grown on my mom."
For more about her story, visit littletinyhouse.com
Andrea Brown: 425-339-3443; firstname.lastname@example.com. Twitter: @reporterbrown.
Learn more about tiny houses


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TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo is one of the world's most crowded and bustling cities, but anyone who travels there around New Year's will be able to see a far different face as workaholic Japan takes its longest holiday of the year.
Christmas, which is a normal work day, is mainly a retail event, with Japan devoting all its energy to "Oshogatsu," the New Year period extending roughly from Dec 29 to Jan 3 - the first part in frantic preparation, the second in enjoyment.
Days of dry, crisp cold bring clear air and sharp views of Mount Fuji from many parts of the city, and with most Japanese companies closed and many people back in their hometowns, trains and streets empty out and the capital takes on a laid-back and leisurely air for those who choose to stay.
Reuters correspondents with local knowledge help visitors get the most out of a 48-hour visit.
5 p.m. - Head to "Ameyokocho," one of Tokyo's oldest market streets. Bracketing the raised tracks of the Yamanote Line and running south from Ueno Station on Tokyo's northern side, the area is boisterous on regular weekends but really cranks it up at this time of year as people come shopping for New Year feasting. Just about anything imaginable is for sale here - fish on trays of ice, piled vegetables and fruits. Vendors shout to attract business under bright lights, and pots of food at nearby open-air restaurant stalls steam in the cold.
New Year food is called "Osechi," and housewives prepare enough for the three days from New Year's day so they don't have to do any cooking then. Most foods have symbolic meanings, like simmered black soybeans for good health, and herring roe, which symbolizes a wish to have many children. Many people eat sea bream, whose Japanese name echoes the word "congratulations."
6 p.m. - If you decide not to drop into one of the restaurants under the train tracks for some sticks of grilled meat and a glass or two of hot sake, hop on the Yamanote Line at Okachimachi Station and get off a few stops later at Yurakucho, on the edge of the posh Ginza shopping area.
The area under the tracks is crammed with restaurants, from Italian to Thai and Californian cuisine. But try "Andy's Shin Hinomoto," across from the Yurakucho Denki Building. Run by genial Briton Andy, Shin Hinomoto features sashimi, stir fries, tempura and daily specials in a long room with arched ceilings and a jovial, casual atmosphere. (03-3214-8021) As the evening wears on, loud groups of people drift out into the street after "Bonenkai," or "Forget the Year" parties, in many cases a bit the worse for wear.
9 p.m. - Stroll the Ginza, checking out the window decorations in stores like Cartier, or lit-up trees in front of Mikimoto, the pearl shop. Other colourful displays can be found in Roppongi Hills or the Marunouchi area near Tokyo Station.
As New Year's day nears, many stores will also sport large "kadomatsu" decorations - literally "gate pines" - consisting of pine boughs and bamboo stalk arrangements on each side of the door. This is echoed in private homes, where pine is used to welcome ancestral spirits.
Stop to admire the lit-up front of Tokyo Station, unveiled in its pre-war classical brick glory in October after an extensive exterior renovation.
4:30 a.m. - If you can pry yourself out of bed, or never went, head for Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market and the tuna auctions. Long a tourist staple, entrance has been limited to 140 people a day since 2010. People who want to see the auctions must apply on a first-come, first-serve basis from 4:30 a.m. at the Fish Information Center at the Kachidoki entrance. One group of 70 will be let in between 5:00-5:40, the other from 5:40-6:15.
Though the tuna auction is the highlight, wandering the aisles between stalls in the rest of the market is fun too. Take in the boxes of flopping eels, heaps of clams, or tunas being cut apart with band saws. Shopping here too is at fever pitch.
8 a.m. - Breakfast on sushi in any of the restaurants inside the market. Though the thought of fish this early may be daunting, do it - the freshness is more than worth it.
9 a.m. - Take the Ginza Subway line to Asakusa and make your way to Sensoji, the Asakusa Kannon temple. Enter through the Kaminarimon, a bright red gate with a huge dangling lantern, and head up the Nakamise shopping street. Though many of the goods here are of the cheap souvenir variety, other stalls offer crisp, freshly made rice crackers and other tasty treats.
Sensoji is popular for "Hatsumode," or the first shrine and temple visits of the New Year, when people go to pray for good luck in the coming year. It can take hours to move the 200 metres (yards) up Nakamise, but the mood is jovial amidst incense smoke from huge metal burners near the main temple building. Millions visit Sensoji and other popular sites, such as the Meiji Shrine, during the first three days of the year - some wearing the traditional kimono.
Other people make these visits at midnight on the 31st, when temple bells all over Japan boom out 108 times for each of the sins of mankind. Trains run all night and some restaurants and pubs stay open until dawn.
Afterwards, wander around the Asakusa area, which still has an old neighbourhood flavour. About five minutes' walk from the temple is a street of open-air restaurants selling grilled meat on skewers and stewed tripe with tofu. Belly up to a counter stool and have some beer or hot sake.
1 p.m. - Head east across the Sumida River. You'll pass the headquarters of Asahi Beer - recognisable by the "Flamme d'Or" (Golden Flame) sculpture on its roof that locals refer to as "The Golden Turd" - on your way to Tokyo's newest landmark: the Tokyo Skytree.
A futuristic broadcasting tower of dubious beauty, the Skytree is 634-metres high and has been certified by Guinness as the world's tallest tower. It anchors a shopping and pleasure complex that includes movie theatres and an aquarium, and boasts two observation decks: one at 350 metres and the other at 450 metres. (here)
Tickets to the observatories cost 2,000 yen for the lower one and 1,000 yen for the higher one, and can be bought on the day. But check the website for special periods, such as New Year's, when other arrangements may have to be made.
6 p.m. - Feel daring? Then eat at Torafugu Tei Monzen Naka-cho (r.gnavi.co.jp/fl/en/b267803/), which features fugu, the blowfish that can be fatal if improperly prepared. Torafugu Tei has reasonably priced courses that start with delicate slices of raw fugu fanned across a plate and ends with a thick rice porridge in fugu-flavoured soup. To drink, try hot sake with a lightly grilled fugu fin in it for flavor.
8 a.m. - If it's the first or fourth Sunday of the month, check out the flea market at the Togo Shrine, at Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line. The shrine is crowded with vendors selling everything from junk to elaborate wedding kimonos and antiques. Also on the first Sunday is a flea market at Arai Yakushi Shrine at Arai Yakushi-mae on the Seibu Shinjuku Line. Hope for good weather as it's cancelled in the event of rain.
11 a.m. - Brunch at Suji's (www.sujis.net), a restaurant in the Roppongi entertainment district with all the traditional options, including Eggs Benedict or even just two eggs with home fries and toast. Large portions and good prices.
1 p.m. - With the construction of several new museums in recent years, Roppongi is now billing itself as "Art Triangle Roppongi." Within a short walking distance are the Mori Art Museum, the Suntory Museum of Art, and The National Art Center, Tokyo. (here) Notable is the Mori Art Museum, on the 53rd floor of the Mori Tower in the Roppongi Hills complex, which offers good views along with the art. Both Roppongi Hills and the Tokyo Midtown, near the National Art Center, have seasonal light displays.
3 p.m. - Take the Hibiya Subway line up to Akihabara, Tokyo's electronics mecca. Year-end bargains are likely to abound, and many stores - like stores all over Japan - offer "fukubukuro," or lucky bags, on January 1. Each bag is sold for a set price, but the contents are unknown. Take a chance! (Reporting by Elaine Lies, editing by Paul Casciato)


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As the ObamaReleaseYourRecords blog reports, Ohio Birther Susan Daniels, P.I. got a reality check from Geauga County Prosecuting Attorney, David Joyce:
Here is where you can read the entire story:
Daniels follows in the footsteps of other illustrious Birthers, such as Orly Taitz, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, and the entire Cold Case Posse, in failing to check out the criminal statutes BEFORE alleging a crime has been committing, and gathering the requisite evidence BEFORE running off to the fuzz. Or running off at the mouth.
Daniels is the alleged private investigator whose sloppy investigatory skills help start the whole Obama has 39 social security numbers Birther claim several years ago:
Her partner in stupid, Neil Sankey, had enough sense to realize that the database search didn't prove anything because none of it could be linked to Obama. But Daniels is the really slow learner of the pair, and has yet to grasp that simple fact. Compounding those failures is an inability to read and comprehend easy statements written in English. Daniels has been carrying on to beat the band that there is something fishy about Obama having a Connecticut social security number. My personal guess is that someone at the Social Security Administration made a typo back in 1977. It doesn't matter because as the SSA states:
Since 1972, when SSA began assigning SSNs and issuing cards centrally from Baltimore, the area number assigned has been based on the ZIP code in the mailing address provided on the application for the original Social Security card. The applicant's mailing address does not have to be the same as their place of residence. Thus, the Area Number does not necessarily represent the State of residence of the applicant, either prior to 1972 or since.
In spite of this, Daniels went ahead and filed a Birther eligibility suit in Ohio. When she realized that the suit was about to be dismissed, and she would not be getting any more attention, she filed another claim with the courts requesting an identity theft criminal investigation because of the social security number. Unfortunately for Ms. Daniels, The Geauga County prosecuting attorney CAN read and he told her the same thing as the SSA did, on page two of his letter. Here is a pdf copy in case anybody has problems with scribd at the link above:
To add a little extra twist to the knife, David Joyce is a Republican. As she whines in the ORYR link above:
We are in serious trouble when a Republican prosecutor, David Joyce, who is now running for congress, does not care enough to look into a felony being committed by Barack Obama. The information in the letterfrom the SSA was added after I discovered that Obama is using a fraudulent social security number. The residence had to be in the state where the number was issued. They are lying. The issue could be cleared up by the prosecutor sending a letter to the SSA asking for a copy of the original application that goes with xxx-xx-4425. Apparently, that was too much trouble.
No. Actually, it is Daniels' idiotic claim that is in trouble. This is what happens every time that grown-ups have to deal with Birther silliness. But, she is way too much of an attention-whore to just shut up and go away. I wonder what she will try next???
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
Note 1. The Image. This is Margaret Rutherford who played Agatha Christie's Miss Marple in various films. This particular one is from the 1963 film, Murder at The Gallop. Here is website with some history, and some clips:
Note 2. Words. The hat in the Image is often called a "Bowler." In the Image Easter Egg, "Old Hat" means "repeated too often" or over-familiar through overuse;
Note 3. Links to other posts about Susan Daniels.