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Born in the 1970s, Ethernet technology has continually evolved in order to meet the ever-ending requirement for faster rates of data transmission. Through this ongoing volution, it has matured into the foremost technology standard for local area networks LANs) as newer, higher performing iterations such as 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) become more commonplace.
The demand for faster application speeds has also spurred technological evolution on data carrying techniques. As such, copper and fiber transmission standards have progressed, providing greater bandwidth for transporting data over Ethernet architectures with reduced cost and complexity.
There are various Ethernet standards and data carrying techniques, with particular emphasis on the utilization of existing fiber and copper cabling technologies for 10GbE LAN use.
Why 10 Gigabit Today?
Most LAN infrastructures employ a mixture of copper and fiber premises wiring. Many companies have legacy fiber connectivity for backbone links with copper wiring in place for wiring closets. These legacy backbones are generally sufficient as long as there are no demands for greater network performance or application bandwidth. However, as companies grow their networks and support new applications and traffic types, they are increasingly migrating to gigabit links. With gigabit connectivity widely available for gigabit-based PCs, servers, data center storage and high-end computing, gigabit technology is emerging as the connection of choice for many organizations.
So why is there a need for ten times gigabit performance, or 10GbE, today?
More for Less
In the past, 10GbE was neither necessary nor affordable. As with most burgeoning technologies, those dynamics are changing. Technological advancements have resulted in higher performance at lower costs. As such, gigabit and 10GbE bandwidth has become affordable for most companies. Regardless of cost, there is also a distinct need. An increasing number of applications require considerable bandwidth to support the transfer and streaming of large data, video and audio files. As bandwidth-intensive applications and latency sensitive traffic types become ubiquitous, so does the need to support and transport them.
In addition, many companies are seeking to future proof their network to ensure they can support emerging technologies and preserve their initial investments. In the past, fiber and wire cabling systems wereinstalled with a 10-year lifespan in mind. However, with the rapid, ongoing evolution of network technologies, companies must be concerned with their current infrastructures ability to keep pace.
Costs associated with re-cabling a network can be exorbitant and organizations should take precautions to ensure their cabling systems can last well into the future. 10GbE provides the very best assurance for being able to support forthcoming technologies and delivers utmost investment protection.
Data Centers
For many institutions especially those that utilize automated trading uptime and response time is critical. Delays longer than a second can be exceedingly costly. With servers now being able to transmit near gigabit bandwidth and network downtime proving catastrophic, todays enterprise data centers need extended bandwidth. 10GbE is an ideal technology to move large amounts of data quickly. The bandwidth it provides in conjunction with server consolidation is highly advantageous for Web caching, real-time application response, parallel processing and storage.
Main building Backbone Links
Many organizations wish to connect their main buildings with high-speed links. Carrier-based services offload the burden of establishing and maintaining a 10GbE backbone, but limit flexibility and oftentimes prove too costly with expensive, unending monthly bills. This ongoing expense can be overwhelming for educational institutions, government organizations and hospitals as well as enterprises that do not have a set budget year to year. Establishing a 10GbE building backbone is a one-time expense that can provide significant cost savings when compared to monthly communications link bills.
Metro Area Transmission
Many companies also need to send and receive data beyond their main buildings, oftentimes in the form of large or streaming files that require high-speed links. Traditionally an area for carriers, 10GbE now offers an attractive alternative to costly monthly charges for long distance data transmission. Many carriers offer expensive transmission services utilizing SONET OC-48 or OC-192c standards. These are considered lit services where a company has to add protocol conversion to be able to link from end to end. Conversely, un-lit fiber called Dark Fiber is now being offered by carriers to companies able to provide their own connectivity. In these cases, routing switches supporting the 10GbE standard can provide their own transmission.
Taking advantage of 10GbE performance in tandem with carriers Dark Fiber services can drastically reduce costs when compared to lit transmission services.
Copper versus Fiber
Once the decision is made to implement 10GbE functionality, organizations must consider the data carrying techniques that facilitate such bandwidth. Copper and fiber cabling are the preeminent technologies for data transmission and provide their own unique benefits and drawbacks.
Copper is the de-facto standard for transmitting data between devices due to its low cost, easy installation and flexibility. It also possesses distinct shortcomings. Copper is best when utilized in short lengths, typically 100 meters or less. When employed over long distances, electromagnetic signal characteristics hinder performance. In addition, bundling copper cabling can cause interference, making it difficult to employ as a comprehensive backbone. For these reasons, copper cabling has become the principal data carrying technique for communication among PCs and LANs, but not main buildings or long-distance transmission.
On the other hand, fiber cabling is typically used for remote building connectivity, crowded wiring closets, long-distance communications and environments that need protection from interference, such as manufacturing areas. Since it is very reliable and less susceptible to attenuation, it is optimum for sending data beyond 100 meters. However, fiber is also more costly than copper and its use is typically limited to those applications that demand it. As a result, most organizations utilize a combination of copper and fiber cabling. As these companies transition to 10GbE functionality, they must have a solid understanding of the various cabling technologies and a sound migration strategy to ensure their cabling infrastructure will support their network infrastructure both today and tomorrow.
The Evolution of Cabling Technologies
Just as gigabit and 10GbE technologies have changed, so have the cabling technologies that support them. In fact, evolutions of cabling technologies have walked in-step with, and been largely driven by, evolutions to gigabit and 10GbE standards. Both IEEE802.3 standards and the associated cabling technologies have assumed many forms in order to optimize a variety of environments.
A grasp of the particular gigabit or 10GbE standard being employed is just as important as an understanding of the circumstance and environment factoring distance of data transmission, equipment being utilized and budget in order to determine what cabling strategy best suits a particular organization. Just as the difference between sending data 100 meters and 100 kilometers affects the optimum cabling strategy, so does the difference between sending data with IEEE802.3ae and IEEE802.3ak standards.
The 10GbE standards outlined below help define and optimize the environment in which they operate and the cabling technologies over which they communicate.
Ratified in June 2002, the IEEE802.3ae LAN standard was developed to update the preexisting IEEE802.3 standard for 10GbE fiber transmission. With the new standard, seven new media types were defined for LAN, metropolitan area network (MAN) and wide area network (WAN) connectivity:
–10GBASE-SR uses the lowest cost optics (850nm) to support 10GbE transmission over standard multimode fiber for distances of 33 and 86 meters. The SR standard also supports up to 300 meters using the new 2000MHz/km multimode fiber (laser optimized). SR is the lowest-cost optics of all defined 10GbE optics.
– 10GBASE-LR uses higher cost optics (1310nm) than SR and requires more complex alignment of the optics to support single-mode fiber up to 10 km.
– 10GBASE-LX4 supports traditional FDDI grade multimode fiber for distances up to 300 meters using Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM), which lowers the transmission rate of each wavelength to 3.125Gbaud. The LX4 standard also supports single-mode fiber for up to 10 Km. LX4 is more expensive than both SR and LR because it requires four times the optical and electrical circuitry in addition to optical multiplexers. Over time, the quantity of components required to implement the technology may limit its ability to fit into smaller form factors.
– 10GBASE-ER uses the most expensive optics (1550nm) to support single-mode fiber up to 30 km. For 40km, the fiber-optic connection must be an engineered link.
– 10GBASE-LRM In the process of being ratified by IEEE. Using a technology called EDC (Electronic Dispersion Compensation), 10GBASE-LRM can provide a long distance solution based on multimode fiber and operates with a single wavelength.
– 10GBASE-SW, 10GBASE-LW, 10GBASE-EW defined for use with a WAN PHY. These standards were defined to operate at the same baud rate as OC-192/STM-64 SONET/SDH equipment. They are the equivalent of the SR, LR and ER standards and support the same fiber cabling. LX4 does not have an equivalent WAN PHY standard.
IEEE802.3ak / 10GBASE-CX4
Approved in February 2004, 10GBASE-CX4 is a low-cost 10GbE solution intended for copper cabling with short distance connectivity that makes it ideal for wiring closet and data center connectivity. The first 10GbE copper cabling standard, 10GBASE-CX4 provides immediate advantages with its affordability and wide availability.
The CX4 standard transmits 10GbE over four channels using twin-axial cables. The cables were derived from Infiniband connectors and cable, but the CX4 standards committee defined the cables to be tighter in electrical specifications. Therefore, longer length (>10m) Infiniband cables will not necessarily work for CX4 applications and it is recommended to use only cables that are designed to meet IEEE 802.3ak specifications when using CX4. Another aspect of the CX4 cable is the rigidity and thickness of the cable. The longer the length used the thicker the cable. CX4 cables start at 30 American Wire Gauge (AWG) for short lengths to 24 AWG thickness for a full 15 meters. CX4 cables must also be factory terminated to meet defined specifications so they should be ordered to length.
IEEE802.3an / 10GBASE-T
Proposed in November 2002, 10GBASE-T is the latest proposed 10GbE standard for use with unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) style cabling. The goal of this copper standard, which is expected to be ratified in the year 2006, is to approximate RJ-45 connectivity of 100 meters. It is intended to improve the performance and distance of copper cabling at a cost that is lower or similar to fiber.
Category 5 (Cat 5) and Category 6 (Cat 6) are the most common cabling systems being installed today, but Cat 5 is not capable of meeting the bandwidth and crosstalk demands of 10GbEs higher transmission speeds. In a large percentage of installations, cabling will have to be modified to support it. To meet the needs of 10GbE, a Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) subcommittee for cabling specifications
is working to provide additional specifications that will help vendors create sufficient cabling.
The cabling standard is Category 6A (Cat 6A), designed with existing Cat 6 cable but measured and specified to higher frequencies. In addition to Cat 6A, 10GBASE-T will operate on Category 7 (Cat 7) cables.
Optical Media Converters
Optical media converters have traditionally been used in converting Ethernet LAN copper transmission to Fiber-optic cabling for the express purpose of extending the copper distance past 100 meters. More of an implementation tactic than cabling standard, optical media converters provide a way to utilize existing copper and support low-cost fiber transmission. In many cases, fiber can extend 100Mb transmission over 100 kilometers and 1000Mb transmission up to 70 kilometers. To extend the current distance limitation of 15 meters for 10GBASE-CX4, products have been introduced for a 10GbE optical media converter to extend the supported distance up to 300 meters. These converters snap directly to the CX4 port and receive power through the CX4 connector to ease implementation for customers. The fiber cable used is 12-fiber 62.5 μm or 50 μm Multimode ribbon cable terminated by standard Multiple Terminations Push-Pull Latch (MTP) connectors in a simple crossover configuration. These cables are generically known as Multi-fiber Push On or MPO cables.
Optical Media Converters can now provide much higher flexibility and 10GBASE-SR distance at half the price using a 10GBASE-CX4 switch port.
IT professionals must also consider the devices that connect their cabling to their network. Transceivers provide the interface between the equipment sending and receiving data and the cabling transporting it. Just as there are distinct cabling technologies that coincide with distinct gigabit technologies, various transceivers are also available to match each gigabit standard. Both gigabit and 10GbE technologies have pluggable transceivers. For gigabit technology, there are two defined transceiver types: Gigabit Interface Connector (GBIC) with its large metal case for insertion into low-density interface modules and units (switches), and the newer mini-GBIC or Small Form Factor Pluggable (SFP).
10GbE has four defined transceiver types. These transceivers are the result of Multi-Source Agreements (MSAs) that enable vendors to produce 802.3ae-compliant pluggable transceivers. The four types are:
– XENPAK the first 10GbE pluggable transceivers on the market to support the 802.3ae standard transmission optics. They are large, bulky and used mainly in LAN switches. These transceivers are hot pluggable and support the new 802.3ak Copper standard with vendors now producing transceivers to connect CX4 cables.
– XPAK used primarily in Network Interface Cards (NIC) and Host Bus Adapter (HBA) markets for use in Servers and NAS devices.
– X2 the smaller brother of the XENPAK pluggable transceivers, the X2 form factor is about 2/3 the size of the XENPAK. With the same hot pluggable specifications and supporting all the 10GbE standards (including copper), the X2 form factor allows for more port density on switches. X2 is being used by ProCurve and Cisco thereby providing customers with a strong sense of assurance that this technology
is the best choice for today and will have strong vendor support.
– XFP the newest pluggable transceiver on the market, XFP is the closest in size to the SFP pluggable transceiver now used for gigabit technology. Because it relies on a high-speed interface (10.3125Gbps), high-priced serializer/deserializer (SERDES) are required inside the switch to support it. Over time, the cost of such SERDES will decline, but today they add an unacceptable cost to the base system. Still, the
positive aspect of the XFP form factor is it will allow switch vendors to increase port density in a smaller area for cost savings. A drawback of the XFP will be its inability to support the current Copper (802.3ak) or the 10GBASE-LX4 standards.
– SFP+ – As the industry brings down the cost and power of 10G optical devices, effort to increase the capacity of the existing SFP is being considered. For many customers, the possibility of achieving 10G speeds and a mechanical form factor that allows 1G or 10G to reside in the same footprint, might prove attractive.
As organizations grow their networks and support bandwidth-intensive applications and traffic types, 10GbE technology is becoming evermore pervasive. 10GbE functionality can provide immediate performance benefits and safeguard a companys investment well into the future.
Just as there are many manifestations of the gigabit and 10GbE standards to suit various networking environments, there are also many copper and fiber cabling technologies to support them. Companies must have a solid understanding of not only their environment and need, but also the different standards and cabling technologies available to them. Doing so will help them develop a sound migration and cabling
strategy, enabling them to reap the benefits of 10GbE for years to come.


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Delivery coach - TVH Group
As a delivery coach you are a focused agile ambassador, working with and for delivery squads, stakeholders and management, aiming for the improvement of performance, processes and results of the squads.
You will coach, facilitate and support leadership. You act as a people manager as well as a mentor.
On a daily basis, you are responsible for your squads to guarantee the outcome of the Development Process and the Scrum implementation. You will act as a knowledge hub to different stakeholders.
Your aim is to create a highly effective and a strong performing organization by looking for new principles, best practices and non-negotiables, or change existing ones.
As a mentor you will evaluate the squad members and support the growth of competencies of every single squad member.
To ensure a complete structure, you will also be involved in the hiring process to get the right people for vacancies within the squads.
You have a master degree or you are equal by experience.
You have excellent people management skills, communicate transparent and honest and can identify and solve developing interpersonal conflicts within a team.
You have a strong knowledge in the domain of your responsibility and are familiar with the implementation and optimization of the processes. You have experience coordinating squads within an Agile environment.
Other people describe you as a strong analytic, convincing, constructive and pro-active person. You are result drive, a strategic thinker and able to conceptualize.
You can rely on a strong experience with big IT-systems (SAP, Dynamics, Oracle, …) and you are a real change manager.
You have an excellent knowledge of Dutch and English. Knowledge of German is a strong asset.
You are willing to travel abroad on a regular basis.
You take on an exciting position in an international company with a family atmosphere where people are at the centre.
As part of a dynamic team your initiative and entrepreneurship is highly valued.
You arrive in an innovative, progressive and technical environment.
Numerous opportunities for personal development are at your disposal. Through permanent guidance and professional (internal/external) training courses we provide the necessary support to guide your career and increase your job satisfaction.
You work within a flexible work arrangement with attention for a good balance between work and private life.
You can count on an attractive salary package with extralegal benefits such as a company car, a group and hospitalization insurance, luncheon vouchers, corporate restaurant ...

subset: commoncrawl


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That's not a pizza food baby, she's really pregnant... remember? Besides, those two only split a piece, whereas Andy and I polished off 3 pieces between the two of us! We had a lovely Sunday afternoon lunch downtown at Papa Keno's with two of our friends (who are expecting a baby in October). Papa Keno's is the best and closest to NY slice you can get in Lawrence.
I got to use up a roll of film to see how my new (old) Minolta manual focus was working, and luckily I got more than a couple decent shots! Walgreens threatened them with a terrible scan job, but they made up for it by correcting it for free.
|all images fujifilm pro800z, minolta x-370.


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METRO VANCOUVER -- A former Surrey stripper pleaded guilty to assault Wednesday for tipping off her United Nations boyfriend to the whereabouts of an enemy during a deadly 2009 gang war.
Nicola Cottrell texted and called Barzan Tilli-Choli after seeing rival Tyler Willock at T-Barz show lounge on Feb. 15, 2009, leading to a drive-by shooting that wounded Willock's friend.
Cottrell, who tearfully apologized in court, was handed a conditional sentence of two years less a day by B.C. Supreme Court Associate Chief Justice Austin Cullen.
Cullen also acquitted her of an attempted murder charge.
"The larger context of this case is one that is very disturbing to members of the public," Cullen said. "And where those involved in open flagrant acts of murderous violence are convicted, it demands a very strong message of repudiation and denunciation of the courts to enforce the standards of civil behaviour that our community is entitled to rely on."
He said he accepted the joint submission made by Crown prosecutor Sandra Dworkin and Cottrell's lawyer, Patrick McGowan, because Cottrell was remorseful, had been in a violent relationship with the gangster, and had turned her life around.
The British-born Cottrell, now 31, knew Tilli-Choli was a UN gangster and that he hated Willock when she agreed to help him find the Bacon brothers associate, Cullen heard.
But Cottrell said she thought Tilli-Choli wanted to assault his rival and had no idea that Tilli-Choli was plotting a hit.
"On Feb. 13, 2009, Cottrell was intercepted sending an SMS message to Tilli-Choli that said: 'I'm in love with you, I'll do what you asked earlier. I want to spend tonight with you so I can wake up with my love on Valentines'," Dworkin read from an agreement statement of facts in the case.
About 11:20 p.m. on Feb. 15, she sent a text to Tilli-Choli saying "that guy" was at T-Barz. Several more texts and calls followed before the vehicle Willock was in was sprayed by eight shots early Feb. 16, Dworkin said.
Cullen imposed a ban on the names of the people in the vehicle with Willock, including the injured man.
"Common sense dictates that it would have been terrifying to be in [his] vehicle that night. And being shot at would have had psychological trauma to all the occupants," Dworkin said.
But she noted that Cottrell had no record and was not involved in gang activity herself.
Her relationship with Tilli-Choli, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to kill the Bacons earlier this year, was volatile. Police had earlier interceded as he kicked her repeatedly while she lay in a fetal position.
"She appeared at the time, over four years ago, to be caught under the spell, in essence, of Mr. Tilli-Choli," Dworkin said.
When Cottrell first appeared in court in 2009, a "Barzan" tattoo was visible on the back of her neck.
On Wednesday, the tattoo appeared to have been covered by a butterfly.
McGowan said Cottrell has started a business as a personal trainer and is also working full-time in an Edmonton tattoo shop.
He said she has turned her life around and has strong family support. Her parents and sister were in the courtroom.
"I stand here in front of you, the honourable judge and the court, to acknowledge and accept consequences of my thoughtless actions in which I've caused harm, fear and pain to others," Cottrell said.
"I only hope the people affected by this will be able to someday forgive me."
Read my blog at vancouversun.com/therealscoop
Follow me: twitter.com/kbolan


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Here are some of the most enjoyable and/or important books that I am currently reading. This does not mean I stand by everything the authors write (do I even have to state that?). Some of these I purchased, others were provided by the kindness of the publisher:
By now many of you have heard of the Genevan Commons Facebook group. The Genevan Commons (GC) group was apparently formed several years ago to provide a forum for discussion of Reformed theology. All well and good. But more recently some of the group members began attacking Aimee Byrd, Rachel Miller, and us (Carl and Todd). At times the banter degenerated into sinful mocking and slander. Unbecoming to say the least.
Calvin's sensitivity to the different circumstances in which people live lead him to flip-flop, or at least to be somewhat ambivalent in his attitude to the magistrate. Citing the case of Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 27), Scripture requires obedience to bad kings, and even to pray for the well being of the country of exile (Jer.29). No doubt Calvin has his own city of exile, Geneva, in mind. But should not rulers, who also have responsibilities, be kept on track? Yes, but not by ourselves, but by Almighty God. This leads to discussion of the vexed question of civil disobedience.
No doubt having the Anabaptists in mind, and having already defended the right to litigate, Calvin proceeds to defend the entire judicial process. He discourages using the law for the taking of revenge, but upholds the use of due process, 'through which God may work for our good'. (It is interesting that in his teaching Calvin primarily seems to have mind not Geneva, which by this time in his career he believed was governed along right lines, but countries where the law may remain hostile to evangelical Christianity).
Following Elijah's stunning victory over the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18, he turns his attention to drought that continued to linger over the land. Back in 1 Kings 17, Elijah had announced a drought on the land because of the apostasy of the people. They had backed into Baalism and paganism. And their failure to remain faithful to the Lord carried the judgment of God removing his word from the people, signified by the lack of rain or dew. This was also a polemic against Baal, the storm god. The Baal cycle would be broken and the LORD would show himself to be God.
"With which person in the Bible do you most identify?" This is a question I have often asked others in the church over the years. Most of us lack even enough self-awareness to able to answer the question. Others among us have a propensity to appeal to the best characters in Scripture.
Charles Chauncy (1705-1787) was one of the most influential pastors in Boston during his life. He received his theological training at Harvard and served as pastor of First Church for nearly 60 years. He wrote numerous pamphlets between 1762-1771 against the British proposal to impose a Bishop in America. This sermon preached in 1747, addressed to rulers (the Governor, the council, and the Massachusetts House of Representatives), called them to be just and frequently to recall their subordination to God. Original punctuation has been preserved.
Satan persuades us to cultivate close friendships with ungodly peers.
After revealing some details of their personal lives, Carl and Todd get down to business. Seems a disturbing phenomenon is plaguing churches all over the country. Since the lockdown, many Christians have become too comfortable with worshipping from home over a screen…dressed in their jammies, eating donuts, and—quite possibly—not really worshipping at all.
Carl Trueman's The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self - Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution hasn't even been released, and—already—it's the best-selling book of 2020! It is, at least, according to the hosts of this program. Yes, the author feels he's found a pot of gold, and is buying that dream villa in Venice with the royalties. At the same time, co-host Todd feels privileged as he possesses an advanced copy of this treasure and believes he'll be enjoying a free stay at his friend's Mediterranean estate.
Three events this week have given me pause both for thought, nostalgia, and hope. The first was the arrival of an email on Thursday containing the memoir manuscript of a well-known Welsh Baptist pastor who served only one congregation in his ministry, and that for over fifty years. He asked me to read it with a view to offering a commendation, though he couched the request with comments about how busy I must be, and how many more important books I no doubt have to read. Read it with a view to commendation?
Many congratulations to both Jon Master and Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary on his appointment as their new president, starting July 1 next year.
"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world" (Jam. 1:27).
"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God" (Heb. 13:16)
"... that which is pleasing in his sight" (Heb. 13:21)
Every so often, a friend and I indulge a favorite argument. The debate is over what matters more when it comes to leadership: Character, or competence? While we both have similar worldviews, I have contended that character matters more, while my friend argues for the greater worth of competence.
Genesis 1:28 records God's first command to the first human couple, Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden: "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth." Since God first gave this command (sometimes called the "cultural mandate" by theologians) the earth's population has blossomed from one couple to billions of people around the globe. The vast majority of this growth has taken place in the last two centuries alone, a fact which has
Greg Lanier, Is Jesus Truly God? How the Bible Teaches the Divinity of Christ (Wheaton: Crossway, 2020). Pp. 144. $16.99, paper.
Prolegomena: A Defense of the Scholastic Method, by Jordan Cooper, The Weidner Institute, 2020, 332 Pages, $21.60.
When you set up your shepherding plan you could not have imagined that your entire congregation would be hunkered-down attempting to stay clear of Covid-19.
These are times in which the flock needs to hear from their shepherds for comfort and assurance. I have urged our elders to put a priority on reaching out to their sheep, especially to those who are especially vulnerable.
I recently received this encouraging email from my friend Ken Jones, Shepherding Pastor at Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama:
Francis James Grimké – Through a Pandemic and Social Unrest
We are not the first generation who must deal with a pandemic and racial unrest at the same time. The Spanish flu of 1918 hit America at a time when racial segregation and lynching of blacks were commonplace and largely ignored by the majority of Americans. Francis James Grimké led his congregation through both challenges, while defending human rights in his speeches and writings.
From Slave to Pastor
Matilde Calandrini – Fighting for Education and Religious Freedom
In 1831, 37-year old Matilde Calandrini moved from Geneva to Pisa for health reasons. Tuscany, the enchanting Italian region where Pisa was located, had been the home of her ancestors at the time of the Protestant Reformation. They had lived in Lucca, just twelve miles north of Pisa, the same city where the Italian Reformer Peter Martyr Vermigli preached and founded his school for the promotion of biblical knowledge.
An advice column dedicated to gift-giving in December accidentally explored a very biblical topic – the relationship between love and the law. Question one: What shall I do about a boyfriend who buys expensive but inappropriate gifts? The mind wanders: Did he buy her a chain saw last year? Hang-gliding lessons? Question two: My family members have requested gift cards in prescribed amounts, from specific stores. Is this really gift-giving or a sanctioned way for people to lift money from each other's wallets?
The believer, by rights, is best able to bear bad news. After all, we believe that we are morally corrupt, unable to reform ourselves, and so incorrigible that the only solution was that the Son of God live and die in our place. If we can accept that, we should be able to face hard truths about our health and the economy. And there are hard truths.
Basic information – four ideas
Christians are frequently reminded to "remember the reason for Christmas," meaning, of course, that we should turn our attention away from the cultural trappings and to the fact that Jesus was born to Mary in Bethlehem. But this Christmas, perhaps we should fix our attention a little more closely, not just on the details of Jesus' birth, but on the miracle of the incarnation. In so doing, we join a great cloud of Christian witnesses, who have reflected deeply on this glorious mystery.
Sometimes we can be surprised by the kind of things theologians say that seem to resonate with us. We might expect them to be profound insights into a particular doctrine; but, more often than not, it is because of a different kind of profundity. One example is the story of Karl Barth's being asked during a conference Q&A Session what the deepest truth he had learned in all his study of theology had been. To which he replied, 'Jesus loves me, this I know; for the Bible tells me so…'
We are familiar with treatments, such as that by B.B. Warfield, on the emotional life of Christ and we very quickly realise why it is vital to our understanding of his Person and work. God, in Holy Scripture has seen fit to include this insight into the incarnate life of his Son, not just to underscore the genuineness of his humanity, but also to encourage us in the realisation that he is able to sympathise with his people in their life struggles. But do we also realise that God has seen fit to include an insight into the emotional life of his prophets and apostles in the Bible?
Thank you for watching the September Alliance Update with Executive Director Bob Brady.
Quakertown Conference of Reformed Theology
Recently I had been thinking about how to minister to several members of our congregation because of what God is calling them to go through again which will surely tax their energy and emotions. I had also been pondering what we are all going through in the present state of pandemic uncertainty. So many seem so restless. So anxious. And so many Christians just seem so very agitated.
The answer to Hamlet's famous question "To be or not to be?" is simple for God. God can only "be." He is "I am," meaning He exists infinitely and independent of anything, without beginning or end, as the source and sustainer of all things. There has never been a time where God has not existed in and of Himself. This is known as the aseity of God.
Foundations of Covenant Theology
Jonathan and James are very excited to introduce Lane Tipton. He's fellow of Biblical and Systematic Theology at Reformed Forum, and pastor of Trinity OPC church in Easton, PA.
Lane has assembled an outstanding video series for the Forum titled Foundations of Covenant Theology, which he passionately calls "the history of heaven".
We probably all have bank accounts with savings, and maybe investments and 401(k)s. Wisdom would suggest that while we trust God we also should be good stewards and save. You want to have in inheritance—at the end of the road of your work life, you want to have a nest egg. This doesn't make you greedy, in most cases it means you were prudent. But all of this should make us ask, where is my real inheritance? What is the real price? Where, or better, in whom is my true retirement.
What season did we recently enter? Spring. What comes next? Summer. Then what? Fall. Then what? Winter. And then? Spring. And so on until Christ's Second Coming. The year's seasons are cyclical—and somewhat predictable. So the seasons of our years should not surprise us but rather inspire our adaptability, acceptance, and appreciation.


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Hello dear Stampers,
Thank you for joining our Summer challenge, we saw some fantastic creations and have a difficult task ahead choosing our top three.
No new challenge today as we are going to have our Summer break.
We will be back next week Sunday 16th July with the winner of the Crafty Ribbons prize and with our chosen top three.
We hope you all have a wonderful Summer and will join us again with the new challenge starting on Sunday 3rd September
(Don't forget to check back Sunday 16th to see if you are the lucky winner!)
ATSC Team.
ATSC Team.


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Hawaiian ti plant, ti tree, dragon tree
Cordyline terminalis
Trees and Shrubs, Plants of Home and Garden
Seeds sown in spring onto surface of well-draining compost, 70-85F/ 21-30C, in bright light, after soaking in warm water for 15 minutes. Maintain temperature after germination, keep slightly moist at all times, provide humidity and good indirect light, and light, well-drained soil. May also be grown from stem cuttings as for Dracaena species, or from suckers removed late in spring
See Also
Dragon tree, dragon lily (Dracaena species)
Related Topics
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Are you planning on wearing shorts and short sleeve shirts this summer? For many psoriasis patients, that question depends on one main criterion: how much psoriasis covers the potentially exposed areas. Here in Southern California we should be entering into a season of sandals and shorts in the next few weeks. I'm wondering if I'll be sporting the area's casual wear or covering up in the summer heat.
I'm currently tapering my use of Neoral (cyclosporine), moving from 300 mg to 200 mg, and now 100 mg over the past month. I know exactly how much Neoral improves my condition by observing the results of its increased absence. Each morning my scalp leaves a thin layer of flakes on my pillow. By midday I need to use my index finger as a windshield wiper on my glasses lens to push away the gathering silvery scales. The palms of my hands and soles of my feet reveal the inevitable thickening, reddening, and peeling of once soft skin. Pitted nails have become more undulated and deeply pocked. So far my arms and legs don't show as much disease activity, but past experience tells me that won't last long.
I might be in for a long, hot summer. My dermatologist says I need to take a three month break from Neoral after each year's use. And what she says I do my best to follow for the good of my overall health, no matter how much I might break out.
I've noticed the many comments on the blog that equate improving skin conditions to the stripping down of layers of clothing. Some write they haven't worn shorts for years until such-and-such started clearing their skin. I was no different. My wife recalls the first summer we dated. She tells me I wore long sleeve shirts and slacks in hundred-degree heat when methotrexate treatment lost effectiveness. It's natural to become self-conscious when your skin is red and scaly. Who wants to field the onslaught of questions such as, "Do you have poison oak?" or "Is that contagious?" or just simply, "What is that?"
At some point in my mid-20's I decided to attempt my daring escape from the prison of long-sleeve everything no matter how clear I was. I never quite got over the self-consciousness that I had felt since my elementary years, but I did manage the heat better. It still takes me a measure of courage, a dose of "who cares" attitude, and a pinch of tolerance for others' insensitivity to break out the shorts.
So my answer for now is "Yes, I'll be wearing shorts this summer." How about you? Will you be wearing shorts, skirts, or shortsleeve shirts this summer? Will navy blue and jet black be part of your summer wardrobe color palate?
Important: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not Everyday Health.


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Regular price
Each of the Unique Sheepskin Rugs are one off hides as featured in the image.
This Lambskin Rug is a premium sourced along the Wild Atlantic Way these high quality, durable skins will age beautifully.
Each carefully chosen hide has unique shape, pattern and colouring.
Size of Unique Fianna
Material & Colour
This Irish Hide Designs sheepskin rug is sourced along the Wild Atlantic Way. Each sheepskin rug is hand picked to ensure premium wool quality, great shape and great colour.
Delivery Times
Irish Hide Designs is a luxury furniture and furnishings company that is committed to offering its customers quality products which are made from premium, natural Irish sheepskins. Our sheepskin rugs are sourced along the Wild Atlantic Way and our these quality rugs are made using both traditional and modern manufacturing techniques. We take huge pride in the quality of our Irish sourced sheepskins that are beautiful and unique. We are inspired by the places that we visit and the people that we meet.
Irish Hide Designs was established in 2016 with the aim of providing the highest quality Irish hide and skin products to the Irish and International markets. Underpinning the company is the wealth of experience derived from the McCarthy family who have been involved in the trade since 1810. This rich history and the expertise and skills nurtured over 200 years are now focused on the design and manufacture of our natural and premium products


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Acer Extensa 4420 User Review
Of late, many retailers have been offering basic notebooks that are very attractively priced. The Acer Extensa 4420, which retails for between $399 and $699, is one such notebook that I recently purchased for my wife to surf the internet, check emails, and manage her recipes.
The Acer Extensa 4420 has the following specifications:
- Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processor TK-57
- Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition operating system
- Memory: 2GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM
- Optical Drive: Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive with double-layer support
- Screen: 14.1″ WXGA TFT-LCD CrystalBrite widescreen display
- Hard drive: Hitachi 160GB 5400rpm SATA hard drive
- Graphics: ATI Radeon Xpress X1250 graphics with 256MB dedicated memory
- Audio: Acer 3DSonic stereo speakers with high-definition audio support
- Wireless: Acer InviLink wireless LAN (802.11b/g)
- Ports: 5-in-1 media card reader, Ethernet LAN with RJ-45 connector; V.92 high-speed modem
- Weight: 5.3 lbs
- Dimensions: 13.03″ x 9.76″ x 1.17 / 1.61″
Prior to purchase, I had considered the 14-inch HP Pavilion dv2910 and the Toshiba Satellite M305, as well as the Gateway T6836. The HP Pavilion dv2910, at one point, was being sold for $549 after rebate, which made it very tempting since it was a Core 2 Duo machine. But I decided to wait and go for a notebook for as low as I could find, preferably $400 or less, without compromising too much on the specifications.
I purchased this notebook from Best Buy when they were running a special for this notebook. At that time, this notebook was on sale for $399, which is not too bad for a thin and light notebook, considering the specs. In my opinion, this machine offers tremendous value for money, especially in these difficult economic times.
Office Depot also recently sold a variant of this notebook at the same price. The Office Depot model featured bluetooth and a webcam, both of which are conspicuous by their absence on this particular model.
Build and Design
This is my first Acer product, so I was initially a little apprehensive about the build quality of this notebook. When I played around with the notebook at Best Buy, I was taken aback at how solid this little notebook felt. Build quality is pretty decent. Acer's Extensa line of notebooks features magnesium alloy casing which is tough yet lightweight. The screen lid has rounded edges and does flex a bit, but nothing to worry about too much. Also, I find that if strong pressure is applied on top of the lid, one can notice small ripples on the screen. I would say the overall design is rather bland, certainly not eye-catching, but not downright ugly either. Weight, as mentioned earlier, is 5.3 lbs. This makes it really convenient to carry around the house, or on a plane.
Front: Speaker, IEEE 1394 port, Infrared port, USB port, Line-in jack, Microphone port, Headphone jack, Bluetooth toggle switch, Wireless toggle switch, Speaker
Back: Cooling vents, RJ-11 (modem) port
Right Side: PC Card slot, two USB ports, S-Video out, Ethernet port, VGA port, power jack
Left Side: Kensington lock slot, Optical Drive, one USB port, 5-in-1 media card reader
The 14 inch screen is glossy and reflective, with a maximum resolution of 1280 x 800. It is very clear and bright with no dead pixels. Watching movies is generally an enjoyable experience. Backlighting appears to be even and I cannot notice any light leaks anywhere on the screen. The screen can be quite grainy and colors may appear distorted if you're viewing the screen from an angle, as opposed to viewing the screen from directly in front.
The Acer Extensa 4420 at night
This notebook features Acer's GridVista technology, which splits the screen into up to four sections, allowing more efficient multi-tasking. For a 14-inch notebook, though, I wonder how productive one can get with several tiny windows open at once. However, GridVista can be used on a second monitor simultaneously. The picture below shows how GridVista works.
This notebook has two speakers located at the front, and angled downwards. This rather poor design means that sound is delivered downwards. Speaker performance is exactly as one would expect for a low-priced 14 inch notebook. Sound is not loud at all. You are better off using headphones. According to the User Manual, this notebook features speakers with 32-bit High Definition Audio, but I suspect this to be more of a software function.
Processor and Performance
Having never worked extensively with an AMD based machine before, I was quite apprehensive about the performance of the Acer. For general tasks such as surfing the internet, listening to music, watching a movie or using MS Office, this notebook performs flawlessly. It is fast, and can handle multiple programs simultaneously with little to no lag.
The machines comes with 2GB of RAM, and although this is sufficient, it might be a good idea to upgrade to 3GB, since the graphics card borrows up to 640MB of memory, and could bog down the system, especially when running CPU-intensive applications.
I have not installed any games on this machine, but I would imagine that the X1250 graphics card should be capable enough to handle quite a few games at medium to low settings. I read a review about how one user was able to get Crysis running at low resolution on this laptop.
In this section, we'll compare the performance of this notebook with other notebooks.
PCMark05 comparison results (Higher scores indicate better performance):
|PCMark05 Score
|Acer Extensa 4420 (1.9GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-57, ATI Radeon X1250)
|2,960 PCMarks
|Apple MacBook (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P7350, Nvidia GeForce 9400M)
|3,961 PCMarks
|Dell Inspiron 13 (1.86GHz Intel T2390, Intel X3100)
|3,727 PCMarks
|Lenovo ThinkPad X301 (1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU9400, Intel 4500MHD)
|4,457 PCMarks
|Sony VAIO NR (1.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5250, Intel X3100)
|3,283 PCMarks
|Sony VAIO CR (1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7100, Intel X3100)
|3,612 PCMarks
|Sony VAIO TZ (1.20GHz Core 2 Duo U7600, Intel GMA 950)
|2,446 PCMarks
|Lenovo ThinkPad X61 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, Intel X3100)
|4,153 PCMarks
|Lenovo 3000 V200 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, Intel X3100)
|3,987 PCMarks
|Lenovo T60 Widescreen (2.0GHz Intel T7200, ATI X1400 128MB)
|4,189 PCMarks
|HP dv6000t (2.16GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400)
|4,234 PCMarks
|Fujitsu N6410 (1.66GHz Core Duo, ATI X1400)
|3,487 PCMarks
|Alienware M7700 (AMD Athlon FX-60, Nvidia Go 7800GTX)
|5,597 PCMarks
|Sony VAIO SZ-110B in Speed Mode (Using Nvidia GeForce Go 7400)
|3,637 PCMarks
|Asus V6J (1.86GHz Core Duo T2400, Nvidia Go 7400)
|3,646 PCMarks
3DMark06 comparison results (Higher scores indicate better performance):
|3DMark06 Score
|Acer Extensa 4420 (1.9GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-57, ATI Radeon X1250)
|304 3DMarks
|Apple MacBook (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P7350, Nvidia GeForce 9400M)
|2,116 3DMarks
|Dell Inspiron 13 (1.86GHz Intel T2390, Intel X3100)
|470 3DMarks
|Lenovo ThinkPad X301 (1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU9400, Intel 4500MHD)
|712 3DMarks
|Sony VAIO NR (1.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5250, Intel X3100)
|504 3DMarks
|Toshiba Tecra A9 (2.20GHz Core 2 Duo T7500, NVIDIA Quadro NVS 130M 256MB)
|932 3DMarks
|Toshiba Tecra M9 (2.20GHz Core 2 Duo T7500, NVIDIA Quadro NVS 130M 128MB)
|1,115 3DMarks
|Sony VAIO TZ (1.20GHz Core 2 Duo U7600, Intel GMA 950)
|122 3DMarks
|LG R500 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS 256MB)
|2,776 3DMarks
|HP dv2500t (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB)
|1,055 3DMarks
|Dell Inspiron 1420 (2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7500, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB)
|1,329 3DMarks
|Sony VAIO FZ (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, Intel X3100)
|532 3DMarks
|Dell XPS M1330 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB)
|1,408 3DMarks
|Samsung Q70 (2.0GHz Core 2 Duo T7300 and nVidia 8400M G GPU)
|1,069 3DMarks
|Asus F3sv-A1 (Core 2 Duo T7300 2.0GHz, Nvidia 8600M GS 256MB)
|2,344 3DMarks
|Alienware Area 51 m5550 (2.33GHz Core 2 Duo, nVidia GeForce Go 7600 256MB
|2,183 3DMarks
|HP dv6000t (2.16 GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400)
|827 3DMarks
Vista Windows Experience Index:
wPrime results:
32M – 42.338 seconds
1024M – 1344.567 seconds
Keyboard and Touchpad
As with many Acer notebooks, this one features a keyboard with a gently curved layout, allowing the keys to be full size. The keys feel quite solid and travel just right. I was amazed to find little to no keyboard flex on this machine. I do notice, however, that there is a large space between the keys and the edge of the keyboard. I'm pretty sure, after several months of use, there will be large quantities of dust and other stuff, trapped in that space.
The Power button is located on the top right, above the keyboard, along with a set of programmable Quick Launch Buttons. These buttons include:
- Empowering button – launches Acer Empowering Technology tools (refer to the Operating System and Software section)
- Windows Lock button – locks Windows
- Presentation button – for presentations
- Sync button – synchronizes the notebook with another device.
- Internet Browser launch button – launches Firefox (or other Internet browser).
- Email client launch button – launches Outlook (or other email client)
- User Programmable button – can be programmed to launch a program
Refer to the picture below for more details. Although these buttons are a tad smaller than I would have liked, I find them to be extremely useful, especially the Internet Browser button, which I use all the time.
One useful feature is the inclusion of separate € and $ keys positioned just above the arrow keys. Anyone dealing with currencies and spreadsheets would find this to be really useful.
The Synaptics touchpad is located below the keyboard, centered under the space bar. Although it is rather small, I find it to be very responsive. Located immediately below the touchpad, we can find the left-click and right-click keys, separated by a 4-way scroll button, which allows the user to scroll up or down, left or right of a page.
Input and Output Ports
For a budget notebook, this machine features a pretty decent selection of ports. Even though this is a 14 inch notebook, it has four USB ports, one on the front, one on the left side, and two on the right side. Headphone and microphone jacks are conveniently located on the front side as well. A complete list of ports is given below:
- Four USB 2.0 ports
- PC Card slot (Type II)
- IEEE 1394 port
- 5-in-1 multi-card reader
- Headphone jack
- Microphone jack
- Line-In jack
- S-Video out
- VGA port
The wireless card (Broadcom 802.11 b/g) on this notebook has been impressive. It has been able to hold a consistently strong signal. A Wireless Toggle switch is conveniently located at the front, along with a Bluetooth Toggle switch, even though this model does not feature Bluetooth.
Hard disk
The 160GB, 5400 rpm hard disk drive is made by Hitachi, and runs fast and quiet. The hard drive is already partitioned into three parts, the smallest of which is a hidden partition that contains the OS recovery data. This notebook also features Acer DASP (Disk Anti-Shock Protection) technology, which protects the hard drive from shocks, by absorbing the impact from a bump or a drop. I have not tested this feature, and do not plan to.
Hard drive protection located at the bottom
This notebook features a 6-cell Lithium-ion battery pack. Battery life has been quite impressive without being outstanding. Under Power Saver mode, the notebook averages almost 2 hours with a few open programs and wireless running.
This notebook comes with a 65 W power adapter that is lightweight and easy to carry around.
Acer Extensa 4420 power adapter
Heat and Noise
When using the notebook continuously on one's lap, it gets unusually hot after more than a half hour. The single fan that is provided, is located at the bottom, near the back right corner of the notebook. The fan kicks in frequently and can be a little distracting, especially if you're concentrating really hard or trying to do some really serious work. However, if located on a desk or table, with proper ventilation, heat is minimal, and the fan is not required at all.
Operating System and Software
As mentioned above, this notebook comes with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition (32-bit) with Service Pack 1 (SP1) preinstalled, meaning this notebook was up and running straight out the box. An Operating System DVD is not provided. Instead, the pre-installed Acer eRecovery Management tool prompted me to burn a couple of System Restore DVDs, as well as another DVD containing all the requisite drivers.
Acer includes a suite of tools (Acer Empowering Technology) that may prove to be useful to many users:
- Acer eNet Management – a tool for managing network connections (wired and wireless)
- Acer ePower Management – a power management tool
- Acer ePresentation Management – a tool used for connecting the notebook to a projector
- Acer eDataSecurity Management – an encryption software to protect the hard drive from unauthorized access
- Acer eLock Management – a software to lock external media (USB drives, optical drive)
- Acer eRecovery Management – a backup / recovery software
- Acer eSettings Management – a utility to access and/or modify system BIOS settings
Some people may find these software programs to be useless, or may prefer to use some other programs, and thus may consider this software suite to be bloatware. I find the software to be rather useful, and not intrusive or resource-hungry.
This notebook does not have much bloatware. 60-day trial versions of Microsoft Office 2007 and McAfee Internet Security 2008 are also included, both of which I immediately uninstalled.
Customer Support
I have not had an opportunity to use Acer's Customer Service till date, so I cannot comment on their efficiency. A 1-year International Travelers Warranty is included with the purchase.
For years, I have never recommended Acer notebooks primarily due to their relatively mediocre build quality. After using the Acer Extensa 4420, I find that I am going to have to revise my opinion about Acer notebooks in general. Sure, it is not a ThinkPad or a Pavilion, but at its price point, you'll be hard pressed to find a sturdier notebook. This notebook has indeed lived up to my expectations. I anticipate strong sales for this notebook during the upcoming holiday season. It is not the latest, greatest or fastest out there, but it will suit the needs for the majority of buyers out there.
- Terrific price / value for money, especially in these difficult economic times.
- Light and portable.
- Very nice screen.
- Adequate performance.
- Not a whole lot of bloatware.
- No built-in webcam.
- No built-in bluetooth.
- Gets very hot.
- Power and Quick Launch buttons are a little small.
- OS Recovery DVD not included.


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On my way to my sister's wedding rehearsal in the polka dot dress
Wearing St. John Sport at the Saks Contest Weekend at the Ritz in Laguna
I still have this ruffled leather jacket! this is NY Eve 2003
I had a break in my routine today. Today, this Tuesday, for the first time in almost 2 years, I went to a company other than St. John Knits to work.
Last week layoffs continued at St. John as they have on and off for the past few months. Some people near and dear to my heart were let go, as was I. In actuality I wasn't laid off, rather my contract was ended. Back in December 08 when lay offs started, I was lucky to maintain a position at St. John as an outside contractor, whereas I had previously been a part time employee. So as the economy continued to struggle, the lay offs continued and so they really couldn't justify having an outside contractor on staff when people were losing their jobs.
The funny thing is is that I had mixed feelings when I first heard the news. For the past year I had been debating whether I should continue on in my part time role. You see I had a lot of conflicting feelings being "part time". While many other women and moms would tell me how lucky I was to have such a position, I often felt neither here nor there. While at home I often thought of work, and while at work I often thought of home. Being part time I no longer played as vital of a role as I used to. While at St. John I had been a Business Rep, an Account Manager and the West Coast Regional of Sales. Now I sat in a cubicle (not that there's anything wrong with a cube, just a new experience for me!) and I really wasn't "in the mix" if you will. I looked in on all the exciting things going on everyday with envy and longing. My friends were going on trips to NYC (a place I really miss visiting), they were involved in all the important happenings of the company and were buying Louboutins, etc. I missed my old positions and almost thought if I wasn't there then I would be able to let the envy go and move on. I really felt I wanted to and needed to move on but some force was holding me there.
On top of the feelings I had while I was at work, I also felt conflicted about being away from the kids even for just a couple of days a week and thought that if I gave up my PT role, I would be more focused and more relaxed while with the kids. And on top of all that I had a husband literally begging me to come help him at his office.
While I could wrap my head around the fact that all my job envy was simply due to my ego, I couldn't understand why I had such a hard time giving up my role and just being happy as a stay at home mom. While Art supported me in whatever choices I made, I knew deep down he really wanted me to leave and either stay home full time or come help him at the office. I honestly couldn't understand why I always felt stuck in the middle and conflicted. I know some women who willingly and happily continue to work full time as well as stay home full time. Neither option necessarily appealed to me. Say what you will about Dr. Laura, but I think she has it right that many women in my generation today have a lot to blame on the women's movement. We strive to have it all; the career, the husband, the family, etc. Can we really have it all though? And in reality, if you don't really know if you do want it all, are you left feeling a little lost? I am. I wanted to continue to have a flourishing career, but at what cost? I wanted to be a devoted mother to my children, but would I really be happy completely catering to their every need all day without feeling like I had an outlet for myself? Anyone reading this please take note that these questions I raise are entirely for myself and my issue alone. If anything, I actually am really envious of both the full time working moms who do so on their own volition and the stay at home moms. At least you know what you want and went for it. I told this exact same thing to my dear friend Jenn who recently went back to work FT. I still often feel like I don't know what I want and it makes me crazy sometimes! Anyhow, I digress.
Back to St. John. Basically, that chapter of my life is now closed. It took me a few days to process it, but I now feel really good about it. I have witnessed it too many times in life to not believe that everything happens for a reason. As Art said, "Andrea, you would have never left that place on your own free will so it's better you didn't have a choice about it." Amen. After months of debating back and forth the choice was made for me. I will now focus the time I spent there on helping CIU flourish and succeed. I plan to focus on that for the next 2 years, and then when Syd starts kindergarten I may go back to school or who knows. The choice is mine really and even with all my wishy washy back and forth feelings about work or no work, I know that I am extremely fortunate and blessed to be in the position to choose my future for myself.
All in all I had a wonderful 8.5 years at St. John. I can honestly say that I worked with the best group of people there. So many wonderful memories, so many great places visited and so many great meals! I traveled to Oahu, NYC, Maui, the Virgin Islands (St. John), Boston, Chicago, Texas, all over Florida, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Seattle and San Francisco to name a few. I met so many great people and feel fortunate to have worked with so many talented individuals. I quickly scanned through some old pics and found a few memorable ones wearing St. John. Bye Bye KNITS! Santana, you are an original!


text:
Another month full of wonderful foodie articles:
This time, I decided to break it up in half, since the list on the whole month was a bit long.
First half of the month (September 1-15)
- Fresh herbs make sweet and sophisticated ice cream
- A $10 "Cakeage" fee per guest is a little excessive
- A Chef in His Getaway Galley
- Roger Ebert: No Longer an Eater, Still a Cook
- Watermelons: What happened to the seeds?
- How the recession ate into diners' table time
- Matchmaking for Cooks and Food Lovers
- Your morning cup of nostalgia: Cake baking in 1894
- Restaurant menus getting interactive, turning to iPads
- How Lunchtime Is Turning Into Snack Time
- Who Put the Whiskey in My Milkshake?
and here are the articles I read in the second half of the month. (September 16-30)
- Food as Art: A Craftsman's Quest for Culinary Greatness
- Swizzle sticks make a new stir
- The World's Most Influential Chefs
- 'Top Chef' Meets 'Ratatouille' In 'Kings Of Pastry'
- Tacos boost cool quotient with new twists on taste
- San Francisco In Rare Restaurant Gold Rush
- Zagat results: Gary Danko most popular restaurant
- So a dish walks into a bar …
- Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream
- Ben & Jerry's to curb use of 'All Natural' on labels


text:
EXPERT'S CORNER: Sherry Pagoto on five keys to weight loss
Having published more than 60 papers in scientific journals, Sherry Pagoto, PhD, associate professor of medicine and a licensed clinical psychologist at the UMass Memorial Weight Center, is an expert on losing weight and keeping it off. Her research focuses on health, nutrition, fitness, weight management, depression, stress, cancer prevention and type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Pagoto recommends five keys to successful weight loss: keeping a diet journal, creating a healthy home food environment, utilizing social support, exercising and setting realistic goals.
"The strategy that is going to be the most helpful is to set reasonable goals and a reasonable diet," Pagoto said.
Watch the full interview with Pagoto.


text:
Monday, March 01, 2010
Poco Hor: The Lecture
On May 7th, I'm launching a new lecture (no not every single story will be new) called:
Poco Hor!
Listening, Connection and Understanding:
The Sometimes Forgotten Tools of Care
The lecture will be in Toronto and you can get information or register by calling Rose Castronovo at Vita Community Living Services, 416-749-6234. A few people have asked me what Poco Hor means and, though I should wait for the lecture - I've decided to tell that story on video. So I sat down at my computer and gave it a shot. I felt silly talking to the camera, but there it is.
One of my readers, a woman named Susan, says that this is one of her favourite stories from Rolling Around in My Head. So I've decided, without her permission, to go ahead and dedicate it to her. She's someone that I think always, intuitively, understood what Poco Hor! meant.
As this is my first, but not last as I presently have three planned, YouTube video, I ask if you could both rate it and leave a comment there. Thanks.
23 comments:
- Heidi said...
Really important story to tell - really important for us all to take a frequent look at what we think we know and reflect yet again. And yes, I too have a poco hor story-I guess many of us do - thank you for making me start my week off with the reminder to tread softly and leave my assumption boots at home!
- 1 March 2010 at 01:52
- Brenda said...
Oh, Dave. What a heart-warming - yet at the same time heart-wrenching - story. How often have we all, disability or no, wanted desperately to share something that was important to us, only to be misunderstood or dismissed by others? What a great reminder to make sure that we try to understand what others are trying to tell us. AND...how nice to see you on video! It's great to finally be able to put a voice with your words. I found that the sound level was a tad low, but other than that it was great. I'll be looking forward to more videos!
- 1 March 2010 at 03:15
- theknapper said...
Have been sitting here thinking about your story and that with very young children who are just starting to speak, they say sounds to us and we talk back to them , often not knowing what they mean but when someone was labeled mentally handicapped and lived in an institution it was often looked at as a 'BEHAVIOR' issue.
- 1 March 2010 at 04:26
- Heather said...
Here's a link to the youtube site for leaving your rating and comments :-)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8n80xoJoNo
Amazing to hear your voice and finally see you in action
- 1 March 2010 at 04:40
- The Untoward Lady said...
Beautiful story.
One question though: if you were reading from a script would you mind posting the script as a transcript for your Deaf and hard of hearing readers?
I'd offer to write a transcript but if you were reading from a script that could save a lot of trouble.
- 1 March 2010 at 06:49
- Andrea S. said...
Seconding the request for captioning. (Or, second best, a transcript.) As a deaf person I can't watch the video without it and would like to.
- 1 March 2010 at 07:09
- Dave Hingsburger said...
A script!! I had notes and the notes said, 'Poco Hor Story'. That's it. I'm totally cool with someone doing a transcript for this ... however, if you search google for hingsburger poco hor a blog post will pop up. It's not the same as the video ... but it's the story that the video is based on. I'm going to try to figure out how to caption. Dave
- 1 March 2010 at 07:25
- Belinda said...
Oh, I so badly wanted to be the first to leave a comment on the video and tried, twice--does that count? I couldn't make it stick! Just know that I wanted to say something like, "Wow! Awesome!" only in a few more words.
- 1 March 2010 at 08:21
- FridaWrites said...
I wonder if when people play a video while a computer microphone is on, if DragonSpeak could pick up that audio and transcribe it, though there may be corrections to make. That might be a timesaver.
You have a nice voice!
- 1 March 2010 at 09:21
- Kristin said...
Dave, that is story is absolutely beautiful. I think your interpretation is spot on (the funny thing is, my oldest son heard you telling the story and thought your were saying Por Favor not Poco Hor...that really is please).
BTW, the video is great but the volume seems to be a little low.
- 1 March 2010 at 10:33
Awesome story. Volume level was good. The story is so good that you may want to slow down a bit in it's telling. Allow the story to sink in for me.
- 1 March 2010 at 13:07
- Susan said...
Well, Dave, I've been trying to decide all day how to respond to your kind gesture. I've been turning your words over and over in my heart today. I can't feel more honoured to have one of YOUR stories dedicated to me. ("Me"???) And for it to be this one... well, that's just way beyond words.
I can't believe you remembered... but you did. And I am blessed in the deepest recesses of my soul.
God bless you and God bless the message. Now instead of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears", I'm going to tell my children "Poco Hor". Every chance I get.
Well, it's "my" story, after all. :)
And please, sir. Can we have more?
- 1 March 2010 at 15:09
- Susan said...
I meant "grandchildren". But I suspect our kids (all grown) will be eagerly listening in as well.
- 1 March 2010 at 15:11
- wordsong_girl said...
What a wonderful story. Thanks for resharing it with us. And to hear it in your own voice added so much too. I have a theory for you. As soon as I saw the title of your story, I thought of poco hora, spanish for little hour.I wonder if Phillip had heard that expression and used it to ask people for a little hour, a little time to share with him. That would certainly fit with your final interpretation.
- 1 March 2010 at 16:26
- i. said...
Thank you so much for this video. I have been following your blog for a few months now and it was wonderful to hear your voice and this special story. I have many friends in L'Arche communities who speak words I do not understand, but it is the message that is so important even if we cannot understand the words. Thanks again for sharing this story!
- 1 March 2010 at 16:43
- RusW said...
Dave, that's a wonderful story. That video should be required viewing for new employee orientation. I hope you do more video blogging.
I'm sure most people hear the story and try to do their own interpretation. It makes us all think and that's good. Maybe he was telling you he'd like to hear some Procol Harum which liberally translated from latin means "of these far off things".
- 1 March 2010 at 18:55
I only have one question did anyone ever take him outside maybe he was simply saying "pro favor", because he wanted to be outside not just look outside.
How wonderful it is that you share the things that you assume you did wrong or over looked, for others to learn from. I say you are a brave man to openly do what others refuse to do even when they are alone.
I love the idea of watching you on video or on You Tube. If you haven't done it watch it yourself. You may want to reposition yourself in fromt of the camera.
I am looking forward to (hopefully) many more.
- 1 March 2010 at 20:25
More volume, I had to turn my speakers up all the way.
- 1 March 2010 at 20:27
- Jan said...
Dave what a beautiful story. I look back on the days I was a student in the institution and thank the people who had to call the Northwestern Regional Centre their home for teaching me and sharing their humanity. I have had a career in community services but I learned many of my skills from some beautiful people who survived living in those places.
- 1 March 2010 at 20:58
- Shan said...
Great job, Dave.
- 1 March 2010 at 21:51
- Gone Fishing said...
I worked for about a year in a "post Institution" country farm environment until I was expertly assessed as brain injured and cognitively impaired therefore seemingly a risk and employment was withdrawn.
Much to the horror of my co workers who enjoyed my empathy and so on and one who said such was obvious but why did they have to write it down.
So I have been and maybe am on both sides of the fence so to speak.
An amazing year of great learning and a few poco hors.
Imagine my newbe horror when one chap ran dancing without clothes across the fields.
My "Boss" who knew so much better than I was unfazed, seems the chap simply liked the feel of the fresh air, nothing to sanction or panic about.
As someone said a year long humbling experience during which those who see the world differently taught me far more about respecting all people underestimating nobody and how few worries we really have in life.
Video adds an entire new dimension to reading your works
- 1 March 2010 at 22:21
As I read your blog (nearly each day) I have always imagined what your voice might sound like reading those words.
Can I just say that I find your voice beautiful? Better than I ever imagined? And I love that smidge of Canadian accent. <3 <3
Now I get to hear the real Dave Hingsburger in my head as I read.
- 2 March 2010 at 11:59
- Niki said...
This is the first tiem I have left a comment on your blog, but after watching this video I feel I must.
What a lovely story, but so sad. People 'hear' things all the time, but only some really 'listen' to what is being said either through words, gestures, looks, or behaviour.
I found this video deeply moving and inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing. Niki
- 4 March 2010 at 12:31


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The Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park stretches from the Hunsrück hills, an area of austere beauty, via the burbling brooks of the Soonwald to the rolling hillside vineyards of sunny Nahe Valley.
This small 73,500-hectare area with its varied countryside and climate is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. Bloom-filled forest meadows, fens, orchards, winding streams and river meadows can be found alongside unspoilt, light deciduous forests. The typical dry stone walls and fallow vineyards along the hills of the Nahe river also provide a habitat for plants and animals that thrive in a temperate climate.
Old walls obscured by the forest and countless palaces and castles are monuments to the Middle Ages and the area's Celtic and Roman settlements: evidence from chalk caves near Stromberg shows that there were settlements in the Nahe Valley by 500 BC.
The 85-kilometre Soonwaldsteig Premium Hiking Trail, the Rhine-Nahe Wine Trail, numerous fitness walks (Vitaltouren), picturesque circular walks (Traumschleifen) and cycle routes found in the Nahe Valley and the Hunsrück hills offer attractive options for keen hikers and cyclists. And with three spa towns - Bad Kreuznach, Bad Münster am Stein-Ebernburg and Bad Sobernheim - visitors searching for rest and relaxation will also be in their element.
The regional cuisine found in the Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park is also reflective of the area's diverse countryside: from fine wines produced by the Nahe Valley's rustic inns to Hunsrück spiessbraten (onion-marinated and flame-grilled steaks), there is something to suit every palate!
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text: "Less Doing, More Living: Make Everything in Life Easier," Ari Meisel How many extra hours in a day do you wish you could add? 1, 3, 6 ... more? I will be the first in line for even a few hours. Between the necessities like sleeping, eating and work there isn't much time left to enjoy the finer things in life. As a child, I never completely understood when my parents would say time flies. Now that I'm a parent of two — one who will be entering middle school and another who will be entering kindergarten — I understand. Now more than ever I want to slow down and savor these moments that are passing by so quickly. But how? I put off doing the dishes a few nights last week to read "Less Doing, More Living: Make Everything in Life Easier" by Ari Meisel. That's a fully loaded title and Meisel delivers. His book explains very clearly that by "learning to be more efficient in your day-to-day work, monitoring how you're actually spending your time and automating that time as much as possible" you will have more time for yourself and others. Meisel has transformed his life, having once suffered from Crohn's disease and extreme stress, with what he calls "life hacks," apps and websites designed to help you get a hold of your life: Q: What inspired you to turn around your life and write this book? A: In 2006, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, which is a very painful chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. I was taking a lot of medications and getting worse. After one bad night in the hospital I decided to make a change through self-tracking and self-experimentation. After four months, I was thriving medically but was still under a lot of stress. I wrote this book to mitigate stress and free up time to free my mind, stress less and achieve my goals. Q: What is the main principle behind the "Less Doing" philosophy? A: The basic framework is to optimize, automate and outsource, in that order. First, we optimize which means to identify a problem or challenge and break it down into its simplest form. Then we try to automate it as much as possible with the mindset of "set it and forget it." Q: Throughout the book are several apps and other tools to help track and make our lives easier. What have you found to be the most useful? A: My top three tools are: Evernote, which is a note-taking application that lets you capture any type of info from any device; follow-up.cc, which automates email follow-ups and can actually be used to replace a to-do list; and iDoneThis, a journaling app on steroids that helps you mentally unload as well as reminds you of your past achievements. Q: What is the "external brain" and why is it so important to achieve effective time management? A: There is too much going on in our daily lives -— too much information, responsibilities and thoughts. The mind is great for coming up with ideas but not for keeping them. So use an external brain (like Evernote) to capture every idea as soon as you get it. You don't need to know if it's a good idea or bad, just get it down so you know it's safe and you can refer to it. Have a clear head means you have the space to come up with new ideas. Q: You stress the importance of essential vs. optimal life tasks. Many people feel everything they do is essential or they wouldn't do it. How do we separate them? A: Ninety-five percent of the things you do on a daily basis can be done by other people or other things. You need to be able to focus on that 5 percent that only you can do, and do it better than anyone else. By tracking the things we do and identifying the processes we go through we can gain greater self-awareness and start to clear our plates to make that valuable 5 percent into your 100 percent. Q: Every page is filled with helpful information, apps and links. Where should we start? A: Start with your email inbox and then your to-do list (getting rid of it). Q: What do you want readers to take away from your book? A: As technologically efficient as you might become, if you aren't sleeping well, eating right or managing stress there is a limit to how effective you will be, which is why wellness is the fundamental "Less Doing" principle. Bio-hacking is essential to optimal human performance. email@example.com 454-5436 @tiredorinspired More Information On the WebFor links and more from this book and other healthy living tips visit Carin's blog at blog.timesunion.com/healthylife See MoreCollapse


text:
These stylish heart themed place cards have an eco-friendly secret, they are plantable! Part of Event Blossom's Please be Seeded™ line, these decorative heart shaped place cards double as a wedding favor and place card all in one! Each place card printed with "blooming" hearts also has a white seed paper heart attached at the top that guests can easily remove and plant. Instructions on how to plant and a list of flowers are beautifully printed on the back. Each card is also cleverly printed with the phrase "Please be Seeded", sure to spark up some good conversation among wedding guests!
The best part is that this favor is environmentally friendly: The tent style place cards are made from recycled paper, and the detachable seed paper shapes grow into wildflowers. Your guests will love to plant and care for these wildflowers and will remember your special day each time they water them. Going "green" has never been so unique!
Idea: Write out your guests names neatly on each place card, or print on clear labels (not included) and affix them for a classy look!
12 place cards per package.
Size: 2.5" x 4"


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Ok, so I'm really behind the curve here but the BBC screened "Life In A Day" over the Christmas holidays and I'm finally watching it. If you haven't watched it already, you need to put this on your must-see list.
If you aren't familiar with the film, it's made up of footage from over 80,000 submissions of video that was all recorded on 24th July 2010 by people across the world. Created in partnership with YouTube, Ridley Scott produced the film with Kevin Macdonald directing. It's been lovingly crafted into a documentary about the human condition.
And what a documentary it is. It's a rollercoaster of emotion of taking you across the world to different places, peoples and societies. There's every facet of human life and the juxtaposition of cultures makes it all the more poignant. One minute it's a rich nation, the next a poor country. Some of the film is shocking and it doesn't hide the sheer hard work of existence but throughout it all is the joy of life itself.
The film is available (legally) on YouTube. Warning: there are a couple of scenes that aren't suitable for younger viewers.


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- Plan a budget and stick to it - if you haven't already prepared, then work to cut costs in other categories. Decide who will be getting gifts this year and be thoughtful not extravagant.
- Make the most of your time with your children - prioritize the memories you want to make. There aren't enough evenings, weekends and days off to do it all.
- Communicate with family - are you willing to travel or do you need them to come to you this year? What days work for everyone to be together?
- Remember to honor the structure of your parenting plan - none of us like to be separated from our children during meaningful times, but there is more to this season that one day. Support your children by encouraging them to be generous to the other parent, accepting of those bonds and celebrate upon their return.
We may not have a chimney or mantle anymore, but I still have a plan for those stockings! Are your holiday plans taking shape? What will be the most challenging part of this season for you?


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Eastern MalaysiaKirsty Turner
Eastern Malaysia is divided from Central and northern Malaysia by the South China Sea. East Malaysia consists of the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, which are located on the island of Borneo, as well as the Federal Territory of Labuan, which lies off coast of Sabah. Although less populated than Peninsular Malaysia or West Malaysia, East Malaysia is much larger and contains more of the country's natural resources.
Most visitors to Malaysia tend to head straight to East Malaysia to enjoy adventure activities such as trekking, caving, white water rafting and camping. There are a number of spectacularly beautiful national parks in this region of Malaysia such as Kubah National Park and Bako National Park.
East Malaysia is home to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, and thousands of people come here each year to interact with the old men of the forest. There are a number of beautiful beaches and islands to discover in this region of Malaysia as well as pretty towns to explore.
The people of East Malaysia are warm and welcoming and visiting the region's villages is a rewarding experience. This region is famous for its diverse cuisine, and top of the menu is fresh fish, which is especially delicious when eaten on the beach at sunset.


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Production Starts for the New Honda FCX Clarity Fuel Cell Vehicle
Do you like this Story?
—A number of the new production processes showcased for the first time—
TOKYO, Japan, June 16, 2008– Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that it has begun production of the new FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle, with the first vehicle (U.S. specification) coming off the line. In conjunction with the line-off event, media were allowed to view a number of the new production processes.
The FCX Clarity is produced at the Honda Automobile New Model Center (Takanezawa-machi, Shioya-gun, Tochigi Prefecture). A new dedicated fuel cell vehicle assembly line was established, which includes processes unique to a fuel cell vehicle such as the installation of the fuel cell stack and hydrogen tank. The fuel cell stack itself is produced at Honda Engineering Co., Ltd. (Haga-machi, Haga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture). In manufacturing fuel cells, exclusively designed automated equipment was introduced to ensure quality of the highest precision while enabling mass production of cells, with several hundred cells required for each fuel cell stack. Through these initiatives, Honda is making steady progress in the area of fuel cell vehicle production, in addition to fuel cell and fuel cell vehicle technologies, thereby moving closer to realizing its goal to achieve more widespread use of fuel cell vehicles.
The FCX Clarity was designed from scratch as a dedicated fuel cell vehicle. It is powered by the highly compact, efficient and powerful Honda V Flow fuel cell stack. Boasting a low-slung, dynamic and sophisticated appearance made possible by the innovative layout of the fuel cell power plant, the FCX Clarity offers superior design and driving performance as well as environmental responsibility. Lease sales are scheduled to begin in July in the U.S. and this fall in Japan. The combined sales plan for Japan and the U.S. calls for a few dozen units within a year and about 200 units within three years. Additionally, the FCX Clarity will be exhibited at the Environmental Showcase in the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit to begin July 7, as one of a group of advanced environmental technologies.
Source: Honda


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The Gleaner's Lifestyle team recently hosted a special treat for fathers dubbed Knight Out.
Specially invited guests, turned out to J Wray and Nephew's @twentythree, where they were 'knighted' and charged to have a night of fun.
Fathers lounged in both comfort and style courtesy of furniture from Courts Jamaica while enjoying tasty coffee from Mountain Bliss 876. Others went with the FLOW, as they were drafted by MC Marlon Campbell into a juggling competition. Other attractions like spa treatment (from Totally Male) and virtual-reality games (from Virtual Reality Jamaica) could not be avoided.
At the end of a winning night, fathers left feeling extra special as they had a grand time, won prizes, and left with parting gift packages courtesy of Fontana Pharmacy, The Gleaner and Sugarplum Box.


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Baby Rhino Pictures
Rowdy Little Rhino
Rowdy Little Rhino
At the Beauval Zoo in central France, a cute little white rhino calf was born to a proud mom just a few days ago. While larger rhinos might not be the most precious looking creatures of the animal kingdom, this little guy is pretty adorable! Enjoy these photos of this cute little rowdy rhino learning about his new home and his mom.


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- The Packers need to win this game. Not only is home-field still up in the air, but the team needs to recapture the momentum it has had for much of the season.
- The Chiefs aren't that good. That was one of those situations when things just fall perfectly into place for a team. New head coach (who is a heck of a lot nicer than the previous one), new QB who can throw the ball within 10 feet of his WRs (Tyler Palko may have been the worst NFL QB I've seen in decades) and the serious home field advantage KC enjoys. Throw all this together with a sloppy, uninspired outing by our Pack and you have an upset. That was not the real Pack and it was not the real Chiefs either.
- Chicago is now simply an annoying team. The Cutler and Forte injuries have hurt them massively. They were playing much better (when both were still healthy) than I thought they would this year. But they simply have not adapted well at all. Great teams can adapt even in the face of serious adversity. Chicago is not great. They haven't played an overly difficult schedule or anything – accounting for the recent spate of losses – they just haven't done anything to even slightly fill the void left by these two. It's hard to believe Caleb Hanie lasted as many games as he did – but I don't think Josh McCown will be the answer either.
- We need to pressure the ____ out of Josh McCown. He's not a bad QB, but he's not that good either…he wouldn't have been available if he were good. I had suggested earlier in the week possibly moving Bishop to ROLB, benching Walden and moving Francois into Bishop's spot. I like this idea still but I guess I do agree with some of you who worry that by moving Bishop, we'd be losing some of his unique talents in the middle (especially stopping the run and rushing the passer). Maybe move Francois to ROLB.
- Why am I so high on Francois? He's tremendously athletic and he's looked good generally in the 2 games he's started. But importantly, much like Bishop a few years ago – the guy makes plays. AJ Hawk doesn't. I'm repeating myself here I know because I made the same argument for Bishop a few years ago. But Francois has started 2 games this year and he's forced 3 turnovers – 2 interceptions and 1 forced fumble. He's also had 3 passes defensed – to go along with a number of tackles. Compare this to Hawk who has 3 passes defensed in 13 starts this year – and no forced fumbles or picks. (In fact, Francois has forced as many turnovers in 2 games started as Hawk has going back to the beginning of the 2010 regular season and this one – 3). I don't care how "assignment sure" Hawk is or how well he "leads the defense". Francois has done more in 2 starts than Hawk has done all year. I know there are plenty of Hawk defenders still out there – and after his better overall play last year I can't say defending him is a ridiculous position. But within the next year or two when we have another guy in there who does much more, I think folks will realize why I've been campaigning against him like I have. All this said I hope Hawk has a big-time performance tonight.
- If we get more pressure, people will be reminded quickly of how talented our CBs can be when they don't have to defend back there for 10 seconds a pass. The Bears O-Line has been beaten up this year and we should be able to rattle McCown.
- Starting RB Khalil Bell will be pumped about starting and may break off a few big gainers – but I see him mostly doing nothing.
- Rodgers will be playing angry tonight. The guy was really shooting for a perfect season – it's just who he is. So I think he will be very sharp and generally very good tonight. My only concern is the Bears injuring him – especially if Rodgers is trying to win so badly that he makes some poor decisions re running the ball.
- Nelson had some bad calls against him early in the game last week and I think it distracted him or something. While Rodgers was also running for his life, I think the WRs weren't on their game last week.
- Our O-Line will need to step up tonight. Peppers being out there always scares me – even when we're at full strength. Right now we're nowhere near full strength. Hopefully the guys got coached up this week and know the game plan. One limitation whenever there are fairly significant personnel changes on the line (I'd imagine anyway) is with playcalling. These newer guys probably don't have much experience executing all the plays in the playbook – so McCarthy and Rodgers may be limited to some extent with playcalling.
- The above point shouldn't matter. The Bears will be exposed tonight by our high-octane offense.
- I can see Chicago making a big play early and then getting all cocky about it. They'll show guys like Urlacher and Lovie on the sideline smiling or feeling good – only to have the Packers go into route mode – and blow them out. I don't like this game for Chicago even though they typically play us tough.
- Packers 43, Chicago 16.
Packers/Bears Preview
One Response to "Packers/Bears Preview"
Dave in Tucson Says:
December 25, 2011 at 5:42 pm |
The Chiefs aren't that good.
The Chiefs have a very underrated defense. Yeah, they had a few breakdowns this year (mostly on the road), but they've had some real solid games too, including holding the Steelers to just 13 points.
My keys to this game:
1) Get points on the board early. Another 6-0 halftime score will mean trouble, even if the Packers lead this time.
2) Take care of the ball. The Bears know their offense is crippled; they're going to be looking for pick-6s and fumble return TDs all game long.
3) (really, this could be 2b) Watch out on special teams. The Bears have a good special teams, and the Packers do not. They need to keep runbacks short.
In the immortal words of Al Davis, "just win".


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now browsing by tag
HealthyWiser Nail Care
HealthyWiser Nail Care Kit
The nail care kit comes with 3 parts. There is the part that makes this an electric kit, the smoothing tool. Then there are the toe spreaders. Finally, there is a pretty heavy duty set of nail clippers.
The electronic nail buffer has 3 different heads that you can use. Ideally, you would go through the varying degrees of roughness, from roughest to smoothest. This helps your nails get the buff and shine that you are after if you are using this. It takes AA batteries but it does come with one provided so you can get to smoothing and buffing right off the bat. There is a cap to put on the buffer so that nothing gets damaged. I would recommend keeping the little case that the buffers come in, just to keep them organized and not loose, rolling around who knows where.
I had some fun with the toe spreaders. Granted, I've never really played with, I mean used, toe spreaders before. So it was definitely a unique experience. They are really squishy and a bit sticky. If you have toddlers, the toe spreaders will keep them entertained for hours! 😉
Lastly, there is the set of clippers. The base of the clippers is wide and has a texture to it, making it easier to grasp onto. The logo is blazed on the clippers as well as the buffer, but it is not obnoxious about doing so.
You can check out this on Amazon HERE.
Disclaimer: I did receive this nailcare kit for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
#HealthywiserNailcare #review #freeforreview


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BrainMet -Bioimaging of Metals in Brain and Metallomics
a novel and powerful technology fo future dementia research
BrainMet (Brainmet - Bioimaging of Metals in Brain and Metallomics) was inaugurated on 9 December 2009 as an innovative and powerful technology for dementia research. The analytical BrainMet centre of excellence at the Analytik (ZEA-3) of Forschungszentrum Jülich was founded with expertise and equipment from Thermo Scientific, in cooperation with associates from the medical institutes at Forschungszentrum Jülich, and with partners from Europe and America. The cutting-edge analytical BrainMet technology now available enables assays to be performed concerning the specific quantitative distribution of metals in tissue sections (bioimaging) combined with investigations on the binding of metals to proteins (metallomics) for brain research.


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I'm interested in learning a little about music visualization. Google turned up nothing of any use on the subject as far as I could tell.
Anyway, what I'm talking about is a graphical display of audio that you can get in winamp, or windows media player, something like this: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...mpleinFull.gif is what I'm talking about.
My question is, where can I learn more about it? Or how to compose a program to do a simpler version of the above? books, websites, anything you've got.
On second thought, I should probably work on getting a program to play an mp3 or something first. (if you have any information on libraries and such related to this task, I'd love to hear about them.)


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Donald Sumpter (born 13 February 1943) is a British actor who has worked regularly since 1966. He has appeared three times in Doctor Who and once in its spin-off, The Sarah-Jane Adventures. He recently had a major role as Kemp, the primary antagonist in the second season of Being Human, and has also been cast as Pythol in the long-awaited Warhammer 40,000 film Ultramarines: The Movie.
He portrayed framed murder suspect Alexander Bonaparte Cust in an episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot.
In Game of Thrones Sumpter is playing Maester Luwin. He was announced in the role on 20 October 2009. He initially appeared as a guest star in the first season and returned in this role for the second season.
Guest starring
|Season One credits
|Winter Is Coming
|The Kingsroad
|Lord Snow
|Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things
|The Wolf and the Lion
|A Golden Crown
|You Win or You Die
|The Pointy End
|Fire and Blood
|Season Two credits
|The North Remembers
|The Night Lands
|What Is Dead May Never Die
|Garden of Bones
|The Ghost of Harrenhal
|The Old Gods and the New
|A Man Without Honor
|The Prince of Winterfell
|Valar Morghulis
See also
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