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Having been working in the IT industry for 27 years, I've seen my share of outrageous vendor claims. In fact, it is one my biggest pet peeves about our industry. How many times have you seen XYZ vendor claiming their solution is "industry leading", "best-in-class", "world class" or "leading edge" without providing any empirical evidence to back up that claim. Worse yet, I've seen claims (from vendors not to be mentioned here) of 3x, 4x or 10x faster, bigger, or otherwise "better" than the competition with no report, benchmark test or third-party source credited. It happens all the time and it begs the question, if it comes from the vendor, not an independent third party, why would a potential customer believe it?
That's why I'm proud to say that DCIG, whose tagline is "empowering the IT
DCIG uses a rigorous 8-step evaluation process to arrive at
their recommendation(s). This year, DCIG
evaluated 42 tape libraries from eight different vendors and classified them into five
particularly like the DCIG analysis because it makes a strong effort to
evaluate its subject matter from the perspective of the customer. As stated in the report's executive summary,
the DCIG 2014 Big Data Tape Library Buyer's Guide accomplishes the following
Provides an
objective, third-party evaluation of tape libraries that weights, scores and
ranks their features from an end-user's viewpoint
Scores and
ranks the features on each tape library based upon criteria that matter most to
end-users, so they can quickly know which tape libraries are the most
appropriate for them to use and under what conditions"
So, if you
want the inside scoop from an independent third-party on why the Oracle
StorageTek SL8500 was ranked the #1 Big Data tape library and superior to
offerings from IBM, HP, and Spectra Logic, then click here.


text:
Open Season
Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore
Chicken Little
Brother Bear
All Steven Bencich films
Movies.com, the ultimate source for everything movies, is your destination for new movie trailers, reviews, photos, times, tickets + more! Stay in the know with the latest movie news and cast interviews at Movies.com.
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subset: commoncrawl


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In 1914 Grace and her new husband Henry board an elegant ocean liner which suffers a mysterious explosion at sea and subsequently sinks. Grace finds herself castaway in an overloaded lifeboat with a number of fellow passengers. Where is Henry? Who can she trust? What choices should she make? 'The Lifeboat' is not a means to a rescue but the beginning of a survival story which deals with the physical, moral and emotional aspects of life and death issues.
Survival at sea is a great premise for a novel, especially when you throw in a mystery, some theft and some psychological intrigue. But sadly this one left me somewhat underwhelmed. It was not a bad read, but not a really good one either. The main character narrates the story but I feel like I still never really got to know Grace at all. We do know that she is strong and because she narrates you do know that she survives, but she never displays much depth of character or growth despite the brutal and horrific circumstances. The other characters are also rather hard to follow, mostly because they are also not so well developed or described.
'The Lifeboat' is a good novel and had the potential to be great but that never happened for me. I really wanted to like it and I still would recommend it for an intriguing read but I could never shake a feeling of disappointment about it. There were also way too many loose ends left for a satisfying closure and it seemed to just "end with a shrug" in the words of one reviewer. However, there were many positive reviews from some who "couldn't put it down" and others who "gulped it down in one sitting" so perhaps it was just me and the time I read it in.


text: Written by Tammy Kiter, Manuscript Reference Assistant. Many of us are familiar with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or ASPCA. But lesser-known and truly inspiring, is Henry Bergh, its founder and the man who worked so diligently to maintain it. A native New Yorker, Bergh was born in 1813 and…Read More


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Genius Without Tears
It seems appropriate, if highly ironic, that a year celebrating George Gershwin—a new biography, concerts, recordings—has by now dovetailed into a year of tributes to Irving Berlin. Much of the irony, of course, lies in the lopsided juxtaposition of these "contemporaries," born only ten years apart. While 1987 marked the fiftieth anniversary of Gershwin's death at age thirty-eight, the 1988 festivities honor a living composer on his one hundredth birthday. (Berlin was born in Temun, Russia, on May 11, and came to America with his family in 1892.) Some whimsical Olympian dispenser of talent and life spans appears to have played a dark prank on musical history.
In creative territory, too, the forever-young composer and the grand old song-writer make a strange yet ineluctable couple, more complementary, even polar, than twin-like. Gershwin, often in inspired collaboration with his brother Ira, reached from the theater song "up"—as cultural convention would have it—to concert works, operetta, and opera. Berlin, writing both music and words, stuck with the broader, downtown segment of musical life in America, the world of player pianos and dance bands and juke-boxes; in this realm the theater song (or its film-musical equivalent) was the upper limit of "seriousness" and the thirty-two bar was the basic form, continually reexamined yet rarely expanded. Jerome Kern and Richard Rodgers created more ambitious and ravishing specimens of the romantic ballad and, in Broadway collaborations, made bolder contributions to the evolution of musical theater; much of the jazz and blues of Duke Ellington and Harold Arlen has greater depth. But, between them, more than any others, Gershwin and Berlin embody the remarkable range of distinctive American composition in the first half of the twentieth century.
For Berlin, admittedly, the 1988 celebration is largely a case of déjà vu. He first found himself famous more than seventy-five years ago, in 1911, when "Alexander's Ragtime Band"—a virtually unsyncopated march, far less Joplinesque than a dozen earlier ragtime songs (including several by Berlin himself)—triggered a world-wide "ragtime" craze. The twenty-three-year-old songwriter, an uninhibited eclectic from the start, had managed to distill a simplified, strutting pulse from the rhythms of urban black music, combining it with just enough harmonic sophistication (e.g., the way the second line unexpectedly leaps up a fourth) to challenge and stimulate, but not alienate, a mass audience.
Two world wars later, as the source of such ubiquitous anthems as "White Christmas," "God Bless America," "Easter Parade," and "There's No Business Like Show Business," Berlin came to be regarded as an institution: a totem of patriotic values, a folk hero of sorts. And, in every decade since, there have been reverential salutes to the longevity of both the songs and the man. The week of the hundredth birthday itself predictably elicited the most extravagant testimonials thus far. Journalists and broadcasters echoed each other in invoking the same phrases: "America's song-writer laureate," "Mr. American Music," "genius," "beloved,"…
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For my casting tastes... right now the only one I am sure of is that I want Nathan Jones as Beastman. He's absolutely huge and would look great in the role.
For my casting tastes... right now the only one I am sure of is that I want Nathan Jones as Beastman. He's absolutely huge and would look great in the role.
Nathan Jones, the former WWE wrestler?
AS for the topic, I'd have to think about it a bit. I'd kind of like to see lesser knowns in it.
Yeah I just wanted to make sure it was the guy I thought it was. He'd be awesome in the roll I think.
I think they're best off going the Superman route and getting an unknown to play He-Man. Actually, I really wouldn't mind the entire cast being unknowns, except for maybe a big name here and there to play minor characters that are still fairly important, like Randor or the Sorceress. For me, the characters are bigger than any actor who could play them, so I wouldn't want a well-known actor's personality interfering with the character they're supposed to be playing.
I would really like to have Matthew Mcconaughy as He-Man. He's got the look of He-Man and has been working out a lot. They could give him more training to get to the size of the 300 guys and viola!
For Teela, I think that Katharine Isabelle (Ginger Snaps 1-3 and other stuff) would be perfect.
The Tom Selleck joke of him playing Man-at-Arms would actually work. I wouldn't mind seeing him in the role.
Can't think of what others i'd like. Will ponder and and edit post when my brain works again.
Crow T. Robot
"Mike, what the hell is this?!"
"Into the sea of waking dreams, I follow without pride"---Sarah McLachlan Possession
As long as they don't decide to use a blondified Shia LeBeof as Adam. (Shudder) at least he's been confirmed as not playing Indiana's son, just the sidekick.
Hmmm, Edward James Olmos as Man-At-Arms?
Too bad she's too old to play Evil-Lyn now, but I think Sarah Douglas had the look for her.
Ursa from Superman II
"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings, but freedom isn't free."
I want Laura Prepon as Teela. In my opinion she totally looks the part, she is strong, athletic and we know she can kick Eric's ass
Now that you mention her kicking eric's ass, i kinda like the idea of topher playing adam, haha. But seriously, the kid has the acting talent and he can portray the goofiness well.
Check out my artwork: https://aarondoyle.artstation.com/
Adam/He-Man = Unknown
Teela = Unknown (Although Laura Prepon sounds interesting)
MAA = Sam Elliott
(Filmation) Sorceress = Lucy Lawless (We need someone who can be both strong and maternal at the same time.)
King Randor = Dennis Quaid
Queen Marlena = Julianne Moore
Orko = CGI/Voice of Tom Kenney
Skeletor = CGI/Voice Actor (Willem DaFoe?)
Evil-Lyn = Angelina Jolie or Michelle Pfeiffer
Beastman = Triple-H (IMO, he's one those actors who does his best acting with his mouth closed and his shirt off.)
Tri-Klops = Karl Urban
Trap-Jaw = John Cena
Last edited by Mirage; August 25, 2007 at 09:50pm.
I think the Julianne Moore choice is excellent. Same with the Dennis Quaid choice.
I wouldn't want Triple H to be Beastman because IMO he is too short for the role. His body would make an excellent He-Man if he could act and had a different nose. I wouldn't mind him as a choice for Trapjaw though. I love the idea of Urban doing Trike.
I think that He-Man needs to be an unknown because the shoes would be too big to fill for anyone who is known. When seeing He-Man, we shouldn't have someone else or some other role in our mind.
I remember him as Julius Caesar on Xena.
He's just what Trike needs: cool, intelligent, and calculating.
I wouldn't want Triple H to be Beastman because IMO he is too short for the role.
It's not going to make much difference seeing as how they're going to CGI the Areinnye out of this film.
Maybe they can tweak him digitally or something?
Last edited by Mirage; August 25, 2007 at 10:00pm.
I went to see who Karl Urban was and he looks good enough.
I like Juliana as Marlena. Not wild about Lucy Lawless as the Sorceress.
I always liked Anjelica Huston and thought she did a kick ass job in Mists of Avalon. However if they are going with a more kick butt Sorceress then she maynot be the choice. Regal/powerful magic wise, then yeah Ms. Huston can do it.
What about Julianna Margulies as marlena or is she too young? (she's in the middle)
There are many selections I could make, but really, I'd be happy with a cast of complete unknowns. If I were to go with a star studded cast... I would choose...
He-Man: ???
Teela: Scartlet Johansson
Man-At-Arms: ???
Beastman: Ron Pearlman
Skeletor: John Glover
Evil-Lyn: Rebecca Romijn
Ram Man: Vinne Jones
Tri-Klops: Dominic West
Trap-Jaw: Thomas Hayden Church
Sorceress: Cate Blanchett
I'd also like to see Robert Carlyle in there somewhere, and Shawn Ashmore, but I can' think of where.
She's a little too old to play The Sorceress, IMO.
I'd hate to see this film fall back into Christina Pickles mode (Not that she did a bad job, mind you ... it's just that we could use a change in direction from the `87 film.)
If Warner is hell-bent on setting up a franchise, I think it would be best if we went with someone younger.
I think Angelina Jolie as Evil Lyn would be good. I agree with that as for Orko I think they should get Lou Scheimer to reprise the role as a nice knock back to us loyal fans. For Teela why not Renee o'Connor from Xena. She knows her way around a staff. She would need next to no training. Tom Selleck I think would be too old for the role of Man at Arms. Gerard Butler would make a good Stratos I think. Robert Mccray not sure if that is the right way to spell it or not, he was Zzeben in Conan the Adventure, would make a good He-Man I think. He would just have*shudders* shave his chest and buff up again.
Hey Super7 I'm looking forward to what you do for Classics and I'm awaiting these figures!
Spinwit, Gepple, Alcon, Meldoch, Krax, Kayo, Stridor, Kittrina, Melaktha, Drissi, Master Sebrian, Sagitar, Vizar, Nocturna
My Facebook, check it out!
2 votes for MAA = E.J. Olmos. Sam Elliott is far too old, loved him as the Caretaker in Ghost Rider, but too old.
I agree with Divia - Laura Prepon looks like she could be a good Teela.
Julianne Moore, yes, as Marlena, no. Sorceress, yes, Teela is the Sorceress' daughter and Moore and Prepon could resemblance-wise be related.
Michelle Pfeiffer would be a great Evil-Lyn, watch her in Stardust she plays an excellent evil witch. Angelina Jolie, I am so tired of hearing her name, and when has she played a truly evil character?
Last edited by Optimus Prime; August 25, 2007 at 11:33pm. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings, but freedom isn't free."
If a MOTU film will going to be filmed Man-At-Arms has to be played by Sam Elliot, the actor who played Gen."Thunderbolt" Ross in 2003 "The Incredible Hulk" film & as the Old Wild West Ghost Rider in the "Ghost Rider" film. He have the presence, the acting skills and manly sex appeal to pull out perfectly Man-At-Arms. Plus he's the voice narrator in some T.V. commercials for Toyota, IBM, Chevrolet and Union Pacific because of his deep and gravelly voice.
I'm Skeletor, master of evil! All of you should show respect for the awful one.
I am Grizzlor #1 fan!
Julianne Moore is pretty physical in alot of her films too, The Lost World, Boogie Nights LOL.
And I'm sorry, Alexander was not a very good film IMO, and I see Jolie as conniving little temptress, ala Original Sin. Even in Tomb Raider she just seemed sneaky. I sense no ability to tap a malevolent streak.
"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings, but freedom isn't free."


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|Fashionable, yet practical swim suit
Enter Susan:
Attention ladies! Are you considering taking up swimming? Not only is swimming a great full body workout, but it's fun too! Whether you're planning to join a masters swim team or simply looking to spice up your workout routine, the first thing you'll need is a new swimsuit.
When you're shopping around, it's easy to feel overwhelmed with the wide variety of styles on the market. As a swimwear industry insider, I'll be the first to admit that many swimsuit styles are not very practical when it comes to active or competitive swimming; a number of swimsuit styles are considered to be "for show" and are more about being fashion-forward than functional. However, there is a way to combine the functionality and also look fashionable. After reading this post, we hope you'll know what to look for when shopping for your new hobby.
Always look for swimsuits with high Lycra Spandex countsAs a rule of thumb, the higher the Lycra Spandex count, the more the swimsuit will stretch and suck you in, helping to streamline your swimming. You want to find a swimsuit that hugs close to your body so nothing interferes with your swimming, thus keeping your strokes fluid, efficient and graceful.
|Great for the swim as well as for the beach
Straps are your best friendAlways look for a swimsuit in a one-piece silhouette. Classic one-piece swimsuits tend to have two shoulder straps and will help give you the support you need. Avoid bandeau or strapless swimsuit styles, as these are more likely to fall down during mid-stroke! While you're swimming, a blooper is the last thing you want to worry about :).
Support the girlsFinally, if you're a bit bigger up top, you may need some extra support while swimming. Swimsuit styles that have underwire support, molded cups and/or shelf bras provide the best bust support. Think of these styles as your underwire sports bra. If you're looking for speed and to beat the competition, skip the molded cups and look for a swimsuit with just an underwire shelf bra.
We'll leave you with one final tip: Always wash your swimsuit after every wear. Extended chlorine exposure can actually break down the Lycra Spandex and ruin the overall durability of your swimsuits. Happy swimming!
This is a guest post by Susan Bodack who is a blogger for Beauty and the Beach, a swimsuit and fashion blog by InStyleSwimwear.com.


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INSPIRE WMS View Service for the theme Transport Networks (TN)
|Product information
|INSPIRE WMS View Service for the theme Transport Networks (TN)
|Commercial code
|Commercial code is not defined.
|Export unit
|There are no terms.
|Unit price
|No charges.
|Product description
|INSPIRE WMS View Service for theme Transport Networks provides a possibility to view data image for INSPIRE theme Transport Networks. They are provided all types of objects having the geometry within the INSPIRE specifications and are included in the source set ZABAGED®. Data are provided in accordance with specifications for data Transport Networks. The service fulfils Technical guidance for INSPIRE view services v. 3.11 and simultaneously fulfils the OGC WMS 1.1.1 and 1.3.0 standards.
|Service characteristics
|Download document service characteristics
|Service location
|Data set provided by the service
Provided data
Provided data
Provided data
Provided data
Provided data
|Access restriction - licence agreement and other restriction
|Terms of use see Terms of trade
|Service view with the public client
|Run the service
|Czech Office for Surveying, Mapping and Cadastre, Srovnal Pavel, Mgr. , phone: +420 284 041 860 , e-mail: email@example.com
Product last update:
Information last update:


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Investors interested in the precious metals/stones sector have seen a number of factors in play on their chosen favorites. While some are common to all the entries in the sector, for gold, platinum and diamonds there are a few factors that have more influence over up or down trends than others.
Take gold, for example. Although sought after for jewelry all over the world, with China, India and the U.S. being large buyers, gold's political importance because of its innate value can outshine its worth as a symbol of prosperity and the delights it offers as a glittering trinket. With its price on a more-or-less steady upward path for the past 12 years, gold has reacted to everything from the European debt crisis to the threat of the fiscal cliff in the U.S.
Gold also had to deal with unrest at the mines that produce the lion's share of new supplies. In October, strikes at the South Africa mines of AngloGold Ashanti and Gold Fields Ltd., among others, were marked by violence and death, shutting down production and driving up the price of the metal as workers demanded higher wages. In response, the price of gold ticked up even as investors suggested that mining companies divest their South African operations to cut country exposure and boost value in their operations elsewhere in the world. News in January that the Fed was headed for a halt in debt purchases drove the price the other way, and gold hit a four-month low.
Most recently, however, the price has risen on Germany's determination to repatriate a substantial portion of its gold reserves held elsewhere; to Russia's determination to out-buy the rest of the world as it seeks to shore up its gold reserves, even as other central banks are selling theirs; and to uncertainty over North Korea's nuclear missile program.
Germany's action regarding its gold has increased "the mindfulness of gold in central banks," said John Blank, chief equity strategist at Zacks. "Generally gold sat un-thought of for years, till it moved. The motion itself is interesting, because it raises the attention span of central banks to their gold reserves."
While Germany's action wasn't expected to have any effect on markets, Blank said "It tells us that everywhere people are aware of where gold is and rethinking its use, position and value." Germany's move to shift its gold reserve home was a positive move, he said, because it indicated that Germany is "thinking of itself in a twenty-first century setting instead of a twentieth-century setting," and considering how to position its reserves going forward.
Speculation on Russia's move, however, is something else altogether. Published reports quoted lawmaker Evgeny Fedorov, a member of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's United Russia party, as saying, "The more gold a country has, the more sovereignty it will have if there's a cataclysm with the dollar, the euro, the pound or any other reserve currency." Putin's own spokesman had declined to offer a comment on the Russian leader's accumulation of 570 metric tons of the stuff over the last 10 years, making Russia outpace even China as the world's largest gold buyer. Russia's hunger for gold is not unique to Putin, of course; as far back as 1867 under Czar Alexander II, the country was on one of many gold-buying binges.
International Monetary Fund data through November indicated that, while emerging nations such as Russia and China are buying, developed nations are selling their stockpiles of gold, with Switzerland having sold the most during Russia's buying decade. Other countries on the selling end include France, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
Platinum has seen its share of market turbulence and labor unrest as well. But while the hunger for gold seems virtually inexhaustible, that for platinum apparently is not; it suffered a bit of a setback during 2012, thanks to the economic slowdown. It is, after all, more an industrial metal than a precious one, used in everything from catalytic converters to dentistry equipment. Lessened demand thanks to a slower global economy—notwithstanding the call for the minting of a trillion-dollar platinum coin—coupled with labor upheavals at platinum mines in Africa have meant that price increases in the metal were more due to concerns over utilitarian scarcity, particularly after Zimbabwe confiscated lands from platinum producer Zimplats Holdings Plc in February, than to real need.
Diamonds, in contrast, have other attractions, many of them emotional. While more than half of all diamonds mined are used for industrial purposes, the diamond itself owes most of its mystique, if not demand, to its symbolism when cut and polished. The lack of new diamond deposits and the dwindling of De Beers stockpiles point toward a rise in the price of stones, and machinations within the industry indicate that firms are positioning themselves to take advantage of the most profitable parts of the process.
Harry Winston Diamond Corp., for instance, sold off a luxury unit to Swatch for $1 billion so that it could invest that money in mining, which turns out to be more profitable than the bauble business. It announced in mid-January that it intended to buy a Canadian diamond mine stake from Rio Tinto. Both Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, meanwhile, are looking to exit the diamond-mining business altogether.
Rough diamond prices lost 16% in 2012, although the jewelry market is positioning itself to boost demand in China and India—where consumers up till recently have been far more focused on the virtues of gold than on the sparkly stones. However, that is changing, with stronger demand in both countries. A Bain & Co. report estimated that globally, future demand for rough stones would grow at a rate of 5.9% through 2020, with India and China accounting for half that amount.
Of course, each country has its preferences: the gems in India represent conspicuous wealth, according to Bain, while in China diamonds are said to offer a sense of eternity.
Perhaps De Beers wasn't all that far off when it said, "diamonds are forever."


text:
Realtree Oklahoma State Cowboys Trifold Wallet, Men's, Green
$45 $50
Cash in on this pride-packed Oklahoma State Cowboys trifold wallet. Embossed gunmetal logo emblem Clear ID window Multiple card slots Photo sleeve insert Officially licensed Boxed for gift giving 4.25"H x 3.25"W x .75"D Nylon, leather Spot clean Imported Shop our full assortment of Oklahoma State Cowboys items here. When you're a fan, you're family! Size: Onesize. Color: Green. Gender: Male. Age Group: Adult.
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Ethical architecture
{Nature_and_Environment.91.1}: ... {wren1111} Tue, 20 Feb 2007 01:32:50 CST (HTML)
Ethics is often presented as a question of what should be done;
for Borgmann, it is also a question of what should be built. There
is a tangible and material side to [ethics]
We make things like North
Reserve or the river corridor and ethics gets built into material
objects. I think theres little consciousness of how that happens and
consequently we often do the wrong thingI should say we make the
wrong thing.
{Nature_and_Environment.91.2}: ... {wren1111} Tue, 02 Oct 2007 01:12:22 CDT (HTML)
Specialist cultures have not been imposed as some sort of totalitarian regime upon an unsuspecting populace. We arrived where we are as a result of a string of choices that were made, all of which seemed to make sense at the time, beginning many years ago. Some even argue that the tide of history swells inexorably from the general to the specific. Clearly, the great achievements of the past century would have been impossible without specialists. Neither jet airplanes nor electron microscopes would ever have been developed in a culture populated only with subsistence farmers, of course. So by advocating for a vernacular system of architecture, do we become Luddites that call for nothing other than a simple agrarian existence?
Not at all. It should be possible for a single culture to support specialists that do the things that only specialists can do, while at the same time supporting vernacular systems that operate well without specialists. If six million people come this year to visit the Tuscan hill town of Pienza that was built by medieval farmers, then it clearly can be argued that specialists are not required to build places that bring great delight. Some may point out that the great Renaissance masters were without doubt specialists, but while they were clearly geniuses, they were also still part of a traditional system that spanned from the vernacular to the classical.
As a matter of fact, popular trends are answering this question for
us. Look at the number of people in the US that are building
pieces or sometimes all of their own houses. Home Depot and Lowe's
aren't doing a booming business with conventional builders, but with
homeowners. As a matter of fact, the builders don't even like
these establishments most of the time because they are populated
with people who aren't using builders. Look also at trends in
health care, where increasing numbers of people are treating
themselves with natural remedies rather than going to the doctor for
every ache or scratch. Health food stores were considered by many
people to be the province of "kooks" thirty years ago. Not
anymore. Other aspects of culture are following.
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Choosing the right running shoes has never been easy. Besides the usual variables like style, price, make, model, comfort and fit, runners also spend time considering more technical features like cushioning and stability.
In recent years, however, the debate about what runners put on their feet has heated up. From the au naturel crowd who think shoes are unnecessary, to the more conservative wave of runners who believe in shoes but not their technology, there's a distinct shift away from the old rules of choosing shoes.
Foot Care: Put Some Spring in Your Step
More information: Sports injuries
Cushioning, once considered the primary measure of a shoe's worth, has dropped down the list of a shoe's must-haves. So, too, have stability features, which are designed to correct biomechanical flaws. Today runners are told to rely on perfect mechanics instead of the perfect pair of shoes if they want to reduce the risk of injury.
Those mechanics include shifting from striking the ground heel first to landing mid- to forefoot first. In fact, say those who support a forefoot landing, switching from landing on your heel to landing on the front of your foot reduces so much of the impact stress that running shoes no longer need their customary well cushioned heel to reduce the risk of injury.
That shift in philosophy has caused considerable confusion among those who have spent most of their running lives pounding the pavement in cushioned shoes laden with technology. Add to the fact that there's no proof changing your shoes or how your foot makes contact with the ground will keep runners injury free, and the confusion is well-justified.
"We're in a muddy area when it comes to choosing shoes, said David Pearsall, a professor of biomechanics in the kinesiology and physical education department of McGill University.
Pearsall believes the barefoot fad has died down, leaving most runners to choose a shoe that lands somewhere between the technology-laden model of old and the minimalist style that features little more than a thin sole and upper. This stripped down version of running shoe has a lower profile heel with decidedly less cushioning and minimal stability features.
Does that mean runners need to abandon shoes that have served them well for decades and buy into this new fad of running shoes?
Not necessarily. Pearsall advises against changing shoes that have helped keep you healthy over the years.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," he said.
Reed Ferber, an assistant professor in the department of kinesiology at the University of Calgary and director of the Running Injury Clinic, a lab designed to evaluate running mechanics, agrees with Pearsall.
"Runners need to calm down when it comes to choosing their shoes," he said.
Most of us overthink when it comes to choosing the right shoe, Ferber said. He also suggests the debate about what part of the foot hits the pavement first is moot.
"Eighty-nine to 95 per cent of runners land on their heel," Ferber said. "And it doesn't matter if they are in a cushioned or zero-drop shoe."
Ferber cited a prominent study that photographed recreational and sub-elite runners' feet at various points during the course of a marathon. The number of mid and forefoot strikers in the crowd was minimal (just over five per cent) with a large percentage of that same crowd converting to a heel first landing by the 32-kilometre mark.
Contrary to most of the propaganda around running and running shoes, Ferber said, the majority of runners have pretty typical mechanics and do well in a neutral shoe with very little added stability.
"Only about 15 per cent of runners have excessive foot mechanics," Ferber said.
Back in the '90s, Ferber claims about 60 per cent of runners were in motion control shoes. Nowadays, only about two per cent to three per cent of runners rely on added stability, which he said is a more realistic representation of who actually needs a mild to moderate correction in their biomechanics. That change, Ferber said, is a positive result of the recent debate about whether or not runners actually benefit from added technology.
Does that mean runners should start trading in their current stability shoes for something with less support?
Ferber said shoes alone aren't enough to derail your running habit, Ferber said, adding that he believes most running related injuries are multiple causes.
"Run in something comfortable," he said. "That's the best measure of good shoe."
That's true even if the sales clerk at your local shoe store suggests otherwise. Ferber said analyzing running mechanics takes more than the trained eye of the average shoe retailer. And contrary to the increasingly popular practice of filming your stride on an in-store treadmill, it takes more than one camera pointed at your feet to make an informed decision about how to improve your mechanics. Ferber's lab uses multiple cameras that capture a runner's style from several angles before offering an opinion on shoes and foot strike.
As for injury, Pearsall reminds runners that overuse, not shoes is the primary cause of injury among runners. So before you consider changing your shoes, trying changing your running habits.
Twitter: jillebarker


text:
Haere Mai, Dobro Dosli, Welcome
to our town portal!
Kaitaia is New Zealand's northern most town and one of the nations oldest. For those of us who are privileged to live here we are proud of our rich multicultural heritage. Visitors are welcomed by town signage in Maori, English, and Croatian exemplifying the three main cultures that built Kaitaia to what it is today. Read more
Town Entertainment
Online Services & Town Data
Town Residents
Investment & Visitors
The NZ Vodafone Warriors visit Kaitaia! Read more


text:
There are two ways the war in Syria could end: Either through outright victory or a negotiated transition.
Outright victory on the battlefield tends to produce more durable peace – think the American Civil War and World War II – but few modern wars end this way. And in Syria, a drubbing of either side may not produce a lasting silence. If the regime survives, it could face a fragmented low-level insurgency for years. If it falls, the rebellion's splintered factions may turn on each other.
A negotiated peace, meanwhile, requires two essential preconditions: military stalemate and inclusiveness at the peace table. Warring factions do not leave their bunkers for conference rooms as long as they think they have more to gain in the trenches. Talks that favor certain factions by dint of excluding others lack legitimacy.
The necessary preconditions for peace talks do not yet exist, and so the United States and the West must work to create them – through military intervention in this crisis.
A United Nations investigating commission said Tuesday it had found credible evidence in Syria of the use of both chemical and thermobaric weapons (the latter produces a much longer blast wave than a conventional explosion). The commission cited 17 apparent massacres of civilians between January and mid-May, and warned that "war crimes, crimes against humanity and gross human rights violations continue apace." It cited war crimes by both sides. The UN estimates that 80,000 people – mostly civilians – have perished in the conflict, which is now in its third year.
The UN report came as the US and its European allies debate arming the rebellion, and as Washington works with Moscow, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's principle patron, on a formula for peace talks. The UN panel urged the international community to cut all arms flows to Syria.
But stemming the humanitarian crisis in Syria requires that the West do just the opposite.
Assad has been emboldened by recent advances on the battlefield and by support from Russia, Iran, and the Lebanese faction Hezbollah. A delivery of Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles remained pending. The regime vaguely claimed that the shipment has arrived, but Moscow denies the weapons were sent.
The rebels, meanwhile, are in disarray and, on the battlefield, retreating. The main rebel faction, the Syrian National Coalition, has rejected Washington's invitation to set the table for talks. It has good reason to do so.
First, the rebels understand that Mr. Assad has no incentive to negotiate his own exit as long as he holds – or at least thinks he holds – a military advantage. Second, the coalition, a movement largely in exile, does not carry a unified brief for the wider, fragmented rebellion.
Third, the rebellion has no reason to trust its hesitant would-be Western patrons. The European Union lifted its arms embargo only late last month, but key members – Britain and France – remain undecided on whether to send military assistance. Washington is even more wary of entering the fray in yet another Middle Eastern war – despite Secretary of State John Kerry's recent admission that US foot-dragging has been a mistake.
The war is at a turning point. Backed by Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah militants fighting inside Syria, the Assad regime has reason to be confident. The opposition is demoralized and ill-equipped, providing fertile ground for jihadist opportunists. Meanwhile the war is spilling into the broader region.
Ending the war and its crushing humanitarian crisis requires backing Assad into a corner from which the negotiating table provides his only safe escape. Yes, dropping more firepower into a volatile region is dangerous, increases the death toll, and runs the risk of placing arms in the hands of anti-Western extremists.
But arming the rebels addresses several objectives: It shifts the strategic balance of the war against the regime; it unifies the splintered rebellion; and it strengthens the West's diplomatic stand vis-à-vis Russia and Iran. All of that would also work to bring rebels to the negotiating table.
Providing materiel should be one part of a larger effort involving the West's friends in the region. Supply-corridors starting from Turkey and Jordan and protected by NATO air power – no-fly zones – would facilitate a humanitarian response to war-pummeled cities and villages and enable well-armed rebels to advance more assuredly on the regime's vital strongholds in Aleppo and Damascus.
The goal is to compel peace negotiations. The Obama administration's bid for talks has exposed the cost of the West's dithering in Syria. Assad and his patrons see more advantage on the battlefield. The rebellion is fragmented. The West has little leverage. Preparing the conditions for peace begins not in Geneva, where American and Russian diplomats talk about talks, but on the battlefield in Syria.
Kurt Shillinger was a national political reporter for The Christian Science Monitor and Africa correspondent for The Boston Globe. He conducted political research in Syria in the mid-2000s.


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DCON 2012 Will Be Full of Holes
Because Carson Catlin is coming, and he's bringing the reticulation. Available at the Spankystokes booth will be ten 3" Black Rainbow dunnys ($50 each), three Mad'ls ($150 to $300), three 1,000 Points of Lights (my favorite, $125 each), and two reticulated Marka27 dunnys ($75 each). But wait – there's more! Carson will be cutting a pink Mad'l at 2:15 it away for free.


text: Evernote is an service/application you can use to store notes, images and all kind of information (like audio, handwritten or video notes) for retrieving later. Nevernote is an open source clone of Evernote that works on Linux. While Evernote now runs on Linux through Wine, the application is quite slow so you may want to try Nevernote.Full story »


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The money raised from the social will help grant wishes for other children.
The Cold Stone Creamery 2010 "World's Largest Ice Cream Social" looms large on Kate's calendar. A year earlier, she enjoyed the Cold Stone Creation that a Make-A-Wish® kid helped concoct for the occasion.
But this year, the fate of the Creation is in Kate's hands. Make-A-Wish® and Cold Stone Creamery granted her wish to be the Junior Tastemaster – a chance to work alongside Tastemaster Ray Karam. It all starts with her creativity and her tastebuds.
At Cold Stone headquarters in Scottsdale, Ariz., Kate and Ray brainstorm, sample, debate, gather opinions. Hours earlier, Kate arrived to find a personal assistant and official desk space, complete with a name plaque and pink accessories. Hundreds of Cold Stone employees greeted her.
Then she and Ray got to work on her long list of ideas, paring it down to only the best. They put their short list of concoctions to the test: Thirty Cold Stone employees vote on their work … and pick caramel-apple ice cream with extra apples, graham crackers and chocolate flakes as the winner. Kate notifies senior executives before attending a marketing meeting to discuss public-relations initiatives for promoting the new flavor.
In addition to the honor of having her Creation tasted by millions of customers, Kate's wish is extraordinary because the money raised from the social will help grant wishes for other children.
And when Kate returns home to Florida, she has more than memories: Ray has six gallons of her flavor waiting.
Behind the stone: Tastemaster Ray Karam teaches Kate how to scoop ice cream like a pro.
Behind the stone: Kate learns how to add mix-ins to a Creation.
Behind the stone: Ray, Kate and her sister Emma share a laugh together.
Kate is the picture of concentration as she adds chocolate sauce to her mint Creation.
Behind the stone: Ray and Kate ponder their next move.
Behind the stone: Ray watches as Kate chooses from the wide array of mix-in options.
Behind the stone: Ray and Kate pause for a photo opp.
Behind the stone: Ray is all ears as Kate shares her delicious ideas.
In the office: Cold Stone employees listen to Kate's input at the marketing meeting.
In the kitchen: Kate instructs Emma on the correct way to cut brownies.
In the office: Kate is hard at work in her own personalized work space.
In the office: Kate, official Junior Tastemaster, peers out of her official cubicle.
Taking a break: Kate and her family pose with a few people who sampled her Creation.
Taking a break: Kate and her family, sharing the joy of Kate's wish.
Celebrating after making the official Creation for the World's Largest Ice Cream Social
In the office: Kate reviews ideas from the marketing and public relations executives.
This story makes me feel
I wish to be the boss of the ice cream man
More than 74 percent of all wishes granted involve travel.
When you support our Wishes in Flight® program, you help wish kids take flight.
August 16, 2010 - 9:55 AM
Great job Kate! Can't wait for the "big day"!!
September 11, 2010 - 10:11 AM
looking forward to kate's delicious creation! [m]
September 21, 2010 - 10:13 AM
Emily and Rileigh
We think that it is very inspiring that you would like to share your ice cream creation with many people. We think its cool that you went to Arizona to the Cold Stone Creamery to make your creation.
September 24, 2010 - 10:57 AM
Kate, you are an amazing young girl. I am excited to share this with fellow workers, family and friends. Thank you!!
September 28, 2010 - 10:59 AM
Kate, I tried your flavor tonight. What a great flavor!! I love it, and I don't usually even like ice cream. You did a fabulous job creating that one. Not too sweet, not too tart, it was just PERFECT!! Thank you Kate. You're a fantastic Tastemaster, WOW! Love and hugs.
September 30, 2010 - 11:00 AM
Kate, my buddy Amiri and I just ate your ice cream! We think it's fabulous! Congratulations on a job well done!
September 30, 2010 - 11:01 AM
Sounds yummy Kate....carmel apples are on of my favorite things, well done!
September 30, 2010 - 11:02 AM
Tania and Rylyn
Kate...we tried your ice cream and it was delicious...We hope you enjoyed every minute of your wish!!! Stay strong and know you are surrounded by people who are keeping you in their thoughts!
September 30, 2010 - 11:03 AM
Nice job Kate!! Have fun!!! :D
September 30, 2010 - 11:04 AM
wow, I was teary eyed reading this story what an amazing experience for a young person! To feel and be treated as a excutive CEO is something to brag about!! thank you Kate I can't wait to make a donation in your honor and taste this WONDERFUL creation you have put together for us!
September 30, 2010 - 11:05 AM
Ahren and Sara
Kate, it's so wonderful that you had such a generous thought and wish to share with everyone. You have an excellent taste in ice cream by the way. It was DE-licious! Here's a pic of us enjoying it. :) http://dailybooth.com/djahren/8767451 Thank you again from both of us.
October 19, 2010 - 11:06 AM
Bieng an ice cream lover myself as well as a volunteer for the Make-A-Wish foundation of Suffolk County, NY, I was especially moved after reading about this wish. I am now headed out the door for some ice cream!
October 29, 2010 - 11:07 AM
I wish to be a car designer
I knew visiting the set of 'The Office' would be amazing and would help me learn for my future
T-cell lymphoma
I wish to be President of the United States of America
Stay in Touch!
Sign up to receive email from Make-A-Wish.


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•Christopher Queen Gallery: May 1st, 2016. "The Golden Hour." Duncans Mills, CA.
•Abend Gallery: May 13th, 2016. "Contemporary Figuration." Denver, CO.
•Paso Arts Fest: May 26th, 2016. "Signature Exhibition." Paso Robles, CA.
•Los Gatos: June 18th, 2016. "Los Gatos Plein Air." Los Gatos, CA.
•Sonoma Plein Air: September 10th, 2016 "Sonoma Plein Air." Sonoma, CA.
•Modern Eden Gallery: September 17th, 2016. Beautiful Bizzare Invitational Show. San Francisco, CA.
•Christopher Queen Gallery: October 2nd, 2016. "A Splendid Journey: 40th Anniversary Show." Duncans Mills, CA.


text:
Indians hand O's 4th straight loss
Baltimore still in second place in American League East
Michael Brantley took care of the offense, and Cleveland's bullpen did the rest.
Brantley homered and had four RBIs, and the Indians beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 Monday night for their ninth win in 12 games.
Brantley put the Indians ahead with a two-run single in the sixth inning, and Cleveland's relievers made the lead stand up by throwing 3 2/3 innings of one-hit ball.
"Our bullpen was phenomenal," manager Terry Francona said.
Just for good measure, Brantley made it 5-2 with a two-run shot in the eighth off Darren O'Day. His four RBIs tied a career high, reached twice previously.
Nick Swisher had two hits and scored a run for the Indians, and former Oriole Mark Reynolds went 1 for 2 with two walks. The victory improved Cleveland's record against the AL East to 7-17 and provided an uplifting start to an 11-game road trip.
Ubaldo Jimenez (6-4) allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings before Rich Hill, Bryan Shaw and Joe Smith combined for 2 2/3 innings of hitless relief. Vinnie Pestano wrapped it up by working the ninth for his fourth save.
Hill came in with a 7.58 ERA, but retired all three batters he faced.
"When Rich Hill pitches like that, it complements our whole bullpen," Francona said. "He's thrown the ball pretty good the last few times out. Getting him on a roll will really help our bullpen."
Nick Markakis and Matt Wieters homered for the Orioles, who have lost four straight.
Zach Britton (1-2) allowed only two hits through five innings and took a 2-0 lead into the sixth before faltering. He left before getting an out and with Baltimore trailing 3-2.
"Just elevated some balls, lost his command," manager Buck Showalter said. "I thought he pitched well for five innings but different stuff showed up there in the sixth."
Jason Kipnis led off with a double and scored on a single by Swisher. Carlos Santana followed with a double to put runners at second and third, and after Reynolds received an intentional walk, Brantley grounded a single up the middle to chase Britton.
"Early in the game I was able to make pitches with guys on base, executing a little bit better," Britton said. "I think I was trying to do too much after that leadoff double and things kind of escalated right there."
Brantley understood why the Orioles walked Reynolds to get to him.
"Obviously, they were playing strategy," he said. "Left-hander on the mound and I'm a left-handed hitter. I just wanted to make sure I did what I could for my team, get that run in from third. I was lucky to get a single up the middle."
Brantley iced it in the eighth with his fifth homer after a leadoff single by Reynolds.
"The pitch was middle-inside, kind of down," Brantley said. "I was able to get a good swing on it. I just stayed through it the best I could. At the time, it was a big swing, and the pitching staff ... came in and closed the door."
After being swept in a three-game series in Toronto, the Orioles hoped a return to Camden Yards would reverse their slide. But their only offense came on two swings of the bat.
After Markakis put Baltimore up 1-0 in the first inning with his eighth home run, the Orioles left the bases loaded in the second and stranded two runners in the third.
Wieters led off the fourth with his 10th home run to end an 0-for-13 skid and make it 2-0.


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Once again, it's time to visit some of British Columbia's established treasures and unexpected pleasures.
Victoria beer culture
Those who believe that sophisticated sipping can only involve snifters of brandy or glasses or wine have often considered "beer" and "culture" to be mutually exclusive concepts. It's not hard to know why. For many years, Canadian beer, regardless of what label was on the bottle, all shared a dreary sameness.
But if you're an aficionado of ale, a devotee of dopplebock or a supporter of stout, you'll know that the last 25 years have seen a revolution in both the quality and variety of beers available in North America. Beer lovers in B.C. have been at the forefront of the movement, as has an organization originally founded in the U.K. in 1971.
CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) was formed by a group of angry beer lovers in England who set out to resist the replacement of traditional regional beers with bland and monotonous factory beers. The Campaign for Real Ale Society of British Columbia (CAMRA BC) has been an affiliate since 1990 and is dedicated to the promotion and responsible consumption of natural, crafted beers.
The result has been an explosion of brewpubs and microbreweries throughout B.C. but particularly in Victoria. Traditional pubs, restaurants, and government and private liquor stores have also gotten into the act, responding to public demand and offering more quality brews. In fact, as the major breweries have seen their yearly sales sag, the craft beer market has continued to grow year over year.
It's a beautiful, sunny, September day in Victoria and Royal Athletic Park is the scene of a yearly celebration of the brewers' craft. Over 7,000 people attend the two-day event featuring over 170 beers made by more than 45 craft breweries from across Canada, Belgium, and the U.S. Pacific Northwest.
We buy some beer tokens, are handed a quarter-pint plastic glass, and head out to explore. We soon discover that the range of beer on offer is only matched by the diversity of those doing the drinking.
Beer drinkers, it seems, fall into three main categories. The most boisterous group seem to barely let the beer touch their taste buds before it's in their belly and shortly thereafter their bladder (sorry, a weakness for alliteration). Then there's another group in less of a hurry, who swirl, swallow and say things like an overheard, "Holy cow, that's good beer!" And last is a more earnest group who sip, savour, and actually take notes using cloying flavour descriptors that would do any wine writer proud.
It's a friendly group of brewers and tasters all bonded by a love of fine beer. Despite line-ups at many booths, brewmasters are happy to discuss what hops and malts went into creating their frothy masterpieces with fantastic names such as Back Hand of God Stout, Humulous Ludicrous, Surly Blonde, and Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale.
Over a leisurely afternoon, we alternate beer sampling with listening to entertainment put on by local musicians and trying some of the food booths run by local restaurants and caterers. And at the end of the day, we are happy to use the free bus pass attached to our festival tickets to get back to our hotel.
Victoria's beer culture goes far beyond the Festival, though. Four brewpubs are located within easy walking distance of each other.
Spinnaker's on the waterfront in VicWest started the ball rolling when it opened in 1984. Canada's oldest brewpub offers a range of traditional and innovative brews along with excellent food and even beer and chocolate pairings. Just across the Johnson Street Bridge is Canoe Brewpub, located in an 1894 heritage building on the downtown waterfront. Brewmaster Sean Hoyne's Copper Bock fall seasonal brew won a gold medal at last year's Canadian Brewing Awards. A stone's throw away, Swans Brewpub is another Victoria institution. Winner of the Canadian Brewing Awards "National Brewpub of the Year" in 2006, it offers both chocolate and savoury food pairings with its selection of brews. A block away from the Empress Hotel, Hugo's Brewhouse rounds out the downtown ale trail. Here, brewmaster Benjamin Schottle creates innovative beers such as his popular Super G Ginseng Ale.
Victoria is also home to no fewer than three microbreweries, Vancouver Island Brewery, Lighthouse Brewing and Phillips Brewing Company. Phillips not only took home four medals including a gold at the Canadian Brewing Awards, it has won CAMRA's "Brewery of the Year" award for the past two years.
Royal Athletic Park is at the corner of Vancouver Street and Caledonia Avenue, about ten blocks northeast of downtown Victoria.
Contact Info:
For travel and accommodation information, contact Tourism Victoria at 1-800-663-3883 or at www.tourismvictoria.com.
For more on the Great Canadian Beer Festival, visit ww.gcbf.com.


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We had a Skeptics in the Pub event in Grand Rapids over the weekend and one of the people there was a libertarian. As most of my longtime readers know, I have some sympathies with many libertarian ideas and I have long argued that liberals should take libertarian ideas more seriously and build alliances with them on the many issues where we have common ground. But the discussion I had with this guy had me arguing against the libertarian fantasy of the magical free market that prevents every problem.
Don't get me wrong, markets are wonderful things. They are a very good means of allocating capital and they have a great many beneficial effects for consumers. But that doesn't mean that the market, operating all on its own, is going to magically do nothing but good things and prevent all the bad things. We talked about the example of pollution, for example, where regulation is necessary to prevent serious damage to the environment and to our health. Pollution is an externality, a cost that is imposed on the public whether they have any involvement with the business transaction that took place or not.
The libertarian argument is that in a free market, consumers would choose not to do business with a company that caused a large amount of pollution and, because the company knows that, it will have an incentive not to pollute. This is so absurd that I consider it a utopian fantasy. It fails on several levels. First, most consumers have no knowledge of what any company has done to damage the environment, and when they do know, the overwhelming majority simply doesn't care.
How many people are now refusing to buy gas at BP stations because of the Gulf oil spill? That was the probably the most widely covered environmental disaster in American history, perhaps in world history (Chernobyl is probably up there too). There was a massive amount of negative press aimed at BP. The next year, 2011, they had a profit of $25.7 billion. Even the most widely publicized environmental disaster did almost nothing to hurt the company responsible for it.
Has the company responsible for the Love Canal disaster been punished by consumers for their behavior? Hell, could more than 1% of the public even identify that company? I had to look it up myself. It was Hooker Chemical, now called Occidental Petroleum. It made more than $10 billion in profits last year. Is there even a single major company that has gone out of business or even had a serious dent put in their profits by being responsible for an environmental disaster? I can't think of one.
A free market does not prevent such disasters. In fact, it may encourage them. Given the numbers above, a company is probably far better off not installing pollution abatement equipment that regulation currently requires, boosting their profits by huge amounts of money and then using a small portion of that money on a PR campaign, as BP has been doing since the Gulf spill. The profit motive alone is likely to encourage more pollution rather than less. That's why regulation is necessary.
Now where I think liberals can learn something is from the libertarian critique of regulation, particularly the emphasis on rent-seeking. It isn't about more regulation or less regulation, it should be about smart regulation. Well-designed regulation will not shut new, innovative companies out of the market. It won't operate to the benefit of a few large corporations who can then use that regulation to keep competitors out and protect or expand their market share. The goal of regulation should be to prevent the negative externalities, keep the market competitive and benefit consumers and the public.
But here's the problem. Because politicians must raise such massive amounts of money to get elected and reelected, they are forced to kowtow to corporate benefactors who are then able to ensure that the regulations that Congress passes are favorable to them. And if they don't get everything they want from Congress, they can bribe and coerce executive agencies to weaken those regulations when they write the implementation rules for the law. Since the people writing the regulations are often former executives in the industries they are supposed to be regulating and overseeing, and those who aren't will be angling for a job in that industry when they leave their positions, regulatory capture is very real and very difficult to get rid of.
The solution is to eliminate the need to raise huge amounts of money to win an election and to limit the ability of powerful moneyed interests to influence both Congress and the regulatory agencies. The reason that solution won't happen is because it would have to be passed by the same people who benefit from the system being the way it is.


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It was close. As close as it gets. But San Jose Earthquakes striker Chris Wondolowski edged Sporting KC's Aurelien Collin by one vote to take the honor of being named the MLS Player of the Month for April.
The Player of the Month is voted on by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR).
Other players receiving first-place votes include D.C. United's Maicon Santos, New York's Thierry Henry, and Houston's Will Bruin.
In April, "Wondo" scored four goals and posted two assists as the Quakes racked up a 3-0-1 record for the month and shot up to top spot in the Western Conference. He now has 8 goals on the season, and sits in second place in the Golden Boot race, behind Henry.
Player of the Month winners
- March: Thierry Henry, New York
- April: Chris Wondolowski, San Jose


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"The flavors blend so well, you won't even guess you're eating kale." —Guarnaschelli
- Yield
- Makes 8 servings
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 8 white button mushrooms, cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 6 shallots, sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, grated
- 2 bunches kale, stems and center ribs discarded, cut into 1-inch strips, divided
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 3 Idaho potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 bunches watercress, trimmed, plus more for garnish
- 3 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream (optional)
- 8 slices whole-grain bread (optional)
- In a large pot over medium heat, add butter. As it melts, add mushrooms, shallots, garlic, half the kale, salt and white pepper. Cook until shallots are translucent and kale starts to cook down, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add potatoes, remaining kale and 2 cups water. Cover; reduce heat to low. Cook until potatoes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
- In a medium pot, simmer cream and milk; season with salt and pepper. Add watercress to soup; stir to wilt; remove soup from heat. Stir in cream mixture; simmer.
- In a blender, blend soup in batches until smooth. Divide among 8 bowls; top with sour cream and watercress leaves, if desired. Serve with whole-grain bread, if desired.
Per serving: 252 calories, 16 g fat, 10 g saturated fat, 24 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 7 g protein


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Britain, under the Conservative government in 1974, slowed to a government-mandated three-day week: not an immense gift of extended vacation, but a foreshortening of the working week based on the amount of electricity available. From January to March of that year, businesses, shops and services were only open for three consecutive days, and television companies were forced to end their broadcasts at 10:30pm. The remarkable visibility of this retrenchment is perhaps an apposite introduction to the fiscal circumstances of Britain at that time, as it was counterbalanced by extreme activity in the visual arts, with a burgeoning moving image practice taking place in various underground clubs and cooperatives in London and other regional centers, and mainstream television ("mainstream" being redundant; except for some regional variations, there were only three channels at the time) airing artists' film and video, primarily on Channel 4, which was established in 1982.
This is the period revisited by Raven Row's current show "Polytechnic" - the late 1970s and early 80s, when artists began using the new medium of video to reflect upon and deconstruct codes of representation, politics and social mores. It's a smart and striking choice for an exhibition, as the legacy of this time is ambivalent and is still in the process of being settled: art-historically, it's been partially eclipsed by what preceded it (the medium-specific investigations associated with the London Film-Makers' Co-op) and by what followed - that is, the yBas, who pretty much turned around and rejected the commitment to politics, collective production and art as labor (not commodity) that this group stood for. At the same time, many of the artists included in the show - Catherine Elwes, Susan Hiller, Ian Breakwell, Stuart Marshall - went on to teach in various art schools (many of them former polytechnics, hence, perhaps, the title) and showed their work on Channel 4 during the 1980s, meaning they have had a much more dispersed, though less visible, impact on art and the wider sphere of culture. Have had and have: Elwes, for example, has recently founded a journal devoted to the moving image (MIRAJ), so the territory contested in this earlier period continues, to a certain extent, to be contested.


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November 30, 2004 • Posted By Shaun Lyon
One more piece of news from the ChicagoTARDIS convention that wasn't in yesterday's report: Big Finish will be keeping the current logo (the one used since the 1996 TV Movie) on the covers of their audios, as the current logo symbolizes the "classic" era of Doctor Who. It's possible the "new" logo will only be used for tie-ins that have to do with the new series (perhaps BBC Books novels featuring the Ninth Doctor and Rose?) More details as we get them.


text:
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2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid Long-Term Update 8
Forgetting Faults
A few updates ago, I noted that the Cayenne's hybrid drivetrain was rather clunky in heavy traffic that has you constantly on and off the throttle. Not to worry, I said, Porsche has a software update out that should take care of it. I've since had it installed under warranty, and the results are in.
And they're not much to talk about, I'm afraid. The service, billed as "Re-programming Tiptronic, front-end electronics and high-voltage power electronics control units" and a companion update to the instrument cluster programming further refined power delivery in normal driving (something I never had a problem with) and even made the Cayenne feel a little quicker. As for low speeds and traffic jams, though, the update didn't seem to do much. I've noticed the bucking less often, but it hasn't diminished in severity as I'd hoped.
While that's disappointing, I'm finding other Cayenne quirks that once bothered me fading the longer I drive it. I've never liked Porsche's push-pull paddle shifters and I was initially frustrated that proper paddles aren't even an option on the Cayenne, until I realized I'd never actually used them in our long-termer. Part of it is this is an SUV and despite being a Porsche I just don't find myself flinging it at corners on any regular basis. The other part is that Porsche's transmission logic has gotten so good that Sport mode is almost always in the gear I would've manually selected when I would've selected it. Rarely do I find I would've timed a shift differently. It's really impressive, even in an SUV.
I've also gotten used to the left-hand ignition. Yes, Porschephiles, I know why it's there and while I may be a sucker for nostalgia, to most people it's just silly. It's also something you just get used to, like the pale yellow paint. Porsche calls it "Sand Yellow," while most people I talk to just call it bad. It really doesn't bother me anymore and it's certainly hard to lose in a parking lot. In fact, it's a nice change from the usual sea of beige and silver on our roads.
Things I'm not ready to forgive yet include a lack of passive keyless entry, which really oughta come standard on a $93,000 car when I can get as an option on cars one-third the price. The lack of a clock in the dash and the infotainment screen (except in a few buried menus, of which there are far too many) is a source of constant annoyance for passengers (the driver gets one in the instrument cluster display). While I like the look of the rear spoiler, its steep rake makes cleaning the top of the rear window a pain.
These are, of course, small gripes. Yes, they're annoying, but none affect the driveability of the vehicle nor are they deal-breakers. Some can even be fixed with the proper application of dollars. The fact that these are the only things I have to complain about should tell you something about how good this car is overall.
|Our Vehicle
|Service life
|11 months/22,910 miles
|Average fuel economy
|19.8 mpg
|CO2 emissions
|0.98 lb/mi
|Energy consumption
|170 kW-hr/100mi
|Unresolved problems
|Maintenance cost
|$370.55 (1 x oil change, inspection)
|Normal-wear cost


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Olympian Oscar Pistorius is charged with shooting and killing his girlfriend, Tierra LiCausi's fiance tried to win her back while she was competing on The Bachelor, and Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn take their relationship to the next level. See Us Weekly's top stories from Thursday, Feb. 14, in the roundup!
1. Oscar Pistorius, Double Amputee Olympic Sprinter, Charged in Murder, Shooting of Girlfriend
Valentine's Day nightmare. Oscar Pistorius, the first double amputee sprinter ever to compete in the Olympics, was charged with murder on Thursday, Feb. 14, after his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was found shot to death in his home.
2. The Bachelor: Tierra LiCausi's Fiance Tried to Win Her Back While She Was on the Show
Talk about timing! On the very day that Sean Lowe sent contestant Tierra LiCausi packing after their destination date in St. Croix, LiCausi's now-fiance was plotting to fly out to the Virgin Islands to win her back, her brother Tyler confirms to Us Weekly.
3. Exclusive: Tiger Woods, Lindsey Vonn Getting Closer, Bonding With Each Other's Families
Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn may not be ready to talk about their relationship, but actions speak louder than words — and their actions say things are heating up. The golfer and the Olympic skier have even spent time with each other's families in recent months.
4. Exclusive: Brad Pitt Gave Angelina Jolie Breath Mints for Valentine's Day 2013
No flowers, diamonds or chocolates for Angelina Jolie this Valentine's Day. In honor of the romantic Feb. 14 holiday, the actress' fiance Brad Pitt gifted her with…breath mints. Is he trying to tell her something?
5. Michelle Williams Flashes Underwear in Super-High Slit Dress at Oz the Great and Powerful Premiere
Just call her Glinda, the Nice-But-Naughty Witch of the North. For the premiere of her new film, Oz the Great and Powerful, Michelle Williams donned a white Prada gown slit all the way up to her hip, revealing a peek of her black underwear.
For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube!


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LLEIDA, SPAIN — In a research report published in a recent issue of HortTechnology, scientists Ignasi Iglesias and Simó Alegre examined the effects of covering orchard floors with reflective films on fruit color, fruit quality, canopy light distribution, orchard temperature, and profitability. The experiments were performed using Extenday? and Solarmate? films installed 5 weeks before commercial harvest in orchards of 'Mondial Gala' apples. The research showed that the use of both films increased fruit size and color and can result in increased profits for apple growers.
It's long been known that consumers choose apples based on fruit color. Although color does not affect the flavor, taste, and texture of apples, color influences consumer buying decisions and, in turn, apple growers' bottom lines. For many red and bicolored apple cultivars, including Gala, Delicious, and Fuji, red color (the intensity and quality of red skin) and fruit size are also important characteristics for fruit grading standards. Even when apples are of adequate size, poor fruit color can result in lower-grade fruit and decreased consumer approval.
Apple producers recognize that clear days with temperatures of around 25 °C and cool nights below 15 °C are ideal growing conditions for apples to develop bright red colors. Under these conditions, apples are capable of increasing canopy photosynthesis, and respiration rates decrease at night. Commercial apple growers in southern regions can be challenged by warm, dry summers that are not favorable to apple fruit color development; these warmer climates can have a definite negative effect on production and profits.
'Gala' apples have become very popular in Europe, where the high quality of this fruit is increasingly appreciated by consumers. To meet consumer demand, apple growers in southern Europe (mainly Spain and Italy) are looking for ways to turn out high-quality, cost-effective apple crops despite a climate that is not particularly conducive to apple production.
To address producers' issues of warmer climates, increased consumer demand, and high apple quality, Iglesias and Alegre designed a 3-year experiment using 'Mondial Gala' apples grown in orchards in northeastern Spain. Their objective was to determine how different types of reflective film affect orchard temperature, skin-color development, fruit quality, light canopy distribution, and, ultimately, apple crop profitability.
Based on the fruit size and color required to meet European Union grade standards, the use of Extenday? or Solarmate? films resulted in an increase of 26% and 17%, respectively, when compared with the control, for the number of fruit picked at first harvest.
The researchers concluded that "season clearly affected fruit color development, whereas harvest date, fruit firmness, fruit size, soluble solid concentration, titratable acidity, and maturity were not consistently affected by the use of reflective film." According to Iglesias, the study results are promising, but long-term benefits of the technique will largely depend on fruit prices.
The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortTechnology electronic journal web site: http://horttech.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/19/3/488
Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education, and application. More information at ashs.org


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State Clamps Down On Alcohol Sales Violations In Lafayette
The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control recently concluded a three month investigation, and sixteen Lafayette businesses in the downtown area received citations.
The Commissioner of Alcohol and Tobacco Control Troy Hebert says nearly 60 violations were given out to bars and nightclubs.
Hebert says most of the citations were because alcohol was sold to minors.
During the investigation 26 different place were investigated by undercover agents after Hebert say the ATC received multiple complaints from that area.
Administrative hearings will be held now for the alleged violators. Penalties could range from fines to suspensions of alcohol permits or even suspensions of those permits.