text:
Main/News Page
PS3 Linux Emulators
PS3 Linux Games
PS3 Linux Applications
PS3 Hacking
Best Storage Options for PSP
PSP Homebrew Applications
PSP Homebrew Games
PSP Custom Firmwares
PSP Flash Homebrew
PSP Hacks & Tools
PSP Homebrew Demos
PSP Magazines
Tiff Exploit Section
PSP Unbrickers
PSP Downgraders
PSP Emulators
UMD Loaders
Homebrew Loaders
Lua Players
Lua Games
Lua Applications
Lua Demos
Commercial Game Demos
PSP Coding Competitions
Emulators for PSP
PS2 Emulators & Plugins
PS2 Homebrew
Emulators for PS2
PS2 Hacks and Hacking
PS1 Emulators and Plugins
Emulators for PS1
DCEmu Portal
DCEmu Current Affairs
DCEmu Forums
DCEmu Console Sites
Apple & Android News
Sega News
Nintendo News
Open Source Handhelds
PC Gaming
Sony Console News
Xbox News
DCEmu Misc Sites
Retro Homebrew & Console News
DCEmu Reviews
Wraggys Beers Wines & Spirits Reviews
DCEmu Theme Park News
Gamer Wraggy 210
DCEmu Homebrew Coder Sites
Chui Dreamcast Developer
January 22nd, 2007, 22:35 Posted By: wraggsterjecklgamis has ported a small java runtime for the PSP, heres the readme details:
I. Introduction
This is the demo version of the BLUEKVM, a J2ME Kilobyte Virtual Machine
Java Runtime Environment for the PSP platform.
This software is provided "AS IS", without warranty of any kind.
Use at your own risk.
Sun Microsystems Inc. for creating Java
PS2DEV (http://ps2dev.org) for the PSPSDK
NesterJ (http://rukapsp.hp.infoseek.co.jp) for the temporary
class file loader interface.
The rest of the PSP hackers and developers
II. Running BLUEKVM
This software has been successfully run in a PSP with firmware
version 1.5.
1. Unzip the file bluekvm-psp-demo-version.zip.
2. Go to bluekvm subfolder and copy the BLUEKVM and BLUEKVM%
folders to the <MSROOT>/PSP/GAMES folder of the memory stick.
3. Load the application from the PSP menu.
(Game -> Memory Stick -> BLUEKVM)
4. Go to the CLASSES folder and select the class to run.
III. Building sample Java applications
To build your own sample Java applications, make sure you have
a J2SDK1.4.2 installed. (There were some problems encountered using
the J2SDK1.5 version)
Summary of procedures:
a. Compile the Java sources using the supplied cldc.zip as the
bootclasspath library.
b. Preverify the Java classes using the supplied preverifier.
c. Copy the preverified Java class files to the CLASSES folder of
See the Makefile in the supplied "sample_apps" folder for more
Download and Give Feedback Via Comments
For more information and downloads, click here!
There are 15 comments - Join In and Discuss Here
Welcome to the DCEmu Homebrew and Gaming Network. This Network of sites is owned and ran by fans of all games consoles, we post news on all the consoles we cover about hardware aspects, gaming and Homebrew. Homebrew and Emulation are software thats made using free and legal tools to play on games consoles. This Network is the only worldwide network of sites where coders can upload and post comments they deserve for all their hardwork. We have a Network that currently supports PSVita, WiiU, Nintendo Wii, Xbox360, PS3, PS2,PS1, Snes, N64, Gameboy, Nes, Xbox, Gamecube, Nintendo DS, PSP, GBA, Dreamcast, Sega Saturn,3DS, DSi, Switch, PS4, Pandora, xboxone, GP2X, iPhone, Windows Phone, iPad, Android and also Mobile Phone Emulation. When new consoles appear we will expand to cover those consoles. We also cover Theme Park News and news and reviews of Beer, cider, lager, wines and spirits.
news of their own releases and get the credit and
Please help DCEmu become stronger by posting on the forums every day and make our community larger.


text:
A century-old Coca-Cola manufacturing plant in a formerly run-down section of downtown Los Angeles is about to pop as a plush new office and retail complex.
The elaborate makeover of the three-story brick-clad building most recently used as a toy business warehouse underscores the rising demand for nonconventional office space and the emergence of the Arts District as a desirable neighborhood for residents and white-collar businesses.
Rents at the complex called Fourth & Traction are expected to easily surpass those charged by landlords of many of downtown's most prominent skyscrapers as growing firms in such fields as technology, entertainment and fashion continue to seek out offices that aren't meant to cater to staid corporate tastes.
Business articles: In some copies of the Nov. 13 Business section, a production error caused an incorrect page to be printed in place of Page B6. Three articles from Page B1 that were supposed to continue on Page B6 can be found in full online: "A sweet future for old Coca-Cola site": latimes.com/cocacola "Southland housing market mellowing": latimes.com/housing "New rules target prepaid cards": latimes.com/prepaid —
In a show of confidence in the so-called creative office market, the developers paid $19 million for the old soft-drink facility and plan to spend at least an additional $15 million in an effort to make it into a well-appointed showplace with a historic vibe.
"People like a sense of nostalgia," said developer Drew Planting of GPI Cos., a Los Angeles real estate firm that owns the building with New York investors Atlas Capital Group and Square Mile Capital Management.
Many tenants also like structures originally used for manufacturing because they often have high ceilings, more natural lighting and different windows than are found in typical modern offices, he said.
"It has to have soul, history and architectural vernacular," Planting said of the ideal historic building. "You can't replicate that."
The location at 4th and Merrick streets certainly comes with a past. Merrick is a brief extension of Traction Avenue, a former street car route connecting downtown's old industrial district to the city. The former Coca-Cola building is a stone's throw from an enormous former Santa Fe railroad dock that is now an elite architecture school.
Its neighbors include several other old industrial buildings that have been turned into housing, shops, bars and restaurants. The sinuous-looking, 438-unit One Santa Fe apartment complex is being completed nearby.
In 1915 The Times reported that Coca-Cola Co. was constructing a "commodious" new home for its operations, replacing an older facility on San Pedro Street.
"This is to be the headquarters for the company's Pacific Coast business and for its export trade in the Hawaiian Islands and Old Mexico," The Times said.
Syrup made using Coca-Cola's secret recipe was produced at the plant and shipped out for bottling or fountain use. The plant was expanded in the 1930s and again in the 1960s. Coca-Cola sold the building in the 1990s.
The plans by architecture firm HLW International call for adding a 300-space garage to the property. The basement and first floor are to be retail space for rent to such users as a gym, shops and an upmarket restaurant.
A new entryway will be created for the restaurant on the east end of the building, said Robert Cohen of RKF, the brokerage searching for retail tenants.
The two upper floors will be converted to office space, and a glass-enclosed penthouse will be added to the roof. The penthouse will be surrounded by a landscaped rooftop deck with seating, a fire pit and an outdoor kitchen.
"It's going to be an indoor-outdoor office experience," Planting said.
The fact that the 150,000-square-foot project is being built on "spec" — no tenants have been signed — demonstrates the upward momentum of growth in the Arts District, said real estate broker Carle Pierose of Industry Partners, the firm searching for office tenants for the building.
"We used to have to bring the tenants first," before office construction would begin, he said.
Most of the development in the Arts District in recent years has been housing for the well-heeled, Pierose said. The average annual income for neighborhood residents is $120,000.
Interest in the former Coca-Cola building has so far come mostly from technology and fashion firms, he said. When completed next year, the property will join several others that are bringing street life to the Arts District.
"First it was one lily pad, then another," Pierose said. "Now you are seeing it fill in and it will become a lot more walkable."
Twitter: @rogervincent

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Tickets on sale this Friday, May 2 at 10 am!
As part of her cross Canada tour, acclaimed singer-songwriter, Jann Arden will perform at Casino New Brunswick's Event Centre on September 29 and at the Halifax Metro Centre on September 30. Both shows start at 8 p.m. and special guest for the shows is Nashville duo, Jill & Kate.
Arden will be touring in support of her new release, Everything Almost, available in stores and online, today, April 29th. This latest collaboration with Grammy Award winning producer, Bob Rock is considered to be amongst Arden's finest work – progressive, yet retaining the magic that is distinctly Jann.
"An artist is almost always proud of the work they've just finished but I really am excited and so pleased by how this record has turned out," said Arden.
"Bob's got a gift for being simultaneously laid back and also pushing people to leave their comfort zones. His work and that of all the super-talented musicians in the studio made me a better singer today than at any point in my career. I can't wait for people to hear this album!"
Arden is a celebrated artist, with 19 Top Ten singles and eight Juno Awards. She is also the recipient of 10 SOCAN Awards, four Western Canadian Music Awards, a Much Music Video Award, three Prairie Music Awards and an Alberta Recording Industry Association Award. Arden is also the author of three books: If I Knew, Don't You Think I'd Tell You?, I'll Tell You One Damn Thing, and That's All I Know!, and her memoir, Falling Backwards. Further, she has expanded her artistic scope with her own CBC Radio program, having sat as judge on Global's Canada Sings, narrating ER Vets, making television sitcom appearances on Ellen and Corner Gas, as well as appearing several times on The Rick Mercer Report.
Whether she is captivating audiences with her heartfelt music, entertaining them with her quick wit or sharing her written word in a boldly honest voice – Jann Arden is a Canadian original – a brilliant multi-dimensional talent.
For more information on Jann Arden, visit: jannarden.com, like her on Facebook: /JannArden and follow her on Twitter: /jannarden
Tickets for the Moncton show go on sale this Friday, May 2 at 10 a.m. Tickets are $63.28 (including tax and applicable surcharge) and will be available at the Casino Gift Shop (located at 21 Casino Drive in Moncton, exit #450 off the Trans-Canada Highway), by calling1-866-943-8849 and online at casinonb.ca/casino/ and evenko.ca
Tickets for the Halifax show go on sale this Friday, May 2 at 10 a.m. Tickets are $64.75 (including tax and applicable surcharge) and will be available at the Halifax Metro Centre box office, at participating Atlantic Superstore outlets, by calling (902) 451-1221 and online at ticketatlantic.com and evenko.ca


text:
A good breastfeeding latch should not be painful for a mother. Breastfeeding shouldn't be painful at all. If you feel any discomfort, that means you need help. To know whether you need help, you need to give breastfeeding a try. There's no way to know if it will be painless or painful until you try. You are not alone. Help is available.
Some mothers don't know that breastfeeding shouldn't be painful because they have family members who tell them that it is supposed to be painful. If there is a real issue and it's not corrected, the mother will suffer. It's important to address this.
Excerpt from Answering breastfeeding questions ( Thots N Tots & SusuIbu.Com )


text:
Yesterday in Winx Club room had a lot of people. There was also a lot of children. Now, the room got very dirty. Girls you have to help Winx Club clean up the room and make it the cleanest. Enjoy and share with your friends!
Game controls
Clean with the mouse.


text:
There's nothing the Outlaw sisters can't fix with a roll of duct tape, a pair of scissors, 30 minutes and Joshua, the English Shepherd, barking incessantly to be petted instead of watching our Gorilla tactics.
You're thinking, "She misspelled that word. It should be guerilla tactics." Actually, both spellings are appropriate. We used Gorilla brand duct tape, and our method of coercing the Honda Odyssey automatic sliding door to close required outsmarting a van door with a smidgen of stealth…guerilla warfare, if you will.
What prompted us to engage in these subversive adhesive tactics?
Following an outing, we helped my nephew Joseph out of the van, carted in the rest of the our leftover more-than-generous lunches from a local restaurant and then Calamity Jane went back outside to close the automatic sliding passenger door. The door kept stopping and emitting an annoying beep when it reached the halfway point on the rubber track. Was the seat belt in the way? Did something fall in the track? Was the door lock accidentally engaged? No! After careful inspection, the Outlaw sisters realized that the rubber edging on the floorboard had a tear in it. The door's automatic sensor refused to continue along the torn part. Our comments of frustration must have upset Joshua, who barked at even greater volume. Perhaps he was attempting to alert us or he was voicing his innocence, since he had been accused of and proven guilty of chewing the siding on the house, his sofa/bed, two plush throws, about four cardboard boxes and two bags of charcoal briquettes. Ah, but I digress.
Calamity Jane, recalling the genius of Red Green, star of the PBS Red Green Show, decided that duct tape might just do the trick. Armed with a pair of scissors and a roll of Gorilla tape, she carefully applied some pieces along the rubber track. She pulled the door handle and the door started to slide. Success? No! The door stopped at the same torn area. She kept adjusting and reapplying the tape, but to no avail. The stubborn door would not move beyond the now-duct-taped tear. She was due to take the van to our mechanic for an oil change. But drive on an interstate with the passenger door open? Leave the van overnight at the mechanic's parking lot so some car thief could just hop in the back seat, hot wire the van and take off? We were getting desperate. Finally, I said, "Why don't you put a piece of the tape vertically over the tear and secure the long end of it onto the floorboard above the door track?" She tried it and we crossed our fingers, hoping we would not have to resort to having the van towed or trying to squeeze it in the garage overnight so no one would see the gaping/open door passenger side. She pulled the handle and the door began to slide. It crossed the duct tape and continued along the track to close securely! Success! We high-fived each other and promised to write to the Gorilla corporation to let them know we found a new use for their excellent product.
Joshua stopped barking and plunked his 85-pound derriere on the doorstep so we'd have to pet him to get back in the house. Happy ending for all.


text:
Movie News & Reviews
'Bye Bye Man' wears out its welcome
The Bye Bye Man is a scary ghoul with a skinless dog. He kills anyone who speaks his name out loud. He can possess people, walk through walls and hack the largest companies in the world.
And he is, by far, the most logical thing in "The Bye Bye Man."
The horror film feels off, as if along with the souls of the college kids in the movie, the bad guy made off with 20 pivotal minutes of film. There's a lack of consistency, giving the impression that every scene was shot in one take, a few weeks apart from each other. Moments of humor fall flat, and crucial plot points are unintentionally hilarious. Worst of all, it's impossible to care about any of the characters.
"The Bye Bye Man" begins, promisingly, with a flashback to 1969, where an apologetic journalist is taking a shotgun to anyone who said the Bye Bye Man's name. Then we flash forward to the present, as three college students move into a giant house that could easily sleep an entire fraternity. One by one they say the name and slip into a world of fear and paranoia.
There's more to the film's problems than just the writing and directing. Some awkward edits of violence and sex scenes suggest the movie might have been spliced to ensure a PG-13 rating. "The Bye Bye Man" is the kind of mess that happened by committee.
There are a few not-horrible moments. Both flashbacks have a dark comic timing that the present-day scenes never get right. Some of the sequences with the Bye Bye Man (Doug Jones) are weird enough to be interesting.
Carrie-Anne Moss and Faye Dunaway show up in small parts, exuding more coolness in a couple of minutes than any of the young lead actors. Take all the millennials you want, Bye Bye Man, but don't touch Trinity or Mommie Dearest.
Movie review
"The Bye Bye Man"
Rated PG-13 for terror, horror violence, bloody images, sexual content, thematic elements, partial nudity, some language and teen drinking. 1:36. Fayette Mall, Frankfort, Georgetown, Hamburg, Nicholasville, Richmond, Winchester.


text: On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 03:25:11PM -0700, Russ Allbery wrote: > In fact, despite being one of the big quilt advocates in the last round of > this discussion, I am at this point pretty much sold on using Git due to > its merges and branch support and have started to switch my packages over. > However, the one thing discussed on this thread is still the thing I don't > know how to do easily in Git. I have each logical change on its own > branch, so I can trivially generate patches to feed to upstream with git > diff upstream..bug/foo, but I don't know how to maintain a detailed > description and status other than keeping a separate file with that > information somewhere independent of the branch, or some special file > included in the branch. How often is a logical change more than just a single commit? Espeically in the context of packaging, usually the changes are pretty trivial, and don't require multiple patches. Sure, a few bugs may require some new infrastructure, or making changes that would be best done with 2-3 patches, but any more than that and you probably want to be consulting with upstream before submit any changes anyway? So normally I just keep those sorts of changes in the commit header, where it is easily and safely bundled with each patch. - Ted


text:
A few weeks back we posted our review of Fifty Writers on Fifty Shades, a collection offering up fifty different perspectives on the 50 Shades phenomenon. Today we bring you 20 questions with erotica author Rachel Kenley. Her piece "Porn Writer on the PTA" takes a look at how 50 Shades has changed the interactions she has with other women in her community and the ways the dynamic has shifted since they started reading the series.
1. How (and when) did you get started writing erotica/writing about?
I started reading erotica and erotic romance in my 20s and my tastes have gotten better and my requirements higher. I submitted my first erotic romance in early 2007 and it was published later that year by Ellora's Cave (I was writing as Rowan West then). I love exploring the physical aspects of a growing relationship and how that effects the individuals involved.
2. If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?
You mean another job? I can't imagine. I had dreams of being on the stage when I was younger, but this is the work that suits me best – writing, working and coaching writers, speaking at conferences. I love it all.
3. What's the best thing you've learned or best advice you've received from the erotic industry?
There is someone for everything and everyone's likes and desires are different. And that's something to be celebrated! There's not even a consensus in the vanilla hetero world. If it makes you feel good and if it doesn't hurt anyone else – explore it, enjoy it, and you'll probably find someone else who enjoys it too.
4. What's the funniest thing that's happened while working in erotica?
Probably the faces of some of my extended family when they learned what I write about. It's as if they are worried that writing erotic romance gives me some kind of insight into their sexual thoughts. I do love how many friends, however, are willing to ask me questions. Women need someone they can talk to about these things.
5. What do you think is the biggest misconception about women in the industry?
In the porn industry? Probably that they are brainless and can't get work anywhere else. I don't think people realize that this industry (in movies and in books) can also be way for us to take charge and control of our sexuality, our pleasure – and our bank accounts.
6. What did you do today?
Home-schooled my children, made dinner, did laundry, wrote about 1,000 words, and tried to save the PC from the blue screen of death (I needed to call in back up for that).
7. What would you rather have done today?
Have someone else do the cooking and cleaning for me while I sit in a perfectly decorated writing room with lots of space and light. My coffee is always hot and there's chocolate on hand. And someone to give me a massage when I need it later.
8. If you could do a movie with anyone (living or brought back from the dead) who would it be?
OMG – I would *totally* love to meet Mae West. I'd love to write for her, talk to her and have her over for dinner. She's an inspiration and a role model. I'd also like Anais Nin to join us, but she never made a movie to my knowledge.
9. Who is your favorite adult performer?
Okay, this is a strange question for a writer to answer, but I have to admit I love watching what Randy Spears can do with his tongue. He always looks like he is enjoying what he's doing – and so does his partner. And having seen her on several HBO specials – I get a real kick out of Katie Morgan.
10. You've got 20 bucks left to your name; what would you do with it?
You mean after I panic and call my friends? I will always spend money on books, good food, and great costume jewelry.
11. If you were president, what's the first thing you'd change?
I'd work to make sure everyone had the civil rights and equality they deserved. Marriage for all who want it. And I think our education system needs some serious attention.
12. What's the most embarrassing thing you've ever done?
My list of things that I've done which are foolish or dumb is much longer (you can ask my brother about the time I locked my keys in a Honda with the engine running – he loves to tell that story), but I think breast feeding in front of my in-laws ranks up there. It cleared the room. 🙂
13. Which is your favorite project that you've worked on?
Fifty Writers on Fifty Shades of Grey has been wonderful from the moment I first started writing my essay. I'd have to add the first anthology I edited which was called Spellbound a collection of erotically retold fairy tales. I love those stories and all the things you can do with them.
14. If you could have 1 superpower what would it be?
I hate having to choose only one (did I mention I'm a Libra?), but I've always wanted to fly!
15. Meat or veggie?
Meat! Veggies on the side, please.
16. What is your favorite book?
Too many to list and I'd have to go through all the different genres I enjoy, but in the erotica genre, I will read anything Laura Antoniou and Joey W. Hill write. They never disappoint.
17. What is your biggest pet peeve?
That there are always dishes in the sink and laundry to be done. I also hate having to say things more then once. I don't love the sound of my own voice that much.
18. What is your best piece of sex advice for women?
Learn what you love and then get comfortable telling your partner what you want! Being sexual power is a vital part of being fully empowered.
19. What is your favorite adult movie?
Dogma by Kevin Smith. Oh, that's not what you meant?
20. Tell me one thing you've never told anyone else.
I think I would have made (and loved being) a great courtesan back in the age when they were celebrated.
Take a look at Rachel Kenley's essay in Fifty Writers on Fifty Shades of Grey and follow her on twitter!
And don't forget to check out our interviews with other 50 Writers contributors, Marci Hirsch and Midori!


text:
Aquator is a fairly intense endless shooter game for the Android and iPhone with a good vs. evil story. Aquator features numerous enemy types, lots of power-ups, but let 1 enemy get by you and it's game over. The simplicity of this endless shooter game is what makes it challenging. Currently, each game is in the same game area, but the longer you survive the harder and faster this game gets.
Watch the Aquator App Video Now!
The 2 shooting power-ups, health, and a nuke bomb help you survive as long as possible with each game's objective to score as many points as you can. An extra bonus with Aquator, refreshingly, is that there are no in-app purchases in this free game, just a few non-intrusive ads that are standard for any free game.
Aquator is a simplistic, yet addictive, endless shooter game that will surely challenge your peripheral vision as you play! Watch the App Video to see how this game plays.
Download The Aquator App Now
iPhone App Store
Google Play Store


text:
The Fred Rogers' quote "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping'" has been used often to try to help with recent global events. I know I have spoken to Biscuit and Cracker about this, in an attempt to stop them being so scared by the news images which have tragically become part of our everyday lives.
Rest assured, those helpers are always there; whether that's our amazing emergency services, individual helpers who go over and above to help others or whole communities coming together to provide support/shelter/etc. Those helpers are there after terrorist incidents, natural disasters or events like the Grenfell House fire. They are both visible and working behind the scenes (let's not forget our 999 call handlers who got Police to the London Bridge area in order to neutralise the terrorists within 8 minutes of the call to them). But can we all be helpers?
Of course we can. I don't mean that we should all metaphorically don capes and throw ourselves in to potentially dangerous situations, but knowing that we can all help in our own way. We can be kind to people. We can treat them with respect. Rob and I are raising Biscuit and Cracker to be tolerant, to listen to other people's views and to respect them (VERY different from agreeing with them btw), by understanding that if it doesn't directly impact on you then your opinion is limited and by being kind. This means remembering that words have a huge impact, that your actions/inactions can hurt people, and that empathy is one of the most vitally important skills you can ever use.
I am always honest with Biscuit and Cracker with what's going on in the world (it's their world too after all). They are aware of who Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Jeremy Hunt are and what their views are (if you're wondering; "he's a silly man who doesn't like people who have different colour skin than him", "he's mean as he doesn't think boys and boys and girls and girls should get married" and "he's a stinky poo-poo head because he doesn't think paramedics and nurses are important and do a brilliant job" respectively). I admit I struggled watching the DUP politicians (with their anti-LGBTQ, anti-choice stance) being given such airtime on TV and such power in Westminster. I respect that they have different views to me, but I severely dislike their damning words regarding things which are so personal and their judgments on people (nothing wrong with the saying "if you've got nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all"). There's no kindness in what they say.
One final thought, before my random ramblings come to an end (thank you for putting up with a slightly different post from Biscuit and Cracker today); be kind to yourself. Sometimes we find it easier to be kind to others, but we shouldn't leave ourselves out of that.
Look after yourselves and I hope to see you again soon.


text:
I got into a debate online this week about whether or not this has been a good year for movies so far. Apparently a lot of people think it's one of the best in a long time (one guy even said it was the best since 2005, which is just plain not true, since 2007 is far-and-away the best since 1999 [which, itself, is, in many people's opinions {mine included} the best year in cinema history]). I think it's been decidedly lackluster, but that doesn't mean I haven't liked a fair number of movies. I have. But I haven't out-and-out loved any movie released in 2011.
Usually by early-mid September, there are five or six that could find themselves in my top ten list at the end of the year. Right now I have…zero. There's usually one or two summer movies I just have to see again. This year, none. I was underwhelmed by the final "Harry Potter," and the laundry list of sequels. Even movies I've enjoyed, like "Bridesmaids," and "X-Men: First Class" and "Captain America" – or movies that took me by surprise: "Fast Five," "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" – just haven't compelled me to see them again. Neither did my favorite movie of the year so far, "Super 8." I really liked it, but there's been something missing.
And it's not just the big studio movies. I saw and liked both Terrence Malick's "Tree of Life" and Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris." Both films have a lot to offer, and they stand out against the backdrop of the majority of films this year (as does, for that matter – though on a substantially less level – Kevin Smith's "Red State) simply by virtue of their uniqueness. But neither film inspired the fervent love in me that they seemed to for so many.
Overall, the movies have been mostly fine, fluctuating from decent to mildly impressive, but I can't think of a time this year when I felt like I was seeing something truly brilliant. You don't have to reinvent the wheel, you don't have to say something no one's ever said before. What I do require, though (and what I'm going to be writing about as well), is that there be some true storytelling going on that emerges from the characters, not just from someone trying to fit all of the standard pieces into the plot-driven puzzle.
Aside from "Super 8," which spent lots of time with its characters, the two movies that have come closest for me have been two late-summer sci-fi disease-driven thrillers: "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" and "Contagion."
I'm trying to catch up on the stuff I haven't seen, now. I'm going to go see "The Help," and "Horrible Bosses," renting "Win/Win" and "Hanna" and "Certified Copy" and, maybe if I'm feeling like watching something I'm not interested in at all, "Uncle Boonmee…" (as well as the handful of documentaries).
I do have pretty high hopes for some upcoming films, like "Drive," "Moneyball," and "Melancholia," and as we get into the end of the year, there are more and more movies I'm interested in seeing. Between all of these, it could end up being a very good year at the movies. But at the moment, I can't do much more than throw up my hands to those who think it's a banner year. I just don't see it.


text:
Don Draper had it easy. He didn't have to worry about brand. It was all about one-way marketing and advertising. Pitch a big idea and then unveil some creative the client likes. Cool creative.
Those were the days.
The Brand is the most valuable asset a corporation owns. Strong brands are incredibly powerful. But I can't possibly be the first "branding guy" who has concluded that our pal Brand needs a rebrand.
Here in Washington, D.C., the political operatives have strange phrases. If you watch the Netflix show "House of Cards," you would recognize remarks such as, "Mistakes were made," or "Things have acquired a stench." I feel like they're describing Brand.
What's the problem? For 20 years branding professionals have been explaining what Brand is not. They're chest-high in research, nuance and jargon.
A conversation about our friend Brand can sound distant, untouchable and elitist. That's because the concepts, meaning and words behind Brand are intangible. For instance, the brand vision – just one of eight elements of a brand strategy – articulates a better world that is always worth striving for, but mostly unattainable.
And when people are making decisions (e.g. signing checks) on strategy, they prefer tangible things. Most companies create and market things. They want an answer to, "What do we get?"
No wonder clients can't figure it out. And as a result, the top corporate leaders who actually need to make important decisions about business direction – and then of course the accompanying brand strategy – end up ignoring big questions:
- How are you going to tweak – or turn upside down – your organization to earn a strong brand?
- What are you going to do with your shiny new logo, besides putting it on the side of the building? The logo by itself isn't going to prevent you from losing valuable customers.
- What are you doing to manage your culture? As Simon Sinek would say, you can't expect customers to love your company until the employees love the company.
Think about it. If today's Brand where a car, what would it be – a minivan? If it were a beverage, it would be soda water. If an animal, maybe a hedgehog – or dare we say a platypus? Brand evokes mostly vague and uninteresting stuff.
It's time for our industry to rethink some terminology. Then perhaps we might stop explaining that Brand isn't a logo or tagline or new website or fashionable carpet colors or advertising or other things.
What do you think? Can we find a new vernacular that resonates? Can we save our old pal Brand?


text:
This week we have an interview with Eviga, who handles the bass, vocal and guitar duties for Austria's all killer-no-filler Dornenreich, fresh off the heels of their March 2011 release Flammentriebe. The weather may be cold and dreary but this week there's plenty of hot, hot, hot shows to heat up your weeknights or weekend. Get out there and support your local bands so the shows keep on coming. Also included is a link to a completely free download of the new Enslaved EP The Sleeping Gods as well as streams to check out the two simultaneously released Boris albums courtesy of NPR and a stream of the awesomely pungent new Anaal Nathrakh album. Blog exclusive reviews include Anaal Nathrakh, Backslider/Nimbus Terrifix split 7", Scar Symmetry and Demonaz. If you read all the way to the end you get a special surprise of awfulness!
The love-it-or-hate-it cheesy hard rock/heavy metal of the '80s is still kicking. If you're feeling nostalgic or just need something to do Thursday the 19th, Club Vegas hosts the fashionable Bang Tango with Heartbreak Hangover, Aerial, Shadow and Motorman. $10 tickets are available in advance or $12 at the door. Music starts at 8 p.m.
Feeling like getting your heavy-as-hell on? Check out some blazing locals Friday night for a free show at Salt Lake Recording Service (721 S. 400 W.) with Gravecode Nebula (this could be there last show ever!), Incendiant and Adipocere. Music should be underway around 8 p.m.
On Friday night May 20th, Provo folks get their chance to get their heavy on at ABG's, 190 W. Center Street with Old Timer and Muckraker. $6 gets you in, tunes underway around 9 p.m.
Some say the rapture is going down Saturday, so why not go get your face melted in style and lovely extremity? L.A. based war-themed black metal crew Ritual Combat headlines at Bar Deluxe Saturday night with local stalwarts Iconoclast Contra and The Obliterate Plague. Advance tickets are $10 and available at the Heavy Metal Shop and Raunch Records or it's $12 at the door. Music underway around 8 p.m.
Saturday night, May 21 Club Vegas host a tribute to Ronnie James Dio with Scarred for Six, Deny Your Faith, Muckraker and Reveeler—all of whom's sets should include some Dio classics. $5 advance tickets are available or $7 at the door. Included is a free compilation CD of local heavy metal acts. Tunes underway at 8 p.m.
On Tuesday May 24, the Urban Lounge hosts touring act Rye Wolves of Eugene, Oregon with locals Dwellers (who will be joining the Rye Wolves for the rest of their spring tour) as well as the mighty Blackhole to kick things off. Music starts at 10 p.m.
Check out some awesome streams and downloads:
Anaal Nathrakh – Passion http://gunshyassassin.com/rad/anaal-stream
Boris – Attention Please - http://www.npr.org/2011/05/16/136240462/first-listen-boris-attention-please
Boris – Heavy Rocks - http://www.npr.org/2011/05/16/136241990/first-listen-boris-heavy-rocks
Enslaved free download of new EP http://www.scionav.com/music/scionavmetal/index.html#general3,8187
Dornenreich Interview:
SLUG: How have things been going for Dornenreich since Flammentriebe was released? What would you consider the best thing that's happened to the band since the release?
Eviga: The tour we played in February to present "Flammentriebe" in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. We experienced tmuch enthusiasm, loyalty and passion within the reactions of our audience. It was breathtaking. Actually we just came back from a European tour with our friends from Alcest, and this very tour was another fantastic journey for all people involved.
SLUG: Being an overall fan of all types of metal and a journalist that covers all of its realms, Dornenreich isn't a name that comes up a lot. I'm not sure how things are in Europe, but in America I would definitely consider the band underrated. Is this a sentiment the band shares or even cares about?
Eviga: It's difficult to overview that. On the one hand we receive a massive response of people who ask us why we never tour the US in spite of the fact that we seem to have numerous supporters there. On the other hand I am aware of the fact that Dornenreich does not sell a lot in the US. Anyway, we'd love to play concerts in America, but it's obvious that Dornenreich is too special and multifaceted for a bigger audience, so, in the end it's sorta sad that we are not able to tour the US (usually our concerts tend to convince even skeptical people), but in the very end I don't care too much about that all, for I can't influence it at all. Dornenreich is about authentic artistic expression. That's all I can say.
SLUG: There have always been folk elements in Dornenreich's sound—something which seems to becoming more widely popular amongst the "scene." What first inspired Dornenreich to use the folk elements in your music and to continually evolve them with each album?
Eviga: The love for music in general. The acoustic guitar and even strings have been an important part of Dornenreich since the very beginning of the band back in 1996.
With "In Luft geritzt" (our purely acoustic record) we really wanted to gather at the fireplace of original music. The instrumentation is not what we focus on in the first place. Therefore our live set includes a metal version of the originally acoustic song "Jagd" as well as an acoustic version of the original metal-song "Reime faucht der Märchensarg."
SLUG: How would you describe what Dornenreich is about musically and lyrically to audiences who have not heard any of your material?
Eviga: Dornenreich tries to combine contrasting elements to sensitize for the actual nature of life. Dornenreich is meant to be intense, mystic and timeless.
SLUG: Flammentriebe seems to mix the atmosphere folk styles of your last few albums, but also puts out a lot of the aggression on earlier Dornenreich albums. First of all, am I somewhat right in my assumption? If so, did the songwriting come as a conscious move or is the album just a result of where your train of thought was at the current time?
Eviga: You are right. "Flammentriebe" interweaves the intensity of "Her von welken Nächten" with the mystic depth of "Hexenwind/Durch den Traum" and with the structures of "In Luft geritzt." Every album refers back to my intuitive way to play the guitar—for every single song relies on a rough guitar-sketch. However, it was clear to us that we wanted to create an album that contrasts with "In Luft geritzt" drastically. To me both albums gain a lot of additional depth via the fact that they differ that much with one another.
SLUG: When I listen to the new album and past works (with the exception of In Luft Geritzt) I feel a great juxtaposition of anger and despair against flat out calm and peacefulness—all very different emotions to feel in the course of around 46 minutes. What type of feelings was Dornenreich feeling during the recording of the new record?
Eviga: The recordings demanded a lot without any doubt. We had restricted ourselves to an exact amount of studio-days. This circumstance enabled us to let the album go in the end—instead of losing ourselves in experimentation and exaggerated perfectionism. We gave everything we had within the time frame we had and let it go. Thus, we tried to play ourselves into the emotion of each song take by take by take. It was a physical and mental challenge, but we were in a very good mood and we were totally convinced of the qualities of the album. Moreover it was important for the whole production that "Flammentriebe" has already been the fifth cooperation with Markus Stock (Klangschmiede Studio E). We know the strengths and flaws of one another, therefore we had a lot of fun during the recordings while we managed to stay focused at the same time.
SLUG: Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions, it's greatly appreciated and thanks for continuing your track record of making amazing challenging albums, the entire new record is fantastic, but I do have to say every time I listen to "Tief im Land" I get the shivers! Thanks again for your time.
Eviga: Hey, I would like to thank you for your passion and the fact that you put it into words. I really appreciate that! It's a rare thing nowadays. All the best to you!
Dornenreich new album review:
Street: 03.08
Dornenreich = Drudkh + Fen + Secrets of the Moon
If this is the next step in the ever-evolving and progressing musical journey of Austrian-bred Dornenreich, I'm quite content with it. I haven't avidly followed the band—bits and pieces crossed my path throughout the years, but my interest was more in the band's 2000-era material, Hexenwind and Durch Den Traum. Flammentriebe comes out swinging with its title track only offering relief in the form of pure agony. The new album brings a pristine and disturbing mix of the intensity of older albums and tidbits of the atmospheric and folksy sadness of the more recent albums. This latest offering is unbelievably decisive and infectious, oftentimes manic and depressive, while riddled with painful and angry pushes of musical and vocal insanities. "Tief im Land" is an outstanding song with sharp violin work piercing along with Dornenreich brainchild Jochen Stock's perfectly executed loud and soul-bashing tremolo riffing. The bulk of the guitar riffing here is crushing, working either perfectly or in juxtaposition with the violin work. This is Dornenreich's most accessible album, but the words 'complacent' or 'conformist" are not in the band's vocabulary; Flammentribe is going to be talked about long beyond its year of release. –Bryer Wharton
Blog exclusive CD reviews:
Anaal Nathrakh
Street: 05.17
Anaal Nathrakh = Emperor + Aborym + Napalm Death
This is one record not to mess with – the UK's maddening duo that makes up Anaal Nathrakh have been kicking out the extremity for around thirteen years now, and while not quite a name spoken amongst the extreme metal elite, Passion adds another notch of awesome to their full-length albums. Passion is a mother flinging bestial crushing noisy and beautiful assemblage of ten songs that easily will incite you to either tear at your flesh from the insane extremity of it all or raising your fist in its utmost glory. The record enjoys near flawless production from the raging storm of blast-beat drums—which don't feel overtly triggered—and fantastical ,fanatical mixing of the most unholy black metal speedier than speedy tremolo riffing and nasty grindcore riffing, all backed by beefy bass. Pile in some crazed atmospheres from the sole instrument player Irrumator and you're left with a mighty ass beating. The songs are not only outlets of extremity, but each has its own identity that's going to keep you coming back to tracks. Vocalist V.I.T.R.I.O.L. also perverts listeners with some wicked screaming. Add in a few guest vocal appearances and it all just gets nice n' gut wrenching. Part of the vocal intro of the track "Drug-Fucking Abomination," "Oh Holy Fuck!!!" explains it all—you're in for a hell of a ride with Passion. –Bryer Wharton
Backslider/Nimbus Terrifix
Give Praise
Street: 05.17
Backslider/Nimbus Terrifix = Discharge + Doom + Terrorizer
This contains all the might and muster a good grind 7" split needs. Give Praise records is giving the no-names and upstarts a chance with both artists featured on this split—to the best of my knowledge, this is the first recording to feature both bands. With total running time equaling only eleven minutes, it really is just a tease and taste from the artists. Both embody older grind and fastcore style,s but with a bit of '90s styled grind flair. Backslider contribute five very short cuts—lots of stop and go crazy tempos initially with things slowed with the last few cuts. Backslider stay on the crusty side with some doom n' groove ,leaving good questions as to what a full-length from the Philly based two-piece could offer. Nimbus Terrifix go blazingly fast for their almost six-minute contribution to the split. The Scranton power-violence crew really didn't need to make individual tracks, because their four cuts just play out as one hunk of violence and blatant nastiness with tidbits of technical geetar noodlin and a pretty groovy drum performance. If you're shopping for cheap 7" splits, this will make a fine addition to you list. –Bryer Wharton
Scar Symmetry
The Unseen Empire
Nuclear Blast
Street: 05.17
Scar Symmetry = Soilwork + In Flames + Nightingale
Ah, melo-death metal—a term used to describe modernized melodic death metal. No, it's not the stuff from the early '90s that At The Gates and In Flames, made creating not only a scene revolution in Gothenburg, Sweden, but all over the world. If you have no taste for melo-death then you've never listened to bands like Scar Symmetry or the much-touted band they "supposedly" ripped off Soilwork. There's something about catchy melodies with just as catchy vocal and guitar hooks that are hard to resist, especially for fans of more accessible, less raw-sounding metal. The production for The Unseen Empire is near pristine, and the mostly album sticks to the meat n' potatoes of melo-death. Here there are some keys from time to time, but the guitars crunch as much as they fly into nicely done melodic work. The two vocalists, clean and harsh, work off each other's strengths. This is a nice return to sound to Scar Symmetry's pinnacle album Holographic Universe. Fans of modern metal that's clean, heavy, melodic and catchy: apply to The Unseen Empire. –Bryer Wharton
March of the Norse
Nuclear Blast
Street: 05.17
Demonaz = Immortal + I + Enslaved
Does the name Demonaz ring a bell? It should if you're a fan of Immortal. Demonaz is the co-founder of Immortal and still contributes the majority of the band's. Demonaz bowed out of Immortal over a decade ago because of severe tendonitis. March of the Norse marks Demonaz return to performing albeit it's his vocals that are his instrument. The lineup is also rounded out with Ice Dale, a current member of Enslaved as well as other projects, handling the guitar and bass duties for Demonaz, and former Immortal and I drummer Armagedda completing the line-up. Not surprisingly, March of the Norse sound quite similar to Immortal—to put it in simplest of terms, the band feels like a more melodic version of Immortal with bits of Enslaved. March of the Norse falls into mediocre territory—there are some standout songs but most blur together. If you dig Immortal and Enslaved this is worth a check out. –Bryer Wharton
And here's your surprise, faithful readers:


text:
Blinkist is a relatively new concept in the field of online reading. This service resembles an online news tracking service. Blinkist services allow consumers to read a summary of books of their choice at approximately of 15 minutes. The best thing about blinkist is that it provides readers to get facts of the books of interest. Thus, if you are a passionate book reader and you lack time to go through a certain book, blinkist services are the best for you.
A blinkist catalog
A blinkist catalog comprises of books covering different aspects. For instance, you can have a catalog covering, business, career, politics, history, happiness, health and many more. Additionally, there are catalogs including titles such as current affairs, inspiring books, editors pick among others. These books are broken down into interesting parts. Also, there is a brief description of each book, a biography of the author, time required to read the book and the link to use to access the book of choice.
Using website and iPhone to access blinkist
To access blinkist services you can use either the website or your iPhone. To access a certain book, it is advisable to browse using categories. Afterward, these books will be incorporated into your account. This will give you a chance to track the books and sections you have completed reading. When using either of these platforms, you can highlight passages and even adjust the font of the content.
Blinkist services
Blinkist services allow you to sample books and have a broad overview of the books you may be intending to read. Blinklist summary services have two main benefits. To start with, they give readers the desire to read more. More to this, you can share summaries using the social media websites such as Twitter and Facebook.
Subscription rates
Blinklist services are subscription based. If you are a registered user, you are sure of enjoying a one-week free trial and reasonable subscription rates. More to this, you will enjoy a wide variety of books. In addition, if you want to install a blinkist app on your iPhone it is entirely free. More to this, it also allows you to enjoy a one –week free trial service.
These are some of the things to know in regards to blinkist services. That said, if you are passionate about reading books, it is prudent to invest in blinkist services.


text:
Spaggiari Worm Gearboxes.
Modular design gearbox.
Available in various ratios ranging from 5/1 to 100/1.
Foot mounted version shown - also available with output flanges & output shafts.
Units are compatible with IEC motors.
The Spaggari worm unit is also available as a speed reducer.
Spaggiari Helical Gearboxes.
Various ratios available.
Foot mounted version shown, but a flange mounted output is also available.
The Spaggari Gearboxes are compatible with IEC motors.
Spaggiari Variators.
The Spaggiari mechanical variation is a modular design with a speed variation range od 5/1.
The Spaggiari variator can is compatible with an IEC input to suit a motor.
The variator output can be fitted with a gearbox on the output to obtain slower output speed variation.
Please see pictures below for some options.
Spaggiari motor, variator & helical foot mounted inline combination unit shown above.
Spaggiari motor, variator and worm reduction unti combination (shown with output flange)
Spaggiari combination unit with motor, variator & flange mounted inline gearbox shown.
For further information on Spaggiari Gearboxes or for any Spaggiari Gearbox information, please call us on:
Telephone: 01274 730340
Facsimile: 01274 308080
Or email us :- email@example.com


text:
Here lately I feel like a bunch of Smurfs all rolled into one big giant Smurf. Some of them you may never have heard of, but they were there. I am Grouchy, Frustrated, Fed up and Tired as Hell. You may ask why I am a giant Smurf at the moment, and I will tell you. (I know you didn't think I would make you guess.)
Over the past few days, friends of mine have been bullied and insulted all because of someone's ignorance. The crazy thing is one of my friends is being harassed because she dared to stand up to the original bullies. Please keep in mind all these people are adults.
I realize it is as Will Wheaten said to Sheldon on the Big Bang Theory. Sheldon's hatred of Wheaten actually gave him rent free living space inside Sheldon's head, and if you think about it, that's true. For someone to dislike you enough for your appearance, opinions or differences that they "call you out" in public, means that you have taken up residence in their psyche. It's kind of humorous to think I could have that much of an effect on a person or persons especially ones I have never met.
I have to remind myself that someone who does such things must be very unhappy and insecure with themselves. To constantly look for the faults in another takes a great deal of energy. I am not perfect by any means. I was one of those people who looked faults in others until it dawned on me that the faults I found in others were predicated on my own insecurities in relation to my looks and abilities.
I know we cannot or will not always like everyone or everything in this world. Our likes and dislikes make us who we are, and that is a good thing. I like animal prints and I dislike stripes. I dislike my food touching, but I like peanut butter and chocolate. I only wish that before people lash out at others for whatever reason, they would stop and really examine why they feel the way they do. But, alas, I know that will not happen because those individuals would have to gain a level of maturity they will probably never reach.
To that end, I shall remain a big ole' Smurf.


text:
Geen Koningen in Ons Bloed / We Will Never Be Royals
A film by: Mees Peijnenburg
What Tomas, a withdrawn seventeen-year-old and his fiery sister Naomi would really like to get out of life, is hard to find in the tough world of Child Protection, in which they just about manage to hold their own. After a dramatic incident, they gradually realise what their most important source of support is. They will never be Royals, but as a brother and sister they have each other.
Country: the Netherlands
Genre: drama
Length: 39'23"
Completion: 09/2015
Screening format: DCP, H264, ProRes
Spoken language: Dutch
Subtitles: English
- Silhouette Film Festival, France (26 August – 3 September, 2016)
Official Selection Won: Audience Award
- 2ANNAS Film Festival, Latvia (27 September – 2 October, 2016)
International Mid-length Competition
- Konstanzer kurz.film.spiele, Germany (22 – 23 October, 2016)
Official Competition Won: Audience Award
- Cinema in Sneakers – Film Festival for Children & Youth, Poland (31 May – 11 June, 2017)
Youth Short Film Competition
- Guanajuato International Film Festival, Mexico (21 – 30 July, 2017)
- Regards sur Courts, France (7 – 10 September, 2017)
Director: Mees Peijnenburg
Screenplay: Bastiaan Kroeger, Mees Peijnenburg
Producer: Pupkin: Iris Otten, Sander van Meurs, Pieter Kuijpers
Cinematographer: Jasper Wolf
Sound: Taco Drijfhout
Editor: Imre Reutelingsperger
Production design: Elza Kroonenberg
Styling: Minke Lunter
Make-up & hair: Trudy Buren
Casting: Kemna Casting – Job Castelijn, Shanti Besseling
Executive producer: Sabine Smits
Junior producer: Layla Meijman
Cast: Jonas Smulders, Olivia Lonsdale, Malou Gorter, Rifka Lodeizen, Ali Ben Horsting, Willemien Slot, Teun Kuilboer


text:
ShareFacebook Twitter AddThis
Joan Roca's Food Memories
Watch the interview with Joan Roca of El Celler de Can Roca to get an insightful approach to his cuisine and find out about his family's culinary memories
By FDL on
A candid interview with Chef Joan Roca of El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain where he works alongside his two brothers Jordi and Josep. His family still owns a restaurant in town and with him we retrace the importance of memories and the past in the kitchen, the emotions conveyed by each dish, ingredient, traditional cuisine and its new interpretations.
The passion for cooking and hospitality shared by the three Roca brothers is in their soul. They interpret it with caramelised olives brought to the table on bonsai trees – and Catalan ingredients given centre-stage on the menu. Clever techniques complement simple flavor combinations designed to play with the palate and the memory. El Celler de Can Roca ranked second on last year's (2012) World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, and has been on the list seven times.
FDL.com will live stream the 2013 edition of the event on the 29th of April: book your seat now!


text:
The SF K Files is a place for parents who are seeking a school in San Francisco. The site offers up reviews of public, private and charter schools, as well as lots of advice and opinions from the community.
Monday, February 9, 2009
New date: Student assignment system redesign meeting
The Board of Education is redesigning the student assignment system for fall 2010 to support the goals and objectives of SFUSD's strategic plan - Beyond the Talk: Taking Action to Educate Every Child Now. SFUSD has heard from thousands of parents and other community members regarding their experience, concerns and suggestions for student assignment. Families consistently report wanting quality schools and a fair and equitable system that is easy to understand.
On Thursday, February 12, 2009, the Board of Education was scheduled to convene a Committee of the Whole meeting to review simulations of different options for a new student assignment system. SFUSD plans to develop and share options that are informed by past lessons learned and shaped by the District's core values as presented in the strategic plan.
The model simulations will not be ready by February 12, 2009, and therefore the Board is moving the schedule forward by a month. Instead of reviewing simulations for different options on February 12, 2009, the Board will review simulations for different options on March 9, 2009, and the Board plans to approve a new student assignment system in May 2009 rather than April 2009 as originally planned. The Board will hold a half hour meeting on February 12, 2009, from 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm in the Board Room at 555 Franklin, to briefly provide an update on the process and timeline, and provide a limited amount of time for public input.
6 comments:
- AnonymousFebruary 9, 2009 at 4:20 PM
The BOE web page is woefully out of date. Last set of meeting minutes is Oct. 14, 2008!ReplyDelete
C'mon BOE, now that your campaigning is over, let's get back to business.
- AnonymousFebruary 9, 2009 at 6:28 PM
I heard this afternoon that supt garcia is announcing 500 teacher layoffs. Does anyone know if this announcement has been made? I haven't been able to find it anywhere....ReplyDelete
I've seen the layoff announcement, though I forget where. But here's the story: If there's ANY possibility that SFUSD won't be able to balance the budget without teacher layoffs, they're required by law to send pink slips by a certain date to the X number of teachers, as per worst-case scenario. Every time that has happened since I've been paying attention, either none or far fewer than the pink-slipped total were actually laid off. This is a major financial crisis -- I'm not glossing that over -- but just clarifying the procedure.ReplyDelete
I'm not sure why the web site is so out of date and I'll look into that. In the meantime, I am blogging after every meeting, here:ReplyDelete
- AnonymousFebruary 13, 2009 at 6:21 PM
Dear Rachel, I was not aware of your web site. I went there immediately, and I have already read many of your interesting stories. Also, I downloaded the survey for experiences in SFUSD inclusion programs. Thank YOU for the link! Keep up the good work.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 27, 2009 at 8:44 PM


text:
Industry Films and Citizen Jones created Tokyo Glow, the journey of a man who comes to life from a street signal to take a walk around the night of Tokyo.
"Written and directed by Jonathan Bensimon and produced by Jonas Bell Pasht, Tokyo/Glow follows the nighttime journey of an illuminated man from a crosswalk sign as he embarks on an adventure through the streets of Tokyo. Shot on location throughout Tokyo using thousands of individual digital stills… To achieve the striking effect of the illuminated man, an original light suit was constructed using hundreds of feet of high-voltage LED rope lights and a translucent nylon outer shell. "
The video is in high-definition, please enjoy in full screen.
Source: http://tokyoglow.com/
"Like us" on Facebook to support MWJ
Tags: Short Film, Stop Motion, Tokyo, Tokyo Glow, アニメーション, ストップモーション, 東京


text:
The stadium is filled to capacity on this
bright sunny day. A dais has been set up and many high ranking
police officials sit behind a podium and wait for the ceremony
to begin. In the rows in front of the dais are hundreds of young
police cadets waiting to graduate. Their families and friends
stand with them talking and laughing.
"Here I thought you were going to open
a martial arts school with Jason." a woman says.
"There's no reason why I can't do that
too, mom. I mean I can't always be on the job. This is something
I need to do and the school is something I want to do. Don't worry."
Tommy says.
That's right Tommy Oliver, the Red Zeo Ranger,
is now going to be a cop. A whole new side of him isn't it. A
squeal of the loudspeakers and everyone takes their seats. I won't
bore you with long speeches, I hate those. Suffice it to say that
the designated speakers talk about the honor of being a cop and
serving the city, the pride at the new class of Rookies to the
Angle Grove Police Department ad nauseum and so on. Later that
afternoon a small group gathers at Ernie's to celebrate. All the
rangers, past and present, are there. Tommy's still in uniform,
and I must say looking very good, drinking one of Ernie's famous
juice shakes and laughing himself silly at something Jason is
saying nearly choking on the drink. His eyes just sparkle when
he laughs, his whole face lights up.
"C'mon, Jase, you're gonna kill me if
this keeps up." he says, sputtering, trying not to choke
That gets everyone else howling. This lasts
well into the night as all the rangers bask in each other's company
maybe for the last time for a while.
A new day dawns and Tommy is up early for
his first watch as a rookie cop. He smiles as he puts his uniform
on and checks that everything is in place in the big mirror. He
goes downstairs and eats a quick breakfast, toast and juice, that's
all his stomach can handle right now he's so nervous. On his way
out the door he picks his hat and gun belt up off the table by
the door and goes out to his car. He watches the neighborhood
wake up with a sense of renewed wonder. He drives off to the station.
Through the residential section he sees people getting their morning
paper in their robes, young kids playing in the yard getting an
early start. This is going to be a perfect day.
Tommy just makes it in for roll call, his
memory is still bad. The others smirk and giggle at him for nearly
being late his first day. Tommy finds a seat near the back of
the room so as not to be seen by the desk sergeant. The veteran
cop runs down the night's events and current happenings. Tommy
never realized all the problems his hometown really has besides
the screwy aliens on the moon. Tommy gets the downtown beat this
day which is fine with him. He begins his patrol through the downtown
shopping area.
* This is great. Beautiful day, not a cloud
in the sky and no sign of Mondo or Machina. Maybe this once I
can have a day with out trouble. * Tommy thinks to himself.
Around noon Tommy heads for a convenience
store to get something to eat, not doughnuts and coffee thank
you very much. He hasn't acquired that habit yet and hopefully
he never will. When he goes in Tommy hears a familiar voice. Jason
had a similar idea, attack of the killer munchies. Jason turns
when he hears familiar footsteps behind him. He is startled at
first, forgetting that Tommy's a cop now. Something other than
an attack of the raving hungries has brought them to this particular
store, though neither knows why. The front door opens a couple
of times as the two friends continue to talk. Tommy is constantly
looking up at the fisheye mirror, making Jason jumpy. Suddenly
Tommy stops talking and watches something that is going on near
the register. He looks at Jason and mouths "Trouble."
Tommy slips into the shadows near the back of the store. Jason
heads for the blind spot in the mirror. With long practice familiarity
the two friends edge towards the threat. A masked hold up man
is pointing a gun at the clerk. What Jason and Tommy didn't see
was that he has a hostage. The robber turns when Jason slips on
something and curses. Now Jason is under the gun. Tommy is still
coming up behind them so quietly that the robber never hears him
until it's too late. Jason knows his friend's moves so well that
he reacts instantly. He dives on the hostage and knocks her out
of the man's grasp. The robber turns and only sees a blue uniform.
His eyes burn with rage as he fires. The clerk hits the floor
at Jason's lunge. Jason rolls to his feet and sees Tommy tackle
the offender. The creep hits the floor cracking his head open
and is unconscious. Tommy's not moving. Something's wrong. Call
an ambulance, hurry. Jason rolls his friend over to check for
injuries. His hand touches something warm and sticky. Look at
his hand, it's covered in his friend's blood. Can't get sick he's
still awake.
"Hang on Tommy. The ambulance is on it's
way." Jason says, his voice cracking.
"Should've gone for the knees."
Tommy croaks.
He tries to laugh but coughs up blood.
"Hush, save your strength." Jason
The ambulance finally gets there and takes
him away. Jason follows despite the police wanting a statement.
Get to the hospital and call the others.
"Tommy's been shot." he tells them
when they arrive.
Fear and sadness in their eyes. Endless wait
no one says anything. Jason's shirt is stained with Tommy's blood,
hands covered in dry lifeblood. Hours pass as the doctors frantically
try to save the brave rookie , the strong former Power Ranger.
Finally the surgeon comes out, a grim look on his face.
"There's nothing we can do. He won't
survive the day. You can go in and be with him till it's over."
the man says.
The rangers and their families creep into
his room. He's so pale, almost as if he's already gone. They gather
around his bedside and keep the final vigil. Hours pass as it
gets harder and harder for him to breath, he never fully comes
around. The rangers don't see Detective Stone at the back of the
room on the verge of tears. Soon Tommy breaths his last and is
gone. The tears that were held at bay flood the eyes of those
that knew him best.
"No he can't be gone. This isn't fair."
his mother cries.
No one can say anything that will comfort
her. She's right it isn't fair. This was his first day he had
so much to learn and so much to give. He shouldn't be dead. Why
did this have to happen? The bastard that shot him has to pay,
has to die for this. Tommy must have justice.
Three days after his death Thomas Lyn Oliver
is laid to rest in Silent Angles Cemetery. Cops from all over
the city, the Mayor, and at least a dozen other important people
gather with his friends and family to say their final good-bye.
Red Ranger Passing
Time to go, Red flash.
Gunshot in the blinding light, Pain.
Too cold now, Something is wrong.
Hurt, confusion, light fading.
Red Ranger Passing.
Death, that final equalizer, has come.
Take him away, too soon.
No one knows what went wrong. Confusion.
He's gone, only the flesh passes away.
The spirit lives forever.
The Red spirit will go on.


text:
Congratulations to Heather Demonteverde!
She is the winner of our Fancy March Giveaway. Now she will be able to light that delicious citrus pomegranate candle and draw to hear hearts content.
Stay tuned for April's giveaway ~ a lovely coloring book, drawn by ME, and pencil set!
Congrats again Heather!


text:
Release Blitz: Harmony's Healing by TJ West
Harmony's Healing
By T.J. West
Cover Art: Cover to Cover Designs
Photo Credit: Kruse Images and Photography: Models and Boudoir
Photo Credit: Kruse Images and Photography: Models and Boudoir
Cover Model: Daniel Wells
Hosted by: Coast to Coast Book Besties
and Pardo Consulting NYC
and Pardo Consulting NYC
Danny Jay, lead guitarist of the hottest new band, JINXS has found himself fighting for control in his own life. He can't control his father's choices, the sister he blames for his abandonment or his best friend dating his sister. It's the ultimate betrayal leaving him bitter, angry and unforgiving.
Harmony's older sister raised her after their parent's fatal car accident instead of going into the foster care system. When tragedy struck again Harmony made the hardest choices to pay the bills and survive. She gets a second chance to build a better life when offered a job at Montgomery Suites, where she crosses paths with Danny.
After one horrible drunken evening at Montgomery Suites, Harmony takes care of Danny and feels a connection but he is damaged and reserved. Will these two abandoned souls be able to heal each other?
I'm a stay at home Mom of two teenagers. I became a self published author in 2014 after being inspired by many self indie authors. I have enjoyed writing for a long time, but never thought my imagination would carry me to this point in my life. After many years of losing my passion, and from enjoying raising my children I am finally at a place where I can reach for my dreams. Whether I become a best seller or not, I am loving the journey I am on and will continue to write as long as my readers are willing to read my stories.
Other interests: Watching many many TV shows (yes I am addicted), movies, hiking, going to the beach, spending time with the family, road trips, cocktail nights with friends and being interactive with my fans, friends and family on Facebook.
Twitter: @AuthorTJWest
Amazon: Author Page
Email Author TJ West


text:
A Tale of Two Flours
Posted by dennis on Feb 07 2010 | Tagged as: Food, Green Choices
With all the bigger-is-better, too-big-to-fail, merger mania that has swept the country in the last, say, 25 to 50 years, we have lost knowledge of where our food comes from. Many of these large companies don't want you to know, and don't want to be burdened with the requisite record keeping to let you know. After all they may not know the exact source and composition of the grain fed to those cows, and which feed lot the cow was at before a piece of its flesh arrived on a white styrofoam tray encased in plastic wrap. The concept of traceability is something many of the food mega-conglomerates would rather not encourage.
I often attempt to buy at least some of my food from trace-able sources, and this is often not easy to accomplish. Mega-stores like Whole Foods are probably no better, and it could be argued are actually complicit in the attempts to reduce traceability and consumer knowledge of food sources and composition. Many so called organic products are actually distributed and packaged by some of the largest agricultural entities in the world. Just look at the organic spinach fiasco from 2 years ago propagated by some of the biggest food companies. All you have to do is look at who owns who and you realize that real spinach grew in the ground and needs to have the dirt and sand washed off in a sink. It doesn't come pre-washed, in little plastic bags pumped full of just the right amount of inert nitrogen and product, then shipped from the Salinas Valley in California to Washington state via Texas. Similarly the peanut butter fiasco of a couple of years ago doesn't lend any feeling of a safe or trace-able food chain … even companies like locally owned Cougar Mountain cookies were misinformed about the provenance of the peanut butter they were purchasing.
A few years ago, I tried to alter at least some of my buying habits to enhance my knowledge of the products I was purchasing, and the companies that made them, and the chain down to the farmer level. As at least some of you know, I make bread, and lots of it. A natural place to start, no?
50 pound sack of unbleached or bread flour from Costco … good price, wow that stuff is cheap … bakes up pretty good too … but ConAgra foods … located pretty close by in Kirkland … "one of North America's largest packaged foods companies … spent heavily to defeat Oregon's measure 27, which would have required food companies to label products that contain genetically modified ingredients" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ConAgra_Foods) … need to look elsewhere. The bulk bins offered no comfort, just exorbitant prices and no labeling I could take home and investigate … no lot codes or expiration dates. This is going to be tougher than I thought.
Five or six years ago, as I was perusing the bulk department at Central Market in Shoreline (http://central-market.com/), out of the corner of my eye, I spotted clear 10 pound plastic bags of flour from Wheat Montana (http://wheatmontana.com). I checked 'em out … family farm (Folkvord), operate their own mill … 12000 acres … Montana … sustainable farming practices. It's very nice flour (Natural White, Prarie Gold, Bronze Chief). The Natural White, an unbleached flour has more gluten than a lot of "bread" flours, and the baked goods are great. The mill uses an impact milling process, so the flour only gets to about 95 F during milling. The ingredients list is really short and sweet. Great example of complete control of the growing, milling and distribution chain. And I can find the entire operation on the map. This one's a keeper.
I recently learned that Stone-Buhr (http://stone-buhr.com) sources the wheat berries for its flour from sustainable, independent, small growers right here in the Northwest. Stone-Buhr's original mill used to be in Fremont (http://stone-buhr.com/story.php). Their all purpose flour is made with wheat from Shepherd's Grain (http://shepherdsgrain.com). Shepherd's grain is an alliance of Northwest family farms that promotes something called "sustainable agriculture." Stone-Buhr has a bit of a checkered past. It began in 1908 and was independently owned and operated until the early 1980′s when it was sold off. Through a series of sales, mergers, acquisitions it ultimately became a brand of Unilever. Josh Dorf and his company JOG distribution acquired it and have partially returned the brand to its roots. JOG is headquartered in San Francisco. The Washington White, Shepherd's Grain All Purpose Flour has a date code on every bag which allows you to find the farmer (http://findthefarmer.com) who grew the wheat used to make the flour in the bag. The flour is relatively low in gluten content in comparison to Wheat Montana's offering, so it works very well in cakes, cookies, muffins, pizza dough and other baked goods which don't require the development of massively elastic doughs.
As a baker, I have noticed significant differences between flours, and this is exactly what you should expect when buying from smaller operations. Wheat berries grown in Montana or Washington have different characteristics than if grown in North Dakota, Nebraska or Manitoba. When buying from the the little guys, grains aren't blended into an anonymous, untraceable mish-mash of pulverized grain speculated on by commodities traders from all over the world, then delivered to your supermarket shelf in a tidy little paper package.
In short, we have here, two great examples of traceability, and smaller operations making a difference. Both of these products cost more than the non-traceable product. In both cases, its nice to know there are companies out there, not part of the merger mania interested in delivering quality food grown by farmers and processed by real people at identifiable places.
3 Comments »
3 Responses to "A Tale of Two Flours"
on 07 Feb 2010 at 4:48 pm 1 Josh Dorf said …
Thanks for the note! In the WA state market I mostly find our products below the cost of our competitors! Especially that crazy knight from New England and those with red roofs…. part of our mantra is that the product should be accesible to the average consumer and not priced too high….
on 07 Feb 2010 at 8:48 pm 2 Dennis Galvin said …
Josh raises a good point about the pricing and indeed the Stone-Buhr flour is lower in price than most all but the store-branded products and the extra large Costco sized packages of Multinational produced products.
In the 1970′s I honed my baking skills with Stone-Buhr products, and I'm very pleased to see the new Stone-Buhr is back on my radar after a long absence. And the traceability is there to boot. It is Josh's ownership and leadership at the company which has brought a great, traceable, local (to the Northwest) product to independent grocers, and even Sam Walton's stores.
on 04 Mar 2010 at 8:34 pm 3 Jean Hollar said …
Shepherd's Grain flours are available in 50 pound sacks from some outlets. I get mine from the URM warehouse (open to the public) here in Spokane. Currently, the "low gluten" or all-purpose flour is $13.39 per sack, the "high gluten" or bread flour is $15.79 per sack, and the whole wheat is $13.49. A "soft" or cake flour is also available. These are great prices and the flour is beautiful to work with. I think you could also buy through a local bakery that uses Shepherd's Grain flours.


text:
Press Release
RNP Press Release
April 19, 2001
Port of Portland Purchases Green Power
Renewable Northwest, an environmental organization supporting renewable energy in the region, commends the Port of Portland for purchasing a significant portion of their electric load from renewable resources. The Port is meeting the Clean Energy Challenge, standards set by regional environmental groups for meaningful commitments to green power purchases by businesses and government agencies. Others meeting the Challenge include Multnomah County, Lewis and Clark College, Norm Thompson and Ashforth Pacific.
"Purchasing power from renewable energy has long term benefits for the environment and public health," commented Diane Zipper, outreach coordinator for Renewable Northwest. "The Port uses a tremendous amount of energy in their operations, and this green power purchase shows they're thinking about where that electricity comes from and how they can make a positive impact with their energy dollars," noted Zipper.
The Port of Portland will purchase renewable energy through Pacific Power's Blue Sky program and PGE's Clean Wind and Salmon Friendly programs, the bulk of the purchase supporting the wind power options. Both utilities' wind power programs stimulate the development of new wind resources, much of which may come from northeastern Oregon.
"Developing renewable energy, like wind power, offsets our dependency on coal and natural gas," commented Zipper. "At a time when the region needs more power and the price of fossil fuels remains high, renewables are a clean, stable source of energy that bring environmental and economic benefits to the region. The Port is taking a leadership role in creating a market for renewable energy," said Zipper.
According to the US EPA, the generation of electricity is the largest source of industrial air pollution in the nation. Renewable energy from solar, wind and geothermal resources release little or no pollutants into the air and water, and are less disruptive to land than mining fossil fuels or creating large hydro projects. And unlike nuclear power, renewables produce no hazardous wastes.
Renewable Northwest is an environmental non-profit organization promoting renewable energy projects and policies in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana.
# # #
For more information contact:
Rachel Shimshak, Director
Renewable Northwest Project


text:
Blue dial lady's Rolex Yachtmaster model 169623
Product InformationProduct code: 1601 Categories: Sold Items, Sold Rolex Watches.
This is such a stunning ladies Rolex watch, perfect for any occasion, day or night – the Rolex Yachtmaster model 169623 in 18ct yellow gold and steel and fitted with that fabulous blue dial.
Measuring 29mm across (plus the Rolex screw down crown) the Yachtmaster looks superb with the 18ct yellow gold rotating bezel.
Set on the 18ct gold and steel Rolex Oyster band with flip-lock clasp, this really is a go anywhere Rolex watch.
Fitted with the sapphire crystal and powered inside by the fully jewelled automatic Rolex movement, this Rolex Yachtmaster has such a great look and will always be loved and admired.
Stock# N775
Maker: Rolex
Model: Yachtmaster 169623
Circa: 2001
Product added! Browse Wishlist
The product is already in the wishlist! Browse Wishlist


text:
Thursday, October 29, 2015
430. Onibaba/The Demon (1964)
Running Time: 103 minutes
Directed By: Kaneto Shindo
Written By: Kaneto Shindo
Main Cast: Nobuko Otowa, Jitsuko Yoshimura, Kei Sato, Taiji Tonoyama, Jukichi Uno
Click here to view the trailer
In my town, trick or treating is taking place as I write this. Kids (and probably a lot of adults too) are currently dressed up, going door to door, celebrating the holiday that plays hosts to ghosts, goblins and all things scary. Meanwhile, I'm chillin' in my warm bedroom, doing my part by watching Onibaba. Read on...
Okay - for the first time in a few reviews, I can actually recount this plot intelligently, which is exciting. The film revolves around two women, a mother (Otowa) and her dauther-in-law (Yoshimura), who, during wartime in Japan, make their living by killing lost samurai and selling their gear. They take the bodies of the slain samurai to a giant hole, where they throw them in. From there, the girls take the gear - swords, armor, everything - to a merchant named Ushi (Tonoyama), who gives them millet in return. It should also be noted that they're son/husband (respectively), has gone off to war. Well, one night, just as mother and daughter-in-law are preparing for supper, a fellow soldier who accompanied their son/husband to war, returns. He tells them of his plight and ends by telling them that their son/husband is dead. The returning soldier is Hachi (Sato) and he's an obnoxious fellow, who, at first, tries to horn in on the girls' samurai killing business and when that fails, tries to convince the daughter-in-law to sleep with him. She refuses at first, but one night, when the old woman is fast asleep, she sneaks off to Hachi's hut and the two begin their affair. The following night, the young girl sneaks out again, but this time, the old woman follows her and finds out what she's doing. At first, she feels like the young girl is betraying the spirit of her dead son, but then the old woman starts to get aroused herself. Later, the mother goes to Hachi and propositions him for sex, but he turns her down. One night, while the young woman is with Hachi and the old woman is set to spy on him, she is approached by a man in a demon mask. He tells her right away that he's not out to harm her and that he only wears the mask because his face is so handsome, he didn't want it wounded in war. He asks the old woman for directions out of the reeds (where they girls live) and she begins to show him. However, since she knows the paths and he doesn't, she manages to lead him into the giant hole, where he falls to his death. I'll leave it at that...
Man, this was just what the doctor ordered! Finally, something to get excited about (not counting Throne of Blood, which I'd seen before) and a movie that gives me a perfect example of why I started THE BOOK in the first place - to find movies from other cultures, from other decades that I could appreciate, that I wouldn't have seen otherwise. By the way, this is yet another entry in THE BOOK, where whoever is writing the passage for Onibaba, seems to be forgetting chunks of the movie. When THE BOOK recounts the plot, it would have you believe that the mysterious, demon masked man who appears to the old woman has a far bigger role than he does and yet, THE BOOK makes no mention of Hachi when summarizing the plot and he should be considered a main character. Also, THE BOOK adds some stuff that either isn't accurate or else I was meant to assume it and didn't. THE BOOK notes that the masked, demon man is an A-bomb victim, hence the sores on his face when the old lady pries the mask off?! Ummm...huh? Wikipedia notes that the film is set in the fourteenth century, thus a-bomb victim wouldn't even be a thing. My take was that either the masked man lied about being super handsome and he was actually disfigured OR after prolonged use of the mask, once it was pried off of him by the old woman, it messed up his skin - THUS the same thing happened to the old woman when she wore the mask and it rained. That's one of the very few things I really dislike about THE BOOK - it's ability to muddle facts (including running times, release years and foreign titles) and forget things/add things that aren't true when summarizing the plot.
Anyway...more rhetorical questions/theorizing:
I kind of think it would've been better if the old woman would've drove the young girl away multiple nights AND THEN went to Hachi's house herself and since he'd have some pent up sexual urges to release, the old woman talks him into going to bed with her. So then you get this dynamic of the old woman and the young girl feuding over this guy and the demon mask playing into the woman's plot to keep the young girl away from, who she now considers, HER man. It actually seems like this was the old woman's plan, as there is a brief scene of her spying on a sexually frustrated Hachi. I LOVED the scene with the woman, in full demon regalia, watching the two make love in the grass, as the rain poured down. FANTASTIC SCENE! The woman sports a bit of a head cock that would later become synonymous Michael Myers in the Halloween movie - that cock of the head saying so much. A wonderment at young people in love, a sexual desire that she wishes she were experiencing herself. Has there ever been a film before that so perfectly blended both sexy and scary so well? It's definitely a hard cocktail to get right, yet Kaneto Shindo does it with ease. Definitely a really fun, really intriguing movie that feels like an extra long episode of The Twilight Zone....you know, if The Twilight Zone had boobs.
RATING: 7.5/10 Kind of have to wrap up fast because I'm on my way out the door to pick up Ruth - but yeah, I'm very thankful that something I was able to really sink my teeth into came along and here's hoping the final three are just as enjoyable.
October 29, 2015 7:16pm
By Andrew D. at October 29, 2015
Labels: Kaneto Shindo
4 comments:
I agree with you, I like this movie quite a bit. Certainly a good one for Halloween.ReplyDelete
Happy Halloween AndrewReplyDelete
Glad to find a good one so near the end of the list .. We seem to have had a run of .. Well, let's so so-so films that have not inspired me to say anything of interest.ReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
SINS OF OMISSION - Entry #69: Re-Animator (1985)
Running Time: 105 minutes Directed By: Stuart Gordon Written By: Dennis Paoli, William Norris, Stuart Gordon, based on the story Her...
Running Time: 118 minutes Directed By: Louis Malle Written By: Louis Malle Main Cast: Benoit Ferreux, Lea Massari, Daniel Gelin, Fa...
Running Time: 118 minutes Directed By: Sam Peckinpah Written By: David Zelag Goodman, Sam Peckinpah, from the novel The Siege of Tren...
Running Time: 101 minutes Directed By: Steve McQueen Written By: Steve McQueen, Abi Morgan Main Cast: Michael Fassbender, Carey Mul...


text:
So far, we've covered a Bedroom, Kitchen and Living Room workout. Today, we'll add a Dining Room workout to your repertoire that will counteract all the calories you'll be consuming in that very room!
Anyone can commit to 10 minutes! And these short burst of movements will make you feel better, reduce your stress, increase your energy and assure you get a jump start on those New Year's Resolutions!
And 10 minutes done right can be a fabulous mini workout and can definitely challenge your body!
10 Minute Holiday DINING ROOM WORKOUT:
This one you can do while you're setting the table or during clean up!
Warm up first.
Perform each of the following 5 exercises for one minute and repeat 2 sets for a total of 10 minutes. Feel free to take breaks within each one minute set and you can also take a break in between the 2 sets if needed.
Read more on 10 Minute Holiday Workout – Week 4…


text:
To supplement the training you'll receive from online courses, view and download the following case studies and fact sheets. All research was conducted by Newport Partners of Davidsonville, Md., an independent company that performs technical, regulatory, and market research and analysis related to the built environment.
Unlike some other residential energy sources, propane is nontoxic and insoluble in water. Because it is released as a gas, it doesn't spill, pool, or leave a residue. This means that, in the unlikely event of a release, propane is not harmful to soil or water — characteristics that make storing propane in underground tanks especially appealing for those seeking an environmentally friendly, reliable energy supply that supports many of the most efficient appliances and heating systems on the market.
Space heating and cooling systems use about 56 percent of the energy in most American homes. Reducing the expense of running those systems plays a large part in the decision to buy a new home or to upgrade an existing unit. But choosing the right system requires consideration of many complex factors, including the cost of equipment and installation, energy cost, system performance, service life, and impact on the environment.
Comparative Study and Analysis of Residential Heating Systems
As more homeowners become aware of this fact, the marketplace is responding to their desire to cut energy costs by offering an array of innovative water-heating technologies, such as condensing and noncondensing tankless units, condensing storage tank systems, and cogeneration units that combine space heating and water heating — and that's just the ones that run on propane or natural gas. Factor in systems that run on other energy types and the range of choices can become overwhelming. So, which is the right system for your project?
Comparing Residential Water Heaters for Energy Use, Economics, and Emissions
This fact sheet is designed to help you meet the rising demand for heating-oil conversions. Discover why the demand for heating-oil conversions is expected to rise substantially over the next five years. Learn why propane heating equipment costs less to purchase and operate than heating-oil equipment — and how propane systems can reduce a home's carbon footprint and eliminate the risk of heating-oil spills.
The results of an independent third-party study show that propane is among the most attractive options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions when chosen in place of electricity from legacy power plants. Propane's short lifetime in the atmosphere and low carbon content distinguish it from other fuel sources as an important energy option in a carbon-constrained world.
Learn more about propane-enhanced solar thermal, bio-mass heating, heat pump, and micro combined heat and power systems (micro-CHP units). In each case, propane-fueled equipment plays a vital role in delivering the comfort, convenience, and value consumers expect.


text:
"A month after the authorities began taxing Romania's witches and fortunetellers on their trade, Parliament is considering a new bill that would subject them to fines or even prison if their predictions do not come true. Superstition is taken seriously in Romania, and officials passed the tax bill in an effort to increase revenues. The new bill would also require witches to have permits and provide their customers with receipts, and it would bar them from practicing near schools and churches. Witches argue they should not be blamed for the failure of their tools." (via NYTimes with thanks to rich)
One thought on "Romania: False-Prophecy Penalty"
Comments are closed.


text:
MILAN (Bloomberg) -- The 204,000 euro Ferrari 458 Italia has never been a particularly common sight, even on the autostrade of its native Italy. Today, it's becoming even rarer as austerity measures drive Ferrari owners to export their supercars by the truckload.
A crackdown on luxury goods combined with budget cuts that have pushed Italy deeper into its fourth recession since 2001 are souring demand for sporty cars and other symbols of the country's carefree lifestyle. The number of second-hand high-performance cars exported from Italy nearly tripled to 13,633 vehicles in the first five months of 2012, from 4,923 a year earlier, according to auto industry group Unrae.
"Italy is one of the strongholds of supercars, and those vehicles are now disappearing from the streets," said Giuliano Noci, associate dean of Milan Polytechnic's business school. "This has a huge symbolic value and shows how deep the crisis is."
The exodus reflects weaker overall demand for supercars in the home of Ferrari and Maserati, Fiat Group's most profitable brands. Sales of super-luxury cars in Italy are forecast to plunge 47 percent to 593 vehicles this year from 1,116 in 2008, according to IHS Automotive, which predicts that sales won't return to pre-crisis levels before 2016.
Monti's measures
The government of Prime Minister Mario Monti is implementing 20 billion euros ($25 billion) in austerity measures as the country struggles with 1.9 trillion euros of debt. The economy has contracted for four straight quarters and unemployment has surged to near a 13-year high as consumer spending and industrial output slump.
The downturn prompted Fiat, Italy's biggest manufacturer, to temporarily halt investments in the country. CEO Sergio Marchionne may close another factory after shuttering a plant in Sicily last year. Weaker supercar demand could further sour Fiat relations with Italy and accelerate a shift to stronger markets like the United States and China.
Marchionne relies on Fiat's luxury models to offset losses at the group's mass-market brands in Europe, which totaled 345 million euros in the first half. Ferrari and Maserati's combined operating profit was 175 million euros in the period, equivalent to 12.2 percent of sales, beating BMW's 11.6 percent margin.
Italy has become a declining source of supercar profits after Monti raised ownership levies on high-performance vehicles as part of his budget reforms. After the changes, owners of the 316,000 euro Lamborghini Aventador pay about 8,400 euros a year in taxes, an increase of 6,600 euros.
Tax raids
On top of the extra levies, supercar-owners are being scrutinized in efforts to flush out tax evaders. Since December 2011, Italian authorities have conducted dozens of raids in wealthy areas, including the ski resort Cortina d'Ampezzo and Portofino on the Riviera. The officials stop supercars to check whether their owners declared sufficient income -- and paid enough taxes -- to support their lifestyles.
Near Venice last month, financial police arrested a 44-year-old man driving a Ferrari F40 for not having paid 8 million euros in taxes since 2006. In a July sweep in the northern town of Bergamo, police found that the driver of a 200,000 euro Ferrari F131 had evaded 3 million euros in taxes since 2007.
"Many Ferrari owners want to get rid of their supercars after the financial police came to one of our events near Rome and checked every driver," said Fabio Barone, who heads the Ferrari owners' club Passione Rossa. One of the members put a Ferrari 458 up for sale for 143,000 euros after buying it for 224,000 euros last year, he said.
Porsche exports
Barone said he has received calls from dealers in France, Germany and eastern Europe inquiring about vehicles that might be available. Some owners looking to unload their cars are simply listing them on automotive Web sites. Others sell them via Ferrari's pre-owned car program.
It's not just Ferraris. Every week about 200 second-hand Porsches leave Italy for other European countries, according to Loris Casadei, head of the Italian operations of the Volkswagen brand. Exports of used Porsche Cayennes more than tripled to 1,134 vehicles in the first five months of 2012. The number of second-hand Ferraris and Maseratis leaving Italy jumped to 424 cars from 142, according to Unrae.
Luxury tax
"The high-end car market is one of the more resilient to the crisis, and Italy is punishing it. Not a wise decision," said Romano Valente, general manager of Unrae, which represents foreign automakers in Italy. "The luxury tax has created a perverse mechanism."
While Ferrari's sales in Italy were hurt by an "anti-rich" political campaign, demand in other markets for cars like the four-seat FF will help the automaker increase sales to more than 7,000 vehicles this year, Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo said at the Geneva auto show in March. Though Montezemolo supports the government's fight against tax evasion, he disagrees with the "demagogic spectacularization" of those efforts, said a Ferrari official. The carmaker sells about 95 percent of its cars outside Italy.
Still, the global expansion by Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini won't help Italians like those in the Passione Rossa club. In June, more than 40 members were checked by police who were waiting when a ferry carrying them docked at the port of Palermo for a driving event in Sicily. "The situation is dramatic," said the club's president, Barone. The Dolce Vita era "is far behind us."


text:
It is important that all incidents which may give rise to a claim are reported promptly. This ensures that the College's entitlement is not prejudiced.
Indicatros of possible claims:
- Possible Circumstances: error in a grading of a paper, a file has been misplaced, article written that could be considered defamatory, , confidential information has been exposed
- Threat of Action: A letter of complaint has been received by student or third party, email received threatening action or solicitor's letter received, phone call received insinuating action
- Legal Action: college receives notice that court proceedings have been issued, eg: a Plenary Summons received by DIT, a Special summons, A High Court order served on DIT
- Notification of circumstances is mandatory and should be made ASAP
- The existence of the circumstances, threat of action is what triggers the requirement to notify
- It is extremely detrimental to DIT if potential claims or circumstances which could give rise to a claim are not notified at first awareness
- If all matters are not notified specifically before expiration of policy period it could result in an uninsured loss
As soon as any threat of action is received, please notify the Office of the Institute Secretary by email or phone call. All notifications should include the following:
- Statement as to the nature of threat/circumstance
- Full background to the matter
- Attach all relevant correspondence and documents in relation to the matter especially any legal correspondence