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Logistics Outsourcing Tips – a Practical Guide Part 2by Rob O'Byrne on 2012-11-07
(Part 2)
Logistics Outsourcing ..............is like Marriage ! ... Really ?
OK, so as I explained in Part One last month, that in my view at least, logistics outsourcing is like a marriage! And so I'm providing this three part article to help you with these sometimes challenging relationships. Outsourcing that is……I'm certainly no marriage counsellor.
In Part One I posed the question "Why Do It? What are you Expecting"?In Part Two, I'll be covering "Planning the Big Day" (The Wedding)And then next month, we'll take a look at Part Three, "After the Honey Moon is Over"….. I've been involved in so many assignments where clients have asked me to 'fix' a broken outsourcing relationship, that I truly hope these tips will help you avoid reaching that point. Sadly the 'kids caught in the middle' are often your customers......
My aim is to share these tips with you, to help you; find the right partners, who can provide the right services, at the right cost, on a sustainable and long term basis.Part 2 – Planning the Big Day" (The Wedding)
We'll assume at this stage that outsourcing Logistics is the right strategy for you, or that you have decided for some reason to 'go to the market' if you are already outsourced.You've done your research and you've come up with a list of potential outsourcing partners. Not too many so as to make the task of selection unmanageable, but enough to ensure that you have a good cross section of capable and suitably 'qualified' contenders.
OK, Stop right there! Because it's here that most people make a big mistake. In their enthusiasm, or pressure from their boss, they launch into the selection process ill prepared. This phase of outsourcing, from the selection of 'potential' partners, to the final selection process is the most critical phase to get right. Get it wrong and your business may not only lose money and lots of it, but lose customers and you'll also have lots of sleepless nights.You're going to be putting a critical function of your business in the hands of a third party. A business function that is very often the only 'physical interface' with your customers.
So let's be careful, objective and thorough.It's hard to cover all the important things in these brief articles. I mean you could write a book on this stuff! In fact I have…….five books.
But let me boil this phase down to five key areas:
1 - Service specifications and expectations
2 - Contracts
3 - Commercial terms
4 - Rate mechanisms
5 - Partner selection
1 - Service specifications and expectations. Think of the service specification as the 'blue print' of your Logistics requirements. It doesn't matter quite 'what' you are outsourcing, these principles will still apply. If you were going to have a house designed and built, what instructions would you give to the architect?
Would it go something like this?I'd like a really nice house please, with quality fittings and appliances that I'll be proud to entertain my friends in and I don't want to pay too much.Or would it go more like this?I'd like a 4 bedroom 3 bathroom house, as I have 3 kids. We also like to entertain so I'd like a lounge and dining area where we can easily cater for a dozen people. Whilst we can't afford it yet, we'd like a pool, so we need space behind the house for that. And we have two cars that will need a garage. Oh, and our budget is $500,000 for the design and construction.
The latter will get a design that better matches your needs. Why? Because we gave more detailed requirements. It's the same with Logistics Outsourcing. The more detail you give to prospective partners, the better they will be able to design their services to meet your customer service needs and budget.You don't need to provide a lot of detail in your first approach to the market. You might add in a step called an 'Expression of Interest', whereby potential suppliers are given an outline of your needs and you ask if they wish to bid for the contract. But at some stage, you will need to provide lots of detail. This is usually called the RFT (Request for Tender) or RFQ (Request for Quotation). A key part of this document, let's call it the RFT, will be the service specification.In the service specification, in effect the requirements 'blue print', you need to include sufficient information for the potential suppliers to accurately plan their resources and costs, and hence their price. If you don't, guess what? They will likely 'pad out' their cost structure to protect themselves from uncertainty. And who can blame them?
So your service specification will include such things as:
- Product Profile: List of products, dimensions, weights. (for storage and handling calculations)
- Order profiles: Number of orders, size of orders.
- Customer profiles: Types of customers, demand volumes, locations.
- Storage profiles: Number of products, stock levels.
- Service needs: Service requirements by customer type.
2 - Contracts. I would always include a draft contract with your RFT. Because this allows you to be clear right up front on the type of relationship you are seeking. The contract will include such things as; term of contract; services to be provided; service standards; asset ownership; reporting requirements; dispute resolution and so on. Making all this clear up front helps get the relationship off to the right start.Lots of people ask me what a reasonable contract 'term' is. It varies. Think about the investment that the supplier may have to make to support your contract. The higher the investment the longer contract term they will generally expect.
3 - Commercial terms. You need to be quite clear about what commercial terms you are seeking, but also be prepared to be flexible and open to negotiation. The commercial terms would normally cover aspects such as; who owns what, who has liability for what, insurances, over what 'term' invoices will be paid, invoice disputes and the like.
4 - Rate Mechanisms. I'll talk about principles here rather than specifics. Because warehousing rates will vary from transport rates and both can be quite complex in their detailed structure.But the over riding principle here, is that wherever possible you should be paying a variable cost and a cost that fairly reflects the service or activity being provided. Let me give you two extreme examples that are based on real life case studies.
The percentage. A 3PL was storing and distributing pharmaceutical products. The basis of the fee for service was a % of the sales value of the product. OK, ask yourself this. What has that got to do with the cost of providing the service? Nothing! Quite honestly it's a lazy way to charge for a service and is based purely on establishing the total cost of providing the service and balancing that against the value of the goods being distributed. i.e. It costs $10 million a year to provide the service, and we deliver $200 million of products at sales value, so we'll charge 5% of sales as a warehousing and distribution fee.OK, but what if the product range changes? (because the value will change). What if the customer base changes? What if customers order more frequently in smaller quantities? Is that happening to you now? Because the cost of storage and distribution on a per unit basis will go up!Cost Plus. is another rate mechanism you will come across, whereby the supplier determines what resources are required to perform the service for you and then charges that cost 'plus' an agreed margin. That's lazy too. And is really only appropriate for start up operations where the resource requirements are hard to establish. It's also a means whereby unscrupulous suppliers could charge multiple customers for the same resources…..Fixed and Variable. I much prefer a fixed and variable rate structure. In this way a fixed fee is paid, usually on a monthly basis. It covers some of the suppliers fixed costs, regardless of the volume of product being stored or distributed. Then the variable cost, rather like activity based costing, will add an additional fee based on the actual volume of product being handled.In this way both parties have a degree of protection should product volumes or customer profiles change over time. I often structure these types of rates by having both parties agree what resources are required regardless of product volume and then, what resources are more volume related. We then look at the actual resource requirements of the contract, the resource costs, apply some volume sensitivities and end up with a fair rate structure.
5 - Partner Selection. One last thing and vital thing I should add; is the selection of your outsourcing partner. And let me first make a plea. Maintain total objectivity for as long as you can in the process! Involve a cross functional team in the evaluation and selection process. Use an objective scoring matrix during the evaluation. Then at the final stages, allow the emotion some space. Who do you really feel comfortable with, who do you trust?Other important factors are these:Resources and Costs. Take your time to go through the proposed solutions so that you fully understand the resourcing of your contract. The head count, the facilities, equipment and so on. Then look at the resource costs and how this 'rolls up' into the contract pricing.The People. I have touched on this already, but make sure you understand who you will be dealing with on a day to day basis. Who will manage the overall contract? Who will manage the implementation? Have you met all of these people? Are they a good fit with your organisation? Implementation. I'll cover a bit more about implementation in Part three. But at this stage, let me just advise that you need to make sure the supplier is providing an experienced implementation team and implementation manager, that the time frames are realistic, and that you understand who is doing what and who is paying for what! All too often things fall through the cracks. And usually it is around responsibility and accountability for implementing IT.
So that covers Part two. Planning the big day. Or the day we award the contract.
There is so much more I would love to share with you, but space is against us. So what I'll do instead; is to share some specific materials from my books to give you more detail on the topic.
Just go to this link. http://www.logisticsbureau.com/Free And you can download a great book chapter on Outsourcing. I hope you find this information of value.
All the Best
Rob O'Byrne
Logistics Bureau
P.S. Don't laugh! I actually have a Novel on Outsourcing. http://www.logisticsoutsourcingguide.com


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Pubslihed: 31/10/2008
Oakworth Consultancy Services has a proud record of supporting organisations within the community and our chosen charity is the Prince of Wales Hospice. In April we sponsored the Hospice Memory Walk and a record number of entrants braved the wind and rain to complete a scenic, but rather soggy, 10k walk. Money is still filtering in but, so far, the Hospice has raised £14,600 from this event. TV personality Christine Talbot opened the event and took her dog on the walk. We intend to support the Memory Walk in 2009 and if you wish to take part, or sponsor a member of staff, please contact us.


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You made it through the first steps of sleep training with the Ferber method, the Weissbluth method, the "mom's advice" method, the "no method" method. You've transitioned kiddo to the big kid bed. You thought you were on the road back to sleep-filled nights.
You were wrong. She appeared at your bedside one night, staring at you. It was a scene straight out of Paranormal Activity. It creeped you out. You screamed. She screamed. Crying ensued (by both of you). She slept with you that night ... and now she's there every night.
How do you get kiddo to stay in her bed at night?
According to new ideas from a pair of parenting experts (how does one get that title, anyway?), you should buy her a fish. I'm not joking. I wish I were, but I'm not.
Cassandra Kempster-Roberts and Radhika Holmström, the parenting experts in question, suggest putting a lit fish tank in the room to keep your kid in bed.
A fish tank? With a light? Really? All that is going to do is keep her awake. Sure, she may drift off after hours of watching Nemo swim around, but that only leads to a sleepy, grumpy kiddo. Seriously, I know I'll find her asleep by the tank most nights, still not in her bed -- or hear a loud crash as she knocks the tank over trying to "share" her bink with Bubbles.
They had other fantastic (yes, that should be read with sarcasm, preferably the dripping kind) ideas such as swapping the monitor ends around, so kiddo can hear me in the other room ... and also the latest episode of The Bachelor or Joan Knows Best or hear her daddy scream at Syracuse for their lack of D? I think not.
Another winner: string up fairy lights, with the thought she'll sleep better if fairies watch over her. Kiddo already has an active imagination. I know she'll stay up talking with them, bounce around her bed trying to fly with them. Again, not asleep. Again, crankypants the next day.
Their ideas weren't all bad -- they suggested one we already use, the "playing songs to lull her to sleep" trick. We use the soundtrack from March of the Penguins. Seems to work decently, and we've had successful nights as of late ... though she'll never be able to watch that movie without dozing off.
What do you use to keep your kid in bed?
Image via Dean MCoy Photography/Flickr
i actually leave the light on the hallway on until she falls asleep then it goes off wether or not she has fallen asleep when we go to sleep.
I kind of understand the fish tank think, but only if it has a pump. The noise of the pump is monotone and very "white noise" like. Not sure about leaving the light on, since those tend to be bright, but the sound of the pump may help...I have a fish tank in my room, and I love the sound of the pump and water moving around and I do sleep very well with it.
I can just see it now....
But mom I wanted to give the fish a hug, or I wanted to go fishing, or fish needed a teddy bear to sleep with, I wanted to swim w/ the fish. LOL! cute idea but not to safe, lol
studies have shown that fish tanks are relaxing (which is why some Drs have them in their offices). If I were to put one in my child's room, it would be up where she couldn't reach it and wouldn't be able to climb to get it.
Don't have a problem keeping them in bed.
When my son was little he had a fish tank and I went to check on him one day when he was napping and he had all the fish lined up on his night stand, most were dead and some were still moving but not much. He wanted to play with them and he wanted them to sleep closer to him.
The post and the comments have made my day. Very uplifting and now I can face anything.
We don't really use anything to keep our son in his bed. He co-slept with us until a little before his 3rd birthday. We told him it was time to sleep in his own bedroom and he's been fine with it.(It's been about 2 months now) He'll usually come in and sleep with me (which I'm fine with) around 5:30 in the morning when my husband leaves for PT. We haven't needed to employ any tricks or sleep training (barf) methods.
Never been an issue, really.


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Date Added: 03/23/2011
Italy has (rightly) always been the symbol of art and culture in the world. Painting, sculpture, music, just to mention some of the so-called "main arts" have been developed in our country, so rich during the centuries of artists and masters. Also embroidery, a "minor art" but, in any case an art full of beauty and elegance, has Italian roots and some specific techniques were born within Italian boundaries and then become famous all over the world.
That is the case of the Punto Assisi, hand-made embroidery which is a real artistic craft and that in the last few years has caught the attention of the people who see in tradition a real link between present and past.
As says Raffaella Bartolucci Cesaretti, author of two volumes on this art - Il Punto Assisi - Storia di un ricamo antico and Il Punto Assisi - Tavole Edite e Inedite di un Ricamo Antico - "in each Italian region there's a boom of initiatives to protect and make people know the best of local crafts. In Umbria, land rich of good traditions, the most important embroidery is a counted stitch one, the Punto Assisi, which has had a great impact in the story of the city." Getting concentrated on this technique, Bartolucci Cesaretti has collected charts, embroideries, instructions and a lot of ideas which are useful for this "San Francis' art" created by the sisters of Assisi, engaged to thread very delicate fabrics to support Saint Clair who was obliged by an illness to stand still in her bed.
It is a simple stitch, a bit spartan, but very elegant. You start from the boundaries, you traces the lines of the selected drawing and you leave the inner part blank. The background has to be cross-stitched as to put the drawing in evidence. Finally, the work is finished with a check and a hem. All the precise instructions are given in the books by Raffaella
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A search warrant executed by Decatur Police
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During the search, officers located crack cocaine
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Johnny Darryl Strong Jr. was charged with
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Jaylin Strong, Thomas Strong and Maurice
Owens Jr. were arrested and charged with loitering.
Johnny Strong was transferred to the Morgan
County Jail and held on $3,000. The other three were each released on $500
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Book Description:
Farah Pahlavi has lived a life of extremes: a loving marriage to the Shah that ended with his death in 1980; a period of luxury in the court followed by years of exile and loss. Her story has been covered in the press and in countless books, but here she speaks out for the rst time, and tells her own remarkable story. The only child of an Iranian army ofcer, Farah Diba was an architecture student in Paris when she became engaged and married the Shah. Pitched from her ordinary existence into a maelstrom of paparazzi and international attention, she quickly became an icon for her age-a beautiful, serene young woman, romantically married to one of the most powerful men in the world. She writes about her early years and about Iran itself and her profound love for it, of encounters with world leaders, of family life in the palaces of Tehran. She describes the divisions of Iranian society and the gradual shift of public opinion, fuelled by the rise in religious fundamentalism, which led to the sudden overthrow of the Shah in 1979. An Enduring Love includes a moving account of the year the Shah and his Queen spent wandering the globe, rejected from the United States and shuttling between Egypt, Morocco, the Bahamas, Panama, and Mexico. Farah Pahlavi details the years of exile after the Shah's death, as she rebuilt a life for herself and for her children in the United States. Written with an affecting simplicity and directness, this is both a powerful human document and a fascinating perspective on an especially turbulent period in Middle Eastern history.
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The Cure, Outkast and Eric Church headline BottleRock Napa
After a rough go last year, the BottleRock Napa festival is set to return May 30-June 1 at the Napa Valley Exposition under new ownership (Latitude 38 Entertainment) and with a lineup that includes the Cure, Outkast and country superstar Eric Church as its headliners. The rest of the lineup leans heavily on forgotten '90s […] [Read More]
Flashback! Last Week's Concerts
We look back at the best nightlife images from the previous week in the Bay Area, courtesy of our friends at FilterlessCo. [Read More]


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- Marija Kovačević
- Hrvatska Kostajnica
- Croatia
This conversation is closed.
How young is too young for social networking?
Kids nowdays have facebook accounts as soon as they start reading. I had to make a special group of my fb friends who are under age (mostly family friends' kids), so I can block certain content from them.
But today, a 10 year old girl posted some photos of her friends. The girls wore little clothes, one only a shirt, and the picture was titled: Be stupid!, as the famous jeans company campaign. I found the pictures disturbing... and got me thinking how easy it is for the creeps on the internet!
So, I'm asking you:
Should there be/is there a way to control the kids online, now when there are so many "security" features on facebook? It's easy to hide a picture/a post only from certain people (like your parents)
Is it really important for a 10 yo to have a facebook/myspace/google+ account?
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Aug 10 2011: Unfortunately, this goes back to the parents. It isn't hard to say "I have all your passwords, you only use the computer in public areas of the home", and to explain to them clearly what is acceptable and unaccpetable despite what their friends might be doing. It's a crazy new concept I call "Parenting".
So I see no reason for 10 y/o's to be barred from social networks. My 9 y/o has a FB account. I have his passwords, all his messages are directed to my email, and he only uses it when I am around. He gets a kick out of it, and so do his friends (who frequently message to ask if he is allowed to come out and play, which I must say works nicer than in my day when we used to just show up at the door).
Aug 11 2011: Hey Jason I totally respect your view and the way you handle it ( since I dont have a kid I can say that probably I would have done the same things ) I have just one critical objection. Maybe it is because of my nostalgia , I would prefer neighbor kids knock my door to ask my kid out rather than page him or e-mail him.
Aug 19 2011: "I would prefer neighbor kids knock my door to ask my kid out"
That is probably still true in small communities, in cities however its a lot harder, when I was in primary school my best friend lived one hour away by bus, I couldn't exactly just show up at his door.
I totally agree with jason on this one, the kids Marija mentions were taking semi nude pictures of themselves and publishing them openly, I think its a much greater issue the fact that they are doing that than the possibility of a creep downloading them.
Why? because the first gives place to the second for starters.
If the kids are well taught they would be able to enjoy FB and similar mediums without feeding the creeps. A healthy father-child mother-child relationship is more often than not the best defense against inappropriate content and untrustworthy strangers.
I often hear the argument "with todays media its almost impossible to properly educate our children!"
This often leaves me the taste of "with todays media its almost impossible to keep our children in a bubble!" which is not the same as educating.
The day I have a child the first thing I'll teach him is to think for himself, then come consult me, and then do some more thinking.
Aug 11 2011: I was being a bit facetious, I wouldn't really mind if they just showed up. One thing though, my friends all lived very close to me growing up, but I'm guessing school boundaries expanded between then and now, so sometimes the distances to friends are just too much for them to just walk over. So I do think it helps them connect and manage the friendship at greater distance.
Aug 18 2011: At the risk of sounding like a fuddy-duddy...I prefer when kids notify us ahead of time, as often we ARE on schedule.... I feel it's a bit of an unfair situation when my son's friends show up, often just as we are about to do something and ask if he can play. I could say, "no, we're going grocery shopping" whatever, but then I'm the Bad Parent...and unfortunately, where we live borders on properties that are occupied by the not so socially acceptable, let's say and I wouldn't feel safe leaving them to their own devices.
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Another Fantastic Four anniversary cover, by Paolo Rivera. Inspired from Mad Men.
Chapter I, from The Book of Genesis, illustrated by Crumb.
Barbara Gordon
Barbara Gordon
Fantastic Four anniversary variant cover by Stéphanie Hans (Amazing Spider-man #667).
(Source : grainedepluie.com)
Batman & Robin #6 cover by Chris Burnham.
A near "bonjour-like" about outstanding comic-books pictures.
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Identity Development, Business Stationery, Business Cards, Postcards, Promotional Items (T Shirts, Buttons, etc.)
Company Icon/Character, Custom Icon Sets, Marketing Collateral, Promotional Characters, Books Covers & Interiors (Rhiannon Cunag has worked as a professional illustrator, creating covers for Scholastic's How I Survived Middle School series, as well as illustrating for Maru & Friends children's books and dolls series, Bop magazine, Girl's Life magazine, Little Passports monthly activity club, and many more!)
Marketing Design, Web Design, Custom Blog Design, Logo Design, Twitter Backgrounds
XHTML/CSS, E-Commerce Solutions, Content Management Systems (built on Wordpress)
For all projects, we require a non-refundable 50% deposit up front before we begin any work. This initiates the design process with Rhiannon. After the design is approved by the client, the design is passed off to Valerie to begin the coding process. Once coding is complete, a mock-up site will be available for client review (this is the client's opportunity to test the site's functionalities). This mock-up site will not be visible to the general public. Once this version of the site has been approved, any remaining balance due on the project will be required. Once full payment has been received, the new site will be launched! You will have a period of 2 weeks to let us know about any bugs or minor issues that you are having, and we will fix them lickety split! After the 2 weeks is up, we aren't just going to leave you hanging. We are always available and happy to help at our regular hourly rate.


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10 Best Places to Sit a Microwave
A few weeks ago we asked where your small appliances live -- the counter or the cabinet. One of those small appliances is the microwave, which many think can only live on a counter, but that's not the case. The microwave has plenty of placement options.
Here are a few we found, with visual examples. Are there any placements we forgot?
9 Comments
I just moved into a new condo -- one of the first things I did was to rip off the doors of my cabinets and move the microwave from the counter to one of the shelves in the cabinet. Looks SO much better, and wahoo, more counter space!
I remodeled and put mine under the induction cooktop. I took out a range with a microwave/vent above it and replaced it with a setup that includes an industrial hood, an induction cooktop set into granite, and a custom cabinet underneath with a microwave shelf and a drawer. I put in double wall ovens instead of the range.
Safety and children are considerations. Installing a microwave at an elevation where a child can reach up and use it is an invitation to spilling something hot in their face. If kids are going to use it, consider putting it low enough so they can use it safely and see what they are doing.
Where I live now, the MW is built-in over the cooktop. Nothing new there (except to me), but it is a convenient spot for it. Guess that's why it's so common.
In the past, I've placed the MW on a shelf just under a countertop, which I liked a lot, though I can see how it might not be a good solution for every household. I find that I am less likely to spill something when I am lifting it up than when I am taking it down.
The worst MW arrangement I've had situated the MW on top of my fridge. It was a small apartment fridge, but it was still too high. I was always afraid of getting a faceful of hot soup. And it was impossible to keep an eye on things while they are heating up.
That said, the last picture with the MW on top of a very large refrigerator is an outrageously bad setup, especially in what appears to be a "high-end" kitchen. Seriously, what average citizen could reach that? (And it's a very bad idea to stash wine up so high--the heat will ruin it.
We used to have a venting microwave mounted over the range, but it didn't vent well and it made it difficult to reach into tall pots on the back burners. We replaced it with a standard range hood, which really opened up the area over the range and made it more pleasant to cook.
Our microwave right now is on top of the refrigerator, which is not ideal, but I'm not willing to give up counterspace for it at this point.
At our old house, countertop space was limited and the microwave sat out in the garage (the door to the garage was in the kitchen). At our new house, we put the microwave on a shelf in a cupboard. Needless to say, we don't use our microwave very often, which is why it has been relegated to such an inconvenient spot. Once every 1-2 weeks is about all the use it gets.
Surely you mean "set" in the headline.
@jls988 Send me photos of your remodel! I'm dying to see it. email@example.com
@Leisureguy and fredward, nope, I meant sit. Items can sit on things, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sit
@soniaz Technically, the microwave can "sit", but you cannot "sit" the microwave. (But you could set it on it's seat and I'm certain it would sit. =P)
The wheeled cart picture isn't that inspiring, but it's likely the solution I'll be going for. My kitchen has almost no counter space, so my microwave is on my hope chest, which is too low, and it can't go in a cupboard since it's too high. I'm hoping to get a cart twice the width of the one pictured and score myself some extra counter space and storage while I'm at it.


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Ralph Lauren expects strong holiday sales
The clothing designer raises its dividend and gives a stronger revenue growth outlook for the full year.
New York clothing designer Ralph Lauren (RL) raised its quarterly cash dividend by 12.5 percent to 45 cents a share on Wednesday and said it anticipates strong sales during the key holiday season.
In its most recent quarter, the retailer's net income of $205 million, or $2.23 a share, was down from a year-earlier profit of $214 million, or $2.29 a share. However, it topped average analyst estimates in a Thomson Reuters poll.
Revenue was up 3 percent to $1.9 billion, matching the Street's view.
CEO Ralph Lauren said the results position the company well for the first half of fiscal 2014. The dividend increase comes as the company looks to return more cash to investors.
"I am excited about the growing momentum in our business worldwide and confident in the relevance of our strategies to deliver meaningful shareholder value creation over the long term," Lauren said.
For the full year, Ralph Lauren raised its revenue growth outlook to between 5 and 7 percent, toward the high-end of its previous 4 to 7 percent range.
Shares of the retailer were up more than 4 percent in early trade.
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What does each category stand for (moderate, poor, depleted, etc)? Specifically, I'm looking how much resources exist in each category to help determine if it is worth probing a planet down to depleted.
Depleted planets may still contain spikes of resources, so the decision to mine any given planet is determined by how long you are willing to spend scanning. Obviously the rich planets will yield the most amount of resources (about 10,000 units) but you will be lucky to get a single spike of 2,500 resources from a Depleted or Poor planet. In general, I scan the Rich and Moderate planets all the way down to Depleted (unless I have reached my target).
I think the most important point in getting the most resources from your probes is the size of the spike. It seems to follow a logarithmic scale. Spikes that hit the 6-7th bar will give you twice as much resources as spikes in the 4-5th.
When you scan a planet, you get an initial estimate of it's mineral resources. This can range from "Very Rich" to "depleted". While you can "deplete" a planet's resources, the "depletion level" for the planet is only a general indicator of how many probes you've launched at a planet and total remaining minerals.
Even planets which show up as "depleted" can be lucrative to probe, as long as you stick to medium-high spikes on the mineral scanner.
It has nothing to do with how many minerals you get per probe launch, as that is solely determined by the height of the indicator spikes itself.


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All eyes were on Evangeline Lilly at New Zealand's "Hobbit" premiere on Tuesday. The actress, who plays Elven warrior Tauriel in the film, chopped off her long "Lost" locks for a dramatic shorter 'do.TooFab, she wears a wig onscreen.
Here's a preview of what's opening in theaters this weekend, including the Disney family action flick "Real Steel," starring Hugh Jackman, and the political drama "The Ides of March," starring George Clooney and Ryan Gosling.
"Extra's" Terri Seymour caught up with actor Hugh Jackman at the premiere of his new film, "Real Steel" -- where he said this was the first time his son Oscar, 11, and daughter Ava, 6, would see him kissing a woman other than their mother.
"I had not even registered that my son and daughter were about to see me kiss another girl for the first time," laughed Jackman. "It's the first movie of mine they've seen. As it came up, I went, 'Oh no.' I said [to his wife] 'Deb, uh oh.' Both of us looked and then Oscar said, 'Yeah, you're going to be in trouble, Dad.' He didn't even look at me. That's all he said about it."
Watch how Jackman trains Seymour to throw a punch!
On the day Crystal Harris was supposed to wed Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner, the runaway bride was spotted at MGM Grand's Wet Republic pool party in a skimpy bikini with pal Heidi Montag.
Full story NY Daily News
Get more "Extra" Scoop headlines for Monday, June 20!
Kendall Jenner: Kim Kardashian Pushed Me into Modeling -- US Weekly
'Lost' Star Evangeline Lilly Joins 'The Hobbit' -- PopEater
Marilyn Monroe's Dress from 'The Seven-Year Itch' Sells for $4.6 Mil -- L.A. Times
Amy Winehouse Cancels Dates After Disastrous Belgrade Show -- MTV News
"Lost" star Evangeline Lilly is pregnant, according to UsWeekly. Lilly, spotted in Hawaii with a visible baby bump, is expecting her first child with boyfriend Norman Kali, a production assistant on "Lost."
Evangeline recently expressed her excitement to be moving on from the ABC show, which was canceled after six seasons. "People are excited to try on the next chapter of their lives," she previously told New York Magazine. "This show is all-encompassing. We have had very little experience outside of the show during the last six years because it's just so demanding; it requires so much of us. So, it's exciting to have your freedom back, essentially."
Want to get close to Evangeline Lilly, Matthew Fox, Josh Holloway and more? The cast of "Lost" has recorded personalized video messages for LiveAutographs.com, where fans can download video messages from their favorite stars and score autographed memorabilia. Stars like William Shatner and Carmen Electra have signed up -- Click here for more info.


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In order to WOW your customers on hot summer days, we have gathered together cocktails they'll love and tell their friends about who will come with wallets in fists.
Between the thinning ozone and rising temperatures, your clientele is developing a palpable thirst. The question is — how do you best revive their wilting spirits?
Shake and strain into martini glass, garnish with chocolate drizzle.
Fill glass with ice, put in 151 rum, fill with OJ and add grenedine, garnish with a cherry and a half slice of orange.
Mix all ingredients except Sprite in glass and stir. Top with Sprite and lightly stir.


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Tobacco store manager charged, synthetic marijuana seized
WILLMAR -- The manager of the Tobacco Stop on South First Street in Willmar was arrested for selling synthetic marijuana, and what were described as "large amounts'' of a substance suspected of being the illegal product were seized during a search of the business on Thursday, according to the Willmar Police Department.
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One in every 13 children, or approximately two children per classroom, have a food allergy, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Society.
Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening reaction that may occur by accidental ingestion of a food allergen. Immediate administration of epinephrine is the only treatment that has shown to be effective in preventing deaths from anaphylaxis. Epinephrine currently comes in two different auto-injector devices, Epi-pen and Auvi-Q and is very safe in children, with the most common side effect being a transient increase in heart rate.
Similar to automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which are available in schools for life-threatening heart disease, these prescription devices are designed for self-administration by non-medical personnel and require minimal training to use.
While the majority of children diagnosed with food allergies are aware of their allergy, 25 percent of epinephrine administrations occurring in school involve children whose risk for allergy was unknown at the time of a reaction.
Previous Florida legislation allowed a student to have a prescription auto-injector available at school, but it did not allow schools to keep a stock supply of epinephrine for emergency use. Unfortunately, this meant that any child who experienced a first time anaphylactic reaction at school did not have access to this life-saving treatment. It also placed known food allergic children at risk if they did not have an epinephrine auto-injector readily available.
In fact, this was an unfortunate reality for a 7-year old Virginia student, Ammaria Johnson, who died of a food-induced anaphylactic reaction at school in 2012. She did not have an injectable epinephrine auto-injector at school and the school did not have a non-student-specific stock of epinephrine. Her death may have been prevented if epinephrine was readily available and if school personnel were allowed to administer the medication without fear of liability.
The Florida Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Society, which represents approximately 150 allergists throughout the state, proposed an amendment to the Legislature pertaining to anaphylaxis in schools. Senate Bill 284, School Emergencies, enables public and private schools to adopt an anaphylaxis protocol to be developed by a licensed physician. School personnel would be trained on how to recognize anaphylaxis, treat an anaphylactic emergency and be trained how to use epinephrine auto-injectors.
It also permits schools to maintain a non-student-specific stock of epinephrine auto-injectors for emergency use. This amendment was supported by Florida Medical Association, numerous Florida medical societies, patient advocacy groups and concerned parents of children with food allergies. Additionally, two manufacturers of epinephrine auto-injectors, Mylan and Sanofi-Aventis, have also agreed to distribute devices to every public and private school in the state.
The Florida Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Society and its members agreed to assist in the development of protocols and to train school personnel. The primary sponsors of the important collaborative amendment were Rep. Mike LaRosa and Sen. Joe Negron. It was signed by Gov. Rick Scott on May 30 and took effect July 1, 2013.
This amendment represents a major victory for Florida students. It gives our school personnel the training and tools to freely treat anaphylaxis in all school children. Hopefully, Florida school districts, encouraged by physicians and parents, will comply and assist with this opportunity to protect all students from life-threatening food allergies.
Dr. Patrick DeMarco is the immediate past president of the Florida Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Society.


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"Dynamite. Cheers to a movie as gloriously entertaining and bluntly honest as the lady herself. Everybody rise." – Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
"A generous and hilarious portrait of life as an aging legend." – Sara Stewart, New York Post
"A warm and touching portrait … a fond farewell to a Broadway Baby as she closes a door on her remarkable career." – David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter
Now in her late 80s, Broadway legend Elaine Stritch remains as ferociously funny as ever. In this bold, hilarious and poignant portrait, the uncompromising Tony and Emmy Award-winner is revealed both on and off stage. Candid reflections about her life are punctuated with words from friends (including James Gandolfini, Tina Fey, John Turturro, Hal Prince, George C. Wolfe, Nathan Lane and Cherry Jones) and rare archival footage showcasing some of the great moments from her career. Whether dominating the stage, tormenting Alec Baldwin on the set of 30 Rock, or sharing her struggles with aging, diabetes and alcoholism, the film gives viewers a unique backstage pass to hilarious and heartrending moments with this brash diva. Shot over the course of one event-filled year, director Chiemi Karasawa paints an indelible portrait of a woman who literally embodies the showbiz motto "the show must go on." Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me reaches beyond the icon's brassy exterior and reveals an inspiring portrait of a complex woman and artist. (Dir. by Chiemi Karasawa, 2014, USA, 80 mins., Not Rated, Sundance Selects) Digital


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Argento Bonarda
It is high time for a $10 wine post, and this Bonarda is a winner. We are fans of Argento's Malbec (here's a link to my past review). We usually keep it on hand for weeknight dinners and casual gatherings, and one day I noticed the Bonarda next to it in the LCBO. It must have been on sale, and I thought "never heard of that grape but why not?" and I'm so glad I did. I'm not sure which I like better, the Malbec or Bonarda, because both are so nice and also economical. Interestingly, they are Argentina's 2 most planted grape varietals- points to Argento for doing the local grapes so well.
The Bonarda is a lovely deep plum shade that promises good flavours and then delivers. It is medium/full bodied, full of berry fruits and is also a bit smoky with oak. It makes me think of California style reds, which I also love. Dry, but not too dry, nice with red meat, BBQ, and dark chocolate.
Spring is in the air and backyard parties are right around the corner, so pick it up for a BBQ potluck and I know your friends will be happy.
Overall, I give this bottle 9/10 for taste and 4/5 for value.
20 Bees Shiraz
Round #2 of my Wine of the Month Club: The January delivery included a bottle of 2012 20 Bees Shiraz. I have to say I was not excited to see it- I have had 20 Bees Baco Noir and one glass was more than enough for me. I also find their labels and winery name to be overly cute. And Shiraz in Canada? I don't know- I really like Australian Shiraz (in fact we had a killer bottle last week- 2011 Dandelion Vineyards Lionheart of the Barossa, $20, amazing value, none left at the LCBO, sob, drink some for me if you can find it).
So, I opened the bottle with low expectations on a freezing cold Wednesday night. But my snobbery turned to a smile as we paired it with beef tacos- great match. The wine is what the critics say: dry, light-medium bodied, not overly complex, and a little fruity with a peppery finish. This would be good BBQ wine in the summer.
That said, I don't know that I would buy it again. The price is reasonable, the wine is fine, it's just not what I'm looking for in a Shiraz. It was an interesting bottle, not something I would typically pick up on my own, so I will give the Wine Club a pass on this one. But there are a lot of $12 red wines I would buy before this one.
Overall, I give this wine 7.5/10 for taste and 4/5 for value.
Cave Spring Riesling Dry
This year, my resolution is to drink more wine and blog about it. Tough goal, right? To ensure some inspiration, I joined a "Wine of the Month Club" this December which brings new bottles of VQA Ontario wine to my door each month. The club is run by Winery To Home and the critics are David Lawrason and Tony Aspler. I am doing the $45/month version, which includes one white and one red bottle; there are varying price and quality levels, but I thought I would start with the basic one and see how things go.
My December delivery (just pre-Christmas, what a lovely gift to oneself!) included a bottle of 2012 Cave Spring Cellars Riesling Dry. I have long been curious about Cave Spring, there is something very clean and crisp about their name and their wine labels, but not being a big Niagara drinker, I hadn't bought a bottle yet. We shared the bottle with friends who enjoy Riesling, particularly dry varieties, and the review was a big thumbs up.
It is definitely as described by the critics: light, fresh, some mineral and citrus. Dry, but not overly so. It went very well with a charcuterie spread, particularly prosciutto and sharp cheese, a nice contrast in flavour. A surefire crowd pleaser- would also do well with seafood.
I think $15 is good value for this bottle, and I'm happy to see the local LCBO has lots on hand. So far so good with the wine club- I've been introduced to a new wine and winery, and have a new go-to party wine. I plan to pick up more of this bottle soon.
Overall, I give this wine 9/10 for taste and 4/5 for value.
Better than a Bakery Cinnamon Buns
I like to mark a new year by posting the most un-diet thing possible. Last year's new year post featured a mind-blowing chocolate cake. This year I would like to share a new baking adventure that created the most lovely cinnamon buns that have passed my lips. These yeast-dough buns are fluffy-yet-dense, lightly sweet so as not to compete with the cinnamon and sugar, and bake up into monster buns that you think you won't finish but you absolutely will.
I have certainly indulged in Cinnabon buns, bakery buns, been served cheater "Land of Nod" buns that I find too sweet with no spiral fun, but I have never made them myself. I can't believe it took me so long! These will be a brunch staple for sure, the shear impressiveness of a pan of these right out of the oven begs for an audience.
I used Michael Smith's Cinnamon Rolls recipe and followed it exactly. I wouldn't change a thing, either. The glaze to finish (not pictured) is the final touch- it's not too sweet and gives just the right finish. My KitchenAid mixer was a big help with this one, although you don't need to mix with the dough hook for too long. The dough comes together fairly fast and is a pleasure to knead into a smooth, elastic ball. It rose quickly (hint: I put it in my warm utility closet to speed the rise time) and rolled out like a dream. Almost like play-doh for adults. And it tastes better. I think you could make the dough the night before, let it rise and then store in the fridge to be ready for the morning, since it does take a couple hours from scratch.
And if you're intimidated by yeast, kneading, rising time, etc., etc., don't be! I have no real dough experience beyond pizza dough, and this was a dream. You'll feel so accomplished after baking these, like Laura Ingalls Wilder would be impressed, I dare you to make them- and then tell me about it- or invite me for brunch.
Happy Thanksgiving!
It is a beautiful fall weekend in southern Ontario, perfect for a Thanksgiving holiday. Before I could go outside to enjoy it, I baked up this beauty, a Pecan Pie for tomorrow's family feast.
Happy feasting everyone! I hope a slice of your favourite pie makes it to your plate this weekend.
Ontario Peach Pie
The year has been passing by at light speed, taken up with work, a few vacations, and all the little things that use up a day. I've gotten quite a few questions lately about my blog. Why haven't I posted much this year? What am I drinking? The truth is probably two-fold- I've amassed quite a portfolio of favourite wines and recipes and don't always have new food and drink to share, and having a computer-heavy day job can be a drain on the creative juices.
But if there's anything that might get a cook's energy back up, it is late summer and early fall in Ontario. Having grown up a prairie girl, I am amazed every year here when the bounty begins to roll in. Niagara peaches are one of my very favourite treats, but they tend to come in huge baskets and ripen all at once. Every August at this time I search for a random peach pie recipe, and then think, why haven't I posted this so I'll know what to make next year?
This year I found two good recipes: One for the #1 Best Pie Crust Ever and the other for Mama Thornton's Peach Pie, both from the Food Network. The pie crust uses butter and shortening and has definitely replaced my old standard Crisco recipe. The butter makes the dough less crumbly and easier to work with, and browns up so beautifully I could hardly wait for the pie to cool before slicing through the crisp crust into the peaches below. The peach filling is fantastic- gooey but not runny and just the right amount of sweet. The only change I made was to double the lemon juice and add a splash of vanilla extract.
So, if you have peaches ripening en masse at this very moment- I hope a peach pie is in your future.
Best of Baking
The holiday break has afforded many opportunities to rev up the new Kitchenaid mixer. I look at it daily and think "what can we make today?" And then I tell my mixer that treats cannot be an everyday occurrence. Although they should be.
For a New Year's get together I jumped on the chance to bring dessert so that I would have an excuse to make a chocolate cake. I made my favourite Nigella version, posted here. It was more-ish as always and was promptly demolished, as chocolate cakes should be. You should make it. And fill your face with it-but don't blame me for your derailed resolutions. Blame Nigella.
If you want something a little lighter and less guilt-inducing, I made holiday gingerbread in December and didn't get around to posting it. I shared the cookies around at a few holiday shindigs and people are still talking to me about it. It's just a McCormick recipe, but I think the magic is in the technique. Roll the dough as thin as you can and bake them until firm, and you'll end up with light, crispy, refreshing ginger bombs. They are so good and so delightfully spiced that I am thinking about making another batch just to have for after-dinner treats. They keep really well in the freezer, just waiting for when you need a ginger pick-me-up. You can also tell yourself that ginger is good for digestion and therefore this cookie is good for you. Plus they have molasses and that's better than white sugar, right?
So finally, in a moment of holiday boredom, I whipped up some blueberry muffins to pass the time. I used my favourite recipe from Smitten Kitchen (see my previous post here) and they were perfect to have on hand for post-Christmas snacking and lounging about.
So here are 3 ideas for homemade treats to start 2013 with a bang and give the finger to any thoughts of healthier living and self-denial. Plus, some self-righteous food guy once said (something to the effect of) "it's ok to eat treats as long as you make them yourself." And that's the mantra I live by. Although it's also ok in my books if Pan Chancho or Bread & Butter Bakery make them too.
Luccarelli Primitivo Puglia
The new year calls for a return to wonderful $10 wines and I have a good one to share. Primitivo is a favourite varietal of mine, and I love that you can get a great Italian bottle for a good deal.
This one does not disappoint and is very typically fruity and ripe, full bodied, dry but not too dry, and just generally fun to drink. We had it with steak but it was delicious solo too. I think it might also be good with chocolate but it didn't last long enough to find out.
This vintage is sold out in most major Ontario cities but there are still quite a few bottles in rural Ontario areas. Maybe you'll luck out and find a few bottles (or maybe you live elsewhere and your wine shop has lots of this gem). And trust me, you'll want more than one.
Overall, I give this wine 9/10 for taste and 5/5 for value.
Holiday Baking Round 2
This weekend, I spent an afternoon in the kitchen, adding 3 new treats to the baking stockpile. My Kitchenaid mixer got another workout, this time with Whipped Shortbread (dipped in chocolate), and I followed that up with 2 simple but delicious no-bake cookies: Chocolate Haystacks and Butterscotch Confetti squares.
The shortbread and squares are both classics, throwbacks from childhood, just as delightful and addictive as ever. Just today I shared the Butterscotch Confetti with a friend and we discussed what vintage gold they are. As a rule, I'm not a huge square fan as sometimes they are best left in the 1980s, but these are just the right mix of peanut butter and butterscotch, and if you eat them super cold, the texture of the marshmallows is irresistible.
And the beauty of these 3 treats is that they each have so few ingredients, chances are you have them already in your pantry.
Whipped Shortbread
(From Best of Bridge)
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup icing sugar
3 squares of semi-sweet baking chocolate
1. Preheat oven to 325F.
2. Whip the first 3 ingredients together in a stand mixer for 10 minutes, until very smooth and fluffy.
3. Drop by the teaspoon onto a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake for 13 minutes at 325F.
4. Cool the cookies while melting the chocolate. Dip the cookies half in the chocolate and cool in the fridge.
Butterscotch Confetti
(From Company's Coming)
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 bag mini marshmallows
1. Melt the first 3 ingredients together in a saucepan or the microwave.
2. Stir in the marshmallows and pat into a 9×9 pan.
3. Refrigerate until firm. Cut into squares. These freeze well for later use.
Chocolate Haystacks
1/2 cup butter
1 1/4 cups white sugar
1/2 cup milk
6 tbsps cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup flaked coconut
3 cups quick oats
1. Boil the first 4 ingredients together in a saucepan for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
2. Stir in the final 3 ingredients quickly.
3. Drop by the teaspoon onto a cookie sheet and refrigerate until firm. These freeze well for later use.
And finally….Kevin is asking for gingerbread…so perhaps we'll have adventure #3 in Christmas baking someday soon.
The holidays are here…
December is upon us and I find myself in the mood to stockpile delicious baked treats in my freezer. It may have something to do with my new friend. We met last weekend in America, while doing some browsing of the holiday sales, I came upon a Kitchenaid mixer in need of a good home. This amazing piece of kitchen equipment had never really been on my radar because of the steep pricetag, but I found a deal too good to pass up, and now I have a glossy black Kitchenaid Professional 5 Plus standmixer staring me in the face every time I walk into the kitchen.
I used it earlier this week to whip cream in record time, but have been thinking all week about holiday cookies. I decided to make a favourite, Bird's Nests with Raspberry Jam, these are always such a nice mix of crispy cookie and sweet-tart jam (pictured in the foreground). Those didn't seem enough, so I let Kevin pick from Chatelaine's holiday cookie list, and he wanted Birthday Cake Icebox Cookies (pictured on the left). To be honest, I laughed and assumed they would not be great, but I have to say they are quite tasty. It's basically a sugar cookie with a bit of crunch from the sprinkles and an extra sweet kick from the icing sugar glaze- a vanilla sugar bomb of a cookie.
To round out the weekend I decided to make some buttertarts. These didn't need the help of the mixer, but I've been missing these in my holiday life for years. There are so many buttertart variations out there, pecan, walnut, raisin, no raisin, corn syrup-based, maple syrup-based, egg-based, etc., etc. All I really want is the kind my mom made when I was a kid: egg-based, with raisins and pecans. The recipe comes from a well-worn Best of Bridge cookbook and is simply buttertart perfection (pictured on the right).
The Best Buttertarts
Makes 12 buttertarts.
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup butter
- 4 tbsp. cream
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 cup seedless raisins
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 12 tart shells (recipe for 1 pie crust will be enough)
1. Preheat oven to 375F.
2. Beat eggs in a saucepan, then combine the next 5 ingredients in the saucepan. Boil on medium heat, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes.
3. Sprinkle a few pecan pieces in the bottom of each tart shell, then spoon 1/4 cup of tart filling into each shell.
4. Bake for 15 minutes at 375F. The tarts will be done when the filling is set and the crust is flaky and golden.
Pastry tip: Make 1 pie crust using the Crisco recipe (3/8 cup shortening, 1 cup flour, 1/2 tsp. salt and 4 tbsp. cold water), shape into a ball and chill 30 minutes. Roll out to 1/4″ thickness, cut into 12 circles with a cookie cutter or water glass, and shape into a 12-muffin tin. Chill the tart shells another 30 minutes, then fill with hot filling and bake immediately. The cold crust will turn out extra puffy and flaky.
So, holiday treats to come…perhaps some Butterscotch Confetti, Chocolate Haystacks, Whipped Shortbreads? Stay tuned.


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This crackly, 57-minute steam-powered "thriller" is notable for being set largely on the famous choo-choo of the same name.
The set-up – something to do with an engineer whose fireman (Ray Milland's screen debut) is unwittingly courting his daughter – is ludicrously flimsy and the acting classic rabbit/headlights stuff.
But if nothing else it's a charming demonstration of the era's terrifyingly nonchalant attitude to 'elf and safety, as actresses in high heels clamber perilously along the outside of the hurtling locomotive inches from death.
Train porn that's beyond parody.
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Google speeds up Chrome by compiling JavaScript in the background by @epro
Samsung promises data speeds of 'tens of gigabits per second' by 2020 after making 5G breakthrough by @jonrussell
Samsung begins producing 4Gb LPDDR3 DRAM to bring PC-like multimedia speeds to mobile by @jonrussell
Google speeds up its JavaScript alternative Dart compiler and VM, says no more core library breaking changes by @epro
Google speeds up mobile search with expandable site links and experimental 'Quick view' badges for Wikipedia by @epro
AT&T plays follow the leader with Google, announces it will also bring gigabit speeds to Austin by @harrisonweber
See what's Trending Now for @TheNextWeb
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I've added new candids photos of Christina Aguilera out in Beverly Hills with her boyfriend, Matt Rutler on November 16, 2012.
« Christina Aguilera "Dateline" Full Interview Video | Christina Aguilera's American Music Awards Rehearsal Pic »
This entry was posted on Sunday, November 18th, 2012 at 4:13 am and is filed under Candids, Gallery Updates. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.


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Campbell County man arrested on charges of manufacturing child pornography
Published On: Jun 28 2013 03:56:01 PM EDT
A Campbell County man was arrested Wednesday on charges involving the manufacturing of child pornography.
Members of the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested Zackery Morris Wednesday for the child pornography charges, in violation of Code of Virginia 18.2-374.1.
An investigator with the Bedford County Sheriff's Office found evidence that indicated Morris had produced sexually explicit material involving a minor. Morris was taken into custody without incident, and is being held at the Blue Ridge Regional Jail.
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be pending.
Copyright © 2013, WDBJ7
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Facebook's new Graph Search tool gives the social network access to a huge amount of customer intent data that should allow marketers to dramatically improve their campaigns' performance, writes Dave Williams. Over time, Facebook is likely to dislodge Google as Web users' search tool of choice, Williams predicts. "Such a shift will lead to massive changes in search volume, revenue and the monetary value of the social graph for consumers and brands of all sizes," he writes.
View Full Article in:Advertising Age (tiered subscription model)
Published in Briefs:


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Wow, what a great way to use leftover coconut milk! I made the Thai curry coconut shrimp recipe from Cooking Light tonight and looked for a recipe to use up the rest of the can of coconut milk. It was as good or better than the meal! I topped it with papaya since we didn't have mango on hand. I think it would be great with strawberries. Beware when preparing not to listen to the "Grease a shallow 2 1/2-quart baking dish." It's never used in the recipe!
Mango-Coconut Rice Pudding
JeffAxelrod Posted: 03/15/10
Daily Specials


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Parking Quiz: Can You Park Here at 4 pm on a Friday?
Here's a brain tickler for this ultra gloomy, Juneuary Friday. Just take a look at the pictures above and attempt to answer this question:
It's 4PM on Friday, is it legal to park in this spot?
Write your answer in the comments, and we'll post the answer just after lunch!
The Big Drink 2014: 50 Cocktails to Try Before You Die
The Big Eat 2014: 100 Things to Try Before You Die
The 2012 Big To-Do SF: 100 Things To Do Before You Die
The Big Veg 2011: 50 Vegetarian (Or Vegan) Things to Eat Before You Die
The Big Sweet SF: 50 Treats to Eat Before You Die
50 Things to Do in Wine Country Before You Die


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The silliest video you'll see today:
Zeke the Pitbull makes friends with a deer by playing chase through backyard fence in Georgetown, Texas.
Strawberry the Shiba Inu dog wants Milky the Kitten to get out of her cage and play.
Learn how to play a piano without actually knowing how to play a piano with this instructional video from comedian Sam Tucker.
Two dogs, Mrs. Molly and Smoke, play Dueling Banjos, the classic bluegrass song. They are obviously very talented musicians, they just need some more practice…
Just some kids being kids…
Bug the Kangaroo and Lolli the Lemur are playing a game of tag.
O-m-g…that face!
For your daily dose of cute. :)
This bear cub 'attacking' a man somewhere on the road in Russia is the cutest video you'll see all day, guaranteed. Looks like the baby bear appeared out of nowhere and picked this guy to be his newest play buddy. It's all fun and games until momma bear emerges from that fog and wants to […]


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Welcome to SortedFood...
The online hub for beginners & pros.
There are hundreds of quick, easy, delicious recipe videos plus a whole load of skills, tips & tricks and cool food stuff from around the web.
Whether you want to get smarter at cooking, save some money, or just have a good laugh in the kitchen, we can definitely get you SORTED.
To celebrate National Chocolate week here in the UK we have put together 3 of our favourite chocolate recipes and created one simple shopping list so you can grab the ingredients and give them all a go!
Whether you do them all back to back for an intense chocolate frenzy with your mates or save them for a special occasion we promise you that you'll love them all!
If these aren't enough for you, then why not check out all our chocolate treats
pack of butter
small tub of double cream
4 eggs
full fat milk (1 litre)
Dry ingredients
small bag of caster sugar
tub of cocoa powder
packet of cornflour
tin of pitted cherries
packet of flaked almonds
bag of jelly worm sweets
bag of pudding rice
bottle of vanilla essence
bar of dark chocolate (100g)
packet of double chocolate cookies
Check you also have
fresh sprigs of mint


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Next, you'll be asked to connect with Twitter. Rest assured, we will never send a tweet from your account
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Today is an awesome day because @JulietSimmsALL's brand new video for #WildChild has just been released! Watch! http://t.co/jbjkkiAZOo \m/
RT @CeeLoGreen: How do we look? @JulietSimmsALL #wildchild
.@Maroon5 debuts the new #LoveSomebody video tonight and performs it live on #TheVoice! See you tonight at 8!
RT @maroon5: Go to @nbc.com and watch the video premiere of #LoveSomebody on @NBCTheVoice #M5onTheVoice
Coach @AdamLevine and @Maroon5 open up the show performing #LoveSomebody! Watch the new video: #M5onTheVoice
See what's Trending Now for @NBCTheVoice
Follow @NBCTheVoice on Twitter


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Fish Hawk 36 - Pc. Crystal Hair Jig Kit
Item # WX2-222493
- Google+
- Details & Specs
36 - Pc. Fish Hawk Crystal Hair Jig Kit. Panfish, crappies and perch can't resist!
Made to dart through the water, tempting those tasty panfish. Minnow-shaped heads and double-painted eyes provide a realistic profile. Hand-tied hackles and accents team with premium Aberdeen hooks, adding to the al- lure . Colors: Blue / Yellow, Craw, Blue / White, Red / White, Pink / White, Lime / Chartreuse, Orange / Chartreuse, Chartreuse.
Land yours ONLINE today!
- Reviews
Customer ReviewsNo reviews exist for this item....
Don't Forget
Schrade® Uncle Henry 7 1/4" Fillet KnifeBuyer's Club $13.49 Non-Members $14.99
Rapala® 50-lb. Mini Digital ScaleBuyer's Club $15.29 Non-Members $16.99
Wicked Gear® Fisherman's Duffel BagBuyer's Club $17.99 Non-Members $19.99
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Southern Pro 351 - Pc. Trolling, Pulling & Drifting Panfish Lure KitBuyer's Club $31.49 Non-Members $34.99
44-Pc. Bass Bonanza KitBuyer's Club $19.79 Non-Members $21.99
Casting Spoon KitBuyer's Club $22.49 Non-Members $24.99


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Are you living paycheck to paycheck? Do you find it impossible to save any money for a rainy day? If you answered yes to either question, the dollar savings plan is for you. This plan isn't new, but its very simple and sure to help you save money here and there, and before you know it you will have saved more than you thought you could.
The prerequisite for the plan is that you actually make some purchases with cash; if you only use credit cards then you will not be able to implement the plan. All of your purchases do not have to be made in cash, but the more purchases you make in cash, the more effective the plan will be.
The Dollar Savings Plan Details
Start by opening your wallet and taking out all of your $1 bills, leaving all $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills in your wallet. Put the $1 bills in away in a safe place.
During each day, whenever you make a cash purchase and receive change put away any $1 bills you recieve. For example, if you purchase a $1.50 cup of coffee with a $5 bill you will receive $3.50 back in change. Put the 3 $1 bills away and do not spend them, and keep the $.50 in your pocket.
At the end of every day, put away all of the $1 bills you have accumulated during the day. The Dollar Savings Plan is simple, and the key is never letting yourself spend $1 bills. If your excuse is that you cannot afford to put away $3 after buying a cup of coffee, then maybe you should not be purchasing the coffee in the first place.
At the end of the month count all of the $1 bills you have accumulated to see how much you've saved!


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Deep disappointment followed BP's failure of its "top kill" to seal the Gulf of Mexico gusher as the realization sunk in Saturday that the worst marine spill in U.S. history could continue at least until August.
"I guess I'd have to say my heart broke," U.S. Congressman Charlie Melancon told CNN on the 40th day of the disaster. "My biggest fear is an environmental catastrophe." U.S. Senator David Witter called the news "maddening." Acting on orders from Coast Guard Rear Admiral Mary Landry, BP abandoned its three-day attempt to force engineered mud and junk down into the ruptured well in the hopes of stopping the incessant flow of black crude oil and bubbly gas.
Top kill failed "to overcome the pressure of the well," said BP's chief operating officer Doug Suttles. "We made numerous attempts." In its next effort, BP engineers will direct their tiny fleet of underwater robots to cut off the leaking riser pipe that leads out of the damaged well head and create an even surface.
On top of that, it will place yet another in a series of dome arrangements which haven't yet worked - this time a much smaller one.
The hope is that it will capture more of the crude oil and gas and siphon it up to the tanks in a drill rig on the surface.
This newest in a series of failed efforts has been given a complicated name, "lower marine riser package," (LMRP). Within four to seven days, BP hopes to have it running and expects it will collect more oil than is now being collected through a siphon at the end of the riser pipe.
"It's not a tight mechanical seal, but it should be able to capture most of the oil," Suttles said of the LMRP.
Seeking to show his command of a situation rife with political risk, U.S. President Barack Obama indicated the decision to abandon top kill had been made after consultations with his cabinet secretaries involved in the unfolding disaster.
He said he had been "mindful" that there was a "significant chance" that top kill would not work, but warned that the next step, the LMRP, is "not without risk and has never been attempted before at this depth." "That is why it was not activated until other methods had been exhausted," he said in a statement. "It is as enraging as it is heartbreaking, and we will not relent until this leak is contained." Local government and industry officials on the Gulf Coast are increasingly alarmed as they watch oil slather more than 160 km of the Louisiana coastline and invade 12 hectares of fragile marshlands.
They want more help from Obama and the federal government to dredge up sand barriers and put in place floating booms, since BP, which by law is responsible for the cleanup, is distracted by trying to stop the well flow.
Even Obama's daughter, Malia, 11, has asked insistently, "Did you plug the hole yet, Daddy?" the president has said.
With the failure of topkill and uncertainty about LMRP, the focus turned to the only permanent solution to shutting down the well — the drilling of a parallel relief well. BP began the well in the days after the April 20 drill rig explosion that ripped open the leak.
Suttles said BP was "ahead of plan" and had already drilled 4 kilometres of the 6 kilometre distance from the surface, but still kept "early August" as the earliest date the well will be finished.
The relief well would be used to force cement into the oil reservoir and close off the ruptured well.
"We're all on a roller coaster ride," Landry told reporters in a telephone briefing. "Obviously, we are very disappointed in today's announcement." US officials have increased the estimate of crude leakage from 5,000 barrels a day to up to 20,000 barrels, making the well rupture the most disastrous US marine oil disaster, worse than the 1989 Exxon Valdez off Alaska.
Hundreds of pelicans and other sea birds are coated in oil amidst the crucial nesting season. Fragile marsh areas, nursery to much of the Gulf's marine and waterfowl life, are dying. And 25 per cent of the Gulf's fishable waters has been shut down to fishers due to the pollution.
The well ruptured after the April explosion that sank the Deepwater Horizon drill rig and killed 11 workers.
Keywords: top kil, oil spill, British Petroleum


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The Van Doos - Black It Out
Tags: The Van Doos Black It Out New!
I'm Ro and this blog is about music that I love. And whatever I feel like posting about. Feel free to message me any time. Also please follow me if you like my stuff :)
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Jewish Aleppo, Lost Forever
The Syrian diaspora in Israel watches its once-vibrant ancestral home fall to ruin in the country's civil war
In 1947-48, after the United Nations voted to implement a two-state solution in Palestine, anti-Jewish riots broke out in Aleppo. False rumors spread that the codex had been destroyed in an attack. From this point until the late 1980s, the community dismantled itself, and the Aleppine Jewish diaspora began to take shape—mainly in Israel, Brooklyn, and South America. "We used to summer in Lebanon near Beirut," Assis told me. "One summer my parents rented a large bus with other Jews from Aleppo, and only after we crossed into Lebanon did they inform us that we would never return to Aleppo."
They were not alone. Some Jews do remain in Muslim countries, from Morocco to Iran. Their numbers, however, are too small to legitimatize the notion that outside of Israel there are still vibrant Jewish communities in the Middle East.
What, then, is the best way to remember Jewish life under Muslim rule in the Middle East? It's a question that has floated through the halls of Jewish academia for at least 30 years, alternately provoking idealized versions of peaceful life in the Arab world and dramatic tales of persecution. Especially among those dedicated to European Jewish history, which still struggles to understand the tragedy that befell European Jewry in the 20th century, there is a tendency to view life under Muslim rule as exceedingly peaceful, marked by co-existence and even mutual respect. Outside of academia, the question tends to adopt political contours, with people seeking to place blame either on the Zionist movement or the Arab populations that expelled their ancient Jewish communities after the creation of the state of Israel.
Whichever side one falls on politically, it is clear that, for Jews, Aleppo was lost in 1948. The recent destruction of the city's ancient monuments is merely a reminder of what had already been lost. While the Aleppine community in Israel is not nearly as numerous or powerful as their brethren in Brooklyn—the largest Aleppine Jewish community in the world, covered widely for their financial success and excess—their proximity to Syria and relationship with Jews from other Arab countries give the events in their lost city a more immediate feel.
Like for the Aleppine community in Brooklyn, the idea of Aleppo lives on in schools and synagogues in the exile community in Israel. During our conversation, Assis relayed stories of his adolescence moving around the Middle East. "When I arrived in Beirut and Istanbul, I found myself far more learned than any other kid my age," he said. "We had a very strong Jewish education, we used to read the Bible and translate it on the spot to the astonishment of our teachers."
Aleppine synagogues, especially in Israel, have tried hard to protect the unique aspects of their religious observance. On winter Shabbat mornings, tucked deep in the serene streets of Jerusalem's Nahlot neighborhood, Syrian Jews sing Bakashot, Kabbalistic poetry originating in Spain. The Great Synagogue of the Aleppo Jewish community in Jerusalem, established in 1901, maintains these and other traditions, such as liturgical singing heavily influenced by Arabic, known as the Sephardi Hazanut.
For people like Assis, maintaining this tradition in the face of the winds of history is nothing short of an obligation. "The Jewish world under Islam has vanished," he said. "You can mourn the whole Jewish world under Islam, there is nothing left. What happens to the cemeteries, to the synagogues, to the books, to everything? Well, God knows."
Like this article? Sign up for our Daily Digest to get Tablet Magazine's new content in your inbox each morning.
Correction, August 29: Due to reporting and editing errors, a number of inaccuracies appeared in the original version of this text, which has been updated. The Aleppo Codex was compiled in Tiberias, not near it, in the 10th, not the 6th, century. The Codex was not smuggled out of Cairo, nor was it ever in Europe. It is now at the Israel Museum, not the Ben Zvi Institute.
My Grandfather's Love Songs
A visit with Georges Moustaki, whose ballads are an epitaph for the French-speaking Jews of the Middle East


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Just saw another this evening, in Liscard Road, Wallasey WHO'5 OLD Yes they'd added the apostrophe as well.
Been almost a year since anyone added to this. Got two plates to revive the thread:
BR11GES for Bridges Van Hire near Nottingham
BM04KEY on a Mini belonging to the Blue Monkey Brewery also near Nottingham.
I've also seen a white 3-Series with something like MC05FLY. I don't think it's one of the band though...
I've seen X PUSSY (XPU 55Y) and some years ago just outside Reading K8 ADE and no it wasn't her.
I'm a but of a number freak.
M1XUP had this on different cars from 2000 to 2010 Lotus Esprit, Porsche GT3, Aston DB7 Vantage, Bentley GT.
D3TOX from 2001 to 2011 Merc Coupe, Maserati Grantourismo, Bentley GTC.
17 KEV from 1999 to 2002 Merc SL.
KBD 60 from 1998 to 2000 Merc SL
T3RRE on retention SL, CLK Cab, SL
F3ULS on car
GR04CHO on retention
FL04TUP on retention
Not particularly a funny one but, when we bought a BMW (10 year old!) I toyed with the idea of getting my wife Carol a personalised plate for her birthday. Looked on interwebnet thingy & there was C4ROL at a giveaway price of £126,000. I bought her a box of Quality Street.Last Modified By RogBrown at 2 Jun 2013 - 12:20 PM
Taken in Malta, clearly you can have any combination of letters and numbers you like!
Came across an Audi sports car yesterday in Aberfoyle AUD 1C
Also I am reminded of a Renault Clio Sport V6 I once saw. V6 O YES
Many years ago, I used to sell VW and Audi at a main dealers.
One day I took a customer for a test drive in an Audi, with the plate AUD1 and was pulled by a traffic cop who thought it was just a showroom plate.
He eventually checked and found it was a genuine registration, but it was somewhat embarrassing, with a potential customer present (But he did buy)!
OMG! That reminds me of an embarrassing time back in the 70's.
Whenever I covered a wedding, one of my regular shots was of the couple standing in front of their Rolls Royce. I had had a special number plate made up WE R 1 which I tacked on just for the picture. One day, after I had done this to a Roller parked in the road outside the church, a motorcycle cop with good eyesight spotted it. He turned back and pulled the driver up about it. And although it was obvious that it was just set up for a picture. The idiot, unsympathetic cop still made the chauffeur produce his documents at his local police station. Needless to say. He was none too pleased with me.
Also, once saw my dream plate on a car, advertised by a dealer in my local newspaper. MD 1 (my initials). It was on a s/h Mercedes going for £18,000. I actually saw the plate on several occasions subsequently. But on a Jaguar XJ 6!
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|Total (w/tax)
|Total (w/tax)
Book Description:
The ancient purpose of the funerary papyrus known as Book of the Dead of Ani was to guide the Egyptian soul to the afterlife, and the iconic text of the ancient culture is presented here for the first time as a single volume. The original is 78 feet in total length and 3,500 years old; this presentation contains the original facsimile edition from 1890. The hieroglyphic text and vignettes are juxtaposed with the English translation of each chapter on the same page that the Egyptian text occurs. The power, wisdom, and spiritual vision offered in its pages goes back to the spiritual and cultural roots of humanity. This beautiful artifact will be a prized possession for those interested in the world of ancient Egypt—and in the beginnings of civilization itself.
Tags: History, Americas, Native-American,


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Welby - Local Information, Resources & Photos
Welby - Searchable Map, Aerial Photos & Driving Directions
Welby is a community or populated place (Class Code U5) located in Adams County at latitude 39.8367 and longitude -104.9591. (Welby Panoramio Photos). The elevation is 5,134 feet. Welby appears on the Commerce City U.S. Geological Survey Map. Adams County is in the Mountain time zone (GMT -7). Observes DST? Yes. Current Time. | Welby, CO ZIP Code Maps | Welby local area photos
Photos of the Welby Local Area
Welby had a population of 0; a land area of 3.69 sq. miles; a water area of 0.1 sq. miles; and a population density of 0.00 people per sq. mile according to the US Census Bureaue estimate of July 1, 2009. Latest Census Estimates for all incorporated places in Colorado.
Adams County: Cities & Towns | ZIP Codes | Schools | Features (airports, churches, hospitals, etc.)
Welby Local Resources
Welby Arts & Culture
Welby Community Organizations
Welby Data & Demographics
Welby Entertainment - Movies
Welby Environment & Science
Welby Government
Welby Health & Medical
Welby Newcomer Information
Welby Newspapers, Radio & TV
Welby and Greater Colorado Parks & Recreation
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Welby Schools & Education
Welby Social Services
Welby Travel & Tourism


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"Thanks. Just made that one for myself.
Might revisit that project soon. A lot of folks make leather watch straps that are bulky and shitty.
When I release the strap for purchase, I hope for it to be special (and perfect)."
Hope you do - spot on with most straps being bulky and crap.