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The most recent Legend of Korra episodes completely blew me away, because I wasn't expecting the complete story to the creation of the Avatar. Most fantasy stories never go that far back in time to tell you how stuff began, so it's really cool how the writers chose to do that. Basically, Avatar Wan starts out as an ordinary peasant who steals food from rich people in order to feed himself and his friends. In his time, all cities were built upon the backs of giant Lion Turtles, who kept the humans safe from spirits (and Lion Turtles were a feature in Aang's storyline too, so it isn't a new thing the writers pulled out of their asses to explain something in the past, which I think is super creative of them). I didn't exactly catch why, but the episode may have mentioned why spirits were living on Earth in the first place (since they have their own separate world). But in any case humans and spirits were distrustful of one another and as a result humans could only survive on the backs of lion turtles (how whimsical).
Whenever humans needed to exit the city to hunt and gather food, their lion turtle would grant them the power of an element. It seems like every lion turtle is a master of a particular element, so that the humans living on that particular lion turtle would be granted that particular power. In Wan's case, his turtle could grant them the power of fire. Once the people returned to the city, however, they had to give their power back to the lion turtle. Wan hatches a plan to pretend to go hunting in order to get the power of fire from the lion turtle, but instead uses it to ambush the rich douchebags and steal their food. In doing so he is caught and banished from the city forever, but the lion turtle allows him to keep his power so that he might stand a chance of surviving in the forest (where the wild spirits are).
At this point I find it strange that humans didn't try to "steal" the power of the elements more often. But I suppose one could argue that, since all cities were on the backs of lion turtles, and since each city thought they were the only human-populated place in the world (Wan is the first human to learn from the spirits that other lion turtles exist), there was no desire of one human population to "conquer" the other, and so people didn't really have a need for extra power. And also if you stole the power from the lion turtle, it might just throw you off its back and force you to survive on your own, which would be a bad thing.
So anyway, Wan goes of into the wilderness and has several near-death experiences before he finally wins the affection of the spirits by saving a cat-deer caught in a man-made booby trap. His selflessness and respect for nature causes him to befriend several spirits, and with their help he becomes a master of fire bending. Once he becomes strong enough, he takes off on the back of the cat-deer he saved (so the very first Avatar also had an animal companion!!!) to find other lion-turtles.
After a long journey, Wan and his cat-deer finally encounter some more humans—humans who have the power of air!! However, at the same time he also encounters two large spirits fighting with one another, and is tricked into freeing this red-black colored spirit from the white-blue one. The red-black spirit is called Vaatu and the white-blue one Raava. Raava is the spirit of light/good and Vaatu is the spirit of darkness/evil, and in freeing Vaatu Wan essentially unleashed chaos unto the world. Initially Raava is a real bitch about it and mistrusts Wan, but soon it becomes obvious that the only way to defeat Vaatu is for Wan and Raava to join forces. Raava helps Wan travel to other lion turtles and master all four elements, and soon the time comes for the two to battle Vaatu.
The battle takes place at the portals to the spirit world, and there's this thing called "Harmonic Convergence" that happens every 10,000 years when the planets align in just the right way that the portals (there are two) conjoin. Not really sure what any of that means, but Wan is able to use the power from the portals (he sticks his hand into the portal and magically gains power) to defeat Vaatu. More specifically, Raava entered Wan's body so that they could combine their powers. However, spirits normally can't possess a human's body for long because it would kill them. Somehow by sticking his hand in the portal, Wan permanently bound Raava's spirit to himself, and they both gained in strength, allowing him to defeat Vaatu. The act of binding the spirit of light to himself is essentially the moment when the "Avatar" is created.
After defeating the evil spirit, Wan locks Vaatu permanently away in the spirit world, and also returns the rest of the spirit world back to their home as well. He alone becomes the bridge between the spirit and the human world. The lion turtles, sensing that the world has come to a change, decide to stop giving humans the power of the elements since they wouldn't be threatened by the presence of spirits anymore.
Then we see that several decades later, Wan is an old man and dying, and his last words are an apology to Raava for being unable to defeat all the darkness in the world (he is literally dying wounded on a battlefield). Raava tells him not to worry, for they will be "together for all [his] lifetimes", and that they "will never give up". How romantic, right?!?!
So I guess now that the spirit of light is bounded to a human, it can only continue to exist within a human, which leads to the reincarnation cycle of the Avatar. Of course this logic is a little shady, because there's no reason that Raava can't just "exit" Wan's body once he's dead and live once more as an independent entity. But whatever.
I am really satisfied with this little odyssey on the origins of the first ever avatar. It is filled with fantasy and whim and humor and epic adventures, and it really made a lot of sense too. The "Avatar" is the combined entity of spirit and man, and it did not magically exist from the beginning of time, it CAME into existence through the cooperation between a single spirit and a single human who had to work together for a common goal. That's a really nice and inspiring tale that really justifies the existence of the avatar.
It is also very interesting that all "modern day" benders initially derived their powers from lion-turtles (I wonder how lion turtles learned to bend?). I guess when the lion turtles stopped giving humans powers, the humans who retained their powers could pass it onto their offspring (another shady piece of logic), thus continuing the population of benders.
I read this very interesting theory online of what will now happen in the remainder of the Legend of Korra. The person hypothesizes that Unalaq, who we know from two episodes ago has entered the spirit world since Korra opened the portal for him, had come across an imprisoned Vaatu and might be trying to help him, so that perhaps there will be the creation of a "dark avatar". Since the current avatar is essentially the reincarnation of Raava's spirit, the combination of Unalaq and Vaatu's spirit might create a dark avatar.
I honestly think that's a terrible idea. First of all it's cliche. Second, it's almost too "intense" for me, because the avatar is already preoccupied trying to get humans to get their act together that I can't imagine the avatar ALSO trying to fend off an evil version of him/herself. What I hope will happen is that Korra manages to lock up the portal before Unalaq wreaks anymore havoc, and that that will be the conclusion to Book 2 of the Legend of Korra. Book 2 is titled "spirits", which implies that book 3 will have less of an emphasis on this spirit stuff. So I'm really just hoping for a clean ending to this spirit mess. I'd really rather not see this spirit stuff leading into the bigger mess of the creation of an evil avatar, because honestly the idea of a character foil of pure evil is a little cliched to me. I hate this idea of this "permanent" evil, because then the storyline becomes too predictable. No matter what the good avatar does, the bad avatar will always be the invincible opponent that the good avatar can only temporarily defeat. Once the good avatar foils the evil avatar's plans, 5 episodes later the evil avatar will wreak more havoc and there will be another confrontation. It's like how in Pokemon Team Rocket shows up to do something annoying in every episode and you're like, "oh great it's this scene again". I really don't want the Legend of Korra to go down this road…
So anyway, Avatar Wan is really cool, and I hope that future episodes will talk about Lion Turtles more because they're really cool too. (Also I hope that eventually the writers will explain how bison learned to fly/bend air themselves…? Did they also get the power from lion turtles?).
I'm really impressed by Obama's unexpected and personal remarks to the White House about his thoughts on the Zimmerman verdict. This case is clearly one that's touched him very personally, and it was so nice to see him honestly express a little bit of the anger that he feels. Presidents are always too busy talking about economics or foreign policy, etc, etc, that it's completely rare for them to bring out a personal side.
Maybe the death of a black teenager isn't as big a deal as the war in the middle east, but on a personal, human level this is a case that resonates with Obama, and whereas other politicians might ignore it and focus on the "more important President-of-America-duties", Obama decided he would say something. It's so nice to see that politicians remember to be human sometimes! Though compared to Hillary Clinton and John McCain, Obama always seemed to have a more human side in a politician's world. That's why I liked him more than the others, anyway.
But I just wanted to say that this statement from Obama's speech applies to my own life right now:
"There are very few African-American men in this country who haven't had the experience of being followed when they were shopping in a department store. That includes me.
And there are very few African-American men who haven't had the experience of walking across the street and hearing the locks click on the doors of cars. That happens to me, at least before I was a senator. There are very few African-Americans who haven't had the experience of getting on an elevator and a woman clutching her purse nervously and holding her breath until she had a chance to get off. That happens often."
According to the 2012 Census Bureau, Philly is 44.3% Black, so living in Philly is an entirely different feeling from living in Cupertino. The community right outside University City is a lot poorer, and I've met a number of suspicious looking people on the streets (of all different races). But if there's one thing I've refused to do, it's being, and in particularly, showing that I'm afraid.
Why should I be afraid of these people just because they walk and act a certain way that's different from what I'm used to? We come from completely different worlds. Maybe they have "bad" habits, but that doesn't have to mean they're bad people. Both my parents have commented that I need to be careful when taking the Septa because there are so many sketchy looking people on it. But I've NEVER felt threatened. If you don't bother anyone, there's no reason to assume that they'd bother you. The extend of people "bothering" me is begging for money, but they beg everyone around them for money and are honestly not at all rude if you refuse to offer.
Sometimes when it's late at night and I'm walking alone in the dark and someone is approaching me from the opposite direction on the sidewalk, of course I feel more alert. And the way the person is dressed and the way he/she looks is directly proportional to how anxious I feel. But these are feelings I keep to myself, because I know that every person has a natural inclination toward self-preservation, and I know that my feelings aren't a rational basis upon which to actually judge others.
In fact, just recently when my dad was visiting for a weekend, the two of us were sitting downtown across the street from City Hall cuz it was nice outside and my dad wanted to observe the city for a while. One Hispanic guy approached me, and about 10 minutes later another one came up to me as well, and both were just asking about whether or not I knew the bus was coming (I don't know anything about Philly buses unfortunately). But my dad asked me later what they wanted, obviously insinuating that they had asked me something more inappropriate, but they weren't! What if they were two Chinese men?? Or white men? He would have thought differently then. And how embarrassing would it have been if I'd clutched my cell-phone more tightly or reacted nervously when they approached me? Of course I felt slightly suspicious since it was very dark out, but I literally forced myself from reacting since I knew it could be so hurtful if I allowed my irrational instincts to guide my behavior.
In other words, I would never actually associate a suspicious looking person with a criminal before they've even done anything to prove they're a criminal. I wouldn't point to my friend and talk about how criminal-like that suspicious person in the distance is. I wouldn't think anything except that it's dark outside and naturally I feel afraid. But some people don't realize that, and instead they let their feelings control their thoughts and skew their logic so that they start to assign concrete adjectives to an entire community of people who don't deserve them.
Obama also said: "Now, this isn't to say that the African-American community is naïve about the fact that African-American young men are disproportionately involved in the criminal justice system, that they are disproportionately both victims and perpetrators of violence. "
That's a very insightful statement. It's true that black communities are common locations of violence, but maybe that's because in a way those communities aren't expected by the rest of American society to "succeed" in the way that other communities do.
More Obama statements: "And for us to be able to gather together business leaders and local elected officials and clergy and celebrities and athletes and figure out how are we doing a better job helping young African-American men feel that they're a full part of this society and that — and that they've got pathways and avenues to succeed — you know, I think that would be a pretty good outcome from what was obviously a tragic situation."
I think that's my favorite statement of his, because I think it's true that black communities still seem to be somehow disconnected from the rest of the country. I think self-perception tends to lead to a self-fulfilling prophesy, and I think it's true that this country is continuing to send subtle signs to black communities that they don't belong in the forefront. Whether it be deep-rooted historical prejudices or rash associations of certain adjectives with the black community, there are still so many problems, and both sides are to blame.
I'm very upset with the verdict, because even if Zimmerman were at one point "in danger", he voluntarily placed himself in that situation by stalking a teenager in the night with a gun. I seriously think that if the situation were reversed, Martin would have been found guilty in a heartbeat. It's hard to think that the reality would be otherwise. And like Obama said, " if the answer to that question is at least ambiguous, it seems to me that we might want to examine those kinds of laws".
My Letter:
"Dear Dr. Strang,
I am a soon-to-be junior student majoring in physics at the University of Pennsylvania, and I just wanted to write you a thank-you note for your brilliant 18.06 linear algebra lectures! A physics professor here recommended that I watch them to gear up for quantum mechanics next semester, and I'm so glad I took his advice. Through my experiences in previous physics and math classes, I've come across nearly all the concepts you mentioned in the lectures, but no one ever explained these basic concepts in such a clear, intuitive way. Previously linear algebra was just this tool I sort of understood, but your lectures revealed their true value and brought all the fragmented pieces of knowledge in my head together into a single picture.
I am also deeply touched by the "humility" with which you presented the subject. I had a professor similar to you the second semester of my freshman year when I took calculus honors, which was my first "theoretical" math experience. I thought the class would be so difficult, but the professor didn't care for jargon or linger in abstract proofs—to him math is an intuitive subject and ought to be presented that way.
Unfortunately the next semester when I took abstract algebra, I had a professor who didn't care that he was obfuscating students by mumbling through proof after proof. Proofs are obviously important because they give math the solid framework that its known for, but proofs usually only make sense in hindsight after you have a better appreciation for the motivation behind a certain definition/concept. I actually find that a lot of math professors are like this, that math is so wonderful and logical and "easy" (at least they make it appear so) for them that they sort of stick up their noses and wonder why their students aren't hungry and crazy for proofs.
Hence I am truly appreciative that you don't approach math education that way. I think the way you present math brings justice to the field because it actually reveals what makes math an elegant subject, as opposed to people like my algebra professor who make it seem alien and confusing.
This was a rather long thank-you note, but I wanted you to know that students like me are really benefitting from what you've done!
And his gracious response:
"Thank you for such a nice message ! And well written.
I am happy that you found the lectures and you liked them.
Yes, some professors can't get rigor out of the way of ideas.
If you stick to ideas you will do well Best wishes in all your work
Gilbert Strang"
I am very thankful for his response!
Since I've been fangirling like I've never fangirled before, I deem it sufficiently necessary to dedicate an entire blog entry to why I stand so firmly behind Michelle, and I hope that people can read it and start familiarizing themselves with her music, and more importantly, vote for her to win on Monday night! (Link here: http://www.nbc.com/the-voice/vote/)
The Voice season 4 has literally taken over my life for the past week ever since I started listening to and watching Michelle Chamuel's performances on youtube. Then I started to listen to the music her band plays and fell in love with their electronic pop style. Then I started watching her performances on repeat (can't figure out a physics problem? Is history reading boring me lately? Am I just bored in general? Time to watch Michelle Chamuel! How I managed to get anything done the past week remains a mystery to me). In other words, my appreciation for her has been on a "permanent crescendo" (to borrow the praise Shakira gave Michelle after her performance of Cydni Lauper's Time After Time) this past week.
To most people the title of the show is called "The Voice" because it's meant to discover people with, well, amazing voices. So naturally the contestants have incredible, powerful, belchy, window-shattering vocal abilities. But amongst all the rather equally-matched talents, Michelle stands out because she has more than a beautiful voice, for she has the infectious spirit of someone who has had to fight to find the strength of her own voice.
She's definitely geeky, a bit awkward, and extremely different in how she carries herself. Not to mention that she's lesbian which automatically marks her as different in this prejudiced society (ashamed to remember Prop 8, California?) But she doesn't dwell on these issues either (she's never talked about her sexuality on the show, people just know because we stalk the internet and discover interviews from 2010…). She doesn't have a mission to prove anything to anyone—all of her quirks are just part of who she is and it inevitably comes across in her performances.
In a recent interview she was asked how she managed to voice her opinions to someone with as much clout as Usher (who is her coach on the show), and she said that it came from years of not being able to express herself to her bandmates and consequently having to sing in styles she didn't want. She also took several years to get over stage fright, previously confining her singing to private spaces. And she's known serious setbacks too, having tried out and failed TWICE to make it on the Voice before season 4.
During the show's elimination episodes, the host Carson Daly asks some of the singers questions before announcing the next singers to be saved (the contestants who get to advance are announced little by little throughout the duration of the episode). In one episode he asks Michelle "In the past you've said that you never quite fit in. But you've made it this far in this competition. What does that mean to you?"
Michelle responds, "Well I guess I realize that maybe fitting in wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, but more so that people would be able to accept me and love me for who I was."
And that genuine desire to be herself and to connect what's real inside her with what's real inside others shines through in every performance she gives. All that fist pumping and squatting and facial expressions might look awkward and overly theatrical on others, but with Michelle it's all natural. Every bit of it is a manifestation of her infusing every piece of herself into what she's singing. Music helps her express herself, it's her means of connection to the rest of the world, it REALLY means something to her, and consequently I feel all of that too.
When she sings Raise Your Glass I feel happy and want to jump up and down and act foolish. When she sings Somewhere Only We Know I feel nostalgic for something precious that's been lost. When she sings Grenade (a song I never really liked) I feel the hurt of betrayal. When she sings Taylor Swift's I Knew You Were Trouble, firstly I am utterly impressed by the rock spin she puts on a rather generic pop-song, and secondly I feel anger toward whoever has been giving me trouble. When she sings Just Give Me A Reason I feel the longing to mend a broken relationship. And when she sings True Colors (my favorite of hers) I feel empowered by who I am despite all the times I doubted the quality and worth of my own voice.
People like her make people like me feel like I matter. What can be more powerful and deeply moving than that?
Most of my life I've never had the courage to pursue anything that required people to pay attention to me. I studied hard in school partly because it was the right thing to do, and partly because it was the only thing I felt I could do. All the thinking required in homework is done in the privacy of my own mind, no one else has to hear about it. The grading of my homework and exams are done in the privacy of the teacher's mind, I don't have to know about it except for the score I get. Academics is a sense of personal fulfillment, of self-motivated endurance, and the one thing I knew I could be good at.
It isn't that I don't like academics, the reality is very much to the contrary. But I'm always struck by how hard it is for me to do anything else. The annual piano exams and recitals were literally heart attacks for me; I can't even remember how many times I've cried over a performance that could have gone better if I hadn't been so damn nervous. I hated sports because that meant inheriting the pressure called teamwork, in which I might screw up and let everyone down. The very idea of drama/theater never crossed my mind; it's like I was born knowing such a thing was an impossibility for me.
English class was always the most painful because I hated having to speak up. I still remember the two D's in participation I got in McMillion's lit honors since we were graded literally on how many times we raised our hands during discussion. It wasn't that I hadn't read the material or that I didn't have thoughts, but it was just so hard to compete with people whose hands were always the first to be raised. It also didn't help that all the outspoken (i.e. "popular") kids took lit honors and lit AP, and they aren't the kind of people who would help me feel comfortable in my own shoes. Physics AP was the opposite of that—everyone was nerdy and quietly did their problem sets and we weren't required to participate or anything like that. Looking back on high school, auditioning for wind ensemble was probably the bravest thing I did throughout all four years.
But it isn't that I don't have anything to say or that I don't love a good fight. I think my problem is actually the contrary—that I have too many opinions and too much to say and that I should try holding myself in more. In private I'm not a shy person at all, but in larger settings I come off as diffident and quiet. Meanwhile everyone is having a blast getting to know each other and cracking jokes and enjoying the company of friends as well as strangers, and I'm just sitting there second guessing everything I say and I end up feeling powerless and overwhelmed.
Maybe that's why I even joined a sorority my 2nd semester freshman year, to prove that I could be different. Well it didn't work out because I quit the following semester since the commitment to a group like that was more stressful than it was fun, and I preferred sticking to the environment I knew.
But I don't blame myself for that, because I think I may have pushed myself too hard. I draw energy from smaller, quieter spaces and I've learned to appreciate myself for that. But the inability to effectively communicate stings me constantly in life, and the fact that I've declared so many endeavors impossible before I ever tried them is something I'll always regret.
If a friend is making you feel miserable, you don't have to remain friends with that person. If a task is feeling impossible, you can always turn your attention to something else. If your car gets stolen, you can always buy another one. In other words, when something external is negatively impacting your life, you can always run away from it (even if that's not the most courageous thing to do). But what do you do when the greatest obstacle in life is yourself? How can you run away from what you are? Well the obvious answer is that you can't.
So to watch Michelle literally explode on the stage every week is such an incredible and refreshing experience for me. Here's someone whose greatest struggle in life is with herself, and who was able to overcome that to chase after her dreams in such a huge way. And through it all, she'll remain exactly the person she's always been.
Inevitably she's won my heart, because she represents people like me and the things we wish we could be. When America votes for her to advance, I feel like a little part of me has won too because I gain a bit of confidence that the world is willing to accept all kinds of voices and all kinds of people. So in my heart I forgive myself a little for all the times I couldn't stand up to the louder kids in my class or all the times I felt estranged from a group. Maybe I couldn't do it, but look, someone else is and people love her for it! That is, to me, the most amazing thing to watch happen on national television. It fills me with energy and optimism to see that authenticity is ultimately the quality that people value most, not looks or attention-seekers or anything like that.
The other singers are nothing compared to Michelle. The other contestants in the final 3 are both country singers, and one of them is a 16 year old girl from Texas with a big voice. She's talented, no doubt, but she has no emotion and sings the same simplistic country song week after week (her coach could do a better job, but it's like he's taking care of his young talent and doesn't want to push her too hard by asking her to sing—omg— a song that's not country). I simply feel nothing when she sings. People are just taken by the fact that she's young and innocent, but she strikes me as someone who barely had to struggle with anything and is there because she was born gifted and is merely going along with this ride that's been readily paved for her. Not to mention that she sounds LITERALLY like a mini-less experienced-Carrie-Underwood. The music industry does not need more of the same exact thing. Danielle right now has no individuality, so I really think she needs a few more years to develop some maturity so that she can figure out what music actually means to her, and then maybe she can sing more thoughtfully and insightfully.
As for the Swon Brothers, they're good at what they do (pleasing country fans), but are otherwise pretty forgettable.
So on Monday night at 10 PM, I hope with all my heart that America will take the time and vote for Michelle. Her winning means not only that people want to hear more of her voice, but also the voice of those she represents. People who have a hard time believing in their voice, people who constantly lose sight of their voice, people who don't even realize they have a voice. Like Usher said, Michelle is truly "medicine for the world", for her being on the show has indubitably given hope to everyone who has had difficulty reconciling themselves with the world they live in.
People might be sad or disappointed if Danielle/The Swon Bros don't win, but I think people's hearts will genuinely break if Michelle isn't crowned the winner (including mine…).
@Usher: This is your stage, this is your moment. Take charge. #4eyesontheprize
I'm starting to realize how ingrained I am at Penn after two years. I honestly don't even want to go home at all anymore, since after a couple days I'm guaranteed to be bored to tears. There are of course friends and family that I miss on the west coast, but the prospect of mingling with them in Cupertino is just not at all enticing. If they were to come to the east coast or if we were to collectively go somewhere away from home for vacation, then I would be really excited. But there is honestly nothing to do in Cupertino and the truth is that I don't miss it much anymore.
But even as for the people, I feel that the ones I've met at Penn are more important to me. I wonder if it's just because of the peculiar situation under which we've bonded (college away from home is so different from commuting to and from school every day)…it's not even that I feel "closer" to these people per se, it just seems that they've shaped my life more. Their impact on who I am is greater.
Collectively, all the students I've met have just become a part of my community and consequently a part of my life here. In college I've constructed a whole new life for myself, one disparate from that of Cupertino, and when you grow increasingly aware of your new surroundings, it slowly becomes an integral part of your routine. For example, it was flat out weird having my mom here during the weekend before reading days. As happy as I was to see her, her presence made it feel too much like Cupertino-world was encroaching upon Philadelphia-world. The two being completely distinct entities, their mixing gave me a feeling of unease. After the first day I got used to it and greatly appreciated my mom being around to cook for me and just be a moral support in what was the calm before a very, very big storm (the longest, most difficult finals week I have heretofore known).
But at the same time it makes you realize how permanent the disconnect between you and your old acquaintances are. They simply haven't been part of one of the most integral moments of your life. College forces people to challenge themselves, question themselves, ultimately change themselves. Concurrently your high school friends are busy doing their own changing half way around the country. How do you even tell each other about how much you both have changed? For these changes are subtle and impossible to measure in precise terminology. I mean, I'm just so much more knowledgable about so many more things now. In the past year I've gotten to know more peers and mentors who have all in some way impacted my life. How do you communicate these subtle differences about yourself to someone else who hasn't at all been a part of your experience?
That's why I find it so hard to leave Penn. I don't like leaving my new comfort zone and forcing myself back into a world that doesn't really suit me anymore. It's like forcing a shape into a puzzle that doesn't fit. It's not that I'm actually "so different", in fact I don't even notice how much I've grown until I go back home and realize how much I dislike being away from college. It's only when I leave Penn do I realize how much I've become ingrained here, how much my life has changed from what it was before.
I can't imagine not being at Penn. I can't imagine not knowing the people I've known, and when I say something melodramatic like that I'm definitely talking about the professors (whom I know I talk about over and over again…). Profesors are just such amazing people…they're possibly the only adults besides family who unselfishly take an interest in your wellbeing. I honestly feel that the professors I've met care for their students to succeed, and they truly cultivate curiosity in those with an honest desire to understand. I feel that the professors here sort of "take you under their wing".
My own dad is extremely smart and successful in everything he does, but he never really cared to share with me any of his knowledge. We lived under the same roof for 18 years but we never really had an honest conservation. Ours was a bland coexistence. I wish he told me about the things he did so that I could at least judge whether or not I was interested in them. I think his interests in life is something I could appreciate, and yet he never did anything to make me look up to him. It's a pity because I could have admired him very much if he let me.
At Penn I've met mentors more kind, more patient, more understanding, and more giving than my own dad. How amazing and deeply humbling has this experience been? If people like Mele, despite their raw intelligence and hard-earned success, are to be so kind, then normal people look really stupid having egos.
Amy Gutmann did manage to say one right thing at the closing lines of the Commencement ceremony this morning, and that was thanking the faculty for the difference they've made at Penn and the difference they've made in all the students' lives. Gutmann blabbed a lot in her earlier speech (the one at the beginning of Commencement) about the importance of service and using knowledge to give back to the community, but I didn't really appreciate that because she made it sound like service had to be some dramatic gesture where one embarks on a mission with the clear intent to better the life of someone else. Well, I don't think Dr. Mele or Dr. Lubensky or any other kind professor are chanting "service to the community" in their minds when it comes to every decision they make. They are merely scholars devoted to what they do and who want to encourage others to do the same. Their patience and generosity stem from a love of knowledge and a dedication to their art. And also they are just really kind people.
I just don't like grand gestures. Amy Gutmann's speech was all about grandeur and the beautiful ideal that is "service to the community". Honestly, the professors I've met meet that ideal and more without giving a conscious shit about it, and that's how it should be done, because that's what it means to be genuinely compassionate.
I just find Gutmann superficial and fake. Whatever. Don't care about her or the 7 figure salary she earns.
Anyway, I totally derailed from the main point by the end of this entry, but now I'm too tired to salvage a suitable ending. Off to bed now…I have to wake up for the 9 am Vagelos meeting tomorrow….too early….
This post has been featured on a 1000notes.com blog.
(Source: teen-titanz)
Obama's one-liners during his speech at the White House Correspondents Dinner.
(Source: humorstop)
I originally was indifferent toward going to this dinner because I hadn't gotten very much sleep this week and wanted to take a nap instead of attending, but it was actually more fun than it was last year! First of all it was a nice room in Houston Hall, and second of all I just thought all the professors were so nice to mingle with us. Well actually there was only one professor seated at our table, but lots of other professors were going around talking to the various students at the various tables, and I thought they were all so nice for doing that. Everyone looked like actually wanted to be here. Haha.
Also Roy and Diana Vagelos are such sweet old people!!!!! Though my friend pointed out that they're rich, so I guess they have no justifiable reason to be cynical. And both of them have been in the public's eye enough to be good at doing this mingling type thing, but it sounded like they genuinely cared about our futures. They are spending millions funding this program after all.
The Vagelos couple and Ponzy and Saven (program directors) were all very open to taking pictures with groups of students afterward as well. I can't believe how nice all these people are, and I'm so glad to be a young person in a position to absorb their wisdom. Actually I was amused to see Saven talking to a bunch of freshmen girls, because he's kind of socially awkward.
Anyway, Dr. Vagelos remarked at our table how a single professor could really impact your life, and when he said that I thought of Mele. Of all the people I've met at Penn, I certainly look up to him the most. First, he's one of the most accomplished scientists at Penn, but more importantly, he takes every part of his job seriously. Dr. Rappe (the professor initially sitting at our table) said he was surprised that Mele rewrites notes to every lecture despite having taught E&M for 5 consecutive years, as Dr. Rappe himself reuses his own notes ("I'm not ashamed to admit that", Rappe said). You can definitely tell that Mele's carefully written every lecture to be rigorous and meaningful, and the way he talks about things differs a lot from how the textbook talks about things, so his lectures are original and crafted from the way he himself understands this material.
His problem sets and exams are also impeccably written, too! He does assign the bulk of the problems from the textbook, but every problem set has a few challenge problems that he carefully chose or wrote himself. I feel like those problems practically define this class, because that's where you get to struggle some more to really understand something.
But THE BEST PART is how productive it is to discuss homework problems with Mele. Whereas discussing problems with other professors can be kind of a pain due to their lack of ability to effectively explain or pinpoint the root of your confusion, a few exchange of words with Mele can easily disentangle the mess in your brain. Talking with him is just always so much fun! He also has a surprisingly whimsical sense of humor, which you don't initially expect from someone who is incredibly serious.
The most amazing thing is that Mele doesn't do all of this for the students per se, he really does it for himself. He's the kind of rigorous person who takes great responsibility in everything he does, so I don't think he could forgive himself for half-assing any kind of job. And of course he loves the physics too. I really admire him for that kind of work ethic, and consequently as a student I have absolute faith in everything that he does.
I can't wait for the end of my college career when graduation comes so that I can shake his hand and thank him for being the best role model any student could be lucky enough to meet at the most impressionable period of his/her life. I'd like to tell him just how much he means to me.
So yeah, today's dinner just made me so thankful for being at Penn. I am getting a great education, but it would mean so much less without the people I've met in it. Generous role models are so important to have, because without them the pursuit of knowledge would be such a lonely endeavor. With them, it feels like a cooperative thing. Knowledge is, after all, something that is meant to be shared. When Mele takes time out of his research to spend half an hour talking about physics with his students, I honestly feel that it's the common journey of discovery that brings all of us together, no matter our differences in age or race or experience. I remember Freeman Dyson saying that in some diplomatic conference he attended, all the scientists were productively chatting and exchanging knowledge while all the politicians avoided each other suspiciously and got hardly anything done. There really is something to be said of people who spend their lives pursuing answers to questions unrelated to the often superficial struggles of humanity.
From the bottom of my heart I really want to think all the people (not just Mele) who have honestly changed my life and worldview. Penn has become as important as Cupertino is to me, although I may have only been here for two years.
But I'm sad I'll never get to know Dr. Vagelos beyond just a few exchanges every year for just four years. He'll probably die soon anyway, though he very spry for his age. I hope he continues on that way!


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Crunchy Berry Parfaits
For a nutritious day-starter, an afternoon snack or even dessert, Joy Cochran of Roy, Washington prepares these delightful parfaits with a variety of cut-up fruits.
2 Servings
Prep/Total Time: 15 min.
1/3 cup reduced-fat granola
3/4 cup (6 ounces) vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup fresh raspberries
1/2 cup fresh blackberries
Place 2 tablespoons of granola in each of two parfait glasses. Top
each with about 2 tablespoons yogurt.
In a small bowl, combine berries; divide a third of the mixture
between the two glasses. Repeat yogurt and berry layers. Top with
the remaining yogurt, berries and granola. Yield: 2 servings.
Nutritional Facts:
1 parfait equals 175 calories, 2 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 4 mg cholesterol, 100 mg sodium, 34 g carbohydrate, 5 g fiber, 6 g protein.
Diabetic Exchanges:
2 fruit, 1/2 reduced-fat milk.
© Taste of Home 2014

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Early morning clouds across North Texas gave way to lots of sunshine by afternoon. Temperatures were in the upper 60s to lower 70s across the region. BUT THIS IS IT! By Sunday afternoon, a strong cold front will move through the area ushering much colder weather. There could be a few isolated showers, but most of the rain will be east of the Metroplex, if it occurs at all. The strong cold air advection behind the cold front will have temperatures dropping throughout the afternoon hours. Lows on Monday will be close to freezing with middle 20s expected by Tuesday morning. Daytime highs for the first couple of days of the work week will only be in the 40s. An upper level low moving across the area MAY kick off a flurries or two here in the Metroplex, but NO accumulations are expected. Stay tuned for further updates with the cold weather moving into the region.
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[an error occurred while processing this directive][an error occurred while processing this directive]
MC 00163 Guide to the Roger Powell Marshall Papers, 1913-1985
Try experimental container filtering.
[Box 1, Folder 1] Biographical and family information
[Box 1, Folder 2] Personal correspondence, June 26, 1941-January 17, 1949
[Box 1, Folder 3] Personal correspondence, 1950-February 11, 1980
[Box 1, Folder 4] Class notes, 1923
[Box 1, Folder 5] Class notes, English "S237,", 1932
[Box 1, Folder 6] Miscellaneous notes, 1913, 1942-1985
[Box 1, Folder 7] Material relating to North Carolina literature
[Box 1, Folder 8] Copies of short stories (excerpted from "The Progressive Farmer"
[Box 1, Folder 9] Richard Walser publications (2)
[Box 1, Folder 10] Map and book on events relating to World War II
[Box 1, Folder 11] Church Bulletins (16) (NY, Boston), undated, 1948, 1974
[Box 1, Folder 12] Metropolitan Opera Programs (10) (NY), undated, 1924, 1948-1949
[Box 2, Folder 1] Broadway playbills (45) (NY), 1947-1974
[Box 2, Folder 2] Reviews, programs, etc. (16) (NY), undated, 1946-1974
[Box 2, Folder 3] Travel and entertainment flyers and programs, etc. (13) (NC and VA), undated, 1941-1952
[Box 3, Folder 1] Bermuda trip, 1959, July, 1974
[Box 3, Folder 2] New England Trip, October, 1976
[Box 3, Folder 3] "A Mythical Mayflower Competition: North Carolina Literature in the Half-Century Following the Revolution," reprint from the "North Carolina Historical Review", April 1950; Book Review of "The Letters of William Gilmore Simms: Volume I, 1830-1844", in the "North Carolina Historical Review", January, 1953
[Box 3, Folder 4] "Writers of North Carolina from James Davis to Robert Strange," drafts and revisions of an address to The Woman's Club of Wilson, Wilson, NC, October 28, 1947
[Box 3, Folder 5] "North Carolina Fiction Writers of the Mid-Nineteenth Century," drafts and excerpt, March 19, 1952
[Box 3, Folder 6] Address to the Board of Student Publications Banquet, May 13, 1955
[Box 3, Folder 7] "Nine Curiosities of Literature Touching North Carolina," draft of paper presented to the Anne Hathaway Book Club, April 12, 1966
[Box 3, Folder 8] "A Gallery of Neglected Ladies," draft of paper presented, February 13, 1967
[Box 3, Folder 9] Professional correspondence, 1941-1965
Class Assignments and Tests
[Box 3, Folder 10] 1931, 1939-1940
[Box 3, Folder 11] 1941, 1944-1951
[Box 3, Folder 12] 1951-1956, undated
Gradebooks and Class Outlines
[Box 4, Folder 1] 1951-1952
[Box 4, Folder 2] 1953
[Box 4, Folder 3] 1958
[Box 4, Folder 4] Sample binder of "Materials for Freshman English", 1939
[Box 4, Folder 5] Admissions information [Folder 1 of 3], 1946-1967
[Box 4, Folder 6] Admissions information [Folder 2 of 3], 1946-1967
[Box 4, Folder 7] Admissions information [Folder 3 of 3], 1946-1967
Marshall, Roger Powell, 1899-1987
2.0 Linear feet
General Physical Description note
4 archival storage box
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Special Collections Research Center Reference Staff .
Acquisitions Information
Gift of Mrs. Roger P. Marshall, November 11, 1987.
Processed by: Special Collections Staff; machine-readable finding aid created by: Valerie Gillispie
Scope and Content Note
The Roger Powell Marshall Papers, 1913-1985, include correspondence, course materials, notes, and publications. The General files contain biographical and family information, personal correspondence, class notes and material relating to North Carolina literature. This series also contains some copies of short stories excerpted from "The Progressive Farmer", some church bulletins, and several Metropolitan Opera programs, 1924, 1948-1949. A Travel/Entertainment series contains Broadway playbills, bulk 1947-1974, theatrical reviews and programs, and some travel flyers and programs (North Carolina and Virginia). The Writings, Publications and Speeches series contains some reprints of Professor Marshall's writings on North Carolina literature, reviews of Marshall's "The Letters of William Gilmore Simms: Volume I, 1830-1844", professional correspondence and class materials, including class assignments and tests, 1931-1956, grade books, class outlines, and admission information.
Biographical Note
Roger Powell Marshall was born August 9, 1899, in Gastonia, North Carolina. He received his B.A. from Wake Forest College in 1920, his M.A. from Columbia University in 1923, and a M.Sc. From North Carolina State College in 1932. Marshall was a member of the English Department at North Carolina State University from 1926 to 1964, eventually rising to the rank of full professor. He also served as Acting Department Head from 1942 until 1945. He was most well known for his work in the freshman English courses. In addition, Marshall was regarded as an expert on the state's literature and amassed a highly respected collection of North Carolina literature. He died on August 24, 1987.
Controlled Terms
Related Material
Roger Powell Marshall Papers, Special Collections, Z. Smith Reynolds Library, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Access to Collection
This collection is open for research; access requires at least 24 hours advance notice.
For more information contact us via mail, phone, fax, or our web form.
Special Collections Research Center
(919) 515-2273
(919) 513-1787
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Roger Powell Marshall Papers, MC 163, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, North Carolina.
Access to Collection
North Carolina State University does not own copyright to this collection. Individuals obtaining materials from the NCSU Libraries' Special Collections Research Center are responsible for using the works in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.


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Map It
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Metro Newsroom
LouisvilleKY.gov Links
Wednesday February 9, 2011
The Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control Board will hold a public hearing on February 16, 2011 on a proposed Agreed Board Order with American Synthetic Rubber Company (ASRC). ASRC is alleged to have violated District Regulation 2.16 (Title V Operating Permits) at the facility located in Jefferson County, Kentucky.
Written comments from the public will be accepted by the Board, Rachael Hamilton, Secretary-Treasurer, 850 Barret Ave., Louisville, KY 40204-1745, until 5:00 p.m., February 15, 2011. Written comments will be accepted electronically until the same deadline via the e-mail address airorders @ louisvilleky.gov. Oral comments will be accepted at the public hearing on February 16, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. in the Board Room, 850 Barret Ave., Louisville.
Information may be obtained from Terri Phelps (502) 574-6047, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Published on February 9, 2011, in The Courier-Journal Metro edition, 14 Public Notices column.


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Chocolate Glaze
This recipe goes with Quick Doughnuts and Doughnut Holes
Yield: 3/4 cup
- 1/4 cup half-and-half
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- Microwave half-and-half in a glass bowl at HIGH 1 minute or until hot. Add chocolate morsels, stirring until smooth. Stir in powdered sugar.
My Notes
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- COURSE: Desserts, Sauces/Condiments
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- COOKING METHOD: Microwave
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An old Chinese proverb says "Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime." It is brilliantly simple, and perfectly exemplifies the benefit of education over an offer of simple charity. But as much as I am fond of seafood, I don't want to write about fish… I want to write about music and how some of the sweetest sounds I've heard in the past week are the result of an idea that is deeper and more meaningful than any I've heard in years.
What would happen if we were to take that proverb and replace the education in catching fish with apprenticeship in the craft of building guitars? Perhaps the skill of guitarmaking would mean that for the first time in his life this man could earn a wage sufficient to support himself and his family. This is exactly what is happening right now in the small village of Mpigi, Uganda.
Jay Duncan began learning to build acoustic guitars in his father's garage, and attained the status of Master Luthier by the mid-90's. By 1996, he was building guitars for the likes of John Larrivee, the owner of Larrivee Guitars, a world renowned and successful guitar manufacturer. Before too long Jay began designing and building his own line of J Duncan Guitars; well known in boutique circles for playability and fine craftsmanship — but apparently building and selling works of art wasn't enough. Jay felt he had a purpose that was deeper than mere success at his craft and a profitable company — his heart for economically depressed people led him to move beyond simple philanthropy by integrating his business into an innovative real-world solution.
His creative business mind led him to an idea that would accomplish all of his goals with the creation of the non-profit Duncan Africa Society. Instead of simply sending money overseas to help those living in poverty, Jay had a vision for a self-sustaining foundation based upon the idea of giving away his life's work: he planned to give away the knowledge and skills needed to make a world-class instrument, build a self-sustaining non-profit business, and offer opportunity where there had been none before.
In 2005 Jay and the Duncan Africa Society established a school in Mpigi, Uganda "to bring an affordable version of his instruments to a larger market," and more importantly to effect positive change in this impoverished third-world community. Jay now travels yearly from his home in Vancouver, Canada to Uganda where the Duncan Africa Society school teaches not only luthierie (guitar making), but also English, math, computer skills, first aid and business. The guitars that are built in Uganda are then shipped to the Duncan Africa Society offices in Canada to be sold on the open market, with the proceeds returning to Uganda in the form of craftsmen's wages.
Compare Jay's model with a more typical one: often when we are asked to contribute to charitable causes, we donate funds and in return we are given a vague sense of satisfaction by helping someone in need. We often do not know where the money goes, if it is misspent or if it is even effective. With the purchase of a DuncanAfrica guitar the transaction involves a natural give and take. The evidence of the good work being done is as tangible as the instrument in your hands.
What I find remarkable about Jay Duncan's business model is that he has found a way to achieve sustainability for a community-in-need by embracing an economic system that works –through the manufacture, importation, and sale of handmade guitars. I suspect that Mr. Duncan understands that the primary reason behind the average person's decision to purchase a DuncanAfrica guitar is not solely for the benefit of an East African village in need –though that may be reason enough. Rather, DuncanAfrica satisfies an intrinsic motivation to do good in the world. This is accomplished through the purchase of a finely-crafted instrument that competes in sound and beauty with the finest guitars available anywhere – and the impact is actually measurable.
I haven't seen a lot of charitable systems that provided so much value and natural benefit to each participant in the transaction. And this is exactly how capitalism should work – supply and demand – the gift of knowledge and opportunity, transformed by hard working people into a self sustaining system that is naturally regulated by a free market in the exchange of goods and services.
When asked about the work ethic in Uganda, Jay says, "While I was there in November 2005, I witnessed 22 local guys build a 4000 sq. foot brick church in less than seven weeks – with no electricity! And yes, there are building codes and regular inspections." Clearly, the positive growth of DuncanAfrica guitars has been a direct result of this amazing work ethic. The members of Mpigi are creating positive change for themselves and their families.
It has been said of capitalism that "it is the only social and economic system that aligns itself with the combined human spirits of achievement, ambition, self-improvement, individualism, self-esteem, and initiative" (Matthew Burke, 2009). In all of these areas Jay is succeeding, and in all of these areas, the people of Mpigi, Uganda are succeeding as well. The success of one depends on the other.
In response, my internal-cynic might reference the famous quote from the movie Wall Street in which Gordon Gekko proclaims that "Greed is good." I would counter with the idea that we all know in our hearts that goodness is good — thus, capitalism built on a win-win foundation is ultimately the most satisfying of all.
This past week, one of my good friends received his long-awaited DuncanAfrica guitar, and he brought it to my office and let me play it. As I was strumming this guitar, I looked at the intricate craftsmanship and thought about all of the lives that have benefited from its manufacture — the sense of purpose and the economic viability it has brought to those who had once only dreamt of such things. It made me smile and shake my head in wonder… Suddenly, the music from that guitar sounded just a little sweeter and the notes sustained a little longer. As the sounds hung in the air, I knew this was a powerful lesson: teach a man to build guitars, and the music just might change a village… a war-torn nation… maybe even the world. ♦♦♦


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We have a great line-up of classes for February with something for everyone. Be sure to stretch your mind and your body with some of our offerings. Registration is required for all one time classes (even if they're free!) and can be done online from our website by clicking on Events or by stopping in the store. Ongoing classes are drop-in and do not require registration. We hope to see you here no matter how much snow is on the ground!
What is Permaculture?
Thursday, February 2, 7-8:30 p.m.
Cost: FREE Presenters: Joe Gransee-Bowman and Paul Sebby
Permaculture is a design system approach addressing energy, shelter, and food that is modeled on the relationships found in nature.
Natural Health Care with Essential Oils
Thursday, February 9, 7-8:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE Presenter: Katie Milbrett
Essential oils have been used for thousands of years as a safe and natural system that is free from synthetic chemicals, toxins, side effects, and addictions. By using pure essential oils, we not only address illnesses and discomforts but help to build healthy and resilient bodies.
Improving Home Energy Performance
Saturday, February 11, 1-2:30 p.m.
Cost: $15/$13 owners Presenter: Joe Gransee-Bowman
How does energy performance fit into designing a residential living system while integrating the needs for shelter, energy, and food? Learn about air sealing, weatherization improvements, safety concerns, and the services energy auditors and insulation crews provide.
The Chemistry of Chocolate
Tuesday, February 14, 7-8:30 p.m.
Cost: $13/$11 owners Presenter: Jerry Mohrig
Learn the secrets of chocolate on the most important chocolate-giving holiday. Get information on the composition of chocolate, manufacturing, health issues, and how to evaluate chocolates by taste, with just a little history mixed in.
Owner Orientation and Tour
Saturday, February 18, 9-10:30 a.m.
Cost: FREE Presenter: Mary Upham
Whether you're a new owner or have shopped the Co-op since the early days you will learn new things about Just Food. Receive a $5 store coupon for each owner household that completes the tour.
Ongoing classes:
Spring Forest Qigong Practice Group
Mondays, 5:30-6:45 p.m.
Drop in fee: $10 Instructor: Mary Zelmer
Join us for continuing practice of the Spring Forest Qigong principles. Learn techniques to feel the flow of your energy and help relieve physical pain, stress, depression and more. Drop in fee is $10.
Knitting Group
Mondays, 7-9 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Everyone welcome. Bring your project for conversation and knitting.
T'ai Chi Ch'uan
Saturdays, 9-11:30 a.m.
Drop in fee: $12 Instructor: Paul Magee
T'ai Chi Ch'uan is both a way to strengthen the body and to study philosophy; it's a martial art and a meditation system. Your first lesson is free. Drop in fee for subsequent classes is $12.


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Register for the Cuyuna Pass today!
The Cuyuna Pass includes the following:
1) Maucieri's and New Belgium Brewing's Friday Night Spaghetti Feed, Concert and Night Ride
2) Trailblazer Bike's Cross Country Race (Saturday)
3) Easy Riders $250.00 Poker Ride (Saturday)
When you register before Tuesday, May 28th we will throw in the Festival T-shirt, free.
What's the Cuyuna Pass cost?
· Only $40 (with free tshirt) when you register online before Tuesday, May 28th (a $75 value)
· $45 until June 3 (last day to register online)
· $50 day of event (Friday, June 7th is the last day to register in-person)
Special note:
All event profits from the 2013 Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Festival are split 50% between the Cuyuna Lakes Chamber and the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew to fuel their collaborative purpose of forwarding the mountain bike trails in the Cuyuna Lakes. Like the red dirt trails? Register to race them today!


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574 search results for Chris Hemsworth
Michael Mann's cyber thriller with Chris Hemsworth gets a title
Type: Post | Date: Saturday, Jul 26, 2014No truth (yet) to an early report that it will qualify for Oscars this year
Chris Hemsworth hunts down cyber terror in the trailer for Michael Mann's 'Blackhat'
Type: Post | Date: Thursday, Sep 25, 2014The film is due out in January
Will 'Thor's' Chris Hemsworth star in 'Lethal Weapon' reboot?
Type: Article | Date: Thursday, May 8, 2014'Fast & Furious' vet Justin Lin attached to direct the reboot
Chris Hemsworth: James Spader is 'so damn good' as Ultron that we applauded him on set
Type: Article | Date: Monday, Jul 28, 2014Also: Hear what the actor has to say about Lady Thor
Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Hemsworth and the 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' cast take Comic-Con
Type: Gallery | Date: Sunday, Jul 27, 2014Mark Ruffalo and Chris Hemsworth compare biceps during the "Avengers: Ag...
Chris Hemsworth says that James Spader is so damn good in 'Avengers 2'
Type: Video | Date: Saturday, Jul 26, 2014HitFix caught up with the star of the new 'Avengers' film Chris Hemsworth recently at San Diego Comic-Con.
Chris Hemsworth discussed playing 'Doc Savage' for 'Iron Man 3's Shane Black
Type: Post | Date: Tuesday, Jun 24, 2014If you're casting the original pulp hero, Hemsworth seems like a great choice
Leslie Mann to play Audrey in 'Vacation' reboot
Type: Article | Date: Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014Ed Helms will play Rusty while Chevy Chase is set for a cameo
Roundup: Chris Hemsworth to deliver the Oscar news on Thursday
Type: Post | Date: Monday, Jan 13, 2014Also: Oscar contenders triumph in Palm Springs
Ron Howard on directing Chris Hemsworth & Daniel Bruhl in 'Rush'
Type: Video | Date: Wednesday, Sep 11, 2013Director Ron Howard explains his vision on bringing the rivalry between Formula One drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda back to life


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Five other carriers are pending full results of PASAs and program acceptance. — Staff reports
Partnership plans natural gas initiative
Navistar Inc. and natural gas provider Clean Energy Fuels Corp. announced a plan to develop gas-powered medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks and a nationwide infrastructure to fuel them.
The plan includes financial incentives to enable customers to see a quick return on a premium of about $35,000 for the new technology, largely due to the price spread between natural gas and diesel.
"By the end of 2013, virtually every product we have will be available in natural gas," said Jim Hebe, Navistar senior vice president for North American sales.
The Navistar-Clean Energy plan differs from other alternative fuel initiatives because it does not depend on government subsidies, said Daniel Ustian, Navistar chairman, president and CEO.
Clean Energy will invest $200 million to build liquid natural gas fueling facilities, said Andrew Littlefair, Clean Energy president and CEO. The company announced in January it expects to have 70 stations open by the end of this year in 33 states, many of them at Pilot-Flying J Travel Centers.
Opening of the first 150 stations through 2013 is planned to coincide with the introduction of Navistar's new natural gas engines. Swift Transportation has been testing some of them, said Jerry Moyes, founder and CEO. "We like what we see," he said. "There is a savings to it."
Officials said the partnership will help accelerate the adoption of natural gas technologies by including incentives for those who purchase at least 1,000 diesel gallon equivalents of natural gas each month. At current prices, natural gas is about $1.35 a gallon cheaper than diesel. Clean Energy will guarantee fuel prices for five years at a significant reduction from diesel.
Navistar will continue to offer DuraStar and WorkStar vocational trucks with its natural gas-powered MaxxForce DT. For the regional haul and Class 7 and Class 8 vocational market, Navistar will offer the Cummins-Westport ISL-G in the International TranStar and WorkStar.
Navistar will continue work with Clean Air Power on the ProStar, WorkStar and PayStar trucks, powered by a diesel pilot injection LNG MaxxForce 13-liter engine.
— Max Heine
Defective part affects truck manufacturers
Paccar Inc. has recalled about 16,000 of its 2012- and 2013-model Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks equipped with a defective Bendix brake component. Production of Navistar International and Volvo Group trucks also was affected by the part.
The Paccar trucks were built between Jan. 31, 2011, and Jan. 19, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Paccar didn't respond to a request for comment.
OverdriveOnline.com strives to maintain an open forum for reader opinions. Click here to read our comment policy.
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+25 percent: What double the liability insurance coverage will likely cost
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MMA News
Nelson: Dana Is Going To Say What He Needs To Say | UFC NEWS
"[Dana] never said I was the worst coach. He said I was the worst coach he ever had to deal with. If he was talking about the worst coach, it would be Shane, because he doesn't even coach. Dana's going to say what he needs to say, and I can't help that. It's just one of those things. We don't really have libel or slander in our business."
In a recent interview with Steph Daniels of Bloodyelbow.com, TUF 16 coach Roy Nelson put the UFC boss on blast by stating Dana White will just spout off with whatever needs to be said.
In this case, White has gone off on many tangents expressing his dislike and inability to work cohesively on the TUF set with the man called "Big Country."


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Global Security Newswire
Daily News on Nuclear, Biological & Chemical Weapons, Terrorism and Related Issues
Iran Seeks Atomic Dialogue With U.S: Iraqi PM
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki reportedly told U.S. officials earlier this month that Iran wants to pursue bilateral discussions with Washington over its atomic activities, which many see as possibly leading the Persian Gulf nation toward acquiring a nuclear arms capacity.
Maliki said he had spoken with associates of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but a number of Western government insiders were unsure if the Iraqi leader was delivering a communication from Tehran, the New York Times reported on Thursday. The Iranian envoy to Baghdad on Friday dismissed the Times article as "totally false," Iran's Press TV said.
The Iraqi leader, though, claimed to speak on behalf of members of Khamenei's inner circle, adding that Baghdad could support any dialogue between the sides, Western government personnel told the newspaper on Thursday. Iranian President-elect Hassan Rouhani would engage sincerely with Washington in any bilateral discussions, Maliki told U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Robert Beecroft.
Years of discussions between Iran, the United States and five other world powers have failed to gain significant traction in resolving a standoff over the disputed nuclear efforts, which Tehran insists are nonmilitary in nature.
Separately, the Obama administration on Thursday announced it would ease restrictions on transfers of certain U.S. health and farming supplies to Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported. A number of issue experts saw the move as a conciliatory step taken as part of a broader effort to resume dialogue with Iran after Rouhani's inauguration, scheduled for Aug. 2.
Note to our Readers
GSN ceased publication on July 31, 2014. Its articles and daily issues will remain archived and available on NTI's website.
NTI Analysis
Open a Nuclear Fuel Bank
July 11, 2014
NTI Co-Chairman and CEO Sam Nunn calls for swift action to resolve remaining issues and open an IAEA nuclear fuel bank.
Nuclear Disarmament Resource Collection
May 23, 2014
The Nuclear Disarmament Resource Collection contains information and analysis of nuclear weapons disarmament proposals and progress worldwide, including detailed coverage of disarmament progress in countries who either possess or host other countries' nuclear weapons on their territories.
Country Profile
This article provides an overview of Iran's historical and current policies relating to nuclear, chemical, biological and missile proliferation.


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MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - The head of the state government's largest union is blasting a new report that says public employees get sweeter and more secure pension deals than the rest of us. Marty Beil of the Wisconsin State Employees' Union says many public workers get paid less than those doing similar work in the private sector – and trade today's wages for better retirement security. Beil also says taxpayers get a better deal that way, because they don't have to pay Social Security taxes on retirement savings like they do for wages.
Wednesday, the conservative Wisconsin Policy Research Institute reported that a private worker making $70,000 gets $411 less a year in pension benefits than a public employee making just $48,000 per annum. And the head of the institute, George Lightbourn, said public employees are having their pensions protected while the recession has eroded retirement benefits in the private sector.
Beil calls the report "propaganda" and "public employee bashing." And he blasted media outlets who gave the report big headlines while downplaying another report that praised Wisconsin's public retirement system. That report, from the Pew Center, said Wisconsin was 1 of just 4 states which had enough money set aside in 2008 to cover its pension obligations to public workers.


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Molinos Juan Semino SA
| Buenos Aires Stock Exchange: SEMI
Molinos Juan Semino SA engages in the production, processing, bottling and subsequent marketing of products derived from the milling of wheat; and real estate business. The company operates through following segments: Products Derived from the Milling of Wheat and Olives. The Products Derived from the Milling of Wheat segment includes sales of products derived ??from milling of wheat in the domestic market and the foreign market such as flours, starches and gluten. The Olives segment includes the sale of olives and the manufacture of oil from crops made in olive plantations through its subsidiary, Adricar SA. Molinos Juan Semino was founded on October 1, 1959 and is headquartered in Carcarana, Argentina.


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More than 2,700 people, the overwhelming majority coming from Chicago, signed a petition demanding that Change.org stop supporting corporate education advocacy organizations. Well, Change.org decided to respond and it should not come as a surprise that the social justice oriented site cannot see its own wrongdoing.
A full response can be seen at the end of this post but I want to dissect some of the more egregious parts. Change.org's Director of Communications, Benjamin Joffe-Walt, acknowledges, in a personal way, that Stand for Children opposes the Chicago Teachers Union's strike authorization vote and links it to the disgusting tactic of crossing a picket line. So, we've set the stage here well. Union busting is truly disgusting. It's is just one of the results corporate education organizations want to see. There's more.
We're an impact-maximizing company, not a profit-maximizing company. And we believe openness maximizes our mission. So our client policy allows sponsored petitions from any organization–even groups that our staff doesn't agree with, and our campaigns staff would never work to support–so long as they don't advance discrimination or private corporate benefit.
This is the first false claim in regards to allowing Stand for Children (along with Michelle Rhee's StudentsFirst organization) to buy progressives emails under false and misleading petitions. The corporate education agenda is one dedicated to private corporate benefit. We will get back to this.
Most judgments about whether organizations pass our client policy are clear. For example, groups that discriminate against LGBT and immigrant populations clearly don't pass the client policy. Private industry groups advocating for policy with no clear public benefit also don't pass the test – and indeed we reject industry groups that offer us lots of money on a regular basis.
Private charter schools do not serve the public benefit. Charter schools use taxpayer money but do not fall under the taxpayer's purview. In Chicago the charter schools do not necessarily need to follow Chicago Public Schools' guidelines. They can also dismiss students for reasons that a public school cannot.
Yet there are also judgments that are difficult, and Stand for Children is one of those. Their stated mission is to help kids succeed in school. And clearly they fight, hard, against teachers unions. But our judgement is that they fit within our current client policy.
Another acknowledgement of Stand for Children's anti-union stance. Labor unions, frankly, are to the benefit of the public. With strong unions come better wages and benefits. Through the decades of weakening and breaking of unions, corporations have been able to pay people less and reap the rewards for high level executives. A little bit of a digression but still important.
The video below highlights the fraudulent mission statement of Stand for Children. It is not the greatest video but gets into the details of the organization. Pay attention closely to the 3:20 mark when they begin to talk about Illinois.
Back to the corporate for-profit aspect. Many of these organizations have millionaires and billionaires on their boards. Nothing too new about that with non-profits but in this case these board members stand to profit from their involvement. Their investment into the organization serves as a charitable dedication. Stand for Children's mission mutated into something else than a grassroots organization. It now wants to promote test-driven education policy, union-busting, charter school promotion. All of which allow the corporate investors to profit off of failed education policies that the organization wants to instill on the public.
Change.org can hide behind Stand for Children's focus group tested mission statement all it wants. It doesn't stop the truth from existing. Stand for Children wants to privatize education, pick and choose the students who receive it, take away the rights of the people working in the schools, and allow corporate funders to dictate education policy. It simply does not fall in line with Change.org's own policies. Saying so denies the truth and merely aligns Change with the one percent that already benefit at our expense.
The full letter.
Hi folks,
This is Benjamin Joffe-Walt (aka "BJW), global comms director for Change.org. My friends and colleagues call me 'BJW', given the proliferation of Bens in organizing. I've been with Change.org for about two years now. Prior to that I was a journalist for about eight years, based mostly in Africa and the Middle East, and I grew up in Philly.
I apologize for the delay in responding to this thread, and others on the same topic–I wanted to take the time to write a thoughtful response and get feedback from our leadership team before sending. This is an important discussion–I really appreciate everyone's engagement on it, and particularly its constructive spirit.
A lot of great questions have come up about Change.org–including some, frankly, that we're still thinking through as an organization. In the last two years, we've gone from being a 10-person cause-based blogging network to a 140-person global social change platform, and we're in the middle of a months-long company-wide conversation about what exactly that means for a number of the issues raised here. So I can't definitively address everything. But I'd like to talk about both this specific Chicago campaign, and our overall strategy and identity.
I completely understand the concern and anger about Stand for Children's sponsored petition opposing the Chicago teachers' strike. One of my earliest memories is of my mom framing the crossing of a picket line as among the most egregious human acts, I grew up at union marches and protests, and I want Chicago's to win–so it's painful to me, and many of our staff who have dedicated their lives to labor organizing, to see Stand for Children's campaign on our site.
But the fact is, it doesn't violate our client policy. We as an organization are committed to an open platform as a means of maximizing our overall impact, and part of this includes a client policy that doesn't reject clients just because many staff members strongly disagree with them.
To understand why, I want to first outline our overarching goal and strategy, and then return to the client policy and Stand or Children.
First, our goal and strategy:
Change.org's purpose is making the world a better place at as big a scale as possible. Our core strategy for doing that is empowerment. Of everyone. In a world where corporations and elites have disproportionate power relative to citizens, we think this strategy holds massive disruptive potential as a force for positive change.
This is predicated on a bet: that the net positive impact on the world will be much, much greater if we're an open platform, where anyone can post any petition, than if we're an advocacy group ourselves–even if that means some people use the platform to do things that many on our team strongly disagree with. This openness matters because it's the basis of the personal credibility of petition starters, enabling their human stories to rise above partisan framing. Openness is particularly important internationally, as we work to earn the trust of local activists around the world–which we would certainly not be able to do if they felt we were pushing a top-down, US-centric agenda.
Overall, we think openness is working — that the benefits of openness are dwarfing the drawbacks.
There are three core parts of the company, and you can see the model's success in each:
The tech platform itself. About 15,000 petitions are started each month, leading to multiple victories a day. A few recent ones come to mind: Safeway gave an employee his job back after he was let go for stopping an in-store domestic assault, Key Bank relieved a family of their dead child's student loan, Wells Fargo stopped the foreclosure on the home of two girls battling a rare autoimmune disease, and Boy Scouts of America is reconsidering its ban on gay and lesbian den leaders.
The campaigns team. By far the largest group of our staff is campaigners, who work to help people win their (free) campaigns all over the world, connect users to campaigns they'd like to join, and work to inspire others to start campaigns for positive change. To be clear, the campaign team doesn't work on sponsored (paid) petitions from clients. They're separated like editorial and advertising at a newspaper. Their work, on campaigns like the ones above, is extraordinary–and is made possible by the authenticity of the petition starters' personal narratives.
The business side. Sponsored petitions are essentially cost-per-acquisition advertising. Of our hundreds of clients, an overwhelming majority would be enthusiastically endorsed by most those on this list (and many are on this list). While there are some difficult cases (see below), the net impact is extremely positive, and we're proud to have a business model that supports civil society groups while supporting Change.org and enabling us to build better free tools and hire amazing campaigning staff around the world. (One of the things we've been working on is making our business model more transparent, and it's something we'll be doing more work on soon.)
Now about our client policy, and Stand for Children:
We're an impact-maximizing company, not a profit-maximizing company. And we believe openness maximizes our mission. So our client policy allows sponsored petitions from any organization–even groups that our staff doesn't agree with, and our campaigns staff would never work to support–so long as they don't advance discrimination or private corporate benefit.
Most judgments about whether organizations pass our client policy are clear. For example, groups that discriminate against LGBT and immigrant populations clearly don't pass the client policy. Private industry groups advocating for policy with no clear public benefit also don't pass the test – and indeed we reject industry groups that offer us lots of money on a regular basis.
Yet there are also judgments that are difficult, and Stand for Children is one of those. Their stated mission is to help kids succeed in school. And clearly they fight, hard, against teachers unions. But our judgement is that they fit within our current client policy.
The point here isn't to defend Stand for Children. At the edge, figuring out where the client policy applies can be particularly challenging for many of us on staff who frankly oppose the work of some organizations who sponsor petitions on the site. But even if every one of us were on the opposite side of a sponsored petition, that doesn't dictate whether we should remove it.
You might argue that the client policy should change. The truth is, it's under review, as are additional aspects of our strategy and identity, as part of the company-wide deliberation I mentioned earlier. It's going to take a few more months, and we'll choose the policy we think will maximize our positive impact in the world.
Thanks for your direct feedback and engagement on this. I don't pretend to think that you will all agree with everything above, but I hope you will understand that it comes from a place of deeply held values not far from your own.
Change.org is, in many ways, still a very young organization and we've worked closely with many of you throughout our development. We try to have big ears as we go–so, again, thank you.
Pingback: Disaster Capitalism, K-12 Education, and Corporate Takeovers of Progressive Organizations
Pingback: Change.Org Drops Rhee and Edelman « Diane Ravitch's blog
Pingback: Change.org's Support for Stand For Children Should (And Did) Not Stand: When Liberals Push An ALEC Education Agenda | K-12 News Network
Pingback: Change.org's Support for Stand For Children Should (And Did) Not Stand: When Liberals Push An ALEC Education Agenda
© Aaron Krager 2008-2014 | Have any questions? Send me an email.


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Written by:
When I feel persecuted and totally on my own-
I pray to God, who sits upon the Holy Throne.
Every fear and problem I have, I send to God alone-
Because He is the foundation, the true corner stone.
Therefore, no matter what might happen, I will succeed-
Because I worship the One who holds the Sacred Staff and Reed.


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|Customer Rating
CodyBest Pencil Ever
This is hands down the best pencil that I have ever used. All of my co-workers are buying them. I work in an office setting and have used tons of mechanical pencils but after the Twist Erase III, I will never use anything but. Please do no ever discontinue these!!!


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Haha ja hej! Det kommer jag absolut ihåg :) Hur är det med dig nu för tiden?
I've had the best time at Minecon 2013! I got home yesterday and I really miss it! I cant wait for the next one. Now I have loads of T-shirts and Minecraft themed clothes to wear for when I start my stream tomorrow. :]
Since it was my first time to the US I've tried to do everything american and that includes the food. I've tasted mac & cheese, key lime pie, BBQ ribs, coleslaw, burgers, american bagels and pancakes, and ofc : pizza! It's not the healthiest food but It was sooo good. I also went to universal studios and met lots of interesting people. I got the chance to talk face to face with Jeb about the game (epic) and I also got to hang out with the mojang team & my idol Mark Ruffalo aka The Hulk! (And not to forget, one really awesome taxi driver!)
The shopping in Orlando was amazing!! I don't know how much I spent at Victoria secret but hey, I was on vacation so It was my right! (.. Right?) Aaanyway, I will remember this trip for the rest of my life. A big thanks goes out to Notch and all the Mojangstas for being so nice to me and my friends and making this trip possible!
Anonymous asked:
Hejsan Emma! De var då inte igår detta :) Kommer du ihåg att du prata för ett antal år sen med en kille som hette Daniel från osby i skåne som även hälsade på dig under en helg? :) Ibland dyker saker upp i skallen och i natten började jag tänka.. Undra va de blev av emma börlin från götet :)
(Source: jvnk)
I'm so pissed off at my self right now. Whats WRONG with me?!! I should be happy, in fact I should be ecstatic, yet I've only been feeling like shit the last couple of days.
I've been doing some soul searching and I cant find one single valid reason why I feel like this except that I think too much. I hate to admit it but I care what people think. I wish I didn't.
I have the annoying habit of never letting anyone know when I'm not feeling well. I'm the happy girl that's always there for you, the steady shoulder to cry on. Paradoxically, however, I'm also the girl who forcefully hides her own emotions & problems because she dont want to be a burden.
The thought of showing my sadness, fear or loneliness to someone is absolutely terrifying but ironically I admire people who do. When friends cry or tell me how they really feel I see it as a sign of character and most of all strength, I feel blessed that they showed that part of their self to me.. but when I do it? I feel that It's a sign of weakness.
Of course I know it's not really weakness, it's most likely a fear of rejection but even though I understand it and know why I do it I cant seem to stop hiding my emotions behind a fake smile and witty comment.
For example:
I stumble and fall and it HURTS: The pain is hidden behind an extreme embarrassment that people actually saw me in that awkward position. and I joke it off and "lick my wounds" when I'm alone.
The guy never called back: I'm super nice and pretend I dont care at all because I dont want to be one of those pathetic girls who chases after some guy that's not interested.. (Even though I was hurt and I secretly wished he would.)
I made a bad decision that ended with something bad happening to me: I dont tell anyone, pretend that everything's fine, Eat a box of ben and jerrys, spend five minutes feeling sorry for my self and then do my best to fix the problem.
The list could go on for ever.
I think it all comes down to the fact that I have really, really, really high expectations of (on?) my self & I dont want to end up like my mother.. Broke, depressed and die alone. No thank you. I dont want to fail life, I want to keep my integrity intact and prove to my self that I can make it one way or the other. And I dont want to do it by acting like a bitch and telling people off. But.. I know how much people and friends mean to me so the last thing I want to do is scare them away by being a burden or asking for help, you know? I'll have to practice that part. At least I'm able to write down my emotions, it's a good start.
Anyway, what I need right now is some time off. Vacation. Chance of scenery, To live life! Rejoice in how far I've gotten the last couple of years and just HAVE FUN. I want to surround my self with good, honest, fun people who understand me.
Because one thing is for sure, I really DONT have a reason to feel this sad right now!
- Aloe: What is something that would instantly make you cry at the sight/mention of it?
- Amaranth: If the chance to be immortal is handed to you, would you take it?
- Amaryllis: What incident from the past makes you still beam proudly today?
- Rubus: What is one trait of others that you envy?
- Chrysanthemum: What is one lie that later got you in trouble?
- Canterbury bells : Who is someone you are thankful for having in your life?
- Crocus: Describe a happy memory from your childhood.
- Currant : Describe the person you don't ever want to see sad.
- Dittany: Are you afraid of child labor?
- Freesia: Whose your longest friend?
- Geranium: What is something that you did stupid in the past?
- Hibiscus: Do you value your looks?
- Hollyhock: What is your dream?
- Lavender: What is one thing that immediately loses your trust?
- Lilac: Describe your first love.
- Peony: What pisses you off?
- Tuberose : What's one of your guilty pleasures?
- Yarrow: What is one thing you do to get over someone?
- Statice: What is something about you that will never change?
(Source: itsbirdyart)


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Following a pledge from people in the local community we're proud to announce that the carnival is going ahead! However we still need help, on 12 July, in setting up the Carnival.
Please keep an eye on our blog, FB page and twitter for the latest updates!
If you can spare some time and energy to get involved and/or become a committee member, please contact:
Anna on 01773 850003 or Jack on 01773 853581
Visit out Contact Page
Or come along our next meeting on
Monday 28 April, 8 pm at the Hurt Arms
We are delighted to announce that the date for the Ambergate Carnival 2013 will be Saturday 12th July. This years theme is 'Latin America', with the world cup in mind (the final is the day after on 13 July!). To see ides for the carnival, please visit our pinterest boards by clicking here.
Last year's Carnival day was a great success again, and we received support from several local businesses,Heage and Ambergate SNT and Belper Army Cadets. We always rely on the support of volunteers before, during and after Carnival Day, and the committee would welcome more helpers and sponsorship.
For more information about the carnival and regular updates (including competitions and exclusive announcements) – you can follow us on Twitter and Facebook:
Ambergate Carnival on Twitter : twitter.com/ambergate
Ambergate Carnival on Facebook: facebook.com/AmbergateCarnival


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Lincoln county 911 dispatchers say Route 10 near West Hamlin is back open after a two-car accident.
They say at least one car involved rolled over.
at least one person was taken to the hospital with unknown injuries.
Lincoln county 911 dispatchers say there are several wrecks in the county tonight.
Route 10 near West Hamlin is closed as of 10:30 p.m. due to a two-car accident.
West Hamlin police are on scene.
Dispatch also reports two other single-car accidents on route 119.
They say all the wrecks seemed to happen just after 9 p.m.
No word on injuries at this time.
Drivers are asked to avoid the area.


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A collection of news and information related to Invisible Children, Inc. published by this site and its partners.
Top Invisible Children, Inc. Articles
Displaying items 12-22
Former Congo warlord sentenced to 14 years over child soldiersStory | Jul 10, 2012 | 4:42 PMFormer Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga was ordered Tuesday to serve 14 years in prison for enlisting children as soldiers, the first sentence handed down by the decade-old International Criminal Court....
Neighbors complain about Invisible Children volunteers
Kony video sequel tries to tackle some of the criticismsStory | Apr 5, 2012 | 4:40 PMThe makers of an explosively popular video that spotlighted the brutality of a Ugandan guerrilla leader have released a second video that redoubles their calls to stop Joseph Kony and grapples with some of the criticisms aimed at their controversial...
'Kony 2012' sequel fires back at critics
Invisible Children to Release 'Kony 2012' Sequel
Can Facebook page help Israel, Iran toward peace?
'Kony' creator's illness due to stress, exhaustion, family saysStory | Mar 22, 2012 | 4:34 AMThe illness that hospitalized Jason Russell, the Invisible Children filmmaker and creator of the "Kony 2012" video, was what his wife described as "reactive psychosis." The condition can be caused by stress. In a statement released Wednesday, his wife...
'Kony' creator will remain hospitalized for weeks
'Kony' Creator Jason Russell Hospitalized for "Reactive Psychosis"
USD panel dissects popularity of 'Kony 2012'Story | Mar 21, 2012 | 9:47 AMSAN DIEGO -- Two viral videos featuring Invisible Children filmmaker Jason Russell were the topic of discussion Tuesday at University of San Diego. One represents his life's work, a video about Joseph Kony the head of the Lord's Resistance...
'Kony' creator flooded with notes of support


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This notice is posted as a courtesy to The Woodlands Joint Powers Agency and the San Jacinto River Authority, who are conducting an inspection of wastewater pipelines within The Woodlands Township's borders.
THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS (June 19, 2014) – During the next few weeks, The Woodlands residents may notice smoke rising from manhole covers, vent stacks on homes and from holes in the ground. This smoke is non-toxic, harmless and creates no fire hazard; it is just being used as part of a routine inspection process that tests the integrity of wastewater collection systems.
The smoke should not enter your home unless you have defective plumbing or dried up drain traps. If you have a seldom-used drain, please pour water in the drain to fill the trap. This should prevent smoke from entering.
As systems age, some begin to deteriorate, crack, separate and experience other defects, which is why these inspections are necessary. Whenever these lines need to be checked, inspection crews will need access to these lines and manholes.
Inspection crews working for The Woodlands Joint Powers Agency and the San Jacinto River Authority will be accessing manholes in order to detect any possible defects in the system, and these crews will be identified with uniforms and badges.
Questions about this smoke testing process should be directed to The Woodlands Joint Powers Agency at 855-426-7283.
For more information on The Woodlands Township government, please call 281-210-3800 or visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.


text:
Adams Papers Indexes | Adams Papers, Cumulative Index to volumes published through 2006 | L | Looking-glasses, as tribute to Barbary Powers
Auteuil Near Paris March 20. 1785. [Diary and Autobiography of John Adams 3:175]+
Documents in this publication are viewable by registered users only. Log in
Guest users have access to all documents in the Founders
Early Access publication.


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Scott Anthony: Motorcycles and Cars
By Scott Anthony
With four police cars and a dedicated sign saying, 'Accident Investigation', I knew the accident on Military Road was messy.
I peeled off to take a side road and the detour took me past the other side of the crash scene. In the distance I could see a motorcycle on it's side and I silently sent out an affirmation for the well being of the rider as I turned off for the house. Mrs. Anthony came home shortly afterwards and together we took the dogs for a walk through the neighborhood. I tugged my dog up a side road and Mrs. A followed with her dog and soon we were at the accident scene again. I snapped a pic to send to my editor and Mrs. A asked a lady bystander what had happened. "Guy on the motorcycle couldn't stop… I guess… got tangled up with that gold colored car. They airlifted him to Harborview, he was conscious."More ›
LETTER: Re-run of a bad old movie
To the editor:
After I read about the Highline School Construction Bond, it appears to me like a re-run of a bad old movie. The Bond is submitted for the November General Election.
At this writing, I believe it necessary to reiterate to the Superintendent, Teachers, and other
Employees of Highline, this District is owned by all of its citizens. That means they are to represent everyone. Our employees are not to collude with their Unions to bilk citizens out of their scant income to satisfy employee appetites.
The Construction Bond as presented looks like about half construction with the remainder compiled from a list of items already paid for from State Basic Education Funds. Moreover, much of it is unspecified items in categories not related to construction.
As evidence of need, Class size is anti-correlative to how well a student performs. What's more, the point is moot because there is a very large initiative to the people about class size heading from the State to the voter polls in chorus, in November.
There are questions in my mind about the enrollment projections. I want to see more about the workup.More ›
The Last Free Thing on This Planet: Wild Berries!!!
By Chef Jeremy McLachlan
You may consider yourself an upstanding citizen, but like the rest of us, I know that you have probably picked blackberries from somebody's else's land! Whether you are walking through your favorite park, jumping into the neighbor's yard or stopping on the side of the road, everyone knows what you have done! Wild blackberries are one of the last free things on this planet (besides air), and no one ever questions what those people on the side of the road are looking for in the bushes this time of year. (It's even more understandable now that blackberries top the list for bioflavonoids in a study that food blogger Kathy Kingen highlights in her Berry Juicy News.)More ›