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Stacy Summary: Every year for the Paris Air Show, the luxury hotels of rue Rivoli and Paris 8th & 16th are booked to the rafters with the 'royal' families of the Gulf. Every French president, desperate to sell more airplanes and fighter jets, shamelessly grovels to the Saudi 'king' and his family. And within the few short days of the Paris Air Show, the many royal, veiled wives and many royal, veiled daughters have spent tens of millions of dollars in the luxury shops of LVMH and the kings have bought hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars worth of military and passenger jets from French manufacturers. So it will be very interesting, indeed, to see whether members of the Saudi royal family, get hassled by the police for wearing their veils in public. These women will, obviously, have diplomatic immunity, nevertheless, get the popcorn ready for June 21-23.
20 comments on "Paris Air Show 2011: How will Sarkozy's veil ban impact French aerospace industry?"
This means wearing any face covering, including balaclavas, hoodies or masks, is against the new law from http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/03/niqab-ban-france-muslim-veil
This is probably the real reason; so the modern police state cameras can keep us under surveillance.
Royalty is anachronistic in the 21st century.
Funeral for royalty. -
It is the price of dealing with a dumb rightwing population that nonetheless wants to have a high tech industry. A veiled France would never be able to project the image that suppressed muslim woman can attain. Good ties with the middle east mean a better structure to deal with the US. There won't be a veil gestapo, people will be to bussy with other things. I see no negatives.
Ah; the old Weapons-Of-Mass-Destruction Roadshow trick ey?
-Maxwell Smart -
Sarkozy internal thought,"I love it when he wears this head scarf. He so handsome."
No problem. If the Royals say if any of their women get hassled they will cancel the purchases made at the Paris Air Show, that would quickly put the French in their place. Or, the women instead can all wear President Sarkozy masks. After all, the functionality of the veil can be realized without actually wearing a veil. (I would say they should wear Guy Fawkes masks, but that image is only relevant to the "V for Vendetta" movie, and from the historic perspective a Fawkes mask in France would have little meaning). Clearly the question of what anybody wears, or does not wear, for any reason, should be beneath the French. The fact this law is being passed at all should be of more concern to the French people than wearing a veil or not.
No problem. If the Royals say if any of their women get hassled they will cancel the purchases made at the Paris Air Show, that would quickly put the French in their place. Or, the women instead can all wear President Sarkozy masks. After all, the functionality of the veil can be realized without actually wearing a veil. (I would say they should wear Guy Fawkes masks, but that image is only relevant to the "V for Vendetta" movie, and from the historic perspective a Fawkes mask in France would have little meaning). Clearly the question of what anybody wears, or does not wear, for any reason, should be beneath the French. The fact this law is being passed at all should be of more concern to the French people than wearing a veil or not.
IMF cuts New Zealand growth forecast: WSJ http://www.marketwatch.com/story/imf-cuts-new-zealand-growth-forecast-wsj-2011-03-03
IMF official warns against Europe tightening http://www.marketwatch.com/story/imf-official-warns-against-europe-tightening-2011-03-03
New Zealand to cut rates, PM says http://www.marketwatch.com/story/new-zealand-to-cut-rates-pm-says-2011-03-02
Firms starting to raise prices, Fed survey finds http://www.marketwatch.com/story/firms-starting-to-raise-prices-fed-survey-finds-2011-03-02
Barclays cuts 2011 U.K. growth forecast to 1.7% http://www.marketwatch.com/story/barclays-cuts-2011-uk-growth-forecast-to-17-2011-03-02
Greece, Portugal held on CreditWatch negative: S&P http://www.marketwatch.com/story/greece-portugal-held-on-creditwatch-negative-sp-2011-03-02
Euro-zone Jan. producer prices jump 1.5% http://www.marketwatch.com/story/euro-zone-jan-producer-prices-jump-15-2011-03-02
Hedge funds head for Malta to escape regulation (FT.com)
Largest US hedge fund sees currency breakup – Bridgewater's Dalio sees China, U.S. dollar relationship ending http://www.marketwatch.com/story/largest-us-hedge-fund-sees-currency-breakup-2011-03-02
Top hedge funds reportedly made $28 billion http://www.marketwatch.com/story/top-hedge-funds-reportedly-made-28-billion-2011-03-02
Rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fall – It's the third consecutive week of declines: Freddie Mac http://www.marketwatch.com/story/rates-on-30-year-fixed-rate-mortgage-fall-2011-03-03
Treasury to sell $66 bln in notes, bonds http://www.marketwatch.com/story/treasury-to-sell-66-bln-in-notes-bonds-2011-03-03
Fed buys $6.7 bln in Treasurys; bonds stay down http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fed-buys-67-bln-in-treasurys-bonds-stay-down-2011-03-02
Fed buys $1.89 bln in Treasurys; bonds stay down http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fed-buys-189-bln-in-treasurys-bonds-stay-down-2011-03-01
Fed Policy Makers Signal Abrupt End to Bond Purchases in June http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-04/fed-policy-makers-signal-abrupt-end-to-bond-purchases-in-june.html
U.K. House Prices Declined Last Month, Erasing January Gain http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-04/house-prices-in-u-k-fell-0-9-in-february-as-sales-stay-low-halifax-says.html
The Netherlands: 'House prices continue to decline in 2011' http://tinyurl.com/6zbbt27
What the Their Ladyships spend at fashion outlets probably outweighs mere military spending. Logically. After all, the stakes are much higher 😉
There can't be a problem when the shopping comes to them. Or when the store is closed for their convenience. Otherwise, who rakes in more dough for France, guns or fashion? Pushover. Even if lobbyists are involved. Can you imagine top griffes being banned from the richest enclaves on earth? Or Inddonesia? Or malaysia? Or… Pushover.
Besides, all it takes is a 1940's revival and veils return. Law, or no law.
i'm surprised that the Saudi women even go shopping. Don't they have to be covered neck to toe in black when they get home anyway (whilst the men shag whores and drink in Bahrain)? Can't really imagine them saying to the Louis Vuitton assistant 'I'd like to try on that skimpy little number over there, it'll look great when i hit the clubs in Riyadh'.
It will make for an interesting and perhaps dynamic incident. However, the French have in some ways out-Saudied the Saudis on this and I think that deep down this level of sheer brutal unjust legislation against one group of tax payers is something which will impress the Saudi dicatorship.
If it is still permissible to wear make-up in France – a mask as effective as any other – will some of our Islamic sisters take to painting veils onto their face a'la Veruschka. See portfolio 2 for some good examples.
It's just another way of saying that Naked emperor Sarkozy breaks out in a cold sweat when he thinks of anyone approaching him who his secret service can't identify or categorise. It's the inevitable outcome of a despotic system which ultimately ends up terrorising itself. Ironically, the demise of a hard core crack addict is very similar.
Their problem is: nobody needs a veil. In low light, in a position where the light source is facing away, a Caribou arrow will cut through any body armour. They can run but cannot hide, if they enter an area that has been ranged by defensive opposition.
Of course, they could choose not to enter such areas but their insatiable obsession with greed & guilt compels them to do so anyway.
I don't see a problem. The sauds have outlawed not wearing a veil. France has outlawed wearing a veil. It all makes sense to me.


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Fleet Foxes make magic at the Palladium
Three tunes into a lengthy Saturday night set at the Hollywood Palladium, Robin Pecknold (above) -- the red-bearded, tuque-wearing frontman of Seattle-based folk band Fleet Foxes -- broke his silence.
"Anyone here last night for Ke$ha?" he quipped. "One? Two?" he asked, counting the sparsely raised hands, "... out of 4,000."
Grinning facetiously, he pointed downward: "There's glitter everywhere on stage."
Just a trivial aside, but within the context of this particular gig, so soon into the celebrated band's first tour behind its widely acclaimed second album, Helplessness Blues (Sub Pop), Pecknold's (pseudo?)-nervously conducted survey was telling all the same.
Here he was, having already impressively wafted through the light instrumental plucking of "The Cascades," followed by the new disc's final cut, "Grown Ocean," and the hugely harmonic Sun Giant track "Drops in the River," trying to engage the audience (those who could hear him, anyway) in endearing but awkward off-the-cuff banter. Almost as if mock-assuring himself that this was indeed his audience -- and that the rapturous, encore-worthy cheers immediately emanating from all corners of the packed ballroom weren't just overly polite gestures.
Kinda strange coming from a dude whose band has consistently sold out shows with ease since before the release of its 2008 self-titled debut. But as he mentioned toward the generous, nearly two-hour show's conclusion, Fleet Foxes "are still getting into the swing of touring again."
So what if the overall showmanship came off a bit apprehensive? Who cares if the group sometimes took long silent pauses between songs to tune and switch instruments, or that Pecknold started and re-started a few finger-picking intros before nailing the right gait?
I'd assume that by the end of Saturday's set -- an enthralling showcase of their nearly unmatched knack for seamless two-, three- and even four-part harmonies and intricate multi-instrumental arrangements, both of which portend great potential for the future of Americana music -- most attendees cared little that the band/fan banter mostly involved a glitter-caked pop-star and scattered wisecracks about the surprisingly "well-mannered" crowd. The music -- when it kept its momentum -- was irresistible, overpowering, trance-inducing. Commanding enough on its own to overshadow any early-tour jitters.
Though a few intrusive voices chattered incessantly above the music, silent respect reigned as Pecknold, his eyes shut tightly in emotionally fueled concentration, strummed and belted out the uplifting melodies of "Battery Kinzie" and "Bedouin Dress," two new songs much enhanced by added player Casey Wescot's dexterous piano lines (tastefully replacing fiddle on the latter's recorded version) and Joshua Tillman's driving drums. His rhythms resonated with the deep-toned raucousness of an advancing marching band, or the timpani-heavy percussion section of a massive military orchestra.
The Helplessness Blues material showed the outfit adding dynamic depth to the transporting atmosphere of its exquisite debut. "Blue Spotted Tail," for example, toward the end of Saturday's show, is wildly adventuresome for a band with such refined pop sensibilities: the song holds true to the folksy-gospel undertones of the debut, but with the aid of sporadic, high-pitched bass clarinet tones from new member (and former Blood Brother) Morgan Henderson, the piece wriggles its way into a distinctly prog-psych-rock climax that echoes the jazz-freak-out portions of Radiohead's "The National Anthem." It's a huge credit to the band's proficiency that these whimsical permutations, while jarring, are so precisely executed -- nearly album-perfect -- during the live show.
The performance achieved its most consistent flow, however, during sections that nixed between-song tune-ups. Just as it does on Fleet Foxes, the dreamily ebbing a capella outro of "White Winter Hymnal" transitioned perfectly into the riveting gallop of "Ragged Wood," a composition of distinctly different yet fully cohesive parts that most closely mirrors the stylistic forays of complex new songs like "The Shrine/An Argument" and the majestic, encore-closing "Helplessness Blues." Similarly -- and showing still more skill by melding old and new arrangements -- the softly strummed chords of "Montezuma," subtly complemented by guitarist Christian Wargo's heavenly yet haunting harmonies, bled flawlessly into the intro of "He Doesn't Know Why," an airy anthem that rivals the best of Mumford & Sons and Arcade Fire's many comparable gems.
Yet, while continuity from song to song kept the audience attentive, the occasional pause also proved valuable time and again. The musicians seemed to regroup after finishing a carefully played version of "Your Protector," by then slowing -- ever so slightly -- the tempo of "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" to produce an arrangement that was completely calming, gripping enough to hush the bustling room. Likewise, the brief break between the main-set closing "Blue Ridge Mountains" and the encore-opening "Silver Dagger" -- a Joan Baez cover played and sung solely by Pecknold -- lent the latter an enchanting quality that might have been lost had it been jammed between some of the band's more symphonic songs.
As has been the case from the moment these guys burst onto the scene, instances like these made it abundantly clear that Pecknold & Co. aren't the sort to incorporate distractions. They don't need props or extravagant lights, nor stage antics that go much beyond swaying or rocking gently to the sultry sounds of their instruments. All that frippery wouldn't be desirable at a Fleet Foxes show. As on record, the magic is in the music -- where it belongs.
Setlist: Fleet Foxes at the Hollywood Palladium, May 7, 2011
Main set: The Cascades / Grown Ocean / Drops in the River / Battery Kinzie / Bedouin Dress / Sim Sala Bim / Mykonos / Your Protector / Tiger Mountain Peasant Song / White Winter Hymnal / Ragged Wood / Lorelai / Montezuma / He Doesn't Know Why / The Shrine/An Argument / Blue Spotted Tail / Blue Ridge Mountains
Encore: Silver Dagger (Joan Baez cover) / Helplessness Blues
Photos also by David Hall, for The Orange County Register.
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subset: commoncrawl


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MANILA, Philippines — To aid small and medium businesses in growing their enterprises, two powerhouse technology firms — the Philippine Long Distance and Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Samsung Philippines — recently forged a deal that will bundle electronic gadgets with connectivity access and other solutions specifically meant for small and medium enterprises.
Under the new PLDT myDSL Biz plans set to be launched at the end of the month, SMEs will not only get fast access to the Internet and allow their customers to surf the Web in their respective establishments, they will also get to own gadgets by technology giant Samsung as well.
The gadgets that will be bundled with new PLDT DSL plans include netbooks, notebooks, WiFi printers, tablets, and even a Smart WiFi TV. All of the gadgets will be available free of charge when businesses subscribe to a PLDT myDSL Biz plan of their choice.
Eric Alberto, PLDT EVP and head of Enterprise, International and Carrier Business, said the company is targeting the bundles to SME's because they have the biggest need to grow and that they can benefit the most from these ICT tools.
"SMEs define the well-being of the Philippine economy, because they are comprised of 99 percent of the firms registered with the SEC and employ 70 percent of the domestic labor force," Alberto explained. "Their long-term strategic survival depends upon ICT, which they can capitalize on to ensure speed and business agility."
The recent investment-grade rating upgrades, handed to the Philippines by credit rating agencies Standard & Poor's and Fitch, are an indication that there are now more opportunities for SMEs to grow, and to even take their businesses global, Alberto added.
According to Amil Azurin, marketing head of PLDT SME Nation, Samsung was tapped for the partnership given its strong leadership in the consumer electronics space, and its growing appreciation of the SME market, which perfectly aligns with the goals of the business unit.
With the new PLDT myDSL Biz plans, every new subscription will come with a bundled Samsung gadget — from a humble netbook at Plan 4000 to as grand as a Samsung Smart TV at Plan 25000.
"We are leaders in our respective industries, and Samsung today has a keen appreciation of the SME market, so this is aligned with our strategies," Azurin said.
PLDT is currently the leader in providing Internet access to business and their customers across the Philippines, but recent figures supplied by Azurin — where only about 90,000 of over 800,000 SMEs have been tapped by the unit — suggest that there remains a huge opportunity left untapped by PLDT.
InterAksyon.com is the online news portal of TV5, which is part of the PLDT group.


text: AutoLabo Creates Aero Package For Toyota PriusBen Wojdyla12/09/08 1:30pmFiled to: custom carsToyota PriusEco TuningEco-TuningToyota Prius Body Kitnew toyota priusToyota Prius TuningToyotaPrius83EditPromoteShare to KinjaToggle Conversation toolsGo to permalink Here's an interesting new body kit from AutoLabo for the Toyota Prius taking a different spin on customization. The package ekes out every last possible trick of aerodynamics from the little multi-drived Toyota. It's got rear wheel skirts, a neat little element in the front wheel well to reduce turbulence, a reshaped rear diffuser, lower side skirts and a newish refreshed nose. All that good stuff goes in to make it far more aerodynamic but then they do goofy stuff like hang a fart can off the back, leave the antenna on top and fail to flush mount things like the fog lamps. We bag on the Toyota Prius fairly regularly mainly because we're car guys, and there isn't an ounce of passion in the Prius. It just does everything modestly with the determined reliability of refrigerator. There's nothing wrong with that, but it's incredibly boring. If you're going to stake your claim as the most fuel efficient car in America, do it big, go for the gusto, squeeze every ounce of efficiency out of everything. The engineering under hood might do that, but the body and aerodynamics leave a lot to be desired. This is why we actually like this body kit from AutoLabo. We're glad to see aftermarket companies making body kits that actually do something other than suck. [4WheelsNews]Reply83 repliesLeave a reply


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cup ruby port wine
23 cup water
cup sugar
cup orange juice
cinnamon stick
2 whole cloves
Dash of salt
teaspoon vanilla
3 Bartlett pears
Peel pears and core with a melon baller from the bottom, leaving the stem in tact. In a small saucepan, combine all ingredients except pears. Bring to a boil on medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat to a simmer. Add pears, cover, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, until pears can be easily pierced with a knife. Remove from liquid. Cover and chill until cool. Reserve for Assembling (see recipe at left).
Reserve poaching liquid to be reduced while the baked pear is cooling.
Yield: 6 poached pear halves (3 whole pears)
Source: Colleen Demsey, Manhattan s Restaurant


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Cookbook+Calendar 3.6 | 17.5 Mb
Cookbook+Calendar is a scheduler, that enables to plan a menu, a diet or a dinner party, and to store recipes. A handy tool for those who want to manage meal planning calendar quickly and easily, it will be essential for grocery and restaurant managers, for sportsmen and those who keep to a diet, and for all those who enjoy cooking.
With its intuitive interface, Cookbook+Calendar is designed to be a recipe database and to help with planning a menu or a diet. The software supports most of the formats, including HTML, which makes saving recipes extremely easy. Just save it as is, drag and drop it directly into the appropriate time slot - and it is in the database! Flexible options allow customizing the calendar and copying events or changing the date. It also supports adding pictures, comments to the recipe and information for glossaries. Cookbook+Calendar will provide you with the list of holidays, and it will remind you when you should start cooking dinner. What's more, with it you can create shopping list reminders. The program features search by recipe name and also by main ingredients, which means that it is always ready to suggest you a recipe for the products available in the fridge. Cookbook+Calendar supports exporting recipes of any format and saving them on USB, so you can easily share your favorite recipes with your friends and mates.
The program can serve as a home accountant: it lets you calculate and save the approximate price of the dish, and then provides you with the statistics for any period of time; thus, with its help you can track all the food expenses. Cookbook+Calendar is a must-have for those who want to be in full control of the meal planning calendar.
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For those of you of whom used to follow the Weekly StartUp, I am excited to let you know that I now have another place for you to go to see the ramblings. jedejames.wordpress.com. On here, I will place all the articles, written by me, that are published by various sites and magazines. We'll also include a few blog posts from here and there. It is here that I hope to include you on the journey, and to allow you to come to one place to see the work, rather than by having to travel through the abyss as i tweet out the article url's on twitter.
Embarking on a New Beginning
With graduation day fresh on many people's minds this week, I want to embark on new beginnings. I had the opportunity to go back to Ole Miss last weekend to see my brother graduate. While there, memories came back of my own graduation that took place two years ago [Was it really that long ago?]. That day, as I remember it, was met with such bittersweet excitement. So many of us had plans for right after graduation, and were extremely excited about our new lives. But the years of memories that had been created on those hallowed grounds in Oxford were some that we knew we would look back on as the best years of our lives.
It's now two years from graduation day, and the friends I spent my days and nights with in college have moved to all parts of the world. Our communications, which used to be just dropping in at each other's homes, have narrowed down to mostly GroupMe conversations. Some of us are still in Oxford, in Law School or at South Depot. Some are in Jackson, in Med School, Nursing School, Dental School, Physical Therapy School, or working. Others of us have moved away, to DC, to New York, to Memphis, to Austin, to Nashville, to Boston, and everywhere in between. Some of us are married; some, no closer to being married than the day we graduated. Our lives have changed, our experiences varied, but our progressions have allowed us to experience life in new and innovative fashions.
In some ways, the past two years have allowed some friends to fall apart. In others, it has brought many friends so much closer together. You keep up with each other, guide each other through life's decisions, and praise each other on new accomplishments. You stay informed on one of your friends new business. You ask about how Law school finals were. You just realize that you won't see your Med School friends again until they get finished with the first year. We may not all be going to Econ together anymore, or swimming in the VCC pool at nights anymore, but we lead more interesting lives. Our difference paths and experiences provide us with so much more to talk about. And when we can get together now, our time together is cherished that much more.
For those of you who just graduated, if you are reading, be excited about this new beginning. Keep in touch with your good friends. Start a GroupMe if you haven't already. Take on your next opportunity with a clear mind and an open heart, make new friends and have new experiences. Remember to confide in your friends, they will always be there to help. You will find that your Ole Miss family will be one that you will cherish and brag on in every aspect on your life. As you create your new identity, remember who you are.
All in all, just have fun in your new ventures. This is an exciting time in your life, and the start of a brand new adventure. And know, that no matter where you go, you will always come back to the hallowed grounds in Oxford, where you made some of your most lasting friendships.
I leave you with a poem from Frank Everett:
"There is a valid distinction between The University and Ole Miss even though the separate threads are closely interwoven. The University is buildings, trees and people. Ole Miss is mood, emotion and personality. One is physical, and the other is spiritual. One is tangible and the other intangible. The University is respected, but Ole Miss is loved. The University gives a diploma and regretfully terminates tenure, but one never graduates from Ole Miss."
-Frank Everett
Being Pete Campbell, Without the Pete Campbell
When you think of Pete Campbell, you think of a young, hard working ad man. the young man who has paid his dues, but has thrived in his business and now has power within his grasp. However, with that, you cannot help but be reminded of the philandering, self-serving attitude that rounds out Pete's personality. You see the guy who got punched out by Lane Pryce only two weeks ago just for being himself.
In the world of entrepreneurship and in the world of business in general, how can we take this character, and apply his attributes to our success? How can we constantly thrive to have more power, have more success, but not step over everyone to get there? Sometimes the Pete Campbell in all of us can come out. We think that the only way to get to our goals is to be completely self-absorbed and self-interested. We get into the mindset that everyone else above us is in our way, and we need to find a way to get to their position.
The way to success, however, is through using these peers, rather than stepping on them. Be happy with where you stand currently…if not internally, at least on the surface. Show your boss, or your prospective clients, how excited you are to serve them. Given time, given enough service, your time will come. The happier you are in doing your job, the better job you will do on your work. This is where the positive attibutes of Pete Campbell can become visible.
Pete may be extremely self-interested, but he also has a work ethic that is unparalleled, except for maybe Don Draper. He loves what he does, and he loves the idea of success, so he excels at it. This is no 9-5 job for him, it is a lifestyle. This is the attitude that we must immerse into our working lives, so that we can be as successful in our positions as we hope to be. By thinking of our work as a lifestyle, rather than as a job, we will be able to take out the 9-5 aspect of the job. We begin making friendships surrounding our work, we begin making dinner plans with peers. Work becomes a lifestyle, not merely a commitment.
Maybe we should all work to become a more polished version of Pete Campbell [part of him, at least].
I am excited to announce today that I am now a Contributor to a new, innovative online magazine named Social Media Chimps. This magazine, founded just over a month ago, provides in depth insights into social media, startup businesses, as well as political events. My first article has been published this morning, so I'd appreciate you going over to the site to read it. Thank you all for your continued support, and I look forward to taking this step forward together, as a community ready to learn. To find the article, please just click on the Social Media Chimps name in the first sentence.
Update on Kony 2012: Have your opinions changed?
So by now, the initial hype about Kony 2012 has subsided, and we aren't seeing stickers and posters on every corner…big surprise, right? Actually, someone did spray paint a large "Kony 2012" in block letters on the side of an office building right down the street from my office building a few weeks ago. Again, big surprise, right.
How has Kony 2012 altered our viewpoints toward this subject? We definitely have become aware of Kony's existence, and the horrible acts that he has comitted. The US has begun looking into adding a few more troops, but no one knows if that will truly happen or not. Our government has a few other pretty big things going on right now (Healthcare in the Supreme Court) and (Jobs Act–>we'll talk more about this on Friday).
One thing that we have learned over the past few weeks, however, is how not to act after you begin a movement this large. Most of us have heard of what happened to Jason Russell, one of the founders of this movement and Invisible Children. For PG purposes sake, let's just say he went crazy one afternoon, and is now seeking treatment. If you want to know more, click on his name, above.
To make matters worse, there has been another video that has surfaced which sheds more disturbing light into this organization. In this video, one of the founders talks about a million dollar donation, and in a jokingly (drunkenly) manner, talks about how he is going to keep $900,000 of it to himself. The video is fairly graphic, so I just want to warn you ahead of time before you watch it.
I guess the biggest question that comes from this is….how has the action of the executives of Invisible Children tarred the Kony 2012 movement, if at all? Do you still support the movement, or is it now a laughable afterthought? Let me know your thoughts, and let's gauge a public opinion right here on the Weekly StartUp.
Startup Weekend: Building a Business in 54 Hours
For those of you who have always looked for a way to get involved with entrepreneurs from all networks in your area, you now have your wish. Startup Weekend is an organization that started up that allows entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas, network with others, and develop ideas from scratch. In 54 hours, you have the opportunity to take your raw idea, collaborate with five people with your interests, and develop a product that is ready to be put to market. At the end of the 54 hours, you even have a chance to try to get funding from some of the angel investors that are on the judging panel.
How far do you have to travel to find this Startup Weekend? Nowhere. Startup Weekend travels all over the globe, and features different cities almost every week. Even our own Jackson, MS, hosted a Startup Weekend a few weeks ago. Watch this video to learn a little more about what Startup Weekend does:
So you have your idea, and you are ready to make your next move? Take a chance. There is no idea too small to take a chance on. You never know if your pet idea is the next winner at a Startup Weekend. If you have an idea, go to startupweekend.org and see when they are coming near to you…. This is an opportunity that no entrepreneur should miss.
Finding Your Steady
Sometimes its incredibly difficult to maintain a high motivation level about something for an extended period of time. This can refer to your job, your hobbies, relationships, you name it. The problem with these highs and lows on motivation standards is that you leave people out to dry when you lose your motivation. Is this a "signing off" speech for me on this blog? No, no, it isn't. But yes, I do know this has been a very slow week on the Weekly StartUp. But we're back, and here we go…
Over the past few weeks, we have looked at a few different companies and non-profit organizations that are doing some incredible things. I believe we have learned a great deal from them. Hopefully? One thing that all these organizations have is a fearless leader at the helm that overcomes hurdles in order to get to that launch date. It can be so easy during the start up phase to lose interest as hurdles are continuously thrown your way. How do you keep the motivation to stick on, and know that you are not just wasting your time?
We come again to the word passion. I have said time and time again over the past few weeks that without passion, really believing in your cause, you have nothing. The dreadful 9-5 workdays in a cubicle…do they bring out a fire in you? If so, that is great! For me, not as much. I'm not saying I don't enjoy my work, I do. But there is a fire inside me that says I need to innovate, hence I am writing to you right now. What is it in your life that ignites that fire? Are you doing everything you can right now to fulfill it?
Once you find what you truly believe in, it becomes much easier to create in it a steady. The highs and lows of excitement and dread leave. Writing this for me has become a very steady practice, one in which I am able to learn, practice, and love. For you, it may be a sport, or starting a business. Whatever your passion is, find it, and it will relieve you of the stress brought out by a lack of motivation.
Where do your passions lie? This weekend and this coming week, I challenge all of us to look in the mirror, and to ask ourselves if we are on the path that we truly want to be on. If we aren't, what can we do about it? In that answer, you will find your next pursuit.
Voters Act
In this weeks spotlight, we look at Voters Act, an online grassroots advocacy program available for candidates. This platform allows for fundraising to take place on both local and national levels. Though I will not delve deep into the platform, I do want each of you politicos to go into the site, create a platform, and see how you can make a difference in todays elections.
Thanks to Hudson Baird for spending time telling me more about Voters Act, as well as giving me permission to share a little about his site.
Just Get Up And Do It
There are countless times in my life when I had what I thought was "the next great idea." I would get excited about it, talk about it, and then let the idea end right there, as an idea. How do you take that next step? What does it take to gain the courage to step out there, and allow yourself to be vulnerable?
Those questions have plagued me over the past few years as I have dreamed of entering the entrepreneurial world. It wasn't until a mentor of mine told me to start this blog that I finally realized the piece of the pie that I was missing out on. Just get up and do it. Having large dreams are only a small piece of starting a business. The main piece is the action taken towards molding this dream into a reality.
Before starting this blog, I had dreams of creating new sites that would greatly enhance the experiences of up and coming entrepreneurs as they were beginning their processes. In learning about the minimum viable product, however, I realized that I should begin working towards my dreams now. It is through this blog that I have begun to learn more about the entrepreneurial world by living it. I have also been able to hopefully teach a few of you about some new things happening within the start up world. I now know that through only giving a small piece of a product, you are able to reach out to new markets and establish a brand for yourself…something that could not have happened if I was still waiting to create a full product.
So as I begin this process, and as you progress with your lives, just remember that the best way to live your life is by the ole Nike saying, "Just Do It." How will you ever know what was to be if you never took the risk? If you can't take the plunge, then dangle your toes in the water, as I am, and try to find your niche. It is rare that your regret what you did, but you will overwhelmingly regret what you did not do.
What risk will you take today?
A fellow entrepreneur gave me a slight nudge recently that motivated me to post this blog. I think you will certainly find value in it as it incorporates some of the best minds of the 21st century.
Remember….. The secret to learning as an entrepreneur is to mix equal parts of inspiration and perspiration. Hard work without a vision is futile, while a great idea without execution is similarly worthless. In these TED talks, you'll find the inspiration you need and the know-how to get it done.
- Seth Godin on Standing Out: What makes you so special? Seth Godin's talk is all about why people just ignore the ordinary. In order to stand out, Godin says, you must be either bad or bizarre. Boring will not bring you success.
- Alex Tabarrok on How Ideas Trump Crises: Economist Alex Tabarrok's talk celebrates the practice of idea sharing. He explains that through…
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October 27, 2011 · Lessig · Reblogged from
[Dave Zirin has replied to my response. This issue about strategy is critical and important. Let me try one more time.]
Still missing the point. Let me try, Mr. @EdgeofSports, one last time. This time with a sports metaphor:
Imagine you're a player with the Chicago Bears. You're on the field, about to begin a game with the Green Bay Packers. Just before kick-off, someone races onto the field screaming: "Guys, please, can't we all just get along? Enough of this fighting. Let's just shake hands and go get a beer."
I am not that guy, Dave. That's not my argument (now stated again and again and again). Instead, I'm the guy saying something like: "Hey, Bears and Packers: Can we have a conversation about whether a tackler should be allowed to use his helmet when making a tackle?" Or translated for the non-sports-readers (which, before my friend Mark Snyderman gave me these examples, I, too, would have been), I'm the guy saying: we need to have a conversation about the rules of the game, because they are not working for any of us.
Or once again: Imagine you're the pitcher for the Boston Red Sox (as most of the kids (boys and girls) where I come from do, at least once a day). You're on the pitching mound, about to throw against the Yankees' star batter. You look up, and some guy is flying a plane pulling a banner that says: "Look, I know some of us are Sox fans, and others of us are Yankees fans, but we're all baseball fans. Let's just stop all this fighting, link arms, and learn to work together."
I am not that idiot either, Dave. Instead, and again, I am your teammate (no doubt, I'd be in the dugout and you'd be pitching, but still), asking whether it might make sense to sit down with the Yankees (and others in our league) and rethink the instant replay rule. Baseball, I believe, should be governed by honest umpires, not HD cameras.
In both cases, I'm the guy saying we should think about the rules. I'm not trying to say we should dampen the competitive passion of our own team. Or deny the justice in our own cause. Or to betray our own objectives. But competition happens on a field; that field is governed by rules; those rules only get changed if everyone (or at least the 99%) on the field agrees. So I think we need to find a way to talk to the 99% — Liberals, Conservatives, Moderates, Libertarians — about whether and how those rules should be changed.
Now as crazy as it is to race onto a football field and urge a kumbayah moment, or to buzz Fenway Park to urge inter-team love, it is just as crazy to label as disloyal a team member who is arguing that we need to sit down to talk about the rules of the game. It may be disloyal to argue that you shouldn't fight hard against the other team. It is likely stupid, as a coach, to start a game with a lecture about how decent and hard working the other side is. But it is neither stupid nor disloyal to push for a respectful conversation with the other side when you believe the rules of the game are not working — for you and for the other side.
And that is my belief. I believe this system is corrupt. I believe that corruption hurts both the (populist) Left and the (populist) Right. And because I believe it hurts both of us populists, I believe there is a reason to try to engage with people I otherwise disagree with to see whether we can, first, agree about this corruption, and second, take steps to reform it. I believe that 99% of us — Liberal and Conservative, Leftist and Libertarians, Moderates, Tea Party supporters, Coffee Party Activists, much of the ACLU — could actually agree about the corruption that is this system, and agree to work together to change it.
It won't be easy to get that agreement. It isn't obvious how to even facilitate the conversation. But a good first step in that project would be to resolve not to call (again, baselessly, but put that aside) the other side "racists." Instead, that conversation begins by acknowledging our differences, and accepting our different loyalties, yet working with respect to engage people we disagree with about the possibility that there might be something more fundamental — like changing the rules of the game — that differences notwithstanding, we might agree upon.
I get that respect is not your style. I doubt our politics are much different, but I do lean more to Gandhi ("What makes you think I hate the British?") than to Malcolm X. But you rally hate not only of your opponents, but also of your allies, with prose that reek of condescension ("put down the high school citizenship textbook"), attack with falseness ("Please don't tell me to love the Tea Party" — where have I ever told anyone to support, let alone, love the Tea Party?) and repeatedly demand that I just go home ("please get out of the way"; "don't be surprised if theres no US. Just 'you.'"). I get that makes things simpler — the Tea Party is racist, and I'm ignorant — but in my experience, I've not actually seen that style do much to convince anyone of anything.
At the very least, you've not shown me how hate gets you to 67 Senators, or 75% of the States. Dr. King didn't need to change the Constitution. We do. And nothing in what I've said suggests anyone should "wait" to fight for anything of substance: please, coach, rally the team to fight for all the things you and I believe in. What I've said, again and again and again, is that as well as fighting for what we believe, we need to identify what we all believe, and use that common belief to end the corruption that blocks us, and them, from getting what we, all of us, want.
(Original post on HuffPo)


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Auto insurance fraud comes in all shapes and sizes, from organized rings that stage accidents and reap big bucks to repair shops that routinely help motorists inflate their claims.
Spotting those cases among the 10 million or so car accidents reported each year takes some detective work.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, there were more than 35,000 suspicious auto insurance claims in 2011, and 42 states and the District of Columbia have set up bureaus to investigate suspected fraud.
While it's impossible to put an exact dollar value on the amount of auto insurance fraud that occurs each year, a study by the Insurance Research Council estimates that fraudulent and exaggerated claims cost insurers an extra $4.8 billion to $6.8 billion in 2007, or between 13 percent and 18 percent of total payouts. Inflated claims are more common than out-and-out fakes, the report states.
Those who get caught trip over red flags investigators have learned to watch for.
How fraud is investigated
Auto insurance companies may delve into cases of suspected fraud themselves, but when a case involving a sizeable claim or a number of claims appears to be fraudulent, insurers may call in the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) to investigate.
The NICB "takes the thread and starts pulling on it," says NICB spokesperson Frank Scafidi. "We can perhaps see similar acts by the same people in the same town."
Like the NICB, the private company Detica works with auto insurance companies to detect patterns of fraud. "Insurers pool data, which helps everyone," says Joe Friscia, Detica's president for the Americas.
Consider the "swoop and squat," where two drivers work in tandem to trap an innocent motorist. One slams on the brakes in front of the victim; the other blocks the victim in the other lane, so the victim can't swerve to avoid the wreck.
Instead, the victim rear-ends the car in front, which is filled with people. Everyone in that car will claim a hard-to-detect injury, like whiplash. The same people may be repeatedly involved in such wrecks.
"We detect them by looking at the relationships of people and see if there are other accidents in their history," says Tim Rush, senior manager for sales for the U.S. insurance sector for Detica.
Using its software, Detica can look at things like the street addresses, phone numbers and email addresses for the suspected fraudsters, Rush says. Large, organized fraud rings could involve 20 or 30 people, Rush says.
Fraud rings
NICB investigators work with member insurance companies to uncover fraud rings. The organization has about 120 agents in the field investigating claims, Scafidi says. Another arm analyzes claims, looking for suspicious trends that can trigger investigations.
Investigators may notice things such as the same address, witness names or license plate numbers showing up repeatedly on claims.
Red flags go up if the organizer "has purchased 20 different policies for 20 different, unrelated individuals, and they think it won't be detected," Rush says.
'Soft fraud'
Investigators also keep an eye out for less obvious fraud, such as a claim for $3,000 after a vehicle is towed, when the real cost is $500, Rush says. Another example might be a medical provider saying someone's arm is broken when it's actually bruised.
Such "soft fraud" is particularly commonplace. "Soft fraud is pretty constant. It's almost like a fact of life in the business," Scafidi says.
Insurers can opt to pay the claim and then cancel the motorist's policy, or they may decide to build a case and prosecute the person for fraud.
No-fault insurance = more fraud
The industry says fraud is a particular problem in no-fault auto insurance states, where policyholders can receive financial compensation for their losses in an auto accident -- up to a set amount -- regardless of who is at fault.
Scafidi says no-fault laws provide a temptation because "there's a guaranteed payout without too much trouble."
A dozen states, including Florida, New York and Michigan, have no-fault systems in place, and often motorists pay the price through hefty car insurance rates.
In Florida, where fraud has pushed personal injury protection rates through the roof in some ZIP codes, the Legislature this spring approved reforms that put time limits on treatment for accident injuries and exclude care provided by massage therapists or acupuncturists.
Scafidi says he'd "like to see the same kind of results in other states, but it's a slow process."


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One of my favorite dishes to make in the winter is a big bowl of polenta topped with a scoop of whatever leftover vegetables are rolling around in the fridge. Sarah Copeland seems to be of the same mind. She has four (yes, four) different recipes for polenta in her new cookbook, Feast, and I couldn't have been more pleased to try one out. For winter, she tops cheddar-filled polenta with a wilted melange of bitter greens and cherry tomatoes, a delicate poached egg, and a few crumbles of pungent blue cheese.
Why I picked this recipe: Polenta-with-toppings screams winter comfort food to me; this recipe was a no-brainer.
What worked: I had never used this cooking method for polenta, and I was surprised to find that it turned out perfectly soft and creamy.
What didn't: I would have liked a greater ratio of salad to polenta. Next time, I'll double the salad ingredients and keep the polenta portions the same.
Suggested tweaks: You could use other winter greens in place of the frisée and radicchio if you like (bitter mustard greens would be nice). Frying the egg will work if you're not a fan of poaching.
As always with our Cook the Book feature, we have five (5) copies of Feast to give away this week.
About the author: Kate Williams is a freelance writer and personal chef living in Berkeley, CA. She is a contributor to The Oxford American, KQED's Bay Area Bites, and Berkeleyside NOSH. Follow her @KateHWiliams.


text: eBay feedback toolsWendy Boswell7/21/06 12:00pmFiled to: eBayEfficiencyProductivityShortcutseBay Hacks4EditPromoteShare to KinjaToggle Conversation toolsGo to permalinkIf you buy or sell on eBay, you're going to love this set of eBay feedback tools from Toolhaus.org.AdvertisementI first came upon the negative feedback tool a few years ago - it's a fast way to look up an eBay seller's negative dings without having to scroll through buyer feedbacks, page after page. The Toolhaus folks have added a few new fun widgets since the last time I visited, including:"The mutual tool lets you see the feedback which two eBay users have left for each other! Or you can enter an item number to check the seller and buyer, or current high bidder!item-fb shows a user's recent feedback with the item's title, and groups feedback from Dutch Auctions into a single entry. You can even search the item titles for specific terms!"Believe me, this especially comes in handy when you're trying to figure out a Power Seller's negs; you'll never waste time going through thousands of feedbacks again. AdvertisementToolhaus.org


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The drone that Iran claims to have shot down was a stealth RQ-170 "Sentinel"
The RQ-170 "Sentinel," a stealth unmanned U.S. drone / Wikimedia Commons
The super-secret drone that Iran claims to have recovered was on a CIA "Focal Point" mission, gathering intelligence and likely crashed though it remains uncertain whether it was able to self-destruct, U.S. officials told National Journal on Tuesday.
Controllers lost contact with the prized stealth unmanned aerial drone, the RQ-170 "Sentinel", last week over western Afghanistan, said one government official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Based on its projected glide path, officials assume it fell just inside the Iranian border.
Though the CIA has used the Sentinel to monitor Iranian nuclear convoys before, the precise nature of the mission this time is not known.
CIA Asked to Adjust Drone Strike Policy
U.S. Drone Struck Qaddafi's Convoy
U.S. Flying Drones Out of Base in Ethiopia
The Sentinel is the top-of-the-line UAV, with highly sensitive cryptographic and stealth technology. If it indeed reaches Iranian hands undamaged it will represent a compromise in the latest of U.S. stealth technology, said officials with knowledge of the program.
An investigation is under way and the rest of the small fleet of classified UAVs have been grounded. They number less than 10 and are piloted by the 30th Reconnaissance Squadron at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada.
The drones are thought to be equipped with self-destruct capabilities in the event that they lose contact with their controllers, which is why the U.S. was initially skeptical of Iran's claim to have the drone in custody. The officials didn't say if they knew for certain that the fallen drone had managed to self-destruct.
Near Afghanistan's border with Iran, the U.S. operates non-stealth drones called RQ-7s for counter-narcotics missions. But all of those are accounted for, the officials say.
Every Sentinel mission must be approved by the National Security Staff in advance of its execution and elaborate measures are used to protect it.
The Sentinel achieves stealth due to its wing-like design, high altitude flying and energy redirecting paint. It was created to secretly monitor the proliferation activities of Iran and North Korea.
The cryptographic gear on board is state of the art, as are its sensor packages, which include radiation signature monitoring and advanced hyperspectral imaging.


text: Don't be a basket case, dress your iPhone in a gasket caseMike Spinelli7/21/11 12:30pmFiled to: car techGadgetsiPhone224EditPromoteShare to KinjaToggle Conversation toolsGo to permalinkAs one who's dropped his iPhone face down on a marble floor, I can attest to the necessity of an iPhone case. But everyone's got those rubber things. Wouldn't it be nice to have a case that constantly reminded you that the engine in your garage isn't going to rebuild itself?AdvertisementCheck out id America's Gasket Brushed Aluminum Case. (We're just calling it the "gasket case." The design firm says it's inspired by the shape of a head gasket on a performance engine. And, lo, it does resemble one of those, doesn't it?It's made from brushed aluminum with a suede inner lining. BUT WAIT. For your $29.99. You also get protective film, an "installation squeegee" and, because they come with everything these days from TVs to Big Macs, a microfiber cleaning cloth.Reply224 repliesLeave a reply


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Non-traditional resources and new conversion technologies critical to sustainable Northwest biofuels industry
March 17, 2008
The Northwest can have a sizeable biofuels industry based primarily on local resources if non-traditional feedstocks and new conversion technologies are used.
RICHLAND, Wash. – The Northwest can have a sizeable biofuels industry based primarily on local resources — if non-traditional feedstocks, such as municipal waste, and new conversion technologies are used, according to a report issued today by the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
It will be difficult for the Northwest to create a significant biofuels industry based on today's land use practices using currently available agricultural and forestry resources alone. However, if municipal solid waste is used in conjunction with these existing resources, the region can produce 10 to 15 percent of its transportation fuel from indigenous resources. An even larger industry can be created with new land use practices and the identification of new energy crops. These findings are from the PNNL report, Biofuels in Oregon and Washington: A Business Case Analysis of Opportunities and Challenges.
The region's rapidly emerging ethanol and biodiesel industry is currently dependant on imported feedstocks.
"With a growing demand for transportation fuels and constrained petroleum supplies, there is a growing need for a significant biofuels industry in the Northwest and across the country," said Mike Davis, who leads PNNL's Energy and Environment Directorate. "If we want to develop an industry that makes sense for the local economy and environment and is big enough to make a difference, we need to be willing to look beyond the Midwest model.
"We need to develop unconventional approaches that are consistent with regional resources and economics."
It is critical that the Northwest look beyond the traditional biomass model, the report finds, because the region has a highly diversified agricultural system, with the most productive acreage used to grow high-value food, seed and ornamental crops. The value of these crops for traditional uses currently exceeds their potential value as a resource for biofuels. The report also finds many of the residues from agriculture and forestry products have higher value uses as feed and fiber than as feedstock for biofuels. Additionally, these resources are difficult to collect and transport to processing facilities.
"Like many parts of the country, the Northwest has a limited ability to supply the quantity of low-cost feedstocks required for traditional biofuel conversions," said Dennis Stiles, lead author of the report. "We will need to use multiple resources and new technologies. A sustainable biofuels industry in the Northwest is possible, but it won't be easy."
One resource that is readily available is municipal solid waste. In 2004, Oregon and Washington residents generated 8.2 lbs and 7.5 lbs per person per day respectively. According to the report, the organic fraction of MSW constitutes 70 percent of the region's currently available biomass.
MSW can be an important part of a larger biofuels industry that utilizes multiple biomass resources, including agriculture and timber, according to the report. It has fewer traditional hurdles than other biomass resources: the infrastructure to collect it already exists; it is concentrated in a small number of locations; and current disposal options are limited and becoming increasingly expensive. In contrast, resources such as wheat straw and timber harvesting residues are not currently collected at a significant scale and are dispersed throughout the region. Over time, MSW can help provide a market to develop new energy crops within the region, note the report's authors.
"If we can find a way to ensure waste reaches its potential as a viable fuel source and in a cost-effective manner, it's a win-win scenario for the economy and the environment." said Stiles.
The use of indigenous resources also heightens the need for investment in conversion technologies that aren't yet commercially available. The need is significant because nearly all of the Northwest's available biomass resources, including MSW, are comprised of lignocellulosic materials. These materials are more difficult to convert to traditional biofuels than grain crops. A concerted research and development effort is necessary for these complex feedstocks to become cost-competitive with petroleum fuels.
The report also identifies an important opportunity for development of new chemical processes that convert the lignocellusic biomass to bio-crude. Biocrude, with appropriate upgrading, can be directly substituted for petroleum at regional refineries. The report also describes approaches that use chemical processes to convert biomass to gasoline and to diesel fuels that are compatible with existing vehicles and the current fuel distribution systems. These approaches better leverage the existing fuels infrastructure.
"A new look at conversion technologies can give the region a chance to leapfrog from the existing suite of biofuels technologies to the next generation of biofuels that work with today's vehicles and gas stations," said Stiles. The technologies developed here can also be successfully used in other regions of the country to provide biofuels for our nation."
Biofuels will be part of the solution to reducing America's dependence on imported oil while transitioning to a renewable energy base — but they aren't the only solution, according to Davis.
"We must substantially advance all potential solutions — from energy efficiency and conservation to demand-side management and carbon capture — if we're going to get to the rate and scale needed to reduce dependence on imported oil while reducing carbon emissions."
Tags: Energy, Environment, Operations, Biomass, Energy Efficiency, Emissions, Renewable Energy, Biofuel, Facilities
Interdisciplinary teams at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory address many of America's most pressing issues in energy, the environment and national security through advances in basic and applied science. Founded in 1965, PNNL employs 4,400 staff and has an annual budget of nearly $1 billion. It is managed by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. As the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, the Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information on PNNL, visit the PNNL News Center, or follow PNNL on Facebook, Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.


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High School Seniors and Other Incoming College Freshmen
You'll be heading off to college soon. But which one? How will you apply? How will you pay for it? When should you decide on a major? Where will you live? These links will help answer many of your questions as you make your final college decisions.
Admissions Basics
Application Process
Look here to find out what needs to be sent to the admissions office, when and how.Apply Online
Using the online application is the quickest way to apply for admission to any of the 26 UW System campuses.Admission Guidelines
This page outlines the guidelines for freshman admission, including which high school courses to take, the application process for admission, application deadlines, and more.Finding Your Fit
Begin exploring how you'll fit in a specific UW campus and community. Be sure to check out the College Portraits!Wisconsin Education Fairs
Wisconsin Education Fairs (WEFs) take place in many locations around the state each fall, giving you the chance to talk with representatives from many different colleges and universities.Guaranteed Transfer Program
The four-year UW campuses offer a program guaranteeing transfer from the two-year UW Colleges.- UW HELP's Higher Education Glossary
This glossary defines terms commonly heard during the college application process and while attending college.
Focus on Academics
Agriculture/Science Courses
UW campuses provide credit for some high school agriculture courses.UW System College Preparatory Requirements
See the types of high school courses that UW System campuses require for admission.Earning College Credit in High School
Learn how you can earn college credit for UW System campuses.Campus Catalogs
You can view academic programs from all 26 UW campuses with our campus catalogs.MajorMania
Search among more than 4,400 of the UW System's academic programs. Find out which campuses offer the major/s you're interested in.Testing
Check this section for information about taking the ACT, SAT, and placement tests.Independent Learning
Keep your college career on track with more than 125 self-paced, online, undergraduate-level courses from UW Independent Learning.
Get on Campus
Campus Tours
Each of the UW System campuses offers tours. Visit one or more to see what college is like.Living On Campus
Find information on how and when to apply for on-campus housing, who is required to live on campus, housing and meal service costs, and more.
Paying for College
Financial Aid Options
Applying for financial aid, scholarship information, student budgets, explanations of aid types—it's all here.College Goal Wisconsin
College Goal Wisconsin provides free information and professional assistance to families who are filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).


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Daughters of India
India has long captured the Western imagination. The increased attention given to the world's most populous democracy and rising economic power has done much to inform... Read More
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India has long captured the Western imagination. The increased attention given to the world's most populous democracy and rising economic power has done much to inform... Read More
These days it may seem like rabbits have a better chance than humans of ever landing on Mars, so perhaps the title of this fanciful children's book isn't all that... Read More
Just in time for Earth Day 2003 comes this lovely poetry collection in celebration of nature. Featuring poets ranging from Emily Dickinson to Sappho, this book will especially... Read More
Sam the detective has a hairball of a problem on his paws. His friend, Sandy, the popular star of cat food commercials, is missing, the result of an apparent catnapping. The... Read More
Cars are nearly irresistible. They offer unparalleled mobility as they can reach most destinations quickly and at the convenience of the driver, who expends minimal physical... Read More
For those seeking to understand the troubled history of India and Pakistan, and the current tensions that plague these neighboring nations, Butalia proffers a tremendous... Read More
Marion Jones is one of those world-famous Americans that Americans have yet to discover. The world's fastest woman, she is accorded celebrity treatment in Europe, where she... Read More
For those who have a gnawing sense that they should be engaged in a spiritual discovery practice, but are overwhelmed by the dizzying array of books, teachers, techniques and... Read More
The growth in popularity of home schooling in recent decades has produced an explosion in the quantity and variety of curriculum options available to home educators, leaving... Read More
This volume of fifty short prayers is not likely to cause more than a ripple in the ongoing dispute between conservative Christians and advocates of Sophia, who, as described by... Read More
"Enlightenment" is a word so casually and frequently used these days that it is sometimes less meaningful than at other times. Thankfully, Tolle, a German-born spiritual... Read More


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Harper's final rally in Abbotsford
It was with a tone of urgency that Stephen Harper addressed the Fraser Valley's Conservative faithful on Sunday night, the night before Monday's general election, at the Cascade Aerospace hangar.
"This election is an enormous risk to this country," he said.
"Every riding is in play, every vote counts."
He was speaking to one of the biggest partisans crowds of the campaign.
"Welcome to the largest rally in this entire election campaign, in the province of British Columbia," said Port Moody West MP James Moore as he took the microphone to address the crowd which was estimated at well over 2,000.
He introduced the many Conservative candidates who took part, from Richmond and Vancouver East to Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon candidate Mark Strahl. The crowd took up a corner of the 230,000 square foot hangar, surrounded by Hercules aircraft and their components. The space for the Rally in the Valley was decorated with election signs for the many candidates present, Conservative balloons, with a massive Canadian flag as the backdrop. Many in the crowd carried Harper signs.
Abbotsford incument Ed Fast introduced Harper with descriptions ranging from "a steady hand", "basketball dad" and even "hockey fan."
Harper took the stage, and called the rally "maybe the biggest of the election."
"We must work friends, hard, until the end. We must get the vote out," he said.
His speech touched on crime, soveriegnty and the economy; and the words he pounded home were "stable Conservative majority government."
The NDP were in his sights, and Harper relegated the Liberals to also-rans.
"The best Mr. Ignatieff can now hope for is to be a packseat passenger in an NDP government," he said.
He spoke about B.C.'s "lost decade" in the 1990s under a provincial NDP government, when he said jobs and people left the province in droves, and warned against electing a federal NDP government that would raise taxes and ruin the economy.
He predicted NDP policies would raise gas prices by as much as 18 cents per litre.
Get past the NDP "smiles," "folksy talk" and "grandiose ideas," look at their platform, and their spending would be 10 times the Conservatives' predicted Harper.
"The choice in this election, as it's gone along, has become increasingly stark."
And he also appealed to traditional Liberal voters, urging them to vote Conservative rather than give support to the NDP.
It was Harper's final rally of the campaign, and after his 35-minute speech he remained for several more minutes, greeting many supporters who wanted shake his hand.


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Connor was born at 8:53 a.m., on Jan. 20, 2011 at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Mo.
He weighed 9 pounds, 3 ounces and was 21 1/2 inches in length at birth.
Maternal grandparents are Nancy and Joe Decker, of Foster, Mo.
Paternal grandparents are Ed and Patricia Keating, of Fort Scott.


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Latest Gear Live Videos
Apple OS X Mavericks 10.9.2 now available, here's what's new
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop, Software
Apple has released OS X Mavericks 10.9.2 to the public following a lengthy developer beta, and with it comes quite a few new features and enhancements to the Mac desktop operating system:
- FaceTime Audio in the FaceTime and Messages apps
- Contact blocking for FaceTime and iMessage
- Mail app improvements
- Autofill fixes for Safari
- Audio fixes
- VPN fixes
- VoiceOver fixes
Also included is the SSL security vulnerability fix that Apple fixed in iOS last week, and earlier today on Apple TV. Many Mac apps were still at risk, including Safari and Mail. The company stated a few days ago that it planned to have a fix released "very soon," and four days later, this patch is included in OS X 10.9.2.
You can grab the OS X 10.9.2 update from the Mac App Store now.
© Gear Live Inc. – User-posted content, unless source is quoted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Public Domain License. Gear Live graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, videos, articles, blogs, forums, scripts and other service names are the trademarks of Gear Live Inc.


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Over the many years of writing this blog, chasing beauty and searching for inspiration have always been an integral part of my creative journey. I've always been a collector and love to surround myself in inspiring bits and pieces. Today, I was privileged to meet a woman who has inspired my creative process in so many ways and most recently, her words and images have helped to reignite the fire within my soul, in the days when I thought, all was lost. This morning, I had breakfast with Sibella Court.
Meeting Sibella today was inspiring beyond words. She was in Brisbane on her Australian tour for her amazing new book, Bowerbird. Listening to her speak about her life, her travels and her wild collections reminded me to follow my heart, to focus on what's truly important and to do what I love most.
So I pull up the anchor, hoist the main sails and set off... in a new city, with a new business and notebook full of ideas to explore. I look to the horizon, to tomorrow...
A brand new day and a new adventure.
Much Love


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DYNABOT - THE ROBO MARBLE (by l1games.com)
Updated on October 27th, 2014
"DYNABOT - an endless Jump'N'Run, into which you can jump, run, dash, swing, skate, surf, switch, hover, shoot and even more!"
DYNABOT - an extraordinary robot, held together by pure energy,which was secretly constructed by the good-natured scientist Ishida Yamamoto in order to protect the world, should it ever come to a misfortune. With his programmed principles and the ability to think neuronally DYNABOT becomes aware of the fact that he has been made for a special reason. And just as it has to come, weird aliens appear.
Kickstarter Teaser:
Dynabot breaks the monotonous endless genre with 4 aspects:
> simple to learn, nevertheless complex like a real platform game
> instant change of different worlds with various types of gameplays
> special rooms with mini-games within the main game
> winding platforms surrounded by beautiful environments
The goal is to free the earth from an invasion of weird aliens! Liberate the seven continent. Encounter abandoned places, in which the alien bosses have been hiding. Use portals to clean up all the places from the invasion of the aliens and go for an endless run to beat your own or your friends´ score!
Find energy cells to activate portals on the go and throw DYNABOT into different worlds with different gameplay styles.
For example, fly in low gravity over the atmosphere or surf your way through an abandoned city across the ocean.
Play mini-games on the go! Run into different rooms and play various Mini-Games.
Receive bonus points to increase the chance of liberation.
Let DYNABOT use his dash-combos and bounce off of stronger enemies and obstacles. Strike back again and repeat your dash on the ground, as well as in the air, until you finally break through their defenses. Also use dash-combos to save DYNABOT from falling into the abyss.
Keep DYNABOT in shape by doing air tricks with his surf- or skateboard, to achieve special air-trick bonuses.
Play the entire game along with its mini-games with only two buttons!
Major updates will bring new worlds, mini-games and characters to expand the scope of the game more and more.
FOLLOW US ON: facebook - twitter - google+
w w w . l 1 g a m e s . c o m
Last edited by SOIL; 10-27-2014 at 05:23 PM.


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Set up a tour for a closer look at Club tennis.
Set Up a TourMembership Questions?
Carly Durham
Membership Director
713.840.9001 x: 248
Valeria Flores
Membership Director
713.840.9001 x:273
Tennis Hours
Throughout the tennis calendar year, we offer challenging and fun tournaments, Club Championships, New Member Mixers, Member-guest tournaments and King of the Hill events inviting other clubs and mixers.
Some of these special events are:
- Men's & Ladies' Club Championship Doubles
- Men's & Ladies' Club Championship Singles
- USPTA Annual Ladies' League Championships
- King of the Hill Doubles with visiting clubs from Houston area
- New Member Mixers for Members who joined within the last year that include pro drills and hit the prize court
- Rice University Tennis Fundraiser
These tennis activities provide good competition and fun camaraderie. Also, these events provide a link for our new Members and existing Members to connect with each other at their level of play.


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Thanks for the kind words guys.
Usually I do a coat neutral cream polish followed by several coats of kiwi used in conjunction with tiny water droplets and my own breathe. Then I finish off buffing with pantyhose over a brush. Generally i try to use as little water and wax polish as possible.
Jerry-May I ask what color of kiwi polish do you use? I use the AE walnut polish in the tube and it's getting more orange after each polish.


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Delivering consistently & efficiently
Deploying latest technology to transact & inform
Dedicated to customer service
Less...Contact Information:
P.O Box: 35566
Abu Dhabi Airport,
Cargo Village,
Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates
Etihad Cargo, the fast growing cargo division of Etihad Airways, will inaugurate a new direct weekly freighter operation from Abu Dhabi to the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, effective January 17.
The new cargo service will operate every Thursday using an Airbus A330-200F freighter, with a capacity of 68 metric tonnes.
Guangzhou is the third largest city in China, the capital of the Guangdong province and is a major centre for the manufacturing of electronic goods.
Etihad Cargo already operates nine weekly freighter services between Abu Dhabi and the Chinese cities of Shanghai and Beijing. In addition, the UAE flag carrier offers cargo services on its 18 weekly scheduled passenger services to Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai.
Kevin Knight, Etihad Airways Chief Strategy and Planning Officer, said: "China is a strategically important market for Etihad Cargo, and the new Guangzhou-Abu Dhabi freighter service will allow us to capitalise on the strong export demand coming out of southern China.
"In addition, whilst we expect to see strong onward trade flows over our Abu Dhabi cargo hub to destinations across the Middle East and Africa, ultimately this service will further strengthen the already strong trade ties between the UAE and China."
Etihad Cargo flies to a total of 87 destinations internationally, operating a fleet of six freighters, consisting of one Airbus A300-600F, two Airbus A330-200F, one McDonnell Douglas MD-11F, one Boeing B777F and one Boeing B747-400F. In 2013, the cargo operator will take delivery of three new freighters – an Airbus A330-200F and two Boeing B777F.


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Flushing Harvest Festival Keeps Truckin'
The city's 17th Harvest Festival will cater to the kids even more this year as they feature a Touch the Truck event. The downtown will be decorated with scarecrows and bales of hay as the kids get to have a close-up experience with firetrucks, cranes, dump truck, bulldozers, and more. The festival happens October 1st from 10am to 5pm at Riverview Park in Flushing.