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Plug & Play
Over the past few years, toy stores have been loading their shelves with new "plug and play" electronic toys aimed at preschool children, toddlers and babies. Packaged as joysticks, keyboards, styluses or just oversized remote controls with bright buttons, the toys are designed to connect to the family television set. For parents, their appeal comes in the manufacturers' promise that children will no longer be passive observers of what is on TV. They will feel the thrill of interactivity, the ability to change what happens on screen.
But in the controlled chaos of most households, "plug and play" may be a misnomer. As parents and grandparents seek the perfect toy for the youngest kids this season, they will need to pay close attention to the recommended age ranges, be aware of compatibility issues with TV sets and remote controls, and be prepared to spend time with the how-to manuals. Here are the hurdles:
It's not exactly as easy as "plug." With many of these toys, parents discover that getting started is not as simple as plugging a cord into an electrical socket. In homes around the country, even within one house, TV sets are configured in myriad different ways, depending on the interplay of VCRs, DVDs, DVRs and cable set-top boxes. It may be easy to find the color-coded hole where the toy's cable should be inserted (these holes are now located on the front of many TVs). But it may not be so easy for parents to put their hands on the particular remote control that powers the TV set that will be used for playtime, and then navigate the settings to the right channels and codes for auxiliary devices.
"The 'easy' setup proclaimed on the box turned out to be 2 hours worth of entering 50+ codes into the machine trying to get it to recognize our 4-year-old SONY DVD player," wrote one reviewer on Amazon.com, who bought the Little Leaps Grow-with-me Learning System by LeapFrog for her 20-month old.
Most parents can't luxuriate with how-to manuals when they have feisty preschoolers pulling on their sleeves or toddlers at risk of gnawing on the cables while mom's head is in the guidebook. And the set-up process is not just a one-time annoyance. In many households, keeping the toys hooked up for future use is not practical, for there is no room in the TV cabinet to hold the console. Playing the plug-in games means pulling them out of the closet and going through the set-up process each time a child wants to play.
Then there are the technical glitches — caused by both child and machine — that require parental troubleshooting.
"The usefulness of it all is lost on me when I am constantly being asked to 'fix' the game," said a mother of three young children in State College, Pa. who has V.Smile TV Learning system at home.
Pressing buttons doesn't always equal "play." Once the games have been started on the screen, the quality of games — particularly their age-appropriateness — can vary widely. Uneven quality can crop up across the multiple cartridges that come with a system as well as in the games offered in one cartridge.
Many games emphasize academic skills, like recognizing letters and matching shapes and colors. Playing the games can, indeed, introduce or reinforce new skills -- if the tasks in the games match the child's level of cognitive development. That's why looking at the age ranges printed on the box can be so crucial. Unfortunately, however, many TV-based learning systems try to please a wide span of ages. The label might say its games are "appropriate for ages 3 to 7" — but yet offer games that drill shapes and letters. A young 3-year-old may not be ready to even recognize letters, while most 6-year-olds would be bored stiff with such a task.
Even when the games are developmentally appropriate, the same cannot always be said for the gaming consoles. Consider, for example, the case of a 3-year-old girl who has started to be able to sequence numbers. When a game asks her to "count the yellow ducks," she brightens up, eager to show that she can do it. "Three," she announces gleefully, as she tries to move the joystick to hover the cursor over the ducks as she counts them. But she is not adept enough to stop the cursor where she wants and it flies wildly all over the screen. Her frustration mounts. She knows the answer but the machine keeps telling her to "Try Again!" She throws the toy to the ground in disgust.
Research on young children with computer and gaming devices has shown that many 3- and 4-year-old children do not have enough fine-motor control to use the joysticks successfully. In fact, games by Sesame Workshop are often designed specifically to avoid the use of a joystick since it can be so difficult to master. Buttons can be hard to use too — particularly if a game requires a child to have a light touch, releasing the button the moment after it was pressed. Press buttons to, say, spell "Jane," and you might get "JJJJAAAAANNNNEEE" instead.
When children are in their late preschool and early elementary years, chances are that they will have much more success managing the controls. Their fine-motor control will be more developed, and for children who have started to learn to read, the text on the screen can be their guide, letting them play independently and at their own pace.
But with younger children, parents should be prepared for a lot of handholding, showing children what to do with the joystick, helping them press the buttons, repeating the directions and explaining what they need to do next. Of course, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Some might argue that it encourages parents to be involved and talking with their children. However, as noted by a mother of twin 4-year-olds who has an interactive TV console that doesn't get much use: Time is at a premium. If she had the time to do all the technical troubleshooting and instructive handholding, she said, she would rather spend it on the floor doing a puzzle with her kids.
Lisa Guernsey is an education, science, and technology reporter who has contributed to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Chronicle of Higher Education and other publications. A former reporter for the Circuits section of The New York Times, Lisa Guernsey, author of Into the Minds of Babes: How Screen Time Affects Children From Birth to Age 5(Basic Books, Sept 2007). Lisa has two young girls and lives in Alexandria, Va.


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Bill to ban unauthorized use of infant DNA Clears Senate Committee
KJ Mullins
Feb 11, 2010 in
The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a bill that would ban medical facilities from storing infant DNA without parental consent on Tuesday.
The DNA of your children is in the government's hands if you live in the United States. All 50 states require hospitals to collect a sample of every newborn's blood.
That sample is used to test for PKU, a disease that can cause brain and nerve damage, and a number of other diseases. In California newborn blood is tested for 76 different medical conditions.
Some are asking what happens to that blood sample when the primary use has been fulfilled. The answers aren't on the government pamphlet given to parents put out by the
American Academy of Pediatrics
. The pamphlet only talks about tests that can save your child's life.
As of February 10, 2010 parents will have to give consent to allow the government to store their infant's blood spot.
GTR Newspapers
quotes the author of Senate Bill 1250, Sen. Jonathan Nichols :
"When a child is born, the hospital takes a small blood sample to screen for certain diseases, and that's a practice that is obviously beneficial to the infant. The problem we've seen in other states is that some medical facilities have been keeping those samples and using them for unauthorized research," explained Nichols, R-Norman. "We don't want that to happen in Oklahoma. There are serious privacy and ethics concerns that have been breached around the country with the unauthorized databasing of infant DNA. My initial inquiries indicate this has not occurred in Oklahoma, but requiring consent by law will help ensure that it never does."
Most of the stored
are used for medical research. That research is conducted without the parents knowledge in most cases.
Some states store that sample for up to 23 years. While parents in many states at this time can opt out of having their children's blood stored it is rarely mentioned.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been calling for a national databanks of the samples since 2002. The National Institutes of Health is creating a national blood sample repository using $13.5 million, money that comes from tax payers.
In 2008 then President George Bush signed into law the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2007 and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) of 2008, allowing for the federal government to screen all infants born in the US. The justification reports
The Atlanta Journal
was to have a "national contingency plan" to meet "public health emergencies."
Opponents of DNA storage want to see biobanks destroyed. Twila Brase, part of Citizen's Council on Health Care, was quoted in 2008 by
"You're building an entire DNA warehouse for the public without the public's consent," Brase said. "Who will own the DNA of the citizens and what is that going to mean? And what we're doing is pushing an entire genetic research program on the population without the consent of the population."
At this time there are
Baby DNA Lawsuits
taking place in Minnesota and Texas.
The case in Minnesota was filed by 9 families. On November 24, 2009 the case was dismissed. An appeal was filed by the attorney of January 13, 2010.
The Texas case was filed by five parents in March of 2009. The lawsuit was settled when it was agreed that all blood spots collected without parental permission since 2002 would be destroyed. Parents of newborns in Texas have to now sign a form on the day of the screening or their child's blood spot will be retained.
SB 1250 now moves to the full Senate for consideration.
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Do you know why the main road of Tagaytay City is called Aguinaldo Highway? It is said that back in the 1920s, General Emilio Aguinaldo often rode horseback on that route. Of course, back in the day, there wasn't anything there, not even Taal Vista Hotel, which was built in 1939. The credit for that indirectly goes to President Manual Quezon, who wanted to develop the area as a tourist spot, and suggested it to the management of Manila Hotel at that time. The site of Taal Vista Hotel now was then known as "ilong Kastila," (Spanish nose) referring to the shape of the land, which locals said, resembled a nose. Nowadays, Tagaytay City is definitely a thriving tourist spot, as evidence by the terrific traffic jams that clog the aforementioned Aguinaldo Highway every weekend. If you are planning to visit Tagaytay anytime soon, you should head there late Friday night or early morning Saturday to avoid the rush. Plan to leave before lunch on Sunday to do the same. Here are some of the top things to do in Tagaytay.
Press Release | Smartphone brand Elephone arrives in the Philippines exclusively through online retail giant Lazada
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – April 2016 – Innovative and user-friendly, superior in quality and performance, elegance in design, and great value for money– these are the pillars that best define the latest smartphones from the fast-growing Chinese smartphone manufacturer Elephone (HK Elephone Communication Tech Co., Limited). Elephone has been committed to developing high-end smartphones and making it affordable to global customers. With years of development and innovation, Elephone now has gained a very strong market traction in Europe and Southeast Asia.
Elephone's exclusive partnership with Lazada Philippines will provide both superior product quality in tandem with best-in-class shopping experience to many Filipinos.
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Ciara Lands Summer Movie Role
Ciara has been pretty low key career-wise over the past few years, but she's getting ready to jump front and center of the big screen. The singer/dancer/model has one, two stepped her way into a role in the upcoming comedy film, "Donny's Boy" (formerly 'I Hate You, Dad').
The summer flick stars funny man Adam Sandler as a father who moves in with his son right before his weeding. Ciara will portray the role of Brie alongside Vanilla Ice, Todd Bridges, Leighton Meester, and Will Forte, but details on just what part that character will play in the movie are slim.
Donny's Boy is expected to hit theaters on June 15. With this part on top of Ciara's deal with Epic records, we should expect to see a lot more of her in 2012.


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Phone: +358 19 574 5700
The new iCAM502 Autofocus is a Zone 0 intrinsically safe digital camera and is the perfect visualisation tool for use in hazardous areas. Capable of taking pin-sharp images from as close as 5cm, the iCAM502 is perfect for rating plates, wiring cabinets and general inspections. ATEX, IECEx & FM certified, the iCAM502 can be used in all sectors of industry including Chemical & Pharmaceutical plants, Oil & Gas production platforms, Refineries and Mining to name but a few.


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An Aussie in King Aragorn's Court Part 14 - Throwing up...Can Boromir get out of range?
Coralie was struggling to rise to her feet after Aragorn gave the order to strike camp. Frodo and Sam were about to reach down and help her when suddenly a strong arm grasped her elbow and gently raised her up. As she stood the world started to reel a little and she held the arm for support until the spinning stopped.
"Steady there. I've got you." Boromir smiled down at her. "That's quite a grip you have there M'Lady. `Tis no wonder, after the way you hung on in that well. No other maiden could have done what you did. In fact, I doubt even I could."
Coralie tried to take a step and faltered once again. She grabbed for his arm.
"Ho now! Let's just take this one step at a time, shall we?" Coralie nodded weakly and took a deep breath. She turned to look at Boromir who smiled encouragingly in return.
"Twould seem that purple would be a most striking colour on you, Coralie, if that bruise on your forehead is anything to go by. But I would prefer to see it anywhere upon your person, rather than on your pretty face."
She swayed a little as he held her, and was about to thank him for his courtesy, when the awful realization struck her, that she was about to be sick. Falling to her knees without warning, she vomited into the grass. Boromir reflexively jumped back a little, but he wasn't quite quick enough. Some of the splash, found its way to his boots. He knelt beside her and offered her a kerchief from inside his tunic.
"I'm afraid it's not the cleanest, but it's all I have at the moment." She thanked him as she took the kerchief and retched again. By now she was on all fours and looked a most pitiful sight.
"Looks like I just wasted a good cup of tea," she barked between heaves. Boromir handed her a water skin, when it looked like the worst was over.
"Just rinse out your mouth now. Only take a little sip as well, or you will be bringing that up too."
The hobbits were busy stamping out the remains of the fire with Gimli, when they noticed Coralie on all fours. They came running over as one. Boromir held up his hand.
"Give the lady some room now lads."
"I'm okay. Really I am," she said trying to reassure them. "Just haven't got my sea legs yet...that's all." Pippin was about to open his mouth and say something to the effect that they were on dry land when Merry nudged him in the ribs. He knew Pippin well enough.
Coralie made to stand up, and suddenly they were all fussing over her in an effort to help. Acknowledging their concern, she gratefully took hold of their hands and stood up tentatively.
Pippin reached for her pack where it lay.
"I'll carry your pack for you Coralie."
"No. I'm going to carry her pack Pip," said Merry making a grab for it.
"I offered first," countered Pippin.
"I'm the strongest out of the lot of you," argued Sam snatching it out of Pippin's hands.
"I'm in charge, and I'm going to take it," cried Frodo.
"No you don't, Master Frodo. Not with that sore side of yours from the troll's spear, you're not," said Sam grabbing it out of Frodo's hands.
They were all yelling at once. Coralie just sighed and leaned against Boromir's arm.
"What's going on here?" thundered Aragorn. The hobbits immediately stopped arguing and dropped the pack on the grass at their feet. They looked up guiltily at Aragorn and Legolas who had by now joined them, anxious to find out what all the commotion was about. Making dwarvish curses under his breath, Gimli continued to hide all traces of the fire after the hobbits had run off and abandoned it.
"Well, I wanted to.."
"I offered first..."
"Coralie's not feeling..."
"She's sick...."
Aragorn held up his hands. "One at a time! I can't understand a word your saying! Frodo. You first."
Frodo dug his hands in his pockets, suddenly feeling quite foolish. "Um. Well, Coralie just threw up in the grass and we were trying to help her."
"Yeah! I offered to carry her pack and then, Merry....." Pippin's voice caught in his throat as Aragorn's face clouded over.
"What? You think you're helping her, by fighting amongst yourselves like a pack of unruly children?"
Not daring to look up, they kicked the ground and shook their heads a little.
"Perhaps, you had better go help Gimli with the fire, and we will see to the Lady," said Legolas calmly.
Marching off towards Gimli, Pippin and Merry could be heard muttering about whose fault it was, and who started what as Aragorn turned gravely to Coralie who was still holding onto Boromir's arm for support.
"I am sorry you are ill, Lady," he said softly as he walked over and placed a hand gently on her forehead. She felt a little clammy to his touch.
"I think the worst of it is over," Coralie replied.
"Nevertheless, I think that I should take another look at that arm of yours, and I regret that I did not do so earlier," he looked up at the darkening sky.
Coralie followed his gaze and swayed a little as she looked up. Legolas reached out to steady her, then dropped his hand as he noted that she still clutched at Boromir's arm.
"Look I'm fine. Really. I just couldn't keep my tea down. That's all," she said bravely.
Aragorn hesitated.
"Why don't we wait until we make camp for the night. We are still too close to Moria for my liking, and I don't want to hold you up," she continued.
Aragorn looked hard at her. Some of the colour had returned to her cheeks, but she was still too pale for his liking. Her voice spoke bravely, although her eyes betrayed her. However, she was right about their position being still too close to Moria.
"Alright Lady. Then you will walk at the front between Legolas and myself. I am not certain of your condition, and feel that you would be better served by me, if I were near," he turned to Boromir. "If you will carry Coralie's pack and see that the hobbits get up to no more mischief on the road, my mind would be easier. Dark is settling fast and we are not as far away from danger as I would like. We must make haste to find some decent shelter for the night. Then I can tend to the Lady's wounds again, and make certain of the treatment myself this time," he looked directly at Coralie as he spoke these last words. "Come. Let us tarry no more."
Legolas took Coralie's arm as Boromir picked up her pack. "Please Coralie. Let me help you," he looked enquiringly at her.
She was not quite sure if she had forgiven him or not yet.
"Forgiven him for what? Why was I mad at him?" she thought as she shook her head trying to clear it. Everything was still a little blurry. Then she remembered the day's events as they flowed as a river behind her eyes. Gandalf! He was gone! Grief stabbed at her heart.
Legolas saw the little shake of her head and the pain that shrouded her figure as he held her arm gently. He dropped his hand, at a loss, for what offence he may have caused now, unaware of the silent conflict that raged within her.
"It's all your fault you know," the black voice returned.
Aragorn called after them. Coralie stumbled blindly along, dragging her heart with her.
"Yes it is all my fault," she thought.
Legolas walked somberly behind her.
"So glad you agree with me," the black voice sneered. "If you hadn't held them up with that little dance you did in the well, Gandalf may still be alive."
"Still be alive?" her thoughts followed the train of the black voice.
"Yes. You shouldn't have bothered hanging on so long. It would have been better if you'd sacrificed yourself for the others."
"But what about the ring?" she questioned.
"What of it? At least Frodo would have been freed of his burden. Now he has it back again and Gandalf is dead thanks to you." The powerful logic of the loathsome voice assailed her.
"And now, you're putting them all in danger again."
"Danger?" she blinked and looked about her. Legolas noticed her half startled look.
"Yes danger. Look at you. You're practically an invalid. They'll have to go out of their way to protect you now." The voice went on unabated.
"Practically an invalid?" this time Legolas heard her.
"Yes. You're an invalid." Her cunning demon continued.
"No!" she gasped, fighting the accusations that threatened to drown her in guilty recriminations.
The voice laughed at her futile attempts to justify herself.
"Yes. You're slowing them all down now. It would be better if you left..... After all," it sneered, "You are an invalid."
Legolas touched her arm.
She whirled on him, suddenly furious.
"I'm not an invalid!" she ran after Aragorn, leaving Legolas standing there in confusion.
"I never said you were," but she was gone and his assertion fell upon the stony ground at his feet.


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In 1908, near Glen Rose, Texas, in the Paluxy River, a violent flood ripped up slabs of limestone from the river bottom and exposed three toed dinosaur tracks. They were discovered by Ernest Adams, but no one in Glen Rose seemed to realize the true weight of their discovery. During the 30's, tracks were dug up and sold for cash to tourists as money became tight due to the depression. At this time, human-like tracks were dug up and sold also.
Some how, several of these tracks ended up at a trading post in Gallup, New Mexico and were spotted by paleontologist, Roland Bird. Bird immediately recognized that the tracks were carvings (as has been shown and proven that they were indeed counterfeits). He was curious as to just how the residents of Glen Rose would get the idea to counterfeit dinosaur tracks (as the dinosaurs were not so widely known as they are now) so he decided to pay a visit to the Paluxy River for himself. He there documented many therapod and saurapod tracks which led to a great deal of excitement in the science community. During his trip, however, he did not come across any human-like prints with the exception of one very badly misshapen one. For this reason and the fact that it is known that many of the original "human" tracks sold to tourists were fake, many ignorant evolutionists claim that all tracks in the Paluxy River are fake and were carved out by humans to deceive the science community or make money. This is extremely ignorant, however, of current data.
It is currently believed by many evolutionists that the human tracks (which in some areas are all over the place in stride patterns) are actually metatarsal prints caused by the therapods as they walked through the mud. Want it in understandable terms? Dino toes. In bipedal dinosaurs, it is known, or rather, I should say, believed, that when they walked, they held the heels and souls of their feet (remember their feet are much different from ours) above the ground. By suggesting that these prints are actually caused by metatarsals, scientists are claiming that the dinosaurs walked in an unprecedented (in terms of the fossil record) and awkward manner to coincidentally appear like human tracks inside of the dino tracks. Besides the weakness of this theory, I will explain and show why I feel this is wrong in a moment.
In addition to the oddity of this claim, it is also accepted by many evolutionists that the toe prints were the products of invertebrate burrowing, i.e. worm holes placed perfectly to appear as human toes. These burrows were apparently spaced apart correctly to appear as toes AND stepped on by the dino metatarsals perfectly to give off that appearance. Of course, if a metatarsal had stepped directly on a burrow system to give the impression of toes in the middle of a human foot, all doubt would be resolved, but the perfectness of this coincidence is more than this author can handle. Also, to explain prints that would not fit under this explanation, it is believed that many other prints were the result of the dinosaur letting it's tail hit the mud and digging it's snout into the ground. Still others have been blown off as just erosion.
Unfortunately for the Paluxy tracks, an over eager Carl Baugh entered the scene in 1982.
Carl Baugh was eager to prove the tracks were real and decided to use any means necessary to do so. In the course of his work he
discovered a human tooth, a hammer, a fossilized finger, and a trilobite. These finds were later refuted by workers. I must agree
that these objects seem rather curious to have been found in such a site. Not having seen the evidence myself, I must take the word
of reliable source that there has been video documentation of Baugh attempting to create toes in one of his prints. This I find very
hard to believe, however. We are talking about limestone. It is one of the most obvious rocks to be able to tell if tampering has occurred.
It is said that in the video he "gouged" at the rock to expose toe prints. If this was done with any sort of tool, such marks would clearly
be visible (if the toes were falsified and not actually exposed from beneath) by advanced discoloration and jagged edges. These were not
observed. From just this, one might not know for sure what to believe. Wait 'till you get to the end of this page to make any conclusions.
You can't tell anything from this picture, but you can get a good sense of what the Paluxy is like and the environment this research is being performed in.


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WestStar Credit Union Gives Back To Our Communities!
One of the best reasons to belong to a credit union is the fact that we are not-for-profit. We are always looking for ways to give back to our membership and our communities with any profits that are earned.
Here are some ways we give back:
Banzai Online Financial Literacy
WestStar sponsors several local Nevada middle and high school classrooms to participate in the Banzai Online Financial Literacy program. This program has meaningful content using real-life scenarios that engages teenagers and doesn't cost Nevada teachers a dime! Teachers can visit weststar.teachbanzai.com to learn more about the Banzai program, and request sponsorship from the credit union!
Las Vegas 51's Baseball Team Sponsorship
As proud Las Vegas locals, we are happy to support our local sports team! As part of this sponsorship, our members are able to get discounted tickets to the games! We encourage all locals to bring your family out to a game, or meet up with friends for a fun-filled night out!
Annual Canned Food Drive
Every year in November, our employees collect canned food to support Help of Southern Nevada's Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. Our branches even keep a bin out in the branches in case any members would like to contribute as well!
The season of giving rings true with WCU employees! With year-long fundraising efforts, we typically "adopt" 2-3 families in need during the holidays via Help of Southern Nevada's Adopt-A-Family program. The staff and executive team look forward to the chance to go shopping for toys and clothes for new children every year! We even have a gift wrapping party each year to make sure these gifts are ready to be delivered by Santa to these families in need.
As we are able, we love to host these events where members can stop by one of our branch locations and drop off their personal documents for secure shredding. There's something therapeutic about cleaning out those old files and folders of old statements, receipts, tax documents, etc. and watching them all gulped down by the huge shred truck. Check your statements or look for an email from us to announce when our next Shred-A-Palooza will be!
Local Event Sponsorships
We are always keeping our eye out for local's favorite events to support – we love to sponsor festivals, charity walks, neighborhood events, and more! After all, we are your neighbors. If you see us out at an event, stop by and say HI – we'll even pose for a selfie with you!


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Rab Bennetts reports from Shanghai
Flying to Shanghai for Ecobuild is not everyone's idea of sustainability, but China seems ready to embrace the 'green' agenda and the opportunity to influence its direction outweighs the guilt. The new Chinese Premier stressed the importance of sustainability when he took ofice, and this week the Government announced a $16 billion scheme to combat pollution in Beijing, where another conference focusing on eco-cities provided a political platform and official rival to private-sector Ecobuild. The scale and speed of urbanisation in China is awesome but, as a former mayor of Shanghai, the Premier should certainly understand the built environment.
So Shanghai it was, despite many delegates scuttling off to Beijing to appear in the right place at the right time. The show reminded me of the first UK Ecobuild only a few years ago, when around 900 visitors turned up; compare that to the 55,000 this time round! Can Ecobuild pull off the same trick in China? Quite possibly, although the drive for development presently drowns out the most searching questions about its environmental impact. For the moment, 'green thinking' is dominated by 'greenwash' of the kind we saw too much of a decade ago in the UK, with over-reliance on technical fixes and aspirational visual references rather than practical design strategies that reduce the demand for energy and its consequential emissions. It was therefore refreshing to see so many speakers, many of whom were from locally-based consultancies, emphasise the need for real objectivity and the measurement of building performance - something we're still struggling with in the UK thanks to government vacillation, to be polite.
Despite evidence that the green agenda has yet to surface, there was much talk about re-using existing buildings
Despite the evidence all around Shanghai that the green agenda has yet to surface in earnest, there was much talk at Ecobuild China conference sessions about re-using existing buildings, retaining fragments of history that are otherwise being swept away and creating a sense of place that is noticeably absent among the skyscrapers of Pudong district. Putting aside for a moment the emerging elegance of the world's second tallest building, the Shanghai Tower, the great triumph of the city's recent history is the revitalisation of The Bund - that great sweeping range of colonial palaces that were once the consulates and banks of imperial Europe. The public realm has been transformed with beauty and flair at great speed; most of the eight-lane highway has been relocated underground, the ugly flyovers have gone, and the waterfront has been extended to reconnect with the piers and jetties that thrust towards the new Manhattan on the other side of the river - at least it would be a new Manhattan if it had streets rather than desolate gaps between the towers.
There are few planning restrictions to protect China's heritage
Time and again, speakers made the point that Shanghai's economic value would suffer if it didn't have the identity to make it worth visiting. As yet, there are few planning restrictions to protect China's heritage beyond the key sites but, such is the power of the state to translate policy into action, it wouldn't surprise me if construction to support economic growth adopted a distinctly 'greener' hue during the next five year plan.
With nationwide change in the air, the challenge for Ecobuild, currently nestling in the corner of Shanghai's vast Expo halls, is to recognise its potential as an ambitious forum for sustainability rather than allow it to morph into just another massive trade show with a conference attached.
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Rock-N-Jocks wants you to treat your head right with these just released new era custom fitteds. First up is the Chicago Cubs custom New Era fitted. This hat is all seaglass colored, with an all sparkling grape bill. The embroidered "CUB-Bear Face" logo is embroidered in sparkling grape and white. The back of the hat also has the embroidered m.l.b. logo in sparkling grape, seaglass, and white. The second new release is the Pittsburgh Penguins custom New Era fitted. This hat is all black with an all yellow bill. The embroidered penguin logo is in black, yellow and white. The back of the hat has the embroidered n.h.l. logo in black and yellow. Be one of only 30 people in the world with one of these custom fitteds, since both of these fitteds are only limited to a total of 30 pieces each. Get yours only and exclusively at http://www.rocknjocks.com/
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Rock-N-Jocks: Chicago Cubs & Pittsburgh Penguins New Era Fitted
Labels: chicago cubs, mlb, new era fitted hat, nhl, pittsburgh penguins, rock n jocks, rock-n-jocks
Posted by YSL at 8/06/2008
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This specialty designed patent pending dual ended tool has small magnets that are designed to aid in the removal of hard to reach washers that are around most types of studs. This tool can also be used to help the technician in the removal of valve adjusting buckets and pucks. Manufactured from light weight and durable glass filled nylon plastic.
$ 19.95
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Feel the game in the new ad for EA Sports FIFA 15 created by Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam that will take viewers and gamer's on a dramat...
David Smith, W+K Creative Director, says, "Fast-paced, raw, and explosive, modern football is a spectacle beyond belief. And FIFA 15 puts you right in the middle of it. We wanted our film to do the same thing, to put you right in the thick of the action. With the help of Mark Zibert, and the awesome studio at EA SPORTS, we believe we have created a football film that can live up to the best sport action sequences ever filmed."
Jamie McKinlay, EA SPORTS VP Marketing, added, "Everything we've done in FIFA 15 keeps immersive gameplay and the emotion of football at the forefront. The film was built to give viewers a deeper understanding of the highs and lows that millions of FIFA 15 fans will go through when they play the game."
AD AGENCY: Wieden+Kennedy, Amsterdam
TV PRODUCER: Elissa Singstock
TEAM MANAGER: Janna Harrington
PLANNER: Ben Armistead
HEAD OF TV / PRODUCTION: Joe Togneri
GROUP ACCOUNT DIRECTOR: Kirk Johnsen
EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Mark Bernath and Eric Quennoy
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Dave Smith and Alvaro Sotomayor
COPYWRITER: Andrew Dobbie
BUSINESS DIRECTOR : Justine Lowe, Melissa Kincaid
ART DIRECTOR: Henrik Edelbring
SOUND DESIGN: Raja Sehgal @ Grand Central
EDITOR: Russell Icke
EDIT COMPANY: Whitehouse Post
EDIT ASSISTANT: Iain Whiteright
PRODUCER: Jeremy Moore, Melanie Wickham, Michael O'Donoghue
POST PRODUCTION HOUSE: The Mill New York
3D LEAD ARTIST: Ed Shires
3D ARTISTS: Justin Diamond, Xuan Seifert, Tim Kim, Phil Maddock,
2D LEAD ARTISTS: Kyle Cody
2D ARTISTS: Kshitij Khanna, Erin Nash, Dan Difelice
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Imperial Woodpecker
PRODUCER: Matt Wersinger
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Doug Halbert
DOP: Greig Fraser
DIRECTOR: Mark Zibert


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A Congressional report released today provided a scathing critique of the performance of the F.B.I. and C.I.A. before the September 2001 terrorist attacks and recommended several changes, including the creation of cabinet level national intelligence chief, that go beyond what the administration has proposed.
The report, by a joint panel of the House and Senate intelligence committees, found that the F.B.I. and C.I.A. had failed to heed repeated warnings that al Qaeda intended to strike in the United States. It referred to one newly disclosed intelligence document from December 1998 that said: ''Plans to hijack U.S. aircraft proceeding well. Two individuals had successfully evaded checkpoints in dry run at NY airport.''
The report concluded that in the months before the hijackings, the F.B.I. and C.I.A. did not comprehend the gravity and imminent nature of the threat inside the United States and failed to assess all of the available information about the risk of an attack. As a result, the report said, the agencies missed opportunities that would have ''greatly enhanced'' the chances of disrupting the terrorist plot. [Excerpts, Page A12.]
At one point, the nearly 900-page report took issue with an assertion to the committee by the F.B.I. director, Robert S. Mueller III, that the bureau had known of no terrorist sympathizers who had contact with any of the 19 hijackers before the hijackings. The report identified 14 people it said was known to the F.B.I. who had dealings with four of the would-be hijackers. In a later appearance before committee members, Mr. Mueller said he had not intended to mislead them.
Over all, the report provides new insights into the hijackings and fresh details about the activities of the F.B.I. and C.I.A. before the attacks. The panel's inquiry, which included nine public hearings and 13 closed sessions, is the most comprehensive and bleak assessment of lapses and missteps by the country's two main intelligence agencies.Continue reading the main story
Some members of the panel said the committee's findings showed that the hijackings might have been thwarted. ''The attacks of Sept. 11 could have been prevented if the right combination of skill, cooperation, creativity and some good luck had been brought to task,'' said Senator Bob Graham of Florida, a former chairman of the Senate intelligence panel and co-chairman of the inquiry. Mr. Graham is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination.
But other leaders of the investigation said the inquiry left unanswered questions. ''I can tell you right now I don't know exactly how the plot was hatched on 9/11,'' said Representative Porter J. Goss, the Florida Republican who is chairman of the House intelligence committee. ''We still cannot fill in a lot of the blanks.''
Representatives of the country's intelligence agencies have said the report offers little new information. Since the attacks, they say, they have taken many steps to expand and improve their counterterrorism efforts -- including moves to share information and investigate terrorist threats more aggressively.
Mr. Mueller said in a statement today, ''While the report provides a snapshot of the F.B.I. at September 11, 2001, the picture of the F.B.I. today shows a changed organization.''
President Bush, in another statement, said his administration had ''transformed'' how the government pursues terrorists, noting the creation of the Department of Homeland Security to reorganize counterterrorism efforts.
''The best way to prevent future attacks is to hunt down the terrorists before they strike again,'' Mr. Bush said. ''America and our allies have continued the relentless pursuit of the global terror network. Many of those directly involved in organizing the Sept. 11 attacks are confirmed dead or now in custody. We will not relent until al Qaeda is completely dismantled.''
Several counterterrorism officials described the report today as misleading and said it drew together disparate facts whose relevance in advance of the attacks had been extremely hard to understand.
''What you have here is a narrative composed of all the information that the government now possesses about the Sept. 11 attacks,'' one senior law enforcement official said. ''As the information was gathered over time -- like a collection of puzzle pieces -- by a number of agencies over a period of time, no one person or agency had the the complete picture of Sept. 11 we have now.''
The report said that the F.B.I., C.I.A. and other intelligence agencies had amassed a huge amount of information about al Qaeda before the attacks, but it found that none of the intelligence offered a ''smoking gun'' that indicated exactly how, when or where the attacks would take place.
Even so, by the time of the attacks, the report said, the F.B.I. and C.I.A. had collected ''significant and relevant'' information about some of the men who turned out to be hijackers. Intelligence agencies circulated warnings inside the government in June and July 2001 saying that imminent attacks causing ''major casualties'' could occur without warning.
The report concluded, ''The intelligence community failed to capitalize on both the individual and collective significance of available information that appears relevant to the events of Sept. 11.''
''As a result,'' the report said, ''the community missed opportunities to disrupt the Sept. 11 plot by denying entry to or detaining would-be hijackers, to at least try to unravel the plot through surveillance and other investigative work within the United States and finally to generate a heightened state of alert and thus harden the homeland against attack.''
The report found that for nearly two years before the attacks, the C.I.A. had known of the terrorist connections of two of the hijackers, Khalid al-Midhar and Nawaq Alhazmi, who in 2000 moved to San Diego and had numerous contacts with an F.B.I. informant.
An unidentified F.B.I. agent who was responsible for the informant told the committee, in previously undisclosed testimony, that if the C.I.A. had told the F.B.I. what it knew about Mr. al-Midhar and Mr. Alhazmi, ''it would have made a huge difference.''
''We would immediately go out and canvas the source and try to find out where these people were,'' the agent testified. ''If we locate them, which we probably would have, since they were very close, they were nearby, we would have initiated investigations immediately.''
The report said the informant had told the F.B.I. that he never knew that Mr. al-Midhar and Mr. Alhazmi were part of a terrorist plot. It concluded that the agent's beliefs about the possibility of finding the men were speculative.
''What is clear, however,'' the report said, ''is that the informant's contacts with the hijackers, had they been capitalized on, would have given the San Diego field office perhaps the intelligence community's best chance to unravel the Sept. 11 plot.''
The report also renews a focus on Saudi Arabia and whether anyone in the kingdom may have known about the hijackings in advance. Saudi officials have denied any advance knowledge. But the report says that Omar al-Bayoumi, a Saudi student who befriended two of the hijackers and helped pay their expenses, ''had access to seemingly unlimited funding from Saudi Arabia.''
Some of the committee's findings were disclosed last December when it completed its seven-month investigation. The panel's final report was classified and disputes between the panel and intelligence agencies about what should remain secret continued until today's release of a declassified version of the report.
The report revives the political issue about how well the F.B.I. and C.I.A. performed and whether the Bush administration has moved aggressively enough to address the agencies' failings. The findings suggest that lawmakers in both parties believe that more far-reaching changes may be necessary to protect Americans from terrorism.
Some lawmakers said they were angered by deletions demanded by the Bush administration and the intelligence agencies. They said the administration should disclose more details, particularly from a heavily edited 28-page chapter about the role played by Saudi Arabia and other foreign governments.
''I just don't understand the administration here,'' said Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York. ''There seems to be a systematic strategy of coddling and cover-up when it comes to the Saudis.''
C.I.A. officials would not discuss the report today, referring to testimony to the joint committee last October by George J. Tenet, the director of central intelligence. At the time, Mr. Tenet defended the C.I.A. and said it had an aggressive operation in place to deter al Qaeda.
In his statement, Mr. Mueller, the F.B.I. director, said the agency had already acted on many of the committee's recommendations.
But so far, the Bush administration has shown little interest in the panel's most hotly debated proposal, to create an intelligence chief to oversee a large number of intelligence agencies that now report to different cabinet officials.Continue reading the main story


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The Exhibit Hall Opening Reception is a two hour reception held on Saturday, June 2 to officially open the American Transplant Congress. Attendees can enjoy beverages and light snacks while perusing the exhibit hall and scientific posters. Signage will be placed outside the Exhibit Hall and throughout the event near food and beverage stations in accordance with PhRMA code. At your company's expense, you may provide plates, cups and napkins with your company name, booth number, and logo only. ATC must approve artwork prior to production.
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The Heir and the Spare
When your two and a half year old runs to the john, feigns an attack of vomiting, then looks at you and says with a smile, "Look! Just like Mamma!" there is only one possible explanation.
Yes, folks, we've got a bun in the oven. And before I go on, let me just clear up a couple of things.
How you know this is not your first pregnancy
- With your first pregnancy, you decided around month five to go out and buy a pair of maternity pants, mostly for kicks. The second time around, roughly ten minutes after you pee on the stick you are forced to unfasten the top button of your jeans. By the following morning you have already commandeered your husband's sweatpants and are trying to remember where that box of maternity clothes is stored up in the attic.
- The first time around, you read "What to Expect When You're Expecting." You worshiped this book. You memorized it. You photocopied their pregnancy diet and taped it to the fridge. This time, you get to roughly page 7 (right around where they start getting all self-righteous about taking Tums and eating ice-cream) before you chuck it and go back to finishing off your firstborn's Easter candy for dinner.
- When people asked you during pregnancy number one, "So, what are you hoping for?" you either responded "A Girl", "A Boy" or copped out with "Just as long as it's healthy". This time when people ask what you want, you look at them with the concentrated intensity of the battle scarred and say, "A Good Sleeper."
How you know this is not your husband's first pregnancy
- When you tell him the news, his first reaction is not tearful joy, but "Does this mean we'll be living on corn flakes and rice cakes for the next three months?" (Answer: yes, as it turned out.)
- When you tell him the news, his second reaction is not tearful joy, but "Hon, this time I think you should take the epidural, okay?"
- When you were pregnant the first time, if you happened to mention at midnight that you had a craving for pierogies, he booked the next flight to Warsaw and had them hot and fresh to you by breakfast. This time, if you ask him to kindly get his lazy butt off the couch to make you a sandwich, he mumbles something about waiting for the next commercial break. If you happen to make any sort of remark about folic acid deficiency and birth defects and how if something goes awry it will all be because of this sandwich, he will finally haul himself into the kitchen, but toss over his shoulder as he goes, "I don't think you were this bitchy the last time."
Having said that, let me clarify that we are thrilled. There was a period that we thought number two just wasn't in the cards for us, and this left me strangely bereft. Strangely, I mean, in the eyes of many of our friends in Italy because families with single children aren't all that uncommon here. In fact, in many areas especially the further north you go, it is more the rule than the exception.
I think that this is one of the facts regarding modern Italy that most surprise first time visitors. The world seems to have freeze framed Italy in roughly the neorealist period, where women all looked like Sofia Loren and had at least a half a dozen offspring fetchingly dressed in short pants, news vendor caps, and ankle boots. The reality is that birth rates have been steadily going down in Italy for the past three decades, and by 1988 the Bel Paese vied with China and Japan for the lowest birth rates in the world. The current birthrate has risen slightly to 1.25 children per woman, which puts Italy somewhere between second and third place worldwide, depending upon whose numbers you read.
Regardless, one of the main reasons that the birthrate has risen slightly over the past few years is because of the relatively higher birthrates among the immigrant population, which has risen proportionately over the same period. So the fact remains that more than half of all Italian couples, and more like two thirds in the center and north of Italy, choose to bear only one child.
There are various reasons for this tendency of modern Italian couples limit the size of their family. One is purely demographic: many Italian women don't marry until their early thirties, and don't procreate until their mid to late thirties. Many explanations are given for this delay, namely difficulty in finishing higher education and instability of the labor market. Well, call me jaded, but the majority of my girlfriends who have put off marriage have been much less swayed by Pursuit of Higher Education and Career Advancement than by Lack of Man Who Doesn't Fall into the Even if You Were the Last Male on Earth Category. But who am I to go against the big statisticians? The bottom line is when you've had your first at 38 it gives you great pause to consider having number two at 40. I, for one, am planning my first uninterrupted night of sleep the day I turn 40, certainly not starting the whole business all over again.
The second reason is straightforward economics. The cost of living is high in Europe in general, and Italy specifically. Utilities are expensive here, food and clothing can be costly, and, most importantly, housing prices are sky-high, especially in the wealthier center and north. Many Italian families live in relatively small urban apartments where space is tight for a family of three, much less four. We know of at least a few couples who gave up on having a second child because there was simply no space to put him or her.
The third, and I think most compelling reason, is socio-economic. Many couples in Italy make a conscious choice about the style of life they prefer. They can either have a second child, or they can have an nicer car, a week skiing vacation in the winter and a month seaside vacation in the summer, and name brand clothes and shoes. It is easy to dismiss this as a superficial preference, but considering modern Italian history I am not so quick to disdain.
Italy was an extremely poor country until just recently. Starving poor. Approximately one tenth to one quarter of its population emigrating abroad in the twentieth century poor. It was a time that the elderly in Italy colorfully call "the years of misery", a time that my husband's grandmother left her home in Umbria to travel to the Marche and work as a wet-nurse, leaving her newborn daughter at home who died soon after, quite probably of malnutrition.
The economic upturn began in the sixties and seventies, with a higher standard of living, industrial development, and the birth of a strong middle class. However, in many parts of Italy, including the mountainous rural areas in Umbria, this taste of the good life did not arrive until even later. My own husband did not have an indoor bathroom until 1981, a fact that he likes to bring up every time I suggest a camping vacation. As I recall, I spent the entire twelve months of 1981 bitching to my parents because I was the only girl in the entire school to not have a pair of Nike gym shoes and baggy striped Lee jeans. My husband also clearly remembers when electricity, telephone service, and television arrived in the area. He was born in 1967.
The point I'm trying to make is that abject poverty is living memory in Italy, and economic security or even prosperity quite recent experience. So if young Italian couples decide that they want to enjoy their disposable income in consumer goods rather than try to form a family basketball team, who am I to judge?
Clearly, there are pros and cons to being a single child, which I discovered when I married one. The pros are, of course, that all the energy, time, and finances of the family are concentrated on a single person. Sometimes this produces offspring who are unspeakably self centered, but my experience is that it more often produces adults who are happy, secure, and responsible. My husband has to be the most spookily well adjusted person I have ever met, for example. The flip side is that there is no one else with whom you can shoulder the responsibility when your parents begin to age, which is a problem we, and many of our friends, have just begun to face in the past few years. We have noticed that the adults we know who were raised as single children now tend to have at least two themselves, and those who have siblings are more likely to limit themselves to one. The grass is always greener, I suppose.
Anyway, our train has left the station for destination Baby Two, so it's too late for us to rethink things now. All I have to say is all previously discussed plans for number three are now officially null and void.
Famous last words.
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Multinational's Take Aim At Americans
Excerpt:Â When displaced American workers complain about outsourcing U.S. manufacturing jobs to take advantage of cheap Chinese factory labor, and about using low-paid Asians here on H-1B visas to take engineering and computer jobs, the globalists and multinational corporations have a ready answer. They recite in chorus: Don't worry, be happy, because American technology and innovation enable us to compete in the global market.But now those same globalists and multinationals are trying to outsource our technology and innovation advantage by delivering a body blow to our patent system. This plan comes under the deceptive label Patent "Reform" Act (H.R. 1908), and it's already been rushed through the U.S. House. Read More


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Reusable Menstrual Cups Can Save You Money
If you calculated the amount of money you spent annually on tampons and pads, you'd probably be shocked at the thousands you invest over just a few years. With the cost of products going up each year, you either need to rely on coupons to save money or find an alternative option to disposable pads and tampons. Reusable menstrual cups are a great option for women looking to save money but want something that provides the same level or better of protection and comfort.
Investing in Reusable Menstrual Cups
The initial investment in a menstrual cup may make you think that the cost is too high. However, you need to consider that you many only need one or two cups and that they last a few years. Even if you invest a little under $100 in a couple of cups, you will easily spend that in a year on disposable pads and tampons. Then you will continue to spend that each year on disposables, making the cost of disposables much more than the cost of a reusable cup. If you take into consideration any extras that you need to purchase because of your use of disposable menstrual products, you may spend well over $100 each year on disposable products.
The Benefits of a Reusable Cup
Some disposable products cause women to have rashes or infections, which requires the purchase of creams or ointments to help the healing process. With reusable menstrual cups, you don't have chafing, the risk of toxic shock syndrome, or dangerous chemicals rubbing against your skin for one week out of every month. You also save money because you don't need to buy creams or ointments to fight rashes or infections.
The cups work just as well, if not better, than disposable products. You can swim, play sports, wear a bikini, ride a horse, or just lie around the house and not worry about the cup slipping or leaking. It doesn't show through clothing, so you can comfortably wear your cutest jeans or a dress without worrying about any sort of bulk or outline showing. The silicone material makes it suitable for every woman, even those with latex allergies. Visit sckooncup.com to experience how a reusable cup can change your life. You'll not only enjoy the product but appreciate the savings, too.


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The property offers a wide array of lavish 21st century amenities designed for ultimate comfort and caters to both families as well as the fast-paced global executives.
The hotel has a total of 282 luxury suites with contemporary décor and modern amenities equipped with home entertainment system and full kitchen.
Wadi Musheirib Street, Doha 6715 (Qatar). The hotel is ideally located at the heart of Doha, overlooking the Jeidah Flyover and 10 minutes car ride away from Qatar International Airport. Strategically, guests are not far away from any destination around the city.
When coming from the Airport guests should turn right onto Al Matar Street, turn left onto B Ring Road and take 1st exit from roundabout onto Wadi Al Musheireb Street to reach the hotel.
Copyright ® hotelkey.com All rights reserved


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Tuesday, July 5, 2011
The long weekend: a post of random goodness
Random goodness #1
The photo above is of our first potatoes of the year. They were the most amazing color of magenta! They were also delicious for breakfast; potatoes from our garden with eggs from our hens, and toast with homemade strawberry jam. The spoils of our labor are truly enjoyed and appreciated.
Random goodness #2
My beautiful (and very colorful) sister was in town for a couple of days. It was so nice to have time with her. We spent most of it sitting on the back yard swing relishing the gorgeous summer weather. She is such a unique and precious woman, I love her madly!
Random goodness #3
I have finally figured out what to make with all of The Engineer's old work shirts that I have been squirreling away. You know, it's really amazing what all can be made from men's shirts. A picnic blanket in blue will be just the thing.
Random goodness #4
Meet Hazel!
(and yes, her feathers are naturally that color of green!)
I hope you have enjoyed my snippets of Random Goodness. I will return after the fuzz has cleared from my brain, the mountain of laundry whittled down to a mere hill, and the pieces put back together.
Have a sweet day
17 comments:
- Carol said...
Fantastic potatoes, it is so good to enjoy the 'fruits' of one's labour.
What a darling little chick, amazing feathers.
Sisters are so precious, your's has great style.
Carol xx
- July 5, 2011 at 12:00 PM
- Sherri B. said...
So nice that you had special time with your pretty sis. I love that Hazel has green on her head, it will be fun to see what she looks like as she gets older. Great idea for the work shirts and easy to wash after a picnic feast. xo
- July 5, 2011 at 12:05 PM
- greenrabbitdesigns said...
How cute is Hazel!!!
What a brilliant idea for shirts.:)
Vivienne x
- July 5, 2011 at 12:52 PM
- pangaloon said...
You must be so proud of your top spuds. It warms my heart when siblings get on, she is so pretty, and I love her hair. Hazel is adorable, and what an amazing idea for the shirts-can't wait to see the finished result. Wonderful x Jo
- July 5, 2011 at 1:14 PM
- Vic said...
I'm not at all surprised to see your beautiful & unique sister - you my dear are beautiful & unique too! (Don't think I'm going to stop with the gushing compliments any-time soon. It's your own fault, you encourage me with your persistent awesome...)
Hazel is adorable - I never knew chookies came in green!
- July 5, 2011 at 2:14 PM
- Itchin' Stitchin' said...
Wow how wonderful your weekend sounds. Your sister radiates uniqueness and creativity, I'm sure she is just an absolute delight to talk to. Wonder if Hazel's eggs will match her feathers?
- July 5, 2011 at 2:47 PM
- Flaming Nora said...
Why am I not surprised that you have a punk rock chicken?
- July 5, 2011 at 3:41 PM
- Mare said...
Dear Friend, i am so in love with all of your random Goodness, but especially that you got time to spend with your lovely Sister! There is nothing like Family...Love, mare
PS- I love Hazel too....
- July 5, 2011 at 4:25 PM
- Pia K said...
sounds like a fantastic weekend filled with awesomeness! if i had to pick one favourite here (twist my arm) it has to be hazel, too too sweet <3 what kind of a special chicken is she?
- July 5, 2011 at 5:12 PM
- jus said...
I agree with Nora, Hazel just needs bondage pants and a mohawk and she's my kinda chick!
- July 5, 2011 at 6:26 PM
- beck said...
I loved this post!! Your random goodness has really brightened up my day. Your sister looks like such an amazing & gorgeous girl, your chickie is so cute, those potatoes...! Wow! And how good it is to eat a meal that is all from your own back yard. Mmmm..hope the rest of your week is full of more random goodness xo
- July 5, 2011 at 6:51 PM
- Tas said...
What a beautiful collection of good things!
- July 5, 2011 at 9:00 PM
- andrea creates said...
hazel is so cute!!
lots of random goodness :)
thanks for stopping by :)
- July 6, 2011 at 3:46 AM
- Pomona said...
I am glad that you had a lovely weekend - I have been doing mountains of ironing this morning, and it was all a bit much!
Pomona x
- July 6, 2011 at 8:20 AM
- Sandra Eterovic said...
I love your random goodness! The shirts are really inspiring and your sister looks really sweet. As does Hazel.....Ah, summer!
- July 6, 2011 at 3:02 PM
- My Bearded Pigeon said...
Such a brillinat idea about the shirts! this is what I missed in the blogwoprld! this kind of excellent thriftiness! I love Hazel!
- July 6, 2011 at 6:36 PM
- Wendy said...
Lots of wonderful goodness! Those potatoes look delicious--can't wait for ours!
- July 6, 2011 at 8:35 PM


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Jennifer Owens is 25 and has Irlen Syndrome, which is a visual perceptual problem that results in distortions of the environment and print. She has to wear special purple Irlen filters to rectify the problem.
"I joined, not only to raise awareness for my disability, which is not widely known, but also to share experiences with others. It took a long time for my disability to be diagnosed, during which was a scary time for me and my family. A group like this that can help raise the awareness of different disabilities and the help and support out there is great. It has already brought great change.'
Jennifer recently gave a presentation to the Group about Irlen Sydrome.


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Seeing clearly at all distances without glasses or contact lenses is a goal for many of us, and that goal is fast becoming a reality.
For a half century, ophthalmic surgeons have envisioned an intraocular lens capable of restoring eyesight at all distances. OcumeticsTM Technology Corporation was founded to achieve this goal. Employing state-
The product of extensive research and development, this intraocular lens is called the Bionic LensTM. The Bionic LensTM is a trademark that applies to a host of patented intraocular lens designs that relate to intraocular lenses having the ability to auto-
With age, the naturally occurring crystalline lens of the eye undergoes changes that make it cloudier and become a cataract. As a cataract, not only does it cause visual acuity and quality of vision deteriorate, there may also be a release of toxic agents from the cataractous lens into the anterior chamber of the eye. These substances have the potential to induce glaucoma and damage the endothelial cell layer of the cornea, which is necessary for the cornea to remain clear. The Bionic LensTM is constructed of inert biocompatible polymeric materials that do not cause such adverse biophysical changes within the eye.
Cataract surgery is the most common and successful procedure in medicine. The Bionic LensTM is currently undergoing clinical testing with the ultimate goal of clinical approval. Ophthalmic surgeons, utilizing standard surgical techniques, augmented by the accuracy of femtosecond lasers and adjunct intraocular techniques, will then be able to implant the the Bionic LensTM to help patients achieve their visual goals.
The Bionic LensTM: A New Dimension in Sight Enhancement.
Ocumetics TM Technology Corp.
P.O. Box 61620 Brookswood, Langley, BC V3A 8C8
The human brain is conditioned to interpret visual information that is initially formatted by the eye's optical apparatus. Any disturbance of the exquisite interaction of physics, anatomy and neurophysiology is perceived by the observer as foreign.
OcumeticsTM Camera Optics preserve this delicate interaction by providing focus and prismatic change coincident with the nodal planes of inanimate optical systems. The optical images produced are naturally formatted for the human visual system without need for digital processing. Viewers will enjoy three dimensional visual landscapes projecting seamless hyper-
OcumeticsTM Camera Optics can shift focus from optical infinity to very close range more rapidly than the perceptual limits of the human brain. The result is super wide-
Headsets that simultaneously capture, export and project digital images are beginning to surface within the marketplace. It is expected that these attractive headsets, appearing much like sunglasses, will supplant television, portable computers and cellular phones requiring visual display monitors.
OcumeticsTM Camera Optics exhibit many advantages over fluid-
Economy, durability and superb optical resolution make OcumeticsTM Camera Optics the perfect choice for these and many other twenty-
OcumeticsTM Technology Corporation is an emphatic proponent of the Celebration of Sight, a collaboration of privately held enterprises whose mission is to preserve, restore and replicate natural eyesight. The shared premise is that uncompromised vision is a privilege tantamount to a basic human right. The Celebration of Sight Group of Companies has pledged to empower and mobilize the eyecare community with the tools to actualize this defining axiom.
The Celebration of Sight consists of three divisions each being chartered to strengthen professional autonomy, a proven prerequisite for exemplary patient care:
Celebration of Sight Agency is a privately funded professional development organization that supplements eyecare services and assists doctors in coping with factors that erode professional autonomy. Funding for the Agency is derived from business sectors that have no undisclosed involvement with medical decisions relating to eyecare.
Celebration of Sight Foundation is a not-
Celebration of Sight Alliance is an international network of eye doctors assembled to galvanize a new paradigm for healthcare delivery that may be extrapolated upon a broad scale. Government agencies are struggling to meet demands for healthcare, especially as advanced therapies and diagnostics emerge. Within the perplexities facing today's healthcare systems, the Celebration of Sight could play a significant role to remedy a pervasive crisis.
Entering upon professional advocacy, the Celebration of Sight has ushered in a new convention for healthcare consumers and the eyecare workforce whereby both parties receive enhanced value for their respective investments.
Our Values
Vision is a cornerstone of daily life; perfect vision is one of life's great pleasures. The more we study the human visual system, the more appreciative we become for the incomprehensible mastery of its design.
Vision problems within our growing and maturing population are escalating. Beyond forty five years of age, most people cope with visual disability of one form or another. Liberating people by restoring the effortless performance of the youthful human eye is the lifeblood of our business. For so many reasons, we at OcumeticsTM Technology Corporation believe that uncompromised vision is far more than a luxury.
We believe that the expression of the authentic Human Visual Experience (HVE)TM is equally important for the assimilation of digitized visual information. Especially in today's literary world, knowledge is power. Amidst the race to share and assimilate information, the stakes are growing unimaginably high. We believe that people must work together utilizing the best tools possible if improved standards of living are to be achieved without overstepping our collective ecological footprint.
In business, we believe that fundamental corporate values and policies should be clearly laid out with the assurance that consumer interests will be well served before business initiates. OcumeticsTM Technology Corporation is very pleased to have been a part of the visionary process for the Celebration of Sight. We remain confident that healthcare consumers and healthcare workers alike will share our sentiments as the full scope of the Celebration of Sight is revealed.
We are humbled by the immensity of the challenges that lie ahead yet remain inspired by the possibilities now materializing. We are convinced that adaptive optics will play a critical role in the sociological transformation in progress.
Who We Are
The OcumeticsTM Team consists of visual scientists and business leaders headed by the founder, Dr. Garth Webb. OcumeticsTM Technology Corporation has implemented a conjoint business model that seeks to fortify professionalism in eyecare. Accordingly, the extended OcumeticsTM Team consists of professional groups and strategic corporate alliances.
What We Do
All things vital to the preservation, restoration or replication of the authentic Human Visual ExperienceTM are germane to the interests of the Celebration of Sight Group of Companies. OcumeticsTM Technology Corporation serves as the hub for all activity relating to optical devices and light modulation.
Irrefutably, investigations reveal that autonomous healthcare professionals provide the highest standards of healthcare. Consistent with this realization, OcumeticsTM Technology Corporation has established the Doctors Alliance to identify and promote the doctors providing trusted eyecare services.
Our Mission
Our mission is to equip people for the twenty-
The Celebration of Sight Group of Companies has forged a business model that propagates upon a desire to empower professionals who remain dedicated to excellence in eyecare. Proceeds garnered from the ophthalmic and communications sectors are re-
The Doctors Alliance consists of two divisions, the Affinity Chapter and the Patron Chapter. Doctors are at liberty to join either one or both chapters. The Affinity Chapter is intended primarily for doctors providing non-
The Affinity Chapter supplements eyecare services and sponsors professional development initiatives to help doctors cope within an environment that has become progressively difficult to preserve professional doctrines. Policies and resources orchestrated by the Celebration of Sight Group of Companies collimate upon individuals before extending regionally and eventually inter-
The Patron Chapter operates in parallel with the Affinity Chapter but focuses exclusively upon establishing preferred business arrangements for ophthalmic surgeons or doctors who provide working environments for ophthalmic surgeons.
To preserve the core values and integrity of the Doctors Alliance, candidacy is administered through an international delegation of Celebration of Sight Councillors representing ophthalmology and optometry. Through this network, candidacy is reserved for doctors noted for professional contribution and comprehensive patient care.
Membership is an asset that may be transferred with the consent of OcumeticsTM Technology Corporation. In the interest of preserving consistent and high quality patient care, OcumeticsTM Technology Corporation is pleased to assist with agreeable succession planning.
OcumeticsTM Technology Corporation encourages people who are considering OcumeticsTM lens technology to seek the best eyecare possible for preoperative, intra-
People, as a rule, are now living longer lives often outliving irreplaceable cell types within the eye. Early detection, lifestyle management and contemporary treatment protocols are the tools required to ensure that these irreplaceable cell types receive the best chance possible for a prolonged life span. The desired outcome, uncompromised vision throughout a lifetime, is dependent upon the availability of good professional care. The Doctors link located on the Homepage above has been installed to bridge connection between consumers and professionals noted for trusted eyecare service.
Professional societies serve as advocates for professional groups; however, their effect is often limited by inadequate resources. The disenfranchisement precipitating from this shortfall has become a travesty of growing proportions, particularly for healthcare professions. The Doctors Alliance, in association with the Celebration of Sight, presents a resolve for a balance to preserve the virtues professionalism in eyecare.
OcumeticsTM Technology Corporation appreciates that there are potentially scores of doctors who lack only an authorized sponsor to complete the registration process to join the Doctors Alliance. They are kindly advised to contact the OcumeticsTM head office to validate their eligibility.
OcumeticsTM Technology Corporation helps connect consumers with professionals who have been identified as trusted eyecare providers.
Questions pertaining to an individual's suitability for lens replacement surgery are best answered by their eye doctor. Two links located on the Homepage, Medical Centres and Doctors, provide contact information for doctors who specialize in lens replacement procedures. They are familiar with OcumeticsTM lens technology and are the best source for accurate information. Data bases for the Medical Centres link will be activated as regulatory approval for the OcumeticsTM Bionic Lens approaches.
OcumeticsTM Technology Corporation has developed relations with media representatives to disseminate public information. The Info Update link located on the Homepage has been installed to consolidate this information and to provide more specific details relevant to the release of the OcumeticsTM Bionic Lens and the uptake of OcumeticsTM Camera Optics.
Current prices for OcumeticsTM Supply Contracts for doctors are posted within the Guest Section. Discussions regarding OcumeticsTM Supply Contracts are best initiated by phone.
We would be delighted to hear from you.
Tele: 604.510.0200
Toll Free: 1.866.514.5279


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text: On Mon, 2005-11-14 at 17:41 -0600, Bryan J. Smith wrote: > On Mon, 2005-11-14 at 11:35 -0700, Craig White wrote: > > I would have sworn the point was that these people just love the debate > > and no one knew enough to answer the question that I originally asked. > > I'm just antagonizing my next UT2004 opponent. ;-> ---- you can't lose if you debate him first, you will wear him out before you even start. ;-) ---- > > > Thanks to the fedora-selinux mail list, where answers seem to be more > > topical than philosophical debate, I got an answer. > > In all honest, you'll find the Fedora SELinux list to be _far_ more > helpful than this list in that regard -- especially since the Fedora > userbase is addressing more and more issues everyday. ---- I did and they were. I gather with Bill Nottingham and Stephen Smalley the most active on the list, there isn't likely to be the chest beating debates of the value of SELinux there. and btw (sorry about html - wanting to keep link from wrapping)... https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-selinux-list/2005- November/msg00099.html ;-) Craig -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos/attachments/20051114/8d39e254/attachment.html>


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Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Homely Snippets
22 comments:
What a delicious pile of books! Wouldn't it be lovely to have just one rainy afternoon to delve into them with cup after cup of hot tea. (I shouldn't wish too hard because I know this beautiful Mumma business will be over in the blink of an eye). We've been sorting here too. It must the teacher in us! Hope your week is lovely and that you and your Grace are settling into kindy life :) xReplyDeleteReplies
Nothing like a rainy day, snuggled under a blanket with a cuppa and a good book :) And sorting and organizing always makes me feel calmer and at peace. We're getting there slowly with kindy - some tears this morning at drop off, but according to the teacher, Grace had a fantastic day, was mixing with the other children and was happy :)Delete
Oh Amanda. I swear you and I live parellel lives sometimes. So many similarities and likes!!!!!ReplyDelete
I have been meaning to make VISUAL LABELS for Ella's clothes drawers and toys boxes for weeks now. I want her to be able to put things away {in my anal, organised spots} on her own. I want to embed some more home-independence into her...to take the load off me, but also to keep things in place!!!!!
I love the snippets of your home. And Gracie's painting {wrapping paper} is all kinds of PERFECT!!!!
You've inspired me to do a few snippets of my home too in a post soon. See...how we bounce off of each other ;)
P.S. Have you started The Gift of an Ordinary Day yet. I'm making the last few pages last FOREVER!! Love it.Replies
That's what I think every time I read a post of yours :) I love things to be all neatly organized too, especially when it comes to wardrobes... although Sophie has taken to thinking Grace's drawers are'dress-ups' and has been whipping shorts and tops out left right and centre :)Delete
Still haven't started that awesome book you recommended... am DESPERATE to make a start but have promised myself to just read one at a time, rather than having three books on the go like I tend to.
I'd love to see some more snippets of your place... it's fun getting to see a bit more of other bloggers' worlds xx
Grace's painting is absolutely gorgeous, I think you should keep it and have her paint another tomorrow! xxReplyDelete
You must keep the painting it's adorable xReplyDelete
I am going to pop back here often .. Your blog is so refreshing. So, thank youReplyDelete
Love the painting Amanda. I think it deserves a frame and a special place on the wall.ReplyDelete
You look REALLY organised! I wish I could say the same here. lol
Lovely book stack, have been enjoying the bottom one myself.The others look very interesting. Grace's pic would look lovely in a bright yellow frame, it's so cute. Throw is a perfect match!ReplyDelete
Wonderful, Amanda! Seeing organisation like this always puts a smile on my face! :)ReplyDelete
Gorgeous painting, and gorgeous throw!
Ronnie xo
Yep keep the painting and ask her the little Picasso to do another! (only risk is wanting to keep that one also). Is The Happiness Project good?ReplyDelete
your lounge room looks like such a lovely place to sit down, read a magazine and feel peaceful.ReplyDelete
and that wrapping paper is gorgeous! you must keep it and have grace do another. :)Replies
Thanks! At the moment, this is more of a 'sitting room', where I'll occasionally blog or read. The other corner of this room (currently the unused formal dining room) is where I'm thinking of making an activity area for the girls with a table for crafting and lots of floor space for spreading out toys like Duplo :)Delete
Your stack of books looks very appealing. I wish I were more of a reader. In the evenings, I fall asleep when I try to read. Maybe I need a Kindle or other electronic device. I never seem to get tired when I'm on the computer! I have been reading Fahrenheit 451 since December. I find it interesting but not compelling, and I tend to let a book sit for weeks untouched if I don't find it compelling.ReplyDelete
Glad to hear that Grace is settling into school nicely.
Your throw is beautiful, love the white and tones of blue in your lounge, it looks great :) and they look like a fantastic selection of books!ReplyDelete
You've got a lovely collection of books there Amanda. I don't know if I could resist reading a new one before I finished the old one;) I am so much like you with labels, I still use them for myself but not as much for the girls these days. I would label the girls clothes drawers when they were little so they knew what drawer had what type of clothes in there. It's probably a bit pedantic but it was quite helpful for them and gave them a bit more independence. That throw looks beautiful and suits your lounge perfectly Amanda. Grace's painting is so so sweet I can understand why you wouldn't want to give it away:) Have a wonderful weekend. xxReplyDelete
the painting is just beautiful ... head to office words and photocopy in colour a couple of times. you can keep the original and the photocopy versions for family and gift wrap maybe ? xxReplyDelete
Oh that stack of books! Would love to know if you think the Happiness Project is worth getting...but I must say, I'm dying to read some fiction. I feel like I've had non-fiction on the bedside table for waaay too long...Hope you kept the flower painting - beautiful! xReplyDelete


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