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Monday, August 27, 2012
Caprese Salad
During the wintertime, produce has to be cajoled a little more to be turned into a warm, comforting meal - but we have it easy when tomatoes taste this good. They are the undeniable star of the show. This simple salad - my all-time favourite - is made nestling milky buffalo mozarella with thin, meaty tomato slices. These gorgeous, uneven gems were purchased from the farmers' market a Liberty Village and surely didn't disappoint. I added some fresh basil leaves (picked from our very own urban garden/balcony!) and a few salty, cured olives. I really can't think of a better summer lunch and I know I will be eying this photo with envy in a few weeks from now.
Caprese Salad
2 heirloom tomatoes, sliced
1/2 buffalo mozarella ball, sliced
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt and freshly cracked pepper
2 tbsp olives
A small handful of fresh basil leaves
Arrange the tomatoes and mozarella in a platter. Season with oil, salt and pepper. Garnish with olives and basil.Enjoy!
16 comments:
Ah, caprese salad. Always a favorite!
- August 27, 2012 at 11:11 PM
- Chocolate Shavings said...
yummychunklet: Agreed!
- August 28, 2012 at 5:46 AM
- Spicegirlfla said...
It doesn't matter how many times I see a caprese salad, I'm always excited! Just a perfect favorite summertime salad, simply classy!
- August 28, 2012 at 10:49 AM
- Suzanne Perazzini said...
There are quite a few caprese salads around the blogs at the moment and I would devour every single one.
- August 28, 2012 at 4:58 PM
- Dining Alone said...
I would love that caprese salad and I would add a little prosciutto :)
- August 29, 2012 at 1:01 PM
- Chocolate Shavings said...
Dining Alone: I wouldn't say no to that!
- August 29, 2012 at 2:25 PM
- Susan said...
Wonderful treatment of a classic!
- August 29, 2012 at 6:03 PM
- Chocolate Shavings said...
Susan: Thank you! Sometimes there's nothing better than keeping it simple.
- August 29, 2012 at 8:40 PM
- The Cooking Actress said...
Oh I love caprese!! So summery and delicious!
- August 30, 2012 at 7:10 AM
- Frank @ Kraemers Culinary Blog said...
Jenn, I have just nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award on my blog, because Chocolate Shavings is one of my favorites. If you wish to pick up the award, please come visit my blog.
- August 30, 2012 at 4:39 PM
- Chocolate Shavings said...
Frank @ Kraemers Culinary Blog: Thank you for the nomination!
- August 30, 2012 at 8:12 PM
- frost said...
that looks good.=]
- August 31, 2012 at 5:57 AM
- kale said...
Those tomatoes are gorgeous! This is one of my favorite salads. Simple, fresh ingredients just sing!
- August 31, 2012 at 2:12 PM
- Alicia Foodycat said...
I love caprese salad. You got such lovely tomatoes for it!
- September 1, 2012 at 5:19 AM
- Julie said...
looks colorful & delicious!!
Thanx for dropping by my space & leaving your sweet comments:)
- September 8, 2012 at 8:01 PM
- meigancam01 said...
I was thinking a lot regarding this topic, so thanks for bringing it up here. You certainly have a good writing style i like, so will be subscribing to your blog.
- October 18, 2012 at 11:05 AM


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Wednesday, February 6
This blog has moved to http://greasykulture.com/blog/
We are now closed here. Over and out.
Please redirect any links you may have to:
Tuesday, February 5
Last post
It's not the best or coolest out there, but it has been consistent: I've tried to post something on most days. And this funny little page has become home: a bit shabby, with a few jobs I've been meaning to do for years but never got round to.
But now it's almost time to say goodbye.
And what better music to pack up my stuff to than the sound of a freshly-built Shovelhead, pipes barking against the dead quiet of freshly fallen snow: Terry Godschalk's VL/Shovel, beautifully (and bravely) photographed by Brad at ZON, and soon to be featured in the all-new GKM.
Final news tomorrow.
Monday, February 4
Warped '50s
Remember 'Lipstick on your Collar'?
For some reason it popped into my head over the weekend. Ewan McGregor's first role, top music (still have the soundtrack CD somewhere), Dennis Potter brilliance/weirdness.
Got to see if I can find it somewhere on DVD.
Friday, February 1
More from the Machine Shed
Machine and shot by Roger at Pinball Images.
Nice, nice, nice. (Neat neat neat?)
Aussie ingenuity and class.
Coming very soon.
Nice, nice, nice. (Neat neat neat?)
Aussie ingenuity and class.
Coming very soon.
Thursday, January 31
Wednesday, January 30
Help me
Tuesday, January 29
Aussie K
Monday, January 28
Another shot of me, Pepe and Billy (of Italian Choppers, with the GKM award at Verona) and a nice clear view of the primary side of this great bike.
Sunday, January 27
Rob's treasure trove
Rob's Used Harley Parts in Virginia is an Aladdin's cave of used everyday and rare Harley parts.
Friends in the UK have bought engines (titled, fully guaranteed) and gearboxes off him: he is happy to ship overseas. Why not try him next time you're looking for a motor, front end or tranny?
Saturday, January 26
The Castle Run – do not miss this one
Happy Australia Day
To my Aussie friends, hope you had a great day. I miss you all. I love this, the original version of the song by its writer Peter Allen. Forget the outfit, the mullet and the lip-synching on the video and bask in unashamed sentimentality. I do. And I'll be clutching my Aussie passport while I do.
Friday, January 25
This week, I will be mostly channelling George Formby
Not a good look, but one for some unfathomable reason I adopted on stage at the MBE Verona. I blame the guy with the mic doing the introductions... obviously unimpressed by my English reserve as I handed over the award to Billy and Pepe, he urged me to look excited. Well, he asked for it.
Thanks (I think) to Billy for the photo. Check out the Italian Choppers website and you can see my speech: if you don't speak Italian, just speak English louder. Works for me.
Italian Choppers.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Fetal Surgery for Spina Bifida More Effective Than Operating After Birth
Thirty years ago, the first human fetal surgery was performed at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Now, a randomized controlled trial has proven definitively that fetal surgery can help certain patients before birth.
Babies who undergo an operation to repair the birth defect spina bifida while still in the womb develop better and experience fewer neurologic complications than babies who have corrective surgery after birth, according to findings from a major multicenter trial led by UCSF researchers. The study is the first to systematically evaluate the best treatment for myelomeningocele, the most serious form of spina bifida, in which the bones of the spine do not fully form.
The eight-year trial, which was stopped early because results were so positive, shows that prenatal surgery greatly reduces the need to divert fluid away from the brain; improves mental development and motor function; and increases the likelihood that a child will one day walk unassisted. This is the first time a randomized clinical trial has clearly demonstrated that surgery before birth can improve the outcome for patients.
"For a young couple, finding out their developing child has a problem is one of the most devastating things that can happen. This landmark study offers real hope for improving the lives of children with spina bifida worldwide," said Diana Farmer, MD, the study's senior author and surgeon-in-chief at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital. "Based on our findings, it appears that fetal surgery can provide a better option for these patients than waiting to treat them after birth."
The surgical procedures evaluated in the current trial were developed at the UCSF Fetal Treatment Center under the direction of Michael Harrison, MD, a UCSF professor emeritus considered the "Father of Fetal Surgery." Farmer and others at UCSF performed the pioneering animal studies in the 1990's that established a rationale for treating spina bifida – the first nonfatal condition treated at the Center – before birth. Already the world leader in diagnosing and treating birth defects in utero, UCSF became the first institution to successfully perform fetal surgery in 1981 and has trained most of the current leaders in the field.
Trial Shows Significant Benefits
Although the Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS) initially aimed to enroll 200 expectant mothers carrying a child with myelomeningocele, it was stopped early in December 2010 with 183 participants because of the significant benefits demonstrated in the children who underwent prenatal surgery. The study appears February 9, 2011, as an Online First publication in the New England Journal of Medicine, available at https://www.nejm.org/online-first. It will be published in the March 24 print issue.
In addition to those treated at UCSF, the trial enrolled patients at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The George Washington University Biostatistics Center was the designated data center, and the study was sponsored by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
"This trial was an enormous effort, and the entire team provided excellent care to the patients. The families made huge contributions that will benefit many children in the future," said co-author Jody Farrell, PNP, nurse coordinator for the UCSF Fetal Treatment Center.
Spina bifida arises during the first few weeks of development when the neural tube – the embryonic structure that ultimately becomes the central nervous system – fails to close, resulting in an underdeveloped spinal cord, according to co-author Nalin Gupta, MD, PhD, chief of pediatric neurosurgery at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital.
In cases of myelomeningocele, a portion of the spinal cord is left exposed and protrudes through an opening on the baby's back that resembles a cyst. Children with myelomeningocele face lifelong disabilities including leg weakness or paralysis and a loss of bladder and bowel control. They often need braces to walk or are wheelchair-bound.
Most infants born with myelomeningocele also have a brain abnormality, known as a Chiari Type II malformation, in which the brain stem is pulled down into the upper spinal canal. The natural flow of spinal fluid also may be altered, leading to a buildup of this fluid in the brain, a life-threatening condition known as hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is treated by surgically inserting a hollow tube called a shunt into the brain to drain excess fluid.
For decades, the standard approach to treating myelomeningocele has been to wait until the child is born, then cover the defect with skin. This surgery returns the tissues to a more normal position and prevents infection, but does not restore function to already damaged nerves. The prenatal surgery is similar but, by repairing the defect earlier, development may progress more normally and allow some nerve function to be restored.
"The MOMS trial has proven to us that some of the factors causing problems like hydrocephalus are in fact those that develop during the second half of pregnancy, because by closing the fetus's back earlier in pregnancy, we can actually reverse the development of this serious condition in many patients," Gupta said. "We have rigorously evaluated a new treatment and shown it to be effective, and now we can move forward with some very clear and convincing information about how this benefits people."
Women enrolled in the study were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The prenatal group underwent surgery to close the spinal defect in their unborn child before their 26th week of pregnancy. The postnatal group had surgery performed on their child in the usual timeframe after birth.
Independent examiners evaluated the children in both groups when they were a year old and again at 30 months. At a year, they assessed whether a child needed a shunt and found that among those who had prenatal surgery, 39.7 percent required a shunt, compared to 82.5 percent of those in the postnatal group. Death was rare in both groups.
At 30 months, the children took standardized tests assessing their mental development and motor function. Children in the prenatal surgery group scored higher on both measures than those operated on after birth. The examiners also evaluated the children's ability to walk and found that 41.9 percent of those in the prenatal group could walk without orthotics or crutches compared to 20.9 percent of those in the postnatal group.
Giving Families Treatment Options
"I think the outcomes of this trial are game-changing for the field of fetal surgery. However, it is important to remember that fetal surgery is just one of the options available for families and may not be applicable to everyone," Farmer said. "The UCSF Fetal Treatment Center is all about giving families as many options as possible when there are problems. Our goal is to someday be able to treat all diseases before birth."
Farmer noted that there are risks associated with fetal surgery. Infants who underwent the prenatal procedure were more likely to be born preterm, with an average gestational age of 34.1 weeks, compared to an average 37.3 weeks in the postnatal group. Mothers undergoing fetal surgery also face serious risks, and all must deliver subsequent pregnancies by Cesarean section to prevent uterine rupture.
"It is because of the maternal risks associated with fetal surgery that I wrote the initial grant for this study proposing that prenatal surgery for spina bifida be performed only in the context of a proper trial," Farmer said. "This is serious surgery, and a woman risks her life just as if she donated a piece of her liver in a living transplant operation."
According to the authors, continued follow-up of the children in the study is needed to assess whether the early benefits are sustained through school age.
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital creates an environment where children and their families find compassionate care at the forefront of scientific discovery, with more than 150 experts in 50 medical specialties serving patients throughout Northern California and beyond. The hospital admits about 5,000 children each year, including 2,000 babies born in the hospital. For more information, visit www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org.
UCSF is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. More information is available at www.ucsf.edu.
Photo by Laura Morton/Special to The Chronicle


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Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Reaction from the basketball world and beyond to the death of former NBA Commissioner David Stern on Wednesday at age 77:
"For 22 years, I had a courtside seat to watch David in action. He was a mentor and one of my dearest friends. We spent countless hours in the office, at arenas and on planes wherever the game would take us. Like every NBA legend, David had extraordinary talents, but with him it was always about the fundamentals — preparation, attention to detail, and hard work." — Adam Silver, who followed Stern as commissioner.
"Without David Stern, the NBA would not be what it is today. He guided the league through turbulent times and grew the league into an international phenomenon, creating opportunities that few could have imagined before. His vision and leadership provided me with the global stage that allowed me to succeed. David had a deep love for the game of basketball and demanded excellence from those around him — and I admired him for that." — Michael Jordan.
"David Stern was such a history maker. When I announced in 1991 I had HIV, people thought they could get the virus from shaking my hand. When David allowed me to play in the 1992 All Star Game in Orlando and then play for the Olympic Dream Team, we were able to change the world." — Magic Johnson.
"There are no words that can really describe the far-reaching impact of Commissioner Stern's brilliance, vision, fairness and hard work over so many years. When you think of all that he accomplished worldwide on behalf of thousands of players, so many fans, all of the jobs he created for team and arena employees and all of the people that benefitted from the many layers of growth in the sport and industry that David spearheaded and then passed on to others, there is no doubt Commissioner Stern lifted the NBA to new heights and he will be greatly missed by all of us." — Larry Bird
"He was a man of great vision and energy who is responsible for the operational and business advancements that created the modern sports industry. David taught me how to be a commissioner and, more importantly, how to try to be a good person." — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.
"We lost a great visionary. Him and Dr. James Naismith are the two most important people for the game of basketball. Dr. Naismith because he invented the game and David for his vision, his vision to make this game global." — Lakers forward LeBron James.
"Will never forget the words you spoke this day! 'With the 7th pick' changed my life forever. Thank you and your family for your leadership and commitment to growing the game of basketball around the World. Forever grateful. RIP Commissioner Stern!" — Golden State guard Stephen Curry.
"He means so much to the game. He made this game global. He gave to guys like to me, like Luka (Doncic), Toni Kukoc, we can go on and on, Pau Gasol, all these international players, he gave us guys a chance. The game is going to miss him." — Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
"The game lost a leader today." — Oklahoma City guard Chris Paul, president of the National Basketball Players Association.
"Thank you David Stern, the greatest commissioner of any professional sports ever. Thank you for what you've done for the game globally. May you Rest In Peace." — Charlotte forward Nicolas Batum, who is French.
"RIP David. You always said you made me and you were absolutely right. You were a friend, mentor and administrator of the largest donut fund ever. You are missed." — Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, referring to the many times Stern fined Cuban for league infractions.
"David will always be remembered as Superman in Sacramento. His impact on the league will leave a lasting imprint around the world and his fierce support of the team and this community is the reason why the Kings stayed in Sacramento. David's enthusiasm for our city and belief in our fans will never be forgotten." — Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé.
"David was an outstanding leader who contributed enormously to the success of the modern NBA. We met almost fifty years ago. He was a great friend and a terrific ally on important issues. His death is a very painful loss for all of us." — Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.
"David Stern was a brilliant leader whose vision was instrumental in creating the global success the NBA enjoys today. ESPN is deeply grateful for his tremendous partnership through the years." — ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro.
"David was a driving force in sports for decades and helped the NBA soar to new heights around the world. I called him the dean of commissioners, not only for his longevity and his vision for the NBA, but for his willingness to offer advice when I first started as NFL commissioner." — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
"The WNBA will be forever grateful for his exemplary leadership and vision that led to the founding of our league. His steadfast commitment to women's sports was ahead of its time and has provided countless opportunities for women and young girls who aspire to play basketball. He will be missed." — WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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This post was originally written in 2006 and re-posted a few times, including in 2010.
As you may know, I have been teaching BIO101 (and also the BIO102 Lab) to non-traditional students in an adult education program for about twelve years now. Every now and then I muse about it publicly on the blog (see this, this, this, this, this, this and this for a few short posts about various aspects of it - from the use of videos, to the use of a classroom blog, to the importance of Open Access so students can read primary literature). The quality of students in this program has steadily risen over the years, but I am still highly constrained with time: I have eight 4-hour meetings with the students over eight weeks. In this period I have to teach them all of biology they need for their non-science majors, plus leave enough time for each student to give a presentation (on the science of their favourite plant and animal) and for two exams. Thus I have to strip the lectures to the bare bones, and hope that those bare bones are what non-science majors really need to know: concepts rather than factoids, relationship with the rest of their lives rather than relationship with the other sciences. Thus I follow my lectures with videos and classroom discussions, and their homework consists of finding cool biology videos or articles and posting the links on the classroom blog for all to see. A couple of times I used malaria as a thread that connected all the topics - from cell biology to ecology to physiology to evolution. I think that worked well but it is hard to do. They also write a final paper on some aspect of physiology.
Another new development is that the administration has realized that most of the faculty have been with the school for many years. We are experienced, and apparently we know what we are doing. Thus they recently gave us much more freedom to design our own syllabus instead of following a pre-defined one, as long as the ultimate goals of the class remain the same. I am not exactly sure when am I teaching the BIO101 lectures again (late Fall, Spring?) but I want to start rethinking my class early. I am also worried that, since I am not actively doing research in the lab and thus not following the literature as closely, that some of the things I teach are now out-dated. Not that anyone can possibly keep up with all the advances in all the areas of Biology which is so huge, but at least big updates that affect teaching of introductory courses are stuff I need to know.
I need to catch up and upgrade my lecture notes. And what better way than crowdsource! So, over the new few weeks, I will re-post my old lecture notes (note that they are just intros - discussions and videos etc. follow them in the classroom) and will ask you to fact-check me. If I got something wrong or something is out of date, let me know (but don't push just your own preferred hypothesis if a question is not yet settled - give me the entire controversy explanation instead). If something is glaringly missing, let me know. If something can be said in a nicer language - edit my sentences. If you are aware of cool images, articles, blog-posts, videos, podcasts, visualizations, animations, games, etc. that can be used to explain these basic concepts, let me know. And at the end, once we do this with all the lectures, let's discuss the overall syllabus - is there a better way to organize all this material for such a fast-paced class.
Today, we continue with the cell biology portion of the course - covering the way cells communicate with each other, something that will come up over and over again for the rest of the course. See the previous lectures:
Biology and the Scientific Method
BIO101 – Protein Synthesis: Transcription and Translation
BIO101 - Bora Zivkovic - Lecture 1 - Part 4
Cell-cell interactions
Cells do not exist in complete isolation. For a coordinated function of cells in a tissue, tissues in an organ, organs in a system and systems in the body, cells need to be able to communicate with each other. Each cell should be capable of sending chemical signals to other cells and of receiving chemical signals from oter cells, as well as signals (chemical or other) from its immediate environment.
Cell membrane is a double layer of molecules of fat. Some small chemical messengers are capable of passing through the membrane. Most ions and most molecules cannot pass through the membrane, thus the information between the inside and the outside of the cell is mediated by proteins embedded in the membrane.
Membrane proteins serve various functions. For instance, such proteins form tight junctions that serve to glue neighboring cells together and prevent passage of substances between the two cells. Other surface proteins are involved in cell-cell recognition, which is important for the immune response. Other membrane proteins serve functions in communication between the inside of the cell and the cell's immediate environment.
How does a cell send a signal?
A cell can communicate signals to other cells in various ways. Autocrine signaling is a way for a cell to alter its own extracellular environment, which in turn affects the way the cell functions. The cell secretes chemicals outside of its membrane and the presence of those chemicals on the outside modifies the behavior of that same cell. This process is important for growth.
Paracrine signaling is a way for a cell to affect the behavior of neighboring cells by secreting chemicals into the common intercellular space. This is an important process during embryonic development.
Endocrine signaling utilizes hormones. A cell secretes chemicals into the bloodstream. Those chemicals affect the behavior of distant target cells. We will go into more details of autocrine, paracrine and endocrine signaling later on, when we tackle the human endocrine system.
Direct signaling is a transfer of ions or small molecules from one cell to its neighbor through pores in the membrane. Those pores are built out of membrane proteins and are called gap junctions. This is the fastest mode of cell-cell communication and is found in places where extremely fast and well-coordinated activity of cells in needed. An example of this process can be found in the heart. The muscle cells in the heart communicate with each other via gap junctions which allows all heart cells to contract almost simultaneously.
Finally, synaptic signaling is found in the nervous system. It is a highly specific and localized type of paracrine signalling between two nerve cells or between a nerve cell and a muscle cell. We will go into details of synaptic signaling when we cover the human nervous system.
How does a cell receive a signal?
Some small molecules are capable of entering the cell through the plasma membrane. Nitrous oxide is one example. Upon entering the cell, it activates an enzyme.
Some small hormones also enter the cell directly, by passing through the membrane. Examples are steroid hormones, thyroid hormones and melatonin. Once inside the cell, they bind cytoplasmic or nuclear receptors. The hormone-receptors complex enters the nucleus and binds to a particular sequence on the DNA. Binding dislodges a protein that inhibits the expression of the gene at that segment, so the gene begins to be transcribed and translated. Thus, a new protein appears in the cell and assumes its normal function within it (or gets secreted). The action of nuclear receptors is slow, as it takes some hours for the whole process to occur. The effect is long-lasting (or even permanent) and changes the properties of the cell. This type of process is important in development, differentiation and maturation of cells, e.g., gametes (eggs and sperm cells).
There are three types of cell surface receptors: membrane enzymes, ion channels, and transmembrane receptors.
When a signaling chemical binds to the membrane enzyme protein on the outside of the cell, this triggers a change in the 3D conformation of that protein, which, in turn, triggers a chemical reaction on the inside of the cell.
When a signaling molecule binds to an ion channel on the outside of the cell, this triggers the change of the 3D conformation of the protein and the channel opens, allowing the ions to move in or out of the cell following their electrical gradients and thus altering the polarization of the cell membrane. Some ion channels respond to non-chemical stimuli in the same way, including changes in electrical charge or mechanical disturbance of the membrane.
G protein-linked receptors are seven-pass transmembrane proteins. This means that the polypeptide chain traverses the membrane seven times. When a chemical - a hormone or a pharmaceutical agent - binds to the receptor on the outside of the cell, this triggers a series of chemical reactions, including the movement and binding of the G-protein, transformation of GTP into GDP and activation of second messengers. Second messengers (e.g., cyclic AMP) start a cascade of enzymatic reactions leading to the cellular response. This signaling method is quite fast and, more importantly, it amplifies the signal. Binding of a single hormone molecule quickly results in thousands of molecules of second messengers acting on even more molecules of enzymes and so on. Thus, the response to a small stimulus can be very large. We will go into details of G-protein-mediated signaling when we tackle the endocrine and the sensory systems.
Previously in this series:
Biology and the Scientific Method


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How much of a surprise is this, really? According to a book published last week by New York Times reporter Carlotta Gall, our true enemy in Afghanistan was not the Taliban itself, put Pakistan — which used the Taliban as a proxy against the US and other outsiders in the central Asia region. Gall, who covered the war for more than a decade, told ABC News that not only did Pakistan push the Taliban to fight Americans in Afghanistan, they also kept Osama bin Laden safe from American efforts to find him:
Perhaps the biggest betrayal of all in the U.S.-Pakistani relationship, and one that came as no surprise to Gall, was the fact that bin Laden found shelter in Abbottabad, Pakistan, for six years before he was killed in a Navy SEAL raid in 2011. And, according to Gall, Pakistan's government was orchestrating his protection.
"Pakistan did know," Gall said, speaking about bin Laden's location. "They were hiding him, they were handling him. Someone on the inside told me this. They had a special desk that knew where bin Laden was.
"Not only that, but put him there, protected him, oversaw him, handled him in the terms of the secret intelligence services," she added. "And it's all deniable, but I'm told the top bosses knew." …
"Our relations with Pakistan have gone back to the same thing, and the thing that concerns me is that Zawahiri is still out there, in Pakistan, I believe," she said. "He is also probably being hidden the same way and protected."
The only way to be surprised by this would be to have complete ignorance of Pakistan's involvement with the Taliban before 9/11. The ISI used the Taliban to control its northern neighbor, after partnering with the US to promote militias in opposition to the Soviet occupation from 1980-1989. They had the same relationship with Islamist extremist groups in Kashmir, too, and for the same reasons. It projects Pakistani power in support of their own goals. Even during the Pervez Musharraf era, when the Bush administration partnered with Pakistan on efforts to go after the Taliban, most suspected that Pakistan was playing both sides against each other as Musharraf never quite committed to eradicating the Taliban presence on his side of the border — even after they tried to assassinate him.
I doubt anyone in the Bush or Obama administrations were naive enough to miss the double-dealing, and it's worth pointing out that the double-dealing appears to go both ways. Pakistan allows the US to use its airfields for drone warfare against the Taliban networks, albeit very grudgingly. That doesn't make Gall wrong; she's been there for more than a decade and has seen this from the ground up. But I don't think that much of this was a surprise, either, which is one reason why the Pakistanis only found out about our bin Laden operation after the helicopters had his body on board and were leaving Pakistan's air space.
Gall went on PBS last week to discuss this further:
This could also underscore why US/NATO policy in Afghanistan required a long-term commitment. If Pakistan wasn't backing the Taliban, then there would be no need for the US to conduct nation-building in the wake of taking down the Taliban and al-Qaeda. The only way to push back against the ISI would be to create a representative republic that could engage the Pashtuns while marginalizing their Taliban leadership, curtailing Pakistan's influence in Afghanistan. We may not be in Afghanistan long enough for that strategy to succeed, but it would explain why we stuck around as long as we did. The only question this leaves is why Pakistan agreed to cooperate with us at all, but perhaps having an angry George W. Bush as President at the time answers that question.


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Only 7 months old ! I am totally impressed, now I want someone to teach me "how to do all these tricks". Not for me !!! to teach my "pack" ....lol.
I really am tired, I really really need to have a hot cup of Java, and I think I am going to really really wrap things up here shortly, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".


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'La Jeunesse de Robin des Bois' (Fillette 429, 7 October 1954).
Roger Chevallier, better known as Kline, was a successful post-war artist in the realistic genre. Although at first inspired by American artists like Milton Caniff and Noël Sickles, he soon developed his own, personal style. After studying Fine Arts in Rouen, he became a letterer for imported comics by Cino Del Duca. Shortly afterwards, from 1945 to 1947, he created several stories for the S.A.E.T.L. in publications like Sélections de Corsaire ('L'Invincible Jack', 'Guerre au Japon', 'L'Attaque'), and Pic et Nic ('Bombe Atomique').
He was additionally active for the publishers Marcel Daubin ('Le Chevalier Jehan' in Collection Vaillance), Pic et For-Ever ('Alain le Flibustier' in Pic Adventures) and M.V. ('Bob l'Ardent'). Until 1948, he drew 'Kaza le Martien' for O.K.. In that same year, Kline began a collaboration with the S.P.E. (Société Parisienne d'Édition), where he created many comics for the magazine Fillette (mainly adaptations such as 'La Jeunesse de Robin des Bois').
'Loup Noir' (Pif Gadget #8, 14 April 1969).
A year later, he was also present in Coq Hardi, with 'Roland, Prince des Bois' and 'Colonel X' (with Marijac), as well as illustrations for text stories by Maurice Limat. In 1960 he commenced working for Vaillant, where he drew series like 'Davy Crockett' (until 1969) and 'Loup-Noir' (1969-1980), both written by Jean Ollivier. During this period, he additionally made an appearance in the German magazine Yps with 'Peter Horn'.
In the 1980s and the early 1990s, Kline was making (commissioned) historical albums for the publishers I.D.P. ('2000 Ans d'Histoire du Gard', 'Dinant a Travers les Âges') and Fleurus (several books in the collection 'Les Grandes Heures de l'Église'), while also drawing some short stories in the magazine Gomme.
'Colonel X' (Le Coq Hardi #157, 1953).


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Google is bidding $900 million in cash for thousands of patents that Nortel will auction off as part of its bankruptcy proceedings, the companies said Monday.
The proposed deal is what's known as a "stalking horse" asset sale agreement, where the Google offer sets the minimum bar for other bidders for the portfolio of about 6,000 patents and patent applications, which cover a broad range of telecommunications, Internet search and social networking technologies.
[ Get the latest insight on the tech news that matters from InfoWorld's Tech Watch blog. ]
Nortel expects the agreement to receive approval from U.S. and Canadian courts in June, after which the bidding will open for the intellectual property portfolio that "touches nearly every aspect of telecommunications," Nortel said in a statement.
The telecommunications technologies covered in the patent portfolio include wireless, 4G, data networking, optical, voice, Internet, service provider and semiconductors, Nortel said.
Meanwhile, Google said that it is bidding for the Nortel portfolio to defend itself against patent litigation and to boost its technology innovation, specifically in its Android mobile platform and Chrome OS and browser.
"If successful, we hope this portfolio will not only create a disincentive for others to sue Google, but also help us, our partners and the open source community -- which is integrally involved in projects like Android and Chrome -- continue to innovate," Kent Walker, senior vice president and general counsel, said in a blog post.


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ComDev Live
Malmö University's Master's programme, founded in 2000
May 4, 2020
Issue No. 22/23
editor's column by Oscar Hemer
Ten years and twenty-one issues ago, when I wrote my first editorial for Glocal Times, the headline "Coming of age" came naturally. It alluded to the then five year old Communication for Development Master programme at Malmö University, for which this Glocal Times has been an indispensable companion ever since. That statement may at the time have seemed prematurely self-assured, but a decade later the MA programme has definitely reached maturity, and arguably even seniority (in the academic sense of the word). Now Glocal Times is coming of age as the "relevant digital reference in the field of communication for development and social change worldwide" it set out to become.READ MORE at www.glocaltimes.se
Advances in Communication for Development:
Social Action, Planning and Evaluation.
The course responds to the needs of ComDev graduates that have requested a deeper level of study in this field, as well as development professionals seeking group work and peer learning, hands-on participation, self-reflection, and critical analysis. Click the photo to learn more about the course and on how to apply.
Get smart with the Thesis WordPress Theme from DIYthemes.


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Lately I've been reacquainting myself with the animated Star Trek series (TAS -1973-4). I remember being a 12-year old and excited that my favorite show was being brought back (at least in animation) and that maybe the Enterprise could finally finish its five year mission! For the most part, it was pretty good, I only wished I had a color TV to watch it on! Anyway, recently I've seen a few episodes on Netflix and it really seemed all new to me again, as I hadn't since the early 70's. I was taken by the lovely backgrounds and the simple, but accurate way the animation captured the faces and subtle nuances of the original actors. (Can a cartoon male be handsome? You bet!). But something that also stood out for me was how the series often mimicked the original (TOS) in angles and style; the creators at Filmation clearly did their homework as you'll see in these examples. Lets' start with some opening Enterprise shots. The makers of the series did a beautiful job recreating the ship. There's much more detail in the orbital images than the character scenes, but it's lovely. Rotoscoping anyone?
But wait, there's more. There were several detail and character scenes that were clearly influenced by the original (if sometimes with subtlety):
In Once Upon a Planet, the Enterprise crew visits the amusement park planet again as they did in Shore Leave – so of course Alice and the White Rabbit are there, but then there's a clear reference to Catspaw, when a giant cat menaces the crew from a doorway:
Another revisited character was Harry Mudd – this time in Mudd's Passion, peddling love potion to Nurse Chapel in her eternal quest for Spock's affections. Here, he offers her pills, just as he did to his 'cargo' in Mudd's Women:
Finally, this one surprised me the most: In Albatross, Nurse Chapel checks on sleeping patient Kol-Tai in practically the same angle she checks in on a sleeping Spock in Amok Time!
Well, this was a fun visit to the Saturday morning cartoons of my youth (modern kids don't know what they were missing!) If anyone here knows of any more similarities between TAS and TOS, let me know! I'll post them!
Next Time: The Backdrops of TAS.


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10 Travel Apps for Chicago Visitors
Did you know that Chicago has the third highest population in America only behind New York and Los Angeles? The Windy City is certainly a whirlwind of activity for vacationers looking for culture, history, and a slice of big city life (including their famous deep dish pizza, no doubt). The Museum of Science and Industry, the Museum of Contemporary Art, a vibrant dining and bar scene, and even the home of our current President await your next (or first) visit!
Getting Around & Accommodations
Left: myTransit – Right: Chicago Guide, Hotels, Maps, Events & Weather
Chicago is impressively the fourth most walkable city in North America. Take advantage of the city's excellent public transportation and walkways by hopping onto the CTA. myTransit will plot your trip from point A to B in a snap, aiding in finding the nearest bus stop or subway station, including arrival times. $1 – Equivalent for Android / Windows Phone
Chicago Guide, Hotels, Maps, Events & Weather
This all-inclusive Chicago app (as shown in its perspicuous title) has a lot of Windy City information packed into a single app. Particularly helpful is the hotel guide, with relevant location, points of interest surrounding candidate lodging, contact information, and ratings all available via an bright and colorful UI. $1
City Maps & Shopping Guide
Chicago City Guide And Offline Map
From the same developer that gave us City2Go, the Chicago City Guide and Online Map is a useful travel guide for its offline capabilties, freeing you from concerns about maintaining a connection. The map doesn't require a consistent data connection, yet offers extras such as tourist destinations and attractions, Wiki articles to fill-in the blanks, location details, and even the ability to book hotels right from the app once you're back online. Free – Also available for Android / Windows Phone
Choose Chicago
Chicago's own tourist guide app is no slouch: weather forecasts, city events calendar, dining lists, entertainment options, nightlife spots, and shopping points of interest are all available. Choose Chicago has a database of 47 businesses ranging from malls, fashion outlets, spas, sweets, souvenirs and more. Free – Also available for iOS
Tourist Attractions
Left: Chicago Pocket Guide – Right: My Chicago Way
Chicago Pocket Guide
When traveling, we all like to bring souvenirs back, whether it be a trinket, shirt, or even simply photographs. Chicago: Pocket Guide is an app that's part guide, part souvenir maker: the app serves up information about relevant points of interests, all the while tracking your activities throughout Chicago, and even offers augmented reality for navigating. At the conclusion of your trip, the app creates a 3D video from all your pictures you've taken, easily shareable. $6 after In-App Unlock – Also available for Android
My Chicago Way
My Chicago Way delivers the city of Chicago into the palm of your hand with a plethora of tourist sites, galleries, shopping, transit, hotels, banks/ATMs and restaurants. But our favorite feature is the open wi-fi spot finder option. Free –
Also available for iOS
Wine and Dine
Left: Outdoorsy – Right: Chicago Dining and Drinking
When creating an itinerary for visiting Chicago, we recommend (weather permitting) "dine on the lakefront". Outdoorsy is an app specializing in bars and restaurants with outdoor seating, patios or beer gardens, powered by FourSquare. Imagine the perfect Chicago dining ambience with the refreshing lake breeze, sunshine, and a chilled drink. Free
Chicago Dining and Drinking
Chicago Magazine compresses over 40 years of experience into app form, serving some of the finest the city has to offer. Search for the restaurant based on rating, but also compatible with your budget, preferred cuisine, or even a specific dish you're craving. Recommendations comes other diners themselves, but we found it's best used as a jumping off point, supplemented by Yelp. Free – Also available for iOS
Nightlife and Traveling Necessities
Left: Chicago Taverns and Tales – Right: Travel Health Guide
Chicago Taverns and Tales
Going out for a night on the town? Taverns and Tales adds a little history and culture into your bar hopping endeavors. Before you get tipsy or beyond, you can learn a little history about Chicago's greatest bars, pubs, and taverns, including background info about how they began and notable events that transpired there. Learn a little something with each sip! Free
Travel Health Guide
Nobody likes to think about worst case scenarios while traveling, but we recommend always preparing for them, especially while away from home. Travel Health Guide is a helpful first aid guide which diagnoses symptoms and tells you either how to treat them or if the case requires the need to see a doctor ASAP. Might come in handy if you're suffering from a little too much deep dish! $3
(Images: Jason Rodway; as linked above)


text: by David Crane [email protected] Randy Adams, of Fireblade Systems, has introduced a custom-built, no-nonsense tactical 1911 pistol package in .45ACP, called the "Counter-Strike 1911". The Counter-Strike 1911 pistol is built primarily for extreme reliability and maximum utility under stress. From the pictures DefenseReview has seen, Adams' Counter-Strike 1911 pistol reminds us of the kind of custom 1911 pistol work we've …Read More »


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5.3 percent of 12 to 24-year-old internet users report that they were bullied, stalked or threatened online in 2018. Over 140 thousand young people were affected. Girls were almost twice as likely to be a victim as boys (7.1 versus 3.6 percent). Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this based on a survey on cybersecurity and cybercrime.Read publication
The school dropout rate in the Netherlands was reduced in recent years to 8.8 percent in 2012. The rate across the EU was also gradually reduced. The reduction of school dropouts is high on the national and international policy agenda.Read publication
A growing part of 18-24 year-olds embark on a study in higher vocational education (hbo) or university (wo). Women and young people with a non-western background are the main contributors to the increase. The proportion of students in general secondary vocational education (mbo) has remained stable in recent years.Read publication


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CLEVELAND — With the Centers for Disease Control now recommending that we all wear cloth masks while doing essential things in public, people are getting creative with ways to make it work.
For those who don't have access to a sewing machine, there's an easy way to make your own mask using just three things: a bandana, and two hair ties.
Watch this tutorial for the easy hack that anyone can do to help stop the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus in Ohio, and around the country.
Step-by-step instructions for making your own face mask:
First, fold your bandana into a long rectangle, wide enough from top to bottom to cover both your nose and mouth, and extend slightly under your chin.
Then, slide your hair ties around either side of the bandana, about one-quarter of the way in from each end. These will be the hooks that go around your ears to keep the bandanna on your face.
Next, fold the bandana in one side, at the point where you've placed the hair tie.
Do the same thing with the other side, tucking that side into the opening of first flap you folded in.
This side that you've been working with will be the side that goes against your face, as you loop the hair ties around your ears to keep it in place.
That's it, you did it! You made your own face mask that you can now wear in public while you have to do essential things that might bring you in close contact with others, like when you have to go to the grocery store.
Stay safe, everyone.
RELATED: FDA approves use of Ohio company's mask sterilizing technology at full capacity following Gov. DeWine's pleas


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Two tiles, seemingly different colors from one angle are actually the same color in different lighting. I don't get it at all. What's the trickery here? Is it the shadowplay? The lights? The tiles? I don't know.
Vizio's Latest TVs Go All Quantum
It's MIT's Edward H. Adelson's checker shadow illusion recreated in real life. Viewing the two tiles without the surrounding context would reveal that the two tiles actually are the same color. Nuts. [BrussPup via The Daily What
You can keep up with Casey Chan, the author of this post, on Twitter or Facebook.


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CK Worldwide® Water-Cooled Machine TIG Torch Packages
Arc-Zone offer a full line of Water-Cooled Machine Torches designed to meet the strictest specifications, tackle the most demanding applications and perform under the harshest conditions. No matter what your application, CK Worldwide® has a TIG Torch designed specifically for it. If you don't see what you're looking for, please contact us by phone, email or use the "Live Support" icon in the upper left-hand portion of this page.


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Browse the digital edition of Screen International, which includes a preview of the Cannes Film Festival.
Get access from as little as £3.13 a week subscribe today
If you are already a subscriber you can SIGN IN now
Screen International is the essential resource for the international film industry. Subscribe now for monthly editions, awards season weeklies, access to the Screen International archive and supplements including Stars of Tomorrow and World of Locations.Find out more


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Kristoff Maduro Torpedo cigars contain a well-aged blend of Dominican Olor and Cuban-seed Nicaraguan tobaccos, seamlessly encased in dark, oily Brazilian Maduro wrappers. With pigtail caps and shaggy feet, they're packaged in a cedar box surrounded by loose tobacco for a beautiful pre-embargo feel. Expect a medium-bodied smoke with undertones of earth and licorice, nutty spice, and a sweet finish. Kristoff Maduro cigars embody the taste and richness sought by the true aficionado.
We will find the best price for you.


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Restored budget gives school more than $97 million to build new campus.
Construction is underway for the University of Georgia's (UGA) new veterinary teaching hospital, and with a boost in private donations the state's Board of Regents recently upped the budget $16.4 million to restore the campus to its original plans. Materializing in the next two years will be a roughly 300,000-square-foot, five-building campus created from a budget of $97.7 million.
"A new hospital will allow us to continue to provide exceptional care for our very robust clinical caseload in a facility that is much larger and state-of-the-art," says UGA College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Sheila W. Allen DVM, MS. "A new facility will allow our exceptional faculty, staff and students to work and learn in a much better environment to be efficient and productive."
Plans for the facility have been in the works for nearly 15 years, since the need was first proposed to UGA administration in 1998. Now, having overcome state budget restrictions that altered the project, the budget is restored with $65 million from the state of Georgia and the rest covered by private funds. The new campus will include large and small animal teaching hospitals, a large animal ambulatory services building, an equine arena for lameness evaluation and pre-purchase exams and a classroom building for third-year students.
The current veterinary teaching hospital, built in 1979, is a fraction of the size of the new facility. Half the college will move to the new campus, including all third- and fourth-year students and clinical faculty and staff. Allen says first- and second-year students, basic science faculty and administrators will stay in their current buildings. "The vacated hospital space will be repurposed for first- and second-year student instruction and research," Allen says.
More room will also allow for expanded class sizes and possible enrollment increases. "Any increases will be done in a carefully considered, incremental manner so that the quality of the educational experience stays exceptional," Allen says. "We will add faculty and staff when we occupy the new facility and in response to any enrollment increases. We have a long-term plan for additional positions to support operation of the new facility and instruction."
For now, Allen is excited that soon faculty, staff and students will finally be able to enjoy a brand new, state-of-the-art facility. "The equine arena will be a much safer and better place for equine evaluation," she says. "Ambulatory services will have their own building to work out of. Our large animal isolation facility will be in a standalone building, which will be much better for biosecurity. We will have open pasture available for recuperating large animal patients. Client access for large animal and small animal patients will be much easier. Diagnostic imaging will be greatly expanded."
The current teaching hospital serves more than 18,000 patients per year in one of the smallest teaching hospitals in the United States.


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BoomBox, the electronic duo compromised of versatile producers, DJs, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalists Russ Randolph and Zion Rock Godchaux, recently released their first new studio album in 4 years, Filling In The Color, following 2010's downriverelectric and 2006's debut record Visions of Backbeat. Godchaux calls the new record "further evolved" from the bands' signature sound, an electronic blend of soulful Rock and Blues based dance music incorporating Backbeat, Psychedelia and Funky House sounds. The band created a majority of the album on the road over the past two years. "It was written mainly in transit – backstage, hotel rooms, and places like the interstate in different vehicles," says Godchaux. A handful of tracks on the new album, including "Waiting Around" and "Dream", incorporate live guitar riffs that were pulled from soundboard multi-tracks as the band experimented with the new tracks on the road. "There's a live energy mixed in with that. A lot of the new tracks were developed in the live setting," Randolph says. "And you're recording that part with an audience in front of you, so it's a totally different vibe than if it were just the two of us in the studio or hanging out at my house." The band returned to their hometown of Muscle Shoals, AL to complete the tracks at Randolph's home studio. "90% of it was cut in the Shoals," says Randolph. There was an added historical significance to recording in Muscle Shoals given it's rich recording history, where legendary soul artists such as Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding once laid down records. "The history obviously has some bearing on the emotional tone of the creative process," Randolph said. While Filling In The Color draws from many influences in Randolph and Godchaux's lives', the record ultimately comes from an honest, personal place. "It comes down to a search for a certain sound," says Godchaux, "a certain feel. It's something we hear in our heads all the time. Forces from within are the driving, motivating factor in pointing this sound out to people." "We want the listener to be able to play the record front to back, not just a few tracks," Godchaux said. "To enjoy the album as a whole. Day or night, happy or sad, from the speaker on their phone to the thumping sound system. We are song makers. That's what we do. And this record should be confirmation that we are doing what we are supposed to be doing with our lives." Filling In the Color is currently available in all digital stores. CD + Vinyl packages are currently available for pre-order and will feature a coloring book of conceptualized artwork for each song, allowing fans to "Fill in the Color" as they see fit.Links:
|2016-12-17 (Ended)
|Boombox presents Graham Funke & DZA
|Basement Miami
Miami Beach Florida , United States
|Find Tickets
|2016-12-30 (Ended)
|BoomBox with Greg Eversoul
|Gothic Theatre
Englewood Colorado , United States
|Find Tickets
|2016-12-31 (Ended)
|Flaw / Year of the Gun / Verses / Chadillac Dundee / Caducus / Boombox
|Trixie's Entertainment Complex
Louisville Kentucky , United States
|Find Tickets
|2016-12-31 (Ended)
|BoomBox with Bones
|Gothic Theatre
Englewood Colorado , United States
|Find Tickets
|2017-01-12 (Ended)
Des Moines Iowa , United States
|Find Tickets


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"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see," (Hebrews 11:1 NIV).
One night a family was startled from sleep by the piercing blare of their smoke detector. The house was on fire and smoke swirled up the wooden staircase. The father bolted from his bed and ran to his children's room. He grabbed his eighteen-month-old baby out of his crib, and dragged his four-year-old son by the hand. They were half-way down the stairs when the little boy remembered his favorite teddy bear in his room and broke away to go back and get it. In the mayhem and confusion, the father didn't realize his son wasn't with him until he reached the front yard.
By the time the little boy found his teddy bear, the flames had filled his room and trapped him inside. Smoke burned his lungs as he coughed and cried out the open window.
"Daddy! Daddy!" he cried. "Help me!
His dad called up to the lad, "I'm right here, son. Jump and I'll catch you."
"But Daddy," the boy cried, "I can't see you!"
"That's OK, son," he called. "I can see you! Now jump!"
The boy blindly jumped from the open window and landed safely in his father's arms.
I love that story. It is my story.
So many times my Heavenly Father calls me to jump.[tweetherder] Sometimes He tells me to jump out of a situation, and sometimes he calls me to jump into an opportunity.[/tweetherder] Either way, I usually baulk at the idea…at least a little.
"But God, I can't see You," I cry.
"That's OK," He replies. "I can see you. Now jump!"
And so I jump. And He is there every time.
What about you? Is God calling you to jump out of a fiery situation? Is God calling you into a new opportunity? Well sister, if He is, jump. You might not be able to see Him, but He can see you. And that is all that matters.
Let's Pray
Father, thank You for always being there for me. Help me to have the courage and the faith to jump out of any fiery situation that could singe my character, char my faith, or leave me smelling of smoke. Help me to have the courage and the faith to jump into any blessed opportunity that could increase my faith, build my character, and leave me wearing the fragrance of Christ.
In Jesus' Name,
Now It's Your Turn
All through the Bible God called men and women to take a leap of faith. Every time God promised that He would be right there with him or her.
Read Exodus 3:12 and 4:12 and notice what God told Moses.
Read Joshua 1:5 and 1:9 and notice what God told Joshua.
Read Judges 6:16 and notice what God told Gideon.
If you really want to gas up your faith tank, read all of Hebrews 11.
Go back to today's truth. How does it relate to today's story?
If you are ready to take a leap of faith today, click over to my blog post and say, "Ok God, here I come!"
Want More?
God is the Ancient of Days…and you can trust Him. If you enjoy these on-line devotions, then you'll love our GiG book, Trusting God. It has 12 weeks of devotions dedicated to Trusting God in every situation. Click here to take a peek.


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The Windows 8 launch is finally upon us -- and there are a lot of nervous people in Redmond right now.
How could they not be?
They're about to launch a new version of the flagship operating system that's such a radical departure from what PC users have come to expect that it should be called "Windows We Hope You're Ready for Something Really Different."
Sheer inertia is certainly a concern. After all, the Live Tiles, panoramic Modern-style interface and new tools like the Charms menu all require a learning curve. But that's not the biggest challenge Microsoft faces. These are.
1. Hardware Is Too Pricey
One of the biggest reasons Ultrabooks haven't sold as well as Intel and its partners expected is that prices haven't come down fast enough. You can finally find some in the $699 range, but that's still about $200 more than the typical budget laptop.
Now, shoppers will be asked to pony up $1,100 to $1,200 to enjoy touch-based convertibles like the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga, Sony VAIO Duo 11 and Dell XPS 12. Intel shared with us recently that its own studies show that consumers are willing to pay $150 to $200 more for touch, but I'm not sure that will fly in a down economy and a holiday season dominated by the cheap iPad mini, Kindle Fire and Nexus 7.
Windows RT devices like Microsoft's Surface are more affordable at $499, the same as the iPad. But opting for the Touch Cover keyboard (the accessory being touted in Microsoft's ads) brings the price to $599.
[MORE: Top 10 Windows 8 Hybrids]
Windows 8-powered hybrids like the $749 Acer Iconia W510 (with keyboard) and Samsung Ativ Smart PC 500T (I swear I'm not making that name up) don't have the same sexy industrial design as the Surface, but their Atom processors make these devices more versatile because users can run traditional desktop apps. You can get the W510 without a keyboard for a reasonable $499.
2. Windows 8 vs. Windows RT Confusion
Shoppers will have a tough time telling the difference between the two flavors of new Windows devices on shelves this holiday season, because they both feature the same slick Live Tile interface. But there is a huge difference between the two platforms.
In a nutshell, Windows 8 PCs can run any app downloaded from the Windows Store as well as all desktop applications. Windows RT tablets and hybrids (powered by ARM processors) will be limited to Windows Store apps and Microsoft's Office 2013, even though you'll still be able to access the desktop for things like transferring files off a USB drive.
Sounds like a pretty simple delineation, but as The Verge proved with some undercover testing, Microsoft's own store employees don't know the difference between the two operating systems. Microsoft responded to this eye-opening report by saying that all of its sales reps will receive 15 hours of training before launch. The clock is ticking.
[MORE: 8 Windows 8 Annoyances and How to Fix Them]
3. Not Enough Apps
At last count there were nearly 3,500 apps in the Windows Store. And while there are a handful of compelling options so far, there are a lot more holes in Microsoft's lineup than I would expect at this late stage. Where is Facebook? Twitter? YouTube? Dropbox? "Angry Birds"?
The good news: Microsoft will unveil plenty of high-profile apps either at the launch of its OS or shortly thereafter, hopefully filling in a fair number of these holes. But I still have serious concerns about the breadth of options that will be available. After all, Apple has 250,000 apps just for the iPad, thanks to its huge head start.
Microsoft also needs to prove that Windows 8 is a viable gaming platform and not just rest on the Xbox name, as it has done with Windows Phone. Shoppers need to see console-quality eye candy along with casual fare. I'm encouraged by the fact that the Unreal Engine III has been ported to Windows 8, however, which should help lead to "Infinity Blade"-style titles in the Windows Store. Titles based on the Unity engine will come after launch.
4. Crummy Touchpads
Sure, Windows 8 works best with touch, but the sweet spot for most shoppers right now is $500 clamshell designs that rely on touchpads. Based on previous experience, I'm very worried that these pointing devices won't deliver the smooth gesture support that will add up to a good user experience. On a lot of pre-production samples I've tried the touchpad didn't always respond when I swiped in from the left to switch apps. And most of them didn't support the gesture to move in from the left and quickly back to the right to see all of your open apps.
If notebook vendors can't make pinch-to- zoom work well or two-finger scrolling, they'll have an even harder time getting Windows 8 gestures to work reliably. I'm really hoping Synaptics, Microsoft and OEMs get it right, but it will probably take a while.
[MORE: Crummy Touchpads Could Kill the Ultrabook]
5. Macs on the Rise
Microsoft shouldn't just be concerned about the iPad and iPad mini. It should take note that Apple is now No. 1 in notebook sales in the U.S. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is consistently the top seller at retail, and all you need to do is peek inside any coffee shop to see a sea of MacBook Airs. I've said this before, but Mountain Lion could prove more attractive to those looking for a more traditional operating system this holiday, especially for those who own other Apple devices and like the idea of having iCloud keeping everything in sync.
Bottom Line
Microsoft is reportedly spending $1.5 billion to launch and promote Windows 8, and the company has never been under more pressure to make sure that shoppers get the message. But what is that message? Is it that you can have your cake and eat it too with a Windows 8 PC that runs mobile and "legacy" apps? That you can get all-day battery life, iPad-like portability and Office productivity with a Windows RT device? It's actually all of the above, which is a big part of the challenge.
Although having a hero device helps, Windows 8 will succeed or fail not based on how well the Surface fares. Just as with every other Windows launch, Microsoft will once again rely on an ecosystem of app developers and hardware makers to make its software sing. All of the above five obstacles are not insurmountable, but they're very real.
Editor-in-chief Mark Spoonauer directs LAPTOP's online and print editorial content and has been covering mobile and wireless technology for over a decade. Each week Mark's SpoonFed column provides his insights and analysis of the biggest mobile trends and news. You can also follow him on twitter.


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Translation and Introduction by Andrew Louth
Is all Christian art fundamentally blasphemous? That was the question posed aggressively by the Christian iconoclasts of the eighth century in a bitter controversy. The resounding answer, "No" from John of Damascus helped to secure the future of art in the service of Christ. Without his brilliant defense, both profound and at times earthly, we might well have had no icons, murals, and mosaics in churches to elevate and enrich our spirits. This fresh and complete translation, by a distinguished patristic scholar, of John's three treatises on the divine images shows us the issues at stake both then and now. Professor Louth places all of us who care about them in his debt.
Lionel Wickham, former Lecturer in the Faculty of Divinity of Cambridge
Andrew Louth is Professor of Patristics and Byzantine Studies at the University of Durham and the preeminent scholar on St John of Damascus.
Softcover, 163 pages.
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