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Thursday, July 30, 2009
Happy 49th anniversary!!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Six Days in the Sierras
The trip was conceived when my good friend Al decided he needed a respite from this year's soggy New England summer. We agreed: "Let's go to the Sierras!" We started off with Mt. Whitney, lucking out and procuring walk-up permits. With 6000 feet of vertical gain and 22 miles round trip, coupled with the fact that most people aren't acclimatized for the 14,494 foot summit, almost everyone starts at Whitney Portal well before dawn. Watching the train of bobbing lights snake its way up the mountain at 4 a.m. is kinda cool. Check out this geek!
We made it to the top under clear skies in about 5.5 hours--not blistering fast but respectable enough considering we came from sea level and Al underwent ACL reconstruction just four months ago! I decided to climb Keeler Needle and Mt. Muir on the way back to Trail Crest, the former because it looked really cool, the latter because it is a 14er. Scrambling up Muir's rocky pinnacle, I heard rumblings of thunder in the distance and knew it was time to descend. What was surprising was how many people continued to come up! (The attitude seemed to be "Dammit, we have our permits; we're climbing this sucker!" Yikes.) We were just below Trail Camp as the deluge of rain & hail, thunder & lightning hit, surely making the folks' day higher up very interesting.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Tuscarora Trail
Preface: Ever since thru-hiking the granddaddy of long-distance hiking trails, the AT, 15 years ago, I've been intrigued by some of the shorter trails and have been knocking off one or two per year of late (see sidebar). The ability to cover many miles combined with, more importantly, Chris's willingness to crew have allowed me to complete some of these trails my preferred method--to say, much faster and lighter than the average backpacker. Except for the JMT in 2007, rather than attempting to break records, my goal has been one of seeing, enjoying, and experiencing the entire trail with none of it being done in the dark.
The WHAT Trail? The Tuscarora Trail is a lightly used 250+ mile blue-blazed spur of the AT with both ends terminating at the AT--near Matthews Arm in Shenandoah National Park on the southern end, and at Darlington Shelter, near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in the north, making a nice arc through sections of West Virginia and Maryland along the way. The TT is probably best known for its rocks--rocks that make all other "rocky" trails I've traversed, including the PA section of AT and the Massanutten 100 course, look like child's play. In the 1980s the PA section especially suffered from a terrible gypsy moth infestation which killed much of the surrounding trees, making way for a summertime onslaught of briars, brambles, and poison ivy, nearly closing the trail for good. Thanks to countless hours of volunteer labor, the trail was reopened in the mid 1990s. At least that's what I read.
Thwarted once: In April 2008 I attempted to traverse the entire TT but due to sickness bailed early on Day 2, making it only 60'ish miles to Route 55. Fast forward 14 months to June 27. Chris and I are once again at the Rt. 55 TT crossing, well rested after spending the night at the charmingly funky See's Motel in Wardensville, WV ($45/night, cash only please!). I cross the road and proceed north, promptly losing the trail within the first mile. Shortly the correct route--my lifeline of blue blazes--is discovered and I continue onward. This losing-regaining the trail will become a frequent occurrence. Being low-tech, I do not use a GPS; rather the Ziplocked guidebook directions and map for each particular day never leave my hands. Fortunately, I seem to be able to sniff out the trail pretty well so never get very far off course. I have to admit, however, that the TT was a rather special challenge in spots!
Happy thoughts: Encounters with the previously mentioned wildlife, beautiful songbirds, wildflowers, ferns, solitude (especially for an introvert who loves getting inside her head), pastoral farm scenes, wonderfully intense smells of a humid forest, and really nice local people produced happy thoughts. The nice people include the proprietors of See's, Pikeside, Jimmy's, and Kenmar motels, the 5 a.m. Sheetz employees, the WV dude in the beatup truck who advised Chris to "not let yer wife run alone in these parts," and State Forest worker "Ed" (below), with whom we spent 20 minutes chatting. (Note map & directions in hand.)
Final thoughts: The Tuscarora is one of the most difficult trails I've ever attempted, but most of the difficulty was due to the summertime overgrowth and apparent lack of maintenance on long stretches of trail. Perhaps because of a particularly wet spring the growth was excessive this year. If I knew then what I know now, I would attempt this trail only in the springtime, before the briars have taken over. Then it probably would be pretty nice. Am I glad I did it? Of course. Sections of the Tuscarora Trail were lovely, and with a s***load of TLC this trail could be a winner. The good outweighed the bad, and I never resorted to tears (did get close a couple of times!). Oh wait, Chris wants to say something...
Crew note: Sue is still delirious from her adventure. There IS no trail -- just a marginally progressive display of blue blazes strewn among trees requiring the hiker (not runner, as Sue's notes would allude to the absence of opportunity to do) to sustain constant mental acuity in order to get the sense of forward motion towards some long-distant end point. Still, the beasties were pretty cool...


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(Pictured: Iran's President Ahmadinejad and Supreme Leader Khameini.)
We're honored to have Michael Busch dissecting the latest WikiLeaks document dump for Focal Points. This is the twenty-ninth in the series.
The Associated Press reported Tuesday that a new WikiLeaks cable reveals Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was eager to reach agreement on a UN-sponsored nuclear fuel swap proposal put forward in 2009. The deal fell through when Iran balked at the proposal and outlined alternative fuel swaps involving allies Brazil and Turkey. But the six nations — the five permanent U.N. Security Council members plus Germany — said the offers fell short of their demands.
The cable, which the AP says was made public on Tuesday by WikiLeaks (though it has yet to appear at last check), makes clear that while Ahmadinejad was keen to hammer out some sort of agreement with the parties involved, the Iranian president "faced internal pressures from hard-liners who viewed it as a 'virtual defeat,'" which ultimately killed any chances of a successful outcome.
In point of fact, the cable in question — which relates the contents of a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu about the Iranian situation — has been publicly available for about a week. The Spanish newspaper El Pais published it, along with an accompanying article, at the end of December. The dispatch further complicates conventional wisdom concerning the nature of the Iranian regime and their foreign policy outlook on matters of international security.
Among other interesting observations, the cable reports that the Iranians put greater stock in the American pledge to honor a fuel swap agreement than their ally Russia, and that they held deep reservations about negotiating with the British. Still, according to Davutoglu,
the Iranians: a) are ready to send a delegation to Vienna to work out the specifics on this proposal; b) have given their "full trust" to Turkey; c) continue to face serious domestic problems inside Iran. He said the Turks actually see Ahmadinejad as "more flexible" than others who are inside the Iranian Government. Ahmadinejad is facing "huge pressure" after statements from some P5 members to the effect that a nuclear deal would succeed in weakening Iran's nuclear capability — which is interpreted by some circles in Iran as a virtual defeat.
As a result, the issue boiled down to one of public relations.
The Turks had asked Ahmadinejad if the core of the issue is psychological rather than substance. Ahmadinejad had said "yes," that the Iranians agree to the proposal but need to manage the public perception. Accordingly, the Iranians are proposing that the first 400 kilos be transferred to Kish Island — thereby keeping it on Iranian soil — and would receive right away an equivalent amount (30-50 kilos) of enriched fuel. The second stage would focus on the management of Iranian public opinion, after which Tehran would proceed with the Turkey option for the remaining 800 kilos, probably in two tranches.
In the event, this offer, among other the Iranians proposed, proved a bridge too far for the six nations across the table to accept. The talks broke down, and were only reinitiated this past month in Europe.
But what is most intriguing about the recently WikiLeaked cables concerning Iran has been the portrait emerging of Ahmadinejad. Lost in the hullabaloo of his being smacked in the face by the head of Iran's revolutionary guard was the description offered in the cable of the Iranian president's moderate disposition — the cause of the assault itself. Regardless of the motivations driving Ahmadinejad, it appears from these cables that political realities are forcing the Iranian leader to abandon his hard-line public rhetoric in private, which offers a small source of hope moving forward.
The unfortunate truth, however, is that even were Ahmadinejad to emerge as a reliably reasonable interlocutor in multilateral negotiations, it would scarcely matter. After all, the real power in Iran resides with the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Regrettably, the Supreme Leader continues to signal contentment with the kabuki theatre politics that have characterized US-Iranian relations since George W. Bush delivered his famous "axis of evil" speech — effectively destroying any hopes of constructive dialogue between the two countries after 9/11 — as the intrigues of bureaucratic infighting iron themselves out in Tehran. And all the while, drumbeats of war continue thudding softly but steadily in support of the lunatic calls for airstrikes against Iran, demands that grow shriller by the day.

subset: commoncrawl


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Marcel The Shell With Shoes On — otherwise known as the most adorable talking shell we've ever laid our eyes upon — is back with another video in which he details his life. This time, Marcel discusses his reading habits, desire for a nickname ("I'm not gonna beg for it ... Because you can't make it for yourself like yourself like you can make a new hairstyle!"), and how difficult it is to get places when your car is a bug and the bus you take happens to be an under-the-weather caterpillar.
First Look: Marcel The Shell's First Children's Book
SNL's Jenny Slate Voices the Instantly Adorable "Marcel the Shell with Shoes On"


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The Gores Group has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Harris Broadcast Communications from Harris Corporation for $225 million. Headquartered in Denver, CO, Harris Broadcast Communications is a supplier of hardware and software that creates, manages, transmits, distributes and monetizes video content.
The Gores Group, a leading Los Angeles‐based investment firm, today announced that through an affiliate it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Harris Broadcast Communications from Harris Corporation for $225 million.
Harris Broadcast Communications is a global supplier of hardware and software that creates, manages, transmits, distributes and monetizes video content. Headquartered in Denver, CO, the company is widely recognized as the preeminent brand in the broadcast communications equipment industry. It is well known for delivering an end-to-end breadth of offerings and for creating quality and reliable products.
"In Harris Broadcast Communications, we are investing in a proven technology leader with great products and a great team," said Ryan Wald, Managing Director for The Gores Group. "We are excited to provide the capital and support to transition this division to a strong independent company further enabling it to continue developing and delivering market leading technologies to its customers."
Commenting on the transaction, Harris Morris, President of Harris Broadcast Communications, stated, "We are thrilled to become a part of The Gores Group. They provide proven capabilities including operations expertise, experience in carve-outs, and significant investment capital. The Gores team, which includes Senior Advisor Carl Vogel, a long time C-level executive in the cable and satellite business, worked diligently to truly understand our business, and they believe Harris Broadcast Communications is the right company to anchor their presence in the industry. They value our established global customer relationships, innovative growth platforms, broad product portfolio, and experienced team. They are committed to supporting us in continuing to innovate and grow, and we look forward to our future together."
About The Gores Group LLC
The Gores Group, LLC is an investment firm focused on acquiring controlling interests in mature and growing businesses which can benefit from the firm's operating experience and flexible capital base. The firm combines the operational expertise and detailed due diligence capabilities of a strategic buyer with the seasoned M&A team of a traditional financial buyer. The Gores Group, which was founded in 1987 by Alec E. Gores, has become a leading investor having demonstrated over time a reliable track record of creating substantial value in its portfolio companies alongside management. Headquartered in Los Angeles, The Gores Group maintains offices in Boulder, CO, and London.


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6 DuraPlus 30º Stainless Steel Elbow Kit
6 DuraPlus 30º Stainless Steel Elbow Kit
Kit includes two elbows and on elbow strap
Use for offsets around obstructions such as rafters, ridgepoles, or joists. May have two pairs of elbows, if needed. Offsets greater than 30º are not permitted in accordance to UL 103 standards.
Elbows swivel 360º at the base (angles are not adjustable). A pair of elbows is required to return an offset chimney back to vertical.
Available in stainless steel or galvalume
DuraPlus is a triple-wall, all-fuel chimney for use with wood stoves, fireplaces, furnaces, boilers, stoves, ranges, water heaters, or other appliances fueled by wood, oil, coal or gas. It is designed to boost efficiency by staying cool on the outside and providing a hot draft on the inside.
- Type: Elbow
- Inside Diameter: 6"
- Country: United States
- Certification: UL Listed | UL-103HT (MH7399)
- Outside Material: Stainless Steel
- Pipe Class: Class-A
- Clearance to Combustibles: 2"


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The Future's Only Hope
Lies in the Past ...
Jackie K.
Lee Harvey Oswald
Cinematic new thriller, Saving Jackie K exposes the secrets of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. In real life, the Warren Commission accused social misfit and loner Lee Harvey Oswald of committing the atrocity.
On October 18, 1939, a boy who would become infamous was born in New Orleans to a recent widow. Lee Harvey Oswald's father had died two months before his birth, forsaking him to a virtually unsupervised childhood as the youngest of three brothers. Oswald's oblivious mother, Marguerite Oswald, later boasted of her truant son, "I consider that normal . . . playing hooky from school. Many, many boys do this."
Days after his seventeenth birthday, Oswald enlisted in the US Marine Corps, following in the footsteps of his idolized brother, Robert. The young military enlistee was deployed in Japan and various locations in the South Pacific. Like all marines, he learned to shoot, and earned the distinction of Marksman, a level below that of Sharpshooter.
Oswald had already declared himself to be a Marxist by the age of fifteen, and while in military service he dedicated his free time to the unusual hobby of learning to speak and read Russian. In September 1959 he received a hardship discharge from active service, claiming his ailing mother needed his assistance.
His self-taught rudimentary Russian skills proved to be part of a longer-term plan when in October 1959, the twenty-year-old defected to the USSR. After an apparent suicide attempt, he was granted a menial job at the Gorizont Electronics plant in Minsk. He received a stipend and an apartment. He married a Russian girl he had known for six weeks, Marina Prusakova, in an effort to make another girlfriend jealous. In Oswald's Historic Diary penned in the Soviet Union, he wrote, "In spite of (the) fact I married Marina to hurt Ella, I found myself in love with Marina."
After two and a half years, Oswald grew bored with the Spartan life in Russia, writing, "I am starting to reconsider my desire about staying. The work is drab, the money I get has nowhere to be spent. No nightclubs or bowling alleys, no places of recreation except the trade union dances. I have had enough." Together with his wife and infant daughter, he returned to the US.
Oswald bounced around, living in various locations in Texas and Louisiana. After gaining some notoriety by passing out leaflets in New Orleans for the Fair Play for Cuba Committee, he was interviewed by local press. He announced his political affiliations: "I will very definitely say that I am a Marxist, that is correct. But that does not mean, however, that I am a communist."
The Oswalds wound up in the Dallas area, where Lee found work at the Texas School Book Depository in Dealey Plaza. Another daughter was born to the young couple, but Lee did not live with his family. He rented an elfin room in Oak Cliff, while Marina resided in Irving with her friend, Mrs. Ruth Paine.
According to the Warren Commission Report, Lee Harvey Oswald brought his bolt-action Mannlicher-Carcano rifle to work on the morning of November 22, 1963. As the president's motorcade passed in front of the Book Depository, Oswald fired three shots out of the sixth floor window, injuring Texas Governor John Connally, and mortally wounding President John F. Kennedy. The alleged assassin then engaged in an ill-conceived escape plan where in quick succession, he rode a bus, then a taxi, to the vicinity of his boarding house. After retrieving a pistol, he gunned down a police officer JD Tippit in cold blood, and retreated to a movie theater where he was arrested.
While being transferred to the county jail two days later, Oswald himself was fatally shot by nightclub owner, Jack Ruby. After his funeral, Oswald's mother Marguerite inexplicably announced, "Lee Harvey Oswald, my son, even after his death, has done more for his country than any other living human being."
What did Lee Harvey Oswald say?
In order to solve the most notorious conspiracy of the twentieth century, one must examine the evidence, and look at the accused with a critical eye. This book is a compendium of Oswald's own words, including personal letters, a self-titled 'historic diary,' political rants, and even a manuscript on life in Russia.


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6 1/4" W x 4 5/8" H Folded - DIY Card
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Matthew Clayton Flynn (born June 20, 1985, in Tyler, Texas) is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Packers in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at LSU.
Matt Flynn attended Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler, Texas, where he was coached by Mike Owens. Flynn was one of the top-rated quarterbacks in the state of Texas, alongside Drew Tate of Baytown, Texas. As a junior in 2001, Flynn guided his team to a 5A playoff appearance but lost to the eventual state champion Mesquite High School. Flynn completed 101-of-199 passes for 1,650 yards, 13 touchdowns and only 9 interceptions for the season. As a senior, he completed 124-of-206 passes for 1,679 yards and 9 touchdowns. He also displayed his ability on the ground with 305 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. Flynn displayed toughness by leading Robert E. Lee High School to a semifinal appearance in one of the toughest classifications in Texas despite playing his last four games with a broken foot. His team lost to Midland High School 24-14.
Flynn was a member of the SuperPrep Texas 124, Dallas Morning News Texas Top 100 and the Tyler Morning Telegraph All-East Texas Football Team. He chose LSU over Tennessee, Texas Tech, Texas A&M.


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Does,you and your household, (Acts 16:31) mean if am saved my family will be too?
Some wish to prove from this text that when the head of a family comes to faith, he can be assured that his whole family will follow him in faith. There is no such promise here. If you read these verses carefully you will see that the offer of salvation by faith in Jesus was offered to the jailer, and to his whole household. The message of salvation was proclaimed to the jailer, and his whole household. The message of salvation was believed by the jailer, and his whole household. And as the jailer professed his faith by being baptized, so did the others in his household. The offer was to the jailer and all of his household. The acceptance of this offer was by the jailer and his whole household, but there is no guarantee that this will always be so.
The words Paul spoke, when rendered literally, would read something like this: "You (singular) believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you (singular) will be saved, you (singular) and your household." Paul is proclaiming the gospel to the Philippian jailer. He tells him that if he believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior, then he will be saved. This offer is not for him alone, however, but for his whole household as well. If they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, they will be saved as well. The promise is not made that if he, as the head of the household believes, his entire household is saved by his faith.
Notice that in verse 32 Luke records that Paul and Silas preached the "word of the Lord" to him, along with his house. Verse 34 then informs us that the jailer had come to believe, along with his entire household.
The gospel is offered to the jailer, and to his household. The gospel is preached to him, and his household. The gospel is received/believed by the jailer and his entire household.
Note these words in Jeremiah 31: 29 "In those days they will not say again, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children's teeth are set on edge.' 30 "But everyone will die for his own iniquity; each man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge. 31 "Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,
Ezekiel 18 is perhaps even more emphatic, separating the destiny of parent and child. A godly parent may have an ungodly (unsaved) child; an ungodly parent may have a believing and faithful child. The destiny of fathers and sons is independently determined.
In 1 Corinthians chapter 7 we are told that the unbelieving mate is "sanctified" by the believing mate (7:14), but note that they are still called an unbeliever. The issue here is not the salvation of one family member due to the faith of another, but the privileged status and blessing that the unbeliever has by living in the household of the believer. God's blessings spill over on the rest of the family, but this does not include the blessing of salvation. Paul goes on to ask in verse 16, "For how do you know, of wife, whether you will bring your husband to salvation?" Paul is saying that it is best for the believing partner to remain married to the unbeliever, if they are willing for the believer to remain, because there are certain blessings which come upon the unbeliever. He goes on to say that if the unbelieving mate does not wish to remain in that marriage, the believer is to let them go, for how can they assume that they can bring the unbeliever to faith?
All of this is to say that the Bible has a very consistent answer to your question. Every individual is lost because of their sins, and is saved if and when they trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation. This is why our Lord speaks of "hating" one's father, mother, brothers, and sisters:
26 "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. 27 "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple (Luke 14:26-27).
We must love Him, obey Him, and serve Him, above all others, including those closest to us.
Related Topics: Soteriology (Salvation), Scripture Twisting


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Top Items:
Michael Arrington / TechCrunch:
Google Jumps Head First Into Web Services With Google App Engine — Our live coverage of the Google App Engine launch event is here. — Google isn't just talking about hosting applications in the cloud any more. Tonight at 9pm PT they're launching Google App Engine (Update: The site is live) …
Discussion: Between the Lines, innonate, Google Blogoscoped, The Gong Show, Silicon Alley Insider, All about Microsoft, RIApedia, Andy Beal's Marketing Pilgrim, Scobleizer, MediaBytes with Shelly Palmer, p2pnet, Googling Google, Jarrett House North, bytes|genes, mathewingram.com/work, Network World, Googlified, Technosailor, GigaOM, Mashable!, Gaffney3.com, Download Squad, AppScout, FaceReviews, SmoothSpan Blog, SlipperyBrick, Stay N' Alive, eWeek, Web Scout, John Cook's Venture Blog, ProgrammableWeb, Platform Wars, Laurel Papworth and The Register
Larry Dignan / Between the Lines: If Google's App Engine ever met an app appliance...
Nate Westheimer / innonate: AppEngine is GOOG's Web 3.0, Takes Aim at Facebook, not Amazon
Philipp Lenssen / Google Blogoscoped: Google App Engine Preview Release
Andrew Parker / The Gong Show: AppEngine Limitations? — Google announced a game-changing …
Henry Blodget / Silicon Alley Insider: Google, Amazon Lead Disruptive Cloud Computing Wave, Microsoft Again Behind Curve
Mikepotter / RIApedia: Google Launches Web App Hosting Service
Andy Beal / Andy Beal's Marketing Pilgrim: Sitting Around a Campfire Google Announces Kool-Aid App Engine
Robert Scoble / Scobleizer: Google jumps on Big Table of Web Services
Shelly Palmer / MediaBytes with Shelly Palmer: 2008 04-08 MediaBytes: Yahoo - Microsoft - Chrysler - ATAS - Imeem - Snocap - Google
Jon / p2pnet: Google App Engine launch
Garett Rogers / Googling Google: Google announces App Engine: Should Amazon worry?
Mitchell Ashley / Network World: Google One Ups Microsoft Again-Google App Engine
Haochi / Googlified: Google App Engine
Aaron Brazell / Technosailor: Google File System: Much To Do About Nothing
Stacey Higginbotham / GigaOM: Google Cloud Now on Tap for Web Developers
Mark 'Rizzn' Hopkins / Mashable!: Google App Engine: An Early Look
Christina Warren / Download Squad: Google launches App Engine
Kyle Monson / AppScout: Act Fast: Google App Engine Open to First 10K Users
Rodney Rumford / FaceReviews: Fire Up Your Google App Engine
Darrin Olson / SlipperyBrick: Google launches App Engine web application host
Jesse Stay / Stay N' Alive: Google Announces "Google Apps Engine"
Clint Boulton / eWeek: Google to Challenge Amazon by Hosting Web Apps
David Sarno / Web Scout: Google App Engine means Google will carry your load
John Cook / John Cook's Venture Blog: Google takes aim at Amazon
John Musser / ProgrammableWeb: Google App Engine: Your Apps in the Cloud
Laurel Papworth / Social Networks: Google App Engine: Australian Python Developers?
Paul McDonald / Google App Engine Blog:
Introducing Google App Engine + our new blog — At tonight's Campfire One we launched a preview release of Google App Engine — a developer tool that enables you to run your web applications on Google's infrastructure. The goal is to make it easy to get started with a new web app …
John Paczkowski / Digital Daily: New from Google: Google Acquisition Engine
Alexander Muse / Texas Startup Blog: Prediction: Python to overtake Rails at startups
Luigi Lugmayr / I4U News: Google App Engine Preview released
Ionut Alex Chitu / Google Operating System: Google App Engine: Write Your Own Google Apps
David A. Utter / WebProNews: Google Revs Up App Engine
Don MacAskill / SmugBlog: Seattle/Redmond dinner update
Andrew Tetlaw / SitePoint Blogs: Google Reveals App Engine
Glyn Moody / open: Wrestling with Google's Python in the Cloud
Zonk / Slashdot: Google Previews App Engine
Michael Arrington / TechCrunch: Major Google Announcement Monday Evening: Is It BigTable?
Richard MacManus / ReadWriteWeb:
Google: Cloud Control to Major Tom — Google has just launched Google App Engine, "a developer tool that enables you to run your web applications on Google's infrastructure." This will allow startups to use Google's web servers, APIs, and other developer tools to build a web app on top of.
Discussion: Guardian Unlimited
Jack Schofield / Guardian Unlimited: Google follows Amazon into Web-apps business
Fred / A VC:
Can The Y Combinator Idea Turn Into A Movement? — Most readers of this blog know what Y Combinator is. Hell, last month two of the top five referrers were affiliated with Y Combinator. But for those who don't know, Y Combinator was started by Paul Graham and now runs two programs a year …
Discussion: michael parekh on IT
Brady Forrest / O'Reilly Radar:
App Engine: Host Your Apps with Google — Tonight at their second CampFireOne Google Code is announcing App Engine, a hosted platform for web developers. The actual service will launch later tonight in a closed Beta. 10,000 developers will be granted access on a first come, first serve basis.
Discussion: Techdirt and broadstuff
Michael Masnick / Techdirt: Google Finally Realizes It Needs To Be The Web Platform
Alan Patrick / broadstuff: GOOGLE, GRIDS AND GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Phil Wainewright / Software as Services:
Let the PaaS wars begin — A month ago, I wrote about the plethora of PaaS options available from the cloud, setting out a five-layer model to categorize them. With last night's announcement of Google App Engine, it's all stepped up a notch. People are already talking about when Microsoft …
Discussion: Bungee Connect Developer … and deal architect
Stephen Shankland / CNET News.com:
Google hopes to house Web software on App Engine — Google plans to launch a service called App Engine Monday evening that the company hopes will attract programmers and eventually companies needing an expandable foundation for online applications. — App Engine, free to the first 10,000 people …
Discussion: Outside the Lines, Valleywag, Smalltalk Tidbits …, WebGuild and TechCrunch
Jackson West / Valleywag: Why should you care about App Engine?
James A. Robertson / Smalltalk Tidbits, Industry Rants: Python just got more popular
Daya Baran / WebGuild: Google Rolls Out Cloud Computing Platform
Mark Hendrickson / TechCrunch: Live From Google Campfire One
Official Google Blog:
Developers, start your engines
Developers, start your engines
Discussion: InformationWeek, CyberNet and Alec Saunders .LOG
Nick / Rough Type:
Google unlocks its data centers
Google unlocks its data centers
Discussion: CNET News.com
Matt Cutts / Gadgets, Google, and SEO:
Google App Engine: Launching a startup gets even easier
Google App Engine: Launching a startup gets even easier
Discussion: STARTUP CHATTER
Donna Bogatin / STARTUP CHATTER: How Google App Engine Kills Startups, Tricks Consumers
MG Siegler / VentureBeat:
Google App Engine readies for brawl with Amazon
Google App Engine readies for brawl with Amazon
Discussion: Profy.Com, The Last Podcast, Ajaxian, PSFK, 901am, CNET News.com, Tech Watch, CenterNetworks and Valleywag
Cyndy Aleo-Carreira / Profy.Com: Is Google App Engine a Sign that Google's Jumped the Shark?
Frederic / The Last Podcast: Monday Night Thoughts: Google Apps, Why We Blog, A-Lists, and a Hardware Upgrade
Dion Almaer / Ajaxian: What does Google App Engine mean for Ajax developers?
Piers Fawkes / PSFK: Google App Engine
Dennis Bouchand / 901am: Google launches App Engine
Martin LaMonica / CNET News.com: Amazon computing Web service suffers glitch
Jason Snyder / Tech Watch: Google launches app-hosting service
Jackson West / Valleywag: Why should you care about Google's App Engine?
Rob Hof / Tech Beat:
Google App Engine Goes Up Against Amazon, But That's Not the Point
Google App Engine Goes Up Against Amazon, But That's Not the Point
Discussion: Silicon Alley Insider
Vasanth Sridharan / Silicon Alley Insider: Google Taking On Amazon With App Engine (GOOG, AMZN)
James Kendrick / jkOnTheRun:
jkOnTheRun review- hands on with the HP Mini-Note UMPC — The Asus EEE PC woke people up to the benefits that a sub-notebook device brings to consumers, especially if it's priced attractively. HP is releasing their hotly awaited sub-notebook and the Mini is a solid first effort in this small notebook category.
Discussion: TeleRead, Guardian Unlimited, NotebookReview.com, GottaBeMobile, Eee Site, Geek.com and The Mobile Gadgeteer
David Rothman / TeleRead: HP Mini: Promising laptop for e-book fans, if we extrapolate from jkOnTheRun review
JerryJ / NotebookReview.com: HP 2133 Mini-Note Review
Warner Crocker / GottaBeMobile: GBM Inkshow: The HP 2133 Mini-Note
Brad Linder / Eee Site: And one more HP Mini review worth noting
Sal Cangeloso / Geek.com: HP officially unveils the 2133 Mini-Note
Matthew Miller / The Mobile Gadgeteer: HP announces the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC
Joanna Stern / LAPTOP Magazine:
The Leader of the Pack? Hands-On Video of the HP 2133 Mini-Note
The Leader of the Pack? Hands-On Video of the HP 2133 Mini-Note
Discussion: LaptopMag.com, Tech Sanity Check, Technology Live, Gizmodo and Eee Site
John R. Delaney / LaptopMag.com: HP 2133 Mini-Note — This mini notebook is pricier and heavier …
Jason Hiner / Tech Sanity Check: HP launches full-powered $500 mini-notebook aimed at business travelers
Michelle Kessler / Technology Live: Forget $100: HP launches $499 laptop for kids
Matt Buchanan / Gizmodo: HP 2133 Mini-Note UMPC Pops Up on Amazon, Reviewed (Verdict: Rich Man's Eee PC)
Bill Evans / Apple:
Final Cut Server Now Shipping — Apple® today announced that Final Cut® Server, a powerful software solution for media asset management and workflow automation, is now shipping. A scaleable server application, Final Cut Server automatically catalogs large collections of assets …
Christina Warren / The Unofficial Apple Weblog: Final Cut Server released
Peter Ha / CrunchGear: Breaking: Apple shipping Final Cut Server
Seth Weintraub / Computerworld Blogs: Final Cut Server now shipping from Apple
Josh Pigford / The Apple Blog: Apple releases Final Cut Server
Michael / Apple Gazette: Apple releases Final Cut Server
Jeff Smykil / Infinite Loop:
Final Cut Server finally shipping, one year later — Flash back to 51 weeks ago. If you recall correctly, and I'm sure you do, the National Association of Broadcasters' conference was underway, Apple was there, and the company had its new product party hat on.
Discussion: MacRumors, Macworld and MacDailyNews
James Sherwood / The Register:
Nokia confirms 'iPhone killer' handset in pipeline — Nokia has confirmed that it's developing a touchscreen-equipped handset to take on the Apple iPhone, and has shown off pictures of the upcoming phone to drooling onlookers. — The Finnish giant's handset is codenamed 'Tube' …
Discussion: last100
Steve O'Hear / last100: Nokia, start your photocopiers (iPhone-envy)
Nokia readies iPhone response
Nokia readies iPhone response
Discussion: Boing Boing Gadgets, Engadget, InformationWeek, Macworld, Gizmodo, textually.org, localmobilesearch.net, CrunchGear and mocoNews.net
Joel Johnson / Boing Boing Gadgets: Nokia Still Growing Their Own iPhone
Joshua Topolsky / Engadget: Nokia readies iPhone-ish "Tube," disses Apple's sales
Greg Sterling / localmobilesearch.net: Nokia's 'Tube' Seeks to Shaft the iPhone
Brian Caulfield / Forbes:
Ballmer's Secret Weapon — Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer may have a secret weapon in his fight with Yahoo! Chief Executive Jerry Yang for control of the beleaguered Web portal: Yahoo! shareholders who also hold gobs of Microsoft stock. — Because of the software giant's size …
Discussion: New York Times, BoomTown and Tech Check with Jim Goldman
Miguel Helft / New York Times: Yahoo Answers Microsoft With Yet Another No
Kara Swisher / BoomTown: MicroHoo: Another Day, Another Letter
Jim Goldman / Tech Check with Jim Goldman: Yahoo's Rock and a Hard Place
Therese Poletti / MarketWatch:
Yahoo seems headed the way of PeopleSoft
Yahoo seems headed the way of PeopleSoft
Discussion: Tech Ticker
Henry Blodget / Tech Ticker: Wall Street Losing Patience With Yahoo
I'm Not Actually a Geek:
When Your Blog Is LouisGrayCrunched... Start-ups can go through the Slashdot Effect, the Digg Effect or be TechCrunched. Well, five blogs were LouisGrayCrunched on yesterday. — Louis Gray is a top blogger in the tech world. He covers a lot of good tech topics, perhaps best known for his early and bullish coverage of FriendFeed.
Discussion: Online Media Cultist and sarahintampa
Associated Press:
Virginia 1st state to require Internet safety lessons — RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia is the first state to mandate that public schools offer Internet safety classes for all grade levels — and it's one of many measures being taken nationally to protect young Web users.
Discussion: IT News Digest, The Blog Herald, Liquidmatrix Security Digest and Slashdot
Matt Craven / The Blog Herald: Parents or the State? …
ScuttleMonkey / Slashdot: Virginia Becomes First State to Mandate Internet Safety Lessons
Eric Savitz / Tech Trader Daily:
Apple: Morgan Keegan Cuts Rating To Underperform; Sees Slowdown in iPods and Macs on Macro Weakness — Apple (AAPL) shares are trading lower this morning after Morgan Keegan analyst Tavis McCourt cut his rating on the stock to Underperform from Market Perform.
Discussion: AppleInsider


text:
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text:
"Show, don't tell"
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Joined: 08 Jan 2006
Posts: 12
Location: California
Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 8:17 am
Post subject:
I believe - and this is after some considerable thought applied to the problem - that it's essentially impossible to procedurally generate descriptions that're actually aesthetically enjoyable.
If it's just a matter of conveying information to players in grammatically valid sentences, then yes, procedural generation can do that. But I can't think of a way to get procedurally generated descriptions to
information, let alone master the black arts of allusion, sentence flow, and non-dictionary connotations of particular constructions. There's a strong analogy to the classic AI scenario of conducting a conversation with a computer; therefore, just as with ELIZA-style chatbots, I suspect the only real way to make it sound even halfway convincing is to cheat and lean heavily on human-written formulas for various description elements.
The problems with this approach show up quickly. The quality of description is still never quite good enough to pass for human-written (even incompetently human-written), and repeating elements tend to show up easily (especially if a particular player spends a lot of time in a narrow set of environments). The number of rooms you can make is essentially unlimited, yes, but I've never seen a procedurally generated description that didn't effectively read just like the thousands or millions of others generated by the same ruleset.
Again, there's a tradeoff here, and I can't universally condemn one option. From the perspective of gameplay, aesthetics be damned, it's true that static descriptions don't have anything like the kind of depth that dynamic descriptions can. That said, the idea of relegating builders to the role of controlling the input parameters to an algorithm that'd write most of the actual descriptions,
viva la revolucion
, only seems like an option if you want to derive effectively all the flavor and thematic depth of your world from gear and NPC interactions. Not a very attractive concept in my opinion, and there
a Third Way - it just takes longer and involves learning a markup language.
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Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 134
Location: Emily's Shop
Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 1:17 pm
Post subject:
Nornagest wrote:
I believe - and this is after some considerable thought applied to the problem - that it's essentially impossible to procedurally generate descriptions that're actually aesthetically enjoyable.
I don't think anyone is suggesting otherwise. We're not talking about
descriptions, merely about
them. There will be a number of human-written components, and any given player character will see a subset of them depending on the character's abilities and disposition.
For example, we might have a room in a slaughterhouse. The full description of the room as entered by the builder might read:
"You are %MOVING% %GROUND_PREP% a pool of blood, half an inch deep. The air is filled with the [player->is_vampire(), 'intoxicating coppery smell', 'sickening stench'] of blood."
A non-vampiric player who is currently walking would see:
"You are walking through a pool of blood, half an inch deep. The air is filled with the sickening stench of blood."
If the player happened to be levitating, he might see:
"You are hovering above a pool of blood, half an inch deep. The air is filled with the sickening stench of blood."
If the player is a vampire, he might see:
"You are walking through a pool of blood, half an inch deep. The air is filled with the intoxicating coppery smell of blood."
And so on. it's not about generating content, merely selecting it.
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Joined: 17 Sep 2007
Posts: 8
Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 5:27 pm
Post subject: Re: "Show, don't tell"
Violette wrote:
What I'm confused with is this: For example, I love the word
. So according to "show, don't tell" I can't use that in a description - I have to describe exactly why it's intricate?
It all depends on how important the intricacy is to the thing being described.
For most muds, there are really three options to choose from. You can simply mention that something is intricate, in passing. If that's just flavor detail for a description, that's probably all you need.
"The dark stone walls lean over you, casting ever darker shadows as you pass between them. You glimpse tiny whorls of dust, performing an intricate dance away from the less than adequate draft of fresh air your arrival has produced. A single archway leads westward, deeper into the black."
Your second choice is to use the word intricate, but to also make it an extra description (or detail), so that the players might further examine the thing and see why it is intricate.
"The gleaming pale golden blade appears extremely sharp and unblemished. There are strange runes inscribed along the centre, and an intricate web of faint swirls surrounds the runes themselves."
Now, if the player looks at (or examines) the web, or the swirls, he may see:
"The lines are etched in amazing detail, finer than your hair, yet crisp and solid. They crisscross each other in what seems to be a geometric shape, at once containing the runes and seeming to focus them along the length of the blade. In some places, the geometry is so complex that it could almost be mistaken for another kind of writing."
The third choice is to not use the word at all, but imply it by means of your description. There is nothing at all wrong with using words and being direct, but you should try to avoid telling the player how they feel or what they think about something.
"Looking at the remains of the tiny golem, you can see dozens of gears interwoven throughout the chest cavity. Small cams are driven by some of the gears, with barely visible rods extending off towards the extremities. A tiny glowing ember, the same emerald green as the eyes of the creature, shimmers faintly behind the assembly."
To me, that seems an intricate piece of work. Perhaps to someone who works on small machinery for a living, it may not... but me telling them it's intricate won't convince them it is.
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Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 134
Location: Emily's Shop
Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:43 am
Post subject:
I think the initial post in this thread was a little misguided, TBH. "Show, don't tell" can be a reasonable guide when dealing with rather abstract descriptions, but as the quality in question becomes more concrete it becomes steadily less and less applicable.
For example, if you wish to depict a character in a work of fiction as "evil", it is probably not a good idea simply to say "he was an evil man"; it will be far more effective to depict him carrying out some kind of evil
, such as casually stepping on the face of a fallen child in order to enter his carriage. But that's only true because "evil" is a highly subjective, abstract concept. It's also rather a vague concept: the information that this is the kind of man who steps on children's faces is much more precise than saying that he is "evil".
But, at the other end of the scale, if something is "red" then it is nonsensical to talk about "showing why it is red" as opposed to "saying that it is red" - it
red, and there's nothing wrong with saying so. There may be more effective and evocative ways of phrasing it (it might be "the colour of fresh blood", or "a deep, sensual crimson") but none of these are allowing the reader to
what colour the object is, they're simply
I suspect "intricate" is much closer to the "red" end of the scale than it is to the "evil" end.
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Joined: 29 Dec 2007
Posts: 42
Location: Southern Hellinois
Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 7:44 pm
Post subject:
What always worked for me.
If its not there do not tell it. Do not tell them how they feel, thats for them to discern. Describe what they can see, or what obscures views of other things. Whats in the distance, the ground. Do not use the word you. Do not show mobs in the room desc that pop in the room. The crux, is showing mobs in the distance that could be in the distance, but have moved since they moved.
Assume above all else, that who ever is looking at the room just teleported into the room in question. They dont know where they are, nor do you.
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Associated Press//April 23, 2012
//April 23, 2012
WASHINGTON — High energy prices and an economy that has been slow to rebound are worsening Social Security's finances, shortening the life of the trust funds that support program by three years, the government said Monday.
Those funds will now run dry in 2033, according to a report issued by the trustees that oversee the massive retirement and disability program.
Medicare's hospital insurance fund is projected to run out of money in 2024, which is unchanged from last year. The trustees, however, said Medicare spending continues to rise.
Congress enacted a 2 percent cut in Medicare last year, which is the main reason the trust fund exhaustion date did not advance.
If the Social Security and Medicare funds ever become exhausted, the nation's two biggest benefit programs would collect only enough money in payroll taxes to pay partial benefits.
The trustees said in their annual report that Congress should address the programs as soon as possible, but no action is likely before the November election.
"Lawmakers should not delay addressing the long-run financial challenges facing Social Security and Medicare," the trustees wrote. "If they take action sooner rather than later, more options and more time will be available to phase in changes so that the public has adequate time to prepare."
Social Security's finances worsened in part because high energy prices suppressed wages, a trend the trustees see as continuing. The trustees said they expect workers to work fewer hours than previously projected, even after the economy recovers.
This year's cost-of-living-adjustment, or COLA, was also higher than expected. That was good news for seniors, who saw their benefits increase by 3.6 percent, but it drained more resources from Social Security.
The trustees project a 1.8 percent COLA for next year, though the actual amount won't be set until October.
Social Security is split into two funds, one for retirement and survivor benefits and one for disability. The retirement fund is projected to run out of money in 2035 while the disability fund is projected to run dry in 2016.
The trustees who oversee Social Security are urging Congress to shore up the disability system by reallocating money from the retirement program, just as lawmakers did in 1994.
Combined, the two funds will last until 2033. If they run dry, payroll taxes would cover about 75 percent of benefits.
"This year's trustees report contains troubling but not unexpected projections about Social Security's finances," said Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue. "It once again emphasizes that Congress needs to act to ensure the long-term solvency of this important program, and needs to act within four years to avoid automatic cuts to people receiving disability benefits."
The trustees also warned that their own Medicare projections could be too rosy. Based on current law, they assume cuts in payments to doctors that Congress routinely waives will actually take place. They also assume President Barack Obama's health care law will squeeze the full amount of its $500 billion cuts from the program.
"Medicare's actual future costs are highly uncertain and are likely to exceed those shown … in this report," the trustees said.
The trustees who oversee the programs are Astrue, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. There are also two public trustees, Charles Blahous and Robert Reischauer.
More than 56 million retirees, disabled workers, spouses and children receive Social Security. The average retirement benefit is $1,232 a month; the average monthly benefit for disabled workers is $1,111.
About 50 million people are covered by Medicare, the medical insurance program for older Americans.
Calling Social Security and Medicare the "twin pillars of retirement security in this country," Geithner said: "It is critical that reforms are slowly phased-in over time so current beneficiaries are not affected and future beneficiaries do not experience precipitous changes."
Obama's health care law is supposed to trim Medicare expenses by $500 billion, extending the life of the program. But many Republicans doubt the savings will materialize.
On Social Security, Obama has not proposed any comprehensive plan to address the system.
Social Security is financed by a 6.2 percent tax on the first $110,100 in wages. It is paid by both employers and workers. Congress temporarily reduced the tax on workers to 4.2 percent for 2011 and 2012, though the program's finances are being made whole through increased government borrowing.
The Medicare tax rate is 1.45 percent on all wages, paid by both employees and workers.l


text: Back Olympian Advice on Preventing Sports Injuries Neither Olympians nor weekend warriors are immune to tendonitis, ankle sprains, low back problems, and knee pain. Although common, these injuries often can be prevented with proper conditioning. "Activities like tennis, softball, cycling, volleyball, or basketball can cause people to exert a lot of pressure on their muscles and joints," says Scott A. Rodeo, M.D., a former competitive swimmer who was a member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Committee medical staff. He's now a New York City orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine. "The most common cause of injury is going too far, too fast, too soon, but it can often be prevented if you bring the body along slowly." Prepare to play Before starting or changing an exercise program, get the OK from your health care provider. Once you're cleared, then start your workouts gently and slowly, and work up to more aggressive training or play. Use the 10 percent rule: When changing your activity level, increase it in increments of no more than 10 percent per week. "If you normally walk two miles a day and want to improve your fitness, don't suddenly jump to four miles," says Dr. Rodeo. "Slowly build up to more miles until you reach your goal." Before starting your workout, always warm up first. Your warm-up should include three to five minutes of low-level cardiovascular exercise such as light jogging, brisk walking, or cycling and easy movement patterns to mimic your sports activity. When your muscles have warmed up, you should stretch, focusing on the muscles you will use in your exercise routine. Hold each stretch for 20 to 60 seconds. Don't stretch to the point of pain. When you begin your exercise, listen to your body. If you feel pain, stop. "As you age, you may find you lose flexibility or your body can't tolerate the same activities it once did," Dr. Rodeo says. "You can prevent injury by modifying your activities to accommodate your abilities." After finishing your exercise routine, take time for a cool-down. A cool-down can help minimize lightheadedness and sore muscles, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) says. During your cool-down decrease the intensity of your exercise. Continue this for five to 10 minutes and follow with light stretching, the ACSM says. Use good technique Learn the correct technique for your sport or activity and practice it. This can help keep you from putting undue stress on your joints. "Olympic athletes work long and hard to maximize their movement patterns and allow for efficient movement," says Dr. Rodeo. Lessons are a worthwhile investment, whether you're a beginner or have been playing sports for a long time. Proper form and instruction reduce the chance of developing an overuse injury, such as tendonitis or stress fractures. In addition to good technique, you should use the proper equipment for your sport. Bicycle helmets, kneepads, and protective goggles are examples of equipment that must fit properly and be worn consistently. Make sure whatever equipment you use is in good condition. Strive for regular exercise Don't be a "weekend warrior." Compressing your physical activity into one or two days can lead to overuse injuries and won't improve your fitness. Try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week. Develop a fitness program that includes not only aerobic exercise, but also strength training and stretches. "Besides providing a total-body workout, a balanced program will keep you from getting bored and reduce your chance for injury," Dr. Rodeo says.


text:
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Chicken and Basil Stir Fry
I never understood why so many people like white meat over dark meat. White meat is so bland and boring and ridiculously easy to overcook. Dark meat on the other hand, is succulent and flavorful, nearly impossible to overcook, and actually tastes like chicken. Oh well, to each his own! It works out better for us dark meat lovers anyway because thighs and drumsticks are always cheaper than breasts. But no worries, this stir fry is delicious no matter what kind of chicken you like. Just be more careful about the chicken drying out if you're using a breast or tenderloin cut.
I'm trying to post more student-friendly, easy/quick to cook recipes. Do you guys think a recipe like this would qualify? The ingredient list isn't terribly long and most of them aren't hard to come by. Prep and cook time was maybe 30 minutes?
Chicken and Pepper Stir Fry with Basil
1 pound chicken thighs or breast sliced into strips or slivers
1 large red bell pepper sliced
1 large shallot, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
1 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp fish sauce
2 tsp brown sugar
1 - 3 Thai red chilies, seeds removed and thinly sliced or sub some jalapenos(to taste)
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 C fresh whole basil leaves (sweet or Thai varieties are both okay)
1 Tbsp vegetable oil for stir frying
Fresh lime juice (optional)
*Note: if you use a rice cooker, start cooking your rice first.
In a small bowl, mix the fish sauce, soy sauce, and brown sugar.
Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat and add the shallots. Cook the shallots until they are translucent and soft, about 3 minutes. Turn the heat up to medium high and add the chicken, bell peppers, grated ginger, minced garlic, ground pepper, and sliced chilies. Continue to stir fry until the chicken is nearly cooked through, about 2 minutes, then add the sauce. Cook for another minute and the sauce will thicken. Add more soy sauce or salt if you need to. Stir in the fresh basil at the end. Squeeze a little lime juice on top if you have some limes on hand. Serve over steamed rice.
9 comments:
- abc said...
Looks yummy, I'm going to try it.
Glad you are doing more Asian-ish recipes, haha.
- March 24, 2009 at 6:36 PM
- Michelle C said...
I'm a fan of dark meat in both chicken AND turkey!
I'm glad you posted something with fresh ginger, too. I picked some up recently and have been looking for recipes to use it with :)
- March 24, 2009 at 6:48 PM
- Susan @ SGCC said...
I love this dish! It definitely looks like a quick, easy and delicious weeknight meal. I'm with you on the chicken issue. Give me thighs every time. I've never liked chicken breast much.
- March 24, 2009 at 8:35 PM
- Dewi said...
What a delicious dish you have here, I always like Aisan style cooking.
- March 24, 2009 at 9:18 PM
- Jon said...
I like the breasts because they're easier to cut :) Cutting the meat off the thigh is so much work!
- March 24, 2009 at 10:37 PM
- Jen Da Purse Ho said...
i don't understand the white meat love either. too dry!! dark meat is so tasty and juicy!!
thanks for this! i must make it tomorrow. :)
- March 24, 2009 at 10:58 PM
- melainer said...
i think this recipe looks great but I'm not sure about it being good for students. It requires ingredients that most students won't have around or know what to do with the leftovers.
- March 25, 2009 at 6:09 AM
Like you I'm a dark meat person..but so is my husband so we have to share when we buy whole chickens!
I've had trouble finding thai red chilies near me so I'd have to sub jalapenos. Shouldn't be to hard for someone with a small kitchen to make.
- March 25, 2009 at 3:47 PM
- Amy said...
It's great to see so many dark meat lovers! :)
I'll try to post more Asian recipes.
Some stores sell boneless skinless chicken thighs. I think I saw some at TJ's.
Thanks for the input. You're right, fish sauce isn't exactly a common ingredient. :)
- March 26, 2009 at 1:08 PM


text:
ISLETON, Calif. -- It's been four long and agonizing days for the family of Nichelle Johnson, who investigators believe is inside her submerged car, in the Sacramento River in Isleton, California.
"I just want them to help us get my mama out of that water. It's been too long. I just need answers. I just need closure," Johnson's daughter, Mikaela Hampton, told KTXL. "I don't know how I'm supposed to explain it to my baby."
Hampton shed tears of anguish as she talked about sharing the heartbreaking news with her 7-year-old son, telling him that grandma is never coming back.
Investigators believe Johnson, 48, somehow drove her car into the river Sunday night. A witness called 911 to report seeing the car in the water. Johnson, herself, dialed 911, but wasn't able to speak.
The Sacramento Sheriff's Department says, at the time of the accident, it was foggy and the river was running so fast that it was too dangerous to send a helicopter to fly over the area and put divers into the water.
It wasn't until the next day, when sonar waves from their marine patrol boat were able to detect what appeared to be Johnson's car near the river banks.
The family is now begging for anyone to help.
"Help get my mom out so we can lay her and put her to rest. I feel so empty knowing it's my mom . She's never gonna walk in this door," Hampton said.
The sheriff's department says they're looking to outside agencies to get six volunteer divers and a larger boat, to safely make the recovery.
But waiting is the most difficult part for this family. They believe not enough is being done to bring Johnson back to her family.
"Making no effort at all to go try and save her. They keep telling us all this stuff that we don't wanna hear," Johnson's son, Malik Davis said.
"We feel like we can just swim out there. Take a deep breath and go and get her, but we know you can't do that," Johnson's boyfriend, Johnnie Hines added.
They say she was a selfless soul, who doesn't deserve to be left alone.
"If she didn't have, she'd make sure you had. 'I'll get mine's later. But you have this right now,'" Johnson's brother-in-law, Darrell Pinily said.
"She was too giving. She was always the one to do for the next person," her son added.


text:
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A time-honored tradition: the ritual dismemberment of the Thanksgiving turkey, performed by my father in, yes, the
Salmon Kitchen
. Shortly after I took this bounce-flash Vericolor negative, the remains were conducted to the dining room, where they fulfilled their destiny at the hands and mouths of eight eager celebrants.
Sic transit gloria meleagris
. |
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Holy (homemade) guacamole!
Let's get something straight from the get-go: store-bought guacamole is a crime against well-deserving taste buds. So repeat after me: "This Cinco de Mayo, I will buy fresh avocados and make my own guacamole." That wasn't so hard, was it?
The Aztecs are credited with creating guacamole; the word translates from their native Nahuatl language as "avocado sauce." It's become one of the most popular dips in the United States. Seriously, close your eyes and imagine Super Bowl Sunday or Cinco de Mayo without guacamole. Am I not right?
Growing up, I hated avocados. We had a tree in the garden just outside our kitchen. It would inevitably fall to me to peel the fruit for my dad's guacamole. I really disliked the feel of the naked fruit in my hand. Sadly, by the time I was old enough to appreciate avocados' heart-healthy, creamy goodness, Dad had long since gotten tired of the falling fruit hitting the hood of his new car and had chopped the tree down.
Fast-forward to the adult me, and now I hardly go two days without avocado in one form or another. My favorite is as guacamole, which makes me laugh, considering how much I disliked it as a child. I make it the way our family has always made it: avocados, cilantro, serrano or jalapeño chilies, onion, tomato and a squeeze of lemon or lime. I spread it on toast, top omelets with it, use it in a green salad as my dressing and put it on sandwiches.
I like to make enough guacamole to last more than one meal. I know what you're thinking: How do I keep it from turning into that unappetizing, brown mess? Some people swear by the "keep the pit in the bowl" method. However, when you look at why the flesh turns brown, this doesn't make sense.
Avocados, like bananas, apples, pears and potatoes contain an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase, which reacts to oxygen, turning the fruit brown. Of course, the fruit is still edible, but because we eat with our eyes first, it's not very appetizing. The best way I have found to slow down the "rusting" process is a combination of limiting the amount of oxygen the fruit comes into contact with and the introduction of an acid like lemon or lime juice, which retards the oxidation process.
After I make the guacamole, I squeeze a little lemon or lime juice over the top of the dip. If I'm not going to eat it right away, I put the guacamole in an airtight container. Then I cut a piece of plastic wrap large enough to cover the guacamole and come up the sides of the container. Next, I press the plastic wrap onto the surface of the guacamole, making sure the entire surface of the dip is making contact with the plastic wrap, and work out any air bubbles. Then I put a tightfitting lid on the container and immediately place it in the refrigerator. Each time I serve myself some of the guacamole, I repeat this process. Typically, I can keep the guacamole for two to three days before it turns brown.
This Cinco de Mayo, ditch the muddy-tasting store-bought guacamole and try your hand at the fresh stuff. You and your amigos will be happy you did.
Serves 8
4 large, ripe avocados, halved and pitted
1/2 cup finely chopped red or Spanish onion (about 1 small onion)
2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup (about half a bunch) of chopped cilantro, leaves only
2 jalapeño chilies or to taste; stems and seeds removed, then finely minced
2 serrano chilies or to taste; stems and seeds removed, then finely minced
Juice of 1 or 2 limes, depending on the size of the lime (about 2 tablespoons)
1 clove garlic, minced or pressed
1 teaspoon Knorr's powdered chicken stock
1 teaspoon California chile powder
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
Using a large spoon, remove the flesh from the avocados and place in a bowl. Use a fork to gently mash the avocados just enough to break up the bigger pieces (you want it a bit chunky so it has some texture). Add the rest of the ingredients. Mix gently to combine, taking care not to over mix.
From the kitchen of Anita L. Arambula
How to tell if an avocado is ripe
Some years ago, I was at a local farmers market and a vendor explained to me how to pick avocados. I've been using this method ever since.
Using your index finger, gently press down on your forehead. If the avocado feels like your forehead, it's too hard. Move on.
Now, press the hollow of your cheek. If the avocado feels similar, it's too soft. Move on, it's past its prime.
Gently press down on the tip of your nose. Now touch the avocado. If they feel similar, this avocado is just right.
Finally, remove the nubby portion of the stem. Is the flesh revealed under that nub brown-spotted? If so, move on; the fruit has already started to brown inside. If however, it's green when you remove it, then it's perfect.
Anita L. Arambula is the author of the website www.confessionsofafoodie.me
Source: DiscoverSD
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Simbionix Innovative Solution for Patient Specific Simulation Receives Further Global Recognition
Medical simulation technology provides an excellent approach to train physicians, nurses and allied health personnel. However, medical simulation development and utilization does not have to stop with training. Simbionix USA Corporation advances the concept of using its proprietary technologies and capabilities to turn the simulation experience into an essential part of pre-operative surgery planning.
The company's revolutionary PROcedure Rehearsal Studio™ (PRS) steps up simulation by enabling physicians to rehearse a complete endovascular procedure on a virtual 3D anatomical model based on a specific patient's CT data. The virtual model can be used for simulating, analyzing and evaluating preoperative surgical treatment options prior to performing an actual case, which may increase physician's confidence in the upcoming procedure.
The advantages of patient specific planning have long been recognized by additional fields within the healthcare industry, such as medical imaging. Simbionix is pleased to announce having signed a collaboration agreement with the market leader in medical image analysis software, Pie Medical Imaging BV. The company manufactures and distributes the 3mensio software, a clinical application that enables the visualization and analysis of patient CT scans in both 2D and 3D modes.
The collaboration will enable exporting the 3mensio Vascular™ model into the Simbionix simulation environment to form a comprehensive planning solution that combines 3DR, data analysis and simulation on the same platform. The solution will allow physicians and clinical specialist to rehearse a procedure in a complete virtual environment without the need for physical tools. This will take users of the 3mensio software to the next level of preparedness for endovascular procedures, as it will allow adding simulation insights. Cases created by the software may also be imported to the ANGIO Mentor simulator for full procedure practice using fluoroscopy, guidewires, catheters, and other equipment that is used in the cath lab.
Simbionix recently received the CE marking of conformity for its patient specific simulation, an important step towards launching this innovative technology and expansion of its use in the clinical practice. The PRS CE mark demonstrates the product's compliance with stringent requirements related to the quality, safety, and performance of medical devices determined by the European Union legislation.
In addition, Simbionix PRS has recently been granted a patent in China. The company now has patents for this technology in three key countries- USA, UK and China. These patents represent recognition for the Simbionix comprehensive line of products, which provide innovative solutions to advance medical performance and ensure patient safety.
Gary Zamler, Simbionix CEO added that "Growing interest from the image analysis market, which 3mensio is part of, demonstrates the need for more comprehensive planning solutions. The ability to evaluate surgical treatment options using simulation anytime, anywhere, is a major factor in achieving the goal to increase patient safety and improve procedure outcomes. The collaboration agreement, CE mark and additional patent are all examples of the company's key position as a market leader and innovator in the field of medical simulation."


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Imam Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani
Imam Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani
Abdal Hakim Murad
Abul-Fadl Ahmad ibn Hajars family originated in the district of Qabis in Tunisia. Some members of the family had settled in Palestine, which they left again when faced with the Crusader threat, but he himself was born in Egypt in 773, the son of the Shafii scholar and poet Nur al-Din Ali and the learned and aristocratic Tujjar. Both died in his infancy, and he was later to praise his elder sister, Sitt al-Rakb, for acting as his second mother. The two children became wards of the brother of his fathers first wife, Zaki al-Din al-Kharrubi, who entered the young Ibn Hajar in a Quranic school (kuttab) when he reached five years of age. Here he excelled, learning Surat Maryam in a single day, and progressing to the memorization of texts such as the Mukhtasar of Ibn al-Hajib on usul. By the time he accompanied al-Kharrubi to Mecca at the age of 12, he was competent enough to lead the Tarawih prayers in the Holy City, where he spent much time studying and recalling God amid the pleasing simplicity of Kharrubis house, the Bayt al-Ayna, whose windows looked directly upon the Black Stone. Two years later his protector died, and his education in Egypt was entrusted to the hadith scholar Shams al-Din ibn al-Qattan, who entered him in the courses given by the great Cairene scholars al-Bulqini (d.806) and Ibn al-Mulaqqin (d.804) in Shafii fiqh, and of Zayn al-Din al-Iraqi (d.806) in hadith, after which he was able to travel to Damascus and Jerusalem, where he studied under Shams al-Din al-Qalqashandi (d.809), Badr al-Din al-Balisi (d.803), and Fatima bint al-Manja al-Tanukhiyya (d.803). After a further visit to Mecca and Madina, and to the Yemen, he returned to Egypt. When he reached 25 he married the lively and brilliant Anas Khatun, then 18 years of age. She was a hadith expert in her own right, holding ijazas from Zayn al-Din al-Iraqi, and she gave celebrated public lectures in the presence of her husband to crowds of ulema among whom was Imam al-Sakhawi. After the marriage, Ibn Hajar moved into her house, where he lived until his death. Many noted how she surrounded herself with the old, the poor and the physically handicapped, whom it was her privilege and pleasure to support. So widely did her reputation for sanctity extend that during her fifteen years of widowhood, which she devoted to good works, she received a proposal from Imam Alam al-Din al-Bulqini, who considered that a marriage to a woman of such charity and baraka would be a source of great pride. Once ensconced in Egypt, Ibn Hajar taught in the Sufi lodge (khaniqah) of Baybars for some twenty years, and then in the hadith college known as Dar al-Hadith al-Kamiliyya. During these years, he served on occasion as the Shafii chief justice of Egypt. It was in Cairo that the Imam wrote some of the most thorough and beneficial books ever added to the library of Islamic civilization. Among these are al-Durar al-Kamina (a biographical dictionary of leading figures of the eighth century), a commentary on the Forty Hadith of Imam al-Nawawi (a scholar for whom he had particular respect); Tahdhib al-Tahdhib (an abbreviation of Tahdhib al-Kamal, the encyclopedia of hadith narrators by al-Mizzi), al-Isaba fi tamyiz al-Sahaba (the most widely-used dictionary of Companions), and Bulugh al-Maram min adillat al-ahkam (on Shafii fiqh). In 817, Ibn Hajar commenced the enormous task of assembling his Fath al-Bari. It began as a series of formal dictations to his hadith students, after which he wrote it out in his own hand and circulated it section by section to his pupils, who would discuss it with him once a week. As the work progressed and its authors fame grew, the Islamic world took a close interest in the new work. In 833, Timurs son Shahrukh sent a letter to the Mamluk sultan al-Ashraf Barsbay requesting several gifts, including a copy of the Fath, and Ibn Hajar was able to send him the first three volumes. In 839 the request was repeated, and further volumes were sent, until, in the reign of al-Zahir Jaqmaq, the whole text was finished and a complete copy was dispatched. Similarly, the Moroccan sultan Abu Faris Abd al-Aziz al-Hafsi requested a copy before its completion. When it was finished, in Rajab 842, a great celebration was held in an open place near Cairo, in the presence of the ulema, judges, and leading personages of Egypt. Ibn Hajar sat on a platform and read out the final pages of his work, and then poets recited eulogies and gold was distributed. It was, says the historian Ibn Iyas, the greatest celebration of the age in Egypt. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Hajar departed this life in 852. His funeral was attended by fifty thousand people, including the sultan and the caliph; even the Christians grieved. He was remembered as a gentle man, short, slender, and white-bearded, a lover of chess and calligraphy, much inclined to charity; good to those who wronged him, and forgiving to those he was able to punish. A lifetimes proximity to the hadith had imbued him with a deep love of the Messenger (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), as is shown nowhere more clearly than in the poetry assembled in his Diwan, an original manuscript of which has been preserved at the Egyptian National Library. A few lines will suffice to show this well:
By the gate of your generosity stands a sinner, who is mad with love, O best of mankind in radiance of face and countenance! Through you he seeks a means [tawassala], hoping for Allahs forgiveness of slips; from fear of Him, his eyelid is wet with pouring tears. Although his genealogy attributes him to a stone [hajar], how often tears have flowed, sweet, pure and fresh! Praise of you does not do you justice, but perhaps, In eternity, its verses will be transformed into mansions. My praise of you shall continue for as long as I live, For I see nothing that could ever deflect me from your praise.
Thanks to Mas'ud Khan's Ahl as-Sunnah Website
copyright Abdal Hakim Murad


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The McKinney Messenger. (McKinney, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 27, Ed. 1 Friday, September 14, 1860
Description: Weekly newspaper from McKinney, Texas "Devoted to Politics, General Intelligence, Agriculture, Education, Literature, the Arts and Sciences, Morality, and Tolerance" (Vol. 6, No. 27) that includes local, state and national news along with advertising.
Date: September 14, 1860
Creator: Thomas, James W.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Newspaper
Partner: The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History


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DriveBC is asking those travelling B.C. Interior Highways, after the holiday, to slow down and use caution, today.
A vehicle incident on the Coquihalla, near Hope, blocked the left lane Northbound just after 7 a.m.
#BCHwy5 vehicle incident blocking left lane Northbound, north of #HopeBC. Please slow down and use caution. #Coquihalla #Merritt— Drive BC (@DriveBC) December 26, 2019
Environment Canada is calling for wind and light flurries for the day along Highway 5, with 5 cm of snow falling by this evening.
Fog is anticipating this morning for Highway 3 near Princeton, turning to flurries by mid-afternoon.
For Highway 97 C, expect wind gusting up to 15 km an hour with light flurries.
If you're travelling to or from Alberta along Highway 1 Environment Canada is forecasting light snow accumulating up to 4 cm.
Remember to check road conditions and weather before heading out.


text: U.S. College Students Earn Title of "Earth's Best" in International Soils Judging Contest While many tuned in to watch the World Cup to see which team would become the globe's soccer champs, others watched a competition of a different kind: one that named the earth's best identifiers of slices of earth. College students from the United States competed with teams from nine other countries to see who could best interpret soil. America took first and second in the inaugural International Soil Judging Contest. And American contest Tyler Witkowski also won second place overall of 45 contestants. "Soil and land judging at the high school and college level is a baseline entry for young people to study the land and learn to read the landscape so that they can better manage and protect it," said Maxine Levin, with the National Soil Survey Center of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service. NRCS is the United States' premier private lands conservation agency, originally founded to conserve and map the nation's soils. Levin helped prepare the contest and served as a judge. Amy Overstreet, Natural Resources Conservation Service Posted in Conservation Jul 07, 2014 6 Responses


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YouTube Kids, the kid-friendly, more filtered version of YouTube first introduced in 2015, is getting a notable upgrade. The updated app is adding several new features designed to reflect the app's now aging user base, including profiles that are customized based on the kid's date of birth, as well as additional security controls for parents and kids.
While YouTube Kids came under fire in the past for not fully locking down the YouTube experience, overall, it's a safer way to allow kids to browse YouTube compared with giving them access to the main app.
The Kids app is designed with a simpler interface, fun music and curated selections of kid-appropriate content from publishers like DreamWorks TV, Jim Henson TV, Mother Goose Club, Talking Tom and Friends, National Geographic Kids, Reading Rainbow and Thomas the Tank Engine, among others.
In response to earlier complaints, parents were later allowed to toggle off the app's search capabilities and set their own private passcode, instead of using the default setting, which spells out numbers as words for parents to enter.
In the new release, parents can now sign in with their Google account in order to create customizable profiles for their child or children.
Based on the kid's age, YouTube Kids will change the way it looks. This will be useful not only for parents with multiple kids, but also because YouTube Kids itself, by default, looked like an app that was designed more so for preschoolers than the school-age crowd.
With the new profiles, younger children will see an app that uses less text while older kids will have more content on their homescreens, says YouTube.
Plus, kids with brothers or sisters can choose to set their own passcode to keep the others out of their own account. (Parents, of course, can override this if need be.)
The app also introduces a new setup process for parents that includes more detailed information to help them make the right choices related to the parental control options, as well as be more informed about the app in general.
For example, a longer intro explains to parents that YouTube does not manually review the videos in YouTube Kids — meaning there's still a chance that something inappropriate could get through its automated filters. And it details how to block and report the videos that slip through.
"Remember our systems work hard to filter out more mature content from the app. But no system is perfect," writes Balaji Srinivasan, the YouTube Kids engineering director, in today's blog post announcing the upgraded app.
In other words, YouTube Kids is definitely saying that it's not going to devote additional staff to make YouTube Kids 100 percent safe. It's just aiming for "good enough."
A final setup screen offers a longer explanation as to why parents may want to turn search on or off, allowing parents to better understand the risk associated with that decision.
YouTube says it's now working on a way to allow parents to add more content to the app, but doesn't go into detail. It's also looking into building out the experience for tweens, with a focus on the categories that most appeal to that somewhat older demographic.
Though YouTube Kids may not be perfect, it has proven to be popular. The app is now live in 37 countries, has more than 11 million weekly active viewers and has seen more than 70 billion views in the app. (The new kid profiles, however, are only available in select markets for now. The full list is here.)