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The biggest news in the sports world over the past three weeks regards replacement referees in the NFL. Complaints over poor officiating reached a fever pitch after a horrendous last-second call cost my hometown Green Bay Packers a victory last Monday night. In the big scheme of things, it was only a game. The regular referees are back on the job and all seems right with the NFL. But… there is something more important than pro-sports, close games and officiating crews. It's the November election. And a lot more rides on that contest than on what happened last Monday night.
Distractions from every direction entice us away from the political arena and many will conjure excuses not to vote. Extreme partisanship and "my team at any cost" mentality have driven many good people away. It happens everywhere, including in the NFL. Last year the New Orleans Saints were caught placing bounties on opposing quarterbacks and rewarding their players for crippling their opponents. The rules were broken and the Saints harshly penalized, yet NFL Nation has overlooked the debacle, found their easy chairs and resumed fantasy league play. Not so forgiving is the electorate toward the political process.
Politics and the business of governing are not spectator sports and too much is at stake to sit on the sidelines. When a candidate is playing dirty pool, voters need to throw the flag. And it should be a 10 yard penalty for voters who simply berate politicians and point fingers yet never show up at the polls to vote. Excuses for disengaging are growing old. Even if voters have to take a shower after enduring a season of political mudslinging, it's a contest worth engaging. After all, the future of our Commonwealth is at stake and the only fantasy league involves those who think citizenship duties aren't for them.
Compared to other states, Kentucky ranks poorly. In education, health and personal prosperity, we could be doing better. Much better. According to the Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Tax Reform, the state is facing a billion dollar budget shortfall in eight years unless the tax structure changes. The state pension system is severely underfunded and threatens future retirements for thousands of Kentuckians. A course correction is desperately needed. And guess who is in the driver seat? Before you mention any one candidate, remember who it is who fuels our leaders into office by going to the polls.
There are five weeks until the election and it's incumbent upon every Kentuckian to exercise their civic duty, educate themselves about the candidates and vote. Sadly, only around 14 percent of Kentuckians bothered to turn out in the May primary. Let's face it, there will never be a perfect candidate for any office. Even when the top of the ticket fails to motivate there are still down-ticket races to vote in. Races for city council, circuit clerk, state representative, state senator, and congress will also be on the ballot in many counties.
Politics and elections may not be the arena every individual is inclined to. Nonetheless, it is an arena every one of us finds ourselves in whether we like it or not, and we play a huge role. Citizens are not quite referees and politics may not be as entertaining as an NFL game, but voters will make the final call on November 6, and this election is much more important than a game.


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Monday, July 5, 2010
Let the Names Begin!
Last year, the auctions were a huge success. We had a whole lot of fun doing in, we raised a nice little chunk of change for the HS, and the winning bidders came up with some EXCELLENT name choices.
The auctions will run for 3 days. Once they end, the winning bidder will be contacted, we'll find out what they've chosen, and we'll announce their name choice.
Click HERE to visit the auction, and join in on the fun! Happy bidding!!
As a reminder, all of those who donate to our fundraiser will be entered into a raffle. A name will be drawn from this pool and one person will be given the naming rights to a kitten in our next litter after The Suprenants. So, even if you don't participate in our naming rights auctions, you'll still have a chance to name a kitten if you make a donation to the fundraiser.
You can do that by clicking HERE.
14 comments:
- webbthistleJuly 5, 2010 at 3:27 PM
Let the auctions begin! Whatever names the winners come up with, the litter's family name is perfect!ReplyDelete
Beautiful pose Miss S#1 shared with us.ReplyDelete
Woza! I just looked at the current bidding, and it's up to $200 -- ain't no way I could ever top that (ze funds are tight this month). Probably just as well - my kitties are named Kuan (for Kuan Yin, the bodhisattva of compassion) and Ananda (for Buddha's beloved disciple). I'd probably name her Shiva or something non-occidentally weird like that! ;)ReplyDelete
I just tried to visit the Auction, and look what it said: "Unfortunately, access to this particular item has been blocked due to legal restrictions in some countries." I'm from Canada. So, it means that the auctions are only open to people in the States?ReplyDelete
Kountess - I can see the auction - UK here...ReplyDelete
- oceansJuly 5, 2010 at 10:50 PM
I wish I had the $$$ to participate in the auction. I hope someone names one of these supreme Suprenant kitties "Lily." I'm amazed there's not been a kitten names Lily. Lily Suprenant has a nice ring to it, yes?ReplyDelete
Oh, one of them MUST be named Cynthia, don't all y'all think???ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 6, 2010 at 3:07 AM
This one has almost perfectly symmetrical markings...and a very clear "M" on her tiny little forehead. I hope whoever wins this auction gives her an "M" name...like Margo or Mirabelle or Marty (after my favorite character in "Grease"!) or Marcella....*heehee*ReplyDelete
Thanks to the folks who think about naming a kitten for me. But I'd rather the auction proceed as it is scheduled -- with the maximum amount raised for the Humane Society. I feel plenty honored by having the whole litter bear my surname! Thanks, 'though!ReplyDelete
I try not to play favorites, but this particular Suprenant tugs at my heartstrings.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 6, 2010 at 9:29 AM
I've been reading a novel with a character named Arley, and I think that might fit this lil girl. But, I also agree that one of them should be named Lily!! :)ReplyDelete
I can't bid either, but thought I'd throw my 2 cents out there anyway. Good luck to all the bidders!
Kountess,,, This first auction is only open to US bidders (a slip up on my part). The others are all open to international bidders. I don't know why you were blocked, it seems you should still be able to view them regardless.ReplyDelete
Nope, I tried the others and it's still not working :( I made sure to login and I still couldn't see anything. Anyway, someone said that the auction is up to 200$, so I could surely not beat that. Still, maybe someone in another country could and that's sad. And I would have liked to follow up the auction.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 7, 2010 at 11:11 AM
I really think this kitten looks like a little Mathilda, but I can't afford to bid on her. I'm sure whatever name she gets will be beautiful and fitting though.ReplyDelete

subset: commoncrawl


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Flow Free is a simple yet addictive puzzle game.
Connect matching colors with pipe to create a flow. Pair all colors, and cover the entire board to solve each puzzle in Flow Free. But watch out, pipes will break if they cross or overlap!
Free play through hundreds of levels, or race against the clock in Time Trial mode. Flow Free gameplay ranges from simple and relaxed, to challenging and frenetic, and everywhere in between. How you play is up to you. So, give Flow Free a try, and experience "mind like water"!
Flow Free features:
★ 900 free puzzles
★ Free Play and Time Trial modes
★ Clean, colorful graphics
★ Fun sound effects
Special thanks to Noodlecake Studios, creators of Super Stickman Golf, for their work on Flow Free!


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Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Blog Anniversary: Under the Big Oak Tree turned One yesterday
Thanks to all of my readers, fellow bloggers, and my friends and family that support me and my blogging habit by sharing comments, ideas, recipes and other topics for my blog!
Looking forward to another great year!
8 comments:
- firstname.lastname@example.com said...
Happy anniversary!
- 31 August, 2010
- Sue said...
Congrats on your one year! I can't believe I'm still blogging after a year as well. I never seem to have enough time to read, write, comment and prepare all the things I want to do. I wonder what I did with all that free time when I had it?
- 03 September, 2010
- **** April **** said...
happy blogoversary!
- 03 September, 2010
- Debbi Does Dinner Healthy said...
Very cool! I have #1 coming up in a couple months too! Good for you!
- 03 September, 2010
- Cheryl @ Simply Shoeboxes said...
Well, Happy Birthday!! My blog was 5 months old yesterday. Just surfing around the blogs linked at Sunday Surf & Relax and your title intrigued me. Big oak trees have played a big part in my life and our current home is surrounded by ancient ones.
- 05 September, 2010
- Debbi Does Dinner Healthy said...
Happy oneth anniversary!! Sorry couldn't help it. My youngest and I were counting and we were doing 98th, 99th, 100th... And then he said 101th. And we both laughed and it's just been a joke around here now! My oneth anniversary is coming up too!
- 05 September, 2010
Congrats on your Blogiversary!! Im now following from the blog hop!
- 06 September, 2010
- J Rodney said...
Happy Blogoversary! It is such a wonderful milestone to celebrate, and I am sure you will only have lots more fun the next year.
Thank you for participating in last week's Wednesday Window @ Frugality Is Free. I would like to invite you to this week's The Wednesday Window . It is the place to feature your favorite blog post of the past week or so, for more details check out Frugality Is Free. The linky will be open around 10 p.m. EST tonight.
- 07 September, 2010


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From Tolkien Gateway
Quenya[edit | edit source]
This article or section is a stub. Please help Tolkien Gateway by expanding it.
Sindarin[edit | edit source]
a is Sindarin for "and"[1][2] as well as "O!"[2].
Cognates[edit | edit source]
Gnomish[edit | edit source]
a is a Gnomish prefix, used to (1) cause an "initial consonant change; (2) form several adjectives and nouns.[3]
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names", (entry ar-)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 230, (dated 8 June 1961)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "I-Lam na-Ngoldathon: The Grammar and Lexicon of the Gnomish Tongue", in Parma Eldalamberon XI (edited by Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, and Patrick H. Wynne), p. 17


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Tuesday, September 3, 2013
1981 - Anatomy of a House Ad - Frank Miller's Doctor Strange house ad
Posted by Jason Shayer at 12:45 AM
Labels: 1981, Clea, Doctor Strange, Frank Miller, Marvel Comics, Roger Stern, Wong
2 comments:
What?!? How did I not know Miller drew some Dr, Strange? Thank you Jason!ReplyDelete
... Whoa that was a close call. I almost posted that, then looked for the issues, and saw u addressed these ads a few years ago. Awesome stuff. Thanks for the awesome site Jason!
Hey bingram33, you're more than welcome. Thanks for the kind words about my blog!ReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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C++ Code Generation Engineer
Job Summary
- Job: 17518-JSAR
- Location: IN-Bangalore
- Department: Product Development
We are seeking a motivated and talented software engineer to propel the core technology that enables automatic code generation from MATLAB and Simulink. As a part of the Embedded Coder product team, we are responsible for developing novel compiler optimization techniques to automatically generate unbeatably efficient code for large-scale embedded systems. The automatically generated code from the Embedded Coder can be found in thousands of real-life products around the world ranging from cell-phones to aircraft engines. An ideal candidate for this position must have a passion for solving challenging software problems involving compiler technologies. This role has an excellent growth opportunity as the Embedded Coder is consistently growing and is widely adopted by a large body of customers in automotive, aerospace and other industries.
You will design innovative algorithms and integrate them into our code generation environment to improve the efficiency of the generated code. You are expected to participate in all aspects of software development with enthusiasm: collecting requirements, writing specifications, coding, testing and supporting customers. Your role will require you to quickly master numerous features in Simulink products and delve into a large code base.
Minimum Qualifications
- Programming experience with C++
- Experience with object oriented design
- A bachelor's degree and 3 years of professional work experience (or a master's degree, or equivalent experience) is required.
Additional Qualifications
- At least 5 years of practical C/C++ experience.
- Knowledge about modern compiler technologies.
- Strong abstraction and algorithmic skills.
- Experience of working with a large code base.
- Good understanding of object-oriented design principles.
- Strong communication skills.
Why MathWorks?
It's the chance to collaborate with bright, passionate people. It's the opportunity to accelerate the pace of discovery, innovation, and learning in engineering and science. And it's a commitment to doing the right thing—for each individual, our customers, and the local community. We cultivate an enjoyable, participatory, and rational environment that champions individual growth, appreciates diversity, encourages initiative, values collaboration, shares success, and rewards excellence.
MathWorks develops MATLAB and Simulink, the leading technical computing software used by engineers and scientists. The company employs more than 6,000 people in 16 countries, with headquarters in Natick, Massachusetts, USA. MathWorks is privately held and has been profitable every year since its founding in 1984.
YOU + MathWorks = Unlimited Possibilities
Join Our Talent Network
Receive personalized job opportunities, stories, and company updates.
Contact us if you need reasonable accommodation because of a disability in order to apply for a position.
The MathWorks, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other protected characteristics. View The EEO is the Law poster and its supplement.
The pay transparency policy is available here.
MathWorks participates in E-Verify. View the E-Verify posters here.


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Howard County Notary Search Results
Notary Maryland > Howard County
Welcome to the 123notary.com Howard County Maryland Notary search results. Please search from our wide selection of local Howard County Maryland notary public listings. The Maryland notaries near the top of the list are generally the most active and serious about accepting work. Almost all of the mobile notaries below are experienced with loan signings.


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Snowfall totals included a foot in Tidewater, Va., and Philadelphia, 29 inches in parts of northern New Jersey, 2 feet north of New York City, and more than 18 inches in Boston.
The storm closed all three of the New York metropolitan area's airports Sunday and stymied most other means of transportation. Buses sputtered to a halt in snow drifts. Trains stopped in their tracks. Taxi drivers abandoned their cabs in the middle of New York's snow-clogged streets. Even the New York City subway system -- usually dependable during a snowstorm -- broke down in spots, trapping riders for hours.
Cold, hungry and tired passengers spent the night in airports, train stations and bus depots. Some were given cots and blankets. Others used their luggage as pillows, curled into chairs, or made beds by spreading towels on the floor or overturning the plastic bins used for sending items through airport security.
Some airline passengers could be stuck for days. Many planes are booked solid because of the busy holiday season, and airlines are operating fewer flights because of the economic downturn.
As bad as the storm was, it could have been worse if it had been an ordinary work day. Children are home from school all week on Christmas vacation, and lots of people had taken off from work.
Many youngsters went out and frolicked in the snow, some of them using the sleds they got for Christmas.
Many side streets in New York City remained unplowed well into the day, and pedestrians stumbled over drifts and trudged through knee-deep snow in some places. Numerous people simply gave up trying to use the sidewalks, instead walking down the middle of partially plowed streets. Some New Yorkers complained that snowplow crews were neglecting neighborhoods in the outer boroughs in favor of Manhattan.
A testy Mayor Michael Bloomberg defended the city's cleanup effort, saying the furious pace of the snowfall -- 2 to 3 inches per hour -- required crews to plow streets repeatedly to keep them open. And abandoned cars slowed the process further because plows could not get through, he said.
"It's being handled by the best professionals in the business," Bloomberg said, urging people not to get upset. "It's a snowstorm, and it really is inconvenient for a lot of people."
At the Manchester Boston Regional Airport outside Manchester, N.H., 25-year-old Alicia Kinney slept overnight on benches in the baggage claim area before moving to the food court for a soda in the morning.
"I'm trying to stay positive," she said.
The blizzard had a ripple effect on air travel, stranding thousands of people at airports around the country.
"I know the Northeast was hit by snow. I get it. But still, this is Monday and I still haven't gotten a flight yet," said Sam Rogers, who had planned to fly back to New York on Sunday after visiting his brother in Charlotte, N.C., for the holiday. He was supposed to be back Monday at the mortgage company where he works, but no one was answering the phone at his office. "I guess they took a snow day, too."
In New York, many passengers tired of waiting around couldn't have left even if they wanted to. Taxis were hard to find, and many airport shuttles and trains were also a lost cause.
"There's literally no way to leave," said Jason Cochran of New York City, stuck at Kennedy.
Yoann Uzan of France, on a first-ever trip to New York City with his girlfriend, said their airline had promised to put passengers up at hotels overnight. "But we waited for the shuttle buses to take us there, and then the buses couldn't get through because of the weather, so we were stuck here," he said.
By 5:30 p.m., several flights leaving Kennedy were listed as on time for departure to Europe and South America, and other flights were listed as arriving on time in the next few hours.
Passengers stuck at New York City's main bus terminal -- where all service was canceled -- tried to get some shuteye as they awaited word on when buses might start rolling again.
"It's really, really cold here," said 12-year-old Terry Huang. "The luggage was really hard to sleep on. It was hard and lumpy."
Two passenger buses headed back to New York City from the Atlantic City, N.J., casinos became stuck on New Jersey's Garden State Parkway. State troopers, worried about diabetics aboard, brought water and food as emergency workers worked to free the vehicles.
In Virginia, the National Guard had to rescue three people trapped in a car for more than four hours in the Eastern Shore area.
Not even professional hockey players could beat the frozen conditions. The Toronto Maple Leafs, after defeating the New Jersey Devils 4-1 in Newark, N.J., got stuck in traffic for four hours on their way to the team hotel. It was supposed to be a 20-minute ride. Center Tyler Bozak tweeted in one middle-of-the-night dispatch: "Roads closed in new jersey stuck on the bussss. Brutaallll!!"
Christopher Mullen was among the New York City subway riders stranded for several hours aboard a cold train Monday. "I just huddled with my girlfriend. We just tried to stay close," he said.
The train was stopped by snow drifts on the tracks and ice on the electrified third rail. It took hours to rescue the passengers because crews first tried to push the train, and when that didn't work, a snow-covered diesel locomotive had to be dug out of a railyard and brought in to move it.
Getting around cities in the Northeast was an adventure. In one Brooklyn neighborhood, cars drove the wrong way up a one-way street because it was the only plowed thoroughfare in the area. In Philadelphia, pedestrians dodged chunks of ice blown off skyscrapers.
New York taxi driver Shafqat Hayat spent the night in his cab on 33rd Street in Manhattan, unable to move his vehicle down the unplowed road. "I've seen a lot of snow before, but on the roads, I've never seen so many cars stuck in 22 years," he said.


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Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum has taken his third place finish in the South Carolina GOP primary and is heading to Florida in hopes of rallying the evangelical base. The only problem is, there are fewer social conservatives in the Sunshine State which makes some wonder if Santorum should bypass Florida altogether.
Like the roller coasters that dominate the coastline of Myrtle Beach, Santorum's week in South Carolina had it's up and downs. It hit its peak when he learned he actually won the Iowa caucuses, defeating former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney by over 30 votes – a much larger margin than Romney's supposed 8 vote margin reported on the night of the election.
Yet for all the time and effort he put into South Carolina, Santorum still couldn't convince enough of the state's social conservatives to come his way, losing most of them to former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.
That is causing some political analysts to question if Santorum should skip Florida and instead, spend time raising money and preparing for states where he has a better shot of winning.
Mike Bayham is a Louisiana political consultant and has been a Santorum supporter since August of 2011.
"I've supported Rick Santorum because he was the most credible conservative in the race for the White House not saddled with compromising personal baggage," said Bayham in an email to The Christian Post. "I think Santorum [should] just drop back, not drop out ... meaning skip Florida and focus his time and resources in other states where he can collect delegates and remain a part of the conversation."
Bayham is not alone in his position. The premise behind the idea stems from the fact that Santorum doesn't have the resources to go head to head with either Romney or Gingrich in a state with so many media markets.
"The next battle is the Florida primary. Paul has already stated he intends to skip the Sunshine State and focus his resources on scooping up delegates (not necessarily victories) elsewhere," explained Bayham. "Santorum has defiantly declared he is going to fight in Florida, which in my opinion is a terrible idea."
Although some believe Santorum would be better served by avoiding the Sunshine state, that doesn't appear to be a strategy the campaign is even considering.
The Santorum camp is dismissing the idea that a Gingrich victory in South Carolina framed the Florida primary as a Mitt versus Newt matchup.
"You have three candidates who can be president," Santorum told Politico. That wasn't the case moving into South Carolina," referring to the race prior to former Utah Gov. John Huntsman's and Texas Gov. Rick Perry's withdrawals last week. "Florida can now step back and say, 'Okay … who is the candidate that we here in South Florida should put our seal of approval on?"
Another challenge the Pennsylvania native faces is that Romney began building support among Florida evangelicals several months ago by naming several high-profile pro-family leaders to his Social Conservatives Statewide Steering Committee such as Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, State Senator Anitere Flores and former State Senator and board chair of Florida's Faith and Freedom Coalition.
"Mitt Romney is pro-life and is a true conservative on issues of family and faith," said Romney Social Conservatives State Co-Chair Pat Neal in a statement last November.
Still, Santorum seems convinced he needs to take the fight to Gingrich in Florida. One reason may be the perceived weakness Gingrich has among congressional conservatives.
"When Newt was speaker of the House, within three years conservatives in the House of Representatives tried to throw him out and in the fourth year they did," Santorum told reporters on the eve of the South Carolina primary. "Why? Because he wasn't governing as a conservative! He didn't live up to everything he said he was going to do as speaker. If you look at what he tried to do and what he accomplished, it just didn't match with what he said."
The foursome, including Texas Rep. Ron Paul, will go head to head on Monday evening in the first of two debates before next week's Florida primary.
"Whether or not the Santorum campaign wants to admit it, a vote for Santorum on Jan. 31 is a vote for Romney," Bayham said. "I just don't want to see him spend all his resources and see little or nothing in return."


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Stan Krippner is co-coordinating a special issue for the Neuroquantology Journal on the topic,Telepathy, Alternate States of Consciousness, and Dreaming.
The journal founder and editor, Sultan Tarlaci, MD, is requesting 7 or 8 high-quality, publishable contributions for the June 2011 issue of the journal and thought that alumni Saybrook alumni and students might be interested.
Your submission could consist of review articles, book reviews, opinion and/or commentary articles, etc. The journal's primary focus is the interdisciplinary exploration of the nature of quantum physics and its relation to the nervous system, but previous issues include topics as diverse as: Adaptation, Brain, and Consciousness, Quantum Paradigms of Psychopathology, and Near-Death Experiences.
If you are interested in writing something for possible submission, contact Cheryl Fracasso for additional information at: [email protected]. I suggest you visit the journal website to view past submissions and to familiarize yourself with their submission requirements. Go to: http://www.neuroquantology.com for complete journal details.


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Well, this is a big deal: The USA is restoring full diplomatic relations with Burma. The move comes after several months of very rapid reforms and liberalization within the country. The final straw it seemed, was the release of over 650 political prisoners. President Obama immediately released the statement (below) and Hillary Clinton announced that the USA was going to re-open its embassy.
The USA broke off diplomatic ties with Burma in 1990 after the military Junta jailed Aung San Suu Kyi following her party's victory in national elections. Burma's been in the international dog house ever since.
So how did we get to this point today? One big turning point was the November 2010 elections. At the time, the elections looked like a total sham. They were neither free, nor fair and they appeared to simply re-brand the military Junta as a regular political party.
In retrospect it turns out that the election set into motion a series of events that have lead to a brighter future for Burma. Though the elections were sloppy, reformers were empowered. The international community –particularly the USA– seemed to play its hands right. High level engagement the past two months seems to have given the push that was needed.
Aung San Suu Kyi, who in the space of a year went from being under house arrest to running for parliament, will probably be the next head of State of Burma.
This is progress!
From the White House:
President Thein Sein's decision to release hundreds of prisoners of conscience is a substantial step forward for democratic reform. Two months ago, I spoke with Aung San Suu Kyi and President Thein Sein about how America's engagement can help empower democratic reform, and improve relations between our countries. Shortly afterwards, Hillary Clinton became the first Secretary of State to travel to Burma in over half a century. In her meetings in Nay Pyi Taw and Rangoon, she discussed with President Thein Sein and other leaders the steps that would advance a new beginning between our countries. A key part of that discussion was the need to unconditionally release prisoners of conscience and allow them to participate fully in public and political life.
Since that visit, there have been a number of positive developments, including the announcement of elections to be held on April 1, and the decision to allow Aung San Suu Kyi and her party to participate. There has also been an important ceasefire agreement reached with the Karen National Union, which the United States welcomes. Today, I applaud President Thein Seins's decision to release hundreds of prisoners of conscience, which is a crucial step in Burma's democratic transformation and national reconciliation process. I'm pleased that Aung San Suu Kyi has welcomed this step as she continues to pursue a dialogue with the government. I urge the government to ensure that these and all other former political prisoners are allowed to participate fully and freely in the political process, particularly the upcoming by-elections, and to free all remaining prisoners of conscience.
In Indonesia, I spoke about the flickers of progress that were emerging in Burma. Today, that light burns a bit brighter, as prisoners are reunited with their families and people can see a democratic path forward. Much more remains to be done to meet the aspirations of the Burmese people, but the United States is committed to continuing our engagement with the government in Nay Pyi Taw. I have directed Secretary Clinton and my Administration to take additional steps to build confidence with the government and people of Burma so that we seize this historic and hopeful opportunity. We will continue to support universal rights, and engage the government as it takes the additional steps necessary to advance freedom for prisoners of conscience, democratic governance, and national reconciliation.


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in ecuador, there are a lot of people who try to sell you things on the bus. they jump on and walk up and down the aisle, yelling out the names of things they have for sale. you can buy newspapers or candy or gum or oranges or watches or toys or cookes or cake or water or soda or anything you want, really. today, while trying to explain to wiston, in spanish, that in the US it¥s illegal to sell things in a public place without a permit, i accidentally said "nobody sells themselves on the bus." this may or may not be true.
there¥s a certain type of belt (cinturon) that people here sell a lot, usually on the street. they¥re made of some kind of thick fabric like a seat belt, the buckles are flat pieces of silver-colored metal, and they come in about a billion colors. they only cost fifty cents apiece, so everyone has one, including wiston and megan and me and todo el mundo. mine is, of course, orange. today as megan and wiston and i walked down the street we played punch cinturon, which of course involved punching the person nearest you whenever you saw someone wearing the belt. i think wiston won.
this afternoon a little girl followed me down the street for several blocks, sobbing, begging me to buy some of the candy she was selling. my pity and my suspiciousness fought each other to the death. the little girl was missing her two front teeth.


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Make cybersecurity a top priority
In Congress, 11 years may not seem like a very long time. But in the world of technology, 11 years can hold a lifetime worth of changes. After all, in 2002, we didn't have iPhones, iPads or Kindles. Twitter and Instagram did not exist, and Facebook was but a mere twinkle in Mark Zuckerberg's eye.
When Congress first passed the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002, we had far fewer ways to communicate and less sophisticated threats to our nation's cybersecurity. Now, our options for communication are endless and the ways a creative hacker can access corporate and government secrets from a computer halfway across the world are limitless.
In the past year, major corporations, top newspapers and multinational non-government organizations have all been the victims of brazen cyberattacks. Similarly, the boldness and sheer number of cyberattacks on U.S. federal agencies have increased exponentially. A recent report from the Government Accountability Office found that cybersecurity incidents among 24 key agencies had increased more than 650 percent during the past five years.
Cybersecurity should be one of our top priorities for maintaining economic stability, public safety and national security. As President Barack Obama stated in 2009, "America's economic prosperity in the 21st century will depend on cybersecurity."
The culprits are varied, ranging from individual black hat hackers who act out of malice or personal gain to organized criminal groups, from terrorist networks to advanced nation states. To properly address this threat, it is crucial that our government become more adept at identifying and preventing their attacks.
Since its passage, FISMA has become less of a dynamic defense against cyberattacks and more of a routine compliance activity. A complacent, "check-the-box" mentality from a government agency will never be a match for the creativity of a hacker attempting to fly under the radar and access that agency's secrets.
In 2012, the House unanimously approved a bipartisan bill that we introduced together as the chairman and ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to update FISMA for the challenges of the next decade. This issue affects all Americans, regardless of political affiliation, which is why we reintroduced our bill with bipartisan support last month as the Federal Information Security Amendments Act of 2013.
Our bipartisan legislation will address the shortcomings of FISMA by incorporating recent technological innovations. It will also enhance and strengthen the current framework that protects federal information technology systems. Perhaps most important, our bill will establish automated and continuous monitoring for existing systems, including regular threat assessments, so we are constantly checking for possible attacks.
Moreover, our bill will update and enhance the government's cybersecurity defense without infringing on the privacy rights of Americans. It protects our federal IT systems while maintaining the security of personally identifiable information.
As technology continues to evolve, so will the sophistication and frequency of attacks to our cybernetworks.
Now is the time to update and strengthen our national defense on cybersecurity.
Rep. Darrell Issa is a Republican representative from California; Rep. Elijah Cummings is a Democratic representative from Maryland.


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Boy, do I feel sorry for smokers these days.
Smoking used to be so fashionable and hip in the James Dean and Steve McQueen days.
Women who smoked used to be sexy. No sooner did they pull a Virginia Slim out of a cigarette case than men would rush at them with lighters.
Even when smoking was cool, people knew it wasn't healthy. Some unhealthy smokers sued tobacco companies for concealing the unhealthful effects of sucking carcinogens into their lungs – and not one prevailed.
That changed in 1998, when 46 states sued the four biggest tobacco companies to recover Medicaid costs for tobacco-related maladies. The states won big. The tobacco industry has been nicotine-coughing up billions of dollars to the states ever since.
Or, to be more precise, smokers have been nicotine-coughing up billions. A pack of cigarettes costs five or six bucks. Taxes account for more than half of that price.
In any event, over the years, smoking has lost its coolness appeal among the public. Anti-smoking groups have made tremendous gains banning smoking in public places. To date, 38 states and all 60 of our biggest cities have public smoking bans in place.
To be sure, the anti-smoking sentiment is one of the few bipartisan issues left. People on both the left and right loathe smoking the way people used to hate polio and communism.
Many people on the right, sick of dining in restaurants where smoking was still allowed, were all for government bans on the legal activity. Didn't secondhand-smoke studies warrant it?
Many people on the left were for such government bans, too, for the simple reason that they love when the government tells people what they cannot do – except when it involves smoking marijuana.
And so it is that the bipartisan anti-smoking mob has relegated smokers to secondary-human-being status.
Smokers are shunned at family gatherings and sent to the garage or the street, so as not to stink up the house.
Even corporate CEOs who smoke are sent to the alleyway, where they mingle with other smokers like hapless pigeons.
And just when smokers thought things couldn't get worse, boy, are they getting worse.
Government regulators, who are now interpreting President Obama's Patient Protection and (ha ha!) Affordable Care Act, have determined that smokers should get hammered by insurance companies.
Starting next year, health insurers will be permitted to charge smokers who purchase individual policies up to 50 percent more for their premiums.
A 60-year-old smoker will pay, on average, $5,100 more than he is paying right now.
Why? Well, the fellow's smoking could cause him to have health issues, which others in the insurance pool would ultimately have to pay for.
Since he is a higher risk for the insurance pool, shouldn't he be required to pay more?
Many in the anti-smoking mob, on both left and right, surely think so – as they miss the larger point: If our federal government has gotten so big and meddlesome that it can single out a particular citizen who has freely chosen to use a legal product as a vice, what CAN'T our government do?
How long before chubby people and snack-cake eaters and people who like to hang-glide over mountain cliffs are also singled out by the government?
How long before the government in a big city, such as New York, bans salt and large soda drinks?
Oops, that has already happened.
Yeah, I feel sorry for smokers, but the way things are going, we'll all be mingling like pigeons in alleyways, secretly enjoying snack cakes, salty snacks and sugary drinks and hoping the government doesn't catch wind of it.


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AP WE : Grand Canyon of the Colorado River (USA AZ NV )
Welcome to the "Adventures Paddlesport Whitewater Expedition (AP WE) : Grand Canyon of the Colorado River (USA AZ NV) " image gallery by Bob Obst and Dr. Colleen E. Hayes! Unless noted otherwise on a specific image-photo, Robert Arthur Obst (Bob Obst) or Dr. Colleen E. Hayes captured all of the high resolution images within this gallery. IF used for non-commercial purposes, you may share these copyrighted images with others without restriction. However, to obtain-use an image for commercial and/or personal purposes with NO copyright mark and NO author-photographer's credit on it, please purchase it here (copyright purchased). For more images like this, go to http://www.robertarthurobstphotos.com/Adventures-Paddlesport or the "AdventuresPaddlesportFAVO" sharegroup at http://www.robertarthurobstphotos.com/share/qhtAksmPqRtj6 or CanoeKayakWhitewaterRacingO at http://www.robertarthurobstphotos.com/share/UCsDA727pe6Fg . Questions-feedback, contact Bob Obst at email@example.com, mobile 608-658-6116. Enjoy the "Adventures Paddlesport Whitewater Expedition (AP WE) : Grand Canyon of the Colorado River (USA AZ NV)" images by Bob Obst and and Dr. Colleen E. Hayes!. THANKS for your interest ! PERSONAL REFLECTIONS 1983: Exploring the Colorado River within Grand Canyon National Park http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm was a magnificent experience. During September of 1983 - during a trip organized by the Nantahala Outdoor Center http://www.noc.com/ - Bob Obst canoed through most of the Grand Canyon - with the exception of Crystal Rapids - with his tandem, decked canoe partner Dr. Colleen E. Hayes. Bob's father - Robert J. Obst - was on a raft. During September 1983 water flow through the "Grand Canyon" ranged 25-30,000 CFS during our entire 3 week adventure. NOTE: During the Summer of 1983, water flow through the Grand Canyon was at record highs - ranging 25,000 to 92,600 CFS with the 92,600 CFS peak occurring on 6/29/1983. Some rapids - such as Crystal Rapids and Lava Falls - were rated class 4+ on a six point (international) scale. Although not as difficult as other rivers Bob has paddled, the Grand Canyon - with its powerful rapids, unending spectacular vistas, amazing side-canyon hikes, and colorful inner gorges - was one of the most memorable. ; ADDITIONAL REFERENCES: Nantahala Outdoor Center at http://www.noc.com/ , Grand Canyon National Park at http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm, Grand Canyon Field Institute (GCFI) Grand Canyon interactive map at http://www.grandcanyon.org/fieldinstitute/aboutus.asp, Grand Canyon 3-D Geologic Tour http://www.durangobill.com/GrandCanyonTour.html, Colorado River rapids and features at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Colorado_River_rapids_and_features and USGS online water flows through Grand Canyon http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=09380000 RAORead More


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Microsoft's Silverlight technology has streamed some high-profile live events lately, the inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama and the 2008 Summer Olympics among them. But Silverlight's real promise for the business customer -- to improve user interfaces for day-to-day applications -- has been thwarted by tightening budgets.
In a recessionary climate, enterprise IT decision makers are hesitant to adopt new technologies. They are even less likely to adopt ones focused on UI design, which is a low-priority item in the best of times, designers and developers said.
[ Test Center: Microsoft Silverlight 2. ]
"The UI is considered the last part of the application," said Ryan Peterson, principal and software engineer for Serenity Software, a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, company that specializes in UI consulting and design. "The mindset has always been and still is: You build the application and then you build the interface. It's a large contributing factor to why people cut that [first]. They think if the application works, we can take care of the interface later."
Creative UI design for years has been primarily limited to the realm of high-impact Web sites and advertising and marketing campaigns. But before the U.S. economy began its nosedive last year, enterprises were beginning to take a closer look at how UI design could actually make them more efficient and save money by giving line-of-business workers better ways to interact with applications.
It was into this environment that Microsoft introduced the 1.0 version of Silverlight in April 2007. The company positioned the cross-browser technology as a competitor to Adobe's Flash multimedia technology for building RIAs (rich Internet applications).
Early on, Microsoft said it would integrate .Net -- the underlying development framework for Microsoft software -- into Silverlight. The integration of .Net would make it easier for developers to create more interesting UIs for business applications and allow them to tie the UI into back-end data stored in other Microsoft-based enterprise applications.
The first version of Silverlight wasn't fully baked, however, and it wasn't until October's release of Silverlight 2 -- .Net framework included -- that developers and designers could really use it to build more interactive UIs and add multimedia to Web-based applications. Unfortunately, the release coincided with enterprises freezing or cutting budgets as the economy faltered.
"IT shops were very interested in (UI design) before all the stuff happened toward the end of last year," said Dave West, a senior analyst with Forrester Research. "They're still interested, but adoption is down."
Ben Dewey, a senior software developer for IT consulting firm twentysix New York who has worked with Silverlight, said Silverlight 2 "was launched at a time when the economy started dropping," which affected its adoption.
"I don't know if people are really paying for Silverlight [development] just yet," he said. "People are going for less flashy." Dewey called Silverlight and UI design in general in this economic climate a "nice to have" vs. a "need to have" technology for many IT projects.
In general, the addition of new technologies to IT projects also falls off in a faltering economy, others said.
"When there is a lot of money, there is a lot more freedom to do projects that are completely new," said Glenn Phillips, president of Forte, a consulting firm and custom development and design shop in Birmingham, Alabama. "That is where the new technologies get introduced."
However, "when the economy is tough, that's when people say, 'Let's just take care of what we've got built. That's not the point where you would go and change out your technologies," he said.
Still, it's not all bad news for Silverlight and UI design technologies in general. Forrester's West noted that some system integrators lately have added UI designers to teams that historically would not have included one. He said the economic slowdown may be allowing them to explore how they can use new technologies even if they aren't currently deploying them in projects.
"People have more time on their hands so they're looking at new technology and roles, or whether there is a desire by their customers to [use those technologies]," West said.
Having a UI designer on a project that involves Silverlight is key to unlocking the potential for the technology, twentysix New York's Dewey said. He said while it was clever of Microsoft to integrate .Net into Silverlight, it also makes it easy for developers who have no creative talent to do UI design.
The end result may be the development of applications with clunky UIs built by inexperienced designers, which could turn people off of Silverlight and not realize what can really be done with the technology, he said.
"There's nothing to stop developers from sending out applications [with] no real aesthetics work," Dewey said. "People will start releasing stuff in Silverlight that when compared side by side in Flash" doesn't look as good, he said, which could give Silverlight a poor reputation.
Serenity Software's Peterson, who specializes in explaining to businesses how better human interaction with computer UIs could save them money and make their businesses run more efficiently, said some of his clients are using Silverlight to improve their UIs. However, this use has been limited to adding more creative UIs to applications that already run on the .Net platform, he said.


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I'm trying to find theorems regarding random variables derived from sampling permutations, specifically concentration bounds.
As an example, let $X_i$ be the $\{0,1\}$-random variable that represents whether a uniformly random permutation $\sigma \in S_m$, has that $\sigma(i)$ is even (assuming permutations in $S_m$ are taken as bijections from $\{1, \ldots, m\}$ to itself)
Note that then the $X_i$ are identically distributed, but not independent, because each $X_i$ essentially 'samples without replacement' from the set $\{1,\ldots,m\}$
Then it's easy to see that (say) for $n = \frac{m}{2}$, $Pr[X_1 + X_2 + \ldots + X_n = n] = \frac{n!}{m!}$ which is asymptotically small.
More generally, given some set of functions $f_i: S_m \rightarrow \{0,1\}$, let $Y_i$ be a $\{0,1\}$-random variable that represents whether a uniformly random permutation $\sigma \in S_m$ has $f_i(\sigma) = 1$.
Then it seems plausible, given some reasonable conditions on the $f_i$ (for example, maybe $Pr[Y_i = 1] = 1/c$ for some constant $c$, or $Pr[Y_i + Y_j = 2] < 1/c$) that we can get some kinds of concentration bound for $Y_1 + \ldots + Y_n$
The best I can think of is to use the above two conditions on the $f_i$'s to calculate the expected value and variance of $Y_1 + \ldots + Y_n$ then invoke Chebyshev's inequality.
However, I can't believe that there's not some additional conditions that would lead to a better bound. Considering the "$\sigma(i)$ is even" example above, even though the variables are not mutually independent (or even pairwise independent) we still have that $X_1 + \ldots X_n$ is strongly concentrated around its expectation (in some vague sense).
Is there some way to interpret random variables like $X_1, \ldots, X_n, Y_1, \ldots, Y_n$, as 'nice' samples of a permutation distribution, as retaining some of the properties of independence that might lead to concentration?
This isn't my area so I might not be asking in the best way, so part of my question is also "what's the right way to ask this question?" :) Thanks a lot.


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Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Another You
44 comments:
That purse needs to make it's way into my closet- thanks!ReplyDelete
Great shots. I looove your purse, so cute.ReplyDelete
haha I always feel better when I have a photographer! I also just really suck at setting up the camera just right on the tripod so I really admire that you do that all the time! I love the way you pair so many colors and they always look great.ReplyDelete
I saw this on anthropologie and I thought of you and the flock together stuff you do!
Love all those colors! U look great!ReplyDelete
Venoma's fashion diary
Wow those are great self-shots .....& what a great quirky lovely look!!!!ReplyDelete
loving the fullness of that blue skirt!ReplyDelete
kw Ladies in Navy
Target giveaway!
great look, dear! love the colors :)ReplyDelete
This is a DARLING outfit- I love the fullness of the skirt as well as the heart shaped bag and the color combinations. Plus, glad you ventured further abroad in your backdrops. It does add something a bit different.ReplyDelete
I've been trying to become more brave with where I take photos too. My favorite places are abandoned buildings:)ReplyDelete
The Occasional Indulgence
That little heart purse is super cute! I have a similar striped dress that is also kinda short...you've inspired me to try it as a top!ReplyDelete
The Tiny Heart
$50 Target Giveaway!
very cute look! I can't believe you take photos without someone else taking them. I would mess the focus up every time. Your photos look great!ReplyDelete
Gorgeous! I absolutely adore your blue skirt, I love it's fullness and colour! I do the same with dresses that feel too short. The yellow and blue look great together too!ReplyDelete
I love the colours in this outfit! Strinkingly bright!ReplyDelete
I feel better when I have a photographer because when I'm by myself I feel people are thinking "oh theres that weird girl...taking photos of herself....to put on the internet" haha, it's ridiculous! But yeah, i've gotten way more ballsy about it in the past little while, which is funReplyDelete
I love this outfit!! The yellow dress works perfectly as a top and it's always nice to get more use out of pieces like that. Love the colour combination!!
That little purse is adorable! So cool that you won it.ReplyDelete
Thanks for your sweet comment! I prefer having my boyfriend taking my photos as I don't have an automatic focus, I think it would drive me mad!ReplyDelete
This is so stunning - I love the striped shirt a lot! And your hair looks so pretty, too!
Have a wonderful week,
I just love love love your hair!ReplyDelete
Heart bag is pretty awesome!
Windy (current absent blogger of Windyistheweather.blogspot.com)
OH!!! I love that skirt on you!!!ReplyDelete
Love how your palette stayed yellow and blue today! I'm the same way as you when it comes to taking the tripod outside... I get super nervous as soon as I see another person within a 10ft range.ReplyDelete
you look so adorable!! i love the outfitReplyDelete
Delightful Ideas
$25 Sephora Gift Card Giveaway
Love the scheme of colors, and the entire look is very girly and feminine!ReplyDelete
(¯`·._.·Nymphashion FB·._.·´¯)
(¯`·._.·Nymphashion Bloglovin·._.·´¯)
You look adorable! I had no idea you take your own pictures, they are fantastic! When I take pictures myself with my camera, they come our horrible.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 30, 2013 at 3:16 PM
It is great that you went and explored and tried a different location! I like this!! AND the outfit too!ReplyDelete
looking amazing!!!!ReplyDelete
I like everything, but fell in love with suitcase *.*ReplyDelete
These colors are just perfect. But the purse definitely stole the spotlight for me; it's beyond words. I feel like that could go with any outfit to add a touch of whimsy. :)ReplyDelete
love your hair! Xo Megan, www.TfDiaries.comReplyDelete
I love this look don't think I could pull it off but you look super sweet darlingReplyDelete
xo Ilana @ My Modern Vintage
Love the skirt! The color is gorgeous and it's perfect over a dress like that. Sometimes I prefer wearing dresses as tops because they don't move around as much as shirts do.ReplyDelete
Another fun look! I love all the colors - you really make it all come together! x, KatReplyDelete
Love and Ace
lovely the skirt is gorgeous and your hair color so fun!ReplyDelete
Gorgeous ! Your whole outfit is so much fun.ReplyDelete
Loveeee your hair : )
Breakfast at Cindi's
pretty, lovely colors! the skirt is gorgeous <3ReplyDelete
whoaaa,,, the color of the outfit against the color of your hair is just awesome!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMay 1, 2013 at 12:56 AM
Great skirt!ReplyDelete
Beautiful pictures and such a cool outfit! Great blog by the way, you have a new stalker!! ;)ReplyDelete
How coincidental. I was on modcloth this week and I saw this dress and I wanted to buy it, just waiting until I get money! I never thought about wearing it as a top but that is such a great idea. Love the bag too and the shape of the skirt.ReplyDelete
you are darling! love this outfit! your hair color is amazing!ReplyDelete
Oooh I'd love to know what kind of places you go thrifting at because there aren't too many in my area! Pasadena seems to have a lot though, but I just usually don't have time or energy to make the 40 minute trip there most of the times! :(ReplyDelete
This is seriously the cutest outfit! I absolutely love that skirt! What a lucky find! And your purse is darling. Good for you for venturing out! I try to, but sometimes I get stuck in the same right outside my apartment rut too. Of course, the Hubby takes my photos and I agreee it's a bit less awkward than if I had to take them with my tripod in public.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMay 3, 2013 at 12:07 PM
Such a cute outfit! I love that you are mixing up your dress with a skirt over it. I have a few dresses that are too short on me that I need to try that with! Also, I love those leopard shoes!ReplyDelete
Love the full skirt! So pretty:)ReplyDelete
Hugs & Kisses,
The skirt is so cute on you! And omg, I have the same exact fears + general laziness. I think I just feel weird being by myself with a camera in an open area lol.ReplyDelete
It's way less awkward when someone else is taking the pictures because I think it feels less narcissistic. Like, people would think "oh, a photoshoot/photographer and model" instead of "Oh, a girl taking pictures of herself in the middle of the street..." you know? I always feel weird taking pictures of myself where anyone can see me. But I need to do it more!ReplyDelete
You look super pretty, and I LOVE this outfit. The colors are amazing together.


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Blu-ray Review - Teen Wolf
April 18, 2011
While Michael J. Fox was thrust into the media spotlight when "Back to the Future" blew up the box office in the summer of 1985, it wasn't his only picture released during the season. Shot before "Future" and released shortly afterwards to capitalize on its massive success, "Teen Wolf" was a decidedly low-tech teen comedy, less about dazzling Spielbergian pace and time travel, and more about hairy teens and pubescent allegory. Despite the inexcusable lack of a DeLorean, "Teen Wolf" is a modest, digestible comedy, guided by a perfectly itchy Fox performance as the titular beast.
Scott Howard (Michael J. Fox) is a scrawny, nervous teen dealing with a basketball squad of losers, an unobtainable blonde crush (Lorie Griffin), the demands of huckster friend Styles (Jerry Levine), and unconditional love from his lifelong pal, Boof (Susan Ursitti). When odd bodily changes start to overcome Scott, he panics, soon faced with a furry reality: He's a werewolf, just like his kindly father (James Hampton). Blessed with special abilities as a wolf, Scott takes over the school, enjoying his newfound popularity as a lycanthrope, much to the disgust of persistent bully, Mick (Matt Arnold). Unfortunately, fame isn't everything it's cracked up to be, with Scott losing his identity as outside demands for the wolf increase.
Low-budget and loosely assembled, "Teen Wolf" is more of a curiosity in the impressive career of Michael J. Fox than a proficient movie. Director Rod Daniel ("K-9," "Like Father, Like Son") dutifully charges ahead with this hazy tale of adolescent metamorphosis, tailing Scott as he endures high school hell, coming to grips with his limited sexual and social appeal, freely indulging his sense of panic as his schooling draws to an unadventurous close. The young man is irritated and isolated in his small town, desperate for a change. And that transformation arrives in the form of extraordinary body hair, fangs, and engorged physical abilities. The nerd is now a monster, and everyone loves the beast.
"Teen Wolf" is a charmer, perfectly content to stick to irrelevant adolescent concerns while following a formula that finds Scott caught up in his wolfy fame, alienating those who truly care about him. It's always easy to spot where the picture is headed, but the journey has its rewards, primarily in the cast, with Fox contributing customary comedic unease in, technically, his first leading role. It's a comfortable contrast between the wimp and the wolf, with a buzzing nervous energy that help to ease the transformations along. Granted, jittery anxiety is a Fox specialty, but Daniel wields it superbly in the picture, urging the spazzy reactions and broad physical comedy along. Supporting turns from Hampton and Ursitti bring a sense of kindness to the abrupt picture, while Levine and Arnold play their ridiculous clichés with skill.
Having viewed "Teen Wolf" several times as a kid, it was a shock to revisit the film for this review and notice a few more unsavory details, chiefly a bit of homophobia from Styles and the script's rather accelerated interest in underage drinking, marijuana use, and sex (bestiality?) -- this is PG movie after all. These are not oppressive developments, and further 1985 touches (including a joke about Grenada and a breakdance sequence) are appreciated. Daniels handles the film so lightly, nothing seems to stick anyway, with unfinished subplots and Scott's compressed character arc creating gaps along the way. The feature is having too much fun with the wolf material to care. After all, this is a shapeless teen fantasy, a world where a boy can transform into a werewolf in public and nobody bats an eye. It's difficult to find the movie distasteful when it barely takes itself seriously.
It's also a film where the basketball matches are dripping with sweat, as thought the contests were being held inside a sauna. Daniel goes a little overboard with the wet, or perhaps this is some symbol of male development I missed. Either way, the cast looks like they've sat in the splash zone at a Shamu Sea World show once the action hits the court. Odd.
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation brings "Teen Wolf" to HD with a competent display of the film's tomfoolery. A light grain presence retains a cinematic look to the image, helping to bring out the textures of the cinematography. Colors are well preserved and separated, offering buoyant yellows and blues, while seizing further pronounced hues from period costuming. Detail is good for the 26-year-old film, offering clarity that makes the study of werewolf make-up and active backgrounds easy enough, while allowing a good read on facial reactions from the cast. Shadow detail is comfortable. The disc doesn't provide a true restoration effort, with print damage and dirt easily detected, but the viewing experience provides a certain HD heft to an unexceptional '80s effort.
The DTS-HD 2.0 mix keeps to the film's low-budget nature, supplying a frontal attack of voices and music that doesn't register as overtly chaotic, managing the various sonic forces competently enough. Dialogue exchanges are crisply arranged with nothing lost. Atmospherics are firm here, providing a solid force of crowd activity and gymnasium echo, though the track is lacking exceptional directional attitude. Music isn't heavy, but it keeps away from shrillness, layered into the mix to provided the requisite pop drive. Low-end is weak. Spanish and French tracks are included.
English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles are offered.
A magnificently goofball Theatrical Trailer is provided.
"Teen Wolf" is an amusing movie, most confident when depicting Scott taking advantage of his wolf power, finding his life elevated by the miracle fur. Expectedly, the script attempts to ground the picture in sincerity for the final act, but it's a development easily ignored, much like the cartoon (sans drugs and gay panic) and sequel (with Jason Bateman taking the reins as Scott's cousin) that quickly followed. Though the producers tried, nothing quite matched this strange, slack comedy, offering a peek at a fresh-faced Michael J. Fox just before his fame understandably exploded.


text: CHICAGO - Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan has written the leaders of more than a dozen major US Jewish groups and denominations seeking "repair of my people from the damage" he claims Jews have caused blacks for centuries."We could charge you with being the most deceitful so-called friend, while your history with us shows you have been our worst enemy," he wrote.RELATED:ADL blasts recent Farrakhan speechesFarrakhan : Obama is 'the American president, not the black president'console.log("BODY2. CatId is:"+catID);if(catID==120){console.log("BODY. YES for anyclip script");var script = document.createElement('script'); script.src = 'https://player.anyclip.com/anyclip-widget/lre-widget/prod/v1/src/lre.js'; script.setAttribute('pubname','jpostcom'); script.setAttribute('widgetname','0011r00001lcD1i_12258'); document.getElementsByClassName('divAnyClip')[0].appendChild(script);}else{console.log("BODY. YES for vidazoo script"); var script = document.createElement('script'); script.src = 'https://static.vidazoo.com/basev/vwpt.js'; script.setAttribute('data-widget-id','60fd6becf6393400049e6535'); document.getElementsByClassName('divVidazoo')[0].appendChild(script); } Farrakhan sent the letter along with two books from the Nation of Islam Historical Research Team that the 77-year-old minister said prove "an undeniable record of Jewish Anti-Black behavior," starting with the slave trade and laws that discriminated against blacks.Farrakhan has long accused Jews of wrongdoing in speeches, but he has rarely addressed Jewish groups so directly in writing.The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights group which distributed copies of the letter, said in a statement Tuesday that Farrakhan's "anti-Semitism is obsessive, diabolical and unrestrained. He has opened a new chapter in his ministry where scapegoating Jews is not just part of a message, but the message."In the letter, dated last Thursday, the Chicago-based Nation of Islam leader said he sought a dialogue with Jews. He sent the letter to groups including the Orthodox and Reform movements, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and the American Jewish Committee, a New York-based advocacy and humanitarian nonprofit that spearheads inter-religious dialogue. "This is an offer asking you and the gentiles whom you influence to help me in the repair of my people from the damage that has been done by your ancestors to mine," he writes. "Your present reality is sitting on top of the world in power, with riches and influences, while the masses of my people ... are in the worst condition of any member of the human family."In the past, Farrakhan's most inflammatory comments have included referring to Judaism as a "gutter religion" and calling Adolf Hitler "wickedly great." Recently, he has railed against the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which he claims is conspiring to trap the US in a war with Iran.Farrakhan echoed similar comments last Saturday in an Atlanta speech titled, "Who Are the Real Children of Israel?"He did not respond to several messages seeking comment Tuesday. Farrakhan has over the years denied claims of anti-Semitism, arguing his remarks are often taken out of context and that criticism of Jews in any light automatically earns the "anti-Semite" label.


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Editor's Note: Charles Lister is a Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Doha Center in Doha, Qatar. His work focuses primarily on issues of terrorism and insurgency across the Middle East. Follow him on Twitter: @Charles_Lister. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely his.
Story highlights
Recent fighting in Anbar province poses serious challenge to Iraqi government
Al Qaeda-linked militants reportedly fighting alongside tribal leaders in Fallujah
2013 was deadliest year in Iraq since 2008
U.S. and coalition forces suffered some of worst losses during Iraq War in Anbar province
Fallujah and Ramadi may have been sites of heavy bloodshed in recent days, but the Sunni Muslims of Iraq's Anbar Province, where the two cities are located, have long held a contemptuous attitude towards the embattled government of Prime Minister (and Shia Muslim) Nuri al-Maliki.
Iraqi politics and many aspects of economic and social affairs have come to be dominated by antagonistic relationships between the country's Sunni and Shia populations. Nowhere is that more evident than in Anbar. For all intents and purposes, Fallujah and Ramadi are now out of the control of the central government and are now ruled under the authority, to differing degrees, of Sunni militiamen, local (tribally influenced) police, and extremist militants from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS.
READ MORE: Maliki demands Fallujah expel "terrorists"
Having already launched a substantial military offensive targeting ISIS in Anbar's desert terrain on December 23, the Iraqi Army has now shifted much of its attention towards securing the province's key towns and cities.
Arresting Ahmed al-Alwani, a powerful Sunni MP from Ramadi – and killing his brother Ali – on December 28 enraged the people of Anbar. But the coordinated military operation to shut down the city's expansive anti-government protest camp two days later was simply one move too far.
Most tribes issued calls to arms and demanded the withdrawal of all federal armed forces from the province. Heavy fighting soon followed, the army withdrew personnel from all cities, and the convoys of heavily armed ISIS militants streamed into Ramadi and Fallujah, where security resistance was quickly subdued.
As things stand today, the army stands poised to launch a major assault on Fallujah, where ISIS militants and local tribesmen are now the predominant force. Meanwhile in Ramadi, Sunni tribesmen – particularly from the Albu Bali and the Al-Ghanim tribes – have taken a more pragmatic approach and cooperated with local security forces in limited operations against ISIS militants.
READ MORE: 5 things to know about Iraq crisis
Iraqi security was in dire straits well before the outbreak of deadly violence in Anbar. 2013 has been the deadliest year in Iraq since 2008. Much of this can be attributed to ISIS' rapid escalation of operations in Iraq, which has undoubtedly been aided by its expansion into Syria's civil conflict in April 2013. And with Iraqi elections scheduled to take place in April, Prime Minister Maliki is likely feeling pressure to present a strongman image, particularly to his core Shia constituents.
At times in recent months, Maliki has adopted sharply sectarian rhetoric when referring to Sunni elements opposed to his government and has often presented the Sunni protest movement (including the Ramadi camp) as inherently connected to al Qaeda. With no substantive evidence to back these claims, it increasingly appeared that "al Qaeda" was being used as a political tool.
This is not in any way to suggest ISIS (a structure that in fact ceased to officially be "al Qaeda" in 2007) does not pose a threat; quite the contrary. But tribes wield great influence in Anbar, and their dominant position within local security forces – particularly the police – meant ISIS had previously been restricted to an existence in the desert.
Ironically, it was probably Maliki's crackdown on the Ramadi protest camp and the botched arrest of Ahmed al-Alwani that created the conditions for ISIS militants to move into the cities. But they're not the only force on the ground. In Fallujah, defected local police personnel and armed tribesmen opposed to the federal government arguably represent the superior force.
For Maliki, neutralizing the protest movement before the elections was of paramount importance. Exploiting the threat of ISIS in order to exert military authority over the heavily tribal Sunni heartland of Anbar was a bold move. And the deployment of large numbers of army personnel from the predominantly Shia provinces of Maysan, Dhi Qar and Basra underlines the need to bring fiercely loyal forces into what will inevitably become a bloody fight.
READ MORE: Tribesmen join in fight against al Qaeda
Fallujah now looks set to be the major flashpoint. While the military assault on the city has been temporarily suspended to allow for tribal negotiations to take place, at least some measure of military assault appears inevitable. It is likely the army will employ air strikes, artillery and mortar fire in preparation for a ground assault. Unfortunately, such tactics tend to incur heavy civilian casualties, which will only fuel greater anti-government sentiment and encourage tribal hostility.
As U.S. and coalition forces discovered to their grave dismay in 2004, a siege of Fallujah won't end in days or weeks. Given the inherently social-level aspect of the tribal opposition to Maliki's government and the complexity of defeating any insurgent group in an urban environment, army forces will likely be deployed in and around Anbar's urban centers for some time to come – risking prolonging tensions even further in the process.
Considering the overwhelming attention given to the role of ISIS role in this grim state of affairs, it is unsurprising that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has pledged to support Maliki's offensive in Anbar – albeit not with troops on the ground.
The U.S. sent 75 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles to the Iraqi military in December and has pledged to accelerate the sale of a further 100 this spring. U.S. ScanEagle and Raven reconnaissance drones are also set to bolster the army's capability to combat terrorism.
This may be a reasonable policy on paper, but when placed within recent geopolitical dynamics in the region it risks bolstering the widespread perception within the Middle East's Sunni communities that the U.S. has recently undertaken a fundamental policy shift – now aligning with Shia powers at the expense of Sunni ones.
The September 14 deal agreed between the U.S. and Russia on Syria's chemical weapons – not to mention the interim nuclear deal the U.S. signed with Iran two months later – has damaged U.S. relations with Gulf states and weakened U.S. relations with all sectors of Syria's opposition. The provision of sophisticated military equipment to the ultimately Shia-commanded Iraqi military, which is deploying Shia loyalist forces into a hostile Sunni tribal environment, risks further consolidating this emerging interpretation of international geopolitics.
Maliki may be heartened by an Iranian offer to provide military equipment and advisory support in Anbar – a politically astute move by Iran – but it certainly won't help the U.S. dispel the perception that it has to some degree switched sides.
For Maliki and Iraq, ISIS remains an extremely concerning problem. ISIS has now established an urban presence in Anbar – particularly in Fallujah and, to a lesser extent, in Ramadi – that must be overthrown. In this situation, and indeed in many in the Middle East, the tribes will play the role of kingmakers, and for those who have not already pragmatically sided with federal authorities, Maliki must change the perception in Anbar that he – and not ISIS – is their bigger enemy.
Crucially, local – and not federal – security forces enjoy productive structural links with the tribes, and should form the backbone of any urban fighting force in Anbar – as already appears to be case in areas of Ramadi. If the army launches an all-out offensive on Fallujah, ISIS will likely be the main benefactor.
Ten years ago, the U.S. military led two major offensives on militants in Fallujah. While the actors may have changed or evolved since, history appears to be repeating itself.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Charles Lister.


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Toffee Mocha Glaze cabinet finish is a light toned, milky brown with the slightest of cool red undertones, topped with a dark reddish brown glaze.


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As part of its service to the Houston community, HMS builds a solid educational foundation for its citizen producers, providing instruction in a variety of topics, among them: media literacy, camera operation and technique, lighting, sound design, editing, storyboarding, script writing, studio operations, and mobile production. Once they have mastered the basics of video production, producers are granted access to a full complement of production resources, including cameras, microphones, lights, studios, and editing suites.
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- Explore the mysterious grandeur of Machu Picchu
- Discover fascinating sites such as Chan-Chan and the Nazca Lines
- Enjoy an exciting combination of sea and land adventures
- Experience a wide variety of natural and cultural wonders
- Hurtigruten Expedition Cruise in cabin grade of your choice
- Overnight in Lima including breakfast before the cruise
- Two overnights at Hotel Tambo del Inka including half board before the cruise
- 3-course set lunch and dinner on day 2 and 3, and lunch box on day 4
- Roundtrip flights between Lima-Cusco-Lima
- All transfers and train rides as described, including English-speaking guide
- Entrance fee as listed in program
- A rich program of included activities on all voyages designed to immerse you in the destinations you visit, including onshore exploration with the Expedition Team
- Professional English-speaking expedition team - an international hand-picked team of highly educated experts from various academic fields with profound knowledge of the region we sail in
- Complimentary wind- and water-resistant jacket
- Loan of boots, trekking poles, and equipment needed for optional and included activities
- In-depth lectures on science, history, biology, geography, geology or culture that provide context to your voyage and help you understand the destinations you will experience
- Explorer Science program, with educational and Citizen Science activities that let you learn about the sights you'll see while contributing to research
- Introduction photo lecture, camera adjustment and tips & tricks, photo and film footage from the voyage shared in an Expedition Logbook
- Casual opportunities to engage with the expedition team and other guests, including a welcome event, daily gatherings to recap the day and prepare for the day to come
- Opportunities to dine and interact with the expedition team and officers
- Destination-focused onboard library
- Port presentations providing destination insight
- A farewell event
- All meals including beverages (beer and wine, sodas and mineral water in all ship restaurants)
- Coffee and tea included throughout the day
- Early riser and afternoon treat offered in addition to breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Fredheim restaurant meals included
- A la carte restaurant (only for Suite guests)
- Gym, hot tubs and panoramic sauna
- Rejuvenating Wellness Center with separate treatment rooms, infinity pool, outdoor gym, running track
- Free Wi-Fi on board for all guests. Be aware that we sail in remote areas with limited connection. Streaming is not supported.
- No gratuities expected
- International flights
- Optional shore excursions with our local partners
- Travel insurance
- Luggage handling
The land program in Peru is an active program that takes place at high altitudes (the city of Cusco´s altitude is around 11,000 ft). Physical condition should be prepared for high altitudes.Hurtigruten offers unique expedition cruises to some of the most remote and pristine waters of the world. As with all expeditions, nature prevails. Weather, ice and sea conditions set the final framework for all Hurtigruten operations. Safety and unparalleled guest experiences are at all times our top priorities. All our indicative itineraries are continuously evaluated for adaptions, whether this is due to constraints that the elements unexpectedly present – or exciting possibilities nature and wildlife offer. That is why we call it an expedition.
Colonial and Ancient History - Lima, Peru - Hotel
Lima's history predates the Spanish colonial presence in Peru. Present-day Lima was founded by the Spanish conquistadores in 1542 and the ruling Vice Royalty of Peru proceeded to build significant churches, monasteries, and mansions. Today, Lima's historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore the city on your own before spending the night in a hotel.
Included activity:
Scenic city tour of Lima (4 hrs)
Discover the fascinating highlights of the Peruvian capital in a specially designed panorama bus that allows you to get a great view of what makes Lima so special. You will be picked up by a bus and taken on a ride to see the landmarks of the city and get numerous chances to take memorable pictures while a knowledgeable guide will tell you everything you need to know about this beautiful place.
UNESCO Site and Ancient History - Cusco/Sacred Valley - Hotel
In the morning, we will transfer you to your flight from Lima to Cusco. Enjoy lunch before visiting one of the most amazing Incan constructions in the area, the formidable Sacsayhuamán fortress. Sacsayhuamán means 'satisfied falcon', the mythical creature that guarded the capital of the empire. The name also makes sense as it was possible to overlook all of Cusco from the hill where the fortress was built.
Construction of the site took more than seven decades and required the labor of 20,000 men to set the foundations, hew the stone, transport materials, and carve and set the stonework. Like many Incan structures, the fortress was built entirely without mortar, yet the enormous stones fit so perfectly that a single blade of grass will not pass between them. The craftsmanship is a stunning example of the Inca's sophisticated construction and architectural skills. In the afternoon, we continue to Tambo del Inka Resort in the Sacred Valley for dinner and an overnight stay.
Highlights of the Incan Empire - Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu
After breakfast, you are in for some unforgettable highlights. First, we visit to Ollantaytambo, an Incan town that shares its name with the formidable stone fortress that clings to a massive cliff looming over the community. This fortification was the valley's main defence against the rival Antis people and was the site of the Incas' greatest victory against the Spanish during the wars of conquest.
Next, head to the nearby train station to board the deluxe Hiram Bingham train to Machu Picchu. A delicious brunch is served as we enjoy spectacular views on the way to Machu Picchu.
At last, we arrive at spectacular Machu Picchu. This hidden city overlooks the raging Urubamba River and was shielded from discovery for centuries by thick tangles of vines and trees. Now one of the great destinations in world travel, the city of Machu Picchu still hides the secret of its rise and fall, as the Incas left behind no written records. Explore the city's ruins, feel its pulse and visualise the lives of the priests, craftsmen, and servants who inhabited this incredible place. Excavations at the site have revealed skeletons, artefacts and woollen clothing. Inspect the famous precision of Incan stonework on display here. After spending an unforgettable day exploring the ruins, you can enjoy tea at Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge before we head back by train to Tambo del Inka Resort for another relaxing evening and overnight stay.
Center of the Incan Empire - Cusco to Lima/Callao - Embarkation
After breakfast, we head to Cusco, once the center of the Inca Empire. Visit the splendid baroque Cusco Cathedral, built in the mid-1500s on the foundations of an Incan palace. Many of the stones used in its construction were looted from the nearby Sacsayhuaman fortress. We continue to Koricancha, to admire the lovely Dominican Convent of Santo Domingo, demonstratively built atop the Temple of the Sun, the most important temple in the Inca Empire.
After a half day of exploring, we take you to the airport for your flight to Lima and transfer to Callao, where MS Roald Amundsen is ready to continue the expedition at sea.
The Nazca Lines - Paracas, Peru
Paracas is the gateway to the quiet colonial town of Pisco and its fertile coastal valley with the famous and mysterious Nazca lines and geoglyphs. These lines were scratched on the surface of the ground between 500 B.C. and 500 A.D.
Included activity:
Ballestas Islands (3 hrs)
Explore one of this region's most beautiful natural attractions, the Ballestas Islands, often referred to as 'Peru's Galapagos', with its volcanic scenery and diverse wildlife. Spot sea birds and mammals on the boat trip and enjoy photogenic landscapes on the islands. Enjoy some free time to explore and perhaps see seals, sea lions, and even penguins!
At your Leisure - At sea
Days at sea mean you can join the expedition team for interesting lectures, learn the basics of expedition photography, and spend time out on deck enjoying the fresh salt air as you scout for wildlife. Of course, there's also plenty of time to chat with fellow explorers.
Adventure and Archaeology - Arica, Chile
Arica is blessed with a warm climate all year round, and we will spend a full day here. Explore the city, walk up the `El Morro´ cliff to get a panoramic view, see the beaches or visit the archaeological sites with some of the world's oldest known mummies.
Included activity:
Atacama Coastal Walk (3 hrs 30)
Depart the pier and head towards the beach resorts of El Laucho and La Lisera. At El Morro de Arica vista, we enjoy a panoramic view of the city, port and ocean. We then proceed south along the coastal road to Corazones/Anzata, where we walk up sandy hills that lead us to Puntilla. Here we observe sea lions and many local birds at close range. After relaxing, taking pictures and breathing the ocean air, we walk back to the buses and return to the pier.
Sailing and Learning - At sea
Enjoy two peaceful days at sea as we make our way south to Valparaíso. The expedition team recaps our voyage and continues their lecture program.
Seaside Living - La Serena, Chile - Half Day
La Serena is one of the oldest cities in Chile. The town is overflowing with colorful gardens and beautiful churches. In the Archaeological Museum, you can learn about the ancient Diaguita culture that thrived in this province before the Incan conquest.
Included activity:
Coquimbo and La Serena City Tour (4 hrs 15)
Join us on a city tour of La Serena and the Coquimbo region. Our first stop is La Serena lighthouse for sweeping panoramic views. We then visit La Serena´s main plaza, where the city was founded in 1544. We also drive to La Herradura Bay, where legends say pirates buried a treasure. Before returning to the ship, we visit La Recova Market featuring handicrafts like lapis lazuli (Chile's famous semi-precious blue stone) and alpaca wool.
The `Jewel of the Pacific´ - Valparaíso, Chile - Disembarkation
Our expedition ends in the wonderful, vibrant and poetic city of Valparaíso. After disembarking the ship, take some time to stroll the UNESCO-listed Historic Quarter, or ride a funicular to one of the many hilltops for a citywide panorama.
Terms, conditions and restrictions apply; pricing, availability, and other details subject to change and/ or apply to US or Canadian residents. Please confirm details and booking information with your travel advisor.


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Everyone's rightfully goofing on Chipotle today for unveiling a line of cups and bags featuring insta-literature from the likes of Toni Morrison and George Saunders. Now, I have no issue with restaurant chains scrawling stuff on their packaging. Cook Out could post entire passages from Leviticus on their shakes (I'm pretty sure they do anyway), and I would still gladly suck them dry. But there's an inhuman amount of smarm to this particular campaign. I'll let author and vegetarian and esteemed writererererer Jonathan Safran-Foer explain the logic behind his involvement:
I mean, I wouldn't have done it if it was for another company like a McDonald's, but what interested me is 800,000 Americans of extremely diverse backgrounds having access to good writing. A lot of those people don't have access to libraries, or bookstores. Something felt very democratic and good about this.
Obviously, Chipotle's current widespread popularity can be partially attributed to a massive infusion of capital from… DUN DUN DUN DUNNNNN… McDonald's. (They divested in 2006, but still.) Though there's something much more insufferable to this quote than shitty fact-checking. It's the idea that Safran-Foer is somehow using this particular bit of corporate synergy as a way of GIVING BACK to the world. "Here you are, poor little people. It's my writing! YOU'RE WELCOME."
Think about how arrogant you have to be to put your writing on a soda cup (FYI, soda will kill you) from a burrito joint (a chicken burrito from Chipotle has 1,300 calories), and then calling it "democratic and good." As if some poor bastard out there will be like, "Well, my town couldn't afford to keep its library open. THANK GOD FOR THIS CHIPOTLE CUP [dies of heart disease from eating too much guacamole.]"
It gets worse. The Chipotle bags include inspirational (BARF) quotes from these writers, including this one from Saunders:
Hope that, in the future, all is well, everyone eats free, no one must work, all just sit around feeling love for one another.
That's a nice little hippie-dippy sentiment on its own. Roger Sterling's daughter probably ran off with it last week. But put that shit on a fast-food bag—even a fast-food joint that humanely slaughters its Niman Ranch pigs and sings them soft lullabies while running a blade across their throats—and it becomes completely INSANE. Why is the place that charges me $8 for a burrito and asks its employees to, you know, WORK, telling me to daydream about it not doing any of those things? Why would I want to live in a world where no one works and people don't do anything? That would suck. Fucking commies.
This is Silicon Valley in a bag. It's regular-old commerce gussied up like runway food and presented to you as some kind of noble humanitarian effort. Why not just say you did this for money? Is it so fucking hard? There's nothing crass or ignoble about licensing your work for money. The ambition to make money is what drives many people to do great things (evil things as well, but great things like building cars and boats and shit too!). The crassness comes when you try to fool people into believing this is some kind of exercise in burrito-funded utopianism. Lunch is lunch, and it doesn't need to be more than lunch.
And you know what? Chipotle's food isn't even that good. Chipotle has skated by for years on the fact that it isn't Taco Bell. But compared to your local Mexican restaurant, Chipotle is garbage. The burrito insides are lukewarm. There's always one bite that's all sour cream. Half the shit is rice if you get rice. It's not that great. It's definitely not worth waiting in line for an hour to eat there with 90 other office workers who view Chipotle as the be-all-end-all of upscale shopping-plaza cuisine.
So fuck you, Chipotle. Fuck you and your overpriced diarrhea torpedoes and the overly earnest fart-sniffers you hired to pimp them out. Next time, just put a maze on the bag.
Drew Magary writes for Deadspin. He's also a correspondent for GQ. Follow him on Twitter @drewmagary and email him at email@example.com. You can also buy Drew's new Kindle Single, The Rover, through Amazon.
Illustration by Sam Woolley.
The Concourse is Deadspin's home for culture/food/whatever coverage. Follow us on Twitter: @DSconcourse.


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By SCOTT BAUER
Associated Press
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Gov. Scott Walker wants to spend $6 million on expanding DNA collection efforts to include anyone arrested on a felony charge and anyone convicted of a crime, a move the Republican has argued will help police solve more crimes.
Walker on Tuesday toured the state with fellow Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen to highlight $14 million in law enforcement spending that will be included in the state budget he'll propose to the Legislature next week.
In addition to expanding DNA collection, Walker wants to provide $3 million in grants to allow for GPS monitoring of high-risk offenders who are the subject of restraining orders. Walker voiced support for that following the October shooting at a Brookfield spa in which a man killed his wife and two other women days after the wife obtained a restraining order against him.
Wisconsin law already allows authorities to use GPS to track people who violate a domestic abuse restraining order. Walker wants judges to be able to order such monitoring of first-time restraining order recipients if the judge determines that person is more likely than not to cause serious bodily harm.
But it's the expansion of DNA collection that's certain to draw the most opposition, especially among those concerned about the infringement upon innocent people's civil rights.
"It's really a government intrusion that undermines the notion of the presumption of innocence," said Chris Ahmuty, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Wisconsin chapter. "If you don't have to be convicted and the government can come and do this to you, it offends a lot of people."
If approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature, Wisconsin would join 25 other states and the federal government in taking DNA upon felony arrests. Walker's proposal is projected to lead to the collection of an additional 68,000 DNA samples a year in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin now collects DNA only from convicted felons and sex offenders.
Under Walker's plan, which was released Tuesday, DNA would be collected from all people arrested on suspicion of a felony crime, including juveniles. DNA samples would also be taken from anyone convicted of a crime as well as some misdemeanor arrests for sexual-related crimes.
Supporters of DNA collection say it offers a sure-fire genetic identifier upon arrest, and that by expanding state and federal DNA databases, more criminals will be identified and more unsolved crimes will get cleared.
The $6 million initiative would be paid for with a $250 surcharge felony offenders pay and $200 for other cases, said Walker's spokesman Cullen Werwie. He said Wisconsin also hopes to be awarded some federal grants under a new $10 million program, signed into law by President Barack Obama last month, to pay for taking DNA upon arrest.
Walker rejected Van Hollen's proposal to pay for the expanded DNA collection, which relied on diverting money from other criminal surcharges the DOJ uses to pay for anti-alcohol and bullying efforts at schools, prison guard training, gang prevention efforts, and public defenders' training.
Other proposals Walker announced Tuesday include spending $1 million to hire five new full-time employees at the Department of Justice task force that works to stop Internet crimes against children. The new jobs would be focused on child sex trafficking.
Walker is also proposing moving nearly all duties of the Office of Justice Assistance, which is currently under his control, to the state Department of Justice. Walker said the move would create efficiencies while not eliminating any programs or responsibilities.
Walker also wants to replace surcharge money with $4 million from the state's general fund to pay for grants awarded to assist victims of sexual assaults.
The Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault praised Walker's initiatives.
"Victim advocates across Wisconsin have worked hard over the last several years to make sure that policymakers understand the scope of the sexual assault problem in this state," said Pennie Meyers, executive director of the group. "We urge legislators to concur with these significant criminal justice system improvements."
Reaction to the plan among lawmakers was mixed.
Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said he generally supported the expanded DNA collection and GPS tracking, but needed to see more details to fully understand it before taking a position.
Walker's plan is a step in the right direction, said Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chris Larson, but more details are needed.
Some of the harshest criticism of the plan came from Democratic state Sen. Lena Taylor, who said Walker's proposal will put more stress on the state's justice system.
"The governor's plans are nothing more than a continuation of Republican bumper sticker politics of 'tough on crime,'" Taylor said.
Walker's budget will be introduced to the Republican-controlled Legislature on Feb. 20, which will then spend months debating it and making changes. It is likely to pass its version of the plan in June and it will then head to Walker for his approval.