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Posted by Jonathan_Brady on January 31, 2003 at 23:35:42:
i mean, they're both located in florida, so who knows what's up? they may be friends and one may have taken the pic or whatever, but shouldn't at least one of the ads say "this is not my snake, but is a representative of what we have", or something along those lines?
curious, jb


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FromThe TOI Story: How a Newspaper Changed the Rules of the Game by Sangita P Menon Malhan, HarperCollins Publishers, India, 2013.
The need for new blood in the editorial team was first recognised by Ashok Jain. But he had been persuaded by some of his editors that talent was scarce in the country and the exercise was practically a non-starter. Once Samir Jain came into the picture and found himself at odds with many of the journalists, it was imperative to infuse new talent...
Perhaps the most notable recruitment on the editorial side was of Dileep Padgaonkar, who came in as associate editor in September 1986. His association with The Times of India started in 1968. Just twenty-four then, he had sent in a piece to The Times of India. The legendary Sham Lal was the editor. He liked the piece. Dilip Padgaonkar next asked him for a job, and got it.
He was the Paris correspondent at the The Times of India for the next five years, and then elevated to assistant editor. In 1978, he left The Times of India to join UNESCO. In 1986, he was done with this stint. This is when he ran into Gautam Adhikari in Paris.
Around this time, Ashok Jain was exploring the idea of setting up an international edition of the The Times of India in New York along with Ramesh Chandra Jain, then the CEO of Times Television. They were to stop by at Paris, and were asked to look up Dilip Padgaonkar. They offered him the job and he accepted.
"They hit it off right from the beginning. Dileep displayed class, intellect, global exposure and his collection of Hussain paintings," said Adhikari. Dilip Padgaonkar was intellectually inclined to Leftist ideology and thought, but apolitical. Samir Jain brought him in. ("Gautam was Samir's right hand. He had a room next to Samir's room. Samir had flanked Giri [Girilal Jain, editor of The Times of India from 1978 to 1988] with Gautam on one side and Dileep on the other. Arun Shourie had been appointed executive editor but that was too short-lived. It didn't last. Giri saw to it that the experiment failed. One would've thought that Gautam would've taken over," said a former assistant editor of the TOI, who did not want to be named.)
Two years later, Samir Jain elevated Dileep Padgaonkar to executive editor. This was done when Girilal Jain was still around. It marked the start of a new era.
"Samir Jain's thoughts annoyed traditional journalists. But he was less interested in influence and more in reach," Dileep Padgaonkar told me. 'If you are not in the market, you have no mindshare and therefore no profitability,' Samir Jain would say," he added. "Those who argued against this were not ready to look at what was happening around them, particularly in America. Much is made of the fact that he was close to Sulzbergers of The New York Times. He was! He had met both father and son. He may have even learnt a few things but he wasn't going to swear by them. The key words in his dictionary are mindshare and profitability. The NYT model was not for him but for his editors and journalists," he pointed out.
From JS & The Times of My Life: A Worm's-Eye View of Indian journalism by Jug Suraiya, Tranquebar, 2011
"I have the second-most important job in the country," said Dileep whom all of us in TOI called Paddy when he was out of earshot.
Paddy made this remark during an interview with a magazine journalist. When the interview was published it created a stir in Delhi's media world. The remark wasn't original. I don't know who first said it, but in Bennett Coleman folklore, whoever was the editor of the TOI was deemed to hold the second-most significant position in India after that of the prime minister.
What caused a buzz in the hornet's nest was not the originality or otherwise of the statement but that Paddy had had the chutzpah to make such a pronouncement in public print. Second most important job in the country? Who did the fellow think he was?
Well, the fellow only knew too well who he was: he was the editor of the TOI, the largest-selling – and arguably the most politically influential – newspaper in the country.
What the hell. To paraphrase Robert Clive, Paddy might well have added that he stood amazed at his own modesty at describing his job as the second most important in the country. Why not the first most important? Indeed, why not?
All right, so Paddy as a follow-on to Giri wasn't any Great Thunderer. So what? The Times they were a changing and Great Thunderers weren't much in demand any more. Moreover, was Thundering really suited to the French temperament, even when the temperament had perforce to express itself in Anglais, what with lamentable shortage of Gallic publications in India? No. Thundering was definitely de trop...
Thundering was becoming – or, indeed, had already become – passé. Paddy was the antithesis of a Thunderer. He was the embodiment of urbane, cosmopolitan chic. He could quote from Andre Malraux with equal facility as from the Vasishta Yoga. He was neither too tall, nor too short. He was not bearded, nor did he sport a moustache. When seated, he did not cross his legs in front of The Family. He was a good writer, but a better manager. He was perfect for the role of "manditor" of the new TOI that SJ [Samir Jain] had envisaged. He suited the "comfort zone" of The Family.
"Manditor" is a conflation of "managing editor". But while "managing editor" conveys the sense of an editor who also puts in a bit of time on management, "manditor" makes it clear that the first duty of the person in question is to manage, editorial functions such as writing being secondary. In fact, not even secondary but tertiary.
"Writing is a Class III activity," SJ would often say. Class I and Class II activities being, respectively, formulating company policy and implementing company policy.
(TOI gossip had it that the reason Paddy had pipped Gautam Adhikari at the post for the editorial gaddi of the TOI was that SJ felt that Gautam, being a better writer than Paddy, might allow his writerly instincts to get in the way of his managerial duties...) ...
Paddy used the editorial axe on my column only once. Sometime in 1989 I did a take-off on Bal Thackeray, who was shown being busy pulling wings off flies. When asked by a sidekick why he was pulling wings off flies, the Shiv Sena supremo was made to retort in my column: "Why am I pulling wings off flies? Because, stupid, minorities don't have wings for me to pull off them, that's why."
In those days, my column used to appear on Sunday. On Sunday morning I got a call at home from Paddy.
"Your column's been carried in the Delhi edition, as you must have seen. But I've had it pulled out of the Bombay edition," said Paddy.
Before I could respond, Paddy continued. "I thought I'd phone you and tell you about it, before you found out for yourself later and blew your stack. Do you want to know why I had your column dropped in Bombay?"
"I do," I said.
"It was because I knew that you'd never forgive yourself if, because of something you'd written, a Shiv Sena mob had attacked the TOI's office in Bombay and beaten up our colleagues, including Dina and Bachi," said Paddy. Dina Vakil was the resident editor in Bombay, where Bachi, who had left The Statesman to join TOI was also posted...
[On leaving TOI ]
How could Dileep Padgaonkar – officially anointed manditor of The Times of India, favoured No 1 Munimji to The First Family, diplomat and courtier par excellence, have been transformed into a rabble-rousing mutineer, a Miltonic Lucifer arrayed in dubious battle against the hosts, not of Heaven, but of the Jains, which could be said to be pretty much the same thing? How could Padgaonkar, bhakt yogi without compare, have turned into an adharmic subversive? How could the perfect manditor of the TOI, polished debonair, not too tall, not too short, no beard or moustache or other facial singularity, who never crossed his legs when in the presence of The Family, who could, thanks to his good Saraswat brahmanical lineage, at a pinch, conduct corporate Diwali pujas and other quasi-religious observances in shudh Sanskrit sprinkled with French, have become so bolshie as to want to bite the hand that had so lovingly fed it?...
Some said the seeds of disaffection had been sown years ago, when Paddy, along with other staffers, had been asked to handwrite invitation cards for a TOI function. Journalism is one of the bitchiest professions going, full of people who will see slights to your amour propre, even when you can't see them yourself, and egg you on to do something about it, in the name of journalistic honour, which some might say is a contradiction in terms if ever there was one...
From Lucknow Boy by Vinod Mehta, Penguin Viking, 2011
[In his book The Price of Power: Kissinger in the Nixon White House, American investigative journalist, Seymour Hersh had named former Indian Prime Minister Morarji Desai, who had been a deputy prime minister under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during 1967-69, as the American Mole who had been leaking cabinet decisions to the Americans. On October 6, 1989, a Chicago district court dismissed Morarji Desai's $50-million libel suit against Hersh.]
The irrepressible maverick Subramanian Swamy arrived to complicate matters. He held a press conference in Bombay during which he stated that Morarji had been unfairly indicted. The "real" spy was another deputy prime minister of India and former chief minister of Maharashtra. When asked if Swamy was referring to the late YB Chavan, he smiled knowingly. Except for one paper in Hyderabad, no one took notice of Swamy's disclosure. Significantly, this was the first time an alternate name to Morarji Desai had reached the public domain.
I and other editors of The Independent followed these developments closely. I asked our Delhi bureau to check out the new revelations. They came back with a copy of the RAW [Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency] letter to Rajiv and suggested the story had merit. And then I, and I alone, made a terrible, unforgivable error of judgement. I mistook the RAW letter as the gospel truth.
On October 19, we published an eight-column banner headline, "YB Chavan, Not Morarji, Spied for the US".
For two days, the story went largely unnoticed. Except for Mid-Day, which carried our Chavan report almost verbatim, the rest of the media kept away. That did not suit the perennially insecure editor of the Times of India, Dileep Padgaonkar. While the other editors in the group were troubled by my presence, Dileep had a special and urgent reason to feel troubled. I and my team were producing an English paper every day which looked infinitely better than the paper Dileep was editing, and on many mornings it even read better. Mr Padgaonkar's insecurities increased when word got around that at a meeting with his senior managers, Samir mentioned me as a possible editor of the Times of India.
Dileep and the Maharashtra Times editor, Govind Talwalkar, got together to ensure the Chavan story did not go unnoticed. In an editorial on October 21, the Times viciously attacked me and The Independent. It went so far as to incite physical violence against me, suggesting that if it did occur, it would be my own fault. Departing from its pompous, lofty, measured tone, the Times launched a series of vituperative onslaughts targeting me, which observers found astonishing since the two papers were "sister publications". One Opposition leader told the media that while the story was indeed objectionable, it was the Times group which created the "hysteria" around the report.
I hold no grudges against Dileep Padgaonkar. He is who he is. However, the man who once claimed he held "the second most important job in the country" can be legitimately charged with single-handedly opening the door for the denigration and decline of the Editor as an institution. When Dileep's bosses asked him to bend, he crawled. Since then, it has been downhill all the way for other editors.
All excerpts with permission from the respective publishers.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has reacted to the court ruling in favour of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, COZA, Pastor, Biodun Fatoyinbo on Thursday, stressing that they should reconcile.
CAN lamented that the image of the church in Nigeria has been dented by the rape saga and the court proceedings.
Justice Oathman Musa of the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday held that the matter against Fatoyinbo amounted to injustice and an abuse of judicial process.
The judge held that the case was empty and purely sentimental.
The judge further explained that the case was aimed more at cruelty than at obtaining justice.
The court also awarded costs of N1m against Busola Dakolo and held that the fine should have been 10 times more because the court's time was wasted.
Busola, however, vowed to appeal the court's decision.
However, Pastor Bayo Oladeji, Media Aide to CAN President, Rev Samson Ayokunle, while speaking with Vanguard, said: "While we note that the image of the Nigerian Church and its leadership was dented before and during the court proceedings, CAN urges Pastor Fatoyinbo and Mrs Dakolo, to put away all that has transpired and reconcile.
"The Church preaches forgiveness and reconciliation, and that is our position as the umbrella body of Christians in the country.
"We begrudge neither Pastor Fatoyinbo nor Busola Dakolo, and urge them to extend a similar hand of love and fellowship to each other."
Follow us on Twitter at @thesignalng
Copyright 2019 SIGNAL. Permission to use portions of this article is granted provided appropriate credits are given to www.signalng.com and other relevant source.


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Good grief! Can you believe it's already July 16th? Not only does that mean that July is already more than half over (sob) but that also means it's time for the Bread o' the Month from the Bread Baking Babes. And guess who got to choose the bread this time around? Moi!
I chose Hamburger Buns from a recipe card I picked up in Williams Sonoma.
The recipe gives instructions for regular sized buns as well as sliders (aka the most adorable things ever).
Homemade Hamburger Buns
1 1/2 cups (375 ml) milk
8 Tbs (1stick/125 g) unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces
4 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
4 cups (625 g) all purpose flour, plus more for dusting
5 Tbs sugar
1 Tbs kosher salt
1 egg beaten with 1 tsp water
sesame seeds for sprinkling (optional)
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the milk and butter and heat until the butter is melted, about 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool to 105-155'F (40 to 46'C). Add the yeast and stir until the yeast is dissolved. Let stand for 10 minutes.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the 4 cups of flour, the sugar and salt and beat on low speed until combined, about 30 seconds. Add the milk mixture and knead until the dough forms a ball, about 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium low and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the dough from the bowl, oil the inside of the bowl and return the dough to the bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough into a 10 by 7 1/2 inch (25 by 19 cm) rectangle. Using a ruler as a guide, cut the dough into 2 1/2 inch (6cm) squares. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet, spacing the buns evenly apart, and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400'F (200'C)
Remove the plastic wrap from the baking sheet. Brush the tops of the buns with the egg mixture (I brushed the tops with milk) and sprinkle with sesame seeds if using. Bake until the buns and golder and an instant read thermometer inserted into the center of a bun registers 190'F (88'C), 14 to 16 minutes. Transfer the buns to a wire rack and let cool completely. Cut in half and use as hamburger buns. Makes 12 hamburger buns.
For slider buns: Follow the instructions above but roll out the dough into a 9 inch (23 cm) square. Cut into 1 1/2 inch (4cm) squares and place on 2 parchment lined baking sheets. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes. Position one rack in the upper third of an over and one rack in the lower third and preheat to 400'F (200'C). Brush the tops with the egg mixture and sprinkle with sesame seeds if using. Bake for about 14 minutes, rotating the baking sheets from top to bottom and 180 degrees halfway through baking. Makes 36 slider buns.
Time got away from me once again and I didn't have time to try to make slider buns before it was time to post. But I hope to soon and will show off my results.
Please visit the participating Babes listed over on the left. I've seen some preview pictures from some of them and they've got some amazing buns (hee!)
Please visit the participating Babes listed over on the left. I've seen some preview pictures from some of them and they've got some amazing buns (hee!)
If you'd like to be a Buddy, please make the bread and post about it by July 29th. Send mt a link at iliketocook AT shaw DOT ca.
Sorry I've been so absent and things are kind of not interesting around here. I'm working hard on getting myself out of this funk. Keep your fingers crossed for me please.


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Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 21st September 2023 Issue no. 1081
Your industry news - first
The original and best - for over 20 years!
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Community group sues council over £600m incinerator contract
A community group is taking Gloucestershire County Council to Court over the award of a £600m incinerator contract. Community R4C, a non-profit mutual society which has had support from celebrities including Jeremy Irons, Jonathon Porritt, Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall and Kevin McCloud, claims the contract was unlawfully awarded, resulting in a massive rise in costs to taxpayers and a breach of procurement law.
They filed a lawsuit with the High Court last Friday.
Campaigners have been opposing the waste incinerator at Javelin Park for years, saying the project wasted taxpayers' money, was bad for health and the environment and that there were cheaper and better alternatives.
Requests to see the contract, the largest the county has ever entered into, were consistently refused until a tribunal forced its disclosure in 2017, by which time a revised contract had been signed. This was only released on 20th December 2018.
"It was a very difficult decision to take this course of action when so much taxpayer money has already been spent on legal battles," says Patricia Watson, a waste consultant and volunteer director of the group. "The underhand behaviour of the council and contractor has led to a far higher price than anywhere else in the country for the lowest possible environmental benefit."
Board member Sue Oppenheimer adds: "The contract has increased by a staggering £150m - making it 30% more expensive. By law, it should have been retendered. Instead, Gloucestershire County Council has spent around half a million pounds keeping this information secret.
"With the support of the community, we had been working on a much cheaper waste processing plant and would have bid for the contract. Our plant would have increased recycling, reduced pollution and would have been a better deal for the environment and the taxpayer."
Tom Jarman, another board member says: "There is a strict 3-day limit to bringing this sort of claim and it seems to us that the council timed the disclosure of the relevant information strategically, just before Christmas, so to make it almost impossible for anyone to bring legal action in time.
"Keeping a 30% increase in cost secret from the public and its own audit committee is not the way we expect a public authority to conduct itself."
Community R4C says there has been widespread and consistent objection to the building of an incinerator on the Javelin Park site, alongside an area of outstanding natural beauty. Well over 4,000 people wrote to object and the Council's own planning committee unanimously rejected the plans, yet still the plans for the incinerator have been pushed ahead, and the plant is now in an advanced state of build.
Documents available on the Community R4C website show the planned incinerator is very inefficient and expensive. The lack of heat use (combined heat and power) means that almost 80% of the energy available is wasted, and the plant is a harmful emitter of greenhouse gasses, and harmful dioxins. Two thirds of the electricity comes from inefficiently burning plastic, a fossil fuel, and this is even more harmful to the environment than landfill. It burns all material received, yet well over 50% of this material is recyclable.
The gate fee £190 per tonne of waste (for the first 108,000 tonnes, Council guaranteed minimum) almost twice the cost of alternatives.
Community R4C claims that the Council has been consistently secretive, refusing to release contract details despite numerous Freedom of Information Act requests.
In 2015, it decided not just to campaign against something, but to work towards a better solution which would serve the community and protect the environment. This harnesses the commitment of the local community to preserve resources while minimising cost so that other local services could be protected.
In 2016 Community R4C raised almost £100,000 in a groundbreaking Community Share Scheme to facilitate its aims and the building of an alternative waste resource recovery plant - the R4C plant - in co-operation with investors and partners.
Image courtesy of Stroud News
24th January 2019


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When two famous names worked on a car together with less than stirring results.
by Wallace Wyss –
With the Sixties Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, being one of the most beautiful cars of the Sixties, ya think that any Aston done by Zagato would be something to look forward to. Uh, no. No guarantee.
Just look at this one from 1986. It was announced a year previously at the 1985 Geneva Motor Show with actual cars available a year later and every damn one of the fifty sold in advance to customers plunking down a 115,000 Pounds Sterling deposit for the 187,000 Pounds Sterling car.
The idea of the car was that, though the standard Vantage was already one of the fastest four seaters in the world; shortening the wheelbase, dumping the rear seats, hyping up the engine and going for a more aerodynamic body (where even the side glass was mounted flush would make for the ultimate car. Right?
Wrong. It was a real world class bow-wow in looks. The front end was exceedingly bland, more like a Toyota Celica. They had to have a power bulge to clear the airbox for the side draught Weber 48 IDA carbs but that rounded bulge, taller at one end than the other, didn't fit the flat surfaces looking like it was from other car.
The designer of record was Giuseppe Mittino, who was appointed to be chief of Zagato design in 1970. I researched the name and found out he is a minor celebrity among Italian car designers, having done some other one-offs and some limited production cars bearing the Zagato "Z" including the '72 Fiat 132 Asta, the '75 Zeta 80, two Ferraris, one a 330 and the other a 250GT SWB Spyder.
There was first a coupe version of the Aston presented at the Geneva motor show in 1986, and then, a few months later, a convertible. In all there were 52 coupes and 37 cabriolets, at a heady price, nearly £450,000. The car had mixed reviews as far as styling.
Support My Car Quest – Click Here
The engine was a V8 displacing 5341 cc With Webers it cranked out 430 horsepower, which could get it up to 300 km/h (186 mph). Two gearboxes were available, a 6-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic (another source says it had a 3-speed Chrysler automatic), but with the automatic, your top end was a notch slower, at 295 km/h. Aston tried to experiment with electric power steering and the device was unreliable which delayed production of the car.
It was a car rarely seen in the U.S. only 15 were Left Hand drive.
FRONT: From the front view, this has to qualify as one of the worst Italian designs ever, squared off, no Italian flavor, looks like an '80s Toyota Celica. Hood bulge is seriously out of whack with flat surfaces throughout the car, looking like a wound that has swollen up from infection. The double bubble of the roof, meant to recall early '60s designs, is so small that you hardly notice it.
SIDE: Coupe has "airy" (i.e. lots of glass) cabin but side profile of the roofline reminds one of many economy cars of the time. The fact only part of the side door windows retracts could induce claustrophobia for some riders. Didn't I see those same style windows in a Subaru?
REAR: Spoiler looks (and is) tacked on as afterthought. At least horizontal taillights match other Astons of the period.
IN SUM: Usually you go to Italy for a new cutting-edge design, one that your company can run with not only on one model but which could spread to the other models but this was one time Aston made a mistake dialing Italy. One wag suggested it copied the French Matra Murena, a car that was a mere fraction of the cost.
Still, despite all the brickbats I've thrown at it, when they come up for auction they bid over 200,000 Pounds so there must be some Brits who fancy them, remembering when they were momentarily the fastest British car and the most expensive British car on the market, but I'd say it would be a nostalgia buy; not one driven by the beauty of the car. Only its mother could love it.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
THE AUTHOR: Wallace Wyss is the author of 18 car histories . He has been a Guest Lecturer on design history at the Art Center College of Design.


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If you have a love for Social Work, we have a relief part time (0.79 FTE) career opportunity that will allow you to draw on your clinical skills as you provide service in an acute care setting at the Salmon Arm Health Centre in beautiful and sunny Salmon Arm, B.C. This relief position is until the return of the incumbent. What Will You Work On?In this role, you will provide comprehensive assessment, care planning and treatment coordination for designated clients and their families. Working collaboratively with other health care providers and the multidisciplinary team, you will provide direct psychosocial care, counseling, system navigation and advocacy, education and linkage to relevant specialized complex care resources while facilitating client self-management. As the Social Worker you will be responsible for providing and developing social work services to maintain or improve the health and social well-being and functioning of the identified population.Shift times are from 08:00 to 16:00 hours. Days of work are Monday to Thursday.How Will You Create Impact?Social Workers at Interior Health advocate for social justice at individual, family, organizational, and societal levels through their professional knowledge, values, ethics and skills. If you are passionate about making a positive impact on members of your community, apply today! How Will We Help You Grow?Interior Health offers excellent benefits and many opportunities to maximize your skills. We are an organization where you have room to grow in a place where life outside of work is just as important to us as it is to you. If you are an experienced Social Worker and want to be challenged in your practice while working with a solid and experienced team in a wonderful working environment.Reasons to Apply at Interior Health... What we can do for youWe offer an exceptional employer-paid benefits package, recognition of previous experience in determining starting salary, and generous vacation entitlement after your first year of employment. We offer a work environment conducive to growth and development of strong clinical skills. The opportunity to have a balanced lifestyle that allows you to maintain the quality of life you desire.
Education, Training and Experience:Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from an accredited university.Two years recent related experience in a healthcare setting working with medically complex clients with concurrent disorders, or a combination of education, training and experience.Current full registration with the British Columbia College of Social Workers.Current valid BC driver's license.**Please upload copy of your Bachelor's Degree your BCCSW registration and a copy of your B.C. driver's license to your IH profile.
This posting is covered by the Provincial Health Officer's mandatory COVID-19 vaccination orders and selected applicant(s) must comply.Interior Health now offers assistance from an Aboriginal Employment Advisor. If you self-identify as Aboriginal (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) and if you would like assistance with internal career exploration, send your question via email to email@example.com to be redirected to the Employment Advisor. We invite applicants to self-identify as First nations, Métis, or Inuit within cover letters and/or resumes.
Salmon Arm
$31.99 - $39.98
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Back in 2017, I wrote about flying into my 40s (see here). The entry came a few weeks after my 40th birthday. The gist of the post was quite simple. In short, I wasn't going to slow down because I hit 40. Naturally though, it was easy to make that statement only a few weeks into my new age bracket. Thus, here's a follow up that comes two years after the original post. I now have some legitimate experience in my 40s so I'm more qualified to speak on the subject.
2018 Training Recap
For starters, I am happy to say that I have fulfilled my vow. I haven't slowed down one bit. I honestly can't say that I feel any different today vs. how I felt five, ten, or fifteen years ago. I don't sit around and analyze what may or may not have changed. Instead, I just continue to wake up each day and move. That's my only secret.
I've said before and I'll say it again, consistency remains my greatest weapon. Or, as an old saying suggests, first we make our habits, and then our habits make us. I am a testament to those words. There's nothing fancy or flashy about how I train, but you'll be hard pressed to find someone who is more consistent.
A day rarely passes without me training or moving in some fashion. And it's that type of consistency that has allowed me to feel no different today than I did many years ago. I've always felt that when you consistently do something, you never notice much of a difference from day to day, even as the weeks and months pass. Conversely, perhaps the fastest way to notice your age is to take an extended break from action and then be forced to start again.
Forget Age
When you keep moving forward each day, you don't have time to think about whether you've regressed. Your focus is positive instead of negative. The only proof I have of my age is what's listed on my driver's license. It's not as if I remember the day my mother gave birth. And as crazy as that might sound, I live with that mentality. I don't wake up each day worrying about age. I'm too busy living to take notice.
In fact, the only time I mention age is when I'm writing on this blog in hopes of possibly inspiring someone who's reading. And while that may seem insignificant, I've never understood those who constantly remind us that they're getting old. Yes, we all technically age with each second that passes, but to harp on it only speeds the process. Your age is irrelevant to enjoying the moment.
Training Without Ego
Another important piece of the aging puzzle is to put your ego aside. When I train, I'm not worried about doing better or worse than anyone else. I'm also not concerned about constantly smashing personal bests. Instead, I'm happy to include lighter days when needed. I've actually come to enjoy such work.
In many ways, that mentality is new to me. When I was younger, my competitiveness often got the best of me. Whatever I did was never enough. I always wanted more. I craved the rush of smashing through a goal. Now that I'm older and wiser, I appreciate more that I'm able to move freely without pain, injury, or illness. That doesn't mean I still don't push myself. I'm just focused more on the process rather than the result. I'm happy doing my thing and I won't lose sleep if a keyboard warrior doesn't approve.
Final Thoughts
In summary, I certainly don't view myself as an aging expert, as I still consider myself young. All I can do is share my own experience, which in my eyes is nothing special. There's nothing glorious about waking up and grinding each day. It's a lifestyle. It just so happens that such a lifestyle has helped to keep my body and mind strong and sharp as the years have passed.
Use it or lose it.
Related Entries
"How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?" – Satchel Paige


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text: As the government agency mandated to protect and enhance the growth of the local book industry, the National Book Development Board (NBDB) provides services, programs, and projects that cater to authors, illustrators, readers, publishers, book importers, and book distributors. These programs include Kapihan Sessions, consultative meetings for various stakeholders; Booklatan sa Bayan, a nationwide seminar-workshop series; the NBDTF, a writing grant; publishing fora, literary festivals, and book summits. One of our major programs is the 6th PHILIPPINE INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL (PILF), an event spearheaded by the NBDB since 2010. This November, the PILF will be held in Davao City in order to accommodate a more diverse crop of authors and readers. Themed Laláng (likha), the NBDB's PILF will highlight the relevance of "place" as inspiration, subject, or context of a writer and his/her literary piece. The panel discussions will range from concerns in literary discourse to lectures on publishing for aspiring writers. Stand by for more updates on our Facebook page and website (nbdb.gov.ph) in the coming weeks! The NBDB also supports initiatives by both government and private organizations, no matter how small or big, which promote readership and authorship. Among these is the festival dedicated to promoting Filipino writers and books organized by RAFFLES MAKATI and NATIONAL BOOK STORE from August 28 and 30. The conference situates young and seasoned Filipino authors alongside literary celebrities Matthew Quick (The Silver Linings Paybook) and Meg Wolitzer (The Uncoupling, The Ten-Year Nap). This event provides a venue for authors to come together and engage with readers. For more information, please see the details in the poster below.


text:
I am a 28 year-old girl living in Beijing. I have been exercising for about four years. In the beginning, I did not exercise to be fit. Back then, I just became a journalist and had flexible working hours. I thought I should increase my self-discipline, scheduling my time better. Isn't it a great idea to exercise regularly?
After making this decision, I bought an elliptical machine in order to do aerobic exercises at home. I also did some yoga by watching videos. Though it was boring and hard, I stuck with it. I did not follow it everyday, but I did enough to make myself proud. Then, I wanted to do more. Maybe I could achieve having a good figure.
I began to speak with my friends about exercising, trying to figure out efficient ways. Then in 2015, it seems like everyone around me were talking about "Keep", a popular fitness App. It attracted more than USD 32 million in investment in May, with about 30 million users across China.
Most of my friends were posting pictures on Wechat, China's equivalent of Facebook. These pictures were accompanied with the claim that "I completed my exercise today at Keep".
"Oh my gosh, this is so trendy," I thought.
Living in a social network driven world, we constantly share our lives online. Having dinner with a friend? Post! Travelling with family? Post! We constantly check our Wechat accounts every few minutes. However, I decided to exercise without publicizing it online. I set my own goals and stuck to it until it was completed. I did not want to show it off online just to get "likes" from friends. I did it only for myself. To be honest, I do not think showing off will be of any help. Maybe a week later, they will totally forget about maintaining the fitness plan.
So I decided to use the Keep app without posting my pictures. In the beginning, it was all right. I picked some routines and followed it everyday. However, with the app upgrade, it became more and more complicated. I had to make choices all the time. What is your purpose? Losing weight? Getting good? Increasing muscle mass? There were lots of different courses for different purposes. I truly did not know what to choose.
I browsed through all the courses trying to understand the differences. I opened every course to see what it was like. It drove me crazy. This process took almost an hour.
After that, I saw that my friends started "following" me on the app. Out of curiosity, I checked to see which exercises they picked. And with that, another hour went by.
I spent so much time on these rather than exercising. The point was, I still didn't know which exercise fit me best. Moreover, "Keep" was not able to tell me either, and I was still left to CHOOSE.
After repeating exercises on "Keep", the courses became much easier. However, I did not feel that my fitness has made any improvement. Finally, I decided to look for a gym. At least there will be a coach who could correct my movement.
In Beijing, there are many gyms. Unfortunately, not many gyms have ethical practices. They only want you to purchase more and more courses. Luckily for me, I found a gym where the founder graduated from the top athletes program in the country. He is also the counselor of Beijing boxing team. Technically speaking, it is not a gym. It is a physical fitness training center.
The trainer evaluated my body, and he told me which was my weakest part, and advised me what I should do to improve it. Finally, I figured out the differences in losing weight, getting good shape and increasing muscles.
Of course, there are routines in the gym that the Keep app has. However, I only knew the exact positions for these exercises while I was training in the gym. No wonder I did these exercises with ease while using "Keep".
"I witnessed people getting hurt using "Keep". They know how to do it, but they may not be doing it correctly," my trainer said.
I am so satisfied with the result now that I decided to share my story.
But I am still reserved about taking selfies. Take a selfie in my gym to post on Weibo?
Hell no. After all those intensive exercises, the only thing I want to do after that is to lie in bed.
(All Photos from Keep)


text:
Green New Deal is a Socialist Fairy Tale
by Shari Dovale
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) unveiled her Green New Deal (GND) this week with all the hype we have come to expect from the Dems new Social Media Darling. However, it was met with so much ridicule that Ocasio-Cortez had to delete it from her government website almost immediately and make revisions.
Let's take a look at the final resolution, and the accompanying FAQ.
To begin with, let's reinforce that this is only a resolution. It is not a bill, and even if passed, it will not implement any new programs by itself. It can only make Congress consider what their agenda could be in the coming terms.
Those that vote for it would appear to be confirmed Socialists. That is a good point for this document: a litmus test for the elected in Washington DC. She claims that "92 percent of Democrats and 64 percent of Republicans support the Green New Deal."
The GND covers more than climate change. It covers every Socialist ideal since the Communist Manifesto. It really is just an updated version of that same document.
It starts out with scare tactics, like Climate Change is the cause of every world problem, and the United States leads these degenerate nations.
They are coming for your bacon and steaks!
They want to change how the country produces food, and get away from "Farting Cows". Yes, sadly this is a direct statement from the documents. It would seem they want to turn the country vegan, or at least vegetarian. What about Broccoli and pickles? If it causes gas in people, would she outlaw those as well, or just the people that eat them?
They want to plant new forests, yet complain about the existing forests, and the wildfires. They do not mention logging, grazing or otherwise managing the forests to reduce the wildfires. So, let's see…. Burn the old forests and plant new ones. That should work.
They do not like airplanes, so they want to get rid of them, replacing them with high speed rail. The idea of a train across the ocean to Hawaii is not very enticing. Maybe we should just sell Hawaii to pay for this deal, and not worry about ocean trains at all?
They would also like to tear down and rebuild every single building in the country. They assume that no building currently meets their standards. The best way to accomplish this is probably building massive high-rise apartment buildings in each city to house the population. Government owned, of course, and cheaper than individual homes. This also takes care of that pesky "private property" issue as well.
Continuing the talk on more than just weather… They have included government health care, government jobs, and even a guarantee of money to those that are unwilling to work.
Yes, you read that correctly. "Economic security for all who are unable or unwilling to work." This is one of their stated goals. Why do we need guaranteed jobs if we don't need to work?
Who will pay for this paradise?
But how to pay for all this Utopia? "The level of investment required is massive," she admits. "Even if every billionaire and company came together and were willing to pour all the resources at their disposal into this investment, the aggregate value of the investments they could make would not be sufficient."
The Boston University graduate, with a degree in economics, says we can just print more money. After all, we have done it before, right? I think they did that in Venezuela recently, and we can see how well it is working out for them.
But that is enough about money. AOC says, "At the end of the day, this is an investment in our economy that should grow our wealth as a nation, so the question isn't how will we pay for it, but what will we do with our new shared prosperity."
The views, opinions, or positions expressed by the authors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, positions of Redoubt News. Social Media, including Facebook, has greatly diminished distribution of our stories to our readers' newsfeeds and is instead promoting Main Stream Media sources. This is called 'Shadow-banning'. Please take a moment and consider sharing this article with your friends and family. Thank you. Please support our coverage of your rights. Donate here: Paypal.me/RedoubtNews


text:
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text:
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
The Long and Winding Road . . . and Book Giveaway
I received my first rejection letter circa 1971 from Tiger Beat magazine. I'd entered some contest to write "My Dream Wedding to _____" I picked Bobby Sherman. (I still know all the words to his big hit "Seattle" and will sing it if asked. Seriously. Just ask.) I don't recall being particularly upset about not winning which perhaps suggests I was just preparing for the 321 (or so. Not that I'm counting or anything.) rejection letters I would get when first querying agents. I recall being more disappointed about not winning one of his puppies in another contest they had.
But, I digress.
As I was saying, that first rejection did not deter me in any way. I filled notebooks with diary entries, wrote stories, plays, and poetry. Lots and lots and lots of poetry. Really bad teenage girl angst-filled poetry. My top topics were boys and war. And, no, you can NOT see them. Ever. I will say, though, in their defense, that very few of them rhymed. I am proud of that.
I got more serious about writing in college where I was an English major and took lots of creative writing classes along with all the lit courses. I learned how stories were told and fell in love with words.
Flash forward. I got married, had two babies, got divorced. I suddenly found myself not only surprised to be an ex-wife but needing to tuck away the writing dreams and focus on providing for my sons as a high school English teacher.
Little did I know that my education as a writer was on the right path. Long and winding, but right.
My days filled with my sons, growing up before my eyes, and the words of the masters, and exposing my students to those words. Discovering with them how stories get told, how characters get into our hearts and stay with us (Atticus Finch, anyone? Elizabeth Bennett? Tom Joad?).
And then, in the spring of 1999, a friend and I were drinking wine and talking late into the evening, and I said into the dark, warm air that someday I was going to write a novel. She looked me hard in the eyes and said, "So go do it."
I did.
I wrote the first draft that summer and began collecting rejections. Lots of rejections. (I still say I didn't know how to write a query letter.) But I truly believe that things happen when they are supposed to. And in the summer of 2004 (yes, 5 years later), an agent said yes. The right agent. The perfect agent. And then a couple months later we sold ALL THE NUMBERS to Random House.
It was released in July 2006. And since then, the road continues to twist and turn. There have been more rejections . . . and more yesses. The book has traveled the world and become a best seller in Taiwan. And even though I still get all stressed when a manuscript is on submission, and rejections still sting, I can look back at the road I've traveled and know that things happen how and when they are supposed to. And I still look forward to seeing what's around the next curve.
What do you hope is ahead for you? Leave a comment (with your contact scoop) by midnight CST on Dec. 22 and I'll randomly select one winner to receive a signed copy of my novel.
I live in St. Louis, MO with my husband, am the mom/stepmom to five kids (ages 17-25), and taught high school English for 15 years. I'm over on Facebook and Twitter .
33 comments:
I'm pleased to meet you Judy, I'm Anita, and I grew up in a suburb in North St.Louis County. I too was reading and submitting things to Tiger Beat in the early to mid 70's, and while I still have all those journals and diaries and such, I'm not sure even I want to read the angst ridden school girl that I was. I do try to be empathetic when my now 17 year old twin daughters act the same.ReplyDelete
I'd love to read your book.........happy holidays!
Love the Tiger Beat! I had such a crush on Shawn Cassidy, who always seemed to be on the cover... sigh...ReplyDelete
I wish for the things I've enjoyed most this year - being with my family and friends, writing books, and making new friends....
- AnonymousDecember 21, 2010 at 10:17 PM
I read 'All the Numbers'a couple of years ago and loved it.ReplyDelete
Thanks for sharing your journey, Judy. You're persistence paid off and that's what I hope is ahead for myself. OMG! I loved Tiger Beat! I used to cut out the pictures of Leif Garret, Scott Baio, David and Sean Cassidy and plaster them all over my bulletin board! I would love to be entered in your giveaway!ReplyDelete
Merry Christmas!
Hi :)ReplyDelete
Thank you for sharing your inspirational post Judy. It reinforces my own determination and dream.
Merry Christmas!
RK Charron
I wrote a fan letter to David Cassidy years ago.Got a form letter in return and an offer to buy the David Cassidy Love kit whatever that is.ReplyDelete
I also had a Bobby Sherman poster in my room and I know all the words to Julie Do You Love Me?
Tiger Beat does span the ages, doesn't it? It was a toss up for me between Bobby, David Cassidy and Michale Cole (from Mod Squad . . . remember?). I'd moved past TB by the time Shawn Cassidy and Scott Baio graced its cover.ReplyDelete
Karin, I changed the words to that song to "Judy, Judy, Judy Do you love me?" Thought I was sooo cool.
I was a Shaun Cassidy fan...'fan' definitely living up to its Christian form, 'fanatic' :) I had all his posters, action figure, satin jacket, t-shirts and yes, even the jeans. I was certain at the tender age of eleven he was singing DA DOO RUN RUN for only me. Hey, the lyrics did say, 'Jill'...I'm still holding on to that, in case you couldn't tell! :)ReplyDelete
Thank you for sharing your story of perseverance, Judy. I need to hear more of these stories as I prepare for the querying process. Knowing great writers have had their share of rejections braces me for what inevitably awaits. But, I hope I can say I was as strong as you five years later!
Oh, by the way, I think this picture of you should be your default/cover/Christmas card photo. It's great!
I didn't like Bobby Sherman so much, but I did love your book. It is beautifully crafted, written from the heart.ReplyDelete
Judy, you are a continuing inspiration (not to mention a fine writer and wonderful friend)!ReplyDelete
Put me in the Shaun Cassidy camp...and Leif Garrett, of course. The hair! The smile!
I'm sorry to say that I missed the Shaun Cassidy era...yes, I'm a bit older than you. My husband & I are both newly retired & our bucket list awaits us before we are in depends & wheelchairs. Looking forward to checking some off with plenty of time in between to read!ReplyDelete
I only had eyes for Peter Frampton in those days. Now that was HAIR. (I know he doesn't have any now.) :)ReplyDelete
Wonderful, inspiring post, Judy. I love how, no matter what this crazy pub biz brings, it's all about beautiful determination.
Well, Judy, first I must inform you that it was I who was to marry Bobby Sherman! And if Donny Osmond was your backup, I had dibs on him too! But I digress... What a lovely post! I enjoyed reading your about your journey! From it, I learned that you are a gifted and seamless storyteller!ReplyDelete
Judy, had to tell you I just returned from the library with All The Numbers in my stack of books I intend to read over Christmas break! So funny to find you here after checking out your book. Loved hearing from you and it makes me want to read the book all the more.ReplyDelete
I too had a friend who said "What are you waiting for? Just do it!" I dedicated my first novel to her because without her pushing me, I probably would still be just wishing I could write a novel instead of actually doing it. Encouraging friends are priceless!
Great journey story, Judy. Do you think the David Cassidy Love Kit comes with batteries?ReplyDelete
I love stories about motherhood and would love to read your book!ReplyDelete
Wow Judy, talk about taking me back! Bobby Sherman, David Cassidy and Elvis posters all on my wall! I tell myself that things happen in their time too. Thanks for sharing memory lane with us. Your book sounds great!ReplyDelete
Your story was inspirational and very timely for me--I'm a mom of four kids and trying to work on a novel whenever I can steal the time. Thank you for sharing it! email@example.com
I love reading about people's journeys to success - such inspiration! My hope for myself in the future is that I have success in my own writing career and good health.ReplyDelete
Total Tiger Beat fan here, too! I loved Parker Stevenson (the other brother in the Hardy Boys) and Scott Baio. Sigh. A friend and I tried to call LA and get SB's phone number during a sleepover one Saturday night. I don't think we ever reached him!ReplyDelete
Judy, your story continues to be inspirational as I know really amazing things are just around the corner! And, seriously, lunch soon? At least in January sometime? I need to email you and lock down a date because life just gets so busy! Merry Christmas to you!
All of us readers are so glad that your long and winding road led you to the right person....Would love to read your book! Merry Christmas and a wonderful and prosperous New Year ♥ReplyDelete
Whoa! That sure is one heck of a journey! I'm so glad to see that you never game up and that gives me inspiration. I'm glad you finally succeeded. :)ReplyDelete
Marry Christmas!~
I am hoping that chickens, sheep, and a weedless garden are on my road ahead... and a homemade loaf of bread that actually rises.ReplyDelete
Thanks for sharing your story. I enjoyed reading it.
Kelly J. R.
kjramstack at yahoo dot com
Judy, I *loved* your story and LOL about the bad teenage girl angst-filled poetry...I have some of that and, no, I won't let anyone read it either (sadly, some of mine *did* rhyme ;).ReplyDelete
I'm always thankful for good friends and good health, so I'm hoping for more time with those I love in the New Year, fewer colds/flus and great writing news for all of us. Hope to get a chance to see you in person again in 2011!! Merry Christmas :-).
Thanks for sharing your journey. I have gotten so many incredible free books for leaving a comment that I can't resist. Forgive this "guy" for digging the girlfriends blog, but I know it's mostly women who buy books. So, I'm enjoying reading about other writers and books while learning a little about the female mind. Rest assured though, as a long married man I know that women will always be a mystery.ReplyDelete
Thank you for sharing your journey! It's a very inspirational story and I enjoyed reading it.ReplyDelete
For myself, I hope for time to spend with my family, for some spare time that I can spend with my camera, for my garden to produce lots of veggies this year and maybe bigger tomatoes, for plenty of long lazy days on the beach, and of course, for books.
Merry Christmas!
Tiger Beat!!! Ah, the memories!!ReplyDelete
I love the idea that someone said, "So, go do it" and then you did!! So, so happy for you.
I've got some big hopes for my third novel, which I'm finishing up now. Fingers crossed!!
Happy holidays, Judy!
Oh, Judy. I remember Bobby Sherman. That hair! I confess, I probably know all the words to Seattle too;)ReplyDelete
Another St. Louisan here who peaked early. I sold a brief piece to Datebook magazine when I was 12. As a consequence I was written up in the local paper. It was pretty much downhill from there.ReplyDelete
Hey, so nice to discover you're a fellow former Bobby Sherman fan! My first concert was Bobby Sherman at the Westbury Music Fair for my 12th birthday ...ReplyDelete
And the winners are . . .ReplyDelete
Kelly JR and Green-Eyed Mom
(Yes, in the spirit of the holidays I picked 2 winners!). Look for an e-mail from me to get your address and see how you want the book inscribed.
Thanks to all of you for your kind words, for sharing your memories, and for loving reading!
You guys are cracking me up with these teen crushes!ReplyDelete
Wonderful book review give us this article and its tell me how to write stories with proper sentence thanks for share it nursing personal statement example .ReplyDelete


text:
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Focus Industries dedicates itself to manufacturing competitive landscape lighting products with the most innovative technology available for lasting impact. Since their massive growth in size and number, the California–based company now provides over a dozen countries with outdoor fixtures and accessories in various raw materials, voltage and finish options for a diverse line of products and a solution for every exterior.
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text: Our Lord when a boy came voyaging with a sailor uncle to Britain. Their trading ship put in at Watchet, and from there He walked across the Quantocks to Bridgwater where He boarded a punt and crossed the lakes and marshes to the foot of Mendip, ending his journey high up at Priddy. Here, say the miners, He walked and talked and worked with them a happy while, and then, loaded with Somerset gear, He went back to Nazareth.


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text:
He's the best at it out of all his friends.
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
That's Swell!
7 comments:
Haha lot's of humor into it! Superb colors and the expression on the fish faces... priceless.ReplyDelete
Cute! I like your style!ReplyDelete
Very cute, I love the colours!ReplyDelete
this is so cute!
we both had almost the same idea.
Well done!
Very nice! The colors are great!ReplyDelete
This is such fun :o)ReplyDelete
I caught myself holding my breath and puffing out my cheeks to imitate the expression!
Ella how do you do that?! You make me want to throw my bamboo out the window.ReplyDelete
Its Beauuuutiful :)
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
This article is more than 1 year old
Web Communities Don't Bring in the $$$
ZDNet cans paid moderators
One of the most depressing stories to come out of the Internet crash is the failure of community on the web. Like so much else online, sites that bring users in to discuss matters have been a commercial disappointment.
The emotional argument for community was a democratic one: The web will bring us all together, enabling us all to come together as equals to talk about products, food, politics, sports, whatever. The commercial argument was actually less clear, if that's possible.
No question about it, there are successful discussion boards on the Internet. The problem with them is that few if any of them, have any chance of making money. The most famous that I know of is Slashdot.org, owned now by VA Linux and dedicated mostly to discussing technical topics with a pro-open source bent.
I'd also consider Epinions.com, a site where consumers rate and discuss products and services, a modest success from a traffic standpoint, but I have no idea if it makes money. More obviously unsuccessful in the same field as Epinions was Deja.com, which began as a search engine for Usenet but tried to become a community for online buyers of anything that could be discussed on Usenet. Just a few days ago, Deja was bought out by Google, which promptly shut down whatever was left of Deja and stripped it back to the Usenet searching facility.
There are also lots of other communities that don't try so hard to make money. In my town (Maplewood, NJ) a local guy runs a web site (http://www.maplewoodonline.com/) with a message board that is quite busy. There are sites that charge for access to discussions, probably as part of a subscription cost for other features (the Wall Street Journal is an example), but the discussions are a small part of it; the WSJ barely even mentions their own discussions.
In fact, there are many examples of retrenchment, and the trade press is full of them. We, in the trade press, were pioneers in the online discussion business. Long before the Internet became a big deal there was PCMagNet, which I believe began life as a single computer in Bill Machrone's office. But by the time I got to Ziff-Davis in 1991, "Ziffnet" was the biggest part of Compuserve, which, if I'm not mistaken, was the biggest player in the online business at the time.
Representing PC Week Labs on Ziffnet was one of the most fun and the most frustration of my job. I got to gab with others about technical matters, but I learned early on a lesson that's still true of online discussion sites: the inmates run the asylum. There are a lot of unreasonable people in the world, but they get a lot more unreasonable when they write messages online. In fact, I'd say most people lose inhibitions when writing online, but it's the biggest jerks among us who end up dominating the discussion and controlling the agenda. On the PC Week forum of Ziffnet, I ended up spending a great deal of my time defending myself against conspiracy theories. I've seen the same sort of thing on the Maplewood Online message board, where the township government officials who have the courage and decency to come online to answer questions are subjected to outrageous attacks.
Such is the fate of any attempt to have serious and open discussion online, unless you go to the trouble, expense and moral peril of having a human being decide which messages go online. Alas, while such moderated discussions filter out the crazies, they add expense.
I'm one of the moderators on ZDNet's Community Forums, where there are 56 discussion groups run by paid moderators who not only delete spam and abusive messages, but answer technical questions. My forums were on general programming issues, web programming in particular, and server administration.
CNet/ZDNet decided the other day to eliminate all the paid moderator positions. Apparently the forums weren't carrying their own weight. I haven't seen any actual numbers, but the head of the group said he was surprised at how much they lost. Now, I'm not especially surprised that really techie forums like mine were eliminated, but some of these forums were very busy. The forums will still be around, but as of March 15, there will be an automated porno filter and a staff moderator who will only eliminate spam and abuse. As great a time as I've had there, I'm not doing it for free, so I can only assume that most of the questions won't go answered. At the new CNet/ZDNet, there will still be the Talkback feature, a non-threaded mechanism that doesn't lend itself to discussion as much as barking.
I can't think of any other free, moderated independent technical discussion groups on the web, so I think the failure of the ZDNet forums is symbolic. If they lost big money on it, it basically can't be profitable. For ZDNet, I think the basic idea was "stickiness," that the forums were one more feature of the site that would tend to keep users in ZDNet rather than going elsewhere. I don't know how hard it is to measure their impact from that perspective; I assume that the CNet/ZDNet brass will find out some time after March 15.
Infoworld figured out that community was a problem a long time before ZDNet did. Infoworld used to have very busy discussion areas on their web sites. They took them down in November, 1999, for reasons unknown. Last fall they put up a notice that said that they were about to restart the forums, but the world is still waiting.
Or are they?
Copyright © 2001 Sam Whitmore's Media Survey. All rights reserved.


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We feel when you take care of your employees, your employees will take care of their customer, which in turn takes care of our business. While this is not a new concept, we strongly believe it is key to our success and the achievement of the customer's goals.
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We recognize the need to hire superior talent and we actively seek those whose strengths will best enhance Zentek's offerings.
Empower Our Employees
Our success depends on the success of our employees. We encourage employees to advance and achieve their own goals as they are aligned with the goals of Zentek.


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In the world of Hip-Hop, it's not uncommon to consider yourself a brand and then peddle your wares. Eve, Beyonce, Eminem, Jay-Z all have or had fashion lines. Nelly and Lil John had beverages on the market. Many have opened clubs and restaurants. The list could go on and on.
Kanye West is breaking new ground, however. He's decided to… ::drumroll:: … start his own travel website, Kanye Travel Ventures.
If you look at the site, it's fairly… well, craptacular. Normally I'd say this was some kind of April Fool's joke, except it's April 2nd now.
According to Advertising Age, the site will eventually offer "travel packages with tickets to his concerts and concert merchandise." Ya know. Besides low, low airfares and bargain car rentals.
And even though the company's logo at the bottom of the page isn't properly trimmed and posted(as of 4/2, anyway), the site is apparently legit. They're linked up with Travelocity.
So, die-hard Kanye fans, brace yourselves. You will soon be able to get a great deal on following Mr. West to 15 cities so you can hear him perform "Stronger" 15 times.


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Batman fan Mark Anderson bought a package of 1966 Batman Valentine cards from eBay and uploaded it for everyone's amusement. These cards came out very soon after the Adam West TV series debuted, so they're still using the comic book versions of the characters. The actors faces were used for the following year! No matter what decade it is, you know you can be sure to get corny puns every February. Though Batman and Robin's cards are simple enough, I have no idea what Penguin's card means.
See more of the cards here. Check out these Valentine cards of two of our favorite villains: Darth Vader and Gollum!
(Via Neatorama)


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Impacted by the wind, the sun, and the soil, the tree responds to its environment.
No tree, or abuser, is divorced from the circumstances of life. Those circumstances, however challenging, do not excuse the abuse.
The tree stands tall: it is resilient despite the obstacles it faces from the climate.
The tree's strength reminds us that it is possible to overcome even the harshest of circumstances.Abusers must learn to take responsibility for their own actionsand change their behaviour.
A red streak winds itself around the trunk of the tree. Many of thetender leaves attached to the branches show evidence of a reddish hue.
Violence is learned behaviour: children bear the marks of abuse just as the leaves bear the streak of red that winds itself around the tree.
The sun and the moon provide a backdrop for the viewing of the tree.
Abusers strike when the sun is shining and when it has set. They instill fear day and night.
Some of the tree's roots are already dead. Yet, under the ground, there is a split kernel, and a tiny sliver of green.
There is always hope for change. The cycle can be broken.
Want to learn more about those who act abusively? We invite you to consult our book, Men Who Batter.


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Continue Reading at Graffiti With Punctuation.
A domain of film news and reviews, covering new releases, film festivals and classics alike, edited by Andy Buckle, a Sydney film enthusiast and reviewer.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Review: Cloud Atlas (Tom Tykwer, Lana and Andy Wachowski, 2012)
Have you ever experienced a flash of déjà vu, or feel like your life has been affected by some unexpected karma? Are we all connected to people from the past and do our actions influence the future? These questions (and many more) are tackled by the collaborative team of Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run) and Lana and Andy Wachowski (The Matrix, Speed Racer), whose ambitious large-scale screen adaptation of David Mitchell's dense, multi-narrative 2004 novel, Cloud Atlas, is a masterful achievement. The film's four-year journey to the screen was a difficult one, and with the production budget predominantly supplied by independent sources, it is one of the most expensive independent films ever made. Unfortunately, a poor showing at the U.S box office has resulted in a limited Australian release. Though some may find navigating these boldly assembled interweaving of stories frustrating and unmanageable, Cloud Atlas repeatedly rewards patience and becomes a masterfully epic experience that should not be missed.
Cloud Atlas tells six simultaneous stories, and unlike in the novel, where I believe the stories are introduced consecutively and leak into one another, here they are cut together to create the feeling of parallel existence, despite being separated by decades and centuries. What could a San Francisco lawyer journeying through the South Pacific in 1849, a young British composer in 1936, a journalist who stumbles across a conspiracy in 1973, an aging publisher wrongly admitted to a retirement home in 2012, a Neo-Soul clone/liberator in 2144 and a tribesman in an unknown post-apocalyptic future possibly have in common? As we explore each of these fascinating tales, we find not only the same actors appearing in wildly different roles, we watch as each of the characters are met with conflict and antagonism (often unjust authority) and must rely on acts of love, kindness, and bravery to overcome them. Over time, a killer becomes a hero and unlikely friendship inspires a revolution.
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Ben & Jerry's Flavours We May Lose to Climate Change
Climate change is causing havoc in weather systems around our world, as evidenced by record temperature swings last year. We're concerned about this for a number of reasons, including the effect that climate change is already having on food production around the world.
Farmers plant, grow and harvest based on, more or less, consistent and predictable weather— but if we don't curb carbon emissions the new normal will become intensified rains and prolonged droughts that can ruin a whole season's crops. Here are 4 Ben & Jerry's ingredients that are in climate change's crosshairs, putting the flavours that use those ingredients on the "Endangered Pints List."
Cocoa, aka Chocolate:
From Phish Food to Chocolate Fudge Brownie, chocolate is the foundation of many Ben & Jerry's flavours. A study by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture points out that an increase of 2.3 degrees Celsius in West Africa by 2050 would make the region too warm to grow cocoa. A recent Earth Security Index report showed that unsustainable farming practices over the past 4 decades have already taken a bite out of 40% of land available for cocoa crops. Climate change is putting pressure on this shaky production model by exacerbating droughts worldwide. Farmers dependent on this crop for their survival are turning to more resilient plants, or just giving up cocoa overall. What happens in Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire— which account for around 60% of the world's chocolate production alone— may spell chocolate disaster for ice cream everywhere.
From walnuts to pistachios, the nutty texture of flavours like Chunky Monkey are facing a serious, ahem, crunch. It turns out that nut trees adapted to temperate regions require a winter chill to stimulate spring growth. That sort of weather is looking like it will be in short supply with the intensifying temperatures in key nut growing regions including California, southeastern U.S., China and Australia. Already, the loss of winter chill has hit nut crops in Israel, Morocco, Tunisia and the Cape region of South Africa. Tree crops, unlike ground crops, take a lot longer to plant and reach maturity, making it relatively impossible to relocate when the weather changes. It won't be adaptation, it'll be starting over. That's a tough nut to crack.
Those spiking temperatures are also causing problems for the humble, if totally misnamed, legume that's critical for flavours like Peanut Butter Cup. We count on peanut butter for its consistently smooth texture, but the peanut plant itself is fickle, requiring consistent temps and just the right amount of rainfall to flourish. A severe southwest dry out in 2011 shriveled the year's U.S. crop, sending prices shooting up 40%. Unfortunately, the 2013 National Climate Assessment from the U.S. Global Change Research Program predicts that climate change will lead to hotter and drier summers for the southern states that are the main peanut producers in the U.S. Gnarly price increases could make peanut butter an elite delicacy.
Getting out the door in the morning without a cup of coffee just seems crazy, but a reality with limited espresso— and no flavours like Coffee Coffee BuzzBuzzBuzz— is already shaping up. Because this plant is adapted to specific climate zones, just ½ degree warming of temperature can stunt the global coffee crop. The scary part is that we are well on our way to exceed that level of warming. Too much moisture is also bad, and the recent uptick in unseasonable and extreme rainfall events has seen Indian growers' crop decline by nearly 30% between 2002 and 2011. As with many crops, climate change has also increased the range of critical coffee pests, including the coffee berry borer. The result as a whole is devastating, with one study predicting the number of pre-existing regions suitable for growing coffee to shrink anywhere from 65–100% by 2080. As the Union of Concerned Scientists puts it, it's time to wake up and smell the coffee.
Will these ingredients disappear? We certainly hope not. Join us in putting a stop to climate change and protecting these flavours from the "Endangered Pints List."


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The Lilly Endowment is providing a $15.7 million grant to Indiana's largest early childhood education nonprofit to reinforce child care opportunities, especially for vulnerable children, amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The Early Learning Indiana nonprofit will use the money to launch a fund that will offer grants to providers to offset new expenses to safely operate. Such expenses include measures such as better sanitation practices, promoting social distancing, adopting new staffing and expanding to serve more children.
Licensed and registered centers, ministries and family child care home providers are eligible to apply. Grants of up to $40,000 will be offered based on the number of children served, with an additional sum available to providers with a quarter or more of their enrolled children receiving federal welfare assistance from the state of Indiana.
Early child care organizations can learn more and apply at www.earlylearningin.org/comebackstronger. Guidelines and application instructions will be available Tuesday.
For the latest news and resources about COVID-19, bookmark our Coronavirus In Indiana page here.


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Events Calendar
Annual Family Camp
It's here! Our Annual Family Camp. Get ready for a time of relaxation, recreation, enjoyable fellowship, and encouraging preaching. Spending time in a camp setting is like no other experience, and you will definitely receive a blessing from your week at camp. If you've signed up for camp, be sure to check your packet for information on what to bring. The brochure is attached to the calendar.
Women's Ministry "Thrive"
This event is an encouraging time for our ladies. We will meet at 6:30pm on the second Tuesday of each month at the church for a time of devotion, discussion and a fun activity. Devotions will start promptly at 7pm. This time is a casual time of fellowship to encourage one another and make Christ like friendships. Please contact the church office for more information. You may also visit our Women's Ministry page or check the calendar for more details.
Annual Car Show- All Proceeds go to "The Refuge."
This event is free to the public. Registration is from 9am to noon. Awards at 2:30pm. Fundraiser goes to "The Refuge" our Youth Center. Hotdogs and Onion Rings will be sold. Raffle tickets will be sold for prizes. Les Schwab pitching cage, ball toss and sack race event for kids. Live music!
Women's Retreat – Theme: Thrive Connect
The fall women's retreat has its theme "Thrive Connect.". Bring your Bible and a heart ready to be changed. Register online at sidcag.org events.


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Japan is world famous for its sakura, or cherry blossom, season. In early spring, thousands of trees across Japan burst forth in shades of red, pink, and white, washing the land in color. Many families enjoy hanami at this time, picnics or parties for the purpose of viewing the flowers.
Tourists also flock to Japan during the cherry blossom season. Tokyo is a prime viewing location due to its abundant parks and green spaces. If you'd like to see Tokyo in bloom, when should you plan your vacation? What are the best spots for cherry blossom viewing? And, how can you use your Japan Rail Pass to get the most out of your trip?
This guide is designed to help you answer those questions and plan your own hanami experience. Don't forget also to check our cherry blossom travel tips!
The cherry blossom season in Tokyo typically peaks from late March to early April. Over the past ten years, the first blooms have occurred between March 20 and March 28. Full bloom usually peaks between March 27 and April 6.
If traveling internationally, the first week in April provides good odds of seeing the blossoms at their peak, but don't forget to check our bloom reports regularly. You may also use your JR Pass to experience hanami in other cities like Kyoto (usually one week later) to experiencing peak blooms during your stay.
Koishikawa Korakuen
The Koishikawa Korakuen is one of the most famous gardens in Tokyo. It is home to dozens of cherry trees, including an interesting specimen of weeping cherry. If your trip threatens to end before full bloom is reached, fear not, because the weeping cherry of Korakuen typically blossoms days before the rest.
- Opening times and prices: The garden is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is ¥300.
- How to get there: The Koishikawa Korakuen is in the Tokyo Dome area, a ten-minute walk from any of two surrounding JR stations (Iidabashi and Suidobashi, on the Chuo-sobu line) or the Korakuen station of Tokyo Metro.
Shinjuku Gyoen
This garden in central Tokyo is home to dozens of species of cherry tree, totaling more than 1,000 trees in all. Because of the great variety, you can enjoy blossoms in Shinjuku even if you are a week early or late for Tokyo's full bloom.
- Opening times and prices: The garden is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and admission is ¥200.
- How to get there: Take the Yamanote Line to Shinjuku Station. The garden is a ten-minute walk from the station.
Ueno Park
More than a thousand trees, free admission, and night lights make Ueno Park one of the most popular hanami spots in Tokyo. Ueno's trees usually blossom one to three days earlier than most of the cherry trees in Tokyo. You can even enjoy the blossoms alongside fascinating wildlife at the Ueno Park Zoo!
- Opening times and prices: Admission to the park is free, but museums and the zoo located onsite each have individual fees. For two weeks during the blooming season, the park will be illuminated nightly from 5:30 to 8 p.m. for nocturnal sakura viewing.
- How to get there: Take the Yamanote Line or the Keihin-Tohoku line to Ueno Station. The park is a short walk away.
The moats and waterways in the northwest of the Imperial Palace are lined with hundreds of cherry trees. Boats can be rented to view the trees from the water, and the trees are illuminated in the evenings. If you get hungry, enjoy the food stands and another thousand cherry trees at nearby Yasukuni Shrine.
- Opening times and prices: Admission is free, and illumination takes place until 10 p.m. nightly.
- How to get there: The park is located a short distance from Kudanshita Station (Tokyo Metro).
Asukayama Park
Asukayama Park is considered to be the oldest and most famous of Tokyo's hanami spots. Several hundred cherry trees are illuminated each evening, and admission is free.
- Opening times and prices: Asukayama Park opens all day and admission is free.
- How to get there: The park is only a short walk from Oji Station, on the Keihin-Tohoku line.
Meguro River
The cherry blossoms along Meguro River (in the cover picture), near the Nakameguro area, are also a sight to behold. There is also an illumination festival from March 24 to April 9 for nighttime cherry blossom viewing, which is an unique experience.
- Opening times and prices: The Riverwalk is public so is open all day and there is no admission fee.
- How to get there: Take the Yamanote line to JR Meguro Station, then walk along the river to Nakameguro Station.
Inokashira Park
Over 500 cherry trees stand around a beautiful pond which is lit up each night throughout the season. Visitors can rent boats and paddle around the water among the stunning blooms. The surrounding area (Kichijoji) is known for its stylish bars, cafes, and restaurants.
- Opening times and prices: Admission is free though you have to pay to rent a boat. The park is always open and the illumination lasts from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.
- How to get there: Take the Chūō-Sobu Line to Kichijoji Station. Take the park Exit, cross the main road, and take the first right to the entrance of the park.
Sumida Park
The park is located on the picturesque Sumida River and sits between the Azumabashi and Sakurabashi bridges. It has been a popular spot for cherry blossom viewing ever since the Edo Period (1603-1868) though nowadays you also can enjoy a sensational view of the capital's skyline.
- Opening times and prices: The park is open 24/7 and access is free. Boats are available for river trips along the Sumida for a fee.
- How to get there: The park is very close to Asakusa Station which you can get to on the Ginza line and the Tobu Isesaki Line (both not included with your JR Pass).
Yoyogi Park
Yoyogi is one of the largest national parks in Tokyo and one of the most popular places for a picnic. If you want to get a good spot it is worth going early as it gets crowded. It is close to Harajuku, Meiji Jingu Shrine, Shibuya, and Shinjuku, so you can easily combine a visit to the park with some sightseeing.
- Opening times and prices: Access to the park is free and it is open all day. Go as early as possible for the best picnic spot.
- How to get there: Harajuku station is just 5 minutes away and can be reached on the Yamanote line.
Koishikawa Botanical Garden
Koishikawa Botanical Garden is part of Japan's most prestigious college, Tokyo University. The landscape garden preserves thousands of types of trees and other plants and is a peaceful and pleasant spot for cherry blossom viewing, as it does not draw large crowds like many of the others.
- Opening times and prices: The garden is open from 9:00 a.m. to 16:30 p.m. and costs 400 yen to enter. It is closed on Mondays and from December 29 to January 3.
- How to get there: The garden is a 15-minute walk from either Myogadani Station (Marunouchi Subway Line) or Hakusan Station (Mita Subway Line).
Which cherry blossom spot is your favorite? Why not visit them all, using your JR Pass to travel quickly and affordably.


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Senior Living Technology Solutions
ASD® has a deep portfolio full of senior living project experience, from large new builds with robust technology packages to simple break-fix requests. Our experienced team can design, install, and support your systems and the infrastructure that powers them. We're familiar with building codes, licensing, and what current technologies will help grow your business and keep your patrons happy and safe.
"We received very positive feedback from everyone involved with the project. Specifically, we heard good feedback on the technicians attention to detail, assistance with troubleshooting and staying on site long enough to verify all was working. Our team felt that your crew was knowledgeable and easy to work with."
PHILIP FIELER | Sr. Real Estate Manager
"We received very positive feedback from everyone involved with the project. Specifically, we heard good feedback on the technician's attention to detail, assistance with troubleshooting, and staying onsite long enough to verify all was working. Our team felt that your crew was knowledgeable and easy to work with."
Philip Fieler | Sr. Real Estate Manager
What ASD® Can Do For You
High-tech and the senior population don't seem like they go together, but the duo is actually a match made in heaven. The right technology systems can help seniors maintain autonomy, keep them happy, and improve their overall quality of life. Not only that, but it can make the staff's life easier and more productive. These complex environments require multiple technologies working together to maximize effectiveness.
ASD® can design, install, and support all of your low voltage technologies, including but not limited to:
Resident experience
Wearable Technology
Smart Apartments
Smart Speakers
Mass Notification
Video Conferencing
Nurse Call
Phone Systems
Access Control
Video Surveillance
Visitor Kiosks
Video Walls
Digital Signage
Virtual Reality
Computer Labs
Why Senior Living Facilities Choose ASD®
We are here to help you keep your people safe and your assets secure. We are here to provide senior living technology solutions that enhance your patients experience, make your staff's lives easier, and portray your brand to all who enter your space. We are here to make sure your infrastructure works for you and with you, without the need for constant tech support. But why do companies just like yours choose to partner with ASD®?
Longevity in the Industry
ASD® has been in the low voltage space for over 30 years. During this time, we have successfully serviced hundreds of senior living residents facilities from small single-site server refreshes to nationwide technology deployment projects.
Full Lifecycle Services
From conception to completion, ASD® is ready. Your organizations deserve a single source where projects can be imagined, installed, rolled out, and maintained. With our design, build, deploy, and support services, you can rely on a single provider for your workplace technology's entire lifecycle.
Multiple Low Voltage Technologies
Make your life easier by combining scopes and vendors. ASD® has advanced technical capabilities in audio visual, security, privacy, notification, infrastructure, led lighting, and any other low voltage technology your organization would need.
Experienced Team
Our culture of teamwork, ownership, and accountability is second to none. On average, our project managers have 16 years of experience. Not only that, but our team is rich with certifications like RCDD, CTS-D, DMC-E, PMP, and more. This all means that you can have peace of mind knowing that your project is in good hands when it's at ASD®.
National Footprint
With a single call, you can engage us on any technology from coast to coast. We go where you go, whether it's Jupiter, FL or Juno, AK. We have over 12,000 technicians across the United States who are ready to mobilize and get to your project site.
Of seniors use the internet and want a good connection
Of seniors say technology helps them keep in touch with friends and family
Reduction in energy consumption when switching to LED bulbs from conventional lights
Of respondents said that telemedicine, smart home technology, and apps are extremely impactful for seniors
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Technology can improve patient and employee satisfaction. It creates an environment that facilitates communication, safety, inclusiveness, fun, and efficiency. The right technology systems can make it easy for patients to call loved ones, control their rooms (temperature, lighting, etc.), and retain as much autonomy as possible.
Typical systems have no published shelf life, although most technology eventually becomes obsolete. If you're concerned about how normal wear and tear will impact your purchase, then you may want to consider our Support services. If you're concerned about the large investment that may become obsolete, then you may want to consider our Technology-as-a-Service program.
Sound masking is a great way to improve speech privacy, reduce unnecessary and bothersome noises, and bolster HIPPA oral compliance. It makes chatter harder to distinguish, increasing patient confidentiality, even in shared and busy spaces. Check out our free Ultimate Guide to Sound Masking to learn more.
There is no "normal" cost; it depends on your organization's needs and requirements. The more high-tech, the more it is going to cost. To get a better feel for factors that influence cost (and how to save money), go to our Resource Library and download our purchasing guides. Or if you're ready for some rough numbers, then check out our Technology Project Budget Calculator.
Let's discuss your senior living technology solutions.


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Officials from Sealed Air Corporation, manufacturer of protective packaging and performance-based materials, have announced the company is expanding operations at its facility in the Industrial Air Park facility in Grenada, Miss.
The expansion, which will enable the company to take advantage of new market opportunities, follows the downsizing of company plants in the northeast U.S. The project represents a company investment of $3 million and will create 10 new jobs at the Grenada facility.
"Sealed Air is a valued member of our state's business community, and it is always rewarding when an existing company expands and creates new opportunities for our workforce," Governor Phil Bryant said. "I appreciate Sealed Air's continued commitment to Grenada and the state with the creation of these new jobs."
"This expansion is the company's second in a year, and that speaks volumes about the state's business climate and workforce," said Brent Christensen, executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA). "I congratulate Sealed Air on another expansion, and I thank the company for its continued investment in Grenada and for creating new jobs for the area's workers. MDA is proud to have been able to assist with this project."
MDA worked with company and local officials to provide assistance in support of the project through the Momentum Mississippi Incentives program.
"The excellent work ethics through the years of the employees of the Grenada facility have greatly influenced the confidence factor for the corporation to continue to grow and expand in this area," said David Kinard, Sealed Air Grenada plant manager. "I would like to recognize and thank the employees at the Grenada plant for their dedication and hard work. They deserve the credit for helping the Grenada area grow economically."
Sealed Air Corporation, with operations in 51 countries, is a leading global innovator and manufacturer of a wide range of protective packaging and performance-based materials essential to many consumer and industrial markets. The company employs over 16,000 and has over 100 manufacturing facilities worldwide. For more information, please visit www.sealedair.com.
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