text:
Eval Analysis
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Related pages: Web Accessibility Preliminary Evaluation, Eval in process
Tasks & Use Cases
The following table lists tasks, example user cases with audience, and focus for each document. (Note that we haven't decided whether or not to do a new doc on evaluation in the process.)
task | example use cases | prelim | conform overview |
WCAG-EM | process | |
Get general idea of accessibility of a webpage (major problems, some issues, maybe OK) |
mostly | maybe some | |||
Get an overview of WCAG-EM |
maybe | lots | maybe just a little | ||
Thorough, authoratative evaluation of WCAG conformance |
maybe at first | mostly | |||
Evaluate throughout design and development process |
some | lots |
- I have added some extra use cases. I wanted to have different types of websites: large and small websites, whole websites and sets of pages or new sections, and different types of developers/evaluators: inhouse and agency developers, third party evaluation, and also maintenance (I think its important!) I would like to discuss them and any other variations that anyone wants to add. To help discussion I turned the bullets into numbers. Also, I fixed a table format problem that I caused, but not the alignment issue. {Suzette}
Use case for preliminary evaluation
{@@dboudreau - 20120928} First draft - proposal
- Vendor is commissioned to develop a WCAG 2.0 or Section 508 compliant website
- Client wants to know if the vendor actually delivered an accessible website, but doesn't have the skill set to really measure it.
- Client uses the Preliminary Evaluation process (simple tests) to check for basic things like alts, keyboard nav and headings on random pages.
- Client determines if the website passes those tests or not, based on the tests results.
- If the website passes those tests, then client or designated technical person digs further with additional informal tests.
- If the website doesn't pass those tests, then client commissions a technical profile to integrally follow the WCAG-EM methodology.
- Find and fix - developer, or content editor tests newly added content and fixes commonly occuring missed elements eg text alternatives, form elements, link labels, text resizing and colour contrast prior to release or more in depth evaluation. {Suzette}
- From Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology 1.0. Preliminary is mentioned three times including 1.3, 2.0 and this one: 4.1:"Note: It is recommended to carry out preliminary reviews before carrying out a conformance evaluation to identify obvious errors and to develop a rough understanding of the overall performance of the website."{Suzette}
Preliminary Evaluation Analysis
Primary audience:
- Non-technical people with low accessibility knowledge who want a general idea of the level of accessibility of a web page
Secondary audiences:
- Newbie accessibility evaluators who want to dive in progressively
- Knowledgeable evaluators who want to run very high level evaluation only
Criteria for checks
- Severity of barriers - impact on accessibility
- Common accessibility barriers (what we see often as mistakes in web pages)
- Easy to understand
- Not complicated issues (not if lots of debate on forums)
- Pass-fail not complex;
Not likely to give false positive or false negative - Checks that clearly related to specific WCAG success criteria
- ? easy of fixing
- ? has good example in BAD
- Give more weight to checks that do not require a specific browser or download tools
- Might give more weight to some checks that don't require seeing visual rendering of page.
- One web page — Focus on one web page, as opposed to broader issues of selecting representative pages, etc., which is addressed in WCAG-EM
- Tool-specific info — For this draft we have some tool-specific guidance. However, there are potential issues with vendor-neutrality and we might need to address this a different way — for example, moving tool-specific guidance to Web Platform Docs or the WAI-Engage wiki where people can easily add tool-specific info.
- Check intros/explanation — Include only brief explanation. Link liberally to relevant info in Accessibility Requirements section or Understanding WCAG page and others in the "Learn more from:" sections.
Old discussion points on this:- Reasons to have more information on this page:
- Newbies can get the basics from this one page without having to follow links elsewhere. {Shawn}
- Can have very basic, focused description, whereas other places might be more complex. {Shawn}
- Reasons to have less information on this page:
- Once people understand the basics, it will be clutter to have to wade through all the information each time they want to use this as a checklist. {Shawn}
- Duplicating information increases maintenance. {Shawn}
- The title will probably contain "quick" so my gut feeling is to aim at being short, clear and easy. In this way, people will use this reference. Pointers to more complete information could be at the end under "Resources". {Vicki}
- Perhaps if we had the expand-collapse functionality, it would work to have more explanation on this page? {Shawn}
- Reasons to have more information on this page:
- Issue, quick versus thorough — Some things you can check partly in a quick check, but will need much more effort to do thorough check. Need to make this very clear so someone doesn't think passing the quick check means it's A-OK.
- ...
Should we have images of the menu selections for the toolbars? e.g., where we say things like:
In the toolbar, select "Structure", then "Heading structure".
For example, see To check alt text - with FF toolbar section
Would having images here help?
Or add more clutter than usefulness?
- Tempting but on balance I think this would begin to look like a long tutorial and would change the character of the document. Maybe just offer one instance of a toolbar. Some images might help to confirm for instance what a page title, heading or a 'focus' etc look like and might be useful? {Suzette}
- I find a screenshot helpful as it sometimes makes the explanation a lot easier- if possible, all the images should have the same width. {Vicki; +1 Andrew}
- comment {name}
[end Images of menus section]
RESOLVED: Use order in option 2 for now.
OPEN: Need to discuss headings.
What's the story we're telling?
- Story option: Here's a process you can go through to check a web page.
- Story option: Here are the main sections of a web page and how to check them.
Some order options:
- Should it be organized by topics, like it currently is? Or should it be significantly re-organized to flow the steps a person would take? (e.g., first open Validator; check x, y, z. then go to color analyzer; check color. then go to ...)
- Should we put the most important and common first, like alt text?
- Should we put the easiest first, like maybe page title and headings?
- @@comment {name}
Easy Checks Flow option 2 draft:
- I suggest by page elements [as in this flow option draft] {Suzette}
- Yes! I very much like this organization. It makes sense to a novice tester and can include all of the items we have mentioned. Most of the information can easily be ported over. I will give it a shot with Forms since I still have work to do on content for that. {Sharron}
- Looks good to me, too! {Vicki}
- Great addition to the example by Sharron to forms and links (keyboard)Thanks {Suzette}
- I'm fine with the order of the topics. I think we want simpler, clearer headings. For example: "Page identity" doesn't seem a common term. I think just "Page title" is good. "Links and navigation" are likely to be understood as the navigation area (e.g., tabs across top, menu on left); but this section is about a lot more than "navigation". {Shawn}
- EO 8/Feb - make sure first check is one anyone can do (done not require vision)
Two levels of checks?
resolved: EOWG 25 January 2013 decided on one level of checks. (old notes below)
Originally we planned to have two levels of checks:
- easiest ("5 minute") - does not require tools or a specific browser; very easy
- deeper look ("15 minute") - requires more tools, skills, time, etc.
(#Criteria for checks is below.)
The 23 January version is looking like it might be best to have just one level. For one thing, we've pared it down to a fairly small number of checks (6-8 depending on what stays). Another issue is that it would be redundant to have checks for one thing in two different places (e.g., alt text both in 5-minute list and in 15-minute list). Also, it seems that often the test-with-tools is better and easier than the no-download-tools-test, and in those cases, it would be best to present the better & easier check first and have the no-download-tools-test as a backup option. For example, see the current draft of the Check for alt text section.
How detailed for BAD?
discussed in EOWG 25 January 2013
Current plan is to have some tips on using BAD to help learn how to do each check. Some options on how to do this:
1. Just a sentence or two to say which page(s) to use and examples of what to look for — like the BAD Example for page titles
- pro: littlest amount of text {Shawn}
- con: doesn't walk newbies through the steps {Shawn}
2. Minimal instructions and notes on what steps to take and what to look for — e.g., like in the 23 January version of "To try checking alt text with BAD" and "To try checking headings with BAD" in the main page
- pro: mid amount of text {Shawn}
- con: newbies might not be able to follow it as well {Shawn}
3. Detailed step-by-step instructions — like in 18 January cut from main page
- pro: easier for newbies to follow {Shawn}
- con: lots and lots of text that is repetitive with the instructions above {Shawn}
Title ideas
Previous page was titled Preliminary Review of Websites for Accessibility.
Do we want to change it?
Should we keep "Preliminary" somehow in the title for old links (i.e., places that link using the old title)?
- remove the word "preliminary" - it's a "stop-to-think" word, leave alone "cannot pronounce" ;) {Vicki}
- I agree with Vicki, this word is really difficult to pronounce. I like the idea of replacing it with quick check. - Sylvie}
- In other contexts (like exams) the word gets contracted to prelims. Semantically it is closer to the idea of doing some 'first attempt' checks, that are not final or complete but give a general idea of how well you are doing. It reminds me of hospital emeregency facilities in the UK using 'triage' to sort out who is critical and who can wait around for a couple of hours! Possibly alternatives could include 'initial', 'first pass',or 'pre-checks' Suzette}
- Suggestion: Could a server-side redirect be used to prevent broken links and lost favorites? {Bim} -- Shawn replies: We will not break the URI! We most likely will put this new page at the same URI, even if the title is different. --
For discussion of whether to put at same URI or not, see minutes from 11 Jan
[comment template: summary - Comment {name}]
See EOWG minutes from 8 February and 11 Jan for title discussions.
- Easy Checks - A First Look at Web Accessibility
- "A First Look at Web Accessibility" is misleading - it's just a first look at testing/checking {Andrew}
- Quick Checks: Preliminary Evaluation of Web Accessibility
- not - Difficult to pronounce, would like to find something that says the same thing but is easier. - Sylvie}
- no - For the same "preliminary" reasons given above - Vicki}
- Quick Checks: Preliminary Web Accessibility Evaluation
- I'm not sure that 'Quick' is the right sales pitch for the document. Its more about doing some easy checks that indicate if there are possible problems that need further indepth investigation, or could be quickly fixed before organising a full inspection. - Suzette}
- no - For the same "preliminary" reasons given above - Vicki}
- Quick Checks for Accessibility (Preliminary Review of Web Accessibility)
- part - I like this one but we could remove the brackets. What about: "quick and easy checks for accessibility" - Sylvie}
- Quick and Easy Checks for Accessibility
- like - {Sylvie}
- like - {Vicki}
- Quick Check to Evaluate Accessibility
- maybe - "evaluate" might be good for SEO? {shawn}
- like - like this one too - Sylvie}
- like - {Vicki}
- like - {Bim}
- Quick Check to Test for Accessibility
- maybe - "test" might be good for SEO? {shawn}
- like - {Vicki}
- Accessibility Quick Check
- like - I can see people using this as a search term. {Bim}
- Simple Evaluation
- not - Maybe this one is too simple. - Sylvie}
- Don't like - Evaluation of what? {Bim}
- Evaluating accessibility quickly and efficiently
- like - {Sylvie}
- Checks to perform a quick web accessibility evaluation
- like - {Sylvie}
- Getting a quick idea of the accessibility level of a Website
- like - {Sylvie}
- like - {Vicki}
- 10 easy tests for accessibility conformance of your website
- or whatever number we come up with {Suzette}
- no - think we don't want "conformance" in the title of this since it won't get you to conformance, and the other doc focuses on conformance {Shawn}
- Basic evaluation....
- Initial....
- Accessibility Quick Checks: getting started with web accessibility evaluation
Usability Testing - notes
- Do users imply an importance order to the list of checks?
- maybe we need to explicitly state (in the Introduction?) that the order of the checks does not reflect any importance, but rather relates (sort of) to their complexity
- How do users handle if they can't do a test due to disability?
- do we need to indicate which tests anyone can do vs those that need vision, hearing, etc?
- is Intro complete enough?
- does it need to say that some tests won't work in all circumstances/situations (e.g. images placed on page via CSS)
- any insight on the title?
- views on images - helpful or cluttering?


text:
Everybody is a Critic
Photo taken by Mr. Blank
Last Wednesday night I decided to give Andrea a break and take the kids out to Chick-fil-A. Sometimes this can be a hectic endeavor, but I almost always enjoy it. Something about enduring a frenetic dinner with a 5 year-old and a 19 month-old gives me a chance to work on my Daddy skills as well as spend some time with my kids, sans Mommy.
On the way to the restaurant, I was going to be passing by the mural that I'm currently working on behind Victory Vintage Home. I always slow down each time I happen to find myself in the vicinity of the mural just so I can try and view it fresh, with new eyes. That way I might be able to see if there are any problems with the thing, to see what might need to be done next to it. Anyway, it was 7pm, and with the winter hours it was already dark. But no matter, because I knew that there would be plenty of amber light shining upon the mural, giving me just enough lighting to check up on it.
As I pulled up next to the wall, I noticed an unusual amount of activity going on in front of the family in the middle of the mural. Now, I didn't think much of this because I knew that Victory shares its parking lot with a pizza restaurant and a bar nearby. It's not unusual for some kind of activity to be going on in that parking lot, but because it was a Wednesday night, and because the 'activity' consisted of about 4 or 5 teenage boys clamoring about, looking like they were trying to climb up onto the roof of the store, it caught my eye. At least one guy was being hoisted up by another. My first thought was, "Oh, they must've thrown something up onto the roof of the store and they're trying to retrieve it."
So I drove on, not pulling into the parking lot, not confronting the teenagers. I felt that it probably wasn't anything serious.
But then I the more thought about it, the more strange that whole scenario started to play out in my head. If they were just getting something up off the roof of the store, why were they acting so suspicious? Suddenly, my initial thought of an innocent situation didn't seem so plausible. I turned around to head back to the store.
No one was there. No teenagers, no pickup truck that was parked in front of the mural. I pulled up to the side of the wall and did not see any movement on the store's rooftop. I started to pull away until I caught a glimpse of reflected light coming off of the mural, as if it was wet. But it wasn't wet all over, like it rained or anything, but only on specific areas -- right on each of the heads of the family that I had painted. I backed up and parked right next to the family and got out to take a closer look.
Yup. The mural had been pissed on. There was urine running down the face of the Dad, the Mom and the little girl, with scuff marks from the boys' shoes here and there. Because the parents' heads were situated higher than your typical crotch height, what I saw those boys doing was trying to pee right on the heads by being hoisted up by one of their buddies. This was not your run of the mill, "hey i gotta take a piss" moment. This was done on purpose. I also noticed that some of them had spat on the heads, too. This was deliberate.
Well, there was nothing I could do about it then. I got back in the car and went ahead to eat with the kids. I then waited until after the kids were in bed when I went back to the wall and doused the affected areas with hot water. No harm done, all is good as new.
So, this got me to thinking, why did they do this?. Well, there are two several possible explanations:
1. I think it was game night that night and so these guys had just come from the school with heightened adrenaline. When they drove by the wall, they decided that it would be kinda funny to desecrate the faces to this mural because it was so convenient. Just some silly tomfoolery done by your typical average teenager boys. No big deal.
2. These boys, being black, were not too keen by this all-white family and wanted to do something about it. Make a statement, to some degree. With piss and spit.
Do you know what I think? I think it's a little bit of both. Decatur (where the store is) is a very cosmopolitan area, with a great mix of both white and black. Even where there may be unity in some communities, there'll always be some distention and disputes in others. When I first thought about the idea of using these illustrations for this mural, I did have second thoughts about putting this very vanilla white family right in the middle of the mural. My take on murals is that there should always be some sort of connection to the community. People who live in the area where a mural is going up should at least have some ownership to this new work of art that's being put up. After all, they are the ones who will be seeing it on a daily basis. It's a sort of artistic call and response, a give and receive, if you will. Some murals will be completely community oriented, possibly including images and faces of the people who live there. Some will be more commercial in nature, but hopefully offer something more to what that particular store provides for the community. The Victory Vintage Home mural falls into the latter category.
So, when I began the mural, whenever I had someone call out or pull up next to me, I always cringed a bit for fear of some possible criticism from people who possibly wouldn't get it. But all that cringing was for naught because everyone has been so cool with the mural. I've received nothing but praise. Everyone seems to like it.
The recent incident kinda put me back on defensive mode. I'm over it now, because I realize that I can't make everyone like the painting. I can't force anyone to like my artwork. All I can do is just do my thang and hope that everyone accepts it. That's really what ART is all about anyway. I once had an instructor who laid it out for me: Art never said to like me, but to accept me. Accept this, if you can, and eventually you will understand it.
If the teens were trying to make a statement, I understand. I can understand if this mural represents something that they might be frustrated about on a daily basis: discrimination and racism -- of which, I have no right telling them how they should feel. But I know I'm right to say that they totally and completely misunderstand my intentions with this mural. I'm not trying to say subconsciously that only white people can come into this store. All I was doing was re-appropriating some fun vintage illustrations that featured modern furniture to create a connection with what Lee sold in her store, which of course, is modern furniture. The mural is an extension of the store, and should be taken lightly.
Again, I'm over it now. And I never really got upset with all the urination and expectoration because I know that piss and spit can be washed off, with no worries. But I can't wash off what those guys really think of the mural. Perhaps I am reading too much into this whole thing, but if I'm not, I do hope that they can accept this mural at face value: just something fun that hopefully makes you smile as you drive by.
34 comments:
- AnonymousJanuary 18, 2006 1:15 PM
Yuck, I'm sorry Ward. Kinda discouraging. But boys will be boys no matter what color, socioeconomic background or taste in art. I went to a Christian college where a backwoods "super Christian" wandered on campus and tore down nude drawings that the college had purchased from the artist. And the college went on to apologize for hanging the art and never prosecuted. Needlesss to say I left that art program. Your thoughts are very valid and healthy. Thanks for taking some of the drama out of it and taking a bow to what you are called to do.
ReplyDelete That's messed up but i think teenagers just do dumb stuff. I know i did alot of dumb things just cause everybody thought it would be funny at the time but it really wasn't. I dont think it was a black or white thing i think it was a dumb thing. Cause if they really didnt want it up they would have put paint or somthing uo to try and cover it up. Just do you and dont worry about it too much cause you kick major booty with your art.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Andre. I think you're right about that -- they were just doing stoopid stuff. I guess I got a little sensitive there. And you're right -- if they wanted to make a statement, they would've done something more permanent, like spray paint.
Thanks, gkaiou for your comment. I'm glad that my work inspires you. I'm humbled by your words. It's always been an ongoing quest for me to try and make that special connection with people who view my artwork. Glad to see that I connected with you.
Thanks, guys!God, Ward--I just read this over at Boing Boing(actually, it's cool they know about you, now I think about it! there's one good thing, anayway), and had to rush over here. I know what feelings that would arouse in me. And I'll say this: the first thought in my head, reading only that some "boys" had pissed and spit upon your mural, was that it was the "happy-face" look of those heads that bugged the kids, and drove them to do it. It's no good desecrating something "edgy" or dark--but those retro people are sooo happy and sweet, and of course those kids haven't any feel for retro art or irony(I know you didn't mean the mural that way, but it well could have been intended ironically or at least a bit sideways by an artist). I only read after I'd formed that opinon that they were black, and that does add another possible dimension--but I am not sure it is that. Is it a largely black neighborhood? if not, I think it's just the urge to despoil something sweet. The retro art that means not only fun design but also a bit of nostalgia for the likes of us artists and adults means nothing to probably really unhappy kids like this. I wish you'd been able to confront them--and twisted their BS by telling them what you do, and how cool it is to draw...I'll bet they'd think differently about it.
ReplyDelete- AnonymousJanuary 18, 2006 2:50 PM
Ward, as a man you should realize that peeing on a wall is twice as fun if you can pretend that you're peeing on someone's face while you do it. There's a big wall mural in a kind of tunnel in Winchester,VA, and it has human faces in it, including Abraham Lincoln. Drunk people always pee there, and they always aim for lincoln. Guys just want something to aim for when they pee, and your faces were target practice. I bet if you painted over them as a racially diverse squad of all creeds and colors, people would pee on them with the same uncanny accuracy. It's just fun to pee on giant faces. immature, but fun.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousJanuary 18, 2006 2:52 PM
I don't think it's about race. I just think they wanted to pee on the mural because they had nothing better to do.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousJanuary 18, 2006 3:00 PM
no worries ward. could have been anything.
maybe they were all orphans and wanted to show their displeasure at images of "family."
maybe they were a group of escaped mental patients who all just happened to be in for the same thing: believing they were "clement greenberg.".
maybe they were a militant dada group taking the "pissing on art" thing beyond duchamp's urinal.
maybe they were experimented on by the c.i.a. in secret labs and a side effect of these experiments is that they absolutely positively must piss whenever seeing the color pink.
maybe the girl who just outed one of them in school for having an -extremely- tiny penis has a photo of your mural on her binder and seeing it always throws him into a rage.
maybe they were voicing displeasure with the establishment itself and your mural just happened to grace the wall?
like i said could have been anything. in any case no biggie. part of the bargain if you're gonna put your stuff out there on the streets right? let's just hope nothing serious enough ever occurs in front of the mural that you see it on the six o'clock news! - AnonymousJanuary 18, 2006 3:23 PM
i go with the guy who thinks they just did it because they think pissing on somebody's face is cool and that not one thought was about what the painter was trying to do or say.
i like the work myself, but i can easily think of places in this country where murals aren't allowed, so celebrate your freedom and don't let a little urine spoil your accomplishments - AnonymousJanuary 18, 2006 3:32 PM
I find it interesting that you yourself tagged both the race of the urinators and the race of the people in the painting.
Am I wrong in detecting what might be some after-the-fact sensitivity and defensiveness on your part? If you're making a mural for the community, shouldn't it reflect the whole community?
Don't they own part of the neighborhood too? And isn't this intentionally or not an act of disrespect in the face of erasure? I'd piss, too. And I'm white.
And I still like your art. - AnonymousJanuary 18, 2006 3:44 PM
In Malaysian culture, pissing on murals is a way of showing approval for the piece of art. So maybe the youngsters were Malaysian.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousJanuary 18, 2006 4:26 PM
Is there some weird male shared understanding about the "fun" of pissing publicly on faces? News to me. "what's inherently mature about peeing on a face"?-! Hmmmmm, yeah, hooookaaaay...
And as for the guy who thinks you're "defensive" re: some black kids pissing on white faces (which are--hey! CARTOON HEADS, not photos, not straight serious portraits of the Man) which imho makes a difference), ask yourself this: What if the pissers were WHITE, and they were pissing ont he faces of BLACK people on the wall? Gee, I'd bet you might, um, find that racially motivated, just possibly. maybe it was, or wasn't, but admit that you'd assume the worst of them. Doesn't make it right, but it does cut BOTH ways. At least Ward thinks about this and it matters to him. And, I don't know how many of you are artists(probably not many), but forgetting the weird statement that "there are places in the US where you can't have murals"(WTF?)--I guess none of you have imagination enough to think how it would feel to have someone whip it out and urinate all over your hard work that the store owner paid you to paint. Yeah, it's in a public place; I live in L.A., where we have loads of public places with all kinds of murals, some are terrible, some great. But if anyone has the stupidity and crassness to deface or particularly shit or piss on that work, I'd think they were animals, okay? NO ONE has the right to do that. Yes, it's a shared neighborhood. As such it is NOT a place to defile as you feel like it, from littering to urinating on painted walls. What harm did the mural do here? It's simply a retro cartoon mural--I'd say that if the kids had a problem, they should get the eff over it, not Ward! - AnonymousJanuary 18, 2006 4:55 PM
It's an outdoor mural, boys will be boys. They like something to 'aim' for. Doesn't change once you grow up either, that's why there are targets in the urinals.
Either way, I know you're taking it personally, but sometimes a cigar is just a cigar and a piss is just a piss.
Unfortunately, due to the posting on boing-boing, I fear your mural might now attract more attention, and not in a good way.
I like your stuff. Good luck. Wow, I was really surprised to see this link on boing boing. Not because I don't think it's worthy but because I live half a mile from victory vintage and drive past your mural every day.
I can't give any commentary on the why or why not of the action that hasn't already been expressed. All I can say is that as a resident of the neighborhood in quesion and a frequent shopper at victory vintage I think your mural is completely appropriate for the store/neightborhood.
It really lends something to Lee's store and to the idea of a mixed use district.
I'm sorry that it has been discouraging but you should know that there are some of us in the neighborhood who not only like but appreciate your work!It's a beautiful piece of work, and it's terrible that those kids have such disrespect for art, but honestly, if I saw that gleaming white nuclear family of faces on the side of a store in my [also diverse] community, I'd definitely question what the store was trying to say.
If you want to show what the store "provides the community," maybe you could show to whom they're providing it. Just because no black [brown, yellow, etc.] people appeared in "vintage" commercial advertising doesn't mean they weren't there. Just because it's an homage doesn't mean it has to reflect the prejudice of the era the art originated in.
If you're inwardly cringing with worry that people are going to misunderstand your intent, maybe there's a reason for that.- AnonymousJanuary 18, 2006 6:13 PM
Man! Terrible! Looks like a killer mural too :(
Kids are stupid sometimes. I pass by a mural next to a crappy parking lot all the time and I am amazed that it hasn't been messed with. - AnonymousJanuary 18, 2006 8:08 PM
I know there's no excuse for defacing property, but Atlanta has some deep rooted issues. Not every group is going to be nostalgic for that era. I can see it having a similar effect as tagging an area with a rival gang's symbol: It is an icon representing a divisive subject and it could attract someone not-so-wise to do something stupid.
http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=509fdee5b12c3cd9798e22a7aa124b1c&from=rss Wow. Okay. Lots of comments all thanks to Boing Boing. That's great. Unfortunately with the floodgates open, many dingers show up to post anonymously, and most of it is not worth responding to because it's obvious that the majority of the commentors did not read my entire post.
But I'll respond anyway. For the record, I approached the owner Lee to do this mural. Being a collector of old ephemera and mid-century illustration and design, I had some cool illustrations from a 1956 Better Homes & Garden Decorating Book. (I have some of the images from this book scanned and posted about them here, with a mention about the mural at the end of the post.) Considering that Victory Vintage sold modern furniture from the 50's to the 70's, the illustrations seemed perfect for Lee's store. And considering that this mural would be for a particular store, with particular needs, the audience for this mural would be narrowed down. (Remember in my post I said, "Some [murals] will be more commercial in nature, but hopefully offer something more to what that particular store provides for the community. The Victory Vintage Home mural falls into the latter category.")
I knew that not everyone would be down with the mural. But I also knew that it would be a pretty cool mural to look at, point blank. I'd never seen anything like this on a wall, and so I really wanted to try this out, to see what the illustrations would look like on a larger scale.
To those who responded, saying something to the effect that shouldn't the mural reflect the whole community, I say yes, it should. But like I mentioned in the post, this mural is a commerical one, for a particular store. In Decatur, where this store is, there is a record store nearby that is black-owned and sells mostly R&B, rap, and hip-hop music. I highly doubt that they would paint a mural with Britney Spears on their wall, would they? Like I mentioned before, the mural is meant to reflect what is being sold in the store. I'm not trying to make any political statement or anything, just having some fun.
But I ask you all this, especially the artists who may or may not have commented here: if you had painted something that you spent hours and hours on, only to have some idiot teenagers piss on your artwork, would you be nonchalant about it? Especially when you knew that you meant no ill-will with your painting? Would you say to yourself, "Well, I guess I didn't reflect the whole community -- say, I should've been more sensitive to everyone's feelings here because, gosh, there's enough white faces all over town, right?" Or, "Yup, boys will be boys..."
I highly doubt that you'd be as tough as you come across in some of your comments on this post.
But I do have to say one more thing to give you all a little background as to why I'm already over this: I'm a graffiti writer. And this is nothing compared to what I had to endure when I first started out painting on walls. I understand the ephemeral nature of the beast when it comes to painting on walls, out in the open, easy access for pissers and spitters and taggers. No problem. Bring it on. As I said in my post, I can't change how others feel about my work, but I can be the better man and just turn the other cheek and keep doing what I'm doing.
And I'll do just that this weekend, when I get back out there to paint some more.
Thanks for all the comments.- AnonymousJanuary 19, 2006 9:26 AM
I just found out about this through boingboing. I'm sorry to hear about this, but if it means anything, i'm hopping on marta to see your mural in a few minutes. It's good that you took this all in stride, but I wouldnt read too much into it. If anything at all, the teenagers raised awareness of your work. You now have one more fan. If there's any truth in that old adage, "There's no such thing as bad publicity" then getting pissed on is the best thing that could have happened to your mural, Ward. With any luck the regular media will pick up this story from boingboing and you'll be getting commissions to paint murals in Paris and Tokyo, m' man. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI can't believe they actually peed on your wonderful artwork. I kind of know how you feel. I worked on school mural right outside the art room. It was a great homage to Roy Lichtenstein. The mural had a woman that debated the meaning of art. One day I passed by it and found out some jerk wrote "Tom the Tomato" in permanent marker on her teeth. I was furious and just plain confused. I later found out it's a charater from Veggie Tales. it just plain confuses me why people defile property.
I know how you feel. For weeks I became paranoid and guarded that wall. But that's the harsh reality about public art or murals. The condition is out of your hands. I know public art commissioned by the state require that the artist give them guidlines how to maintain the art if it ever get damaged. So sadly it probably happens to a lot of public art.
I love your graffiti art. Keep it up. Who knows to solve all this maybe someday your graffiti can grace the hall of a museum. If people become crazy, they have to go through security guards :p- AnonymousJanuary 19, 2006 3:43 PM
Nice drawing but, maybe next time you should think of including other races in your murals if you don't want to be percieved as only drawing white society. Besides it would be nice to see.
Also once its on the wall in a public space, people are going to do stuff to it, interect and react. Yes, yes, I know that I should've thought about including other races on this mural. Yes, I know it would be nice to see. But you're missing the point. I painted these characters from vintage illustrations with the intent to reflect on what type of furniture was being sold inside the store. Get it? I've already gone over this in my post and my comments. Same thing about the being in public thing, too.
Seems like I'm repeating myself.Congrats on the BoingBoing link. Sorry it's for such a dumb action by youth.
No one mentioned it, but I get a laugh thinking these kids were being smart standing on top of one another and leaked urine all over themselves.
Youth do dumb things indeed. Gotta love some of those intelligent comments here too.Whoa...I just read this, Ward. So sorry to hear about what happened. It is all so wrong on so many levels.
I bet, before anything else, those kids saw the characters' shit-eating grins...and just imagined them saying, "pee on me!", because their twisted, juvenile minds can't think of anything better to do with their afternoon.
Still---they must have been REALLY bored, because I can't imaging trying to pee from someone's shoulders! Hopefully, they wet the guy propping them up.This whole situation makes for a fascinating look into public art issues and reverse racism. I specifically agree with the "anonymous" response from LA. You should publicize this event as an example of "juvenile fun or reverse racism?", because it really blurs the lines! Bring it to the news!
ReplyDeleteHow dare those boys piss on my favorite mural! I was hanging on your every word on this post. Unbelievable! Like a few other commenters have said, I agree with the "boys will be boys" scenairo. I know you feel weird about this situation, Art is an extention of ourselves, and having someone pee on my art would make me a little flustered too.
ReplyDelete- AnonymousJanuary 21, 2006 7:48 AM
o.k. though this thread ought to be winding down at this point i feel i must say the following-
first, there is context to consider. as ward has tried to explain multiple times here, the mural is for a commercial establishment and its subject matter is in keeping with said establishment. it is not a racially motivated piece in any manner whatsoever.
that being said as per this issue in general-
every comment which innocently suggests that ward ought to have "included other races" in his mural is off base. completely. i realize that this might be an unpopular sentiment, but in my estimation the very notion that any representation of a group of humans, in public space, need to reflect a cross section of all cultures which might conceivably view said piece is politically correctness at its laziest.
the multi-cultural make-up of a community, or a city or, a country is not sincerely celebrated and embraced by the de-facto inclusion of each of its inhabitants in every single publicly visible representation of people. that is a disingenuous "easy solution" to the real concerns, tensions, and issues of any multi-cultural area. and today most places are.
this method of addressing the culture-clash is one used by advertisers hoping to appeal to the broadest possible demographic, and not one particularly useful for encouraging understanding in those actually pictured.
the real beauty of "the melting-pot" is the experience of walking through and coming across a thousand different images, icons, and cultural touchstones which unabashedly celebrate a thousand different cultural experiences- side by side. the idea that every image ought to celebrate every culture misses the point completely. all the talk of "sensitivity" is misguided. a truly harmonious mixture of cultures is one in which each live together, side by side, without the need for compulsory homogenization aimed at "sensitivity." honest blending and mixing will happen naturally.
i live in new york and one aspect of it's vibrancy is undoubtedly the wonderful blending of influences, where cultures and religions and races mix to create new forms. another aspect, however, are the neighborhoods which unabashedly celebrate their own cultures. what would new york be without china town, little italy, hell's kitchen, astroria, brighton beach, harlem, greenpoint, the upper west side, etc?
a key component of sincere understanding is acceptance of the "other." and failing that, at very least, tolerance. the idea that every image ought to be created with the idea of "not offending anyone" undercuts this chance at sincere understanding by trying to cut off any tension at the pass as it were. people need to come to that understanding themselves, in their own time, for there to be any real growth or progress.
anyhow, my point, i guess, is this: including everyone in every public image does not accomplish anything. the accomplishment is for someone to be faced with items and images depicting "the other" and to embrace, or accept, or tolerate, or at very least, not simply piss on it, metaphorically or otherwise. I'm sure someone has already said something like this already, but I'm going to say it anyway...
While I completely understand your theory about a mural representing the neighborhood it's in, I think it's important to realize that it is not your fault that they did this to the mural.
Kids do stupid things. Beautiful things get defaced all the time. Without motive.

subset: commoncrawl


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text:
Around here, we're all about comfort food, and if you aren't aware that macaroni and cheese is synonymous with comfort food… well, let me educate you.
Macaroni and cheese equals all that is good in this world. It's a hug in a bowl, a bit of solace after a long day, and always easy and quick to prepare for even the most inexperienced cook. But there's no better way to dress it up – or sneak in a good serving of veggies – than by topping it with a colorful, delicious medley of roasted broccoli and plump tomatoes!
These are so ridiculously easy, you won't even believe it. And the quicker you can have this out of the oven and into your mouth, the better. Am I right?
Just boil some pasta – use whatever you like, but I'm an elbows devotee – then toss it with some Cheddar cheese, salt and pepper. No need to make a sauce. Press the mixture into your muffin pan molds, top with cut-up broccoli and tomatoes, and a little sprinkle of breadcrumbs, and voila! A quick snack for yourself or kids, an elegant party appetizer, or a simple yet stunning side dish.
You can also use small-diced asparagus, zucchini, carrots, peas, bell peppers, squash or any vegetable you like. Also, make these ahead of time for a party and refrigerate up to two days. Pop them in the oven again for 10 minutes, and they'll be toasty warm and ready for serving!
I know you'll enjoy making these and gobbling them up just as much as I did, so give them a try for yourself. Your comfort food craving tummy will thank you!
Roasted Vegetable Macaroni & Cheese Cups
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 1/2 cup dried bread crumbs, I used panko
- 6 ounces small pasta, such as shells or elbows
- 1 cup grated Cheddar cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup quartered cherry tomatoes or small diced plum/Roma tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chopped broccoli, blanched*
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Spray 6 cups of a 12-cup muffin pan with cooking spray. Coat inside of each muffin cup with bread crumbs, reserving any excess.
- Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, stirring, 8- 10 minutes. Drain pasta, add back to pot, and stir in Cheddar cheese. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Spoon pasta mixture into muffin cups, filling almost to the top and pressing gently to set. Top each cup with tomato and broccoli. Sprinkle a pinch of remaining bread crumbs on each.
- Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Let cool for at least 5 minutes and carefully unmold with a butter knife.
- Enjoy!
Tip: To blanch vegetables, bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the vegetables and cook for 1-2 minutes. Using a small strainer, remove the vegetables and immediately plunge into a bowl of iced water. Drain and use.


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This is another recipe of the clever Italian mammas of the past. It's called falsomagro or farsumagru a term referring to stuffed lean meat.
The stuffing was not meant to create fancy food. It was a way to stretch portions to feed the family using inexpensive ingredients such as inferior cut meats, bread, a little fat, a bit of cheese. My grandma, a young widow in postwar Sicily, fed her six children like kings by stuffing everything with bread.
Despite its modest background, the falsomagro is a splendid dish. It's tasty in a very Southern, garlicky, herby, Italian way. It's a great dish for a party as it can be prepared in advance and served at room temperature. And because of its inner surprises, it's also somewhat healthy as the portion of red meat is relatively small.
- 1 kg (2 lb) beef
- 30 gr ( 1 oz) guanciale (subst. with pancetta or spicy salami), thinly sliced
- 6 tablespoon seasoned bread crumbs
- 250 gr ( 1/2 lb) mild cheese like caciotta (subst. with young provolone) sliced
- 2 organic hard-boiled eggs
- 1 tablespoon pine nuts
- 1/2 tablespoon raisins
- 2 medium onions quartered
- dry white wine, extra virgin olive oil, salt and black pepper
- special equipment: kitchen string and parchment paper or two oven bags
For this recipe I ask my butcher 2 large slices of beef, approx. 25 x 25 x 1 cm ( 10 x 10 x 1/2 inch). Honestly, I have no idea which cut he gives me as he always disappears in the back of the shop to prepare it. I do trust him blindly as he is the best butcher in town.
Each slice makes one roll which is more than enough for 4 people. For about the same effort, I always make 2 rolls and I freeze any leftover for another meal.
Before stuffing, place the meat on a cutting board and beat it flat with a meat pounder or other heavy object of your liking.
Arrange the slices of guanciale over the slices, sprinkle with bread crumbs, pine nuts and raisins, then top with the cheese, eggs and a twist or two of black pepper. Now roll it. Beginning with the side nearest you, roll up the slice, gently pressing on the filling and making sure it does not slip out from ends. Tie the roll crosswise with string at 1.5 cm (3/4-inch) intervals, then tie one time lengthwise.
Preheat oven at 220 °C/430 °F.
Heat a cast iron casserole pan over medium-high heat and when hot add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the meat and brown it evenly, turning every few minutes. This step will take about 5-10 minutes, depending on the size of the rolls. I prefer to brown one roll at the time, but it's up to you. Keep the pan covered to avoid messing up your cooktop!
Using thongs or thick plastic gloves transfer each rolls on a sheet of parchment paper or inside an oven bag. Season rolls with salt and pepper, arrange a quartered onion along each roll, sprinkle with one tablespoon white wine then seal the paper parcel or oven bag and transfer in an oven tin.
Roast for 30 min turning once. Remove from the oven. The parcels will have puffed up with steam. Cover with a lid and let them rest 20 more minutes while indirect heat will cook the meat some more but keep it moist. This will also stabilize the rolls. Note that if you slice them when they are still hot, they will fall apart.
When cool enough to handle, cut the parcels open and pour the cooking juices and onion in the casserole which you have used to brown the rolls. Reduce over hight heat until creamy and liquidize with a blender. Pour onto a serving plate. Slice rolls and arrange on top of the sauce on the serving plate. Cover with foil until ready to eat or briefly rewarm in the microwave.
Serves 8.


text:
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Monday, December 27, 2010
Wilted Spinach Salad - Blue Monday
Alert the media! Our Connor, just turned one, is walking and talking. He's also learning how to share - kinda.
From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This is one of my favorite salads and, because of its color, it's one that I love to serve with holiday meals. The various components of the salad can be prepared well ahead of time, then tossed together just before serving, making it an easy dish for a busy hostess. The bacon in the salad and the drippings in the dressing makes it appealing to all meat eaters. This is a salad that seems to fall in and out of favor with cooks. Fortunately, it is good enough to be re-invented on a regular basis. I find this salad to be enormously appealing and have been known to prepare a mealsize portion of it when left on my own for dinner. You can, of course, substitute another salad dressing for the bacon and vinegar mixture called for here. Any well flavored vinaigrette will do, but I'm especially fond of the real deal. If you haven't tried this salad, I hope you will give it a try. Here's the recipe.
Wilted Spinach Salad...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite adapted from Cook's Illustrated
5 ounces baby spinach (about 6 cups)
1 cup sliced mushrooms
2 slices bacon (about 2 ounces), cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1 hard boiled egg, peeled and very finely chopped
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup minced red onion
1/4 teaspoon table salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Place spinach and mushrooms in large bowl. Fry bacon in small skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 5 minutes; transfer with slotted spoon to paper towel–lined plate, leaving fat in skillet. Return skillet to medium heat and add oil, onion, salt, pepper, and sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is slightly softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add balsamic vinegar; swirl to incorporate. Pour warm dressing over spinach and toss gently to wilt. Sprinkle bacon and chopped egg over spinach; serve immediately. Yield: 4 servings.
You might also enjoy these recipes:
Fresh Crispy Pear Salad - Through the Bugs on My Windshield
Best Broccoli Salad - Stacy Snacks
Beet Greens and Tomato Salad - Cooking with Corey
Pear, Blue Cheese, Walnut and Bacon Salad - Modern Comfort Food
Watercress Salad with Miso-Lime Dressing - The Health Seeker's Kitchen
Orange Beetroot Salad - Angie's Kitchen
Chickpea and Spinach Salad - Expat Kitchen
Winter Fruit Salad - The Sweet's Life
Baby Spinach Salad with Pear and Pomegranate - Chef Tom's Kitchen
Fennel and Orange Salad - Ciao Chow Linda
This post is being linked to:
Smiling Sally - Blue Monday
60 comments :
- Jan said...
Yes a lovely fresh salad, I would appreciate that one.
Lovely to meet your little one.
Jan - December 27, 2010 at 12:16 AM
- Ginny Hartzler said...
Connor is just cute as a button!!! How often do you see him? This salad looks good! I make one where I saute the spinach a bit first, this is kind of similar.
- December 27, 2010 at 12:32 AM
- Deb in Hawaii said...
The salad looks delicious and perfect after all the rich heavy foods of the holidays. Conner is a cutie. ;-)
I hope you had wonderful and blessed holidays. - December 27, 2010 at 12:46 AM
- Katerina said...
I love warm vinegrettes. I think this salad can stand in any table festive or not. Your grandson is so cute.
- December 27, 2010 at 1:24 AM
- Banana Wonder said...
I agree! This has got to be one of my favorite salads as well. I love the combination of spinach, shrooms and eggs. I like mine with a good olive oil and no vinegar, but that's just me. Oh lord you're making my mouth water!
- December 27, 2010 at 1:54 AM
- bj said...
Well, that Connor is the CUTEST thing. Boy, I'll bet he gets lots of grandma kisses. :)))
I grew up on wilted spinach salads..and wilted lettuce salads, as well. We don't eat them very often any more...but still love them.
xo bj - December 27, 2010 at 1:56 AM
- Chiara said...
your salad looks good and Connor is really lovely! Hugs...
- December 27, 2010 at 2:01 AM
- Sanjeeta kk said...
Salad look refreshing. Cute kids!
- December 27, 2010 at 2:14 AM
- Red Nomad OZ said...
Sounds like a great combo! I thought for a moment there you were going to tell us that this was little Connor's favourite salad too! But that would have been TOO bizarre!!
Happy travels!! - December 27, 2010 at 2:19 AM
- Monet said...
Doesn't a bit of bacon just do wonders for salads? This looks so tasty and Connor looks so cute! I hope you have a wonderful week, my friend. Many blessings as the new year approaches. Thank you for sharing this delicious salad!
- December 27, 2010 at 2:23 AM
- Alessandra said...
Connor is super cute! I am sure that you so much fun with him!
Alessandra - December 27, 2010 at 2:36 AM
- Hayley said...
Salad looks so fresh ....Nice to see connor:)
- December 27, 2010 at 4:09 AM
- penny aka jeroxie said...
So cute!! Thanks for sharing :)
- December 27, 2010 at 4:34 AM
- Priya Suresh said...
She looks cute..Salad looks fabulous Mary..
- December 27, 2010 at 5:38 AM
- Marjorie (Molly) Smith said...
Connor is adorable, I know he lights up your world.
I enjoy a good salad so I will have to give this one a try. Thanks for sharing.
Molly - December 27, 2010 at 6:39 AM
- eileeninmd said...
Your Connor is just adorable. What a cutie pie. I love spinach salad but never made it at home. Thanks for the recipe. I wish you and yours all the best in the new year 2011.
- December 27, 2010 at 6:53 AM
- SmilingSally said...
Connor is a handsome young man; I can easily see him winning hearts.
Happy Blue Monday, Mary! - December 27, 2010 at 7:18 AM
- Joanne said...
Oh Mary he is so adorable! I could almost eat HIM up!
What a great salad...I think it would appeal to just about any palate! Bacon is quite the unifier, after all. - December 27, 2010 at 7:18 AM
- Cathy said...
After so much rich holiday cooking I've moved salads to the top of my menu list. Spinach is one of our favorites.
Connor is a real cutie pie and such a big boy! One year old already - wow, where did the year go! - December 27, 2010 at 7:49 AM
- Kim, USA said...
He is very adorable!!
Blue Monday - December 27, 2010 at 7:50 AM
- Dorincard said...
Very appetizing blog...no wonder you have so many followers. :)
- December 27, 2010 at 8:15 AM
- From the Kitchen said...
Happy birthday to adorable little Connor! He seems quite pleased with himself!!
Wilted spinach salad was a special treat growing up--a change from the wedge of iceberg lettuce with thousand island dressing. However, my sisters and I never let that spinach touch our lips. Something we now regret!
Bonnie - December 27, 2010 at 8:18 AM
- Beverly said...
Happy Blue Monday, Mary. Connor is gorgeous. He must be such a joy for all of you. I know he is well loved.
Speaking of love, I do love Wilted Spinach Salad. You always inspire me. - December 27, 2010 at 8:51 AM
- Gloria Baker said...
I love this salad, look fresh and delicious! aaah! Mary I adore Connor, he is sooooo cute and lovely, I love his smile, his feets! really, I love the kids ate this age, I remember my twins! Huggs gloria
- December 27, 2010 at 8:57 AM
- A SPICY PERSPECTIVE said...
What a sweet little guy! You must be so proud!
The wilted spinach salad is just the sort of thing I like to eat! - December 27, 2010 at 9:02 AM
- PeggyR said...
Connor is darling! We've had wilted lettuce salad, but never wilted spinach, it sounds just as good. May the new year bring great things to you.
- December 27, 2010 at 9:17 AM
- Jeannie said...
Your little grandson is one cute boy! Love the refreshing look of your spinach salad, sounds delicious with the bacon bits and eggs added to it.
- December 27, 2010 at 9:25 AM
- Roxxy said...
oh this looks yummy and healthy, and ur baby looks sooo cute =) Happy New year! Hoepy uo can drop by my page too
- December 27, 2010 at 9:50 AM
- Diane said...
Great family photos. Mmmmmm I love spinach. Hope you had a good Christmas. Diane
- December 27, 2010 at 10:31 AM
- gengen said...
It sure a healthy salad. Your Connor is cute. Happy blue Monday.
- December 27, 2010 at 10:49 AM
- Pete said...
Just learning to walk, cute!
- December 27, 2010 at 11:01 AM
- kitchen flavours said...
Connor is absolutely adorable! Love the salad, looks really fresh and I really love eggs in salads!
- December 27, 2010 at 11:02 AM
- StephenC said...
What a beautiful little guy! And what a lovely salad. I haven't made a spinach salad in quite some time, but now I'm inspired.
- December 27, 2010 at 11:16 AM
- Natalie said...
ahhh he is just PRECIOUS!!! :)
- December 27, 2010 at 11:41 AM
- Donnie said...
That would taste good after all the holiday excess. Connor is so cute too.
- December 27, 2010 at 11:44 AM
- Emily Z said...
Your salad is lovely. And Connor is precious! I have a niece with the same name who is close to the same age and toddling her way around. It's a fun age!
- December 27, 2010 at 11:54 AM
- Unknown said...
Connor is a little sweetie! Thanks for sharing a few photos of him and your wonderful spinach salad recipe. I make spinach salad at least a few times every month, so it's nice to get a new recipe plus all your links:-)
- December 27, 2010 at 11:59 AM
- Claudia said...
Its been forever since I have stopped to say hi!
Hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas!
This salad looks very YUMMY!
Claudia - December 27, 2010 at 1:06 PM
- Claudia said...
I love wilted spinach salad and make it every month. It's - satisfying. I don't feel like a bunny rabbit when I eat it. And it serves well for as a meal for me. Connor now - he is just scrumptious!
- December 27, 2010 at 1:09 PM
- Faith said...
Connor is such a little darling! The salad looks really delicious and I love all the goodies in there! Hope you and yours had a fantastic Christmas, Mary!
- December 27, 2010 at 1:11 PM
- aipi said...
Always looking for different ways to eat spinach this is another nice one!
Connor is super adorable..his smile is precious!
US Masala - December 27, 2010 at 1:25 PM
- We Are Not Martha said...
Awww Connor is so cute!! Happy birthday to him! Of course, the salad looks and sounds absolutely amazing, too!
Sues - December 27, 2010 at 5:14 PM
Hi Mary
Happy New Year from Southern California. No snow here but a lot of rain storms and mud slides!
I hope you and your family had a Wonderful Christmas Celebration.
God Bless You, ~Ron - December 27, 2010 at 5:39 PM
- Julie said...
What an absolute sweetheart :) Hope he had a wonderful birthday!
- December 27, 2010 at 6:03 PM
- Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...
Mary, Conner is adorable. I love spinach salad and a bacon vinaigrette is essential in my book. I think I'll try your recipe for lunch tomorrow.
Sam - December 27, 2010 at 6:08 PM
- Jeanne said...
Hello Mary, Conner is so cute. This is the age...before the twos, to watch them progress rapidly. An adorable age.
We too love spinach salad. This is much like mine and easy as well.
I hope you had a great Christmas.
Hugs, Jeanne - December 27, 2010 at 7:34 PM
- Heather S-G said...
Oh, he's so cute :) This salad sounds wonderful, Mary. I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas :D
- December 27, 2010 at 7:38 PM
- Jen_from_NJ said...
Happy Birthday to Connor! He is as cute as can be!
Your salad is just perfect. I buy big containers of organic spinach all winter long. I will put it to good use with your recipe. - December 27, 2010 at 7:49 PM
- Jenn @ Peas and Crayons said...
ohmygosh Connor is too cute!
- December 27, 2010 at 8:21 PM
- Julie said...
Happy Birthday, Connor! What a cutie!
This salad is such a welcome change from all of the sweets and large meals of the holidays! - December 27, 2010 at 9:07 PM
- GLENDA CHILDERS said...
Forget the salad recipe :) . . . it is Conner we want to see. What a charmer.
Glenda - December 27, 2010 at 10:10 PM
- Carol said...
Connor is adorable! So cute :)
Spinach salad has to be one of my most favorites! Yours looks amazing! - December 27, 2010 at 10:26 PM
- Kerstin said...
Awww, Connor is so cute! And what a lovely salad.
- December 27, 2010 at 11:22 PM
- Marguerite said...
Wonderful salad and the bacon vinaigrette sounds fab! I would love one after all of the holiday food that I've been eating. Will be making it very soon! Thanks for sharing!
- December 27, 2010 at 11:28 PM
- SKIP TO MALOU said...
aww what asorable pictures you have of connor. Im sure he's your bundle of joy! This salad is refreshing, after food binging during the holidays!
- December 28, 2010 at 12:34 AM
- Melissa and Zack said...
ok I know I'm biased, but that's a cute baby!! oh, and the salad looks yummy too :)
- December 28, 2010 at 9:01 PM
- A Canadian Foodie said...
What a doll!
- December 30, 2010 at 12:28 AM
- That Girl said...
I could definitely make a meal out of this salad.
- January 25, 2011 at 12:38 PM
I love this salad too, and I second that this is a DELICIOUS recipe! I noticed that their super similar version in The America's Test Kitchen (which uses apple cider vinegar instead of the balsamic, and is otherwise the same), does call for the sliced hard boiled egg, so I chuckled that you modified the recipe to add it here. Anyways, this was our favorite of the two versions (we liked the balsamic more than the apple cider vinegar) and an awesome side dish!
- August 18, 2015 at 6:02 PM
- Mary Bergfeld said...
Anon - Cook's Illustrated and America's Test Kitchen are arms of the same publication. America's Test Kitchen is the televised version of Cook's Illustrated. The version of the recipe I used came from the magazine which I properly credited. It is not surprising the recipes are so similar. I don't think I stepped on any toes here. Mary
- August 18, 2015 at 6:18 PM


text:
For the first time ever, a solid majority of Americans supports legalizing marijuana for recreational use: 56%, according to the most recent Rasmussen poll. Support for legalization has been growing steadily since the 1990s; in 1994, just 25% were in favor.
In November 2010, California residents voted on a ballot initiative to legalize the possession and sale of marijuana. Although the measure failed to pass — 46% to 54% — the fact that the initiative made it onto the ballot and garnered that much support was itself historic. Indeed, it was fear of the initiative's passage that led then California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to decriminalize possession of up to 1 oz. of pot shortly before the vote — a move that was intended to bleed voter support from the ballot question. Had it passed, California would have been the first state to legalize the drug outright. In 2012, Colorado and Washington State will vote on total legalization.
Because support for legalization tracks closely with age, change would seem inevitable in the long run. The most recent Gallup poll found that 62% of people ages 18 to 29 favor full legalization, compared with 31% of senior citizens. As far as medical marijuana goes, Americans are nearly unanimous in their approval: 70% or more support it.


text:
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Investigators say a man found dead of an apparent suicide in an Alaska jail was not only suspected of killing an Anchorage barista but may be linked to seven other possible slayings around the country.
Israel Keyes, who had also confessed to killing a Vermont couple, was found dead in his cell Sunday, authorities said at a news conference that included U.S. Attorney Karen Loeffler, the FBI, and Anchorage police.
Keyes was facing a March trial in Anchorage federal court for the murder of 18-year-old Samantha Koenig, who was abducted from a coffee kiosk in the city last February. He was later arrested in Texas after using the victim's debit card.
Anchorage police chief Mark Mew said Keyes confessed to killing Koenig, as well as killing Bill and Lorraine Currier of Essex, Vt.
The bodies of the Curriers have never been found. They were last seen leaving their jobs on June 8, 2011. Co-workers reported them missing the next day.
- 4 found shot to death outside California home
- Police say tech mogul John McAfee still on the lam, despite blog's claim of capture
- Florida family missing amid investigation of alleged 'suicide pact'
- Texas man, 81, gets prison for stealing mother's benefits
- Detroit man faces sentencing for murder, child abuse of missing 2-year-old daughter
- Toddler's death prompts review of 2 other deaths
- Alaska inmates find identity as women's prison orchestra members
- Police: Pennsylvania man shot ex-wife during church service
Keyes, 34, also indicated he killed four others in Washington state and one person in New York state, but didn't give the victims' names, authorities said.
Authorities wouldn't say how Keyes killed himself, only that he was alone in his cell. An autopsy will be conducted.
Keyes could have faced the death penalty in the Koenig case.
The FBI contends Keyes killed Koenig less than a day after she was kidnapped. Her body was recovered April 2 from an ice-covered lake north of Anchorage.
Koenig's disappearance gripped the city for weeks.
A surveillance camera showed an apparently armed man in a hooded sweat shirt leading Koenig away from the coffee stand. Koenig's friends and relatives established a reward fund and plastered the city with fliers with her photo in hopes of finding the young woman alive.
Prosecutors said Keyes stole the debit card from a vehicle she shared that was parked near her home, obtained the personal identification number and scratched the number into the card.
After killing Koenig, Keyes used her phone to send text messages to conceal the abduction, according to prosecutors. He flew to Texas and returned Feb. 17 to Anchorage, where he sent another text message demanding ransom and directing it to the account connected to the stolen debit card, according to prosecutors.
Keyes made withdrawals from automated teller machines in Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas before his arrest in Texas, according to prosecutors. He was charged with kidnapping resulting in Koenig's death.
Koenig's family said there was no apparent previous connection between the teen and the suspect. Reached by phone Sunday, Koenig's father, James Koenig declined to comment on Keyes' death.
In Vermont, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement Sunday that they have been working with investigators in Alaska since April on the Currier case.
Investigators have determined that the couple's home was entered forcibly, and that there was evidence of a possible struggle.
Their car was stolen and was recovered several days after their disappearance at an apartment complex about three-quarters of a mile away from their home.
Marilyn Chates, Bill Currier's mother, told The Associated Press that police contacted her some time ago to tell her about Keyes' confession and to tell her that they believed the couple's killing was random.
Certificates of presumed death were issued over the summer and a memorial service was held in late summer, she said.
Vermont authorities called Chates Sunday to tell her of Keyes' suicide.
"After some thinking, our family has been saved the long road ahead -- trials, possible plea agreements and possible appeals -- and perhaps this was the best thing that could have happened," she said from her home in Florida Sunday evening.
Keyes was thorough and methodical in disposing victims, authorities said Sunday. Only Koenig's body has been recovered.
He didn't have a clear pattern in victims, who ranged widely in age, authorities said. Money appeared to be just a partial motive.
Authorities say they may never know the full extent of Keyes' crimes because he parsed out only a little information at a time, withholding names and locations of most of his victims.
There may be victims in other states, besides the four states noted by Keyes, FBI Special Agent in Charge Mary Rook said.
Keyes also confessed to bank robberies in New York state and Texas.


text:
Why Join
Missing out on Business?
Reserve your SEAT NOW
The sole purpose of LeTip is the exchange of qualified business tips. Each member becomes a sales person for your product or service, generating quality business leads that put more $$$ in your pocket. LeTip allows you to find out about opportunities in the marketplace you would not otherwise have been aware of.
You will meet many new business contacts each month. You will have a sales team behind you getting your name out and referring your business and you will have the opportunity to present your company to a group of people on a regular basis on a predetermined schedule.
You will be able to show samples of your work and speak to the members so they can better understand how they can sell your products and services. These opportunities are valuable and productive.
Reserve your SEAT NOW


text:
I'm in Atlanta for the next few days and very excited to be meeting a whole bunch of bloggers and foodies I only know via the screen. I've left early to prepare a workshop and also to take time to visit with friends there and put my brain cells to rest a bit. I was off to a good start by catching up with my blogging pal Chris around a delicious bowl of Thai noodles as soon as I landed. Sweet long weekend indeed.
It's funny but without being a homebody, I am extremely happy in the "here and now" and very comfortable where my derriere was on the couch last night. Meaning, I wish it all could happen closer to me so B. could attend too. Although not surprised, I am very grateful for his mending the fort while I am away for work and he's stuck here with two crazy dogs and a pile of papers to grade. I've left a fridge full of home cooked meals and a tray of these Pinch Cake Lemon Mousse Strawberry Trifles.
Everytime I set out to leave things for him in the kitchen, you can bet that I never forget to leave dessert. This time, I went straight to the source and asked what he most wanted to have. "Something retro like a trifle or strawberry shortcakes."For the occasion, I wanted to try something different and figured it was high time I picked something from Rose Levy Beranbaum's Heavenly Cakes. I used her recipe for Pinch Cake and layered it with lemon curd mousse and fresh strawberries. They're in season in Florida which is just a skip and a hop from us (and tasty).
I was attracted to this particular cake recipe for two reasons, how easy it was to convert as it contained very little flour and also because I loved the story behind the name, Pinch Cake. Paraphrasing Mrs. Beranbaum: in Spain, the cake is originally known as pinch bread and the name is partially derived from the way of eating it: by pinching out pieces between your fingers. Mrs. Beranbaum calls this version Salt because it was created in 1985 by Miquel B. Costabella, pastry chef of Salt Bakery, named after the village of Salt, close to Girona, Spain. History, baking. Happy.
But wait! While I am away rolling in sugar in Atlanta, here is a chance for you to bake it at home too: I am giving away one copy of Heavenly Cakes.
All you have to do is leave a comment (one per person) here between today and Sunday January 17th (midnight Eastern time) when the winner will be chosen at random. The giveaway is open world wide. Why not tell me what your favorite retro dessert is while you're at it? Would love to know!
Some updates before I leave: the macarons workshops in L.A are both sold out, but I've been asked to teach a third class on Food Photography in L.A, Saturday March 6th 2-5pm. Email rachael{AT}lafujimama{DOT}com if you are interested.
I did say I was working on one more surprise: I figured Seattle was so close to L.A not to go visit a couple of dear friends. Well, thanks to the organization skills of Viv from Seattle Bon Vivant, I am now teaching 3 workshops there. Two will be on photography and one on macarons. [Update: all classes SOLD OUT]. Can't wait to meet Seattle, its wonderful community and thrilled to be staying on Shauna's couch. After that trip I'll have two days to get the house ready for 3 weeks with my parents. Phewee…!
Gimme cake…!
Pinch Cake Lemon Mousse Strawberry Trifle
Makes 6 to 8
Catalan Salt Pinch Cake, adapted from Rose's Heavenly Cakes:
1 cup + 2 tablespoons (112gr) unblanched sliced almonds
3/4 cup plus 2.5 tablespoons (180gr) sugar, divided
6 large eggs
2 large egg whites
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoons white rice flour
Preheat the oven to 325F/160C.
Line a quarter sheet pan with a sheet of parchment paper and slightly spray with cooking spray. Reserve.
Toast the almonds on a separate baking sheet until pale golden, about 7 minutes.
Cool completely and pulse the almonds with 2.5 tablespoons sugar until finely ground. Stop before the nuts start to form a paste.
Place the eggs into a 2-cup measure with a spout and whisk them just to break them up.
In a stand mixer fitter with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on medium low speed until foamy. Increase the speed and whisk until soft peaks. Gradually beat in the remaining cup of sugar. Continue beating until the meringue is thick and glossy. With the beater off, stir in the almond mixture until evenly incorporated.
Reattach the whisk and with the mixer on medium speed, add the beaten eggs to the meringue, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating for 2 minutes after each addition. It should take a total of 20-25 minutes but be sure to beat for a minimum of 20 minutes. Add the lemon zest.
Sprinkle the flour over the batter and fold until completely incorporated. Pour the batter onto the prepared baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
For the lemon mousse:
grated zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup (125 ml) lemon juice
1/4 cup (50gr) sugar
2 eggs
1 cup (250 ml)heavy cream
4 cups fresh strawberries
Combine the zest, sugar, juice in a saucepan, and bring to a simmer. In a small bowl, beat the eggs until light. Beat some of the lemon mixture into the eggs to temper. Scrape the mixture back into the saucepan and cook stirring constantly until it thickens up, about 5 minutes. Strain and let it cool to room temperature, covered with plastic wrap until ready to use.
In a stand mixer, whip the cream to medium stiff peaks. Incorporate the cooled lemon curd in three additions. Place in a piping bag.
To assemble:
Cut out rounds in the baked caked that will fit inside the glasses that you wish to use. I got enough rounds for 2 layers for six 3-inch wide glasses.
Place one round of cake at the bottom of the glass, position strawberry halves inside facing out on top, pipe some lemon curd in the middle and repeat the layers. Top with some extra whipped cream if desired.
Le P'tit Coin Francais:
Pour le gateau:
112gr amandes emondees
180gr sucre
6 oeufs
2 blancs d'oeuf
1 cuilliere a cafe de zest de citron
80gr farine de riz
Prechauffez le four a 160C.
Mettez une feuille de papier sulfurise sur une petite plaque a biscuit a rebords. Beurrez legerement et mettez de cote.
Faites toaster les amandes sur une autre plaques jusqu'a ce qu'elles deviennent dorees, 7 minutes environ.
Laissez les refroidir completement et reduisez les en poudre dans un mixer avec 2 cuillieres a souple de sucre. Arretez la machine avant que les amandes ne forment une pate.
Mettez les oeufs dans un grand verre mesure et les battre legerement a la fourchette, juste pour les casser.
Montez les blancs en neige en ajoutant le reste de sucre au fur et a mesure afin d'obtenir une meringue ferme. Ajoutez les amandes et melangez.
Ajoutez les oeufs entiers battus, 2 cuilleres a la fois et tout en battant l'appareil pendant 2 minutes apres chaque addition. Le procede devrais prendre environ 20 a 25 minutes (au moins 20). Ajoutez le zest de citron.
Ajoutez la farine en pluie et soulevez a l'aide d'une maryse jusqu'a ce que la pate soit homogene.
Versez la pate sur la plaque preparee et faites cuires 15 a 20 minutes.
Pour la mousse au citron:
le zest d'un citron
125ml de jus de citron
50gr sucre
2 oeufs
250ml de creme entiere liquide
Amenez le zest, sucre et jus de citron a fremissement a feu moyen. Dans un bol de tailled moyenne, fouettez les oeufs pendant 2 minutes. Ajoutez en filet le jus de citron chaud tout en continuant de fouetter. Remettre la mixture dans la casserole et cuire a feu moyen jusqu'a epaississement. Passez a la passoire et laissez refroidir.
Pendant ce temps, montez la creme en chantilly et quand la preparation au citron est refroidie, y melanger la chantilly.
Dans 6 a 8 verres, faites des couches successives de gateaux, mousse au citron et fraises.


text:
Big inside, small on the outside.
Bolder, sportier and more fun.
Advanced styling inside and out.
A legend reborn.
Sleek and muscular small SUV.
The SUV for every journey.
Tough to the task.
The ultimate family SUV.
Tough, durable and comfortable.
For the toughest challenges in style.
The legendary workhorse.
Professional and reliable.
Comfort and versatility.
Your Toyota knows that lubricants and fluids are its lifeblood. Using the wrong ones can dramatically affect its lifespan and performance. Your Service Advisor at Mackay Toyota can advise you on the products best suited to your model.
It's all part of the experience you get when servicing your vehicle at Mackay Toyota.
Your car fluids and cleaners will probably require the most attention when it comes to maintaining your Toyota. By maintaining your car's fluids, you can make cleaning easier and reduce the chance of damage to parts.
Some of the fluids and cleaners your vehicle from Mackay Toyota need are#:
# Note: Maintenance, service or expendable parts such as Motor Oil, are covered for manufacturer's defects but are not covered for wear as they are a normal maintenance item.
Car filters help keep the parts of your car functioning by removing all the dirt and impurities that accumulate over time.
So whether its filtering fluids or filtering the air you breathe, it is important to check all your car filters regularly to see if they need cleaning or replacing to ensure your Toyota is always protected & operating efficiently.
Speak with the team at Mackay Toyota when you book in your vehicle service about checking your filters :
The engine and drive train are the powerhouse of your vehicle from Mackay Toyota. These parts generate power and deliver it to you on the road. There are numerous parts that make up the drivetrain of your car including the battery, the clutch, the drive belt, the muffler and spark plug.
Your car's battery is what supplies energy to the starter motor, ignition system and lights. The spark plug ignites the fuel and air mixture, which propels the engine's cylinders to drive the car. The engine stays turning with the assistance of a drive belt that carries all the other parts that are auxiliary to your engine's functioning.
The role of the clutch is to effortlessly transfer the power from the engine to propel the vehicle.
Finally the muffler is the component in your exhaust system that is responsible for correctly 'breathing out' emissions, so that your engine delivers maximum performance and efficiency. So with all of these parts working together, it is imperative that you speak with the team from Mackay Toyota for Toyota Genuine Parts!
The performance of your car brakes; suspension; and steering have tremendous effect on how your car handles on the road. Being able to stop and turn with precision are crucial to your safety while driving.
At the centre of a car's stopping power are the actual brake pads, which grip the brake disc rotor to slow down your car. The split boot kit allows you to repair the boots, which are crucial to your car's CV joints on the front axles of your car.
Shock absorbers work with the car's suspension to absorb the effects of bumps and holes in the road. Tyres are one of the parts that require the most regular checking. Mackay Toyota offer all the big brands of tyres you could want.
Speak with the team at Mackay Toyota about :
Windscreen wipers are very important for safe driving, especially at night. They are designed to effectively remove moisture and dirt from the front and rear windscreen, providing a clear view for the driver.
However, the soft rubber inserts are vulnerable to wear and tear from the elements and can be literally worn out with use. Contaminants and adverse conditions on the road can accelerate rubber deterioration, often resulting in chattering and streaking across the windscreen. Lack of use, due to storage or driving in dry climates can leave the rubber on the windscreen wipers cracked and brittle. The same applies to headlamp wipers too, and all rubber inserts should be checked regularly and changed when necessary.
Signs you may need to replace your windscreen wipers:
All Toyota Genuine Parts carry a 12 month Toyota Warranty. Conditions apply. The Toyota Genuine Parts Warranty does not limit and may not necessarily exceed your rights under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. Warranty conditions differ for Tyres and Batteries. See Mackay Toyota for details.


text:
These functions allow you to access the mnoGoSearch (former UdmSearch) free search engine. mnoGoSearch is a full-featured search engine software for intranet and internet servers, distributed under the GNU license. mnoGoSearch has a number of unique features, which makes it appropriate for a wide range of applications from search within your site to a specialized search system such as cooking recipes or newspaper search, FTP archive search, news articles search, etc. It offers full-text indexing and searching for HTML, PDF, and text documents. mnoGoSearch consists of two parts. The first is an indexing mechanism (indexer). The purpose of the indexer is to walk through HTTP, FTP, NEWS servers or local files, recursively grabbing all the documents and storing meta-data about that documents in an SQL database in a smart and effective manner. After every document is referenced by its corresponding URL, meta-data is collected by the indexer for later use in a search process. The search is performed via Web interface. C, CGI, PHP and Perl search front ends are included.
More information about mnoGoSearch can be found at » http://www.mnogosearch.org/.
This extension has been moved to the » PECL repository and is no longer bundled with PHP as of PHP 5.1.0.
Note: This extension is not available on Windows platforms.


text:
The private banking sector, which has struggled to attract new client assets since the onset of the financial crisis, rebounded strongly last year, according to the 2013 Scorpio Partnership Global Private Banking Benchmark report.
Firms on average posted a 23.7% increase in net new money in 2012, bouncing back from a drop of 27.9% in 2011.
This suggests that client confidence in global wealth managers is returning, the report said.
The benchmark report, now in its 12th year, includes data based on results from 209 private banks around the world.
Private banking assets under management last year grew by 8.7% over 2011 to $18.5 trillion, fueled by both net new money and strong performance in the markets, the report said.
But this success didn't translate directly to the bottom line. Average pretax profits grew by 5.3% for 2012, compared with 12.3% for 2011. The report ascribed this to cost management, as operating costs continued to creep up.
"The industry needs to focus on working out its efficiency points and optimizing them," Scorpio said in a statement. "The analysis of the data shows there are still signs of weakness in the model for many operators."
The report noted that the evolution of the top tier of wealth managers over the past five years has been so dramatic that they constitute a "champions league" that is more likely to attract business through the factor of their scale and market coverage.
Following are the benchmark study's 2013 top 10 private banks by assets under management.
10. Pictet
AUM: $322 billion
Growth 2012: 22.9%
Reporting currency: CHF (Swiss franc)
Ranking move: +1 (replacing JPMorgan)
9. BNP Paribas
AUM: $347 billion
Growth 2012: 9.7%
Reporting currency: EUR
Ranking move: Same
8. Deutsche Bank
AUM: $387 billion
Growth 2012: 11.1%
Reporting currency: EUR
Ranking move: Same
AUM: $398 billion
Growth 2012: 5.6%
Reporting currency: USD
Ranking move: Same
6. Royal Bank of Canada


text:
The MCRYPT_TWOFISH constant when defined by mcrypt version 2.4.x and later is the 256 bit version of Twofish; it uses a 1-32 byte key, a 16 byte IV, and outputs 16 byte blocks in CBC mode.
Here is a list of ciphers which are currently supported by the mcrypt extension. For a complete list of supported ciphers, see the defines at the end of mcrypt.h. The general rule with the mcrypt-2.2.x API is that you can access the cipher from PHP with MCRYPT_ciphername. With the libmcrypt-2.4.x and libmcrypt-2.5.x API these constants also work, but it is possible to specify the name of the cipher as a string with a call to mcrypt_module_open().
You must (in CFB
and OFB
or can (in CBC
mode) supply an
initialization vector (IV) to the respective cipher function. The
IV must be unique and must be the same when
decrypting/encrypting. With data which is stored encrypted, you
can take the output of a function of the index under which the
data is stored (e.g. the MD5 key of the filename).
Alternatively, you can transmit the IV together with the encrypted
data (see chapter 9.3 of Applied Cryptography by Schneier (ISBN 0-471-11709-9) for a
discussion of this topic).
The MCRYPT_TWOFISH constant when defined by mcrypt version 2.4.x and later is the 256 bit version of Twofish; it uses a 1-32 byte key, a 16 byte IV, and outputs 16 byte blocks in CBC mode.
These constants can in fact be used as input to the function mcrypt_module_open() because mcrypt.php contains defines that map these constants to the appropriate string values obtained from mcrypt_list_algorithms().
Note, these are not the names you use in the function mcrypt_module_open to specify the algorithm.
Use mcrypt_list_algorithms to get the right names to stick in there
The latest patents for the IDEA algorithm have expired in 2012 and the cipher is now patent-free and free to use.
mcrypt does not support PKCS#7 padding, it uses non-standard and insecure null padding. This means that for interoperability with most other implementations PKCS#7 padding will have to be added prior to encryption and/or removed after decryption. This is a major source of interoperability issues.
When interoperating with AES the mcrypt algorithm must be specified as MCRYPT_RIJNDAEL_128 since AES only supports a block size of 128-bits. There is often confusion that this specifies the key size which it does not.


text:
What Are the Different Classes of Assets?
When it comes to investing their money, many people are content to take a random approach. They may have received a hot tip for a particular investment and decided to plow a large amount of money into it with no regard to the overall balance of their portfolios. However, research has shown that it is through the careful selection of the various asset classes, rather than the individual investments themselves, that people prosper financially. Therefore, the careful selection and distribution of your investments among the various asset classes is likely to prove crucial to the future success of your investment portfolio.
There are five broad asset classes that you should take into consideration when constructing your investment portfolio.
Cash refers to the most liquid holdings in your portfolio. This asset class includes the balance in your checking account, money market account, and certificates of deposit. Conventional wisdom holds that you should keep three to six months' salary in cash to cover yourself in the event of an emergency.
Fixed-principal investments are those that do not put your principal at risk due to market forces. Fixed annuities and trust deeds fall into this category.
Debt makes up the third asset class. It includes municipal, corporate, government, and government agency bonds. It also covers other debt-secured investments such as collateralized mortgage obligations.
Equity represents an ownership interest in a business entity; this class covers any investment you might make in stocks. It also covers any interest you may have in a closely held corporation or partnership.
Tangibles include your holdings in real estate, art, gold, precious stones, stamps, baseball cards, or other valuable collector's items.
How you choose to distribute your investments among the various asset classes depends on your goals, your risk tolerance, and your expected rate of return. Keep in mind that asset allocation does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss; it is a method used to help manage investment risk. All investments are subject to market fluctuation, risk, and loss of principal. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost.
The information in this newsletter is not intended as tax, legal, investment, or retirement advice or recommendations, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek guidance from an independent tax or legal professional. The content is derived from sources believed to be accurate. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. This material was written and prepared by Broadridge Advisor Solutions. © 2024 Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.
Information provided has been prepared from Broadridge Advisor Solutions sources and data we believe to be accurate, but we make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness. Data and information is provided for informational purposes only, and is not intended for solicitation or trading purposes. Broadridge Advisor Solutions is not an affiliate of Equitable Advisors, LLC. Please consult your tax and legal advisors regarding your particular circumstances. Neither Equitable Advisors nor any of the data provided by Equitable Advisors or its content providers, such as Broadridge Advisor Solutions, shall be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for the actions taken in reliance therein. By accessing the Equitable Advisors website, a user agrees to abide by the terms and conditions of the site including not redistributing the information found therein.
Securities offered through Equitable Advisors, LLC (NY, NY 212-314-4600), member FINRA, SIPC. Annuity and insurance products offered through Equitable Network, LLC and its subsidiaries.


text:
1970 Chevrolet Rochester 7040202 Quadrajet Carburetor *Remanufactured
Our Part No. 41-426Y
What Has Been Done to This Carburetor?
1. Disassembly
2. Ultra-Sonic Cleaning
3. Anti-Rust "Dichromate" Finish
4. *New Accelerator Pump
5. *New Float
6. *New Airhorn Gasket
7. *New Main Body Gasket
8. *New Throttle Body Gasket
9. *New Cluster Gasket
10. *New Springs
11. *New "O" Rings
12. *New Seals
13. *New Check Ball(s)
14. New Bushings in Throttle Shaft
15. *New Flange Gasket
*Ethanol Resistant Parts.
What Does Live Engine Testing Involve? (We Live Engine Test Every Carburetor Before We Ship)
RPM Pre-Set: We want to Make Sure The Carburetor Curb idle is Pre-Set, Not too Low and Not too High, A Low Curb Idle Setting will Leave the Engine Running Rough Causing a Poor Running Engine, However a High Idle will Leave the Engine Racing Causing a Rich Running Condition. We Can Promise You the Curb Idle will be Set for a Plug-N-Play Setup.
Fast Idle Pre-Set: I can't Emphasize this Enough, Fast Idle or Idle at Cold Start has to be One of the More Important Adjustments on the Carburetor. Everyone Has Started an Engine in the Morning, Idle Goes High, then Drops Down into Normal Operating Temperature. However if the Fast Idle is Not Set Properly then the Fast Idle will not Drop or will Take Longer too Drop. When We Pre-Set this Adjustment on Carburetor We Make Sure the Choke is Opening the Choke Valve Normally and Make all the Necessary Adjustments on Our Live Engine to leave the Carburetor Ready to Go.
Mixture idle Screws Pre-Set: Fuel Economy, Fuel Economy, Fuel Economy, That is Why We Pre-Set this Adjustment. We Always want to Set the Carburetor to Run Clean, a Clean Running Engine is always a Better and Efficient Engine. Air/Fuel Ratio is Crucial to a Good Running Carburetor. If you Order a Carburetor from Us, I can Guarantee You the Carburetor Will Run Smooth, Clean, and Have the Power there When You Need it!
What is Your Shipping Charge?
Ordering Carburetor Via Etsy Will Qualify for Free Shipping in the 50 States!
Do you have a Core Deposit?
We Have an Option for You to Return a Core to Redeem a Deposit. This Carburetor Has a $95.00 Core Deposit, Photos of Core Are Required Prior to Core Being Returned to Generate RMA Paperwork. Questions? Call us at 626-448-8907, Always Ask for Dan.
Rebuilding Service?
Send Us Your Carburetor and We Can Remanufacture it and Get it Ready to Fly. Needles, Floats, Gaskets and More. Everything We Do to Our Carburetors We Can Get Done to Your Carburetor, Questions? Call Me or Us, Ask for Dan.
Has this Unit Been Remanufactured and if so, What is Your Warranty?
This Unit/Carburetor has been Remanufactured as You can See in "What has been Done to this Carburetor?" and in the Photo. Carburetor Center Offers a 1 Year Warranty from Date of Purchase. If Anything were Ever to Happen to a Carburetor Your Purchased from us, We Would Cover it no Matter What!
Questions or Concerns, Call Us!
Call us at 626-448-8907 for Any Questions at All, and No! a Computer will NOT pick up the Phone, a Live Person will Answer and be Ready to Talk Carburetor. Always ask for DownDraftDan for the Best Etsy Deal.
1-3 business days
I'll do my best to meet these shipping estimates, but can't guarantee them. Actual delivery time will depend on the shipping method you choose.
Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.
Just contact me within: 14 days of delivery
Ship items back to me within: 90 days of delivery
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
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Update at 7:45 a.m. ET, Feb. 25: Missing Mango Mystery Solved, Here Are The Juicy Details
Our original post fleshes out the story:
It's 33 feet tall and 26 feet wide; it weighs seven tons. And as of last night, it's missing: a giant mango vanished from its perch in Bowen, Australia, where it was erected in tribute to the region's mango industry. Some say it could be a p.r. stunt; others are having fun with "Mango Gate" on Twitter.
The Big Mango became a tourist attraction after it was erected 12 years ago to commemorate the "Kensington Pride" mango that's grown in Bowen, which bills itself as the mango capital of Australia. The gargantuan fruit cost $90,000 when it was built.
In Australia, they like large things. So much so that there's a list of 150 "Big Things," huge sculptures of everyday items that have become favorite roadside attractions. Just down the coast from the Big Mango, the Big Banana and the Big Pineapple are perhaps the most famous, leading some Aussies to warn of a possible plan to assemble an epic fruit salad.
Reports that Bowen officials didn't immediately file a complaint with police have driven speculation that the incident is all a publicity stunt meant to drive interest in Bowen, on the Queensland coast in northeast Australia. But if the theft was staged, tourism officials were staying in character Monday.
"It looks like it was sort of a two o'clock this morning type thing," Bowen Tourism chairman Paul McLaughlin tells Sky News.
He added:
"At the end of the day it's a bloody big mango and I'm sure someone will see it and we'll find it anyway.
"I think it'll definitely turn up, no doubt about that. We're not sure what has happened but I'm sure we'll get it back."
Surveillance footage from a nearby camera has been posted online; it shows what looks to be a fast and well-equipped operation, complete with a truck-mounted crane.
But something tells us the Big Mango will be found. As the Brisbane Times reports, "A Bowen's Big Mango page was created on Facebook on Monday morning. The first post appeared about noon: 'Bowen's Big Mango is missing!!! Please share and help us find it!'"
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