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After planning your trip in the Sagada Tourism Office/municipal hall, walk a few meters down and you'll find a flight of stairs that will seemimgly just lead you to a row of houses.
Good thing our companions who frequent Sagada know better. We followed them downstairs and found Shamrock Cafe!
This is the best place to grab your breakfast, especially if you're planning a jam-packed day.
Their coffee here is pretty ordinary so that's the only downside for me. They don't have a great
view you can stare at. But the food ranges from Filipino
to European cuisines and costs P 95-P130 only!
Be sure to get the right Shamrock
Cafe. There's another Shamrock-named resto where you have to walk up the driveway and serves ordinary-tasting Filipino food. So not worthy of a long land trip.
Shamrock Cafe is pretty popular in Sagada, do not be shy to ask around. They say it's one of the pioneer cafe in Sagada; it has been around since the 50s. They also say that on some nights, there are musicians there strumming the night away; I missed that though. I would try to catch that the next time I come back here.
Location: somewhere below the Tourism Office, Sagada, Mountain Province
Date visited: March 29, 2013


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Compare Mold Test Kits
Compare Mold Test Kits with MOLDetect
Experts say:
Tape-Lift Surface Samples Provide Valuable Mold Information!!
"Surface sampling may be used to (a) confirm the nature of suspected microbial growth on environmental surfaces, (b) measure the relative degree of biological contamination, and (c) identify the types of microorganisms and other biological agents present. Surface sampling is preferred over bulk sampling when a less destructive method of sample collection is desired."
Bioaerosols, Assessment and Control, [ACGIH 1999], Section 12.2.1
[Surface tape sampling] "may help investigators decide if further sampling is indicated and may help them formulate recommendations for remediation." Bioaerosols, Assessment and Control [ACGIH 1999], Section 188.8.131.52
Settle Plate Techniques (kits at hardware stores) Are Not Considered Scientific!!
"Settle plates do not collect airborne particles in a representative manner and do not reliably measure bioaerosol concentrations." Bioaerosols, Assessment and Control [ACGIH '99], Section 188.8.131.52
"The settling of particles by gravitation onto a culture plate or a microscope slide depends highly on particle size and is influenced strongly by air movement. Given the unpredictable and uncontrollable nature of ambient particle movement, investigators cannot directly relate the number of CFUs [mold colony forming units] on a settling plate…to the concentrations of the corresponding particles in the sampled environment Gravity samples should not be used even to determine the relative air concentrations of different microorganisms because of the method's collection bias." Bioaerosols, Assessment and Control [ACGIH 1999], Section 11.3.1
Cultures May Not Detect Important Molds!!
"Culture-based methods allow detection of only those organisms that are alive, in a condition to grow in culture, and able to successfully compete with the organisms in an environmental mixture. It is possible (and perhaps likely) that the majority of microorganisms in a particular sample are not identifiable with culture-based methods. The species most readily cultured from a given environment may not be the most prevalent or the most important species present." Bioaerosols, Assessment and Control [ACGIH 1999], Section 126.96.36.199
"Viability of spores is not essential to toxicity, so that the spore as a dead particle can still be a source of toxin." Harriet M. Ammann , Ph.D., D.A.B.T., Senior Toxicologist, Washington State Department of Health Is Indoor Mold Contamination a Threat to Health?
Be sure that the kit you choose–
- Is easy-to-use!
- Provides useful information
- Identifies mold species
- Detects Total spores (dead and alive)
- Is analyzed by a qualified lab

subset: commoncrawl


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All Business Messenger BagPosted By David Paul on at Dreamgifts
Planes: Fire & Rescue. The red helicopter's in action fighting a fire.
Product : Rickshaw Messenger bag Style : Exterior Print Price : USD $111.00
Prices may change. Check product page for current price and special offers. Customize and choose other styles to suit your requirement. More Rickshaw Messenger bags with Disney characters below.
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A group of researchers are looking to provide an answer for parents of Valley children who have a rare disorder.
"For families that have gone years without a diagnosis, they can finally find hope with us," TGen Clinical Research Coordinator Keri Ramsey told News/Talk 92.3 KTAR's Rob & Karie on Tuesday.
TGen, a group of independent researchers, offers a much more in-depth study than a typical doctor.
"One of the great things that TGEN does is we perform whole genome sequencing, and what that means is that we're looking at all 20,000 genes in a person's human genome," said Ramsey, adding that her company's process can catch things standard tests can miss.
Ramsey said the sequencing process often provides answers to parents who have none.
"Having a diagnosis also lets a family know what to expect with their child," she said. "Do they have 5, 10, 15 years with their child? Should they spend countless hours in the hospital performing further testing? Or if a child doesn't have much longer to live, that means spending quality time at home with them."
Even if the testing doesn't give all the answers (TGen has about a 40 percent success rate), it can contribute to further research. When a family turns to TGen, they are enrolled in a study. The researchers will gather samples of the mutated cells and will test them to learn more.
Ramsey said TGen is currently working on a mutation that affects mitochondria, the so-called "power houses" of cells. The children with this mutation suffer from a range of ailments, from loss of sight or hearing to cardiac issues that require them to use a feeding tube.
The cost of sequencing a genome is not cheap, but it has dropped considerably in the past 10 years, from $3 billion in 2003 to about $3,000 today.
"What's wonderful about our center is that we do receive a lot of private donations as well as a lot of the families that participate in our research help with fundraising," said Ramsey.
TGen is also a benefactor of the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon set for January in Phoenix. The research company has more than 50 runners participating who have raised more than $21,000. Their goal is $50,000.
For more information about TGen, go to helptgen.org.


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Monday, April 27, 2009
Monday Feature - V/A - Who Are Those Guys ? v.4
Here is number four in the continuing series of Who Are Those Guys? PPO has searched all corners of the Earth to find and share with you music from unknown and lesser known bands. Most people have never heard of these groups, but now you have the opportunity to enjoy and savor every note, beat, and rhythm. Now get out and support these hard working artists.
The Beat Seekers - Haling from Americas Heartland, The Beat Seekers bring us their brand of infectious Power Pop. Thier debut disc, Dead Air Radio, was recorded at Gravity and Full Motion Studios in Chicago, IL with producer Matt Opal. "Dead Air Radio blurs the lines of lo and hi-fi using both analog and digital means to capture a subtle theme that is auditory, as well as conceptual". Translated... You will dig this!
The Popzillas - A compelling mixture of loud guitar chords, Lolita-like vocals, and melancholic harmonies. Its touching melodies and the voice of lead singer Yvy Pop can break ones heart. Super sound, super voice! Absolutely worth listening! Do yourself a favor and add The Incredible Adventures of Pandora Pop to your collection!
The Genuine Fakes - There's a brand new band in town! Well not new, formed in late 2005 in Stockholm, The Genuine Fakes pack a Power Pop Punch and some cool mustaches too. Think "Todd Rundgren/Utopia meets Cheap Trick meets Jellyfish". Get the picture? Good! Now go and show your support and your mustache!
Tahiti 80 - Based in Rouen, Normady, Tahiti 80 produces Pop with a Northern Soul twist. The spirit and sound of this music is uplifting to say the least, a little bit of 70's mixed in with a refreshing 60's sound, this is a keeper. Tahiti 80 has just released their fourth album, Activity Center. Check them out and find yourself a new "favorite" band.
Slingerland - Lead by édric Conti and Jérôme Durand, Slingerland bestows upon us dense, adventurous arrangements and amazing, ear-catching melodies that are reminiscent of early Arthur Lee and Love. You just can't listen and not fall into their groove. This gifted group from the French Riviera is currently unsigned.
The Linchpins - A fiercely independent psychedelic power pop trio formed in the summer of 2006 and born in sleepy Shepherdstown, WV. The Linchpins play rock and roll influenced by the British Invasion of the 60s that chewed up American Roots Music and spit it back across the pond as Heavy Soul... Unsigned, Their D.I.Y. aesthetic is the foundation of their beliefs.
Thenewno2 - What do you get when you combine Dhani Harrison (son of George Harrison) and Oliver Hecks? Proof that the "Apple" does not fall far from the tree. A spacey '60s psychedelia sound punctuated with hypnotic beats and captivating vocals successfully blend many styles and is unshakably --> strong on every cut. The new album You Are Here has just been released and would look great on any collectors shelf.
I Fight Dragons - I Fight Dragons is Chicago's finest (and quite possibly only) NES-Rock band. They have very detailed delusions of grandeur, most of which include gross misuses of Nintendo products in combination with music in the Popular Rock genre. Man what a concept...and their music is cool too! I Fight Dragons released their debut EP, Cool Is Just A Number in February. Get it!
Wonkavision - Wonkavision, a powerpop band from Brazil, produce sunny tunes filled with stories about idiosyncrasies of day-to-day human relationships. The guy who can't stand his job, the teenager on antidepressants, the rejection junkie girl who only falls for the wrong guys. Good stuff from way down in South America. Grab their self titled disc that has been re-released.
Tony Cox -A strong contender for my top 10 of 2009, Tony Cox is a songwriter and musician fron England. With the help of friends Nigel Clark and Darren Finlan, Tony has put together an 11 track debut called Unpublished. A mixture of 60's pop with influences from The Beach Boys to the Kinks, just to name a few, it has been difficult to remove his disc from my player, Check it out for yourself! You will not be disappointed.
Rate this posting:
Posted by Curty Ray
3 comments:
- bk said...
thanks for this and the work it must have taken. It is very much appreciated as always. cheers / bk
- April 27, 2009 at 4:44 PM
immediately downloaded Tony Cox from eMusic....thanks for the heads up!!
- April 27, 2009 at 5:30 PM
- Curty Ray said...
- October 15, 2012 at 10:32 AM
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>> The big news today was new details about the forthcoming Lemonheads record, which we were alerted to via email blast from EvanDando.Co.UK. The self-titled effort will be released Sept. 25 in the U.K. and the 26th in the US. The Lemonheads is the band's eighth record and its first in 10 years, since the release of Car Button Cloth. Of particular interest to :: clicky clicky :: readers is the fact that Dinosaur Jr.'s J. Mascis provides so-called "foot-on-monitor" guitar work on two of the 11 new tracks, "No Backbone" and "Steve's Boy." In case you've been sleeping under a rock, Dando announced he would be reviving the Lemonheads brand earlier this year or late last year and recruited members of pop-punk legends The Descendents to act as rhythm section. More recently, in April Vagrant announced it had signed The Lemonheads. We're looking forward to the new joint particularly keenly because the band's pre-Ray stuff is our favorite.
>> Holy crap. How can Pfork review the Meneguar record I Was Born At Night [Troubleman] and not mention the anthem of 2005, "The Temp"?! We're willing to accept that they think the record is only a middling effort (Pfork has been wrong before, after all). But we're not willing to accept that the snarling fury of "The Temp," an MP3 of which is even linked off the bottom of the review, made zero impression on the Pfork scribe. Dang. For what it's worth, here is our review of the Meneguar reissue.
>> According to PunkNews here, indie phenom Ted Leo thinks Elton John is a racist jerk. We think Elton John has gone a bit batty, and this just falls under that umbrella.
>> College students to new and free Napster: You suck.


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So I am back in the saddle, or the saddle is back on me, after a few nice responsibility free days filled with thrifting and Wisconsin cheese procuring I wound up with more baby swiss than I can possibly eat in a month, as well as amazing raspberry and peach salsas, a strawberry honey mustard, and various vintage odds and ends for the studio & homefront (old frames and dessert plates and pillowcases, oh my..)
So now, to catch up on everything I neglected the past week, I am laying out some new chaps, setting up a giveway promotion, packing up orders from our last sale, and working on some covers. the bad news is I am feeling a little drained rather than refreshed and possibly coming down with a cold (I blame end of winter blues and a lack of sleep last week in general.) I'm hoping some warmer temps and rest will fend it off, but I'm waning as the night goes on.


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What's the Latest Development?
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials announced today (Oct. 31) that it would no longer require airlines to prohibit the use of certain electronic devices during takeoff and landing. However, they have given airlines permission to determine how and when to lift the ban for their individual fleets. In a statement, the agency says that it expects them to prove "that their planes allow passengers to safely use their devices in airplane mode, gate-to-gate, by the end of the year."
What's the Big Idea?
The question of whether in-flight use of electronic devices posed a safety threat has been debated for some time. With this announcement, the FAA's original position -- that radio signals could interfere with sensitive equipment systems -- has apparently been debunked, at least to some extent, by its own investigation panel of aviation experts. For better or worse, passengers still can't use their phones to make calls at any time during flight, but so long as the device remains in airplane mode, they can do almost anything else that doesn't require a wi-fi connection.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com


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Mansory will bring the Gronos kit for the Mercedes-Benz G63/G65 AMG in Geneva starting tomorrow. The tuner has a full arsenal of modified cars for this year's Geneva show. Aside from their G-Class program they also have a carbon fiber Aventador and a custom Bentley Continental GT.
The Gronos package for the German off-roader brings a power boost for the AMG G63's twin-turbo V8 5.5-liter increasing output from 544 HP (400 kW) to 840 HP (618 kW). The torque figure has also jumped from 560 lb-ft (760 Nm) to an electronically-limited 737 lb-ft (1,000 Nm). Mansory says a similar kit is in the works for the G65's V12 6.0-liter bi-turbo.
It has also received several carbon fiber body parts like the mirror housings, roof and decorative trims on the sides. They also installed a custom exhaust system, different front spoiler with LED daytime running lights, revised rear spoiler, carbon fiber spare wheel cover and a Magic Yellow paint job. The cars sits on 23-inch ten-spoke alloys shod in 305/30 R23 Vredestein Ultrac Vorti tires.
Many tweaks can also be found on the inside where they have implemented a carbon fiber design with colored elements, while different types of woods and other materials are also available upon request. The car which will be exhibited in Geneva has black leather upholstery with yellow contrasting stitching.


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On Budget 2012, I was more interested in the number and the nature of the points that will be announced that are in individual basis, that is things that will affect on the individual capacity such as income tax reduction, or relief and so forth. By the end of the announcement at around 6 p.m, I made a rough count of 20 points that were mentioned in the budget. However, seeing how it was listed down, I have to say that it won't help much for a working professional, with just a few years out of the university life and into the real working world.
There were a few measures that can relate to the scenario above like allowing the First Home Scheme cap to go up to RM400K and compelling the employers to pay 1 more percent to their share of the monthly EPF for those earning less than RM5000 per month. The problem is, these measures are more or less plugging one hole but they overlook the other holes that have to be plugged.
To elaborate in the context of the two cases above, the house example poses problems for people particularly in the Klang Valley. For instance, where can we find and buy houses / apartments that fall in the maximum cap of RM 400K? Secondly, even if the scheme supports it, do we have the means to repay the entire housing loan in the longest loan period of 30 years? Many of us do not have the understanding of what Kiyosaki said in this kind of case before that a property purchased with a bank loan is not an asset. It is a liability and it will be until it is cleared. In the space of 30 years, coupled with yearly interest, the debt incurred will also be passed to the children as well. In fact when they are born, they owed government money because of the way the people's money was misused!
Compelling the employers to pay 1 percent more on EPF doesn't really solve the problems. It in fact gives more problems to employers. This is already in addition to the standard corporate tax of 25% that they have to pay. Asking employers to pay extra without something to compensate in the process is hurting business more, which based on the speech text, Najib doesn't seem to anticipate this problem here. How will business do if this measure eats more to the current operational cost? This is what some people running a business would be complaining about. And when the business doesn't do well, there can only be either three options: retrenching workforce, wind up the business or move the business to somewhere else.
Having counted the number of measures (snapshots in particular), a quarter of the measures listed are aimed at civil servants (e.g, mandatory retirement, increment of salaries, bonuses, etc). Then there are also one-off payments for ex-military personnel, book vouchers for university students, vouchers for primary / secondary students, annual increment of pension by 2%, what more? It's easy to imply that these things are more for fishing the support of civil servants, rural area folks and those in the low-income bracket for they form the big core number of support (in vote translations) for Barisan Nasional of course. This has already raised many doubts and nay says from economists, educated people with financial understanding, opposition party people that budget won't do good.
As if it is meant to entice support from civil servants and the shoring up of support of the BN butter-up boys, the budget is not to changed and reshaped the entire nation's present economic structure but just to inject crack drugs into its financial nervous system. When Najib said that the present forecast GDP was would be less than 6%, he in fact a shot himself in the leg. As it was commented during Budget 2011, in order for the ETP to work, the annual GDP will have to be at least 6% or more from the inception period until to the end of the ETP timeline program which is in the few years. But with the present crisis in America and Europe, it is quite hard to maintain that forecast.
And of course, the snapshots of the Budget doesn't show real reforms and restructuring. There is nothing new actually in what was announced. Some of the measures are considered recycled. They were once mooted in the last decade but because of opposition from the employers and the fallout of the Asian Financial Crisis 1997, some of the things were dropped originally.
When it comes to retirement, what is the actual ratio of retirement of people in private sector vs people in the government sector? If the incentives mentioned above are meant for those in civil service and those in the retirement, those in the private sector will start to ask where is the sense of fairness missing out. This would definitely spur the anger of why a person at the same age but working in the different sector gets more money to retire than those who work in private sector but get less retirement money. Was this never considered at all when putting the action plans of the budget into paper?
The formula of spending more and more stimulus measures to boost the economy could no longer work unlike in the 90s, in which Dr. Mahathir is famous for. This Keynesian concept is already ineffective, since as it was proven in America, the stimulus package that Obama signed has still yet to convince Americans, with the number of unemployed still around 5 million nationwide.
I was constantly saying in the last few days that Budget 2012 is fishing the civil servants and the low-level supporters like the Grecos do. Greek is already facing towards default and need of bailout because of the attitude of the previous government. Two causes have been identified behind their problems: one, the mismanagement and overspending of their coffers by the previous government and secondly, the high number of civil servants, although it already is a surplus to what is needed to run the government departments. Malaysia is in the direction towards the similar disaster, although many politicians like Najib and Muhyiddin showed the attitude of dismissing what is forthcoming in years to come.
The budget presentation is like injecting a booster. This means every time a booster is injected, like a drug, people start to crave more and more until they cannot stop. Why the youngsters in Britain and why people there riot in Tottenham a few months ago was simply because they were angry that they could not be fed with various measures usually the British government would provide them. When they don't give, they start doing violent things. If you put it in the way of not giving the drug to the person who has been addicted to it, you would see the strange behavior of a subject involved.
Will Malaysia become like Britain and Greece? Yes. In the years to come, with too many civil servants surplus to what is needed and the attitude of expecting yourselves being spoon feed all the time. These measures of introducing GSTs, (for example) are unknowingly what the economic hitmen would tell the Najib administration with a hidden agenda: to rob and cheat the country of the money. And it can be like the Indonesian scenario again.
We have to relook at the Budget snapshots and ask whether if it will help people in long term. There's absolutely none that addresses the reforms and provides outlines of long term problem solving. If for some reason you notice that there's something not right with the Budget (like not much help) but yet you still support them, then I do not have any other answer to explain the reason apart from the answer of "you got conned and duped".


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Who is he?
What is he?
When is he?
For me, he's a man shrouded in mysteries. All I know is that he must be an Uchiha a. Apart from that, I can only speculate who he really is. Is he obito? Is he Madara's brother? Is he Sasuke's father?
Well, who know? It seems we'll only find out if we keep watching the series.
Still, I somehow hope people have an idea:)
CheersRead more >


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Wednesday, April 6, 2011
1,000 Charges and Still Going Strong!
Recently I passed the 1,000th recharge milestone with my MINI-E. That's considerable when you realize I have only had the car about 660 days so far. I've put 54,000 miles on it so that's over 80 miles per day, every single day I've had it. Obviously I haven't driven it every single day, so the days I have driven it I've probably averaged above 90 miles per day. That's a lot of charging, more than 1.5 times per day actually. Actually, the car is such a pleasure to drive, I find myself using it for everything I can, whether it be personal or for business use.
Those of you that follow this blog know that I occasionally write posts about my experiences for sites like Edmunds, AllCarsElectric and most often, Plugincars.com. I was talking to Brad Berman, editor of plugincars recently and he asked me if I would write a post on my range throughout the year in different temperatures. I was actually working on just that to post here, and planned to post it once I hit my 1,000th recharge. So instead of a full post here about it, I put it up on the plugincars website, that way it will reach an even greater audience than here, and give more people a chance to see how the car has performed. You can jump to the full post HERE.
A lot of people ask me about the range in extreme heat and cold, and whether or not I am beginning to notice battery degradation now that I have over 50,000 miles on it. I really haven't noticed any degradation, but my data seems to show that it is beginning to happen, as the second year data shows slightly less range that the first year throughout almost all temperature ranges.What the real usable life of a EV's battery pack is still debatable. There just aren't enough of them out there that are using the newer lithium ion chemistries that have been driven enough miles and charged enough times to have reliable data on, so I'm sure a lot of people are interested in the data that I've accumulated over the past 22 months.
Remember, the MINI-E is a prototype test car, and does not have a sophisticated thermal management system. The passive thermal management system it employs is really primitive, making this car particularly vulnerable to weather extremes. BMW will be using an active thermal management system on both the ActiveE and the i3, based on lessons learned from the MINI-E trial lease program: Here's what I've observed:
5 comments:
Really interesting numbers, I'm still amazed at the level of detail in the records you've collected. I tried to keep track of everything, that lasted for about 3 months before I gave up.ReplyDelete
Hey Robert, How's the volt?ReplyDelete
I have become so used to it now that it's second nature. It just takes me about 10 seconds to toggle through the gauges and write down the info in a clipboard I keep in the car. Every few days I enter into an Excel spreadsheet and it calculates the averages for me.
It did take me a LONG time though to sort through all 1,000 entries and group them into first/second year by groups of every 5 degree change in temperature. That was a workout!
- AnonymousApril 7, 2011 at 5:37 PM
Very impressive Tom. That's a lot of charging. I am encouraged to see that the range has only slightly reduced. The next 1,000 charges will be even more telling. Please continue to keep us informed, you are offering information that simply isn't available anywhere else because so few people have the electric car experience that you now have.ReplyDelete
It would be nice if you listed the minimum and maximum ranges you have observed as well as the averagesReplyDelete
Great job Tom. That had to take a long time to compile. BMW should be paying you for thisReplyDelete


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The day you've been waiting for! Super Fun Night kicks off on February 14th, and you're invited to take part in the festivities. Charles Vergos' Rendezvous (52 South 2nd Street) in downtown Memphis is our meeting spot for a night of fun, adult games and excitement. Come one, come all, bring a guest, and hang loose. This is going to be epic! Singles unite for a super fun night out!
$10 Admission
Complimentary Cheese & Sausage, Soft Drinks, & a Sweets bar! Prize giveaways provided by sponsors.
RSVP by 2/12/2014 to enter a grand prize giveaway from our sponsors valued at $100.


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Jungli [as a trio] this saturday at BAM w/the BRC
Saturday, February 10th 2007 9:30 pm
@ BAM Cafe
with shrine for the black madonna
30 Lafayette Avenue brooknam. new york city.
*this performance is part of the Black Rock Coalitions residency @ The Brooklyn Academy of Music we will be sharing the stage with many brilliant artists all month * Listen & look
Jungli -adjective /jung'lee / in the hindi or gujurati language. 1. Wild, natural, raw, in one's primal state 2. Unruly, of or pertaining to the jungle. 3. Jungli is a rock and roll band.
This is what BAM says ..." The heavy punk/funk of Shrine for the Black Madonna mixes explosive acid-pop with bursts of dub, African metal, and soul, and their apocalyptic love songs and protest marches don't shy away from striking melodies or volatile volumes."


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Wildfires are a regular concern in rural New Zealand, and they can cost us around $100 million a year.
Research published last month in Nature Communications suggests that wildfires may be on the increase globally, as a result of climate change. Looking at trends from 1979 to 2013, the authors state that,
"fire weather seasons have lengthened across 29.6 million km2 (25.3%) of the Earth's vegetated surface, resulting in an 18.7% increase in global mean fire weather season length and … a doubling (108.1%increase) of global burnable area affected by long fire weather seasons."
They also warn:
"If these fire weather changes are coupled with ignition sources and available fuel, they could markedly impact global ecosystems, societies, economies and climate."
John Bailey, Associate Professor of Silviculture and Fire Management at Oregon State University acknowledges this increase in this 11 August article. He raises the issue of "good" wildfire versus "bad" wildfire, and argues the need for active management of fire in forests, if this global trend is to be contained and managed.


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Smooth as silk 'transient electronics' dissolve in body or environment. Tiny resorbable semiconductors could be used for medical implants, environmental sensors, consumer electronics.
MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, Mass.(Sept. 27, 2012) --Tiny, fully biocompatible electronic devices that are able to dissolve harmlessly into their surroundings after functioning for a precise amount of time have been created by a research team led by biomedical engineers at Tufts University in collaboration with researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Dubbed "transient electronics," the new class of silk-silicon devices promises a generation of medical implants that never need surgical removal, as well as environmental monitors and consumer electronics that can become compost rather than trash.
"These devices are the polar opposite of conventional electronics whose integrated circuits are designed for long-term physical and electronic stability," says Fiorenzo Omenetto, professor of biomedical engineering at Tufts School of Engineering and a senior and corresponding author on the paper "A Physically Transient Form of Silicon Electronics" published in the September 28, 2012, issue of Science.
Collaborating with Omenetto from Tufts' Department of Biomedical Engineering were Hu Tao, research assistant professor and co-first author on the paper; Mark A. Brenckle, doctoral student; Bruce Panilaitis, program administrator; Miaomiao Yang, doctoral student; and David L. Kaplan, Stern Family Professor of Engineering and department chair. In addition to Tufts and UIUC, co-authors on the paper also came from Seoul National University, Northwestern University, Dalian University of Technology (China), Nano Terra (Boston), and the University of Arizona.
In the future, the researchers envision more complex devices that could be adjustable in real time or responsive to changes in their environment, such as chemistry, light or pressure.
The work was supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the National Science Foundation, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Multi University Research Initiative program, the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the National Institutes of Health under award EB002520 and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Tufts University School of Engineering Located on Tufts' Medford/Somerville campus, the School of Engineering offers a rigorous engineering education in a unique environment that blends the intellectual and technological resources of a world-class research university with the strengths of a top-ranked liberal arts college.
Close partnerships with Tufts' excellent undergraduate, graduate and professional schools, coupled with a long tradition of collaboration, provide a strong platform for interdisciplinary education and scholarship. The School of Engineering's mission is to educate engineers committed to the innovative and ethical application of science and technology in addressing the most pressing societal needs, to develop and nurture twenty-first century leadership qualities in its students, faculty, and alumni, and to create and disseminate transformational new knowledge and technologies that further the well-being and sustainability of society in such cross-cutting areas as human health, environmental sustainability, alternative energy, and the human-technology interface.
Contact: Kim Thurler firstname.lastname@example.com 617-627-3175 Tufts University


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Thursday, October 16, 2008
My floor doesn't really look like this...
A WFoF header I put together in preparation of the much awaited random header loader! I'm also making a downloadable desktop wallpaper with the same theme. Any suggestions?
5 comments:
- Courtney Wotherspoon said...
love this!
- October 16, 2008 at 1:46 PM
- Jordan said...
Come on dude, stop fronting. We've all been over to your place, we know it looks like this. I'm always like, naw, let's not go to Tomby's let's invite him over here. Stop wasting money on designer sunglasses and get a cleaning lady already.
- October 17, 2008 at 11:42 AM
- Andrew DeGraff said...
Your messy floor looks so good!
- October 17, 2008 at 6:35 PM
- firstname.lastname@example.com said...
Thanks guys! Jordan, did you have to give me up like that? Besides, I really just meant that my floor is linoleum, not hardwood...
- October 20, 2008 at 3:34 PM
- ILANA KOHN said...
i say two headers is enough to begin the random rotation, eh?
- October 21, 2008 at 10:50 AM
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Welcome to Southwest Sales Tax Solutions, LLC.
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An intriguing spat is taking place between leading atheists Sean Faircloth and Sam Harris over gun control in America.
Keen to keep the atheist political wagon clattering along in a straight line, Faircloth tries politely disarming Harris while insisting his approval rating of the author is still an impressive 90%. Whether it's on the way up or down he doesn't say, but either way Harris presents an untroubled facade and wheels out an enormous cannon from which flies a 9,400 word FAQ including a shocking extract from Geoff Thompson's Dead Or Alive – shocking in that such characters exist and walk loose, while our intellectual elite debate the kind of weapons such monsters should reasonably have access to. And were they should be stored – which depends, as Harris helpfully points out, on the architecture of your home.
Each swats away their rival's canards and chestnuts with a flourish but in all the queries, comments, imaginary scenarios and zeppelins of hot air, with atheist critics carefully assigning each argument into the correct pigeonhole – keeping careful score of the ad hominem, straw manning, canards and chestnuts – not a single person dares mention the truth: modern society, from the leaders right down to the masses, has become a danger to its own existence.
Whatever safeguards once existed, whether an example of parental love and care, mythical figures of benevolence like the Tooth Fairy and Father Christmas for younger minds, or saints and sages for older ones, activating empathy with mirror neurons and social emotions via dedicated oxytocin generators in the brain, or scriptural urges to eschew violence, have long been dismantled by the very busy atheists. If the gene is selfish, well, why shouldn't I be too? If only the fittest survive, hadn't it better be me? The society based squarely on selfishness, greed and heavily defended property has become the ultimate Darwinist experiment; the result is an unmitigated disaster with no parallel in history.
The old canard – wait, or is it a chestnut? – is that war has always been with us. But whether war is a disease or a sign of obstructed evolution, it is many times worse now than ever before, a simple fact completely hidden in the hysterical pinhole debate about automatic or semi automatic clips, the likelihood of lower status women being adequately trained in using killing machinery – debated at length by both Harris and Faircloth – and of course the correct and sensible strategic placing of weaponry around the home.
Atheists proudly tie increased atheism to increased education, forgetting to mention that war can be assessed on exactly the same basis. This is because the Prussian education system created around the mid 19th century and immediately adopted by America was specifically designed to instil a homogenous viewpoints among the masses, viewpoints decided upon in advance by those in power and modified according to their needs.
For this to be successful, the media also had to be conscripted into the fold, so that an entire country became sealed from outside influences. This was tremendous power. Instead of trying to crush dissent among powerful and rebellious thinking adults, it could gradually be eliminated altogether by adopting the child into the state at an impressionable age to create, a decade and a half later, unquestioning civil servants, obedient mineworkers, and soldiers who only had to be shown a flag to march unhesitatingly into an enormous bonfire.
Guns are a suitable emblem for those wishing to force their view onto others. As Karl Marx said, "Darwinism suits my purpose" and others, too, used Darwin as justification for massacres to wipe out lower classes: Hitler reshaped the concept of 'survival of the fittest' into "he who is not willing to fight, does not deserve to live." Eugenics, the use of medical science to eliminate less desirable types, is still practiced today. Only last week it was found that Ethiopian Jews were being given powerful and long lasting contraceptives without their knowledge by Israeli doctors, and as late as last December, lower status women in Peru found out why they were unable to have babies; routine operations had included the removal of their fertility. This was all accomplished by medical professionals in hospitals following government orders.
Eugenics emanated from the mind of Frances Galton, Darwin's cousin, who saw no reason to tolerate those he judged least fit to survive, if this was Nature's own mechanism. The concept of a superior class calls for an underclass to be defined, and then abused or eliminated, but the wars which followed actually wiped out the strongest, bravest and most fit of each generation. This was Nature's reward for arrogance. A society built on war can never progress towards peace since every member must also be willing to approve the use of violence. Just as in modern America, objectors are traitors: in WWI, women in England gave single men of military age white feathers to brand them as cowards, and shame them into signing up. Of course, when they returned years later with faces blown away or limbs missing they were, once again, disowned.
Led by sociopaths and warmongers, the end result of a violent society must always be a violent population, just as surely as among groups led by men such as Martin Luther King or Ghandi the spiritual values of the leader were adopted, if in fits and starts, by their followers.
Thus, though Darwinism provided a basis for equality (vigorously opposed to slavery, Darwin realised his most vociferous enemies would be captains of slavery who had the most to gain from promoting separate evolutionary origins) paradoxically it offered a new and tempting scientific credibility for slaughters, and in a random world, science was now freed from any absolute moral compuction and gladly provided the tools to carry them out with superb efficiency.
The result was that mankind's best genetics were wiped off the Earth in their millions, a legacy for which Darwin will likely be best remembered. If better education has caused an increase in atheism, the statistics also indicate that despite religious wars of the past – sociopaths being as attracted to the power of religion then as to the power of politics today – spiritual values must also have done much more to restrain violence than to promote it.
The Prussian education system provided the willing fodder for at least two world wars, and its counterpart in America still fills a similar role, though the rising consciousness of the masses is starting to break free of the dogma, spreading its ideas via social media. All fifty states now have petitions to secede from the union. But still, the most absurd claims by government are accepted unquestioningly by a large segment watching the carefully orchestrated media presentations. Magic bullets, disappearing airplanes and passengers (with the strange reappearance of their intact DNA), energetic witnesses found hanged a day before trials, buildings which mysteriously crumble into dust, wars launched on flimsy pretexts, trillions stolen from the public purse, millions dead overseas and ignored.
None of these ideas are taken seriously by the corporate owned media, although they are sometimes forced to discuss them since otherwise, they would be even more notable by their absence. But propaganda is something which can only happen in other countries, where ignorant people are stupid enough to fall for it. We know, because our media says so!
Presidents in smart suits set the example with brutal invasions, dreadful slaughters of innocents and construction of colossal weapons factories; citizens sing the national anthem and agree the best way of keeping the peace is to hold a nuclear knife to other countries' throats, threatening to flatten their cities and skin them all alive with a searing, boiling wind. In this Bedlam the intellectuals debate with vigour the ideal number of buckles on their own straitjackets.
Truth is usually much simpler than deception, and has the added benefit of enlarging itself in the face of opposition and growing stronger over time. Whatever the cause of this canker of degeneration in the modern brain, it will never be solved by finely tuned gun laws, multiple-tier registrations, precise definitions of weaponry, their distribution around the house (depending of course on your architecture, as Harris cautions), the likelihood of home invasions, or assault, battery, murder, rape, spousal abuse and the relative merits of weapons used for offence and defence; not to mention the possibility of error when stumbling across antagonists locked in combat, whose identities and motivations we cannot know for certain before blasting away. What about the possibility of two assailants with equal weapons? An important point! Let's all debate it.
These topics allow any opponent or anyone refusing to participate to be labelled as standing on the graves of children, drenched in blood, practically guilty of mass murder. This is a playground without compare, for the intellectuals! While Piers Morgan explodes like a rusty shotgun, the atheists gracefully bow and flourish and flounce about in endless dissections and hypothetical situations, each dressing in peacock feathers and carrying a torch to show themselves in a glorious saintly light. Nobody wants to spoil the party and point out we are all knee deep in blood, surrounded in corpses, without any end in sight.
Even if every gun on Earth was to vanish tonight, with the sociopathic mindset now prevalent, alternatives would be quickly found. We are addicted to violence because it suits our philosophy, that the strong must survive, and weapons do indeed make us stronger. Addictions are notoriously intractable because they usually involve some kind of weakness in the genetic makeup itself: drug addictions have remained impervious to billions of dollars spent and millions of ordinary harmless people locked away, and addictions to violence will also find a way. Whether you are blinded by a bullet, a billiards cue or a broken bottle, the cause and the result are very similar. Guns might free up the hospital bed a little quicker, and that's about all. The problem is not guns, the problem is that so many would be so frightened of their own society that they want one for defence.
Nobody expresses curiosity as to the causes, other than the throwaway shrug, "evil has always existed.. what can you do?" It all seems like snake oil salesmen debating which leeches are most effective for cancer, how many are required, and at what time of day, and whether they should be applied to the armpits or the buttocks. This kind of debate can go on forever – which greatly suits the mind of the debaters – since none of it even begins to address the real problem.
With these pinhole visionaries, the price, style and fastening of gas masks is far more interesting than admitting the real problem lies within the smokestacks; now is the chance to wallow in detail, scenarios, hypotheses, zingers, ripostes and elaborations, and swat away canards and chestnuts for the gallery with a joyful flourish. Well played, sir! Oh, straw man argument – bad show, sir! The joy is in the detail, the beloved detail, in circling and describing it from all angles, displaying mastery of its nuances and our superior expression, merrily until the wee hours, up, down, and all around, again and again: masters of everything, bar the obvious.


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Tag Archives: RMR
Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity
Posted on April 19, 2010 by nate5176
I wrote a paper for Anatomy class, any topic. So I chose Metabolic Syndrome & Obesity. I discuss the "ins and outs" of that on a basic and brief level. I further discuss how research has shown that consistent, intense aerobic exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes 5-7 days a week is a major factor in preventing these two, and many other chronic disease, to include Cardiovascular Disease. I also take the time to briefly discuss and break down into a basic language, what RMR and MET tests are, and why people should be tested atleast twice a year. Continue reading →


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Daniel Agger claims Liverpool can still qualify for the Champions League despite their back-to-back defeats to rivals Manchester City and Chelsea.
Brendan Rodgers' Reds have slipped from first on Boxing Day to fifth and Manchester United are just two points behind them.
Agger refuses to panic and feels Liverpool proved with their displays at the Etihad and Stamford Bridge that they can clinch a top-four spot.
"It's never a good feeling when you lose two games in a row, but I think the games speak for themselves," said Agger, who returned as captain against Chelsea.
"We definitely deserved more from the City game and with a bit more luck we could have got something out of this game too.
"We did OK, but there were a few moments where maybe we lost concentration and allowed them to score two easy goals. When you lose it's never good enough.
"I think we have shown we are close to the top teams. It's been a tough Christmas. We couldn't have picked two tougher games.
"We didn't get anything out of the two games - that's the downside - but we produced two good performances. We just need to carry on like this and cut out the mistakes."
Liverpool have the chance to bounce back against Hull on New Year's Day at Anfield and avenge their shock defeat to the Tigers at the start of this month.
"We have to pick ourselves up quickly - that's something you have to do as a footballer," the Danish international told the Liverpool Echo.
"When you lose a game, it's good to have the next game so soon after. We have the Hull game to focus on and we definitely have to get the three points.
"Hull are a great team. We lost there not long ago so we know they are a dangerous team. We just have to carry on playing like we have done and keep believing in ourselves.
"The home form was very good this year and that's something we have to carry on. It's so important to what we want to achieve this season that we have a good record at home."
Agger made his first start in nearly a month at left-back and the Danish international was happy to help the team.
"It's always difficult when you aren't used to it," he said. "But you have to get on with it and do the best you can.
"That's what I tried to do against Chelsea. I felt like I was getting better as the game went on."


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This is what I know: there is a moment when you stop mourning the end of summer and start anticipating fall: wool clothes and real shoes and serious skin care and a full face of makeup. And when that moment occurs, jump on it.
This is what I think: everyone who thinks their feet look terrible in the winter hasn't seen mine after a summer of going to the beach and wearing flip flops. I got home from New Hampshire on Sunday, and my first order of business was to give myself the mother of all pedicures. With the good pumice stone, not that useless one I bought in NH. WHAT A DIFFERENCE.
This is what I'm wearing on my toenails: O.P.I. Crimson Carol. It's bright red, sparkly, and it's just the pick-me-up I need.
This is what could change my life: OK, Funny you should ask. My son came home with a few first day of school questionnaires, and that was one of the questions. Or more specifically, "What would you change about yourself?" And I immediately thought: I'd lose weight. About 30 pounds. Maybe 40--it depends on how well my metabolism has handled the seafood and ice creams of summer.
Which made me realize something. Losing weight? Talk about an attainable goal. I mean, it's not like my number one desire is to be six inches taller.
So what's my problem? Easy. It would take a year to do it right.
But I'm going to be a year older, anyway. Why not be a year slimmer, too?
This is what I'm eating: a sandwich made from last night's leftover lemon chicken breasts, lots of lettuce, hold the mayo. See above.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
this, or, my lightbulb moment in a meme
11 comments:
I LOVE that shade of nail polish!! Its pretty much the only color I use on my toes!! :) It looks fantastic on!!!ReplyDelete
Pumice stone? Where is your Diamancel?! Did Poppette steal it? I am clutching my pearls ovah heah!ReplyDelete
P.S. Go, you! You can do it!
My feet always look way better in the winter. I thought everybody's did.ReplyDelete
I'm waiting for my fall moment. (It's pouring and 60 on the Cape.)ReplyDelete
You really want to lose 30 lbs? For God's sake - WHY? You won't be able to wear any of your Lily next year.ReplyDelete
Wouldn't you rather spend your precious clothing budget on cute new things rather than replcements for your cute old things?
If I could change one thing about myself (and this is a free country, so I guess I can change if I really want to). . .I would remain perpetually caught up on my laundry.
Of course, I write a blog called The Gift of Fat, so . . . .
I am so with you on this journey to >30 lbs!ReplyDelete
Hannah Lee: that nail polish is the only thing that makes me cheerful as I rush around at the last minute getting my kids ready for back to school. The ONLY THING.ReplyDelete
Badger: Believe it or not, I never lemminged the Diamancel. Stila Luce, check. Jane's Browned Down Red, check. Creme de la Mer, check. But I always stuck to my old school Hero Chiropody Sponge.
YFA: Thank you! I thought I was going mental. Sandals are the death of me, whereas thick socks and clogs leave me with soft, perfect feet. That no one sees.
bird: You're having your fall moment now. Unfortunately.
Mary A.: Here's my dirty secret--I have a closet full of cute Lilly things in a smaller size. So really, no matter what, I can be decked out in pink and green monkeys swinging through palm trees drinking tropical cocktails.
Summerland: I just discovered MyPlate on LiveStrong.com. Fascinating stuff--you should check it out. I eat too much protein and not enough sodium. But my cholesterol is as perfect as a werewolf's hair. Go figure!
I think your feet need to be enclosed in something to hold in the moisture. When you wear sandals, they are exposed to sun, wind, all that stuff that dries out skin.ReplyDelete
Also, if you go to yoga class somebody will see your lovely soft feet. ;-)
I think your feet need to be enclosed in something to hold in the moisture. When you wear sandals, they are exposed to sun, wind, all that stuff that dries out skin.ReplyDelete
Also, if you go to yoga class somebody will see your lovely soft feet. ;-)
There will be no anticipation of fall in this household. The closest I will get is right now - appreciating open windows at night and through the morning but still loving the hot afternoons. I will mourn the end of summer until next May, when my toes defrost again.ReplyDelete
Wowza, that is a gorgeous polish!! Might have to abandon the Sally Hansen "Starlet" that has been my fave for several years.
re: the OPI--after a month of wearing an out-of-character-for me nude pedi color, I went back to my cheery OPI "Florentine Fuschia", which looks fabulous with tanned piggies!ReplyDelete
Something about the cool nights now makes me start rustling through my collection for something more "transitional" . . . Essie Garnet perhaps next time?
Gentle Readers:
For the time being, I've turned off comment moderation. Please don't spam; it's not nice.
xxx, Poppy.


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According to wikipedia, confession of sins is part of the Christian faith and practice. The meaning is essentially the same as the criminal one and that is to admit one's guilt. Confession of one's sins, or at least of one's sinfulness, is seen by most churches as a pre-requisite for becoming a Christian.
In Buddhism, confessing one's faults to a superior is an important part of Buddhist practice. In the various sutras, followers of the Buddha confessed their wrongdoing to Buddha.
So don't forget the next time you are at Wat (the temple), see how calm and forgiving he is, and best of all, he won't tell anyone of your secretes. Of course, once we're in front of him, most of us only make a wish.


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"Sexuality" Doesn't Exist
May 14, 2011 § 2 Comments
Interesting conversations are happening in my living room right now. They started with a discussion of the film Black Swan, which I won't get into right now. It morphed into an involved conversation about gay/queer identity, sexuality, femininity/masculinity, race, and religion.
I have become a strong believer in the idea that the concepts specifically of sexuality and race are completely empty. They may have definitions, and they may be concepts used in worldwide society, but under scrutiny each term generalizes to the point of forfeiting their weight.
First take sexuality. It has become the norm in Western society to consider sexuality as comprised of categories, although they can be organized in different ways; gay/straight, gay/bi/straight, and queer/straight are the most prevalent categorizations I've heard. But stratifying society based on strict definitions involving sexual practice is impossible. There's the question of whether one thought or experience can change someone's sexuality – an argument that not only gives the categories fuzzy edges, but makes them almost indiscernible.
Instead I offer that we consider humans holistically as a species. On the whole, humans form relationships with each other. These relationships are sometimes romantic or sexual. Depending on individual preferences, these romantic/sexual relationships can be formed with members of the same sex, members of a different sex, or both interchangeably. There are individuals who assume they are attracted to members of a certain sex but later become attracted to someone outside of their usual preference. I don't see why it is necessary for the society we live in to separate people based on who they form relationships with or who they engage in sexual acts with. I don't think any differently of a girl if I find out at a certain point that they date other girls. They're just like anybody else; the only difference to me is who they include in their dating pool. And that doesn't change my opinions or perceptions of them as a person.
I'm not even entirely comfortable using the term "sexuality". I just don't see how it's a relevant concept, since I don't find it applicable to the world as it is. Humans aren't born categorized by such terms. The idea of sexuality has no bearing on, nor does it reflect, anything about an individual's personality, values system, or beliefs. Although I understand that it has become something of an important tool in at least Western culture, I feel that is use is contrived and of little real use.
I don't want it replaced by a more "appropriate" term; I want the idea to be gone as well. People have romantic and sexual relationships with other people. That's all there is to it.
§ 2 Responses to "Sexuality" Doesn't Exist
Very thought-provoking and makes me wonder why we still put human beings into categories on any basis. We have attempted to do dismiss that generalization of humans in regard to race, gender and religion but we still define our images of "types of people" by certain definitions, i.e. sexual preference. What does it tell you about a
person's spirit if he/she is gay or bi?
Curiosity, experimentation, freedom, courage to change and embrace other human beings' Soul Epicenter is what teaches us and makes life interesting and worthwhile.


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You know I am not so good at expressing what and how I feel so writing it down for you to read will be the best possible way. I have always observed how you both have done things, how you both have gone about your life, bringing us up. How you guys have never let us feel what you do for us. Those minor things that were not significant but still were, all your love and care.
Hello Papa.
I remember the times you missed your official lunch and dinners to take us out instead because you wanted to spend time and you taught us that family is the most important thing in life.
That how you taught me to never do anything wrong, to love the people who even hate you, to set good examples in life for others.
I remember every time you announced that whoever will recite more prayers in a day shall be given 50 rupees, for all the times you woke me up to offer prayers.
The habit of reading, I must not forget was because of you. You gave me the confidence, backed me up to write, I still have those 1000 rupees with me you gave me when my first article was published.
I remember every time I call you at night, just told you we have planned to go out tonight and no matter how tired you were, you wanted to go out or not, you always said " Oh betay ka mood hai? Chalo then pick me up " every single time. .
Didn't want you to remember it again but those text messages with short forms which really made no sense still made sense, and made us laugh for hours. I have them saved with me.
I can recall when every time you got late or had to come early from your office because you wanted to drop and pick us up from school so we don't have to travel in vans or rickshaws.
It is just unbelievable how you have set examples for me to follow, when you took me aside to tell me something important, every lesson you taught me in life.
Just by the way, If my memory serves me right, I remember you trying how to drive a car because mama forced you to, because of our comfort.. Umm and you smacking the car in that fruit shop, while we clapped from behind.
I remember whenever you had to tell me something or teach it, you did so quoting an example from your own life because you always know just words don't satisfy me.
Honestly I can say you never ever stopped us from doing anything we wanted to do in life, be it inviting cousins for dinners, for going out, to deciding what we want to be in life, oh yes but I remember you stopping us when we were doing something wrong.
Oh and all the times of your giving importance to what I say, for taking decisions against your will just because it was me who wanted things to happen the way they did.
It was you who gave me the confidence and freedom of living away from home, I remember how you told me never to worry about spending money if you are spending it right and how you never inquired about it.
For listening to my arguments every time and every time I lost my temper, you never said a word, to be honest I am really sorry for all those times.
I remember you taking me for a round along the colony on the motorbike when I was a kid, because I wanted to and then on your way back always buy me something to eat and asking me not to tell mama about it.
And that secretly hiding pocket money under my pillow because I never asked for it. That kissing my forehead every morning.
The best part is you keeping us in touch with our village, taking us there whenever you can, just so that we know what our roots were.
I remember you playing cricket with me even with your backaches just because you know I love cricket so much and you wanted to coach me yourself.
I also remember you cooking food for us when Mama wasn't there, all those cutting onions with wet eyes, tasteless Chicken Karahi and the delicious Aalu ki bhujiya. Oh oh and that trying to make triangular rotis.
To be honest, you are that one person I look towards whenever I need inspiration, or need advice, or whenever I am confused. Thank you for being such a great dad. May Allah give you health and a long life ahead - Ameen.
Click here for Letter to My Mother.


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Alex woke up unsure of the time. The pale afternoon sun was filtered through the lace curtains and she knew she'd been out for hours. Finishing the script and getting the job done before anything else bad happened needed to be a priority. There was a feeling in the back of her mind that this was only the beginning of bad things to come. She took two more pills and tried to dress, a pale blue comfy shirt she didn't have to pull over her head and stretchy pants that slipped on easily. She needed a cola and some of Helen's chocolate cake if she was going to make it through the rest of the day. Alex limped her way down the back stairs and into the kitchen.
Kyle rushed over to her. "How are you? I didn't want to bother you in case you were asleep."
"I'll live. I guess I did fall asleep. How are Dani and Heather doing?"
"They're going to be okay, only a few scrapes and bruises. They're keeping Dani overnight just in case so Heather's staying with her. We were lucky and we're so grateful for everything you did." She fought back a moan not wanting Kyle to see how much pain his appreciative hug was causing her.
Thane sat quietly in the corner reading a book which she noticed was hers. She flushed at the thought of what had happened between them earlier. How she had responded to him, melting in his arms like some star struck fan. No wonder he ran from her, any sane man would have. She hoped to sneak in and out quickly and try to get some writing done. Alex sliced a big piece of cake and took two bottles of cola from the fridge. She turned around and ran into Thane who had a sexy smirk on his face, looking like the cat that ate the canary. Alex knew she was doomed.
"I finished your book. I can see why we're making it into a movie." He looked down at her tray and shook his head in disgust. "You really need to eat better. That stuff will kill you. About what happened earlier, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have…"
"Whatever," she mumbled. Alex felt like a trapped animal looking for a way to escape. She didn't want to hear him apologize for the most exciting experience she had had in her life. It couldn't be a good thing when a man apologized for kissing you. She had promised herself to never let another man touch her but Thane had touched her, emotionally and physically. What she wanted from him terrified her. Trust and love were emotions she kept buried deep in a place that saw no light. Could she ever just give herself over to carnal satisfaction? She wasn't certain she could ever love again.
"Alex," he said.
Pain she could deal with. It was like a comfortable pair of slippers you couldn't throw away. The pain let her know she was still among the living. Her fear kept the rest of the world locked safely out. Always, it seemed she was on the outside looking in, observing, never participating. Alex caught the faint musky scent of his cologne as she made her way around his well-muscled frame. She had shut every other man out, including Rick. Why not this one too?
She walked past Kyle on her way to her room. "Why don't you come up later and we can work on some more ideas?"
"The sooner we get out of here the better," Kyle said.
"Yeah," Alex said, looking back to the kitchen where she left had Thane. All she wanted was to get far, far away from that man and the feelings he stirred in her. Alex took her treats up to her room. Smiling as she put the chocolaty goodness into her mouth. Maybe what they said about chocolate being a substitute for sex was true. She certainly had eaten more than her share in the last ten years. But chocolate couldn't hold you or kiss you or soothe you with loving words in the middle of the night like Rick always had. But it also couldn't hurt you either. She preferred her pleasures of the flesh to be in the form of food.
She had already made a fool of herself with Thane. She couldn't let it happen again but the man was relentless in his pursuit, wearing down her defenses. If he kept making advances, she knew she'd give in and that would be a terrible mistake for both of them. He liked his women young and stupid, neither of which were qualities she possessed. How could she handle being just a one night stand to him, when "casual" wasn't in her vocabulary? Thane challenged her, made her feel alive and sexual whether she wanted to or not. Maybe it was the testosterone that oozed from his pores like sweat. Thane had awakened the woman in her. How could she go back to the world of isolation she had known before?


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Review: Lawless
by Justin Jasso (@jjasso007)
In the broadest sense, you can classify films into your general cinema or art house films, but once in a while, you'll get a film that isn't quite art house but isn't necessarily your general cinema experience, either. It doesn't quite fit into a specific category. Lawless, John Hillcoat's newest film is a hybrid in this mold. It has action, brutality, some comedy, romance and darkness. And to top it off, it's not quite a period piece, but may be considered one due to the fact that it takes place during the Prohibition Era. Also, because it's somewhat of a blend of everything, it may not hit the numbers that it should, and that will be a shame for an overall fine film.
It is 1930 in a backwater town in Franklin County, Virginia. The Bondurant brothers, timid Jack (Shia LaBeouf), quiet Forrest (Tom Hardy), and maniac Howard (Jason Clarke), aren't the only bootleggers around, but they're the best and most respected. Their livelihood is threatened by the arrival of Charlie Rakes (Guy Pearce), a special deputy from Chicago, who has come to Virginia to stop those who violate the law of the land, specifically those selling moonshine. What that means is that those who pay a fee to Rakes are allowed to continue bootlegging while those who don't are shut down, usually in a way that ends life at the same time. However, the Bondurants are a strong family and refuse to pay Rakes for something they've been doing for free all these years and their steadfastness instigates a war.
As we often see with Depression Era gangster films, the lawbreakers are the protagonists and the lawmen are the villains. Lawless does not try to make the life of the Bondurants appear holier-than-thou. When it comes to bloodletting, they can be as vicious as their adversaries. Yet, as bad as they can be at times, Rakes is much worse. He's that cunning bad guy that audiences fall in love with hating. This type of role requires the right amount of everything and Pearce knows just how far to take things to amplify the menace without turning the character into a cliché.
LeBeouf and Hardy take the principle amount of screen time where the brothers are concerned. LaBeouf has the primary arc in Lawless as his character begins as a timid boy and grows into a man during the climax of the film. Usually, we see LaBeouf playing a similar character in all of his films. Maybe LaBeouf just doesn't have that great a range as an actor at this point in his career, and we still see "him" in every role. Fortunately, in Lawless, he is solid and sincere and doesn't make any mistakes. Hardy, on the other hand, is wonderful as the older brother, Forrest. He's calm and quiet but there is an intensity behind his eyes that shows you wouldn't want to catch him on a bad day. There's also a sense of innocence in Forrest, even though he is the main enforcer of the brothers. Given more to work with, his character could have been Oscar-worthy, but we'll settle for a great performance from Mr. Tom Hardy here. The other supporting actors all fill their roles well, for what they are worth, with only Jessica Chastain (The Help) given any real meat to work with.
The ending gives us what we want, but in a roundabout way, and it takes a little too long to get to that conclusion. For most of the film's two hours, it builds toward an inevitable climax, but when that arrives, there's something understated about how it unfolds. It's not as satisfying as it might be and the epilogue, although welcome (with a funny moment), is just a couple beats too long. Lawless uses top-notch acting, a strong screenplay, and enough violence to hold even most viewers' attention, but will it make the money at the box office that it should? Time will tell. It may not be "immortal" and has a few flaws here and there, but even the best apple may have a bump and bruise covering it's sweet meat.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars