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Korn Ferry strengthens professional services practise
He will be based in the New York office.
Most recently, Prager served as managing partner and global head of the professional services practice at a global executive recruiting firm. In all, he brings to Korn Ferry more 20 years of search experience.
A vast majority of his career has been dedicated to the professional services arena, working closely with clients focused on management consulting, advisory, outsourcing, business, information and marketing services.
"Adam brings to Korn Ferry more than two decades of professional services experience, having worked with many of the top global organizations in this space," said Doug Charles, President, Americas, Korn Ferry. "His deep relationships and understanding of the talent and leadership issues driving the professional services landscape will be a great fit for Korn Ferry and our clients."
Earlier in his career, Prager led the transportation, distribution and logistics practice of Martin H. Bauman Associates, a leading boutique search firm.
Prager is a graduate of New York University.


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« Most of $1 Million Verdict Reinstated in Special Education Student's Abuse Case | Main | Non-Union Teachers Seek Friedrichs Rehearing Once Court Vacancy Is Filled »
N.H. Supreme Court Backs School Counselor on Abortion Advice to Student
New Hampshire's highest court has ruled that a school district must reinstate a high school guidance counselor who was non-renewed after she clashed with her principal about how to handle a student's desire to terminate her pregnancy.
The state Supreme Court largely ruled in favor of counselor Demetria McKaig, who disagreed with her principal at Farmington High School about how to help a 15-year-old student's interest in getting an abortion.
In 2012, the girl came to McKaig, who suggested she tell her mother. But the girl and her boyfriend did not want to reveal the pregnancy to her mother, so McKaig began researching the girl's options under state law. New Hampshire has a law requiring that parents be notified of an abortion by a minor child, but also an option for the minor to get a judicial bypass of the notification requirement.
McKaig also met with her principal, who isn't named in the state high court ruling, The principal wanted to inform the girl's mother of the pregnancy, but McKaig disagreed, asserting that the student had the right to keep the pregnancy confidential. The counselor consulted an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer, who expressed the view that the state judicial bypass law gave the student the right to keep private her pregnancy and her contemplation of terminating it.
The student eventually went to court to obtain a temporary restraining order barring the principal from informing her parents of the pregnancy. The principal abided by the TRO. It's not clear from court papers whether the student went through with having the abortion.
Four months after the incident, McKaig received a notice of nonrenewal from the superintendent of her district. She later received a list of reasons: insubordination, breach of confidentiality, and neglect of duties.
The confidentiality charge related to the fact that McKaig had provided the ACLU lawyer with some information about the student, including her initials, age, and grade, as well as the fact that she was pregnant.
The local school board upheld the nonrenewal on two of the grounds: insubordination and breach of confidentiality. McKaig appealed to the state board of education, which reversed her non-renewal, but provided no remedies, such as reinstatement to her job.
In a 4-1 decision on April 7 in Appeal of Farmington School District, the New Hampshire Supreme Court ordered McKaig reinstated to her job. The state high court agreed with the state board that the counselor was not insubordinate on the basis of failing to go up the chain of command before aiding the student on her options for a judicial bypass.
The court said Farmington school board policy supported the state board's conclusion that "to avoid insubordination, McKaig was required only to discuss her disagreement with the principal, which she did."
Moreover, the court said, the state board had observed that "McKaig acted consistently with policies and practices applicable to her role as guidance counselor."
The court also agreed with the state board that McKaig did not breach student confidentiality by passing along limited information about the student.
Justice Robert J. Lynn wrote a lengthy dissent, arguing that the local school board's decision against renewing McKaig was correct.
"Absent some showing that the principal's decision was unlawful or wrongful, this case is no different than any other disagreement between a supervisor and an employee," Lynn wrote.
[Hat Tip to How Appealing.]

subset: commoncrawl


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Something I[ve been wanting to do for a while now is have some music on my site, particularly unknown and independent music. If you have speakers on your computer you've probably heard a few indie tunes. I hope to continue changing artists every day or three. I wish there was a little flash player I could drop in that would cycle through a playlist of artists from an independent artist site.
Alas, there is no flash player to be found. I am relagated to hard coding this stuff on a daily basis. It doesn't take too long, maybe a half hour or two. Maybe if I could connect one of these sites to a flash coder we could all get hooked up with some snazzy sidebar player. Until that time, you only get one song every day or so.
If this isnt' enough for you and you just gotta have more of this indie music stuff there are a few places you can go.
The one I'm going to highlight is one that will actually give you something in return for your time and effort. Garageband is a website that's been around for a while and will give you credit for free music in return for you rating independent bands. You don't get much, but you get something. You also get to hear some of the worlds best undiscovered artists competing against each other for contracts, or just trying to sell their indie records. I've had an account with them since around 2001.
I'm sure there are other similar projects that will pay you for listening to new artists, but I don't happen to remember any others. If you want to just listen to music samples from various unsigned artists here is a list of sites I've been haunting lately:
CD Street
CD Baby
Sonic Awareness
18 minutes ago


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Full Length of Macadam Stories in Best Video FormatNow you can play full Macadam Stories in high definition format with duration 100 Min and has been launched in 2015-05-17 and MPAA rating is 3.
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- Language of movie : Français,
- Durationof movie : 100 Min
- Average vote of movie : 6.7
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- Translation of movie : EN,
- Actors of movie :Michael Pitt (), Isabelle Huppert (), Gustave Kervern (), Valeria Bruni Tedeschi (), Jules Benchetrit (), Tassadit Mandi ()
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I was so darn busy till I forgot how's my blog now. LOL.Leo Club ; Olympics! ; cleaning my stuffs?! ; hanging out with family and friends? ; and bla~
Early in the morning now, ayam dah berkokok, I know its time to update my blog.
I was so addicted to my Olympics these days. But…now, no lar, stop already. Liu Xiang got injured =( I stopped and switched to watch others. No only because Liu Xiang okie, all my favs finished.
Anyway, lets get started ;)
I was so glad that Lee Chong Wei got SILVER medal for us. Stop blame-ing him! He already done his best! Those ppl who said he played like SHIT that day, why don't u join in a small competition in ur school and see how's ur standard?! LCW is World No.2 =) I think he will beat Lin Dan another day. Just another day. Ahahaha. LCW bakal menerima gelaran Dato' daahahhahaha! 26-year-old got Dato =) Not bad not bad.
Mr.Liu Xiang
Hmm. Kinda disappointed. Honestly, I've been waited to watch him again. And I waited him for 4 years. Duhh. I never lie okie winks* That day I watched it LIVE in Florex Restaurant while having lunch with my mom. It was kinda blur and I gotto watched it FAR AWAY though there was showing by a thingy…LOL,I forgot what it called,school used it That's why I feel the way he walked was freaking weird! Until he RUN slowly and looked at his expression, I can predict what the h*ll is happened. While he walking out formt here, everyone was looking at him. Some of them were cried a lot,their face full of tears. Urgh. Im definitely sad sad sad sad. Nvm. More 4 years. LONDON =) Rest more Xianggg!
Its better if he quit from the competition. 医学教授:刘翔退赛是保护 没有特效药复发率高 (credit: Sohu)
"我相信刘翔能跑到2012年伦敦奥运会。"孙海平肯定地说。HAHAHA. Great!
I watched it LIVE through TV :(
I watched it LIVE through TV :(
Those reporters. Uhmm :'(
I bet that THIS FELLA must very happy now. Ish! Blackiesh! Watch out!!
Like a MOO MOO face!
刘翔退赛后,古巴名将罗伯斯毫无疑问拿下了110米栏的金牌。看看他超"牛"的表情,没有了刘翔的赛场仿佛成了他一个人的舞台。(credit: SOHU =)
Like a MOO MOO face!
刘翔退赛后,古巴名将罗伯斯毫无疑问拿下了110米栏的金牌。看看他超"牛"的表情,没有了刘翔的赛场仿佛成了他一个人的舞台。(credit: SOHU =)
U will break the RECORD again and get GOLD medal while in London! 2012!
The Robinhood - CHENG!!!
Ok, Malaysia still Boleh.
Cheng Chu Sian =) (Malaysia's Robinhood. daaahahaha) :PHe got into top8! Yaysss!
Blogging is good and GREAT. But...i have to take almost an hour to updat this post.
I am slow or what? whatva~
haha. Have a cool holiday!


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DNA Racing is now offering all-anodized supermoto wheelsin the standard OEM colors for each manufacturer: ORANGE, RED, BLUE, GOLD, GREEN, ETC. We got these in for inspection and they look great, and, DNA Racing has managed to shave off some pounds on their latest wheels. All for $819.00
Motostrano allows motorcyclists to convert their dirt bikes to supermoto for street or racing with thousands of parts to select from.


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if this is your first time visiting Down on the Farm! Consider yourself one of the lucky ones if you received a Christmas card from us..because I stopped at "M" (I think) and will try and finish in the next few days...otherwise, Happy New Year!
We have been battling influenza in the month of December. I have gone through gallons of bleach and cans of Lysol like no other. It was 40 degrees this past week and I opened windows. Washed all of the bedding. And wouldn't you know it, I finally caught it after everyone was on the mend.
It is now 7 below zero and snowing. The snow is pretty if you don't have to go anywhere. Which I don't. Because The Farmer went to town yesterday and got us milk and Mt. Dew and Pepsi. That's stocking up :) I am making bread today. The only thing we are lacking is cheese. I always freak out when there's no cheese. Not even a slice of American to be found. No cheese topped casseroles. No tacos. No grilled cheese. It's almost an emergency. Only not. Because I always overreact.
I always try and explain that I live like the pioneer women of old. With electricity. And internet. Ok, and a bread machine and washer and dryer and hair dryer and refrigerator and lights. Ok, I live in the spirit of the pioneer women of old. I am the direct descendant of Marjorie Murphy. She left the East Coast on her own and settled in South Dakota on a claim. By herself. A woman. Pioneer women did not go to town everyday. Or have play dates. Some home schooled. That means children in the house. All. The. Time. They raised the food for their family. Canned and preserved and baked and cured. They were mother, doctor, teacher, referee. And they didn't have a big ole house like I am blessed with. My point is, I don't need to go to town everyday. I like to write real letters to friends. Some days, I get to bed at 11 and realize there were 100 other things I could still be doing. And then it's back up at 6 and start all over again. It honestly doesn't bother me that I don't have Girls Night Out. Or go to the mall. I am just as content with a long phone call to a real live friend. I hate Facebook. Really. I do. It's an excuse to not connect. To stalk. To say "praying" on someone's status without following through.
A pioneer woman has her man around her. All. The. Time. Do you know all that that entails? That takes true love and dedication. And a whole scoop of humor. Because if you stop laughing you will start nagging. And that never gets me anywhere. The Farmer will pretend he can't hear me in a heartbeat if the nagging starts. So, here's the secret, I cook him up some good food. Fried in a skillet. Meat. Potatoes. Something good for his soul. And then I strike! Works every.single.time.
In conclusion...HAHAHAHAHA...what I really want to say is that it's okay to embrace womanhood. Being a mom. A wife. A teacher. A friend. Your way. Life is not an ongoing Facebook post. It is not pinnable on Pinterest. Life is you. Living. Loving yourself. It's messy. There's poop. Puke. Boogers. Fighting. But there are also sweet kisses goodnight. Sticky cheeks. Piles of dirt to play in. The first smile of the morning.
That's how I choose to live. How about you?


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tattoo dragones
Oriental Dragon, Lightning. August 6, 2008 by masami @ gemini tattoo
Dragon design
Baby Dragon Tattoo
Tattoo Dragon - Dragon Tattoo
The Chinese Dragon Tattoo Dragon tattoos are the most popular mythical
This is one of my favorite Japanese dragon tattoos.
Dragon. This mythical creature causes so much fascination to tattoo
My First Tattoo
dragon and tiger fighting on rocks and in water
Dolphin Tattoos - Dolphins been long associated with symbols of spirituality
This is a tribal tattoo dragon pictures. Posted by imam at 8:45:00 AM
Western dragon tattoos can also be very intricate, but they are usually not
Labels: dragon king tattoo
Dragon sword tattoo picture.
Royalty-free fantasy clipart picture of a black tall dragon tattoo design,
best tattoo: Best Tribal Dragon Tattoo
SciFi and Fantasy Art Dragon Tattoos by Victoria R. Hershiser
Zona Tattoo - Tú portal del Tattoo - Tattoos Dragones - Drangons Tattoos
Fire Dragon Pictures, Images and Photos
dragon back piece tattoo dragon tattoos women


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20 Kickstarter Tips to Run a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign
How do you prevent yourself from sounding like a beggar when you are launching a crowd funding campaign? It's a simple two words answers – be passionate. You are asking for donations for your project about which you are passionate. It would be a fulfilling mission not just for you but for other people who believe in you and trust your line of vision.
Aspects of crowd funding process
The most efficient way to launch your product in the market is crowd funding. It helps you to analyze the demand and how to gather funds for your production run. You should have a prior knowledge about how your product is going to be produced and what is the costing going to be for each unit. The entrepreneurs can determine the demand for their product without investing too much capital through crowd funding. The crowdfunding process covers the following aspects:
- Raising money via online for a social cause
- Money is raised from organizations and individuals
- Money is raised for social causes, individual causes or ventures
Maximization of revenue from your crowdfunding campaign
It works out efficiently for entrepreneurs who use money received from pre-orders to fund their first production run. You have to explain to people the reason you need their support. People would want to know how you are turning your idea into a reality. Set up an emotional fundraising page. Tell an impressive story which will convince donors. Tell them explicitly what amount you are looking at and the money will be utilized for what objective.
Make an effort to reach out to maximum donors
Having a website helps. It helps the contributors to know about your company. It is proof that you are a legitimate business. You have to have a fair amount of traction on your website to let people understand that you are dedicated towards your cause. Make sure that the people know about your project. Make use of emails and request everyone you know to send emails to their own network to spread the news about the campaign. Link your project to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. See if it is possible to involve the local media in your project.
Keep your donors updated
The features from one site to another site may differ, but the basic objective is the same. The non-profit organizations build an online campaign for raising funds and use the payment gateway of that website to receive money from contributors. Individuals can create pages for the charities they want to show their support and others will provide you an opportunity to set up a master page for your campaign. Some sites are working towards the production of products which can be used by art charities which are geared for supporting an art exhibition. Other sites work for non-profit concerns, and they support a broad range of organizations. Crowdfunding sites work better when there are specific projects are involved. They are not suitable for general funding projects.
Let us discuss some of the tips to run a successful crowdfunding campaign.
1. Clear ideas
Have a well defined project plan with clear ideas. No one will be willing to invest in partially baked ideas.
2. Avoid longer campaigns
Keep your projects short. Try to keep your campaign under a month because longer campaigns do not motivate donors.
3. Planning your video
Plan your video ahead of time. To give a professional touch to your video get in contact with someone willing to build their portfolio without charging a hefty sum.
4. Use compelling photographs
You should use professional, compelling photographs as much as possible. Use your network to find out people who are willing to work at low costs.
5. Put your numbers in perspective
You need to know how many units you require to sell to reach your goal.
6. Avoid showing desperation by asking for money immediately
Show your passion for your project. People sharing the same vision will be attracted to it.
7. Build a budget
On your campaign page, set up a clear cut budget which will invoke the confidence of potential donors?
8. Offer perks
Try to offer rewards to attract donors.
9. Easy to set up
Find out if the fundraising page is easy to set up or not. Take into account whether they need a special technical skill set to make the page or having a mere knowledge of HTML is adequate.
10. Use your network to reach out to people
Start spreading the news of your campaign using your network. Inform everyone you are familiar with about your campaign. Talk to not only your donors but tell your supporting staff and volunteers.
11. Customize your message
Divide your network into subgroups. Try to send out customized messages for each group.
12. Follow up
After sending out customized messages to each sub group, follow up on each of these groups to show your interest.
13. Keep your donors in the loop
Be sure to update your donors whenever possible. Keep them in the loop always.
14. Introduce your team
Let the people who are providing their support meet your team members.
15. Visual appeal
Different crowd funding sites require different customs. For some websites, you have to have beautiful pictures to back you up, but others require the use of video. So you need to see what will appeal the most to the contributors. You have to make the presentation of the project keeping in mind the restrictions imposed by each site.
16. Processing of the payment
You have to obtain information regarding the modes of payment available to the donors. Check and see if they accept all kind of credit cards. Calculate and see how long does it take to process the donations made online via this site to reach your account.
17. Cost of processing fee
See the total costs associated with this crowd funding site. Carefully check and see if there are set up fees and processing charges for a credit card. Find out about the costs involved in getting account statements from them.
18. Enough traffic
Check out the website traffic to find out if this platform is regularly used for raising funds for non-profit organizations.
19. Marketing strategies and networking capacity
Check out the site's networking capacity. Find out if it is easy to navigate and get around on this site and how the site is helping you to spread the news about your campaign.
20. Have patience – approval of the project takes time
There are many sites which have provided the platform for raising money for different projects. They may range from video games to books, technology products or art collections and others. However, if you are thinking of raising money for your project through crowd funding, then you have to think carefully about your starting point and how to make sure that your campaign becomes successful.
Many sites have their set of rules to accept any campaign. They do not approve all the projects. The process of approval can end up taking quite a few days. Make sure you have a minimum two weeks buffer time in your hand before you launch the product.
Crowdfunding campaigns have become popular nowadays. However it has become highly competitive too. Success cannot be guaranteed for a crowdfunding campaign. However you can have a better chance of success by going through the techniques and strategies adopted by other similar projects.
Tags: business, crowdfunding, entrepreneurship, kickstarter, tips & tricks


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Well, our moving project went off really well on Saturday the 4th. We moved a wonderful woman from inner SE Portland out to Gresham. We had 5 volunteers for the move. Thank you so much to Igor, Mel, Trevor, Michelle and Seth.
So, even though we had 4 cars and 1 truck to pack up, we ended up making 2 trips. It went smoothly, though. This lovely woman was very thankful and we couldn't be happier to have helped!
Thank you again to everyone. You are changing people's lives and giving them renewed hope in humanity!
Here are a few photos of the move and we wish you all the best.
Mel, helping load up the vehicles.
Trevor, Igor (in the background) and Seth getting the door for Trevor.
Another one of the cars getting stuffed with items.
Igor (left) and Seth (right) finishing up with the first load.
And because Michelle was doing all the picture taking, as well as helping move, and I wasn't thoughtful enough to snap some of her, I am posting a photo of her from December of last year. Yes, she is wearing antlers.


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A failed mission to protect a scientist who has stolen a copy of the smallpox virus left Jon Man (Jay Chou) severely injured and the scientist kidnapped by his traitorous colleague Sean (Andy On). The bullet is lodged in Jon's brain will paralyses him within two week and he decides to spend his final days with his mother (Elaine Jin).
What he didn't expect was that his mother revealed to him that he has a long lost brother Man Yang (Nicolas Tse) whom she left behind with his gambling addict dad Man Tin (Liu Kai Chi). To fulfill his mother last wishes, Jon decides to track Man Yang down in Malaysia.
En route to Kuala Lumpur (Capital of Malaysia), Jon befriends medical specialist Rachel (Lin Peng) and came across criminal organization attempting to kidnap her. During the process to foil this kidnap attempt, he discovers that Man Yang is a wanted felon working as a mercenary for Sean, who needs the help of a medical specialist to mutate the small pox virus and holds the world ransom.
After Man Yang failed to kidnap Rachel but escaped with the virus, the criminal organization attempts to control him by kidnapping his daughter. The righteous Jon has to decide whether to stop Man Yang from breaking more laws or assist his wayward brother in rescuing his niece and stopping Sean's diabolical plans?
The Perspective
Best Explosive Action Movie Made in Malaysia Since Supercop!
Director Dante Lam has once again impressed me with his choreography of action sequences. In terms of scope, presentation and special effects, The Viral Factor's action sequences has met and exceeded those found in most Hollywood action movies. It has also made a credible action star out of Nicholas Tse and Jay Chou.
Besides the action sequences, I also enjoyed how Director Dante Lam handled the emotional aspects of this movie. That one aspect that I didn't enjoyed in his previous movie as he tends to either over do it or drag it on for too long. The Viral Factor had just the right mix of action and emotion scenes to deliver the tumultuous journey of one man seeking his long lost brother out.
Nicholas Tse's acting is getting better with each new movie. He is also mastering the art of restraining his expression to the right amount for emotional scenes. Coupled with his good looks and the image design for his character, he had pretty much stolen the show from Jay Chou.
Nuff Said - The Viral Factor comes highly recommended!
The Viral Factor - Nicholas Tse blazing away in a KL traffic Jam
The Viral Factor - Jay Chou in a explosive mission
The Viral Factor - Jay Chou and Nicholas Tse faceoff


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I'm convinced that human beings are far less rational, coherent, consistent and aware in their daily decisions than they are supposed to be. This means we're out of synch with the founding assumptions of our markets, electoral systems and other important institutions. But this doesn't mean I want to throw in the towel and give up on the achievements of our ancestors' faith in reason. I just think that faith needs to engage with all the evidence of the past few decades about how people really make their choices in life. For example, people in public health have known for a long time that simply telling people the facts about smoking ought to be enough to make them quit. It's not, which means the rationalist assumption (I tell you the facts about smoking and health, you calculate your interest in staying alive, and quit) must be replaced by a different approach. Which will be…what? It may well be that this alternative (or alternatives) won't be found in some new grand comprehensive theory but rather by piecemeal experimentation. Which brings me to this beautifully post-rational video.
This little clip was obviously made by people who take the facts of human irrationality as a given, and made clever use of those facts to get people to change their behavior in a way that promotes public health. We know, for instance, that people in general are pretty well-informed on the hazards of smoking, but that this information doesn't motivate smokers enough to quit. We also know that people aren't terribly coherent. Many smokers can tell you everything that's wrong with tobacco even as they're puffing away. And we know that people are highly susceptible to social circumstances—that we're highly motivated to make sure others think well of us. Finally, it's well established too that face-to-face relationships move people to act where disembodied knowledge does not.
So here's how this campaign pushes all the buttons: The people who made this video find people puffing away in public places, and send a small child to approach them. The child has an unlit cigarette. He or she asks for a light.
The aftermath is fascinating. The smokers, sometimes gesturing with their cigarettes, refuse. They explain why cigarettes are a terrible habit, why the child mustn't smoke, what awful effects tobacco has on the body. And then the kid hands over a brochure that says, well, says, um, if it's bad for me…
It's pretty fascinating to watch people's motives crash into one another right before our eyes. They want to enjoy their smoke, and protect the child and appear responsible and show they're knowledgable. These folks are forced into a situation that, normally, we're all skilled at avoiding: The plain fact of the human mind's incoherence and inconsistency.
Which is all very entertaining, but for a public-health campaign, the bottom line is: did this work?
I don't know enough about the video to feel sure (I'm guessing from the script at the end that this is a Thai project—can any reader help me out?). But for what it's worth the video says almost all the smokers took the anti-smoking brochure and most all of them threw away their burning cigarette. It also says calls to a quit-smoking help line went up 40 percent, but it's impossible to know what that says about the intervention without knowing more about the scale of this experiment and that phone line. Whatever the practical results, the sight of people confronting their own minds is pretty fascinating.
Thanks to Gloria Origgi for the link.
Follow me on Twitter: @davidberreby


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Forsyth's previous book was The Afghan, one which was not received well either by fans or critics. Mike Martin, the SAS hero from The Fist of God was reintroduced and much to the chagrin of all, martyred. The Cobra reintroduces us to Calvin Dexter of The Avenger fame. The story starts when a lady working in the White House breaks down during a state dinner. She is consoled by the First Lady whence her story of a grandson lost to cocaine is narrated. This story is passed onwards to the Commander in Chief of all forces (who we know is Obama, yet he is never named in as many words) who knows the depth of a grandmother grandson relationship.
He asks for a crackdown on the cocaine business & in comes Paul Devearaux, a veteran CIA operative & former director who's given the task of eradicating the drug evil. He ropes in Cal Dexter, ostensibly because Cal is the only person who's ever outwitted him. And thus begins a long drawn operation for the nipping of the cocaine hydrochloride business in the bud.
As always, God is in the details for Forsyth. We are told how the cocaine plant is grown in the forests of Columbia; of the process that converts the leaves into "pasta" & then into "puro"; the methods by which it travels across the Atlantic to Europe & how it is smuggled into the United States. And of the major gangs who have a holding stake in all these operations. Mixing facts with fiction is a Forsyth trademark and he never disappoints with intrigue. The book is a page turner.
The climax is a bit of an anti-climax, but we've come to expect that from Forsyth these days. It started with The Veteran, in which the God of short stories gave us some pretty mediocre stuff. That was followed by The Afghan, where an extensively built up story line was killed off in the end by the protagonists' death. The Cobra promises a lot & delivers on most of its promise. However, the reader is left slightly puzzled & wishing for more at the end.
Nevertheless, a 4 rating on 5 for this one!


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With not much to do today, I went into the city and walked from Union Square up to Bryant Park and then around to 33rd St and Park Ave. It was sort of uneventful, but I did get a few good pics along the way. Enjoy.
Temperatures reached 93 today in the city, but somehow I stumbled upon these Christmas Carolers in a store window.
These ribbons were hung along a fence outside of a church. They are titled "Prayers for Peace". Each gold ribbon represents one service man or woman who lost their life in Iraq. Each blue ribbon represents one Iraqi who lost their life there during the war. Each green ribbon represents an individual prayer for peace.
This is a view of the Empire State Building from inside Madison Square Park. FYI, the park smelled like pee.
This is the reflection of buildings on windows of another building in Herald Square.


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The bar-tailed godwit or kuaka, its Maori name, is a migratory bird that spends the southern summers in
In 2007, the inimitable "E7", her tag reference for satellite tracking, posted a trans-Pacific journey of 18,000-mile-long (29,000 km) series of flights tracked by satellite, including the longest non-stop flight recorded for a land bird.
E7's Remarkable Trans-Pacific Journey
Source: US Geological
The breeding grounds in
The most remarkable flight of E7 was her return journey to
Since kuaka are land birds, they are unable to stop to eat or drink while flying over open-ocean. The constant flight speeds at which E7 was tracked by satellite indicate she did not stop on land.
On her arrival back in New Zealand, E7 touched down at a spot just 8 miles east of where she had been tagged before she started her pan-Pacific journey.
It's estimated that over the course of a 20 year lifetime, a godwit's migratory mileage could top 288,000 miles.
In addition to locations in the
Every southern spring, a watch is kept for the harbingers of spring on the Avon-Heathcote Estuary. Upon the first arrival, the bells of the Christchurch Cathedral are rung for 30 minutes to herald their arrival.
Upon arrival, the kuaka appear bedraggled having exhausted their fat reserves during the long journey. Their roosting colony at the Estuary is on the South Shore Spit in
The Avon-Heathcote Estuary – the godwit colony is at the southern tip of South Shore SpitIn February-March, the godwits are farewelled by residents of
Kiwis of the human kind in the far flung Kiwi diaspora around the globe might adopt the godwit or kuaka as their emblem. However far they may be from their multiple homes, they can look to this humble bird for inspiration on how to close the distance between them.


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Running scared
When I'm not watching old HS dunk contests, I'm thinking about the draft. This is made more than a little difficult by the fact that I can't be bothered to follow college ball until the tournament; also making the NCAA's not only more compelling than NBA endgame, but more relveant to my continued enjoyment of the league that knows no teething.
I am totally amazed by the barreness of this year's presumed entry pool. I can't remember a year when more prospects seemed like they had to be coaxed into the untold riches and magical realism of the pros; the high school and Euro dream is dead, and college ball, for whatever reason, doesn't seem so bad to the Williamses, Pauls, Boguts of the world.
You have to blame this all on the NBA. Looking at Chad Ford's lottery preview today (sorry, it's insider, so no link), I'm struck by one thing: no one in their right mind would really want to play for any of the high lottery teams. I can't quite put my finger on why, and it's different in each case. But why rush to the pros if you're facing certain misery of one kind or another? Perpetually rebuilding teams can no longer offer the promise of coming in to save the team; in most cases, they'd be ending up as one of several young guns presumed to have been the future of the team. The Bobcats look moderately desirable only because they're severely lacking in those talent guys; even Okafor, their resident stud, is more a stabilizing vet than the guy that's going to catapault a team into contention.
It's the cap. The best possible formula is to be a team with some vets, some castaways, and one minor star that, whether due to injuries or incompetence, just couldn't put it together that year. The Rockets when they grabbed Yao. The Magic for Howard. Even the Cavs, since they at least had Big Z. The problem is, these teams are more and more flukish. If a team is sinking, they dump everyone remotely tradeable in order to lighten the load, at least financially. If they have any veteran talent, it's very hard to lose, like big-time lottery lose, since there are so many terrible teams in the East, at least.
One last note: no one in their right mind should want to go to Utah. They will have to wrest that team from Sloan's dead, cold hand.


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I read a Myspace bulletin that Pattern Is Movement was only covering songs for their New Year's Eve show and only in dreams had I wished such a thing would ever come to be. Well obviously, I did not go to the show because it was in Philly and I was in St. Louis, but I still wondered what lovely songs would my favorite dudes be covering. Beyonce' and Kanye? But to great enjoyment I found that the performance is up on youtube! So here is all your dreams come true. Check out the covers of JT and D'Angelo which is an especially sexy track.
Friends' Links
General Music Blogs
STL Blogs


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A Contest of Nisse and Release
Small Yacht
A small yacht is a single masted sailing craft. It is used mostly for pleasure by the wealthy, but it is sometimes used for transport as well.
Length: 53 feet (with rudder); hull 48
Beam: 16 feet
Draft: 9 feet (with rudder); hull 3 feet
Rig Type/Closest Track: Dragonwing/3 points
Speed: 2
Maneuverability: -4
Standard/Minimum Crew: 4/1 (Additionally holds up to 4 passengers and one servant.
Soak: 6L
Health Levels: 10/20


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- okqueenbee
- 4 years ago
- Wedding: December 2009
I promise to show you mine if you show me yours, lol, but I don't have any pics on my phone right now, so stay tuned.
I hate our bathroom. It's tiny, has 1950's 2-tone tile, THE most uncomfortable tub in the universe & seems to grow hair right up out of the floor. I will jump up & down shouting Hallelujah when we get a different house with a more modern, comfortable bathroom. Until then I will just have to deal with it :/


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This page is designed for modern browsers. You will have a better experience with a better browser.
Physical Therapy is a highly competitive program. All accredited entry level physical therapy programs are at the master's level (MS or MPT) or doctorate level (DPT). Most universities offer the Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. Most programs require a student to have at least a 3.0 cumulative and prerequisite GPA, although the average GPA for accepted students may be higher. A Bachelor's degree in a related field such as Biology, Kinesiology, and Athletic Training is strongly recommended. In addition, sufficiently high scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), strong letters of recommendation, and paid or volunteer experience in a physical therapy setting are important in the selection process.
Common lower division course requirements for most Physical Therapy programs (the classes below can be taken at VVC):
BIOL 201, 202, 211, 231; CHEM 201, 202; ENGL 101, 102; MATH 120 or 104 or 226 (Most require Math 120 - Statistics); PHYS 221, 222; PSYC 101, 110;
Highly recommended course: CHEM 281
The following California colleges offer DPT programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE):
-California State University
Fresno: http://www.csufresno.edu/gradstudies/
San Francisco: http://www.sfsu.edu/
-Azusa Pacific University
-Chapman University
-Loma Linda University
-Mount St. Mary's College
-University of California, San Francisco
-University of the Pacific
-University of Southern California (USC)
-Western Univ. of Health Sciences
The following California college offer M.S./MPT programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE):
Long Beach: www.csulb.edu
Northridge: www.csun.edu
Victor Valley College | Victorville CA 92395 | (760) 245-4271 | Web Feedback
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Defoe highlights quartet as potential Advocaat replacements
As Sunderland search for another new coach, Jermain Defoe has offered his view on who he would like to take over.
Jermain Defoe has highlighted four coaches as potential replacements for ex-Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat.
Advocaat, who took over on a short-term deal following Gus Poyet's exit in March, confirmed last week that he would not be extending his stay after saving the club from Premier League relegation.
The Dutchman's departure leaves Sunderland searching for a fourth head coach in less than two years.
And Defoe told Sky Sports News: "The managers that are out of work now, obviously Sam Allardyce, Steve McClaren, whose someone that I've played under for England, good coach, I've always enjoyed training [with him].
"Harry Redknapp is out of work, I've played with Harry throughout my whole career.
"There's more people speaking about David Moyes coming back to the Premier League. I think the names that I've just said I'm sure they'll be in the race to get the job."
Whoever takes over at the Stadium of Light, Defoe is determined to ensure the Wearsiders are not fighting against the drop again next season.
He added: "After the Arsenal game when we stayed up, I said, 'yeah it was good we stayed up' but at the same time we do not want to be in the same position next season, scrapping for results and at the same time looking at other results.
"You want to be in a position, especially in the second half of the season, where you can enjoy your football and think about finishing somewhere where the club has never finished before."


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|Click to view
on Goodreads
Hardback bound, no bigger than an iPad, and with a velvety matt surface, you can take A Colouring Book of Hours: Castle with you wherever you go. It will become your own private world that you dip into and develop for an afternoon, or whenever you want a few moments' peace.
In a series of exquisitely drawn vistas and vignettes, the book takes you through a day in the Castle, from first light and the dawn chorus, to a refreshing sleep in the second-best bed.
I'd heard so much about the adult coloring book craze (and my sister has, like, three of them) that I decided I just had to try one out for myself. When I saw that the author of Septimus Heap, one of my all-time favorite authors, was starting a publishing company and releasig a Septimus Heap coloring book she'd illustrated herself, I knew that I just had to have it. I sent a pleading email to the publisher, got a very nice email back from Angie Sage herself (I squealed so loudly when it showed up in my inbox!), and - about week later - got a beautiful international package sent all the way from England to my doorstep. When I pulled out the signed Fyre bookplate and saw that the book was autographed, I just about fainted. Angie Sage is amazing.
But what about the coloring book itself? Well, let me tell you, I totally get this whole coloring book craze now. It's just so relaxing! The pictures in the coloring book are really cool - though so detailed it's a little hard to color them in when you only have like five colors, I will admit - and once you finish one it's really breathtaking to sit back and take the full effect in. In the picture on the right you can see my finished version of "The Dawn Singers." The curtains are my favorite, because the pattern is just so cute! I can't really show you in the photo, but when I tilt the book different ways the light hitting it makes the entire picture shimmer. I'm not sure how that happens, but it's really pretty.
To be perfectly honest, most of these pictures are a little too complex for me. I haven't developed an eye for putting together a picture, so I just color specific portions of the picture and then back up, look at it, and pick another portion to color, so sometimes it kind of clashes a little bit. Flipping through the book I'm pretty daunted by how complicated some of the pictures are - and, to be honest, slightly put off by one or two of them because they shatter the image I had in my head about how certain parts of the Castle look. Coming from the girl who spent literally five years pronouncing Marcia "Marsha," though, that probably doesn't carry much weight.
For you coloring aficionados, I'm not really sure what information is useful in deciding what coloring books to get. Besides the pictures, you're also focused on paper quality, right? Well, the quality of this paper is really good. It's nice and thick, so none of my markers bleed. There's a page in the back specifically meant for testing your pens, too, so you can double-check before actually beginning to use a utensil in the book. The spine lays really flat, too, so you can just set the book down open to the right page and it won't flop closed. I remember in my far-off little-kid coloring book days that books not laying flat was a major annoyance.
I haven't really been able color anything for a few months, because I had wrist surgery on my dominant hand, but now I'm actually supposed to be building up my writing stamina I'm looking forward to jumping back into coloring. I was stopped in the middle of my second full picture (you can see my progress in the photo on the left), so I'm going to finish it and move on to some of the others. My goal is to get through all of the pictures, preferably in time for the next book in the "Colouring Book of Hours" series.
If you're as big a fan of the Septimus Heap universe as I am, you'll probably also be interested to learn more about Septimus Press. Here's the link to their website, where you can check it out for yourself. The only book they've published so far is this Castle coloring book, but they have more of these coloring books coming down the pipeline as well as some Septimus Heap novellas (squeal!) and some other non-Septimus Heap-related projects. They also have a YouTube channel here, which has videos of someone (I think Angie Sage?) coloring in different pictures with various coloring utensils - colored pencils, watercolors, markers, etc. It's really impressive and pretty intimidating to watch her just sit down and casually draw these beautiful pictures, so I haven't watched all of them, but if you want a better idea of what the coloring book is like you can check the videos out and decide for yourself whether it's what you want. Let me know if you do decide to get it, and definitely send me photos of the pictures you color!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.


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This update focuses on education. Government and liberalism continue to corrupt education.
Steve Sailer: Thoughts On Advanced Placement Testing…And Sotomayor
Steve Sailer: Selling Out And How To Do It—The Case Of Richard E. Nisbett
Steve Sailer: Obama's Nixon-Goes-to-China Opportunity
Beverly Eakman: Tracking Your Digital Trail
Thomas Eddlem: Education, Policies & Promises
Phyllis Schlafly: College Student Alert: Beware of One-Party Classrooms
Robert Holland and Don Soifer: Multiculturalism and 'Social Justice' in American Public Education
Learn more about education issues in Education Reporter.


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Listen too ->my-sunflower <- & remember this was written 10 years ago just before the twin towers fell! 2 souls got engaged and erected 2 strong towers that become one and will never be destroyed with this eternal unity! Remember 15 years ago when 2 souls first met. Well truth is here your going to have to imagine. In Heaven its harder to make matches/ Shidduchim than splitting the Red Sea. However, that is what Hashem, Himself was busy with, since the beginning of time.
2 souls are yearning to meet. And meet they do, on Yom Kippur day outside after Shul hopping in their secular atire / earings 2.
Souls of a Tisha B'av generation, estranged from their peoples roots but tapped in enough to know that today, Yom Kippur, is a holy day.
Their souls meet and she knows he's the one but neither are ready, and on they walk. In a gym years later a best friend makes the intro and on they run, but even the Titanic movie can't break the formal distance! His best friend lets say Jonny-be-good, was always at his side then.
Before the Intifarda come these 2 souls to the holy land and seeds our planted which only begin to blossom later that year. This was written and performed 10 years ago and recently re-discovered along with other songs that shine! strugglegroup613 and like our new group -> StruggleInspired


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We wish to show solidarity with Israel and are committed to supporting the economy by buying Israeli products and services. This website is a convenient and easy way to do this, with such a wide range to choose from!
Regards and Happy Pesach,
- Genre: Chava Alberstein
- Media: Music CD
- Number of CDs: 6


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Sunday, July 3, 2011
Almost Right
This is an artist's conception of an evolutionary experiment called Platybelodon, an ancestor -- or, at least, a relative -- of the elephant.
I post it because it made me think of writing.
It's so easy to get things almost right. One bangs away for a year at the keyboard, trying to give form to a story, working sometimes from the outside in -- let's see what happens if we go here -- and sometimes from the inside out, when the characters drag us into new territory.
Sometimes we're establishing the shape, and sometimes we're deciding whether it has fur or scales, whether it's warm- or cold-blooded. Sometimes it feels like a poodle and sometimes it's got such big teeth you don't even want to be in the same room with it. But we give it our best, try to make the characters come to life, and if we're lucky, the whole manuscript at some point wiggles a little, coughs, and exhales, and we know the book is alive.
But, once we let it stagger out into the world how long will it remain alive? Is it going to dance out there like a highly evolved gazelle or slouch toward Bethlehem like some rough beast?
Look at that thing up there. It's so close. And it's so wrong. One good idea after another, and then . . . whoops. I know exactly how this feels.
I just junked a book I had written 45,000 words of. (Sorry about that sentence.) All the parts worked. All the characters were (to my eyes, anyway) alive and full of energy. There were two story lines that enthralled me and that were (I thought) absolutely impossible to predict. But there was a problem, which became apparent only when almost half of the book had been written: It was a Platybelodon.
I was writing under a certain amount of pressure, a new kind of pressure for me. After years of benign neglect, I'd written a book that was getting some reasonably serious attention. THE QUEEN OF PATPONG was nominated for an Edgar and lost, and has just been nominated for the Macavity, another of the sort of trifecta or quadrafecta of mystery awards. It may not win that, either, but it's one of only two books written last year to be nominated for both of them.
I told myself this was no problem. I wasn't competing with QUEEN. Every book is entirely its own being, each poses its own set of problems and offers its own satisfactions. I knew that, but I was still working so hard on the writing that I stopped paying attention to the beast as a whole, and what I wound up with was a pair of perfectly good story lines that had no business being in the same book, that wouldn't have intersected if the book had been a million words long.
A Platybelodon.
And there was no way to fix it. It was as though I'd begun with that ridiculous front end up there, and all the bones and sinews were designed to support it and be fed by it. There was nothing to do but put it on the evolutionary scrap heap. I'll probably use those perfectly functional ears and legs in a different book.
So now, eighteen days later, I'm almost 30,000 words into Poke Number Five, which is tentatively called THE FEAR ARTIST, and it's making me very happy. It's got a good shape, and I'm keeping an eye on it.
(By the way, the artist whose work adorns this page is named skOOtie, and he has a gallery at http://sk00tie.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=24)
7 comments:
Your description of writing sounds familiar. It is much like raising children.ReplyDelete
I believe that people shouldn't get married until they are 27. 18? Nonsense. 21? Still have their heads in a place that allows no daylight. 25? Almost but still easily distracted by the flashy things of the world. 27? If they haven't got a pretty good idea of who they are and what they want in their lives, it may never happen.
When they finally stagger out into the world, parents are terrified because the time for tweaking and fixing is over. They are the person they present to the world. Sometimes they succeed and sometimes they don't but it is other people, the people who don't see or understand the process by which they arrived where they are, who decide if they have passed the test, whatever the test is.
Comparing children? What a terrible mistake that is! Each is unique and wonderful in their own way but it must be hard to be the parents of some truly good and decent people who do their best everyday but who have a sibling who won a Nobel Prize in medicine.
I have read all the Simeon books and CRASHED more than once. Simeon and Junior share some traits but they aren't two characters in the same body. I have read all the Poke books more than once and he is an absolute straight arrow compared to the other two.
THE QUEEN OF PATPONG deserves to win every award except the one for best first novel. It isn't your first and it shows. But when you worry about duplicating the success of THE QUEEN, go back and read BREATHING WATER.
I think that you need to be happy with what you write or you won't do the good work on it that you do. The other isn't lost; it is resting somewhere. Needless to say, I will look forward to reading "The Fear Artist." I still have "Incinerator" for my Hallinan fix. Thank you for talking so openly about your writing process. We all have platybelodons, by the way.ReplyDelete
I feel for you. The fear of something like this happening is why I remain an outliner. Nothing wrong with outlines, but that risk aversion may also be why I'm not published.ReplyDelete
So it goes.
Thanks to all three of you, and sorry it's taken me so long to reply. You all said something wise, but I have to say, Dana, I'll probably never outline. The risk of walking the wire is about 40 percent of the fun, and this is only the second time I've ever pulled the plug, although some readers probably wish I'd done it more often.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 6, 2011 at 6:45 PM
Hi Tim - your words express so much, so well and are so entertaining. Good luck with the new book and my sincerest regards on your loss of its predecessor the Platybelodon.ReplyDelete
Thank you, Yrsa -- and I had just taught it to roll over and sit.ReplyDelete
Having hatched my own Platybelodon of sorts (and hatched is the right word for I believe it of the playtypus mammal type that lays eggs--appropriately), I feel your pain. And great joy at being on track again. Terrific news on #5.ReplyDelete


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"We don't have a voice, and I really believe the reason that we don't have a voice is that they're hoping that if we keep dying off at the rate we are, we'll be all dead and they won't have to worry about anything," he said. "The NFL Players Association has to step up and protect us, and they don't do that. "All they care about is the current players and the guys that played after 1970. The ones that played prior to that, they've kind of just forgotten entirely."
While his words are moving, the NFLPA won't do anything. I hate saying this, but they are filth. They just want the money. They couldn't care less about these former players. They only care about themselves.


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A quiet weekend leads to a major outpouring of news and… stuff.
It's International Blue Beanie Day, 2009. Today, don a blue beanie and show your support for Web Standards.
A marvelous idea: For Forest Kindergartners, Class Is Back to Nature, Rain or Shine, nytimes.com / Disturbingly bad architecture: Romanian Pavilion for Shanghai World Expo 2010, archdaily.com / Venice hit by high water (video), guardian.co.uk / coming to a browser near you – 2010: The Year Information Pollution Takes Off, seobook.com / New York destroyed in movies, kottke.org / a picture is worth a thousand words and a few trillion dollars: 27 Visualizations and Infographics to Understand the Financial Crisis, flowingdata.com / The Illustrated Man: How LED Tattoos Could Make Your Skin a Screen, wired.com / The Fall and Rise of Media, nytimes.com / Over 60, and Proud to Join the Digerati, nytimes.com / Twitter with a brain, shotton.com / One in six Americans go hungry, breakingtweets.com / 15 Unfortunately Placed Ads, oddee.com / Thanksgiving Dinner: Your Best Preview of the 2012 Elections, theawl.com / As Sewers Fill, Waste Poisons Waterways, nytimes.com / What did 'Life of Brian' ever do for us?, telegraph.co.uk
in the beginning… there was this web page.
Amazingly, there is nothing new to report about Silvio Berlusconi and his proclivities.
Filed under: architecture, film, news, tech


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Hi everyone:
I'm going to be in Sydney for about two weeks and I'm trying to put together a list of places to eat. Ultimately, I've seen the boards here, and checked the top ten lists, so already aware of places like Rockpool and Quay. Although I'm sure I will end up eating at places like that, I'm also looking for places that are a little less obvious. Something that's not quite so....elaborate, I guess. Partially because we can't eat like that every night, but also because my schedule there is going to be fluid, so it's difficult for me to make reservations weeks ahead of time and actually have any certainty that I'll be able to make them.
Would love suggestions for places that have excellent food in general, but would also be curious about anything somewhat unusual. I'm lucky to live in a city with tons of great restaurants, so anything that would be a bit unusual or Sydney-specific would be terrific. Also, I'll be traveling with someone who LOVES offal, so any place that specializes in that would be fantastic. (For instance, something like Josie Bones in Melbourne seems perfect. Unfortunately, it's in Melbourne.)
We'll be staying at the Sheraton on Hyde Park, but obviously willing to travel for any recommendation. (Although, that said, we'll be there for two weeks, so any places that are walkable from there would be great to know about.)
Excited to visit! And thanks in advance for any advice you all might be able to pass along!


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Volume 17, Number 49 | April 29 May 05, 2005
Directed by Alex Gibney
Magnolia Pictures
Landmark Sunshine Cinema
Photo by Wyatt McSpadden
Kenneth Lay (l.), Enrons chairman, Jeff Skilling, the CEO, at the companys headquarters as seen in Alex Gibneys Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, a documentary at times confusing but that nonetheless does justice to a complex scandal for which the American public has unfortunately had far too little curiosity.
Bad energy
Alex Gibney, Maryse Alberti expose corruption at the core of Enron scandal
By Steve Erickson
Were Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room a screenwriting assignment, the teacher would probably give it a mixed grade.
Theres a clear, compelling arc and a dramatic structure. However, the Enron train wreck produced far more villains than heroes and its consequencesvia the companys malignant influence on Californias power industryaffected millions of people. Theres no one for the spectator to safely identity with, since the odd whistleblower or investigative journalists impact is dwarfed by Ken Lay and Jeffrey Skillings sheer arrogance. There are too many subplots and difficult concepts, like mark-to-market accounting.
Put simply, unlike Bill Clintons affair with Monica Lewinskywhich got massively more media attentiontheres no titillation.
Were lucky that no script doctors touched Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room. As a narrative, its sometimes confusing, but Alex Gibneys documentary does justice to a complex story and makes a larger point without shouting its political agenda from the rafters. Many recent politically minded documentaries, like Robert Greenwalds well-argued but artless Uncovered: The War on Iraq, prize activism over aesthetics. By contrast, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room pays attention to style.
Cinematographer Maryse Alberti shot Terry Zwigoffs masterful Crumb, in addition to films by Richard Linklater and Todd Haynes. The staging of interviews in their subjects living rooms recalls that film. Theyre attractively lit and framed. Alberti and Gibney love reflecting surfaces. Many TV clips play out on a monitor facing a black table, providing a mirror image of the news footage.
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room follows the lead of Errol Morris in using reconstructions. The suicide of Enron executive Cliff Baxter is dramatized, as are mundane actions like using a calculator and shredding paper. Sometimes, the film is too slick for its own good, as when it throws in about 90 seconds of gyrating topless women to illustrate one executives fondness for strippers. The purpose of this relatively lengthy display of T & A escapes mesomehow, I doubt anyone came to see a documentary on Enron to get turned on.
For the most part, however, Gibneys choices are well-selected. While Discovery Channel and History Channel programs often rely on vast amounts of cheesy reconstruction, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room edits them and sets them to music effectively. The film succeeds as storytelling because it has the dimensions of a Greek tragedy. Lay and Jeffrey Skilling fell prey to their own hubris. While theyre the main villains of this tale, along with chief financial officer Andy Fastow, Gibney never lets us forget that their corruption couldnt have gone on without the assistance of other Enron executives and outside accountants and lawyers. He gained access to internal audiotapes of Enron traders, which are chilling in their sheer chutzpah. These men clearly had contempt for the entire state of California. Although Lay and Skilling are more polite, theyre equally prone to making damaging statements.
These machinations had political, as well as economic, consequencesthey are a large part of the reason California Gov. Gray Davis was recalled. Narrated by actor Peter Coyote, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room isnt a subjective documentary in the vein of Michael Moore or Nick Broomfield. Still, it has a real point of view, one lying to the left of the two Fortune writers whose book it is based on. It shares the perspective of last years documentary The Corporation, which damned corporate culture as an arena of psychopathology.
A Texan minister observes that many of the former Enron workers he counsels blame the general amorality afoot in society for their problems. The film may let Davis off the hook a little too easy and give a pass to other companies that profited from Californias energy market crisis. Its innuendo about Enrons ties to Pres. George W. Bush is reminiscent of Moore at his worst.
Still, the film attacks systemic problems rather than blaming them on one or two bad guys. As a cautionary tale, its vital.
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Friday, December 23, 2011
another barn is built
After a devastating fire in 1953, a barn is rebuilt.
This is the barn my sisters and brother and I worked in--cleaning the bulk tank, feeding calves with a bottle and then out of a bucket, cleaning the gutters and bedding the cows with straw, feeding the cows silage, ground corn, and hay. Also, a place of danger with the fierce bull and the openings of the haymow floor to throw down bales. We loved to shout in the silo to hear our echos.
The haymow was a wonderful place--sweet hay smell, newly born kittens to find in the bales, a long rope to swing from, loose straw to jump into from high bales.
Construction by Chuck Stienstra and Bill Hoekstra.
Posted by Lynn Dykstra at Friday, December 23, 2011
Labels: archives
2 comments:
- Slim Johnson said...
These old pictures are a treasure.
- regan said...
I was wondering if they used the same foundation from the previous barn. What fun you must have had playing on the farm....ok, yeah it was work too, but fun I'll bet! :o)
Have a very merry Christmas!
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We were left to our own devices on Wednesday, with a recommendation from Matt that we flee the heat by catching the train up the hill to the Hakone Open Air Museum. It was surprisingly great - beautiful views, tranquil parkland, a natural hot spring foot-bath and dozens of brilliant outdoor sculptures to explore. The slideshow below captures the highlights - I really recommend making the trip up if you've got some spare time, especially if the Tokyo heat is getting to you.
The food options up the mountain were pretty limited - we loaded up on chips and mochi at the supermarket and snacked our way through the trip up, before pouncing on some inari on the way down. We were lured in to the little snack shop by the plastic model of inari on the table outside and were thrilled when the owner whipped up a freshly made box for us to take away. Brilliant.
Our aim on our return to Tokyo proper was a visit to the vegetarian ramen place T's Tan Tan (one of the recommendations on this wonderfully helpful post on The Unbearable Lightness of Being Hungry). It's buried deep in the sprawling Tokyo train station and we spent a good half an hour wandering about struggling to spot it. We actually had pretty decent directions, but it took a few stops at the train station maps for us to eventually pin it down.
It was well worth the effort - a fully vegan menu focussing heavily on ramen and ramen-related delights. I took the set menu option - your choice of ramen plus a small side bowl for between 1050円 and 1200円 (AU$11 - AU$12.60; pictured top left). I picked the shirunashi tantan for my noodle soup - it came with bean sprouts, pot-herb mustard, chilli oil, black vinegar, cashew nuts, peanuts, sesame oil and soy bean meat and was based around a complex and tasty broth (rather than the watery version that vego noodle soups can sometimes rely on). My small bowl accompaniment was the rich and creamy massaman curry, which had a few scattered veggies among the thick sauce and rice. I cooled myself down with an iced coffee, which was sweet and cold but otherwise not that memorable. Cindy went for a smaller meal - the original T's Tan Tan ramen (sesame, peanut, soybean meat and green pak choi in a noodle soup, 800円 ~ $8.40; pictured bottom right) and an accompanying cup of sweet apple lemonade tea (450円 ~ $4.70). She was just as impressed as I was.
T's Tan Tan is definitely one to add to your Tokyo checklist - it's got a bit of a food court vibe about it, but the food is cheap, delicious and lacking any fish-related concerns. Ramen is such a Japanese classic and one that is challenging to track down in a properly vegetarian form, so we were thrilled to eat so well here.


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About Iroquois Land Ownership
Among the Iroquois the tribal domain was held and owned by the tribe in common. Individual ownership, with the right to sell and convey in fee-simple to any other person, was entirely unknown among them. It required the experience and development of the two succeeding ethnical periods to bring mankind to such a knowledge of property in land as its individual ownership with the power of alienation in fee-simple implies. No person in Indian life could obtain the absolute title to land, since it was vested by custom in the tribe as one body; and they had no conception of what is implied by a legal title in severalty with power to sell and convey the fee. But he could reduce unoccupied land to possession by cultivation, and so long as he thus used it he had a possessory right to its enjoyment which would be recognized and respected by his tribe. Gardens planting-lots, apartments in a long-house, and, at a later day, orchards of fruit were thus held by persons and by families. Such possessory right was all that was needed for their full enjoyment and for the protection of their interest in them. A person might transfer or donate his rights to other persons of the same tribe, and they also passed by inherence, under established customs, to his gentile kin. This was substantially the Indian system in respect to the ownership of lands and apartments in houses among the Indian tribes within the areas of the United States and British America in the Lower Status of barbarism. In later times, when the State or National Government acquired Indian lands and made compensation therefor, payment for the lands went to the tribe, and for improvements to the individual who had the possessory right. At the Tonawanda Reservation of the Seneca-Iroquois, a portion of the lands are divided into separate farms, which are fenced and occupied in severalty, while the remainder are owned by the tribe in common. When a young man marries and has no land on which to subsist, the chiefs may allot him a portion of these reserved lands. The title to all these lands, occupied and unoccupied, remains in the tribe in common. Individuals may sell or rent their possessory rights to each other, or rent them to a white man. No white man can now acquire a title from an Indian to Indian lands in any part of the United States. A person could transfer his possessions to another, but apartments in a house must remain to his gentile kindred. In the time of James II the right to acquire lands was vested in the Crown exclusively as a royal prerogative, to which prerogative our State and National Governments succeeded.
The same usages prevail on the Tuscarora Reservation, near the Niagara River, where this Iroquois tribe owns in common about 8,000 acres of fine agricultural land in one body. A part of this reservation has long been parceled out to individuals in small farms, fenced, and cultivated by the possessors. The remainder is unparceled and under the control of the chiefs. The people are allowed to remove from the wood-land of the reserve the dead wood and litter but are not permitted to touch the standing timber. When a young man marries, if he has no land the chiefs allot him forty acres to cultivate for his subsistence; but, before giving him possession, the lot is first open to all the tribe to cut off the timber for fire-wood. Thus the double object is gained of supplying the people with fire-wood and of clearing the land for cultivation for the new family. These possessory rights pass by inheritance to the recognized heirs. A person may transfer or rent his possession to another person; he may rent to a white man, but in no case can he sell to a white man.


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Here's a glimpse at my month of March:
- Had a night out with Ben and a group of folks from church. About 18 of us went to a local restaurant for dinner (bless our waitress!) and then on to a night of dessert/music at the church food pantry fund-raiser. Great time with great friends!
- A somewhat last-minute road trip to Binghamton, NY to see one of my favorite groups, Selah and the lead singer's lovely wife, Angie Smith (whose touching story I've been following for a couple years on her blog). Went with my dear friend and her husband and ran into an old MOPS friend (who happens to be my favorite handbag designer) and her husband. AMAZING evening of friendship, music and testimony. The real highlight was meeting the members of Selah and Angie. Love them all! Such sweet people!
Here I am with Todd and Angie Smith and my friend, Sarah.
- We welcomed a new dog into the house..."Geo" the geometric dog. Emily made him as her 3D shape project for the elementary school project fair. So cute! And he doesn't make noise, require food, need walks or need to be let out. The best kind of dog! (Don't get me wrong, I do love our real dog!)
- "Spring" has showed itself here and there and my flip-flops made an appearance.
- We've had outdoor playtime.
- I hosted lunch for a couple sweet girlfriends, we attended the elementary school carnival, I've been creating "gabbead blessings" jewelry and so much more.
And to top it all off...
- Em and I won her these awesome jeans from a blog giveaway hosted by Brassy Apple.
March has served as a beautiful reminder of all the blessings and special moments in my life amongst the chaos. I hope this post finds you all well and enjoying life!


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How To Treat Thin Edges
For those of you who are struggling with thin edges there is hope! For years I have been struggling with my thin hairline and for a long time I just gave up and accepted my bald edges. I thought, because thin edges haunted so many of my family members I blamed it on genetics, so there was no way around it, right? WRONG! After doing some research I came across Hairlista.com that gave me hope, the journey had begun! Since then I have been on a mission for a thicker, fuller, hairline and while postpartum hair loss has set me back a bit I'm ready to get my edges back! Are you ready to join me…then let's do it!!
So, let's take a look at why so many of us maybe struggling with this major hair problem.
Thin edges can be a result of age, genetics, or underlying health conditions such as alopecia, lupus, hyperthyroidism, and/or post-partum hair loss. It can also be caused by one of two things:
- Scalp infection; which can be resolved by products containing anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties which help to fight off dandruff and bacteria off your scalp
- Excessive amount of tension/stress applied to a specific area over a long period of time as a result of wearing tight braids and pony tails.
In order for your hair to grow back, the hair follicles need to be rejuvenated to improve blood circulation thus promoting more hair growth. This can be achieved through scalp stimulation which helps to improve blood circulation throughout the scalp. Also, when you remove dandruff and/or bacteria from your scalp, hair follicles become unclogged, allowing the scalp to breathe resulting in faster hair growth.
You should first stop any practices that contribute to adding tension/stress to your edges such as wearing tight braids, tight pony tails and/or using rough hard bristle brushes on your edges. If you've found yourself using any of those methods to achieve your hairstyle don't be ashamed for I too am guilty of wearing my puff kinda tight; cause it's cute that way right? Ok, but having bald edges is not so let's fix it, together!
Sunshyne from Hairlista.com recommends a couple of options which can be incorporated in your hair regimen: You don't have to use all these oils but if you're going to use Rosemary or Peppermint be sure to use a carrier oil such as Coconut or Olive Oil
- Rosemary Oil– Needs to be mixed with a carrier oil and is known to increase blood flow, therefore, promoting hair growth.
- *Peppermint Oil– Needs to be mixed with a carrier oil. It gives a cooling effect/tingle to the scalp, removes dandruff, and purifies the scalp. Known to increase blood flow, therefore, promoting hair growth.
- *Castor Oil– Cleanses toxins and impurities from your scalp and stimulates hair growth while moisturizing dry brittle hair. Castor oil also nourishes and thickens the hair.
- *Coconut Oil– Promotes hair growth by revitalizing and exfoliating dead skin tissue from the scalp. Works great to remove dandruff so that the scalp/hair follicles can breathe and the hair can grow at a faster rate.
- Aloe Vera Gel/Juice– Includes an enzyme that is beneficial in stimulating new hair reproduction.
- Vitamin E– An antioxidant that enhances scalp circulation. Helps to increase and improve circulation of your scalp, promoting the growth of healthy hair.
- Miconazole Nitrate– Found in yeast infection creams and Neosporin. Because this contains antifungal properties if applied to the scalp, it will remove dandruff and/or bacteria off the scalp thus promoting hair growth (caution: can cause headaches)
- Sulfur 8– Provides a tingling sensation to the scalp. Helps to remove dandruff off the scalp. It brings about hair growth, strong nails, and smooth skin.
- Mega-Tek– Stimulates and promotes rapid hair regrowth without the use of silicone, synthetic polymers, oils, or petroleum based products.
- ORS Temple Balm– The balm soothes the nerves, helping to stimulate the hair follicles to regrow hair around the hairline. This product contains a blend of horsetail, menthol, and juniper.
- *Wild growth Oil– This product contains a mixture of olive, coconut, and jojoba oils. It aids in the growth of hair and also acts as moisturizer for dry, brittle hair.
NOTE: These oils are only recommendations. You can mix the oils or use them alone. Choose one or two and stick to it. Patience is KEY! If you're going to use an essential oil like Peppermint or Rosemary use a carrier oil such as Coconut or Extra Virgin Olive Oil with it. I've only used my oil mixture (Castor Oil, Peppermint Oil, & Coconut Oil) every night and sometimes every other night by gently massaging in the oil to increase blood circulation thus promoting hair growth. Oil do not have to be heated.
Click the oil you'd like to purchase, you'll then be redirected to Vitamin Shoppe's Website.
Products can be purchased by clicking here>> Vitamin Shoppe.
Most important be consistent and remember hair growth does not happen overnight!
Credit: Sunshyne Hairlista.com
*Products that I use in my hair regimen
My Hair Journey before my BIG CHOP! I used Coconut, Castor, and Peppermint Oil to help treat my edges. I mix them together.


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digitalmars.D - Features for a D 'header file' generator?
- Dave (36/36) Nov 12 2005 With a start from dmdfe (http://home.comcast.net/~benhinkle/dmdfe/), it ...
With a start from dmdfe (http://home.comcast.net/~benhinkle/dmdfe/), it looks feasible to create a header file generator using the reference compiler front end. Here's what's been tried so far: a) Emit legal source code for relavant declarations and definitions at any nesting level (*). b) Emit template declarations so they can be mixed with non template code in the same module and also imported/used by other 'header' files (*). c) Emit function bodies for 'inlinable' functions and methods (so the compiler can inline from header file imports - important for things like math libraries). d) Exclude private members if they are not referenced elsewhere (except in template declarations where everything is emitted). However, this could cause subtle and hard to find and fix bugs related to things like classinfo and member offsets (and make the header generator quite a bit more complicated). e) Exclude template declarations and/or template members not used (instantiated) in the same module (excluding unused template members hasn't been tested but looks possible). f) Exclude all function bodies, private members and template declarations. This would generate a header that is basically just a stub for the binary only. I guess the features will come down to if the header files could be used as both source code and 'stubs' for binaries, or for just stubs. For example, for a large general purpose library like phobos or Ares, I think +a, +b, +c, -d, -e, -f would be the feature set. Or, would just option f) be what is expected, and full source code could be shipped for things like math and template libraries? The goal would be to create a general purpose header generator that would make it very convenient to generate header files w/o adding a bunch of option switches to the tool or compiler itself. An assumption has been made that emitting source code for just 'inlineable' (typically small and simple) functions would be acceptable even for proprietary libraries. Is this a poor assumption? Opinions? Thanks, - Dave * An exception found so far is some typeid(...) because some build-in type information is part of the "backend" and is not included in the compiler source code.
Nov 12 2005


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Julie makes me drool with her Kaffe Fassett creations. She uses Kaffe's fabrics, but the composition is all her own. Wow! She even brought me Kaffe squares today. The birthday celebration continues! Think I can milk this a month?! Thank you so much Julie, if you're reading. And thanks for bringing Margaret. I have a feeling we're all going to be having a lot of fun.
It was a wonderful day and the celebration continues!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Sew Day!
3 comments:
Hi! Just spotted you matryoshka doll drop on the Toy Society website! I am always so happy to see my tutorial works :)ReplyDelete
You have a lovely blog here, I love your quilting, it's something I have never been able to master :(
I have added you to my reader so I can look on enviously!
Great blog!ReplyDelete
Michele thank you for being so patient with my daughter. She had a great time at Sew Day. I think I/we created a monster! Keep on enjoying your birth day/week/month!ReplyDelete
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Tuesday, January 14, 2014
NZ-based crime drama scoops Golden Globe Award
And once again, there was a wee bit of New Zealand on show, with Elisabeth Moss (previously famous for Mad Men) scooping the Best Actress in a mini-series award for her lead role in Top of the Lake, the Jane Campion-helmed crime drama set in New Zealand's southern lakes area. "Oh s***. I really didn't expect this to happen. I'm totally shaking," Moss reportedly told the star-studded crowd in Los Angeles.
In Top of the Lake, Moss plays a detective investigating the disappearance of a pregnant 12-year-old girl. The six-part series has been described as an atmospheric drama which "examines the darkest sides of human nature in an unflinching and undeniably compelling way, showcasing an entirely different side of Moss from her Mad Men character".You can read an interview with Moss about her role here.
at 6:00 AM
Labels: awards, screen crime
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Way back in February 2011 I went for a photoshoot. This was back when O2 did 'surprises' with each top up and I was lucky enough to win a £10 makeover and photoshoot. My photoshoot was actually on Valentine's Day! I really enjoyed the experience, and loved the makeover. The hardest part was choosing which photograph I wanted to keep... the photographer had taken over 100 photos! I wish I could have had them all, but to have extra ones it was around £30 each! This is the photograph I chose, and I love it.
me, photographs, tbt


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Although I'd never had corn fritters before, something about the 6 leftover ears of corn in my refrigerator made them sound appetizing. As usual, Stonewall Kitchen, Harvest, Celebrating the Bounty of the Seasons, proved to have the perfect recipe. The softness of the cake is nicely paired with the semi-firm texture of the corn. You shouldn't skip over the herb butter! It is simply sublime and makes these savory fritters melt in your mouth!
Corn Fritters with Herb Butter
1 1/2 C fresh corn kernels, cut off the cob
1 large egg, whisked
1/2 C all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/3 C half-and-half
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 Tbsp chopped fresh basil
1 Tbsp chopped fresh chives
1 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted, plus extra for frying
Vegetable oil or olive oil for frying
1/2 C Herb Butter
Put the corn kernels in a large bowl. Add the egg, mix well. Stir in the flour, baking powder, half-and-half, salt, pepper, parsley, basil, and chives. Add 1 tablespoon of the melted butter and beat well. The batter will be chunky, but should be uniform.
Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Add the remaining melted butter (about 1 1/2 tsp to start) and 1 1/2 tsp of the oil and allow them to get hot, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add heaping tablespoons of the corn batter to the pan and cook the fritters for 2 minutes. Using a spatula, gently flip the fritters and cook another 2 to 3 minutes on the other side, or until golden brown. Repeat with the remaining batter, adding more butter and oil to the pan as needed. Serve hot with the herb butter.
Herb Butter
1/2 C (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/3 C minced fresh herbs (I used sage, rosemary, and thyme)
Salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
Put the butter in a medium-sized bowl and stir with a wood spoon to soften it. Stir in the herbs, salt, and pepper, making sure the herbs are fully incorporated into the butter. Put the butter in the middle of a sheet of plastic wrap and cover with one side of the plastic. Roll the butter into a long log or fat cigar shape, wrap it completely, and place in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to use. Serve the rolled-up log or cut off slices as needed.
Pineapple Coconut Water
15 hours ago


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Polaroid Tablets Price List in the Philippines July 2018
Tablets Vouchers & Coupon Codes
Smartphones, Laptops and Accessories Bargain SALE
Collect your electronic items at very low price. Join the bargain and SAVE more!Expires: December 30, 2018 View all asianic voucher codesGet Deal
Up to50% OFF
NewFlash Sale - The Intel Inside 2-in-1 Tablet
The Intel Inside 2-in-1 Tablet Up to 50% OFFExpires: ongoing View all GearBest voucher codesGet Deal
Up to50% OFF
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Latest Reviews for Polaroid Tablets
[Good] Its very simple and easy to use. And very fortable. [Bad] The battery drainning very fast.and its kinda a pretty annoying of being drainedso fast. It needs more improvements to make.the ...Read more
- Rating : 3.5
- Review by krizzeeyahh
- Date : Sep 7, 2015
The four units i got suffered diffeerent technicalities and software gliches in less than one year. Take note: FOUR UNITS of the same kind for my kids. And these units goes back and forth to the ...Read more
- Rating : 1.7
- Review by Malmon Cu
- Date : Mar 22, 2015
My Polaroid tablet , the extra slim and extra wide screen tab , Not so latest and updated system but I satisfy already of what this tablet works and run, Not so fast but enough for the apps that we ...Read more
- Rating : 3.3
- Review by ig.chua.divine
- Date : Mar 5, 2015
Latest Topics for Polaroid Tablets
I NEED TO RESET MY POLAROID 8" EXECUTIVE CLAVIER MID0880 BUT THERE IS NO VOLUME UP OR DOWN TO ENTER RECOVERY MODE? MY PROBLEM IS MY DAUGHTER SET A PATTERN BUT HE FORGOT THIS COMBINATION OF THE PATTERN, I NEED TO RESET IT BUT MY PROBLEM IS HOW TO ENTER IN ... Read more
- Last updated : May 5, 2017
- Posted by Kelvin Ancheta Quinez
- Replies of This topic : 3 Replies
How does firmware run?
How does this firmware update be done? I dont know , but Im curious on how to update and what is the result of the update? Im looking forward for your response guys..thank you so much brotherrrr..
- Last updated : Nov 11, 2015
- Posted by Guia Romero
- Replies of This topic : 2 Replies
good day...
meron po akong unit na polaroid platinum, so nasira po ito. my problem is wala po makarepair dito sa Davao City kay wala daw silang gamit na pampalit sa screen niya.. so please help me po kay wala pa po ito na 2 weeks. nasira ng baby ko.
- Last updated : Sep 16, 2015
- Posted by Ziema Manalo Dimaguba
- Replies of This topic : 2 Replies
About Polaroid Tablets
Polaroid Tablets offer new technology to middle class Philippines
Smart phones are slowly being pushed aside in the consumer electronics business by tablets. This is a certainty, and for this particular reason, many smart phone companies are slowly shifting their production lines to their tablet franchises. Even other consumer electronics companies are venturing in to producing quality tablets for their consumers. Polaroid is a perfect example of such a corporation.
Polaroid started out as an American corporation producing sunglasses and eyewear under the leadership of its founder, Edwin H. Land. However, after a series of misfortunes and bankruptcy, it emerged out as a consumer electronics brand specializing in digital cameras.
Under its new CEO, Scott W. Hardy, Polaroid also ventured in to producing smart phones for the middle class Americans, and slowly started to expand its consumer base to a worldwide audience. After the initial growth spurt, Polaroid decided to shift its focus in to producing tablets, as they were the next "big thing" in consumer electronics.
Popular Models
Let's take a look at the following low to mid range tablet models that Polaroid came up with in Philippines:
Q10 – This was a very popular product in Philippines. This tablet featured a 10 inch display unit with 1024x600 pixels resolution. Hardware specs included a quad core processor with 1 GB DDR3 RAM, as well as Android version 4.4 KitKat OS with 4 GB internal memory and both front and rear cameras.
S7 – This model is a high end product from Polaroid, with impressive HD display and capacitive touch response. It features a 7 inch display unit with 1024x600 pixels resolution. In addition to that, it also offers a dual core processor with 1 GB DDR3 RAM and 4 GB internal memory. Android version 4.2 Jelly Bean OS is pre-installed with 2.0 MP primary and 0.3 MP front cameras.
Kids Tablet 2 – Polaroid came up with a "kid variant" for their tablet range, with full HD display and parental control features. This features a 7 inch display unit with dual core processor and Android 4.2 OS version. It also offers safe browsing and a child-friendly design interface.
Polaroid introduced their line of tablets in Philippines in early 2008-2009. They did not want to produce exclusive or premium tablets for the high end users. Rather their aim was to apply their smart phone philosophy to their tablet franchise, and come up with something viable for the struggling middle class. This was their key marketing strategy and remains so even today.


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Intel Previews Broadwell Chips
Posted: 03:56PM
Author: CheeseMan42
Intel has revealed some details for its next generation processors built on the 14nm manufacturing, currently known by the code name Broadwell. The news chips were scheduled to release in 2013 but were delayed due to issues with quality control. A thermal design power (TDP) rating four times lower than the Intel Nehalem processors has resulted in the first Intel processor capable of running without a fan. The first device to be released using the Broadwell architecture will be Core M based devices, first showed off at Compute this year. The ability to run without a fan won't come for free as clock speeds may need to be scaled down, but "one of the reference tablets Intel demoed at Computex actually included a "fan dock" that could blow air onto the device to let it run faster while docked." More information could be made available next month at the Intel Developers Forum.
Source: The Register


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On Tuesday, April 3, 2012, Senate Bill 2401, which proposed to expand charter schools in Mississippi, failed to make it through the House Education Committee by a 16-15 margin. In response, Gov. Phil Bryant is considering convening a special session, hoping that the bill will pass in the full House as opposed to dying in committee by one vote.
State Senator Gray Tollison, R-Oxford, and State Representative Chuck Espy, D-Jackson, who are both members of their respective chambers' education committees, have vowed to continue the good fight and that is to be commended. I sincerely believe that these men support charter schools for all the right reasons and it breaks my heart to see the bill go down in defeat. Politics were once again pitted against the best interests of Mississippi's children and we all know who won, as usual.
Mississippi is perennially ranked near the bottom in the category of K-12 achievement, and according to Education Week, it deserves a grade of F and a #50 ranking for 2012. This serves as a stark reminder of just how bad Mississippi's educational system has become, and just how ineffective most of our efforts at improving it have been. Mississippi's educational system has reached a turning point, a time when things seem at their most dire, and yet many appear to simply sit idly by and do nothing.
Mississippi's public schools have had years to clean up their acts and they have consistently proven that they cannot or will not do it on their own. One of the main problems is that many school districts in Mississippi focus on maintaining programs and paying adults, not on seeking the best way to educate children.
To take it a step further, I believe that several politicians voted against charter schools in Mississippi simply to appease their constituents, instead of doing what's best for Mississippi's children. It is discouraging to realize that our children's futures might be used as a political device to win elections. If charter schools are allowed in Mississippi, it would provide parents with an innovative alternative to the traditional K-12 education system. Districts and schools who consistently fail their students would have to shape up or be supplanted by charter schools.
From what I have read and observed, many of Mississippi's leaders do not understand the complexities of its education system, and several of the leaders who do understand the intricacies of the system use their knowledge to justify the mediocre performance of teachers and students. Students from low socioeconomic backgrounds are often educated in dilapidated schools where scores of educators lack the skills necessary to perform their duties adequately.
High student-to-teacher ratios are found in a lot of schools, and they often lack the resources to deal with the diverse challenges that teachers face, including unruly student behavior. Education has been called the great equalizer, but for students living in poverty-stricken rural, suburban and urban areas in Mississippi, it is little more than a babysitting service and a place to get a hot meal. If Mississippi does not make a concerted effort to develop effective ways to educate its youth, then the education crisis will continue. However, there is an exception to every rule, as some Mississippi school systems are providing their students with a quality education.
Enhanced skills and technological talents are going to be desperately needed in the future, as Mississippi continues to struggle towards sustaining a dynamic 21st century labor force. Production is not getting easier and simpler -- in fact, it is just the opposite. Along the same lines, workers down the road will need to be able to adapt to technologies that are just now being developed. If Mississippi's students and workers find themselves in an educational system that cannot fulfill these necessary, required functions because it is sub-par, not only will these individuals and their families find little success in an economy that has left them behind; it will cripple Mississippi's competitiveness.
Charter schools are by no means a cure-all, but at least they provide Mississippi's education system with a viable option. If Mississippi fails to deliver educated adults into the workforce, it risks falling behind even further economically. Will it choose to continue the status quo, pushing through reforms that have been proven to fail? Or will my home state learn from its mistakes, and create meaningful reform through charter schools and other measures? It's time for us to become the change that we want to see in our educational system. You are the supermen and superwomen that our children are hoping and praying for. Please don't disappoint them.


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I'm a young game developer, I used to spend my time making games with the scratch programming language, then I found DB and I was hooked, I currently have a game in production. Once that is done, I plan on making a 3d version of a game I made on scratch! I am also working on an ORPG!! If you add me on steam with the screen name I have listed I will show up as ಠ_ಠ!
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Two posts (2 cards!) in one day. For my blog it may be record (in years anyway). This is for the color pop challenge. As a kid/teen of the 80's, it was fun to make one of the "flip" paper fortune tellers.
The colors I had to use were: Summer Sunrise, Canyon Clay, and Pure Poppy. The only way (in my mind) that these colors would work well together was to go very CAS. More so than I usually am able to do so confidently. I hope it looks good!


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Thursday, January 2, 2014
Leonardo da Vinci Paddle Boat
4 comments:
Are these kits wood or plastic? 'd been want to build a scale model of a wheeled trebuchet after seeing a desk top model hurl marbles in a PBS documentary.
- January 2, 2014 at 4:09 PM
- Warren Zoell said...
They're plastic for the most part.
- January 2, 2014 at 5:03 PM
Wow, your custom paint and weather job really makes this model look fantastic.
Out of curiosity, what sort of paints did you use for this? If I could, I'd like to shake some brand name or color names out of you.
- January 25, 2014 at 9:50 AM
- Warren Zoell said...
The paints I always use are either Testors enamels or Tamiya acrylics.
- January 25, 2014 at 10:46 AM
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