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Total Pro Sports – We'll keep the theme of beautiful women and sports alive today. After publishing the $3.7 million baby, and the World Hottest Sports Reporter today, we came across this German beauty Giulia Siegel who is featured on the front cover of the latest Play Boy.
If you don't know who Giulia Siegel is then we'll introduce you to her. She's a German TV host, DJ and model, she has also slept with Oliver Kahn the long-time Bayern Munich & German national team goalkeeper. This is the same time Kahn had been linked to the a 21 year old barmaid named Verena Kerth. Would you believe this was all after leaving his 8 months pregnant wife.
Lets take a look at Giulia Siegel Play Boy pictures.
Guilia Shows the world how to use a rope.


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The Sports Xchange
New York Giants running back Andre Brown sustained a fractured left leg in the preseason finale against the New England Patriots on Thursday night.
The Patriots won the game 28-20.
Brown was hurt late in the second quarter and limped off the field. X-rays determined a fracture in the same leg that was broken last season.

subset: commoncrawl


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In case you hadn't heard, Tiger Woods won for the first time in more than two years at the Chevron World Challenge on Sunday, besting 17 other players with a birdie-birdie finish that was vintage Tiger. The celebration left many of us wondering if Tiger forgot he was at Sherwood Country Club and not Augusta National, but he reportedly sent several bottles of champagne to the media center after his win, and we can all appreciate that.
Certainly the Chevron was a vital stop on Tiger's road to redemption—he looked confident on the course, was able to shape shots, putted well and even had the stinger going. So what was the key to Tiger's W? Maybe it was changing his putter grip. Maybe he finally got enough reps in. Or, maybe it was mashed potatoes.
This isn't the first time the "Mashed Potato Guy" has struck Tiger. Mashed Potato Guy made himself known at the Australian Open, as well as last year's PGA Championship. Does Mashed Potato Guy inspire Tiger? Probably not, but we're sure he will take mashed potatoes over hot dogs any day of the week. Rory McIlroy's U.S. Open trophy detained in ChinaWhile Tiger Woods added another piece of hardware to his collection, Rory McIlroy lost his trophy room's star attraction. According to Bernie McGuire of Reuters, McIlroy intended to showcase his U.S. Open trophy at his final six events of the season. ISM, Rory's former management company, shipped the trophy to Lake Maclaren Golf Club for the Shanghai Masters, but no one picked it up, McGuire reports. McIlroy's new representation, Horizon Sports, is now trying to track down the young star's prized possession.
"ISM shipped the trophy out in its special protective box to Shanghai and the Lake Maclaren Shanghai Masters but there was no one present at the course to receive it so it was taken back to the shipping agents depot," said Horizon Sports Conor Ridge.
"So I then got in contact with IMG in order we could at least have the trophy on hand for the following week's HSBC Champions event because they wanted to put the trophy on display at Sheshan as they've done in the past."
"I was informed that China customs said they were now not releasing the trophy, and they still won't give it to us."
"We've now got the USGA involved while IMG are working on the case and our guys at Horizon are also working with IMG trying to get the trophy released from customs."
"We've tried to send someone to Shanghai so they can be handed the trophy in person but they're just not releasing it."
"Well, not exactly!" was all he said.Tiger Tweets


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Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Federal Agency Actions Following the Supreme Court's Climate Change Decision in Massachusetts v. EPA: A Chronology
Robert Meltz
Legislative Attorney
On April 2, 2007, the Supreme Court rendered one of its most important environmental decisions. In Massachusetts v. EPA, the Court held 5-4 that greenhouse gases (GHGs), widely viewed as contributing to climate change, constitute "air pollutants" as that phrase is used in the Clean Air Act (CAA). As a result, said the Court, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had improperly denied a petition seeking CAA regulation of GHG emissions from new motor vehicles by saying the agency lacked authority over such emissions.
This report offers a chronology of major federal agency actions, mainly by EPA, that involve GHGs or climate change and that occurred in the wake of Massachusetts v. EPA. Most of the listed actions trace directly or indirectly back to the decision. Examples include EPA's "endangerment finding" for GHG emissions from new motor vehicles; the agency's standards for GHG emissions from new motor vehicles; its interpretation of "pollutants subject to regulation," the CAA trigger for requiring best available control technology (BACT) for such pollutants in "prevention of significant deterioration" areas; its guidance for determining BACT for GHG emissions; the "tailoring rule" (limiting the stationary sources that initially will have to install BACT and obtain CAA Title V permits based on their GHG emissions); and settlements of litigation seeking to compel new source performance standards (NSPSs) for GHG emissions from electric power plants and petroleum refineries. A few agency actions were included solely because of their relevance to climate change and their post-Massachusetts occurrence—for example, EPA's responses to California's request for a waiver of CAA preemption allowing that state to set its own limits for GHG emissions from new motor vehicles, and EPA's monitoring rule for GHG emissions.
More analytical treatment of the government actions in this report may be found in CRS Report RL32764, Climate Change Litigation: A Survey, by Robert Meltz; CRS Report R40984, Legal Consequences of EPA's Endangerment Finding for New Motor Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions, by Robert Meltz; CRS Report RS22665, The Supreme Court's Climate Change Decision: Massachusetts v. EPA, by Robert Meltz; CRS Report R40585, Climate Change: Potential Regulation of Stationary Greenhouse Gas Sources Under the Clean Air Act, by Larry Parker and James E. McCarthy; CRS Report R40506, Cars, Trucks, and Climate: EPA Regulation of Greenhouse Gases from Mobile Sources, by James E. McCarthy and Brent D. Yacobucci; and CRS Report R40166, Automobile and Light Truck Fuel Economy: The CAFE Standards, by Brent D. Yacobucci.
Date of Report: November 17, 2011
Number of Pages: 12
Order Number: R41103
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
Posted by Penny Hill Press, Inc. at Tuesday, November 29, 2011


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BSO Music Box: In the Treetops
Owings Mills | Website
This event occurred in the past.
The cacophony of exotic birds and playful monkeys of the rainforest comes to life through the sounds of flute and strings made by BSO musicians! Explore sound and rhythm with your budding music lover through this highly engaging and interactive performance. The half-hour lobby concert features the musical talents of a small ensemble of BSO musicians performing classical and children's songs to foster musicality, creativity, coordination and literacy.


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I've seen quite a few posts lately around hooking Google Street View up to exercise equipment of some sort. Most tend to use sensors to detect a passing rotation. I love the idea, but not enough to spend the time or money necessary to make it a reality. So I improvised.
What you need:
- Treadmill
- TV, projector, or mounted display (maybe next time)
- a Stealth Switch (actually, any momentary button would work....middle button on a mouse for instance)
- a long usb cable (probably)
- Autohotkey
- Google Street View
(more after the break)


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Redwood City
|Czech Republic (Lurk)
|Official language(s)
|- Premier
|Alex White
|Time zone
Redwood Oblast or Redwood City, formerly Redwood Directly Controlled Area, was founded on 25th June 2011 and it is the capital city of Noble Republic of Lurk, and it's predecessors.
History of this property dates to pre-World War 1, when it was bought by great grandfather of Alex White. The only property is also from this date. The property was annexed with beginning of the Federation as capital city located in Acrest Republic. On November 26th, it was made a directly controlled area.
The Rift
After The Rift, all connection with Redwood City was lost along with a lot of information. It is referred to as the 'Hidden City', and the Scribe Government class it as a National Heritage site. Whether or not more information can be found is up to Alex White, the Premier.
Mining of clay and stones is currently underway in Lurk. The clay is purified in the same location and shipped to Ravensburg, where it is used for various reasons.
Casting of old scrap metal is also present in Redwood city, most importantly lead and tin. Currently, casting of aluminum is being planned, but there is no material which could survive the high temperatures of molten aluminum.
Redwood City contains rare species of Gentiana asclepiadea and forest strawberry. They are located in the national park Lurkish Giant Mountains (Czech: Lurksé Krkonoše). However it is believed this plant is no longer alive, as it was taken from it's natural conditions to less suitable conditions.
Noble Republic of Lurk
Politics of Noble Republic of Lurk
Oblasts and counties
Nature and Cities
Nek River • Redwood City • Lurk Hills • Luxor City • Qoostrana
Psíkov-Kost Plyšákov • Lurk Republic • Utopia: First Utopia • NSSR •


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Participants at the 2010 roundtable discussed an updated draft of the Asian White Paper on Corporate Governance that addresses emerging challenges in the Asian corporate governance landscape.
English, , 409kb
This study of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in China examines trends in SOEs shares of the national economy, sectoral distribution, listing on stock exchanges and internationalisation.
This Investment Policy Review of China 2008 reviews Chinese government efforts to encourage responsible business conduct against the backdrop of recent regulatory changes and China's increasing outward investment. It also evaluates recent improvements in China's FDI statistics.
Organised in Paris on 27 June 2008, this seminar aimed to initiate a continuing dialogue and the establishment of a network for sharing information on best practices of environmentally responsible business conduct among Chinese enterprises.
Organised in Paris on 26-27 June 2008, this symposium discussed a report outlining China's recent progress in encouraging responsible business conduct, examined remaining challenges and offered proposals for advancing work in this area.
The 2006 Investment Policy review of China evaluates the progress made in developing an effective institutional framework for cross-border mergers and acquisitions in China, takes stock of remaining obstacles, and offers policy options to address them.
Governance is the next issue the People's Republic of China needs to tackle. This report shows how governance impacts on public action by looking at different policy sectors, takes stock of the progress made in public management and public finance, and explores policy options for the future.
China needs to make wide-ranging changes in the way it runs its public and private sectors if it is to continue on a stable growth path leading to full integration into the world economy, according to a new report from the OECD.
After more than two decades of progress in market reforms and trade and investment liberalisation, the entry of China into the World Trade Organisation marks a new era for its integration into the world economy. Drawing on the experiences of OECD...


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All these needles but only four size 2 double points to be found. Luckily my Mom has an equally abundant stash of needles and is going to loan me a 5th size two so I can cast on a pair of socks this afternoon. I currently have two hats near completion and an infinity scarf in the works but I saw a dear friend (and knitting guru) at a school assembly last night working on a pair of socks and was inspired. Early this morning I pulled out a few skeins of the sock yarn I've kept during my 10 year sock knitting hiatus and wanted to cast on before discovering the missing needle. I'm heading to my Mom's to drop Sage for a sleep over there with his cousin and will cast on before we take the two big kids to see the musical at the high school this evening (pre-show and intermission knitting works for me). I'm not sure if it's the chill in the air, the autumn leaves blowing around the yard or the need for a fire each night that has me really excited about knitting socks but I'm going to go with it and hopefully end up with at least one (if not two) new pair of wool socks : )
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Needle in a haystack...
1 comment:
- Julia Kelly said...
The row of needles is beautiful- now I have the double pointed needles "bug"- but have to resist- too much too do till Christmas!
- November 30, 2013 at 5:48 AM
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Treasure Island (1950)
Directed by
Starring (View all)
Bobby Driscoll
Jim Hawkins
Jim Hawkins
Robert Newton
Long John Silver
Long John Silver
Basil Sydney
Captain Smollett
Captain Smollett
Walter Fitzgerald
Squire Trelawney
Squire Trelawney
Denis O'Dea
Dr. Livesy
Dr. Livesy
Finlay Currie
Capt. Billy Bones
Capt. Billy Bones
Ralph Truman
George Merry
George Merry
Geoffrey Keen
Israel Hands
Israel Hands
Written by
Lawrence Edward Watkin
Robert Louis Stevenson
67 votesFavorite Childhood Films (103 items)
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Enchanted by the idea of locating treasure buried by Captain Flint, Squire Trelawney, Dr. Livesey and Jim Hawkins charter a sailing voyage to a Caribbean island. Unfortunately, a large number of Flint's old pirate crew are aboard the ship, including Long John Silver.
Release date: 19 July 1950
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Well, I said I would follow up my last blog with more of the same, so here I am. Being mindful of your moment to moment existence can be a wonderful thing. I have a friend who is making great strides in his personal and day to day life by practicing meditation and mindfulness. He is much more confident, patient, and clear. Often times, when someone hears "meditation" they immediately think of the Beatles sitting around with the Maharishi or some dude like the Dali Llama sitting lotus for 38 consecutive hours. But that's just not reality for the regular human being who has a lot to do on any given day. The five minutes of turning yourself inwards I talked about in the last blog? That is meditation. If you start it and you find that you like the re-focus it brings, try upping the amount of time you spend on it by just a little bit, or try doing it 2 or 4 times a day, as time allows. But, you have to make time. If you really want to gain some focus and start living in the present, it takes practice.
I guess today, I want to touch on finding out who we are. Before I write about that, I want to add my usual disclaimer; I don't know shit. I only know what I know and I have just a basic understanding of some of the stuff I talk about. Anything I suggest or whatever might not be for everyone. I just know what is working for me. I slip up and bust my ass sometimes, but for the most part this stuff has helped me develop insight into the nature of our society and culture. It has also helped me get a better understanding of who I am and how I need to treat others. Old patterns are hard to break (hell, I spent an hour yesterday arguing on an internet thread......bad Freddy......bad Freddy), but a good first step is to recognize when you fall back and get right back to moving forward again.
Who are we? Who knows? Most of us define ourselves by our race, nationality, body type, job, political affiliation, and our sports or pop culture "fandom". If I AM "Freddy, the white warehouse manager" then I don't have much to live for other than pleasing an idea of myself and not developing who I really am or want to be. A good first step after attempting the mindfulness thing is to try to get inside your own head. That voice in there, try to think around it. Don't let it carry you off, focus on how you are living your life. How do you see other people? Are you worried about how they see you? How do you perceive the lives of others?
As an example of what I'm getting at, I'll use myself. Freddy has more times than not, been a person who was quick to be aggravated, was (still am) selfish, didn't (still don't) deal with failure well, disregarded those he didn't know personally, had a short attention span for those he loved at times, as well as worrying a lot about the future. Now, I'm sure I have some good traits too, but those are not what I saw (or see) very often. If I see all of the aforementioned as negative traits and I don't want to be that person, then I have to change my thought patterns. I have to keep my reactions from becoming automatic. I have to gain control of my thoughts to become the person I should be (or want to be).
My goals are to be more like this (in no order of importance);
1) awake to how the world around me (society/culture) works
2) be more patient and understanding when dealing with other people
3) react to each situation and live from the standpoint of love
4) be "in the moment" when talking with my kids
5) help other people (who want it) to remove obstacles in their lives, if I'm capable
6) deal with the truth and the reality of our world and our minds
7) give back as much as I take
8) live in the moment
9) looking at other living things with respect, compassion, and love
All those things are attainable for me (and for anyone else). But, I have to work on it. Those are things, that if I correct and put in to action, I can be happy with. I would love for that to be me. When I talk to that inner voice, that's what I want going on. I am making strides in these areas. I slip up constantly, but there are some areas that I have changed in my "personhood" that may never come back....and that makes me hap-hap-happy. Hell, I'm ashamed when I tell someone to "have a great day" and they look at me like an alien ate me up and I'm just a pod person now. I know they don't expect me to be pleasant or care about how their day goes. Again, I'm ashamed of myself for being that way for soooo long. So long that it's become how other people see and define me.
So, once a person becomes comfortable with starting to figure out who they are on a moment to moment basis, it probably won't hurt to start reviewing your beliefs. Not just religious beliefs, but your world view. How do you see strangers? When you see a young kid with his pants drooping off his ass and hat on backwards, do you immediately think "idiot, loser"? Yeah, me too. But, that's the very thing that we need to guard against. Maybe the kid is not an idiot loser. Maybe the kid really is smart, he is just a slave to the culture he is being brought up in. Perhaps he is socially awkward and the only group at his school that seems to accept him are the "droopy drawer" kids? Try to remember how you felt as a young person and some of the "rebellious territory" you staked out as you conformed to your peers or the culture of the moment. I've hired quite a few kids that other places wouldn't. Young men with tattoos all over them, earrings, nose rings, and that sort of thing. Often times they work out. Sometimes they do not. But, it's about the person and our attitude towards them that will bring about reality and not a preconceived, stereotypical vision of someone. Honestly, we tell ourselves we are not bigots or racists, or we're not prejudiced, but sometimes we sure act like it. A woman cuts you off in traffic and you think....or even worse, yell, "fucking dumb ass woman driver!" Or if you are approached by a panhandler, you think "get a job you piece of shit". Is that who you are? Is that who you want to be? Is that making you a happier human being? Is that how you want the world to be? It's moments like those when you can practice mindfulness and not judge the situation or the person. Maybe that woman has problems on her mind and wasn't even trying to cut you off? Maybe she was in a hurry because her father had been taken to the hospital? Maybe she's just a bitch? But what does that have to do with you and your sense of being? Perhaps that "lousy bum" was a war vet? Perhaps he is a person who lost his family and now doesn't have a choice but to live on the street. How are you improving your "soul" or mind by judging him right out of the pocket? How do you feel when that happens to you?
Working on how you see our culture and society is tough. I won't go into my religious stuff, simply because I've done that here before. If you want to know how that has changed me, do a search of my past blogs. The thing is, I started examining what I believed from the other side of the table. I took a look at my former flag waving, war supporting, self righteous self and compared it to the person I wanted to be. It didn't add up. I love the USA.........but I never stopped to examine our policies and how we just might be wrong on some things. Am I OK with my government killing and injuring hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children in countries that have no ability to run us off or fight back? Is that something we should feel GOOD about? The hand over the heart and the flag on the car patriotism, which is manufactured by our psyche at the want of the media, isn't real. We think of the idea of America and what it stands for and transfer it on to what is really happening and it makes it very easy for us to lose perspective, and more importantly, lose compassion for people with other points of view.
Can we be OK with ourselves if we support killing children and destroying countries? What are we doing for humanity? When does justice stop and spiteful revenge take over? When will we take a look at large corporations and how they control our government and how we think, feel, and consume? When will we see that over the course of decades these corporations have bought off politicians and those politicians have passed laws that allowed for our country to be one big pile of steaming commercialism that has sucked our manufacturing jobs out of country, allowed companies like G.E. to pay less federal taxes than you and I (yep...that's the truth), and provided them with the means to exploit middle and lower class Americans? Can you see it? It's in front of your nose, if you will only think about what you believe differently. Can we be a "Christian" nation if we allow our government to kill and torture people without accountability? Can we be so if we have kids living in the streets and even the ones who have a roof over their head are going hungry? Where is our compassion for other human beings? Is a starving African kid less important than a starving American kid? Can we be a country of equality, freedom, and promise, if we fight tooth and nail to keep two people who love each other, but happen to be of the same sex, from having the same benefits to the American dream as the rest of us? It's not a matter of whether you like it or agree with it....it's a matter of you thinking in the moment and allowing yourself to stand in their shoes. To see the world their way. To see the world with love.
I want to put this video up as another recommendation. This film was done by several middle class kids who wanted to see how other people lived. They wanted to get a feel for what it was like to be a human being from a different plane of existence. It's not the best documentary I've ever seen, but it is one of the most important that I have ever watched. It's called "The Human Experience". You can also find it on Netflix. Here is the trailer....if it doesn't spur your interest, you probably shouldn't be reading this blog anyhow.
I don't feel like I accomplished a lot with this blog. As usual, I think this may be more for me than for anyone who may read it. I hope some of that stuff made sense. I simply believe we can't continue to stand in concrete in regards to our personal beliefs and move forward. We have to be willing to change how we see things. I can give you quite a list of bullshit that we are fed each and every day that is meant to pull on our pro-capitalist, pro-war machine, pro-producer, and pro-consumer heart strings........that all sound good going in the ears, but when you put them to the test of reality, they suddenly turn very ugly and distorted.
Maybe I'll write more on this stuff later. I just feel sort of self-righteous telling people they need to sit across the table from their beliefs and take those beliefs on. I know that's how I sorted out my own beliefs. For me, it's now all about people, as much as it can be, in regards to where I am at in my "evolution". Regardless of race, religion, or nationality.....we have to be on the side of people. Not on the side of a government, a big chain store, a religion, or a false set of ideas of who we are supposed to be.
Before I go, I think I will touch on religion, but not in a way to bash it or whatever, but in a way to get to the bottom level. All religions talk about the love of "God". How "God" loves everyone. How "God" has mercy and compassion. Well, if that is so (and in my beliefs I think that is true, though I have no use for practicing religion), then how can we be on the side of anyone or anything that isn't for helping people? Strip away all the stuff that is on the surface of a religion and get down to what the creator of our universe (whether its' consciousness, nature, or a living creator god) may have had in mind for us. Does anyone believe that a creator would want us destroying each other and the planet we live on?
Think on it. Be in the present in your mind. If you do these things, you can change yourself. If you change yourself, then you will change how you see the world. And if others notice it in you, they may be curious as to how they can start taking control of their own mind. We pass it on. We raise consciousness. We make the world a better place with the truth, love, and compassion........not just for Americans, but for everyone.
Fever, breathe in your own cool, blue air
Look for eyes that hypnotize and sparkle
Look for eyes that hypnotize and sparkle, everywhere
Brother, brother, don't you care?
Brother, brother, don't you care?
My Morning Jacket
"Sec Walking"


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Audible Doctor – The 730 Interview
The Q-Unique and Brown Bag All-Star connection was one forged at Fat Beats, one of the iconic hip-hop landmarks that has gone the way of dodo and dope mixtapes. On their collaborative album, Blaq Coffee, Q-Unique revisits his boom-bap roots as he gets incredibly personal and reflective. None of that would have been possible without the soundscapes crafted by Audible Doctor, DeeJay Element, and J57. In this interview, AD discusses the making of Blaq Coffee, the underground hip-hop business, his under-the-underground roots, preventing the burn-out, his production process, the possibility of a sequel, and more. Check it out below!


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The story, of course, begins with a falsehood.
Take in as much air as you can.
This story should last about as long as you can hold your breath, and then just a little bit longer.
This story clocks in at somewhere in the 3000 word range, meaning that even at 2500 words, and read at the cheetah-like 600 words per minute, it would still take five minutes to get through the story. I'm not sure what the lung capacity for the average person is, but I imagine five minutes is pushing it. It's even worse if the story is out loud. Even John Moschitta, Jr. (who most in my generation will recognize as The Micro Machine Man) only clocks in at 586 words per minute, or slightly over five minutes. It's arguable that the narrator himself, who describes his lung capacity as "huge," may manage to hold his breath for that long, but it's not advisable for the rest of us.
"Guts" is essentially three stories about masturbation, each more gruesome and twisted than the one before it. The first is a kid of thirteen years old who was always "jonesing for a better way to get his rocks off." The kid hears about stimulating the prostate gland to induce orgasm and attempts it using a carrot and some Vaseline. When he gets called to dinner, he hides the carrot but comes back to see that it has disappeared along with is dirty laundry. From that day onward, a sense of shame and foreboding hangs over his relationship with is parents.
The second kid hears from his older brother that orgasm can be intesified through the insertion of a thin smooth tube into the urethra. One evening, while high he uses a thin tube of wax, which he's taken from a candle dripping, in order to try out this theory. Just as he's about to climax, he realizes that the tube has disappeared. A few hours later, his abdomen begins to hurt. After being taken to the hospital, an X-ray reveals that the tube has fallen into his bladder and is absorbing minerals, growing rough and damaging the inside of his bladder. His parents have to dip into his college fund to pay for the operation. "One stupid mistake, and how he'll never be a lawyer," the narrator tells us.
The last story is the narrator's own. He used to masturbate in the pool while sitting naked on the drain at the very bottom, which he called Pearl Diving due to his practice of snatching all the floating ejaculate from the water afterwards. As he finished one day and goes to kick off for air, he finds that he's stuck. Looking back, he sees "some kind of snake, blue-white and braided with veins" has come up from the pool drain and is latched on to his butt.
This is where the novel achieves something almost Poe-like. As the narrator realizes that the snake is actually his small intestine--pulled out by the suction of the drain--and begins to consider his actions and the consequences, the story achieves a degree of claustrophobia, compounded by the gruesome body horror, that makes it difficult to forget or dismiss. The kid eventually does what he has to in order to survive, telling us in a line that is perhaps a little too clever: "If I told you what it tasted like, you would never, ever again eat calamari." (Of course, "If I told you what it tasted like, you would never, ever again eat chitterlings" would be more accurate, but probably leave many confused.)
Afterwards, his family lives in denial, his dad attributing the mess to a dog that fell into the pool. It is just at the end that Palahniuk/the narrator seems to overreach, laying out the final horror wherein his sister misses her period, implying that she has become pregnant from the ejaculate in the pool. It is at this point that the story crosses over from extreme but plausible to simply ridiculous, for reasons I won't get into at this point. However, overall it's a brilliantly gruesome story, that manages to inject dark humor and a certain melancholy into its shocking proceedings.


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CLARK — Sister Regina Martin, principal of Mother Seton Regional High School in Clark, has received official notification of Middle States Accreditation. The announcement came with several accolades for the Mother Seton community.
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, a prestigious accrediting organization, voted to award accreditation to Mother Seton Regional High School. The accreditation report states:
"Mother Seton Regional High School has demonstrated that it is effectively advancing the quality of educational experiences it offers its students and meets its responsibilities to the public and the profession of education and complies with standards for accreditation that are established by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools."
The term of accreditation is for seven years, which is the maximum number of years available in the present protocol. The Commission's policy defines Accreditation as: "An 'Accredited' institution is an educational organization that meets all MSA Standards for Accreditation, adheres to applicable MSA policies, and meets the requirements of the self-study protocol used.
Members of the Mother Seton Community were most impressed with the overall validation team's report. The team indicated that Mother Seton's vision looks to the future, so that the students are well prepared to meet the challenges that society presents. The school also stresses the Catholic Identity which enables the young women to make decisions based upon Catholic values.
In the conclusion of the report, Dr. Daly, chair of the Validation Team, states the following:
"As a girls' school, Mother Seton provides young ladies with the opportunities to develop not only academic skills, but also leadership skills that will extend beyond their four year experience at Mother Seton. The curriculum provides the necessary tools to prepare these students, and the mission and philosophy Mother Seton instill in them spiritual and ethical values which will assist them in life. Mother Seton is a busy place between the class activities and the extracurricular activities. The majority of the students said they wanted to attend Mother Seton because they knew that they would get a good education here. The school's record of academic success attests to that fact."
Dr. Daly indicated that there is a great esprit de corps at Mother Seton; students consider it their educational and spiritual home. Dr. Daly concluded his report with the following: "There are many good things happening in education, and those things are readily found at Mother Seton Regional High School!"
Sister Regina is most grateful to the entire Mother Seton community for such an outstanding measure of untiring support and sustained enthusiasm. "Heartfelt appreciation is extended to everyone who is a part of our school," states Sister Regina. "Special congratulations to each parent, student and staff member . Your faith, spirit and success are the foundation of Mother Seton."
Sister Regina Martin, Principal of Mother Seton Regional High High School and the Consultative Board proudly display the Certificate of Accreditation presented by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools . Pictured left to right, standing: William Erhardt, Barbara Telleri, Colleen Frost, Diane Power (Sitting:) Anne Cascone, Sister Regina Martin and Jeannine Guenther (Photo by: Joan Barron/Mother Seton)
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Photographer and adventurer, follow my new blog at www.christinearmbruster.com/blog
Monday, October 25, 2010
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Arthur A. Logue and Cheryl M. Schwertz
George R. Johnston and Purificacion Kolbenschlag
Gordon F. Mangham and Sharon A. Tillis
David R. McRae and Evelyn S. Flatland
Arthur A. Logue and Cheryl M. Schwertz
George R. Johnston and Purificacion Kolbenschlag
Gordon F. Mangham and Sharon A. Tillis
David R. McRae and Evelyn S. Flatland
Frank Gesla and Shirley L. Floyd
Robert D. Hamil and Jean C. Nunnery
Sakchai Hongsranont and Dawn V. Wright
Robert I. Nelson and Mary Moses
Ricky J. Bowling and Ada D. Mayo
Michael L. Grim and Paula K. Graham
David B. Kobayashi and Kelli D. Leete
Ronald M. Camillone Jr. and Pamela D. Lefebvre
Matthew J. Stacy and Teresa A. Ray
Gary D. Burgess and Vicki D. Simon
Jose E. Vasquez and Linda F. Ruffner
Thomas R. Ackerman and Charlotte J. Manley
Michael A. Roberts and Sarlean Oliver
Curtis D. Muse and Dorcas F. Bunker
Mario Silingauskas and Kristina R. Grabnickas
Timothy R. DeLisle and Teresa Spinner
Thomas A. Francis and Robin M. Arthur
Hady Y. Elkayed and Gladys Sanchez
Robert B. Morley and Lisa L. Gruver
Patton A. Wasson Jr. and Teresa A. Harper
Michel P. Landry and Elizabeth A. Weber
Johnny E. Gilstrap and April I. Harmon
Johny L. Grubs and Olivia Barfield
Thomas D. Paladino and Ann M. Wilson
Steven G. Blair and Kayla A. Macpherson
James F. and Maria L. Burlison
John T. and Janet P. Erdman
Wayne B. and Gwyn P. Cronise
William W. and Melody J.M. Bracken
Richard D. and Miriam W. Buchanan
John W. Bitterman Jr. et al vs. Barter Enterprises Inc. et al, distress for rent
Atlantic National Bank of Florida vs. The Trolley Works Inc. et al, judgment
Harold R. Rankin vs. DBLH Trucking Inc., judgment
Dell Distributing Inc. vs. Compupress Inc. et al, damages
Florida Extrusion Inc. vs. Hurst Awning Co., damages
Florida Extrusion Inc. vs. Steel-N-Timber Building Inc., judgment
Florida Extrusion Inc. vs. Jiffy Industries Inc., damages
Holiday Energy Savers Ltd. III et al vs. Energy Development Corp. et al, judgment
Codisco Inc. vs. J.C. Heating and Air Inc. et al, open account
Gathercrest Ltd. et al vs. William H. Schwab et al, judgment
William A. Harmening vs. Twin Coast Title Inc., damages
Itala Sitvestri Investments Ltc. Inc. vs. John A. Bodziak Jr., damages
Dental World Inc. vs. Stanley Rosenberg, damages
State of Florida Department of Transportation vs. Douglas K. Brumbaugh et al eminent domain
Diane Tobias vs. Gary Tobias, injunction
Robert L. Minshew vs. Bordon W. Calhoon et al, damages
Chase Home Mortgage Corp. vs. Jimmy L. Shedd and Tandra S. Shedd
Weyerhaeuser Mortgage Co. vs. Durward P. McKay III and Beverly A. McKay
Climatrol Sales Inc. vs. Ron Meyer Construction Co. et al
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Harriet Williams vs. Robert Williams
Mary S. Epperson vs. Floyd A. Epperson
Maria L. Robles vs. Ivan A. Rodriquez
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Lawrence Pierce, 110 Rock Lake Road, renovation, $40,000
Sandalwood Village, Sandalwood Court, commercial building, $152,483
Virgilio J. Godinho, Bahama Road, house, $54,350
South Country Corp. to M/I Schottenstein, Companies Inc., Alafaya Woods, $2,231,500
First Fidelity Savings and Loan Association to Robert E. Moon et al, Coach Light Estates, $497,000
Jose R. Jr. and M.V.F. Zubiri to Tan D. Nguyen et al, Spring Valley Farms, $340,000
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Wedgewood Homes of America Inc. to Michael B. and Jacqueline M. Myers, Markham Oaks, $194,000
Gordon Gotts et al to James W. and Corinne C. Poucher, Country Downs, $147,500
Robert E. and Charlotte M. Dalton to Charles E. Gordon et al, Shady Park, $135,000
Clifford D. Bidwell to Wayne H.L. and Virginia G. Rohlfing, Wekiva Villas, $130,000
Wildmere Industrial Properties Inc. to Quality Water Systems of Florida Inc., Central Commerce Park, $125,000
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Louche Construction Co. to Robert M. and Joyce C. Jacobs, Tuscawilla, $122,500
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Samantha Maiden
National Political Editor
The Daily Telegraph
November 9, 2013
TONY Abbott has warned Indonesia that his pledge to turn back the boats is a matter of "sovereignty'' after Australia agreed to back down and accept a boatload of 63 asylum seekers.
Sky News Australia, along with "Their SBS " and "Their ABC" is a Loyal and valued propaganda / publicity arm of the Progressive Left and Islamic Sociopath's Inc. Taquiyha network of enlightened and progressive Journalists.
After a three-day ocean stand off, Australia agreed to accept the asylum seekers today despite the fact they were rescued just 43 nautical miles off Java.
Labor has compared the capitulation with Kevin Rudd's disastrous Oceanic Viking saga but the Coalition said Indonesia had agreed to accept a number of asylum-seeker boats back since the Coalition was elected.
Senior Liberal sources have confirmed that the Prime Minister believed it was still possible Indonesia would have eventually accepted the asylum-seekers but did not want the stand-off to drag on into the opening of Parliament and overshadow the carbon tax debate.
While Australia had requested that the boatload of 63 suspected asylum-seekers picked up close to Java be returned,
Indonesian officials were still considering the request.
"We will have disappointments. But we will succeed,'' Mr Abbott told a Liberal Party Conference in Perth today.
"We will never again tolerate a situation where an important part of our immigration program has been subcontracted out to people smugglers.
"This is an issue of sovereignty for us. We have good relations with Indonesia. But we will stop these boats."
On Friday, an Indonesian official Djoko Suyanto warned Indonesia would not accept the asylum-seekers.
"The Indonesian government NEVER AGREED to such wishes or policies of Australia,'' he said.
"There is NO CHANGE of policy."
After warning on Friday he would not be providing "shipping news'' on the boat stand off, the Abbott Government broke with recent protocol and issued a statement on the resolution of the stand-off.
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison confirmed that Border Protection had first responded to a request for assistance on Thursday.
Because the incident took place within close proximity to the Indonesian coast, "a request was made, consistent with our standing practice under Operation Sovereign Borders, to transfer the passengers rescued to Indonesia, in accordance with international search and rescue protocols."
"On two recent occasions, Indonesia has agreed to these requests and facilitated an on water transfer,'' Mr Morrison said.
"The Indonesian Government has advised Australian officials overnight that they are reviewing the request put forward by Australia.
"While we welcome Indonesia's review of our request, in the best interests of the safety of the passengers and crew of the rescued vessel and the Australian vessel that has been rendering assistance, earlier this morning I requested
Lieutenant General Campbell to transfer the persons rescued from the SAR incident to Christmas Island for rapid onward transfer to Manus Island or Nauru. They will not be resettled in Australia."
But Labor's immigration spokesman Richard Marles said the back down was embarrassing.
"The diplomacy of the Abbott Government with Indonesia around asylum seekers has been absolutely inept.
"What we have seen is the embarrassing spectacle of the Abbott Government seeking to dictate terms to the
Indonesia Government. This is school year diplomacy backed up by half-hearted resolve and it is a sad embarrassment."
"So today, I call upon the Prime Minister and Minster Morrison to end this farce, to end this culture of secrecy."
The Greens said Mr Abbott's border protection policy was "in tatters."
Indonesia says it will absolutely not take back Insurgents


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(spoiler warning! i have divulged some details, though this is not a suspense so it wont really spoil your fun :))
I walked out of the hall smiling and content. Wonderful way to wrap up the weekend. The Descendants is such a "human" movie. Watched it with my Dad and we both totally enjoyed it. I can't / wont call this a movie review – but here is what made me like it so much.
The location – Hawaii. The breezy, overcast, deep greens and crystal blues – gave the movie a refreshing and calming feel. I especially liked how Matt (G.Clooney) introduces us to his story – about how it irritated him that people always considered him so lucky to be living in Hawaii and how his life must be like being on a permanent holiday – but in reality how f***** up it actually was – and so Hawaii is as real as any place.
I've noticed that the narrative is a typical introduction to a lot of Hollywood movies, but this one is really well written in and I enjoyed it so much.
George Clooney takes the cake for sure. I haven't seen him play such a vulnerable role in any of his past films where usually he is the smart, witty, on top of his game kinda guy. In The Descendants he plays a workaholic who suddenly finds himself as a single father to his two daughters, a ten year old and a 17 year old rebellious teenager – both of which are testing him in every way possible. Adding to that a comatose, dying wife who he discovers was cheating on him and a big land sale deal of ancestral property that his extended family is pressing him to sell, and you can understand what he means when he says he is barely keeping his head above water. He plays the role so heart-warmingly well and one just wants to give him a hug and tell him to hang in there.
The two girls playing his daughters are also very good, especially the 10 year old Scotty. The character Sid does very well in playing a helplessly stupid jock. He looks like he is misplaced and unnecessary but he carries his part very well adding the subtle funnies.
Its amazing how the director, Alexander Payne has managed to make all his actors underplay and yet keep the feel of the film so wonderfully natural and so real. There is humour in unlikely instances in the film and appropriately so 🙂 lightens the mood without trivializing the moment. So even though there is tragedy in the film which is central to the story, it doesn't bog you down and become a tear jerker – coz sometimes you just dont feel like crying your eyes out and yet want to associate with what the characters feel.
The music / background score is brilliant. Soothing and calming are two words that come to me – the kind of stuff you want to play in the room while you do other things 🙂
Finally, without making this any more longer than it should be – to me the story was about accepting, dealing, forgiving and moving on. But also that its easier said than done. Congratulations to George Clooney and Alexander Payne – well deserved on all the praise, awards and accolades they have received and will receive 🙂
Extra enjoyment points for the 5 movie trailers they screened during the intermission and before the movie began, always makes the movie experience doubly enriching. The Titans and Ghostrider 2 with over the top special effects – impressive, though not sure if the 2 minute trailer will have the same effect in a 2 hour movie. Lets see if i ever get to those in a theatre 🙂
Do rate the post, helps me know if I should write the next one 😉


text:
This came from "The Book Case", which is the blog arm BookPage.
A new tale from Neil Gaiman
Posted on 6 February 2013 by Trisha, Managing Editor
Has it really been four years since the publication of Gaiman's last adult novel, Anansi Boys? On June 18, he'll be breaking that streak with The Ocean at the End of the Lane (Morrow). This new modern fantasy—which, at 192 pages, is more of a novella—tells the story of a man who returns to his native English village to confront the horrifying evil he survived once already as a boy. His only hope is the three women who saved him last time: Lettie Hempstock and her extraordinary mother and grandmother:
It began for our narrator forty years ago when the family's lodger stole their car and committed suicide in it, stirring up ancient powers best left undisturbed. Dark creatures from beyond the world are on the loose, and it will take everything our narrator has just to stay alive: there is primal horror here, and menace unleashed—within his family and from the forces that have gathered to destroy it. His only defense is three women, on a farm at the end of the lane. The youngest of them claims that her duck pond is an ocean. The oldest can remember the Big Bang.
On his blog, Gaiman called the book "an astonishingly personal sort of a novel," and said that it made his Polish translator cry! He's also said that the tour he's doing in support of the novel will be his last US tour ever—so if you ever dreamed of seeing Gaiman read, this summer is your golden moment.
via A new tale from Neil Gaiman | The Book Case.


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Firms Fight For Top Dog Status In Pet Food Litigation
Thus far, three groups of firms have insisted that they should be appointed co-lead counsel in In Re: Pet Foods Products Liability Litigation: the Kamber group consisting of Kamber & Associates LLC, Blim & Edelson LLC and Audet & Partners LLP; the McLaughlin group consisting of...
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text:
Scott Eastwood's struggle against famous name
- Bang Showbiz
- 19 April 2015
Scott Eastwood insists being the son of Clint Eastwood has made his career "harder"
Scott Eastwood insists having a famous father has made his career "harder".
The 'Fury' actor - who is the son of movie icon and director Clint Eastwood and former air stewardess Jacelyn Reeves - found it hard to be taken seriously because of his surname when he was beginning his career as people assumed he didn't need to try for success.
He said: "I had a couple of auditions and things here and there and said, 'Maybe I'll give this a shot and see how it works out.' I lived in LA for eight years, but I was never the cool kid and I ended up moving away because a lot of people didn't take me seriously as an actor because of my name.
"In some ways it was harder for me than for other actors because there was a lot of, 'Well he's Clint Eastwood's son so yeah, sure he's successful'. But I've been working for 12 years and I'm still around, so that must tell you something."
Scott can next be seen as professional bull rider Luke Collins in 'The Longest Ride' and found the only way to prepare for the role was to get real experience.
He told Britain's HELLO! magazine: "There really is no way to learn how to ride the bull than to, well, ride the bull.
"I happen to know some people who do that, so I went to visit them, took some beer and said, 'Let's buck some bulls'."


text:
Thursday, March 05, 2009
And speaking of international courts: Venezuela loses one at the CIDH
Now, before you think this is really not a big deal let me remind you that this decision if for old cases and that since that time the situation of journalists and freedom of expression has degraded a lot in Venezuela. As such it sets a convenient precedent, tells people that it is worth to report any attack from chavismo hordes and that justice will eventually come. As such future decisions against the Venezuelan state will be more easy to prove at the CIDH level if chavismo does not amend its ways. Some of these results could deal with outright freedom of expression and freedom of information cases where Chavez is really weak since he closed RCTV.
What are chavismo options? Well, it can reject for the second time in a row a CIDH decision and aggravate its standing in Latin America. After all today the Paraguayan Parliament rejected the entry of Venezuela in Mercosur because Venezuela is not a country democratic enough. Not to mention that the Brazilian Senate, Lula pressure and sweet business deals notwithstanding, is also demurring in giving a green light to Venezuelan entry. Going this way will soon enough make Venezuela a pariah state as it will be forced to leave the OAS system. Which might be what Chavez wants anyway. After all chavismo today was busy trying to present it as a success because the CIDH did not condemn Venezuela on ALL counts...
Or it can chose to abide by the decision and stop harassing opposition journalists.
I guess it is not really necessary to set a poll as to what the government will do, no?
-The end-
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments policy:
1) Comments are moderated after the fourth day of publication. It may take up to a day or two for your note to appear then.
2) Your post will appear if you follow the basic rules. I will be ruthless in erasing, as well as those who replied to any off rule comment.
Do not be repetitive.
Do not bring grudges and fights from other blogs here (this is the strictest rule).
This is an anti Chavez/chavismo blog, Readers have made up their minds long ago. Trying to prove us wrong is considered a troll. Still, you are welcome as a chavista to post if you want to explain us coherently as to why chavismo does this or that. We are still waiting for that to happen.
Insults and put downs are frowned upon and I will be sole judge on whether to publish them.


text:
A few weeks back, we brought word that world champion boxer and occasional WWE wrestler Floyd Mayweather Jr. was selling his home in Las Vegas. At the time, there were, sadly, no pictures associated with the $3.45 million listing. Fortunately, the MLS gods have been kind, and we now have an inside look at the home of one of boxing's elite.
Though the details are sparse, there's plenty to be gleaned from the listing photos. For example, Floyd's wet bar features a row of video poker machines, which is not all that surprising, considering he's a notorious gambler (Mayweather may or may not have recently bet $5.9 million on the Heat-Pacers game 7), but it's still cool to see. Other highlights include a massive whirlpool tub in the master bath, a kitchen island the size of a small apartment and an overall decor that is half Bellagio and half Caesar's Palace. There's an oasis of sorts in the backyard that looks prime for a victory party, with a pool, a pair of hot tubs and a cabana. In all, Mayweather's home measures some 7,300 square feet and has a total of seven bedroom and nine baths.


text:
July 31, 2014 –
Comments (0) |
HomeAway -- a leading online marketplace of vacation rentals worldwide -- is an interesting business that, at first glance, looks pricey with a P/S of 8.3 and a trailing P/E of 188. On a P/FCF basis, however, HomeAway looks much more reasonable trading at a multiple just over 30. Here are a few other factors that give me optimism about the company over the next several years: ** As of the most recent quarter, sales and adjusted EBITDA are expanding at more than 30% year-over-year. ** The company just crossed 1 million paid listings on its vacation rentals platform, of which 72% were subscription listings paid in advance by property owners. Currently the company's renewal rate is hovering between 72%-73%. ** Over the past four quarters HomeAway's core business produced $109 million in free cash flow, providing ample fuel to strengthen the company's balance sheet, make acquisitions, and continue to invest in the business for future growth. ** The company has $792.5 million in cash and short-term investments and $307.4 million in long-term debt, making for a healthy net cash position of $485.1 million. ** Superb Glassdoor ratings and management. Cofounder and CEO Brian Sharples receives a stellar 94% employee approval rating, with employees rating the company 4.1/5 as a whole. 79% of employees would recommend the company to a friend. Fellow HomeAway cofounder Carl Shepherd remains on board as chief strategy & development officer. ** Growth trajectory in the coming years. HomeAway just created a chief marketing position which will be staffed by Mariano Dima, who brings years of experience from Visa Europe, PepsiCo Latin America, Levi Strauss, and Vodafone. HomeAway has spent the past several years investing in and building its technology and platform, and now the company is placing its efforts behind a new marketing push starting in the remaining months of 2014. This should help drive growth over the next several years. ** Paid listings and visits to HomeAway's websites continue to grow very quickly. In the most recent quarter (2Q 2014), paid listings increased 34.2% year-over-year while HomeAway's websites saw a 14.2% year-over-year increase in visits to 229.5 million during the quarter. Brian Sharples explains that HomeAway's vision is "to make booking a vacation rental as easy as booking a hotel." Given the company's success in building a leadership position in the market, coupled with a new marketing strategy that should serve as fuel to propel growth in the coming years, I think we will see HomeAway outperform the market over the next 3-5 years. Visionary and dedicated leadership, a market-leading business, vibrant employee culture, and strong free cash flow production go a long way in my book. Here are more of my thoughts on HomeAway's 2Q 2014 earnings report and the outlook of the company: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/07/29/homeaway-co...David K [more]
July 18, 2014 –
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Paycom Software, Inc. (NYSE: PAYC) Sector: TechnologyBusiness in One Sentence Paycom provides a cloud-based platform for employers to manage employees in areas such as payroll and HR. Value Proposition Payroll offers talent acquisition, time and labor management, payroll, talent management, and HR management applications through a single platform for human capital management (HCM). Paycom's platform was developed in-house and does not need to access or integrate with multiple databases. Paycom also collects data (on a single database) which employers can access and analyze in real time.Company Strategy and Advantage Paycom employees a Software-as-a-Service delivery model which manages "the entire employment lifecycle" from recruitment to retirement. Paycom provides personalized service to its 10,000+ clients, assigning a trained specialist to work with each client. Paycom's comprehensive cloud-based HCM solution enables data analytics on a single database. The company has an average annual revenue retention rate of 91% from existing clients for the three years ended December 31, 2013. Paycom has clients in all 50 states, and the company itself has 30 sales teams in 20 states. The company believes it can expand both in existing markets while adding up to 100 sales teams in the coming years. The company plans on opening 6 to 8 new sales offices over the next two years. International expansion is also a possibility but likely further down the road. Paycom has a total of 18 additional applications that clients can purchase. In 2013 all of Paycom's clients, including new clients, utilized on average 5.2 applications. New clients obtained in 2013 utilized an average of 6.2 applications. The company sees an opportunity to boost the number of applications purchased and utilized by each client. In addition, Paycom aims to target larger clients with over 2,000 employees. Other Business Details -- Revenue grew from $57.2 million in 2011 to $107.6 million in 2013, with net income increasing from $1.4 million to $7.7 million over the same period. -- Paycom can utilize a mobile workforce thanks to the SaaS delivery model. -- As of 2013, clients with fewer than 50 employees made up 10% of Paycom's total sales, clients with 50-2,000 employees made up 86%, and clients with more than 2,000 employees only comprised 4% of Paycom's total sales. -- In 2013 Paycom stored data for more than 1 million people employed.-- Paycom's solutions are sold exclusively through its sales team, which is composed of 218 professionals. Sales professionals go through a four-week training course, after which training/development sessions are held on a weekly basis. Risks -- Highly competitive market with many varying products and solutions.-- Requires persistent innovation while retaining (and boosting revenue from) current clients. -- The company primarily generates sales through its payroll processing application (58% of total sales in 2013, down from 68% in 2011). Future growth is somewhat hinged on Paycom's success with other applications. -- Because of its multiple applications under the HCM umbrella, Paycom is competing with a variety of bigger players who have their own specialty (i.e. talent acquisition/management, payroll, time and labor management, etc.). Big Few 1. How does Paycom's platform compare to other HCM platforms on the market? 2. Why the new focus on larger clients, when the company has done so well acquiring mid-sized clients? 3. How do retention rates compare among small, mid-sized, and large clients? 4. Does Paycom have any proprietary advantage over other competitors? Questions and input always welcome!David K [more]
July 17, 2014 –
Comments (1) |
Potbelly (PBPB) shares were walloped 25% last week after the company announced that it had negative same-store sales in the second quarter of this year and revised its guidance for the year downward. The stock has really been headed downward since its IPO in October 2013, and for pretty good reason. In terms of performance the company is subpar. As I've written here before, investors are understandably interested in finding "the next Chipotle." Chipotle is not only a phenomenal restaurant, it is an outstanding business overall. Heck, the company just raised prices by 5.5% nationwide and so far there has been little to no pushback from customers. Finding a "next Chipotle" in the restaurant space, based on what I have explored, seems very unlikely with the current crop of relatively recent restaurant IPOs such as Potbelly, Noodles, and Chuy's. This isn't to say that these restaurants can't become great investments -- they just don't compare to Chipotle's numbers or performance in a meaningful way. Investors have been somewhat spoiled over the past decade with Chipotle and Buffalo Wild Wings, two very well run restaurants capable of financing their growth through their own free cash flow (as opposed to relying on issuing debt or stock). Let's just briefly look at the numbers Chipotle reported in 2006, it's first year as a publicly traded company. In 2006 Chipotle produced $6.20 million in free cash flow, meaning the business produced more cash flow than was expended to maintain and open new restaurants. Very impressive for a company in its prime growth stage (Chipotle opened 94 restaurants that year). Chipotle also saw a same-store sales increase of 13.7% in 2006. Total sales increased 31.1%. These are numbers, especially when sustained (as Chipotle has largely been able to do), that justify a premium valuation. With today's new restaurant IPOs, however, not so much... at least from what I have seen. On the other hand, Potbelly expects total sales to increase 6.9% year-over-year this quarter. The company is not producing anything significant or consistent in terms of free cash flow. In fairness, there have been numerous changes in the macro environment between 2006 and today so the comparison can't be taken as black and white. Even so, Chipotle, despite having well over 1,500 restaurants (much more than Potbelly, Noodles, or Chuy's), still sees much higher and consistent growth in comps, overall sales, and free cash flow than these new restaurant arrivals. If the ShopHouse and Pizzeria Locale concepts take hold over the next 5-10 years, the potential for Chipotle as a market-beating investment from here on out is significant. To sum up, even after being pummeled 25% today I don't see Potbelly as an appealing investment opportunity. I might add to my Chipotle position, particularly if the stock does take a beating. Chipotle is approaching the high point of its valuation range (in terms of P/E and P/FCF) over the past five years, but over the next 10+ years I still expect the stock to outperform the market. I'd jump at the chance to add to my position. [more]
July 16, 2014 –
Comments (0) |
I am one of six Fools in the latest cohort of the Motley Fool's Analyst Development Program, which just got underway a few weeks ago. An early exercise we started doing is the "10K Challenge," where each of us spends an hour reading the 10K from a company of our choosing and summarize its business in a succinct 1-2 page overview. [more]
July 10, 2014 –
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In November 2012, LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner wrote an article explaining the three pieces of advice he received that changed his life. The three pieces of advice: 1. You can do anything you set your mind to2. Everything that can be converted from an atom to a bit, will be3. Do you want to push paper around or do you want to build products that change people's lives?Under that second point, Weiner writes: In August, 1994, I signed up for an Aol account. I'll never forget my first "a-ha!" moment online which occurred soon thereafter. It came through witnessing the power of collective intelligence on a Motley Fool message board. There, a community of engineers, logistics experts, and individual investors from all over the country had joined together to reverse engineer the cost basis to manufacture what would eventually emerge as a hit computer peripheral product. I remember thinking to myself, "This is going to change everything."Today Weiner is one of the top-rated CEOs on Glassdoor with a 97% employee approval rating. LinkedIn as a whole earns a 4.5/5 employee rating (and the third highest employee ratings in the country among businesses with more than 1,000 employees).Kudos to Tom, David, and those early Fools who inspired early on one of today's greatest leaders in the business community (in addition to many others, of course). I was only two years old at that point in 1994, but I think I am beginning to better grasp the significance of those AOL days! For those interested, here is the full article from Weiner: Three Pieces of Career Advice That Changed My Life:https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20121119052956-2...David K [more]
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Yes! It's that time of years for spooky costumes, reruns of Halloween, and the ensuing wave of all sorts of new content in the video game and entertainment world. The Second Annual Team Fortress Halloween Special is here! Now, I first bought Team Fortress 2 for my Steam account around this time last year because there was an amazing sale for it I couldn't pass up. The first Halloween event was great, so I've really been looking forward to this years event.
One of the new features for this event is the first boss monster in Team Fortress 2, the Horseless Headless Horsemann. It sounds like a great idea, everyone works together to kill it or you can just watch as it goes around killing everyone else. I don't know much about it yet, but it sounds exciting.
Currently the Steam servers have been under a lot of stress trying to handle all the Steam client updates for the new event and patches for their other games so I decided to post this as I wait for all the traffic to clear up. On that note, see you guys later, time to see what it's like first hand!


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Guest Writer: Moira Allen
Is Multitasking Good for Writers? (or anyone else)
Link to this article here:http://www.writing-world.com/coffee/coffee78.shtml
Show me a writer who doesn't "multitask," and I'll show you...
well, I'm not sure what. But I'm not worried about being held to my half of that sentence! I seriously doubt that, in today's "do 50 things before breakfast" world, you could show me that writer.
Let's face it: We all do it. We have no choice. As I've said before, the speed at which we can do things hasn't saved us labor.
It's simply caused us to have to perform 10 tasks in the time once required for one.
The problem is not that we multitask. Again, in many cases, we have no choice. The problem is that many of us have been led to believe that multitasking is a good thing because it speeds up our work and increases our productivity. After all, it stands to reason that if you can do two things at the same time, they'll both get done faster than if you did them sequentially, right?
Unfortunately, studies are showing that this isn't true. In fact, it seems that multitasking can actually DECREASE your productivity -- by as much as 40%! In plainer words, that means that either one will accomplish 40% less while multitasking, or that the actual time required to complete one's tasks may increase by 40%. I think. Studies also show that multitasking increases the chance of error.
Which makes me feel loads better, because I was beginning to wonder if I just "wasn't doing it right." One of my most common forms of multitasking is to work on Project A on my computer, while scanning articles and images for my Victorian website on the scanner sitting next to my desk. Scanning is boring. I can't handle just sitting there and turning pages, so it seems logical to multitask: Work on something else, and pause to flip pages as needed.
Only it doesn't tend to work that way. Instead of making good progress on Project A, and getting a pile of scanning done, I find that BOTH projects actually tend to suffer. All too often, I get distracted from Project A (and turn to something simpler, like e-mail or checking my eBay sales or playing a game). As for the scanning, all too often I end up rescanning the same page because I forgot whether I actually pushed the button.
My husband can attest to another hazard of "multitasking." When we lived in Virginia, my office was downstairs, the kitchen upstairs.
Many a dinner -- and many a pan or teakettle -- burned to a crisp because I'd pop downstairs to do "one quick thing" while cooking.
That's one reason why I always use a whistling teakettle, even though today my office is in the "breakfast nook" and the rate of burned dinners has decreased dramatically.
Mothers have multitasked for millennia, so I figured the problem wasn't simply that I was a dinosaur, less hardwired to multitasking than the generation born with a cell phone grafted to its fingers.
So I decided to check a few articles to see whether the problem was more than "just me."
Unfortunately, although there are many articles on the evils of multitasking, those articles themselves can be confusing, as they provide different "examples" of what the author thinks multitasking actually is. One, for instance, sets up an example of a woman fixing a meal (I'm not sure which meal, since it involves eggs and a salad). The article defines mixing the eggs and washing the lettuce as "multitasking" steps, while heating the pan is "parallel processing." In my mind, this is not multitasking at all; it is simply a set of steps involved in the single task of "preparing a meal." Multitasking, to me, would be preparing the meal while popping back to my computer to answer e-mail. Other articles describe "exercising" and "listening to music" as a form of multitasking, and again, I disagree. Most of us use music as an integral part of exercising, to set the tempo for our workout.
We're not doing two separate things - but if we were attempting to work out and hold a conversation, we might be.
Pursuing different projects within the same general time frame - i.e., during the same week or even the same day - is also not "multitasking." If one works on Project A for one hour and Project B for the next, or Project A on Monday and Project B on Tuesday, with the goal of completing five projects by Friday, this is not multitasking. Working on several projects at once is not the same as working on them simultaneously. Otherwise, we wouldn't need such concepts as "prioritizing" or "scheduling."
So here's my definition of "multitasking": being engaged simultaneously in two or more activities that require a comparable amount of concentration. For example, I cannot switch pages on the scanner without removing my focus from the computer. I must physically turn my chair, lift the book or magazine from the platform, turn the page, reposition the item, close the lid and push the button. It requires both hands, both eyes, and a modicum of brain power. If I am, say, editing this newsletter at the same time, that task also requires both hands (on the keyboard), both eyes (on the screen), my chair to be positioned facing the computer, and (one hopes) a modicum of brain power.
In short, multitasking involves what researchers describe as "switching." One is not, actually, doing two things at once. One is rapidly switching between tasks - edit a paragraph, "switch off" from that task, turn the chair, reposition the book on the scanner, "switch off" from that task, turn back, edit the next paragraph.
Each switch requires a certain amount of physical adjustment (turn chair, take hands off keyboard, move book, hit button, turn chair, put hands back on keyboard). But more importantly to researchers, it requires a mental adjustment, known as "goal switching." Once you switch goals, the next step is "role activation" - I must go into edit mode, then into scan mode, then into edit mode. In each mode, I must focus on the types of tasks or steps involved in THAT task, and "switch off" the focus on the alternate task.
Even though the time involved in "goal switching" and "role activation" can be just a few tenths of a second, these switches add up. More significantly for writers, the more concentration that is required by a task (such as writing), the more we are likely to be distracted by the constant interruptions of multitasking. It's hard for a stream of thought to flow if it is constantly being diverted.
Obviously, we're not going to stop. There are too many demands on our time to hope that we can avoid multitasking altogether.
However, if you're feeling frustrated, blocked, and unable to concentrate, this could be the culprit. Once you realize that multitasking isn't actually going to get your work done significantly faster, it can be reserved for the tasks that require the least brain-power. And writing definitely isn't one of those tasks!
Here are some interesting articles on the topic:
The Cognitive Costs of Multitasking, by Kendra Cherry http://psychology.about.com/od/cognitivepsychology/a/costs-of-multitasking.htm
You Say Multitasking Like It's a Good Thing, by Charles Abate http://www.nea.org/home/30584.htm
Multitasking: Good or Bad? By Roger Kay, Forbes http://onforb.es/M91bUE
Reprinted with permission from Moira Allen, Editor


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Brooklyn College MFA Thesis Show 2012
Brooklyn College MFA Thesis Show 2012 | FRESH | Curated by John Yau
The Brooklyn College Art department is pleased to announce the thesis
exhibition of the 2012 graduating class. Thirteen diverse artists will display
a wide range of contemporary art making practices at Gary Snyder Gallery
Project Space located at 250 West 26th Street. The work presented was
curated by John Yau and is the culmination of their extensive two year
Participating Artists:
–Jack Carhart
–Aidan Sofia Earle
–Benjamin Edmiston
-Izlia Fernandez
–Carmen Figueroa
–Pamela Jennings
–Emily Leatherman
–Jiyoun Lee-Lodge
-Ash Lusk
–Fran O'Neill
-Mariko Spigner
–Ingrid Staats
–Jonathan Torres
The exhibition will be on view from June 9th to June 18th at Gary Snyder
Gallery Project Space. Gallery hours are 10am to 6pm, Monday through
Space located at 250 West 26th Street (4th floor). Opening reception to be
held on June 14th, from 6-9pm.


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The technology sector is notorious for under-representing women. If asked to name top male industry figures, the likes of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and the late Steve Jobs roll off the tongue with ease.
But most people would struggle to name their female counterparts.
This doesn't mean that women aren't carving themselves out a space in the industry. If you pick a slice of the sector from emerging economies, particularly in India, you'll find that there are significantly more high profile women in tech there than in the western world.
Read more: The business partnership training women to illuminate the developing world
To start with, 30 per cent of India's tech workforce is female, compared with one in five in the UK. At the same time, India's gender parity statistics continue to rise, while the UK's have stagnated over the past five years.
In most indices (economic opportunity, educational attainment, health), women in India have access to a much narrower set of opportunities than British women.
So clearly something about Indian society and its education system makes the tech industry there both more attractive and more hospitable to women than it is in Britain. If we can figure out what it is that creates this difference, we can begin to improve the landscape in the UK.
In Britain and the US, the tech sector is stereotypically seen as "geeky". Girls are just as likely as boys to study STEM subjects up to GCSE level in UK schools, but research shows a drop in participation at A-Level and beyond.
The misconception persists that the sole aim of computer science courses is to produce a workforce of programmers. This belief alienates teenage girls, who already have negative cultural ideas of what it is to be a computer geek, and so distance themselves from other tech opportunities.
This stigma is less much prevalent in India. In Indian culture, it seems that students – male and female – are opting for courses with an obvious career path, with the most popular courses being medicine, engineering, law – and now technology.
Indian girls also have a plethora of prominent female role models to look up to, women who have managed to make it to the top in the tech sector.
The likes of Kumud Srinivasan (who until recently was the president of Intel India), Aruna Jayanthi (chief executive of Capgemini India) and Vanitha Narayanan (chief executive of IBM India), are great examples of Indian women excelling in technology, with their success frequently celebrated in the media.
In fact, in addition to her role at IBM, Narayanan is also chairperson of the board of governors of India's National Institute of Technology, and was the first woman chairperson of the American Chamber of Commerce in India.
In the UK however, the lack of female role models is influencing girls' perception of what they can achieve in tech.
We need to do more to promote successful female role models to demonstrate the sheer range of jobs in tech out there today, and how they can be a creative, exciting, and powerful way to make a difference in the world. It is only by hearing from people working in the sector that young women with an interest in tech will shed their inhibitions.
The tech industry is already a major driver of prosperity for the UK, and we have the potential to be world leaders, but we must do more to nurture our female talent if we wish to remain competitive.
A lot has been invested at the grassroots level to increase girls' engagement in STEM, but more resources should be committed to championing the women that are already succeeding in the sector.
Young women in the UK have a choice as to whether they want to pursue technology, but if they see more prominent female role models in a variety of fields, maybe we'll start to see more of them turning an interest into a career.
Read more: Nearly three quarters of women don't consider a career in tech


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Sunday, January 23, 2011
Whoa Nellie! Not all Africans are needy
After the feast I walked towards the Life Centre around that triangle which is home to the city's gay bars and settled for a pub favourite with bears. Forty minutes later I was minding my own business pretending to cruise when three hunks in kilts joined my table by the window overlooking the sidewalk. I was glad for the company of the three hairdressers from Scotland and we started chatting about nothing in particular, they even bought me a couple of drinks. Oh, by the way did I mention that one of them was black? I'd be lying if I said I didn't find it a little odd hearing a Glaswegian accent from a black person.
Shortly the two other guys excused themselves to go outside to smoke. That's when the black Scot asked me where I lived. I said I'm only here visiting friends, I live in Kenya. He says how cool is that, you speak verrie gurdt Inglish. (Lol. Sorry I can't do the accent). I answered yes I do but just for the record I speak even better Swahili and two other languages. By this time his compatriots were back, that's when he asked me whether I had a %^*~@&. I replied sorry I didn't understand what you just said, what was that again? Obviously I need to work on my Scottish. I think he got my point because he started speaking very slowly: DO. YOU. HAVE. A. BOYFRIEND? I said yes I do have a very beautiful boyfriend, and told them a little about Gee. Curiously ebony Scot wanted to know what colorr George was so I said as black as you and me. That's when he said don't take this the wrong way fella but 'gay Africans are way too needay when it comes to marney. They can't seem to stand on their own two feet'....
I pretended to take his offensive comments the right way even though I was seething inside, even his friends looked embarrassed. I know that in recent years 'refugee' and 'asylum seeker' (read foreigner) have become dirty words to many Europeans largely thanks to a slew of articles about benefits scroungers in hugely popular rags aimed at swathes of the population whose reading age hovers around 9. So I asked 'Field-slave-now-eating-at-the-big-house', is that your experience? Have you ever dated an African? He said no but a friend of a friend has. Then he added all I know is the people there are starving and dying from aids. I couldn't hold it any longer so I said to him Oh don't be ridiculous, you don't see me saying all Glaswegians are drunk illiterate morons who like to stick dirty needles into their arms. But I said it sweetly because I'm from the land of hakuna matata where 'jaruos', 'kales', 'wasepere' etc still have more than a few issues to sort out. I now accept that some form of bigotry exists inside everyone. Call it preference, type whatever. Also I blame charities who think the only way to fill their coffers are media campaigns showing emaciated and unwashed orphans with runny noses. It doesn't matter that the kids' dignity is violated by whoring their images, they are just poor god-forsaken souls from distant lands.
I didn't even begin to say what I was really thinking. There's a time and place for debates and I wasn't in the mood to start a fight which I'd have lost anyway. So we dropped the subject and some jägerbombs instead (my round) until the stripper came on. Then we just drifted apart to darker parts of the bar where one could get off anonymously. Needless to say I was only a spectator to any monkey business. Before I left the pub I went to the toilet where I bumped into black Mr Kilt. By now he looked a bit worse for wear but he still recognised me as I stood next to him at the urinal. Then without the faintest of warnings he lifted his kilt. I wasn't too shocked because some gay men can get up to sleazier things in toilets, eh you don't want to know. Come to think about it, I'm sure some of you want to know hahaha you'll have to go and ask George Michael. Anyway I clocked him and appreciated that like a true Scotsman he wasn't wearing anything under the tartan. Luckily for him there was no one else in the toilets because let me just say that it's not all true what they say about black men. Even in the dimmed lighting I could see that he was packing mini, or how shall I put it, well below expectations in both length and girth and I'm no size queen. Worse still said appendage was as dead as a doornail.
After I finished peeing I gave mine the customary two tugs and three shakes (always a pleasure) and washed my hands quietly staring at kilted flasher's reflection in the mirror. Before leaving him alone in the toilets, I said bitchily whilst looking at his needledick, so sorry dear - even Africans aren't that needy.
7 comments:
Tamaku, kwanza, three words: very enjoyable read. Isn't it amazing, in this day and age of info, these statements that reveal such ignorance? Or perhaps as you allude to in your commentary, it is simply a lack of compassion that afflicts us all, lack of real caring for one another.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJanuary 24, 2011 at 12:48 AM
OMG I LOVE this post!ReplyDelete
Haki can I borrow it for my blog? Might you be up for a guest post?
check me out at http://savingafrica.wordpress.com
Hey Mama Shujaa,ReplyDelete
Thanks. So many people blissfully in their bubbles, sometimes I despair. xxx
Hi savingafrica,
Glad you liked the post. I'm way too lazy for a guest post - for now anyway. My bones take longer to warm up in this cold. Feel free to sambaza though ;)
xx xx
Ha ha ha ha, that was pretty bitchy at the end. But he had it coming. He should consider the slight as having come from all of us "desperate gay africans".ReplyDelete
Hilarious! The thing is, some people can write and some people can't. That 'Sue' who claims to be a hooker in Nairobi makes a good story sound boring. But always raise a smile, even if you couldn't raise a Scot.ReplyDelete
'Field-slave-now-eating-at-the-big-house'! You been watching Manderlay?
Keep it up.
Even Africans are not that needy! Hehehe, you will so rot in hell Tamaku :-)ReplyDelete
Hello Mimi, Simon and Mama,ReplyDelete
Ok, so I like big portions, does that make me a bad person? ;)
Hey you, leave a comment but don't just be an asshole about it - try to be decent. That said you are welcome to heap abuse or ridicule if it makes you feel better. However in order to get published it must not be homophobic, racist or sexist. OK?


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This swine flu hype is getting out of control. It's the flu and it's treatable. Yes, people can die from it .... just like the regular flu. Yes, people in more than one country have it ... just like the regular flu. Outbreaks at colleges? Yes, just like other stuff that goes around when people swap a lot of spit and live in close quarters.
This is actually a picture of people who are suspected of having swine flu. I mean seriously, take a Tamiflu and suck it up. Then stop touching dirty, sick pigs and for God's sake ... cover your mouth when you cough. By the looks of this picture you'd think they were being treated for the dreaded MOOBY FOOBY!!
Personally, I think driving on I-95 is scarier than any flu you could ever face.


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Anxiety is often manageable and mild, but sometimes it can present serious problems. A high level or prolonged state of anxiety can make the activities of daily life difficult or impossible. Anti anxiety agents, or anxiolytics, may be used to treat anxiety disorders.
There are several different groups of prescribed drugs that can be used.
Antidepressants, used for treating depression as well, are very effective in treating the symptoms of certain anxiety disorders. Research shows that changes occur in the brain's chemicals when someone has an anxiety disorder. Antidepressants are designed to assist these chemicals to work effectively in the brain.
Some Antidepressants are:
- Citalopram (Celexa)
- Escitalopram (Lexapro, Cipralex)
- Paroxetine (Paxil, Seroxat)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)
- Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
- Sertraline (Zoloft, Lustral)
There are also a number of other antidepressants that may be prescribed.
Take time to work:
It can take up to 2 to 3 weeks for the antidepressant to reach a high enough level in the brain. This means it can seem to take a long time before any improvement is felt. Most people (60-70%) will recover in 6 to 8 weeks of taking antidepressants. Antidepressants are non-addictive but if stopped abruptly they can cause some side effects, so it is best to reduce them prior to stopping. People usually stop or reduce the medication when they feel they have other coping strategies in dealing with anxiety. Most people take antidepressants for 6-12 months but it can be longer depending on the severity of symptoms and if they seem likely to return.
Possible side effects:
All medications have the potential to have side effects but they vary from person to person. This means a person may have no side effects or one or many. More side effects are listed in the packet of the antidepressant. Possible side effects of antidepressants are anxiety, nausea, headache, difficulty sleeping, sweating, dry mouth, loss of appetite, sexual dysfunction,drowsiness, dizziness and constipation. Some of these side effects disappear after a week or two of taking the antidepressant. For more information on antidepressants see our info. sheet on 'medications for depression'.
Alcohol and street drugs should be avoided or taken with caution when taking an antidepressant, as the effect is unpredictable (unknown). It is best to discuss with the prescribing doctor what other medications are being taken as they can have an effect on the antidepressant. Even "natural" medicines such as St John's wort can interact with antidepressants.
Benzodiazepines or "benzos" are fast acting medications. Benzodiazepines act on brain chemicals helping to relax, calm and make you sleepy. They help to treat, but not cure, the symptoms of anxiety, such as tension, feeling shaky, sweating and difficulty in thinking straight. They also have muscle-relaxing properties.They are unlike antidepressant medications as, if used for a long period of time can be addictive and a person requires more and more over time to get the same effect. Benzodiazepines are often used to get a quick effect, for example, when a person is extremely panicky and waiting for other medications to work or to assist a person to cope better with a stressful/traumatic event. They are usually for short-term use only.
Some benzodiazepines are:
- Diazepam (Valium)
- Clonazepam (Klonopin)
- Oxazepam (Serepax)
- Lorazepam (Ativan)
- Alprazolam (Xanax)
There are also a number of other benzodiazepines that may be prescribed.
Take time to work:
Benzodiazepines are fast acting drugs that sedate so the symptoms of anxiety are often reduced in an hour after taking.
Possible side effects:
Some drowsiness or mental slowness may be experienced whilst taking benzodiazepines. Consequently, a person should not drive or operate machinery, especially if just starting treatment, until the effect of the benzodiazepine is established.
Like benzodiazepines, alcohol depresses the nervous system and when combined the effect is unpredictable. Its best to avoid alcohol use as drinking alcohol and using benzodiazepines can lead to serious and life threatening complications. It is best to check with the prescribing doctor about the way benzodiazepines react with other drugs.Benzodiazepines should not be stopped suddenly if taken for more than 2 weeks. If stopped suddenly a withdrawal reaction with unpleasant and severe symptoms such as headache, shakiness, muscular cramps, vomiting, fits and dizziness can occur. The person may also feel as if the anxiety is returning. When stopping a benzodiazepine after taking it for a long time, it needs to be gradually reduced to avoid experiencing withdrawal reaction.
Buspirone (Buspar) is used for short-term treatment of anxiety disorders. It is as effective as benzodiazepines, but has less potential to cause sleepiness and dependency. It also does not appear to cause the withdrawal problems that benzodiazepines do, but does take longer to work, around one to two weeks.


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Your Toronto home's indoor air can be hazardous if it is not checked regularly. Unlike the outdoors, buildings rely on physical infrastructures and automated systems to filter and circulate air. Without appropriate measures, your home could accumulate more contaminants than the air outside. A significant deterioration of the quality of air inside your home could affect your health negatively, making it essential to consult air conditioner repair professionals.
Sources of Indoor Air Quality Problems
There are numerous sources of indoor air pollution in homes, which include oil, kerosene, gas, wood, coal, and tobacco products. Some of these contaminants can produce carbon monoxide and other invisible and potentially deadly gases. Household cleaning products, carpets, insulation, and other building materials can produce toxins at very high levels. Similarly, mold, dust, and allergens can accumulate easily and spread through the air inside your home. Even outdoor pollutants like pesticides and radon can get into your home, rendering the air unsafe. Read more on this article: http://bit.ly/2rkvUNI


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San Rock Art
If I am given a grant application
to fund research on the earliest hand axes
just before lunchtime
it is highly likely
that I will eat my
tuna and cucumber sandwich
while flicking through pictures
of cave paintings.
(Anything to avoid preparing exam papers...)
This herd of elephant rampages
before the San hunters
on the ochre walls of caves
in the Cederberg mountains
near Cape Town.
with thanks to the unknown person
who made this picture available
without copyright restriction.


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|photo by Terry Richardson
Put on your gayest outfit (no, not that one, the other one) and celebrate National Coming Out Day!
"NCOD was founded in 1988 by Robert Eichberg, a psychologist from New Mexico and Jean O'Leary, an openly-gay political leader from Los Angeles, on behalf of the personal growth workshop The Experience and National Gay Rights Advocates.[3][4] The date of October 11 was chosen because it was the anniversary of the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.[5]
The first headquarters was located in the West Hollywood, California offices of the National Gay Rights Advocates. 18 states participated in the first NCOD, which was covered in the national media. In its second year, the headquarters moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico and participation grew to 21 states. After a media push in 1990, NCOD was observed in all 50 states and seven other countries. Participation continued to grow and in 1990 NCOD merged their efforts with the Human Rights Campaign Fund." via Wikipedia
Click HERE to see more art from Terry Richardson