text:
Watch the video, read the transcript and vote BREXIT
Here's an extract:
'The Remainers will tell you that Britain would struggle to survive outside the EU — that we'd become an irrelevance. They call the people who want to leave the EU 'little Englanders', as if there's something petty and small-minded about wanting Britain to become a sovereign state again. In their eyes, wanting to restore the right of self-determination to the British people is a bit… well, a bit common.And this gets to the heart of the difference between their vision of Britain and ours. They see Britain as a small island off the coast of continental Europe that no longer has any place in the world as an independent nation state. We should abandon our delusions of grandeur and accept our diminished status.We see Britain a little differently. Not just a small island, but the world's fifth largest economy and fourth largest military power. One of only five countries with a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Not the plaything of unelected officials in Brussels, but the birthplace of Parliamentary democracy.If you believe that Britain is strong enough to stand on its own two feet again, free from the shackles of EU laws and regulations, then I urge you to vote Leave on 23 June.The British people were fooled once in 1975. Don't let the Establishment fool you again. It's time to take back our democratic rights. 'Men fight for liberty and win it with hard knocks. Their children, brought up easy, let it slip away again, poor fools. And their grandchildren are once more slaves.' – DH Lawrence'


text:
Humble Indie Bundle V has come to a close, and with a bang: not only did they break the $4 million dollar barrier, in the last hours they reached over $5 million! Thanks to all the generous people out there, and to the developers of these amazing games, for making it possible!
And, of course, a big thank you to all of you generous bronies to contributed to the HBB, whether it was money or spreading the word! It's been a rather exciting Bundle, between the endless friendly competition with Notch and the nods from Wil Wheaton, Rock Paper Shotgun, and John Graham of Wolfire games and the Humble Indie Bundle itself. Oh, and a thread on Reddit that sent over 20,000 people to visit the blog, to check to see if I'm Gabe Newell of Valve. Ha! Spoiler: no, I'm not.
But, much more importantly, during the course of Humble Indie Bundle V the HBB surpassed $35k in total lifetime contributions, which is over $20,000 to charity and around $10,000 to indie game developers! I never imagined I'd be part of something like this, and I'm eternally grateful to all of you for making it possible. All of my thanks!
Friday, June 15, 2012
Humbie Indie Bundle V Ends
6 comments:
I was too late to participate in this one, but this is just amazing.ReplyDelete
Good work everyone!
Lol I didn't realize Humble Brony Bundle was a collective effort, else I would have donated through you guys instead of directly :PReplyDelete
And in the end we beat Notch! :) Behold the magic of friendship!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJune 18, 2012 at 1:32 AM
This pleases me ^_^ReplyDelete
So, are we and Notch involved in the HIB 6? Because I don't see either in the top contributors.ReplyDelete
Nevermind Notch, are we getting involved in HIB 6?ReplyDelete
Where will all donations for the past 2 months+ go?
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hello There!
Today is Valentine's Day. A day to celebrate that special love in your life. A day for sharing your innermost appreciation for the one who matters to you. A day to spend a ton of money on cards, chocolates, and cutesy teddy bears that say I love you…
Okay, so maybe the holiday has some flaws. One thing I've noticed in the last couple of years is the raising up of "Singles Awareness Day" for those individuals who are not in a relationship. A gesture of protest to another "Hallmark" holiday.
Personally, I think Singles Awareness Day is bull. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not attacking anyone who celebrates it. But it's important to remember that this day is meant to share your love with another. It's about showing appreciation for that special someone. Now you might be thinking "But Paul, I'm single. I don't have anyone to show appreciation for." How wrong you are! You have God to be thankful for. You can show God how much God means in your life. Tell God that you love all that God has done for you. Go ahead, send up a prayer right now! They don't cost a cent, and I'm sure God wouldn't mind being showered in prayers of thanksgiving today or any day for that matter.
Then, after you've sent up a prayer or two of thanks, look around you. Isn't there someone else who might be a part of the "single" status as well? Go to the grocery store and find that sweet old lady that reminds you of your grandma and tell her that you think she's the bees knees ( I don't have a clue what that term means, but I think she'd like it) Call up an out of town relative and say that you love them and are thinking of them. Go to the VFW, the nursing home or the hospital. There are people all over the place that could use an extra hug or at least a smile.
Valentines Day isn't about you. It isn't about your singles status (if you are, in fact single like me) but about spreading the love. What better love to spread than the love of God. Remember that you are never alone because God is always there for you. Go with God and God Bless!


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Quick Reference
A broad term covering a range of ways in which Caribbean Creole (commonly known as patois, or patwa) is combined with British varieties of English, resulting in one of the ...
Subjects: British History.
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Not to brag, but I do think I have the best customers ever (I swear). They come up with amazing quilts and colors that keep my imagination going and let me live vicariously through their quilts if even for a brief time. Sometimes I also get a note afterwards telling me how the individual receiving the quilt liked it and what their reaction was. I love getting notes like this, it keeps me going when the days get long and my back doesn't want to continue on anymore.
But then I got a note that made my day. I recently did this quilt for Betty to give to her grandson for his birthday. She e-mailed me thanking me for the quilting job I did and included this:
So, this was just too cute not to share. It made my day and I wanted to spread the joy of this little guy with you. However, I have a hot date with my Gammill, so I gotta run! Feathers and feathers, Oh my!


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...I got a call from a nurse practitioner telling me that I needed to come in the following day to speak to the surgeon, whom I hadn't met. I'd had a biopsy days earlier. She wouldn't tell me on the phone that I had breast cancer, so I didn't find out officially until two years from tomorrow. But when the phone call says, "I need you to come in imminently" rather than "everything is clear; as you were," it's pretty damned obvious that there's a problem. So this is, essentially, the two-year anniversary of when life turned upside down.
It's how I track the passage of time now: That was all happening around September 11. One of my followup mammograms last winter was the day of the Newtown shootings—I watched the horror unfold alongside a bunch of anxious strangers in the breast center waiting rooms. It was the only visit of many to the hospital where everyone was much more upset by outside events than by the fact that they were patients in a breast or cancer center. I learned a few hours later that a close friend lost a loved one in those shootings. And yet I still mark time by how often I have to don a hospital robe.


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I have tried to make continuous bias tape from a fat quarter and never had any luck. I get lost with the lines and cutting direction. I find I have much better luck using a quilt binder ruler. You lay the angle of the ruler on your straight edge of the fabric to get bias. My ruler makes 2.5 inch strips.
I then passed the through my tape maker and pressed them.
|(Carrying my Coffee Bean Bag)
All in all, I love the shorts! The fit works for me and it has a simple silhouette. I will be making these again. I like the top okay, but will not make it in a cotton again. I may try it again in a very drapey fabric.


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I've been working on this project for months and am excited to share the finished product! This is the new logo for the Steilacoom Farmers' Market. It was a very fun project to work on. This is sumi ink on heavy printmaking paper.
Look for it next spring on t-shirts at the market!


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Thursday, June 30, 2011
El Loco, Surry Hills
In his bid to take over the world, of wining and dining at least, Justin Hemmes of Merivale fame has acquired the old Excelsior Hotel in Surry Hills. A revamp of the hotel to bring it up to Merivale's hip and trendy standards is imminent, but in the meantime a rustic Mexican inspired cantina has opened at the back of the pub. Dan Hong, the chef behind Ms G's and Lotus, is also behind the food here at El Loco - giving it a fun, modern yet casual edge.
Although I'm visiting on a school night with Laura, Marty and The Chefette I decide it's early enough in the evening for a cocktail (I'm a one pot screamer so need to pace myself on school nights - sad I know). Turns out my teetotaling ways are a smart move as this is one lethal, but tasty, Classic Margarita ($13.50).
There are five tacos on offer at El Loco and at $5.00 each it is tempting to want to try them all. As I'm also eyeing off Hot Dog I decide I need to pace myself - which must be a first for me. In the end I decide to go for the Al Pastor (spit roasted pork with pineapple salsa - on the right below) and the Queso de Soya (chilli marinated tofu with pico de gallo). Tofu seems like an odd ingredient for a taco, but it works really well - crunchy tofu is a nice contrast to the soft taco shell, and the pico de gallo (aka Salsa) is light and fresh tasting.
After I've finished my dinner though I'm still feeling a bit peckish, so opt for just one more taco. El Loco has a "Mystery Taco" on offer each night and after the chef assures me it's not tongue, innards or any other squishy bits I decide to be brave and order one. I'm rewarded with a crunchy, spicy Fish Taco - which I don't photograph so get to experience the joy of eating hot food for a change. Amazing!
And last but not least the El Hot Dog ($12.00). The pork frankfurt is a monster squeezed into a fresh bun accompanied by pickled jalapenos, mayonnaise, pico ge gallo and a mound of cheese. In an attempt to save my arteries from self combustion I push most of the cheese to the side and tuck in...and the hot dog slides right out of the bun, through my hands, bounces on the table and ends up back on it's plate. What a mess, but once the dog is returned to its rightful place in the bun it is very tasty. The jalapenos give the hot dog a kick, but it is not overpoweringly spicy - the heat is quite manageable.
I have to say though...the Hot Dawg at The Dip is still in first place as my favourite Hot Dog of all time. Sorry El Loco - but I'll be back to try more Tacos. Promise!
El Loco is at 64 Foveaux St, Surry Hills. It's just up from Central Station before Foveaux Street becomes too steep for most humans to climb.
16 comments:
ooooo that hot dog looks excellent! i think its time for another visit?ReplyDelete
I'm dying to go back & have that tofu taco again, oh & the pizza.ReplyDelete
woahhh you got so much cheese on your hotdog eeee so jealous and lols @ hot foodReplyDelete
This place looks like lots of fun!ReplyDelete
YUM! I miss having tacos back in the states. Give me a call when you do decide to go back for more! :)ReplyDelete
yummy!! MExican food. I've been wanting to go here for ages. :////ReplyDelete
$5 tacos! awesomeeee. no tequila for u?ReplyDelete
luv cornchips with dip- yummoReplyDelete
You pushed most of the cheese off the hot dog?! Crazy! Haha that mound of cheese looks so appealing to me. I want tacos!ReplyDelete
I need to get myself to El Loco ASAP yummmReplyDelete
- AnonymousJune 30, 2011 at 8:21 PM
That's A LOT of cheese. I can see Dan Hong has captured the essence of Mexican food, they do eat a lot of everything.ReplyDelete
I absolutely loved the pork and pineapple taco! My only other suggestion, apart from pushing the cheese off to the side just a little bit, would be to eat the tacos promptly - they tend to soak up all the sauce and salsa and go a little soggy. Still yummy, but a little harder to pick up.ReplyDelete
I can almost not see that hot dog for the cheesse!ReplyDelete
Yum! Thanks for reviewing this one! I've been meaning to go check it out and needed the visual push of seeing those margaritas and tacos!ReplyDelete
All looks great. Love a killer margarita!ReplyDelete
wow that's once pricey hot dog! but it looks so good (oh mountain of cheese lol)! this place seems good for a late night snack *adds to list*ReplyDelete


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She stood there eyeing the pool. A frail whisper of a woman who's spine curved forward making her appear rather tempestuous. Her tiny legs were covered in wrinkly sagging skin and her hair poofed atop her head in no particular fashion. With goggles in hand she wobbled over to the edge and peered as if looking for the perfect spot. I worried a little thinking she might not know the shallowness of that section. Concerned, I wondered if she was thinking of doing the unthinkable of diving in. She stooped to help a child out of the water...a small child. I was relieved. But then quick as a wink she strapped on her goggles and jumped right in.
The transformation that happened under the water was invisible to all around. For where an old fragile woman had jumped into the water emerged a new creature; fluidity in motion. She came to the surface a few yards down the lane barely making waves as she swam stroke over stroke. She never gasped for air but silently stole a breath between movements. When she reached the wall it looked so effortless as she flipped head over heels and pushed off again. It was beautiful. In the water there was no age or creaking bones, there was freedom and memory and amazing skill.
After a while, she made her way out of the pool..tugging at her swimsuit. Slowly she waddled over to a chair and eased down beside an equally crooked man waiting for her while basking in the sun.
For a moment my mind saw them young again, a strapping man, a beautifully fit woman...at the pool for a day of relaxation.


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Yes, acknowledge the wonderful double take that just occurred there. I wrote W.I.P as a title. As a needle Crafter, W.I.P., is an acronym for Works In Progress. Which by the mere definition means that I, Gabriella have yet again picked up yarn and needles and begun yet again the journey to that beautiful destination we call a finished project! The project that I am working on right now, is an infinity scarf for myself. In pursuing this project, I have learned how to knit in the round! Jump back wild child! JUMP BACK NOW! Now, since I've started, I've had several people ask for certain things, but since no one has actually sat down with me, and gone over what they wanted, I suppose I'll just keep knitting!
I really wish I had the time to sit down and learn a pattern, but alas, I am still a free-form knitter, but never fear, the cool thing about it, is that I can always re-create it, and I am seriously thinking about turning Doux Intoxicatie into a pattern shop. But for the time being, it is kinda in limbo. I'm about halfway through I think, and hopefully there will be a finished project photoshoot soon! Gotta get ready for the fall weather coming my way!
Have you guys been working on anything? I wanna start featuring people on the blog, so leave me a message in the comments, email me at firstname.lastname@example.com, or send me tweet!
Til Next Time Gang,
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Christmas is a time for lists. Present lists, cards lists, food lists and just-about-everything-else lists. And whether you're oh so modern with your digital reminders, or – like us – prefer the old school method of putting pen to (Smythson notepad) paper, lists are the modern gal's way to get through the season relatively stress-free.
So in the spirit of minimum fuss, maximum efficiency, we thought we'd give you a helping hand and compile the Blink Party Prep list to end all lists.
1. It's surprising how having good skin magically makes our life less stressful and make up regimen more speedy. When ours goes into SOS mode, we love nothing more than Bobbi Brown's Extra SPF25 Tinted Moisturiser Balm, £25 (www.bobbibrown.co.uk). Let it double up as your moisturiser and UV protectant by applying it pre make up – then pat it on at the end of the day to wake up your skin before you head into the night.
2. Never underestimate the power of a girlish blush to take years off your face – and fake several hours more sleep. Maybelline's Dream Soft Blush in Apricot, £6.49 (www.boots.com) melts into ashen cheeks and highlights temples and brow bones for when you need to get your glow on.
3. So you've been feeling a little worse for wear ever since the night before the night before. Which is precisely why smart party hoppers pop Sprayology's Party Relief, £25 (www.glowgetter.co.uk) into their handbags. Containing a secret blend of homeopathic wonder workers, it'll quell those waves of nausea, support your tired liver and boost your energy levels to set you straight before another night out on the town.
4. Really though, when it comes to party season, we firmly believe it's the eyes that have it. Tired, sensitive eyes can so easily be scratched by regular eye pencils. Which is why our Intense Kajal Liner, £13 is so genius. Packed full of olive and jojoba oil, it slides onto the lash line, soothes sensitive skin – and smudges into something smoky and sultry.
5. And the finishing touch? It has to be a party-perfect set of lashes. Knowing how much you love our existing array of strip lashes, we thought we'd give you an early Christmas present and created three new, eye popping sets to make youe party season go with an extra swing. Even better, we'll even apply them for free when you purchase – so you can head straight on out in style.
- Taking their cue from the '60s references that ruled the AW catwalks, are the Twiggy lashes. As an ode to the swinging sixties icon, they're long, full and make eyes oh-so-wide.
- Sparkling is always in style at Christmas. So give your eyes a light-reflecting glimmer, the Sparkle set come with diamantes studs at the base.
- For something that's cute, girlish and suits all eye shapes, we just love the Dolly. Pop these on with your Maybelline blush and you'll look as fresh as daisy – even in the hours of the morning.


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From 2009-2012 I paid off 28,000 of my own debt. During that time I moved from Long Beach back to Whittier, met the man who is now my husband, and learned tons about how to manage my money. I'm back to blogging now that I'm married and my husband and I work to pay off his student loans. We're adding a baby to the mix this year, to keep things interesting. I don't own a home (and I'm just past 30) but I've come a long way on my financial journey!
Friday, December 2, 2011
Screw It
But we're talking super strict. As in, homemade gifts, regifting, freebies, not going in with my co-teachers for a gift for all the kids. Not buying new running shoes, even though I need them. Not taking my car in for it's 75,000 mile service. Not eating out as much, or going to Magic Mountain with my boyfriend. Basically being cheap.
I decided that I just don't wanna. (Yes, that's meant to sound whiny). I am tired of being super disciplined. I want some new jeans. I want to splurge on some Christmas presents. I want to bring good food to parties, not whatever was cheapest to make.
So, I'm taking that $700 and enjoying myself this month. The 75,000 mile check up isn't exactly fun, but I've been putting it off because I don't want to budget for it. That's the other responsible thing I'll be doing, but I'm giving myself permission to get a little spendy this month. No debt. Nothing too crazy. But I'm throwing off the shackles for this month. I've been disciplined for a LONG time. My E-fund is growing nicely, my student loan is shrinking. I'm cool with saying "screw it" and just spending the money.
Do you ever let yourself "fall off the wagon?"
4 comments:
I am falling off the wgaon this month with eating. I'm not saying "screw it" but I am saying "i'm gonna eat that cupcake"ReplyDelete
we don't have much room to be flexible in our budget right now so thats probably the only reason i am not going on a spending spree.
Yes, I do! I love jeans and shopping for them. Also, I put off necessary things sometimes and its not a good habit to get into. Even though you will be spending the money this month, I would still make a list of what you want to accomplish with the $700, like taking your car in for a check up, etc. that you make sure that you get it all done in your month off. Have fun!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousDecember 2, 2011 at 6:15 PM
Everyone falls. Plus having your car checked is a necessity. And if you dont buy something once in a while you will burn outReplyDelete
I'm totally "off the wagon" with you! I'm calling it my "un-budget" month! No budgeting, no saving extra $$, NO GUILT!!! :)ReplyDelete


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Mukhriz Mahathir, son of former PM Mahathir has attributed the issue of Ketuanan Melayu and the polarisation of society to the current education system. He suggested the closing of Chinese and Tamil primary schools and be replaced with a single language (Malay) education system.
Mukhriz is the front running candidate for the UMNO Youth President post. If elected, he has the possibility of being appointed as the Education Minister and implement his policy.
When Mahathir handed over the helm to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, he was not happy with him for not following through his policy especially on many mega projects such as the crooked bridge and the twin rail track system. For his own interest, he was trying all types of antics to unseat Abdullah. One of the means was through his son Mukhriz, MP for Jelun. Mukhriz was under heavy fire for criticising the leadership of Abdullah. Bothe father and son has been marginalised.
March 8 General Election saw a change of fortune for this father & son team. Abdullah's misfortune was Mahathir's fortune. With Najib being accepted as the heir to Abdullah after UMNO party election in March 2009, we saw the soaring of Mahathir's influence and his son being the front runner of the UMON Youth President election, leading Khairy, son in law of Abdullah and former Selangor Mentri Besar Khir Toyol.
It is no secret that Mukhriz's extremist suggestion is to garner vote in the coming party election, and acting as the mouthpiece of his father.
If this wolf-pack father and son team regain power, it is the misfortune of the country and nightmare for the communities.


text:
All of you penguins in Disney World visiting Rockhopper are in luck! Rockhopper will be giving out special coin codes! The special coin codes unlock and exclusive Rockhopper and Bambadee background which is not released yet!
The background looks awesome! Rockhopper is supposedly bringing the background when he comes back to Club Penguin.
What do you think of the new Rockhopper background? Let me know!


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Clarification from the Cablevision camp that should a spin off of MSG occur, it would not be for the purpose of selling the properties, merely to put more shareholder value back into the hands of Cablevision stock owners. And the Dolans would continue to retain majority ownership. "The MSG unit includes the Madison Square Garden arena; the MSG and MSG Plus regional sports channels; sports teams the New York Knicks, New York Rangers and New York Liberty; Radio City Music Hall; the Chicago Theater; the Beacon Theater and cable music channel Fuse."
While I did not personally read anything that stated possible selling of MSG, I did read about speculation of possible selling of the Long Island cable system and Rainbow programming unit with Time Warner and Comcast the most likely buyers. Keeping speculation low only drives up the intrigue value. Who knows what will or won't happen. The likely scenario continues to be no change.


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Room or couchsurf (Tel Aviv)
Hello all,
I am planning my first exploratory visit to Israel. I am looking for a room for Protected content in mid June most likely. This trip is for planning my eventual move to Tel Aviv in a year or so. Therefore I need to also begin the job search as well.
Hope that someone can help.
Thank you in advance.


text:
However, it seems that while the existing heli-pad was included in the redevelopment plans, funding for its construction was overlooked by the previous Bligh-Labor Government.
The construction of a new helipad at Rockhampton Hospital could not only save lives but also a lot of money.
Speaking recently to the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin newspaper, Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service CEO Kay Becker said the cost of sending an ambulance to Rockhampton Airport to transport airlifted patients was more than $1000 a trip, and this could be avoided if a new helipad was factored into the current upgrade plans for the medical facility.
She said the existing system of ferrying patients to and from the airport via ambulance also tied up valuable emergency service resources.
Recently there had been a push to incorporate the underlying helipad infrastructure in the current hospital upgrade which would allow the actual landing facility to be built at a later date, but Ms Becker said this was only part of the solution.
She said the hospital would still need to find additional funds to build the actual landing area.
State Member for Keppel, Bruce Young also came out in support of the new landing facility.
Mr Young said he would lobby federal government to put forward the money but was also prepared to push for state government money if required.


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'The King's Favourite', sequel to 'Not a Man' is now available for sale as an ebook at Smashwords,
Free for the moment if you can quote the coupon number, valid until 14th June, - TU47V
It was the greatest scandal that Oxford University had ever known. The culprits were the sons of the rich and famous, even of Royalty. The trials went on for years, and the story of the modern day eunuch spread, his beauty and desirability extolled.
Shuki was unaware of the full extent of his notoriety, though he knew not to show his face in England, not for fear of unwanted advances, but because reporters were such a problem. He now lives in his own remote home, overlooked by his beloved mountains, and protected by the Daoud family of Naelahin. He has his family, his studies, and is respected. He has come a very long way from his origins.
Feroz Hady was viewed as a puppet king. Just sixteen, yet he is the all-powerful monarch of a country in Arabia. When an important and complex trade deal hangs in the balance, his Chief Councillor bargains an extra concession to keep his young king happy. Added to the details of the enormous payment promised, there is a reference to 'other considerations.' Shuki's freedom is traded away by his own country. He becomes slave and companion to a king.
As he told his stepson years later, "Sometimes things happen, and the only choice you have is to accept it and learn to make a life anyway." Shuki has no choice, and he makes his life anew, finding compensation in the influence he comes to bear over a country not his own.
If you read it and like it, reviews are very much valued. Thank you.


text:
Moody's has been traveling around Europe over the past four weeks or so and leaving its mark about everywhere it has gone.
On June 6, Moody's lowered the credit rating of six German banks and three Austrian banks.
Deutsche Bank was not included in this round of downgrades for it will be examined later this month when Moody's does a review of the "biggest global banks" with large capital market operations.
The latest round of bank downgrades followed three downgrades in Sweden on My 24, sixteen downgrades in Spain on May 17, and twenty-six downgrades in Italy on May 14.
The news release that accompanied the June announcements stated that the German banks still had a large exposure to structured credits, a substantial exposure to peripheral countries in the eurozone, and exposure to industries that were going through hard times, like shipping and finance.
In addition the banks still faced a great deal of exposure to possible loan charge-offs due to weak profitability.
And, these banks had only small amounts of capital relative to total assets.
The weak profitability can be attributed to the fact that German banks…and European banks in general…are not expanding their lending. On reason is the reality of the current recession taking place in Europe. However, with weak capital ratios and additional regulatory pressure to re-capitalize, the banks are not in any mood to move more aggressively on the lending front.
The whole re-capitalization issue is also caught up in the discussions about forming a European banking union that would make almost all banks in the eurozone, European, and not just a member of a particular country. This is not a non-issue!
And, if the banks are not lending, it will be difficult to achieve faster economic growth.
One can see why the issue of a possible bank run on continental banks is being tossed around. And, one can see why European officials are concerned.
The problem here is that if one ignores a problem for a long, long time, the problem does not necessarily go away. And, in many cases, the problem can get worse.
The banking situation is Europe has been ignored for a long, long time and combined with the sovereign debt crisis, which was also ignored or action was postponed for a long, long time, things got worse.
The added problem is that when things get worse, the solution is not always the same as in situations where the problem did not get worse. And, when the problem gets worse, it often takes a much longer time for things to get back to normal.
Liquidity actions on the part of central banks and deficit spending on the part of national governments may resolve a "more normal" banking or "more normal" sovereign debt problem within a reasonable period of time.
When the problems become ones of solvency and bankruptcy, the "more normal" prescriptions to solve the problems may not work and the time to return to "business-as-usual" may be an extremely long time. But, when the problems become this great, officials often deny them and try to postpone getting to the real core of the issue for as long as they can.
We have seen this situation evolve in Europe.
Now, the solutions have become structural and the potential disruptions to the existing culture have become enormous. Where all this will end is unknown.
But, the pressures to act are growing. Everything seems to be culminating in the need for eurozone officials to do something. Financial markets react to news about what officials seem to be doing. If it looks like the officials are moving to resolve an issue…financial markets improve. If it looks as if the officials are deadlocked due to irreconcilable differences…financial markets tank.
Economic news does not do that much to move the markets these days. The conditions of official discussions are the primary thing that the participants in the financial markets seem to be focusing upon.
Here again is another factor that arises when action is postponed. The news never quite seems to be positive. The German banks have been downgraded today. Moody's will soon have a report out on the "biggest global banks." And, then there will be something else.
I know that the nations of the European continent have issues with one another that go back centuries. I know that it will be very difficult for many people to lay down these issues and get on to what is real. But, all I can say to the officials in Europe is…GET OVER IT! Get on with business. The rest of the world cannot wait for you to fight another world war…if only on the conference table.


text:
I've decided to start a Kickstarter campaign for VOODOO QUEEN. Research is expensive! I'm pretty excited about it. The campaign needs a killer cover photo to draw people in, plus I'm going to put the image on swag like t-shirts and mugs as prizes for people who donate, so I did a photo shoot with a friend of mine and a snake named Cali.
Now I need help from my readers! I narrowed down my favorites to six, and I need your help deciding which one to use. Let me know in the comments which is your favorite. I'm eager to see which you all like.
NOTE: We're going to edit out the green screen and add a picture of New Orleans, so please ignore the ugly background.


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3 Days / 2 Nights
Luxury Patagonia
Eolo Lodge, one of the two Relais & Chateaux Lodges in Argentine Patagonia, counts with a selection of tours for guest to explore this beautiful land of enchanting landscapes, intriguing history and mighty glaciers and mountains.
The lodge doesn't have a fixed itinerary or program, no certain number of nights are required. The following itinerary has the intention to provide information on the type of excursions you can take, which will depend on availability and your personal interests.
Please note: This tour is available from October to April. The prices and the tours listed are subject to change.


text:
Hey all! So I've been in Chicago for a couple of weeks, living in a one bedroom apartment that belongs to a guy named Spencer who I've never met. I am staying here with his friend Dan, a guy my age who is from Jackson, Michigan. Two other guys who don't know Spencer are staying here as well, Zach, a 20 year old from...I forget and Ron from Los Angeles CA. The good news is we are leaving for a 3 bedroom apt. in Roscoe Village in a few hours.
What am I doing in Chicago? Losing sleep for one thing, but having a great time! For the first time in a long time I feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be (well not Spencer's apt. but you know). Orientation for the company I'll be working for, started Aug. 1st; I get up at 6 am to watch power point presentation after power point presentation until about 5:45 and I get back home around 6:45/7 so finding the time to find an apt has been difficult to say the least! but it happened.
Orientation lasts until September 4th, on the 5th is when we go to our assigned schools. I guess some of you aren't sure of what it is I will be doing. I will work as a mentor/tutor to 7 students who are on the brink of failing. I just found out I will be working with 9th graders, the school is the worst academically that City Year works with. The statistics of how far behind the students are is appalling.
2.6% of the students meets or exceeds expectations in Reading
0.9% meets or exceeds expectations in math
0% meets or exceeds expectations in Science
Obviously this school is on probation, what that means is that if in a certain amount of time there is not improvement the entire school staff will be fired, including Principal's, teachers, lunchladys, janitors everyone. They will be able to apply for their job again. but most of the new teachers hired will be what they call AUSL teachers who have been trained specifically to work at such schools. After AUSL takes over the school is then called a "turn-around" school. Most of the schools my company works with have already been "turned-around".
I could go on for pages about all of the responsibilities I have but I'll tell you about them as I actually start doing them. This coming week all of us (the future tutors) will be going out to some cabins in some woods somewhere for team building (each school is assigned a team, my High School team consists of 8 not including the team leader who worked for this company in my position last year, I'm thinking of applying to be a team leader next year, but I've got plenty of time to think about it)
Anyway, Chicago is wonderful, I get to travel on the trains and buses for free so that's nice, no car worries here.
My roommates are finally ready to go, more to come, I love you all!


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6-25-2013 New Jersey:
State lawmakers today advanced a bill that would require sex offenders to pay part of their monitoring costs under Megan's Law and toughen penalties for those who violate its provisions.
The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee voted 12-0 to approve the measure (S2636), which would charge newly convicted sex offenders a $30 per month fee that would go into a state "Sex Offender Supervision Fund."
The money would also help authorities monitor what offenders do online.
"The original intent back in 1994 was to make parents aware of where the danger lies around the neighborhood," said Richard Kanka, whose daughter was the namesake of the law. "But with electronic stuff … we thought that it also had to be updated to include some of that, too."
Kanka and his wife, Maureen, pushed for the updates to the law and lobbied Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), who is one of its sponsors.
The bill, which was also approved by the Law and Public Safety Committee earlier this month and now heads for a vote in the full Senate at a yet-to-be determined date, would also:
• Upgrade penalties for sexual assault if the victim is physically or mentally incapacitated. The crime would be second degree, as opposed to the current third degree, carrying a sentence of 5 to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000.
• Increase the penalty for failure to register a new address with authorities from a fourth-degree to a third-degree crime.
• Clarify that a young person caught "sexting" with a cell phone – sending racy pictures to other young people – would not have to register as a sex offender.
• Low-level offenders whose conduct has been deemed "repetitive" and "compulsive" would show up in publicly accessible online databases. Currently, mid-level offenders and up can be seen publicly.
• The supervision fund would also provide money to upgrade computer equipment so authorities can monitor sex offenders' online activity.
• Parole officers would not be allowed to handle more than 40 sex offender cases.
The Office of Legislative Services estimates the bill would cost the state Parole Board $6.5 million in its first year and $7.6 million each subsequent year. The bill would also increase costs for the Judiciary, but the office had no estimate for how much. If every new convict paid the $30 per month fee, it would generate $350,000 in the first year and just over $1 million by the third year, but the office said that "many parolees have difficulty paying their current fees and restitution amounts and the additional fee may not be collected."
State Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex), a sponsor of the bill, said that while the legislation's language may be unclear, the bill is only intended to apply to those convicted of sex offenses in the future.
"The main thing that it does is just makes sure that we have enough parole officers, that everybody is well-trained, that we take into account all of the electronic means in which people are carrying out these heinous crimes – and that they are funded," Greenstein said.
The fee is tiered so that low-income sex offenders pay only half to three-quarters, depending on how much they earn.
State Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) said she didn't understand why low-income offenders should have to pay less.
"If you do something wrong, whether you're rich or poor, we generally punish you the same way," Beck said. ..Source.. by Matt Friedman/The Star-Ledger
June 25, 2013
New Jersey Senate committee takes steps to update Megan's Law
6-25-2013 New Jersey:
|Reader's Opinion:
Posted: 6:35 PM
Labels: .New Jersey, 2013


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I got my name in lights with notcelebrity.co.uk
G'day All
Well , the weekend is over and back to work
The West Coast Eagles lost their first game of the season
yesterday and top spot on the League Ladder
Beaten by Geelong in Melbourne by 6 goals
Beer Commercial Banned in the USA
A Mormon was seated next to an Australian
on a flight from London, England,
to Melbourne, Australia.
After the plane was airborne,
drink orders were taken.
The Aussie asked for a rum and Coke,
which was brought and placed before him.
The flight attendant then asked the
Mormon if he would like a drink.
He replied in disgust,
"I'd rather be savagely raped by a dozen whores
than let liquor touch my lips."
The Aussie then handed his drink back
to the attendant and said,
"Me too. I didn't know we had a choice."
A man was chosen for jury duty who very
much wanted to be dismissed from serving.
He tried every excuse he could think of
but none of them worked.
On the day of the trial he decided
to give it one more shot.
As the trial was about to begin he asked
if he could approach the bench.
"Your Honor," he said,
" I must be excused from this trial because
I am prejudiced against the defendant.
I took one look at the man in the blue suit
with those beady eyes and that
dishonest face and I said
'He's a crook! He's guilty, guilty, guilty'
So your Honor, I could not possibly stay on this jury!"
With a tired annoyance the judge replied,
"Get back in the jury box.
That man is his lawyer."
Another Paris Hilton Cartoon
Say no more
A young man walks through New York Chinatown
He asked the old man,
Old Man - That's the name of the owner.
Young Man - Who's the owner?
Old Man - I am.
Young Man - How did you get a name like Hans Olaffsen?
Old Man - Many years ago when I came
Lady ask me, What is your name?
Paddy says, "Me feet are freez'n mate,
"No bother," he says, and he runs upstairs
"Hello dere girls, your Da' sent me up here to shag ya both."
"Fook off you liar!" they both chime.
"I'll prove it," Murphy says.
"Of course, what's the use of fookin' one?"


text:
This year has certainly been full on. I have learnt so much and made so many new friends.
Some of these friends I would like to thank - they are in no particular order:
- Ruth - for sticking by me even though you are half a world away.
- Donia - You may not know it but the emails that I have sent you have also helped me in so many ways.
- Betty - For your ongoing love and friendship even though I am terrible at keeping in touch
- Vivian - for teaching me so much and opening me up to new crafty options (and therefore lowering my bank balance). :)
- The Journal Junkies - for being a top group of ladies who are all very skilled. May 2009 bring more exciting new skills and creations.
- Carmen - for agreeing to be my diet buddy next year
- Sulea and the guys on L 3 for welcoming me with open arms
- The girls at Scraptivate - for creating a store that is like a art gallery where I can go and just breath (and spend) on my lunch break.
- Kelsey - for being friendly and willing to give out information on techniques when I can't make a class and for teaching me how to do ATCs.
- Jackie and Tim - for being great friends
- Mandy WA - for keeping in touch
- Mandy Tassie - for finding me so that we can be friends again
- Nicole - also for finding me.
- Blogger world in general as it has opened me up to knew friends and ideas.
Now I know that not everyone mentioned is going to read my blog and find the thankyous as they are way too busy however it is here in print for the world to see and know how special these people are to me.
On a side note, today I had my cousins daughter here for some craft time this afternoon. We made a lovely album from the Christmas photo's. I would love to show you photos of the finished product but for some reason blogger has decided to post them sideways (I think blogger is on strike at the moment). Anyway we had lots of fun and despite the major tidy up of the studio yesterday it is now a big mess again. It will be tidied when I get back from my trip to sunny humid hot Queensland.
Have a great new year everyone and see you in 2009.


text:
Studies show that people are more likely to look at articles with pictures, even if said pictures have nothing to do with the subject at hand
During my old Arcana High campaign, one of my players took on the role of a gnome illusionist named Syrasi Tumblebarrow. Coming from a long line of celebrated arcanists, she was expected to follow in her family's footsteps when she received her admission letter to Highstone Academy. However, Syrasi was was intrigued by another school of magic, one forbidden in gnomish culture: necromancy. At first I didn't really have much of a world set up, especially for gnomes, but over time things evolved organically. Syrasi was played very well, who acted as the party's moral center and injected interesting story ideas which I rolled with for later sessions. At first gnomes were but tinkers who lived in burrows and liked whimsical magic, but by the campaign's end they were so much more than that. They were conservatives torn between isolation and interaction with the wider dangerous world, yet at the same time innovators in technology. A culture where the widespread ability to speak with animals resulted in a progressive, almost vegetarian respect for beasts of burden. A society where the concept of death is not just the physical kind, but also used for the mark of outcasts who are no longer welcome among their people.
In conclusion, gnomes are not an unpopular race, and are in fact just as common a playable option as elves and humans. How can anyone argue otherwise without denying the experiences of my own gaming table? All those gamers complaining about the race feeling superfluous, or being outright removed in various settings, are either dishonest or projecting one isolated incident as some sort of common trend!
The story of Syrasi is true, but the conclusion of this last paragraph is not. In regards to certain arguments among the D&D fandom I often see anecdotal experience of one's own group games trotted out as some sort of trump card. The idea that something can only be a trend, a problem, when one personally experiences it. The idea that the comments of others are less legitimate by virtue of being told by someone outside one's circle. I see this pop up a lot in regards to martial/caster disparity in Pathfinder, although by no means is it limited to that.
I once did a solo Labyrinth Lord game where the PC was a Paladin. In one session she was supremely unlucky and out of 4 hours of gaming she only rolled a single D20 result higher than 10. Our holy warrior was not doing so well and would appear to be underpowered due to the luck of the dice, but in another session she was decked out in heavy armor and fighting berserkers who laid nary a scratch on her. I could use either session's experiences to argue that the Labyrinth Lord paladin is underpowered or overpowered solely by what I experienced, but that would be missing the bigger picture.
Gaming sessions, even when the same adventure is played, can often go off course or result in a very different experience. DMs incorporate house rules, make alterations to personalize the adventure to their world, and configure a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff the players may never see. A party without a magic-user and thief plays and feels very differently than one which contains both. The dice may not go our way and turn our usually-skilled hero into a bumbling unfortunate soul.
Anecdotal experiences have their place in discussions; it is a useful tool for playtesting, after all. But it is one story among many other games, one path in a world full of crossroads.


text:
Monday, October 31, 2011
Happy Halloween and Nanowrimo
Hopefully, everyone is getting in the scary fun swing of things. I'm going as a zombie this year- so original, I know. But it just feels wrong to be anything else when I am writing a zombie apocalypse romance. My characters would feel betrayed. Wait, did I just type that out loud?
Moving on...
Huffingtonpost.com has a great 'zombies' link today http://www.huffingtonpost.com/culture/ . It's actually just the culture section but on the homepage it says zombies with blood dripping. Way to get in the season! And they have lots of cute zombie written articles. How can one not love it??
Okay, so, yeah, writing, um, I'm supposed to be doing that, right? Well, as of tomorrow, Nanowrimo begins and my output had best explode or my head very well might. I have put up a nanowrimo word count graphic so y'all can keep me accountable. Kick my butt if I'm not performing. Give me a lashing. I will have deserved it if I get behind. I will say 'thank you may I have another' if said lashing event does occur.
I will be writing and finishing- Yeah, that's right, I said it!- finishing Empty. I am not sure that will get me all the way to 50k words tho, so I might write some other stuff that I have been working on for my other pen name to fill out the wordcount. Or I can start on the Empty sequel. I have part of it mapped out but it still needs some tinkering. And I figure I better wait till I have the Empty manuscript written anyway in case a few surprises spring out of me as my fingers are flying.
As I mentioned on twitter, I will be using Scrivener- I am pretty much sold on this program. The digital notecards on the cork board feature alone got me. But being about to rearrange by drag and drop instead of lots of cut and paste. That is pretty sweet.
Well, that's all I got. I hope everyone has a scary time tonight. Protect your brains!
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text:
Shaw's very own Longview Gallery sells one of the neatest gifts of the year: ceramic vessels handcrafted to look like otherwise mundane objects. OK, so the description doesn't sound that sexy, but trust me, they're really cool. I plan to buy a few for friends and family. I think they'd make great, unique Christmas or house warming gifts this season.
First, and my favorite, are ceramic lunch bags:
Second, are ceramic gift bags (I'm not a fan of the representative display uses of these, but oh well...):
Third are ceramic tank-tops/t-shirts:
They all come in different sizes and are designed to hold water, so they can be used as flower vases.
Longview also sells a few other neat small gift items and cards, in addition to their beautiful art, so is a must-go holiday shopping destination. If you haven't checked out Longview yet, you must: it is a really high caliber gallery, and we are extremely fortunate to have it in our neihgborhood.


text:
For more info, visit:
Cedar Creek Gallery
1150 Fleming Rd.
Creedmoor, NC 27522
For the opening, I created a little "How it's Made" photo montage. It documents every step of the creation process:
A sketch is made of the design and the enamel colors are chosen.
The designs are printed out on paper and glued to a sheet of fine silver. Holes are drilled in the middle pieces to allow the saw blade to be threaded through and make the interior cuts.
The interior shapes are cut out first.
The exterior shapes are cut out and sides are filed smooth.
|Add caption
The bases are cut out. They are larger than the top pieces.
A copper solution is painted on the reverse side where the two sheets of silver touch. This will lower the melting temperature and allow for easier fusing.
The pieces are set on a tripod and torched from below until they are fused into one solid piece.
The extra material is cut away and the base is ground smooth.
Texture is added with a scribe.
The base is domed using a soft mallet.
To prevent cloudiness in the finished enamel color, the enamels are "washed" 7-9 times in distilled water. A small amount of powder is placed in a cup, topped with water, and allowed to settle. The water is then poured off, along with the impurities.
|The enamel is washed and ready to apply!
Different gauges of fine silver wire are flatted using a rolling mill.
The wires are shaped into swirls and circles to match the design.
The wires are arranged on sticky tape that will hold them in place until ready to be used.
After two coats of colored enamel on the reverse of the base, a fine coat of clear enamel is fired in the kiln.
The wires are carefully positioned in the base. Clear enamel is sifted gently on top, and the piece is fired in the kiln. For more complicated designs, this may be done in stages.
After firing, the wires are gently pushed down with fingers to make sure they are flush with the base.
The colored enamels are placed between the wires using a fine sable brush.
The colors can be blended using water.
Before firing, the enamels are allowed to dry thoroughly. If wet enamels are placed in the kiln, there will be air bubbles.
The layers of enamel are built up until they are higher than the exterior of the silver.
The piece is affixed with wax to a wooden shim, and the top coat is ground flush to the metal.
After the first grind, the glass and silver are polished by hand using progressively finer sheets of wet sandpaper.


text:
Tomorrow [i.e., yesterday] I'll lecture at the Liberty Weekend Dedicated to Frédéric Bastiat, sponsored by the Polish-American Foundation for Economic Research and Education (PAFERE) in Warsaw. Preparing for my visit, I reread Bastiat's great book The Law. Oh we do we need Bastiat today!The rest of TGIF is here.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
TGIF: Monsieur Bastiat, Call Your Office
Posted by Sheldon Richman at 11:33 AM
Labels: Bastiat, Obama, social engineering
No comments:
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text:
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Free Me
This is my Sex and the City outfit. OMG I was so excited to see the movie. I have been waiting forever to see this.
I have to say SJP has the most amazing body, I am so jealous. She has the most perfect butt and boobs. Its firm and perky...hahha!
Everyone should go watch the movie. It's fun, light and lots of fashion!
I just noticed in all my post, I'm wearing something by Free People. I should go get a job there so I can get a discount and save myself some money. I go to the store once every couple of months, but every time I go in there all the sales people recognize me. It's really embarrassing!
My Rapture Dress -- Free People in size 0 (fits true)
Shoes from Nine West - size 5.5 (fits true)
Bag is by Elliot Lucca (from Nordstroms)
This is my easy breezy shopping outfit. hahah! I have been waiting for beautiful nice weather to wear these white jeans. I've had them for probably over 2 years and the last time I wore it was July of 2009...haha I remember this because I was staying at the Mondrian in LA and the decor in the room was white and I remember thinking, wow I match the room.
These jeans are in size 25 and I remember trying them on and thinking, wow I must have gained weight. I'm normally a 23 or 24, but I had to size up on these.
We The Free Scoop Neck Tunic -- by Free People size XS -- this shirt is so light weight and comfortable. I bought this awhile ago and now it comes in 8 different colors!
Skinny Jeans by Blank -- Size 25 -- can purchase at Free People or Urban Outfitters
I found almost an identical pair at ShopBop...mine doesn't have the zipper on the bottom, other than that everything else is the same (even the studs on the butt). Can't believe they're still selling the same style after all this time.
Shoes are Steve Madden -- size 6
Bag is Lamb by Gwen Stefani -- I like this bag, but the leather and the hardware makes it super heavy so after 20 mins of carrying this it hurts my shoulder...so I make my bf carry it instead. lol
8 comments:
My favorite is the shopping outfit - it's perfect! I just bought some white skinnies and am excited to break them out. Too bad about the bag being heavy - that seems to be a common problem with bags I like.ReplyDelete
Cute! I love the shopping outfit too... I would definitely wear that! I can't wait to see SATC 2, hope it's good!ReplyDelete
Aww it's the FP dress I love!! Looks gorgeous with those shoes.ReplyDelete
And WHO DID YOU SEE THE MOVIE WITH???? LOL. Now who am I gonna go see it with?
And I disagree about SJP having perfect butt + boobs.. I totally think Brooke Burke is perfect all over and has the best butt + boobs!!!ReplyDelete
I love the dress and I wish my bf would take me to see sex and the city! >=(ReplyDelete
Ping you're so fast with your updates I can't keep up! Keep at it girl!!!!ReplyDelete
Ahh, Ping!!♥ReplyDelete
I absolutely & utterly ADORE BOTH of your outfits in this post!! Okay, I've seen Free People featured in almost all your posts, but that super cute purple dress & the tunic in your shopping outfit have really nailed it for me...I'm definitely going to check Free People out now, all thanks to you, Ms. Ping!!
Once I have the funds to do so (ie. once I find a job haha) I'm looking to eventually build & evolve my wardrobe to a more sophisticated & casual chic style, so that I don't look like I can mix in with 6th graders whenever I dress casually. In addition to that, I want a kickass beautiful office wardrobe, too! hehe guess I will have to cut back on makeup & use $$ just for skincare & clothes if I really want to build a wardrobe & maintain my skin :P
gahh! I LOVE those heels you got from Nine West, too! And the I love the white jeans & the Steve Madden flats! I told you I love everything!! haha I'm obsessed with your outfits in this post!<3
♥ caroline
i love your shopping outfit. so sleek and simple. i am totally having a stripe phase! great blog! :DReplyDelete
I love reading your comments! Although sometimes I don't reply, I do read all your comments! If you have a question that you'd like answered, please email me instead. Thanks!


text:
All right! Trying to get caught up in my two weeks absence has been quite . . . well interesting. So after much thought I'm putting BW on break. I'll still be over at Goodreads and managing the groups I moderate for, but BW needs some serious organizing.
I hate to do it, but I love BW to much to do interviews, giveaways, reviews, and other posts without my full effort.
June 4th is the official day BW will be up and running again. Sorry to anyone I had scheduled reviews, interviews, or giveaways with. And big thanks for everyone's cooperation and help.


text:
August 11, 2009
UFCW vs. the Wal-Monster: free speech
Labels: young workers
Dear Friends:
The campaign to stop Walmart's attack of freedom speech is taking the internet by storm and capturing the attention of some of the world's most trusted news sources, like the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Huffington Post.
But here's the best part: since Walmart went to the Quebec Supreme Court for an injunction against www.walmartworkerscanada.ca, and since UFCW Canada launched its campaign to stop the world's largest corporation from dictating the message of a website dedicated to helping workers know their rights, traffic to www.walmartworkerscanada.ca has increased in a huge way!
Walmart knows. It's scrambling to defend its attack on free speech and it's keeping a very close eye on www.walmartworkerscanada.ca . (Yes, we know you're watching Walmart!)
Free speech and workers rights are worth fighting for. Thanks to your help, we won the first round, but we need your continued support to go the distance.
Together, we can beat the giant! Please send this message through your email network. Supporters of free speech can make a real difference by going to www.walmartworkerscanada.ca/freespeech and sending a protest letter to Walmart. It only takes a few seconds and it sends a strong message that can't be ignored – just ask Walmart ;)
So, let's keep the momentum going! Let's keep the internet free! And let's combine our networks for something that matters!
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Saturday, February 5, 2011
Beef. It's What's For Dinner.
Way back in November, I bought him tickets to the Robert Plant & The Band of Joy concert in Raleigh, on February 2.
Seemed like forever to wait for the concert, and now it's done.
But it was AWESOME.
I love when I can buy him a present that I get to participate in. Best type of present there is.
Chuck took the day off work, and we got into Raleigh at around noon. I had scoped out a restaurant to eat lunch at (as I always do, I love planning out our eating itinerary) called The Pit. It's a delicious, business-class BBQ joint. Their slogan is 'Everything but the squeal.'
How cool is that? :)
When we walked up to the place, following two dudes in button-down shirts and ties, Chuck asked, 'Are we dressed well enough for this place?'
Since I had scoped out the menu ahead of time, I knew that it didn't seem so expensive that a dress-code would be required. Chuck and I were attired in car-traveling clothes...jeans and t-shirts. I don't think we were that offensive.
We walked in the door and up to the hostess' 'lectern'. There were two hostesses standing there and one was very skinny and blonde. She was looking at us with a look that suggested she had just stepped in dogshit. And the smell had just hit her nostrils.
The smell was us, apparently.
I stared her down. She hesitated in asking us, 'Just the two of you?' with a resonant disdain.
Really? Were we that abhorrent? There was no posted dress code, and there was a very casually dressed couple next to us when we were seated, so we weren't alone.
The disgusted blonde hostess had some very, very, fake looking drawn on BROWN eyebrows. I resisted the urge to let her know that one of them was smudged. Just resisted.
The food, however was delicious. We had fried green tomatoes for a starter, with a surprisingly different (and amazing) lime-cream dressing with fresh basil. And I had an Eastern NC BBQ pork plate, Chuck had a BBQ turkey plate. Collards, fresh biscuits. Excellent service besides the bad attitude of Fake Eyebrows.
As for the concert itself, Chuck and I had never been to the Progress Energy Center where it was held.
It was a very nice venue. I felt very posh as I sipped from a champagne flute before the show started. In fact, I felt so posh that I had two of them :)
The place had chandeliers and everything.
The North Mississippi All Stars were the opening band.
I had never really listened to anything by them before, but they rocked it out. Talk about BEEF.
That was really the theme of the night. Beefy guitar sound.
They didn't really stay on all that long, about 45 minutes. But I really enjoyed it. Some dudes behind us showed up late, and asked the guy next to them that had been there since the beginnning, how the opener had been.
'Meh' he said. 'I wasn't all that impressed. You didn't miss much.'
I just about turned around and asked the guy if he'd been asleep. It was pretty damn good stuff.
I don't even know what I can say about Robert Plant and the Band of Joy except that it was amazing. I highly recommend catching this band on the latter part of their tour.
This is my favourite off their recent album. Remake of Los Lobos' "Angel Dance".
Any new band Robert is a part of usually performs a certain amount of Led Zeppelin tunes, and usually they put a new twist on them.
They played 'Ramble On', 'Black Dog', 'Rock & Roll', 'Gallows Pole', 'Houses of the Holy', and 'Tangerine'. 'Ramble On' was probably my favourite, I'm such a Lord of the Rings nerd and the song is all about it, in case you didn't know :)
Robert is awesome, STILL, even though he's 65-ish. Amazing charisma, such stage presence. Doesn't matter how old he gets. You either have it or you don't. He has it. Forever.
And the band backing him up was awesome too. I've sung the praises of Buddy Miller before.
That guy can RIP IT UP on the guitar. BEEF, I tell ya.
And he had Patty Griffin singing in harmony, which was a great sound. That girl really needs a sandwich or two, but she can sing her ass off.
The fun continues this weekend. Got to spend the whole day with Chuckles today (a rarity), we made a shrimp and sausage gumbo for the Superbowl tomorrow. Always tastes better the next day. Some good friends are coming over.
I'm totally using football as an excuse to eat.
It's going to be yet another awesome day!
Life is good, I tell ya. Enjoy the little things.
Happy Birthday Chuckles! Love you more.
16 comments:
- rohrerbot said...
I love couple nights!!! That looked like so much fun....I get those looks every now and again from weird people. It's the most bizarre thing, isn't it? I'm not sure what the dealio is...but anyhow, that building looked absolutely incredible. Enjoy your gumbo and fun weekend:)
- February 5, 2011 at 8:14 PM
- Jim Groble said...
Happy Birthday Chuck. jim
- February 5, 2011 at 10:13 PM
- biobabbler said...
Wow. Sounds rockin', and good for you re: staring blondie down. Yes, Patty Griffin...PIPES! How cool to hear Zeppelin live and see Robert tearin' it up. Nice work, chica!
- February 6, 2011 at 12:32 AM
- meemsnyc said...
Sounds like a fun time, despite the rude hostess. The food does sound good. Happy Birthday to Chuckles.
- February 6, 2011 at 1:43 AM
- Al said...
Happy Birthday Chuck.
Sounds like you had a great time!
And as a bonus you got a heap of tongue biting practice. Which will come in handy dealing with the loons you get at your work.
- February 6, 2011 at 2:17 AM
- Liz said...
Happy Birthday to Chuck! :D
Glad to hear you had an excellent time, I can't admit to knowing what gumbo is, but I'm sure it'll be nommy :)
- February 6, 2011 at 5:42 AM
- Marguerite said...
I'm drooling over your descriptions of the food - biscuits, BBQ, gumbo. Time to head down to the kitchen.
- February 6, 2011 at 8:48 AM
- The Garden Ms. S said...
Lucky Chuck! How could he not enjoy a day like that. Good taste in gifts, you. :)
- February 6, 2011 at 7:55 PM
- Pam's English Garden said...
Dear Kyna, Thanks for a wonderful description of this awesome concert, and the birthday meal! I am totally envious. Wishing your husband a happy birthday. P x
- February 6, 2011 at 8:38 PM
- Jayne said...
Sounds like you're having a great weekend. I'm glad Chuck had a fun outing for his birthday.
- February 6, 2011 at 9:47 PM
- Kris said...
Happy belated birthday, Chuck! Great pic of the two of you. :-D
- February 7, 2011 at 6:53 AM
- Turling said...
I think I've heard of the Pit. Must have been on some tv show, as I've never been to North Carolina.
Glad you had a good time. You can never go wrong with Robert Plant.
- February 7, 2011 at 10:12 AM
- Kyna said...
Rohrerbot: Well, I get those looks sometimes when Chuck and I are out and holding hands or something. I think people think Chuck's a dirty old man LOL. But I don't think this was one of those times. I think she was just being snooty.
I do enjoy a day where Chuck and I can have fun. And whether it's a picnic or making a gumbo, I feel like it's a date. I don't think enough couple's do that. Which is kind of sad :(
Jim: Chuck appreciates the b-day wishes!
Biobabbler: This is the third time I've seen Robert. The first time was in Edmonton with The Strange Sensation. The second time was in Asheville, NC with Allison Krauss. Both of those other times were awesome as well. The man never puts on a bad show. Sometimes you can tell when an aging artist has no heart in it anymore. Robert still does. That's why I never knock him when he says he's never going to fully reunite with LZ. For some people to continue to grow as an artist and as a person really, they have to try different things constantly. I love it!
meemsnyc: I'm always worried I'm going username wrong. I think I'm just going to shorten you to 'Meems' :) It was a GREAT time. And rude people just give me fodder for stories. I've been thinking of getting a t-shirt that says 'Be careful of what you say, or you'll end up in my blog'.
Al: I don't know if it's because I'm older or because I'm living in the US, but I have an easier time dealing with people like that these days. I don't let it bother me as much as I used to. Depending on appropriateness of time and place, I'll either stare the person down and make them feel 2 inches tall, or I'll come up with a scathing reply. Either way, I walk away happy :)
Liz: Gumbo is a sort of stew popular in Louisiana. You can't put all sorts of meat in it, basically anything that walks, swiims or flies. Shrimp, sausage, chicken, duck...it's awesome. The base of it is a dark roux...mixing flour and oil. You have to stir it constantly till it reaches a dark brown colour, and I mean constantly. Chuck and I stirred for an hour and 10 minutes, switching off. THEN it's time to start adding all the other ingredients. Ours was a shrimp and sausage one. 'Gumbo' is an African word for okra. Which is a main veggie ingredient, acts as a thickener. I wish I could send you some, it was a hit!
Marguerite: I sure talk about food a lot, don't I? lol It might be less often now though, Chuck and I are going to try and get healthy starting today. We're both tired of being out of shape and unhealthy. I don't want to hit 30 years old this year in this kind of shape.
Ms S: He's kind of hard to buy for, so I was glad when this opportunity came up! :)
Pam: I was waiting for my fellow Zep fan to pop up! :D Chuck appreciates the birthday wishes!
Jayne: It's been a great weekend. I feel like my batteries are recharged, which is good because I have a long 6-day in a row work week coming up.
Kris: Thanks, and I'll tell Chuckles you said happy birthday! He pretends to not care about his birthday, but I think he's getting more and more happy that he's alive with each year that passes lol.
I actually had to do some serious cropping with that picture. Of course I took it of us with my arm extended (an obligatory shot when there's only two of you on a trip somewhere) and my cleavage REALLY turned out weird in the picture...squished and oblong and scary looking O_O . I had to cut it out of the picture...sometimes my cleavage has a mind of its own and doesn't behave.
- February 7, 2011 at 11:20 AM
- Kyna said...
Turling: Yes you have probably heard of it. My friend Sean that was over last night told us it's been featured on the Food Network like 3 times. Bobby Flay did a rib throwdown with the owner...and I can't remember what other instances Sean said it was on tv for. I had no idea.
Well, if you ever end up in Raleigh for any reason, eat there. Just don't wear jeans and a t-shirt. :P
- February 7, 2011 at 11:22 AM
- cravate.org said...
Les cravates sont ma passion. Je les achète la plupart du temps dans un magasin. Mais dans cette boutique, les prix étaient trop bons. Par conséquence, ici, j'ai acheté une nouvelle cravate.
- February 8, 2011 at 3:39 AM
- Curbstone Valley Farm said...
Awww, you two are so cute together, happy belated birthday Chuck. Don't know how you didn't tell that hostess her eyebrow was smudged though...I might not have been able to resist that after being on the receiving end of her sneers :P I've had people do the same to us on occasion. They have no idea who you are, whether you drove up in a Porsche, or how big your house is...and you know what, it simply doesn't matter. I hate snobs. Glad you had a great day beyond that, and sounds like the concert was a blast!
- February 8, 2011 at 4:53 PM


text:
Herbert G. Aas
Coach, Laurel Swim Club
East Hartford, Connecticut, USA
[The following letter and article are reprinted and edited with the kind permission of the Aas family. Herbert Aas does not enjoy good health these days. It is my honor to reproduce this eloquent article submitted to ASCA (USA) in 1986. It contains content and arguments that were well ahead of their time. It is extremely relevant to swimming coaching and technique theory now that lift force as an explanation for propulsion is being exposed for what Herbert Aas so clearly stated. This article should become part of competitive swimming lore. - Brent S. Rushall, Ph.D., R.Psy. editor]
December 18, 1986
Dear Editor:
Enclosed is an analyses of the so-called "lift-propulsion theory."
A theory is an idea, yet unproved, but needs to be thoroughly evaluated relative to existing knowledge. The lift-propulsion advocates have merely lifted selected concepts from fluid dynamics - those that support their contention. They have not only ignored other fluid dynamic concepts, which are essential in validating their theory, but they have ignored the fact that fluid dynamics is based on the principles of the science of dynamics. Lift-propulsion is not a theory. It is a speculation.
Dynamics is a sophisticated body of knowledge. Mass, force, time, distance, velocity, and acceleration are precisely defined. The methodology of determining the directional components of those quantities is well established. Yet, the advocates of lift-propulsion have ignored the procedures of dynamics and have relied on analogies, presumptions, and appearances.
For example, Schleihauf (1986), in Fig. 2 of his article in Swimming Research, defined the net hand movement as the difference between the point where the finger tips enter the water on the arm recovery and the point where the finger tips leave the water after the completion of the propulsive part of the stroke.
In the crawl stroke, at least for most expert swimmers, the fingertips enter the water before the arm is fully extended to its forward position. During the time between finger entry and full arm extension, the arm is moved forward by extending the arm and the arm moves further forward because of the forward velocity of the body. At the end of the propulsive part of the stroke, the arm is under the water. As the elbow is lifted above the water and flexed, the hand moves forward under the water for several inches. Obviously the points at which the fingers enter and leave the water is irrelevant in stroke analyses.
What is important is the velocity of the hands and arms through the water. The longitudinal velocity of the hand through the water is the difference between the velocity of the hand relative to the body and the velocity of the body through the water. Both the longitudinal and transverse velocities of the hand are essential in determining its resultant velocity and the resultant direction, which are essential in determining the angle-of-attack of the hand. It is the failure of the lift-propulsion advocates to correctly determine the angle-of-attack of the hand that has misled them into believing lift forces exist.
Schleihauf presented his experimental lift and drag results in Figs. 7 and 8. His results are not consistent with my experience - I suspect that he used a flat plate cut to a silhouette of a hand rather than a valid three-dimensional hand. But regardless of the questionable validity of his data, his data still shows the futility of attempting to use lift forces for propulsion.
In Fig. 8, the measured drag coefficients were greater than any of the measured lift coefficients shown in Fig.7. Therefore, a greater propulsive force can be applied with the hand in a propulsive-drag mode than can be applied in any lift mode. Furthermore, when his data are analyzed for the whole stroke, the non-propulsive drag forces are greater than the propulsive lift forces. If he had bothered to analyze his own data, he would not have advocated lift-propulsion.
On page 15 of the previously cited article, Schleihauf discusses what he considers "validation experiments." In each of the experiments there is a combination of longitudinal and transverse velocities - consequently there must be forces associated with both velocities. He neither makes an attempt to quantify the force components nor to quantify the correct angle-of-attack, but presumptuously uses data from his lift-drag experiments to reach his conclusions.
I have carefully read and analyzed many of the articles on lift-propulsion. I have substantial experience in advanced experimentation in the field of fluid dynamics. I can find no reason for pursuing the lift-propulsion speculation. Anyone who believes differently has every right to pursue the subject, but they also have an obligation to present a reasonable definitive qualitative and quantitative analysis before taking a position of advocacy.
Sincerely yours,
Herbert G. Aas
Herbert G. Aas
Most advances in swimming techniques have been discovered by swimmers. Since swimming became a competitive sport, coaches have tried cloning the techniques of elite swimmers into other swimmers. Sometimes the performances of the less accomplished swimmers improved, but often they did not.
As optical recording equipment became more available and as underwater photographic techniques have improved, coaches have been able to improve the accuracy of their kinematic description of the strokes of the best swimmers. It has become obvious that the movements of the arms and hands of expert swimmers are very complex. It is an important problem for coaches to determine which transverse movements are useful and which are merely flourishes that are the signature of an individual.
Eventually an imaginative observer, in studying underwater photographs of expert swimmers, noted the large and not easily explained transverse motions of the hands and arms. He speculated that perhaps lift forces contributed to the propulsion of skilled swimmers. I believe that Dr. James Counsilman has been given the credit for the initial speculation. Lift refers to the mechanism by which propellers produce propulsion and wings lift airplanes.
Since about 1970, Counsilman (1), Colwin (2), Schleihauf (3), Maglischo (4) and others have advocated the acceptance of the lift theory. I am unaware of any analyses of swimming techniques by an expert in fluid dynamics that concluded that lift contributes to swimming propulsion.
I do not know to what extent I should be considered part of the scientific community - I am an electrical engineer and for nearly 25 years I worked as a research and development engineer in the research department of a large (high-tech) corporation in the field of physical measurements. A substantial part of my work was in the design and application of instrumentation, data acquisition systems and data analyses systems for fluid-dynamic experimentation. On the basis of existing data, I neither believe that the lift theory has been proved or do I even believe that lift contributes significantly to swimming propulsion.
Lift advocates have relied almost exclusively on analogy for proof of their theory. For things that are very similar, analogy is sometimes logically useful. For things with some similarities but with large differences, analogies are mental crutches - if you cannot analyze it philosophize it,
What lift advocates have ignored is an important factor in fluid dynamics - the Reynolds number. Colwin (6) has incorrectly interpreted Reynolds number (he refers to it as the law of similarity, which he attributes to Reynolds) as a blanket license to analogize anything with anything that has some vague similarity.
The Reynolds number is a non-dimensional number. It is equal to the appropriate area of a device, multiplied by both the density of the fluid in which it is immersed and its velocity through the fluid, and divided by the viscosity of the fluid. Obviously if it is a valid concept, a change in one component of the number requires opposite changes in the other components to maintain the same Reynolds number. For example if the cross-sectional area of a sphere is doubled, the velocity of the fluid must be halved or the viscosity doubled to keep the Reynolds number constant.
The Reynolds number is not a device for analogizing Colwin's concept of similarity. It is, rather, a benchmark for predicting the interactions of identical shapes or configurations with a dynamic fluid medium. For example, the Reynolds number is an important experimental condition that permits the prediction of the flying characteristics of a full-scale airplane by testing a scale model of the plane in a wind tunnel.
Testing a model of a Piper Cub and using the results to predict the flying characteristics of a DC9 is obviously embracing disaster. Analogizing the lift characteristics of a human hand with an aerodynamically streamlined foil is further afield than that.
Under sprint swimming conditions the hands and arms are operating at a Reynolds number of approximately 100,000. This means that all non-streamlined geometries will have turbulent wakes and, consequently, high drags. The human hand has irregular leading and trailing edges, the trailing edge is as blunt as the leading edge and its two surfaces have varying curvatures and crevices. If a hand is moved in a transverse direction in such a way as to produce flow across the hand, there will be a turbulent wake as thick as the hand and the flow will be separated across most of both its surfaces. It must be remembered that for lift to exist, there must be a net flow of different velocities across the two surfaces in such a way that that the static pressures of the fluid exert a differential force on the device. With flow across the hand, lift in a fluid dynamic sense is meaningless.
With the hand at a positive angle of attack, there will be a longitudinal force (propulsion) caused by a transverse movement of the arm, but in the mode of an impulse turbine (for example spinning the propeller of a garden anemometer with a water stream from a hose). But because the hand is immersed in the fluid, at angles of attack large enough to produce significant propulsion, the drag forces will be greater than the propulsive forces. This means that more than half the energy used to produce propulsion will be lost in drag.
The lift-propulsion advocates have been misled by the stop-action effect of photographs. For example in the crawl stroke, during the stroke phase when the elbow is flexing following the arm entry, the position of the hand is frequently found to be at an angle of from 30 to 45 degrees to the transverse direction. They have incorrectly concluded that this is the angle of attack. extrapolating from photographic data in Maglischo (7), the transverse velocity during this phase is about three feet per second. By measuring the distance the body travels per stroke, it is found that the longitudinal velocity of the hand through the water for expert sprinters is also about three feet per second (this is the slippage of the hand through the water - the difference between the velocity of the hand relative to the body and the velocity of the body through the water). The correct angle of attack is the angle of the palm of the hand to its direction of motion through the water as determined from the resultant of the longitudinal and transverse velocities. In this case, the hand is at almost a 90-degree angle, therefore, there can be no lift!
Maglischo has made the reasonable speculation that possibly expert swimmers use a combination of lift and drag forces. However, when the angle that the palm of the hand makes with the longitudinal axis is related to the resultant movement of the hand through the water, what becomes obvious is this: The expert swimmer continually adjusts the hand to maximize the drag force (90-degree angle of attack) and to inhibit flow across the hand.
If lift advocates would study the concept of Reynolds number; if they would analyze the textbook diagrams that show the drag coefficients of various geometric shapes vs. Reynolds number, and the lift and drag characteristics of wings vs. angle of attack, several things would become obvious. The maximum coefficient of lift of a well-designed foil (the hand is a very poorly defined foil) is about 1.5 while the drag coefficient of a wing (rectangular plate) when the major surface is placed perpendicular to the flow is nearly 2. Obviously, using the hand and the arm in a propulsive drag-mode is both more effective and efficient. In logic, argumentation is a form of reasoning by which two related truths are used to establish a new truth. Like politicians, the advocates of lift-propulsion have made argumentation into mental hopscotch. They cite a multiplicity of truths, most of which are conditional truths, then reach the desired conclusion by jumping from one truth to another without establishing logical relationships to justify the conclusion.
For example, Colwin cites the lift on a rotating cylinder under flow conditions, the circulation theory of lift, the starting vortex in lift, the tip vortices from foils of finite length, and the ring vortices produced by flying insects (among other things). He then finds vortices along the path of swimmers' hands, depicted in photographs of expert swimmers, and declares that propulsion is being generated by lift mechanisms.
Most vortices are not produced by lift mechanisms. When fluid is displaced in an unbounded medium, regardless of the mechanism that produces the displacement, it must be replaced by circulatory flow (a vortex). The velocities of the hands and arms through the water are such (Reynolds number of approximately 100,000) that a turbulent wake is produced. The vortex trails that Colwin interprets as indicating lift are in reality turbulent eddies which are the start of turbulent or separated flows [drag pockets]. Therefore, there can be no lift in a fluid dynamic sense.
Colwin is oblivious of the need to find a specific mechanism to produce circulation before reaching his conclusion that the forearm produces propulsion through lift forces. But he, believing that vortices are the universal indication of lift forces, declares that the propulsion produced by the forearm is also lift and consequently, there must be circulation. This must be the slight of hand method of producing circulation since he speculates, ". . . that rapid manipulation of the hand on the wrist . . ." is instrumental. I for one, do not want the swimmers that I coach to waste any time during the stroke because circulation is developed slowly through the transmission of force from one molecule to the next through viscous forces.
The concept of lift-propulsion by the forearm would have been discarded immediately if Colwin had made the most elementary analysis. If any circulation did exist around the arm, at least 90 percent of the lift force generated by moving the arm through the water would be in the transverse direction since the lift force is perpendicular to the direction of arm movement. Therefore, there would be almost no lift-propulsion.
Several years ago (the mid-1930s), the crew coach at the University of Washington set the rowing world on its ear. He felt that an important part of his success was his change in stroke technique. Prior to that time, rowers were taught to start the stroke with a moderate force. The force was continually increased through the stroke and then finished with a hard impulsive force. The Washington coach taught his rowers to start the stroke (after the blade entry) with a hard impulsive force, then the stroke was continued with a strong continuous force, and completed with a small impulsive force.
A mathematical analysis of the quasi steady-state effects of the impulsive force is extremely complex, but a rational description is this. In rowing, the volume of water that is accelerated by the oar must be replaced by circulatory flow. Under steady flow conditions, because of a relatively high Reynolds number, the flow is completely turbulent on the back of the blade. The turbulence starts with the formation of eddies at the edges of the blade. The impulsive force produces a pressure wave (pseudo sound) that precedes the flow produced by the blade. The effect of the pressure wave is to broaden the shear layers at the edges of the blade and also of the surfaces of the volume of water being accelerated by the blade. This causes the replacement fluid to circulate from an area further behind the blade and in a less turbulent condition, which permits the oar to move a larger volume of water on both sides of the blade. This means that the stroke will be more efficient because there will be less slippage.
It is apparent that the more accomplished swimmers use this effect. It is especially obvious in the butterfly stroke, but it is also indicated by a quick flick of the wrist at the start of all the other strokes.
It is not difficult to develop strong quantitative evidence that swimmers are able to enhance the drag coefficients of the hands and forearms. If the longitudinal components of the movements of the hands and forearms, as determined from the photographic data in Maglischo (7), are used with the drag coefficients for flat plates and cylinders at a velocity of three feet per second, it is found that the power demand for an expert mature male is about 60 foot-pounds per second. The accuracy of this calculation is estimated to be plus or minus 20 percent. It is also estimated that the leg-kick does not provide more than an additional 10 percent of power. By extrapolating from Astrand and Saltin (9), it can be determined that the power demand for an expert male sprint swimmer is significantly greater than 100 foot-pounds per second. Consequently, it can be logically inferred that drag coefficients are substantially greater than under normal flow conditions.
Now, apply this thinking to swimming techniques. Part of the complex movements of the skilled swimmer are directed toward steering - compensation for the effects of pitch and yaw. The remainder of any transverse movements is directed toward simultaneously maximizing the swimmer's catch and maximizing strength through mechanical advantage. If the surfaces of the hands are kept perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body when the hands move from the maximum depth toward the body, flow will be induced across the hands, the shear layers will be thinned and the catch will be decreased. By tipping the palms of the hands toward the body, flow across the hands is inhibited to maximize the catch.
Most coaches with long experience have coached swimmers who are nearly identical in every characteristic, yet one swims significantly faster than the other does. The difference is some times attributed to their feel-for-the-water. I define a swimmer with a good feel-for-the-water as one who psychologically relates the forward speed of the body to the force exerted against the water, while a swimmer with a poor feel-for-the-water merely relates swimming speed to arm speed. Coordination can be improved with drill, swimming strength can be increased with proper exercise, but the hardest thing to teach is a good feel-for-the-water. Teaching a swimmer to induce flow across the hands and arms will not only reduce catch, but will reduce the swimmer's feel-for-the-water.
The lift-propulsion advocates have failed to demonstrate that expert swimmers generate flow across their hands or circulation around their arms. If the lift-propulsion theory were merely a matter of semantics as I am sure it is for swimmers with a good feel-for-the-water, this rebuttal would be unnecessary. But some less accomplished swimmers are being taught or encouraged by coaches and parents who do not understand the limitations of the lift-propulsion theory. The introduction of excessive transverse motions to strokes that do not produce propulsion but do waste energy is a travesty.
Return to Table of Contents for Swimming Science Bulletin.


text:
Adam Milstein loves Jewish traditions and is working hard to preserve them and pass them on to future generations. He's an outspoken defender of Israel's statehood and territorial rights, and is actively involved public affairs. Milstein's work has been primarily accomplished working through the Milstein Foundation, the foundation he and his wife Gila started to promote their causes. As part of the Milstein Foundation beliefs, Adam and Gila are active philanthropists who are personally involved in all non-profits they support. They also embrace path life impact, or going after various age groups and educating them in appropriate Jewish roots and traditions.
His parents had immigrated to Israel from Latin America, and his dad even served in the navy during the first independence war. Young Adam often traveled around the country because his dad was a building framer whose job had him relocating frequently. When Adam was old enough, he enlisted in the Israeli Army during the Yom Kippur War of 1973, and even had the privilege of serving directly under future Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. He returned home where he married Gila Elgrably not long after the war, and in the meantime he enrolled at the Technion Israeli Institute of Technology. After completing his studies there, he joined his father in framing buildings for various properties.
Adam Milstein completed his education after relocating to the US, where he got his MBA at the University of Southern California. He became a qualified real estate advisor at Hager Pacific Properties, overseeing financing and property management facets of the firm, and later became Managing Partner. Adam Milstein started the family foundation in the year 2000, and has been dedicating much of his time to non-profit groups such as the Israeli-American Council (IAC), Birthright Israel, Students Supporting Israel (SSI), and Hasbara Fellowships. He was recently named at number 39 on the Jerusalem Post's prestigious list of the "Top 50 Most Influential Jews of 2016."


text:
(c) 2008 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com
Hey, guess what? After visiting Cool Mom Picks nearly every day for weeks and weeks and weeks, and entering their contests quite regularly, I FINALLY WON SOMETHING! Hooray!
So you should go check out their site, too, because they've got cool stuff, picked by moms, (you know, hence the name).
And also, I'd recommend their near-daily contests, 'cuz you know, it could happen to you, too.
I feel so lucky; maybe I'll buy a lottery ticket today... :)


text:
Over the past few weeks I indulged in several days of photography safari at the 2012 i Light Marina Bay – an outdoor light art festival held at Marina Bay Singapore. During this period, I experimented with different photography techniques, camera settings and not to mention a few tricks on the latest version of Picasa (220.127.116.115 Mac) which came with new photo effects too. Here is a selection of my favourite pictures (in no particular preference order) from this experience.
1. Ghost from the Gate – A translucent lady's image on the right appeared like a floating ghost emerging from Li Hui's The Gate
2. The Palm – I love how a passing breeze moved the electro-luminous wires to create this unintended palm leaves leaf-liked effect captured on my camera.
3. The Laser Lights Beams from the Marina Bay Sands and the ArtScience Museum – The additional laser beams from the Marina Bay Sands and the ArtScience Museum added to the festival's illuminations.
4. Key Frames – Photography is often an exercise of patience and a sense of timing. This fast-moving installation took me several shots to capture all the lighted figures on the first three rows as I had to anticipate the precise moment when I can get a clear shot. This other similar picture has the entire figures captured.
5. Crystallised– This colours captured in this picture offered a glimpse of the depth of a colour in an otherwise multi-colour installation.
6. Parmendies-I-Solar-System – This image was created by merging several carefully curated photos to form a solar system-liked image in order to capture different iterations of this changing installation. It is just like how our solar system – the Milky Way is also not stationary but ever-expanding and changing.
7. Woman walking in the white rain – This image reinterpreted Takahiro Matsuo's White Rain depicting a woman walking in the rain while looking into a dark wet cold forest.
8. The 8 Lamp – By merging two images from Uno Lai's The Light Dam, I tried to use the two different tones of the installation to form the number 8. After all, we Chinese people like the number 8.
9. Mind the Gap – This installation is made of umbrella shelters used by Thai monks. In urban Singapore, Art has brought direct and indirect economic benefits to the country such as a growing art market and the development of an environment attractive to global capital (Art Stage 2012). In a different perspective, Art, here represented by the monk's umbrella shelters also plays a therapeutic role to lift the viewer's spirit up to a world of possibilities or at the bare minimum provides a mental shelter, a moment of respite from a hard crushing concrete urban environment, an opportunity to regain one's humanity.
10. Bibigloo – Will the fate of the igloo, the Eskimo's traditional home, also depict the same fate of our own homes as the world warms up with the increased consumption of carbon based fuel?
Bonus – LV Island Maison, Singapore