text:
Cuff Gives Link New Meaning
Feb 19, 2014 5:00 AM PT
The nascent wearable devices market so far has focused more on function than on form, but Tuesday brought word of a company that aims to change all that. Specifically, Cuff unveiled a new assortment of safety-focused fashion wearables its founders call technology "you'd actually want to wear."
At the heart of Cuff's fashion-conscious collection is a tiny component called the "CuffLinc" -- a diminutive wireless device that can be removed and tucked into any of several accompanying accessories in the Cuff lineup, including bracelets, necklaces and key chains available in a variety of finishes and textures. The CuffLinc syncs to the user's smartphone.
Users set up a circle of Cuff connections. In one scenario, should they run into a situation threatening their safety, they simply could squeeze the Cuff accessory they happened to be wearing and an alert would be sent to the wearer's trusted network.
Cuff involves almost no maintenance, the company says. Rather than have to plug it in for regular charging, users need only replace the CuffLinc wireless component once a year.
Cuff plans to license the CuffLinc to other fashion retailers and designers. A mobile app will allow Cuff to launch additional updates, and third-party developers will be able to build and create their own unique features for the Cuff platform as well.
'Aesthetic Choice Is What's Missing'
"We came at this from the idea that aesthetic choice is what's missing now in wearables," Cuff founder Deepa Sood told TechNewsWorld. "The tech is there, but we think eventually it will be more seamlessly integrated into your life. That's why our tech is modular."
Cuff aims to "open up a dialogue in the market for people who wouldn't be caught dead in Google Glass," Sood added.
Initially the company primarily is targeting women with a security focus, she said.
"We intentionally went out with a singular function focused on security because of the fatigue around fitness," she explained.
9 Easy Pieces
Among the pieces in the debut Cuff fashion wearable collection are the Lena, a tapered leather bracelet with metal clasp available in black and antiqued bronze; the Carin, a shredded leather band with antiqued accents available in ivory/brown or pewter/black; the Mia, an everyday metal Cuff available in shiny gold tone or textured stingray; the Lisa, a simple, 18-inch filigree pendant in gold-tone or silver-tone; the Soleil, an opera-inspired 24-inch bead chain with gold accents; the DVB, an athletic sportsband with brass accents in a matte-black finish; and the J, a metal and leather keychain available in gold tone or silver tone.
All the pieces in the Cuff collection can be preordered from the Cuff website for delivery this fall. Pricing ranges from US$50 to $150, including CuffLinc, on the accessories available so far.
Competing With Jewelry
"Cuff is a blunt but direct instrument," Ross Rubin, principal analyst at Reticle Research, told TechNewsWorld. "It allows you to send a signal to a network at the touch of a button discreetly hidden within a bangle, pendant or other piece of jewelry."
The line of accessories falls broadly into the personal safety market, he noted, such as for teens or preteens -- or even older seniors who may suffer from Alzheimer's.
The line faces considerable competition from a host of upcoming smartwatches and bands, but "what separates the product is its modularity -- something we've seen Sony try with the Core fitness module it introduced at CES -- and easy activation," Rubin pointed out. "That the company is starting out with nine different wearable designs shows its commitment to make wearing the device fashionable."
Of course, given the individual nature of fashion, "you can go out with what you think are great designs, but the more comprehensive an effort you make in that regard, the more you set yourself up to compete not just with other products in that realm, but also jewelry," he added. "I think some of the smartwatches face that as well."
Another interesting angle is the challenge Cuff faces in building out a network of people who use its devices.
"One way to bridge the gap is to release some kind of smartphone app so the person doesn't have to purchase the device to be notified -- or to integrate it with existing social networks such as Twitter," Rubin noted.
'The Right Direction'
There's no doubt fashion will play a key role in the success of wearable technologies, Tuong Nguyen, a principal research analyst with Gartner, told TechNewsWorld.
Such devices must not only be functional but also "need to have appeal," Nguyen explained. "That's why products like Google Glass in their current iteration won't have that much traction."
So, "they're taking it in the right direction," he said. "This is where wearable vendors should be heading."
'It's About Time'
Indeed, "my first thought is, 'it's about time someone added some bling to wearable tech,'" agreed Jim McGregor, founder and principal analyst with Tirias Research.
"The obvious target market for these first products is women, which is a wise move from both a sales and adoption standpoint," McGregor told TechNewsWorld. "Just think about how big Swatch became just by adding unique fashion to watches."
Too many tech companies underestimate the value of aesthetics, he added.
"It's not just about what you can do, it is how it fits into your life and your style," McGregor opined. "I don't know how successful Cuff will be, but I do think that creative solutions like this will be critical to establishing a leadership position in wearables."


text:
Okay. For those not interested in this discussion, please feel free to not participate. I have placed in in the off-topic section so as to avoid cluttering other areas of the site.
This thread will be where the off topic aspects in the Pandora article commenst can continue.
The initial part of the discussion can be found here:
For the record, I have notified the owners (the ones I am aware of) of Satwaves that they need to publish a retraction for sladerous and libelous comments made on their site.
I will also be publishing all emails ever sent between Brandon and myself. He seems top feel there is something damaging in those emails, so instead of dancing around the bush, I will simply publish all of them later this evening in this thread. I have nothing to hide in them, and have no problem publishing them, and even explaining the context. The project may take a while, but I will get them all up.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
2014 / Week 26
This is a selection
of images, videos, animations and other stuff I stumbled upon during
the last week and found it inspiring and worth sharing.
content of this post including photographs, images, artworks, text,
sound and video files are the property of their respective owners, no
copyright infringement is intended. Please note that some material is
NSFW, provocative or depicts illegal activity - viewer discretion is


text:
|OpenBSD Security Functionally paranoid!
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non-journaled filesystems on liveusb media
Hi everyone !!!
A question :
Some would argue that on usbs , the best filesystem to use is non-journaled .. fat32 or ext2 .. as less writing is imposed on the usb fragile sectors .. then this would extend the life of the medium ..
* is this true ?
* are there any security-risk consequences ?
maybe this third question is off-topic ,
* slax can be installed on usbs using either linux filesystems or fat32 ..
can I install *BSD on a fat32 formatted usb ?
maybe to let it be accessible as thumb drive when used elsewhere unix machines .. for instance ..
* in this case .. is there a way to secure access to it ?
Million Thanks to everyone sharing knowledge ..
Thanks Ocicat .. I was a bit ambiguous in the last question .. rephrasing :
How can I install some BSD flavor on a fat32 formatted usb flash using fat32 rather than ffs .. the way I once did with slax ?
I read the 4th section and still can't figure out what you meant by "change default FFS filesystem on the boot partition" .. do you mean setting / read only ?
once again sorry for being ambigious .. what I meant by security-risk .. not physically possessing the device .. but on the network .. since to msdos filesystem .. *Nixes can access +rw .. unlike with ffs .. so the issue is penetrating and not only being able to read content where no cryptography is used .. so the question is : how then (presumming that it's possible to use OpenBSD the slax-way) can I deny bad guys from compromising the system ? while still it is +rw fat32 ..
maybe the whole thing is impossible and that I am forcing "something-slax" on OpenBSD to adopt ..
it seems odd .. what subsecion in section 4 please ?
Last edited by daemonfowl; 24th February 2012 at 10:27 AM.
you mean I can choose some other filesystem instead of default 4.2BSD when setting up disks?
never thought this is possible ..
For bonus points, you will find that installation will ensure there is one MBR partition of type A6 before the operating system can be installed. Therefore, while OpenBSD can access filesystems other than FFS, it must boot on FFS.
Now, going back to your original question (which are really two questions...):
I suspect that it is possible, but I would guess no developer finds booting onto FAT32 to be useful enough to actually do the work. OpenBSD supports over a dozen hardware platforms. Staying generic is far more important, but that is simply an opinion.
Last edited by ocicat; 25th February 2012 at 12:24 AM.
My friend .. you seem to have been missing my point ... I've never had problems dafault-installing openbsd/netbsd on usb sticks .. I have NetBSD 6.beta on a 16g usb .. an 8g openbsd flash .. & 4g miscroSD card with Netbsd 5.1 .. but all with FFS ..
What I was wondering , is OpenBSD as flexible as slax to accept being installed on fat32 formatted usbs .. I mean : literally departing from ffs to reside on msdosfs .. maybe foolish on my part .. sorry then .. I just hope .. you remember that old FatLinux (Linux is happy with Fat) .. so will OpenBSD too be happy with fat32 .. it was an old opportunity to discover linux .. ya .. :-) ..
FAT for reducing write load:
1. Is FAT an option? No.
2. Would FAT, being non-journaled, add value? No. FFS is not journaled, either.
3. Would FAT be a good choice? No. FAT lacks the capability to have sockets, device nodes, hard and symbolic links, and access controls.
Solid state devices and write I/O
1. Do I need to worry about reducing write load? No. Not with devices that have wear leveling capability. Several wear leveling technologies are in common use and should be a standard capability of all solid state storage devices marketed within the last seven or eight years.
2. Is wear leveling a physical security risk, since a write may not actually overlay a sector? There is a risk, yes. It is similar to the risk that sectors marked bad on a modern magnetic hard drives might be readable in a laboratory, though the drive electronics will not read them and an OS has no access.
Network Security
1. Are there any special concerns about network users with access to USB devices? No. On OpenBSD, USB mass storage devices are treated as any other disk drive. Access is controlled through a blend of mount options and filesystem access controls, which the admin is responsible for managing. Bad management can have security implications, but this is no different than any other disk device.
Portable Devices and Portable Media
1. Should I treat laptops, netbooks, smartphones, digital cameras, external drives, USB sticks, SD cards, XD cards, diskettes, Compact Flash cards, CDs, DVDs, and Blue-Ray discs containing personal or private information as if they have the same sorts of physical security requirements? Yes.
2. Is there network security I should be especially concerned about when traveling with portable computing systems -- netbooks, smartphones, tablets, laptops? Yes. Network connections may provide information in-the-clear or even attack vectors against your systems, servers, and applications.
3. What about a read-only device -- so that I keep no personal or confidential information on it? For example, traveling with a LiveCD or LiveUSB, or a "clean" netbook with nothing on it but a freshly installed OS. You must still be cognizant of network connections you make, the security of the services you access, and any local information caches. You must know what local information might be written by a "live" environment, such as swap partitions and temporary file stores.
4. There's a lot to think about. Can I learn all I need to know from this forum? Yes, there is a lot to think about, and learn. Unfortunately, no, this forum will never be able to teach you everything you need to know. Like the universe, the knowledge you need to make informed decisions is ever expanding. Also, this forum is focused on a very small segment of the wide world of information security. And information security is an ever changing world, with new threats and new mitigations appearing constantly.
2. Should I encrypt personal or private information? That is up to you, and your personal or business requirements. It may also have legal implications for you, depending upon where you are and where you travel.
shame on me .. it's faq 14 .. it high time I slow down pace .. and take time to read , and reread enough .. before troubling you ..
what a bad feeling ..
sorry @Jgimmi
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|11th September 2008 08:29 AM


text:
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Julius Derico Jr. didn't need to travel to the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington to pay tribute to his fallen comrade -- the first casualty of his unit in Vietnam.
Users can search the digitized Vietnam War Memorial Wall for details about soldiers who died.
As he huddled around a computer with other veterans, he searched for his friend's name in a newly digitized version of the Wall.
While it's just one of the Wall's 58,320 names, Derico said he hopes people understand that it represents something more than just an inscription.
The virtual Wall, a project created by the National Archives and Footnote.com, brings the memorial to millions of American homes.
The Web site, unveiled last week, links names to casualty reports, historical documents and digital photographs, and allows users to leave online tributes to those who died. See the new project be unveiled in Washington »
To create the digital image, photographers used more than 6,000 photographs of the Wall, which measures about 460 feet wide.
Ten Vietnam veterans at an American Legion Post 911 in Atlanta, Georgia, gathered to test the online Wall for CNN.com. They said they believe the new Wall gives a face to each of the names, and helps keep their memories alive. See veterans react to the virtual memorial »
"We can use that to help console people ... To help people realize that ... they are gone but they are not forgotten," Derico said.
"We can show it to you [online]. Your brother, your sister ... They're still there; they are being thought of and they are being treated with due respect."
Derico will never forget. The thought of that first death in his unit still chokes him up.
David Perkett was killed one night when a fellow soldier accidentally discharged his weapon.
At the age of 20, Derico had to identify the body. It was not prepped. It was not cleaned. His comrade was covered in dried blood.
"It was devastating," Derico said, visibly shaken.
As some people searched the virtual Wall for people they knew, others shouted names from across the room, hoping someone would enter a search in the computer.
Some only knew the first names and hoped to match them with the database by unit or hometown.
As they found more names, the group grew in size, huddling closer together as they read the casualty report of the latest name.
For Robert Love, who served in Vietnam as a mechanic, being able to view the Wall with fellow comrades gives the memorial new meaning.
As he used the online version, he reflected on a trip to Washington, where he visited the Wall.
"I had so many different emotions; and then after a while, as you begin to look at the names on the wall, it overwhelms you," he said. "Then you realize that you could be up there, but by the grace of God you aren't."
As he sat with his fellow servicemen Friday, reflecting on the war and sharing memories of those who died, some of the pain eased. See how users are turning the wall into a personal scrapbook »
As they located familiar names and learned more about them, the group's excitement grew. Everyone agreed that other veterans should know about the site, and they agreed to spread the word.
Some suggested including the site Stand Down -- an event that helps homeless and indigent veterans by providing them with food, clothing and other necesseties.
So many veterans end up with no home, no benefits, no money and drug problems, Love said. Many are simply stuck in a cycle, unable to let go of the horror of war.
"War is hell. There's no other way to put it. And when an individual goes into a situation where he or she takes the life of another individual, it's devastating and you never really get over it," he said. "At times, when you go to sleep at night, you see just like you were there. You wake up in a cold sweat -- scared; and after so long it starts wearing on your body."
"It's an excellent opportunity for them to come in and look back on what happened to them in Vietnam," Derico said. "For them to look back on the people they lost in Vietnam. And guess what? It may even shock them to the extent that they come back to reality." E-mail to a friend
All About Vietnam • War and Conflict • National Archives and Records Administration


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Realizzazione di complementi d'arredo per la casa ed il giardino con legno di recupero.
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With an estimated 2 billion pallets being used every day, and many more sitting around, no wonder so many projects have been done using pallets. Here are 1001 ways to recycle, upcycle, reuse or repurpose pallets! If you are a pallet upcycler, do not hesitate to send us your work, we will be happy to showcase it to the world!
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By: Alison Chiu
Existing shopping centers built between the 1950s through the 1970s on the island of Oahu are unique examples of Modernist architecture in Hawai'i, and they comprise the majority of large-scale commercial buildings on the island (or, even amongst the other islands, which did not experience the same level of commercial impact and tourist travel as Oahu during the post-war era). Precast arches, folded plates, thin shells, and barrel roofs are among the various methods of concrete forms adorning the structures. The Modernist architecture of post-war Hawai'i blended international appeal and construction techniques with a distinct regional style that looked to reinforce traditional Hawaiian heritage and articulate new perspectives on Hawaiian American identity. Although these shopping centers retain varying degrees of design and material integrity, market-driven development and renovation continually threaten to erase this important snapshot of Modern aesthetics and construction.
Sears Holding Corporation recently sold several of its retail stores to the Chicago-based company General Growth Properties, Inc., which immediately announced plans to close long-time tenant Sears department store at Ala Moana Shopping Center in Honolulu by the end of 2013. Sears has been an anchor tenant of the shopping center since its construction in 1959 by developer Don Graham. Now faced with the impending departure of this tenant, Sears will disappear as many of the earliest shops (i.e., McInerny's, Sato's, Kramer's, etc.) have, in favor of more profitable retail. Along with the ebb and flow of retail tenancy since its inauguration, multiple additions and renovations have drastically altered the mall's original appearance. Today, only the Macy's department store retains any recognizable traces of its predecessor Liberty House, constructed during the 1966 eastern wing addition of the mall.
Changes at Ala Moana Shopping Center correlate to the major progress of commercial development occurring in Hawai'i during the decades following World War II. With Hawai'i's admission to Statehood in 1959 and significant advances in commercial aviation, a large number of people flocked to the islands. Oahu, in particular, became a major hub for national and international business and leisure travel. During the 1960s, the island experienced a significant economic boom, partially driven by tourism. This building boom directly spurred city planning and architectural development, and propelled the rapid transformation of what was once a sleepy island territory of plantation villages, sugar cane fields, and mangrove forests into an international modern metropolis. Chain-stores and shopping centers, which had developed earlier on the mainland in the 1920s & 1930s, now began to appear in Hawai'i.
(Image Left: Cast stone detail at First Hawaiian Bank - Wahiawa Shopping Center, Oahu; via: Alison Chiu, 2012)
Strategically located near highways, modern shopping centers still dot the built environment from the leeward to the windward side of the island. At the time, these commercial complexes presented a distinct new building typology to the Hawaiian vernacular. The new architecture wove together advanced structural engineering and eye-catching design to attract passersby in the newly-ubiquitous automobile, while also serving as a local nexus for the fast-growing residential communities that coalesced around them.
These commercial centers, generally one- to two-story high structures surrounded by ample parking, offered a variety of connected shops, services, restaurants, medical offices, and department stores. Apart from the main structure and located near the parking perimeter were banks, featuring repetitive geometric design details at metal screens or in cast stone, and gas stations designed with simple, clean lines.
Supermarkets such as Foodland, Times, and Piggly Wiggly helped anchor each location, providing economic stability and even encouraging further commercial and residential development in surrounding areas. In addition, government-supported services such as libraries and post offices were often constructed within or immediately nearby these new commercial hubs. The clustering of such amenities provided individuals and families with the mainland style of a "one-stop" shopping center. Planning and developing just the right combination of complimentary tenants was considered a specialized art form. As indicated by the increasing and projected level of growth during the 1960s in small towns such as Aiea, Pearl City, Kailua, and Kaneohe, these shopping centers were a driving social force that stimulated both residential and commercial development by providing a nucleus of goods, services, and community activity. By the end of the decade, the two dozen or so existing shopping centers contributed to more than half of Hawai'i's retail trade.
(Image Right: A "double torus" dome covers the Foodland at Windward City Shopping Center in Kaneohe, Oahu; via: Alison Chiu, 2012)
Modern structures, with their expressionistic light-colored roof lines set against the evocative backdrop of Hawai'i's lush green mountains and blue skies, became iconic commercial elements within the cultural landscape. However, due to factors which include increased development density, steady deterioration of materials and infrastructure, construction of taller surrounding buildings, and various alterations and renovations, many existing community shopping centers from the Modern era have lost some of the characteristic grace and striking aesthetic they once had.
At the facade of the Kailua Beach Shopping Center, constructed in 1955 and designed by Wimberly and Cook, load-bearing grilles with blue heat-absorbing glass have been replaced in favor of wood siding and a boxy, built-out overhang that provides shade for the multiple storefronts below, but which also conceals a portion of the precast concrete abutments flanking each side of the 90-foot clear span roof. The original brick veneer liquor store which once stood adjacent to the supermarket entryway has since been demolished and additional parking now stands in its place.
(Image Above: Kailua Beach Shopping Center, Oahu (1955); via: "Foodland Supermarket, Kailua, Oahu, T.H." Architectural Record, March, 1955, 117.)
(Image Right: Kailua Beach Shopping Center, Oahu; via: Alison Chiu, 2012)
How might we, as preservationists, residents of, and visitors to Hawai'i, begin to articulate what level and quality of growth is "acceptable" within our island communities? How do we address such inherent changes in commercial architecture, which perhaps represent a level of organic growth based on evolving community needs and desires in a way that no other architecture can? Should these changes be retained?
Ala Moana Shopping Center is currently considered a premier shopping destination for tourists and one of General Growth Properties' highest revenue-producing malls, "with sales surpassing $1,200 per square foot," according to representative Shobi Khan. It is also the shopping center which has undergone the most extensive renovations and numerous "face-lifts" to modernize its retail space. At what cost do we exchange the economic benefits of tourism and foreign investment for local community engagement and the historic integrity of our island's very limited modern commercial resources?
In general, the study of Modernist buildings in Hawai'i is still in its infancy. Shopping centers are not only vastly undocumented in Hawai'i; they are also underrepresented within the study of Modern architecture. Many have already been altered from their original design, to various degrees. However, these resources of the recent past comprise a significant portion of Oahu's building stock, showcase an international design aesthetic in regional architecture, and represent a period of monumental importance in Hawai'i's history.
Continued research and study of these shopping centers, the majority of which still primarily service neighborhood and island communities, will help to provide additional scholarly context regarding the development of Modern architecture and commercial infrastructure on the island. With a look forward to the Hawai'i 2050 Sustainability Plan, as well as the need to address present and future economic realities, preservation of these existing structures is an imminent issue that will impact both cultural and material sustainability in the years to come.


text:
California Department of Transportation
January 20, 2011
District 7 – Los Angeles
Contact: Kelly Markham
Phone: (213) 897-0303
Sacramento – Continuing the push to rebuild California's infrastructure and spur job growth, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) today allocated $1 billion to 107 transportation projects statewide, including $838 million from Proposition 1B, a transportation bond approved by voters in 2006. The remaining allocations came from assorted state and federal transportation accounts.
"From one end of the state to the other, transportation projects are providing jobs and improving mobility for people and businesses in California," said Caltrans Director Cindy McKim.
Since its passage, $6.8 billion in Proposition 1B funding has been allocated by Caltrans and the CTC. Highlights of today's funding allocations include:
- $46.55 million to install rail collision avoidance technology along the Metrolink system and Pacific Surfliner Intercity Rail Corridor.
- $2.94 million to install rail collision avoidance technology along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad tracks from Los Angles to Fullerton.
- $20 million to convert high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes to high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes along the I-10 and I-110 corridors.
- $33.99 million for the acquisition of 100 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority.
For information about all projects that received allocations please visit:
# # # #


text:
Getting Started with Basic Internet
Learn more about Basic Internet, if your computer meets system requirements and the equipment you'll need to use Basic Internet.
About Basic Internet
*Actual speed will be provisioned at the highest optimized speed range at your location
System requirements are a list of the minimum hardware and software resources your computer needs to work with Verizon Basic Internet Service.
Verizon Online provides a Self-Install Kit that includes the equipment needed for your Basic Internet connection. Your Self-install Kit is delivered 1 or 2 days before your service-ready date. It includes the following equipment:
Verizon Basic Internet installation is a three-step process. First, you'll install DSL filters on your phone devices (if applicable). Next, you'll install your Router or Gateway. Then, you'll install DSL software on your computer. After you order Basic Internet, your Self-Install Kit, which includes your Basic Internet Equipment, will arrive a few days before your Service Ready Date. Once your Service Ready Date arrives, you'll install Basic Internet.
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Plate Hanger
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Wednesday, 21 October 2009
review: My Life in France, by Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme
Who would have predicted the television success of Julia Child? Over six feet all, already into her fifties (BBC, please note), and with a voice that irritated some as much as it enchanted others, the late TV chef's success must surely have been as much as a surprise to her as it was to everyone else. In addition, by the time she hit the small screen in the US, she had spent almost as much time living outside of her native country as she had in it. On the face of it, then, her rise to prominence as a TV star was, to say the least, an unlikely one.
But succeed she did, and now, five years after her death at the age of 91 (she also successfully predicted her longevity), interest in her life has been reignited once more, if indeed it can be said to have been extinguished in the first place.
'Julie and Julia' is the film responsible, a film chronicling a period in the life of a food blogger who decided –on the verge of marital breakdown – to reinvent and challenge herself by cooking her way through Child's famous tome, 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking'. Child's own life, particularly her life in France, which is when she wrote 'Mastering...', forms the parallel tale.
Luckily for those of us who are interested in the making of 'Mastering...', Child wrote her own memoir of that time, aided by her grand-nephew, Alex Prud'homme. Called, simply, 'My Life in France', it takes as its starting point the moment she and her husband first moved to France in late 1948. The majority of the book concentrates on the ten years immediately following Child's first visit to the country – the years in which 'Mastering...' was born – and effectively ends in 1974, with Paul's death and her work on 'From Julia Child's Kitchen'.
As Child tells it, it was her first meal in France that spawned the hitherto unknown cook within her. Unfamiliar with much of the food (she didn't even know what a shallot was), never mind drinking wine at lunchtime, her eyes were opened to a very different kind of dining experience from that with which she was familiar: "Our first lunch together in France had been absolute perfection. It was the most exciting meal of my life." It was, as she put it, her epiphany.
From that point on, Child gobbled up all things French, particularly anything to do with eating, revelling in it all like a small child in a toyshop. As her gastronomic experiences quickly widened (escargots, and even more so, truffles "quickly became an obsession"), so too did her appetite for learning how to cook. Spurred on and enthused by Paul's gift to her of Larousse Gastronomique on her thirty-seventh birthday, she attended a demonstration session at the nearby L'École du Cordon Bleu, and swiftly signed up to a six-week course.
It wasn't all plain sailing. Child soon decided she was in the wrong class, and badgered the owner of L'École to let her enrol in another. It seems to have set the tone for a difficult relationship, punctuated with somewhat wilful stubbornness on both sides. What emerges from the narrative is Child's forceful resolve, supported by impressive self-discipline. Often frustrated by the lack of individual attention in class, she carried on regardless, and indeed, classtime neglect simply "had the effect of making me work even harder". Becoming totally absorbed by cooking as she was, it wasn't long before she "could hardly bear to be away from the kitchen".
And so began the quest for culinary perfection. Mayonnaise was the subject of one early mission, by the end of which Child was of the belief that she "had written more on the subject of mayonnaise than anyone in history". She was undaunted by others' lack of interest: when family and friends failed to respond to her foolproof new recipe for mayonnaise, Child simply reports "I was miffed, but not deterred. Onward I plunged." By this point in the book, her reaction comes as little surprise.
Still, her tenacity saw her finally take her Cordon Bleu diploma (although not before one last stand-off with the owner). With new-found confidence, she teamed up shortly afterwards with two fellow 'Gourmettes' (members of an exclusively-female dining club in Paris) with an ambitious new project – to write a cookbook of French recipes for the American home cook. This itself segued into another venture between the three women, a new cookery school to counter the perceived stuffiness and archaism of the L'École.
What followed was, by Child's account, a tortuous period of writing, editing, and persuading. Various publishing houses showed interest, only to lose it at the sight of the huge tome laid at their feet. What had, in her words, been conceived as a "modest little book" had in fact become an unwieldy behemoth of over 700 pages, as the authors – and Child in particular, one imagines – chased after every detail in their quest for recipe perfection. More than once, it seemed that it would never see the light of day. But, once again, it was Child's sheer bloody-mindedness and determination that ensured the book finally saw the light of day, a full ten years after it had been first started. Moreover, her underlying optimism proved well placed – as we now know, the book became a huge success, and a veritable culinary bible for readers all over the world.
And so, nearly fifty years on from the date of its first publication, it is still inspires – as it did the blogger who made her own fame and fortune by cooking her way through it all (much to Child's disgust, apparently).
It is, of course, a book largely about Child and food, and is thus a veritable literary feast for foodies. But there is plenty else of interest in here for non-food lovers – the respective backdrops of post-war France and Europe, the McCarthy era (she and Paul came under investigation at one stage), not to mention the uncertain and nomadic life of being the wife of an American civil servant.
In many ways, this is an indulgent book – Child gets to pick out her own highlights and darker times, and to pass judgement on others without restraint. Neither she nor Alex Prud'homme makes any apology for that, and why should they? Child is (or was) what she is, and by living to the venerable age of 91 and still holding court, she was surely entitled to tell it her way.
Somewhat ironically, though, through her accounts of her dealings with others, Child also lays herself bare. What emerges – strangely enough, given her success – is arguably a certain naivety, an underlying insecurity, a lack of self-confidence. Her early days in France, especially, found her plagued with feelings of inadequacy and frustration at what she perceived to be her shortcomings - most notably, when amongst (Paul's) intellectual friends.
Perhaps this goes some way to explaining not only her insatiable appetite for knowledge, but her own impatience and intolerance of those who didn't subscribe to her views. Several family members (her father and mother in particular), as well as friends, seem often to be little more than an irritation to Child, although in fairness, such moments are just as frequently countered by moments of frank self-realisation (for example, "I could at times be overly emotional"; and of her father, "I know there were times I could have been better, nicer, more generous to him..."). It is no surprise, then, that by the time 'Mastering...' was finished, one of her co-authors had vanished from the picture almost entirely, while Child's relationship with the other was, shall we say, 'difficult'. By contrast, those she loved, she loved unswervingly – the saintly Paul, and her younger sister, Dort, were clearly both the focus of almost unquestioning admiration and loyalty.
Whatever you may end up thinking of Child herself, 'My Life in France' is an engaging read. And perhaps it's precisely because of her very human frailties – it's almost impossible not to find yourself cheering her on in one moment, and then despairing at her lack of empathy, or at her apparent ruthlessness, the next. Just as mesmerising is her obvious energy – no one could ever accuse her of having simply stumbled upon fame. Everything that came her way did so as a direct result of colossal (some might say obsessive) hard work and force of will.
There's also plenty of photographic evidence throughout the book, reproduced in black and white, documenting both her life and work in France – ranging from snaps from the family album to photographs (littered with Child's numerous additions and amendments) of her 'top secret' recipes sent to Dort while 'Mastering...' was still a work in progress. They are themselves testament to Child's scrupulous record keeping and attention to detail.
By her own admission in 'My Life in France', Child was not the easiest person to live or work with. But those traits responsible are undoubtedly the very same that lie behind the dynamism and sheer joie de vivre of this book. If you are a fan of hers, or of French life and cuisine, or if you're curious to find out more about the inspiration for 'Julie and Julia', then this is a must-read. If you're none of those things, read it anyway. As Julia Child puts it herself, "one learns by doing".
(with thanks to Duckworth for the review copy)
My Life in France, by Julia Child and Alex Prud'homme
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Gerald Duckworth & Co Ltd (11 Sep 2009)
Language English
14 comments:
- Misty Mays said...
i saw this movie and absolutely adored it! very good read!
- 21 October 2009 at 18:19
- Springtime said...
I'm attempting to read 'Julia and Julie' at the moment. I was really looking forward to starting it, but I'm yet to find myself swept along by it and am actually quite disappointed by it.
However, the this book, sounds like it might be interesting! I'll definitely dig it out. Back to Julia and Julie for now though...
- 21 October 2009 at 19:14
- George@CulinaryTravels said...
You've tempted me to see if my local library has a copy of this.
I didn't enjoy Julia and Julie at all though.
- 22 October 2009 at 12:21
- Bellini Valli said...
Julia Child is an icon and has been an inspiration to our generation as well as generations to come.
- 22 October 2009 at 12:40
- Madame K said...
My Life in France was definitely my favorite of the two books. I am in awe of Julia's spirit, her love for Paul and zest for the good things in life - we can all learn from that.
- 22 October 2009 at 22:29
- Margaret said...
This is a great review of a wonderful book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
- 24 October 2009 at 13:53
- Johanna said...
I am reading julie and julia - it is interesting but a little irritating - I have thought maybe I really am more interested in Julia child and should read her memoir - thanks for the review - I will look out for this book
btw - that really annoys me that meryl streep is on the cover - why not the real julia!!!1
- 25 October 2009 at 01:11
- aforkfulofspaghetti said...
Misty - it is, isn't it? Not sure if I want to see the film now, esp as have heard mixed reviews...
Springtime - I think you'll be swept along by 'My Life...'. Very energetic book!
George - don't be deterred by yr experience of Julia and Julie. This is by the woman herself
Val - indeed, and amen to that
Madame K - I agree!
Margaret - good to hear that you're a fan, too
Johanna - well spotted and darn good point! Bring back Julia!
- 25 October 2009 at 08:09
- youngandfoodish said...
Love your penultimate line: If you're none of those things, read it anyway. The same could apply to your blog.
- 26 October 2009 at 08:42
- Cakelaw said...
Greta review - we are reviewing this for The Kitchen Reader this month, so I have just read it.
- 28 October 2009 at 03:13
- aforkfulofspaghetti said...
youngandfoodish - aw, thanks, Dan!
Cakelaw - will be interested to see what you think of it...
- 30 October 2009 at 12:54
- louann chho said...
Julie and Julia have brought attention to Julia Child. If you loved the movie/book or hated it, you owe it to yourself to read THIS book - this is the real thing.
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Welcome to Rob and Cheryle's online Art Gallery. Here you'll find an example of the art and photography that we produce. Our items are either currently available directly by indicating which item number you're interested in and the size you are interested in by e-mailing us at firstname.lastname@example.com or through our showings at online galleries such as Yessy.com and Imagekind.com. Directly our prices for items are as follows: For all unframed art and photos the prices are as follows: 3x5 unframed $5.00 U.S. 4x6 unframed $6.00 U.S. 5x7 unframed $7.00 U.S. 8x10 unframed $10.00 U.S. Larger than 8x10 are available but e-mail directly to inquire on price based on the size you desire. Framed art and photo prices are as follows: Note that all prices below come with a plain frame with the photo or print painting unmatted. 3x5 framed $6.00 U.S. 4x6 framed $7.00 U.S. 5x7 framed $8.00 U.S. 8x10 framed $11.00 U.S. ** Also note that framed art and photos are subject to frame availability from our suppliers.** E-mail us directly if you are interested in purchasing through us directly and we will direct you to our paypal account for payment options for this. Also we are available for commission work and if interested please feel free to e-mail us at firstname.lastname@example.com. We hope that you enjoy your visit to our online exhibit. Thanks, Rob and Cheryle
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Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard wasn't so great. But at least it was conceptually interesting. And, at the very least, the Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network bound Matt Hazard: Blood Bath and Beyond has a great title.
D3Publisher's side-scrolling follow up to the Matt Hazard franchise, fictionally some two decades old, will be coming to PSN and XBLA this winter, according to an official announcement, looking a bit Shadow Complex-ish. It's a time traveling adventure, with Hazard tasked with saving the 8-bit version of himself as he progress through his previous games, titles like The Adventures of Matt in Hazard Land and Chest of the Pirate Queen.
And Mirror's Edge apparently!
The satire's there. Let's just hope that developer Vicious Cycle can turn Matt Hazard: Blood Bath and Beyond's premise into something fun to play.


text:
|2011-11-30, 23:32
|Link #181
The Comet has Come
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Republic of California
Age: 41
Well then you have Kyon from Haruhi Suzumiya that isn't given anything really. He's still not special in anyway. He has no powers. Everyone around him does and he seems to be the key to god. Yet he's still pretty much Kyon though the whole thing. Not so much a hero as usually the day is saved by the others.
But sometimes he save the day. Usually in the simpliest, and most mundain way possible.
He does have harem lead plastered on him, even though it isn't a standard harem show. Yet he ramains the unreliable narrator/hero/dog slave of the goddess.
This oppose to Sousake form Full Metal Panic...who was good at what he did before he got his awesome lambda driver powered mecha. He's still good when he has a crappy older Soviet mecha. He's also fully trained soldier from the start. He's problem is fitting in with the normal people.
|2011-11-30, 23:34
|Link #182
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: InterWebs
I admit there hasn't been many protagonist like that (well, nothing that came straight out of my mind). But, most of the time seeing how the protagonist fully master his/her abilities is also quite interesting.
|2011-11-30, 23:36
|Link #183
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: U.S.
Not just that, but again look at how mecha anime started. Forgot about Super Robot, they by definition is based entirely on mech power.
But even the Real Robot originate with protagonist with awesome mech compare to the noob. Gundam, even with Amuro was the chosen one and the White Devil was vastly superior tech-wise. If anything Macross is the franchise that focus more on skill than mech, but even it stared with a Super Robot ace-in-hole with the SDF-1.
|2011-11-30, 23:36
|Link #184
Le fou, c'est moi
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Age: 29
As for why it's such a light novel thing, I'd conjecture it has a lot to do with the first-person perspective of these novels. It's much easier to write a slightly exasperated and very familiar voice of the common mind than it is to delve into madness, ambition, or alternatively the empty heads of them shounen protagonists -- especially if you're just writing a romantic comedy, where the girls are the ones who get most of the crazy-and-interesting quotient. They're almost a literal lightening up of the venerable genre of literary Japanese I-Novels (where self-depreciation, self-reflection, self-I-suck-and-is-less-than-imperfect-I-am-No-Longer-Human predominates).
|2011-11-30, 23:47
|Link #185
Join Date: Dec 2003
Age: 36
|2011-12-01, 00:02
|Link #186
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Suburban DC
Both reckoner and reckless flame make good points.
Everyone knows that the industry is hounding the otaku market, mainly because money is tight and it's a guaranteed revenue source.
There's nothing necessarily wrong with that.
That being said, personally, I see the type of shows that that audience is into is rather narrow.
Simply put there's very little made for non otaku audiences over the age of 18, at least from what I have seen. There fore I just haven't been following the stuff like I used to.
But whatever, it is what it is.
|2011-12-01, 00:05
|Link #187
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 61
There's diversity out there.. but I'll readily acknowledge its a bit thin -- mostly due to the economy, imo. Producers will gravitate to the types of shows with the highest probability of a revenue stream -- any US tv viewer is aware of the infinite numbers of CSI/Law&Order/murdercrime series on tv, etc. The trend to overkill isn't exclusive to anime
Last edited by Vexx; 2011-12-01 at 02:39.
|2011-12-01, 00:09
|Link #188
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Also, I've seen most of what you're talking about and some I would disagree with as I see them as derivative works. You see, I'm not talking about what some show has as a single element. I'm talking about about what they actually are. Mitsuki's journey as a singer is definitely the heart and soul of Full Moon. Not some transformations, battles and slapstick.
|2011-12-01, 00:27
|Link #189
Join Date: Dec 2003
Age: 36
|2011-12-01, 00:49
|Link #190
The Comet has Come
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Republic of California
Age: 41
I think part of the problem right now is a lack of communication. I just went back to look to see what this arguement between mecharobot and Undertaker is (because I couldn't figure out what was going on anymore) and I think it is because of a edit that one likely never read. I know I didn't read one of those responces beforehand because I posted about something after the original post but before the edit so that if I went to read the thread again (for "new posts"), I would not be shown that edit.
This missed step in communication seems to have made this more personal than it should be, since the questions were answered but not seen.
(these posts specifically, since I think they answer the questions: http://forums.animesuki.com/showthre...95#post3880995
I know I didn't see either of them)
I write this only because I wanted to make sense of what was going on in hopes that things will remain civil.
|2011-12-01, 00:55
|Link #191
Join Date: Dec 2003
Age: 36
Well, as I was trying to allude to before, I think the back-and-forth arguing is generally counterproductive, especially when it gets into "list fights". So I hope the thread can move on from that now. I'm also starting to wonder (based on the tangents and the fact we're starting to rotate back around) if we've said all there is to say on this for now, but I'll give it a bit more time for new insights to surface. These topics tend to come around from time to time anyway, and I'm not sure there will ever be a clear resolution because so much is driven by perception.
|2011-12-01, 01:18
|Link #192
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: InterWebs
Also, I get the feeling that this is what Undertaker was saying all along: "otaku" shows have always been the bulk of anime shows, be it for a mecha-ota, idol-ota, ecchi-ota, chuunibyo-ota, or any type of anime. Which I agree to, and is why I think saying the anime industry has "degraded" or whatnot just because it doesn't appeal to one's own tastes is too subjective (as a few posters here have said repeatedly over and over again).
|2011-12-01, 01:39
|Link #193
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Now whether this is ingenious or not, I can't say.
Anyway. I've been derailing this thread with personal nonsense for too long. My apologies to the involved parties and for the inconvenience in general.
I'm outta here.
|2011-12-01, 02:08
|Link #194
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: U.S.
Take most of the shows anti-moe had problem with. K-on, Lucky Star, A-Channel, Work, whatever, they were 4-koma seinen manga that was target to general, casual 20 + readers in the beginning. Hardcore anime/manga fans were not originally part of that group as they deem those manga to be too casual. (and truth be told those manga really isn't much more than gag strip comic ala Snoopy)
However, the industry was running out of source material to adapt and turns to LN and 4 K-oma seinen tsince they are popular to the general crowd.
Once they got adapted into anime, otaku market buys in as well as general non-anime viewers as well, which leads to increase sale of original manga and related merchandise.
On the other hand, seinen manga like Claymore who got adapted in anime didn't really boost the original sale as much because the ones who watch and buy the related product was the otaku market to begin with.
It's almost like JUMP series, ever since the string of hits in the 90s and emergence od big three, there are more and more shonen action got adapted to anime than ever before because of new market been tapped and old old market still buys into it.
The misconception here is still that most anime watch still convinced that Naruto, Bleach, FMA, OP are aim at 20+ when in reality they are target as 13-18, and everyone else was collateral damages.
Watching Japanese veriety show will do you some good as most comedians are well-known Otaku and you can see endless manga/plamo/models in their house or references toward ACG world.
Last edited by Undertaker; 2011-12-01 at 02:23.
|2011-12-01, 05:40
|Link #195
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Lock-Down
Age: 30
That sounds so much like Nanoha wouldn't you say? But for some inexplicable reason it smells more like Guilty Crown
Note that most of these protagonists already have some admirable qualities well before shit happens to them, even if it's as simple as courage or perseverance, though most of the time it's humility.
But what I think about this is that people have always like to support the underdog ever since David vs Goliath. So the reason why Normal protagonists are used is because it's a more heroic tale to talk about a normal person putting themselves in the line of danger than it is to retell how Superman saved the world again.
Btw, I don't count normal people that gain super powers strong enough to become MVPs themselves as 'normal protagonists', so no Nanoha(s)
|2011-12-01, 07:12
|Link #196
Part-Time TTK & Master
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Iwakawa base and Chaldea
Age: 39
yeah, Kyon so far fits the bill of the ordinary everyman more than Nanoha or the likes ever will. Then you also have Rock from Black Lagoon. Remember, he used to be an ordinary salaryman. He is an interesting protagonist to watch because you get to see how hanging with sociopaths that society will never want to welcome have molded him, not only them but also the events he had gone through. I think that the breaking point for Rock is the Yakuza arc.
|2011-12-01, 07:32
|Link #197
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Another thing is that there are more anime adaptions of RPGs where the main character is a generic everyman, little more than an avatar for the player. When adapted to anime the character usually retains his bland and unremarkable features.
Probably the most important factor is the popularity of the Seikai-kei concept in anime. In which everything (often literally) depends on the relationship between a weak, powerless boy and a strong-willed girl with powers/talents/abilities.
|2011-12-01, 07:55
|Link #198
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Lock-Down
Age: 30
But I wouldn't call those popular- nobody ever remembers the male protagonists in those stories so those aren't really successful at all.
Last edited by Brimstone; 2011-12-01 at 08:08.
|2011-12-01, 08:41
|Link #199
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
|2011-12-01, 08:48
|Link #200
AS Oji-kun
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Deep in the GeGeGe Forest
Age: 69
The first is Bartender (2006). I presume the manga was a popular one as it resulted in a live-action show as well. Each episode is a vignette about one or more patrons at Bar Eden Hall in Ginza. Many of the patrons are quite old by anime standards, men and women in their fifties and even older, and the rest are younger adults.
Some current shows have older casts, Hyouge Mono being the obvious example, but like that show or House of Five Leaves (2010), they are often set in historical periods. Shows with adults in contemporary settings, like Hataraki Man (2006), still pop up occasionally in the noitaminA slot; Kuragehime (2010) is the most recent example. But they are still pretty few and far between compared with the vast numbers of shows about contemporary teenagers in school settings. Shows about teenagers were certainly common in 2006 as well; what feels different today is proportion of such shows in the total number of works produced.
Next up is Dennou Coil (2007) an anime-original near-future science-fiction show about virtual reality with a cast of 10-12 year olds. It took Iso Mitsuo seven years to find a studio willing to invest in his vision. I doubt he would find anyone so willing today. Unfortunately artistic ambition doesn't always lead to commercial success. Coil's DVD releases averaged only some 2,500 units each. That's the kind of show that a studio (Madhouse in this case) might choose to make when times are good and money more flush. It also had only limited merchandising opportunities. They sold a few statuettes and some Densuke plushies, but that's peanuts compared to the merchandising extravaganzas for shows like K-On and Madoka Magica.
To me, one telling indicator of the changing tastes of the audience is the apparent withdrawal of Madhouse from the world of TV animation. They seem to be focusing more and more on movies like Summer Wars and co-productions with American partners like Disney and Marvel. The studio that gave us Monster, Black Lagoon, Mouryou no Hako, Saiunkoku Monogatari, and Claymore, to name just a few, now seems rather uninterested in the contemporary market for anime on Japanese television.
|moe, trends
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|7,390 properties
|Popular hotel
|Siam @ Siam Design Hotel Pattaya
|Popular area
|Jomtien Beach
|Nightly rates from
|U-Tapao International Airport
|Reasons to visit
|Nightlife, Beaches, Sightseeing
Craziest traffic ever, dirty and smelly in some parts of the city but the fun and action got no rival in the entire Thailand .
It is a great place to visit, I have never known anywhere like this before. just remember not to break the law as what you may think is a small thing could turn out to be very seriuse in thailand.
It's is loud dirty and smelly but do not let that put you off, I know they are trying to clean it up and change it's image, but I would say it is still a party town whatever your thing is.
value for money it cannot be beaten be it food,drink or a massage.
Seafood and Japanese restaurants are way pricey, not worth the money. Central department store mall has wide variety of eateries, recommended.
We really enjoyed our stay in Pattaya as it is a serene coastal city, There are less tourists thus the beaches are quieter and more enjoyable.
The sightseeing is also very nice ,My favourite was the Noong Nooch Gardens . I will definitely recommend people to go to Pattaya as it gives you more of a holiday than Phuket does as Phuket gets over crowded with tourists. The only downfall is that its takes over 3 hours to get to PATTAYA from Bangkok due to the Traffic .
Easy to take the bus to and from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya, no need to take a taxi. Great variety of Western, Thai restaurant.
The water of along the beach road is not good for swimming. Only the water around Koh Larn is very clear for swimming. Like Koh Larn, taxi fare should be fixed or metered so that tourist will feel more comfortable.
Party city number one in Thailand. If you want more family go to Jomtien area. Not a place for family with children or any romantic tour.
Party in all streets so you have mutch to do there lol. Its hard life to live in party areas but big fun yes;)
honestly the hotel was the nost outstanding thing about pattaya and very much self contained!, however we really enjoyed the aquarium, with our kids!
Not a good place for families to go. However if you don't mind the walking girls, it's a pretty nice place
Best tourist place in Thailand, lots of tourists, but Thai people here not as nice as for example Chiangmai or Bangkok, too commercial and realistic, always in tourist area, so always asking for price before take the offer, later they will also asking for tips which quite annoying I must say .
.. Good to spend few nights here for sightseeing and relaxing.
Friendly Thai people, transportation are very convinient. Make sure study the map first. Nice seafood restaurant and bars.
I missed Pattaye and i will be coming soon as i can't forget the city. The beach road, walking street, the pattaya beach, shopping and food and drinks.
Pattaya is full of a bunch of old men that hooked up with thai women because they can't get one in their own country.
If we did't have freinds here we would never come back.
It was a wonderful city with more things that you thought you can do! First city where I tried out water sports like parasailing and snorkelling and it was a wonderful experience.
Closest beach with mixture of International tourists with many things to do. Partying by Walking Street at night, take boat trips to Koh Larn, happy ending at Sabai massage, swimming at Cartoon Network, etc.
I enjoyed Pattaya a lot and could/should have stayed another day or two really, instead of only staying for 2 days (after staying in Bangkok for 4).
What I did not care for is I booked a tour and a hotel transport back to BKK airport, both of which flaked! It really left a bad taste in my mouth. I prepaid for one, confirmed for both of them and they both tanked. Neither of which had the decency to call and tell me they were cancelling! That was the most appalling part. That was the one major difference between Pattaya and Bangkok that I did notice, the people I scheduled things with were very eager to make sure they made contact with you like their reservationists said they would (i.e., leave messages with your hotel, email, etc.), whereas in Pattaya, they did not seem to care about whether or not the customer's needs were being met. I was very disappointed. The city itself, however, was a lot of fun. I would go back even if I had those 2 sour apple experiences. I just will be sure never to use those 2 companies again.
Do take note that they dont have taxi services as like in Bangkok. It works based on a shuttle service kind of system.
It is wise to check with the driver how much you need to pay and it should not costs more than 40 bhat per head unless you are going somewhere of your choice.
Lived in Pattaya for a while about 15 years ago. The city has deteriorated drastically, the traffic is horrendous, worse than Bangkok.
The meter taxi system doesn't function as the drivers don't want to use the meters and Baht Taxis only suitable for backpackers. The main improvement is the availablity of a lot of excellent quality condo units to rent. Especially by The Nordic Group. Was considering a long stay but not sure we can deal with the transport situation. Pattaya is a good destination for bar-hopping 1 star travellers and also golfers who might be able to put up with downtown Pattaya to be able to enjoy the great courses local to the place. Walking Street is the most disgusting thoroughfare we have seen on the planet, just why it is full of Chinese tour groups gawking is a mystery!!!
The island is a great place to stay for a mini break from Bangkok.it is quaint and something different that is not to far to go from bkk.
We have been to Pattaya many times as we live in Bangkok. Good place to relax for a few days and then return to the city.
WE drive so we head out of Pattaya and go to Jomtien where it is quieter. Also we like staying in North Pattaya where it is relatively quiet, especially night time.
Lots of things to do.... And not say about the girls here is extremely old and not so good loking i would say
We are here during the xmas season, thought its going to be hell lot of happening. but its seems that this year, crowd is less.
Not much going on for us
Great town for all people something for everyone. As most place in Asia one price for locals one price for visitors so haggle to get the best price if not walk away as most shops have the same stock
It's a city full of life 24/7 , Used to be much more for relaxation 10 years ago. But now , it's a busy travel destination, lots and lots of tourist, very crowded , especially during a holiday season.
Traffic is very very bad small streets always jam through out the day . But still a fun place to be enjoy the modern facility and the busy beach . lots of activity .
A nice city near the beach. Easy to travel, lot of taxi, van and motorcycle available. Restaurants are good, but a little expensive.
The air is very hot and dusty and many traffic jam. Beach is okay but a little dirty.
Shops at the roadside are cheap. Halal food is limited. Bargain with taxi if you need to go out of the city.
Pattaya is for the boys. I went there with my wife to meet my brother who had not been there before. It is not my favorite place in Thailand and its pretty full on so be prepared
Pattaya is a vibrant City that "never sleeps" It is a tourist town that predominantly caters for tourists but you don't have to blow your budget to have a good time.
In recent years the City has been cleaned up and public transportation is more than adequate to meet local demand. A wide range of Annual events mean that there is generally something going on in Pattaya all the year round. For the open minded, Pattaya is a great city for an adventure packed holiday.
really nothing much in pattaya maybe because i did not go to the walking street. the beaches is overcrowded compared to the many other location in the countries.
a bit over rated for it beaches. good thing is that it have a few shopping mall to spend my time. (eg. festival, Big C).
Its a busy bustling city day and night, if you are looking for piece and quiet its not the place for you


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However, in recent months I've been somewhat uneasy about Charles' place in the scheme of things.
There was that business a few months ago when Charles posted a video of him and his girlfriend; glamorous, pouting, reality TV contestant Silkie Carlo, bigging up Julian Assange
Then he turns up in support of that personal hero of mine and 21st century British equivalent of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Lord Muad'dib of Canvey island (that was at the trial timed to coincide with the conclusion of the 7/7 inquest)
Then there was Veitch's well-publicised 'pre-crime' arrest before the recent royal wedding and Veitch's peculiar pre pre-crime arrest video where he sails off with the fairies and explains that he had been treated relatively leniently by the authorities thus far because he was being true to the path laid out for him by the Cosmic Consciousness
Which doesn't work too well for me as I can think of a long list of people who have been true to their conscience and had their heads blown off as a consequence
And that's without muck-raking around Charlie and Silkie's backgrounds
But there was always the possibility that Charlie was what he purported to be
However, as Michael Parenti said, 'Trust no-one except your family. And, even then, check them out once in a while'
Charlie Veitch on 9/11...
Case closed.


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The recent horse meat contamination scandal is sending shock waves across the United Kingdom and the entire world, and rightly so. But did you know that appalling ingredients lurk in everyday foods, and they're far from making headline news? Ammonia-cleansed pink slime meat created quite the fuss among the media and parents in the past year. That's great, because really, who wants their kids eating pink slime? However, pink slime meat may honestly be the least of your worries. From GMOs to arsenic to chemical food colors to mountains of pesticides - the American food system was hardly clean before the pink slime story broke. There's always been potentially harmful and gross issues with the same food system almost all of us buy from and serve up to our families daily. From mashed cochineal beetles (shown above) in your Starbucks smoothie to rodent hair to antifreeze, many of the foods you eat everyday contain some truly horrendously disgusting ingredients. Keep reading to see 6 of the ickiest additives added to everyday food products.
Starbucks recently came under fire from the vegan community for admitting that the red dyes used in their strawberry drinks contained cochineal, a coloring made from crushed parasitic beetles. While animal rights activists aren't pleased with Starbucks, it's not as if this company is alone in their use of this beetle dye. Cochineal dye, produced from dried female cochineal beetles, has been used for centuries and today is found in plenty of goods like cosmetics, pop tarts, red candies and red-tinted yogurts and juices. On ingredient lists, you may see this listed as carmine, crimson lake, cochineal, or natural red #4.
We can only hope Starbucks makes good on their intention to switch to using Tomat-O-Red Dye instead of crushed beetles, as a response to outraged customers who don't want beetles in their Frappuccinos.
Glyphosate is the active chemical ingredient in the notorious weed killer, Roundup. This chemical is so heavily used at this point that it's now detected in soil, air, bodies of water and rain – meaning, at this point, escape is dubious, even if you eat mostly organic. In 2009 alone the USDA reports that nonorganic farmers poured 57 million pounds of glyphosate on food crops. Basically, Glyphosate is meant to do one thing – kill. It kills broadleaf plants, grasses and other plants. Because it's a systemic herbicide, the chemical goes into the plant, not just on it, which means we eat Glyphosate when we choose food it's been used on. The EPA classifies Glyphosate as only slightly toxic, yet various studies have linked it to cancer, endocrine disruption, reproductive problems, neurotoxicity, kidney and liver damage, nose and throat irritation and the National Pesticide Information Center (pdf) notes, "Swallowing products with glyphosate can cause increased saliva, burns in the mouth and throat, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea." So, by all means, let's keep pouring this stuff on crops.
Castoreum Extract
Castoreum extract doesn't sound too scary, but it's actually a bitter, orange-brown substance retrieved from the beaver's anal gland. Yum. This additive can be found in many processed food products that are flavored vanilla or raspberry, like ice cream, yogurt, cookies and the like. What's worse, or perhaps more curious is who on earth came up with this as an ingredient in the first place? What's even worse is that it's hard to avoid. Most food products simply list this additive as, "natural flavoring," which in truth we suppose it is. Still, vegans and vegetarians plus people who might like to avoid beaver anal secretions in their milkshake, may find this "natural flavoring" a bit hard to swallow.
Shellac is what makes jelly beans shiny and gives that lacquered finish to other sweet treats along with fruit and coffee beans as well, and it's all thanks to excretions of the Kerria lacca insect. Shellac is also used as a wood finishing material. This is generally regarded as safe for human consumption, but the gross factor may freak some people out.
Bugs & Rodent Hair
Most of us weren't pleased to hear that the FDA decided to keep BPA in the food supply. However, if they're fans of BPA, what else do you think the FDA allows in food before taking action? The answer – quite a lot. The FDA's Defect Levels Handbook shows that an average of 30 or more insect fragments and 1 or more rodent hairs per 100 grams of peanut butter, a kid staple, is allowed, before any action is taken. An average of 60 or more aphids and/or thrips and/or mites per 100 grams of frozen broccoli is allowed while 5 or more fly eggs and 1 or more maggots per 100 grams of tomato juice is okay. Obviously, no one expects food to be perfect. Like the FDA states, "It's economically impractical to grow, harvest, or process raw products that are totally free of non-hazardous, naturally occurring, unavoidable defects." Also the FDA notes that these are mostly aesthetic problems that, "Pose no inherent hazard to health." Still, it's nice to know what you're eating, right? And what you're eating, according to the FDA, may include maggots, mold, insect fragments, parasitic cysts and more.
Flame Retardant
Brominated vegetable oil, or BVO, was first used to keep plastics from catching on fire and it's patented as a flame retardant, which obviously makes it the perfect additive for sports drinks and sodas right? I mean we wouldn't want you bursting into flames during a jog. Although BVO contains questionable chemicals and it's banned in food products in Europe and Japan, American companies add it with glee to various sodas, juices and sports drinks. BVO helps to keep the artificial flavors from separating from the rest of the liquid, but is sorely under-researched. In fact, Environmental Health News notes that BVO FDA limits are based on outdated data from the 1970s, and scientists say the chemical deserves another look as it's been linked to bromide poisoning symptoms like skin lesions, memory loss, nerve disorders and some research suggests that BVO builds up in human tissues, just like other flame retardants. In big doses, BVO may be very bad, as some rodent studies show that large amounts result in reproductive and behavioral problems.
Read how one teenager started a petition to convince PepsiCo to remove BVO from Gatorade.
Lead Image by Flickr User cote


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9-year-old Minn. boy runs away to Las Vegas on plane
MINNEAPOLISA 9-year-old Minneapolis boy was able to get through security and onto a plane at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport without a ticket, an airport spokesman said Sunday.
Security officials screened the boy at airport shortly after 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Metropolitan Airports Commission spokesman Patrick Hogan said. The boy then boarded a Delta flight that left for Las Vegas at 11:15 a.m.
The flight crew became suspicious and contacted Las Vegas police, who met the crew upon landing and transferred the boy to child protection services, Hogan said.
Video also shows the boy at the airport Wednesday, Hogan said. He grabbed a bag from the carousel and ordered lunch at a restaurant outside of the security checkpoints, Hogan said. He ate and then told the server he had to use the bathroom, left the bag and never returned to pay. The owner of the bag was identified, and the bag was returned to him, Hogan said.
Delta and the Transportation Security Agency said in separate statements that they were investigating.
The boy was expected to return to the Twin Cities, but Hogan didn't know Sunday if that had happened yet.
A spokesperson with the Transportation Security Agency told WCCO-TV in Minneapolis that staffing is currently low due to the number of employees furloughed in the wake of the federal government shutdown.
"We're investigating ... and looking into our part to see what occurred and what didn't occur," said the TSA spokesperson.


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oh are u also filipino?? hehe weeeh!!!wow ur so lucky u hang out with them!!!
SBS?? KUMB...something...
The Amazing Race Asia 3 : Episode 8 .It's the 8th leg with 3 remaining legs to go. Someone will definitely be eliminated tonight!I had butterflies in my stomach while watching the show and writing the report at the same time. It felt as if I was there running alongside with the contestants!
B&H did a fantastic job and really gave a lot to the series. I am sure it was a great experience for them and one I hope they hold dear for years to come. Ida and Tania were amazing and full credit to them this week. Their luck continues.
Sorry for what!! You did an outstanding job yesterday and we greatly appreciate it!!
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DNCA Invest
European convertible bonds
Portfolio managers comments | April 2019
April 2019
The equity markets continued to gain, with monetary policy acting as a support. The main central banks are conveying an accommodative stance, enabling them to support a controlled slowdown in world growth. The context is still not too volatile, with investors lending credence to a US-China trade agreement and Brexit-related issues pushed back to a later date. Quarterly earnings reports confirmed sound macroeconomic figures and provide some fresh positive momentum for the current year. Against this backdrop, the European convertible bond market was quiet with just two primary issues for a...
Igor de Maack - Félix Haron - Olivier HabaultText completed on May 02, 2019
Risk indicator
Year-to-date performance
annualized performance
Recommended minimum investment horizon
Net assets
(At 2019-04-30)
Inception date
Fund Managers
Igor de Maack graduated from HEC Paris School of Management and is a qualified member of the French financial analysts' association (SFAF) and also holds a postgraduate specialist diploma in International Taxation.
He began his career at Deloitte & Touche. In 1998, he joined the Project Financing department at BNP Paribas. In 2002, he moved to IXIS where he headed the group's participation in the financing project for the A 28 motorway, then joined the equity research team at Ixis Securities and became senior Vice President of primary equity markets at Lazard-lxis.
He joined DNCA Finance in 2007 as an infrastructures portfolio manager.
Félix Haron is a CFA charterholder, holds graduate of ESC Toulouse and holds a postgraduate specialist master's degree in Financial Engineering from Paris IX Dauphine University.
He began his career at BNP Paribas, as a convertible bond specialist. After a variety of experiences in trading and asset management, Félix joined the convertible management team of BNP Paribas Asset Management.
He joined DNCA Finance in September 2013.
Olivier Habault graduated from HEC Paris School of Management.
He began his career at Exane BNPP as a sell-side analyst on the banking sector. He joined DNCA Finance in January 2018, working on both convertible bonds and European equities.
For legal reasons, we can not post the performance of the sub-fund
The investment process is made of the combination of a global bond approach and stock-picking policy. It aims to create a portfolio with a lower volatility than an underlying equity investment based on a fundamental approach and a qualitative analysis of each issuer.
What objective?
The Sub-Fund seeks to provide capital appreciation with low volatility by investing in convertible bonds. As part of a discretionary management approach, the portfolio composition will not attempt to replicate the composition of a benchmark index from a geographical or sectoral perspective. Even so, the Exane Euro Convertibles Index may be used as ex-post benchmark indicator.
What breakdown?
The Sub-Fund will at all times invest at least 50% of its total assets in convertible bonds, exchangeable bonds and mandatory redeemable bonds of issuers having their registered office in the EU or exercising the preponderant part of their economic activities in the EU within the following limits:
- Convertible or exchangeable bonds denominated in Euro: from 50% to 100% of its assets invested in convertible, exchangeable or mandatory redeemable bonds,
- Non Euro Convertible or exchangeable bonds: at most 15% of its total assets,
- Convertible bonds rated "investment grade" or whose issuer is rated "investment grade": at least 50% of its assets invested in convertible or exchangeable bonds
- Money-market and debt instruments: from 0% to 50% of its total assets.
In addition, the Sub-Fund will invest the remaining part of its total assets in warrants, subscription rights and other bonds with any equity link.
The Sub-Fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in units or shares of UCITS or regulated AIFs.
The Sub-Fund may invest in securities denominated in any currency. However non-base currency exposure may be hedged back to the base currency to moderate currency exchange risks. More specifically, futures, and currency forwards may be used for that purpose. The currency exchange risk will not represent more than 15% of the total assets of the Sub-Fund.
For what type of investor?
For the investor who wishes to take advantage of rising equity markets as well as the benefits from bond yields.
Which characteristics?
Pricing : Daily
Fund Legal Type : SICAV mutual fund governed by Luxembourg law
Country Of Domicile : LU
Min Subscription Amount :
200000CHF (Share H-I (USD), Share I, Share I (CHF), Share H-I (CHF))
Nil (Share ND, Share N, Share B, Share B (CHF))
50000CHF (Share SI)
2500CHF (Share A, Share H-A (CHF))
Min Subscription Shares :
None (Share H-I (USD), Share ND, Share SI, Share A, Share H-A (CHF), Share N, Share I, Share I (CHF), Share B, Share B (CHF), Share H-I (CHF))
Subscription Fees : 2% max
Performance fee : 15% of the positive performance net of any fees above Exane Euro Convertible Index with High Water Mark
The above information is not a confirmation of any transaction and does not comprise investment advice. Past performances are not a reliable indicator of future performances. Management fees are included in performances. Access to products and services presented may be restricted regarding certain persons or countries. Tax treatment depends on the individual situation of each investor. For full information regarding strategies and fees, please refer to the prospectus, KIID documents and other regulatory information available on this website or free of charge on demand from the investment management company's registered offices.


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The Open Society Foundation–London hosts different thematic and regional programs, and serves as a forum for civil society, academics, and public figures. The foundation provides these groups and individuals with a space where they can present and debate issues such as the inclusion in Europe and international human rights.
Global initiatives housed at the Open Society Foundation in London include:
- Africa Regional Office
- Early Childhood Program
- Economic Advancement Program
- Education Support Program
- Information Program
- International Higher Education Support Program
- International Migration Initiative
- Program on Independent Journalism
- Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa
- Open Society Justice Initiative
- Human Rights Initiative
- Scholarship Programs
The Open Society Foundation in London is governed by a board of directors, who are responsible for ensuring that the foundation is well-managed in line with its mission and its objectives as a registered company limited by guarantee in England and Wales.
Company number: 10187396


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Have you receiveda subpoena?
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ACUSON X600 Ultrason Sistemi
En önemli ihtiyaçları karşılayın.
The ACUSON X600™ ultrasound system is designed to deliver a new standard of "standard" through a strategic suite of advanced ultrasound applications to bolster clinical and operational versatility, confidence, and reliability.
Advanced Imaging
- Advanced imaging technologies migrated from higher-end systems for a practical, premium imaging experience
- Hanafy lens transducer technology provides excellent uniformity throughout the field of view, especially at depth, by using a finer beam thickness
- Dynamic TCE™ tissue contrast enhancement technology reduces speckle for clear visualization
- TGO™ tissue grayscale optimization technology automatically adjusts image brightness and equalizes image gain
- SieClear™ multi-view spatial compounding uses multiple lines of sights to increase contrast resolution and improve tissue differentiation of low contrast lesions by reducing image speckle
- Advanced SieClear™ spatial compounding provides exceptional improvements in border definition
- 20" LED monitor supports advanced imaging with stunning visualization
- Cadence™ contrast agent imaging technology1 for excellent contrast resolution
Built to Work Smart
- Knowledge-based workflow tools enable faster exams while providing greater consistency and reducing inter-operator variability
- Available QuikStart Rapid Boot to enhance efficiency before, during, and after procedures
- Wireless data transfer for streamlined, secure access to your hospital's archiving system
- One-touch optimization for rapid image clarity
- Customizable presets, measurements, and report packages deliver a tailored workflow experience
- Ergonomic design including an integrated gel warmer, folding flat panel display, and articulating arm
Discover Knowledge-Based Workflow
- syngo® Auto OB measurements
- syngo® Auto Left Heart technology
- Axius™ edge-assisted ejection fraction measurements
- syngo® AHP Arterial Health Package2
Progress and Protection
- Backed by Siemens' industry-leading reliability
- Single-transducer system solutions improve cost position by reducing the need for additional transducers
- Advanced features provided standard, giving you a premium experience at a practical price
- Scalable and expandable with options for customization and upgrades to meet your challenges as they evolve
- Wide range of transducers to fit your needs
İlgili Ürünler, Servisler ve Kaynaklar
1At the time of publication, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration has cleared ultrasound contrast agents only for use in LVO. Check the current regulation for the country in which you are using this system for contrast agent clearance. Not commercially available in the USA.
2This feature should be utilized according to the ASE Consensus Statement "Use of Carotid Ultrasound to Identify Subclinical Vascular Disease and Evaluate Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Consensus Statement from the American Society of Echocardiography Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Task Force, Endorsed by the Society for Vascular Medicine."