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Over at the PPMB somebody started a thread asking people to name the five best Lookout Records releases. It's actually part of a spate of "Five best..." silliness, but it elicited quite a few comments to the effect of, "There's no way I could name just 5" and "What a great label this used to be," and I felt, well, kind of touched.
And then reading through the lists of records set off a wave of nostalgia as well. Could it really have been true that we unleashed so many great records (yes, I know there were a few turkeys too, but that's not really the point here) in such a fleeting handful of years? The thing is, you're never fully aware of the magnitude of what you're doing when you're right in the middle of it, whether it be a business or artistic enterprise, a love affair, or even something seemingly mundane like going to college or moving to a new city.
In fact most things we do, even the ones we most remember or are remembered by, are pretty mundane at the time. I know that during what some people, myself included, now refer to as Lookout's "golden years," I didn't jump out of bed brimming over with excitement at the prospect of making punk rock history or releasing classic records by the most exciting young artists of the day. On the contrary, I was more likely to drag myself out of bed (or, more accurately, the crumpled morass of blankets on the floor in the corner of our "office") thinking, "Hoo boy, another day of adding up interminable rows of numbers and arguing with people over whose names go first on the album credits."
And no, it wasn't all like that, either, and yes, there were moments of genuine magic and excitement, instances where it suddenly occurred to me that I was going to remember this show or conversation or recording session for the rest of my life. But they were just moments, too, interspersed with yawning gaps of tedium and time-killing, and, not quite occasionally enough, redemptive bits of leavening: a new, non-jaded band, a heart-quickening (or heart-stopping) crush, the sudden, albeit ephemeral release from care as we hit the road at the beginning of a new tour.
I hardly ever meet anyone from the music scene who doesn't ask me some version of "Why did you leave Lookout?" and I don't think I've yet succeeded in delivering a reasonable answer, either to them or myself. At times it represent one of the greatest regrets of my life, especially in light of what was to happen to the label and especially to the bands who were left holding the bag. On the other hand, I've often thought that if I hadn't left when I did, I probably wouldn't be here today.
That might sound a little melodramatic, even - at this remove - to myself. There's no denying that I was morbidly depressed and stressed out at the time I jumped ship, but really, what was the problem? We were making money hand over fist, virtually every record we put out was successful enough to make a profit just on the strength of being a Lookout release, I could go to just about any party or show I wanted to, anywhere in North America or Europe, just for the asking, and hardly a day went by without somebody or several somebodies telling me how wonderful I was.
Yet it wasn't enough. Or it was too much. Or it was something: all I knew was that I could no longer cope with it, and I felt deeply ashamed to have to admit it. In retrospect, there were other, less drastic measures I could have taken. Quitting drinking, for example - which I would ultimately do anyway - or seeking some kind of therapy or counseling. I could - and should - also have taken more responsibility for dealing with people and situations, both inside and outside the label, who were causing me grief.
But talk is cheap and hindsight 20-20 all these years after the fact. Just as I had no idea how big and how rapidly Lookout would grow when we started it in 1987, I had no idea how quickly those magic moments would pass and how much I would miss them when they were gone. I have no idea if I'll ever be involved with anything again that's that successful or that exciting, but I'd like to imagine that if it should come to pass, I'll be better prepared to both safeguard and savor my good fortune. On the other hand, I can't help remembering the plaque my grandfather had on his wall: "We grow too soon old and too late smart." Hegel more famously opined that it was only in the gathering twilight that the owl of wisdom began its flight, but either way you slice it, we live and learn, too quickly in the first instance, and far too slowly in the latter.


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by JC Walkup
March 4, 2013
Competition. Among writers of NC Writers Network West members, there doesn't seem to be any. Why do writers help their competitors? After twelve years in this group, I still can't find an answer to that.
Having trouble with an ending? There's a writer who can help with that.
Want to inject humor in a story too dark for its own good? There's a writer who can help with that.
Need to polish a novel to a blinding shine? There's a writer/editor who can help with that.
The magical thing about all of the above resources and more is that all those writers will do their best for you. True, a good editor costs a few bucks but those advertised in the blog and NCWN newsletters have proven value added to manuscripts.
I challenge you to find another business where there is this much cooperation and support among those competing for the same recognition and dollars (as few of those there be). This phenomenon is like a warm blanket thrown over the shoulders of every shivering newcomer to the field.
Of course, as a writer or wannabe one, you have to put yourself out there. Risk? Yes, but not of failure. Never that. Pride can take a beating if yours is of the hubris variety. But honest, energetic efforts to learn the craft will always find support in this group.
Editors, Publishers
Writers checkout check us at
Writers checkout check us at

subset: commoncrawl


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Method of Payment
- We accept payments online using Visa and MasterCard credit/debit card in AED and USD.
Delivery/Shipment Policy
- www.trusttravels.com will NOT deal or provide any services or products to any of OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) sanctions countries in accordance with the law of UAE.
- Multiple bookings/transactions may result in multiple postings to the cardholder's monthly statement.
Refund & Cancellation Policy
- Refunds will be done only through the Original Mode of Payment.


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Inter Partes Reviews ("IPRs") are a powerful tool to challenge the validity of issued patent claims before the United States Patent Trials and Appeals Board ("PTAB"). One of the risks to a petitioner in filing an IPR is that if an IPR reaches a final written decision and at least one of the challenged claims is upheld as patentable, the petitioner is estopped from presenting invalidity arguments in district court or later PTAB proceedings "with respect to that claim on any ground that the petitioner raised or reasonably could have raised during that inter partes review."1 Recent PTAB and Federal Circuit decisions interpreting the AIA have, however, narrowed the scope of such estoppel. Specifically, certain "redundant" grounds—grounds in an IPR petition that the PTAB, in its discretion, finds redundant of other presented grounds—are not estopped in later proceedings because they could not have been raised during that IPR. The interplay between the PTAB's discretion to find certain grounds redundant and the associated risk of estoppel under the AIA creates several considerations that a petitioner should weigh when determining a petition strategy.
The PTAB's Discretion to Institute or Deny Petitions
When a petitioner files a petition with the PTAB, the PTAB has discretion on whether to institute or deny the petition.2 The PTAB's institution discretion further allows the PTAB to pick and choose which claims and/or invalidity grounds of a petition to institute or deny.3 Moreover, the PTAB's institution decisions are typically unreviewable,4 and the PTAB can consequently deny instituting a ground, for example, because it finds the ground "redundant" of other grounds filed by petitioner.5 Such redundant grounds may, in certain circumstances, avoid estoppel under the AIA.
The Estoppel Framework Under the AIA
The AIA created an estoppel regime to determine whether a petitioner can bring, in a subsequent proceeding, certain invalidity grounds the petitioner included in its initial petition:
The petitioner in an inter partes review of a claim in a patent under this chapter that results in a final written decision . . . may not request or maintain a proceeding before the Office with respect to that claim on any ground that the petitioner raised or reasonably could have raised during that inter partes review.6
While § 315(e)(1) describes the applicability of estoppel in a subsequent PTAB proceeding (such as an IPR or Covered Business Method Review), the AIA includes a nearly identical provision regarding the applicability of estoppel in subsequent district court cases and ITC proceedings.7
Whether estoppel applies to a later PTAB proceeding or district court case is determined on a claim-by-claim basis.8 A petitioner's risk of estoppel is therefore limited to preventing the petitioner from bringing the same invalidity "ground" (e.g., a particular anticipation reference or a particular combination of obviousness references) on the same claim in a subsequent PTAB proceeding or district court case. Furthermore, for estoppel to apply to a particular ground, the initial PTAB proceeding must "result[] in a final written decision" "with respect to th[e] claim" associated with that particular ground—filing and/or institution of a petition, alone, will not trigger estoppel.9
Another requirement for triggering estoppel is that the ground at issue must be one that petitioner "raised or reasonably could have raised" "during" the initial PTAB proceeding.10 As the Federal Circuit has recently held, a ground presented in a petition is "raised" "during" a PTAB proceeding, such as an IPR, when the PTAB chooses to institute a trial on that ground, because, according to the Federal Circuit, an IPR "does not begin until it is instituted."11
Determining whether or not a ground "reasonably could have [been] raised" is more complicated, however, because there are numerous potential scenarios. For example, in some instances, a ground not included in an initial petition reasonably could have been raised if, for example, the ground is "based on prior art that could have been found by a skilled researcher's diligent search."12 In such instances, the petitioner is likely estopped from using that ground later (assuming the other requirements for estoppel are met). In other instances, for example, the PTAB may deny a ground included in a petition as "redundant" of other grounds and thus refuse to institute a PTAB proceeding that ground. In such instances, the denied redundant ground could not reasonably have been raised, because the PTAB prevented the petitioner from raising that ground.13 Thus, the redundant ground, initially presented in a petition for a PTAB proceeding, may also be available for use in subsequent PTAB and/or district court proceedings.
Potential Strategies:
In light of courts' treatment of "redundant" grounds, petitioners should carefully evaluate strategies for avoiding estoppel without compromising the effectiveness of their petitions. Two such strategies are considered below.
Strategy 1: File on Many Grounds
A first potential strategy for petitioners to avoid estoppel is to file a petition on a large number of grounds (e.g., many different prior art references and combinations) for each claim at issue. The goal of this strategy is to present the PTAB with a large number of grounds in the hope that the PTAB will institute on at least one ground per claim and deny the remaining grounds as "redundant," thus preventing estoppel from attaching to the "redundant" grounds.14 The petitioner would then have a large number of prior art references and combinations available for a subsequent petition or district court case. This strategy applies only if the instituted grounds reach a final written decision (triggering estoppel) and not all claims are found invalid (otherwise no claims would remain for subsequent proceedings).
There are, however, potential drawbacks to filing on large numbers of grounds. There is an increased cost associated with filing on a large number of grounds. Additionally, filing on a large number of grounds may dilute the quality of the arguments made for each ground (e.g., due to space and/or cost constraints).
There is also no guarantee that the PTAB will deny grounds based on "redundancy," and the PTAB instead may deny institution based on substantive deficiencies. Petitioners that choose to file on a large number of grounds may also be vulnerable to denials on substantive deficiencies because they are prevented from making the best arguments on any one ground due to space and/or cost constraints. Grounds denied based on substantive deficiencies may not be estopped in some cases;15 however, the value of presenting a ground that was substantively denied in a subsequent district court case may be compromised as juries may be particularly skeptical of invalidity arguments that have already been substantively denied by the PTAB. Substantive denials would be particularly damaging in cases where the PTAB does not institute on any ground and estoppel is not triggered, but the patent owner has arguments that the Patent Office already found substantive deficiencies in most, if not all, of the petitioner's art.
Another issue is that filing on a large number of grounds may overwhelm the PTAB, and the PTAB may have difficulty identifying which grounds are most likely to be successful. For example, in Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. v. Progressive Cas. Ins. Co., No. CBM-2012-00003, the petitioner asserted 422 grounds of unpatentability (averaging more than 21 grounds per claim). The PTAB responded by stating "that multiple grounds, which are presented in a redundant manner by a petitioner who makes no meaningful distinction between them, are contrary to the regulatory and statutory mandates, and therefore are not all entitled to consideration." The PTAB then gave the petitioner seven days to notify the PTAB of a narrowed set of grounds.16 17 Petitioners should consider whether multiple grounds may obstruct the PTAB from identifying the grounds petitioner believes are the most persuasive, and petitioners should consider how to present a "meaningful distinction" between the grounds to help the PTAB evaluate the relative strengths of each ground. In sum, petitioners should weigh the benefits of possibly obtaining non-estopped art against the potential costs of filing on a large number of grounds per claim.
Strategy 2: Include Select "Redundant Grounds"
A second potential strategy for petitioners to avoid estoppel is to draft a large portion of a petition to grounds the petitioner believes are most likely to succeed, but to also draft a small portion of the petition to additional grounds that would be valuable in a subsequent petition or district court trial if they were not estopped.
An advantage to this strategy is that it allows the petitioner to narrowly focus the petition to a limited number of grounds that the petitioner believes are most likely to succeed and to provide a "meaningful distinction" between the grounds to help the PTAB evaluate the relative strengths of each ground.18 Further, by including additional grounds, but with less emphasis, the petitioner increases the number of potential grounds the PTAB may deny as redundant while minimizing the space taken away from the petitioner's best grounds. Any grounds denied as redundant allow the petitioner to "hedge its bet" that the petition succeeds by maintaining some non-estopped art that would be available in a subsequent petition or district court trial.
There are, however, potential drawbacks to this strategy as well. For example, as discussed above with respect to the first strategy, there is no guarantee that the PTAB will deny any ground as redundant; and the PTAB may deny grounds based on substantive deficiencies. The less emphasized grounds may be especially vulnerable to rejection based on substantive deficiencies because they were not the focus of the petition. Also, even if only a small portion of the petition is allocated to the additional grounds, these additional grounds still take space away from the grounds the petitioner believes are most likely to be successful. Due at least to the PTAB's broader claim construction and lower burden of proof than juries in district court, the PTAB is likely a petitioner's best chance of invalidating the challenged claims. Thus, petitioners need to carefully consider any strategy that compromises the ability of a petition to succeed before the PTAB in order to avoid estoppel in district court or a subsequent PTAB proceeding.


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At MIS we are proud to collaborate with a number of local institutions based in Morogoro. The following gives you a summary of some of the ongoing work we have with our partner institutions.
The Mehayo Centre
The Mehayo Centre works with mentally handicapped youths in Morogoro. The support they provide is a lifeline to young people in the area. They offer an educational programme and practical training as well as shelter for their pupils on two sites. MIS supports this commendable organisation through school fundraising projects, and with the centre's weekly visit to our school pool which is a very popular fixture in their school timetable.
Alliance One International
Alliance One is an important employer in Morogoro, providing many jobs to farmers as well as in their headquarters in Kingolwira. They have also provided loyal support to MIS over the years, funding a scholarship programme allowing talented pupils from the Morogoro region to study at our school. We intend to have five Alliance One sponsored pupils attending MIS from September 2015.
Chilunga Cultural Tourism
Chilunga Cultural Tourism is a non-profit organisation based in Morogoro, working with the local community to educate and preserve the unique culture of the Morogoro region. Their work is largely focused in the Uluguru Mountains, encompassing providing facilities in remote villages and educating the community on the importance of preserving the mountain forests of the Uluguru range. We aim to work closely with Chilunga over the coming year to offer our pupils informative weekend trips around Morogoro and to contribute towards their charitable projects.


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The Friday rant - 03.06.11
Why I should have such a problem with them I am not entirely sure, and especially since I have never darkened the door of one, but for some reason or another I can't help but despise gyms. Yes, you heard it, gyms. The concept of lots of people squeezing indoors to exercise in what I presume is one hell of a sweaty, smelly environment has always left me feeling cold, and mostly because outside we have a generally pretty fabulous world in which we can run and walk around. So why on earth head indoors to exercise ?
OK, I grant you that if all gyms were like this one here then I might not be composing this rant, but for the life of me I can never understand why a mass of humanity wants to crowd together into a small space and exercise together. Surely this herding instinct can at least be put aside when you go and decide to exercise ? I am completely behind taking exercise (and let's be honest, more people need to take more exercise), but the whole idea of doing it inside makes me feel rather ill. Be outside taking in fresh air (alright, perhaps not such fresh air in some cities), but then head indoors, put on some daft clothes and take exercise on weird looking machines that a few century ago would have been used as pretty effective devices of torture.
I just don't get it. It's as if more and more people are forgetting about the world around them. I lived in a city for years and never once had to go to the gym because I could not find open green spaces to go and walk my dog. Note that I am not personally into jogging, but whatever floats your boat. How on earth can anybody think about anything useful or meaningful when you are crammed like sardines into a horrible building and all running or doing whatever one does in a gym ? Surely a big point of going for a walk or a run is having some time to think, or have we gone that far that exercise is becoming a mere commodity to fit into our busy lives ? Living in a city I accept makes it harder to get away from people, but I will never for one second understand anybody who lives outside of a city or big town and then heads to a gym to take their exercise. Is there any surer sign that we are all going collectively mad than that ? How can it possibly make any sense at all ? I have met plenty of people who tell me how they regularly to the gym when they live within such easy access of open green spaces. I also wonder how many people who go to gyms actually have dogs at home who also need a decent walk. Or a run.
Maybe it's just me not wanting to dress up in tight lycra, head indoors and sweat myself silly on some machine. Or perhaps have some fitness expert shout at me for an hour or so while I pay them for the privilege of doing so. If that kind of thing does it for you then be my guest, but whenever I drive past a gym with those big windows I just feel so sad that people really do like to herd together to take exercise. Surely on this overpopulated island we already spend enough of our time together like herds of sheep as it is ? Yes, of course exercise is vital, but again I come back to the great outdoors - or even your local park. The world around is one hell of a special place, and taking exercise is to me a wonderful excuse to spend more time in it. Spend all day working inside for example and then head inside once again to take exercise. If there was ever a more perfect example of how mad the world is going then that surely has to be it. Stop and think about it for a second before shooting me down in flames. Exercising indoors with lots of people in a horrible sweaty and smelly environment. Think about it. Completely and utterly mad.
And people pay to do it. Think about that as well. People actually pay to take exercise. Sometimes it's not until we stand back and reflect on some of the ways in which we lead our daily lives that certain bits of it have to make one laugh with the sheer absurdity. Paying to do something as regular as taking exercise is surely daft ? Or is it me simply being out of touch with how things are these days ? (now that I live in Cornwall and not Plymouth, yes, I can hear it already !!). Note also that I am not talking about going to a gym for reasons connected with sports. My bane if you like is with regular people wanting to herd together on a mass of running machines, plug into their iPods (or even phones, help !!), look at some computer simulated outdoor scene and then pound that treadmill as willingly as some are prone to pounding it in their everyday lives. Break out. Spend more time in the fresh air. More people wanting to spend more time outdoors means that more green space has to be protected. The world is awesome, but four walls ain't..........


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Delphy provides an online course in Fertilizing Soilless Cut Roses. One course has 3 sessions about fertilizing soilless cut roses. Every session takes about 50 minutes and through polls and Q&A you can have interaction with the experts. Between the sessions, you can apply the new knowledge in your own situation by doing the assignments and receiving feedback from the experts. The course is English spoken and is meant for rose growers and greenhouse managers.
Themes to be treated are:
Session 1: Calculating and preparing the nutrient solution
Session 2: Interpreting lab analysis reports and how to apply in your own situation
Session 3: EC and pH management
Session dates for Fertilizing Soilless Cut Roses:
To be determined
Behind your computer, tablet or phone.
€ 950,= excluding VAT
Registration / Information?
Are you interested to participate, please use the registration form.
Do you first want more information, please send us an email firstname.lastname@example.com
After registration you will receive more information related to the training, payment for your participation and when you will receive the course link, etc.


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I am always very interested in improving the online experience for my clients and web visitors who use the website to search for Sarasota Fl. real estate. I am always trying to raise the bar, and after a lot of feedback from previous clients, and my learning about new online tools available to improve real estate search efforts, I am launching the new version of WeSellSarasota.com.
I hope you like it , and I am very interested in your thoughts! If you have a comment, please share it. If you have a suggestion, I am always interested to hear it. In the end, I hope you will find this site to be a valuable tool in your home search. I put forth continuous efforts to improve the website in order to earn my visitors trust and business. If you enjoy using the website to do your research and are ready to take the next step and start visiting property, I hope that you will choose to contact me to help you in your search. There are a lot of steps to a successfully completed sale, and I work very hard to exceed my clients expectations. I hope to work with you too!


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LaserDisc Overview/
There appears to be a renewed interest in LaserDisc as of late. This interest isn't coming from old fans of the medium, but rather a new generation of movie watchers curious about the dead format.
In this video I take a look at a couple players, dispel some myths, and show off some terrific packaging.


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One Bedroom Suites
It's all about space, comfort and pampering in a stunning 1-bedroom suite. Decorated to the highest standard of comfort to encourage relaxation.
With 1 king-size bed (or twins) it's perfect for a couple, or for a family getaway (2 adults and up to 2 children).
Through the large living room area (complete with large sofa), the double doors open into the spacious bedroom and en suite bathroom. Neutral tones and contemporary styling throughout the suite create a sense of relaxation.
The bathroom has elegant tiled floors, and is fully stocked with organic toiletries made in Connemara.
Crisp white linen
Coffee Table
Iron and ironing board
Tea & Coffee making facilities
Complimentary bottle of spring water
Telephone (outgoing calls are at standard hotel phone charges; incoming calls can be transferred to you)
Room service (menu is provided in your room's welcome pack)
iPod dock (available on request; limited numbers)
Check-in/check-out times: 4pm/12pm. Late check-out may be available (at €10 per additional hour) if the suite isn't booked for that afternoon.
Additional information
There are no TVs in the bedrooms however, DVD players are available on request with accompanying TV. Please note, TVs have no channels and are for playing DVDs only. Limited availability.
If you're doing activities before check-in or after check-out time, we'll hold your bags for you. You're welcome to use our shower facilities before you leave.
Minimum suite size: 40 square metres


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Spacious brand new villa on the large land plot of 1025 sqm. is for sale now. Living area - 421 sqm. Large swimming pool - 5x12 meters
Common Area fee 8,000.-Baht per month, 1 year advance payment Sinking Fund 250,000.-Baht – one time payment Electricity 5 Baht per unit Water 30 baht per unit Land transfer fee and taxes share 50/50
Two-story large villa, with 4 bedrooms. Two bedrooms are on the first floor, and another two bedrooms are on the second floor, (master bedroom with walk-in closet and Jacuzzi bathtub), 6 Bathrooms, 2 living rooms, kitchen, dining and living room, 1 laundry, 1 store room.
There is no Loose Furniture, only build -in furniture: - Built-in wardrobe in all bedrooms. - Built-in kitchen with island with its equipment : Hood, hob, gas, oven, fridge, dishwashing machine, microwave. - Built-in bathroom cabinet with local granite top in all bathrooms and laundry room. - Built-in wooden / stainless rail way for the ladder to the Second Floor.
A 5 X 12 Swimming Pool, with 5 jets Jacuzzi and salted system and its equipment, with three ways gutters and light system and appliances.
Wooden rails for curtain - No Curtain package
Air conditioners in all bedrooms and living area.
5 X 5 Pavilion with a ceiling fan.
Double Car Parking with automatic gate and two remote controls. Landscape and lawn. Sprinkle system in the yard. Guttering system along all roof. Сover terrace along the walk way of the swimming pool on the house side, and at the back sliding door of the Second Bedroom. Yard Light System. Out Door Shower with sand wash and stone decoration near Pavilion. Hot and Cold water in all rooms (except laundry) A washing machine in Laundry Room. Front wall light system. Underground pest control piping system around the house. Underground storage water tank of 2,000 liters with automatic water pump.


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Will exploration technology advances offset rapid reserves declines?
Energy analysts are pessimistic about rapidly depleting oil and gas reserves in the face of rising demand, while explorationists remain confident that new technology will continue to lower costs and find new reserves. At a petroleum conference in Houston Friday, speakers noted that new satellite exploration is uncovering prospective petroleum basins that haven't even been named yet. But the biggest discoveries were made decades ago with much less sophisticated technology.
Sam Fletcher
OGJ Online
Energy analysts are pessimistic about rapidly depleting oil and gas reserves in the face of rising demand, while field explorationists remain confident that new technology will continue to lower costs and find new reserves.
At a petroleum outlook conference in Houston Friday, Arthur Green, chief geoscientist with ExxonMobil Corp., noted that new computerized exploration technology, coupled with previously military satellites, is uncovering new prospective petroleum basins on land and under water "that haven't even been named yet."
In 141 years of exploration, the oil and gas industry is just starting to understand "the subsurface atmosphere that we know very little about," he said. "We've barely started to find the oil and gas on planet Earth."
New technologies like 3D seismic and horizontal drilling are helping the industry to find and tap many smaller fields that were previously overlooked�the "needles in the haystack," said Jack Zagar, an industry analyst with Malkewicz-Hueni Associates. "But unfortunately, a needle is still a needle," he said.
Most of the world's biggest oil and gas discoveries were made "with technology no more advanced than a [geologist's] hammer and hand-lens," he said.
The last three "supergiant" field discoveries were in 1967, 1968, and 1976�well before today's technology and the biggest drilling boom ever in 1979-81, said Matthew Simmons, president of Simmons & Co. International, Houston.
He claims new technology also has a "dark side," in that it produces and depletes the new, smaller reservoirs faster than in the past�a view disputed by some technicians.
Resource life span
"Historically, all global forecasts of resource-constrained oil production declines have turned out to be wrong," said John H. Lichtblau, chairman of Petroleum Industry Research Foundation Inc., a cosponsor of the conference at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University.
But Michael Lynch of WEFA Energy Inc. reminded participants, "The little boy who cried 'Wolf!' in the old fairy tale was eventually eaten by the wolf."
Lichtblau acknowledged, "The concept [that] a nonrenewable resource, produced in every increasing quantities, will at some point reach a production ceiling cannot be dismissed." That is evident in the Lower 48 states, the world's oldest oil-producing area, where oil production began 141 years ago and rose steadily to a peak of 9.5 million b/d in 1970. It has since declined "fairly steadily" to some 4.9 million b/d this year, "despite the fact that the US has the most advanced exploration and production technology, has very few governmental restrictions on...exploration or production, and has a domestic market for all of its output," Lichtblau said.
Meanwhile, a new 5-year study by the US Geological Survey shows a 5% total increase in estimated undiscovered, recoverable conventional petroleum reserves worldwide through 2025, up from the group's previous estimate in 1994. That includes a 20.5% increase in yet-to-be-found oil reserves, a whopping 130% jump in NGL, but a 14.1% drop in undiscovered natural gas reserves, said Thomas Ahlbrandt in a brief summary of that study, which will be released at the World Petroleum Congress in Canada next month.
However, Zagar said 91% of all conventional oil reserves have already been found, with 46% of those ultimate recoverable reserves already produced.
According to the USGS, most of the yet-undiscovered oil reserves�some 230 billion bbl�are in the Middle East and North Africa. The former Soviet Union countries have the second largest concentration, about 110 billion bbl, followed by Central and South America, with just over 100 billion bbl yet to be found. North America is tied for fourth place with a combination of southern Africa and Antarctica, at about 70 billion bbl for each group.
Oil dependence
As world demand for oil grows and production from other regions declines, both the volume and market share of oil exports from North and West Africa and the Middle East will increase, say industry experts.
US dependency on oil imports is now about 55%, up from 44% just 5 years ago, and "could well be 60% and rising" by 2005, Lichtblau said. "By itself, this is not a calamity that we must try to avoid. Japan imports 100% of its oil and gas requirements; and Western Europe, with its vast North Sea production, imports 57%," he said.
However, Lichtblau warned, "There are commercial, political, and security risks of a high dependency on oil from the regions that hold most of the world's incremental oil export supplies." Moreover, he said, "Oil is becoming increasingly a one-market commodity, namely a transportation fuel, as natural gas and other energy resources displace oil in the stationary energy sectors."
According to the US Energy Information Administration, transportation accounts for 66% of total US oil demand, up from 55% in 1980, and it could hit 75-80% by 2020. And, unlike other energy sectors, there is no short-term substitution for liquid motor fuels in case of supply disruptions.
In the interim, Iraq may prove to be the crucial swing-producer of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries if a hostile Saddam Hussein decides to opt out of the United Nations oil-for-aid trade during "the tightest, most dangerous oil market we've ever been in," said Amy Jaffe, senior energy analyst at the Baker Institute.
Unfound oil reserves in the Middle East, North Africa and the FSU are thought to be located primarily on land, while those to be found in the rest of the world will be primarily offshore, especially in deep waters, where exploration and production costs are much higher, said Ahlbrandt.
About 53%, or 342.3 billion bbl, of all unfound conventional oil reserves are estimated to on land, with 306.33 billion bbl, or 47%, located offshore. But total undiscovered gas reserves are exactly reversed, with 2,464.2 tcf, or 53%, located offshore and 2,205.3 tcf, or 47%, located onshore.
The biggest total gas reserves, some 1,600 tcf, are in the FSU, primarily offshore. The Middle East and North Africa are next, with nearly 1,400 tcf of unfound gas reserves, mostly on land.
North America is in seventh place, behind Central and South America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and South Africa-Antarctica. Only South Asia ranks lower, Ahlbrandt said.
Of the yet-undiscovered oil and gas reserves, 95% of the volume is thought to be located in 28 of 409 different provinces worldwide. Yet undiscovered oil and gas reserves are less concentrated in OPEC member countries than was previously estimated, said Ahlbrandt.
Some of those conventional reserves are thought to be located in emerging "boutique" provinces, which he described as "expensive places to look, but you can get some nice surprises."


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From Combine OverWiki, the original Half-Life wiki and Portal wiki
|The contents of this article have been cut.
The subject matter of this article contains in-development information that was cut from the final version of an official and/or canonical source and appears in no other canonical source. It may also contain incomplete information since not all cut material is publicly known.
|Technical specifications
Varies depending on the target
|Magazine/reload type
16 Sticky Bomb-like welding balls (cannot be reloaded)
|Max ammo
Varies with distance
Short to high
|Used by
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The Physgun, or Physics Gun, is a physics manipulation weapon used during the development of Half-Life 2. It can be found in the Half-Life 2 leak.
- The Physgun model is very similar to that of the Gravity Gun. The differences are some texture variations, a red wheel turning when operating in the place of the orange (or blue) glowing parts of the end of the Gravity Gun, and a beige pipe above. The gauge is very similar, and is held with the same tape in both weapons. The pincers are quite different, and simpler. However it has no worldmodel.
- The weapon was created to assist integration of physics objects into the gameplay of Half-Life 2.[1] It was also used in the Source engine physics demonstration at E3 2003.
- Using its blue beam, the Physgun is useful when the player is unable to reach objects too far to be taken with the Gravity Gun, acting as a long range version of the latter.
- While holding the primary fire and the Use key, the mouse scroll button can bring the target towards and away from the player.
- When holding an object, its weight in pounds and kilos is shown.
- The version of its model is v35, which needs to be converted to v37 to appear.
- The Physgun's beam is also able to kill enemies and allies. It will also push Antlions extremely far.
- The Physgun's secondary fire (with a red beam) produces a Sticky Bomb-like ball (as it is the same model) that the player can use to "weld" two props together, when throwing a ball on each prop (the balls need to touch each other for the welding to work). When two props are weld together, using the primary fire on one of them will have the ball of the other produce sparks. The ball(s) of a prop will also change its color when the prop is selected. Gameplay wise, this option is very unstable and difficult to use efficiently. Sometimes the red beam will change and attach the prop to the ground after a few seconds. When the attachment is achieved, a flare sound also used by the Flare Gun and the IRifle will be heard. This feature is reminiscent of what can be achieved in Garry's Mod, and hints at a possible sandbox physics feature (even multiplayer) removed from Half-Life 2. Indeed, in the Half-Life 2 leak, the Physgun is able to perform simple to complex physics contraptions similar to those featured in Garry's Mod, and without making changes to the game settings. The WC map pack map
dangerted(named after the Citizen ragdoll present in the map, male Citizen 02, Ted) for instance is a sandbox map that the team used for testing physics with the Physgun.[1] Furthermore, two canister models, "W_WeldTank.mdl" and "W_WeldTank2.mdl", were apparently designed only to be weld to specific objects and make it fly away when ignited, as they contain volatile gas. They were removed from the retail files, hinting at their purpose being nil in the final game.
- In an interview with RetroGamer magazine, David Speyrer stated that the Gravity Gun, originally dubbed the Physgun at the time, was initially just an in-game tool built by Jay Stelly to allow the developers to pick up props and reel them in or push them away with an energy beam. They then came up with the idea of assembling physics contraptions by welding objects together, also adding this functionality to the device. The Physgun would eventually evolve into the Gravity Gun.[2]
- The Physgun is featured in popular mods such as Garry's Mod and SMOD, in the former of which the model has been swapped with that of the supercharged gravity gun. It's functions remain the same, except a few additional features such as rotating objects and freezing them mid-air.
- In the Half-Life 2 files, several texture files for HUD weapon icons can be found, most of which still containing the icons for almost all of the cut weapons. The Physgun is among them.
- The Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device features Physgun-like functionalities in the Portal 2 Sixense MotionPack DLC.
The Physgun in the Danger Ted Construction Set.
List of appearances[edit]
- Half-Life 2 (Game files only) (Non-canonical appearance)
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Physical Gameplay in Half-Life 2, page 6
- ↑ Retro Gamer magazine, Issue 168 (May 2017).


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Rich, vivid fabric images. Any time, any place.
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Crockpot Roast Beef Sandwich
Time needed
10 min preparation + 4-5 hour cooking
Serving Size / Yield
3-5 servings
- Roast Beef:
- 1 2.5-3.5 lb. beef roast
- 4-5 cloves garlic
- 2 Tbs. real butter solid (not softened)
- Fresh ground pepper
- Salt
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- 1 meat thermometer
- Sandwich:
- 3/4 lb deli low-sodium ham, sliced
- 2/3 lb deli Swiss cheese, sliced
- 1 jar sandwich sweet pickles, sandwich pickles
- 1 jar light olive oil mayonnaise
- 3-5 French white loaf buns
Rinse and dry off roast. With a small sharp knife cut small slits all over the top and sides. Finely slice garlic cloves. Cut hard butter into similar thin and long slices. Insert garlic and butter into the slots. Add olive oil to entire roast. Salt and pepper as desired. Bake in a crockpot and set on high. Bake for 4-5 hours.
Once you have cut your bun spread the mayo inside the bottom and top half of the bun. Then begin layering the ham, roast beef, Swiss cheese, and pickles in the bun. Cut in half and enjoy.
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Singapore | Corner House, Botanic Garden
Took over the previous heritage building of Au Jardin, Corner House at Botanic Garden was opened 8 months ago, which serves fine-dining French food influenced by Gastro-Botanica. Gastro-Botanica is the contemporary cuisine created by Chef Jason Tan that emphasizes refinement and quality, and gives equivalent weight on the plate to protein and botanical (vegetable) elements. Visited: April.14.2015
Came for: Carabinero prawn, Hokkaido Scallop, Kaya dessert
The main dining room is on the second floor, with a in-door dining area, and a 'out-door' seating on the terrance with the company of trees and dense hedgerows encircling the house.
Corner House offers lunch sets from 12pm from Tuesday to Sunday, $42++ for 3 courses and $52++ for 4 courses, and few dishes with additional charges. To ensure the best dining experience, both of us picked the 5-course discovery menu priced at $88++.
Two kinds of breads to choose from, i picked the raison & walnut sourdough which was warm and fluffy. My partner also tried the traditional baguette but she much prefers the sourdough.
The prawn was so good, succulent and sweet. Company by the signature tomato in different ways, the entire dish consists of different textures and flavor - a must try. (9/10)
The beetroot collection reminds the one at JAAN, while the flavor and texture was quite different. The root vegetables were nicely processed, the smoked eel balanced well with the refreshing vegetables. (8/10)
I love most of the truffle dishes but to be honest, this soup made me (us) quite sick. The soup itself was quite weak in coconut flavor as the milk flavor was much stronger, and it was somewhat bland. The truffle was thin thus the flavor was not very strong. The part we enjoyed the most of this course was actually the 'bikini', which was a sandwich with potato filling and a hint of black truffle. Although the fragrant of black truffle was quite weak, the crispy toast and the flavorful potato filling was not bad. (6/10)
The scallop came with an appetizing appearance and lovely seared flavor. It has a brown crispy outerlayer and tender in the center, but not the perfect 'sashimi' texture. The risotto was al dante and nicely flavored. As a hot appetizer, we felt the risotto on the bottom was quite too much (compare to the single scallop). But overall, the dish i enjoyed the most of the meal. (8.5/10)
The presentation, which is the first impression of the dish is very important. As the presentation of the dish was not very appealing, i expected more on the taste side. The cod itself has a brown and crispy outerlayer and generally tender center, the mushroom sabayon did works! Which was flavorful and deep in mushroom flavor. The 'ugly' leek was much 'fattier' than i thought. But overall, i felt there was nothing very special about this dish. (7.5/10)
My partner had the braised beef cheek, it was juicy but not melt-in-mouth tenderness. The sauce went through the entire beef well but partner found it quite average as there's nothing surprised her on the taste side. (7/10)
Currently two fine dining restaurants have desserts inspired by kaya, one is Iggy's and one is here. This signature dessert was something i expected the most. However we were quite disappointing - we have no clue about the kaya and pandan flavor, the cookie was too sweet and almost covered all other flavors. While the coconut palm sugar nicely mirrorred the chendol, and the yuzu sorbet was quite refreshing. (7.5/10)
Surprisingly, we both much preferred the Philibon Melon, very refreshing flavor of the yogurt and sweet melon. (8/10)
You will never go wrong with salted egg yolk, especially such a special way. The salted egg yolk cream was high in flavor, the almond base was a bit over sweet but the sea salt on the surface brought a very nice balance. I think i can eat all the macarons at once if you give me a box of this.
The dishes we enjoyed the most was the prawn, scallop and the salted egg yolk macarons, the melon dessert was great as well. However, the rest were quite average and lack of specialities. Maybe we expected too much on the food. The ambiance is no doubt awesome, perfect for a romantic meal.
Corner House
Address: E J H Corner House, 1 Cluny Road
+65 64691000


text: Our team had a basketball tournament on Friday and Saturday. We did really really bad. I specifically did pretty well. I scored a basket in each game on Saturday. I also got 4 fouls in one game and 3 fouls in the other game. I did not do so well on Friday. Our team did not win one game out of 4. There was a free throw contest. That is where you shoot as many free throws in 30 seconds as you can. I got 4 and the highest was 6. The person who got 6 was from Fulton and she got first. The first place trophy was gigantic! Then there was a shoot off for 2. It was between my friend Kennady, a Fulton steamer and a U.T panther. Kennady won! The trophy was nowhere near as big as the first place but it was still cool. Then the Panther got 3 because she got 2 in the shoot off. I would have got 3 if no one got 5. No biggie. Well today we might go sledding.


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Singer-songwriter Jesse McCartney has had the kind of career that most young artists dream for themselves. Ask the New York-born artist to recall some of the highlights and he'll tell you about meeting two U.S. presidents (Barack Obama and George W. Bush), playing to thousands of devoted fans in Tokyo (where he watched the non-English-speaking audience sing along to every word), and meeting his musical heroes Stevie Wonder and Craig David.
All that was done before the release of his 2018 single "Better With You," his first new music since his well-received 2014 album In Technicolor. It premiered on PAPER Magazine then climbed Spotify's US and Global viral charts. The press and performance swiftly came afterwards from Z100 with Elvis Duran, Paste Magazine, MTV, SiriusXM, Billboard, Huffington Post, and V Magazine. The success thus far has helped McCartney reconnect with a feeling that he hadn't had before with his music: the freedom to write as he wishes, everything from his perspective.
The turning point from boy band pop star to serious working artist began when McCartney co-wrote the Grammy Award-winning single "Bleeding Love" with Ryan Tedder, performed by Leona Lewis. An international mega-hit, "Bleeding Love" won a Grammy Award for "Record of the Year," reached No. 1 in 35 countries. and became the best-selling single of 2008 worldwide.
McCartney's next single "Wasted" reveals more of thoughtful yet self-deprecating side of him that often lay dormant in his earlier, "cleaner" years. The most exciting part is that his fans are coming along for the ride. "It's nice to be able to talk about things that the fans are also going through," he says. "I think they feel connected to me because we did basically grow up together. When I was 16, they were in high school with braces on just like me, and now here we are; they're playing my song at their wedding."


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Note: This is a supplementary article to Sheila's chapter in the book Interactive and Improvisational Drama: Varieties of Applied Theatre & Performance, edited by Adam Blatner, M. D.
The method and term "self-revelatory performance" was coined by Dr. Renee Emunah, director of the Drama Therapy Department at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), in San Francisco, California. She writes in her book Acting for Real (1994: 225) that in the self- revelatory scene or performance, "The issue must be current so that there is an immediacy to this transformation; this immediacy is theatrically compelling and at times riveting. The creation of the scene itself and the transition contained within it imply a kind of transcendence, which the audience witnesses and applauds." Furthermore, the scene can be "...a step ahead of the client/actor's real life—that is, the transcendence might not have been experienced yet in reality, but the creation and performance of the scene bring the person in closer contact with the actualization of this transcendence in real life." In other words, part of the purpose of the self-revelatory performance is that it is not just a telling of one's story or life struggles, it is also about transformation. It is not just a monologue to get it off your chest. The goal of the self-rev is the expression and transcendence of the issue, and the transcendence might even be in the future, but it is alluded to in the performance.
Once the creative process is evoked, it can be as if a sleeping dragon has been awakened.
Writing Catalysts
Journaling is an important way to awaken the creative process and at the same time provide containment for the self-rev process. It is helpful to have an actual journal that will be used for the entire process. I use a lined yellow pad of paper. Many prefer a spiral notebook. There are several journaling processes I use. "Freewriting"is the term Natalie Goldberg used in 1986 to describe a free association type of writing. Group members are taught to write daily "notes to oneself," dreams, letters written by one part of oneself or role to another, noting themes, finding similarities to myths, lists, thoughts about the self-rev, drawings from particular roles, mind maps, etc.
Deciding What to Include
Often in a ten-week group students are just being introduced to this form and spend the whole time trying out different improvisational techniques and exploring material. At some point in the process they may decide that they want to present material on a certain subject for the performance on the last night for an invited audience.
Many of the self-rev performances in my class are improvisational, using monologue and other theatrical techniques. Sometimes when it is helpful to have some distance between the actor and the subject or between the audience and the subject, masks or symbols or storytelling are helpful techniques. I may direct a student to choose or create a mask that represents a person or element that they need on stage. One student, who had been struggling for years to complete her master's degree, was able to realize through the freewriting exercises that she was afraid to graduate because she would be surpassing her mother. I directed her to choose a mask to represent her mother. She chose a mask of a person in pain. I directed her to improvise a scene in which she held and talked to the mask, explaining her challenge to be the first person in this Hispanic family to get her master's degree. She talked to the mask (her mother) and spoke about how hard she had worked and that she was not going to let her mother's pain get in her way of finally graduating.
Sometimes the storyteller can provide guidance for the audience and distance from the feelings for the actor. One student I directed used the role of storyteller to take the audience back to her childhood home and provide structure and a through line for several stories she told about her mentally ill mother.
Sometimes it is a metaphor that is needed, a symbol. In this way, the actor can tell a fictional story that directly relates to their issues that is able to get a point across in a different way. What is deeply revealed by working deeply with self-rev stories is that what is incredibly similar about everyone's stories is that each of us is incredibly unique.
Dealing with Intrapsychic Roles
One part of this work deals with parts of the self, such as the "inner judge," the "inner director," or that part of the self that is in some ways the opposite of what one considers oneself to be—the "shadow" complex.
On dealing with inner voices: Sometimes it's important to just let all the thoughts and feelings out and other times it's important to give voice to a specific place. There needs to be someone in charge, some part of the person that is aware of the larger process. I often hold this for people whom I direct. At some point this part is able to engage and have discussions with me. I can ask this part through interview or improvisation, "What is the through line of this self-rev?"
Aesthetic Distance
As a teacher and director, I ask my students to look in their work for what has heart, what Renee Emunah calls "aesthetic distance"—a center point between being emotionally connected to the content of the story yet at the same time having enough distance to allow the person to tell the story, hold the content, and not be too overwhelming or bore the audience with too many details that aren't important, or a process that isn't "finished." Another way is to say: Look for what has heart. Where is the student/actress most engaged, most vulnerable, most sharing something that touches the sacredness of being human (the human condition)?
There are themes that I may present to the group to explore. Often, group members bring in themes that have emerged from homework or dreams during the week.
Here are some possible themes to explore through improvisation or solo scenework:
· The part of you that wants to be seen and the part that doesn't want to be seen
· How does your inner judge run your life? Whose voice is that really?
· Nicknames—yours and family members
Varying the Distance from the Audience and Talking to the Audience
Traditional theater has an assumed "fourth wall" that divides the actor on stage and the audience. In self-revelatory performance, there is no fourth wall, so the person on stage can look directly at audience members and talk to them, ask questions, and even get responses from the audience during a performance.
Theatrical Structures
There are many techniques that can be used for developing the material further.
If a point comes in which the protagonist is facing a choice or having a internal conflict, the group leader could use any of the following techniques:
· Split stage: going back and forth between two life choices or two parts
· Person interviewing a shadow character
· Shadow character talking to the audience
· Storyline
· Storyteller telling a series of stories and keeping the audience aware of the sequence
· Person with auxiliary ego
· Body part telling the story from its point of view
· Sequence of stories of the person at different ages
· Interviews with people who knew the person at different life points (especially if each saw a different part of the person)
Web resource: Deepening Personal Meaning: Using Dramatic Approaches by Adam Blatner, M.D.
The improvisational process of uncovering and recovering and piecing together pieces of memories and sensations through a dramatic process can be therapeutic and can also be traumatic. Care needs to be taken to provide a good container, especially during the performance part of the evening, as well as closure before people go home.
More about "Presence"
I lead the class through a series of exercises that help them breathe and feel a sense of being in their body in front of the group. The goal is to be able to speak to the audience in an authentic, genuine, real way. We practice first in partners, one person moving and the other watching. The quality of authenticity is about being genuine, speaking from the heart, speaking from the gut.
The media of acting, staging, some props, all require a process of rehearsal, re-designing, staging, planning, and revision—and these elements then function as mirrors that foster more insight and appreciation of elements that might have been previously overlooked or under-estimated. The distillation of all these experiences so that they can be presented within a limited time further anchors their place in the actor's own mental and spiritual narrative of what life has been and is becoming.


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I'm a history nerd. I studied Ancient Rome and Latin in college, and worked on an archaeological dig in Tuscany for a number of summers. I love looking at the past, and learning from those that came before us.
When it came time to design #UNCVRDholiday16, I was constantly being bombarded by election stuff. Articles being pushed through my iPhone, passionate posts on Facebook - it was everywhere. So much of what I was seeing everyday on the news was making me feel like I had stepped into a time machine....taken back a solid 60 years when people were not treated as equals, due to the color of their skin, or where there family came from. Haven't we learned? Haven't we seen the irreperable damage that this view can cause? Day after day, I was reminded that the answer was a resounding "no".
I want to be on the right side of history. I don't want to look back when I'm old and grey filled with regret over times I stayed silent, times I didn't act while people were being oppressed and abused. It got me thinking about the brave women who came before us, who stood up against all odds for what they knew to be right. These female abolitionists endured ridicule and even abuse all for the sake of equality and freedom. This was during a time when women were still expected to be seen and not heard, yet they still used their voice and their resources to join together and put systems into place that would change the lives of so many. It wasn't viewed as cool, trendy, or Instagram-worthy, but they didn't care. They were rebels.
Each piece in this collection is named after a historical female freedom fighter that personally inspires me to stand up and use my voice and my talents to make a difference. I invite you to SHOP the collection and LEARN more about these incredible bad ass babes.
Let's be like them. Let's be rebels.
#RebelRomance #lifeUNCVRD


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In honor of the Homer Women's Conference, where I am speaking this weekend, I'm taking us back to the Potluck--where we experience the joys of the Casserole Rapture, of the Soup Left Behind, and where we are reminded again of what makes food----Holy.
I don't know how you feel about potlucks, particularly church potlucks. I'm not feeling exuberant about them right now. In fact, I'm licking my wounds, with a little salt and pepper at this moment. I shouldn't be doing this, though--- it may ruin my appetite for the three gallons of soup no one ate a potluck this week.
It was good soup, too. Chicken tortilla, with chili peppers, corn, black beans, tomatoes and the best of all spices, cumin. Served with tortilla strips and sour cream, both of which were demolished, but the soup? Barely touched. And because my own family likes it so well, I fixed three times the usual potluck amount so we could have a meal at home out of it as well. We'll be eating it for a month, assuring its instant drop to the last-meal-I-ever-want-to-eat-again list.This is the trouble with potlucks. I hate it when my food isn't eaten. I feel rejected. I question my worth. I question my taste. I know I'm not strange or unusual. No one wants their soup or their casserole Left Behind at a church potluck. It's the culinary equivalent of missing the Rapture.
We all know the triumph of the disappeared casserole, when our enchiladas or the fried meat nuggets we picked up on the way to church fly off the table before the tuna noodle bake or the macaroni salad is even touched.
But---The Soup Left Behind . . ..
(Not enough faith? Not enough pepper? What's the missing ingredient?)
Perhaps I'm being too sensitive. I do maintain, however, that cooking and eating shouldn't be competitive. Food shows don't help a bit. All the Frantic Chef shows have turned cooking into an emergency, resolved only by tense music and the flashing of expensive knives by the most creative cutthroats to don an apron.
In the church, we are a little more relaxed, resolved to live by grace, but grace doesn't always extend from our faith to our taste buds. Neither does it always extend the long full length of the potluck tables. (Frankly, all grace aside for the moment, some people are terrible cooks, and they bring terrible food. I won't name any of those so-called foods [though some of them begin with the word "jello" and some include the words "potato chips"],
but this is clearly the "luck" part of the pot. The vast offerings, more food than we can possibly eat, demand hard choices: Spaghetti pie or Green bean casserole? Potato-weiner bake or broccoli cheeze-whiz casserole? Some we lower our paper plate for enthusiastically; others we lift it just imperceptively higher, meaning, "Are you kidding me? I would never eat that!)
I wouldn't fuss about this at all, but some of it matters. I think God cares a lot about food. And I'm quite sure our potluck days will not be over when this world flames out and the new heaven floats down to stay. I think we'll be cooking in that bright heavenly city—which, I know, is dismaying to some. I say this not because I wish it so, but the prophet Zechariah ends his entire book (of mostly horrific coming destruction) with this stunning vision of heaven---which is all about the kitchen:
"On that day HOLY TO THE LORD will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the LORD's house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar. Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them."
This is how holy heaven is: At the potlucks, every pot and pan and casserole dish will be holy to God--- and every food (Tuna casserole? Spaghetti pie?) made in it---will be holy to the Lord.
Holy to the Lord.
And maybe there my soup will be eaten, down to the very last bean and spoon of broth! Nothing left over. All eaten with gusto, requiring not even a sprinkling of salt or grace.
But then again, maybe not. Maybe heaven is the place where I will not care if my soup is gone in the flash of a ladle---or left behind. Where I will not count my worth by others' appetites and tastes. Where I know so much joy in the gathering and stirring and tasting and spicing and bringing and serving that I do not need others to confirm what I already know:
This soup is made holy by my love for God and for his good, hungry people, and already, in the making of it, I am blessed. Even, at times, enraptured.
We could be filled this way.
Our food could be holy this way.
Our food will be holy this way,
Maybe it already is . . . .


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I woke around my usual time and got my bags packed before having a small bite to eat. I decided yo try for an earlier train to Leeds and got on the train to Lime Street at 9:41 am. Arriving at Lime Street, I switched onto the 10:12 train heading to Newcastle that would stop at Leeds. Wishing I had purchased a snack or food I headed East towards Leeds passing through Manchester. Arriving in Leeds around noon, I wandered around the shopping area which is very close to the train station.
Locating the art gallery I headed inside while the sun was shining over head. I was able to store my bag in a closet for the duration of my visit which I thought was really nice as the sign on the door said no bags and here I was with my backpack. I walked around the gallery was surprised to see a recreation of the plaques from Postman's Park in it. Was sad to read them all over again. The art gallery is not that large but it has a good amount of artwork. I was unable to see their fine art collection as the section was closed for art renovations. Therefore I was unable to see The Lady of Shalott by John William Waterhouse.
As I was leaving the art gallery, the weather decided to take a very nasty turn and started to pour down rain. I hurried along, attempting to find the bus stop that would take me to my hotel. Finding it, I saw I was too early and decided to get a backpack cover from Cotswolds Outdoor Store. I got the Lowe Alpine Rain Cover. The irony is though that as soon as I got the cover on my backpack it stopped raining. Well, now I cover for next time.
Still with time to spare before my bus arriving I chose to check out St. John the Evangelist's Church. It is designated as a Grade I listed building. It is the oldest church in the city centre of Leeds and was built between 1632 and 1634. This makes the church 382 years old!
After checking out the church I headed to Seacroft where I would be staying in the Britania Hotel Leeds. I checked into my hotel and got settled before heading back to the bus stop and jumping on the next bus. I wasn't paying attention and got on the one going to Harrogate which is not close to Leeds but in the opposite direction. I got a lovely ride out into the countryside before getting off and jumping on the next one heading in the right direction. Ending up in the city centre I had a walk around before deciding on getting some dinner. I was recommended the Indian restaurant Tharavadu. It was a tasty experience and I really enjoyed the fish curry that I decided on. After my dinner, I walked up into the Trinity Leeds shopping centre which has a really cool glass roof.
Growing tired and not wanting to be in the city after dark, I caught the next bus to Seacroft and popped into Tesco's for some snacks for the festival as well as some food for myself for the morning. Heading back to the hotel, I got in my pajamas and had a relaxing evening.


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Adwords – Best tools & methods to help you measure your performance
Columnist Frederick Vallaeys is sharing his favourite tools and methods for evaluating your Adwords performance. In this article there will be insights into using ratios, scores and grades to further assist performance.
Lin-Rodnitzky (L/R) Score
The L/R score compares the CPA of converted search queries, to the overall CPA for search campaigns in your account. The L/R score is reached by dividing the total of the two CPAs together by at least one conversion. Once you've found the score for your campaigns, it's important to know what it means. A score between 1.5 – 2, would mean that your account is well managed and performing at a good rate. Anything below that would possibly indicate that your account is not aggressive enough. But it's important to know that a higher score doesn't necessarily mean a positive thing, as your account could be hitting a L/R score of 2, but wasting money on lots of irrelevant keywords.
To download the L/R ratio, Click Here
Vallaeys Shopping Efficiency Score
This is a similar method to the L/R score, but targets the shopping campaigns rather than search. The Vallaeys shopping efficiency score (VSE) monitors and evaluates you method of controlling the bids for shopping ads; as you might be managing them too tightly.
VSE structure score (as described by Frederick Vallaeys) "calculates the ratio of ad impressions that come from product groups labeled 'everything else in …' versus those coming from defined product groups." The point in this is to show that a more highly-structured product group will be better managed than one that is more loosely structured.
If you want to know how well your shopping campaigns are structured, download the following script Here
Google Search Tips – Become an expert at finding things online
As many of you may know, there are many features out there you can use to further assist your search. But there may be some that you haven't been aware of before.
The following are the best hidden features that Google offer for users. This will not only make the process of search much faster, but it will make it easier and more efficient for people who are constant users.
Search within a site:
Enter the domain of the site you want to search and use "site:" before it, if you are looking to search for something that is only on that site.
Search exact phrases:
To search for a specific phrase you can apply quotation marks around the terms you want to use.
Exclude a word:
Add a dash before a word to exclude the search term, this can be useful if you are searching for something with multiple meanings.
Search for similar content:
Enter "related" before a URL that you know of, to find sites with similar content.


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LOVE, ROBERT MARSHALL (1847–1903). Robert Marshall Love, son of James M. and Theresa Evelyn (Braden) Love, was born in Franklin, Texas, on January 11, 1847, eleven years after his parents had arrived as pioneers in Texas. The family moved to Tehuacana, where he attended the common schools. At seventeen he gave up a short-lived teaching career to volunteer in the Confederate Army; he enlisted in Company G, Sixth Texas Cavalry, Ross's Brigadeqv, in 1862 and served throughout the war. After the war he returned home and successfully farmed and raised livestock in Tehuacana. On January 12, 1870, in Hickman County, Kentucky, he married Lucy Townes Morgan. They had ten children.
Love began his political career as deputy sheriff of Limestone County in 1872. He was sheriff of Limestone County, 1884–90; United States marshal for the Northern District of Texas, 1894–96; and state comptroller, 1901–03. He also was elected president of the Sheriff's Association of Texas from 1886 to 1894. Love and his brother John helped end Reconstruction in 1873, when they armed themselves with pistols and stood at the foot and head of the Capitol stairs to protect the members of the legislature who had been prohibited to convene by incumbent governor Edmund J. Davis. Richard Coke had been elected governor, but Davis contested the election. The Love brothers enabled the Fourteenth Legislature to organize and administer the oath of office to Coke. Rumor states that John Love kicked Davis in the seat of the pants as he exited through the Capitol rotunda door.
Love belonged to many organizations, including the Knights of Honor, the Knights of Pythias, and the Knights Templar. He was a leading member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He built a church on his own farm and devoted himself to the construction of many others around the state. In 1903, while serving as state comptroller, he was shot at his desk in the Capitol at Austin by W. G. Hill, a former employee of the department. His last words were, "I have no idea why he shot me. May the Lord bless him and forgive him. I cannot say more." He died several hours later in Austin and was buried at Tehuacana.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:A Memorial and Biographical History of McLennan, Falls, Bell, and Coryell Counties (Chicago: Lewis, 1893; rpt., St. Louis: Ingmire, 1984). Vertical Files, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin. Ray A. Walter, A History of Limestone County (Austin: Von Boeckmann-Jones, 1959).
Image Use Disclaimer
All copyrighted materials included within the Handbook of Texas Online are in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 related to Copyright and "Fair Use" for Non-Profit educational institutions, which permits the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), to utilize copyrighted materials to further scholarship, education, and inform the public. The TSHA makes every effort to conform to the principles of fair use and to comply with copyright law.
For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this article.Handbook of Texas Online, Lucie Love Whitley, "LOVE, ROBERT MARSHALL," accessed August 26, 2019, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/flo29.
Uploaded on June 15, 2010. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
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Click here to check out my old blog, Cascadian Curiosities. I'm hoping to revamp this blog in the near future with more stories and events that are unique to the Pacific Northwest. Do you have a suggestion for a story? Email me!
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Recientemente se ha publicado el Informe Anual sobre la Economía Europea elaborado por el Grupo de Asesoramiento Económico Europeo en CESifo
The EEAG consists of a team of eight economists from seven European countries. The Group is chaired by Jan-Egbert Sturm (KOF Swiss Economic Institute, ETH Zurich) and includes Lars Calmfors (Stockholm University), Giancarlo Corsetti (Cambridge University), John Hassler (Stockholm University), Gilles Saint-Paul (University of Toulouse), Hans-Werner Sinn (Ifo Institute and LMU University of Munich), Akos Valentinyi (Cardiff Business School) and Xavier Vives (IESE Business School). They are collectively responsible for each chapter in the Report. They participate on a personal basis and do not necessarily represent the views of the organisations they are affiliated with.


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Quadruple Your Impact
Jul 08
crowd funding Annual Appeal, archaeology, Baumstein, crowd funding, Israel, Jerusalem, Research, temple mount 2 Comments
Quadruple Your Impact
We are excited to launch this year's Annual Appeal with the news that we have matching funds to QUADRUPLE this year's donations!
As you know, we were promised government funding over a year ago, but we have yet to see any of those promises fulfilled.
In four months, we will run out of funding completely, so we are now relying on our supporters to raise $25,000 – matched to give us $100,000 to complete the year, start 2019, continue our research, and stay on track for publishing in 2021.
Donate Now
Without being able to publish our research, it will be as though the half a million significant artifacts that we've recovered – didn't exist.
This tragedy is avoidable with YOUR help.
Make sure to subscribe to our blog for updates on research discoveries and more.
2017/18 Accomplishments
With your help, this past year we put in 8700 research hours, advanced our research, finalized multiple chapters for our publication, and completed over 2000 technical drawings and photographs of our artifacts. We also submitted three chapters to a book about the Temple Mount, and presented at multiple conferences.
We also just submitted an extensive article for publication about the Immer Bulla. Through in depth research, we made remarkable discoveries and have many new insights about the Temple Treasury and the King's Palace Treasury.
Support our research and we can answer unsolved questions like:
- When exactly was the First Temple built?
- Was there idol worship in the First Temple period as described in the Bible?
- What did the courts of Herod's temple look like?
- What was the most popular sacrifice on the Temple Mount?
- Did the Romans build a pagan temple on the Temple Mount?
- Did the Byzantines (Christian Romans) have a church on the Temple Mount despite Jesus's prophecy that not one stone would remain upon another?
- Did the legendary Knights Templar really use Solomon's Stables as stables for their horses?
Continued Support
We are asking for your continued support for this research. Although we hope government funding will be granted in the future, we need YOUR help now. The beauty of the Sifting Project is that it is based on communal support in sifting and in funding.
This project could not exist without our many supporters. Your generosity means that we can continue our research and ensure that the true history of the Temple Mount is shared with the world.
Watch this video appeal from Ed Baumstein, one of our donors who is now also on the board of our foundation.
YouTube: please specify correct url


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Inlays & Onlays
Cosmetic Dentistry Directory
nlays and onlays are porcelain fillings. Inlays are smaller, repairing damage within the cusps (top projections of the tooth), while onlays extend over the cusps to outside surfaces of the tooth. Whether you require inlays or onlays depends on how large an area needs repairing.
Porcelain vs. white dental composite
Teeth can be repaired with either dental porcelain or dental composite. That's a choice between porcelain inlays or onlays and what are known as white fillings, and the choice can be yours.
Both porcelain and composite (also known as bonding) look white and tooth-like and both are bonded to the tooth, holding it together and strengthening it. Here are their differences:
- Porcelain can be more closely matched to your natural tooth color, as it can have multiple, subtle shades of white blended together much as our teeth contain several shades of white
- Porcelain is hard and when placed in the tooth, it already has its exact shape, ready to fit precisely into that cavity
- Porcelain fillings are made in a dental lab from impressions of your teeth, which means two visits are required, the first to prepare the tooth and take the impression, and the second to fit the filling in and bond it to the tooth
- Porcelain has a pearly shine very similar to that of tooth enamel
- Porcelain stays white and does not respond to tooth whiteners
- Bonding is a soft, putty-like material and is shaped to fit your tooth, and then hardened with a curing light
- Bonding requires only one visit
- Bonding is white, and closely matched in color to your natural teeth, but lacks the sheen of porcelain and enamel
- Bonding costs less than porcelain
- Bonding can become a little stained over time, much as tooth enamel can
- Bonding does not last as long as porcelain
Porcelain fillings vs. metal amalgam fillings
Porcelain fillings are usually preferred:
(a) because they are more pleasing to the eye, resembling natural teeth in their pearly white sheen;
(b) because they are part of the tooth, bonded to it, thus preventing bacteria from getting between the tooth and the repair; and
(c) because they strengthen the tooth, holding it together and prolonging its life.
Like white fillings, inlays and onlays can replace old metal fillings. If you would like more information on inlays and onlays, please visit our Frequently Asked Inlays and Onlays Questions page.


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Wearing a protective style can make you forget about taking care of your own hair. Here are a few steps and products that can help to take care of your scalp while rocking your protective style.
The first step is to use This Carol's Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey Clarifying Scalp Treatment is very thick and feels great on the scalp! This product has a nozzle on the end so you can reach between the braids under your twists or braids. I like to mix this product up with a little bit of water because it so thick and to prevent product build-up. This really helps to clean the scalp and feels refreshing to your scalp. This product is also great to use between washes or when you work out.
After applying the clarifying scalp treatment I like to follow-up with some oil directly on my scalp. I feel like giving yourself a scalp massage is one the BEST feeling EVER! This Silk Elements Pure Olive Oil is great and also has a dropper. Once again this is soooo helpful in order to reach your scalp like the clarifying scalp treatment. Oil helps to keep your scalp from drying out and also keep you from whacking yourself on your head…yeahhhh….you know that whacking thing you do when your scalp starts to itch??? Don't play, you or a love one has done this before lol.
Lastly, to do a little maintenance in between your clarifying scalp treatment use Obia Naturals Curl Hydration Spray. This product is a staple in my regular routine as well because it contains Argan oil and Rose oil and makes my hair shine and scalp feel absolutely wonderful. This spray has been a godsend on days when I am on the run and don't have a lot of time to spend on my scalp.
What are some products that you like to use while you are wearing a protective style? Have you used any of these products before? Let us know on the comment box or on our Instagram. Be blessed and spread some virtuous love in the world.


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Comparative Politics Seminar
The comparative politics seminar meets every Wednesday at 12.15 in Room 707 of the International Affairs Building. The seminar brings faculty from other departments to present their work on topics related to comparative politics. In addition, it also allows for advanced graduate students in the department to present their work.


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Oh wow! Got a phone call at 2:30 a.m. from someone wanting to order a catalog! Glad I didn't even hear the phone and saw the answering machine blinking this morning! I advertise in Country Sampler, and get some early morning phone calls from the east coast once in a while (no...I'm not in Washington D.C. - it's Washington STATE....the west coast.....three hours earlier than the east coast!), but nothing like 2:30 a.m.! You'd think that when the answering machine says "you've reached the Johnsons.....blah, blah, blah", they'd realize this is a home business! My customers are really awesome, though, and I'm just complaining a little bit about this one because she obviously doesn't have the internet so she won't know it! (Those are the ones who call instead of e-mail).
I don't even have a catalog....just a brochure with a handful of items.......
Okay. I'm done grumbling now! :)
On another note, I'm starting a new venture today! I've been asked to make some bridal veils for a shop. Never done anything like that before, and it's definitely not a primitive craft (can you imagine a coffee-stained veil!?! Ha!), but with four daughters, I'm sure it'll come in handy eventually!
Happy Sunday!


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Primrose Dog Bow Tie
Primrose dog bow tie. Fully detachable from the collar with a strong elasticated band.
XS - to fit collars XXS - XS
S/M - to fit collars Small - Medium
HANDMADE TO ORDER. For more information on delivery times please refer to the 'Delivery' page.
Please note: Collar sizes are based on Top Pooch own branded. Collar sold separately.


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For VIP clients, special occasions and celebrations, Little's offers the most, reliable and discreet chauffeur drive service available.
When only the best will do, clients rely on our pristine quality cars, the dedication and attention to detail of our office team, and the smart, professional service of our highly skilled chauffeurs.
Need help to organise transport for your VIPs?
The reassurance of experience
With decades of experience behind us, you can trust Little's with your VIP transport requirements for any occasion. Rest assured that we will deliver on the day, and create an experience that you and your important guests will enjoy and remember.
A luxurious service
Special guests deserve a special experience every time. The Little's fleet of pristine cars are polished to perfection and drawn from the luxury ranges of the world's finest marques, such as Mercedes and Jaguar. Offering the perfect balance of spacious comfort and safety, our fleet is perfectly complemented by the exceptional service and traditional style of the Little's chauffeurs.
Discretion and trust
High profile clients can trust Little's with their travel plans, their safety and the security of any confidential arrangements or information. We have many years' experience of discreetly managing transport for prominent guests from business, entertainment, sport and politics. You can count on us to bring this experience, care and professional acumen to every drive.


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Bella Demachkie
|Santa Barbara
|High School:
|Santa Barbara HS
UC Santa Cruz Success:
- 2016-17: Cross Country - Opened season at the UC Riverside Invitational finishing the 5k course in 20:33...Competed at the Pacific Union College Pioneer Classis running 24:08 for a 10th place overall finish...Competed at the Santa Clara Bronco Invitational running 25:27...Finished the season with a huge personal best for 6K in 24:45 for a 4th place overall finish.
- 2013-2014: Cross Country - Made UCSC debut at the Santa Clara Bronco Invitational running 25:07...Competed at the NCAA West Regional Championships running 26:41.8 for 123rd place.
High School/Club Success:
- Competed in Cross Country and Track & Field for the Santa Barbra High School Dons.
- Named Team Captain.
- Stevenson College
- Born January 28th, 1995
- Favorite thing about UCSC: The Beautiful Campus
- Favorite Superhero: Pablo Escobar
- Favorite Color: Red
- Hobbies: Hiking and petting dogs.
NCAA Cross Country West Regional
- 2013 - 26:41.8, 123rd


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I knew that I HAD to read this book by Louann Brizendine, M.D. (a neuropsychiatrist at the University of California) when I saw an interview with Whitney Cummings on Live With Kelly & Ryan (confession: I watch that sometimes), where she talked about how this book blew her mind and inspired her to co-write and direct a movie by the same name.
The trailer is hilarious:
The Female Brain had me from the first page where it explains that for most of history, the majority of scientists have assumed that women are basically "small men".
The reality is that there are some MAJOR differences between the male and female brain that affect how we react to different situations, how we see the world, how we make decisions, etc. But, because of the "men and women are the same" assumption, there was (has been) very little research conducted into the female brain and how things like hormone changes actually affect the way that women think and react in different situations.
The book begins by tackling the daunting question: What makes us women?
It then goes through the different phases of a woman's life from birth to death and everything in-between tackling how the brain reacts to love, sex, emotions, sexual orientation, and more.
The text is witty, smart, and fascinating to read. It's like taking a deep dive into your head and coming out with an understanding of what makes you who you are, why you act the way you do, and what you should expect to happen in the next phase of your life.
To quote Christiane Northrup, who's review sits on the front cover of the book, "All women — and the men who love them — should read this book."


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By Nathan Bonilla-Warford, OD
Typically I use my Review of Optometric Business blog to cover such topics as how to improve office productivity, market the practice and efficiently stay informed on optometric topics. All of those are extremely important, but let's face it: sometimes you need a little fun and to blow off steam with friends.
Fortunately, there is a growing trend that combines both education and fun: the meet-up. Over the last several years, social media meet-ups have become a fixture at major optometry meetings. The concept is simple: People who know and share information online make a point of getting together in person. It is really that simple. Typically these meet-ups are sponsored by companies who find useful the exposure and chance to talk with doctors.
Left to right: Alan Glazier, OD, founder of ODs on Facebook, John Warren, OD, of RevolutionEHR and Cindy Braden, also of RevolutionEHR at the recent ODs on Facebook Social Media Meetup.
At the recent American Optometric Association meeting, Alan Glazier, OD, held the "ODs on Facebook" Social Media Meetup. It was sponsored by Marco and RevolutionEHR. Dr. Glazier and I are no strangers to holding meet-ups. I previously organized one in 2010 at the AOA meeting in Orlando, and Dr. Glazier has organized several successful meet-ups at Vision Expo East and West.
Why attend a meet-up? There are lots of reasons:
People you know – At every meet-up I attend, I talk to people I have known online for years, but have never met in person. This is fantastic because we have a lot to talk about, and it strengthens our online relationships.
People you don't (yet) know – By definition, people who come to meet-ups are social. And they love to meet people with similar interests. You will come away from any meet-up with connections to a cadre of optometrists.
Free drinks and food – Just like in college, events with free beer and something to eat attract more attention. So take advantage of them! Whichever your preference, it will make the time and conversation more interesting.
Get questions answered – Have you been thinking about making a change to the practice? Want to improve your online marketing efforts? Meet-ups attract people who are knowledgeable about many aspects of optometry and they'll be interested in talking to you about your questions.
Chris Sarakaitis of Marco and Mary Lou French, OD, of Children's Eyecare in Orland Park, Ill, at the recent ODs on Facebook Social Media Meetup.
Work with a sales rep – Don't forget to show some love to the companies that are footing the bill by sponsoring the event. Quite likely they offer a service or product that you are
interested in. The relaxed environment allows for longer, more real-world conversation than is always possible on the showroom floor. Take advantage of it!
Hatch a new plan! – The combined forces of online and offline friends in a comfortable environment are unstable. That mix often inspires attendees to brainstorm and shake things up. It is likely that during the meet-up you and your buddies will come up with a new way to do things. This could be as small as a change in your office script, or as large as a new business venture.
Undoubtedly, as online communication becomes more important, meet-ups will continue to grow. These will become standard events at all major meetings.
Since you are reading this, you are definitely the right kind of person to attend a meet-up. Fortunately, Dr. Glazier is working on the next one at Vision Expo West at the Palazzo. The time and date have yet to be established, but join ODs on Facebook for the details.
Do you meet-up with online connections in person from time to time? If so, how and where do you meet? If not, why not?
Want to Hold Your own Meet-Up?
? See if anyone else you are connected to online is planning a social media meet-up. If so, join forces, don't compete.
? Establish who your primary audience is, such as ODs on Facebook or another group.
? Decide on a platform to use for invites and RSVP, such as Facebook or Meetup.com.
? Contact potential sponsors to cover meeting space, food, drinks, etc.
? Consider a theme or event to interest people.
? Set the time and place. Try not to conflict with other popular activities your group may be interested in.
? Promote. Promote. Promote. Then promote more. People can't go to an event they don't know about.
? Have a good time at the event and don't stress about details like attendance and food. Just make sure everyone has a good time.
Nathan Bonilla-Warford, OD,of Bright Eyes Family Vision Care in Tampa, Fla., is a graduate of Illinois College of Optometry. He is a member of the American Optometric Association, and is past president of the Hillsborough Society of Optometry, as well as chair of the Children's Vision Committee of the Florida Optometric Association. To contact him: email@example.com.


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Barcelona Events 2019
This is a Sponsored page
Daytripsbarcelona.com is a small groups guide company in Barcelona that offers exclusive and well organised small group day tours from Barcelona to beautiful and interesting attractions and sights near Barcelona. These are some of the Barcelona day excursions you can book.
Click on the pictures below to read more about each tour. Or visit www.daytripsbarcelona.com to see more day tours and day trips from Barcelona and to book online.
Visit www.daytripsbarcelona.com to see more day tours from Barcelona
Event address & map