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Cloud providers pregaming Black Friday with M&A shopping spree
Holy market consolidation, Batman!
We've known for a while that the volume of cloud provider mergers and acquisitions (M&As) has been growing at a decent clip, but I was still surprised to see them come so fast and furious this week from three big providers. The reported deal values weren't jaw-dropping (in all fairness, IBM set a pretty high bar with its $2 billion SoftLayer buy earlier this year), but they hint at some of the technologies and capabilities these providers don't want to wait around for R&D to churn out:
- NTT Communications to buy Virtela for $525 million. When I covered enterprise networking more closely a few years ago, Virtela was one of those companies whose business model I always found difficult to nail down (circa 2010: "Virtualized overlay cloud networking services? Uh, yes, I totally get it"). Over the years, though, the company has done a better job articulating its message while also benefiting from a broader market interest in alternative approaches to physical networks. NTT, which has been one of the most vocal carriers discussing its SDN strategy, says in a press release that it will upgrade its network with Virtela's network functions virtualization to "virtualize the functions of customers' network equipment, such as firewalls and WAN accelerators." NTT plans to offer joint services with Virtela in 2014.
- NTT drops $350 million for 80% stake in RagingWire Data Centers. Not so much a direct cloud play, but it definitely contributes to NTT's cloud expansion. The deal more than doubles NTT's data center space in the U.S. market, and it also includes RagingWire's patented data center management tools, which NTT plans to roll out worldwide.
- CSC to acquire ServiceMesh for an undisclosed sum (well, sort of). ServiceMesh is a cloud management vendor whose core product, Agility Platform, is aimed at simplifying and automating cloud resource deployment for enterprise customers. CSC didn't publish the terms of the deal, but the folks at GeekWire tracked down a transcript of a conference call with analysts stating that the company paid $158 million in cash and will shell out up to an additional $137 million "based on the achievement of certain performance targets." John Madden, practice leader of IT services research at Ovum, says the deal gives CSC the "capabilities to address two key elements that must be addressed as the cloud services market continues to grow: the ability to size, deploy, scale and manage hybrid cloud environments, and the need for enterprises to have proper cloud governance within their organizations."
- Internap plans to nab iWeb for $145 million. Atlanta-based cloud and IT services provider Internap Network Service Corp announced its intention to acquire iWeb, a Canadian service provider that offers cloud, colocation and hosting services. In addition to expanding its geographic footprint, Internap says the deal will give it a stronger foothold in the SMB market for IaaS.
Check out these photos of the alleged 'secret Google barge' in Portland
Rumors have been flying around about what a so-called mystery barge off the coast of Portland, Maine, could contain.
Internet conspiracy theorists News outlets have been suggesting that Google could be behind the four-story structure, with the Portland Press Herald deducing that it could be a floating data center like Google is believed to be building in San Francisco Bay (a scoop that CNET got last week — well, sort of, as Google isn't confirming any of this).
Whatever it is (or isn't), two of our intrepid Portland-based TechTarget editors, Tessa Parmenter and Michelle McNickle, are hot on the trail. They snapped these photos Wednesday from Cassidy Point Drive in Portland, outside of Cianbro Corp, the construction company contracted for doing interior work on the barge.
CNET is convinced Google is behind the San Fran structure based on several interviews with locals, as well as the fact that Google filed a patent in 2009 for a floating data center. Media outlets like the Portland Press Herald are making a connection between the San Francisco structure and the Portland one based on a few (highly speculative) observations: The two structures look very similar, the clients and contents of both are veiled in secrecy, and documents point to both being built by the same company in Louisiana.
Meanwhile, the CBS affiliate in San Francisco, KPIX, claims one of its sources has confirmed that the West Coast structure is a "floating marketing center" for Google Glass (whatever that means). CNET seems to have warmed up to that idea, with Senior Writer Daniel Tardiman noting that:
"I was contacted by someone who said he had knowledge that the project in the works is a Google store of some kind. The tipster, who is well-connected in Silicon Valley but asked to remain anonymous, told me that he had heard from multiple sources at Google that the company plans to float the Glass stores from city to city by rivers, and that the idea for the project came straight from either Larry Page or Sergey Brin, Google's founders. Finally, he said, the idea is in part that Google wants to launch stores without looking like they are trying to chase Apple."
Personally, my favorite theory comes from a commenter on this piece from The Verge:
"They're actually spacetime wormholes. You jump in the hole in Portland and immediately appear in San Fransisco. Cuts down on commute time for cross coast Google employees."
Seems legit.
Study shows major shifts in IT infrastructures
A recent study revealed that 70% of all IT infrastructures will be outsourced within the next five years.
The study, commissioned by Savvis and conducted by Vanson Bourne, examined IT infrastructure trends among 550 IT decision makers across industries ranging from finance to retail in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Today, 65% of IT infrastructures are in-house environments, but the study showed a shift to hybrid cloud services as enterprises look to cut costs and improve the quality of their services. According to the study, within two years colocation will be the infrastructure of choice, but within five years outsourced managed services will dominate.
The latest Research and Markets report reflects the same trend in managed services as Vanson Bourne and the market forecast and analysis report projects that the managed services market will grow from $142.75 billion to $256.05 billion in 2018.
"The next five years will bring a dramatic shift in the way organizations approach IT," said Jeff Von Deylen, president of Savvis, in a statement. "Clearly, cloud is part of the picture but it's not the whole picture. As businesses grow and move more IT infrastructure to outsourcing providers, they will adopt a strategic mix of colocation, managed-hosting and cloud services."
The most popular cloud service is cloud storage, with 54% of respondents citing the use of the service. Public and private cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) were the second and third most popular services among enterprises. According to the survey, these services were popular because they were cost-effective and provided safe environments to test and develop applications.
The services most respondents want to outsource are non-mission-critical applications. Enterprises are less likely to outsource more sensitive services, such as supply chain management, finance and telecom, according to the study.
While the study indicates trends are in favor of cloud providers, enterprises won't readily outsource to services. The Vanson Bourne study revealed major barriers that prevent enterprises from outsourcing. These barriers include concerns with security and a lack of control over the infrastructure once they make the switch. Providers should work to break down these barriers and act as a guide for enterprises.
When taking the plunge into outsourced infrastructures, enterprises want providers with established track records in data center uptime and IT infrastructure experience. Enterprises also want providers with stringent cloud security control, cutting edge technology, global scale and flexible contracts.
Providers need to cater to enterprises' requirements and help them assess and perform cloud migrations from in-house environments in order to make IT infrastructure outsourcing successful.
AT&T grows its roster of cloud partnerships with CSC deal
Despite telcos' best efforts to portray themselves as more than stodgy phone companies, enterprises looking into cloud services typically don't consider them as their primary choice of provider. In fact, only 21% of North American respondents in TechTarget's 2013 IT Priorities Survey said they would consider working with telecommunications companies for cloud services in 2013, compared to 55% considering managed services providers and 44% considering specialty cloud providers (respondents could choose more than one answer).
While marketing will definitely continue to play a big role in evening out the playing field, telcos still need to pursue strategic partnerships with cloud providers from those other two camps — and not just for the purpose of expanding their portfolios. Exposure to those customer bases will also be key. Fortunately for operators, they have an enormously valuable asset — their global networks — that could turn competitors into partners.
Although AT&T arguably has one of the most powerful brands in the United States, it has embraced this strategy over the past several years — boosting its cloud storage line with a strategic alliance with IBM in late 2012 and partnering with EMC in 2009 to deliver its Atmos service. AT&T announced this week it has added yet another partnership to its collection, signing a global strategic alliance with CSC, one of the largest managed services providers in the U.S.
According to an AT&T spokesperson:
"The companies are combining CSC's cloud services, specialized consulting and applications expertise with AT&T's highly-secure network and cloud infrastructure platform to help global businesses move more quickly to the cloud. CSC, a recognized leader in enterprise cloud computing, will deliver its BizCloud TM and other cloud services through AT&T's global cloud infrastructure platform and networks.
CSC, a recognized leader in enterprise cloud computing, will deliver its BizCloud and other cloud services through AT&T's global cloud infrastructure platform and networks.
CSC will provide application expertise to AT&T and its customers.
Working with AT&T, CSC will enhance and migrate applications to enable AT&T's customers to benefit from a secure cloud environment. AT&T will assume management of CSC's internal network and its managed network services portfolio with commercial clients, providing CSC and its clients with a global secure network capability next-gen offerings; with AT&T's network at the edge of CSC's data centers, the companies will be able to deploy cloud solutions quickly for their customers."
Tapping CSC for its applications expertise signals that AT&T may place more emphasis on cloud application integration — a particularly thorny issue for more and more customers trying to deploy a hybrid cloud strategy. And with growing interest in hybrid cloud, that could be AT&T's end game here. Either way, it's a smart play for AT&T as it tries to expand uptake of its cloud services beyond the carrier's existing customer base.
PRISM scares off would-be cloud users outside the U.S.
Regardless of whether you want to call his actions patriotic or traitorous, former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden's decision to leak classified documents detailing the U.S. government's secret domestic surveillance program, PRISM, seems to have had one tangible chilling effect: Most cloud consumers who live outside of the United States say the revelations have made their companies less likely to use a U.S.-based cloud provider, according to a new survey by the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA).
Here are the key stats the CSA found:
- Of the 207 respondents who lived outside the U.S., 56% said the Snowden incident has made their company less likely to use U.S.-based cloud providers, and 10% actually canceled a pending project with a U.S. cloud provider in response to the news. Interestingly, 3% said they were more likely to use U.S.-based cloud providers as a result of the incident.
- Two thirds of the 220 U.S.-based respondents said PRISM would not make it harder for their companies to do business outside of the States.
- Looking at the larger group of respondents that included U.S.-based and non-U.S. respondents, the CSA's survey also reveals what cloud consumers think about the current state of transparency and surveillance in public cloud services.
- Asked about their countries' methods of obtaining user information for criminal and terrorism-related investigations, 47% of respondents said the processes today are poor because there is no transparency, and they have no idea how often the government accesses their information. About a third (32%) said the processes today are reasonable — they have some understanding of what goes on but not how often.
- Most respondents thought the U.S. Patriot Act should either be repealed entirely (41%) or modified to add more oversight and transparency (45%). A smaller group (13%) thought the law should be left alone and that more education about the Patriot Act (and its international counterparts) will ease any anxieties.
Google reportedly tests server-side encryption on Drive
CNET got an interesting scoop this week about Google that, if valid and depending on your level of cynicism, could represent the first step by a major cloud provider to attempt to circumvent the U.S. government's domestic surveillance program and other law enforcement attempts to spy on cloud-based data. Or it could be a day-late-dollar-short response to allegations that Google gave the feds back-door access to its servers to comply with the classified PRISM surveillance program — a charge the company that lives by the phrase "do no evil" flatly denies.
Citing two anonymous sources, CNET reported that Google is testing out server-side encryption for pockets of its cloud-based consumer and business storage service, Google Drive. The report did not state whether the two sources were Google employees; a Google spokesperson declined to comment on the story.
While the report also doesn't explicitly state that this project is a direct response to recent allegations by former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden, the timing and implications are uncanny. CNET's Declan McCullagh writes:
The move could differentiate Google from other Silicon Valley companies that have been the subject of ongoing scrutiny after classified National Security Agency slides revealed the existence of government computer software named PRISM. The utility collates data that the companies are required to provide under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act — unless, crucially, it's encrypted and the government doesn't possess the key.
Major Web companies routinely use encryption, such as HTTPS, to protect the confidentiality of users' communications while they're being transmitted. But it's less common to see files encrypted while stored in the cloud, in part because of the additional computing expense and complexity and the difficulties in indexing and searching encrypted data.
Interestingly, a recent report from The Guardian alleged that documents Snowden leaked revealed Microsoft "collaborated closely with U.S. intelligence services to allow users' communications to be intercepted, including helping the National Security Agency to circumvent the company's own encryption." The report alleges that Microsoft enabled the feds to intercept Skype calls and read encrypted Outlook.com messages. Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith insisted in a recent blog post that The Guardian report contained "significant inaccuracies," denying that the company provides warrantless access.
But is the damage already done for not only Microsoft, but also Google and other cloud providers? I'm not entirely convinced. Yes, security and privacy have long been top barriers to cloud adoption, and this whole debacle is one serious nail in that coffin. But if all of the revelations that have come out about PRISM haven't yet neutered the cloud services market, I find it hard to believe the damage is irreparable. That said, it will be interesting to see how much of a difference something like Google's reported server-side encryption project will make for consumers, as well as how business customers will react (with their wallets) over the coming months.
Market for 'hosted private cloud' services to surpass $24B in 2016Cloud providers
I admit that when I first heard about "hosted private cloud" (sometimes called "virtual private cloud") a few years ago, I was deeply skeptical. Some providers were just re-branding their dedicated managed hosting offerings and slapping a cloud label on them. I recall one person who worked for cloud provider telling me that there was no difference between the two. Really?
The marketing around these services also struck me as a little odd. They would be billed as having "true enterprise-grade security," which always seemed to send the message that their public cloud services were… what? Not secure? Marginally secure? Amateur hour?
But legitimate "hosted private cloud" offerings finally found a home in the market, embodying all of the other characteristics of a cloud service except multi-tenancy. Here's how market research firm IDC explains what hosted private cloud really means:
At the highest level, there are two types of deployment models for cloud services: public and private. Public cloud services are designed for a market and are open to a largely unrestricted universe of potential users who share the services. Private cloud services are designed for a single enterprise and have user-defined and controlled restrictions on access and level of resource dedication.
Hosted private cloud is a composite view of two private cloud services deployment models, both of which offer customers and providers very different choices about resource dedication, tenancy cost, user access/control of the computing asset, and real and perceived security structures in place. The two HPC deployment models are:
- Dedicated Private Cloud: This model offers dedicated 1:1 physical compute and storage resources focused on the needs of one enterprise or extended enterprise. This model offers the greatest customer control over their contracted resource. Examples of dedicated private cloud service offerings include Amazon EC2 Dedicated Instances, IBM SmartCloud Enterprise, Savvis Symphony Dedicated, and Rackspace Cloud: Private Edition.
- Virtual Private Cloud: This model is an adjunct of public cloud services with shared virtualized resources and a range of customer control and security options distinct from most public cloud services. Examples of virtual private cloud service offerings include Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), IBM SmartCloud Enterprise Plus, Savvis Symphony VPDC/Open, and Rackspace RackConnect.
Now, IDC forecasts that worldwide revenue for hosted private cloud services will surpass $24 billion in 2016, anticipating that the virtual private cloud approach will be the predominant model. IDC also expects the overall hosted private cloud market to experience a compound annual growth rate of more than 50% between 2012 and 2016.
Here's some more interesting analysis from its press release:
[T]he majority of dedicated private cloud buyers will be those companies with existing IS outsourcing or hosted infrastructure services contracts. Potential buyers of dedicated private cloud services will place a premium on off-loading the asset management burden and on operational reliability, over and above other cloud features such as scalability, granular billing, and customer self-service.
When dedicated private cloud grows, the winners are likely to be large incumbent packaged software providers and equipment providers, global systems integrators, professional services firms, and telecommunications service providers. These providers are working mightily to build single-vendor stacks, providing all the underlying components from bare metal to "trusted partner applications." But if virtual private cloud becomes the dominant provider-based model, as IDC expects, it will be more like a public cloud model with mostly standardized, virtually dedicated assets, which means a vastly different set of vendors will benefit.
"Not even the largest technology incumbents can sustain IT market leadership without achieving leadership in cloud services. Quite simply, vendor failure in cloud services will mean stagnation," added [Robert] Mahowald[, Research Vice President, SaaS and Cloud Services]. "Vendors need to be doing everything they can – today – to develop a full range of competitive cloud offerings and operating models optimized around those offerings."
Xerox developing user-friendly cloud portal, aims to add price comparison
As we've mentioned before, we can't always squeeze everything we want to in a story. So while yesterday we shared some deleted scenes from my Q&A with Michael Cohn, co-founder of Cloud Sherpas, today we bring you some outtakes from my interview with Ken Stephens, senior vice president of cloud services at Xerox.
When I had asked Ken about his "New Year's resolution" for Xerox's cloud, he mentioned something I've been hearing a lot from cloud providers over the past year: Portals.
Does this mean we get to do another Star Trek reboot?
So many cloud providers I've spoken to are concerned with improving the usability of their customer portals. Now that we have the back-end figured out, it's time to make the customer-facing stuff look pretty.
With that in mind, I asked him to explain what his ideal cloud portal would look like.
Over the past year, I've heard a lot of providers talk about portals. Is there something specific that you would like to change or evolve?
Ken Stephens: We have some innovation [in our cloud portal] that we've developed and will introduce. I suspect we're not the only ones [to have done so]. Because today, when you go out and you buy a computer on the Dell site, as an example, you see a picture of it. Then, you pick and choose what your options are. It prices it for you, and you hit "buy," "move to cart" or whatever. That works pretty well for buying hardware. But buying cloud services might be a little geek-ish. [You say], "I want 4 gigs of RAM." You have to know the technology a bit to really get what you want in the cloud. I think that's a little complicated.
What we will introduce — and again, I don't think we're alone — is [a portal in which] you will be able to go out and say, "I want to run an ERP application with about 100 users. I expect performance to be high, medium or acceptable," with some definitions around that. You will hit "submit," and it will come back and tell you what configuration that you need to run in the cloud and what it will cost.
Then, on top of that, I'll introduce a service in 2013 that will do a comparison. Think about Progressive Insurance — the advertisement that Progressive does all the time. You go onto their site and plug in what you want for insurance for your car. It will come back and tell you the cost from State Farm and Allstate, as well as Progressive.
We will be able to do that in our cloud. You go in and say what you want. It will say, "By the way, if you buy it from Rackspace, it costs this much. If you buy it from Amazon, it costs this much. If you buy it from us, it costs this much.
You're going to see some innovative things, in terms of [making cloud portals] easier to use.
Our interview with Cloud Sherpas: Deleted scenes
Our annual Q&A series with cloud providers is well underway. NTT America deemed Disaster Recovery as a Service to be the "killer app" for cloud services. Google and Salesforce.com partner Cloud Sherpas is planning to forge new SaaS partnerships that complement its current portfolio. And coming soon, Xerox will share its vision for the cloud channel.
You'll see most of the questions in the Q&A are the same from provider to provider. But during our interviews, the conversations often go much deeper and there's usually a fair amount we don't publish — in this case to create some consistency and continuity for the series, but more so because we don't expect many people to read an 1,800-word article.
It's a painful process because there is often so much we'd like to squeeze in. Luckily, the blog is the perfect place to dig into some leftovers. Here are a few questions and answers that didn't make the cut from my interview with Michael Cohn, co-founder and senior vice president of marketing at Cloud Sherpas.
These are out of context, so it's a little confusing, but they pick up after he talked in the Q&A about Cloud Sherpas' hopes for next year, saying:
In our Google business unit, we often use the term "going more Google." We hear Google talking about "going Google," and we talk about going more Google. This is really starting to resonate in our customer base. Our enterprise customers are now viewing Google beyond what they initially purchased — which was messaging and collaboration systems — and they're viewing Google as a platform for enterprise computing.
When you say the customers are looking at Google beyond Gmail and so forth, do you mean they're looking at Google App engine and services like that?
Michael Cohn: That's exactly right. When we think about the cloud, we talk about it in terms of different layers of the cloud stack — Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service and Software as a Service.
Most of our customers bought Google Apps or came to us to buy Google Apps, so they bought at the very top of that stack, and they bought it for its messaging system for Gmail. They bought it for the amazing calendar, contacts and chat, and then on the collaboration front, Google Drive and Google Hangouts and all of the productivity suite that's in the browser. That's why they originally bought Google and came to Cloud Sherpas. But now the advancements that are being made in the other two layers in the inside of Google's platform really make Google much more than just a SaaS provider; it's also a platform and infrastructure provider, and so we have customers coming back to us and saying, "What else can we do?"
We've got all these other applications that may still be legacy applications — a Domino environment that still may exist in the organization or SharePoint applications that are still running and so forth and so on. By bringing together everything that Google has to offer in the platform layer, we're able to help them "go more Google." It's about building applications on App Engine, it's about leveraging Google cloud storage, it's about using the predictive API and so forth.
What do you happening on the Salesforce side of the house, with respect to this?
Cohn: Yes, so on the Salesforce side: Clearly sales cloud and service cloud are growing at a tremendous rate. Cloud Sherpas is going to be building up our capabilities in Salesforce's core offerings of sales cloud, service cloud and Chatter, the collaboration platform inside of Salesforce.
That moment when Michael decided that he's tired of answering my stupid questions after all.
In addition to that, Force.com is the development platform inside of the Salesforce ecosystem, and we're seeing customer demand increase for custom applications that integrate with sales cloud, service cloud and Chatter.
As an example, it's no shock that mobility was a very big topic in 2012, and as a result of that, Cloud Sherpas has developed a world-class mobile application development team. In fact, our developers came from the consumer space where they built iOS and Android applications that support millions of users in a consumer environment.
And so we're bringing all of that mobile application development knowhow to the enterprise and using tools like Force.com and other mobile development capabilities. We're able to essentially unlock data that is in
Salesforce and deliver that data to employees on mobile devices. We're
building applications for our customers — mobile applications that integrate back into sales cloud and service cloud via iOS and Android devices.
Want to write for SearchCloudProvider.com?
We've maintained a section on the homepage called "Cloud Provider Spotlight," which is where we call attention to news and feature stories that highlight some of the changes and innovation a specific provider or group of providers have undergone.
We've always used this spot to promote our own material. Now, we are opening it up to you, cloud providers. Here's the fun part: You choose the topic. You choose the deadline. You tell the story.
If you are interested in submitting an article for SearchCloudProvider.com, we are happy to consider it. We have a few rules of the road, however, so please read the following before submitting anything:
- We are only accepting submissions from companies that sell or resell cloud services. We are not accepting content from vendors that exclusively sell hardware or software to cloud providers.
- Content must be original. That means we won't publish a blog you've already written and changed a few words around. We will find out because, yes, we will Google it.
- Submissions must be neutral and may not promote a provider's products or services. We're seeking subject-matter experts and thought leaders to write about technical and business issues facing cloud providers or the broader cloud market in general. We will not publish thinly or not-so-thinly veiled marketing material.
- On that note, the audience is other cloud providers — not customers.
- Submissions are unpaid and must be at least 500 words.
Have an idea? Send your pitch to me at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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"A really good practitioner never stops learning and is never qualified as there is always something more to learn."
Diana Mossop
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The information provided on this website is the personal opinion of Diana Mossop and/or Anthony Mossop unless otherwise stated.
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The doctor who was with Michael Jackson the day the pop star died was in court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing on an involuntary manslaughter charge.
A Los Angeles judge started hearing testimony Tuesday to help him decide if there is enough evidence for Dr. Conrad Murray to face trial.
Fans of Jackson were outside the LA counthouse as a choreographer testified about Jackson's condition prior to his death.
Choreographer Kenny Ortega was the last person to work with Jackson on his concert tour. He said Tuesday that Jackson seemed unwell and not in condition six days before he died and went home early from rehearsals at Ortega's suggestion.
Ortega said he was summoned the next morning to Jackson's home and told by Murray to not try to be Jackson's doctor or psychiatrist. Murray suggested Jackson should not have been sent home because he was physically and emotionally fine, Ortega testified.
Murray, a Houston cardiologist, is accused of gross negligence when he administered the powerful anesthetic Propofol to help Jackson get to sleep. Jackson died June 25, 2009, of Propofol intoxication complicated by other sedatives.
If convicted of involuntary manslaughter, Murray could face four years in prison and the loss of his medical license.
A prosecutor opened Tuesday's proceedings by saying Jackson was already dead when his physician summoned help. Prosecutor David Walgren said evidence would show that Murray also tried to conceal his administering the powerful anesthetic propofol to the pop superstar, ordering a bodyguard to collect items before paramedics were called.
Prosecutors also said Murray failed to tell paramedics and emergency room doctors that he had given the pop superstar a powerful prescription sedative the day he died.
Joseph Low IV, an attorney for Murray, told the Los Angeles Times that he expects the judge to order his client to trial.
"I don't anticipate this is the type of case that the D.A. won't have facts to support the couple of elements necessary for this charge," he told the newspaper.
Murray has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyer says nothing the doctor did should have harmed the superstar.


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Wish it had Sebulba at least
And on the general subject of pod racers, there are only another three or four that have yet to be made. I think that those can get spaced out over time.
Time to pick up some drink stirrers.
Quote from: Jesse James on January 22, 2012, 09:25 PMTime to pick up some drink stirrers.The question is, do you buy them in bulk from the grocery store, or do it the fun way -- one at a time at the pub?
Has anyone seen any decent pictures of this set compared to the original releases of the figures?
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For sheer all-round ability, this is hard to match
Sporty styling, great performance, exceptional economy, low maintenance and a great many features - all have played their part in making the VX models our most sought-after watercraft. But it is their all-round versatility that has gained them such a loyal following.
As well as a remarkably smooth engine and a host of other 'luxury' features as standard, the VX Deluxe offers our revolutionary RiDE control technology. This intuitive, user-friendly system introduces an immediate level of confidence to even less experienced riders.
Put simply, there is now no other watercraft which can deliver such a supremely capable and enjoyable on-water experience with such affordability.


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A community's roots can be seen in its oldest cemeteries and Seattle, Washington is no exception. Places such as Comet Lodge, Crown Hill, Auburn Pioneer, Saar Pioneer or Newcastle Cemetery, patiently wait to tell stories to those willing to poke through the overgrown, scruffy weeds.
I'm pleased to announce that both the Heritage 4Culture Special Projects and the Allied Arts Foundation have awarded grants to produce Stones & Bones: A Photo-Documentary of King County's Historic Pioneer Cemeteries. The project will explore ongoing preservation efforts in approximately six pioneer cemeteries. Additionally, I will interweave poignant human interest stories, intriguing carvings, senseless vandalism and if you're lucky, a ghost story or two.
In the early fall, Beyond The Ghosts… readers will have the opportunity to see the results. Slide shows, in-depth articles on the profiled cemeteries and interview podcasts are just a few of the proposed offerings. I'll start dropping hints on what to expect in the Upcoming Articles post scheduled for late August.
For local readers, there will be three presentation slide shows planned for local residents. Times, places and dates for these free talks will be announced at the beginning of September.
Some interesting items have been discovered so far and I look forward to sharing them later this year.


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Apollo Male Models
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international men's fashion, fitness, and entertainment print publication, featuring fashion week events and interviews with actors and models. Our cover model is Joao Caneco from Portugal.
Release 3 times a year, we are an international publication focusing on fashion/fitness male models and actors with additional features from Fashion Week, Film Review, Special Events and interviews with Fashion Designers, Talents, Artists and Photographers, Fashion Stylists, Make-Up Artists, Hair Stylists, and more. We are photo intensive.


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Prospect Q&A: d'Arnaud breaks out
Catching prospect talks about career year, big league brother
By David Heck / Special to MLB.com | January 30, 2012 5:03 AM
Just a few months later, however, he was sent to the Blue Jays as part of the deal that brought Roy Halladay to Philadelphia. Though d'Arnaud had his struggles in his first year with the Jays -- he hit .259 with six homers in 71 Class A Advanced games in 2010 -- he took a giant leap forward in his second. Under the tutelage of New Hampshire manager and former big league catcher Sal Fasano, d'Arnaud continued to improve his defense while setting career highs in almost every offensive category. He earned the Eastern League MVP for his efforts and later took home his second championship ring as well.
In the offseason, d'Arnaud traveled to Panama to play with Team USA in the IBAF Baseball World Cup, but his experience was cut short when he tore ligaments in his thumb several games into the tournament. He underwent successful offseason surgery and is expected to be ready for Spring Training.
Ranked as the Blue Jays' top prospect and MLB.com's No. 25 overall prospect, d'Arnaud recently spoke to MiLB.com about his breakout season, his rehab from thumb surgery and his relationship with big league brother Chase.
MiLB.com: You were selected in the first round out of high school by the Phillies in 2007. What was that like?
Travis d'Arnaud: It was an unbelievable experience. We had our high school banquet that night too -- our baseball banquet -- and me and all my friends and a whole bunch of family were at my house waiting and watching the Draft [online]. I'll never forget getting the call a minute before the picks showed up online. I knew before everybody, but I kept my cool and tried not to say anything. Everybody went crazy. It was a fun time, it was really exciting for me and all the City of Lakewood, [Calif.].
MiLB.com: You had committed to Pepperdine University. What convinced you to forgo that opportunity and pursue a pro baseball career?
d'Arnaud: I love the game of baseball and I was getting such a great opportunity and great chance. And knowing I have the security from the college scholarship plan, knowing I could go back if anything happens.
MiLB.com: Fast forward to December 2009, and you were included in the trade between the Phillies and Blue Jays for Roy Halladay. What went through your head when you found out about the deal?
d'Arnaud: I was shocked, because I was actually on the golf course with a few of my buddies, and I was getting texts from my friends hearing I'd been traded on ESPN. I didn't know anything about it. Then I got a call from my agent saying I'd been traded for Roy Halladay. I was excited, shocked and honored. I can't believe I was even considered in a trade for an outstanding pitcher like Halladay -- one of the best pitchers, if not the best, in the game today.
MiLB.com: This year, you really took a step forward offensively. You set career highs in batting average (.311), home runs (21), RBIs (78) and OPS (.914), among others, and were named the Eastern League MVP. What was the difference as opposed to previous seasons?
d'Arnaud: I didn't really try to do too much. The years prior, I would try to hit a home run every time. I would try to manipulate the ball instead of just taking the correct swing and having the same approach every at-bat. This year, I was not trying to change everything so much and was just staying within myself. I knew that as long as I kept that approach, at the the end of the year, the numbers would show. It was a good year, I was really happy with my improvement, and I can't wait for this year.
MiLB.com: Obviously as a catcher, you have a big role on defense. How do you prepare for calling a game, in terms of dealing with your pitchers and researching opposing hitters?
d'Arnaud: I would talk to Sal [Fasano], our manager, and Pete Walker, the pitching coach. Before every game, we would meet up with a starting pitcher and talk about how to execute against each hitter, what type of hitter they are, their cold and hot spots, how they've been hitting the past five games. Little parts of baseball.
I was watching hitters too, watching where their swings were, even their practice swings. I see if they make little changes like moving off the plate or moving up. Sal told me to look for that, and I'm very grateful. I learned how to make adjustments based on how hitters make adjustments.
MiLB.com: The Fisher Cats won the Eastern League title this year. What was that experience like, to get your second ring in the Minors?
d'Arnaud: It was crazy. There's nothing better than ending the season with a win, especially when you're winning the league title. You get to go home happy and be happy all offseason because you won. Pretty much the whole team was happy and excited. During the playoffs, we were all really focused and just made sure we stayed concentrated and didn't worry about things off the field. And most of all, the coaching staff gave us a great environment to be around and made it easy for the team to mold and mesh and get along really well.
MiLB.com: You mentioned your manager at Double-A, Sal Fasano, who is known for his legendary mustache. Did anyone on the team challenge him for facial hair supremacy?
d'Arnaud: Nobody did. His facial hair, I like it. It's pretty funny. I wish I could grow facial hair like that. I wish I could grow a Fu Manchu, but unfortunately I can't.
MiLB.com: You tore ligaments in your thumb playing for Team USA at the World Cup in Panama. How did that happen and how has your rehab been going?
d'Arnaud: It was a low fastball and I tried to catch it and hold it there. I just caught it wrong and my thumb got underneath the ball. The ligament just tore, and it hurt a lot.
I had the surgery in early October, and now it's doing great. It feels normal. I'm able to swing, catch and lift weights again. No pain.
MiLB.com: What have you done this offseason to keep busy since the Games?
d'Arnaud: With the rehab I had on my thumb, I've been running a lot, trying to keep my legs in shape, because I wasn't able to lift like I normally do. I've been doing a lot of cardio, agility, some running. By the time Spring Training comes around, I want my legs to be underneath me. My legs are ready to go.
MiLB.com: Your brother, Chase, is also a pro baseball player with the Pirates. Did you have any sibling rivalry growing up?
d'Arnaud: I mean a little bit, though nothing too crazy. We played on the same team only one year, so there wasn't any other league where we could play together. We were pretty much rooting for each other the whole time. In high school, I only got to play against him one game. My older brother was on the field and I wanted to beat him. My competitiveness came out for sure. But when we were younger, we were always there for each other.
MiLB.com: Who's the better athlete between you two?
d'Arnaud: It depends on what your definition of athleticism is. If it's based on speed and agility, I have to give it to Chase. As far as strength goes, I think I have him in strength. It all depends on how people view athleticism.
MiLB.com: Chase got to the Major Leagues this year. What did you he tell you about that experience?
d'Arnaud: Just to soak it all in. You never know when everything can come to an end, and pretty much enjoy every second on the field up there. Ask questions from everybody, take in all the knowledge they have to offer and be very grateful for everything.
David Heck is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.View More


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Since January 2009, more than 200 magnitude 3.0 or greater earthquakes have rattled Central Oklahoma, marking a significant rise in the frequency of these seismic events.
The U.S. Geological Survey and Oklahoma Geological Survey are conducting collaborative research quantifying the changes in earthquake rate in the Oklahoma City region, assessing the implications of this swarm for large-earthquake hazard, and evaluating possible links between these earthquakes and wastewater disposal related to oil and gas production activities in the region.
Studies show one to three magnitude 3.0 earthquakes or larger occurred yearly from 1975 to 2008, while the average grew to around 40 earthquakes per year from 2009 to mid-2013.
"We've statistically analyzed the recent earthquake rate changes and found that they do not seem to be due to typical, random fluctuations in natural seismicity rates," said Bill Leith, USGS seismologist. "These results suggest that significant changes in both the background rate of events and earthquake triggering properties needed to have occurred in order to explain the increases in seismicity. This is in contrast to what is typically observed when modeling natural earthquake swarms."
The analysis suggests that a contributing factor to the increase in earthquakes triggers may be from activities such as wastewater disposal--a phenomenon known as injection-induced seismicity. The OGS has examined the behavior of the seismicity through the state assessing the optimal fault orientations and stresses within the region of increased seismicity, particularly the unique behavior of the Jones swarm just east of Oklahoma City. The USGS and OGS are now focusing on determining whether evidence exists for such triggering, which is widely viewed as being demonstrated in recent years in Arkansas, Ohio and Colorado.
This "swarm" includes the largest earthquake ever recorded in Oklahoma, a magnitude 5.6 that occurred near Prague Nov. 5, 2011. It damaged a number of homes as well as the historic Benedictine Hall at St. Gregory's University, in Shawnee, Okla. Almost 60 years earlier in1952, a comparable magnitude 5.5, struck El Reno and Oklahoma City. More recently, earthquakes of magnitude 4.4 and 4.2 hit east of Oklahoma City on April 16, 2013, causing objects to fall off shelves.
Following the earthquakes that occurred near Prague in 2011, the agencies issued a joint statement, focusing on the Prague event and ongoing seismic monitoring in the region. Since then, the USGS and OGS have continued monitoring and reporting earthquakes, and have also made progress evaluating the significance of the swarm.
Important to people living in the Oklahoma City region is that earthquake hazard has increased as a result of the swarm. USGS calculates that ground motion probabilities, which relate to potential damage and are the basis for the seismic provisions of building codes, have increased in Oklahoma City as a result of this swarm. While it's been known for decades that Oklahoma is "earthquake country," the increased hazard has important implications for residents and businesses in the area.
To more accurately determine the locations and magnitudes of earthquakes in Oklahoma, the OGS operates a 15-station seismic network. Data from this system, and from portable seismic stations installed in the Oklahoma City region, are sent in real-time to the USGS National Earthquake Information Center, which provides 24x7 reporting on earthquakes worldwide.
USGS provides science for a changing world. Visit USGS.gov, and follow us on Twitter @USGS and our other social media channels.
Subscribe to our news releases via e-mail, RSS or Twitter.
Links and contacts within this release are valid at the time of publication.


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Reporters falsely claim that private accounts will address Social Security's solvency problem
Following President Bush's State of the Union address, in which he described his plan to let workers divert a portion of their payroll taxes into private investment accounts, reporters and commentators have repeatedly and falsely claimed that private accounts are an attempt to address Social Security's long-term revenue shortfall, which the Social Security trustees estimate at $3.7 trillion over the next 75 years. In fact, even the White House has admitted that private accounts will do nothing to address this shortfall. Rather, Bush's plan will likely address the solvency of the program through substantial cuts in guaranteed benefits.
On the February 3 edition of FOX News' Special Report with Brit Hume, Roll Call executive editor and FOX News contributor Morton M. Kondracke accurately pointed out that even administration officials have admitted that private accounts will do nothing to address the solvency problem, contrary to Bush's public statements. But Hume insisted, "The president, as a matter of fact, is correct about that," and abruptly cut off Kondracke when he tried to respond:
KONDRACKE: Well, I think the Democrats actually got a little bit of an assist today when it was reported that a senior White House -- senior administration official at a briefing yesterday said that there was no way that individual accounts would help solve the solvency problem of the Social Security system. And yesterday the president was, in effect, arguing that private accounts were a way of solving the solvency problem. Or at least that's what --
HUME: The president, as a matter of fact, is correct about that.
KONDRACKE: Well, but -- but it won't, in fact. You're going to have to cut --
HUME: Mort, we're not going to argue that tonight.
On the February 3 edition of CNN's American Morning, CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux said of Bush's speech: "[T]he centerpiece of his domestic agenda was reforming Social Security to allow younger workers to actually divert some of their payroll taxes into private accounts to make the system solvent." Later, on CNN Live Today, she explained: "[O]f course, really the centerpiece of his domestic agenda, reforming Social Security, a big item last night. The president saying that he believes that creating for younger retirees, younger workers, these private investment accounts is the way to go for the Social Security system to be solvent in the future."
But in a pre-speech briefing, an unnamed "senior administration official" admitted that private accounts will do nothing to address Social Security's long-term revenue shortfall. From the February 2 White House background briefing:
QUESTION: Can you give us a second ten-year estimate on the revenue effect? Can you tell us how you would pay for that, in the first ten years' revenue loss? And am I right in assuming that in the way you describe this, because it's a wash in terms of the net effect on Social Security from the accounts by themselves, that it would be fair to describe this as having -- the personal accounts by themselves as having no effect whatsoever on the solvency issue?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: On the second point, that's a fair inference.
Apart from the administration's admission, some in the media have pointed out this basic fact about the effect of private accounts on the solvency of Social Security. The Washington Post reported on February 4:
It is still not clear how Bush's retooled system would work in total. The White House this week has chosen to discuss only a part of it, the private accounts. But those accounts will not close the projected $3.7 trillion gap between Social Security benefits promised over the next 75 years and taxes expected to be collected. That gap would have to be closed through benefit cuts that have yet to be detailed.
Even conservative Weekly Standard editor and FOX News contributor William Kristol admitted on FOX News' February 2 post-speech coverage, which Hume anchored, that private accounts are, at best, irrelevant to the solvency issue:
KRISTOL: But the Democrats really dislike the following, which they may have some truth to: The president is using an unquestionable fact, which is that there's a solvency problem with Social Security -- too many retirees, not enough workers to justify individual accounts --
HUME: He's using it to justify --
KRISTOL: Right. Which may be desirable, but are not necessarily implied by the solvency crises. You could solve that by simply raising taxes, decreasing benefits, increasing the retirement age, etc. Now, the president is entitled to say, "Let's do both things at once, let's deal with solvency and improve the system, as he sees it, by having individual accounts." The Democrats want to split these apart.


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c. 1200, "space, dimensional extent, room, area," from Old French place "place, spot" (12c.) and directly from Medieval Latin placea "place, spot," from Latin platea "courtyard, open space; broad way, avenue," from Greek plateia (hodos) "broad (way)," fem. of platys "broad," from PIE root *plat- "to spread."
Replaced Old English stow and stede. From mid-13c. as "particular part of space, extent, definite location, spot, site;" from early 14c. as "position or place occupied by custom, etc.; position on some social scale;" from late 14c. as "inhabited place, town, country," also "place on the surface of something, portion of something, part," also, "office, post." Meaning "group of houses in a town" is from 1580s.
Also from the same Latin source are Italian piazza, Catalan plassa, Spanish plaza, Middle Dutch plaetse, Dutch plaats, German Platz, Danish plads, Norwegian plass. Wide application in English covers meanings that in French require three words: place, lieu, and endroit. Cognate Italian piazza and Spanish plaza retain more of the etymological sense.
To take place "happen" is from mid-15c. To know (one's) place is from c. 1600; hence figurative expression put (someone) in his or her place (1855). Place of worship attested from 1689, originally in official papers and in reference to assemblies of dissenters from the Church of England. All over the place "in disorder" is attested from 1923.
place (v.)
mid-15c., "to determine the position of;" also "to put (something somewhere)," from place (n.). In the horse racing sense of "to achieve a certain position" (usually in the top three finishers; in U.S., specifically second place) it is first attested 1924, from earlier meaning "to state the position of" (among the first three finishers), 1826. Related: Placed; placing. To take place "to happen, be accomplished" (mid-15c., earlier have place, late 14c.), translates French avoir lieu.
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Professional Candle Making Supplies Since 1972
Vybar 343
Wax Additive for mottled candles and pillar candles. The latest development from the producers of Vybar 103 and vybar 260 this product is intended to allow more scent to be placed in a mottled candle without "bleeding". This product allows for linear release of the scent from the wax. In most applications 1 % usage levels will acheive desirable results. Note: This product will not take a non-mottling wax and make it mottled, but is intended to enhance the mottling while allowing for more fragrance to be added.
Product Description
Vybar 343 is the newest member of the Vybar family and is a must for the production of mottled candles. This product allows you to increase the amount of fragrance you can add to your mottled candles. Typically the maximum amount of fragrance you could add to your candle would be 6%. Fragrance loads much above that will have the tendency to migrate right out of the wax causing an unwanted sweating candle. This product enables you to achieve the 7-8% frangrance loads without the fragrance sweating out of the candle.
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To see shipping costs, proceed to checkout to get up-to-date rates. Orders are shipped by UPS or FedEx. View the Shipping Information page for more details.


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It looks like Michael Vick's return to starting in the NFL is going to be lasting more than just one week.
The Eagles announced Tuesday that Vick, rather than Kevin Kolb, would start Sunday at Jacksonville. And the move isn't injury related, the team said.
The decision was made largely due to Vick's play on the field, said coach Andy Reid who said he made the decision to go with Vick.
"Vick right now is one of the best starting quarterbacks in the National Football League," said Reid as he addressed the media.
"Very few quarterbacks could go out and play the way (Vick) played the past couple of weeks."
Reid defended Kolb and said that he had no plans of trading the QB he anointed as Donovan McNabb's successor after sending D-Mac to D.C.
The move added fuel to the QB controversy fire especially because of how the announcement was made.
"The Philadelphia Eagles today announced that head coach Andy Reid has named Michael Vick as the team's starting quarterback," said Eagles spokesman Derek Boyko Tuesday.
Reid isn't worried about concerns that Vick, a former felon convicted of running a dogfighting ring, is now the face of the Eagles franchise. Big Red feels Vick has done enough to repair his image, he said.
Leave it to the Birds to make a major announcement like this right before Roy Halladay toes the mound for the Phillies as they face off against second-place Atlanta Tuesday night. The Eagles did the same thing just hours before the Phillies season opener when they announced that they had traded Donovan McNabb to the Redskins.


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6 Facts About Macaws
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There are many different sizes of binoculars related to 6 Facts About Macaws on the market today from 6x50mm to 12x20mm and everything in between. This can make for a tough decision for first time buyers when looking for the best binoculars for bird watching. To make things a whole lot easier, remember that most experienced users of binoculars will agree that the best binoculars have a magnification of 10 power and an objective of 40mm - 42mm. This is spelled out as 10X40mm or 10X42mm. Of course this is open to debate and some will argue to go with less magnification and/or a bigger objective lens. But again, most will agree that 10X42mm binoculars will be the best compromise between size, magnification, field of view, and comfort.
Unless of course you can afford it, it might not be a good idea to rush out and buy the best binoculars for bird watching. The thing is that you may find that bird watching is not that exciting to you and then you have high dollar binoculars that do not get used for the reason you bought them. All is not lost though, because throughout life you will have times when fine optics would come in handy. If you are considering bird watching, then chances are you spend some time in the outdoors, or would like to, and you will have a need for binoculars for the rest of your life.
Like wise, you should not buy inexpensive binoculars for bird watching either. For one thing, if you find birding to be as addicting as we do, then you will get tons of use out of your binoculars. If you started out with inexpensive binoculars, then you will certainly regret the purchase, and or buying a higher quality binocular later, costing you more in the long run. That is why we go by the saying (and I will say it again): Go with the best binoculars for bird watching that you can afford, because you get what you pay for. It is fantastic how much a quality set of binoculars, like any noted above, enhances birdwatching over inexpensive binoculars.
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LONDON -- David Marrero and Fernando Verdasco defeated top-ranked Mike and Bob Bryan 7-5, 6-7 (3), 10-7 on Monday to win the doubles title at the ATP World Tour Finals.
The sixth-seeded Spaniards claimed their first win over the American twins in their fourth attempt, preventing the Bryans from claiming a fourth title at the year-end elite tournament.
It is the second year in a row that a Spanish duo won the doubles in London. Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez won last season.
The Bryans have finished No. 1 for a fifth straight year and a record ninth time overall. They have won 11 titles this season, including the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon.


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For the fans of Gundam Unicorn who are complaining about slow release dates: the intervals between new xxxHolic episodes is a whole whopping year!
But dear god, was it worth the wait. Unlike what I previously expected, this episode doesn't really aim to answer any question whatsoever. In fact, it doesn't even address the cliff-hanger that the previous episode left us with, and no new news about Yuuko appears anywhere. The length of this OVA was about half an hour, and its purpose was completely different from the first xxxHolic Rou.
What this movie did do was incredibly heart-warming, though. It's an entire episode full of subtle character-building on Watanuki and Doumeki. I mean, the changes that the first xxxHolic Rou episode brought forth were immense. This episode fleshes this out brilliantly by somehow doing the impossible and giving the characters even more depth than they already had. Yeah.
I mean seriously, xxxHolic already was by far my favourite Clamp series, and this episode only made it better. This episode was full of quiet discussions between Watanuki and other side-characters like Mokona, Doumeki and his grandfather. Doumeki's grandfather is just about the only one who didn't change significantly, and even he had a wonderful portrayal in this episode, worried about his grandson.
This episode also showed a few flashbacks to Watanuki's past. And seriously, if there was any series in which such a small recap like that would would, it's this one. For one thing, it was great to see Watanuki sigh at what a moron he used to be, but it also really reminded how it's already been five years since I first started watching this series, and it reminded what kind of huge changes the characters went through. If you add all of the pieces of development together here, you really get an amazing cast of characters. And I really don't hope that this was the last of the xxxHolic OVAs.
OVA Episode Rating: 8.75/10


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I've been using the Amiga since 1988 and OS4 on and off for the last few years...
but we now have a decent web browser (NetSurf) the OS4 machine is getting more use. A web browser that worked was a major bug bear.
However what is the current state of OS4.1?
Is it classed as complete? are further updates coming?
A fresh install of OS4.1 tells me that it has the wrong data types for Jpeg and MOV ,annoying but these are solvable. My USB stick (TDK) stops the Amiga booting..
Writing is garbled at Uboot when its rebooted , No audio over HDMI ...
small problem admittedly..


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Looking for Mods, Writers and more
Looking for Mods, Writers and more
Jul 2 2013, 12:29 PM
Post #1
Group: Members
Posts: 19
Joined: 2-July 13
Member No.: 19,368
Hey Guys,
I am looking for a team of people to moderate, write posts for and promote my new blog.
It is all about helping small business owners by teaching them how to do SEO, Programming, etc. for themselves before calling in professionals.
I am not looking for dedicated paid staff, I am just looking for people who can put in a couple hours a week to get the place going.
If you accept, I will let you sign your blog posts with your own website URL to help you out!
Rhys (readthisblogonline.co.uk)
|Lo-Fi Version
|Time is now: 22nd November 2019 - 07:28 AM


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Moka ExpressBialetti
Bialetti Industrie is a well-known brand synonymous with "High Quality Made in Italy" and has built its reputation largely on the historic Moka Express, an icon of Italian design, which revolutionized the way coffee was prepared at home. Models with new designs and different functions were introduced alongside the original type, always with the same qualities as the legendary Moka. Thanks to a wide and diversified range of models, Bialetti Industrie combines the taste of tradition with the modernity needs, however for a great value, everyday solution, you just can't go past the original.
In 1919, Alfonso Bialetti opened a workshop in Italy producing semi-finished aluminium products. Motivated by an entrepreneurial spirit, he transformed his workshop into a studio for the design and production of market-ready finished goods. Thanks to his brilliant intuition, in 1933, the Moka Express coffee maker was born. Later, thanks to the ambition of his son Renato, its Art Decò design was to revolutionise the way of making coffee at home and to immediately establish the company as one of the leading Italian manufacturers of coffee makers.
The Bialetti Moka celebrates more than 75 years of classic design elegance and technological simplicity. From the early 1950's to the present day, Bialetti has manufactured well over 200 million coffee makers. In particular, the Moka Express has become iconic and has allowed millions of consumers to enjoy great coffee. Because of its famous design and pioneering leadership, beware of many look-alikes and "me-too" brands that try to but can never claim the quality and design of Bialetti.
Did you know?
- The Bialetti mascot called "l'omino con I baffi" or the mustachioed little man is a caricature made by Alfonso's son. The mascot's index finger is held up as if ordering another espresso.
- Thanks to its patent, Bialetti is the only coffee maker in the world that has 8 sides (legally).


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Map of Cutta Cutta Caves, NT
Not the 'Cutta Cutta Caves' you were after? Try the other Cutta Cutta Caves (the locality) near Katherine in the Northern Territory.
Create a custom map: Click here to create a custom map including 'Cutta Cutta Caves'
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Hi Ladies!
Sharon and I have been working behind the scenes to find you another mystery quilt and we found one!
I have been talking to Kris at Quiltbug.com and she tells me that she will be hosting a FREE mystery quilt on Super Bowl Sunday. She can't give me any details as of yet because her testers are still finishing the final details, but she will let me know as soon as the info for yardage is posted and I will get it to you
In the mean time, please visit her site at www.quiltbug.com and poke around. She has a whole bunch of free stuff, most in PDF format to download to your computer. If you collect patterns from the internet like I do, then you will love this site.
Kris did a mystery quilt on New Years Day and that pattern is still available for download for FREE. Others that she has done in the past are now available for purchase as well.
I will let you know when the 1st installment is available. Hope you will all join Sharon and myself for a fun filled day of quilting and mystery


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I bet you guys have been waiting for this lesson on a figure that was requested a few times by different members. Yesterday I created another humanized character from Sonic the Hedgehog, and today I will be showing you "how to draw human Cream", step by step. This anime version of Cream the Rabbit came out pretty cool and I have to say that I like the way the colors turned out too. The lesson itself is going to be pretty easy to replicate and I do think that the amount of excitement is going to leave you wanting more. I had so much fun with this lesson because Cream the Rabbit came out looking cuter than her normal self. The colors and design goes along well with her cream puff personality. I think all you Sonic fans will like learning the ropes as you tackle the task of drawing human Cream the Rabbit. Don't forget to leave me a comment letting me what you think, as well as a rating. I have to fluff my way out of here because there is still more drawing fun coming your way. Adios people and please enjoy!
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How well do you know the Code? Think you can spot violations the original installer either ignored or couldn't identify? Here's your chance to moonlight as an electrical inspector and second-guess someone else's work from the safety of your living room or office. Joe Tedesco, who has a knack for finding shoddy electrical work, did the dirty work and found this mess. Now it's your turn to identify the violation.
Find the Answer
Article 590 of the Code covers temporary installations. As per 590.6 Ground-Fault Protection for Personnel, "Ground-fault protection for personnel for all temporary wiring installations shall be provided to comply with 590.6(A) and 590.6(B)." This section shall apply only to temporary wiring installations used to supply temporary power to equipment used by personnel during construction, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition of buildings, structures, equipment, or similar activities.


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Before I upload my last lesson for the day, I will submit yet another requested tutorial, and as you can imagine it is a Pokemon species. So, let's move onto this lesson that will show you "how to draw Porygon", step by step. What makes Porygon unique is the fact that it is the first artificial Pokemon that has ever been created. It was designed and made by Pokemon Lab, or at least that's what reports say. This manufactured species holds a name like "Porygon" because of it's geometric shape. If you look at this Pokemon closely, you will see that the body structure consists of shapes, sides, and angels. The colors of the body has a combination of pink, and blue shades that are broken up into sections. For instance, the stomach is blue, the feet are blue, and the tail is blue. But where does the pink come in? Well, Porygon has a pink head with a blue colored beak, and the polyhedral body is also pink in color. Because this is an artificial life form, it doesn't need to breath. It's entire artificial genetic makeup is nothing more than computer programming code. Porygon evolves into Porygon2 when holding an Up-Grade, and then after that Porygon2 evolves into Porygon-Z when holding a Dubious Disc. With each evolution, Porygons appearance takes on a pretty significant change. It goes from looking like a robotic square, to a toy duck, and then into looking like some kind of structured balloon. You don't ever have to worry about this Pokemon giving you a bad attitude because it acts exactly what it's programmed to do. Anyway I think you will enjoy this lesson on "how to draw Porygon", step by step. I will be back with a special treat on something anime. To give you a hint, I drew it live yesterday! Peace out everyone and have a great time today on Dragoart.com!
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


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The anti-lock brake system (ABS) control unit has a high failure rate. When this fault occurs, the ABS light will illuminate and codes may be stored indicating a problem with the ABS pump motor, or wheel speed sensors, but the problem is the ABS control module.
Other symptoms may include an illuminated check engine and transmission shift light, and the speedometer may stop working as well.
Note: The brake system will operate normally however during a panic stop the anti-lock brakes will not work and the wheels may lock-up, causing a lack of vehicle control under these situations.


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Robinson Family Cruise/Delivery aboard J/32 Hull #1
By Robbie Robinson
Dark green, marbled leather, red bound, the log book sat on the shelf above the port settee. "Feel free to christen it," said the note from Al Johnstone. We were taking the J/32, hull number 1 and Al's first full-blown design for J/Boats, from Newport, RI to McMichael's Yacht Yard in Mamaroneck, NY. Like everything else aboard WHISTLER, the book was shiny and new. Somehow I never brought myself to make the first mark on its blank pages. They taught me in nautical scribe school that log style writing did not produce great reading, but WHISTLER and our cruise/delivery aboard her were exceptional enough that maybe I can just tell you what happened and leave it at that.
Sunday---We were planning to come aboard mid-day and get some miles under us so that we might relax a bit along the way to our Thursday-noon delivery deadline for arrival in Mamaroneck. Rain, forty-fifty knot gusts out of the northeast, and the warmth of a homeside fire made us scrub that plan and wait to see what Monday might bring.
Monday—Lowering skies, spits of rain…not much of a sailing day in the remains of the northeaster. We tarried and scurried alternately and arrived in Newport about 1500. After Al checked us out and we stopped for ice and ice cream cones (my crew at the beginning was my 24-year-old daughter Elizabeth), before we were dropped aboard by the Ida Lewis launch. We tried to re-adjust the spring tension in the Quik-Vang as Al had requested, but the vice grips were broken. We shrugged and decided to cast off.
1700—Elizabeth threaded us through the anchorage under main alone toward Fort Adams. While we'd been running around the clouds had broken and we were treated to a low-lit golden harbor exit in lively 15-knot puffs; the northwester had filled in behind the departing storm. Waves were minimal in the protection of the harbor. Rounding close around Fort Adams our only neighbor was a 28-footer, half-a-mile ahead, stemming the current in mid-channel. We hugged the Newport shore to lessen the foul tide. Elizabeth drove while I tried to find a course for Block Island. In two miles or less we put the little boat half-a-mile astern. I told Elizabeth it was the brilliance of staying out of the current.
The "mother-in-law" house, Hammersmith Farm, Castle Hill, I regaled my captive daughter with unwanted details about each, and we were out East Passage. Sliding in relatively smooth water beneath the Rhode Island shore toward Point Judith we held our course, played G-H-O-S-T (a tie), and marvelled at boatspeed numbers around from 8.8 - 9.2. "This 32-footer really IS fast," we thought until we figured out that we were actually looking at the apparent wind reading.
I decoded the instruments before we sighted the flashing green on the bouy off Sandy Point on the top of Block Island. The breeze had dropped to single digits on the quarter. We powered in, picking the buoys out in the moonlight, to tie up at a deserted Champlain's Dock in Great Salt Pond about 2000.
Tuesday—1000—Taking care of a diesel fill-up and harbor dues (an off-season bargain at $20) we turned left at the harbor mouth bell to make for Long Island Sound. The dying norther on our quarter pushed us at about 5 knots, so we sailed to Watch Hill where it quit. A brief stint under power (6-plus-knots at a conservative 2400 rpm) pointed in behind Fisher's Island ("to duck the current again, Daddy?" asked Elizabeth with wide eyed sarcasm) and rolled out the jib to meet the new sou'wester. Motorsailing through Wicopesset Passage into Fisher's Island Sound we encountered three knots of current (but not the 5.2 predicted by Eldridge for the Race). The estates and tidy "garden cottages" rolled by to weather and we threaded inside South Dumpling to leave the island behind an hour and a half later. Elizabeth made roast beef sandwiches on bread spread with dill humus. "Fisher's Island burgers" we called them.
1500 We had arranged to call Carol (Elizabeth's mother, my wife) on the radio/tel. To arrange a rendezvous. Making miles toward Mamaroneck was still important, so we told her to meet us at Clinton and hoped we could close the 25 miles still to go before dark. All afternoon while Elizabeth slept under her sleeping bag in the cockpit I fiddled with sail controls and tried to coax Whistler into her on-the-wind best. It was a close fetch along the Connecticut shore, moderate sea, puffs in the teens. With her small cruising jib and jumbo main, the J-32 presented me with an unfamiliar combination.
She balanced up nicely with the wheel brake set, and I walked around trying to maximize the (now reliable knotmeter). The over-tensioned vang spring was a problem, but I got the trim-stripes on the main to smooth out, the leech tell-tales to fly, (with as much backstay tension as I dared apply). The jib was no problem. Even with approximate lead settings it pulled well and broke evenly.
It was heavy dusk under blue-black clouds and spitting rain, but we got to Clinton at 1830, ten minutes before Carol.
1900—"Cruising in the rain. This should be lots of fun." Grimaced Carol as she settled aboard. I nestled in a corner and watched my crew bustle about the galley. Whether it was the elbow room, the efficient stowage, or the thought of cruising with an oven, both seemed to perk up as they worked. Mother-daughter meals aren't necessarily always elegant, but Carol had picked up lobsters on her way down, and this one was. The ports were steamed and the downpour drummed on the coach while we dipped our claws in the common frypan ("I didn't bring anything to put the butter in") and wiped our chins.
2130—Elizabeth drove home, and Carol and I settled in. I'd slept in the main cabin, but now Carol and I moved forward. Compared to the other "master" beds of our long-lived marriage, this one rated well toward the top.
We saw what there is to see of Clinton, bought two more bags of ice, paid the $25 for a protected night at the town pier, and were on our way.
1330—Falkner's Island was in our way. Bear off around it? Pinch up inside it? Neither looked good in the still-kicking sou'wester. Finally I treated the inboard buoy like a weather mark. Short-tacking on the lifts was obscenely easy with the cruising jib, and we made the short course in good time. This boat makes it hard not to do the right thing.
1500---It was a little late for lunch, but we'd been holding off for the Thimble Islands. Main alone took us into the middle of the labyrinth where, touching mud just once, we found a spot to anchor and devour the remains of roast beef…fried up with onions and served on buns warmed in the oven. Carol handled the anchoring with a minimum of the normal frustration. I pulled it easily aboard after lunch and we went on.
1800---Off New Haven we made the choice of Milford as our target. With light waning we powered into a sloppy (wind against the tide) slop. Quickly and dryly we covered the ground into "The Gulf" (that modestly-named bay at the mouth of the Indian River) and slid in the half-light into Milford Harbor and an empty slip.
0500—With 45 miles to go to Mamaroneck and "not later than noon" as our deadline, we left Milford early.
0600---We picked up a fair current. The northwest winds on our quarter were almost strong enough to warrant motorsailing, but we buzzed along under power alone.
0645—I rolled out the jib. It added a quarter knot to the six we were getting at 2600 rpm.
0730—I put up the main. Another quarter knot. With the help from the current we were getting there.
1100---We were abeam of Playland at Rye. Less than five miles and an hour to kill. We put up the cruising chute. By now the breeze was fitful, at best, from the Northwest. We made the rest of the trip in, ten minutes late, to tie up at McMichael's.
Post script: Dear Al, I guess the worst thing I can say about your boat is that it has a tendency to encourage thoughts like "If I can fly like this, maybe I can walk on water too." With new cruising fantasies fired full blast, the conservative thing for me to do is head back to my catboat. Thanks and congratulations, Robby.


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Saturday, September 1, 2012
Chocolate chunk & cashew cookie bar
It is hard to wrap my brain around that September is already here. Kids are back in school in a few days, Ocean is starting high school! CRAZY. She will be learning to drive in a few months!! She has been bugging about a VW van...she wants one. Fitting I suppose for a vegan girl named Ocean.
Yesterday Leeluu wanted to make cookies and pulled up a chair to the counter, hoisted all the ingredients up. Funny girl. She even asked if we needed `this` (apple cider vinegar). I think it's great that food plays a huge roll in my children's lives. It makes me smile.
We decided to make cookie bars. I have never made them before, it is basic a cookie recipe that I added a bit of almond milk. Pressed into a 9x13 cake pan. They turned out really well. I think I will make more without nuts, and maybe add some seeds and dried fruit and such for school lunches.
3/4 cup vegetable shortening
3 tbsp peanut butter ( or cashew!)
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp ground flax seed- mixed with 6 tbsp of warm water
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 tbsp almond milk
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup chocolate chunks
1 cup cashews- toasted
Preheat oven to 350.
Lightly grease a 9x13 cake pan
With a mixer beat shortening with sugar.
Add vanilla, and flax.
Mix together flour,salt, baking powder.
Pour a little bit in at a time, until well mixed.
Add milk, and beat until dough consistency.
Stir in chocolate and cashews.
Press dough firmly into pan, and bake for 25 minutes.
8 comments:
- AnonymousSeptember 1, 2012 at 1:22 PM
oh my gosh those look so amazing! i love cashews in desserts!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks...I only had raw cashews in the cupboard, so I toasted them. It worked out pretty good. I think any nuts would work in these, especially pecans.mmmmmDelete
Very fun! I have never had cookie bars but they always sound good and I like yr ideas for add-ins in the future. Nice lunchbox snack :)ReplyDeleteReplies
I actually had my first cookie bar at a friends house the other day! Definitely going to put a healthier twist on these next time.Delete
I was thinking that sounded amazing with cashews, then you go and say pecans, and it sounds even better!ReplyDelete
Sounds so good. Next in line on my cookie baking queue.ReplyDeleteReplies
I forgot to put a few tbsp of peanut butter in the ingredient list...but maybe a cashew butter would be nice?Delete