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WASHINGTON - The Senate moved Tuesday to impose new restrictions on the closing of rural post offices, adopting a provision that would prevent them from being shuttered for at least a year.
Under the measure, the ailing Postal Service would be barred from closing post offices for one year if they are located in rural areas - those with fewer than 50,000 people. The exception would be if there was no community opposition.
After one year, the mail agency would have to take rural issues into special consideration, including economic impact, the quality of Internet broadband service and location. Post offices would generally be shielded from closing if the next closest mail facility was more than 10 miles away.
The provision was among revisions to a Senate bill aimed at stabilizing the ailing U.S. Postal Service by providing a short-term cash infusion while delaying controversial decisions on thousands of post office closings and ending Saturday mail delivery.
Senators were scheduled to vote on a final measure as early as today.
"Protecting our rural post offices is about more than just maintaining brick and mortar - our post offices are the lifeblood for towns across our state and a source of good-paying jobs in areas hard-hit by the economic downturn," said Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who co-sponsored the amendment, which was agreed to by voice vote.
The mail agency, teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, says it needs to begin closing thousands of low-revenue post offices and mail processing centers this year as part of a billion-dollar cost-cutting effort to become profitable again by 2015. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe previously agreed to delay post office closings until May 15 to allow Congress to pass legislation.
At stake are more than 100,000 jobs, part of a postal plan to save some $6.5 billion a year by closing up to 252 mail-processing centers and 3,700 post offices. But many local communities worry about layoffs, targeting anger at lawmakers in an election year.
Much of the Senate debate Tuesday centered on finding ways to provide additional layers of protections to communities affected by potential closings. Bigger proposals that would have forced an immediate move to five-day-a-week mail delivery or establish an independent commission to make wide-ranging decisions on cuts and closings, were voted down.
The amendments approved Tuesday would:
� Delay closing of mail facilities until after the November elections to prevent disruption in states that heavily rely on voting by mail. The Postal Service had previously indicated it would avoid most closings until after the election.
� Allow the Postal Regulatory Commission to veto any proposed postal closing that did not meet set criteria.
� Cap spending on government conferences and require all of the information to be posted on the Internet. The amendment, offered by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., was approved on voice vote following the scandal over a federal agency spending hundreds of thousands of dollars at a training conference in Las Vegas.
The main postal bill seeks to cut about half the number of mail processing centers the Postal Services currently wants to close - from 252 to 125 - allowing more U.S. areas to maintain overnight first-class mail delivery for at least three more years. Beyond the one-year moratorium on closing rural post offices, the Postal Service would be required to undergo additional layers of approval before closing any mail facility.
In the meantime, the Postal Service would get a cash infusion of roughly $11 billion, basically a refund of overpayments it made in previous years to a federal retirement fund; the agency could use the money to pay down debt and offer buyouts to 100,000 postal employees. It would be allowed to make smaller annual payments into a future retiree health benefits account, which currently amounts to more than $5 billion a year; get more flexibility to cut worker compensation benefits; and be required to establish a chief innovation officer to find new ways to bring in postal revenue.


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November 8-9, 2010, Centre for General Linguistics
This workshop is a follow-up of the successful FACS-Workshop, held at CASTL, University of Tromsø, November 14-15 2008.
The goal of the workshop is to bring together scholars who share an interest in the formal study of creole languages. Highlighting the more formal issues surrounding creole formation may help us in furthering our understanding how pidgin and creole languages come into being as well as why their grammatical properties are the way they are. At the same time, it may foster the interaction between theoretical linguists and researchers 'in the field'.
External webpage: http://misc.atarie.nl/facs2/index.html
Invited speakers:
John Lumsden, Université du Québec à Montréal
Norval Smith, University of Amsterdam
Tonjes Veenstra, Centre for General Linguistics
Marleen van de Vate, University of Tromsø

subset: commoncrawl


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|System: Wii U
|Dev: Ubisoft
|Pub: Ubisoft
|Release: TBA
|Players: 1-4
|Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p
by Angelo M. D'Argenio
Ubisoft was by far the most impressive booth at E3 this year. Not only were all of their games genuinely fun, but they also seem to understand new technology better than the people who created it. Just look at how Ubisoft handled the Wii U. They had ZombiU, an extremely innovative survival horror game; Rayman Origins, an incredible platformer that made use of the Wii U's touchscreen far better than New Super Mario Bros. U did; and Rabbids Land, their foray into the casual gaming space that served as both a party game and Wii U tech demo. Set up as an almost direct competitor to Nintendo's own tech demo, NintendoLand, Rabbids Land shows off what the Wii U can do like few other games can.
Ubi's iconic Rabbids are known for being in minigame compilations, and Rabbids Land is no exception to that rule. However, this time the minigames are all tied together with one big Mario Party-style board game. The specific rules of the board game have not yet been revealed, but most likely we will be seeing concepts such as minigame spaces, shops, spaces that let you advance through the board quicker, and more.
The game is controlled with the Wii U GamePad and up to three Wiimotes. Remember when Nintendo said that the future was asymmetrical gameplay? Well, Rabbids land has asymmetrical gameplay coming out of its ears. Every minigame is some form of "three versus one" game where the GamePad player has an entirely different goal than the Wiimote players.
Now, that doesn't mean that the GamePad player will hold the GamePad the entire game. An Ubi booth rep said that players will sometimes need to switch controllers around for different minigames, in order to be sure that the right player has access to the GamePad. In addition, Wiimote players will sometimes have to attach Nunchucks in order to play certain minigames. Unfortunately this means the full game package requires three Wiimotes, all with Wii Motion +, three Nunchucks, and one gamepad. It's a hefty investment if you haven't already picked up these items.
However, games like these tend to live and die by the quality of their minigames, and Rabbids Land certainly seems to be doing alright in this respect. Each one takes the asymmetrical gameplay concept and really drives it home. In fact, some minigames involve two styles of gameplay that aren't even in the same genre.
For example, one minigame features Rabbids on a rollercoaster with another Rabbid following behind them. The Rabbids on the coaster actually play a rhythm minigame. They shake the Wiimote or Nunchuck to the beat in the style of Rock Band or Dance Dance Revolution. Doing this causes the rollercoaster to generate fireballs, which shoot backward at the Wii U GamePad player. Longer note streaks cause more fireballs to be generated, eventually filling the screen with dangerous projectiles.


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Seasonal Credit Card Processing
1st National has a long history of providing tailored solutions for those merchants that have only a seasonal requirement to process credit cards. This may also be true of those who may have a one-time special event.
The solutions are every bit as varied as the needs of our seasonal merchant. Typical examples may include credit card processing solutions for:
- Pumpkin Patches
- Arts and Crafts
- Christmas Tree Lots
- Fireworks Stands
- Special Events
- Fundraising
- Concerts & Vending
- Spring, Summer & Fall Fairs
We have a variety of solutions including our Pay-As-You-Go program, Free Terminal Placement, and Free Gateways, and even Free Smartphone downloads. The advantage of our seasonal programs is that the solution can be as flexible as any traditional merchant account.
And don't forget that for those of you who may be doing fundraising for non-profit organizations, your seasonal credit card processing solution might bring you an even greater value.
Interested in what 1st National can do for your seasonal business? Give us a call or complete our "quick quote" request. Between our well rounded inventory, Class A Settlement Banks & Processors, and a full suite of Merchant services, our talented agents are sure to be of value.
Toll Free: (877) 964-1622
Example Seasonal Credit Card Processing Equipment
The following is just a sample of popular credit card processing solutions. Please let us know more about your business and we'll configure a solution just for your business or organization.
For those of you who are 1st National customers you should be aware that your discounts can be quite aggressive, so please make sure you talk to us before purchasing from our cart.
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VeriFone VX 675 Wireless Credit Card Machine$399.00 Add to cart
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Paris is often thought of as a romantic city, but it actually has something to offer people of all ages. Culture and history rub shoulders on the banks of the River Seine, while there is a wealth of activities for children too. Why not consider renting a self-catering apartment, rather than being confined to rooms in a hotel? There will be more space for you and your family, and you can save money by cooking your own meals rather than eating in restaurants every day. You can even come back for a siesta, then enjoy some evening entertainment in the capital once your energy is replenished.
France's capital city is bursting with activities and places of interest to suit all tastes. Everyone will want to see the Eiffel Tower, and just across the River Seine is the Palais de Chaillot and the Trocadéro Gardens with their wonderful display of fountains. Find time to take a stroll around the Ile de la Cité, visiting the monumental Notre Dame Cathedral and the stunning Sainte Chapelle. Don't forget the Sacré Coeur Basilica at Montmartre and the nearby Place du Tertre where you can watch artists painting in the square. Go early to the Louvre Museum to try to beat the crowds, and if you appreciate modern art, head for the Centre Pompidou. Still time for more sightseeing? Stroll down the Champs Elysées and admire the view from the Arc de Triomphe.
Disneyland may be the most popular destination for children near Paris, but there is plenty to do within the city itself. At the Cité des Sciences, Parc de la Villette, is a special interactive area called the Cité des Enfants. Here, young children can experiment with sound and light or construct buildings. Pay a visit to the Bois de Boulogne, where the Jardin d'Acclimatation offers a zoo, funfair and amusement park. Teenagers will perhaps be more attracted by the mini-golf, boating and bowling, also at the Bois de Boulogne. The Bois de Vincennes in the twelfth arrondissement is home to the Parc Zoologique, the largest zoo in France. Here you can see gibbons, lions, monkeys and nocturnal lemurs amongst others, but the seals and elephants are the most popular.
Paris can be an expensive place to stay, but self-catering accommodation is the ideal money-saving alternative to hotels. The city's excellent public transport system means that you don't have to stay in the most fashionable districts to have easy access to the main attractions. Travelling out of season will bring the cost down even further for you. We can offer a wide range of apartments throughout the city, enabling you to choose the ideal size and location for your family. Why not take a look at our customer reviews before you make your booking? Whatever type of accommodation you decide on, rest assured we will offer you the very best in value.


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TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) looks on course to win a surprisingly solid majority in a December 16 parliamentary election, media polls showed on Thursday, returning to power with a hawkish former premier at the helm.
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who heads the LDP and would likely return to the top job if the party wins, is calling for radical monetary easing by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to beat persistent deflation and a strong yen.
He has also promised to stand tough against China over disputed isles in the East China Sea, loosen limits in Japan's 65-year-old pacifist constitution on the military, and rewrite what conservatives see as overly apologetic accounts of Japan's wartime past.
Previous opinion polls suggested the LDP would come first in the election for the lower house but might have to rely on its smaller ally, the New Komeito party, to take a majority.
The LDP is now predicted to win 257 to 306 seats in the 480-seat lower house, surveys by major newspapers including the Asahi, the Nikkei business daily and Kyodo news agency showed, although it is not likely to ditch the New Komeito as a partner.
Even if the LDP, with or without the New Komeito, has a majority in the lower house, it will not have one in the upper chamber, which can block legislation.
However, a recent legal change prevents the opposition from taking the budget hostage by refusing to pass a funding bill, as happened in recent years, so the LDP will find it easier to implement spending plans. And it can put pressure on the BOJ without enacting legislation.
But revising the pacifist constitution, however, would require a two-thirds majority in both houses as well as a public referendum.
The opinion polls also showed the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) could lose half or more of the seats it held in the lower house. However, surveys of some 100,000 voters also showed up to 40 percent were undecided how to vote.
"The polls suggest that the election is going to be the mirror image of the one held three and a half years ago. In that election, the voters decided to get rid of the LDP so they voted for the DPJ even though they did not have particularly high expectations," said Columbia University professor Gerry Curtis.
"Now they are poised to throw out the DPJ, which means a big victory for the LDP even though there is little enthusiasm among the voters either for the LDP or for its leader, Mr. Abe."
The newly launched, right-leaning Japan Restoration Party founded by popular Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, is likely to win around 50 seats, the polls showed.
The party has been seen as a potential ally of the LDP if, as many pundits had predicted, the LDP and New Komeito together fell short of a majority.
Monetary policy is a major issue in the election as politicians prescribe ways to end deflation and keep the world's third largest economy from sliding deeper into a recession.
Abe, who quit abruptly in 2007 after a troubled year in office, wants the central bank to ease already hyper-loose monetary policy and public works spending to help rescue the economy - a stance Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has criticised as irresponsible given Japan's huge public debt, already the worst among advance nations at twice the size of the economy.
"Make no mistake, a fundamental change in (central bank) policymaking is coming to Japan," said Jesper Koll, head of equities research at JP Morgan in Tokyo.
Shizuoka University Professor Etsuro Honda, an adviser to Abe, told Reuters on Thursday that the LDP could submit to parliament by July a bill to give the BOJ a binding price target and a mandate to maximize employment.
He added that it was also important to make sure that the successor to BOJ Governor Masaaki Shirakawa, whose term ends in April, is on board with the government stance.
"Revising the law takes time, so first we have to have a good BOJ governor," Honda said.
Voters are also focused on the role of nuclear power, which accounted for nearly 30 percent of Japan's electricity before last year's Fukushima disaster. The LDP, which promoted atomic energy during its long rule, says it will decide on the best energy mix within 10 years. Critics say that would be tantamount to business as usual on energy policy.
The DPJ swept to power for the first time in 2009, promising to put politicians, not bureaucrats, in charge of governing and to pay more heed to the interests of consumers than corporations in designing policies. Critics say the fractious party failed to honoured its pledges.
Noda, the DPJ's third premier in as many years, splintered his party in August by enacting, with opposition help, an unpopular sales tax rise to curb public debt.
Additional reporting by Stanley White; Editing by Michael Perry and Jonathan Thatcher


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Hindu and other thoughts on retirement: Moving on by moving through all stages
I've been retired almost four years and regularly get questions about it – questions I also ask myself. Here are some thoughts that may be helpful for the coming wave of "baby boomer" retirees.
First, there is something inescapably unique about how we move through the stages of our lives, even if there is similarity in the stages. There is something unique about the movements of our spirit and the movements within us of the spirit of family and culture and profession, and through these the movements of the Holy Spirit. Crucial, then, is our individual discernment of those movements.
Still, there are generalizations we can make about the fact that human life takes time and must move through stages, however much we may wish to leap ahead or retreat back, slow the pace or speed it up.
I find wisdom in Hindu ideas about life's four stages: First, the early years of learning and training; then, the long years as a householder rearing children, caring for family and society, being responsible and busy; thirdly, retiring in order to refocus on our soul's journey; and, finally, a stage of complete renunciation, to a forest hermitage or on a solitary trek like the Buddha's.
Few are called directly to that last stage, though all will experience it, gradually or suddenly, as we slip into final frailty and death.
For most of us, "retirement" is something like that third Hindu stage. Having left behind many "householder" responsibilities, we are still somewhat involved in family and world, perhaps by continued work or by new-found response to the world's needs. The degree of continued engagement varies, as too the degree of retirement. The balance of yin with yang shifts with situation and opportunity, experience and resources.
Yet, today, that balance often tilts heavily towards yang. For many seem to feel they must be as active as ever, if only in changed form: home office instead of workplace, volunteering and traveling rather than paid work, or golf and games and the social round.
Continued activity may, of course, be the fate of some major responsibility or the fortune of being still needed at some task. This may be good fortune, but can also be a curse – as it seems to be for the world's poor who can't even dream of retirement. Yet such fate is quite different from the compulsion to continue at full pace when it's no longer necessary.


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Um, Comcast, Could You Maybe Not Randomly Dig Up My Property Without Asking?
Reader Kyle, like so many of us, would rather Comcast not dig up his property without asking, especially when they are a) running cable for his neighbor b) mysteriously avoiding an area near the curb where they could have run the cable without disturbing his yard. To add insult to (landscaping) injury, when he asked the Comcast workers to stop digging they refused, and when he called Comcast to ask them to tell the workers to stop, they also refused, then hung up on him.
Kyle says:
I'm in the basement playing video games and my wife calls down to me, telling me that there are two guys digging in our front yard. I run up stairs to check it out, and they tell me that they're running cable to my neighbor's house. I would have no problem with this, except that they were running the line through my yard, and not through the other patch of grass near the curb where they should have been running it. I spoke to one of them and asked why they didn't ask me if they could dig on my property, and he gave me some noise about needing to run it over here because of the line signal. I told him to stop digging for a few minutes while I spoke with someone at Comcast.
I call the local number, navigate the tree and finally get in touch with a human being. For the first time in probably 3 years, I did not confirm the woman's name before continuing. I explained the situation and she tells me that she can't do anything about it. I ask to be put in touch with someone who can do something about it. She asks me for either my phone number or my account number, both of which I decline to provide. She continues saying that she's trying to help me, I inform her that she does not need my phone number to transfer me to someone who can help me. She asks if I'm a Comcast customer, I say yes, but also tell her that it doesn't matter; if I was a Dish customer, they still wouldn't be able to dig in my yard.
At this point she starts trying to talk over me, and I raise my voice to drown her attempts to talk over me. Then she hangs up on me. I'm researching DirecTV and Dish as we speak.
We asked Comcast for their official lawn digging policy, but our email went unanswered at the time of this post. Kyle says that the Comcast workers did a good job covering up where they were digging, but he's "just irritated that two Comcast techs took it upon themselves to start digging on private property when there is an area near the curb that they could have used that isn't my property." He also adds: "The real test will come in next several days, seeing if any of that grass ends up dying."
Since we don't know Comcast's official policy about digging up your lawn, we'll just refer our readers to their official coffee making policy. It is totally irrelevant, but quite comprehensive.
Kyle sends an update:
Comcast has an easement on the property on the other side of the sidewalk, a strip of grass roughly 3 feet wide directly next to the curb. This same strip of grass is where the box is located, in front of my other neighbor's house.
Had they used this area (and this area only) I would have had no problem. Instead, they also used a part of my yard, which is not fenced. There is no easement on my property, aside from that "communal" strip of grass.
Comcast has written us back and will be investigating the issue further, but in the meantime, Frank, Comcast's Twitter-jockey, says:
"The rules and policies regarding utility easements vary by municipality guidelines. It is always our goal to do any type of digging in the least intrusive manner possible. "
Frank from Comcast sends another update. He says that Comcast was within its legal rights to dig up Kyle's lawn, but admits that it could have been handled better. (Like, by not hanging up on him.)
As a quick follow up regarding this situation. The place where work was being done was in the utility easement for [redacted], which is 12 feet from the curb. We are working with the Customer to learn more of his experience and improve it for others. But ultimately we could have done a better job of explaining what we were doing and what an easement is.
Yay, communication.
(Photo: u2acro )
Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.


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Williams Sonoma Giant Gingerbread Man Copper Cookie Cutter
- Only at Williams Sonoma
- Exclusive
Easy, hassle-free returns online and in-store for eligible items.Learn More
Earn 5% Back in rewards4 plus free standard shipping3every day when you shop with your Williams Sonoma credit card at Williams Sonoma.Apply Now Learn More
- Summary
Use our giant cookie cutter to bake up gingerbread men big enough to satisfy any sweet tooth. Perfect as seasonal party favors or as adornments for place settings, these big boys are fun to decorate with frosting and candies, offering ample surface area for personalized lettering.
- Made of welded and copper-plated stainless steel to ensure years of use.
- Handle makes it easy to position, press and then lift the cutter.
- Folded top edges reinforce the sides for lasting durability, while sharp cutting edges shape dough with precise detail.
- Dimensions & More Info
- 6" x 8".
- Made in China.
- Use & Care
- For best results, roll out and cut your cookie dough on baking parchment, then transfer the parchment with cut-out cookies to a baking sheet.
- Hand-wash.
- Shipping
Shipping Information
UPS can deliver most in-stock items within 3–5 business days. UPS is unable to deliver to P.O. boxes.
Shipping Rates
The shipping rate varies depending on your order total and shipping destination. View Shipping Options and Charges.
Next Day Delivery
For an additional charge of $26 per address, we can expedite delivery to most destinations. This service is not available for some oversize items, items shipped directly from the supplier (including perishable and custom-manufactured items), out-of-stock items and items to be shipped outside the contiguous 48 states.
Orders received by 9:00 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday will arrive the next business day; orders placed Friday through Sunday will arrive on the following Tuesday.
Return Policy
At Williams Sonoma, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction are our priority. Upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage; we will arrange for a prompt replacement.
If within 30 days, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value. An original receipt or gift receipt is required for all returns and exchanges. Returns with a gift receipt will be refunded in the form of a Merchandise Credit for the amount indicated on the gift receipt. Returns with original receipt will be refunded in the original form of payment, cash and check refunds over $100 will be issued as a company check (may take 14 business days from time of request).
For all cutlery returns (knife sets, single knives, cutting boards, knife sharpeners and knife storage), please contact us at 888.922.4108 to initiate the return.
We cannot accept returns on monogrammed, personalized, special-order items, custom upholstery, food, items shipped direct from the vendor or on items damaged through normal wear and tear. Final sale items ending in .97 or .99 cannot be returned.
Made to Order and Final Sale Furniture items are non-returnable and cannot be cancelled once the order is placed.
For returns of items purchased from your Williams Sonoma Gift Registry, we will gladly provide a refund or exchange for the merchandise within 90 days of your event or within 90 days of purchase, whichever date is later. View Full Returns Policy.


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Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Marbled Banana Bundt Cake
16 comments:
- Rosie said...
I am in L-O-V-E with my "King Madison" - awe what a wonderful pic of him :) Give him a huge snuggle from his auntie Rosie!
Oh my goodness Maria talking of perfect cakes I just adore this marbled banana bundit cake!! Fancy passing a slice over this way by any chance ............>
Hugs Rosie x
- 14 May 2008 at 15:18
- Anna's kitchen table said...
Maria, that looks delicious! And your pussy cat is gorgeous! :-)
- 14 May 2008 at 16:32
- Gloria Baker said...
Marìa this look amazing! so nice xxGloria and love your cat(don't tell my 3 dogs))
- 14 May 2008 at 23:53
I love bundt cakes too - this one looks simply delicious.
And what a pretty cat! What a sweetie!
- 15 May 2008 at 00:21
- Ruth Strong said...
What a beautiful photo of Madison... he is simply gorgeous!
Loving the marbled cake... it's something I've ye to master.
- 15 May 2008 at 00:36
- giz said...
Kittie has a wonderful life - not a care in the world.
You would seriously laugh at the bananas I brought home today. You know how the supermarkets sometimes sell them off when they're getting over ripe. I bought 2 HUGE bags at $0.79/bag - well what would you do. We make bundt cake, banana bread, banana brownies and then freeze the rest of the bananas.
- 15 May 2008 at 06:09
- Maria♥ said...
Thanks everyone for the lovely comments. I have passed on all the sweet comments for Madison ;o)
- 15 May 2008 at 11:32
- Nickki said...
Awwww, I just love Madison, he is so gorgeous! Would love to give him a cuddle.
What a delicious looking cake!! It really looks special made in the bundt tin. I also have some overripe bananas in my kitchen (as I always do!) so I think a banana cake will have to be made today!
- 15 May 2008 at 14:12
- Kelly-Jane said...
Look at the puddy cat :) :) and your cake is gorgeous too!
- 15 May 2008 at 17:29
Maria what a handsome cat you've got.
That cake looks scrumptious too, bundt cakes are so elegant aren't they.
- 15 May 2008 at 19:03
- Anna said...
Mmm, I love the marbled effect! Looks delicious; I'd love a piece of that for breakfast (I don't think my breakfasting habits are normal).
And what a gorgeous cat! *cuggles Madison*
- 15 May 2008 at 20:12
- Rhyleysgranny said...
Aw cute pussy.:) The cake looks scrumptious.
- 16 May 2008 at 10:59
- Maria♥ said...
Thanks everyone for the lovely comments!
- 16 May 2008 at 10:59
- Gloria Baker said...
Marìa Ipost in Sweet and simple bakes to said you and Rosie that I posted today a recipe to Sweet and Simple Bakes if you want to look and tell is OK.xxGloria
- 16 May 2008 at 14:14
- Leslie said...
I am sooo making this tonight! Looks yummy. I love the pics of your cat!Love the site..I'll be back!
- 17 May 2008 at 16:54
- Leslie said...
I made this cake this weeken..and it was my first "Marbled" cake. It was soooo yummy and it was gone in a flash.
- 21 May 2008 at 02:04


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Tumbling Tiles:
Words In Time
Tumbling Tiles is the latest mobile app from the Brain Glove development team. It's a fast-paced game that combines the challenges of word games (like Scrabble or Words with Friends) with the frantic pace of puzzle games (like Tetris and BeJeweled). Tumbling Tiles hurdles players through history using a steam-powered time machine. On your journey you will enlist the help of Hercules and other historical figures (like Athena, Ramesses, Cleopatra, etc.) to help you complete levels, collect coins, and earn gems. Players spell words by tapping the lettered tiles on the game board. The tiles that are used to spell words are eliminated from play and generate points. You must act fast, though, because new tiles will be added to the game board as time progresses. The newer tiles will displace other tiles on the game board by pushing them closer and closer to the top. If they reach the top of the board, all of the tiles will tumble and the level is over. Your score for the level will determine how many gems you have earned. Earn at least one gem to complete the level and move on to other levels where the action gets faster and more challenging.


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September 1998 - Newsletter 59
Stap me vitals tis time for the Christmas Newsletter. If the years start to go any quicker I just won't bother to take my stocking down, it can stay at the bottom of the bed all year round. I suppose the only this to say in it's favour is that, so far, 1998 has been busy and very enjoyable. The good thing about the job is that we get a great variety of work and meet such a super bunch of people. Recently we did the Dartmoor Folk Festival. The weather was absolutely brillant, we met many freinds from years gone by and were looked after like royalty. You would think we were poor starved waifs the way the wives of the organizers tried to fill us up with food. 'Have another cup of tea me dear, try a bit of mother's cake, would ee like a bit more trifle? You can't go on stage without fillin' up a bit.' Thank you very much ladies, I put on 2 stone and haven't eaten since. Well, I admit the last statement is a lie.
OK I know this year it was re-named Westminster Fair but you be bound to catch the odd drop of rain if you run things on a regular basis on an English summers day. Some of the traders must have been disappointed but I'm sure the pub had a very Westminster day and the scouts in the village were run off their feet with cream teas. The Beavers and Brownies had been very well trained to do the waiting bit, the only trouble was you had to hang onto your cup and saucer or they would disappear to the kitchen long before you had finished. I sat there inventing a new game called 'Splat the Beaver'. If you managed to splat the little hand before it reached your saucer then you got ten points etc., etc. The concert in the evening was great stuff. The marquee was packed, everyone felt cosy and warm after the damp and dismal afternoon and the chorus singing took off from the first song. There was quite an emotional moment at the end of the night when Ron Page announced his retirement from the front line of the orangisation, but I', sure he will be there hovering with words of advice and some practival help when necessary.
I have had a lot of pushing and shoving from friends to put together another song book. Your wish is my command and in a quiet period in the spring thats exactly what I did. I have just this moment had words with Matt Seattle of Dragonfly Music and he is desperately trying to get The Yetties Music Book Mk. 2 out by the middle of November. It will be very similar in format to the current one with cartoons again by out good friend Julian Goodey.
Normally about this time of the year one of use remembers that we haven't booked anyone for the Christmas Converts and touch of panic sets in. This hit and miss systems has worked out well in the past and we've had some very interesting guests but 1998 will go down in history as the year of efficiency. We have enlisted the aid of no less a personage than Mr Fred Wedlock, the oldest swinger in town. This dosen't mean that the concerts will be any more organised, in fact with Fred, the opposite will probably be true, but we can guarantee a good night will be had by all. Thr Christmas Concerts are on the 11th and 12th of December and the New Year do is on the 31st natuarlly. All three events are at The Digby Hall and start at 8pm. Tickets are available via the PO Box, from The Abbey Pharmcay, Cheap Steet, Sherborne or from The Sweeterie, Middle Street Yeovil. You can also book by ringing 01935 814611. Prices: Concerts £6.00/Children and OAPs £5.00. New Years Knees Up £8.00
26th-27th February 1999. If you are interested book NOW. Accommodation is limited and last time I spoke to Halsway most rooms had gone. The Manor is right of the edge of the lovely Quantock Hills, the food is superb and the atmosphere great. It's a singing, dancing and larking about weekend. Ring 01984 618274 to book.
I have been asked by Dorset Libraries to put together a song and poetry evening of my own and perfom it in Dorchester Library (8th October) and Gillingham Library (14th October). Both shows start at 7pm and tickets (available from you local North Dorset Library) will cost £3. For this you not only get traditional songs, poems from Williams Barnes and Thomas Hardy and my bits of nonsense but will also have a glass of wine thrown in. Well perhaps not thrown in, not in a library, but you known what I mean.


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Marketing Apps 129 Apps found. category: Marketing ×
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This module enables the user to select different outgoing mail servers for each mass mailing records rather than using the default server which is configured for Odoo.
Mass Mailing With Other Outgoing Server
$ 11.09


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Key Considerations
Not all clouds are equal
It's important to remember there are several different types of cloud – private, public, community or hybrid. The approach chosen has the biggest single impact on the level of risk and its manageability.
Location is everything
Knowing where data will reside is essential as the location has a significant impact on its privacy and confidentiality, as well as the legal obligations of those who process and store the data, given the varying regulatory frameworks in place in different legal jurisdictions.
One size does not fit all
By identifying and classifying data, organizations can consider the most appropriate location in which to store particular information. For instance, if it's too sensitive for a public cloud, a private cloud may prove a secure and viable alternative.
Join the dots
Many of the risks associated with the cloud come about as a result of inadequate service integration. Organizations need to ensure cloud services are effectively joined up – both with one another and with inhouse systems and business services. It's also worth considering an access-control approach that incorporates and integrates in-house, outsourced and cloud systems.
The burden of compliance
Whilst organizations using cloud services remain responsible for the security and integrity of their own data, to comply with regulations it's important to ensure the relevant regulatory, corporate, industry or other standards apply (legally or contractually) to the provider.
Who can you trust?
Evaluate the long-term viability of the cloud provider. Remember it may not just be your data at stake but your reputation, so it pays to work with a trusted partner.
Request your copy of The White Book of Cloud Security.


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Note: passwords are case-sensitive
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I have a mini connected to my STe and I'm using the HDDRIVER. I'm looking for some best practices on how to get apps and files from my Mac onto the SD card that I have configured to be several partitions on? I.e. what's the best way to get files on and off via the CosmosEX Mini?
I'm assuming that the Shared Drive is probably the best approach, but I've have serious issues with it. I'll open the drive on the ST and sometime the drive is blank, or I'll double click on a folder and the directory is empty, but I know its not. I've tried using several Macs in my house and all have resulted in the same issues.
Couple things. I'm using a Raspberry PI 2B with the mini and I'm using the SD card with the CE Image that Jookie provided. Also I'm connected to my network vi WIFI and I've updated the CE over the network.


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from frozen bread dough
There is nothing quite like homemade cinnamon rolls. My mom is famous for her homemade cinnamon rolls - she makes the dough from scratch and tops them with cream cheese icing (recipe here). For those of us that don't have the patience (or time) to make homemade dough like my Mom, I have a great shortcut for you : frozen bread dough.
Frozen bread dough and I go back a long time. At our first "supper club" back in 2006 (?) I made "homemade" bread from frozen bread dough. The guys (including my future husband, who I hadn't started dating yet...) went crazy. They said they had never tasted anything so amazing - it was soft, moist, light, chewy... they went on and on. Mike still talks about that bread to this day - maybe that was what attracted him to me! Sadly, I don't think I've ever made it for him since that night - oops! Guess I'll have to put that on our list. His birthday is coming up!
Stop by my Everyday Occasions, The Store for more of my baking essentials for making really easy "homemade" desserts.
3 loaves of frozen bread dough, thawed (it comes 3 to a bag)
8 tablespoons of butter, softened
1 1/2 cup of brown sugar
4 tablespoons of cinnamon
butter icing glaze (recipe below)
Thaw three loaves of frozen bread dough in the refrigerator or on the counter (there are directions for thawing on the bag). Allow the thaw dough to rise for 1-2 hours in a warm area covered with a damp cloth. Roll the dough out into a rectangle onto a floured surface. Spread softened butter on the rolled out dough. Sprinkle sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon over the dough. Roll up the dough into a log. Slice into 2-inch thick rolls. Place into a buttered pan, or one lined with parchment paper.
Cover with a warm damp towel and allow to rise 1-2 hours in a warm area. If you are preparing the night before and baking in the morning, keep them in the refrigerator and let them rise about 1 hour before baking. When the rolls have doubled in size, bake them at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes until they begin to brown. Top with Butter Icing Glaze.
Rhodes frozen bread dough can be found everywhere. There are 3 loafs in each package.
I made a large batch and used all three loafs. This is what they'll look like when they've risen.
I rolled them out 1 at a time. This has the butter and sugar on it.
Now the brown sugar.
And the cinnamon. Then roll up the dough into one long roll.
Your roll can be longer or shorter - it doesn't really matter.
I made different sized batches in different pans. I plan to bake them and put them in the freezer for various occasions. This one has 5 large rolls.
I like how to rolls bake in muffin pans - they are very pretty and more individual.
This is what the rolls look like when they have risen overnight - doubled in size.


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Edge Of Sanity
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Topic: Edge Of Sanity
Posted: September 23 2011 at 13:35
Originally started as a fairly straightforward Swedish death metal band, Edge of Sanity's first few albums gained them a following in metal circles. They gradually began to encorporate progressive influences into their music, thanks primarily to frontman Dan Swano (a veteran of neo-proggers Unicorn, and eventual founder of the more straightforward prog-metal outfit Nightingale), hitting their peak with 1996's Crimson.
I got in touch with Dan Swano for the story and some interesting news.
Your biography has been covered in your ProgArchives profile so let's bypass the biography details. But which bands were you influenced by and why did you choose that name ?
The name Edge Of Sanity was an idea from the guitarists Andreas and Sami.
They were both big horror movie fans and spent a fortune on bad VHS copies of obscure Fulci and Romero movies.
I was always into shorter and more direct names.
My previous bands were Ghost, Icarus, Unicorn..says it all...
But In the earliest days were were far away from the brutal death metal that would later appear.
So for the material we put out in the beginning, the name worked because it was more Thrash oriented, and in Thrash the bands had sometimes less "evil" names....
and it also made us stick out a bit because all other Swedish bands had short, 1 word names.
God knows what inspired us in the early days.
Some of the riffs were called "Death riff", "Candlemass riff", "Voivod riff", "Pestilence riff" so I guess they were kind of important.
Once we got sucked into the SweDeath scene, more unoriginal inspiration came into the picture, where we tried to compete with Entombed and C:o
but after the "total death metal" era, we found inspiration in all kinds of music....
Your sound was very different from the likes of Dismember, Grave, Unleashed, Carnage and Nihilist/Entombed. Although I have noted you have now adopted their sound in Bloodbath. But why did Edge Of Sanity differ so much from the Swedish death metal sound ?
First of all, we formed in a little town called Finspång with around 20.000 people, and there was a handful of metalheads, and most of them thought Altars of Madness was "too brutal" when it first came out, so we played as brutal as we though a band could be, after hearing stuff like Pestilence, Slayer and Kreator etc.
but later on we jumped on the trend with the HM-2 pedal and tuned town to B and erased all the Thrash influences from the sound..
But since I have musical attention deficit disorder I also made sure that the songs were well arranged and kind of progressive in their structure.
Experimenting with 5/8 and 7/8 beats, and just do stuff I never had heard on a brutal record, like the verse from Maze Of Existence, that go from super fast 2 beat to super doom back and forth....
we also arranged so that the 3 string instruments played different things rather than unison etc.
That kind of stuff was still in the mix when we tried our best to be super evil Death metal as well...and that might have separated us a bit from the Stockholm bands.
This is an archive based interview also intended for the fans you get well after both you and I have passed away so let's go straight to your albums. Please give us your views/some words on your albums, starting with.......
The five demos from 1989 to 1992. Is there any chance you will compile them together onto a compilation album ?
Euthanasia The first demo, that was created more as a one/off project. Sounds pretty horrible. More of Thrash demo with a strangled monkey on vocals.
Immortal Rehearsal The second recording, not really a demo. Just threw up a few mikes in the rehearsalroom to check out our first songs a a proper band. Raw!!!
Kur-Nu-Gi-A The 1st real demo. I recently had the pleasure to remix it and have it released on picture vinyl! A dream come true!! Really cool stuff...but still more of a DeathThrash thing.
The Dead Never thought of it as a demo, really. It was always called "Promo" because we had great label interest from Black mark around the time, and signed with them soon after it was done. Evil!!
Dead But Dreaming We were still with Black mark when it was done, and in many ways the reason why we got to make Unorthodox. Boss once told me that he had pretty much dropped us after the first 2 songs
because he felt we were heading in the wrong direction...but then he heard "When all is said" and it saved us for another bunch of records :)
Nothing But Death Remains from 1991
Some good songs. HORRIBLE MIX!! Which I could re-record half of it!! *** for the music * for the sound
Unorthodox from 1992
Our Sergeant Pepper :) One of the few albums I've made where the "vision" actually was fulfilled in the end. Kind of killed me a bit, because it felt like all I wanted to do with the genre had been done, and I didn't know what to do next. *****
Spectral Sorrows from 1993
...and that is what we did next. There is a few classic EOS style songs on here and a lot of bad padding. Sacrificed was totally off and made people react and check it out. But I guess it scared off a lot of Death heads as well. ***
Until Eternity Ends from 1994
Not bad at all. Not a big fan of "Bleed" myself, but the other stuff works for me still. ***
Purgatory Afterglow from 1994
One of my faves. There is a lot of nice material on here. Twilight is a real killer and apart from the dodgy mixjob (of mine) the album is really close to perfect. Well...the last track is kind of messed up...but it's also a lot because it lacks power in the mix... ****
Crimson from 1996
I would say that 80% of it is f**king amazing stuff. There are some passages there that I feel haven't aged that well...but some moments are true amazing...and the fact that it feels 20 minutes when you listen to it back to back is awesomeness!! ****
Infernal from 1997
I think a few of my songs are cool...the sound is not one of Tägtgrens finer moments. A testament of a band in pieces. **
Cryptic from 1997
No comments :)
Crimson II from 2003
Not even half as good as Crimson, but there are some kick ass riffing going on, but the sound and the drum-samples just turns me off every time.. It could have been a lot better if I had demoed it first...but it went pretty much straight from the head to the CD press ***
For those of us unknown with your music; how would you describe Edge Of Sanity's music ?
Powerful Metal with a Death-like twist.
How was the creative processes in your band from coming up with an idea to it's being recorded ?
In the early days we all spent out spare time riffing away and assembled the songs at our rehearsalspace.
Around halfway thru TSS we started to write more and more alone or in pairs...
By the PA album I wrote 90% alone and showed them the songs as we recorded them..
Crimson was a group effort. We all sat in a circle facing each other (Except Benny that was in a booth far away...poor b*****d)
Crimson II was from 2003. Is this the final Edge Of Sanity album or what is the plans for the future ?
Well...the KUR-NU-GI-A demo is remixed and released...and my other plans is to clean up the archive and release some restored stuff like pre-productions and a live gig from Denmark that is pretty well recorded...
also a few songs from the roughmix of NBDR etc. etc.
If I get what I want, it's 2 CD's one called "You can't live forever...." and the 2nd "...but can you be dead forever?"
To wrap up this interview, is there anything you want to add to this interview ?
Thanx for your interest in my stuff!! If you are curious about EOS, please feel free to buy the "When all is said" compilation. More bang for your buck is hard to find!!
Thank you to Dan for this interview
Conor Fynes
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|Posted: September 23 2011 at 14:08
Very cool interview, especially his views on his own albums.
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|Posted: September 24 2011 at 14:15
^Yes, he was very sincere.
"Prog is Not Dead and never has been." (Will Sergeant, from Echo And The Bunnymen)
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|Posted: September 24 2011 at 15:03
Interesting interview.
I rate Dan's albums quite similarly to him (although I rate Crimson II higher). Refreshing to hear such sincerity and critical approach from a musician on their own albums.
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|Posted: September 24 2011 at 15:19
Thanks for the interview. I need to check out Unorthadox, seeing how highly he rates it.
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|Posted: September 24 2011 at 21:59
A very interesting read. I haven't heard Unorthodox that he rates so highly.Very refreshing to hear such honesty about ones own music.
"The wind is slowly tearing her apart"
"Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN
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|Posted: September 25 2011 at 05:25
Yeah! Edge of sanity is one of my favorite bands. Nice interview like always.
Sonorous Meal show every Sunday at 20:00 (greek time) on http://www.justincaseradio.com
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|Posted: September 25 2011 at 13:38
Great interview! EOS is one of my main musical inspirations!
Check out my YouTube channel! http://www.youtube.com/user/demiseoftime
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Most folks have heard of our world famous Butchart Gardens. Many don't know it is located only a leisurely afternoon sail from our base in Port Sidney! Sail around the Saanich Peninsula, past some of the most beautiful scenery you might ever encounter, past the village of Brentwood Bay, and you will find it in Todd inlet.
Todd inlet is blessed with two beautiful landmarks the Butchart Gardens and the Gowland Todd provincial park. Last summer I joined friends who were anchored in Todd Inlet. They were stern tied to shore so it was easy to raft on to them for the evening. We made a picnic dinner, grabbed a couple of blankets and motored the dingy to the Garden entrance and on to the outdoor stage.
Depending on the time of year, it is definitely worth looking up online who will be playing. You might find your favourite type of music being performed by some talented musicians. It doesn't get any better than sitting on the grass watching live music and having a picnic.
But maybe it does! If you are lucky enough to show up on a Saturday night, you will get to enjoy a fabulous fireworks show when it gets dark. Bring an extra blanket to hold a good spot on the lawn in front of the fireworks. All that, and I have't even mentioned the gardens, which are gorgeous, and you will need to take the time to wander around them.
Before you leave the next day, take a walk in the Gardens but also in Gowland Todd park, just a little further down the inlet. Watch for our little lizards which are a real novelty to people from colder parts of Canada! If you explore enough you will find the remains of an old townsite.
And if you have fallen in love with the area, which you surely will, the Brentwood Bay hotel has a terrific deck for refreshments, pub food & sushi, along with a full service spa for the truly self indulgent.
I can hardly wait to go back!
See you there!!


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represents the k Boolean function in n variables.
represents the Boolean function corresponding to the specified vector of truth values.
represents the Boolean function defined by the specified mapping from inputs to outputs.
gives the Boolean expression in variables ai corresponding to the Boolean function specified by spec.
gives the Boolean expression in the form specified by form.
- BooleanFunction[spec] gives a Boolean function object that works like Function.
- BooleanFunction[spec][a1,a2,…] gives an implicit representation equivalent to the explicit Boolean expression BooleanFunction[spec,{a1,a2,…}].
- BooleanConvert converts BooleanFunction[spec][vars] to an explicit Boolean expression.
- In BooleanFunction[values] etc., values can be specified either as True and False or as 1 and 0.
- The functions represented by BooleanFunction always return True or False.
- In BooleanFunction[values], the values are specified in binary order starting with 111, ….
- BooleanFunction[k,n] is equivalent to BooleanFunction[IntegerDigits[k,2,2^n]].
- In BooleanFunction[values], each value can be a list, representing a vector-valued Boolean function.
- In BooleanFunction[{{i11,i12,…}->o1,…}] the oi can be lists, representing vector-valued Boolean functions.
- Elements of both inputs and outputs can be specified either as True and False or as 1 and 0.
- Elements of inputs and outputs can also include any number of _, representing "don't cares".
- They can also include up to one __, representing a sequence of "don't cares".
- In BooleanFunction[spec,{a1,a2,…},form], the possible forms are as given for BooleanConvert.
- BooleanFunction[spec,{a1,a2,…}] by default gives an expression in DNF.
- BooleanFunction[k] gives the k Boolean function in n variables, where n has the smallest value for which .
- The numbering of Boolean functions in BooleanFunction[k,…] is consistent with CellularAutomaton.
- BooleanFunction[CellularAutomaton[n]] is equivalent to BooleanFunction[n,3].
- BooleanFunction[CellularAutomaton[{n,2,r}]] is equivalent to BooleanFunction[n,2r+1].
- Operations such as BooleanMinimize, BooleanTable, etc. can operate directly on BooleanFunction objects.
- BooleanFunction objects can be applied to variables just like other Boolean functions such as And, Or, etc.
- In StandardForm and related formats, BooleanFunction objects are printed in elided form, with only their number of variables displayed.
- BooleanVariables gives the number of variables of a BooleanFunction object.
Examplesopen all close all
Basic Examples (3)
Generate the 30 Boolean function of 3 variables:
Use f like any other Boolean operator:
Generate the formula directly:
Specify a Boolean function based on a table of truth rules:
Use an incompletely specified truth table:
Convert a Boolean expression to a BooleanFunction:


text:
Relatives of dead Maplewood resident seek answers
Officials say Maplewood resident went out window; relatives have questions
BALLSTON SPA — Relatives of Carlton Decker, a Saratoga County Nursing Home resident who was found outside the facility Sunday and later died, are questioning an explanation from county officials about how he ended up outside.
According to a statement released by the Board of Supervisors, Decker climbed out of a window in his room.
John Manolakis, Decker's son-in-law, said the 85-year-old lived on the second floor. He was frail and couldn't have managed an escape from the window in his room, which only opened about 6 inches, Manolakis said. Decker was found near the door below the window with his walker. He wore a bracelet designed to set off an alarm if he walked through a door in the facility. Manolakis said the police checked to see if the alarm worked, and it did. He also said Decker had no injuries that would indicate a fall.
County Administrator Spencer Hellwig could not provide further explanation Sunday. The state Department of Health had been notified of Decker's death and an investigation was under way, Hellwig said.
"We're as interested in piecing everything together as everyone else," he said. "We feel badly the family has suffered a loss and we want to give them correct information."
According the board's statement, Decker was in his room at 11 p.m. when the staff did a round of bed checks. He was discovered missing at 1 a.m. and was located after a search of the grounds.
Decker, known by his nickname, Fred, had been moved to the second floor in a secure wing of the nursing home last summer because he would sometimes wander, said his daughter, Janice Decker. He would often wake up disoriented or become confused about his surroundings when he was tired, she said. Most of the time, he was lucid. Decker, who lives in New Jersey, said she was planning to travel to Ballston Spa to spend Christmas with her father. When she spoke to him a week ago he was looking forward to her visit, she said.
Manolakis, who is married to Decker's daughter, Linda, spent the most time with him in recent months. He said Decker was frail — he weighed 130 pounds at most. His mind and sense of humor were intact. He lived with his wife until her death in 1997, and then on his own for a time before moving in with John and Linda Manolakis. He moved to Maplewood Manor about three years ago. Janice Decker said she saw him regularly until early last year when she and her husband moved to New Jersey. She was unhappy with his care at Maplewood and wanted to move him in with her, she said.
John Manolakis said the preliminary cause of death is hypothermia, but an autopsy is scheduled for Sunday. He said he was angry his father-in-law wasn't watched as well as he could have been.
The incident comes at a time of transition for Maplewood. In November, county Board of Supervisors voted 15-6 to sell the facility to a private operator. The 277-bed nursing home has been operating in the red for years and depends on subsidies from the county to stay open. The supervisors moved nearly $45 million into Maplewood's budget since 2004 and budgeted for a nearly $10 million shortfall this year. The board also plans to do away with 40 beds in the facility.
Decker's sister-in-law, Donna Decker, said the family was expecting his death.
"We could accept something health-related, but this?" she said.
email@example.com • 518-454-5352 • @leighhornbeck


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WASHINGTON — With both parties positioning for difficult negotiations to avert a fiscal crisis as Congress returns for its lame-duck session, Democrats are latching on to an idea floated by Mitt Romney to raise taxes on the rich through a hard cap on income tax deductions.
The proposal by Mr. Romney, the Republican presidential nominee, was envisioned to help pay for an across-the-board income tax cut, a move ridiculed by President Obama as window dressing to a "sketchy deal." But many Democrats now see it as an important element of a potential deficit reduction agreement — and one they can claim to be bipartisan.
The cap — never fully detailed by Mr. Romney — is similar to a longstanding proposal by Mr. Obama to limit income tax deductions to 28 percent, even for affluent households that pay a 35 percent rate. But a firm cap of around $35,000 would hit the affluent even harder than Mr. Obama's proposal, which has previously gotten nowhere in Congress.
"Let's just say there's a renewed interest," said Senator Kent Conrad, Democrat of North Dakota and chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. "Part of it is people reflecting on Obama's proposal, but when Romney said what he said, it just added fuel."
"I was a little surprised Romney proposed a dollar cap when he did it," Mr. Conrad added.
The attention on the plan is evidence that ideas on deficit reduction are beginning to take firmer form as the January deadline for dealing with expiring tax cuts and automatic spending reductions draws close. The lame-duck session that begins Tuesday could be one of the most pivotal in years, and the political atmosphere is considerably different than when lawmakers left in October for the fall campaigns.
President Obama has been re-elected convincingly. Democrats, once in danger of losing control of the Senate, instead gained at least one seat. House Republicans held control, but as many as 16 incumbents lost, including some of the party's most uncompromising voices, like Representatives Joe Walsh of Illinois and Allen B. West of Florida, who refuses to concede his seat despite his continuing deficit in the vote count. The somber mood among Republicans could ease negotiations to avert more than $500 billion in automatic spending cuts and tax increases.
"The worst time to work together on a bipartisan basis is right before an election," said Representative Jeb Hensarling of Texas, chairman of the House Republican Conference. "The best time to work on a bipartisan basis is right after an election."
Returning lawmakers will find a long to-do list greeting them Tuesday and seven short weeks to do it. In the House, members may once again try to grapple with the farm bill, which expired during the recess. Dairy farmers in particular are clamoring for a resolution, and a year of record drought gave urgency to a bill.
Across the Rotunda, the Senate may once again take up a cybersecurity bill. An earlier measure that would have established optional standards for the computer systems that oversee the country's critical infrastructure was stopped by a filibuster as some leading Republicans yielded to the concerns of major business interests; members from both parties would like to see a renewed effort on a bill as soon as possible. A military policy bill, which generally passes easily on the floor, was caught up in the fight over looming Pentagon cuts and did not make it to the floor.
But the most pressing task is averting the sudden expiration of all the Bush-era tax cuts, a payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits at the same time that across-the-board military and domestic spending cuts kick in. Most economists believe that "fiscal cliff," if not mitigated, would send the economy back into recession. Democrats say any plan to avert the crisis must include a combination of tax increases on the rich and spending cuts. Republicans say they are willing to overhaul the tax code to increase federal revenue, but they refuse to raise income tax rates.
That has kicked off a scramble to find ways to raise revenue without higher rates by closing loopholes and tightening deductions and tax credits. Senior Democrats made clear Monday that the search for such tax changes should not be seen as a replacement for higher tax rates on the rich.
Representative Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, said the Romney proposal to cap deductions would work only in concert with allowing the top two income tax rates to revert to the level of Bill Clinton's presidency, 36 percent and 39.6 percent, up from the current 33 percent and 35 percent.
To come close to the level of deficit reduction needed to get the nation's fiscal house in order, the presidential deficit reduction commission known by the names of its chairmen, Erskine B. Bowles and Alan K. Simpson, assumed those top rates would jump, Mr. Van Hollen said. But beyond those rate increases, more revenue will have to be raised.
"This is a promising idea for tax reform," Mr. Van Hollen said, "if you start at the higher Clinton era rates for high-income earners."
The idea gained currency when Martin Feldstein, a prominent Republican economist and former chairman of Ronald Reagan's Council of Economic Advisers, embraced it during the campaign to show that Mr. Romney's tax plan was not as far-fetched as Democrats portrayed it. Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and something of a ringleader in the search for a bipartisan deficit deal, has also embraced the idea.
But with the presidential campaign over, it is taking on new salience. The Democratic centrist group Third Way has made it the centerpiece of a package of tax changes that it says could raise nearly $1.3 trillion over 10 years without raising rates.
The Third Way proposal would limit tax deductions to $35,000 but would exclude charitable giving. Universities, foundations and other philanthropies have been the biggest impediment to passing Mr. Obama's more modest 28 percent limit, which did not exclude the charitable tax deduction.
Jennifer Steinhauer contributed reporting.


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Joining the ranks of teenage homeowners is "Hunger Games" star Josh Hutcherson, who has bought a place in the Hollywood Hills West area for $2.5 million.
Called the Tree House, the 2,000-square-foot-plus house has been home at different times to talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and the late actor Heath Ledger.
The two-bedroom, two-bathroom house, built in 1951, sits behind gates on nearly a half-acre filled with sycamores. Features include glass walls, polished concrete floors, an office, beamed ceilings and video security. An outdoor living area of 2,500 square feet contains a movie lounge and barbecue space.
Even before escrow closed Hutcherson picked a roommate — adopting a pit bull named Driver from a rescue group.
Hutcherson, 19, also stars this year in the horror comedy "Detention" and "Red Dawn," due for November release.
Public records show the property previously changed hands in 2008 for the same amount Hutcherson paid.
John Galich of Rodeo Realty was the listing agent. Deedee Howard of the Agency represented Hutcherson.


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Timeless beauty: Seniors tapped for luxury makeup, fashion ads
So prized is youth, Jessica Lange's character on American Horror Story literally killed for it. It's ironic, then, that the 64-year-old actress is at the forefront of a trend that's seeing seniors tapped as spokeswomen for some of the world's top fashion and beauty brands.
In late February it was revealed that Lange would be the new face of Marc Jacobs Beauty, while Charlotte Rampling, 68, would represent rival cosmetics company Nars. The high-profile brands join Louis Vuitton, MAC, The Row and Lanvin — to name just a few — in finding their muse in timeless beauty.
But is it an attempt to dismantle stereotypes, or simply a bid to capitalize on the aging population?
"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that older people are usually the ones with savings and discretionary income," said Anne Kreamer, an ageism expert and author of Going Gray. "But it does take some courage on the part of marketers to make that choice to fly in the face of historical advertising."
During the next two decades, the number of Canadians 65 and older will climb from one in seven to nearly one in four. And already, there are more consumers aged 55 to 64 than there are 15 to 24.
That retirement is increasingly being pushed back also helps, with Kreamer noting that it means greater visibility of mature women in public contexts. That, in turn, makes older faces in advertising a somewhat softer sell.
"Seeing people who aren't necessarily falling prey to the message that youth is the Holy Grail can give people a vision of a way they can live differently," said Kreamer, calling the tactic both inspirational and aspirational.
Over the past two years, such brands as MAC (Iris Apfel), Louis Vuitton (Catherine Deneuve), Lanvin (Jacqueline Murdock), Vielma (Jenni Rhodes), Lucky Brand (Lauren Hutton), TK Maxx (Daphne Selfe), and The Row (Linda Rodin) have all showcased mature women — some in their 80s and 90s — in campaigns.
But Autumn Whitefield-Madrano, a beauty-messaging watchdog, is skeptical of their motives. She said what appears to be a legitimate, even altruistic, response to critiques about beauty advertising could be "just a repackaging of our complaints and selling them back to us."
"The fact that Nars is going to shoot Rampling in black and white makes me roll my eyes a little," said Whitefield-Madrano, founder of feminist beauty blog The Beheld.
Certainly, brands' individual approaches to marketing can send starkly different messages, ranging from empowering to apologetic.
American Apparel, for instance, used un-retouched photos of Jacky Shaughnessy, 62, in a "Sexy has no expiration date" image unveiled in January. That same month, by contrast, L'Oreal drew fire when its commercial featuring a flawless Diane Keaton ran immediately after the 68-year-old actress appeared on the Golden Globes looking radiant but realistically wrinkled.
A 2012 survey of 1,501 people found fully half of Canadians believe that ageism, more so than either gender or race-related prejudices, is the most tolerated form of social discrimination. And it can bear out in very subtle ways.
For example, the Today show, in a segment purportedly celebrating senior style, dubbed mature fashionistas "glam-mas" — a moniker arguably akin to calling a woman attractive "for her age."
"That qualifier seems to be important so that we preserve the idea of stereotypical beauty as being restricted to young people," said Whitefield-Madrano.
Whether it'll make a difference to see sexagenarians selling lipstick, or octogenarians modelling lingerie, remains to be seen. But ageism expert Kreamer believes it's a step in the right direction.
"Are a few women with grey hair and crow's feet going to change everything? No. Is it important to have, as part of the cultural conversation, the message that it's OK to look that way? Absolutely."


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The Japanese subject matter program at CSU Long Beach is designed to provide students with linguistic and cultural preparation and understanding of humanities for personal, social, intellectual and cognitive development as well as development of skills for economic self-sufficiency in the ever-intertwining world of global economy. It is intended to produce educators prepared in teaching Japanese with the communication proficiency, critical thinking skills, and sociocultural understanding essential for effective intercultural communication as well as pedagogical knowledge and training in teaching Japanese to diverse populations in our society.
The program requires a minimum of 30 semester units of upper division courses in Japanese as listed below under the four subject categories: Language, Linguistics, Culture, and Literature. Students should take 21 units of core courses and 9 units of electives. All upper division courses are conducted in the target language and require completion or equivalent of the four semesters of lower division Japanese language courses.
All upper division language courses are designed to develop competency in four skills and content. However, JAPN 311 and 312 emphasize spoken Japanese at advanced level, while JAPN 301 and 302 emphasize reading and writing at advanced level. The content courses represent three areas of study - Japanese culture, linguistics, and literature. The culture courses provide an overview of Japanese history from the pre-historic times to contemporary Japan, and an insight into Japanese culture and society. The linguistics courses introduce the sound, meaning, syntactic and discourse structure of language, and offer a comparison of Japanese and English as well as other languages. The literature course introduces selected major literary works, which will provide sources to cultivate literary appreciation and to develop cultural understanding of Japan.
A grade of "C" or better is required in all courses accepted for the Japanese program. The exit requirement is "Advanced" level Japanese language proficiency.
Core Requirements: 24 upper division units selected from the following four areas:
1. Language: JAPN 301, 302, 311, 312;
2. Linguistics: JAPN 461;
3. Literature: JAPN 471, and 421 or JAPN 370;
4. Culture: JAPN 451.
Electives: a total of 6 units selected from at least two different areas in consultation with a program advisor based on the student's background, interest, and teaching plans.
Language: JAPN 421, 422;
Linguistics: JAPN 462, 481;
Literature: JAPN 370;
Culture: JAPN 321; 350; 492;
Variable Subjects: JAPN 490; 497.
EFFECTIVE: Fall 1994


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California's system of government is badly broken. So broken that most Californians have decided it's not worth voting, as I explain here. So why don't we come together and call a constitutional convention?
The idea has been mocked as strange or unworkable. But it's not. Many states routinely ask voters whether to call a constitution -- every 10 or 20 years or so. So while Californians sit stuck and frustrated tomorrow, four states -- Montana, Iowa, Maryland and Michigan -- will let voters decide whether to call conventions. I'll circle back after the election to let you know what people in those states did.
California is overdue for a convention or large-scale constitutional revision. The last convention came in 1878 and 1879, when the state had fewer than a million people. Key parts of our government, most notably our legislature, haven't been adjusted for the growth of the state. We had 120 legislators then and we have 120 legislators now, which gives California by a factor of three the most populous and thus unrepresentative districts in the country.


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In the words of Hikmah Bafagih: "Our vision is to create an inclusive Islam, having people oppose me is very common"
23 October 2017UN Women
Meet Hikmah Bafagih, from Malang in East Java, Indonesia. University professor, community organizer, peace-builder, Counsellor, mother, wife-Bafagih has many roles. She is also a religious leader, steering the women's wing of the biggest Muslim organization in Indonesia. Her vision is to create an


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Until making homemade nougat, nougat was a mystery to me. Nougat was the alien chewy substance found in my least favorite candy bars. A request to make Milky Way cupcakes (more on that in a future post) prompted me to research nougat and ultimately to make some myself.
I learned that while nougat traditionally is a candy prepared with nuts (per Wikipedia: "The word nougat comes from Occitan pan nogat (Occitan pronunciation: [panuˈɣat]), which means nutbread."), the nougat in Milky Way contains no nuts – it's a chocolate malt nougat. It's made with egg whites (like a meringue), but with the addition of sugar, corn syrup, malted milk powder, and chocolate.
Despite my distaste for Milky Way bars (even before I became a chocolate snob, I didn't like ultra-sweet candy bars), I bought one for research purposes. Like a teen buying condoms, I hoped that I wasn't spotted by anyone who knew me. Very often, foods that I don't like become magically delicious when I make them myself. This was not the case with nougat. My homemade nougat was a spot-on match for Milky Way's nougat – sticky and sickeningly sweet. Do you like Milky Way bars? You'll love this stuff!
Does this mean that I didn't like the Milky Way cupcakes? Nope. When I mixed the nougat into chocolate malt cupcake batter, the candy's sweetness harmoniously balanced the not-so-sweet batter. I was thrilled with the results. Give me nougat in a cupcake over nougat on its own any day!
Nougat Recipe
I got the malted milk nougat recipe from Elizabeth LaBau at About.com. I am reprinting it below with a few minor changes and my notes.
Nougat With Chocolate Malt – Like in Milky Way Bars
- 2 C granulated sugar
- 2/3 C light corn syrup
- 2/3 C water
- 2 large egg whites
- 2 oz unsweetened chocolate
- 1/3 C malted milk powder
- 1/8 tsp salt
- Line an 8x8 pan with parchment.
- Place the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Brush down the sides of the saucepan with a wet pastry brush to prevent sugar crystals from forming (I skipped this step, but didn't have any problems).
- Cook without stirring until the temperature on a candy thermometer reaches 260 F. While you wait for the correct temperature, proceed to prepare the rest of the recipe.
- Chop the chocolate into small pieces and place it in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave until melted, stirring after every 30 seconds to prevent overheating. Stir until completely smooth, then set aside to cool slightly.
- Place the egg whites in the clean bowl of a large stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.
- When the syrup reaches 250 F, begin to beat the egg whites on medium speed.
- Once the sugar syrup reaches 260 F, remove the pan from the heat.
- Turn the mixer to high speed and slowly stream in the sugar syrup down the side of the bowl.
- Continue beating on high speed for about 5 minutes, until the egg whites are shiny, white, and stiff.
- Turn the mixer down and add the melted chocolate, salt, and malted milk powder. Mix until well-combined and smooth.
- Turn the mixer off and scrape down the sides of the bowl very well. (The nougat will have the consistency of Fun-Tak Mounting Putty.)
- Scrape the nougat into the prepared pan and smooth it into an even layer. Allow it to cool at room temperature until completely set, then cut into small squares to serve (or set aside to use in cupcakes).
- The nougat can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.


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Cameron University Professor of Art Katherine Liontas-Warren and CU alumni Catherine Prose and John Hitchcock are the artists whose works are featured in "Texas Works," the biennial exhibition sponsored by the Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock, Texas. The exhibition of prints will be on display through February 16, 2014 in the Fine Arts Gallery of the Buddy Holly Center.
Liontas-Warren has been a member of the Cameron faculty since 1984. She teaches drawing, watercolor and printmaking. Liontas-Warren has a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Connecticut University and a Master of Fine Art degree from Texas Tech University.
Prose is a working artist in Wichita Falls, Texas, where she is an Associate Professor of Art and Gallery Director for The Juanita and Ralph Harvey School of Visual Arts at Midwestern State University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art degree from Cameron University in 1997 and went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree from Texas Tech University.
Hitchcock is an artist and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he teaches screen-printing, relief cut and installation art. Hitchcock received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Cameron in 1990 and then earned a Master of Fine Arts in printmaking and photography at Texas Tech University.
December 17, 2013


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A Miami Gardens convenience store owner says his employees and customers are being targeted by police for aggressive questioning and petty arrests which he's been documenting for a federal civil rights lawsuit.
Alex Saleh, the owner of the 207 Quickstop in 207th Street is set to file the lawsuit that claims the Miami Gardens Police Department is conducting illegal stops and searches as well as racial profiling at his store, the Miami Herald reported Thursday.
Miami Gardens police have arrested one employee, Earl Sampson, dozens of times. Sampson has been stopped and questioned by police 258 times in four years, and has been searched more than 100 times and jailed 56 times, the Herald reported.
Nearly every citation or arrest has happened at the store and many of them have been for trespassing, despite the fact that Sampson is an employee of Saleh.
Saleh, 36, claims police treat his employees and customers like criminals and use racial slurs to refer to them.
While there has been a lot of violent crime in Miami Gardens recently, Saleh questions the high police presence outside his store.
"Absolutely, I'm agreed, theres a high violent crime in Miami Gardens, but that don't give the right to police officers to violate anybody's rights," Saleh said.
He said he is usually "pro-police," but these officers take things too far.
"This is not police work, this is police abuse," he said.
Miami Gardens Police declined to comment, but Chief Matthey Boyd sent NBC 6 a statement.
"Rest assured that our department is fully committed to complying with the laws that govern us," Boyd said in the statement, adding that the department is committed to "exceeding the expectations of those that rely on us, and providing the best possible service to the residents of this great City."
Saleh, who has owned the store for 17 years, said he installed cameras at his store in June 2012 to capture some of the activities of the officers, and the recordings were part of an internal affairs complaint he filed last year.
He claims the officers became more aggressive after he filed the complaint, including an incident where a police squadron marched into the store and stood shoulder-to-shoulder for 10 minutes, and another when he was followed and pulled over and given citations for a bad license plate light, tinted windows and bald tires.
But since Saleh served notice that he is going to sue the city, police presence at the store has decreased and Sampson hasn't been arrested.
More NBC6.com Stories:


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Hey everyone, I'm back with another tutorial and just to finish things off with the new Avatar series, I wanted to make a lesson on "how to draw Legend of Korra", step by step. This is technically the third drawing I made on the character Korra, and even though there is already two ways you can choose to make this character, I wanted you guys to get one last version. As you know Legend of Korra is a new twenty six episode series that will be airing on Nickelodeon either this year or in 2012. As you can see I uploaded a butt load of characters that will in the series in some way, shape or form. The main figures so far is going to be Korra, Tenzin, Bolin, Mako, Oman, Naga, Pabbo, and I'm not sure but, even Tenzin's kids are going to play some part in the series. Today I have some really cool and fun tutorials going up today and I know that a lot of you will love at least two of them. Drawing Korra is going to be easier than you think and to tell you the truth, it may just be easier than any of the other ones submitted before. That's all I can really say about this lesson on "how to draw Legend of Korra", I shall return folks with more drawing fun so stay tuned in to see what else comes your way.
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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major macro economic indicators
|2018 (e)
|2019 (f)
|GDP growth (%)
|Inflation (yearly average, %)
|Budget balance (% GDP)
|Current account balance (% GDP)
|Public debt (% GDP)
(e): Estimate. (f): Forecast.
- Member of the eurozone (2014) and the OECD (2016)
- Financial system dominated by Swedish banks (85% of domestic credit)
- Transit point between the European Union and Russia (coastline and ports)
- Decline in the workforce (low birth rate, emigration); high rate of structural unemployment
- Technological lag (R&D = 0.6% of GDP, EU average = 2%)
- Inadequate land links with the rest of the European Union
- Concentration of wealth in the capital; high income inequalities
- Heavy taxation of labour, which hits people on low wages and encourages under-reporting
- Importance of non-residents' bank deposits (half of the total)
Growth driven by domestic demand
Despite the continued deceleration that began in 2018, growth is expected to remain at a good level in 2019. Private consumption is the main driver of Latvian activity. It increased by 3.2% in 2018, and an increase in real wages, coupled with a further decline in unemployment, should help to maintain this momentum. However, the chronic decline in labour force participation rates is expected to continue due to the significant emigration of skilled youth and the decline in the working-age population, but could be slightly offset by an increase in the retirement age, which is to be raised by three months each year to reach age 65 in 2025. Public consumption and investment will remain brisk, supported by EU structural and investment funds over 2014-2020 in an amount of €4.51 billion (15% of GDP), including €1 billion for infrastructure construction and rural development, and €140 million to develop maritime activity. Private investment will remain constrained by concerns about Russia, and could also be affected by recent controversies over the fragility of the financial system (central bank governor Ilmars Rimsevics has been accused of corruption, while ABLV, the country's third largest bank, has been accused of money laundering and facilitating illegal financial transactions towards North Korea, and is now reported to be in bankruptcy). Exports of timber (16% of total exports), equipment and tooling (15%), and food products (11%) to the other Baltic countries, Poland, and Germany – the main trading partners – are set to continue, while those to Russia may still suffer from Russian counter-sanctions. Inflation is expected to remain under control.
Continuation of satisfactory fiscal management
The public accounts are expected to continue to show a small deficit, with rising expenditure accompanied by increasing revenues. The government aims to boost certain spending items, in particular military expenditure (which is expected to reach 2% of GDP in 2020), as well as expenditure related to infrastructure, education, and healthcare. At the same time, tax reforms will continue in accordance with the stability programme (2018/21) involving, among other things, greater progressiveness in income taxation, a 20% tax rate on corporate profits (with an exemption for reinvested profits), and a VAT rate of 21%. In addition, the government plans to cut the number of civil servants by 6% by 2020. Public debt should therefore be reduced for the third consecutive year. Although it is largely contracted from non-residents, the debt does not pose an exchange rate risk because it is denominated in euros.
Turning to the external accounts, the current account deficit is expected to widen due to a deterioration in the trade balance. Imports of capital goods (21%) and food products (17%), driven by strong domestic demand and under-diversified production, are expected to outpace exports. The surplus in services, linked to tourism and freight transit (to and from Russia), and remittances from expatriate workers largely offset the trade deficit. The small current account deficit is comfortably financed by European funds and foreign investment (equivalent to 2% of GDP in 2017). However, gross external debt, one-third of which corresponds to the public share, remains high (140% of GDP, but only 26% net).
A fragmented political scene and further deterioration in relations with Russia
The October 2018 parliamentary elections saw two new parties enter Parliament: the populist KPV LV Party (16 seats out of 100) and the New Conservative Party (JKP, also 16 seats), in second and third place, respectively. For the fourth time running, the pro-Russian National Harmony Party came out on top with 23 seats. In contrast, traditional parties recorded losses: the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) took 13 seats compared with 23 in 2014, the National Alliance (NA) Party also won 13 seats, compared with 17 in 2014, while the Unity Party took eight seats, compared with 23 in 2014. The political scene is therefore fragmented and negotiations to set up a new coalition took a long time, with the majority requiring the cooperation of four or even five parties to have the necessary number of seats to form the government.
Relations with Russia have deteriorated further following a reform to eliminate Russian language education in schools, leading to protests by Russian speakers, who represent a quarter of the population, and drawing the ire of Russia, which threatened to respond with economic sanctions.
Last update : February 2018


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Whittell splits at Battle Mountain
Special to the Tribune
The Warrior baseball nine found the going tough against the Longhorns in a Friday morning game at the Crossover Tournament at Battle Mountain.
The Red and Gold lost 22-1, the lone bright spot a long home run from Matt Elliott. Coach Thomas Hunter estimated the blast traveled 370 feet over the fence in left center. It was the Warriors' only hit in the game.
Meanwhile the Whittell softball team picked up another win. The girls beat Battle Muntain 4-0.
Whittell looks to regroup quickly as they faced White Pine Bobcats on Friday night. Check online for game results.


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The goal of Integrating HIV Innovative Practices (IHIP) is to enable health care providers to implement proven innovations in HIV care and services within their own practices. This Webinar is the second in a three-part series exploring innovative approaches to delivering oral health care and services to people living with HIV/AIDS, featuring grantees of the Health Resources and Services Administration's Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) Innovations in Oral Health Care Initiative (Oral Health Initiative).
The presentation details the pros, cons, and considerations of dental case management from administrative and clinical perspectives. The presenters also provide tips for being a good dental case manager and how this can result in improved health outcomes.
- AIDS Care Group (ACG) in Chester, PA; Dr. Howell Strauss, and Mr. Nelson Diaz, presenters
- Native American Health Center (NAHC) in San Francisco, CA; Dr. Carolyn Brown and Ms. Lucy Wright, RDH, presenters


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Before we get down to business, we are saying goodbye to designer Lisa who has graced us this last year with her beautiful creations. Lisa, we wish you all the best. We are also very happy that our 8 new designers who were introduced earlier this week are joining us starting today.
CAS-ual Fridays is turning 6 years old this month. A big congratulations to Michele. In honor of its birthday, we want you to make a birthday card with 6 of any of the same item.
Now let's see what our designers came up with for this challenge. Please click on their name above the photo to be taken directly to their blog to learn more about the project and to give them some love.
Also, you can find direct links to the CAS-ual Friday Stamps and Fri-dies that the designers used which are linked underneath their names. Remember, you don't have to use CAS-ual Friday stamps and dies to play along but if you do and you are the winner, your gift certificate increases to $50.
Stamps: Whole Shebang, Happy Mail
Fri-dies: Tag Buddies
Stamps: Mon Ami
Stamps: Whole Shebang, Happy Mail
Fri-dies: Tag Buddies
Stamps: Mon Ami
Stamps: Thanks
Fri-Dies: Funky Flakes, Smiling
Stamps: Bold Wishes, Mon Ami
Stamps: Shalom, RAD 2
Stamps: So Pretty
Fri-Dies: Shuffle, Fun-fetti
Stamps: Bold Wishes, Mon Ami
Stamps: Shalom, RAD 2
Stamps: So Pretty
Fri-Dies: Shuffle, Fun-fetti
Lisa K
Stamps: Pretty Posies
Fri-Dies: Posies
Lisa M
Stamps: Whole Shebang
Fri-Dies: Linked
Stamps: Heartfelt Sayings, Shenanigans
Fri-Dies: Stars
Michelle L
Stamps: Full on Floral, Shenanigans
Michelle W
Stamps: Bold Wishes
Stamps: Pretty Posies, Sassy Smiles
Fri-Dies: Bubble Box
Wei Wei
Stamps: Casual Comfort
Fri-Dies: 4 Petals
Okay, now it's your turn to play along. You will have until May 16th to play along. Don't forget to check back on May 18th for our Happy Hour post where we will announce the winners.


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one year average: 1 Oct 2006 - 30 Sept 2007
2006 - 2007
Bryant Park is a public space controlled by a private corporation. Owned by the city, everything that happens in the park happens at the behest of the Bryant Park Corporation. The main lawn only functions as truly open and public for a small percentage of the year. At other times it is used for Fashion Week, corporate events, private galas, etc. During the Christmas season the lawn is turned into a tent-enclosed shopping mall centered around an ice rink. Probably the number one occupation of the park is by construction crews. The space is converted so often, from lawn to catwalk to mall to stage to theater and back again, that it is constantly under construction. On the main lawn of Bryant Park, the only park in midtown Manhattan, scheduling is tight; indeed, time is at a premium. Events [and their preparations] take up so much of the year that less and less time is available for the public.
But while time in the case of the Bryant Park calendar is a tool of exclusion, it is also an equalizer. In the following photographs, average views of the park over various time scales, specific events disappear into the muddle of time. Tents, ice rink, and lawn fade into one, the parks occupants settle into a grey haze enveloping every available open ground. Even the trees lose their specificity. Strangely enough, public space reemerges: the architectural boundaries of this most artificial of sites are the only markers of stability, indicating that perhaps the time for action, for reclaiming of space in the name of the public, is not 'now,' but 'next year.'
The images compiled here are averages of photographs culled every ten minutes from the Bryant Park webcam from 29 September 2006 to 1 October 2007. The 'day' and 'week' images are simple arithmetic means, in which each pixel in the final image is an average of the RGB values of the matching pixels [ie the pixels with the same coordinates] across the set of images. The year image is also the result of an arithmetic mean, but due to small movements of the webcam over the course of the year, each of the individual images was first realigned to increase clarity.
Average Bryant Park was published in Pidgin 4.