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Your letters:
You once alluded to the possibility of a war between liberals and conservatives. Suppose moderates had the option to sit this one out. Which side of remaining civilian soldiers do you think would win? I'm tempted to say the conservatives because they would have all the guns.
No doubt about it. They'd have all the guns, plus the backing of numerous anonymous casino magnates. They'd be organized and out picking off liberals with lethal efficiency within seconds of the declaration. Take a look at how poorly organized the Occupy Wall Street movement was, with all those stupid hand signals. What chance do those people have against a Tea Party-aligned survivalist militia that has been dying for YEARS to finally open fire on all those dirty, filthy hippies? I for one welcome my new redneck overlords. I hope there's lots of drinking out of Mason jars in my future!
Would you say ex-Eagles quarterbacks are the Belichick disciples of NFL players? Think about it: Donovan McNabb, A.J. Feeley, Jeff Garcia, Kevin Kolb. All expected to be decent after playing relatively well in Philly, all fall to pieces once they leave the Fatman.
Which would you rather leading your NFL team next season, a Belichick disciple or ex-Philly QB of your choice?
I'd rather have the terrible quarterback because a terrible QB is a situation that you can fix more quickly. When you're stuck with a bad coach, you're usually stuck with him for at least two years (or, if your coach is Norv Turner, a hundred years). And a good coach can get an awful lot out of a team that has mediocre quarterback play (see last year's Niners as an example). If you have a terrible QB, you can always bench him in favor of John Skelton (exciting!) or watch the team draft a new QB in April. Having a terrible coach is a much more painful ordeal, especially if you have a good QB and the shitty coach is busy ruining them. O HAI COOCH SHANAHAN.
Drew Magary writes for Deadspin and Gawker. He's also a correspondent for GQ. Follow him on Twitter @drewmagary and email him at firstname.lastname@example.com.
How it is that no NBA player seems to have hairy shoulders? Statistically I would think that many NBA players (and surely those Spaniards do) would have furry backs and shoulders. Is it mandatory that they shave, wax or get electrolysis?
I can't imagine it being mandatory. I can only assume that many swarthy NBA players shave their back and shoulder fur to avoid being teased by teammates or made fun of by NERDY BLOG NERDS. I looked up old images of Rony Seikaly, Hedo Turkoglu, and Vlade Divac. These are all men who ought to have hair blasting out of every pore of skin. But when you look at the old images, their shoulders are as smooth as a debutante's ass. No way that shit is natural. Those guys all shaved down so that they wouldn't get shit for it on the plane ride home.
The only vanity plate in the universe that escapes ridicule?
That's pretty solid.
What if you had the option of having one giant 15-minute fart once per year, and no other farts that year? Would you do it? You don't get to pick when you have this massive fart, so it could come at any time. Also, it would match the decibel level of your loudest fart of the year and the stench of your smelliest fart of that year. Do you unleash Hell for a few minutes of the year, or do you keep your current, more balanced fart schedule?
If you're not allowed to know when the fart is coming, you have no choice but to keep to your normal farting schedule because the idea of that fart coming during a funeral or a date or a job interview is just too terrifying. Imagine the concentrated stench derived from an entire year's worth of flatulence. You're talking about creating an environment around you that is literally toxic. As impressed as I would be with myself in that scenario, it wouldn't be worth the genuine anger that fart would bring on. Everyone, at some point in life, has crossed that Fart Line, the line between someone saying, "Oh you farted! And it stinks! You kooky bastard!" and someone saying, "Seriously, cut it the fuck out. I hate you now." It's never fun when your loved ones announce that Fart Playtime is over. Once word of the giant fart spread around, no one will want to hang out with you until they know the Fart Threat has subsided for the year. It would be a lonely, difficult existence, and it would rob you of the everyday pleasures of small-batch farting. A day without farting is like a day without air! Noxious, methane-filled air.
Assuming they wouldn't be overthrown during your lifetime (although you have the option to join a resistance movement at great personal risk), and that you are not part of the targeted population, which evil regime would you rather live out your days under?
1) Nazi Germany
2) Sauron's Mordor
3) The Intergalactic Empire
4) The Confederate States of America
The CSA seems like an obvious choice at first, but then it dawned on me that it is in the South and air conditioning didn't exist back in Civil War times.
The Empire, obviously. If you're living under the Empire, that means you get to travel around space, which is wayyyy cooler than hanging out in war-torn Berlin or the backwaters of Tennessee. And apart from destroying an entire planet, did you ever see any real evidence that the Empire was all that terrible? There were still bars open. You could put in wagers with Jabba. And there's no way that the Empire could keep a watchful eye over every planet. You could easily flee to the nice side of Dagoba and while away your days zooming around on hovercycles and making your droids kiss each other. The Empire is the most attractive of all tyrannical regimes.
I was going to the store recently, and my friend asked me to pick up some vitamins (some specific, fancy vitamins). He said would pay me back as soon as I got home. So I go to the vitamin section, and I see that these vitamins cost like $40, way more than I thought.
I knew he was good for the money so it didn't bother me, but it got me thinking...what's the upper price limit in this scenario? Let's say you're guaranteed to get the money back before you go to sleep that night. Does the answer change if you get the money back in check form as opposed to cash form?
I think once you hit triple digits, it's fair game to come back and tell him you didn't have enough cash on you (obviously you can pay with your credit card, but it's better to just lie). I think it's the friend's duty to let you know that whatever you're going to pick up for him will cost a good deal of money, because making a large purchase stops being a favor and starts being a formal loan, which is always trouble. And if he's paying you back by check, forget it. Cashing that check takes five whole minutes. What did you get for your sweat equity? Nothing. It's a whole THING you have to deal with.
I don't know about you, but my entire life revolves around making sure I don't have to do anything, ever. If there's shit on my to-do list (and I hate the idea of a to-do list), all I want to do is rid myself of those tasks so that no one can make me get up and do anything. This makes me the diametric opposite of my wife, who spends a good deal of time concocting new shit to do. MUST WE BE SO PRODUCTIVE, LADY? I'm reading the side of this cookie box and I would appreciate it if you let me be.
Like any white person, I am extremely uptight about lending out money, even when it's a lock that I'm getting it back. Any time I used to go on business trips at my old job, I would always HATE paying the hotel bill using my own card, even though the agency was always going to reimburse me. I just had this terrible fear that someone would drop a nuclear bomb on my office and I would be out two hundred bucks. I am a cheap, petty man.
This server at my local Indian restaurant is blessed with a kick-ass name.
He sure is. I would order paneer cheese from Baldeep.
Asian Matt:
Do you think a swimmer's vagina/penis smells better than your average non-swimmer vagina/penis? I mean all that chlorine and neutralizing chemicals have to deodorize your bits.
I doubt it. Ever take a shower, wash your genitals thoroughly, and then stroll outside during a 95-degree day? INSTANT FROMUNDA. The only reason a swimmer would have better smelling genitals is because swimmers are skinny, and therefore they wouldn't have the kind of fatty thighs that often end up cutting off air to the taint, causing it to secrete unholy fluids that smell like a wheel of Stilton baked in tar. That makes far more a of a difference than swimming laps all day.
Whenever I'm in a wedding, and then a week or two later the professional pictures come out on facebook, I always scroll through the pictures to find ones of me looking dapper in my rented tux. Screw the couple on their special day, I'm far more concerned with remembering just how bitchin' I looked in that tux, and I feel that this is my right by way of spending $150+ on the rental.
I think that's more than fair. Any time anyone sends me a photo album of any event, even one featuring my own children, I immediately scour it for photographs of myself. And if it's a nice picture? Oh, you better believe I spend a half-second admiring it. "NOT BAD!" I think people on Facebook post extended photo albums with the implicit understanding that their friends will just look for photos of themselves. Then the friends will reciprocate by posting big albums that feature at least one photo of you to find and cherish forever. No one REALLY gives a shit about the other 59 pictures in the "Sandy's 28th Birthday Hoedown You Guys!" photoset.
Younger Brother:
My brother, who is a grown 30-year old man, just accidentally shit his pants for the first time in his adult life, and it happened at work. He tried to fart and got more than he bargained for. So far, I am the only person who knows, and I have been sworn to secrecy. How long am I allowed to MERCILESSLY make fun of him in private before I drop it? I think this is worthy of at least a week.
Oh no, I think you get to do it for as long as it bothers him. If you do it a year from now and he still freaks out about it, then I say you're free to keep on going strong. But if he's a mature fellow and he laughs along with you, then the fun will die out quickly. The more shit bothers you, the more shit you'll get thrown your way.
I feel like the word "hookup" doesn't have a concrete definition. I always understood it meant "to have sex with someone" but then I hear people use it to only describe that they were just making out with another person. It makes a big difference to say that you hooked up with that girl once and give me the impression that you were allowed naked access to her lady parts when in reality you weren't. Can you please define this word properly? WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
The first entry in Urban Dictionary says the word is meant to convey virtually any romantic/sexual activity, and I'm inclined to agree. If you make out with someone at a club, you hooked up on the dance floor. If you leave to go have sex, you hooked up at your apartment. I have found that, in general, if a guy has sex with a girl, he will make sure to say, "I banged her!," which leaves no doubt as to penetration. He's not just gonna let your imagination assume what happened. "I fucked her! I thrusted 16 times and then it was over HIGH FIVE!" At the other end of the spectrum, if a girl has sex with a guy, I think she will purposefully obscure that tidbit ("OMG I hooked it with him!") so that her feminist bookstore colleagues don't get angry with her.
I found this beast in a can of cashews (I set it beside a normal cashew for scale, but you can't really tell that it's also twice the height of a normal cashew). Despite being composed almost entirely of salt chunks, I did try a piece. I wish I hadn't.
It kind of looks like a Payday bar made by a blind person. I don't fault you for trying it, though. All processed food anomalies must be tested by live humans.
What to do think will be the big election issue in 2042? My guess is purchasing sex robots for jails to reduce prison rape and the associated health care costs. Thoughts? Pro or con?
I'm all for it. My guess is that virtually all of the same bullshit will be debated thirty years from now. Like the national debt. People bitched about the debt when I was a kid, and they're still fighting over it. People bitched about what to do about Israel and Palestine when I was a kid, and they're still fighting over it. People bitched about abortion when I was a kid, and they're still fighting over it. God, it's all so fucking old by now. MOVE ON. Resolve your shit and let's get onto the real issues that should be dominating our future, namely whether or not virtual hookers count legally as infidelity. We will make no progress as a species until we can have sex with androids.
This clown always parks illegally in the alley behind the building where my girlfriend works. I'll give you one guess where this all takes place. Long Island. That place is the worst.
That it is.
Would you rather suck a dog's dick or a homeless guy's dick? 3 minutes each and both come. No diseases transmitted.
The homeless guy, because if you pick the dog then you're homophobic. You don't think the lobbyists at Big Gay wouldn't jump down your throat for choosing the dog? Don't be so naive. Plus, I've never seen dog semen personally. I don't know what it smells like or how much comes out. The devil you know...
Will (again):
What animal that could normally fit in a shoebox would be most terrifying at 500 lbs? I'm saying a ferret.
Are we counting insects? Because then roaches are obviously king of this discussion. There isn't a person alive who doesn't fear the specter of GIANT, HORRIBLE ROACHES popping out from behind the water heater in the basement and devouring them whole. I am still gravely concerned that we, as a nation, are not doing enough to prevent giant roach invasions. Again, the time has come to put aside abortion and get to the REAL issues.
Outside of insects, the answer is the Portuguese man o war. Christ, I'm having a panic attack just looking at a normal one. Please don't let it touch me. Please. OH GOD IT TOUCHED ME I THINK I'M DYING.
I am not sure of the year but would guess I was in middle school (which would make it around 2003), and was having dinner at Pulcinella's, a Italian restaurant in McLean, VA. Sitting at the table immediately to my left was Newt Gingrich and his new trophy wife.
In the middle of enjoying my delicious ravioli, I ripped a soupy hospital fart that lingered for what felt like several minutes. Newt not only smelled the fart, but turned and gave me one of the most intense evil-eyes that I have ever seen.
That's bad form by Newt. Proper etiquette dictates that you act like that fart never happened. You don't finger the perp in a restaurant. How do you even know you're accusing the right person? THAT'S OLFACTORY PROFILING.
Whatever he did pissed her off royally. She even got him to change the plate as well...
I bet it's that Snow White director guy.
Let's say you're forced into a Billy Madison situation and have to complete grades 1-12 in two weeks each. Do you think you could successfully complete each grade in the two weeks, or you would fail somewhere along the way? I think Elementary School would be a breeze, Middle School I may be able to pass, and High School would fuck me with subjects like physics, calculus, etc.
Well, are you talking about doing all the year's coursework required in those two weeks? Because you're talking about hours upon hours of coloring and phonics worksheets. I have a kid in first grade and after just one day of school, she'll bring home a stack of shit that's a mile high. It looks exhausting. Even if it's technically easy. And think of all the terrible books you had to read in high school and middle school: Dickens, Johnny Tremain, and scores of dry, awful history books. I remember the horror of having to study for eighth grade social studies tests. "What three things did Charlemagne do to expand the Frankish kingdom?" Jesus, I don't know. He used big guns? Tests like that are awful.
The other problem is that the learning curve in most schools is accelerated now. I don't think I learned to spell my name until, like, fourth grade. But schools today don't fuck around. Kids are expected to know eight different foreign languages and have a firm grasp of quantum physics by age eight. It's craziness. Why can't we all just slow down and eat some paste? Kids today will make you feel like a fucking idiot.
Who would win in a bare knuckle fight between the greatest fighter from today's generation (Jon Jones/Anderson Silva) and a gladiator from back in the day?
Assuming no weapons are used, the MMA fighter. People back then were TINY. Just impossibly small human beings. That's why the lions always won. People today are far larger, and stronger, and have access to far better food and training equipment. Maximus would fall in no time flat.
What if there was a car dealer that offered a BJ from a hot woman with every new car purchased? It would be administered on site in a clean, private room right after you sign the paperwork by a 20-something attractive young lady.
Would the male car buying public flock there in droves regardless of what vehicle brand the dealer was selling? Would they get greedy and drive their prices up so high that the bubble burst? Note, this scenario would only apply to brand new cars so the financial stakes are higher.
Well first of all, if this really became a real thing, the commenters at Jezebel would collectively order their cats to go destroy all of mankind. How dare the PATRIARCHAL SUPERIORISTS at Ronnie Nelson's Asheville Buick/Isuzu use a woman's mouth as a car-selling glory hole? REPULSIVE. The backlash would end up ruining the promotion before anyone got a chance to cash in.
But if we assume that there's no backlash and the incentive program were allowed to continue, I think that the dealership would receive a modest initial sales bump, followed by a sharp decline in sales overall. Only a moron would pay $25,000 for a blowjob when he could simply go rent a hooker instead. The key thing is that the BJ promotion would create high awareness, so that many men in the car buying market would be enticed to at least add the dealer to their list of places to visit. And I'm sure the scummiest of the lot might even base their purchase decision solely on whether or not Candy will take them in the back room.
But the average car buyer isn't a single guy who is free to get high-priced blowjobs. The average car buyer is a married couple, and studies show that the wife almost always makes the final car-buying decision. No wife is gonna let you near that dealership. No wife is even gonna let you suggest going there. Poor Ronnie's plan would backfire on him almost immediately, turning away droves of customers and leaving just a horde of disgusting shitbags all trying to swindle their way past the credit check. And remember: Ronnie surely has demanded a taste of that action for himself. That's something to consider when buying a new Buick.
But I do think there's value in the "free blowjob" promotional market. Prostitution is legal in Nevada. Why not open a steakhouse and offer free head to anyone who spends over $200 per person? The head isn't "free," obviously. You paid for your meal. But customers would trip over themselves at the perceived added value. "A free blowjob! HOLY SHIT!" You could keep your hookers on salary and also give them a percentage of the tip pool. NOT DEGRADING AT ALL.
Email of the week time:
I need to get this off my chest because I can never speak of it again to another living being. Last weekend I was at a bachelor party for my best pal from undergrad. We had rented a large luxury cabin in a rural area. Most of the guys there are friends of the groom through grad school or high school, so I didn't know them from before; I knew 2 of the dudes from undergrad. One of them is gay; the only gay guy there.
This is usually irrelevant - we are all socially liberal types. This gay friend is also a friend of my wife's from undergrad. Anyways, all of the guys turned out to be cool and also totally enjoyed getting brownout drunk. Anyways, about 2/3 of the way through the first night the groom had disappeared. Myself and 2 other guys think he might be booting in the bathroom of his room, so we go and check so that we can make sure A) He is alive, and B) Make him drink more.
The door to the bathroom was closed, but not locked. The bathroom was huge with one of those recessed toilets around a corner, so we go back to see. He was not there, but what was there was my gay friend BLOWING another one of the dudes......the guy getting blown is not gay, he is married with kids. Anyways, this is an awkward situation so the three of us quickly leave.
Here's the thing that's been gnawing at my mind - why didn't they lock the door? Holy shit, if you are going to embrace the night and go full on hedonistic, why not be a little discreet about it? Anyways, just wanted to get that off my chest before I take this story to my grave.
Maybe he bought a car from him.


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Looking over La Jolla"s craggy cove beach just before dusk. In the foreground you can see big birds, in the distance the famous seals. Unusually big crashing waves too!
Known as "The Jewel", La Jolla offers one of the worlds top ten beaches. The scenic coast line, rocky cliffs, under water perserve, fantastic dining and shopping are all reasons to visit.

subset: commoncrawl


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Now that I have your attention, let me start by saying that "success" in food blogging terms can be measured in many ways.
Some see success in terms of traffic in the millions, others in an audience of two. (Hi mom, thanks for finding my "blob." True story over at Rabbit Food Rocks.) Some want to turn their cyberventures into cookbook or cooking shows. Still others eschew all the talk of numbers (both dollars and page counts) and firmly believe that success can be measured in building a bona fide community that keeps coming back for well-written words, known in the blog biz as (wince alert) content.
Then there are the rock stars of the food blogging establishment, peeps like Ree Drummond who writes under the persona The Pioneer Woman. Check out her impressive stats, courtesy of a recent New Yorker profile: 23.3 million page views per month, 4.4 million unique visitors, a new memoir, The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels–A Love Story, a bestselling cookbook, ad revenue for 2010 at the cool one million mark and counting, oh, and a movie deal, with Reese Witherspoon signed on to star. All this for a gal who chronicles the minutiae of everyday life on an Oklahoma cattle ranch, where she home schools four kids, cooks, and dishes about cleaning out her closet.
Curious about this medium and the food folks who thrive in blogland, I've attended my fair share of blogging meet ups in the past couple of years, including BlogHerFood, International Food Blogger Conference, and, most recently, Camp Blogaway, the second annual sleepover for food bloggers held in the San Bernardino mountains in Southern California. I've also sat in on blogging panels at conferences that include old-media scribes such as the International Association of Culinary Professionals and the Symposium for Professional Food Writers.
What I'm struck by at these sessions is how much the attendees are looking for the keys to success in cyberland. It reminds me of a time, not so long ago, when new writers would pepper panelists at journalism conventions for the one right way to write a pitch letter to break into print magazines, as if starting with "Hi Joe," "Dear Mr. Yonan" or "Yo Joe Yonan" could make the crucial difference between landing a freelance assignment and getting overlooked.
Of course, there are missteps best avoided (if you spell an editor's name wrong you're likely sunk). But the truth is while talent and ideas count, so does experience, connections, timing, and, frankly, a bit of luck. I feel similarly about how things shake out in the food writing world on the Internet.
That said, I offer up five key ingredients gleaned from these long weekend food blogging bashes that may help pave the way to success in the blogosphere, however you define that term. And, thanks for asking, I think I'd choose Cate Blanchett to play me.
5 Keys to Food Blogging Success
Tell stories: Might seem obvious, but having something to say and telling it in an informative and entertaining way is crucial. And, as bloggers like Camp Blogaway keynote speaker Joy Wilson of Joy the Baker exemplifies, it need not be on weighty matters. She writes frequently about the antics of her cat and in two short years saw her readers jump from around 32 to 2 million. (It doesn't hurt that she bakes mouth-watering treats and takes stunning snaps, too, see my next point.)
I'm partial to the prose dispensed by pals Cheryl Sternman Rule (5 Second Rule), Molly Watson (The Dinner Files) and — rock star alert — Molly Wizenberg (Orangette, but then savvy blog readers knew that already, right?) Consistently well-crafted tales told with wit and wisdom, typically just once a week, from each of these gals. Newsflash peeps: Pumping out blog copy every day doesn't necessarily make for a great read. Oh, and I'm a food policy wonkette at heart so I read Civil Eats pretty consistently too.
And, here's an interesting tidbit: You know how food blogs are largely about food and frequently contain recipes? Duh. Here's what I've heard confessed recently at these soirees: Many readers gush about being a huge fan of blogger XX, while at the same time confessing to have never, ever, made a single recipe on their site. Wow. Who knew? And what to make of that fact?
Take pretty pictures: It's not enough to have something to say. Food bloggers need to be food photographers and stylists too. I'm no fan of the term food porn, but I get it, and I like a beautiful image of something scrumptious as much as the next voyeur. Judging by the popularity of such sites as TasteSpotting and foodgawker, I'm not alone. Every blogging conference includes panels on how to perfect your happy snaps. Locally, Heidi Swanson at 101 Cookbooks gets props for her photography; check out BAB contributor Megan Gordon's 5 Beautifully Photographed Food Blogs post or Saveur's recent top picks of pics for more. Speaking of rock stars, at Camp Blogaway there was much twittering (both in the new and old sense of that word) about the appearance of Sarah Gim, founder of TasteSpotting, who seems like a perfectly pleasant person to this visually-challenged photog but was treated like royalty by many of the way more camera-savvy scribes at this event. Clearly, image matters in this medium. Get a pic on TasteSpotting, considered the gold standard of food porn sites, and watch that traffic climb.
Build a genuine community: A well-received panel addressing this very subject occurred at the recent Camp Blogaway, co-presented by my role model in this matter, the consistently generous Cheryl Sternman Rule, and the similarly welcoming Susan Russo of FoodBlogga. In a nutshell: Think about your readers, only promote products you truly value, reach out to new readers and bloggers, champion others, and say thank you. Susan talked about paying it forward and building an authentic following beyond cyberspace (clue: in the real world). Cheryl walks her talk; for a taste, try this bite. My favorite take away from their talk: "Measure your success not in clicks or traffic, but in how well your blog fulfills your personal and professional objectives. Most of all, be kind to yourself."
Be a man: Okay, before all the guys start rolling their eyes here, let me say this: I'm no man hater. I'm a daddy's girl who adored growing up with four boisterous brothers. I was married to a man for a very long time and we remain firm friends in the Ellen Barkin-Gabriel Byrne kind of way (versus the Ellen Barkin-Ronald Perelman way. No idea what I'm talking about? Take a little pit stop through this New York Times Magazine piece on same and then come back here.) My only child hails from planet XY. Some of my best friends are men…you know where this is going.
Got no issue with the other sex. And yet: Why is it in the blogosphere and at these food writing affairs, which, let's face it, are afloat in a sea of estrogen, do so many men seem to be disproportionately represented in the ranks of speakers and award winners? I'm not the only one who notices. I can only surmise that they simply stand out in an overwhelmingly female field. In true rock star fashion, like Sting, they need only one name to be recognized. Think: Lebovitz, Leite and Ruhlman.
Keep current with social media: Twitter is the new Facebook. StumbleUpon is the new Digg. Video is the new photo. That's right: It's not enough to take fab photos. You have to shoot and edit your own mini-movies now too, another take away from Camp Blogaway, a fact that was echoed at the American Society of Journalists and Authors conference in New York the same weekend, according to food writer friends who attended that event. To which I can only say: Shoot me now.
Speaking of that ASJA conference, the other take-home advice that stood out to me on the Monday morning I scanned email messages coming out of that meeting: Don't let blogging get in the way of your real work. Go figure.
This post originally appeared on KQED's Bay Area Bites and was featured on Food News Journal.
You might also like:
Will Write For Food, Payment Preferable
Photographer Sara Remington on Shooting Food
International Association of Culinary Professionals Conference, Portland, Oregon
What's Cooking with Julie & Julia
Eat, Pray, Love: Still Hungry


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Gerard Butler was in top form and dressed in Versace at the Los Angeles premiere of Law Abiding Citizen, held on October 7, 2009 at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California. Along with co-stars, Jamie Foxx, Viola Davis, Regina Hall and Bruce McGill, Gerard and company thrilled the packed audience with one wild ride. This is one film NOT TO BE MISSED!!
Watch various video coverage below:
View Access Hollywood – Gerard Butler on the Edge of His Seat for "Law Abiding Citizen"
View E News Now – GERARD BUTLER'S MAN-CRUSH
Check out the gallery for pictures from the premiere and after party.
If that excitement wasn't enough, there is still more to come in the next couple weeks.
First up, tomorrow is the fan site conference call with Gerry, scheduled for 10:50am PT. We'll post the audio shortly after the completion of the call. If you still need to cast your vote for the best question submitted, click here.
The following is a run down of the television appearances Gerard will make in the coming week:
October 8 – The Jay Leno Show
October 9 – The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
October 15 – JUST ADDED! Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (source)
October 17 – Saturday Night Live!
Enjoy a NEW CLIP, "Revenge", from Law Abiding Citizen below:
The clip comes with a NEW CONTEST from F. Gary Gray and Rotten Tomatoes, via Twitter. Visit Rotten Tomatoes for all the rules!


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Ross shifts on abortion as he runs for Ark. gov.
Former Congressman Mike Ross once received a perfect score from abortion opponents, but recent remarks ahead of a heated primary for Arkansas' governor's office are drawing fire from the right and the left.
When Ross entered the race last week, he portrayed himself as a defender of abortion rights and criticized legislators who passed abortion bans at 12 and 20 weeks into a pregnancy.
Ross supported a measure in Congress that would have banned most abortions in the District of Columbia 20 weeks into a pregnancy, but said Gov. Mike Beebe was right to veto a similar Arkansas ban. Ross said jobs in Congress and the Statehouse are different, and suggested his vote against abortion rights in Congress represented his district's views, not necessarily his own.


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Consumer Reports: Consider Prepaid
February 16, 2009
by Carol Politi
Consumer Reports just did an analysis of the Best and Worst Cell Phone Deals. Their takeaway: "A Two Cell Phone Family Could Save $220 Per month By Going Prepaid". They also noted that prepaid allows you to cut your expenses by decreasing usage and changing plans when you happen to need your phone less or if you want to decrease expenses any one month. Of course, I'm not unbiased – at kajeet we have always been advocates of no contract plans – especially for kids whose usage tends to be moderate.
The message is getting out – more than 45% of new mobile subscribers this year are predicted to be prepaid (Strategy Analytics). However, there is still a perception by many that the extra family plan line costs only $10 per month. The reality is that second lines cost an average of $35/month (iGr Research did a detailed analysis of this when they studied kid phone use). Why? The $10 is just the carrier service fee. It turns out that carriers actually give you fewer minutes with a family plan than they give you with an individual plan. Let's say you have been paying $59 for your individual plan. In many contract plans you would receive 900 minutes. Move to a contract family plan and you are paying 69.99 for 700 minutes – that's $10 more for 200 less minutes. If you really needed those minutes you would have to move up – but the next plan you can get is actually the 1400 minute plan that costs $89.99!
So families add a cell phone but actually get fewer minutes for a higher price. And contract plans encourage "supersizing" as they have overages charges that are expensive and costly. So families end up not using all their minutes every month. On top of this you incur taxes, line fees, and charges…
No wonder many people are moving to prepaid. On a prepaid plan, when the budgeted allowance is used up, the phone no longer works. This is great for budgeting and why almost 40% of parents buy prepaid phones for their kid's first phone.
Good for budgeting, but a significant downside when you are talking about a safety phone for kids. That is why the kajeet service offers two "wallets". One – the kid wallet – can be used to set a budget with your kids. The second – the parent wallet – can be used to pay for calls and texts to and from parent numbers so that these always go through.
Also – with kajeet there are no expensive overages and no extra fees assessed – what you see on the price plan is what you see on the bill. And if you do purchase a pak and run out of minutes, you simply pay the standard 10 cents per minute.
A bit of a sales pitch today! I am happy to see Consumer Reports assess cell phone contract plans and become a prepaid advocate. What is holding you back from considering a prepaid plan?


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Back to business as usual for condominium developers?
Last month a model room opened for a new condominium complex in Osaka with the revealing name Owner's Tower. Part of the new Grand Front development project situated in the huge tract of land near Osaka Station that once was home to the Japan National Railways Umeda North Yard cargo terminal, the new residence is a forthrightly upscale facility that targets high-income buyers, in particular foreigners who are looking for a second home in Japan's second biggest city. The building is 48 stories comprising 525 units, the smallest of which is 90 sq. meters. Prices start at ¥3 million per tsubo (3.3 sq. meters). In the first sales phase, apartments on floors 40 through 48 will be made available at prices ranging from ¥83.5 million to ¥415 million. The projection is that residents will be able to start moving in in August 2013.
The developer Sekisui House emphasizes that Owners Tower is very different from the "family-type" condos that tend to dominate the urban housing market, but in fact central Osaka will soon see a lot of new family-type tower condos going on sale in the coming months. Several buildings are now going up in Kita Ward offering a total of 400 units, and in Tennoji Ward, which is considered the heart of Osaka's business district, about 260 units are under construction. The average prices are slightly less than ¥2 million per tsubo, or about 30 percent higher than prices in areas outside the city center.
Why are families moving to the center of the city? The main reason seems to be that while these condos are expensive, they are still much cheaper than they were, say, four years ago. Ever since the so-called Lehman shock of 2008, real estate in all the major cities has dropped in value as large companies unloaded properties to raise cash. Those developers that managed to stay in business cut back on new projects, but now they're taking advantage of the lower land prices and building again.


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Amenities available in all 46 rooms:Plush bathrobes, hairdryer, directdial telephone, radio/TV, safe, free Swisscom WiFi, flatscreen TV. Parquet floors. All south-facing balconies feature original Davos deckchairs from 1911. In addition, in the suites: DVD player, BOSE Sound System and Nespresso coffee machine. All rooms are non-smoking rooms.
Check-in time: from 3pmCheck-out time: until 12midday
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Information for actual prices, special offers and events can be obtained at +41 (0)81 415 15 15, via email at [email protected] or on our website www.waldhotel-davos.ch.
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Jesus showed us with astonishing clarity how endless is the love of God and how deep His mercy when He faced His executioners without a word except to say, "Father, forgive them." He modeled for us the power of meekness. A challenging example indeed.
There was also the day He became justifiably angry, cracked a whip and turned over some tables and was anything but meek. There are things worthy of outrage, things that cry out for a bold confrontation.
When exactly did it become a crime against Love to expose evil and call it evil? When did it become more loving to soft-peddle with gentler words rather than speak candidly?
Taking a cue from Edmund Burke, all that's necessary for the unthinkable to be accepted is for people to find candor and confrontation of evil more unthinkable. We have mistaken politeness for Love. We've placed comfort and niceness above the truth and called it our Christian duty. We grow more and more silent, more and more complacent as the evil around us grows braver and more outrageous.
I'm not talking about pronouncing judgment on anyone's soul or limiting God's mercy, but about tolerating evil. Not just tolerating it, but disguising it, concealing it, feeding it.
For the sake of shredding the flimsy veneer of respectability and righteousness covering the stinking pile sitting in our midst, here goes.
There is currently on trial in America a person who fits the definition of a monster. Every bit as evil as Hitler, or the most demented murderer you can imagine. He has a medical degree, so his monstrous actions were done in the name of "health care." His name is Kermit Gosnell, and he has murdered babies for years. He is a human butcher.
He preys on foolish, desperate women, and perhaps some women who are as cold-hearted as he is. He serves no one and cares for no one. He is a killer of the weakest, most vulnerable, most defenseless human beings on the planet. His "work", his actions, his business is nothing but pure evil. (He likes to keep his victim's little feet in jars as trophies.)
He'll rip a near-term living baby from the womb, grab a pair of scissors, and cut the child's spinal column at the neck. He calls it abortion. So do a lot of other people in America.
You would think that every decent citizen in our nation would be so repulsed, so aghast and horrified at the evil this man has done that it would cause soul-searching on a massive scale, and finally, an honest public debate about the reality of abortion.
Thanks to the intentional, shameful silence on the part of major news media, I'll bet that a majority of Americans have no clue about Gosnell or what he's done. This same majority will bristle at the legitimate charges brought against Planned Parenthood and balk at the idea of defunding them. This same majority will go deaf, dumb, and blind when presented with the fact that their stylish, charming President voted four times to deny life-saving medical care to infants who survived an abortion.
I'd bet there are more people who will defend Gosnell's "work" than people who will call him a child killer. In fact, the people most desperate to make Gosnell just disappear are those who want to see his "work" continue, though perhaps not as gruesomely or publicly.
Then again, I don't think the gruesomeness bothers them at all. What bothers them is that Gosnell has made abortion and abortionists look bad and made some people actually feel sorry for the baby.
I don't think taxpayer-funded-Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice, any other pro-abortion lobby or organization, anyone in the mainstream media, or any of our pro-abortion politicians including Obama cares one whit about what Gosnell has done to so many innocent children. They only care that he did it sloppily, left a mess behind him, and got caught.
This murderer's shocking crimes are being ignored by those in power because abortion is more important.
A sadistic and greedy killer is being hidden by people who say they only want women to have freedom of "choice", and they only want the best for children in America. They are the ones who truly care about women, about children, about families, about quality health care, about freedom.
To Planned Parenthood; to PP's guardian and benefactor in the White House; every other political advocate for abortion; and every so-called feminist screaming for "Abortion on demand and without apology!", I'm calling b.s.
You don't give a damn about women, and you certainly don't give a damn about children. You are every bit as invested in the death of the unborn (or born) child as Gosnell, every bit as greedy for the money to be made by killing babies. Your mission is not women's health or women's freedom or women's choice, but women's coercion, women's manipulation, women's degradation and usage, and if women are sometimes butchered right along with the babies, so be it.
Your mission is dead babies. You don't want fewer abortions, you want more. You're not interested in planning parenthood, but in making sure abortion finally is seen as a necessary, essential, and noble facet of every woman's life. Your goal is that the stigma of abortion should be redirected toward the child in the womb, and to the woman who refuses to believe your bloody lies.
In order to secure future clients and keep the money coming in, you're going after our school children with your perverted version of "sex education" that destroys modesty, normalizes every sort of sexual immorality, mandates condom and Pill distribution and forbids any mention of abstinence. You're making sure Planned Parenthood has access to young girls to "provide" them with "health care" information and abortions without their parent's knowledge or consent. You are actively corrupting our children in the most manipulative and disgusting manner.
Only one thing is sacred to you (beyond the $$) and that is sex — wherever, with whomever, whenever, and however anyone wants. With no consequences or obligations. You worship genitals and orgasms and every manner of titillation, and the sacrifice you bring to your altar is the child in the womb.
Your scare-tactic speeches about the back-alley abortions of yesteryear are as hollow as your professed concern for the welfare of children. Your insistence that a woman's bodily autonomy is paramount have now been revealed to be nothing but smoke. What you really mean is, babies who have the nerve to survive the first attempt on their lives have no right to medical care, and can quite justifiably be left to die, even made to die, on the table. (It's not infanticide, you say, but post-birth abortion.)
When PP's Florida lobbyist recently said out loud that the decision to give medical care to an infant who survives an abortion should be left to the woman and her doctor, she was merely echoing Barack Obama as an Illinois Senator when he said that caring for the child would "only burden the original decision of the woman". In other words, mom wanted the baby dead, so somebody better make sure the baby dies. That's what we're paid for.
It doesn't matter to any of you when the baby dies, or how the baby dies, or where the baby dies, just as long as the baby dies. That is what you're really all about, and not another breath should be wasted trying to say otherwise. No more soft-peddling with euphemisms and tip-toeing around the truth.
You are all advocates for killing defenseless children. You are not advocates for women's health care, or women's equality, or women's freedom. You are advocates of child murder. If you find that statement harsh, too bad. You have gotten this far only because too many people are too squeamish to call things what they really are. The evil you do has thrived only because people are unwilling to confront you honestly and tear the sympathetic masks off your faces.
You may find Gosnell distasteful and annoying because he focuses unwanted negative attention on your killing industry, but the best you can do is whine that the monster is in because not enough doctors are willing to become abortionists because of the pesky "stigma" of abortion. To you Gosnell's "clinic" is proof-positive that America needs more access to abortion, with fewer restrictions and legal oversight so that women won't be "forced" to see a creep like him.
You step right over the tiny corpses. Your answer to evil is to keep feeding the evil.
And you'll keep doing it for as long as we give you the power. You'll keep feeding the evil, and feeding America lies and smokescreens for as long as you can. And we will remain a nation that butchers its own babies.
How long will that be, America? How long will that be, Body of Christ?
(Want to know what the mainstream news media isn't reporting?)


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Born in Totana (Murcia), Juan Alejandro Martínez Osete moved to Barcelona in 1943, where he spent all his time creating comics. Osete became known as an artist in all genres and fields, always willing to help when necessary. After some first exploits, he had his breakthrough from 1947 with comics like 'Yelmo Negro', 'La Máscara de los Dientes Blancos', 'El Príncipe Dani', 'Castor el Invencible', 'Red Dixon' and 'El Poder Invisible'.
He collaborated on various 'Capitán Trueno' comics from 1963 and illustrated most of the El Jabato Extra collection. For Bravo, he produced 'Los Comandos de Africa'. His humorous comics appeared in periodicals like La Risa, Hipo, Pim Pam Pum, Merche, Pulgarcito and DDT, featuring characters like 'Sidi Omar', 'El Sheriff Paco', 'Tito Sandungo', 'Paco Bruto', 'Durand y Dupont' and 'Yusuf'. He retired when Bruguera closed down in 1986.
webpage about Osete
(in Spanish)


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Availability: Out of stock
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- wash with detergents suitable for delicate clothes;
- air-dry away from heat sources.
Follow the washing instructions given on your product label.
The label provides useful symbols giving information on how to take best care of it.


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The Power of Meditation
Right now in the world the old fear based reality has become unstable and is beginning to fracture. It's what science calls the movement of disordering free entropy. But wherever you have that destructive energy breaking things down, the miraculous thing is, reconstructive energies take shape immediately the parts of the old consciousness fragment. It is a reordering energy science calls 'neg-entropy' and the Awakening Movement knows much more appropriately as unconditional love! It's drawing us into a higher paradigm of greater energetic harmony. Meditation has the power to do this. We become channels of consciousness for the new energies to flow in. Not only is meditation powerfully healing for us, but the whole of life on our planet...
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"Fast. Furious. Bold. Overwhelming," says Little Big Town's Karen Fairchild as she describes the group's latest project, appropriately titled Tornado.
"That's how we felt when we were in the studio," she details. "It felt like there was a good storm brewing."
"Seriously. It happened — bam!" pipes her husband and bandmate Jimi Westbrook during a recent interview with CMT.com. "It impacted our life, and then it was gone."
In fact, in one whirlwind week, the CMA-nominated vocal group of the year — made up of Fairchild, Westbrook, Kimberly Schlapman and Phillip Sweet — managed to lay down all 11-tracks, spending a frenzied four days rehearsing followed by three days recording. And for a group who's admittedly quite scrupulous, this progression was a fast-paced reach.
"We can be super meticulous and stretch a recording out for a while," Westbrook admits.
"Years!" Schlapman laughs.
For their fifth studio project, however, producer Jay Joyce pushed the quartet outside their familiar confines. Best known for his success with Eric Church, his vision was to capture the essence of Little Big Town's live show, encapsulate that raw and natural chemistry onstage so many of their fans have come to adore.
"I think putting pressure on ourselves like that made us push ourselves even further," Sweet says. "It just feels like that intangible kind of quality is the difference on this record. It has even more life and energy to it because we did it that way."
And they're already reaping the benefits. The album's first single, "Pontoon," not only secured the group their first No. 1 and platinum-selling song, but the summertime anthem also went on to nab a CMA nomination for single of the year.
Upon hearing the carefree tune for the first time, the band had a feeling the contagious lyrics had the potential to become a major success. The song, written by Natalie Henby, Luke Laird and Barry Dean, is now one of the most immediately-identifiable songs at Little Big Town's concerts.
"We're to the point these past few weeks when you start off with that lick at the top, people are on their feet and they know it," Westbrook says with a smile. "It's a cool feeling."
In addition to their laid-back ode to boating, songs like "Pavement Ends," "Front Porch Thing" and "On Fire Tonight" complement the project with their groove-laden sound. But it's the song's namesake, "Tornado" that summons the true grit and feverish passion within their music.
"It really I think expresses a lot of what Little Big Town is, but at the same time, it's very different from anything we've ever done," Sweet explains of the spirited song. "It has that bold quality that we all were drawn to."
Still, the album's outright sass is offset with a tender and sensitive quality, as well. From inebriating reverence in "Sober" to the dreamy and almost lullaby-reminiscent "Night Owl," it's the group's woven harmonies in "Your Side of the Bed" and "Leaving in Your Eyes" that sketch the storylines of a delicate heart.
However, for Fairchild, her favorite message lies within the song, "Self-Made," a tune she co-penned with Westbrook and fellow co-writers Hemby and Jedd Hughes.
"Taught yourself how to turn the tide/Walk a shore before the waters rise/Even when you're down/You're still comin' through," she recites.
"I love that," she continues. "I love that lyric. I think about so many people out there that work so hard to get what little that they have and meet obstacles, but they are always there, pushing through."
Much like Little Big Town.
Having pounded the pavement for the last 13 years, the song speaks volumes to the group's unwavering perseverance and tireless devotion to honing their craft.
"I think there's definitely the heart of the band in that song," Westbrook adds. "There was a passion in singing that song in the studio, too, and I still feel it because we do it in the live show now, and it definitely comes from our soul. I think that's the story of country fans and the places that we grew up. You had to work for what you got. I think that's true on a lot of fronts in our lives."
And for a group that's continued to evolve and change over the past decade, it's their open communication and respect for one another that continues to keep their relationships and music flourishing.
"I think we each are open enough to be teachable and to learn and to respect one another," Sweet explains of their thriving dynamic. "And so that trust between us grows, and we trust one another and trust each other when someone has an idea or makes a decision or wants to do something. We all can get behind each other. There's a great maturity in our relationship. I'm really proud of that."


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One-eyed fugitive Dale Cregan lured unarmed police officers to him as he lay in wait before shooting them repeatedly and then throwing a grenade at them, a court has heard.
Cregan, 29, wearing a false left eye made of black onyx, had evaded a nationwide manhunt when he set the trap, Preston Crown Court heard.
Cregan is accused of the murders of David Short, 46, and his son, Mark, 23, in the months before allegedly killing Pcs Nicola Hughes, 23, and Fiona Bone, 32, in a gun and grenade attack on September 18 last year.
Pc Hughes's mother Susan and father Bryn sat in front of the parents of her murdered colleague, Paul and June Bone and Miss Bone's partner Clare Curran, in the public gallery, raised above the dock and across the packed courtroom from where Cregan sat in the dock.
Stern-faced, they listened intently as Nicholas Clarke QC began to outline the case for the prosecution. He told the jury that after killing the father and son, Cregan was still on the loose despite the hunt to track him down.
"On the 18th September 2012 he called in a spurious burglary at Abbey Gardens in Hattersley, luring two unarmed police officers to investigate," Mr Clarke said.
"He lay in wait with a Glock firearm with an extended magazine that was fully loaded. Pc Fiona Bone and Pc Nicola Hughes attended. As soon as they arrived Cregan shot the officers repeatedly, until his magazine was empty. As he left the scene he again threw a grenade towards the victims."
Mr Clarke began by telling the jury that Mark Short was shot at the Cotton Tree pub in Droylsden, Manchester, on May 25 last year. He said: "At the time that his son Mark was shot, David Short, the head of the Short family, was using the toilet. Otherwise he himself would have been a target. His son died in his arms."
After Mr Short was buried at Droylsden cemetery, his father went on a daily basis to his grave to grieve, the jury were told. But on the morning of August 10 he was at home - when his killers came calling.
Mr Clarke continued: "He was chased through the house and shot many times. He tried to run around the side of the house to escape. His injuries were already unsurvivable and then a grenade was thrown onto him. Its explosion had devastating consequences for his torso. It is the first time in this country that a military grenade has been deployed in this way."


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Although Africa tends to be talked about as though it were one, large, homogeneous country, the landscapes and people are as multifarious as the continent is vast. From the centuries-old mosques, desert cities, and ancient intellectual traditions of the North; the colorful cultures and extroverted personalities of the West; to the lush jungles, wide savannas, and untainted beaches and reefs of the East, each region possesses a character distinctly its own.
It's also a continent with many opportunities for volunteers to get involved, and -- though often underlooked as a travel destination -- frequently looked at as a volunteer destination. From general projects working with healthcare and education, to more niche opportunities teaching art to deaf children or helping to build a Kenyan startup's website, Africa volunteer opportunities are as varied as the continent itself.
Unfortunately, post-colonialism and political corruption has perpetuated much of the continent into a vicious cycle of aid-dependency and poverty which in turn has made international volunteers an essential part of development. Although some countries are faring better than others, NGOs and aid organizations have a strong presence in nearly all African countries. Both foreign and locally-run aid organizations depend on the time and skills volunteers have to offer.
Although governments technically require students to attend school up through a certain age, many children drop out early or never attend either because there are no schools nearby, they can't pay fees (which are commonly required even for public schools), or due to an unexpected teenage pregnancy. On top of this, political corruption and a shortage of motivated teachers have added to the need for education reforms and volunteer teachers to fill in the gaps.
Numerous opportunities for volunteer teachers exist, both with teaching ESL and other academic subjects, such as math, science, or IT. If you don't speak a foreign language, don't worry -- English is the primary language of instruction in many countries, such as Ghana or Kenya, where volunteers interested in teaching a subject other than ESL may wish to focus their search.
Healthcare and AIDS Awareness
Knowledge about and access to basic health care is a problem for a large portion of the African population. Easily preventable illnesses and infections brought on by lack of personal hygiene, clean water sources, or health education, all too often cause serious complications or death.
Volunteering to help people understand and gain access to even the simplest healthy habits can go a long way – especially in rural communities far from any clinic, hospital, or doctor. Of course, with over 23 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa recorded to be living with HIV, numerous volunteer programs focus exclusively on building AIDS awareness and promoting prevention.
Volunteer programs working with orphanages in Africa are also prevalent, thanks to the HIV epidemic that has left almost 90% of all children in orphanages without parents.
Environmental Conservation
The biodiversity within Africa is incredible and remains one of the main draws for visitors to the continent. Unfortunately, liberal poaching and harvesting of natural resources has taken a detrimental toll on Africa's environment – running some species into extinction and others close to it. Those wishing to help preserve these landscapes can easily find volunteer positions working with wildlife on reserves, environmental conservation with marine life, or environmental education with youth.
Popular destinations for volunteer programs with wildlife and the environment are Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Madagascar, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda. The World Wildlife Fund is an excellent place to seek out more information on environmental issues in Africa.
Small Business Enterprise
Industrialization and modernization on a large scale is largely absent from African nations, as visitors may notice in the lack of recognizable mega-chains. Instead, family-owned stores and individuals peddling goods along the stalled cars in congested African cities attest to the fact that much of the economic development that has popped up in the past few decades has come about in the form of small-scale, grassroots enterprises.
For volunteers interested in or experienced with business, they may wish to seek out a volunteer program that assists local communities to set up small businesses. Most times this means working with small-scale artisans or agriculture, organizing micro-finance loans, or running workshops that give entrepreneurs the skills necessary to make the most of their ventures.
Lifestyle and Culture
The lifestyle and culture of African countries, as well as what is considered acceptable and unacceptable, can vary strongly between countries and tribal groups. Muslim-dominated countries in the north and west tend to be more conservative than their Christian neighbors in dress and behavior. For example, drinking alcohol or wearing revealing clothes would be frowned upon in an Islamic nation whereas in other parts of Africa, drinking is an integral part of any large event and breasts are desexualized and it is common to see women publicly breast-feeding.
Other aspects of African lifestyle and culture do hold true throughout the continent. Almost across the board, family bonds are a significant part of daily life in Africa and ethnic group allegiances can be a strong part of a person's identity.
Outside of the cities, where the influence of the western world has not been as strong, daily life has changed slowly and many people still live in more rustic, traditional housing, and hold on to long-held customs – both ritualistic and mundane. Not so positively though, women tend to be looked at as secondary to men and the harassment that comes with it can be difficult (though not impossible) for women volunteering in Africa to deal with.
As estimated by UNESCO, over 2,000 languages of various language families – most of which you have probably never heard of – are spoken throughout the African continent. Nigeria alone has over 500 different languages, earning it "one of the highest concentrations of linguistic diversity in the world" (source). It is not uncommon for Africans to speak multiple African languages as well as a European language fluently.
Generally, volunteers can get by using Swahili, Arabic, or an official European language – such as French, Spanish, English, or Portuguese – but learning a few basics in the local language will help volunteers tremendously with community integration and simple tasks like going to market.
Africa is home to some of the poorest countries in the world but also several burgeoning metropolises, such as Cape Town and Luanda, with living costs on par with a mid-sized city in the West. Overall, cost of living varies drastically from country to country, and even within the same country costs of food, housing, and other personals can totally depend on if you are volunteering in a rural or urban setting.
In general, living costs tend to drop outside of urban centers and any service catered towards locals (transportation, entertainment, etc.) are more affordable than those intended for foreigners. According to xpatulator, Luanda, Angola; several Nigerian cities; Dakar, Senegal; Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa; and Jamestown, Saint Helena rank among the top 15 most expensive cities to live in, while Tunis, Tunisia; Victoria, Seychelles; Nouakchott, Mauritania; and Kampala, Uganda are on the bottom end of the spectrum.
Mass media has painted a skewed picture of the African continent; giving off the impression that it's all around a dangerous place to visit.
Yes, some areas aren't safe, but others are debatably safer than home. Make sure to read up on the security situation of the country you're visiting and get as realistic as possible of an opinion on the safety of that area (also, try not to confuse Senegal with Somalia... ya know?)
For health, malaria is an issue in much of sub-saharan Africa and it's a good idea to get a prophylaxis before leaving home. Pack bug spray with you, and be most vigilant at dusk and night, when the mosquito that carries malaria is active.
Also make sure you're drinking clean water -- water that is filtered and boiled or bottled -- eating washed produce, and sticking to freshly cooked food if eating street food (which you shouldn't shy away from!).
Stomach issues are likely the most common problem you'll encounter. It's recommended to pack Oral Rehydration Salts, pepto-bismol (or, my personal favorite, smecta) just in case. Others will recommend packing imodium, but since stomach issues could be anything from worms to giardia to plain old "what on earth did I just eat?" -- not all of which imodium will cure -- it's better to consult a local doctor before taking medication for serious stomach issues.
For more advice, read our article on how to stay healthy and safe while volunteering in Africa.
Contributed by Jessie Beck


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Ash's Torterra (Japanese: Satoshi's Dodaitose) is a Grass-type Pokémon owned by Ash Ketchum.
[hide] *1 Biography
Biography EditEditEdit
Torterra was first caught as a Turtwig after battling Ash and his Pikachu.
Turtwig has battled many opponents before: Paul's Chimchar, Roark's Rampardos, Gardenia's Turtwig, and Crasher Wake's Quagsire.
While battling Paul's Honchkrow in DP100, Turtwig evolved into Grotle, but lost due to its lowered Speed. But after learning how to cope with its defense from Paul's Torterra when it fought Gliscor, Ash managed to make Grotle stronger and Grotle learned Rock Climb. Since evolution, Grotle managed to defeat foes like Candice's Sneasel.
After being used in a gym battle against Volkner, which got postponed, Grotle evolved into Torterra during a battle with Team Rocket.
With its new size and strengths, Torterra now knows more powerful moves such as Leaf Storm in addition to the moves Energy Ball, Rock Climb and Synthesis. Despite its size and power, it has been defeated in several battles against Pokémon it should have an advantage over: Volkner's Electivire, Bertha's Hippowdon and Paul's Drapion.
Ash decided to leave Torterra at Professor Oak's Lab when he made a fresh start for Unova. It currently resides at Professor Oak's Lab.
Torterra will reappear along with all of Ash's Pokemon in an upcoming episode of Best Wishes Season 2.
Known Moves EditEditEdit
|First used
|How used by Turtwig
|How used by Grotle
|How used by Torterra
|Gettin' Twiggy With It!
|Turtwig charges at the opponent and tackles it. Sometimes, clear streaks surround it's as it charges.
|Grotle never used Tackle.
|Torterra has never used Tackle.
|Razor Leaf
|Gettin' Twiggy With It!
|Turtwig swings its head and razor-sharp leaves shoot out from the leaves on its head at the opponent.
Grotle gets on its hind legs and comes down fast, making razor-sharp leaves come out of the bushes on its back at the opponent.
Grotle shakes the bushes on its back and razor-sharp leaves come out of it at the opponent.
|Torterra has never used Razor Leaf.
|Gettin' Twiggy With It!
|Turtwig bites the opponent.
|Grotle bites the opponent.
|Torterra has never used Bite.
|Gettin' Twiggy With It!
|The leaves on Turtwig's head glow white and its whole body glows yellow and sparkles, healing all of Turtwig's injuries.
|The bushes on Grotle's back glow white and its whole body glows yellow and sparkles, healing all of Grotle's injuries.
|Torterra's body becomes surrounded by white sparkles and its body glows white. The leaves on its back then glow brightly, healing its injuries.
|Energy Ball
|Thanks for the Memories!
|The leaves on Turtwig's head glow light green and it forms a green energy ball in front of its mouth. It then fires it at the opponent. The ball explodes on impact.
|The bushes on Grotle's back glow light green or white and it forms a green ball of energy in front of its mouth. Grotle then fires the ball at the opponent.
|Torterra opens its mouth and fires a green ball of energy from its mouth at the opponent.
|Rock Climb
|The Lonely Snover
Turtwig never used Rock Climb.
Grotle's claws glow white, then grow longer. It then runs quickly at the opponent and hits it with one of its claws, or slams into it with great force. It can also jump extremely high when using Rock Climb.
Grotle's claws glow white and extend, and it gets on its hind legs and slams its front ones into the ground. A giant mountain then protrudes from the ground under the opponent. Grotle runs up the side of the mountain and slams into the opponent with great force.
|Torterra's claws glow white and then grow longer. It then gets onto its hind legs and slams its front ones into the ground. The ground separates and protrudes from the ground under the opponent. Torterra then runs up the side of the protruded ground and slams into the opponent. When Torterra is defeated, the ground forms back to the way it was.
|Leaf Storm
|The Fleeing Tower of Sunyshore!
|Turtwig never used Leaf Storm.
|Grotle never used Leaf Storm.
|The leaves on the tree on Torterra's back start to glow light green, and it releases a cyclone of wind and glowing light green leaves from the tree towards the opponent.
Gallery EditEditEdit
[1]Torterra as a Turtwig[2]As a Turtwig with Ash in Oak's Lecture[3]Turtwig sent out[4]As a Grotle[5]Grotle[6]As a Grotle, powered up[7]Ash and Torterra[8]Ash and Torterra[9]Using Leaf Storm[10]Using Rock Climb[11]Torterra using Energy Ball[12]Torterra using Synthesis[13][14] Add a photo to this gallery==TriviaEdit==
- When it was a Turtwig, Torterra's way of showing affection was by biting on someone's head.
- Torterra is the only Pokémon in Ash's Sinnoh team that has never defeated any of Paul's Pokémon.
- As a Turtwig, Torterra was active and very quick, but when it evolved into a Grotle, Torterra lost it's speed and became less active.
- Throughout it's evolution, Torterra has relied on specific stats to battle.
- As a Turtwig, Torterra relied on speed, accuracy and evasiveness.
- As a Grotle, Torterra relied on defense, patience and precise attacks.
- As a Torterra, Torterra relied on attack power, strength and healing.
- After evolving from Grotle to Torterra, its was the first time Ash had two fully-evolved starter Pokemon from the same region.
- Torterra has not learnt a Ground-type move, despite being a Ground-type.


text:
May 7, 2019 - PBS NewsHour full episode
05/07/2019 | 54m 17s
May 7, 2019 - PBS NewsHour full episode
Aired: 05/07/19Video has closed captioning.
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text:
Insurance and technology experts discuss how insurers can integrate advanced driving assistance systems to build stronger relationships with policyholders, and improve underwriting and claims processes.
January 01, 2020
Register to be notified of new AM BestTV episodes.
AM Best: Australian Fires Could Impact Earnings, Reinsurance MarketsFebruary 9, 2020
Panel: Advanced Driving Assistance Systems Will Revolutionize the Auto Insurance MarketJanuary 1, 2020
EagleView's Banta: Advanced Risk Perspectives Combine Vision, TechnologySeptember 18, 2019
'The Future Looks Bright'September 8, 2019
How Data, Machine Learning and AI Are Changing InsuranceApril 22, 2019
The Future of Insurance Claims Management: Smarter, Faster, EfficientApril 18, 2019
WTW's Rodriguez: Data Access, Developing Staff Keys to Improving ClaimsDecember 10, 2018
Wildfire Defense's Torgerson: Fighting Wildfires Now a Year-Round EventNovember 25, 2018
AM Best Analysts: Wildfires Likely to Shake Up California's Homeowner's MarketNovember 18, 2018
Building the Cyberrisk Protection EcosystemOctober 21, 2018
A.M. Best Analysts: Hurricane Michael Will Likely Take Bigger Toll on ReinsurersOctober 11, 2018
A.M. Best's Mistry: GCC Market Experiences Range of Catastrophic LossesSeptember 4, 2018
Cyber Insurance Market: Stress Testing the FutureAugust 17, 2018
A.M. Best Analysts: California Wildfires Will Impact Homeowners Insurers, MarketAugust 14, 2018
A.M. Best Analysts: Risks Changing for Legal Professional Liability InsurersAugust 9, 2018
Prospect of Federal Rules for Cyber Puts Pressure on Insurers, StatesAugust 8, 2018
Soaring Risk: Panelists Explain How They Launched a Hang-Gliding RRGAugust 7, 2018
Starr's Greenberg: The First 100 Years Were Just the BeginningJuly 9, 2018
Risk Panel: Cyber Is Growing Into the Risk That Connects Them AllApril 20, 2018
CapGemini's Root: Tech Transformation Is the New NormalMarch 23, 2018
Insurers Turn to Tech to Handle Latest Wave of CatastrophesDecember 27, 2017
Sudden Impact: How Insurers Are Harnessing Artificial IntelligenceDecember 4, 2017
From Disaster-Prone Regions Great Wines ComeNovember 2, 2017
The Surprising Lessons of Superstorm SandyOctober 25, 2017
RGL's Nguyen: Don't Wait for a Breach to Start Worrying About CyberSeptember 10, 2017
Hands Off: Insurers Move Toward Era of Touchless ClaimsAugust 15, 2017
Marshall Dennehey's Dwoskin: Insurers Stepping Up Fraud ProsecutionApril 25, 2017
A Driverless Future Will Carry Surprising ConsequencesMarch 29, 2017
Praedicat's Loughran: Endocrine Disruptors Could Become Risk ExposureMarch 14, 2017
A.M. Best's Holzberger: Cyber Models Aim to Measure Aggregate ExposuresFebruary 24, 2017
How Artificial Intelligence is Remaking the Insurance IndustryFebruary 13, 2017
IBHS' Rochman: Insurers Have the Clout to Improve Roof SafetyJanuary 20, 2017
Drone Surge Opens Up a Wide Horizon of Risk CoveragesOctober 14, 2016
Outlawed Years Ago, Lead Still Has an Insurance ImpactAugust 26, 2016
Driverless Cars Set to Remake Auto CoverageJuly 20, 2016
Gen Re's Kingdollar: Driverless Cars Great for Safety, Challenge InsurersMarch 16, 2016
Insurers Brace for Impact of Concussion ClaimsFebruary 19, 2016
Insurers Step Up Their Fraud DefensesJanuary 27, 2016
U.S. P/C Insurance Leaders Positive on 2016, Barring Major CatastrophesJanuary 15, 2016
As Cities Expand, So Do Their RisksDecember 21, 2015
First Monday: Pricing Erosion Threatens Workers' Comp LineDecember 7, 2015


text:
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text:
North Carolina Senator Trying to Ban Tesla Sales
North Carolina Senator Trying to Ban Tesla Sales
What a disconnect in North Caroline between its politicians and such nice people and culture! I have friends in the Research Triangle area who are definitely not onboard with what the NC legislature is doing. They are taking the state backwards.
I am surprised Tesla just doesn't take this to the high courts and end it.
This is a great set up for a federal case. More free publicity and national spot light as a secondary benefit. All the better to get Tesla where it needs to go with its sales strategy.
jk2014 "This is a great set up for a federal case. More free publicity and national spot light as a secondary benefit. All the better to get Tesla where it needs to go with its sales strategy."
I live in the DC area and would fight for an opportunity to witness this.
Million Model S March
Looks like it may be found unconstitutional:
You can blow me up now.
Perfectly clear and incontrovertible.
You know, this sounds like it could be applied to any state giving Tesla trouble.
Bone them all Tesla, you rock }BD
If customers of tesla banned states just go out of state to buy their Tesla's, those states banning the sale are the losers on many sources of income through taxes and employment generation. I think those states are in effect, shooting themselves in the foot.
@leykis - you should adjust your title. It isn't a Senator, it's the NC State Senate that voted for this. The measure would still have to pass their assembly and the Governor would then have to sign off on this. But this is a state issue, not a Federal issue at this point. However, if it did pass and become law in NC, then it may be a Federal issue if the US Commerce dept. steps in and delcares that NC cannot regulate interstate trade.
TheOnion - style article!
Auto Dealers Are Just Protecting Consumers Against Tesla:
"Robert Glaser, president of the North Carolina Automobile Dealers' Association...told ABC News ...'We just want them to play by the same set of rules that the other 7,000 dealers in the state do...All Tesla would need to do is to establish a franchise agreement with the dealer and send them cars..."
"It can be in a mall," said Glaser. "I just don't know why they don't do it."
"I just don't know why Tesla doesn't fall in line, and pay us money for doing what they're already doing without us, so we can add biased and ignorant EV information, high pressure haggling, middleman costs, sales of high margin extended warranties and duplicate options like extra alarms on cars with alarms and magic paint protection. We just want Tesla to add the same unnecessary and higher-cost consumer experience that the other 7,000 dealers in the state do..."
Glaser then added "I just don't know why ABC News is not paying new-car dealers for these interviews. All ABC would need to do is to establish a interview agreement with us, and send us money."
He then scooped up all the magazines and free mints in ABC's reception area, and took ABC News writer Alexis Shaw hostage, offering to return all for "just $499/mo and your clean used trade-in. That is, if my manager approves your ridiculous, insulting low-ball offer."
Tim Jackson, president of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association, agrees. "If Tesla were to fail, it would do great damage to the good reputation of all auto dealers," Jackson remarked, while kicking a walk-in customer's puppy in the groin.
"It's really all about protecting consumers," Jackson continued. "We had a silly misunderstanding with a customer that thought her annual interest rate was 2.8%, not 28%. But instead of repossessing, we hired her to keep the showroom clean. She will be able to work off the payments by early 2037. Would Tesla do that?" said Jackson, while stubbing out his cigar on the cleaning woman.
"We even gave a 1-week college scholarship to her oldest child, after her husband committed suicide over the loan losses. Besides, can you imagine Tesla supporting Little Leagues and the YMCA?" Jackson then defended the infinitesimal 0.007% of 2012 dealer association profits spent on the community as "more than child-hating Tesla would spend."
Jackson continued: "Some say $199 for an oil change is gouging. But clearly, small gouges inoculate the consumer against much larger dealer gouging down the road. One customer was upset over our $12,500 bill to replace a fuel pump and catalytic converter. If he had let us mini-gouge him, he would have been prepared, and we wouldn't have had to Taser him. Tesla leaves out these and many other parts, under the engineering doubletalk of "EVs don't need them." Eliminating regular gouging on service means Tesla robs consumers of this protective inoculation."
Pausing to eject an elderly couple from the showroom as "looky loos," Jackson concluded: "As you can see, consumers would be much worse off if Tesla bypassed dealers' hard won consumer dissection, er, protection function."
Based on actual quotes from presidents of state dealer associations:
Tesla's Direct Sales Business Model Targeted By N.C. Bill
Auto Dealers' Fight Against Tesla Stores: Elon Musk Weighs In Page 2
Law would stop Tesla electric car sales in NC
More to the point, TM will certainly not contribute to the campaign kitty of enough state (and federal) pols to make up for or compete with the dealers'. It is the prospect of losing all that lobbying cash that drove the vote, IMO.
The ABC story says the bill would have had to be submitted to the NC House by the 16th to be considered and passed. Anyone know if that happened? Can't find any info.
Just noticed that the chairman of the NADA is from NC.
I am ashamed as a NC resident, what NC Auto Dealers are doing.
NC Auto dealers can not suppress innovation by legislation.
Thank you Ed Musk for a great inovation. IF you get the price point lower, I will go to Virginia or DC to get the car.
"Brian H | MAY 19, 2013"
Do not worry, even if the NC passes the bill, it would not stand up in court. It violates the "interstate commerce law"
Tesla may have a fight on their hands as the dealers do not want a precedent set that could lead to their demise. Manufacturers would probably launch them tomorrow if they could and the dealers know that.
He may be El Musk, but he's definitely not Ed Musk.
Fascinating how dealer money goes in, proposed law comes out. I doubt that the proposed law has the support of the local constituents. Unless the lawmaker took a poll that he's not telling about, this is not politics but bribery.
Furthermore, lawmakers have little downside to passing stupid laws because the legal costs to the government and to companies does not come out of the lawmaker's pocket.
I wouldn't worry too much about such attempts at legislation. It's exactly the mortar-and-brick retail location issue. Did you know that Sears Roebuck faced incredible (and similar!) opposition when it started its mail order business? Retailers screamed that they should have to have stores (and store overhead)...that direct sales was unfair competition and bad for the consumer.
Nothing is new under the sun. Just TRY and have North Carolina halt the sale of a "green" automobile because of dealer bribes to the lawmakers....that would be the kiss of death for them.
It no win bill on many levels. But, the single biggest reason Tesla can't use the dealer model is the fundamental difference in service.
ICE car dealers make a majority of their revenue through servicing cars. Tesla's will prove to require a great deal less service. Service is not a profit center. It is not a money maker.
If dealers survive on service, then Tesla dealerships would be a bad business to get into. If it's a bad business to get into, then Tesla's won't find dealers to sell them, thus hurting sales dramatically.
The dealer model was designed around a different motor system, different era with different manufacture/dealer environment, in an internet-less consumer market place.
It won't work on a legal or economic level. Perfect storm for the bill, and national dealership resistance, to resoundingly fail.
Given this inevitable failure, I hope Tesla gets as much inexpensive publicity value from it as possible. Just gives another example of how Elon/Tesla squeeze a dollar out of 15 cents in terms of a&m. Literally, the news cycle has become the marketing division and this whole dealership debate will ensure this continues.
If a NC resident crosses the border and orders a Model S, gets delivery out of state, can he register the car in NC? Just wondering how far NC and TX are will go to ban Tesla from selling to the customer.
In the end it is about demand and supply. Look how much grass and crack is sold, in spite of the ban!
@jk2014 - excellent analysis.
When Elon said he had instructed Service Centers not to try and run at a profit, dealers everywhere must have gotten the vapors.
Racer Leilani Munter posted this link to an article she wrote regarding the NC legislation on her twitter it is definitely worth reading if you have not read it already
The mentality of some of these states (including my home state of Texas) really reminds me of this clip from one of my favorite movies:
@ ajamison.- Thanks for the link I definitely enjoyed reading that. Some great comments too. More in support than I expected!


text:
Heavy-Gauge CTL Line to Oregon Metal Slitters
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Saturday, December 1, 2012
Oregon Metal Slitters, Portland, OR, has installed a new heavy-gauge cut-to-length line from Red Bud Industries, capable of processing material to ½ in. thick and coil widths to 72 in. Features include a heavy-gauge peeler breaker, roller leveler, variable-rake shear and automatically lowering stack table.
See also: Red Bud Industries, Inc.
Related Enterprise Zones: Coil Handling


text:
Integrated WOCS systems with global operations and aftermarket support. High quality Control Units for subsea and platform wells.
Experienced multi discipline specialists for engineering, project execution & control. Hydraulics specialists and rental tool pool. 'High End' Welding & Machining.
ADVANTEC supplies electro- and hydraulic control systems and related products
and services to the international oil and gas markets.


text: A coalition of Baptist and Catholic leaders spoke on Thursday before the General Assembly in Annapolis in favor of marriage equality legislation in Maryland, joining others in an increasing trend towards equality. Members of the coalition broke ties with the hierarchies within their traditions in order to express support for equal marriage rights for all couples and push for the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, which would legalize marriage for gay and lesbian couples while protecting religious freedom. Despite these protections, resistance from religious officials has been strong. But marriage equality advocate Sister Jeannine Gramick of the National Coalition of Nuns said, "The Christian church's appreciation of the inviolability of religious freedom, its sexual theology and even the meaning of marriage have all changed over time." Republican State Senator Allan Kittleman declared that he would abandon his plan to introduce a civil unions bill, and vote for marriage instead. "I'm proud to be a Republican. I think I'm one of the strongest Republicans in the state of Maryland," he told Metro Weekly. "Republicans believe in less government intervention. That's what the same-sex marriage bill does." Governor Martin O'Malley has said he would sign the legislation. Lieutenant Governor (and potential candidate for governor in 2014) Anthony Brown has also expressed support for the bill, which LGBT advocates believe could significantly help defeat a 2012 voter referendum if the legislature passes it this year. "I have always believed that all Marylanders should have an equality of rights and responsibilities and that includes marriage equality," Brown said. Marriage for gay and lesbian couples took a step forward on Tuesday as the General Assembly heard "personal stories, emotional pleas and arguments about how allowing gay couples to marry could help Maryland's economy," during its seven-hour hearing on marriage, reports The Washington Post. After picking up two seats in the Senate and maintaining their supermajority in each chamber, CNN reports that Maryland Democrats have overcome "the final hurdle" needed to pass the bill. "This is the year Maryland will once and for all pass legislation to protect all of its individuals and families – from employment to marriage, it is time to treat all our citizens fairly," said Morgan Meneses-Sheets, Executive Director of Equality Maryland, one of the most prominent organizations working to ensure the bill's passage. GLAAD has been working closely with Equality Maryland, and will continue to monitor media coverage of marriage developments in the state. We hope to have another update later today including information from yesterday's hearing.


text:
Insurance Cartoon 2257: A panhandler has a sign that says, "Full liability insurance coverage guaranteed."
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text:
Hamburger wrote:Yes it is a good starting point.
But I do not want forks but one multiplatform MWii source tree.
that is all being done now. Up until now, he has done
he updates just what he likes
what we need is TC on the forum adding his $.02, right?
dr.tom wrote:it looks someone else must integrate MS5611 sensor into baseflight
or at least write driver folowing timecop's rules.
itain wrote:
Personally, I do not think that timecop's port is a good base for this. He has ported parts of MultiWii to a specific board. Adding the missing features and making it run on atmega328p again may be more work than doing the required changes to the current codebase.
yes, that is part of what I call a problem in the long run. It _needs_ doing, because it is separate forks.
So not all features from arduino-mwii make it into stm32-mwii. Last I looked the entire LCD & telemetry stuff was not there.
Besides, there is no 'backchannel'. New features from the stm32 fork have no designated mechanism to become part of the arduino-mwii in an orderly fashion.
timecop wrote:Hamburger wrote:yes, that is part of what I call a problem in the long run. It _needs_ doing, because it is separate forks.
There is no way to "just use" mwc-8bit code directly because:
1) everything is a forest of #ifdef (here it's all compiled and and configurable at runtime)
2) drivers/control code is all mixed and there's no attempt to have any sort of abstraction layer - particularly bad examples: mag and baro stuff
3) 8bit shortcuts are done all over the place - 16 vs 32 bit multiplies if expected value < 65000 etc.
So not all features from arduino-mwii make it into stm32-mwii. Last I looked the entire LCD & telemetry stuff was not there.
LCD is unnecessary because of serial console. It would be basically duplicating all the same functionality of serial console and STILL wouldn't be able to be used as-is because there are a LOT more parameters to configure. For example I'd have to hack in way to change motor mixer or any of the other settings that are only exposed by serial console.
Besides, there is no 'backchannel'. New features from the stm32 fork have no designated mechanism to become part of the arduino-mwii in an orderly fashion.
It's a rewrite for proper hardware only reusing basically bits of control code. Any improvements, if any, would be made with assumption that the hardware is capable so adding an extra sinf() in the main loop doesn't take a week of deliberations and confirmation that it won't affect loop time on atmega168 running at 8MHz. As others said, the code is open and you're welcome to take back ideas or features - I'm sure mega2560 users would like to have a working serial console and all the settings configurable instead of having to recompile stuff. Or heck, forget console and just add them all to LCD if you're into that.
Hamburger wrote:For the sake of MWii, I still think it could benefit from a common source base instead of drifting forks. Alas, when I asked for input on a multi-platform MWii code there was little response. I understand it would not be easy. So it seems the pain is not yet strong enough, the benefits not sweet enough.
We shall keep watching out, right?
timecop wrote:Normal flight telemetry (via bt/xbee/whatever) and going to multiwiiconf works too..
nicog wrote:I'm sorry hamburguer,
... If you ask me nicely I can add it.
I find using an old BT enabled smartphone/gadget Naze32 configurator is android 2.1 compatible, wich seems to be an old one.
nicog wrote:And if you want to use it, as you said, code it and commit to svn.
nicog wrote:I'm not competing with you either.
But my code is free to everyone. it's not closed source.
Please understand that the telemetry implementation maybe is not needed in the 32bits port.
timecop wrote:Yeah airplane mix stuff will be done separately, to allow servos/direction/etc.
Still planning a good way to do that.
Will probably merge flying wing and aeroplane mixers together, and just allow enough customization so it can be configured either way.
timecop wrote:With 8 servos available in airplane mix mode, I doubt there's going to be any need for a HACK.
And with serial GPS working in both PPM and PWM input modes, what's the point for I2C GPS again? Remind me. Another point of failure? OK, thanks.
timecop wrote:p.s. enabled GPS in PWM mode as well - reduces number of channels to 4RC+2 AUX.
timecop wrote:I have a solution that looks like a turd, I can commit it today.
Or I can spend some time on it and make it nice - something most 8bit devs dont seem to care about.
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