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It has recently come to my attention that used Nissan Leafs are tremendously cheap. Insanely cheap. Ridiculously cheap. So cheap that there are couples currently browsing the aisles at Bed Bath & Beyond, saying to one another: "Honey, should we get these hand towels? Or a used Nissan Leaf?"
Today I've decided to thoroughly address this situation from top to bottom. To do so, I will ask all the tough questions: How did it start? What happens next? And what will we do when our nation's used car lots are bogged down with electric Nissans that cost as much as an adult llama?
But first, a little proof that the Leaf is as cheap as I say it is.
For those of you who weren't with us back in late 2010 when the Leaf first came out for the 2011 model year, it's important to note that the Leaf's original base price was $34,570 with shipping. This seems like a lot of money now, and it certainly seemed like a lot of money back then. But people were excited to pay it so they could drive around in an electric Nissan for approximately 45 minutes before becoming paralyzed with fear that they would run out of power in some exotic, faraway location, like a Costco parking lot.
These days, prices have changed a bit. What I mean by this is that the average asking price of a 2011 Nissan Leaf on Autotrader, five years later, is just $10,724. In other words: after five years, the Leaf has retained only 31 percent of its original value.
So how does this stack up to a normal car? Well, the average asking price for a new 2011 Honda Accord model was $25,648, compared to an average asking price today of about $14,370. The result is that the Accord has retained around 56 percent of its value, or nearly double the Leaf's figure.
But the Accord is a proven midsize car that's celebrated for its impressive, long-lasting durability. What happens when we pit the Leaf up against a known depreciation disaster such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class? This, I figured, would be an excellent comparison, since Tavarish is always reminding us that you can buy a used S-Class for the price of a half-eaten Almond Joy and a bottle of dishwashing soap.
So how does the Leaf stack up? It turns out that after a starting MSRP of around $95,000, the average asking price for a 2011 Mercedes-Benz S550 is currently $41,719 on Autotrader. In other words: the S550 has retained 43.9 percent of its value over five years. In other other words: the Nissan Leaf depreciates faster than a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Frankly, the Leaf's depreciation isn't even comparable to an automobile at this point. It's comparable to a pack of Sharpies left out in the sun with their caps off.
And this leads me to my major question today, which is: How the hell did this happen? Fortunately, I have some answers for this one. Four answers, specifically, which I will enumerate with bold type like an ESPN alert that some famous athlete has just divorced a Kardashian.
REASON NUMBER ONE: Nobody actually paid the full sticker price for a Nissan Leaf. I mean, oh, sure, Roger Early Adopter may have paid the asking price when he sold his 2001 Honda Insight in order to pick up Leaf number six way back in late 2010. But the truth is that the vast majority of Leaf owners bought the car with some kind of major incentive, like a $199 per month lease deal, or an enormous cash back offer usually only seen when Chrysler is trying to sell Town & Countrys to Enterprise at the end of an especially slow month. And then, on top of Nissan's incentives, there were the federal tax incentives for buying an electric vehicle, which made the Leaf even more artificially desirable.
Which leads us to reason number two, namely…
REASON NUMBER TWO: Nissan flooded the market with these things. And I mean flooded the market. When it comes to the Nissan Leaf, Nissan was Hurricane Sandy, and the car market was that roller coaster that looked like it was placed in the middle of the ocean to be used by thrill-seeking manatees.
The problem was this: thanks to such amazing purchase incentives and lease deals, coupled with the excellent federal government tax credit, an enormous number of people chose to buy a Nissan Leaf when it was new. But all this artificial demand caused by incentives, deals, and tax credits has ended up hurting the Leaf four years down the line, as the market is now stuck with too many Leafs and not enough people interested in buying them.
And then there are other problems, like…
REASON NUMBER THREE: They're losing battery capacity. Here's the thing about batteries: eventually, they lose their ability to hold a charge. I know this because when it finally came time to upgrade my last iPhone, the thing couldn't go more than 90 seconds without shutting itself off. Eventually, I was stuck using it like a corded phone from the 1990s, except this particular corded phone could a) send text messages, and b) tell me the weather in Cupertino.
This fate is also going to eventually reach all the Nissan Leafs, if it hasn't already. First, they'll only be able to hold "most" of their original charge. Then, half of their original charge. Then, a quarter of their original charge. The next thing you know, you'll be searching for a three-mile extension cord so you can plug in your Leaf in order to cruise down to Target.
REASON NUMBER FOUR: A cheaper model eventually came out a few years later. Acquiescing to demand for an entry-level Leaf, Nissan eventually debuted a Leaf "S," which came out for the 2013 model year with a starting price of around $30,000. The problem was that this, too, exerted a downward force on Leaf prices, since you could suddenly buy a new model for the same price as many slightly used ones — and that meant slightly used Leafs had to adjust their prices accordingly.
The result of all this is that there are now thousands of used Leafs available all across the country, and they're getting cheaper by the second. So what do we do about it?
Unfortunately, this question is one I cannot answer. But I do know that Nissan Leaf prices continue to be in freefall, while adult llama prices are holding steady at about $1,500 per llama, or maybe two grand if you find a really, really attractive llama; sort of the Brian Williams of llamas.
This begs the question: In a comparison test between a Leaf and a llama, which is more comfortable? Which has more range? Which produces more emissions? I expect Consumer Reports to tackle these challenging questions any day now.
@DougDeMuro is the author of Plays With Cars, which his mother says is "fairly decent." He worked as a manager for Porsche Cars North America before quitting to become a writer.


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text:
Information about the Koeye goes here
Optional email code
Nine First Nations on the BC Coast have banned the trophy hunt
for bears in their territories. Will you pledge to respect this law?
Will you stand up for the bears of the Great Bear Rainforest?
Sign the pledge
Bears Forever is a project of Coastal First Nations
and the Central Coast First Nations Bear Working Group
© Central Coast First Nations Bear Working Group, 2015 All Rights Reserved
Built by Richir Outreach
Powered by NationBuilder


text:
Rule #1 - Be Patient - Rule #2 - Don't ask when, if you don't contribute - Rule #3 - You have coding skills - LinuxMCE's small brother is available: http://www.agocontrol.com
for NFSShare in $NFSShareList ;do if [[ "$NFSShare" == "" ]] ;then continue fi Share_ID=$(Field "1" "$NFSShare") Share_Name=$(Field "2" "$NFSShare") Share_Username=$(Field "3" "$NFSShare") Share_Password=$(Field "4" "$NFSShare") ## Test if the share is still in the list showmount -e $Device_IP | cut -d ' ' -f1 | grep "^${ShareName}$" isShareInList=$? if [[ "$isShareInList" != "0" ]] ;then Log "Share $Share_ID ($Share_Name) is not advertised by the nfs server" SetDeviceOnline "$Share_ID" "0" continue fi ## See if the share is mountable mountDirTemp=$(mktemp -d) mount ${Device_ID}:${Share_Name} $mountDirTemp 1>/dev/null 2>/dev/null isShareMountable=$?
colinjones, have you tried using a fake username and password. Even though Windows XP has the share anonymous smbfs still requests a password to mount. I never matters what you use for a password, but it will always ask for one. CIFS may have the same quirk.Of course, that should be handled by the script, but I don't have it handy to say if it actually does.


text:
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To identify "Best in Class" telecommunications management processes, which, when implemented, will lead member companies to exceptional performance.
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The key reasons that organizations outsource internal services include:
Outsourcing Benchmarking makes sense. Our clients have continually used our services to manage projects and facilitate the findings. We network over 5,000 process owners involved in Benchmarking and maintain relationships with key organizations that provide linkage to additional contacts. This allows us to forge out a custom group of Benchmark companies to meet very specific client needs.
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text:
WASHINGTON — Global warming is rescuing the once-rare brown Argus butterfly, scientists say.
Man-made climate is threatening the existence of many species, such as the giant polar bear. But in the case of the small drab British butterfly, it took a species in trouble and made it thrive.
It's all about food. Over about 25 years, the butterfly went from in trouble to pushing north in Britain where it found a veritable banquet. Now the butterfly lives in twice as large an area as it once did and is not near threatened, according to a study in Friday's issue of the journal Science.
Decades ago, the brown Argus "was sort of a special butterfly that you would have to go to a special place to see and now it's a butterfly you can see in regular farmland or all over the place," said study co-author Richard Fox, an ecologist at Butterfly Conservation, a science and advocacy group in the United Kingdom.
Global warming helping the brown Argus is unusual compared to other species and that's why scientists are studying it more, said study co-author Jane Hill, a professor of ecology at the University of York.
Biologists expect climate change to create winners and losers in species. Stanford University biologist Terry Root, who wasn't part of this study, estimated that for every winner like the brown Argus there are three loser species, like the cuckoo bird in Europe. Hill agreed that it's probably a three-to-one ratio of climate change losers to winners.
As the world warms, the key interactions between species break down because the predator and prey may not change habitats at the same time, meaning some species will move north to cooler climes and won't find enough to eat, Root said.
"There are just so many species that are going to go extinct," Root said.
What makes the brown Argus different is that it found something new to eat, something even better than its old food, the less common rockrose plant, Hill said. The new food is a geranium and it is more widespread.
"It's almost like the whole of the buffet is now open to it," Hill said.
Science: www.sciencemag.org
Talk to us
- You can tell us about news and ask us about our journalism by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com or by calling 425-339-3428.
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- More contact information is here.


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What's the first thought that comes to your mind looking at these shots of Ang Lee and Anne Hathaway together at the LOUIS XIII and Film Foundation Creative Encounters event in Beverly Hills today?
God I love that movie. It's one of the few movies that gets me all emotional just thinking about it. And when I hear that song, forget it, I'm done.
In 2006, the Oscars were presented later, in March, because of the Olympics. Just like it is this year. And Brokeback Mountain lost to Crash. Even Jack Nicholson didn't understand it. This year, the Oscars are being presented in March because of the Olympics. And, well, there's a good chance that 12 Years A Slave will get Brokebacked for the same reason.
I hope not. But, well, you know the Academy.
Ang Lee won Best Director for Brokeback Mountain. He is the reigning Best Director Oscar winner for Life Of Pi. Not sure if he'll be invited back to present on March 2 but Anne Hathaway will indeed make her only appearance during award season at the Dolby Theatre, likely to present Best Supporting Actor. Probably to Jared Leto.
You think she'll walk the carpet or will she skip the carpet altogether? A part of me thinks she might just skip the carpet given that she's largely avoided the circuit. At the same time, she might want some dress redemption too. Prediction?
I'll say…she skips.


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I want to tentatively promise — tentatively because no doubt some of you could have already perused some weird internet stuff this morning — that this video, if you haven't jumped the gun and watched it already, might be the weirdest thing you see all day. It chronicles, using gloriously bizarre Sims animation, the many supposed surgeries that 21-year-old Ukrainian model, musician, and astroplanner Valeria Lukyanova has undergone to turn herself into a living, breathing Barbie. Lukyanova has described herself as "the most famous Russian woman on the Russian-speaking internet," and though some have pointed out the possibility that Lukyanova's self-portraits might be heavily photoshopped, this much is certain: Sims avatars are the stuff of nightmares.
Valeria Lukyanova: Ukraine model real-life Barbie [NMA TV]


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I have not (yet) seen the presentation this post is referring to. But I think many of the comments Ted makes are very valid, and our industry as a whole should occasionally stop and think. I've seen Ted speak at QCon, and I've had a lot of time for his comments ever since.
I'm aware that this blog is rapidly filling with comments about gender and perceptions and people-y stuff, when I originally wanted it to be a purely technical blog. But I guess this other stuff interests me more. And there are less people talking about it than there are talking about pure technical solutions to problems.


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The bank contacted about 2 million affected debit card members Saturday and said they would be limited to a maximum of $100 cash withdrawals and $300 in purchases per day. Less than 10 percent of Chase customers are affected, said spokeswoman Kristin Lemkau.
The limits will be in place until Chase replaces the cards. Chase credit cards are not restricted.
Target on Thursday said data connected to about 40 million credit and debit card accounts was stolen as part of a breach that began over the Thanksgiving weekend. The stolen data included customer names, credit and debit card numbers, card expiration dates and the embedded code on the magnetic strip found on the backs of cards.


text: Hi All, do any of you guys and gals know where I can get a good led display for my Boba chest display? Tried Richies but they out of stock. Will post some pics of my work so far when I get them sorted, would appreciate all of your comments, as this is my first ever attempt at a costume-am going for the ROTJ Boba. Thanks for all the info so far, have been reading intently and got lots of help from you so far!!!


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text:
A family history blog covering the surnames of Glover, Fredrick, Watt, Graf and more. Take a genealogy journey with me.
04 August 2011
Fredrick Centennial Farm: Those Thursday Places
My cousin, Rose Marie Hillard, recently applied for, and received, Centennial Farm designation for the Fredrick family farm. She said it was a two year process by the time she proved all the relationships and land ownership for the application.
Our (Rose Marie and I) great grandfather, J. August Fredrick, owned the farm first. Then, it was passed to our grandfather, Otto August Fredricks. Otto Fredricks sold the farm to his son, Otto Robert Fredricks, who then sold it to Rose Marie and her husband, William.
Numerous improvements have been made to the house and grounds. The original house has been remodelled. The original barn was torn down and a new barn built by my grandfather, Otto. Other buildings on the farm have been removed.
Congratulations to Rose Marie on achieving Centennial Farm designation.
2 comments:
- AnonymousJanuary 11, 2014 2:42 PM
Would like to know more history on brethren , daniel odonnell,@email@example.com, thank youReplyDelete
Dear Daniel, Thank you for commenting. I will send you an email. I don't have a lot on the history of Brethren beyond what my family history is but maybe I can share some of that with you.ReplyDelete
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text:
Glenn Greenwald has another excellent piece on how the US oligarchs, as represented by the Koch brothers, are so greedy as to be delusional, seeing themselves as the oppressed ones, fighting against a President Obama who in their eyes is a 'dedicated egalitarian' who has 'internalized Marxist models' and is 'the most radical president we've ever had as a nation' because he has had 'antibusiness, anti-free enterprise influences affecting him almost all his life'.
Greenewald contrasts this with the reality:
Since Obama was inaugurated, the Dow Jones has increased more than 50% — from 8,000 to more than 12,000; the wealthiest recieved a massive tax cut; the top marginal tax rate was three times less than during the Eisenhower years and substantially lower than during the Reagan years; income and wealth inequality are so vast and rising that it is easily at Third World levels; meanwhile, "the share of U.S. taxes paid by corporations has fallen from 30 percent of federal revenue in the 1950s to 6.6 percent in 2009." During this same time period, the unemployment rate has increased from 7.7% to 8.9%; millions of Americans have had their homes foreclosed; and the number of Americans living below the poverty line increased by many millions, the largest number since the statistic has been recorded. Can you smell Obama's radical egalitarianism and Marxist anti-business hatred yet?
Then there are those whom Obama has empowered. His first chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, is a business-revering corporatist who made close to $20 million in 3 short years as an investment banker, while his second, Bill Daley, served for years as JP Morgan's Midwest Chairman. His Treasury Secretary is undoubtedly the most loyal and dedicated servant Wall Street has ever had in that position, while Goldman Sachs officials occupy so many key positions in his administration that a former IMF and Salomon Brothers executive condemned what he called "Goldman Sachs's seeming lock on high-level U.S. Treasury jobs." Obama's former OMB Director recently left to take a multi-million-dollar position with Citigroup. From the start, Obama's economic policies were shaped by the Wall Street-revering neo-liberal Rubinites who did so much to serve corporate America during the Clinton years. Meanwhile, the President's choice to head his Council on Jobs and Competitiveness — General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt — heads a corporation that "despite $14.2 billion in worldwide profits – including more than $5 billion from U.S. operations – [] did not owe taxes in 2010": an appointment the White House still defends.
Yes, these are definitely the actions of a doctrinaire egalitarian determined to destroy the capitalist system in the US and usher in a Marxist dictatorship.


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This chapter describes how to use the ADF Faces change persistence framework to create JSF pages that users can customize at runtime.
This chapter includes the following sections:
Section 35.1, "Introduction to Allowing User Customizations"
Section 35.2, "Enabling Runtime User Customizations for a Fusion Web Application"
Section 35.4, "Controlling User Customizations in Individual JSF Pages"
Section 35.6, "Creating Implicit Change Persistence in Custom Components"
Certain ADF Faces components have attributes that can be saved for a specific user. For example, the value of the
disclosed attribute on a
panelBox component can be saved for a specific user during the current session. The
myOrders page in the StoreFront module application contains four
panelBox components that display order information. By default, they are expanded, as shown in Figure 35-1.
query component, which is not discussed in this chapter, can be used to implement saved searches, another type of user customization. For information about the
query component, see Chapter 27, "Creating ADF Databound Search Forms." The configuration required for using MDS to store saved searches is discussed in Section 27.2.3, "How to Persist Saved Searches into MDS."
However, suppose a user decides to collapse one of the boxes, as shown in Figure 35-2.
Because this application is configured to allow user customizations, then during the user's session, anytime that user returns to the page, the Payment Information box remains collapsed. You need only to enable user customizations for the project in order for these changes to be persisted to the user's session.
Note:The user session begins when the user logs in to the application, and ends when the user leaves the application. It is possible that while using an application, the user could navigate across application boundaries (for example, to a peer application) and thereby leave the application, at which point the user session would end.
See the "Introduction to User Customization" section in the Oracle Fusion Middleware Web User Interface Developer's Guide for Oracle Application Development Framework for a list of the attribute value changes that are implicitly persisted by an ADF Faces application, after you configure the application to allow user customizations.
You can also configure an application so that the value of these attributes can be persisted across sessions using the MDS repository. For example, if the StoreFront module allowed persistence to the MDS repository, then anytime that user entered the application, the Payment Information box would be collapsed.
Note:Before you can enable persistence to the repository, you must first follow all MDS configuration procedures as documented in the Oracle Fusion Middleware Administrator's Guide.
Along with the automatic persistence available through ADF Faces, you can create your own custom user customization capabilities for the following types of changes:
Changing an attribute value
Adding or removing a facet
Adding or removing a child component
Reordering child components
Moving a child component to a different parent
If you want to create these types of custom user customizations, you need to add code (for example, in an event handler) that will call the APIs to handle the persistence.
Enabling an application to use the change persistence framework requires that you first enable your application to allow user customizations. Part of this process is determining where those changes should be persisted, either to the session or the MDS repository.
If you choose to persist changes to the session, by default all values will be saved for the user's session. However if you choose to persist changes to a repository, you must explicitly configure which of these attribute values will be persisted to the repository. Instead of persisting all these attribute values, you can restrict changes so that only certain attribute value changes for a component are persisted, or so that only specific instances of the components persist changes.
Note:You cannot persist changes to a component that is contained inside (anywhere in the subtree) of
af:forEach or
af:iterator tags. While such structure results in multiple copies of a component in the view tree, each component has only a single representation in the JSP document. Therefore, customizations of the component cannot be persisted in MDS.
For any applications that persist changes to an MDS repository, when you deploy your application, you must create a metadata archive (MAR) profile in the application's EAR assembly. For more information, see Section 36.3.2, "How to Create Deployment Profiles."
Enabling an application to allow user customizations (whether for the default changes that some ADF Faces components provide, or for custom capabilities that you create) requires that you configure your application to use the change persistence framework and that you also determine where those changes should be persisted (either the session or the MDS repository).
Note:If you are planning on persisting changes to the MDS repository, before configuring an ADF Faces application to use change persistence, you must first follow all MDS configuration procedures as documented in the Oracle Fusion Middleware Administrator's Guide.
You enable your application to use the change persistence framework by editing the
web.xml and
adf-config.xml files.
To enable user customizations:
Double-click the web project in your application to open the Project Properties dialog. In the tree on the left, select the ADF View node.
On the ADF View page, select the Enable User Customizations checkbox. If you want the changes to be persisted to only the session, select the For Duration of Session radio button. If you want the changes to persist to the MDS repository, select Across Sessions Using MDS.
If you chose to persist to the repository, you now need to declare each component tag and associated attribute values that you want persisted to the repository (if you chose to persist only to the session, all values will be persisted). For procedures, see Section 35.3, "Configuring User Customizations." After that configuration is complete, you can override those settings on a per component instance basis. For procedures, see Section 35.4, "Controlling User Customizations in Individual JSF Pages."
Note:If you have created custom user customization capabilities as documented in Section 35.5, "Implementing Custom User Customizations," then you also need to declare those attribute values or operations.
When you elect to save changes only to the session, JDeveloper adds the
CHANGE_PERSISTENCE context parameter to the
web.xml file, and sets the value to
session. This context parameter registers the
ChangeManager class that will be used to handle persistence. If you instead elect to save the changes to the MDS repository, the value is set to
oracle.adf.view.rich.change.FilteredPersistenceChangeManager, as shown in Example 35-1.
Example 35-1 Context Parameter in web.xml Used For Change Persistence
<context-param> <param-name>org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.CHANGE_PERSISTENCE</param-name> <param-value> oracle.adf.view.rich.change.FilteredPersistenceChangeManager </param-value> </context-param>
Tip:If needed, you can manually set this value to
oracle.adf.view.rich.change.MDSDocumentChangeManager, if you do not want any customizations to be restricted based on configurations in the adf-config.xml file or on the individual JSF pages, and you always want the changes to be persisted to the MDS repository and not the session.
When you elect to persist to the repository, JDeveloper also does the following:
Adds the following JARs to the class path if they don't exist:
Ensures the
ADFBindingFilter is registered. If not, it adds the following entry to the
web.xml file.
<filter> <filter-name>adfBindings</filter-name> <filter-class>oracle.adf.model.servlet.ADFBindingFilter</filter-class> </filter>
Adds another context parameter to
web.xml to register the
MDSJSPProviderHelper class to handle merging MDS customization documents with the base JSP document, as shown in Example 35-2
Adds the ADF Faces Change Manager Runtime 11 library to the project.
In the
adf-config.xml descriptor file, sets the
persistent-change-manager element to the
MDSDocumentChangeManager, which is the class that will be used to persist the changes. Example 35-3 shows the configuration for persisting to the MDS repository.
Creates JSF JSP pages as XML documents. For more information, see Section 35.4, "Controlling User Customizations in Individual JSF Pages."
If you choose to persist changes to an MDS repository, you must decide which of the attribute values that are by default persisted to the session should also be persisted to the repository. Alternatively, you can configure which changes you do not want persisted.
Tip:Often, a system administrator is the one to set the configurations in the
adf-config.xml. The
persist and
dontPersist attributes on a component allow page authors to override that setting as needed.
For example, suppose you decide that you don't want the value for the
width attribute on columns to be persisted to the repository, but you do want all other default attribute changes for columns to be persisted. You must explicitly set the other default column values that you want to be persisted, and you also must explicitly configure the application to NOT persist the
width attribute.
Note:If you have created custom user customization capabilities as documented in Section 35.5, "Implementing Custom User Customizations," then you must explicitly declare those attribute values or operations as well.
You set (and unset) these values using the overview editor for the
adf-config.xml file. Figure 35-3 shows the overview editor where only certain attribute values for the
column component will be persisted.
Once set, you can override persistence for a specific component on a page. For example, suppose you want to disallow change on the
width attribute on only one table's columns. You want the rest of the tables in the application to persist changes to that attribute. You would configure the columns to globally persist changes to the
width attribute, but then for that one table, you would override the global configuration directly on the JSF page. For more information, see Section 35.4, "Controlling User Customizations in Individual JSF Pages."
Note:If you've enabled just session persistence, then all attribute values shown in the "Introduction to User Customization" section of the Oracle Fusion Middleware Web User Interface Developer's Guide for Oracle Application Development Framework will be persisted to the session. There is no way to override this either globally or on an instance.
By default, when you configure your application to use any type of change persistence (that is, to either the session or a repository), the values of all attributes shown in the "Introduction to User Customization" section of the Oracle Fusion Middleware Web User Interface Developer's Guide for Oracle Application Development Framework will always be persisted to the user's session. If you configured your changes to be persisted to a repository, then you must declare the attributes whose values should be persisted to that repository. If there are any values that you don't want persisted, then you need to configure those values as well.
To declare attribute value persistence to a repository:
In the Application Navigator, expand the Application Resources pane, expand the Descriptor > ADF META-INF node, and double-click adf-config.xml to open that file.
In the overview editor, click the View tab.
In the Tags table, select the component whose changes you want to persist (or not persist) to the repository. If the component does not appear in the table, click the Add icon, and select and add it.
Note:The filter rules specified in the
adf-config.xml file are applicable only when you have chosen to persist to the MDS repository (see Section 35.2.1, "How to Enable User Customizations"). These rules do not apply for persistence within session scope.
If persistence fails for any reason, (for example if one of the filter rules fails or the MDS repository errors), then the values will be stored only within the session scope.
The Tag Attributes table displays all the attributes for the selected component whose values can be persisted. Select Persist Changes for all attributes whose values you want persisted. Deselect any if you do not want the values persisted.
Note:If you are implementing custom user customizations (see Section 35.5, "Implementing Custom User Customizations"), then you will need to edit the
adf-config.xml manually to add the configuration. See Example 35-4 for an example on how to configure user customizations.
When you select the component tags and attribute values to be persisted in the
adf-config.xml file, JDeveloper enters tag library information for the components and attributes that are to be persisted. Example 35-4 shows the entry for persisting the value of the
disclosed attribute on the
panelBox component.
Once you have enabled your application to use user customizations, you can control user customizations for specific components on the page.
By default, the framework persists changes for all component instances, based on the configuration in the
adf-config.xml file. You can override this default behavior by explicitly setting what should be persisted and what should not be persisted on each component instance using the
persist and
dontPersist attributes.
Note:The filter rules specified using the
persist and
dontPersist attributes are applicable only when you have chosen to persist to the MDS repository (see Section 35.2.1, "How to Enable User Customizations"). These rules do not apply for persistence within session scope.
If persistence fails for any reason, (for example if one of the filter rules fails or the MDS repository errors), then the values will be stored only within the session scope.
The following components support the
persist and
dontPersist attributes:
You can override any globally set persistence configuration for a component using its
persist and
dontPersist attributes.
Tip:Often, a system administrator is the one to set the configurations in the
adf-config.xml. The
persist and
dontPersist attributes allow page authors to override that setting as needed.
To implement user customizations on a JSF Page:
Add components to the page, as needed, including components that will be persisting changes.
If you want to persist all persistable attributes for a component:
In the Property Inspector, expand the Advanced section.
Click the drop-down list for the Persist field and choose All Available.
If you do not want to persist any attributes, repeat Step 2 for the Don'tPersist field.
If more than one attribute can be persisted for the component, and you do not want to persist all of them:
Click the drop-down menu to the right of the Persist field and choose Edit to open the Edit Property dialog.
Shuttle any attributes to be persisted from Available to Selected.
If you do not want to persist an attribute value, repeat Step 4 for the Don't Persist field.
Note:The filter rules specified using the
persist and
dontPersist attributes take precedence over any
adf-config.xml configuration set for global component-level restrictions.
Values specified for the
dontPersist attribute take precedence over values specified for the
persist attribute. For example, if for a
panelBox component you set
disclosed as the value for both the
persist and
dontPersist attributes, the value of the
disclosed attribute will not be persisted.
If you set the value of the
persist or
dontPersist attribute to
All Available, then any values entered as choices using the Edit dialog and the shuttle will be ignored and all available attribute values will be persisted or not persisted.
When an application is configured to persist changes to the session, any changes made during the session are recorded in a session variable in a data structure that is indexed according to the view ID and the component's ID attribute value. Every time the page is requested, in the subsequent create View or Restore View phase, all changes are applied in the same order as they were added. This means that the changes registered through the session will be applied only during subsequent requests in the same session.
When an application is configured to persist changes to the MDS repository, any changes made during the session are recorded by mutating the Document Object Model that MDS maintains for the JSP document behind the view. A JSF phase listener registered by ADF controller triggers a commit on the MDS session during the appropriate lifecycle phase, resulting in the change document being persisted in the MDS store. Every time the page is requested, Oracle's JSP engine seeks the JSP document from an MDS JSP provider, which provides a flattened document after merging the stored changes to the base document. MDS records the change against the unique value of the component's ID attribute.
Tip:If changes are applied in response to a partial submit of the page (for example, a
commandButton with the
partialSubmit attribute set to
true), the component for which changes are applied must be set as the value for the
partialTarget attribute.
Additionally, be aware that when you run the application from JDeveloper in the Integrated WebLogic Server, MDS creates a local file-based repository to persist metadata customizations. Whereas when the application is deployed to a test or production environment, customizations are persisted to the configured MDS repository. For more information about MDS repository configuration, see the Oracle Fusion Middleware Administrator's Guide. For more information about deploying an application, see Section 36.4, "Deploying the Application."
The way that changes are persisted for components in templates, regions, and declarative components is handled differently, depending on whether the changes are persisted to the session or to the MDS repository. With session persistence, changes are recorded and restored on components against the
viewId for the given session. As a result, when the change is applied on a component that belongs to one of these objects (region, page template, or declarative component), that change is applicable only in the scope of the page that uses the object. It does not span all pages that consume the object.For example, suppose you have
pageOne.jspx and
pageTwo.jspx, and they both contain the region defined in
region.jsff, which in turn contains a
showDetail component. When
pageOne.jspx is rendered and the
disclosed attribute on the
showDetail component changes, the implicit attribute change is recorded and will be applied only for
pageOne.jspx. If the user navigates to
pageTwo.jspx, no attribute change is applied.
When you persist changes to the MDS repository, MDS records and restores customizations for a document identified by a combination of the JSP page path and customization name/value configuration setting as set on the customization class (for more information, see Section 184.108.40.206, "Customization Classes"). As a result, for a given page that is rendered, when MDS applies a change on a component within one of these objects (region, template, or declarative object), it is applicable for all pages that consume the object and that have the same customization name and value as the source page.
In the previous example, assume that the
showDetail component uses the ID of
myShowDetail. When
pageOne.jspx is rendered and the
disclosed attribute on the
showDetail component changes, the attribute change is recorded for
region.jsff (and not the page that consumes it). This change is applied when any page that contains the region is rendered, as long as the ID remains the same.
Additionally, user customizations are allowed through the persistence change manager on components that are direct children of a page template or a declarative component only if the definition of the page template or declarative component is not private. If it is private, the customization is written into the session store.
Note:The definition of the page template or declarative component is a tag-only, nonbindable attribute. For declarative components, it is
af:componentDef. For page templates, it is
In addition to the user customization capabilities built in to certain ADF Faces components, you can create your own custom user customization capabilities. The change persistence framework supports the following types of user customizations:
Changing an attribute value
Adding or removing a facet
Adding or removing a child component
Reordering child components
Moving a child component to a different parent
To create custom user customizations, you must create a customization class for each type of user customization and then configure your application to use that class. You also need to set up the layers of customization for your application. For more information about both of these procedures, see Section 34.2, "Developing a Customizable Application."
Once those prerequisites are satisfied, you add logic that calls methods on the ADF Faces classes that handle persisting change either to the session or the MDS repository. To handle the change, you create code that uses the APIs from one of the ADF Faces specialized component change classes. For most cases, you add this code to the event handler method on a managed bean associated with the page the persisting component is on. If you want all instances of a component to persist the same change, you need to add this code for each page on which that component appears.
If you are creating a custom component, you can implement user customizations for the component by adding code directly to the custom component class. In that case, you will need to add the code only to the component class, and not once for each instance of the component. For more information, see Section 35.6, "Creating Implicit Change Persistence in Custom Components."
To better understand what you need to do to create custom user customizations, it may help to have a deeper understanding of the change persistence and MDS frameworks. When you elect to persist changes to the MDS repository, the change persistence framework works in conjunction with the MDS framework. Where and how the customizations are saved are determined by how you set up your MDS repository, your customization layers, and your customization classes. Details about the MDS framework and the repository and how to use it are covered in Chapter 34, "Customizing Applications with MDS."
The change persistence framework uses the underlying change manager classes from Apache MyFaces Trinidad (in the
org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.change package) along with a few ADF Faces-specific classes (in the
oracle.adf.view.rich.change package). The instance of the registered
ChangeManager class is accessible through the
RequestContext object. It is responsible for gathering changes as they are created and added during a request, and then persisting them. The
SessionChangeManager class is an implementation of
ChangeManager which handles persistence within a session only, while the
MDSDocumentChangeManager class is an implementation that persists to the MDS repository only. The
FilteredPersistenceChangeManager class is an implementation of
ChangeManager that stores the changes that pass the filter rules into the repository using the registered persistence change manager. Any change that does not get persisted to the repository will be persisted to the session when
FilteredPersistenceChangeManager is used.
Additional classes are used to describe the changes to a component. You use these APIs to handle persisting any changes to components other than the implicit value changes the ADF Faces framework provides (as shown in the "Introduction to User Customization" section of the Oracle Fusion Middleware Web User Interface Developer's Guide for Oracle Application Development Framework).
ComponentChange is the base class for all classes used to implement specific changes that act on the JSF component hierarchy, such as adding or removing a facet or a child component. These changes are automatically applied during subsequent creation of the view, in the same order in which they were added. Classes that extend the
ComponentChange class and that also implement the
DocumentChange interface can directly persist changes to the MDS repository. Classes that do not implement the
DocumentChange interface can persist changes only to the session.
Table 35-1 describes the specialized classes that handle specific customizations. If "yes" appears in the Repository column, then the class implements the
DocumentChange interface and it can persist changes to the MDS repository.
Table 35-1 Classes Used to Handle Change Persistence
|Class Name
Adds a child component using document mark up. While applying this change, the child component is created and added to the document.
Changes the value of an attribute.
Changes the value of an attribute.
Moves a child from one container to another.
Removes a child component.
Adds a child component to the facet using a document markup. While applying this change, the markup will be added to the document.
Adds a child component to a facet. While applying this change, the DOM element corresponding to the child component is added to the document. If the facet doesn't exist, it will be created. If the facet does exist, all of its content will be removed and the new content added.
Removes a facet.
Reorders children of a component.
Aside from a ChangeManager class, you may also need to implement and register the
DocumentChangeFactory interface with the
ChangeManager class. If the
DocumentChangeFactory implementation can provide an equivalent
DocumentChange for a
ComponentChange, the
ChangeManager will use it to persist the
DocumentChange to the repository.
You need to add code to handle any explicit changes you want to create, and to configure the components on the JSF page to handle customization. As with the default user customizations, you also must register the custom changes in the
adf-config.xml file.
Note:When the changes are expressible in more than one form, the change must be recorded in the form with highest precedence. For example:
Attribute change for a component: The attribute can be specified on the component tag or it can be expressed using the
<f:attribute> tag. In a JSF JSP document,
<f:attribute> takes lesser precedence over the attribute specified on the component tag. Therefore, the attribute change on the component tag will be recorded for customization.
Column header text in a column component: The header text for the column can be specified using either the
headerText attribute or using header facet. In this case, the facet component will have precedence.
To create custom user customizations:
Create a managed bean for the page that contains the component.
Add code to the event handler method for the component that will be used to make the change. This code should obtain the component that contains the change. It should then use the component and the appropriate APIs to create, record, and persist the change.
Example 35-5 shows the code on the action event handler for a command button for a change that will be persisted to the MDS repository. When a user clicks the button, that source graphic file changes. The event handler method accesses the component and changes the source attribute for the graphic. It then calls the private
addAttributeChange method, which first uses the component API to record the change, and then uses the
AttributeComponentChange class to set the new source attribute value.
Example 35-5 Persisting Change to the Repository from an Event Handler on a Managed Bean
public void modifyObjectImage(ActionEvent event) { UIComponent uic = event.getComponent().findComponent("oi1"); String source = "/images/mediumAd.gif"; uic.getAttributes().put("source", source); _addAttributeChange(uic, "source", source); } . . . private static void _addAttributeChange(UIComponent uic, String attribName, Object attribValue) { FacesContext fc = FacesContext.getCurrentInstance(); ChangeManager cm = RequestContext.getCurrentInstance().getChangeManager(); ComponentChange cc = new AttributeComponentChange(attribName, attribValue); apm.addComponentChange(fc, uic, cc); }
Note:When you persist changes, in addition to explicitly recording a change on the component (which is done in Example 35-5 using
uic.getAttributes().put("source", source) method), you must also directly apply the change using the component API, as was done using the private
_addAttributeChange(uic, "source", source) method. Applying the change in this way allows the user to see the change in response to the same request. If the change is recorded on the component, then the change will not be seen until a subsequent request.
Additionally, if you know that the component will always persist to the repository regardless of any restricted change persistence settings, you can instead call the
AdfFacesContext.getCurrentInstance(). method.
ChangeManager class provides support for automatically converting an
AttributeComponentChange into an
AttributeDocumentChange, thereby allowing persistence to a repository. However, if you need to convert another type of change and you use a specialized change manager class that does not implement the
DocumentChange class, you need to create a custom
DocumentFactory implementation that converts the component change to a document change.
Note:Automatic conversion of
AttributeComponentChange into an
AttributeDocumentChange assumes that the component attribute is represented as an attribute of the same name on the associated element in the JSPX document.
Only those attribute values that are expressible in the JSPX document can be persisted using
AttributeDocumentChange. In other words,
Boolean and
ValueExpression are the only supported data types.
Only values that implement
java.io.Serializable can be persisted using
If you create a custom
DocumentFactory implementation, you need to register it with the appropriate change manager class using the following method in your bean:
public static void registerDocumentFactory(String targetClassName, String converterClassName)
targetClassName is the name of the
ComponentChange class and
converterClassName is the name of your
DocumentChangeFactory extension that is capable of converting the target
ComponentChange into a
DocumentChange. The semantics of
name for these classes is same as that of
getName() in the
java.lang.Class class.
If the class you use to create the component change adds a child that has a subtree of components, and you want to persist the changes to the repository, you must create a
DocumentFragment to represent the change.
Example 35-6 shows how to use the
AddComponentDocumentChange specialized class to create a
DocumentChange object and use a
DocumentFragment to represent the change.
Example 35-6 Converting a ComponentChange Object to a DocumentChange Object
public void appendChildToDocument(ActionEvent event) { UIComponent eventSource = event.getComponent(); UIComponent uic = eventSource.findComponent("pg1"); // only allow the image to be added once if (_findChildById(uic,"oi3") != null) return; FacesContext fc = FacesContext.getCurrentInstance(); DocumentFragment imageFragment = _createDocumentFragment(_IMAGE_MARK_UP); DocumentChange change = new AddChildDocumentChange(imageFragment); ChangeManager apm = AdfFacesContext.getCurrentInstance().getChangeManager(); apm.addDocumentChange(fc, uic, change); } private static final String _IMAGE_MARK_UP = "<af:objectImage id='oi3' height='100' width='120' " + "source='http://www.somewhere.com/someimage.jpg' " + "xmlns:af='http://xmlns.oracle.com/adf/faces'/>"; private static DocumentFragment _createDocumentFragment( String markUp) { // prepend XML declaration markUp = "<?xml version = '1.0' encoding = 'ISO-8859-1'?>" + markUp; DocumentBuilderFactory factory = DocumentBuilderFactory.newInstance(); factory.setNamespaceAware(true); factory.setValidating(false); DocumentBuilder builder; try { builder = factory.newDocumentBuilder(); } catch (ParserConfigurationException pce) { _LOG.log(Level.WARNING, "Unable to get XML Parser:", pce); return null; } try { // use a version explicitly with ISO-8859-1 instead byte[] markupBytes = markUp.getBytes(); Document newDoc = builder.parse(new ByteArrayInputStream(markupBytes)); DocumentFragment fragment = newDoc.createDocumentFragment(); // add the document's root element to the fragment fragment.appendChild(newDoc.getDocumentElement()); return fragment; } catch (SAXException se) { _LOG.log(Level.WARNING, "Unable to parse markup:" + markUp, se); return null; } catch (IOException ioe) { _LOG.log(Level.WARNING, "IO Problem with markup:" + markUp, ioe); return null; } }
Register the user customizations in the
adf-config.xml file, as documented in Section 35.3, "Configuring User Customizations." If the custom changes are of any type other than
AttributeDocumentChange, you will need to manually edit the
adf-config.xml file and indicate that all changes are allowed for the component, as shown in Example 35-7.
When you create a custom component, you may decide that you want certain attribute values on that component to be persisted whenever change persistence is enabled in an application. Setting implicit change on a custom component is similar to setting explicit change persistence on existing components. You add code that executes the actual persistence, but instead of you placing that code on a managed bean, that code can be handled directly by the component class. If your component's attribute values are synchronized with the server using events, then you can use the broadcast method to persist the changes. If the attribute value that you want to persist does not use events, then you need to add code in the renderer and component class.
When an attribute value uses events, you need to add code to the component class.
To set implicit change persistence for attribute values that use events:
Open the custom component class java file.
Add code to the broadcast method that will use the specialized class to create a new
ComponentChange object and then call the
ChangeManager to add the change.
Example 35-8 shows the code added to the
UIXShowDetail class that persists a change to the
disclosed attribute. In this case, the
AttributeComponentChange class is used.
Example 35-8 Persisting Change from a Component Class
public class UIXShowDetail extends UIXComponentBase { ... public void broadcast(FacesEvent event) throws AbortProcessingException { super.broadcast(event); ... if (event instanceof DisclosureEvent) { boolean isDisclosed = ((DisclosureEvent) event).isExpanded(); setDisclosed(isDisclosed); //Record a Change for 'disclosed' attribute AttributeComponentChange aa = new AttributeComponentChange('disclosed', isDisclosed ? Boolean.TRUE : Boolean.FALSE); AdfFacesContext adfContext = AdfFacesContext.getCurrentInstance(); adfContext.getChangeManager().addComponentChange(getFacesContext(), this, aa); ... } } ...
When an attribute does not use events, you need to place code in the component's renderer class.
To set implicit change persistence for other attribute values:
Open the custom component's render class java file.
Use the
findTypeConstants method, which takes a
ClientMetadata instance and use the
addPersistedProperty method to mark certain properties as persisted. Example 35-9 shows a code snippet from the renderer class used for the ADF Faces
PanelSplitter component, which implicitly persists the
splitterPosition attribute value.
Example 35-9 Method in Component Renderer Class to Implicitly Persist Changes
// Code snippet from PanelSplitterRenderer.java protected void findTypeConstants( FacesBean.Type type, ClientMetadata metadata) { super.findTypeConstants(type, metadata); metadata.addRequiredProperty( _orientationKey = type.findKey("orientation")); metadata.addRequiredProperty( _positionedFromEndKey = type.findKey("positionedFromEnd")); metadata.addRequiredProperty( _disabledKey = type.findKey("disabled")); metadata.addRequiredProperty( _splitterPositionKey = type.findKey("splitterPosition")); metadata.addPersistedProperty(_splitterPositionKey); }
In the JavaScript component peer class, define the attribute value to be persisted, using the
setProperty function. This function needs to be invoked with the attribute name (as defined in the renderer in the previous step), the value, and "
true", meaning the value of the attribute will be set. Example 35-10 shows a code snippet from the
panelSplitter class that sets the splitter position.


text:
Fake Drugs Labelled As Chinese Tea: France In Record Haul
Paris (AFP) – Aspirin, anti-diarrhoea and erectile dysfunction drugs: French customs have seized millions of counterfeit medicines imported from China in what they described as the biggest haul of its kind within the European Union.
A total of 2.4 million pills, capsules and powdered medicine were seized at the end of February in the northern port of Le Havre in 601 boxes labelled as containing Chinese tea, customs officials said Thursday.
"Some of the drugs contain no active ingredient, which constitutes outright cheating of consumers," said a customs statement.
"Others have different levels of the active ingredient compared to the authentic drug which means they could represent a serious health risk for patients taking them."
According to French customs, the previous record seizure in the EU was for 1.2 million doses of counterfeit aspirin, also made at Le Havre in Normandy, in May 2013.
Like the seizure this year, the powdered aspirin was mainly composed of glucose.
Le Havre is a huge commercial port in France through which nearly 2.5 million containers transit annually.
Every year, customs seize tens of thousands of counterfeit products that include television sets, mobile phones, auto parts, clothes and medicine, most of which come from China en route to African countries such as Nigeria.
Last year, counterfeit drugs represented nearly 20 percent of all seized products, and consisted mainly of fake pills of Viagra and Cialis for erectile dysfunction, as well as aspirin.
The problem of counterfeit drug production in China was highlighted last year when the country's authorities launched a crackdown which led to 1,300 arrests in December and the closure of dozens of unauthorised online pharmacies.
According to the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest, a U.S. non-profit medical research group, the traffic in fake medicine is highly lucrative, generating 55 billion euros ($76 billion) globally in 2010, a 90 percent rise from 2005.
In Europe, meanwhile, a study conducted by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer in 2010 showed that the market for fake drugs was worth around 10.5 billion euros, including one billion euros in France.
And according to the European Alliance for Access to Safe Medicines, 62 percent of drugs bought on the Internet in 2011 were fake.
Photo via Flickr.com/Charles Kaiser


text:
By Chris Moore:
RATING: 3.5 / 5 stars
According to Wikipedia, A Singer Must Die falls under the "orchestrated pop" genre. If that is accurate, then this is my first orchestrated pop purchase.
And it's a good one.
Along with the Art of Time Ensemble, Steven Page arranged and performed ten covers — if you include the Barenaked Ladies' "Running Out of Ink" — that run the emotional gamut and mark a departure from the instrumental sound we've come to associate with Steven Page, both as a member of BnL and as the main force behind the Vanity Project. Here and there throughout his recorded career, there have been strings or horns, but this is the first major release on which he is backed almost entirely by the orchestration of an ensemble.
And yet, the overall tones, themes, and vocal textures are still very much the Steven Page we've come to know, particularly in the music he has written and performed this decade. Page always seemed to be the more serious one in his often comedic BnL partnership with Ed Robertson — the "It's All Been Done" to Robertson's "One Week," if you will. Throughout this decade, though, Page's preferences have swung even more to the extreme, considering the beautiful, heartbreaking ballads of Maroon (2000), the topical tracks like "Celebrity" and "War on Drugs" on Everything to Everyone (2003), and the sober "Bad Day" on the otherwise upbeat Snacktime! (2008).
In a sense, the conception of this project could be traced as far back as the 2007 Barenaked Ladies Are Men track "Running Out of Ink," on which Page voiced the narrator's social and personal downward spiral made all the more distressing by a loss of creative energy, the bag of of all he's ever written being tossed off a bridge, bleeding ink, and sinking out of sight by the close of the song.
Now that Page has struck out on his own, the pressures described in that song must be an even more real force for him. As a solo artist, he will either sink or swim as a result of his efforts alone, and that must be a frightening, if thrilling, experience after two decades in a five-piece band.
A Singer Must Die carries all the maturity and experience you would expect from an artist who has spent more time in the headlines than on record the past few years. The drug-related arrest. The breakup.
At last, Page is back on the top of his game, having released a record that relaxes and frets, breathes and pants for breath, escapes and runs head on into pain and sorrow — an excellent record.
The piano and string-heavy "Lion's Teeth" kicks off the album on a suspenseful note, tension building with every second that passes. Page builds up to a near-scream as he sings, "And my arms get sore, and my palms start to sweat; and the tears roll down my face 'til my cheeks are hot and red and soaking wet…"
He goes on to sing, "There's no good way to end this — anyone can see there's just great big you and little old me."
What a way to kick off his first individual effort following the break with BnL!
The greatest strength of A Singer Must Die is the arrangement of tracks. The opener is followed by the initially calm and beautiful opening verses of Elvis Costello's "I Want You." Fiona Apple set the bar high for cover versions of this track, and Page was up to the task, even if the middle to end of the song suffers from some self-indulgent orchestration.
Next comes a track that surprised me — I never knew I could enjoy a Rufus Wainright song. Sounding like it came from an early twentieth century crooner's repertoire, "Foolish Love" further advances the feeling expressed on "I Want You," if from a different angle.
Thanks to the Art of Time Ensemble, "Running Out of Ink" is even more manic and frantic here than the original Barenaked Ladies version was, and this is saying something. For me, this is the thematic centerpiece of the album, a song originally co-written by Page himself. Throughout rock music history, the greatest songwriters have turned to covers when they were themselves "running out of ink."
Thankfully, Page is not, as he has set the release date for his first solo album proper for later this year.
"A Singer Must Die" and "Taxi Ride" are excellent companion pieces, the former expressing the dangers of self-expression with fitting sarcasm and the latter expressing a bittersweet departure that includes near-hallucinations and the sad, pleading, distressed vocals that few can pull off so convincingly and expressively as Page can.
If "Taxi Ride" is the low point, emotionally speaking, of this record, then "Tonight We Fly" is just the pick-me-up that it needs. This is a case of perfect lyrics, perfect performance, and perfect timing.
"Virtute the Cat Explains Her Departure" is easily the most heartrending track on A Singer Must Die, and is an exemplary case of Page's ability to translate a fairly straightforward indie rock track by the Weakerthans into an emotive, beautiful masterpiece. If there is one track that makes me think of the sad (if not so shocking) news of Page's departure from BnL last year, this is it.
"For We Are the King of the Buidoir" is, unsurprisingly, a wonderfully quirky song originally written and performed by the Magnetic Fields. Again, timing is everything as Page's spot-on rendition of this little gem is right where it needed to be, as a transition between the solemnity of "Virtute" and the frenzied madness of "Paranoid Android," in and of itself a perfectly placed cover of the Radiohead classic. After all, what better way to conclude a post-breakup solo album than with lines like "ambition makes you look pretty ugly, kicking and squealing" and "when I am king, you will be first against the wall with your opinion which is of no consequence at all"?
I will be the first in line for Steven Page's first solo album of original material when it arrives later this year, but for now, A Singer Must Die has served to at least whet my appetite for new material from a man who is arguably one of the most talented singer/songwriters of the past two decades, alongside others like Ben Folds, Elliott Smith, Jakob Dylan, Eddie Vedder, and Jeff Tweedy who have shaped the sound of modern rock music.
If A Singer Must Die is a necessary transition effort before an entirely original release, then it is a promising one. The choices here are excellent — both obscure and ambitious — and the performances are first rate.
In the end, though, a singer's death may be compelling, but his imminent rebirth is all the more exciting…


text:
Packers perform QB shuffle signing Wallace, Tolzien
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Quarterback school is back in session with the Packers.
Newly signed veteran Seneca Wallace is going to have to brush up on the playbook in a hurry to get ready to back up Aaron Rodgers for Sunday's season opener in San Francisco.
There's a new third quarterback in Titletown, too, after Scott Tolzien was signed to the practice squad Monday.
Both quarterbacks just happened to be with the 49ers before getting picked up by the Packers. How convenient.
"I think any time players are (from) a former organization, there's always (a thinking that) immediately they're going to tell you everything about the 49ers," coach Mike McCarthy said. "Scott and Seneca both are more focused on getting ready for the game so they definitely can give you insight."
More so Tolzien than Wallace. Tolzien was a backup the last two years for the 49ers, but never played in a game. Wallace was only in San Francisco for a week this preseason, competing for a backup job behind Colin Kaepernick.
But it's Wallace who's going to be Rodgers' understudy. It's quite a turnaround from last week, when he was languishing behind Kaepernick, Colt McCoy and B.J. Daniels on the 49ers depth chart.
When asked then, coach Jim Harbaugh said Wallace was "not going to continue to play football," lending to speculation to whether Wallace decided to retire.
Not so, Wallace said Monday after his first Packers practice.
"No, no. It's just miscommunication between me and Harbaugh. We talked about it. I called him to communicate that to him," Wallace said. "It was just pretty much miscommunication between me and him."
After being drafted by the Seahawks in 2003 out of Iowa State, Wallace went on to play seven seasons in Seattle. He's also had stops with the Browns and Saints.
In 21 starts and 62 career games, Wallace has completed 59 percent of passes (452 of 764) for 4,808 yards and 31 touchdowns, along with 18 interceptions.
In a relatively young locker room, Wallace, a 10-year veteran, immediately becomes the most experienced player on offense. Only defensive tackle Ryan Pickett has more NFL experience with 13 seasons.
It's that experience that drew McCarthy to his new backup. Wallace had time in a West Coast offense in Seattle under former coach Mike Holmgren, who used to coach the Packers. McCarthy said Wallace ran similar no-huddle schemes in Cleveland. Also, Wallace was drafted in Seattle while current Packers general manager Ted Thompson was the vice president of football operations there.
With Wallace and Tolzien, Green Bay is starting anew in its quest to find a capable backup to Rodgers after already jettisoning three candidates in the last several weeks. Graham Harrell is now with the Jets. Vince Young was cut over the weekend. B.J. Coleman was released after Wallace was signed.
Wallace's journeyman background might also help him out.
"He's been a backup quarterback primarily his whole career. He clearly understands the role, has a lot of experience in an out of systems," McCarthy said. "Just talking football with him last night, I felt confident that he'll be ready to play Sunday."
Wallace was appreciative of the new opportunity. He gave thoughtful responses to questions from reporters, as if a wise sage offering advice to a rookie on life in NFL.
While he wouldn't mind starting, Wallace is clearly comfortable with his role. He's not going to supplant Rodgers, the 2011 NFL Most Valuable Player.
"You can't let that get to you. That's part of it. We're blessed to play a sport that most people dream to do," he said. "The ones who stay around for a long period of time are the ones who get it."
So there was Wallace on Monday on the practice field, watching several feet behind Rodgers as the offense ran through drills. Wallace walking alongside Rodgers during a break, where the two looked like they were talking shop. And Rodgers running through a quarterback drop for Wallace on a particularly quick pass play.
"It was a tough couple weeks, Wallace said, "but what happened is behind me and now I'm moving forward and focusing on being here in Green Bay and being the best provider as a backup to A-Rod."
Notes: Tolzien returned to the state where he played college ball at Wisconsin. … After competing all preseason with Marshall Newhouse, Don Barclay started at right tackle. But Barclay said he doesn't think the competition is settled, and McCarthy indicated Newhouse would play Sunday regardless … CB Casey Hayward (hamstring) didn't take part in practice. Two starters sidelined last week by sore hamstrings, S Morgan Burnett and LB Brad Jones, returned … Besides Tolzien, the Packers also signed OL Aaron Adams and Bryan Collins; RB Michael Hill; WRs Charles Johnson and Myles White; CB James Nixon; and TE Jake Stoneburner to their practice squad. The latter four players were with the team during training camp.


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Thursday, 31 January 2008
hang on...
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
big little news
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
What's your proudest achievement? Getting paid to do what I love.
Who inspires you? Everyone around me. From the happy-go-lucky attitude of my Italian assistant to my mate Morgs, who makes my coffee day in, day out, like a work of art. My girlfriend, who encourages me to be the best I can be. I often find the best motivation in the very normal of circumstances. People who succeed above all else are a constant source of strength. If you look around, they're everywhere!
What are you passionate about? Travel, food, love and learning. Japanese food, beer and skiing - not necessarily in that order.
What's the best lesson you've learnt? Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try, try again.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Nadav Kander, Jeffrey Smart and Thom Yorke. Unique, creative and challenging all in their own right.
What are you excited about? Going to Thailand tomorrow and another year to do it all again.
What's next? More travel, more Japanese and maybe a beer or two...
images courtesy of alan jensen
Monday, 28 January 2008
courtesy of mao & more
Don't you just love the different colours, smells and textures you experience when you visit another country? I especially love the first two pics. You can almost see how they arrived at the bright green uniform after seeing the photo of the prickly fruits on sale. These photos are from John Williams (pictured above) at Mao and More. Enjoy!
Now, about lunch...
Images courtesy of John Williams @ Mao and More.
Thursday, 24 January 2008
mao & more
It's not really fair to call Mao and More a shop. It's more an Aladdin's cave, although one that has treasures from the Far East. And its contents are quite a reflection on the owner, John Williams - colourful, bright, bold... as you'll find out for yourself:
How and why did you start Mao and More? I started it when I was a very young boy - 12 to be exact - the idea not in its current incarnation was and has been there since then to do with a fascination for all things old, new, textures, travel, histories, design, colours, smells, objects and, most of all, people. This leads to exploring periods of times past and present, and having stuff that you can then pass on to others. I also think all these elements make up the palette of people and societies.
How is having your own business different to what you expected? We left Singapore where we were living and returned to Oz. I didn't want the corporate life anymore so it was a very natural and seamless transition to the setting up the Mao and More brand and business concept.
What has been the response? I do not believe these things happen in a vacuum but all people and objects collide at the right times. So after a lot of breathtaking conversations Mao and More opened four years ago. The response has been an interesting journey as we have a great many fab customers and people who think what we are doing and the directions we are going in is for them. I think the retailing environment is a massive animal that is voracious and relentless in its pursuit of attracting consumers and customers. I had worked in the advertising and media/marketing environment in my past life, but it does not prepare you for the retail environment. But, hey, we learn and move on!
What has been the highlight? The highlights have been many both here and throughout the markets we trade in. But I think the singular one would be the acceptance of this concept: pulling and pushing it towards the consumer acceptance. And there are two standouts - two charities that Mao and More supports: Margaret Ward, an ex-Medecins Sans Frontieres nurse, who has set up an orphanage in China called Xinxing Aid for Street Kids which also deals with the trafficking of children. I also feel passionate about people on the land, so we will help support farmers with free labor during times of duress.
Where do you look to for inspiration? I do not look for inspiration as if you look you cannot see it - it's there all the time and it pops up all the time you just have to recognise it and go with it. However, I think there are fab qualities that give you a bit of a different look at yourself. I really love the attitude and vibrancy of Jamie Oliver as he exudes himself; wonderful.
What are you passionate about right now? I have a burning desire to see the farming communities hit by hardship recover; George W Bush to exit the Oval Office and America come to a more real sense of its global position; see my children and all children grow to be the new citizens of tomorrow; and, of course, Mao and More to flourish.
If you could meet one person, living or dead, who would it be? To meet someone or aspire to meet a person does not equate in my sensibilities, as I think you meet lots of fab people. If you do end up meeting someone who has a large profile well and good... it's meant to be.
What are you looking forward to? Seeing Mao and More become a bigger venture so I can devote more time to giving back to the communities/causes that need help and assistance. I think giving back is as important as getting - it's the yin and yang balance.
What are you reading? I am currently reading the new Neil Perry cookbook: fab, fab, fab, simple and a great outlook on food and how to do it. Also the book called Museum about the Macleay Collection at the University of Sydney. What an interesting man for his time.
Images courtesy of John Williams @ Mao and More.
Tuesday, 22 January 2008
favourite finds in melbourne
Images courtesy of yourrestaurants.com.au
Alice Euphemia Shop 6, Cathedral Arcade; 03 9650 4300 Beautiful clothes in a breathtaking building. Hurray for shops that retain character and charm.
anyone for tennis?
Friday, 18 January 2008
taking it easy?
Thursday, 17 January 2008
photographer eugene "uge" tan
A pic he took yesterday in North Bondi. You can buy prints online at aquabumps.com
I'm not sure what quite came first - seeing the Aquabumps Gallery in North Bondi or my husband D getting the newsletter. Certainly, the latter has had a bigger impact on my life than I ever would imagine. Example? Tuesday. Get an email from D. "Going surfing tonight." His reason? Uge's daily newsletter showed photos of the surf from that morning and it was too good for D to miss. Similarly, D slept in this morning leaving me to go for my soft sand run alone. The reason? Uge said to expect crap surf due to the southerly. He was right. So while I sometimes curse Eugene Tan and his newsletter, other times I can't help but be impressed with his "job" and what he's achieved - plus his photos are pretty damn amazing. So many would love to do what he does but, fact is, nothing is really stopping them. Uge just went out there and did it. Kudos to him.What five words best describe you? Hypo, sometimes very vague (dreamer), passionate, incredibly intelligent (na just kiddin), talkative.
What's your proudest achievement? Opening the Aquabumps Gallery.
Who inspires you? Jon Frank, Dustin Humphrey, my girlie Debs.
What are you passionate about? Ocean, waves, photography, surfing, good design, gelato, yum cha, Seal Rocks. Did I say surfing?
What's the best lesson you've learnt? The harder I work, the luckier I get.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Gerry Lopez.
What are you excited about? Pretty much everything at the moment. But I have a new panoramic Hasselblad underwater camera that I am frothing over. Oh, six overseas trips this year... um... the good weather at the moment.
What's next? Exhibition in London and New York.
Images courtesy of Eugene Tan @ Aquabumps.
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
margaret atwood
Because she's prolific and yet so diverse.
Because she has written some brilliant books about the subject of writing such as Negotiating with the dead.
Because she made "speculative" futuristic/sci-fi books (which I usually hate) such as The Handmaid's Tale and Oryx and Crake completely compelling.
Because she's going to publish her worst reviews on her website (there's hope for all of us, then).
Images courtesy of Margaret Atwood.
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
penny arcade
When and why did you open Penny Arcade? The store opened 11 months ago – the result of a desire to explore other interests after being in fashion for 28 years. I have a love for good design whether it be architecture, automobiles, fashion, furniture, lighting, etc. I enjoy shops that are outside of the square.
Why Penny Arcade? The name was taken from a 1970s sign from Luna Park, which hangs prominently in the entrance.
What has been the response? Surry Hills is undergoing a transformation from an old inner-city working class ragtrade area into a diverse new culture of small businesses, cafes, bars and restaurants. So an interesting store packed with great furniture from the 1950s onwards, plus vintage clothing, has been warmly welcomed.
What five words best describe the shop? Eclectic. Danish. 20th Century. Modern. Inspiring.
What product can't customers get enough of? Australian companies such as Fler, Parker, Danish Deluxe and Tessa, which were all influenced and did a good job of interpreting the Danish furniture of the 1960s and 70s - especially chairs and sofas.
Where do you look to for inspiration? Books. Internet. Anything on the giants of this period including Eames, Panton, Conran, Wegner, Featherston and a host of others.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Living - Sir Paul Smith - fashion mogul and collector. Dead - Fred Lowen - Australian Furniture design pioneer.
What are you reading? Iconic Australian Houses 50 60 70 and Enrique's Journey by Sonia Nazario.
What's next? The challenge is always to find unique pieces to make the store great. It is a constant as there is no regular supply chain, but I guess that's part of the fun.
Images courtesy of Penny Arcade.
Monday, 14 January 2008
jewellery designer chelsea de luca
What's your proudest achievement? Opening my first flagship boutique last year in the TCB Building, Brunswick Street Mall, Fortitude Valley with an overwhelming response. And having the likes of Beyonce, Elle MacPherson and Eva Mendes wearing my jewels.
Who inspires you? So many people. Self-made women who've had the courage to take the leap into business; the photographic works of Ellen Von Unwerth; Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott; old black & white movies.
What are you passionate about? I am very passionate and focused on doing the very best that I can in my business and making it the very best that it can be.
What's the best lesson you've learnt? I think one of the most important things is to always ask a million questions if you are unsure about anything. It is the only way you will learn.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? So so many that I would love to meet or have met. Coco Chanel, Mae West, Edith Piaf – all for their bold, independent and fabulous personalities.
What are you excited about? The year ahead in 2008 as the business grows significantly with a focus on expanding into stores both in the Australian and overseas market.
What's next? New collection out in stores in March and chic new website coming soon.
Friday, 11 January 2008
andy warhol
© The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.
Andy Warhol, Skull 1976 (acrylic and silkscreen ink on linen).
© The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.
While I was on holiday I visited the Andy Warhol exhibition at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art. There is something completely captivating about his images. I'd loved to know what people thought of them when they first came out because they're so embedded in our cultural history now that it's hard to separate the man from the work. In some regards they're quite simplistic and incredibly commercial (hence, why they were so successful and made him so much money during his lifetime - rare for an artist) but in other ways they still are on the money. Take, for instance, the skull (pictured above). Skulls are everywhere right now. Certainly, he had his finger on the pulse of modern society - that's one clever man.
Images courtesy of GOMA and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.
Thursday, 10 January 2008
in case you missed it...
photos courtesy of real living and amanda prior; styling megan morton


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March 8th – International Women´s Day – Jewelry special gift for all women
International Women's Day (IWD), originally called International Working Women's Day, is marked on March 8 every year.[2] In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political, and social achievements. Started as a Socialist political event, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries, primarily Eastern Europe, Russia, and the former Soviet bloc. In some regions, the day lost its political flavor, and became simply an occasion for men to express their love for women in a way somewhat similar to a mixture of Mother's Day and Valentine's Day. In other regions, however, the political and human rights theme designated by the United Nations runs strong, and political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner.
This is a day which some people celebrate by wearing purple ribbons.
Font: Wikipedia
Jewelry special gift for all women
Categories: Corporate Gifts, Jewelry with Photo-etching, Steel Jewelry, Jewelry 18k Gold, Jewelry 18k White Gold, Jewelry Silver 925 / 950, Children's Jewelry, Men's Jewelry, Religious Jewelry, Dating / Commitment, Engagement, Promotions


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Guide to Onesolution integrations
You can make your chatting a lot quicker by using a set of keyboard shortcuts. Using these shortcuts, you will be able to quickly jump between chats, open different parts of the application and generally make your job much easier. And here's a list of shortcuts for Mac:


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Digital Media Lab
About Birn Source
Porto Romano Energy Park
Latest Projects
Serbian Venue Linked to €4bn Kazakh Banking Fraud
Albanian Telecoms Deal Cost '$1m to Buy Off Politicians'
About Birn Source
BIRN Source is a comprehensive database of the documents behind BIRN's groundbreaking investigations. It offers a two-way platform for journalists, editors and the general public to promote transparency and accountability across the Balkans. BIRN Source utilizes OCR technology so that documents in multiple languages are searchable. This is a preliminary version of BIRN Source, and improvements will be made regularly to improve the functionality and interface. BIRN Source has been produced as part of "A Paper Trail to Better Governance" project being carried out with the support of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the operational unit of Austrian Development Cooperation. The goal of the project is to hone investigative journalism in the Balkans, to hold officials to account, and to improve the implementation and use of freedom of information laws.
Copyright © 2014 Birn Source. All rights reserved
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其他版本 - 查看全部
appearance beautiful become better called cause character child continued course dark dear death delight door earth effect eyes face father fear feel felt give half hand happy head heard heart heaven hope hour human interest Italy kind Lady leave less light living look manner matter means Millicent mind Miss morning mother nature never night object observed once passed perhaps person poor present received rest round seemed seen side society soon soul sound speak spirit sweet tell thee thing thou thought tion true turn Vernon voice walk whole young
第 88 頁 - Morning Now the bright morning star, day's harbinger, Comes dancing from the east, and leads with her The flowery May, who from her green lap throws The yellow cowslip, and the pale primrose. Hail bounteous May that dost inspire Mirth and youth, and warm desire; Woods and groves are of thy dressing, Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing. Thus we salute thee with our early song, And welcome thee, and wish thee long.
第 288 頁 - So am I as the rich, whose blessed key Can bring him to his sweet up-locked treasure, The which he will not every hour survey, For blunting the fine point of seldom pleasure. Therefore are feasts so solemn and so rare, Since, seldom coming, in the long year set, Like stones of worth they thinly placed are, Or captain jewels in the carcanet.
第 405 頁 - Each passing hour sheds tribute from her wings ; And still new beauties meet his lonely walk, And loves unfelt attract him. Not a breeze Flies o'er the meadow, not a cloud imbibes The setting sun's effulgence, not a strain From all the tenants of the warbling shade Ascends, but whence his bosom can partake Fresh pleasure, unreproved...
第 417 頁 - Ah ! then and there was hurrying to and fro, And gathering tears, and tremblings of distress, And cheeks all pale, which but an hour ago Blushed at the praise of their own loveliness; And there were sudden partings, such as press The life from out young hearts, and choking sighs Which ne'er might be repeated...
第 336 頁 - I have of late — but wherefore I know not- — lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises ; and indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory, this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o'erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, why, it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.
第 298 頁 - He might have nourished us like " the fowls of the air and the lilies of the field," which " toil not, neither do they spin.
第 340 頁 - I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue : but if you mouth it, as many of our players do, I had as lief the town-crier spoke my lines. Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand, thus ; but use all gently : for in the very torrent, tempest, and (as I may say) whirlwind of your passion, you must acquire and beget a temperance, that may give it smoothness.
第 62 頁 - O gin my love were yon red rose That grows upon the castle wa', And I mysel' a drap o' dew, Into her bonnie breast to fa' ! Oh, there beyond expression blest. I'd feast on beauty a' the night ; Seal'd on her silk-saft faulds to rest, Till fley'd awa' by Phoebus
第 296 頁 - British monarchy, not more limited than fenced by the orders of the state, shall, like the proud Keep of Windsor, rising in the majesty of proportion, and girt with the double belt of its kindred and coeval towers...
第 76 頁 - ... you away. Fond fancy brought back to my slumbers Our walks on the Ness and the Den, And echoed the musical numbers Which you used to sing to me then. I know the romance, since it's over, 'Twere idle, or worse, to recall ; I know you're a terrible rover ; But Clarence, you'll come to our Ball ! It's only a year, since, at College, You put on your cap and your gown ; !But, Clarence...


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Thanks for becoming a follower on my blog. I appreciate it. Actually I am not that happy with the layout of it. I am still struggling with it. It was started originally just for my stamping friends and I to share. but that changed and now I am trying to build it into something better.
Any ideas would be appreciated!
Your blog looks great!!
Hi Ola,
nice to meet you too. I checked out your blog! cute and sweet. I love it. I entered your peacock sham contest, but then the company is way cool anyways! check out my blog:
Happy friending
Hi Ola!
Thanks so much for your nice comment and taking the time to look at my blog. Your blog looks great! That apron is so cute it almost makes me want to learn to cook. I'm so new to all of this, still a little nervous and I really appreciate your welcome. Thanks.
Hi Ola,
Nice to meet you!
Will check out your blog now.
X Lisa
Hi Ola,
Thanks for the warm welcome! I stopped by your blog & will take a more detailed look in a minute. Since I am totally new to blogging, I'm not even sure what "following" is! I'm sure I'll figure it out but thanks again for the greeting.
Welcome to Mom Blogger's Club! I hope you enjoy your time here and find it helpful! I know it can be overwhelming at first but I promise, you'll be a pro on here in no time! I write a blog called The Adventures of J-Man and MillerBug. It's a blog about my life with my two boys and I do some pretty cool giveaways (OK, I think they're cool! Do you?)
Every weekend I host the Finding New Friends Weekend Blog Hop. It's a great way to find new followers and friends as well as get to know more of your fellow mom bloggers. If you're not familiar with a blog hop, all you have to do is add your blog to the list. Participants then "hop" from blog to blog to find great new blogs! It's a ton of fun! I'd love to have you join us. It's going on now so come on over and link up! You can find it here: http://myadventureinmommyhood.blogspot.com/2011/08/finding-new-friends-weekend-blog-hop_25.html#more. Be sure to leave a messge if you join up so that I can follow you back!
Let me know if you have any questions or if I can help you with anything in your blogging journey! I look forward to being your friend!
Hi Ola!
Hi!I'm fairly new to MBC myself and wanted to welcome you. I am a part-time family doctor and full-time mom of 4 boys. I have a parenting website. On the site I accept questions from parents about their kids' behavior and offer suggestions about difficult situations. I hope you will check it out, perhaps leave a question or recommend it to a friend who has a problem.
Dr. G
On firstname.lastname@example.com/AskDoctorG
I hope you are having a wonderful day!!!
I just wanted to share a few great deals from my blog www.dazzlingdailydeals.com
MOVIES..MOVIES..MOVIES or should I say FREE..FREE..FREE MOVIES!!!!!
Check out these posts and get codes for FREE blockbuster and Redbox movies
I would love for you to"LIKE" me on facebook,....when you do you will get real time updates on the hottest finds and deals, so you will never miss anything again!
Hi Ola... I just found your blog in the Simply Follow Group and I am now following your blog. I was unable to comment on your blog but I would love for you to come visit me at http://ourtipsforsaving.blogspot.com to follow back.
Thanks and KIT!
I'm doing my part to help raise awareness regarding the issues surrounding cervical cancer and HPV; empowering women to take control of their health. Please feel free to pass it long!
Blog: http://julnet.typepad.com/ibelieveintomorrows/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BelieveinTomorrows
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BelievnTomorrow
Love and Hugs!
My name is Missy and I am also a member of the Mom Bloggers Club. I have a blog,www.luxurybeautyproducts.blogspot.com and I also run the blog hop network.
I wanted to let you know that I am following you, and hoping when you get a chance you can follow me back. I also want to invite you to join my groups, The Blog Hop Network, Beauty Bloggers, and Children's businesses. Also, I would love to place a link to your site on my blog if you want to do the same with my blog on yours. Please let me know by sending me an email regarding this and it has been nice meeting you via the web.


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According to a self-identified participant in a Lamborghini preview, the upcoming LP700-4 is the Murcielago replacement we've been calling Jota. It'll offer a 700-hp V12, a carbon-fiber body, sub-3.0-second 0-to-62 mph time, and hit 217 mph.
The tech specs for the car also known as Jota, supposedly from a private preview in Singapore, include a bunch of can't-ignore-even-if-we're-sick-of-Lambo-new-model-speculation information. Here's the dirt straight from someone in-the-know at FerrariChat:
6.5L, 700Bhp, 680Nm @ 5500rpm & redlines @ 8250.
New 7 speed single clutch gearbox with two automode & 50 ms shifts!
But get this, Carbon monoque chassis & F1 style suspension on the rear
Car is 229kg lighter & 70% more rigid! 4WD.
Many new gadgets too for the cabin.
Car will be shown in Geneva Auto next spring. Get ready your cheque book!
Oh, forgot to mention this. 0-100 in 2.9 secs & 350Km/h top speed.
The chatty fellow was unable to share pics or how much the new ride resembles the all-carbon fiber Sesto Elemental (pictured) and unveiled in Paris, since Lamborghini reps confiscated cameras and cell phones prior to entry. But most importantly, he was able to confirm the presence of scissor-type doors, ensuring another generation will be blessed with people lusting for upward-swinging enclosures on their Toyota Yaris.
(Thanks to ktoktok!) [FerrariChat]


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One—and perhaps the only—benefit of hipster-esque, back-to-the-land cooking is the resurgence of a collective love for cast-iron skillets. They are the Filson of fryware: reliable, long-lasting, and ruggedly handsome. They are just as handy for frying a plate full of bacon as they are for a gooey, sticky skillet cake. Maybe you inherited one from your grandmother, or maybe you purchased a brand spanking new one off Amazon; either way, if you treat it right, it could last you a lifetime.
Beloved by cooks for their ability to impart flavor, these family heirlooms are often misunderstood—and, at worst, neglected. Maybe that's because there are a whole lot of wive's tales and warnings you'll hear when cast iron comes up. Never ever ever use soap! Don't let a drop of water touch your pan! Acid is your enemy! And so on, and so forth. It can be enough to scare you away from your own stove.
But as long as you're keeping your pan well-seasoned and rust-free, explains author Charlotte Druckman, they're quite easy to maintain, and quite versatile. For her latest book, Stir, Sizzle, Bake: Recipes for Your Cast-Iron Skillet, Druckman investigates all the best ways to cook—and fry, and bake—with cast iron. Stir, Sizzle, Bake delves into not just what you can do with these pans, but also how to keep them in tip-top shape. Through her research, Druckman has developed a very intimate understanding about how these basic, yet fickle, pans work.
Here, we talk to the skillet savant about the most important things to keep in mind when buying, seasoning, storing, and cooking with cast iron.