text:
A few weeks ago, I walked home from work at around 7 PM. The city was already dark and the lights of the office buildings were still sparkling, and I was still thinking about my teens in the Satellite program. We had talked about the work of Georgia O'Keeffe that day and our hour-long conversation about her work had been rich and layered. We asked questions of Georgia, of ourselves, of art in general:
Why do we have art in our lives? What are the intentions of artists? Even when they write down what they were up to, is it okay to disagree with what they say about their work, or should that be where we stop? What role does our personal interpretation play in a work of art? What happens when artists give up their work to the world? And after they do so can (or should) they have a say over how people feel about it?
I often find that these sorts of deep conversations—those that touch on life just as much as art history—happen in the galleries. It seems easier to grapple with life's big questions when a work of art is the bridge, even if the questions are never ultimately answered. And I often think that while I know my students are learning a lot about artists, the creation of art, history, and about themselves in the teen programs, what I always come away with, every single session, is how much I myself learn from them.
That night, I got home, collapsed on the couch, and switched on Project Runway's "Behind the Seams" special, hosted by Tim Gunn, the show's mentor. (Don't judge. You know you love Project Runway too.) On the show, Tim helps the designers through each episode, supporting them and challenging them, with the grace and care of a professional educator—which, in fact, he is: he was a professor at Parsons The New School for Design for 24 years before Project Runway ever began.
Why am I mentioning Tim Gunn? Because at the end of the show, the designers presented Tim with a heartfelt video montage thanking him for his mentorship. He was so touched by the video that he cried, and then he said the following:
"I just want you all to know how much you give to me. That's why I love you so much. It's all that you give to me. So if I can give anything back to you I'm deeply honored and grateful, but… it's really what you give me and that's a tremendous amount, it's inspiration, it's hope, and unbridled enthusiasm for the future of this industry because of you and your talents and your tenacity and determination. It's overwhelming and I'm grateful to all of you."
Then—I'm not going to lie—I cried a little, too. What Tim said is exactly how I feel about teaching in the galleries. The teens, and every group I work with here at the Museum—from kindergartners on a school tour, to teachers in a professional development workshop, to our volunteer docents—give me so much. They help me understand the work in the Museum Collection, but more than that, they illuminate art in ways that help me think about the world and life itself.
Tim says the designers give him hope "for the future of [the fashion] industry." I know this is cheesy, but for me every teen, student, visitor, teacher, and docent I speak with in the galleries gives me hope for the future of the world itself. You never know what the seeds planted by the comments and ideas from a gallery teaching session will grow into—just look at where the Satellite teen program alums have gone.
That's why I love gallery teaching. In a time when we are all so busy, juggling homework and SATs or a full inbox and countless obligations, a museum gallery is an oasis where works of art connect us to the world and to each other.
Chelsea Emelie Kelly was the Museum's Manager of Digital Learning. In addition to working on educational technology initiatives like the Kohl's Art Generation Lab and this blog, she oversaw and taught teen programs.


text:
GCMD Keywords Version 14.1 Released
Use this Forum to find information on, or ask a question about, NASA Earth Science data.
Post Reply
1 post • Page 1 of 1
- User Services
- Posts: 189
- Joined: Tue Dec 03, 2019 3:31 pm America/New_York
- Been thanked: 3 times
GCMD Keywords Version 14.1 Released
The NASA Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) staff is pleased to announce the release of the GCMD Keywords Version 14.1. Please find a table of the keywords in this link https://wiki.earthdata.nasa.gov/x/QIx8Dw. All keywords are new except where noted as Updated. Please post any questions about this release to the GCMD Keyword Forum.
Post Reply
1 post • Page 1 of 1

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance
Feeding Infants in the Child and Adult Care Food Program
This is a training tool for CACFP operators with infants discussing the infant meal pattern, developmental readiness, hunger and fullness signs, handling breastmilk and infant formula, solid foods, what is creditable, and more.
Resource | Nutrition Education
Grow It, Try It, Like It! Fun with Fruits and Vegetables at Family Child Care
This resource is designed to help Child and Adult Care Food Program operators provide garden-based nutrition education for children ages 3 through 5 years in family child care settings.


text:
One Dot At A Time, Lichtenstein Made Art Pop
Whaam! Varoom! R-rrring-g! The canvases of painter Roy Lichtenstein look as if they're lifted from the pages of comic books. Comics were a big inspiration for this pop artist, who was rich and famous when died in 1997 at age 73. But at a major Lichtenstein retrospective at Washington's National Gallery of Art, you can see that the artist found inspiration beyond comic books; he also paid his respects to the masters — Picasso, Monet and more.
Lichtenstein's 1960s works were comic-inspired — they're angsty frames, often featuring ladies in distress. In one iconic image, a beautiful, fraught woman with a furrowed brow grasps a telephone in both hands as she says "Ohh ... Alright ..." You just knowshe's talking to a fellow.
"What I like about it is the way she's holding the phone," says National Gallery curator Harry Cooper. "She's caressing the phone, and I think in a way she would rather have a relationship with the receiver than with whoever is on the other end of the line."
Who knows what he's saying to her and what she's reluctantly agreeing to. Lichtenstein lets us imagine the back story — and what might happen next. Cooper says the artist "really looked hard for these comics that had a kind of crux of the story in them."
It's interesting that he managed to evoke such strong emotions using such a cold, mechanical process of dots — he was really painting digital pixels before there were pixels. Lichtenstein didn't paint each and every dot by hand. Instead, he used various kinds of stencils with perforated dot patterns. He'd brush his paint across the top of the stencil, and the colors dropped through, as perfect circles. In doing so, he was elevating commercial images from comics, and ads into art.
In the 1960s, young American artists were looking for ways to make their marks. Andy Warhol did it with soup cans. Roy Lichtenstein did it with dots. Inventing pop art, comic-book frames were his starting point — but he wasn't making exact reproductions.
"He's always making these alterations," Cooper says. "He did it because he felt these things could be improved ... they weren't quite art, but he could make them art."
By changing a hue, widening a line, expanding the dots, Lichtenstein changed "tiny things that would help make an iconic image," Cooper says. "An image that would stand up, would last on the wall, last in our memories."
You can always tell a Lichtenstein — his work speaks in a vocabulary of dots. And he makes you laugh. (Another fraught woman, this one drowning, thinks: "I don't care! I'd rather sink — than call Brad for help!") The fraughts are from a series on romance.
In another series, Brushstrokes, he addresses that basic element of art. In 1993, he told WHYY's Fresh Air that he was painting the idea of a brush stroke. The point wasn't to make people think it's a real brush stroke. "You think it's a picture of a brush stroke," Lichtenstein said. "And that's a kind of absurd thing to do. It has that built-in absurdity, and that's the reason I like it."
Dorothy Lichtenstein, the painter's widow, says that with his dots her husband moved beyond the post-World War II abstract expressionists — Pollock with his drips, de Kooning with his brush sweeps — but he kept the past in his rearview mirror.
"Certainly his brush stroke paintings were an ode in some way to abstract expressionism," says Dorothy Lichtenstein. "He thought ... you could look at the history of art as the history of brush strokes as well."
Lichtenstein had some trouble making brush strokes, but he used his dots to reproduce some of his greatest brushy predecessors. He was inspired by Monet's Rouen Cathedral series of the late 1890s, and in 1969, turned his pale, dotty cathedrals into glowing shimmers.
Dorothy Lichtenstein says her husband went to museums in search of the masters. "It was actually great going to a museum with Roy," she says. "Everything was grist for his mind. He was always looking at paintings and how he might be able to transform them."
Picasso was his hero, says curator Harry Cooper. "Matisse was right up there, but it was really Picasso he attacked first."
"Attacked," Cooper says — not "tackled." Lichtenstein was paying his respects to Picasso and Mondrian and Monet and others, but it wasn't just an homage.
"It's also bringing these artists down to the level of dots and comic vocabulary," says Cooper. "I think artists are always very anxious about their predecessors — the anxiety of influence. And so what he said about Picasso was that he realized he could make it his own, and that felt good."
Cooper says Lichtenstein made a real impact. "We can't go anywhere without seeing pop art," he says. He helped bring pop art into design and larger culture, and showed that it wasn't "just a gimmick, just a joke."
Maybe. But you'll still get some good laughs at the National Gallery's Lichtenstein retrospective until mid-January. The show will travel to London and Paris. (If travel isn't on your horizon, there's a hefty catalog to peruse.)
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


text:
If my blogs url doesn't give it away, let me spell it out for you…
I finished college in 2007 and deferred my student loans for the six months I was able to upon graduation. I then consolidated my $28,000 balance with Sallie Mae to delay the payments for an additional month. This debt thing was pretty sweet at first. I got a four year education and only had to make $178 monthly payments afterwards. It didn't really bother me that I was on a 20 year payment plan. I thought "My student loan payment stays the same, but my income is sure to go up. Sweet." Basically I was a big fat stupid head.
I didn't realize the implications of interest. I knew that I would have to pay off a larger amount than the original $28,000 balance, but didn't really realize how much it would be. When I crunched the numbers, I saw my total repayment would be $52,000. I just about crapped my pants. My first thought was "Is this legal? Surely they can't charge nearly double my loan amount… can they?" Turns out, the devil Sallie Mae can do whatever she wants.
To further fuel the fire, I continued on my number crunching extravaganza and realized the $178 payment plan Sallie Mae put me on was also evil. Running the numbers revealed this tasty little morsel… $28,000 at 7% means I will be paying $1,960 in interest each year. If I made minimum payments each month I would pay a total of $2,136 each year. Do you know what this means? After two years of payments, my balance would have gone from $28,000 to $27,648. Yeah that's right, after forking out about $4,200 in cash I would have only lowered my balance a whopping $352…bull$h!t.
I hate debt because it's deceptively expensive. Borrowing money costs too much for me to want to flirt with it ever again (except for a reasonable mortgage). We all know debt sucks, we all know high interest rates suck, but do we all take the time to realize that only $350 of our $4,000 in payments actually went to lowering our balance? At first, I sure as heck didn't, but you better believe once I saw the light, I was gonna do everything in my power to punch debt in it's ugly little face.


text:
In pouring rain on a ragged field, Germany and Uruguay staged a match entertaining enough to be for the World Cup title.
Too bad it was only for third place.
Sami Khedira scored in the 82nd minute to give Germany a 3-2 victory and third place for the second straight World Cup. But the Germans had to survive a final-second free kick by Uruguay star striker Diego Forlan from just outside the penalty area. It ricocheted off the crossbar, and the whistle sounded.
Rain-soaked players shook hands and awaited a medals ceremony that was not nearly what they wanted. The Netherlands and Spain will play for the championship on Sunday in Johannesburg.
Germany coach Joachim Loew, his voice still hoarse from the flu, said his team was going home ''with a very good feeling.''
''We achieved more than we perhaps expected,'' Loew said.
Khedira's header after the Uruguay defense failed to clear a corner kick by Mesut Oezil ended Uruguay's hopes of beating Germany for the first time in 82 years.
''We had hoped for more, and we did everything for it,'' Khedira said. ''This was some kind of final and we did everything for it.
''We have a young team and set an exclamation mark here and can reach more.''
Uruguay came from behind to lead 2-1 when Forlan brilliantly volleyed in Egidio Arevalo's 51st-minute cross for his fifth goal of the tournament.
Germany defender Marcell Jansen tied it five minutes later with a header after goalkeeper Fernando Muslera misjudged a cross.
In the dying moments, on a rain soaked pitch, Uruguay had one more opportunity. But Forlan, who has been especially dangerous on free kicks, hit the bar.
''Obviously it's something spectacular to be among the top four,'' said Forlan. ''If someone would've asked us at the beginning, we would've liked it. It's something positive.''
Uruguay has beaten Germany only once in 10 matches, in 1928. Germany beat Uruguay in the third-place match in 1970, the last time Uruguay reached the semifinals.
In its last three World Cup tournaments, Germany was runner-up in 2002 and third in 2006 at home.
''Luckily, we won, because the disappointment over the semifinal was still there,'' Bastian Schweinsteiger said. ''We were behind and we rallied, that shows the character if this team. I am very proud of this team although I have tears in one eye because we did not reach the final.''
Uruguay won the first World Cup in 1930 and also won it in 1950. Germany has won in 1954, 1974 and 1990.
Thomas Mueller opened the scoring for Germany in the 18th minute, also his fifth goal at the World Cup. Edinson Cavani equalized for Uruguay in the 28th when he slid a shot past goalkeeper Hans Joerg Butt.
Miroslav Klose's aching back prevented him from playing for Germany and he finished the tournament with four goals and 14 for his career. He is one goal shy of Brazilian forward Ronaldo's World Cup record and, at 32, doesn't expect to play in 2014 in Brazil.
Loew was forced to make five changes to his team. Defender Philipp Lahm and forward Lukas Podolski were out with the flu. Backup striker Mario Gomez also has the flu.
In an action-packed match, Butt made two good saves on Luis Suarez and Forlan after his team's second goal. The 36-year-old veteran, who was the third-string goalkeeper in 2002, got his World Cup debut replacing Manuel Neuer.
Suarez returned from a one-game suspension for a handball on the goal line against Ghana in the quarterfinals. He saved a goal, Ghana missed the ensuing penalty kick on the final play of extra time, then Uruguay won the shootout.
''I don't think it's too much vanity to think that if we improve a little we can aspire to certain prominence in future international tournaments,'' Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said.


text:
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The National Cotton Council is pleased with the Senate's confirmation of key officials in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).
The Senate confirmed Gregg Doud as USTR Chief Agricultural Negotiator, Dennis Shea as Deputy USTR (Geneva) and C. J. Mahoney as Deputy USTR (Investment, Services, Labor, Environment, Africa, China, and the Western Hemisphere).
Earlier this year, the NCC signed onto a letter with other commodity organizations and agri-business companies, urging prompt confirmation of these nominees. The letter noted that:1) U.S. food and agricultural exports have produced a trade surplus for nearly 50 years; 2) consistent growth over this period has resulted in more than $152 billion worth of exports, creating more than $193 billion in additional U.S. economic activity in 2016; and 3) these growing exports are vital to the U.S. economy, supporting more than 43 million jobs from coast-to-coast.
"We are gratified to have these strong performers in key trade positions," NCC Chairman Ron Craft said. "For decades, the U.S. cotton industry has supplied our global customers quality fiber and textiles with unmatched timeliness. Our nation must continue negotiating favorable trade agreements because opening, developing and maintaining robust export markets are crucial to our industry's vitality.
Craft, a Plains, Texas, cotton ginner, said all of U.S. agriculture is relying on modernizing trade agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement as well as maintaining a strong negotiating platform at the World Trade Organization.
As the unifying force of the U.S. cotton industry, the Memphis-based National Cotton Council has a mission of ensuring the ability of all industry segments to compete effectively and profitably in the raw cotton, oilseed and U.S.-manufactured product markets at home and abroad.


text:
[Pub.40xAG] Download :
26 Kisses PDF
by Anna Michels : 26 Kisses
ISBN : #1481452479 | Date : 2017-05-23
Description :
PDF-23cc9 | Kasie West meets Morgan Matson in this hilarious and heartwarming debut about a girl's summer mission to get over her ex-boyfriend by kissing her way through the alphabet.Getting dumped by her boyfriend is not how Veda planned on starting her summer. When Mark makes it clear that it's over between them, Veda is heartbroken and humiliated—but, more importantly, she's inspired. So she sets o… 26 Kisses
Download eBook 26 Kisses by Anna Michels across multiple file-formats including EPUB, DOC, and PDF.
PDF: 26 Kisses
ePub: 26 Kisses
Doc: 26 Kisses
Follow these steps to enable get access 26 Kisses:
[Pub.54NQN] 26 Kisses PDF | by Anna Michels
26 Kisses by by Anna Michels
This 26 Kisses book is not really ordinary book, you have it then the world is in your hands. The benefit you get by reading this book is actually information inside this reserve incredible fresh, you will get information which is getting deeper an individual read a lot of information you will get. This kind of 26 Kisses without we recognize teach the one who looking at it become critical in imagining and analyzing. Don't be worry 26 Kisses can bring any time you are and not make your tote space or bookshelves' grow to be full because you can have it inside your lovely laptop even cell phone. This 26 Kisses having great arrangement in word and layout, so you will not really feel uninterested in reading.


text:
BOSTON — Federal authorities should consider further restrictions for electronic cigarettes on planes, airport officials said after one of the devices apparently started a small fire that forced passengers to briefly evacuate a plane last weekend.
Ed Freni, director of aviation at the Massachusetts Port Authority, which operates Boston's Logan International Airport, said the device was packed in a passenger's checked luggage and burned a small hole in the bag. He said it could have been far more serious had a baggage handler not smelled smoke, located the smouldering bag and extinguished it before the plane took off.
"If that airplane had taxied out and got airborne it might have been a very different story," Freni said Friday.
E-cigarettes, which turn a liquid nicotine solution into a vapour, are typically powered by lithium-ion batteries. They are considered personal devices under U.S. aviation rules and are treated like other battery-powered devices, such as laptop computers, cellphones and cameras. Like cigarettes, however, passengers can't use e-cigs in-flight.
Under current federal regulations, airline passengers are allowed to bring personal devices onto planes, but all lithium-ion batteries must be protected from damage or accidental activation. Spare lithium-ion batteries are prohibited from checked baggage.
A U.S. Department of Transportation spokeswoman said the agency, which regulates which items are deemed hazardous on planes, is not currently considering further restrictions on personal devices.
Freni, of the Massachusetts Port Authority, says not enough attention has been paid to potential fire safety issues around e-cigarettes.
While the authority and the airline say all signs point to the e-cigarette as the source of the fire, the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services said the cause had not yet been determined.
Department spokeswoman Jennifer Mieth cautioned people not to jump to conclusions about e-cigarette safety, but she said the agency does recommend users disconnect the device's batteries before putting them away as a precaution.
"Obviously it's a great concern to us if there is a new product that might be a potential source of fire," she said.
There has been concern about lithium-ion battery fires for years, and they have been implicated in at least two cargo plane crashes.
Bob Duval, of the National Fire Protection Association in Quincy could recall few instances where e-cigarettes were involved, though he did point to a 2009 fire on a plane at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport that apparently was sparked by a shipment of e-cigarettes.
"It's a new technology, and we're trying to catch up to the potential risks behind it," he said. "If nothing else, it's a battery issue, and, to some extent, it's a question of quality. You get what you paid for."
Cynthia Cabrera, executive director for the e-cigarette trade group the Smoke-Free Alternatives Trade Association, said she would expect the industry to take a closer look at fire safety if the investigation determines an e-cigarette was the cause of the Logan fire.
"We always want the safest possible product on the market, from laptops to cellphones and vapour products," she said. "This is a new issue. Consumers have been travelling with vapour products and e-cigs for quite a long time. In my mind, this is probably an isolated incident."
The Logan Airport fire happened Saturday night as luggage was being loaded onto a JetBlue plane bound for Buffalo, New York. Real Hamilton-Romeo, a spokeswoman for the airline, said that all its aircraft are equipped with fire detectors and fire-suppression devices in the cargo hold.


text:
Mike Zeck recreated a series of covers that featured Punisher's appearances which included various covers from the 1970s and 1980s from Amazing Spider-Man and Peter Parker Spectacular Spider-Man.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Mike Zeck's Spidey covers for Marvel Tales
Posted by Jason Shayer at 9:32 AM
Labels: Marvel Tales, Mike Zeck
4 comments:
From Estaban as I somehow managed to delete his comment: I've seen some of these before, but not all. I love Zeck's work, particularly with the Punisher, but I have to say I actually prefer some of the original covers that are recreated.ReplyDelete
Zeck had a lot of talent alright.ReplyDelete
I had gotten hooked on comics long before, but it was Zeck's work - particularly his cover to Captain America Annual #8, then his Punisher that made me pursue illustration and design as a career. His work is golden - but someone else already uses that surname - so I'll rephrase that to awesome ;D.ReplyDelete
Zeck wasn't just an awesome artist ...but a great cover designer! Powerful stuff! I loved his GI Joe covers too!ReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
It's hard to hear, but… any time something goes wrong in a business, the business owner is to blame. If you're the owner of the company (or even the president of the organization) and customer has a terrible experience, it eventually comes back to you. For example, if a customer at a restaurant has a bad experience, it's easy to blame the server or the chef, but your managers hired and trained those employees and you, the business owner, probably hired and trained that manager and put together the training program. Or, at the very least, you approved the hire and the manual.
Although we often tell business owners that they need to get out of the weeds and work ON their business, that doesn't mean that any faults in the daily operations or the growth of the business don't come back to you. So why does that matter? Accountability.
Once you've accepted that any fault can be traced back to you as the business owner or leader, you can start to think differently about how you hire and train your leadership team, how you communicate your expectations and policies to them, how you structure your business to train and support employees and then someone, whether it's yourself, a mentor, a friend or a business coach, needs to keep you accountable. You need to be able to step back, see that something either a success or a failure, take responsibility for that and adjust your business or organization as needed.
It's easy to be accountable for the successes. If you've hired and trained a great sales team manager and then offered sales training and provided proper support to your sales team and their sales go up 20 percent, you can pat yourself (and your new manager) on the back and continue to make sure those training and supports are in place while you look for other ways to improve. Even the most humble business leader can figure out being accountable for success.
It gets a bit stickier when you talk about failures. No one likes to admit that something didn't go the way they'd planned and, whether it cost time, money or both, those can be hard to make up. It doesn't feel good to fail. But if you don't accept responsibility for those failures and make a concerted effort to learn from what went wrong and then change your approach next time, you'll never grow as a leader and it will eventually kill the growth of your business. Being accountable gives you the opportunity to find future successes. If you never admit that something went wrong or that you could have tried something different, you'll never have that opportunity for growth.
So how do you stay accountable? At The Growth Coach, a big part of our program is coming together with a group of peers every 90 days to talk about what progress you've made, what successes you've seen and what challenges you've had. It's just as much about working with a coach as it is about being accountable to the group. If you're not working with a coach, consider forming a small business group, finding a peer mentor or looking to a mentor to keep you on track. Answering to someone other than the person in the mirror can make a big difference.


text:
- Sort by Name
This children's magazine, created and printed in Palestine, is full of fun activities for kids. Written in Arabic, the magazine contains, articles, activities, recipes and craft ideas for kids.
Visit Palestine Photo Book$25.00The perfect keepsake of time spent in Palestine. The Visit Palestine Photo Book, created by visitPalestine.ps, is a collection of photos and information about the sites,cities and culture of Palestine, from Gaza to the Dead Sea. This full color photo book will take you on a journey through Palestine and makes a wonderful addition to any coffee table.


text:
Welcome to World Consulting Group
World Consulting Group offers a wide range of services including management consulting, executive coaching, advertising, marketing, informational technology political consulting, and economic consulting.
We specialize in small and medium size businesses, with 1 to 500 employees. We are extremely goal oriented which means that our clients enjoy an extra ordinary level of expertise and customer service. We strive for absolute satisfaction of our clients and we do anything and everything humanly possible to satisfy our clients' goals and needs.
Latest News
Generally Speaking, We Abide by Four Pillars
If any of the above named obligations are not fulfilled to absolute satisfaction of the client, ALL the contract fees are refunded immediately; including those fees for the consultation, creation, setup, and maintenance. Our policy is 100% satisfaction or money back*. Period.
World Consulting Group offers Three Different Levels of Services
For Profit Small Business(s)
Non Profit(s) / Governmental Organization(s)
*Restrictions apply. Email us to find us about exact and accurate terms.


text:
RACE – Respecting Anybody's Cultural Experience
Juried Art Show
January 24 through March 7
at The Art Center Premier Gallery, Bank of
, America
Tower 50 N. Laura St.
<><><><><><>"(Racism) is not how you look, it is about how people assign meaning too how you look"
Robin D. G. Kelley, historian
The above quote is from a exhibition entitled RACE: Are We So Different? that MOSH (Museum of Science and History) is bringing to
on January 26 through Jacksonville April 28, 2013.
also wanted to take a look at
issues about race and is inviting you to participate in a juried show called RACE
– Respecting Anybody's Cultural Experience. Art Center
"Your art says a lot about how you see the world" and we would like to see how your art best represents the diversity in our world and how we can all come together.
Questions? Please contact Annelies at email@example.com or Ed at email@example.com for answers or additional details.
Opening reception:
Cost of entry:
Juror:Notification of unaccepted work:
Pick Up of unaccepted work:
Post-Show Pick Up:


text:
Features and amenities vary at the properties we manage. Here are just a few of the options we offer. Let us know what you are looking for, and we'll gladly find you the apartment that best matches your wants and needs.
Community Room
BBQ/Picnic Area
Package Receiving
Fitness Center
Air Conditioner
Attached Garage
Cat Friendly
Dog Friendly
Garage Door Opener
High Ceilings
Large Closets
Private Entrance
W/D Hookup
Our apartments and townhomes are pet friendly. A maximum of two pets (cat and/or dog) are allowed per apartment or townhome.
Pets Allowed -
One-Time Fee $250.00 - Monthly Pet Rent $25.00
Cats Allowed -
One-Time Fee $250.00 - Monthly Pet Rent $25.00
Prior written authorization from GOLDMARK is required prior to bringing your pet to the select pet friendly properties. Additional documentation is required including proof of being spayed/neutered and up to date distemper and rabies inoculations.
No other pets are allowed at our property. This restricted list includes, but is not limited to ferrets, mice, rabbits, hamsters, snakes, reptiles, or other exotic animals.
Some of these policies may not apply if a reasonable accommodation is granted for an assistance animal.


text:
Rios 4-ply yarn is a workhorse! The plies help resist pilling and washability makes it fantastic for frequently-worn garments, housewares, and children and baby clothes. And like all our yarns, it's super soft and great for next-to-the-skin wear! Spun from our premium superwash merino, it comes in an array of watercolor-multi, semi-solid, and variegated colorways.
A perfect yarn for accessories, garments, baby and kids items, housewares, toys, cables, textured stitches, and color-work.
NOTE: We do the best we can to present accurate images of our yarns. However, computer & mobile devices may not reliably display the actual color of a product. If you are trying to match a color or dye lot exactly, please call the shop for help.


text:
This is a fun and bouncy acoustic folk track. It has a guitar melody and driven by strumming acoustic guitars, shaker, and bass. The mood is light and fun like a bike ride on a warm summer afternoon.
See how it works in this After Effects Corporate Opener from yocreative!


text:
NASA officials and astronauts around the world are mourning the death of retired space shuttle commander Alan Poindexter, a two-time space shuttle flier who died Sunday (July 1) in a tragic jet ski accident in Florida.
Poindexter, known as "Dex" at NASA, died while vacationing with his family in Pensacola, Fla. He was jet skiing with his two sons when one of the jet skis unexpectedly hit him, according to media reports.
News of the accident and Poindexter's death stunned NASA's astronaut corps. Poindexter retired from NASA's astronaut ranks in 2010 to serve as dean of students at the U.S. Navy's Naval Postgraduate School.
"We in the astronaut family have lost not only a dear friend, but also a patriot of the United States," said Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, in a statement. "He proudly served his country for 26 years as a fighter pilot, test pilot, astronaut and commander of a space shuttle. I am proud to have both flown in space and worked with him for so many years. Dex will be deeply missed by those of us at Johnson and the entire NASA family."
Veteran space shuttle explorer
Hailing from Rockville, Md., Alan Poindexter, 50, was a U.S. Navy Captain selected to join NASA's astronaut corps in 1998. He flew on two space missions, with his first as the pilot of shuttle Atlantis on STS-122 — a 2008 mission that delivered the European Columbus laboratory module to the International Space Station. Later, Poindexter commanded the shuttle Discovery's STS-131 mission to deliver supplies to the station. [Photos: Discovery's Amazing STS-131 Launch]
In all, Poindexter logged 28 days in space. He is survived by his wife Lisa and their two grown sons.
"Alan and I joined the astronaut corps in 1998 and flew together on STS-122, which was truly an incredible experience," said NASA Associate Administrator for Education and former astronaut Leland Melvin. "He was a passionate, caring and selfless individual who will be missed by all."
Poindexter earned an aerospace engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta in 1986 and commissioned in the U.S. Navy after graduation. He became a naval aviator in 1988 and was deployed with Fighter Squadron 124 during Operations Desert Storm and Southern Watch. He became a test pilot in 1995 and joined NASA three years later.
"Dex was a wonderful human being and a pleasure to have in the astronaut office," said astronaut Janet Kavandi, NASA's Director of Flight Crew Operations. "His good-natured demeanor made him approachable to his crews and the many people at Johnson and Kennedy who enabled his missions."
NASA mourns
Soon after the announcement of Poindexter's death, astronauts in the United States and abroad expressed their sympathies online via Twitter:
"He was a talented, courageous Navy veteran with gifts," wrote astronaut Greg H. Johnson, a shuttle pilot, in one post. "Dex was a lovable guy with a strong work ethic. He was selected to command a space shuttle on his 2nd flight: STS-131," Johnson wrote in another.
Japanese astronaut NaokoYamazaki, who served as a mission specialist on Poindexter's STS-131 mission, said Poindexter was a hero to her.
"Commander Poindexter will be in our prayers forever. So [honored] to be able to fly with him," Yamazaki wrote. "I learned a lot from the great hero."
Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi was living on the space station in 2010 when Poindexter flew Discovery to the outpost to deliver vital supplies.
"RIP, my friend Dex; we spent happy 11 days together on #ISS," Noguchi wrote on Twitter. He posted a photo of himself with Poindexter on the station in memoriam.
Perhaps astronaut Clayton Anderson said it best: "America lost a great hero yesterday; I lost my commander, my colleague and my friend. RIP Captain Poindexter."
You can follow SPACE.com Managing Editor Tariq Malik on Twitter @tariqjmalik. Follow SPACE.com on Twitter @Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebook and Google+.


text:
Sentencing Hearing Set For Singer Buju Banton
As previously reported, renowned reggae artist Buju Banton faces up to 15 years in prison for his conviction on two drug charges and one weapons charge in 2009.
After a hung jury deadlocked in his first trial, the second trial resulted in a guilty decision, and on June 16th, Banton will face sentencing.
Buju won a Grammy last month for Best Reggae Album for his 2010 LP, Before the Dawn.
Banton's attorney, David Markus, has asked for his client to be released from custody pending his appeal and has filed a motion for acquittal or a new trial.
The singer, born Mark Myrie is in detention awaiting sentencing.
He released this statement thanking his fans for their support:
"Our life and our destiny are sometimes pre-destined; and, no matter where this journey takes me, remember I fought the good fight. It was a great man that said my head is bloody but still unbowed I love you all thank you for your support," he said.


text:
Take Advantage of the Sales Tax Deduction
Most states and cities get a good portion of their operating revenue from sales taxes tagged onto just about everything you buy. But on the federal level, Uncle Sam lets taxpayers use those taxes to help reduce their IRS bills.
The sales tax deduction is particularly welcomed by taxpayers in states that do not collect income taxes but do levy state sales taxes. It also could benefit taxpayers who face substantial local sales taxes. Even some residents of states with both types of taxes might find the sales tax deduction is more valuable to them than the income tax write-off.
Most people typically pay more in state income taxes than in state and local sales taxes. But double check just in case. Depending on your state's income tax rate and how much you made (and paid), your sales tax amount could be greater.
But regardless of your state's tax collection practices, to take full advantage of the sales tax deduction, you have to know exactly how to file for it and just which taxes you can claim.
Choosing Your Deduction Method
The process begins with your answers to two filing questions. First, do you plan to itemize? If so, then which write-off -- sales taxes or income taxes -- will give you the biggest break?
Deciding whether to itemize deductions or claim the standard amount is always a key tax-time choice. The Internal Revenue Service says that most people take the standard deduction. It's easy to claim; there are no forms or work sheets to fill out and each year the standard deduction increases, thanks to inflation adjustments.
But if you use the standard deduction, you can't take the sales tax break. To claim the sales taxes you paid, you must itemize.
There is one exception on 2010 returns for filers who bought a new vehicle in 2009 and, under a temporary law were able to add sales tax on the vehicle to their standard deduction amount. If that sales tax wasn't paid until 2010, those auto buyers can use this option this filing season by filing Schedule L.
For most taxpayers, though, the choice is standard or itemized deductions. If sales taxes are your only deductible expense, then it's not worth it to itemize. This one itemized deduction will likely be much less than your standard deduction, and you always want to take the largest tax deduction amount you're allowed.
Taxpayers who itemize expenses will have to decide which option -- deducting sales taxes or income taxes -- will give them the biggest break.
Writing Off the Right Amount
Then there's the issue of just how much in sales taxes you can claim. If you have the documentation, there is no limit on the deduction amount.
Even if you don't have all your receipts, you still might be able to recreate many of your sales tax payments. William Abrams, a partner in the law firm Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson LLP, with offices in California and New York, notes that many types of records, such as credit card statements, are available online. By accessing them, he says, taxpayers could improve the accuracy of their annual sales-tax computations.
The actual receipt calculation might be worthwhile if you made a lot of purchases last year. Scenarios involving costly and taxable expenditures include:
*You bought a lot of electronic equipment.
*You moved to your first or a new home and furnished it.
*You bought expensive jewelry, such as an engagement ring.
*You paid for the wedding that followed that ring purchase.
"You're more likely to have kept receipts for these items for insurance purposes or because they were mind-boggling," says Bob D. Scharin, senior tax analyst from the Tax and Accounting business of Thomson Reuters. "Basically, you're looking for spending that's disproportionate to your income."
Most filers, however, will claim the amount that the IRS has figured for them in special sales-tax tables; one for each applicable state. The deduction amounts are based on the average consumption by taxpayers, taking into account filing status, number of dependents, adjusted gross income and rates of state and local general sales taxation.
The IRS tables with standard sales tax deduction amounts can be found in the Schedule A instructions. The IRS also offers an online sales tax deduction calculator.
Counting all Your Income
But even with the tables, it's not quite that simple. In using the data, you need to keep a couple of things in mind to get the biggest deduction.
First, don't rely solely on your 1040 information when you read the table. The figure you enter on your federal return is taxable income, but Scharin says that the sales tax table amounts are based on total income, not just your adjusted, taxable income. You should take nontaxable income amounts into account for sales tax deduction purposes, he says, because the larger your total income, the larger your sales tax deduction.
These other types of income include municipal bond or other tax-exempt interest, workers' compensation, nontaxable combat pay, the nontaxable portion of Social Security and other retirement benefits, as well as the nontaxable parts of an IRA, including a Roth IRA distribution.
Also, most of the tables only cover the state rates. "If you have a local sales tax, which many people don't realize, you could be sacrificing some of the deduction if you use only the table amount," says Scharin.
To account for local sales taxes, you're going to have to do some extra calculating. If you're not using tax software, a work sheet, also in the Schedule A instructions, will help you determine the correct number.
You also could have some extra math to do if you lived in different states that collected sales taxes. In this case, you must determine each state's sales tax amount to arrive at your appropriate, combined deduction.
Sales taxes you paid on the purchase of motor vehicles, boats, aircraft and, in some cases, building materials for a substantial addition to or renovation of an existing structure also can be counted on top of your sales tax table and local tax amounts. These additional amounts will be accounted for in the previously mentioned sales tax work sheet.
While all these considerations will definitely mean more work for some taxpayers, Scharin says, "If you went this far and you're itemizing, you might as well get your full deduction.


text:
33 members26 Comments 2 Likes
315 members
338 members221 Comments 48 Likes
108 members121 Comments 10 Likes
104 members522 Comments 3 Likes
Started Sep 2, 2014 0 Replies 0 Likes
Last chance to enter to win the VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch Giveaway Ends 9/3 12:00 AM at http://bit.ly/1oPooC1…Continue
Started Sep 10, 2013 0 Replies 0 Likes
Enter to win The Box of Goodies Giveaway and find out what is in the box at …Continue
Started Mar 7, 2013 0 Replies 0 Likes
Join Cash Crate to earn cash, prizes and offers. It's free to sign up at http://www.cashcrate.com/1819363Continue
Started Feb 12, 2010 0 Replies 0 Likes
I am looking to get new followers. I do follow back but need more followers to for entry giveaways in my blog. I don't have long with my blog. Any help would be great thanks. …Continue
Love to be friends, Francisca. I think blogging is a great venue for learning and sharing moms' triumphs, trials, and tribulations. Thanks, flo
Accept Me!
Happy Birthday to Me Giveaway
Hi Francisca,
Follow me at www.sugarplumsandlollipops.blogspot.com
Hello Francisca,
Nice to see your blog, will follow..check out my blog babyboulder.com hope all is good. Thanks, clea
Hi Francisca,
I am now following you from the Blog Hop Group!
Please follow me too~


text:
May 14, 2013 — -- Russian counter-intelligence claimed today it caught an undercover CIA agent in the act of trying to recruit a Russian agent.
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), successor of the KGB, said in a statement on its website that Ryan Christopher Fogle was arrested late Monday night in Moscow with a stack of money, disguises and a letter with written instructions for a Russian citizen who was allegedly the target of recruitment.
Fogle had been working under the guise of a third secretary in the political department of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, the FSB said, and his would-be recruit was only identified as a member of Russia's special services.
Fogle was briefly detained by Russian authorities -- at which point the FSB appears to have snapped photos and taken video of Fogle as well as his alleged spy kit -- and then handed over to the U.S. Embassy officials. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow did not immediately respond to request for comment and the CIA declined to discuss the matter.
Today State Department spokesperson Patrick Ventrell confirmed that a U.S. Embassy employee had been briefly detained and released, but declined to elaborate.
"Dear Friend," begins the letter allegedly found on Fogle, according to a translation by Russia's RT news organization. "This is a down-payment from someone who is very impressed with your professionalism and who would greatly appreciate your cooperation in the future..."
READ DOCUMENT: The Alleged Letter From CIA to Would-Be Russian Spya
In a video posted online, a Russian official appears to berate Fogle for spying in the country, especially after the FSB recently has been "actively helping in the investigation of the Boston bombings" and other U.S. national security issues, according to Russia's state-owned news outlet RIA Novosti.
"And against this backdrop, when relations between our countries are growing stronger, an American diplomat commits, in our estimation, a state crime against the Russian Federation," the man says, according to RIA Novosti.
PHOTOS: Russia Detains American Ryan Fogle for 'Spying'
In the FSB's statement, the security service went on to say that recently U.S. intelligence has attempted on multiple occasions to recruit employees of Russian law enforcement and security.
Fogle, a 29-year-old graduate of Colgate University, was confirmed as a foreign service officer with the State Department in 2011. Third secretary is an entry-level diplomatic post.
RIA Novosti reported that Russia's Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul to come in Wednesday to discuss the incident. The State Department confirmed a meeting has been planned.
Mark Galeotti, a Clinical Professor at NYU's Center for Global Affairs and Russian specialist, told ABC News he would not be surprised if a CIA agent were caught spying – that's their job after all – but he was surprised about how the Russians are handling the situation.
Generally, if a spy is identified, the opposing security service would follow them to gather information and eventually quietly expel them, Galeotti said.
"The fact that it's been made into such a big deal is a very political decision," he said. "It's hard to know exactly where that's coming from… [but] I would be amazed if [the public display] wasn't at the very least cleared by the Kremlin."
ABC News' Luis Martinez contributed to this report.
Have a tip related to this or another investigation? CLICK HERE to send it in.


text: (4 out of 5 stars) 3/12/2015 Controller "We have been using Sage 100 since November 2014 and prior MAS 90 versions before that. We are a service company, so don't use inventory module. We have four different companies, and the software works well and is easy to use for our purposes. Our Sage partner has been helpful with any issues we've had." —Joan


text:
Good Times in the Badlands
The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world's richest fossil beds. Ancient mammals such as the rhino, horse, and saber-toothed cat once roamed here. The park's 244,000 acres protect an expanse of mixed-grass prairie where bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets live today.
0.0 average based on 0 Reviews
There are no reviews at the moment


text:
Non-scientific name:
marakabbu hullu
1 Accepted name(s) for "marakabbu hullu":
|Accepted name
|Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty
1 Medicinal source(s) include this non-scientific name:
|Medicinal sources:
|Scientific names as used in medicinal source:
|MPNS matched scientific names:
|Accepted name:
|Trade forms:
|Plant parts:
|Indian Med. Pl. Database (TDU, 2020)
|Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash
|Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash
|Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty
238 Non-scientific name(s) associated with "marakabbu hullu":


text:
DipNote, Seven Myths About Cultural Diplomacy
DipNote, Seven Myths About Cultural Diplomacy
The U.S. Department of State has a long history of promoting culture as a means to create connections with people around the world. Musicians, dancers and artists have traveled beyond their borders for more than 75 years on State Department-sponsored exchange programs. We believe in the power of the arts to help us advance our top foreign policy objectives, from championing human rights to supporting resilient societies. As diplomacy has evolved from government interactions to include people from all sectors of society, cultural diplomacy has brought communities closer together and increased awareness of important global issues.
However, myths persist. Here are a few misconceptions and some lesser-known facts about cultural diplomacy. And as African American History Month draws to a close I highlighted throughout this blog entry, a few noteworthy examples of African Americans -- both past and present -- engaging in cultural diplomacy.
Myth One: Cultural diplomacy is a newer type of diplomacy.
A poster promoting a Louis Armstrong appearance, distributed in Beirut, March 24, 1959.
Not so much. The informal exchange of culture has existed for centuries, and official cultural diplomacy programs have a long history within the U.S. government. In 1946, Senator J. William Fulbright created the first cultural exchange program through the Fulbright Act for the "promotion of international good will through the exchange of students in the fields of education, culture, and science."
The first official use of the term "cultural diplomacy" was in 1959 by Robert H. Thayer, Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for the Coordination of International Educational and Cultural Relations. He said foreign relationships were now determined by the "way people think and live, and eat, and feel," and that "today we have in the forefront of the implementation of our foreign policy, cultural diplomacy, and to my mind the most important means of bringing complete mutual understanding between peoples, which in turn compels mutual understanding between governments." That same year, the Department of State formally defined cultural diplomacy as, "the direct and enduring contact between peoples of different nations."
One of the most famous examples of cultural diplomacy is the Jazz Ambassadors program in the 1950s and 1960s. The State Department enlisted famous U.S. jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong and Dave Brubeck, to share this uniquely American genre of music with the world. The freedom of jazz made it the "artistic counterpart to the American political system," which not only showcased American arts but was also a tangible symbol of American values.
Dave Brubeck Quartet at Congress Hall Frankfurt/Main (1967). From left to right: Joe Morello, Eugene Wright, Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond.
Myth Two: You have to be a famous artist to be a cultural diplomat.
Although famous artists have participated in cultural diplomacy exchanges, cultural envoys at all levels share their unique artistic expressions with audiences overseas, regardless of the size of their fan base. For example, American Music Abroad looks for artists committed to educating and engaging with global communities outside of more traditional Embassy outreach events.
There are, of course, famous names as well, as every U.S. embassy creates a cultural calendar to bolster its engagement with its regional population and engage communities surrounding themes that resonate greatest with them. Whether it's Lady Gaga offering tickets to the embassy for a concert in support of human rights, Audra McDonald relating the ups and downs of her career path with ambitious music and theater students, Gibney Dance conducting gender-violence prevention workshops, or study-abroad Berklee College of Music musicians commemorating International Jazz Day with a concert at an American Space, each embassy conducts cultural diplomacy on a daily basis, expanding its reach and creating new people-to-people ties.
Myth Three: Cultural diplomacy is just about the arts.
False. The State Department defines cultural diplomacy as, "providing Americans with access to international artists while sharing America's rich culture of performing and visual arts with international audiences." Arts programming is only one part of cultural diplomacy. The definition of cultural diplomacy includes exchange programs, educational programs, language teaching, broadcasting, gifts, ideas, social policy, history, and religion.
Myth Four: Cultural diplomacy must be led by governments.
False. When we refer to cultural diplomacy, we're talking about how governments and nations organize and promote cultural programs to build understanding and relationships. But the beauty of culture is that it can be shared by anyone. We encourage Americans to employ culture as citizen diplomats. Every time you share a piece of your own culture with someone else, you're serving as a cultural citizen diplomat.
Leading U.S. rapper Wordsmith joined forces with the Israeli Jewish-Arab rap band "System Ali" for the "Rap for Humanity" event in Tel Aviv to honor the memory and the legacy of the U.S. journalist and musician Daniel Pearl.
Myth Five: Only Americans can be Department of State cultural diplomats.
False. The State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs administers several programs that bring international artists (writers, musicians, dancers, hip-hop artists, filmmakers, actors) to the United States for cultural exchanges. These programs provide unique opportunities for collaboration and increase the capacity of Americans to understand and engage globally.
Programs like OneBeat unite diverse groups of musicians in the United States to write, produce, and perform original music with Americans and each other. The Center Stage program brings international contemporary performing artists in direct contact with U.S. audiences.
Myth Six: Anything related to culture counts as cultural diplomacy.
Not necessarily. The purpose of cultural diplomacy is to connect cultures and build bridges. As former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said, "Cultural diplomacy is about presenting the diversity of your own country and listening to what people are saying to you. It is not one-way." In that same vein, an international tour of a famous pop-star on its own would not be cultural diplomacy. But if that artist made a concerted effort to engage with the local community on a U.S. government program or in collaboration with a U.S. embassy, that would be cultural diplomacy.
Myth Seven: Cultural programs are mostly about attending museum exhibits and listening to concerts.
Next Level participants perform in Washington, D.C.
False. Over the years, State Department programs have expanded to include exchanges like Next Level, which promotes international cultural exchange and conflict resolution through hip-hop music and dance. Through this program, MCs, DJs, beat makers, and hip-hop dancers conduct public concerts, interactive performances with local musicians, lecture demonstrations, workshops, and jam sessions with diverse audiences.
There are also programs like the American Arts Incubator, which uses new media and/or digital arts to engage youth, artists, and underserved communities. Other programs like DanceMotion USA prove that cultural exchange is interactive, incorporating dance workshops for people of all levels and from all backgrounds in addition to offering top quality performances. And American Film Showcase brings the best of U.S. documentary and feature film to audiences worldwide, exploring current issues through film as well as providing needed capacity-building for up-and-coming filmmakers.
Just like culture itself, cultural diplomacy efforts will adapt as our society changes. Technology will influence and create culture faster than we can keep up. But as long as there are cultural diplomats willing to facilitate an open exchange of ideas and beliefs, cultural diplomacy will exist for years to come.
About the Author: Lauren Aitken serves in the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.


text:
When making gluten free bread, you can expect a different consistency than that of typical wheat breads. While wheat breads require kneading to develop the gluten proteins into an extensible but elastic dough, gluten free bread dough gets its consistency from xanthan gum added to the flour. This means kneading isn't required and simply a good mix will do. Here in the Bob's Bakery, we like to mix on medium-high speed for about 4-5 minutes.
Take care not to overproof your bread before putting it in the oven. Letting it rise high above the pan will let too much air into the dough and cause the loaf to collapse either in the oven or after removal. When we make our gluten free breads in the bakery, we seldom need to let our loaves proof for more than 20-25 minutes. While your loaf might not look doubled in size, it will most likely gain height through oven spring during the first few minutes of bake time.
Gluten free bread keeps best in the fridge or freezer, unlike typical wheat bread, which can last just fine at room temperature. Slice your bread while it is still slightly warm and then place it in one or two plastic bags. It will then be able to last for a while and maintain its consistency. To create the right-out-of-the-oven flavor and texture, heat a refrigerated slice in the microwave for 10-20 seconds before enjoying!
When making gluten free bread (or any yeasted product), measure out your flours ahead of time so they are at room temperature. Gluten free flours, unlike traditional bread flour, store best at refrigerated temperatures. Simply pulling cold flours out of the fridge will cause the yeast to take a much longer time to react. We sometimes hear people asking why their bread is having trouble rising and often the case is that the ingredients are too cold for the yeast.
When you start experimenting with gluten free baking of any kind, you should stick to gluten free recipes until you feel comfortable with the changes of consistency and workability. Once you start getting the knack for it, you can try adapting some of your favorite "regular" recipes with some of these tips:
Find flours with higher protein contents to build structure. For instance, a rice flour will not give your bread the same sturdiness as an amaranth, sorghum, or teff flour would.
Gluten free breads will require more liquids than the equivalent wheat bread recipes require. When you convert wheat breads to gluten free, be sure to add extra water, milk, oil, honey, or other wet ingredients to make sure that all of the flour is properly incorporated in the dough. Your gluten free bread dough should be too wet to knead but thicker than cake or muffin batter.
Try out alternative ingredients in your favorite recipes to see what the effects are on the finished product. Ingredients such as eggs, carbonated water, and even gluten free beer can act as natural leaveners that can give a fluffier crumb and a fuller volume.
Have fun! Gluten free baking of any kind can take a while to get used to so be sure to take it lightly and have a good time.
Below is our gluten free, dairy free bread recipe. Give it a whirl to try out your new skills!
Bob's Red Mill Dairy Free Wheat Free Bread
Mix together with a spoon in a small bowl:
5 Tbsp Cornstarch
1 Cup Water
Yeast Packet (found in Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Bread Mix)
When cornstarch is dissolved, pour into large bowl and mix in the following (with spoon or dough hook on upright mixer):
1 2/3 cups Rice Milk
¼ Cup Vegetable or Safflower Oil
1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Bread Mix
Pour mixture into a bread pan and let rise until dough is just above the top of the pan (30-40 minutes). Bake at 350 degrees for one hour, rotating pan once during the bake. Remove from oven and let cool on wire rack Enjoy!
Tip: For a lighter crust color, cover pan with tinfoil or place a cookie sheet (above the bread pan) on a higher shelf in the oven during the bake.


text:
Mobile payment systems in the U.S. have been long on promise and short on reality.
The launch Monday of the Isis system in Salt Lake City and Austin will promote the adoption of mobile payments among users of nine smartphones that support Near Field Communication (NFC) technology and run on the networks of AT&T, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless, several analysts said.
While Isis could provide a spark for mobile wallet adoption, another factor that could help further expand the technology's footprint is a potential penalty facing retailers if they don't upgrade to NFC-ready point-of-sale (POS) terminals. An October 2015 deadline for U.S. retailers to upgrade to POS terminals with better security should help promote mobile payments made from smartphones equipped with NFC chips, according to Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance.
Credit card issuers American Express, Discover, Visa and MasterCard are pushing the 2015 deadline on retailers to upgrade their payment terminals to accept contactless smart card payments as well as payments from smartphones with NFC chips, Vanderhoof said in an interview.
The newer POS terminals would be more secure than traditional magnetic swipe credit card terminals, which have been subject to fraud, primarily abroad. Both NFC smartphones and contactless smart cards, which are payment cards that store data on chips rather than magnetic stripes, use the ISO 14443 standard for extremely short-distance contactless payments, with the wireless connection over the 13.5MHz radio spectrum.
There are already 200,000 of the newer POS terminals in place in the U.S. While that number may sound high, it represents only a fraction of the retail stores where NFC smartphones could be used, Vanderhoof added.
Some of the 200,000 terminals can handle smart cards equipped with chips that meet the EMV (Europay, MasterCard, Visa) specification for authentication -- a specification that credit card companies are imposing on retailers. The credit card companies say retailers must upgrade their POS terminals to support EMV technology "or they will face the possibility they will be held responsible for fraud" from older magnetic stripe card technology, Vanderhoof said.
"As the picture takes shape for EMV payments, and the timelines for EMV adoption start to cause retailers [to take] action, then this [POS] infrastructure change will bring more acceptance points for [payments via NFC mobile phones] as well," Vanderhoof said.
Like many other experts in the payments field, Vanderhoof said mobile payment systems have matured more slowly than expected in the U.S. "There's been so much overhyping of mobile payments that people get fatigued by it," he said. "Also, nobody sees it happening around them."
The Isis launch in Salt Lake City and Austin on Monday will likely spur adoption of mobile payment systems, Vanderhoof said. With the Isis system, users of nine models of NFC-ready smartphones on the three Isis wireless carriers can make contactless payments at retail outlets that have NFC-ready point-of-sale terminals.
A similar service from Google, called Google Wallet, started more than a year ago, using the Galaxy Nexus smartphone on Sprint's network. It has since grown to include 10 more devices. T-Mobile and Virgin Mobile each support one Google Wallet phone.
Vanderhoof commended the Isis launch, but said the nine smartphones capable of working on the Isis system won't be enough to support a robust adoption of mobile payments nationally. However, there should be 20 phones that support Isis by the beginning of 2013, and "that will be a good start," he said.
"Isis will spell problems for Google if Google doesn't become more open," Vanderhoof said, suggesting that Google needs to add more phones and carriers.
A Google spokeswoman, in a statement Monday, welcomed the Isis launch. "Competition is good for the ecosystem," she said in an email. "We're happy to see other companies investing in digital payments. This will create more choice for both consumers and merchants and, in the end, we believe choice is a good thing."
Matt Hamblen covers mobile and wireless, smartphones and other handhelds, and wireless networking for Computerworld. Follow Matt on Twitter at @matthamblen, or subscribe to Matt's RSS feed. His email address is email@example.com.
See more by Matt Hamblen on Computerworld.com.


text:
Experience an incredible 25 minute thrill ride on Galveston Bay while cruising at speeds up to 40 mph. The Beast will take you approximately 4 miles out into the Galveston Bay. During your cruise you will be blasted with wind, music and entertainment. Roaring through the air "the Beast is unleashed"!
Tickets & Boarding
Adults: $25.00
Children: $20.00 (12 & Under)
These tickets are NOT included in the All Day All Ride Pass.
Must be 36" to ride.
$2 military discount available on Boardwalk Beast tickets. Must show valid military ID when purchasing - Please visit the ticket booth for more details.
The Boardwalk Beast ride schedule changes based on the season. The schedule is subject to change without notice.
Please Note: The Boardwalk Beast is not 100% wheelchair accessible. Guests who are wanting to ride the Beast must be able to transfer from their wheelchair to a regular seat to ride. Guests with disabilities must have upper body strength and sit up straight in a regular seat to ride. We cannot guarantee 100% accessibility due to low tides, high tides and/or aisle width based on wheelchair size.


text:
really tender. He's been examined, we've looked at the pictures, all the medical people are trying to look at everything. We've got to get to the bottom of this; we're not at the bottom of it.Ellsbury was scheduled to see another specialist today. Peter Abraham writes that Ellsbury
seems to have gotten worse in the last 36 hours.That last point is debatable. What is not in question is whether Mazz's column is a steamy pile of poo.
It might be time to put him on the shelf again. Terrry Francona has made it very clear that the team is putting the onus on Ellsbury to decide when he's ready.
Globe colleague Tony Massarotti wonders whether Ellsbury wants to play and how much of this is being directed by agent Scott Boras. Those are legitimate questions.
Two months into the regular season, Jacoby Ellsbury has played in nine games. Ellsbury says he is hurting. The Red Sox seem to wonder. And there is an indisputable disconnect between the team and its flashy center fielder.Massarotti wants us to know that he does not dispute the fact that Ellsbury has "bruised ribs or hairline fractures". No! Not at all.
Just wondering: ... Is it Ellsbury – or DLsbury?
In case you missed it – and many did – here's what Ellsbury told Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com following Wednesday's game against Tampa Bay, yet another affair in which Ellsbury was absent from the lineup.
"I think they downplay it because they misdiagnosed it," Ellsbury said of the rib injury that has kept him out for the large majority of this season. "They said you treat it all the same way. Remember that comment? How do you treat a bruise the same as a break?"
According to the Globe's Nick Cafardo this morning, sources in the Red Sox organization contend that Ellsbury now regrets making that remark. Regardless, Ellsbury has not disputed actually making them, offering an unfiltered glimpse into his soul and into the wedge currently driven between him and the team.
He's just sayin'
-- that in 2008, Ellsbury's rookie season, he "missed small chunks of time with various assorted ailments"
-- that in the minors, he was supposedly a player who "required a great deal of, well, maintenance"
-- there are people, including some people in Red Sox management, who "believe that Boras discourages his players from taking the field at something less than 100 percent because it would affect their performance on the field and, therefore, leverage in negotiations"
What about Ellsbury's statement that he expects to deal with some discomfort in his ribs for the rest of this season? Massarotti says that is "an alibi if he plays poorly".
The bullshit column ends with a question: "Does he want to play or doesn't he?"
Theo Epstein is on record (many times) as saying he would rather players stay off the field and get completely healthy rather than come back too early and risk further injury and additional missed time.
It did seem odd that the Sox were first thinking that Ellsbury would miss only a day or three, then a week, then the disabled list. But that isn't what Mazz is focusing on.
Is trying to transform Ellsbury into "Drew Jr." the mediots' latest project?


text:
Tom Kirkwood
Newcastle UniversityDecember 15, 2009
Speakers: Tom Kirkwood
Tom Kirkwood is the Director of the Institute for Ageing and Health at Newcastle University. His research is focused on evolution and genetics of...
The Rightful Place with Steven Pinker
Harvard University
Speakers: Steven Pinker
Steven Pinker is Harvard College Professor and Johnstone Family Professor in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University. Until 2003, he...
The Rightful Place with Nita Farahany
Vanderbilt University Law School
Speakers: Nita Farahany
Nita Farahany is a Professor of Law and Philosophy at Vanderbilt University Law School. She researches and writes about the intersection of criminal...
The Rightful Place with Michael Crow
Arizona State University
Speakers: Michael Crow
Michael Crow is the 16th President of Arizona State University. He has established a number of important interdisciplinary research initiatives...
For over a decade, TSN has been delivering the stories of science told by the world's leading thinkers. What are they exploring and why? Why did they become scientists? How do they see science as part of the larger culture? And what lies ahead?
Our new podcast, Talking Science on TSN brings you their conversations with Roger Bingham from the TSN archive and fresh from the bench.
Find the podcast on your favorite podcast app, Soundcloud, iTunes, Stitcher, and RSS.
The Science Network has been available free of charge and without advertising for the past decade.
Gifts from Patrons, Benefactors - and people like you - have made this possible.
As we celebrate TSN@10, we acknowledge past and present donors, including:
Diane and Rob Zeps
Mary Jane and Robert Engman
The National Science Foundation
The Glenn Foundation
The Dana Foundation
The Kavli Foundation
The ResMed Foundation
The Swartz Foundation
Richard C. Atkinson
Shalom M. Blitz
Peter Farrell
Ernest W. Moody
Jennifer A. Moores
Gerry Ohrstrom
Andrew and Erna Viterbi
Leaning In with Sheryl Sandburg
A conversation about digital culture and women in science and technology
How Neurons are Born
Fred 'Rusty' Gage


text:
Wolf1994 Drama | Romance | SciFi/Fantasy | Horror
Jack Nicholson becomes a werewolf in this bizarre comedy-horror film directed by Mike Nichols. Nicholson plays Will Randall, a book editor with a testosterone deficit who has just been sacked at his publishing firm by a new boss, Raymond Alden (Christopher Plummer). A colleague, Stewart Swinton (James Spader), whom Randall thought was his friend, betrays him. Randall's personality changes after he hits a wolf with his car and gets bitten by the creature. He immediately feels more powerful, has heightened hearing and vision, and sets about to right the wrongs in his life. He visits Alden at the publisher's mansion to protest his dismissal, and he is asked to leave -- but Alden's daughter Laura (Michelle Pfeiffer) asks him to stay for lunch. Laura loves to defy her father. Will tells her about the wolf bite, and she becomes attracted to him. But because werewolves usually kill the ones they love, Laura is in danger. Will reasserts his place in the publishing world, supported by his loyal secretary Mary (Eileen Atkins), and his relationship with Laura deepens.~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide


text:
'Tis the season to return some of those unwanted holiday presents, and for those who had not previously checked the seller's return policy, surprises await.
Here are some of the most strict (and occasionally obnoxious) policies out there:
From SmartBargains.com:
Late Returns
We can accept returned merchandise for up to 30 days from the date you originally received it. Unfortunately, items received after the 30-day return period cannot be accepted for a refund, and your package will be returned to you. If we receive the same late return package a second time, we will keep your merchandise and no credit will be issued.
JC Penney does not like women to "borrow" a fancy dress for a weekend wedding or other special occasion, and then return it the following Monday. So they put a return tag on each of these dresses, presumably in a very conspicuous spot, and it cannot be removed without jeopardizing your return:
Special Occasion Dresses must be returned in their original condition with the "return tag" in place.
At Amazon.com, if you return items that qualified for free shipping, the value of the shipping will be deducted from your refund. [It is unclear whether Amazon really makes this deduction in practice.]
If you return any items from an order that received FREE Super Saver Shipping, the original shipping savings associated with the returned item(s) will be deducted from the refund amount unless the return was due to our error.
At Best Buy, if you bought a computer on Black Friday as a Christmas present, your return rights evaporated more than two weeks ago:
Holiday Return and Exchange Policy
Gift purchases made November 1 through December 24, 2006, qualify for the extended return and exchange policy.
- Desktop and notebook computers do not qualify for the extended return policy.


text:
It's Cartolina's birthday today! To celebrate we're offering 20% off all online iPhone case orders - just for today. All you do is enter the code 'TAKE20OFF' at checkout and we'll take care of the rest. What are you waiting for?
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Happy Birthday To Us - and a little something for you!
Creatively compiled by Fiona Cartolina at 9:29 AM
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
Contact: Rev. Fr. John Trigilio, Jr., PhD., Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, 717-957-9309
HARRISBURG, Penn., July 25, 2011 /Christian Newswire -- Motivated out of the loving bond of brotherhood between all men in Holy Orders, the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy (a national association of 500 priests and deacons) invokes fraternal correction on the 157 American priests who recently and imprudently signed a statement supporting Father Bourgeois's "right to speak his conscience." We charitably remind our brethren that this priest blatantly attended and participated in the invalid pseudo-ordination of a woman. Such actions risk the canonical penalty of excommunication and are injurious to the common good of the Mystical Body of Christ. We also admonish the dissident priests and deacons in Austria who signed the infamous "Call to Disobedience" and urge them to repent and recant.
Every deacon and priest takes the Oath of Fidelity before he is ordained and during the sacrament of Holy Orders he makes a solemn promise of obedience and respect to his bishop. Obedience to the Magisterium on doctrinal matters and obedience to the Hierarchy on disciplinary matters is not an option but an essential component of ordained ministry. As Catholic Clergy we are all commissioned by Christ to teach only what the Church teaches and to obey our lawful superiors in humility and filial charity. Espousing heretical teachings and/or defying legitimate ecclesiastical authority causes harm to the unity and welfare of the Bride of Christ. As brothers in Holy Orders, we pray for all deacons, priests and bishops that all of us can renew our promise of obedience and our oath of fidelity to better serve the Christian faithful who deserve nothing less from us.
(Members of the CCC profess their total allegiance to the Roman Pontiff and seek to promote ongoing spiritual, theological, pastoral formation in a fraternal setting. This week some of their members are meeting in Mundelein, IL, for an annual conference)
Fr. John Trigilio at The Black Biretta


text:
Content-type: text/html
#include <sys/mman.h> int mlock(caddr_t addr, size_t len);
int munlock(caddr_t addr, size_t len);
#include <sys/mman.h> int mlock(const void * addr, size_t len);
int munlock(const void * addr, size_t len);
The mlock() function uses the mappings established for the address range [addr, addr + len) to identify pages to be locked in memory. If the page identified by a mapping changes, such as occurs when a copy of a writable MAP_PRIVATE page is made upon the first store, the lock will be transferred to the newly copied private page.
The munlock() function removes locks established with mlock().
A given page may be locked multiple times by executing an mlock() through different mappings. That is, if two different processes lock the same page, then the page will remain locked until both processes remove their locks. However, within a given mapping, page locks do not nest - multiple mlock() operations on the same address in the same process will all be removed with a single munlock(). Of course, a page locked in one process and mapped in another (or visible through a different mapping in the locking process) is still locked in memory. This fact can be used to create applications that do nothing other than lock important data in memory, thereby avoiding page I/O faults on references from other processes in the system.
The contents of the locked pages will not be transferred to or from disk except when explicitly requested by one of the locking processes. This guarantee applies only to the mapped data, and not to any associated data structures (file descriptors and on-disk metadata, among others).
If the mapping through which an mlock() has been performed is removed, an munlock() is implicitly performed. An munlock() is also performed implicitly when a page is deleted through file removal or truncation.
Locks established with mlock() are not inherited by a child process after a fork() and are not nested.
Attempts to mlock() more memory than a system-specific limit will fail.
Upon successful completion, the mlock() and munlock() functions return 0. Otherwise, no changes are made to any locks in the address space of the process, the functions return -1 and set errno to indicate the error.
The mlock() and munlock() functions will fail if:
The mlock() function will fail if:
Because of the impact on system resources, the use of mlock() and munlock() is restricted to users with the {PRIV_PROC_LOCK_MEMORY} privilege.
See attributes(5) for descriptions of the following attributes:
fork(2), memcntl(2), mmap(2), plock(3C), mlockall(3C), sysconf(3C), attributes(5), standards(5)


text:
The pieces of the puzzle are coming together nicely!
As I have been expecting, small investors are running towards silver because gold has become too expensive for them.
After all, to buy one ounce of gold it costs around $1,700. With the same amount of money, a small investor can buy upwards of 53 ounces of silver at its current price of $32.00 an ounce.
We have already begun to see demand for silver increase significantly. I call it the "Silver Rush." It wasn't too long ago when I reported the U.S. Mint had halted sales of Silver Eagle coins because it ran out of stock. It's no surprise that the U.S. Mint now reports that American Silver Eagle coin sales in January rose to an all-time monthly high with 7.1 million ounces of silver purchased, compared to 6.1 million ounces purchased in January of 2012.
Investors are running for silver. The Vice President of Blanchard and Company, Inc., a retail coin dealer, said, "Not only do we have clients calling in, they are buying in huge quantities." He added, "They are buying the entire 500-ounce boxes that are sealed by the U.S. Mint, that's what people want right now." (Source: Tang, F., "UPDATE 1-US silver coin sales set record in January after halt," Reuters, January 29, 2013.)
The U.S. Mint is not the only one experiencing an increased demand for silver. The Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) is rationing the sales of its silver Maple Leaf coins. The Manager of Communications at the RMC said, "Due to very high demand for Silver Maple Leaf coins, the Royal Canadian Mint is carefully managing supply to ensure all our bullion distributors are served and we continue to take orders." (Source: Cambone, D., "Royal Canadian Mint 'Managing' Silver Supply," Kitco News, January 25, 2013.)
Investors will continue to rush towards silver, because it is affordable for them; while central banks will buy more gold, as they can afford it. The rush to silver and gold is (of course) fuelled by excessive money printing by the central banks, the global race to devalue currencies, and increased inflation.
Central banks around the globe are printing non-stop. You don't have to look as far as Japan, South Korea, or Russia to find countries increasing their money supply; our very own Federal Reserve is spending $85.0 billion a month buying mortgage-backed securities and government bonds. That $85.0 billion is "created" each month.
How high can silver prices go? Silver follows the pattern of gold prices very closely. As gold prices increase, silver prices follow—but much higher percentagewise. Silver prices reached close to $50.00 an ounce in 2011. If the demand continues at its current pace, then $50.00-an-ounce silver is attainable again.
ATTENTION READERSWe See The World From All Sides and Want YOU To Be Fully Informed
In fact, intentional disinformation is a disgraceful scourge in media today. So to assuage any possible errant incorrect information posted herein, we strongly encourage you to seek corroboration from other non-VT sources before forming an educated opinion.
About VT - Policies & Disclosures - Comment Policy


text:
Virtual Servers
Network Servers
Dedicated Servers
We are here to serve you
Help us to serve you better by sending us your feedback
Please note that all the vendors whose products and / or services were mentioned on this website are copyrighted to their respective organisations. These include microsoft, cisco, APC, Blackberry. If in doubt, please email us for clarification.


text:
SEJournal Online is the digital news magazine of the Society of Environmental Journalists. Learn more about SEJournal Online, including submission, subscription and advertising information.
June 25, 2014
Members of the Society of Environmental Journalists aren't the only ones who find federal agency press offices to be hard to get call-backs, on-record interviews, or simple information from. Many health writers have the same problem.
In the latest issue of Harvard's Nieman Reports, Jenni Bergal paints a broad canvas of the problems many journalists have in getting from agencies key information that affects the public interest. She appends a series of pro tips that may help harried reporters in dealing with press offices and officers. We quote:
- Find out who you want to talk to within an agency and try to contact them directly.
- Refuse to submit questions ahead of time or let a press officer moderate an interview or dictate who to interview.
- Write about it whenever an agency thwarts or manages an interview.
- Document every incident of stonewalling or denial and keep a running list.
- When calling or e-mailing the press office, be clear about the information you're seeking and your deadline. If someone promises to get back, ask when that will be; follow up every call with an e-mail.
- If a press officer is unresponsive, contact his or her superior and work your way up the chain of command.
- Complain to members of Congress or top agency officials.
- Contact the FOIA ombudsman at the Office of Government Information Service.
For more information:
- "Talk To The Hand," Nieman Reports, Spring 2014, by Jenni Bergal.
- Previous Stories: WatchDogs of June 11, 2014 and August 14, 2013.
SEJ Publication Types:


text:
When COVID-19 upended normal operations at STRIVE, a workforce development nonprofit founded in New York, the Center for Applied Behavioral Science at MDRC documented the agency's real-time innovations that allowed it to continue serving clients during the crisis. Greg Wise, STRIVE's National Vice President, shared a first-hand account of the transition.
The Experience of a New Program for Young People Involved in the Juvenile Justice System
STRIVE International engaged MDRC to help the organization improve a new program model aimed at increasing educational attainment and employment of young adults involved in the juvenile justice system. This Issue Focus describes the partnership and offers advice to organizations implementing new programs on how to build evidence of effectiveness.
An Implementation Study of Children's Institute, Inc.
Children's Institute, Inc., combines clinical mental health and other supportive services to meet the holistic needs of children affected by trauma. This report describes the implementation of the service model and includes an in-depth fidelity study of its Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy services.


text:
Written by:
Diana West
Saturday, February 23, 2013 7:10 AM
Having refocused on the Obama identity fraud via the excellent essays by David Solway, it is also time to remind ourselves that the apparent fact that Obama is not actually eligible for the presidency, due to the fact that his father was a British subject, remains unaddressed by the courts and Congress.
Last June, the indomitable lawyer Mario Apuzzo set out to argue the "natural born" issue as well as to present evidence that the online birth certificate is a forgery in a New Jersey courtroom. The judge prevented him from doing either, and Obama's eligibility for the New Jersey presidential ballot was affirmed.
The syndicated column I wrote about the proceeding (reposted in full below) did not appear in either the Washington Examiner or Townhall.com, just to name two sigificant conservative sites that will not even permit coverage of the issue to sully their pages -- or appear before their readers.
From June 8, 2012:
Earlier this spring, President Obama's attorney Alexandra Hill went to court in New Jersey over a challenge to her client's eligibility to appear on the 2012 presidential primary ballot.
New Jersey citizens, represented by attorney Mario Apuzzo, made two claims: that Barack Obama has not proved he meets the conditions for presidential eligibility (namely, that he is a "natural born citizen"), and that the proof Obama released attesting to his bona fides (an Internet image of his long-form birth certificate) is fraudulent.
Hill's argument? A presidential candidate has no obligation under New Jersey state law to prove his eligibility, period.
Administrative Law Judge Jeff Masin agreed with Hill and ruled in Obama's favor. He further asserted that, absent such an obligation, the Internet image of Obama's birth certificate – the same image Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Cold Case Posse investigators believe to be a forgery – is "legally irrelevant."
The upshot for New Jersey? As the president's attorney put it, "you could have Mickey Mouse" on the presidential ballot so long as he received the requisite 1,000 petition signatures.
While such exercises may more closely resemble a tax cheat's search for loopholes than a court ensuring the rectitude of a presidential primary, our elites consider it all a big yawn, something to endure until those awful people (denigrated as "birthers") go away. This is the dirtiest secret of the great, non-reported Obama eligibility saga: The integrity of our leaders and our Constitution doesn't matter to those citizens who are actually responsible for upholding it.
On the contrary, there is an unchecked rush to abdicate responsibility – a manifestation of "the death of the grown-up," as I titled my first book. The following questions, asked last week by the three judges who heard the New Jersey case on appeal [video here], typify the official attitude:
"Why is it incumbent on New Jersey to resolve this issue?"
Subtext: Voters, schmoters.
"What statute of New Jersey says he (Obama) has to prove his eligibility?"
Subtext: Please make it someone else's problem.
"Why won't Congress and (the Electoral College) protect the integrity of the election?"
Subtext: It's not our problem.
"Why don't we accept at face value that they made that determination (after the 2008 election)?"
Subtext: It's no one's problem anymore. Can we go home yet?
"Do you agree that we need not reach the issue of natural born citizen?"
Subtext: We don't want to walk that scary plank, whatever we do.
Surprise, surprise, the appeals court upheld President Obama's eligibility. The judges, along with Obama's counsel, agreed that any eligibility questions should be kicked upstairs to Congress and the Electoral College – and after the November 2012 election.
That'll be the day. Of course, the best way to settle the matter would be for Congress to investigate immediately: Is President Obama eligible to run for re-election? What's up with that funky online ID of his? No junior high school would hire a P.E. teacher on the strength of that.
That'll be the day, too. Congress has shirked its responsibility since 2008, when the U.S. Senate affirmed Sen. John McCain's eligibility to become president but not then-Sen. Barack Obama's.
Why not?
As I've previously noted, some media outlets that subscribe to this column have informed me they won't run anything I write on the eligibility subject.
No doubt other writers are similarly censored – sometimes even after publication. For example, on March 5, 2012, Floyd and Mary Beth Brown's syndicated column, "Sheriff Joe Exposes Forgery of Obama's Selective Service Registration," appeared at Townhall.com. Then it was taken down. On March 24, 2012, John Mariotti published a piece at Forbes.com called "Is There an Impostor in the White House?" That was taken down, too. As WND noted, Geraldo Rivera's May 24, 2012, WABC radio interview with "birther Lord Christopher Monckton" is still listed in the WABC archive, but the audio file of the show is no longer there.
Why isn't it?
Leaving all these questions hanging is unhealthy. And it's not enough to promise to do better in the future, as former Republican Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Michigan, now running a Senate primary campaign, recently suggested. Advocating a department to check presidential credentials next time around, Hoekstra said: "I hate to say it, but I think the debate is over. We lost the debate in 2008 when our presidential nominee said, 'I ain't talking about it.' … I'd love to … say that I'm going to fight it, we're going to beat it and we're going to win it. I think it wasn't fought and we lost it."
It wasn't fought and we lost it. What a great motto for the shirkers of responsibility today, and the subjects of tyranny tomorrow.
Follow me @diana_west_


text:
A month after Brittany Murphy's mysterious death, her mother and husband say they are convinced the actress died of natural causes, not drugs or an eating disorder.
In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Sharon Murphy and Simon Monjack said that Murphy did not use drugs or alcohol and that they are awaiting a determination from coroner's officials that will end speculation prescription medicine caused Murphy's death on Dec. 20 at age 32.
Monjack said some of the prescription medications found in the couple's Hollywood Hills home belonged to him.
Murphy had mitral valve prolapse, a common condition where a heart valve does not properly close, but doctors said the actress "would live a long and healthy life," Monjack said.
"She had a fear of dying," Sharon Murphy said. "She would not take too much caffeine. She wouldn't even have a glass of champagne on New Year's. She was just high on life, and people see that as something else I guess."
Murphy, the star of varied films such as "Clueless," "8 Mile," "Sin City" and the television series "King of the Hill," was buried in a private funeral on Christmas Eve. At the service, Monjack told mourners that the actress was his best friend and soul mate, sentiments he repeated during the Tuesday interview.
Monjack, who married Murphy in 2007, said police and coroner's officials have not contacted the family to say his wife's death was from anything other than natural causes.
Authorities continue to investigate her death but do not suspect foul play. An autopsy was inconclusive and coroner's officials are awaiting the results of toxicology and tissue tests before determining what killed the actress.
Waiting for answers torture, mom says
Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said Tuesday that he had not seen Murphy's autopsy report, but the condition of her heart would be looked at before her cause of death is determined.
Sharon Murphy described the wait for answers as torture. "We wish we knew," she said.
"She was alive one minute and she was dead the next," Monjack said.
Sharon Murphy said she has largely ignored tabloid reports that have suggested her daughter abused drugs or had an eating disorder. She said her daughter had always been petite and ate often, but burned it off with an active lifestyle.
Monjack, who has read some of the reports, called them lies based on anonymous sources who weren't close to Brittany Murphy or him. He said he is considering suing some British outlets for "outright fabrications."
He said the rumors of her drug use were unfounded and had cost his wife roles in some major films.
He said he is also considering whether to sue the Los Angeles County Coroner's Department over an initial report that was obtained by celebrity Web site TMZ.com, which listed several prescription medications found in Murphy's home. Monjack said most of the medicines listed in the report were his.
He said his wife took the anti-seizure medication klonopin ever since an episode she had while filming "8 Mile." She also occasionally took Sarafem, a drug aimed at pain and mood swings during menstrual periods, Monjack said.
Klonopin has been cited in several celebrity overdose deaths, but with many other medications mixed in.
He said he did not think a harmful interaction of drugs played a role in his wife's death. She had been sick with flu-like symptoms in the days before her death and had been taking Robitussin, but nothing more, he said.
A comfort to each other
Monjack and Sharon Murphy remain in the Hollywood Hills home where Brittany Murphy collapsed a month ago. They share grief and memories of Murphy, speaking highly of each other. Monjack calls Murphy his soul mate; Sharon Murphy calls her daughter "my other half."
"I'm comforted by these photographs," Monjack said. "I'm comforted by the transformation from girl to woman that I witnessed."
The couple planned to display for exhibition some of the photographs, which can be seen at Monjack's Web site.
It was just one of the couple's plans, which included starting a family and moving to New York. Sharon Murphy said her daughter was talking about having a child the night before she died. Monjack said they already had baby names picked out.
Now the pair are planning a public memorial to celebrate Brittany Murphy's life, which will be held in the Los Angeles area at the end of February. Monjack and Sharon Murphy said they have asked many of the actress' friends to refrain from making public comments, but that they expect the memorial will remind people of her talents and beauty.
Monjack said the memorial will coincide with the launch of the Brittany Murphy Foundation, a charitable group that he said will support arts education for children and other causes his wife believed in.
Both Monjack and Sharon Murphy said they expect respect to grow for Brittany Murphy's work and life, once questions about her death are settled. The actress had completed two unreleased films before her death but their prospects are uncertain.
Sharon Murphy expressed reluctance about their release because of the filmmakers' inexperience, but Monjack said he would approve if the releases were respectfully done and the profits donated to the Brittany Murphy Foundation.
"I think the dust will settle, the truth will come out," Monjack said. "I think people will come to realize the genius of Brittany Murphy and come to regret the way they treated her while she was alive."