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November 1, 2011
Coming out of the subway station at Courtland, just a block away from Zuccotti Park, the first thing I notice is the towering presence of two skyscrapers still under construction. This is the defiant Freedom Tower – the phoenix rising from the tragic ashes of the 9/11 attacks. Shimmering and reflective against the shocking blue October skies. A statement that the US cannot be broken. We will rise again, rebuild and remain a power that touches the world.
I didn't realize that the Occupy Wall Street protests were taking place across the street from Ground Zero. But then again– there was a lot I didn't realize before I started this improvised pilgrimage to the heart of our US Spring. I didn't realize that Zuccotti Park is just one city block. Maybe three-quarters of an acre. Frankly – it is less than half the size of the land I live on by myself in New Mexico. Yet the actions happening on that one block in New York City seem to be rippling across the universe.
Standing on the corner of Liberty and Trinity, the Freedom Towers to one side of me, the Occupy Wall Street protests on the other, I can't help but wonder. What is it about this place? That in ten years' time, two events have happened here that have impacted the psyche of the entire world?
I spend the better part of an entire day at Zuccotti Park. Looking around. Listening. Taking pictures. Talking. Witnessing. By the end of the day, I get a sense of why the mainstream media can't get their head around what's happening here. And why such a large percentage of the US population is cheering these folks on.
There's the girl who is a medical assistant. She's 24. Had a job in the medical field in Maryland that left her feeling empty. She quit her job and showed up at OWS to volunteer at the medical tent. With 90 bucks in her pocket and a cell phone whose charge had run out. Handing out Vitamin C tablets to the protesters who ask for them – she feels like she's doing something important. She's excited. She's on fire. She's empowered to be doing actual health "care" – where the "caring" is part of the role.
There's another guy. Young and clean cut, with piercing blue eyes and a strong build. He has a tent, a knapsack, a laptop and a digital camera. He asks to take my picture because – let's face it – with my white turban and white clothes, I stand out a little. We start talking. He's been unemployed for the last four months. Living out of his car. Traveling from one Occupy protest to another. He's experiencing and documenting the events in his own way because he doesn't have anything else to do. I look at him and think – this is the face of the new displaced. They carry their belongings on their backs. But they are educated. They are digital. They are connected to each other, and they are a force to be reckoned with.
I walk through the park and walk around the park. Again and again and again. A picture starts to emerge. It's complex. We've heard about flash mobs – connecting for a few minutes or a few hours for a specific purpose. Then disappearing back from where they came. This place – this Occupy Wall Street – is a flash town. It's a living fractal of the kind of society these folks would like to create. That a lot of people would like to create. The infrastructure, the organization – they are experimenting and modeling for themselves what they'd like to see society become.
The Medical Tent. With doctors, nurses, and chiropractors that do have jobs. Yet they volunteer their time to take care of the protesters and anyone else who shows up.
The Food Tent. Where they collect food donations, prepare meals, feed people. Feed the protesters. Feed the homeless. Feed the visitors. Feed anyone who comes along.
The Comfort Tent. Where they hand out clothes to people – blankets, coats, shoes, socks. Making sure that folks have what they need.
The Free Library. So many books being donated and lent out. Not just to the protesters – but to the crowds that meander through the park hour after hour. It's open to them, too.
The OWS Day Care. A little corner set up for the moms to look after their small children.
The Media Tent. The Legal Tent. The Community Affairs Tent – if you want to know the schedule for the day. The Sanitation area – where the brooms and buckets are kept. The park was squeaky clean.
The gray water system display – illustrating how the water they use to clean the dishes is being recycled to water the plants in the park.
It goes on and on. A tiny little town within a square block, covering every human need. Fueled by volunteers, donations, and a fierce conviction that we can engineer a society where everybody gets taken care of.
Complexity. It doesn't lend itself easily to sound bites.
Of course – all of the infrastructure would be pointless if there wasn't something happening. Once again, "what's happening" defies simple summaries. There are so many people converging in this one place, with so many different ideas. There's no lack of things to do.
Every day, there's at least one if not two marches organized somewhere for some purpose. The visible protest – with signs and people. The morning I arrived, a group had just donned Robin Hood costumes. They marched with signs saying, "Tax the Rich." It was theatrical. It was New York. And it got a simple point across.
Yet to say that this point, "Tax the Rich" is THE point is not to be paying attention. That was one event. There were dozens and dozens of events happening all day long.
Free workshops offered on a range of topics: from non-violent communication, ala Marshal Rosenberg; to protecting yourself from predatory lenders.
Political action tables set up in the park. You can register to vote. Sign a petition supporting the Buffet Tax. Sign another petition to help keep US Post Offices open. And if you need a Public Notary? She there from 3-5 pm.
There's the space for everyone to make a sign. For everyone to give voice to their thoughts. A lot of these protestors don't sleep in the park. They show up for a while with their signs, and then go home when they're done. One older man I spoke with wore a sandwich board that he obviously made himself. No flashy symbols or catch phrases. He had a rather crowded outline of what he thinks we need to be paying attention to.
I asked him how long he stayed there. He gave me a rueful smile. "I'm here with my wife," he said. "And I stand here until my back or my legs give out."
What fascinated me the most was how much more crowded the sidewalk became after business hours. You could see those people who, dressed very professionally, simply came by the protest on their way home from work. They added their signs and voices to the mix.
If you didn't want to create a sign, you could always stop by the button maker's table. Buttons in support of Occupy Wall Street. Take one and leave a donation "When my friends ask my why I'm here," the button maker said, "I ask them – why aren't YOU here?"
If signs and buttons aren't your style – you can always sit in on The People's Think Tank. In one corner of the park – just sit with other people – and talk about everything and anything that matters to you. I sat in for about 30 minutes. The people were regular folks. One guy, dressed like a yuppy, had come from upstate New York. He led the meeting, took notes, and his exuberance was infectious. "I feel like I can finally say all these things I've been thinking my whole life, but could never talk about with anyone."
Another voice, "There isn't going to be a violent uprising. This is a spiritual uprising."
Another voice. "It's about compassion in leadership. How can we make it OK for leadership to be compassionate?"
And another, "This is the most American thing I've ever seen."
The Think Tank met for 3 hours. They took a ten minute break, came back and kept going. Every single person involved was sitting on the edge of their seats, smiling, engaged, excited because they finally realized – hey, I'm not alone.
Not everyone likes the verbal route with signs, buttons or dialogue. So, on the other side of the park, you can jam with the infamous drum circle. The circle lasts for hours. Someone said to me, "I don't even think all of them are protestors. I think some of these people just want a place to play drums – so they show up and become part of the circle for while."
It might annoy the heck out of the nearby businesses. But that drum circle keeps the attention on Zuccotti Park. Mobs of people line the street while they play, taking pictures and becoming curious.
(As a writer, as a journalist, I understand how difficult it might be to read this story. It's taken me two hours to get this far, and there are more images in my mind. I know I am breaking the rules here. I may be going on longer than you are used to reading. But for some reason, I think it's important. Just this once. To put all the pieces onto paper. Because this event, this OWS, is such a complex social phenomena. Perhaps in the not to distant future, there won't be a chance to see it again. To talk about it again. I don't want to forget any of the details.)
The more difficult aspects. The homeless. The pan-handlers. The mentally ill. Of course they are coming, too. Free food, free medical care, free warm clothes – who needs it more than they do? It would be easy to walk through the park, taking pictures of those people, and making them the face of the movement. By my estimation, this shadow side constitutes about maybe 5% of what's happening there. To their credit, the OWS protestors are doing everything they can to manage these folks with dignity.
Next to a couple of pan-handlers, one protestor held up a sign. "Please don't give money to the pan-handlers. Give it to OWS. We are making sure that everyone gets fed and gets what they need."
The interactions with the police. Both sides seem to be working very consciously to keep a dialogue going. There's a dynamic tension at play. Cops are stationed on every side of the park. They maintain a certain distance, keep the foot traffic moving, and ask the protestors to change things with the camp if they perceive anything as hazardous. Some police officers wear vests that say, "Community Affairs Liaison." There have been meetings between the protestors and representatives of the local neighborhoods. The amount of drumming going on has been a big issue.
It's all about boundaries. Inside the park, a new world is being birthed, and it revels in the joy of its own existence. But a couple blocks away, New Yorkers and visitors are going about their daily life, oblivious to the social experiment taking place under the Freedom Tower. The police represent – physically and psychologically – the boundary line between those two worlds.
Then, of course, there's the spiritual aspect.
On the corner of Liberty and Trinity, there is a simple tree at the center of a circle of marble benches. One of the protestors took it upon himself to create a sacred space around the tree. The protestors named the tree, The Tree of Life. There are small wooden shelves placed around the tree housing symbols from every possible religious and spiritual tradition – known and unknown. It's universal. It's open. And it serves as a spiritual sanctuary.
One of the people who created this sacred space watches over it as his contribution to the protests. "One day," he said, "the yogis showed up." Fateh Singh Khalsa, Hari Simran Singh Khalsa (who was featured in Time Magazine), Himmat Singh Khalsa and others. A group of Kundalini Yoga teachers, many of whom also happen to be Sikhs. They were inspired to come every evening and lead a Kundalini Yoga class for those in the camp who wanted to attend. They call themselves Occupy Yoga.
The "People's Microphone" has been written about in other articles covering the protests. The yoga class works the same way. Sat Jagat Singh Khalsa, the head of the 3HO Brooklyn Ashram in NYC and co-founder of Kundalini Yoga in Park Slope, stands on one of the marble benches. He begins to explain the Kundalini Yoga exercises to those who are gathered there. His son, Hari Simran Singh, myself and others repeat the instructions in a loud voice. That way, the crowd which has gathered around can hear.
This is grass roots, no glory, yoga teaching. This is bringing yoga to the people with humility and grace. There's no room to stretch out. Sat Jagat Singh has to lead something simple that the participants can do while standing up or sitting down. Yet, people gather to watch. To participate. And yes – even to protest. As the yoga class happens, someone outside the park makes fun of it. They walk around with a sign that says, "This is the dawning of the Age of Hilarious."
Some moments are too precious to put into words. The day ends the way it began. In the presence of the OWS protestors. Looking up at the emerging Freedom Tower. Sat Jagat Singh teaches a simple healing meditation as night falls. The Freedom Tower is the back-drop. There's no way to express what it was like sitting there, across from Ground Zero, praying for healing with people who believe that we can build a better world. A more fair world. A more compassionate world. And who believe it enough to put themselves on the line.
It's a one-in-a-million moment. The sound of the chanting. The reminder of what happened 10 years ago. The realization that the spirit to heal the problems we face has been inside us all along, and is coming to life. I don't know what the end result of Occupy Wall Street will be. But I do know, day by day and moment by moment, there are conversations, prayers, connections and ideas happening here whose ripple effects will far outlast the life span of the protest, themselves.
Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa * ekongkaar.blogspot.com
if everyone have there on ideas and different paths, it will not work because they are not united how can they unite others, all the group should first select a topic and do action on it. if everyone think differently how can this world be stronger, its just like breaking one stick is easier than breaking many.


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The Toffee Diary
It took us quite a while to decide to get a second dog. But after having seen a litter at Sara's (Harmakhis Wisdom) where a young female made a strong impression on us in Italy in 2018, an idea was planted in our heads and hearts.
It took a while to grow and take shape. The plan was to get a female companion for our Bon Ami who would turn 10 in March 2020. We originally hoped on a puppy from Sara, but the timing did not work out and then Corona turned anything international into an impossibility.
After intense research, Birgit found Diana and her kennel Mapacha Kalles, again a breeder miles away from us (Bon Ami is from the Harz). In this case in the Eifel, next to the Nürburg Ring race track.
In contrast to the average German Ridgeback breeder who is mostly into looks and prodigious pedigree, Diana has a strong focus on healthy family dogs with a wide genetic spread in the pedigree which perfectly fits our idea of an ideal dog. A few very long phone calls (batteries only last so long) later we where convinced we are on the right path here.
Corona made everything a bit difficult. Normally we would have gone there for two days to check out the puppies. In this case we only had a day trip with 560k each way. But Diana was making excellent suggestions, so it was easy to narrow down the choice.
We where looking for a relaxed young lady to match our ultra cool master of the Om, Bon Ami.
So on May 6th 2020 we picked up Miss Orange who was quickly named Toffee as it was evident how sweet she is.
Our Mr. Cool was not amused when we brought her home. He thinks puppies are far below his dignity and left the room when the puppy showed up. But things improved quite a bit of the following weeks.
Below are some impressions of our little princess.
There are also dedicated albums for Bon Ami and Toffee and for Toffee and friends.
Together with the last remaining siblings
dogRhodesian RidgebackLöwenhundHundToffeepuppyWelpehttpkleerhodesianridgeback.deMapacha Kalles

subset: commoncrawl


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Today I have discovered a very nice plugin for the Vautour interface in Nagios that adds an auto complete query to the search box! In this article I will describe the installation (the author made-it extremely good but I wanted to add a small contribution too).
What you will need:
- Nagios 3.x
- The Vautour style: http://exchange.nagios.org/directory/Addons/Frontends-%28GUIs-and-CLIs%29/Web-Interfaces/Themes-and-Skins/Vautour-Style/details
- Auto-Complete plugin (Nagios exchange page): http://exchange.nagios.org/directory/Addons/Frontends-%28GUIs-and-CLIs%29/Web-Interfaces/CGI-Modifications/Search-Auto-2Dcomplete/details
- Auto-Complete plugin (Download the plugin – jquery.zip) http://exchange.nagios.org/components/com_mtree/attachment.php?link_id=3170&cf_id=29
- Install instructions: http://exchange.nagios.org/components/com_mtree/attachment.php?link_id=3170&cf_id=24
As I said the author made a very good job describing the installation part, so I'm just put it here with some small comments:
Extract "jquery.zip" in the "share/js" folder.
You should now have "jquery.js", "jquery-ui.js", and a "jquery-ui" folder in the "share/js" folder.
Make sure that all files in there are readable and executable.
Note: I made modifications to the jQuery UI files, to make them work with the (slightly rigid) Nagios iframe setup.
This is why I recommend downloading the files from Nagios Exchange, rather than from the creators themselves.
By the way, kudos to the jQuery team and also to the guys at jQuery UI! Without them, this mod wouldn't be here. (:
Now, open "sidebar.html" (in the share folder) for editing.
Replace lines 10 and 11 (the two script references) with this:
css" href="js/jquery-ui/jquery-ui.css" media="screen, projection" />
Small comment – the original lines that need to be replaced are:
Continue reading


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A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health
Getting Healthier a Big Money-Saver for People With Diabetes
Sticking with a fitness and nutrition plan can save more than $500 a year in health-care costs, study findsThursday, August 21, 2014
THURSDAY, Aug. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Not only is eating better and exercising healthy for people with diabetes, it can save them hundreds of health-care dollars a year, a new study finds.
The study, led by Mark Espeland, a professor of public health sciences at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C., included more than 5,100 overweight and obese type 2 diabetes patients.
Participants ranged in age from 45 to 76, and were randomly assigned to either an intensive "lifestyle change program" focused on diet and exercise, or to a standard diabetes support and education program.
The patients in the lifestyle group had higher levels of physical activity and maintained a lower body weight, resulting in better diabetes control, blood pressure, sleep, physical function and fewer symptoms of depression, the team reported.
There were financial savings, too. Over 10 years of follow-up, the patients in the lifestyle intervention group had 11 percent fewer hospitalizations and 15 percent shorter hospital stays. They also used fewer prescription medications than those in the diabetes support and education programs.
Those benefits led to an average savings of $5,280 in health-care costs per person over 10 years, or about $528 a year, according to the study published online Aug. 21 in the journal Diabetes Care.
The cost savings for people in the lifestyle intervention group were similar regardless of age, initial weight, gender or race, Espeland said.
"Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease that is affecting more and more adults, increasing their health-care needs and costs," he added in a Wake Forest news release. "This study shows that by losing weight and being physically active, individuals can reduce these costs."
Two experts weren't surprised by the cost savings.
"It makes perfect sense that an intensive lifestyle intervention, focusing on weight loss and physical activity, would help control diabetes and reduce the cost of medications and complications related to type 2 diabetes," said Nina Eng, chief clinical dietitian at Plainview Hospital in Plainview, NY.
Dr. Gerald Bernstein is director of the diabetes management program at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City. He said that once diabetes develops, costs soar. Patients must obtain medications plus blood sugar testing equipment and strips, and they often have diabetes-linked complications that involve hospitalizations and/or surgery.
Therefore, "it is not surprising that reducing weight will lower the cost of medical care for an individual if they have diabetes," Bernstein said.
SOURCES: Gerald Bernstein, M.D, director, diabetes management program, Friedman Diabetes Institute, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, New York City; Nina Eng, R.D, chief clinical dietitian, Plainview Hospital, Plainview, N.Y.; Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, news release, Aug. 21, 2014
Copyright (c) 2014 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
- More Health News on:
- Diabetes


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"Google doodle" commemorates 107th anniversary of "Little Nemo" comic
(CNN) -- Web users awoke Monday, October 15th to find an animated doodle atop Google's search page that commemorates the 107th anniversary of "Little Nemo in Slumberland," a pioneering comic strip by illustrator Winsor McCay. (Again, that's "Little Nemo," kids, not "Finding Nemo.")
A young boy, Nemo was the main character in a series of weekly strips (later called "In the Land of Wonderful Dreams") that appeared in American newspapers early in the last century. The strip focused on Nemo's nightly dreams, which took him on fanciful adventures before he inevitably woke up in the last panel.
Google's doodle begins with Nemo in bed. Users can click on tabs to expand the strip, which adds more animated panels as Nemo falls through a colorful dream world.
The last tab takes users to Google search results for McCay, who also found fame as the creator of such early animated cartoons as "Gertie the Dinosaur." McCay, whose work influenced animators at Disney, died in 1934.
Google has been adding interactive, animated doodles to its home page with more frequency in recent years. Others in 2012 have paid tribute to the London Olympics, Valentine's Day, the 79th anniversary of the first drive-in movie, and Robert Moog, inventor of the electronic synthesizer.


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Why Bayer
Innovation & Solutions
At Bayer, innovation is part of our DNA. But it's not something that happens exclusively in laboratories. We see it as being open to new and unconventional approaches and perspectives. Our working culture is driven by our passion and our fascination to think ahead. That is why we encourage you to question the status quo and constantly think beyond the obvious. It takes imagination, ambition, and courage to find answers to society's most pressing questions.
Learn how our research and development, employee initiatives, and focus on our people all support the groundbreaking scientific advancement that Bayer is known for. Plus, find out the opportunities you will have as a Bayer employee to impact the company and influence our culture of innovation.
Research and Development at Bayer
The researchers who work in Bayer's research and development division share one goal: to improve people's lives. The innovations developed in our laboratories range from life-saving medications for humans and animals to a broad range of innovative chemical and biological products for improving plant health. Every project we work on aims to solve society's great challenges.
The imagination and courage of our employees drives every successful product and discovery Bayer makes. Our "research" magazine takes you inside our pipeline, shares the stories behind our innovations, and introduces you to the people who make them possible.
Strengthening the Culture of Innovation
None of us is as smart as all of us together. That's why we have developed two initiatives that collect the best ideas and solutions from all Bayer employees: "WeSolve" allows employees to submit challenging questions and seek answers from colleagues, and the Bayer Ideas Pool elicits suggestions for improvements to the company.
Combining our knowledge and ingenuity ensures that our most innovative ideas will be heard and put to use by our customers and society.
The Bayer Employee Survey
The Bayer Employee Survey is intended to empower employee involvement in the company and inspire innovation in all areas. Every two years, all employees are invited to give us their feedback on our strategy, culture, and working conditions.
The opinions expressed in the survey are very important to Bayer and we have launched a variety of initiatives and improvements worldwide in response to the survey results.


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Could marijuana be the answer to the economic misery facing California? Democratic state assemblyman Tom Ammiano thinks so. Ammiano introduced legislation last month that would legalize pot and allow the state to regulate and tax its sale a move that could mean billions of dollars for the cash-strapped state. Pot is, after all, California's biggest cash crop, responsible for $14 billion a year in sales, dwarfing the state's second largest agricultural commodity milk and cream which brings in $7.3 billion a year, according to the most recent USDA statistics. The state's tax collectors estimate the bill would bring in about $1.3 billion a year in much needed revenue, offsetting some of the billions of dollars in service cuts and spending reductions outlined in the recently approved state budget.
"The state of California is in a very, very precipitous economic plight. It's in the toilet," says Ammiano. "It looks very, very bleak, with layoffs and foreclosures, and schools closing or trying to operate four days a week. We have one of the highest rates of unemployment we've ever had. With any revenue ideas, people say you have to think outside the box, you have to be creative, and I feel that the issue of the decriminalization, regulation and taxation of marijuana fits that bill. It's not new, the idea has been around, and the political will may in fact be there to make something happen." (See pictures of stoner cinema.)
Ammiano may be right. A few days after he introduced the bill, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced that states should be able to make their own rules for medical marijuana and that federal raids on pot dispensaries in California would cease. The move signaled a softening of the hard-line approach to medicinal pot use previous Administrations have taken. The nomination of Gil Kerlikowske as the head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy may also signal a softer federal line on marijuana. If he is confirmed as the so-called drug czar, Kerlikowske will take with him experience as police chief of Seattle, where he made it clear that going after people for possessing marijuana was not a priority for his force. (See a story about the grass-roots marijuana war in California.)
In 1996 California became one of the first states in the nation to legalize medical marijuana. Currently, $200 million in medical-marijuana sales are subject to sales tax. If passed, the Marijuana Control, Regulation and Education Act (AB 390) would give California control of pot in a manner similar to that of alcohol while prohibiting its purchase by citizens under age 21. (The bill has been referred to the California state assembly's public-safety and health committees; Ammiano says it could take up to a year before it comes to a vote for passage.) State revenues would be derived from a $50-per-oz. levy on retail sales of marijuana and sales taxes. By adopting the law, California could become a model for other states. As Ammiano put it, "How California goes, the country goes."
Despite the need for the projected revenue, opponents say legalizing pot would only add to social woes. "The last thing we need is yet another mind-altering substance to be legalized," says John Lovell, lobbyist for the California Peace Officers' Association. "We have enough problems with alcohol and abuse of pharmaceutical products. Do we really need to add yet another mind-altering substance to the array?" Lovell says the easy availability of the drug would lead to a surge in its use, much as happened when alcohol was allowed to be sold in venues other than liquor stores in some states. (Read why Dr. Sanjay Gupta is against decriminalizing pot.)
Joel W. Hay, professor of pharmaceutical economics at USC, also foresees harm if the bill passes. "Marijuana is a drug that clouds people's judgment. It affects their ability to concentrate and react, and it certainly has impacts on third parties," says Hay, who has written on the societal costs of drug abuse. "It's one more drug that will add to the toll on society. All we have to do is look at the two legalized drugs, tobacco and alcohol, and look at the carnage that they've caused. [Marijuana] is a dangerous drug, and it causes bad outcomes for both the people who use it and for the people who are in their way at work or other activities." He adds, "There are probably some responsible people who can handle marijuana, but there are lots of people who can't, and it has an enormous negative impact on them, their family and loved ones." (See pictures of Mexico's drug wars.)
In response, retired Orange County Superior Court Judge James Gray, a longtime proponent of legalization, estimates that legalizing pot and thus ceasing to arrest, prosecute and imprison nonviolent offenders could save the state $1 billion a year. "We couldn't make this drug any more available if we tried," he says. "Not only do we have those problems, along with glamorizing it by making it illegal, but we also have the crime and corruption that go along with it." He adds, "Unfortunately, every society in the history of mankind has had some form of mind-altering, sometimes addictive substances to use, to misuse, abuse or get addicted to. Get used to it. They're here to stay. So let's try to reduce those harms, and right now we couldn't do it worse if we tried."
Read "An American Pastime: Smoking Pot."


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Yabancı Yayınları published "Hate List" wirtten by Jennifer Brown with a translation by Başak Kıran.
Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.
Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.
8 October 2022


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The fact that we've kept the number of U.S. states relatively static is nothing short a miracle—there have been hundreds of attempts at state secession over the years. But what if they had all succeeded? This brilliant map depicts that alternative universe, where the U.S. is broken up into 124 different states that stretch from sea-to-shining-sea.
The map comes to us thanks to the work of a Mansfield University geography professor named Andrew Shears, who describes the work as a piece of alternate history ("NOT a proposal"):
Most of my life, I've daydreamed about history — not so much the incredible depth of historical events that have already occurred, good thinking as that might be. No, I've constantly fictionalized history by changing the outcome of one event here and there and exploring the possibilities of what would have come next. Sometimes I come up with some utterly ridiculous progressions on these alternate timelines of whole new worlds based on relatively minor changes.
Shears' map shows each and every attempt at secession along with the boundaries these movements intended to set up, including Independent Long Island, which would've severed it from New York, and South Florida, which would've protected Miami from the rest of the state (smart move). Then there are those that partially, or temporarily, saw success: Like the State of Franklin, which existed for four and a half years before collapsing in 1789.
And considering the havoc wreaked by states like Franklin, we're lucky that so few of them succeeded. Of course, then there are more selfish reasons to be glad for the map that is today. Imagine having to memorize 74 more state capitals in grade school. [Washington Post; Andrew Shears]


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We had no idea there were so many Texas A&M basketball fans out there, but boy, has our inbox been full with people sending us the above photo. Yeah: That kind of looks like a foul.
Of course, guessing what would have happened if a foul would have been called, and how that would have all went down, is one of those empty games we all play with ourselves to pretend there's some sort of order to the chaos. But man, imagine if Texas A&M would have pulled this game out: Xavier, Texas A&M, West Virginia and Western Kentucky, battling for a shot at the final four. Billy Packer would never stop crying.
For all the Kevin Love, uh, love, we think the most compelling character left in the West Regional has to be West Virginia coach Bob Huggins. This guy has had an active few years; surely, you haven't forgotten the epic DUI video. In a way, West Virginia and Huggins have always been a perfect fit, and not just because he went to school there. We're not sure what kind of message it would send about academics in college basketball of Bob Huggins led WVU to the Final Four ... probably an extremely honest one, actually.
But hey: Cincinnati's athletic grade point average is up a tick or two, so there's that.
Pics Of The Night [Rush The Court]
Bob Huggins Suspended [Cincinnati Enquirer]


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Wayne Kirsner, P.E. / Principal
Steam Release Investigations--||--Chilled Water Projects--||-- Authored Articles--||--Steam Training--||--The Firm--||--Contact Us
Waterhammer Quiz (updated 9/9/08) ............. Video Horizontal Waterhammer ............ Hear Water Hammer
Vertical Steam Water Hammer Video......Actions to take Immediately After an Accident.......Special Topics Below
3319 Turtle Lake Drive, Marietta, GA 30067
Virtual Tour of Steam Tunnel Problems
Anchor/ Expansion Joint Common Mistakes--A Detailed Report for NASA at Langley
Water Hammer in Boiler Plants (Column Closure Water Hammer)
Bucket traps can lose their prime upon a sudden pressure drop in the steam system. Link to Incident. (Why this happens is a seminar topic, if requested)
Fascinating historical articles on water hammer in steam systems which correctly anticipated the mechanism of condensation-induced waterhammer from 1882 (by steam pioneer Professor R.H. Thurston on page 404), and 1901, (by the clearly brilliant C.H. Stromeyer, Chief Engineer for the Manchester England Steam System).
Reducing Boiler Steam Pressure
Surviving a Steam Release in a Confined Space
|Interesting 1951 short paper on extensive damage to 60 foot long 16" pipe built to conduct "Water-Hammer Experiments" with 30 psi steam by Detroit Edison Engineer and Superintendent for Steam Distribution.


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Mothers who once championed the old dictum of "eat your veggies" now have a new refrain to the familiar song: "Eat your greens." Having risen from the periphery of American grocery stores, once literally lining the deli cases as nothing more than colorful, long-lasting garnishes, kale has paved the way right back into the kitchen for all manner of leafy edibles. Finally, after decades of neglect, those oft-forgotten flowerless bouquets are finally welcome house guests, and there's more than just romaine and spinach going into summer salad bowls. Still, the trend is only in its infancy, and after so many voluminous raw hodgepodges of discordant ingredients, what can really be done with these overgrown lawn clippings? And moreover, how can we prevent them from tasting as such?
Riding the crest of this wave is Nava Atlas, who brings us Wild About Greens exactly in our hour of need. Introducing a whole palate of varied greens to even the most inexperienced of cooks with a gentle, warm, and inviting tone, Nava will take your hand and guide you from the grocery store to the dinner table, and all spaces in between. Doling out equal parts reassurance and enlightening information, this book is definitely geared towards the greenest of beginners, but provides inspiring flavors to get anyone out of a produce rut. Such a depth and breath of different edible plants are covered, there's likely to be something new for anyone to try. You may claim to be a kale expert, but how often do you cook with beet greens? What about watercress? Have you ever tried mizuna in your green smoothie?
In a comfortingly familiar cloak of tomatoes and herbs, the Italian Vegetable Ragout with Chard (page 126) would make an excellent introduction for those less enthusiastic about incorporating more greenery into their diets. Adding in the optional chickpeas turns this hearty side into a perfectly satisfying one-pot meal. Enlivened with a pinch of red pepper, the interplay between tomatoes that are both roasted and sweetly sundried is so flawlessly balanced, it's hard to believe the whole dish came together in mere minutes.
Curry, another common, endlessly accommodating staple in my diet, gets new life with the simple addition of pungent mustard greens and tender spinach. Coconut Cauliflower Curry with Mustard Greens and Spinach (page 186) blends mild spices and coconut milk to create a rich, golden elixir of a stew. Safely falling into a child-friendly heat level, it's an excellent meal to make for a family, and ramp up the hotter spices on individual servings, to taste. Mustard greens are a newer ingredient to me, and while I would rather eat grass clippings than a couple of its raw leaves, this creamy yet still light sauce can excuse a whole host of flavor flaws- Proof positive that it only takes the right cooking method to make even the most maligned greens easy to swallow.
The salad section is of course abundant with suggestions, and now that the heat of summer has come to stay for the season, those are very enticing pages to explore. Breaking out of my own personal food taboos, I fearlessly took Nava's lead and combined fruits with savory vegetables (gasp!) and ate watercress raw for the first time, emboldened by the Sumptuous Spring Greens Salad (page 156). It seems silly to rave about a salad, but this one deserves all the praise. Much more thoughtful than just odds and ends tossed together, the combination of sweet yet tart green apples softens the bitter bite of radicchio and peppery flair from the radishes. Creamy avocado brings texture contrast to the party, a welcome reprieve from the crisp and crunch all around. It's a kick-starter that makes one wonder, "why didn't I try this before?" Simple even for a side, yes, but every bit as noteworthy as an elaborate main.
Thrilled to have any excuse to pull out my oft forgotten juicer, the section on beverages provides the confidence I frequently lack when it comes to combining greens with sweeter fruits. The Spinach and Lettuce Refresher (page 206) is, as promised, very refreshing indeed! An excellent beginner's green juice, it's mild, not at all bitter, and lightly sweet thanks to the addition of apples; no need to add the optional agave at all. Slightly tangy thanks to lemon juice, this beverage may just become the new lemonade around here.
The beauty of the recipes showcased in Wild About Greens is that they're built to take on whatever you throw at them. Want to swap collards for kale? Go for it! Nava provides plenty of substitution advice, but the versatility of each preparation goes beyond that. It would take a concerted effort to ruin any of these recipes; go ahead and change the veggies, add beans, take away herbs, do your worst! Wild About Greens succeeds in removing the fear of failure from cooking with new ingredients, and can plant the seed for entirely new recipe ideas. It truly has never been easier to eat green.
It would be a downright shame not to spread these delicious ideas further afield, so I'm thrilled that the publisher has so kindly offered to share an additional copy for one lucky reader to win! If you're looking to get more greens into your diet, tell me about your current favorite leafy ingredient, and how you like to prepare it. Links and recipes are encouraged but not necessary! The basic requirements, as per usual, are names and valid email addresses in the appropriate boxes. Please, only one comment per person, and be sure to speak up before Midnight EST on June 27th. I'll contact the winner shortly thereafter, so keep an eye to your inbox.
UPDATE: The winner, chosen by the fair and just random number generator is…
The lucky commenter behind entry #7, 3littlebrds! Get ready to load up on the leafy greens, because you're gonna want to put them to use right away!


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2017 Great Eight award winner
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Date(s) - 30/11/2019
11:15 am - 3:00 pm
Sykehouse Arena
Categories No Categories
A range of poles, raised poles, cavaletti and small jumping exercises designed by Ellie.
Ideal for strengthening muscles, engaging brain, increasing flexibility, ride ability and co ordination while having fun!
Sessions with Ellie Stevenson of E.S Equestrian.
Ellie is a UKCC Level 2 Coach, Level 1 Course Designer, Equine Sports Massage Therapist, AASE Graduate, BEF Young Professionals Programme 2019 fully insured and first aid trained.
Competed to 2* Level and produced lots of young horses.
Payment required in full at time of booking. 48 hour cancellation policy applies.
£30 private 45mins or £20pp shared
Times available:
Please contact Ellie directly to book.


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Posting pictures on the Pets.ca bulletin board
In order to post pictures on our bulletin board your file cannot be more than 100K. If it is over 100k you will need a graphics program to reduce it. You can get a great free graphics program at www.irfanview.com
Why can't I just put up my photo the way it is - why the hassle?
If you are trying to post a file that you dumped from your camera to your computer it is probably too large and the board will reject it. Why? Because when you print a photo from a digital file - you need a lot of info (megapixels) in that file to get a good print.
This is NOT the case with the web as is clearly illustrated by the examples here http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=23512
in posts #3 and 4 - where 2 indentical looking photos are half the filesize of one another.
So in order so that the pages don't take forever to load (because a 500k file takes 5 times longer that a 100k file to load) and not to waste webspace for no reason - the limit is 100k.
To resize an image in Irfanview
Ok if you download irfanview, open your file in irfanview.
Go to Image - Resize/Resample - all I did was put the width at 500 pixels and clicked ok.Then I went to File - Save as..... and chose JPG - - JPEG for their dropdown menu.
Once I did that a new window opened where there is a slider to choose higher or lower images.
Like I've said in other threads - Personally I always use 40 or less
Then just save it.
This was just a quick way that I was able to do it in Irfanview, I'm sure there are equally good or better ways to do it in Irfanview or other graphics programs. Irfanview is a really easy program to play around with.
What if I scan the image or the image was already scanned
If you are about to scan the image, scan it at 72 DPI or 72 PPI (dots per inch or pixels per inch). That will PROBABLY give you a file size of less than 100K. If you scan at higher resolutions your file size will almost surely be too large. If so follow the directions above to reduce it. Resolution problems are talked about in greater detail in the following thread http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=20694
As a last resort - if you've tried the free program and still can't do it and it's only just a couple of photos - just email me at firstname.lastname@example.com with the photos and as long as they are not so large that my email program rejects them - it's my pleasure to resize them for you.
hope that helps!
Please tactfully EDUCATE or IGNORE posters you don't agree with.
Please PM me & Include URLs and post #'s for any issues and it's my pleasure to help.
I'm firm - but fair. Mind the Rules and enjoy your stay.
Newcomers FAQ - How do I post on this BB?
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Al Janoub Stadium Seating Chart
The Tunisia vs Australia - (G21) tickets are in high demand and our inventory might sold out very soon. Check our great prices and book your Tunisia vs Australia - (G21) tickets now to secure your seats. We will deliver your tickets via top courier services such as Royal Mail, FedEx, UPS, DHL or our own top delivery services. The Tunisia vs Australia - (G21) football match will take place at Al Janoub Stadium stadium in Al Wukair on 26/11/2022 - 13:00. Book the Tunisia vs Australia - (G21) tickets now and join the unforgettable, thrilling experience.
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Returning to the French-Irish theme (see Strange Surname Spellings: Hohanlan for O'Hanlon) with respect to surname spellings, here are three surnames which sound somewhat similar, and which are often misspelled in the 19th-century records in ways that make them look even more alike:
- LAVALLEE is a French, and French-Canadian, surname. And just to complicate matters, it is sometimes (but not always!) a "dit" name: Paquet dit Lavallee, for example.1
- LAVELLE is an Irish surname. According to Irish Ancestors, in mid-19th century Ireland, it was most numerous in Co. Mayo, but was also found in Co. Sligo, as well as in such Ulster counties as Armagh and Fermanagh.
- VALLELY is an Irish surname. More specifically, it is an Ulster surname, predominantly found in Co. Armagh, but also found in the nearby counties of Tyrone, Monaghan, Antrim, Down, and Fermanagh.
In nineteenth-century Canadian records, Lavallee (French) and Lavelle (Irish) are of course easily confused, and I have seen many instances of such confusion.
For Vallely, I have seen numerous spellings, including Vallilee, Valaly, Valely, Vallile, and Valley. At a certain point, the spelling for Vallely starts to bleed into something that approximates Lavelle (Irish), or perhaps Lavallee (French).
And then, not only is the Irish Vallely sometimes written out in the records as Valley, but the French Lavallee is sometimes rendered in the English records as Valley, too. Which makes sense, actually, given that la vallée means the valley.
If you have a "Valley" ancestor, and you're not sure whether he or she was French or Irish, your best first step is probably to consult the 1851 census, and look for Birthplace. Born in Ireland? You can eliminate Lavallee from consideration, but be aware that both Lavelle and Vallely are still in the running. Born in Lower Canada (or LC), later Quebec? Lavallee is now the strongest possible contender, though of course it's still possible you're looking at a Canadian-born ancestor of Irish (Lavelle or Vallely) origin.
- On French "dit" names, see French "dit" names and Understanding Dit names. ↩


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flowering maple
I have lots of shots of this flower and had to look it up. It's a flowering maple or abutilon hybridum.
new zealand christmas tree
Here's wishing you a very joyful and happy Christmas!
Labels: christmas, pohutukawa
the fence post
As Dave noticed on my everyday birds post, this fence post, just outside my computer room window, seems to be a bird magnet of some sort. Most birds sit on the post, but this little swallow was happy to sit beside it.
it's beginning to look a lot like summer!
The snow is melting on Mt. Taranaki (also known as Mt. Egmont) and the skies are looking mighty blue.
Alphabe-Thursday E (Egmont)
Labels: alphabet thursday, rurality
everyday birds
I get excited when I see a new or different bird in the
yard garden, but they don't overshadow the everyday birds that honor me with their presence and entertain me with their birdy behavior. And some of them are quite numerous and noisy!
A sparrow fluffing herself up, two starlings fighting for the best seat on the post, a tiny waxeye (or silvereye) that flits around, a finch--one of several distinct colors--and a baby thrush who is just looking for a snack.
monochrome lilies
Hubby bought me flowers this week and the lilies really showed off!
welcome swallows
There are many of these tiny swallows that hang around at our house. They eat the bugs that our compost barrels attract. I have counted 14 at one time, flitting though the sky. I wish I could catch one in flight--they are so graceful. They put on a show for me each evening.
Labels: rurality, wild bird wednesday
chess lover's fence
This cute fence is found in a tiny place called Norsewood. Click here for some history of the town.
up above the clouds
I love the different water colors as the ocean gets deeper off the southern coast of the northern island of New Zealand. I believe that little town is Patea.
fireglow - spurge
I found these beauties at Hollard Gardens over the weekend.
it's officially summer!
The seasons in New Zealand have been simplified and it makes perfect sense, since the weather is always unpredictable. Click here for more details.
Labels: mosaic monday, pink saturday
st patrick's catholic church
The churches here in New Zealand have quite a variety of architecture. This one looks a lot like a traditional Maori Marae (meeting house).
Labels: church, inspired sunday, st patrick's, weekly top shot
black and white farmhouse
I love the setting between the hills.
purple pimpernel
I'm not really sure this tiny flower is a pimpernel but it looks like the scarlet variety and it's fun to say 'purple pimpernel'. If you know its real name, please let me know.
Labels: i heart macro, macro monday 2, nature notes
opening bud
a few days later
Labels: floral friday photos, pink saturday
shells instead of paint
I wonder if shells from the beach are cheaper than paint.
canadian geese in nz, eh!
These Canadian geese were feeding beneath a rhododendron at Lake Mangamahoe last weekend. They are certainly a long way from home!
Labels: outdoor wednesday, rurality
feeding the little ones
I thought we had a new kind of visitor on the lawn until I saw Mama Starling feeding them. I was surprised, and excited, that she chose to do it so close to the house. I snapped a few shots that evening and forgot about them until Hubby told me that he had taken their picture the next morning before work. :)
Labels: nature notes, wild bird wednesday
evening skies
I've never really lived without neighbors before this last move--not by choice, but by circumstance. Now that we have clear views of nature for miles, I spend a lot of time making Hubby look out the window at something I found. The sunsets are pretty spectacular and we are always taking photos as the sun sets behind the trees. Here are a few peeks at our Taranaki sunsets.
Labels: blue monday, our world tuesday, sunset
black swans at lake mangamahoe
Usually, we only see five or six black swans at this lake, but today there were so many, I couldn't count them all!
This is just one group that we saw.
Labels: black swans, skywatch, weekend reflections
giant chess board
One of the festival gardens had this giant chess board set up in a shady corner of the property. It looks like fun.
blazing azaleas
Here is more of the spring color in King Edward Park in Hawera.
napier-art deco rebuild
In 1931, Napier, in Hawke's Bay, was hit with a 7.8 earthquake that flattened the city. It was rebuilt in the style of 1920's art deco. Each year, on the third weekend in February, they celebrate with Art Deco Weekend, where you can join one of the many walking tours of the city.
ABC Wednesday - R
Thursday Challenge - city
Labels: abc wednesday, thursday challenge
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Guides To Consider When Choosing Used Car Dealers
Used car dealers are people and businesses engaged in buying and selling used cars to various individuals. Clients are free to choose any vehicle of their choice and present them for purchase. A lot of individuals are seeking the services of used cars, and hence, they require legitimate dealers. Vehicles handled have undergone a rigorous inspection to ensure the highest quality used cars for clients. There are tips to consider when choosing a used car dealer.
The first tip one should consider is checking the license of a car dealer. A licensed car dealer deals in lawfully acquired vehicles in their workshops. A license shows one has been granted authority to deliver services to clients seeking used cars. A licensed car dealer provides services to customers in line with the law to ensure every transaction is conducted legally. Clients should always seek the services of licensed car dealers. Fees charged are another guide to consider when choosing a used car dealer. Several car dealers charge varying prices for services and types of cars dealt in. Individuals should always compare prices of various car dealers and determine which one best suits their budget allocation. Prices range with the kind of vehicle being sold to customers. Dealers engaging in used high-end vehicles tend to charge high prices for their products. Asking and seeking out information is another guide to follow. People usually provide insights and precise details about specific car dealers they may have engaged with. Such kind of information can be helpful in choosing a suitable car dealer. Through people, we can learn more about certain car dealers and how they offer their services. This can influence the choice of car dealers that we seek their services.
Carrying out research is another tip to consider. Research can be done through the web or physical visiting of car workshops. Research provides us with more information about a given car dealer, and this helps in comparing different car dealers. Research enables one to have sufficient information on a car dealer before deciding to seek their services. Research enables one to know the particular cars dealt with by car dealers, and this assists in deciding whether to seek their services. Another guide to consider is recommendations. People usually refer others to dealers they feel will serve them efficiently. People can get satisfaction after engaging with given car dealers. They can, in turn, recommend the car dealers to friends and colleagues. Recommendations show the level of trust people have in a given dealer to deliver services to customers. People should seek the services of dealers with a lot of recommendations. Specialization is another tip to consider. Various used car dealers engage in selling specific types of cars to customers, whereas other dealers engage in providing an array of vehicles to customers. One should learn more about services offered by certain car dealers and select one that provides services that meet their preferences. Lastly, reputation is another guide to consider. Reputable car dealers serve customers in line with their needs and preferences. Car dealers with good reputations are trusted in the market and are usually highly sort after by clients.
A Quick Overlook of – Your Cheatsheet


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This Monday was President Obama's 52nd birthday ( I believe) and it's only fitting that we recognize the occasion here at the Watcher's Council.
It's become quite obvious over the last 5 years that our president has a leadership style unique in our history, one that involves a high level of personal responsibility:
His hard work on our behalf is legendary:
So is his cool. I mean, who else would have the elan to announce a major al-Qaeda threat this weekend, then take off to go golfing and leave it to his team to handle, knowing the country was in good hands!
His entire administration has been characterized by a transparency unique in American history, just like he promised us:
Yes, this is one special president, and the American people are not worthy of his leadership. Happy birthday, sir!
Welcome to the Watcher's Council, a blogging group consisting of some of the most incisive blogs in the 'sphere, and the longest running group of its kind in existence. Every week, the members nominate two posts each, one written by themselves and one written by someone from outside the group for consideration by the whole Council.Then we vote on the best two posts, with the results appearing on Friday.
Council News:
This week, Ask Marion, Gates of Vienna and Wolf Howling took advantage of my generous offer of link whorage and earned honorable mention status with some excellent articles.
You can, too! Want to see your work appear on the Watcher's Council homepage in our weekly contest listing? Didn't get nominated by a Council member? No worries.
Simply head over to Joshuapundit and post the title a link to the piece you want considered along with an e-mail address ( which won't be published) in the comments section no later than Monday 6PM PST in order to be considered for our honorable mention category. Then return the favor by creating a post on your site linking to the Watcher's Council contest for the week when it comes out Wednesday morning
Simple, no?
It's a great way of exposing your best work to Watcher's Council readers and Council members. while grabbing the increased traffic and notoriety. And how good is that, eh?
So, let's see what we have this week....
Council Submissions
- The Noisy Room – Waking Up To War
- The Political Commentator – Scandal Obama-style: A cross between the 'Rope-a-Dope' and the 'Four Corners Stall Offense'!
- Liberty's Spirit – The Israeli-Palestinian Peace push Ignores Reality
- The Colossus of Rhodey – Orson Scott Card vs. Roman Polanski
- Simply Jews – Nothing as open as Open Zion or Ali Gharib for Hassan Rouhani
- Joshuapundit-Ropes Of Sand - Why The Latest Round Of MidEast 'Peace Talks' Will End In Failure
- GrEaT sAtAn"S gIrLfRiEnD – On The Run
- The Razor – What a Survey of 1,400 Sued Doctors Can Tell Us About Health Care Reform
- The Mellow Jihadi – Two Lists: Chiefs and Lieutenant Commanders
- VA Right! - Washington Post Sold to Libertarian. Will it Make a Difference?
- Bookworm Room – Government of the people, by the people, and for the people has perished in America
- The Glittering Eye -Will a Return to Yesterday's Labor Policies Bring a Return of Yesterday's Wages?
- Rhymes With Right – How Long Until This Sort Of Gay Marriage Litigation Comes To America?
- The Right Planet – Smashing The Establishment Meme
- Nice Deb – Extortion 17: Navy SEALs Dad Hammers Regime: THEY SET UP MY SON TO BE EXECUTED (Audio)
Honorable Mentions
- Gates Of Vienna - How Muslims Did Not Invent Algebra
- Wolf Howling - This Is No Way To Run Intelligence
- Ask Marion - Now Is The Time...
Non-Council Submissions
- Caroline Glick –Bibi and the true believers submitted by The Noisy Room
- City Journal -The Indebted States Of America submitted by The Political Commentator
- Michael Gurfinkiel/Mosaic Magazine – You Only Live Twice. Is there a future for Jewish communities in Europe? submitted by Liberty's Spirit
- The Chronicle of Higher Education – When Hollywood Held Hands With Hitler submitted by The Colossus of Rhodey
- CIF Watch – CiF asks Palestinian supporter of 'armed resistance' her views on the peace process submitted by Simply Jews
- Villainous Company – Racism, Conversations, and the Sound of One Hand Clapping submitted by Joshuapundit
- War Is Boring – The Navy's New Stealth Battleships submitted by GrEaT sAtAn"S gIrLfRiEnD
- Reihan Salam/NRO – Is GOP Opposition to the ACA a Campaign of Self-Sacrifice? submitted by The Razor
- Amil Imani –The Challenge of Racism submitted by The Mellow Jihadi
- Doug Ross@Journal – BOMBSHELL REPORT: Valerie Jarrett Gave the Orders on 9/11/2012 and Blocked Rescue in Benghazi submitted by VA Right!
- Elbert Guillory-Elbert Guillory Announces the Free at Last PAC
- Abu Muqawama – Banquo in Bandit Country submitted by The Glittering Eye
- Alan Colmes Liberaland – How Liberals Have It Wrong About Rush And Sean submitted by Rhymes with Right
- Lame Cherry – Is Obama Sunni or Shia Muslim? submitted by The Right Planet
- White House Dossier -Obama is at Two Dozen Scandals and Counting submitted by Nice Deb
- Seraphic Secret – The New-Old Jew-Haters of the European Union submitted by The Watcher
- Victor Davis Hanson – Obama's Watergates submitted by The Watcher
Enjoy! And don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us Twitter..'cause we're cool like that!


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- By Anna Sachse, CTW Features
- Category: Fashions, Jewelry, Accessories for Men & Women
Parents want to look their best on the big day, too! Follow these tips to keep them fashionable.
The Mothers
According to Erin Carpenter, a Chicago-based bridal and fashion stylist, mothers of the wedding should choose dresses that complement the wedding palette without exactly matching the wedding party – you don't want the bride's mom looking like another bridesmaid.
But if particular color coordination is preferred, try a pattern. "Patterns have multiple colors and one of them could tie in with the bridal party without going overboard," says Sherri Garcia, a lead stylist with personal and bridal styling service Styled.Seattle. Typically, however, she advises picking a rich, sophisticated hue (blues, burgundy, plum, chocolate and silvery-grays are smart), and avoiding white, cream, ivory or champagne.
Ideally, the mothers should wear different colors than one another, adds Carpenter; traditionally, the MOB chooses her dress first, and then the MOG chooses accordingly. In terms of style, Garcia favors dresses over the cliché matching taffeta separates. If coverage is the goal, look for elegant sleeves or a great wrap.
"Today it's appropriate to dress like you're going to a cocktail party," says Carpenter. "For many women, knee-length dresses are more flattering, and open necklines like V-neck or scoop are lovely, especially when paired with a statement necklace or earrings to draw the eye upward." She recommends Tadashi Shoji, Jim Hjelm and J.Crew. Watters and Mon Cheri also offer lines for mothers of the bride or groom.
The Fathers
In general, the dads should wear neutral-colored suits and shirts (e.g. a charcoal suit and white shirt), or, for formal evening events, a tuxedo, says Garcia. In fact, it's actually okay for dads to look like other members of the wedding party (and each other), says Carpenter, so they can look to the groom and groomsmen and mimic their style, be it black tie or khaki linen suits. There may be some room for personalization in tie, vest or pocket square selection (maybe the groomsmen are wearing neckties, while the fathers sport bow ties), but, warns Carpenter, it should be cleared with the bride and groom first.
©CTW Features


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Hoka One One Women's High Arch Running Shoes
Why run when you can fly? HOKA ONE ONE shoes feature a mega-cushioned midsole and a meta-rocker design to help athletes go farther, faster. In addition to its robust line that includes plush trail running shoes, hiking shoes, training shoes, and walking shoes, HOKA also offers recovery sandals and recovery slides.


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Estella Brons, after Moncler Gamme Rouge, Paris, October 2016.
Friday, 22 September 2017
Paris Fashion Week SS 2017....Estella
Paris Fashion Week SS 2017....Rachael
Rachael Wang, before Miu Miu, Paris, October 2016.
It's all in the proportions: cropped jacket, exaggerated shoulders + sleeves, oversized button-down shirt.
Recreate Rachael's look (kind of):
Oversized shirt - Vetements Oversized cotton shirt, Faith Connexion Pop Ruffle shirt, Balenciaga Swing printed striped cotton-poplin shirt, Joseph Thomas Blouse, DKNY Oversized cotton-poplin tunic, Monki Oversized Striped tie sleeve shirt, Free People Lakehouse Oversized shirt, Off-White c/o Virgil Abloh Striped cotton off-the-shoulder shirt
Cropped jacket - 3.1 Phillip Lim Cropped quilted shell jacket, Atlein Cropped jacket, or Public School Calla cropped Denim Jean jacket
Light wash boyfriend jeans - Monse Jeans, Mira Mikati Lost Ribbon boyfriend jeans, Monki Imoo Distorted jeans, Acne Studios Log Light jeans, or Saint Laurent Boyfriend jeans
Paris Fashion Week SS 2017....Ada
Stylist Ada Kokosar, after Loewe, Paris, September 2016.
The perfect start to Autumn: buttery soft caramel leather with splices of yellow and red.
Sunday, 17 September 2017
Weekend Life....Summer Inspiration (#2)
Posted by Vanessa Jackman at 17:28 1 comment:
Labels: Alice IMG models, Claudia Gould, Inn at Sunrise Point, Maine, Margaret Howell, sandals, summer, summer inspiration, travel photography, Weekend Life
Paris Fashion Week SS 2017....Marte
Dutch model Marte Mei van Haaster, after A Show, Paris, October 2016.
Love Marte's way of wearing her bucket bag!
Recreate Marte's look (kind of):
Black bucket bag - Paco Rabanne Mini Bucket bag, Mansur Gavriel Mini leather bucket bag, Proenza Schouler Hex mini suede and leather bucket bag, Furla Stacy Small drawstring Bucket bag, & Other Stories leather bucket bag, French Connection bucket bag, or Alexander Wang Roxy Bucket bag
Lace-up knee boots - Philosophy Di Lorenzo Serafini Lace-Up Boots, Free People Tennessee Lace Up boots, or Frye Harlan Tall Lace-up Military boots
Paris Fashion Week SS 2017.....Veronika
Hey Woman!'s Veronika Heilbrunner, after Haider Ackermann (I think), Paris, September 2016.
Paris Fashion Week SS 2017....Nausheen
Stylist Nausheen Shah, after A Show, Paris, October 2016.
The return of purple from mauve (hello Dulux Colour of 2018 Heart Wood) to violet, aubergine, plum, maroon and wine to Pantone's homage to Prince, Love Symbol #2.
Recreate Nausheen's look (kind of):
Erdem Kaylah floral-print chiffon midi dress, Isabel Marant Wenda floral-print pleated dress, Hope and Ivy Floral print mesh shift dress, Isabel Marant Diana Cherry Blossom Jersey midi dress, Maison Margiela Belted Bell-sleeve midi dress, or Ganni Carlton pussy-bow maxi dress
Velvet boots - Balenciaga Boudoir velvet and leather ankle boots, Giuseppe Zanotti Ruggente Velvet booties, Matchstick Camo Boot, 3.1 Phillip Lim Kyoto Velvet ankle boots, & Other Stories Velvet boots or Chloe Harper lace up velvet ankle boots
Posted by Vanessa Jackman at 14:22 No comments:
Labels: Floral Dress, lavender, lilac, mauve, midi dress, Nausheen Shah, Paris Fashion Week SS 2017, Paris street style, purple, velvet, velvet boots
Friday, 15 September 2017
Paris Fashion Week SS 2017....After Christian Dior
Posted by Vanessa Jackman at 16:03 No comments:
Labels: After Dior SS 2017, beauty inspiration, braids, bun, hair bun, hair inspiration, model, Paris Fashion Week SS 2017, Paris street style
Paris Fashion Week SS 2017....Pandora
Fashion Features Editor Sunday Times Style magazine, Pandora Sykes, before Dries Van Noten, Paris, September 2016.
Cutout sweater.
Recreate Pandora's look (kind of):
Tome cutout merino wool turtleneck sweater, A.L.C. Kara Merino turtleneck sweater, Osman Emmeline cutout sweater, Michael Kors Collection Cutout cashmere turtleneck sweater, Lost + Wander Madison cutout sweater
Paris Fashion Week SS 2017....Before Christian Dior
Before Dior, Paris, September 2016.
Recreate her look (kind of):
Robert Rodriguez High Waisted Trousers with waist flap, or Tibi Ponte Tailored jumpsuit
Posted by Vanessa Jackman at 15:11 1 comment:
Labels: boots, cropped jumpsuit, eyelet blouse, jumpsuit, lace blouse, Paris Fashion Week SS 2017, Paris street style
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USA Today
written by AP staff
Tuesday November 19, 2013
NAPA, Calif. — Diane Disney Miller, Walt Disney's daughter and one of his inspirations for building the Disneyland theme park, has died at her Northern California home. She was 79.
Her death Tuesday in Napa was confirmed by The Walt Disney Co. The cause was complications from a fall, said Andi Wang, spokeswoman for the Walt Disney Family Museum.
"As the beloved daughter of Walt Disney and one of his inspirations for creating Disneyland, she holds a special place in the history of The Walt Disney Co. and in the hearts of fans everywhere," Robert Iger, the company's president and CEO, said in a statement. "She will be remembered for her grace and generosity and tireless work to preserve her father's legacy."
Miller, the eldest daughter of Walt and Lillian Disney, was born Dec. 18, 1933. In later life, she remembered her father as a man who was caring and patient with his children.
"He'd take me and my sister Sharon to the merry-go-round at Griffith Park and stand there all day waiting until we were ready to go," Miller told the San Francisco Chronicle in 1998. "As he stood there, he kept thinking there should be more for parents and children to do together, and the idea for Disneyland was born."
Miller's younger sister, Sharon, died of cancer in 1993. She is survived by her husband, Ronald, who owns the Silverado Vineyards Winery in Napa Valley, as well as seven children and 13 grandchildren.
Diane Miller founded the Walt Disney Family Museum, which opened in 2009 in San Francisco's Presidio, as a tribute to her family's legacy. One of her major concerns was that her father's name had become associated more with a corporate identity than with the man himself.
She also played a key role in the completion of the Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, a project started with a $50 million gift from her mother.
In 1997, she bucked project leaders like Richard Riordan, the mayor at the time, and billionaire Eli Broad, who said Gehry's firm lacked the experience to execute the plans for the building's unusual curved polished steel design. At a crucial point, Miller threatened to withhold the roughly $20 million remaining of her mother's gift if Gehry was not kept on.
"I wanted something that would bear my father's name, that would come from his wealth but not be commercial," Miller told the Los Angeles Times in September. "I think we achieved that."


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A jet aircraft (or simply jet) is an aircraft (nearly always a fixed-wing aircraft) propelled by jet engines (jet propulsion).
Whereas the engines in propeller-powered aircraft generally achieve their maximum efficiency at much lower speeds and altitudes, jet engines and aircraft achieve maximum efficiency (see specific impulse) at speeds close to or even well above the speed of sound. Jet aircraft generally cruise at faster than about Mach 0.8 (609 mph, 981 km/h or 273 m/s) at altitudes around 10,000–15,000 metres (33,000–49,000 ft) or more.
Frank Whittle, an English inventor and RAF officer, developed the concept of the jet engine in 1928,[1] and Hans von Ohain in Germany developed the concept independently in the early 1930s. He wrote in February 1936 to Ernst Heinkel, who led the construction of the world's first turbojet aircraft and jet plane Heinkel He 178. However, it can be argued that the English engineer A. A. Griffith, who published a paper in July 1926 on compressors and turbines, also deserves credit.
After the first instance of powered flight, a large number of jet powerplants were suggested. René Lorin, Morize, Harris proposed systems for creating a jet efflux.[2] In 1910 the Romanian inventor Henri Coandă filed a patent on a jet propulsion system which used piston-engine exhaust gases to add heat to an otherwise pure air stream compressed by rotating fan blades in a duct. It was installed in his Coandă-1910 but this craft probably never flew.
Rocket-powered jet aircraft were pioneered in Germany. The first aircraft to fly under rocket power was the Lippisch Ente, in 1928.[3] The Ente had previously been flown as a glider. The next year, in 1929, the Opel RAK.1 became the first purpose-built rocket plane to fly.
The "turbojet", was invented in the 1930s, independently by Frank Whittle and later Hans von Ohain. The first turbojet aircraft to fly was the Heinkel He 178 V1 first prototype of the German Air Force, the Luftwaffe, on August 27, 1939 in Rostock (Germany).[4]
The first flight of a jet engined aircraft to come to popular attention was the Italian Caproni Campini N.1 motorjet prototype that flew on August 27, 1940.[5] It was the first jet aircraft recognised by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (at the time the German He 178 program was still kept secret). Campini had proposed the motorjet in 1932.
The British experimental Gloster E.28/39 first took to the air on May 15, 1941, powered by Sir Frank Whittle's turbojet.[6] The United States produced the Bell XP-59A using two examples of a version of the Whittle engine built by General Electric, which flew on October 1, 1942. The Meteor was the first production jet as it entered production a few months before the Me 262[citation needed], which itself had been in development since before the start of the war as Projekt 1065.
The first operational jet fighter was the Messerschmitt Me 262,[7] made by Germany during World War II, and entered service on 19 April 1944 with Erprobungskommando 262 at Lechfeld just south of Augsburg. It was the fastest conventional aircraft of World War II – although there were faster aircraft propelled by unconventional means, such as the rocket-powered Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet. The Messerschmitt Me 262 had first flown on April 18, 1941, with initial plans drawn up by Dr Waldemar Voigt's design team in April 1939, but mass production did not start until early 1944 with the first squadrons operational that year, too late for a decisive effect on the outcome of the war.
About the same time, mid 1944, the United Kingdom's Gloster Meteor was being committed to defence of the UK against the V-1 flying bomb – itself a pulsejet-powered aircraft and direct ancestor of the cruise missile– and then ground-attack operations over Europe in the last months of the war. In 1944 Germany introduced into service the Arado Ar 234 jet reconnaissance and bomber, though chiefly used in the former role, with the Heinkel He 162 Spatz single-jet light fighter premiering as 1944 ended. USSR tested its own Bereznyak-Isayev BI-1 in 1942, but the project was scrapped by Joseph Stalin in 1945. The Imperial Japanese Navy also developed jet aircraft in 1945, including the Nakajima J9Y Kikka, a modified, and slightly smaller version of the Me 262 that had folding wings. By the end of 1945, the US had introduced their first jet fighter, the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star into service and the UK its second fighter design, the de Havilland Vampire.
The US introduced the North American B-45 Tornado, their first jet bomber, into service in 1948. Although capable of carrying nuclear weapons it was used for reconnaissance over Korea. On November 8, 1950, during the Korean War, United States Air Force Lt. Russell J. Brown, flying in an F-80, intercepted two North Korean MiG-15s near the Yalu River and shot them down in the first jet-to-jet dogfight in history. The UK put the English Electric Canberra into service in 1951 as a light bomber. It was designed to fly higher and faster than any interceptor.
BOAC operated the first commercial jet service, from London to Johannesburg, in 1952 with the de Havilland Comet jetliner. This highly innovative aircraft travelled far faster and higher than the propeller aircraft, was much quieter, smoother, and had stylish blended wings containing hidden jet engines. However, due to a design defect, and use of aluminium alloys, the aircraft suffered catastrophic metal fatigue which led to several crashes.[8]
The series of crashes gave time for the Boeing 707 to enter service in 1958 and this came to dominate the market for civilian airliners. The underslung engines were found to be advantageous in the event of a propellant leak, and so the 707 looked rather different from the Comet: the 707 has a shape that is effectively the same as that of contemporary aircraft, with marked commonality still evident today for example with the 737 (fuselage) and A340 (single deck, swept wing, four below-wing engines).
Turbofan aircraft began entering service in the 1950s and 1960s, bringing far greater fuel efficiency, and this is the type of jet in widespread use today.
The Tu-144 supersonic transport was the fastest commercial jet plane at Mach 2.35 (1,555 mph, 2,503 km/h). It went into service in 1975, but soon stopped flying. The Mach 2 Concorde aircraft entered service in 1976 and flew for 27 years.
The fastest military jet plane was the SR-71 Blackbird at Mach 3.35 (2,275 mph, 3,661 km/h).
Most people use the term 'jet aircraft' to denote gas turbine based airbreathing jet engines, but rockets and scramjets are both also propelled by jet propulsion.
Cruise missiles are single-use unmanned jet aircraft, powered predominately by ramjets or turbojets or sometimes turbofans, but they will often have a rocket propulsion system for initial propulsion.
The fastest airbreathing jet aircraft is the unmanned X-43 scramjet at around Mach 9–10.
The fastest manned (rocket) aircraft is the X-15 at Mach 6.85.
The Space Shuttle, while far faster than the X-43 or X-15, was not regarded as an aircraft during ascent as it was carried ballistically by rocket thrust, rather than the air. During re-entry it was classed (like a glider) as an unpowered aircraft. The first flight was in 1981.
The Bell 533 (1964), Lockheed XH-51 (1965), and Sikorsky S-69 (1977-1981) are examples of compound helicopter designs where jet exhaust added to forward thrust.[9] The Hiller YH-32 Hornet and Fairey Ultra-light Helicopter were among the many helicopters where the rotors were driven by tip jets.
Jet-powered wingsuits exist - powered by model aircraft jet engines - but of short duration and needing to be launched at height.[10]
Because of the way they work, the typical exhaust speed of jet engines is transonic or faster, therefore most jet aircraft need to fly at high speeds, either supersonic or speeds just below the speed of sound ("transonic") so as to achieve efficient flight. Aerodynamics is therefore an important consideration.
Jet aircraft are usually designed using the Whitcomb area rule, which says that the total area of cross-section of the aircraft at any point along the aircraft from the nose must be approximately the same as that of a Sears-Haack body. A shape with that property minimises the production of shockwaves which would waste energy.
Jet engines come in several main types:
The different types are used for different purposes.
Rockets are the oldest type and are mainly used when extremely high speeds or extremely high altitudes are needed. Due to the extreme, typically hypersonic, exhaust velocity and the necessity of oxidiser being carried on board, they consume propellant extremely quickly. For this reason, they are not practical for routine transportation.
Turbojets are the second oldest type; it has a high, usually supersonic, exhaust speed and low frontal cross-section, and so is best suited to high-speed, usually supersonic, flight. Although once widely used, they are relatively inefficient compared to turboprop and turbofans for subsonic flight. The last major aircraft to use turbojets were Concorde and Tu-144 supersonic transports.
Low bypass turbofans have a lower exhaust speed than turbojets and are mostly used for high sonic, transonic, and low supersonic speeds. High bypass turbofans are used for subsonic aircraft and are quite efficient and are widely used for airliners.
Jet aircraft fly considerably differently to propeller aircraft.
One difference is that jet engines respond relatively slowly. This complicates takeoff and landing maneuvers. In particular, during takeoff, propeller aircraft engines blow air over their wings and that gives more lift and a shorter takeoff. These differences caught out some early BOAC Comet pilots.[8]
In aircraft overall propulsive efficiency is the efficiency, in percent, with which the energy contained in a vehicle's propellant is converted into useful energy, to replace losses due to air drag, gravity, and acceleration. It can also be stated as the proportion of the mechanical energy actually used to propel the aircraft. It is always less than 100% because of kinetic energy loss to the exhaust, and less-than-ideal efficiency of the propulsive mechanism, whether a propeller, a jet exhaust, or a fan. In addition, propulsive efficiency is greatly dependent on air density and airspeed.
Mathematically, it is represented as [11] where is the cycle efficiency and is the propulsive efficiency. The cycle efficiency, in percent, is the proportion of energy that can be derived from the energy source that is converted to mechanical energy by the engine.
For jet aircraft the propulsive efficiency (essentially energy efficiency) is highest when the engine emits an exhaust jet at a speed that is the same as, or nearly the same as, the vehicle velocity. The exact formula for air-breathing engines as given in the literature,[12][13] is
where c is the exhaust speed, and v is the speed of the aircraft.
For a long range jet operating in the stratosphere, the speed of sound is constant, hence flying at fixed angle of attack and constant Mach number causes the aircraft to climb, without changing the value of the local speed of sound. In this case:
where is the cruise Mach number and the local speed of sound. The range equation can be shown to be:
which is known as the Breguet range equation after the French aviation pioneer Louis Charles Breguet.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Jet aircraft", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. There is a list of all authors in Wikipedia
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Dessert Gift Guide
Posted by dessert girl at 12/15/2013 0 comments
Macaron madness has been sweeping America for some time now. Frankly, it's been going on for so long now that I've sort of forgotten where is began. But, despite the nearly constant presence of macaron recipes on food sites across the web, I have not yet tried to make them myself . . . until now. Well, the truth is, I sort of made macarons. I cheated, just a bit, by using this macaron kit from pastry chef Francois Payard. Usually, when baking, I annoyingly insist on making everything from scratch, but this kit may have actually converted me to the semi-homemade method! The cookies were that good! Slightly chewy, moist, and not too sweet, just as a macaron should be! And they are so quick and easy to make because each MakeCaron kit provides you with the base cookies. All you need to do it make the filling, which takes five minutes, at the most! Sample ganache recipes come with the kit, but the idea is to experiment with your own fillings in order to make your own personal macaron flavors. I had a lot of fun making these and everyone loved them! Several people called them "addictive" and they were!
The MakeCaron kit comes in three flavors, chocolate, raspberry, and vanilla. They are being sold on Francois Payard's site, right here ($22 each). ~Erin
Posted by dessert girl at 12/07/2013 0 comments
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Catarina Mota – Open Hardware
Mota, a distinguished resesearcher and founder of the Open Hardware Association opened Day 3 with her keynote on open hardware. She explained how open hardware was lowering the barrier to entry to a number of fields such as DIY 3D printing, DIY biomedicine and many others – by making it easier to get involved.
She told the story of Sparkfun, a company which was started through the need to source parts for open hardware. Parts were shipped from someone's basement – and they've now grown to have a turnover of over $20 million annually.
She went on to demonstrate how the growth of Arduino has been exponential and how 'backyard brains' are now changing the world through open hardware, producing projects like the global village construction set – which is essentially lifesize lego. 3D printing is also starting to reach maturity, with technology such as Repraps and Makerbots having more of a presence in the community.
This growth has led to the birth of the Open Hardware Association as a body to help support the community as it grows up.
Mota drew a number of differentiations between open hardware and open software. Asking the question
What does open mean for hardware?
she explained that the assets used in open hardware were things like bills of materials, schematics and CAD designs, and that standard formats for the production of these were again lowering the barrier to entry of the community. A challenge remains in terms of an equivalent repository to something like GitHub or SourceForge for open hardware.
Some of the other challenges facing the open hardware community were things like sourcing local parts and materials. For example, the specialist plastics used by Reprap and Makerbot are difficult to source and expensive if you live in the developing world.
Mota also explained how open hardware works through iteration, in contrast to open software which works through a process of collaboration. Each hardware design is an iterative and possibly derivative design – rather than collaborative.
Small and medium scale component manufacturing also remains a challenge – for instance breadboard designs are not efficient to produce on a small scale. However, there is now a lot of momentum to aggregate these – say 4 or 5 developers having their boards printed at once by a manufacturer to reduce costs – effectively leading to the crowdsourcing of manufacturing.
Mota illustrated how open hardware is leading to a rebirth in tinkering and repair – arts that have been lost within a consumerist society. Technology like Ardunio is being used in education to pique the interest of students in technology, and the business model that is currently used –
give away the bits, sell the kit
is still apparently viable.
Mota concluded that 2013 is the year of open hardware. The community is on the cusp of some major developments – such as breaking through into markets such as consumer electronics – and there are exciting if uncertain times ahead.
Mota's presentation was one of my favourites so far of LinuxCon – not just because it was from a female presenter who is so well respected within the industry, but also because her presentation style and general demeanour were so respectful and humble. She was one of only a handful of presenters who thanked the Linux Foundation for the opportunity, and her whole attitude of wanting to learn and grow from the open software community was lovely.
Linux Torvalds – Where Linux is going
The room was jam packed to hear the Linux superstar being interviewed on stage by Dirk Hoendl. His first question what what he was most proud of – which he answered with what can be achieved by the community as a large body. In fact, it is the community, and what they do with Linux that keeps Linus so motivated. Technologies led by the community but founded on Linux – such as the one laptop per child project are an example of what the community can do together. He also noted that he finds some of the smaller open source projects to be the most interesting.
When asked by Dirk which award he was most proud of, he stated that he didn't really care about awards, and again posited the community as his key motivating factor. His key quote here was definitely worthwhile;
There's no Nobel Prize for computer science
When asked what concerns him about the future of opensource and Linux in general, Torvalds stated that a number of opensource projects that he's seen have less direction than they could have, and that they would benefit from taking direction from outside. He was also a little concerned over personality clashes within the community – stating that while disagreement is a catalyst for growth, sometimes it can be quite personal.
He also mentioned that the patent system was fundamentally broken- an unsurprising claim from an open source advocate. Similarly, he talked about how embedded Linux remains a challenge – particularly for things like mobile phones – here referencing the divergence between the Android kernel and the main Linux kernel (although now they are set to merge again). He explained how supporting embedded systems can be a lot of work for kernel developers.
When asked who is the next Linux Torvalds, the next innovator, he sidestepped the question by stating that
sometimes the old ways are the correct ways
particularly with respect to operating systems.
Torvalds also mentioned the lack of diversity in the community when asked about he age of kernel developers steadily increasing – citing the fact that many are now employed by tech firms once they become developers, in contrast to students and younger developers several years ago. He broached the gender question himself, stating that 99% of Linux developers were male, and that the community needed more female developers, but that he wasn't sure how to fix this.
I thought this showed a lack of insight into the work of groups like the Ada Initiative (inter alia), who have done research into open culture participation by women. This research has led to concrete, tangible recommendations for steps that can be done to increase participation by women.
Stephen Hemminger – Taking the fear out of contributing
Vyatta's Hemminger set the scene by stating that it is hard to start contributing to open source generally – and to the kernel in particular – when there isn't a lot of support – you can be easily scared off.
He covered the different reasons why people contribute to open source, such as wanting to learn, being intellectually curious, needing a challenge and to a certain extent being altruistic. He also mentioned that people wouldn't do it if it wasn't – at least in some way – fun.
Hemminger gave an overview of what the kernel contribution process is supposed to look like – and contrasted this with what it *is* actually like for developers – where there is a lot of flaming and trolling in the mix instead. In his experience, he has found encouragement and feedback really important – particularly when navigating a community where fiefdoms and political battles exist.
He covered three main cases of submission failure;
- Big changes – Massive changes are less likely to be accepted because they are harder to review and assure
- Arrogance – an unwarranted sense of pride in ability can detract from how the utility of a patch is perceived by the community
- Divisive changes – Changes that are incompatible, are proprietary, are reinventions or just plain ugly are likely to fail.
So, how can this be addressed? Hemminger drew a number of analogies with his involvement in Toastmasters, where the process for evaluating public speeches is highly formalised. The techniques used by Toastmasters, such as being prepared, active listening and sandwich techniques for giving feedback, focusing on the presentation and not the person – were all worthwhile techniques to improve kernel submission evaluation.
Hemminger also touched on the role of mentoring within the community, and explained how local mentoring is generally better – as face to face can be very productive. Having the role of mentor clearly documented helps – with functions such as being a local dvocate, and a cheerleader for the person.
This presentation was really about culture change within the Linux community – and while the assertions were made I remain skeptical that they will be adopted widely.