text:
Friday, May 09, 2008
Slaw and pizza muffins...
This slaw leans more to the sweet versions out there with chunky pieces of Fuji apples and plump golden raisins. So you get that striking color contrast, be sure to leave the nutritious peel on the apple if you don't mind the added texture. To moisten and slightly soften the broccoli slaw (which is just shredded broccoli, carrots, red cabbage and sometimes cauliflower) is a combination of sour cream, mayonnaise, white balsamic vinegar and a dash of sugar.
To not give an off or dark color to this mixture, we used the white balsamic for that tangy bite - this is basically just a sweet white vinegar. It works well in uses like this or lighter sauces, but don't expect the same depth you get with regular dark balsamic. The original recipe called for a pound of the shredded slaw, but I only added about 12 ounces or so as there didn't seem to be enough coating for our tastes. I would recommend doing the same with either the broccoli slaw or regular cabbage - you may even want to bring it down to 8 or 10 ounces if you like it especially moist and creamy. Ready in just about 5 minutes, this snazzy side dish was crisp, light and very refreshing!
Since I didn't really menu plan for this week, I just picked out a few recipes before I went shopping mid-week without thinking much about what would work well together. I actually intended to make these Mini Greek Pizza Muffins to freeze and store for a quick savory snack, but we decided to have a few each and call it dinner.
Chopped onion and red bell pepper are first softened to start out the base flavor. This is done right away as the two need to cool down before adding the rest of the ingredients. To the cooled vegetables, milk, salty feta cheese, an egg, tomato paste and briny kalamata olives are whisked in. These went ingredients are stirred into the dry ingredients (which are a blend of whole-wheat pastry and all-purpose flours) and then scooped into tiny muffin cups - since you are filling 24 of them, just look for the cups to be about 2/3 full so you have enough to fill them all. Bake these until the centers spring back or when a toothpick placed in the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs attached.
Enjoy these moist bites warm out of the oven or at room temperature - I found the flavor actually came through better when they were cooler. Jeff was not near the kitchen when I was preparing these, so I think he was a little surprised and a little disappointed when he saw me pulling these out of the oven and not the pizza he thought he smelled. After popping one of these in his mouth though, his face lit up and he stopped pouting! Being so concentrated, the two tablespoons of tomato paste added a nice punch of flavor that we thought helped to bring out the fresh oregano. The only change I might think about doing is adding a fresh garlic clove or two in with the onion and red pepper, rather than using the granulated garlic in the dry ingredients.
6 comments:
That slaw looks great! What a great combination of flavors.ReplyDelete
Those pizza muffins look intriguing. They'd be perfect on a brunch buffet!
Hi Joe,ReplyDelete
Do you think I could just use 2/3 cup of the whole wheat pastry flour?
Hi, Joe. I wonder if you could use 2/3 cup of white whole wheat flour in the muffins? My only concern is that they might be too heavy, though. In any case, they look wonderful.ReplyDelete
SGCC - Thanks!ReplyDelete
Erin - Possibly, but the texture might be different.
Nancy - I would go ahead and make that sub... I use white whole-wheat flour fairly often and it works well without making things too dense.
- Anonymous5/11/2008 09:50:00 AM
The slaw recipe was really interesting to me on a couple of levels - I like the components of the dressing and have already assembled the ingredients.ReplyDelete
Except for the white balsamic vinegar, I'd never heard of this! Even though I live in a city, it's horribly food store deprived, which is why I will occasionally drive two hours to the nearest Trader Joe's....that's probably where I'll find the vinegar and also the FRESH CHERRIES! you used in those glorious sounding bars.
Quinn - That is exactly where I picked it up... Trader Joe's!ReplyDelete


text:
If we know our customers, bass is one of the most important aspects of their audio systems. In order to achieve such bass, you must have an amplifier that will be able to fill the bill. The folks at Lanzar have revamped their OptiDrive series amplifiers for 2012. Most of these beastly amps are now 0.5 ohm stable meaning they are ideal for competitions and daily use alike. Having the ability to maintain 0.5 ohm stability can keep the frustration away from people who own Dual 2 ohm subwoofers. Two Dual 2 ohm subwoofers can ether be wired in Series configuration at an impedance of 2 ohms or in parallel configuration at an impedance of 0.5 ohms in which these amplifiers can accomplish. The OptiDrive Series is available in ten monoblocks and two 4-channel models so you can be certain that you can find an amplifier to fit your application.
Features Galore
An amplifier is only as good as the versatility and quality it can achieve. The Optidrive Series amplifiers all share a variety of different functions and features that make them an invaluable purchase. They all include built in low and high-pass filters for proper tuning and sound customization. The included wired bass control knob ensures that bass levels can be conveniently controlled from a user-defined location. Pre-amp outputs are present to daisy chain multiple amplifiers together which is ideal for competitions. As well as a heavy duty power coated heatsink for maximum heat dissipation. Combined with a subsonic filter and a 180 degree phase control, you have an amplifier that is ready to take on any challenge.
Monoblock Models:

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Difference between revisions of "Linux: Full Disk Encryption"
From fit-PC wiki
(→List of tested devices) (change visibility)
(→Automated Decryption) (change visibility)
|Line 51:
|Line 51:
$ echo Hello World! | clevis encrypt tpm2 '{}' > test.txt
$ echo Hello World! | clevis encrypt tpm2 '{}' > test.txt
$ cat test.txt
$ cat test.txt
$ cat test.txt | clevis decrypt tpm2
$ cat test.txt | clevis decrypt tpm2
Hello World!
Hello World!
Revision as of 07:07, 1 July 2019
The idea is to encrypt a partition with root filesystem using LUKS and store the keys in the TPM.
During boot user does not have to enter a decryption password, partition will be automatically decrypted using the keys from TPM.
It's a open-source alternative to Windows BitLocker.
- LUKS (Linux Unified Key Setup) - is a full volume encryption feature, the standard for Linux hard disk encryption
- TPM (Trusted Platform Module) - is dedicated micro-controller designed to secure hardware through integrated cryptographic keys
List of tested devices
The guide was tested on a system with the specs listed below, but should be easily adaptable.
- Device: fitlet2
- OS: Debian GNU/Linux testing (buster)
- ISO: debian-buster-DI-rc2-amd64-netinst.iso
- Kernel: 4.19.0-5-amd64
- BIOS: 09/17/2018 American Megatrends Inc. FLT2.0.46.01.00
- TPM: Firmware based TPM 2.0 implementation (fTPM)
- Follow the standard installation procedure - choose timezone, hostname, username, password etc.
- In the "Partition disks" dialog you can choose automatic or manual partitioning scheme
- Automatic - select "Guided - use entire disk and set up encrypted LVM"
- Partitions scheme will be defined automatically
- You will be asked for passphrase of encrypted disk
- Manual (advanced) , for example:
- #1, size 200.0 MB, use as "EFI System Partition"
- #2, size 300.0 MB, use as "EXT4 journaling file system", mount point /boot
- #3, size 3.0 GB, use as "physical volume for encryption"
- Go to the "Configuring encrypted volumes" and select partition #3 as device to be encrypted
- You will be asked to enter encryption passphrase for partition #3
- In the "Partition disks" find new appeared encrypted volume #1, use it as "EXT4 journaling file system", mount point /
- Automatic - select "Guided - use entire disk and set up encrypted LVM"
- Continue with package manager, software selection etc.
- Disconnect the installation media and reboot
- You will be asked for passphrase of encrypted disk, enter it manually, then boot process will continue
- Login using previously selected username and password.
- NOTE: The PATH definition in the /etc/profile should be fixed:
# /etc/profile: system-wide .profile file for the Bourne shell (sh(1)) # and Bourne compatible shells (bash(1), ksh(1), ash(1), ...). PATH="/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin" export PATH ...
Automated Decryption
- Clevis is a framework for automated decryption of data or automated unlocking of LUKS volumes.
$ su Password: $ apt install clevis-tpm2 clevis-luks clevis-dracut
- Test the TPM encryption module, the following example encrypts the words "Hello World!" and writes them to test.txt. Give it a try!
$ echo Hello World! | clevis encrypt tpm2 '{}' > test.txt $ cat test.txt eyJhbGciOiJkaXIiLCJjbGV2aXMiOnsicGluIjoidHBtMiIsInRwbTIiOnsiaGFzaCI6InNoYTI ... $ cat test.txt | clevis decrypt tpm2 Hello World!
- Now it is time to automatically decrypt the existing encrypted root file system.
# Try this command to show some information about the cryptographic setup of encrypted partition: $ cryptsetup luksDump /dev/sda3


text:
George Harrison remembered by fellow Beatle on 75th birthday
LONDON (AP) — Paul McCartney and George Harrison's widow and son have publicly remembered the late Beatle on what would have been his 75th birthday.
"Happy Birthday Georgie. Wonderful memories," McCartney tweeted Sunday along with a black and white photograph of the two of them taken during the Beatlemania days.
Harrison died of cancer in 2001 at age 58.
His widow, Olivia Harrison, and his son, Dhani Harrison, tweeted an invitation for fans to celebrate George's birthday by watching a video of Billy Preston and Eric Clapton performing the Harrison song "Isn't It a Pity" at the star-studded Concert for George in 2002.
McCartney and Ringo Starr are the only surviving members of the English band that rocketed to global fame in the 1960s. John Lennon was shot to death in 1980.


text:
DER175B, Deryneia
DER175B, Deryneia
Detached Villa
For Sale
144 sq.m.
344.01 sq.m.
3 bedroom, 1 bathroom, detached house in residential area of Deryneia village with Title Deed for Share of Land - DER175B.
Available for sale as seen, this spacious property would make an ideal family home in a quiet, residential area of Deryneia, within walking distance of local amenities. The main living area at ground floor level has a kitchen with laundry room, open plan living and dining area, and guest wc. All 3 bedrooms and the main bathroom are located on the raised floor level.
The property has air conditioning, central heating, granite flooring, double glazing and an Italian fitted kitchen.
Outside has off street parking, street level terrace and raised terrace with built in barbecue.
Viewings by appointment.
Deryneia is the second largest town in Famagusta, now linked with the main town of Paralimni. Although very close to Paralimni it has a very different identity and unique charm. Typically residents work in agriculture, crafts and farming or in the hospitality industry. Deryneia is probably most famous for Strawberries, and produces over 60% of the total production on the Island. The strawberry festival, held every 2 years, is probably the most well known and brings thousands of visitors from the surrounding areas to sample the local delights and join in with the traditional dancing.
The Cultural Centre is a must see for tourists and locals alike as it tells the story of the history of the area and overlooks the Ghost town of Famagusta in Northern Cyprus. Deryneia is also a gateway to the occupied areas in the North and just a 10 minute drive to Famagusta town.
Whether you are planning to visit the Famagusta region of the Republic of Cyprus for the first time or you are already in love with the area, there is something here for everyone.
The area is not known as the 'Jewel of the Eastern Mediterranean' for nothing! From the stunning cliffs of Cavo Greko (the most Easterly point of Europe) to quaint inland villages, to the 44 (yes 44!) white sandy Blue Flag beaches, the area holds something for every palette. We have beautiful nature trails, water sports galore, amazing fresh cuisine, nightlife, one of the top waterparks in Europe, fishing harbours, a world class Marina and the list goes on and on! You are never far from anywhere in Famagusta, a maximum 15 minute drive to the nearest beach from even the most inland villages.
Thousands of expats of all nationalities have made Cyprus their home over the years due to the warm local welcome, fantastic climate and host of things to do. The bustling cities of Limassol, Larnaca and Nicosia are just over an hour away but here you can enjoy a more relaxed pace of life. Crime rates are amongst the lowest in Europe, English and Russian are widely spoken and there is always time for a chat, a coffee or a glass of wine in the sunshine. We look forward to introducing you to hidden gems of the area on your next visit.
Island Homes have been working with both local and overseas buyers and sellers for over 20 years. We specialise in property sales in the Famagusta region with seaside properties from Protaras to Ayia Napa; major towns including Paralimni and Deryneia and also covering all of the beautiful 'red soil villages' including Xylofagou, Vrysoulles, Frenaros, Avgorou, Dasaki Achna and Sotira.
All of our team live locally and have worked together for many, many years. We are also all immigrants to Cyprus and property owners ourselves so can guarantee that we have lived through the same experiences as that of our clients. We have in-depth knowledge of the area, the facilities, the amenities and, of course, every one of the properties that we advertise for sale.
Prior to advertising we undertake a full due diligence on every home to ensure that we can fully inform our clients about the legal status of each house or apartment.
Our reputation is hugely important to us so, for a truly personal experience, contact us and we will work together to find your dream home!
- Covered area 145m2
- Plot 344m2
- Built 1994
- 3 bedrooms
- 1 bathroom 1 wc
- Title Deed for share of land
- Split level
- Corner Bath
- Air conditioning
- Contact us for a virtual viewing
Please note we have not tested any apparatus, fixtures, fittings, or services. Interested parties must undertake their own investigation into the working order of these items. All measurements are approximate and photographs provided for guidance only.


text:
In a Facebook post on Oct. 18, state Rep. Jan Angel, running to unseat appointed incumbent state Sen. Nathan Schlicher in as the 26th Legislative District's senator, wrote:
"Don't allow this man to buy this election—mark the box by Jan Angel–I have lived and worked right here for over 30 yrs and no California dude can buy this seat unless you allow it!! Time to fight back 26th District!!"
The "dude" in question is Thomas Steyer, a California hedge fund manager who has since become a bigtime contributor to environmental causes. Angel links to this story from the Washington State Wire, which does a pretty good job of explaining who Steyer is and where the $6.3 million he put into committee named "NextGen CLimate Action Committee Sponsored by Thomas Steyer" can and cannot go. More recent Public Disclosure Commission reporting shows that of the $6.3 million Steyer put into the committee, all but about a half million has been spent, the bulk of it on out-of-state causes. What's more is that NextGen cannot put a donation greater than $5,000 into the legislative races anymore.
Why so much money is reported in Washington is unclear. I tried to contact Steyer and got no response. Lori Anderson, PDC spokeswoman, said it's possible Steyer is just operating his overall political spending operation here for convenience sake, because he has to report here anyway.
Steyer has put in $525,000 into two Washington committees. She's Changed PAC, the organization doing all the advertising against Angel, has received $250,000. Washington Conservation Voters has received the rest. That committee then donated $150,000 to She's Changed PAC, meaning Steyer has spent $400,000 to defeat Jan Angel.
Before getting to Steyer's presence in Washington, it's worth pointing out that most of the attention he gets recently has been for his opposition to the Keystone Pipeline. He has done plenty of work elsewhere to suggest his environmentalist leanings are legitimate, but one element of his opposition against Keystone provides easy fodder for his critics. He made the bulk of his money with Farallon Capital, which owns a boatload of stock in Kinder Morgan, which owns the Canada-U.S. West Coast pipeline that would be a major competitor to Keystone. If Keystone is blocked, Steyer's critics argue, Steyer stands to benefit financially in a huge way. He has since said he will divest his portfolio of "dirty energy" holdings within a year.
A New Yorker story on Steyer and his opposition to Keystone is a great read, and shows that some of Steyer's allies on other environmental issues are not solid with him on Keystone.
That story also illustrates some of what might be moving Steyer to invest in Washington.
Steyer wanted to test (former Al Gore and Bill Clinton operative Chris) Lehane's theory that traditional campaign politics—the world of Super PACs and field organizations and TV ads—was the best way to spend his money. "Once politicians start to become aware that this issue can either help them or hurt them, you begin to change the conduct and behavior of those who are in elected office," Lehane insisted. "Politicians very rarely lead, despite the fact that they talk about leadership in every speech. They typically follow."
Where that first showed itself was in the Massachussetts Senate race to replace John Kerry, who had been named Secretary of State. Edward Markey opposed Keystone and Steve Lynch supported it. Both were Demcorats and faced each other in the primary.
Steyer's group spent $1.8 million attacking Lynch and backing Markey. Lehane said they used the same "formula" that had been successful in California: an "enemy" oil company pursuing its own self-interest was hurting the state. Markey won, and went on to victory in the general election. Steyer began looking for his next opportunity.
Schlicher and Angel don't appear in the New Yorker story, but Steyer's financial presence just very will might owe itself to the success Steyer saw in Massachusetts and in his philosophical compatibility with Inslee.
In May the online site ClimateSolutions.org reported on speeches Inslee and Steyer gave at the Climate Solutions annual breakfast in Seattle. Both said the West needs to lead the way in battling climate change.
"What are we on the West Coast going to do about the bigger picture of climate change?" Steyer asked during his keynote address. "I think the solution is pretty straightforward: the West Coast needs to lead. And we will do so by exploiting every opportunity in the proposition process, the electoral process and the legislative process. It's a big task."
Remarks from Steyer paralleled earlier comments from Governor Jay Inslee. "The West Coast of the United States does not have to wait for the District of Columbia to move forward on strong climate policy," the Governor stated. "I believe we are a laboratory of innovation and I believe we have the power to set a deadline for reducing our CO2 admissions, and to lead the world as we have done in so many ways."
That Facebook post wasn't the first time Angel referred to Steyer as a "dude." Two days earlier she wrote:
"Rumor has it this billionaire dude putting all this money against me has had meetings with the Governor and perhaps swapping deals/favors –this is all starting to smell real bad!!!!"
I don't know what deals/favors Angel has heard Inslee and Steyer might be swapping. I contacted Jay Inslee's spokesman, David Postman, to see if the governor would like to respond to Angel's comment. Postman wrote back, "Thanks for reaching out, but I'm not going to have a comment."
Were the 26th Legislative District not the only district with a two-party race this year, it's unlikely all of Steyer's money would be in it. As it is, it's the only real party challenge in the Legislature this year, and it's between one legislator who has a lifetime score of 11 (out of 100) from Washington Conservation Voters against another who during the first half of the 2013-14 session scored a 100, according to WCV officials. Steyer advocated "exploiting every opportunity in the proposition process, the electoral process and the legislative process," so in that context it should no longer be a surprise that Steyer is making good on his claim that the West should lead the way on climate change and that he is backing up that claim with his money.


text:
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Free short stories
FREE for nook, Smashwords, Kobo.
Phoebe Matthews
Posted by Phoebe at 10:05 PM 0 comments
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Free short stories
All the Queen wanted was his sperm donation... Knight's Fork video for sexually reticent 'Rhett's story, Knight's Fork!
For much more than what to do with "Horny Berries" check out Insufficient Mating Material Insufficient Mating Material video promoting Djetth and Princess Marsh's love story!
The trouble started here, when an ambitious young princess cast out her lures with unwise abandon Mating Net video for Mating Net, prequel to Forced Mate, Insufficient Mating Material, and Knight's Fork!


text:
Here's a fun design to use on shirts, ugly Christmas sweaters, mugs, etc for the holidays! Design is sized at 13x19 but can easily scale down as needed. Each design comes as a high resolution (300 dpi) PNG file with transparent background. This is the perfect file for easy sublimation printing, DTG printing, iron-on transfers, or for printing on paper (cards, photo collages, etc.). Each file comes EXACTLY as shown. In most cases I can customize a design. However, it will cost more and take a little time. PLEASE contact me PRIOR to purchase if you are needing something different. Also, please note that the colors may vary some from what you see on screen. These files are all created in RGB color but may print different due to different screen resolution and printing inks.
My listings are for digital files. Please note that nothing will be mailed to you. Each file is digital and will be available for immediate download as soon as payment is received. Please make sure you are logged into your Etsy account before checking out to help get the download to you quicker. Don't have an account? That's fine, you can still check out as a guest. Just be aware that the file will be emailed to you from Etsy and it can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. I will not be able to send the file to you any sooner in this case. Etsy only shows the guest purchases when Etsy is finished processing them, so I won't have any record of your purchase until Etsy emails you the file. However, if you have any problems please feel free to contact me. I will always do what I can to help!
Each file was created by Triangle Dreamz and as such the copyright belongs to and will remain the property of Triangle Dreamz. By purchasing a design, you are licensing the rights to use it on your own printed products. You are not allowed to share, sell, or give away this design except on a printed product. Under Triangle Dreamz license, this file can be used for printing on shirts, bags, signs, license plates, mugs, etc for small business/hobbyist use (500 pieces). It CANNOT be used on Print on Demand sites including but not limited to: Zazzle, cafepress, Spreadshirt, Printful, Amazon Merch, or any other third party printing. And it does NOT allow you to sell sublimation transfers of this design. You can use the design as part of your own designs to print but you are not allowed to use the design in part or in whole to create a new digital design to sell. This includes but is not limited to SVGs, embroidery designs, clipart, or anything of that nature. Please contact me if you are unsure or need more info.
Due to the digital nature of these designs, refunds and exchanges are not offered. Since this is a digital file, nothing will be mailed to you. You need to know basic computer functions to use these files such as how to download and how to transfer the file. If you are printing at home, you will need to know how to use your software, printer, and other equipment such as a heat press. Since there are so MANY different software and printer options, I am unable to assist in technical questions. Please refer to the instructions provided by the manufacturer for any of this type of issue.


text:
Stillman Already Shaking Up NCRA
Daniel Mintz
Eye Correspondent
HUMBOLDT – Arcata Councilmember Alex Stillman's recent appointment to the North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) has disappointed railroad development advocates and one of them has questioned the appointment's legality.
The reaction to Stillman's appointment has been strong enough to motivate the committee to re-examine it at its July 16 meeting.
Stillman's May 16 appointment to the NCRA's Board of Directors was made by a City Selection Committee composed of the mayors of the county's seven cities. Two weeks later, Bill Bertain, a Eureka attorney and spokesman for the Rail and Port Infrastructure Task Force advocacy group, sent a letter to the committee asking that Stillman's appointment be "rescinded and/or voided" because there "appear to be clear violations of the Mayor's City Selection Committee Rules and Procedures."
The committee is supported by staff of the Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG) and its rules and procedures state that an appointee candidate's resume and correspondence must be submitted three weeks before a selection is made to "provide adequate time to include nominee statements in the appropriate agenda mailings."
Stillman's correspondence was submitted about a week before the committee voted to appoint her. But HCAOG Director Marcella Clem said the advance submittal provision is only for the purposes of including correspondence in agenda materials. Candidates can actually be considered at any time prior to a vote, including the day of the meeting when a vote takes place, she continued.
Perhaps a more relevant aspect of Bertain's objection is that a committee appointee is required to be aligned with the NCRA's mission statement and its goal of "maintaining railroad service to the North Coast area of California."
"By her public statements for quite some time now, Alexandra Stillman has disqualified herself from serving on the NCRA Board of Directors," Bertain wrote. "Although I understand that Alexandra Stillman has recently declared her support for passenger rail service between Eureka and Arcata, l believe she has consistently and vocally opposed the return of freight service to Humboldt County and would certainly be contradicting her previous statements if she were to claim otherwise."
Asked about that, Stillman said she supports the consensus rail-with-trail approach that emerged from a series of meetings of an NCRA subcommittee on rail issues. "It was decided that rail-with-trail is the way to go and I fit right in with that," she continued.
Stillman's appointment was decided in a close vote. At first the selection committee was deadlocked, as one of the mayor/members was absent. But to move an appointment, Eureka Mayor Frank Jager changed his vote for Fortuna Mayor Doug Strehl and switched it to Stillman.
Last week's Eureka City Council agenda included an item on Jager's action but it was pulled off of it shortly before the meeting. Eureka Councilmember Mike Newman had sent Stillman an e-mail informing her that his concerns about her appointment are due to questions about "your being opposed to rails with trails."
Stillman's response may have been more than what Newman bargained for. After explaining that she supports operation of a tourist train in similar scale to the "speeder" cars now in use between Eureka and Arcata, Stillman said her "favorite idea" is to put a Budd car – a stainless steel diesel passenger rail car once manufactured by the Budd Company – on the tracks.
But who would be the instigators of such a venture? "I have talked to my girlfriends over the years about how we could run a Budd car back and forth between Eureka/Arcata and be the operators," Stillman informed Newman. "That would be a kick and could work."
In the interview, Stillman said Bertain's depiction of her opposition to rail development isn't accurate. Though skeptical about the financial viability of freight service, Stillman said a lighter, speeder-type tourist train is doable in the short term.
Bertain had also pointed out that Stillman had incorrectly referred to the NCRA board as the "Northwest Railroad Authority Board" in her appointment letter. Stillman acknowledged the mistake and explained that it was a mix-up with the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company, the NCRA's operator, which has been maligned by trail advocates as having gotten a sweetheart lease deal.
Stillman attended her first meeting as an NCRA boardmember in Healdsburg on June 12 and showed that she's not hesitant to speak her mind. As described in recently-appointed NCRA Boardmember Richard Marks' Samoa Softball blog, Stillman responded to a quandary over whether to allow a fish habitat restoration project within the NCRA's corridor by saying, "Where we come from, we don't hold our fish hostage."


text:
Matson Sails Fast Boats to China
Matson Navigation Co. is a tiny blip on the radar compared to the 20 other major global transportation companies serving the China market. Still, as the first American shipper to enter the China trade, it's secured an impressive client base by providing what it and others say is the fastest, most reliable, on-time service from China to Long Beach.
On the fifth anniversary of its China to Long Beach Express (CLX1), Matson president Matthew Cox says the company is profitable and anticipates its CLX2 route will double its Asia capacity. Matson's parent, Alexander and Baldwin Inc., reported net income of $25.7 million for the third quarter of 2010, compared to $8.5 million for the same period in 2009, and much of that is due to its China route.
That success hasn't gone unnoticed. Horizon Lines, Matson's biggest competitor in the West-Coast-to-Hawaii market, recently launched its own China-to-Long-Beach service. Still, the most important story to be told isn't about who will capture the most customers, it's that A&B proved a Hawaii company can compete – and turn heads – in a global economy.
New kid on the block
Matson executives knew if they wanted to grow the company, they'd have to look outside Hawaii. But expansion came with tremendous risk: There were already many carriers serving China, each with more experience, loyal customers and bigger ships.
Even though Matson had been serving the Pacific since 1882 and moves about 65 percent of all cargo from the West Coast to Hawaii, it didn't know how its five-vessel fleet would be received at foreign ports. The biggest unknown, says Stanley Kuriyama, president and CEO of A&B, was whether Matson would be able to break into a new market, secure customers and compete against the world's mega-carriers.
Matson went for it anyway, investing $365 million on new vessels, containers and a dedicated terminal in Long Beach.
"When we placed the original order for the ships, we knew they were going to be delivered in about a year," Cox says. "So we had one year to plan, present and hire the right people, and work on the hundreds of elements that were required to start this new service."
Although Kuriyama was not head of A&B when CLX1 was launched (he led the company's real estate division), he knows it was a huge undertaking with much pressure to succeed. But even if the China route hadn't been a home run, A&B "still would have been OK," he says. "We just would have been that much less profitable. With that said, the income from the China route has been crucial, especially considering how tough the economy has been over the past couple of years."
Head of the class
Before launching the CLX1 route, Matson had partnered for 10 years with an international company, American President Lines, serving Guam. When that alliance ended, Matson wanted to continue the service but needed a way to make the route work financially. For years, Matson's and Horizon's ships had sailed full from the West Coast to Honolulu and Guam, but returned to the West Coast almost empty. The new route lets Matson make a continuous loop with a full load on almost every leg, which improves the company's operating costs. Ships now fill up in China, unload and reload in Long Beach, and then sail to Hawaii and Guam, unload again, and return to China. The ships are only empty on the relatively short Guam-to-China run.
"We're basically full in both directions," Cox says. "To my knowledge, we are the only ones sailing back (westbound) full on our Jones Act service."
When it launched its CLX1 service with five ships, Matson had one of the smallest fleets and handled about 2 percent of total shipments from China to the U.S.
"There was a theory on how we could compete," Kuriyama explains. "We knew we couldn't just go head-to-head with the big guys because they had their established customer base and mega-ships, so we had to figure out a new way of competing."
That they did.
Smaller ships mean Matson can make Shanghai, a shallow-water port, its last port of call. Larger ships cannot top-up in Shanghai and, therefore, must make another stop at a deeper-water port. This allows Matson to offer the fastest transit time, 10 days, from Shanghai to Long Beach.
"The next closest competitor when we launched was 12 days, so we had a two-day service advantage," Cox says. "It's actually expanded from that now. What's happened in the meantime is that many of the international steamship lines have actually slowed their ships down – they call it slow steaming – in order to try to save fuel."
Another measure of Matson's superior service is the quick availability of its cargo upon arrival in Long Beach. Smaller vessels allow 100 percent of cargo to be unloaded within 24 hours and then transferred to Matson's exclusive off-dock facility, where customers can pick it up and avoid long lines at the congested port.
"As an example, Matson's ship arrives Sunday morning in Long Beach at 6:30," Cox explains. "We're able to discharge the 1,000 loads that we have on the ship and move them all on Sunday night to an off-dock facility a few miles away from the port so that Monday morning at 5:00, all 1,000 containers are available for pickup. If you operate a very large ship, it might take you up to 2.5 days to discharge the last part of the cargo and then you face as much as a four-hour delay waiting to get into the gate at the very crowded international marine terminal. So, we have 10-day transit, 11-day availability. The availability of some of our other competitors is probably 14 days after slow-steaming, so we're somewhere between three and seven days faster than most of the market."
Matson's efficiency has attracted a niche of clients who ship higher-ticket, time-sensitive items but want to avoid costly air freight.
Cox says the international on-time standard for arrivals is about 60 percent. In 2007, a survey by Drewry Shipping Consultants, an independent global maritime consulting and publishing company, ranked Matson the No. 1 on-time carrier in the world, and Matson says it continues to lead the industry with reliable service.
Ninety percent of the cargo shipped from China to Long Beach remains on the Mainland, where Matson serves more than 300 customers. Art Wong, assistant director of communications for the Port of Long Beach, says Matson has a reputation for good service. "They offer a big advantage for customers who want to get their products landed and delivered quickly," he says.
Dennis Teranishi, president and CEO of Hawaiian Host, says Matson has shipped its products from the West Coast to Hawaii for decades. "If Matson's service in China is anything like the service they provide for our shipments, I know their customers are happy," he says. "We've found the agents to be very responsive and customer-service oriented."
Five-year overnight success
Even though Matson had a ton of experience serving the Pacific market, success in China didn't come without growing pains.
"If you're a new carrier, you have to prove yourself," Kuriyama says. "(Customers) want to know that you're reliable and efficient in the way that you handle their goods. We definitely had to work to keep their business."
Kuriyama says that, even though the CLX1 service was embraced from the beginning, Matson was under the microscope until it demonstrated that it could deliver on its promises.
In 2009, Matson was tested when the global recession depressed demand for containerized cargo as retailers and consumers reduced their spending. Like many other companies, Matson reacted by cutting costs and reducing staff.
During the strong economy in 2006 and 2007, Kuriyama says, many shipping companies ordered new vessels, thinking business would keep rising.
"So now there's this huge influx of shipping capacity and lower demand and the cost of fuel was at an all-time high. It was just a bad time for the shipping industry," he says.
But Matson has fared well compared to other shipping companies and it's seen a nice recovery in freight rates in China in 2010 as the world economy slowly recovers, Cox says. "We've held our own in a pretty tough market."
China is the world's fastest growing major economy, so it's a big opportunity for a Hawaii company. In 2009, Matson shipped about 47,000 containers from China to the West Coast – which represented about 25 percent of its container business.
"To do business in China, you have to understand their culture, their way of doing business, their laws," Kuriyama says. "Whenever you venture outside of your own market, it's all about who you know, what you know and having a true understanding, not a superficial one, of how the markets work there. And I think we've done pretty well."
Full steam ahead
Since 2008, A&B's three main business lines – agriculture, shipping and real estate – have felt the pain of high oil prices, lower demand for retail products and the real-estate slowdown. In 2009, A&B posted a record $30 million loss for its agricultural businesses as a result of a devastating drought on Maui; 2007 and 2008 were the driest back-to-back years in A&B's history, Kuriyama says, which impacted 2009 revenue.
Net income for the first three quarters of 2009 was $24.1 million. That figure spiked to $71.9 million for the same period in 2010.
"There's no question, Matson's CLX1 has been instrumental in A&B's recovery in 2010 over 2009," Kuriyama says. "When you compare the two year's (shipping) performances, you basically see flat, stable volumes in Hawaii and in Guam, but we saw a significant increase in rates and volume from China."
In 2009, A&B's operating profit for its ocean transportation division in the third quarter was $24.2 million. The same quarter the following year, it jumped to $40.4 million – a 67 percent increase – and Kuriyama has but one explanation: "China." He says the company is in a strong financial position with a solid balance sheet and available lines of credit, which will allow for future growth.
"Our stock has been doing pretty well more recently but we did take a big plunge early in (2010)," Kuriyama says. "The market was in turmoil and there was a huge uncertainty in all lines of business, but as our performance improved over the year, so did our stock-price performance."
Cris Borden, partner and chief investment officer for Kobo Wealth Conservancy, says he's somewhat surprised that A&B's stock wasn't hit harder because of the nature of its business lines – sectors that all saw steep declines. In 2008, Borden says, the shipping industry was down 56 percent while A&B was down 49 percent, "so they did better than the overall shipping industry," he says. "For A&B, their shipping is so critical to the security of Hawaii, which is probably why it did a little better than other shippers around the world."
Borden says A&B's China strategy and presence has probably helped its stock price. "They have a young shipping fleet, which apparently gives them better operating margins, so I think that's helped them as well.
"A&B is representative of the overall Hawaii economy, so their stock price is probably a good indication of where Hawaii is heading, in terms of the economy."
Globally, Borden says there are about 70 other publicly traded shipping companies. "It's difficult to say how Matson measures up to the competition because A&B's market capitalization includes all of its subsidiaries," he explains. But, he says, investors are confident that A&B will continue to be profitable in 2011.
"According to industry experts, shipping rates should remain depressed over the near term, but A&B's service out of China should mitigate their downside risk. … A&B is older, they're well established, they have good cash flow and they're a mature company, so you normally don't see major volatility in stocks like that."
Continued growth
Matson expects its CLX2 service to double its China capacity. The route is a direct loop between Long Beach and Southern China, without stops in Hawaii or Guam. The challenge now is to find more paid cargo to be shipped from the West Coast to China.
In December, Horizon Lines kicked off its own service from China to Long Beach, called Five Star Express, which offers an 11-day transit time. Both Horizon and Matson hope to accommodate an expanding military presence in Guam.
"We certainly feel in some way flattered that (Horizon Lines) is going to try to copy the trail that Matson's blazed and we wish them well," Cox says. "By the other token, they're just one of 20 competitors in the China trade. We aren't overly worried about them and we're going to continue to focus on what we've built on in the last five years."
The Port of Long Beach's Art Wong says China is the manufacturing center of the world and the largest market for containerized shipments, so there's plenty in China to keep all of the major international shippers busy.
"It could get interesting but it'll all come down to who can provide the best service," he says. "And, right now, there are definite advantages to shipping with Matson."
Kuriyama says A&B is poised for recovery as Hawaii's economy strengthens and the company will continue to look at new ways and places to grow within its core businesses.
"For us, this is a long-term story that we're trying to tell. And even though we're expanding to China and that route has been successful, it's important to remember that we're still a Hawaii company, so no matter where we do business, this will always be our focus. Hawaii will always be our home."
CLX1 vessels (the Hawaii ships): Each can carry about 1,000, 40-foot containers.
CLX2 vessels: Each can carry about 1,500 containers.
Typical cargo: Higher-value goods, such as electronics, fashion garments for major retailers, and high-end furniture.
Volume in 2009:
Hawaii-bound containers: 136,100
Hawaii-bound automobiles: 83,400
Guam-bound containers: 14,100
China-to-West-Coast containers: 46,600
Volume in 2008:
Hawaii-bound containers: 152,700
Hawaii-bound automobiles: 86,300
Guam-bound containers: 13,900
China-to-West-Coast containers: 47,800
Matson's CLX1/Hawaii fleet:
MV Maunalei
MV Manulani (at right)
MV Maunawili
MV Manukai
MV R.J. Pfeiffer


text:
Pelosi: Piecemeal immigration approach possible
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi signaled that if a piecemeal approach on immigration is needed to get a bill on the House floor, she will accept it instead of a comprehensive measure.
"If the speaker wants to have a House bill, I fully support that sentiment," she said. "To have a bill would be desirable."
She added, "They have the majority, let's just move forward on something."
( PHOTOS: 20 quotes on immigration reform)
She added that she hopes regardless of the final shape of a House bill, she hopes that it includes a provision for fees for H-1B visas for high-skilled workers to provide for American workforce training.
Asked about Pelosi's remarks, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Ruben Hinojosa (D-Texas) said his members discussed that approach and are opposed to piecemeal immigration bills.
"We do not accept that, those type of strategies are just to delay, delay delay to kill it," he said Thursday afternoon.
Pelosi wants a comprehensive bill. But she signaled that she is willing to make concessions in order to find legislation that could be passed by the House.
Democrats have previously objected to moving immigration reform through the House in small pieces as opposed to a comprehensive bill since a piecemeal method risks losing Democratic votes.
But Pelosi said she's willing to take what Democrats can get in order to move forward to a House-Senate conference.
"In order to have a House bill, a bill has to pass on the House floor," Pelosi told reporters on Thursday.
But she warned it has to be something her caucus can still support.
"If you want our votes, it has to be something that our members can support," she said.


text:
Bells Design, based in Ithaca, NY, is the creative design studio of Ryan McGuire. We offer affordable and professional design services to both small and large businesses that are looking to create an iconic brand and a memorable first impression. We've been turning the ordinary and making it extraordinary for years, and now it's your turn to benefit from amazing design.
When you combine a background in sales, marketing, abstract art, graphic design, and coding, you create a Design Superhero. Ryan's skill set extends across different media and platforms, from digital to physical. Bells Design offers everything your business needs: website design, development, content strategy, mobile and responsive design, brand development, logo design, marketing collateral, creative consulting, photography, and printer sourcing.
Bells Design not only helps your business, but it helps support and strengthen the community. The infamous Bells Design rabbit has been printed on shirts and totes and is sold at an Ithaca consignment shop called The Art and Found. 100% of the net proceeds from the sale of these items is donated to local charities as part of the Bells Design socially-conscious fashion initiative.
I love friendships, expecially when they involve a mutual love for design. If you want to be my friend, it's easy, follow me on one or all of my social networks: Facebook, Twitter, and Behance. I use my social networks to share my latest designs, exciting giveaways, and abstract art projects.


text:
1 in stock
Bruder toys
MCL Direct is an online store for farmers and others in the agricultural industry. We serve all kinds of everything for our customers in the rural lifestyle.
This website is secured by SSL Encryption Technology
Designed & Developed by Upfront Digital
Copyright of Mac Cass LTD 2021


text:
Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee Meeting
Contact: Teresa Ruano, 415-865-7740
August 8, 2013
Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee Meeting
Wednesday, August 14, San Francisco
WHAT: At a public meeting, the Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee will discuss court projects and programs recommended to receive an estimated $75 million from the Trial Court Trust Fund and the State Trial Court Improvement and Modernization Fund in the current fiscal year. Examples of areas that receive primary support from these funds include self-help centers, technology support and initiatives, the complex civil litigation program, and education of judges and court staff. The advisory committee will submit allocation recommendations to the Judicial Council for consideration at its meeting Aug 22–23.
The advisory committee's meeting agenda includes discussion of recommendations for funding priorities for fiscal year 2014–2015, which will also be presented for Judicial Council consideration. The committee will also consider a change to the new allocation methodology for operating funds that was passed by the Judicial Council last month. The proposed change involves a process by which courts with workload issues not yet addressed by the allocation method could request adjustments.
WHEN: Wednesday, Aug 14, 2013; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
WHERE: Judicial Council Conference Center, Hiram Johnson State Office Building, Third Floor, Ronald M. George State Office Complex, 455 Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco. A live audiocast of the meeting will be on the California Courts website.
WHO and WHY: The Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee (roster) was appointed in June 2013 by Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye to advise the Judicial Council on the preparation, development, and implementation of the budget for California's 58 trial courts and to provide input to the council on policy issues affecting trial court funding.
The advisory committee invites courts and the public to submit written comment in advance of the meeting or to request time to speak during the meeting's comment period. Comments and speaking requests may be submitted via e-mail. Speakers will be scheduled in order of requests received. Depending upon demand, speakers may be time-limited at the discretion of the committee chairs.


text:
Watch Live Sport on iPhone, iPad & Android
You can now watch live sport on your iPhone, iPad or Android device including Soccer, Tennis, Basketball, Snooker, Darts, Cricket and Squash. All you need is a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours to qualify.
Any event we are showing on Live Streaming will have a video icon displayed beside it, this will change to a yellow watch button when live. We've made it simple to switch between the markets and the live action, meaning wherever you can get a signal you can now bet and watch.
In order to receive the best picture quality you will require a good 3G or WiFi connection.
We hope you enjoy watching live sport on the go with bet365.


text:
I have something weird going on in Diablo 3 - first I only had a 1GB DDR2 graphics card which allowed me to play solo without a problem but during public games the framerate dropped to below 10.
I changed the card for a 2GB GDDR5 graphics card (and some other stuff) and now during public play I get moments during the game that I'm the only character moving around.
After a short period of time all characters start to move again and all my attacks I used during these seconds go off.
My framerate isn't a problem anymore - even on high settings.
Does anybody know where this comes from?


text:
Everyone knows stress can cause headaches and sleepless nights. But a new study suggests it can actually shrink your brain.
We're not talking run-of-the-mill stressors here, like a looming deadline or a missed bus.
"These are bad things happening, like a relationship breakup, loss of a loved one, being held at gunpoint," says Yale neurobiologist Rajita Sinha, senior author of the new report.
Simply feeling stressed-out was not linked to gray matter shrinkage. But feeling stressed-out combined with a history of stressful life events was. In particular, stress was linked to markedly less gray matter than expected in a part of the prefrontal cortex that regulates emotion and self-control, not to mention blood pressure and blood sugar.
That shrinkage might serve as a red flag about a greater risk of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure as well as psychiatric disorders, according to the researchers. And maybe it's already affecting brain function in the healthy individuals she studied, Sinha says.
In other words, the stresses of modern life are far more complicated than what our ancestors experienced. "You can say stresses are a part of life, so what's the big deal?" Sinha says. But it is a big deal, she adds, because there's extensive evidence that stress has contributed to the rise in chronic diseases.
Most human research about the impact of stress on brain structure has focused on patients with stress-related psychiatric disorders such as addiction and anxiety, according to the authors. Those studies have found decreased volume in the frontal lobe, considered the center of emotion control and personality.
But studies of the cumulative effects of stress on the brains of healthy people are rare, Sinha's team writes in a paper published online this week in Biological Psychiatry.
The study enrolled 103 health adults ages 18 to 48. Researchers conducted structured interviews with the volunteers to collect information about stressful life events and subjective feelings of chronic stress.
The scientists then used MRI to scan the volunteers' brains.
Whose brains shrunk more, men's or women's? You might think you know the answer, but the researchers don't, because they didn't have enough women to compare the sexes.
The take-home message, Sinha says, is that the better you cope with stress — take a walk, call a friend — the better off your brain will be.
More like this:


text:
Welcome to Etihad Airways
A career with Etihad Airways will take you all around the world.
Does a career spanning the globe appeal to you? Imagine visiting Sydney's Opera House at the start of the week, dining on the Champs-Elysees in Paris later in the week and then browsing the many stores on New York's Fifth Avenue the following week? Furthermore, imagine doing this with your new found family which encompasses almost 5,000 Cabin Crew of 110 different Nationalities.
Our Cabin Crew are truly global citizens who share a collective passion for caring for our guests, inspired by the traditional Arabian hospitality found in our home, Abu Dhabi. Our In-Flight crew aspire to surpass our guests expectations and inspire our customers through innovative hospitality and ensure the onboard safety of each of our guests.
We are looking for exceptional people to join our team. If you share a desire to inspire others and travel the world, explore our opportunities and join us as a member of our Cabin Crew, a Food & Beverage Manager or an In-Flight Chef.
Latest jobs
There are currently no jobs.


text:
How to switch from KDE to GNOME in openSUSE
openSUSE is a general purpose operating system built on top of the Linux kernel, developed by the community-supported openSUSE Project and sponsored by SUSE and a number of other companies. After Novell acquired SUSE Linux in January 2004, Novell decided to release the SUSE Linux Professional product as a 100% open source project.
openSUSE by default installs KDE as desktop manager and in this post I am going to explain how you can switch the desktop manager from KDE to GNOME in openSUSE
Install GNOME:
open SUSE comes with KDE as default Desktop Manager and to use GNOME first we need to install the same.
1) To install GNOME open YasT Software Manager
2) Click on Views (Drop Down Menu) and click on Pattern.
3) Now you will see following screen (viewed by pattern); select GNOME Desktop Environment and Press Accept. Accept the licence and any other message.
Installation of GNOME will get started
Configure GNOME as Default Desktop Manager
1) After installation gets completed open YaST Control Center to set GNOME as Default Desktop Manager.
2) Go to System and from Right hand side panel click on "/etc/sysconfig Editor"
Following window will appear
3) Configure Display Manager: Expand Desktop and then Display Manager; now click on DISPLAYMANAGER under it and select "gdm" from the drop down menu.
4) Configure Windows Manager: Expand Window Manager and click on DEFAULT_WM. Now select gnome from the drop down list.
Press OK; a pop-up will appear asking for confirmation, press OK to continue.
Thats it, Logoff and login again.


text:
Reports: North Korea says likely to join Olympics in South
TOKYO — North Korea's IOC representative on Saturday said his country is likely to compete in figure skating in next month's Winter Olympics in South Korea, according to Japanese media reports.
Asked by reporters at Beijing airport, Chang Ung said the participation of a North Korean figure skating pair will probably happen, the reports said.
Citing unnamed sources, Japan's Kyodo News service and broadcaster NHK said Chang was headed to Switzerland, where he could meet with International Olympic Committee officials.
Footage on NHK showed Chang pushing a luggage cart in Beijing airport and talking briefly to media. North Korean officials typically fly abroad through Beijing.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un offered during a New Year's Day speech to send a delegation to the Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. It wasn't clear whether that meant athletes or just officials. North and South Korea have agreed to discuss cooperation on the Olympics, as well as other issues, in rare talks at the border starting Tuesday. They come just one month before the Feb. 9 opening ceremony for the Winter Games.
Figure skating pair Ryom Tae Ok and Kim Ju Sik are the only North Korean athletes who have qualified. The duo won North Korea's first medal — a bronze — at the Asian Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan, last February.
Asked if other North Korean athletes would compete at Pyeongchang, Chang said only that time would tell.


text:
Wonders of
We're hosting works of Valerio Li Vigni, architectural photographer and contributor to UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
Castelluccio Plateau
Hidden among the Sibylline Mountain peaks , it is the Europe's largest karst plateau, where 150 clever farmers grow lentils. Once in a year and just for few days, you can see a singular natural event called "the Flowering": simultaneous blooming of different floral species that create a colourful "rug" covering the whole of the valley.Read More


text:
Who said you can't play games on Google? You can add a lot of gadgets to Google's personalized homepage, and some of them are time-wasting games. Here are my favorite 5 games from Google's directory.
5. Pacman (Pacman is universally considered one of the classics of the medium, virtually synonymous with video games, and an icon of 1980s popular culture)
Play on Google Homepage (this game makes a lot of noise)
4. Blackjack (Blackjack is one of the most popular casino card games in the world)
Play on Google Homepage
3. Solitaire (single-player card game)
Play on Google Homepage
2. Flickr Puzzlr (puzzle based on images from Flickr)
Play on Google Homepage (click on the picture to see the puzzle)
1. Google Minesweeper (the game has been rewritten for many computer platforms and is most famous for the version that comes with Microsoft Windows)
Play on Google Homepage
Puzzle challenges from a Google engineer
5 things the Google Pixel Watch 2 needs to get right
28 minutes ago


text:
Ruslan Sharipov
From WikiLeaks
Revealing human rights violations in Uzbekistan.
A journalist and human rights defender, Sharipov is the founder of the Union of Independent Journalists of Uzbekistan and a correspondent for the Moscow Human Rights Agency. Before his imprisonment, he reported regularly on the state of the media and press freedom in Uzbekistan, and about human rights violations in the country. In August 2003, Sharipov was sentenced to four years in prison for or "engaging in homosexual acts", as a pretext to silence him and stop his human rights work


text:
Over the next few weeks, you're going to hear a lot of noise from manufacturers about how one hybrid product or another gives you all of the benefits of a laptop and a tablet, with no compromises on design. The Dell XPS Duo 12 is one of the few that actually seems to back that up.
The Duo is a convertible tablet/laptop that switches from laptop to tablet mode differently from most other hybrids coming out. It's a fully functional touchscreen laptop in its default mode, but you can push the display through its frame, and it swivels all the way around, finally latching itself in place with magnets.
Looking at the frame from the front, a little daylight keeps through, and it seems like a cheap design at first. But the mechanism is sturdier than it seems, and Dell knows it's got to make the thing last if anyone's going to buy it. Exactly how sturdy it is remains to be seen with further review, but for now, it's pretty solid.
Oh, and the screen itself is a 1080p Corning Gorilla Glass panel with really good color representation.
The XPS Duo 12, like the XPS 10, shares its design with Dell's quite nice XPS 13 and 14 ultrabooks. The big change for this one, aside from the swiveling screen, is the move to a carbon fiber front of the lid. It had been aluminum on the XPS 13 and 14. But otherwise, the general design language and keyboard are all the same. That's a good thing, since those XPSs were really nice machines, and have great keyboards.
Usability-wise, from a few minutes playing with it and putting it through its paces, the trackpad also really, really good. It's miles ahead of what previous XPS machines' trackpads could do. Dell's been making great machines with bad trackpads for a while; it seems to have fixed that big hurdle.
We don't have full specs and pricing yet, but if you're at all interested in a hybrid Windows 8 machine, this one, along with its little sister the XPS 10, is one to be kind of excited for.


text:
There's so much brilliant SQL Server content being shared every day that it can feel impossible and overwhelming trying to keep up with it all.
Each week I share my personal pick of the best SQL Server content from around the web, ensuring you are able to get right to the good stuff fast.
Make sure you get to enjoy the latest quality SQL Server content by Subscribing to receive my Something for Weekend posts direct to your e-mail inbox each week absolutely free.


text:
Need To Talk With An Investigator?
text pihelp to 797979
From the files of our daily real world "Success Stories," here are a few brief summaries.
A fortune 500 Company located in San Bernardino County, was told by the applicant that he would be the perfect employee. Our skilled investigators conducted an extensive Pre-Employment Background Check, which revealed that the potential employee had failed to disclose his criminal background. Based on our efforts, our client saved potentially thousands of dollars in unnecessary training and termination fees.
A San Bernardino County law firm represented a woman in an attempt to collect her back child support. We were contacted, as the ex-husband stated under oath that he was unemployed and unable to pay his child support. Our skilled Asset Search investigators utilized numerous techniques, including surveillance, to document that the ex-husband was currently employed with a large engineering firm, and verified that he was earning approximately $100,000 annually.
A San Bernardino County-based insurance company received a claim from their policyholder. The workers compensation claim involved an employee who allegedly slipped and fell at work, injuring his back. The employer received numerous complaints from co-workers indicating that the subject was not injured, and was busy with other activities. We were asked to verify this information. Our skilled Insurance Claim Investigators obtained detailed videotape of the subject lifting furniture, playing basketball and jogging. As a result of our efforts, our client denied the employee's benefits, and the case was settled for no monetary value.
A San Bernardino County law firm handling a business-to-business litigation case needed to locate the whereabouts of an ex-employee of the defendant. We were supplied only with a name. Our skilled Skip Trace Investigators located the individual. Based on our efforts, our client interviewed the ex-employee and obtained a positive outcome in their litigation matter.


text:
In this episode of Ask A Mortician, our favorite death-obsessed lady, Caitlin Doughty, explains the magic of decomposition, and how, if you want to, you can turn a dead body into an explosive device.
Also, we neglected to post this episode from earlier this month, in which Caitlin discusses corpse poop, so we are rectifying that now. Hey, shit happens.
Our Favorite Mortician Does Not Care for Zombies!
Our Favorite Mortician Reveals What Happens to Corpses in Space
Our Favorite Mortician Takes Us On A Hollywood Death Tour
Our Favorite Mortician Explains How You Can Have Her Job
Our Go-To Mortician Reveals Her Favorite Death Custom
Our Favorite Mortician Explains Cremation, Beastly-Sounding 'Bone Blender'
Fun, Friendly, Female Mortician Will Answer All Your Random Questions About Death


text:
I dreamed last night that I was a tiger in the jungle
But I was a big bad tiger, so a lion killed me
And then I was an elephant, a great big elephant
There wasn't anything I couldnt do
Till they caught and they brought me to the zoo
So I dreamed I was an alligator
-crocodile? -no, alligator!
With a great big mouth
And four very funny little legs
Which are no good for dancing
So, then I was a dancing bear
And I was doing my dancing where the bears dance
But I was sneezing, cause I was a dancing polar bear
And it was freezing
Then I dreamed I was a giraffe
I looked so ridiculous I wanted to laugh
But giraffes can't talk, so how can they laugh?
Who ever saw a giraffe laugh?
Then I woke up
And I was not a tiger, or and elephant,
I was not an alligator. -crocodile? -no, alligator!
I was not a dancing bear or a tall giraffe
I was only me... and that's the way I'll be!
Oh, that's the way I'll be
I enjoy being an oyster!


text:
One Refined Flieger
Fortis pilot watches debuted in the 1980s and helped define a new generation of functional timepieces, with a distinct style that combined 40 mm cases and black dials, along with green tritium luminous material applied to large hands and hour markers. The result was sturdy, sober and legible watches designed for professional pilots. The inherent attraction of no-nonsense tool watches quickly extended beyond the world's high flyers (fliegers), and Fortis pilot watches began appearing on the wrists of the populace.
The new Fortis limited edition Flieger Chronograph 597.20.92 M is a sophisticated variant of the award-wining models in the current collection, with a tonal scheme reminiscent of watches in the brand's current F-43 series. The Flieger Chronograph maintains all of the desirable qualities of an effective pilot's watch but offers a few refinements that make it more subdued, and more elegant.
The case retains the 40 mm size of the original offerings and utilizes a combination of brushed and polished steel. The sturdy interlink bracelet closes by way of a fold-over clasp. (The watch is also available on a black padded leather strap.) Polished steel chronograph pushers flank the large, fluted and domed crown, which is designed to be easy to clutch and operate. The sapphire crystal has an anti-reflective coating and the watch is water resistant to 330 feet.
Subtleties include thicker, softer outlines around the sub-dials and skeletonized hands with luminous tips. The dial's creamy shade of beige is well coordinated with the blue and black details. All in all, these changes ease the watch's tough and purposeful appearance without sacrificing legibility, which so defines the Fortis Flieger's history.
Fortis 597.20.92 M Flieger Chronograph
- Swiss made timepiece
- Chronograph function
- Swiss automatic self-wind movement, fine timing device and Incabloc shock absorver
- Stainless steel case, diameter 40 mm, 15 mm thickness
- Beige dial with day and date display
- Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
- Stationary stainless steel bezel
- Silver stainless steel bracelet, width 19 mm, fold over clasp with safety
- Water resistant to 330 feet
- 2-year manufacturer's warranty
At the heart of the Flieger Chronograph 597.20.92 M is an ETA Valjoux 7750 automatic movement, widely accepted as one of the most dependable cam-operated chronograph movements around. In addition to the chronograph function, the Flieger features quick-set day and date complications.
Time-keeping equipment for pilots has to be functional: legibility and dependability are essential to a pilot's ability to make accurate calculations on-the-fly. This is the legacy of the Fortis Flieger. Today, Fortis pilot watches continue to be a favorite among civil aviation and air aerobatic squadrons around the world. Built to perform and good looks to match make this Flieger Chronograph – a limited edition of 500 pieces worldwide – an excellent choice for daily wear. Pick one up today from an authorized Fortis dealer.
Gevril Group US, Canada and Caribbean Fortis Watches Agent
Gevril Group is the sole US, Canada and Caribbean agent for Fortis Watches and the official Fortis watch repair service center. Contact us by email or by calling 845-425-9882.
Join the conversation! Follow Gevril Group on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Please subscribe to the Gevril Group newsletter and blog.


text:
André Beniest, better known as Benn, started his comics career while still studying fine arts in 1969. His first comic, the humorous series 'Petit-Beurre' was published in Junior/Ons Volkske. He continued with two mini books for Spirou, followed by a couple of years drawing 'Les Schtroumpfs' at Studio Peyo. At the same time, Benn took on the humorous series 'Sam et Tibond', again in Junior/Ons Volkske. He also joined Tintin, where he did several short stories, as well as the series 'Tom Applepie' scripted by Vicq.
In 1978, Benn teamed up with scenarist Stephen Desberg to create the series about Scottish detective 'Mic Mac Adam' in Spirou. Despite not being Belgian he was one of the contributing artists to the book 'Il était une fois... Les Belges'/'Er waren eens... Belgen' (1980), a collection of columns and comic pages published at the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Belgium. In the 1980s Benn expanded his activities with 'Monsieur Cauchemar', a series of comic adaptations of detective novels by Pierre Siniac. This series appeared at Glénat, a publisher for which he also created 'Elmer et Moi'. In 1992, he started the series 'Woogee' at Dargaud. At the same publisher, he relaunched 'Mic Mac Adam' together with the scriptwriter Luc Brunschwig.


text:
Welcome to the Commonwealth of Virginia 2009 Energy Conservation Code website.
You will be able to view the new 2009 Commwealth of Virginia Energy Code in an Adobe® Reader® format. The files found on this site are in a read only format and are not available for printing.
You will need to have Adobe®; Reader®; 8.0 or higher installed to be able to read these files. If you do not have Adobe® Reader® 8.0 or higher you can download it for free at www.adobe.com.
Use your arrow buttons or scroll bar to move between code sections and pages in the document.
For assistance on technical issues with this web site or for accessibility compliant files contact Electronic Media by e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com.
COPYRIGHT © 2011 by INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
This 2009 Virginia Energy Conservation Code contains substantial copyrighted material from the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code, which is a copyrighted work owned by the International Code Council, Inc.
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Administration
Chapter 2 Definitions
Chapter 3 General Requirements
Chapter 4 Residential Energy Efficiency
Chapter 5 Commercial Energy Efficiency
Chapter 6 Referenced Standards


text:
Funding support and resources are provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Department of Community and Economic Development; through a cooperative agreement with the U. S. Small Business Administration, and through support from The University of Scranton. All services are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Special arrangements for persons with disabilities can be made by calling 570-941-7588.
All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. SBDC services are not available to individuals or entities that have been debarred or suspended by the federal government. By agreeing to receive assistance from the SBDC you are self-certifying that you are not currently federally debarred or suspended and also agree to cease using SBDC services if you become federally debarred or suspended in the future.


text:
Karel Schelfhout, Michiel Panhuysen
The Organic Grow Book - American English Edition
Gardening Strategies for Indoors & Outdoors
This practical handbook reveals new organic gardening techniques. It's a compendium of secrets rediscovered and innovative tips.
Beneficial micro-organisms, bokashi or biodynamic compost, permaculture, vortex, power of the elements… The Organic Grow Book opens the doors to a full-scale (r)evolution where productivity goes hand in hand with quality.
Summer and winter, in soil or bioponic, learn to grow healthier and tastier plants — fruit, vegetables, flowers — while enhancing your own well-being and the planet's.
With its broad array of unprecedented strategies and proven tips, this eco-responsible and highly humorous guide is a must for all mindful gardeners, whether beginners or experts.
Photos, 3D diagrams, microscopies, step-by-step graphs… over 570 original illustrations.
Addresses and websites
Trade shows and fairs
Over 550 professional entries
Karel Schelfhout has been a recognized figure in the world of horticulture for over thirty years. He played a prominent role in disseminating cultivation techniques first used in the Netherlands — and subsequently switched to organic growing.
Michiel Panhuysen, a journalist published in several languages, specializes in organic and urban gardening.
|Préface :
|Michka Seeliger-Chatelain
|Illustrations :
|Denis Pic Lelièvre
Marie-Hélène Fasquel & Gabriel Erhart
E-BOOKe-ISBN 978-2-84594-259-2
TECHNICAL INFOS600 pages
17x24 cm
570 color illustrations
39 €
American English BioScope


text:
Monday, January 31, 2011
Ohio GOP Governor Cuts Trans People Out Of Anti-Discrimination Executive Order
When you're part of a marginalized community, which party control the government at the local, state and federal level when one party pushes civil rights and the other is hell bent on rolling them back is of ginormous importance.
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland (D) issued an executive order in 2007 that banned discrimination in state employment for TBLG people. The order declared that no state employee could be fired from or denied a state job on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Fast forward to 2010 and GOP control of the Ohio state government. Governor John Kasich (R) let that executive order expire despite a campaign promise to the contrary. But after getting major flack over it issued a revised executive order that left out guess who?
The list of protected groups in the revised anti-discrimination order is a bit lengthy, protecting state employees or job candidates from discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, national origin, military status, disability, age, genetic information or sexual orientation.
"The governor is opposed to discrimination in state employment and has made that clear in this executive order in the way that he feels is most appropriate," said spokesman Scott Milburn in a statement to reporters.
Umm hmm. Yep, screw the transpeeps..
So for all you Ohio transpeople who voted GOP or didn't vote at all on November 2, elections have consequences. It's also past time for you to realize that the Republican Party, when it comes to civil rights issues, is not your friend.
Posted by Monica Roberts at 8:30 PM No comments:
Labels: discrimination, transgender issues
Tampa Mom Takes Teen Kids Out Of This World
Kids, when your mother tells you the classic line "I brought you into this world and I can take you out", believe it.
I'd also advise you to cease and desist with whatever behavior of yours is pissing her off.
16 year old Calyx Schenecker and her 13 year old brother Beau were shot and killed by their mother Julie Powers Schenecker in Tampa, FL for 'mouthing off' to her.
Police reportedly stated that Schenecker said her son Beau had been talking back to her while on the way to his soccer practice when she shot him twice with a .38 in the family SUV. She then returned home and shot Calyx twice while she sat in front of her computer doing homework.
The Army wife had written a note in which Schenecker said she was going to kill her "disrespectful children," then kill herself, writing," "they talked back and were mouthy and that she was going to take care of it."
She's facing two counts of first degree murder.
I'd also advise you to cease and desist with whatever behavior of yours is pissing her off.
16 year old Calyx Schenecker and her 13 year old brother Beau were shot and killed by their mother Julie Powers Schenecker in Tampa, FL for 'mouthing off' to her.
Police reportedly stated that Schenecker said her son Beau had been talking back to her while on the way to his soccer practice when she shot him twice with a .38 in the family SUV. She then returned home and shot Calyx twice while she sat in front of her computer doing homework.
The Army wife had written a note in which Schenecker said she was going to kill her "disrespectful children," then kill herself, writing," "they talked back and were mouthy and that she was going to take care of it."
She's facing two counts of first degree murder.
Posted by Monica Roberts at 2:00 PM No comments:
Labels: crimes, legal/justice
Pam's Ponderings-The T-Life Isn't For This Trans Girl
I don't want anyone to think that I hate trans women because I do not. I am a trans woman, who doesn't care if a trans girl is pre or post op. I have something in common with her. We all could find ourselves on the receiving end of discrimination.
Violence could be perpetrated against us.
We all are ridiculed. Mocked. There are men who have sex with us, but behind our backs make fun of us to other people.
So we trans women are in this together.
But I find it infinitely easier to deal with mainstream society and natal women and men than SOME trans people. It is easier for me, a trans woman, to be in mainstream society with a reputation as a trans woman than it is being a trans woman in the trans community.
To put it bluntly, some t-girls are hard to deal with. Unless you're in the same boat she's in, she is not your ally.
But when I'm around some transsexuals, I can feel the shade. They feel that I should have on more makeup. One time, Miss Ava Loren, who fancied herself an expert makeup artist, painted me.
She applied heavy foundation and eyeliner and gobs of green eye shadow. She put on lip liner, followed by lipstick and then lip gloss. "Girl, you look fierce," she exclaimed, looking at me, admiring her handiwork, I suppose.
I took a look at myself in the mirror and I was horrified.
With all that damn gloss, my mouth was so greasy looking, it appeared as if I ate a 10 piece bucket of KFC and neglected to wipe my mouth.
Ava and I had planned to hit the mall and I was not venturing outside with all that shit smeared on my face. "This isn't me. I'm going to wash this off," I told her. Her expression indicated that she didn't like hearing that.
"Don't make me no never mind," she said.
So, I redid my makeup. "Humph!" She sucked her teeth. Examining her garishly painted acrylic nails, she said, "Now, you look like regular fish."
"That's my objective," I said, resisting the urge to cuss Ava out for having a smelly attitude. I didn't want to parade around in all that ridiculous looking makeup. She acted like I stole her hormones.
And my 6'1 stature is an issue with trans girls who are shorter. I love being tall. Sometimes, it is a challenge finding clothes that are long enough. And some t-girls have denigrated me for being tall. But when my life is compared to theirs, I can say, I did it. I went from a gay man to a pre-op to a post-op who functions in mainstream society as a woman. And I can say cheerily, I am not doing it in stealth.
I have a family, a home. My husband makes terrific money and he is generous to me. I have free reign with the money and credit cards. And some of the trans girls have accused me of lying about my wonderful life.
Those bitches are just jealous. But for those types, I'm not tolerating their pathetic shit. I refuse to be around them. What I've done. They could do it too. If a trans woman can stomach some of the annoying, petty crap that goes on in the t-community--the shade. Jealous trans women hating on you, running around badmouthing you to people because she's envious.
Trans women fighting over "tranny chasers" who don't give a damn about them. If you can endure that, and God knows, I couldn't, you can take the bit of iciness that you may encounter in mainstream society. Believe me, it's much easier to deal with.
Posted by Monica Roberts at 12:00 PM No comments:
Labels: guest post, transgender issues
SNL Very Unfunny Skit
Seems like I missed what has the trans community doing a slow burn right now.
They had a parody commercial for a product called Estro-Maxx which has the trans not too happy right now with the show thanks to
another medically inaccurate misrepresentation of trans lives.
They and some people watching it may have thought it was funny, but MAGNET .and many of our allies aren't laughing.
Ashley Love, a founder of MAGNET, explains, " Instead of showing the characters as women who were treating their transsexual and/or intersex birth challenge by undergoing legitimate medical transition to have their mind in alignment with their body, they were blatantly mis-gendered and depicted as "men in dresses" and transvestites. It's unbelievable that such a tele-hate-vision crime would air on NBC, a public network."
I didn't find it funny either. As someone who comes from a people who were denigrated with blackface minstrel shows since the 1830's, and once again by a gay male doing a blackface character, the Estro Maxx skit not only fell flat with me, the inaccuracies in the fake ad also bothered me as well.
Don't waste your breath telling me the bullshyt 'lighten up', 'it's a joke' or 'you're too sensitive about this'. When you're a marginalized community that doesn't have much civil rights coverage and you're fighting tooth and nail for laws to protect your civil rights, much less keep them from being rolled back, media images matter.
And for those people who claim that no one pays attention to what's said on Saturday Night Live, ask Sarah Palin or the McCain campaign.
Posted by Monica Roberts at 8:00 AM No comments:
Labels: transgender issues
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
Can You Get an Infection From Fingering or Oral Sex?
I'm 14 and still a virgin, but my boyfriend fingers me and gives me oral sex. For a couple of weeks, my vagina has been itchy and red, and it hurts when I touch it. I don't feel comfortable talking to my mom about this. What should I do?
– Ellie*
Friction and pressure from fingering or oral sex can cause irritation in the sensitive genital area. But itching and redness that lasts for a couple of weeks also could be a sign of an infection that could get worse if it isn't treated. So you should get checked out by a doctor or .
Don't want to get into details with your mom? Just tell her you're having itching and discomfort "down there" and would like to get checked out. Girls can have vaginal infections for all sorts of reasons that have nothing to do with sexual contact — such as stress, for example.
Even if you're not having intercourse, fingering and oral sex can lead to infection. Ask your boyfriend to wash his hands before touching your genitals. And if either of you has a cold sore, don't have oral sex. The virus that causes cold sores can transfer to the genitals and become genital herpes.
Because other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) also can be passed by oral sex, use a dental dam when a girl is receiving oral sex or a condom when a guy is receiving oral sex to protect against infection.
*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.


text:
How is Terry transformed by her night in jail? Why does she think she deserves to be punished and do you agree?
Created: 03/08/13
Replies: 4
Join Date: 10/11/10
Posts: 359
Join Date: 01/12/12
Posts: 298
Terry looks around at the other women and can see she's different, that she knows she'll be released, whereas most of them are looking at much stronger sentences. I think she feels guilty about that, that she's so connected to other women - spiritually, at a deeper level - she can feel their despair.
Join Date: 06/23/12
Posts: 27
I think her night in jail brought on an awakening of social conscience and a pang of guilt because, as she put it, because of luck or birth, her fate is different than the other women. So many people would react by feeling superior and I think her empathy and insights show what a special woman she is.
Join Date: 12/17/12
Posts: 206
Terry didn't have children. I think seeing the pain the women went through when separated from their children helped her understand motherhood a little better. I think she ended up with more compassion for these women and others like them. Terry's life had been focused on the natural world, and not so much on people.
Join Date: 10/20/10
Posts: 33
I must admit that I couldn't quite figure out this segment of the book. I couldn't figure out when in time it took place, and why she didn't ask one of her other family members for help. I also didn't understand why she thought she deserved to be punished. Punished for what? Driving with a suspended license?
Please login to post a response.


text:
Abandoned Barn
Hanging Rock State Park - North Carolina
"Blue Eyes Glow"
"Looking Out"
I'm Not Stopping
Photographed in Matthews, NC at the bike shop.
The Umbrellas
Photographed at the Renaissance Festival in Charlotte, NC.
Ladies dresses and sashes.
The Renaissance Festival - Charlotte, NC.
The Daisies
Photographed in Matthews, NC
Ashby Herron
This is my grandmother, the first Ashby! I used the original photography and colored parts of the black & white photo, added some elements and framing to create a more photo artistic look to an already beautiful photograph.
The Giraffes
A New York model of the 1950's.
Practicing with painting on black & white photos.
Elmwood Cemetery - Charlotte, NC
The Red Church Door
Sullivan's Island, SC
Turkish coffee pot and coffee beans
The Castle Door
Background texture created by Ash3. Portugal stamps, envelopes and texture layers created with Finn Art.
The Church Windows ~ Nashville, TN
Catholic Church ~ Mobile, Alabama
The Violinist


text:
Our premier, award-winning syndicated market research database provides detailed data and analysis on industries, economies, countries and consumers across 781 cities, 210 countries.
Via helps you navigate a fast-changing digital marketplace. We extract and organise ecommerce data from over 1,500 online retailers in 40 countries providing daily updates on pricing, assortment size and key attributes.
Our consulting team answers your commercial questions with data and insights generated by our research experts, industry knowledge and 1,200 on-the-ground analysts in 100 developed, emerging and frontier markets.
Curious about how we partner with you to help you solve your complex modern-day business problem?
Access and download reports and data purchased through Euromonitor.com.
Your cart is empty.
Our site uses cookies to improve functionality. If you are happy with this select "Accept All". If not, select "Manage Preferences" to learn more about managing your cookie preferences. Follow this link to learn more about our cookie policy and how we use cookies. Or learn more about our privacy policy and how we use and store your data.
Danone, Groupe is the leading company in Dairy Products and Alternatives globally, with a key focus on yoghurt and milk formula. The company saw growth in the past three years, albeit losing shares to competitors. While recent developments impacted…


text:
Who doesn't love Bruce Campbell? The cult-favorite actor has of late enjoyed a popular outlet for his wiseacre skills on USA's Burn Notice, playing Sam Axe, an ex-Navy SEAL who aids ex-spy Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan). The breakout supporting character braks out into his own TV-movie in Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe. As in 2005's The Man with the Screaming Brain and 2007's My Name Is Bruce, Campbell's leading performance compensates for sketchy scripts and humble budgets. And Burn Notice fans have a couple of added inducements to rub their hands with glee: series star Donovan directs (and puts in a cameo), and the movie fills in the key backstory to Sam's character by depicting what forced him into early military retirement in Miami.
That said, fans may wish to moderate their expectations. What amounts to a reasonably fun double-episode of Burn Notice has something of a tossed-off quality, especially in its script by Burn Notice creator Matt Nix. The Latin American "fiasco" that drummed Sam out of service (circa 2005) turns out to involve an opportunistic School of the Americas grad (Pedro Pascal's Comandante Veracruz), a "Doctors for All" clinic in peril, and a ragtag band of rebels (sigh) that Sam exasperatingly terms "the greatest part-time farmer army ever." The movie surrounds Campbell with bland characters and blander actors, for the most part. Clinician Amanda Maples (Kiele Sanchez) is good for some backtalk and flirtation, while young rebel Beatriz (Ilza Rosario) turns out to be equal parts troublemaker and hero in the making. Sam finds himself stuck amidst the rebels he's been ordered to investigate even as he attempts to protect the clinic's doctors and patients from destruction. being nicknamed "The Chin" is but one of the many annoyances that keep Sam right where we want him: irritable and sarcastic.
Donovan maximizes his budget with a handful of reasonably exciting firefight, explosion, and vehicular mayhem sequences, but the real show here is in the too-rare opportunities for humor. Nix wedges in a chainsaw-flinging gag as a tribute to Campbell's Evil Dead notoriety, and there's an amusing bit involving Sam being issued sky-blue fatigues by an officer who'd perhaps prefer Sam never returns (for a reason that's the oldest cliché in the book). It's a testament to the character of Sam Axe and the writer and actor who created him that The Fall of Sam Axe winds up being something of a disappointment. Sam and Bruce deserve a story that's more creative and more gonzo.
Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe comes to Blu-ray with a tight, clean high-definition transfer culled from a digitally photographed hi-def source. This transfer maximizes the picture quality with impeccable contrast and black level, attractive and presumably accurate color representation, and impressive detail. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround mix ably handles the film's dialogue, music, and occasionally explosive special effects.
The disc includes an audio commentary by Bruce Campbell, director Jeffrey Donovan, and producer/Burn Notice creator Matt Nix that's great fun: perhaps more entertaining than informative, but who's complaining?
Mockumentary featurette "The Fall of Jeffrey Donovan" (11:26, HD) proposes that the movie's director has lost it and "gone native" on the set.
Also here are brief "Deleted Scenes" (1:20, SD) and my favorite extra, "Burn Notice at Comic-Con 2010" (1080i, 26:02), a panel featuring actor Chris Vance, actor-director Tim Matheson, writer-producer Alfredo Barrios, Nix and Campbell.
Burn Notice fans are in for a treat with this Blu-ray special edition; here's hoping the series itself returns to Blu.
|Review gear:
Panasonic Viera TC-P55VT30 55" Plasma 1080p 3D HDTV
Oppo BDP-93 Universal Network 3D Blu-ray Disc Player
Denon AVR2112CI Integrated Network A/V Surround Receiver
Pioneer SP-BS41-LR Bookshelf Speaker (2)
Pioneer SP-C21 Center Speaker
Pioneer SW-8 Subwoofer


text:
The ski areas in Summit County sprawl across entire mountains—a lot of territory to sift through in a single ski vacation. Over the years, skiing with the locals has taught Lassen a lot about these mountains. Here are her time-tested suggestions for how to make the most of every vacation day.
Two words: Outback Shuttle. If you can handle ungroomed black-diamond runs, do yourself a favor and arrange for a snowcat ride up the saucer of snow that's not served by Keystone's chairlifts. This will give you access to the top of North Bowl, where you can find above-treeline terrain like Outer Limits and make your way down through islands of trees. You can boot pack up the bowl too—but why punish your lungs at 11,000-plus feet?
Terrain-park enthusiasts should definitely head for the expansive A-51, one of the nation's top-rated facilities. It's filled with rails, boxes, kickers and other well-built features designed for a variety of skill levels.
If you're staying in town, you can walk or shuttle to the QuickSilver or Beaver Run chairlift, which will get you up on Peak 9 or 10 quickly. Long intermediate cruisers, like Briar Rose, are a lovely way to start the day. Families will find beginner areas, kids' adventure zones and small terrain parks here too.
The black-diamond upper bowls at Breck draw advanced skiers, and for good reason. Happily, this means that fewer people head for the terrific advanced runs like Devil's Crotch, off the E chairlift. Traverse through the trees, figuring out where to scoot between the trunks, and you'll discover some great hidden spots in shady north-facing glades.
If your skills permit, head immediately for the advanced runs at the peak. You'll lose any base-area crowds and probably—unless it's a windy day—find the best snow conditions. There's terrific skiing and riding in Union Meadows to skier's left (the resort's west end), descending through an open bowl and into the trees. The Storm King T-bar is a good way to reach the upper-mountain runs on skier's right, since many people avoid surface lifts.
Those who crave powder should look for where the chairlifts aren't operating. Copper Mountain's runs are so well laid out that it's easy to move laterally around this mountain. On my most recent visit, in late spring, I found that the Timberline Express chair wasn't running midweek, but the terrain around it was still open. Accompanied by a local skier, I happily gorged on untracked, knee-deep powder runs, catching a groomed cat track at the base and gliding back to the American Flyer chair over and over again.
In a few days on the slopes, you're sure to uncover some great finds of your own. I'd tell you more, but I can't give away all my secrets!
Keystone: 800-328-1323; keystoneresort.com
Breckenridge: 1599 Ski Hill Rd, Breckenridge, CO 80424; 970-453-5000; breckenridge.com
Copper Mountain: 209 10 Mile Cir, Frisco, CO 80443; 970-968-2318; coppercolorado.com
NOTE: Information may have changed since publication. Please confirm key details before planning your trip.