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Dr Prem Jagyasi Photo and Photography Gallery
Italy by Dr Prem
Italy, the country that has witnessed a strong wave of renaissance art has innumerable attractions forming a prime travel photography destination. The historical monuments and the pristine beaches draw the admiration of millions of tourists throughout the year but the most striking object of travel photography is no doubt the Grand Canal running through Venice, the capital city of Italy forming an awesome network of water traffic interconnecting various corners of the city. The bridge running over the water canals and the buildings bordering the water canal reveal spectacular medieval architecture much to the delight of a travel photographer. Italy by Dr PremRead More


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Natural Elements Metal Wall Sculptures
Metal tree wall art and leaf wall sculptures will heighten a nature theme. Browse our natural elements metal wall sculptures for steel wall art sets, metal wall panels, tree wall sculptures and more.
Metal Tree Wall Art for a Majestic Touch
Metal tree wall art blazes beautifully over a nature-inspired bed ensemble, bringing peace and harmony to your boudoir. Or, mount a leaf metal wall sculpture over your fireplace mantel, and recall autumn foliage while you sit warm and cozy in your living room. Natural elements metal wall sculptures will unite your interior with the great outdoors. Shop steel wall art sets depicting prismatic skies and whimsical branches, or flaunt standalone sculptures of bonsai trees, weeping willows or pine trees. You can also find birds, butterflies and dragonflies among all this fabulous foliage.
Feast your eyes on delicious detailing with metal leaf wall decor. Openwork leaves finished in copper dapple bronze branches, lending your wall sculpture a luminous quality. If you wish to bring out the Asian influence in your decor, then display a gingko leaves wall sculpture in radiant brass and gold finishes. Wall panel sets from our metal leaves wall decor look earthy alongside verdant wall sconces. Attract attention with panels featuring antique gold leaves and berries. Finally, leafy sprays of terra cotta, peridot and amethyst will astound you with glittering jewel tones.
Nature-Themed Metal Wall Panels
Cultivate a truly wondrous ambience, and make a metal tree wall hanging the focal point of your room. A scenic wall sculpture boasting trees and mountains will transport you to magnificent destinations. Or, hang a cedar tree metal wall sculpture with a flamed, copper-plated trunk for some smoldering appeal. Willow tree wall sculptures sport bowed branches and dark green leaves, while family tree wall sculptures can be personalized with your last name. Find elm wall sculptures, juniper wall sculptures and other arboreal artwork. A metal tree wall sculpture looks fantastic in the entryway, den or office.
Plunge into our metal tree and metal leaf wall decor, and pinpoint steel wall art sets, metal wall sculptures and metal wall panel sets that emit organic allure.

subset: commoncrawl


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Due to the tr.im scare, the increasing trend of site-specific shortening services such as WordPress.com's WP.me, and the awesomeness that is YOURLS, I've decided to join in and purchase my own short little domain name. I went the same route as WordPress.com did with a ".me" domain and ended up with "v007.me".
It's powered by YOURLS which is written by the well known WordPress plugin developers Lester "GamerZ" Chan and Ozh. It even comes with a WordPress plugin that can automatically create shortlinks for your new posts and even post it Twitter (I had been using Twitter Tools previously).
For example, here's the short URL to this post: http://v007.me/1
Cool, huh? 🙂


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IMLS Contact
Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Contact
New Report Highlights Roles of Libraries and Museums in Preparing Young Children for Success
Washington, DC – Libraries and museums are effective, but often overlooked resources in our nation's effort to turn around a crisis in early learning, exposing children to reading and powerful learning experiences in the critical early years and keeping them learning through the summer months, according to a report issued today by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading.
The report, Growing Young Minds: How Museums and Libraries Create Lifelong Learners, documents dozens of examples and 10 key ways libraries and museums are supporting young children. It provides a clear call to policymakers, schools, funders, and parents to make full use of these vital, existing community resources.
"We have to do everything we can to give all our children opportunities to get off to a strong start, and community institutions play a critical role. For parents and families, libraries and museums are a go-to resource that supports them as their child's first teacher," said Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education. "Public and school libraries as well as all kinds of museums, science centers and zoos are trusted, welcoming places where children can make discoveries, deepen interests, and connect their natural curiosity to the wider world -- developing the skills they need for a lifetime of learning."
As the nation commits to early learning as a priority essential to our economic and civic future, the report provides case studies and research documenting that libraries and museums are part of the solution.
"We know that we won't close achievement gaps, reduce dropout rates or compete in the 21st century economy until more of our children are reading proficiently by the end of third grade," said Ralph Smith, managing director of the GLR Campaign and a senior vice president at the Annie E. Casey Foundation. "But right now, more than 80 percent of students from low-income families don't achieve that critical milestone. Libraries and museums are playing a vital role in reaching families and children with support that can help turn around this deeply troubling trend."
To support that goal, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) issued $2.5 million in grants last year to institutions seeking to improve early literacy. IMLS has committed another $2.5 million for 2013.
"With built infrastructure in nearly every community, we must fully leverage the capacity of libraries and museums to provide opportunities for high-quality early learning," said IMLS Director Susan H. Hildreth. "Museum and library professionals are adept at providing hands-on experiential learning. I urge the early childhood development community to reach out to libraries and museums and make full use of their trusted place in communities, their partnership capacity and their skills and talents."
For more information and the full report see www.imls.gov/earlylearning.
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
About the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading
The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is a collaborative effort by foundations, nonprofit partners, states and communities across the nation to ensure that more children in low-income families succeed in school and graduate prepared for college, a career, and active citizenship. The GLR Campaign focuses on the most important predictor of school success and high school graduation: grade-level reading by the end of third grade.


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Hagel Critic: 'He Seems To Have Some Kind Of Problem With Jews'
Hagel Critic: 'He Seems To Have Some Kind Of Problem With Jews'
Former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, tapped by President Obama to serve as the next Secretary of Defense, is coming under fire from conservatives for his past positions on Israel, Iran and Iraq. Elliott Abrams is one of the critics. Abrams served in the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush and is now a senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. He speaks with Melissa Block about his concerns.
It's ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Audie Cornish.
And I'm Melissa Block.
Today, President Obama announced his nominees for two key national security posts. For CIA director, he picked John Brennan, now his top counterterrorism adviser. And for defense secretary, Chuck Hagel, a former senator from Nebraska, a Republican and a Vietnam War veteran.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Maybe most importantly, Chuck knows that war is not an abstraction. He understands that sending young Americans to fight and bleed in the dirt and mud, that's something we only do when it's absolutely necessary.
BLOCK: That choice of Chuck Hagel has generated strong criticism from a number of quarters, in particular for Hagel's positions on Israel, Iran and Iraq.
We're going to hear from one of those critics now, Elliott Abrams, who served in the Reagan and George W. Bush administrations. He's a neoconservative on foreign policy, now a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. Welcome to the program.
ELLIOTT ABRAMS: Thank you.
BLOCK: Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, over the weekend, said that Chuck Hagel if confirmed would be the most antagonistic secretary of defense toward the state of Israel in our nation's history. Do you share that view?
ABRAMS: Well, the history goes back a long time. But I think he's certainly quite antagonistic toward Israel. He's made a number of remarks over a period - long period of years that suggest a real lack of sympathy, and a kind of accusation that anyone who disagrees with him has a dual loyalty and is not really a loyal citizen.
BLOCK: One of those comments was a statement that Chuck Hagel made in a 2006 interview. He said: The Jewish lobby intimidates a lot of people up here. I'm a United States senator. I'm not an Israeli senator. But it's interesting because the interviewer, Aaron David Miller - the former Mideast peace negotiator with the State Department - says that using that phrase, "the Jewish lobby," to portray Hagel as anti-Semitic, which some have done, is in his words: shameful and scurrilous. What do you think?
ABRAMS: Well, I think you need to look at that full quote where he says: I support Israel but I take an oath to the Constitution of the United States. Who is he comparing himself to? He's also used terms beyond just Jewish lobby. There are some quotes from the Jewish community of Nebraska, the state for which he was a senator, that suggests a hostility toward that community - their word, not mine.
There's an incident where he's trying to close down the USO site in Haifa, Israel, where a lot of American ships were visiting. And he says to the Jewish organization that is trying to keep it open: Let the Jews pay for it. There's a pattern here and it's a very troubling pattern.
BLOCK: The comment that you attribute to Chuck Hagel, about the USO in Haifa, did not come directly from Chuck Hagel, is that correct? It was through someone who was talking to a reporter, paraphrasing what she said Chuck Hagel had told her.
ABRAMS: It is what she said Chuck Hagel had told her, that's right.
BLOCK: What are your concerns on Chuck Hagel's positions on Iran?
ABRAMS: Well, Chuck Hagel said in 2006: I would say that a military strike against Iran, a military option is not a viable, feasible, responsible option. He's also one of the only two senators who voted against the Iran/Libya Sanctions Act in 2001.
Now, the president's policy is supposed to be that we're going to use tougher and tougher and tougher sanctions in an effort to get a diplomatic settlement, to force Iran into a diplomatic settlement. And if we can't get that, then the military option is on the table. The president has said clearly, he is not for containment, he is for prevention. There's no evidence that Hagel supports that view. The evidence seems to suggest that he is neither for sanctions nor for a military strike.
What he's for seems to be immediate and unconditional talks with Iran which, indeed, he called for toward the end of the Bush administration. So the signal the president is sending is that he doesn't believe in his own Iran policy.
BLOCK: But Chuck Hagel as senator did, in fact, vote for sanctions on Iran numerous times; multilateral sanctions including nonproliferation acts.
ABRAMS: He voted for them and he voted against them. And he also said in that quote I gave you that he didn't even think a military option was viable, never mind as a matter of policy - wise or unwise. How does that fit with the president's really tough language, especially in 2012? I think this is at the very least a mixed message and the wrong message to send to Tehran right now.
BLOCK: I want to ask you about Iraq. Chuck Hagel, as senator, voted to give the president the authority to go to war in Afghanistan and Iraq. But he later was very critical of how those wars were being conducted. How much do you think of the Republican opposition to him now is because he's viewed as a turncoat; a Republican who bucked the party on those wars?
ABRAMS: Well, some of it I think is because of the way in which he did that. To change your mind is fine. But he said in 2007 that the surge was, quote, "the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam." Now, that's the kind of hyperbolic language that he used against the Bush administration. He didn't disagree. He campaigned against the Bush administration.
BLOCK: It is very rare for the Senate to vote to defeat a Cabinet nomination. As you know, it's happened just twice since World War II. The last time was in 1989 with John Tower, the defense secretary nominee then. Are you saying that you think Chuck Hagel should be defeated, should join that very small group of nominees who don't get past the Senate?
ABRAMS: I think he has a chance at his confirmation hearing to show that he is not what he appears to be, which is frankly an anti-Semite. It's not just being anti-Israel. He's got a problem with what he calls "the Jews," the Jewish lobby. I think if he cannot satisfy people that he is not, in fact, bigoted against Jews, he certainly should not be confirmed.
BLOCK: You're saying, Mr. Abrams, that you consider Chuck Hagel to be an anti-Semite, not just have to positions on Israel that you don't agree with, but that you consider him to be an anti-Semite.
ABRAMS: I think if you look at the statements by Hagel, and then you look at the statements by the Nebraska Jewish community - about his unresponsiveness to them, his dismissal of them, his hostility to them - I don't understand really how you can reach any other conclusion that he seems to have some kind of problem with Jews.
BLOCK: Chuck Hagel, though, in his defense, says he voted time and time again to provide billions of dollars of U.S. military and security aid to Israel. In his book, he wrote this: At its core, there will always be a special and historic bond with Israel, exemplified by our continued commitment to Israel's defense. That doesn't sound like an anti-Semitic statement.
ABRAMS: No, it sounds like the statement of somebody who had been considering running for president. I think it's very much like his apology when it comes to gay rights. This kind of stuff comes in a political context, not in the context of a real change in position. And you see that in the interview with Aaron Miller, again, the Jewish lobby and I'm not an Israeli senator.
There's an animus here, an animus that was visible to the Jews of Nebraska. And that's what the committee needs to look into.
BLOCK: Elliott Abrams is a senior fellow for Middle Eastern Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Mr. Abrams, thank you very much.
ABRAMS: You're very welcome.
CORNISH: This is NPR News.
Copyright © 2013 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio record.


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Show Jumping
Show Jumping is a horse jumping game in which you must guide your horse around the track and cleanly jump over each obstacle that presents itself. Press the up arrow key to run faster and the space key to jump whilst in this mode, but be warned, your horse will become tired and needs time to regenerate, and you can only fail two jumps before you are disqualified. Alfred Morris Jersey


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Niche Marketing is the last great frontier for the small business entrepreneur. Out there in the ërealí world, small businesses donít have a half fair chance of competing against the giant international corporations of the world. The Internet has evened the odds for small business. The Internet has created a real equal opportunity for those who are willing to use it. There are several different ways to make use of niche marketing and succeed. All of the ways require getting a domain and a web host, building web pages and adding content. Those are just the basic basics of Internet Marketing in any form. Then there are the choices of how to go about building a successful niche marketing site that will provide you with a profit. Hopefully a very large profit.
1. You can create an informational product. An informational product can be articles, reports, columns, audio or video, or other things. These can be sold as stand-alone products or used for advertisement or promotional causes.
2. You can build a content-rich web site that will be so interesting it will draw potential customers again and again.
3. You can publish newsletters and ezines that are so full of pertinent information that people will happily pay for subscriptions to them.
All of the above-listed ways can be used to create a niche marketing website that has the capacity to make money. There are two things that all of these methods have in common.
1. The topic must be one that helps people solve a problem, makes them healthier or happier, or provides them with information that they want or need in some way.
2. The content of the website, no matter the topic, must be relevant, timely and interesting to the people who are reading it and the website must be easily navigated.


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|Omental is a Scrabble word. Scrabble point value for omental: 9 points.
|Omental is a Words with Friends word. Words with Friends point value for omental: 9 points.
Above are the results of unscrambling omental. Using the word generator and word unscrambler for the letters O M E N T A L, we unscrambled the letters to create a list of all the words found in Scrabble, Words with Friends, and Text Twist. We found a total of 157 words by unscrambling the letters in omental. Click these words to find out how many points they are worth, their definitions, and all the other words that can be made by unscrambling the letters from these words. If one or more words can be unscrambled with all the letters entered plus one new letter, then they will also be displayed.
|Definition of "omental" found in the Merriam Webster dictionary
|Definition of "omental" from The Free Dictionary
|Definition of "omental" from Dictionary.com
|Words that start with omental
|Words that end with omental
|Words that contain omental


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Spring GreensAs any kitchen gardener knows, you can't beat a salad made of greens picked the same day
A mâche 'Vit' plant grown on the farm at Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture, in Pocantico Hills, N.Y. Photo by: Todd Coleman
Seven types of lettuce were used to fill the Teacup Garden at Chanticleer, an estate garden outside of Philadelphia. Photo by: Rob Cardillo
LEFT: Panisse (leaf lettuce) - A compact, recently introduced plant with an open head. Bright lime-green, large-lobed oak leaves. RIGHT: Celtuce (asparagus lettuce) - Stalk can be eaten raw when young and has a celery-like flavor. High in vitamin C. Photos by: Todd Coleman
LEFT: Winter Density (romaine) - Rounded, dark green and densely packed head that grows through spring, summer, and fall. Especially frost tolerant. RIGHT: Firecracker (leaf lettuce) - Ruffled dark leaves that start out as a brilliant, solid red. The baby leaf is great for use as an accent. Photos by: Todd Coleman
LEFT: Focea (bibb) - Small and dense heads that mature early. Favored for its juicy leaves and especially sweet flavor. RIGHT: Red Cross (butterhead) - Large and elegant red-tipped leaves. Known for excellent heat tolerance that will keep it from an early bolt. Photos by: Todd Coleman
LEFT: Vit (mâche) - Succulent, firm, dark green leaves that add a mild, nutty note to salads. Especially good for spring and fall planting. RIGHT: Ice Plant (Ficoïde glaciale) - Grown for its lemony taste and crisp crunch. Dropletlike bubbles coat the plant's surface. Photos by: Todd Coleman
LEFT: Mashua (Tropaeolum tuberosum) - Perennial nasturtium cultivated by the Incas. Leaves and flowers add spice to a salad. RIGHT: Blackhawk (leaf lettuce) - A dark red leaf with ruffles that adds volume to salads. A beauty in the garden, but for optimum flavor, it's best harvested young. Photos by: Todd Coleman
LEFT: Tango (leaf lettuce) - A classic oak-leaf shape with a frilled edge that brings personality to a salad mix. RIGHT: Claytonia (Claytonia perfoliata) - Heart-shaped leaves. A cold-hardy green that loves damp conditions. Photos by: Todd Coleman
LEFT: Breen (mini romaine) - Bronzed leaves. A compact plant that forms its head early on. Especially well-suited for use as a baby head. RIGHT: Sulu (leaf lettuce) - Bright lime-green oak leaf shape that adds contrast to salads. Upright and narrow plant, primarily used as a baby leaf. Photos by: Todd Coleman
Spring greens—mustard, miner's lettuce, radish—grow wild in the orchards on my Sacramento Valley farm. They're not indigenous to this part of California, but efforts at breeding greens have been so halfhearted that the cultivated forms hardly differ from their wild ancestors, and will happily go to seed and establish new populations in any congenial place. Dandelions (an excellent, bitter green) thrive in everyone's lawn; chicory grows in any crack in the pavement. If you have an enthusiasm for spring greens, as I certainly do, it may lead you to regress from horticulture to hunting and gathering.
One reason that greens adapt so easily is that they are native to my climate. The garden crops that we grow in summer—melons, tomatoes, aubergines—are tropical plants that we deceive into thinking they're at home by starting them in a warm season; they will collapse with the first frost, leaving no offspring. Greens, on the other hand, are of boreal origins. They enjoy a frost, even a dusting of snow, which allows them to be the earliest crops to come in. And the colder it is, the better the flavor. Botanically, most spring greens are from three plant families: the beet family (beet, chard, and spinach); the mustard family (kale, mustard, collard, and Asian brassica like mizuna and Chinese cabbage); and the lettuce family (dandelion, endive, escarole, lettuce). Mustard greens tend toward pungency, and lettuces toward bitterness, especially in hot weather.
Are you interested in growing lettuce in your garden? Here are five of our favorite catalogs for lettuce seeds:
Johnny's Selected Seeds: 11 pages of lettuces (877/564-6697).
Territorial Seed Company: More than 15 varieties of loose-leaf lettuce alone (800/626-0866).
Seed Savers Exchnage: A collection culled from lettuce trials that tested thousands of varieties (563/382-5990).
Burpee Gardening: Who knew there was an heirloom iceberg? (800/888-1447).
Seeds of Change: Ten new varieties of lettuce from a company committed to sustainable organic agriculture (888/762-7333).
Compiled by Alex Erikson.
Somehow, greens have escaped the efforts of plant breeders to increase their sugar content. Genetically modifying sugar content has been a cornerstone in the breeding of other plants (apples, grapes, carrots, beets, corn, yams, and onions) so that many of the varieties we grow today are far sweeter than those of 40 years ago. But spring greens are still virtuously unsweetened. Instead, what the plant breeders have been up to with greens is playing with their appearance.
My seed catalogues, collectively, list more than 100 varieties of lettuce, and reading through the descriptions I find no mention of flavor. They all taste the same.
Lettuce breeding is all about color and form. The loose-leaf lettuces in particular have wonderful leaf shapes. Some appear to have been designed by Picasso, others by Matisse. The same situation is found with many of the Asian brassicas—a profusion of shapes and a spectrum of colors, but only one flavor.
The flavor of lettuce, insofar as it has one, is subtle and elusive. In a salad, it is overpowered by the lemon or balsamic vinegar with its sharp, clear note (the violin), and the olive oil with its deep reverberations (the cello). Lettuce has the muted and conciliatory voice of a viola, so understated as to be hardly noticed. Its role in the salad is to provide texture and color. And the point of all those varieties is to satisfy the eye rather than the palate. Some cooks like a heavier orchestration than this in a spring salad, and they add arugula and scallions and nasturtium (piccolos, trumpets, cymbals).
As you might expect from their tendency to become weeds, greens are among the easiest of garden crops to grow. Scatter some seeds, wave a rake in their general direction, and you're on your way. And yet, to produce a pristine head of lettuce, or an unravaged rosette of mizuna, is a challenge.
The problem is that many creatures—aphids and caterpillars, snails and beetles, rabbits and mice, sparrows and quail—have an insatiable appetite for them. And so the leaves get ragged edges and become sprinkled with holes. In the field, a head of romaine or cabbage is a large plant, but the chewed-up outer half is shucked off and thrown away, and only the undamaged inner parts are sent to market.
One solution to the problem of predation is to sow the seed thickly and then harvest the plants very early, when they have made only one or two leaves, and before the creatures have got into them.
Once you've grown your salad greens, you'll want to make a salad with freshly picked leaves. Here are four of our favorite vinaigrettes from Saveur.com:
Sweet Shallot Vinaigrette
Hot Bacon Dressing
Green Goddess Dressing (pictured)
Buttermilk Dressing
Baby lettuces and microgreens can be picked after as little as ten days. The harvested greens are then sold loose, as either stir-fry mix or salad mix, for six to eight dollars a pound. This conforms to the advice of produce marketers, who maintain that customers prefer products ready to use. They must be right; in my local supermarket bagged or boxed greens now take up three times as much shelf space as the traditional heads of lettuce or cabbage. And at my local farmers' market, I'm about the only farmer left who still chooses to sell lettuce by the head; the other sellers have gone over to salad mix by the pound.
In terms of their culinary personality, spring greens are pungent and unsophisticated. You wouldn't expect to find collards or dandelions served at a state dinner at the White House. The closest you might come, it would seem, would be an effete leaf of Belgian endive, playing a supporting role to a dab of goat cheese and half a roasted walnut. Greens are more at home in an old chipped bowl placed on a wooden table along with mismatched plates and cutlery.
Almost any of the greens turn out to be a good addition to a soup (escarole soup with white beans is a winter staple at our house). The pungent spring greens of the mustard family can be stir-fried or steamed. We usually sauté them in olive oil with a few flakes of red pepper and bring them to the table together with a bottle of rice vinegar.
But, with the exception of mature beet greens and chard, cooking greens is optional. In keeping with the half-undomesticated character of spring greens, there is a certain logic to following the example of the wild animals, and simply plucking a tender leaf in the field, and chewing it thoughtfully.
How to care for and harvest greensMore than other greens, lettuce doesn't do so well with stress. It wants steady watering, but too much will rot young roots. It goes all Blanche DuBois in the heat, alternately wilting and making lustful last gasps as it bolts—turning bitter as it goes to seed. Then again, lettuce is not picky about soil, alothough some nitrogen would be nice; the tiny seeds can be sown as soon as the soil warms up; and given partial shade and access to a breeze, even a few pots can supply a summer's worth of salads.
The lettuce in the slide show at the top of the page was grown by farmer Jack Algiere at the Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture in Pocantico Hills, New York. Any of these cultivars can be grown to maturity, Algierre says, but the home gardener benefits the most from treating loose-leaf varieties as cut-and-come-again crops: Shear four-inch-high leaves down to one inch above the soil, then come back every ten days to harvest again. Just the kind of advice that makes you believe in the kindness of strangers.
How to grow salad greens in a container gardenIf you want to fill containers with edible plants, says Stone Barns's Jack Algiere, it's best to cluster the pots together so that they create cool pockets of air in the spaces between them. Water religiously, since soil in pots dries out faster than in the ground, and maximize yield by planting high-volume producers, like cherry tomatoes versus full-size varieties, and plants that can produce multiple crops, like chard, pattypan squash, and lettuces that can be harvested repeatedly. Most important, though, Algiere says, "plant what you like to eat." Four edible container recipes follow to help get you started.
'Sun Gold' tomato, common thyme, and 'Giant from Italy' parsley.
Put one tomato plant in the center of a large pot (at least 14 inches across and 16 inches tall), providing a trellis support so that fruited branches don't snap under their own weight. Fill out the base of the pot with two plants each of thyme and parsley.
Johnny's Allstar Gourmet Lettuce Mix
In a pot that's 12 inches across and ten to 12 inches tall, sow seeds as directed, being careful not to sow too thickly. Whenever plants reach four inches in height, harvest by shearing off all leaves, leaving one inch of growth above the ground. Once plants lose vigor and begin to yellow, dig out entire crop and reseed. If you have more pots, suggests Algiere, plant one with a straight run of a single type of lettuce.
'Bright Lights' Swiss chard
This plant pulls more than its weight, given the multicolored stalks that make it a visual stunner and the prolific growth: if it's happy, chard seems to sprout a new leaf every time you turn your back. With good care, the plant should provide steady harvests from its outer leaves for months. It's best to set in plants rather than start from seed.
'Astro' arugula
In a pot similar to the size used for lettuce, sow seeds as directed. You can expect to have a first harvest of baby leaves within about 13 days. Also known as roquette, arugula is an annual herb of the mustard family that adds a spicy punch to salads. 'Astro' is milder in flavor than some arugulas, and it's particularly suited to container planting because it's slower to bolt as temperatures rise.
Mike Madison is a California farmer and the author of Blithe Tomato: An Insider's Wry Look at a Farmer's Market Society.
Lise Funderburg is a journalist, author, and essayist based in Philadelphia.
Get more spring gardening ideas


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Business As Usual Shirt Dress
V Neckline
Buttons Down Front
3/4 Length Sleeve
Button Cuffed Sleeve
Side Pockets
Chest Pocket
100% Polyester
Relaxed Fit
Chest Measurement: Small 42" Medium 44" Large 46"
Length From Shoulder To Hem: Small 33" Medium 35" Large 37"
Model is 5' 8" and Wearing Size Small
Model Wears: Small Shirt, Pant Size 3, Dress Size Small
Model's Measurements: Chest 34", Waist 23", Hips 33"
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
Return Policy- Unwashed, unworn and unused merchandise may be returned if post marked within 14 days from the date that you received it (according to your tracking number). If the returned merchandise is deemed to be unwashed, unworn and unused, a gift card for store credit will be issued within 5–10 business days. Once store credit from a return is applied to a future order, the new order becomes final sale. All returns must be shipped back with all tags still attached. Return shipping is the responsibility of the buyer. Because we are a small business, we can only accept up to 3 items returned a month per customer. Thank you for your understanding. Only regular priced items may be returned. Unfortunately any sale item(s) are final sale and cannot be refunded or exchanged.


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Steel Authority of India Limited SAIL Recruitment 2019 Notification for 60 Management Trainee Posts
Steel Authority of India Limited SAIL Recruitment 2019-20 (Bokaro Steel Plant, Government Jobs in India) notification for 60 management trainee (administration) MTA posts. All legible and interested candidates can apply on or before (18-06-2019). Further information about the Steel Authority of India recruitment posts, online registration and exams, vacancies, SAIL jobs list and salary details, careers, application fee, online form, educational qualifications, SAIL government jobs, experience and all other details/information about this post is mentioned in details below.
Steel Authority of India Limited SAIL Recruitment 2019-20 Notification Detailed Information
Job Location for SAIL Recruitment 2019 -
Number of Vacancies -The total number of vacancies are 60.
Name of Vacancies and Number of Posts - The name and number of vacancies per posts are mentioned below.
1. Management Trainee - 60.
Salary/Pay and Grade Pay - For management trainee post, the payable salary will be Rs 20,600 - 46,500 per month. Further information about salary details is mentioned in the detailed advertisement.
Age Limit - For SAIL recruitment, candidate age should lie between 18 - 28 years. To know more about age details, click on the detailed advertisement.
Selection Method - For recruitment in the Steel Authority of India Limited, the candidate will be selected on the basis of their performance in the online exam, group discussion and then personal interview. Candidates must be prepared for these tests.
Work Experience - No further work experience required for this post. Fresher candidates and candidates with no experience can also apply for this recruitment
How to Apply - All legible and interested candidates have to apply online from the official website or from the given link below.
Click Here to Apply Online
Candidates need to register themselves online. Candidates can apply via online mode only. Application sent via offline mode will be summarily rejected for sure.
Application Fee - The application fee will be Rs 700 for General/OBC category candidates and Rs 100 for SC/ST/PWD category candidates. Regular employees of Steel Authority of India Limited SAIL applying for the higher position are too not required to pay any application fee. Candidates have to pay the fee online via credit card, debit card or net banking. To know more about application fee details for this recruitment, click on the detailed advertisement.
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Colorful Hop Exceeds Low Expectations
- Jeffrey Huston Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
- 2011 1 Apr
DVD Release Date: March 23, 2012
Theatrical Release Date: April 1, 2011
Rating: PG (for mild rude humor)
Genre: Live-Action/Animated Family, Comedy
Run Time: 90 min.
Director: Tim Hill
Cast: James Marsden, Russell Brand, Hugh Laurie, Hank Azaria, Gary Cole, Elizabeth Perkins, Kaley Cuoco, David Hasselhoff
An Easter Bunny origin story hardly seems like a fresh idea, which makes it odd that we've never actually seen one. Technically we still haven't, because Hop—a purely secular Easter movie—isn't so much an origin story as it is a passing of the torch (or Egg of Destiny, as the case may be) from one bunny to the next. It's no classic, mind you, but as light family fare goes Hop pleasantly (if barely) exceeds low expectations.
In this live-action/animated hybrid, the Easter Bunny gets a Santa Claus makeover (apparently the two mythical icons run the same business model). To Kringle's North Pole, elves, gifts, sleigh and reindeer, the Bunny has Easter Island, chicks, candy, an egg-sleigh and more chicks to match. Each even distributes his goods to children in a one-night round-the-world excursion on the eve prior to their respective holidays.
But as the introduction tells us, this isn't just the story about the new Easter Bunny; it's about how the first human assumed the role—destined by his very name, it would seem: Fred O'Hare (James Marsden, Enchanted). Fred is a joyful but aimless man-child who's still living with his parents as he plods and fails at finding where he fits in life. His family even goes so far as to hold an intervention to tell him he needs to get a job, and a life.
While Fred is disappointing his dad (Gary Cole, Extract), so is the son of the Easter Bunny. After being groomed to take over the family business from his father, young E.B. (yes, he actually goes by those initials) runs away the night before his coronation in pursuit of Hollywood rock-and-roll dreams. The out-of-his-element rabbit crosses paths with the down-on-his-luck slacker, and together they unwittingly help each other toward their destinies even as they mostly want to pull each other's, er, hair out.
As Fred does his best to try and finally live up to his dad's expectations, the free-spirited E.B. (voiced by Russell Brand, Despicable Me) carelessly ruins every one of Fred's opportunities. It's a construct that easily sets up lots of good-natured slapstick, only briefly resorting to some (inspired, I must admit) scatological humor: E.B. literally poops jellybeans.
Meanwhile back on Easter Island, E.B.'s father (voice of Hugh Laurie, TV's House, Street Kings)—burdened by the loss of his heir and the impending Easter Sunday—deploys his all-girl-bunny elite special forces unit The Pink Berets to find E.B. and bring him back. Compounding the elder's troubles, his right-hand chick Carlos (Hank Azaria, TV's The Simpsons, laying on the Spanish accent comically thick) has plans for a hostile takeover.
Between the slapstick of E.B.'s antics with Fred, Carlos's over-the-top comic relief, the spy action beats of the Pink Berets and the oversized candyland of Easter Island (populated by cute little chicks and bunnies, no less), the filmmakers do a pretty good job of fleshing out a formulaic narrative with enough fun, charm and visual flair to make it worthwhile.
Other elements—an egg-hiding training montage, singing rock-styled Easter-themed songs for no good reason (i.e. "I Want Candy"), and a flat recurring cameo by David Hasselhoff—are too contrived for their own good and feel all-too-typical for this sort of kiddie flick. Even the emotional through-line of both young "men" proving themselves to their fathers is more forced than developed, with the hugging resolutions popping up almost as "oh, before we forget" warm-fuzzy afterthoughts.
Still, for what Hop lacks in originality it makes up for in high-but-not-annoying energy, bright and colorful imagery (Easter Island HQ is Wonka-esque in its extravagance, with candy raining down through the golden factory's center), and a lively and talented cast led by James Marsden. While he looks a little too old for what should be a late-20s overgrown adolescent, his beaming smile, genuine purity and comical gifts instantly win you over (and made me wonder why we don't see more of this versatile leading man), although his live-action counterparts don't fare as well with stock material.
As the voice of E.B., Russell Brand's normally obnoxious persona is tweaked into something more sincere while still utilizing his manic sensibilities. Hugh Laurie is a nice fit as the elder Bunny, providing the appropriate mix of stuffiness and warmth, while Hank Azaria's unleashed approach to the maniacal chick Carlos grows from cute asides early on to an absolute scene-stealer as his revolutionary schemes escalate.
Hop comes from the animation studio that produced Despicable Me and director Tim Hill (SpongeBob SquarePants) of the recent Alvin and the Chipmunks reboot. While it's not as inventive as the former (in fact, the Easter Island factory steals ideas liberally from Despicable Me's lair), Hop is certainly more charming than the latter and more fun than both. It's not worthy of becoming an annual holiday viewing tradition (leave that to the perennial Ten Commandments, or even The Sound of Music), but, as fun matinee diversions go, the kids should have a blast.
- Drugs/Alcohol Content: None.
- Language/Profanity: One use of the phrase "Oh my G-d".
- Sexual Content/Nudity: When E.B. first arrives in Hollywood, he stops by the gate of the Playboy mansion looking for a place to stay. Nothing offensive is shown (it's just the gate, and Hefner's recognizable voice on the intercom), but E.B. does explain his presence by saying he heard this is where sexy bunnies live, and that he's sexy. In another scene, E.B. says to Fred, "Do you want to see other rabbits? I'm open-minded," but he's just referring to their friendship; only adults would pick-up on the play-on-words.
- Violence: Just comic mayhem; nothing offensive or visually graphic. Two big dogs attack Fred at one point, but he's in a protective safety suit and it's cartoonish in style.
- Other: E.B. poops out jellybeans, and one person unwittingly eats them later. Some may find this too crass; most will probably not.


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HJ Research delivers in-depth insights on the global Hand Carton Sealers market in its upcoming report titled, Global Hand Carton Sealers Market Report 2015-2026. According to this study, the global Hand Carton Sealers market is estimated to be valued at XX Million US$ in 2019 and is projected to reach XX Million US$ by 2026, expanding at a CAGR of XX% during the forecast period. The report on Hand Carton Sealers market provides qualitative as well as quantitative analysis in terms of market dynamics, competition scenarios, opportunity analysis, market growth, industrial chain, etc.
This report studies the Hand Carton Sealers market status and outlook of global and major regions, from angles of players, countries, product types and end industries, this report analyzes the top players in global Hand Carton Sealers industry, and splits by product type and applications/end industries. This report also includes the impact of COVID-19 on the Hand Carton Sealers industry.
Global Hand Carton Sealers market: competitive landscape analysis
This report contains the major manufacturers analysis of the global Hand Carton Sealers industry. By understanding the operations of these manufacturers (sales volume, revenue, sales price and gross margin from 2015 to 2020), the reader can understand the strategies and collaborations that the manufacturers are focusing on combat competition in the market.
Global Hand Carton Sealers market: types and end industries analysis
The research report includes specific segments such as end industries and product types of Hand Carton Sealers. The report provides market size (sales volume and revenue) for each type and end industry from 2015 to 2020. Understanding the segments helps in identifying the importance of different factors that aid the market growth.
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Geographically, this report is segmented into several key countries, with market size, growth rate, import and export of Hand Carton Sealers in these countries from 2015 to 2020, which covering United States, Canada, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Spain, Netherlands, China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Egypt, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia.
Key players in global Hand Carton Sealers market include:
Bosch Packaging Technology
KHS GmbH
T Freemantle
Chuen An Machinery
DEKKA Industries
Prosystem packaging
ITW Loveshaw
Market segmentation, by product types:
Fully Automatic Carton Sealer
Semi-Automatic Carton Sealer
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Food Packaging
Cosmetics Packaging
Medical Packaging
Chemical Packing
Get latest Market Research Reports on Hand Carton Sealers. Industry analysis & Market Report on Hand Carton Sealers is a syndicated market report, published as Global Hand Carton Sealers Market Report 2015-2026, Market Size, Competitive Landscape, Regional Outlook and COVID-19 Impact Analysis. It is complete Research Study and Industry Analysis of Hand Carton Sealers market, to understand, Market Demand, Growth, trends analysis and Factor Influencing market.


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Swiss Life Funds (LUX) Bond Emerging Markets Corporates
Investment strategy
The Sub-Fund invests in hard currency (mainly US dollar) corporate bonds issued by companies domiciled in emerging markets with investment grade rating (AAA to BBB-). Objective of the Sub-Fund is to attain attractive returns offered by emerging markets debt without taking the exposure to higher risk bearing non-investment grade segment.
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Creation date
Performance YTD
Assets under management (EUR)
Performance in reference currency
|1 mo.
|3 mo.
|1 yr.
|5 yr.
|-0.28 %
|-1.56 %
|-0.42 %
|-3.98 %
|-0.58 %
|+0.13 %
|-13.83 %
|-1.74 %
|+5.31 %
|+7.96 %
For a better reading of tables and histograms, we advise you to turn your phone in landscape mode or to look at this page on a bigger screen.
Historical information used to calculate the synthetic risk indicator (SRI) may not constitute a reliable indication of the fund's future risk profile. The risk category associated with this fund is not guaranteed, and is subject to development over time. The weakest category is not synonymous with "risk-free investment". Past performance is no indicator of current or future performance. In no way does this constitute a guarantee of future performance or capital. The performance does not include the costs incurred at customer level (issue and redemption costs and commissions, custody fees, etc.). Information on the fund's performance may be based on foreign currencies which deviate from the currency of the investor's country of residence. As a result, the return listed may rise or fall additionally due to changes in currency exchange rates.
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Christmas Coo Hanging Plaque
Highland Coo Wearing a Santa Hat Hanging Plaque, made from oak veneered wood with an inset Royal Stewart tartan background.
Tartan pattern may vary from image shown.Product Dimensions (approx):Height: 7cmWidth: 9cmDepth: 1cm Due to the unique nature of each piece of wood, every product may have a different finish & appearance. Photographs are for reference only, final product may vary from image showN


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Ethiopia - Afar
120 metres below sea level, the hottest place on Earth - there are 1 million Afaris living in some of the most inhospitable lands on the planet. Yet in this area, due to the splitting apart of the African plate, there are old salt beds which provide a sustainable resource for the Afar and their trains of camels which have been journeying for centuries to extract the salt in Dallol. The area also contains some of the most amazing hydrothermal features on Earth. Bizarre fumaroles of sulphur and many other chemicals create a surreal landscape overlying Dallol volcano. A short journey to the South over desert dunes and salt flats the very active Erte Ale volcano is found with it active and permanent lava lake. Difficult to get to but utterly amazing to see. The stars at night and the glow of lava beneath your feet give you an other worldly feeling.Read More


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Welcome to
Official UK Supplier of the award winning Banana Guard
Do you take a banana to work, or with you when playing sport?
Do your children take a banana to school?
Fed up when they end up bruised, squashed, black and squishy?
Problem solved….
The Safe Banana Guard will fit most bananas & give protection during your journey.
COLOURS .... Click the 'Order Now' button (top left of screen)
Small holes stop early ripening :: Enjoy perfect bananas – Any time
Easy to clean and dishwasher safe :: Available in 6 great colours…
· Ravishing Red
· Outrageous Orange
· Passionate Purple
· Mellow Yellow
· Brilliant Blue
· Glow in the Dark
ORDER NOW .... Click the 'Order Now' button (top left of screen)


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Rated R
Metacritic: 72
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Channing Tatum, Olivia Munn, Alex Pettyfer
Mike Lane is a thirty-year old living in Tampa,Florida. By day he works as a roofer while at night, as Magic Mike, he is the star attraction of the Kings of Tampa, a group of male strippers. Secretly he wants out in order to further a projected furniture-making business but his credit rating precludes a bank loan for this despite his considerable savings. One night Adam, a teen-aged work-mate of Mike, follows him to the club and, when one of the acts is unable to go on,he is prevailed upon to strip - becoming a huge hit. However success goes to his head and his foolish actions not only threaten to jeopardize his sister Brooke's relationship with Mike but Mike's ambitions as well.


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Projects: COAP Airshark | WiRover Energy monitoring Insight GENI WiMAX
Want to detect non-WiFi devices from your Android tablet — checkout the Wisense project.
|The Wisconsin Wireless and NetworkinG Systems (WiNGS) Laboratory was established at UW-Madison in the summer of 2005. Research in the WiNGS lab is conducted in the areas of networking and distributed systems with a primary focus on wireless and mobile networking. Research activities in the lab spans a diverse set of activities, ranging from algorithmic design and analysis, and systems building through functional prototypes. A key emphasis of all of our projects has been that they get deployed in real and practical scenarios, sometimes in collaboration with various partners that allow us to understand various real constraints leading to more refined the solutions. The activities of this lab are generously supported at different times through funding from governmental agencies, such as the NSF, and many industrial partners.
Recent news:
Dec '13: The "Tale of Two Apps" paper was a best paper finalist at CoNEXT 2013.
Nov '13: Dr. Yadi Ma completes her PhD. Congrats!
Sep '13: V-Scope paper on whitespace databases accepted to HotNets 2013.
Jun '13: WiSe paper on wireless experience for home APs, accepted to MobiCom 2013.
Jun '13: Prof. Suman Banerjee elected to be the Chair of ACM SIGMOBILE.
Apr '13: Jongwon Yoon wins the Landweber Fellowship.
Apr' 13: Prof. Suman Banerjee wins the ACM SIGMOBILE Rockstar award.
Oct '12: Dr. Sayandeep Sen completes his PhD thesis definese.
Oct '12: WhiteCell paper wins the best student paper award in Dyspan 2102 (congrats Sayandeep and Tan).
June '12: MuVi paper gets into MobiCom 2012 (congrats Jongwon).
June '12: Dr. Shravan Rayanchu completes his PhD thesis defense.
May '12: Shravan Rayanchu wins the Outstanding Research Award from the CS department.
April '12: SmartPC paper on reducing TCAM power consumption to appear in Sigcomm 2012 (congrats Yadi). Ashish, Josh, and Lance have papers in MobiGames and CellNet workshops as well.
March '12: The WiRover experience paper to appear in MobiSys 2012.
February '12: Ashish Patro awarded a Microsoft Research fellowship.
* Greyson Hensley
* Lance Johnson
* Derek Meyer
* Alex Sherman
* Michael Bauer
* Joe Bomber
* Pete Chulick
* Joshua Hare
* Lance Hartung
* Lei Kang
* Neil Klingensmith
* Peng Liu
* Prakhar Panwaria
* Ashish Patro
* R Sivasubramanian
* Dale Willis
* Jongwon Yoon
* Tan Zhang
* Yadi Ma (Ph.D. 2013)
* Sayandeep Sen (Ph.D. 2012)
* Shravan Rayanchu (Ph.D. 2012)
* Vivek Shrivastava (Ph.D. 2010)
* Qunfeng Dong (Ph.D., 2007)
* Srinivas Govindan (M.S. 2013)
* Mike Griepentrog (M.S. 2013)
* Neel Kamal Madabhushi (M.S., 2010)
* Vishnu Katreddy (M.S., 2010)
* Vikrant Soman (M.S., 2010)
* Sreejith Ramkumar (M.S., 2010)
* Vladimir Brik (M.S. 2009)
* Dheeraj Agrawal (M.S., 2007)
* Ashutosh Shukla (M.S., 2007)
* Nicholas Butch (B.S., 2012)
* Wes Miller (B.S., 2012)
* Jordan Walker (B.S., 2010)
* Rob Madden (B.S., 2009)
* Bryan Kerrigan (B.S., 2008)
* Kevin Springborn (B.S., 2007)
* Eric Rozner (B.S., 2005)
* Rajiv Chakravorty (Visiting researcher, 2005)
* Arunesh Mishra (Post-doctoral fellow, 2006-2007)
* Hytham Alihassan (software engineer, 2012-2013)
* National Science Foundation
* Cisco Systems
* Microsoft Research
* NEC Laboratories of America
* Sprint Labs
* QualNet


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Neil Young is pulling back the curtain on Pono, his long-awaited music system designed for audiophiles.
The wedge-shaped music player, which Young first showed off on Late Night with David Letterman in 2012, will cost $400 and includes 128 GB of storage for high-quality music files. A press release published by Computer Audiophile says the player can store between 100 and 500 digital albums, depending on exact resolution and length.
Those albums will come from Pono's online store, with DRM-free music from "major labels and prominent independent labels," according to the company. Users will then load their music onto the device with Pono's desktop software. It's unclear how much an album will cost.
Pono's press release doesn't dive into details on audio quality and merely promises "studio master-quality digital music at the highest audio fidelity possible." But a previous Rolling Stone report suggests the player will support 192 kHz / 24-bit sound.
According to Computer Audiophile, Pono partnered with Ayre Acoustics on the music player, which includes a custom designed digital filter with "no unnatural (digital sounding) pre-ringing," and the included ESS ES9018 digital audio converter chip is supposedly the best on the market today. The player also uses zero-feedback circuitry, and has a discrete output buffer that can drive flat frequency response to any headphones. (Pono's online store will include recommendations for headphones and earbuds.)
So far, high-quality audio hasn't caught on. It's an expensive hobby, and most consumers will prefer the convenience of MP3s over the richness of studio-quality sound. The simple fact that Pono requires a PC connection for loading and managing music puts it far behind smartphones and tablets in terms of convenience. But that doesn't mean audiophiles doesn't deserve a portable music system that caters to their interests, so hopefully Young's star power and dedication can make Pono viable in the long run.
Pono hasn't announced a release date for the music player, but will launch a Kickstarter campaign on March 12, with a discount on pre-orders.


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There's a restaurant on site. You can enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge. Free breakfast is served daily. Public spaces have free WiFi. The business-friendly Royal Kaft Hotel & Suites also features a fitness centre, concierge services, and laundry facilities. Self parking is free. This 3-star Ikorodu hotel is smoke free.
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Free self parking
Royal Kaft Hotel & Suites offers 19 accommodations with free toiletries. Beds feature premium bedding. Housekeeping is provided on a daily basis.
Guests are served a free local cuisine breakfast daily from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM.
Royal Kaft Hotel & Suites has a restaurant on site.
Recreational amenities at the hotel include a fitness centre.
Special check-in instructions:
There is no front desk at this property. The host will greet guests on arrival.
This property does not have a front desk. The host will greet guests on arrival.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
This property accepts Visa, Mastercard and debit cards. Cash is not accepted. This property advises that enhanced cleaning and guest safety measures are currently in place. Disinfectant is used to clean the property and commonly touched surfaces are cleaned with disinfectant between stays. Social distancing measures are in place; staff at the property wear personal protective equipment; periodic temperature checks are conducted on staff; temperature checks are available to guests; guests are provided with hand sanitiser. Individually wrapped food options are available for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Each guest room is kept vacant for a minimum of 24 hours between bookings. This property affirms that it adheres to the cleaning and disinfection practices of Safe Travels (WTTC - Global).


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Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances (Paperback)
Staff Reviews
My favorite story, The Thing About Cassandra, has stuck with me some five years later. You can always rely on Neil Gaiman to disturb and unsettle any normal-seeming situation.— Leah
Multiple award winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman returns to dazzle, captivate, haunt, and entertain with this third collection of short fiction following Smoke and Mirrors and Fragile Things—which includes a never-before published American Gods story, "Black Dog," written exclusively for this volume.
In this new anthology, Neil Gaiman pierces the veil of reality to reveal the enigmatic, shadowy world that lies beneath. Trigger Warning includes previously published pieces of short fiction—stories, verse, and a very special Doctor Who story that was written for the fiftieth anniversary of the beloved series in 2013—as well "Black Dog," a new tale that revisits the world of American Gods, exclusive to this collection.
Trigger Warning explores the masks we all wear and the people we are beneath them to reveal our vulnerabilities and our truest selves. Here is a rich cornucopia of horror and ghosts stories, science fiction and fairy tales, fabulism and poetry that explores the realm of experience and emotion. In Adventure Story—a thematic companion to The Ocean at the End of the Lane—Gaiman ponders death and the way people take their stories with them when they die. His social media experience A Calendar of Tales are short takes inspired by replies to fan tweets about the months of the year—stories of pirates and the March winds, an igloo made of books, and a Mother's Day card that portends disturbances in the universe. Gaiman offers his own ingenious spin on Sherlock Holmes in his award-nominated mystery tale The Case of Death and Honey. And Click-Clack the Rattlebag explains the creaks and clatter we hear when we're all alone in the darkness.
A sophisticated writer whose creative genius is unparalleled, Gaiman entrances with his literary alchemy, transporting us deep into the realm of imagination, where the fantastical becomes real and the everyday incandescent. Full of wonder and terror, surprises and amusements, Trigger Warning is a treasury of delights that engage the mind, stir the heart, and shake the soul from one of the most unique and popular literary artists of our day.
Neil Gaiman is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of books for children and adults whose award-winning titles include Norse Mythology, American Gods, The Graveyard Book, Good Omens (with Terry Pratchett), Coraline, and The Sandman graphic novels. Neil Gaiman is a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR and Professor in the Arts at Bard College.
— New York Times Book Review
"Gaiman displays an uncanny knack for compressing his expansive imagination into the close quarters of his stories' caves, cottages, and creepy rooms....[he] takes full advantage of his wide range, and it makes for exciting, often musical writing."
— Boston Globe
"[Trigger Warning] showcases the breadth and depth of Gaiman's talent and the unique plangent warmth he brings to fantasy fiction. He is never anything less than a pleasure to read."
— Financial Times
"Each of the stories and poems celebrates a different aspect of storytelling that has informed the author's life."
"There's much to revel in here."
— Huffington Post
Praise for Trigger Warning: "Everything that endears Gaiman to his legions of fans is on display ... Full of all manner of witches and monsters and things that creep in the night, this collection will thoroughly satisfy faithful fans and win new ones—if there's anyone out there left unconverted.
— Kirkus Reviews
"[T]his collection of stories and poems doesn't disappoint....Gaiman has warned us about the monsters, but then come magic and miracles. And love."
— Washington Post
"Gaiman's is one of the most distinctive voices in modern fantasy."
— Locus
'All of [the stories] are told with an assured, masterly confidence that should please anyone who misses seeing a new Ray Bradbury collection on the shelf at the library."
— Newsday
"Gaiman calls the stories a "hodgepodge," with no real interweaving theme throughout. But each of the stories and poems celebrates a different aspect of storytelling that has informed the author's life."
"Trigger Warning is a comfortable hodgepodge of material ... but there's enough serious-minded and deeply felt fantasy and horror to make readers hope that it won't be almost a decade before Gaiman completes another similar volume."
— San Francisco Gate
"Lovingly crafted...gleefully enjoyable."
— Bustle.com
"[I]t's the phenomenon of connecting mythology and modern life that makes Gaiman such a captivating author."
— Winnipeg Free Press
"[T]his is not a 'best of' collection, though you'd be forgiven for thinking so at many instances, since Gaiman is, as always, a skilled storyteller."
— Tor.com
"Neil Gaiman's writing is so present, so engaging, that it can send spasms of bone-chilling terror through your body and your reaction would still be, 'Please sir, I want some more.'"
— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"Each short piece serves as an exciting foray into some macabre microcosm of his mind. ...It's a testament to Gaiman's versatility that he exhibits so many different styles of writing in this single anthology."
— The Harvard Crimson
"The short stories in this collection are shocking, disturbing, funny, insightful ... Trigger Warning offers a good introduction to the works of Neil Gaiman, or a delightful addition to the collection of someone who has been following him for a long time. If you're a fan, don't miss this one."
— Oklahoma City Oklahoman
"There is something for every type of Gaiman fan here, and those new to his work will find this to be a solid introduction to the type of stories he crafts: lyrical, literary, sometimes quite chilling, and always strange and provocative. ...This is a book to savor and enjoy."
— Bookreporter.com
"Those who want to greet and shake hands, or settle in for a conversational catch-up with Gaiman's delightfully dramatic minstrel's tale-by-the-campfire style will love everything in Trigger Warning, naturally."
— Booklist
"Gaiman is such a powerful and evocative writer that almost everything he churns out serves to justify the aforementioned cultural triumph of fantasy literature over realism and modernism. Gaiman's attention to craft, passion for language and profound respect for the mythological roots...come through even in his abbreviated prose fragments."
— New York Times Book Review


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Today's Quick Tip is about showing emotions on your wedding day.
I LOVE images with huge smiles on people's faces…
But sometimes the other facial expressions are more profound to me.
The mezmerizing eyes of a flower girl-
Tears during the vows-
Dad's realization he is about to give his baby away-
Or a groom obviously in love with his bride-
A smile evokes joy and maybe a chuckle, and obviously on a wedding day I want to have plenty of photos that represent that part of the day, but a wedding day isn't just about showing off those pearly whites the entire time. It is momentous, passionate, and sometimes even scary and nerve-wracking, as well. A big smile can even occasionally be distracting, especially in the couple photos, and take away from the beauty in other emotions and details. It's not about being "fierce" or "smizing" (the ANTM reference, not the Urban Dictionary definition!), but expressing the wide range of emotions you have on the day, and trusting me as your photographer to tell your story.
Btw, that second to last pic is from a wedding is 2007, and it's still one of my faves!


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Ju-Ju-Be x Disney - Disney and Pixar Toy Story - Messenger Strap
Lose a strap? This will work great for your BFF, Be All, Better Be, or Be Prepared. Want to add a strap to your Mighty Be, Super Be, Starlet or SuperStar to make it a messenger bag? Here it is! We are sure you will find many creative uses for this strap!
- Adjustable messenger strap extends from 31 inches to 49 inches. Super convenient!
- Strap has a memory foam shoulder pad with a grippy textile underneath ... no more straps sliding off your shoulders!
- This strap will work for your BFF, Be All, Better Be, Be Prepared, Mighty Be, or Super Be.
- Style No:12MM02AT


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Thursday, December 17, 2009
The Toronto Blue Jays: Year One
Comic books do this all the time. The reboot, re-tool, re-imagine, retcon, whatever they can to refresh stale characters and convoluted storylines to attract new audiences and invigorate the die-hards. Trading Roy Halladay and arming this team for the future is the biggest re-tool and reboot this team's ever gone through.
I recognize getting any bums into seats this year will be difficult. Nearly impossible. But bums in seats won't matter in 2010. The young core you've assembled are the only thing that will drive attendance and interest in this team now and in the future. Only success will save us now.
Success needn't come overnight, but continuing the fresh outlook from this front office is the only way to go. Continue making inroads in Quebec, embrace new Canadians and finding new baseball teams. Continue hocking powder blue jerseys and white ball caps in the club shop if you must, but don't sell the present and the future short. Sell the youth. Sell the promise.
There certainly is a lot of promise. This team made out just fine in this trade and certainly has its share of pieces for the future. Enough young pitching exists that even if only 60% of it pans out, the team is set. These young players are the key, and the story you need to tell your fans and customers. I can't speak for anyone else, but I don't give a shit about the old days anymore. They're gone.
So give Cito his victory lap then let him shuffle off into the sunset. You gave the old dogs from 92/93 their chance to reclaim the spotlight. When Joe Carter or whomever else comes sniffing around in 2012 or 2013 with thoughts of 20 year anniversaries on their mind, say thanks but no thanks. Hopefully the team you started building today can stand on its own merits by then. They certainly have a shot.
Image courtesy of Infinite Jesterings
12 comments:
You know what, Drew? I'm on board. End Flashback Fridays.ReplyDelete
Umm, shouldn't you then remove your picture of Joe Carter leaping for joy?ReplyDelete
Maybe you're right Greg. I'm not selling the past with one hand while cramming the future down your throat with the other, but you still have a point.ReplyDelete
I'll think about. Or start a poll.
Selling to Quebec would be tough, typically they don't support anything from Toronto. However, the first thing I would do is move the Jays triple A team from Las Vegas to Montreal and call them the Royals. That is, if there is a park available? Montreal used to be a great triple A baseball town.ReplyDelete
Done. League'd. See ya Joe, been a slice.ReplyDelete
That was fast, Drew.ReplyDelete
The Jays don't own their AAA team, so they can't move them anywhere. And if 2010 is year one, then we can finish above .500 in 2016?ReplyDelete
I've got to keep it real.ReplyDelete
We can win the pennant in 2017! Playoffs0100011011
I like the idea of celebrating and respecting the team's history and its storied past. But this doesn't have to happen every Friday.ReplyDelete
Because when you're bringing the carcass of Homer Bush back to town for the third straight year, that's not respecting the past.
Also, I'd revert back to the uni's that they wore in 1993 on a full time basis, but that's an argument that we've already had. But now, I assume your Batman fandom is responsible for your affection for the silver and black colour scheme.
How about a little more insight into what they got? I'm seeing a pitcher who already has had tommy john, an 3B who can't actually play 3B and a catcher who had a terrible season in SINGLE A. Tell me I'm wrong Drew!!!!ReplyDelete
You're right Tao, AA should re-instate the '93 white jerseys for the Flashback Fridays and get rid of the Powder Blues.ReplyDelete
Man, that picture is so awesome. Like a masterclass in negative space. I'm going to read Year One again and again and again. It's unreal.ReplyDelete


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Toyo Open Country A/T II Selected as Original Equipment for Ford Super Duty
Popular Replacement Tire Now Factory Fitment for F-250, F-350 King Ranch
Related Video
At one point or another, if you've driven a car or truck long enough, it comes time to replace the tires. Frequently, the tires selected by the manufacturer for original fitment are either too expensive, don't provide the desired performance characteristics, or are simply too hard to find. Ford Super Duty owners have voted with their wallets and made the Toyo Open Country A/T II one of the most popular replacement tires for the truck. Ford took notice of the trend and is now offering the Open Country A/T II as a factory fitment on 2015 Ford F-250 and F-350 King Ranch models.
The adoption of the Open Country A/T II as a factory fitment represents the first time a domestic automaker has chosen a U.S.-manufactured Toyo brand tire as original equipment. All Open Country A/T II tires come from Toyo's plant in White, Georgia, northwest of Atlanta. In less than a year, the tire sold more than 1 million units and gained a reputation for its long-lasting tread life and aesthetically attractive design. The Open Country A/T II is offered in a variety of sizes, from 215/75R15 to 325/50R22 to fit many popular OE and aftermarket fitments of light trucks and SUVs. The factory fitment for the Ford Super Duty is LT 275/65R20.
Source: Toyo Tires


text: This powerful and innovative motherboard supports both dual- and quad-core AMD Athlon and Sempron SoC (system-on-a-chip) APUs integrating Radeon HD graphics and support for HD video playback. This revolutionary APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) combines high processing power, advanced Microsoft DirectX 11.1 graphics, and Fusion controller hubs (FCHs) in one small, efficient package. This SoC APU features up to single-channel DDR3 1600/1333 memory, SATA 6Gbit/s and USB 3.0 natively. AMD Athlon/Sempron APUs are the first multi-core x86 SoC with AM1 Series socket solution for entry-level desktops, improving performance by over 50 percent compared to the previous (?Brazos 2.0?) generation of AMD APUs


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Technically, an antibiotic is a substance that is produced by one microorganism and it is capable of killing or inhibiting the growth of another microorganism which can a virus, bacteria, fungi, yeast, protozoan or any other pathogen.
The first antibiotic that was developed was Penicillin, a biological compound that is produced by fungi in the genus Penicillium. It was discovered by Alexander Fleming in the year 1928. After that, several other types of antibiotics produced by different species of bacteria and fungi were isolated. Some of these include cephalosporins; aminoglycosides such as streptomycin, gentamicin and kanamycin; ansamycins such as geldanamycin and carabecephems; glycopeptides like vancomycin; macrolides like erythromycin and azithromycin, penicillin, quinolone, polypeptide and sulfonamide.
All these antibiotics have different mode of action by which they act as therapeutic agents. Some of the modes of action by different antibiotics are mentioned below:
Cell Wall Synthesis Inhibitors:
Bacteria contain murein or peptidoglycan that is highly essential in maintaining the cell wall structure. Cell wall synthesis inhibitors such as beta-lactams, cephalosporins and glycopeptides block the ability of microorganisms to synthesize their cell wall by inhibiting the synthesis of peptidoglycan.
Interfering with Protein Synthesis:
These classes of antibiotics inhibit the protein synthesis machinery in the cell. Some examples include tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, aminoglycosides and macrolides.
Cell Membrane Inhibitors:
Antibiotics such as polymyxins disrupt the integrity and structure of cell membranes, thereby killing them. These set of antibiotics are mostly effective on gram negative bacteria because these are the bacteria that contain a definite cell membrane.
Effect on Nucleic Acids:
DNA and RNA are extremely essential nucleic acids present in every living cell. Antibiotics such as quinolones and rifamycins bind to the proteins that are required for the processing of DNA and RNA, thus blocking their synthesis and thereby affecting the growth of the cells.
Competitive Inhibitors:
Also referred to as anti-metabolites or growth factor analogs, these are antibiotics that competitively inhibit the important metabolic pathways occurring inside the bacterial cell. Important ones in this class are sulfonamides such as Gantrisin and Trimethoprim.


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Hopeful Moments is a joyful little corporate piece, beginning with subtle elegant and energetic strings that then morphs into a more upbeat, rock tune that incorporates guitars and heavy drums. Hope you enjoy. You are more than welcome to leave me feedback! Thank you.
Purchase includes WAV and MP3 file formats of the song.
All music by Phil Larson
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- Stephen Lewis in Bubkes: A Tale of Urban Expansion: Late-19th-Century "Çarʂı" Row Houses, Functional Integration, Street-Life, and Class Mobility. " The downtown end of Pirotska eventually was lined with European-style apartment houses. At the Üç Bunar end of Pirotska an older form of architecture still dominates: Two-to-three-story row-houses built in çarʂı (Turkish for 'arcade' and 'market') style, with commercial space for shops and craftsmen's ateliers on the ground floors and family dwellings on the floor(s) above. Such çarʂı dwellings contributed to the re-shaping of Sofia by spatially integrating the functions of residential streets and market quarters. By doing so, they contributed to a culture of urban street life and the emergence of an urban middle- and lower-middle-class and paths to class mobility, both essential elements of democratic nation-building, an imperfect process in Bulgaria to this very day."
- At my Flickr stream:
Humans vs. Nature
- Elizabeth Kolbert in The New Yorker:
- Her book, The Sixth Extinction
- Democracy Now: The Sixth Extinction: Elizabeth Kolbert on How Humans Are Causing Largest Die-Off Since Dinosaur Age
- Andrew Sullivan: The Extinction We Enabled
- Dan Blum: Direct Memory Access That Kills
- KevinFitchard in Gigaom: White spaces anyone? Google opens its spectrum database to developers
- Noam Cohen in The New York Times: Wikipedia vs. The Small Screen.
- Cory Doctorow:
The Regulatorium
- Michael J. Copps, in Columbia Journalism Review: From the desk of a former FCC Commissioner: Journalists need to generate a national discussion on the future of the internet
- Kate Cox in The Consumerist: 5 Ways The FCC Has Failed Consumers (And One Way To Fix It), From A Former FCC Commissioner. Expands on the Commissioner's own post, above, with many links.
- Rick Falkfvinge in TorrentFreak: Because of DRM, the entire copyright monopoly legislation is a lie.
- On Bill Moyers: David Simon on our rigged political system.
- Everything at Lessig.org.
- Derek Khanna in Forbes: Congress to vote on phone unlocking
Surveillance vs. Privacy
- Kevin S. Bankston and Ashkan Soltani in Yale Law Journal: Tiny Constables and the Cost of Surveillance: Making Cents Out of United States v. Jones. Looks at the Jones decision from the standpoint of data about the costs of location techniques, and forwards a "cost-based conception of the expectation of privacy that both supports and is supported by the concurring opinions in Jones."
- MIT follows up on the Aaron Swartz case.


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Pugsley is here
Mileage: 25.1
July mileage: 832.1
Temperature upon departure: 53
Inches of rain today: 0.30"
This frame actually arrived a few days ago. I originally thought I was going to mull it over a while before deciding whether I really wanted a Pugsley or a Wildfire or another beefy bike. But then I found a good deal on a 16" gray model, and I snatched it up quickly because I am not interested in riding anything that's the color of fermented grape Koolaid. However, since it showed up, I seem to be having delayed onset of joy.
There may be two reasons for that. First, a bit of knee relapse has me questioning the wisdom of training all winter long. Second, I started dismantling Snaux Bike to cannibalize some parts and unload others. Yesterday I wrapped up the SnowCat wheels in a box bound for Colorado. Now Snaux Bike is no longer a snow bike. He's just something useless ... broken ... and there's sadness in that. Bringing Pugsley into the house is a bit like having a new boyfriend move in while the old one is still gathering up the pieces of a shattered relationship in hopes of reconciliation. "I'll always love you, but, you know ..."
Still, it's better to move on than always wonder what could have been. I, for one, can't wait to figure out what kind of bottom bracket I should buy so I can slap Pugsley together and take him out for some joyriding on the rocky beaches of Douglas Island. And winter ... don't even get me started on how excited I am for winter.
12 comments:
Nice Pugs :) When you get it together let me know what you think of the standover. I'm dying to get Marni on a Pugs and I hope a 16" will work.ReplyDelete
Do you really have BB questions or was that rhetorical? You need the 150mm bottom bracket like the downhillers and most are Isis. I *think* I have a spare ISIS crank I'll never use. If that's what you end up going with I'll send it to you for shipping cost.
BTW that Saloman pack that I just posted a few days ago is being sold. It's not long enough in the torso for me. Any interest?
I like the cloud descention in your photo today, kinda spooky in a good way.ReplyDelete
Speaking of needing things and free stuff, I have some barely worn nice clip bike shoes that are somewhere around a size 8 if you, Jill, or anyone else here is interested. (I can post a picture & better info if so - I got them for my mom but they didn't fit.)
Jill, I don't have anything to sell, however I am excited for you and your new snow bike. I am a bit sad about Snaux Bike...you two seemed so good together.ReplyDelete
And Chris, I have a 16" Pugsley frame and the stand over is barely low enough for me. I'm 5'7" with a 29" inseam.
Ohh, I think I'm in the minority on this, but I like the Purple Pearl Sizzurple Pugsley color! I guess nobody else did, that's why they discontinued the color.
Congrats on the Pugsley! I have absolutely no use for such a bike yet I am very envious and wish I had a compelling reason to build one up.ReplyDelete
Enjoy the new ride - I hope you two have many safe & fun miles together.
i like the purple pugsley too.ReplyDelete
Non purple pugs cool!ReplyDelete
there is a phil bb if you want to go square taper but its a bit spendy... Dont know what you have on the other bike?
I always have trubble braking up with a bike also have a hard time having more then one bike... I feel like i'm cheating on the other bike....
I think my sheep well be glad not freezeing her but off though =)
Let me know if you need anything thing for the build
Chris, I was being serious about the BB. I've been reading conflicting info, and it's not like I know what I'm doing. Amazing how cryptic all that information can seem to an uninformed person such as myself. ISIS you say?ReplyDelete
Dorothea ... I wear an 8.5-9 size shoe. They may be too small for me. But if they are brand new, you should try to sell them on eBay. It works. Really.
Chris ... What price is the pack being sold for? I may be interested. Although I already have a backlog of stuff that I actually need.
Jill, If you go to the Surlyville website they have some good tech information. And the guys at Surly are very friendly and helpful. If you email them with a tech question they usually get back to you the same day or next day at the latest.ReplyDelete
Purple reigns!ReplyDelete
Jill, they may fit you since they are actually a 7.5 mens (8.5 womens), but if you have a narrow foot they may be too wide...they are pearl izumis sort of like these http://spoke-n-sport.com/images/library/site/pi_399bldr_04ss_b.jpgReplyDelete
Even without winter riding Pugs is good. Think monster trucking bicycling. It makes you feel like you want to run things over.ReplyDelete
:O "because I am not interested in riding anything that's the color of fermented grape Koolaid"ReplyDelete
I forgive you. To eash his own in colorville. hehehehehe, your going to love that bike. Think I will have to ride mine this evening just cuz it is always great. I love my purple bike.


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Saturday, October 31, 2009
Happy Halloween!
Posted by tom at 10:44 AM No comments:
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Pumpkin Guy
Posted by tom at 6:20 PM No comments:
Labels: Bernie Wrightson, halloween
Monday, October 26, 2009
A Classic Witch
Posted by tom at 8:01 AM No comments:
Labels: halloween, illustration, Norman Price
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Giant Halloween Fun
October 1960.
October 1961.
October 1956.
October 1953.
Posted by tom at 9:58 AM No comments:
Labels: Bugs Bunny, comic books, Dell Giant, Elmer Fudd, halloween, Little Lulu, Witch Hazel
Friday, October 23, 2009
She'll Put A Spell On You!
Posted by tom at 10:04 PM No comments:
Labels: cheesecake, Dave Stevens, halloween, pinup
Gothic Mysteries, or: Mystery Gothics
The Winds of Night, by Anne Maybury. Ace Books, 1963. Unknown artist.
Unknown book, unknown artist, unknown everything. Anyone have any ideas? The image below is on the back of the painting. I've tried searching for Rickover Plot, McHover Plot, lots of combinations. It is 20" x 30," gouache on board.
This Just In (10/24/09): The Nichovev Plot by Nick Carter!
Posted by tom at 6:50 AM No comments:
Labels: illustration
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Spirit of Halloween
Posted by tom at 7:32 AM No comments:
Labels: halloween, The Spirit, Will Eisner
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Women Outlaws
Women Outlaws #1, July 1948.
Women Outlaws #2, September 1948.
Women Outlaws #3, November 1948.
Women Outlaws #4, January 1949.
Women Outlaws #5, March 1949.
Women Outlaws #6, May 1949.
Women Outlaws #7, July 1949.
Women Outlaws #8, September 1949.
Posted by tom at 7:39 AM 2 comments:
Labels: cheesecake, comic books, pinup, western comics
Monday, October 19, 2009
True Confession: Betty and Veronica
I used to collect original art, then I got interested in other things and it got too expensive. Now that I've been looking around at some lately, it's gotten really expensive. Me and a friend were lamenting back in the 1980's we would see original art for sale for $10 a page and wouldn't get it. Now we look back and think "Hell, a Superman page for $10, who cares if the art isn't that great, it's Superman! Only $10! Why didn't we grab it?"
So, I saw this Betty & Veronica story for $48 (less than $10 a page!) and thought what the hell. I mostly associate Archie comics with going to the dentist when I was a kid. This one is from a bit later, 1992. It has all the classic elements of an Archie, Betty and Veronica story. Hell, it's even called "The Triangle." I like the panel of Veronica all pissed off at the bottom of page 2, and page 4 is pretty fun with the phone action and the pictures of Archie by the table. All these stories are the same, and I think they really are written by a computer.
For your reading pleasure: "The Triangle," pencils by Dan Parent, inks by Rudy Lapick. From a 1992 issue of Betty and Veronica.
Posted by tom at 9:46 PM No comments:
Labels: Archie comics, comic books
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Brinke Stevens
Posted by tom at 1:23 AM 1 comment:
Labels: Brinke Stevens, cheesecake, pinup, Vampirella
Friday, October 16, 2009
Space Giants!
Posted by tom at 8:15 PM No comments:
Labels: comic books, Dell Giant, Mighty Mouse, science fiction
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
A MAD Halloween
Posted by tom at 6:28 AM No comments:
Labels: Frank Kelly Freas, halloween, Mad
Monday, October 12, 2009
San Diego Comic Con, 1985.
Some Samurai looking guy and I'm not sure who that is supposed to be next to him.
A couple of guys dressed like pirates (I guess).
Art dealer Albert Moy. Love that Badtime Stories cover behind him.
The Gecks. I'm not sure what that was, maybe a band. We kept seeing this guy around. Scott Parrish on the right.
We called this guy "Captain Tape" because of the abundance of tape on his costume.
I'm not sure who this lady was supposed to be, but she liked having her picture taken and we liked photographing her.
L to R: Daredevil, Green Lantern, The Black Cat
The worst Flaming Carrot costume in the world.
Below: some views of the main dealers' room.
Posted by tom at 8:22 PM 1 comment:
Labels: comic convention, Daredevil, Flaming Carrot, Green Arrow, San Diego Comic Con, The Black Cat
Thursday, October 8, 2009
It Really Happened!
It Really Happened #3, 1944. Alex Schomburg cover.
It Really Happened #4, 1944. Alex Schomburg cover.
It Really Happened #6, 1946. Alex Schomburg cover.
It Really Happened #11, 1947. Alex Schomburg cover.
Posted by tom at 10:10 PM No comments:
Labels: Alex Schomburg, comic books, pirates, war comics
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Doctor Doolittle in the Moon
I picked this up for cheap at the flea market a couple weeks ago and just fell in love with these illustrations. These aren't even half of the illustrations, there is an illustration every three or four pages in the book. Sometimes it looks like he is illustrating random sentences from the book, the randomness of it is one of the things that cracks me up.
The drawings remind of James Thurber at first glance. Like Thurber and Gary Larson, I love how he can put so much expression in a face with just a dot for an eye and line for a mouth. Particularly in the renderings of Polynesia the Parrot.
Posted by tom at 7:07 AM 1 comment:
Labels: Doctor Doolittle, Hugh Lofting, illustration
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Shrek Kart™ Review
- Lots of gameplay options.
- Cleverly designed race-tracks.
- Patchy framerate problems.
- Controls aren't always responsive.
There's no denying that Shrek Kart brings the Mario Kart formula to the iPhone and does it well, but if it wasn't for the framerate problems it'd be almost perfect. Lots of fun and lots to do!
- Full Review
- App Store Info
Gameloft have been fairly synonymous with quality games on the iPhone and even if some of their games haven't excited you, it's hard to deny that they're good at emulating popular games. Shrek Kart is no different, taking the Mario Kart formula and producing a fun go-kart experience for you and your friends to enjoy on the iPhone.
Shrek and his pals are thrown around their whacky tracks through two different methods. Accelerometer tilt controls are the default for steering, but touch options are available to steer by touching the sides of the screen. Both methods aren't perfect, requiring some adjustment depending on the character you kart with.
Half of the kart control issues do come about as a result of the patchy frame rate. At times the game engine does struggle to keep up, so it's easy to plough off the track or in to a wall. The game world itself is colourful and fun, with each character rendered clearly. There are some clipping issues and on several levels it's hard to judge the direction to take.
Franchise tie-ins are usually something to be wary of, especially if the developer is forced to produce a game in a strict deadline. Shrek Kart does feel a bit unfinished and could have spent a bit more time buffing out the control and frame-rate issues, but it's still a great game that sticks to the "kart" formula and is recommended for anyone after a light-hearted racing experience.
DescriptionOPTIMIZED FOR iPHONE 4! High-definition graphics that fully utilize the iPhone 4 Retina display & gyroscope support for innovative controlling and driving precision.
For the first time on the App Store, you can play as SHREK! Challenge your friends in Multiplayer and Arena modes! Explore the world of DreamWorks Animation's Shrek!
Once Upon a Time…
Shrek and his friends are on a quest: To become the Kingdom's Fastest Kart Racer! Race to your own Fairy Tale ending and try to win Ye Grand Tournament.
But remember: Only 1st Place lives Happily Ever After!
All is fair(y) in this twisted tournament tale:
- 4 SINGLEPLAYER MODES: Single Race, Tournament, Challenges and Arena modes
- LOCAL MULTIPLAYER MODE: Challenge your friends to eat your dust via Wi-Fi (with up to 6 players) and Bluetooth (2 players)!
- MILES OF RACING FUN with 19 cups in the Tournament mode and 72 challenges to face!
- 10 UNIQUE KARTS: Each character has custom built his or her own vehicle, each with a special ability and different characteristics.
- 11 DEFENSIVE & OFFENSIVE POWER-UPS: Drop the Cow That Jumped Over the Moon on an opponent or shoo away those Angry Bees by wiping off the screen with your finger!
- 15 TRACKS (12 Speedways & 3 Arenas): Beautiful 3D environments from throughout the Kingdom, from Shrek's home in The Swamp to the palm-lined streets of Far Far Away.
- MORE THAN 10 PLAYABLE CHARACTERS: Shrek, Donkey, Fiona, Ogre Triplets, Puss In Boots, Gingy, 3 Little Pigs, Pinocchio, Big Bad Wolf and the Ghost of Lord Farquaad !
- iPod LIBRARY ACCESS: Rock out to your own personal soundtrack while you speed towards the Finish Line! (Works with the OS 3.0 software update.)
Race Happily Ever After!
Follow the official Twitter account to get more info about the game: http://twitter.com/Shrek_Games
Shrek Kart ™ & © 2009 DreamWorks Animation L.L.C. Shrek is a registered trademark of DreamWorks Animation L.L.C. Shrek Kart Game Software © 2009 Gameloft. All Rights Reserved.
Certain apps allow you to purchase virtual items within the app and may contain third party advertisements that may redirect you to a third party site.
What's New in Version 1.1.1Updated for iPhone 4 and iOS 4
- Sharper physics allowing for smoother driving thanks to the gyroscope
- Crisp, gorgeous high-resolution graphics to take full advantage of the iPhone 4 Retina Display
- Support for iOS 4 multitasking on compatible devices: Switch between your favorite apps instantly


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Babies can say volume without saying a single word. They can wave good-bye, point at things to indicate an interest or shake their heads to mean "No". These gestures may be very simple, but they are a sign of things to come. Year-old toddlers who use more gestures tend to have more expansive vocabularies several years later. And this link between early gesturing and future linguistic ability may partially explain by children from poorer families tend to have smaller vocabularies than those from richer ones.
Vocabulary size tallies strongly with a child's academic success, so it's striking that the lexical gap between rich and poor appears when children are still toddlers and can continue throughout their school life. What is it about a family's socioeconomic status that so strongly affects their child's linguistic fate at such an early age?
Obviously, spoken words are a factor. Affluent parents tend to spend more time talking to their kids and use more complicated sentences with a wider range of words. But Meredith Rowe and Susan Goldin-Meadow from the University of Chicago found that actions count too.
Children gesture before they learn to speak and previous studies have shown that even among children with similar spoken skills, those who gesture more frequently during early life tend to know more words later on. Rowe and Goldin-Meadow have shown that differences in gesturing can partly explain the social gradient in vocabulary size.
They studied the actions of 14-month-old babies from 50 local families of various backgrounds. They videotaped each baby engaging in ordinary activities with their parents for 90 minutes and noted every time they spoke or used gestures to communicate. Only actions with meanings counted - waving goodbye was a gesture, but opening a book was not. Rowe and Goldin-Meadow were particularly interested in how many different meanings they managed to convey through actions - for example, pointing at a dog meant "dog".
At this early age, a child's social background had no impact on how many words they could speak, but it did affect their use of gestures. Toddlers from richer families conveyed more meanings through gestures than those from poorer ones. Children typically start gesturing at about 10 months of age, so according to these results, it takes less than 4 months for a social gradient to develop. At that point, many babies haven't started speaking and among those that have, there is no rich-poor gap in their use of words. But in more silent channels of communication, that gap is already evident.
It probably develops because richer parents gesture more extensively towards their children and indeed, children expressed more meanings through gestures if their parents did so to them. When Rowe and Goldin-Meadow adjusted for parental gesturing, the link between wealth and a child's use of gestures was severely weakened.
These early differences had consequences later. A child's "gesture vocabulary" at 14 months of age predicted the number of words they knew between the ages of four and five. And this link explained some but not all of the connection between wealth and vocabulary size.
Through gestures, children could give children a chance to familiarise themselves with certain meanings at a point when they don't know how to represent them verbally. Alternatively, it's possible that gestures build vocabulary indirectly, by prompting reactions from parents. A baby who points at a dog might get a "Yes, that's a dog" from their mum. Indeed, Goldin-Meadow previously found that when mothers "translated" their child's gestures into words, the child would incorporate those words into their vocabulary several months later. In a way, children "use their hands to tell their mothers what to say".
Obviously, gestures aren't the only thing explaining the link between social status and child vocabulary but Rowe and Goldin-Meyer's work shows that they are important. It suggests that parents may be able to use their hands to improve their child's later communication skills by, even before they can actually speak.
Reference: M. L. Rowe, S. Goldin-Meadow (2009). Differences in Early Gesture Explain SES Disparities in Child Vocabulary Size at School Entry Science, 323 (5916), 951-953 DOI: 10.1126/science.1167025
More on gestures:
Gestures reveal universal word order, regardless of language
Chimps show that actions spoke louder than words in language evolution