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Full concert set
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Mrigya Live at Turquoise Cottage, GurgaonAdded 940 Views / 0 Likes
The music of Mrigya carries the legacy of thousands of years of not only music but also the heritage of Indian culture. Watch the recent video of band Mrigya Live at Turquoise Cottage, Gurgaon. Support Mrigya on Social Media : https://www.facebook.com/pag
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Lamb Of God - Download Festival 2007Added 702 Views / 0 Likes
LAMB OF GOD's Set List: 1- Laid to rest 1:382- Again we rise 5:403- Walk with me in hell 11:404- Pathetic 16:525- Now You got something to die for 22:176- Blacken the cursed sun 25:577- Redneck 31:298- Black label 35:50Featured


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Last night was Britney Night on the X-Factor with all the contestants singing one of her hits and another American song. Of course this was all highlighted, supposedly, by a live performance from Ms Spears herself.
Now when Britney appears 'live' we have come to expect that she will be miming, something to do with not be able to sing very well!? Anyway, that is just what she did last night, and while it was just 'ok' it wasn't that impressive and won't be leaving a very positive impression on the UK audience, which is a shame for her first UK performance in 5 years.
On to what was an impressive performance and the rising star of pop, Miley Cyrus. Not only did she sing live but her performance was rocking, to say the least. It seems the Brit could learn a few things from the recently turned Sweet Sixteen star of Hannah Montana on how to put on a show. Miley sung her latest single, 7 Things, and I urge you to check it out, here: linkage.

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Some people erroneously believe that Jackie Wilson had training as an opera singer. The famous (or infamous) audiotape of Norm N. Nite interviewing Jackie Wilson may be the source of this misconception.
Norm N. Nite: "People have described your singing voice and style almost to be operatic.
Did you ever have any formal training in this area?"
Jackie Wilson: "Well, I can give credit to Mr. Billy Ward for that. He was a vocal coach at Carnegie Hall. I studied under him for about—well, for two years straight."
Those unacquainted with Jackie Wilson or Billy Ward might assume the singer visited Ward once a week for voice lessons aimed at preparing him for a Met audition. In reality, Ward was Jackie Wilson's employer.
The Nite interview contains some deliberately deceptive statements and several outright lies (see Quotes and Common Sense), so I have no idea whether or not this particular exchange was intentionally misleading. Whatever the case may be, Jackie Wilson did not even read music and certainly was not trained for opera. However, it is likely true that Ward actively coached Wilson in vocal technique for at least two years.
Jackie the valet. At age eighteen, Jackie Wilson went on tour with Billy Ward and His Dominoes, a well established and nationally popular act, as a valet for the performers. The Dominoes were a vocal quartet, and Ward composed some of their music, arranged it all, played keyboards, and occasionally sang with the group.
At the time, Jackie was under consideration for a spot in the quartet and quickly became the unofficial understudy for Clyde McPhatter, who was preparing to leave to form The Drifters. During this tour, Ward began coaching Wilson in vocal technique, almost certainly working on his breathing, phrasing, and diction. It is probably at this point that Jackie began to regularly sing scales, which he would later do routinely in preparation for performances.
After this first tour with the group, Jackie stayed in Billy Ward's Greenwich Village apartment for several months until a new tour commenced, and the vocal coaching most likely continued throughout that time and the next tour. Legend has it that at some point during this period of training, Ward gave Wilson a photograph inscribed "To a rough stone I am polishing into a diamond." Ward was not overstating his role. Aside from the singer himself, no one else did as much as Billy Ward to develop Jackie Wilson as a performer.
A few weeks after his nineteenth birthday, Jackie Wilson, who had by then officially replaced McPhatter on tour, was recording as the tenor lead of Billy Ward and His Dominoes. Between late 1952 and spring 1956, Billy Ward's instruction and rehearsals would combine with the performance and recording experience as the leading voice in the quartet to ready Jackie Wilson for his solo career.
Marv Goldberg. Billy Ward and His Dominoes hold a prominent place in the history of rhythm and blues. Music historian Marv Goldberg has done the best research on the group, and I strongly recommend visiting his Web pages at www.uncamarvy.com for details about The Dominoes and other groups of their era. Goldberg interviewed a number of former Dominoes and some of their associates, learning the following from Joe Lamont's son about recording in the primitive King/Federal studios:
Yusuf Lamont told me that his father said it was difficult to be in a studio with Jackie Wilson because he was basically a solo singer with a powerful voice that needed to be baffled. "Your ears would hurt after being around him in a studio." Whereas microphones were usually placed fairly close to the singers, in Jackie's case, it was located several feet away.
I refer everyone to Marv Goldberg for substantial and fascinating details about both Ward himself and the group, but I want to introduce a few facts here to help illuminate how life as a Domino shaped Jackie Wilson's solo career.
Background on Billy Ward and His Dominoes. Billy Ward was a gifted musician, arranger, songwriter, and vocal coach. As a teenager, he won a national competition for a work he composed for the piano. When he returned to civilian life after service in the army, he studied both graphic art and music, eventually leaving Julliard to find employment in New York City as a vocal coach. While applying himself to paid positions in this capacity, he also took on helping young Black vocal groups around town. It was among these young people that he found Clyde McPhatter and the other early members of the group he formed and would later call The Dominoes.
Although most of the leads for The Dominoes were arranged for high tenor Clyde McPhatter, one of the group's most famous recordings, "Sixty Minute Man," featured bass singer Bill Brown boasting of his sexual prowess. Composed by Billy Ward and Rose Marks, an agent who ran the business end of the act, "Sixty Minute Man" is considered one of the first rock and roll records. It made the pop charts, although many radio stations refused to play it, and it became a number one hit on the Rhythm and Blues chart in 1951. For the next two years, The Dominoes would appear regularly on that chart, reaching number one again with "Have Mercy Baby," one of McPhatter's leads, but the group did not chart another record on the Hot 100. Throughout this period, Ward had the quartet touring on the Chitlin Circuit.
The first two singles released with Jackie Wilson singing lead were also hits on the Rhythm and Blues charts. "You Can't Keep A Good Man Down" rose to number six and "Rags to Riches" went to number two. At this point Ward decided to gamble on establishing a less taxing and more prosperous future. He secured a contract for his group to play extended dates in Las Vegas, taking the act off the Chitlin Circuit in hopes of "crossover" success on the pop charts. "Crossover" success and the main Billboard chart meant catering to audiences that were primarily white, the demographic group that could afford upscale nightclubs and big collections of vinyl recordings.
With Jackie Wilson at center stage, the group became a hit in Las Vegas, but the dramatic reduction in the number of appearances before Black audiences meant that Billy Ward and His Dominoes disappeared from the Rhythm and Blues charts. However, just as Wilson prepared to leave the group for a solo career, his magnificent voice led them to a genuine Billboard Hot 100 hit, "St. Therese of the Roses." In fact, the record rose all the way to the Top Twenty, peaking at number thirteen.
Lasting effects on Our Hero. Jackie Wilson has been quoted as saying that Billy Ward "was not an easy man to work for." That opinion was shared by many of the singers Ward employed.
Above all, Billy Ward was The Boss. He paid his singers salaries. They did not share in the gate or record royalties. In fact, discussion of such topics among the singers was forbidden. Ward had exacting standards for personal appearance and conduct onstage and offstage, and he deducted not only expenses but also "fines" from his employees' paychecks. Among other things, the vocalists could be fined for failing to shine their shoes, for consuming alcohol, or even for leaving the hotel without permission.
Once he figured out the financial arrangements, Clyde McPhatter complained bitterly about them. He was quoted as saying that he could hear his own voice coming out of a jukebox, but he could not afford to buy a coke so that he could sit down and enjoy the experience. Of course, McPhatter, who eventually drank himself to death, probably would not have wanted to restrict himself to Coca-Cola anyway.
But McPhatter wasn't the only alcoholic tenor Ward groomed and paid. The restriction on drinking must have been difficult for Jackie Wilson as well, for even if Ward could not keep his singers from drinking altogether, the rules and the fines probably did curb their behavior significantly.
Although it was not easy to work for Billy Ward, Jackie Wilson did so for more than four years, and his later reference to Ward in the Nite interview shows that he clearly understood the value of this show business apprenticeship. Anyone doubting what Ward did for Wilson's singing should listen to the horrid diction on the DeeGee label Sonny Wilson recording "Rainy Day Blues," then check out the precision of songs Jackie recorded as a Domino, such as "Until the Real Thing Comes Along" or "Three Coins in the Fountain."
More than voice lessons. However, Billy Ward's influence on Jackie Wilson extended beyond teaching him vocal technique and requiring that Jackie live a disciplined existence. Ward's determination to establish the Dominoes on the mainstream pop music charts and the steps he took to achieve this goal had to leave a deep impression on the young singer.
Black entertainers at this time faced an unpleasant truth: they could stay with their Black audience alone and remain poor, or they could seek fame and fortune with a broader audience, one that would be predominantly white.
Billy Ward made the choice to pursue that broader audience even though it meant forfeiting the comfort of living and working within the familiar and supportive network the Black community provided.
In the early 1950s, no single location manifested the isolation of Black artists striving for crossover success more starkly than Las Vegas, where audiences were overwhelmingly white and Black performers were not permitted to walk through the front doors of casinos in which they appeared. Today in America it is hard to imagine such a blunt daily affront to human dignity.
The vocal coaching, the discipline of preparing for performances, the years of laboring to please demanding Las Vegas audiences, the opportunity to learn how a successful show business act functioned day in and day out, and adherence to the goal of striving for success in unfamiliar territory were all highly valuable lessons for the very young man with the very extraordinary voice.


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It never really occurred to me how much space in a typical house goes unused until Ms. FP and I moved back into her four bedroom house. As a renter, we never lived in an apartment bigger than 800 square feet or so. Our smallest apartment (where we found all of that sweet, sweet trash) was about 600 square feet. At the beginning of this year the two of us moved back into a 4 bedroom house that was double or triple the size of any apartment we'd ever lived in.
It seemed like a waste to have so much space for just two people. But we didn't want to get roommates either. That's when we decided to try out our hand at Airbnb.
Are You Really Using All Of Your Space?
Moving from our small apartment into a pretty big house really showed us how much of our home was basically going unused. When you think about it, most people probably need just a few parts of their home – a spot to watch TV, a spot to sleep, and a spot to eat and cook. Maybe you work from home and need a spot to work.
A few months back, the Money Wizard wrote about a UCLA study in which researchers plotted the location of family members in a typical house. The researchers performed a sweep of the house every 10 minutes, then plotted each family member's location. Below were the results. As you can see, the majority of the time, people hung out in the kitchen or family room. Many other rooms basically went unused.
What this means is that, for most people, a house isn't being used to its full potential. Most of the time, you're not really paying to heat or cool yourself. Instead, you're paying to heat and cool stuff that's sitting in unused rooms.
And the absolute biggest waste of space has to be the guest room! It seems like everyone with a house has a guest room these days. People decorate them, keep them clean, and put nice stuff in them. And then these rooms only get used a handful of times per year. We were no exception.
If you have a guest room, you're sitting on a potential income generating portion of your house! Your home is likely your biggest asset. Figuring out a way to monetize it, even just a little bit, is an easy way to put that asset to use and defray some of your living costs. It's also a good way to fix the problem of having a house that's too big for you.
I knew about Airbnb, but had only tried it out once as a guest, and never as a host. But I'd always been interested in the concept. And I hated that we had all this extra space sitting unused.
So, in April of this year, I took some pictures of the guest room, put up a listing on Airbnb, and Ms. FP and I began to welcome our first guests. And so far, we've been very happy with the experience.
The Advantages of Airbnb
As you can tell, I'm a big fan of the sharing economy. Airbnb comes with a lot of advantages that you can't get from a normal roommate situation.
1. It's Better Than A Full Time Roommate.
The traditional way of monetizing your home would be to find a roommate. The problem with having a roommate is that you lose a lot of flexibility. If you want your house for yourself, you're stuck. With Airbnb, all you need to do is block out those dates on your calendar.
There's also a big mindset shift with an Airbnb guest as compared to a roommate. One of the things that Ms. FP hated about living with roommates was the fact that her roommates had their stuff in her living room and kitchen. It's not necessarily that her roommates were messy – most of them weren't. But when you have multiple people living in one house, it's really hard to keep the place free of clutter. A roommate sees your house as their house, basically.
It's a totally different experience with an Airbnb guest. That's because there's a general understanding that it's your house and the Airbnb guest is just that – a guest. When I'm a guest in someone's home, I tend to treat the home with a ton of respect. I won't walk around someone's house tracking mud, or leave my stuff around, or make a ton of noise at night. I've found that most people are the same way. When they stay in your home, they're super respectful.
Another big bonus with an Airbnb guest versus a roommate is the fact that Airbnb guests don't spend much time in your house. Someone staying with you on Airbnb is typically coming to your city for a specific reason. Since we're close to a college campus, almost every guest that stays with us is coming into town for a conference or for school interviews. We don't see them very often. Most of the time, they only come home to sleep.
2. Way More Money For Less Time.
This is pretty expected, but renting out a room on Airbnb brings in much more income than renting that same room out to a traditional renter. If you've followed my side hustle reports at all, you know that, in months where I'm fully booked, I can bring in well over $1,000 in a month. A room in my house would probably rent for around $600 or so per month if rented out normally. I can bring in that same amount in about 12 days on Airbnb.
3. Overhead Is Low If You're Renting Out A Room In Your Home.
One issue a lot of people have with Airbnb is that it takes a lot more time and overhead to run an Airbnb as compared to a traditional rental. This is definitely true if you're renting out an entire house or apartment. It's a time intensive process to clean a large space between guests and get a place ready for the next group. Not to mention that, if you're renting out an entire home on Airbnb, you'll probably need to invest some money in purchasing furniture.
But when you're renting out a room in your house on Airbnb, the overhead is minimal. There's very little extra utility use, at least not enough for me to notice any real difference in our electricity or water bill. We're also just using furniture we already had.
The only costs we really have are the cost of washing sheets. To minimize these costs, we have multiple sheets that we've earmarked for our guest room. Doing this allows us to stagger our laundry so that we can wash most of our sheets with our regular laundry.
4. Your House Will Never Be Cleaner.
I think this is the most underestimated impact of renting out a room on Airbnb. Ever look around and realize that your house has gotten pretty dirty? I know that's what happens to us when we go through long periods where no one is visiting our house. Clothes get left on chairs. Dirty plates start piling up in the sink. Dust bunnies start collecting in the corner.
This all changed once we started renting out a room on Airbnb. Suddenly, we needed to keep our house clean! Sure, there's some work involved in cleaning up our house when guests are coming. But the thing is, cleaning gets so much easier when your house is already clean to begin with! I really only have to sweep up our guest room, change the sheets, and make a quick sweep of the bathroom between guests.
I will admit that cleaning is work. I'd rather not do it. But it's work that doesn't just benefit our guests. It benefits us too! Our guests get a clean place to stay, and as an advantage, we get a clean house to live in.
5. You Can Get Freebies!
You can probably guess that I love free stuff. And the great thing with becoming a good Airbnb host is the ability to snag free things from companies looking to advertise their products. If you just keep an eye out on some of the major Airbnb forums, you can often find companies offering to give free stuff to Airbnb Superhosts. As an example, I've received boxes of travel sized toiletries, USB plugs, and smoke alarms.
My absolute best freebies are the two free mattresses I've received from startup mattress companies. These companies are super popular in the startup world. Instead of buying a mattress in a store, you can purchase a mattress online and the company mails it to you in a box. There are so many of these companies out there that there's even entire blogs and YouTube channels dedicated to reviewing mattresses.
Since I'm an Airbnb Superhost, I've been lucky enough to receive $2,000 worth of free mattresses and pillows from these companies! I guess the idea is that a guest will sleep on the mattress, then consider purchasing it later. I have no idea if that will actually work out, but who cares, free mattresses for me! Even if I stopped doing Airbnb right now, I'd still get to keep the mattresses, which are definitely better than our old mattresses.
I didn't expect to get any freebies when I first started hosting. But it's been a nice bonus and I'm always keeping an eye out for other freebies!
But What If Some Crazy Guy Comes Into My House?
The biggest fear that anyone has when it comes to renting out a room on Airbnb is the fact that you're inviting a stranger into your house. This is a definite concern for sure. but I think it's an overblown fear. I feel like most people in the world are normal people. And with the way the internet works, it's pretty easy to figure out who's coming to your door.
You also greatly diminish the chances that a crazy person comes into your home when you're renting out a single room on Airbnb. Anyone looking to throw a big party or steal from you or do any other number of bad things is probably not going to do it in a house where the owner is also living in it.
There are other precautions you can take to avoid problem guests. I require all of my guests to verify their identity with Airbnb. Basically, guests that want to stay in my house have to take a picture of their ID and give it to Airbnb. Below is what you can see if you look at a typical Airbnb profile.
I also always do a little bit of background research on each guest that messages me. If they have good reviews already, then that's great. They're probably less likely to be crazy. I'll also do a quick Google search and see what type of internet presence they have. A professional LinkedIn profile or some sort of work profile is definitely something I like to see.
Finally, you can limit the crazies just by chatting with your potential guests! I can almost always get a feel for the type of person coming to my home based on the type of messages they write. If the message is written professionally and explains why they're coming into town, I'm much more likely to accept the request.
In the end, you've got to trust your gut. Most people who are crazy won't be able to hide it. You'll probably be able to tell.
More To Come!
My Airbnb experience is far too much to write in a single post, so stay tuned for additional updates and information. I plan to share some more information about the type of money we've made and the tools we use as Airbnb hosts, along with other tips and tricks I've learned along the way.
If you've got a guest room collecting dust, seriously consider giving Airbnb a try. It only takes a little bit of time to set up and really, if you don't like it or find it to be uncomfortable, you can just delete your listing. You can't get that same flexibility with a roommate
There's really no reason your house can't bring in a little extra income for you.


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Watched via DVD
PLOT: Clannad pretty much has the same plot undertones as every other anime adaptation of a Key game. There is a somewhat nondescript male who helps out a bunch of school aged girls with their unrealistically dramatic problems. Like with other Key animations, there is also the allusion to an alternative magical realm. I'll be completely honest and just say that despite watching Clannad ~After Story~ this last summer (and having watched little else since) I can't recall a thing about it. And this "explanation" for the other realm Crystal speaks of is still a mystery to my memory.
What I truly enjoy about Key game adaptations are the story arcs. They are a great way to delve into characters further and segment the story into digestible chunks. Maybe that's why I can't for the life of me remember much about ~After Story~; I just don't remember any story breaks. From what I can recall, the story seemed to be the extras that didn't fit into the first season with some added epilogue elements.
As Crystal says, the plot of Clannad surrounds a group of classmates who are trying to revive an old club. By now this plot has been extremely over done, but with a post mark of 2004 for the game you can at least claim the idea was original when it first came out.
I'm in agreement with Crystal on this one. Out of Key's other game adaptations, Clannad is by far the best at meeting the formatting requirements of a new media. I almost got the feeling that rather than being based off of a game that the story could have been based off a light novel or manga. The one drawback is that for those fans who want more development with secondary characters there is less to see.
Development of secondary characters would be part of the stuff you can't remember from ~After Story~, along with a lot of great angst. It's very cathartic to watch.
PLOT: Clannad's based off of a visual novel by Key, so the basic plot is unsurprising: the main guy, Tomoya, meets a bunch of girls and helps them with their problems until he winds up with the main girl, Nagisa. There's also some stuff about the "Illusionary World," but none of that gets dealt with until the second season, ~After Story~, which we're not also reviewing because Whitney can't remember it. I'm sorry.
So, the show's plot. Nagisa is a sickly girl with low self-esteem who's repeating her senior year again. She wants to get the drama club going again, but in order to do that she has to get at least three members, which means talking to people. Tomoya of course helps Nagisa find new members for the drama club, and the resolution of this storyline forms the climax of this season of the anime.
Along the way, Tomoya befriends many other girls with problems, like Fuko (who likes starfish), Tomoyo (who's good at beating up Tomoya's best friend), Kotomi (who's very shy and smart), and the twins Kyou and Ryou (who are, well, twins). Most of these girls have awful, depressing backstories that make you cry, and Tomoya helps them move on. This is all very cliché, but, surprisingly, Tomoya also has his own problems in his life.
As an adaptation of a visual novel, I think Clannad does a good job of chaining the narratives together in a way that makes sense. It's always clear that Tomoya will wind up with Nagisa, which is a nice change, and her main story is the backdrop on which every other story occurs. The show does change focus as Tomoya learns about the other girls, but it always returns to Nagisa and Tomoya. Furthermore, this show's learned from the previous Key adaptations of Air and Kanon, so the narratives are all given room to breathe and develop. If you like adaptations of crying games like those Key churns out, then this one's a very solid one in terms of pacing and organization.
Just for your information, I watched it again after "not remembering" it, and I still can't remember it. What does that tell you about the second half?
SETTING: The theme for Clannad is spring. Key usually highlights a seasonal motif, and I feel that spring is quite fitting for a series based on new beginnings and turning over a new leaf.
The main cast attends school together and there are many glimpses into the domestic life of the Furukawa family and bakery. As Crystal states, everything about the town is very ordinary and charming. Even rough guys like Tomoya and Youhei seem to fit seamlessly into the pleasant little town which could easily fit into a Thomas Kinkade painting.
The only thing that doesn't seem to fit is the magical realm that is hinted at in the opening sequences. I'm sure watching ~After Story~ helps a bit with all of that, at least for some people. Really I wish Key would stop adding in unnecessary magical elements. Sure they may get explained, but in very wishy washy terms. You barely have a moment to reflect on it before the arc gets swept under the rug to move onto the next.
SETTING: This show takes place in a very ordinary Japanese town, which is probably so that the viewer can hope that these events will happen to them in their own ordinary Japanese towns. Because of this "everytown" concept, nothing in the town stands out much, beyond the fact that a lot of strange people like to hang around Tomoya. Oh, and the Furukawa family's bakery, which is probably supposed to represent how close people can be in the town.
The Illusionary World is interestingly different, but it's not explored much in this season. Sorry! Just know that it's around? It's the place you get glimpses of in the show's opening, with the cute robot and snow….
CHARACTERS: Finally some characters I can relate to! Key game adaptations usually show a wide variety of depressing female characterizations. This doesn't keep me from liking them, but it's hard to form an OTP when your choices are the girl who is five years old or the one who acts like a five-year-old.
Nagisa is a huge improvement over the female leads from Air and Kanon. She is a bit naive, but she still has some smarts, as minor as they may be. What helps is how much time is devoted to rounding out each character. We get to watch Nagisa as she faces her insecurities and develops into a lovely young woman.
As much as I said before that Tomoya is a "nondescript" character, he has an excellent back story that gets elaborated on far more than is typical for a harem anime. I also liked to see how dedicated Tomoya and Nagisa were to each other. It felt refreshing to see a strong setup for an OTP in a game adapt.
And what really sets Clannad above all other Key games and game adaptations are the secondary characters. I don't just kind of like the other girls, I love them. I can't think of a single arc I didn't enjoy watching. Maybe it's because the story focuses so much more on school/everyday interactions, but I felt as if I was able to learn more about the characters and who they really are compared with other Key series where you just bump into characters from time to time.
I also really liked that the world doesn't just revolve around Tomoya and these various girls. We see interactions with his best friend Youhei as well as Nagisa's parents the Furukawas. This made me feel like the world as a whole was more believable and rounded out. Which in turn made me a lot more interested in what it had to show me.
CHARACTERS: Like every adaptation of a crying game, your opinion of Clannad depends on how well you like the many characters. I really like Tomoya and Nagisa, which is good for me, since it means my ship wins. If you like Tomoyo or Kyou, there are OVAs out there to satisfy your tastes. If you want anyone else to get with Tomoya, you're kind of screwed.
As I mentioned before, Tomoya's a very refreshing change for a lead in this kind of show. He's seen as a bad boy around town, and he has a lot of emotional baggage curtesy of his parents. Despite all this, he just wants to get on in the world and make more friends, which he does. His interest in Nagisa's very believable, since they have immediate chemistry, and I bought his interactions with everyone else. The parts for his character, though, come later.
Nagisa falls into the cute, earnest, and bumbling type that I've liked since Air, which explains why I like her. I also found her story to be interestingly different from what I've come to expect from these kinds of series, as her major problem deals with the drama club. Her health and confidence issues do come in, but it's a much more believable overall story than the distinctly supernatural narratives of Air and Kanon. I really appreciate the realism of Nagisa's and Tomoya's stories, even if it doesn't stay there throughout all of the other characters' stories.
As for the other characters, Fuko is my favorite. There's just something about her and her starfish obsession that hooks me into feeling moe for her. I also really enjoy Youhei (Tomoya's best friend), both for having his own great storyline and for being Tomoya's friend. They've got good chemistry together, and I love every time Youhei's on screen. As for the other girls, none of them really stand out to me, but your mileage will vary depending on your taste.
ART STYLE/ANIMATION: Clannad is just amazing to watch. Every Key series seems to improve on the last both in animation as well as digital effects. Kyoto Animation is a big part of the glorious success of the animation. It also doesn't hurt that the show takes place in spring, a naturally colorful environment. The color palette for Clannad is lively and varied, giving each scene a magical appearance.
Okay, so the characters are colored well, but what about the designs? Well, they are definitely better than those in Air and Kanon, but they aren't much to write home about. If it weren't for the hair and eye colors every character would look the same, even the guys. Everyone has the same square-with-a-chin-type face. I suppose the adults have a slightly elongated face shape, but the features on Nagisa's parents could probably easily swap back and forth without looking strange on the other's face. There is nothing really to set the men and women apart, or young from old for that matter. I'm with Crystal on this one—hasn't anyone figured out what an old person looks like?
Eye shape changes, too! It's a vital part of being able to tell apart Kyou and Ryou, aside from their hair. Kind of like Kagami and Tsukasa in Lucky Star….
ART STYLE/ANIMATION: This show's gorgeous. Really, it's just amazing. Kyoto Animation (which is known for everything pretty) animated it, so it looks stellar. I've heard people complain that it's a notch down from Kanon and Haruhi, but I don't buy it. I bet it's eye-killingly beautiful on Blu-ray. Nobody ever goes off-model, and the backgrounds always look impressive. Given this show's success in Japan, KyoAni has a lot of budget to pour into this kind of show.
The biggest barrier to entry may be the character designs. They all fit the mold of girls with somewhat improbable hair and large eyes, though the facial proportions aren't as exaggerated as they are in Kanon. More irritatingly for me, all of the adults look really young, so that Nagisa's mother can pretend to be a high schooler. Can't people figure out how to age adults' faces?! Miyazaki can do it, so why not this type of anime?! Maybe it's because you're also supposed to feel moe for Nagisa's mom. :/
The obvious answer to this dilemma is age lines. Just throw a couple lines on their faces, and they're bound to look older. I mean, it totally worked in Kodocha and Cardcaptor Sakura, right? XD
OVERALL: Just so you know, Crystal, I think I remember some things from the second half. I'm pretty sure there was a baseball game…oh wait, nope I think that was still the first season. Really I have to disagree with Crystal. Clannad isn't just a preview of what is to come. You get the chance to learn about every character in depth in their own arc and still get to see the formation of the drama club and, of course, romance.
The second half was still really great and a nice change of pace. Usually we don't get to see how people age after their high school romances, and ~After Story~ shows us, well, the after story. It is a must-watch if you want to see what happens to the OTP, but I think the main course of the series is in the first half and getting to know all the characters and see friendships build.
As much as I loved Kanon and want it to be my favorite Key adaptation, I have to say I think I enjoyed Clannad the best. Rewatching the second half, I have to say that I really enjoyed it as well…it just doesn't leave as much of an impression.
I suppose I should disclaim that this show isn't for all tastes, but really I think you already know who you are if you'll like this kind of show or not.
OVERALL: The first season of Clannad is an incredibly solid adaptation of a visual novel. It's got a good structure for getting through the stories, along with an interesting male lead to spice up the standard array of main girls. On its own, though, that's really all that can be said about Clannad: it's good at being a slightly-different visual novel adaptation. Where the series shines is in Clannad ~After Story~, so I just consider Clannad a prologue to the emotional punch of the sequel. Because so many visual novel adaptations exist out there, I only consider Clannad worth watching if you're also going to watch ~After Story~ to complete the narrative and find out why it's such an important series. So, for my sake, watch Clannad and enjoy it and all of the girls, but make sure to go watch ~After Story~ too, or you're missing out on what all of the fuss is about. And please remember the experience, unlike Whitney. I might have to disown her for that….
Now that our winter break has started and our lives aren't ruled by graduate school as much, we are working on some extras for the site. I like to crochet and write my own patterns, so I added a section called "crafts" to our categories. Here I'll upload any patterns I write that are anime/manga related. So far this break I've created a crochet pattern for a tachikoma. So if you're interested you can find it here. We are also working on a Christmas special, more details later. -W


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PASSENGER volume in the Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport reached 1.14 million in 2012, 13 percent higher than the 1.01 million posted in 2011, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) reported on Monday.
Caap said the number of incoming and outgoing flights rose by 10.5 percent to 10,030 last year from 9,074 in 2011, making the airport as one of the busiest in the country.
April was the busiest month on record for the DZR Airport with total passenger traffic of 115,587, accounting to 10 percent of last year's volume.
Caap Eastern Visayas area manager Antonio Alfonso said the passenger volume has been consistently increasing every year from 627,108 in 2008; 892,425 in 2009; 907,347 in 2010; and 1,015,797 in 2011. The airport has seen growth as airlines added their capacity and new service to and from the destination terminal.
"The factor contributing to the 2012 passenger volume rise is the launching of SEAir (Southeast Asian Airlines), another low cost carrier bound for Manila. Cebu Pacific also opened the new Tacloban-Iloilo route," Alfonso told Leyte Samar Daily Express.
On a daily basis, the DZR airport serves 11 Manila-bound flights of Cebu Pacific (CEB), Zest Air, Air Philippines, and SEAIR; and two Cebu-bound flights of CEB and Air Philippines. Iloilo-bound Cebu Pacific aircraft uses the airport three times weekly.
About 6,544 tons of cargo were transported in January – December 2012, slightly lower than the 6,697 tons of cargoes recorded in 2011.
"With the consistent growth of air passengers using the DZR Airport, we need to improve and upgrade the facilities of Tacloban Airport in accordance with international civil aviation and safety standards," Alfonso said.
In a report to the Regional Development Council (RDC), the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said they will implement a P2.12 billion Tacloban Airport development project from 2013 to 2016.
The report said that the contractor is waiting for the notice to proceed with the actual construction.
The project consists of four components; construction of the apron and taxi way, the completion of North-East shore protection, construction of drainage system, and construction of temporary transition.
"The project will meet the increasing air passengers and cargo traffics, serve modern and bigger aircrafts, and provide safety to air commuters," the DOTC-project management office said in a statement.
From 2007 to 2012, the DOTC has set aside P1.015 billion funding for DZR Airport financing construction of a new apron, taxiway, shore protection; site development of the new terminal area; renovation of the terminal building; and different stages of asphalt overlay of the runway.
The Tacloban Airport Development Project was originally included in the Japan Bank for International Cooperation's P3.75 billion loan package in 2001 but was excluded for the Philippine government's failure to put up a counterpart. The loan expired in September 2007. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)
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1. "It's far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price."
2. "You don't need to be a rocket scientist. Investing is not a game where the guy with the 160 IQ beats the guy with 130 IQ."
3. "To invest successfully, you need not understand beta, efficient markets, modern portfolio theory, option pricing or emerging markets. You may, in fact, be better off knowing nothing of these. That, of course, is not the prevailing view at most business schools, whose finance curriculum tends to be dominated by such subjects. In our view, though, investment students need only two well-taught courses – How to Value a Business, and How to Think About Market Prices."
4. "None of this means, however, that a business or stock is an intelligent purchase simply because it is unpopular; a contrarian approach is just as foolish as a follow-the-crowd strategy. What's required is thinking rather than polling. Unfortunately, Bertrand Russell's observation about life in general applies with unusual force in the financial world: "Most men would rather die than think. Many do."
5. "After all, you only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out."
6. "I have pledged – to you, the rating agencies and myself – to always run Berkshire with more than ample cash. We never want to count on the kindness of strangers in order to meet tomorrow's obligations. When forced to choose, I will not trade even a night's sleep for the chance of extra profits."
7. "The best thing that happens to us is when a great company gets into temporary trouble…We want to buy them when they're on the operating table."
8. "Over the long term, the stock market news will be good. In the 20th century, the United States endured two world wars and other traumatic and expensive military conflicts; the Depression; a dozen or so recessions and financial panics; oil shocks; a flu epidemic; and the resignation of a disgraced president. Yet the Dow rose from 66 to 11,497."
9. "The line separating investment and speculation, which is never bright and clear, becomes blurred still further when most market participants have recently enjoyed triumphs. Nothing sedates rationality like large doses of effortless money. After a heady experience of that kind, normally sensible people drift into behavior akin to that of Cinderella at the ball. They know that overstaying the festivities ¾ that is, continuing to speculate in companies that have gigantic valuations relative to the cash they are likely to generate in the future ¾ will eventually bring on pumpkins and mice. But they nevertheless hate to miss a single minute of what is one helluva party. Therefore, the giddy participants all plan to leave just seconds before midnight. There's a problem, though: They are dancing in a room in which the clocks have no hands."
10. "Your goal as an investor should simply be to purchase, at a rational price, a part interest in an easily-understandable business whose earnings are virtually certain to be materially higher five, ten and twenty years from now. Over time, you will find only a few companies that meet these standards – so when you see one that qualifies, you should buy a meaningful amount of stock. You must also resist the temptation to stray from your guidelines: If you aren't willing to own a stock for ten years, don't even think about owning it for ten minutes. Put together a portfolio of companies whose aggregate earnings march upward over the years, and so also will the portfolio's market value."
11. "When we own portions of outstanding businesses with outstanding managements, our favorite holding period is forever."
12. "I try to buy stock in businesses that are so wonderful that an idiot can run them. Because sooner or later, one will."
13. "Investors should remember that excitement and expenses are their enemies. And if they insist on trying to time their participation in equities, they should try to be fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when others are fearful."
14. "The stock market is a no-called-strike game. You don't have to swing at everything–you can wait for your pitch. The problem when you're a money manager is that your fans keep yelling, 'Swing, you bum!'"
15. "Long ago, Ben Graham taught me that 'Price is what you pay; value is what you get.' Whether we're talking about socks or stocks, I like buying quality merchandise when it is marked down."
16. "I am a better investor because I am a businessman, and a better businessman because I am no investor."
17. "Our approach is very much profiting from lack of change rather than from change. With Wrigley chewing gum, it's the lack of change that appeals to me. I don't think it is going to be hurt by the Internet. That's the kind of business I like."
18. "Time is the friend of the wonderful business, the enemy of the mediocre."
19. It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently.
20. Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing.
21. Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.
22. It's better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours and you'll drift in that direction.


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Outsourcing solutions
Customer experience (CX) and digital solutions
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Earlier this month I reprised my annual search for the year's most influential reflections on technology and media. I was particularly curious to learn who was provoking thinking for one of the year's biggest stories, Wikileaks.
I received feedback from friends, colleagues and strangers via email, Twitter, LinkedIn, Quora and on this blog. Here's a summary of the Wikileaks wisdom sent my way.
Two blogs posts were mentioned more than any others.
- Clay Shirky's Wikileaks and the Long Haul. "I know he's trotted out lots of times, but he's the writer I rely on to both push and clarify my thinking, said Lisa Gardener-Springer. "He neatly encapsulated the conflicts I have between the importance of Wikileaks in transparency and its recklessness in upending diplomacy."
- Aaron Bady's Julian Assange and the Computer Conspiracy; "To destroy this invisible government." Several people, including Ethan Zuckerman and Wayne Marshall, highlighted this post. (Alexis Madrigal highlights Ethan's role in drawing attention to Bady's post inThe Unknown Blogger Who Changed Wikileaks Coverage.)
Over the last two weeks of the year several people have highlighted Bruce Sterling's Wikileaks and Jaron Lanier's Wikileaks posts; David Cohn highlighted Gabriella Coleman's response to Sterling.
Wikileaks, of course, existed prior to November. Back in the spring, I appreciated the context George Packer provided to the "Collateral Murder" video. Stephen Colbert's Assange interview was also among the best pieces of the spring's WIkileaks coverage. ("You have edited this tape, and given it a title. That's not leaking–that's a pure editorial.") In May Ryan Sholin looked at the relationship between Wikileaks and Tor ("If Tor is just a platform that doesn't make any judgments of its use, how do we then judge the acts of a lone WikiLeaks/Tor volunteer?"). Danny O'Brien answered 10 Questions on Wikileaks. Raffi Khatchadourian wrote a major piece in the New Yorker in June. In July, Jay Rosen wrote about "the world's first stateless news organization."
For his part, Rosen liked Simon Jenkins' coverage.
It is for governments, not journalists, to protect public secrets…What this saga must do is alter the basis of diplomatic reporting….[C]oupled with the penetration already allowed under freedom of information, the walls round policy formation and documentation are all but gone. All barriers are permeable. In future the only secrets will be spoken ones. Whether that is a good thing should be a topic for public debate.
Jim Newcomb referred to one of the year's best-selling books and one of my favorite MSM blogs to contextualize Wikileaks:
What has me thinking the most is the weird juxtaposition of the Wikileaks and the release of Mark Twain's previously "unexpurgated autobiography" 100 years after his death and a New York Times Opinionator piece on how Lincoln agitated for the Civil War.
UC Berkeley's Paul Grabowicz pointed to Wired's "comprehensive and valuable" coverage.
Hari Sreenivasan pointed out Roy Revie's Wikileaks and 21st Century Statecraft.
While the State Department extolls the virtues of online dissidence – enshrining it as a key foreign policy concern – cracks are beginning to appear in their resolve for a generalised 'internet freedom'. While attempting to provide practical and material support for digital activists (which is proving extremely controversial in itself, see this and this) the State Department's attempt to pick and choose which aspects of internet freedom it likes is forcing the mask from '21st Century Statecraft'. The irony is that where the 'internet freedom' mantra is often no more than a guise for opposition funding in 'unfriendly' countries, the rhetoric is catching on and is being mobilized in defense of Wikileaks.
Gordon Wright liked the Economist's coverage.
If Mr Assange has broken American law, it is there that he should stand trial, just like Bradley Manning, the alleged source of the stolen documents. If not, it may be some consolation that the cables so far reveal a largely flattering picture of America's diplomats: conscientious, cool-headed, well-informed, perceptive and on occasion eloquent.
I agree with those who found Evgeny Morozov's Twitter coverage to be helpful.
Benjamen Walker provided the best audio report on Wikileaks that I heard on his show Too Much Information.
Craig Simon found "the podcast discussion between self-described "friends of the Internet" Dave Winer and Jay Rosen… one of the most insightful things I've heard, especially Rosen's riff on being a journalist for the sake of "creating conditions where people can arrive at the truth."
Lucas Daily liked Paul Carr's "social, comedic and speedy take on the issue on Techcrunch."
I hate Julian Assange. I hate the way he's posing as a champion of truth and justice whilst hiding in the shadows and resorting to blackmail in a drawn-out attempt to avoid having to answer criminal charges in a publicly-accessible court of law. I hate the fact that he's trading on a myththat We The People have a right to know everything our governments are saying and doing in our name when, in fact, we elect people to act in our best interests…[W]ith this most recent round of leaks, the organisation has actually become a sworn enemy of openness.
Henry Farrell looks at State Power and the Response to Wikileaks, in which he quotes himself:
A small group of privileged private actors can become "points of control"—states can use them to exert control over a much broader group of other private actors.
Jonathan Zittrain with Molly Sauter put together a Wikileaks FAQ on his Future of the Internet blog.
Micah Sifry's list of "essential" Wikileaks posts on TechPresident includes many of the ones listed here. (Micah and Andrew Rasiej organized thePDFLeaks "flash conference.)
In his Gov 2.0 Year in Review, Alex Howard aptly pointed out that Wikileaks is "a reminder that the disruption new technology platforms pose will often emerge in unexpected ways."
That was a late, abbreviated list. What's influenced your thinking about Wikileaks?


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Big East roundup: Syracuse wins final Big East game
PHILADELPHIA — Syracuse left the Big East winners.
Ryan Nassib threw for 215 yards and a touchdown, and Adonis Ameen-Moore rushed for a pair of scores to lead Syracuse to a 38-20 victory over Temple on Friday in the Orange's final Big East game.
The Orange (7-5, 5-2) have won five of six games to finish the season, and now await their bowl destination. Syracuse is moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference next season.
Syracuse was down, 10-0, early, and Temple (4-7, 2-5) took a 20-17 lead midway through the third quarter on quarterback Clinton Granger's 10-yard scamper that capped a four-play, 62-yard Owls drive.
But the Orange took over from there.
"We just kept fighting," Syracuse coach Doug Marrone said. "We were able to make the extra plays."
Syracuse marched 75 yards on 12 plays on the next possession, ending it with Ameen-Moore's 1-yard plunge to take a 24-20 lead with 4:37 left in the quarter.
Prince-Tyson Gulley scored on a 3-yard run early in the fourth quarter, ending an 11-play, 75-yard drive that took up 4:04 for a 31-20 advantage.
Nassib completed 16 of 28 passes in his final regular-season game.
Cincinnati 27, South Florida 10 — In Cincinnati, Brendon Kay threw for a touchdown and ran for another, getting Cincinnati's offense moving after its worst showing of the season last week.
Cincinnati (8-3, 4-2) was coming off a 10-3 loss to Rutgers that eliminated the Bearcats from the league title race. It was the first time since 1987 that the Bearcats gave up only 10 points and lost.
Kay ended the drought with an 18-yard touchdown scramble in the first quarter. He also threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce and set up another score with a 48-yard completion. Kay was 17 of 27 for 178 yards. He also ran seven times for 48 yards.
South Florida (3-8, 1-5) struggled behind redshirt freshman Matt Floyd, making his first career start. Floyd completed 21 of 39 passes for 176 yards.


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It is strange being a Stay-at-home-Dad. For instance a chant of "ihopeiwinatoaster, ihopeiwinatoaster" floating up the basement steps. My nearly seven [eight] (now nine) ((now ten)) [[eleven]] {twelve} {{holy crow, thirteen}} year-old twin boys concoct, devise, arrange, invent, write, say, imagine and dream the damndest things. Things that make me wonder. Ideas and stories that I may think on for days after I encounter them. I'll share some here. Essential. Childhood. Nonsense. Explained.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
What To Remember
2 comments:
A well done melding of past and present. The camping trip sounds like a rite of passage. The drawings are great.ReplyDelete
The memories of the writer are very interesting. It is amazing what you can learn about the past from your adult children. Main comment on those: you weren't supposed to cross 741 the drivers of the cars there didn't understand about nine year olds.
Keep up the good job here.
After reading anything you write I am always inspired to pay a little closer attention, to listen a little more carefully, and to soak up what others (big and small) have to teach me. Thank you. Thank you. I love to read what you write.ReplyDelete


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- Firstly I applied a Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Eternal Gold to the centre of the lid.
- I then applied NYX Jumbo Pencil in Purple to the outer third and inner third.
- I blended these very lightly with a clean blending brush just through the crease.
- Over the top of the gold colour (centre of the lid) I packed on Half Baked from the UD Naked palette.
- Over the top of the purple I packed on a deep shimmery purple shade from a 120 eyeshadow palette which I bought on eBay. It's a really useful palette to have for creative looks and it's super cheap! Link here.
- I then took a soft taupe (or any neutral colour) onto a blending brush and blended through the crease to really merge the colours together and get rid of any harsh lines. Be careful not to touch the lid as you want the gold and purple there to be separate.
- I highlighted under the brow with a matte cream shade and then highlighted my inner corner with MAC's Vanilla pigment.
- I used a liquid liner to line the top lash line and created a flick. I then did the same at the inner corner.
- I lined my waterlines with a black Maybelline gel liner.
- Using a pencil brush I applied an emerald green shade just under my eye and blended it slightly. I then took an angled brush and created a flick with this eyeshadow just under the flick I'd created with the liquid liner.
- To finish it off, add mascara and lashes if you want to.
Just a side note to let you know that my favourite makeup brush brand Crown Brush have a 10% off discount code running through September! So it's the perfect time to try out some of their fabulous brushes. I'll be doing a full post on my favourite angled brushes from the brand but they're really affordable and the quality is equal to if not better than MAC!
Discount Code FINS2013 (type in at the checkout) - Link to Crown Brush.


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june, 2017
28jun5:30 pm- 7:00 pmPython Pitfalls and Best Practices on 28th June5:30 pm - 7:00 pm BHIVE Workspace Residency RoadEvent Organized By: Pranidhi Puri
Event Details
Learn from the experts about
Event Details
Learn from the experts about Python on 28th June.
So, you've been programming in Python for sometime but are not sure if you're using the language correctly. Programmers coming from C, Java or perl might use Python in less efficient ways that how it's meant to be used. This talk will help you iron out those wrinkles and make you a better Python programmer.
We will show some pitfalls and then share best practices for programming in Python.
This talk is for beginners and intermediate Python programmers. It's not ideal for someone completely new to Python but you can probably pick up a few things to get started in Python.
About the Speaker-
Arvind Padmanabhan graduated from the National University of Singapore with a master's degree in electrical engineering. With fifteen years of experience, he has worked extensively on various wireless technologies including DECT, WCDMA, HSPA, WiMAX and LTE. In 2013, he founded Indian Engineering Design Forum. In 2017, he founded Devopedia.org. He is passionate about training and blogging. In 2013, he published a book on the history of digital technology: http://theinfinitebit.wordpress.com. He is an avid programmer in Python, Django, PHP, Joomla!, R, JavaScript and C.
(Wednesday) 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
BHIVE Workspace Residency Road
9th Floor , Prestige Towers, Residency Rd, Shanthala Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560025
Pranidhi Puri


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Thanks for agreeing to this interview guys from The Grand Astoria. When did you start the band?
No problem brother.Thank you for the interest!I started The Grand Astoria in April 2009.Two years ago.Nothing to add actually.
Were you in any other bands?
Yes. My previous band which played alternative/punk rock decided to split up and I quickly gathered some friends o'mine and a new band was born.
What can you tell me about your influences?
If you mean music..my biggest influence is Iron Maiden!The band of my youth that will stay in my heart forever!I can also mention King Crimson,Hendrix,Zep,Sabbath...all classic prog,space,psychedelic,hard rock and heavy metal stuff from 60-70-80s...Yes,Genesis,PFM,Ash Ra Tempel,Can,Pink Floyd,Hawkwind,Megadeth,Slayer,Death...lots of punk,grunge,garage,alternative rock from 90s also..MC5,The Sonics,Mudhoney,Nirvana,Sonic Youth,Husker Du,Clutch,The Melvins,Deftones,Fu Manchu,Nebula,QOTSA,The Mars Volta..loads of experimental music like Frank Zappa,Gong,Soft Machine,Acid Mothers Temple etc.Some metal from 2000-s...Mastodon,High On Fire,Kylesa,Baroness etc....The World of music is so huge and I have favourite bands in each l genre I think!
Your first release is called The Grand Astoria. What can you say about it?
It's cool!Buy it immediately!!!hahaha.No jokes!We need your support!We are only in it for the money hahah!It's very hard to describe the music,you know?But if you ask me to try I can tell that here you find the mix of raw psychedelic rock,stoner,little bit of prog,punk and metal..oh,I don't like to describe it.You better listen!
Then you released II in 2010. How do you see the difference between the first and the second album?
Psychedelic,atmospheric,experimental,almost instrumental..Take a deep breath,have a good joint and let's take a trip!This record caused some misunderstandings between our listeners,cos the difference between "I" and "II" is big!BUT it's just one of our faces.You have to accept that The Grand Astoria can release albums that have very little in common but it's still The Grand Astoria!!!Our mood at that period was like that,so we have what we have,hahah
Your latest release is called Omnipresence. Please present us the new album!
Another mix of genres and styles!This time much heavier but also with atmospheric vibes.All songs have one idea,it's not a concept record actually but the theme of faith,the choice between good and evil,God and Devil is the main thesis of this album.
You were on tour not so long ago. I know you visited some places here in Slovenia, but sadly I couldn't come. How was it? How do you like the atmosphere in my country?
Excellent!I am definitely in love with Slovenia!I like nature and good people in your country.Thanx to everyone who whelped us!We will be back to Ljubljana at 3 of September!Don't miss!Check the tourdates from time to time at our myspace
What are some future plans for the band?
We will release 7 inch vinyl in July.It will contain two absolutely new instrumental bloody hurricane killer tracks!I am also working hard on a next album,it will be released during the spring next year,I think.It will be a concept record based on the real story of five famous people.I will announce the details as soon as I finish writing the lyrics.We will be touring for two months across Europe.From July 15 till the middle of September! 62 days on the road!!!Please check the dates:
It's not a full list,many shows will be added soon!
Do you have anything else to add about yourself?
Support underground!Order our CDs and T-shirts writing to firstname.lastname@example.com
Thanx for the interview and take care!
Interview made by Klemen Breznikar / 2011
© Copyright http://psychedelicbaby.blogspot.com/ 2011


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Dear Jim
On behalf of everyone here at Great Ormond Street
Children's Hospital, I would like to thank you
for the fantastic set that you provided for the Anaesthetics
and Theatres Christmas Party at London Zoo.
We hope you have a slot in your diary for us next
year, as we would love to have you DJ at next year's
Christmas party.
On a personal note, I would like to thank you for
making everyone's night enjoyable and I would
definitely recommend you to anyone who requires a


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Photography and fashion have such a dynamic relationship. Of late conceptual photography is being merged with fashion photography to create some pretty breath-taking photos. What I mean when I say 'conceptual' is when you use a specific location or props as the main focus of the photo, and then you've got the model posing with the specific outfit. All in all it's really fun to shoot because you're not restricted in movement or style, plus it just adds a very creative and unique look overall 🙂
As for the outfit, I wanted to mix patterns because that's not something I usually do and I'm sure not many other people do either. I tend to play it safe and go with solid colors, but this combination seemed to work really well! I always say that basics are important, and I love my basic wear. This stripped black and white top from Forever 21 is so versatile because you can pair it with any color and type of skirts, jeans, leggings, or even shorts! It'll go great with solid colors or even simple patterns like the leggings I am wearing. This outfit is also a very simple summer outfit that I can wear anywhere! The floral leggings from Reliance Trends adds that summery touch. Accessories wise just go with your gut and whatever mood you're in! Ive paired this outfit with a white watch with gold accents and a white pearl bracelet, along with a black circle bag- I usually go for a minimalistic look 🙂
Now even though I said the top is from Forever 21, which is expensive to most people, that doesnt mean you cant shop there! The sale section has amazing selections for you to choose from, and you can take a look at their online collections. I know it sucks that there isn't a Forever 21 in Chennai but I'm sure it'll pop up soon 😉
Rishika Nath, a close friend, is an aspiring photographer who has an amazing eye for conceptual photography, you can have a look at her tumblr where she showcases most of her photographs 🙂


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Lakrids by Johan Bulow Salty Liquorice Syrup 170g – Salty liquorice syrup for cooking and baking. – or simply drizzled on ice cream, cakes or fruit.
In stock
This syrup will give a new twist to some of your sweet favourites: it is great for baking or as the base for a salty-sweet liquorice sauce. Or simply drizzled over some ice cream (try vanilla, chocolate or raspberr) or a brownie. Yum.
|0.195 kg


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"Racquet Sports delivers the feeling of a true racquet in your hand. Using the PlayStation Moves unique motion creates an experience so natural that players will feel like they are playing the real game. Escape to exotic locations for intense, exhilarating competitions in five different racquet sports. With fun-packed multiplayer modes and a flexible control system, everyone can join in for wildly entertaining matches!
PlayStation®Move motion controller and PlayStation®Eye camera required. PlayStation®Move navigation controller or Wireless Controller optional. "
Purchase or use of this item is subject to the PlayStation®Network Terms of Service and User Agreement and this item's use restrictions. This item has been sublicensed to you by Sony Computer Entertainment America. One-time license fee for downloads to up to 2 console systems that are associated with the purchasing account. © 2010 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries. Asobo Studio is a registered trademark. The technology is the property of Asobo Studio SARL. Developed by Asobo Studio SARL and published by Ubisoft. 'PlayStation' is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. PlayStation®Move motion controller and PlayStation®Eye (sold separately) required to use this product.


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I find that, depending upon the storage conditions, oil products can often exceed the storage date by a year or more (but go rancid quickly once opened). Peanut butter tastes terrible if we go much beyond the actual expiration date. For these products, and others like canned meat, I pay extra attention to the expiration date. When the expiration dates nears, I donate these food items to our local food bank. I really think this is a win-win situation. I am able to keep a nice supply of these items in my three-month supply, but am not wasteful if we don't use them as quickly as I thought.
Think "rotation and donation," especially if you dislike storing any food item beyond the expiration date. You'll be blessing lives in the process.


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Coal Grant
Ohio's P.O.W.E.R Initiative NDW Grant
The P.O.W.E.R Initiative NDW Grant was featured in the International Business Times. Click on the link below to view the story.
Ohio's Miners Seek A Life After Coal As Industry Loses Steam in Appalachia
This grant is aimed to serve dislocated workers directly impacted by layoffs from coal mines or coal-fired plants, or layoffs from the manufacturing or transportation logistics chains of either. Veterans will receive a Priority of Service for training and services.
The P.O.W.E.R Initiative NDW Grant provides resources to:
- Provide employment related services to dislocated workers.
- Respond to layoff events due to coal mine and power plant closures.
- Provide enhanced training and supportive services.
This grant also supports workforce development activities, including strategic planning to prepare dislocated workers for good jobs in high-demand occupations aligned with community economic development strategies.
This grant will serve dislocated workers who either live or work in the following counties:
Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe, Noble, Stark, Tuscarawas Counties.
Regional Economic Development: Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association (OMEGA)
County Economic Development: Belmont County Port Authority, Jefferson County Port Authority, Harrison County Community Improvement Corporation and Carroll County Economic Development Office.
Educational Institutions: Belmont College, Eastern Gateway Community College, Great Lakes Truck Driving School
Organized Labor Organizations: United Mine Workers of America, Utility Workers Union of America, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Union.


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Toothbrushes 2.0
Step up your oral hygiene routine.
Most of us think about changing toothbrushes only once or twice a year—when they're offered in the goodie bag at the dentist's office. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, three out of four people change their toothbrushes less frequently than they should (which is every three to four months, according to the American Dental Association). But thanks to technological advances including smart toothbrushes, subscription services, and targeted toothpastes and rinses, we've not only largely replaced standard toothbrushes with electric versions, but we also have a plethora of new ways to keep our teeth and gums healthy at home.
When it comes to choosing the right toothbrush, Edita Outericka, D.M.D., a dentist at Dynamic Dental in Mansfield, MA advises: "You want to look for the sonic type of vibration, where you can let the toothbrush do the work. The vibration destroys staining that sits in grooves in the teeth, brushes out bacteria, and breaks it down much more easily."
Pair this with two minutes of brushing twice a day, daily flossing, and tongue scraping, and you should feel pretty good about your oral upkeep. Here, high-tech toothbrushes.
Foreo Issa, $199
Between a lightweight, ergonomic design; flexible brush head; and soft, silicon bristles, the Foreo Issa does the job gently without damaging the gums. "Silicon has the strength to clean and the flexibility to move around tissue," says Outericka, who adds that this brush is particularly good for those with sensitive teeth and gums. Plus, silicon is ultra-hygienic as compared to nylon, which means the brush head only requires replacement once a year.
Goby, $65 subscription kit
This subscription service sends new brush heads your way every one to three months when you purchase a kit (which includes a brush and brush head). You want to dispose of your brush head after that amount of time because the bristles separate and no longer brush properly, says Outericka. Bonus: A USB charging station helps keep your bathroom counter clutter-free.
Philips Sonicare Flexcare Platinum Connected, $189
Track your teeth with Philips' bluetooth-connected Sonicare. Paired with an app, this smart brush offers everything from personalized coaching and progress reports (yes, really) to feedback based on location, pressure, and scrubbing sensors. It's basically like having a hygienist in your home. Says Outericka: "You'll never get your teeth as clean as we do, but this can teach you how to get close."
Prophix, $400
The first smart video toothbrush and app might sound like the making of a horror film to some, but for gadget geeks, it takes dental care to a whole new level. Armed with attachments like a mirror and a rubber picking tip, this model shows a live feed of your mouth on your phone. The device snaps pictures of problem areas so you know where to focus your attention and records any changes over time to share with your dentist.
Quip, $25 subscription kit
Coined the Tesla and Uber of toothbrushes, this sleek option comes in six electric styles (in both plastic and metal) and vibrates instead of spinning. Like Goby, it's the seamless subscription model (toothpaste included) that makes Quip stand out, in addition to an elegant design and affordable price point.


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LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan lawmakers are returning to the Capitol with deadlines approaching to balance the state's budget.
The state Senate was in session Tuesday, and the state House returns Wednesday. Budgets are supposed to be finalized before Oct. 1.
Michigan lawmakers have missed budget deadlines in two of the past three years.
Lawmakers and Gov. Jennifer Granholm are trying to erase a general fund deficit of $302 million this fiscal year and a shortfall of $484 million for the budget year that begins Oct. 1.
Michigan's public schools should be safe from further budget cuts, but state departments will be asked to trim spending.


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Professor Mitu Gulati and Judge Richard A. Posner recently posted to SSRN a very interesting paper entitled The Management of Staff by Federal Court of Appeals Judges. If you're curious about how federal appellate judges run their chambers, you should definitely check it out.
Here's an excerpt from page 3 of the paper (affiliate links to books added by me):
[T]hose seeking information about the range of management techniques [of federal judges] are forced to rely on rumor, anecdote and (if one is a judge) conversations with one's colleagues (a type of conversation that appears to occur very rarely).2
2 A handful of respondents pointed to Judge Frank Coffin's book, The Ways of a Judge: Views From the Federal Appellate Bench from 1980, as having provided some insight. To our surprise, the other book that came up a couple of times as a source of information was a novel, David Lat's Supreme Ambitions, from 2014.
Thanks to these judges and to Professor Gulati and Judge Posner for the mentions. I tried to make Supreme Ambitions fairly realistic, so I'm glad to hear that at least some judges think I succeeded.
You can download the full paper via the link below. Thanks to @BryanGivi on Twitter for the heads-up.
The Management of Staff by Federal Court of Appeals Judges [SSRN]


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I have listed a new property at 136 ABALONE PL NE in Calgary.
This charming semi-detached home is owner occupied and well cared for. It boasts new floors, renovated bathrooms and a bright spacious front room with sunny exposure. The large master bedroom has ample closet space and fresh paint. The basement has a second living room, bedroom, bathroom and wet bar. The large pie shaped yard has two sheds one is converted into a outside work space. This home is perfect for first time home buyers.


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Fashion, Icon, News:
We never really get sick of seeing David Beckham's hard ass in print. And we've been seeing it a lot lately, since he announced he's launching a lifestlye brand–his first offering will be bodywear and a new fragrance.
You can find it starting February 2, which was timed close to Valentine's Day.
Beckham told WWD:
"The final piece in the jigsaw was a retail partner who has the vision and capability to distribute these products globally. In H&M we have found the perfect partner to collaborate with going forward,"
The price point will obviously make the product attainable, since he's chosen to launch with the reasonably priced fast fashion retailer. Now if only his wife would follow suit with an H&M collection…
[Source: Fashionista; Article: Cheryl Wischhover]


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Home staging is an effective marketing tool for home owners who want to make their properties as sellable as possible. One of the trends we have seen emerge is that of layering in texture to spaces, to help make them more inviting & cozy. In years past, home staging practices were often to make rooms…
Tag: marketing
The Role of Romance in Real Estate
Selling a home is an emotional process. Cue the right emotions in your buyers by staging for success!
Pros and Cons of Realtors who Pay for Home Staging
Home staging is a real estate buzzword and one of the top marketing tools that real estate agents use to help their properties sell quickly and for the most money possible. According to NAR (National Association for Realtors) or the Real Estate Staging Association, home staging not only helps homes sell more quickly but it…
Kitchener Staging Blog Tops Reading Lists
We are pleased to announce that our Kitchener Home Staging Blog was recognized as one of the most influential home staging blogs out there. In fact, it made the list of the Top 100 staging blogs on the web which is no mean feat. There are a ton of home staging blogs out there and…
Kitchener-Waterloo Spring Market Update
An update on the Kitchener-Waterloo real estate spring market from a stager's perspective!


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When adding hand embroidery to fused art quilts, you only need to stitch through the batting and top layer of the quilt. There are two advantages of embroidering the quilt first before adding the backing fabric. One is that without the backing fabric, you have one less layer of fabric to stitch through.
And the second advantage is that it's easy to hide thread knots. Here you'll see a few knots in the batting where I began a new thread color. And you'll also see how to end a thread. Just slip the needle under previous stitches on the back and snip. It's a good idea to snip the threads closely to the back of the quilt so they don't catch other threads when your working new stitches.


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Old growth tea plants in between betel nut trees
I've been sifting through Taiwan Tea Tour photos and will return to blogging about that trip for a few days.
One of the most physically engaging aspects of the trip was the time spent near Sun Moon Lake. We did lots of hiking, much of it through betel nut/tea groves. These tea bushes are old, from the Japanese Occupation era in Taiwan's history (~1895-1945). Taiwan tea was a popular crop (black even!), but over time the market weakened and betel nuts became more of a cash generator. Fortunately, the Taiwan tea market is finding its strength in black tea once again and these tea fields are becoming lucrative. In the photo above, the darker green bushes are the tea plants.
One fine morning after an interesting breakfast of pesto sandwiches, hot dogs with relish, sweet potatoes and eggs, we set off. (The place we stayed, Black Tea Workshop - and I highly recommend it - was offering a 'European' experience. I think something was rather humorous in the breakfast interpretation.) Then we set off to climb up, up, up...
And past signs like this... It took me awhile to figure out that our guide (above) was banging his walking stick into the bushes not because it was great fun, but rather because it was scaring the snakes away. I'm not a fan of snakes and prefer they stay out of sight. I am very glad that they did.
We crossed a beautiful creek
On a rickety bamboo bridge...
And we all survived! (Note to my traveling companions - this image and the first one are actually from the day before).


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Since Apple branched out from computing and MP3 players to the mobile phone world, a lot has changed. The original iPhone's inception in 2007 has been a profound one for the technological and social world and has brought about the smart phone era which dominates to this day. The iPhone's capabilities and the apps available on it have developed in such a way over the years that people now use them as an integral part of their everyday work and social life. An iPhone course would be great for you if you wanted to take your knowledge of the smart phone to the next level, perhaps to advance your career.
Types of courses available
Whether you're into photography, social media, games or app development, then there are a number of iPhone courses that are available in a variety of specific fields for you to choose from. There are courses which also show you the fundamentals of Apple's latest operating system or iOS to give it its official name. There are even courses available for if you just want to get to grips with the device, maybe because it's your first smart phone and are unfamiliar with the technology. Either way, the range of courses available is vast. It's also important to note that much of the content that may be taught could be applicable for the iPad as well.
What will I be learning?
What and how you learn will depend entirely on which kind of iPhone course you decide to take up. For example, if you choose to take an iPhone photography course, the course is likely to be very specific and concise and may be a more short term commitment whereas any kind of app development course will be more complex in its content and spread over a longer period of time.
The cameras on iPhone devices have developed to such an extent that images from them can be used professionally as well as for personal purposes too. The high amount of megapixels as well as HD ready video recording means more and more people are able to capture images and video of really good quality and also have the ability to edit them instantly too.
iPhone photography courses will show you how to frame and capture the perfect image whether it's of a beautiful landscape on your holidays or something funny and unexpected with friends. You'll be taken through the iPhone's camera capabilities such as the various settings and filters as well as apps you can download to help promote or edit your images too.
App creation
There are many kinds of these courses available which will help you get started with app creation and you may even end up getting your very own app onto the Apple App Store eventually. You don't need to be an expert computer coder or programmer to prevail with an iPhone app creation course as many of the courses are introductory and not overly complicated to grasp. Of course a basic understanding of computers and computing knowledge would be beneficial.
Why is it useful?
An iPhone course is useful no matter which type of course you take specifically. Such is the importance of the iPhone and other smartphone's technology these days that you really can't afford to be left behind. This is especially true if you're working in the technology industry.
Gaining a basic, or even more advanced knowledge of the iPhone can be very useful to your career, especially if you're working in the media industry. Getting to learn beyond the screen deep capabilities of the device and unfurling all its potential will be an interesting, beneficial and fun experience!
iPhone fact file
- As of September 2013, over 420 million iPhones have been sold by Apple.
- Apple makes more than 50% of the world's smartphone profits thanks solely to the iPhone
- iPhone's alone generated $91.3b in revenue in the latest fiscal year. Compare that to the Coca Cola Company as a whole, who in the same period turned over $48b.
- Since 2008, 50 billion apps have been downloaded and in 2013, Apple's App Store generated $10b income.
- App developers have been paid out $15b by Apple.
- The 'artists' icon on your iPhone is actually a silhouette of U2 front man Bono.
- The iPhone 5S is 40 times more powerful than the original iPhone but is 20% lighter.


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This FAQ is about QAML, a markup language for internet FAQs.
QAML is the Question and Answer Markup Language.
A FAQ is the nickname for a "Frequently Asked Questions" document. There are thousands of FAQs available on the World Wide Web on many different topics. The basic format of a FAQ is that someone asks a question, and someone else answers.
FAQs were very popular on specialist bulletin boards, mailing lists and USENET newsgroups. On these discussion forums, the same questions appear repeatedly: newbies ask the same questions and new approaches to solving problems get developed. These questions and answers are collected into FAQs; newbies can be directed to the FAQs for good answers, and the FAQs can get updated.
In several cases, FAQs are ultimately revised into book form and published in paper: The SGML FAQBook by Steve DeRose and Chinese Japanese Korean Vietnamese Information Processing by Ken Lunde are both examples of FAQs in book form.
You can find a good collection of FAQs at the web site of faq.org (http://www.faq.org/).
A markup language lets you name the various elements in your text: HTML is the most famous markup language. You just insert special codes called tags into your text; these tags tell you where each interesting element starts or finishes.
The term markup was coined by Dr Charles Goldfarb at IBM in the early 1970s. Goldfarb invented SGML, the Standard Generalized Markup Language (Internation Standard 8879:1986) which is now becoming available over the WWW as XML, the Extensible Markup Language.
QAML is a markup language created specially to help write, use and maintain FAQs. It is smaller and simpler than HTML.
A QAML document has a very simple structure: it has a head and a body. The body is made up of qna elements, each of which has a q question and a answer.
Because the questions and answers are clearly marked up by tags, it makes life a lot easier for people to write programs to manipulate the FAQ: to automatically generate indexes of questions, to make global changes to stylesheets, or to split the questions and answers into different pages.
QAML version 1.0 was written by Justin Higgens, of faq.org. Email email@example.com. This version used SGML, and so is very lenient on tagging errors.
QAML version 2.0 uses XML, and so you need to be more careful with providing all the tags needed for a well-formed XML document. It has very full support for the latest World Wide Web Consortium specifications (see http://www.w3.org). It was written by Rick Jelliffe, of the Academia Sinica Computing Centre, Taipei, Taiwan.
HTML is much more complicated and richer than QAML. However, HTML allows you to create documents which look pretty but which do not have the tagging needed to create indexes or to convert the data to different forms: it gives you too much!
FAQ documents can be accessed from all sorts of systems, not only visual web browsers. So QAML does not provide the types of elements which cannot be seen on many different media: telnet terminals, Braille readers, speech synthesizers, mobile phones, etc.
However, it is very easy to convert QAML to HTML. There are XSL stylesheets available to do this. So you can write your FAQ in QAML, but deliver it in HTML.
You can use any text editor, or SGML or HTML editor. The NotePad or WordPad applications allow it. You can use most word processors (but remember to save the document as "Text". You can even use a WYSIWYG HTML editor to create the FAQ, and then use a text editor to alter the element type names and attributes as appropriate.
There is also an OmniMark script available which does automates much of the HTML-to-QAML conversion work.QAML Structure
A QAML document has a very simple structure: it has a head and a body.
The head has to have some metadata which gives the title, the maintainers name and email contact address, the official archive site for the FAQ, and keywords which can be given to a search robot.
The body is made up of qna elements, each of which has a q question and a answer. These qna elements can be collected into sections, and given general section titles.
Within each answer, you can have p paragraph elements. The only element types allowed inside a paragraph are link and span.
The following empty document is the smallest QAML 2 document that is valid. You must have at least the FAQ title and one question and answer.
You can use this example as a template for creating new FAQs.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<!DOCTYPE faq PUBLIC "+//IDN faq.org//DTD Frequently Asked Questions 2.3//EN//XML" "http://www.ascc.net/xml/resource/qaml-xml.dtd" >
<faq> <title></title>   <qna id='q1'><q></q>

  </qna>  </faq>
You can use the
 tag to start a list, and the
 tag to end it. Inside the list, each item can be tagged with a special version of the paragraph tag

So here is the markup:

AAAA

BBBB

And here is how your browser and your current stylesheet displays it:
QAML is geared towards text systems which may not have sophisticated visual formatting available. This is why there are no tables in QAML. So if you use lists, keep them simple, and make sure the text explains that you are using a lists: some formatters may just show a paragraph as a paragraph.
There are CSS and XSL stylesheets available from Academia Sinica Computing Centre's Chinese XML Now! project, at http://www.ascc.net/xml/en/utf-8/resource-index.html
The link element has an attribute called href. Just put in the URL of the resource that is the link's target.
Remember that the data inside the link should also contain the URL. This is because some people may read the FAQ from a paper printout. Don't forget them!
An example follows.

This is <link href="qaml-faq.xml">qaml-faq.xml</link>

(Some WWW browsers may display that example wrong, so another version of the same thing follows: the one with the angle brackets is the correct one.)

This is <link href="qaml-faq.xml">qaml-faq.xml</link>

Dublin Core metadata is a list of some basic metadata categories that is useful for any WWW document authored by a general person. It is "Metadata for the rest of us".
QAML 2 was written with the Dublin Core catgories in mind. Because QAML 1 was written before Dublin Core, the same names are not used, but the QAML 2 DTD includes the mappings to Dublin Core elements as comments.
The mappings between Dublin Core elements (with the DC prefix) and QAML 2 element types is given below.
Other Dublin Core metadata may be available: for example the maintainer may in some cases be regarded as the publisher. Information about the copyrights and extents of the data are not available through standard mappings. Note however that the QAML 2 DTD does include a minimal copyright notice for FAQs: its primary purpose is to remind authors to make copyright policy explicit, and to protect them to a certain extent if they forget.
The answer element of a qna can have an attribute called gist. This attribute should have a one to five word summary of the answer.
This summary may be useful on display devices with limited bandwidth and to aid the user of a QAML document figure out if the answer looks interesting or useful to read further.
The email element is used in fields for authors, contrrbutors, maintainers. As of QAML 2.4, it is only mandatory for the maintainers.
QAML was simply not designed for rich graphics. Authors are restricted to using fairly simple text. However, two kinds of graphics are available: inline linked graphics and logos.
You can put in inline graphics using the link element inside paragraphs. You must also specify an href attribute with the WWW URL of the graphic and a role attribute with the value "Image". (Another role you may find useful is "Sound".)
You can put in logos using the logo element. You can put a logo in as the first element of a qna, a section, an author, a contributor and the maintain-er.
These allow logos belonging to the particular person or organization, or to the individual topic. Graphics and logos that belong to a whole series of FAQs are best put into the stylesheet or the FAQ-transformed-into-HTML.
The logo element is not intended to be used to include rich graphics. However, if you need it, it is there. But beware that some stylesheets may not print the logo or any links, and some stylesheets may expect the logo to be banner-sized or thumbnail sized.
FAQs started on Internet mailing lists and newsgourps. Newcomers ("newbies") often ask the same question. So a FAQ gets newbies up to speed, and stops them from wasting too much time for the grumpy old-timers.
The FAQ format can be a quite useful format for spreading information. Many people find it quite useful because it the questions often are real questions that people ask rather than the questions that gurus think should be asked. Also, the answers are fairly targetted to answering particular needs; so FAQs are in a way fairly similar to the "for Dummies" books.
In the case of the QAML FAQ, some of the questions are real, some are faked to
QAML is also being used for inhouse corporate information systems; for companies where user-support is a key component but where the user-liason staff are not specialists, QAML can provide a way to make sure that when someone finds an answer, the answer is available to other people.
A text processing language reads in a text file, recognizes certain delimiters and symbolic tokens, and performs various kinds of transformations based on those tokens.
UNIX has many small text processing languages; these have been bundled together into Perl, which is the most famous general text processing language. Omnimark is another excellent text processing language, geared towards marked-up documents.
James Clark, of http://www.jclark.com, categorizes text processing languages into "push" languages (the events discovered in a document drive trigger function calls) and "pull" languages (the document is read into a data structure like a tree, and then the main function inserts the appropriate parts of the data into a template.
QAML (and other XML and SGML) documents can be processed using general-purpose text processing tools. But they can be also processed using structure-aware tools, such as XP or LotusXSL, which are freely-available implementations of the XSLT language (Extensible Stylesheet Transformation Language).
The most common thing to do with a text processing language and a QAML (or XML) document, is to transform the document in HTML. The HTML can fit into the corporate style or taste of the publisher.
Standards are very useful, because they allow us to build amazing things co-operatively.
But a standard is usually general purpose, and a general-purpose tool is usually sub-optimal than a custom-made, specific-purpose tool. So QAML is better for representing FAQs than HTML, but your own markup language will be even better for marking up your own FAQ.
But if you make your own markup language, you have to also then write all your own computer tools to use it. However, QAML is very simple, so even if you do have your own markup language for FAQs, you may find it is not difficult to export your information into QAML format, so that you can use any QAML tools. Or you may find you can convert QAML tools for your requirements too!
XML is the Extensible Markup Language. It is a simple syntax for constructing markup languages to exchange data over the WWW. QAML 2.0 documents are XML documents. (And XML documents are SGML documents.)
See http://www.w3.org/ for more details.
I18n is the contraction used to mean "internationalization", because there are 18 letters missing.
I18n means the features available to allow documents in different languages, perhaps even within the same document.
QAML 2.0 is highly internationalized, following WWW best practise. (One of QAML 2.0's authors is a member of the World Wide Web Consortium's I18n Interest Group, and proposed most of the i18n features of XML.) It currently does not have support for bi-directional text; this can be added on request.
QAML 2.0 documents can use any standard character encoding, and all elements can have an attribute xml:lang to give the language being used.
Accessability means that the document can be read by people on unusual mediums or formats: large magnifaction screens, speech synthesizers, Braille readers and so on.
QAML has been written following the World Wide Web Consortium guidelines in this area: elements with vision-dependencies have kept out, and logo images must have alternative forms.
The Dublin Core is a basic set of 13 elements which various experts have decided are a minimum useful list for capturing basic metadata about small documents on the Web. This metadata allows searching by users and rudamentary classification by librarians.
The QAML DTD (Document Type Definition) shows the mappings to the various Dublin Core elements. Also, we encourage the use of a final section, with class dc, with explicit markup of the Dublin Core elements. This assists users of printed versions of your FAQ.
For more information on Dublin Core, there is a small QAML FAQ on Metadata at http://www.ascc.net/xml/en/utf-8/dc-fq.xml.
<DC:TITLE xml:lang="en">The QAML FAQ </DC:TITLE> <DC:CREATOR >Rick Jelliffe </DC:CREATOR> <DC:SUBJECT xml:lang="en">FAQ, QAML, Frequently Asked Question, Question and Answer Markup Language, XML, SGML </DC:SUBJECT> <DC:DESCRIPTION xml:lang="en">Frequently Asked Questions about using QAML, the Question and Answer Markup Language </DC:DESCRIPTION> <DC:PUBLISHER xml:lang="en">Computing Centre, Academia Sinica, Taiwan </DC:PUBLISHER> <DC:TYPE xml:lang="en">Text.Article </DC:TYPE> <DC:DATE >1999-04-06 </DC:DATE> <DC:RIGHTS >http://www.ascc.net/xml/en/utf-8/legal.html</DC:RIGHTS>
Expanding FAQ automatically generated from a QAML document
by QAML Tools from Academia Sinica Computing Center, Taipei, Taiwan


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I took the outlet off the geometrically most convenient circuit; turns out this circuit is the front room outlets, at least (because when I turn it on, I hear the printer start upstairs).
I also got the dryer outlet wired, of which I will simply say right now that 8/3 wiring is really stiff. When it's working, I'll post pictures of the whole process. It's stymied right now because I forgot to bring wire staples, and I don't want to work with this cable without it being nailed solidly in place. 240V scares me a little. Not like getting on ladders, but certainly enough to instill a healthy dose of respect.