text:
Leonardo DiCaprio Spends Time with Friends Before Oscar Sunday!
Leonardo DiCaprio stands outside Chi Lin as he waits for his pals on Wednesday evening (February 26) in West Hollywood, Calif.
The 39-year-old actor spent the night out with some friends that night before his big nerve-wracking evening this coming Sunday (March 2)!
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Leonardo Dicaprio
The 2014 Oscars are set to take place this Sunday, and Leo is up for the Best Actor award for his work in The Wolf of Wall Street. Best of luck, Leonardo!
Stay tuned to Just Jared on Oscar Sunday for all the coverage of the big show!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
TV entering a Season of the Witch? WGN to produce "SALEM"Movies/TV,News Samuel Zimmerman
Set in historical 17th century Salem, Massachusetts, an upcoming series set to premiere in 2014 will "explore what really fueled the town's infamous witch trials and dares to uncover the dark, supernatural truth hiding behind the veil of this infamous period in American history."
From HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT writer Adam Simon and 24's Brannon Braga, SALEM follows this year's HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS and its DTV/VOD counterparts, BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, THE LORDS OF SALEM, THE WICKED and will hit right on the heels of the highly anticipated AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN. That series apparently drove SALEM from its original home, FX.
Yes, it's seemingly a great time for those of us who cherish witch tales, stories of sorcery and necromancers. Are you excited for this outpouring? I totally am. What are your favorite witch movies, stories? Should I be watching THE SECRET CIRCLE?


text:
You have to admire the wide-eyed optimism of anyone predicting that BlackBerry's due for a turnaround, particularly at Apple's expense.
And clinical psychiatrists say you should also back away from them slowly and calmly, while smiling and never losing eye contact. As soon as you make it to the door, run for your life and never look back.
Writing for Seeking Alpha, Anup Singh wonders if "Apple's Missteps Could Be BlackBerry's Turnaround."
Hmm, yeah, pretty sure you're going to need more than "missteps" for that. In fact, you're going to need some kind of Jackass-style fall from a roof into a swimming pool full of chiggers and ticks.
For a long period of time, BlackBerry (BBRY) was the de facto choice for businesses looking for a secure mobile device. Apple (AAPL) has now become the irresistible choice of users in the enterprise sphere, replacing the ex-market leader.
Why is that? Because iOS is the most secure of the modern mobile operating systems and has a robust ecosystem. Please note all those criteria, because they're essential.
So, why is Apple headed for the fall at the hands of ... boy, it's hard to write this without laughing ... BlackBerry?
Security of Apple's devices has been subjected to flaws multiple times in the last seven months.
Well, this is certainly a major threat to Apple, as it's well-known that BlackBerry has never had any security flaws, ever.
Seriously, the Macalope found those two--which happened within the last seven months--with about five seconds of searching. Go back to February of 2013 and you'll find a notice of a major security flaw in BlackBerry's enterprise server. Singh, however, is somehow completely unaware of these flaws' existence.
Now, someone hold Singh's beer, because he's going to perform some incredible logical gymnastics here:
Then, Apple devices' lack of security was further exposed in December, when a report claimed that MacBooks' webcams can spy on their users without warning. ... This vulnerability doesn't work on Macs built post 2008; however, it's probable that similar hacks exist for newer versions.
Wow! How does he do that?! Some say he's double-jointed and grew up in the circus. Yes, let's just assume there's something similar to this old flaw in newer hardware and that this kind of vulnerability only exists on Apple devices--because that's responsible security policy.
The primary point is that Apple's products have been exposed to various security breaches several times in just one year, hurting the company's reputation, while BlackBerry's security has been hermetic.
Hermetic in the sense that these days it's only used by hermits who are unaware of the progress in mobile operating systems since 2007?
So, investors can expect BlackBerry to gain enterprise market share from Apple in the future, making it a better investment.
Provably false facts lead to laughable conclusions. That's Seeking Alpha's tag line, isn't it?
The exposé regarding Apple's security flaw could lead users to switch away from its devices. The company is already finding it difficult to record revenue growth.
Un ... like ... Black ... Berry?
What is this the Macalope is reading? Is it performance art? Well, it's clearly performance art of some kind, the only question is whether or not it's intentional.
Singh goes on and on like this, repeating the same contention over and over, as if it will become less laughable through repetition.
The enterprise sphere was probably Apple's golden chance, however, numerous security failures indicate that the company is destined to lose market share to BlackBerry in the future.
Organizations will soon realize that BlackBerry's security is better than Apple, and will start switching back.
OK, back up to what the Macalope said up top. Why is iOS popular in the enterprise? Because it's the most secure of the modern mobile operating systems and has a robust ecosystem. Even if you believe Singh's BLACKBERRY HAS NO SECURITY FLAWS line, it's still a non-starter in the enterprise because its ecosystem is ... well, to be perfectly blunt, it doesn't have an ecosystem.
Although BlackBerry's shares have taken a pounding over the last few years, it looks ripe for a turnaround.
It sure looks ripe, all right.
Join the newsletter!
Follow our new social and we'll keep you in the loop for exclusive events and all things security!
Have an opinion on security? Want to have your articles published on CSO? Please contact CSO Content Manager for our guidelines.


text:
MN GOT TALENT ft. 50 Tyson - Beez In The Ap Cypher [Unsigned Hype]
Minnesota Unsigned hype in order: C.O.U.N.T. OF MINNASOTA/ Lil Cheiff On Da Trakk/FA STYLES/ DeBuc$ Da Kid/ Brand Nu/Cocoa Carter/Kobra Kolyonne/ Beezy Notes/ 50 Tyson
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
Subsea 3D needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 73 designs submitted by 22 freelance designers.
Subsea 3D
Our business is a new 3D Animation provider specifically for the offshore Oil & Gas industry. We help our clients deliver key messages to their various stakeholders, both internal and external, through high-end 3D videos.
We are a business to business company in a fairly old school industry (offshore Oil & Gas), we would like our logo to respect this whilst having a modern and clean feel to it to represent our brand which is an intelligent and modern way of communicating. An example of 3D animations similar to the ones we will be producing can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/user/Constru…UqEx5gaQaY
We will also have a website when we launch with the URL http://www.subsea3d.com
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
All Items : Books and Publications : Travel : Pre 1920 item #564946
BigFootCat's Collectibles
This is a catalog of the Hamburg- American Steamship Lines. It is a "photographic reproduction of the Company's various types of steamers comprised in the Transatlantic service". Almost like a stock prospectus, this wonderful book lists the types and tonnage of its entire fleet as well as the corporate history. The booklet is divided into chapters based on sister ships of the same class...


text:
Quote:im going to try the frozen can next rather than a bag of peas
Quote:Don't use cans of soup, use beer cans. Have a ready supply of cold ones and stick one under your foot. Once it starts to warm up, crack it open, get another cold one, stick that under your foot and drink the open one. Rinse and repeat. I guarantee you that one way or t'other the pain in your foot pain will disappear!
Quote:Hey man, I know exactly how u feel because I also had planta faciitis. I had for abour a year and a half... The only sure way to get better is by resting like hell man, avoid being on ur feet tooo longgg and massage and strech the feet and a muscle called tibialis anterior on the front lateral side of ur leg, basically on the right side or left side depending on which leg(shin) .. It took me 3 months to get over it... sacrifice training time man trust me its worth it cause now i havent gotten any pain since march...Bow out with respect from a TKD/BAGUA MARTIALIST
Night club fight footage and street fights captured
with the world's first bouncer spy cam
to Matrix!
Learn ten times faster with new training method. Learn entire arts
for as little as $10 per disk.
Self Defense
Stun guns, pepper spray, Mace and self defense products. Alarms for personal and home use.
Stop An Urban Gorilla: Get 2 FREE TASER M26C Replacement Air Cartridges With Each New TASER M26C!


text:
Regular price
Beautiful Headband perfect to wear for parties, dress up or part of your everyday outfit.
100% Metal
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging. To complete your return, we require a receipt or proof of purchase. To return your product, you should mail your product to: 1752 E. Broadway Rd. Tempe Arizona US 85282. If 14 days have gone by since your purchase, unfortunately we can't offer you a refund or exchange.
You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary. For more information view the return policies.
Once your return is received and inspected, we will send you an email to notify you that we have received your returned item. We will also notify you of the approval or rejection of your refund. If you are approved, then your refund will be processed, and a credit will automatically be applied to your credit card or original method of payment, within a certain amount of days.
We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Discover, and Diners Club debit and credit cards. Also, you may check out using PayPal.
We try to get your order shipped quickly, but depending on the status of your order, you may be able to edit the order. It may also be possible to request an address modification or a delivery intercept with some shipping carriers. Please contact us as soon as possible at email@example.com with your order number.
If you have any other questions or concerns, you may contact us at email@example.com and we would be happy to assist you.


text:
- Features
- News
- Arts
- Life
- Community
- Nightlife
- Scene
- Social
There is a sort of magical portal at the corner of M and 17th Streets NW. Step away from the street traffic and the noise, and the National Geographic Society welcomes you into exhibits designed to spark a greater interest in Earth, from our planet's animals and ancient cultures, to technology and tropical rain forests. There's nothing, really, that escapes Nat Geo's curiosity. And the National Geographic Museum, part of the society's D.C. headquarters campus, takes the windows into that curiosity – National Geographic magazine and its sister publications, sites and shows – and turns them into a door visitors walk through. Step onto the campus and into the world of National Geographic. You can almost hear the signature notes of Elmer Bernstein's bah-bah-bah-BAH-bum National Geographic theme song.
"It's certainly an interesting place to work," says Rich McWalters, director of museum operations. The 24-year veteran adds that it's been an interesting place since long before he arrived on the scene.
National Geographic Museum
(Photo by Todd Franson)
"The museum has been in operation since well back in the early 1930s," he explains. "At that point, in the lobby, there was a small exhibition space. One of the earliest things was the lecture program that goes back to that time."
As the years went by, the National Geographic Society's headquarters grew from its initial building into a small campus, with landscaping alone that's inviting enough to pull passersby in from the sidewalk. Meanwhile, window exhibits hug the museum.
"At one point, it was relief maps and artifacts," McWalters says of the display windows. "We decided to change that into a photo gallery. We're known for our photography."
Walk by the buildings now and take a peek at "Wicked Weather," a collection of photographs of floods, fires and other climatic calamities, rendered eerily beautiful at the hands of talented, globetrotting photographers. The exhibit closes Oct. 23.
You'll have to move a bit more quickly if you want to catch the museum's primary exhibition, "Titanic: 100 Year Obsession," running through Sept. 9. Occupying one of the museum's two main halls in its 17th Street building, the exhibit presents newspaper articles of the construction and sinking, impressive props from James Cameron's Titanic, a beautiful scale model of the ship, short films, and interactive displays with iPads and Kinect technology. With Kinect, the museum designed a watery view on the floor of one corner of the gallery. The glowing rectangle offers a glimpse of what the ship looks like on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, step closer – step onto the rectangle, actually – and the deep blue sea parts to show portions of the famed vessel in pristine condition.
"We always like to go down after an exhibit opens and see how visitors are interacting – particularly kids, who are much more courageous," McWalters observes.
The Titanic exhibit will soon be joined by "1001 Inventions: Discover the Golden Age of Muslim Civilization," occupying the second of the 17th Street building's two large galleries. "Named 'Best Touring Exhibition of the Year' at the Museums and Heritage Excellence Awards, '1001 Inventions' uncovers a thousand years of advances in science and technology that have had a huge but hidden impact on the modern world," National Geographic promises.
"That's a 6,000-square-foot traveling exhibition," McWalters explains. "This was just in L.A. and Istanbul. We're really interested in this one.


text:
WASHINGTON, July 15 — On Capitol Hill and on the presidential campaign trail, Democrats are increasingly moving toward a full-throated populist critique of the current economy.
Clearly influenced by some of their most successful candidates in last year's Congressional elections, Democrats are talking more and more about the anemic growth in American wages and the negative effects of trade and a globalized economy on American jobs and communities. They deplore what they call a growing gap between the middle class, which is struggling to adjust to a changing job market, and the affluent elites who have prospered in the new economy. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Democrat of New York, calls it "trickle-down economics without the trickle."
Populism is hardly new in the Democratic Party. Al Gore vowed to fight for "the people versus the powerful" in his presidential campaign seven years ago, and Republicans have long accused the Democrats of practicing "class warfare."
But the latest populist resurgence is deeply rooted in a view that current economic conditions are difficult and deteriorating for many people, analysts say, and it is now framing debates over tax policy, education, trade, energy and health care. Last week, Senate Democrats held hearings on proposals to raise taxes on some of the highest fliers on Wall Street, the people at the top of private equity and hedge fund firms.
In the House, Representative Barney Frank, the Massachusetts Democrat who is chairman of the Financial Services Committee, convened party leaders and economists for a searching discussion of "globalization, outsourcing and the American worker — what should government do?" Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California, offered the participants some blunt marching orders: "The American people want to know what we're doing about their economic security."Continue reading the main story
Their language, and to some degree their proposals, reflect a striking contrast with the approach taken by Democrats during much of the 1990s, when President Bill Clinton asserted that trade would create American jobs and that paying attention to the concerns of Wall Street would help the economy by lowering interest rates. The more populist tone is one indication of a broader debate among Democrats over economic policy and how much they should break with the careful centrism of the Clinton years embodied by Robert E. Rubin, the former treasury secretary, who was a champion of free trade and cutting deficits.
So far, Republicans have, by and large, stuck by their free-market philosophy. They point to a rebounding stock market, declining deficits and steady if unspectacular economic expansion as evidence that conservative policies of tax cutting, less regulation and more trade are working.
But Democrats say they are responding to economic trends that the statistics in the headlines do not capture, including middle-class insecurity about jobs, the affordability of health insurance and the costs of education. The times have changed, these Democrats argue, and six years of Republican tax and economic policies have heightened the inequities.
Even as Mrs. Clinton has sought to associate herself with the economic growth of her husband's administration, she, like other Democratic presidential candidates, has been expressing a sharp skepticism toward trade and globalization under President Bush. In recent weeks she has announced her opposition to the proposed South Korean Free Trade Agreement and denounced globalization that "is working only for a few of us." She accepted the endorsement of former Representative Richard A. Gephardt, who spent much of his political career fighting what he asserted were unfair trade agreements.
And Mrs. Clinton has increasingly focused on "rising inequality and rising pessimism in our work force," and suggested that another progressive era is — and ought to be — at hand.
Former Senator John Edwards, another Democratic candidate, staked out similar positions months ago and regularly notes that in the last 20 years, "about half of America's economic growth has gone to the top 1 percent." Mr. Edwards praises recent efforts to raise taxes on private equity and hedge funds. His campaign manager, former Representative David E. Bonior, notes that Mr. Edwards has been sounding these themes since his first presidential campaign in 2004.
"John Edwards was there at the beginning of this," Mr. Bonior said.
While campaigning in Iowa last week, Senator Barack Obama, Democrat of Illinois, suggested that even those who followed the standard advice for coping with a globalized economy — get more education for higher-skilled jobs — were losing out.
"People were told, you've got to be trained for high-tech jobs," Mr. Obama said, "and then it turned out that some of those high-tech jobs were being outsourced. And people were told, now you need to train for service jobs. And then it turned out the call centers were moving overseas."
It is not unusual for candidates seeking the Democratic presidential nomination to move left in the primary season; Mr. Clinton himself touched on some of these populist themes in his 1992 campaign. But all the major Democratic candidates for president are promising to use government to ease the insecurity of the middle class, on issues like education and health care.
Sixteen months before the election, with their domestic platforms being formed, these candidates are proposing, for example, to let the Bush tax cuts expire for the most affluent Americans and, in some cases, redirect that money to expanded health care. On the campaign trail and in Congress, Democrats are also talking about expanding assistance for college and help for workers who lose their jobs to cheaper labor abroad.
Democrats have also been pushing for legislation that would allow the federal government to negotiate drug prices for Medicare with the pharmaceutical industry, a favorite target of the economic populists.
Democratic leaders say that unless Congress restores the confidence of the middle class, it will be hard to sell Americans on more trade or even an immigration overhaul.
"I don't think we'll be able to do trade agreements, immigration reforms or any of these other kinds of reforms," Ms. Pelosi said, "until we present a positive, aggressive economic agenda to the American people — until they know where they stand, now and in the future."
Representative George Miller, the California Democrat who is chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, said, "Trade may not be the reason, or the number one reason, they're losing their jobs, but they think it is."
Democratic leaders in the House recently announced that their legislative priorities did not include the renewal of the president's "fast track" authority to negotiate new trade agreements, which expired this month. First, they said, they want to find ways "to expand the benefits of globalization to all Americans."
There is anxiety on both left and right of the Democratic Party about this new populism. Many on the left worry that the Democratic establishment is merely paying lip service. They are skeptical about the party leaders' loyalties, noting that many rely on huge contributions from Wall Street, and many have a long commitment to a free-trade agenda. Democratic leaders have, in fact, tried to advance some trade agreements this year, only to meet with substantial resistance within their caucus. Many of the new populists also see the Democratic establishment as far too cautious in confronting what they see as broad inequities in the tax code.
At the same time, centrist Democrats, like those at the research group the Third Way, worry that the party is veering left away from the optimistic, pro-growth, business-friendly policies that Mr. Clinton championed.
But many Democrats argue that this is an inevitable response to the dislocation and unease in much of the country, which was a crucial factor in the party's victory in Congress last November. The case for populism is made most powerfully by the Democrats who were elected to Congress last fall. Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, who defeated a Republican incumbent with an attack on the trade and economic policies of recent years, said he was convinced that the populists were on the rise. He noted that he carried Ohio by 12.5 percentage points two years after John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, lost the state by only about 2 percentage points, and with it the presidency.
"That's because of the economic populist message," Mr. Brown said. "They voted minimum wage, they voted trade, they voted student loans, they voted health care and prescription drugs, over what their traditional conservative social values might suggest. And that's the route to winning Ohio for Hillary or Barack or anybody else."
Even Representative Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, who is viewed as far too much of an establishment, free-trade Clintonian by many populists, says the party must respond. "The party that deals with globalization and economic security will win," Mr. Emanuel said.Continue reading the main story


text:
LMFAO - Im In The Valley (Nutz In The Morning Show Performance Remix)
The Nutz In the Morning had the homies from LMFAO stop by to hang out and do the Nutz In the Morning version of IM IN THE VALLEY.
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
Redhead - Redhead Melody Waters with sexy body is ready for some action
I found Melody hanging out in front of a store, trying to make a phone call. I began talking to her and she explained that she was trying to pay her cell phone bill before it got cut off, but she did not have any money to pay it. She was waiting for a ride, but it did not look like that ride was coming. So, I offered to give her a ride and help her with her monetary problem. She was reluctant at first, but later decided to come with me. In the car, we made a deal for her to come hang out at my place and fuck, so she could pay her phone bill. She was a cutie with sweet tits and a luscious ass. I pounded that pussy and sprayed my man juice all over her pretty face.
2017-09-23 14:48:44
Comments: no comments for this video. Add Comment ▼
Thank you! Your comment has been sent for review.
Unexpected error occurred, please contact support


text:
Young Bucks
Jack Gaskin 11/30/2012 5:02:55 AMWonderful Capture
Jack #1501061
Joannie Bertucci 12/28/2012 12:36:27 AMThe boys look sharp Darryl! :-) Congrats on your "stag line" finalist! #10481989
Kay E. Mahoney 12/28/2012 5:36:31 AMCongratulations on your finalist, Darryl. They are beautiful. #10482643
Ken Smith 12/28/2012 7:13:29 AMHey Darryl, congrats to you!! #10483043
Emile Abbott 12/28/2012 12:03:03 PMCongrats Darryl, great capture and finalist. #10484401
Patrick Rouzes 12/29/2012 1:23:36 PMAMAZING, congrats, Darryl #10487590
Gail Vitikacs 12/30/2012 9:39:43 AMSuch an incredible photo opportunity! Congrats! #10489424
Stephen Zacker 7/21/2013 3:08:59 PMThis is Awesome. Congratulations #10775552
Exif: F Number: 8, Exposure Bias Value: -0.33, ExposureTime: 1/125 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 400, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 320.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Uploaded on 11/29/2012 10:27:44 PM
Copyright for this gallery photo belongs solely to Darryl Wilkinson. Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.


text:
Volkswagen recently successfully tested its new Bora Hy.Power hydrogen vehicle by subjecting it to a long-range drive between France and Italy. Unlike other hydrogen cars, the Bora Hy.Power features significant performance enhancements such as a new type of membrane in its fuel cell, as well as high-performance capacitors. The vehicle was accompanied by a SunFuel-powered Bora on a drive through the Simplon Pass in a bid to test both their efficiency and how they deal with temperatures below freezing point. Simplon Pass was chosen as it stands 6,500ft above sea level — pretty chilly conditions.
The two cars use different systems – the SunFuel Bora/Jetta is powered by a clean synthetic diesel called SunFuel. It has one of the lowest emissions of any car in the world, and Volkswagen is currently planning on using it in all their future zero emission fuel cell cars. SunFuel is a non-traditional low-sulfur fuel that can be made from renewable sources such as plants, waste products and other raw materials.
However it is the Bora Hy.Power that was really being put to the test. Hydrogen fuel cells have long been discussed as the future of automotive propulsion, but cost and safety concerns have made it a slow process. In the Bora Hy.Power's case, a new hydrogen fuel cell was being tested that would produce 75kw to power the electric motor while emitting only water vapors into the atmosphere.
In addition benefiting the environment with low emissions, Volkswagen says its new Hy.Power Bora also does away with many of the precious metals previously needed in hydrogen fuel cell technology, replacing them instead with plastic fibers. With all these new and improved design, the six electric motors produce 64bhp, which gives the car an impressive 70mph top speed and adequate acceleration.
Via Fuel Cell Works


text:
#affordable insurance
Health Insurance Quotes
Whether you are looking for a health insurance policy for yourself or the employees in your office, affordable and reliable health insurance is one of the biggest concerns you have. When you need affordable health insurance quotes online, look no further than HealthInsuranceQuotes.com. After answering a few simple questions through our easy to use and secure questionnaire, HealthInsuranceQuotes.com will connect you with multiple low-cost health insurance quotes from reputable companies. This allows you to choose the health insurance plan that best meets your needs and your budget.
Types of Health Insurance Plans
When shopping for health insurance, whether it is through a local agent or online, one of the biggest questions everyone has is what type of insurance policy they need. While there are a variety of health insurance plans available through our partner insurance providers, health insurance can be broken down into three main areas:
Individual Health Insurance This type of health insurance plan is designed for a single person and can usually be tailor made to their specific insurance needs.
Family Health Insurance A great policy for the self-employed or when you work for a smaller company that does not provide health coverage, family health insurance offers affordable protection for you, your spouse and your children.
Group Health Insurance If you run a business and want to help your employees find health coverage, a group health insurance plan is the answer.
HealthInsuranceQuotes.com takes the guess work out of the affordable health insurance search with great information about the different health insurance plans available and an easy to use quote system to help you find the most affordable and reliable health insurance for you.
Health Insurance Providers
When shopping for health insurance, the lowest price may not always mean the plan offers the best deal. Fortunately, HealthInsuranceQuotes.com has partnered with reputable and reliable nationwide health insurance companies. This means that when you get health insurance quotes from us, you can rest assured that whichever policy you choose, they will provide the coverage you need when you need it.
Health Insurance Information
At HealthInsuranceQuotes.com, we know that shopping for affordable health insurance can be confusing. With all of the different coverages and policies available, it is important to get as much information as possible before you purchase a health insurance policy for yourself, your family or your company. This is why we provide a variety of informative articles that are designed to make your health insurance decision as easy as possible.
No matter what your situation, HealthInsuranceQuotes.com is the easiest way to save on your health insurance. Browse our website to get great information on health insurance and when you are ready to purchase simply fill out our secure questionnaire and let us find multiple low cost health insurance quotes for you. Then the choice is yours – just choose the health insurance policy that best meets your needs. With HealthInsuranceQuotes.com finding affordable and reliable health insurance coverage has never been easier!


text:
YORKTOWN, N.Y. -- Friends of David Rocco know, when the Yorktown resident has free time, he's either flying in a helicopter over the Tappan Zee recording its progress or at the Walkway Over the Hudson in Poughkeepsie.
This longtime volunteer at the Walkway is now seeing the fruits of his labor come to fruition with the new PBS documentary, "Rails to Trails," put out by the Emmy-award winning show, "Treasures of New York. "
In the film, premiering Thursday, May 18 at 8 p.m.on WLIW21and again Sunday, May 21 at 7 pm on Thirteen, he'll not only see some of his photos but hear his words as he was there from the beginning.
"It's actually an amazing feeling knowing that I was part of a project that has been considered one of the biggest historic restoration projects in the country," he said.
"From day one, right up to the present time, I get great enjoyment when I look at the people's faces as they maneuver across the Walkway. Young, old, short, tall, people of different colors and people who speak different languages all have this wonderful glow about them. They all have a look of happiness, serenity, almost spiritual like."
Rocco, a longtime civil service carpenter for the NYC Housing Authority who now works as a lobbyist, grant writer, and consultant (he is also writing a book), said he felt very strongly about the Walkway from the moment he first found out about it in November 2001.
"I enjoyed the fact that this project would serve three purposes," he said. "Preserve forgotten railroad history, help create the development of abandoned right of way into a multi-use rail trail and give the public, a unique opportunity to cross the Hudson River at an incredible height without having to share the roadway surface with vehicular traffic."
"Treasures of New York" takes viewers across the state along various railway corridors that have been repurposed as recreational bike and pedestrian trails, including Manhattan's renowned High Line.
The film also outlines Governor Andrew Cuomo's plan for the "Empire State Trail," a network of 750-miles of trails spanning from New York Harbor to Canada and from Albany to Buffalo by the year 2020, resulting in the largest state multi-use trail in the country. The ambitious plan includes the 360-mile trail on the historic Erie Canal called "The Erie Canalway Trail."
Following the broadcast, the film will be available for online viewing at wliw.org/treasures .
Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts.


text:
Polling places: Input sought on arts, cultural opportunities in Stamford's South End
When the Loft Artists Association in Stamford's South End opened its doors for its free Draw On workshops in March, it was clear there was a problem -- one it didn't mind having.
"We had to open more sessions," said the group's president, Ellen Gordon, recalling the steady flow of aspiring artists who came to sketch models and paint scenes.
It was clear the workshops were a hit, but Gordon and other South End community members hope to discover what other arts and cultural opportunities appeal to those who live and work in the area. The group, which includes arts groups, Building and Land Technology representatives, businesses, the Stamford Partnership, the South End Neighborhood Revitalization Zone, churches and city officials, recently released an online survey that will assess just that. Respondents have until Saturday, May 31.
The survey comes amid significant changes to the area, including Building and Land Technology's Harbor Point, a multibillion-dollar, mixed-use redevelopment project.
"This will help us to broaden the conversation," said Ryan Odinak, executive director of the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County. "It's about getting every person at the table."
Odinak said she became involved with the project in the fall at the request of the state's Office of the Arts. John Cusano, the office's community development coordinator, tapped the alliance after representatives from BLT sought assistance in how best to assess the area's cultural needs and develop ways to bring people together through culture and the arts.
The effort mirrors a national movement that has gained traction for about the past 20 years: creative placemaking. It focuses on using the arts to revitalize communities and spur local economies, while bringing together private, public and community partners to help shape the character of a neighborhood -- as well as give those who live, work and visit there a sense of place. For the past several years, this collaborative effort also has been encouraged by the state's Department of Economic and Community Development (under which the Office of Arts falls), when it comes to arts funding.
"Arts and culture, particularly a diversity of arts and culture, give people something to do and a reason to come together," said Jamie Bennett, executive director of New York City-based ArtPlace America, a group that invests in creative placemaking projects around the country. He cited a recent study by Gallup and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation that looked at what attracted people to a community and encouraged them to invest in its future. It identified social offerings (places to meet), openness and the area's aesthetics (which included the physical structures and green spaces), which Bennett said were all "hallmarks of the arts."
Cusano said the local survey should offer revelations of its own. "It will do a few things, hopefully, including getting people involved in this conversation who really need to be involved ... new residents, residents who have lived there their entire lives, people who work there, whose children go to school there."
Also looking forward to the results is Building and Land Technology, which has worked on cultural initiatives in the past, including a pop-up art gallery in collaboration with artist and gallery owner Fernando Luis Alvarez. It also worked with the Loft Artists Association to find new space when the lease it held with BLT ran out last year.
"We are glad to see these groups create a survey to capture public opinion on what makes a great neighborhood, and look forward to seeing the results," said Ted Ferrarone, chief operating officer for BLT, in a statement. "The South End is full of possibilities."
As the group assesses results and takes the next steps, there will be concrete examples of those possibilities this summer. The Loft Artists Association will host workshops for children, while BLT and area retailers will sponsor live music Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, host free movies at Commons Park and offer a farmers market.
"There are so many assets already there," said Cusano of the South End. "Really, in part, what programs like this try to do, at their deepest meaning is to allow people with different world views ... to come together and share something meaningful."
Twitter: @xtinahennessy
If you live or work in Stamford's South End, and are interested in taking the survey, visit surveymonkey.com/s/SouthEndSurvey.


text:
Doppelgangers are Coming to Take Over Your Game
This release of The Manual of Mutants & Monsters provides game stats on the Doppelganger, a race of beings that could be from another dimension, space, or somewhere deep in the earth. Consummate manipulators, they change their shape into that of other humanoids to get what they want.
Includes the doppelganger standard game stats, along with suggestions on making this race capable of also copying super-powers, and a template for making player character doppelgangers.
Super-Powered by M&M and its associated logo are Trademarks of Green Ronin Publishing and are used under the provisions of the Super-Powered by M&M Trademark License (see http://www.mutantsandmasterminds.com/licensing for details).
Requires the Mutants & Mastermind's Hero's Handbook by Green Ronin Publishing for Use.
Buy it now.
[Misfit Studios] Manual of Mutants & Monsters: Doppelganger
The only place to discuss Super-Powered by M&M products.
1 post • Page 1 of 1
- Steve Conan Trustrum
- Champion
- Posts: 579
- Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2003 4:11 pm
- Location: Toronto, Canada
- Contact:
[Misfit Studios] Manual of Mutants & Monsters: Doppelganger
Steven Trustrum
President for Life (or until the money runs out)
Misfit Studios
Misfit Studios Homepage
Misfit Shop
Google +
President for Life (or until the money runs out)
Misfit Studios
Misfit Studios Homepage
Misfit Shop
Google +
1 post • Page 1 of 1
Return to "Super-Powered by M&M"
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


text:
Enbridge to lead carbon dioxide storage project
Reuters: February 4, 2008
CALGARY _ Enbridge Inc., Canada's No. 2 pipeline operator, is leading 19 energy firms in a project to develop carbon dioxide storage in Alberta, but growing emissions from oil sands plants will not initially be part of the study, an executive said Monday.
The group, which includes such firms as BP PLC, ConocoPhillips Co., EnCana Corp. and Penn West Energy Trust, will spend about $750,000 over the next year identifying sites for long-term storage of the greenhouse gas in deep saline aquifers.
A second phase would involve a $20-million to $30-million pilot project in Alberta _ Canada's biggest energy-producing province and largest emitter of gases blamed for global warming _ that will be designed to receive carbon dioxide.
The consortium may eventually develop a large-scale commercial project at a cost of more than $200-million, Enbridge said.
The Alberta and federal governments have touted carbon capture and storage _ where the gas is diverted from smokestacks and other industrial sources _ as a tool to reduce emissions while having minimal impact on economic growth.
In a four-decade climate change plan announced last month, Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach said the technology is expected to account for more than two-thirds of reductions. He also said he would make $500-million in provincial and federal funds available for research and development.
Enbridge vice-president Chuck Szmurlo said the energy-company plan, called the Alberta Saline Aquifer Project (ASAP), is a good candidate for the money.
"As I understood the government's discussion of this funding, it was looking for the kind of demonstration projects that did something tangible, that had wide interest and long-term appeal, and I think this project has all those characteristics," Mr. Szmurlo said.
Alberta has many briny underground water reservoirs that could be considered, but none near the oil sands hub of Fort McMurray, where more than $100-billion worth of developments are planned, he said.
Some sites could be in areas around Edmonton, where refineries, oil sands upgraders and coal-fired power plants are located, he said.
"You have to have good geology, you have to have a source of CO2, the site would have to be amenable to the environmental and legal things that will have to be resolved and ultimately we'd like it to integrate into the future infrastructure plans that we have," Mr. Szmurlo said.
Various companies have discussed the concept of a pipeline to ship carbon from industrial sites to old oil fields, where it could be used to boost output.
Enbridge is in the early stages of considering carbon dioxide transportation options, he said.
"This study is independent of a CO2 pipeline, " he said. "But this study will be mindful of the potential routing of a CO2 backbone pipeline."


text:
This event has been and gone!
Catch the next one:
Check out the info below for future tour dates, and track them to receive alerts when they tour near you
Never miss another 'Showaddywaddy' show
70s popsters recreating the music of the 50s. Showaddywaddy were one of the biggest successes of the 70s and dominated the British charts with their releases including the smash number 1 hit Under The Moon Of Love. Wham-a-lang-a-ding-dang - you know it makes sense! Dave Bartram recently stood down as lead singer but continues to manage the band, with founding members Romeo Challenger and Rod Deas plus Paul Dixon. New members are Andy Pelos on lead vocals, Rob Hewins (drums/guitars/vocals) and Dean Loach (keyboards/vocals).
Showaddywaddy tour dates


text:
Wemade Entertainment acquired 3 Social network Game companies – Fever Studio, a developer of Every Town, Every Farm, Link Tomorrow, a developer of Epic Story, Baseball Wars, Liny Works, a developer of Cafestoria.
In addition, the company cooperates with Dbros to convert Star City as a mobile game. Star City is Facebook game featuring various KPOP stars in the game. With Mobicle, the company co-develops a baseball game, tentatively named Project 2632.
Wemade Entertainment becomes a giant mobile game company by acquiring these companies with the total of 5 development teams.
Wemade Entertainment will release in-house developed 5 mobile games in 2012 and reveal its vision and un-announced projects on the 26th of April.


text:
Imagine walking a golf course and encountering a replica Great Wall of China on one hole and a gigantic bowl of noodles and chopsticks on another.
If that sounds like your local mini golf course, think again.
Celebrated course designer Brian Curley of Schmidt-Curley Design has revealed plans for what he calls a "full-scale mini golf" experience at Mission Hills Haikou resort on the Chinese island of Hainan.
The 18-hole course, which is scheduled to be completed in 2014, will feature several unique obstacles, including an 80-meter wide bowl of noodles, a set of Mayan ruins and a par-3 that drills golfers with winds from large fans.
"It's still going to be real golf, with real clubs," Curley told ESPN. "You'll need to putt and you'll need to drive. Everything will be the same except instead of being surrounded by pine trees, you're surrounded by the Great Wall of China."
In fact, Curley says the "noodle hole" isn't all that different from the famed 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass in Florida. There, players attempt to land their ball on a small green surrounded by water.
At the Chinese course, the green is the same size. The only difference is that it's in a giant bowl of floating noodles.
"The shot is no different, it's just that visually it's different," Curley said of the Sawgrass-Mission Hills Haikou comparison. "When you're hitting into a bowl and there are chopsticks and noodles floating in the water it takes on a whole new level -- the purists are going to have a fit."
(H/T to Larry Brown Sports)


text:
This past week, Lightology paired with Chicago area design firm HDR Architecture for their Alice In Wonderland – inspired dining room installation for Dining by Design, an event hosted by the Chicago Chapter of DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS). This event raises funds for Chicago area HIV/AIDS service organizations that provide direct service, education, and outreach to the community.
Lightology donated the Ginetta chandelier for the installation, while companies like Coalesse Furniture, Designtex Fabrics and Interface Carpet donated other elements to perfect the whimsically chaotic setting.
HDR Designer Anne Rockwell had her sights set on the Ginnetta chandelier from the beginning.
"The chandelier was the perfect formal element with a modern twist," she explained. "It helped tie the room together with the white table and scrolling graphic side walls."
Find out more about DIFFA and what you can do to help.


text:
Parent Information
Dear Parents,
Soon, your son or daughter will be embarking upon what is often a life-changing academic, social, and cultural experience.
The information included on these pages is to help you better understand the study abroad process and will hopefully help answer the questions you may have.
If your student is participating in a Middlebury School Abroad, click here for the parent information for Middlebury Schools Abroad. The following information on these pages pertains to parents of students participating in Externally-Sponsored (non-Middlebury) study abroad programs.
Resources for Parents:
Study Abroad: A Pre-Departure Handbook
[A guide for Middlebury students participating in programs not administered by Middlebury College (non-Middlebury programs)]
This pre-departure handbook includes information on logistics (e.g., passports and visas, packing, travel info., etc.), health and safety, cross-cultural adjustment, sustainable study abroad, academic matters, financial information, returning home after study abroad, and much more.
Parents: Pointers to Prepare for the Transformation:
Prepared by the CIEE, this document contains useful tips for parents of study abroad participants.
What Parents Need to Know!
This NAFSA: Association of International Educators publication, is written for parents to help their student make the most of their education abroad experience.
Other What To Know Before You Go information
This page includes links to embassy and consulate information, safety abroad information, foreign currency converter, health and travel insurance information, and much more.
Health Insurance Information:
Middlebury students should make certain they have adequate health coverage abroad. For more information on policies available, see our Health Insurance web page.
Health and Safety Information and Resources
This web site includes many health and safety resources, as well as emergency contact information.
CO2 Offsets Program:
Contribute to the fight against global climate change by purchasing renewable energy to offset the global warming impact of your student's air travel for study abroad.
Other Pointers for Parents: Before, During, and After the Study Abroad Experience
Another common concern for parents is who to contact in case of emergency. Since Middlebury College does not administer the program in which your student is participating, it is most effective to contact the program administrators directly. Please make sure that your son or daughter leaves this contact information with you prior to departure. However, if any questions or concerns arise before, during, or after your son or daughter's study abroad experience, please feel free to contact Stacey Thebodo (Assistant Director, contact for non-Middlebury study abroad). Also please see the Safety Abroad page for emergency contact information and the Contact Us page (below) for the emails and phone numbers of International Programs and Off-Campus Study.
Pre-Departure Checklist for Parents


text:
I was there when the Republic of South Sudan was born!
Obiageli Ezekwesili (c) with South Sudan President Salva Kiir (r). Photo: Laura Kullenberg, The World Bank
4:00 AM: I wake up this morning in Nairobi unusually excited and think to myself, "today is actually the Independence Day of South Sudan. Wow! This day has finally come!" I say a word of prayer for the day and get myself ready for the 5:30 a.m. trip to the airport to board our flight to Juba.


text:
Over a century old, the stately white house on Cherokee Road was exactly the kind of home Jay and Jodie Morgan hoped to find when they first moved to Louisville. The structure, built in 1905, was in many ways outdated and in need of some major repairs, but it was also full of beautiful original details and radiated an old-world charm that newer houses couldn't seem to replicate. The Morgan family moved in and, knowing they had their work cut out for them, hired Joe French and his remodeling company, Louisville Handyman, to bring the interior of the home up to date – without taking away from its classic elegance and old-fashioned appeal.
"The goal of the remodel was to put in the house what we envisioned would have been in the home in 1905,†Jodie explained. With the first of three phases in an ambitious remodeling project now complete, the house was recently featured in the 27th annual Tour of Remodeled Homes, during which hundreds of people had the chance to take a peek inside its updated rooms. In addition to the handiwork of French and his team, the Morgans' own furniture and accents staged by Kate Killian of A Fine House and Kathi Jaggers of Never Be Upstaged enhanced all of the new details inside. "We wanted to use accessories that would… showcase the home, the features of the room itself,†commented Killian. The hard work paid off; "During the tour,†Jodie Morgan happily reported, "visitors commented that the kitchen and bathrooms looked like they could have been original to the house, and we took that as the highest compliment.â€
In addition to the updated bathrooms and kitchen, those touring the house saw newly remodeled second floor bedrooms, as well as an entirely redone hall, landing and three-story staircase. Although much of the second story had to be gutted and rebuilt, French and his team were able to salvage the original oak flooring, refinishing it and even adding custom trim and molding to create a seamless transition between the old and new. They also removed a closet, which had been built onto the second-floor landing in front of a window during a remodel in the 1960s, opening up the area. "It used to feel like just a utility hallway, just something functional,†Joe described. "Now it feels like part of the house.†All new handrails were added, and the old carpeted staircase – which he'd noticed had a slight lean and soon discovered was falling apart – was entirely rebuilt, restored to its original length and finished off with new oak treads, made to match the original flooring.
Adjacent to the second floor landing sit the two children's bedrooms, entirely rebuilt much like the hall, down to the unique crown molding, brass door hinges and old-fashioned knobs. Both bedrooms feature ceiling hues selected to be 25 percent as bright as the wall colors, to enhance the impact of the 10-foot-high ceilings. Off to the side of the daughter's bedroom, an original bathroom, completely reworked, takes on new life with old-fashioned marble tiles placed in diagonal panels and a fleur-de-lis border on the floor. An elegant arch was built over the tub to enhance the room's original high ceilings, and open linen cabinets create a simple and classic storage solution. "The coin edge trim on the towel bars and faucets, and the custom built cabinets, are probably my favorite things in the bathrooms,†Jodie remarked. "All of these features contribute to the beautiful design provided by Joe French.â€
Those details are mirrored in a second, new bathroom, built off to the side of the Morgans' son's bedroom where a closet once stood, featuring its own unique marble floor design, a rope highlighted in black. The new bathroom was planned by French and his team with software allowing virtual walkthroughs, a tool that let the Morgans in on the planning while helping the contractor make sure the space was properly utilized.
Beneath the visible updates, all new plumbing, built from the ground up to the third floor, ensures that all the modern fixtures will stay in working order. Alongside new plaster and energy-efficient foam insulation, an updated electrical system has replaced a dangerous, outdated wiring system. "The house still had the old, original 1905 knob-and-tube wiring, the first electric that went in homes,†the Handyman exclaimed, "…some still energized!â€
French's team also replaced the house's multiple window A/C units with a high-velocity, cooling-only central air conditioning system, a feature popular in the northeast U.S., in order to preserve the traditional furnace and boiler heating. Selected for its smaller pipes, the high-velocity system fit perfectly into the remodel of the historic home, as "the smaller ducts mean that you don't tear the home up as much (during installation),†explained French. "It's a lot more flexible than traditional ducts.†On top of it all, a sophisticated sound system permeates the newest rooms in the house, including the downstairs kitchen, allowing a surround-sound experience for enjoying both TV and radio.
Thanks to the surprising removal of a load-bearing wall to open up the closed-off, L-shaped original room, the updated kitchen is the most visibly changed space in the house. The effect was achieved with a strategically-placed hidden support beam. "We actually recessed the beam into the ceiling… so it feels like this has always been one big room,†French revealed. Southern Kitchens provided finishing touches such as a Carrara marble baking center and Verde Lavras granite counter tops, to enhance the GE monogrammed appliances selected by Trend Appliances. Tiling by Louisville Tile was coordinated to complement the clean, white cabinets and sleek counter tops. While everything from sub-floors to drywall had to be replaced in the kitchen, Joe and his team did manage to save the original windows, a feature that the Morgans had hoped to keep. Where the old-fashioned wavy glass had been damaged, newer panes, made to look identical to the originals, were ordered and installed. French's team even used the bars from one of the old windows to fashion a kitchen door with matching panes.
Outside the kitchen by the dining room, an entertaining and wine cabinet area sits in the home's back staircase hallway. The small but pleasant spot is a favorite of Jodie Morgan's, due to the details that make it blend right in with the atmosphere of the house. "The custom-designed cabinets, trough sink, new quarter-sawn dark oak floor and beautiful paint and trim creates a new room in what was otherwise a pass-through area of the house,†she attests. "The room is consistent with our vision to look like an area original to the house.†During the Homes Tour weekend, the Morgans made good use of the space, chilling wine in the bar sink as they entertained friends and even previous owners of the home! The family lived in the home during the remodel process, and also celebrated with the contractors who, now into phase two of the three-stage remodeling project, have worked so hard to make their vision come to life. For Joe French, the project has been hard work, but a pleasure to undertake. "This house has such great character to it… it's got a ton of charm, the rooms are just laid out really fabulously, and great ceilings,†he commented, adding, "and the homeowners really care about the house.â€
Photos By CHRIS HUMPHREYS | The Voice-Tribune


text:
Music, Tech, Deals
Labels: Deals
posted by Steven Moyer at 8:47 AM
<< Home
This is the bargains/hot deals companion of THE TENSION.
The site is affiliated with Amazon.com, Buy.com, and other fine retailers.
Enter your email to subscribe:
Powered by FeedBlitz
Except where otherwise noted, this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
© 2008 Steven Moyer, Some Rights Reserved.


text:
SANTA ANA — Leigh Steinberg's visit to Morton's The Steakhouse at the South Coast Plaza Village was billed as, "Lunch With A Legend."
Steinberg, the renowned sports agent and Daily Pilot columnist, delivered a legendary-type shot while on 710 ESPN Radio with Max Kellerman and Marcellus Wiley Thursday.
Kellerman served up the topic of Frank McCourt to Steinberg and the 62-year-old slam dunked it.
"He needs to go back to Boston," Steinberg said of the infamous Los Angeles Dodgers owner. "Give us our Dodgers back."
The people at the their tables applauded and cheered Steinberg. It was one of several moments Steinberg drew in the crowd and excited them with his words.
Kellerman also asked Steinberg about the NFL making its way back to L.A.
Steinberg is not shy about making predictions. During the recent NFL lockout, Steinberg spent a lot of time telling sports talk radio hosts that the game would return. He told fans not to worry and that the game would return right near the deadline.
Steinberg made another prediction to Kellerman, Wiley, Mark Willard and their listeners.
"Football is coming to Los Angeles," said Steinberg, who was the chairman of Save The Rams before Los Angeles/Anaheim lost its team in 1995.
Steinberg then explained positive reasons why pro football should return to L.A., including new jobs.
"Get ready for some football," Steinberg said.
Throughout the one-hour segment, that was dwindled to about 40 minutes because of commercial breaks, Steinberg talked about his well-known work with the movie "Jerry Maguire." Steinberg also laughed with Kellerman when the radio host reminded Steinberg that Wiley was a client of his.
"Let's talk about how you swindled a team for $16 million," Kellerman said, playfully referring to Wiley, a former NFL defensive player.
Steinberg later responded: "That's easy for you to say that here, when [Wiley] is over there on the phone."
Wiley was not at Morton's live with Kellerman and Willard.
The trio spoke highly of Steinberg during the interview. Kellerman continuously referred to Steinberg as, "super sports agent Leigh Steinberg." Kellerman said the topics and questions weren't arranged before the event, saying it was expected that they would talk about football and the Jerry Maguire movie.
"Leigh is an impressive guy," Kellerman said during a break. "He's a very experienced agent. He can talk intelligently about the building of a stadium, what goes into a facility, what condition it needs to be. And behind the scenes of what's going on. He can talk environmentally. He can talk about the negotiations of a contract. And, then he's just a sports fan. He can talk intelligently about the variety of issues that our listeners want to hear."
In his heyday, Steinberg commanded attention for landing big-money contracts for several NFL players. He had 13 of the league's 30 starting quarterbacks in 1998. He had represented athletes for 37 years. Recently he has spent time working on two books. He has also hit several radio stations, accepting many interviews.
"I took a year off," Steinberg said after the ESPN radio interview. "After 37 years it was just time … I wanted to take a look at life and work on myself. I expect by the next NFL Draft to be active. We have plans for baseball, boxing and other special things."
Steinberg said he plans to advise for sports movies again, and he's been approached to work with a couple reality shows, one being about becoming a sports agent, he said.
Steinberg received a special plaque after the interview. He invited several close friends, including former Rams Vince Ferragamo and Mike Lansford.


text:
Debate fact check: 2nd look at taxes, job gains
In the first presidential debate Wednesday night, President Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney packed their responses with accusations about each other's policies and defenses of their own.
Here are a few claims that deserve a deeper look:
Private-sector job gains
Claim: Obama said the U.S. economy has created 5 million private-sector jobs the past 30 months.
DEBATE: Battle of economic visions
Facts: After the economy plummeted in late 2007 and throughout 2009, the United States has gained 4.6 million private-sector jobs since the labor market bottomed in February 2010 — or 5.1 million under preliminary revisions released last week that are not part of the official tally by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
ANALYSIS: Romney plays strong offense
Still, that's weak by historical standards. Under President George W. Bush, the private sector also added 5 million jobs in the 30 months after employment hit bottom following the 2001 downturn, and the pace of private-sector gains in the previous two recoveries was far stronger.
Tax cuts
Claim: Obama says Romney's tax plan would cut taxes by $5 trillion over 10 years, inflating the deficit.
VIDEO: Obama, Romney get specific on taxes
Facts: Romney has proposed cutting tax rates by 20% in each bracket, which, the liberal Center for Budget and Policy Priorities says would cost $4.9 trillion over 10 years. Romney said his plan will be paid for by curtailing tax deductions, so middle-class people pay less overall and upper-income people don't see lower taxes. Last month in Ohio, Romney said middle-class people would see little change in their taxes under his plan.
Romney has declined to say what tax deductions he would end. The non-partisan Tax Policy Center has contended that middle-class families would see taxes rise about $2,000 a year under Romney's plan if he keeps his promise to make the tax reform revenue-neutral, arguing that it can't be done without ending popular middle-class deductions on mortgage interest and charitable contributions.
The American Enterprise Institute, a conservative-leaning think tank, has said that the gap can be closed by ending tax breaks targeting the wealthy, including tax exemptions for interest on municipal bonds.
Romney said he would not raise taxes and would not approve any tax cut that would expand the deficit. He argued that tax cuts will increase investment, putting more people to work and increasing the taxpaying population.
USA Today Political Editor Paul Singer takes a look at some of the key moments in the first presidential debate to check the facts given by each candidate.
The middle class
Claim: Romney said middle-class families' income is down $4,300 since Obama took office.
INTERACTIVE CHART: Who's up, who's down in the polls
Facts: According to a March 2012 analysis by Maryland-based economic consulting firm Sentier Research, Romney was correct. According to their analysis, based on February 2012 Current Population Data compiled by the U.S. Census, the median household income was $50,065 in February, compared to $54,481 in December 2007 — right before the recession started, and nearly 11 months before Obama was elected.
The current median household income is $50,678.
What Romney didn't say is that the decline in real median household income has been occurring over the course of the past decade, well before Obama took office. The trend has continued under the Obama administration, but it did not start there.
Taxes for the wealthy
Claim: Romney says he wouldn't cut taxes on the wealthy.
Facts: Romney wants to cut personal taxes by 20% for everyone, including the wealthy. He also wants to cut taxes on interest, dividends and capital gains for Americans with adjusted gross income below $200,000.
Obama, however, wants to return taxes to Clinton-era rates for individuals who make more than $200,000 in annual taxable income and families who make more than $250,000 in taxable income. So Romney wants to maintain tax cuts for the wealthy that Obama would eliminate.
Energy independence
Claim: North America can become energy independent under Romney's plan, creating 4 million jobs.
Facts: This is likely to happen anyway, possibly as soon as the end of the decade, Citigroup said in a book-length report earlier this year.
The key factor is not changes in policy, but changes in drilling technology that have let America increase oil production faster than any other nation in the world in the past four years, Citigroup said.
Declining crude oil imports, and more exports of natural gas and refined oil products, could reduce the trade deficit by as much as 40%, adding 1% a year to economic growth, Moody's Analytics estimates. Citgroup estimated that the emergence of the United States and Canada as a "new Middle East" could add 3.6 million jobs.
Medicare cuts
Claim: Romney said Obama's health care law cuts $716 billion from Medicare which will hurt current beneficiaries.
Facts: This has been one of Romney's favorite lines of attack, but his claim that Obama's health care law cuts $716 billion in benefits for current Medicare beneficiaries is not true. The health care law will limit payments to health care providers and insurers — not senior citizens' benefits — as part of an effort to rein in costs over the course of the next decade. Romney and other opponents of the law, however, contend that the payment cuts would affect seniors' benefits as an unintended consequence because they assert doctors will stop accepting Medicare patients and it could force some health care facilities to close.
The law has not yet been fully implemented, so the cuts' effects on beneficiaries are uncertain. But the law as written does not cut benefits for senior citizens. It is also worth noting that Romney's running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., included the same spending cuts in his own 2012 budget blueprint that House Republicans supported with near unanimity.
Clean energy
Claim: Romney said clean energy interests got $90 billion in tax breaks under Obama, and that half of those companies receiving breaks went out of business.
Facts: The president's 2009 stimulus bill included a combination of over $90 billion in spending, financing and tax breaks for clean energy investments, but it's false that half of the companies went broke. Some of the Energy Department's loans went to firms that failed, most notably the solar energy company Solyndra, which cost taxpayers $535 million, but Romney's claim that half of the companies went broke is inaccurate. In a 2011 story, USA TODAY reported that the stocks of many of 45 publicly traded companies receiving stimulus funds had outperformed the stock market, despite Solyndra and other, smaller failures. The money, mostly in loans and loan guarantees, are helping build factories for companies such as Ford, Nissan and Tesla Motor. One beneficiary is health care technology company Athenahealth, whose shares have more than doubled. Its CEO, Jonathan Bush, is a first cousin of President George W. Bush.
Size of government
Claim: Romney said Spain spends 42% of its economy on government and the United States does, too.
Facts: Romney's claim appears to be based on the "Index of Economic Freedom," a compilation of economic statistics put together by the conservative Heritage Foundation in conjunction with the Wall Street Journal. Given that source, Romney's numbers are off, but in the ballpark.
According to the index, Spain spends 45.8% of its gross domestic product on government. That's before severe austerity measures were announced last week in a "crisis" budget that cuts government ministries by 9% across the board. The comparable figure for the United States, according to the index, is 42.2%. But it should be noted that federal spending accounts for only about 24% of the economy, according to the Office of Management and Budget. The remainder, which comes from state and local spending, roughly squares with estimates of government spending by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Rising health care costs
Claim: Health care costs have risen $2,500 per family per year under Obama.
Facts: Partly true, but health care inflation has slowed notably under Obama. Health insurance costs rose 4% last year, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. That rate is far below the 10% to 13% seen in 2003 and 2004. Kaiser says the average employer-sponsored family health insurance policy costs $15,745, compared with $12,680 in 2008. The portion paid by workers, after employers' contributions, rose to $4,316 from $3,354.
"Rates of increase in total health spending have been holding at 4%-6% per year recently," Kaiser CEO Drew Altman wrote Sept. 12. "Per capita spending — which is most analogous to premiums — has been rising about a percentage point below that. These are strikingly low numbers to those of us who have been studying health costs for a long time. A 4% increase in health premiums is good news.''
Health care
Claim: Obama's health care law is "essentially the identical model" of Romney's Massachusetts health care law.
Facts: Romney's Massachusetts health care law served as the policy basis for Obama's health care law, and the two laws include many of the same foundations, such as coverage for pre-existing conditions. An NBC News analysis of White House records show that senior White House officials had at least a dozen meetings in 2009 with health care advisers who also helped shape Romney's 2006 law. Romney's law received significant bipartisan support from Democrats, unlike Obama's which was largely opposed by Republicans. "Like Obamacare, the Massachusetts law includes a mandate that individuals buy private health insurance, and offers subsidies to those who need them."
Tax hikes for the wealthy
Claim: Romney said raising the personal tax rates for the wealthy would kill jobs because many small businesses pay taxes as individuals.
Facts: About 3% of small businesses earn sufficient income to be impacted by higher individual taxes, though many of those are among the most successful who do a lot of hiring and investing, according to Moody's Analytics. Still, Moody's chief economist Mark Zandi says it's stretch to argue that raising the rate would significantly impact small business hiring.
Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff said Silicon Valley entrepreneurs rarely consider tax policy in deciding where to begin companies, saying it's "ridiculous" to assert that changes in capital gains taxes and top tax rates will have a meaningful impact of formation of high-growth start-ups.


text:
Ralph Waldo Emerson, the great essayist, said in a lecture in 1871, "If a man can write a better book or preach a better sermon or make a better mousetrap than his neighbor, even if he builds his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door."
This hasn't always been true — but it will become increasingly true, and so I would urge you to study hard, to burn the midnight oil; I would say to you, don't drop out of school. I understand all the sociological reasons, but I urge you that in spite of your economic plight, in spite of the situation that you're forced to live in — stay in school.
And when you discover what you will be in your life, set out to do it as if God Almighty called you at this particular moment in history to do it. Don't just set out to do a good job. Set out to do such a good job that the living, the dead or the unborn couldn't do it any better.
If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music, sweep streets like Leontyne Price sings before the Metropolitan Opera. Sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well. If you can't be a pine at the top of the hill, be a shrub in the valley. Be be the best little shrub on the side of the hill.
Be a bush if you can't be a tree. If you can't be a highway, just be a trail. If you can't be a sun, be a star. For it isn't by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are.
This speech is pretty incredible. Whatever you decide to be, you have to aim to be the best. Know your outcome. Known what that looks like exactly and take that and run with it. Do it with as much passion as the greats followed their dreams.
Evan Sanders
Join the Dream


text:
This is an open letter to the NCBI BLAST+ team to request two simple enhancements which I think would be extremely useful - first and foremost the option to include BLAST result descriptions in the tabular output. Having the taxonomic identifiers (if available) would be great too - allowing downstream filtering of BLAST results by species etc.
Update: See end of post, BLAST 2.2.28+ added most of these features :)
Bioinformatics lessons learned the hard way, bugs, gripes, and maybe topical paper reviews too...
BLAST+ ignoring search space size for e-values
Sometimes using BLAST is frustrating. Today I'm writing about it returning different expectation values, and therefore different answers, depending on if you use a FASTA subject file, or a database made from that file. I noticed something funny a while ago, but didn't immediately investigate and report it (which I regret). In the continued absence of an official public bug tracker for NCBI BLAST, I'm again going to blog about it here, so people can find it via Google, and email this to the NCBI.
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text: As home to one of the most beautiful places on earth, Banff National Park, Alberta ski resorts should be top of mind for those who crave pristine wilderness and exceptional photo opportunities on their ski vacation. Banff Lake Louise is home to three resorts: Lake Louise, Mt. Norquay and Sunshine Village. Each offers a unique experience and each is tailored to different skiers. The town of Banff offers friendly nightlife and dining and the accommodation options range from affordable digs to five-star, lakefront elegance.


text:
| August 3, 2012, 11:58 am
It happens every year. Just when you think you've had enough wilting from summer's heat comes the offer from Denver Digs Trees: Free trees, offered by The Park People, an organization whose mission is preserving and enhancing Denver's parks, open spaces and urban forest. The group says that the past 20 years of tree distributions have added close to 44,000 trees to Denver's skyline.
This year the program is offering nine species: Northern Catalpa; Turkish Filbert, Goldenraintree, (and yes folks, that tree name is, in fact, all one word) Imperial honeylocust, Green Mountain sugar maple, Cleveland Select flowering pear, Village Green Japanese Zelkova, Eastern redbud and Cornelian Cherry dogwood.


text:
Andrew Barber deals almost exclusively with young men who have come into money. Some are newly rich; some started poor and worked their way to comfortable; and others, arguably his bread and butter, are not wealthy yet but stand to make a chunk of change. Some, he finds, and some come to him.
Actually, the majority come to him — to the small loft that he rents in a renovated Pilsen warehouse. If you're a rapper or music producer and you're in Chicago, you want to know Andrew Barber.
Six years ago, he was a rap-obsessed 20-something from Indiana, selling advertising in Chicago for the FX network, hoping someday to work his way into a record company A&R; job, developing established artists and looking for new sounds. But he had zero contacts in the music business, never mind in the cloistered world of hip-hop. Now, at 32, Barber is editor of Fake Shore Drive, the website he created in 2007 devoted to Chicago rap. Barber is the contact now — one of the most influential a Chicago rapper can make.
On a recent winter day, his friend, the celebrated painter Hebru Brantley, whose studio is on the same warehouse floor, gestured in the direction of Barber's office, which is marked with a large neon Fake Shore sign. "That sign," Brantley said, cracking up, "Andrew and I joke, but it's no exaggeration: You come into this building sometimes, off hours, and no kidding, you'll find a rapper shooting a video in front of that sign, gesturing at it, making sure you know they paid respect. I can't even go near his office now, I just avoid it: Every hot new guy and Johnny-come-lately will be in there, looking to score points."
Chicago producer Young Chop, one of those newly flush young men — whose hard, grimy sound, heard on Chief Keef's best-known records, is synonymous with contemporary Chicago rap — said: "First of all, if you're in Chicago and you're a new (rap) artist, you are looking at Fake Shore. You just have to be! I don't know why I should have to explain why, you know? People get their picture with Andrew's sign, then post it because (expletive) is important. It's how we get some ideas — this site! It's how labels get some ideas!"
At a glance, Fake Shore Drive is basically a music blog, a compendium of local rap news, a smidge of criticism and assorted music videos and lists ("The 30 Best Young Chop Beats of 2012"). But it's also the first place Chicago rappers go to leak new music, send mixtapes and test new beats. While the site has been locally popular for years — as a kind of rallying point for a fragmented scene — the past 12 months have been especially good to Barber: He became MTV's Midwest correspondent. He landed a spot on the regional board for the Grammy Awards. As news about Keef and the burgeoning Chicago rap scene went national — and the site landed more and more promotional events with national brands (Adidas, Mountain Dew, a Fake Shore/Red Bull-sponsored showcase of Chicago rap acts at last month's South by Southwest music festival in Texas) — Fake Shore's readership has steadily climbed, to roughly 500,000 visitors a month.
Then came Barber's list of "10 New Chicago Rappers to Watch Out For," written for Complex magazine and posted to Fake Shore. It came out in February 2012; by December, nine of the 10 rappers were signed to major labels.
"Last year was this perfect storm in Chicago rap," Barber said, "because before, periodically, you'd think, like with Kanye and Lupe (Fiasco), 'Now's Chicago time,' then it would fizzle. Last year, all these guys — Keef, King Louie, Lil Durk, producers like Chop — guys mostly unheard of in 2011, they went huge. I would like to be able to say I was responsible but the truth is, most of them would have been signed without me."
Still, John Monopoly, the Chicago-based manager of King Louie (and former manager of Kanye West), said: "Fake Shore is simply the most influential hip-hop website in the Midwest, and its importance should be kind of hard to downplay at this point." Indeed, Nylo, a Chicago rapper who signed recently to Epic, said: "Because (Fake Shore) was one of the first places to get behind me, I know people found me through them." She's been sampled by Kid Cudi and Mac Miller, both of whom discovered her on Fake Shore, she said. "The site's meant a lot because, simply, Andrew liked my stuff, he posted it without any vested interest, so people started to listen. They report what they like — I see them as the most pure form of rap journalism."
She meant it as a compliment. But Barber doesn't love that word, "journalism."
It carries expectations.
It never quite fits.
"I get asked if I'm a journalist a lot," Barber said, "and I don't really have a solid answer, because what is journalism now? We cover news, we just do it differently." Barber and Ty Howard, Fake Shore's only other employee — the majority of the site's posts come from them — said they see themselves primarily as unabashed fans and "rap nerds," not journalists in the capital "J" sense. And certainly, their posts, even at their most critical, seem more boosterish than opinionated. "But still we hear from artists who assume we have all this journalistic power now," Howard said, "who think we can make them stars, so they want to know why their music isn't on (Fake Shore). They feel entitled, and at the end of the day, we have to like their music."
Naturally, haters abound.
Clark Nelson, who is the creative director for The Shrine concert venue on South Wabash Avenue, is not a hater but not exactly a cheerleader, either: "Fake Shore has got to be positive from an exposure standpoint, but I would ask Andrew, 'Why the radical focus on drill music?' Why so focused on this subset where lyrics are about violence and sound like laundry lists, 'These are the cars I drive, these are the guns I own'?"
Said Alex Fruchter, who, until recently, ran Ruby Hornet, a more alt-rap, Chicago-centric website: "Anyone who dismisses (Fake Shore) is not being honest about its influence, but there are people who despise it, who know people outside of Chicago look to that site and come away thinking Chicago rap is drill music, period."
"On the other hand," he added, "it's rappers and readers who gave this site its power. Andrew, he's a pretty unassuming guy. He — and myself, too — we never claimed to be kingmakers or wield any authority here."
Success, however, changes things.
Barber got into this to be close to hip-hop, and he still seems clearly caught up in the music — in the presence of artists, his professional-casual air turns playful, complimentary, amiable. But Barber said if he's learned anything from hip-hop, it's that a businessman should understand the reach of his brand and its influence. Asked where the Fake Shore brand is headed, he said: "The goal is to transcend blogging, to do different things, work more with corporations like Converse and Red Bull and consult for different artists."
Indeed, one of the ways Barber makes money now is consulting for artists and labels, listening to new tracks and albums and, for a fee, offering advice. Which sounds, of course, like a conflict of interest. Barber said the goal has always been to highlight what is new and popular and, basically, whatever Andrew Barber likes right now. He said his artist consulting has no influence on the content of Fake Shore (some of the artists are not based in Chicago and therefore are not covered by Fake Shore), though he admits that some people, particularly artists, do often regard Fake Shore Drive as promotional.
Certainly record labels aren't confused. Dart Parker, director of A&R; for Eminem-founded Shady Records, said: "I definitely rely on Fake Shore Drive as part of my overall scouting network. I check it out a couple of times a week." And Sickamore, director of A&R; for Def Jam, said: "Andrew is super-credible, and a lot of people, a lot of journalists, can be bought off so cheaply now. But Andrew, he's only talking about what he cares about. Frankly, I'd rather it be (a fan). At least I know it's coming from the right place."
On a late winter morning, Barber and Howard sat behind their desks, scrolling through their computers, waiting for Young Chop, who was coming in to shoot an MTV segment with Barber. The Fake Shore offices are comically spartan: a remarkable Brantley-painted, graffiti-inspired mural along one wall; a talking Master P doll; some rap posters; a plaque certifying Twista sold 500,000 ring tones; and, in a glass case, custom Fake Shore Adidas given to Barber by Adidas after he co-sponsored an event with Common and Derrick Rose. The rest is: Two glass desks with nothing on them but two Apple laptops, two phones and two speakers.
Howard, 23, was hired by Barber because Barber used to ask trivia questions for Fake Shore contests, and Howard, who briefly ran his own (admittedly minor) rap site, always replied first and with precision. "The funny thing is," Howard said, "I got into rap by following Fake Shore. Before that, I was way more into pop."
There was a knock.
"Chop!" Barber yelled.
Young Chop, a mountain of a 19-year-old with a baby face, walked in smiling, breathing lightly.
"Took the stairs?" Barber said.
"Yeah," Chop said, slumping into a chair opposite Howard, who closed his laptop and shook hands.
"Last time we saw each other," Barber said, thinking, "you were with 50 Cent, (Young) Jeezy … You still live here?"
"Doesn't matter."
"Nah, doesn't."
They talk as if they've known each other for years, not just the past 12 months; they talk about label commitments, meeting on Facebook ("One day I'm messaging Chop, next he's on a plane to Los Angeles"), Chop's asking price ($1,000 a beat, on the low end), his Twitter account, Lil Wayne's house.
Chop mentioned having breakfast at Diddy's mansion. "Hey, I had breakfast at his house, too," Barber said. "You at his house in New York or L.A.?"
"Miami," Chop said.
"How crazy is his Miami place!" Barber said.
"Never know who's gonna be there," Chop said.
"When I was there," Barber said, "Fabolous was, like, wading in his pool in leather trunks."
Barber grew up outside Indianapolis. Initially, he wanted to work in radio. But after graduating from Indiana University, he couldn't get hired in radio — couldn't get a reply from record labels, either. "It felt hopeless," he said. So he went into ad sales and started Fake Shore partly to fill the gap in his career that was intended to be about music: "But with a day job, I couldn't post as much, couldn't go to as many shows as I liked," he said. "The first four years (of Fake Shore), I was out really late at shows, getting up really early for meetings. It was a double life: Rap at night, setting up projectors for business clients during the day."
David Drake, a staff writer at Complex, started the nationally focused rap blog We Eat So Many Shrimp a few years earlier than Barber started Fake Shore. "Back then it felt like there were just five of us (rap bloggers)," he said, "then Andrew arrives and smartly sees an opening: Chicago's so weirdly divided in many ways, and such a huge city without a media machine like New York. The rap scene needed some place to orient itself."
At first, without any contacts, Barber simply attended every concert he could make it to and walked up to artists and managers and introduced himself. Steadily, thoughtfully, he ingratiated himself to the rap scene; two years ago, at the urging of his wife, Barber quit his advertising job and took on Fake Shore full time. "I wouldn't call Barber a rap nerd," Monopoly said, "but I would call him a hip-hop historian. The guy knows his stuff." Young Chop — who, again, met Barber on Facebook — said "I think of (Fake Shore) as promotion and journalism in one thing, not only one thing, but definitely promotional for me — it's got to be."
Asked if he's become too close to the scene, Barber said: "You mean, would we call people out? Sometimes, but we're not fans of slander. Shock tactics about people get mean. That's not really our thing. If it's bad, we might say something, but remember we have personal relationships with a lot of the people we are writing about here. Keef? There's nothing you can say about Keef now everyone hasn't already heard."
Tellingly, when a bitter online argument between music critics bubbled up at the end of 2012 accusing certain white critics of cultural tourism (and labeled positive reviews of Keef's often violent new album as irresponsible), Barber largely avoided the melee. Ruby Hornet's Fruchter, who teaches in the Columbia College media management program, said: "There was a sense that people were covering rap as a novelty, that sites like Pitchfork were too busy intellectualizing the music to seem authentic to the people who really care about rap. Andrew, you can't divorce him from his race or background, but can't accuse him of bandwagoning.
"What I want to know is, how much longer?"
Barber has thought about this.
He's married, steeped in a music that skews younger, says he misses the full-album experience, doesn't get out to as many shows as he used to. He doesn't rule out the idea of taking an A&R; job for a record company, should one be offered. But at the moment, what's the point? Once, artists started at small labels and graduated to the majors; now, he says, artists see him as serving the same purpose as an indie — exposure.
After 20 minutes of shop talk with Chop, MTV arrived. The Fake Shore office quickly became crowded, like in a Marx Brothers movie. As Chop and Barber waited for the crew to set up, Chop looked around the office.
"Don't I get a poster?" he asked Barber.
"You never gave me one!" Barber said. "Do you even have promotional items, Chop?"
Chop thought.
"I don't know," he said, and they shook with laughter. "But if I get some," he added, "get me up there, OK?"
firstname.lastname@example.com | Twitter @borrelli


text:
Protests Across Asia Urge Environmental Controls
The rare-earth refinery in Malaysia run by Australia's Lynas Corp. has come under fire by Malaysian demonstrators. The protests are part of a wider effort in Asia to urge more environmental regulation amid rapid growth. WSJ's James Hookway reports.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... the the I HP needed and to St Mary's and court hearings the Sunni seen activists the incentive ... to do from Kuantan gathered at the court has come to the China National capital ... to continue its contents of the launch not far from Kuantan ... of an eight hundred million dollar careers nickel refinery owned by Linus salient ... with that ... I ... this decision ... will be deemed to see you next week's tech contaminate the standing area ... Atlantis is located radiation that planned release into the environment ... is within limits aligned with the International Atomic energy Agency ... the ... protests here ... are part of a growing effort by groups across Asia ... to reach more environmental regulations amid rapid economic growth ... answers that so far has been successful for those in situ in China last July's part in the shutdown of copper smelting complex ... to street protests in me and my that help to nail a massive hydro power project ... rare is used in everything from my phone screens hybrid cars ... whether rare metals and our review likes it ... he usually makes the story of an element that is ... Malaysia's government says the plan can be a boon to the region ... contributing as much as one percent in Liz's TDP ... it would also break China's show called on the rare earth market ... the showdown here in the Lazio ... is telling it to be a contentious one ... government ministers the cold Atlantic sport always material risk closure ... something line that says it already plans to do ... that's not enough and protesters ... the delayed the launch of the refinery buying year ... filings his legal actions against the plant ... even so ... the Centers Corps heating was a disappointment ... it was adjourned to that ruling ... the protesters loss leader said his innings well ... one more case ... against the land supply ... is still


text:
2014 Sweethearts Comedy Soiree to Feature Frances Dilorinzo, Brad Upton & Bahiyyih Mudd!
Don't sweat searching for the perfect gift for your special Valentine this year. We'll help provide a great date night out with all the right touches. Join us Friday, February 14th, at the Red Lion Inn at Columbia Center for "The Sweethearts Comedy Soiree," presented by A-One Refrigeration & Heating and McCurley Integrity Dealerships. The night will be complete with laughs, roses, chocolate, food, drinks (no-host), a photo booth, and most important -- FUN! Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.
Red Lion Inn at Columbia Center
1101 N. Columbia Center Blvd.
Kennewick, WA
- $70 - Couples
- $40 - Singles
Price includes the show, appetizers and a flower from Arlene's Flowers and treat from Frost Me Sweet for the ladies.
Special thanks to our sponsors:
- The Sweethearts Comedy Soiree, Presented by A-One Refrigeration & Heating along with McCurley Integrity Dealerships
- Roses for the Ladies, Provided by Arlene's Floral & Gifts
The Comedians:
Frances Dilorinzo - What began as a mandatory speech class in college, turned into destiny for comedian Frances Dilorinzo. As a freshman, she sat quietly in class. Her instructor encouraged everyone to add humor to his or her speeches. Frances decided to take the risk and everyone laughed at her jokes! From the speech class she was recruited to the college speech team. Frances Dilorinzo became the first to win California's Gold Metal in the Speech to Entertain category two years in a row!
Once college competition came to an end. Frances hit the real world of comedy…the nightclubs in L.A. This was a new world of comedy…instead of contending with judges; she had to deal with drunks and hecklers. Much to her own surprise and pleasure, Frances realized she was not only funny, but she was quick. The audience rarely won when they challenged Frances Dilorinzo in a war of wit.
Dilorinzo's personality and comedy is fun! She combines enthusiasm with sarcasms, and intellect with silliness. Watching her do stand-up is like ordering a Starbuck's Espresso with extra caffeine. As one critic put it, "Frances puts the "fun" in "funny".
Although Frances is all female, her comedy is not for women only. She connects with everyone because she is capable of seeing both male and females points of view. Frances notes, "People are constantly coming up to me and saying, 'I don't usually like female comedians, but I think you're hilarious'. I say, "thanks", because I take it as a compliment.
Shortly after hitting the club circuit, Frances worked her way into television. Her T.V. credits include appearances on Last Comic Standing, Comics Unleashed, Comedy Central, Lifetime, BET, and more. In addition, she has also entertained on USO tours around the world, headlines in Las Vegas and Reno, and has performed for top corporate and college gigs across the country.
Brad Upton - Brad Upton in a past winner of the Las Vegas Comedy Festival and appeared recently at Caesar's Palace as part of the HBO Comedy Festival. Twenty-nine years and 5400 shows have made this Seattle based comic a much sought after performer and earned the respect of his peers.
Writing about everyday life, a long term marriage and anything else that pops into his head, Brad packs more laughs-per-minute into his set than nearly anyone in the business. He has been seen in concert with Johnny Mathis, Kenny Rogers, The Smothers Brothers, Lewis Black, Joan Rivers, Dolly Parton, Rita Rudner and Tim Allen. He is currently touring theaters and performing arts centers with The Masters of Stand Up, a group that includes comedy stars: Jimmy Brogan, Cathy Ladman and Maryellen Hooper. His new CD entitled, "Smart Guy, Stupid World" is heard regularly on XM and Sirius Satellite Radio and is available on iTunes.
His ease and likeability on stage have made him very popular with corporate clients and the cruise ship industry where he is a headline performer for several of the major cruise lines. Brad has headlined nearly every comedy club from Anchorage to Miami but his club appearances are becoming increasingly rare because of his busy schedule. Brad has made numerous television appearances and was heard around the nation for several years as a regular guest on National Public Radio's "REWIND" program. Brad and his wife of 24-years have a 19-year old son and 16-year old daughter....they live in a cul-de-sac.
Bahiyyih Mudd- Bahiyyih is a Stand Up Comedian out of Yakima Washington. Yes I said Yakima Washington. Straight out of Wine Country. She grew up on a small failing alfalfa farm ten miles out of town. She never had toys as a child so over thinking everything and everyone around her has led to her sassy and hilarious sense of humor.
Once diagnosed with social anxiety she has now become one of the most ingenious up and coming comedians of our time. Although she has failed as management material she is the mother of four of the luckiest children in the world. Do not let the idea of motherhood fool you into thinking she is not available to travel for comedy. It is because of the children she will perform just about anywhere on the planet.


text:
For the ricotta filling: Whisk together the ricotta, powdered sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla extract until light and fluffy. Fold in the chocolate and almonds. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 8 hours.
For the blintzes: Whisk together the sugar and eggs until pale. Whisk in the milk and butter. Sift the flour, cocoa powder and salt onto a piece of waxed paper. Add the sifted ingredients to the wet ingredients and whisk until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours.
Heat a skillet over medium heat and melt a little butter. Ladle a scant 1/4 cup batter into the skillet. Tilt to swirl the batter so it covers the bottom of the skillet. Cook on one side until small air bubbles form, the top is set and the bottom is golden brown. When done, carefully loosen the edges of the crepe, flip over and cook for 30 seconds longer. Slip out of the skillet onto a plate. Butter the skillet as needed and repeat until all the batter is used.
Turn each crepe so the golden brown side is up. Place 3 tablespoons ricotta filling in the middle in a 3 by 2-inch-wide mound. Roll once to cover the filling. Fold the sides into the center and continue rolling until completely closed. Repeat with the remaining crepes. You may have leftover filling; don't overfill.
Serve 2 blintzes per plate. Spoon some of the Warm Cherry Sauce over, sprinkle with powdered sugar and garnish with mint sprigs.
Combined the reserved cherry juice, kirsch and enough cold water to measure one total cup of liquid.
Whisk together the sugar and cornstarch in a small saucepan until no lumps remain. Gradually whisk in the cherry juice mixture and cook over high heat until the mixture comes to a boil. Add the cherries and continue cooking until the sauce has thickened, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes, remove from heat and add the lemon juice and almond extract. Serve hot or warm.