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For much of its 72-year existence, HMC Architects, a 375-employee firm headquartered in Ontario, Calif., was known chiefly for its deep roots in Southern California's K-12 education sector, which represented almost two-thirds of its revenues, and the region's healthcare market.
HMC was founded in 1940 by J. Dewey Harnish, FAIA, who was joined in 1952 by Mel Morgan, AIA, and in 1955 by Jack Causey, AIA. In 1960 the firm became known as Harnish, Morgan and Causey. When Harnish retired in 1978, it was renamed HMC Architects.
For the next quarter century, HMC lived quite nicely off its reputation for impeccable service to loyal clients like Kaiser Permanente and dozens of school districts in Southern California. Business was good, and from all appearances, HMC looked to be in the catbird seat.
With the appointment, in 2004, of Randal L. (Randy) Peterson, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, NCARB, REFP, to President/CEO, that rosy perspective was called into question. Then 44 years old, Peterson, who brought a solid reputation in education program planning and design to the top job, feared that the firm's concentrated client mix made HMC vulnerable.
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"In healthcare, we had our eggs pretty much in one basket," says Peterson, an honors graduate in architecture and design from Kansas State who joined HMC in 1994. "Kaiser Permanente has always been a great client, but we needed to diversify to other healthcare providers." A similar worry applied to the K-12 business: How often could HMC keep going back to the same school districts for work?
HMC's lack of geographic diversity also weighed heavily on Peterson. "We'd always been strong in Southern California, but not so in the North," he says. In fact, HMC was practically unknown north of the LA County line. Nor did it have much of a presence in potentially lucrative markets like civic and justice buildings.
One other shortcoming gnawed at Peterson: HMC's lack of recognition nationally for its design capabilities. "We were always known as a service firm, and we wanted to keep those qualities, but we wanted to add a high level of design," he says. This problem was compounded by the firm's organizational structure. Each of its 10 offices operated largely on its own, with no unifying management standards or design ethos.
Upon assuming the leadership eight years ago, Peterson engaged the firm's management team in the development of a five-year strategic plan. The outcome: a commitment to be "One firm. One team. Working together to change the world through design."
That may seem like an impossible goal to try to reach. Based on HMC's experience over the last eight years, however, it's fair to say that this vision has been instrumental in guiding the firm through a remarkable transfiguration, turning it into the third-largest design firm in California, with plans for even greater growth in the future.
Getting to the roots of organizational change
One of the first actions taken under the strategic plan was to change HMC's structure from office-based to practice-based, especially for healthcare and education work. "Being able to put together teams across the firm to deliver projects for our clients has helped pull the firm together," says Peterson. "Working collaboratively firmwide has helped us weather the storm of the economic downturn." While there were some layoffs early in the downturn, staffing levels have recovered, and HMC remained profitable throughout the recession.
Benefits aplenty at HMC Architects
HMC offers a full menu of benefits to its 375 employees:
- Participation in HMC Employee Stock Ownership Plan, which was formed last January; all eligible employees earn a yearly allocation of stock in the ESOP
- "9/8/80 alternative work schedule": one eight-hour day and four nine-hour days in week one, four nine-hour days with one day off in week two (80 total hours over two weeks)
- Two mandatory 10-minute breaks per day
- Up to 128 hours/year of paid time off, increasing with years of service
- Employees may transfer PTO days to fellow employees in critical need; one beneficiary received 564 hours of paid leave from colleagues
- Group medical, dental, and vision insurance; 100% employer-paid short- and long-term disability coverage
- Flexible spending accounts (medical/dental, dependent care, transit)
- Gym facilities and fitness classes at Ontario and San Francisco offices
- Cash bonus for a successful new employee referral: $1,500 for non-exempt position, $2,500 for exempt position
- Scholarships to employees and their children (through in-house charitable foundation)
- $5,000 cash award (in two installments) to newly licensed architects
- Travel fellowships (two winners/year): one week paid time off + $4,000 in expenses
- President's Awards: Up to 20 employees (nominated by peers) honored at the firm's annual Leadership Conference; includes two extra days of paid time off and $1,500 travel stipend
Education accounts for nearly half of HMC's total revenues: 29% for K-12 ($25.4 million in 2011), 18% in university work ($15.9 million), according to BD+C's 2012 Giants 300 Report.
In the schools market, HMC has a rock-solid reputation in providing service to Southern California school districts. "When we get into a client relationship, we strive to meet all their needs," says John S. Nichols, AIA, REFP, LEED AP BD+C, Principal/Pre-K–12 Practice Leader.
HMC's School Advisors, a subsidiary of HMC, provides clients an information pipeline from the state capital in Sacramento on issues of concern to school districts: asset management, master planning, budget cuts, consolidation, and the hot new topic, portfolio management, says Alex Parslow, Senior Vice President of Pre-K–12 Education. A mother of six and former PTA and school board member, Parslow was originally recruited by HMC to join School Advisors.
Another HMC innovation: hiring ex-school officials as consultants or staff. These ex-superintendents help HMC designers "extract" project goals from faculty and staff so that the architects can define the scope of work; once that's in place, they reverse the procedure to help school officials get a firmer grasp of the architectural process and project deliverables.
Nichols says California school districts have to compete for students with what he calls the "rapid emergence" of charter schools. A new law also gives students greater choice in where to go to school, so school districts are fighting to recruit students.
In higher education, four years ago HMC brought Deborah Shepley, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, on board to strengthen its hand in campus master planning. Shepley has worked with more than 40 community colleges in the state. Her presence has led to recent commissions for Palomar College and San Jose Community College.
HMC sees community colleges as a logical extension of its Pre-K–12 practice. "In California, the plan check process for community colleges is the same as it is for Pre-K–12 ," says Kate Diamond, FAIA, LEED AP, Principal, who was hired last year to lead the firm's university and education-focused design teams.
Moreover, the community colleges have been able to shift their funding toward local bond initiatives, rather than relying on the state. "With the crisis in state funding, the community colleges have budgets that are as good or better than the Cal State schools and even the University of California," says Diamond.
Not that HMC intends to ignore the Cal State or UC systems. The firm recently won a competition for a super-green academic building at CSU Monterey Bay. For the UC system, says Diamond, "We want to take our healthcare experience and apply it to the university laboratory market."
Spreading its wings in healthcare
Healthcare accounts for nearly half of HMC annual revenues—$42.7 million in 2011. Patient-centered design is at the core of its healthcare strategy. In 2009, the firm was one of only five nationally to be named a Planetree Visionary Design Firm, signifying leadership in evidence-based design, patient-centered care, and sustainability.
Travel fellowships broaden HMC staffers' horizons
Since 2007, HMC has offered travel fellowships to give two employees a year the opportunity to explore a culture or idea that could benefit their work.
In recent years, Yunnan Allen, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Project Leader, immersed herself in China's musical heritage to understand what she calls "the ephemeral junction between tradition and progress."
Emily Kay, Senior Construction Administrator, apprenticed in a stonemasonry restoration project in Provence, France. David Fennema, Senior Graphic Designer, studied "things that disappear" through his photographs of the demolition of Yankee Stadium, the vestiges of Coney Island, and a cloud forest in central Mexico.
Kaysha Bucher, a 26-year-old Interior Design Coordinator in the Los Angeles office, spent eight days last year in earthquake-ravaged Haiti, working with Schools for the Children of the World, a Colorado-based nonprofit that builds and renovates schools in Third World countries.
She and other volunteers conducted physical assessments of earthquake-damaged schools (see photo, left). She also helped prepare construction documents for two elementary schools and a high school that are now being built by Haitian laborers. "We worked with them on how to do structurally sound concrete block and different ways to do rainwater harvesting," says Bucher.
"I was most inspired by the resilience of the people and how eager they were to meet [non-Haitians] who could bring hope to their country," she says.
The Xref fellowships provide winners a week of paid time off and $4,000 in travel expenses. Winners are chosen by a jury of consultants and current and potential clients; HMC staff input is prohibited. The program administrator, Arturo Levenfeld, AIA, LEED AP, Associate Principal, says this process gives jurors a deeper sense of "what makes us tick." The judging rotates to a different office every year to reach a fresh group of clients, prospects, and consultants.
Kaiser Permanente has been a client for more than 50 years, but now other mega-systems, including Dignity Health, are coming to HMC. "They're asking us to work with them in more of a business partner relationship," says Trisha Clark, LEED AP, Vice President of Strategic Development. "Sometimes we'll give them an option that doesn't lead to a building, but the Dignity people tell us that every dollar they save can go to patient care."
Fast project delivery is a potent weapon of HMC's healthcare armamentarium. "We're delivering projects with any kind of delivery system that's out there," says Jerry Eich, AIA, ACHA, Healthcare Practice Leader. A $150 million, 140-bed hospital for Universal Health Systems of Philadelphia (with DPR Construction and Turner Construction) is using lean construction and prefabrication. "We're coming in at $842 a square foot, 1,450 square feet per bed, and 15 months early. OSHPD is amazed," he says, referring to California's notoriously tough hospital construction oversight agency.
"We see a lot of competitors coming into California, but we're doing the opposite, going out geographically," says Eich. "Kaiser Permanente has a strategy to go national over the next 15 years, and we're going with them."
Seeking a more Northerly exposure
Gaining a foothold in Northern California has been a crucial component of HMC's strategic plan. Although the firm has had offices in San Jose and Sacramento for years, it was not until last year's acquisition of Beverly Prior Architects, a 25-member firm in San Francisco, that HMC was truly able to plant its flag in NoCal soil.
That acquisition significantly expanded the firm's expertise in civic and justice projects. BPA's founder, Beverly Prior, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, NCARB, Principal, is well known in state and local government circles as a tree shaker. Named firmwide Civic and Justice Practice Leader, she has been tasked with leading this activity nationally.
Prior has been busy at the municipal and county level. With DPR Group and Sares Regis, HMC recently won a project to renovate an existing building into an emergency services facility for the Marin County Sheriff's Office. "Design-build is huge in the government market," says Prior. "This is a kind of public-private partnership, with the developer managing the project and the sheriff getting some handle in the choice of design."
Prior says California counties have money to build jails, but hesitate to build them over worries about being able to maintain them. She sees her mission as providing "sustainable justice"—finding ways to build less and do it right, economically, environmentally, and for the community. "I find the economic crisis exciting because it's requiring us to fire on more cylinders," she says.
Sharing the civic-sector responsibility on federal projects is Diamond, who brought extensive experience with the GSA to the firm. A recent coup: Being named one of four Building Teams (with Brooks + Scarpa Architects and McCarthy Construction) shortlisted by the GSA for the $322 million Los Angeles Federal Courthouse.
Fixing a laser-like focus on design excellence
HMC has taken a number of steps to shine a light on its design excellence image, starting with the investment necessary to become a Planetree Visionary Design Firm. It has established a studio, known as HMC ArchLab, under the direction of Pablo La Roche, PhD, LEED AP, Sustainable Design Director, that is devoted exclusively to sustainable design. Since it was formed in 2011, HMC ArchLab has devoted thousands of hours of staff time to support research on sustainable strategies and evidence-based design in the built environment.
Foundation tightens HMC's bonds with local communities
Founded in 2009 with an initial endowment of $1.9 million, HMC's nonprofit Designing Futures Foundation (DFF) has donated about $230,000 in its three years of existence, including $105,000 in scholarships to California students. The grants help promising high schoolers with an interest in architecture, design, engineering, education, or healthcare pay for expenses like test preparation services, computers, and college entrance exam fees and tuition. The scholarships can be extended for up to five years of college.
To read more, click here. +
The firm has also been aggressive in acquiring top designers like Prior, Diamond, and, most recently, Charles Dilworth, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, as Principal and Regional Director of Design. "In the course of our discussions, Randy made it very clear to me that his agenda was to build up the HMC design identity," says Dilworth. "I wanted to get on this winning horse."
In less than a year, Dilworth has launched a three-pronged campaign to raise the level of design at HMC. First, he has been holding monthly "design roundups" via video telecon, where the five more northerly offices—Fresno, Reno (Nev.), Sacramento, San Francisco, and San Jose—present their current work. Dilworth does not hesitate to say that at times these critiques have been quite frank.
Dilworth's second initiative has been to be what he calls "an advocate for design" at HMC: "I look at every project and ask, 'Can we push for design here? Can we make this project worthy of an award?'"
Finally, Dilworth has been nudging HMC out of its comfort zone. "The San Francisco office is kind of a startup, so we want to pursue projects that are just outside our wheelhouse." Pressured by intense competition from other firms, says Dilworth, "We have to put a lot of work into a project even before we get the interview. You can't just go in to an interview with ideas alone. You have to go in with sophisticated design work and solutions."
Peterson says he sees HMC becoming a "national presence." He does not hesitate to say that further acquisitions are well within the realm of possibility. He's also looking to widen the firm's client base, especially among mega-healthcare systems like Universal Health Services, Banner Health, and Dignity Health—major players with plans to expand nationally and whose coattails HMC hopes to ride.
Click here to learn more about career development, workplace environment programs key to retention at HMC Architects
At the global scale, the firm recently won its first international competition, the 2,000-bed First People's Hospital in the Shunde District of China, a new city being built southwest of Hong Kong. The 2.8 million-sf hospital was the recipient of the 2011 AIA Academy of Architecture for Health Unbuilt Award. HMC is also designing a 250,000-sf campus in Santiago, Chile, for Duoc UC, a division of the Catholic University of Chile.
Managing for tomorrow
To more effectively manage its ambitious strategy, in July HMC created a dual-leadership structure, elevating Brian Staton, Assoc. AIA, a 20-year veteran of the firm and Regional Manager of HMC's SoCal offices, to CEO, with Peterson retaining the presidency. He will focus on overall strategic direction and lead design and business development, while Staton will be responsible for day-to-day operations and project execution.
Today, HMC Architects is the third-largest architecture firm in California (after AECOM and Gensler), the number two healthcare design firm in the state (after SmithGroupJJR), and the overall leader in education in California. It is the eighth-largest U.S. architecture firm (2011 revenues: $87.97 million), according to BD+C's Giants 300 rankings.
But that's not enough for Peterson. "We want to grow, both within our markets and within the profession," he says. "We want to be a better design partner for our clients, and be recognized nationally as a leader in our markets and in our industry."
A commitment to its staff and to the communities and markets it serves, and a passion for design—these are among the qualities that make HMC Architects one of Building Design+Construction's "Best AEC Firms to Work For."


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LOS ANGELES – Prosecutors have charged a man arrested outside Halle Berry's home with felony stalking.
Richard Franco remains jailed and is expected to appear for arraignment in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom Wednesday.
He was arrested late Monday after investigators say off-duty police officers saw him jump the wall of Berry's Hollywood Hills home. Authorities say it was the third time he'd been spotted trespassing on the property since Saturday.
The 27-year-old faces up to three years in prison if convicted of stalking. Jail records do not indicate if he has an attorney.
The Oscar-winning actress obtained a civil restraining order against Franco on Tuesday, saying she was "extremely frightened" of him. The order remains in effect until Aug. 1 and also protects Berry's 3-year-old daughter.

subset: commoncrawl


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What is this space all about? It's where we collect and ruminate on ideas for improving Clojure, ClojureScript, contrib libraries, and infrastructure.
- We collect ideas, thoughts, and designs in the Idea Hammock area.
- Clojure/core determines focus areas for the next release in Release.Next Planning.
- Completed or rejected ideas go in the Release Planning area.


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Jurors start deliberations in Florida attorney's trial in charity gambling ring case
SANFORD, Fla. – Six jurors have started deliberating whether a Florida attorney is guilty of any crime for helping build what prosecutors say was a multimillion-dollar network of storefront casinos under the guise of a veterans' charity.
The jurors headed to the deliberation room shortly before lunchtime Thursday.
They must decide whether attorney Kelly Mathis is guilty of any of the 104 counts he faces, including racketeering, conspiracy, helping run a lottery and possessing slot machines
Mathis is the first of 57 defendants to go on trial in the Allied Veterans case that led to the resignation of Florida's lieutenant governor and a ban on all Internet cafes in the state earlier this year.
He says he did nothing wrong.


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Deputy Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner announced that 110 watersheds, with at least one in all 50 states, Guam and Puerto Rico, will be eligible for the 2006 Conservation Security Program.
"This voluntary program recognizes farmers and ranchers for their ongoing stewardship activities on working agricultural lands," said Conner. "Natural resource conservation efforts by America's producers benefit everyone through healthier soil, cleaner air and water and improved fish and wildlife habitat.
"CSP successfully demonstrates a cooperative public-private conservation partnership."
Conner made the announcement in Alaska prior to the 10th in a series of USDA farm bill forums being held across the country by Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, Conner and other USDA officials.
The sign-up period will take place early in fiscal 2006. These watersheds represent more than 120,000 of the nation's potentially eligible farms and ranches, covering more than 46 million acres that are evenly split between cropland and grazing land.
USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service held the first CSP sign-up in 2004. The latest announcement brings the number of watersheds enrolled to 330 across the nation, covering 250 million acres that have been eligible for the program.
The 2006 CSP will include a renewable energy component. Eligible producers will receive compensation for converting to renewable energy fuels such as bio-diesel and ethanol, for recycling 100 percent of on-farm lubricants, and for implementing energy production, including wind, solar, geothermal and methane production.
A sign-up announcement to be published will detail specific program requirements in the watersheds. The program will be offered each year on a rotational basis in as many watersheds as funding allows.
Additional information on CSP, including a map of the fiscal 2006 watersheds and eligibility requirements, is on the Web at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp.


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Amethyst lover
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz often used in jewelry. The name comes from the Ancient Greek ἀ a- ("not") and μέθυστος methustos ("intoxicated"), a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness; the ancient Greeks and Romans wore amethyst and made drinking vessels of it in the belief that it would prevent intoxication. Amethyst is the traditional birthstone for February.
Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz (SiO2), containing an impurity of iron, which gives the violet color to the mineral.
Hue and tone
Amethyst occurs in primary hues from a light pinkish violet to a deep purple. Amethyst may exhibit one or both secondary hues, red and blue. The ideal grade is called "Deep Siberian" and has a primary purple hue of around 75–80%, 15–20% blue and (depending on the light source) red secondary hues. Green quartz is sometimes incorrectly called green amethyst, which is an actual misnomer and not an acceptable name for the material, the proper terminology being prasiolite. It is actually against FTC Guidelines to call prasiolite green amethyst. Other names for green quartz are vermarine, greened amethyst, or lime citrine.
Of very variable intensity, the color of amethyst is often laid out in stripes parallel to the final faces of the crystal. One aspect in the art of lapidary involves the correct cutting to place the color correctly in order to make the tone of the cut stones homogeneous.
Amethyst was used as a gemstone by the ancient Egyptians and was largely employed in antiquity for intaglio engraved gems.
The Greeks believed amethyst gems could prevent intoxication, while medieval European soldiers wore amethyst amulets as protection in battle – the reason for this being that amethysts are believed to heal people and keep them cool-headed. Beads of amethyst were found in Anglo-Saxon graves in England.
A large geode, or "amethyst-grotto", from near Santa Cruz in southern Brazil was presented at the 1902 exhibition in Düsseldorf, Germany.
In the 19th century, the color of amethyst was attributed to the presence of manganese.
Synthetic amethyst
Synthetic amethyst is thus man-made by gamma-ray, x-ray or electron beam irradiation of clear quartz which has been first doped with ferric impurities. On exposure to heat, the irradiation effects can be partially cancelled and amethyst generally becomes yellow or even green, and much of the citrine, cairngorm, or yellow quartz of jewelry is said to be merely "burnt amethyst".
Synthetic amethyst is made to imitate the best quality amethyst. There is one test based on "Brazil law twinning" (a form of quartz twinning where right and left hand quartz structures are combined in a single crystal) which can be used to identify synthetic amethyst rather easily.
In Greek mythology, Dionysus, the god of intoxication, and of wine, was pursuing a maiden named Amethystos, who refused his affections. Amethystos prayed to the gods to remain chaste, a prayer which the goddess Artemis answered, transforming her into a white stone. Humbled by Amethystos's desire to remain chaste, Dionysus poured wine over the stone as an offering, dyeing the crystals purple.
The mortal turned out to be a beautiful young woman, Amethystos, who was on her way to pay tribute to Artemis. Dionysus wept tears of wine in remorse for his action at the sight of the beautiful statue. The god's tears then stained the quartz purple. Another variation involves the titan Rhea presenting Dionysus with the amethyst stone to preserve the wine-drinker's sanity.
Geographic distribution
Amethyst is produced in abundance from the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil where it occurs in large geodes within volcanic rocks. Many of the hollow agates of southwestern Brazil and Uruguay contain a crop of amethyst crystals in the interior. Artigas, Uruguay and neighboring Brazilian state Rio Grande do Sul are large world producers exceeding in quantity Minas Gerais, as well as Mato Grosso, Espirito Santo, Bahia, and Ceará states, all amethyst producers of importance in Brazil.
The largest opencast amethyst vein in the world is in Maissau, Lower Austria. Many localities in south India yield amethyst. One of the largest global amethyst producers is Zambia in southern Africa with an annual production of about 1000 tonnes.
Amethyst occurs at many localities in the United States. Among these may be mentioned: the Mazatzal Mountain region in Gila and Maricopa Counties, Arizona; Red Feather Lakes, near Ft Collins, Colorado; Amethyst Mountain, Texas; Yellowstone National Park; Delaware County, Pennsylvania; Haywood County, North Carolina; Deer Hill and Stow, Maine and in the Lake Superior region of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ontario in Canada. Amethyst is relatively common in Ontario, and in various locations throughout Nova Scotia. The largest amethyst mine in North America is located in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Up until the 18th century, amethyst was included in the cardinal, or most valuable, gemstones (along with diamond, sapphire, ruby, and emerald). Collectors look for depth of color, possibly with red flashes if cut conventionally.The highest grade amethyst (called "Deep Russian") is exceptionally rare and therefore, when one is found, its value is dependent on the demand of collectors. It is, however, still orders of magnitude lower than the highest grade sapphires or rubies (padparadscha sapphire or "pigeon's blood" ruby).
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lincroft, NJ
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The Game Video Blog 2 In Spain! (Clowns On Jay-Z & Gets Fans To Go In On Jigga)
Day 2 Game Blog on World Tour
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On the incorporation of model selection uncertainty into prognostic models for survival data
Search Medline for
|September 8, 2005
Predictions of disease outcome in prognostic models are usually based on a single selected model. However, often several models fit data equally well, but these models might differ substantially in terms of included explanatory variables and might lead to different predictions for individual patients. Ignoring the uncertainty caused by the model selection process results in the underestimation of the variance of a predictor, which is obtained by a single model.
Subject and methods
For survival data, we discuss two approaches to account for model selection uncertainty, with the main emphasis on variable selection in a Cox model. The approaches are based on Bayesian model averaging [Ref. 1] and bootstrap model averaging [Ref. 2], respectively. In data examples, we compare predictions of the approaches and discuss issues of interpretation and practical utility.
The approach based on the bootstrap eliminates variables hardly supported by the data. It gives results which are easier to interpret and which have a higher practical utility.
The bootstrap model averaging approach has several advantages for practical use. For both model averaging approaches simulation studies are required to get further insight into the properties.
- 1.
- Volinsky CT, Madigan D, Raftery AE, Kronmal RA. Bayesian model averaging in proportional hazard models: Assessing the risk of a stroke. JRSS Series C 1997; 46: 433-48
- 2.
- Augustin N, Sauerbrei W, Schumacher M. The practical utility of incorporating model selection uncertainty into prognostic models for survival data. Statistical Modelling 2005, in press.


text: On Fri, 30 Aug 2002, Tom A Krewson wrote: > Does anyone know of a good objective benchmark for Linux clusters running > MPI? I have tried Linpack but failed to get the results I need. It seems > to need tuning for each cluster which is makes it hard to be objective > with reguards to its results. I also have used llcbench and have gotten > some nifty graphs but nothing to compare what I have in my cluster > objectively to other clusters. > > How can I tell how well I am building the cluster if I don't have > comparative benchmarks to go by? > > Any help is appreciated. > HPL, as someone else mentioned is nice. Total flops are nice, but Rmax/Rpeak is something i always look at, to see what percentage of the potential we're actually getting... Pallas PMB - http://www.pallas.com/e/products/pmb/index.htm To be honest, i've never really used this as a 'benchmark', but include it in tests to validate a clusters operation. Gromacs - http://www.gromacs.com/ Not something i use, but does provide some numbers for comparison. Your best test, is going to be the application that you plan to use on the cluster... -- Rocky McGaugh Atipa Technologies rocky at atipatechnologies.com rmcgaugh at atipa.com 1-785-841-9513 x3110 http://1087800222/ perl -e 'print unpack(u, ".=W=W+F%T:7\!A+F-O;0H`");'


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Chevron (NYSE:CVX) said Friday its first-quarter earnings slipped 4.5% amid falling oil prices.
Continue Reading Below
Oil and gas companies like Chevron, Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) and ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) have put greater attention on oil production, as the combination of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling has led to a boom in U.S. production and a decline in prices.
Chevron, the second-largest U.S. oil company behind Exxon, reported U.S. daily oil production that remained level year-over-year at 455,000 barrels a day. International production fell 2.5% to 1.3 million barrels a day.
The company reported a profit of $6.18 billion, or $3.18 on a per-share basis, beatings Wall Street's view of $3.08 a share. Chevron had a year-ago profit of $6.47 billion, or $3.27 a share. The latest quarter included net charges of $439 million, down from $504 million.
Revenue fell 6.4% to $56.82 billion, falling short of estimates for $67.73 billion.
Operating margin fell to 18.1% from 19.9%.
Natural gas showed improved performance. The company sold nearly 10.6 billion cubic feet of gas a day in the first quarter, up 3.2%, while it said U.S. natural gas prices rose 25%.
Exploration and production earnings declined 4.1% to $5.92 billion overall, while total oil and natural gas production ticked up 0.8%.
Shares of Chevron rose 1.2% to $119.95 in late-morning trading.


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Visit our main website at www.StDavids.com
Ricker Polsdorfer, MD
Renal artery stenosis a narrowing of one or both of the main arteries supplying the kidney. This causes a decrease in blood flow to one or both kidneys. The kidneys filter and remove waste from the blood.
Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.
Each kidney is capable of regulating the body's blood pressure to assure that each organ has an adequate supply of oxygenated blood. Stenosis activates a cascade of hormones known as the renin-angiotensin system. This pattern increases blood pressure. High blood pressure is a leading cause of
heart attack.
The two most common causes of renal artery stenosis are:
Factors that may increase your chance of renal artery stenosis include:
Most people with renal artery stenosis have no symptoms. In those that have them, symptoms may include:
If both renal arteries are blocked, kidney failure occurs.
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. If you have elevated blood pressure, a search for its cause can involve many different tests. Unless there is a specific reason to suspect renal artery stenosis, it may not be considered at first.
Tests may include:
Imaging tests evaluate the kidneys. These may be done with:
Your heart's electrical activity may be measured. This can be done with an
electrocardiogram (EKG).
Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. If there is significant stenosis and you are healthy, repairing the renal artery may be considered before medical treatment. Treatment options include:
Standard treatment for high blood pressure may be enough if blood pressure can be controlled and the kidneys are functioning well enough. There are many medications that lower blood pressure. You may need several to achieve adequate control. These medications are effective in people who have one blocked renal artery. ACE inhibitors should not be used if hypertension is caused by renal artery stenosis of both kidneys.
A thin tube is threaded into the renal artery from a puncture in your groin. The tube includes a balloon, laser, or other device that will open the narrowed artery.
If angioplasty cannot be done on the artery, a surgeon may decide to repair the condition through an incision in your abdomen.
Nephrectomy is an option if the affected kidney has been so damaged that it no longer works, but still causes high blood pressure. Nephrectomy is a procedure to remove part or all of the kidney.
Renal artery stenosis is an unusual cause of hypertension, but an important one because it is curable.
The best way to detect hypertension is to have routine blood pressure measurements.
You can also prevent atherosclerosis by exercising regularly, eating a heart healthy diet, quitting smoking, and drinking less alcohol.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Kidney Foundation
Health Canada
Kidney Foundation of Canada
Balk E, Raman G, Chung M, et al. Effectiveness of management strategies for renal artery stenosis: A systematic review.
Ann Intern Med. 2006;145(12):901-912.
Krumme B, Donauer J. Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis and reconstruction.
Kidney Int. 2006;70(9):1543-1547.
Renal artery stenosis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed. Updated May 14, 2013. Accessed July 16, 2013.
Zeller T. Renal artery stenosis: Epidemiology, clinical manifestation, and percutaneous endovascular therapy.
J Interv Cardiol. 2005;18(6):497-506.
Last reviewed May 2015 by Adrienne Carmack, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © EBSCO Publishing. All rights reserved.
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Israel News - Stay Informed, Pray Informed
Israeli warplanes bombed military targets in Syria early Wednesday morning, hours after four IDF soldiers were wounded, one seriously, by a roadside bomb planted along the Israel-Syria border.
Among the targets hit by Israel were a Syrian army training camp, headquarters facility and artillery batteries. Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said that the targets had all "aided and abetted" in the border bombing.
Late Tuesday afternoon, an Israeli army patrol was reportedly lured by suspicious figures into the no-man's land between the Israeli security fence and the Syrian border. A well-hidden bomb was then detonated, wounding four members of the patrol.
The victims were quickly evacuated before they could be further targeted (pictured).
Lebanon's Hezbollah terrorist militia later announced on its Al-Manar TV that the attack was an attempt to abduct one or more Israeli soldiers. Hezbollah has successfully abducted Israeli soldiers in the past, and exchanged them, both dead and alive, for jailed Arab terrorists.
Hezbollah currently has thousands of fighters taking part in the Syrian civil war on the side of embattled dictator Bashar Assad.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Israel's enemies to not escalate the situation further. "Our policy is very clear. We strike those who strike us," he said. "From time to time it is necessary to take aggressive action, as we are doing now, to ensure that the quiet continues."
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Single Wafer Cleaning Solution for 3D-IC/TSV, Advanced Packaging, MEMS and Compound Semiconductor Applications
CoatsClean™ combines process, equipment and formulation technology to deliver innovative, low cost-of-ownership approach to single-wafer photoresist and residue removal
EV Group (EVG), a leading supplier of wafer bonding and lithography equipment, and Dynaloy, LLC, an international manufacturer of chemicals for the electronics industry and wholly owned subsidiary of Eastman Chemical Company, today introduced CoatsClean - an innovative single-wafer photoresist and residue removal technology designed to address thick films and difficult-to-remove material layers for the 3D-IC/through-silicon via (TSV), advanced packaging, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and compound semiconductor markets. CoatsClean provides a complete wafer cleaning solution that offers significant efficiency, performance and cost-of-ownership (CoO) advantages compared to traditional resist stripping and post-etch residue removal methods.
"Increasing wafer processing challenges associated with the adoption of new materials, device architectures and packaging schemes requires a new, holistic view of wafer cleaning, where the chemistry, process and equipment are all critically important and must be addressed in combination," stated Steven Dwyer, business director at Dynaloy. "We're pleased to be working with EV Group on developing and commercializing CoatsClean technology to meet the needs of our customers for a more cost-effective, flexible approach to thick-film resist removal."
CoatsClean incorporates a number of key features to boost performance and productivity, as well as reduce CoO compared to wet bench and other traditional wafer cleaning approaches. The CoatsClean™ process and chemical formulation are engineered to perform at higher temperatures, resulting in faster stripping rates and cycle times. This enables CoatsClean to operate as a single-wafer process for thick resist films and difficult-to-remove resists - resulting in improved performance, consistency, reproducibility and repeatability. The engineered formulation also enables selective stripping of the resist.
CoatsClean is also unique in its ability to dispense a small amount of material on the top of the wafer, and then activate the material with direct heat. This direct utilization of the material and heat dramatically reduces the strip material used. CoatsClean uses fresh solution for each processed wafer compared to competing techniques that use an immersion bath, recycled single wafer spray, or recycled batch spray technology - resulting in greater process efficiency and eliminating cross contamination. The highly selective application of resist strip material eliminates damage to the wafer backside. The entire CoatsClean process is performed in a single bowl, which reduces tool footprint.
"CoatsClean applies the right chemistry at the right process conditions to provide optimal cleaning results," stated Paul Lindner, EV Group's executive technology director. "By combining our respective strengths, EV Group and Dynaloy can now offer our customers a complete wafer cleaning solution that significantly reduces their CoO and achieves superior performance."
The CoatsClean tool series, which includes EV Group's EVG® 301RS and EVG® 320 RS XT platforms, leverage EV Group's core competencies in controlled dispense, heating and temperature control, fluid rinse and wafer handling technologies. The EVG® 301RS system targets research and development, as well as low-volume production on substrates up to 300 mm in diameter, while the EVG® 320RS XT features up to eight process modules to address high-volume production requirements on substrates up to 300 mm in diameter. The systems are highly modular in design to allow for a wide range of configurations and combinations of chemicals.
EV Group will be responsible for selling the CoatsClean systems and providing customer support, while Dynaloy will be responsible for selling the CoatsClean resist stripping materials. CoatsClean systems have already been installed for customer demonstrations, and EVG and Dynaloy are now accepting orders for the systems and resist stripping materials.
CoatsClean™ Technology Features and Benefits:
Click to open the CoatsClean Flyer "EVG®320RS with CoatsClean™ Technology"
Click to read the article "Removing Barriers to All-Wet Single-Wafer Cleans in Packaging-Related Applications"
Chart: CoatsClean uses up to 80% less chemical solution per wafer.Click to enlarge
EV Group Partners with NSI to Enable First Wafer-Level Heterogeneous Integration of GaAs on Silicon for RF Front-End Module Manufacturing
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A new survey on retirement saving suggests that too many younger Americans are relying either on wishful thinking or blind faith. There is a difference between the two, though they both lead down the same path.
Continue Reading Below
A T. Rowe Price survey of investors between the age of 21 and 50 showed that most at least recognize the need to save for retirement. However, most are not taking adequate measures to finance a secure retirement.
Saving without a plan
The good news is that among the investors surveyed, 92 percent who can contribute to a 401(k) plan are doing so. However, here is where the wishful thinking and blind faith come in:
- Wishful thinking. Sixty-eight percent of respondents are contributing less than 10 percent to their 401(k) plans. Thinking you can fund 20 or so years of retirement on less than 10 percent of your income is unrealistic.
- Blind faith. Twenty-nine percent aren't even sure how much they are saving for retirement. Not knowing where you are going but still expecting to get there is a poor strategy.
Remember, this was a survey of investors, so at least they have a leg up on people with no investments. The average American is probably even less prepared for retirement.
Essential ingredients for adequate retirement planning
The alternative to relying on wishful thinking and blind faith is to have a sufficient retirement plan. While there are many details involved in financial planning, these three ingredients are essential to creating an adequate blueprint:
- Don't generalize. T. Rowe Price suggests that people should save 15 to 20 percent of their annual income toward retirement. Those are reasonable estimates to help give people who are just getting started something to shoot for, but ultimately there are too many personal variables for that kind of generalization to work as the basis for a retirement plan. You won't find the right savings target for your situation unless you run some detailed calculations that show how you get from where you are today to where you need to be.
- Make conservative assumptions.With global growth slowing, bond yields below 2 percent and rates on savings accounts below 1 percent, you need to use much more conservative return assumptions for stocks, bonds and cash equivalents than in the past. Oh, and don't forget to factor in inflation, so you won't be trying to pay for a retirement at future prices in today's dollars.
- Adjust annually. A financial plan involves projecting several uncertain variables over a very long period of time -- in other words, it is far from an exact science. Once a year you need to check where you are relative to your plan, and adjust your savings accordingly.
The T. Rowe Price survey is a valuable reminder that even people who have started saving for retirement could still be doing a few things better to prepare for the future. As for people who haven't even started to save, well, they could be doing everything better.
The original article can be found at Money-Rates.com:Retirement survey reveals wishful thinking, blind faith


text: Serving San Diego County's diverse community is a principal mission of San Diego State University. As part of our rich history of community engagement and social justice, there are numerous organizations our students, faculty, staff and alumni contribute to on a regular basis. Service programs on campus and throughout the area help communities in the local region to thrive.


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Charlie Strong Staying as Louisville Cardinals Football Coach
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Charlie Strong is staying at Louisville. The football coach says Thursday he's turned down an offer from Tennessee and will stay with the Cardinals.
Strong's decision followed several days of media speculation about his future.
Though coaching Tennessee would have helped Strong realize a dream of coaching in the Southeastern Conference, he decided to stay at the school that gave him his first head coaching job. Strong is 24-14 in three seasons at Louisville.
The No. 22 Cardinals (10-2) won a share of the Big East Conference championship and a BCS berth in the Sugar Bowl, where they'll face Florida.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Material may not be redistributed.


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Welcome to the newly launched Academies Commission – set up by the RSA and the Pearson Think Tank to examine the implications of the 'mass academisation' of state schools and the impact this might have on educational outcomes.
Sponsored by the Cooperative and CfBT Education Trust, the Academies Commission follows a rapid increase in the number of schools converting to academy status with numbers swelling from 200 to 2,619 since the coalition government came to power.
The commission is chaired by former Chief-Inspector of Schools Christine Gilbert who is joined by two other commissioners – Brett Wigdortz (CEO of Teach First) and Professor Chris Husbands (Director of the Institute of Education). The Academies Commission will shortly announce its formal remit, and engage with a wide range of stakeholders to develop a practical but compelling vision for the future of UK academisation. In the meantime – please do get in touch and keep an eye out for future events and publications.
If you missed the live streaming of our report launch event at the RSA, you can now watch the edited highlights or listen to the full recording (including audience Q&A) from the RSA Events page. The electronic copy of our report and press coverage could be found on our Publications and Press page.
The Academies Commission Report, 'Unleashing Greatness: Getting the best from an academised system', is now available. The Report's launch is marked by a keynote event at the RSA, with a speech from Commission Chair Christine Gilbert, and responses from the OECD's Andreas Schleicher and headteachers Dr Vanessa Ogden and David Carter.
Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are compounds that imitate the effects of testosterone on the body. The anabolic part of the name describes the building of muscles whilst androgenic refers to the increase of male characteristics. This is why they can often have the effect of increasing male gender related traits such as acne, hair growth on the chest, back and face and deepening of the vocal chords. When this occurs in women it is known as virilization. A drug is defined as 'a medicine or other substance which has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body'. They can be used recreationally, which is the normal use when it comes to steroids, or medically to treat health conditions. Usually, medical steroids are used to treat hormone conditions such as low testosterone but are also used for anemia, muscle wasting diseases, and osteoporosis. Steroids are often called gear, roids, juice, and stackers by young people.
What is steroid abuse?
Unfortunately, the definition of steroid abuse is unclear. Compared to mental issues such as alcohol abuse steroid abuse is a quite hard to spot. It's becoming increasingly harder to tell who's on steroids and who isn't. For example, steroids don't affect your mentality like drugs and alcohol which makes abuse of those substances more obvious. Occasionally you may hear of 'roid rage' but there's no actual evidence to support that this is a real phenomenon. Quite the contrary, actually. Most evidence supports that roid rage is non-existent. As well as this, the amount of people using steroids is increasing as well as the amount they use. When the amount of steroids a professional bodybuilder uses is examined you may think it's a lot but to them and those around them, it's fairly normal.
What does the law say?
The US and the UK law clearly states in the Steroid Control Acts that anabolic androgenic steroids are a Schedule III classified controlled substance. The US is the strictest country when it comes to steroids. Any use of steroids like Dianabol, Stanozolol or Anavar cycle for performance enhance is seen as steroid abuse. The only legal time when you can take steroids is when they are issued by a doctor. This is because overuse of these drugs can cause serious harm to the body. Prescription steroids are only given if the individual is in dire need of them. If steroids are not used to treat a medical condition then it is often referred to as steroid abuse. They are frequently used to increase the performance of athletes and aesthetics of in men or women which are when they become an issue as they are not regulated.
What are the signs of steroid abuse?
As previously stated, steroid abuse can be tricky to spot as it doesn't affect the mind. Dramatic body transformations can be an obvious sign but normally people don't take notice. Different steroids also affect the body in different ways which make spotting the signs even harder. Some will simply maintain musculoskeletal muscle, others will aid in fat loss and others will build muscle. The individual's genetic response will determine the overall effects. Genetics come into play more so than most people think alongside training routine and diet. Use of steroids may lead to very serious health problems and it is important to educate young people about dangers of steroids use.


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UK residents: the iPlayer beta is here. As it announced last month, the BBC launched a large-scale beta of its iPlayer catch-up software today. For such a compelling product, the iPlayer has certainly been dogged by its share of controversy; 12,000 people have already signed an e-petition to 10 Downing Street over the iPlayer's tie-in with Windows.
And it's not even tied to all versions of Windows. It only works, in fact, with Windows XP, leaving our own Peter Bright to punch the wall in impotent rage after making the switch to Vista some time ago. As for Linux and the Mac, both are right out—although the BBC says that a Mac-compatible version is coming this fall.
The BBC has been trying for months to mend fences over the public perception that it is endorsing Windows by meeting with open-source advocates and promising to roll out cross-platform versions of the software as soon as possible.
Those who do have XP can sign up for the beta and hope to receive an invite in the next several days. Invitations are limited, but the BBC will gradually expand the numbers over the next few months until the official launch later this year. Television shows can be downloaded freely up to seven days after they originally air and can be stored for up to a month. Once a user begins to watch a program, he or she has seven days to finish watching. When the time period is up, DRM ensures that the programs go poof in order to protect future revenue streams for the shows' rights-holders.
Channel 4 already runs a similar service called 4oD (which also works only on XP) that allows users to catch up on shows from the last seven days or pay to access older material from the archives.


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'Mad Men' recap: Whose 'Waterloo' was it, anyway? (UPDATED)
Dear Marisa,
Don't know about you, but I'm glad we're taking a break. The story is moving too slowly for me and it's getting frustrating. I mean, why did they throw that whole Sally story arc in last night? To show she's turning into her mother?
And didn't they hit us over the head with the whole "we are a community" because we all watched the same event on television? Although millions did watch Armstrong walk on the moon, I don't think that kind of viewing was new. Didn't everyone watch the Kennedys' funerals together?
At first I thought we were going for the Everyone-Has-Lost-Something theme:
Roger feels like a loser and actually loses Bert Cooper, which I thought was an unceremonious way to oust the old man. Was he wearing shoes when he kicked? We'll never know. Although Don did see the ghost of Burt doing an old soft-shoe routine, minus the shoes. What????
Peggy lost her 10-year-old best friend who is moving to New Jersey.
Don lost Megan.
But then Roger finds out he is a leader and pulls together a merger that will benefit all.
Peggy finds her voice and successfully pitches to Burger Chef: "Everyone is starving, and not just for dinner..."
And, yeah Megan is moving on. Is she the first to dump Don?
There were some shining moments, too:
Rick has no eyelashes, gasp!
Don's just a bully and a drunk, "a football player in a suit."
Ted doesn't want to be a shill for the man anymore, as he sits in his California office drinking screwdrivers and watching soap operas.
The partners are going to recite Walt Whitman's "O Captain! My Captain,'' when they announce Cooper's demise. One of the best poems, ever.
And my favorite moment was when Roger said he should have known Cooper was going to die: "Every time an old man starts talking about Napoleon, you know he's going to die."
There were a lot of loud phones ringing last night, too.
My poor frustrated KE,
I'll try and offer some sunshine here, as last night's "Mad Men" left me in near rapture, despite it's ominous title of "Waterloo."
Seriously, I nearly cried when Peggy made her Burger Chef presentation. The whole notion of we humans being hungry for connection really struck a chord with me — here's a man on the moon, far, far away, disconnected from our human home and it's sparking family get-togethers and national pride. It seemed such a modern observation for Peggy to make; therapists talk about the benefits of "connection," you know? It's not always part of casual/business conversation, but it's something we all understand. Peggy, of course, is an excellent observer of human behavior and finds a way to make a bittersweet thing like detachment and connection the foundation of her pitch. Even one of the Burger Chef dudes had to remark, "that's beautiful." I loved it, love her, and love Don for having both the personal and business savvy to put that ball back in her court.
Also, loved that whole image of Peggy in her curlers, bemoaning Indiana's lack of liquor when the pitch lands back at her feet.
I'll never get tired of watching the Sterling Cooper family coalesce, even if it is for something as cliche as watching the moon landing together. Even Peggy's scene with Julio was beyond sweet. Maybe she is the voice of moms, after all ... her concern and comfort to the boy rang very true. I truly didn't think Peggy had that left in her, and it really made me happy. (AND, she scored hot handyman's number. Yay!)
I really enjoyed that whole sequence of "families" watching Neil Armstrong take his famous walk: from a hotel room in Indianapolis, to Roger's fancy digs complete with little boy in space helmet, to Betty's houseful, to a near solitary Bert Cooper, who went out with a bit of a bang. (And remember when Mrs. Blankenship died? He called her an "astronaut," and his end in front of more astronauts is quite lovely.)
Here's my thoughts on Sally, which did seem a little ill-fitting at times, but I think there was a nice lesson there. Like most teenagers, Sally's in transition and trying to figure out her place in the world. She's caught between old, little-girl, Glenn-befriending Sally and her adolescent image of Adult Sally — she's trying cigarettes, lipstick, that ridiculous hairstyle and existential detachment on for size, like we all did. When she echoes Handsome Boy's dismissal of the space program as being too expensive and negligent of life's more earth-bound problems to Don (something Handsome Boy likely parroting from someone else), we and he just KNOW that's not the real Sally talking. That's Sally presuming she's saying the right adult thing. Don immediately notices, doesn't buy it, and gently chides her for such cynicism by asking her if that's something she'd like her little brothers to hear and repeat. No shaming, just a question to the real adult that's brewing in Sally. And, of course, Sally being smart Sally, gets it (Don's stock still holds a little value to her) and sets her sights on a more introspective, self-assured boy, Neil. She seals her choice in sensibilities with a kiss.
Here's another weird theme from the episode: money. We've got buyouts, contracts and deals all over the place. When "Benedict Joan" refuses to support Don at the impromptu partners meeting she says it's because she's "tired of [him] costing her money." WTF Joan? And then, when it's clear that the partners will all make some serious dough in the merger, she changes her tune. I realize she's got a baby to take care of, but such blatant money-motivation does not become her. Pete, yeah, I expect that. Jim Cutler, ditto — although greed aside, we see that it doesn't take a whole lot to shake Jim loose from his convictions about where the company should go if he gets paid. Jerk.
And what did softshoe Bert say to us at the episode's end? "The best things in life are free." I wonder if that was a warning of sorts to us all: money isn't everything, and keep that ambition in check, lest we all become Jim Cutlers or half-mad Ted Chaough. Sometimes, maybe it's best to just get back to work.
PS. Robert Morse (Bert) did some time on Broadway, so his fanciful exit from "Mad Men" must be, in part, a nod to his long, storied career.
PPS. While "O Captain" is a lovely poem, the suggestion of it for memorial purposes as delivered by Jim Cutler degrades the intention. Print it.
Dear Mellow M,
Wow. You bought that whole we-need-to-connect pitch. Thinking that watching the moon landing is going to bring people together is like thinking that going to Burger Chef will make the family closer. Yes it's a nice thought, but really, it's just marketing.
Yes, Betty had a houseful of people watching the moon landing, but when the TV goes off and the lights go on, they'll still be dysfunctional and mean to one another.
And Roger's little blended family — ex-wife, son-in-law, and grandson — all snuggled on the couch seemed cozy, but jeez, I don't think Roger really likes any of them. OK, maybe the kid.
And Bert Cooper — he was watching this historic event by himself — until he yells as his maid to stop vacuuming. And he apparently dies alone, sitting on the couch. I don't know. Didn't seem like any human connection there.
Call me a skeptic, but I didn't get any warm fuzzy feelings. I saw a bunch of lonely, unhappy people who for a brief moment happened to be watching the same thing on television. Wait, did I just describe us "Mad Men" fans?
You see, it's all an ad. Go to Burger Chef and your family will become close. Drive a Chevy and you'll get the girl. Smoke Kools and you will be cool. Watch "Mad Men" and you will be part of a community.
Anyhoo ... sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I was out in the backyard yesterday with my family — connecting.
My dearest K,
Forgive me for the delay in getting back to you this morning. I was busy crying my fool eyes out after your massive reality check. Now, if I'm not mistaken, didn't we BOTH get a huge kick out of following the royal wedding on television a few years ago? Didn't we discuss with relish the queen's lovely yellow ensemble, etc? Like Don, I'm going to attempt to call you out for uncharacteristic cynicism. As the resident Gen Xer here, cynicism is MY job, thank you very much.
And see that's the thing. I'm no consumer/capitalist cheerleader and tend to dismiss most popular culture as crap. But when good stuff like "Mad Men" emerges, I'm in and I'm thrilled to see good art reach so many people.
As for your excellent points about marketing and commercialism, sure, I suppose once the lights go up, everyone will go on being jerks to one another, but isn't that simple moment of togetherness and connection worth anything? Dunno. The ad men can go about their pitches in any number of ways, but Peggy and Don types find the aesthetic in the mundane, instead of shoving cartoon rabbits or Crazy Eddie (remember him?) down our throats. Adverts aren't going away, but they CAN at least try not to insult the customer in the process. Of course it's all marketing, but a little artistic touch never hurt anyone – even if it's on a Sunday night in front of the television. I think these moments of connection and art cumulatively make us better thinkers, writers, observers of humanity. You don't have to buy into something to realize its value one way or another.
But allow me to lighten up a bit and point out a few of my favorite moments from the episode. First, as Sally and Neil share their sweet little kiss, the moment is unceremoniously broken by Neil mom, who shouts into the night "Get in here! It's bedtime!" So much for any budding mojo there!
And Roger, in making his case for the McCann buyout, notes that Jim Cutler won't stop until the company is only "Harry Crane and the computer." Truth.
Speaking of Harry, great moment #3 came when Harry, on the verge of partnership, loses out on it once again. Instead of taking the initial deal and forgoing negotiation like Don advised, Harry delayed too long and missed the boat. When he attempts to insert himself in the meeting and asks what's going on, Roger dismisses him with a "none of your beeswax. Get out." HA!
And speaking of Roger, do you buy him as a leader?
PS. As for Bert Cooper's solitary death, I think that's a demonstration of a generation fading away on its own terms. Bert wasn't buying a lot of what the future was selling -- including hippie love, togetherness, etc. He probably preferred a solo samurai death.
Another cup of coffee, another piece of pie,
Dear M,
Perhaps I came on too strong. I agree advertising is creative and can be artistic, too. But it is propaganda and that irks me.
But with that said, I love "Mad Men" and the issues it makes us ponder and then discuss.
Yours in community,
Mdme. K,
No harm, no foul. Here's an example of advertising NOT sucking me in: I'm SO not watching that computer drama, "Halt and Catch Fire," that AMC mercilessly promoted throughout this "Mad Men" season. For one, I couldn't give less of a care about the birth of the PC, and for another, if the network is going to smack me over the head with that much promotion, I must go full-on contrary and ignore it. I call this the "'American Idol' gauntlet." Anything THAT much in my face can't possibly be any good.
See? Lots of anti-propaganda sentiment in this girl!
Just tell me one more thing and I'll go away: is the new Sterling Cooper going to make it? I worry; I think Bert's song and dance wasn't inserted in there to be merely cute (although I fear as much; god forbid Matt Weiner throws in some "Lost"-ian or "Sixth Sense" twist in there!). I just wonder if Bert was trying to tell Don more than just to stop and smell the roses.
Well Luvie,
I agree on the "Halt and Catch Fire" promos. Doesn't look or sound good to me. And another thing, the networks always promote new shows as the best new — comedy, drama, game show — whatever when the first episode has yet to go the air. Now that's propaganda.
So, not sure about the success of the new Sterling Cooper. But here's my prediction: Peggy marries the fix-it man; she ascends to a big time corporate position and is the bread winner; they have a couple kids; he becomes Mr. Mom because he has a more flexible schedule. He buys up apartment buildings in the neighborhood and rehabs them. They never move to the suburbs.
Don just keeps working and dies young from lung cancer.
Roger has a heart attack or stroke and his ex-wife takes care of him for the rest of his life.
Sally gets married, has a couple kids, stays in the suburbs and remains as miserable as her mother ever was.
'Til we meet again in 2015. Yikes, that sounds like a long way off.
Au revoir, sweet Kathleen! Until we meet again!
We're on twitter: @edgecombday and @TheMDesk.
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cambista needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 130 designs submitted by 53 freelance designers.
Design an catchy, easy to read, easy to remember logo
We need a logo for a new e-tailer. Azulio was started as a joint effort betweenfamily members when a unique opportunity presented itself. We started selling media (books, cds, dvds)but we rapidly expanding into other segments.
We would like to get a logo designed that will transcend us,our company, and will become synonymous with the place to go to purchase goodsonline where the price is right, the service is outstanding, and thesatisfaction is guaranteed.
Because we have several different segments we are pursuing,we need a logo that will be dynamic enough to be recognized when buying media,electronics, supplies, children goods, and anything else we can make a marketon.
Because we sell both to customers as well as wholesalers, weneed something that will provide a nice blend between serious and fun.
- Easy to read and remember
- No more than two or three colors, BLUE being the main color
- Clean lines and elegant
- Meant for all audiences, young and old
- No cheesy stuff
- Not noisy
- No floral fonts
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Hope College will feature multiple presentations in conjunction with "Breaking Chains: Hope College Human Trafficking Awareness Week" running Friday-Friday, Feb. 15-22.
The public is invited to all of the events. Admission is free to all events except for a benefit concert on the last day.
"Our intention is to provide a multi-disciplinary perspective on this issue to help the community understand and imagine solutions to the problem of modern-day slavery," said Dr. Jeanne Petit, who is an associate professor of history and director of the college's women's studies program, which is organizing the events in conjunction with other campus departments and groups. "The speakers and presentations will analyze this issue from global, national and local perspectives. The programming involves talks by scholars and activists, as well as a documentary and a benefit concert."
The presentations will begin on Friday, Feb. 15, at 10:30 a.m. with the college's Chapel service in Dimnent Memorial Chapel. The featured speaker will be Andy Soper, project director of the Manasseh Project, an outreach ministry of Wedgwood Christian Services dedicated to ending the sexual exploitation of young men and women in West Michigan.
The activities will continue with the presentation "Modern Day Slavery and the Corporate World" on Monday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m. in Winants Auditorium of Graves Hall by Banu Demiralp, a 2000 Hope graduate who is co-founder of Anka Rising. Based in Alexandria, Va., Anka Rising seeks "to provide an effective and collaborative platform for private enterprises, governments, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to combat and eradicate modern-day slavery," focusing on raising awareness among businesses to include human trafficking issues in their corporate social responsibility (CSR).
The film "Not My Life" will be shown on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m., with discussion following, in Winants Auditorium of Graves Hall. Filmed on five continents over a period of four years, "Not My Life" zeroes in on the fact that the vast majority of trafficking and slavery victims are children.
A presentation by "Hope for the Voiceless," led by 2012 University of Michigan graduate Luke Hassevoort, will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. in the Maas Center auditorium. "Hope for the Voiceless" was founded by a group of students from a variety of backgrounds to develop awareness of the problem of human trafficking and to help audiences recognize their own culpability in the problem.
The address "Slavery Now and Then: Methods for Change" will be presented on Thursday, Feb. 21, at 4 p.m. in Winants Auditorium of Graves Hall by Dr. Stacey Robertson, who is the Oglesby Endowed Professor of American Heritage and director of the Women's Studies program at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. Also a founding member and co-president of Historians against Slavery, Robertson argues that 19th-century Abolitionists can serve as a model for the abolition of modern-day slavery.
The week will close with the concert "Songs against Slavery," a benefit event for the Manasseh Project, on Friday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. in the Maas Center auditorium. Participants will include Hope bands: Grace Theisen (junior, Hickory Corners) and Jared DeMeester (junior, Grand Rapids), Dooga Fruit and D-topp, and Ben Lemmen (junior, Holland), and Andy Soper from the Manesseh Project will speak. Tickets are $5, payable at the door.
Dimnent Memorial Chapel is located at 277 College Ave., on College Avenue at 12th Street. Graves Hall is located at 263 College Ave., between 10th and 12th streets. The Maas Center is located at 264 Columbia Ave., on Columbia Avenue at 11th Street.


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Methylmercury poisoning
Methylmercury poisoning is brain and nervous system damage from the chemical methylmercury.
Alternative Names
Minamata Bay disease; Basra poison grain poisoning
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Methylmercury is a type of
Unborn babies and young infants are very sensitive to methylmercury's effects. Methylmercury causes
The FDA recommends that women who are pregnant, or may become pregnant, and nursing mothers avoid fish that may contain unsafe levels of methylmercury. Such fish includes swordfish, king mackerel, shark, or tilefish. (Young infants should not be given these fish, either.) You should not eat any type of these fish caught by friends and family. Check with your local or state health departments for warnings against locally caught, noncommercial fish.
Some health care providers have raised concerns about ethyl mercury (thimerosal), a chemical used in some vaccines. However, research shows that childhood vaccines do not lead to dangerous mercury levels in the body. Vaccines used in children today only contain trace amounts of thimerosal. Thimerosal-free vaccines are available.
Blindness Cerebral palsy Deafness
- Growth problems
- Mental retardation
Microcephaly(small head)
Signs and tests
Tests will vary depending on the symptoms that occur.
Methylmercury damage is irreversible. Treatment is determined by the severity of the condition and is similar to that given for cerebral palsy. The patient should be removed from the source of exposure. Treatment may involve:
- Activated charcoal (if mercury is swallowed)
- Fluids and electrolytes
- Dialysis (kidney machine)
Support Groups
Expectations (prognosis)
The symptoms are irreversible; however, they do not usually worsen unless there is a new exposure to methylmercury.
Complications depend on the severity of the condition, and the specific symptoms manifested (such as
Methylmercury poisoning has been linked to an increased heart attack rate.
Calling your health care provider
The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.
This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.
Strict avoidance of any foods contaminated with methylmercury will prevent poisoning. Because of manufacturing, mercury has become so common in the environment that trace amounts of methylmercury are present in many foods derived from the ocean, including deep-sea tuna. Fortunately, the levels are low enough that most of these foods remain safe. Contact poison control if you believe you may have been exposed.
Long H, Nelson LS. Metals and metalloids. In: Tintinalli JE, Kelen GD, Stapczynski JS, Ma OJ, Cline DM, eds. Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2004:chap 184.


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Jasmine Cocktail
Gin can often be a daunting product to many people, but that's only because they haven't really had a chance to have a gin based cocktail which properly uses this product. You shouldn't have to swallow a mouthful of juniper with every gin cocktail you order. The Jasmine should provide you an opportunity to realize the value of gin.
1 1/2 oz gin
1 oz Cointreau
3/4 oz Campari
1/2 oz lemon juice
Shake with ice.
Strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Robert Hess 17 Aug 2007
8:42 am
I'd be remiss if I didn't also present the "original" recipe for the Jasmine. The version you see me make in this episode is one that I've slightly adjusted the ratios of. Here is the original recipe as designed by Paul Harrington in the 1990's
- 1 1/2 ounces gin
- 1/4 ounce Cointreau
- 1/4 ounce Campari
- 3/4 ounce lemon juice
Shake with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with a lemon twist.
Boavida 28 Aug 2007
7:45 am
Most of my friends liked this drink, even if i couldn't let them see me adding the gin. I tried both recipes, the one i serve is yours, with a litle less campari (1/2 oz). I believe it's more balanced.
The one problem i'm having with this drink is concistency, always getting the same drink… but i believe that with a bit more of experience i'll get there.
Ian 29 Aug 2007
9:25 pm
Ew, Robert, what have you done to me? Normally I trust your taste in proportions, but this one has me bothered. I've just made a Jasmine to your adjusted recipe, but ooh! the Campari and Cointreau come through so strongly, it reminds me of those medicinal syrups I was given as a child. I think when I make another one I will try the Paul Harrington recipe. I guess it might lead to a lighter and more fragrant result where the Campari, and to a lesser extent the Cointreau, just tweak the flavor with subtle nuances.
You probably should add a danger warning that your recipe is for Campari lovers!
Anyway, cheers! because I am really enjoying my experimentation with cocktails since I happened across your website and video productions.
Robert Hess 29 Aug 2007
9:53 pm
It's probably just the Campari fanatic in me, but I love this drink. :-> Did you try the original "Harrington" version of this drink (recipe is in the first comment I posted here).
Ian 29 Aug 2007
10:58 pm
I'm trying the Paul Harrington recipe now, and I think it's delicious. It's amazing, but it looks and tastes almost exactly like red grapefruit juice! (To give readers complete information, I made it with Beefeater.)
BTW, regarding Campari, any Brit of a certain age will know and remember this TV advert from the 70's. I don't know if you've come across it before?
Todd 15 Feb 2008
8:35 pm
After seeing your intriguing Campari cocktails (this one, and the Rosita), I got myself some Campari and gave your Jasmine recipe a try. The Cointreau definitely comes through a bit - but all in all, I really liked it - I definitely got the grapefruit allusion. Looking forward to making another one tomorrow.
As a follow-up this evening, I'm trying a Negroni (recipe from Gary Regan's book - equal parts Campari, gin, and sweet vermouth). VERY interesting - not sure my palette is sophisticated enough to appreciate the bitter Campari finish on this one - but I think it will grow on me.
Really enjoying the SmallScreenNetwork - keep up the good work Robert!
- Todd
Robert Hess 16 Feb 2008
7:48 am
Campari takes a little getting used to, but it is really a great product that I think is far underutilized. It usually is gathering dust on the shelves of bars across the country.
Stuart 16 May 2008
6:31 pm
I'm drinking this drink for the first time right now, and I'm really liking it. I was first introduced to Campari about a month ago by your website, and after trying a couple Negronis at local bars (one bartender actually told me it was his favorite drink…but with extra Campari!), I absolutely had to go out and buy a bottle myself. Something about me really loves the bitterness of it. Thanks, Robert!
Iota 4 Jun 2008
5:25 pm
I suggest trying Grand Marnier or Gran Gala in place of the Cointreau, the resulting cocktail is a bit sweeter and takes some emphasis off the campari in my opinion. I like both versions, see which you prefer.
Baked 10 Jul 2008
6:09 am
I am trying something like this for the first time ever. It has been a different experience as i prepared this drink myself. It's a bit sweet but i love the bitterness of it.
John 29 Jul 2008
12:59 am
Although I have never really tried out Gin as I find it repulsive, this one looks too good a drink to resist. Will check up for sure.
Andy K 30 Jul 2008
10:21 pm
I just had a Jasmine at ZigZag last night after watching this. It really was quite good! I suspect they use something more akin to the 'original' recipe as it didn't have strong bitter notes from the campari
ram 1 Aug 2008
7:09 am
As a follow-up this evening, I
Robert Hess 1 Aug 2008
8:14 am
Ram, a properly made Negroni does have a lot of flavor action going on, and may take some time to get comfortable with for the uninitiated.
Some bartenders have taken to just using a little campari when they make their negronis in order to make them more "approachable", but frankly that turns it into a different drink. A Negroni should always be equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, campari.
DaRiv 5 Sep 2008
8:36 am
Robert, taste differences aside, why did your recipe make it into the 2007 MOTAC Pocket Guide instead of Paul's? I would like to hear about the process of which recipe gets included in this canon of cocktails.
Your recipe is significantly changing the ratios of Paul's, some would argue it is a entirely different drink. I do like both cocktails, but still . . .
Robert Hess 5 Sep 2008
8:52 am
DaRiv… "my" variation of the Jasmine is in the MOTAC recipe guide probably because I didn't stop to think about it at the time :->
The process of building up the Pocket Recipe Guide was that I first submitted to the founders a list of the recipe names I thought should be included (since the book was my idea, I took the lead), we did a couple rounds of fine tuning this list, and then I collected the recipes, then I sent this list around for another vetting to make sure that nobody had any issues with the reciipes. This resulted in some additional changes and updates.
Just by the very process, the recipes in the book started with a "DrinkBoy" slant, but I tried to make sure that in the end it would embody what all of the museum's founders felt were the key recipes that we'd like all bartenders to be aware of. In fact the "second" edition (either the slightly larger format now available on Amazon, or the "spiral bound" version available for purchase at the museum itself), is a slight update on a few of the cocktails which missed notice the first time around.
When my own book comes out in the next month or two, it will of course be much more "DrinkBoy" focused, since aside from the recipes which were submitted by various friends of mine, the rest all represent my preferences.
JoannaChi 5 Oct 2008
11:33 am
I'm going to try this cocktail next weekend. I thoroughly recommend the Diabolique cocktail. In my opinion it's the best way to drink tequila.
toronto condominiums 16 Nov 2008
1:23 am
Your recipe is significantly changing the ratios of Paul
Robert Hess 16 Nov 2008
6:18 am
Toronto, it's probably nor more of a change in ratios than the sidecar you might drink differs from its original recipe. I've chatted with Paul about this in the past, and he doesn't have any problem with my variation.
Now if we could only get Paul to ge re-involved in the cocktail community!
Joe 29 Dec 2008
6:02 pm
Thanks Robert - great drink.
Where did you get that lemon squeezer? Is it vintage or is it currently commercially available? It looks awesome.
Robert Hess 29 Dec 2008
6:50 pm
Alas, the juicer I am using here is an antique. Guess I should start using more modern equipment just to help make things more real.
Patrick 19 Jun 2009
9:32 pm
I just made a Jasmine - the color on this thing is amazing. Really good drink. Sort of like a lighthearted Negroni. On the topic of color - any thoughts on the mini controversy over Campari switching from using a beetle-based dye to being "ARTIFICIALLY COLORED," as the back of the bottle now proclaims? I always thought the insect dye was sort of charming.
Robert Hess 20 Jun 2009
1:08 pm
Patrick, yeah, the whole "colored with bugs" of Campari was a fun little touch, but switching to a more typical (ie. artificial) color is fine, and I think was a good business decision.
Paul Harrington 19 Oct 2009
7:15 am
If this economy stays in the tank, you may just find me behind a bar somewhere. We fiddled with video a little bit in the early days of Cocktail but it never took off like this. I love this web site. VIctoria looks like it is going to be an awesome event. If I didn't already have plans for that weekend I would be there in a heart beat. Next year for sure. I think it will quickly become the favored cocktail event of the year if it remains focused on the creation of cocktails. Cheers to you Robert and all of the spectacular talent that you have organized for the Cocktail Spirit. BTW I just picked up a couple of copies of your book. Well done!
Robert Hess 19 Oct 2009
8:09 am
Hey Paul! You've been sorely missed in the cocktail world since your persuit of a "day-job". I'm not going to be able to make the Victoria event either, but it looks like it could be a great little conference. Let us know next time you are heading over to Seattle!
Chris CV 20 Jul 2010
8:00 pm
Wow, this really does kick you in the face like a bitter grapefruit juice.
Interestingly, it's like the other side of a discovery I made back in college. At the time, I only enjoyed drinking straight gin, straight whiskey, or straight brandy (it's the way of my family). I was often left to mix random concoctions when friends only had vodka on hand. I discovered that when I mixed vodka with Squirt or Fresca (Grapefruit soda), it had a flavor that distinctly reminded me of gin.
Anyway, I agree with Boavida that your ratio is better than Harrington's, but still a little heavy on the Compari. I loved your Rosita, though.
Adam Ward 7 Aug 2010
8:17 pm
Given this back and forth between Paul's and Robert's version of the drink I decided to conduct a little experiment. I made both versions and compared them. The differences were fairly obvious and without going into long and detailed taste profile descriptions, let me say that Robert's is dominated by the sweetness of the cointreau and the bitterness of the campari, while Paul's is dominated by the sourness from the lemon. If we're seeking a well balanced drink, then interestingly enough, reducing the lemon in Paul's version or reducing the cointreau and campari in Robert's lead's to roughly the same recipe. Namely equal parts cointreau, campari, and lemon juice, with some amount of gin (I've found that the flavour of the gin is overpowered by the strong flavours of the other ingredients and so i'd say the relative amount of gin is unimportant). This post is getting rather long so let me quickly say that after tasting a 3, 1, 1, 1 recipe (order as in Robert's recipe above) I found that the drink either needed more cointreau or less campari. So for increasing cointreau, ie a recipe of 3, 2, 1, 1, I found the drink to be dual spirited. Namely there is a pronounced sweet start to the drink followed by an equally intense transition to bitterness courtesy of the campari. If instead we decrease the campari we'd end up with a recipe of 3, 2, 1, 2 and this recipe has a slightly different taste. Namely, although it is still sweet to start and bitter in the finish, the transition is much less drastic. This is a drink that flows smoothly through varying facies. And as you will notice it is the lemon juice that controls this flow, an ingredient that is content to stay in the background and yet plays such a dominate role in how this cocktail is interpreted.
Overall I think both of these last two drinks are good, and choosing between the two will depend entirely on personal preference; whether one likes the sudden and obvious transition from sweet to bitter as in the former recipe or the smoother and more relaxed blending of flavours from the former. And herein is the wonderful thing about the cocktail: YOU get to decide.
Vincent 9 Nov 2010
4:01 pm
I've tried Robert's version of that drink first and maybe it was because I am not that accustomed to Campari, but the bitterness just kicked me in the face. Then I made the Jasmine again but I just reduced the Campire a little (1/2 instead of 3/4) as Boavida did and my oh my, I found an incredible drink, that grapefruit flavor! Having tried the Negroni and the Rosita lately, Campari is starting to grow on me so I will definitely try Robert's ratio again.
Allyen Wilson 22 Dec 2011
5:47 pm
Mmmmmm, halfway through my first "Robert's Jasmine" and am loving it. Last night it was the Delmonico, tonight the Jasmine, I am jumping head first on the Gin cocktail bandwagon!
jellydonut 14 Jan 2012
3:44 pm
It might just be that I am overly used to Campari at this point (as a former Campari hater), but I don't find this drink bitter at all. It's got a slightly bitter aftertaste. That's it.
Snead Hearn 21 Jan 2012
6:16 pm
I find RH's Jasmine to be the more balanced recipe. Try different gins and you'll be amazed how different they taste. I love this cocktail made with Tanq 10 , the heavy juniper note works well with the citrus bite of wonderful cocktail.
TheBalch 28 Jan 2012
7:00 am
Hi Mr. Hess!
Gin is my favorite spirit, and this is a drink that I use to introduce friends to its many splendors! I started with Beefeater, but after a while I got an itch to explore other gins. Unfortunately, this is proving problematic: unlike whiskies, for instance, I can't compare the flavors of two gins by drinking them by themselves. I want to find a reliable "test cocktail" that softens the gin without confounding its flavor profile. Is the gin & tonic the ideal drink for this? The gimlet? I've heard that not all top-shelf gins are suitable for the same drinks, so I'm a little unsure of what to do. Per your recommendation, I try not to take any shortcuts when it comes to modifiers; encountering a given product for the first time can really turn you off if it isn't mixed with other ingredients of comparable quality.
jellydonut 28 Jan 2012
7:18 am
Personally, I find the gin and tonic is an ideal litmus test for a gin. The tonic is neutral and lets the gin tell its story. I find it easy to tell the nuances between Tanqueray, Plymouth, G'Vine, Bombay, Beefeater, et al, in a nice simple gin and tonic. With and without lime, so as to avoid the lime disturbing the gin flavors.
TheBalch 28 Jan 2012
9:12 am
Thanks, jellydonut. Something was telling me that was the way to go. Gotta love those 2-ingredient potables! I appreciate the lime tip; I associate lime & gin & tonics so closely that sometimes I forget that I'm actually adding an additional flavor to the basic ingredients.
Robert Hess 28 Jan 2012
9:45 am
These days it can become important as to which tonic you choose however! There are a variety of different "craft" tonics on the market these days, as well as home-made, which can play various roles into what might otherwise be seen as a simple highball. And then when you start to focus on the G&T itself, and not the gin within it, you can start looking at if the best garnish for it is a lime, or lemon. This can vary depending on your choice of ingredient brands.
Robert Hess 28 Jan 2012
9:55 am
TheBalch… in addition to a G&T being a good simple drink which can highlight the qualities of the gin, I also think the good old standard Martini can be useful here as well. The important bit is to make sure you add enough vermouth to overall spread out the gins flavors, but no so much as the vermouth begins to get in the way. And then another drink to try would be what I usually refer to as a Gin Daiquiri, or what you could think of as a "scratch" gimlet. Essentially gin, lime juice, and simple syrup. 2 oz gin, 3/4 oz lime, 3/4 oz simple. And then just to round things out, try a Gin Old Fashioned. There are gins that will work for some of these, but not for all of them, and then of course a good solid gin will easily shine in all three. Old Fashioned, New Fashioend, Sour, and Highball basically cover the four primary corners of the mixed drink landscape, and so can help you see the distance that each spirit is able to taverse.
jellydonut 28 Jan 2012
3:42 pm
What do you mean when you say 'new fashioned'? I tried googling it and so far I've gotten three variants of the old fashioned: one with amaretto, one with grapefruit soda, one with vermouth and peach bitters. Which one are you talking about? (I take it it's neither of these three I found)
Robert Hess 28 Jan 2012
6:10 pm
Yeah, I should have qualified that.
By "new fashioned" I was intending to describe the type of cocktail which started appearing around the 1880's or so and made it "appropriate" to refer to the original cocktail style as "Old Fashioned". It was during this time that cocktails like the Manhattan and Martini were coming into vogue, as well as other cocktails of a similar style.
jellydonut 28 Jan 2012
6:26 pm
oh! yeah, that makes sense.
Aaron Gardner 12 Jul 2012
3:36 pm
I visited Paul Harrington's new bar, Clover, for the first time last night. Of course I had to try the Jasmine, and it was phenomenal. I enjoy the slight bite of sour the lemon juice provides, and appreciate the toned-down sweetness and bitterness of the Cointreau and Campari. This cocktail is definitely becoming a favorite. I even had the pleasure of meeting Paul and learning more about his passion for cocktails. I highly recommend Clover to anyone living in or visiting Spokane, WA.
Justin Hayden 31 Aug 2012
7:45 pm
Can you share where you found that knife? I am looking for a great knife for my home bar. This would be perfect and I won't need to worry about the blade.
Philip Heesen, III 21 Sep 2012
1:35 pm
Enjoying this right now for the first time in a while. My lovely wife bought me a goody bag of booze for my birthday. Lucky guy, right? I decided to take the Campari and Cointreau down a 1/4 oz each today and the cocktail is still great. Awesome cocktail!
Bodyslam 16 May 2013
3:30 pm
I really enjoy your videos. Cruising through the back pages I came across this one. The Jasmine is one of my favorite cocktails. I have tried it with varying proportions, and settled on something closer to the original, maybe just dialing back the lemon a bit, and occasionally upping the gin to 2 oz. It works well with several gins, though not all. Now that Tanqueray Malacca is available again, it gives me another excuse to serve this drink. Bottoms up!
Zakhia 28 Nov 2013
4:40 am
I really enjoy your videos an in Ghana and its so hard getting some of your ingredients but just made the jasmine and I must say after a 2:1 Tangueray martini this must be my favorite cocktail its a shame its not more popular.
Ps I love campari
Small Screen Colin 28 Nov 2013
7:26 am
Glad you are enjoying our videos!
The Jasmine is one of our favorites as well.
Thank you for watching!