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|For the Street War featured in Grand Theft Auto V, see Ballas-Families gang war (HD Universe).
The Ballas-Grove Street War was a gang war fought between the Ballas and the Grove Street Families, led by Sean "Sweet" Johnson and his brother Carl "CJ" Johnson.
The War
The start of the war had never been explained but it may have started when drugs were introduced to Los Santos in the early 1980s. The war seemed to be going on around the time Carl and Lance "Ryder" Wilson were growing up because Carl mentions Ryder beating up a teacher for wearing Balla colors. The Ballas started making money selling drugs while GSF leader "Sweet" refused to sell drugs, making Grove Street weaker. In the meantime, other two sets of the GSF, the Seville Boulevard Families and the Temple Drive Families split from the main gang, weakening the gang further. After the death of Beverly Johnson, her son Carl came back from Liberty City and moved back to Los Santos. The funeral was attacked by Ballas but no one was hurt or killed. Many Grove Street members had left the gang when drugs were introduced such as Big Bear and B Dup. CJ tried to seek their help but B Dup angrily refused. Big Bear had become a crack-head and a servant to B Dup. CJ and Ryder attempted to get rid of the drug dealers around their area and killed many Balla crack dealers. CJ also convinced the gang to start buying weaponry from Emmet again.
The Middle of the War
After CJ's return, while GSF members Big Smoke, Ryder, Sweet and CJ were out getting food, they were attacked by Ballas but they managed to kill all of them. The Grove Street Families got revenge on them and did a drive-by on their turf. Later on, corrupt C.R.A.S.H. members Frank Tenpenny, Eddie Pulaski and Jimmy Hernandez told both gangs about a train filled with ammunition heading towards Los Santos. The Grove Street Families managed to take the guns and all the attacking Vagos were slaughtered along with some Ballas. Later, CJ, under the orders of Sweet, took over the neighborhood of Glen Park, a Balla territory, in order to kill a GSF defector, Little Weasel. At Little Weasel's funeral, Sweet and CJ got revenge on Beverley's funeral attack and killed so-called "Front Yard Royalty" Kane. After that, CJ started taking over more Ballas turf. Sweet was going to attack more Ballas gang members under the Mulholland Intersection, but this was a trap. Big Smoke and Ryder were working with the Ballas and had betrayed their old gang. Sweet was wounded before CJ got there but he was taken away by C.R.A.S.H while Sweet was arrested.
Tables Turn
With Sweet incarcerated and CJ away, the Grove Street lost influence and Ballas had major control over Los Santos, including main GSF stongholds, such as Ganton. The Ballas started working with the Loco Syndicate and started making more money until CJ killed heads of the Loco Syndicate T-Bone Mendez and Jizzy B and blowing up their drug factory in San Fierro, which led to the collapse of the Loco Syndicate.
The Return of the Johnson Brothers
After Sweet was released from prison, he and CJ came back to Los Santos and the Families began retaking their territory. After Tenpenny was cleared from the corruption charges, a huge riot started out in Los Santos. CJ came after Big Smoke and had to slaughter many Ballas members along with the Russian Mafia, Vagos, and the San Fierro Rifa. If the player chooses, they can take all of the Ballas territory on gang wars, making the Ballas effectively extinct.


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The depression map: genes, culture, serotonin, and a side of pathogens. Another new science blog network (Wired) and once again a new stable of good science writers. I'm particularly pleased to see that David Dobbs, a former SciBling and top science writer, has found a new home for Neuron Culture. I was also pleased to see he had written an article on studies into the interactions between genes and culture, namely: Chiao & Blizinsky (2009) and Way & Lieberman (2010). And I was even more pleased to see that he'd mentioned both mine and Sean's posts on the social sensitivity hypothesis. Suffice to say, I was pleased.
Take home paragraph:
In a sense, these studies are looking not at gene-x-environment interactions, or GxE, but at genes x (immediate) environment x culture — GxExC. The third variable can make all the difference. Gene-by-environment studies over the last 20 years have contributed enormously to our understanding of mood and behavior. Without them we would not have studies, like these led by Chiao and Way and Kim, that suggest broader and deeper dimensions to what makes us struggle, thrive, or just act differently in different situations. GxE is clearly important. But when we leave out variations in culture, we risk profoundly misunderstanding how these genes — and the people who carry them — actually operate in the big wide world.
The same issues are not as operative when it comes to culture. Two tribes can speak different dialects or languages. If a woman moves from one tribe to another her children don't necessarily speak a mixture of languages, rather, they may speak the language of their fathers. The nature of cultural inheritance is more flexible, and so allows for the persistence of more heritable variation at different levels of organization. Differences of religion, language, dress, and values, can be very strong between two groups who have long lived near each other and may be genetically similar.
Homo was born vocalizing. Babel's Dawn links to a recently finished PhD thesis that supposedly argues for a relatively recent emergence for language (approx. 120,000 years ago). She defends her assertions by stating: "[…] all of the unique cognitive traits attributed to humans arose as the consequence of one crucial mutation, which radically altered the architecture of the ancestral primate brain." I haven't read the thesis, and I probably won't as I'm already stretched in regards to my reading, but I'm completely unconvinced by the hopeful mutation hypothesis. Plus, as Bolles notes in his post, there is plenty of available evidence to the contrary.
Primed for Reading. Robert Boyd reviews Stanislas Dehane's new book, Reading in the Brain: The Science and Evolution of a Human Invention, which I'll be picking up soon. In the meantime, to give you a bit of background, I suggest you read Dehane's (2007) paper on the Neuronal Recycling Hypothesis: the Cultural recycling of cortical maps. H/T: Gene Expression.
Through the looking glass (part 1). The Lousy Linguist reviews Guy Deutscher's new book, Through the Language Glass: Why the World Looks Different in Other Languages, with the general takeaway message being that, in part one at least, one where the book is a bit science-lite. What really interested me, though, were these two paragraphs:
We discover quite quickly what Deutscher is doing as he begins to walk through complexity issues of "particular areas of language" (page 109), namely morphology, phonology, and subordination. And these last 15 pages are really the gem of Part 1. He shows that there is an interesting, somewhat illogical, entirely engaging but as yet unexplained set of correlations between speaker population size and linguistic complexity.
For example, languages with small numbers of speakers tend to have more morphologically rich grammars (hence one could claim that small = more complex). However, small languages with small numbers of speakers also tend to have small phonological inventories. Hmmm, weird, right? [My emphasis]
As those of you who read this blog will know: I don't think it's weird that small speaker populations also tend to have small phonological inventories.
Clothing lice out of Africa. A cool new paper by Troups et al which looks at the evolutionary history of clothing lice to provide specific estimates on the origin of clothing. Using a Bayesian coalescent modelling approach, they estimate that clothing lice diverged from head louse ancestors between 83,000 and 170,000 years ago. H/T: Dienekes.

subset: commoncrawl


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Digital Production
The Gnomon Workshop offers the most comprehensive set of Digital Production tutorials anywhere. The broad scope of the tutorials contained in this section range from foundational understanding of the software tools all the way to the professional application of these tools and concepts used by artists working in the film and game industries.
Entertainment Design
The Gnomon Workshop is widely regarded as the global leader in training tutorials for the designer working in the entertainment industry. With tutorials ranging from foundational drawing and design concepts to process tutorials from some of the top concept and character designers in the world, there is surely something here to inspire.
As the tattoo industry has seen an explosion in popularity over the last few years, the need training in this field has also grown. In these video tutorials, some of the top tattoo artists in the world share their techniques and their take on the art of tattoo. The tutorials range from absolute beginner level to advanced color and blending techniques used by some of the world's best.
The Gnomon Workshop offers professional training on most of the software applications used in today's digital pipelines. There are foundational titles to introduce users to the software and tools, as well as advanced production titles that discuss application tools and processes vital to the production of digital assets and media.
Professional Training for Artists
The Gnomon Workshop seeks out the most highly-regarded traditional and digital artists and technicians currently working in the entertainment and design industries. Our instructors have shared their practices working at such top studios as Pixar, ILM, Blizzard, and many more.Instructor GalleriesInstructor Interviews
Working on animated films, feature films, and commercials for the past 20 years, Frederic Durand has had the opportunity to work at Sony Imageworks, Disney Animation, DreamWorks, Jim Henson's Workshop, the Mill, MPC and Digital Domain. He is the co-founder of Noroc Studio. As a leading lighting artist, his approach is not only technical, but also artistic. He heavily emphasizes and integrates aspects of cinematography into his approach. Frederic graduated from the Ecole Nationale des Arts Decoratifs (ENSAD) in Paris, France. Additionally, during his master's program, he completed one year residency at The Copper Union in NYC.
Fred is one of the most technical and proficient lighters I've ever had the pleasure to work with, and his knowledge of mental ray is unparalleled. For the commercials on which Fred and I worked together, he proved himself to be an indispensable part of the team.
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Gnomon specializes in computer graphics education for careers in the entertainment industry.


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Something that's right in front of your eyes is sometimes the hardest for you to see. Oh Ha Na (Ha Ji Won) and Choi Won (Lee Jin Wook) have been lifelong friends. Through thick and thin, they've been through many things together in the nearly 20 years of friendship, including relationships that each has had with other people. Approaching her 30th birthday, Ha Na receives an email from Won that jokes about the "symptoms of premature aging." Angry about the widely held belief that men are like grapes that turn into a fine bottle of wine as they age while women are like grapes that shrivel up into raisins, Ha Na makes a bet with Won that she can get married first before they turn 35. Will Ha Na and Won be able to find their true loves or have they been blind to what's been there all along? "The Time I've Loved You (aka The Time We Were Not in Love)" is a 2015 South Korean dramas series directed by Jo Soo Won. It is a remake of the popular 2011 Taiwanese drama "In Time With You."
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St. Lorenz Christkindl Gluhwein 1L
Save $3.00 (30%)
Gluhwein is a delicious blend of red wine and spices, not unlike mulled wine. The wine is infused with a unique blend of cinnamon, cloves, oranges, lemons and a dash of sugar. Christkindl Gluhwein is ready to drink, requiring only gentle heating before serving to achieve a cheerful warm glow. The perfect winter drink around the festive Christmas period. The combination of wine and spices ensures a warm and cheerful experience when outside and is traditionally served with iced ginger biscuits.
|Red Wine
|Germany, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
|St. Lorenz
12 Bottle - Free Shipping
Bogle Phantom 2015Enticing and enveloping, this mysterious apparition of ripe berry and relentless spice, returns to tantalize wine lovers. Emerging from the shadows with concentration and intensity, this wine will haunt you with every sip. Black pepper, juniper and cranberry spark your senses, while a rustic jamminess soothes your soul with its familiarity. Full bodied flavors of black plums and berries bewitch the palate. Touches of cedar box and spice surround the finish, as long tannins linger, languish and settle around you like a fog.
- we90
- ws88
Riondo Blu ProseccoBlu Prosecco is the best expression of Cantine Riondo's skill in producing fine sparkling wines. Blu presents fresh and intense aromas of pear, peach, wisteria and hints of citrus aromas. It's a perfect balance of acidity. Its concentrated fruit and residual sugar please the palate, creating an inviting union with a lively sparkle that makes this prosecco perfect for every occasion.
- ws84
Riondo Prosecco Spago NeroProsecco Spago Nero is an effusively fruity, light bodied offering bringing terrific floral notes, persistent effervescence and a clean delicate finish. There is perfect body and weight in this crystal clean, pure sparkling wine. It is an ideal aperitif to enjoy any day of the year. It is simply amazing.
- ws86
- we85
Mezza Luna Pink Sparkling RoseMore strawberry than anything else, but there was still a slice of watermelon (unsalted) in the background. It was refreshing and tongue tickling, making you crave another slug…err, sip. Any signs of sweetness were quickly brushed aside by a crisp and dry finish.
Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015Our 2015 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is maroon in color with a garnet hue. It has an enticing nose of maraschino cherries, blackberry bramble and brisket with notes of clove and star anise. Mouthwatering with a juicy entry, this wine has a fruity mid-palate of currant with toasted vanilla and roasted brown sugar character from American oak barrels. Structured tannins provide an elegant character with a long and expressive finish. Given proper cellaring, this wine will provide drinking pleasure through 2041.
Meiomi Pinot Noir 2017Lifted fruit aromas of bright strawberry and jammy fruit, mocha, and vanilla, along with toasty oak notes. Expressive boysenberry, blackberry, dark cherry, juicy strawberry, and toasty mocha flavors lend complexity and depth on the palate. Meiomi Pinot Noir has a consistent profile of supple tannins, silky texture, and balanced acidity that makes it the perfect wine to enjoy with a wide array of food. It pairs particularly well with tomato-based pasta dishes, thin-crust pizza, grilled lamb, and turkey.
- tp92
- ws87
- we87
Twenty Bench Cabernet Sauvignon 2017The 2017 Twenty Bench Cabernet Sauvignon has a ripe black cherry core, twining with blackberry syrup, a subtle minerality, with the smokiness of charred French oak on the nose. The mouth is creamy and dense, with layered of juicy berries, the darkest of dark chocolates, rich espresso and black pepper. The wine is well-balanced and drinking well in its youth. You can enjoy this singular wine on its own or with grilled meats--especially burgers.
- we84
Viña-Real Crianza 2014This wine shows shades of medium to deep shiny cherry colour. To the nose, intense aromas of ripe fruits (blackberries, blackcurrants) stand out, complemented with subtle hints of oak, vanilla and spices aromas. To the palate, it shows structured and round with a good integration of fruitiness and oakiness. The aftertaste is marked by very well balanced tannins as well as by persistent spicy, toasty and balsamic aromas. A long stay in bottle is the finishing touch to this Rioja Alavesa wine's character.
- v91
- ws88
- we87
Orin Swift Palermo Cabernet Sauvignon 2016A dark garnet hue sits in the glass with immediate aromas of ripe cassis and blackberry. Hints of cocoa, new oak and fir complement the juicy fruit mélange. A full-bodied entry is succeeded by a mid-palate of dark fruits and a smooth, integrated minerality. The tannins are well developed, allowing the wine to finish with length.
- ws88
Fleur De Mer Rosé 2018Fleur de Mer Rosé entices with notes of cherry, watermelon and citrus. We grow and make our wine in Provence, the world's best-known Rosé region and home to a serene sense of artistry and beauty for centuries. Our sun-washed Mediterranean climate also provides the perfect conditions for crafting our Rosé. And the culture inspires the way our wine engages your senses in a uniquely Provençal fashion.
- we86
Bodegas Gormaz 12 Linajes Roble 2013Colour: Red with violet hues. Nose: Fresh red fruits combined with balsamic vanilla notes. Palate: Rounded and balanced, with nice and soft tannins and spicy touches with red fruits in the aftertaste. Recommended with: Selected cold cuts, medium mature cheeses, grilled meats, braised birds and stewed fish. Serving Temperature:14oC-16oC
Bodegas Gormaz 12 Linajes Crianza 2015
- ws87
Bodegas Gormaz Catania Roble 2013Color: Cherry red color with violet hues. Nose: Aromas of fresh fruit, vanilla and roasted coffee. Palate: Warm, full, fresh and balanced with hints of vanilla. Recommended with: Select choice meat cuts, semi-mature cheeses, grilled meats and stewed fish.
Valdelacierva Rioja Crianza 2016Visual: Colour of high intensity, cherry with almost violet hue. Nose: Intense, in perfect harmony, with the freshness of the wild red fruits such as currants and raspberries, mineral notes, of pencil tip, with lactic notes of yogurt, perfectly linked to the spicy and roasted notes of good French Oak. Palate: Sweet attack, powerful and at the same time velvety mid palate of the tannins that end in a broad end, with fat and volume, giving a long finish with mineral and fresh aftertaste.
- ws91
- we90
Orin Swift Papillon 2016An inky, dark garnet sits in the glass with bursting aromatics even from afar-ripe blackcurrant and blackberry with hints of Kirsch, Madagascar vanilla and cigar box. Velvety and rich on entry and through the mid, the wine offers flavors of dark plum, blueberry and notes of fennel, fresh leather and a subtle minerality. Plush, layered and dense, the wine finishes with dusty tannins and a lingering touch of black cherry.
Château-de-Guilhemanson Saint Emilion 2013
Pieropan Soave Classico 2016The brilliant yellow-straw wine opens with delicate aromas of almond blossoms, marzipan, and honeysuckle. On the juicy palate, crisp acidity frames flavors of toasted nuts, lemon zest, apples, pears and apricot. A long, concentrated finish flows with delicious notes of honeycomb and marzipan and an energetic minerality that concludes with a creamy lift. Serving Suggestions: Very appealing as aperitif or to match soup, first courses with vegetables such as asparagus, peas, zucchini, egg-based dishes, and both saltwater and sweetwater fish.
- we92
- ws90
Orion Wines The Wanted Zin Zinfandel 2014Intense ruby-red color, with a complex bouquet, reminiscent of cherries, blueberries, coconut and vanilla. The ageing in American oak adds a pleasant roasted and spicy aroma. In the mouth it is full-bodied yet smooth and elegant. The tannins are soft, supple and well balanced. The finish is long and lingering, with a burst of spice and bright fruit at the end.
Vina Herminia Tempranillo 2017Appearance: Intense cherry-red color. Aroma: Pleasant, open nose with notes of wild red berries and reminders of cherries. Flavor: Round, full and smooth in the mouth with a long, lingering finish.
Julia James Pinot Noir 2016Possess a deep plum color, with bright ruby edges. Rich yet medium-bodied, offering an exciting bouquet of berry, oak, earth and spice notes, with bold streaks of blueberry, raspberry, mocha and floral flavors. Finishes with an aftertaste of fresh licorice and cherries. Julia James Pinot Noir will drink nicely for 2-4 years,
Monteabellon Avaniel Tempranillo 2015Avaniel is a red young wine elaborated with grapes we obtain from one or our freshest plors called "Los Miles". It is also one of the youngest vineyard with vines within 6 and 10 years. These conditions makes Avaniel to be a very fresh wine tasty fruity notes.
Zensa Primitivo 2018Intense ruby-red colour, with a complex bouquet, reminiscent of cherries, dried berries and toasted almonds. In the mouth it is full-bodied yet smooth and elegant with a silky texture. The finish is long and lingering, with a burst of spiced cherries and bright fruit and earthiness at the end.


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Protein Bars - Mixed Case
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A's option Figueroa and Parrino to Sacramento; place Nakajima on DL
Non-Roster Invitees Ekstrom, Montz and Okajima Reassigned to Minor League Camp
OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland A's optioned left-handed pitcher Pedro Figueroa and infielder Andy Parrino to Triple-A Sacramento, the club announced today. The A's also placed infielder Hiro Nakajima on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27 with a strained left hamstring. Right-handed pitcher Mike Ekstrom, left-handed pitcher Hideki Okajima and catcher Luke Montz, the A's three remaining non-roster invitees, were reassigned to the A's minor league camp.
Read More: Oakland Athletics


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Log into your iHire account and visit the Closed Section of Manage Jobs. Click on the number of responses to view the resumes.
Search for information about managing your account, how to use the site, and services iHire offers for job seekers.
Answer questions about iHire's employer services including posting job ads and searching resumes, among other topics.
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In Good Forum
This story appears in the July 2000 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe »
Any entrepreneur who's ever chased venture capital dollars can tell you the process is often a brutal, soul-stripping experience. For those without Ivy League connections or friends and family in the right places, finding someone to quickly scan your executive summary or listen to your "elevator" pitch can take months.
This need--of entrepreneurs who have potentially fundable ideas to be connected to investors--has given rise to the quite recent venture-forum phenomenon. Although these entities have been in existence for decades, the past five years have seen the number of forums grow significantly.
According to Tom Siegel, president of the National Association of Venture Forums, there are about 100 active forums nationwide. They range from relatively small, highly selective groups to forums that let just about anyone with a business plan make a pitch.
Most forums charge an application fee and offer brief one-day workshops geared toward helping selected candidates refine their presentations. Presentations range between seven and 15 minutes and are typically followed by a question-and-answer period, when angels and venture capitalists ask for more details about the company, its management team, the market and more.
But don't expect investors to be so dazzled by your presentation that they rush up, checkbook in hand and pen poised. "Most investors require additional meetings," explains Siegel, who adds that venture forums should still be considered long shots, and that they require lots of follow-up and perseverance. Despite that, says Siegel, they're still a great tool for helping entrepreneurs get exposure, refine their business models and sharpen their pitches.
How a Venture Forum Works
To gain a deeper understanding of exactly how the venture-forum process works, we interviewed two entrepreneurs on opposite ends of the spectrum. One is in the early stages of presenting to investors and the other has two appearances under his belt and high hopes for a third. Both firms are clients of Venture Point Tech Coast Small Business Development Center, the only SBDC in the United States that specifically targets companies operating in the high-tech/high-growth sector.
Irvine, California-based Venture Point has created a review process that emulates the venture forum--but with some key exceptions. Instead of seeking capital from the investors who volunteer to sit on the panels, entrepreneurs seeking help with their business plans obtain feedback and advice on how to sharpen their presentations and businesses. This help is provided through intensive one-on-one consultations and small-group critique sessions.
One current Venture Point participant is entrepreneur Richard Castellanos, who has yet to enter a venture forum. That's because he's been going through the extensive grooming process at Venture Point since November 1999. "I wanted an unbiased group to validate our opinion on [our product]," says the 38-year-old founder and president of The Flying Beverage Company, a Cypress, California, business that produces airline catering and galley equipment. "I also wanted them to help groom us to go before investors. I expected them to help review our business plan, to help ensure we had a good presentation plan and, most important, to help us develop a strategy to locate investors."
What was Venture Point's objective analysis of Castellanos' attempt? "It was obvious from his business plan that [Castellano] had spent a considerable effort trying to understand the market and the competition," says Karen Z. Gifford, director of consulting services at Venture Point. "But while he had done a lot of work, there were still some gaping holes."
In an effort to move Castellano to the next level, Gifford and her consultants pointed out the strong and weak spots and then created a timetable for dealing with them and meeting again with the Venture Point staff.
The evaluation process certainly opened up Castellanos' eyes. Like most entrepreneurs, his primary inclination had been to focus all his energies on finding the financial resources to fuel his dream. Consequently, he became frustrated and impatient when the consultants raised some unexpected questions, like "What do you and your team want out of the business?"
But that's the point. According to Gifford, helping entrepreneurs understand how such ancillary issues will affect their search for funding and the development of their business is what Venture Point's consulting is all about.
The Challenges of Qualifying for a Forum
Akropolis.net, a Web portal in Irvine, California, for architects, in-terior designers and landscape architects, is still going through the process of presenting at venture forums. The company, which has already presented at several Southern California venture forums, was one of the first to complete Venture Point's review process.
"The first one we did was the California Venture Forum in November 1999," says Jeremy Kisner, president of Akropolis.net. "First, we sent in three copies of our business plan. They received about 45 and picked the top 13 or so. We were selected. Then we went to a mandatory one-day workshop, where they talked about how the presentation was supposed to go."
During the workshop, Kisner and partners realized just how clueless they were about this whole venture-forum process. "At the one-day workshop, companies should have had a rough of their presentation," remembers Kisner, who's still trying to raise between $7 million and $10 million from investors. "We didn't have ours."
At the workshop, Kisner learned each company would have seven minutes to give a PowerPoint presentation covering their product, target market, management team, financial projections and business development strategy. A dress rehearsal was held about a week before the forum, and at that point, everyone was timed.
The second venture forum Akropolis.net presented at was WestStart-CALSTART in February. "The format was the same as the first one, with the one-day workshop and rehearsal," says Kisner, who liked the WestStart forum because more investors attended.
So although Akropolis.net hasn't found an investor yet, Kisner is in negotiations with several and insists he and his team didn't walk away empty-handed. One important thing he learned: how to refine the presentation. "We learned you have to memorize your presentation and be very succinct," he says. "You have to cover the major bullet points of the business in a logical fashion."
In addition to polishing the presentation, the forums allowed Kisner and his team the opportunity to network with individuals who might know the right investors. And thanks to the knowledge and confidence he's gained from the experiences, Kisner says they now might have a better chance at presenting at larger, more sophisticated venture forums.
Like Kisner, many entrepreneurs don't succeed at their first venture forum. But there's never a quick fix to capital needs. Don't forget: If you want to raise money, you usually have to do some learning--and some legwork.
How to Shop for a Forum
Boot Camp Basics
Made it to the venture forum? It ain't over yet--time for the orientation workshop.
Sure, earning the chance to present at a venture forum seems like a major obstacle cleared. But in reality, a more critical element to this whole process actually happens after you're chosen to participate. Referred to as orientation workshops, and designed to teach entrepreneurs venture-forum procedures, these pre-forum cram sessions actually more resemble boot camp.
Case in point: At Springboard 2000, a series of regional venture forums that target women, selected business owners must attend a day-long boot camp four to six weeks before presenting. In addition to learning about the presentation and testing out their pitch, each is assigned an experienced coach ready to help them refine their spiel.
It's not a simple process. Entrepreneurs must make special attitude adjustments in order to be successfully coached, says Karen Gifford, director of consulting services at Venture Point. "[You] must hear the advice and actually take action on it," she says. "But that doesn't mean every single bit of advice we give out should be taken. It's a matter of hearing what is said, judging it and explaining why a certain action was taken if it's not in line with the recommendation. You also have to be coachable without being defensive."
The Right Stuff?
Things to keep in mind when looking for the right venture forum
Timing is everything when it comes to presenting at venture forums. That's because these are public venues--meaning it's not possible to ensure confidentiality of a presentation. Tom Siegel, president of the National Association of Venture Forums (NAVF), says entrepreneurs should wait until they feel they're not letting the cat out of the bag about their company before applying. Depending on your business, this means securing your copyright, making sure your trademark or patent is in the works, or having your Web site in beta-test mode.
"But it doesn't mean waiting until your business plan or presentation is perfect," says Siegel. "Most investors recognize that people progress and improve over time and won't hold it against an entrepreneur who, six months or a year ago, gave a presentation that was sloppy."
Once you decide when to present, the next question is where. Finding a forum is getting easier thanks to the National Venture Capital Association Web site, which features an events calendar that lists venture conferences and forums. NAVF is currently in the process of developing a listing on its own site, and you can call the NAVF office at (314) 567-4145 to find the nearest forum.
The top six forums that pull in the largest number of participants are: The New York Venture Club; The Capital Network in Austin, Texas; the Florida Venture Forum; the Missouri Venture Forum; the Los Angeles Venture Association; and the Rockies Venture Club in Denver, Colorado.
Once you've identified potential forums, give them a call. "Ask them the format of their meetings, how you apply, what the application fee is and who attends," suggests Siegel. "Are they investors or service providers?" Also, ask what you can expect to gain as a result of attending and participating in their forum. Says Siegel, "They'll be honest with you, because they're not interested in misrepresenting."
Keep in mind that each forum has its own unique mission. These can range from investing in environmentally friendly companies to targeting firms that will create jobs in a particular local area. Find out ahead of time if your business fits with their mission, or you'll just end up wasting time-yours and theirs.
Choose Wisely
How to do the venture forum right
As you might have guessed, not all venture forums are created equal. To use a baseball metaphor, some forums are considered Double-A while others are definitely major leaguers.
Jeremy Kisner, president of Akropolis.net, noticed such differences after making presentations at just two forums. "After we did our seven-minute presentation, we had a table where people could come back and talk with us," he says. "At the first one, it was mostly students and service providers who talked with us. At the second one, there were probably five or six investors who asked us to tell them about our business."
Tom Siegel, president of the National Association of Venture Forums, agrees there's quite a variance among venture forums. "It all depends on the mission of the venture capitalists," he says. "For some of them, part of the mission is to keep the forum a relatively small, closed group. Others are more general networking groups or open forums, and a few are industry-specific."
If you're new to the game, attend a small forum to help you better learn the process. But keep in mind the following tips for evaluating venture forums:
1. If the application process is highly selective, chances are the number of potential investors present could be substantially higher.
2. A heftier application fee sometimes translates into more investors.
3. When you call to get more information on a forum, find out the ratio of investors to service providers.
4. Will there be more angels than venture capital firms attending? Angels tend to make smaller investments.


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Thinking of Selling?
If your thinking of selling your home or investment property, call us today at 416. 231. 3000 to book a free marketing and pricing proposal.
We've got the West End covered - Note our recent transactions
ARTIST PROJECT - Contemporary Art Fair
About the Fair
"For the fifth year in a row we have sponsored The Artist Project – a contemporary art show held in February at Exhibition Place featuring over 250 artists. The sponsorship program plays an essential role in supporting independent artists and emerging talent. This year we chose George Raab an artist/printmaker from Millbrook Ont. as our award winner. We highly recommend attending this show to beat the February blahs."
www.theartistproject.com - Click for more info!
Art Deco or Edwardian: A pictorial guide to early 20th century Toronto housing styles - Click Here
Toronto 100 yrs ago vs. today
Market Watch
The Toronto Real Estate Board provides a monthly statistical update of the Toronto Housing Market.
Click here and scroll through the report to see how your neighbourhood is fairing.
We are proud contributers to a number of local organizations including the centre
for addiction and mental health.
"We have been Toronto residients for over 30 years and we feel it is important to contribute to our community. A portion of our fees is donated to camh our charity of choice."
Rob & Jill's other Favourite Charities...


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People often have a unique perspective about loading the dishwasher.
"Everyone thinks they're doing it the right way," said Kimberly Janeway, multimedia content creator for Consumer Reports.
The best place to start is the owner's manual, "even though it's a bit of a snooze," she said.
While most all dishwashers are designed to fit a 24-inch cavity, manufacturers configure them differently so there are surprising differences between models, especially between American and European brands such as Frigidaire and Bosch, Janeway said.
Some basics apply to most dishwashers:Scrape, don't rinse
Today's dishwashers are equipped with soil sensors that can assess how dirty your dishes are and adjust the amount of energy and water needed to clean them. For that reason, users should scrape dishes, not rinse them clean, Janeway said. Larger detritus can bounce around the dishwasher while it's running and end up stuck on other dishes.
Scrape off cereal and clumps of food, shells, bones and objects like toothpicks. Sauces and liquids are fine left on.
"Your dishwasher shouldn't become a garbage disposal," Janeway said.
Pre-rinsing isn't needed and may be a waste of water.Start at the top
The top shelf is the place for glasses, cups and small bowls. Plastics that are labeled dishwasher-safe also belong on the top shelf.
Older plastics that are not labeled should not be washed in the dishwasher. The heat can cause the chemicals in the plastic to leach, Janeway said.Bigger on bottom
Plates, cutting boards and serving platters belong on the bottom rack, positioned at the back or sides so that they don't block jets from dispensing water, Janeway said.
"Cruddy casserole dishes go up front face-down," Janeway said.
Aluminium and stainless steel pots and pans that are dishwasher-safe also belong on the bottom rack.Up versus down
The standard advice for utensils is: Forks and spoons are placed handles-down, but knives go in the dishwasher handles-up for safety. It doesn't really matter for dull butter knives, Janeway said, but good knives should never go in the dishwasher.Don't overcrowd
Water and detergent should be able to flow freely, so don't pack in dishes too tightly.
"Detergent should be able to spring out of dispensers," Janeway said.
Work with what your dishwasher offers by loading plates, glasses and dishes in the direction of the tines, positioning them so water is able to spritz between them, Janeway said.And then there's ...
People put the craziest things in their dishwashers, from car parts to bras to computer keyboards, but Consumer Reports testing finds that the dishwasher is made to clean dishes, glasses, silverware, pots and pans, and not much else, Janeway said. Other items can be ruined in or ruin your dishwasher.Do not dishwash The coating of nonstick cookware can be ruined in the dishwasher, Janeway said. Wood cutting boards and utensils should not be machine-washed because the combination of water and heat can cause them to warp and crack, Janeway said. Cast-iron cookware should also take a pass because the dishwasher can remove the seasoning home chefs have built up. Insulated mugs may be dishwasher-safe but may lose the potential to hold their heat after dishwashing, Janeway said.


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Let's share our favourite memes and meme accounts.
Let's share our favourite memes and meme accounts.
Me too! The great popular artform of the early 21st Century.
Αι ψυχαί οσμώνται καθ΄ Άιδην.
If you don't like memes it means you're a sad loser stuck in the '90s
Luke, what's your take on 'meme magic', Pepe/Kek, the 4chan/alt-right overlap and all of that malarkey? A continuum of reactionary occultism that goes back to the 19th century, kids pissing about, or a bit of both? I find it slightly odd that you're so into memes and yet so critical of nerd culture.
Originally Posted by woops
Nerds aren't funny therefore nerds can't be responsible for the memes I like. I posted an article about kek on the post truth thread. His view is close to mine really
I feel sorry for the guy who created Pepe, who is apparently in no way a Trump/alt-right fan and hates what the little fellow has become a symbol for.
Originally Posted by woops
I like the REEEE meme. Thus (around 1:20 in)
Originally Posted by woops
Thread needs more memes. Post memes.
memes are about the context you put them in. they provide and express a visual and visceral emotional potency in cyberspace; a realm otherwise devoid of these characteristics. communication relies on body language; yet communication technology is devoid of the body, so we simulate the body through memes (the majority of memes are people doing faces, sometimes animals). so posting a meme without any context
im am fan of the marijuana makes you violent type memes:


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ELC Staff
Mrs Patterson is leading the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) as senior nursery nurse. She is supported by one full time nursery nurse and one part time nursery nurse.
Opening and Pick Up Times
Morning sessions start at 8.30 am. Afternoon session begins at 12.30 pm. The cloakroom door opens five minutes before the session begins to allow the children to change shoes and be ready to enter ELC.
The ELC doors will be closed and alarmed at 8.40 am and 12.40 pm respectively. Please ensure your child arrives on time to ELC. Late arrivals should go to the main school office where office staff will facilitate entrance to the ELC.
If your child is being collected by anyone other than yourselves, please fill in the "Pick Up" sheet, which can be found on a clipboard in the cloak-room area.
Should your child's collection arrangements change during ELC session, inform the school office.
The ELC session lasts for three hours and ten minutes. The ELC doors are opened at 11.35 am and 3.35 pm to allow time for parents to pick up children.
Please come straight into the ELC setting when the doors are opened


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Global Entrepreneurship Week returns to Penn State this November
Global Entrepreneurship Week returns to Penn State this November
Global Entrepreneurship Week will connect students at Penn State to six continents and more than 130 countries from Nov. 17 to 22. Millions of participants plan to explore their entrepreneurial potential that week all across the globe. And E-ship experts from the Penn State Small Business Development Center, Penn State faculty, local entrepreneurship-based groups as well as respected speakers from across the east coast will share their knowledge with students at the University Park campus during the dozens of scheduled events.
The Global Entrepreneurship Week initiative is the world's largest celebration of job creators and innovators who launch business start-ups. The platform is meant to draw awareness to individual potential as entrepreneurs, evoke forward-thinking and ignite connection between participants and local businesses.
Based on a combination of the number of events and attendance, Penn State's response to Global Entrepreneurship Week ranked fourth in the nation in 2012, and this year, more than 40 events are scheduled all around the University Park campus and in State College.
Attendees will have the opportunity to listen to speakers, participate in networking events and attend interactive workshops. From learning how to create a mobile app and developing strategic social media to global entrepreneurship in the craft beer industry to presentations for entrepreneurship-minded international students, the week will contain events for all audiences. Participants will receive Global Entrepreneurship Week passports and a sticker for each event they attend along with the chance to enter multiple gift card drawings.
Coinciding with the initiative to connect, all events are open to both students and the public. Community events include a daily tours (12 to 1 p.m.) of the proposed New Leaf Initiative, to be housed on the third floor of the State College Municipal Building. The New Leaf Initiative works to bring innovators and entrepreneurs together in a neutral environment on a daily basis.
On Wednesday, Nov. 20 from 11 a.m. to noon, members of the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County will host "Trends of Town and Gown Entrepreneurship" at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel in Innovation Park. There, a panel of Penn State student entrepreneurs and local entrepreneurs will discuss partnerships and trends as they foster a strong, local entrepreneurial community.
More information and a complete schedule of events can be found here: http://www.geweekatpennstate.com/


text: We spoke with Ada Limón about her latest poetry collection, 'The Carrying' which was featured on PBS Books' Best of 2018 List, and it recently won the 2019 National Book Critics Circle Award for poetry. Limón is the author of five books of poetry, including 'Bright Dead Things,' which was named a finalist for the National Book Award. She also works as a freelance writer in Lexington, Kentucky.


text: Providing Professional and Quality Products and ServicesQuanzhou Risen Electronics is one of the leading suppliers specializing in the R&D, production and distribution of wireless communication equipment, and providing professional and quality products and services. We have been dedicated to the solutions for two-way radio terminals and professional wireless communication systems. Our products and solutions are widely used for emergency communication, monitoring and routine in the fields such as industry and commerce, forestry, transportation and ma... [Details]


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Emma Watson & Will Adamowicz: New York City Stroll!
Emma Watson keeps close to Will Adamowicz while crossing the street on Saturday afternoon (February 16) in New York City.
The 22-year-old actress kept her hand in her beau's front coat pocket while the pair spent the day out and about.
Emma recently opened up to VMAN Magazine about her Noah co-star Douglas Booth.
"We met when [Douglas] was 15 and I remember looking at him and thinking he was offensively attractive," the actress shared with the magazine. "And it's just gotten worse from there."
40+ pictures inside of Emma Watson and Will Adamowicz out in New York City…
Posted to: Emma Watson, Will Adamowicz


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Apply now or join our talent pool to be considered for future opportunities.
Apply now or join our talent pool to be considered for future opportunities.
Midtown Health
Entry Level
300 Revere Dr.
Northbrook, IL 60062
MIDTOWN is looking for a Lifeguard to add to our first class organization.
About Our Company
MIDTOWN Corporate Office is a pleasant work environment serving our upscale athletic clubs and club management partners across North America. Our team of associates is committed to exceptional performance, delivering our promise to members, and supporting a workplace where everyone can reach their full career potential.
MIDTOWN ATHLETIC CLUBS is an industry leader in upscale fitness and sports resorts. Founded in 1970 as a single tennis club in Chicago, Midtown now has 8 full-service tennis and fitness facilities in the United States and Canada. To learn more, read Our Story.
MIDTOWN HEALTH, sister company to Midtown Athletic Clubs, is a leader in fitness center management and employee wellness solutions for medically-integrated and corporate fitness centers throughout the United States. To learn more, click here.
Position Summary
As an integral part of the aquatics team, our Lifeguards inspire members through movement, community, and personal attention. They encourage active, social, and healthier lives by:
Our Lifeguards:
Associate Benefits
Full-time Midtown associates are eligible to receive a competitive compensation package and benefits plan including: group health, dental, life, vision, prescription drug program, flexible spending account, short/long term disability, matching 401k, professional development account, and a complimentary club membership.
MIDTOWN is an Equal Opportunity Employer.


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All IMs were invited to attend the Conference along with ISAF Member National Authorities (MNAs) and representatives of International Classes. The Conference was the perfect opportunity to share best practice and look at the role of classes, MNAs and ISAF in working together to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of measurement controls - all with the aim of keeping things fair, where they matter, out on the water.
David SPRAGUE (CAN), the chair of the ISAF International Measurers Sub-Committee (IMSC) and host of the Conference, said, 'The conference was a great success with almost 50% of the IMs in the world attending plus 15 class and MNA representatives.
'The group was exposed to a wide variety of opinions and techniques from around the world. People who had been IMs for years but never had met with other IMs got to interact with their peers and we all learned. In addition there was a significant cross fertilization of ideas and from it came significant resolve to improve the management of our sport.'
Moving Forward
After two intensive days of lectures, presentations and discussions, five key areas for development were identified, and working parties for each area have been appointed:
- Improving the Equipment Rules of Sailing
- Making alterations to the Racing Rules of Sailing where they impact measurers
- Improve education and quality control of IMs
- How to improve Equipment Certification on a worldwide scale
- How to improve equipment control at ISAF Grade 1 and ISAF Grade W events
In addition members of the IMSC took on a number of other initiatives flowing from the sessions, including an expanded clinic and seminar programme.
Crucial Role
At a reception held at the ISAF Secretariat on Friday evening, ISAF Secretary General Arve SUNDHEIM (NOR) gave a welcome speech to the delegates, commenting, 'We are all here for one goal - to work together to improve our sport. This Conference is dedicated to improving the standards of equipment control for our sport, and your role is of course crucial in achieving our goal.'
'You are all volunteers in our sport and your dedication and support is highly appreciated by ISAF.'
David SPRAGUE opened the Conference on Saturday morning, introducing the themes that would run through two full days of lectures and discussions. Over ten presenters contributed their expert opinions on the Conference topics, whilst the variety delegates - which included John DOERR (GBR), the chairman of the ISAF Race Officials Committee, Dick BATT (GBR), the chairman of the ISAF Equipment Committee and several members of the ISAF Secretariat - ensured there were plenty of opinions to be heard when the timetable moved onto areas of discussion.
Topics on the opening day included the ISAF In-House Certification programme, the Equipment Rules of Sailing, measurement protests and IM techniques and tools. The second day of the Conference focussed on class certification and class measurement management.
A lot of planning and preparation work was required to make the Conference a success. ISAF would like to thank the Conference Co-ordination team of David SPRAGUE, Dimitris DIMOU (GRE) and Barry JOHNSON (AUS) along with all the delegates who attended.
To view the list of attendees CLICK HERE.
For all the news connected to ISAF Race Officials CLICK HERE.


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A very charitable call from the FOX crew. "No harm, no foul," they say. "Not sure that David Wright had a play at first, anyway," they say. "He was trying to hold up," they say. Mets fans? Less charitable.
Aw. Yeah, though, that's not how you throw a ball. Mets down 5-1 in the game, eight games below five hundred on the season, and now just throwing 'em straight in the dirt. Hopefully the rest of the game gets rained out.


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Deco™ 8 Piece Sofa and Club Chair Set - Moroccan Cream
When you bring timeless but contemporary style, superior comfort, and all-weather durability together in a complete outdoor furniture set, you end up with a patio that turns your backyard into the perfect outdoor getaway. From sharing a conversation, reading a book, or simply enjoying the sun, this deep seating outdoor furniture set can help you sink in, kick back, and let the time slip away. Constructed with extra plush deep seating and a sturdy powder-coated aluminum frame, this might be the last patio furniture you ever need.
- Set includes a two-piece oversized sofa, two club chairs with matching ottomans, and a woven accent coffee and side table
- Frame constructed with high quality, powder coated aluminum for years of durability
- Cushions are covered in fade-resistant Sunbrella® fabric, which is easily removable to clean or switch colors with our patented cushion cover system
- Hand-woven SolarFast® resin wicker in rich Espresso is UV, weather, and water-resistant
- Multi-layered weatherproof foam cushions deliver superior comfort while allowing the moisture to completely drain
- Easy to clean with a mild soap and water
- Set comes fully assembled, with minor table assembly required
- Designed to coordinate with the pieces in the Deco Collection by RST Brands
Items under 100 lbs will be shipped via UPS ground. All other orders will be shipped LTL, with an appointment scheduled by the freight company. Estimated delivery time is 7-10 business days; however, during peak spring and summer months, this may increase.
White Glove Delivery: For an added convenience, White Glove Delivery agents will unload and place your furniture to the preferred location, and remove all shipping waste when completed. Not all orders qualify for White Glove. If interested, please call us for more information.
Questions & Answers
Sofa: 96 in. W x 36 in. D x 32 in. H
Club Chairs: 30 in. W x 33 in. D x 32 in. H
Ottomans: 30 in. W x 20 in. D x 17 in. H
Coffee Table: 46 in. W x 26 in. D x 16 in. H
Side Table: 20 in. W x 20 in. D x 19 in. H
Seating Height (with cushion): 18 in.
Powder-coated aluminum frames
SolarFast® resin wicker
Sunbrella® fabric
Weight Capacity
400 lbs.
Assembly Required
Minor table assembly, quick cushion cover attachment
Designed to sit deep. Ergonomically contoured to fit to your body.
Weather resistant materials are durable and easy to clean.
Powder-coated aluminum is lightweight and rust-free. Hand-woven resin wicker is engineered for rugged outdoor use.
Plush cushions are layered to allow moisture to completely drain. All-weather fabric is fade resistant to last for years.


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are making in Ethiopia. This video shows what we've been able to accomplish over the past few years with your generous hearts.
Your gift will make a difference in the lives of many children.
Ethiopian Orphan Relief is a 100% volunteer non profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of Ethiopia's most vulnerable children.
Working together to improve the lives of orphan and vulnerable children.


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Jennifer Aniston's fake Skrillex
Jennifer Aniston presented to Jimmy Kimmel at the Spike TV Guys Choice Awards this weekend with her hair styled fake Skrillex which means the MiniVan Majority can start doing it now. Also, as you can see, her shoe game still sucks.
While on stage, Jen dropped a few jokes at Jimmy's expense:
"Jimmy what a year you've had. You got to host the Emmys, must be so fun to finally meet all the stars who won't do your show. Jimmy you've got a lot going on in your life. Like me, you got engaged this year, unlike me, nobody cares. And here's something that no one has ever said before, 'I can't wait to see Jimmy's package' Roll it!"
Jimmy, if you recall, showed up for Jen in that embarrassingly sh-tty smartwater ad that was directed by Justin Theroux. Click here for a refresher. She and Theroux are tight with Jimmy and his fiancée, spending New Year's together with them in Cabo -- click here to revisit those pictures -- and appearing on Kimmel's show during his first week in his new time slot against The Tonight Show.
Backstage, Jen caught up with Bradley Cooper, who she was rumoured to be dating for about five minutes. Coop didn't pass the test but Justin Theroux wanted to play and now they're getting married, but not before he headlines his own pilot at HBO. Written by Damon Lindelof and director by Peter Berg, Justin plays a police chief trying to manage life after the Rapture. Will the wedding be timed around the premiere? Will she make a cameo?
Jason Kempin/ Kevin Winter/ Jason Merritt/ Getty


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Posts Tagged 'pownce'
The Law of Startups.
Posted April 24, 2008on:
I think I have figured something. It goes something like this.
Markets and Companies are neither created nor destroyed. They just transform from one form to the another.
I'll give you some examples. Amazon.com when it started in 95 was a very ambitious project. A few years later, they were raking in 30million dollars as revenues. But where did that money come from? Very few people think about it, but customers are a finite set. God isn't growing customers on trees yet. So essentially what happens is that since the need hasn't exemplified, just found a better solution, people switch from one service to another. The year that Amazon.com announced its $30mn revenue stream, the music and bookstore industry had lost close to 2billion dollars. Disruptive? Yep, if you are a startup and on the growth curve, very much so. Scary? Absolutely. Especially if you are three days old and even have a handful of customers.
I think this is a very basic understand that we need to have. Markets are not created. All this talk on Markets, and blah is just a segmentation process that economists and entrepreneurs have to work with to figure out how to shape their product. The truth is that there are consumers and consumers or clients are essentially people. And People are finite. if you work backwards, then so are markets.
Read the rest of this entry »


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Prescription Drug Take Back Day a Success in Alexandria
The Alexandria Police Department and the Alexandria Sheriff's Office collected 243 pounds of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
On Saturday, October 26, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M., the two Alexandria law enforcement agencies, with cooperation from the Substance Abuse Coalition of Alexandria, collected potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs and other medications for destruction at three sites in the City
Over 5,000 collections sites nationwide participated in the take back day program this past Saturday and over 3,150 pounds were collected in the Northern Virginia area alone. In Alexandria, residents dropped off unused prescription medications at three drop sites in the City. The sites included Police Headquarters, the Del Ray Pharmacy and the parking lot of the First Baptist Church. The service was free and anonymous.
Last spring, the two Alexandria law enforcement agencies collected over 196 pounds of prescription drugs for destruction in the third ever take back initiative.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.
Other participants in this initiative include the Partnership for a Drug-Free America; the International Association of Chiefs of Police; the National Association of Attorneys General; the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy; the Federation of State Medical Boards; and the National District Attorneys Association.


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porourke necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
2 ganadores han sido elegidos entre 26 diseños de 8 diseñadores freelance.
We are looking for a logo design and coded css template design for an online entertainment website. (You may submit a logo or layout on its own but please be prepared to possibly having to alter colours etc if needed to make the final layout and logo match up.) Users will be able to browse and book entertainment acts via the site. The main emphasis of the site will be on booking of live bands and DJs. There will also be a strong emphasis towards weddings.
Pure Entertainment
Entertainment at its best.
Desired Color Scheme:
Up to designer.
Desired Style:
Accepted File Formats:
Logo in pdf, vector format.
The website URL will be PureEntertainment.ie
Currently the website is under construction and can be viewed at http://www.efh.dreamhosters.com (you may find the site a little slow as it has not yet been optimised so please be patient).
What we need is for somebody to create a very professional logo and to extend our current design to build a professional-looking layout based around the newly created logo.
Guidelines for the design are as follows.
The new design should take the following factors into account.
1. The logo can be incorporated into the site design but it will need to stand alone also so we can used it on business cards, stationary etc.
2. We like the idea of a photographic banner on the top of the site to reflect the energy of the entertainment we are promoting. This banner may change as users navigate pages in the site to view different types of bands eg rock,jazz,classical etc.
As an example of a site that does this well is:
3. We would like a side navigation where users can jump to a particular category of entertainment. The categories we have in mind at the moment are:
cover bands
International music
Other Entertainment
As this list is likely to expand we would like a drop down menu in the same section to view other types of entertainment.
4. The top navigation should have links to
My Bookings, FAQ, Search, Site Map, About us, Contact
5. Layout should contain a logon box with a signup link.
6. Layout should contain a search box for searching site by keyword.
7. Below the top navigation should be four graphical (with pictures/photos) links to the following categories:
8. Below these links we will have text telling users about the site.
9. Copyright bar at the bottom.
This contest was originally listed in multiple categories:
- Logo Design
- Web Page Design (Coded)
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Topsy Turvy World: My Ongoing Dialogue with Peter LaBarbera
Some days, you just look around and go… what?
Like the whole GOProud at CPAC thing. The LGBT movement really isn't too keen on GOProud, gay as they may be. (Here are my reasons.) And the arch-conservatives and tea partiers at CPAC don't want ANYTHING remotely pro-LGBT at their event. And so, for me personally at least, even though I don't have much respect for GOProud's platform, I find myself cheering on the trouble they're causing in conservative circles. I don't have to respect GOProud to appreciate differences they might make by subverting the way conservatives dismiss all LGBT issues.
But over the past week, I've had my own topsy-turvy experience. I've been having a civil and even respectful dialogue (if you ignore the occasional mocking quotes) with Peter LaBarbera on Twitter.
Readers know I use this blog to challenge religious right rhetoric, and I won't pretend that I didn't start engaging with Peter LaBarbera with the same motive. But, I'm going to give him a little credit: it's actually been a constructive and meaningful exchange, as much as one between the two of us possibly could be. I mean, it's no secret to him that I'm an openly gay atheist, and it's no secret to me that he orchestrates Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, which promotes a lot of dangerous untruths about LGBT identities.
In fact, Peter LaBarbera has pretty well earned himself the ire of the LGBT community. (I'm still working on a similar reputation among conservatives.) He says a lot of things that are incredibly offensive to us (he tweeted today using the hashtag #trannycare—oy). Over at Pam's House Blend, he is regularly referred to as "Porno Pete" for the way he always looks for ways to use queer sexuality as a weapon against our community. But in the scheme of things, it works for him, regardless of how much we make fun of him for it. As I just wrote, sexual liberation really freaks out our opponents, and whether or not he has a different motive for pursuing queer sexuality is really just a cheap joke on our parts.
And yet, I've found that he can actually engage in civil discourse, a quality that doesn't apply to many of his anti-LGBT peers. We've actually found things we can agree on and jokes we can both laugh at (including GOProud's Chris Barron's regular Twitter updates about his workout routines). Today, Peter actually did me a favor. He noticed that I was debating "NGblog" about the merits of Creating Change and pointed out that it's Nelson Garcia, a fake gay activist with a history of boyloving and pedophilia charges. In fact, Peter went out of his way to call out Garcia's past on the #cc11 hashtag for all to see. He didn't have to do that.
None of this changes the fact that Peter LaBarbera and I fundamentally disagree on a lot. I'm eagerly waiting to see what his AFTAH undercover reporters "uncovered" at Creating Change. (Unlike AFTAH's conference this summer, Creating Change doesn't limit who can attend, so I don't know why they had to go undercover to begin with.) [Upon reading this post, Peter informed me he has been escorted out before. I personally expect that protecting the experience of attendees who support LGBT equality is paramount, though I wonder if perhaps a silent observer might be tolerated. There is certainly nothing to hide at CC.] But despite the way that he can trigger me, I feel like there is something profoundly meaningful about the kind of dialogue we've managed to have on Twitter.
I actually asked his permission to preserve our exchange here on the blog, and it seems we're both interested in continuing the exchange. Below is most of it so far up until today, but it's still very much underway. I want you all to take a deep breath as you read it because there are certainly a lot of reasons to be frustrated by it, but I am committed to continuing to keep it constructive. I ask that no one disrupt that by resorting to name-calling or mocking (here or on Twitter), as hurt as any of us might be by things he says. Just lift your fingers off the keyboard and let the dialogue continue.
Twitter exchanges are tough to follow, but here is how our conversation has panned out so far. There have been a couple of previous short exchanges between us that I've omitted, and there are some loose threads included below as well, but here's how things have proceeded. (Note: I've combined consecutive tweets and sorted some out for ease of reading. Twitter actually does not make this very easy to do!)
February 1, 2011
ZF: If you say gay people should be executed and then gays are executed, how is that not a connection?
PL: sorry lying dude but youve confused Christians (+ me) w/ rad Muslims who say we should push homols off tall bldgs #lgbtliars #tcot
ZF: So it's more compassionate to just put them in jail for life? You're the good guys because at least you don't want death?
PL: On radio Gary Glenn listed #christian victims of #lgbt laws: what kind of "civil rights" mvt TAKES AWAY others' rel + 1st Am rights? #tcot
ZF: Help me understand, dude. What 1st amendment rights do #LGBT laws strip you of?
PL: #LGBT Freedom of association, for starters. Freedom to live out ur rel/moral creed – the Boy Scouts of America almost lost theirs
ZF: Help me understand. I don't recall any clauses in the laws that prohibit free association. Is discriminating a freedom?
PL: One man's "discrimination" is another man's fidelity to his conscience + moral/rel. code. That's the essence of this battle. #tcot
ZF: I recognize the right of your conscience, but how does that amount to a right to exclude others' same freedom of conscience?
PL: + btw, Zack, until you apologize for lying that I called for the "execution of gays," there will be no exchange b/t us. #tcot
ZF: So, @PeterLaBarbera answer me concisely "No" and I will apologize: Do you support the execution, incarceration, or persecution of LGBTs? Honestly, I would love to be able to apologize for that being a mistake. Would love to call you an ally for human rights!
February 2, 2011
ZF: Peter, I'm hoping you can still answer my question so I can offer you the apology you seek.
February 6, 2011
ZF: BTW, I'm still hoping to apologize. Just answer "No": Do you support the execution, incarceration, or persecution of LGBTs?
PL: Love how u expanded ur ? after ur erroneous claim that I supp the "execution" of #lgbt ppl. We wuld differ on def of "persecution" … Eg, would u consider denial of SSM or laws ag homo'l adoption "persecution"?
ZF: Well, supporting persecution is an invitation for violence. I'd love to hear what kinds of persecution you don't support. What is your rationale for denying marriage or adoption to same-sex couples?
PL: see what I mean. We cant agree on terms. I bet u also see laws restricting #abortion as "persecution" of women. Hope I'm wrong…
ZF: The only different term I used was "same-sex couple," which is accurate: not all people in such couples are homosexuals. I would be happy to engage in a debate on abortion at a different time. May we stick to the topic at hand?
PL: don't twist my words, Zack. I'm not one of ur students. LOL. Denial of SSM is not persec. We have no agreement on terms.
ZF: I didn't say it was. I asked your rationale so I could offer my perspective in response. I'm trying for legit dialogue here.
February 7, 2011
ZF: If you say, for example, that SSC's are less effective at raising a child, that's not factually true, so I'd call that pers. Also, if you say that two people WANTING to commit to marriage somehow hurts marriage, that's also a demonizing smear.
PL: Ex of "persecution": govt forcing private bus. owners to subsidize employee "dom partnrships" desp their bel tht homo'y is sinful
ZF: So what I'm understanding is that a religious belief in sin takes precedent over a gov't definition of discrimination? So, it's persecution to force someone to be INCLUSIVE, but it's not persecution to enable someone to be EXCLUSIVE.
PL: my pt is 1 mans "rights" is another man's "persecution." U obv'sly define "persecution" acc to ur ideology. Dont assume its true
ZF: Well, my concern is that the 1st Amd says NOT to use laws to protect religion, while the 14th says equal rights for all… But what I hear is that you feel that preserving the religious belief is more important than protecting all people… If you're not allowed to discriminate based on belief, is that really an infringement of the right to that belief?
PL: First Freedom, Zack. Our nation was founded by ppl fleeing rel persecution. Thank God we have a 1st Amendment. #tcot #christian
ZF: a 1st amendment that ensures our lawmakers cater to all citizens, NOT specific religious beliefs. 🙂 #tcot #atheist
PL: Youre talking about Govt coming in and forcing citizens to comply w/ ideas that are alien to US's Jud-Chn heritage, wch = tyranny
ZF: haha, Jud-Chn heritage isn't part of our Constitution. Equality for all and freedom FROM religion is our heritage!
PL: ur distorting history thru ur atheist glasses. The irony is atheist or ANTI-Ch'n regimes are the most oppressive + murderous #tcot
ZF: No, now you're just attacking me for being an atheist. Read the Treaty of Tripoli, my friend! Christian-free US govt!
PL: Freedom FROM religion? They sure did a bad job w/ all those g't prayer proclamations, mentions of God, Moses on Sup Ct walls etc!
ZF: Haha, agreed! If only we just didn't use fear of communists to enshrine religion in our culture like we did in the 50s!
PL: # 1: Communism should b feared + stalwartly fought b/c its a murderous, anti-liberty system (Stalin, Mao, etc) # 2 follows. #tcot
ZF: Given that atheism in 2011 has NOTHING to do with Communism, I agree entirely with point #1!
PL: # 2: our Christ'y-infused + -informed govt system is our roots + is not a result of 1950s "fear of Communism" #tcot #reagan #gop
ZF: That's a fair point too. Though it was certainly cemented then. Christianity does not inform our gov't structure though. Christian principles have often overlapped, but our founding document prohibits infusing them into gov't. Do you agree?
PL: Founders were more concerned w/ pot. abuses of a State Church – which is in a way what libs like u could win w/ statist secularism
ZF: And you don't think enshrining discrimination in law is abuse of government by a group of religious believers? (What is "statist" secularism? Did you mean stalinist? Surely you don't think that's what any secularist actually wants.)
PL: There's far deeper + longer history beh Jud-Christ'n (biblical) understand'g of rights than newfangled homo'y-based "rights" #tcot
ZF: That's true! But don't we have the potential to learn and grow? Can't we learn new things, incorporate new understandings? Honestly, Jesus brought many new ideas that were contrary to the Old Testament past. Was that a bad thing too?
PL: Whch is to say "gay rights" are not truly "Western" (civilized) but insted really a corruption of a hist'l understan'g of "rights"
ZF: But isn't it in civilized countries where gay rights are thriving? What distinguishes your "corruption" from my "progress?"
PL: …This explains why today we see #lgbt "rights" advancing (or being imposed judicially) at the expense of rel liberty #tcot #ocra
ZF: How exactly do #lgbt rights impose on religious liberty? I haven't seen laws that prevent holding specific beliefs.
PL: Banning the outworking of faith (eg New Mex Ch'n photog sued by lesbians 4 not taking photos at their "commitmnt cerem'ny") (cont) …IS the imposition of "gay rights" against individ's "rel liberty," no? What would u call it? #lgbt #christian #tcot #hhrs #tlot
ZF: Well, it sounds like you see the "right to believe" and the "right to discriminate based on belief" as the same thing, yes?
PL: What if I told u that u could (foolkishly) BELIEVE there's no Creator but cannot ACT on that belief? #tcot #christian
ZF: I guess I'd be bothered by being called "foolish," but I guess I'm not sure what that would prevent me from doing? Go on. Btw, I really do find this to be a worthwhile and meaningful exchange and hope it continues. Mind if I blog our thread? Also, I'm looking forward to seeing how your AFTAH undercover reporters' #cc11 experiences compare to my own! Anyways, tell me more about what it would be like if I could not act on my atheism. What would it prevent me from doing? [He gave his blogging okay via DM.]
PL: so lets say u as a very committed atheist artist r approachd by a Ch'n to paint a giant mural message, "Atheism is evil" (Cont) …Should u be compelled (by the gov't) to work on that mural – even tho ur an atheist – under, say, a "Christian Rights" law?
ZF: Well, I see where you're going, but is it the best example? Art is about expression, not belief; artists can't be compelled. I don't think an artist of any identity should be compelled to paint a certain view; otherwise it's no longer art.
PL: Elaine H, #christian photog is an artist w/ a busin. Was it persecut'n 4 her to b forced by NM law to shoot a lesb ceremony? #tcot
ZF: She offered a public service, a business like you said. Her photos are skilled, but do not represent expression. It's no different than a Christian landlord refusing to rent an apartment to someone openly gay. It's just discrimination.
PL: Says who? Says Big Brother (or Big Gay Brother) gov't? #tcot #ocra #christian
ZF: It's blatantly refusing access because of identity. How is that not discrimination? (See "lunch counters circa 1960.")
PL: Wait a min: Do I have a "right" 2 rent an apt fr a gay landlord? Or a "right" to b a membr or even a leader at an #lgbt org? #tcot
ZF: I have a right to rent an apartment. It doesn't matter the landlord's SO. Everyone is welcome as members of #lgbt orgs. You have a right, just as I do, to NOT be discriminated against for your sexual orientation. Unfortunately, I actually do NOT have that right in many states. I can be fired or refused housing just for being gay.
PL: + I can be hired or not hired for being (too) straight, right? (+ lets face it: there's no rash of "gay" firings these these days! Sorry, typo: that was supp to be "Fired or not hired [by an #lgbt employer] for being (too) straight"…
ZF: I suppose you could be fired for being straight if the laws aren't there. Does that mean you'd support SO protections? But gay firing still happen all the time, and are still legal in 34 states.
ZF: Let's face it, discrimination based on race, gender, and religion, and we have protections for those (which I also support). For the record, I would not support an atheist or gay person discriminating against a Christian. The actual numbers: 37% of GL people reported workplace harassment, 12% losing job for SO (2008). http://bit.ly/h8TIAp Also, elderly lesbian couples are TWICE as likely to be living in poverty as elderly op-sex couples. http://bit.ly/ebKKGW
[msvavirgo: I was one of both the 37% and the 12% in case you need to put a face to the statistic]
PL: So wld u supp a Chn taking a lead'p role at your campus atheist club – like #lgbt cases try'g 2 sue way into #christian clubs? … Note: the #lgbt students are "suing" using campus "sexual orientation" nondisc codes… #lgbt #christian
ZF: There is no reported case of infiltration. I agree that all people should be eligible to be members and run for offices. If a group is foolish enough to vote someone into position who doesn't support the group's mission, it's their prob. But a Christian who is committed to the work of an atheist group would be great, just like straight allies in an LGBT group!
PL: No I dont demnd right to b hired by @GOPROUD altho then I could get live daily workout updates fr narcissist @ChrisRBarron 🙂 #gop
ZF: As for the workout updates, there's another point upon which we very much agree. 🙂
So that's where things stand today. Peter informed me that he would be unavailable to tweet much today, but that he is interested in pursuing the conversation. He has also expressed interest in hearing about my coming out experiences (I shared my posts about arriving at "gay" and "atheist" with him and invited questions), as well as having a discussion about what we each consider to be "adult," i.e. inappropriate for young people to discuss. Certainly, I will have some critical things to say as he starts reporting on Creating Change from the AFTAH perspective, but something about this exchange still seems somehow fruitful.
As the Zeitgeist dwells on the concept of "civility," I'm kind of proud that Peter and I can demonstrate a civil exchange, despite how profoundly we disagree.
And I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes.


text:
Mark Hamill is best known for playing the Joker in a variety of Batman stories*, but here's a role you've probably never seen him do before. The older, curmudgeonly guy who's the only voice of reason in the midst of complete drooling morons. It works really well here.
The above is an exclusive clip from a brand new movie called Airborne, being released by Image Entertainment. (It hits VOD on Sept. 14, DVD/Blu-ray on Oct. 16.) Check out another, non-exclusive clip and the trailer below, along with some teaser posters.
Cargo Hold/Box clip
A soldier on board the doomed flight looks for a weapon in the cargo hold. While down there, he makes a gruesome discovery.
Official Trailer
Here's the synopsis for Airborne:
Turbulence is the least of their worries. On October 16th, Image Entertainment presents Airborne, a "Twilight Zone"-infused horror/thriller starring Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill (Star Wars Trilogy,). Airborne features a strong genre cast including Alan Ford (Snatch), Gemma Atkinson ("Hollyoaks"), and Julian Glover (HBO's "Game of Thrones", Troy), who reunites with his fellow Star Wars legend after 30 years!
When a storm starts closing in, air traffic controller Malcolm (Hamill) sends one last plane into the sky – but after takeoff, the passengers aboard discover the pilots have been brutally murdered. Suddenly the plane disappears from radar, and one by one, the people aboard turn into dangerous, bloody psychopaths. With time running out, the survivors must unlock the deadly mystery in their midst – and find a way to land the plane before their ultimate nightmare is unleashed!
* - And for that other role. But mostly, for the Joker.


text:
Manage key vaults with Python
This sample demonstrates how to manage key vaults in Azure using the Python SDK.
On this page
Run this sample
If you don't already have it, install Python.
We recommend using a virtual environment to run this example, but it's not mandatory. You can initialize a virtual environment this way:
pip install virtualenv virtualenv mytestenv cd mytestenv source bin/activate
Clone the repository.
git clone https://github.com/Azure-Samples/key-vault-python-manage.git
Install the dependencies using pip.
cd key-vault-python-manage pip install -r requirements.txt
Create an Azure service principal, using Azure CLI, PowerShell or Azure Portal.
Export these environment variables into your current shell.
export AZURE_TENANT_ID={your tenant id} export AZURE_CLIENT_ID={your client id} export AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET={your client secret} export AZURE_SUBSCRIPTION_ID={your subscription id}
Run the sample.
python example.py
What is example.py doing?
This sample starts by setting up
ResourceManagementClient and
KeyVaultManagementClient objects using your subscription and credentials.
# Create the Resource Manager Client with an Application (service principal) token provider
subscription_id = os.environ['AZURE_SUBSCRIPTION_ID']
credentials = ServicePrincipalCredentials(
kv_client = KeyVaultManagementClient(credentials, subscription_id)
resource_client = ResourceManagementClient(credentials, subscription_id)
It registers the subscription for the "Microsoft.KeyVault" namespace and creates a resource group and a storage account where the media services will be managed.
# You MIGHT need to add KeyVault as a valid provider for these credentials
# If so, this operation has to be done only once for each credentials
# Create Resource group
resource_group_params = {'location': WEST_US}
print_item(resource_client.resource_groups.create_or_update(GROUP_NAME, resource_group_params))
Here, the
create_or_update method returns a
ResourceGroup object
after performing the appropriate operation,
and the supporting function
print_item prints some of its attributes.
Create a key vault
vault = kv_client.vaults.create_or_update(
'location': WEST_US,
'properties': {
'sku': {
'name': 'standard'
'tenant_id': os.environ['AZURE_TENANT_ID'],
'access_policies': [{
'tenant_id': os.environ['AZURE_TENANT_ID'],
'object_id': OBJECT_ID,
'permissions': {
'keys': ['all'],
'secrets': ['all']
The object ID is unique for a User or an Application. Find this number in the Azure Active Directory blade of the Azure portal:
- To find a User's object ID, navigate to "Users and groups" > "All users", search for the user name, and click it.
- To find an Application's object ID, search for the application name under "App registrations" and click it.
In either of these cases, you can then find the object ID in the Essentials box.
List key vaults
This code lists some attributes of all available key vaults.
for vault in kv_client.vaults.list():
Delete a key vault
delete_async_operation = resource_client.resource_groups.delete(GROUP_NAME)
print("\nDeleted: {}".format(GROUP_NAME))
Deleting a resource is an asynchronous operation which may take some time, so the object
returned from
delete represents an operation in progress. Calling
wait on it
forces the caller to wait until it finishes.


text:
Little bit-o-speed
Danny is careful when he explains speed workouts to me: "Don't think speed, just think length and looseness and being relaxed…"
That said:
I went down to Carrier Park because it's flat and today's run is supposed to be accelerations on flats on pavement. Since the run I am doing is on pavement, I need to think about starting to train on that surface.
Started off nice and easy in 1st gear after doing my Body Looseners. I have found that I start doing a body scan at the beginning of every run just to make sure that I am in the right place with my form and adjust if anything is off. Some days it's easier said than done, but overall, it's becoming much easier to identify my own body.
After my body was warmed up, I moved into 2nd gear and stayed there for 15 minutes. I noticed, because the sun was going down, that my shadow showed a pretty darn good heel lift. I imagine the shadow somewhat exaggerated my actual foot height and lift, but it felt good, so I was happy with that.
For the accelerations, I have two tips if you are going to try to do this workout series:
1) Make sure your watch or heart rate monitor has a minute countdown that you are familiar with and USE IT 2) and if you have an open flat place that's paved where you don't have to make a million loops, go there instead.
Carrier Park is great for loops, but 1/2 of it is wood chips for the covering and I wanted to stay off it, so I looked like a crazy hampster running back and forth, but that's okay. I don't think I'll be able to do that forever, though.
So anyway, the accelearations started off pretty well. I was to do 4 accelerations in 3 min increments with 1 min jog breaks. The first two sets of accelerations were okay, and I was focusing on the first two minutes being of a nice, good form gear 2. I was working a lot with my arm swing today to make sure my cadence was up… No metronome today. With my arm swing, I was working with my heel lift and always keeping my lean so that my feet are always landing behind my center of body. So: arm swing, heel lift and nice lean.
During the last minute of each acceleration, I gently moved into gear 3. The idea with these for my training is that I can increase speed without effort. What that means for me is to watch my heart rate a little bit and check in: once I engage gear 3, does my heart rate peak or does it hover around where it started? This process of maintaining a faster speed for a longer distance sort of freaks me out, I have to admit. Gear 3 feels a little scary to me, and at the end of the third and fourth accelerations, I was VERY glad to do a nice jog.
I don't think, looking back now, that I was really loose and relaxed. The dichotomy in ChiRunning of getting faster but relaxing more is still a hard one for my body to embrace. In the yoga class last weekend, the lady talked a lot about effort and surrender. It's an interesting pair of words to consider in ChiRunning, too.
If I were able to get my hip swing a little better, I might have felt a little more relaxed. There were moments of relaxation, but going into gear 3 still manifests in a faster heart rate (about 10 bpm increase) and increased PRE right now.
After the last acceleration, I did the 1 minute jog, and then attempted to run 10 more minutes at a pretty quick pace: I bumped back up to gear 2 pretty quickly, and I think instead of easing gradually (or in Danny's words, "Settling in") into gear 3, I shot my heart up too quickly, and it was (or my brain was afraid of doing that for very long) not good for the duration of a sustained speed.
I ran in gear three for about 6.5 minutes, and then I backed off to a jog for a little bit, and then went to gear 2 for a couple more minutes. I didn't run a full mile (or about 10 minutes) in gear three, but I ran for quite awhile in 3rd gear.
Here are my observations:
- Should have increased into gear 3 more gradually
- By increasing too quickly, my brain got a little flustered, and then I think my body tightened
- I didn't feel as fluid as I had during the accelerations (even though those weren't easy!)
- I DID notice a few times, where I really felt like the road was just pulling me along
- I need to not focus on my breath right now. Sounds crazy, but if I just breathe the way that my body regulates, I do better. Sometimes I try to breathe out longer to try to slow my breathing down, but then I get a little hysterical.
- I still felt I had a good arm swing and heel lift, but the problem was my hips and keeping my spine loose. I think I was very stiff which made for a difficult form.
- I don't have the brain to push myself into or beyond physical pain. Good or bad, my first inclination is to give up. I don't like that about myself, but it's something to note and consider as I progress in ChiRunning. ChiRunning, blessedly, gives me the opportunity to apply skills that I didn't know I had to change a potentially 'rough' situation for me, into a pleasant and manageable one.
I didn't feel bad at the end of my run, or beat myself up for not 'totally finishing'. I am actually really excited that I will have the long runs on Sundays still, but that my weekly runs are sticking around the same time. It's amazing that I can now consider a 45 minute run a short one. That's incredible!
Scale: 6/7… I apparently have allergies. For any of you who suffer from them, you have a compassionate ear. GOSH how annoying. My lips/nose were so dry on the run I thought I would crack, and then towards the end, I got that slobbery-dog feeling I get when I run at faster speeds. The slobbering dog syndrome is something I would like to banish from my repertoire, and all the more reason to get my cardio ability Up Up Up.
Posted in Technique


text:
Indies highlighted in PlayStation Store for Vita
PlayStation Vita has a new dedicated indie section, kicking off with the release of Hotline Miami.
Sony launched a devoted Indie Games category for PlayStation 3 last month, and now it has followed up with one for the Vita. It headlined with the release of Hotline Miami yesterday, and Sony boasts 50 indies currently in development.
Among the upcoming ones listed on the PlayStation.Blog include Spelunky, Terraria, Flower, Luftraisers, Hohokum, and Counter-Spy. Naturally, already-released indie games like Guacamelee! and Thomas Was Alone have been sorted into the category as well.
"At PlayStation, we're proud to support indie development, and our unrestrictive policies make it easier than ever for developers to launch games on PS Vita," the blog states. "We recognize that the unique perspective that indie developers deliver contributes to the success and future of the gaming industry. And we've learned as much from working with talented indie developers over the last several years as (we hope) they have learned from us."
Steve Watts posted a new article, Indies highlighted in PlayStation Store for Vita.
PlayStation Vita has a new dedicated indie section, kicking off with the release of Hotline Miami.


text:
Southern Honey-Pecan Pie
Total TimePrep: 15 min. Bake: 45 min. + cooling
Makes6-8 servings
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 cup honey
- 1/3 cup butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 unbaked pastry shell (9 inches)
- 1/2 cup pecan halves
- In a small bowl, combine the sugar and flour. Stir in the eggs, honey, butter, vanilla and salt. Add chopped pecans and mix well. Pour into pastry shell. Arrange pecan halves around edge and center of pie.
- Cover edges loosely with foil. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Remove foil; bake 20-25 minutes longer or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Store in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Facts1 each: 529 calories, 32g fat (10g saturated fat), 105mg cholesterol, 276mg sodium, 60g carbohydrate (41g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein.
Recommended Video
Sep 6, 2015
No trouble firming up and I used raw honey from my own hives. Great pie!
Nov 29, 2013
Only The 2Nd Pecan Pie I've Ever Made Since My Mom Usually Makes Them, But Since It's My Husbands Fave I Decided To Make Him One For Work. Honey Is His Fave Also So Decided To Give A Try But Was Almost Finished Before I Read Results From Other Person About Boiling Honey. Was Realy Disappointed Thinking I Ruined This But It Turned Out Perfect In Fact It Was Probably More Firm Than When I Made It From Kero Syrup. My Mom Who Is A Pro At Them would Be proud. Very Easy And Delicious.
Nov 20, 2012
This recipie missed a MAJOR step, BOILING the honey so it has the ability to firm. I have never made this before and I trusted the fact that the poster was from Lousiana which as far as I am concerned gave her credibility. My pie has been in the oven for voer an hour and is still liquid. I should have known better and checked this recipe against the others I found....total waste of time and money!!!


text:
Wal-Mart confirmed it will close its online MP3 store on August 28th. The retail giant will abandon digital sales and concentrate on physical media sales in its stores.
If you own DRM-free tracks from Wal-Mart, be sure to download those files soon. All content in the MP3 store will go offline and downloads will no longer be available. Wal-Mart will keep its DRM servers running so customers who purchased DRM-protected tracks will still have access to their music. [Digital Music News via Ars Technica]
You can keep up with Kelly Hodgkins, the author of this post, on Twitter, Google + or Facebook.