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Introductory Remarks by Angel Gurría, OECD Secretary-General delivered at UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education
5 July 2009 UNESCO, Paris
Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen:
I congratulate UNESCO for having the foresight, the wisdom and the skill to have chosen this important moment to gather the world leaders on higher education.
We meet indeed in a difficult and crucial time. We face the most highly synchronised recession ever, which has left no corner of the globe untouched. Fiscal stimulus packages have helped mitigate its worst effects, but the crisis is not over yet. The world economy heads for zero growth in 2009 bringing with it an employment and social crisis.
We need to address the social and human dimensions of the crisis. This means that recovery plans have to support the most vulnerable and include investing in skills development, education and enhanced training projects.
But budgets will be strained for years to come. The way public money is spent will come under even greater scrutiny. This is inevitable. And that gives us the responsibility to get the most value for money from our education spending. The time to reform is now.
No one doubts the importance of education. You and I know that education is an investment and will be central to our future. OECD Ministers meeting last week recognised the need to maintain investment in human capital and education as a means to build a stronger, cleaner and fairer economy.
Let me address the issue of higher education, which is the subject of our Conference today. We need concerted action in three key areas.
The first is access and equity
Tertiary attainment levels have increased substantially in OECD countries. On average, one third of 25 to 34 years old have concluded tertiary education, up from less than 20 per cent 15 years ago. And if we look at entry rates, they continue to increase, suggesting that the upward trend will continue.
This is very good news.
Higher education should be available to all who can benefit from it. It is one of the best investments one can make. On average, completion of tertiary education yields an 11 per cent rate of return. In some OECD countries like the Czech Republic, Poland or Portugal, the return on tertiary education is in excess of 20 percent. This return may be even higher in some developing countries.
But challenges remain. There are still too many dropouts. This means that we have to work harder to better prepare secondary school students to succeed in their courses and then to move on to tertiary education.
Another challenge is to ensure equity between social groups.
Developing fairer and more open access to higher education means diversifying funding sources for institutions. 86 per cent of spending on education still originates from public sources and OECD countries spend on average 6% of GDP on education. But in most OECD countries, private spending has been increasing rapidly, especially on tertiary education. Given the shared public and private returns that education brings,costs and responsibilities also need to be shared.
We have recently published an extensive review of tertiary education policy in OECD countries. It shows that the best way to provide effectiveness and fairness is a well-designed model for charging students a contribution. But we need to be careful here. In order to ensure that the less well-off can go to university, the OECD recommends putting in place a comprehensive grant and means-tested loan system, covering not only student fees, but also living expenses. We need to ensure that education levels the playing field and creates opportunities for social mobility.
This brings me to another equity challenge, which relates to the difference between males and females. In the OECD area, the battle to ensure that women are able to pursue higher study has been fought and pretty much won. In fact, at the undergraduate level, our big worry is the boys, who tend to perform less well than girls. But in many developing countries, women still don't have full access to higher education. This means that there is an enormous under-utilised potential.
The second priority area is efficiency and effectiveness
The crisis means that institutions need to work smarter. One proven way to progress in this regard is to encourage institutional autonomy. That means greater freedom to determine curricula, research priorities and strategy. Of course, that autonomy has to go hand in hand with accountability on outcomes and the way resources are used.
This in turn requires a new focus on institutional governance. There is a need for better governance in higher education. This means Governing Boards with clear responsibilities, well-informed external board members and effective procedures.
We must also recognise the international dimension. Higher education institutions are not confined by national boundaries. They never have been. About 3 million tertiary students are enrolled outside their country of citizenship. The number of students that travel to a country different than their own for the purpose of tertiary study has been growing rapidly, reaching 20% in some countries. For higher education, globalisation is a natural condition that is to be embraced.
Globalisation of higher education can foster an exchange of cultures and ideas, opening minds, creating mutual understanding. It can also lead to closer economic links, more trade, more investment.
France, Germany, the UK and the US receive about half of all foreign students worldwide. Many of those come from developing countries. Some stay after the end of their studies, where their skills contribute greatly to the economy and society. This is very positive. But we need to ensure that the benefits of migration are shared between sending and receiving countries. And we must also remember that education is the most effective way to help the successful integration of migrants in their host countries.
This means that OECD governments should strengthen their co-operation with developing countries. For instance, remittances contribute to poverty reduction and play an important role in supporting household spending on education and health. By the way, although a lot of progress has been achieved; greater efforts should be made to decrease the costs of remitting money. We also need to implement responsible recruitment policies in universities, as well as in other sectors, to avoid the risk of brain drain.
The third key area is quality and relevance
2005 saw the publication of the UNESCO/OECD guidelines on quality in cross-border higher education. These guidelines are a great example of collaborative effort between our two Organisations, and a ground-breaking initiative in trying to ensure quality and a measure of consumer protection in a fast-growing but hard to regulate area.
The OECD also produces the most reliable indicators available today on educational attainment and resourcing, in "Education at a Glance". However we know very little about what students have learned in their time at university or college. That is why we are working on a feasibility study for the assessment of higher education learning outcomes in order to compare outcomes in different countries.
This study is in part a reaction to the dominance of university rankings based on research performance. Universities will lead much of the research which will help us tackle the great global challenges – health, climate change and poverty but publications and citations must not be the only yardstick by which they are measured. We need our universities and higher education systems to train and develop the human resources which will enable us to progress. They need to be relevant.
For this to happen, we need to ensure that institutions play to their strengths. We are entering an era of even greater institutional diversity, with more specialization. In fifty years the number of higher education institutions has grown to more than 15 000, with a great diversity of styles and types – from the mega-universites to much smaller and more specialised institutions. We must learn how to value them all. Not all students have the same needs. And not all institutions need to be – or ever can be – at the top of global ranking lists.
So there you are, ladies and gentlemen: three simple tasks for you and for Higher Education! Ensuring access and equity; improving efficiency and effectiveness; while raising quality and relevance.
These are major challenges and they will require countries, stakeholders and international organisations to work together. We need to get this right.
To help the world emerge stronger from the current crisis, the OECD will further develop its role as a global policy hub and maintain a strong focus on providing practical policy advice, based on reliable indicators and evidence.
We will develop new tools and venues for the exchange of good policies and practices, such as our online platform "Education Today Lighthouse" and the September 2010 OECD Conference on Higher Education, which we will host here in Paris.
Let me conclude by thanking Director-General Matsuura for his invitation to share with you our perspective on the role of Higher Education in shaping our future. I also congratulate him on his achievements as the Head of UNESCO and look forward to continuing to work with UNESCO to tackle the tasks which lie before us.
Related Documents


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The Monroe County Conservation District is holding a rain barrel sale in conjunction with its annual seedling sale Saturday, April 27.
The Monroe County Conservation District is holding a rain barrel sale in conjunction with its annual seedling sale Saturday, April 27.
This Pennsylvania-made rain barrel features a screened lid, brass spigot, bottom drain, and overflow fittings, all installed on a repurposed barrel. Cost is $75 plus tax.
Ordering deadline is Monday, April 15, and pickup day is Saturday, April 27, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Conservation District Building on Running Valley Road in Bartonsville.
For information or an order form, call the center at 570-629-3061 or visit mcconservation.org.
The Monroe County Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 10, at the Monroe County Conservation District Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Bartonsville. Members are free, guest donation is $5.
The guest speaker is Brenda Petry, who will speak on growing African violets.
For information contact president Arlene Deskus at 570-420-0283, or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Monroe County Beekeepers Association will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, at the Monroe County Conservation District, 8050 Running Valley Road, Bartonsville.
Learn and discuss beekeeping and the importance of bees. New and experienced beekeepers welcome.
Delaware Township Volunteer Fire Department will host its annual Easter plant and bake sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Delaware Township Volunteer Ambulance Building, 135 Park Road, Dingmans Ferry.
Bring your camera from 2 to 4 p.m. for a picture with the bunny.
For information, call 570-828-2345.
Join the Pike County Conservation District staff and the Area Agency on Aging Lackawaxen Seniors at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 17, when they check in on a rain garden that was installed last October at the Lackawaxen Fire Hall.
Located next to the parking lot of the Senior Center at the Lackawaxen Fire Department, the rain garden filters out automobile fluids, sediment, and salts from the parking lot, allows the run-off to percolate through the soil and enter the groundwater clean and free of contaminants.
The Pike County Conservation District's Watershed Specialist, Lori Colgan, will be on hand to explain how to install your own rain garden.
Call the Pike County Conservation District at 570-226-8220 or email Colgan at firstname.lastname@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Families applying for federal assistance could be required to take a drug test under legislation introduced in the House Health and Human Services Committee Tuesday.
The bills apply to applicants for the federally funded and state run Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which provides small payments for food and shelter while applicants job hunt or receive job training.
In Texas, TANF participants, who receive an average of $70 per month for each person in the household, must sign a personal responsibility contract that is monitored for compliance, including child support, children's school attendance, parenting classes if required, medical screenings and immunizations for children.
The authors of the proposed legislation say it's not enough that state agencies simply look for convictions when monitoring the promise to not use drugs while on the program.
House Bill 1582 authored by Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Spring, proposes random drug screenings for TANF applicants, drug testing those found to be at a high risk, revoking benefits and blocking future applications for at least six months if the test is positive, and reporting those who fail a drug test to state child protective services for investigation.
Senate Bill 11 introduced by Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, proposes screening all TANF applicants, but would allow children to continue to receive benefits through a designated payee if their parents fail a drug test. House Bill 249, introduced by Rep. Jodie Laubenberg, R-Parker, largely mirrors SB 11 except in the wait time before reapplication after a failed test.
House Bill 1244, authored by Republican Rep. Ken King of Canadian, is similar to SB 11 except that it would not report people who fail a test to state child welfare agents and does not automatically require drug tests for people convicted of a felony drug offense.
The National Conference of State legislatures reports that seven states have passed similar measures and another 29 are considering legislation this year.


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Hot bikini teen cameltoe strolling on the beach
Enjoy viewing this sexy teen cameltoe pic of this bikini clad teenager having a nice stroll along a beach in the sunshine. This bikini teen cameltoe is definately hot to trot during her leisurely stroll along the beach. Bet the temperature on the beach hit over 100C when she passed any cameltoe fans sunbathing on the beach. Bet they all rushed into the sea to cool down after spotting this lovely teen cameltoe babe walking past
This stunning bikini teenager camel toe girl has definately got a lovely cameltoe to be very proud of. Marks out of 10 for this teen camel toe babe? 11 out of 10 for this bikini teen camel toe babe. She's definately a `living` mermaid!!!!


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On Thursday, the City Commission voted for staff to enter into contract negotiations to conduct a conceptual study on a streetcar system.
Call it a downtown streetcar or an urban circulator, but the City Commission wants to begin studying its possible development down the road.
On Thursday, the City Commission voted for staff to enter into contract negotiations with Tindale-Oliver & Associates Inc., the highest-ranked bidder to conduct a conceptual study on a streetcar system, at a cost of up to $100,000.
The money for the study is already allocated in this year's budget.
The move passed 6-1 with Commissioner Todd Chase in dissent.
Chase noted that the streetcar was a low priority in a 2011 Regional Transit System Vision, Funding and Governance Study. At this time, he said there are more pressing transit issues than studying a system that might potentially be built in 10 or 20 years.
Other commissioners said the planning process could stretch on for several years and the city needs to begin gathering information now.
"We're paralyzed if we don't have information, because we have nothing on which to base a decision," Commissioner Lauren Poe said.
Commissioner Thomas Hawkins, an advocate of the streetcar or circulator system, said it could take "decades of consistent and persistent planning to know if these projects are the types of things we want to pursue."
Early talks have focused on a streetcar or circulator linking the University of Florida, Shands at UF, the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, the several million square feet of development planned in Innovation Square, downtown and the Power District.
If eventually developed, the system could include electric vehicles operating on steel rails that run down existing streets or it could involve a more conventional shuttle bus.
Regional Transit System Director Jesus Gomez said the study will look at capital and operating costs, the economic development impacts of the system and projected revenues.
At Thursday's meeting, members of the public spoke against moving ahead with the study, saying money should instead go to improving current bus service in east Gainesville.
Kamal I. Latham, the vice president of public policy at the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce, also requested that commissioners postpone a decision at least to get public input at a town hall-style meeting Tuesday on future budget issues.
"Is $100,000 right now, today, really the best decision to make?" Latham asked.
In an email to commissioners, Innovation Square developer John Fleming supported moving ahead with the study to see if the system is feasible.
"We must have a clear and concise picture as to costs and benefits before moving forward with any action, which is what I hope this study will provide," Fleming wrote.
At this point before the study, the early cost projection for the system is $128 million for infrastructure and annual operating costs of $2 million, according to the city's federal legislative priorities. Besides the $100,000 for the conceptual study for the system, the city also is seeking $1 million in federal money for future phases of the study.


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On Monday, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross announced that he had formed a committee to help improve the team's internal standards. Among the membership, which includes names like Don Shula and Dan Marino, is former Buccaneers and Colts coach Tony Dungy.
"Stephen Ross asked me to serve on his committee to make recommendations on his team's conduct policies," Dungy said in a statement released by his current employer, NBC. "I accepted his invitation because his passion to take a fresh look at the standards of behavior for the Miami Dolphins is sincere. I look forward to working on this important initiative after the season with Coach Philbin and the impressive list of former coaches and players that Stephen has brought together. My hope is that this will benefit athletes and coaches everywhere."
Tony is right; Ross seems to be genuinely sincere regarding his commitment to improving the team's workplace. Regardless of the specifics, Ross seems to realize based on the evidence already produced and Martin's decision to leave the team that something happened that shouldn't have happened. And Ross seems eager — some would say too eager — to make it right.
Regardless, Ross seems to be committed to preventing it from happening again. With Dungy's assistance, that's the goal.


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I know I posted the final score of sixth-ranked Collins' 1-0 soccer victory over No. 2 Trinity last night, but here's a little more.
Near the end of a fairly even first half Collins senior Walker Andriot got through two Trinity defenders and beat the Shamrocks' goalie to the upper right corner of the net for the lone goal of the match.
The Titans had a chance to add to their lead with about 14:48 to play, but Ryan Metcalf missed at a wide open goal after Trinity's goalie knocked down Andriot's free kick.
Collins controlled the ball for a good deal of the second half until Jeff Cook received a red card, after his second yellow card of the match, forcing the Titans to play a man down for the final 10:41.
The Shamrocks' best scoring opportunity came with just under 4 minutes to play, but Collins keeper Brandon Hughes was there to stomach a Trinity shot.
It was a huge win for the Titans, and their program, showing the rest of the state that they are a force to be reckoned with this season.
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Giant Robot Biennale 3 Closing Party
Japanese American National Museum Young Professionals Network
Thursday, January 17, 2013 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM (PST)
Event Details
Celebrate another successful Biennale with Giant Robot, many of the artists from the exhibit, and the JANM YPN on Thursday, January 17, 2013 from 6-10pm. We will be in the Main Hall of the museum where we'll gather to recognize the artists and celebrate with some special guests from the Giant Robot family including a performance by White Dove One member Jack Long from GR Biennale 1.
Experience the art again or for the first time with us before it closes on January 20th. Giant Robot Biennale 3 has been the third installment of a partnership between JANM and Eric Nakamura of Giant Robot and has furthered the museum's mission to expand beyond the core Asian American audience with a mix of paintings, sculptures, ink drawings and customized toys for anyone interested in pop culture and art. The exhibit features over 160 pieces from eight artists from the Giant Robot family and a collection within the show called Project Remix that features vinyl toy figures customized by more than 80 artists from seven countries in conjunction with David Horvath of Ugly Doll.
Where can I contact the organizer with any questions?
When & Where
Japanese American National Museum
100 N Central Ave
Los Angeles,
Thursday, January 17, 2013 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM (PST)
Add to my calendar
Japanese American National Museum Young Professionals Network
The Young Professionals Network (YPN) furthers the mission of the Japanese American National Museum through philanthropic and social activities by connecting people in their 20s, 30s and 40s with a diverse and professional network that supports the growth of the Japanese American community. It provides young professionals with opportunities for community building, volunteering, fundraising, outreach and engagement. The YPN is governed by the New Leadership Advisory Council (NLAC) of the Japanese American National Museum.


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[Look for the podcast play button below.]
So ya know how I keep telling you that The Erotic Mind
podcast series brings you the celebrated erotic artwork from of artists all over the world, right? Well then, today we go pretty far a field indeed. We travel to the deepest, darkest recess of…Kansas to bring you the exceptionally talented Krysztof Nemeth.
You recall the immortal words of Jessica Rabbit, right? "I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way." We have Krysztof and his ilk to thank for that. You see he follows in the long and honored tradition of artists who produce Pin-up art. This art form is so pervasive and universally recognizable that, for many of us, it was our very first introduction to world of erotica of any sort.
Throughout this series of conversations with noted erotic artists we've uncovered quite a bit about the creative process involved in this specialized art form. We've visited with numerous artists who create their art in a variety of media. We've discovered that the term "erotic art" covers a vast array of visual and literary expressions. Some are overtly graphic; others, like Krysztof's, are subtlety suggestive. But all reflect the irrepressible spirit of the human sexual experience.
Krysztof and I discuss:
- The long and honored tradition of Pin-up art.
- His idealized yet attainable depictions of women.
- How he got his start as an artist, as an erotic artist.
- Where he finds his models
- The distinction, if any, between an artist and an illustrator.
I invite you to discover Krysztof and his memorable artwork on his site HERE.
See a slideshow of some of Krysztof's work. Click on the thumbnails below.
Check out The Lick-A-Dee-Split Connection. That's Dr Dick's toll free podcast voicemail HOTLINE. Don't worry people; no one will personally answer the phone. Your message goes directly to voicemail.
Got a question or a comment? Wanna rant or rave? Or maybe you'd just like to talk dirty for a minute or two. Why not get it off your chest! Give Dr Dick a call at (866) 422-5680.
Look for all my podcasts on iTunes. You'll find me in the podcast section, obviously. Just search for Dr Dick Sex Advice. And don't forget to subscribe. I wouldn't want you to miss even one episode.
Today's podcast is bought to you by: Fleshlight and FleshJack
Podcast: Play in new window | Download


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The Google gods have spoken this weekend, and the message is "thin"—at least when it comes to a few MacBook and iMac ads that popped up in the Netherlands anyway.
Of course, we kind of knew this to be the case already, thanks to the FCC, but this little bit of info helps solidify exactly what's going to be descending down from Cupertino very soon. The adWords (translated):
MacBook: Thinner, lighter and stronger! Free delivery. Order today.
iMac: Ultra Thin 20 & 24 inch models. From only € 1099. Apple Store
Mac mini: Faster and more affordable than ever. From only € 499. Order immediately.
So no real news on the innards, just aesthetics and weight loss. Note that the pricing on the mini is also €100 lower this time around. Update: Fixed incorrect source citation to AppleInsider. [AppleInsider]


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Daily log, June 27
Tiffin reports
Sharon A. Harris, 56, of Tiffin, was charged with disorderly conduct Tuesday evening.
A man went to the station Tuesday night to report his wife assaulted him.
A woman went to the station Wednesday morning to report jewelry was stolen from her residence last week.
A 600-block South Sandusky Street woman reported Wednesday morning jewelry had been stolen from her trailer.
County reports
Everette E. Holland, 22, of Tiffin, was charged with theft and criminal mischief for an incident June 1.
Kyle T. Ward, 21, of Napoleon, was cited with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, intoxicated or drugged pedestrian on a highway and failure to control early Saturday morning.
A 5000-block East TR 138 woman reported Tuesday night her son was pushing her around. Summons to appear in court were issued to two women for disorderly conduct.
A 500-block South Huron Street woman reported early Wednesday morning she returned home to find it had been broken into.
A 6000-block East SR 19 caller reported Wednesday morning a tea pot full of change was missing.
A caller reported Wednesday afternoon a man and female on a motorcycle stopped in the area of North TR 73 and East TR 130. The man then took pictures of the female, who was wearing a bikini.
Fostoria reports
Russell Robinson Jr., 39, of Fostoria, was charged with domestic violence Monday.
A 900-block Country Club Drive woman reported a phone scam Tuesday evening.
A 1200-block Perrysburg Road woman reported Tuesday night someone took her vehicle without permission.
An employee of ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital reported Tuesday night a woman was being treated for injuries sustained from an assault. The woman did not want to file charges.
A 300-block West Crocker Street caller reported Wednesday morning a flat screen TV was stolen in May.
An employee of Superwash, 625 N. Countyline St., reported Wednesday morning someone stole $215 in quarters from a change machine.
A 200-block North Vine Street woman reported Wednesday afternoon someone damaged her garage door and damaged her vehicle.
A 200-block East Fremont Street woman reported Wednesday afternoon a woman entered her residence, punched her in the face and ripped her shirt.
County accident
A 1000-block North TR 109 caller reported early Wednesday morning a vehicle went through a ditch and into a yard. A person was arrested.
Tiffin firefighters were called to Sixth and Grand avenues Tuesday night for a dumpster fire.
Tiffin firefighters were called to 14 Miami St. Wednesday morning for an animal rescue.
Tiffin EMS had one squad run Tuesday afternoon, one squad run Tuesday evening and one squad run Tuesday night. Ambulances also were needed three times early Wednesday morning and once Wednesday morning.
Clinton fire had a squad run Tuesday night.
Green Springs fire and EMS had a squad run Tuesday night.
Sycamore fire had a squad run Wednesday morning.
Bloomville fire and EMS and the Echo unit had a squad run Wednesday afternoon.
Bascom fire and EMS and the Echo unit had a squad run Wednesday afternoon.
Seneca County Probate
Robert D. Crawford, Fostoria.
Martha M. Gottfried, Tiffin.
Frances E. Heilman, Tiffin.
Marriage license applications
Michael Duane Sassanella and Cindra Kay Gibson, Tiffin.
Kyle James Couch, Tiffin, and Katie Noelle Schreiner, Fostoria.
Brian Charles Baxter and Kelly Jo Frost, Flat Rock.
Epifanio Roberto Diaz and Gwendolynn Kay Bores, Fostoria.
Tod William Scott and Brittney Tarae King, Tiffin.
David Paul Hess and Alicia Marie Dunlap, Tiffin.


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7 PR lessons from Justin Bieber
The teen heartthrob offers some sound advice on fans, hard work, and hair.
Our family cut the cable cord earlier this year. So far, it's working out great. We watch less TV, and the TV we do watch is much better.
But last month my daughter stumbled on the Justin Bieber bio-pic "Never Say Never" on Netflix. At age five, she's already a fan. We dance to Bieber songs on Saturday mornings in her room. (OK, maybe I shouldn't admit this, but she's my daughter. Come on!)
So, when she saw the movie, we had to watch it.
Of course I was a bit hesitant. After all, normal grown men don't listen to Justin Bieber. Then again, I've never done anything the "normal" way. I appreciate musical genius, and Bieber is a definite musical talent. You don't have to like him, but the kid has a musical gift.
Here's the other thing: While I watched the movie, it quickly became clear that Bieber is a PR genius, too. I counted seven lessons I learned from the Biebs. See if you agree:
1. Work one-on-one with customers.
Bieber is famous for his fan interaction-the one-on-one attention he gives all his fans, not just his biggest ones.
Consider Avalanna Routh, the six-year-old who is also known as "Mrs. Bieber" for her devotion to the star. Routh recently passed away, but before that Bieber met the young girl and buoyed her spirits with the amount of time he spent with her. This is just one example of the way Bieber connects with his fans—even those who have little chance of making it to the arena to see him.
As communicators, we focus a lot of time and energy on attracting many eyeballs. We rarely focus on just two. But can't that one-on-one attention turn into the rabid word-of-mouth so many companies crave? Just look what Bieber is doing.
2. Give, give, give.
There's a nice scene in "Never Say Never" where Bieber's people troll the streets of Toronto before a show to talk to young girls in a neighborhood. It's obvious the young girls are Bieber fans.
After chatting with the girls a bit, the team offers them tickets to the show. The girls are floored. They go nuts. They scream. They jump. They jump some more. And then they run off to tell everyone they know how Justin Bieber gave them free tickets to his concert.
By giving away those tickets, Bieber not only cemented loyalty with two life-long fans, he probably won over more people—the friends and families those two girls told this story to for the next month.
Many companies struggle with giving products, services and ideas away for free. But the reality is the more you give, the more you get. Isn't that the mantra we were all told as kids? How come we forget that when we start working on behalf of organizations?
3. Have fun.
I challenge you to find one moment in "Never Say Never" where Bieber doesn't have a smile on his face. He is the epitome of photogenic. And it comes across naturally—he's not faking it. He's having fun. He's enjoying himself. It's something we could all learn from, not just those of us in PR.
4. Know the power of one fan.
You know the song "One Less Lonely Girl"? Well, I do because it's my daughter's favorite Bieber song. In the movie, Bieber makes a habit of picking one girl out of the crowd during the concert and asking her to come on stage for this song. He gives her roses. He puts her on a pedestal (literally). He makes her feel like the most loved and important person in the room. It's basically every Bieber fanatic's dream come true.
He understands the power of one fan, and the power of all those other Bieber fans seeing her realize her dream. How can you channel the power of that one fan for your organization?
5. Know it's all about the hair.
Just kidding. I got you though, didn't I?
6. Share the love.
In the movie, Bieber asks Jaden Smith to perform with him at his huge show at Madison Square Garden (as well as Ludacris and a few others). This is obviously a tactic performers have used for years. They bring in other performers to give their show an extra oomph.
In this case, I don't think Bieber needed the extra oomph. So why did he do it? Because Bieber seems to be all about his community: his fans, road team, family, and partners.
Think about what this means for your company. What partners can you promote from time to time? Can that help you achieve any of your strategic goals? We spend so much time thinking of ways to promote our businesses that we sometimes forget we can reach our target audiences through our partners from time to time. And they are usually more than happy to help contribute to our success.
7. Work hard, but don't overdo it.
There's a scene in "Never Say Never" where Bieber's voice coach encourages him to cancel one show to save the entire tour. Bieber had issues with his vocal chords after he gave some 100-plus shows without missing a single one.
In that scene, you can tell Bieber wants to do the show. He doesn't want to let down his fans. He doesn't want to miss a show. He is one hard-working kid. But everyone around him tells him he has to postpone it to save the tour.
Don't fall into the same trap Bieber almost fell into. Work hard, just don't work yourself to death. I have a saying I picked up a while back from a mentor and boss: "Don't work harder, work smarter." This is so true.
Those are the lessons I learned from the Biebs. (Did I really just write that?)
What about you? If you've seen the movie (read: if you also have a five-year-old daughter), what do you think? Do you have any lessons to add?
Arik Hanson is principal of ACH Communications. A version of this article originally ran on his blog, Communications Conversations.
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INXS to split after 30 years - report
Australian rockers INXS are to split after 30 years, according to reports Down Under.
Drummer Jon Farriss reportedly broke the news to fans at a gig in Perth on Sunday (11Nov12), revealing the concert would be their last.
According to WaToday.com.au, Farriss admitted he was "getting teary" about taking his final bow.
The Need You Tonight hitmakers started out in Sydney in 1977 and were fronted by Michael Hutchence before his death in 1997. The band has since worked with singers Jimmy Barnes, Terence Trent D'Arby, Jon Stevens, J.D. Fortune, and Ciaran Gribbin as replacements for the late rocker.
The group had not released an official statement confirming the split as WENN went to press.


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The marvelous wallpaper is part of Bamboo Blinds: Choose for Your Home content which is classed within Woven, Bamboo, Interior and posted at January 7, 2016 6:53:17 am by rchadmin
Bamboo Blinds: Choose for Your Home: Woven Bamboo Blinds
Bamboo blinds are becoming very popular in current home decoration and design. One of the world's most popular building and decor materials has been used as a window covering for centuries. Today's modern blinds are not much change from the types used many years ago, but they still provide wonderful style and utility for any room in the house. Bamboo blinds come in a variety of natural tones and different blind types.
What are the Benefits of Bamboo Blinds?
If you are considering buying a bamboo blinds for the windows in your home, you first need to understand all the amazing benefits they can bring.
1 – Blinds are extremely earth friendly. Because bamboo is a grass, it grows much quicker than trees. This means the material for bamboo blinds is able to be harvested every year instead of waiting for a decade to gather. The constant regrowth of bamboo is beneficial to the environment.
2 – Bamboo blinds are made from some of the toughest stuff on earth. This means that the blinds in your home will not be easy to damage or destroy. This may be especially helpful if you have small children or pets who like to peek out of the windows.
3 – Bamboo blinds are stylish and versatile. Companies manufactured blinds in a wide array of natural colors and use different designs to create them. You can get blinds that are like regular shades or ones that are more like shutters. It is easy to find bamboo blinds and suit any room in your house.
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16 Jan 2013
(HONG KONG) Dragonair today welcomed the commitment made in the Policy Address by HKSAR Chief Executive Mr Leung Chun-ying, that the Government will enhance Hong Kong's economic partnership with provinces and municipalities in the Mainland on all fronts.
Dragonair Chief Executive Officer Patrick Yeung said: "The Chief Executive stressed that Hong Kong, as well as being international finance, trading, and shipping centre, is also part of the network for Mainland China. It is crystal clear that enhancing the partnership with provinces and other major cities in the Mainland will not only drive economic growth, but also foster social and cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and the Mainland. This has been a strong belief for Dragonair all along as we worked to build a strong network in Mainland China.
"Hong Kong is very much part and parcel of the bigger picture. As Mr Leung noted, the Central Government supports the continuous development of Hong Kong as an international shipping centre, which covers both aviation and maritime transport, in the National 12th Five-Year Plan. As a leading aviation hub, we should ride on our success and take full advantage of the opportunities presented to us," Mr Yeung said.
"I strongly believe that the status of Hong Kong as gateway to Mainland China and a leading Asian logistics centre could be strengthened as the Government undertakes to enhance sea, air and land transport networks with the Mainland. Dragonair fully supports the initiative favouring the development of Hong Kong and is looking forward to the expansion of Hong Kong International Airport, including the construction of a third runway.
"The Mainland is Dragonair's key market and we stand ready to contribute to enhance Hong Kong's connectivity as a regional hub for passenger and cargo traffic, and to help drive the economic development of Hong Kong and the Mainland," Mr Yeung said.
Mr Yeung added that Dragonair also supports the move to set up recreation facilities in the Kai Tak Development Area that will reflect the former airport's unique history and add another tourist attraction that can further boost the development of the local tourism industry.


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Stage Door Canteen
Stage Door Canteen
The Stage Door Canteen was started by the American Theatre Wing in 1942 and ended in 1946. Its location was the basement of the 44th Street Theater in New York City. Caterers and local merchants provided food and beverages while performers entertained the crowd. There were about 1,700 performers and service staff members who were in charge of keeping the Canteen in operation even during black-outs and curfews. About 3,000 to 4,000 servicemen from all over came to the Canteen to sing, dance, eat and drink before they went off to war. These servicemen, who had different ethnic and racial backgrounds, could socialize at the Canteen without fear of being discriminated against.
The collection was donated by SLU Performance and Communication Arts Associate Professor Andrea Nouryeh.


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So cut out the almond shapes like in their tutorial. I used my fiskars circle puncher. I also used a small canvas I got for $1 from Michael's that I spray painted.
paint chip wreath to make this :) YAY for recycling!
Have a great day! :D {does it bug you how many smiley's I use? and ...'s I can't help it! oh... {see!} and !'s?}


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DOE Rolls Out Program to Promote Electric Vehicles
April 25, 2011
DOE is taking new steps to speed up the deployment of electric vehicles (EV), it announced on April 19. These efforts include making available $5 million in new funding for community-based efforts to deploy EV infrastructure and charging stations. DOE is also forming a partnership with Google Inc. and more than 80 EV stakeholders to help consumers find charging stations nationwide. The goal is to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, saving consumers money and helping meet the administration's goal of 1 million advanced technology vehicles on the road by 2015.
Local governments and private companies will partner to apply for the $5 million in funding to help accelerate installation of EV charging stations. Communities will work to develop plans and strategies for EV deployment, update their EV permitting processes, develop incentive programs, or launch other initiatives. See the Funding Opportunity Announcement on FedConnect. Applications are due June 13.
In a related effort, DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is joining with Google Inc. and various industry leaders to provide consumers with consistent, up-to-date information about EV charging stations in communities nationwide. Using Google Maps, this new collaboration between NREL and partners will coordinate an online network of all U.S. charging stations and will serve as the primary data source for GPS and mapping services tracking electric vehicle charging locations. These efforts are supported by the Clean Cities program, a public-private partnership that brings together federal, state, and local governments, the auto industry, private sector fleet operators, and community leaders to help communities make their vehicle fleets more energy efficient. See the Clean Cities website.


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We presenting you a new car design by Edouard Suzeau from France.
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Race Info
Race Information
Skukuza Half Marathon
A unique race run in a unique place. The Kruger Park half marathon held in and around the small staff village of Skukuza in the heartland of one of Africa's greatest wildlife refuges - the Kruger National Park.
Two hours before the start of the race a squad of rangers whose task it is to ensure the safety of all athletes during the race, travel by vehicle and on foot along the course to herd off any big game which would disrupt the race. At the same time the SAN Parks helicopter lifts off on its first flight to ensure that no elephants, rhinos and lions get too close to the route.
Lets run along the two lap course which since 2009 has changed slightly:
A thousand athletes line up at the start on the "village green" and are set off by a recording of a lion roar. Clockwise once around the field and then past the nursery school towards a short, steep climb up "Vossie's hill" that takes the runners "out into the bush" The runners past the golf club and run up along "Lake Panic" dam wall (so named because immediately upon completion in 1981 the park experienced very heavy rains and the dam started filling up rapidly and the Park Warden began to "panic" that the dam wall might not hold) where hippo, waterbirds and a variety of animals coming down to drink are often seen.
At the end of the embankment the first water table comes as a welcome sight. The course briefly crosses the golf course and then follows its periphery passing through "Bok doodgeslaan groot geskrik vir leeu spruit" (translated "buck killed by ball, big fright from lion stream"), so named because a few years ago one of the Skukuza inhabitants hit a golf ball down the fairway and it stopped an impala dead in its tracks when it hit it on the head. The player walked up to the impala and seeing it was dead walked away to continue his game! After he had gone a short distance something made him look around and he saw a lioness come up to and past the impala in a slightly threatening manner. Fortunately the lioness preferred the impala to the golf player!
After crossing the stream the course goes up "Rhino Hill", where a few years ago a black rhino was giving golfers more exercise than they bargained for. He had to be captured and relocated to the Lower Sabie area where he could go about his business unhindered by wayward golf balls. The well kept greens fringed by bush is a pleasant sight to runners and "game viewing" along this stretch of the course offers a welcome distraction.
The next 2.5km of undulating road meanders back through the village. Impala, warthog and baboon can be seen staring non-plussed at the "herd of runners". Exiting onto the village entry road the course drops down towards the starting point. This is a fast part of the course as it is slightly downhill and crowds of spectators line the road urging runners on. At the Nursery School corner runners bear left to start the second and longer lap.
The second lap follows the first lap up "Vossies hill" and at the top of the Nursery road after a short left turn, the runners turn right along a sand road where they follow the fence of the elephant, rhino and buffalo bomas (where animals are held for a period before translocation).
For 6km the route circles both the bomas and on one of the legs of at this stage the runners are running very close to the Sabie river. The two water points manned by the honorary rangers bring relief to the runners during one of the most challenging stages of the race.
The route then goes out on the tourist Nursery road (which is closed to the public for a couple of hours) for about 2km and then turns onto the Kruger Gate/Skukuza tar road at the 13km mark. During this part of the race the runners are running out in the wild and their safety is ensured by rangers on foot and the ever present helicopter having a watchful eye for rhinos and elephants.
A flat 4 km stretch on the tar road towards Skukuza rest camp turns left for another kilometer to meet up with the road that connects the camp with the staff village. There are two water tables just out of sight of the tourists as the runners enter and exit the tar road.
Entering the staff village the road threads its way between the tennis courts, bowling green and swimming pool.Then the road dips down, crossing a small low water bridge and then climbs for about 1km, passing "Loop-en-Val draai" (where Loop-en-Val Motserauteau fell in a sandy patch during the 1989 race but still managed to come second) and on to the last water table run by SAB who also provide a water tunnel to cool the runners.
After a visit at the SAB table most runners run the last uphill with a smile. Turning left at the nursery and this time down with "Vossie's hill" the field is in sight and the finish banner marks the end of an unforgettable running experience.
Most athletes find the course challenging and are surprised by its undulating nature. There are numerous short but significant climbs and dips and underfoot the course changes between tarmac and graded gravel roads. Temperatures can be expected to be warm but being August there is often a fresh breeze to cool hot, sweaty bodies.
Race Information
• Date & Time:
Enclosed is your number for the Skukuza Castle Lager Half Marathon on Saturday 3th August at 8:30. This is the 18th year this race is being sponsored by SA Breweries. We are most grateful for this wonderful support.
• Gate Entry:
Bookings for Day Visitors on the day of the race must be made in advance online on the SANParks Website in one of the following ways:
1. Call Central Reservations 012 429 9111 to make your booking.
3. Visit the SANParks official website on: www.sanparks.org for more information or to make a booking.
Official gate hours are from 06h00 to 18h00.
• Race Number Changes:
You may pass on your race number to another runner (IF THEY BELONG TO A CLUB) as long as you notify us before 25th July, giving all the relevant details of the new runner (name, sex, address, date of birth, club, tel no.) and pay a R50 handling fee.
• Race/Temporary Numbers:
Your provincial number must be worn on your back, and your Castle Lager race number on your front. There will be NO TEMPORARY NUMBERS available on race day. All runners must be affiliated members of a club.
• Information Labels:
Please fill in the name label attached to the race number - it will be needed to process the results and will be taken from you once you have crossed the finishing line.
• Photographs:
ACTION PHOTOS: Photos of everyone will be taken and the runner can decide whether or not they want to buy one.
• Application Forms:
Forms will be available at the race. A R50 application fee must be with your entry form.
• Refreshments:
As usual refreshments will be provided at reasonable prices by various Skukuza organizations: charity, sports and the school.
• Race Results:
Results will be available on the internet at www.krugerparkmc.co.za.
• Rate The Race:
After the race please go to www.runnersworld.co.za and "rate our race" so that we can be part of this competition run by Runners World".
• No Prams, Bicycles Or Walkers will be allowed on the Route.
Finally we request that all runners DO NOT LITTER DURING THE RACE. This has been a problem in the past. Please use the refuge containers along the way.
For safety reasons cut off points will be at 4.5km within 35 minutes and 14/15km within 2 hours.
• For any race queries please contact Martie Oosthuizen:
Fax: 086 292 0139
Web: www.krugerparkmc.co.za


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Social media websites are becoming increasingly instrumental in the field of SEO and a digital agency should boast experts who are capable of managing your social media campaign and capitalising on the SEO benefits that a well managed social media strategy can provide. A digital agency will set up various social media campaigns on the likes of Facebook and Twitter.
Not all digital agencies will be aware of just how advantageous a well managed campaign can be and for this reason, it is imperative to opt for a digital agency that can showcase how they have improved their clients rankings over a period. There has clearly been a substantial shift towards social media websites in recent times and they are becoming a vital cog within SEO circles.
Ways A Digital Agency Should Boost Your Presence
There are many avenues that can be pursued when using web 2.0 websites as an SEO tool and understanding how best to follow these routes is something that most businesses will leave to a full service web agency because they will be able to devise a strategy which yields the best results. Just some of the things a team of SEO experts will ordinarily do to make the most of such sites include:
• Consider all the uses – It can be utilised for more than just marketing and PR purposes and a good digital agency will be well aware of this fact. Skilled SEO experts will also use these websites for branding, customer service and various other endeavors to ensure that they are making the most of the sites.
• Measuring Success – There is no point developing a social media strategy and then not measuring the results it provides. A digital agency is likely to have the experts on staff who can spot patterns, trends and successful elements of a social media campaign and will tweak it as and when in order to make its performance as strong as possible.
• Professionalism – If you allow your campaign to be run by a digital agency, the chances are that it will be run much more professionally and with more attention to detail. A social media strategy should be crafted with the end user in mind and this is something that a skilled full service web agency will be adept at.
Picking a digital agency is something which should be based on a number of different factors and chief amongst these will be their capacity to provide effective search engine optimisation (SEO) for your newly crafted website.


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Apple to Repeat on the EPEAT
About a week after saying its computers, tablets and smart phones would no longer be designed to meet certain environmentally friendly specifications, Apple has reversed its position. Now they say they will conform to Electronic Products Environmental Asset Tool standards, or EPEAT, after all.
Backed by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPEAT certification means a product passes environmental muster in terms of power consumption, the materials it's made from, recyclability, its packaging and its disposal.
Apple sells 40 different EPEAT-certified products. But it was opting out, ostensibly because the company's new high-resolution Retina display had not received EPEAT certification.
Then two things happened. First, several government agencies and various schools that usually buy Apple products pointed out that they're allowed to purchase only equipment with the EPEAT seal of approval. Shortly after, Apple's 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display was added to the EPEAT registry.
Apple's flip-flopping is a reminder that there's a double meaning for so-called "green" technology. To exist, it has to be good for both the environment and to a manufacturer's bottom line.
—Larry Greenemeier
[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]


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Organization breeds disunity. This is an oxymoron but that does not mean it's not true. It's a fact. Any group of people that band together must have an outside influence to light the spark of unity that keeps them together. Man, in his need to belong, has broken up society into hundreds of separate groups that have been pitting themselves against each other ever since the beginning of mankind. Today, this disunity of unity continues and on an ever-increasing scale.
The Catholic religion eventually brought forth the Protestant religion and that religion soon brought forth many splinter religions. The Democratic Party must have a Republican Party to exist. The exclusiveness of a Lions Club has a counterpart in the exclusiveness of a Rotary Club. Members of the Knights of Columbus must meet qualifications that set them apart from others in the community. But then the Shriners have a list of musts that set their members apart from their neighbors. Although it's an impossibility, man being what he is, I've often wondered what kind of world this would be if people did not have the desire and need to band together and separate themselves from the rest of society.
When Insider sees a teenager, he thinks about one thing: how the most important thing in that kid's life is to become an adult. A boy wants to be a man and a girl wants to be a woman. Time and everyday living are the only steps a youth must take to realize this ambition. But what teenager has ever had time to wait for things he wanted? So the squirts set about hurrying up the process. They say "damn," spit, smoke and do all kinds of adult things. They get drunk and make a fool of themselves, like their adult role models. They speed around like their folks. As they get higher up in their teens, they drink beer and gather closer and closer together for security in their insecure world.
Finally, when all this fails, many take the supreme step. The one step that will surely make them adult. They get married and settle down with the proper emphasis on "settle." And here is the sad contradiction. They have absolutely nothing to settle down from, and worse yet, they've lost forever the most exciting part of that adult life they longed for.


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Message Board
Edmund Blunden Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Blunden has written!
Author Blunden's Book Reviews
Undertones Of War
Edmund Blunden's haunting and beautiful autobiography is one of the great classics of the First World War. He moves from the poetic to the outrage of death in the trenches with great ease, and the friendships he describes are warm, his comrades' banter witty. A wonderful book that comes highly recommended....


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The bake sale was supposed to be a satire, bringing attention to what organizers feel is a discriminating and racist bill, now on the desk of California Gov. Jerry Brown, that would allow the state's university systems to consider race, ethnicity, and gender in admission decisions.
By the measure of media exposure, the Berkeley College Republicans' event was an unqualified success, making headlines across the country for the peculiar pricing system on its baked goods: $2 for whites, $1.50 for Asians, $1 for Latinos, and so on.
By the measure of satire, many thought a stunt that organizers acknowledged was "inherently racist" went too far, with the Berkeley student association condemning the methodology and school administrators endorsing that position.
By the measure of Berkeley itself, however, it was in many ways business as usual. As the home of the free-speech movement, Berkeley is nothing if not opinionated.
Two hours after the bake sale opened Tuesday, a counterprotest was already in full swing, with black-clad students lying down in the main campus quadrangle. Other groups distributed pink "conscious cupcakes" as a why-can't-we-all-just-hold-hands alternative.
Earlier this month, when Berkeley's "protest season" began, students angered by tuition hikes occupied a campus building, with several protesters throwing rocks, bottles, and chairs at police officers. In March, the same topic led six protesters to chain themselves together and stand on a fourth-story ledge.
"This has created the dialogue we wanted," Shawn Lewis, president of the Berkeley College Republicans, told the Los Angeles Times. "Berkeley is the home of the free-speech movement. We want to be sure it doesn't become the capital of political correctness."
But some analysts say the message of the event may have been lost amid the confusion and anger that accompanied it.
"What events like this do more than anything is bring attention and media coverage, but as far as providing rational debate, they don't work until things have calmed way down," says David Johnson, CEO of Strategic Vision LLC, a public relations and political consulting agency. "It becomes more about anger than thinking when the event goes over the top and people get turned off."
The bake sale was taking aim at Senate Bill 185, which would allow the universities in the California and California State systems to consider race, gender, ethnicity, and national origin in admissions, so long as those factors do not become a determining factor. SB 185 seeks to mitigate Proposition 209, which banned affirmative action in state institutions in 1996. Proponents of SB 185 say it does not run afoul of Prop. 209 because it says race can be considered only as one criteria among many.
This reading of the law should pass legal muster, says William Tierney, director of the Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis at the University of Southern California, which is not part of the state university system.
"Simply because the law says that race, gender, and nationality can be taken into account doesn't suddenly mean that whites or Asian Americans are suddenly in danger of being discriminated against," he says.
The Berkeley College Republicans disagree, so when the Berkeley's student association set up a phone bank to encourage students to call Governor Brown and lobby for SB 185, they took a page from the playbook of college Republicans nationwide. Indeed, the Berkeley College Republicans didn't invent the idea of a "diversity bake sale." The Wall Street Journal cites one at the University of California at Los Angeles as far back as 2003.
But combine the rise of social media with Berkeley's leftward tilt, and the result was a media explosion.
When the Bucknell University Conservatives Club initiated what they called an anti-Affirmative Action bake sale in 2009, the university shut it down.
"The students did not follow the rules that all student groups must to host events in campus spaces, and did not offer the option to customers to pay whatever
price they wanted," says Bucknell spokeswoman Julia Ferrante. (The Berkeley Republicans offered the prices only as recommendations.)
"Instead, all prices were based on race, which violates laws against discrimination and the university's related policy against discrimination," says Ms. Ferrante. "We therefore ended the event."
At Berkeley, Chancellor Robert Birgenau released a statement saying the strong reactions to the bake sale provided "a vivid lesson that issues of race, ethnicity and gender are far from resolved."
To some, the bake sale represented a backward view. The satire "is rooted in the historical and racial contract fabric of white supremacy and the decline of whiteness in a continuous browning society," says Chad Dion Lassiter, president of Black Men at Penn at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice.
To others, it directed a spotlight toward an issue that needs discussion.
"It was a great way to start a conversation – and for sociologists that is always good," says Lori Brown, a sociologist at Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C.


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Editor's note: This blog is one of a series of travelogues by HMNS VP of Astronomy Carolyn Sumners, sent from the two-week solar eclipse viewing trip she led to the South Pacific. Astrophotography by Gary Young.
The stars of the southern hemisphere are fantastic, with the brilliant Milky Way stretching from near the hunter, Orion, in the North to Crux, the Southern Cross, in the South.
This predawn image is a time exposure with a Canon Mark II camera and a fisheye lens, taken from our hotel lawn in Queenstown, New Zealand, looking out over Lake Wakatipu. Even with some glare from the hotel and from Queenstown to the East, the predawn sky is remarkably dark. This exposure approximates what we could see as we faced south.
New Zealand has a total population less than 5 million, which guarantees much less light pollution, even close to a city. Also, the southern Milky Way is much richer and more easily seen than the Milky Way near the North Star. In New Zealand, we trade views of the Big and Little Bears for the Southern Cross and the nebulae around it. This image is a close-up of the southern Milky Way in the early evening as we started stargazing. Notice the dark areas in the Milky Way. The Inca saw animals in these dark dust clouds.
While observing through two telescopes, we placed our third telescope, a Takahashi FS60Q, on a small portable Sky Patrol equatorial mount that would track the stars — adjusting for the Earth's rotation. We were able to do time exposures of up to a minute without guidance and we captured incredible views of the Orion Nebula, the Omega Centauri globular cluster, the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds and the Carina Nebula.
Large and Small Magellanic Clouds
Through a telescope we saw the shapes of these clouds and clusters, but not the rich colors and textures captured in these images. The Orion Nebula is a stellar birth cloud with new stars still forming from the gas and dust. The Carina region has young stars and the dying supergiant Eta Carinae.
Omega Centauri is the brightest globular cluster in Earth skies with 5 million stars. The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds are satellite galaxies of our Milky Way galaxy. We can see the Orion Nebula easily from Houston. The other magnificent objects are best seen from below Earth's equator.
It's a wonderful sky down under.


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If Kristen Stewart and Rupert Sanders never had sex, should Robert Pattinson and Liberty Ross still be devastated by their infidelity?
While headlines have called Stewart and Sanders' involvement a "fling" or an "affair," pictures obtained by Us Weekly show only embraces, kisses and the actress leaning back in the driver's seat of her car as her "Snow White and the Hunstman" director busies himself "kissing her entire body."
Sanders' father, Michael, is in the no-big-deal camp.
"From what I gather nothing really happened and it is all a lot of fuss about nothing. I should imagine it was something very brief," he told


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I really wanted to write an upbeat post about all the delicious foods I've been whipping up in my fabulous retro kitchen. However, the vicissitudes of life on the farm preclude me from doing so. There is much to report since my last post. I will try to be brief.
The Good
I made a lot of great stuff from scratch, like these loaves of bread:
And these precious 3 jars of loquat jam. About a third of the loquats came from our tree and the rest from a friend's backyard.
Ute and her friend Zoe and I went to pick Ollalieberries in Pescadero, but the crop this year was completely abysmal. After 2 hours of picking in the hot sun, without a lot of help from the short set, I gleaned approximately 2 pounds of berries. No Ollalieberry jam this year. So we went next door for some strawberries. Again the girls didn't quite take to task, as illustrated in their mostly empty berry baskets.
But I got some more red juiciness for the freezer and a few pints of jam out of the deal.
Other foods included pita bread, hummus - cooked those chickpeas and everything -, and yogurt, which turned out a bit grainy. Tasted fine, but I guess to get that real creamy texture that you find in the store you have to add pectin, gelatin, guar gum, or other additives. I used an electric mixer to smooth it out. It kinda worked.
In other news, we are making a lot of progress in the backyard with the help of our friend Daymon. He's building the fence, digging trenches, pouring concrete, and moving crap around so that we can move the animals to their more permanent location in the yard.
The little chooks have finally graduated to the big house. I wasn't quite ready to do that since Pearl is still sick, but it was either move them out of the garage or end up in divorce court. I chose my marriage over the chickens, which I hope is happy news to my DDF (Dear Disgruntled Farmhand). And after just under a week of separation from the flock, foot soaks, and antibiotics, Sweet Pea's toe is doing great.
The goats are fabulous. They are not tame yet, but are eating out of our hands. We are moving in the right direction.
The Bad
Poor Sweet Pea. Her toe was getting so much better and then I had to go and almost kill her again. I must have some weird karmic relationship with that bird because I keep inadvertently trying to do her in. I was cleaning out the chicken house, keeping the birds on the other side of a low, makeshift partition - think scrap plywood board - and things were going swell. I had to move in and out of the coop to bring the hose and the bucket of soap, etc., but I checked the door every time to make sure I wasn't squishing any meandering peeps. On my way back from one trip, I noticed that Lorraine was trying to fly over the partition and sneak out under the coop (usually this area is blocked off by aforementioned plywood board). So I pushed the run back, hoping to keep her in for a few seconds longer so I could get the board back in place. I went to put the board back, opened the door and noticed that Sweet Pea seemed stuck between a cinder block and the bottom board of the door frame. Then I realized that she wasn't stuck between, she was jammed underneath the run, the entire weight of it crushing down on her little body. I freaked. I screamed. Loud. Probably scared the neighbors. I swept Sweet Pea up and brought her into the garage so that Ute could tend to her. Ute starting crying that Sweet Pea was going to die. I assured her that she just needed to rest after her ordeal. She was still breathing. A little limp, but breathing. Meanwhile the hose that I was using to wash down the coop was leaking, spraying water everywhere. The chicks by now had all escaped, running underneath the coop and out into the neighbor's yard. It was utter chaos. But don't worry, this tale ends well. I collected the chicks, turned off the water, secured the coop, and brought Sweet Pea upstairs to watch Barney with Ute. The TV worked like a charm and Sweet Pea is again right as rain. Ute... well I will put some money in the therapy jar for this one.
The Ugly
This is the most difficult news to report. Pearl is not doing well. This morning she seemed more lethargic than usual and extremely stuffy and sneezy. Miss Lorraine recovered from this cold/conjunctivitis thing rather quickly. Pearl just seems to get worse every day. This afternoon I went to take some photos and I found her looking miserable. I picked her up and she drooped in my hands like a rag doll. I laid her down while I went to find a box to separate her from the others and she went limp on her side. I thought she would die then and there, but she continued to breath. She is now closed off inside the kitchen where I've been keeping her hydrated and dosing her with Sweet Pea's antibiotics. Normally I wouldn't give a chicken antibiotics, but since they are not laying yet and I don't have a very large flock, I want to prevent as much death as possible. Although I didn't suspect Coryza at first, I'm now thinking that this may be what is going around the flock as Pearl is displaying the telltale sign of foul smelling breath along with the other upper respiratory symptoms. Three of the young chicks seem to be immune to whatever this is. I keep hearing her sneezes and croaky chirps from the kitchen so I'm assuming Pearl is still giving it a fight. Please think healthy thoughts for this poor chook. Ute will be devastated if she loses her chicken.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Labels: baking, cooking, farm construction, livestock injuries, local food, poultry diseases, preserving, urban chickens, urban goats
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Crime Scene "Bulletproof" S11 E15
After uncovering faulty bulletproof vests in a truck filled with stolen U.S.M.C. merchandise, the NCIS team attempts to locate both the source and any vests that had been shipped to military personnel overseas, on NCIS, Tuesday, Feb. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Pictured left to right: David McCallum, Sean Murray and Brian Dietzen Photo: Robert Voets/CBS ©2014 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved


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* Label the input with 'Filter'.
* Label the input with 'Filter'.
* Show the static filter input above the list of items but the dynamic filter input below the list of items to avoid jumping content.
* Show the static filter input above the list of items but the dynamic filter input below the list of items to avoid jumping content.
[[Image:KDE-Search_StaticFilter.png]] [[Image:KDE-Search_DynamicFilter.png]]
* (Yet to be defined by the VDG)
* (Yet to be defined by the VDG)
A search function allows to generate a subset out of a big number of items based on a user defined pattern. It can usually be applied to various sources and has several options for fine-tuning. Often search results needs further refinement by a filter.
Supplemental to search the filter function reduces the number of items. This operation works on the current list only and does not generate a new output. Filtering should always be instantaneous and must not interrupt the workflow. It makes sense to discriminate between a static filter that is part of the navigation and always shown, and a dynamic filter used for the current workflow.
Similar to filtering the operation might be used to highlight information. This preselection is a common feature in text processing and used to locate a particular piece of information without concealing the surrounding.
|Use case for filter vs. search
| Jane has Dolphin open in her Documents folder. Let's say Jane has ~100 miscellaneous files there that have built up over the years. Jane also has under Documents several more structured folders with oodles of files as well for different projects over the years, travel expense reports and receipts. Jane thinks that the file she's looking for is one of those ~100 miscellaneous files because that where she typically put documents that aren't project or travel expense related. She thinks the filename starts with "sta" but isn't sure. So she opens the filter function on Dolphin and types "sta". What she expects is that out of ~100 files Dolphin shows in the Documents folder, some subset will be displayed with filenames starting with or containing "sta". She just wants to reduce the set of data that was already *visible* in Dolphin. She chose filter instead of search because she doesn't care about the 200 or so files in the Documents/Littlesburg Train Station project folder and its subfolders with "sta" in their filename.
She's essentially just restricting her search to what is currently *visible* and not trying to recursively search the contents of the currently displayed Documents folder. She's still conceptually searching. But how she's searching, even in the current folder, is quite different.
The example is based on KMail. To have both the static and dynamic filter in one application (which is not recommendable) the list of accounts can be reduced to a particular item. Combo boxes are enhanced by a checkbox list together with a caption that shows the selected items or, in case of not enough space, the number of selected items. The tooltipp lists all selections. The search dialog makes use of a dual list pattern.


text: Western Digital support forums are filled with comments on the latest WDTV Live firmware update, few of them good. Many users are reporting that firmwares from 1.0.11 up are giving them trouble, at least, and in many cases outright bricking their hardware. If you've got one, hold off on updating for a while. Check out the source links for more info. [WD Community, WDTVHD.com. Thanks William.]


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Dante's Inferno senior producer Hans ten Cate joined our hosts, Brian Crecente and Stephen Totilo, in today's episode of Kotaku Talk Radio to discuss everything you need to know about descending into the darkest depths of hell.
In case you missed the live show, which runs every Wednesday at 11AM Mountain, 1PM Eastern time, we've provided multiple convenient ways to access the latest episode post-broadcast. Whether you prefer Zune, iTunes, or good old MP3, we've got you covered below.
Topics of conversation include Dante's Inferno downloadable content, religious themes, on-the-disc DLC, and rivers of green vomit, in honor of Saint Patrick's Day.
Hosts: Brian Crecente, Stephen Totilo
Guest: Hans ten Cate
Ranter: Owen Good
Download the MP3 [Chat About It]
Listen to it [Chat About It]
Subscribe via RSS [Chat About It]
Download to your iPod or iPhone [iTunes]
Subscribe to podcast on iTunes [iTunes]
Download to your Zune [Zune]


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Officina Zero
Gluten free restaurant in Milano
4.8 / 5
based on 1 customer reviews
100 % recommendations
About Officina Zero
At Officina Zero people with gluten intolerance are well catered for and can safely enjoy a gluten-free meal. Officina Zero is familiar with the problem of gluten intolerance and does all it can to prepare gluten-free food risk-free. A great deal of importance is placed on keeping meals free from contamination and using only gluten-free ingredients. The menu at Officina Zero provides a good selection of gluten-free foods. Gluten-free foods are correspondingly identified. The staff is always available for questions. A culinary highlight for carefree enjoyment - even with gluten intolerance!


text:
To the wire:
Trojans give defending champs all they want in semifinals.
Vickey Vaughn is Nurse of the Year.
Former GSC librarian delighted with her new status.
Dear Santa:
Letters to the jolly old man in red due Wednesday.
Fiscal cliff:
What it means to you and your family.
A preview of the 12.11.2012 edition of The Herald-Gazette
No Trackbacks


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I have had a number of email conversations with members of the Malt Maniacs group and others about how the situation at the Fukushima power plant might affect Japanese whisky. I had not wanted to post on the topic until the situation had stabilized and we had access to the full facts. I thought a post on this topic might fuel groundless fears. However, it has become clear to me that rumours and scares appear to be spreading among foreign fans of Japanese whisky. This concern has been built on the back of what has, quite frankly, been laughably bad reporting of Japan's problems in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake. I have had emails talking about Japanese food and drink products, not just whisky, being "finished" in the international market. Some correspondents have said there was no way they will buy Japanese because of the problems at Fukushima.
This is absurd.
Below is a image taken from this website showing radiation levels in Japanese prefectures from the 15th to the 17th of March. I have annotated it with the names of relevant prefectures to Japanese whisky fans (in blue) and the names of distilleries (in purple). The radiation levels are measured in microsieverts per hour. Microsieverts are the smaller of the two measures of radioactivity being mentioned in the media right now (microsieverts and millisieverts). They are a thousand times smaller than millisieverts.
To put these measurements in some perspective, one one-way trip from Tokyo to New York would give you and anything in your luggage about 100 microsieverts of radiation. Natural background radiation in the UK ranges from about 2000 to 7000 microsieverts a year (according to this Scottish Government news release). If you are particularly worried about ingesting radiation, consider the humble banana. The funniest thing I saw in these past few days was two colleagues taking long drags on their cigarettes as they swapped worries about the radiation.
Note that the Fukushima measurement is not given in the graphs below (but here is a post with some measurements). Also please bear in mind that different locations in some of these prefectures are going to get different amounts of radiation. The background radiation will differ between prefectures.
Let's get this in some perspective and support these people. Please stop the scare talk.
[Update 19.03.2011: Miyagi prefecture measurements have now been removed from the website from which I took the measurements (based on official Department of Education stats). I don't know why. It is possible that the figure below was inaccurate. I don't think there is any suggestion at this stage that there has been any major event since to hugely increase the flow of radioactivity to Miyagikyo. Nikka Whisky's Miyagikyo distillery is in Miyagi. This is a screenshot of the latest figures, which cover an extra day of nothing much happening.]
That is the situation as, I think, it stands at present. We don't know how this situation will develop but this is the advice on a realistic worst case from the British government's chief scientific officer: http://ukinjapan.fco.gov.uk/


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• Leather upper
• Memory Foam foot bed for all-day comfort and support
• Mesh lining with antimicrobial treatment for comfort and breathability
• Lace up closure for secure fit
• Imported
Not sure of their size? We'll show you how to measure. Changed your mind on an order? Return it for free. Whatever it is, we're here to help.
1. find the perfect fit.
Watch our video or print our size guide.
find the perfect fit
2. return for free.
If those shoes don't fit, send them back. Returns are on us.
- Brush off dry dirt
- Use a damp cloth with a little mild detergent
- Stuff shoes with newspaper and air dry
- Treat leather with conditioner, if desired


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MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - Five members of the MIT men's tennis were selected to take part in the USTA/ITA Men's Tennis Regional Championships at Middlebury College over the weekend. MIT was just one of twenty New England Division III schools that traveled to Vermont for the tournament, which took place from Friday through Sunday, Sept. 28-30. After the first day of competition on Friday, only 16 of the 64 singles players and half of the 32 pairings were left in the field.
Senior Edwin Zhang (Falls Church, Va.) led the Engineers by reaching the Round of 16 in singles action, while sophomore Kevin Wang (Havertown, Pa.) and junior Eugene Oh (Alpharetta, Ga.) reached the Round of 16 in doubles.
On Friday, Wang started the day off with a win over Tufts University's Brad Wong by a score of 7-6(8), 6-2 in the Round of 64 but fell to No. 1 seed Joey Fritz of Amherst College by a score of 6-3, 6-1. No. 3 seed Zhang defeated Charles Lai of UMass Boston, 6-1, 6-0 to move onto the Round of 32, where he won against Williams' Brian Astrachan in a close match, dropping the first set by a score of 6-0 before winning the remaining two, 7-6(2), 6-4.
Oh fell to Palmer Campbell of host Middlebury, 6-2, 6-2, while lone MIT freshman Kenny Gea (Irvine, Calif.) came out on top in his match against Victor Vu of Babson by a score of 6-4, 6-3, before falling to Williams' Howie Weiss in the next round by a score of 6-2, 6-2.
In doubles action, Wang and Oh moved onto the next round following their win against Tufts' Nik Telkedzhiev and Jay Glickman, 8-6, while Zhang and fellow senior Curtis Wu (Yorba Linda, Calif.) were eliminated after falling to Jose Raventos and Rohan Shastri of Williams by a score of 8-5.
On Saturday, Zhang fell to Jackson Frons of Middlebury in the Round of 16 by a score of 7-5, 6-2. In doubles play, following their win over Tufts the day before, Wang and Oh dropped their match to Williams' Matt Micheli and Conrad Harron, 8-1.
MIT will host its first match of the season on Friday, Oct. 4, facing RPI at 4:00 p.m.


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Apple iPhone 5 teardown
Apple's iPhone 5 has the same general shape as the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, but the newer device packs lots of hardware updates and a redesigned case. Thanks to these changes, the iPhone 5 is thinner, lighter, more powerful and easier to disassemble and repair. Follow along as I crack open the Apple iPhone 5.
For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, iPhone 5 teardown: Redesigned case and interior simplify repairs.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Bill Detwiler has nothing to disclose. He doesn't hold investments in the technology companies he covers.
Full Bio
Bill Detwiler is Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop support specialist in the social research and energy industries. He has bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Louisville, where he has also lectured on computer crime and crime prevention.


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The Chargers are going to get a fresh set of eyes on their general manager search, with the Spanos family bringing in former Packers GM Ron Wolf as a consultant.
NFL Network's Albert Breer said Chargers owner Dean Spanos reached out to Wolf eight or nine days ago, and that Wolf will begin his job Tuesday.
While many expect current personnel man Jimmy Raye to move up a seat (and to ultimately report to Dean's son John Spanos), Wolf could expand the search.
There are many things that make the Chargers an attractive destination, though many of those things are particular to San Diego more than the Chargers themselves. But they have a quarterback that was recently good, and that's the first thing any potential employee, coach or GM will look for.
Wolf's presence doesn't guarantee Spanos will make a good hire, but it does at least create the appearance that it's other than a cruise-controlled inside job.


text:
by Rasmus Christian Elling.
Today is an important day in Iran for several reasons. It is Ashura, the culmination of the mourning rituals marked by Shiites throughout the world, remembering the martyrdom of Imam Hossein in 680 AD. It is also the 7th day after the death of the leading 'reformist' cleric, Grand Ayatollah Montazeri. In other words, there is much at stake and emotions are high.
I wont be able to liveblog today (as you may have noticed, I'm taking some time off from the blog in order to write my thesis!); however, if you want to stay updated, I recommend Enduring America's blog here and the New York Times' The Lede Blog here.


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