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Media Centre
Welcome to the 7-Eleven Media Centre. Here you'll find the latest news and media releases for 7-Eleven Australia.
7-Eleven Acquires Mobil Retail Fuels Business
7-Eleven Stores Pty Ltd is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding agreement with Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd to acquire its retail fuels business.
The acquisition comprises 295 company-owned or leased service stations, primarily located in the metropolitan areas of eastern Australia, substantially strengthening 7-Eleven's presence in the eastern seaboard convenience store market. The combined entity will serve more than 160 million customer transactions each year.
Chairman of 7-Eleven in Australia, Russell Withers said, "This deal with Mobil will build on 7-Eleven's position as the leader in the convenience retailing industry in Australia, taking the number of 7-Eleven stores from 400 to more than 650."
"As a family-owned business that has been operating 7-Eleven in Australia for 33 years, we are very excited about this acquisition and welcome the Mobil metropolitan retail fuels business and its employees into our group.
"The acquisition combines two successful companies with high-calibre workforces to make a stronger organisation focused on growth, our customers and our employees."
7-Eleven Chief Executive Officer, Warren Wilmot, said, "This is not simply complementary to our business, it is our business. Similar acquisitions in the past have delivered significant per-store merchandise sales growth, demonstrating the strength of the brand's consumer appeal. In addition, the acquired sites are well-positioned with strong fuel and food store volume, bringing excellent synergies with 7-Eleven's current operations.
"We expect to convert most of the Mobil sites into 7-Eleven stores by the end of 2011, with sites being significantly upgraded. This is also great news for our existing franchisees as it will bring supply chain efficiencies and greater buying and marketing power for 7-Eleven.
"In the short term, very little will change for employees, as we recognise that both companies have significant employee talent we wish to harness," Wilmot continued.
Included in this acquisition are approximately 30 stores in South Australia where 7-Eleven does not currently operate. It is 7-Eleven's intention that the stores and assets will be transferred to the Peregrine Corporation, a family-owned business that has been operating in Australia for 26 years, and shares 7-Eleven's approach to its business and its people.
"With 38,000 stores globally, 7-Eleven is the world's largest retail store brand. A proven franchise system and the great employee talent at both companies provide us our recipe for continued success and leadership in the convenience retailing sector," Wilmot concluded.
Further Information
This acquisition creates a merged entity with projected sales in excess of $2.84 billion.
The acquisition will position 7-Eleven as the market leader in convenience retailing and also make it the largest independent fuel retailer in Australia.
The combined group will conduct more than 160 million customer transactions each year.
Following the acquisition, there will be more than 650 7-Eleven stores in Australia.
On completion the group is expected to be the 3rd largest private company operating in Australia.
It is expected that most Mobil sites will be converted into 7-Eleven stores by the end of 2011, with sites being significantly upgraded.
Most stores will be progressively franchised under the successful 7-Eleven system with opportunities for existing Mobil Agents and others to acquire a franchise.
7-Eleven is committed to providing a fuel card replacement for Mobilcard. Mobilcard customers will be able to use the replacement card offered by 7-Eleven throughout the 7-Eleven store network, including Mobil/Quix branded stores after the change in control.
7-Eleven has also reached an agreement with Mobil for the ongoing supply of fuel to the service stations that are being acquired.
The transaction is not subject to Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) clearance.
7-Eleven believes that competition concerns are unlikely, however we fully expect the ACCC to conduct a market review.


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Supra-molecular alkylalumoxanes
AuthorBarron, Andrew R.; Obrey, Stephen J.
Utility patent
Heterogeneous solid supra-molecular alkylalumoxanes. A supra-molecular architecture of a nano-particle foundation on which an alkylalumoxane is built. Supra-molecular alkylalumoxanes comprise (a) an aluminum-oxide nanoparticle, (b) a linkage unit, and (c) an alkylalumoxane. Supra-molecular alkylalumoxanes are prepared by the reaction of a chemically modified aluminum-oxygen nanoparticle with either a pre-formed alkylalumoxane or an alkylaluminum compound, with subsequent hydrolysis or reaction with other alkylalumoxane yielding reagents. The supra-molecular alkylalumoxanes are active as catalysts for the polymerization of organic monomers and as co-catalysts with transition metal components for the polymerization of olefins.
MetadataShow full item record
- Rice Patents [496]

subset: commoncrawl


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About Us
Depression is a serious illness
We Will Help You
Your Awesome Robbie Dean Centre Team
Monique Yashinskie
Monique brings to the team many years of administrative experience. As Robbie's mother, she has gained a keen understanding of what it feels like to support someone who is struggling with their mental well-being.
Tom Sidney
Tom has an extensive background in working with individuals and families in crisis. He specializes in suicide prevention and post-suicide de-briefing. He is an exceptional public speaker who provides engaging community training sessions on a variety of mental health-related topics.
Lynn Murphy
Lynn brings to the team years of experience working with men and women who have experienced sexual trauma. She uses a solution-focused approach to provide individuals with the tools needed to re-describe themselves and overcome the long-term effects of sexual trauma.
Clay McAlleer
Clay has an extensive background working with individuals, families, and groups adapting to a new life after suffering a loss. His ministerial and social education make him an excellent counselor to those who are struggling with their journey to their "new normal".
Julie Morden-Daechsel
Julie has an extensive background in working with individuals and families who have experienced trauma and also specializes in addiction support. She uses various therapeutic models to help clients create and implement a strategy to navigate their journey towards wellness.
Samantha Clouthier
Sam specializes in anxiety and depression. Her priority is to assist individuals in understanding what they are feeling and give them the tools needed to manage the challenges that come with living with anxiety and depression.
Jessica Videto
Jessica assists the team by ensuring that the Centre has updated and accurate information on the many community resources available to those living in Renfrew County. She helps clients connect with other organizations or services that will provide them with the best care possible.


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Enter Here: Brewers Tickets Sweepstakes
Who: Wisconsin, Illinois & Minnesota
Find local sweepstakes for your state here.
What: 6 Check Deck tickets to the exclusive Associated Bank Check Deck at Miller Park, plus 2 parking passes
When: This is single entry. Your entry rolls over to each prize period. Final day to enter is 5/3/18.


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So let me just start by saying that voting today while listening to the song "Mrs. Officer" by Lil' Wayne made me love my country. I mean...really? I can do that? I don't know why I found this so fascinatingly odd and cool. But the old lady next to me, who may or may not have been dying IN her mini-booth, looked like she was mortified that I was listening to music on a "future-device" while voting. Change is a brewin' ma'am...change is a BREWIN'. Also, thanks for voting, I respect your tenacity, as I'm sure being 900 years old makes it challenging to move/eat food/do anything really, let alone vote. So hey, HIGH five! Unless you voted for proposition 8. Then I hate you. Side note: I found it entirely alarming/hilarious that they quietly threw in Measure K on the SF ballot decriminalizing prostitution, and people are more outspoken and have a larger problem with same-sex marriages. Really? Where is the sign that is for people NOT being hookers? Isn't this kind of a bigger problem than people who like each other getting married, right-wingers? Anywho. Moving on from the political diatribe..
So I almost killed everyone in my apartment complex last night. With a duraflame. Let me explain.
It's chilly in San Francisco right now. You know, cold in a "everyone in California is a big whambulance about weather that isn't actually cold but yet they bitch about it" kind of way. Nonetheless, I love to complain so I'll argue that it's been cold.
So I got home and thought about my options. We have a fireplace at Chateau Ghetto, one of its only perks (well this was considered a perk until last night, when it became a "stupid"). Chateau Ghetto also came with gunfire, people dying outside on Fillmore St. seemingly every 4 minutes, and poor water pressure that in turn makes you feel like you are bathing with a very small squirt gun that is out of water WAY too fast. So obviously, when they said all of this, then told me that it comes with a fireplace, I of course said "WHERE DO I SIGN!" Hey, the last place I lived in SF, my landlord lived in the WALL and was a registered sex offender, so the apartment with the fireplace that came with NOT a registered sex offender seemed like a step in the right direction. Or a marathon in the right direction.
Back to the point: I looked in our lovely little fireplace, which i've used not once, and found a duraflame with no paper jacket on it. A naked duraflame, if you will. A sad, lonely, naked duraflame. Looking as though he was cowering in there with a British accent, saying, "please sir, do be kind and put a flame to me!" Yes, this is how I imagined him. So I thought, you know what duraflame? Today is your lucky day. I'm gonna romance the fuck out of myself with a nice fire while I enjoy monday night football. Let's do this.
Fast forward to the beginning of Drew challenging himself to see how many poor decisions he can make in a row. So to start, I decide to find the nearest magazine and just start basically tearing out pages in it to light underneath the naked lil' guy. If you are wondering, yes, ink smells great when you burn it (great = poopookaka). At this point, I light them and decide that I'd like some wine, so I'm going to leave the apartment unattended to go to Safeway down the street. I know, right? Who does that? Why didn't I just turn the stove on full blast and leave it open, and the set of knives on a rope and pulley system that shoot forward when you open the front door? It's like I was subconsciously trying to make my own Final Destination scene. (wouldn't it be cool to die that way though? be honest, you've thought about it...)
When I get back, it turns out the duraflame is not going up the chimney, but rather into the house. So that's cool. I decide to point a fan directly at the flame directing the smoke towards the window (which, last time I checked, is how wildfires spread...keeping score yet?), which then just blows smoke all over the apartment. It turns out you can't just tell the smoke to go out the window, it doesn't listen. At this point, my roommate gets home and basically just starts cracking up, as it smells like I went camping in the living room. Now here's the kicker: I decided I wanted to nip this in the bud before it just got smoke in the living room slowly all night, and I wanted to put out the fire. I have gone back through my logic from here on out for a while now, and I'm not sure how I passed any course from the third grade on at this point. I decide (get this) to SOAK A BATH TOWEL and throw it on the fire. In a very small fireplace. What? And go figure...smoke pours into the apartment. So I panic. And in that panic, I decide the next best idea is to open my front door and let it seep out into my building hallway, so that everyone else can enjoy the fun I'm having. Which in turn sets off the building's fire alarm. Which in turn sounds like a national terror alert siren. Which in turn turns on a strobe light. Which in turn locks the elevators. And calls the fire department. Wow.
I go out to the hallway, and EVERYONE is there staring me down. Kind of like Kevin's uncle in Home Alone ("looook what you diiiid you litttttle JERK"). And better yet, people are honestly acting like it's the apocalypse. Dogs and cats in in their travel kennels being run down the hall by terrified owners. So obviously, i'm feeling pretty good about myself. I run down to the street, and phew...THREE fire trucks have come. With twelve firefighters...gearing up like this is the final scene of backdraft or something. People are frantically asking me what happened, and I keep trying to explain that I'm just not that intelligent, but in all honesty I don't need the national guard in my apartment. Nobody listens, and instead this apparently translates to them that they need giant axes (side note again: why the axe? are you going to stab the fire to death? moving on). The best is when they get to my apartment...charge in to find...a wet towel on a duraflame. Needless to say, they did nothing and just left...basically stating to me that they just prefer that I do kill myself this way rather than help at all, because I have proven myself a weak link in the evolutionary chain.
Just to finish off the story, the smoke of course keeps billowing in because...I didn't remove the wet towel and just decided to ride it out? Wow...again. At this point, I decide to not have the fire department come again...and go BACK to Safeway...this time procuring 7 boxes of baking soda (it's all I could think of) to pour all over my fireplace. So basically...
Everyone at Safeway thinks I'm going on some huge bender and presumably getting drunk classy styles with a bottle of pinot noir while cutting MAYBE 9 pounds of Colombian grade cocaine, the fire department and 800 other people hate me, and I can't make a fire from a DURAFLAME at the age of 26. All in all, I'd say that's doing pretty well for yourself in one night.
Have I mentioned that it was a duraflame? And that I WASN'T on drugs, which is really sad? The best part of the night, though, was when all was said and done. The roommate and I are sitting there, in awe of my epic tour de retard...and he looks at me and says, "Welp. At least you've got something to blog about now."
Well said, Chris. Well said.
Song of the day is by MGMT. They are everyone's "hey have you heard of those guys?" band in advertising, and everyone acts like they are cooler than you because they found them first. But I found them before you. Because I'm in advertising. And who really cares…the band is just ridiculously good. Enjoy...this song is addicting. And hey, if you need someone to build you a fire, ladies...


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Once upon a time, visitors came down to this planet and saw images of a suffering, dying man hanging from a cross by huge nails hammered through his hands and feet, a crown of thorns stuck on a bloodied face, and then they saw the people of the planet worshipping this tortured image by eating his flesh and drinking his blood. The story went that this man had been crucified on a hill, named Golgotha, an Aramaic word for skull, because the hill was in the shape of a skull.
They saw the leaders of these man-made religions living an opulent lifestyle in huge palaces decorated with priceless works of art and treasures. They saw ancient spiritual tribes at one with Nature slaughtered and butchered in a crusade of ethnic cleansing and forced to follow these man-made religions. They saw men, women and children, die in their millions through war, famine, poverty and disease. They decided the people of this planet had been fooled into worshipping Black Magic so they got back into their spaceship and never came back.


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Rob Sandie is the founder of vid.io (update: rebranded as "VidIQ"), a new startup that helps companies with the management of video and marketing on YouTube. vid.io is currently accepting applications for beta access and it has already been called the "HootSuite for video."
I've been able to test vid.io and I'm excited to see where Rob takes the tool and company, especially because this is his second startup - Viddler being his first. In this interview, Rob shares about the problems vid.io hopes to solve, his thoughts on the startup scene, and insights from his experiences as an entrepreneur.
"Time is your most valuable asset. Hustle. Fail fast. Do what you love."
Social Nerdia: You haven't yet publicly shared details about vid.io but you did mention that you're "rethinking the entire video management paradigm." What are some of the greatest pain points in online video management today?
Rob Sandie: YouTube accounts for 70% of video minutes viewed online. It's also the second largest search engine. A brand should be focusing everything on YouTube. It's not about SEO anymore. It's about YTO (YouTube Tag Optimization). It's not about Branded Players anymore. It's about Branded Channels. Many social media marketers are forced to choose from a consumer tool (YouTube) and/or video platforms that are focused on an entirely separate CMS that consider YouTube a "syndication." It's about time that video was done right and vid.io is hoping to accomplish this.
Social Nerdia: vid.io is your second startup. What does it mean to you at a personal and professional level?
RS: My first startup began out of my dorm room at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Not your ideal startup location but was able to grow to a multi-million dollar/year profitable business. A difficult endeavor that took 6 years but something I am very proud of and proof you can start a company almost anywhere nowadays. Today vid.io (second startup) is located out of San Francisco. Have been here for 2 months and it's an awesome feeling. Best way to describe it is it's felt like for the last 6 years on the east coast I have been climbing a steep snow covered mountain with wind in my face. Being in San Francisco feels like skiing down that mountain with the wind at my back. That being said San Francisco has it's own challenges. Finding talent being the biggest. Fortunately having built a company with a network of developers that worked with in the past and credibility from that has made working with awesome talent a non-issue so far.
Social Nerdia: Mobile apps continue to get a lot of attention, especially after Facebook's $1B acquisition of Instagram. What are your thoughts on Viddy and Socialcam?
RS: Video recording mobile apps have existed for a while. I think of SocialCam and Viddy as companies that are more well known for doing a great job of leveraging the Facebook Opengraph.
Social Nerdia: What do you think Facebook's IPO means for the rest of the tech industry?
RS: It clearly hasn't gone as planned. Wish it was doing well as if Facebook was at 40 right now, we might be seeing more angel investors.
Social Nerdia: Getting back to online video, what do you think about original series getting created by Hulu, Netflix and YouTube?
RS: Sounds like the future of television.
Social Nerdia: With Viddler, what did you learn about being a tech entrepreneur outside of Silicon Valley?
RS: I hope it's generated a skeptical eye for hype.
Social Nerdia: After 6 years of leading Viddler as CEO and President, you had to step down involuntarily. What was that like and what have you learned from the experience?
RS: Not the greatest thing at the time but a huge blessing in disguise.
Social Nerdia: How did you get started in online video and where did all that passion for it come from?
RS: I was graduating from Lehigh with a Computer Science and Business degree and most of the software development was in C or C++. Not a very inspirational coding language and something I had a hard time connecting with. Then came a course in e-learning and was told to "
build something that teaches someone something in Flash.
" At the time Macromedia MX had just come out and made it really easy to have flash animations interact with video. So I put my head down for a few months and built a
that was designed to have students lean forward and engage with content. That landed me a 6-month stint at Macromedia (worked for a summer and while at school) on the Flash Video team, which allowed me to see the video ecosystem from a nice vantage point. I still remember the scaling issues/inquiries we got from Youtube in 2006. Looking back, it was a big coincidence but I registered interactivetube.com two months before youtube.com was registered.
Social Nerdia: What advice can you give to aspiring tech entrepreneurs?
RS: Big picture advice: Time is your most valuable asset. Hustle. Fail fast. Do what you love. Tips & Tricks advice: Read Hackernews daily (the iPhone app is golden). Dribbble is the best place to find designers and/or design inspiration.


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In the twilight years of his life, Sherlock Holmes (Ian McKellen) has retired to Sussex, where he lives with his housekeeper Mrs Monro (Laura Linney) and her son Roger (Milo Parker). Determined to defeat the ravage of age on his mind, and to remember the details of the final case he took, the one that drove him out of the career he loved so much, Holmes strikes up an unusual friendship with the young child living so close to him.
Before we go any further, it is worth pointing out that Mr Holmes feels not only heavily inspired by Finding Neverland – the Johnny Depp JM Barrie flick – and an attempt to cash in on the newfound resurgence in love for the world's famous detective thanks to a certain TV show.
Ian McKellen is on his usual fine form as Sherlock Holmes, and seems to have perfected the facial expression of a bulldog chewing a wasp; which he wears almost consistently for the first half of the film. McKellen is the heart and soul of the film, and ably carries the entire shebang through his strong performance. Laura Linney seems to be a little lost as the bullish housekeeper. It is not immediately clear why she is there, and why she seems so enraged all the time, but this seems to be the fault of casting and storytelling, rather than that of the actress herself. Milo Parker works well with Ian McKellen, but again seems to have some personality issues as his actions are not always fully explained.
The story, adapted by Mitch Cullin from his own novel A Light Trick of the Mind, focuses on Sherlock Holmes as his mind starts to fail him. This is an interesting road for the film to explore, since Holmes relies on logic and deduction in every day life, but in trying to cram this story, as well as one from Holmes' past and a new friendship, into the film, it often feels like there is far too much going on, and not each subplot is as interesting as the last. There are some nice moments in the film, however – such as Holmes finally realising the need for human emotion – but the friendship between Holmes and Roger often feels forced, as though it is trying to add too much sweetness to a character who was never plagued by human emotionality.
Director Bill Condon tries to weave the stories of past and present together, but the trouble is that the past case is the part of the film that is truly interesting – for the most part – but this turns out to be as disappointing as the superficial examination of what it is like for an man who has always relied on his intellect to slowly lose his mental power. Thank god then, for Ian McKellen, who carries the film well, and manages to keep audience interest through his powerful performance, even as he is let down by a shoddy story.
In all, Mr Holmes feels like a cheap knock off of Finding Neverland. McKellen easily carries the film, and is engaging enough to keep the audience's interest, but he is often stifled by the screenplay, and the desire to show the human side of a character who never needed one before.
Rating: 2.5/5


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Washington, D.C. – Today, Health IT Now's Executive Director Joel White issued the following statement in response to the 2014 telehealth reimbursement data provided by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to The Robert J. Waters Center for Telehealth and e-Health Law.
"It is no surprise that under the current outdated system, we've spent so few resources on providing valuable telehealth services to seniors. The fact that in 2014 Medicare reimbursed $14 million for telehealth services out of a total of approximately $615 billion – merely 0.0023 percent of total spending – reflects the low priority placed on telehealth by Congress. In the private sector, at the VA, and in the DOD, new technologies are being integrated directly into the acute medical benefit, but Medicare's law is stuck in the 20th century.
"We encourage Congress, through 21st Century Cures and other initiatives, to work to remove current barriers to telehealth services under Medicare. One promising area would be to vary reimbursement levels for telehealth services. Health IT Now believes that the use of technology in health care can lower costs, and this should be taken into consideration when developing reimbursement rates for services provided via telehealth. We do not believe that telehealth visits should be automatically reimbursed at the same amount as in-person visits. Unfortunately, some cling to the notion we must have parity in reimbursement, even though studies show the costs of providing services are less. That makes no sense. If it costs less, we should pay less.
"Any telehealth legislation to remove telehealth barriers under Medicare will not be complete without addressing interstate medical licensure. In today's mobile society, people are traveling more and using technology we never imagined just a short time ago. In order to provide quality care, promote care coordination, and reduce redundancy in the healthcare system, Health IT Now believes that Medicare doctors should be able to treat Medicare patients across state lines without having to obtain multiple state licenses.
"Health IT Now stands ready to work with Congress to bring the Medicare program into the 21st century by using telehealth to allow our nation's seniors access to the right care when and where they need it."
About Health IT Now:
Health IT Now (HITN) is a broad based coalition of patient groups, provider organizations, employers and payers that supports incentives to deploy heath information technology to improve care, provider performance, patient outcomes, and to lower costs.


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Along with Mosquito Shield's superior results, Barnes' attention to detail, strong work ethic and commitment to serving customers with integrity, we are confident in offering a 100% satisfaction guarantee. This business model is sure to create many more satisfied customers in the years to come.
Grand Rapids residents enjoy outdoor activities, these activities are often interrupted by Mosquitos. Mosquitos are some of the most annoying and dangerous pests on the planet, responsible for many different diseases. Mosquito Shield of Michigan is on the frontlines of the battlefield protecting the residents of Grand Rapids from these Mosquitos.
Mosquito Shield is a residential mosquito and tick control company dedicated to giving you back your yard. Mosquito Shield will allow your friends, family and pets to spend their days and evenings outside without the annoyance of those pests.
Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan. The total estimated population of Grand Rapids as of the 2010 census is 188,040 residents. Grand Rapids is historically known for being a furniture-manufacturing center. Grand Rapids is nicknamed Furniture City since it is the home to five leading office furniture companies. It is commonly referred to as River City for the landmark that runs through the city in which the city is named for. Grand Rapids is the hometown of the U.S President Gerald Ford. He was buried with his wife Betty on the grounds of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.


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The livingroom is my favorite spot in the house. I love rustic french country style, and that's the look I went for in the livingroom, with lots of drapey linen curtains, antique textiles, a casual white slipcover on the sofa, and worn, rustic wood.
The livingroom has a mostly neutral palette, but gets a touch of color from vintage blue ticking feather pillows and antique european grain sacks... a few of my favorite things!
With the huge west-facing picture window, the livingroom turns into a bright, warm sunroom in the afternoon.
A television is not usually something you see featured on design blogs, but let's face it - if you watch TV and don't have a nice big cabinet to hide it in, it becomes part of the decor. I hung a big antique mirror directly behind the TV to reflect light from the opposite window, and help take the focus off of the big black screen, and draw your eye to the rest of the wall.
The chunky antique wood TV table also offers an unexpected place to display one of my many vintage collections - metal flower frogs.
I know it's not a room, but my white ironstone collection deserves it's own stop on the tour!
I started with one small chipped platter that I found at an antique mall for $1.50, and I've been collecting ever since. I love the simple lines and the warm, rustic patina that old ironstone gets.
I love pieces with lots of crazing and discoloration... the darker and more beat up the better (and usually cheaper). Most pieces I've found have been under $10.
My favorite pitcher... just 50 cents at a flea market. Needless to say, the collection is constantly growing!
Old mirrors are another of my favorite things to decorate with. I don't usually like a lot of artwork or framed photos on my walls, but I love mirrors. This shabby white full-length mirror in my entryway is one of my favorites.
Without a designated room to use as a home office, I tucked a chippy white desk behind the couch in the livingroom, and used a stack of rustic wooden boxes to hide mail, cords, computer accessories, and other clutter. Instant home office!
The office is conveniently right next to the library. Ok, ok, we don't actually have a library, either :) But with sooooo many books, there will always be at least a library wall in our home.
The dining nook also shares space with the main living space, and is just off of the kitchen.
We switched out a dated light fixture for a small, sparkly chandelier from Ikea when we moved in. It was a quick and inexpensive change that made SUCH a difference - and we get to take it with us when we leave!
I'm a sucker for pretty dishes!
The small galley-style kitchen is certainly not high tech, but it's full of character and reminds me of an old farmhouse kitchen.
I love the simple painted cabinets. While there's nothing all that special about them, I like that they are rustic and primitive - nothing too fancy or modern. The landlord let me repaint them when we moved in, so I used a rich greenish golden paint from Olde Century Colors called "Thistle", which is a great complement to my collection of antique yellowware.
A small antique drop leaf table and a tall free-standing cupboard provide extra prep space and pantry storage, and make the kitchen feel lived in and comfortable.
Yellowware is another collection where I love to find imperfect pieces. Most of my bowls have chips and cracks, which means they were all affordable - so I can have a whole mass of them, rather than one perfect, valuable example.
A huge antique lidded wicker basket neatly hides the kitchen trash can, while keeping it right out where I need it.
A fancy antique mirror above the sink adds a touch of elegance to the rustic room... and makes me feel like I have a window to look out of while I'm doing dishes.
The bedroom is the only room with hardwood floors, which I absolutely love. They are so pretty that it makes resisting the urge to wildly rip up the carpet in the living and dining room nearly impossible. But I've been good so far :)
The rustic wood bedside table was a $10 flea market find. I love the curvy shape of the top and the dark primitive touch that it brings to the soft and bright bedroom.
Just like the livingroom, the bedroom gets almost all of its color from fabrics. A few pillows and a graphic red and white antique quilt at the foot of the bed is the perfect amount of red for me.
Remember what I said earlier about having a lot of books? The same goes for magazines! I love picking up past issues of decorating magazines at antique malls, garage sales, and thrift shops.
A collection of baskets, including this antique basket from Maine that I bought on our honeymoon, sits on top of the short primitive antique magazine rack.
The chippy white dresser in the corner also serves as my make-up vanity.
The bathroom is tucked in the hallway between the living area and the bedroom. There are a total of 4 doors in this itty-bitty space, so painting the doors and trim all a soft buttermilk color (instead of the original strawberry-blond stain) makes the busy hallway look pretty and peaceful.
That's it! The house is small, but it's just perfect for the two of us. I work from home, running my handmade soap business and online antique shop, so I have my workspace set up in the basement where I can make as much of a "creative mess" as I need to, and then close the door on it at the end of the day. My work space is still a work in progress... I'll share pictures of it in the future!
Thanks so much for visiting! It's been a pleasure to share my home with you. The next stop on the "Parade of Homes" is Organizing Made Fun. Enjoy!
The Parade of Homes continues throughout the week, so keep following the links at the end of each blog post to lead you to the next house. Want to start at the beginning? Click the button below to head to A Bowl Full of Lemons and start the tour from House #1.


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Senior Software Engineer
Babylist is an e-commerce and gifting platform for new parents and parents-to-be. We are a rapidly growing business looking for talented contributors to join our seasoned, cross-discipline team.
Our web application and backend systems are at the center of the Babylist experience - an experience our users love as they prepare for one of life's biggest events.
The Babylist engineering culture is one of learning and knowledge sharing. We are passionate about experimentation, automation and shipping value to our customers. Our stack is based on Ruby on Rails and React. We continue to expand our toolbox to use the best technologies for the job.
About You
- You have a track record of implementing systems that can adapt to new business requirements. You can leverage domain experience in web technologies and e-commerce.
- You understand testing, monitoring and running a production software system. You are able to develop an architecture with a team.
- You are passionate about using your engineering experience to quickly define and implement systems and features that provide value to our customers.
- You value collaboration and working with a strong team. You are excited to support your team and pleased when they support you.
- You know how to roll up your sleeves. We like systems that run well, but when things don't go as planned we support each other.
What You'll Do
- Work closely with product owners to designing, implementing and deploying systems to support and scale our growing e-commerce, content and fulfillment operations.
- Provide thought leadership around process, tooling and systems. We benefit by more knowledge and learning how others solve problems. You would feel excited to bring in new ways of solving problems.
- Improve and help maintain existing systems. Friction in the development process slows us down and has a large opportunity cost. We see value in taking time to create maintainable systems and remove hurdles from the development process.
- Working in a close, supportive team solving real world problems and making decisions.
- Maintaining older systems and replacing them safely.
- Learning and growing as an engineer.
- 5+ years of engineering experience with a proven track record of building consumer web applications or services.
- Expert-level fluency in at least one of Ruby, Javascript, Python, or another modern programming language.
- Ability to demonstrate superior understanding of CS fundamentals.
- Experience designing and implementing scalable web services.
- Experience with React/Redux a plus
- Mentoring. You're comfortable and excited about helping others learn their craft.
- You should be well versed in effective group communication. As the saying goes: strong opinions, lightly held.
- A hunger to learn from your peers and make their jobs easier. We like to learn from each other.
- Competitive pay and meaningful equity.
- Competitive health benefits with a FSA account for vision and dental.
- Flexible, paid parental leave policy.
- Work from home Wednesdays.
- Working with a passionate, super smart team of individuals.


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ELCAF - 3rd East London Comics & Arts Festival
Saturday, 14 June 2014 from 10:00 to 19:00 (BST)
Event Details
ELCAF 2014, the third East London Comics and Arts Festival will take place this year on the 14th of June in a fabulous new East London venue. The third edition of the festival will again aim to showcase the plethora of youthful talent in the comics and graphic art scene in London and the UK and also to bring something fresh to our locals by drawing talent from abroad to take part in the event, inviting exciting new collectives and publishers from Europe and the wider world.
Overflowing with exciting programming for people of all ages, the events space will offer immersive encounters with the fascinating worlds of illustration and comics, while the fair with over 50 exhibitor stalls will provide you with a unique opportunity to pick up affordable art and prints, the full gamut of comics and graphic novels and even the occasional hand made toy and t-shirt. You will be kept busy by a series of talks by eight special guests including Chris Ware, Seth, Jesse Moynihan and Anouk Ricard and a session of quickfire presentations by five up-and-coming artists presented by It's Nice That as well as a full programme of workshops with Calvert's Press, Exploring Senses, Ministry of Stories and many others. The space is fully equipped with a refreshment booth with coffee, drinks and snacks and plenty of bathrooms for afterwards. What are you waiting for, ELCAF 2014 is going to be a blast!
When & Where
The Oval Space
32 The Oval
E2 9DU London
United Kingdom
Saturday, 14 June 2014 from 10:00 to 19:00 (BST)
Add to my calendar
Nobrow started in the winter of 2008 with the aim to provide an independent platform for graphic art, illustration and art comics in the UK and abroad, to become a leading proponent of quality in book design and a standard bearer for original creative content in print publishing. They founded ELCAF in 2012 with the ambition to provide an opportunity to enjoy the creative offerings of the flourishing comics and graphics scene through a fair with a difference.


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Monthly Archives: August 2013
Robbie Fulks: Gone Away Backward
Robbie Fulks' Gone Away Backward presents a master songwriter, vocalist and guitarist in range of evocative acoustic settings that will delight county and roots music fans. His songs are filled with earnest, even novelistic, portraits of people on the margins … Continue reading
Van Dyke Parks: Songs Cycled
Van Dyke Parks' first album in 20 years, Songs Cycled, reminds one why people once listened to entire records. It is an epic and whimsical journey by a master composer, arranger, songwriter and performer. Van Dyke Parks, now in his … Continue reading


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The ancient astronaut theory posits that our ancestors experienced these huge leaps forward in advancement of scientific, astronomical, technological and medical knowledge that could simply NOT have happened on their own. We MUST …
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[Posted by Shard on October 9th, 2008, 10:28 am]
Rashu & Rena- Polar opposites.
After making a sprite of Rena, it had to be done.
[Posted by Advertisement on September 15th, 2019, 3:21 pm]
[Posted by Bladerna777 on February 15th, 2010, 12:55 am]
They have ears?
[Posted by PixelLover16 not log-in (Guest) on March 17th, 2010, 8:52 pm]
rashsu looks like a were-hedgehog
[Posted by Globep on August 17th, 2010, 3:15 pm]
They have a similar style of clothes?
Must've passed down the genes.
[Posted by METAL SHADOWmk80 on December 19th, 2010, 10:23 am]
same eye color, same pants, same shoes, and same shirts
Leave A Comment »


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I screen the universe of stocks regularly for names trading at, near or even below the cash on the balance sheet. This is the oldest trick in the book, and in an efficient market you should not be able to find good businesses with zero value assigned to the business.
This is true most of the time, as most companies trading below cash are burning through it. Or, they have other problems that the market believes is going to impair value. Sometimes the company is really good but is a member of a tainted group; this was the situation with Lihua International (LIWA), a rapidly expanding "industrial growth" name that is trading at cash because it is Chinese. I profiled LIWA this summer and am still excited about the name. One reason I trust their numbers is the outstanding chief financial officer, who I know and respect. Another is the long history of operations with not the slightest indication of any issues.
Running my screen during this slow holiday week turned up another hidden gem that I am very excited about: Gencor Industries (GENC). Gencor is small at an $86 million market cap, yet the $90 million of cash and liquid investments on the balance sheet give me great comfort that I am taking little risk in buying this stock.
Gencor was founded in 1968, and is based in Orlando, Fla. The company makes machinery equipment used in road construction, mostly related to asphalt production.
As they describe it: "The company offers hot-mix asphalt plants to produce asphalt paving materials; related asphalt plant equipment, including hot mix storage silos, fabric filtration systems, cold feed bins, and other plant components; and a range of mobile batch plants and trommel screens." They also make related equipment for soil remediation, pumps, and industrial storage tanks, among other things.
In contrast to the many cash-burning entities I mentioned earlier, Gencor is running in the black. The last three years have been profitable as well as two of the three quarters of this fiscal year, which ended September 30. (The company reports fourth quarter and FY2013 results on December 9.)
Because of the seasonality of road-building, the September quarter is often slow and they often book a loss. They lost $361,000 last year on $14 million in revenue. I expect a loss when they report on the 9th, but they should be able to maintain full- year profitability.
While growth is good, if not spectacular for GENC, the cyclical nature of the business certain argues for a discounted multiple. Revenue is likely to be down around 20% this year as federal and state highway projects have slowed. However, the company should be able to sustain margins in this down cycle. Road building will rebound eventually because of the inevitable need for repairs.
Simple quantitative analysis would indicate deceptively that GENC is fairly valued. There are not many comps, but one is Astec Industries (ASTE), which is 10 times the size with similar margins and trailing profit-to-earnings ratio.
So perusing this table might deceive you into thinking GENC is fully valued.
The balance sheet is the difference. The company has no debt, and $90 million of investments.
As they describe it: "As of June 30, 2013, the company had $8,491,000 in operating cash, and $82,023,000 in its investment portfolio, including $13,726,000 in equities, $26,384,000 in mutual funds, $18,632,000 in municipal bonds, $15,821,000 in corporate bonds, $5,394,000 in exchange traded funds and $2,066,000 in cash and money funds."
The investment portfolio is managed by a global investment management firm. The securities in the portfolio may be liquidated into cash at any time. Obviously, these instruments can fluctuate in value, but the portfolio seems reasonably diversified and would probably not be subject to more than 10% to 20% variance in either direction.
Why is the market missing this one? I am trying to figure that out myself. They seem to make no effort at investor relations. There is no analyst coverage, and the only press releases are the earnings releases. There is high insider ownership --meaning a low float -- which hurts trading but is welcome when management "eats its own cooking". Insiders own 40%, and the only major active institutional investor appears to be Fidelity, which owns 5%.
The risk/reward here seems compelling. When I buy the stock, I am buying a portfolio of liquid investments with a call option on a nearly 45-year-old business that is profitable, has earnings from operations not the portfolio, has a committed management team and exposure to an industry whose long-term viability is not in doubt and True, the stock is at a multi-year high. But with a business valuation of zero my odds of making money seem reasonable.


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A Guide to Advanced Statistics
There is an information gap when it comes to advanced stats now. Columnists who rant against them seem to only know of the existence of wins above replacement. Meanwhile, many enthusiasts just use them casually without pausing to explain the stat each time. What is a fan who is interested in these stats, but has no knowledge of them to do? I now present to you my guide to the best introductory advanced stats and their uses.
The three stats that every baseball fan will know are batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. These are the stats that make up the ubiquitous triple slash and the last two can be combined into another stat, OPS. OPS is a basic read of how well a player gets on-base and the extra value they provide with extra base hits.
However, there is a flaw with slugging percentage and therefore OPS. In calculating slugging percentage doubles are multiplied by two, triples by three and home runs by four. In other words, a double is worth twice what a single is. While doubles are good, any baseball fan would tell you that it is not worth twice as much as a single.
When I was at Nationals Blogger Day in June one of the people we were able to meet with was their Baseball Operations Analyst Samuel Mondry-Cohen or in other words the Nats' stat guru. When asked what he thought was the best stat to get a holistic view of a player on offense he answered wOBA and I have to agree. The reason is that wOBA measures the same thing OPS purports to measure, but does so in a logical manner. wOBA stands for Weighted On-Base Average. It adds unintentional walks, hit by pitches, singles, doubles, triples and home runs with weights and divides those numbers by at-bats, walks minus intentional walks, sac flies and hit by pitches. Instead of using the weights that slugging percentage does, wOBA uses linear weights which change year-to-year based on how good or bad offense is league wide. Here's a handy guide to determine how good or bad an individual player or team's wOBA is:
An easier stat to understand quickly is wRC+. wRC+ stands for Weighted Runs Created and simply shows how much more or less a player contributes to his team scoring runs, relative to league average and adjusted for park and league. A league average hitter will have a wRC+ of 100 and any point above or below 100 is a percentage point above or below league average. So a player with a wRC+ of 120 created 20% more runs than league average. wRC+ is based off of wOBA, so you know the information you're getting is the most accurate available. But enough about offense, there are two other main parts of baseball, pitching and defense. Let's start with pitching.
Most big picture pitching stats have a fundamental problem, they don't separate what the pitcher does from how the team around him affects it. A good pitcher with a bad offense could end up with more losses than a bad pitcher with a good team around him. ERA suffers from the same problem, an error prone defense could suppress a player's ERA because of the large number of unearned runs.
To combat this uncertainty we have a statistic called FIP or Fielding Independent Pitching. FIP directly measures what a pitcher can control: strikeouts, walks, hit by pitches and home runs. FIP is then adjusted by a constant so it is on the same scale as ERA to aid in comprehension. A warning though, FIP is not as accurate with smaller samples, so this is definitely a season statistic rather than a single game one.
The main defensive stats, errors and fielding percentage, suffer from the same problem, they don't take into account how a player got to the ball. Player A could field every ball hit right at him, but only those hit right at him, while player B could field 90% of balls within 10 yards of him and fielding percentage would say player A is better. That seems unfair.
Enter the main advanced defensive stats UZR and DRS. Both UZR, or Ultimate Zone Rating, and DRS, or Defensive Runs Saved, use data provided by Baseball Info Solutions to rate how well a player plays defense in terms of runs.
UZR is calculated by creating run values versus league average for many aspects of fielding including: Outfield Arm Runs (ARM), Double-Play Runs (DPR), Range Runs (RngR) and Error Runs (ErrR). These run values are then combined into one overall defensive score, UZR.
DRS is a bit simpler in comparison, it simply measures how many more or fewer successful defensive plays a defender makes versus league average. For example, if a third baseman makes a play only 27% of third baseman make, then they are credited with .73 of a point. On the other hand, if they mess up a play 90% of third baseman make they would lose .9 of a point. Each play is assigned this value and their respective point values are added up to create DRS.
There are a couple notes about UZR and DRS. First, there are significantly less data points on defense than on offense, so it is suggested to look at three years of either stat for an adequate sample size. Second, Baseball Info Solutions data is collected by human scorers, so it is subject to human error. However, since FIELDF/x data is unavailable to the public, BIS data is the most accurate available.
This should hopefully give you a better idea of what advanced stats are and which to follow and use to evaluate players. If you have any questions you can leave a comment or send me a note on Twitter at @nextyeardc, I'm always ready to talk about advanced statistics.


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How do I identify a B & S engine?
View a "Find Engine Model, Type, and Code" Video
Please visit our Identify Your Model Number page for help in finding the engine's numbers. For an explanation of our numbering system, please visit our Numerical Designation System page. Also, be aware that the numbers found on the Engine Emissions Label can be confused with the engine Model, Type, and Code. Unfortunately, these numbers cannot be used to identify your engine.
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Pricing For Your Med Spa or Laser Clinic/
Thoughts on pricing your treatments.
Pricing is a very effective signaling device, no doubt about it. People (and businesses) assume that good stuff is worth more. People pay for stuff on eBay for stuff based on the velocity of the auction instead of the innate value of the item. Real estate brokers warn you that a house that doesn't sell right away is hard to sell because people look at a house that's been on the market for a few months differently. All irrational and all based on signaling.
The reason that lousy movies cost the same as blockbuster movies, though, doesn't have to do with signalling. (the fear is that people won't go to cheap movies because the cheap price will tell them it is a lousy movie). Of course, this isn't what happens with DVD sales. They sell plenty of really cheap DVDs that you never heard of... for a lot less than the new Star Wars Movie. No, the pricing of movies has to do with industry traditions and being stuck. It's just too hard to get everything in alignment and for all the players to say okay.
Which leads to the current debate over how much Apple should charge for iTunes. 99 cents a song is a great signal. It tells the purchaser that this is somehow "fair."
The record companies want to charge MORE for hot hits, though. The thing is, this will mean raising the average price, because for every song they sell for $2, don't expect a lot of songs to cost five cents.
Which leads us to the wisdom of Jeff Bezos. There are two kinds of companies, Jeff says. Companies that work to lower prices (like Amazon, most of the time) and companies that work to raise prices (like the music industry, all of the time).


text: What Mums Love… The Perfect Mother's Day Gift Sunday May the 8th marks a special day for all our Mothers around the world. To help celebrate International Mother's Day, we'll be treating all of our Cocorosers to free worldwide shipping until the big day. And to make finding the perfect gift that much easier, we've put together our favourite Mother's Day picks for you below: Our Bayswater ballerinas are chic, timeless and elegant and are considerately designed for smart lifestyles, making them every modern woman's wardrobe staple. You can't go wrong with the classics. Our foldable ballerinas, hand-made with black leather, fish leather detailing and a silver toggled bow, makes them every mum's perfect wardrobe staple. SHOP NOW ————————————————————————————————————————————————— Loved by the likes of Helen Mirren, these ultra chic foldable ballet flats hand-crafted with champagne leather, marbled fish leather and hand-painted with gold highlights are perfect for all occasions. SHOP NOW ————————————————————————————————————————————————— Sophisticated and fun, these metallic plum ballerinas with coral coloured fish leather highlights will jazz up summer outfits and lend a splash of colour pop. SHOP NOW ————————————————————————————————————————————————— These casually chic, stone blue foldable ballerinas are ideal for busy mums and will lend a stylish punch to all outfits, from skinny jeans to summer party dresses. SHOP NOW ————————————————————————————————————————————————— A fusion of science, art and nature – this beautiful brooch, made with a real gingko leaf, is definitely something special and unique, which makes it the perfect gift for a special and unique someone. SHOP NOW ————————————————————————————————————————————————— To round off our highlights for Mother's Day, we absolutely love this link bracelet, hand-made by coating heart shaped leaves in fine silver. A very stylish gift for a super stylish mum. SHOP NOW Tags: ballerina, ballet, ballet flats, classic elegance leather, Coco Rose London, cocorose it, Cocorose London, cocorose shoes, cocorosed it, exclusive BAFTA shoes, fashion, fine silver bracelet, fine silver jewellery, fold up, fold up shoes, foldable, foldable ballerina pumps, foldable ballet flats, foldable ballet pumps, foldable shoes, foldaway pumps, foldaway shoes, folding, folding ballet pumps, folding ballet shoes, folding shoes, Janan Leo, lifestyle shoes, link bracelet, London, London Unfolded, million heart leaves bracelet, modern luxury, mother's day, mothers day gift guide, mothers day gifts, pocket shoes, portable shoes, pumps, real flower bracelet, real flower jewellery, shoes, shoes that fold


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← Back to Carson City Morgan Silver Dollars - "CC" $1 - Southgate Coins in Reno - Uncirculated Rare Coins
1881-CC Morgan Silver Dollar PCGS MS-66 OYH
1881-CC Morgan Silver Dollar PCGS MS-66 OYH
← Click image to zoom
Mintage: 296,000
Add To Cart
This Carson City-minted 1881 Morgan silver dollar looks like it came straight from the factory. It is graded MS-66 by PCGS, and encapsulated in their Old Yellow Holder (OYH). Aside from the tiniest carbon spot in the denticles at the twelve-o'clock location on the obverse, the rest of the coin is a satiny, cool silver color with reflective fields and crisp devices. The Gem-quality of the piece is noticeable by Ms. Liberty's smooth cheeks, and the fact that there are hardly any visible contact marks. A definite beauty.


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Dentures San Antonio
The philosophy at our dental office is to help patients keep as many teeth as can be saved, as should be the case at every dental office. Natural teeth are always better for the patient than replacement or "false teeth," more properly known as dentures. At his San Antonio practice Dr. Stanley Wendt, Jr. teaches patients that with proper oral hygiene and regular visits, they can keep their own teeth for a lifetime. In the event that patients do experience tooth loss, however, Dr. Wendt can fit them with durable, natural-looking dentures. If you have experienced tooth loss, contact Restorative Dentistry Associates today.
Deciding on Dentures
Depending on how many teeth are missing and on your economic situation, there are many options for replacing teeth. Implants would be the first choice to replace one or more teeth, but the cost may not let patients choose implants. Other options include fixed bridges and removable bridges, also called partial dentures. Partial dentures can easily replace several missing teeth in the same arch in a very economical way. Regardless of which method you choose, it is imperative to replace missing teeth. Leaving spaces can cause adjacent and opposing teeth to move, and cause interferences in the way we bite.
Partial Dentures
There are many varieties of partial dentures to choose from, including traditional metal frameworks with clasps, metal frameworks without clasps and flexible frameworks called Valplast. To decide which one will be most beneficial to you, we must work to diagnose your specific situation. Dr. Wendt is glad to make any type of denture, depending on your needs and wants. After all, it is your smile that he is working to make better. For example, some patients are self-conscious about showing the metal clasps of a denture, so Dr. Wendt can create well-fitting dentures without clasps. While more specialized and more costly, these are partial dentures with special attachments that provide optimal esthetics.
Full Dentures
Sometimes, patients lose all of their teeth to decay, trauma or gum (periodontal) disease. This requires a different appliance known as full dentures. At his San Antonio practice, Dr. Wendt uses a very unique method for fitting full dentures, called the Staub Cranial Method. This is the same method that Dr. Wendt uses when he does a full mouth reconstruction. In many ways, dentures are a full mouth reconstruction, as they re-establish the vertical dimension of the mouth, that is, the normal position of the jaw.
The Staub Cranial method has been around for years but has been only used in Europe for the most part. It is very specialized and exacting, but the results are time-tested. These dentures are not the ones that are made in one day, and Dr. Wendt doesn't believe that you can get a well-fitting set of dentures made in one day. On the initial visit, Dr. Wendt or his staff will take a preliminary impression of the mouth to make a cast from which we make custom trays for your final denture. This cast will also serve for the measurement that allows us to calculate the proper vertical dimension, mentioned earlier. Dr. Wendt uses an old impression technique dating back more than 40 years. This method uses a specialized impression material that allows for a very exacting impression. This procedure is no longer taught in most dental schools but allows for the least displacement of tissues and allows for the most exact replication of your mouth. For you that often means little or no post-delivery discomfort, and almost no adjustments. It also allows Dr. Wendt to provide you with dentures in only three office visits.
During a second visit, the bite, vertical dimension, and Staub measurements are correct. It is also an opportunity for you to make sure you like your new smile. You can examine the shape, color, and alignment of the synthetic teeth. On the final visit you get your new bite and smile, often coming back to see us only once a year to check the fit of your dentures and your oral tissues. That's right, generally, we never see patients back for sore spots!
Learn More about Dentures
If you have dentures now, or you want to replace missing teeth, give Robin a call to set up your initial consultation. If you want to proceed with receiving dentures at Dr. Wendt's San Antonio, Texas practice, he can provide the treatment you need for a brand new smile.


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Waking up from the stories you tell yourself/
Always be aware of the story you're telling yourself, in each and every moment—about yourself, about others, about the world, and about the nature of all your experiences.
What are you believing that is only a concept, that's based solely on a subjective opinion, a biased perspective or an unfair assumption?
Do you see how you insert yourself into the narrative of virtually every story you tell?
This is the self-centered nature of the ego. It claims everything as somehow being its own. In other words, we make everything personal.
It happens instinctively, out of human habit and conditioning, so it's really not your fault—but now that you're aware of your ego's automated story-telling feature, it is your life's purpose to turn it off and to awaken from your dream entirely.
Indeed, this is not unlike the Matrix. In order to be truly free and liberated, you need to be like Neo. Take the red pill—allow yourself to see through the delusion that is the very source and substance of all your sorrow and struggles.
You need to simply wake up and realize that the dream of life is perpetuated only by your continued belief in the stories you tell.
The stories you tell yourself—about all of your experiences and interactions—are the mind's projection of your fears, desires, behaviours and beliefs.
Do you see how your moods and emotions are based solely upon whatever story you've told yourself, that you identify with and have become attached to?
Realize that the feelings that you feel are absolutely true, but their causes are not. You suffer only from your own imagination—not reality itself.
Observe your habit of story-telling. Do you see how your entire world-view is your very own conscious creation? It is not true. It is a dream of mind. You are living inside your very own story, one in which you alone are the creator of.
What are you convincing yourself of—here and now—that is untrue?
Notice how the story's sense of reality starts to weaken once you become aware of it. This is the power of awareness—it dissolves all untruths.
Your conceptual thoughts distort reality, creating an alternate universe which is entirely untrue, leaving you to stumble around in a dark and confusing dreamworld of your own twisted imagining.
Wake up from the dream. See the truth of reality for what it is, without the mind's inference and interference upon it.


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What is an SR?
As good a place to start as any.
The Super Randonneur award is a long-established and well-recognised achievement in the world of long-distance cycling.
It is awarded to any rider who successfully completes a series of rides of 200, 300, 400 and 600km in one season (the season in the UK is 1st October until 30th September).
Once awarded, the rider is, forever, a Super Randonneur; however, many of us will ride the SR series every year (and many people will ride multiple series each year).
It is the 'gold' standard of randonneuring and anyone who achieves it has much to be proud of. It is also the basis for qualification for the oldest and largest long-distance ride in the randonneuring world, the Paris-Brest-Paris 1200km.


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All Blacks reveal locker room secrets at Gaming Expo
Ever wondered what goes on behind the changing room doors when the All Blacks prepare for international games? And what happens when they head back to the sheds as the winners – or even worse as losers?
All will be revealed when former All Black and respected commentator Grant Fox puts one of the most capped All Black No 15s of all time, Mils Muliaina in the hot seat at the New Zealand Gaming Expo in Auckland next month.
As well as a reservoir of funny stories about All Black tours, Grant Fox has a special insight into the subject of building a winning, high performance team.
Fox and Muliaina make an appearance at the end of the first day of the NZ Gaming expo in a pre-networking event in which Fox will be comparing notes with Muliaina on how things have changed, or not, in the All Black camp in the last twenty years. And he'll be asking the question we all want answers to – what's the AB's plan for winning the World Cup.
The NZ Gaming Expo is a two day showcase event dedicated to the New Zealand Gaming scene and takes place at SkyCity Auckland on 28 and 29 April, 2010.
Ross Ferrar, CEO of Gaming Technologies Association, which hosts the annual Expo, says registrations for the two day event are on track for an exciting show.
"This event is the only one of its kind in New Zealand and gives hospitality venue owners the chance to keep up to date with gaming technology innovation as well as view the latest machines and get a taste of future trends. The conference programme will focus on current issues facing the gaming industry today."
Entry to both the exhibition and the conference is complimentary for gaming industry executives, including management representatives of government regulatory research and support bodies, hotels, clubs, casino, resorts and hospitality industry establishments. The event is not open to the public.
Where: SkyCity Auckland
Date: 28 – 29 April, 2010
When: The conference runs from 10:00am – 12:00 noon and the Trade Show from 12:00 noon to 5:00pm on both days. Registration starts at 9:30am
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Ross Ferrar on +61-2-996 00125/ +61-418 686 075 or Kim Triegaardt, Convergence Communications +64-21-128 3165
Further information about the New Zealand Gaming Expo is available at wwwnzgamingexpo.com
Editor's Note:
- The New Zealand Gaming Expo is the New Zealand's premier showcase for the best available equipment and most recent developments in the New Zealand gaming market.
- Grant Fox made his international debut on 26 October 1985 against Argentina in Buenos Aires when he was 23. He had 46 test caps when he retired seven years later and he's remembered for his scoring talent needing only six games to reach one hundred points for the All Blacks. By his 12th game he had overtaken Don Clarke's New Zealand point's record of 207. He has been on the coaching team of both Auckland NPC and the Blues franchise.
- Mills Muliaina is one of the most capped All Black No. 15 of all time. The Samoan-born, Invercargill-bred Full Back is a veteran of two World Cup campaigns and with 21 test tries for the All Blacks he is among the top 10 test try scorers for New Zealand. Mils made his debut for the All Blacks at 23 and since standing in for Richie McCaw in 2009 has occasionally captained the side.


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This introduction to Troy history and architecture looks at how the city evolved from its initial founding in 1789 as a village to its 19th century heyday, decline in the 20th century and its re-birth in the 21st century. We will discuss the sites of many important events along with some of the people who made the name Troy famous around the world.
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Earlier Event: August 25Troy Night Out - August 2017
Later Event: September 14Annual Gala


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Butter Chicken
Butter Chicken is a staple in Indian restaurants. The spices in this dish are balanced perfectly & do not overwhelm the dish at all. Be sure to use only grass-fed, organic butter or choose organic ghee instead if you can't find the healthiest form of butter at your grocery store. I like to serve this with mashed sweet potatoes.
Butter Chicken
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 2" pieces
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 can coconut milk, full fat
1 cup chicken broth
1 - 6 ounce can tomato paste
4 tablespoon organic butter, divided
2 tablespoons coconut sugar
1 tablespoon arrowroot flour
2-1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
1 teaspoon each: coriander, cumin & garam masala
1/2 teaspoon each: chili powder, pepper & curry powder
optional garnish: chopped parsley
in a medium size bowl combine arrowroot flour, 2 teaspoons of salt & all other seasonings {coriander, cumin, garam masala, chili powder, pepper & curry}
place chicken pieces into the bowl with the flour & seasonings & toss to coat all the chicken pieces. set aside.
in a blender place coconut milk, chicken broth, tomato paste & 1/2 teaspoon salt. blend 15-20 seconds to combine.
in a large skillet melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. brown chicken on both sides, for about 3-4 minutes per side. remove chicken to a plate & keep warm.
melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter & sauté onion 5-7 minutes until it becomes golden brown & begins to caramelize. add in minced garlic & cook 1 more minute.
place chicken back into skillet with the onions & garlic & pour in the sauce. allow the sauce to come to a slight boil, then reduce heat to simmer for 15 minutes.
garnish with parsley if desired & serve with mashed sweet potatoes


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Product Focus: Fancy Condiments Growing in Popularity
According to research, condiments are becoming one of the most dynamic categories of specialty foods with chilled products becoming the fastest-growing condiment category.
Consumers are choosing specialty foods over conventional foods at record levels, according to new research from the Specialty Food Association, New York. Close to 75 percent of U.S. consumers report making specialty food purchases in 2013, a major increase since the economic downturn of 2009 when only 46 percent reported that they bought these high-quality products. Consumers surveyed said they spend about one quarter of their at-home food dollars on specialty options such as artisanal chocolates, cheeses and condiments.
"The results confirm that consumers are responding to the wealth of innovative foods and beverages being produced today by food artisans and entrepreneurs across the U.S.," says Ron Tanner, vice president of communications and education.
Specialty food is among the fastest growing industries in the U.S., with sales skyrocketing by 22.1 percent between 2010 and 2012. Specialty foods are defined as foods of premium quality, often made by small or local manufacturers, have ethnic or exotic flavors and are foods that are distinctive. Specialty food consumers tend to be young, affluent and live in the West or Northeast. Men are almost as likely to make purchases as women, with 74 percent of men and 75 percent of women reporting buying specialty foods.
Condiments, which include a variety of items, both refrigerated and shelf stable, is one of the most dynamic categories of specialty foods. The largest category includes condiments and marinades, those products found in the ambient center-of-store aisle. From 2010 to 2012, dollar sales of this category grew 8.6 percent. However, the fastest-growing condiment category is chilled products. From 2010 to 2012, refrigerated condiment dollar sales increased 15.5 percent. This is likely due to consumer perception that refrigerated products are cleaner and fresher, two attributes currently driving sales of all foods.
Tomato Pesto with Kick
Italian Foods Corp., Raleigh, N.C., introduces La Piana Sundried Tomato Pesto, which is imported from Italy's Umbria region. The pesto has an intense tomato flavor from the sundried tomatoes as well as richness and texture from cashews. The red pesto is flavored with garlic, delicate Grana Padano cheese and a pinch of chili pepper to lift the taste of the other ingredients and leave just a spark of flavor on the tongue. In addition to working well over pasta, it makes a great spread on sandwiches or as a dipper for chicken and mild white fish. The pesto comes in 6.3-oz. jars and has a suggested retail price of $6.19.
Maple Balsamic Vinegar
York, Maine-based Stonewall Kitchen, a specialty foods industry leader, grows its oil and vinegar line. New Maple Balsamic Vinegar balances sweet maple with tart balsamic to create a uniquely rich and multi-layered culinary experience. It's great on salads, as a marinade or drizzled over cooked vegetables, rice and pasta. There's also a new White Truffle Oil, which has an earthy flavor that tastes great on bread and in salads. And though this new olive oil was designed specifically for bread, Maine Sea Salt and Black Pepper Dipping Oil also is great for sautéing and on salads.
Flavors Layered in Mustard Sauces
The company that started the fruit and pepper sauce trend in the late 1990s with the Original Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Sauce now gets creative with mustard. Fischer & Wieser Specialty Foods Inc., Fredericksburg, Texas, recently debuted three multi-flavored Mustard Sauces: Hickory and Cracked Black Pepper, Raspberry and Wildflower Honey, and Salted Caramel. The three new offerings join the company's existing mustard sauce — Sweet, Sour and Smokey — which has won numerous accolades in specialty food competitions. "We have seen many of our gourmet sauces inspire great recipes over the years," says Case Fischer, CEO and president. "With this launch, we're looking forward to hearing about new dishes ours fans create."


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It's a Cider Tap Takeover at Jake Melnick's Corner Tap!
Join us and tons of great cidermakers for a tap takeover of more than a dozen ciders!
6pm @ Jake Melnick's Corner Tap: 41 E. Superior Street
Representatives from a majority of the cideries will be available to answer questions and greet guests from 6-8pm. We'll have at least 12 ciders on draft, and a large of variety available in cans and bottles as well. Our executive chef will be creating a couple of specialty food items for this night only! We will be featuring apple cider wings, and a pulled pork sandwich with an apple bbq sauce.
Featured ciders:
Citizen Cider
Stem Cider
Uncle John's
Pacific Coast
Vander Mill
Seattle Cider Co
Finn River
E Dupont
JK's Scrumpy
Virtue Cider
Wandering Aengus
Original Sin
During Cider Week, we will be giving out cider punch cards. Every different cider the guest purchases will be one punch. As incentive:
3 punches= free app
5 punches= 20% off your bill for the night
8 punches= 50% off your bill


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A huge welcome to all of the beautiful Hello Darling families! It's an absolute pleasure to be part of your journey with your beautiful new baby. I look forward to meeting you and capturing this incredibly special time of your lives.
There is never a time in your lives where the moments pass by so quickly! For more information on booking and print and product pricing, call Simone on 0403 224 509. Book now to secure your appointment.
Celebrate your changing form in beautiful maternity photographs.
Click here to be inspired!
Your darling new baby will change so quickly! We capture those few weeks with stunning keepsake photographs.
Meet some of the beautiful little souls we've had the privilege to photograph.
We have a stunning range of albums and keepsakes to display this incredible family record and tell the true story of your pregnancy and new baby.
Exclusive to 'Hello Darling" families, you will receive your own, personalised online birth announcement gallery! This gallery will contain the images you have purchased, the details you're itching to share with loved ones and we can even add video. Your friends and family are going to love it! Click here to see a sample version.
Call Simone on 0403224509 to talk about what you'd love to document during this incredible time in your lives. We can't wait to hear from you.


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It did rain today, and it did heavily after a long time though only for a few minutes. But as long as it did, it gave me an opportunity to celebrate my melancholy, for there was no one who could be having an eye on me. All were celebrating the first raindrops of the season while I was busy with my own old flash backs.
With each thunder hitting my ears, I could remember all that was forgotten, as it worked as a reminder. One of these made me think about someone who is very scared from the horrible voice of clashing clouds but nothing could be done now on my part to keep her distract. I hope, by now she has learnt to manage it alone. Another one reminded me about the days when rain seemed to be beautiful than anything else. Gone are the days when getting wet in the rain was all exciting. Gone are the days when rain would bring new hope for life.
Now, every time a sadness hits the heart, wait for the rain arises. Today the wait was over. Rain drops were falling on my face. Lips converted into curves to show a smile and eyes went shut. Soon the cloudy water was mixed with salty water. They met as if they were waiting for long to meet like this. Soon it all went as planned. Melancholy was coming out in the form of tears yet no one had a clue about this. Heart was pouring through the eyes at it's best today. Nothing could stop the flow. But soon it did end, as the rain stopped. Lips were normal again, the pair of eyes slowly opened to see the change it wanted to see. Somehow, this heavy heart felt a little lighter. Hope was born again.
Today it did rain heavy from the heavens above and so it did from the heart.


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Jerry O'Connell Searches for Mitt Romney's 'Lost Taxes' [VIDEO]
Jerry O'Connell has tackled roles in classic films like Piranha 3D, Joe's Apartment and Kangaroo Jack — but his latest role could be his toughest yet. The actor adds a splash of silver to his brunette locks and tweaks an upperclass twang to take on the role of Mitt Romney in the latest offering from Funny or Die.
Watch the drama unfold as the faux GOP presidential candidate frantically hunts for his missing tax returns. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll wonder why O'Connell has yet to secure an Oscar nod.


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I'm glad to announce that such a kind soul, in the form of Jakub Markos, had the necessary qualities to accomplish the resurrection of the Cassandra Cache Store.
Apache Cassandra is a database with a distributed architecture which can be used to provide a virtually unlimited, horizontally scalable persistent store for Infinispan's caches. The new Cassandra Cache Store leverages the Datastax Cassandra client driver instead of the old Thrift client approach, which makes it much more robust and reliable.
ConfigurationIn order to use this cache store you need to add the following dependency to your project:
You will also need to create an appropriate keyspace on your Cassandra database, or configure the auto-create-keyspace to create it automatically.
The following CQL commands show how to configure the keyspace manually (using cqlsh for example):
You then need to add an appropriate cache declaration to your `infinispan.xml`
(or whichever file you use to configure Infinispan):
It is important the the shared property on the cassandra-store element is set to true
because all the Infinispan nodes will share the same Cassandra cluster.
LimitationsThe cache store uses Cassandra's own expiration mechanisms (time to live = TTL) to handle expiration of entries. Since TTL is specified in seconds, expiration lifespan and maxIdle values are handled only with seconds-precision.
In addition to this, when both lifespan and maxIdle are used, entries in the cache store effectively behave as if their lifespan = maxIdle, due to an existing bug https://issues.jboss.org/browse/ISPN-3202.
So, try it out and let us know about your experience !


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General Electric produced the overall lowest-rated washers and dryers in a 2013 comparison of manufacturers performed by consumer advocacy website Consumer Reports. While Frigidaire dryers were not ranked in the comparison, the company's washers were the lowest overall scores in the comparison among all brands.
General Electric washers scored worse than their dryers in the Consumer Reports comparison, only edged out by Frigidaire washers for the bottom spot in the ratings. While some top-loading models from General Electric were rated well, overall models from the brand performed poorly. Even the highly-rated models have been reported to have a very high rate of repair incidents, reducing the rating for General Electric washers overall. Frigidaire washers performed poorly across the board in Consumer Report's tests and suffered from frequent repair problems as well.
General Electric dryers were tied for lowest in the review alongside Kenmore, Maytag and Whirlpool appliances. All four brands showed issues with inconsistent quality among their dryer lineups, with some models performing very well and others poorly. In contrast, Consumer Reports found dryers from top performing brands LG and Samsung consistently excellent. However, Kenmore and Maytag were tied for the top rank for washing machines, with LG and Samsung both rated lower on the list.


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MENDOZA, Argentina — Even in the best of times, Felix Racca faced a formidable task — trying to build a new class of entrepreneurs in a country known for cozy cronyism and political melodrama. And now, the Argentine angel investor is trying to do it in the middle of a global storm that has sucked billions of investor dollars out of emerging markets.
So while the Buenos Aires stock exchange was tumbling to a five-year low in October after the government announced it would nationalize private pension savings, Mr. Racca was 600 miles away, coolly discussing the prospects of a start-up with Daniel Caselles.
Mr. Racca had provided the seed capital for Mr. Caselles's brainchild, AuthenWare, a company that makes biometrics software with security applications for banks and insurance companies.
To outsiders this may seem like an unusual time and place for entrepreneurship. The pension grab was widely seen as an admission that Argentina might not meet 2009's debt payments, approximately $20 billion.
After the government's 2001 default, lack of access to credit became a way of life here. The country remained largely cut off from global capital markets and foreign investment.Continue reading the main story
As a result, Argentine entrepreneurs started looking inward, and over time created a nascent start-up ecosystem with local venture capital funds and angel investors.
According to the 2008 Venture Capital Observatory Report, $25 million is available this year from those funds and investors. Gabriel Jacobsohn, the report's author and a business professor at the University of Buenos Aires, expects that figure to hold steady next year despite current economic uncertainty.
The volume is small, much less than 1 percent of Argentina's gross domestic product, but it represents a sharp cultural shift. In the past, family inheritance and government contacts often determined who started a business. Now, slowly, Argentines are beginning to trust and invest in each other.
The IAE Angels Club is an example. Its October meeting took place on the day when the Brazilian and Russian stock exchanges had to suspend operations in response to collapsing stocks. But the club's middle-aged members attentively listened to two business pitches by complete strangers in their 20s and 30s. Several new angels attended, one announcing he was starting a sister group in Córdoba province, in the center of Argentina, about 400 miles northwest of Buenos Aires.
The Angels Club has grown to 100 members, from six, in three years and has invested $3 million in 17 projects. Silvia de Torres Carbonell, the group's founder, said that without the club, "their money would go elsewhere, and most likely out of Argentina." Investments are usually not recovered for eight to 10 years.
Argentina's new financiers are also providing expertise. Several began their own start-ups during past crises and not only survived but thrived, with little support.
Mr. Racca is one such veteran. He and his partner, Emilio Lopez-Gabeiras, founded Intersoft, Argentina's most successful software company, in the early 1990s, surviving hyperinflation, stagnation and multiple currencies.
When they developed a spinoff with the hope of competing globally, they could not find investment partners here. So Mr. Racca moved to the United States. He visited 120 potential suitors over three years before finding Sevin Rosen, a venture capital fund based in Dallas.
The general managing partner, Jon Bayless, said that his first impression of Mr. Racca was that "he was a technical visionary, but terribly naïve in terms of how to run a business."
Nonetheless, the fund gave him a management team, led by Ron Brittian, a former Texas Instruments executive, and $9 million, its first investment in a company originating in South America. Three days later, Mr. Racca suffered a heart attack.
Still, he pressed forward with the company, Fuego Inc., a pioneer in developing business process management systems to help companies streamline operations. BEA Systems acquired Fuego in 2006 for $87 million. This year Oracle acquired BEA.
Mr. Racca says he wants to ensure that his compatriots "do not have to go through what I did."
In Daniel Caselles, he saw a technical genius. Mr. Racca invested in him before they had defined a product and after knowing him for barely three years, virtually unheard of in Argentina.
The company, still in its infancy, expects to generate $5 million in revenue by the end of 2009. It has drawn additional investors — Mr. Racca said he received a new commitment of $300,000 last month. Another is Mr. Brittian, who now lives in Argentina.
He and Mr. Racca have begun a venture capital fund that plans to raise $100 million by the end of 2009.
In addition to financing Mr. Caselles, Mr. Racca is grooming him to be a future investor and business leader, practicing English with him and pushing him to take the lead on calls.
This is another break from the past, when Argentines viewed potential financiers with suspicion. Mr. Caselles says he does not worry about his ownership stake being diluted because "our investors take better care of us than we do."
Other pioneers include Emiliano Kargieman and Jony Altszul, who started Core Security Technologies, a software company, in Buenos Aires in the mid-1990s. They succeeded in the United States, landing customers from NASA to the United States Army.
Today they run a venture capital fund back home, Aconcagua Ventures. Their first investment, Popego, was founded by a 24-year-old college dropout, Santiago Siri, who has since become the only Latin American selected to participate in both Le Web, one of Europe's most elite technology conferences, and Silicon Valley's TechCrunch50. A catalyst for the evolving start-up culture here was Endeavor, the United States nonprofit that fosters entrepreneurial networking in the developing world. Endeavor's first success was in Argentina 10 years ago, just before the country's last financial collapse.
Today it remains a strong presence here. But the entrepreneurial ecosystem here is now entirely locally run, mostly by people with middle-class backgrounds.
For instance, Santiago Bilinkis and his partner, Andy Freire, founded Officenet, an office supply catalog service in Argentina, before the last crisis. Staples acquired it in 2004. Mr. Bilinkis has since invested in three start-ups. He said that what he called serial entrepreneurship was "the only way to change the country."
The founders of Globant, an information technology services company based in Buenos Aires, concur. They estimate they will take in $40 million in revenue this year, and last week completed their second acquisition.
Indicative of the changing values in Argentina, Alejandro Mashad, Endeavor Argentina's director, said, "Globant's four founders could sell their company today and each have a private jet, but they want to build a company in Argentina."
Google, a Globant client, cited Argentina's emerging entrepreneurial spirit as a main justification for its decision last year to base its Latin American operations in Buenos Aires.
Alberto Arebalos, Google's Latin American spokesman, says this developing culture "will not change despite the ups and downs of the economy."
An Argentine, Mr. Arebalos listed some of the tumult that Argentine business has endured in the last decades: "We have had at least five or six different economic plans, with completely different politics, a closed economy, an open economy, privatization, nonprivatization, a fixed dollar, a floating dollar, a controlled dollar, an uncontrolled dollar, brutal devaluations, increases in tariffs and frozen tariffs."
The lesson, he said, is "one goes nuts or one becomes a survivor."Continue reading the main story


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Love the team colors on these cars. Which one would you pick?
A car that was build by Rauh Welt a long time ago
Back to the old days with this Promodet build Skyline R32 that reached a top speed of 321.51 km/h back in 2011.
The new aero on the S15 build by Suzuki Under is crazy, not sure about the laptimes yet but I will keep you posted.
Sometimes you come across a set of photos that leave you speechless. These photos taken by the Blenheim Gang are amongst those. Can you identify the cars?
The real R34 Z-Tune is made of unobtainium, so a lot of enthusiasts build there own versions.
But do you recognize the car?


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Bump Watch: Beautiful Vera Farmiga Looks Like She's Ready To Pop!
Only a few short weeks away from delivery, Vera Farmiga steps out for a night at the opera!
Vera Farmiga stepped out with her husband, Renn Hawkey, and showcased her gorgeous baby bump for the Metropolitan Opera season opening at Lincoln Center in NYC on Monday (Sept. 27). The expectant mother wore a stunning white Marchesa dress to the new production of Das Rheingold. "We don't know what we're having yet. I just want to have a healthy baby," Vera tells People Magazine. The baby, who is due in October, will join big brother Fynn, 20 months.
"I get the feeling he's starting to [realize he's going to have a sibling] because when I [show him my stomach] and say, 'Baby. Baby. This is going to be your baby sibling,' he repeats the word baby. He presses his mouth [to my belly], takes my shirt and goes, 'Close. Close,' to kind of distinguish the idea of there being someone else in my life," Vera explains.
Both Vera and Renn come from large families consisting of seven kids each, but the pair is content with a smaller brood. "The world is [too] overpopulated to go that route and we met 10 years too late for that," Vera says.
We can't wait to meet the new addition!


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Evil Diva Issue 1 Page 45
on May 16, 2016 at 9:47 am
Chapter: Issue 1
Characters: Diva, Mr. Virgil, The Wand
Location: St. Switherns
YAY! End of chapter one! Considering most comics are 20 pages per issue, this was more than double. Chapter Two starts Wednesday.
Comments are live! You will need to sign in again, but if you make it past the spam filter I will approve you.
BTW, we are putting the original page art up for sale. Included is the hand drawn panel on comic paper and a full resolution digital print. Contact us for more information.


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Perifericos > Sonido > Tarjetas Sonido
Creative Sound Blaster ZXR
Tarjeta de sonido PCIe, incluye Audio Control Module y DBPro daughter board, 124dB SNR
MPN/Ref: 70SB151000001
Fabricante: Creative
Garantía: 2 años
Pulsa para mas informacion en web del fabricante
High Performance PCIe Sound Card
The flagship of the ultra high-performance Sound Blaster Z-Series of sound cards, Sound Blaster ZxR elevates the standards of technology and performance for the future of PC gaming and entertainment. Boasting an unbeatable SNR of 124dB, it includes a DBPro daughter board and Audio Control Module for unrivalled audio playback and content creation.
The ultimate in audio playback and creation solution
Signal-to-Noise Ratio of 124dB
A signal to noise ratio or SNR of 124dB means your audio will be more than 99.99% pristine, which is over 89.1 times better than motherboard audio.
Pristine audio recordings with ultra low latency
Enjoy reduced latency with Audio Stream Input/Output (ASIO) support with the Sound Blaster ZxR. Hear your audio recordings come to life!
24-bit / 192kHz audio output
Stereo Direct lets you listen to your music pure and unprocessed at the amazing bit rate of 24-bit 192 kHz.
SBX Pro Studio™ technologies
SBX Pro Studio™ sound technologies create unprecedented levels of audio realism, including stunning 3D surround effects for your speakers and headsets.
Studio-grade content creation
Add studio quality audio sound tracks or voice tracks to your video clips or home videos created with hardware that uses only audiophile-grade components such as 123dB analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) with RCA Aux-in and optical inputs for outstanding recording quality. With the 600 ohm headphone amplifier, you can do studio-grade monitoring as well.
High-quality DBPro daughter board
The DBpro is another reason why Sound Blaster ZxR delivers only the best audio playback and creation. It offers optical output for outstanding audio playback, plus professional-grade ADCs with RCA Aux-in and optical inputs for studio-grade recording quality.
Accessible Audio Control Module (ACM)
Take control in style and ease with the ACM that incorporates a built-in microphone array and mic/headphone I/O connections. The knob on the ACM lets you conveniently adjust the headphone levels.


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The increasingly quiet (see chart above) social streaming service FriendFeed is in its death throws following its talent based acquisition by Facebook in August, but the agony is being made worse by the ramblings of one of its founders.
Friendfeed co-founder Paul Buchheit commented over the weekend on FriendFeed's demise in a classic case of lets avoid the subject with gobbledygook, writing that the "The short answer is that the team is working on a couple of longer-term projects that will help bring FriendFeedy goodness to the larger world. Transformation is not the end. Consider this the chrysalis stage — if all goes well, a beautiful butterfly will emerge :)"
Most seem to think that Buchheit didn't give an answer, but there's another way of reading part of the response; "a couple of longer-term projects that will help bring FriendFeedy goodness to the larger world" sounds an awful lot like FriendFeed type features will appear in Facebook, after all, that's who Buchheit is working for now.
What is clear though is that Buchheit isn't committing to a future for FriendFeed because there isn't one. There can be no other explanation because it doesn't take a Rhodes Scholar to say these three words "FriendFeed won't close."
Paul Buchheit, for the sake of your loyal users, past and present, be a man and put FriendFeed out of its misery by announcing the date the service will close. Those very users helped get FriendFeed to the sales table with Facebook, irrespective of what now seems to be a case of you forgetting that. At the very least, they deserve the truth, not some gobbledygook corporate speak about butterflies.