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Walmart out of the vape game
Walmart said Friday it will stop selling e-cigarettes as the number of deaths tied to vaping grows. The decision from America's largest retailer may influence other stores and marks a significant blow to the vaping industry.
"Given the growing federal, state and local regulatory complexity and uncertainty regarding e-cigarettes, we plan to discontinue the sale of electronic nicotine delivery products at all Walmart and Sam's Club US locations," the company said in a statement. "We will complete our exit after selling through current inventory."
A fairly mild response, all things considered
One marker of Trump's vulnerability
The strangest euphemism for death and destruction
Admirable restraint
Bad news for Midwestern farmers
Seems overly broad
It's annoying when Trump is funny
The Pentagon is reportedly the "lone voice" defending the refugee program in internal debates
The Pentagon is fighting against proposals by White House officials to drastically cut the number of refugees allowed into the U.S., and has called for reserving visas for Iraqis who risked their lives working for U.S. troops, according to five people familiar with the plan.
In internal discussions, the Defense Department has expressed opposition to any further reductions to the current annual ceiling of 30,000 for refugee admissions, which already is at a historic low for the 40-year-old U.S. refugee program, the sources told NBC News.
Defense officials also proposed setting aside about 6,000 slots specifically for Iraqi applicants who worked for U.S. troops as interpreters or in other jobs, according to one current U.S. official, one former U.S. official and three refugee advocates briefed on the deliberations.
Mayor Pete is making moves to boost his poll numbers with black voters
Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign has hired a black engagement director to improve the mayor's standing among African American voters in the Democratic primary.
Angela M. Angel, a former state legislator in Maryland, will take charge of the Buttigieg campaign's outreach to black voters. So far, Buttigieg has sought to do so by touting his Douglass Plan, a set of proposals aimed at fighting systemic racism and helping black Americans. But Buttigieg's polling numbers among African Americans have remained low.
Angel said that is because most African Americans don't know the South Bend, Ind., mayor yet.
Ben Carson voiced his bizarre, transphobic concerns about homeless shelters during a HUD meeting
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson expressed concern about "big, hairy men" trying to infiltrate women's homeless shelters during an internal meeting, according to three people present who interpreted the remarks as an attack on transgender women.
While visiting HUD's San Francisco office this week, Carson also lamented that society no longer seemed to know the difference between men and women, two of the agency staffers said.
Carson's remarks visibly shocked and upset many of the roughly 50 HUD staffers who attended Tuesday's meeting, and prompted at least one woman to walk out in protest, the staffers said.
… In May, the agency introduced a proposal that would allow federally funded shelters to deny people admission on religious grounds or force transgender women to share bathrooms and sleeping quarters with men.
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Job Losses Could Drown Stimulus
Saturday, March 7, 2009
The nation is losing jobs so quickly that the government, racing to deal with the crisis, is having trouble keeping up.
The U.S. unemployment rate last month leapt half a percentage point, to 8.1 percent, the highest level since 1983, according to data released yesterday. The stunning pace of job losses raises the possibility that, perhaps as early as this summer, one in 10 Americans will be out of a job even though they are actively looking for work. It also means that the government faces even more pressure to take further action to stabilize the economy and the financial system.
President Obama, speaking in Columbus, Ohio, to police cadets whose jobs were saved with money from the $787 billion stimulus package, called the new unemployment figures "astounding."
"We have a responsibility to act," he said, "and that's what I intend to do."
Analysts increasingly view the administration's actions so far as insufficient given the scope of the problem. The stimulus package was designed to "save or create" 3.5 million jobs, according to the administration. But the nation has already lost 4.4 million jobs since the start of the recession. Many banks and other financial institutions, whose health is critical to the economy, are teetering, and the Treasury Department has yet to finalize the details of its plans to remove from their balance sheets the toxic assets dragging them down.
"It's premature to say we need another stimulus, but the economy is performing much worse than when [the law] was signed, and the odds are increasing that we'll need a bigger policy response," said Mark Zandi of Moody's Economy.com, who has advised Democratic lawmakers. "What we've learned is policy has been a step behind this whole downturn. It's important to get a step ahead."
The International Monetary Fund yesterday urged governments worldwide to consider additional fiscal stimulus, noting that the public sector must help prevent a collapse of confidence.
Consumer confidence in the U.S. economy has already been driven dangerously low by layoffs across nearly every sector. Last month alone, employers slashed 651,000 jobs from their payrolls, and job losses in December and January were far worse than originally reported, according to revised data released yesterday. Since December, employers have cut jobs at the sharpest pace since 1975.
But even the current job-loss figures mask the degree of pain among American workers. A broader measure, which includes people who want a job and have given up looking and those working part time but who want full-time work, rose nearly one percentage point, to 14.8 percent.
"I think what it shows is neither the government nor many economists have a grasp yet of how bad the economy really is right now," said Bernard Baumohl, chief global economist at the Economic Outlook Group. "We can't get our arms around what's going on."
There is little reason to think conditions for workers will get better in the coming months and many reasons to think the steep decline will continue; employment tends to lag behind overall growth in the economy by several months, and the nation, by all accounts, remains in recession. There have been some signs lately that consumer spending is stabilizing at low levels, but even if that trend holds up, it would probably take until summer for job losses to slow.
Economists are now calling into question whether the intricate suite of policies crafted by Congress, the Obama administration and the Federal Reserve are bold enough to deal with the scope of the economic damage.

subset: commoncrawl


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Ophelia Lang needs money, and she needs it bad. Her parent's restaurant is going under, and ever since she lost her job teaching third grade elementary, scraping enough cash together to pay the bills has proven almost impossible. Her parents are on the brink of losing their home. The vultures are circling overhead. So when Ophelia is offered an interview for a well-paid private tutoring gig in New York, how can she possibly say no?
Ronan Fletcher is far from the overweight, balding businessman Ophelia expected him to be. He's young, handsome, and wealthy beyond all reason. He's also perhaps the coldest, rudest person she's ever met, and has a mean streak in him a mile and a half wide. A hundred grand is a lot of money, however, and if tolerating his frosty temperament, his erratic mood swings and whatever else he throws at her means she'll get paid, then that is what Ophelia will do.
Her new boss is keeping secrets, though. Awful, terrible secrets.
The ghosts of Ronan Fletcher's past are about to turn Ophelia's future upside down, and she can't even see it coming.
Note: Between Here and The Horizon is a brand new standalone contemporary romance novel from USA Today bestselling author, Callie Hart. Between Here and the Horizon does contain some scenes of violence and sexual content, and so is directed at audience 18+.
As I started reading this book, I was prepared for some kind of epic love story of a woman who steps in and pulls a Mary Poppins/Sound of Music kind of thing as Ophelia comes in and saves not only the children but Ronan.
But you will be surprised that it's not Ronan she helps, but his brother Sully.
With the description that's what I thought was going to happen and I will admit I was a little put off because of the fact that I was starting to like Ronan. As we get to know the family and what happened between the estranged brothers, we see that they both made a lot of mistakes and bad decisions.
I loved how Ophelia didn't put up with Sully's cold exterior and how she forced him to face the decisions he made in the past. He thought that he could run from his past with whiskey and avoidance but it's deeper than that. When you think that you have it all figured out, bam you get another twist that has you falling more and more in love with the man.
I started reading Callie Hart's books with Calico and I am kicking myself for taking so long to start reading her books. She is able to create characters that you love and are rooting for and most importantly, that you can see yourself in. The best stories are ones that we can relate to one some level and in this book, there is something that we can all relate to one way or another.
The only thing that I didn't like about the story was the pace. She would fast forward a lot of time in between scenes with Sully and Ophelia. I just wish that it didn't happen like every other scene. It felt like I was reading the book in fast forward mode.
So strap yourself in as you get ready for a heart wrenching ride that is going to break your heart. The only solace is that right after it does that, she is able to pick up the pieces and put them back together.
Rating: B
"Get back, Fletcher! Get back! The tank's gonna blow!"
I was running. Behind me, seven miles of desert stretched out toward Kabul city, glowing in places where burned out military trucks were being devoured by fire. Twisted metal rained down from the sky, on fire and sharper than a razor's edge, impacting in the dirt. Thud. Thud, thud. Thud. Shrapnel whistled through the air, striking the ground a few feet away from me as I weaved my way through the wreckage. Smoke was biting at my lungs, acrid and burning, making it hard to breath.
"Fletcher! What the fuck, man!"
Behind me, Specialist Crowe was losing his mind. Alternating between shouting into his radio and shouting at me, he couldn't seem to decide which course of action to take. I'd ordered him to follow, but I could understand why he hadn't. The situation was more than unsafe; charging headlong into the fire and destruction was a suicide mission, and I knew it. I also knew that my men were trapped inside the upturned vehicle still a hundred feet ahead of me, however, and I knew the truck was going to blow any second. They were going to burn to death if I didn't help them. I wasn't going to abandon them to that fate.
"Captain! God, man, stop!"
My heart was surging, my veins overflowing with adrenalin. My boots hit the dirt, left, right, left, right, left, right, my fists pumping back and forth as I sprinted toward the truck that was laying on its roof up ahead. Through the fractured windshield, I could see Hellaman and Wicks still strapped into the front seats of the vehicle, upside down and unmoving. They were either unconscious or dead. Hopefully they were just out for the count, but there was a lot of blood splattered on the inside of the glass. A lot of blood.
Black smoke curled upward from the underside of the truck, and I could already hear the hissing sound of fuel burning and sizzling somewhere. Groaning. I could hear groaning, too.
I reached the truck just as something inside the engine caught fire, and Hellaman came to. His eyes were wide with pain and fear as I dropped down onto my belly next to the driver's side window, which was smashed out, small cubes of safety glass scattered into the dirt.
"Captain? Captain Fletcher. Shit, I can't breathe. I can't…breathe." His face was deathly pale, and his hands shook violently as he tried to claw at the seatbelt that was digging into his chest.
"It's okay. It's okay, Private. We're gonna get you out of there, okay? Just hold on a moment." My bowie knife was in my hand. I took it and made quick work of slashing through the webbing holding Hellaman in place. There was nothing I could do to cushion his fall. Slamming into the roof of the truck, Hellaman groaned weakly, and then passed out again, either from pain or from the shock, I didn't know. I stowed my blade and grabbed him by the shoulders, then wrestled him free through the window. His face was cut; his arms were striped with blood and running rivers of crimson out onto the ground. No time to be gentle, though. No time to be safe. I hooked my hands under his arms and I quickly jogged backwards, dragging him away from the wreckage. Twenty feet was enough.
I ran back to the truck. Flames were visibly licking at the underside of the vehicle now, snaking upward toward the night sky. Wick was still out cold. I ran around to the back of the truck and tried to force the loading doors open, but they were jammed closed, bent and warped, refusing to budge.
There was someone alive inside. Running out of time. Almost no time left. I positioned myself by the truck's rear right window, thanking god the thing was already splintered. The bulletproof windows on military trucks were no joke. You could take a semi automatic to them and it would take longer than I had to smash them. The impact of rolling three times had obviously been enough to compromise the glass, though.
"Shield your faces," I hollered. "Glass, glass, glass!" Bracing, I spun around and smashed the sole of my boot against the window as hard as I possibly could. The glass groaned, fracturing some more, but it didn't shatter. I kicked again, and again, and again. Finally, the window exploded in a shower of bright shards, giving in under the force of my boot.
"Captain, there's fuel in here," someone inside yelled. "Get back!"
I ducked down and lay flat on my stomach again, crawling in through the now empty window frame. Inside the truck, gasoline hung heavy in the air, burning my nostrils and my eyes. Next to me, Roberts was dead, his head twisted at an odd angle, eyes staring, unseeing into the abyss.
On the other side of the truck Private Coleridge, Sam, a nineteen-year-old kid from Houston, was lying on his back on the roof, holding his rifle in both hands, his body convulsing wildly. His eyes swivelled to look at me, but his head remained locked in position, his teeth grinding together.
"What…what happened, Capt'n?" he asked. "We were drivin' along, and then…everything was…spinning."
"IED," I told him. "Desert's full of them. Come on, let's get you out of here."
"I can't…move. I can't feel…anything."
He wasn't paralyzed. If he were, he wouldn't be shaking the way he was right now. He was just in shock. A sharp slap to the face would probably go a long way to getting him moving, but there simply wasn't time for that kind of motivation. Grabbing him by the webbing stitched onto the strap of his pack, which was still on his back, I hauled him to me and then backed out through the window as quickly as I could. The fire was raging now. I dragged Sam back to where I'd left Hellaman and was about to run back to the truck when a loud metallic crack split the air apart, and then a ball of fire rocked the truck, a wall of heat and pressure slamming into my body, sending me reeling back into the dirt.
"Oscar!" Sam yelled. "Oscar's still alive in there!"
"Fuck." I was up on my feet and running. The heat was intense—so intense that I had to shield my face as I grew closer to the wreck. The fire had consumed the underside of the truck, the tires blazing, the gas roaring as the fuel line was engulfed. And I could hear screaming. The kind of blood curdling, awful screaming of a man being burned alive.
My radio headset crackled with static, and then Colonel Whitlock's voice barked out through the speaker. "Fletcher, do not go back inside that vehicle. Do you hear me? Do not go back inside that vehicle."
Disobeying a direct order from a colonel was an offence worthy of court marshal. I ripped my headset from my ears and threw it to the ground, ignoring it. Ignoring the consequences. Another blood curdling scream reached me, and that was it. I was on my stomach, crawling into the mouth of hell.
My side pressed up against the frame of the window, and pain tore at me, sinking its teeth into my skin. Heat. The heat was overwhelming, so fierce and violent that there was no oxygen inside the truck. Only smoke and confusion. Only death.
"Oscar!" I called out, reaching with both hands, trying to find him. "Where are you, man?" The truck was only a six-guy transport, but the billowing, rolling clouds of black smoke hid everything. I went by touch until I heard him cry out again, weaker this time, voice riddled with agony. He was at the very rear of the truck. A few seconds was all I had. Any longer and I would either suffocate or burn up myself. My head was pounding, my lungs begging for clean air, and I could feel myself start to drift.
The journey to the back of the truck took an eternity. One hand over the other, I pulled myself around an upturned transport box, and jammed my body in between the narrow gap at the right hand side of the vehicle, reaching out, groping, searching, until I found what I was looking for. A leg. A foot, to be precise. I grabbed hold of it and pulled. An agonised yell filled the truck.
"Ahh, my leg. My leg. It's fucked!"
"I know. I'm sorry, man. I can't get you any other way." I gritted my teeth, and I pulled. In any other situation it would have been a crime that I was handling an injured man this way. The clock was running down, though, and if causing more pain, causing even more damage meant the difference between one of my guys being injured or being dead, then I was going to do what I had to do.
I somehow managed to maneuverer myself so that I was over Oscar—I couldn't even see his face, the smoke was so thick—and then I started shoving. Six hard pushes and I managed to drive him through the gap in the window frame, out onto the desert floor. His body was ripped away, pulled free by someone else, and then he was gone. I was almost too tired to heave myself free, but I scrounged up my last scrap of energy and I crawled forward, determined to make it out before the entire vehicle was enveloped. Halfway out, my fingers clawing in the dirt, my body lit up with pain. Indescribable. Unbearable. A pain so sharp and breathtaking that I couldn't even cry out. It felt like something was ripping my body in two. I spun around and looked up to see a burning line of fuel pouring down on me, hitting my side, burning into me. I was on fire.
I kicked and jerked myself out of the truck, ripping at my jacket. Tearing at the material, trying to get it off. The fabric seemed to come away in my hands, and then I was shirtless in the cold, cold desert, rolling on the ground, trying to put the flames out.
The world went black. Someone threw something over me, and then hands were beating at my body, slapping and trying to roll me. A strangled gasp worked its way out of my mouth, but that's all I could manage. The flames were out. The thick, heavy material that had been thrown over me was pulled back, and Crowe stood over me, face covered in soot and grease, eyes the size of dollar coins. I could barely see him properly. Barely hear the words coming out of his mouth.
Colonel Whitlock appeared next to him, and then the sky was filled with the beating thump of helicopter blades. They spoke for a second, and the thundering drum of the helo overhead dipped long enough for me to make out what Crowe said to Whitlock.
"He didn't stop, sir. He didn't stop until they were all out."
Whitlock scowled. "I can see that, Specialist. He disobeyed a direct order in doing so, too."
"He'll be reprimanded?" Crowe asked. He was speaking as if I was no longer present; both of them were.
"No," Whitlock said sternly. "Ironically, I think Captain Fletcher's more likely to be honored than punished in this particular instance. Now get him on the chopper before I change my mind. The crazy bastard's bleeding everywhere."
Book trailer
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Callie has experienced many changes throughout her life, and gone through many ups and downs that have all worked towards shaping and moulding her into the person she is today: fun loving, active, social, and hard working. The only thing that has remained a constant throughout her life is writing. Creating characters who will tear your conscience in two is a favorite pastime of Callie's. There are few real saints and sinners in her books; more often, the denizens of her stories are all very human. Broken, flawed, and always with the potential for redemption.
Despite the subject matter being markedly hot and heavy in comparison to the stories she wrote in elementary school, there will always be an element of fairytale to her work.
Callie Hart is the author of the Blood & Roses Series. Zeth & Sloane's story is now complete, but there are a number of stories still to be released under the Blood & Roses banner. 2015 will see Cade, Michael and Rebel's stories being released, as well as a number of brand new stories, all of which will be Dark Romance novels.
If you would like to contact Callie, you can do so here.
If you would like to sign up to Callie's newsletter for info on upcoming releases, exclusive teasers, excerpts and competitions, you can do so here.
Are you going to buy the book?


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So, my whole idea with the landscape was to do a formal look of green accented with ONLY WHITE. But somehow color always sneaks its way in either by plants from friends and family or a really great price at some nursery. Early in the Spring, though, the first things to emerge are true to my original theme.
I love how the pie crust edges and appearance of separate petals gives a flowing, moving look.
Petunia alongside the 'trinity weed' I accidentally grew in the basement. I purposely planted these white annuals in areas that had a lot of thick greens in order to create visual interest.
Bridal Wreath shrub, closeup. One day I want to make an actual wreath with this plant.
Bloom from Snow On the Mountain.


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Why do some colleges have supplements to the common application?
Here is my video response to the question.
Why do some colleges have supplements to the common application?
Here is my video response to the question.
In some cases the supplement can ask you to write one or more additional essays. In other cases, the college might just request that you answer some questions. With a few notable exceptions, the more selective a college is- the more likely that the supplement will be challenging to complete. The most common extra essay asks the often key question of "Why do you want to attend our school"? I call that question the "Love Letter Essay". And if you cannot answer that question, perhaps then you need to ask yourself why you would want to go to that school! While it can be tough, try to avoid a generic one size fits all essay and ensure that you are answering with a genuine response.
Many colleges have supplements to the Common Application for two reasons: (1) to determine how much the applicant knows about and wants to go to the school; and (2) to ask specific questions of the applicant that the general Common Application prompts do not cover. Many schools include the following question in their supplements: "Why us?" They want to know why the applicant has chosen to apply to their particular school. Schools use this question to determine an applicant's "demonstrated interest" and to gauge the student's enthusiasm for the school. If a student knows quite a lot about the school through alumni, school visits, etc., a student will be able to answer this question with lots of telling details. This signals to the school that the student has a strong interest in the school and is more likely to accept an offer than a student who has less of demonstrated interest. Schools also use supplements to gauge a student's "fit" with the general tenor and vibe of the school. Some schools have a unique personality, and they want to make sure that students can find a solid place within that community. For example, the University of Chicago offers students extremely unusual essay prompts such as "Don't write about reverse psychology" and "Tell us about your non-scientific method." You can really tell a lot about this school and about the type of students they attract by such creative, whimsical and thought-provoking prompts!
Colleges have supplements because they may feel that the Common Application doesn't provide them with some needed information. Often it is an opportunity to ask an essay question unique to that institution.
A well devised review process should reflect the college's mission and goals. Application requirements stem from creating a review process grounded in institutional identity. Supplemental essays enable very distinct institutions to tailor the Common App to their institution's specific goals and mission. While supplements can seem cumbersome, they may reveal something about the school to which you are applying. And, the supplemental responses should resonate a student's compatibility with the institution.
Each college or university has its own institutional mandate. Those schools that require more information to make admissions decisions, ask for those details in the institutional supplement.
A long time ago (think around 10 years ago) a college supplement was a way to collect additional data on an applicant. The data sought, looked at legacy information (did mom or dad or their parents attend the school for instance), some particular information on your choice of major or other demographic data that is not normally asked in the body of the main application. For many schools this remains the case to day. For the purpose of this answer let's look at the Common application which represents over 400 of the top colleges and universities in the US. In addition to the above each school may want to know why you want to go to their institution and will allow you to write an essay on this subject. They want to know if you've done your homework and can cite things that are specific and unique to their school or campus. If you reply with generic terms, your response can hurt your chance for admission. More selective schools will ask more challenging questions. Here, the essays are tougher and the supplement IS used as a key criterion for making an admission decision. You need to be careful as you reply to these questions and must give mature well thought out answers. One popular school asks you to describe something that outrages you. Trust me: telling the school about the annoying chem lab partner that loudly chews gum while you do your lab work is a sure to get tossed into the deny file. Now that many schools are test optional, a supplement becomes a necessity in order to differentiate applicants when they are in the admission decision process. So what are they for you? As a blessing they can be the best way for you to showcase you uniqueness and increase your chances for admission. As a curse they can become onerous and the more schools that you apply to the more time and care you'll need to put into them. Yep, they're a pain, but if you are seriously into doing your best when you apply, you must take each one as a small project whose importance may make a major difference in your life.
i feel that certain colleges want to put their personal stamp on the application. It is in the same vein that a few of the colleges will still ask for the SAT 2 even though a great percentage of the colleges no longer require SAT 2 the other colleges are satisfied with the SAT 1
Some colleges have supplements to the common app because they want to learn more information about the prospective student. Common questions on the supplement include: -- What college in the University the student is interested in attending? -- What is your intended major? -- Have you visited the college? -- Have you had an interview? -- Have other family members attended this college? Often there are one or more additional essays in the supplement. A common essay in the Supplement is some variation of "Why do you want to attend College X?"
Some college have supplements simply because they want more information in order to get a better understanding of who the applicant is and what they might bring to their school community. The Common Application offers them plenty, but in a process that is ultimately about schools creating the kind of community that reflects their mission and goals, they may have some more pointed or focused questions and concerns that are not fully reflected in the Common App. Ultimately the supplements are additional opportunities for an applicant to show who they are and why the fit might be the best one for all involved.


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Jennifer Lopez to star as drug lord Griselda Blanco in HBO film
HBO is developing a film about Griselda Blanco with Jennifer Lopez attached to play the notorious drug lord, Variety has learned.
The film focuses on the rise and fall of Blanco, the drug lord known as "The Cocaine Godmother" who revolutionized the U.S. drug trade during the 1970s and 1980s and became the most powerful female cartel member of all time.
In addition to starring, Lopez will serve as an executive producer with her Nuyorican Productions banner producing the project. No other casting has been announced at this point.
"I've been fascinated by the life of this corrupt and complicated woman for many years," Lopez commented. "The idea of teaming with HBO felt like the perfect fit for finally bringing Griselda's story to life."
Lopez will exec produce along with Nuyorican's Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Benny Medina, plus LBI Entertainment's Julie Yorn and Rick Yorn. Co-exec producers are Alex Pettyfer, Nuyorican's Priscilla Porianda and LBI's Patrick Walmsley.
The project adds to Lopez's growing on-screen slate — she currently stars on NBC's drama "Shades of Blue," which is heading into its second season, and was a judge on "American Idol," which wrapped its final season this spring.
For Nuyorican Prods., this project is the latest for Lopez's growing company. NBC recently announced a new reality dance competition, "World of Dance," with Lopez exec producing. Lopez, Goldsmith-Thomas and Medina are exec producers on "Shades of Blue," and produced Lopez's indie hit "The Boy Next Door" in 2015. Lopez and Goldsmith-Thomas are also behind Freeform's "The Fosters."
For HBO, this is the second recent project announced with a high-profile star, as Oprah Winfrey is starring in the television adaptation of "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" for the premium cabler.
Lopez is repped by CAA.
Check out more from Jennifer Lopez in the gallery below!
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Frame.io: 3 Ways to Work with Proxies in Premiere Pro
By the end of this article, you'll have a complete understanding of Premiere Pro's Create Proxies, Attach Proxies, and Reconnect Full Resolution Media workflows. —Sofi Marshall, Frame.io
Frame.io is really ramping up the content on their blog. This blog post by Sofi Marshall is one of the most comprehensive posts on Premiere Pro's proxy workflows that you'll ever come across. With over 4,500 words, she's sure to answer your proxy questions.
The post is broken up into three main sections: creating proxies in Premiere Pro, attaching proxies made in-camera or with 3rd-party software, and reconnecting full-resolution media.
There's a convenient table of contents near the top of the post to let readers skip to the section that most interests them. Click on the links below to go to the article
- Adding the Toggle Proxies Button
- 1. Creating Proxies in Premiere Pro
- 2. Attaching In-Camera Proxies and Third Party Software Proxies
- 3. Reconnecting Full Resolution Media
- Tips for Working with Proxies in Premiere Pro


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RIM's "Highlander" Project To Merge BBOS 6.1 And QNX For BBOS 7
So far we haven't known quite what to expect from BlackBerry OS 7. It's shown up on leaked plans for RIM's upcoming strategy, and with the move to QNX as the OS for the PlayBook, we expected QNX to factor in to some extent. Now we've got some insight straight out of RIM, painting OS 7 as an amalgam of BBOS 6.1 and QNX, being developed as part of project Highlander.
On the surface, this information looks more credible than the BBM iPhone rumor we covered earlier today, if only because it stems from an in-house source; this information was supposedly provided by RIM's CTO of software to internal developers. The Highlander project comes from the movies of the same name, so-called after the line "there can be only one" in reference to the merging of QNX and OS 6.1 into something hopefully greater than the sum of its parts.
Once OS 7 is released, that should be the platform used for not only future BlackBerry phones, but new additions to the PlayBook line as well. It sounds like RIM wants to make the OS visually stunning, so we expect a good deal of work to focus on refining its UI. At the same time, the company is anxious about changing too much, as its users have come to form certain expectations for a BlackBerry device, so balancing that familiar experience with innovation is going to be something RIM needs to be careful with. Development is reportedly targeted for a release sometime next year.
Source: Berry Review


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Disability discrimination is the most common type of reported discrimination in employment, according the Department of Fair Employment and Housing. So, what exactly is disability discrimination in employment?
Disability discrimination is more easily understood as "health, illness, or injury" discrimination. Disability discrimination does not require that you be "disabled" in the ordinary sense of the word. You do not need to be confined to a wheelchair or blind to be "disabled". A legal "disability" is much broader than the ordinary definition. Disabilities are a physical or mental impairment that makes the performance of a "major life activity"--including working--difficult.
As examples, low back pain, a diagnosis of cancer, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and depression could all be "disabilities". Similarly, there is no requirement under California law that a disabled person be prevented from working. The disability merely needs to make performance of working difficult. There is no requirement that that a legal disability be caused by working or that it is an "industrial injury". Thus, an injury received outside of work while playing soccer or hiking may also be a disability.
Next, disability discrimination in employment may only occur in an employer-employee relationship. This means that properly classified independent contractors may not sue for disability discrimination. Similarly, a qualified employer under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) must have five or more employees. However, the "five or more" requirement is also construed broadly, and includes certain part-time employees. This makes California's version of disability discrimination much broader than the protections through the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA).
Disability discrimination next requires that the employer "knew or thought" the employee to have a disability. Therefore, to be liable for disability discrimination the employer must know that the employee is actually disabled. However, an employer's willful ignorance of an employee's disability may meet this requirement under the FEHA. Nevertheless, it is important for disabled employees to inform their employers that they are actually disabled, preferably in writing.
Next, California's public policy is to keep injured or disabled persons working if they are able to perform the "essential functions" of their job. This is even the case if keeping the injured person working is expensive, time consuming, or difficult for the employer. So, if a disabled employee could perform the essential functions of their job "with or without a reasonable accommodation" the employee may still have a case for disability discrimination.
As an example, take the imaginary case Johnny the Janitor. Johnny has chronic low back pain. Johnny is in lots of pain at work at Acme Co., where Johnny works as its only janitor. As a janitor, Johnny's "essential job" duties include prolonged mopping and lifting 60 pound trash cans into a dumpster. Johnny cannot continue to perform his job without a workplace modification, called an "accommodation".
However, Johnny informs his manager, in writing, that he simply needs to take periodic five-minute sitting rest breaks every two hours when his back is in extreme pain. Johnny also tells Acme Co. through its Human Resources Department that his coworker, Sally the Security Guard, will assist him in lifting the 60 pound trash cans into the dumpster. This will only take 30 seconds of Sally's time. In other words, Johnny can perform the essential functions of his job so long as Acme Co. provides him with the requested "reasonable accommodations".
Next, disability discrimination requires an "adverse employment action". The most common form of adverse employment action is termination of employment. However, an adverse employment action also includes the denial of a promotion, a demotion, disciplinary write-ups, a cut in hours or pay, and other negative employment actions.
Disability discrimination next requires that the employee's disability was a "motivating reason" for the employer's adverse employment action. More clearly put, the termination needs to be caused, at least in-part, by the employee's disabled status. However, this does not require the employee alleging disability discrimination to show that the employer hates, dislikes, or intentionally wants to harm disabled persons.
As an example, let's take another look at Johnny the Janitor. Instead of providing Johnny with the "reasonable accommodations" that Johnny requested, Acme Co.'s Human Resources Department terminates Johnny. Human Resources tells Johnny, "We can't allow you to work with a bad back." Even though Acme Co.'s motives may be pure, their statement to Johnny is evidence that his termination was motivated by his disability (the bad back). This is all that the FEHA requires.
Johnny is now unemployed. He has suffered "special damages" caused by his termination in the form of lost wages, his 401k plan, and lost health benefits. Significantly, Johnny has also incurred "general damages" in the form of depression, stress over finances, and embarrassment. Special and general damages are both recoverable under the FEHA. By satisfying the element of "damages", Johnny has established a great case for disability discrimination.
For any questions on disability discrimination, accommodations, or wrongful termination, please call Brian Mathias Law, serving both sides of the Monterey Bay.
Ready to stand up for your rights?


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skillet millet stuffing/
Your comments about husbands/boyfriends hating squash, had me rolling in laughter. What is it about boys + squash? I'm not sure I'll ever understand.
While that meal was quite delicious, at least in my eyes, it's already in the past.
Thanksgiving may also be in the past, but I am not ready to give up the comforting flavors of stuffing. My favorite part of the meal. I will continue to enjoy stuffing all winter long. Maybe not always in cubed bread form, but in one way or another, it's going to become a staple around here.
Now that, Chris can deal with.
I also enjoyed + appreciated your comments about different workout ideas. Time to do a little research and come up with a plan. I'll keep you posted on what I try next. Over the years, I've gone back + forth with working out at the gym. Indoor gym cardio, has really never done it for me, but the vast selection of weights, machines, equipment, was what I really went for. Although, this gym did have a cardio machine that I loved and a stretching machine that did wonders for my tight hamstrings.
Speaking of tight hamstrings, let's get back to the stuffing. [No correlation at all.]
I wanted to keep the traditional flavors while also creating a texture that holds together.
With two eggs, it held together + didn't dry out. I threw some spinach in, just because. I also would have thrown mushrooms into the mix, for added flavor + texture, but mushrooms are one more thing the husband can't do.
There aren't too many things we disagree on food wise, but squash + mushrooms are definitely on the list.
He wasn't getting lucky with take n' bake pizza 2 nights in a row, so I cooked the mushrooms on the side instead.
To turn this dish into a full meal, feel free to add any protein of choice. Add these to the mixture before baking.
- 1.5c chickpeas
- crumbled tofu sausage
- Field Roast
Top with 1-2 sunny side up eggs.
Just having eaten chickpeas with the stuffed squash, I opted for eggs.
Ohhh instant saucy goodness, you are so delicious.
Good thing Chris likes eggs…not sure I could handle disagreeing on that one!
Skillet Millet Stuffing [serves 4-6]
- 1c uncooked millet, rinsed + drained
- 2c low sodium veggie broth
- 2 large eggs
- 4-5c spinach [optional]
- 1.5T ghee
- 3/4c onion, diced
- 3/4c celery, diced
- 1/2c carrot, diced
- 1T fresh sage, finely chopped
- 1T garlic, minced
- 1.5t fresh thyme, chopped
- 1/2t dried parsley
- 1/2t salt
- black pepper
- In a pot over medium-high heat, add the millet + broth, then stir and bring to boil, then reduce heat to simmer + cover. [perfect cooked millet]
- Leave covered for 20min [no stirring], then move to another burner and let sit for 10min [still covered]. Fluff with a fork.
- While the millet is cooking, prep veggies + herbs and heat a large pan over medium heat with 1T ghee.
- Add onions, celery + carrots and cook until softened, stirring every minute or so. ~7-10min
- Whisk the 2 eggs in a small bowl and set aside, then preheat your oven to 350*.
- Add 1/2T ghee in a 9" oven safe pan [cast iron works well], and place in the oven.
- Add garlic, and all spices, stirring for about 1min, until fragrant.
- Add spinach and cook until wilted. 2-4min
- Add the fluffed millet to the sauté pan and gently stir to combine.
- Remove the hot pan from the oven.
- Pour the whisked eggs over the millet mixture and gently stir until the egg is evenly distributed.
- Empty the mixture into the heated 9" pan, evenly spread out + pat down until smooth.
- Bake, covered, for 20-25min, until the edges are golden brown and when you press the middle it feels set/firm.
- Broil for a few minutes, until golden brown and serve. Add more s+p if desired.
tips/substitutions: Instead of ghee, sub 2T butter, oil, or Earth Balance. Cheese would be a great topping on this. Add before broiling, if desired. Adding 2c chopped mushrooms would be a great addition. Add them in with the spinach, if desired. If using dry herbs, sub 1t sage, 3/4t thyme. Feel free to sub quinoa instead of millet.
Between my lunch, both of our dinners, and Chris's lunch tomorrow, we've already scraped the pan clean, and I'm already brainstorming the next stuffing creation.
Check back later today for random Wednesday things!
Missed my previous stuffing creations?
Last day for the the Fall Stationary Giveaway with Brand E Paperie and Custom Design! If you win, you'll receive 25 personalized stationary cards of your choice. And just for entering, you'll receive a 10% coupon code for any holiday card purchase. Courtney just added a few brand new designs to the collection.


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Living Well
As with any transitional time in our lives, college students must focus some energy on their health and well-being.
It's important to know that homesickness is common and a natural reaction to moving away from home. Although Ohio State can seem like a large place, there's a lot you can do to make it feel like home and adjust to new schedules, friends and living environments, including these alternatives:
- Check out Learning Communities (unique residential experiences for those with similar interests)
- Get involved
- Know how to approach a roommate conflict
- Be safe
- Use your residence hall staff
- Keep informed about what you eat
- Exercise regularly


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Just popping in mid-day to announce THE NEXT SALE — tomorrow, February 26th. I hope to open the shop first thing in the A.M.
What do I have for you? Sweaters. An array of lovely and layery ensembles that will take you right into spring. Feminine and colorful and fun, you'll totally be able to layer these lovely ladies with pieces you already have. {Raise your hand if you need to unwrap a little fun at this point in the winter. That's what I thought, ALL the hands.}
I'd planned to dish up this sale a month ago but then, you know, there were issues. Like Toiletgate 2015 and the dissolving hope.
Serving up pretty sweaters is just the happy and fashionable diversion my sulky and slightly unstable self needs at the end of a looooong February.
Want another sneak peek? Of course you do.
If you're new, just go here to get all the scoop on….
Okay, off to over-caffeinate myself and make good on my word. See you {and all your friends that you're gonna tell} tomorrow!
Love, Marian


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The Shrieking Shack - Part 1
The Shrieking Shack[edit]
This stage begins in front of the Whomping Willow, which has a life meter consisting of three hearts. You want to eliminate the life meter so that you can explore in safety.
(Left Image) Jump into the central branch when it slams down onto the ground and remains in position for awhile. Ride it into the air, then from there fire magic and the tree's tender top area. (Right Image) Use magic and purple balls to plug the geysers so that you can catch a ride up to the higher ledge.
To defeat the willow, make sure that you keep moving as it slaps down at the ground with its limbs. Most of those attacks you simply want to avoid, but there's one type wherein the willow will hammer the ground near the middle of the screen with what looks almost like a fist. Run up to that and press the button indicated on-screen to hop into its grip. The limb will rise up toward the sky and you'll be able to repeatedly fire magic blasts at the tender bulbs extending from the tree's highest branches. Hit one enough times and you'll be dropped to the ground, where one of three branches that covers a hole will recede. Repeat the process as necessary (and remember that you can destroy the nearby brush for life-regenerating hearts) until the last of the branches vanish. Then drop down and through the opening.
Now you'll appear in a cave beneath the willow. To the right, there are some vines. Use Lumos magic to make them extend across the gap. Walk over the bridge to the right and drop down to a lower area, where you can zap another of the yellow flowers. You'll see the tip of a vine dangling from a ledge above you. Zap it; the vine will recede and another one will extend while a green seed will roll forward and get stopped by this second vine. Zap the second vine and it will recede, allowing the seed to roll forward some more. One more zap will allow the seed to roll off the ledge and onto the ground. Now zap the red flower on the left side of the area and it will water the seed, allowing it to grow leaves up the side of the wall that you can use to use to jump back up.
As you proceed toward the right, you'll come to a series of ledges with moving vines positioned between them. The vines have webbing on top of them. You can leap onto the webbing to reach higher ledges and LEGO pieces. Hop onto the first one and then when it rises, leap left to find an object that you can blast with some magic. That'll cause a vine to recede in a passage to the right. Now head in that direction, collecting LEGO pieces as you go. When you reach a vertical shaft with a new ledge rising and falling, go ahead and descend. You'll find another of the objects that you can hit to make another vine recede toward the right. Then go left, ride the ledge up the shaft and resume your trek toward the right.
In that direction, you'll next come to a bit of a puzzle. There are two low geysers of water that you must avoid as you continue toward the right, then a third geyser with a board resting on it. Above that third geyser is a shaft that you are expected to ascend, but there's no obvious way to do so. Look toward your upper left and there are purple-colored bulbs stuck to the wall. Knock them down with magic, then use each of them to plug the purple geyser spouts to the left. That'll make the third geyser (the one with the board on it) much more powerful. Now it will periodically send the board up the shaft. Just ride the board up to higher ground. You can head left to find another object that can be destroyed, removing the final vine to your right. Then continue to the right, up the stairs.
(Left Image) Destroy the furniture so that the Scabbers imposter has nowhere to hide in the abandoned room. (Right Image) Find the ingredients and concoct a potion so that you have the strength to pull the nearby lever.
Following a cutscene, you'll appear in a large, furnished room covered in dust and cobwebs. You will be chasing a rat around the various furnishings. As the rat moves to new hiding spots, you can blast chair cushions, the piano, a pot along the side of the room and so forth, thus reducing the number of places that the rat has to hide while also snagging LEGO pieces in the process. When you've destroyed the last of the furniture, you can use magic to assemble it into a giant mouse trap.
That accomplishment produces another cutscene and then you'll find yourself back outside, in a relatively grassy area with vines to the right and a bunch of shrubbery to your left. You should head toward the right. Lumos magic can clear away the vines, allowing you to build a spherical device. Hit it with magic to make it airborne. It'll drop some LEGO blocks that you can use to climb up to the nearby ledge. Then proceed toward the right again to reach an area where you will see a snake fossil along a back wall, below the two characters you are pursuing.
Have Hermione's cat dig where you see the paw prints to reveal a cauldron. Now blast the snake head to produce the first ingredient for a potion. Left from the snake head, there's a pile of bones that you can assemble to form a dancing skeleton. It'll eventually fall apart and leave behind the second ingredient for the potion. As for the third ingredient, you find it by watering the three purple pods growing positioned along the ground near the cauldron. Watering the last one produces a plant with the purple flower, which you can take and drop into the cauldron to complete your brew. Then drink it and head to the lever to the left, along the cliff wall. Pull on it to make some ledges rise into place. As Hermione, hop up those ledges and then have your cat dig at the top to reveal some sprites. They'll rush over to the nearby ledge and toss a ladder up it.
Climb that ladder and continue toward the right to find yourself under attack by a bunch of spiders. Run around, hitting them with magic blasts until the last of them are gone. When the spiders are gone, assemble their remains along the back left corner of the ledge to form a toadstool. Hop onto that and spring to the upper ledge to complete the stage.
Was this guide helpful?


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We gather weekly on Sundays 4pm in Kings Heath, Birmingham.
What can I expect?
Live music, some reflections on faith and life, refreshments and some interesting people to chat with!
Is there any provision for Children?
We are just getting started so we soon hope to have a full children's programme in place. For the time being there will be an area and some bits and bobs to keep the little ones occupied.
How can I get more Involved?
Come along on a Sunday afternoon and have a chat with us about joining a team, there is plenty to be done. Alternatively drop us an email and we can take it from there.


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The BBC's Matt Wells says that Hurricane Katrina's destruction has forced the US media to rediscover how to ask tough questions.
Read a selection of your comments below.
The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:
Thank you, Matt Wells and the BBC. I'm one of millions of American who waited for five years for this nation to wake up from its sleepwalk. I am just so sorry that it took Katrina to jolt us awake. Jim Gregory, Arroyo Grande, CA USA
The travesty of the Bush government's response to the catastrophe in New Orleans has shamed this nation before the eyes of the world. How is it that we can muster the resources to invade and occupy Iraq, but yet cannot effectively confront a natural disaster on our own shores? Congressional hearings should be held immediately to assign responsibility and insure that such a thing can never happen again.Tim Barrett, Three Rivers, USA
I don't understand why people think that one person (George Bush) would be responsible for any slow response to this tragedy. First of all, it is arguable that response rests in the hands of a government. Individuals and organisations of individuals (not necessarily government funded) can and did rush into help. Secondly, the New Orleans mayor, and state governor, if anyone in government, should be blamed for slow response. Mobilisation to tragedy absolutely needs to begin at the local level.Paul Perrone, Crozet, VA
I think it's entirely too bad that so many thousands of people have to die from disaster on American soil before the mainstream media starts paying attention to citizens' anger and telling the truth. I wish they had had this kind of integrity and truth in reporting when Bush sent American troops to Iraq to wreak havoc on thousands of THEIR citizens.Susan, Madison, WI, USA
I completely agree with this article, the media seems to be criticizing the administration here, or at least to a certain extent. The fact remains that the government has grossly failed its own citizens.Aldo Gonzalez, San Diego, California
I agree completely. It is tragic that it has needed such a catastrophe to reveal the Bush regime, administration seems too innocuous a word, for what it is. Michael Moore, for all his failings, would appear to be on the right track.D. Fear, Heidelberg, Germany
As an American expat currently working in the Middle East, my heart breaks over what is happening in my country and my anger rises on how badly this pack of fools ruining my beloved country have failed their job. If impeachment charges could be filed against Clinton over flimsy accusations, then impeachment charges should be filed against Bush and his "Department of Homeland Insecurity" head for their gross mishandling of the situation. And the GOP funky now ruining FEMA should be sacked, and FEMA restored to the cabinet-level position it once held, before the fiasco that is Department of Homeland Security was created.
It's nice to see that the US Media has finally grown a spine - I just wish it had been sooner.Patrick McKinnion, Doha, Qatar
I agree in full and I strongly believe that this administration will get their well deserved "come up in's". We reap what we sow and this President and his pack of oil chasers have sewn only lies, illusions, and fear.J Pesterle, Kapaa, Hawaii
The government should be roundly criticised for underestimating the relief effort requires, but in a country where poverty does not necessarily mean lack of television or means to transport ones self, many of those who did not leave, who were allegedly left with no choice to leave, could have probably done so.
Why is this effort being split along race grounds? It is a fact that a large percentage of the population of New Orleans is black, therefore a large percentage of those stranded would have been black, and whilst it may be unpalatable to many in a country as politically sensitive as America, many of those hindering the emergency services and committing atrocities are also black. It is time to face up to the sub-culture that exists without resorting to the race card. Hemal Shah, London, UK
Of course they've been lying. Of course the media knew it, the BBC included. It's not only the American media that are rich and white.
Now how about telling the truth, retroactively as well as prospectively, as you see it, catch us citizens up on what else you have known the governments are lying about?Hank Roberts, Berkeley, CA, USA
Bush administration has always been in self-denial mode, be it 9-11 or Katrina. The response of the administration is a reflection of Bush's personality, that is defensive, ego-driven, low on self esteem and compulsive lying.Rajesh Raheja, New Delhi, India
Matt Wells' article is a clear, highly erudite, well-balanced and chillingly revealing account of what is the truth behind the pathetic posturing of the powerful in the USA - be it White House, the Senate, Hollywood, big business or whatever.
He has put into words what I have always thought, and has given me sleepless nights, but with prose I could never hope to match.Nicholas Colley, Fresney France
President Bush has long been an embarrassment to our country and hopefully people will realize after this unbelievable event that they have had enough his leadership.Diana Brown Johanson, Port Townsend, WA
I believe that it is honourable and laudable the efforts made by the media to stamp out politically biased media, and to report the truth and place the blame where it belongs.
I extend my support to journalists, writers, broadcasters, and individuals who stand up and voice their concerns to our sickeningly poll-driven administration.Ryan Knoppe, La Grange, Illinois United States
Excellent article, genuine news, information and analysis. We need to see more of this.Neil Messam, Swansea, UK
I agree, but I also know that the Rove character assassination team will now start to roll. Soon preachers will be calling the hurricane God's punishment on those wicked people of New Orleans.
Already here on Houston TV officials are looking into setting a curfew and possibly locking the survivors in at night, all because some Bambi type felt uneasy seeing so many black people out at night around the Astrodome.
Personally, I'd like to see a full accounting of the money that has been spent on homeland security, I think my fellow countrymen would be shocked and appalled at the level of corruption that now permeates every part of our government. Marvin Bote, Houston, USA
I agree and am ashamed.Ben Rice, Santa Cruz, California, USA
Are you kidding me? What could you possibly know about what is going on over here? Your country didn't even care about Katrina before Tuesday, and now you think that the US media is to be acclaimed for its reporting?
Do you have any idea that people were ordered to evacuate two days before the storm hit? Did you know that disaster preparedness starts at the state and local level, b/c on this side of the pond we don't have everything handed to us by the government who lead us around with a mediocre leash.
Those who couldn't evacuate should have been dealt with according to the plan that New Orleans should have had in place, got a copy of that? I'm sure they'll back date it for you to make it look correct. Just stay on your side of the pond and defend your reporting methods, as vague and useless as they are over here. Congrats, cheerioNeil Holloran, VA, USA
It is about time the US press showed some professionalism, the sheer hypocrisy of the US government is about to be exposed if enough editors and journalists hold their nerve and have the guts to expose these lies and shoddy performances at the Federal, State and local level.
The US is not the only country to cut investment in the infrastructure of the nation to ensure the "good life" for their voters and to appease their financial backers, but this may be the biggest fallout from this type of governmental mismanagement.
Is there really a difference in the way Bush is (mis)managing the US and the way his friends at Halliburton, Enron, Tyco, Global Crossing, World Com etc, ran their companies?
The financial pain for US citizens is really going to start to increase as it is not only the Levees in Louisiana that have neglected, there are other areas of the US suffering from the same neglect and waiting to be found out to the huge future cost, financial and emotional, of the local residents.George Adam, Singapore
Once again the BBC has proven to be one of the best commentators on America. As an American who has looked on with anger and disgust at not only this past weeks events but the American media's incompetence over the past few years, their ferociousness this past week has been a welcome ray of hope that America may be finally coming to terms with itself. That some of the reporters and commentators at Fox News are now starting to join in does not bode well for the current administration's time left in office. John Haynes, Cincinnati,Ohio USA
Once again BBC has shown it's bias face. I find it amazing that in this Democrat state that Republicans are somehow to blame. The same goes with the poor in New York and California where Republicans continue to be blamed for the poverty when the Democrats have had a very long time in power to do something.
Where was the mayor of New Orleans. Last time I checked it was the mayor who had major control over police and other city government officials who were needed. When hurricanes strike Florida every year, you do not have this whining by the Governor or mayors.Sean, Tennessee, USA
This entire article can be condensed into the proposal that the majority of the problems stemming from Katrina are a result of incompetence in the Bush administration and the spin protecting him is now crumbling.
Instead of then supporting this argument with any reasoning, the journalist repeats his assumptions in various ways and descriptive harbingers of the doom hanging over those he dislikes.
The only meaningful information present is that the journalist believes the evacuation of poor and minority persons to be too slow and questions the impact of a reduced national guard, but neither is supported by any detail whatsoever or ties either to anyone other then unnamed administration officials.Illidan, Anchorage, Alaska
The US media is very aggressive when it comes to domestic issues, but never when it comes to international issues, especially when the viewpoint is not in the interests of US.Razi, San Francisco, CA


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Bateman Skincare | Stockists
Bateman Skincare is currently stocked at the following Locations.
Bateman is carried at the following locations, but we are expanding. If you are interested in Stocking with Bateman, please contact us.
Blue & Black
488 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Noah NYC
195 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012


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Last Lecture voting will take place on Friday, February 12th in the Ponzio Campus Center from 8am - 4pm! Here are all the professors that were nominated:
Cynthia Belmont - English
"Cynthia is a supportive and inspiring faculty member who puts her all into her students. She is passionate about her work and helping students learn and she has certainly helped me find my passion as well."
"She's an amazing speaker and has been a thriving voice at Northland College"
Joseph Damrell - Social Sciences
"Much like any senior faculty member, Joseph Damrell has been a cornerstone to the Northland College campus by teaching a wide variety of courses with an unmatched academic, but approachable attitude. A last lecture during his last year would seem most fitting, and would be surely a lecture to remember for both us, and his closing with the campus."
Charlene D'Cruz - Sociology
"Charlene is an amazing example of work that can be done for the betterment of society. She's an amazingly engaging speaker and is very real about her topics. Charlene doesn't just talk at her audience, she speaks with them and always brings forth applicable issues."
Cindy Dillenschnieder - OED
"Cindy is the embodiment of integrity and passion. She spends so much of her time and energy to deliver meaningful and applicable curriculum to all students. Not only that, but she connects with her students and pushes them to embrace their own creativity and passions. Her absence this fall semester was felt by more than just the Northland community but within the larger community as well. Her return this winter semester shows her dedication to our school and the students lives that she changes. Cindy is an incredible professor, mentor, and person and her presentation at the last lecture would be powerful and incredible."
Tim Doyle - Philosophy
"He is the G.O.A.T."
Tom Fitz - Geology
"Tom inspires me to learn about the physical world."
"He is a phenomenal professor, and a large part of why I am still at Northland"
Bruce Goetz - Geology
"Bruce has been at Northland a long time, not quite geologically long, but still good long while. Throughout his time here, he has cared deeply about students and our education. This is his last year here and it would be wonderful to hear his thoughts and message."
"A) he has the best stories B) We won't as a student body get to hear them after this year and C) he has more than enough to say to fill a lecture."
"Because he's retiring"
"He is retiring soon and I would love to hear some stories."
"Bruce has been teaching at Northland for 47 years. His love of geoscience and teaching is eminent in every lecture and field experience he gives to students. His devotion to the science is obvious both in the number of years he has been here and the effort he has put in to make the department and school a better place. Northland is better for having had Bruce as a professor here and he will be greatly missed. A last lecture from him will allow a proper goodbye from him to the students, school, and the science."
"It's his last year before retirement!"
"He has been a member of the Northland community for decades. It would be a pleasure to hear him lecture one last time before his retirement"
"It his last year at northland and will be his last lecture"
"He is retiring this year, so this would be his last Northland lecture"
Andy Goyke - Biology
"His lectures about microeconomics are inspiring so I'd love to hear him talk about life in general"
Dick Joyal - Business
"He has helped a countless number of students throughout their 4 years and beyond to not only learn but to apply everything he taught in real life work environments. He is a fantastic professor and I would love to have him as the last lecture speaker"
"After his many years of devotion to the school, and helping students succeed I feel he will be a great choice to represent the student body as speaker for the last lecture."
Robin Kemkes - Economics
"Robin is a new professor to Northland who brings a plethora of knowledge and enthusiasm. She is a great speaker, and one who is committed to our mission here at Northland of sustainability and environmental justice."
Young Kim - Math
"He has been such a pivotal professor in what I have learned during my time here at Northland. Although I am one of the few who have had the opportunity to see him and learn from him regularly, Young has such a wise soul. Mathematics is a very underestimated career path in this day and age."
Randy Lehr - Natural Resources
"Because Randy is cool"
John Martin - Forestry
"Because... he... is... John.. MARTIN!!"
"Professor Martin is such a great speaker and there is so much knowledge he holds that he does not have time to share in class!"
"He has realistic and clear explanations of big ideas that will impact our world in the near future. He genuinely cares about the learning of his students, teaching and testing on realistic information and skills that will be applicable in any field you choose. His research is interesting, and he utilizes it to motivate students by giving it as some of the current examples science in the field he teaches in. He makes the people around him appreciate every day, inspiring creativity and teaching life lessons when you least expect them."
"Jon is very passionate about trees, academics, and life! His classes are fun and his personality always shines through. He has had many life experiences (and photographs!) that he shared with us, which are entertaining, inspiring, and leaving me wanting to hear more about his life! He epitomizes the spirit of Northland with his laid back attitude and love for everything outdoors. His skill with the chainsaw makes him a true Northland College lumberjack. I'm very grateful to him for reviving the forestry program here at Northland. He's a funny dude and I wouldn't want to miss his last lecture for anything, even if that means I come back years from now to listen to him. #voteforJMar2016"
Derek Ogle - Math
"Dr. Ogle has done more for my growth as a student than any other single person at Northland. He has taught me the essentials and given me the drive to go out and find what I want to do."
Erik Olson - Natural Resources
"Of all the professors I've had in my time at Northland, Professor Olson has incorporated the most disciplines into his teachings. He encourages students to think broadly about issues works to provide students with hands on learning experiences that allow them to make professional connections. Beyond his teaching, Professor Olson shows a genuine concern for his students, challenging them to reach their fullest potential while also supporting them however he can."
Clayton Russell - OED
"Clayton can relate any lecture to the big picture or global issues. After leaving his class I always think about our discussions for hours and days later. He also has positive vibes all the time that are felt in his lectures."
David Saetre - Religion
"Seeing as this is the first year in a while that David won't be giving an address to the senior class, I (very selfishly) would love to hear whatever he wants to contribute in the form of a last lecture. Honestly, he is the best public speaker this college has."
"David is a spectacular orator, who has a beautiful gift at conveying complex and nuanced thoughts through extraordinarily moving prose. David has a lot of knowledge to offer--which he's able to frame through culturally relevant issues (for example, his piece on Islamophobia on MLK Day)--and also a deep understanding of the necessity of social justice and the importance of channeling love and care into our lives. I think he has a tremendous amount of wisdom to offer, and can deftly offer said wisdom in fresh and non-patronizing ways. Additionally, he plans to retire soon, and it would be wonderful to hear him give this year's last lecture."
Kevin Schanning - Sociology
"Kevin is one of the most involved and committed professors on this campus. He ALWAYS goes the extra mile to be available to students. Kevin has so much on his plate to begin with, but he is very approachable and helpful to student organizations. He is a great advocate for students and an amazing professor. One of my greatest regrets about my time at Northland is that I was not able to take more of his classes."
Paul Schue - History
"As a Professor, Paul Schue has enhanced many students times spent at Northland College. Instead of simply giving names and dates to memorize, Professor Schue gives cultural details and an inside look into the society at the time and how we relate to the subject today. His lessons are extremely valuable in helping students from all aspects of a Liberal Arts college become better students and individuals in the community. As the last lecture of the academic year, and final for graduates, Professor Schue would be able to give students one final lesson to leave us with before we are leaving for the break, or one last piece of advice as we move onto the next step of our lives."
"Out of all professors I have encountered, Paul is one of the most engaging, comprehensive, and passionate lecturers I think of. I believe he would be a very impactful and memorable speaker."
Michelle Small - English and Modern Language
"Michele is an incredible woman and an amazing professor who is endlessly dedicated to her students' education. She'd be great!"
Angela Stroud - Sociology
"She teaches with such a passion."
"She is an a m a z i n g person, as well as extremely passionate and knowledgeable in her field."
Brian Tochterman - SCD
"He's just so great and gives lovely presentations"


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The popularity of Oscar-nominated Food, Inc. and writers Michael Pollan and Mark Bittman make it clear that consumer interest in food and farming issues is now deeply embedded in the cultural mainstream.
And that's not just my personal impression. Two brand new polls show a surprising degree of agreement on consumers' concerns about the quality of food and how it's produced, considering that one was commissioned by an environmentally-oriented foundation and the other by an organization that's out to advance the interests of large scale agribusiness. I'll come back to those results in a minute.
Shoppers' buying habits reflect their growing interest in food quality and where it comes from. Healthy food-oriented chains such as Whole Foods are thriving, farmers' markets are more prevalent than ever, and organically grown food is the fastest growing segment of the agriculture sector. Before long, it's inevitable that consumers' growing interest in food issues will start to affect their behavior in the voting booth as well.
Industrial agriculture has taken notice, as evidenced by the "Food Dialogues," a series of panel discussions convened last week (Sept. 22) in four cities as part of a $30 million public relations campaign mounted by big agricultural interests. Billed as an effort to connect consumers with farmers and ranchers, the event was created by the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance, whose membership list is a who's who of major industrial agriculture organizations across the country.
While the panelists were mostly sympathetic to industry, they included World Wildlife Fund's Jason Clay and Roots of Change President Michael Dimock, who said many smart things about the sustainability of modern agriculture. The event triggered comprehensive reactions by rancher Jeff Fowle and author Anna Lappé, and a story in yesterday's (Sept 28) New York Times.
The Alliance set limits on the scope of the "Dialogues," keeping potentially divisive issues like the farm bill or the corn ethanol debacle off the agenda and thereby skirting the touchy topic of how government policies affect what we eat. That's too bad, because the farm bill is especially relevant right now as the Super Committee budget cutters in Congress tasked with reigning in federal spending take a hard look at what farm programs to cut. Many informed observers believe the committee will effectively re-write the farm bill this fall, a full year ahead of schedule. (For a little context, check out Why the Farm Bill Matters.)
President Obama, farm state senators and commodity groups have already weighed in, underscoring the likely impact of the Super Committee's work on the future of US food and farm policy. We at Environmental Working Group have also issued several of our own analyses of how the Super Committee could, and should, reform farm policy. And today, 56 conservation-oriented groups, including EWG, have come together to lay out a set of principles that should guide the panel's deliberations.
That's why the polling information I can tell you about here is important, because it's a unique window into what American consumers are really thinking, not just what big agribusiness wants you to believe.
In July, the David & Lucile Packard Foundation commissioned the Benenson Strategy Group and Voter Consumer Research to conduct a survey of American attitudes on issues related to agriculture, the environment, and the federal budget. Here–for the first time anywhere–are some highlights of the findings, based on 1,200 telephone interviews conducted nationally. (The poll had an overall margin of error ±2.83 percent.)
- 78 percent said making nutritious and healthy foods more affordable and more accessible should be a top priority in the next farm bill.
- Americans value conservation programs with environmental benefits more than programs with economic benefits such as job creation or recreation dollars.
- 69 percent said reducing the use of chemicals that contribute to water pollution should also be a top priority.
- 52 percent said subsidies for crops such as corn and soybeans should top the list of programs to be cut, and 49 percent named crop insurance as the next target. Only 31 percent ranked conservation programs as top targets for cuts and just 23 percent wanted to chop food aid for low income Americans.
- 57 percent did not agree with cutting funding for farm conservation programs, saying they save money by preventing pollution.
- 38 percent said protecting soil and farmland to ensure future food security should be the top priority of conservation initiatives, while 34 percent put protecting water quality at the top.
- 60 percent said farmers should be required to meet environmental standards such as protecting water quality or soil health as a condition of receiving subsidy payments and subsidized crop insurance. That number jumped to 65 percent in the six biggest ethanol-producing states.
- 75 percent said helping family farmers stay in business should be a top or high priority in agriculture policy and 31 percent would make it the top goal of subsidy programs.
The Alliance's two polls, conducted in August by Ketchum Global Research Network and Braun Research, sampled an even larger number of consumers (a total of 2,417) and, separately, 1,002 farmer and ranchers. The polling was part of the preparation for the "Food Dialogues." Their website offers only a limited sampling of the results, but in some ways the USFRA's poll findings were consistent with what the Packard survey found:
- 79 percent of consumers said "producing healthy choices… is very important for farmers and ranchers to consider when planning farming and ranching practices."
- 70 percent said their shopping decisions are affected by how food is grown and raised, although 72 percent said they "know nothing or very little" about it.
- 73 percent of consumers were satisfied with the availability of healthy foods and 66 percent are satisfied with food safety standards, but, 42 percent said the U.S. is "off on the wrong track in the way we produce food," as against 39 percent who said it's "heading in the right direction."
- the five top topics consumers wanted more information about are, in order: how chemicals are used; how pesticides are used; food safety standards; effect of government regulations, and; how antibiotics are used/genetic engineering in crops.
- according to an account in the online Hagstrom report, 42 percent of the consumers polled said the way food is produced has improved in the last 10 years, but 37 percent said it has worsened.
- of those who said it has worsened, 1-in-5 cited its "environmental impact."
If you want to influence how the next five years of farm policy are written, arm yourself with the Packard Poll results and head on over to EWG's food and farm bill action center, where you can tell Congress that you won't stand for industrial agriculture's hold on the food system anymore.
Originally published on Environmental Working Group
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- Thursday, September 29th, 2011Who exactly are the industrial farmers? There are hundreds of thousands of regular farmers. The food movement people have little interest in us if we produce a commodity that is not sold locally. Not all farmers live near urban centers, farmers markets or even have the ability to mill their wheat to flour, process beef, bottle milk. These enterprises cost huge investments in time and money. However, if you are not a farmer selling to the local foods movement, foodies have little regard for you, the farmer or rancher. It didn't used to be like this.
- Friday, September 30th, 2011I am surprised and very disappointed at the limited critique provided here of USFRA. I had only to watch the five minute video preceding the talk on the Future of Agriculture to recognize what this group represents. It is exactly as Myra Goodman says in the Times - their aim is to maintain the status quo, and even more so, to celebrate the abhorrent nature of modern-day agriculture. I was shocked that the CAFO owner in the video did so little to conceal his shameful practices - celebrating the pig pens that allow no room for movement; showing videos proudly of his pigs rolling around on linoleum floors, claiming that pigs can't recover from a common cold. Disgusting.
I couldn't bear to listen to much of the panel discussion that followed, but I quickly predicted what was to come when I saw that the panelists include the VP of Agri Beef Co., whatever that is, who lauds the safety of our food system. Oh yeah, and the rep from Roots of Change, who was grossly outnumbered. I would also mention the laughably few women involved in these conversations, but no reason to point out the perpetuating and harmful nature of sexist thought in ranching and farming.
I would expect more thoughtful and analytic insight into this new group from Civil Eats and from EWG, who theoretically promote change and improvement in our agricultural system. Letting USFRA get away with these "dialogues" un-critiqued is certainly not pursuant to that goal.
- Sunday, October 2nd, 2011I agree partly with AverageFarmer, but he seems not to understand that the food movement is strongly opposed to cheap corn and other cheap commodities. They favor higher farm prices. In this way they strongly support all farmers. Most big farm commodity groups and Farm Bureau, like the ones in the article, are spinning PR but really favor cheap farm prices through free trade and a farm bill without any supply management or price floors. Unfortunately the food movement, in spite of their verbal support for higher farm prices, thinks that getting rid of subsidies (free markets and free trade) is all that's needed to accomplish the goal of keeping corn and other prices up. But these commodities don't self correct in free markets, as abundant economic data confirms. Therefore farm programs must be run like a business, balancing supply and demand, and helping farmers to get fair trade prices (but also with fair trade price ceilings and reserve supplies to protect consumers). It's great for farmers that the food movement favors fair trade price levels instead of cheap prices. Look to the National Family Farm Coalition, leading on these issues and rooted in the farm justice movements of history, to reconcile the two sides. Foodies and Farmies (farmers siding with those advocating for cheap prices) need better communication, more dialogue. The growing market for organic food and local food is good for farmers, but has achieved only tiny results for farming in general. For example, Cedar Rapids Iowa now has a large farmers market, (so farmers can reach a lot of customers once a month, instead of the huge marketing expenses of meeting a few customers several times per week). On the other hand, there have only been 4 (out of hundreds) farmers who have sold meat there, and that likely doesn't represent all of their meat sales. Based upon my sales, it's very likely that the market couldn't yet support 20 meat farmers full time, maybe not even 10, etc.! So that's not yet much of a solution. Out west, west of Iowa, cities are even smaller and farther away from the many farmers.
Farmers have fought hard against cheap corn, wheat, cotton, rice, etc. for decades, but their political clout has been too small. Price floors were lowered 1953-1995, then eliminated (zero). Congress gave giant agribusiness buyers more and more of the below fair trade and even below cost farm commodities. Farmers got very partial compensations for the reductions, subsidies. Corn subsidies are 1/6 of the reductions below the fair trade standards of the past, and wheat subsidies are 1/5, etc. EWG sees only the compensations, not the much bigger reductions, and blames the first victims, farmers, not the corporate buyers who show no need and yet get the full 6/6 corn, 5/5 wheat etc. reduced prices, which subsidize them off the government books (not in EWG's database, but 6x, 5x etc. bigger numbers). See also my exchange with Donald Carr on this article in his posting at EWG.


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Re: New Space Request Form?sbrown Jun 22, 2011 10:30 AM (in response to leightgordon)
Hi Leigh. We are not yet perpetuating the build out of spaces, and we are trying to limit the creation of groups ad-hoc, particularly at the beginning stages of our roll out. Keeps things more managable and really tailored to our business needs up front. We have a form that needs to be filled out when employees are thinking of a new group. We've also established a moderation team that will evaluate the request and approve/deny. If approved, the group will be created for the employee and the employee will need to adhere to general guidelines we've establised on being a group owner. They can then invite those to the group that would have a business need to participate. In the form, we ask for information such as
description and business purpose
criteria for membership
permissions required, i.e.: private, members, etc.
number of expected members
willingness to own and manage the group
what should/should not be posted in the community
I expect that as we grow and become well adjusted, some of these restrictions will ease and we may give employees the ability to create their own groups, but until then, we are finding this to be a good way go manage to organized chaos.
Hope that helps a bit.
Re: New Space Request Form?england_k Jun 22, 2011 10:48 AM (in response to sbrown)
We started very lean and have grown the number of spaces as we have started our intranet migration project. This discussion was really helpful when I was first starting out Strategy for using Groups and Spaces
Our basic principle is we have a high level space per business unit and then we have some for functions like people, technology, procurement, finance etc.
The key thing is understanding that a group and space have the same functionality a lot of our people didn't get that straight off. The other fear is not being able to find their group and automatically assuming if it is a space people will find it easier. The key here is helping people understand they need to search for content rather than relying on drop downs and menus in the old world of intranets. Having a couple of really great groups you can direct people to helps as you can say "this group thought they should be a space and now look at them"
My final pointer would be get your community to understand categories and the value of these in helping to organise content in a group - people really feel like they need the crutch of a sub-space, when managing categories correctly would be so much more effective.
Re: New Space Request Form?sbrown Jun 22, 2011 10:54 AM (in response to england_k)
Kim's final pointer was right on. We are using categories as well. Gives users a sense of organization and solves the "can I have a sub-group", which doesn't exist.
Re: New Space Request Form?Erin Haines Jun 22, 2011 11:44 AM (in response to england_k)
I also agree with Kim's point about Categories - especially within Spaces. Our internal community is still in it's early stages ("official" launch was in May) - and consistently with in our Space Owners (designated "admins" of specific spaces) are struggling with the idea of "Categories vs Sub-Spaces." Many gravitate to wanting multiple Sub-Spaces, as they feel a little more like "folders"; but often the sub-spaces further segregate their content (and team), so I try and encourage the use of Categories as in most instances offer more in terms of organizing content within any place (groups/projects/spaces).
Has anyone else experienced this challenge? Or have any training materials/documentation presenting the differences/benefits of Categories vs Sub-Spaces?
Re: New Space Request Form?JJSchultz Jun 22, 2011 12:02 PM (in response to Erin Haines)
Question -- I have employees asking if they can have sub-categories under a category - is this possible? Also, we have a community that put category widget on their main page which shows all blog, documents, discussions...within each category. When they go and click on the number representing how many are in each (# of documents for example), it does not bring them right to this area. They need to click and then hit open. Is system designed this way or is it a bug? Thank you!
Re: New Space Request Form?tmaurer Jun 22, 2011 12:49 PM (in response to JJSchultz)
No sub-categories.
Second question, not sure what you are asking.
Re: New Space Request Form?JJSchultz Jun 22, 2011 1:00 PM (in response to tmaurer)
Thanks Tracy.
Below is a snapshot of some of categories within a community. You would think you can click on any of the numbers and get right into that category showing the document, discussion... Rather, you need to click and then right click and select open. Seems like an unnecessary step
Re: New Space Request Form?sbrown Jun 22, 2011 1:01 PM (in response to JJSchultz)
We've had a similar issue and looks like the behavior might have been due to the native browser within Lotus Notes. When changing the browser to IE or Firefox, the categories widget seemed to work. The only think I don't like about it is that when clicking on the category name, it gives the initial impression that the screen just refreshes, looking like it did nothing. You need to scroll down to find the content.
Re: New Space Request Form?JJSchultz Jun 22, 2011 1:36 PM (in response to sbrown)
Hi SB -- We are on IE browser. The issue I see if that we click on the number (in the example above there is one blog in 2-50 renewal account consultant) and you would think by clicking it you would be directed to the place where the blog is found. instead you need to click and then right click and then select open. The right click and open seem like unnecessary steps and not very intuitive to the user.
Re: New Space Request Form?sbrown Jun 22, 2011 1:42 PM (in response to JJSchultz)
Agreed and very similar to the behavior we saw and still somewhat see. It's not intuitive at all and I fear we'll get some grumbles. Unlike your experience, I don't have to right mouse click to open. I can open directly, but again, looks like a screen refresh until you scroll down and get to the widget with the "stuff" in it. Maybe log this in to the supportal.
Re: New Space Request Form?JJSchultz Jun 22, 2011 1:53 PM (in response to sbrown)
will do - thanks!
Re: New Space Request Form?JJSchultz Jun 23, 2011 9:03 AM (in response to leightgordon)1 person found this helpful
Hi Leigh - We do require a form to be completed if a user would like to create a community. The form is straightforward and easy to complete yet yields a number of benefits. The request form is obtained through a link within our Jive instance (ULink) and the actual form resides in a database which allows me to quickly view, approve, decline, update requests..
From a user standpoint, it helps them to think about outline overall community purpose and goals, management responsibilities and permission requirements. From an ECM standpoint (my role) it gives me the opportunity to easily view all requests and determine if a community is the best option or if a group or category would suffice. Upon receipt of the request, I initiate a call with requester to walk through the details of the request and to discuss overall community management (if that is the route we choose). If we determine a group or category is a better option, we go over the basics of each of these concepts and get them started down the right path. Basically, I use this as a training/educating opportunity with the new community/group manager. In addition, I am able to track open, closed, and pending requests in one location and to keep track of overall ULink structure.
The process we have put in place has been very successful to date. If you would like to see a copy of the form (again, it is very straightforward), I am happy to share.
Hope this helps!
Re: New Space Request Form?england_k Jun 23, 2011 9:07 AM (in response to JJSchultz)
I am very interested in the database you use. How does this work? We have had a lot of requests for the option to form build within some of the communities in our instance and I think this process you describe would work really well for our intranet migration project.
Re: New Space Request Form?JJSchultz Jun 23, 2011 12:10 PM (in response to england_k)
Hi Kim - the individual that was involved in the development of this tool is happy to talk with you directly. I would be part of the converation as well in order to gain further insight. Please send me your contact information and I will set something up. Thanks.
Re: New Space Request Form?crossman Jun 23, 2011 9:35 AM (in response to leightgordon)1 person found this helpful
Here's the text of the reference page in our "Help" space in Matrix (the name of our Jive instance). We have a slightly different and more stringent process for top-level spaces.
Need a space for your organization or team? Please contact the space owner or community manager for the space where you'd like to have your new space created. They have the best knowledge of what's appropriate for your organization and are able to create new spaces and projects on behalf of their colleagues.
How to Request a New Space
If you're not sure who to contact, you may contact <admin email> and we'll do our best to identify the space owner or otherwise help you.
Top-level spaces are governed by Matrix Business Stakeholders, so if you have an idea for a top-level space we can start the discussion.
Please include:
- Space Name
- Space URL suffix (lowercase with no spaces)
- Space Owner(s)
- Location in Space hierarchy
- Brief Description and overview of usage
- Content Types enabled in your space (e.g. Discussions, Documents, Blogs). All will be enabled unless otherwise specified.
- Permissions for your space (e.g. Open, Public, Restricted)
- Usernames and/or groups who can edit
- Usernames and/or groups who can read
Basic responsibilities of a Space Owner:
Manage and maintain your space:
- Invite participation by encouraging members to contribute
- Customize the arrangement of the widgets on the Overview page
- Add contact information to Overview page
- Adjust viewing / editing permissions
- Monitor space activity and review "flagged" content
- Assist owners of sub-spaces
Top-level Space Owners also serve as liaison between authors/users of their spaces and the Enterprise Community Manager in IT.
- Address simple author/user questions
- Forward more complex questions to ECM or Matrix Help / Matrix Admins
- Communicate use cases and success stories
- Provide feedback on system performance, policies, and feature requests
Matrix Groups
Depending on your needs, a Group may be suitable for your collaboration needs. Anyone can create a group, so it's easy to get started.
- Comparing Matrix's Spaces vs. Groups
Re: New Space Request Form?JJSchultz Jun 23, 2011 11:38 AM (in response to crossman)
Nice work Kevin! I should clarify as well. We have two separate processes for space requests. If an individual is requesting a space outside of our IT arena, the general process I described is used. If someone would like to create a space within IT - CoP's a much more detailed approach is required and required the appointment of a CoP manager and a sponsor. The manager must establish CoP deliverables, a CoP charter, and actin plan. The sponsor reviews and approves these items before the CoP is established. Sponsors for a CoP are ultimately responsible for the CoP membership & content.
The same tracking system is used for the CoP area as well.


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Shh. Do you want to know a secret? All of those perfectly glowing, shiny, happy, brand new celebrity (or royal) moms? They have sore vaginas and probably have a bag of frozen peas in their pants while being attended to by their glam squads.
Chances are your friends talk about their labor and birth experiences, but immediate postpartum? Not so much. Once you deliver your baby and placenta and your OB or midwife checks you and your baby out, you may want to do the following:
Say hello to disposable underwear
When the nurse presents you with a pair of ugly, stretchy, mesh disposable granny panties, thank her with a smile. Disposable underwear won't replace your lingerie collection but will be a lifesaver after giving birth.
And welcome your new BFF, mega pads
You will bleed heavily in the initial days postpartum so embrace the hottest accessory for granny panties — super absorbent, super long and super heavy sanitary pads. Practicality will win out over style again. The regular pads you have at home? No dice. And you won't be able to use tampons until your healthcare provider gives the OK.
Speaking of things that can't go in the vagina
In general, doctors and midwives give the OK for intercourse — or any vaginal penetration — around six weeks postpartum. The very thought of anything going in after baby comes out may have you freaking out about this six seconds after having a baby. Give your body time to recover as you get to know and care for your baby. If you can't imagine even thinking about having sex again, look at your friends who have more than one child!
Frozen peas aren't just for dinner anymore
The bag of frozen peas (or other veggies) in your freezer? You know the one — it's been waiting there for months yet you never cooked anything with it. You will, however, stick that bag in your (granny) underpants. Your perineum will be sore, especially if you have an episiotomy or tearing.
Stay comfortable, give your body time to heal, and enjoy being a new mom!
Read more about postpartum
Avoid new mommy burnout
Kegel exercises for new moms
Postpartum sex: Tips for improving intimacy after pregnancy