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Last month at Winter Institute when Steve Bercu, president of BookPeople in Austin, Tex., said at a panel on "Surviving Hard Times" that he had cut his store's inventory by 55%, there was a gasp—even though he'd made the cuts gradually over the past nine years. While Bercu's radical pruning may make some booksellers uncomfortable, inventory is one of a few controllable costs. And given that flat has been the new up for the last few years, booksellers are becoming increasingly careful about what and how much they stock. Most have begun replacing orders of tens with fives, fives with threes and twos with one, or occasionally none.
Until shopping came to a standstill in September, some booksellers say they hadn't realized just how much dead wood weighed down their shelves. "Our inventory had really gotten inflated," said Kathy Simoneaux, co-owner of Chester County Book and Music Company in Chester County, Pa. "We never had open-to-buys [budgeted purchasing plans]; we bought from our guts. And some buyers have guts from the 1990s." In the fall, each store buyer was given a budget and began partnering with sales reps on the best titles to stock without going over it. And if something doesn't move, said Simoneaux, she's become much more unsentimental about returning it.
Some booksellers didn't initially want to make dramatic cuts, but pushed by noneconomic circumstances, honed their inventories with more of a curatorial eye for what their customers want. That's the case at Water Street Books in Exeter, N.H., where early last year the landlord took over one of the three store fronts that made up the store. As a result, owner Dan Chartrand reduced his inventory by 30%—40%, making deep cuts in areas like children's nonfiction and reference, where orders had migrated online. By year's end, Chartrand thanked his landlord for helping him get his turns up (the number of times inventory is sold and replaced) into the 2.75 to 3 range.
Emboldened by that success, Chartrand recently tried another tack to conserve cash when he opted to go on credit hold with five of the six largest publishers. By continuing to pay Random House, his largest vendor, Chartrand is hoping to keep his store fresh and time his other payments so that he can stretch his credit to the beginning of his second-biggest selling season, the period between Easter and Father's Day.
The downturn also inspired Ken White, general books manager at SFSU Bookstore in San Francisco, to contemplate a novel approach to his slowest season, the summer, when the store does one-tenth of its fall business. White isn't making appointments to see any reps for publishers with three-season years. "As we reduce staff, I need to be more available on the sales floor," said White. "But it's also to reduce inventory." Although the store's mix of academic titles with a strong trade presence will stay the same, SFSU customers in the future will find fewer trade hardcovers, university press books with short discounts and books from presses that don't offer free freight. Despite the store's strong academic bent, White plans to cut back on high-priced UP titles as well. "I worry," he said, "that university presses are pricing their trade books out of the market."
At A Room of One's Own in Madison, Wis., co-owner Sandy Torkildson said, "Inventory control isn't necessarily about cutting back, but how fast you reorder. In the past, I would have every single book by Margaret Atwood on hand. When you have backlist sold on the Internet for a penny plus shipping, you have to be careful. There are 100 copies of Atwood's Surfacing on the Internet at any one time. There might be a couple months when I'm out of Surfacing, and I can live with that."
In recent years, A Room of One's Own has undergone several major changes, including dropping "Feminist Bookstore" from its name to reflect its expanded selection. Now Torkildson is planning another kind of expansion; next month she's going to start buying used books and shelve them side-by-side with new. She's already begun filling in sections like cooking and gardening with remainders. "I don't expect to have fewer books on the shelf," she explained, "but the cost of my inventory will be less. My goal is to have a diverse inventory and not spend any more money."
For Arsen Kashkashian, head buyer and inventory control manager at Boulder Bookstore in Boulder, Colo., which has cut inventory 15% over the past two years, the idea of filling in backlist with used books and remainders has lost its luster: "Used and remainders are underperforming." While new book sales dropped slightly last year, used fell 8% and remainders 20%. Backlist, he said, has long been problematic at Boulder. "The only way we successfully sell it is to bring it to the front of the store and put a tag on it," he said. "Now we have recommended cases in each room. They sell well, but the rest of the room doesn't."
Although Kashkashian blames the Internet for skimming backlist sales, he suspects that free is even better. "At the library, it's Mardi Gras over there," he said, "and it's full of backlist books."
One bright spot for some booksellers wrestling with the sometimes Sisyphean task of maximizing sales without bulking up inventory was a test program that Random House conducted between August 1 and December 31. Using Above the Treeline to check sales and inventory levels, Random House tracked 50 select titles and made sure the test stores were never out of stock. Because of the program, Kashkashian said, he was able to have two in-store displays of Haruki Murakami's What I Talk About When I Talk About Running through much of the fall and sell 75 copies—without having more than eight or 10 copies in stock at any one time.
Inventory cuts often go hand in hand with staff reduction, usually by attrition or shortened hours. At Book Culture in New York City, owner Chris Doeblin offered buyouts to a couple of senior buying staff and began re-examining the store's approach to buying and returns. He decreased inventory by 25% and began returning books sooner, after a year rather than 18 months. At the same time, Doeblin moved out some remainders to make more space for strong-selling new books in sections like children's, travel and cooking, which brought in an additional $100,000 in sales. "We were just lax," said Doeblin. "It's not a question of making less look like more, rather making it better."
While many stores are removing shelving along with inventory, Malaprop's Bookstore/Cafe in Asheville, N.C., is doing the opposite. There hasn't been much inventory to cut, because the store runs a daily hot list and checks inventory and sales on a weekly and monthly basis. "We always think in terms of books being nonreturnable, even though they are," said general manager Linda Barrett Knopp, who stresses caution when ordering. The additional shelving is part of a redesign that will give the store a chance to display its increased sidelines. The makeover will be complete by the end of March.
As booksellers look ahead to the spring, many are cutting back. At Porter Square Books in Cambridge, Mass., general manager Dale Szczeblowski said that when he reviewed the store's orders in November, he found that no cuts were needed. "We bought cautiously knowing things were slowing down," he said. Still, he continues to watch each section's turns carefully, places new orders to take advantage of dating, and times returns with bills. Like his colleagues, he's aware that the name of the game is cash flow. But the result is also a store with more of the books that customers want.

subset: commoncrawl


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text: Generally accepted by paleontologists as the first known bird, Archaeopteryx inhabited the area that is now Germany during the Late Jurassic period, approximately 144 to 159 million years ago. It evolved from small carnivorous, or meat-eating, dinosaurs called theropods, a suborder of the dinosaur order Saurischia, which includes the lizard-hipped dinosaurs. The physical anatomy of Archaeopteryx was similar to a chicken-sized theropod called Compsognathus, a member of the theropod subgroup Coelurosauria.


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Organic Indigo Powder for Hair is a natural plant. The powdered leaves have a natural dark blue dye. Indigo is used along with henna to dye darker hair tones.
What color tones will you get?
Instructions and recipes can be downloaded via the Instruction tab, Henna TV link and DIY Henna link.
Our organic indigo is packaged in double plastic bags inside of foil packaging. This ensures freshness.
Important please note: our organic indigo differs from our indigo that is non-organic. They are from two different farms, and the results vary. This difference is similar to the difference in color results between henna powders. Our non-organic indigo (Indigo for Hair) is better for those who have resistant hair and greys (that are hard to color), and for those wanting rich dark tones, including black.
This henna powder comes inside an inner foil resealable pouch. This is the best packaging possible to maintain freshness.
Quantity 100 grams
Crop 2018
Showing reviews 1-10 of 11 | Next
Posted by Unknown on 13th Mar 2018
For the first time I was able to cover my grey hair by mixing indigo powder with my regular henna. Very happy with the result.
Posted by Unknown on 5th Mar 2018
I am satisfied so far with the result, it is the color I was looking for, but the indigo was really hard to rinse, even after washing my hair, I still feel some residue on the scalp...
Posted by Unknown on 4th Nov 2017
Sadly, even with the salt, the indigo does not adhere to my hair as well as i would like it to. Maybe it is my hair, which is mixed race, curly with graying roots. I am trying out other ways to deal with this, including adding some indigo in with the henna and then in part 2, the indigo alone. But generally, it is an okay product.
Posted by Susan on 3rd Oct 2014
I love the results of adding indigo to my henna. I use 2/3 henna and 1/3 indigo. Adding a little amla tones down the red and it looks great. :)
Posted by Aace on 12th Sep 2014
My hair is 50% grey, perhaps more. I have used henna for over 20 years. As I got more grey, my hair turned more orange or copper with henna. I tried black henna-based powder, and the allergic reaction was swift and severe: red, swollen, itchy scalp and face. Never again. I discovered indigo and applied it for the first time in my life. I was blown away with the result: soft, beautiful chestnut brown color. Since it's chemical-free, I had no allergic reaction. Moreover the 50/50 henna-indigo procedure was quite simple:
1. I prepared my usual henna paste with boiling water, virgin coconut oil (I sometimes use virgin olive oil or baby oil), and a good squeeze of lemon juice. Set aside.
2. Next I prepared the indigo paste with the remaining boiling water (I added cold water to make it lukewarm). Set aside for 15 mintues and watched indigo turn from green to dark midnight blue to almost black.
3. I mixed the 2 pastes together (I use an electric hand-mixer for to get a smooth non-crumbly paste) adding just a bit more coconut oil and water.
4. I applied the mixture thoroughly from roots to tips, massaging my scalp gently to make sure I covered all the roots. Wrapped my hair in plastic shower cap.
5. After 3 hours, I shampooed and conditioned. I was beyond thrilled with the result. My only regret? I had not discovered indigo earlier! I want to experiment next mixing henna and indigo powder (instead of pastes) together to make the procedure even more simple. I think it's possible with the same gorgeous result.
Posted by Erin on 27th Jul 2014
So far I love it. My blonde still refuses to cover up on some points. But I need more and will be ordering as much more and I can. I have a dark brownish red. Before I had the orange color going on before I heard about this site. So I thank you
Posted by Maria on 1st Apr 2014
good product. tends to stain clothing though unless completely washed off. better result when used after using henna. the only concern colour retention - how many washes can the dye actualy withstand.
Note from Henna Sooq:
If you complete the rinse with an apple cider vinegar wash, it may help with retention. 1 part vinegar, 2 parts water.
You could also consult our blog for possible Indigo issues
Posted by Unknown on 10th Mar 2014
I did it in two steps for a friend and the results were amazing. Will do it again and recommend it for sure.
Posted by Anita on 6th Oct 2013
I previously used the organic BAQ Rajasthani henna but unfortunately the grey came out quite orange, which is unavoidable. However, it's a dream to wash out and work with, unlike other hennas I've tried.
Next time I added this organic indigo in a 70/30 henna to indigo mix. I followed the recommendation of curing the henna separately, which I did for about 4 hours. I mixed the indigo separately, let it sit for 20 minutes then added it to the henna. The hair that had been hennaed previously grabbed the colour but the grey roots came out slightly yellowish and still looked like roots - virtually no coverage. The overall appearance was auburn with grey roots - my natural hair colour is dark brown. Please note that I apply only on freshly washed hair, for which I use a mild organic shampoo. I also rinse with water and then conditioner only, waiting for one or two days before I shampoo my hair.
This time I did a two-step henna-henndigo process. I cured the henna only about 1 1/2 hours, mixed with 25% amla powder. Applied it and left it on for about one hour, at which time I rinsed it out. The second batch of henna was mixed at the same time but without amla, so by the time I used it, it sat for at least 4 hours. I mixed the indigo and added it as soon as I got a smooth consistency, didn't leave it to sit on its own since getting a smooth paste takes quite long anyway. I used no acid and even forgot the salt. I also used room temperature distilled water for everything, which was on the cool side since the hot days of summer were over.
I thought I needed to go a little darker so used a 60/40 henna/indigo mix (I have a scale which weighs to the nearest gram). I applied the 60/40 henndigo on my newly hennaed hair and left for 1 ½ hours. I was hoping for a reddish brown. After rinsing out I looked in the mirror and couldn't believe my eyes – it was a rich dark brown similar to my own (lost) colour. I loved the way it looked but felt it was a little too dark because of the contrast once the roots start to show.
I have now shampooed my hair twice and both times there was a bluish tint to the suds so the indigo was being washed off. My hair is now a dark auburn which is still very nice, though the fresh roots don't grab the colour as deeply. This is true even with commercial chemical dyes. I will continue with the two-step process as it's the only way to cover my grey. However, next time I will go back to a 70/30 henndigo ratio so the roots don't stand out quite as much. I will let the henna-only dye sit for 3 hours this time before applying as I think this is the crucial part of getting coverage. The indigo can only colour where pure henna has been before so probably the deeper the henna the more lasting the indigo.
I am extremely happy with the outcome, however. I would not have believed that the grey could be covered as well as with any commercial dye. I will update with the results of my next attempt.
I have two complaints which I will add. The first is that I do get migraines and the tannins in the indigo seem to trigger one every time. This last time I took pain pills before I went to bed so it didn't become a full-blown migraine but still a pretty bad headache which required more pills. Don't imagine there's anything else I can do to mitigate this.
The next is simply how time consuming this is, particularly when you do two steps. An unavoidable price to pay when you don't want to cover your scalp with nasty chemicals, but I wish it didn't take up the better part of a day to do this. I may mix the henna the night before, the next time, so I can at least start first thing in the morning. I hope this will be ok since the Rajasthani is left for 10-12 hours for dye release on skin. I hope this will work just as well for hair.
Even with these caveats I still give both these products a very strong recommendation. How can you not love using organic colour which doesn't cost an arm and a leg??
Posted by L on 16th Aug 2013
Purchased this product and was amazed on how quickly it arrived (same day). Very happy about the product. Used 250g with 100g Rajastan henna, left on for 4 hours, with great results, very dark (almost black).
However the color didn't last long, indigo is washed out from hair in about 2.5 weeks.
Note from Henna Sooq:
Sometimes Indigo needs a couple of applications to stick and if you use 1 tsp of salt in the indigo per 100g and rinse out with apple cider vinegar, it can help the indigo to stick.
Showing reviews 1-10 of 11 | Next


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Although i do not consider myself a particularly good photographer, every once in a while i manage to capture something worth presenting to a wider audience. Please use the comment function liberally: getting feedback from unbiased observers was a prime motivation to start this site. Constructive criticism is always appreciated.
This work by Markus Dolic is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License. Please consider the "Publicity Rights" constraints when using photos that include people (ideally, send me an email beforehand).
If you are interested in using/licensing a photo for commercial purposes, please feel free to contact me.


text:
Verse 1:
A King is born this day in Bethlehem,
No crown is worn but angels worship Him,
Halle, hallelujah!
Almighty God, so meek, so mild,
Salvation comes through this holy Child.
A King is born, (He is in the manger now)
A King is born, (humbly come and humbly bow)
A tiny Lord, (reaching out a tiny hand)
A King is born this day, in Bethlehem.
Verse 2:
His palace is lowly, His throne is made of hay,
Hallelujah! (Halle, hallelujah)
The shepherds bow down to see His holy face,
Halle, hallelujah!
Heaven is singing of peace on earth,
Filled with the wonder of this birth.
(Repeat Chorus)
Come humbly and humbly bow;
He's in the manger now
(Repeat 3 times)
(Repeat Verse 1)
(Repeat Chorus)
Chorus 2:
A King is born,
A King is born,
A tiny Lord,
A King is born this day in Bethlehem
This day in Bethlehem,
This day in Bethlehem.


text:
The principal story of the BlackBerry has been of a rapid rise in the west - followed, after the launch of the iPhone and especially of Android, by an erosion of its market share among consumers. Data in the US from ComScore, using a representative panel of thousands of respondents, shows that its share of the US consumer market has slumped from 43% of the installed smartphone base in January 2010 (with 18.4m users out of a total smartphone population of 42.7m) to just 7.3%, with 9m users out of a total US smartphone population of 123.3m.
The UK used to be one of RIM's most solid outposts – but over the past six months its support has dwindled even here as young users consider other phones, especially Samsung\s devices running Android.
The company's fortunes have been bolstered by a rise in users in countries such as Indonesia and Nigeria - but with its business under threat, it now needs to win back some of those lost customers.
Below are the experiences of some of the people who have stuck with, left, or are about to leave the BlackBerry platform in the UK and France. It's not intended to be a representative sample of opinions – just the experiences of those who use, or used to use, the BB7 platform that RIM hopes to supersede.
The student who's sticking
Abigail Rudd, 21, is studying Geography and Sport Science at Exeter University. She's on her third BlackBerry since being given one by a friend in 2010: "Then I decided to get one on a contract because I liked the style of phone (Bold 9700), had that for two years (with a brief stint in the middle where I had an HTC whilst BB was being repaired as puppy chewed it!) and last April upgraded on another tw0-year contract to another, newer BB (Bold 9790) which I currently have."
"Blackberry's main asset is the BBM [BlackBerry Messenger] function, which in my opinion is still much better than Whatsapp (although I do use Whatsapp as well!). In addition the keyboard is great, especially for a person, like myself, who uses my BB for emails. Another great aspect is that you can drop one without having to worry so much about a cracked screen or case. One of main reasons I decided on another BB last time I got a phone was the security of knowing that it would more likely survive a drop than an iPhone (which was my other option). BBM is still the best instant messaging service out there in my opinion. Most people are on iPhones / Samsung Galaxys / Blackberrys, but the popularity of BB has definitely decreased in the 3 years since I've been at University.
"Having said all of that - I am waiting for BB to release a touch screen phone that can compete with the iPhone and Samsungs. I don't think the popularity is in touch screen phones as much, just that their screens are much bigger for browsing. Also displaying media such as photos is easier on a phone that has a larger screen. The type of keyboard [touch v physical] is less of an issue, I think."
However she "hasn't heard much about the new release" [of BB10 software] "but I am really keen to see what BlackBerry can do in response to their other competitors."
The information worker who considered the options – and stuck
Mark Hawkins, 32, works in PR at Composed Communications:
"I was in device upgrade territory for a little over 12 months until recently, but stuck with my old BlackBerry Bold 9780 because it simply did everything I wanted it to do reasonably well. There was the added factor of a discontinued Three tariff, through which I was also billing my Spotify Premium subscription. Therefore any upgrade would have seen me pay at least ten pounds a month more.
"In that time I also had an iPod Touch and latterly a [Google] Nexus 7 [7in tablet], both of which I used as much as the BB for audio and richer media. Hence I wasn't fussed about upgrading.
"A couple of weeks ago I had my old BlackBerry stolen and was forced into making a quick decision. Not inclined to dither any longer (as I had intermittently dithered about Windows Phones), I selected the now not-so-new Bold 9900, a device that will become dated quickly with the new raft of devices. As a user comfortable with carrying a number of different devices (Kindle, tablet, camera, iPod), it's no longer an issue if my mobile doesn't do rich media /big-screen apps. Provided it does Twitter ok and the browser is reasonable, that's essentially enough.
"On the 9900 the browser seems improved, although it could hardly have been worse – a constant thorn in BB's side. (I'm aware of one organisation who switched from old BB Curves to iPhones because links didn't work). I enjoy how BlackBerrys handle email – there's no perceived lag while waiting for an inbox or message to load. I also like a hard keyboard, which I find much quicker for typing than touchscreens.
"I'm interested to see what RIM's new OS has in store, and hope I'll be able to sample some of its features on the 9900. My fear is it'll over-borrow from iOS / Android, be overcomplicated, unintuitive and cluttered – as the App World can tend to be. My hope is they keep it relatively streamlined and simple for all screen sizes."
The author in the waiting room
Jenny Colgan, an author based in France, says she won't stick with BlackBerry when her contract comes up for renewal – if, that is, her handset lasts that long.
"They break just before the warranty runs out so you have to get another one. If I can EVER keep it safe, I will change at the first contractual opportunity. They have got steadily worse and worse." What will she change to? "Anything with buttons [on a real keyboard]." And what frustrates her about using the BlackBerry? "The browser – trying to find anything online is hilariously terrlbie. You can't find the bloody weather in under 15 minutes. The apps are like something off The Apprentice. I had the first ever model imported into this country; battery lasted a week. Now, it's four hours. I cannot be fair to RIM."
The agent who departed with a smashing goodbye
Carole Blake is a literary agent, co-founder of Blake Friedmann in London, who became frustrated at the experience. "I have worked with a BlackBerry for many years – all my company does – but they became increasingly unreliable.
"The beginning of the end came for me in October 2011 with the outages which occurred over three days. Five agents from my literary agency were doing business at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the most important week of the publishing year. We get there three days before the Fair begins to conduct meetings with our overseas agents before starting the '17-meetings-a-day-each' days of the Fair proper which begin on the Wednesday. "On the Monday all our BBs went dead: frantic phone calls to our London office: we thought it was a fault with our company's server. Real panic ensued at the thought of missing emails containing offers, auctions being stalled because people couldn't reach us etc. Then it happened again … and again … and then we realised it was worldwide and curiously, and counter-intuitively, we calmed down. If it was happening to everyone with a BB, people would call us. And they did. "Day after day it happened. We coped because we had to, but it was very uncomfortable indeed, not knowing if emails were getting through or not. And when the backed up emails did start flooding through some days later, they came in random order. It was a nightmare to catch up, especially with the huge workload that the Book Fair brings us. "After that I noticed that my handset became very unreliable indeed: freezing mid-task, battery draining to nothing from one moment to the next. But we stuck with them because we all use them heavily for email and the qwerty keyboard is much faster than a touchscreen, especially for one who has touchtyped at the speed of light since I was 13. "I complained & they gave me a new handset. Again and again. I had three or four during a 12-month period – others in my agency had occasional problems but mine were continuous. Eventually, I could stand it no more and I switched to the iPhone 5 in November 2012. It took me about 5 minutes to adjust and I would never go back to a BB. Perhaps the adjustment was easier because I've used an iPad since they were first available, but really I think it was because I had lost all faith in the BB and was determined to prove that this old lady (50 years in publishing to be celebrated with a very big party later this year) could embrace change! "Having divested my BB of anything that could be useful to others – the battery, the leads, the sim card etc – I was determined to kill it. Asking for suggestions on Twitter wasn't helpful. 'Throw it in the Thames' someone said. No: I needed more violent closure than that. I decided to batter it to death. Which was far easier said than done. "I wrapped it in clingfilm (didn't want to step on a sharp shard, pierce a vein and die of blood loss: that would really have allowed the BB to win) placed it on the hardest surface in my home (the kitchen floor), found the largest hammer I owned, & hit it hard. Curiously the damned handset proved to be much more robust than the BB services. It took me a month – giving it a good hard bash every time I went into the kitchen – to get it to this state. Much to the amusement of visitors during the weeks it was on my kitchen floor. By that time I was so happy with the iPhone I couldn't be bothered to bash it any more. Closure had been achieved. Gradual revenge expunged the hatred in my heart for it: like a marriage that gradually dies, by the time it was in pieces I couldn't care less any more."
The PR man who felt left behind
Jamie Fox is in charge of publicity for the British ski team. "I was just on a ski trip with Greg Rutherford (London 2012 Olympic Long Jump Gold medal winner) and Andrew Strong (Team GB runner and Olympian) and was relentlessly ribbed about still having a BlackBerry. Whenever it was taken out in the bar, loud cheers would go up and the mocking would begin.
"I had however already been thinking about a change, as the battery didn't last long and the apps others were using were not available on the BB. For example, Ski Tracks (they aren't anything to do with me by the way), is an app that records your speed and distance, etc when skiing. I borrowed Greg's to see how fast etc I was going and it was brilliant – he may be the best Long Jumper in the world, but he will never be able to top the highest speed of 84.3mph on his app now (revenge!).
"Then there was the camera – the quality is so much better on an iPhone.
"But most of all it would be the random red light flashing...it wouldn't be for an email, but for some random BB update and I could never get it to stop ... so distracting.
"On the whole it is just outdated." He has since got an iPhone, which he says is "going pretty well, other than my fat fingers".
The startup entrepreneur and marketing consultant who switched to Android
Mamun Ahmed is a London-based strategic and marketing consultant specialising in startup companies. He says: "I abandoned BlackBerry for mainly two reasons. First, most of the websites I was using were not offering Apps for BlackBerry. Second, the market positioning issue.
"First: I consider myself as a tech savvy guy and spend a lot of time online. Being a BlackBerry user I started realising that I couldn't keep up with the "tried the cool app" trend as very very few app makers were making apps for BlackBerry - ie my bank was only offering apps for the iPhone and Android. All of the websites I was using on day to day basis seemed only interested to make apps for the iPhone and Android and totally ignored others.
"Second: I still remember the day when I saw some kids holding a BlackBerry in one hand and carrying the chicken and chips box in another on the street. From further observation I realised that all of them on that group was owner of a BlackBerry phone. That day I realised that the definition of the BlackBerry user has been changed. I just couldn't imagine to associate myself with that very BlackBerry user group."
Ahmed has switched to an Android phone.


text:
Appeals Court Upholds Ban on 'World of Warcraft' Glider Bot
An appeals court this week upheld a lower court ruling that banned the use of an automated bot that played for "World of Warcraft" users in their absence, but held that the use of the tool does not constitute copyright infringement.
Use of the Glider tool from MDY Industries is a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act's anti-circumvention clause, the Ninth Circuit ruled. But violating WoW's terms of service, however, does not automatically equal copyright infringement.
MDY's Glider product facilitates unattended play. A FAQ on the WoW Glider page admits that Glider is against the WoW terms of service since players must agree to a contract that, among other things, prohibits them from maintaining "any unauthorized connection to the game or the service." Bottom line: use at your own risk, the Glider FAQ says.
Blizzard and Vivendi Games, Inc. sued Glider creator Michael Donnelly and MDY Industries in February 2008 for intellectual property violations. Blizzard wanted the court to halt Donnelly from distributing Glider, and to award it monetary damages. In 2009, a district court ruled in favor of Blizzard, found MDY guilty of secondary copyright infringement, and handed down a $6.5 million judgment.
This week's decision reverses the copyright part.
"We conclude that for a licensee's violation of a contract to constitute copyright infringement, there must be a nexus between the condition and the licensor's exclusive rights of copyright," the court said. "Here, WoW players do not commit copyright infringement by using Glider in violation of the [terms of use]. MDY is thus not liable for secondary copyright infringement, which requires the existence of direct copyright infringement."
The decision, however, upholds the injunction because Glider effectively circumvents Blizzard's anti-bot detection program, known as Warden, in violation of the DMCA.
"Glider has no function other than to facilitate the playing of WoW," the court said.
As a result, "we affirm the district court's entry of a permanent injunction against MDY to prevent future violations," it concluded.
As for the $6.5 million, the Ninth Circuit remanded it to the lower court, which will reconsider how much Donnelly and MDY have to pay.


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In March 2018, the Ministry of Health in Zambia convened the first ever national Evidence for Impact symposium in Lusaka. This abstract-driven symposium aimed at gathering and presenting evidence with the deliberate intent to be used by policymakers and stakeholders to contribute to national socio-economic development. The symposium attracted hundreds of national policymakers across various health disciplines, practitioners, donors, national and international development partners and academia. It focused on critical evidence generated in Zambia over recent years and aiming at sharing learning, and maximising gains at primary and community levels to create impact. The symposium was an excellent example of Evidence into Action and EHPSA was there to follow the proceedings.
A highlight for us was the presentation of early findings from one of the EHPSA-funded studies, PopART for Youth (P-ART-Y). This is a study nested within the HPTN 071 research study that will determine the impact of a package of HIV prevention interventions on community-level HIV incidence in South Africa and Zambia. Joseph Mwate Chalia from Zambart and Rick Olson from UNICEF moderated the interactive session.The study used the door-to-door test and treat approach and found that young people were open to HIV testing delivered in this manner. However, HIV testing for younger adolescents remained a challenge. Participants in the session concluded that it is important that 90-90-90 treatment programmes target young people by creating a conducive and supportive environment for young people on treatment.
During the closing ceremony, a high level panel called on all participants to take the work forward and ensure that evidence generated can be used to improve the lives of all people in Zambia. The symposium closed by stressing the importance of translating research into policy and urged all participants to:
- Ensure co-creation of evidence to guarantee ownership of research results.
- Engage policy makers, researchers and end users at all stages of research.
- Go beyond research dissemination to research utilisation.
- Ensure that in the research pathway, research utilisation is integrated right from the beginning.
- Plan research with end users in mind.
- Ensure pilot projects that have been proven to be effective are scaled up. This will require financial, technical and human resources to do it.
- Build capacity in research utilisation skills and knowledge translation techniques in all relevant institutions i.e government, civil society and communities.
The closing comments were like music to EHPSA's ears, as they resonate our approach to evidence into action, which entails early, continuous and responsible engagement along the research continuum.
The Zambian Government has placed significant importance on research as the source for evidence-based decision making; therefore it has created the National Health Research Authority to coordinate and ensure utilisation of data from national health research. The research environment in Zambia is strengthening and there is now a National Health Research Policy. In order to ensure that research is responsive to Government and national priorities, the National Health Research Authority is developing the Research Agenda, which is setting research priorities for health research in Zambia.


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YakApps Releases the "TheFirstDog" iPhone Application to Benefit The Humane Society of the United States
An unlikely outcome of unlucky circumstance, YakApps was formed when social media veteran Jake Press found himself in unfamiliar scenario — unemployed. Press turned the predicament into an opportunity to take his know-how to Apple's storefront and to team up with Los Angeles animator Mike Browne.
The HSUS encourages families, like the Obamas, who are interested in a particular breed of animal or have special circumstances such as allergies in their household, to turn to their local animal shelter or breed rescue group. About one-quarter of all dogs in shelters are purebreds, many surrendered by their owners like the new First Dog.
"Downloading 'TheFirstDog' is a way for people to support The Humane Society of the United States while joining in the excitement over the arrival of Bo at the White House," said Michael Markarian, executive vice president for The HSUS. "We are grateful to Jake Press and YakApps for their generous contribution toward our work to celebrate animals and confront cruelty."
"Losing my job was nerve-wracking but also offered me new perspective on 'victims of circumstance' like the millions of neglected and unwanted animals in this country," said Press. "While I have the means to improve my situation, animals need organizations like The HSUS to speak and act on their behalf. Sharing the benefits of my struggle with The Humane Society of the United States has made the launch of YakApps much more meaningful."
Available now in Apple's iTunes App Store, "TheFirstDog" lets iPhone and iPod touch users get up-close and personal with Bo, the Obama Family's new dog. Touch and rub Bo for some puppy love and spend time playing a round of fetch. A bad toss can break a window but the dog will break out in dance after enough catches are made. The app even enables users to feed Bo before putting him to bed.
The HSUS encourages families, like the Obamas, who are interested in a particular breed of animal or have special circumstances such as allergies in their household, to turn to their local animal shelter or breed rescue group. About one-quarter of all dogs in shelters are purebreds, many surrendered by their owners like the new First Dog.
"Downloading 'TheFirstDog' is a way for people to support The Humane Society of the United States while joining in the excitement over the arrival of Bo at the White House," said Michael Markarian, executive vice president for The HSUS. "We are grateful to Jake Press and YakApps for their generous contribution toward our work to celebrate animals and confront cruelty."
For more information about YakApps, visit http://www.yakapps.com or to purchase the application visithttp://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=310145120&mt=8.
Video: http://www.yakapps.com/TheFirstDog_demo.html
Apple to release v3.0 and new SDK features
Hey Apple fans, Apple on Thursday sent out invitations to select media about an event the company will hold at its Cupertino, Calif. headquarters on March 17, 2009. The event will focus on iPhone software 3.0, the next generation operating system for the device. The invitation doesn't give any hints about what features the new software will have, but clearly indicates that we'll get a look at them next Tuesday.
"Get an advance preview of what we're building," reads the invitation.
We will keep you posted on what we find out.
American Idol iPhone App
If you just can't get enough of the top 13 contestants on one of the most popular shows in prime time, iPhone will give you more. That's right! American Idol is launching an iPhone app giving you behind the scenes access to exclusive videos and more from your favorites. The app is going to for $1.99 and will feature 78 videos by the time the season ends. Currently there are 8 videos to date and it will be updated as the show moves on. Dah Dah Dah Dah Dahna Dahna Dahna! Be sure to watch tonight.
$2.51 Million Dollar iPhone! I want one.
A limited edition customized iPhone sported with gold and diamonds has a hefty price-tag worth 2.5 Million. The iPhone was Austrian jewellers, Peter Aloisson's creation. "Made of solid 18-carat yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold. A fabulous combination. The white gold line is encrusted with a total of 138 brilliant cut diamonds of the best quality". This glitzy piece of art sports a rare 6.6-carat diamond "home button", which the website quoted as "integrated in design, as if this diamond has been made for 'taking you home'" Tagged as "Kings Button", you will find it to be the most luxurious phone to date.
GameGrip by Trinity in Japan! Cool!
Trinity has released an awesome GameGrip! It just came out in Japan. The gaming grip has a silicon sweat-proof lining and neatly tucked in slits for cables in case you're playing while charging or have a headset plugged in.
Milestone: Yakapps starts "WHD" in development.
We have made it to a milestone. WHD App is in development this week. What is WHD? You are soon to find out! And believe me you don't want to miss this….!!! 🙂 — Yakapps Team
Oregon Trail comes to iPhone.
I used to love playing Oregon Trail when I was in school. We used to go to the computer lab and if I got all my math problems correct, I could play the game. For a game that was not like anything we have available to us today, it was highly addictive. I remember the Ox that ran away or died, that a friend's name had pneumonia and/or died "in the game", the robber who stole our goods, as this presented the questions of how would we ever survive? Such as life right? Yes, it was a good game, a timeless game! I'm happy it will be joining the iPhone world.
China Kung Fu's the iPhone!
Aiya! There's still no iPhone officially available in the world's most populous country, the People's Republic of China. Sure, Apple actually sells unlocked iPhones in Hong Kong and Taiwan in an attempt to lure the most affluent Chinese customers to their platform — and lets not forget the monstrous iPhone 2G black market — but absent homegrown carrier subsidies and support, it will never attain most-favored device status. Previously the problem was China Mobile wanting to strip out the 3G and WiFi. The latest holdup? The App Store, according to Interfaxchina (via Ars). China Mobile doesn't seem to like the idea of Apple running its own software service right on the phone, and would prefer to handle all that on their own end. Heh. So would AT&T, Rogers, Vodafone, and all the other oppressive, myopic, oligopolistic carriers around the world. The lure of the iPhone and its data-gulping customers let Apple one-inch-punch their way right through that tired old carcass, but China…? China's still wearing the iron vest of feature control furor. So the raised platform is set, the combatants have taken their corners, and the rules remain: knockout or knockoff. Who's going to win this battle?
Duck Hunt for iPhone gets shot down!
"Duck Hunt" the game made popular by the original Nintendo Game console has turned into an iPhone game. However, this identical game play was developed by Deron Dantzler for the iPhone App store. Nintendo was not happy about the duplication and insisted that apple pull it from its store. I don't believe you can still find it, but perhaps you can…. Happy Hunting.


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A show dedicated to the triumphs, struggles and joys of gay men connecting with each other over the last seven decades. From outright illegality to the advent of gay marriage in the UK.
Through seven short stories Outlaws to In-Laws explored some of the choices gay men have made within a social history of intolerance, violence and hate. A fictional exploration of gay men in the throes of undeniable passion, young love, risky love, secret love and even old-fashioned romance. The world premier of these plays were staged at the King's Head Theatre, London 29 August – 23 September 2017.
Philip Meeks – Happy and Glorious
On the day of Queen Elizabeth's Coronation, South London lad, Dennis follows a young man away from the celebrating crowds to an apartment overlooking Westminster Abbey. He soon discovers a world far away from his own and within a matter of hours he falls in and out of love. As the new monarch is crowned Dennis' life will never be the same again.
Jonathan Harvey – Mister Tuesday
In their own little love nest, Peter loves Jimmy and Jimmy loves Peter – but only every Tuesday. Peter wants more from Jimmy but Jimmy has a sensitive job, a wife, and baby on the way. Frustrated, Peter makes Jimmy a bleak offer to make sure he won't flee the nest.
Jonathan Kemp – Reward
It's the Queen's Jubilee. Donald, a sweet sixteen American meets Spike, a skinhead at a bus stop in a dodgy part of town. The attraction is instant. Except Spike belongs to the National Front and Donald is black. Will their love take them to a place of reward or punishment?
Patrick Wilde – 1984
The Conservative Party Conference is about to start and Tommy and Allan find themselves under Brighton Pier except the time for hiding in the shadows should be over. Allan, Thatcher's aide, is preparing to help legislate against gay people until suddenly the political and the personal become a matter of life and death.
Matt Harris – In Diana We Trust
A disastrous night out with his boyfriend, a drag career that has crashed before it's barely started and all seems lost until Diana finds a rather attractive, naked stranger in the flat.
Topher Campbell – Brothas 2.0
Dwayne, a muscular, attractive Jamaican immigrant and his overweight, plain university friend, Remi are chilling and chatting to guys online. After Dwayne finds a hot date for the night – with benefits he discovers Remi is using a fake profile…
Joshua Val Martin – The Last Gay Play
Anyone can get cold feet before getting married but hiding in the chapel belfry isn't the answer. Will the Father get the groom to the altar or will he have to sacrifice the church roof for his son's happiness?
Artistic policy
Outlaws to In-Laws plays are all fictional stories. They are not intended to be documentary nor are they meant to be representative of gay men's experience in Britain over the decades, rather an imagined snapshot of what it must have been like to live in the times depicted.
They are also, hopefully, a celebration of the journey from the darkness of oppression to the light of increasing equality.
Why only gay men?
When we originally conceived the show we were soon faced with the reality that the LGBT story is a vast and complex one to render into fictional theatre. Let alone one show. There are, as we know, as many stories as there are people so we decided there needed to be some artistic decision making to do.
As a starting point for the Outlaws to In-Laws project we made a decision as gay men to concentrate on the stories closest to our own hearts and our own experiences.
We also felt as gay men that we have been at the 'front line' of conflict within our patriarchal culture in a way that is more visible to the general population than the other gender or sexuality based minority communities. Horrific images of gay men being thrown off buildings in other countries in the name of religion or other horrific acts perpetrated around the world today are an example of this.
There is currently a much needed debate about gay men's privilege and prejudice towards other minority groups and sub-groups but this doesn't mean we don't still have a need to tell our stories to the world.
Outlaws to In-Laws is a reminder to ourselves and others of the need to cherish and celebrate the gains we have made and the work we still need to keep doing to achieve true equality for all in the UK.
Peter / Jimmy / Alan / Calvin – Elliot Balchin
Peter / Spike / Dan / Robin – Jack Bence
Arthur / Terry / Ted – Paul Carroll
Dennis / Tyler / Femi – Myles Devontè
Donald / Dwayne / Zak – Michael Duke
Edward / Tommy / Shane – Alex Marlow
Director – Mary Franklin
Movement Director – Jess Tucker Boyd
Assistant Director – Ben Anderson
Designer – PJ McEvoy
Lighting Designer – Tim Lutkin
Sound Designer – Joshua Robins
★★★★★ Boyz magazine
★★★★★ Gay About Town
★★★★ Broadway World
★★★★ London Theatre 1
★★★★ The Spy In The Stalls
★★★★ Live Theatre UK
★★★★ Art Drop
★★★★ The Londonist
★★★★ The Gay UK
★★★★ QX Magazine
★★★★ Remote Goat
"A remarkably deft and sensitive production… a well-chosen and wonderfully versatile ensemble of six actors." – Independent
"…endearing performances" – Culture by Night
"A versatile six-strong cast" – Time Out
"An ambitious project… Mary Franklin's staging shifts nicely between plays" – The Stage
"Taut, poignant and precise… Striking" – The Times
"An extraordinary set of plays" – The Remote Goat
"Poignant and sometimes heart-breaking stories are exposed in captivating performances, providing an absorbing summary of the path gay men have trodden over 70 years" – Art Drop
"A major achievement this is the kind of theatre that has the capacity to inspire & change lives" – Live Theatre UK
"The cast were wonderful, switching between roles and eras with seamless perfection." – The Spy In The Stalls
"6 actors playing a total of 20 very varied roles – A really impressive feat." – London Theatre 1
"A powerful, important look at queer history" – Broadway World
"Outlaws to In-laws is a pure delight. A truly magical theatrical experience. You will leave the theatre having been totally entertained and moved. Theatre like this is to be treasured and celebrated." – Boyz Magazine


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Alpinestars GP Tech Gloves
Featuring MotoGP and WSBK derived innovations, the GP Tech Glove includes class-leading features such as flexible compound knuckle protectors, an ergonomic cuff design and strategic reinforcement in the palm area – making it one of the most technologically advanced racing gloves on the market.
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Personal Training from Exercise Target Fitness costs $120/hour, by the hour, and if the trainer must meet you outside of our facility, then additional travel expenses may need to be negotiated. Some sessions will cost less. These can include initial health screening and risk classification sessions. The reason for the high cost of training is that education is expensive, and must be ongoing to fulfill the demands of the certification agency. Also, CPTs are fully insured with professional liability insurance prior to every client intake.
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text: My teeth were crowding. Before I had ortho, my lower teeth were super crowded, so when my wisdom teeth started to grow in, it was pushing my lower teeth forward, and so it was causing TMJ problems. Before the surgery, we had an appointment; they went over everything for me just to make sure that I was comfortable, and I'd be ready for the surgery. When I walked in, the staff was very friendly. They greeted me; they welcomed me. Dr. Bryan is very nice, and he made me feel very comfortable. Everything went great. The recovery went great. They called me afterwards just to check on me. I would highly recommend Dr. Bryan and Dr. Goodson. They're great.--Crystal


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Summit Entertainment
Written and directed by John Carney
With Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglová
Rated R
We fall in love with certain movies at different times, and in different ways. Maybe you're not sure until the credits roll, and a collective impact washes over you. Or maybe there's a single, indelible instant when you realize you're watching a story you'll hold dear. I knew right away when Once had me: When an unnamed Guy and an unnamed Girl sit together in a music store, their voices joining in a duet so lovely I knew I had discovered not just one of my favorite movies of the year, but also one of my favorite songs of the year — all in the span of a few minutes.
Once is a musical of sorts, only not in the way you probably tend to think of musicals. The Guy (Glen Hansard of Irish rock band The Frames) is a Dublin street busker, a man who dreams of someday making music his livelihood instead of just the few coins he can scrape together when he's not working at his dad's vacuum cleaner repair shop. The Girl (Marketa Irglová) is a classically-trained pianist, an immigrant from the Czech Republic making a meager living selling flowers and magazines in the street.
They strike up a tentative friendship, eventually finding a moment together in that aforementioned music shop to play one of the Guy's compositions: "Falling Slowly," a haunting love ballad with an insinuating verse and a soaring chorus. He strums on his old, battered guitar, while she finds a harmonic counterpoint to his lead vocal. Writer/director John Carney — Hansard's one-time Frames bandmate — keeps the scene tight as they both get an inkling that their voices together become something more than they are when each is alone.
It's a nearly perfect melding of music and filmmaking, and Once keeps finding dynamic ways to incorporate Hansard's songs into the narrative. The Guy works on a bittersweet tune called "Lies" as he watches home video images of himself and his former love from happier times, a powerful and efficient entry point into how deeply he was hurt. In a later scene, the Guy and the Girl put together a recording session with an itinerant Thin Lizzy tribute band, their naïveté about how such a session works initially convincing the studio engineer that they must be losers. But as their performance of "When Your Mind's Made Up" builds to a crescendo, we see the engineer's subtle realization that he's misjudged them — and the moment couldn't possibly work if the song itself didn't have such a unique power.
What's most remarkable about Once is that, aside from the force of its musical moments, it's a surprisingly assured piece of filmmaking from a relatively inexperienced director and a couple of musicians moonlighting as actors. Playing characters who dance awkwardly around what they might ultimately mean to each other, Hansard and Irglová turn in naturalistic and utterly winning performances, their every conversation invested with an unspoken sense of the growing connection between them.
The exact nature and function of that connection is yet another one of Once's singular charms, as it builds to a conclusion that seems beautifully inevitable only in retrospect. As "Falling Slowly" plays again over the closing credits, a new meaning unfolds to the chorus' refrain of "take this sinking boat and point it home." The earnest yearning of Hansard's lyrics may not be for every taste, but then this isn't really a story for those who need their recommended daily allowance of edge and irony. With a heartbreaking sincerity you don't often see in movies anymore, Once becomes the kind of film you can love while falling slowly — or while falling hard in the space of a single song.


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Content for Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Blog Entries
- Castellanos, Zollar, Kuzma, Moore: Night of the Cookers
- Subs by Any Other Name
- Three U.S. Gang Members Picked Up in Mexicali
2 comments
- Ethics are in the eyes of the beholder
2 comments
- Downtown San Diego Partnership Pushes For Renewal of Assessment District
1 comment
- Border Environmental Pact Signed
- Prop 34, Anti-Death Penalty Measure, Continues to Pick Up Big La Jolla and L.A. Crime TV Money
3 comments
- Ohlendorf Hurls Six and Padres Post Seven To Beat Cubs
- Caterer Nailed for Tax Evasion
2 comments
- A Second Look at the Trailer for This is 40: Watch out, Leslie Mann!
- Black Lips rock too hard for Hard Rock Hotel
2 comments
- Your Week: August 9-15
- San Diego 13th in Nation for Musicians and Music Industry
- Woman Said Border Patrol Agent "Sucker Punched Me"
- Face of Another: DJ ill spectre and Marilia Maschion A/V Mix
- Post-view: Zoot Suit
- Bob Hoskins Has Parkinson's, Is Retiring
3 comments
- When I Met Robin Henkel
- OMG Report: This is 40.
- The Lobby Art So Nice, We Posted it Twice!
- A Heated Triple Threat Sushi Challenge
- Lemon Festival
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission Halts All Licensing Decisions
2 comments
- Gaslamp's Spider-Man Lobby Display More Impressive Than Reboot
- Birth of a Band Name - How These Locals Got Named (Plus 150 FREE Band Names!)
1 comment
- Stop the Presses! TJ Draft-Craft-Beer Revolution Coming This Friday
- Drinking Black Tears in TJ
News & Stories
San Diego's successful Thrift Trader
Hang on. We must have it somewhere. We've got everything.
Author John Brizzolara interviews thrift-store magnate Jeff Clark.
Bus Rider Breaks Window, Flees
Early morning on August 8, passengers onboard the 35 bus from Old Town to Ocean Beach had an unexpected delay. A woman on the bus decided to smash one of the vehicle's windows with her ...
Moving Sale
When I went to bed Saturday night, I'd almost forgot that my girlfriend had posted a Sunday morning yard sale on Craigslist earlier that week. She wrote that it would start at 9am, which meant ...
Cow Foot Friday
Ed Bedford shows up too late for the cow-foot stew at Caribbean Taste Jamaican Restaurant.
Hydrate While You Dehydrate with Coconut Water
"We should make a new drink, the Hangover Prevention."
Flavors Like Life
Try your luck at the Thai-Lao-Chinese-Vietnamese 777 Noodle House in City Heights.
Ner Tamid Synagogue
Nobody knows what the next plane of existence looks like.
Baseball Opened Doors
Former Yankees catcher Bruce Robinson to gig at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Starcrossed — with a Twist
Starcrossed: '80s rock meets modern electronics.
Frequent Liar
We had been sitting on the tarmac in Boston for 30 minutes, ostensibly "waiting for catering." The flight attendants were making their final rounds when the thunderstorm rolled in. By the time the dark cell ...
Guatay Mountain
This challenging hike combines an opportunity to view rare old-growth Tecate cypress trees and a variety of native plant species.
Back to the Cheeseheads
Party with a Uruguayan werewolf
Goodbye doesn't have to be sad. Sometimes, it's best to throw a party and make sure your friends get stuffed with food just one more time. That's what Mickey did. She's moving to her ancestral ...
Punk-Rock High
Premiere of Music High, a film inspired by Tom Voris of the Fabulous Rudies.
Time Out, My Identity's Been Stolen
A chat with a DeLorean owner.
A break from modern living includes a DeLorean.
Canobliss Becomes Psychothermia for Legal Reasons
"Samson Pedroza packed his bags in the middle of a tour and decided to leave the band," recalls Canobliss drummer Mike Russo, who says he and three other members of the O.B.-based hard-rock band have ...
Come Out and Play with the Offspring
The Offspring have been out of the spotlight for several years, but it doesn't seem that way. Radio support for the best-selling punk band is enduring. "Come Out and Play," for example, still gets regular ...
Origin of Cats' Purrs and Strange Words
Why/how do cats purr?; what's the origin of "funny bone"? And "moron," imbecile," and "idiot"?; what do the numbers mean on top of high-rise helipads?
Jessica Lea Mayfield
If you hadn't heard her music, you would be forgiven for thinking that Jessica Lea Mayfield makes traditional singer-songwriter music, but you would be wrong. Mayfield began her music career at age 8, playing in ...
Beer Colonic
Thursday 9Few bands in the Woodsist label's stable roadtrip like namesake band Woods. The Brooklyn quartet's folk-pop incantations are immediately listenable, engaging even, peeling away like onions on repeat listens and adding just the right ...
Eye gnat infestations in south Escondido – end of local organic food farming?
Golfers at the Vineyard bitching
Organic foods are about 2 percent of world food sales but are growing at 20 percent annually. They are produced without use of synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, solvents, or additives. Although they may cost at ...
How many people assassinated Luis Donaldo Colosio Murrieta?
The plot to kill a Mexican presidential hopeful
"That's my story!" whispers Dora Elena Cortés. The newspaper headline on the screen reads "Colosio, Víctima de un Complot." It's a tense scene in the movie Colosio — El Asesinato (Colosio — the Assassination). Somebody ...
Truth Attack — God of Carnage at the Old Globe
"A mouthful of rum and — bam — the real face appears."
Before God of Carnage begins at the Old Globe's White Theatre, Robert Morgan's set makes a quiet suggestion. Dark objects stand on the perimeter of a circular living room. A small wet bar and sofa ...
KPBS Confidential
KPBS staffers were recycling before it was cool.
What Might Have Been
A Carmel Valley dad writes about his son's developmental issues.


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Sunday, April 27, 2014
(No.261) The public fascination with John F. Kennedy
"The public fascination with the myth as well as the reality
of President John F. Kennedy"
by Alastair Rickard
Last year was the 50th anniversary of the death of the 35th U.S. President John F. Kennedy. As one of countless thousands who can remember where he was when news of his assassination was announced I suppose my peer group and their memories and interest are a leading reason why 140 books on Kennedy and his murder were published last year coming on top of an estimated 40,000 books [sic].
A Gallup Poll late in 2013 found that 74% of Americans rate Kennedy an outstanding or above-average president even after all these years of revelations about his shortcomings both personal ( e.g., his serial infidelities) and his political stumbles with an agenda completed for him by Lyndon Johnson.
In popular opinion -- although certainly not among historians -- Kennedy ranks well ahead of all his modern peers: Ronald Reagan at 61%, Bill Clinton (55%), George W. Bush 21% and Barack Obama at 28% ref. the same polling criteria.
However it is true that young people today have no sense of how sainted the status John Kennedy held among their peer group before and especially in the decade plus after his assassination in 1963.
I recall a time during a brief interlude I spent as an Ontario high school teacher in the late 1960s when I was explaining to a very bright and politically aware class about the vital and challenging role played by Johnson in getting passed by the U.S. Congress a range of fundamentally important civil rights and social welfare legislation with which Kennedy had gone nowhere.
The negative reaction to what was a relatively mild assessment of Kennedy's presidency was as if I had somehow located and brought the Holy Grail into the class room and proceeded to smash it to bits.
Today many Americans are as negative about the reality of the actual assassination of Kennedy as about negative views of his standing as a president. After everything that has been done on the subject by many serious people of integrity, the conspiracy theorists are still carrying the day among Americans.
In the year of the anniversary of the event 71% refuse to accept that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone assassin. Indeed, so absorbed still are many Americans with the shooting that each year more Americans visit the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza in Dallas Texas each year than the Kennedy Library in Boston.
I suppose in a country in which reside a statistically measurable proportion of its citizens who believe that the American moon landing was actually faked in a Hollywood sound stage or that (an actual poll a few years ago revealed) 10%+ believed that Elvis Presley was still alive, this sort of thing is to be expected.
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Posted by Alastair Rickard at 9:09 PM


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Posted in North Dakota February 11, 2016
Why Everyone In North Dakota Should Visit This One Tiny Town
This town located, about 35 miles south of Jamestown has only has about 76 residents. It isn't one of the more remembered small towns in North Dakota – if you blink when you drive past, you'll miss it – but you HAVE to check it out at least once. Here are some highlights to visiting Jud, North Dakota, and why you should check it out yourself.
Don't be fooled by its small size. Jud has many things to see and is totally worth the visit. Can you think of any other small towns in North Dakota that have something awesome about them that people should visit? Ever visited Jud yourself? Feel free to share in the comments!


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This used Airush Lithium Progression kite is in excellent condition, used for just a few months. 6 month Warranty on all used kites. Viewing and testing welcome.
Our go to kite for the past 6 years! Amazing smooth power, stability and ease of use, the Lithium Progression is simply the perfect kite for all-round use in a lightweight, high value package.
1 in stock
2019 Used Airush Lithium Progression 10m
This used Airush Lithium Progression kite is in excellent condition, used for just a few months.
6 month Warranty on all used kites. Viewing and testing welcome.
The kite we have chosen to use in our school over the last 6 years, amazingly easy to use with fantastic stability, smooth power delivery, huge depower and wind range, amazing durability and the best water relaunch on the market
The 2018 Airush Lithium Progression construction features an amazing number of features while still living up to its name of simplicity, durability, and performance. The Lithium Progression kite features the industry standard, Teijin T9600 Single Rip Stop Canopy, which is extremely resistant to UV, stretching and the abuse that kiters deliver on a daily basis.
The V2.1 Bridle System on the Progression offers a functional and stable setup when working together with the Delta Hybrid Design. This combination gives the most amount of wind range while riding and makes relaunching extremely fast.
Unique to the Lithium Progression is the multi-strut in inflation system with 9mm Inflate Valves. Although simple, this in inflation system has proved reliable over years of use throughout the industry. This multi-strut in inflation system allows for easy maintenance and repairs, especially in scenarios where the kites are used extensively.
V2.1 Bridle System
The V2.1 bridle system on the Lithium Progression provides support to the slightly larger leading edge to increase stability, support, and wind range of the delta hybrid design. The V2.1 bridle also keeps steering tension at all times, ideal for entry and intermediate users who require full control while riding completely depowered.
Airush Pulleys
Made of tough Zytel material for high strength and resistance to abrasion and impact, the Airush pulley has the pigtails hole directionally correct to eliminate bridle wear. With a breaking strength of 550 kg, the Airush pulley was designed specifically for use on all Airush kites.
Safety Handles
On all Airush kites, the emergency safety handles are provided on each wingtip. This maximises the control and security when performing self-rescues.
Airush Bumpers
Airush bumpers are found throughout the leading edge of the kites to reduce wear and increase durability on rough surfaces. These bumpers are key for increasing the lifespan of Airush kites.
Kevlar Reinforcement
Kevlar, found in bullet proof vests, is found throughout the Airush kites. These Kevlar reinforcements are only put in the most critical areas to protect from wearing whilst still minimising weight, which affects kite performance.
Rear Line Adjustment
The rear line adjustment featured on all Airush kites allows for quick changes in the kites bar pressure and response. With adjustment towards "high" the kite will have increase bar pressure and decrease turning speed. Moving back towards the rear of the wingtip will decrease bar pressure and increase turning speed.
Smaller kites have 3 bar pressure settings, larger kites only have medium and low bar pressure options available.
Additional information
|5 kg


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Winter in Estonia is the perfect time to wrap up warm and go for a walk. You can go on a guided walk in the Old Town or go your own
Winter in Estonia is the perfect time to wrap up warm and go for a walk. You can go on a guided walk in the Old Town or go your own
Tallinn is getting extremely beautiful when it comes to Christmas time. The market in the Old Town of the city is brightly decorated with wooden huts selling handcrafts, sweets, fur
My dear friends!!!My all your dreams come true in 2014!!! Each new year comes with new hopes and gives courage for a fresh start! So I wish you all the
For more, visit my daily feed profile on Instagram: lucine_a @Work @Home Restaurant Cinema
The post is dedicated to my Birthday that took place on 02.02. To tell the truth, I had no idea what was the plan for the weekend – everything was
Hey hey!!!! Happy New Year!!! The thing is that I was writing numerous articles, giving different tips and making a lot of collages with the party outfits before NY's eve. And as
This post is dedicated to NY's theme. The shoot and styling samples were featured in local newspaper Postimees (Christmas edition). The aim was to show several, yet different party samples for
Dear friends, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas! May peace and happiness be with your family through out the year and beyond. Sending you the spirit of holiday throughout the
Hot, hot, hot! It was terribly hot that day in Milan! Then the unbearable heat suddenly turned into the closeness of the weather (check the sky on the last pictures). And
Lately this is the most bright publication in my blog (because of the colors and luxury scenery)). Pictures were made in Monaco, near Monte-Carlo Casino. Unfortunately it was forbidden to use a


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boohooMAN CEO Samir Kamani on streetwear, consumer insights and a new collaboration
Mar 27, 2019 | By Volker Ketteniss
Aug 18, 2014
US women's footwear retailer Stuart Weitzman is preparing to launch a sale process and has tapped investment banks Goldman Sachs Group and Citigroup to assist with the effort, people familiar with the matter have told Reuters. The selling price could be well below $1bn, two of the people said, while others put the price tag at around $800m. Stuart Weitzman's private equity owner Sycamore Partners acquired the brand as part of its $2.2bn purchase of Jones Group earlier this year.
The people asked not to be named because the plans are not public. Representatives for Sycamore Partners, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs declined to comment. A Stuart Weitzman representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The planned divestiture of Stuart Weitzman comes as Sycamore Partners is seeking other takeover targets.
The buyout firm has held talks to buy regional discount store operator Fred's and is also attempting to take over womenswear retailer Express to add to a retail portfolio that includes Aeropostale, Coldwater Creek, Hot Topic, Jones New York and Talbots.
Know what's next. Become a WGSN member today to benefit from our daily trend intelligence, retail analytics, consumer insights and bespoke consultancy services.


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Find the Perfect Birthday Gift for that Special Person on Your List
When you're looking for some great birthday gift ideas, it's important to think about the recipient. You might find a book, theater tickets, or a watch that you would love to receive, but the first rule in finding a gift that will touch the heart of the receiver is to make sure that you approach your gift buying from the perspective of the one who will receive it.
A Spa Experience
While you could certainly purchase a gift certificate to a local spa, you might want to put together a spa package. Find a nice basket and fill it with soaps, bath bombs, lotions, loofah, a facial mask, and maybe a luxurious bath towel. You might even want to add a wine glass with a nice bottle of wine. Keep in mind, you can also make a wonderful spa basket for men too.
The Gift of Jewelry
Just about everyone will appreciate the gift of jewelry. At Mitchum Jewelers, you'll not only find gorgeous earrings, bracelets, necklaces, rings, watches, and more, but you'll also find wonderful birthday gift ideas to suit just about any budget. You'll be able to select from a great assortment of fashion jewelry as well as jewelry featuring stunning gemstones and diamonds. Whether you're shopping for a child or adult, male or female, you'll find something beautiful at Mitchum Jewelers.
Chocolate Lovers
Do you know someone who loves chocolate? Just about everyone enjoys the creamy goodness of quality chocolate. Sure, you can buy a chocolate bar at the grocery store, but it certainly doesn't compare to the flavor of quality imported chocolate. There are many chocolatiers that offer amazing gift baskets that are sure to please any chocolate lover. Imagine the pleasure your recipient will feel when they receive a large basket filled with all types of wonderful chocolate goodies.
An Adventure Gift
Another excellent gift, especially for someone who seems to have everything, is an adventure gift. Whether it's tickets to see their favorite sports team or it's the thrill of skydiving, race car driving or an underwater adventure, the thrill seeker in your life will certainly appreciate an adventure gift. You'll find many local options, but there are also many companies that specialize in adventure getaway vacations to exotic locations.
Indulge their Hobby
If your gift recipient has a special hobby or interest, this can give you some great gift ideas. If they enjoy playing golf, consider personalized tees, golf balls or other accessories. If you know someone who enjoys cooking, consider a wonderful cookbook, new kitchen gadget or a quality kitchen knife. Whatever their hobby or interest, there's sure to be something they'd enjoy receiving for their birthday.
The Gift of Food
If you're looking for a great gift idea for a college student or young adult, gift certificates to their favorite restaurants are always appreciated. This is also a wonderful gift idea for seniors who sometimes don't indulge in a meal out.


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After all my planning, simple turned out best. I kept the quilting painfully simple as well and let the material dictate as much of the geometric pattern as possible. I used a scrimed batting (and yes I did successfully pre-wash it) so, I was able to leave a lot of unquilted area in each block, contributing to the rather primative look of this quilt. Pottery Barn eat your heart out.
I included some pictures of the quilt out side. This is a king size and my bed doesn't show the quilt as well as it might.
Thanks for all the support.


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If there was ever a time the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) has proven itself to be out of touch with grassroots band members it is now as the organization claiming to represent all First Nations in Canada opposes a simple move to require chief and councilor salary transparency. The private member's bill proposed by Saskatchewan MP Kelly Block would require band chief and councilor to disclose their salaries to band members, at a minimum.
This requirement is common sense.After all, it is band members themselves who are leaking this sort of information to organizations like the Canadian Taxpayers Federation because they are not getting the information they are seeking through the appropriate channels (i.e. their own leaders or administrations). First Nations who ask for basic financial data about their leaders are turned away and face obstacles. In steps the Assembly of First Nations. While claiming to represent average band members through their elected chiefs who in turn vote for the AFN national chief, this organization is always there to oppose anything advancing band governance reform. First Nation leaders already do enough reporting to government, said National chief Shawn Atleo, when questioned by the media about this private member's bill. This objection from the AFN and its national chief is really a slap in the face to all First Nations. At a minimum, band members should not have to go through complex procesess or force the issue in court. Apparently, this private member's bill has teeth as it states band leaders may be forced to disclose this information if they present problems.
This all comes back to why First Nation leaders are being forced to disclose this basic financial data to their own band membership. It is quite sad actually that these leaders have not taken it upon themselves to self-disclose. This would also place the AFN back in its traditional place as a lobby group for chiefs and as a status quo player. At first, positive signs of support for private property moves by the Nisga'a Nation in British Columbia seemed hopeful enough that the new national chief would not just support the status quo. His statements on this band chief and councilor salary disclosure bill put him back in the status quo camp.
Here's the thing. Indian Affairs says the average chief's salary is about $60,000. That is fine, so why would chiefs and their spokesperson Shawn Atleo be against opening up the books, even to show their members and the Canadian public that they are not living big? There are many chiefs and councilors who not making a lot and often they are required to travel great distances for different meetings, often from fly-in communities. If more Canadians knew about these reasonably-paid chiefs and councilors, wouldn't that help First Nation leaders explain to the public that they are not all living high on the hog?
The answer, I feel, is the AFN and the group of chiefs who are earning way too much have too much to lose in disclosure.
Why risk threatening this lucrative arrangement of unaccountably high salaries? According to a new study by Postmedia News, about 30 elected chiefs were paid more than $110,000, all tax free. That is more than the average salary of many premiers in Canada, who earned about $109,983, after taxes. But, then on more than 80 band governments, the chief was paid less than $60,000 a year. Five first Nation communities reported their chief and councilors received no salary or honoraria at all. Those are stories that need to be reported to band members and the Canadian public, but would not because of the lack of disclosure. The highest individual salary was $247,100, while 45 other unnamed chiefs earned at least $90,000. Often times, this does not even include travel allowances. The Postmedia News study said that a 1988 court ruling stated that publishing the names and salaries of all elected band officials could violate privacy rights, because some of those salaries include income earned through proprietary band-owned businesses, such as casinos, golf courses and gas stations. So, this means the issue of high salaries for small communities could be even larger than many band members think. But, we wouldn't know at all if these affluent chiefs and their allies at the AFN had their way.
The AFN and some of the highest paid chiefs are willing to sacrifice not allowing average band members and the public know how small this problem of exorbitant salaries really is for the sake of protecting turf and image. Every year, research assistants from the Frontier Centre for Public Policy visit First Nation communities across the Prairies and ask band members about many issues. One of those is the level of financial transparency, including salaries of leaders. Last year, our survey revealed that a troubling 62 per cent of band members across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta suggested that they "never" or "do not really" have access to the band's business plan and other financial statements. This suggests a disturbing sense of secretiveness on the part of band governments. So, this is not just an issue for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation or the Conservative Party. It is First Nations themselves who feel the lack of transparency.
BC First Nation author Calvin Helin identified part of the problem is that money used to pay band leaders is generated off the community. It is money from the Canadian taxpayer, not from the First Nation itself. Thus, it is much easier for chiefs and councilors to set their salaries at rates often higher than that of provincial premiers. After all, it's not really their money or money generated from the First Nation community. They don't care. In other words, the relationship of accountability is distorted on the reserve. If money used to pay chief and councilor actually came from band members, there would be more incentives to use it well and efficiently on behalf of the community. If band members were paying taxes to their own band governments, they would be very concerned about how much their leaders were making, what trips they were taking on their dime, and how effectively chief and council was spending money in general. Just like any non-Aboriginal community, there would be hell to pay at election time if leaders were earning exorbitant salaries and travelling everywhere without results for the community. Often times what happens, and many Drum readers know this, is that one faction or family left out of the band government's benefits, gets frustrated and sends information to organizations like the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
But, this is only one part of the solution. It can't just be one political faction or family getting angry and doing something about governance abuses. It needs to be the whole community. One way to do that is for everyone to be paying the bills and having an equal stake.
First Nations have the power under the Indian Act to impose taxes on their members. But, no taxes will come until First Nations build their economies. This, of course, means creating vibrant private sectors to create jobs that are actually taxable. Making band salaries open to the band membership and eventually the general public is a no-brainer. Creating a true relationship of accountability between indigenous leaders and community members will take thought and time.
Originally published in the Drum/First Perspective newspaper on October 20, 2010


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Earn a high score and enter "H_V_S" or "YIFF!" as initials, where "_" indicates a space. Then, Tempest 2000 and Tempest Plus will be new options on the game selection menu.Frequent power-ups
Start a game in Temptest X3 mode and shoot the first target in the stage. Next, shoot the supperzapper before the power-up reaches the top of the grid. Do not take this power-up. Then, you will receive power-ups from most of the targets you shoot.Cheat mode
At the "Select Game Type" menu, press R1 + L1 + Triangle + Circle + Up/Left + Select + Start. If you entered the code correctly, you will hear a grinding noise. Then, enter one of the following controller actions to activate the corresponding cheat function:
Trippy mode
At any screen, hold R1 + L2 + Triangle + X, then press Up.Hidden song
At any screen, hold R1 + L2 + Triangle + X, then press Down. Now the starting screen will appear and a hidden song will begin playing..MOD song
While playing the game, hold L2 + R1 + Triangle, + X, then press Right. Now the next stage will have music played in .MOD format.Remix song
While playing the game, hold L2 + R1 + Triangle, + X, then press Left. Now the next stage will have remixed music.Level skip
While playing the game and when the web contains no enemies, press R1 + L2 to skip to the next level. The web will have no enemies at the beginning of the level, or after pressing L1 + L2 + R1 + R2 and using a Superzapper.A.I. Droid
While playing the game, hold L2 + R1 + Triangle, + X, then press Down. If you entered the code correctly, the A.I. Droid will say "Attack". Then, complete the current stage without losing a life. Now the first power-up on the next stage will be the A.I. Droid.
|Tempest X & Traditional Mode Codes
|Infinite Lives
|Always Score ????
|80099132 ????
|Always Have Power up (Tempest X Mode Only)
|80099316 0005
|Tempest Duel Mode Codes
|Infinite Lives P1
|Always Have Reflective Shield P1
|Never Have Reflective Shield P1
|Invincible P1 (Flashes)
|P1 Has ? Wins
|80099328 000?
|Infinite Lives P2
|Always Have Reflective Shield P2
|80085652 0001
|Never Have Reflective Shield P2
|80085652 0000
|Invincible P2 (Flashes)
|80085580 0060
|P2 Has ? Wins