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Omni Motif Studio's is a digital media company that specializes in WordPress "front end" development and "back end" site management. As a GoDaddy Pro member we work closely with your hosting company to ensure that your site is not only designed to current mobile/responsive design standards but also ensure the best possible security, SEO, and optimal uptime as possible. Not on GoDaddy hosting? Not a WordPress user? No problem we have experience working with many other hosting companies as well as in house hosting using modern SQL back end content management and static web sites.
In addition to WordPress and MySQL, we use a plethora of development tools and techniques in our site development. We are constantly reviewing and updating our workflow to keep up with developing application and web standards. We develop, test and prototype on a number of platforms and allow our customers to work closely with us on live test sites that emulate real world environments. See below for links to our Tool sets and development processes.
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Our service do not end with the deployment of a finished site. Click on the icon above to see about our ongoing persistence maintenance services.
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Your website is the biggest piece of branding your business will ever do and the goal here is to get visitors to your site to remain focused on the goods and services you offer and get them to buy them. With this goal in mind we take painstaking measures to get your site to focus on you and your business. Most sites today are target mobile devices first but still maintain the ability to look as clean and professional on the big screen as well. We pride ourselves on being a truly mobile first design shop and tailor your site directly to your company's target audience.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Every now and then – and more and more often, unfortunately – it's necessary for me to do my impression of a responsible adult. In my case, adulthood consists of reading research papers, writing research papers and growing gunk in petri dishes.
During these bursts of maturity, Pooch tends to get bored. So when I occasionally glance up from my Pile of Nerdy Brain-Melting-Papers, she gets excited.
And sometimes when she gets excited, she'll spin around in circles. And sometimes, when she spins around in circles, she'll bang her head on the wall and wobble a bit. She's done this ever since she was a little puppy. By today, she will probably have had hundreds of blows to the head. This is probably why she's the strangest dog I've ever met.
She'll spend all day in the bathroom, staring at the laundry. Sometimes she'll even cock her head and listen very carefully to it. She won't eat her denta-sticks if they're straight. I have to bend them for her. Then they're wonderful. When we go for a walk, she has to stop in the exact same place every day to chase something that's clearly not really there. Today she had a long grumbling exchange with her back paw, which ended with her sticking said paw in her mouth and staring into space for ten solid minutes.
I wish I could take a peek inside Pooch's brain to see what she's thinking. Then again, I'm not completely sure I really want to know…


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Mugove Walter Nyika, council member of GEN Africa, was born in Zimbabwe and is a Permaculture teacher in Malawi. He speaks about his memories, about the abundance of nature in his childhood, how it was destroyed, and how the wounds of nature and of the mind can heal.
"The name my parents gave me is Mugove, which means 'gift'.
I grew up with my grandparents in a village 200 km south of the capital, Harare, in Zimbabwe. From an early age I learned from my Grandfather to plant trees, to collect seedlings and put them into the earth. There were many sacred sites where it was a taboo to cut down a tree. When I fell asleep during the day my granny laid me in the shade of a tree, many of which bore fruit and were left standing on her cultivated land.
When people were clearing land for farming, they always left the fruit trees standing, even if they were in the middle of the gardens. When fencing their gardens, they incorporated the existing trees into their fencing. The land was always covered, either with trees, grass, leaf litter, or with a large diversity of crops planted together.
My granny was a small scale organic farmer, like most African women. On her few acres, many varieties grew: millet, maize, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, cucumber, cowpeas, ground nuts, round nuts and all kind of vegetables, many of which grew as weeds, such as Cleome. She knew how to plant crops together that would support each other. I cannot remember that I was ever hungry as a child, and also none of my friends. We were also never sick from deficiency diseases.
As young boys we were responsible for herding the cows of the village. In the morning we started to walk them to the pastures. We never carried anything to eat with us. The landscape surprised us every day, from January to December, with wild harvests such as fruits and nuts. In the afternoon when the cattle rested, we hunted some small animals or caught fish in the river and roasted them and ate.
When we came home in the evening we looked forward to rest, because we had walked 30 km or more, but we never looked forward to dinner, as we were already full. Nature always provided us with our needs. At home, and in the bush, we always drank clean spring water. The streams flowed throughout the year and they had sparkling clear water and large pools with plenty of fish and other aquatic animals.
I went to school, I then became a teacher and moved to Harare. Now when I visit my village, I find that many things have changed. When I looked to the right or to the left, I only see large fields of corn, mono-cropped corn. But they are frequently not in a good shape, with many being yellow from nitrogen deficiency and wilting as the soils, depleted of organic matter, no longer hold water for long . The landscape is bare as the trees had been cut down – they had been in the way of modern agriculture. The large variety of plants and animals have gone – killed through habitat destruction as people clear land for farming, and through the widespread use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. The state of Malawi spends 20 percent of the national budget in the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP), which buys agrochemicals for subsidised distribution to farmers.
In Zimbabwe, most of the agricultural development resources have gone into maize production which is seen as the key to food security, but this has created challenges in terms of nutrition for both the soil and the people.
The rivers, streams and springs have died: where there was water flowing in my childhood, where I caught fish – I see only sand today. I can no longer show my children a natural pool of water in the river. This is what monoculture, agrochemicals and erosion have done to the land and the people.
As a Permaculture teacher I see 9 of 10 children come to school without breakfast. Most have what we call a 0 – 0 – 1 diet: no breakfast, no lunch, only dinner. And the dinner is usually a plateful of refined corn meal and a vegetable. And there is the hidden hunger: some may have plenty to eat, but only eat the white flour, corn or wheat or rice – 7 days a week throughout the year.
This is especially during the dry season – we have 4 months of rain, and without rainwater harvesting, nothing, and with the high erosion, all is dead during the rest of the year.
What colonialism and globalisation has done to the land is bad. But what it did to the people is even worse. Africans have always heard: Your way is bad. What you learnt from your ancestors is backward.
What keeps the normal African going – in spite of all the misery and poverty?
It is the dream that one day he has the same life as a middle class American. A large mansion of a home with big screen plasmaTVs, big fast cars, plenty to eat, etc.
Many Africans have learnt that bad lesson well: they regard only high tech and expensive things as progress and look down on everybody who uses organic ways – because this was what their ancestors did – and this is seen as being primitive and poor. Progress has to be complicated and expensive – easy and natural solutions are regarded as backward.
Some girls in many African cities buy dangerous bleaching chemicals to remove the black melanin pigment of their skin, in order to look whiter.
A good African woman stands up long before sunrise and starts sweeping the compound around the house. As the light comes up all villages and townships are covered in dust. The first hour in school the children sweep the ground of the school yard. This habit of sweeping, of tidiness and order – stemming from the wish to be clean – has become a big problem. Together with erosion it destroys the topsoil, and all the organic waste is piled up and burnt. It is the organic waste that we miss as fertilizer in the gardens. In Africa, we burn our natural fertilizer and buy industrial fertilizers from Europe.
Above all, many African communities now believe that they are poor. This is because the development agencies have been coming to them with the question: What are your problems? This sticks a poverty label in the minds of the people. What they have been taught from the colonialists and today from the helpers: They are always ready to count their many problems and not to count their blessings. To me it is obvious that Africa is the richest continent. We are sitting on a goldmine. The fertility, the all year round sunny climate, the biodiversity which is still there, the knowledge and traditions, which still can be recalled, can provide all people with all their needs. But we have to acknowledge it and to learn to put it together in the right way.
When I go to my village with my children – I have a boy and a girl – I am very sad that I cannot have them enjoy the same abundance that I experienced in my childhood. I cannot even show them any of the more than 30 species of wild fruits and vegetables that I used to enjoy in my childhood.
In 1996, I visited the Fambidzanai Permaculture Center close to Harare and did my Permaculture design course – and this changed my life. Permaculture brings together the elements that have been torn apart in modern life – living, teaching, growing food. Things are not so separate anymore, but mixed and supportive. They form cycles, which is the main element of permaculture. For me, it was like coming home: Permaculture fits much better to our African way of life, to the people and the land than so-called modern industrialized agriculture.
I left my job as teacher, and today I help schools in Zimbabwe, Malawi, and other African countries to change their bare and ornamental school yards into food forests. In Zimbabwe, every school has to have a minimum of four and a half acres of land. People are surprised how easy and fast the barren soil can turn into a fruit forest that can feed the children, with abundance and diversity. First thing is to change the habits of sweeping and cleaning out the organic matter, to keeping it and even collecting more leaves, crop residues, and organic waste to cover the ground.
In Africa, it rots very fast and turns into topsoil in which we can plant the seeds. Some trees in our climate can grow more than 1.5 m a year, so the children will notice the difference in a short time.
There is enough rainwater: 800 mm on average in most places. But we have to take care that it does not run away without being used. We create swales – ditches along the 'keylines' – that give the water time to filter into the ground. When the soils are moist and the rainwater is harvested, the gardens have enough water throughout the year.
The most difficult thing is to un-learn the bad habits and to change the wrong thinking patterns. For example, the mindset of tidiness: soil or organic matter is not dirt, but the thing we live from. People have to understand how rich they are, then they can see that it is not much work to create a garden.
There is, however, hope for the future. Africa has the potential to lead the world in the era of reconnecting to the one ecosystem that we share with all other life forms. There is still a sense of community, the spirit of ubuntu which means: "I am because you are". The connection to the land is still alive on the continent. I have had the joy of working with many school communities that are showing that a different world is not only possible, but that it comes with an improved quality of life.
Of the many educational experiences that I have had in my entire life, I have no hesitation in singling out the Permaculture Design Course (PDC), and the Ecovillage Design Education (EDE), as the two experiences that have had the most profound impact on my life.
With these wonderful tools, I am working with school communities and ecovillage initiatives to co-create a better future for everyone involved. In this work, I am part of the team that is connecting African communities to the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN). I am hopeful that all is not lost for my children and the generations to come."


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Sanofi beefs up cancer drug pipeline, paying cash hungry ImmunoGen $30M for full rights to oncology portfolio
Sanofi $SNY is once again rejigging its partnership with ImmunoGen $IMGN. But two years after punting a cancer drug as the pharma giant overhauled its cancer drug pipeline, Sanofi is paying $30 million in cash to grab added commercialization rights for a string of oncology assets — including a late-stage drug — as ImmunoGen builds up its cache of cash for its lead program.
At the top of the list is isatuximab (SAR650984), an anti-CD38 antibody in Phase III for multiple myeloma. Then there's SAR566658, an antibody-drug conjugate targeting CA6 in Phase II development for triple negative breast cancer; SAR408701, an anti-CEACAM5 ADC studied for the treatment of solid tumors; "and an additional ADC directed to an undisclosed target."
The two companies also agreed to change their 2013 deal, giving Sanofi exclusive rights to SAR428926, an anti-LAMP1 ADC for solid tumors.
In exchange for the cash, ImmunoGen is giving up co-promotion rights as well as royalty streams on any approved therapies that come out of the pact.
This is all part of a months-long effort by ImmunoGen CEO Mark Enyedy to cash in on assets and come up with enough funding to concentrate efforts on their Phase III study of mirvetuximab soravtansine. A few days ago ImmunoGen sold off its CD37-targeting ADC IMGN529 to Debiopharm for $25 million up front.
"Importantly," noted RBC's Matthew Eckler at the time of the Debiopharm deal, "this will fund operations through futility analysis of the Phase III FORWARD I trial of mirvetuximab in ovarian cancer, expected 1H18. The sale of '529 represents continued execution of restructuring efforts announced last fall, which are prioritizing mirvetuximab and the IGN-payload pipeline. Under this plan, management is also seeking to monetize coltuximab ravtansine (CD19-targeting ADC), which could represent an additional near-term source of non-dilutive capital.
"Amending these agreements allows us to continue to focus on the development of our lead program, mirvetuximab soravtansine, while advancing our earlier-stage portfolio and further strengthening ImmunoGen's cash position," stated Enyedy, "We believe Sanofi possesses the right resources to complete the development of these innovative candidates and potentially bring them to patients around the globe."


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Apr 23, 2012 GMTToday we have the naming of parts.-Henry ReedTitles come hard to me. I always avoid them until I've finished writing, and, even then, I have to agonize over them to make them even marginally suitable. Maybe that's why I'm fascinated at how projects and applications are named, a topic that has been in the news recently.What strategies are used for names? What are the dangers in a name? The ideal strategy? These little-discussed questions interest me because I'm constantly dealing with them in my own work.Because of my own difficulty with titles, I sympathize with those that choose a name that has no obvious connection with the project. Instead of hunting for a name that's both descriptive...
Off the Beat: Bruce Byfield's Blog
Apr 18, 2012 GMTI spent the last weekend at an art school graduation, surrounded by artists in various stages of their careers. Several times, I urged the advantages of an active online presence But, more often than not, those with whom I was talking balked at the idea, citing worries about copyright violation. Their reaction was a reminder of just how different the attitudes are in the free software and open source community from those of the general public -- and how hard that difference can be to overcome.Mind you, I sympathize with their concerns. Artists are miles away from a soulless corporation that could suck up the losses due to copyright violation. Many are near or below the poverty line. In...
Apr 11, 2012 GMTUsually, I'm not slow to give an opinion. However, after reading Ryan Funduk's "Our Culture of Exclusion" (http://ryanfunduk.com/culture-of-exclusion/), and its discussion of binge drinking at conferences, I realize that I don't know nearly enough to venture an opinion -- at least one that is worth reading, anyway. The most I can do is express the suspicion that Funduk might be right.The reason I can't address the question with any authority is that I spent the first decade of the millennium caring for my sick partner. She could neither travel nor drink for much of that time, so for the most part neither did I. And, since her death, I haven't really resumed either habit.If...
Apr 05, 2012 GMTEarlier this week, you might have noticed Esther Schindler and Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols writing about the twenty-fifth anniversary of OS/2, IBM's operating system of the 1990s. So did at least half a dozen others.Why bother, you might ask? OS/2 still exists today as a hobbyist operating system under the name of eComStation, but it's been a long time since it had any influence on the direction of mainstream computing. Nor is eComStation free software, although many of the applications it runs are. You might be tempted to attribute the interest entirely to the nostalgia of the middle-aged. In my case, that would definitely be a factor; I not only ran OS/2 for six years, but the first...
Mar 31, 2012 GMTFree and open source software has no shortage of spinoffs. There's the OpenBIOS project, which tries to make the firmware that runs computers free. There's the open hardware movement, which applies FOSS concepts to the machines it runs on. In academia, there's the open access movement, dedicated to sharing the information usually restricted to journals Increasingly, however, I'm starting to think we need an even more basic spinoff -- something that might be called the hardware free access movement.What I mean is, we need advocacy for hardware that can be opened and repaired by anyone. Right now, it's a concept that is not just going out of fashion, but barely exists.Look, for example, at...
Mar 20, 2012 GMTA few years ago, reactions to sexism in free and open source software (FOSS) took a few days to circulate. People were surprised, and unprepared to respond. Now, however, experience has encouraged preparation, and the responses are instantaneous and unforgiving, as Sqoot, the organizers of the upcoming Boston API Jam hackathon found out.As near as I can tell, this is what happened:Sqoot is a two-year old startup that describes itself as developing a "local deal layer [that] empowers sites and apps to build with deals." In other words, it's a center for organizing discounts for services and events. No license is posted on the company's site, but its API appears to be...
Mar 14, 2012 GMTI've often said that recent desktop environments are heavily influenced by mobile devices. However, it was only last week, when I switched to a Nexus S phone, that I examined that claim in detail and realized that the statement was incomplete.The fact that all three interfaces share some common assumptions is too obvious to question seriously. The relationship shows in details like menus and windows that are either without titlebar buttons and menus or else hide these items until users search for them. In Unity, it also shows in windows that be dragged up and down without scroll bars.However, the most obvious similarity is that complete screen changes are an inescapable part of the...
Issue 235/2020
Buy this issue as a PDF
Tuxedo Computers Joins the Ryzen Bandwagon
Tuxedo Computers has released the Tuxedo Boot BA15 with an AMD Ryzen 3500 CPU.
Linux Apps on Windows Is Coming
Linux GUI apps will be coming to Windows Subsystem for Linux.
Linux Usage Is on the Rise
According to NetMarketShare, Linux saw a significant bump in usage during April.
Lenovo is Jumping on the Linux Laptop Bandwagon
PC and laptop maker Lenovo is set to release ThinkPad laptops pre-installed with Fedora Linux.
A New Linux Laptop Is in the Making
Manjaro Linux and TUXEDO computers have joined forces to develop the InfinityBook Manjaro.
Ubuntu 20.04 Has Been Released
The latest iteration of the user-friendly Linux distribution is now available.
Nextcloud Partners with IONOS
Nextcloud has partnered with Germany's largest cloud provider, IONOS, to provide a safe haven for your data within the cloud.
Linux to Get High Resolution Wheel Scrolling
Work on high resolution wheel scrolling for the Linux desktop is being completed.
KDE Developers Are Working on a TV Interface
The developers of the KDE desktop are hard at work to create a TV interface.
System76 Is Developing a New Keyboard
The company behind the incredibly powerful Thelio desktop is developing a new keyboard.


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The collections of the Gallery of West Bohemia in Pilsen rank among the most important visual art collections of the Czech Republic. They are composed of up to 10,000 graphic, painted and sculptural works, to which an architecture collection was added in 2009, comprising documentation, drawings and photographs, as well as models of buildings.
Kulturní portál města Plzeň.
Plzeňské městské dopravní podniky, a.s. Denisovo nábřeží 920/12, 301 00 Plzeň - Východní Předměstí IČ: 252 20 683 DIČ: CZ25220683


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CMR Art.29 and Contributory Negligence
German Federal Supreme Court: Date of Judgement: 13 June 2012
The unlimited liability of the carrier according to Art. 29 CMR(fn.1) is reduced in cases of contributory negligence on the part of the sender. This principle applies especially if the carrier was not made aware of an extremely and unexpectedly high value of the goods when the contract of carriage was concluded.
Note contributed by Daja H. Böhlhoff, , LLM (Maritime Law), Solicitor of German law firm Blaum Dettmers Rabstein and International Contributor to DMC's CaseNotes
The plaintiff cargo underwriter claimed compensation from the defendant carrier for the theft of six bottles of wine with a total value of EUR 15,300.00. The carrier agreed to transport a crate containing eight bottles of wine from France to Germany. When the crate was picked up by the driver, he was handed over a delivery note stating a total insured value of EUR 20,400.00. After delivery to the consignee, the crate was found to have been opened from the bottom and six bottles were missing. The appeal court overruled the first instance judgment which had held, in favour of the plaintiffs, that the defendant was liable to compensate the plaintiff for the full value of the goods. The appeal court found that, by reason of the considerable contributory negligence on the part of the sender in not notifying the carrier in advance of the extraordinary value of the goods, the compensation due from the carrier should be reduced to only 50% of the value of the missing bottles.
The Federal Supreme Court confirmed the appeal court judgment. It held that, in principle, the plaintiffs had the full burden of proving that the loss was caused by wilful misconduct on the part of the carrier. But as the facts presented by the plaintiffs indicated theft of the goods on the part of the carrier or its servants, the plaintiffs had established a prima facie case of wilful misconduct in accordance with art. 29 CMR, which the carrier had been unable to rebut by proving the exact circumstances of the loss.
The Federal Supreme Court further confirmed that the unlimited liability of the carrier was to be reduced by 50 % because of contributory negligence on the part of the sender. The carrier had not been notified of the unexpectedly high value of the bottles and had thus been deprived of the options of either rejecting the carriage altogether or adjusting the freight rate and preparing appropriate security measures to ensure a safe transport. The carrier had only learnt of the extremely high value of the bottles when they were handed over to the driver which was not timely enough for the carrier to react appropriately. Even though the lack of advance notification could have resulted in a full rejection of the claim, the Supreme Court considered, in favour of the plaintiffs, that the carrier should bear some liability, given the fact that it had been, at least in theory, possible for the driver to seek instructions when he learnt of the excessive value at pick-up.
The judgment is the most recent confirmation of the tendency of German courts to introduce the concept of contributory negligence into CMR cases, if the carrier was not notified of an extraordinary and unexpectedly high value of the goods at the time the contract of carriage was concluded. These principles were originally developed in connection with claims involving the transport of valuable parcels subject to German transport law, which explicitly permits a reduction in the claim amount by reason of contributory negligence. Although it may be argued that the CMR Convention does not permit the application of such domestic law principles and leaves no room to consider contributory negligence outside the scope of Art.17.5 CMR(fn.2), the judgment underlines that it is now an established rule in German jurisprudence to apply the domestic concept of contributory negligence also in the context of international conventions.
Fn.1 Art.29 1. The carrier shall not be entitled to avail himself of the provisions of this chapter which exclude or limit his liability or which shift the burden of proof if the damage was caused by his wilful misconduct or by such default on his part as, in accordance with the law of the court or tribunal seised of the case, is considered as equivalent to wilful misconduct. 2. The same provision shall apply if the wilful misconduct or default is committed by the agents or servants of the carrier or by any other persons of whose services he makes use for the performance of the carriage, when such agents, servants or other persons are acting within the scope of their employment. Furthermore, in such a case such agents, servants or other persons shall not be entitled to avail themselves, with regard to their personal liability, of the provisions of this chapter referred to in paragraph 1.
Fn.2 Art.17(5) 5. Where under this article the carrier is not under any liability in respect some of the factors causing the loss, damage or delay, he shall only be liable the extent that those factors for which he is liable under this article have contributed to the loss, damage or delay.


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We offer Monthly or 1 year contracts
We offer multiple membership options. Elite access includes unlimited tanning and 24 hour access to facility.
*Special rates for Military ,Veterans, Students and Teachers.
$5 day passes available
During staffed hours we offer childcare, tanning, sauna and whirlpool use.
Elite Members have facility access available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 365 days a year.


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Dubai's towering Burj Khalifa may have to give up its title as the world's tallest building to Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Tower, now that funding has been secured for the last phase of its $2.2billion construction.
A Saudi government press release on Sunday said Jeddah Economic Company and Saudi Arabia's Alinma Investment had signed a financing deal of $1.2 billion to complete Jeddah City, including the Kingdom Tower, which is slated to be world's tallest tower upon completion.
Related Image
The Kingdom Tower will have the world's tallest observatory, which was first envisioned as a heliport. (Jeddah Economic Company)
The 3,280-feet skyscraper is scheduled to open in 2018 and building of the tower has already reached the 26th floor. The Burj Khalifa, by comparison, stands at 2,716 feet. New York City's Freedom Tower, currently the fifth tallest in the world, is dwarf-like at 1,792 feet.
"With this deal, we will reach new, as yet unheard of highs in real estate development, and will fulfill the company's objective of creating a world-class urban center that offers an advanced lifestyle, so that Jeddah may have a new iconic landmark that attracts people from all walks of society with comprehensive services and a multitude of uses," said Mounib Hammoud, Chief Executive Officer of Jeddah Economic Company.
Related Image
Iraq's Basra Province is planning to build a 3,779 foot "mega tall" skyscraper which will be taller than the Kingdom Tower. (ABMS Architects)
Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill Architecture, a Chicago-based firm, created the design for the Kingdom Tower. An urban community of more than 1200 acres overlooking the Red Sea will surround the tower, which will house the world's tallest observation point, a Four Seasons Hotel, a massive shopping mall and residential apartments.
When it is complete it will have over 200 floors.
But the Kingdom Tower may not hold on to its record for long. Iraq's southern Basra Province is planning to build a 3,779 foot "mega tall" skyscraper which will be taller than the Kingdom Tower when complete.
The Bride Tower, proposed by AMBS Architects, will comprise of 230 stories, will be topped by a 616-foot-tall antena and will comprise four conjoined towers.


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Sara Richard is an illustrator from New Hampshire. I had the pleasure of meeting her at San Diego Comic-Con. Currently she's working on covers for IDW's "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" series, and soon to be Powerpuff Girls. She also illustrated a five-page story in IDW's Womanthology. She has illustrated the Eisner Award-nominated "Kitty & Dino". All her work is handpainted in acrylic paint. Her interests are hang gliding, Dr. Who, dinosaurs, ghost hunting and Art Deco /Art Nouveau.
For what age audience do you illustrate?
"Kitty & Dino" is targeted at young and first-time readers, but is fun for everyone who likes cats and dinosaurs, or just likes a cute, simple story!
Henry: Doesn't everyone love the combination of cats and dinosaurs?
Tell us about your latest book.
"Kitty & Dino", published by Yen Press, is about what happens when a little boy brings home a dinosaur egg and the family cat raises the baby dinosaur that emerges from the egg! At first the cat doesn't like the burden placed on her, but the two unlikely friends grow very close and have fun adventures!
Henry: Great concept. It's like "Flap Your Wings" meets Jurassic Park!
What aspect of illustrating do you find most challenging?
Trying to keep the characters consistent in size is the hardest for me. But also trying to figure out what the writer has imagined in their mind and translating it to paper!
What is a powerful lesson you've learned from being an illustrator?
Be flexible when working with clients. Personally though, listen to critiques of your work, but don't take them as personal insults. It's just business sometimes!
Henry: As a writer, I have learned to separate critiques of my work from my ego. Critiques help you be a better writer or illustrator, so in the end, constructive feedback only improves your craft.
What has been a memorable experience that you never would have had if you had not been an illustrator?
Going to the Eisner Award when "Kitty & Dino" was nominated for Best Publication for Young Readers.
Henry: That is pretty AWESOME!
What advice would you give to aspiring artists?
Like I said above about the critiques. Don't take them personally. I find this is a big problem for emerging artists. A critique, especially a harsh, one can hurt feelings. Just treat it like work, and not anything personal. Also, draw every day!
Henry: The writers I interview say the equivalent thing. Write-write-write. And read-read-read.
Do you have any favorite quotes?
"Teach the world to move to your sound, hop around and twirl around, and put a little mustard on it" – Electric Six. It's such a fun idea, and what I want most is to have fun sharing my art.
Do you have any strange rituals that you observe when you create?
I usually make tea.
Henry: Sara, you are ca-raaa-zy!
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
Definitely flying. I hang glide and that helps fill that wish. But yeah, flying. Or being able to turn into animals, which I guess being able to be a bird would also fill that need to fly!
Henry: That is a fantastic choice! It's my first request for turning into animals. You'd gain all their superpowers: breathe underwater, fly, chameleon camouflage, repulse unwanted advances (thanks skunk!), regrow teeth (thanks shark!), spit accurately (thanks Archerfish!), swallow a capybara whole (thanks Anaconda).
If you could have three authors/artists over for dinner, who would it be?
Margaret MacDonald Mackintosh for one. She's one of my favorite artists. Plus she would have an awesome Scottish accent to listen to. I would love to talk to Neil Gaiman too. Finally Erte. He was a fabulous costume designer and did a lot of wonderful Art Deco fashion design.
Henry: Per wikipedia: "Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh (1864–1933) was a Scottish artist whose design work became one of the defining features of the "Glasgow Style" during the 1890s. Together with her husband, her sister, and Herbert MacNair, she was one of the most influential members of the loose collective of the Glasgow School known as "The Four". She exhibited with Mackintosh at the 1900 Vienna Secession, where she was arguably an influence on the Secessionists Gustav Klimt and Josef Hoffmann."
"Romain de Tirtoff (1892 – 1990) was a Russian-born French artist and designer known by the pseudonym Erté, the French pronunciation of his initials, R.T. He was a diversely talented 20th-century artist and designer who flourished in an array of fields, including fashion, jewelry, graphic arts, costume and set design for film, theatre, and opera, and interior decor."
And shame on you, if you don't know who Neil Gaiman is.
What is your favorite creature that exists only in literature?
I like werewolves. My favorite characters are usually werewolves, as strange as that is.
Henry: Which flavor of werewolf? Howl at the moon and eat you, or bare-torsoed six-pack toting?
What do you like to do when you're not drawing?
Definitely hang gliding, or doing any outdoor activity. I like Karaoke, watching Dr Who and Buffy and other fun shows and movies, and also ghost hunting when I can.
Henry: "If there's something strange in your neighborhood. Who ya gonna call? Sara Richard!"
What would you like it to say on your tombstone?
Eaten by a T-Rex, or Out to lunch BRB.
Where can readers find your work?
Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or even your local comic store. My online portfolio can be seen at http://www.SaraRichard.com.
This interview is also posted on the San Diego Children's Books Examiner.


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open 24 hours – 7 days a week
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Obituary: Victor Milán
Victor Milán (b.1954) died on February 13. Milán co-wrote the War of Powers novels with Robert E. Vardeman and published his own novels, often using the pseudonyms Alex Archer, Robert Baron, S.L. Hunter, and Richard Austin. He published several BattleTech novels and many novels under the James Axler house name. In 1986, he won a Prometheus Award for his novel Cybernetic Samurai.


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Ludei started as a game development company around 4 years ago. Then we focused most of our efforts in platform and technology development. Still, we publish a game or two from time to time that help us fulfill two main purposes:
- Taste our own dog food ;). Test the CocoonJS platform.
- Have fun! We love making games!
iBasketGunner is one of our latest productions. It continues the saga started by our fairly successful game iBasket. We started iBasketGunner as we wanted to test 3D capabilities of our WebGL implementation for both iOS and Android and also include all of the extension services into one product. This game has them all: In-App Payments, Social Network Integration, Multiplayer, Advertising, … and of course, 3D and even an ad-hoc implementation of a 3D physics native binding, one of those cool things only CocoonJS can offer. Let's check out the result in the following video:
And now, let's talk about some of the technical features of the game:
- It is definitively one of the best looking 3D WebGL games for mobile in the market. Our team has worked on some cool shaders for the ball, the net, etc.
- It uses a modified version of ThreeJS, one of the most well known 3D WebGL open source engines out there.
- We have used all of our CocoonJS extensions in this game. It has been great to have a single API for all of them, even the complicated ones like multiplayer through Game Center (for iOS) and GooglePlay Game Services (for Android in GooglePlay). Ads, IAPs, Social Network Integration, etc.
- There is our first approach to a 3D physics engine native integration using Bullet and it's JavaScript counterpart AmmoJS. This makes the game run smoothly as JavaScript is not a very powerful language to make math computation. We have even tested the game on low-end devices such as the iPhone4 or even on a Nexus One (Android 2.3). Of course the performance is lower, but you still can get 20-30 FPS on them!
We really hope you enjoy iBasketGunner that is available in iTunes, GooglePlay and Amazon!


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Thank you to all the PGA Junior League participants. We had a great season and look forward to next year.
To register for next season visit:
Daytona Beach Golf Club
Junior Championship
Boys Overall Champion
Chase Haygood
Girls Overall Champion
Erica Darcy
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Boys 16-18
1st Ian Ball Score=140 $25.00
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Thank you all for playing and we will see you in 2020!!!!
2018 Junior Championship Winners
Seth Jolly & Erica Darcy


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Our story began with quality bed linen and it's still our greatest expertise. There's nothing we love more than slipping into quality Egyptian cotton sheets that feel wonderful against the skin.
What is its provenance?
For centuries, Egypt has been renowned for producing the finest, softest, longest-lasting cotton, thanks to the lengths and strength of its natural fibres. Grown from the cotton plant Gossypium, Egyptian cotton is an extra-long staple, making it one of the finest types of cotton. We use it to create lovely bed linen, sumptuous towels and super-soft bath mats.
What makes it special in bed linen?
We offer two types of Egyptian cotton – percale and sateen.
If you like the crisp feel of freshly laundered bed linen and a super-smooth matte finish, Egyptian cotton percale is the perfect long-lasting choice.
1. Feels supremely smooth and cool to the touch.
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For more than 40 years, Murphy and Dengler has served the unique needs of clients throughout Norristown, Pennsylvania, and surrounding areas. At our personal injury firm, our team of attorneys provides the top service options for your situation.
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A new technique that offers a less expensive way of making sure a data security solution is in place has been discovered by scientists from Cambridge University and Toshiba, according to The New York Times. The technique is a way of making sure high-speed fiber optic cables, the backbone of modern internet connections, are secured.
According to the Times, this research was published in the science journal Physical Review X and described a technique for "making infinitesimally short time measurements needed to capture pulses of quantum light hidden in streams of billions of photons transmitted each second in data networks." The report said scientists used an advanced photodetector to help extract the weaker photons from the light pulses carried by these cables and made it possible to distribute secret keys to scramble data up to 56 miles of travel, something that had previously not been possible.
"Such data scrambling systems will most likely be used first for government communications systems for national security," according to the New York Times. "But they will also be valuable for protecting financial data and ultimately all information transmitted over the Internet. The approach is based on quantum physics, which offers the ability to exchange information in a way that the act of eavesdropping on the communication would be immediately apparent."
With this new achievement, the news source said engineers can now measure a small window of time to carry a pulse of light. Andrew J. Shields, one of the authors of the paper and the assistant managing director for Toshiba Research Europe, told the news source that there are currently many quantum key distribution systems that exist, but they all rely on the ability and necessity to transmit the keys separate from communication data, which could add costs and complexities to the system which would be used to secure the information.
How this discovery will help security
The new ability to weave quantum information into networking data will lower the cost and complexity of coding and decoding processes, according to the New York Times, and will make systems much more attractive for commercial data networks. In this system, information will be sent over the same distribution system as other data streams but will be isolated to its own frequency.
"We can pick out the quantum photons from the scattered light using their expected arrival time at the detector," Dr. Shields said. "The quantum signals hit the detector at precisely known times – every one nanosecond, while the arrival time of the scattered light is random … By measuring the error rate in the secret key, we can determine whether there has been any eavesdropping in the fiber and in that way directly test the secrecy of each key."
Stamping out online fraud
At the University of Strathclyde and Heriot-Watt University in Glasgow, physicists have developed a way to use light particles to help verify Internet transactions. The team said their discovery may very well help engineers curb cybercrime in the retail sector, with one researcher, John Jeffers, saying that online transaction safety could soon be all but guaranteed.
With traditional online data security, the Glasgow City of Science website said there are three signatures that can be easily cracked by hackers and others who wish to steal information or defraud a person or company, but the quantum digital signatures offers a different approach that will better authenticate the origin of messages.
"Computer virus attacks have shown that 'signatures' or specific codes can be hijacked, potentially causing chaos with systems being crippled, accounts hacked, and industry and consumers losing millions of pounds," Professor Gerald Buller, of Heriot-Watt University, said, according to the website. "Our new approach, using quantum mechanics rather than just maths to create signatures for multiple recipients (or customers), and could make hacking, fraud and theft near-impossible."
Data Security News from SimplySecurity.com by Trend Micro.


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Gallery: ABC Kitchen: Team Jean-Georges Goes Local
Fresh Mozzarella, Olive Oil And Herbs
A dish ($7.00) that sounds like it's going to be dull, but the Jersey mozzarella they're using here is creamy and tangy and not at all rubbery. Eaten with the grilled toast this dish would also make a yummy lunch.
Raw fish
Two raw fish preparations had real Jean-Georges touches. Mackerel sashimi marinated in ginger ($11) is sensational in its fresh-tasting, non-oily simplicity. Mackerel haters or doubters may have to rethink their aversion after tasting this dish. Diver scallops with sea salt ($15) were betrayed by the coldness of the plate and the scallops.
Peekytoe Crab Toast
Peekytoe Crab is ingredient Jean-Georges has done wonderful things with in the past, and here he doesn't let us down with the peekytoe crab toast ($12), prepared with grilled Sullivan Street bakery bread slices, olive oil, and a mustard aioli.
Ramp toast
Kluger and Vongerichten are clearly having good culinary locavore fun with the toast concept. In season ramps are served on toast along with a spread of local goat cheese.
Essence of spring pea soup
It has an intensely sweet pea flavor ($9), its sweetness ramped up by mint and the carrots floating in the soup. Alongside those carrots are perfect crunchy croutons that have been softened just enough by their immersion in the soup.
Roast Carrot And Avocado Salad, Crunchy Seeds And Citrus
The dish that elicited the most wows from the table ($12.00). Sounds boring, yes? Most assuredly not. The roasted carrots are sweet, nutty, and cumin-y, and the avocado is creamy, and the seeds add crunch. The cumin really elevates this dish.
Pretzel Dusted Calamari
Served with both marinara and basil aioli dipping sauces, these calamari ($10) were simply really well-done fried squid. The pretzel dust really didn't add or subtract anything, but you won't care as you munch on this dish.
Kasha And Bowtie Pasta with Veal Meatballs
A delicious, hearty, winter-y dish ($12) served in spring—but who cares how seasonally appropriate it is when it tastes this deicious.
With whole wheat crusts, they can only be so good; the pies here are more solid than stellar. The thin crusts, which have a little lift at least, are a little dull, but the toppings can be inspired. Clams, Mint, Parsley And Fresh Chilies ($16) is a perfect combination of toppings, and don't even think about trashing the idea of putting mint on a pizza until you try this one. A pizza special on the menu both nights I've eaten here featured mushrooms and an over-easy egg—good for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Organic Crispy Chicken
A boned half chicken ($21) had ultra-crispy skin, moist and flavorful dark meat, and white meat that was only slightly less moist.
Pork Chop
From from one of the great suppliers of porcine goodness, Flying Pig Farms ($24). It's not all that thick, but the pig meat is sufficiently marbled to keep it moist.
Jean-Georges told me that high demand required them to put a cheeseburger on the menu ($19). The beef comes from Wagyu Akaushi cows raised on a Texas ranch. The bad news: it is 100% grass-fed, so though it was perfectly cooked as ordered medium-rare, it manages to be mushy and juicy at the same time. The good news: Its grassfed composition does mean it has high levels of the monounsaturated fat (the good kind). It's too bad the beef itself doesn't taste great because the rest of the burger's elements are stellar and intriguing. It comes on a grill-toasted Eli's bun with a fine grating of Cato Corner Bloomsday cheese, an ingenious arugula-basil-and-chive mayo, and Satur Farms jalapeños pickled in Champagne vinegar.
House Cut Fries
Salty and crisp ($6.00) on the outside and creamy on the inside—yes, they serve damned good French fries here.
Baked Endive
With Flying Pig Farm ham and gruyere ($8.00). Sorich and filling I could make a meal out of the smallish plate it comes in. The slightly bitter endive plays off the tasty ham and nutty, tangy Gruyere cheese.
Ice cream
Every restaurant should have a house ice-cream sundae ($8), especially when it's as diabolically delicious as this one: housemade peanut and salted caramel ice cream, to-die-for chocolate sauce, whipped creme fraiche, and a few kernels of caramel corn for crunch.
They're filled with a butterscotch cream ($9) and come with that same irresistible warm chocolate sauce to dip them in.
Vanilla Chip Ice Cream Cake
There were hits and misses in the dessert menu, and this was a miss ($7). With a vanilla sauce, almonds, and orange sorbet, it just didn't come together as a dessert. It was decidedly less than the sum of its parts.
Chocolate Cake
With melted chocolate ganache and toasted marshmallow icing ($8), it sounds so yummy, and yet the chocolate cake was dry.
Individual rhubarb-apple pie
With a crust brushed with duck fat ($8), it also sounds like something any serious eater would like, but the fruit wasn't cooked down, and though the crust was somewhat flaky, it needed a little more salt.


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Friday night, Feb. 25, the Rockford varsity hockey team took on the Cougars from Grand Rapids Catholic Central in the final regular season finale for both teams. Catholic Central, the top ranked team in the west side of the state, chose this night as their Senior Night celebration. They have a veteran squad this year, as they are graduating 12 seniors, and have had a great season with only one blemish during conference play this year. So this game was going to be a tremendous test for the Rams as they prepare for the post season.
It was apparent that the Rams came out wanting to prove that they have improved dramatically since the last time these two teams played. The Cougars are a very quick team, but Rockford was there at every turn to pressure the puck and frustrate the high-powered Cougar offense.
About five minutes into the game, one of the very quick Catholic Central forwards did get behind the defense and was able to get on the scoreboard with a quick shot over goaltender Jake Rekucki's shoulder into the net. Rockford continued to pound away, getting a couple quality scoring chances in the first, but was unable to light the lamp.
At the 6:24 mark, Catholic Central went up 2-0 with another great shot into the Rockford net. Both teams traded scoring chances for the rest of the period and went to their locker rooms with the score, Cougars 2 and Rockford 0.
Rockford came out in the second, ratcheting up the pressure on the Catholic Central goaltender, but he continued to turn away each of their shots. The game continued the fast pace with both teams displaying a high level of play.
Midway through the period, Catholic Central scored an even-strength goal to go up 3-0. The Cougars shortly came back with another goal less than a minute later to go up 4-0. It would have been easy for the Rams to give up at that point. But proudly, Rockford had nothing to do with giving up, and the last few minutes of the second period were controlled by the Rams. It appeared that they had something to build upon going into the third period.
Both teams came out in the third with an aggressive, but clean, brand of hockey. Just two minutes into the third, Rockford finally found a way to get the puck in the net and get on the scoreboard. Erik Datema, while driving hard to the Cougar net, buried the puck in the back by picking up a rebound off the shot of Nathan Hill, who, along with Justin Ullrey, was credited with assists.
Rockford turned up the pressure and it appeared that Catholic Central realized that Rockford was not going to lie down for this one. Midway through the final period, Rockford got on the board again when Zach Vandawater got a pass to Cam Bathum, who slid to the middle of the high slot and fired a blistering slap shot that was stopped by the Catholic Central goalie. Immediately, Austin Cantu pounced on the rebound and buried the puck in the back of the net to trim the Catholic Central lead to two goals.
Rockford, smelling an opportunity to capitalize on their momentum, played an aggressive offensive style, putting pressure on the Cougar defense. With just over two minutes left in the game, Datema got his second goal of the game with assists going to Hill and Ullrey.
Only down by one goal, Rockford called a timeout and it was time to set up the offense to get the puck in deep, pull the goalie, and work on tying up the game. The Rams were able to get the puck in deep in the Catholic Central zone. They were able to get their goaltender pulled. But unfortunately, time ran out before they were able to put up the tying goal. This was one game that felt like Rockford just ran out of time and, had the game had gone a bit longer, the result could have definitely been different.
After a well-played game by both teams, each will begin their respective state championship runs this week. Tuesday, March 1, Catholic Central took on Kenowa Hills, while Thursday, March 3, Rockford travels to Traverse City and will take on the winner of the Traverse City West/Manistee game.


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Too Extreme?
In nearly every respect, it was a rosy year for energy drinks. Salesfi remained high, the category continued to expand, and a parade offi new drinks and hybrids found their way to market.
Despite their youth, energy drinks have become as mainstream a partfi of the beverage economy as any other product. Rockstar sales reps holdfi tastings in corporate cafeterias; Monster is marketing a coffee/energyfi hybrid; Pimp Juice is hyping its antioxidant content. Projections showfi the category could hit $10 billion by 2010.
Things should continue to go well. If, that is, consumers can stay outfi of the emergency room. Because last year brought some of the worstfi headlines the category has seen to date. A pair of well-documented healthfi scares – and a product named for an addictive street drug – brought afi deeper, panicked level of scrutiny to the manufacture and marketingfi of energy drinks. At a time when Americans' concerns about caffeinefi consumption are growing and functional beverages and foods are undergoingfi government review, it may be that the future of the energy drinkfi category is hazier than it appears.
What's causing the negative attention? In the past year, it's been a triofi of energy drinks whose pumped-up caffeine content (more than 30 mgfi per fluid ounce – between three and four times that of a typical energyfi drink) has led some industry members to assess them as a new segmentfi – Extreme. Two of the products, Spike Shooter and Redline, are madefi by nutritional supplement companies. Both caused national headlinesfi when, after drinking them, consumers were hospitalized with symptomsfi resembling caffeine overdoses. A third drink, Cocaine, caused a tempestfi in a slim can due to its inflammatory name.
As a result, the image of energy drinks – always more motocrossfi than merry-go-round – has sustained some damage. And the possibilityfi of another acute reaction – or another wave of bad press – is causingfi some industry observers to look with concern at the extreme end offi the energy spectrum.
"We talk about it a lot," said James Foster, who runs thefi Web site EnergyFiend.com, which tracks caffeine in beveragesfi and has become a resource for consumers and thefi media. "All there needs is one bad accident to happen, justfi one event where someone gets damaged, and the whole categoryfi is going to come under scrutiny in a negative way."
Regulation, Inside and Out
This spring, a group of beverage marketing executivesfi gathered in the offices of the American Beverage Associationfi (ABA), the first members of a new committee onfi energy drinks. Caffeine concerns were of paramount importance,fi according to Kevin Keane, the ABA's Vice Presidentfi of Communications.
"It's a growing category, and we need to be smarter withfi those issues," Keane said, adding that caffeine "was the bigfi thing we were dealing with."
The end result of the meeting was a recommendation that ABAfi members begin disclosing caffeine content voluntarily, which echoedfi choices by the Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo to start divulging the caffeinefi content of their products.
The recommendation wasn't made with any of the extremefi products in mind – none of their manufacturers arefi ABA members. But the ABA has a long history of fightingfi back against regulation, taking on criticism of the use offi High-Fructose Corn Syrup and sodas in schools with equalfi aplomb. That the group recommended caffeine disclosurefi for its energy drink making members so quickly indicatesfi its awareness of the potential for a public relations debacle.
"Our industry sent a message, in the way they approvedfi this voluntary labeling and put the issue front and center,"fi Keane said.
As for extreme products, he added, the jury is still out.
"It's something that people are aware of, but concernfi hasn't reached a high level yet," he said. "The consumers arefi making their judgment with regard to them. It's such a newfi category, it's still growing, and everyone's seeing how thingsfi are going to progress. And you don't want to overreact tofi things, either. I mean, it's an energy drink."Spiking the Headlines
Keane's right: Most energy drink consumers are aware that caffeine (andfi analogous products like guarana and yerba mate) is their "energy source."fi It's also quite likely that a group of Doherty High School students in Coloradofi Springs, Colo. were aware of the high levels of caffeinefi in Spike Shooter when they started buying it at a nearbyfi 7-Eleven, particularly since there's a pretty big warning labelfi across the top along with (just like Redline) a recommendationfi that first-time consumers try a half-can to start.
Nevertheless, after drinking Spike Shooter, a pair of thefi students were taken to the hospital – one, infamously, leftfi school in a wheelchair. Many more complained of alarmingfi reactions like vomiting and heart palpitations. The falloutfi for the company was immediate, as the media, includingfi CNN, descended on the school and began looking at energyfi drinks with a more jaundiced eye.
Surprisingly, since the story broke, rather than scaringfi consumers off, Spike Shooter's sales seem to have increased.
"We've had some pretty unbelievable experiences alreadyfi with the media, and we know any little thing can become afi major ordeal," said Greg Guss, Spike Shooter's Vice Presidentfi of Marketing. "We're doing whatever we can to avoidfi that. When we do sampling, we card anyone who isn't 18.fi Beyond that, we can't prevent people from abusing thefi product."
Spike Shooter is manufactured by Biotest, a nutritionalfi supplement manufacturer whose products typically sellfi in GNC or Vitamin Shoppe. The RTD product was introducedfi in those channels, but last year began a periodfi of rapid growth through convenience stores. Recently,fi Spike Shooter was approved by Haralambos Beverage Co.,fi a major Southern California distributor, and, despite thefi incident in Colorado Springs, it is apparently on trackfi to wrangle more shelf space in 7-Eleven, as well. Not thatfi there aren't concerns.
"We're going very, very slowly," said Raj Singh, the beverage buyer forfi 7-Eleven's 840-store Central Region. "In Colorado, there are some storesfi selling $40 or $50 worth of products a day. We're not going to be very aggressive,fi but we don't want to miss that opportunity."
Singh confirmed that the product is spreading in hisfi Colorado stores, and that, starting in Las Vegas, 7-Eleven isfi looking into the possibility of carrying Spike Shooter on anfi even wider basis. But he is still leery.
"We have a little bit of concern," he said. "There are thefi stories that all of the caffeine seems to make the kids hyper."
Hyper is one thing. But emergency room visits are a biggerfi problem, according to Foster. He believes that mostfi consumers – and media – won't make the distinction betweenfi hardcore products and regular energy drinks if anotherfi incident takes place.
"If they're marketed the same way, they'll all be tarredfi with the same brush," Parker said. "It'll affect the whole category,fi surely. You don't want hysterical media coming out."
Playing to Hysterics
Hysteria was certainly on software developer Jamey Kirby'sfi mind when he decided to make an extreme energy drink of his own.fi His tech background made him want to name his product "Downloadfi Energy," but when that was already registered elsewhere, he decided tofi go for broke.
He called it "Cocaine."
"The more you think about it, it's the ultimate name for an energyfi drink," Kirby said. "Because it's rebellious and irreverent,fi the core market for energy drinks would go crazy about it.fi We figured it would be a great name, and a lot of peoplefi would buy the drink. It was a limited demographic, but wefi figured the market would make up its mind."
Kirby said the market response was huge – he estimatesfi he shipped 200,000 cases and had 50,000 more ordered infi the first weeks that the product received publicity. But thefi tide of public opinion quickly turned.
"We were prepared to get beat up," he said. "And we gotfi free publicity – I don't think we spent more than $15,000fi on advertising. But we never, ever expected the backlash."
Politicians and parents demanded Cocaine be removedfi from shelves, and the company recalled its remaining cans, twice re-labeling them. Now, Kirby is selling "No Name Energy" (write infi your own name!) domestically while he markets Cocaine in Europe.The backlash over Cocaine was a much bigger concern than caffeine tofi mainstream beverage marketers, according to Keane.
"We don't hear from members about the risks of caffeine so much as somefi of the marketing practices," he said. "People know what they're buying whenfi they buy energy drinks. But it's some of the names that seem to cross the linefi of acceptability with the consumer. Cocaine obviously didn't work."
Still, it's not as if mainstream energy drinks don't already push thefi edge of taste as it is. Most energy drinks, in fact, carry tough-sounding orfi obscene names, and many also carry hyperbolic warnings of their own.fi The image that helped the category grow, Keane admits, might havefi created a situation where it is hard to separate the areas of real concernfi from the hype.
"As with all of the products, a lot of it is marketing," he said.
According to Foster, problems arise when, in a forest of extremesoundingfi drinks, the ones that actually have extra potency don't seem tofi be any different from those that don't. While Cocaine challenged peoplefi with its name, there wasn't much discussion of its potency as compared tofi other drinks – even though it was one of the strongest around. Similarly,fi Spike Shooter and Redline are expected by their manufacturers to be merchandisedfi in the energy drink cooler, right next to Red Bull, despite thefi difference in kick.
Redline, for example, has chemicals added that add a fat-burning, "thermogenicfi shiver" effect to its potent level of caffeine. With its rounded topfi and an appearance that makes it look a little less like a traditional energyfi drink, it might seem geared to a different niche.
But not according to Redline's CEO, Jack Owoc, who noted, whenfi interviewed by electronic mail, that the best place for mainstream retailersfi to sell his products is "in coolers and on shelves (end caps would be better!)fi next to other energy drinks."
Spike Shooter also attempts to identify itself as both a product thatfi is specifically designed to help athletes work out better, and as a mainstreamfi energy drink, as well.
"We design a lot of products for elite level athletes," Guss said. "Nofi one wants to drink 24 ounces of something before an elite level workout.fi (Ultimate Fighting Champion) Randy Couture wouldn't do thatfi before he works out."
"But," Guss added, "It's also a great mixer. The reason we created Spikefi is that we believe traditional energy drinks didn't deliver on their promise.fi If you want to call Spike 'hardcore,' we'll call it hardcore, but this is whatfi energy drinks should have been all along."
It's that split personality – how many elite level athletes prep for theirfi workouts at 7-Eleven? – that might undermine the entire category.
"You can provide all the warnings you want, but it comes down again tofi a marketing issue," Foster said. "If these things are marketed as a standardfi energy drink, they're going to have a problem. 14-year-olds, they'll justfi scarf them down."
Over-Caffeinated Complaining?
Given caffeine's established place in American culture, concerns about excessivefi caffeine in any drink can sound overblown. It's not as if consumersfi are strangers to the product: worldwide, there are more than 13,000fi Starbuck's franchises doling out their own, particularly high-test brand offi coffee. Starbucks can reach 23 mg per fluid ounce.
As one mainstream energy drink executive puts it, he's sick of "thefi mother who's saying that she'd never let her son or daughter drink somethingfi like [an extreme energy drink] when she's on her third latte."
And despite publicity surrounding bad reactions to the high levelsfi of caffeine in energy drinks, it takes a near-undrinkable amount to causefi a fatality. In the vast majority of well-publicized but non-fatal caffeinefi overdoses nationwide (six incidents in California related directly to Redline'sfi RTD product notwithstanding), the culprits were caffeine pills,fi rather than beverages.
But extreme products are influential, and there's something of an armsfi race going on. One mainstream brand, Wired Energy aims its X344 andfi X505, with 178 mg of caffeine per 8 oz. serving, at serious caffeine junkies.fi Meanwhile, BooKoo, a fast-growing brand, has a line of 5.75 oz. "energyfi shots" with about 120 mg of concentrated caffeine. Even Coke now ownsfi NOS, which packs 173 mg of caffeine into an 11 oz. bottle.
It has the potential to become a larger issue because, prior to the morefi extreme products, energy drinks' caffeine content never really matchedfi their sales rhetoric. Until now.
For a long time, even if they aren't particularly "amped" with extra caffeine,fi the vast majority of energy drink brands tried to appear that way,fi in name and image, almost universally daring their consumers to "slam"fi them. That attitude helped the category growth.
But in a marketing environment like that, with a Monster or a Kronikfi or a Full Throttle in your sights, it's easy to see why going hardcore, regardlessfi of the potential pitfalls is tempting for manufacturers.
"We were following the trend in the energy drink business," saysfi Kirby, from the offices of Cocaine energy. "There were edgy drinks, therefi were already drug names, so we said, 'Hey, let's take it all the wayfi to the top.'"


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The Complete Self Care Guide - "Worthy"
The Reflection Journal - "What's Behind"
The 45-minute Self Care Workshop
Emotion Reflection Guide
Boundaries Mini-Course (Email)
The Self Care Workshop
The Self-Care Guide - "Worthy"
© Tend and Mend, Kylie Bennett 2019. Privacy, Disclaimer, Terms of Use
I'm Kylie. I'm a small-town California girl turned mental health therapist. Favorite things: babies (but don't have my own!), comfy pants, and taking too many pictures. I'm all about realistic self-care, mental health for everyone, and personal growth even if you hate that phrase (cause I do!).


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In the securities industry, more than ever, legal, compliance and operations professionals need access to in-depth expertise and sophisticated technology to meet increasingly complex and stringent obligations.
When it comes to personal account dealing compliance, Wolters Kluwer Financial Services offers proven solutions built on expertise you can trust to brokerages, investment advisers, mutual funds and hedge funds to meet the rigorous regulatory compliance requirements.
OneSumX GRC for Employee Compliance automates monitoring of personal account dealing as well as gifts and hospitality processes.


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Say hello to people who are learning English vocabulary and grammar online. Tell us who you are, where you're from, why you study English, etc.
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Hello everyone. I am Nghi truong.I am glad to join this forum.I have just came to US.My English is poor but I like to study English too much.So please help me.Thank you.
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VIENNA (Reuters) - The European Commission will make a proposal next year for a joint agency for shoring up or closing troubled banks, Michel Barnier, the commissioner in charge of financial regulation, said on Monday.
He told reporters that EU leaders would, as agreed, wrap up by year's end a deal to adopt common banking supervision in the euro zone, whose implementation would follow in 2013 and 2014.
It will then move on to plans for a body to tackle lenders in difficulty, with the goal of having banks - and not taxpayers - clean up problems that arise in the financial sector.
"The second stage is a proposal in 2013 for a European resolution agency," he said, adding this would have broad legal powers and work closely with national authorities.
"If we have unified supervision then we need at the end a European authority for resolution that has to have certain legal responsibility because resolution is a different matter than supervision," he said.
The European Central Bank is set to get ultimate responsibility for supervising the more than 6,000 banks in the euro zone, although national supervisors are likely to retain most day-to-day oversight duties.
Some central bankers worry that if the ECB gets too much responsibility for supervising banks, this may prove unmanageable and backfire later, hurting its image if it fails to spot problems and take action.
One solution to this would be to separate the resolution authority, responsible for winding up troubled banks, from the supervisor. Locating the agency away from the central bank would also allow for what one official described as an "arms length" relationship between the agency and the ECB.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel last week cited the need for effective bank supervision and a resolution fund as preconditions for any direct aid to struggling banks via the euro zone's 500 billion euro ($652 billion) European Stability Mechanism bailout fund.
($1 = 0.7674 euros)
Reporting by Michael Shields; Editing by Hugh Lawson


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This is what our delegates tell us they most like about their experience at an Alternative Event:
- "Technology as a leverage in professional services is certainly the way we're all going. Professional services are facing a sink or swim moment: embrace technology and AI or fall into irrelevance. "Cheaper, better, faster" is possible once we incorporate these evolving technologies." Vijay Rathour, Grant Thornton
- "Networking, learning about real-life experiences of using tech." Kiran Shergill, EY
- "Round-table discussions… Variety of approach, e.g. round tables/discussions." Ben Eason, Barclays
- "We've been looking at a lot of this from a silo, so the interactive nature of the conference was quite valuable." Gina Noel D'Ambrosio, BlackRock
- "So nice to see the professions coming together to understand the impact of AI. It makes for a refreshing change." Christie Guimond, Ashurst LLP
- "It's different and therefore well worth attending – good target audience and close to un-missable." John MacMillan, Managing Partner, MacRoberts
- "All of it – it's good to hear from the plenary speeches and learn more from their expertise and the round-table sessions where people could discuss where they are and what they are doing." George Barlow, Aviva
- "(The Summit was) thoroughly worth the two-day time investment! A great opportunity to meet up with peers, discuss common challenges and share experiences." Sarah Gray, Santander UK
- "Honesty in the room – very open conversations. Variety of speakers, round table content. Great mix of lawyers, legal companies and suppliers." Rachel Kerr, Bupa
- "The chance to come together with peers, technology providers and consultants to learn about the different types of technology." Fiona Robb, Schroders
- "Excellent programme/ lots of choice. Very good speakers. Highly relevant to me as CEO of a regional firm." Ian Hopkins, Chief Executive, BP Collins
- "Round-tables provided for interesting discussions and sharing of ideas. Interesting to hear from all the providers in areas which clearly interested them." Samantha Stocker, AIG
- "Speakers, sharing ideas with peer organisations. Sharing experiences." Chetan Mistry, Smith & Williamson
- "It was great to connect with so many people and take part in such active discussions." Nigel Willson, Microsoft
- "Perfect atmosphere to meet like-minded people." Simon Ross, Managing Partner, Seddons


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Three Pack Invisible Socks
We hope you are satisfied with all of your purchases but if you ever need to return an item, you can do so within 14 days from receiving the item.
Please note, we cannot offer refunds on cosmetics and pierced jewellery or on swimwear and lingerie if the hygiene seal is not in place or has been broken. We also cannot offer refunds for customised items, unless there are defects of manufacturing or damage in postage.
Click here to view our full Returns Policy
The exact delivery time for this product is indicated in the description page.
Our delivery times vary per item, this is indicated on the product listing details and can range from 9 days to 25 working days.
Shipping times may be delayed by customs processing and other unpredictable events.
Items may also be shipped individually when bulk ordered, depending on availability and location of stock, this, however, will not affect the shipping costs you pay with us.
Orders are processed over a period of 2 to 10 working days and shipped the following working day.
For any delivery queries: contact us or email: email@example.com and we will be glad to respond to your query.
Three Pack Invisible Socks
A three pack of invisible socks, that are ideal for wear with sneakers and flat shoes. A pack of three colorful socks that will match with your fashion style.
The modern girl can never have too many tights and socks. Style in the all black look or the colorful combination, fishnets and bold pattern fitted nets. Our colorful and stylish play socks with ruffle cuff fittings will add an element of interest to any fashion look. Team our tights with your mini skirt dress downs and match the glitter socks with the trainer shoes sporty look. Patterned dresses in a statement fashion dress down match well with cool toned tights. Find your next tight and stock from our wide collection.Product Details:
- 3 Pack of Socks
- Soft Fabric Blend
- Comfortable Wear
Delivery Details
Item will be processed between 4 to 5 working days.
Delivery will be by Standard delivery: From 9 to 15 working days UK mainland from sent out date.
International standard deliveries vary from 15 working days to 20 working days from sent out date.


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Helen Shapiro sings 'Queen For Tonight'
Helen Shapiro started her singing career at age 14.
In 1961, at the age of fourteen, she had two number one hits in the UK: "You Don't Know" and "Walkin' Back to Happiness"; and, indeed, her first four single releases all went into the top three of the UK Singles Chart. Her mature voice made her an overnight sensation, as well as the youngest female chart topper in the UK. (At a mere 14 years and 316 days old when "You Don't Know" hit the top, she was nevertheless a year older than Frankie Lymon had been when "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" hit the UK number one slot in 1956.)
Beatles were her supporting act!
Before she was sixteen years old, Shapiro had been voted Britain's 'Top Female Singer', and when The Beatles had their first national tour it was as her supporting act. The Beatles even wrote the song "Misery" for her but, inexplicably, EMI decided not to record her singing it.
Information from Wikipedia, for more on Helen Shapiro click here
An Interesting Find Here -
Helen with The Beatles singing 'Look Who It Is'
Helen Shapiro sings 'Walking Back To Happiness-1970'
Helen Shapiro Speaks in 2007
In a rare interview, Helen speaks about her singing career.


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I know every mother thinks the years go by for their child way too fast, but 2 years! Wow!
You truly are my sunshine kid. You bring so much happy into my life! Oh and the faces you pull out! You are such a performer.
Things I'm enjoying about you right now:
- I love how much you love jam. I think it's your favourite food. When you wake up in the morning that's the first thing you ask for. And if I ask you what you want for lunch, that's your answer.
- I love when you run in circles in the living room and giggle. You have the best laugh.
- I love your obsession with a "pen"(cil) and paper. If I had to guess, I'd think you're going to be an artist (my walls can attest). Or maybe a writer. You always want us to write letters (mostly B), even though I don't think you actually know any of them by sight.
- I love how much you love pink. No one taught you that. In fact, I pushed purple on you. But pink won. It was the first colour you could say and you love it.
- I'm glad you still like to cuddle. Even if it's something you could literally do all day long if I let you and that doesn't work for my schedule.
- I think it's funny that you like to sing along to Lea Michelle singing Firework (I hate Katy Perry so I refused to use that version). My choir sang it as part of our radio hits concert so I made a CD of all the songs to practice in the car. You get so excited whenever it comes on because you like to sing the "ah, ah, ah" parts.
- Your obsession with Toopy and Binoo cracks me up. You totally got it from your sister. But the way you sing that theme song.... Ha!
- I like how you like to have your hair done every day. Well at least in theory. You like the after result. :)
- You hate pasta. I've tried to get you to like it. But there's no getting around it. It's just not your favourite. Well, except for spaghetti. Obviously we will have to teach you that in our family, we pretend we're Italian. Good thing you like bread.
- You are very observant. You are well aware when we pass anywhere in the car that has treats for kids. Like when we pass the grocery store you point and shout "Cookie!"
- I love how excited you get when you get to do something just like your sister. "Too!" is one of the phrases you utter often.
- You love anything fun and never want it to have to end. Bedtime is such torture for you. So are naps. You wish you could play all day.
- You are very independent. Recently you've started wanting to fill your own cups with water from the bathroom tap (the only one you can reach). But then you end up with warm cups of water because you can't reach the cold tap.
Love Mommy, Daddy and Madelyn


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- Online Games
- Adventure Games
- Scary Cinema
Related Games - continue your journey on Abroy.com with one of these games!
Scary Cinema
Download the free Flash Player. now!
Scary Cinema - Scary Cinema Escape 58th point and click escape game from crazy escape games. While investigating an old abandoned scary cinema you realized that you have been locked in, panic has set in and now its up to you to solve the fiendish puzzles and brain teasers to make your daring escape. Good Luck and Have Fun!


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Continuously Monitoring the Haystack (Needle Inventory Report)
March 24, 2011 Leave a comment
In the previous two posts (Part 1 here and Part 2 here) I first shot down the much over-used "Finding a Needle in a Haystack" analogy by showing that the problem facing IT security professionals is far more complex and then defining a new approach that will find the <unknown> in a <ill-defined, shifting maelstrom>. I closed the second post by adding a "but wait, there is more", so here it is: what if I told you that the approach I described not only solves the needle in the haystack problem, it also provides an innovative approach to continuous monitoring and situational awareness. Without changing the core process one iota.
Think of it – this is like inventing cold fusion and finding out that the solution repairs the ozone layer. Or inventing a beer that tastes great and is less filling. Or something like that.
To recap, my thesis is that the analogy assumes that you know are looking for a known thing in a well-defined and completely homogenous population, when in fact we do not what we are looking for in most cases and the machine population that doubles as our proverbial haystack is anything but well-defined and completely homogenous. Therefore, the proper expression of "Finding a Needle in a Haystack" is in fact "Finding an <unknown> in a <ill-defined, shifting maelstrom>".
I then outlined how you could solve the problem by first building a normalized view of the endpoint population to create a baseline of the ill-defined, shifting maelstrom, effectively giving you a haystack. Then you could continuously monitor machines for changes under the assumption that any change may be someone introducing something to your haystack. By analyzing and grouping the changes and using the baseline as context, you could then assess the impact of those changes to the machine and determine if the changes represented a needle (malicious attack) or just more hay.
Now for the continuous monitoring part. Because I do not know what I am looking for, I have no choice but to scan everything persistent on the host machine. Since I am building my normalized model on the server, I have to move the raw data to the server and store that data into some form of data repository. Logic dictates that the repository that I use to power the process of finding needles in the haystack can be used as the data source for all forms of situational awareness and continuous monitoring activities.
It gets better! I can perform those activities without incurring any additional burden on the endpoints or on the network. I can ask questions of the repository without the need to collect additional data from the endpoints. Most solutions use an agent that scans only segments of the data, or use an agentless scan to collect segments of the data. If either is not currently scanning the data needed, the process has to be altered and repeated. For example, a new scan script might have to be pushed to the agents. Furthermore, organizations often run multiple scans using different tools, each dutifully thrumming the endpoints for data and often times collecting much of the same information collected by the scan that ran an hour earlier.
Of course, I must continuously refresh the data in my repository to be accurate. Luckily, I already thought of that, and I am using my agent-based precision to detect and cache changes on each host machine in a very efficient way. I then send those changes to the server once per day and use the changes to refresh the repository. Given I have a large number of data attributes that rarely change, sending only the changes across the wire keeps the network burden to a minimum. Obviously, I have to move down a full scan when I initially deploy the agent, but for subsequent updates using the change-data-capture approach results in comparatively small answer sets per machine per day.
My result? I have a complete repository of the granular data for each endpoint machine efficiently collected and managed and available for reporting and analysis. I can feed my highly sophisticated information portals, scorecarding processes, and advanced analytics. I can build integrations to feed other systems and applications in my security ecosystem. I can create automated data feeds such as the feed required to comply to the FISMA CyberScope monthly reporting requirement. Best of all, this activity does not require me to go back to the endpoint ceaselessly for more information.
I have implemented true continuous monitoring and comprehensive situational awareness without running any incremental data collection processes. I am continuously scanning every persistent attribute on every machine. My data collection routine to find the needles in my haystack is the only data collection process required! You want situational awareness? From this data I can readily produce reports for application inventories, patch inventories, vulnerabilities, and non-compliance with policies and configurations. I can tell you the machines that have had a USB key plugged into them in the past week.
I can keep history of my machine scans and show you the detail of the granular elements of what I am scanning. Think of the impact for investigating incidents on a machine. You could pull up the snapshot for any given day, or select two dates and generate a summary of the diffs between the two images so you could see exactly what changed on the machine. .
I am just getting started. Since I have my normative baseline in place to interpret the changes I detect on each machine, I can also provide reports on anomalous applications and other activity that is exceptional.
To recap, the data collection processes required to implement my approach to finding the <unknown> in a <ill-defined, shifting maelstrom> provides true continuous monitoring and broad situational awareness. Or you could say that my approach is a continuous monitoring solution that can identify the<unknown> in a <ill-defined, shifting maelstrom>. Either way, what results is an accurate picture of my <ill-defined, shifting maelstrom> without having to run any additional scans or data collection, so I get the benefits without incremental burden to the endpoint machines or the network.
But wait, there is more.


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Using water as a cooling medium
In the interests of acting sustainably, Kampmann GmbH is supporting the trend towards
cooling media that have low potential to cause global warming. In this context, the use
of water in particular as the heat transfer medium in the building makes it possible to provide environmentally responsible air conditioning. H2O has a global warming potential (GWP1) of zero, meaning it has a uniquely low greenhouse effect. Unlike other "natural" refrigerants, moreover, water is neither toxic nor inflammable.
An air conditioning system for buildings that uses a medium such as water to transfer
the cooling energy has enormous advantages over extensive direct evaporation pipe systems that require large quantities of refrigerant.
Versatile to use
Since they use water as the medium, chilled water air conditioning systems can be readily extended with a wide range of products. It is, thus, very easy to integrate components with high ecological value such as CHP units, wood fired boilers and solar-driven heat generators and chillers, as well as a large number of different terminal appliances.
Advantageously priced
In selecting this system, while its installation costs are similar to those of a direct evaporation system, the primary focus will be on its running costs. The lower volume of refrigerant required, the overall efficiency and the opportunity to integrate resource efficient systems all argue in favour of chilled water air conditioning systems.
Sustainable in terms of procurement
Since legislators are making high demands of air conditioning systems in terms of ecological compatibility, regulations have been developed that prescribe a minimum standard of energy efficiency and that limit or prohibit the use of various refrigerants. These requirements are constantly changing, meaning that the chillers themselves sometimes have to be replaced. With a chilled water system, it is significantly easier to adapt to changing conditions.
Given the ecological and economic benefits of water-based cooling equipment, it is possible to provide affordable and environmentally responsible air conditioning for buildings, for today and for the future.
1) The GWP expresses the factor by which a gas such as a refrigerant, when released into the atmosphere, increases the natural greenhouse effect, compared with the same mass of CO2 (measured as CO2 equivalent; the GWP of one molecule of CO2 is 1)