text:
Happy April Fools'!
40 comments:
HAHA! I was wondering about a few things...but you and your pup looked so cute I didn't think much of it-what a genius prank!ReplyDelete
I swear, both breeds are awesome. I think you have my two favorite breeds there.ReplyDelete
7% Solution
you got me! but really, I love that puppy cape, so you could have told me just about anything while I was looking at it and I would have said "oh yes!"ReplyDelete
Haha i genuinely thought you'd changed it!ReplyDelete
Haha I knew it's April Fool :D! <3ReplyDelete
I'm kinda sad... and I totally fell for it! Haha.ReplyDelete
That is funny because I noticed all the things you hadn't changed on your blog for the new name...like the little blurb below for commenting.ReplyDelete
Still in love with a dog in a cape though : )
Well, shoot. You totally got me. I really did think you changed it. BAGELS WOULD HAVE STILL BEEN CUTE! I'm still on board. ;)ReplyDelete
I love that last one! And yeah, you totally got me! I guess I shouldn't have launched my new layout and blog name on April Fools day lol!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 2, 2013 at 8:22 AM
You have been the only one to trick me. SO A THOUSAND POINTS TO YOU. :) Hah.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 2, 2013 at 8:28 AM
And I like bagels, for the record.ReplyDelete
What, I totally missed this yesterday!! What a fun joke though :)ReplyDelete
Man you totally got me Katherine! I was actually really sad! LOL That's why I hate April Fool's Day. I am so gullible, I fall for anything!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 2, 2013 at 10:33 AM
So mean. :PReplyDelete
hahah that was adorable, i very much liked it. it gave your other pup a moment to shine ;)ReplyDelete
xo Marlen
Messages on a Napkin
I saw that on Instagram yesterday and thought, how cute and clever are you! Gotta say - you are the queen of full skirts. Every time I see one, I think of you now :-) This one is so pretty and love it with the coral-pink. Once I'm not pregnant anymore, I need to invest in more of them! <3 MarisaReplyDelete
That pup's outfit is fierce. ;) Glad your blog is staying the same. Not even bagels are better that puppies and booze.ReplyDelete
Haha, I love your april fools joke! And I love you in this adorable skirt!ReplyDelete
xo, Yi-chia
Always Maylee
Ha-ha you got me as well! :) That was a good one Katherine!ReplyDelete
This was definitely my favourite blog related April Fool's, I've got to admit it wasn't really sure if it was true or not until I saw you had tagged it April Fools xoReplyDelete
Haha I've only just found your blog & read this but hahaha how funny! I've never heard of bloggers pulling April Fools - I might have to try next year!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 2, 2013 at 2:31 PM
I didn't notice the header until after I commented, it was so cute!ReplyDelete
haha i thought it was a prank, but it would still be cute! my dogs would love to hijack my blog though haha. they would just try to solicit treats from all my readers :)ReplyDelete
-- jackiejade.blogspot.com
Oh man. I totally forgot it was April Fool's. I saw the change and just nodded my head, "Okay. I like pink." Ha ha.ReplyDelete
Thumbelina's Wardrobe
Gah, even your bloopers look cute! I LOVE the puppy cape. Is it bad I want to make one even though I don't have a dog? Also, this skirt is awesome!ReplyDelete
Hope you're having a wonderful day!
xo Hannah
To be honest, in the beginning I did believe. First because I forgot that was April's fool ans second... that's all. I like it as it is! :DReplyDelete
Sofia G
Haha you are AWESOME, I had no idea.ReplyDelete
Your skirt is AMAZING!ReplyDelete
Haha! This was a great joke and the work that went into it- of course it looked so nice, easy to doubt it was a joke. You look lovely.ReplyDelete
Oh man...I was hoping it was all a joke. Of Corgis & Cocktails is just such a good title! And I thought it'd be odd and confusing to change it suddenly now when you have gained so many readers! That was a good prank, though. :) By the way...I love how you look in pink! It's funny...neither of us really like pink, but I think we both pull it off pretty well!ReplyDelete
hahahah I am so gullible too - I think I fell for every april fools joke I came across!ReplyDelete
Lady à la Mode
Hah, you totally got me with that one! I remember looking at it yesterday thinking "Well, that's sort of out of the blue but hey, awesome!" (Plus she's such a little cutie in her cape!) Since you managed to pull that one off, I think I'll have to nominate you for best April's Fool Blogger, everyone else's pranks were fairly transparent.ReplyDelete
Haha! I wondered but didn't want to say it in case it really wasn't! It really was a cute layout with all the pink and the blog name was just so adorable! Thanks for the laugh!!ReplyDelete
haha! Awesome joke :D Can I say that this outfit is absolutely perfect and I LOVE it on you??? Seriously fabulous!ReplyDelete
love the two shades of pink with black and white just gorgeous!ReplyDelete
XO Ilana @ My Modern Vintage
Raynor definitely looks like a nice companion. Looks like Raynor enjoyed the DIY cape too! =D You both look so comfortable together =)ReplyDelete
You are a genius, that has got to be the funniest April Fools blog idea ever! I saw that the other day and I was thinking bright pink...interesting. I'm glad I didn't comment anything there! Ha!ReplyDelete
perfectly priya
This is hilarious and very well thought out! :)ReplyDelete
Hahahah. I didn't want to say it...but I was sort of sad, you are good!ReplyDelete
I was so sad that I missed this! hahahaReplyDelete
Thank you for visiting and reading this post! We're excited to read your comment - and even if we aren't always able to get back to you, we read these together. Definitely feel free to hit us up on Twitter also - @kmuchadoo or @jamcadoo


text:
About 15 years ago, MIT professors Robert Langer and Michael Cima had the idea to develop a programmable, wirelessly controlled microchip that would deliver drugs after implantation in a patient's body. This week, the MIT researchers and scientists from MicroCHIPS Inc. reported that they have successfully used such a chip to administer daily doses of an osteoporosis drug normally given by injection.
The results, published in the Feb. 16 online edition of Science Translational Medicine, represent the first successful test of such a device and could help usher in a new era of telemedicine — delivering health care over a distance, Langer says.
"You could literally have a pharmacy on a chip," says Langer, the David H. Koch Institute Professor at MIT. "You can do remote control delivery, you can do pulsatile drug delivery, and you can deliver multiple drugs."
In the new study, funded and overseen by MicroCHIPS, scientists used the programmable implants to deliver an osteoporosis drug called teriparatide to seven women aged 65 to 70. The study found that the device delivered dosages comparable to injections, and there were no adverse side effects.
These programmable chips could dramatically change treatment not only for osteoporosis, but also for many other diseases, including cancer and multiple sclerosis. "Patients with chronic diseases, regular pain-management needs or other conditions that require frequent or daily injections could benefit from this technology," says Robert Farra, president and chief operating officer at MicroCHIPS and lead author of the paper.
"Compliance is very important in a lot of drug regimens, and it can be very difficult to get patients to accept a drug regimen where they have to give themselves injections," says Cima, the David H. Koch Professor of Engineering at MIT. "This avoids the compliance issue completely, and points to a future where you have fully automated drug regimens."
Achieving precision
The MIT research team started working on the implantable chip in the mid-1990s. John Santini, then a University of Michigan undergraduate visiting MIT, took it on as a summer project under the direction of Cima and Langer. Santini, who later returned to MIT as a graduate student to continue the project, is also an author of the new paper.
In 1999, the MIT team published its initial findings in Nature, and MicroCHIPS was founded and licensed the microchip technology from MIT. The company refined the chips, including adding a hermetic seal and a release system that works reliably in living tissue. Teriparatide is a polypeptide and therefore much less chemically stable than small-molecule drugs, so sealing it hermetically to preserve it was an important achievement, Langer says.
The human clinical trial began in Denmark in January 2011. Chips were implanted during a 30-minute procedure at a doctor's office using local anesthetic, and remained in the patients for four months. The implants proved safe, and patients reported they often forgot they even had the implant, Cima says.
Chips used in the study stored 20 doses of teriparatide, individually sealed in tiny reservoirs about the size of a pinprick. The reservoirs are capped with a thin layer of platinum and titanium that melts when a small electrical current is applied, releasing the drug inside. MicroCHIPS is now working on developing implants that can carry hundreds of drug doses per chip.
Because the chips are programmable, dosages can be scheduled in advance or triggered remotely by radio communication over a special frequency called Medical Implant Communication Service (MICS). Current versions work over a distance of a few inches, but researchers plan to extend that range.
Consistent results
In the Science Translational Medicine study, the researchers measured bone formation in osteoporosis patients with the implants, and found that it was similar to that seen in patients receiving daily injections of teriparatide. Another notable result is that the dosages given by implant had less variation than those given by injection.
Henry Brem, professor of neurosurgery, ophthalmology, oncology and biological engineering at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, called the results "stunning."
"It's very rare to find a paper that is really a breakthrough in technology," says Brem, who was not part of the research team. "It fulfills the promise of polymer drug delivery and the incredible sophistication of microchip capabilities."
Once a version of the implant that can carry a larger number of doses is ready, MicroCHIPS plans to seek approval for further clinical trials, Farra says. The company has also developed a sensor that can monitor glucose levels. Eventually such sensors could be combined with chips that contain drug reservoirs, creating a chip that can adapt drug treatments in response to the patient's condition.
tavish baker
February 17, 2012
Professor Langer will be offering a short course on July 9-13 on Controlled Release Technology: Polymeric Delivery Systems for Pharmaceuticals, Proteins, and Other Agents.
Review the field and assess the prospects of future developments in the delivery and stabilization of chemicals and drugs. Topics include delivery methods and applications, with emphasis on controlled release in the pharmaceutical and medical fields. Regulatory and patent considerations will be addressed.
If interested in attending or learning more, please visit:
February 17, 2012
How are microCHIPS released from the body? Will the drugs stay stable when stored inside the body?
Michael Plasmeier
February 21, 2012
Are the researchers considering security? It sounds like they are not:
"Current versions work over a distance of a few inches, but researchers plan to extend that range."
Why would I want the range extended?
Rajesh Gupta
February 21, 2012
How about coming out with a device that is implanted in the human, with a plugin for feeding into the system via a slot or something. This will allow different medications with different dosages to be administered into the system. Just change the external supply. Now, the downside to that could be that it could be abused by druglords where they would start coming up with these devices also.
Even so, this is a great concept! Congratulations to the whole team!
Muhammad Ashari
February 21, 2012
We all know the most drawback of chips will be vulnerable to the magnetic interferences. How do you explain this problem to the patients?
February 21, 2012
This is a great solution however few questions are not answered yet but they are critical questions.
what happen to the melted platinum and titanium? what if these metals develop a serious chemical reaction to the medication?
Are the melted platinum and titanium will also go the body of the patient? if yes then over the time might develop a serious problem.
How does the microchip get charged?and how long the charge lasts?
What if the Micro Chip get impacted by any other radio frequencies?
what if electric charge activate more than one reservoirs? is there any system to avoid this?
Kind regards,
February 20, 2015
Is one chip for one dosage or is there any way to load enough amount to release drug for example every single day for 2 years. If it is, how melted platinum will be regenerated after each dosage. And how the device will be discharged from the body at the end?
Rex Bull
June 29, 2015
As a 14 year suffer of Central Pain Syndrome, can this device work on delivering pain medication to my brain to stop my chronic leg pain. I have no life other than staying in bed and I want nothing better then to be apart of life not an inside bed hugger. Please consider me for your newest drug delivery device.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
StorTrends StorAID product support provides customers the flexibility they require to meet their critical business needs. StorAID Support Plans provide Next Business Day (NBD) hardware replacement and 24×7 phone support. StorAID support plans come with StorAID S.O.S. – an automated email alert monitoring system.
StorAID support plans are offered in 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year terms with 1-year extensions available. All StorTrends StorAID plans are supported from AmZetta headquarters in Atlanta, GA to provide customers with the highest quality and around-the-clock support in the storage industry.


text: How to Keep Communication Personal in the Digital Age March 20, 2018 by Mike Montague in Management & Leadership The digital revolution is innovative, inspiring, and even pervasive. We've come a long way in a short period of time, and many of the things we take for granted now weren't even in the realm of possibility a few decades ago. As impressive as they are, the reach and impact of electronics when it comes to communication can have detrimental effects. Below, I identify three important elements that should always be involved in business relationships, no matter how advanced technology becomes. Read more 4 Tips for Building Rapport with Customers February 13, 2018 by Mike Montague in Customer Relationships Customer relationships are the lifeblood of any sellers' career. The ability to attract clients, build rapport, and start sales conversations ultimately determines the level of success that a salesperson will enjoy. You can be an extreme specialist who knows all the tricks of the trade, but without supplementing your knowledge with interpersonal communication skills, you'll fail to connect with your clients or prospects on a deeper level. Building rapport is essential to turn yourself from a transactional seller into a trusted partner. Below I've outlined four ways to strengthen your bond with clients. Read more New Year, New You: 3 Ways to Ensure that Your Sales Resolutions Last January 16, 2018 by Mike Montague in Professional Development A few years ago, we published a blog detailing how to maintain progress towards your new year's resolutions. With the start of 2018 upon us, it's a good time to revisit these tips and see how else we can help drive you to success.In the blog post, Dave shared the importance of holding yourself accountable, partnering up for solidarity, turning your goals into a competition, finding a mentor to support you, and effectively executing your sales process. While all of these tips are important, I want to share a few other insights that I've gained over my years as a Sandler trainer. Read more Five Questions to Ask when Looking for a Mentor January 9, 2018 by Mike Montague in Professional Development In my career, I've been both a mentor and a mentee. I know how important both sides of this relationship are, and what elements are necessary to be successful from both perspectives. Earlier in my career, I went through many mentors and felt that some were more beneficial to my growth than others. Below I have outlined five questions you should ask to ensure you begin a successful relationship with a mentor. Read more How to Avoid Misconceptions about Sales Presentations and Close More Business December 26, 2017 by Mike Montague in Sales Process While many salespeople put forth great effort into mastering the art of presenting, a few key myths can hold people back from closing the sale. Below I've identified three common misconceptions about sales presentations and how to avoid them in order to close more business. Read more The Value of Communicating with Your Client as the Year Ends December 19, 2017 by Mike Montague in Customer Relationships The more opportunities you have to interact with your prospects, the better, and the end of the year is an opportune time to reach out and reconnect with your clients and prospects to get in front of them prior to the new year. Read more Goal Setting for the New Year December 5, 2017 by Mike Montague in Professional Development As a salesperson, it's easy to get wrapped up in your clients' work and forget to save time for your own planning. How do you ensure that you end the current year on a perfect note? It's important to finish strong and finalize your business plan before the calendar turns. Below are three ways to seal a successful year and begin 2018 with a bang. Read more 4 Ways to Prepare for Objections as You Close Out the Year November 28, 2017 by Mike Montague in Professional Development The end of the sales year is a time for reflecting, preparing, and, in some cases, a bit of rushing. As you race to meet or exceed the lofty goals you set for the year, a skill that ties into all three of these areas is overcoming objections. As you follow up with prospects and clients leading into the new year, it's important to be prepared for their excuses and challenges, and ready to respond to them. Below are four ways to prepare for objections that you can put into practice today. Read more Social Selling Tips to Close the Year Strong November 9, 2017 by Mike Montague in Sales Process Later this month, myself and Marketing Director, Lindsey Demetris, are hosting a free webinar detailing how to drive revenues through social selling. We plan on teaching our viewers how to target efficiently, connect appropriately, and build engagement. Read more 3 Simple Ways to Increase Client Referrals October 31, 2017 by Mike Montague in Customer Relationships Getting started in sales, or increasing your success once you've established yourself, can be a very challenging task. One of the hardest parts of this process is securing leads. What's even harder is ensuring those leads are qualified. To grow as a salesperson, mastering this aspect of your career is key. Below I have identified three ways to get qualified referrals. Incorporating these simple tips will help you step up your referral game and uncover a path to new levels of success. Read more See more posts


text:
Brussels, Belgium
Ralph Grabowski needs no introduction to the CAD community. He is an invited speaker today at the Bricsys conference and is speaking on the topic: Trends in software and hardware.
He spoke about the existing as well as upcoming hand-held systems like tablet PC, smartphones and the new direction in which computing is headed.
He compared the situation now to that a decade back when the internet era started to become popular with the common man and started to make a real impact on our lives. Now, he says, 2011 is a year when the mobile computing is becoming real. But desktop computing is not going to die yet.
He made a comparison between the Android-based devices and iOS and is betting on the long-tem victory for open systems like Android.
Discover Bricscad, discover GeoTools-AutoCAD & GeoTools-Bricscad, discover TechCenter . Brand new ways to work smarter in CAD!!


text:
Nigel Kennedy
For over twenty-five years, Nigel Kennedy has been acknowledged as one of the world's leading violin virtuosos and is, without doubt, one of the most important violinists Britain has ever produced. He is the best selling classical violinist of all time.Find Out More
With over forty album releases, fifteen movie/TV soundtracks, two Covent Garden ballets, four ancient Greek plays and five major audio/visual spectaculars to his credit. Vangelis is a pioneering and inspiring figure in the worlds of music and art.Find Out More
Callas in Concert
An unforgettable voice, a sophisticated global star, a world renowned opera singer, Maria Callas, known as "La Divina", is the greatest operatic soprano ever to grace the world's stages. 40 years after her death, Maria Callas is returning to the stage in a stunning "brought to life" hologram experience.Find Out More
The Spanish Riding School of
The Spanish Riding School Vienna is the world's oldest riding academy and can proudly look back on its 440 years of history and tradition. Today their arena performances are in high demand from promoters and audiences alike, in all corners of the globe.Find Out More
The Royal Andalusian Riding School of Equestrian Art
The Royal Andalusian Riding School of Equestrian Art is one of the most prestigious riding schools in the World along with the Vienna Riding School, Cadre Noir in France and the Portuguese School in Lisbon.Find Out More
David Krakauer
Only a select few artists have the ability to convey their message to the back row, to galvanize an audience with a visceral power that connects on a universal level. David Krakauer is such an artist.Find Out More
Mission Impossible 5
In July 2015 the stars of Mission Impossible 5 Rogue Nation and Paramount returned to Vienna for the global launch of the action movie of the year. A huge red carpet was built in front of the Vienna State Opera, where Tom Cruise and his co-stars signed autographs for thousands of fans and gave interviews to world's media.Find Out More
A Midsummer Night's Dream
One of the most famous comedies of theatre literature, Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', is at the same time regarded as the most frequently performed work of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. In this Midsummer night, ghosts, elves, goblins, kings and donkeys get caught up in enchanting confusions.Find Out More
Video Games Live
Video Games Live is a spectacular immersive and interactive concert event featuring the greatest music from the most popular video games of all time. The show dazzles crowds of all ages – gamers and non-gamers alike.Find Out More


text:
Making Knowing: Craft in Art 1950-2019; through January 2021 (floor 6)
Rachel Harrison: Life Hack; closed January 12, 2020 (floor 5)
Thanks largely to a postwar infiltration of feminist and diaspora art (often of a piece) in the West and artists working elsewhere receiving wide exposure in the context of an emerging global scene (if still dominated by the West), distinctions between art and craft in contemporary production have been ostensibly erased. At the same time, long-held gender, cultural and other associations with each term persist. And "craft" most often evokes hand-hewn textile and textural materials … for the better in the "art world," as per this show, in terms of diversity and possibility when juxtaposed with hands-off new media equally ascendant through the same period. Most of the work included seems to acknowledge to at least some degree this semiotic and material lineage, whether as precursor and/or foil, while conveying strongly personal, pliable and luxuriant relation to preferred mediums and techniques.
Both well known, expected suspects and some with less exposure in this context are represented, overwhelmingly (not completely) by examples in the museum's collection, which highlights its ample interest in this direction. Off the elevator, the perfect intro is a fragmented mural (1976) by Ree Morton, comprised of painted pinkish, putty-like, imitation ribbons, flowers, puffy clouds, and make-shift ladders to … heaven, enhanced by literal floating signifiers—incarnate words like "pleasures" and "atmospheres." The hopeful feminist romanticism (small "r") conveyed is refreshing and seems, as well, to incorporate a subtle jab at heroic (male) abstract painting in the gluey strips and skeins of her process. To jump to a personal fave (and then I'll circle back), which shares some of the same underlying sensibilities and offers reason alone to see this show: Liza Lou's near full–scale, pop-up kitchen (c.1990-1995), replete with brand-name, opened food boxes, dishes in the sink, and pie in the oven, sheathed entirely in tiny glittering beads.
Just about everything is engaging visually, with much provocation to jump around via kinship, contrast, comparison. Among first-generationers featured (although works here by them span three decades collectively): aesthetically oppositional sewn soft sculptures by Yayoi Kusama and Claes Oldenburg; a Richard Artschwager cube-table; an Eva Hesse macramé-like ropey hanging; a heavy, draped felt blob by Robert Morris; a cagey, wire-woven abstraction by Ruth Asawa; a lace-like, shimmery canvas by Howardena Pindell; one of Harmony Hammonds's padded rag-swathed scaffold sculpture; an Faith Ringgold painted tangka banner; an open-frame Alan Shields wall work of bead strands; a Miriam Shapiro frilly collaged canvas; small-scale weavings-on-paper by Sheila Hicks, who, forthwith, will be known by many for her monumental yarn column-waterfall recently exhibited at MoMA ("Surrounds: 11 Installations"; 10/21/19-14-20). Hicks is also included in MoMA's current show, "Taking a Thread for a Walk," with an early serial bundled-yarn piece, which highlights more so earlier 20th-century fiber art and therefore offers (among other things) some historical context for the Whitney show. Selections there by Bauhaus frauen Anni Albers and Gunta Stolz may be further appreciated after seeing Elaine Reichek's satirically pedagogic embroidery samplers at the Whitney, one of which bears a quote by a Bauhaus "master" relegating the activity of weaving to women assigned to realized his envisioned textile abstractions.
Along with Lou's tour de force, highlights from the next generation and beyond include: Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt's fragile, flowery flotsam and jetsam dream box, a distant relative of many "containers" by Joseph Cornell; Pepon Osorio's barrio-baroque assemblage-portrait of a shoe-shiner; a super-fly Nick Cave sound suit; a Mike Kelley big-baby blanket incorporating mangy stuffed animals; a very large textile-inspired figurative painting by Njideka Akunyili Crosby; a conceptual piece primarily of found blankets alluding to the Native American foundations of US cities by Marie Watt; a ceramic and straw, regal and demure giantess by Simone Leigh. Of an abundance of more strictly ceramic works, Viola Frey presides with a characteristic painterly-glazed colossus in business attire, along with a self-portrait by parodic peer Robert Arneson; an earthy, rolled and modeled reclining figure by Mary Frank; and a sensual abstracted vessel series by Katy Schimert (whose work I first saw in a Whitney Biennial).
The Rachel Harrison solo (10/25/19-1/12/20) was an apropos complement in several ways. Harrison thrives on very mixed up media, mashing found stuff with artsy-like, painted plaster-y, wood-built structural and ornamental elements. My reaction to the furtive "one person's trash is her own … art" kind of thing was tentative; in fact, the blur of 1990s DIY randomness and Duchampian, gender-astute gesture to which Harrison was party (with Karen Kilimnik and Sarah Lucas, among others) eventually drew me in. Solidifying an allusion to the era, a winning series of tragi-comic drawings depicting Amy Winehouse juxtaposed with scribbled Picasso and DeKooning "women."
But the mainstay of Harrison's oeuvre is gathered and arranged stuff–tools, socks, wigs, racks, partitions, live plants, original sculptural forms and more, which impressed as both absurdist stacks and spreads and responsible, inventive forays into perpetual recycling as make-shift decorating. A key section for me was an apartment-like interior installation within the show. With its flimsy walls papered with photo-blow ups of misaligned faux-wood paneling and other box store improvement projects in progress, it conveyed an ongoing attempt at securing a home-sweet-artist-home.


text:
We're reading a book called Tuck Everlasting, right? And there's an entire family that we call the Tucks? Hmmm. Then why is the main character Winnie Foster?
We're glad we asked. Without Winnie, we would never get that peek into the immortal world of the Tuck family. She definitely gets a gold star for helpfulness on that one, but she's also a super-developed character in her own right. So let's take a look.
When we first meet her, Winnie is not a happy camper. She's ten years old, and she's totally sick of her helicopter family who hovers over her every move:
"See?" said Winnie to the toad. "That's just what I mean. It's like that every minute. If I had a sister or a brother, there'd be someone else for them to watch. But, as it is, there's only me. I'm tired of being looked at all the time. I want to be by myself for a change […] I'm not exactly sure what I'd do, you know, but something interesting—something that's all mine. Something that would make some kind of difference in the world." (3.6)
We're all for parental supervision, but we also know how much it stinks to never have any alone time. You know, time to shine. Because Winnie feels so trapped, she has a major desire to break free. That means that even leaving her own yard turns into a rebellion. Heck, even reaching through the fence to grab a toad feels rebellious. It's no surprise that one of her greatest ambitions early on is "to be by [herself] for a change."
When Winnie gets kind-of-kidnapped by the Tucks, she's in for quite a change. She goes from being a ten-year-old kid with no independence to, well, the belle of the ball who needs to grow up quick.
First, she gets her first crush. We don't know about you, but Shmoop's first crush was a life-changing ordeal. It really makes you feel grown-up, like you have your own desires—something that belongs just to you. Even if it is just in your head.
On top of that, Winnie even plays the role of adult among the Tucks. We find her comforting them when they're down and sticking up for them when they're in trouble. And when the Tucks are telling her their story, the narrator uses language to show us that Winnie is kind of the leader of the pack:
It was the strangest story Winnie had ever heard. She soon suspected they had never told it before, except to each other—that she was their first real audience; for they gathered around her like children at their mother's knee, each trying to claim her attention, and sometimes they all talked at once, and interrupted each other, in their eagerness. (7.1)
If the Tucks are the "children" telling the story, excitedly looking for attention, Winnie is the "mother" whose attention is demanded. It's almost a reversal of what she's used to at home. Sure, she's still the object of everybody's focus, but this kind of attention is flattering and makes her feel grown-up. The attention at home, on the other hand, is almost imprisoning.
While we're on the growing-up-fast topic, nothing will make you mature as quickly as seeing a guy bashed in the head with the base of a shotgun. (Don't try this at home.) What's more, she has to keep everything she knows a total secret. And once she's back with her family, it's pretty obvious that something has changed:
"You mean, [ownership of the wood will come back to our family] if he dies," Winnie had said, flatly, and they had sat back, shocked. Soon after, they put her to bed, with many kisses. But they peered at her anxiously over their shoulders as they tiptoed out of her bedroom, as if they sensed that she was different now from what she had been before. As if some part of her had slipped away. (21.4)
What is it that slipped away from her? Her childhood, maybe? Her innocence? What do you think?
Meeting the Tucks grants Winnie's wish: after all, she does experience "something interesting—something that's all [hers]" (3.6). She gets a secret that's hers for life, an experience that nobody else would ever believe, and a choice nobody else has ever gotten to make. (Oh yeah, and she witnesses a murder and helps a convicted criminal escape execution. NBD.)
Winnie had to give up a lot in order to make her wish come true. Was it worth it?
As you can tell, Winnie's character makes us ask a lot of questions. And some of these questions are pretty deep. We're talking the big guns: the meaning of life and death.
Through the Tucks, Winnie learns that immortality might not be all it's cracked up to be. Remember when Tuck stares enviously at the dying Yellow Suit Guy (20.12)? Winnie definitely notices that. And she knows what it means—Tuck wishes that he, too, had the chance to die. Living forever has gotten kind of old. On the other hand, if she becomes immortal, she has the opportunity to be with Jesse forever. Forever. Not bad for a first crush.
At the end of the book, she realizes that she doesn't have to decide right away. After all, she's still only ten. If Winnie does decide to drink from the spring, she can live her life first, and then pick her moment. In a way, she's got all the power in the world.
As we learn in the epilogue, Winnie decided not to drink. And from what the Tucks say, that's no surprise: "'[Jesse] knowed she wasn't coming. We all knowed that, long time ago'" (Epilogue.27). What about you—were you surprised? What in Winnie's character could have given us a clue that she wouldn't drink, that she'd choose life over immortality?


text:
Fire Pits and Fireplaces Gain Prominence on Patios and in Courtyards of Arizona Custom Homes!
There has always been a fascination with an outdoor fire while camping or spending time outdoors. In Arizona, this fascination has been brought home to the backyard. At Woodridge Custom Builders LLC many of our custom homebuyers want full fireplaces or built-in fire pits incorporated in the landscape of their custom home. Continue reading


text:
question about KA Simple,Rustic loaf
I would like to make the Simple,Rustic loaf from the KA website. It gives amounts for a starter. I have a sourdough starter that I feed with the 1:2:2 method. I need to know how much of my starter to use instead of starting from scratch with theirs. Their recipe calls for: 1 1/2c(12 oz) cool water, 1 1/2c (6 1/4 oz)ap flour and 1/2c (2 oz) pumpernickel flour. I see lots of different conversion things here but I'm not good with them but willing to learn. Also, don't you think I can substitute rye flour for pumpernickel? Thanks for your help.


text:
The average American spends about 25.4 minutes commuting to work, about an hour a day on the road. When self-driving vehicles become widely available (around 2020) commuters may find themselves with at least an extra 4.23 hours a week. (Find the average commute time in your area right here. I could potentially find myself with an extra 5.8 hours a week!) It's as if we can finally squeeze more hours out of our day, but will self-driving cars really make us more productive?
Not so, says the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. Their report "Would Self-Driving Vehicles Increase Occupant Productivity?" found that for 62% of Americans, self-driving vehicles would likely not result in increased productivity. The reasons?
- 36% would be so apprehensive they would only watch the road
- 23% would not ride driverless vehicles
- 3% would frequently experience some level of motion sickness
For the remaining 38% who would take advantage of this free time:
- 11% would read
- 10% would text or talk with family and friends
- 7% would sleep
- 6% would watch movies or television
- 5% would work
- 2% would play games
We launched our own poll on Twitter to gauge whether drivers embrace the idea of being passengers in driverless cars. Even the results of our own not-so-scientific poll were surprising.
Imagine it's 2026. Fully autonomous cars are EVERYWHERE. Would you opt for a #driverless ride? Or keep on driving with your own two hands?
— The Zebra (@TheZebraCo) November 16, 2016
Only 21% of respondents are interested in becoming full-time passengers in autonomous vehicles, even after the tech has been widely adopted. Yikes!
Motion Sickness in Self-Driving Cars
Motion sickness is a big factor of whether driverless car passengers can be productive. Observer reported on a different study released by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute which broke down which activities people were most interested in engaging while in a self-driving car. Almost all of the activities worsen the frequency and severity of motion sickness. The chart below is an excerpt of the study as published by Observer.
Until we can solve the motion sickness problem, self-driving cars will not make us more productive.
What do you think? Can we be productive passengers in self-driving cars? Or, will we just simply look out the windows as we are chauffeured to our destinations? Tell us in the comments below.
More About Self-Driving Cars
Want to know more about self-driving cars? Some further reading:
Answering Every FAQ About Driverless Cars
How Will Driverless Cars Impact Auto Insurance?
Can Humans Be Trusted With Driverless Cars?


text:
"Highway to Hellas" is a new German comedy filmed in the island of Tinos. The plot summary below is taken from imdb.com
The Germans are coming. To snoop, pry and inspect once again, because the Greek are always under suspicion to lie, cheat and scam. And rightfully so. Jörg Geissner, an employee of the Munich based AVO-Bank arrives on the island of Paladiki, to check on the registered securities of a credit granted years ago by his bank. His suspicion: the registered securities – a hospital and a power generating plant – don't really exist.
But the Greeks aren't stupid – they will make Geissner prove that the securities don't exist. And so a completely overwhelmed Geissner embarks on an unexpected Odyssey all by himself, against the rest of the island. His constant companion being the shrewd German-Greek gigolo Panos, who will see to it that Geissner's search for the power-plant will get him nowhere. In the meantime Paladiki's Mayor Spyros will desperately try to conjure something up, which would maybe look like a power plant, at least at night and with the help of a few drink and then some more drinks. Losing the loan would be a catastrophe for the already destitute island and would mean certain bankruptcy. A frantic race ensues on the island of Paladiki, while a decrepit sheepfold is haphazardly turned into – what might hopefully look like – a power plant, while at the same time the fastidious auditor Geissner and the freedom-loving man-about-town (or better -island) Panos get to know each other a little better and somehow also begin to like each other.
More info from pantaleonentertainment below
Especially Geissner is changed by this trip. He meets the young but quirky widow Eleni and also gets to know Panos' (out of wedlock) son Dimitri, who is helping his single Mom Maria to keep the last remaining Hotel on the island afloat. The more Geissner learns about people's everyday lives on the island, the more he realizes what a crucial role he plays in all of this. The result of his trip will decide over the island's future and Geissner has to ask himself who he feels responsible to, his employer – the bank, or the people of Paladiki….
Watch the Highway to Hellas 2015 Trailer


text:
Jack Beckwith (W '16), Nick Sorscher (C '16) and Aziz Kamoun (C '16) describe themselves as "data junkies who like to investigate topics in music, politics and sports." Their tech startup, The DataFace, publishes data analysis stories with data–based visuals on various topics.
"It boils down to: What are we interested in?" said Jack. "What do we think we can get data about? And how rigorously can we use the data to test our hypothesis?"
The site started as Jack's personal blog during his senior year at Penn. Now he, Nick and Aziz still work almost entirely with data that is readily available online. Many social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, have an Application Programming Interface (API), which allow anyone with rudimentary coding experience to access a snapshot of data from those sites. And so, on Sunday, during the Presidential Debate, the three team members analyzed Twitter's API to write a story testing the hypothesis developed beforehand that Twitter will react negatively to Trump during the debate in light of the recent tax return and sexual abuse scandals while Clinton will fare more positively. The DataFace analyzed a large sample of tweets about both Clinton and Trump and determine the positivity or negativity of the tweet using a computer algorithm.
Other stories on The DataFace include "Are the 2015–16 Warriors the Best NBA Team Ever?" "Mapping the Hometowns of Billboard Hot 100 Artists" and "Determining the "Lifecycle" of Each Music Genre." One story was even picked up by The Washington Post: "Trump and the Media: a Text Analysis." Each article employs interactive visual representations of the data collected as well as explanations for how and from what source. It is, essentially, statistics for people who hate math and journalism for people who love it.
"There is so much data out there and a lot of places are making their data more readily available than people realize," said Jack. He hopes that, in the future, The DataFace will work with major brands with a need for data analytics or custom data visualizations.


text:
Even the most addicted mobile shopper may get tired of scanning the 250 mobile-activated images in the new issue of Seventeen. In a major push for its back-to-school issue, the magazine has partnered with a wide range of marketing partners to mobilize the in-print experience and turn the magazine into an interactive shopping experience.
Using the new Seventeen Shopping Insider app, readers can scan images associated with shopping bag icons found next to 250 spots across the issue. The scans can add items into a mobile shopping list or unlock coupons in the app. According to Seventeen's mobile activation partner Nellymoser, this is the broadest use of mobile activations in any issue from a top-100 magazine.
Eighteen advertisers participated in some aspect of the print and mobile app program, including American Rag, Aeropostale, Walgreen's, Office Depot and many others. "The whole program serves as a bridge from the magazine to the store," says Seventeen's Associate Publisher of Marketing, Howard Grier. Driving teens from page to purchase has always been the goal, of course, but with a mobilized shopping list and deals on their devices, "this literally facilitates that," he says. "You can save it from the magazine and bring it into the store, but this also gives you an incentive to shop as well."
Seventeen has already seen the power of mobile for its young audience. The Seventeen Ultimate Flipbook app has been in market almost a year and features product flipbooks that are refreshed regularly with new editorial and advertiser content. "Pre-shopping" is a big deal with this demo and a perfect match for the handheld device.
"The biggest lesson we learned from that app is that girls can't get enough," says Grier. "They love to pre-shop. We might put 100 flipbooks up for them. They ask for 150." The flipbook apps has been downloaded over 250,000 times in less than a year. Seventeen reports that even before promotions and press coverage of the new Shopping Insider it was seeing thousands of downloads.
The Seventeen app itself is both a container for the scans, mobile coupons and shopping list as well as another marketing platform for the partnered brands. A Video Spotlight section features Keds, Sally Hansen and L'Oreal, for instance, while sponsors like American Eagle and PacSun have flipbooks of clothing and style ideas in the app as well. In order to encourage daily use the app also unlocks each day a Daily Freebie sweepstakes that allows users to enter to win specific prizes from sponsors.
The use of so many watermarked images and the connection between scanning images and adding them to the shopping list make this execution unique, says Roger Matus, EVP, Nellymoser. "This experience would be impossible to do with QR codes," he tells Mobile Marketing Daily. "For example, on page 76, there are 15 pairs of shoes shown. Each pair of shoes has its own watermark. Scan your favorites and automatically add them to your shopping list. Imagine how the page would look if it also needed 15 different QR codes?"
By scanning items from the magazine directly into a shopping list one can carry into the store, the mobile activation streamlines but follows a familiar media habit. Dog-earing, tearing or bringing magazines and pages into stores is a commonplace. Now the experience of ripping ideas pages and tearing coupons is centralized into the phone itself.
The Seventeen effort exemplifies a companion app model that magazines have been embracing this year. Rather than have readers employ a third party app to scan a code, an embedded scanner in a branded magazine app keeps the reader within the magazine's environment where a range of deals and the full slate of sponsors have a voice. According to Nellymoser, the approach also allows the magazine to control metrics and reporting.
Mobile activation was once a hobby for some magazines perennially testing the model. As ad money continues to gush away from print, publishers are not only looking for ways to add value to print buys -- but especially to tie those buys to the more attractive digital platforms.
After a recent article from the New York Times that reported –"Women's Magazines Lead Overall Decline in Newsstand Sales" it's great to read about Teenage Girl's magazine making push to engage with customers despite declining magazine sales. With all these new technologies, Seventeen's use of a branded magazine app helps demonstrate what the next generation's magazine environment might look like.


text:
Match 180
Ground #: 140
Ground: Central Park
Competition: Scottish Division 1
Kick Off: 3pm
Cost: £15
Programme: £2
Attendance: 409
Cowdenbeath 1
McKenzie 1'
Livingston 1
Scougall 70'
It's Christmas time and there's no need to be afraid. You're back in Scotland and there's loads of games to be played. As the song goes, or something like that. The weather had beaten me on a recent jaunt to Scotland when I had tried to go watch Cowdenbeath. However, I was back in the greatest country in the world and while matches were getting rained off everywhere, the Blue Brazil had managed to get their game against Livingston on and so I was finally getting to the Kingdom of Fife.
Cowdenbeath is a town and burgh in west Fife. The earliest indication of human activity in the immediate vicinity of the current site of Cowdenbeath was provided by the discovery of late bronze-age vessels containing incinerated human remains, in 1928. There is no evidence of a permanent settlement establishing itself around the current site of Cowdenbeath until the designation of the original Beath Kirk as a parish church in 1429/30 to act as a focal point to serve the surrounding area. By 1790 the records show that the parish of Beath had about 100 families whose livelihood came mainly from the soil. This church was replaced by the present church, built in 1832 and enlarged in 1886. Cowdenbeath first came into prominence around 1820 as a stop on the north-bound coaching route to Perth. Indeed, Queen Victoria's entourage stopped at the Cowdenbeath Coaching Inn to change horses, on her first trip to Scotland in 1842, en route for Balmoral. The arrival of the Oakley Iron Company around 1850 was to have a long-lasting impact upon Cowdenbeath and make the name synonymous with coal-mining for almost 100 years. The Forth Iron Company took over around 1860 then amalgamated with the Cowdenbeath Coal Company in 1872. This effectively made the Fife Coal Company one of the largest coal mining concerns in Scotland. Such was the upsurge in mining activity that the population of Cowdenbeath doubled in the ten years between 1890 and 1900 and gave rise to the nickname "Chicago of Fife".
Cowdenbeath traditionally date their origin to the merger of two local clubs, Cowdenbeath Rangers (formed 1880) and Cowdenbeath Thistle, which occurred in 1881. However research undertaken by the club's historian suggest the actual founding should be properly dated to 1882. As they are a small provincial club, they have had few major successes in the Scottish game, particularly in the modern era. The club were relegated in the 1933–34 season but claimed their third Division Two championship in the 1938–39 season. However, the outbreak of the Second World War cut short Cowden's return to Division One, and the club closed down for the duration of hostilities. When peacetime football resumed, the club were controversially placed in the new second tier. While a 1949 League Cup success over Rangers at Ibrox was a highlight of the early post-war period, Cowden struggled to return to the elite level of Scottish football. A solitary season in Division One that followed remains the club's only top flight campaign since the 1930s. More recently, hopes for the future were raised when Cowden were promoted to the First Division in season 1991–92, but they soon slumped back to the basement of the Scottish League amidst a run of 38 League games without a win at Central Park. More recently Craig Levein and Mixu Paatelainen started their managerial careers here as did Danny Lennon who achieved promotion to the 2nd Division in 2009. More recently Cowden have become a yo-yo club after relegation in 2011, they romped to the Second Division title under Hearts legend Colin Cameron who is now player/boss here.
The reason I have wanted to get to Cowdenbeath's Central Park for some time is because of the dilapidated nature of the place. A delightfully ramshackle stadium that has been home to the club since 1917, is under threat with the club wanting to move to a new ground on the edge of town in the near future. Central Park has two main stands, the Main Stand which was partially destroyed by a fire in 1992 and so another separate stand was built next to this in 1995. The Alex Menzies Stand was where I was situated for the game and while it is a seated stand, stewards didn't mind fans (including me) standing on a raised step right at the back of a stand so I had an excellent view of the game. The rest of the ground is uncovered with the South Terrace directly opposite the main stands. Two curved terraces complete the venue and even in the pissing rain, this is a unique place to watch football. A must visit. And I haven't even discussed the stock car track!
Unsurprisingly considering the size of the club, Cowden are struggling towards the bottom of the 1st Division. They were going into this game in 7th position and around the relegation playoff spots. With Dumbarton looking already doomed, The Blue Brazil will be competing against Airdrie Utd and Hamilton Accies to try and avoid going up against Division 2's second best in May. With no league win since September 1st when they beat Airdrie 3-0, Cowden were needing one quickly, but with no goals in their last 3 games (albeit one was against SPL St Johnstone in the cup), just a goal would be a start. I had seen Livingston not that long ago, back in March, in John Hughes first game in charge. Since then it's been all change as Hughes bizarrely took the Hartlepool United job to try and prep them for League 2 next season and Gareth Evans has been in charge since. The ex Hibee reserve team coach had seen a steady start with Livi up in 4th but some 10 points behind leaders Partick for this game.
Considering Cowden couldn't buy a goal in the games prior to this, taking the lead in the 1st minute is something that very few people would have put money on. Winning an early corner, Dean Brett managed to get the ball in after an initial block. Andy McNeil could only parry the ball to Thomas O'Brien who's shot was blocked by Callum Booth but fell kindly to Marc McKenzie to bundle the ball in from about 2 yards out. With McNeil picking the ball out of his net being the first genuine touch the visitors got, they looked slightly startled and they couldn't get going at all. The Cowden midfield lead by Colin Cameron (never thought I'd get the chance to see him play again!) hustled the Livi side into making constant mistakes while they continued to create good chances. It should have been 2-0 on 25 minutes when Lewis Coult hit the bar following in McKenzie's cross. Livi offered very little in the first half but Liam Fox did blast over the bar in a rare chance they created.
Livi did play far better in the 2nd half but were almost caught out again by a slow start when Kyle Miller forced a save from McNeil. The away side started to dominate after this however as Marc McNulty fired a low drive wide from the edge of the area. With more and more possession an equalizer looked like it was always going to come and it did arrive on 70 minutes. Jordan Morton worked some space down the right and fired a great cross in where Stefan Scougall was on hand to fire in from 6 yards. The game was now extremely open but Livi were still continuing to create the chances to try and find a winner which looked only a matter of time. On 77 minutes I witnessed miss of the season when Scougall missed an open goal from 6 yards as he fired wide. Cowden then pushed forward and late on O'Brien fired a 30 yarder off the bar with McNeil beaten. A little while later John Armstrong fired a header off the post as Livi were then lucky to escape with a point. 1-1 it finished which was a fair result, but both sides should have added to their only goal.
Having read some other reports on some dire SFL1 games, I was lucky that even in extreme conditions, this was a great watch. Credit to both sides for playing some decent football in this weather. Central Park is a classic ground that people need to get to before The Blue Brazil leave it in the near future. I was wanting to stand with the Cowden Ultras in the 2nd half on the terrace but the rain lashed it down so I decided to stay under cover. With them being a friendly club, I'll be back here one day before the ground disappears to get some pictures on the other side in a truly unique footballing arena.
Photos from Cowdenbeath vs Livingston
Match Ratings:
- Match: 6.5/10 (reasonable enough)
- Value for money: 6/10 (seems to be normal for SFL1)
- Ground: 9/10 ("groundhopping porn")
- Atmosphere: 5/10 (both fans were ok)
- Food: 7/10 (can't go wrong with pie and bovril)
- Programme: 7.5/10 (was filled with info)
- Referee: Willie Collum – 5/10 (can see why he's been dropped a league)


text:
ALBANY—Add another everyman to this year's political discourse.
The New York Conference of Mayors unveiled a new web site this morning at its winter gathering, where some 40 mayors from around the state have come together to formulate legislative priorities for the coming session.
The site charts the level of aid to municipalities over the last decades, and tax increases the mayors say are a result of dwindling state funds. "We are very concerned that New York State will make the same mistake in made in 1989 [when aid was slashed]," said NYCOM President John McDonald, also the mayor of Cohoes.
The site also, of course, has a blog, purportedly belonging to "Joe Taxpayer." At a press conference, McDonald said it's important because "too much policy wonk and you lose people."
"Joe sees the fire trucks go by his house, he sees the mayor at the diner in the morning and he sees his property taxes go up."
In a way, Joe is meant to be every man, McDonald said–for example, Joe lives in the village of Empire Falls with his wife, Josephine.
Peter Baynes, NYCOM's executive director, said the blog is ghostwritten.
Last week, Governor David Paterson unveiled his own budget-themed Web site.


text:
Scottown, OH (July 30, 2013) -- Cumberland River is proud to announce they will perform at the AU2 Rally in the Valley on Saturday, August 24 supporting the Huntington, West Virginia chapter of the Ronald McDonald House. The event will be held at the home of the Appalachian Uprising festival on Eden Valley Farm in Scottown, Ohio.
Harlan, KY -- Cumberland River is proud to announce a new band member, multi-instrumentalist Gary Robinson Jr. who joins the group on Lead Guitar. Gary's incredible talents certainly add to the dynamic sound of this now 6-piece band that includes the talents of: James Dean (Banjo, lead & harmony vocals), Joey Jones (Bass), Dustin Middleton (Mandolin, Lead & Harmony Vocals), Jamie Stewart (Dobro), and Gary's brother in-law, Brad Gulley (Guitar, Lead & Harmony Vocals).
Cumberland River is proud to announce the addition of Brad Gulley on guitar and vocals to the band. This hot new group continues to impress audiences with several strong lead vocalists including the talents of Dustin Middleton who provides lead vocals on his original song "Harlan Man" that debuted this month on Bluegrass Music Profiles Top 30 Hot Singles Chart. James Dean provides lead on his original song and the band's first single, "Cold & Withered Heart" along with a new video that is currently the #1 bluegrass video on Yallwire.com. Both songs appear on the group's new album The Live We Live on Rural Rhythm Records.
Rural Rhythm Records is proud to announce the new single release, "Cold & Withered Heart" by Cumberland River from their upcoming new album, The Life We Live. This hot new project releases July 26, 2011 and was the #1 most downloaded bluegrass/folk album on Airplay Direct.com last week. The Life We Live certainly showcases the songwriting talents of this young group with all five band members contributing to this impressive first national release.
Rural Rhythm Records is proud to announce the upcoming July 26, 2011 album release The Life We Live by Cumberland River. The album contains all original music by this hot young new band so we hope you enjoy! All five band members contributed to this impressive first national release produced by Steve Gulley. The band includes the talents of: James Dean (banjo, lead & harmony vocals); Dustin Middleton (mandolin, lead & harmony vocals); Joey Jones (bass); Jamie Stewart (Dobro); Andy Buckner (guitar, harmony vocals).
Theme by Danetsoft and Danang Probo Sayekti inspired by Maksimer


text:
Statement By Minister Broten On Deadline For Negotiations, New CUPE Agreement
Today, Laurel Broten, Minister of Education, issued the following statement about the upcoming deadline for local bargaining and a new agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees:
"Tomorrow - December 31, 2012, at 11:59 P.M. - is the negotiating deadline for teachers and support staff. Local agreements are to be submitted to the Ministry of Education under the Putting Students First Act. At this point, over 60 ratified local agreements have been submitted. I am hopeful that those school boards, teachers and support staff who have yet to conclude and submit local agreements will do so. I am also hopeful that those agreements, should they arrive, will meet the fair and balanced standards that were clearly set out in the Putting Students First Act.
I am also pleased to announce that after an additional 30 hours of discussions, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has signed a tentative template agreement for their 55,000 members. I want to thank CUPE for working with us to find a way forward before the deadline. As CUPE requires ratification of these agreements by their membership, we are prepared to provide locals and boards with 14 additional days to do just that.
This last-minute agreement demonstrates that it is possible to find solutions when we remain focused on putting students first.
There has been ample time and sufficient opportunity to reach agreements that are fair to teachers and support staff while also being fair to Ontarians who expect us to protect the gains made in our schools.
We started discussions with our partners in February - almost a year ago. There has been over 10 months of negotiations and hundreds of hours at the table. I personally have met and spoken with unions and associations 80 times. As a result, we have seen agreements reached representing 55,000 teachers, over 4,000 support staff in the province, and now 55,000 CUPE educational workers. I want to thank those who worked with us, even up to the final hours, to find a way forward together. It's proof to the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO), which spent only an hour in negotiations, and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) that when I spoke with them almost 10 days ago there was still time left to negotiate.
By midnight tomorrow night, all negotiations must be finalized and agreements submitted. To those school boards and unions which have yet to come to terms on fair, balanced and responsible contracts, I say to you that it is time to end the uncertainty for students, parents and taxpayers and get back to doing what we do best: putting students first. We can start by respecting tomorrow's deadline and we can continue by ending labour unrest in our schools.
The deadline for negotiations will conclude tomorrow at midnight, and I will be available on January 3, 2013 at 10 a.m. to discuss further details and the government's next steps to put students first."


text:
The University of East Anglia's key policy documentation The University of East Anglia's key policy documentation
These are the key documents in which the University of East Anglia states how it defines and deals with plagiarism.
UEA's Policy on Plagiarism and Collusion. This document provides UEA's definitions of Plagiarism and Collusion, and describes the procedure for dealing with suspected cases of plagiarism.
University Guidance on the Use of Proofreaders
University's approved list of proofreading services for use by UEA students


text:
Dark Chocolate
Chocolate fanatics around the world rejoiced the day that scientists revealed the previously hidden nutritional benefits of dark chocolate. Lurking within the creamy confines of this guilty pleasure are properties that are believed to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. The fact that dark chocolate contains less sugar and fat than milk chocolate makes it the perfect substitute ingredient in desserts calling for the good stuff. As an added bonus, dark chocolate boasts a more powerful flavor than semisweet, allowing chefs to reduce the amount necessary in most recipes. The next time you make your family's favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, try swapping the chocolate chips for dark chocolate chunks. Of course, you could always hold the butter, too. More about that on the next page.


text:
Pop Iconz - Georgia Anne Muldrow
Is it absurd for us to post this? Almost definitely. Here at Real Yeti Rap, we celebrate Stitches, advocate drug use, and devote most of our work here to the painstaking demolition of underground rap dreams. By any standard, we are horrible people, intent on becoming even worse. None of that means we can't enjoy this video, though. As the lady herself explains:
"We as parents have to walk a very fine line between being watchful and overprotective of what our kids are exposed to...and that job is being made even more difficult by the hyper-sexual, consumerist and vain aesthetic packed with visual associations that are intentionally targeting the pre-teen generation. I'm placing the blame on the corporate agenda that abuses the minds and souls of talented or even aspiring artists.
To represent an awareness that is willfully avoidant of self-realization is the bottom line for these influencers of consciousness; if someone's life goals are completely external his/her mind can easily be subdued and controlled.
Art means too much to me, I ain't having it."
"Play 2 Win" - Signif ft. Elzhi
We've been digging the carefully cultivated work of Signif since her first EP, so throwing an Elzhi guest verse into the mix is a guaranteed ticket for Real Yeti Rap coverage. (We love Detroit, period.)
Posted by #DAUG at 10:46 AM No comments:
#CLASSIC: "Refuse to Lose" - Non-Phixion
Back in simpler days, I took a Greyhound bus initiation from Portland, Oregon to Montpelier, Vermont. That shit takes a long time. I had a minidisc player and a handful of mixes burned by friends with better taste than myself. I would reckon that, during the course of my seven day journey across the continent, I spent at least eight hours with this track on repeat. A full work shift, right there.
This was in the jagged, panic-melodrama aftermath of September 11th, 2001. There was no other topic of conversation on the bus ride at any point, mostly just craven speculation about Where They Would Hit Us Next. Hence the headphones: I was trying to escape some sad, herd fuckery and get to Vermont without giving up on life itself. This song helped.
We covered Non Phixion here before, and verily, we will again. (Their legacy is still making money in 2014, so it's not like I'm carrying some obscure torch here.) They were royal blood anointed, from MC Serch to DJ Premier, classic album to solo careers. It didn't last as long as Slayer but there's something pure about that, yeah?
1. True speech is not elegant; elaborate speech is not truth. Those who know do not argue; the argumentative are without knowledge. Those who have assimilated are not learned; those who are gross with learning have not assimilated.
2. The Wise Man doth not hoard. The more he giveth, the more he hath; the more he watereth, the more is he watered himself.
3. The Tao of Heaven is like an Arrow, yet it woundeth not; and the Wise Man, in all his Works, maketh no contention.
"ACAB (All Cops Are Bastards)" - QELD
We don't usually fux with the British rap but there were some good lines on this puppy, and the sentiment is a heart-warming classic.
They say the system doesn't work, but you know that it does
They get richer every day, we get totally fucked
Posted by #DAUG at 12:38 PM No comments:
"Lucid Dream" - Nocando x Dam Funk
We fucking love psychedelic rap videos and this right here is a doozy. Not that dude is necessarily into psychedelics -- as he puts it, "I just love life so much my wife gets jealous." We also love Dam Funk and this jamalam is straight from the hands of the grandmaster. Big props to Ryan Calvano for an exceptional piece of work, the visual here are gorgeously demented.
Posted by #DAUG at 11:52 AM No comments:
Labels: Acid, Dam Funk, Los Angeles, Nocando, Video
"Have Discipline" - Rahim Samad
A baffling piece of work. Rahim Samad is clearly a hardcore hip hop head and he brings a very West Coast x 90's Vintage flow: technically precise, multisyllable sequencing, poetic braggadocialist propaganda. It's also 90's Vintage in the sense of being three consecutive verses of, politely, rappitty rap-ass rapping.
Dude can spit, but why, tho? Exponentially ramping up the confusion levels is the video itself, a gritty and basic rap template that is interspersed with footage of Yasser Arafat, IDF airstrikes, and dead kids in Gaza. This is probably a clever gimmick to get more video views, and it definitely worked on me. I wound up watching this three times trying to determine if, at any point in three verses, dude actually referenced the Middle East.
I came away with more respect for his mechanics -- he maps out flow patterns superbly -- and a sense that Rahim Samad could have written a dozen more verses over this beat that would have been more or less precisely the same. There's definitely standout lines, but his work is primarily filler. And despite referencing Knight Rider, American Psycho, and the obligatory shoutout to Lent, at no point does dude actually reference the Middle East.
I don't get it either. Shouts to having real scratch hooks in 2014, though...more of that, please.
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
A big-hearted, groundbreaking novel about being seen for who you really are, and a love story you can't help but root for
Amanda Hardy is the new girl in school. Like anyone else, all she wants is to make friends and fit in. But Amanda is keeping a secret, and shes determined not to get too close to anyone.
But when she meets sweet, easygoing Grant, Amanda cant help but start to let him into her life. As they spend more time together, she realizes just how much she is losing by guarding her heart. She finds herself yearning to share with Grant everything about herself, including her past. But Amandas terrified that once she tells him the truth, he won't be able to see past it.
Because the secret that Amandas been keeping? It's that at her old school, she used to be Andrew. Will the truth cost Amanda her new life, and her new love?
Named One of the 50 Books Every Modern Teenager Should Read by Flavorwire
iBooks YA Novel of the Year
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
An Amazon Best Book of the Year
A Goodreads Choice Award Finalist
A Zoella Book Club Selection
A Barnes & Noble Best YA Book of the Year
A Bustle Best YA Book of the Year
IndieNext Top 10
Drama / Ficção / Jovem adulto / LGBT / GLS / Literatura Estrangeira / Romance


text:
Matthew Goode and Matthew Rhys Unveil a Blush-Worthy Wine Show Set in Italy
Coming soon: charming U.K. actors drinking wine in an idyllic setting.
Picture the accents, the gorgeous vistas and the culinary curiosity in British films The Trip (2010) and The Trip to Italy (2014), then replace loquacious comedians Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon with exceptionally handsome actors Matthew Goode and Matthew Rhys. Now you begin to have an idea of what makes a new trailer out today so enticing.
Premiering this spring, The Wine Show will follow the charming duo as they taste wine at their Italian villa and tour the countryside, meeting winemakers and bantering about inscrutable GPS over 13 glorious 1-hour episodes. Needless to say, we'll be standing by for an official launch date on the English network ITV—and details on just how we'll stream it in the U.S.


text:
Ranjan Sharma has been working with Bestseller India since August 2012 as CIO and Head of Supply Chain and has over 21 years of experience.
He started his career in June 1996 with Futurecom as Product Manager and was responsible for handling sales of IT Infrastructure to Corporate Houses of Brands like IBM, Compaq and HCL. He was also responsible for developing a team for sales and support.
After having worked for about 5 years, in July 2001 he moved to Vishal Retail Ltd. as Store Manager and went on to become Zonal Operation head and subsequently Head of IT. Here he was responsible for setting up long term IT and Supply chain strategy.
In his last stint before joining Bestseller, he was working with Future Group. Here he has worked at various profiles like Head of SAP Practise, Head of Packaged applications and Head of IT and was responsible for – Building SAP Retail team. He also worked on whole bunch of strategic and tactical initiatives. He worked extensively on warehouse automation to achieve higher efficiency
Academically, he's an MBA from American International University of Management & Technology and a GNIIT from NIIT.


text: Yipeee!!! I am so happy to announce that our little humble house call doctor service, RESCU (the Road Essential Services Clinical Unit) is now a part of the Ministry of Heath's Licensing Experimentation and Adaptation Programme (LEAP). As part of this regulatory sandbox, we will be working closely with our new friends and colleagues to … Continue Reading