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Growing up in a coastal town meant that my parents and, hence, I fostered an unnatural and unquenchable love of seafood. Some of the greatest memories of my recent trip to China involve being taken out each night and sampling the weird and wonderful sea creatures displayed in the restaurant tanks.
|They don't even need fancy signs to attract customers. Their food says it all.
One of my fondest (and only) memory of growing up in Fuzhou was when my dad scoured the markets buying up the city's entire supply of crabs for my poppa's birthday! Yes, we take our seafood very seriously.
It was quite lucky that when we did immigrate, we chose a place equally close to the sea, although I would frequently hear my parents complain about the lack of variety and the local's apparent aversion to shellfish -"You mean they use clams for fishing and not for eating?!" I would often hear them say.
Frankly, I have to agree with them. I often find myself craving a nice plate of clams or whelks so I was pretty excited when my parents informed us that we were going to Live Fish Da Pai Dong -the country's only Chinese alfresco seafood dining experience. It is modeled on Hong Kong's "Da Pai Dong," a type of open air food stall, and one doesn't bother looking at the menu because all the prices are based on the season and the day's catch. As per Chinese tradition, everything is priced by the pound and a waitress takes us to different tanks where we can choose our food along with how we want them cooked.
|Somebody's lobster
|My father, deciding what to order
|It's as big as my arm!
The kitchen is open till very late (2am late) to suit the hardcore seafood fans while its dining area is furnished with plastic tables and chairs only -because, after all, they're not a furniture store, they do food! And boy do they do it well!
Their kitchen is so open that it's basically in the ordering area so one can inspect the chef's skills -and by inspect, I mean stare and drool from afar. It took everything in me not to leap across the bench and start digging in.
|From this...
|...To this: Diamond shell clams -$12/lb
Luckily for me, I did not have to wait long for our food to arrive. I've decided that's the beauty with Chinese cuisine -almost everything is stir fried so one's food arrives without having to wait hours for an oven! We started off with some diamond shell clams in a black bean and chilli sauce. The sauce provides some welcomed heat without overpowering the taste of the clams which were very fresh.
|Whelks -$15/lb
|And this is how you eat one
|Steamed crab -$25/lb
|Surf clams -$8 each
|Geoduck -$43/lb
|Steamed wrasse -$48/lb
Despite my love of seafood, I have to admit that I'm not really a fish person. I'm just deeply in love with shellfish -perhaps it was the fact that my parents fed me a whole fish everyday when I was a child? Or maybe it's because we've just had fish for dinner every day for about a week? Or maybe none of the fish I've had compare to this particular dish of steamed wrasse?
This was probably the best steamed fish I've had in Auckland. The flesh was incredibly soft and flaky and quite oily without being sickly. Steamed fish at Chinese restaurants are generally done the same way, with some oil, soy sauce and a large heap of ginger and spring onions so it's really the fish that decides the calibre of the dish -the fresher, the better.
|Stir-fried rice noodles with beef -$22
|Sizzling venison -$28
|"Liang Ban" Whelk with cucumber -$15/lb
|Marquees -the benefit of being outside, but with the comfort of being inside
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Improvements in lean growth and feed efficiency when ractopamine hydrochloride is fed to finishing pigs are well documented. Research was conducted to determine if the improvements in nutrient utilization can lead to a demonstrable reduction in the environmental footprint of pork production, specifically water utilization and nitrogen (N) output.
Nitrogen in swine manure is problematic because it is excreted in the form of ammonia (NH3), an odorous product with other environmental implications. Ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC, or Paylean from Elanco Animal Health) is a beta-adrenergic agonist that, when added to the diet of finishing swine, improves average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency and carcass lean growth. These growth performance and carcass improvements are well documented in the literature, but there is limited research on the environmental benefits of RAC supplementation in finishing diets, especially at lower levels of inclusion, permitted in Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency approves RAC at inclusion levels of 4.5 and 9 g./ton, the levels used in this study.
The overall objective of the study was to define the impact of RAC on the efficiency of pork production and, in turn, its impact on the environment. Specifically, researchers wanted to determine the effect of RAC on the efficiency of N utilization and its effect on the efficiency of animal performance, including carcass quality and water and feed requirements for growth.
Experimental Application
The experiment included 54 barrows assigned to one of nine treatments when they reached 210 lb. Treatments were three levels of RAC (0, 4.5 or 9 grams/ton) and three lysine:digestible energy (DE) ratios (1.75, 2.25 or 2.75 grams ileal digestible lysine:kcal DE).
Barrows were housed in pens that allowed the collection of feces and urine on Days 6 to 8 and Days 13 to 15, an attempt to determine if the response to RAC changed over time.
Diets were based on wheat, barley and soybean meal, plus canola oil, vitamin/mineral premix and synthetic amino acids. All diets contained 1,500 kcal DE/lb., formulated to meet or exceed the National Research Council (NRC) nutrient requirements.
Final body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain:feed (G:F) ratio increased as RAC concentration increased. Final BW, ADG and G:F increased, and ADFI decreased with increasing lysine levels (Table 1). Pigs fed no RAC averaged 19 days to reach market, while RAC-fed pigs required 17 days.
Table 2 contains water balance and fecal output data. A decrease in water intake and excretion (urine output and fecal moisture), was observed as RAC levels increased. Apparent water retention tended to decrease with RAC inclusion.
Fecal output (dry basis) was greatest for the 4.5 g./ton RAC-fed pigs when compared to the 0 (control) and 9 g./ton treatments. Higher lysine concentrations tended to decrease fecal output, but lysine had no effect on water intake, water excretion and apparent water retention.
Nitrogen intake, N digestibility, urinary N excretion, fecal N excretion, and total N excretion decreased, and N retention increased with increased RAC levels (Table 3). Nitrogen intake, N digestibility, urinary N excretion, total N excretion and N retention increased with greater dietary lysine concentration (Table 3), but fecal N excretion was unaffected.
Results from these experiments indicate that supplementing either 4.5 or 9 g./ton RAC in finishing swine diets can improve N utilization. RAC improved protein deposition and decreased lipid deposition in the
9 g./ton RAC-fed pigs. RAC reduced water intake by 0.26 gal./day, and water excretion was reduced by 0.19 gal./day at the 9 g./ton RAC level. A decrease in urinary N excretion from 35.1% to 29.8% and an improvement in N retention from 49.3 to 54.0% in control and 9 g./ton RAC-fed pigs, respectively, can reduce excess N being released in soil and water when manure is applied to the land.
Commercial Application
Calculations based on the research data were applied to a commercial setting to define the potential impact of RAC on the environment. The values obtained in the metabolism study were used to calculate nutrient balance in a 1,000-head finishing barn (Table 4). Pigs started on treatment diets at 210 lb. and finished at 260 lb.
Calculations indicated that 9 g./ton RAC supplemented to 210-lb. pigs and fed for 17 days would reduce feed intake and water consumption by 16.5 lb./pig and 8.7 gal./pig, respectively. Water and fecal excretion would be reduced by 4.9 gal./pig and 2 lb./pig, respectively. N intake was reduced by 0.44 lb./pig, and N excretion declined by 0.44 lb./pig.
When the 4.5 g./ton RAC level was compared to the 9 g./ton level, the 9 g./ton-fed pigs had the most substantial reduction in intake and excretion of both water and nitrogen.
These experimental results applied to commercial production demonstrate that Paylean can have a significant impact on reducing the environmental footprint from pork production.
Program funding was provided by Sask Pork, Alberta Pork, Manitoba Pork, the Saskatchewan Agricultural Development Fund and Elanco Animal Health.
Researchers: K.A. Ross and A.D. Beaulieu, Prairie Swine Centre, Saskatoon, SK Canada; J. Merrill and G. Vessie, Elanco Animal Health, Guelph, ON Canada; and J. F. Patience, Iowa State University, Ames, IA. Contact Beaulieu at (306) 667-7441 or e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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- 1 cup uncooked bulgur wheat, cooked according to package instruction and cooled
- 400g cherry tomatoes quartered lengthways
- 1 red onion, very thinly sliced
- 4 spring onions, including the green part, chopped
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 1/2 cucumber, cored and diced, cored to remove softer parts
- 4 tablespoons Italian parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried spearmint
- For the Dressing
- 1 teaspoon good quality harissa paste
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Pinch sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, pinch for taste
- For the Garnish
- 50g flaked almonds, toasted
How to:
1. Bring 2 cups of salted water to a boil, add 1 cup bulgar wheat, bring it to the boil get the lid on and simmer for 10 minutes. The water evaporates.
2. Make the dressing: Separately mix together the harissa, lemon juice, oil, sugar, salt and pepper to make the dressing.
3. Toast the almonds.
4. Prepare the vegetables and herbs and add to a bowl: quarter the tomatoes, slice the onion, chop the spring onions, dice the pepper, dice the cucumber, chop the herbs and add the dried mint.
5. Add the now cooked and cooled bulgar wheat to the vegetables and mix.
6. Drizzle over the dressing and toss combine again.
7. Tip onto round platter in a mountain shape.
8. Garnish with toasted flaked nuts.
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Guides on how best to play DOTA2
How to Perform Dota 2
Dota 2 is just a group sport of five versus five. By destroying before they are able to destroy yours your adversary's historic building which is named the Throne you get the sport. At first of the sport, all characters are fragile and also have little gold and knowledge. Experience presents access and amounts to the stronger skills while gold buys items that enable you do things like performing more damage, throwing unique periods and running faster. (click buy dota 2 items) The goal is to spend time limiting the opponents gold and knowledge gain and gaining expertise and gold as rapidly that you can along with your time. When you have a significant gold and expertise advantage by the later periods of the sport, you are ready to destroy all characters and houses along your path and eventually by killing the adversary's Historic end the game.
Here's on how best to play with Dota2 an information;
Start enjoying with the sport and combat botsWhen you first download, you must play against spiders first. This can help you learn acquire comfortable with the adjustments and how to play with the sport correctly. Click at the very top of the display on the Play Bill and choose 'Training with spiders'.
Perform against friendsAfter you have on how best to play the sport a concept, it's simple to play with and against your friends. You'll find nothing that forms friendships like insulting and killing eachother. Develop a foyer at the play selection and utilize a code to protect it and friends to play or abandon it available to play against guests. Should you appreciate having your playing gender, sexual choice or talent mocked or making by defeating them guests seem like fools, you can play a complement or team match when you have a team.
Choose your selected recreation modeYou should alter your sport setting in awhile. That is feasible for foyer activities. Game settings affect just how to choose characters which you, (click http://www.skinsah.com/) your downline as well as the adversary's team play with. The sport modes are as below;
All pick is normally wide open.Captains style enables the group captains to choose their characters inturn because of their players from an endless pool.Single draft presents players quite a few characters according to their attributeRandom draft presents players a 22 idol swimming to pick from and converts are obtained whenever choosing heroes.Least played removes your 40 most played figures off the pool.Limited characters is bound to just the simplest to play heroes.All random is simply like it sounds like.
Change settingsDo not forget to ensure the controls are not incorrect when joining a complement. The proper controls will help you match with all the correct people and make sure that your relationship is robust.
Choose a characterWhen you'll choose a hero. The type selected is hardly unimportant therefore choose him /her meticulously, according to the way you play best and based on the desires of the team. Pay attention to the type qualities. The capabilities decide the total amount of health the idol has, the total amount of magical power they are able to pull from along with their armor's performance. All figures have a significant feature which determines how they play. Qualities improve with levels.
Do not dieThis is just a strategy game that will require patience and talent. So that you have to play clever dying is severely punished,. If you die, you overlook your team mated get instinct and expertise along with gold - because they wait for you hit,. Therefore don't die.
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"Eliza Dushku Show" premieres tonight
Joss Whedon's new sci-fi TV series The Eliza Dushku Show (aka Dollhouse) debuts on Fox tonight. It's his first series since Firefly in 2002-2003. Reviews so far are mixed. They say it's missing the customary Whedon humor. Regardless, I will definitely be watching.
Did I mention that it stars Eliza Dushku?
Labels: joss whedon, scifi, tv


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With the opening of the outdoor ice skating rink on the Worcester Common just three weeks away, city officials have announced the addition of midday open skating hours for the public on Wednesdays and Thursdays during December.
Beginning Dec. 5, the Worcester Common Oval will be open for "Lunch Time Skating" those days, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The midday weekday skating hours will be sponsored by the College of the Holy Cross.
The 12,000-square-foot skating rink, which opens Nov. 30 in conjunction with the city's annual Festival of Lights ceremony on the Common, will be open to the public every weekend in December, January and February, as well as on holidays and during school vacation weeks, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
City officials said the addition of midday open skating hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays during December is in response to public demand.
"Since we announced the rink, people have been calling us about times it will be open and if they can skate on weekdays," said Colleen Bamford, the city's communications specialist. "This is an answer to the public's request."
Admission for the lunchtime skate will be $1and skate rentals will be available for $3.
Money raised from admission fees will go to the Worcester Public Library Foundation, to help fund the public library's new Library Express, a multimedia state-of-the-art, traveling education center — known as "Libby," as well as other library programs.
Holy Cross becomes the fifth local college to step forward to sponsor the operation of the skating rink; the others are Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Clark University and the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
"In partnership with the city of Worcester, Holy Cross is happy to sponsor lunch time skates on the oval this December," Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, president of Holy Cross, said in a statement. "The rink is a wonderful addition to our downtown, and represents the vitality and energy that makes Worcester such a special place to live and work."
The skating rink will be managed and maintained by SMG, which manages the DCU Center.
Sandra Dunn, general manager of the DCU Center, said SMG is proud to support the city in its exploration of new partnerships and programming to make the Worcester Common Oval an enjoyable destination.
"We are excited to open the rink during the downtown lunch hour for all to enjoy," Ms. Dunn said.
In addition to the open skating hours, the Boxboro-based Colonial Figure Skating Club is partnering with the city to offer skating programs and services for the Worcester Common Oval.
The collaboration will include skate clinics, mini-exhibitions and performances. Skate lessons by the club will be available to the public on Thursdays and Saturdays.
Additional information about the Worcester Common Oval, programming and skating lessons can be found at: www.WorcesterCommonOval.com. Daily updates on programming can also be found on Facebook — Worcester Common Oval.


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Hardcore wrestling fans know that WWE Smackdown is a taped show that's shown to a live audience on Tuesday and debuted on Friday night for television viewers.
The WWE recently made their way over the United Kingdom for a special showing of the company's main programs (WWE RAW and Smackdown). Interestingly enough, the 05/20/2014 live taping of WWE Smackdown has leaked online and its completely uncut and unedited. If you've always wondered what went into the production of WWE TV shows, then you need to see this.
You can head to the Dailymotion links listed below to view this full episode before it airs on SyFy's edited edition (there are other ways to watch this unedited episode at this LINK). You can also check out some of the uncut production notes right after the video links.
• Dailymotion – Part 1 and Part 2
Deadspin actually listed some of the more interesting instances that can be seen and heard during this uncut UK edition of WWE Smackdown:
• Announcers Michael Cole and John Bradshaw Layfield making entrances, with their own music, prior to the start of the show—and JBL getting a playful shove off the ring stairs from the cameraman. Cole: "I cannot wait until he takes that bump coming down that ramp."
• The audience's actual reactions. The pretaped Smackdown is notorious for sweetening (even dubbing over) cheers and boos to reinforce the ostensible facedom or heeldom of wrestlers.
• Cole and JBL's constant chatter through their headsets with show producer Kevin Dunn and Vince McMahon—it's amazing to me how involved McMahon still is with his product.
• Starting at 1:50 of the first video, ring announcer Tony Chimel's botched introduction of Jimmy Hart. Cole: "Is he going to introduce Jimmy, since he just did? Chimel just introduced him. Somebody might want to tell him, I don't think he knows." JBL: "He doesn't know, he's looking over there like a goof."
• At 51:52 of the second video, Cole asks McMahon about some talking point, "Do you want me to say that every time, because I've said it a shitload of times tonight." We don't hear Vince's reply, but we do hear Cole's cowed reaction: "OK…yes sir…yes sir…OK, I've got it sir."


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On April 29, 2011, the entire world witnessed the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton at Westminister Abbey in London. The wedding was also viewed online by millions of people around the world. Much of the attention was focused on Ms.Middleton status as commoner which means she is not of a royal blood or aristocracy. She is first commoner to marry a prince in close proximity to the throne in more than 350 years.
Catherine was wearing a white bridal gown, designed by British Designer Sarah Burton and the Prince himself was in the uniform of his honorary rank of Colonel of the Irish Guards.
The Queen granted Prince William the titles of Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, and Baron Carrickfergus . It was a public holiday in Great Britain.
Prince Williams & Catherine Middleton
The Royal Family
Images : Britishmonarchy


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What moves people to kill themselves and innocent bystanders?
This mystery of the mind became an issue again in recent weeks as a suicide bomber in Afghanistan — a double agent — killed seven C.I.A. officers; a man plowed a truck full of explosives into a crowded playground in Pakistan, and a Nigerian man tried to blow himself up on a plane bound for Detroit on Christmas Day.
Until recently, the psychology of terrorism had been largely theoretical. Finding actual subjects to study was daunting. But access to terrorists has increased and a nascent science is taking shape.
More former terrorists are speaking publicly about their experiences. Tens of thousands of terrorists are in "de-radicalization" programs around the globe, and they are being interviewed, counseled and subjected to psychological testing, offering the chance to collect real data on the subject.
Terrorist propaganda has flooded the Internet and the thinking of sympathizers is widely available. There are entire cable television channels operated by extremists, and researchers have access to the writings and "farewell tapes" of the growing number of suicide bombers as well as the transcripts of terrorism trials.
The new research has its limits. The accounts of the extremists — generally militant Islamists — are difficult to verify. And researchers often differ over the path to radicalization. Some boil it down to religion, others to politics and power, others to an array of psychological and social influences.
But even if the motivations for terror can be wildly idiosyncratic, a range of patterns have been identified.
Despite the lack of a single terrorist profile, researchers have largely agreed on the risk factors for involvement. They include what Jerrold M. Post, a professor of psychiatry, political psychology and international affairs at George Washington University, calls "generational transmission" of extremist beliefs, which begins early in life; a strong sense of victimization and alienation; the belief that moral violations by the enemy justify violence in pursuit of a "higher moral condition;" the belief that the terrorists' ethnic, religious or nationalist group is special and in danger of extinction, and that they lack the political power to effect change without violence.
Research has also shown that some terrorists have a criminal mentality and had previous lives as criminals. Paradoxically, anxiety about death plays a significant role in the indoctrination of terrorists and suicide bombers — unconscious fear of mortality, of leaving no legacy, according to new research.
Many researchers agree that while there is rarely a moment of epiphany, there is typically a trigger of some kind to accelerate radicalization — for example, the politically related killing of a friend or relative.
Ervin Staub, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Massachusetts who is finishing a book on what drives terrorism and conflict, has identified three types of terrorists. "Idealists" identify with the suffering of some group. "Respondents" react to the experience of their own group. (Perhaps they were raised in a refugee camp or saw relatives killed; they may also be responding to unrelated individual trauma, like child abuse.) Finally, "lost souls" are adrift, isolated and perhaps ostracized, and find purpose with a radical group. Dr. Post said the lost souls are "ripe for the plucking" by recruiters.
Clark McCauley, a professor of psychology at Bryn Mawr College, sees four general trajectories: "revolutionaries," who are involved in the same cause over time; "wanderers," who are involved with one extremist group after another, whatever their causes; "converts," who suddenly break with their past to join an extreme movement; and "compliants," whose involvement occurs through persuasion by friends, relatives and lovers.
The collective, not the individual, identity has drawn the most attention in recent years. Only in rare cases, like those of the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski, and the Washington sniper, John Allen Muhammad, have individuals acted on their own, with no connection to a group. (The Unabomber was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, while most terrorist groups weed out the mentally unstable, experts say; they even prefer to select those with higher status for the suicide missions. in the belief that sending those with the most to lose will raise the credibility of their cause.) Most researchers agree that justification for extremist action, whether through religious or secular doctrine, is either developed or greatly intensified by group dynamics.
The Internet has come to play a huge role in increasing the number of jihadi groups, many of them offshoots of larger networks or inspired by Al Qaeda. Dr. Post said the Internet has given rise to what he calls a "virtual community of hatred."
Marc Sageman, a psychiatrist, former C.I.A. operations officer and Al Qaeda scholar, and others say personality theory does no good in explaining terrorism — and that only an understanding of the group's impact on the individual illuminates the causes of the phenomenon.
One theory holds that when people are in groups they are more likely to make risky decisions because the risk is perceived as shared and therefore is less frightening. As the group becomes more radical, so does the individual, who is also likely to feel enormous social pressure to agree with the group consensus.
At the same time, the group may provide camaraderie and a sense of significance. The group can become extremely cohesive under isolation and threat. Counterterrorism rhetoric like former President George W. Bush's description of a planned tactic against Al Qaeda — "to smoke them out and get them running and bring them to justice" — often serves to unify the group. So do invasions and escalations of campaigns against them, which can draw more sympathizers to the group. Most terrorist groups crumble quickly because of internal strife, many experts say. But groups that go underground and are cut off from competing groups and outside opinions develop the most intense bond. With a charismatic leader, an individual's identity and morality will be subordinated to that of the group.
A play by Albert Camus, "The Just," is sometimes cited in explanations of the moral complexities of terrorism. It tells the true story of the assassination by a revolutionary group in 1905 of a grand duke in Russia. The assassin planned to kill the duke while he was riding alone in a carriage but the duke's niece and nephew accompanied him. So the assassin went back and killed him when he was alone, having drawn from what John Horgan, director of International Center for the Study of Terrorism at Pennsylvania State University, calls the "internal limits" of terrorists.
For a book published last year, Dr. Horgan collected the accounts of 29 former terrorists, many of them defectors from groups like the Irish Republican Army and Al Qaeda. He found that terrorists must inherently believe that violence against the enemy is not immoral, but that they also have internal limits, which they often do not learn until they are deeply embedded in a group.
Some terrorists who accepted killing off-duty soldiers abhorred the killing of animals. Some are comfortable with only a limited number of casualties. When a key I.R.A. bombing instructor was ordered to shoot a police officer whose mother was a widow, he said he felt he "would have to pay for it." He went into hiding when the I.R.A. killed a pregnant officer and he overheard his mentor say, "We might get two for the price of one."
Some interviewed by Dr. Horgan told of becoming disillusioned when other group members stole or robbed banks. It was the stealing that bothered them, not the killing.
David C. Rapoport, professor emeritus of political science at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a longtime expert on terrorism and morality, said that the final common pathway is a moral calculus, driven by the conclusion that the terrorists' enemies have "done something so bad, so terrible that they can't get away with it." Moral quandaries have often splintered groups, or caused them to disband.
If your objective is to create a world in which innocents (the members of your persecuted group) prevail, but you have to kill innocents to get there, you are in essence destroying your own dream, Dr. Rapoport said. Nevertheless, he said, many terrorists believe "the pathway to paradise is straight through hell." And to kill or in any way violate their own personal moral codes, many terrorists must believe they will achieve a higher moral condition for the group or society as a whole.
Once a terrorist, it is often difficult to turn back. This is particularly true for prospective suicide bombers. Once assigned to their fatal missions, they become known as "walking martyrs." Backing down would create too much shame or humiliation.
Fathali M Moghaddam, a professor of psychology at Georgetown University, describes a "staircase to terrorism," as a way to understand the process of radicalization. The stairs narrow toward the top. It becomes harder to turn back with each step. As with killing, there are varying interpretations among Muslims of Islamic doctrine on suicide. The Koran prohibits suicide, religious scholars say. But some Muslim groups insist that by classifying the bombers as martyrs, their self-destruction becomes permissible because it is a form of self-sacrifice, and because it is honorable to die in battle against infidels. Much new research also ascribes the phenomenon to other motives that are more personal or temporal, including a desire for honor, dedication to a leader, vengeance, peer pressure (first identified as a motivation among the Japanese Kamikaze fighter pilots), and the material support that a terrorist group promises to extend to a martyr's family after his death.
Arie W. Kruglanski, a professor of psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park, who has studied videotapes of suicide bombers' final words and interviews with their mothers, argues that the overarching motivation of suicide bombers is the quest for personal significance, the desperate longing for a meaningful life that appears only to come with death.
Dr. Horgan has led much of the research into what is known as disengagement — a terrorist's departure from the organization. He has concluded that terrorists can disengage from violence without abandoning their radical views, and he has also found that some leave after becoming intensely disillusioned with the reality of life in terrorist movements.
The reasons terrorists leave the life provides great insight into how their minds work, and their beliefs may be more subject to change than previously thought, Dr. Horgan said.
Recruits are often promised an exciting, glamorous adventure and a chance to change the world. But what they often find, Dr. Horgan said, is that the groups they join are rife with jealousies and personal competition. Also, the life, is boring. You end up in a safe house drinking tea. For those who maintain an existence outside the group, the pressure of living a double life can be exhausting. Some may, as they grow older, find that their own priorities change — for example, they may want to start a family. They may see that the group's goals appear unattainable and they may find, as the group becomes more extreme, that they have reached their internal moral limits.
In one case, a former Al Qaeda recruit told Dr. Horgan that when he arrived to fight in Afghanistan, he was dismayed to find that children and the elderly were being forced into battles. The man's "image of this all-seeing, all-powerful, all-noble movement was receiving its first hard knock," Dr. Horgan said.


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YouTube-user Mia Munselle shared this YouTube video of an accident that occurred during their sky dive jump.
Apparently they were out for a jump when they accidentally dropped their GoPro camera.
But amazingly the camera survived the thousand-some foot fall and landed IN Mia Munselle's property IN their pig pen.
The ending makes it all worth it. Yes, pigs will try to eat anything.
Mia Munselle recently found the GoPro in the pig pen. The fortuitous drop occurred 8-months ago.


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Historians and numismatists have engaged in solid discussions for decades about the use of the term 'Proclamation' and its application to foreign coins that circulated in the colony of New South Wales.
Should it be applied to only those coins listed by Governor King in the Proclamation of 1800? Or should it include the myriad of other foreign coins that circulated in the colony and that appeared in early records: Government Orders and newspapers?
Discussions aside, this two reales was struck in Peru in 1774 and features the legend of Carolus III. That it has been counter stamped 'T Knight' is proof that the coin circulated in the colony of New South Wales and is indeed a coin from the Proclamation era.
To add further to its historical nuance – it is unique.
The counter-stamp 'T Knight' on Australia's colonial coins has intrigued historians for more than a century and has its own very passionate collector following.
While little is known about the mysterious T Knight, the fact that five of the 300 surviving Holey Dollars are counter stamped with T Knight leads us to say that whoever or whatever T Knight did, he/she must have been a relatively prominent force in the colony.
© Copyright: Coinworks


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We take an exclusive look into the new mystical collection of upcoming designer Amna El Shandaweely, who collaborated with Timberland to complete her masterpieces. Inspired by raw tribal beauty and nature, 'The City of the Amazigh' collection is unique, charming, and artistically brave.
After being featured on the popular show Project Runway Middle East, Amna El Shandaweely, a driven and unique local fashion designer, has just serenaded us with a jaw-dropping winter collection that gracefully intertwines traditional tribal trim with hip, street style fashion. El Shandaweely collaborated with Timberland to bring us the creative modern twist to her new collection.
Titled The City of the Amazigh, the collection is inspired by the Amazigh people of Siwa Oasis, specifically the mysterious hidden women of the city. In fact, El Shandaweely tells us, "every collection I do is inspired by a city… I am inspired by architecture, culture, and the music." She uses traditional ornaments and patterned fabrics mixed with modern fashion, such as Timberland shoes, to style her outfits. Her second main inspiration stems from a desire to showcase the existence and beauty of Amazigh women. "You never see a woman among Amazigh people, so I wanted to show women and make them stand out, to tell people that they exist." While on her photo shoot, she managed to see two young Amazigh girls who were rustically dressed in traditional tribal gear and unpolished hair, further inspiring the styling of her collection.
The City of the Amazigh winter collection was shot in the beautiful landscapes of Siwa Oasis. Carefully selecting her locations, El Shandaweely wanted to not only situate her erratic tribal pieces in the place that inspired her, but to also focus on "making people feel the tribal-hip vibe, and not to only focus on the fashion and embroidery," she assures. El Shandaweely's collection is divided into four scenes, with each scene depicting how people have perceived her tribal fashion. The first highlights the awkward gazes and weird impressions people leave on those who choose to dress traditionally. The second focuses on the uncomforting feel involved when we are looked down upon for wearing something unconventional. "We have an amazing culture that we can use to wear on a daily basis, but we never do, afraid that people will look at us awkwardly," she tells us. El Shandaweely often captions her photos on social media with Arabic poems and sayings, also to denote the significant use of culture and literature in her work.
"The third and fourth scene are about us invading the streets with confidence, and about us deciding to get out and rule the world with tribal colours!" – Amna El Shandaweely.
Check out the stunning exclusive footage of her new collection below.
Models: Rawan and Sarah Bombosh, Amna El Shandaweely, Rama Abdelrahman, Ahmed Walaa Soror, Ahmed El Shandaweely
Art director and stylist: Ahmed Soror
Make up artist: Rama Abdelrahman
Photography and film maker: Loof Productions
Check out Amna El Shandaweely's designs on Facebook and Instagram @amnaelshandaweely and @amnaelshandaweelydesigns.
Check out Timberland on Facebook and Instagram @timberlandegypt.


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- 8 free-range chicken thighs or drumsticks (we used a mixture)
- 1x284ml buttermilk
- 1tsp salt
- for the batter
- 250g plain flour
- 4 sprigs rosemary, spines finely chopped
- 500ml sunflower or groundnut oil
- lemon wedges, to serve
UPlace the chicken pieces, buttermilk and salt in a bowl and marinate for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight. The salt will draw the water out of the chicken, and let it absorb the buttermilk making it more tender.
When ready to cook, mix the flour with the rosemary and some sea salt, remove the chicken from the buttermilk, shake off the excess and dip each piece in the flour, to lightly coat on all sides. Heat the oven to 180 C, fan 160 C, 350 F, gas 4. Heat the oil in a deep frying pan, and when it begins to shimmer, drop a piece of bread in – it should turn golden in about a minute. When you've reached the correct temperature, fry the chicken in batches for 5-6 minutes, until golden on all sides, then transfer to the oven and cook for an extra 10 minutes. Serve immediately, with lemon wedges to squeeze over. It's up to you what you serve this with, but we like oven chips and a bitter salad!


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Club Car: 1976 to 1984 with Terrill differential, and 1984 and newer DS and Precedent with either Kawasaki or Graziano rear differentials.
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Academic Personnel
Appointment Details
- Title: Professor
- Service Period: 9 or 12 months
- Appointment Criteria: Must be appointed at a minimum of 50%. Appointment to the rank of Professor requires outstanding, mature scholarship as evidenced by accomplishments in teaching, and in research as evaluated in terms of national or international recognition (Faculty Code Section 24-34A-3)
- Duration of Appointment: Continuous
- Tenure: Yes. Primary appointment must have at least 50% tenure. If there is a joint appointment, the tenure can be allocated in one of the following ways:
- 50-100% in the primary unit, 0% in the secondary unit
- 67% in the primary unit, 33% in the secondary unit
- 50% in the primary unit, 50% in the secondary unit
- In a situation where the split is between a 9-month appointing unit and a 12-month appointing unit, the 9-month appointing unit must be the primary unit
- Voting Rights: Yes with 50% or more appointment. (Faculty Code Section 21-32A)
- Salary Floors: Must meet University minimum
- Full-time/Part-time: Both. Minimum appointment is 50%. The percentage of appointment must be clearly documented at the time of hire.
- Eligible for Promotion: Not applicable
- Competitive Recruitment Required: Yes
New Appointment Details
- Educational Requirements: Must have a terminal degree in applicable field
- Documentation Required:
- Offer letter (separate PDF)
- Chair/director's letter to dean/chancellor recommending appointment must include:
- Faculty vote
- Rank and title
- Start date
- Service period (either 9 or 12 months)*
- Monthly rate of pay*
- Appointment percent
- Percentage of tenure
- Three letters of recommendation
- Curriculum Vitae
- Copy of online job advertisement from the Chronicle of Higher Education or appropriate print journal
*Could appear in offer letter
Note: OAP is no longer collecting background checks.
- If a joint appointment is being granted at the time of hire, the following documents are also required
- Chair/director or dean's/chancellor's letter from new joint unit recommending the appointment
- Concurrence from dean/chancellor of home unit's school for a joint appointment
- Faculty vote (including: for, against, abstaining, absent, and total number of eligible voters)
- Joint Appointment Tenure (Eligibility) Allocation Confirmation, if tenure is being awarded in joint appointment
- Joint Appointment Tenure (Eligibility) Agreement, if tenure is being awarded in joint appointment
- MOU if applicable
Termination Details
- Emeritus Eligibility: Yes, at time of retirement. See Professor Emeritus
- A faculty member has a professional obligation to give a written notice of resignation at the earliest possible opportunity. Normally such resignations should be given at least three months prior to the termination date (Faculty Code Section 24-56A)


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80 percent of all of Russia's emissions is carbon dioxide from the burning of coal, oil and gas. Source: Reuters
On September 23, during the UN Climate Summit, the Russian Presidential Plenipotentiary on Climate Alexander Bedritsky announced that by 2030 Russia intends to reduce its greenhouse emissions by 70-75 percent from the 1990 level.
The announcement is Russia's first reaction to the ecological problem after the collapse of the 2012 UN International Climate Conference, in which - almost without exception - the participating governments refused to extend the Kyoto Protocol.
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement signed in 1997 that obliges developed and developing countries to reduce or stabilize greenhouse gas emissions.
The original commitment period envisaged by the Kyoto Protocol (signed in 1997) expired in 2012. For Russia this period did not constitute a burden, since after the fall of the USSR the development of industrial production in Russia was delayed.
The main source of emissions was carbon dioxide from the processing of oil, coal and gas, but these emissions did not exceed the acceptable norms. This allowed Russia to sell its unspent quotas to countries that had signed the Kyoto Protocol.
A necessary compromise
Until 2012 Russia was the second biggest seller of unspent quotas in the world after China. However, there was a small demand for these quotas and therefore only a small part of them made it onto the market. The principal buyers of Russian unspent quotas were the Czech Republic, Poland and Japan. After the economic crisis in Europe, world demand decreased even more.
In order to extend the agreement and continue trading quotas from 2013 onward, the countries participating in the protocol had to assume new obligations for reducing emissions. When the countries could not reach an agreement on the extension of the Kyoto Protocol, Russia ceased trading quotas.
Yury Lapin, academic at the International Academy of Ecology, says that on one hand, the Kyoto quotas that many countries sell and resell to each other devalue efforts to prevent global warming, but on the other, the system is a necessary compromise.
"Countries that buy quotas for greenhouse emissions still understand that they are being fined and therefore must sooner or later begin developing energy conservation technologies," he says.
China, India and Brazil are currently the most active sellers of Kyoto quotas, and as before, the quotas are purchased mostly by the Europeans.
An anticipated reduction
The current level of emissions in Russia is about 69 percent of the 1990 level, and is still considered acceptable. According to ecology specialists interviewed by RBTH, Russia should not have any difficulty in stabilizing and maintaining the volumes of greenhouse emissions at 70-75-percent of 1990 levels by 2030, especially if it utilizes its energy resources rationally.
Yury Lapin argues that this is perfectly realistic "if Russia starts building industrial enterprises with new energy-conserving technologies and existing production technologies are scrapped."
Alexei Kokorin, Director of the Climate and Energy Program at the Russian Department of the International Wildlife Foundation agrees. "80 percent of all of Russia's emissions is carbon dioxide from the burning of coal, oil and gas," he says. "The remaining 20 percent is the emissions from methane leakages in our gas transportation network. The announcement regarding the reduction of emission volumes by 2030 is the retransmission of our energy efficiency intentions."
Anton Galenovich, first secretary of a working group at the Ministry of Finance and the Delovaya Rossiya Organization tasked with questions related to energy and ecology, stated in an interview with the Kommersant newspaper that the announced goal of reducing emissions contradicts the Energy Strategy Project through 2035 and it will be impossible to succeed without special measures on carbon regulation and government programs.
However, the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment believes that the reduction of emissions is not in opposition to Russia's Energy Strategy, but only serves to complement it. "The energy strategy specifies that it is necessary to limit the burden of the fuel and energy complex on the environment, precisely with the reduction of emissions and the development of energy efficiency," said the ministry in a statement.
Yury Safonov, director of the Center of Economy and Environment at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, believes that one of the ways to develop energy efficiency could be to encourage the use of biofuel and solar energy. But specialists say that alternative energy cannot compete with oil, gas and coal, and will be unable to substantially replace the current structure of power generating systems.
All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
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Sarkari naukri – Recruitment of Research Assistants in Rajasthan | RPSC vacancy 2016 | |
Application last date –04/07/2016 to 05/08/2016 ||
Total vacancy – 29 ||
Nature of post – Research Assistant ||
Recruitment of Research Assistants in Rajasthan | RPSC vacancy 2016
Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC)
Ajmer (Rajasthan)
Advt. No. 02/2016-17
RPSC invites Online application from interested and eligible candidates for the following posts of Research Assistant in Rajasthan Government. That's candidates want to apply for these post please read full info then apply before the application last date
Recent naukri and allsarkariresult.ins
- college vacancy 2016
- 300 driver vacancy 2016
- BSF vacancy 2016 | Para Medical Staff vacancy in bsf
- UPSSSC Cane Supervisor admit card 2016
- 2700 bsnl vacancy 2016 | Junior Engineer vacancy 2016
Vacancy details
- Research Assistant : 29 posts,
- Pay Scale : Rs. 9300-34800 grade pay Rs. 4200/-,
- Age : 18-35 years as on 01/01/2017,
- Qualification : At least IInd class postgraduate degree in Economics/ Economics and Public Administration/ Public Administration/ Sociology/ Mathematics/ Commerce/ Statistic, provided that a post-Graduate in Mathematics/Statistics should have had Economics or Sociology as one of the subject in B.A. and (2) A certificate (RS-CIT course conducted by Rajasthan Knowledge Corporation Limited) awarded by Vardhaman Mahaveer open University, Kota or any other certificate awarded by a competent authority declared equivalent to the above certificate by Department of Information Technology and Communication in Government of Rajasthan.
How to submit application : all eligible candidates can apply Online at RPSC website from 04/07/2016 to 05/08/2016 only.
More Information : For complete information, please visithttp://rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in/RecruitmentAds.aspx
apply online at http://rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in


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The Tan Pullover Hoodie truly built for a fitness lifestyle. Made with the highest quality cotton material blend.
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Sizing runs very normal to most zip-up hoodies. Pre-shrunk cotton makes this hoodie perfect to warm up in before hitting the gym or to take on your next adventure.
Machine wash cold and hang dry for maximum fabric life.
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|Photo: Jordan Friedman
|Big data, experts say, will continue to affect how professors teach their online students in 2017.
Photo: kupicoo/Getty Images
In the past few years, more students enrolled in online courses, more organizations offered alternative credentials such as digital badges and nanodegrees and more employers accepted online degrees from job candidates.
Here are five trends experts say students might see in online education in 2017.
1. Greater emphasis on nontraditional credentials:
Companies in recent years have started offering credentials other than degrees to online learners, ranging from digital badges to showcase achievements, to various certificate programs that highlight skills.
In 2017, many experts predict, colleges and universities will become more involved in granting what are often referred to as "microcredentials."
At universities, "I think there's going to be more focus on how to best serve individuals, whether they are new to education or whether they are returning professionals seeking different credentials or different learning experiences," says Karen Pedersen, chief knowledge officer for the Online Learning Consortium, a group that aims to improve online higher education worldwide.
The massive open online course, or MOOC, provider edX expects to launch more MicroMasters programs in partnership with universities worldwide, for example, a company spokeswoman says. Students complete a portion of a graduate degree through MOOCs and can then apply to finish the full curriculum on campus at a lower total cost.
The U.S. Department of Education is also in the process of reviewing federal financial aid opportunities for low-income students in some non-degree programs such as coding boot camps, through eight partnerships between universities and organizations.
2. Increased use of big data to measure student performance:
Because online students complete their coursework virtually, course providers and universities are collecting data "in really kind of remarkable quantities," says Richard DeMillo, executive director of Georgia Institute of Technology's Center for 21st Century Universities, which tracks technology innovations in higher education.
This year, faculty will increasingly analyze real-time data to measure, improve and predict how their students perform, says Jill Buban, OLC's senior director of research and innovation. That will allow them to tailor curriculums to meet online students' needs and provide support.
"For faculty members to be able to see whether or not a student has logged in, whether or not a student has participated that week, can really help them in assessing whether a student is on track," Buban says.
3. Greater incorporation of artificial intelligence into classes:
In an online course at Georgia Tech last year in artificial intelligence, the professor used a virtual teaching assistant – named "Jill Watson" – to communicate with students. Many of the students, DeMillo says, didn't even realize they were chatting with a computer.
Some experts, including DeMillo, foresee artificial intelligence becoming more widely used to provide student assistance and improve support.
Read more...
Source: U.S. News & World Report
Read more...
Source: U.S. News & World Report


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Pebble Gorge reflect on their Creation Space R&D Residency
| Thu 2 Jun 2016
Pebble Gorge recently joined us for their two week Creation Space R&D residency exploring ideas towards a new children's studio show Star Light. We caught up with them to find out how their ideas for this new interactive journey through space developed during their time here.
Which particular elements of the project did you focus on during your residency?
We have been working on testing out some of the technology that we would like to use for the show, exploring how young children respond to instructions given through headphones and how they respond to projections. We have also created a narrative arc for the show with lots of ideas for characters, as well as a model for the set.
Were there any surprises? Did you make any new discoveries about the project?
We had lots of interesting ideas for the show and explored a number of different narratives, it was a real joy to work with such a talented and experienced team so we were able to test out ideas quickly. The children who came to the workshops really enjoyed the simple mock ups we created and loved our space tricks to create the illusion of weightlessness.
Did you bring in any collaborators?
We spent a really interesting day with Sophie Kirk, an astrophysicist from the Winchester Science Centre, who helped us get a better understanding of space travel and our solar system. She really blew our minds!
Did this residency enable you to do anything that you wouldn't have otherwise been able to do?
The residency enabled us to bring together an amazing creative team to work intensively over the two weeks. It was really helpful to be able to immerse ourselves in the project in this way.
What are your next steps for this project?
We will now be seeking funding to realise the show, and hope to develop the relationships with our supporting organisations.
What else are you working on at the moment?
We are touring You're Getting Warmer an interactive outdoor adventure for children aged 7+ and their families, about the effects of climate change in the UK. For more info please visit our website.
Twitter: @pebblegorge
Facebook: /PebbleGorge
This residency is supported by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
Read more about our Artist Residency Programme


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< DadBodfi >
Crack a Beer. Crack a Joke. Crack the code to Financial Independence.
Trial Hacking: Final Review
It's official, we are more than halfway through the college and NFL football season and I have not paid one penny to watch any game I've wanted. Again- I have had zero cable expense since July. My wife has been able to watch her favorite shows and my kids have been able to watch cartoons on Saturday mornings.
I am able to do this by the aforementioned strategy of Trial Hacking. Basically I sign up for a free trial of streaming service, set a reminder on my google calendar to cancel, and I am never charged for the service. Some trials are 7 days long while others are as long as 30. We have multiple email addresses in our household and because we are combining this with Travel Hacking, we have no shortage of credit cards to use.
This all started when my wife and I made a bet. If I could go a season without paying for NFL Direct TV Sunday ticket (now up to around $300), she would be fine without her Real Housewives. We have been going strong for over 4 months.
Overall, as long as you are diligent with your calendar and don't mind taking 5 seconds out of your day to log-on and cancel your trial, this is a strategy that works. Simply sign up when you know you have programs that you want to watch (football, reality TV) and cancel when you're done. I like this strategy because it also eliminates the idea of "channel surfing", or just sitting down to watch TV because you have it. Go read a book or talk a walk instead.
Here is a list on the streaming services I've used, in no order:
DirectTV Now
Sling TV
Hulu Live TV
Playstation VUE
Additional non-cable trials:
Amazon Audible - 30 Days Free and 2 Free Books
Netflix DVDs - 30 Days Free with 2 DVDs at a Time
Amazon Music - 30 Days Free Unlimited Music
Sirius XM Radio - 2 months Free
Leave a Reply.
Welcome. This is the story of 3 Dads with an average age of 30 who are beginning their journey to financial independence.
June 2019


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How do you make an impression that lasts – do you scream it out into nothingness or do you share your deepest thoughts face to face?
The moment you meet people and they experience your brand with all their senses, gather around your messages or simply bump into each other, it is like a powerful chemical reaction. If you make that conference, press event, trade fair or sales pitch presentation a special moment, we promise that the people you want to reach will never forget you.
We know what works and also how to stretch the limits of the practicable
We have almost 30 years' working experience of event strategies and the creation and production of events – as well as other communication solutions that require creativity, content and a sense of timing. We know what works and also how to stretch the limits of the practicable. If you want us to, we can help you work out a long-term strategic communication direction. We can go nuts and create the weirdest, most spectacular events on the planet! Or we can make sure that you stick in people's minds by using your resources sparingly. Different scenarios require different solutions – we will guide you to the right one.


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#BB16 Week 5/6: A Tangled Web of Lies and Manipulation
At the end of last week, Frankie and Zach were crowned the new HOH's and instantly the houseguests were in fear.
Zach wanted to get Amber out of the house because Christine asked her to be a pawn and she pushed back. He believed that she didn't trust him, was playing only for herself, and didn't pull her weight in the alliance. All of this led to him spilling information to Nicole about being in an alliance with Cody, leading her to believe that Christine should not be trusted. Nicole relayed this information to Christine, and she was livid. The game of telephone that these players engage in is stunning.
Meanwhile, delusional Caleb, who hates pickles, ate a pickle to win a date with Amber. She went through with it, an obviously terrible idea, and throughout the entire date it was clear that he was seriously trying to court her. The whole thing was uncomfortable as Amber's attention was placed on everything else going on around Caleb and he had no idea how thoroughly he embarrassed himself on national television.
Team America's mission for the week was to get two houseguests to get into a heated exchange at the nomination or veto ceremonies that lasts for at least 20 seconds. Frankie and Derrick realized they could use the insanity that is Zach to their advantage, and they prod him to make an incredibly insulting speech about nominating Christine for eviction. He called Nicole a "Fruit Loop Dingus" – which has now become on ongoing theme of insult in the house. Frankie nominated Jocasta and Victoria while Zach nominated Christine and Nicole. Nicole, in a state of disbelief, laughed and cried simultaneously. Victoria cried, because … who knows. And Christine eventually called out Zach for trying to turn Nicole against her. He tried to deny it, but she patronized him and asserted she knew he did. Still, there was no heated exchange, so Team America had to try again at the veto ceremony.
At the Battle of the Block competition, the players were dressed as brides and grooms and tasked with building and climbing on top of a giant wedding cake. Victoria never listened to anyone, so Jocasta's efforts were futile. Meanwhile, the house rooted for Christine and Nicole because everyone wanted Zach to be dethroned. Luckily, that came to pass and a wedding cake sprung into his face.
Everyone was nervous at to what would happen if the veto was used, so Hayden got proactive, promising to use the veto on Victoria if she picked him to play. And magically, she got Houseguest's Choice and picked him. Like it was choreographed, Hayden won the veto and a plan was put in motion to backdoor Amber. Hayden went along with it since he was already planning on using the veto. Zach convinced Caleb that Amber isn't loyal to their alliance and that they needed to scare get back to their side.
At the Veto Ceremony, Hayden used the veto on Victoria and Amber was thrown up onto the block with Frankie making claims of distrust. Then Zach jumped up and laid into her. And though #TeamAmerica hoped that his tirade would incite the confrontation that was their mission for the week, everyone stayed quiet. Mission Failed.
Amber was livid with Zach for his disrespectful behavior. Meanwhile, Caleb realized that it was wrong to put Amber on the block, and he shouldered all of the guilt. In what I can only assume was an effort to get votes for her to stay, Amber told Christine that Caleb was her #1 target since he was ruining her game. Christine relayed this information to the guys, hoping to make this a reason for keeping her around. They in turn see it as the perfect way to make sure Caleb voted her out.
Team America got a new last-minute mission, to vote against the majority of the house and then publicly blame two other houseguests for the votes. The trio decided not to carry it out though, since Donny was adamant that it would completely fly in the face of his character.
As a result, Amber was sent home, and in the farewell videos, Caleb proclaimed (again) he was the king of the house.
In week 6, Nicole and Donny took the HOH crowns, and for the first time, no dominant alliance member was running things in the house. But that didn't mean they couldn't pull all the strings. Nicole nominated Zach and Jocasta. Donny nominated Caleb and Victoria. The most irksome aspect of this season so far has been that no one is playing hard when it comes to nominations. Everyone is just trying to keep the blood off of their hands, hoping to coast into the finals. That is not how this game is supposed to be played, folks.
Despite the curse of Victoria being a terrible competitor, Caleb and Victoria actually won the Battle of the Block, dethroning Donny but also earning the humorous penalty of them being chained to each other for 24 hours. The word around the house was that Zach was the target, but Nicole launched a new alliance with Hayden, Derrick, and Cody called "The Rationale" (WTH), and their ultimate plan was to backdoor Frankie for all of his scurrying around the house.
This plan fell flat when Christine won the veto and decided not to use it. Then the house became a whirlwind of paranoia. Zach was the target, with everyone believing that he is a loose cannon, but then Derrick and Cody came to the realization that voting him out lessens their numbers in the house, and they somehow believed that they were being played by Nicole and Hayden. This obviously makes no sense since the couple was completely unaware that another alliance existed in the house, but all that time without television, cell phones, or changes of scenery can play tricks on the mind.
Ultimately, Derrick and Cody went back to their Detonator comrades and spilled the beans about the plan to backdoor Frankie. This looks like obviously terrible gameplay, since they are exposing that they knew about this plan but didn't tell anyone until after the veto ceremony, but it did the trick and the votes shifted to vote out Jocasta. Now, the Detonators seem to be realigned (at least for the moment), and the rest of the houseguests would be complete imbeciles if they don't see the writing on the wall now.
Houseguest I'd Like to Evict: Christine
Her gameplay has turned foul over the past two weeks. Initially, she looked like someone just likeable and shrewd enough to win the whole thing, she is trying to play too many sides of the house and she has become increasingly ruthless in her methods. She lied to her "friend" Nicole, trying to turn her against Hayden, her boyfriend in the house. She has this obsession with getting rid of Zach (not a bad goal), and it seems like she actually has no true allegiance to anyone in the house. It is only a matter of time before her triple-crossing ways come back to bite her in the ass.
Next week, I'll recap the Double Eviction night and the changing face of the house as most of the easy targets have been evicted. Get ready for a huge shakeup!
Want More Convos Like This One?
Daren W. Jackson
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- Why the Grammys don't matter anymore - February 15, 2019
- Y'all aren't checking for the Emmys anymore, and it's about time - September 24, 2018
- ABC doesn't deserve kudos for canceling 'Roseanne' - May 29, 2018
- An open letter to Donald Glover, Childish Gambino, and his anti-Black "This Is America" video - May 14, 2018


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LOS ANGELES – A lot has happened to Josh Ravin since the last time he had a locker in the home clubhouse at Dodger Stadium. None of it good.
"I don't even know where to start," Ravin said Monday after being called up to replace reliever Joe Blanton on the Dodgers' roster. Blanton was placed on the bereavement list due to a death in his family. He is expected back on Friday, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
The 28-year-old Ravin made nine relief appearances for the Dodgers last season, making the majors after 10 years in the minor leagues. He had optimism about competing for a spot in the Dodgers' bullpen this spring.
But before that could happen, he underwent surgery for a sports hernia. His brother was shot five times (and survived) outside his West Hills home in early October.
When Ravin got to spring training, he developed a severe case of strep throat and intestinal flu and lost 20 pounds in a week. As if that wasn't debilitating enough, he was involved in a car accident and suffered a broken left arm.
The most lasting scar might come from a decision Ravin made in the wake of that spring illness. In an attempt to regain the weight and strength he lost, Ravin took a supplement which contained a banned substance. The substance showed up in a spring drug test and Ravin was suspended for the first 80 games of this season (most of which he spent recovering from the car accident anyway).
"I hoped my season wasn't over. So, yeah, I knew I could be back here," Ravin said. "I had to deal with a lot of stuff.
"Just all of that kept piling up, one after another. I didn't know why. What did I do to deserve this?"
Ravin said his decision to use a supplement that was not on MLB's approved list had a lot to do with his state of mind at the time. He sounds less than repentant when speaking about it now, saying "I love the game so much" and was just trying to get back on the field.
"Where I was at mentally, I'd never been there before. Where I was physically, I'd never been there before," he said. "I wouldn't even say it's 'cheating' (he uses air quotes). … It's a little different when you have a guy on the field using or a guy just trying to get back faster.
"Where's the sympathy? That's what I was looking for. It's frustrating."
Ravin thought the difference should have meant a reduced suspension. But he said the players' union lawyer told him the only way he could get a 40-game suspension instead of the 80 games was if he could prove "negligence" in taking the substance – for example, proving that he didn't know it contained a banned substance. Ravin said he couldn't and didn't want to fight it in court because that "would bleed over into the 2017 season."
So he served his suspension and returned, he said, with a lot of anger.
"I'm a different person. I have so much emotion (on the mound)," said Ravin who struck out seven and allowed one hit in four innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City after he was activated. "I just want to destroy everyone in the (batter's) box. I have no other way of working it off."
Contact the writer: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Applets not working in chrome before browser refresh
Hi, I have an Applet which is signed and is working fine in IE9. Even it is working fine in chrome only when page is refreshed, but when page is loaded initially applet is not being getting called.
It is a high priority issue which I need to address asap.
Is there any solution to this issue. It will be very helpful for me.
My Environment set up is as below:
Operating System: Windows 7 (32 bit).
Java 7 update 55 (32 bit)
chrome version - 34.0.1847.116 m
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ISLAMABAD – The Taliban claimed responsibility Saturday for recent suicide attacks in Pakistan, including the assassination of a leading moderate cleric and the bombing of a Peshawar hotel frequented by foreigners.
Thousands of people were expected to gather Saturday for the funeral of Sarfraz Naeemi, whose death in a blast at his seminary in Lahore triggered a wave of anger and revulsion toward militants in the country's cultural capital.
Police said the bombing was a targeted assassination of the cleric, who had recently condemned suicide attacks as un-Islamic, denounced the Taliban as murderers and "a stigma on Islam." He also threw his support behind the military operation against the Taliban in the Swat Valley region.
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The seminary bombing was echoed within minutes at a mosque used by troops in the northwestern city of Noshehra. The attacks took the count of suicide bombings to five in eight days, including a huge blast at the luxury Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar that killed eleven people, some of whom were foreign U.N. workers.
Taliban commander Saeed Hafiz claimed responsibility for the blasts at the seminary, hotel and in Noshehra on behalf of Tehrik-i-Taliban, the group headed by Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, local media reported. The group has threatened a campaign of attacks in retaliation for the Swat offensive.
In an address to the nation early Saturday, President Asif Ali Zardari vowed to continue fighting the Taliban "until the end."
"We are fighting a war with those who want to impose their agenda on this nation with force and power," Zardari said. "This is the war for the survival of our country.
"These people murdered thousands of innocent people. By spreading terror in Pakistan and by scaring people, they want to take over the institutions of Pakistan. They do everything in the name of Islam, but they do not have anything to do with Islam. They are cruel. They are terrorists."
In Washington, U.S. defense officials said Friday that Pakistan was planning a new assault into the lawless tribal district of South Waziristan, where senior al-Qaida and Taliban leaders are believed to have strongholds.
Pakistan has announced no such offensive but has shelled and dropped bombs on suspected militant strongholds in the region in recent days, saying it is responding to militant attacks.
Expectations are high that a new offensive will be launched sooner or later, as the government faces pressure to back its claims that it will root out extremists nationwide. The U.S. officials said the initial phases of the offensive had already begun, but offered no timeframe. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the operation has not been announced.
On Saturday, Pakistani jet fighters dropped bombs on suspected Taliban hideouts in three villages of South Waziristan, killing at least 15 insurgents and wounding many others, two local intelligence officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
The Swat campaign has received generally broad support from a Pakistani public that has started to openly denounce the militants after years of ambivalence.
Military analysts say any fight in the Waziristan regions would have to be much tougher than the Swat operation because the Taliban are more entrenched and battle-hardened from fighting in Afghanistan. They also say that Pakistan may want to deal with more than 2 million internal refugees from the Swat offensive before opening a new front.
Naeemi was mortally wounded when a suicide bomber blew up in his offices at seminary shortly after Friday prayers ended. Four others died and three were wounded, police official Sohail Sukhera said.
Hundreds of outraged seminary students gathered at the scene and demanded the Taliban leave Pakistan, shouting "Down with the Taliban!"
"I was still in the mosque when I heard a big bang. We rushed toward the office and there was a smell of explosives in the air. There was blood and several people were crying in pain," Naeemi's son, Waqar, said.
A leading moderate, Naeemi advocated equal access to education for women and the use of computers in schools — ideas sharply at odds with the Taliban's harsh interpretation of Islam.
The attack was quickly condemned as un-Islamic.
"A true Muslim even cannot think of such activity," said Mufti Muneebur Rehman, a senior moderate cleric.
In the second attack Friday, a pickup truck loaded with explosives was rammed into the wall of a mosque in Noshehra, killing at least four and wounding 100, police official Aziz Khan said.
In the latest of a string of attacks in the northwest, a roadside bomb hit a prison van in Kohat town early Saturday, killing a passer-by and wounding 16 people, said police official Farid Khan.


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Tea has anecdotally been associated with stress relief, but this has seldom been tested scientifically.
To investigate the effects of 6 weeks of black tea consumption, compared with matched placebo, on subjective, cardiovascular, cortisol and platelet responses to acute stress, in a parallel group double-blind randomised design.
Materials and methods
Seventy-five healthy nonsmoking men were withdrawn from tea, coffee and caffeinated beverages for a 4-week wash-out phase during which they drank four cups per day of a caffeinated placebo. A pretreatment laboratory test session was carried out, followed by either placebo (n = 38) or active tea treatment (n = 37) for 6 weeks, then, a final test session. Cardiovascular measures were obtained before, during and after two challenging behavioural tasks, while cortisol, platelet and subjective measures were assessed before and after tasks.
The tasks induced substantial increases in blood pressure, heart rate and subjective stress ratings, but responses did not differ between tea and placebo treatments. Platelet activation (assessed using flow cytometry) was lower following tea than placebo treatment in both baseline and post-stress samples (P < 0.005). The active tea group also showed lower post-task cortisol levels compared with placebo (P = 0.032), and a relative increase in subjective relaxation during the post-task recovery period (P = 0.036).
Compared with placebo, 6 weeks of tea consumption leads to lower post-stress cortisol and greater subjective relaxation, together with reduced platelet activation. Black tea may have health benefits in part by aiding stress recovery.
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We are grateful to Peirluigi Giacobazzi and Kesson Magid for their assistance in data collection and biological assays. Leigh Gibson is now at Roehampton University, London, Raisa Vounonvirta at the Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, UK, and Jorge Erusalimsky is at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff.
Additional information
Funding: This research was supported by a Link award from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, UK, by Unilever Research Colworth, and by the British Heart Foundation.
An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00213-006-0620-z
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Steptoe, A., Gibson, E.L., Vounonvirta, R. et al. The effects of tea on psychophysiological stress responsivity and post-stress recovery: a randomised double-blind trial. Psychopharmacology 190, 81–89 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-006-0573-2
Issue Date:
- Tea
- Stress
- Cortisol
- Heart rate
- Blood pressure
- Platelet activation
- Caffeine
- Mood


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During the spring migration I often see mated pairs of bufflehead traveling together on their way to their breeding grounds up north in Canada. During the fall migration usually males and females travel separately on their way to the southern US and Mexico. The top pic, the female, was taken at Crex Meadows in October. The male, above, was photographed at Black Dog Lake in April.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Bufflehead Duck
With all of the lakes, rivers and other wet lands that we have around we see quite a few ducks her in the part of the world which I live in. This is especially true during the spring and fall migrations when some of the ducks that we do not usually see stop over to rest and feed. One of the more colorful ducks that we see during migration is the bufflehead.
Labels: bufflehead, Watery Wednesday
9 comments:
- eileeninmd said...
Great shots of the buffleheads. They are pretty ducks.
- February 2, 2010 at 4:20 PM
- James said...
I've never seen ducks like that. Very nice captures.
- February 2, 2010 at 4:24 PM
- Tammie Lee said...
there is something quite sweet about these photos.
- February 2, 2010 at 4:24 PM
- Michael said...
Hey thanks for sharing these Buffleheads.
- February 2, 2010 at 5:33 PM
- KaHolly said...
I haven't ventured out this winter to go 'ducking', so thanks for the great pics! ~karen
- February 2, 2010 at 7:30 PM
- Quilt Works said...
Goo dlooking birds! You are a master!
... beauty in the mist
- February 2, 2010 at 9:03 PM
- L. Neusiedler said...
simply beautiful!
- February 3, 2010 at 9:30 AM
- Kathie Brown said...
We've had a few bufflehead down here in AZ this winter also. Nice photos you captured there. You can really see the female's sweet face!
- February 4, 2010 at 11:24 AM
- A Scattering said...
I've never seen them "live" either. Maybe this year.
- February 4, 2010 at 2:11 PM
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What is a bubble squeeze?
The term bubble squeeze refers to the process of allowing the glass to relax gradually allowing the air to escape to the edge of the piece.
The exact temperature is dependent on the softening point of the glass, its weight, and the complexity of the layup. Normally the bubble squeeze is performed with a soak of about 30 minutes at the slumping temperature.
Of course, glass being glass, the slumping point of any glass is a range temperatures. This can be taken advantage of for complex layups or potentially difficult projects. Pick the temperature about 50°C below the standard slumping point. For example, Bullseye recommend 677°C as the slumping point. Programme a slow rise - say 50°C per hour - from 625°C to 677°C where you also soak for at least 30 minutes. This slow rise allows an even more gradual and progressive relaxation of the upper glass toward the lower.
For more information look at this post.


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Harmful Algae Bloom Survey
Our red tide and harmful algae survey app can be used for collecting and documenting the conditions of red tide or similar harmful algal blooms. Sections include water sample information, site conditions, and fish kill reports. The app also includes a detailed classification set of fish species commonly found in Florida. Take photos and videos of fish kills, drop GPS points, and make field notes easily. This app is fully customizable and can be used online or offline, in times of no internet signal.
HAB Sample Info
Sample Date
HAB Type
Sample Depth
Site Location
Number of Samples Taken
Sample Collector
Site Conditions
Water Type
Water Body Type
Salinization Level
Secchi Measurement (Feet)
Visible Fish Kill?
Fish Kill Info
Primary species of killed fish
Estimated number of fish killed
Photos of species


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Hammond B3 with Leslie 122 or 147 (possibility of 2 leslie matched):
We rent for different live sessions and recording studios both Hammond B3 or Leslie 122, equipped with bench and pedals, reverb, roll or kari for transport, and various accessories on request.
Clavinet D-6. On request, it's possible to have it matched with multi-effect pedals.
Leslie 122 Chopped:
Available for your recordings in the studio or for your live concerts, Leslie 122 chopped (split version) split into 2 pieces in order to make the transport easier and more comfortable.
It can be used with Vintage Hammond or with Hammond clone.
Fender Rhodes:
Possibility to rent Fender Rhodes piano both in the stage version and suitcase model (with speaker).
Model Rhodes Mark 1 73 keys.
Wurlitzer Piano:
Great Wurlitzer model 200A, complete with legs and pedal.
Rhodes Piano Mark 2, seventy-three version, complete with legs, pedal and on request original pre-amplifier with vibrato and tone controls.
Contact us for info and rental prices. Click on the link " contact us " to see our telephone number and our e-mail.


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MODULO By Geoplast
Disposable formwork for ventilated crawl spaces
MODULO is a stationary formwork, that allows the creation of an empty space under the floor, it eliminates rising damp and RADON GAS , which can naturally be found in the soil. MODULO allows the creation of a reinforced concrete structure provided with a slab and a series of pillars placed at a permanent distance. They distribute the stress all over the surface uniformly, offering an optimal load-bearing capacity both static and dynamic. MODULO is made of plastic regenerated materials, eco-friendly, long-lasting and with an high mechanical resistance.


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Good choice !!
I had a courtesy Honda for a while (think it was a CB600F), the bike was bland, boring and slow but the easiest bloody bike I've ever ridden - like you say, never tired and super comfortable.
IMO you can't afford to come off more than you can't afford some new tyres. If you have the funds available on the credit card then do it - I'd hate to regret something I could've avoided.


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Christina Ricci and James Heerdegen married in an intimate ceremony on Saturday at Harold Pratt House And Peterson Hall on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
The bride wore a gorgeous white silk tulle dress by Givenchy Haute Couture with a high neck and long, dramatic train. The gown had elbow-length sleeves with unusual cut-out shoulders, and featured Chantilly lace appliqué, satin piping and pretty micro pearls embroidered all over the dress. She carried a small bouquet of autumn flowers.
The wedding was planned by Save the Date.
The couple met on the set the now-cancelled TV series Pan Am in 2011 and they got engaged this February. This will be the first marriage for Christina.
(Images by DailyMail)


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Reading an interesting post by Mike Arrington on Techcrunch today, basically, he is sick to death of other press, blogs and people breaking embargo's. I can understand this, it takes time to construct a well thought out and well researched intellectual post, when given an embargo, the journalist or blogger is given a time to actually release the story. Of course, this story is not so hot if someone breaks the embargo to grab the "exclusive".
I had an experience with PR Newswire a few weeks back, who advised me to distribute a press release on a Saturday – why I have no idea, it got a shocking response, maybe linked to by 50 splogs. Fact is, I am never using an online PR company to distribute my Press Releases again, have zero ROI on them and frankly, in the main the releases are presented on scraping sites and barely touch the journalists that would find the story newsworthy.
From now, I will post the releases on here, link them to Twitter, Friend Feed and Fuel all my friends this link on fuelmyblog and simply see what happens, I have enough Journalists and bloggers on those sites following me. As Robert Scoble commented on that Techcrunch post "If I were in PR I'd just Twitter the news, link to a blog explaining it..".
So here is Fuelmyblog's latest press release with a great reference from The King of Shaves boss, Will King.
Fuelmyblog.com, the global social network for bloggers, has launched a service aimed at bringing well-known brands closer to its customers and the blogging community.
Fuelmyblog allows bloggers to promote their own blogs for free by networking and recommending others on the site by rating them. It also hosts a community written blog, competitions, interviews and other benefits.
Now Fuelmyblog has launched a product review service linking well known brands with bloggers and a major social media platform.
Fuelmyblog Director Kevin Dixie said: "More and more people are turning to the Internet for product reviews with virtual trust taking over that of family and friends."
Fuelmyblog believes that in the current economic climate, online is the most cost effective route to marketing a brand or product and practically eliminates the need for expensive campaigns.
Reaching out to bloggers is an ideal way to embrace social media, create online buzz and grow a brand online. By using Fuelmyblog, direct contact to the bloggers is available and provides a trusted source with a strong relationship.
Kevin Dixie said: "Companies working with Fuelmyblog simply select blogs to work with on a campaign, the bloggers have opted-in to receive and review products or test services.
"The products are then sent directly to the blogger with some company background to test and then write an honest review based upon their findings. The blogger is not paid for the review and simply keeps the goods. This ensures there are high levels of trust with the bloggers readers and web surfers as the reviews are based on true experience , we do not tell them to be positive."
The King of Shaves* are running a blogger relations campaign asking Fuelmyblog's top bloggers to test its new Azor razor.
King of Shaves CEO and founder Will King said: "As a company we are always looking at innovation in our products and how we engage with our customers. I have my own blog and immediately saw the potential of the Fuelmyblog campaign. The feedback we have had on the blogs involved has been terrific."
*King of Shaves won the 2008 'Best Company' award at the Real Business & CBI 'Growing Business' awards.
– Ends –
Feel free to pass this on, blog it, write about it. We think it is great news for any brand trying to launch a new product or even reignite old products. We are also offering restaurant and hotel reviews on blogs. Remember, as we already have the relationships with the bloggers, you won't pay huge PR fees or have random people leaving messages on blog posts begging to promote your products..


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Need some time off from job hunting? Flip the TV channel to AMC at 12:30 p.m. ET today and immerse yourself in the world of the "day off" king, Ferris Bueller.
"Ferris Bueller's Day Off"might be one of the most iconic teen movies of the 80s. Starring Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara, Alan Ruck and a pre-nose job Jennifer Grey (plus a coked-out Charlie Sheen – maybe it was just for the role), this fun flick lets us live vicariously through three spoiled suburban Chicago teens as they experience a day most of us can only dream of. Joy riding in a 1961 250 GT California Ferrari? Check! Five-star lunch? Check! Cubs game? Check! Trailed by a crazed, pathetic principal and his dopey secretarial sidekick? Check! Check! Check!
I have always loved this movie. Maybe because it slapped authority around like a little bitch; maybe because I've always wanted to jump on a parade float and sing for a crowd while riding down Michigan Ave.; maybe because it gave some credence to one of my favorite 80s one-hit wonder new wave bands, Sigue Sigue Sputnik and its lone hit "Love Missile F1-11".
If anything, perhaps re-watching this movie (which I'm sure we can all quote word-f0r-word) will help us recall and live out its most famous line: "Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." That can be pretty tough to do during these times, but how can a 17-year old "snot-nosed punk" be wrong?
P.S. – "Ghostbusters" comes on right after!


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Vuzix WRAP 920AR eyewear hands-on
Do you know what's difficult to demonstrate on video? Vuzix's WRAP 920AR augmented-reality video headset, that's what - after all, while to the outside observer you could be merely enjoying some hands-free media playback from your PMP, in actual fact the eyewear is blending together a real-world view with computer-generated imagery on a virtual 67-inch display. We caught up with Vuzix to try the 920AR headset out, and collared Michael Kwan to pose for some photos and a brief video.