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The Secret Beyond Matter
Atlas of Creation_Vol.1
Special Preface: The Real Ideological Root of Terrorism: Darwinism and Materialism
Most people think the theory of evolution was first proposed by Charles Darwin, and rests on scientific evidence, observations and experiments. However, the truth is that Darwin was not its originator, and neither does the theory rest on scientific proof. The theory consists of an adaptation to nature of the ancient dogma of materialist philosophy. Although it is not backed up by scientific discoveries, the theory is blindly supported in the name of materialist philosophy.
This fanaticism has resulted in all kinds of disasters. Together with the spread of Darwinism and the materialist philosophy it supports, the answer to the question "What is a human being?" has changed. People who used to answer: "Allah creates human beings and they have to live according to the beautiful morality He teaches", have now begun to think that "Man came into being by chance, and is an animal who developed by means of the fight for survival." There is a heavy price to pay for this great deception. Violent ideologies such as racism, fascism and communism, and many other barbaric world views based on conflict have all drawn strength from this deception.
This part will examine the disaster Darwinism has visited on the world and reveal its direct connection with terrorism, one of the most important global problems of our time.
The Darwinist Lie: 'Life is conflict'
Darwin set out with one basic deception when developing his theory: "The development of living things depends on the fight for survival. The strong win the struggle. The weak are condemned to defeat and oblivion."
According to Darwin's unscientific view, there is a ruthless struggle for survival and an eternal conflict in nature. The strong always overcome the weak, and this enables development to take place. The subtitle he gave to his book "The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life", encapsulates that view.
Furthermore, Darwin proposed that the 'fight for survival' also applied between human racial groups. According to that fantastical claim, 'favoured races' were victorious in the struggle. Favoured races, in Darwin's view, were white Europeans. African or Asian races had lagged behind in the struggle for survival. Darwin went further, and suggested that these races would soon lose the "struggle for survival" entirely, and thus disappear:
The Indian anthropologist Lalita Vidyarthi explains how Darwin's theory of evolution imposed racism on the social sciences:
Darwin's Source of Inspiration: Malthus's Theory of Ruthlessness
Darwin's source of inspiration on this subject was the British economist Thomas Malthus's book An Essay on the Principle of Population. Left to their own devices, Malthus calculated that the human population increased rapidly. In his view, the main influences that kept populations under control were disasters such as war, famine and disease. In short, according to this brutal claim, some people had to die for others to live. Existence came to mean "permanent war."
In the 19th century, Malthus's ideas were widely accepted. European upper class intellectuals in particular supported his cruel ideas. In the article "The Scientific Background of the Nazi 'Race Purification' Programme", the importance 19th century Europe attached to Malthus's views on population is described in this way:
As a result of this cruel policy, the weak, and those who lost the struggle for survival would be eliminated, and as a result the rapid rise in population would be balanced out. This so-called "oppression of the poor" policy was actually carried out in 19th century Britain. An industrial order was set up in which children of eight and nine were made to work sixteen hours a day in the coal mines and thousands died from the terrible conditions. The "struggle for survival" demanded by Malthus's theory led to millions of Britons leading lives full of suffering.
Influenced by these deviant ideas, Darwin applied this concept of conflict to all of nature, and proposed that the strong and the fittest emerged victorious from this war of imaginary existence. Moreover, he claimed that the so-called struggle for survival was a justified and unchangeable law of nature. On the other hand, he invited people to abandon their religious beliefs by denying the Creation, and thus undermined at all ethical values that might prove to be obstacles to the ruthlessness of the "struggle for survival."
Humanity has paid a heavy price in the 20th century for the dissemination of these callous views which lead people to acts of ruthlessness and cruelty.
What 'The Law of the Jungle' Led to: Fascism
As Darwinism fed racism in the 19th century, it formed the basis of an ideology that would develop and drown the world in blood in the 20th century: Nazism.
A strong Darwinist influence can be seen in Nazi ideologues. When one examines this theory, which was given shape by Adolf Hitler and Alfred Rosenberg, one comes across such concepts as "natural selection", "selective mating", and "the struggle for survival between the races", which are repeated dozens of time in the works of Darwin. When calling his book Mein Kampf (My Struggle), Hitler was inspired by the Darwinist struggle for survival and the principle that victory went to the fittest. He particularly talks about the struggle between the races:
In the 1933 Nuremberg party rally, Hitler proclaimed that "a higher race subjects to itself a lower race… a right which we see in nature and which can be regarded as the sole conceivable right".
That the Nazis were influenced by Darwinism is a fact that almost all historians who are expert in the matter accept. The historian Hickman describes Darwinism's influence on Hitler as follows:
Hitler, who emerged with these views, dragged the world to violence that had never before been seen. Many ethnic and political groups, and especially the Jews, were exposed to terrible cruelty and slaughter in the Nazi concentration camps. World War II, which began with the Nazi invasion, cost 55 million lives. What lay behind the greatest tragedy in world history was Darwinism's concept of the "struggle for survival."
The Bloody Alliance: Darwinism and Communism
While fascists are found on the right wing of Social Darwinism, the left wing is occupied by communists. Communists have always been among the fiercest defenders of Darwin's theory.
This relationship between Darwinism and communism goes right back to the founders of both these "isms". Marx and Engels, the founders of communism, read Darwin's The Origin of Species as soon as it came out, and were amazed at its 'dialectical materialist' attitude. The correspondence between Marx and Engels showed that they saw Darwin's theory as "containing the basis in natural history for communism". In his book The Dialectics of Nature, which he wrote under the influence of Darwin, Engels was full of praise for Darwin, and tried to make his own contribution to the theory in the chapter "The Part Played by Labour in the Transition from Ape to Man".
Russian communists who followed in the footsteps of Marx and Engels, such as Plekhanov, Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin, all agreed with Darwin's theory of evolution. Plekhanov, who is seen as the founder of Russian communism, regarded marxism as "Darwinism in its application to social science". 6
Trotsky said, "Darwin's discovery is the highest triumph of the dialectic in the whole field of organic matter." 7
'Darwinist education' had a major role in the formation of communist cadres. For instance, historians note the fact that Stalin was religious in his youth, but became an atheist primarily because of Darwin's books.8
Mao, who established communist rule in China and killed millions of people, openly stated that "Chinese socialism is founded upon Darwin and the theory of evolution." 9
The Harvard University historian James Reeve Pusey goes into great detail regarding Darwinism's effect on Mao and Chinese communism in his research book China and Charles Darwin. 10
In short, there is an unbreakable link between the theory of evolution and communism. The theory claims that living things are the product of chance, and provides a so-called scientific support for atheism. Communism, an atheist ideology, is for that reason firmly tied to Darwinism. Moreover, the theory of evolution proposes that development in nature is possible thanks to conflict (in other words "the struggle for survival") and supports the concept of "dialectics" which is fundamental to communism.
If we think of the communist concept of "dialectical conflict", which killed some 120 million people during the 20th century, as a "killing machine" then we can better understand the dimensions of the disaster that Darwinism visited on the planet.
Darwinism and Terrorism
As we have so far seen, Darwinism is at the root of various ideologies of violence that have spelled disaster to mankind in the 20th century. The fundamental concept behind this understanding and method is "fighting whoever is not one of us."
We can explain this in the following way: There are different beliefs, worldviews and philosophies in the world. It is very natural that all these diverse ideas have traits opposing one another. However, these different stances can look at each other in one of two ways:
The horror we call terrorism is nothing other than a statement of the second view.
When we consider the difference between these two approaches, we can see that the idea of "man as a fighting animal" which Darwinism has subconsciously imposed on people is particularly influential. Individuals and groups who choose the way of conflict may never have heard of Darwinism and the principles of that ideology. But at the end of the day they agree with a view whose philosophical basis rests on Darwinism. What leads them to believe in the rightness of this view is such Darwinism-based slogans as "In this world, the strong survive", "Big fish swallow little ones", "War is a virtue", and "Man advances by waging war". Take Darwinism away, and these are nothing but empty slogans.
Actually, when Darwinism is taken away, no philosophy of 'conflict' remains. The three divine religions that most people in the world believe in, Islam, Christianity and Judaism, all oppose violence. All three religions wish to bring peace and harmony to the world, and oppose innocent people being killed and suffering cruelty and torture. Conflict and violence violate the morality that Allah has set out for man, and are abnormal and unwanted concepts. However, Darwinism sees and portrays conflict and violence as natural, justified and correct concepts that have to exist.
For this reason, if some people commit terrorism using the concepts and symbols of Islam, Christianity or Judaism in the name of those religions, you can be sure that those people are not Muslims, Christians or Jews. They are real Social Darwinists. They hide under a cloak of religion, but they are not genuine believers. Even if they claim to be serving religion, they are actually opposed to religion and believers. That is because they are ruthlessly committing a crime that religion forbids.
For this reason, the root of the terrorism that plagues our planet is not any of the divine religions, but in atheism, and the expression of atheism in our times: "Darwinism" and "materialism."
Islam is The Solution of Terrorism
Some people who say they are acting in the name of religion may misunderstand their religion or practice it wrongly. For that reason, it would be wrong to form ideas about that religion by taking these people as an example. The best way to understand a religion is to study its divine source.
The holy source of Islam is the Qur'an and the hadith of our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace); and the model of morality in the Qur'an-Islam-is completely different from the image of it formed in the minds of some westerners. The Qur'an is based on the concepts of morality, love, compassion, mercy, humility, sacrifice, tolerance and peace, and a Muslim who lives by that morality in its true sense will be most polite, considerate, understanding, trustworthy and accomodating. He will spread love, respect, harmony and the joy of living all around him.
Islam is a Religion of Peace and Well-Being
The word Islam is derived from the word meaning "peace" in Arabic. Islam is a religion revealed to mankind with the intention of presenting a peacable life through which the infinite compassion and mercy of Allah manifest on earth. Allah calls all people to Islamic morals through through which mercy, compassion, tolerance and peace can be experienced all over the world. In Surat al-Baqara verse 208, Allah addresses the believers as follows:
You who believe! Enter absolutely into peace [Islam]. Do not follow in the footsteps of Satan. He is an outright enemy to you.
As the verse makes clear, security can only be ensured by 'entering into Islam', that is, living by the values of the Qur'an.
Allah Has Condemned Wickedness
Allah has commanded people to avoid committing evil; He has forbidden disbelief, immorality, rebellion, cruelty, aggressiveness, murder and bloodshed. He describes those who fail to obey this command as "following in Satan's footsteps" and adopting a posture that is openly revealed to be sinful in the Qur'an. A few of the many verses on this matter in the Qur'an read:
But as for those who break Allah's contract after it has been agreed and sever what Allah has commanded to be joined, and cause corruption in the earth, the curse will be upon them. They will have the Evil Abode. (Surat ar-Ra'd: 25)
Seek the abode of the hereafter with what Allah has given you, without forgetting your portion of the world. And do good as Allah has been good to you. And do not seek to cause mischief on earth. Allah does not love mischief makers.' (Surat al-Qasas: 77)
As we can see, Allah has forbidden every kind of mischievous acts in the religion of Islam including terrorism and violence, and condemned those who commit such deeds. A Muslim lends beauty to the world and improves it.
Islam Defends Being Understanding and Freedom of Speech
Islam is a religion which provides and guarantees freedom of ideas, thought and life. It has issued commands to prevent and forbid tension, disputes, slander and even negative thinking among people.
In the same way that it is determinedly opposed to terrorism and all acts of violence, it has also forbidden even the slightest ideological pressure to be put on them:
There is no compulsion in religion. Right guidance has become clearly distinct from error. Anyone who rejects false gods and believes in Allah has grasped the Firmest Handhold, which will never give way. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (Surat al-Baqara: 256)
So remind, you need only to remind. You cannot compel them to believe. (Surat al-Ghashiyah: 22)
Forcing people to believe in a religion or to adopt its forms of belief is completely contrary to the essence and spirit of Islam. According to Islam, true faith is only possible with free will and freedom of conscience. Of course, Muslims can advise and encourage each other about the features of Qur'anic morality, but they will never resort to compulsion, nor any kind of physical or psychological pressure. Neither will they use any worldly privilege to turn someone towards religion.
Let us imagine a completely opposite model of society. For example, a world in which people are forced by law to practice religion. Such a model of society is completely contrary to Islam because faith and worship are only of any value when they are directed to Allah by the free will of the individual. If a system imposes belief and worship on people, then they will become religious only out of fear of that system. From the religious point of view, what really counts is that religion should be lived for Allah's good pleasure in an environment where peopls' consciences are totally free.
Allah Has Made the Killing of Innocent People Unlawful
According to the Qur'an, one of the greatest sins is to kill a human being who has committed no fault.
... If someone kills another person – unless it is in retaliation for someone else or for causing corruption in the earth – it is as if he had murdered all mankind. And if anyone gives life to another person, it is as if he had given life to all mankind. Our Messengers came to them with Clear Signs but even after that many of them committed outrages in the earth. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 32)
Those who do not call on any other deity together with Allah and do not kill anyone Allah has made inviolate, except with the right to do so, and do not fornicate; anyone who does that will receive an evil punishment. (Surat al-Furqan: 68)
As the verses suggest, a person who kills innocent people for no reason is threatened with a great torment. Allah has revealed that killing even a single person is as evil as murdering all mankind. A person who observes Allah's limits can do no harm to a single human, let alone massacre thousands of innocent people. Those who assume that they can avoid justice and thus punishment in this world will never succeed, for they will have to give an account of their deeds in the presence of Allah. That is why believers, who know that they will give an account of their deeds after death, are very meticulous to observe Allah's limits.
Allah Commands Believers to be Compassionate and Merciful
Islamic morality is described in the Qur'an as:
...To be one of those who believe and urge each other to steadfastness and urge each other to compassion. Those are the Companions of the Right. (Surat al-Balad: 17-18)
As we have seen in this verse, one of the most important moral precepts that Allah has sent down to His servants so that they may receive salvation and mercy and attain Paradise, is to "urge each other to compassion".
Islam as described in the Qur'an is a modern, enlightened, progressive religion. A Muslim is above all a person of peace; he is tolerant with a democratic spirit, cultured, enlightened, honest, knowledgeable about art and science and civilized.
A Muslim educated in the fine moral teaching of the Qur'an, approaches everyone with the love that Islam expects. He shows respect for every idea and he values art and aesthetics. He is conciliatory in the face of every event, diminishing tension and restoring amity. In societies composed of individuals such as this, there will be a more developed civilization, a higher social morality, more joy, happiness, justice, security, abundance and blessings than in the most modern nations of the world today.
Allah Has Commanded Being Understanding and Forgiveness
The concept of forgiveness and being understanding, described in the words, 'Make allowaences for people' (Surat al-A'raf: 199), is one of the most fundamental tenets of Islam.
When we look at the history of Islam, the way that Muslims have translated this important feature of Qur'anic morality into the life of society can be seen quite clearly. Muslims have always brought with them an atmosphere of freedom and tolerance and destroyed unlawful practices wherever they have gone. They have enabled people whose religions, languages and cultures are completely different from one another to live together in peace and harmony under one roof, and provided peace and harmony for its own members. One of the most important reasons for the centuries-long existence of the Ottoman Empire, which spread over an enormous region, was the atmosphere of understanding that Islam brought with it. Muslims, who have been known for their tolerant and loving natures for centuries, have always been the most compassionate and just of people. Within this multi-national structure, all ethnic groups have been free to live according to their own religions, and their own rules.
True tolerance can only bring peace and well-being to the world when implemented along the lines set out in the Qur'an. Attention is drawn to this fact in a verse which reads:
A good action and a bad action are not the same. Repel the bad with something better and, if there is enmity between you and someone else, he will be like a bosom friend. (Surat al-Fussilat: 34)
All of this shows that the morality that Islam recommends to mankind brings to the world the virtues of peace, harmony and justice. The barbarism known as terrorism, that is so preoccupying the world at present, is the work of ignorant and fanatical people, completely estranged fromQur'anic morality, and who have absolutely nothing to do with religion. The solution to these people and groups who try to carry out their savagery under the mask of religion is the teaching of true Qur'anic morality. In other words, Islam and Qur'anic morality are solutions to the scourge of terrorism, not supporters of it.
1. Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man, 2. baskı, New York, A L. Burt Co., 1874, s. 178
2. Lalita Prasad Vidyarthi, Racism, Science and Pseudo-Science, Unesco, France, Vendôme, 1983. s. 54
3. Theodore D. Hall, The Scientific Background of the Nazi Race Purification Program, http://www.trufax.org/avoid/nazi.html
4. Henry Morris, The Long War Against God, 1989, s. 78
5. R. Hickman, Biocreation, Science Press, Worthington, OH, s. 51–52, 1983; Jerry Bergman, "Darwinism and the Nazi Race Holocaust", Creation Ex Nihilo Technical Journal 13 (2): 101–111, 1999
6. Robert M. Young, Darwinian Evolution and Human History, Historical Studies on Science and Belief, 1980
7. Alan Woods and Ted Grant. "Marxism and Darwinism", Reason in Revolt: Marxism and Modern Science, London, 1993
8. Alex de Jonge, Stalin and The Shaping of the Soviet Uninon, William Collins Sons & Limited Co., Glasgow, 1987, s. 22
9. Mehnert, Kampf um Mao's Erbe, Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, 1977
10. James Reeve Pusey, China and Charles Darwin, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1983


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New Acura For Sale In Fife, WA
New 2022 Acura MDX Type S SH-AWD w/Advance Package
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Stock: 220425Engine: Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded V-6 3.0 L/183Ext. Color: Tiger Eye PearlInt. Color: Orchid
Prices shown do not include applicable tax, license, title, registration, options, and negotiable $200.00 documentation fee. While every reasonable effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this information, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions contained on these pages. Please verify any information in question with Hinshaw's Acura. It is the responsibility of the customer to verify the accuracy of the price and the accuracy of the equipment and options. The dealership is not responsible for misprints on prices of equipment and options listed. Price is subject to change without notice. All financing is subject to credit approval. Dealership makes no representations, expressed or implied, to any actual or prospective purchaser or owner of this vehicle as to the existence, ownership, accuracy, description or condition of this vehicle's listed equipment, accessories, or any warranties. Any and all differences must be addressed prior to the sale of this vehicle.

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Last August, we found out my mom had breast cancer. Before her surgery and final prognosis, we didn't know how bad things were, and even if she'd survive. Deep fear grabbed us. As mom and I went from one doctor's appointment to another, we made a pact to go on a real trip together when she got well. Spending time in an exotic land sounded much more appealing than our stressful adventures in the world of cancer. With this future plan, we declared our optimism.
Mom has been heroic in her healing over the past 11 months and we all feel damned lucky to now find ourselves here in Greece together. Today as she lay on the shore of our favorite rocky cove, she said "This is good for the soul." I know. The water, air, sun, peace, family time, and simplicity of it all.
We are back on our favorite island in the Aegean, Folegandros. This is the same quiet spot P and I first visited on our honeymoon, and some of you might remember these photos from the time we spent here last year. In Folegandros, people smile and say hello as they stroll through the car-less narrow streets of the old town, which teeters along the edge of an epic cliff. There are no big ads or much commercialism here. Signs are hand painted wood. Tiny bars serve delectable ice cappuccinos. Kids sell rocks in the town square.
Every day we walk an hour to the beach (Mom's health routine motivates those us with lazier tendencies.) We wander past stone walls and thistles, donkeys and sporadic fig trees. Then a plunge into the salty sea. The kids, and P too, hurl themselves off high rocks into the cool water. We all ooh and ahh about the beauty of each stripy pebble on the beach as we find our Northern California pallor being deeply warmed by the Mediterranean sun.
Our lunch spot is always the same -we are the kind of travelers who stick with a good thing when they find it. Our feet are sandy, and our swimsuits wet as we take a seat at our favorite taverna. Lilah's carnivorous tendencies seem to be at their height here in Greece and she always orders a heaping plate of lamb stewed in olive oil, tomatoes, and onions. The rest of us devour Greek Salads loaded with ripe tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, tangy onion slivers, sunny yellow peppers, the creamiest local goat cheese, and a generous dousing of olive oil. I'm sure there could be new deliciousness to discover, but these Greek Salads feel just right. And this time is all about simple pleasures, right?
- 3 ripe tomatoes, cored and cut into bite-sided wedges
- 1/2 cucumber, peeled and sliced
- 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper, cored and sliced
- 6 Kalamata olives
- 1/2- 1 cup creamy feta
- a good pinch of dried oregano
- nice quality olive oil
- sea salt
- optional: a teaspoon of capers
makes 2 generous servings


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Navy Classic Corduroy Shirt - L
Size: L
Size Guide
Shirts/ Blouses/ Vests/ Knits/ Sweatshirts/ Jackets/ Coats/ T-shirts.
This is a one-off piece in only one size.
- Chest: measure the widest part around your chest
- Waist: measure the narrowest part around your waist
- Neck Size: the measurement around the shirt collar
- Sleeve Length: the length of the garment's sleeve, from shoulder to end of cuff
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Women Topwear Estimated Size Bust Size XS up to 30" S 31" to 34" M 35" to 38" L 39" to 43" XL 44" plus
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- Bust: 50 in.
- Neck: 17 in.
- Sleeve Length: 24 in.
Long sleeved corduroy shirt. Comes in navy with flap pockets.
Neck: 17 inch
Sleeve Length: 24 inch
Bust: 50 inch
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Description: The item appears slightly worn from general wear and could appear slightly faded or with a minor flaw in an unobvious place. It is considered very wearable as is.
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Description: Vintage clothing that has never been worn before. Usually these unworn items are complete with the original merchandise tags. These items are also graded for condition.
Description: These are brand new non vintage items that we stock to help you complete your look.
The majority of items in our vintage and retro catalogue are used items and subsequently, not all items will be perfect. During our selection process, we examine each item in detail to check the quality of the item and to determine if there are any issues about the item that you need to know about. We are very honest in our selection and grading process because we want you to know exactly what you are buying and we want you to be happy and come back to us for more!
We want you to be 100% delighted with your purchase but if you unfortunately are not, you are able to return your online items to us. You have 14 days to return your item, or if you let our Customer Care team know in within 14 days, we will allow you an additional 14 days to get your item to us at the address below:
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How to run after having a baby
NEW YORK — A new study has confirmed what many moms have already discovered: Running just isn't the same postpartum as it was before pregnancy. The study, which is fairly small in scale and was published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, showed precisely what happened to some runners' bodies during and after pregnancy. To summarize: Because the abdominal muscles stretch to accommodate the baby, the pelvis can tilt and move much more postpartum, which causes lower back and hip pain when you run. In some women — especially women who have big babies, multiples or are on their second or third kid — the parallel bands of muscles that meet in the middle of your stomach can even separate completely. This condition is called diastasis recti.
In her write-up of the findings, New York Times fitness reporter Gretchen Reynolds suggests a series of ab exercises to help knit together your poor post-partum tummy. As someone who has recently lived this experience, I have some other suggestions to go along with the helpful advice to do planks and bridges. I started running again two weeks after giving birth to a 9-pounder, with my doctor's blessing. I know that sounds kind of nuts, but I felt like such garbage during my pregnancy, I just wanted to be normal again afterward. I stepped on the treadmill for 30 minutes and tried to run for five. Not only did my hips and lower back feel wobbly, but my milk-filled chest could not be contained by my old sports bra, and my episiotomy-scarred vagina felt like it was going to fall out of my butt. After that inauspicious start, I found the following things were extremely helpful:
Get a really hardcore bra. The Enell sports bra is not pretty — it looks like a boob-straitjacket — but it will strap you in and keep you bounce-free. As I just learned from Amanda Hess' article about pro-athletes and their breasts in ESPN Magazine, "When they get moving, the nipples on a C- or D-cup breast can accelerate up to 45 mph in one second — faster than a Ferrari." When you're still sensitive postpartum, you would prefer your boobs move more like an old Pinto.
Roll your hips out with a foam roller. Before I had a kid, I was running 15-20 miles a week and barely stretched. That's just not an option anymore.
Do intervals. I started increasing the amount I ran by a few minutes each time. But instead of running straight through at a moderate pace, like I used to, I would do intervals of sprinting and walking. This somehow put less pressure on my still-healing junk than running for a long period of time without breaks to walk.
It's worth noting that I had a vaginal delivery. I don't know the best methods to start running again when you've had a C-section. Also, I'm not a doctor, so make sure to check with yours before you start exercising.
Seven months postpartum I am back to running regularly. It's more like 10 miles a week instead of 15 or 20, but that's because I'm tired and I have a lot less time. My ab muscles, after dedicated weekly exercises, are back to a reasonable facsimile of what they used to be. And that's really all you can ask for.


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Folk dancers prep for president's Inaugural Parade
The Chinese American Community Center (CACC) Folk Dance Troupe will showcase their dance skills when they march in the 57th Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington on Monday.
Last Sunday, they strutted their stuff for the media in a dress rehearsal.
"Our dancers worked diligently in three full day workshops over the holidays to perfect their dance and marching routines for this prestigious event," said Debbie French, director of the Folk Dance Troupe. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our children, and we are so proud of their dedication and hard work."
The Folk Dance Troupe was formed at the Chinese American Community Center in 1992 by a group of enthusiastic parents.
The current troupe of dancers range in age from 8 to high school students, and many are new to the troupe joining within the past few years. Also new to the troupe this past year is dance teacher and choreographer Ling Tang, an instructor at the China Institute and a teaching artist with the Washington Performing Arts Society.
During the three-day workshop over the holiday break, Ling choreographed a special parade routine. She also will be dancing and marching with the troupe in the parade.
The troupe will be dancing to a well-known Chinese folk tune, "The Dance of the Golden Snake." This music was chosen because Chinese New Year is twenty days after the Inaugural Parade when Chinese people all around the world will be celebrating the Lunar New Year, which is The Year of the Snake.
"When I was standing at the National Mall witnessing Mr. Obama's first Inauguration in 2009, I never expected four years later we would celebrate this historic moment together by dancing!" Tang said. "When we perform this routine, we will be expressing our best wishes and heartfelt congratulation to President Obama. At the same time, we will be showcasing the young diverse spirit of the U.S. and our splendid Asian cultural heritage."
The dance routine features traditional ribbons, fans and little lions. Since olden times ribbon dancing is symbolic of joy and happiness. The girls dancing with beautiful silk fans convey the festive spirit of Chinese people during joyous occasions. Our youngest girls are Little Lions dancing the lion dance which is a symbol of good omen.
The parade will follow the traditional route down Pennsylvania Avenue from 4th Street past the White House. President Obama and Vice President Biden, along with their families, will watch the parade from the reviewing stand across from Lafayette Park.
"Our young dancers are so excited to be in this parade," French said. "They cannot believe that they will be dancing for President Obama and Vice President Biden and will be representing Vice President Biden's home state of Delaware!"
While the dancers have been practicing, dedicated parents have been working on parade preparations. One parent sought advice from Paul Parets, who directed the Alexis I. du Pont High School Tiger Marching Band in three inaugural parades. Parets emphasized the importance of keeping dancers warm. He said it would be the troupe's biggest challenge. Parents have been scrambling to find warm boots, hats and gloves for the dancers.


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April 1979, still in the early days of the home video revolution, in which I was something of a pioneer. Here I'm at the controls of my Advent VideoBeam projection television, which threw a 5.75-foot wide image onto a silvered screen. I got it in 1976 and my first Betamax VCR the following year - #2 is on the bottom shelf, a 2-hour capable SL-8200, replacing the 1-hour-only SL-7200. The gizmo on the shelf above the Betamax is an Atari Video Music. You ran audio into it, hooked it up to your TV and it produced garish animated abstract electronic patterns bouncing around in response to the musical content, the parameters of which you could control via a bunch of knobs and switches. Devo apparently used one in an early music video. It was, like, far out man.
This is in the video room a friend and I built in the basement of my folks' Larkspur house. The window in the back is for the projection of Super-8 films onto the VideoBeam screen via a clever arrangement of front-surfaced mirrors, as that wall is only a foot or so from the huge old gravity furnace. The wide-angle lens distorts the door frame angle. Just last year I got my third projection video system, the largest yet, and in adjusted dollars it was the cheapest of the three. Kodachrome (Konica Autoreflex T) via self-timer and bounce flash (Vivitar 273). |
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Water Users Association: SCWUA 'disappointed' by KBRA extension
On Dec. 29, 2012, the 42 signatories to the original KBRA – signed in 2010 – completed the process of approving amendments that would extend the agreement's original expiration date from Dec. 31, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2014 in order to give Congress more time to consider approving it. The agreement is a companion to the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA) and outlines many of the peripheral circumstances of the removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River, including division of water distribution in the upper Klamath Basin in the event that the dams do come out.
Full implementation of the KBRA and KHSA requires congressional approval of legislation that would provide final authorization for the agreements as well as some federal funding.
In a Jan. 1 press release, SCWUA President Richard Marshall said the group is disappointed because "significant information has been provided regarding the misuse of the scientific process by the Department of Interior (DOI) and the revelations of Dr. Paul Houser, and now by the revelation of the situation in Marin County, with the oyster farm by Senator Diane Feinstein and Dr. Corey Goodman."
Marshall says his group believes that DOI Secretary Ken Salazar "has clearly indicated that he can make decisions without being confused by good science," refering to reports that Salazar has indicated a predisposition to favor dam removal.
As with many of the groups and individuals opposing dam removal, SCWUA believes that "the decision to try to remove four perfectly good and productive dams is politically motivated and has nothing to do with the coho salmon."
The coho salmon is listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and is listed as endangered by the California ESA. Its status has been a key component of nearly every major water battle in the region. While nearly 30,000 Chinook returned to the Shasta River in 2012, only 139 coho have returned to the Shasta River (preliminary numbers as of Jan. 1). Due to different county procedures on the Scott River, 2012 population estimates are not yet available for that river.
The 2012 fall Chinook return to the greater Klamath Basin was one of the largest on record and the SCWUA cites this as evidence that Klamath salmon populations are not endangered and their status does not warrant the removal of the dams.
Marshall says, "This fact is further illuminated by the findings of Dr. Nathan Mantua of the Farrallon Institute and the JISAO study by the University of Washington marine scientists, who have tied the volume of salmon production to the Pacific decadal oscillation process." He notes, "The riverine system is at the tail end of the process when it comes to returning salmon. The DOI has indicated that any study of the impact of the ocean environment on the coho is not within its jurisdiction and should not be considered."
The SCWUA release also references a recent Siskiyou County Superior Court ruling that stopped the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW, previously known as the Department of Fish and Game) from imposing permitting fees for the exercise of water rights, saying the ruling "raises questions concerning the Department of Fish and Wildlife motives and ability to manipulate the process for their own ends." The CDFW is a signatory to both the original and amended KBRA.
Marshall also alleges that "significant pressure was brought to bear on those ranchers and farmers who decided to sign up or face potential impact to their power and irrigation water availability in the event that the project went ahead without their being a party to it." He adds, "The tribes and non-governmental organizations, in our opinion, obviously are not ready to give up on the opportunity to raid the public treasury. The significance of the hundreds of millions of dollars which are involved in the KBRA cannot be under estimated."
The release concludes by stating that SCWUA believes "In the end, the right decision will be made, leaving the dams in place, producing blue power for our region and the issues confronting the salmon at sea and as they enter the riverine system will be resolved."


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Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Gallery Flambeau Video
Because not all paintings were meant to live forever.
More about the Gallery Flambeau on GJ.
27 comments:
- Jason Peck said...
Oh Man, James, these videos are hilarious, great work. Five Stars on the comedy.
Best Jason
- September 22, 2009 at 5:00 AM
- eric said...
hmmm, not a fan of the gallery flambeau...all that great (or not so great) art that could be on my walls...
i'm going to start a refuge for unwanted paintings...to put an end to the burning! whos with me!
a wise man once said james, art shouldnt be hard, buy a copy of imagnative realism....words to live by jim...words to live by
but i did love the shot of mr hooters your bird watching the painting go out the window, haha, hilarious....and tragic
- September 22, 2009 at 7:05 AM
- Unknown said...
After seeing this video, I truly believe that art actually is rock'n'roll.
- September 22, 2009 at 7:44 AM
- Susan Adsett said...
Yay! Budgie! And I soooo want to build a gallery flambeau of my own - I could keep it going for weeks...
ivo.de.wispelaere - if you think art is rock and roll, you've GOT to check this guy out. He's taken that concept perhaps a little bit too much to heart:
- September 22, 2009 at 7:52 AM
- LuisNCT said...
another great video... and your glasses are really cool
- September 22, 2009 at 8:26 AM
- Pete said...
Great work on the videos! They look professionally done...how'd you produce them?
- September 22, 2009 at 8:35 AM
- Patrick Dizon said...
Just one mistake and it's gone! lol
- September 22, 2009 at 9:34 AM
- James Gurney said...
Thanks, everybody. Think of the GF as an analog delete key.
Pete, I'm teaching myself using David Pogue's book "Imovie, the Missing Manual."I've been using a Canon Vixia HV40 for shooting and iMovie for editing. Music and effects are from the iLife library. It's so cool that Apple gives away these tools with every MacBook laptop, and they're pretty easy to use.
- September 22, 2009 at 10:31 AM
- Dakota said...
Jim! Don't burn your mistakes! Send them to me... haha
Love the vids! :)
- September 22, 2009 at 11:33 AM
- Kendra Melton said...
LOL you so crazy! but so funny. :]
- September 22, 2009 at 11:40 AM
- Beth said...
Love the freedom. Don't like it, bye bye :-)
And love the parrot too ...
- September 22, 2009 at 12:35 PM
- Daroo said...
But I want to understand this new painting technique.
So, You bring everything up to a high level of finish with the exception of the left eye and brow which you completely omit until the end. Is this similar to holding back on your darkest darks -- so you can place them where they'll have maximum impact? Is it always the left eye that is retained or can you achieve the same thing with, say an ear or possibly a nostril...?
- September 22, 2009 at 12:54 PM
- P.T. Waugh said...
Awesome video. I recently sorted out some old charcoal drawings and a few paintings. You can't keep everything.
- September 22, 2009 at 1:02 PM
- Unknown said...
haha, awesome! I wish a pair of those rad goggles came with every copy of Imaginative Realism.
"Create. Destroy." will be my new artistic mantra. Pixar's got too many computers, anyway.
- September 22, 2009 at 1:04 PM
- rigney said...
could you post what music you are using? It's really cool stuff
- September 22, 2009 at 1:49 PM
- Unknown said...
I like the video's but I don't understand their link to 'Imaginative realism', or are you working on a sequel ('Destructive realism')?
- September 22, 2009 at 1:59 PM
- Nathan said...
Hysterical! Love it! Especially the flinging of the painting out the window.
- September 22, 2009 at 4:27 PM
- James Gurney said...
Rigney, the music is all from Mac's iLife suite, which came installed in the MacBook.
Ivo, isn't the idea with TV advertising to make no connection whatsoever to what you're selling?
Munchanka, when you take a baseball bat to all the Pixar computers, make sure you're wearing your Tron goggles.
Daroo, glad you liked the "save the eye for last" technique. If you try it, open the window behind you so you can pitch out any klunkers.
Susan, thanks for that Rock'n'roll link. That guy's got style. For me it's too late for the head of hair, but I'll get to work on the full body tattoos.
- September 22, 2009 at 4:49 PM
For a split second there, I had this great fantasy that you were clipping the 'wiper' to a clay pigeon thrower and we were going to see some fun target pratice! I have to say, though, that it's always surprising when a painting I'm almost embarrassed by is the first one a buyer will pick and pay for with glee. Go figure!
- September 22, 2009 at 6:56 PM
- Chris Jouan said...
I am going to start printing out all my bad digital paintings just so I can do this! Deleting doesn't have the same sense of satisfaction.
- September 22, 2009 at 8:51 PM
- Rob Hummer said...
Budgie even gets a close-up.
What a superstar!
- September 22, 2009 at 9:31 PM
- Michael Pieczonka said...
LOL hilarious. I could sure use one of those painting zappers to nuke some of my frisbees!!!
- September 22, 2009 at 9:49 PM
- Hathaway said...
oh man, I so want to do that with my homework right now, but, watching you felt pretty good too >:D hillarious video, will link to classmates :)
- September 23, 2009 at 12:12 AM
- Mario said...
these videos are fun, and I totally agree that bad works must be destroyed (however that portrait looked rather good).
One suggestion, though: burning paint is not safe, there are dangerous elements inside. Even if you don't breathe the smoke, the bad stuff will go in your (or your neighbour's) garden.
- September 23, 2009 at 3:14 AM
Hilarious!! :) I wonder what will be next. After such a top video, what else can you do?
As I told in a previous post, I love your glasses!!
- September 23, 2009 at 3:43 AM
- Unknown said...
If I already had not ordered IR this video would have been the tipping point to do so.
- September 23, 2009 at 8:12 AM
- Dave Esposito said...
This is so great!!!Yeah, great cut to the bird too! Thanks Mr. Gurney.
- September 4, 2013 at 9:42 AM


text:
TerraTec Cinergy 400TV mobile
Card Features
- Formats: Analog PAL B/G(H), PAL D/K, PAL I
- Cardbus interface
- Inputs: TV, Composite, and S-Video inputs
Components Used
- SAA7135HL chip
- ALPS TSZE1 tuner
How to make it work
As of 126.96.36.199, the stable Linux kernel has got all you need. It detects the card automatically.
As a quick test, insert your card and have a look at dmesg output. You should see all of the following:
- The card is detected as Terratec Cinergy 400 mobile (card=47).
- A tuner chip is found at 0xC0, tuner type is set to 12 (Alps TSBE5).
- TDA9885/6/7 is found at 0x84.
After inserting the card, lsmod should tell you that saa7134, tuner, and tda9887 modules have been loaded automatically.
If any of the above is missing, you'll have to update/hack/patch your kernel.
The CVS version hosted at linuxtv.org also has all necessary patches. Just checkout the video4linux tree into an empty folder in your home directory, cd to that folder and type "make" and then (as root) "make install". Note that you work with development versions now, there's always a possibility that it won't work or doesn't even compile.
See Hans J. Koch's instructions for more details.
Module parameters
You should have the following parameters in your /etc/modprobe.conf:
options saa7134 oss=1 dsp_nr=1 mixer_nr=1 oss_rate=32000 i2c_debug=1 options tda9887 qss=1 port1=0 port2=0
This will create a dsp1 and mixer1 device for sound.
ALSA: If you use alsa for sound, kernels 2.6.15 and later provide a saa7134-alsa module. Enable it in your kernel and configure /etc/modprobe.conf like this:
install saa7134 /sbin/modprobe --first-time --ignore-install saa7134 && { /sbin/modprobe saa7134-alsa || :; } options saa7134 i2c_debug=1 options tda9887 qss=1 port1=0 port2=0
The first line is there so that the saa7134-alsa module is loaded automatically.
The mplayer command line also changes, see below.
You should get a clean picture with any decent TV application, e.g. xawtv or tvtime. However, most applications are not able to get the sound right (If anybody knows why that is, your contribution is highly welcome...) If you can set the source from TV to TV mono,sometimes,it works fine.
The best application to watch TV at the moment is mplayer. You could for example use a command like this (the following part is quoted from a posting by Uros Vampl on the v4l mailing list):
mplayer -vo xv -ao alsa \ -tv driver=v4l2: \ device=/dev/video0: \ width=720:height=576: \ normid=1:chanlist=europe-west: \ immediatemode=0:adevice=/dev/dsp1:amode=1: \ channels=<list_of_channels> \ -vf crop=690:552,pp=li -aspect 4/3 tv://
An explanation of all the options:
- driver=v4l2: Use the v4l2 driver.
- device=/dev/video0: The /dev device for the tuner.
- width=720 and height=576: The size of the video.
- normid=1: Set the TV norm. See the console output of MPlayer for a list of available norms.
- chanlist=europe-west: Set the frequency range where MPlayer will look for channels.
- immediatemode=0: Use adevice instead of a loop cable to the sound card.
- adevice=/dev/dsp1: The audio device created by passing oss=1 to the saa7134 module.
ALSA: To use alsa replace adevice=/dev/dsp1 with alsa:adevice=hw.1,0:audiorate=32000
- amode=1: Use stereo sound. Other options: 0 - mono, 2 - language1, 3 - language2
- channels=<list>: The list of channels is in the form of <chan1>-<chan1_name>,<chan2>-<chan2_name>, etc. For example:
channels=E7-ORF_1,23-ORF_2,SE8-Sat.1,SE12-Pro_7, etc.
Video filters (-vf)
- crop=690:552: Crop away the garbage that is usually at the edges of a tv picture.
- pp=li: Linear interpolation deinterlacer. It has very little CPU usage, while producing an acceptable picture. Look at the MPlayer manpage for other deinterlacers. A very good deinterlacer for example is kerndeint.
- -aspect 4/3: Sets the correct aspect ratio of the picture.
The default keys for switching channels are 'h' and 'k'. If you don't specify a channels list, mplayer will switch through all channels in the frequency range specified by the chanlist option.
Sound does not work right away, you need to switch the mixer to line1, for example with umix:
umix -d /dev/mixer1 line1 R
While tvtime cannot handle sound, you can use sox. Just start tvtime and then sox, like this:
sox -t ossdsp -w -c2 -r 32000 /dev/sound/dsp1 -t ossdsp /dev/sound/dsp
Works with mtt and alevt. mtt works out of the box, for alevt a patch is needed, which is available here.
See also
There is a detailed summary about this card here.


text:
"Celebrities get way too much attention and credit," says Candy Spelling, the widow of the producer Aaron Spelling and the mother the actress Tori Spelling. Should we respond by skipping her memoir? A review of Spelling's Stories from Candyland will appear tomorrow on One-Minute Book Reviews.
February 14, 2010
Tomorrow — A Hollywood Memoir, 'Stories From Candyland'
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text:
Template for quilting - ruler 8 inches x 3 inches
Recommended for longarm machines
Longarm quilting machine of any brand and sewing machine.
It is precisely made of high quality acrylic, chosen for its strength, transparency and sustainability. Thickness 5-6 mm (ca. 1/4 inch) provides security when using the jump feet. The template is engraved, not printed. It provides long-term accuracy while quilting.
|Rulers - straight, curves, waves
|Dimension (L x W x H)
|8 x 3 x 0.25 Inch
|101 Gram


text:
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text:
Microsoft may have told app developers "Don't call it Metro," but the latest version of Mozilla's browser for Windows 8 is called the "Firefox Metro Preview." The name is fitting in all senses.
It's fitting because Mozilla has adopted the used-to-be-called-Metro design style with an attractive overhaul of the browser's user interface. This is something Google did not do with Chrome. While there is a version of Chrome for Metro, it looks almost exactly like the desktop version, for better or worse.
The name "Firefox Metro Preview" is also fitting because "preview," if anything, is a polite word for this early state of the application. While both Microsoft and Google have Metro-style browsers in functional shape, Mozilla's current schedule will keep the Metro version of its browser in beta for some time after the Windows 8 release on Oct. 26.
The benchmarks show some promise, and the browser's existing features work pretty well. Everything it can do, it does quickly and smoothly. But there are lots of missing pieces, as noted by Firefox developer Brian Bondy in his blog. There is no panning and zooming. Scrolling is possible with touch, and a keyboard, but not with a mouse scroll wheel.
Flash and add-ons are both disabled for now. "Although we have plans for Flash support, the preview currently has it disabled," Bondy wrote. "You can add support for windowless plugins by setting plugin.disable to false in about:config. As previously mentioned, for the Metro environment only, even in the initial release, we will not have add-ons enabled. We will eventually add support for add-ons through the add-on SDK."
I experienced an odd bug myself that seems to be localized to my home office in Massachusetts. I cannot copy text in Firefox and paste it into a second application. I can copy and paste from another application into Firefox, but not vice versa. I tried both on the tablet and in a virtual machine, and even tried reinstalling Firefox, but am still having the problem.
My colleagues Andrew Cunningham and Sean Gallagher both tested it out and found copying and pasting does work on their machines. I won't rule out operator error—whatever is causing my own problem, I am sure the answer lies somewhere deep within the Windows Event Viewer.
Metro Metro Metro
The Firefox Metro Preview is in the latest nightly build of Firefox version 18 (download link), which is scheduled for release Jan. 8, 2013 (the current stable version is 15). You can install both Firefox 15 and 18 side-by-side on Windows 8—Firefox 18 will simply be called "Nightly." The difference is that Firefox 18 includes both the desktop and Metro versions, while 15 includes only the desktop one. If you set Nightly as the default browser, and then access it from the Start Screen, it'll load the Metro version. (Clarification: The build that includes Firefox Metro Preview is in a branch from Mozilla's normal nightly builds. The build with Firefox Metro will be merged with the main development version sometime in the next three months.)
When you open Firefox Metro, you'll see bookmarks on the left, recent pages in the middle, and downloads on the right. There is a single box at the top to type in a Web search or a URL, unlike the desktop version of Firefox which has separate boxes.
Interface-wise, it's much more similar to IE10's Metro version than Chrome's. That means buttons and menus are optimized for touch, with bigger surface areas to accommodate the use of fingers instead of a mouse. But there are fewer options. There seems to be no way to have an always-present bookmarks bar like there is in Chrome, for example.
Webpages are displayed full-screen by default. If you swipe in from the top (or right-click at the top with a mouse) you reveal the URL/search bar and a plus sign for opening a new tab. If you swipe from the top or right-click a second time, the view expands to include open tabs:
There is an option to always show all tabs, instead of having to swipe down to show them. There are also obvious ways to bookmark pages or pin them to your Start Screen. The best way to easily access your bookmarks is to start a new tab page, which by default lists your bookmarks, recent pages, and downloads. There is not yet an option for creating new bookmark folders.
One handy feature lets you share the URL of whatever webpage you're viewing by swiping in from the right to bring up the Windows 8 share contract. That lets you e-mail the URL or share the link via Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, all without leaving Firefox.
Mozilla's sync service for syncing bookmarks and other data across devices is also enabled. But I haven't been able to download synced bookmarks, even though Firefox Metro claims it's completed the sync operation.
On to the benchmarks! I attempted four tests, the three mentioned above (SunSpider, Google Octane, and Peacekeeper), and a Microsoft HTML5 test known as Chalkboard. All were performed on the Samsung Windows 8 tablet.
Chalkboard seems to be a test that only IE can perform well. While IE10 completed the test in 8.26 seconds, it took Firefox Metro 757.88 seconds (12.63 minutes), and Chrome simply couldn't finish it at all.
Even if we discount this test, IE10 feels fast in Windows 8 and it outperformed the competition in SunSpider. While IE10 completed the SunSpider JavaScript benchmark in 302.8ms, Chrome took 413.6ms and the Nightly Firefox took 459.2ms.
Firefox Metro's best result came in Google Octane, where it scored 4,928, much better than IE10's 1,465. Chrome hit 7,056. The results were so disparate that I ran the tests again, and got nearly identical results.
With PeaceKeeper, Firefox Metro wasn't able to finish the test at all, on either the tablet or in a VM. Chrome (on the tablet) scored 1,998, better than IE10's score of 1,071.
The results just stated include the Nightly build of Firefox 18. Since we were comparing the browser to stable versions of Chrome and IE10, it's only fair to run the same tests on Firefox 15 as well.
The results were better and worse. Firefox 15 on the Windows 8 tablet did SunSpider in 345.4ms, scored 4,653 on Google Octane, and did the Microsoft ChalkBoard test in 279.78 seconds. Firefox 15 was able to finish PeaceKeeper, coming up with a score of 1,307.
A late start. Does it matter?
Firefox obviously got a slow start in having a Metro-ready browser for the Oct. 26 launch of Windows 8. Internet Explorer 10 is ready, of course. Chrome is too, in a sense, because Google didn't change the user interface much, perhaps betting that most Windows 8 users will be using traditional mice-and-keyboard setups instead of tablets. Mozilla has a long road ahead, as evidenced by the state of this first version and its target date of January for a Firefox 18 release.
Firefox product manager Asa Dotzler writes in his blog that "Over the coming weeks and months, we'll be adding more features, tightening up Windows integration, improving performance and responsiveness, and finishing up all the necessary work to deliver a first class Firefox experience for Windows 8."
The different states of Firefox and Chrome on Metro could indicate that the makers of the two browsers have very different strategies for Windows 8, or just that they are on extremely different development cycles. I downloaded the latest development build of Chrome and found its Metro interface to still be largely unchanged from its desktop version.
Firefox Metro, for all its early problems, is thus a lot closer to being a touch-ready browser on Windows 8 than Chrome. At the same time, the Metro version of Chrome is more stable than the Metro version of Firefox, precisely because it's generally the same as the desktop version. Google may have the more attractive browser than Firefox for Windows 8 users who use Metro with a mouse and keyboard. But for those who buy Windows 8 tablets, Firefox looks like it will be the better option once all its various bugs are fixed and its missing features restored.


text:
Kitchen Call: The season for lobster, veggies
By Linda Bassett
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Last weekend, a group of us met in a friend's New Hampshire garden to gather baskets of tomatoes and onions and peppers and eggplants. In that cool region, summer growing season has begun to melt into picking and preserving season. Gardeners find themselves working quickly as the produce ripens and the ideas for winter storage pile up in their imaginations. Cooks without a garden head to the farm stand or farmers market then cut up, freeze, and dehydrate veggies, and whip up sauces – anything to store fresh flavors for the oncoming misery of winter.
By the shore, lobsters sell briskly for the last taste before September. Experts on the shellfish claim that lobster meat is best during May, June, July and August, the months without an "r" in their name. Vacationers and natives alike gobble up the last lobster rolls of summer at weathered wooden picnic tables or nibble them by candlelight over starched white linen. Some of us make our own lobster rolls, a task best done with someone to help shell the little beasts.
So here I've combined some tips to get the best of the freshest fare of the last two weeks before the school bells ring on the New England coast. The first batch is for those who want to take a last stab at constructing a lobster roll. The second, is a guide through the farmers market before the pumpkins start selling.
To make your own lobster rolls you will need:
Lobsters. If you're lucky, there's a lone lobsterman selling his daily catch at a local dock or you know a shack with live lobster for sale. For four lobster rolls, you will need four 1-1/2 pound creatures. Multiply that number by however many you want to make.
You will also need four New England-style hot dog rolls. (Multiply as above.) We New Englanders are practical lot. Unlike the other 49 states which slit their rolls along the side, we slit ours across the top. Hot dogs stay put at the ball park and when we use them for lobster, we can easily overstuff them with the meat of an entire lobster heaped neatly on top.
Now you need to make the Big Decision - warm or cold. Purists exist in either camp. Warm lobster meat is optionally tossed in a little melted butter. Cold lobster takes a tiny slather of mayonnaise. Some people maintain that the warm lobster roll is for indoors on china with a knife and fork and the cold version outdoors, like a hot dog, out of hand. There is no rule. Whatever tastes best to you is the best version.
For either one, you will need some unsalted butter.
Optionally, you will want some coarse sea salt, a chopped inner stalk of celery, and a few strands of fresh chives.
Time to cook! Boil the lobsters in a large pot of water until bright red. Remove, drain, and shell them. Cut the tails into half-inch pieces; leave knuckle and claw meat whole. Yes, it's a messy job, and I'd suggest teaming up with an experienced cook, and shelling them outdoors, if possible.
Warm a skillet large enough to hold the rolls all together. Soften the butter and spread onto the outside of the rolls. Then melt enough to cover the bottom of the skillet. Toast the rolls on both sides until they take on a golden, buttery glow and flavor and set them aside, but only for a minute or two.
For a Warm Lobster Roll: Melt a little more butter in the skillet. Take it off the heat, and toss the lobster meat until barely coated. Stuff the rolls and serve immediately sprinkled with some chives and a few grains of coarse sea salt, if you want.
For a Cold Lobster Roll: Toss the lobster meat and celery, if using, with the mayo. Stuff the rolls, sprinkle them with a few grains of sea salt, and serve on a paper plate with a pickle spear and local potato chips.
OK, on to the glories of the farmers market. As with the lobster roll, there no hard and fast rules, but here are some guidelines to see you through the end of this season and right through autumn.
- Find out what is in season, and what is native to the area. Right here, right now, you will be looking for peppers, eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes and late peaches. In a few weeks it will be apples and squash and beets.
- Try different markets – the one near where you work, the one in your hometown, a midweek market and a weekend market. One might suit your needs better than another.
- Get there early for the biggest choice. About 15 minutes before it opens, the market is at its most beautiful as the farmers put the finishing touches on their displays. The array of choices is wide and popular items sell out first. At my market arugula and zucchini blossoms disappear within an hour.
- On a sweltering hot day, bring a cooler to keep tender items from wilting before you get home. But never put tomatoes in the cooler! They should be seasoned only with warmth from the sun.
- When you get there, stroll by all the stands to see what looks freshest. Why buy just acceptable fruits and veggies at one stand, when perfect ones are available three stands away?
- Look for other products. You may find artisanal cheeses, farm baked breads and muffins and pies, eggs still warm from the hens, potted herbs and flowers or local sea salt. Also, look for local craftsmen offering homemade soaps, hand-printed note cards or woven baskets and blankets.
- Bring bags or baskets to carry your cache. Not all farms offer bags. I'm always envious of the shoppers who look so nice with all their fresh veggies and flowers poking out of their carriers.
- Break out your phone to take photos to cheer you up in the dead of winter or post on Facebook.
- Get there late for the bargains. In the last half hour, some vendors discount their goods to lighten the load on the way home. A lot less choices, and some of the stuff is past its prime, but the price may be right if you are getting ready to make a vat of tomato sauce or a bucket of vegetable soup to freeze. (Freeze in small quantities.)
Linda Bassett is the author of "From Apple Pie to Pad Thai: Neighborhood Cooking North of Boston." Reach her by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com. Read Linda's blog at LindABCooks.wordpress.com. Follow Linda for quick recipes on Twitter at @Kitchencall.


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Selling Energy Conservation: The Art of Educating, Listening, Partnership, and Flexibility
The first step in selling energy conservation is gaining the confidence of your clients.
For nine years I have been riding the energy bandwagon and beating the drum that design professionals have a role to play in advancing energy efficiency with their clients. While I believed my passion would create followers, it has been my process that has helped professionals and clients embrace the idea that there is no need to sacrifice beauty for a better home—good design can marry energy, durability, comfort, and health to create something better than what we see on the surface. While developing a process to sell energy efficiency I've gained insights into what works and what doesn't; what leads to successful home performance implementation and what doesn't. The following stories are just some of the examples of the bumps in the road that provided me with insight and success for my clients.
Creating Confidence
By the look on Michelle's face, I could tell she thought I was selling snake oil. I had just handed her a radon test kit and strongly suggested that she test her home. Even though she had chosen me because I was a green designer, this new conversation was unsettling to her. She thought green meant bamboo floors and low-VOC paint. No one she knew worried about radon. Moving beyond ordinary design and media spin was proving to be anything but easy with this client. My break came when I thought to pass along the name of a contact in her county environmental services department. Michelle didn't believe me about the risks of radon, but perhaps she would listen to a neutral party. During our third design meeting, she revealed the results of the radon test she reluctantly performed after her talk with the county radon specialist. The test results showed radon levels two times higher than the EPA-recommended levels for action. While that put the whole family at risk, she was especially worried about her husband, who had an office in the basement, and a daughter who had a bedroom next to her husband's office.
The radon exercise gave Michelle confidence in my knowledge—opening the door to learning more about green living. I took the opportunity to engage her in an energy discussion. When I mentioned the value of an energy audit, blower door test, and infrared (IR) thermal imaging, she revealed worries that went beyond the kitchen. She told me about mold near the bathroom ceilings and recurring mildew on the exterior siding below the soffits. She pointed out cold floors and walls that made the home uncomfortable. I said that many people would be coming into her home during the kitchen remodel. Planned disruption was the perfect time to hire the professionals who could make the house more comfortable and energy efficient.
I gave her the contact information for a HERS rater I know and a script of things to say when requesting an energy audit and describing the project. The rater told her how to connect with her utility company to request an audit using the rater's services. Two weeks later, she had a home assessment that found missing insulation in the kitchen soffits, inadequate insulation and major air bypasses in the ceilings throughout the house, inadequate venting in the attic, and missing bath fans. (But luckily, no CO backdrafting.)
Michelle and I continued to meet, and I continued to design—noting strategies for radon mitigation and the rater's recommendations for energy improvements—two new bath fans on timers; insulation of the rim joists; and air sealing, insulation, and ventilation in the attic. Once the contractor was chosen, we worked together in a design-build scenario looking for ways to balance energy, health, beauty, and budget for the expanding project.
In the end, Michelle's team of designer, HERS rater, and contractor created the beautiful kitchen Michelle dreamed of while giving her the added peace of mind that came from knowing that she had an energy-efficient, healthier home. (The contractor got the added bonus of working with a budget that increased 25% beyond the original "not to exceed" figure for the kitchen!)
Tom and Jane had a different story. Their original remodeling goal was typical: They wanted to update the kitchen to ready their home for sale. They believed that moving to a newly built home would give them some years of freedom from the burgeoning stream of repairs and upgrades required of their 45-year-old rambler. Tired of their money pit, they had already begun the process of house hunting when they hired me to assist them through the kitchen design process. While they didn't understand green design, they were interested in learning how it could add value beyond beauty. No other designer had talked about improving comfort, lowering utility bills, or enhancing the selling potential of their home in a changing green marketplace.
I also wanted to understand Jane and Tom's reasons for leaving the home where they had raised their children, tended the gardens, and built a network of neighbors and friends. If their needs could be met with a whole-house remodel at a cost less than the cost of building new, the environmental impact of homeownership could be reduced while leaving money in their bank account.
Tom and Jane were involved clients who were open to discussions that went beyond their original goal of a kitchen remodel and typical design. They were intrigued by the idea of a home performance assessment and third-party verification. So we started the informed design process by having them call my HERS rater contact.
Tom and Jane followed the HERS rater as he moved through the house; the IR camera photographs and the changing computer screen hooked to the blower door apparatus captivated them. They were relieved to find their one-year-old high-efficiency furnace was functioning well, but dismayed that the original water heater was leaking CO and would need replacing. Dismay led to imagination: What if the old chimney could be removed and extra space found on the main floor? Soon, Jane and Tom were discussing the possibility of staying put and remodeling the whole house instead of buying new. They could now envision a more comfortable house with the home they already had.
With that change in attitude, I invited the rater to create a list of recommendations for energy improvements to the 45-year-old rambler. Some of those strategies included installing new triple-pane windows (many becoming bigger—especially in the bedrooms, to meet current standards for egress); removing plaster from the kitchen walls to apply closed-cell spray foam insulation; installing closed-cell spray foam at the rim joist and closed-cell spray foam and blown-in cellulose in the attic; adding two gas fireplace inserts; and installing 1 inch of rigid insulation on the exterior of the home (to improve wall R-value while minimizing disturbance to the interior plaster). It was at this point in the design that Jane and Tom hired a contractor, and we began a design-build process of balancing aesthetic vision, energy goals, and budget.
Prior to construction, the rater led a meeting with the construction team to educate team members on the energy strategies, the process of third-party verification, and how their work would be inspected for high-quality installation and energy performance. (None of the tradespeople had been involved in a job where their work had been inspected for performance.) Poor installation could mean drafty windows, trapped moisture in the walls, building rot, ceiling stains, and mold—all things the homeowners wanted to avoid in their "new" house, as they had already experienced them in the old one.
The final numbers from the blower door testing found that airtightness had been improved by 48%. While it would be difficult to separate out the costs for the energy improvements in the whole-house remodel (the project included four bathroom upgrades, a total kitchen redo, finish upgrades to all rooms on the main floor, and new siding), a generalized savings was apparent when the cost of the remodel was compared to the cost of buying new. The "new home remodel" cost approximately $250,000—half the price of the $500,000 home Tom and Jane had originally set out to build.
Steadfast Goals
Sonia and Brad's energy story is different yet again. They started out somewhat informed; they had done some Internet research on energy efficiency and healthy homes. I was hired to help select finish materials and to lead the discussions between architect and builder, as neither was knowledgeable about green design. But multiple meetings with the clients and their team saw two major, conflicting priorities emerge. Brad became steadfast about his "not to exceed" figure. He was paying cash to avoid a mortgage and wanted no extra expenses (even if the upgrades were energy strategies that would result in reduced monthly utility bills). Sonia was adamant that the floor plan, the total finished floor area (which included a finished walk-out basement), and the major materials (flooring, cabinetry, and countertops) not deviate from her original vision. The lack of flexibility in budget and design options relegated energy strategies to third place on the priority list. The attic, walls, foundation walls, and slab were not improved beyond the 2009 energy code for climate zone 6. No HERS rater was hired, so no HERS score was calculated and no third-party verification occurred.
On the bright side, high-efficiency mechanicals and Energy Star appliances and lighting were installed. The energy and green strategy discussions led to improved communication between Sonia and Brad. Each was able to define what mattered most to him or her in the long term. While there were many missed energy opportunities, the clients were satisfied with the final product.
Being Open Minded
Paul was the dream client—highly motivated to create a home off the grid and with the financial means to do it. His passion for sustainability and wise use of resources meant that he would update an existing structure rather than build new. What he didn't realize was the complexity of making a 45-year-old home with an L-shaped foundation, a one-story area with a vaulted ceiling, and a two-story wing with little southern access into an energy-efficient, durable structure. He firmly believed that upgraded insulation, new windows, passive-solar strategies, and renewables would be all he needed. He had already purchased his 3,000 ft2 home before we met.
Paul is a math and science teacher with drafting skills to do most of the space planning, the ability to calculate sun angles and design window overhangs, and ample time during summer vacations to do the work himself. He also had previous remodeling experience, and he was willing to hire professionals who had the knowledge he lacked. He did not know about energy audits or HERS raters. But Paul was quick to understand the value of a home performance assessment and a HERS study to conduct what-if scenarios using the REM/Rate software. He was interested in the projected gains for various insulation strategies and renewables in combination with passive-solar strategies to determine the best route to get to HERS 0.
The HERS exercise turned out to be an eye-opening experience for Paul. He went into the project knowing that he would be insulating his home, but he didn't realize the importance of air sealing, alignment of air barriers, and placement of insulation in reducing the heating-and-cooling load. The photographs from the IR thermal imaging helped him to target air leaks and wall insulation voids. The HERS study also determined that 3 inches of rigid insulation applied to the exterior of the structure would greatly reduce thermal bridging while maximizing insulation value. Other strategies critical to lowering the HERS score included insulating the rim joist and foundation walls, using spray foam and cellulose in the flat-ceiling portion of the home, and combining spray foam insulation on the interior of the vaulted ceiling with rigid foam on the exterior. The combination of all these building envelope strategies resulted in a predicted HERS score of 35. Paul then hired a solar designer to craft a system using solar-thermal and PV strategies to reduce the HERS score to 0. Paul didn't even mind that the solar tracker and hot-water panels were located in front of the home to maximize exposure and energy production.
Sales Strategies
When it comes to selling energy conservation strategies to clients, education is the first step. Each homeowner understands energy efficiency differently, and is more or less interested in achieving it. And while there is a growing discussion in the popular media about the need to be more energy efficient, not everybody understands what that means. It is the role of the first person who interacts with the client to serve as the educator on energy efficiency—even if the first person is the design professional, the remodeling contractor, the builder's sales professional, the builder, or a product or service sales rep. He or she is the gatekeeper to the client. Educator, however, is not synonymous with authority. If you are not an energy professional, create partnerships with those who are and recommend an energy professional to a client. Let the professional's knowledge and experience, and the tangible results of a home performance assessment or HERS score, do the talking. Informed design gave Michelle the confidence to create a more energy-efficient and healthy home. Paul is still working toward a net-zero home, but his success in achieving a balance between energy used and energy produced will be the result of strategies born of the HERS process.
If clients resist new information, introduce a neutral method of gaining knowledge. Suggest that they speak with an energy professional or their utility company, or direct them to a web site they can browse for information independently. Help them gain confidence at their own pace. Yet be persistent and gently pushy. Taking an authoritative role pays off when they connect the dots and realize that your knowledge is valuable. Tom and Jane ended up remodeling their whole house instead of building when they realized that there were solutions to make their aging home feel and operate like new.
For those clients who say that energy is not a concern, change the conversation to comfort or home improvements. In this instance, talking should turn to asking and listening, to delve into concerns about radon, lead, CO, drafty windows, moldy-smelling basements, peeling paint, ceiling stains, and mildew on roofs and siding. You can also ask about health problems, such as asthma and allergies. These problems and their solutions may be a gateway to deeper energy discussions. Michelle resisted any conversation about energy until she connected radon to her family's health.
Always talk about the impact of energy strategies on budget. Offer up design solutions that can help balance added expenses. Are there alternate flooring, cabinet, and countertop options that can reduce costs for finish materials so money can be shifted to energy strategy expenses? The flooring in Jane's kitchen is linoleum tile—a beautiful, less expensive alternative to tile and wood. Michelle chose ceramic tile in place of imported stone, saving money that then went toward radon mitigation.
learn more
Find out more about Simply Green Design at www.simplygreendesign.com.
Commit to selling energy and get known for your more than ordinary knowledge and skills. Many design professionals and contractors can create beautiful projects. But there is still resistance in the industry to creating beautiful, energy-efficient homes. Focusing on energy efficiency is one way you can establish a reputation for caring about client satisfaction and creating repeat business. While you may still encounter clients like Sonia and Brad, you will gain more confidence to sell energy with every conversation you have. Give clients options and the opportunity to decide. Move past what can't be changed and focus on what can. While some energy professionals use smoke and mirrors in their home energy assessments, they aren't selling snake oil. With a collective effort at educating clients and forming partnerships, we can shift attitudes and action to greater energy conservation.
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By Kathleen Parker
WASHINGTON — RINO-hunting, the long-popular political sport that morphed in 2008 into a sort of hysteria-driven obsession, lately has become a suicide mission.
RINO, of course, refers to Republicans In Name Only and is the pejorative term used against those who fail to march in lockstep with the so-called conservative base. I use "so-called" because, though the hard-right faction of the party tends to be viewed as The Base, this isn't necessarily so. My guess is there are now more RINOs than those who, though evangelical in their zeal, are poison to their party's ability to win national elections.
Yet, as always, the base manages to control the message because it is vocal, loud and, most important, makes for "Good TeeVee." Spittle sells. Stay calm and carry on … right past the elevators and leave your visitor badge on the counter on your way out the door.
There are now so many RINOs wandering the barren plains that, banded together, they might even form a critical mass. A base, if you will. If only they weren't so attractively independent. The individualist nature of those most likely to be drawn to the Republican Party is such that they tend not to gather in groups. Ostracized by their own tribe, they feel alone in their exile.
Quite the opposite is true. Indeed, as the base seeks El Savior, isn't it time for a RINO Rebellion?
Take a cue from the tea party, RINOs. Embrace your alienation. Slap a bumper sticker on your angst and rally that dispassion. Witness how bloggers turned others' insults into a movement. What were random basement bloggers in terrycloth bathrobes and Uggs are now the respected and influential Pajamas Media, aka PJ Media.
Own your insult, in other words. Why should RINOS hang their heads in shame and be relegated to the fringes of their party? The party is the fringe. Isn't it time to reclaim the salt lick? RINOs need to be defiantly proud, aggressively centrist and unapologetically sane.
There are a couple of obstacles to this obvious course. First, sane people are too busy Being Normal to organize. No, "normal" is not a relative term. We all know what normal is, and it doesn't involve carrying gigantic photos of aborted fetuses to political conventions. For example.
We fetishize politics and political display in this country, or at least the media do. But The Normals really are not so interested in politics as guerrilla theater as programmers, consultants and spinners seem to think they are. Most would like the country to rock along without drama — operating within a reasonable budget, with respect for privacy and the rule of law, compassion for the disadvantaged and an abundance of concern for national security, including border control but not necessarily drone attacks on citizens.
More or less.
Another related obstacle to RINOs organizing is that RINOs don't much like organizations. Remember John McCain the Maverick? Precisely. Though long considered a RINO by his own party, McCain enjoyed kinder, gentler treatment by the media — and, therefore, the sexier "maverick" moniker — at least until he fell for Sarah Palin, the tea-chugging Diana of RINO-haters. The truth is, most RINOs, mavericks by any other name, would rather be alone, which makes playing well with others problematic.
Finally, they lack the necessary grandiosity to recognize how fabulous they are. Ever seen a RINO in one of those silly hats that screams: "I Belong! I Am A Member Of The Party!"? No. They tend to be discreet — strangers in a strange land, keeping a low profile and an eye cracked for signs of fellow travelers. At most, they gather in smallish groups and dine on ironically named dishes, such as baked Alaska. At their most enthusiastic, they form polite alliances, such as the "No Labels," um, something.
Sorry, guys. The sentiment behind no-labels is at the core of my very being, though I prefer Walker Percy's more eloquent imperative that we should repent of labels. It is the essence of my Moi-ness: Stop fussing and fix it. But movements don't begin with "No." No-labels is a non without a sequitur. A yield without a merge. A … nonstarter.
Thus, what has become glaringly clear is that RINOs need to stop being so normal and grant their better angels a sabbatical. Forget taking back the country. Start by taking back your party. Do it for your country.
RINOs: The Strong. The Proud. The Many.
Kathleen Parker's email address is firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Area providers come together for event
HILLSDALE — Parents looking for the perfect preschool for their children will have the opportunity to talk with representatives from area preschools during the Preschool Connect event Thursday at the Hillsdale Free Methodist Church.
The event is sponsored by Great Start Collaborative of Hillsdale County. The event will be from 10 a.m. to noon and 4-6 p.m. at the church located at 150 Union St., Hillsdale.
Ginelle Skinner, Great Start supervisor, said the idea came about as a one-stop shop for parents to learn about preschool options in the county. Representatives from all the licensed preschools from the county will be present, besides three Skinner said she hadn't heard back from.
"It has been really well-received," she said.
The event will give parents the opportunity to learn about all the preschool options in the county. Representatives will be on hand to help parents with financial assistance. Pre-registration for state- and federally-funded preschool programs will also be available.
Representatives from the Hillsdale ISD will be on hand to do developmental screenings. Personnel of the health department and other county organizations willalso be in attendance.
Representatives from the Sandbox Party will also be at the event. The Michigan Sandbox Party is a nonpartisan movement for Michigan residents who recognize the need to make sure infants, toddlers and other children are healthy, strong and ready to go when they arrive at kindergarten.
Skinner said it is important for parents to shop around when looking for a preschool. She said her advice to parents is go with your gut when picking out a preschool.
"If something doesn't seem right during a visit, continue to look," Skinner said.
Preschools need to be warm, nurturing environments where students not only are in a learning environment but also have opportunities to interact and play with other students, Skinner said. As supervisor of the Great Start program she has been working with area preschools in improving the quality of the programs.
The state has recently begun rating all of the licensed preschools in the state on a star system.