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Analytica for Energy & Power
The energy industry is changing more rapidly than it has in many decades with the advent of new energy technologies and the start of our transition to a more sustainable World. Analytica is playing an important role in evaluating these technologies and policies comprehensively — in terms of economics, environment, and energy security.
With these changes come inevitable uncertainties in energy prices, technology costs, demand, and environmental impacts. Energy analysts are using Analytica's integrated tools for uncertainty to help them quantify and manage these risks. Analytica is being used across the entire spectrum of energy, from power companies, oil & gas companies, small and large energy consultants, to universities, NGOs, and government.
Building Electrification: Heat Pump Technology for California Homes
Lumina set out to build a useful tool to assess the benefits of heat pumps. Learn more about heat pumps and their impact.
The Future of Electricity in the US Pacific Northwest
See how the region plans to meet its aggressive carbon emission targets while ensuring that utilities can provide economic and reliable power.
ANAGRAM: Using Risk-Spend Efficiency to Help Gas Utilities Reduce the Risk of Leaks and Explosions
Learn about the decision-support web application named ANAGRAM – Analytica for Natural Gas Risk Analysis and Management.
Helping DOE Decide Which R&D Projects to Fund
See the rationale that is being used to prioritize which technologies and industries receive attention due to their abilities to have the largest impact on the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the US.
The future of coal in South Africa
The Coal Roadmap study used Analytica to model the coal value chain under several possible future scenarios to assess the impact on the economy and environment.
Savings from shifting electricity load to off-peak
This open-source Analytica tool evaluates the cost-effectiveness of load-shifting technologies, including batteries and thermal cooling.
Helping Global Companies Purchase Electricity Sustainably
Most large organizations try to procure electricity from renewable sources to minimize greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. See how some are weighing their options.
Bechtel SAIC
Analytica was selected to evaluate life-cycle costs for the proposed radioactive waste repository at Yucca Mountain, NV, after comparing it with 12 other software tools.
Optimizing pricing for natural gas distribution
BG Group developed an Analytica model to optimize pricing for natural gas. Leading gas distributors in Brazil and India are now using the tool.
From Controversy to Consensus: California's Offshore Oil…
Offshore oil in California is highly controversial. But, Lumina's decision model on decommissioning oil platforms led to consensus for "rigs to reefs".
Helping Tucson Electric Power meet Renewable Portfolio Standards
Navigant Consulting created RE-Sim™, an Analytica model, to help TEP plan how to add generating capacity from renewable sources.
Relocatable Classroom
The importance analysis features in Analytica helped designers determine where to spend their design time, leading to building designs with reduced environmental impact.
Electrical Energy Storage Valuation Tool
Analytica was used to build an energy storage modeling application to evaluate the costs and benefits of various storage technologies.
RFF Haiku
What is the effect of current and proposed economic and environmental regulations? The Haiku model is used by organizations in the electric power market to forecast these effects.
A Campus Microgrid with CHP
Is adding more photovoltaics to UCSD's microgrid technically feasible and cost-effective? E3 Consulting created a dispatch optimization tool to evaluate this question.
Megajoule.org: A Hub for Energy Numbers
An open, online platform for exploring and sharing of key data on performance and costs of energy technologies.


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The eighteenth issue of Silver Surfer would be the series' last and it ends with a bang. The character's creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby are reunited in this issue. With a setting of the story being blue side of the moon that the Inhumans call home, Kirby does some amazing work in this issue.
After falling on the moon, Silver Surfer becomes an unwilling pawn in the war between Black Bolt and his evil brother Maximus for control of the Inhumans. After fighting both sides, finally snaps and attacks both sides.
The last page of the issue is the above splash page and it pretty much shows that Silver Surfer has had it with the universe. He's done with humanity (and it's Inhuman branch). That image of an irate Silver Surfer is just amazing and I'm so glad I read this series, if just for this.
Sadly, this was the last issue of the series and whatever direction the "savage" Silver Surfer would have taken is pretty much an unknown. This take on the character didn't spill over into any of the other Marvel series at the time; he would reappear almost a year later in 1971's Sub-Mariner.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Guardian and The Washington Post have shared the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for journalism for their reporting on secret surveillance by the National Security Agency.
The Pulitzer committee praised the Guardian US for "its revelation of widespread secret surveillance by the National Security Agency, helping through aggressive reporting to spark a debate about the relationship between the government and the public over issues of security and privacy".
Editor of the Guardian Alan Rusbridger said he was "truly honoured".
Mr Rusbridger said in a statement: "This was a complex story, written, edited and produced by a team of wonderful journalists.
"We are particularly grateful for our colleagues across the world who supported the Guardian in circumstances which threatened to stifle our reporting.
"And we share this honour, not only with our colleagues at the Washington Post, but also with Edward Snowden, who risked so much in the cause of the public service which has today been acknowledged by the award of this prestigious prize."
The Washington Post was praised for its reporting, which was "marked by authoritative and insightful reports that helped the public understand how the disclosures fit into the larger framework of national security," said the committee.
Mr Snowden, the former intelligence contractor behind the leaks, said the prize was a "vindication for everyone who believes that the public has a role in government".
He said in a statement: "We owe it to the efforts of the brave reporters and their colleagues who kept working in the face of extraordinary intimidation, including the forced destruction of journalistic materials, the inappropriate use of terrorism laws, and so many other means of pressure to get them to stop what the world now recognises was work of vital public importance."
The winners will each receive a gold medal awarded to those news organisations who display distinguished examples of meritorious public service.
The Pulitzer Prize, now in its 98th year, is awarded each year in the categories of journalism, letters, drama and music.
Donna Tartt's book The Goldfinch took the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.
This is the first time the main prize has been shared by two news organisations since 1990, when the medal was awarded to both the Washington Daily News and The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Other winners of the journalism prizes were the Boston Globe for its breaking news reporting and two journalists at Reuters for their international reporting on the Rohingya minority community in Myanmar.


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Template details
Released:June, 2019
Licence:CC BY 3.0 (footer credits must remain in place)
Credits:Images from Unsplash
Academics is a highly – simplified academic website template for academic centres such as colleges and universities. Equipped with an attractive, user – friendly navigation interface, it sports a combination of colours similar to conventional social media platforms, hence emphasizing easy adaptability for young users. The ready – to – use tool would place you on a high pedestal, to pull in traffic to your academic website. Academics gives you the ability to set up your academic website in little to no time, by eliminating the need to build from scratch. With a well – structured combination of navigation icons, the header serves both the old and new user with respective options. Academics also features social media integration icons, by which the user can connect and share progress with friends and family.


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An already bad month is getting worse for NBC. For the first time in sweeps history, the network is projected to finish fifth in the key adults 18-49 demographic. That's a crushing blow for NBC, which went from flying high in November with a sweep win & Steve Burke breaking his usual silence last fall to brag to the New York Times about the network's performance to its shows cratering and ratings plunging. From the beginning of the February sweep on January 31 through February 19, NBC has averaged a 1.2 rating among adults 18-49. That's below the 1.5 that Univision has been averaging so far over the 20 night of the sweep period. In fact, Univision has bested NBC every single night of the sweep so far among adults 18-49 and is poised to overtake NBC for its first fourth-place sweep finish in the demo. While this isn't the first time Univision has topped one of the Big Three for a month (it ranked higher than CBS in July 2010 and 2012), it is the first time the Spanish-language network has beaten NBC and the first time it has come in fourth place in an in-season sweep. In addition to Univision, NBC also ranks below the 1.7 18-49 rating that ABC has been averaging this sweep, as well as the 2.0 rating for Fox and the 4.9 rating for leader CBS, which of course is buoyed by its broadcast of the Super Bowl on February 3 and the Grammy Awards on February 10.
NBC suffered the lowest ratings ever for an in-season scripted series premiere with the debut of Do No Harm on January 31. The dismal 0.9/3 of the premiere fell 22% to 0.7/2 on February 7, leading to the series' swift cancellation. The White House comedy 1600 Penn is probably not far behind, having hit a weak 1.1/3 in its last airing February 7. Adding to NBC's woes, the Season 2 return of Smash was a train wreck. With a limp 1.1/3 rating, it returned down 71% from its Season 1 debut and 39% from its first-year finale — and it fell another 25% to a series low of 0.9/2 this week.
With ratings juggernaut The Voice not back until March 25, freshman Revolution still off and no more NFL football, the entire NBC schedule is struggling mightily, with only The Biggest Loser and The Office averaging a 2+ 18-49 rating In Live+Same Day. NBC actually won last year's February sweep with an average rating of 3.7, when the network was fuelled by carrying the Super Bowl and the strong start of The Voice.
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Musharraf Farooqi has a great article up at Lapham's quarterly about Jinns and their various proclivities. A must read.
" ….Encounters between the parties were not uncommon. One trait commonly ascribed to jinn is the desire to copulate with humans. Male jinn liked it so much that sometimes they would try and surreptitiously join in during sex between human men and women. One man witnessed his wife's vagina emitting flames from a jinn making congress with her while she slept. And such interspecies unions bore fruit. When a child was born from a coupling between humans and jinn, it was termed khunnas. One born from a union between humans and demons was called amluq. Humans were less likely to pursue jinn, however, particularly females, as they were reputed to have violent tempers. One man who had married a jinn female received a good thrashing with a camel bone at her hands before she left him…"
Musharraf Ali Farooqi has also translated Dastan Amir Hamza into English (its a very good translation, btw, I have it and its tremendous fun to read in the toilet). He has also started on Tilsim e Hoshruba. (he also wrote a novel recently that I have not yet read).
Aamer Ahmed Khan (who replaced Mohammed Hanif as head of BBC Urdu) tried to start a series of Tilsim E Hoshruba comics in Lahore, but these ideas seem to whither and die in Pakistan. After the "Islamic welfare state" deal is finally done with, maybe some remaining people will rediscover the real treasures of medieval Islamicate culture (Jinns, Arabian Nights, Tilsim e Hoshruba) and make comics and video games and movies out of them in the land of the Indus man (for now, it seems they do it best once they get out); all sorts of creative possibilities exist…
My theory is that all these creative possibilities tend to get overwhelmed in Pakistan (the actual Pakistan, not the imaginary one..hint hint, wink wink) because we need Jinns to produce literal rather than metaphorical electricity.
Continue reading Everything you always wanted to know about Jinns..


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Nintendo Japan has announced that they will present the newest portable console, the Nintendo 3DS, in June. The new handheld will offer 3D viewing without glasses. Here's all the information we have gathered so far:
• With the announcement slated for E3 in June, Nintendo's shooting a bit early in their Japanese press release by saying it will go on sale sometime between April 2010 - March 2011.
• You won't need to wear 3D glasses to enjoy the 3D effects. This may work like Rittai Kakushi e Attakoreda, the Nintendo DSi game that uses the frontal camera to track the viewer eyes. By tracking the user's eyes—a trick first shown by Johnny Chung Lee's Wii hack—the machine can alter the perspective in the game to make it look as if the player is looking into a 3D virtual space.
• It's unclear if this would be the only 3D element in the console.
• Backwards compatibility will be incorporated for DS and DSi games support.
• It may have an accelerometer for tilt-controls with motion-led gaming, just like the iPhone/iPod Touch.
• The screen might be higher-res than anything we've seen from Nintendo before, maybe reaching 720p—and measuring around the same size as the DS.
• It'll have two screens just like previous portables, but they'll be used in conjunction as one giant screen, according to RPAD.tv, who convinced developers to talk to them at GDC.
• A Tegra chip could be powering it.
• Nintendo might put a 3G sim in, for over-the-air downloads.
• Those over-the-air downloads might include ebooks, something already seen on the DSi XL.
• It'll include two cameras (one backwards-facing, one forward-facing), just like the DSi—for DSi backwards compatibility support.
• The Japanese publication Asahi is claiming it'll use one of Sharp's parallax barrier LCDs.
• 3D control sticks may help with gaming, if Nikkei's report is correct, and the 3DS itself could vibrate like an old Rumble Pak.


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Show me songs with only:
Russian Folk and Soviet Classics SONGS
Icons legend:
: Russian lyrics in cyrillic encoding (UTF-8)
: Transliteration : phonetic transcription of Russian alphabet using latin letters (see also the phonetic transcript table)
: English translation of the lyrics
: Guitar tabs or chords
: Watch the video
About Russian Folk and Soviet Classics
The Russians have a long history of Folk music and the Soviets expanded upon this with several dozen songs, especially during the Great Patriotic War (WWII, Russian involvement from 1941-1945.) when tunes such as "The Tanker's March," "March of the Artillerymen," and so on so forth became popular.
During the Great Patriotic War, many of these songs as well as traditional folk songs were performed by specialized choirs and ensembles, one example being Baticheva, Michailov, and Tutunnik. These groups generally consisted of 3-6 persons and performed for the frontline troops in all sectors.
After the Great Patriotic War, the Red Army Choir came into prominence, though it existed since 12 October, 1928, where it performed as the Red Army Song Ensemble at the Frunze Club under the direction of Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov, a music professor at the Moscow Conservatory.
By 1933 the group had reorganized as the The Choir of the Red Army of the USSR and split into three cooperating subunits, a male choir, an orchestra, and an ensemble of dancers, bringing total numbers to over three hundred. They performed traditional folk music, original compositions by Soviet composers such as V Solovyov-Sedoi, A. Novikov, M. Blanter, and B. Mokrousov. In 1936, they were awarded the Order of the Red Banner. In 1937 it won the Grand Prix - the highest honour bestowed by the jury - at the International Exposition dedicated to Art and Technology in Modern Life, held in Paris. During the Great Patriotic War, over 1,500 performances were made at all Soviet Fronts, sometimes in collusion with the smaller ensembles mentioned above.
Organizationally the Red Army Choir is split into Chorus, Orchestra, and Dancers. The Chorus is further subdivided into Tenor, Baritone and Bass, with the potential of being seperated into further sections, which can produce as many as eight different vocal lines. The Orchestra combines Russian traditional instruments (Such as the Balalaika, Domra, and the Bayan,) and Western instruments to include woodwinds, brass, percussion, and double-bass, et cetera. This has been mimicked by other later-generation groups. The Dancers include both males and females with some dances performed by mixed dancers, while others, such as the Cossack's Cavalry Dance, are performed only by males.
Additional information can be found on the Wikipedia entry for the Red Army Choir (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Army_Choir).


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Dirt Bag Remedy for Cold HandsOriginally posted on January 24, 2011 at 10:29 am
Maybe I have poor circulation, but cold hands are something I've always struggled with during winter riding. No matter what gloves I'm wearing, my hands end up cold when the temperature dips below about 15º. Sure, I could buy some lobster-claw-style gloves or mittens, but I don't like the idea of having to use more than one finger to brake.
During a recent cold snap I went searching for a quick, inexpensive pogie-style solution. Fortunately, I had a cheap plastic rain jacket like this one sitting around. Simply cut off the sleeves, thread over your handlebars, then trim to the desired length. Sure it's not as classy as purpose built pogies, but it is a whole lot let expensive.
Most of us have jackets sitting around that have seen better days, why not cut them up and recycle. I bet you could make a pretty a pretty nice pair of pogies out of that softshell you melted by the fire this fall.
If any of you have made pogies, please post a link in the comments section below!


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Hybridogenetic hybrids
The following hybrids are known to be hybridogenetic . These hybrids can persist in nature by backcrossing with one of their parental species. This reproduction mode is not very common and is known only in fish (Poeciliopsis) in mexican desert streams and in stick insects ( Bacillus). [ Explanation of this reproduction mode]
- Rana esculenta L. is a hybrid between Rana lessonae and Rana ridibunda.
- RP-hybrid is a hybrid probably between Rana esculenta and Rana perezi.
These hybrids are very successful and occupy large parts of the distribution range of their parental host species. In Central Europe Rana lessonae and the hybridogenetic hybrd Rana esculenta co-occur in almost every bigger water body in frequencies of the hybrid from 5% in bogs, 20-50% in ponds and small lakes to 95% in disturbed habitat like gravel pits.
Real hybrids
There are also hybrids which occur naturally, but in low frequencies. These have mostly a disturbed reproduction or are sterile.


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Blessed Simon Ballachi
Blessed Simon Ballachi was born to the nobility in 1240, the son of Count Ballachi. His family had a close association with the Church clergy; two of his uncles became archbishops of Rimini, Italy, and a younger brother was a priest. Trained as a soldier and in administration, he was expected to take over the family estates. Against his family wishes, he joined the Dominicans as a lay brother at age 27.
Assigned to work in the garden of his friary, something he knew nothing about but which he loved instantly. He saw God in everything, and prayed constantly as he worked. Noted for his simple life, his strict adherence to the Dominican Rule, and his excellent work as a catechist to children. A visionary, Simon was visited by the devil, by Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Saint Dominic de Guzman, Saint Peter Martyr, and the Blessed Virgin Mary; other brothers saw his cell glowing, and heard angelic voices. Blinded at age 57, he was nearly helpless during the last years of his life; he never despaired, and used the extra free time for prayer. He died on 5 November in 1391.


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- - -
The biggest show of franchising opportunities in the Czech Republic
Facts & Figures:
The trade fair FRANCHISE MEETING POINT is the largest targeted exhibition of franchise systems and an excellent source of information about franchise enterprise.
The aim of the fair is to support franchise systems and this form of business, particularly in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
FRANCHISE MEETING POINT offers a unique opportunity to present franchise systems and concepts to a wide-ranging target group of people interested in going into business for themselves and an excellent chance of finding new franchisees. It is also an ideal chance to promote new systems before their entry onto the Czech and Slovak markets.
FRANCHISE MEETING POINT is designed for all visitors, in particular small and medium-sized businessmen looking for additional forms of enterprise and other groups with an interest in new challenges, trends and business innovation.
The second year of FRANCHISE MEETING POINT is to follow on from the successful premiere of the event, whose results clearly demonstrated that the fair met the expectations of almost 40 exhibitors and 1,800 visitors.
- Full name: The biggest show of franchising opportunities in the Czech Republic
- Date: - - -
- Venue: Brno Exhibition Centre
- Organizer: BVV Trade Fairs Brno
- Position: No.1 in Czech Republic
Sector focus: ... other industry ...


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Nation's cybersecurity suffers from a lack of information sharing
Lack of trust between the government and private sectors still inhibits information sharing needed to defend against rapidly evolving cyberthreats.
SAN FRANCISCO — The lack of trust between the public and private sectors continues to inhibit the sharing of information needed for the nation to effectively defend against rapidly evolving cyberthreats, a panel of industry experts and former government officials said Tuesday.
"We need to have more transparency in the public-private partnership," said Melissa Hathaway, former White House advisor who conducted last year's comprehensive review of government cybersecurity. "The trust does not exist between the two parties."
Hathaway, who now runs her own cybersecurity consulting firm, said during a panel discussion at the RSA Security Conference that a "safe space" overseen by a trusted third party is needed to facilitate sharing.
William Crowell, former National Security Agency deputy director, said that it should be possible to share information without identifying the source, to make the parties feel more secure about providing it. "We need to be able to abstract the information we are are going to share," he said. "That's our best approach in the long run."
The lack of sharing creates a lack of wide visibility into threats, the panelists agreed. While cybercriminals and other evil-doers are collaborative and quick to take advantage of vulnerabilities, cyberdefense is hobbled by a fragmented response that includes too little cooperation.
"In order to respond to the threats we have to change the pace of the game on our side," Crowell said. "The pace of our responses are not operating in Internet time."
In most cases, companies that openly share information about attacks on their systems face the possibility of monetary loss. The private sector has little motivation to contribute to cybersecurity beyond its own immediate interests, said Greg Oslan, chief executive officer of Narus.
"We have to look at it as an end-to-end solution," he said. He proposed a model based on that of the airline industry, which has a global framework of laws and regulations ensuring the safety and security of the industry, brokered by governments, adopted by industry and accepted by the public.
Cisco Chief Security Officer John Stewart faulted his own industry for the poor state of cybersecurity.
"We have succeeded in making the security industry so complex that the people who need it the most -- the public -- cannot use it," Stewart said.
Exploiting vulnerabilities is simple, he said, but simplifying security is difficult, and industry has not yet succeeded in doing this.
There was general agreement among the panelists that the president's emphasis on cybersecurity as a national security issue is a first step toward improving the situation."But that's not enough," Crowell said. It has to be followed up with a structure within the White House that can continually drive execution of policies at the technical, legal and international relations levels.
Even then the problems never will be completely solved, he said. "Have we ever solved any criminal problem? No. We're never going to solve the cyber problem, either. But we can limit it."


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While my family has always appreciated good meals, as a child, I seldom spent time in the kitchen. I cultivated my interest in food independently, experimenting with recipes, photographing, and sharing these experiences on my blog. As I grew older, my love of food and my Armenian heritage became defining aspects of my identity. I longed to learn about traditional Armenian cuisine, but did not know where to begin. That was until my great aunt, Dikranouhi Kirazian, released her new cookbook entitled Armenian Vegan.
Armenian Vegan contains more than 200 traditional Armenian recipes, including appetizers, breads, main courses, and desserts, using no animal products. For seven years, my aunt secretly labored over this book with the help of her husband, George. She told no one about the project, leaving my extended family in shock upon receiving copies in the mail.
I relished flipping through the pages, discovering recipes that I had never heard of before along with vegan adaptations of classic dishes. Dikranouhi presents a practical and healthy approach to cooking, with simple instructions and ingredients accessible to novice cooks. She writes thoughtfully, sharing personal anecdotes and the cultural significance behind certain foods.
While reading the dessert section, these walnut-stuffed cookies caught my eye. Flavored with Mahlab, ground cherry pits, and delicate rose water, Ma'amoul are ubiquitous throughout the Middle East. I substituted a few ingredients based on what I had on hand, replacing Mahlab with ground cardamom and rose water with orange blossom water.
Though somewhat time-consuming to shape, these cookies' handmade touch contributes to their charm. While nestling the sweet walnut filling inside a pocket of supple dough, I imagined my aunt learning this technique when she was a girl. Feeling a personal connection to a recipe makes eating it so much more fulfilling. Most importantly, however, the flavors here are wonderful. Semolina flour, traditionally used to make pasta, provides a toothsome texture and tender crumb, its robustness offset by a sliver of walnut-cinnamon paste. To finish, an elegant coating of powdered sugar makes these dainty treats ideal for serving alongside a cup of tea.
Recipe adapted from Armenian Vegan
These cookies can be adapted using various nuts and spices. Possible combinations include pistachio and rose water or date and orange blossom water.
For the cookie dough:
- 2 1/4 cups farina or semolina flour
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cardamon, preferably freshly ground
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup melted margarine or butter (for non-vegan option), melted and cooled
- 1/2 cup soy milk or cow's milk (for non-vegan)
- 2-4 tablespoons orange blossom or rose water
For the walnut filling:
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- Pinch of nutmeg
- Pinch of allspice
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Yields about two dozen cookies.
1. In a large bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Add the farina or semolina flour, sugar, salt, and ground cardamom and mix thoroughly with a whisk or fork. Mix in melted margarine or butter with a spoon. Bring milk to a boil, add to the flour mixture, and mix well. Knead the dough with your hands until it reaches a smooth pasty consistency, about 1 minute. Add the orange blossom or rose water, knead a few more times to combine. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rest at room temperature for 2-3 hours.
2. Meanwhile, make walnut filling. Place walnuts, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice into a small food processor. Process on high speed until the mixture reaches a moist, pasty consistency, about 1 minute.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place racks in the lower and upper thirds of the oven. When the dough is ready, measure out tablespoons of dough. Roll each piece into a ball and make an indent in the center, creating a little cup. Place 3/4 teaspoon of walnut paste into the cup, flatten it, then place another flattened ball of dough on top. Seal the seams tightly but carefully with you fingers. Repeat with remaining dough. If you own a Ma'amoul mold, you may use it instead.
4. Place stuffed cookies an inch apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10 minutes on the lower level of the oven, then transfer them to the top shelf for an additional 3-5 minutes, until lightly golden brown. Transfer the parchment onto a cooling rack, and allow the cookies to cool completely. Once cool, dust cookies with powdered sugar.


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|185 × 255 mm
Brass, Enamel, Gold 24KGP (gold plating), Jade, Nickel plating
Wooden box with fabric lodgement
Quran – Al Islam
Luxurious Quran with jade inscription – Quran. The Quran in a metal cover covered with pure gold is hand painted with blue enamel
Order production
SKU: 712801 Categories: Islamic gifts, Quran Tags: Islamic gift, Jade, Medium Quran
Additional information
Shipping & Delivery
Pegasus Leaders offers free DHL express shipping worldwide.
Delivery of the order is made by courier to the door
- Each order is securely packaged. Air-bubble film, corners, cardboard, wooden are used.
- We insure our products against damage and accident during transportation. Check the safety of the products at the time of receipt.
- After processing the order and receiving all export permits, we will send you a tracking number for your order.
Depending on the country and the amount of the order, you may be required to pay customs duties in accordance with the customs laws of the country of destination. Each country decides for itself what customs fees and on what goods it establishes. According to the international rules of trade Incoterms 2020 CIF, the seller cannot pay customs duties and fees of the buyer's country. The buyer pays for them.


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Comic books browse by: Shop category:
Artist GihefAvailable series in store category "Comic books"
Gihef (AKA Jean-François Baudot) in the COMICLOPEDIA
" Jean-François Baudot is a Belgian comic book artist and writer, who works under the pen name Gihef. He spent a part of his childhood in the South of France, but eventually settled in Belgium. Fascinated by films and comics, he decided to pursue an artistic career. After..." [ Read more ]


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Experts dismiss doctor's cancer claims
- Houston doctor has often violated basic research procedures%2C FDA reports say
- Many of Burzynski%27s %22success stories%22 likely cured by therapy they got before meeting him
- Other patients who believe Burzynski cured them may have been misdiagnosed%2C experts say
Doctor Stanislaw Burzynski has attracted a devoted core of supporters over the years, made up largely of people who credit him for curing them or their loved ones.
Mary Jo Siegel says she believes Burzynski cured her lymphoma 22 years ago.
"I went to see a doctor at UCLA, and he told me I was going to die of this disease," says Siegel, 63, of Ventura, Calif. "He is curing cancer. I am living proof."
Yet independent oncologists say that appearances can be deceiving, and that patients shouldn't be too quick to credit Burzynski. Experts say there are several reasons to be skeptical of Burzynski's claims.
• Burzynski often relies on anecdotes, which don't tell the full story.
Individual success stories can be misleading, said Arthur Caplan, a professor and head of the division of bioethics at NYU Langone Medical Center. For every patient who says he was cured, there could be many more who aren't around to speak up, because they died or were harmed.
• Burzynski's therapies are unproven.
When doctors look for reasons why a patient does well on a therapy, they look for the most plausible explanation, said Jan Buckner, a professor and chairman of oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Burzynski's therapies have never been proven effective in a definitive clinical trial, according to the National Cancer Institute.
• Burzynski's patients may have been misdiagnosed.
"When I hear a story that is way out of the norm, the first question I ask is, 'OK, is the diagnosis even correct?' " Buckner said. "If the diagnosis wasn't right to start with, it doesn't matter what the treatment was."
Brain tumors are notoriously difficult to diagnose, Buckner says. When dealing with rare brain cancer, doctors may disagree about how to interpret imaging results up to 40% of the time. He notes that it's possible to mistake a benign tumor with a malignant one. So it's possible, Buckner said, that some of Burzynski's miracle patients never had a malignant tumor at all.
• Burzynski's patients may have been cured by previous therapy.
Many of Burzynski's patients are terminally ill and have had one or more previous types of conventional cancer care — surgery, radiation or chemotherapy — before they see him.
But these therapies may have delayed benefits, taking weeks or months to shrink a tumor. So patients treated by Burzynski may credit him for their progress, just because he was the last doctor to treat them, says Peter Adamson, chair of the Children's Oncology Group, an NCI-supported research network that conducts clinical trials in pediatric cancer.
Conventional cancer treatment can also cause tumors toswell temporarily, due to inflammation. A patient who isn't familiar with this phenomenon may assume her tumor is growing. When that swelling subsides, patients may assume it's because of Burzynski, Adamson says. In reality, the tumor was just returning to its previous size.
To avoid such confusions, researchers typically require patients to wait before starting a new treatment, Adamson says.
FDA inspections, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, show that Burzynski has repeatedly failed to follow that basic practice.
He has allowed patients to move straight from conventional therapy into his trials, according to inspections from 2001 and 2013. In one case last year, Burzynski allowed a patient to begin antineoplastons the day after finishing chemotherapy, according to FDA inspections.
In another case in 1998, a patient received both radiation and antineoplastons at the same time, according to a 2001 FDA inspection.
In an interview, Burzynski brushed off criticism, describing his detractors as "competitors who want to put us out of business."
"I don't read this trash," Burzynski said. "I have more important work to do."
Burzynski's attorney, Richard Jaffe, dismisses the notion that Burzynski's success stories are all happy accidents.
"When your premise or bias is that it doesn't work, there is always something you can say."


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This started out as a list of top Computer Science blogs, but it more closely resembles a set: the order is irrelevant and there are no duplicate elements; membership of this set of blogs satisfies all of the following conditions:
- they are written by computer scientists and focus on computer science research;
- they are of consistently high quality;
- I regularly read them.
N.B. I have deliberately excluded blogs primarily focusing on computer science education (for another time).
The Endeavour by John D. Cook (@JohnDCook)
John's blog cuts across using computing, programming and mathematics to solve real-world problems, pulling in his wide expertise as a mathematics professor, programmer, consultant, manager and statistician. Some great posts across the technical and socio-technical spectrum. Also runs a number of useful Twitter tip accounts, including @CompSciFact, @UnixToolTip, @RegexTip and @TeXtip.
Serious Engineering by Anthony Finkelstein (@profserious)
Anthony is Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Sciences at UCL, having previously been the Head of the UCL Computer Science. His regular blog posts are an insightful and thought-provoking journey across computer science, engineering, research and academia.
Computational Complexity by Lance Fortnow (@fortnow) and Bill Gasarch
Since 2002, the first major theoretical computer science blog; computational complexity and other fun stuff in mathematics and computer science.
Daniel Lemire's blog by Daniel Lemire (@lemire)
Daniel Lemire is a professor in the Cognitive Computer Science research group at LICEF in Canada, with his popular blog covering topics across his research areas (databases, data warehousing, information retrieval and recommender systems), as well as programming, education, economics and open science.
Gödel's Lost Letter and P=NP by Dick Lipton (@rjlipton) and Ken Regan
This is a blog on and other questions in the theory of computing, named after the famous letter that Gödel wrote to von Neumann which essentially stated the question decades before Cook and Karp. Defined by the authors as a personal view of the theory of computation, it talks about the "who" as much as the "what".
Editor's Letters by Moshe Vardi (@vardi)
Moshe Vardi, a distinguished and award-winning theoretical computer scientist, has served as Editor-in-Chief of Communications of the ACM since 2008, discussing a wide range of topics across computer science, research and technology. Certainly worth following on Twitter too.
Alan Winfield's Web Log by Alan Winfield (@alan_winfield)
Alan is the Hewlett-Packard Professor of Electronic Engineering at UWE and his blog is mostly, but not exclusively, about robots. It also touches upon artificial intelligence, artificial culture, ethics and biology, highlighting his definition of robotics as both engineering and experimental philosophy.
Lambda the Ultimate, the Programming Languages Weblog (@lambda_ultimate)
This site deals with issues directly related to programming languages and programming language research, as well as forays to bordering issues such as programmability and language in general. This is a community, but not for specific programming problems in some language; unfounded generalisations about programming languages are usually frowned on.
BLOG@CACM by Communications of the ACM (@blogCACM)
The Communications site publishes two types of blogs: the on-site BLOG@CACM expert blogs, as well as a blogroll of syndicated blogs, essentially covering the spectrum of computer science, research, education and technology. Something for everyone!
Google Research Blog by Google (@googleresearch)
The latest news on Google research, focusing on some of their key areas of interest: e-commerce, algorithms, HCI, information retrieval, machine learning, data mining, NLP, multimedia, computer vision, statistics, security and privacy.
Clearly this set is incomplete — please post your computer science research blog recommendations in the comments below; I'd be particularly interested in blogs covering compilers, concurrency and computer architectures.


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Our Great Mission - In Touch - January 26
- Sign Up for Email?
- 2023 Jan 26
January 26
Our Great Mission
If you're a believer, you are part of the awesome body of Christ, which is called to bring His light to the world both individually and corporately. Though many see the church as a social organization, that's not what the Bible says it is. Sometimes we forget that our purpose isn't simply to have fellowship, sing, preach, and worship. Jesus entrusted us with good news of the true life He offers to everyone. This calling isn't just for foreign "missionaries"—it's for every believer. Your mission field includes your family, friends, coworkers, and perhaps even a people group God puts on your heart, often right in your community.
Before returning to heaven, Jesus gave His disciples the Great Commission, in which He promised to be with believers to the end of the age. That pledge still stands. He doesn't send us out to do His work on our own. Vowing never to leave us, He gave the assurance that all tasks He assigns will be achieved through us by His Holy Spirit.
What an honor to be included in the Lord's redemptive plan for the world! He invites you to have a vital part in His kingdom work of transforming what is broken and giving new life. Everything you do in obedience is an opportunity for His Spirit to work powerfully through you!
He is still speaking His message of assurance to us: You'll have Me as your companion, your captain, your victory. You'll have Me as your resource, your energy, your anointing. Everything you need, you'll find in Me. How does recognizing the greatness of your calling change the way you see your daily life?
For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.
And Listen to Dr. Charles Stanley at OnePlace.com!
Used with permission from In Touch Ministries, Inc. © 2019 All Rights Reserved.


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Happy Sunday!
How are you? After a busy week I am enjoying a relaxing day at home!
Today I wanted to share a simple project I completed a few week ago.
A while back I picked up one of {these} round ponderosa panels
and some pretty handles.
A little trick I use for "staining" wood is watering down my favorite brown paint. I apply the watered down mixture just as I would stain by brushing it on, letting is sit for a moment, and then using a rag to wipe and spread the paint mixture. It works great without the odor of stain!
I use my tray in a variety of ways! I often have it sitting on my dining room table with a plant, candle or some other cute centerpiece.
Thank you for stopping by!
I am sharing this post at….. Restless Arrow -DIY Show Off -
The Winthrop Chronicles - Tatertots & Jello - Lolly Jane - The 36th Avenue
Nifty Thrifty Things - It's Overflowing- Finding Silver Pennies – Thoughts From Alice


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Kenneth C. Fitzhugh Jr. had always claimed innocence after being convicted in one of Palo Alto's most brutal murders, even fighting his case in the California Supreme Court.
He ultimately obtained his freedom, but not through exoneration. He received compassionate-release parole from San Quentin Prison in February 2012 due to a terminal illness. And 8 1/2 months later, on Oct. 27, 2012, he died, according to state prison officials.
Fitzhugh was convicted in 2001 for bludgeoning and strangling his wife, Kristine, a music teacher, in their Southgate neighborhood home. The trial had exposed an unraveling 33-year marriage and an affair and money as motives for the crime. It included an admission by his wife that one of the couple's two sons was fathered by a friend, according to prosecutors.
He received 15 years to life in prison for the second-degree murder, which occurred on May 5, 2000. He would have had his first chance at parole in 2015.
Fitzhugh was paroled in 2012 after multiple stays in the San Quentin hospital. He had been transferred there from High Desert State Prison in Susanville for medical care, state prison officials said. He died in Santa Clara County, according to the Santa Clara County Coroner's office.
During Fitzhugh's trial, prosecutors alleged he killed his wife because he was angry that she planned to tell their eldest son that Fitzhugh was not his biological father.
In addition, the Fitzhughs' finances had collapsed over the two years prior to the murder. Evidence showed the family's three investment accounts plunged from nearly $400,000 in early 1998 to approximately $11,000 in May 2000.
On the day of her death, Kristine Fitzhugh had returned to her house on Escobita Avenue around noon, bringing home coffee and two muffins. She was in the kitchen eating and reading classroom papers when she was attacked, according to Palo Alto police. She was struck from behind on the head seven times with a blunt instrument and beaten in the face while being strangled with one hand. She died of several head wounds; strangulation was a contributing factor, according to the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner.
Fitzhugh said he had received a phone call from Addison Elementary School in Palo Alto, alerting him that his wife had not shown up to teach her afternoon class. Although he told police he had then called his wife on her cell phone and at the house, caller ID records showed he had not, according to police. Instead, he went to the home of two friends in Palo Alto and asked the women to accompany him to find out why his wife could not be reached.
Prosecutors said Fitzhugh had staged his wife's death and brought the friends with him to "discover" her body. After killing her in the kitchen, he had moved her to the bottom of the basement stairs to make it seem as though she had fallen. Her injuries were not consistent with a fall down the stairs, the coroner found.
Forensic testing found blood spattered throughout the kitchen. Much of it had been cleaned up prior to the arrival of police. Kristine Fitzhugh's blood was on running shoes, a towel and a shirt belonging to Fitzhugh, which were found in his Chevrolet Suburban. Fitzhugh had said the shoes were in his closet, and he could not explain the presence of the bloody items in his car, police said.
Prosecutors also dismantled Fitzhugh's alibi. He had said he was in San Bruno looking at a vacant property for a client when the murder was committed. But cell phone calls he received that afternoon were routed through an antenna on University Avenue in Palo Alto, which proved he was in the area at the time, they said.
Fitzhugh claimed an intruder killed his wife. He appealed his case. The California Supreme Court rejected his appeal in 2006.
The Fitzhugh family did not return a request for comment for this story.
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Start accepting EMV chip cards with Vend and PayPal
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EMV is an abbreviation for the companies who pioneered this more secure credit card solution (Europay, MasterCard, and Visa), but what it means for your store is a dramatic reduction in fraudulent transactions. EMV, or "chip cards," is a replacement for the magnetic stripe on the back of your current credit cards. Now, customer payment data will be stored on a secure chip embedded in your cards. As a retailer, you need to upgrade your payment terminal by October 2015 in order to comply with new payment regulations that took effect Oct 1.
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Frequently asked questions about PayPal EMV and Vend
The Vend-PayPal EMV integration allows retailers become EMV compliant using the EMV Chip Card Reader from PayPal to process payments in Vend.
EMV (or "chip cards,") replace the magnetic stripe on the back of your credit cards to protect data by storing it on a secure chip embedded in your cards.
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On Monday 6th October I went to the fourth annual London Honey Show, an event celebrating London's honey and bees in general. As well as a honey tasting competition, there are stalls selling food, beekeeping books and beauty products, plus expert speakers doing short talks. This year's show was a lot of fun, especially as I knew several people there and warming honey cocktails & mead samples were on offer.
Dave Goulson's talk
Here are some notes from the talk by Dave Goulson, the second speaker. Dave is well known as a Biology Professor at the University of Sussex, writer of books A Sting in the Tale and A Buzz in the Meadow and founder of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust in 2006, a charity which now has 8,000 members.
Speaking to a room of honey fans, Dave wanted to remind us that honeybees are not the only bees! There are an incredible 22,000 known species of bees worldwide, including around 250 species of bumblebee.
He gave a quick explanation of the life cycle of bumblebees to us. Emerging from their winter hibernations, bumblebee queens visit pussywillow and lumpwort flowers in early spring. They look for ex-mouse or vole cavities, preferably with some soft bedding material already inside. After laying their precious first eggs, they sit over them like birds on their nests, shivering their muscles to keep the eggs warm. So cute!
We think bumbles first originated east of the Himalayas about 30 million years ago. They have adapted to live in cold weather and tend to be scarce in warm areas like the Mediterranean. Bumbles can keep their body temperature an incredible 30ºC higher than the surrounding air temperature, allowing them to fly in the Arctic in temperatures below freezing. Dave showed us a photo he took of a buff-tailed bumblebee flying in January, feeding on Mahonia amongst the snow.
The downside to this ability to stay warm is that it takes them huge amounts of energy to stay in the air. Bumblebees need LOTS of flowers. This appetite and their ability to do buzz pollination makes them major pollinators of crops like oilseed rape, field beans, tomatoes, peppers, raspberries and strawberries. I took the photo of the bumblebee below on chinese anemone and seem to remember she was doing some buzz pollination, intensely vibrating her muscles to shake the flower and release extra pollen from its anthers.
Unfortunately bumblebees are not doing as well as they used to be. For instance, as recently as the 1950s the great yellow bumblebee used to be found in many different sites in England, Wales and Scotland, from Scotland's Orkney Islands to England's most southerly county, Cornwall. It is now confined to Orkney, the Hebrides and the northerly coast of Scotland. Why?
Dave gave us his opinions on the reasons some British bumblebees, such as the great yellow bumblebee and the short-haired bumblebee, have declined in their range:
1. Changes to farming
England lost 98% of its hay meadows and chalk downland during the 20th century. Like the great yellow bumblebee, Corncrakes, birds which used to nest in hay meadows all over the UK, now live only in remote corners of Scotland where farming has changed relatively little.
2. Disease
The commercial trade in bumblebees shipped for pollination has spread diseases such as nosema ceranae between bumblebee populations. This has happened in Chile, where accidental releases of European bumblebees being used for pollination have spread disease to native bumbles there.
Dave begged us not to buy bumblebee colonies from garden centres. They are supplied from factory reared colonies from Europe used for tomato pollination, and are often full of parasites and diseases. Read more about this issue at Buzzaboutbees.net's Bumblebees for sale? page.
3. Neonicotionoids (Neonics)
For this part I've added to my notes using the chapter 'The Disappearing Bees' in Dave's recent book A Buzz in the Meadow. Introduced to the world in the mid-1990s, this type of insecticide works by attacking the nervous system and brain of insects. Their advantage is meant to be that they can be applied as a seed dressing before the crop is sown, which the growing seedling then absorbs, spreading the chemical throughout the plant. This prevents the farmer having to spray insecticides several times as plants develop.
The trouble with a insecticide present in all parts of the plant is that nectar and pollen produced by the plant contains the insecticide too. Each time a pollinator visits the plant, they consume a small amount of the neonic. This stuff is highly toxic – just 1 teaspoon of neonicintinoids is enough to kill over a billion bumbles.
Research carried out by Dave and his team, published in the journal Nature, found that bumblebee nests fed on nectar and pollen mixed with very low field-like concentrations of the neonic Imidaclaoprid (used to treat oilseed rape seeds) produced 85% less queens over a season than nests fed with clean nectar and pollen. The control nests fed with untreated food produced an average of about thirteen new queens each, the nests fed with treated food an average of just two.
Disturbingly, most of the neonic seed chemical coatings, between 80-98%, end up not in the plants themselves but in the soil. Once in the soil, most published estimates of the half-life of neonics are anywhere between 200 to 6,000 days, depending on soil type and conditions. They are also water soluble. So these chemicals are everywhere in our soil and waterways, having who knows what effect on the insects within them. Please, please don't add to the chemicals in our world by treating your lawns and garden plants with insecticides.
4. Gardening
Don't buy "hideous annual bedding plants – an absolute travesty". They often have no scent, no nectar and some no pollen. Instead, grow perennial cottage garden type flowers. Dave's favourite is viper's bugloss.
If you have no garden, badger your local council to stop wasting your money on mowing verges and removing habitat for bees.
I've done some other posts on books/talks by Dave:
- Book review: A Sting in the Tale by Dave Goulson (2013)
- A future without bees: A talk at the Southbank Centre (2013)
And Emma's done a very entertaining post on the London Honey Show with lots of photos:
Below is Dave speaking in front of a photo of Toby, a army-trained sniffer dog who helped one of Dave's Phd students hunt for bumblebee nests. You can read about him in Dave's book A Sting in the Tale.


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TALLAHASSEE — For weeks, it seemed, few parents in Florida supported the so-called parent trigger bill.
And then, a video began circulating in the Capitol.
The video, featuring South Florida moms praising the legislation, was attributed to a mysterious grass roots group known as the Sunshine Parents. But it was actually produced by Parent Revolution, the California-based advocacy group that has been using its considerable resources and political heft to promote the legislation nationwide, Parent Revolution confirmed Friday.
Emails to the Sunshine Parents were not returned.
Doubt has also been cast on a petition allegedly signed by more than 1,200 supporters of the parent trigger proposal. Three people whose names appear on the petition told the Times/Herald they never signed it.
"It's sad that they are resorting to these tactics," said Rita Solnet, a Palm Beach County mother whose nonprofit organization Parents Across America opposes the parent trigger bill. "But it puts it all in perspective. It's people from outside Florida and outside our schools who support this bill. It's not the real parents."
Parent trigger (SB 862) hits the Senate floor Monday. The House version (HB 867) has already passed.
The controversial proposal would enable a majority of parents to demand sweeping changes at failing public schools, including having a charter school management company step in. It would also require principals to notify parents when their kids are assigned to "ineffective" or out-of-field teachers for two consecutive years, and provide information about virtual-education alternatives.
Supporters, led by former Gov. Jeb Bush and former Washington, D.C., schools chief Michelle Rhee, say the legislation would empower parents to play a more-active role in the public school system. But opponents say it would give for-profit education companies the opportunity to take over vulnerable schools. They point to California, where efforts to pull the trigger have played out amid allegations of parent coercion and petitions with fraudulent signatures.
"Our members are concerned about how this bill will break apart our communities," said Mindy Gould, who heads the Florida PTA's legislative committee.
In addition to Florida PTA, parent groups lined up against the bill include Fund Education Now, 50th No More and Parents Across America. The NAACP and the League of United Latin American Citizens oppose the legislation, too.
For weeks, the groups have blasted lawmakers with thousands of emails and traveled to Tallahassee to testify against the proposals. They have challenged legislators to find any parents who support the measure.
The high-quality Sunshine Parents video and a shorter "sneak peek" surfaced last week, along with a host of questions about who had produced it.
In the videos, the Sunshine Parents describe themselves as "an active and engaged group of parents throughout Florida that are seeking to transform the schools in their communities to serve all children." But they offer no other information about the organization. The Sunshine Parents have no public online presence, and haven't made themselves known around the Capitol.
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The videos circulated in an email that linked to a petition by Bush's education think tank, the Foundation for Florida's Future. But foundation spokeswoman Allison Aubuchon said there was "no formal association" between Bush's organization and Sunshine Parents.
"We think it's a great video, but we can't take credit for it," she said.
The videos and the email made no reference to Parent Revolution. But Arlice Sims, who works at the Coconut Grove Barnyard, said Parent Revolution organizers Mehul Patel and Shirley Ford came to the community center earlier this month to produce the 32-minute documentary and trailer.
Parent Revolution spokesman David Phelps said his group had indeed "initiated" the mini-documentary, but wasn't "directly affiliated" with Sunshine Parents. He said the connection was brokered through the Urban League of Greater Miami.
The Urban League is run by T. Willard Fair, who serves on the Foundation for Florida's Future board of directors, and was a Bush appointee to the state Board of Education.
Fair said Sunshine Parents was newly formed, but said he was "insulted" at the suggestion that the group had been created to carry water for Bush's foundation or Parent Revolution.
"When minority parents decide that they need to flex their muscles, there is always some criticism," he said.
Separately, questions have been raised about signatures collected in support of the parent trigger by StudentsFirst, the education think tank founded by Rhee.
Maria and Dan O'Hollearn, of Coral Gables, both said they didn't sign the petition, despite their names and addresses appearing on the petition.
"I wouldn't have signed anything like that," said Maria O'Hollearn, a health care professional.
Carlos Herrera, a 24-year-old Florida International University student, said he, too, was surprised his name was on the list of supporters. Herrera said he wasn't familiar with StudentsFirst or the parent trigger bill, and didn't remember signing a petition supporting it.
A spokesman for StudentsFirst said the organization "stands by the authenticity of the signatures." And Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, who has referenced the petition during debates, said she had no reason to doubt their legitimacy.
But other senators said lingering questions over the petition and the videos would cast a dark shadow heading into Monday's debate on the Senate floor.
"We don't need groups from other states coming into Florida and causing trouble," said Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, a staunch opponent of the bill. "This is proof."
Contact Kathleen McGrory can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text: I don't usually post on Saturdays, but I've had the honor of being a guest contributor for whattoexpect.com, a site I go to every week to see my baby's progress! I really hope you will visit to check out my recipe for Iron Woman Ginger Cake. It's so nice to have healthier options (especially ones that taste good) during the holidays, and this cake definitely fits the bill!


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Our kids are addicted to screens. TV, computer screen, tablet or Smartphone – kids can spend up to 75% of their day playing with one or the other.
Whenever I visit my nephews, I experience how strong this addiction can be. My 2 year old nephew is browsing the YouTube app on the iPad almost as fast as I do. Well, this is amazing, and I admire this little smart guy, but I have problems to communicate with him because his attention span is so short.
A few months back I started UNDIGITIZE.ME first and foremost for myself. I am addicted to the Smartphone, and I wanted to find ways to get my life back. The deeper I dig, I get to the real problems – and kids' addiction to screens is one of them. Now, with the "Phone Faced Down" campaign, on family dinners we are no longer allowing the kids to play with any of the screens, and we see the change immediately. They cry and cry for half an hour, but then they get creative and play with us. So I get to know my nephew more and more.
But influencing my own family is not enough – I feel that I want to make a real change. I want more kids, and more parents get aware to the screens addiction. I want the message to spread – that is the whole purpose of UNDIGITIZE.ME. I want parents to discuss it with each other and with their kids. Understanding the good and the bad in the screens. What we can gain, but also what we lose when we are "screening" ourselves so much.
With that in mind, I'm ready for the next challenge – spreading the word to the kids. And what is a better way doing that, than creating a children's book, that will inspire them – not preaching to them – to try and visit the world outside the screens a bit more. To explore the abundance in the physical world, more than they do today.
I will share this beautiful journey with you in the next few weeks and months.
// Lior Frenkel
To read more about kids and tech addiction, try Michael's guest post.


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The Lure of the Great Alpha Male
© 2012 by Kat Bastion
We all want him. Not just any alpha male.
We all want the Great Alpha Male.
The Alpha Male…
An alpha doesn't walk into a room. He commands it. Without effort, he could defeat every male there. The intangible vibe pouring off those broad shoulders announces the danger louder than a bull horn. Every other wise man in the room heeds the warning.
Every single woman responds to the dominant presence. Instinctually.
Something primal takes over.
Our hair gets fluffed without thought.
Perfectly glossed lips get licked.
Shirts are pulled down lower, chests stuck out further, hips swayed another degree right and left in an unconscious effort to gain the spectacular male's notice.
The mating dance has begun.
He surveys the group of potential females.
Each woman hopes for a chance to be the one…
The female above all others that he has chosen.
We've already chosen him, even if our stubborn mind puts up a valiant fight. Our body overrides reason. We are biologically programmed to choose virility. We seek protection from the one most able to provide.
Sound animalistic? {smiles slowly}
Oh, yes. Most definitely.
A glance comes our way… devastating.
The voice… deep and soul-penetrating.
Those eyes… demanding.
Our breath quickens.
Our pulse races.
We swallow hard, our throat suddenly Sahara dry.
Logic steps in, creating a tug-of-war with our bodies and minds. We shake our heads, clearing lustful thoughts. Will-power soon falters, our gaze traveling back to the object of desire.
Every action is geared toward the heart-pounding hunt. It's one thing to find him. Quite another to ensnare the specimen alpha male.
The alpha male, may dally with many females, but chooses only one as his mate. Someone worthy of everything he has to offer. A powerful woman… is his counterpart.
When the two meet, it is in every way, a collision.
The dance continues, and, yet, has only just begun.
No matter the strength of his female…
the alpha male must overpower her to have her.
By choosing him, she agrees to be owned by him…
whether she realizes it or not.
The Great Alpha Male…
If we're lucky, we haven't found just any alpha male.
The rare few capture the Great Alpha Male.
The one that is innately alpha… and so much more.
When the larger than life man falls to his knees…
When the man who can conquer legions yields to a woman…
When he rips his chest wide open, handing her his very heart…
That incredibly lucky woman has found…
… the Great Alpha Male.
Romance is filled with larger than life Great Alpha Males.
The Highlands are filled with them… in reality and our fictional worlds.
Hence, my unending love for Highlanders.
Who is my favorite Great Alpha Male?
So far, it would have to be Jericho Barrons.
He may not be a Highlander, but damn, what a Great Alpha Male.
And… he was part Pict, after all.
Who is your favorite Great Alpha Male?
Your Favorite Shoe,
© 2012 by Kat Bastion


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Tuesday, 21 December 2010
christmas with jacqui lewis
Hands down, the best Christmas greeting this year goes to Jacqui Lewis. In fact, it's an all-timer. Jacqui came up with the idea to produce a 16-page card called The Art Of A Merry Christmas. It's part Christmas guide, part the best of summer manual, and all good. She styled many of the pages in her living room, photographed everything, designed it, and handwrote a personalised message on the back of each one.
Here is an excerpt from Jacqui's piece on The Art Of Gift Giving: For The Ladies:
"The art of a good gift is a personalised one. I think commissioning an art piece for someone special is truly a fantastic thing. Better still though, is giving someone something you made especially for them. I do this as much as I can, and love it when friends do it for me. The framed photo featured is by photographer Jai Odell which he took in New York for me as a gift for my 30th, and I love it as much as I do the paper horse Anna-Wili Highfield made for me many years ago. You just cannot beat these kinds of gifts. If you don't have a creative bone in your body, or if an artist is not within budget, (or on hand), then these are some other cute things to give this Christmas... The wall dots are from Ponyrider, and opposite, left to right, Virginie Castaway Striped Top, Medicinal Jars, Leather Ballet Flats (all from Biird)."
images courtesy of jacqui lewis
4 comments:
- kendal croix. said...
lovely things. antlers are my favorite.
- 21 December 2010 at 06:17
- MANDY said...
I love this idea, so great, I really like Jacqui's work, not to mention her Anna-Willi horse !!!
- 21 December 2010 at 08:28
- jocelyn said...
This is such a cool blog with delightful creativity honouring the spirit of the season. I'm hooked!
- 21 December 2010 at 09:43
- Lauren said...
So incredibly lovely and unbelievable inspiring! Thanks for sharing.
- 22 December 2010 at 01:42
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The appointment of Cardinal Angela Scola, patriarch of Venice for the past nine years, as the archbishop of Milan, Europe's largest diocese, has entrenched his name as the top Italian candidate when a new pope is chosen. Many observers see Scola as worthy in his own right. But the fact that three 20th century popes had previously served as patriarch of Venice and two as archbishop of Milan only heightens the likelihood that Scola will be seen as a serious candidate.
In appointing Scola to Milan, Pope Benedict made it clear that the cardinals would have his approval should they make Scola the next pope. This is not to say that Scola has Pope Benedict's endorsement. The pope is also a long-time collaborator of Canada's Cardinal Marc Ouellet and only a year ago raised Ouellet's profile by giving him the weighty task of overseeing the appointments of the world's bishops.
Scola, Ouellet and Joseph Ratzinger have all drawn great inspiration from the theology of the late Hans Urs von Balthasar and, with Balthasar, they helped to launch the Communio theological journal after the Second Vatican Council.
Balthasar may well stand as the greatest Catholic theologian of the 20th century, an unusual occurrence in that his influence had only begun to spread at the time of his death in 1988. He never earned a doctorate in theology, never taught in a theological school and was not invited to Vatican II as a theological expert.
Nevertheless, he may have been the most cultured man in the world of his time. He had a doctorate in German literature, was a highly accomplished pianist and had an encyclopedic knowledge of the history of philosophy and the fathers of the Church. At one point, he gave away his stereo and record collection as he had memorized the complete works of Mozart.
Balthasar developed an original theology that was far from easy to summarize or categorize. Still, the influence of his "theological aesthetics" can be seen in Pope Benedict's famous statement, "There is nothing more beautiful than to be surprised by the Gospel, by the encounter with Christ." Balthasar emphasized beauty, drama and the uniqueness of every person.
He is sometimes seen as conservative, but was rabidly opposed to the theology that dominated pre-Vatican II seminaries. The story is often told of him wearing earplugs in class in the seminary so he could read St. Augustine in peace.
That Balthasar's theology should now be so influential in the Church hierarchy testifies both to the strange turns that history can take and to the fact that one's life can bear fruit long after death. Balthasar was a preacher of Christian hope; his life also provides hope to all who labour in the Lord's vineyard with little apparent success or encouragement.


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The Red Sox let A.J. Pierzynski go yesterday, barely halfway through his one-year, $8.25 million deal. It is the second least-surprising thing in the world that he reportedly rubbed teammates the wrong way by being a loner, ignoring his pitchers, and generally being a prick. (The first least-surprising thing in the world is that the Red Sox rushed to shit on a player on his way out of town.)
It's WEEI's Rob Bradford doing the dirty work this morning, after a joyous come-from-behind, walkoff win over the White Sox that saw Shane Victorino on the top step of the dugout, leading the cheers. A team transformed! As if by magic, or at least by the excision of one particular malignant presence.
According to multiple sources within the Red Sox clubhouse, Pierzynski had become such a negative influence on the team that players approached both the Sox coaches and front office to address the problem. The common theme expressed was the catcher's seeming indifference toward his teammates and the common goals of the same organization that had relied on an all-for-one approach when winning the 2013 World Series.
A microcosm of Pierzynski's approach was mentioned by more than one of the backstop's former teammates, who revealed his propensity to spend a significant amount of time looking at his phone while at his locker during games. In one instance, after a particularly rough outing in which the starting pitcher had been pulled early in the game, Pierzynski could be found staring at his phone while the pitcher gave off the appearance of being an emotional wreck just a few feet away. That incident paved the way to at least one complaint to management from a teammate.
It should be noted that one player didn't define this as the downfall of this Red Sox team to date, but it was tough to ignore the voices throughout the home clubhouse in the aftermath of the team's 5-4 walkoff victory over the White Sox which described an entirely different dugout environment than there had been up through Tuesday. Within the length and patience of a baseball season, there are few times such proclamations are made, but this was unmistakably one of those rarities.
The Red Sox might rattle off 10 straight losses, leading to many of the same players who were celebrating Wednesday's win being shipped out of town. But the facts are the facts, and the facts are that this one player was identified by multiple members of what is perceived as one of baseball's most tight-knit groups as the dark cloud that has just been lifted.
I don't doubt for a second that the Red Sox are thrilled to have Pierzynski gone, nor that they lined up to shit-talk him last night. But this is a pattern that extends back longer than all but two of these players have been here. It seems like no one can leave this team without getting dumped on after they're gone—not even if they, unlike Pierzynski, left on pretty good terms.
This is an indictment of the media who always act exactly as management wants them to. Look at the comments on Bradford's story. Even Sox fans, who couldn't be happier to be free of Pierzynski, are openly wondering why this very real story about clubhouse chemistry wasn't published any time over the last three months.
I get that fans are morally torn here; I am too. If the Red Sox were concerned about adding to their track record of ex post facto smearing, their fears were probably allayed by the knowledge that this particular target isn't going to garner much sympathy. But that's the whole point. You sign A.J. freaking Pierzynski, act surprised when he's a dick, and make sure to tell everyone he was a dick within 12 hours of cutting him? Who could possibly have seen any of this coming?


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Drain Clogs – One Ding-a-ling to Rule Them All Edition…
- Alabama State Senator Shadrack McGill (R, of course!) thinks the Bible says we should give teachers crappy pay. He doesn't think that about Alabama State Senators, as he voted for his own 67% salary increase. Like Jesus would do.
- A 14-year-old home schooled girl asked the Maryland state lawmakers to ban same-sex marriage for her birthday. Then her mom showed up in the ThinkProgress comments and began yelling at everyone
- RNC Chairman Reince Priebus compared President Obama to the captain of the crashed Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia, the guy who ran off and abandoned people to die. The comment was so bad, even Michael Steele was shocked!
- In other Eliminationist news, Michael Reagan called liberals termites "eating away at the foundations" of America.
- War Criminal US Representative Allen West (R, of course!) says Obama, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and the chairman of the Democrat National Committee [Debbie Wasserman-Schultz] need to "get the hell out of the United States of America."
- Florida State Representative Rachel Burgin (R, of course!) forgot to remove the ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) boilerplate from the pre-written legislation they sent her to submit! But only a fool would think she was bought and sold by these goons.
- Pity the poor Koch Brothers…
- When Is White History Month dot Tumblr
- Things are getting stupid all over…
A new requirement enacted in North Dakota mandates that the health education provided in the state include information on the benefits of abstinence "until and within marriage."
- Iowa US Senator Chuck Grassley (R, or course!) goes nuts on the Senate floor over Obama's recess appointments.
- North Carolina State Representative Larry Pittman (R, of course!) says we need to bring back public hangings, starting with abortion providers.
- Info about all of Mitt Romney's offshore accounts
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R, of course!) said "The fact of the matter is, I think people would have been happy to have a referendum on civil rights rather than fighting and dying in the streets in the South," while referring to a gay marriage initiative, causing much criticism.
- This is an actual shirt:
- China made their own bootleg Ford F-150
- Cartoon of the Day:
Categories: #culturewar, #drainclogs, #politicians, #pundits Tags: abortion, Abstinence doesn't work, Alabama, ALEC, Allen West, Chris Christie, Chuck Grassley, education, Florida, home schooled, Iowa, Jesus, Koch Brothers, Larry Pittman, Maryland, Michael Reagan, Michael Steele, Mitt Romney, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rachel Burgin, Reince Priebus, secret homosexual agenda, Shadrack McGill, Terrence Nowicki Jr, Wingnut Wear


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Body Image: Reality or Illusion?
"All my friends are on a diet. It's just not cool to actually eat lunch. We just sit around the [lunch] table and talk instead." (Janie, a fourth-grader)
Human nature drives our desires to want that which we cannot have. For those who eventually achieve what once seemed physically unattainable, they are usually met with feelings of emptiness and solitude. Their journeys to their supposed mountaintops are not joyous and redeeming but lonely and demoralizing. Their motivations are out of fear, False Evidence Appearing Real. For most, the apex is nonexistent. It is merely an oasis, a delusion of grandeur. Someday, they will come face to face with the reality that the days that have passed are gone forever. What remains is not worth the pain.


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When representatives of Catholic development organizations arrived in Warsaw to lobby for action at an intergovernmental conference on climate change, many also urged greater involvement by their own Church.
But Christians worldwide are already at the forefront in combating climate-change damage, which is being felt by many local Church communities.
In India, widely considered one of the world's most vulnerable countries, the Church's Caritas charity runs projects promoting agricultural and maritime regeneration, as well as new livelihoods in the face of rising sea levels, temperature changes and extreme weather.
Caritas is active in poor states such as Orissa and Madhya Pradesh, where tribal Catholic communities are affected, and has persuaded 3,600 farmers nationwide to sign up for initiatives to improve soil productivity and crop nutrients.
"Although there's plenty of land here, it's often dried up because of declining water irrigation, forcing people to migrate," said Father Frederick D'Souza, Caritas India's executive director.
"In the past, certain industries created a false myth that chemical fertilizers always produced bumper crops, whereas we now know they also inflict harm," D'Souza said.
"Catholic parishes and agencies like ours are creating hope by finding possibilities of adjustment and adaptation," he said during the Nov. 11-22 Conference of Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
In French-speaking Niger, whose 17 million mostly Muslim inhabitants are spread over a vast area of nearly 1.3 million square kilometres, climate change has taken its toll through erosion, desertification and the degradation of eco-systems, especially in the eastern regions of Diffa and Zinder.
There, too, Church groups are promoting regeneration and a move away from carbon-based resources.
An Islamist revolt in neighbouring Mali has risked ecological damage in some parts of Niger, but the minority Catholic Church has been doing its best to help, said Dissarama Sabine Attama, a climate justice adviser to the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar.
"Virtually all beneficiaries of our work are Muslims – it's through development actions rather than sermons that our Church gets its message across," Attama told Catholic News Service Nov. 20. "We hope the voice of small communities like ours will be heard. But we also need the whole universal Church to speak out about problems we all now face."
Orthodox Archbishop Seraphim of Zimbabwe and Angola told Catholic News Service that effective counter-measures are hampered by the Western countries, which "seem happier to sell guns than help governments adapt to climate damage."
The Orthodox Church needs more action with local faith communities and nongovernmental organizations, Seraphim added.
"As the climate pollution increases, people will die," he told Catholic News Service. "We need our congregations and communities to show spiritual solidarity with victims of climate change, by promoting a sense of the common good over narrow national interests."
Among submissions to the summit, the World Health Organization estimated that climate change was already causing an additional 140,000 deaths annually.
The World Bank said Nov. 18 the costs of "more extreme weather related to a warming planet" were set to grow, with developing countries "bearing the brunt" from floods, storms and droughts.
The report said annual economic losses had risen from $50 billion in the 1980s to almost $200 billion in the last decade, while the world had lost 2.5 million people because of climate-related natural disasters.
In Peru, rising sea levels, advancing diseases and extremes of rain and drought are forecast to cause a six per cent drop in gross domestic product by 2030.
With terrain ranging from rain forest to high-mountain plains to coastal desert, Peru is one of the world's most biologically diverse countries. Although Peru hosts 71 per cent of all tropical glaciers, these are disappearing quickly, a development that will disrupt water supplies to Lima, a city of nine million.
In Peru, Catholic groups have promoted mitigation and adaptation strategies, as well as education and awareness on climate change.
However, Church leaders have faced problems from powerful mining, oil and forestry companies, which have government and police links.
Fabian Simeon, an investigator with Forum Solidaridad Peru and prominent member of the country's Civic Front movement on climate change, thinks the Catholic Church should do more to offer protection to those with the courage and determination to take a stand.
"Although some priests and bishops are helping struggle for climate justice, their work faces strong resistance and often places them in danger," said Simeon.
All four campaigners attended the Warsaw conference, where delegations from more than 190 governments sought to lay the groundwork for a new deal on global emissions by 2015.
D'Souza said he believed championing "climate justice" should be viewed as a new expression of the Catholic Church's option for the poor and gain new impetus from the pope's advocacy of "modest lifestyles."
"Churches must present a compassionate face to the world, showing how the poor are being further marginalized by climate change," the Caritas India director said.
"The Bible tells us we're stewards of the resources God has given us and must not allow them to be expropriated and misused."


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Prenda's fraudulent activity continues unabated: new harassing calls, ransom letters etc.
These calls are beyond fraud.
- The caller does not identify himself, which is a serious violation of the FDCPA (yes, some lawyers think that Prenda's phone campaign can be categorized as a debt collection — albeit there is no debt). I'm sure it is afoul of other regulations.
- Mark Lutz claims that he calls "from Prenda Law," a nearly defunct law firm that is not in good standing with the state of Illinois: the beast is changing its skin these days, becoming "Anti-Piracy Law Group¹."
- Mark Lutz refers to dismissed lawsuits as if they are still alive, mentioning such "plaintiffs" as Hard Drive Productions, Boy Racer, etc. Especially egregious lie is Hard Drive Productions involvement. Its owner Paul Pilcher is probably soiling his pants every morning, as memories start to kick in after the wet slumbers recede. Memories of the countersuits, citizen activity informing his neighbors and schools about the illegal porn production in his home, and, on top of it, the current FBI investigation of the underage pornography allegations. Will anyone in his shoes even think of initiating a new lawsuit as Mark Lutz promises? Add the fact that Prenda dismissed all the "real" plaintiff cases, leaving only ones that involve questionable, most likely fake (and in any case fraudulent) entities AF Holdings, Ingenuity 13, and Quad International.
When I hear about these threats, I imagine a gang of gas station robbers who just had a successful heist and took all the cash from the cash register, but the ultimate greed made them crawl on the unwashed floor to collect stray coins from under-the-shelf filth.
Here is a call that was recorded last week:
Ohai Mark, I hear your voice has changed a little bit (compared to fatter days). Was it a result of a special treatment you received in the Mexican jail? Regardless, if you say "copyright infringement lawsuit" tens of thousands times, it becomes a sound signature that is nearly impossible to forge.
Also, I thought you stated under oath "I do not work for Prenda Law." I'm sure that Judge Scriven will love to learn that you have committed a perjury. I know, I know: you will say that you worked for Prenda before, then retired, and now you are back to work for the ticket John Steele bough to get you out of hell, that you did not work for Prenda at the end of November, when the hearings took place. Whatever, we will see if your hogwash is capable of convincing anyone.
In the meantime, while Mark is still with dying "Prenda Law," ransom letters that use a new letterhead have started to arrive:
Although this letter is slightly less brazen than its previous reincarnations, it does not pass the anti-bullshit test. As Raul has observed after the first glance,
- Who are the "engineers"?
- What are "activities violating computer intercept statutes"?, Note the plural: I thought Prenda was only using the CFAA.
- The letter incorrectly implies that the recipient is a defendant in a filed lawsuit "arising from these activities."
Again, on the surface:
- "Client's secured website" is unreasonably vague.
- Claims are "very serious," my ass.
- "Severe monetary damages" is also unreasonably vague.
- How does Prenda/Anti-Piracy Law Group know a lawsuit like this will cost over 100K to litigate through a jury verdict?
- The letter poses two questions but does not really answer them.
- According to comments and personal emails, people receive a lot of such calls, majority (if not all) refers to dismissed cases.
- There is a couple of reports that while the voice undoubtedly belongs to Mark Lutz, the caller identifies himself (when he identifies himself at all) as Jeff Schultz. I'm investigating this claim and will followup.
- Some calls reportedly come from 703-272-2013, there is a set of interesting reports about this number, suggesting that the Prenda spoofs the caller ID.
Here is another recorded message. This time the caller introduces himself as "Jeff Schultz," yet people who have been harassed for a long time by Lutz confirmed that the voice belongs to this putz. Compare yourself:
…and if you still think that Jeff Schultz is not Mark Lutz (of the other way around), here is another recording, this time the caller introduces himself as Mark Lutz:
I also heard a story when Prenda's Harassment officer called himself "Mark" and "Jeff" during the same conversation. Are all the crooks that stupid?
¹ While "Prenda" was a rather neutral term (please don't start the "Pretenda" joke), ironically the criminal enterprise has managed to embed the deceit as a modus operandi in its very name: one simply cannot be anti- its own turf. It's like if a plumber would declare that he is anti-sewage. Or a lion would declare that he is anti-meat. John Steele does not even hide the fact that he loves the status quo regarding the online infringement: his (now temporarily defunct) Twitter account had a tagline "Just a small town boy who thanks Bram Cohen every $ingle day."


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And yet, you don't surprise me.
MLB can do nothing about evidence showing that Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003. That is a shame.
It is a shame that we as fans are expected to root for cheaters. Nearly 101 years of Cubs baseball without a World Championship. Were we victims of cats, over zealous fans and straight up chokes…or an entire league filled with cheaters giving them the advantage over us. Sosa would be the first Cub people would come up with as far as a player who may have used and they'd suggest that we too had our fair share of players that have used performance enhancing substances throughout the steroid era. Cork has been proven, but that's about it on Sosa. No other Cub has really come up in these talks over the past few years yet I wouldn't be surprised if some names turn up over time. Of course Palmiero came up time and again and he spent some years as a Cub and I can't say I'm positive no other Cub has ever used. I just hope that the whole steroids-in-baseball-thing ends here with A-Rod. And of course, anyone that hasn't already been mentioned that may be listed among the other 103 players included in this, up until now, confidential testing from 2003.
Wouldn't that be great. Wouldn't it be great if we've heard all the names, or at least have all the names, and we could put an end to doubting what we see before us. To be able to believe in the purity of the achievements we see day in and day out on the field, throughout this season and every seasons that follows. To know that whatever amazing stats are posted, were earned and achieved on pure physical ability and never doubted otherwise. To know that once the Cubs hoist the trophy in the middle of Chicago in a World Series parade, that no Cub on the team cheated and the team earned it fair and square. That would be a great thing.
As of now, I feel like these fluke occurrences (Bartman) and supernatural oddities (goat, cat) weren't the only things that have provided Cub fans with heartache. It's these cheaters, like A-Rod. Those who succumbed to the pressure of performing at a certain level that their bodies couldn't deliver. Those who felt the need to live up to contract deals that their overall ability could never justify. Nearly 101 years of no titles for the Cubs, because of people like A-Rod. Disgusting. And MLB says they can't do anything about it.
What a shame.
You know what though, on the other hand, so what. We all know Bonds cheated and his records are forever tarnished. Now, A-Rod, the guy that was supposed to pass Bonds and clear the top of the lists in the record books of asterisks comes with one giant, glaring one of his own. MLB doesn't have to do anything to A-Rod. We already know he cheated and from now on, he'll just be another cheater in baseball fans' eyes.
To say steroids is a part of baseball is possibly a true statement, but it is a shame. I suppose it's also human nature to cheat and try to achieve as much as you can whether you have earned it or not. You know what though, human nature also allows for those of us who are better than that, to decide to not go down that road and rise above it. We can all think of things that would progress us further and faster in our own careers. That doesn't mean we have to do it. You can be the top paid guy on the totem pole (maybe not $252 million) and still not give in to cheating. It's too bad all we have to play the game are imperfect human beings. The game deserves better than that. We as fans deserve better than that. And MLB, as one of your biggest fans, right now I hope you realize that your response is as disgusting as A-Rod's actions. No action is not good enough. You need to be better than that.
With pitchers and catchers reporting this week, Spring is on the way. Hill and Wuertz have been sent away. The team is nearly officially sold to the Ricketts family and naming rights, Peavy and the team's official roster are still up in the air. I have plenty to talk about regarding all of these things. For today though, as a fan, baseball's let me down again. And for now, that's all I really feel like saying.


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