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Narendrabhai Modi won for the third consecutive time the Gujarat State assembly elections. Like in the earnings report of a corporation that analysts expect to be the outcome, the market already incorporates into its calculations the results and therefore it does not alter the stock prices, the outcome of the Gujarat elections don't throw up any surprises. When there are no surprises, there's little of interest. But what's going to happen next is an interesting question because there will be surprises.
Certainly the media paid for and bought by the Antonia Maino Congress still have to go through the motions and talk down Modi's stock to earn their living. Barkha Dutt, Rajdeep Sardesai, Vir Sanhvi, Sagarika Ghose and the rest of the loathsome bunch have to do what they have to do to earn their keep which amounts to dumping on Modi. But that too is part of the information set and there are no surprises. Had they done anything else it would have been as surprising as a retard suddenly overthrowing some generally accepted basic result of physics.
What would Narendrabhai do next is the interesting question. Let me pause to point out one little thing — I refer to Modi as Narendrabhai. The "bhai" suffix is a sign of respect, just like in Hindi you would say "ji" or in Japanese you would say "san." Actually, if I were to use the Japanese convention, I would not even stop at "Narendra-san"; I would escalate it to "Narendra-sama" — a much higher sign of respect.
I respect Narendrabhai. Why, you may ask. The simple answer is that because he does not care. He does not care about shit. He cares about India but he does not care about shit. To put it as mildly and politely as I am capable of, there's a lot of shit that is flying around from the top — Antonia Maino — to the bottom starting with her chief chaprasi Dr Singh and his cabinet of crooks, to the low-paid retards on their payroll such as the unmentionable Sanjay Jha.
(I should point out that I preferentially use "Antonia Maino" over the more common "Sonia Gandhi." It's because I prefer to call a spade a spade, or as in this case, an Italian by her Italian name. Referring to her as "Sonia Gandhi" is something the feminist in me would not allow. She was born as Italian and with a perfectly fine Italian heritage and name that she ought to be proud of. There's no reason to force a change of name on her merely because of her marriage to some (nominal) Indian. I don't know for sure but I am told that the man known as Rajiv Gandhi also had his name changed to some foreign name when he (allegedly) converted to Catholicism to marry the Catholic Antonia Maino. But that's neither here nor there as this is about Shri Narendrabhai Modi — a person who would not change his name or misrepresent his origin for money or power. So let me move on.)
Narendrabhai has no use for the enormous amounts of steaming piles of horseshit that the Indian political scene is decorated with.
Like me, Narendrabhai does not care for the shit that the NDTV-watching public lap up so eagerly. He wants to appeal to the voter who has got his or her priorities straight. Narendrabhai is not a chaprasi.
Allow me to digress once again. I call someone like Dr Singh a chaprasi but I don't intend to demean the station of a chaprasi. In any functioning system, you do need chaprasis. They too have their place. You need CEOs and you need chaprasis who will do what is required of people who carry files from one desk to another without having the burden of figuring out what the organization ought to do. Dr Singh's function is the polar opposite of what a CEO does. He follows orders while the CEO gives instructions.
Now here's the important thing: chaprasis serve at the pleasure of the managers of the firm. They don't dictate strategy or even how much to spend on office supplies. They just do what they are told to do. Dr Singh, the chief chaprasi in the Antonia Maino setup does what he is instructed to do. He really does not have a role in deciding policy, leave alone dictating policy.
As I was saying, Dr Singh resides at the polar opposite of the spectrum that Narendrabhai occupies. Narendrabhai does not care for shit. The question of what he would do next is therefore so self-evidently clear that I hesitate to spell it out fearing that I would be insulting your intelligence. But allow me to elaborate.
Many many year ago, when I was running for the class representative at my undergrad engineering college, my message to the voting public was simple: "Vote for me if you want a competent representative. I will represent your welfare better than the other candidates. But if you don't want me to do that, that's perfectly fine with me. No skin off my back."
I did not try to persuade them overly. I was not really interested in selling myself to them. If they were deserving of what I had to offer them, good for them. If they didn't want what I had to offer, good for them also. No compulsion. The world will not end if I didn't get elected.
I lost that election, and every other election that I have ever participated in. The thing is that my offer is "take it or leave it" — no coercion. I didn't enter the race for personal gain and I will be damned if I want your support for any personal gains.
I don't know for sure but I suspect that Narendrabhai has a somewhat similar stand which goes like this: "I have something to offer in terms of what we should be doing in terms of public policy. If you like what I have to offer, good for you. If you don't, no skin off my back. Good luck and goodbye."
Of course I cannot be certain but that's what I presume that's Narendrabhai's position. Like me, I like to think, he does not have any need for billions of dollars that others need for their self-worth. What he wants is general prosperity of Indians and if that's what a sufficient number of Indians want, he would be happy to help in that quest. But if they don't — if for whatever reasons they want something else — that's fine with him too.
That's just a conjecture and I don't claim to read Narendrabhai's mind. I am just saying this as a disinterested observer.
I see Narendrabhai going ahead giving others a stark choice. He does not need any of the "leaders" — either from the BJP or from the NDA partners. If they like what he has to offer, they can get on his agenda. If they don't like what he wants, they aren't obligated to join him. He will not compromise because his goal is a transformation of India, and which transformation cannot be done with the same people or the same mindset that brought about this state of affairs.
A friend of mine said the other day that Narendrabhai will now have to get others like Nitish Kumar to join him. I don't think so. I think that Modi will not only not make any moves to appease the likes of Nitish Kumar but that he will take a position that makes it clear that it is he who rejects Nitish Kumar and not the other way around.
In the end, Narendrabhai's success depends on only one thing — how ready the Indian voter is for real change, for real economic and social growth. If they are not, no amount of "democratic" elections are doing to amount to a hill of beans. If they are ready, someone like Narendrabhai cannot be stopped. If they are not, no amount of Narendrabhai compromising with the Nitish Kumars of India would make the slightest difference.
If my conjecture about Narendrabhai is correct, here's what I think he will do. He will strike out on his own. He will not bother about the BJP leadership, he will not bother about NDA alliances, he will not bother about the RSS or the VHP leaders. He will directly go to the Indian voter and say, "I have a different deal for you. Take it if you like it or leave it. In either case, I don't gain personally from it. Your move."


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Being a mother, raising my children is my life.
I have been scoffed at and put down by others for my role as a dedicated stay-at-home mother by people who simply do not understand why I would, "choose to homeschool and stay home with my kids."
Maybe I am weird for choosing to homeschool and for the fact that I actually love being around my children and doing things with and for them (including mommy/daughter sleepovers). I love getting up early to homeschool plan and do yoga while the sun rises on the horizon. I love shopping for and preparing organic, natural foods for my family. I love spiritual science and studying, learning and growing everyday. I love going out for long walks in the sunshine and watching my kids thrive in a natural environment, coming up with imaginative games and spending time actually being kids not having to have been forced to grow up too quickly.
To me, all of these things are not a chore or a burden or some kind of ideal I force myself to adhere to: they are my life.
I know that I was born to be their mother. And although there are challenges and times of anxiety about just how I can raise them to their fullest potential (especially now with Serafina's autism), I would never change my role and the life that we share together as a family.
Homeschooling is rewarding. Watching these girls grow up day by day and giving them a sacred space to thrive, imagine, and be creative in, is my purpose. Nurturing our family with a loving, peaceful, organic and natural environment gives me absolute joy.
People can question it, misunderstand it, judge it, or be jealous of it, but at the end of the day, I will still be grateful for our blessings. I may be wounded by others opinions and judgmental remarks, but I will continue to stand up for what I believe in and what I know in my heart are the right choices for us. I will live my life the way I know was born to live it.

subset: commoncrawl


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Well, holy crap, that was a real barnburner!
The Walking Dead ended it's strong Season 2 homestretch run with a brilliant finale that not only set the farm storyline ablaze but also redefined the dynamic of the group of survivors as they head towards an ominous new setting in Season 3.
First, "Behind the Dying Fire" picks up with Rick and Carl returning to the house after their double-barreled take down of Shane in last week's episode. But they soon realize they're not alone as thousands of zombies now approach not far behind. (They are tipped off by the rumble from the zombies' footsteps!) They quickly retreat to the barn and hatch a scheme to lure the zombies into a fire trap. At the same time, the rest of the gang (at the house) have taken to their vehicles to play zombie shoot-'em-up before eventually realizing their only option is fleeing the farm for good. The entire opening sequence is a splendid torrent of horrifying panic, desperate action, and nail-biting suspense, easily ranking as one of the best moments in the show's brief history.


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The Meteor
A shot of a meteor during the 2016 Perseid Meteor Shower.
A lonely cactus gazing at the stars, near Cline's Corner, NM.
Silverton, Co
The Blood Moon
Super blood moon eclipse over LA county, on 09-28-2015.
Blood moon rising
The Temple
A Buddhist temple overlooking the greater Los Angeles area.
The Perseids
The 2016 Perseid Meteor Shower.
Turnbull Canyon Trail
Top of the trail overlooking the greater LA area.
Super blood moon eclipse over east LA county, on 09-28-2015.


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Releasing the records
A bit less than a year ago, I embarked on a quest to get a copy of the millions of pages of CIA documents stored on CREST, the CIA Records Search Tool. The CREST database was technically publicly available, in the sense that anyone could theoretically use the four computers located in the back of a library that (for budgetary reasons) lacks a librarian for half of the day. These four computers are currently the only ones that can access the CREST database, and they're only accessible Monday through Friday from 9 Am to 4:30 PM. In other words, most people who aren't full time researchers can't use the database even if they're within driving distance. By printing out and scanning the documents at CIA expense, I was able to begin making them freely available to the public and to give the Agency a financial incentive to simply put the database online. I'm pleased to say that these efforts have been a success, and the Agency is putting the database online.
CIA isn't doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. Several FOIA requests have been filed for the database, including by the National Security Archive and MuckRock. MuckRock actually sued the Agency with the help of Kel McClanahan of National Security Counselors. The Agency said it would take 28 years to process the files. After some more legal pressure from Mr. McClanahan, the Agency reduced their estimate to six years. This was still too long, and so I began my effort. The hope was that the financial pressure, the negative press and making it not only a legal but a practical inevitability that these files would be put online would force the Agency to speed up their timetable. Thanks to the combined (but uncoordinated) efforts of myself and MuckRock, these files will soon be available.
However, there are some problems with the Agency's statement about the matter. According to the Agency, the database will retain all of its features when put online. This is extremely unlikely, since the database is currently interfaced through proprietary software known as Laserfiche. This allows for many browsing and search parameters and sorting functions that the Agency's website simply doesn't. In many instances, the Agency's website is simply broken (for instance, users are unable to even go to the second page of their online listing of CREST documents) and users are unable to properly browse the categories of documents already uploaded. It's more likely that the Agency spokesman was unaware of this and only meant to refer to the text recognition that has been performed on the files. Otherwise, the Agency will have to design or buy an entirely new interface.
To combat this, I'm preparing to reindex and reupload the files in a proper format. While the CREST system at the National Archives has been out of toner for several weeks (CIA has been extremely and deliberately slow in this regard), more toner is expected to arrive this week. This will allow me to retrieve copies of the indexes with the metadata. This will, in turn, be used to organize the files and upload them in a fully searchable format. Assuming the Agency doesn't retain all of the search functions of the Laserfiche powered system and simply imports the files into their already broken interface, a new database will be built from the files. Several options are being considered in this regard and more than one organization has expressed interest in partnering over it.
What's in it?
So what's in the database? There are a little over 775,000 files that make up over 13,000,000 pages. Before the most recent update of files at the beginning of the year, the database was estimated to be about 840 gigabytes. Breaking these files down into categories, we get:
- Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's papers: 40,000 pages of newly declassified documents. The papers did not originate with CIA, but "contain many CIA equities."
- Directorate of Science and Technology R&D: 20,000 pages
- Analytic intelligence publication files: Over 100,000 pages.
- News archives: The Agency collected a lot of news stories about themselves and the subjects they were interested in. Their news archive, much of which is included in CREST, contains many
- Office of the DCI Collection (ODCI): 28,550 documents/129,000 pages from the records of the first five Directors of Central Intelligence: Admiral Roscoe Hillenkoetter, General Walter "Bedell" Smith, Allen Dulles, John McCone, and Richard Helms. These records run from the beginning of CIA in 1947 through the late 1960s and include a wide variety of memos, letters, minutes of meetings, chronologies and related files from the Office of the DCI (ODCI) that document the high level workings of the CIA during its early years.
- Directorate of Intelligence (DI) Central Intelligence Bulletins: 8,800 documents/123,000 pages from a collection of daily Central Intelligence Bulletins (CIB), National Intelligence Bulletins (NIB) and National Intelligence Dailies (NID) running from 1951 through 1979. The CIBs/NIBs were published six days a week (Monday through Saturday) and were all source compilations of articles and consisting initially of short Daily Briefs and longer Significant Intelligence Reports and Estimates on key events and tops of the day. The CIBs/ NIBs were circulated to high level policy-makers in the US Government.
- General CIA Records: Records from the CIA's archives that are 25 years old or older, including a wide variety of finished intelligence reports, field information reports, high-level Agency policy papers and memoranda, and other documents produced by the CIA.
- STAR GATE: A 25-year Intelligence Community effort that used remote viewers who claimed to use clairvoyance, precognition, or telepathy to acquire and describe information about targets that were blocked from ordinary perception. The records include documentation of remote viewing sessions, training, internal memoranda, foreign assessments, and program reviews.
- Consolidated Translations: Translated reports of foreign-language technical articles of intelligence interest, organized by author and each document covers a single subject.
- Scientific Abstracts: Abstracts of foreign scientific and technical journal articles from around the world.
- Ground Photo Caption Cards: Used to identify photographs in the NlMA ground photograph collection. Each caption card contains a serial number that corresponds to the identical serial number on a ground photograph. The master negatives of the ground photography collection have been accessioned separately to NARA. The caption cards provide descriptive information to help identify which master negatives researchers may wish to request.
- National Intelligence Survey: National Intelligence Survey gazetteers.
- NGA: Records from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, primarily photographic intelligence reports.
- Joint Publication Research Service: Provided translations of regional and topical issues in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
- Office of Strategic Services files: Documents from the OSS, CIA's World War II predecessor.
While these documents are older, they aren't irrelevant. One of the CREST documents provided the smoking gun for my expose on an NSA Director sabotaging the NSA.
When will they come out?
The timeline on these files is a little bit sketchy at this point. It's unlikely that the files will be online before the election. If the Agency is going to keep their word and put the database online, it's likely that it'll happen in the next few months. New files are usually added to CREST between January and March, depending on the speed of bureaucracy. It's unlikely that they'll add these files to the offline database just before migrating them and hundreds of thousands of other files to an online database.
Work on reconstructing the database with all of the metadata can begin as early as next week. Once the metadata has been and organized work on the database itself can begin. 23,500 CIA documents (340,000 pages) have already been obtained and can be added to the database ASAP. The details of the timeline, however, depend on both when the Agency puts the files online and when potential partners are ready to move forward.


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Simpsonichthys myersi
This species has a somewhat confusing taxonomic history and it remains unclear whether it is conspecific with S. izecksohni (Da Cruz, 1983) or not.
The latter is considered to represent a synonym of S. myersi by Costa (2007), but the majority of authors do not follow the conclusions of that study (see below) and continue to view both as valid.
2 comments » | Category: Aplocheiloid Toothcarps, Cyprinodontiformes


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My Blog is One Year Old!
It's been a great journey so far. Although, I must admit the ride can get bumpy at times. Yet, I've got no regrets. I've learned a lot from blogging, and it has helped me grow into becoming a better version of ME.
Sharing with you the 5 Lessons I Learned in My First Year of Blogging.
1. Take Courage
"I really wanted to start a blog, but…"
I was afraid to put myself out there for fear of ridicule. I was insecure about my writing skills. I didn't have a nice camera. I had zero knowledge about starting a blog.
Yet, I didn't allow fear to stop me. I took an online creative writing course, read about blogging, joined WordPress, downloaded Grammarly, and asked a couple of friends to give me feedback on my draft.
I finally got the courage to publish my first post last year.
2. Learn From Your Mistakes
There's so much to learn. It can get overwhelming. There's a lot of blogging advice out there, and though it helped me a lot; I also got confused when there are conflicting ideas.
I learned that blogging is like cooking: try the recipe, change certain ingredients, add a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Then, after some trial and error…
Voila! You're finally happy with the flavor.
3. Connect. Engage. Share.
The internet can be a positive space for us to learn from each other and encourage one another as we go through challenges.
We can like, comment, share each other's posts, and spread good vibes in the blogosphere.
4. Set Realistic Goals.
Blogging started as a hobby until I began to set unreasonable goals. Oh yes… I've got to write, hustle, and grow (Stats! Stats! Stats!).
Guess what? After a few months, I was on the verge of quitting.
Blogger burnout is REAL!
5. Have Fun!
"It's not all about the stats."
I needed to pause, take a break, reflect on the reasons why I'm blogging, and enjoy the creative adventure again.
We have a long road ahead of us, but I'm in no rush to figure out everything right now. After all, blogging is not a competition. So, I'm going to get a drink, put my feet up, and relax!
Cheers to 1 year of blogging and to many, many MORE!
Our heartfelt thanks to everyone for following us on our journey. We couldn't have reached this far without your love and support.
Please leave us a comment below. Tell us about your blogging experience. How long have you been blogging? Any lessons or tips you want to share? We'd love to hear from you!


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I hosted a girls weekend at my house last week and it was pure, unadulterated, 100% enjoyment–even the getting ready for six girls to be at my house all weekend. I love hosting LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I try to focus on doing things I like and I try to avoid doing things I hate–even when it comes to hosting. I've learned that I enjoy decorating for a party with easy creative designs and I enjoy being able to cook for everyone but not to the point where it keeps me in the kitchen.
So the best way for me and my personality to host a party is::
- enjoy looking forward and anticipating the weekend (I start setting up a week before no one cares if pink decorations are out for a week at my house)
- start a pinboard FSP stands for Fun Sleepover Party I thought we'd do a craft but ended up we just wanted to hang out
- decide on a theme based on something general or an overall feeling
- buy fresh flowers because I LOVE them and they make me feel good (do something for yourself!)
- decorate with inexpensive yet WOW factor ideas
- cook something I've made before and only cook for the first meal and also make a few things ahead of time
- buy some food premade (grilled chicken from Earth Fare and the sauces from Cheesecake Factory for the lettuce wraps) semi-homemade works great for a fun people filled weekend
- say yes when someone offers help (Ellen lives close enough to come early, she helped prep dinner, bought my wine glasses last-minute and brought breakfast for the next morning!)
- enjoy the people when they are here and don't worry about cleaning every part of the kitchen to perfection–I can do that when they leave
First the back story.
Last October I attended the Relevant Conference (this year they changed the name to Allume) and you know how when you go to conferences you end up hanging out in a hotel room talking with a small group of people? Well the little group of us who connected there (some knew each other before, some didn't) had a great time. And back in January I heard my phone start beeping crazily with tweets from them including all our names from the room time hang out talking about getting together. It didn't take me long to figure out these girls were seriously serious and since they live in all parts of the country, meeting up would require flying. I'm no dummy so I immediately offered up my house for a meeting place. I'd much rather host than fly.
So as hard as it was not to invite everyone who reads this blog or every blogger I'm friends with, or all of my dear real life friends, this group just kind of choose itself and although I ended up hosting, the people included weren't a result of me sending out invites to some private group–this was a meeting of girls who spent some great time together last year and took the risk and initiative to say "hey, that was great, let's do it again".
Back to the house stuff…
I LOVE for my home to look festive, pulled together and extra special when I have a get together but, I learned long ago not to try to come up with some elaborate theme, although having a general theme or purpose can be helpful. When I hosted my sister's book signing party the theme was simply book pages. This time I wanted the theme or feel of the weekend to be girly, fun, and relaxing. That doesn't mean we all have to bring our ball gowns and bring in a manicurist and masseuse to come for the weekend. Oh no. When you choose a theme you want it to be something that will be a workhorse for you, not something you have to be a slave for. I used a few five-minute ideas that quickly added some whimsical girliness into my house.
simply cut rectangles, fold in half, snip a "V" shape out and secure on a string with a bit o' hot glue {read in an Irish accent}
shop the house for anything that can go with the theme and or come in handy pile it all up someplace to be at the ready in case you need it (I piled mine on my tertiary table)
how to make a tiny paper banner
place cards from Lisa Leonard Designs
just hot glue a pair of paper dots together on a string
hmmmmm, I love experimenting in my laboratory, I mean in my home
yep. just tie a bunch of balloons together and drape on your chandelier. and then don't forget to NOT turn the light on
major wow factor for about $4 worth of balloons
$2 for 6 pink thrifted candles completed the girly feel
ellen, tracey, hayley, gussy (my fellow Tanaznia traveler), emily (my sister!) and my dog who believes the entire weekend centered around himself, caroline's plane got in after dinner
lettuce wraps (with Earth Fare grilled chicken and Cheesecake Factory bought sauces) PW's olive cheese bread and lemon pasta for dinner and of course these for desert
loot from our favorite things (we each brought 6 of something we love–one for everyone)
chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool
Of course, I didn't think about taking a group picture until after Emily and Hayley left, at the very last-minute my son snapped this. What does it say about me that I have more photos of balloons than people? Never mind, I don't want to know. And of course it's impossible to capture the very best part of the entire weekend. The real connections, risky sharing, tears, laughter, vulnerability, and true friendship that continues to grow. I am so grateful this group of girls rose up and said "Hey, let's get together". And it was such an unexpected gift to sit in my family room with Caroline, my in town friend who moved away in December–we didn't think she was going to be able to come but, her husband surprised her last-minute with the trip here.
What part of your personality comes out when you are hosting? What's your favorite and least favorite part?


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Holi is probably one the most enchanting of the festivals originating from India. It is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month. It has pretty much moved all around the world, across cultures and was celebrated last weekend. Participants traditionally throw bright, vibrant powders at friends and strangers alike, marking the beginning of spring and the triumph of good over evil. Holi is the time to unwind, de-stress and bond with sweets, Thandai and colors. The celebrations at the Greater Hindu temple of Chicago was equally exuberant, very much like last year (you could also read more about the festival here). Below is the Photo Essay of the event from this year ! Happy Holi !!!
Lot of folks were so open to being photographed and even asked where they can get the shots. If you were one of them feel free to get yours here.
Click here for the full gallery
Colored powder and smiles adorning the festivities
Fellow photographer amidst the crowd , just not sure how the nikon fared ;-)
An little girl, face smeared with colored powder, sits on the shoulders of her father getting an apt Vantage point
The locals too equally enjoy the celebration
Everyone including this kid had lotz of fun
After all its all about the colors right !
Getting nice shots often depends on the Vantage point you are at, this guy probably got the best one for the day
As the sun set, the Holi fire also was lit in front of the temple to start the final prayers


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My apologies for being a bit MIA lately.
You never know when a second can change your life entirely.
It was a few months ago, when I was helping out in clinic. A patient had to be emergently transferred to the intensive care unit, and I offered to help, as I knew the fastest way there.
We raced through the hospital, weaving around corners, up and down multiple elevators, across many halls, before we arrived and safely dropped the patient off and told the story to the physicians about to take over for the care.
And then, while heading back, it happened.
While loading the bed onto the elevator, my left hand got smashed between it and the elevator wall.
It was instantly gigantic and purple. The next day, I found my fifth digit was broken, and a week later (once a bit of the swelling had gone down), I found out the joint was broken too, in addition to the tendons being ripped off and the finger being numb from the nerve damage.
For the three weeks, my boyfriend commented that my hand resembled that of Aunt Marge from Harry Potter (once he accidentally blows her up). After that, it looked like Dumbledore's after he touched a horcrux. Sweet of him, I know (but in return, I didn't have to clean the house….but I couldn't cook, either!!!).
Now, for those of you that don't know, almost all of anesthesia involves the use of one's left hand. Which is why I thought long and hard. I had to have a lot of conversations and figure out what was best for me.
As of now, I'm officially a resident in internal medicine, instead of anesthesia. I'm fairly happy with the choice- I really debated between the two specialties, and this gives my hand a better chance at healing. At the end of the day, we all go into medicine to help people, and I still get to do that.
And this whole experience has made me really thankful for fingers.
Accident-Free Maple Bacon Brined Turkey
It's okay to break these bones.
Ingredients for the Brine
– 1 gallon water
– 3 whole carrots, broken in pieces
– 2 onions, quartered, skins on
– 3 stalks celery, broken in pieces
– 1 head garlic, sliced in half
– 1 apple, quartered
– 1 pear, quartered
– 2 bay leaves
– 1 cinnamon stick
– 1 tbsp whole black peppercorns
– 2 tsp whole allspice
– 1 tbsp parsley (I freeze mine in ice cubes at the end of the summer)
– 4 leaves whole sage
– 1 tbsp oregano
– 1 tbsp thyme
– 1 sprig rosemary
– 1/2 c brown sugar
– 3/4 c kosher salt
Ingredients for the Bird
– 1 turkey
– Softened butter
– 1 lb bacon
– Real maple syrup
– Salt
– Pepper
– Poultry seasoning
– favorite recipe stuffing of your choice
Ingredients for the Gravy
– Pan drippings
– 2-3 c chicken broth
– 1/4 c all- purpose flour
– 1/2 c white wine
1) For the brine, add all of the ingredients to a stock pot except the brown sugar and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer. Simmer for 1 hour, then add sugar and salt. Let cool.
2) Line a bucket with a garbage bag. Pour in stock pot mixture. Add in additional 1 gallon ice water and ice to bring mixture to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Add in turkey (weigh down with a pot lid so it doesn't float, if necessary) and brine up to 18 hours.
3) The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
4) Remove bird from water and pat dry.
5) Make stuffing.
6) Rub bird with softened butter, then sprinkle liberally inside and out with salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning. Apply stuffing. Place turkey in roasting pan.
7) Tent breast of bird with foil and let cook for 1 hour.
8) After 1 hour, begin basting with maple syrup every 30 minutes.
9) After 2 hours, weave bacon into lattice. Place on turkey breast. Return to oven and continue basting every 30 minutes with maple syrup.
10) Turkey is ready when an instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (don't hit bone!) reads 170 degrees.
11) Remove turkey from pan and let rest for 20-30 minutes.
12) Place pan on stove burners on medium high heat (I normally spread mine over two). Sprinkle in flour and scrape up browned bits on pan. Cook, stirring, for about 1 minute, then begin whisking in white wine, then chicken broth until it reaches your desired consistency.
Eat and enjoy!


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The U.S. Army only seems impressive. Yes, it's got plenty of tactically competent and physically heroic enlisted soldiers and low-ranking officers. But its generals are, on the whole, crappy, according to a new book that's sure to spark teeth-gnashing within the Army.
That book is The Generals, the third book about the post-9/11 military by Tom Ricks, a fellow at the Center for a New American Security and the *Washington Post'*s former chief military correspondent. Scheduled to be released on Tuesday, The Generals is a surprisingly scathing historical look into the unmaking of American generalship over six decades, culminating in what Ricks perceives as catastrophic failures in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The basic problem is that no one gets fired. Ricks points back to a system that the revered General George Marshall put into place during World War II: unsuccessful officers -- defined very, very liberally -- were rapidly sacked, especially on the front lines of Europe. Just as importantly, though, getting relieved of command didn't end a general's career. Brig. Gen. "Hanging Sam" Williams, was removed as the assistant commander of the 90th Infantry Division in western France in 1944 for lacking "optimism and a calming nature" in the view of his superior. Six years later, Williams commanded the 25th Infantry Division in Korea and retired as a three-star. Marshall's approach simultaneously held generals accountable for battlefield failures while avoiding a zero-defect culture that stifled experimentation.
Over the course of six decades, Ricks demonstrates at length, the Army abandoned Marshall's system. It led to a culture of generalship where generals protected the Army from humiliation -- including, in an infamous case, Maj. Gen. Samuel Koster covering up the massacre of civilians at My Lai -- more than they focused on winning wars. On the eve of Vietnam, "becoming a general was now akin to winning a tenured professorship," Ricks writes, "liable to be removed not for professional failure but only for embarrassing one's institution with moral lapses."
It's not an airtight case. Ricks is sometimes at pains to explain why good generals who probably should have been fired under Marshall weren't (George Patton) or why adaptive generals later on weren't driven out of the Army (David Petraeus). And it's overstated to blame dumb wars on dumb generals. But the fact is, the Army almost never fires generals for cause, unlike the Navy, to the point where a lieutenant colonel famously wrote in frustration during the Iraq war that a private who loses a rifle is more likely to be disciplined than a general who loses a war.
Ricks explains how it got to be that way. And it's something the Army has to reckon with as it deals with its future now that its decade of perpetual warfare is ending, and ending inconclusively. He spoke with Danger Room right before The Generals dropped its bomb on the Army.
Danger Room: So how poor are today's Army generals? What percentage of them would you say need to be fired outright? Is the public wrong for seeing the Army as an uber-competent institution, a learning organization and a meritocracy?
Tom Ricks: The U.S. Army is a great institution -- tactically. Our soldiers today are well-trained, well-motivated, cohesive, and fairly well equipped.
But training is for the known. For the unknown, education is required. You need to teach your senior leaders how to address problems full of uncertainty and ambiguity, and from them, fashion a strategy. And then be able to tell whether it is working, and to adjust if it isn't.
Our generals today are not particularly well-educated in strategy. Exhibit A is Tommy Franks, who thought it was a good idea to push Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda from Afghanistan into Pakistan, a larger country that also possesses nuclear weapons. Franks also thought that he had won when he took the enemy's capital in Afghanistan and Iraq — when in fact that is when the wars really began.
When generals don't know what to do strategically, they tend to regress back down to what they know, which is tactical. That's one reason why in Vietnam you saw colonels and generals hovering over company commanders giving orders. It is also why our generals were so slow to adapt in Iraq. By the time they became operationally effective, it was 2007, and we had been fighting in Iraq for nearly four years, longer than we had during all of World War II.
What percentage of them need to be fired? All those who fail. That is how George Marshall ran the Army during World War II. Failures were sacked, which is why no one knows nowadays who Lloyd Fredendall was. Successful generals were promoted -- which is why why we know names of younger officers of the time such as Eisenhower, Ridgway and Gavin. This was a tough-minded, Darwinian system that reinforced success. Mediocre wasn't enough back then. It is now, apparently. Back in World War II, a certain percentage of generals were expected to be fired. It was seen as a sign that the system was working as expected.
DR: How would George Marshall's system of relieving failing generals and placing them in remedial positions work today? Wouldn't a relief inevitably be seen as an irredeemable black mark?
>'All those who fail need to be fired.'
TR: Relief today is indeed a black mark. The system only works if relief is so frequent that it isn't seen as a career-ender. Of the 155 men who commanded Army divisions in combat during World War II, 16 were fired. Of those, five were given other divisions to command in combat later in the war. Many others who were fired got good staff jobs, or trained divisions back home.
That said, Marshall was pretty hardnosed about this. He didn't run the Army for the benefit of its officers. In a war for democracy, he wrote, the needs of the enlisted came first. He believed that the Army owed its soldiers competent leadership. That was not the case with the Army in Vietnam, where officers were rotated in quickly to get some time in combat command and then rotated out.
DR: Isn't it too simplistic to blame bad generalship for lost wars and good generalship for successful ones? Tommy Franks may have been "dull and arrogant," as you write, but he didn't decide to invade Iraq; David Petraeus may have been his polar opposite, but Afghanistan is in shambles.
TR: Yes, it would be too simplistic. That's why the major second theme of the book is the need for good discourse between our top generals and their civilian overseers.
By good discourse, I don't mean everyone getting along. I mean dialogue that welcomes candor, honesty, and clarity, and is guided so it does two key things: explore assumptions and dig into differences. For example, the Vietnam War was guided on the assumption that the enemy had a breaking point and that it would come before ours. Turns out that was wrong. Likewise, the 1991 Gulf War was run on the assumption that giving Saddam Hussein a good thumping would remove him from power. Didn't happen.
I came away from the book thinking that the quality of civil-military discourse is one of the few leading indicators you have of how well a war will go. George Marshall was not the natural choice for Army chief of staff (Hugh Drum probably was) but FDR picked him in part because Marshall twice had stood up to Roosevelt in the Oval Office, respectfully but forcefully dissenting on key military issues.
DR: Isn't relieving generals when they're generals too late? Why shouldn't the relieves and reassignments you describe in the book come earlier in their tenures as officers? Or can you really teach a general new tricks?
>'We shouldn't fight our wars based on what the cool kids think.'
TR: Yes. And yes -- if generals see that getting promoted requires some prudent risk-taking, some adaptation, they will do so and learn those tricks. But they won't if they see that cautious mediocrity is rewarded equally.
DR: Can you make up your mind about Gen. Ray Odierno already? He was a villain in your first book about the Iraq war, a hero in your second, and now he's a villain again, for giving one of his subordinate commanders a slap on the wrist for obstructing an inquiry into his soldiers' abuse of Iraqis. Is Odierno fit to serve as Army chief of staff?
DR: I am of two minds about Gen. Odierno. I do think he screwed up when he commanded the 4th Infantry Division early in the Iraq war. But the bottom line is he adapted. You got to learn to live with a little ambiguity, Spencer!
DR: You write that "It seems a good bet that there will not be a 'Petraeus generation' of generals." I took that to mean a more competent and far-sighted general officer corps, but you might also have meant one steeped in counterinsurgency. If you mean the former, why shouldn't we expect one, since Petraeus remains a remarkably influential figure in the Army even to soldiers who never served under him? If you mean the latter, why is that something to lament? There's an argument to be made that one of the reasons Afghanistan remains a mess is because the Army and Marines drank the counterinsurgency Kool-Aid too deeply.
TR: Nah, I mean competent, adaptive generals. But one aspect of being adaptive is being able to think critically. I think COIN worked for Petraeus during the surge, but it was a very tough-minded, violent COIN strategy. And it involved risk-taking -- like Petraeus striking a private ceasefire with the Sunni insurgents and putting 100,000 of them on the American payroll, and doing it all without asking permission from President Bush.
An aside on COIN: It was in fashion a few years ago. It is out of fashion now. But we shouldn't fight our wars based on what the cool kids think. We should use what works, and be willing to try other things if what we try doesn't work. That's my gripe with Petraeus' predecessor in Iraq, George Casey [who later became Army chief of staff].


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It's Shakespeare's B-day:
Include your favorite quote in the comments.
PUR is still working for us but who knows when Conflucians Say will be shut down and we'll be forced to move to a new venue? Hey, it could happen during tonight's show! That's how far out on a limb we're going. We'll be catching up on all things Secretary of State related and maybe Dakinikat will tell us what's up with the banks and why are they forcing GM into bankruptcy.
Join us for Conflucians Say at 10PM EST on PUMA United Radio (PURrrr)
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Rights in the Authorized (King James) Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Published by permission of the Crown's patentee, Cambridge University Press.
Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.


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~~June 29, 2018~~
Beep Beep, Yeah!
~Paul McCartney On Corden's 'Carpool Karaoke' Is TV At Its Best~
I'm a huge Beatles fan!
I love James Corden's Carpool Karaoke Series.
Put them together and it's an instant hit … at least in my mind and 21,677,891 view as of today.
It's a bit long but for Beatles fans it's not long enough!
Let's take a trip down "Penny Lane".
Horty Rex©
James Corden has set a very high standard with his Carpool Karaoke TV pieces. Only a million or two viewers watch him on CBS' The Late Late Show when it's broadcast, but YouTube and other social media sites extend Corden's reach phenomenally.
A new one showcasing Sir Paul McCartney stands above all others.
In only a few days, it's been viewed on YouTube more than 14 million+ times – and with very good reason. Not only does it have all the happiness and goofiness you expect Corden to deliver but this McCartney karaoke is also unexpectedly tender, touching and meaningful.
"As it appears in … full read/full credit"
~~Paul McCartney Carpool Karaoke~~
~~Published on Jun 21, 2018~~
James Corden heads to Liverpool for a special day with Paul McCartney spent exploring the city of Paul's youth, visiting his childhood home where he wrote music with John Lennon, performing songs in a local pub and of course driving around singing a few of Paul's biggest hits.
Pre-order Paul McCartney's new album Egypt Station and download his two new songs "Come On To Me" and "I Don't Know" here: https://paulmccartney.lnk.to/EgyptSta…
~The Late Late Show with James Corden~
#CarpoolKaraoke #JamesCorden #TelevisionHost #CordenCarpoolKaraoke #LaughterBestMedicine #BritishComedian #TheLateLateShow #CBSTelevision #SirPaulMcCartney #BritishLegend #TheBeatles #BiggestHits #EgyptStation
#WeAlllAreOne #ItIsWhatItIs #DrRex #HortyRex #hrexachwordpress


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The FEEDBACK Film Festival's first Screenplay Festival event of 2018 features a reading of a Fan Fiction feature screenplay (Black Widow, Marvel Universe) and 7 1st scene readings from various genres and festivals.
If there was a theme to this evening, it would be ROMANCE with SUSPENSE.
CAST LIST:Kiran Friesen, Alicia Ryan, Carly Tisdall, Carina Cojeen, Christopher Huron, Peter Nelson, David Occhipinti
FAN FICTION Feature Screenplay: BLACK WIDOW: FUGITIVE, by Brooke Elowe
Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime, Fantasy
After the events of Captain America: Civil War, Natasha Romanoff is on the run. Branded a fugitive for violating the Sokovia Accords, Natasha tries to keep her head down and lay low, but there's no rest for the world's greatest spy…
Narrator: Carina Cojeen
Natasha: Kiran Friesen
Ava: Alicia Ryan
Ivan: David Occhipinti
Tony Stark: Christopher Huron
Nick Fury: Peter Nelson
Tori Raven:
View original post 567 more words


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I was always told that the journey was more enjoyable than the destination, that that was the way with life. When I embarked on this journey, I had no destination in mind. I was sitting at home in the middle of the week as I got the day off for Buddha Poornima. Barely two days after starting a new job. I quit the one I had even though the commute was a mere 3.5 km and chose this one 27 km away. As most people who have interacted with me through this medium would know by now, I love my job. Anyway, I had absolutely nothing to do and, as always, I was blog hopping. Then I did it. It was one of those "spur-of-the-moment" decisions. I didn't give the URL or the blog name much thought. I didn't give anything much thought that afternoon. The only thing I thought about was the background colour. It had to be green as this was going to be a vegetarian blog. Cliché!
Why am I thinking of that afternoon today? All that was a year ago. That, my dear friends, is the whole point of this post. The Singing Chef is a year old today. The last 366 days were eventful, to say the least. I shared, I explored, I laughed, I cried. And it wasn't just about food. Food, at times, seems incidental. But I'm amazed at the friends I've made across the globe. People I have never met (except one), but people that I can call, email, chat with. And all the while get the feeling that these are people I have always known.
The journey was initially slow, with a little skepticism here. Then suddenly went into the 5th gear with one Saturday seeing 17 posts on my blog. Participation in events added to the enthusiasm and then it was confirmed. I was thoroughly addicted. The month of July 2007 saw 53 posts while this year's YTD count is a mere 50. Thank heavens for work. Else, I would have run out of ideas months ago and this would have become one more of those "also ran" blogs. I got well meaning advice from some friends and with time, I have settled on between 10 and 15 posts in a month.
Events in the food blogging arena are really something else. From sending my very first entry to WBB, I have come a very long way and I'm actually guest hosting it next month. I have been a regular with several events: WBB, RCI, JFI, AFAM, TST, MBP, A-Z and I try to participate in as many as I can. At one point, I'd fret over trying to make something to fit in. Now, I'm wiser. I've even reached a point where I have loads of dishes in drafts and I just match them to events. But at the end of the day, if I can't participate, I know that it is not the end of the world. I know that my fellow bloggers won't be mad at me. I know I won't be shunned by the blogging community.
The love I've received won't be forgotten in a hurry. The acceptance, the appreciation, the adulation is what I'm thrilled to get. The love and the friendship is what I'm grateful to have. The gifts I've received will be cherished forever. It has been a great year, and it couldn't have been even a tenth as great had it not been for all of you. I cook more, share more, and learn more with each passing day. Thank you all.
Here's a simple, healthy cake to celebrate this big milestone.
1 cup Flour
¾ cup Wheat Flour
2 tsp Baking Powder
¼ tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Salt
¾ cup Jaggery, grated
2/3 cup Toasted Walnuts, chopped
3-4 Bananas (overripe), peeled
1/3 cup Oil
2 Eggs
Oil and flour for lining and dusting
Heat the oven to 350F. Grease and dust a loaf tin.
Sift the dry ingredients together.
Combine the bananas, eggs, oil and jaggery in a bowl. Using an electric mixer, blend all these to a rough paste. Pour this mixture into the dry ingredients and add the toasted walnuts. Mix well and pour into the prepared cake tin.
Bake for 35-40 minutes (or until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean). Cool on a rack for a few minutes.
Cut into slices and share with all your blogging friends. (Also send it to Not Quite Nigella's Banana Bread Bake-off.) My lactose intolerant friends can have a big slice of this lactose free cake.
Happy Birthday Singing Chef. I am, both, proud of and grateful for, what you have come to mean to me.


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Microsoft has announced a new Windows 8.1 version for OEMs to preinstall. "Windows 8.1 with Bing," as it is known, appears to be identical in every way to regular Windows 8.1, with one exception: OEMs have to leave the system defaulting to using the Bing search engine.
Windows 8.1 already defaults to using Bing, but OEMs can change that default if they choose. In the Bing edition, they cannot.
The new version is only available to OEMs for preinstallation, and it may also be combined with Office or a one-year Office 365 subscription.
The company does not actually come out and say it, but the implication is that Windows 8.1 with Bing is cheaper than regular Windows. This will give OEMs a low-cost Windows option for devices that aren't eligible for a zero-cost Windows license—namely, those with screens larger than 9 inches. The Bing edition is the latest effort to cut Windows' pricing and enable correspondingly lower hardware prices.


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XML Schema Training in Elizabeth
Enroll in or hire us to teach our XML Schema class in Elizabeth, New Jersey by calling us @303.377.6176. Like all HSG classes, XML Schema may be offered either onsite or via instructor led virtual training. Consider looking at our public training schedule to see if it is scheduled: Public Training Classes
Provided there are enough attendees, XML Schema may be taught at one of our local training facilities.
We offer private customized training for groups of 3 or more attendees.
Course Description
| This course gives the student who knows the fundamentals of XML a
detailed introduction to the XML Schema standard for defining document
type information. The first module introduces the new XML Schema
recommendation. Students review the shortcomings of the DTD for
expressing type information, and learn how to use XML Schema to create
strict document models. Schema data types and structures are studied,
allowing precise grammar and validation rules to be defined for document
content. A second module offers intermediate-to-advanced instruction in
effective use of the new XML Schema recommendation. Students build
skills in use of keys and key references to associate elements based on
key fields; cover complex-type extension; use of multiple namespaces and
schema; and finally a chapter in best-practices in schema design.
Course Length: 2 Days
Course Tuition: $790 (US)
|A basic knowledge of XML
Course Outline
Module 1. Introduction to XML Schema
Chapter 1. Getting Started with XML Schema
Chapter 2. Simple Types
Chapter 3. Complex Types
Module 2. Advanced XML Schema
Chapter 1. Keys and Key References
Chapter 2. Reusing Schema Types
Chapter 3. Namespaces and Schema
Chapter 4. Using Schema in XML Applications
Appendix A. Learning Resources
Course Directory [training on all levels]
Technical Training Courses
Software engineer/architect, System Admin ... Welcome!
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Project Managers, Business Analysts, Paralegals ... Welcome!
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Gain insight and ideas from students with different perspectives and experiences.
- Linux Troubleshooting
31 July, 2023 - 4 August, 2023
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19 June, 2023 - 23 June, 2023
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7 August, 2023 - 9 August, 2023
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17 July, 2023 - 21 July, 2023
- See our complete public course listing


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Power Functions 4×4 8081
May 18, 2012 9 Comments
For most LEGO enthusists, when they purchased the set 8081, they quickly modified the set with a Power Functions drivetrain. It makes sense. LEGO models are a little more exciting when they are motorized. But I guess I went a little backwards. I wanted to do the fun stuff first, and make the most complicated and compact drivetrain I could make. I posted the instructions here, and they can also be viewed on Rebrickable.com.
But the comments kept coming from people who wanted to see my model motorized. So I thought it might be a fun addition. I added a two PF M motors, a 8878 Battary Box, and an IR receiver. I tried to keep the modifications simple, so I could easily add the motors to the MOD, and take the system out if I wanted to. The drive motor was placed on a simple mount that connected to the frame. The power was fed thought a 8z gear to a 24z gear which then connected directly to the V8 driveshaft. The driveline was unchanged from the V8 down. The steering motor was mounted laterally in front of the rear seats. A 20z double bevel gear drove a 16z gear, then a worm gear moved the final 8z gear which was mounted on the existing HOG steering axle. I removed the passanger seat which is where I placed the battary box, and created a simple mount for the IR receiver. The added weight required a new shock absorber, so I added that as well.
The model worked alright. The drivetrain did well to handle the new power, and I could easily control the Crusier. The steering motor was a little too powerful for the upside down facing steering rack. It skipped a little under load, which was a problem over rougher terrain. The drive motor was a little taxed, so a PF XL would have done a little better. I guess I could add that, but I am ready to move on to my next model. Stay tuned.
The full gallery may be found here.


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PARIS — Karl Lagerfeld is back in a video game — this time, in the guise of a nimble Tokidoki cartoon, taunting players to try and remove his sunglasses with the click of a mouse.
The online game went live Wednesday, giving consumers a chance to win free Lagerfeld sunglasses or limited-edition Tokidoki figurines.
It's a monthlong digital initiative in partnership with Optic 2000, Lagerfeld's exclusive eyewear distributor in France, which sells about 100,000 of his signature optical eyeglasses and sunglasses a year.
The 1,200-unit chain boasts a 13 percent share of the optical retail market in France, and said Karl Lagerfeld eyewear, produced under license by Marchon Eyewear Inc., sells an above-average ratio of sunglasses versus optical frames: 52 percent, versus a norm for designer frames of around 45 percent.
RELATED VIDEO: Click Here for a Teaser of the Game >>
Cue the video game, whose conceit is that the fashion designer is never seen without his dark glasses — and good luck plucking them off his face, achieved by clicking on a fast-moving target.
Lagerfeld's video character evades grasp with lightning-fast ninja moves, and discouraging words galore — delivered in his winking style, and his unmistakable voice.
Move too slowly and he'll tap his foot impatiently, or whip out a camera and snap photos — all the while spewing admonishments.
"You really need glasses," goes one.
"Ah, you finally woke up," goes another.
The final insult comes if you fail at the game entirely. "Karl has no more time for you," he huffs, tongue-in-cheek.
Only French residents can claim prizes, but anyone with a computer or smartphone can try their luck at jeveuxleslunettesdekarl.com.
Developed by the agency Buzzman, the site also showcases Lagerfeld's latest eyewear collections, which can be purchased on the e-store of Optic 2000, launched in 2012.
Lagerfeld, who is Chanel's couturier and the designer of ready-to-wear and fur at Fendi, appeared in the game Grand Theft Audio in 2008.


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SAP is set to offer customers the option of running their applications on top of a cloud-based version of its HANA in-memory database technology.
The SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud service, which was announced Tuesday, will be offered by SAP through its own data centers. Eventually, hosting partners will also be able to run the service, according to the announcement.
[ Get the no-nonsense explanations and advice you need to take real advantage of cloud computing in InfoWorld editors' 21-page Cloud Computing Deep Dive PDF special report. | Stay up on the cloud with InfoWorld's Cloud Computing Report newsletter. ]
While HANA was initially aimed at analytic workloads, it has also been ported to transactional applications such as SAP's Business Suite ERP (enterprise resource planning) software.
With the service, SAP is tearing down the assumption "that on the cloud you can only have simple applications," said SAP executive board member and technology chief Vishal Sikka in an interview prior to the announcement. Such a notion is "nonsense," he added.
HANA Enterprise Cloud's capabilities "take care of a lot of the really important but more mundane tasks" such as provisioning hardware and disaster recovery, he said. Customers can also scale up resources as needed.
The HANA instances will be run on bare metal for top performance, and SAP is "doing a lot of work" building out utilities and administrative tooling for its cloud, Sikka said.
To this end, during a press conference Tuesday, SAP demonstrated an application called Cloud Frame Monitor, which is used to quickly provision HANA instances, add and remove nodes, and perform other tasks through a graphical interface that also displayed a 3-D rendering of the actual server rack inside SAP's data center.
SAP has stitched together servers in "cell configurations," each containing hundreds of terabytes of RAM, with high-speed, low-latency networking built in. Customers will get dedicated storage, networking and compute power, not virtual machines.
In order to use the service, customers would first need to obtain licenses for HANA, as well as applications such as the Business Suite and Business Warehouse, according to the announcement.
They would then consult with SAP services staffers, who would determine which of their applications would benefit the most from the HANA cloud deployment option.
SAP services would then assist in migrating the workloads to the HANA cloud, whereupon customers would pay a monthly subscription for the managed cloud services, with the cost tied to "the size, scale of data and applications," according to the announcement.
Customers who are interested can get started right away, according to an SAP spokeswoman.
Sugar producer Florida Crystals is the first pilot customer to go live on the HANA Enterprise Cloud service, according to a prepared statement from company CIO Don Whittington. The company completed "the app migration and cloud on-boarding" for its SAP ERP and Business Warehouse software in two months, Whittington said.
About 60 customers in total are working with SAP on HANA Enterprise Cloud projects now, Sikka said during the press conference.
The cloud deployment option will help propel HANA sales on a "hockey stick"-shaped growth curve, SAP co-founder and chairman Hasso Plattner said during the conference.
One reason for that is the fact that its rapid-provisioning capabilities eliminate the weeks-long wait for dedicated HANA appliances used in on-premises deployments, he said. Now, "the physical starting point of a project collapses from weeks to hours."
SAP had already offered a limited version of HANA on Amazon Web Services that is intended more for development and testing purposes.
It has also launched a cloud-based, HANA-powered platform aimed at application developers and is courting startup companies, encouraging them to build their applications with HANA.
Eventually, all of SAP's SaaS (software as a service) applications will run on the HANA Enterprise Cloud, Sikka said during the press conference.
Forrester Research analyst Stefan Ried gave SAP's announcement a mixed review.
"Since HANA [became] available, I talked to many service providers and CIOs who wanted to operate HANA in a shared way for many customers, tenants or business divisions," Ried wrote in a blog post on Tuesday. "Unfortunately HANA was until today, basically bound to a physical hardware. Virtualization concepts or shared resource pools of memory did not really work." With HANA Enterprise Cloud, "SAP seems to address this with an advanced management layer on top of the existing HANA software stack," he added.
But SAP's "bring your own license" model for the HANA cloud service is problematic, in Ried's view. "While this is great for customers that have already a HANA license and [would] like to re-locate it into the cloud, it is useless for customers that might have largely fluctuating data volumes or user numbers and might specifically use a cloud because of its elastic business model."
SAP is expected to discuss the HANA Enterprise Cloud announcement further at the Sapphire conference in Orlando next week.
Chris Kanaracus covers enterprise software and general technology breaking news for The IDG News Service. Chris' email address is email@example.com


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Image Source: Doctor Macro
Synopsis: After having himself legally declared a widower so that he can marry the uptight Bianca (Gail Patrick), the last person Nick Arden (Cary Grant) expects to turn up on his honeymoon is his first wife Ellen (Irene Dunne), who was lost at sea seven years ago and presumed dead. Turns out, she was just stranded on a deserted island with hunky Steven Burkett (Randolph Scott). Realizing that he still loves Ellen and wanting to keep her out of the brawny arms of Steven, Nick attempts to have his second marriage annulled. He just has to break the news to Bianca first — only Nick can't quite get up the nerve to do it.
I've already said my piece (albeit very ambiguously and diplomatically) about the relationship between Cary Grant and Randolph Scott. Some of you probably wish that that was all I had to say on the matter, but unfortunately for you, it's not. In fact, the Cary/Randy dynamic is one of my favorite topics in the whole wide world to harp on endlessly. Although it may seem like an obvious choice, I can no longer resist my unrelenting urge to analyze the 1940 Leo McCarey-produced, Garson Kanin-directed screwball comedy My Favorite Wife. It was one of the first classic films I saw and has been a favorite ever since. And although the queerness in it is so obvious even the most oblivious homophobe could pick up on it, my gosh, it's so delicious I just can't resist. There's one scene in particular that really pushes the envelope insofar as "coded" depictions of homosexuality go in classic film, and seems to do so simply for the fun of riling people up.


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Brisbane, Australia, Is The World's Most Expensive City For Business Travelers
International business travel is often a necessary part of remaining globally competitive, but paying for transportation, lodging, dining, and entertainment can be expensive for companies.
Concur, a provider of travel and expense management solutions for businesses, recently released their "Expense IQ Report," which looks at the habits of business travelers.
To determine how businesses are spending money on travel, Concur processed $50 billion in expense reports last year.
Among other factors, it ranked the most expensive international cities for business travelers, and Brisbane, Australia, ranked as the most expensive city for business travelers, with an average spending cost of $547.53 per person. Lodging in Brisbane alone costs an average of $305 per night.
Other Australian cities, includingSydney (#3), Perth (#4), and Melbourne (#7), also made the top 10 list.
London, which took the #5 spot with an average cost of $516, also ranked as the #1 most visited international city by business travelers, proving that cost is no deterrent for business travel.
The list only looked at international cities, but had it included U.S. Cities, New York would have ranked ninth on the list, with an average spending cost of $476.
Here are the 10 most expensive international cities for business travelers:
See Also:
- The US Airports With The Cheapest Average Airfares
- Hawaii Is Giving Homeless People A One-Way Ticket Off The Islands
- Newark, New Jersey, Is The Least Friendly City In The World
SEE ALSO: Starbucks Is The Most Popular Restaurant For Business Travelers


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About me
I've been playing with computers since I was a kid and I love them! I began working in many internet providers and since then my experience in Linux/Unix environments has consolidated.
Now I could define myself as a Senior Linux/Unix Systems Engineer with high experience in Linux and Internet environments capable to handle almost any given situation. I generally use Open Source software as much as possible, but this does not prevent me to use proprietary one if it fits better my requirements.
I was born in Barcelona and although I've lived in Dublin, Tokyo and Berlin I'm currently back to my home city. I believe living in such different countries has taught me to have an open mind and to always see things in perspective.
I love traveling and I always try to do it as much as possible. When I do, I like to travel light, try to blend in the local culture and taste as many local food as possible. I also prefer simple, familiar and cozy accommodation over luxurious ones.
- JapanDict
- Online Japanese dictionary
- JapanDict Blog
- Blog about the Japanese language and culture
- MSX vi
- A vi text editor clone for the MSX 8-bit home computer
- MSXHub
- MSX application to download and install software from the internet
- Learn Kanji
- Learn a new Japanese word every day
- Un Mundo Interminable
- Travel Blog
- Visited countries
- All the places in the world I've been to
- Puppet projects
- Puppet projects
- Other projects
- Other projects I'm working on


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The McGavock Confederate Cemetery is the largest privately held Confederate cemetery in the United States. It is located in Franklin, Tennessee. The nearly 1,500 Confederate soldiers buried there were casualties during the Battle of Franklin that took place November 30, 1864. 780 of the soldiers' identities are known today, leaving 558 as unknown but not forgotten.
Rest well boys. Your work is done.
This first version is cemetery footage set to Going Home by Mary Fahl (lyrics).
This second one is footage of the cemetery set to Shenandoah by Van Morrison.
Please leave a comment (scroll down to version you like more and why. Thanks.
Learn more about McGavock Confederate Cemetery.
I live just a couple miles from the cemetery. I find myself out there 2-3 times a week usually. I love going out after dinner and watching the sun set.
McGavock Confederate Cemetery is a very peaceful place for me. I know the carnage and many of the horrific stories of how these young men got here, but still, there is a peace about the cemetery, with Carnton in full view, that has always yielded a sense of peace and calmness for me. I even enjoy staying past sunset and walking around in the dark evening hours.
I am working on a guide to the cemetery for non-Civil War buffs that will be finished very soon. I'll keep you posted. One of my favorite things is to be walking around the cemetery as I'm studying or photographing and inevitably strangers will walk up to me to ask what I'm doing. I almost always provide them with a free 20 minute tour of McGavock.
Please comment on your experience of the cemetery on this page after you've visted.


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By C. Michael Forsyth
Nazis are scary and evil. Zombies are scary and evil. Nazi zombies are twice as scary and evil, right? Not necessarily, as the movie "Dead Snow" demonstrates.
The Norwegian zombie flick is about a group of young medical students who take a fun holiday break in a mountain cabin – unaware that the snow-covered peaks are infested with the reanimated corpses of German troops who froze to death there during World War II. It isn't long before the murderous Nazi zombies blitzkrieg the campers, who must fight for their lives.
The movie isn't particularly frightening. Turns out that Nazis don't become any worse by virtue of being walking corpses – they've already maxed out. And zombies aren't any more evil because they're Nazis. Regardless of their politics, zombies pretty much all do the same thing: Kill, disembowel and eat people.
The filmmakers had an opportunity to come up with a neat mythology explaining the German soldiers' return from the dead. We know the Nazis were devotees of the occult. Or perhaps a Gypsy cast a curse on the mass-murdering troops. But no explanation is offered.
Story logic is thrown out the window: The cabin has been in the family of one of the women for decades, yet she has no clue there's anything dangerous about the area. In fact, she elects to get to the cabin by cross-country skiing instead of joining the rest of the gang in cars. The campers are warned about the Nazi menace by a creepy old geezer who stops by the cabin – yet he camps out in the middle of snow at night, only to become zombie fodder. The Nazis are drawn to their missing gold (an interesting, if not entirely original angle). Yet the attacks begin before the campers discover the gold. The zombie colonel (yes, the goose-stepping undead stormtroopers are still just following orders) commands hundreds of his men to rise from their snowy graves at once. But inexplicably, he waits till the end of the flick to do this, after dozens of the zombies have been picked off one by one.
The most original thing about the film is the setting, that forbidding snow-enshrouded wilderness. The landscape allows for set pieces I've never seen in a horror movie before. That scene when the undead horde suddenly rises from the snow on the orders of their mottled leader is especially effective. And you have to give the movie makers credit for braving the 15-degree weather, dangerous crevasses and foot-deep snow of the Scandinavian mountains to bring us the film.
The director Tommy Wirkola said in an interview with Cinema Junkie that he was imitating the style of Sam Raimi, creator of the slapstick-filled "Evil Dead" movies. The movie, he explained, was basically a chance to show Nazi zombies being killed in as many gory, over-the-top and humorous ways as possible.
"We tried to do Sam Raimi but in a new way and we just wanted a really fun, fun film. That's it," he explained. "We really didn't bother too much about the rules."
Sure, okay. I grew up on "Hogan's Heroes". I know how hilarious those bumbling Nazis can be.
Certainly there are some funny moments: After one of the campers is bitten on the arm, he hacks it offf with a chainsaw (a tribute to Bruce Campbell in "The Evil Dead"). As he stands there grinning triumphantly, a zombie emerges from the snow and bites his "wedding tackle." He and his companion trade dismayed "Oh, oh, what now?" looks.
The difference is "The Evil Dead" trilogy truly worked as both comedy and horror. The stories unfolded logically and you truly rooted for Bruce Campbell's character Ash to survive. In "Dead Snow" the supernatural story simply doesn't come together and you're not particularly invested in the characters.
So, while there is some gory fun here, I'm afraid I can only give "Dead Snow" a two out of five swastika rating.
You can check out Hour of the Beast at Amazon.com, or save $4 by by clicking HERE. The eBook is a measly $5!


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To place an order with Campus Prints, please select the appropriate form below. If necessary, acquire the appropriate signatures and fax your order form to Campus Prints at (707) 664-4119. If you have any questions about this process, please contact our office.
File Submission
If you have a file to submit that is too large to attach to an email, please use the file submission form below. You will need to contact us at (707) 664-2360 for the login username and password prior to submission.


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Tell Me A Story: Novelty
by Luann Udell
This post is by Luann Udell, regular contributing author for FineArtViews. Luann also writes a column "Craft Matters") for The Crafts Report magazine (a monthly business resource for the crafts professional) where she explores the funnier side of her life in craft. She's a double-juried member of the prestigious League of New Hampshire Craftsmen (fiber & art jewelry). Her work has appeared in books, magazines and newspapers across the country and she is a published writer. She's blogged since 2002 about the business side–and the spiritual inside–of art. She says, "I share my experiences so you won't have to make ALL the same mistakes I did…." You should submit an article and share your views as a guest author by clicking here.
Remember, to ordinary people, We are the people who ran away to join the circus.
Use the magic.
We humans love the odd and the curious.
The Guinness Book of Records. The story in your local newspaper about the calf born with two heads or the gardener who grew a monster-sized squash. The Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs TV program with Mike Rowe, who volunteers to try out the nation's dirtiest, most disgusting work. And P.T. Barnum's famous (or infamous) sideshow attractions. The proverbial "man bites dog" (vs. the boring and predictable "dog bites man") stories.
What's at the root of all these?
Although many of you have been inspired by this series of articles on using news values in your marketing, I know some are unconvinced of their value, and grumbling on the sidelines.
I know if some have protested the value of using sex and romance as a story hook, the idea of using novelty in our self-promotion (press releases, artist statement, advertising, etc.) will make them grind their teeth. I can hear it now….
"I'm a serious artist! I don't want to even be considered in the same (news) ballpark as giant squash and weirdo publicity stunts!"
You—and I—are proud of our business skills, our hard-won credentials, the prestigious exhibits our work has appeared in—and rightly so. We've worked hard to get to where we are today, and we want to be taken seriously as artists.
We aren't some 'novelty act' scrounging for a sound bite on the radio or conniving for a mention in the 'weird news' section of the newspaper.
Maybe. And…maybe not.
Consider this: In other people's eyes, our very existence is the novelty.
I've sat through many, many seminars conducted by nationally-known speaker Bruce Baker, who talks about displaying and selling art and fine craft. Bruce is a compelling and entertaining speaker who's spoken to tens of thousands of artists over the years, sharing his insights and observations on marketing. He has a knack for turning a phrase, and one of my favorites is this one:
"Above all, you as artists and craftspeople must remember: To the ordinary public, you are the people who ran away to join the circus!"
He means that our customers, the general public, and yes, sometimes our mothers, think of us as odd and highly unusual people. We didn't grow up to be insurance salesmen or doctors or shop clerks or teachers. (Or, if those are our 'day jobs', they don't completely define us.)
We are wild and crazy artists.
Oh, yes, we may be successful at what we do, and we may be as disciplined as a brain surgeon when it comes to refining our skills; we may be as focused as a CPA about our bottom line; we may be as dedicated as a teacher and as creative as…well, an artist.
But we did something most people only dream about—we 'ran away' from the ordinary life, and did something wonderful.
We work for ourselves, not a corporation or a boss. We set our own hours, create our own practice, follow our own professional goals.
Every day, we create something astonishing out of simple, common materials: A little paint, a few pencils, a glop of clay, a piece of wood.
We make something that looks so real, you want to reach into the canvas and stroke it. We create something that wasn't there before, perhaps not even imagined before. Our work is found throughout human history, from the earliest dawn of prehistory to the newest 3D movie magic in the theater.
Sometimes the meaning of our work is crystal clear, at times so mysterious others can only guess at the story. When our work is good, it can transport people to another time, another place, another attitude, a deeper understanding and appreciation of their world.
It's like we're magicians. It's like we're…circus people! Off in our own world, traveling from show to show, creating marvels and miracles, and leaving our mark in people's homes, in public places, in museums.
We ARE the novelty.
Put some of that magic, that awe, that suspension of belief into your writing. Use the special!
Now, of course, there are more ordinary uses of novelty. (A strange sentence, yes?) Perhaps, even among artists, you are different.
You may grind your own paints or use egg tempura in your murals.
You may specialize in painting airplane nose cone art, or balloon animal art, or other esoteric subject matter.
Perhaps, like Andy Goldsworthy, you've pioneered or popularized an unusual or ephemeral art form.
Or you're the sidewalk artist who incorporates striking optical illusions in your chalk paintings.
Maybe you were an early adapter of the ATC (artist trading card) phenomenon, or the Painting a Day movement. What caught people's attention was the novelty of the idea, the discipline of daily creation, the accessibility of small works and the (initially) low prices of such work. And, of course, the new idea—the novelty—of being able to view and trade or purchase such works on EBay.
Scratch the normal surface of what it is you do, and how you do it, and why you do it, and see if novelty is a story hook worth your consideration.
And even if it isn't, understand that you yourself are also a novelty.
And I mean that in the nicest possible way.


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Acknowledging the critical role of digital media in the classroom, Adobe has launched the Adobe Creative Cloud Student and Teacher Edition and the Adobe Creative Suite 6 Student and Teacher Edition, both targeted to educational institutions, teachers, and students worldwide.
This release, plus supporting educational resources, are designed to help K-12 and higher education institutions enhance teaching, learning, and career preparation using Adobe's creative products. The education initiative coincides with the company's announcement of Creative Suite 6 and the Creative Cloud subscription service, which Adobe views as the ticket to enhanced creative workflow and software.
While there were always academic versions of Creative Suite products, this is the first time Adobe is also delivering cloud connectivity, and it is now casting that net into the academic community for all of its core creative offerings. While CS6 and Creative Cloud were announced today, they will not be available immediately. Both will ship within the next 30 days, according to Adobe.
Similar in concept to Adobe offering Creative Cloud as a creative hub for professionals, it also views Creative Cloud as a hub for students and educators. The company envisions students and teachers exploring, sharing, and delivering creative content with any number and combination of Creative Suite 6 desktop tools, as well as its new tools for HTML 5 such as Adobe Muse and Adobe Edge Preview. And just like their professional counterparts, students would also use the Adobe Touch apps to create mobile workflows on the iPad and Android devices.
More than 100 education institutions worldwide participated in the beta program for CS6 and Creative Cloud, including Lake City High School, The Academy of Art, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Carnegie Mellon University, Adobe said.
Student learning and career planning
With the new CS6 set of applications paired with Creative Cloud services, Adobe sees the academic community accelerating expertise in content creation.
For example, students could sharpen their skills in photography, video, animation, and 3D with the new updates to Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Audition. With Photoshop CS6 Extended, for example, students can experiment with the program's new 3D and video editing tools for media captured with multiple devices.
Adobe's new Creative Cloud Connection desktop software enables syncing, sharing, and storing of files from Adobe Touch apps for download and use with CS6 desktop products. Thus, teachers and students can work with a file in Photoshop Touch on an iPad and then use Creative Cloud Connection to sync and share that file on the desktop for further work in Photoshop CS6 or Dreamweaver.
Students can use InDesign to create multimedia-based portfolios, websites, and applications. InDesign can also help streamline the creation of multiple layouts from the same content for interactive campus publications for iPad, Kindle Fire, and Android devices, for example. Dreamweaver lets students to create professional looking school or personal websites.
Teaching aids
Adobe also sees the new CS6 as a way for teachers and students to jointly visualize, comprehend, and communicate information in creative ways across print, Web, video, and mobile devices.
For example, the programs can be used for digital content creation from storytelling for history and languages; gaming and animations for math; or data visualization in science to create engaging learning experiences. Interactive presentations can be used explore the boundaries of creativity and critical thinking.
The new cloud-based services also serve to expand the delivery of educational content via multi-screen publishing across multiple platforms and devices using HTML 5 and up-to-date standards for Web, mobile, eBooks, and tablet content delivery.
Adobe also sees its new suite as a way to improve classroom productivity and efficiency as a result of CS6's simplified workflows, speed, and performance enhancements, and a new, more intuitive user interface across creative products.
Technology in education
Adobe is releasing three updated year-long, project-based curriculums—aligned with the International Society for Technology in Education—for graphic design and print production, Web design and development, and video production. These curricula are available via the Adobe Education Exchange, along with additional resources from the education community.
With the release of CS6, Adobe and CertiPort are offering new, updated curricula and certification. Teachers and students can get certified for both entry-level skills as an Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) and professional-level skills as an Adobe Certified Expert (ACE). More than 300,000 students worldwide have been certified through the Adobe Certified Associate examination, according to Adobe.
Pricing and availability
Adobe Creative Suite 6 and Creative Cloud will be available to use within 30 days. The Student and Teacher Edition of Adobe Creative Cloud is available for $30 per month. Volume licensing for Creative Cloud is available via the Adobe Transactional Licensing Program. More information on Adobe licensing is available on Adobe's website.
Adobe is also offering suite and individual application discounts for the education market for the vast majority of its Creative Suite collection. The Master Collection, Design and Web Premium, Design Standard, and Production Premium are priced at $999, $599, $449, and $599 respectively.
Point products also come at a discount for the academic market with InCopy at $89, Fireworks at $99, Audition at $149, Dreamweaver, InDesign and Illustrator at $199, Flash Pro at $249, and Premiere Pro and After Effects at $349.
Adobe is initiating a new Adobe K-12 Enterprise Agreement for school districts in the United States and Canada. More product information is available on Adobe's website. More detailed information about educational upgrade policies and pricing and the full portfolio of suites is also available on Adobe's website. More information on Adobe education products and licensing is also located on Adobe's Website.
Adobe Photoshop CS6 Extended
Read our full Adobe Photoshop CS6 Extended review
Adobe Premiere Pro CS6
Read our full Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 review
Adobe Dreamweaver CS6
Read our full Adobe Dreamweaver CS6 review
Adobe InDesign CS6
Read our full Adobe InDesign CS6 review
Adobe Illustrator CS6
Read our full Adobe Illustrator CS6 review


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2010 Baylor Young Alumna of the Year
Katie Kilpatrick, BA '08
Awarded annually to a graduate age 40 or under who has demonstrated remarkable achievement in the previous year.
About Katie Kilpatrick
While a student at Baylor, Katie determined her life would be committed to doing something with eternal significance. Graduating in 2008 she wasted little time to put that plan into action. She and her husband, Ben, moved to Haiti to teach the children there. Shortly after arriving in Port Au Prince, an earthquake of historic proportions shook the island nation to its core and thrust Katie into the servant-leadership role of a lifetime. She helped relief workers, ministered to families, and taught the children that she had quickly grown to love. Katie's commitment and willingness to follow God's calling is truly an inspiration to us all.


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This article is more than 1 year old
Oracle pays off SEC to settle Indian channel bribery claims
Offers $2m for two years of dodgy dealings
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has agreed to settle an outstanding action over inducements paid by Oracle India to secure government contracts.
The SEC filing notes that between 2005 and 2007 Oracle India siphoned off around $2.2m from eight different contracts with the Indian government that were worth $6.7m in revenues. This money was held off the corporate books for "market development purposes" and paid off via a series of front companies.
In one documented scam from May 2006 Oracle India negotiated a a $3.9m deal with India's Ministry of Information Technology and Communications. Only $2.1m made its way into Oracle's accounts, with the reseller keeping $151,000 and putting the remaining $1.7m into a hidden slush fund.
Two months later the money was paid out in amounts ranging from $110,000 to $396,000 to invoices from companies, none of which are on Oracle's approved vendor list. Many were found to be simple storefront organizations set up simply to process and forward the funds.
In November 2007, Oracle India's senior channel sales manager resigned after an inquiry into local Indian tax irregularities. In the ensuing investigation, four other employees were found to have broken the rules regarding the slush fund payments. They were fired from the company and Oracle says it has tightened up its rules on compliance.
"Oracle has agreed to settle the SEC's charges without admitting or denying the allegations," the SEC said in a statement. "The settlement takes into account Oracle's voluntary disclosure of the conduct in India and its cooperation with the SEC's investigation, as well as remedial measures taken by the company, including firing the employees involved in the misconduct."
This isn't the first time Oracle's been in trouble for this kind of behavior, albeit sometimes not directly. The company agreed to pay $46m last year to settle bribery issues incurred by Sun before the Ellison takeover. ®


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Andrea Mitchell Lauds 'Living Legacy' of Anita Hill, Knocks Clarence Thomas
According to MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell, Clarence Thomas' accuser, Anita Hill, is a "living legacy." The cable anchor on Wednesday fawned over the woman who, 20 years ago, charged the now-Supreme Court justice with sexual harassment. At no point did she offer a tough question or challenge the honesty of Hill.
Instead, Mitchell treated the Brandeis professor as a larger than life figure, wondering, "How is it to live with this, this history? You are now part of history. You have been for 20 years."
Mitchell reminisced about her own role in covering the 1991 confirmation hearings, remembering, "I was a correspondent sitting right behind you. It was three days of hell. It must have been excruciating for you to do through that, excruciating for everyone involved, on both sides."
Back on the October 15, 1991 Today, Mitchell groused, "...The Republicans did a great job of hammering [Hill]. It's basically what happened in the '88 campaign. The Republicans know how to fight dirty."
On Wednesday, Mitchell had zero skepticism for Hill, touting her talking points: "Now, you took a lie-detector test, a polygraph exam, privately administered from a former FBI official and that was not paid any attention to. There were other corroborating witnesses who were not permitted to testify."
Of course, what the host didn't point out is that the Democrats controlled the Senate in 1991. Mitchell might have speculated as to why then-Senator Joe Biden and others wouldn't permit these women to testify.
Also, an October 14, 1991 USA Today poll found that 47 percent of Americans believed Thomas. Only 24 percent found Hill to be telling the truth.
Mitchell added, "How did you feel at the time about the way the hearings treated you?"
Mitchell closed by cheering, "Anita Hill, a living legacy. And thank you. Thank you for your book and thank you for being here."
Hill has written a book about the experience and also appeared on Tuesday's Good Morning America. There, co-host Robin Roberts speculated about the "legacy" of the "quiet" law professor.
A transcript of the October 12 segment, which aired at 1:30pm EDT, follows:
[Clips of '91 hearings.]
ANDREA MITCHELL: Anita Hill is a professor and senior adviser to the provost at the Heller School for Social Policy an Management at Brandeis University. And she's the author of the new book Reimagining Equality: Stories of Gender, Race and Finding Home. Very interesting subtitle. I want to get to that in a moment. Let's talk about what we just saw, because it brings me back. I was a correspondent sitting right behind you. It was three days of hell. It must have been excruciating for you to do through that, excruciating for everyone involved, on both sides. And unresolved in the end.
ANITA HILL: Well, I think there was a resolution in the end. Clarence Thomas was confirmed to the Supreme Court so there was a resolution of sorts but that did not resolve the issue of sexual harassment. In fact, what happened was that the pundits all said "Look what happened to Anita Hill? Women will never come forward having that in their mind of that experience and they were absolutely wrong. So in that case, in that situation or in that instance, no, there was not a resolution and even if people thought that women were not going to come forward they were proven absolutely wrong by women who came forward in record numbers after the hearing.
ANDREA MITCHELL: Now, you took a lie-detector test, a polygraph exam, privately administered from a former FBI official and that was not paid any attention to. There were other corroborating witnesses who were not permitted to testify. How did you feel at the time about the way the hearings treated you?
HILL: I believed they were trying to portray the situation as a he said-she said. Two individuals just having a disagreement when, in fact, there was, as you say, much evidence about Thomas' behavior. Three other women. One woman got out of the hospital in order to testify. They were not called to testify. There were other individuals who knew Thomas who were able to talk about his propensities to discuss pornography and those individuals were not called to testify. But in addition, it would have been helpful to have had an expert testify about sexual harassment to talk about sexual harassment, what it is to help the Senate and the public to really understand what the problem was. That was not available either.
MITCHELL: In your book, you talk about the genesis of the book and you write that you "began to feel more at home in America than I had since 1991 when the public rejected the testimony of my life experience." Talk about that about that and how this evolved into Reimagining Equality: Stories of Gender, Race and Finding Home."
HILL: I look at "Reimagining Equality," really, as a compilation of if things that I have learned through the experience of the hearing but my training before as a lawyer and as a law professor in researcher as well as the many years since then. And I look at it through the lens of the current crisis we have the foreclosure crisis and the millions of people who are insecure about whether or not they are going to be able to find a home in America.
MITCHELL: And do you think the economic crisis has exacerbated workplace tensions or are we at a stage where the relationships between men and women, or other sexual harassment issues, are really dealt with more seriously in the workplace?
HILL: Both of those things are true. Yes. The issue of sexual harassment is dealt with more seriously. I have heard from a number of woman who say after that testimony things changed in my work place overnight. But I also know the problem does still exist. So, in fact, yes, they do still exist and we have to be vigilant about enforcing the laws and women coming forward. But the other question, part of your question, part of your question, was about the economy. We know that the economy has had a disparate impact on women in particular women who are in- not high paying jobs.
MITCHELL: More vulnerable.
HILL: More vulnerable women, single women in particular, with families, heads of households. The housing industry or housing collapse really has hit them hard, just as they were getting a foothold into real estate and property ownership.
MITCHELL: I want to ask you about Clarence Thomas, as we have seen over 20 years now, the fact that he acknowledged not disclosing his wife's earnings, some $200,000. He said he didn't understand the form or something. What do you think about the ethics issue? Some argued that the Supreme Court polices itself and he has been tone deaf to conflicts of interest involving his wife's activism. I don't know how you feel about that.
HILL: I don't want to comment on that, because that is not an issue I have looked at. But for me, my testimony at the hearing in 1991 was really about the integrity of the individual, Clarence Thomas as a nominee for the Supreme Court. My testimony, as you'll recall, I testified about behavior that took place while thomas was chair of the EEOC.
MITCHELL: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
HILL: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He was, as the chair, charged with enforcing enforcing sexual harassment laws and I believe what I said during those hearings really reflected on his integrity and his respect for the law and its application to everyone including himself.
MITCHELL: How is it to live with this, this history? You are now part of history. You have been for 20 years. Do you get past that, just personally?
HILL: On a day-to-day basis, I don't experience it sort of in visible ways as I have in the last few days. I turned on the TV the other day and there I was on History TV, a picture of me 35-year-old me 20 years ago. So that doesn't happen every day. But you know what I do get regularly that reminds me of how important that moment was for so many people what I get every day, not every day, probably once a week or routinely, are letters and e-mails from individuals saying, specifically, what the hearings meant to them. And that reminds me not only that it was important then, but that it is important now and that we must keep pushing forward on the issues until we really feel that we have eliminated sexual harassment in the workplace.
MITCHELL: Anita Hill, a living legacy. And thank you. Thank you for your book and thank you for being here.
HILL: Thank you.
— Scott Whitlock is the senior news analyst for the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.