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Good luck to her. She is just doing what she needs to do in that business to get ahead and have success. Outfit is nice except the shooz don't go with that.
Andy Allo Hits The Grammy Parties!!!
Andy Allo has been hitting the Grammy circuit and in style! The "Superconductor" has been doing the rounds while in Los Angeles.
Not only has she been hitting up the parties promoting her album "Superconductor" she took time out yesterday to do an amazing shoot with Mathieu Bitton. You can check out an exclusive photo from the shoot HERE.
We are looking forward to Andy getting more press in the year 2013 and hitting us with some "Yellow Gold" soon.-DocFB
Diagnosis: When Stars Collide....
What' Kcool said...
Party & " ROCK ON" Andy! Hmmm the colors she's wearing looks like Prince's color palette. What do u all think ? Will Andy be escorting Prince the evening of the Grammy's? THOUGHTS anyone? * IF you follow today's music... You would know that Andy Allo is a Prince "protege" for lack of a better word. Hail to her "Super-Conductress" ! Peace & Love to All Hugz!
Eye wonder did Prince design her threads? It looks good on her. @ Modernaire. I'm pretty sure no one knows who U r. That was uncalled 4 dude..
Andy hits the parties and .... no one knows who she is...!
Good Andy!!!!!! Gon' Girl!!!!!


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First, I want to thank everyone who commented on the "Lost Viking Ship of the Desert" story yesterday. I promise to research it further and post an update next week! In the meantime, these delightful veggies were at our local farmers' market last weekend. I bought enough to share with my aunt and uncle, who are very fond of local produce. I'll make another trip up to the market next Saturday and load up for next week! Yum, yum! For other partipants, please visit: http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/
My adventures in and near Deep Canyon, located near Palm Desert, CA and the pinyon mountains near it.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Farmers' Market~Ruby Tuesday 081010
Posted by trav4adventures at 5:13 AM
Labels: farmers' market ruby tuesday
3 comments:
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subset: commoncrawl


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Hardware Stores in Los Angeles
Los Angeles hardware stores have everything you need to build or remodel a home, from lumber and paint to appliances and potted plants. Apart from the individual pieces of hardware sold, most hardware stores now have their own design departments that help customers design a kitchen, bathroom, or the layout of their entire house. Many also rent trucks and power tools for those who require them for a short period of time and don't wish to purchase one of their own.
Neighborhood: West Los Angeles
2845 South Robertson Boulevard Los Angeles CA 90034
(877) 733-5236
Neighborhood: Pico Rivera
9028 Danbridge Street Pico Rivera CA 90660
(562) 364-8644
Neighborhood: North Hollywood
7211 Whitsett Ave North Hollywood CA 91605
(818) 850-5500
Neighborhood: Mid-City
4550 W Pico Blvd Unit D-101 Los Angeles CA 90019
(323) 617-9570
Neighborhood: Temple City
5328 village circle Dr #967 Temple City CA 91780
(626) 263-9283
Neighborhood: La Crescenta
3075 Foothill Blvd #805 La Crescenta CA 91214
(818) 661-1167
Neighborhood: Altadena
2235 Lake ave # 911, Altadena CA 91001
(626) 263-9206
Neighborhood: San Gabriel
301 west valley Boulevard #916 San Gabriel CA 91776
(626) 263-9291
Don't see the business you're looking for? Add it here
Los Angeles Hotel Deals
Viceroy Hotel
Santa Monica, CA
Avg per night$279.96$350.00Book Now
The Belamar Hotel
Manhattan Beach, CA
Avg per night$135.15$159.00Book Now
Hardware Stores by Los Angeles Neighborhoods
Top Stories
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If you didn't visit the blog yesterday, apparently you were the only one, because just ten minutes before the trade deadline the traffic had gotten so intense (almost 16,000 visits in the 2pm hour!) it actually broke one of the Bloguin servers and was down for the next six hours.
So I obviously missed a lot of what happened post deadline, so here's a recap.
After the trade deadline came and went without Rich Nash being traded to the Rangers or anyone else for that matter, Columbus GM Scott Howson decided throw his star player under the bus by telling Blue Jacket Nation their favorite player asked out of Columbus (via Puck Daddy)…
"With respect to Rick Nash, he approached us and asked us to consider trading him. We agreed to accommodate his request as long as we could get a deal that would provide us with cornerstone pieces to help us to compete for a Stanley Cup championship in the coming years. It did not happen by 3 o'clock today. This is too important to our franchise and our fans to do a deal that is not in our best interests."
So what was this package that Howson didn't think was enough for Nash?
Larry Brooks at the New York Post reported the Rangers final offer was Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon, J.T. Miller, Christian Thomas and a first-round pick.
…not sure if I'm more shocked Howson turned the deal down or that Sather offered that much.
…guess Howson is banking on playoff failure from the Rangers or Sharks to raise Nash's price this off-season. He better hope that happens, because there was plenty in that package from the Rangers to start a serious rebuild.
While some Rangers fans weren't happy the Blueshirts didn't get Nash, two prospects were pretty happy they weren't part of a package for the Columbus sniper…
"@dylan_mcilrath: @cpt27 we survived! #LGR" yes! Nothing would have compared to NYR. #roomie
— Christian Thomas (@cpt27) February 27, 2012
So if the Rangers didn't get Nash, who did they get? Sheldon Souray? Teemu Selanne? Ryan Smyth? Nope, John Scott.
Other than wanting to boost the Rangers average size (Scott is 6′, 8″), not really sure where he fits in. Guess you can always use some size on defense.
For more on Scott click here.
So why didn't the Rangers make a significant move at the deadline? I'll let Sather tell you..


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Induction cooktop
Getting ready to finally do the remodel. Had been leaning toward high end gas cooktop like Wolf. Friend is urging that I consider induction instead . . . more efficient / easier to control / less polluting / less heat generating. Totally aware of the need for iron based cookware - but already use LeCreuset and cast iron . . . Would love to hear from those who use induction.
maggilyn, what is it that you want to hear?
Induction is the best way to heat food outside of an oven. Your friend is right. Your friend omitted to mention (or you failed to relay) another advantage: spills and overflows from a pot can be wiped up immediately from the merely warm cooktop surface and do not burn onto the surface.
There are major differences among induction cooktops; the maximum wattage of the largest burner is one of the least significant; the depth of the cooktop below the cooking surface is one of the most important. All induction cooktops have cooling fans, and where those fans vent into the kitchen may affect your architecture: most vent into the cabinet below the cooktop, but some vent above the cooktop surface.
If possible, locate your oven somewhere other than directly below the induction cooktop to reduce the amount of heat migrating upward into the electronics.
A friend whose name may not be mentioned here recently installed the Wolf induction cooktop in his kitchen and bought a set of Demeyere Atlantis cookware. The combination apparently rocks. Water boils in seconds.
Me, I'm a Luddite. Thog want fire. But the notion of being able to cook a pot of pasta in the summertime without having to crank up the a/c certainly has its appeal.
re: alanbarnes
"Thog want fire."
LOL. Me too. Every time I hear about induction ranges, I feel faintly skeptical, even though everything I've heard sounds great. I like me a nice fire in the kitchen.
Plus, during a thunderstorm last night, we lost power. With our gas stove, we were still able to make a hot dinner (just lit it with matches, instead of with the internal lighter). But I don't suppose people buy their ranges for that one night every ten years when the power is out...
re: Indirect Heat
Well, I've got an outdoor propane stove, a side burner on the gas grill, and a couple of white gas camping stoves, so going without hot food isn't the issue. Despite my initial reaction, the more I learn about induction, the interesteder I get.
There was a thread about the advantages of induction here last week. You might want to check it out if you haven't read it yet.
I have the big, five burner, frameless Wolf Induction cooktop. I decided on it because I wanted it flush to my work surfaces, ie, the countertop. I didn't want buttons or gizmos sticking up. This ruled out most units.
I got more than I realized. Yes, you can read all about induction all over the place. It is great and is cool and virtually noiseless. Boiling water or frying makes much more noise. I don't notice the sounds much at all.
What I got was counterspace. I can lay anything, anywhere on the cooktop, except for over the controls. I end up plating food on it. When you turn it off it's like having extra countertop! Lay stuff anywhere!
I recommend the Wolf. It works beautifully and simply. It has a 3K and 4K (watt) power burners. I think this is one of the two most powerful out there and I do not care for the Viking knobs or frame; you may.
Some say "it's not gas". That's so true. The advantage of lifting, swirling, etc. while you still have heat underneath is the only advantage I see so far. The Wolf will stay on for 30 seconds while you play with your pan, remove food or add things. While you are doing that it is not giving off heat and when you put the pan back down the heat is immediate, just like gas.
I can get a rolling boil of two cups of (room temp), water in 80 seconds if I use max power. Much faster than our powerful microwave oven! A nice option is I can then move the water to a smaller, lower powered burner and it is heating again instantly.
If you can lay out the bucks I don't think anyone would be disappointed. Some add one or two gas burners off to the side. I doubt that I will do that just to satisfy the wok. They also have metal plates that you can sit your non-magnetic cookware on, if you must. That would create a hot object that you would possibly have to deal with.
re: All Dente
All Dente: "I recommend the Wolf."
At nearly $4,000, the Wolf is beyond the reach of much of the hoi polloi, but, aside from the price, it requires a 50 amp electrical feed, doesn't it? Not many homes have 50 amp electrical service.
re: Politeness
The 5 element Wolf is certainly a nice cooktop but pretty pricey. If you like the brand and can afford it, go ahead but Fagor, Diva are two others that can be considered.
And if they're doing a kitchen reno anyway, the 50 Amp line can be put in.
re: wattacetti
watacetti: "If you like the brand and can afford it, go ahead but Fagor, Diva are two others that can be considered."
Or an LG 30845 for much less than one-half the price of the 5 element Wolf.
re: Politeness
True, though you're looking at something other than that LG if 5 elements are required.
I have a Miele 4 element and love it. I have not been able to find any faults during my first 4 months of use. There's a learning curve definitely. I knew it heats up much faster than anything else, but I didn't expect it to be that fast!
Other than boiling water, I don't need to use power boost at all.
Do I miss using gas? Not at all.
- Happy induction user with 3-ply All Clad stainless steel, deBuyer carbon steel, Staub, and Lodge.
I've been cooking with induction for almost 2 years and I will never go back to gas. Water for coffee boils in about a minute. My pot handles never get hot due to waste heat from burning gas. My kitchen doesn't get overheated in the summer. On my cooktop's lowest setting, I can melt chocolate without a double boiler. I can lay my utensils right on the cooktop next to the pot I'm using them in. I can even keep the ingredients I'm going to add right next to the pot.
Mine is a Kenmore Elite 4-burner, model #42800, they can be had for around $1500 and are rebadged Electrolux units.
I have been researching as well for my in process kitchen remodel. I was "absolutely gas" until I began reading more on Gardenweb. It seems that most people that switch from gas do not regret it.
The Induction Site is good for info on brands. Local dealer highly recommended Miele over Wolf and Diva. He said Diva is having problems right now in North America. Consumer Reports, if you believe them, likes Kenmore (they always like Kenmore) and Electrolux. Gaggenau gets good reviews too but is quite expensive.
Can anyone answer the griddle issue - can you put a griddle over two induction burners to do pancakes?
re: gratindauphinois
Not specifically pancakes... I've put a roaster over two burners and make turkey gravy... does that count? And the LG model that Politeness mentioned before has the burners setup specifically for rectangular griddles.
re: cutipie721
cutipie 721: "And the LG model that Politeness mentioned before has the burners setup specifically for rectangular griddles."
In fact, the LG comes with, as part of the package, a bright and very shiny stainless steel griddle that exactly fits the left side two burners. There also is a fifth, bridge, element, also induction, that comes into operation when the two left burners are used together. The stainless griddle, however, is made of the world's softest stainless steel, which acquires tiny scratches very easily. The scratches do not impair function, but it takes only a couple of uses of the griddle for the original shiny polished surface to acquire a burnished look. While we are waffle, not pancake, people, we love doing bacon on the griddle, because we can lay the strips out straight, without having to bend them to fit a frypan's interior.
gratindauphinois: "Consumer Reports, if you believe them, likes Kenmore (they always like Kenmore) and Electrolux."
One of the problems with Consumers Union is tunnel vision focus, in this instance looking only at the cooktop's electronic function. While electronic function is very important, we dismissed the Electrolux (IIRC, the Kenmore is a rebadged Electrolux) as a candidate when we discovered that the electronics of the cooktop extend 4-3/8" below the counter surface, and that Electrolux installation instructions state that there should be an additional 12" of unobstructed space in the cabinet below that. (The cooling fan of the Electolus exhausts into the cabinet below the cooktop.) That's a LOT of wasted space in a location within the kitchen where we want to use all of the space as efficiently as possible, and -- in our opinion -- is directly related to function -- our function as cooks.
The winning argument for the LG for us was that it takes up less than 2" of space below the counter and exhausts above the counter (at the rear edge of the decorative trim). We have a drawer full of spatulas and spoons and pot tops immediately below the cooktop, and we use the contents of that drawer all the time while cooking.
re: Politeness
Thanks politeness. I will look into the LG.
re: Politeness
My Kenmore #42800 (which is a rebadged Electrolux) exhausts above the counter as well, not below it, so you don't need to leave empty space in the cabinet below when you install it. I don't know which cooktop CR was looking at. I have a deep drawer under mine where I keep most of my pots and pans, stored on their edge.
re: cutipie721
Do you have the LG or something else?
re: maggielyn
If I might muddy the water a little, I just bought a Samsung range with induction cooktop and convection oven. Here's the link:
I'm replacing a range with a range so it makes it so much easier for me. In an adjacent space I'm also putting in a large MW/convection oven so I have double oven capability.
I was like you regarding gas - never thought I'd change but after reading and listening, induction offered no drawbacks for me except for the rare (not even once a year) power outage where I can cook on my grill. Not a deal breaker.
Whoa! Hold on! Induction is definitely the best option when it comes to electricity, but there are some quirks that no one ever seems to discuss. I replaced an old 30" conventional element top with a 36" Bosch induction top I found at Appliance Smart for $1100. (They had a hardcore Viking 36"er there for $2500 just to let you know the kind of deals you can find, I can't find a scratch on my Bosch). Having lived in many apartments, etc., over the years I have come across every type of Western cooking surface imaginable and hence didn't really give a second thought to installing induction. The little annoyances I've found only pertain, however, to my Bosh, but I've seen how they could translate to nearly every other induction top out there depending on your circumstances.
1. Induction tops can be noisy depending on the pan, everyone knows this, it's no big deal for me..
2. I wired mine in myself, copper cable is expensive, 40 foot of the required gauge was over $100, I can only imagine how much an electrician would charge...
3. My Bosch controls are very poorly designed, and from what I've seen, most induction controls are really poorly designed. They rely on capacitive touch controls similar to an iPhone. But naturally these panels don't have the processing horsepower of an iPhone so they tend to be sluggish and unresponsive. One of induction's advantages is it's heat responsiveness, when it takes 10 seconds to turn the heat down from high to medium low the advantage isn't really there anymore. After using the Bosch for a couple of months, I find myself longing for old regular knobs.
Finally, and I never saw this one coming, is that I spend an inordinate amount of time making sure my pans are, in fact, on the elements! Induction tops currently give no signal as to where the element is apart from the paint used on the glass top. My pans are pretty tight fitting so I'm constantly bending and craning to make sure that the pan is within the white circles! Perhaps I am just an idiot in this regard, but I find it very cumbersome! Sorry for the long winded reply, but for something that you will use daily for years these things can become major annoyances. I like my Bosch, but if I ever need to replace it, I think I might just run a gas line and go that route...
P.S. In my experience, the whole time to boil water thing seems to increase exponentially with the amount of water to be boiled. I can get my asparagus steamer running in seconds, but 4Qts in a stock pot may be marginal over other methods at best...
re: aldgate west
Wow... that's a whole lot of problem that you're having. I don't mention them because I never experienced them myself.
Regarding the noise: have you talked to anyone at Bosch? Are you sure your unit isn't defective? Yes, mine makes some noise, but not "noisy".
Regarding putting the pot on the right spot - how is it different from making sure your pan is sitting properly on a regular stove? I don't quite get this part.
My controls are pretty sensitive...
re: cutipie721
The noise is pan specific. Annoyingly enough, my All-Clad pans whistle and hum, but my girlfriend's Racheal Ray set is totally silent.
As far as element indication, again I realize I may be an idiot here, but a conventional coil element is raised above the cooking surface, hence you can clearly "feel" the pan sitting on top of it. A standard ceramic radiant cook top produces light under the element, hence you can easily see if the pan is not sitting on top of it correctly. And gas flame will nip up the side of an askew pan...Again, centering a pan is normally a reactive thing that no one ever cognitively thinks about while cooking. It's just an odd little detail I've had to get used to...
You do have to be fussy about your pots and pans. Obviously you need magnetic material, but also be careful about irregularities on the bottom like logos etc. because they will scratch the surface. I've done this with a cast iron skillet. Someone mentioned issues with the controls, which do take some getting used to, but the precision and consistency of my Kenmore Elite is remarkable. You can actually do something else while cooking on this thing without having to worry about burning or having to adjust the temp.
I highly recommend an induction stove top or range.
re: Fahzz
Fahzz: "You do have to be fussy about your pots and pans. Obviously you need magnetic material, but also be careful about irregularities on the bottom like logos etc. because they will scratch the surface. I've done this with a cast iron skillet."
I have to say I really do not understand this. First, it is an issue with any "glass" (all "glass" cooktops are Schott Ceran) surface; it has nothing to do with the energy source.
Second, we have had an induction cooktop for over ten years. We use it with cast iron pots and pans daily. Some of our Japanese Iwachu Nambu cast iron pots are far from flat on the bottom: they sit on discreet "feet" (nubs). http://www.chow.com/photos/318806
We have never had any scratches on our cooktop. None. In ten+ years. We do take reasonable care not to slide pots across the cooktop; we lift rather than slide; but we are not anally retentive about it. Schott Ceran is very, very hard. With just reasonable precautions, scratching should simply not be an issue
re: Politeness
You're part of the reason I bought an induction range. Thanks. I have a question about scratches. Are they just cosmetic? I will certainly be careful but a scratch wouldn't compromise the cookability, would it?
re: c oliver
c_oliver:: "scratches. Are they just cosmetic?"
I guess it would depend on the depth pf the scratch. The kind of shallow scuffing that might come from pots and pans being slid across the surface should not affect the structural integrity of the ceramic sheet, but I can imagine that a deep gouge could. As the Ceran is completely transparent to the magnetic waves, scratches would have zero effect on cooking; in fact, in theory, if you could figure out a way to suspend the pot above the inverter with no Ceran sheet at all, the heat still would be induced in the pot.
re: Politeness
If anyone is really worried about scratching just throw a rag or towel underneath your pan--Induction only tho!!!
re: aldgate west
Isn't that funny? Why did I think of that?
re: aldgate west
Kitchen parchment works too and causes less anxiety of fire (for me). I've also read of people using newspaper, which has the added benefit of making cleanup a snap.
re: Buckethead
I like that even better. I just did some beer-battered fish last night. Once my new range is in I'll definitely be doing that. Way cool.


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This database contains the names of almost 400 young men who attended the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (now Hiram College) between 1850 and 1865, and served in the Civil War. Prior to this project, we only knew the names of about 140.
C. H. (Charles) Bill
Home: Charlestown, Ohio
Years at Western Reserve Eclectic Institute: 1859-1861
Unit: B Company, 2nd Regiment, of Ohio.
Function: Cavalry
Rank: Mustered in: 2nd Lieutenant
Rank: Mustered out Captain
Other Notes:
Source of Information: Ancestry / Portage County Democrat


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Walk down the stairs into the Elm, which opened over the weekend in Williamsburg's King & Grove Hotel, and you won't feel as though you're descending into a basement. Rather, you'll enter a large, high-ceilinged space as bright as if you were in a fish bowl. Sun streams in through sky lights and dee ... More >>
On the front lines of the new Cold War
[See More Beer UP: Cape Ann Brewing Fisherman's Brew | Cisco Brewers Whale's Tale Pale Ale] Have a beer you want me to try? Sound off in the comments! Troegs Troegenator from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Style: Doppelbock Serving style: Bottle, poured into glass Location: Two Door Tavern in William ... More >>
Mayor Mike Bloomberg, surrounded by around 30 officials -- electeds, reps from his administration, university partners, and more -- announced yesterday that New York City would be partnering with New York University to create an applied sciences center in downtown Brooklyn. It was such an importan ... More >>
The puffy tacos on Mexican Mondays at Goat Town An old friend of mine, Julie Farias, recently took over as chef at Goat Town, an East Village bistro. Julie was born and raised in San Antonio, and with her assistance, I made a trip there a couple of years ago. The Central Texas city is one of the c ... More >>
$3 for this beauty, $4 with chorizo (click on image to savor) It's like a little bit of Austin, Texas, detached itself and floated up here. At Whirlybird, the seating area out front consists of two benches and several tree stumps. Inside a laid-back vibe pervades, the counter-guy is eager, and all ... More >>
(Part One is here.) So here we are on the once-unthinkable occasion of Dylan turning 70. When Dylan was starting out, old white men--I mean older than Pete and Woody--were mostly on the wrong side of the Civil Rights movement. Older black men, if they were survivors like Howlin' Wolf or S ... More >>
via Carissa GoodNCrazyThe Flip video camera entered the world in the most tech start-up fashion: in a small office above a department store in San Francisco. It outsold the big boys -- Nikon, Sony and Kodak -- and was eventually purchased by Cisco in 2009 for $590 million. Flip was the poster ... More >>
Migas at Cisco's is a "don't miss" Austin dish if ever there were one, served with your choice of tortillas or piping hot homemade biscuits. (Ask for both.) Last year I made some Austin restaurant recommendations for friends traveling to SXSW, the yearly music and interactive extravaganza i ... More >>
Welcome to 100 Dishes to Eat Now, Fork in the Road's handy list of some of our favorite dishes -- old standbys and new finds alike -- compiled daily. Today's pick: Migas ($8) at General Greene General Greene 229 DeKalb Avenue Ft. Greene, Brooklyn 718-222-1510
Another kid has been killed in a local accident. The perpetrator was not, as has become the custom, an allegedly drunk cop or an allegedly drunk mom. It was a 15-year old driver. The unnamed teen motorist crashed an SUV through a fence on the Bruckner Expressway in The Bronx and flipped it ... More >>
Al Jazeera reporting on the war in Gaza Will somebody please call this a war? You won't find the word "war" in this morning's lede story in the New York Times on Israel's bombardment and invasion of Gaza. Is the Times afraid of offending New York's Jews, especially the right-wing Jewish establ ... More >>
Peter Abraham of the LoHud Yankees Blog took in today's Hal Steinbrenner press conference where, after some mumbling about Andy Pettite and free agency, the underboss turned the show over to agents of Cisco, which is outfitting the new stadium with "1,100 flat screen, HD monitors," which in addition ... More >>
Following up with the site that promised alternative bodies and female-empowering cash
Backing up your system should be fast, cheap, and totally under control
Annual Pre-Pazz & Jop Handicappers' CG: Whose faves are whose? Tune in next week . . .
Critics Want to Hold Back NYC Ed Site
New York Filmmakers Take to the Web


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80 Gays
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hot very cool.. . I love drinking cum .. I'm a real ITALIAN bitch
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Now that's what I am talking about? Awesome! More please!
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Official Indy DVD Thread
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Wheel Man for SCOTT STEINER
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: With my dark passenger.
Posts: 3,209
Re: Official Indy DVD Thread
Originally Posted by
Chikara Chikarasaurus Rex: How to Hatch a Dinosaur Review:
Ophidian vs. UltraMantis Black: ***
Loser of the Fall Leaves Town: The Throwbacks vs. Colt Cabana and Mixed Martial Archie:***
That was awesome.
Ladder Match for Gran Akuma's Contract with Greg Iron as Special Guest Referee: Icarus vs. Gran Akuma: ***1/2
3 on 2 Handicap Match: The Batiri vs. Saturyne and Sara Del Rey: ***
What The Batiri wrote about Sara on Twitter? lol
Lucha de Apuesta Hair vs. Mask Match: Tim Donst vs. Hallowicked: ***
Wasn't a big fan of this match, and i didn't liked the finish too.
GEKIDO vs. Eddie Kingston, Jigsaw, Green Ant, Soldier Ant, and Mike Quackenbush: ***1/4
What is wrong the camera? it's really annoying.
Campeonatos de Parejas Match: F.I.S.T.(c) vs. The Young Bucks: ****1/4
Really awesome match, almost went into overkill but thanks god it didn't. The camera-man was awful (or it's just the DVD edit? if yes so why they did it?). Awesome Main Event, now i'm intrested about where this storyline goes to.
NOAH - Roderick Strong and Luke Gallows vs. TMDK: *3/4
Just out of curiosity how could you give two matches the same rating and say one was awesome and you didn't like the other and hate the finish.
Does this mean you don't like the other matches you gave three stars or do you like them? Granted Archie is in one of the matches I'd believe it's awesome.
Really have to catch with with a lot of Chikara , this show is where I'm going to start. Always get hyped around King Of The Trios and get up to date. Anyone else excited for Team ROH? Bennett and The Bucks could make an awesome douchy trio.
Also just seeing the Gallows match at the end of the list reminded me I have a lot of his work to get up to date with. Heard a lot of his work getting pimped lately , where would be a good start?
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Grammy Award-Winning New York Voices Coming To Campus
February 11, 2014 by Will Harrison
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On February 21, Angelle Hall will be alive with jazz vocals and swinging big band sounds when New York Voices appears with the UL Jazz Ensemble. As the Grammy Award-winning vocal quartet wraps up their 25th Anniversary Tour, they will join forces with UL's 20-piece big band. NYV has traveled the globe, amazing audiences the world over with their impeccable voices, close harmonies, and stunning arrangements. Appearances have included jazz festivals, the Boston Pops, and even the Count Basie Band.
With harmonies reminiscent of the Hi Lo's, The Four Freshmen, and Manhattan Transfer, the group and their diverse repertoire remain unique. UL band members are hard at work on nine great tunes, ranging from Miles Davis & Louis Prima to Stevie Wonder & Paul Simon. During their 3-day visit, NYV will also conduct clinics & master classes on campus. Sponsors are the UL Concert Series, Friends of the Humanities, SGA Lyceum & Faculty Development Grants, College of the Arts, UL Band & Choral Depts.
The concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, February 21 at Angelle Auditorium. All UL students & faculty are free, with general admission tickets at $10 or $5 for students/seniors.
Architecture Graduate Student's entry in 2013 TerraCycle "Box that Rocks" national competition was chosen as the "Most Creative Entry"
November 25, 2013 by Will Harrison
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Karla Contreras' entry was revealed during the Green Apple Day of Service, a national effort to "transform schools into healthy, safe, cost-efficient and productive learning places where students . . . can be inspired to dream of brighter future," and marked the beginning of a long term recycling effort and partnership between the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Child Development Center and the UL Office of Sustainability.
The TerraCycle Brigade Program collects and reuses non-recyclable post-consumer waste.
Contreras' win earned the CDC 50,000 points, points that can be used to acquire TerraCycle upcycled products or can be redeemed for $500.00.
"This collection bin's design intent is the concept of a weeble wobble that will wobble but not fall down. The outer shell has been created from upcycled two ply cardboard and the inner shell has been lined with wrappers of the different brigades being collected such as juice pouches, diaper bags, and cheese wrappers."
Fletcher Hall Renovations To Begin In December
October 30, 2013 by Will Harrison
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Work will begin soon to renovate Joel L. Fletcher Hall. The three-story building on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus houses the School of Architecture and Design and the Department of Visual Arts and the College of the Arts' Media Center.
The low bidder for the $3.8 million, state-funded project was M.D. Descant Inc.
"We expect to sign a contract as soon as possible," said Bill Crist, director of Facilities Management for the University. The renovation is expected to begin in December and be complete by the end of next year.
Ziler Architects, the firm that designed the project, received input from students, faculty and alumni.
Fletcher Hall opened in 1977. The original design called for its interior atrium to be covered in glass, but because of budget constraints, it was built with an open-air courtyard instead. Years of exposure to rain have resulted in extensive water damage.
The renovation project will correct leaks and add 20,000 square feet of educational space to the second floor.
The first-floor exterior walls will be repaired, cleaned, weatherproofed and coated to complement new metal panels that will be used on the exterior of the upper floors.
A sprinkler and fire-alarm system will also be added to the building.
Crist said classes will continue to be held in the building during the renovation. "Obviously, that's going to present some challenges, but the end result will be a much-improved facility that will serve students in the years to come," he added.
The building is named for the University's third president, Joel Lafayette Fletcher, who served from 1941 to 1966. – See more at: http://www.louisiana.edu/news-events/news/20131030/fletcher-hall-renovations-begin-december#sthash.WLjYKm14.dpuf
The Art of Architecture Exhibit On Display Until December 6th
October 21, 2013 by Will Harrison
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The Art Of Architecture exhibit is on display on the 2nd floor in the Dean's Gallery from now until December 6th. Students are encouraged to stop by and view the exhibit. The exhibit is the work of Holly & Smith Architects and features the use of art to create the architecture. The closing reception will be held December 6th from 1 to 3pm.
UNIV100: First Year Success
November 8, 2012 by Will Harrison
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UNIV100 is an university-wide first-year seminar for all incoming freshmen that is offered as a 2 credit-hour interactive experience. Several professors in the College of the Arts underwent training this summer in order to lead the freshmen through the course. Robert Willey of the School of Music and Performing Arts was one of those professors. "The excellent training that Theresa Wozencraft and her colleagues gave us over the summer was a big boost, and made me rethink how I teach the rest of my classes," said Willey.
Dr. J. Denise John from the School of Architecture and Design has received a lot of positive feedback from students. "I feel that it has helped me identify a few students who needed resource access who might not have otherwise known about them," John states. "I feel that it may help the students be more successful in the long run."
Overall, UNIV100 has been a success for both faculty and students. While the students are given the opportunity to become better acquainted with their University, the faculty are given the chance to connect early on with incoming freshmen.
"I am enjoying teaching UNIV100," says Willey. "I think the content that has been developed is very relevant for the students, and they seem to understand how it will help them succeed in college and beyond. It is a lot of information, but they can come back to the topics and gradually incorporate it over time, such as in budgeting, note taking, studying, time management, using the library, career planning, and getting along with classmates and faculty."
UNIV100 class doing their Service Learning Project
For more information on the Office of the First-Year Experience, visit ulstudentlife.com/first-year or email Theresa Wozencraft at email@example.com.
Little Libraries
November 7, 2012 by Will Harrison
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Professor Hector LaSala explains the "Little Libraries" project. Watch the video and view the pictures.
UL Symphony Orchestra's Annual Halloween Concert
October 15, 2012 by Will Harrison
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Adults and little ones alike will get into the Halloween spirit when the UL-Lafayette Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Michael Blaney presents its Annual Halloween Concert. Tuesday, October 30, at 7:30 p.m. in Angelle Hall Auditorium. Orchestra members will be wearing costumes and the audience is encouraged to show up in their favorite Halloween costumes. Musical highlights of this year's concert include: James Bond, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Danse Macabre and Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet. The orchestra will also present a world premiere performance of Eric Sharp's Renegade Convergence featuring the UL Dance Department. It's a great way to celebrate the holiday in a fun and entertaining way.
Admission is $8 for adults, FREE for 17 and younger, FREE for all UL students, faculty, and staff with I.D. All proceeds benefit the UL-Lafayette Orchestra Program. For more information call the UL School of Music at (337) 482-6012 or visit music.louisiana.edu/ to view information about all upcoming performances.
A Summer in Paris
September 5, 2012 by Will Harrison
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UL Art students took a semester abroad this Summer in Paris, France to study as well as site see the historic city. Check out our Facebook Page for more pictures from the trip.
College of the Art's Animation named Best in South!
August 27, 2012 by Will Harrison
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Animation Career Review has made a list and compiled the top 20 Best Animation Programs in the South and UL's Animation program has made the list. Congratulations to our staff for helping us make such an incredible program! Click the link below to review the article.
Bachelor of Fine Arts Senior Exhibition
April 20, 2012 by Will Harrison
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The Bachelor of Fine Arts Senior Exhibition went on display from Thursday, April 19th through Saturday, April 28th, 2012 at the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum.
Twenty-five graduating seniors participated in the exhibition, representing concentrations in Ceramics, Computer Animation, Graphic Design, Media, Metalwork and Jewelry, Painting, Photography, and Printmaking. The two-semester Senior Project course sequence is the capstone experience in the Visual Arts Department.


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Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge: Beaufort Inlet: Beaufort, NC
The Golden Age of Piracy lasted for 10 short years (1715–1725), but this period's impact changed world history. The most famous and powerful pirate of this era was Blackbeard, also known as Edward Teach/Thatch and whose flagship was the Queen Anne's Revenge (QAR). In 1718, the QAR was shipwrecked off the coast of North Carolina and lost for 268 years until Intersal Inc. discovered the wreck site in 1986.
Jarvis-Brown House/Cousin's B&B: Carteret County: Beaufort, NC
The Jarvis-Brown House/Cousin's B&B circa 1820, is located at 305 Turner Street in Beaufort, NC. Two businessmen from New Bern, NC: Moses Jarvis & Silvester Brown commissioned the building of the house in 1820.
Andrew Lee Hatsell House: Carteret County: Beaufort, NC
The Andrew Lee Hatsell House was built by James Davis circa 1827 and sits at 117 Orange Street in Beaufort, NC. The house is considered to be of the traditional Beaufort-style with two & one-half stories, an engaged two-story front porch and side-hall plan.
Old Burying Ground: Carteret County: Beaufort, NC
The Old Burying Ground in Beaufort, NC is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the state's oldest cemeteries. The Old Burying Ground has been given this distinction after the archaeological discovery of the remains of settlers who had been massacred by the Coree and Neusiok Indians in September, 1711.
Hanover House: Clemson University: Pickens County, SC
The historic Hanover House was built for French Huguenot Paul de St. Julien in Berkeley County, South Carolina during the period of 1714-1716. St. Julien's grandfather, a Huguenot immigrant from Vitre, France was granted 3,000 acres in 1688 by the Lord Proprietors. Hanover House was built on one of the three 1000 acre tracts.
The Palace Saloon: Nassau County: Fernandina Beach, FL
The Beaux Arts style building was constructed by Josiah H. Prescott, Lieutenant: Yankee Forces, in 1878 as a dry-goods store and haberdashery and was known as the Prescott Building. In 1901 Louis G. Hirth bought the Prescott Building, replaced shoes with booze and opened the Palace Saloon in 1903.


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If you're looking to replace your frying pan, you've got plenty of choices. Maybe you're thinking about getting one that's being touted by a celebrity chef.
Not so fast! Testers at Consumer Reports found some frying pans sizzle...while others just fizzle.
You can bring home the bacon-and fry it up in the pan-but will it stick?
The experts at Consumer Reports wanted to know, too!
When Consumer Reports tested frying pans, they did fry eggs to see whether they stick to non-stick pans.
Testers also perform a durability test.
A piece of steel wool makes 2-thousand passes over the pan to see how well the non-stick surface holds up.
And the pancake test measures how evenly a frying pan cooks.
Mediocre cooking evenness and unimpressive durability kept the Rachael Ray ten-inch skillet off Consumer Reports' recommended list.
Dan DiClerico of Consumer Reports says, "A lot of celebrity chefs are pushing their cookware these days. And while they seem like they should be great choices, we didn't find them to be the most impressive products."
Instead, consider the Simply Calphalon Nonstick 10-inch omelet pan. At 40 dollars, it's a Consumer Reports best buy.
This test photo shows how evenly it cooks. Plus it scored excellent in the non-stick test.
It's also tough! Even after 2-thousand passes with steel wool, you could see the scrub marks, but there was no exposed metal.
The recommended Calphalon pan may be called an omelet pan, but it's good for all kinds of cooking tasks. Another plus? The pan handle stayed cool in Consumer Reports' tests-and the pan is oven-safe up to 400 degrees.


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Category: Health & Safety ×
Subcategory: Emergency Management ×
Location: Africa ×
Location: Gambia ×
Ecology and Environment Inc. (E&E)
based in Lancaster, NEW YORK (USA)
Specialists in more than 75 scientific disciplines provide a broad range of environmental consulting services including: environmental audits, environmental impact assessments, terrestrial, aquatic and marine surveys, air quality management and others. operating from 27 U.S. offices and subsidiaries around the world. Founded in 1970, E & E has completed more than 45,000 ...
Lahmeyer International GmbH
based in Bad Vilbel, GERMANY
Our specialists develop concepts, plan and evaluate projects in the fields of energy, hydropower and water resources, transportation in nearly all countries of the world. Whether the task be the development of alternative sources of energy, the building of dams, the construction of bridges or the elimination of ecological damage - the technological feasibility is only ...
based in Kempston, UNITED KINGDOM
Casella is an ISO 9001-2000 and ISO 14001 certified company with a focus on the development and manufacture of state-of-the-art environmental and workplace monitoring instrumentation. Products include personal air sampling, real-time dust and particulate measurement, personal noise dosimetry, environmental noise measurement and real-time frequency analysis, BOUNDARY ...
Saphymo GmbH
based in Frankfurt am Main, GERMANY
Saphymo GmbH, formerly GENITRON INSTRUMENTS GmbH. For more than 30 years GENITRON has been active in selected fields of radiation measurement covering development, production and distribution of innovative instruments and technologies. Genitron is a recognized partner for solutions in radiation protection of both, public sectors and the nuclear industry worldwide. There ...
Spill Center, Inc.
based in Hudson, MASSACHUSETTS (USA)
Spill Center is an Environmental Claims/Spill Management Company specializing in helping spill generators in the transportation industry control costs and limit liability arising from accidental releases of hazmat, diesel fuel and other regulated materials. Our expertise includes: Environmental/safety regulatory compliance, Emergency spill response management, Claims ...
WSP Environment & Energy
based in London, UNITED KINGDOM
WSP Environment & Energy is one of the world`s top five global environmental consultancies. We help our clients address environmental, energy and sustainability issues. We pride ourselves on delivering strategic advice with clear actions that enables our clients to manage their risks, enhance their management systems and optimize the future sustainability and success of ...
Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants (CERC)
based in Cambridge, UNITED KINGDOM
Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants (CERC) is the leading provider of environmental modelling software and services, including the ADMS range of software for industrial and urban air quality management. Our software development team continues development of ADMS, GASTAR, FLOWSTAR and EMIT and provides custom made products. Our consulting team can help in ...
based in ILLINOIS (USA)
MSDSonline offers a suite of cost-effective, on-demand (SaaS) solutions that help businesses manage a variety of global environmental, health & safety (EH&S) regulatory compliance requirements. Leveraging the latest Web technologies, our products and services are designed to deliver enterprise-level features and functionality that are affordable and accessible to any size ...
Technical Response Planning (TRP) Corporation
based in The Woodlands, TEXAS (USA)
Since 1995, TRP professionals have worked with some of the world`s largest and most sophisticated companies. In response to their diverse needs and challenges, TRP has developed a portfolio of crisis management and emergency response solutions to help simplify the complexities of planning and response management across the enterprise. TRP develops Web-Based Emergency ...
Nedap Light Controls
based in Groenlo, NETHERLANDS
Nedap Light Controls designs and manufactures high-quality, easy-to-use, energy saving intelligent electronic ballasts, ranging from 15W to 48kW, used to control UV light for various disinfection applications.


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If you love documentaries – nay, if you love film, you won't want to miss the second year of the IDA's amazing Documentary Screening Series. Some of the best films, some of the best filmmakers, some of the best conversations (even when I'm not there!). And tickets are FREE.
This is one of the most interesting screenings series in town…and it really started out under the radar. But that's changing…some of the events are already sold out, but they'll be announcing more – so do not despair.
I am still thinking about some of the evenings I hosted last year. I am continually astounded at the power of documentaries and the passion and creativity of the people who make them. Come share an evening with them and come away entertained, informed and most importantly moved.
________________Disclosure – I am paid a small honorarium for hosting some of these screenings. ]]>
I spoke with Madeleine Brand on Press Play about why LA doesn't have a world-famous film festival…
Note, I can't vouch for most of the long list below…I've only been to a handful! But I'm committed to showing up to a couple of festivals this year that are totally out of my wheel house…any suggestions? Have I omitted any fests from this list?
Click here to view the embedded video.
Click here to view the embedded video.
As the creator of the show "Community," Dan Harmon was known as a bit of a comic genius…and a bit of a monster. So he decided to work out his issues – doing his podcast in front of live audiences across the country. The result was a little self-awareness and a beautiful new road documentary called "Harmontown."
The movie asks the question: Is Harmon an enfant terrible, or just a terrible infant? The answer is fun …and surprisingly moving.
First Take will screen "Harmontown" for KCRW members on Wednesday the 17th in Beverly Hills. Dan Harmon and director Neil Berkeley will be there – and you should be too.
Doors open for fabulous complimentary Lola Kay wine and no-host food trucks and music at 6:00. The film starts at 7:30 followed by a Q&A.
RSVP early – I expect this screening to fill up fast!
It's become a bit of a cult film since it premiered at Toronto in 2003 and then seemed, for the most part, to disappear; it screened occasionally in art houses, and you could find pieces on Youtube from time to time. People were attracted to it because of its Brigadoon-like existence, and also because it's a strange and enigmatic piece, with less than slick editing and deadpan voice over narration. It just seemed so underground and anachronistic.
People have called it a masterpiece, but to me that's a vast overstatement. Frankly, besides its slightly mysterious history, its quirky affect and the fun of being incensed by its outrageous assertions, I think the best thing about it is that it's just a lot of really cool clips from really cool movies. I actually don't know anyone who's watched all the way through. Having said that, you really should see it – there are quite a screenings coming up at the Cinefamily. Check it out!
On the occasion of it's DVD release in October (and a few screenings around town), Madeleine Brand had a fascinating chat with director Thom Andersen*.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Click here to view the embedded video.
*This is a highly – highly – edited version of their 45 minute conversation. Mr. Andersen is a very nice fellow, but as quirky as his film. He's a verrrrry slow and verrrrry deliberate talker.]]>
What is less well known is that a number of talented writers, directors and actors moved to Europe during the blacklist, where they made more than 100 films. "Rifii" ("Du rififi chez les hommes" – 1955) is perhaps the most well known amongst them.
Tonight, the UCLA Film and Television Archive kicks-off a screening series called "Hollywood Exiles in Europe" that will feature some of these amazing films.
The first in the series, "Christ in Concrete," (1950 – also known as "Give Us This Day") is regarded as the first film made by these exiles. It was directed by Edward Dmytryk, starred Sam Wanamaker and was written by Ben Barzman; all three were on the blacklist.
Dmytryk would later name names, including Ben Barzman and his widow Norma – who was also a screenwriter.
The irrepressible Norma Barzman will be on hand tonight at UCLA to introduce "Christ in Concrete." She'll be joined by Rebecca Prime who helped curate the series. She's author of "Hollywood Exiles in Europe: The Blacklist and Cold War Film Culture."
Norma and Rebecca came down to KCRW to talk about this amazing story.
* Although I recently heard the theory that one of the reasons the studios embraced the blacklist was that it allowed them to get rid of some of their older, more expensive talent. That was new to me.]]>
Contrary to what Hollywood and their bloated, CGI-laden star vehicles might want you to think, science fiction is all about story. A well-placed shadow, a sound effect, a music cue, these things can be enough to create a sense of other-worldliness that can transport you from this mundane, corporeal plane to somewhere – else. And because these movies are based on great character and story, they work whether you're a sci-fi nerd or not.
Not to say that indie sci-fi movies don't look amazing, btw – they often boast some of the most inventive design regardless of budget, and often rely on in-camera (physical, rather than digital) effects that feel real in a way CGI just doesn't.
Here are some recommendations of relatively recent and upcoming indie sci-fi movies that you should see. An asterisk indicates it was included in KCRW's First Take screening series.
Young Ones 10/17
Automata 10/10
Space Station 76 9/19
The One I Love (On VOD 8/1 and in theater 8/22)
A couple goes on a weekend away to repair their relationship and is confronted with the question: if you were a better version of yourself, would you still be you? Starring mumblecore king Mark Duplass and Mad Men's Elizabeth Moss, who actually looks a little like an alien come to think of it.
I Origins (Opened 7/18)
From the director of "Another Earth" (another indie sci-fi film), and featuring its star – the otherworldly Britt Marling. This one spins a tale about discovering scientific proof of a widely held metaphysical phenomenon. Logically and dramatically flawed, it still raises some though-provoking questions – and the occasional hair on the back of your neck.
Coherence (Now Playing)
A one-set, star-free story of a dinner party that turns into a puzzle after a mysterious meteor flies overhead. In a way, it asks some of the same questions of identity posed by the previous two films – but this is the most successful – and the creepiest - of the three.
Sleep Dealer (2008 – recently rereleased on VOD)
A future where we get all the cheap immigrant labor without all that messy immigration – "cyberbraceros" plug into a network and do the work remotely. An interesting way into the immigration problem that was timely when the movie came out a few years ago and is only more timely today.
The History of Future Folk* (2013)
One of my favorite films of last year is about aliens who come to destroy the earth, but decide to play bluegrass instead. Variety called it "close encounters of the charming kind." You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll stomp your feet, you'll believe mild-mannered banjo-playing extraterrestrials can save our planet.
Europa Report* (2013)
The story of a mission to one of Jupiter's moons in search of the origins of life. Fully-drawn characters and storytelling that's as tight as a space capsule translate into a rip-roaring ride into the unknown!
Upstream Color* (2013)
Shane Carruth's surreal sophomore effort is a masterpiece of sound, editing and mood. The story of a woman forced into an altered consciousness and obsessed by its after-effects (kinda), this is a movie that enters your pores rather than your eyes and ears. Like Donny Darko, it makes more sense every time you watch it. Also, check out his ultra-low-budget first film Primer.
Take Shelter (2011)
From IMDB: "Plagued by a series of apocalyptic visions, a young husband and father questions whether to shelter his family from a coming storm, or from himself." Not a perfect film, but worth seeing for Michael Shannon's wonderful weirdness alone.
District 9 (2009)
Maybe the least indie of these indies, this brilliant film is half rip-roaring action flick and half laser-like social commentary. This $30 million studio reject made over $200 million worldwide.
Moon* (2009)
A blue-collar astronaut begins to unravel after being left alone for too long on a lunar work station. Or is he becoming aware of things he simply can't accept? A psychological thriller of the highest order, with an overlooked tour-de-space solo performance by Sam Rockwell.
Code 46 (2003)
Michael Winterbottom is a director who likes to try things, and this was his foray into science fiction – the story of an illicit love affair in a future tightly controlled by the government.
Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)
Essentially a YA movie and only really indie in spirit. But you gotta love that Jon Favreau relies almost solely on in-camera effects to create a magical movie that feels as retro-futuristic as the game that's the springboard for the action. Watch the "making of" doc to get a whole new appreciation of this really fun film.
Donny Darko (2001)
The quintessentially indie sci-film continues to entertain new audiences and repeat viewers more than a decade later.
]]> Click here to view the embedded video.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Listen to a great interview and performance on KCRW's Press Play HERE.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Click here to view the embedded video.
"The History of Future Folk," is a movie about aliens who come to destroy the earth, but decide to play bluegrass instead. It's one of my absolutely favorite films of the last few years; it'll make you laugh, it'll make you cry, it'll make you believe mild-mannered banjo-playing extraterrestrials can save our planet.
First Take will screen this amazing movie for KCRW members at the Writer's Guild Theater this Tuesday, July 1st. But it gets even better! We're honored to be the first stop of the "Future Folk (Part of) Earth Tour." That's right – the guys from the planet Hondo will be there for an out of this world performance after the movie.
Doors open for fabulous complimentary Lola Kay wine, Goose Island craft beer and no-host food trucks and music at 6:00, the film starts at 7:30 followed by the performance and Q&A. So get there early and tell the sitter you'll be late!
Thank you to DoLA and the DoStuff Media Network
for putting together the "(Part of) Earth Tour" and making this very special evening possible!
Check them out for more awesome stuff to do in LA and around the country.
Please note - First Take is first-come, first-served and this should be a very popular event.]]>
Bring your Fringe Benefits card and see this great film for only $6 all week! Now that's revolutionary!
Check out this great review in the LA Times and even greater review in the LA Weekly.
If you know Grace Lee Boggs, you have to see "American Revolutionary."
If you don't know Grace Lee Boggs, you really have to see "American Revolutionary."
Grace Lee Boggs is an inspirational, irascible, lifelong warrior for justice – one of those rare characters who can see the world warts and all and is filled with hope for the future just the same. I met her for about a second – and she was in a wheelchair – and I'll never forget it.
The film will be screening at the Laemmle Pasadena this week beginning Friday the 20th. I'll be hosting a special screening with the filmmakers on Friday at 7:40pm. Grace Lee, who directed the film, spent years with Grace Lee Boggs and has great insight into this very special person. Awesome producer (and Sundance programmer) Caroline Libresco will add a ton to the conversation as well.
Tickets are on sale HERE. Or bring your Fringe Benefits card and buy tickets at the theater and see this great film for only $6 all week!
Warning: you'll leave the theater feeling like you're not doing enough to make the world a better place.
]]> Click here to view the embedded video.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Thought-provoking and sexy, "Venus in Fur" is a movie that puts you in a leather collar and keeps yanking your chain. Roman Polanski's electric adaptation of the award-winning play will keep you on the edge of your sexual psyche.
A woman comes to a darkened Paris theater to audition for a part as a mistress and seductress…is she another idiot actress, a genius role-player or a goddess come down to earth in disguise?
KCRW's First Take will screen "Venus in Fur" on Tuesday the 3rd at the WGA Theater in Beverly Hills.
Doors open for fabulous complimentary Lola Kay wine and no-host food trucks and music at 6:00, the film starts at 7:30. Since Roman Polanksi unfortunately won't be available for a Q&A afterwards, we'll endeavor to re-open the bar after the film to compare notes!
William Tsutsui (pictured at left in his early days) is Dean of Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences at SMU and a specialist in modern Japanese business and economic history. He also wrote "Godzilla on My Mind: Fifty Years of the King of Monsters."
A new, digital print of the original 1954 "Gojira" (sans Raymond Burr) will be playing the Cinematheque's Egyptian Theater this Saturday, May 3rd, and then around town for the following two weeks or so. A brand new "Godzilla" movie opens next weekend as well.]]>


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Cultivate a hacker mentality to improve your workplace productivityPosted: March 30, 2013 Filed under: Lifehackin' Links, Workplace Productivity Comments Off
"Progress isn't made by early risers. It's made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something." – Robert Heinlein, American science fiction writer
In the course of doing our day to day work, we have to spend lots of time doing repetitive tasks. Over time, the inefficiencies can become really obvious (not to mention annoying). Usually, we put up with it. But there are a bunch of good reasons not to. Many processes evolve organically, and you shouldn't assume that there's a rational reason for why you're doing something the way you are. Sometimes a small change will make a big difference, and you, as the person having to put up with the painful tedium, are the perfect person to think of it.
One of the best pieces of professional advice I ever got was:
"Get good at looking for ways to get 80% of the work done in 10% of the time. Not to drive company efficiency, but to preserve your own sanity."
That may sound like cultivating laziness, but it's actually the opposite. There's always going to be more to do, and that mindset that encourages you to be protective about your time, which is a really strong motivator to minimize the things that feel like a bad way to spend it.
So, learn to look for the simple and clever hacks in your day to day routines. Here are a few links to help inspire you.
Employee driven innovation
This slideshow from Prachi Gupta at LinkedIn does a great job of illustrating why a hacker mentality is important, and showing how LinkedIn nurtures the habit on a company-wide level. They have monthly "Hackdays" where everyone in the company gets to work on anything they want. They even take the best hacks and give people months to work on making them a more solid, scaleable solution.
Among many gems in the presentation is this definition of what exactly is meant by the term "hack" in this context:
"A 'hack' is a quick and dirty solution to a real world problem. It's never perfect or complete, but it's almost always clever and insightful."
A "Kaizen" Improvement at a Wine Bar – Is it "Lazy" or Smart?
This post focuses on the Japanese concept of Kaizen, or "change for the better", and explores the sometimes blurry line between "lazy" and "efficient". He makes the good point that laziness can get a bad reputation, and should be looked at as a more positive attribute. He also provides some great examples about how the person doing the day-to-day repetitive tasks is often the best person for innovating on the process.
A culture of lies and laziness
Don't get too carried away with the shortcuts, though! It's great to find novel and clever solutions to problems that save you time, but be careful you're not doing it at someone else's expense. This explores where the line is and what happens when you cross it. In short, hack, but have a conscience about it.
99 Life Hacks to make your life easier!
Finally, here are a bunch of ridiculous, and ridiculously clever life-hacks for making everyday tasks a little bit easier. How can you apply that type of thinking to the things you do every day?
Weekly Productivity Links: How what we hear affects our workPosted: March 23, 2013 Filed under: Lifehackin' Links, Workplace Productivity Comments Off
Last week, we were having a discussion about how to break out of a rut, and several people mentioned that having the right music helped them get focused and productive. So I did some research, and it turns out noises of all kinds can have a big effect on your productivity. Auditory information can enhance your state of focus, or it can completely derail it. Here are a few links exploring the connection between what's going in your ears and getting things done.
Cellphones Conversations as a Modern Irritant
Hearing only one side of the conversation is way more distracting than the whole thing, according to a recent study. Your brain has to work harder because of a natural tendency to want to fill in the blanks of the conversation. Something you may want to keep in mind if you work in an office with other people who often make phone calls.
Coffee Shop sounds can boost your productivity
Not all background noise is distracting however. Sometimes, the bustle and commotion of a public space can be better for focusing than a quiet office, especially for creative activities. I personally use coffee shops as my email-office, but apparently you can get the same benefit by simply hearing the sounds of a busy cafe. Coffitivity let's you experience the ambiance of a coffee shop from anywhere. You can even adjust the volume of the loop so you can play your own music on top of it, just like you would if you were there.
I've been trying coffitivity out while writing this post, and even though it feels a little bit silly, there's something really comforting about the coffee shop soundtrack.
Workers, Put Those Headphones On
Sometimes, it's not the music that helps boost your productivity, it's the medium you use to listen to them. Wearing headphones, even without listening to music, can help you block out distractions. Even better, they can send a signal to those around you that you're in the zone and aren't to be disturbed.
The Power of Music, Tapped in a Cubicle
Of course, you probably aren't going to wear headphones solely as a fancy do-not-disturb sign. And you shouldn't, as there are many benefits of listening to music. Melodious sounds cause a release of dopamine, giving our brains the same satisfying reward as eating a fancy treat or smelling a pleasant aroma. Research shows that listening to music while working will help you complete tasks faster, and come up with more creative solutions.
Choose Unfamiliar Work Music for Better Productivity and Focus
I'm a creature of habit. I listen to the same playlists over and over (mostly 90′s punk rock with some instrumental metal thrown in occasionally, if you're curious). Apparently that might not be the most productive strategy. Unfamiliar genres may ultimately be better for maximizing focus, according to the folks at Focus@Will. They are a service that offers streaming of productivity-optimized music, with what appears to be a pretty impressive amount of science backing them up. I'm not sure how much I agree with them, though. I think the concept sounds really interesting, but I kept finding myself distracted by the fact that I'd rather be listening to something I'm more familiar with. Old habits die hard, I guess. I do enjoy unfamiliar music within a familiar genre, however. Music discovery services like Last.fm, Pandora, and Spotify are great for that.
Follow RescueTime on Twitter or Facebook for more updates and links about staying productive in the modern workplace.
What's your productivity hack for powering through the last 10% of a project?Posted: March 15, 2013 Filed under: Workplace Productivity 13 Comments »
Everyone's had that moment…
You've been working on a project that's humming along really well, and you're nearing the point where you can see the end of it… then boom! All of a sudden everything grinds to a halt, and you run smack into a brick wall that keeps you from bringing it across the finish line. Try as you might, you can't seem get things rolling again. Distractions become more distracting, and the excuses and justifications start to form an unsatisfying pile where you're finished project should be.
It's a crappy feeling. I know because I'm in the middle of one right now. It's frustrating and doesn't make any sense, because I'm working on building something that I'm really excited about.
I'd like to pose a question to you
You seem like smart folks, and I know I'm not alone with this problem. How do you break down that wall that's blocking you from finishing up the last little bit of a project? What are your best productivity hacks or strategies for breaking out of a rut?
Please share in the comments!
Breaking down the RescueTime productivity scorePosted: March 9, 2013 Filed under: feature, Workplace Productivity Comments Off
The RescueTime productivity score is a way of looking at your time based on the productivity level you've assigned to the various activities that you've logged time for. It's a way to boil your time down to a single metric, so you can get a quick understanding of how you're spending it without having to dig into the more detailed reports.
But, it sometimes generates a bit of confusion, so I wanted to dig into it a bit and see if I could clear up some of the misconceptions.
How exactly is the productivity score calculated?
First off, it helps to know exactly what that number means. RescueTime lets you assign any activity or category a productivity level. There are five options, ranging from "very distracting" to "very productive".
If you assign a productivity level to a category, it will filter down to all activities in that category, unless you explicitly add a productivity level to an activity, in which case it will override the category productivity level.
Your overall productivity score is calculated as an average of the time spent on each productivity level. If you spent all day on activities marked as "neutral productivity", you'd have a 50% productivity score. If you spent all day on something marked as "Productive", you'd have a 75% productivity score. All day in activities marked "very productive", you'd have a score of 100%.
Misconception: "My productivity score should be as high as possible, right?"
Some facts:
- The average productivity score across the entire RescueTime user base is 67%. While obviously I haven't talked to all of them, I can tell you these aren't a bunch of slackers. They're smart people who are very thoughtful about how they spend their time.
- Around the RescueTime office, we're averaging around 79%. We think about this stuff a lot, and I think we're pretty well optimized for productivity.
Occasionally I see comments from users that suggest that they think they should be shooting for a productivity score of 100%. I can understand the sentiment, if you're really efficient and getting all my work accomplished, it seems like the number should reflect that, right? Honestly, if we were rebuilding RescueTime from scratch, we might choose a less charged label than "productivity". But the bottom line is that the productivity score doesn't tell you anything about what you actually produce. It's simply a number that can give you an interesting baseline of where your attention is, but doesn't tell 100% of the story. It's a way to understand your patterns, and not a prescription for how you should be spending your time. Moreover, there are some pretty compelling reasons why you shouldn't shoot for a super-high productivity score.
Let's look at another metric for context, shall we?
If you were tracking your Body Mass Index, you might want it to be lower, but you'd never want it to be zero! Through a lot of research, there are some accepted guidelines, but the scale itself doesn't make an implication about an absolute measure everyone should shoot for. What it does, however, is give you a number that becomes important context for your physical activity. If you're exercising more, you'll likely see your BMI drop. If you're eating a lot more, you might see it rise.
So, what's the "healthy" range of productivity?
Since how you spend your time on the computer hasn't received the same amount of scientific scrutiny as BMI, there isn't such a clear recommendation. It's really contextual. What may be the ideal mix of activities for you might not be for someone else. It's also important to remember that just because something that's classified as "distracting" doesn't mean it's not valuable. But it's a good generic measure of where your attention is focused.
Some tips for using your productivity score
Change it to suit your needs: It's important to remember that we try to make RescueTime as customizable as possible, so you can change the productivity levels to match what YOU consider to be productive or distracting.
Don't think of it as a judgement. So many factors enter into your time that it's impossible for a system to say definitively how you should be spending your time. The best we can do is give you a measure that you can use to make your own judgement. Work-life balance is different for everyone.
It will fluctuate, and that's ok. The changes mean just that, something has changed. Not necessarily good or bad. See how it changes over time and you'll have a better understanding of your natural patterns.
Downtime is good and healthy. No one should be expected to be 100% productive all the time. In fact, there's a big pile of science that says it's bad for the quality of your work, your creativity, and your well-being.
The score is a helpful metric when you're trying new things. If you're trying to optimize the way you work, the changes to your productivity score baseline can give you an objective measure of the impact of your changes. For example. I tried an experiment and turned off all notifications on my phone and computer. Just that change alone caused a 9% rise in my productivity score.
Hopefully that helps paint a clear picture of the productivity score and how we think it can be valuable. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comments!
Productivity Hack: try "location boxing" your activities to train your brain to switch gearsPosted: February 23, 2013 Filed under: Workplace Productivity 6 Comments »
For the past week, I've been taking an hour or so at the coffee shop near my office to knock out most of my email and communications. Then when I get back to the office, I stay out of email as much as possible. The experiment has made me realize that shaking up my work environment can help me stay more focused and productive. It's sort of like the concept of Timeboxing but with more of a physical twist. "Location boxing" seems appropriate.
Getting your head in the right place for a new activity is hard
There are four main types of thinking I need to do in a typical work week:
Design-thinking: Visual design and thinking about the user experience
Coding-thinking: Building new features, solving technical problems
Business-thinking: Internal communications, interviews, and helping out on some sales calls
Support-thinking: Bug fixes, and responding to questions from RescueTime users
It's next to impossible to do any of those simultaneously and be effective. You have to get into the correct mindset for each one. Design and coding require substantial periods of "maker time", while support, sales, and communications generally involve a lot of rapid-fire bouncing around from task to task.
Timeboxing is a great idea, but I've found it really hard to stick to. Maybe I'm a little too scatterbrained, but my meticulously planned out schedule can easily be derailed by things like email, which can swoop in unexpectedly and steal hours from my day. Plus it's just hard for me to flip the mental switch between, say, customer support mode and design mode.
The answer? Restrict activities to a location
Altering my physical environment seems to help me switch activities, for a couple reasons…
I can find the right place for the task at hand
I find coffee shops a little distracting when I need to really focus hard on a single task, but they're great for a series of short, repetitive tasks. I get to enjoy a latte while I churn through emails that I'd otherwise pick at throughout the day. I don't code or design very well without a second monitor, so that focuses me even further. My 13-inch laptop screen is pretty well suited for communications, and not a whole lot else.
The physical shift becomes a "switching ritual" that signals my brain that it's time to start thinking differently.
There's something about the change in surroundings that seems to make it easier to quiet down whatever gears are still spinning from the last activity and re-focus on a new task.
You can't always move to another location
It's not practical to go to a different physical location for each task. You'll probably get the most benefit if you can identify a single activity that has a high potential for derailing the rest of your day and banish that to another location from your other work. Sometimes, though, you just can't get away. Here are some other ideas for altering your environment:
- Have different desk configurations. Try moving your monitor from one side of the desk to another as you shift tasks. Maybe a totally clear, uncluttered desk works better for certain activities, while a desk full of pictures and knick-knacks works better for others. The act of switching configurations might be just enough to jog your brain into a different mode. It's sort of the "hyper-functionible workplace" version of this. For example, I have an adjustable-height desk, and I usually do my coding-thinking while standing, but designing while sitting.
- If you work from a laptop, you can almost certainly find an unused space in your office that you can switch to without being too disruptive.
- If you can't change your environment, just get out of it for a while. Go for a walk, or do anything else to signal to your brain that it's time to start acting differently.
Your turn:
Have you ever gotten any benefit from location boxing your activities? I'd love to hear how. Let me know in the comments.
Further reading:
Transitioning Projects, or searching for a state of flow.
Maker's Schedule, Manager's Schedule
Can we talk for a minute about why email sucks so much?Posted: February 16, 2013 Filed under: Lifehackin' Links, Workplace Productivity 3 Comments »
Consider the following scenario: You've been working hard all day, feeling like you're being productive, and you look up at the clock and see that it's 5pm. A strange feeling washes over you, as you realize you have no clue how it got so late, and you can't make sense of where your day went. It's just an unexplainable 8-hour blur.
That feeling sucks. It sucks so badly, in fact, that it's one of the reasons we built RescueTime, so we could understand what was actually going on with our days.
Have you ever had a day like that? If so, I'll let you in on a secret…
If you're like most people who spend their days at the computer, those days probably have a lot to do with email.
Email has become the glue that ties our workdays together. We can communicate with pretty much anyone, anywhere, anytime. Interactions that used to require scheduling a face to face meeting or phone call can be handled asynchronously. All things considered, it's pretty amazing. But, that ease of communication can create a deluge that can drag down your entire day if you're not careful.
In the average 5-day work week, about a day and a half of it is spent on email
That's right. Email takes up around 28% of the average desk worker's day. This has borne out in several studies, and we've seen similar numbers across our user base. That's just shy of two and a half hours in an eight hour day (or 11.2 hours per week) It may seem like a lot, but even that number doesn't tell the whole story. There are many factors that cause email to take a huge toll on our productivity, even if you have the best spam filters. Being aware of these can help you avoid falling into some serious productivity traps.
Three reasons email sucks
One: Switching tasks all day comes at a price
For many people, email is always on. It's a ubiquitous layer on top of any other work that's happening. Either there is a browser tab open with Gmail, or Outlook is running in the background, just to make sure nothing important gets missed. It's pretty easy to think "it'll just take a minute to respond to this email, that's not hurting my productivity that much." Besides, if you aren't responsive, aren't you dragging down other people's productivity who may be waiting to hear back from you?
First of all, all those quick responses throughout the day add up. We tend to be really bad at estimating the sum total of time that it takes.
But it gets worse… that one minute it takes to respond is just the starting point. You then have to get back to what you were working on, and that's surprisingly harder than it seems. That "re-focusing time" has been the subject of numerous studies, and has been shown to last anywhere from one to twenty-three minutes. Even more troubling, there are many tasks that are simply never returned to after dealing with the interruption.
Part of the reason for this refocusing lag may be that the way we use email forces our brains to work differently. The randomness of email, and our desire to be responsive, causes our brains to switch to a state of high-alert, continually on the lookout for new input. Most of that activity takes place in a part of the brain called the amygdala, which is where our fight-or-flight response comes from. That's different from how our brains tend to act when we're in a state of flow or deep thought, with most of the activity occurring in the pre-frontal cortex. [source]
With that in mind, the cost of always-on communications starts to become more apparant.
Two: Email is always unfinished business
Chances are, if you look at your job description, "managing your inbox" probably isn't listed as one of your primary duties. But the problem with email is that it's a never ending task. There are always new emails coming in, and when you respond to an email, it usually results in a response back. The cycle just keeps spinning. Since your inbox keeps filling up, it's easy to let it occupy a permanent, growing space in your mind. As you work on other tasks (probably the ones that actually are on your job description), your inbox which may or may not be exploding with something important sticks around in your mental space, causing a huge distraction. I've often found myself mid-stream on a project, then unconsciously tabbing over to my email, sometimes several times a minute. It's infuriating.
There's a psychological explanation for this, called the Zeigarnik Effect, which summarized as:
"It seems to be human nature to finish what we start and, if it is not finished, we experience dissonance."
Three: Email is a one-stop shop that's full of distractions
I've heard email described as "a firehose that we have to drink from", and it's certainly ubiquitous. It's become a hub for our entire work day. It's a single place that we've organically grown to use for many different reasons. It's for communicating with your colleagues. And your customers… And personal communications… And it's your task list ("I'll just leave this in my inbox so it'll remind me to follow up")… And it's your knowledge base ("I'll just email this to the group to spread the knowledge around")… Sometimes it's a file system ("I'll need this file tonight at home, so I'll just email it to myself")… On top of all of that, it's the default notification repository for pretty much any other system you might be using.
The number of use-cases you can shoehorn email into is impressive. There's a certain elegance to it, too. It's this single place that you can keep an eye on everything. The downside of that, is that every time you go into it, you have to contend with that "everything", even if you're only trying to focus on one specific thing.
Instead of a boutique shop, it's a Wal-Mart.
So what to do about it?
Ok, ok, It's real easy to opine about how much email is overwhelming and problematic. There are countless blog posts about it. I even spoke at a conference devoted to it last week. The trickier part is figuring out practical ways of dealing with it. In most cases, you generally can't easily just stop using it. It would be really disruptive to your company, and unless you're the CEO, you can't really get away with being that weirdo that says "oh, don't send me an email, I won't read it."
The bummer is, there's not a single solution that works for everyone. That said, with a little trial and error, it's easy to find some strategies that will work for you. Here are several ideas and resources to get you started.
Optimize your inbox to support good habits
If you use Gmail, here's a way to set up your inbox that pretty much forces you out of the habit of letting things just pile up. If you read a message, it disappears unless you take action on it. I've been using this one for the past few weeks and it's great.
Set up some metrics to monitor your inbox health
Here's a look at how one knowledge worker visualized the state of his inbox to understand how it was getting out of control.
With RescueTime, you can see exactly how all that time adds up. Here's a post explaining one of our communication reports that helps you understand your communications time.
If you want to get hardcore about it, use Beeminder to make a financial commitment to shrinking your inbox (and get some interesting stats along the way).
Turn off all your notifications
Many changes to your email use require cultivating a new habit, or getting used to a new piece of software. This tactic is great because it simply means turning a bunch of stuff off. Take 10 minutes to go through all your devices and turn off everything that beeps, buzzes, blinks, or bounces in your dock. I did this last year, and after a few days the difference it made was so great that I'll never go back.
Shift your communications elsewhere
When I read Claire Burge's recent article about funneling all her communications away from email to other systems, I was skeptical. I mean, pushing all your personal communications to Twitter or Facebook seems even worse, right? You're moving your communications to a platform that has distraction baked directly into their business model! And isn't having your business communications spread across five project management systems obviously much less efficient than having everything in a single place?
On the other hand, if you are going to Facebook to deal with personal communications, it doesn't really matter that you're getting distracted, because social interaction is the whole reason you went there in the first place. Similarly, when you go to Basecamp to interact with a customer, you're in an environment that's walled off from anything not related to that customer. Perhaps most interestingly, when you do this, you allow email to stop being this over-crowded place that constantly needs monitoring. Breaking it up into smaller silos, it forces you to treat communications as a set of distinct tasks, rather than a single monolith that won't ever be finished, no matter how much effort you put in.
So try moving your personal communications to Facebook, or your work-related discussions to LinkedIn. If it's practical, try to shift your project related discussions to a dedicated project management environment like Basecamp or Asana.
For more inspiration, here's another account of a CEO's journey into a world without e-mail.
Let the robots do the work for you
Boomerang gives you some power-user tools that let you offload some of the mental overhead of email. The company who makes it also makes Inbox Pause (which does exactly that, pauses your inbox until you're ready for new messages), and the Email Game (a nifty little game which forces you to work through your inbox).
You can also use a service like Unroll.me or Sanebox to move all your bulk email to a single place, allowing you to focus on personalized communications while you're in your inbox. AwayFind is another option, letting you set up smart notification alerts so you don't have to worry about missing important emails.
That's not an exhaustive list of tactics, but it's a starting point. Here's some further reading:
- Worker Interrupted – Fastcompany.com
- Programmer Interrupted – blog.ninlabs.com
- The Age of Distraction – Focusmanifesto.com
- Is Email = Efail? – Codinghorror.com
- Diagnosis: Email Apnea – Lindastone.net
- In defense of email – Techcrunch.com
- When E-Mail Turns From Delight to Deluge – NYTimes.com
What do you think?
I'm curious what strategies you've found to cope with email overload. Have you found anything that seems to work particularly well? If so, let us know in the comments!
The End of Year Review: Set Yourself up for a Productive New Year by Reflecting on the PastPosted: January 10, 2013 Filed under: Self Tracking, Workplace Productivity Comments Off
I'm a graduate student studying and researching psychology so any time I want to understand something better I turn to data. As long as you collect it honestly and in a methodologically sound manner, data don't lie. Good science is built on good data and one of the most important experiments I'm involved with isn't funded by any grants and doesn't have a team of scientists working on it — it's the ongoing study of the way I work and live.
Data-Driven Self-Improvement
Every year I try to take a look at the data that best describes my work habits over the past 12 months to better understand whether I'm doing what I've set out to do. I'm trying to find inefficiencies, misguided attention, and other gaps so I can make sure I'm doing my best work as much as possible. I happen to work for myself while going to school full-time, but regardless of the details of your work situation you probably want to be operating at peak capacity as much as possible. Conducting an End of Year Review is a great way to recalibrate as you move into the new year.
The first step of any End of Year Review is deciding what questions you want to answer. This is partially dependent on the data you have available but some possible examples include:
- How am I using my time?
- What do my actions say about my priorities?
- Have I left important but non-urgent projects by the wayside?
- How much time do I spend doing email?
- What have I done in the past year that I want to make sure I never/always do again?
The answers to these (and I'm sure countless other) questions can provide very benficial information for how you'll try to conduct yourself in 2013. The next step is to look at the data that will help you answer these questions accurately. While many people do End of Year Reviews that are nothing more than pure mental reflection on the past 365 days, I'm always skeptical of my ability to remember things accurately. One thing being a psychology student has taught me is to be intensely skeptical of my memory. We aren't nearly as good at remembering things as we like to think. Go with the hard data whenever possible.
Sources of Data
Obviously, RescueTime is a great source of data if you're interested in knowing how you spent time at your computer. This is the first place I start with any sort of review on my work habits. There's nothing quite like the shock of seeing you spent over 24 hours on time wasting activities over the course of several weeks to serve as a serious wakeup call.
Other than RescueTime, other great sources of data include; your calendar, daily journal or log, digital pictures, financial information, saved text messages, archived information from task management software, personal writing of any kind, etc. All of these sources help you see where you spent time, attention, and energy.
As you look through your calendar you may remember the awesome conference you went to last February which reminds you to follow up with that promising business lead. Looking through a year of photos will make you realize you've accidentally distanced yourself from some people important in your life (work, personal, or both). You may look at a year's worth of saved work files and realize the big project you told yourself you'd work on last year is still sitting forlornly in the "unfinished" file.
Using The Data
Once you have all this data and have done any analyzing you need to do to draw some conclusions (more time on work that matters, less time on Facebook, call Steve, more writing in the morning, less computer on the weekend, etc.) how do you move forward?
First, let me point out that a potentially great first step is to decide to spend a little bit more time and effort recording more data on yourself in 2013. The better the data you have, the more you can learn about what does or doesn't work for you.
Assuming you're happy with the data you collect, my favorite way to make changes is to focus on one major change for 30 days. For example, when I did my most recent End of Year Review I realized I was spending way too much time on mind-numbing websites. I decided that I'd severely limit the amount of time I allow myself to mindlessly surf for 30 days. At the end of that period I'll re-assess how the past 30 days went and whether I want to a.) continue with the experiment, b.) modify the experiment, or c.) go back to the way I was before.
Obviously, you can make changes in your life without collecting data on yourself first. You could also "do science" without collecting data — but nobody would take you very seriously. Why not apply the same standards that ensure good science to the way you make changes in your own life?


text:
November 28, 2014
Posted Friday, July 26, 2013 --- 4:30 p.m.
Columbia Co. deputies arrested three suspects after an armed burglary Thursday in the Town of Caledonia.
Authorities received a call of a burglary in progress at 11:24 a.m.
Deputies found a vehicle matching the suspects' car description about 4 miles from the home. They stopped the car and arrested three suspects without incident.
Deputies say the three forced entry into the home and stole guns, money jewelry, safes, electronics and other items.
The suspects were reportedly armed with a handgun. The three men are suspects in numerous other burglaries in southeastern Wisconsin.
They are identified as 19-year-old Matthew Maccani and 33-year-old Jason Thomaschaske, both of Racine, and 28-year-old Christopher Fischer of Marshall.
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text:
Michigan voters won't have say in new bridge to Canada
Michigan voters say they don't need to weigh in on whether new bridges or tunnels are built between their state and Canada.
Voters on Tuesday defeated a ballot measure that called for a statewide vote on plans for any new international crossing.
The proposal was engineered by Manuel "Matty" Moroun, owner of the private Ambassador Bridge in Detroit. It came in response to the proposed construction of a Canadian-financed bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.
Moroun wants instead to build a new span of his own, and he spent millions of advertising dollars to support the ballot proposal.
Gov. Rick Snyder brokered the Canadian-financed deal in June and opposed Moroun's ballot measure. He calls Moroun a special interest against Michigan interests.
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text:
GLENDALE HEIGHTS — Two employees were injured Monday when machinery exploded in a factory in west suburban Glendale Heights.
Smoke was seen coming from the Northstar Metal Products Inc. after an explosion was reported about noon Monday, Glendale Heights police said. Northstar Metal is at 591 Mitchell Drive.
It is believed a piece of machinery exploded and caught fire inside the building, police said.
An employee was treated at Adventist GlenOaks Hospital in Glendale Heights and another was treated at the scene, police said.
The cause of the fire is undetermined but appears to be mechanical, police said. There were no signs of foul play and no estimate of property damage was immediately available.
All trains on the adjacent Canadian National railroad track was stopped and traffic was closed on Glen Ellyn Road, between Gregory Avenue and Windy Point Drive, police said.
Firefighters from the Bloomingdale Fire Protection District and surrounding areas remained on the scene Monday afternoon.
Anyone with information about the explosion should call Glendale Heights police at (630) 260-6070.