text:
Dwyane Wade is washed up. Or at least in comparison to what Dwyane Wade used to be. And Wade is having quite some trouble accepting the fact that he's a step slower and only a shade of what he once was.
We've seen it in his actions on the court, he's moody, bitchy and quick tempered. And if you watch his game, you can tell it stems from his lack of performance. So what do once good ball players do when they can no longer before like the once did? Same thing old bitchy men do at the YMCA….
They play dirty.
And boy, is Dwyane Wade dirty. Wade walks around like he's an alpha player, but he's not. Over the last two seasons Wade's level of punk bitch moves have increased, the most notable was when he tried breaking Rajon Rondo's arm in the playoffs. You can see his intent, his anger and almost feel his unjustified sense of entitlement when he pulls a dirty move.
The most recent victim of Wade's punk moves…..Ramon Sessions. Last night Wade straight up kicked Sessions in the balls. Watch.
Wade "wrote a book" called 'A Father First' or some ish like that. But our question is this, how can Wade talk about being a father, when he's walking around doing bitch moves like that? Clearly indicating, he himself, has suffered from "insufficient daddying", where was your daddy Wade? How come he never taught you to never kick a man in the family jewels?
Punk move by a punk bitch.


text:
Due to the increasing need for affordable housing, the Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC) must maintain a wait list for our Low Income Public Housing Program.
Individuals interested in residing in one of our low rent developments are encouraged to check this page periodically for notices of wait list openings.
The following wait list(s) are currently open:
One Bedroom UFAS Pre-Application (PDF Download)
Summit Senior Housing Pre-Application (PDF Download)
Turlington West Apartments
Golden Towers I & II

subset: commoncrawl


text:
NOTICE: Palate Palette Restaurant is now closed for business.
Palate Palette Restaurant & Bar looks more like a whimsical garden rather than a restaurant. Located in a pre-war terraced house nearby Changkat Bukit Bintang, and divided into a lounge (upstairs) and restaurant (downstairs), its fairytale-like vibe makes you feel like you are visiting a friend's house, rather than eating at a trendy restaurant.
Shady trees, pebbled walkways, flowers and lots of colourful tables and chairs contribute to its classic summer style and the atmosphere is casual with people dressed informally. Service is quick and a selection of the latest hits plays unobtrusively in the background, allowing for easy conversation.
Palate Palette's décor is weird and wonderful. The white walls have fun and funky graphics (think a giant peacock) and colourful art in all forms, done by local artists. One of our favourites is a loud, pop-out installation of fake flamingo heads in shockingly-bright colours, with glowing eyes and fake fur.
Besides that, there are carousel horses and mismatched furniture that looks like it has been sourced from a junkyard sale. In reality, though, each piece of furniture has been carefully handpicked – some pieces are old, others are new, but almost all contribute to make Palate Palette look totally individualistic.
The food is just as memorable, with arrangements that are just as quirky as the restaurant's décor – they definitely provide a good photo opportunity.
Offering western food with a twist, if you come in a big group don't be shy to order and sample a little bit of everything: prices are reasonable and portions generous. Try the chilli shrimp aglio olio, smoked salmon pasta or moo-rugula – rib-eye seared in garlic rosemary oil with arugula and green apple salad. Other good mainstays were the shrimp and avocado salad, 'chicken lollipops' (fried chicken) served with roasted chilli mayo and tempura-fried dory fish with potato and yam chips.
Palate Palette has a wide variety of dessert choices (including a delicious carrot cake with cream cheese frosting). The favourite of the night was the ginger crème brûlée served with an almond biscotti – it was a luscious, interesting choice because the mild, peppery ginger taste contrasted beautifully with the sweet crème brûlée.
To get there by walking from Jalan Bukit Bintang, head towards Jalan Gading and take the second right onto Jalan Sultan Ismail. Next, turn left onto Jalan Berangan, right onto Jalan Nagasari and then the first left onto Jalan Mesui: Palate Palette is just up the road. The nearest LRT stop is the Raja Chulan station.
Opening Hours: 12:00 – 24:00 Tuesday – Thursday; 12:00 – 02:00 Friday & Saturday (closed Monday)
Address: 21 Jalan Mesui, Off Jalan Nagasari, 50200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603 2142 2148
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text:
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text:
But I have to say, I'm pretty excited. I never knew that Christianity preached that we all turn into zombies when we die! Well, other than Zombie Jesus, of course. On the other hand, zombies aren't really alive, so maybe they're a tad bit confused...
Blag Hag has moved!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Zombies live forever...and so will you!
But I have to say, I'm pretty excited. I never knew that Christianity preached that we all turn into zombies when we die! Well, other than Zombie Jesus, of course. On the other hand, zombies aren't really alive, so maybe they're a tad bit confused...
Seattle, here I come!
That still sounds crazy when I say it. I'm going to go get a freaking PhD. Who knew that would happen ten years ago, when I was still amazed by the simple puzzle of a Punnett square, or when I still didn't quite grasp the whole evolution thing. I've come a long way.
So come September, I will have officially escaped the Midwest. Wooooo! Though I admit, I'm nervous. I've lived in Indiana for the past 21 years (lived 5 minutes across the border in Illinois when I was an infant), and I've never lived in a big city. Purdue is only an hour and a half from my home town, so I was still close to family and retained some of my old high school friends. It's kind of terrifying knowing I'll finally be completely on my own. It's like I'm an adult or something!
If you have any tips about grad school in general, the University of Washington, or Seattle, now's a good time to let me in on all of the secrets. Or you can just use this post to celebrate along with me. Hurray!
Sex, Catholicism, and Snarky Atheists
This is an awesome idea. My only complaint is that they didn't advertise sooner, so groups like mine could have similar events. I think this is a perfect example of a good controversial event: it's sure to piss some people off, receive media coverage, and get people talking - but it also has a purpose and a very important message. It doesn't exist for the sole reason of offending.
CHAMPAIGN – For many Christians, the Friday preceding Easter Sunday is one of the holiest days of the year.
This is precisely why the student organization Atheists, Agnostics, and Freethinkers (AAF) has chosen this day to raise awareness about the Roman Catholic Church. The group plans to set up a booth on the Quad on Good Friday and disseminate information about the Church's policies, especially those related to contraception and HIV/AIDS. Accordingly, the group will also be distributing free condoms.
"People often regard religion, and specifically Christianity as a force for good in the world," said Mathew Rayman, an officer from AAF. "Just over a year ago, the Pope told Africans that condoms actually help to propagate AIDS rather than prevent it. Statements like these are irresponsible and illustrate the disconnect of the Vatican hierarchy from reality." Two thirds of the estimated 33 million people with HIV/AIDS live in Africa.The Catholic Church has always been fundamentally opposed to contraception, and Pope Paul VI reinforced this in the 1968 doctrinal letter Humanae Vitae (Latin, "Human Life"). According to the American Red Cross, consistent and correct condom use greatly reduces the risk of contracting HIV. AAF hopes to raise public awareness of these issues and promote productive discussion.
Great idea, AAF - hope it goes well!
(Via Skeptic Money)
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Overheard at Purdue
Guy 1: *to Guy 2, who's filling out form* Club website? Heh, put goatse.
Me: *laughs*
Guy 2: ...And this is a lesson on why you should see who's standing behind you before saying something like that.
Me: Hey, I laughed and knew what goatse was. You got lucky that I'm another internet nerd.
I later found out they were with the Improv club, which was fittingly nerdy. Goatseing administrators would be a spectacular way to end a club - unfortunately your college career would probably end along with it.
And if for some unlikely reason you have no idea what I'm talking about, please do not Google image search goatse to find out. Or if you do, make sure to videotape yourself doing so.
New Comment System!
1. No more trolls and spammers, yaaaay! Well, at least a reduced number, since now I can ban IP addresses and do all sorts of nifty things. Now those of you who subscribe to comments don't have to have that crap cluttering your inboxes or RSS feeds as I frantically delete them.
2. Comment threading! Yes, now instead of having to awkwardly reference people that are 15 comments above you, you can directly reply to their comment. It's like it's the year 2010 or something!
3. Comment rating. You can now upvote or downvote comments. That way if you don't want to miss some of the more awesome things that have been said, you can just sort by rating. I think that's pretty cool, especially since 90% of the time your comments are more entertaining/insightful than my original post.
There may be some bugs in the system, so email me (blaghagblog(at)gmail.com) if something isn't working out. I know I just accidentally sent someone's comment into moderation because I had "of" listed as a banned word - whoops. Ah, user error.
So, try it out! Consider this an open thread. Oh, and thank you psychotic Canadian troll for making this atheist blog even better!
EDIT: Soooo, Intense Debate was being a piece of crap. Sorry to lose the comments you guys left on the last couple of posts. I think this has been the final push I needed to switch over to Wordpress...
Boy Scouts of America owned in today's Exponent
Boy Scouts organization does not discriminateHmm, did someone just slander gays and atheists in one letter? Release the hounds!
I am writing in response to Mr. Miller's cheap shot at the Boy Scouts in his letter from Tuesday ("Hate to bear bad news, but humans have sex"). First off, it was unnecessary and childish, given that it was unrelated to the issue at hand (on which, coincidentally, I would tend to agree with you.) Secondly, the loss of funding to which you refer was politically motivated, rather than impartial.
However, the point is this: Boy Scouts, both as an organization and as individuals, do not discriminate. You cite atheists; one of Scouting's core values is "duty to God." (Note that no religion is specified.) Why, then would an atheist wish to join Scouts, other than to cause trouble?
You also mention homosexuals. Let's stop and think for a moment: Scouts spend a large amount of time in the backcountry, far from "civilization," for lack of a better word. The only ones around are the other boys in the troop, and the adult leaders. Do we really wish to place young boys in a position where they could be taken advantage of by an older boy or adult? Of course not.
Next time you take a shot at someone, take the time to learn the facts before you open your mouth; you'll sound smarter.
Michael Harvath, Eagle Scout
Freshman in Engineering
Seriously, he got obliterated today, with six different letters refuting him. Go check them out. I'm pretty sure the majority of the writers are members of the Society of Non-Theists, so props to them! Always fun to hear the rational voices of Purdue!
Wooo, atheism!
This sort of random thing happens more and more the longer I've been president of the Non-Theists, and let me tell you: It totally makes my day. More often than not, when I go to a bar or club I'll have at least someone give me a "Woooo, atheism!" high five. It's usually a club member I don't know as well (my friends don't typically greet me this way, though that would be neat), or someone who never really comes to meetings but is happy that we exist.
And it's another reason why I like having my occasional atheist t-shirt or button. I've struck up random, cool conversations waiting in lines, getting food, at the airport... It's cool having that atheist secret hand shake!
Anyone else have any little, positive atheist experiences like that? If not, get a button or something!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Rejection and Acceptance
I'm feeling significantly less doomed, though my self esteem hasn't quite recovered yet. For those of you who don't know me well, I have very, very high standards for myself. Where any normal human being would be elated about their achievements, I can always come up with ways that I can do better. I know I'm a successful student because I'm so hard on myself. While I know I've accomplished some great things in college, it still never feels like enough.
And I'm my worst critic. All of my professors have been constantly telling me since freshman year how grad schools would just be dying to snatch me up, that they'll be heavily recruiting someone with such a strong record, that having more than one publication under my belt would make me a shoe-in, that I'm Harvard and Stanford material, easily. And for most of the time, I was skeptical. I knew I was a good student, but I was going to keep working hard and not get my hopes up. I'd apply, and see how it went.
And apply I did. And then I got interviews. I was flown out, wined and dined, told by department heads how my resume was ten times better than theirs when they were applying to grad school, told how other schools paled in comparison to theirs, told how they can't wait to see me in the fall. I left suddenly believing what those professors had been telling me all of those years. For a rare moment, I felt that I really was smart and hard working enough to belong in Harvard or Stanford. I felt proud of what I had accomplished, that four years of working my ass off and being passionate about science had paid off.
And then I was rejected.
If I had never gotten an interview, or if the interviews hadn't seemed like they blatantly wanted me, I wouldn't have been as upset. But instead of this being a predicted outcome, it was a ginormous let down. I know I shouldn't bitch about not getting into Harvard or Stanford, since I have been accepted to the University of Washington - which I loved and is a fabulous school in itself. It's just that for once in my life I had the amount of self esteem I should have, and it was dashed against the rocks.
I actually felt a bit worse when everyone found out, because they were so shocked. My one professor just seemed to share my disappointment, but the other (a Stanford alumni) seemed mixed between flabbergasted and mad at Stanford. My friends seem to have the reaction of "If anyone should be getting into those schools, it's Jen!" And that really makes me feel like I screwed up somehow - that the unanimous opinion is that I rock, yet I still failed somehow. Though to all of my friends and readers who tweeted at me, emailed me, commented at me, and texted me - thanks for the support. With the attention I got, you would have thought I had posted a suicide note or something (I'm not that upset, sheesh).
As for why I was rejected, you never know. Both letters can be summarized by "You're awesome, but the economy sucks, so we have no money or space and more people applied this year, sorry!" And if that's the truth, it actually makes me feel a little crappier. Any normal human being might feel relieved, but I hate it when things are out of my control. It drives me crazy that even if I had worked harder, I still would have gotten screwed over by chance.
And when it comes to grad school, there are so many variables to take into consideration. Maybe they really were only able to take a few amount of people this year, and I just happened to be the worst of the best - I should still be proud of being with such a smart group. Maybe way too many human population biologists applied, and labs had space for different types of genetics. Maybe Purdue has a crappy genetics reputation compared to other places people were coming from. Maybe I was less desirable since I haven't already worked on humans. Maybe ten people have generously donating alumni for parents. Maybe I have the interviewing skills of a troll. Maybe they found my blog and saw it as a liability (I doubt this one, since all the profs were all "Yay atheist clubs!").
You never know. And to keep my sanity, I'm trying not to dwell on it. Instead I'm reminding myself how much I did love UW when I visited, how I did get into an amazing and well respected genetics program, how awesome Seattle is, and how soon I'll be the first person in my family to get their PhD. For once, I'm trying not to dwell on how I could have done better, but be proud of what I have accomplished.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Soldier coming back home gay worse than coming back dead
As a former staff sergeant, war veteran and drill instructor in the Marine Corps, I believe the repeal this law will cause living hell within the ranks of the military, and also for the moms and dads whose kids are serving. It will be heartbreaking when a son comes home and says to his parents 'I'm gay' when he didn't leave home gay.Because that's totally how homosexuality works. It's a horrible disease that spreads to anyone hanging around queers for too long! Not, you know, biologically based behavior.
When it comes to gays in the military, it is not a question of them not being patriotic or not physically fit. Unfortunately, they are not morally fit. Their lifestyle has disqualified them to serve.
Because we don't allow anyone in the military who has ever done something wrong. I'm sure there's a test all recruits have to take that makes sure they fit the proper Christian moral ethics, which is why no one in the military has ever lied, stolen, masturbated, lustfully thought of a woman, taken the lord's name in vain, eaten lobster, gotten tattoos...
One must understand that a homosexual person does not reproduce (homosexuals recruit). When I was a young Marine, one tried to recruit me into that lifestyle. It caused panic and fear to come over me. It is not discrimination or hate speech toward the gays, it is simply saying no.
These young people will be exposed to strong sexual attractions, and some will give themselves over to it because they are young and vulnerable.
They recruit, just like any other human trait where that human can't reproduce! I knew those Tay-Sachs babies were causing other Tay-Sachs babies to be diseased. I mean, genetics, pfffffft.
Repeal the don't ask, don't tell policy and you will have the men who serve in an uproar. You will have open sex in the barracks, name calling, real threats and fighting among the troops, and even worse the violence of blanket parties. Late at night, some men will throw a blanket over a gay person and beat the life out of him. The repeal of this policy will give way to violence, no matter how much instruction is given by their leaders.
Yeah, and when all those macho, testosterone filled, heterosexual men start beating a gay man to a bloody pulp, it's totally that gay guys fault! Sheesh, don't they know heterosexuals just can't control their rage?
Also, you will have disunity on the battlefield.
Today, if my son was going into the military, I would be more concerned about him coming home a gay person than worrying about him getting wounded or killed in battle.
We are becoming a pathetic nation with no clear moral values.
...People like this fucking terrify me.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Don't feed the trolls
I'm "privileged" to now be trolled by the infamous DM/Dennis Markuze/David Mabus/nostradamus/etc, a literally insane Canadian that is fond of leaving crazed rambling and death threats on atheist blogs. Between my honors thesis, classes, and clubs, I don't have time to fiddle with a new comment moderation. So until I'm able to do that, please ignore him and I'll continue to delete his comments. I don't want threads getting derailed because you guys want to respond to him.
In other news...I dunno, consider this an open thread.
Event at Purdue: Kicking the Christian Strawman
Kicking the Christian Strawman: What Christians are really likeI met Jon at the Secular Student Alliance conference last summer, and he is a wonderful guy who's sure to give an interesting talk. And don't worry, this isn't some secret way for him to convert us all. At least, I don't think so...hmmm...
Talk and Q&A w/ Rev. Jon Weyer
Wed, March 31
6:00 pm in PHYS 223
Free, Open to public
Atheists spend so much time trying to get religious people to understand them, so now it's time for us to learn a little more about Christianity. Jon has a lot of experience cooperating with atheist groups, so hopefully his talk will:
- Help us understand how Christians view the world
- Help us understand American Christianity
- Debunk stereotypes about Christianity & Christians
Rev. Jonathan Weyer is a campus minister with the CCO at The Ohio State University and an ordanied minister with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. At Ohio State, he started a group called "The Thomas Society" that seeks to honestly discuss questions about God, the nature of reality, and how people ought to live their lives. He has worked extensively with the Students for Freethought and SSA board member Ashley Paramore to create an atmosphere of cooperation and dialogue between Christians and Atheists at Ohio State. As a part of this work, they are taking service project trips to New Orleans over spring break, hosting joint group discussions, and events that including bringing Hemant Mehta to campus. He lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife and three kids. To relax, he likes to write novels that scare people, sometimes intentionally. Jonathan also writes the blog for the Thomas Society
Sponsored by the Society of Non-Theists
Friday, March 26, 2010
Popped my Star Wars cherry
I just watched Star Wars: A New Hope for the very first time. That's right, ever. Previously I had only seen very small clips, though I knew the whole plot thanks to being surrounded by nerds. I also have never seen Episodes 5 and 6.
The worst part? I've seen the new trilogy.
Though the oddest part was that it was just sort of alright. I mean, some parts were funny, some parts were dated, and some parts were just terrible. I guess it's different watching it without the childhood memories and attachment. Luke has effectively no reaction to seeing the horrifically charred bodies of the two people who raised him for eighteen years, but the spooky disintegration of Obi Wan leaves him screaming and upset? What the hell, Luke? You've known him for only a couple hours, and all he did was give you super vague advice about the Force!
Ok, I'm going to shut up now before I make you guys want to stone me even more. Will watch the other Episodes later!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Homeopathy: Now for vaginas too!
There is now a "treatment" for a yeast infection. It is called Yeast Gard. It has no side effects. Actually, it has no effects. Here are the "active" ingredients: Candida albicans 28x, Candida parapsilosis 28x, Pulsatilla 28x. Since I had no idea what these things are – I had to look them up. You're gonna love this…. (From Wikipedia)
Candida albicans is a diploid fungus (a form of yeast) and a causal agent of opportunistic oral and genital infections in humans.
Candida parapsilosis is a fungal species of the yeast family that has become a significant cause of sepsis and of wound and tissue infections in immuno-compromised patients.
The genus Pulsatilla includes about 30 species, many of which are valued for their finely-dissected leaves, solitary bell-shaped flowers, and plumed seed heads. The anthers are bright yellow and the purple bell consists of sepals.
Ah, that's lovely. Add a bunch of gel with the "memory" of yeast (aka, a bunch of gel with nothing in it) to your vagina, and your yeast infection should clear up in a couple of days! Even though your yeast infection probably would have cleared up in a couple of days if you did nothing. Ah, scams, aren't they lovely?
Though the thing I find most amusing is that whenever someone recommends a post or article to me (like this one), 90% of the time it's about vaginas/penises/boobies/sex. Well, there's usually some sort of skeptical bent to it, or it's inane enough to need my commentary or debunking. You guys know me too well (I mean, look, I already had a "vagina" tag). Kind of love it that sex makes you think of me!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Interdisciplinary research (comic)
I work in the Ecological Genetics Laboratory but get paid by Genetics (and previously Howard Hughes). My Advisor is in Forestry and Natural Resources but my other Advisor is in Ecology. Officially, I'm part of Biology in Lilly Hall...even though my office* is in Pfendler Hall. Most of my classes are on molecular & cell biology, yet technically my degree is in Genetics and Ecology, Evolution, & Environmental Biology. So basically, I belong in the Biology Borg Collective.
Okay, I guess that's not too insane. But seriously, I've taken two advanced genetics classes and a tiny seminar class, and that's good enough for a degree in Genetics. That's kind of terrifying. Less microbiology, more genetics!
*Office = lab bench space that I have guarded dearly for three years and damnit who keeps moving my pipettemen and tiny tubes and tube opener?! *hoard hoard hoard*
I need your help!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Dating tips for the 1938 woman
Pssshhh, who cares about women's interests! All they do is talk about clothes anyway!
Go check it out. If it doesn't make you laugh, it'll at least make you thankful for how far we've come. If I had to live up to 1938 dating standards, I think I would end up being a lonely cat lady. I mean, how do they expect women do get through the night without passing out from drinking too much?!?
Sunday, March 21, 2010
James Randi = Dumbledore
But that's all been said before. I have something much more important to say.
James Randi totally is Dumbledore1. Both are known for their awesome magic skills
2. Kickass white beards. 'Nuff said
3. Wise, old men that many people respect
4. In charge of movements against stupidity/lies/evil
5. Excessive amount of middle names: "Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore" and "Randall James Hamilton Zwinge"
6. Both have a younger brother and younger sister
7. Gay
If only I knew if Randi had a fondness for sweets or enjoyed a good pair of socks...
Friday, March 19, 2010
My Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, and Santa stories
OK so we are covered on the god side, but when/how did you figure out the more realistic things like Santa™ and the tooth fairy? And sorry of we are taking away FF time. This is kind of entertaining though.
Even though I'm a life-long atheist, I did believe in Santa, the tooth fairy, and the Easter bunny. But since my dad instilled a good sense of skepticism in me, those beliefs didn't last very long.
I loved the Easter bunny when I was little. I'm half Greek, so we usually celebrated two Easters - one for the American side of the family, and the other for the Greek side. They were usually a week or two apart, which meant I got double the Easter bunny action. There's nothing better than looking for eggs and eating a ton of chocolate.
And when I was very little, I sincerely believed in him. I remember once when I was probably six or so, I was playing upstairs in my room while all the grown ups talked downstairs. The doorbell rang, but I ignored it since I wasn't allowed to answer the door. Then about ten minutes later someone came up to told me the Easter bunny came, but I missed him since I was playing.
I was pissed. Why wouldn't they tell me?! Why wouldn't they ask him to wait?!? Could we see if he was visiting any of the houses nearby?!?! Of course I got a lot of BS answers about how little kids weren't supposed to see him, how I shouldn't worry about that and just go look for the eggs... But that started the seed of doubt in my mind. By the next year I was convinced one of my family members had rang the doorbell, and it was all an act. But since I still received lots of chocolate, I didn't really care all that much.
Everything else started to seem suspicious after that. Wasn't it interesting how the tooth fairy only knew I had lost a tooth if I told my parents about it? That one I didn't ask about, since I liked receiving money under my pillow (I was skeptical, not stupid). Santa was the same way. How could he get to all the houses in the world in one night? Or more importantly, why was his handwriting on the presents the same as my mom's?
My mom's reply? "Do you want presents or not?"
She's not exactly the best encourager of skeptical thinking, but I did want presents. We kept up the act for a while, eventually with me thanking "Santa" while winking at my mom.
My experiences are one of the reasons I think it's important for atheist families to keep perpetuating the Santa/Tooth Fairy/Easter Bunny myths. By learning to work through those myths, your kids will gain a set of skeptical thinking tools that they can apply to other parts of their life. By the time someone was telling me about Jesus rising from the dead, it was so ludicrous that I couldn't believe anyone actually believed it. Thank you, Santa!
PS: And no, you're not taking away from Final Fantasy time. I'm just doing this inbetween grinding. Much...get...ultimate weapons...
Thursday, March 18, 2010
My art background
Have you ever had art classes or did you learn on your own? 'Cause you're pretty good!
Thank you! And the answer is both! My mother was a middle school art teacher (just retired), so I was surrounded by art my whole life. My bathroom back home is decorated by watercolor paintings I did when I was 2 years old - basically just blobs, but my mom thinks it's as good as some modern art. I was an introverted kid, so I would always sit around and draw for fun. People who knew about my artistic ability always thought my mom sat me down and trained me, but she really didn't. I was way too stubborn to listen to her then, and I mostly figured it out on my own. But if I did want advice on how to make something look better or more realistic, she was there for the tips.
My mom was actually my art teacher from 6th through 8th grade, which was a little awkward in the beginning (especially since it took everyone forever to figure out that she was my mom!). At the time I was annoyed that she graded me tougher than the other students, but in the end it made me a better artist. My high school art teacher was wonderful too - she was so spunky and creative, and had a good mix of teaching skills and encouraging creativity. I took AP Studio Art my senior year, with a class size of one - I just sat in the corner and painted while another class was going on (by the way, I got a 5 on my exam - woot). And on top of all that, I was the Art Club President for two years. Yep, I was more of an art geek than a science nerd!
I haven't updated my art much since high school, but if you want to check out my other stuff, I have an old deviantART page.
Raised without sexual guilt?
I grew up fundamentalist. I'm also naturally pervy. I lived with a lot of guilt and shame, especially regarding masturbation. What's it like not to have to live with that? Did you have any guilt at all about your normal sexual leanings?
While I grew up in a fairly secular environment, I wouldn't say my upbringing was completely guilt-free. My parents actually never had "The Talk" with me, and sexuality was just a very awkward subject. Most "sexual morals" that I learned from them came in the form of rants about other people. My dad was a special education teacher at a city school, and stories about students who ruined their life by getting pregnant were all too common. I remember sitting at the dinner table while he told us how one of his freshman girls was pregnant with her second child, and how she could never come to school because she was so busy taking care of the first. It was never explicitly said, but the message was "Don't fuck up your life by getting pregnant."
And to be honest, that's still a mantra I hold today. I never really felt guilty about sexual things I did, even when I was fooling around back in high school. I never went all the way - but not because I wanted to wait until marriage, or so that I could claim to be a "technical virgin" - I just logically knew I wasn't ready to deal with the consequences. The way I saw it, once I was 18 and away at college, I'd be able to buy birth control. And if that failed, I'd be able to get an abortion without requiring parental permission or something. Really, I just put off sex until I knew it could be my little secret.
I used to think you should only have sex with people you really love, but now I realized that's just what society was telling me I should think. I'm personally not into random hookups with strangers, but I have no problem with casual sex or friends with benefits. As long as everyone involved is on the same page and no one gets hurt, I see no problem with it.
I kind of feel bad for people who were raised in anti-sex environments. Trained guilt is insanely hard to get rid of. I really can't fathom how people feel guilty about masturbation, or sex before marriage, or multiple partners, or same sex fantasies, even when they can rationally tell themselves it's okay. It really just sort of sucks. Sometimes I'll feel a momentary twinge of guilt knowing the majority of society thinks I'm some naughty slut - but you know what? I enjoy getting some, and they can all fuck off.
And that's really how I deal with any guilt. If I'm not hurting myself or anyone else, then my sexual acts and fantasies are none of your goddamned business. Well, I'll talk about it if you're actually pro-sex - but if your goal is to judge me and make me feel bad about myself, then you're wasting your time.
March Madness!
But that's not the real reason I like March Madness. For the fourth year in a row we're having a family pool: It's me, my dad, mom, brother, his wife, her brother and parents, my other brother, and his girlfriend/spouse/omg get officially married already so I know what to call you. I love it because how competitive all the guys get. My dad and brothers played college basketball, my dad coached high school basketball for 25 years, and the other guys watch it religiously, so they all actually care about the outcomes. They strategically fill out their brackets and argue over who's the best choice.
The fun part? The ladies, who always randomly fill out their brackets, usually do just as well.
I'm not trying be stereotypical with the "Men like sports and women don't" trope - that's just how my immediate family actually is. But it's always good to get to the end of the tournament and go "Huh, I'm winning? Can't believe my random guessing is as good as your calculated choices..." Ah McCreights, we love rubbing it in.
Anyone else watching the tournament? Do you actually think you're good at figuring out the winner? Is there anything else in your life that you think you have control over, but it's probably more due to chance?
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
America's sex prudishness now extended to dogs
"Is your pet feeling left in the dirt because of his/her unsightly rear? I've got them covered... Rear Gear is handmade in Portland, OR and offers a cheerful solution to be-rid your favorite pet's un-manicured back side."Yes folks, now we can't even see our pet's buttholes. Heaven forbid we acknowledge that an animal poops, especially when we have to clean up after it. No, instead hang a gaudy attention-attracting sign on it's butt, so your virgin eyes don't have to be sullied. Seriously, what the hell? What happens when these things want to sit down? Or poop?!
Though I have to admit, this one made me chuckle a bit:
Danger! Toxic waste exit! Do not approach without pooper scooper!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Ok, one more webcomic
xkcd summarizes my views on porn perfectly
Well, I read the second frame as feminist sarcasm. If she was being serious and Randal Monroe was being highly ironic by also stereotyping women... nah, he's awesome, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Goodbye internet, hello Final Fantasy XIII
...Yeah, I'm a FF geek.
Anyway, some preliminary thoughts about the game for those of you who got it or are thinking about getting it (don't worry, I'm not far enough to really know spoilers yet):
1. The dialog is cheesy as hell. And I mean, cheesy compared to other FF games, even. It's like watching Final Fantasy Days of Our Lives. I almost vomited during the lovey dovey fireworks scene.
2. Making up for that is the graphics. Oh my god. I'd all HD, and the gameplay looks just as high def as the cut scenes. I'm constantly having an eyegasm.
3. Speaking of cut scenes, wow. I know FF is notorious for them, but so far I feel like there's a cut scene ever five seconds. Of course, it's so pretty that I don't really care.
4. I kind of like the new battle system. I was a little worried since I'm one of those n00bs who like turn based and active time scares me, but I think I'm getting the hang of it. It makes the battles feel a lot more real and important since you have to keep making quick decisions. The in-battle graphics are also great, it actually looks like a real fight instead of someone swinging a sword and a monster that's a mile away going "ouch."
5. The black guy is comic relief. Again. Oh, FF. Though his baby chocobo is kind of the cutest thing ever.
6. And finally, Vanille is the girliest girly girl ever. When she's running she literally skips and prances with her arms up in the air. While in a scary dungeon. Wtf. I mockingly yelled "Yaaaay!" when she was running, and then a half second later she went "Yaaaay!" She's predictably cute.
Other character: Where's your mark?
Me: *girly voice* On my butt!
Her: Teehee, here! *lifts up skirt to show the mark on her butt*
Me: ...Wow.
Alright, back to playing!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Indiana high school student sues over graduation prayer
A Greenwood High School honor student who learned in class about court rulings striking down school prayer has found a real-world application -- his own graduation ceremony.
Eric Workman's lawsuit, filed Thursday by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, challenges the high school's practice of allowing seniors to vote on whether to have a student-led prayer at graduation.
ACLU attorney Ken Falk said allowing the vote and even having the prayer run afoul of U.S. Supreme Court rulings that found prayers at public school-sponsored events to violate the First
"This is particularly egregious when it's coming from a student who's going to be sitting on the stage," Falk said. Workman, 18, is ranked first in his class, the lawsuit says.
Good for him! It can be difficult to deal with small religious towns in Indiana, and this kid is probably getting a lot shit for what he's doing. So I send kudos his way for helping keep church and state separated!
Of course, not everyone is as understanding...
The Rev. Shan Rutherford, pastor of Greenwood Christian Church for more than three decades, said he disagrees with the proposition that such a prayer would violate a student's rights.Rev. Rutherford, I think you need to sit in on that government class Workman learned so much from.
"If I lived in a Muslim nation, a Hindu nation or anything else, I would expect to go along with the majority," Rutherford said. "He's trying to go with minority rule. To me, that's wrong in a democracy, one that was founded on Christian principles.""If you don't agree, I don't think you should try to stop other people from exercising their rights."
Anyone who still claims that America was founded on Christian principles shows how little they know about our government's history, since that trope has been destroyed over and over. But worse than that is his failure to comprehend the idea of "majority rule, minority rights." Just because Christians are in the majority doesn't mean they get to have everything their way, especially when it infringes upon the rights of the minority. Removing a school prayer doesn't make it an atheist ceremony, representing a majority of Americans - it makes it a secular ceremony, representing everyone. I would be just as a against someone getting up on stage an talking about how there is no God, religion is stupid, and anyone who believes in God is deluded. That would be totally inappropriate for a public school graduation, just as a prayer would.
Ah, Christian persecution complex. Lovely, isn't it?
(Hat tip to Tom)
Thursday, March 11, 2010
No prom? Blame the gays
A northern Mississippi school district will not be hosting a high school prom this spring after a lesbian student sought to attend with her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo.Alright, I know it's Mississippi, and apparently it's a small religious town, but how can a school be so fucking stupid? Don't they know this is just going to open up a can of worms? No, instead they have to stand by their "traditional values" of discrimination instead of letting a girl wear a tux and dance with another girl. Jesus Christ, people. Have a little compassion, or at least a little legal common sense.
The Itawamba County school district's board decided Wednesday to drop the prom because of what it called recent distractions but without specifically mentioning the girl's request, which was backed by the American Civil Liberties Union.
The student, 18-year-old high school senior Constance McMillen, said the cancellation was retaliation for her efforts to bring her girlfriend, also a student, to the April 2 dance.
"A bunch of kids at school are really going to hate me for this, so in a way it's really retaliation," McMillen told The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson. Calls to McMillen by The Associated Press late Wednesday went unanswered.
School policy requires that senior prom dates be of the opposite sex. The ACLU of Mississippi had given the district until Wednesday to change that policy, arguing that banning same-sex prom dates violated McMillen's constitutional rights.
The ACLU said McMillen approached school officials shortly before the memo went out because she knew same-sex dates had been banned in the past. The ACLU said district officials told McMillen she and her girlfriend wouldn't be allowed to arrive together, that she would not be allowed to wear a tuxedo, and that she and her girlfriend might be asked to leave if their presence made any other students "uncomfortable."
And the fact that they canceled prom is even worse than if they just banned this student from taking a same-sex date. I think McMillen is right when she says this is punishment - those gays are to blame for prom being canceled! If only they could just be good, quiet, heterosexual girls who wore dresses. If this high school is anything like mine (or most American high schools), prom is a big fucking deal. Even I went to prom. Twice.
This makes me wonder what could have happened at my high school back in the day. Two of my close friends were lesbians who were dating each other, and they were considering going to prom together. I know there were some worries over if Munster would allow it, if they'd have to fight for it, if they'd have to drag in their parents (who are super supportive wonderful people). They would have been the first same sex couple to try it - gays went to prom, but usually with a friend for a date because they were too afraid to come out (I was actually my gay friend's beard for his senior prom). In the end, it didn't matter though - they decided that prom was lame, and they went to a Star Wars convention instead (probably a much better choice).
I really hope this school comes around and stops acting like the asshats they are. No, prom isn't some god given right to all high school students - but to revoke that privilege because of one gay couple is just wrong.
(Via BoingBoing)
Happy Birthday, Blag Hag!
Or maybe you could just like, say what posts you liked the most in the last year. That would work too. Still think a crazy internet party would be more fun though.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Anti-Porn & Anti-Sex Worker Bingo!
Of course, that blog entry is still getting spammy anti-porn and anti-me trolls posting from who knows where. Maybe I should just play bingo with those comments - probably could get a blackout fairly quickly.
(Hat tip to Lauren, Via Feminisnt (Warning, NSFW))
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Programming + Rap = Win
Let's play a game! Guess which of theses verses come from a real rap song, and which were generated by a computer (answers at bottom of post).
1. And I say "a yia yia yia"Of course, that's probably because rap sounds like total nonsensical gibberish to begin with... Alright, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say their hard work probably had something to do with it too. I mean, they even included a graph of "Rap Quality" (which I'm pretty sure is an oxymoron). Bad music aside, the project is still cool!
Let's get it on every time
Holler out "Your mine"
And I say "Oh oo oh oo oh oh oh oh oh
So if you willin' you wit it then we can spend time
And I say "a yia yia yia"
2. Now first let's call for the motherfuckin indo
Pull out your crutch and put away your pistol
3. you take pride in suckin' a good dick
and after i nut bitch you better not spit ha ha ha ha
you're a dirt dobbler a goop gobbler
you'll fuck satan for the righteous dollar
so gimme some gimme some
4. can a nigga get some to go yeah baby
she got it she got it she got it
i do my thang in the club
you can do it
5. see i won't deny it i'm a straight ridah
i got semi-autos to put holes in niggaz tryina play me
i look to my future cause my past is all behind me
yeah see the cross on my neck that just might freeze me
(Answers: Human, Human, Human, Computer, Computer)
Stanford summary
Oh my god, how could one place be so beautiful? I think I've been living in Indiana way too long.
Seriously though, I really enjoyed Stanford, and not just for the lovely weather and beautiful palm trees (but those were definite perks). The professors and students were super nice and easy to talk to, the research was really interesting, and I think it would be a good fit for me. I'll find out if I'm officially accepted later this week! The major downside is the cost of living - the cheapest apartments there are more than twice than what I'm paying now, sheesh. At least in grad school I'll actually have a pay check. If I can live off virtually nothing, I think I'll be okay even on a grad student's salary.
In addition to going through the typical interview process, I also was invited to AHA!'s meeting at Stanford. It was basically a big Q&A session where I talked about my experience blogging and a little bit about being an atheist in the midwest. I had a blast, and really enjoyed meeting the club members! Depending on my grad school decision, I might be going to those meetings a lot more often.
Alcatraz and San Francisco
Golden Gate Bridge
And meeeee, just to prove I'm not just making up my adventures.
Monday, March 8, 2010
One reason to be a creationist
...I have obviously not learned anything from Jurassic Park.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Sarah Jessica Parker = Toblerone?!?
Other than that, I have nothing to say. I watched the Oscars for about 20 minutes just because my roommate had it on. I usually don't give a damn about them, but this year I'm especially apathetic since I hadn't seen a single film that was up for Best Picture - yep, not even Up or Avatar. I blame that on the fact that I've been single for most of the past year, and I think I only watch movies on dates.
...And before I start contemplating how sad that is, I'm going to go to bed. Will post about my Stanford trip tomorrow!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Mmmm Coke with real sugar
Like any grad school visit, lots of delicious food is being thrown at me, including bottled Coke with real sugar. Yuuummm.
What random food do you consider a treat and wish you could have more often?
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Open forum
Because I spent the last couple of days tossing my cookies instead of blogging, I don't have any material prepared for my trip to Stanford. So consider this an open post! Post links, selfishly self promote, talk abou what's on your mind, and get to know each other! And for all you lurkers, say hello!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Abortion & the value of human life
It probably does not surprise most of you that I am extremely pro-choice. The odd thing, though, is I don't talk about it a lot. I'm always wary of getting into abortion debates, because I feel like it's one of those topics that's a lose-lose situation. No one is going to change their minds, and I'll just get cranky at the particularly stupid comments. But I also know how important it is to speak up about how I feel:
Even if you could convince me that biological human life begins at conception, I would still be pro-choice.
Emotional arguments about beating hearts and fingers and brainwaves don't affect me at all. Abortion is unfortunate, but when it is the lesser of two evils, it should be an option. The whole "when does life begin" debate is totally irrelevant to me. And why do I say that?
Because I don't think we can honestly say all human life is of equal value.
I'd love to be a perfect liberal and say that all human life has infinite value and can never be compared or weighed, but I'd be lying to myself. I'd wager that none of us treat all human beings as having equal value when it really comes down to it. For example, think of this thought experiment:
You have the choice of killing one person or killing five people. They are equivalent in every way (job, age, personality, number of family of friends, etc). Do you kill one person or five? Most of us would say to kill the one. While killing anyone is unfortunate, in this case it is best to minimize the amount of total harm done.
But let's change it up a bit. What if the one person was a loved one - one of your parents, one of your siblings, your spouse, or your best friend. Would you still kill that one person to save the other five? Most people would not. This illustrates that there is something more to our decision making process than all humans having equal value.
Maybe that's a bit subjective because of our biology - through evolution we've slowly adapted to favor kin over non-kin. And since I don't believe we should simply be the product of our biology, let's use a more telling thought experiment: how we treat age. If there was a burning building and you could only save one person, do you save the 25 year old or the 80 year old? Most people say they would save the 25 year old, with their reasoning being that the 80 year old has had time to live a long, fulfilling life.
Replace that with an fetus and a 25 year old.
If we're using a simple metric of "total years lived," you could argue the fetus would win - the 25 year old already has lived 25 years, after all. But is number of years lived the only thing we use to assign value to human life? Again, I'd argue no. If there was a burning building and you have to save one of two people of equal age, who would you save: An elementary school teacher or a brain-dead person? A charity worker or a sex offender? A cancer researcher or a grocery bagger? The President or a unemployed alcoholic?
We feel bad about making judgement calls about people's worth, but it's something we do. That grocery bagger could be a great human being - but all things being equal, we see the cancer researcher as contributing more to society. Likewise, there are other negative traits we see as detracting. These traits all have fairly subjective value - what's worse, a sex-offender or an unemployed alcoholic? - but most of us still make these judgements. I'm not at all advocating eugenics or the widespread purging of unemployed alcoholics - I'm just trying to make a point that unless your answer to those questions is "I'd flip a coin," then you don't view all human life as having equal value.
So back to abortion.
To me, a fetus is on the bottom of the totem pole. A fetus does not feel emotional pain, does not have conscious thoughts, and does not have dreams to be a big shot football player some day. It does not have friends or families that it has made intimate connections with. It does not have career or life goals. It does not fear death because it does not have the mental capacity to understand what death is. It does not have a fated trajectory in life (you can't argue that this was the person who would go on to cure cancer). And in the case of a woman seeking abortion, it will not be missed by loved ones because it is not even wanted to begin with.
And to me, these are the things that make us human and give us worth. Not heartbeats or brainwaves or unique genetic composition. If a woman decides that continuing a pregnancy will severely detrimentally affect her life, she has every right to have an abortion. She has all of these attributes, and her quality of life far outweighs the existence of insentient cells.
Yes, quality of life, not just her life itself. To me, the value of an unwanted fetus is low enough to not outweigh quality decisions. An unwanted pregnancy going to make you have to drop out of school? Quit your job? Be depressed and stressed? Feel free to choose an abortion.
Obviously not everyone is going to agree with me. There are women out there who can see four cell zygotes as God-sent little babies. And to those women I say: Great! That's why I'm pro-choice. If you don't see unwanted fetuses as parasitic clumps of cells, then don't get an abortion. But this is one of the few areas that I will concede that philosophy does trump biology - that DNA and physiology alone cannot answer this ethical issue.
Note: There are many points about abortion that I have not addressed in this post, and they will likely come up in the comments. I will probably cover them in the future.
No Gods license plate in Indiana
I have to say, I'm a little disappointed in him. He could have racked up a thousand irony points for putting it on our free In God We Trust license plates:
At least it seems Jason is living in a more liberal part of Indiana (Marion County is home to Indianapolis). If my car has survived living in West Lafayette with a Darwin Fish & Obama sticker, he should be fine.
(Via Friendly Atheist)


text:
DbDataReader::ReadAsync Method (CancellationToken)
This is the asynchronous version of Read. Providers should override with an appropriate implementation. The cancellationToken may optionally be ignored.
The default implementation invokes the synchronous Read method and returns a completed task, blocking the calling thread. The default implementation will return a cancelled task if passed an already cancelled cancellationToken. Exceptions thrown by Read will be communicated via the returned Task Exception property.
Do not invoke other methods and properties of the DbDataReader object until the returned Task is complete.
Namespace: System.Data.Common
Assembly: System.Data (in System.Data.dll)
- cancellationToken
- Type: System.Threading::CancellationToken
The cancellation instruction.
Return ValueType: System.Threading.Tasks::Task<Boolean>
A task representing the asynchronous operation.
An error occurred while executing the command text.
For more information about asynchronous programming, see Asynchronous Programming.
Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, Windows 7, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 (Server Core Role not supported), Windows Server 2008 R2 (Server Core Role supported with SP1 or later; Itanium not supported)
The .NET Framework does not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.


text:
The Louisville Zoo plays a vital role in helping to develop an appreciation for and a sense of responsibility toward the magnificent animals and plant life. This living classroom contains some of the largest and rarest animals found on our planet. It is the role of the Louisville Zoo Education Department to share these wonders by increasing an awareness of natural history, conservation issues and interrelationships among living things.
Knowledge and appreciation of wild creatures will be a decisive factor in the survival of these animals and their habitats.
Schools can choose from a number of options including the following:
FIELD TRIP ONLY VISITS –Teachers, chaperons and students can visit the Zoo on their own.
FIELD TRIP WITH ZOO EDUCATION PROGRAM ADDED – This field trip also includes a formal education program presented by the Zoo's Education Department .
SPECIAL PROGRAMS such as Night Safaris, Scout and Adopt-an-Animal programs
OUTREACH PROGRAMS – We bring the Zoo to you.
TEACHER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES enabling teachers to discover, explore and experience the biodiversity of this planet
SCHOOL AT THE ZOO is unique week-long/all-day program held during the Zoo's off season.
HOME SCHOOL PROGRAMS are designed specifically to meet the needs of families educating their children at home.
Reservations are required for all these programs.


text:
Visits from friends and family are an important part of the recovery process. Still, these must be balanced with the patient's need to rest and follow the required course of treatment prescribed by the physician.
In this section, you'll find helpful visitor guidelines and valuable visitor information that will help make visitors' trips to Blount Memorial as convenient and comfortable as possible. If you can't find the information you're looking for here, our hospital volunteers or staff members will be glad to help you.


text:
- Home
- About ASF
- What is Autism?
- How Common is Autism?
- Early Signs of Autism
- Autism Diagnosis
- Following a Diagnosis
- Treatment Options
- Beware of Non Evidence-Based Treatments
- Autism and Vaccines
- Autism Science
- Autism Research Strategic Plan
- Research by Topic
- Research by Year
- Interviews with Scientists
- Science Journals
- Autism In The News
- Recommended Reading
- Participate in Research
- NIH ACE Grants
- NIMH Resources
- Autism Research Glossary
- Quick Facts About Autism
- What We Fund
- Funding Calendar
- ASF Funded Research
- Research Results
- Grant Outcomes Reports
- Apply for a Research Grant
- Apply for a Research Mini-Grant
- Apply for an Undergraduate Summer Research Grant
- Apply for IMFAR Travel Grant
- Get Involved
- Resources
- Day of Learning & Evening of Celebration
- Contact Us
Moderators, Mediators,and Other Predictors of Risperidone Response in Children with Autistic Disorder and Irritability
Journal of Childhood and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, Arnold et al
Year Published:
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology (RUPP) Autism Network found an effect size of d = 1.2 in favor of risperidone on the main outcome measure in an 8-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial for irritability in autistic disorder. This paper explores moderators and mediators of this effect. This study found the benefit-risk ratio of risperidone is better with greater symptom severity. Risperidone can be individually titrated to optimal dosage for excellent response in the majority of children. Weight gain is not necessary for risperidone benefit and may even detract from it. Socioeconomic advantage, low prolactin, and absence of co-morbid problems nonspecifically predict better outcome. Mineral interactions with risperidone deserve further study.


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The latest breaking news, from new products to acquisitions to industry events, from across the high volume transaction output (HVTO) industry. Gain insight and analysis into current events, news and issues chosen by our world class editorial staff.
We are always looking for interesting news and information about the HVTO industry. If you have an article about a product, vendor or new development in the industry, please let us know.
Click on the link below to submit a news item.
Melville, NY – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced that its parent company, Canon Inc., has placed on Fortune Magazine's 2013 World's Most Admired Companies list. Moving up one spot in 2013 to fourth globally in the Computers category, Canon ranked in the top three for innovation, financial soundness and long-term investment. In addition, the company placed first among corporations based internationally.
Close to 700 companies from 30 countries around the world were analyzed and ranked with the input from 3,800 executives, directors and analysts. The 2013 list was separated into 57 industries ranging from aerospace and defense to trucking, transportation and logistics.
"The companies ranked by Fortune are the most innovative and influential around the world," said Bunji Yano, senior director and general manager, Corporate Communications, Canon U.S.A. "To simply be a part of this list is an honor in itself, yet to rank so highly exemplifies our dedication to not only our customers, but our employees and the communities we serve."
For 2013, companies were judged in nine different attributes of recognition including global competitiveness, use of corporate assets and people management.


text:
- Conference date: 3–5 November 2010
- Location: Bad Honnef, (Germany)
In this paper, we present a multiharmonic model able to allow for general nonlinear optical media [1]. As a particular example, two‐ and three‐photon processes are considered here. The numerical model is based on the finite element method that allows to take into account the inhomogeneities of the refraction index due to the nonlinearities. It consists of several harmonic equations at various frequencies coupled via some nonlinear terms. As an illustration we propose a simple homogeneous uniform slab made of non‐linear material but illuminated by three plane waves in order to create an artificial periodic structure with a fictitious permittivity. This system exhibits a non trivial and quite complex behavior because of the induced diffraction grating.
Key Topics
- Diffraction gratings
- 2.0
- Finite element methods
- 1.0
- Mechanical waves
- 1.0
- Nonlinear optics
- 1.0
- Numerical modeling
- 1.0
A New Method For A Sensitive Deuteron EDM ExperimentY. K. Semertzidis, M. Aoki, M. Auzinsh, V. Balakin, A. Bazhan, G. W. Bennett, R. M. Carey, P. Cushman, P. T. Debevec, A. Dudnikov, F. J. M. Farley, D. W. Hertzog, M. Iwasaki, K. Jungmann, D. Kawall, B. Khazin, I. B. Khriplovich, B. Kirk, Y. Kuno, D. M. Lazarus, L. B. Leipuner, V. Logashenko, K. R. Lynch, W. J. Marciano, R. McNabb, W. Meng, J. P. Miller, W. M. Morse, C. J. G. Onderwater, Y. F. Orlov, C. S. Ozben, R. Prigl, S. Rescia, B. L. Roberts, N. Shafer‐Ray, A. Silenko, E. J. Stephenson, K. Yoshimura and EDM Collaboration
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Revised to reflect afternoon share prices and US Airways share price leadership.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. ( TheStreet) -- Shares in US Airways (LCC) were leading airline stock prices higher Thursday, reflecting the carrier's unhedged position as oil prices fall, combined with continuing merger speculation.
Most airline shares were rising after three analysts this week upgraded the entire airline industry, which is a beneficiary of falling oil prices, continuing strong demand, industrywide capacity discipline, and ancillary revenues -- mainly from bag fees -- that total about $1 billion annually at the big three airlines and $500 million annually at US Airways.
Airline operating profits should rise 55% in 2012 and another 40% in 2013, JPMorgan analyst Jamie Baker wrote in a report, issued Thursday, which apparently was a key factor in Thursday's price gains. In mid-afternoon trading, US Airways shares were up $1.04 or 9.5% to $12.11. The shares are up about 132% for the year and trading at their highest level since November 2010.Also, shares in United (UAL) were up $1.13 or 5% to $23.56, while Southwest (LUV) shares were up 36 cents or 4% to $8.74 and Delta (DAL) shares were up 43 cents or 4% to $11.22. "Lower fuel has a material impact (and) jet fuel prices have collapsed roughly 40 cents per gallon since February, representing an annualized $5.5 billion windfall for the industry," Baker wrote. "Yet, since the end of earnings (season) consensus has barely budged. "Consensus appears wholly inadequate to us," he said. Baker raised year-end price targets to $39.50 from $37.50 for Alaska (ALK); to $17 from $14.50 for US Airways; to $38 from $35 for United; to $9 from $8.50 for JetBlue (JBLU); and to $12.50 from $12 for Southwest. (JP Morgan is restricted regarding Delta due to involvement in an ongoing transaction.) Baker's upgrades follow similar actions earlier this week by Dahlman Rose analyst Helane Becker and Bank of America Merrill Lynch analyst Glenn Engel, who also raised estimates for all carriers. "With lower jet fuel costs and improving revenues we are adjusting our second quarter and 2012 estimates," Becker wrote. "On average we lowered jet fuel and increased EPS by 10 cents." But Becker increased her estimate on US Airways by 28 cents because the carrier does not hedge fuel, meaning its benefit from declining fuel prices is unimpaired.
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Audi Bi-Xenon Road Signs
Audi Turkey Dogus Otomotiv reminded motorists of the efficiency of Audi Bi-Xenon headlights in a series of print advertisements with the tag line, "Now everything is two times more visible". "Deer" won Gold at the Golden Drum Awards, while "Father and Son" was shortlisted.
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BlackBerry gets Siri-alike, and it can do something Apple's assistant can't
Better late than never, right? That's clearly BlackBerry's attitude, as the company -- which still makes smartphones for some reason -- is just now introducing its Siri competitor. The blandly named BlackBerry Assistant performs several Siri-like tasks like sending text messages, checking the weather, and finding directions, so there's not much here for Apple fans to be jealous of... or is there?
It seems BlackBerry has a secret weapon up its sleeve that sets its digital helper apart. Are you sitting down? BlackBerry Assistant can -- wait for it -- activate the phone's flashlight. Game. Changer. I gave Siri a chance to best the gauntlet thrown down by BlackBerry, but she came up short.
In all seriousness, I quite enjoy seeing iPhone competitors introducing novel features that Apple could potentially iterate on -- or outright steal, no shame in that -- but this doesn't really fit the bill. It seems in the quest for automated help, Siri still reigns supreme, even if she leaves us in the dark.
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