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The staff of the Australian Pavilion at the 2005 World Exposition Aichi, Japan. The Expo ran from 25 March until 25 September 2005. DFAT staff in front from left: Peter Sams (Pavilion Director), Paul Molloy (Deputy Commissioner-General), Andrew Todd (Commissioner General) and Tom Menadue (Director, Business Liaison and Protocol). Photo: Terry Hope |
Enlarge image :: Photo gallery |
There was significant public and media focus on the department's work over the year, due in large measure to the Indian Ocean tsunami, our management of high-profile consular cases and a number of significant foreign and trade policy developments. The challenges presented by the international security environment and their impact on the department's programs and operations received a high level of attention.
We pursued a strategic approach to the media, contributing to balanced media coverage of major foreign and trade policy initiatives, such as negotiations for free trade agreements and the Counter-Terrorism White Paper, and events including the ASEAN–Australia–New Zealand Leaders' Summit in Laos and the Asia–Pacific Nuclear Safeguards Conference in Sydney. The Enhanced Cooperation Program with Papua New Guinea, the Australia–East Timor maritime boundary and resource issues negotiations, and the Doha Round of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations also attracted strong media and public interest.
The department provided information to the media through briefings in Australia and overseas and through the production of public affairs materials used by posts and disseminated on our websites. We actively promoted the Government's foreign and trade policy agenda, where necessary correcting inaccurate or negative media reporting in Australia and overseas.
We developed and conducted public diplomacy programs designed to advance an accurate and contemporary view of Australia and to promote our cultural assets. The department's visits programs—targeting international media representatives, opinion makers and cultural visitors—generated significant and balanced international coverage about Australia via influential media outlets, and created new opportunities for Australian artists in the global market.
Australia's participation in the 2005 World Expo in Aichi, Japan presented an important opportunity to project an image of Australia as technologically sophisticated and culturally diverse and harmonious. Our presence at the Aichi World Expo highlighted the importance of the Australia–Japan relationship. Our pavilion showcased Australia as a leading business, tourism and education destination.
The Internet continued to be the department's principal tool for communicating advice and information quickly to mass audiences in Australia and overseas. We used it strategically to support whole of government exercises, such as the response to the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster. Specific websites developed for key government programs such as the Australia Group, the Cairns Group, the 2006 Australia–Japan Year of Exchange and passport services, underscored the importance of effective website management in achieving core public diplomacy and broader policy objectives.
Media services
The department's active and systematic engagement with Australian and international media, including through a 24-hour service, facilitated a high level of informed and positive coverage of foreign and trade policy issues.
We responded to 8700 requests for information from Australian and international media, including rural, regional and online media, community radio, pay television and industry publications. This represented an increase of some 2000 enquiries over the previous year, resulting from interest in high-profile consular cases, including the tsunami disaster, the Douglas Wood Iraq hostage case and drugs cases involving Australians overseas.
We provided portfolio ministers, the Parliamentary Secretary and the Prime Minister's Office with strategic media advice and support for events and initiatives. These included major events such as the Athens Olympics, the 90th Anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign at Anzac Cove, the ASEAN–Australia–New Zealand Leaders' Summit in Laos, the APEC Ministerial and Leaders' Meetings in Chile, the Asia–Pacific Nuclear Safeguards Conference in Sydney and the Pacific Islands Forum in Apia.
Issues of significant media interest included the terrorist attack on the Australian embassy in Jakarta, the Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA), the Enhanced Cooperation Program with Papua New Guinea, the Counter-Terrorism White Paper, the first anniversary of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, the Australia–Indonesia Partnership for Reconstruction and Development, Australia–East Timor maritime boundary and resource issues negotiations, the proposed China FTA and other bilateral FTAs, and the WTO Doha Round.
The department's responsive and strategic approaches to media management continued to play an important role in supporting and promoting our portfolio priorities and ensured that portfolio ministers, the Parliamentary Secretary and the department's Senior Executive were fully informed of media interest in relevant emerging issues. Improvements in media monitoring, such as the inclusion of summaries of portfolio-relevant major electronic broadcasts into the department's daily media round-ups, enhanced our ability to anticipate and respond to negative or incorrect reporting and to provide corrections.
The department strengthened its engagement with local, national and international media. One-on-one interviews and briefings by senior departmental officers remained the most popular means of communication for journalists, and proved effective in informing and providing balance to media reports. The department arranged 225 targeted briefings of influential commentators both in Canberra and at posts, on topics such as WTO negotiations and the China Free Trade Agreement negotiations. Continuing strong media interest in portfolio matters saw the department hold 31 general media briefings on ministerial visits and on key foreign and trade policy issues, including joint press conferences with portfolio ministers and their overseas counterparts. Ministers' comments and press releases, which the department drafted, were regularly reported by the media.
The department issued over 350 media releases on behalf of portfolio ministers and the Parliamentary Secretary, 22 departmental releases, and 113 media notes.
Website services
Public interest in free trade agreements and some high-profile consular issues led to heightened activity on the department's websites. Key content additions to the main website included a new edition of Australia in brief and comprehensive material on Australia's approach to negotiations for free trade agreements with Japan, ASEAN–New Zealand, Thailand, China, Malaysia, and the UAE. The department consolidated and made more visible other trade-related material by integrating it into country-specific information under our Tradewatch service, which includes information about the economies of and our trade with important trading partners.
On 26 December 2004, soon after the department activated the Indian Ocean tsunami crisis centre, we established a special purpose website to provide information about the Government's consular response. Consistent with whole of government interests, the department updated the website continuously for several weeks and continues to update some relevant sections.
The department established or upgraded a number of additional websites relevant to the portfolio: a new website was established for the 2006 Australia–Japan Year of Exchange; we assumed responsibility for hosting and maintaining the Australia Group website; and we updated the passports website to reflect changes introduced in the Australian Passports Act 2005.
The department continued to transfer the hosting of overseas post websites from local service providers to a central system in Canberra. More than 60 websites were transferred and a content management system was finalised to allow posts to maintain website content. This improvement will minimise hosting costs, allow consistency in content and presentation of website material, and ensure maintenance of website security standards.
Peak website activity occurred in May 2005, coinciding with interest in the Australia–China Free Trade Agreement and high-profile consular cases. Each week the website provided an average of 19GB of data, attracted 785 000 page-views and served more than 71 000 unique users. In addition, the smartraveller website recorded 217 000 page-views per week.
Trade advocacy and outreach
The department's wide-ranging trade advocacy and outreach strategy uses print and electronic media extensively to inform the Australian public of the benefits of international trade. The Government's active free trade agreement agenda, including the implementation of two new FTAs and the launch of four new negotiations, was the main focus during the year.
The department's website provided detailed information on trade policy developments as soon as it was available, including detailed and up-to-date information on existing or potential FTA negotiations. The Tradewatch service was upgraded and made more accessible.
We published regular electronic newsletters on Doha Round developments as well as on Australia's participation in WTO dispute settlement. We also began preparations for a publication on a decade of WTO dispute settlement. We continued to publish on our website, where possible, Australia's submissions in WTO disputes.
Australia's revised offer in the WTO services negotiations was made public as soon as it was tabled in Geneva on 26 May 2005 and is available on the departmental website. The document was accompanied by a plain English explanatory note to help industry, community groups and others understand what is covered in the offer.
The Government's new free trade agreement (FTA) website, launched by Mr Vaile on 27 April 2005, is a one-stop online resource to help Australian businesses make the most of Australia's FTAs. It contains a wealth of practical information compiled by Australian government agencies to help Australian businesses understand and take advantage of our FTAs with the United States, Thailand, Singapore and New Zealand. Its development was coordinated by the department in conjunction with Austrade.
www.fta.gov.au helps businesses to:
- learn about the wide range of services available to exporters and investors from across the entire Australian government sector
- find practical guides on doing business in-market
- learn about upcoming trade fairs and missions
- subscribe to useful e-newsletters about trade and investment opportunities.
There was particular public interest in the completion of the joint feasibility study and subsequent launch of FTA negotiations with China. The department maintained a steady flow of information to a broad audience of interested parties, including through close liaison with the media, wide dissemination of newsletters and fact sheets, and a broad range of speaking engagements and consultations to build understanding of why Australia is pursuing an FTA, and to seek stakeholder views. We undertook a similar broad range of communications activities to promote the launch of new bilateral FTA negotiations. The department also ensured there was an extensive information campaign in place related to Australia's revised offer in WTO services negotiations, both in Australia and overseas.
The department's key messages about the benefits of trade and about the Government's trade policy agenda have continued to be reinforced by people-to-people links with industry and community groups across all states and territories, including through the outreach activities of Mr Vaile, Mr Billson and senior departmental officials across the country.
Trade publications
To promote the Government's trade policies the department produced or commissioned a number of targeted publications.
Negotiating free trade agreements: A guide was aimed at officials involved in such negotiations for the first time. It explained the main negotiating steps needed to arrive at an agreement. The guide was launched at the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in Jeju, Korea in June 2005.
Open economies delivering to people, 2005: Regional integration and outcomes in the APEC region contributed to APEC's Mid-Term Stocktake of progress towards the Bogor Goals of free and open trade in the region. Produced by the Centre for International Economics, the report outlined the significant liberalisation of trade and investment in the region since APEC's formation, and quantified the major social and welfare benefits delivered to the people of the Asia–Pacific, particularly within developing economies.
APEC: Best practice in secure trade highlighted the active role APEC has played in addressing counter-terrorism issues, particularly their impact on regional and global trade. It examined the experiences of individual APEC economies in securing their trade, to identify best practices that may help others develop responses.
Business case for standards (in conjunction with Standards Australia) highlighted the business case for adopting internationally recognised standards in the APEC region, and suggested ways to enhance the development of standards and conformance infrastructures.
Volume III: Asian agrifood demand trends and outlook to 2010, and a special stand-alone report, China: Asian agrifood megamarket, formed part of the 'Subsistence to Supermarket II: Agrifood Globalisation and Asia' series. They analysed the opportunities for the Australian agrifood sector in Asia.
Economic analysis
Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Bruce Billson, launching the report 'Australia and the United States: Trade and Multinationals in a New Era', at Parliament House, June 2005. Looking on is Nicholas Coppel, Executive Director, Economic Analytical Unit. |
Enlarge image :: Photo gallery |
The department produced four new economic analytical reports on topics reflecting Australia's foreign and trade policy priorities.
Following the restoration of law and order by the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, the department published Solomon Islands: Rebuilding an island economy. It focused on the next most pressing challenge—economic recovery. The report analysed the causes of the island nation's rapid economic decline and the reforms necessary to rebuild the economy. We attracted around 100 people to the Brisbane launch.
Papua New Guinea: The road ahead examined recent economic developments in Papua New Guinea. The report found that after years of contraction, macroeconomic conditions in Papua New Guinea had improved thanks to favourable commodity prices and a number of successful policy reforms. But greater agricultural productivity, increased investment and a stronger private sector were needed to create income and employment opportunities as mine deposits ran out and oil reserves depleted. The report was launched in both Canberra and Port Moresby and the main findings were presented at a major industry conference in Sydney.
Malaysia: An economy transformed analysed Malaysia's strong growth performance and the path to further economic development in the context of improved bilateral relations and a possible FTA. The report gave prominence to strong education links between Australia and Malaysia. It was launched in Canberra and Kuala Lumpur.
Australia and the United States: Trade and the multinationals in a new era found that Australian companies could realise the benefits of the Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement by working with US multinationals. The report analysed the importance of US multinationals to the further internationalisation of the Australian economy.
Commercial and statistical services
The department produces a wide range of statistical publications about Australia's international trade relationships. They assist policy-making and business decisions and contribute to community understanding of trade issues. In 2004–05, 4155 publications were distributed to a wide range of users in the public and private sectors.
We launched a new quarterly compendium publication, Trade topics: A quarterly review of Australia's international trade. The publication brought together a wide range of statistics on Australia's international trade. It included articles on Australia's trade policy and performance. The department introduced three electronic publications focusing on regional trade—Australia's trade with East Asia, Australia's trade with the European Union, and Australia's trade with the Americas.
We produced Trade at a glance, a pocket-sized free booklet summarising concisely Australia's trade with the rest of the world, including key policies and statistics.
Much of the department's statistical information is available either at no charge or on a fee-for-service basis for Australian businesses and researchers interested in overseas markets. Our statistical consultancy service answered 8812 such queries.
A set of country/economy fact sheets, including economic and demographic data for more than 165 of Australia's trading partners and summaries of their trade with Australia, is available on the department's website at www.dfat.gov.au/geo/fs. The fact sheets are a valuable resource for Australian business people travelling overseas.
Other public information activities
The department's website continued to provide an accessible one-stop shop to a range of departmental publications with information about Australia's foreign and trade policy. These publications include recent policy white papers, past annual reports, the department's corporate plan, ministerial and departmental media releases and major speeches. This material increases awareness and understanding of Australia's foreign and trade policy among domestic and international audiences. The department's publications officer can be contacted through the website.
The department's speechwriters, in consultation with ministers' offices and relevant areas of the department, prepared 176 speeches for ministers and the department's Senior Executive.
Consultative activities
To promote consultation with Australian community groups that helped inform policy processes, the department supported several standing consultative bodies chaired by Mr Downer, Mr Vaile and Mr Billson. They included the Foreign Affairs Council (Mr Downer), the Australia International Cultural Council (Mr Downer), the Trade Policy Advisory Council (Mr Vaile), the World Trade Organization Advisory Council (Mr Vaile) and the Smartraveller Consultative Group (Mr Billson).
We conducted biannual human rights consultations with non-government organisations (NGOs). Where possible, Mr Downer participated in the consultations, covering the full range of human rights issues. The National Consultative Committee on International Security Issues, replacing the former National Consultative Committee on Peace and Disarmament, met for the first time in April 2005. The new committee's remit is better aligned with the Government's policy priorities. We also continued to liaise with the Australian Network of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.
The Australian Treaties Database lists the treaties signed or that came into force each year. We maintain the database at www.info.dfat.gov.au/treaties . The department links the database to all government legislation and regulations passed or issued relevant to Australian treaty action since 1983.
Next page: Projecting a positive image of Australia internationally
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Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Annual Report 2004–2005
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October 1, 2009 12:00 AM
Best Dressed @ CES 2008 (or Worst -- They're All Geeks Anyway): Slide Show
The gadgets, as always, were the stars at this year's Consumer Electronics Show. But there was no denying the tens of thousands of characters prowling Las Vegas for the last week. And there was certainly no denying their, um, innovative fashion sense.
By Erik Sofge

subset: commoncrawl


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Sandra Bullock's Gravity Premiere Lace Dress Was Really, Really Good
Digital Fashion Writer
Sandra Bullock is tall, but not extraordinarily so—like five-foot-seven. So when she showed up at last night's Gravity premiere at the London Film Festival looking more Karlie Kloss-tall than, well, Sandra Bullock-tall, we had to think her Stella McCartney lace dress was largely to credit. With long sleeves drawing all the attention to her legs and a hem that hit at the perfectly flattering short-but-not-too-short length, Sandra looked all sorts of supermodel-y leggy.
But while the cut of the dress alone is a look worth copying if you're trying to show off your legs or create the illusion of height, we love the fabric, too: flesh-toned with a black lace overlay that reads pretty and flirty in an elegant way, not a vampy one. It's a one-two punch of awesomeness, which is why we've rounded up six similar options above—made even more awesome by the fact that they share the same cut and fabric as Sandra's dress, but not the Stella McCartney prices.


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Reviewed Fresh Tangerine Cake
Nov 16, 2011 in Food Network Community Toolbox on FoodNetwork.com
"The cake itself was great! But as a super begginer with a crying infant I found the actual making part a bit trying. I learned to zest the tangerine first. I used about 3 1/2 to get all the juice for both the cake and the frosting. The frosting was awesome you just have to for the cake to cool (a couple hours is best) and then apply so it wont ge..."


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Parent Education
*NEW DUE DATE* - October 15
Applicants must be a unit, council or district PTA in good standing.
Each year, the California State PTA Scholarship and Grant Committee carefully reads and vets each application. All applicants are notified of their status in February.
PTAs selected for grant funding receive a letter of congratulations and recognition certificate from California State PTA along with a check and a grant report form.
Parent Education Grants (on average $500 to $2,000)
Parent Education Grants are available for developing and implementing programs and projects aimed at enhancing parent education such as:
- Creating a parent resource center or parenting library
- Organizing a parent action seminar on a community or campus issue
- Offering workshops to grow student success
- Providing information in school newsletters on preparing healthy meals
- Designing a forum focusing on children with special needs
- Developing a program to help families transition to middle school and high school
To Apply – Download application
Questions? – Please contact the California Sate PTA Scholarship and Grant Chairman at: email@example.com
Grant Recipients – Parent Education Grants
Emerson Elementary School PTA, Peralta District PTA – $250
The PTA unit received funding for a presentation by a Spanish-language parent education speaker at their first Spanish-language PTA meeting.
The meeting, tailored to parents' interests, featured a Spanish-language speaker to talk about parent education issues, such as how to navigate the school system, and concrete ways to support children's education at home.
The grant helped the unit to reach out to predominantly Spanish-speaking parents and improve participation and inclusion.
Westmoor High School PTSA, 17th District PTA – $1,000
The PTA was awarded a grant to provide Parent Education Workshops - Parents Reaching Out and Bullying Prevention - to the parents and students of their school.
Topics included effective parental nurturing and discipline styles, cross-cultural awareness on language and appropriate behaviors, and creating rapport and building effective communication skills.
The unit will collaborate with the ASK Academy, a volunteer grassroots organization.
The organization utilizes education, economics and entertainment to address critical issues such as high drop out rates, high incarceration rates, increased violence in schools and against women and children.
Parkmont Elementary PTA, Peralta District PTA – $1,000
The PTA unit received funds to offer a series of parent education classes, Parent Project Junior, in partnership with the City of Fremont's Youth and Family Services for younger children.
The program involves 2-hour classes for 7 weeks focusing on parenting skills of strong willed children ages 5-11. The PTA will sponsor this course for the larger community and join with six other, local elementary schools within a three-mile radius to promote it.


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As cataract surgery continues to evolve many new choices have become available to patients. A cataract is a natural lens within the eye no longer functions properly because of loss of clarity making normal tasks difficult to perform. Environment and heredity are factors that can influence cataract formation, but as people age all people get some degree of cataract formation. Since a cataract is a lens it must be replaced with a new lens for the eye to function properly.
Modern intraocular lenses attempt to achieve not only the vision obtainable before the cataract formed, but to restore vision to a level once obtained in youth. This is because once people enter their 40's they lose the ability to alter focus from distance to near reqiuiring the need for bifocals or progressive (varilux) lenses. With the newer lenses that are now available multifocality is now possible enabling patients to be independent of spectacles most times and sometimes completely. One such lens is the Crystalens AO from Bausch & Lomb. This is a new lens which first became available this year. This is an excellent lens known for its excellent optics. This is because of its aberration free design along with its excellent depth of field. Other popular lenses are multifocal lenses with diffractive properties enabling people to see near, far, and in-between. The Restor from Alcon and the Tecnis from AMO are two such lenses.
To get more information regarding cataracts and cataract surgery we are now offering free seminars at North Shore Eye Care in Smithtown. Refreshments will be served and we are sure that you will find these discusssions quite informative. Our surgeons an North Shore Eye Care are listed in Castle Connelly's Top Doctors and all surgeons are Board Certified Ophthalmologists.


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On Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:34:29 -0700, sf wrote:
> I'm using word 2010, but I don't think that matters. I just discovered
> I filed a recipe doc in the wrong subfolder. I can fix it the long way,
> open > save to the correct folder > delete the doc in the wrong folder;
> but I used to be able to drag and drop between folders easily (3.1 &
> xp). How do I find the tree view I can drag and drop in with w7?
I have access to a machine with windows 7, so I did some experimenting,
and the functionality is the same as it always has been. The difference
is that instead of nice big "+" and "-" signs denoting the tree structure
in the tree pane (the leftmost one in Explorer), there are itty bitty
arrows, and they only show up when the mouse is over the pane. The lines
that used to denote the tree structure in Windows XP and earlier are not
there either.
Other than that, it is the same. Open "documents," then click the arrows
to show the appropriate directories in the tree structure, make sure the
directory that the file is in is highlighted, so that the file is in the
details pane (the middle pane in Explorer), then just select and drag it
to the approppriate folder.
Brian Christiansen


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I ventured across the rivers into the wilds of the North Hills last night. It's another world over there. I live in a happy urban neighborhood in southern Pittsburgh where streetcars roll down the main street. But if I cross the Monongahela and the Allegheny and go uphill for a bit, I find myself in neighborhoods where—believe it or not—they don't have streetcars at all, and where everyone seems to have a driveway. And they have a free glossy monthly magazine called The Point North where you can read the most astonishing things.
For example, you can read about a hormonal therapy so advanced it's endorsed by Suzanne Somers herself. And I thought everyone had got over the Da Vinci Code movie by now, but here's someone who's devoting a whole page to hoping the movie wins an Oscar.
I won't comment on the merits of the case: I haven't seen the movie, although for my own selfish reasons I was very happy about it. But I will comment on this article by K. J. Bryant, because it touches on one of my favorite subjects: the sacred feminine.
What our author loves most about the movie, it seems, is that it celebrates the Sacred Feminine, which was wiped out by militant Christianity in the time of Constantine.
She looks back to a time when people worshiped the Goddess, and women were given the respect they deserved.
"But it wasn't a time when women ruled," she tells us. "It was a time of partnership when the sexes were in balance with each other and the Earth."
When was this time of perfect harmony? Where do we see it in history? Is it in Gilgamesh? Is it among the ancient Egyptians, whose one female pharaoh had to wear a false beard to look the part? Is it in Homer? In Aristophanes? In Aristotle?
Oh, but wait—here's the answer:
"About 7,000 years ago, ancient marauders from the north moved in and transformed goddesses into wives or consorts of their male gods. Patriarchy's blade was mighty. Women became property. And our Earth has been out of balance ever since."
Now I see; now I understand everything. This golden age, this prelapsarian Eden, ended 7,000 years ago, before there was any written literature.
So how do we know so much about life back then? How do we know that the sexes were balanced in perfect harmony with the earth?
Well, basically, we just make it up.
Here our author shows herself a lot smarter than Dan Brown. Mr. Brown puts his Golden Age of the Sacred Feminine in the era just before the Christians muscled in, which as we know happened in the reign of Constantine. The trouble with that is that we know far too much about pagan Greece and Rome, and in particular about how they treated girls and women. I've said it before: the "feminine" might have been sacred to the pagans, but females were garbage.
But 7,000 years ago takes us back into prehistoric times. It's an obvious tautology, but apparently it has to be said anyway: prehistoric times were before history. We don't and can't know what was going on then.
Archaeology can show us small female figures, many apparently pregnant, but what were they? Were they images of a great mother goddess at the center of a sophisticated religious society based on peace and harmony? Or were they magical talismans meant to ensure an heir for the reigning patriarch? We don't know, because we can't know.
But was human nature entirely different back then? Were people's lives really based on "balance" with the earth rather than on lust, avarice, and violence? What would we find if we could suddenly discover a real history of those prehistoric times?
As a matter of fact, we can already refer to one example of a prehistoric people who have suddenly entered history.
For a century, scholarly orthodoxy said that the ancient Maya were peaceful astronomers whose most pressing concern was to calculate the exact position of Venus. We could read their calendrical and astronomical calculations, but the rest of their writings were a mystery. We assumed, however, that what was hidden from us was just more astronomy and chronology.
Now we can read the Maya inscriptions, and it turns out that most of their monuments, just like Old World monuments, were put up by kings who wanted to brag about how successfully they had slaughtered their enemies. The concern with the position of Venus, by the way, was purely practical: in Maya superstition, the position of Venus dictated the most propitious time for going out to kill somebody.
Maya history, in short, turns out to be just like everybody else's history: an endless succession of wars, with bloody battles and an occasional wholesale massacre of civilians.
So why did we believe that the Maya were peaceful astronomers rather than ordinary sinners like the rest of us? Mostly because we really, really wanted to believe it. In hindsight, the evidence of Maya violence was pretty obvious, even without the inscriptions. But we ignored it, because we desperately wanted to believe that paradise on earth was possible. We hope against hope that our world of sin and death is just an aberration—that we could somehow just undo the mistakes we've made and find ourselves back in Eden.
None of this means that I wouldn't like to believe in that golden age where nobody exploited anyone. But the Fall was universal; sin is the human condition, not a peculiar Western eccentricity.
Is it just hopeless, then? Is it inevitable that women should be exploited and treated as property? Or is there a way out? Can we find the real Sacred Feminine and bring it back before we end up, like the Greeks and Romans, in a world where women are garbage?
I'll have more to say about this shortly, but this entry is already bloated beyond measure. That's what happens when I venture into the suburbs.


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I'm trying to play around with virtual machines. I've set up a network of VMs accessible via nat gateway (a VM too) and openvpn. Everything works fine in windows 7. But in Ubuntu 13.04 it only works when I use the terminal (with sudo
of course) to connect to the server.
Here is the real problem: when I import the configuration file to the network manager it connects to the vpn gateway but no traffic. I found that the reason of that is a route that gnome network manager adds in the route table. It is:
192.168.56.101 my.wifi.router 255.255.255.255 UGH 0 0 0 wlan0
Mainly NM is routing all traffic going to 192.168.56.1 which is my virtual router (using host only mode) to the wifi interface, after I deleted this route all works fine. Now come the question, why is the network manager adding this route??


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I guess that's my excuse for bringing an entire wardrobe department's worth of clothing on each trip, from swim trunks to yoga pants to poncho to cummerbund: as a travel reporter I typically shift places and purposes every other day. A single city might have scores of disparate milieus, each requiring a different ensemble. In London you could go from thrift-shopping in Shoreditch (plaid hipster shirt; skinny jeans) to a ramble on Hampstead Heath (Gore-Tex boots; Patagonia), from a Michelin-starred restaurant in Knightsbridge (Paul Smith suit and tie) to an underground dance club in Bermondsey (DayGlo tracksuit; baby rattle). How could anyone accomplish all that with just a carry-on?
Yes, overpacking is primarily about vanity. But it's also about the pragmatism of blending in, with the hope that you might disappear into a place. Backpackers and business travelers have it easy: the former can wear the same batik pants for months; a businessman could pack one suit for a 10-city trip, merely rotating his shirt and tie. Even Tintin, the greatest traveler of all, crisscrossed the planet in just a polo and plus fours. But for today's global nomad, different contexts mandate different personas, and more costume changes than a Beyoncé show.
Of course, clothing is only half the story. I also bring a hefty stack of guidebooks, maps, and phrase books; a dozen magazines; a notebook and sketch pad; a box of pens and pencils; a mini watercolor set (I know, I know); a travel steamer; three varieties of sunscreen; an oversize Dopp kit; and a gallon Ziploc full of pills (Chinese herbs, temazepam, vitamins, Clarinex, melatonin, Advil, fish oil, Xanax—I could go on but let's not). Then there's the mandatory tech packing list: dashboard-mounting GPS unit; two cameras (SLR for landscapes and Canon S90 for snapshots), including lenses, filters, and seven-inch tripod; noise-canceling headphones; digital voice recorder and lapel-clip mic for interviews; key-chain USB drive; MacBook; iPhone; iPad; iPod Nano for the gym; spare Motorola cell phone (for foreign SIM cards); high-powered binoculars; plus all the attendant chargers, batteries and battery packs, USB cables, mini-USB cables, Y-splitters, and foreign outlet adapters.
On paper, my packing list looks like overkill. But while I regret having to hoist half my body weight in luggage up the stairs of my brownstone every time I come home from a trip, I have never regretted any single item I packed. (Okay, except for the nine-pound voltage converter I once carted around for my electric razor.) I can, however, recount plenty of occasions where I've regretted not bringing something—like, say, a pair of wellies for a spring wedding in Ireland, or a bottle opener for a camping trip in Sonoma, or those noise-canceling headphones for an overnight Mexican bus ride.
All that said, I do envy my unencumbered fellow travelers, answering only to the whims of wanderlust. I see them sailing through airports, sashaying into hotel lobbies, hopping off trains like so many nimble bunny rabbits, and I think, That would be nice. I can't answer to the whims of wanderlust, because I'm beholden to My Stuff, forever looking for a place to put it down. If only I could alight from the Eurostar at Gare du Nord, jump on the Métro, and breeze over to Le Comptoir in time for lunch, tucking my modest overnight bag discreetly under my chair. But no. For the overpacker, every relocation must be plotted like the invasion of Normandy; you need load-bearing vehicles, patience, a clear plan of attack. So I'm left schlepping three outsize bags to the taxi stand, joining the interminable line, paying 23 to ride a mile in traffic to my hotel, checking the bags at the bell desk, sprinting to the nearest Métro, and finally arriving at Le Comptoir only to be told, "Désolée, monsieur, lunch service is over." At which point this whole "keeping my options open" concept has completely backfired.
So I'm making myself a deal. This weekend my wife and I are going to Montreal—a quick little jaunt, four days and three nights—and for the first time in my adult life, my packing list will be restricted to fit in just a carry-on.
Yeah, you heard me.
I'm leaving my binoculars, travel steamer, and snorkeling set behind, and will try to make do—maybe even have fun—with just my iPhone, a few essential toiletries, and exactly four outfits' worth of clothes. I've resolved to follow the lead of my friend and T+L colleague Adam Sachs, whose travel motto is Underpack, overdress. I'll wear my suit coat on the plane, and I'm taking only the shoes on my feet. (For guys, bringing a second pair of loafers is like packing two extra canoes.) I've already squeezed my liquids into three-ounce containers. I even dug through the back of my closet to find one of those Flight 001 compression bags for my shirts—turns out they really are quite ingenious. It all adds up to 15.9 pounds of overhead-bin-suitable hand luggage. I know this because I've already packed and weighed it.
I'm ready, willing, and quite possibly able. But if anyone can tell me where I can buy a good watercolor set in Montreal, I'm all ears.
Peter Jon Lindberg is T+L's editor-at-large.


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Tuesday, November 15 2011
Bush: The Sea of Memories
Bush's first album in nine years will most likely please fans who've been hoping for a reunion, but it will not change the minds of those who relegated Bush to nothing more than a disingenuous rip-off of so many more brilliant '90s alterna-rock acts.
Thursday, October 20 2005
Bush: Zen X Four [DVD]
Maybe Bush wasn't groundbreaking or particularly memorable, but the band deserves better than this incomplete, slapdash cash-grab of a DVD.
Friday, June 25 2010
Bush Is Back: Gavin Rossdale and Crew Reunited with New Single
As a tween, my middle-school's playing field was located next to the local "Alternative School". The oft-repeated joke amongst my ska-punk loving classmates was that


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Sponsored by: Missoula Federal Credit Union
Sep 10, 2012 6:50 PM by MTN News
BILLINGS - Tuesday will mark the 11th anniversary of 9/11, the day of the deadly terrorist attacks on the United States.
Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer encourages everyone to help a neighbor in need or volunteer for service activities.
In Billings a program will be held at City College, formerly the College of Technology, beginning at 7:30 am. The event will include sirens sounding in remembrance and the laying of wreaths. The memorial at City College has a 600-ft piece of steel recovered from the rubble of the World Trade Center.
Later Tuesday, at noon, a ceremony will be held on the courthouse lawn in downtown Billings.
15 minutes ago


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I'm trying to find out if I can safely remove the oil-based paint from the sides of my new Fieldstone Ivory Cream factory-finished cabinets! (just painted by mistake yesterday). Is there any way i can manage this without damaging the finish? |
Follow-Up Postings:
Well that's a pisser. :( Instead of removing the paint that was applied by mistake, I wonder if it wouldn't be better to contact Fieldstone and buy a quart or gallon of their Ivory Cream and paint over the mistake? It won't be 'factory-finished' and you will always know that it is not factory-finished, you will always be able to tell the difference. But. It's very, very probable that no one else will ever see, or notice that difference and will be none the wiser about this mishap. |
I would think it would be very difficult to remove the oil based paint without also removing some of the factory finish. |
- Posted by dilettante (My Page) on Sat, Aug 14, 10 at 0:03
Bummer. You must feel terrible. I agree with funcolors that repainting is your best option, and also with paintguy that restripping would remove some of the original finish. You might also ask Fieldstone if it would be possible to purchase just the side panels, although that would undoubtedly be expensive. Still, it might be worth it if it gave you a better result. I've stripped quite a few pieces of furniture as well as some woodwork, and no matter what product I've used, it was always a messy, unpleasant job, especially stripping the woodwork because it had to be done in place. While some strippers will remove latex paint and leave the underlying oil paint fairly intact, I don't think any stripper could remove oil paint without disturbing the layers underneath it. Oil paint is harder to remove than latex and requires a stronger product. |
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Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) | New International Version (NIV) |
32 "For I have put my terror in the land of the living, and he will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword, Pharaoh and all his hordes," says Adonai ELOHIM. | 32 Although I had him spread terror in the land of the living, Pharaoh and all his hordes will be laid among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword, declares the Sovereign LORD." |
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. (The Complete Jewish Bible Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


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They love me when I was stuck and they hated when I departed
from Meek Mill – Intro (Dreams and Nightmares) Lyrics on Genius
When Meek was hustling and rapping on the side, his boys were loyal fans when he was local. But once he blew up, they became envious.
To help improve the quality of the lyrics, visit "Intro (Dreams and Nightmares)" by Meek Mill Lyrics and leave a suggestion at the bottom of the page


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English Standard Version (ESV) | New International Version (NIV) |
1 When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, | 1 When men began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, |
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers. (English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


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Fremont/Attica Sprint Title Championship Points Battle Re-Ignites This Weekend in Northern Ohio
Thursday, 19 July 2012
By Scott Porter - F.A.S.T. Public Relations
(Maumee, OH)
The most grueling week of sprint car racing in Ohio is in the record books, a new king has been crowned at the state's crown jewel event at Eldora and now attention turns back to two of Northern Ohio's premiere racing facilities as the Kistler Racing Products Fremont/Attica Sprint Title (F.A.S.T.) Championship Series presented by Engine Pro and KS Sales & Service returns to action. F.A.S.T. Championship Series action returns to Attica Raceway Park on Friday, July 20th before making the tow to Fremont Speedway on Saturday, July 21st.
The quest for the 2012 F.A.S.T. Kistler Cup and its $10,000 bounty left off in early June with Bryan Sebetto becoming the first driver to sweep a weekend of racing since the series inception in 2009. The pair of feature wins brought the Hammer Motorsports #24H total to four and extended Sebetto's points lead to 40 over veteran Dean Jacobs. Since then the team has been on the road with racing every night of the 30th Annual Ohio Sprint Speedweek, the Kings Royal weekend, and even ventured out West to Knoxville Raceway to turn some valuable laps as the team preps to compete in the Knoxville Nationals in August. Yet, the team led by crew chief Aaron Hammer is still focused on helping Sebetto defend his 2011 title.
Dean Jacobs sits in second place just two points ahead of 2009 F.A.S.T. Champion Craig Mintz in third. The duo both share a pair of feature wins this season, but have found success at opposite speed plants. Dean Jacobs has visited Engine Pro Victory Lane twice at "The Track That Action Built," but has only recorded one podium finish at Attica. Mintz on the other hand leads the track points at Attica thanks to his two wins (3 feature wins overall), but has just one top-five finish at the Sandusky County Fairgrounds Fremont Speedway. Both will look to turn the tide this weekend in hopes of tracking down Sebetto atop of the standings.
Strong performance at Fremont Speedway has the 2010 F.A.S.T. Champion Byron Reed still in the championship hunt in fourth place just 66 points out of the lead. Reed leads the track points at Fremont and will look to shake things up this weekend by getting into Engine Pro Victory Lane for the first time this season. The B&S Racing team will look to carry some momentum from a strong performance at the Brad Doty Classic at Limaland where a flat right rear flattened the hopes of a top-5 finish.
A quiet season so far for Phil Gressman has the Genzeman Racing Enterprises #53 in fifth place just 34-points back of Reed. The team has been a constant fixture inside the top-10 at both race tracks, but just a couple of bad runs at Attica has them yearning for more. Chris Andrews aboard the Burmeister Racing #16 is in 6th place, but will have his hands full holding off Mike Linder, who has been improving over the past month. Brian Smith, Todd Heller and Brad Bowman round out the top-10 in the F.A.S.T. Kistler Cup point standings.
Knocking on the door of the coveted top-10, which will pay out cash at the season ending banquet on Saturday, November 10th, are Daune Zablocki, Brian Lay and current F.A.S.T. Rookie of the Year points leader Stuart Brubaker.
This weekend starts a pivotal stretch of racing for the Fremont/Attica Sprint Title contingent as they race consecutively over the next 3 weekends. A championship can be won or lost with six feature events on the horizon against some of the toughest weekly competitors in the country. One bad night could leave an unfortunate race team thinking "what if" at season's end.
The F.A.S.T. 305 Championship Series also returns to action this weekend and, due to an incident last Friday night at Attica Raceway Park, the title hunt takes on a whole new perspective. Caleb Griffith suffered a compound fracture in his right leg as a result of an accident while leading the 305 sprint car feature event. Griffith has had successful surgery to repair his injury, but will be out of competition for quite some time to heal. D.J. Foos enters Friday night with a 45-point lead over Griffith and sits 52-markers ahead of John Ivy in third place. Nate Dussel is nipping on Ivy's tail just one point back in fourth place, while Jamie Miller rounds out the top-5. With just six events left in the $1,500 to win championship it will be time for drivers to "win it or wear in" in hopes of knocking Foos off the top of the hill.
For more information on admission prices, start times and directions to either Northern Ohio track visit www.atticaracewaypark.com or www.fremontohspeedway.com.
Visit www.fastondirt.com to find out more about the Fremont/Attica Sprint Title, the drivers, rules, schedule, sponsors, and more.
FAST On Dirt, Inc. would like to thank the following contributors to the 2012 Fremont/Attica Sprint Title point fund:
Kistler Racing Products, Engine Pro, KS Sales & Service, Engler Machine & Tool, CP-Carillo Pistons, Design Graphics Group Inc., Black Swamp Media Group, SCS Gearbox, Pukka Headwear, Reebar Die Casting, Hoseheads.com, Level Performance, MyHeroCards.com, J&F Construction & Development, Inc., Young's RV Centers, FSR Radiators & Racing Products, GL Heller Company, High Vista Videos, Gressman Powersports, Action Photos, Hoserville Ohio, October Hills Farms, Jon Wright Custom Chrome Plating, JD Automotive, Midwest Auto Sales, Commercial Motor Freight, Al Davis Carpet & Laminate, Attica Raceway Park and Fremont Speedway.
Also, a very special thanks to all of our contingency award sponsors:
RockAuto.com, SpeedMeetsArt.com, Golden Graphics & Design, All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads, Henry MotorCar Motorsports, DMI Racing Products, Fuel Safe, Productive Tools & Equipment, Hinchman Indy Racewear, OC Shocks, J&J Auto Racing, Kear's Speed Shop, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, Kinser Air Filters, Kinsler Fuel Injection, KSE Racing Products, Linder's Speed Equipment, Outerwears Performance Products, Pro Shocks, R2C Performance Products, Rocket Headers, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, Ti22 Performance, VRP Shocks, Weld Racing Wheels, Wings Unlimited and Zemco Headers.
Over 40 national and local sprint car stars have signed the Bell helmet donated by Kistler Racing Products. The helmet has been signed by Rico Abreu, Chris Andrews, Brian Brown, Dale Blaney, Brad Bowman, Cody Darrah, Nate Dussel, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Randy Hannagan, Brad Haudenschild, Jac Haudenschild, Sheldon Haudenschild, Danny Holtgraver, D.J. Foos, Dean Jacobs, Lee Jacobs, Kasey Kahne, Tim Keading, Mark Keegan, Steve Kinser, Mike Linder, Ed Lynch Jr., Paul McMahan, Craig Mintz, Daryn Pittman, Travis Philo, Byron Reed, Donny Schatz, Joey Saldana, Kyle Sauder, Bryan Sebetto, Tim Shaffer, Jason Sides, Brian Smith, Danny Smith, Stevie Smith, Tony Stewart, Brad Sweet, Greg Wilson, Lucas Wolfe, Duane Zablocki and more to come!
Tickets are available at the track or online at www.fastondirt.com. Tickets are $1.00 a piece or six tickets for $5.00. All Internet transactions are made through the secure services of PayPal and all major credit cards are accepted. All proceeds from this raffle goes directly into the 2012 points fund. The drawing will be held Saturday, September 8th at Fremont Speedway on the series' championship night. You do not need to be present to win.
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Thread: Green Water
04-16-2013, 07:31 PM #1Junior Member Guppy
- Join Date
- Apr 2013
- Posts
- 17
Green Water
I have second hand Jewel 150. It has been up and running for 3 days. It has been set up with new filter material and black gravel (Pets at home... i liked it). After day one I found out the heater was on the blink so i replace that (200w). The lights were on a little while i admired the tank but have otherwise been off.
Day two I came home to find a white cloudy mist across the tank. Throughout the evening this turned green. Unfortunately I had bought some plants on my way home which have now been planted (keeping the spare wool from the plants in the filter) but all this occurred before the planting. I also put in my well soaked mangrove root as i couldn't keep it in the bath any longer.
Today i have come home and added some Filter Start liquid.The lights have been on for 24 hours to help the plants and are now off. I have tested the Ph and its 7.5 and the nitrates are at 0. The water is a lot cleaner than last night but still has a green tinge.
I have a feeling that i may not have cleaned out the tank sufficiently although i did give it a good effort with only water. Is this a learn your lesson and start again moment or is there something i can do to recover this. I would prefer the second option as i am always up for a challenge but i don't want to be wasting my time.
AlexLast edited by cannedfool; 04-16-2013 at 07:35 PM.
0It appears you are trying to prepare the tank for fish?
Are you adding ammonia to do this? Running a tank with water in it won't prepare it - it's just using electricity : ()46 gal fw tank with black skirt tetras, neon tetras, spotted corys, cherry barbs, otoclinus, snails & 4 amano shrimp - plastic & live plants
5 gal QT
Remember: Our job is to take care of the water our fish live in
04-16-2013, 08:01 PM #3Junior Member Guppy
- Join Date
- Apr 2013
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- 17
0I was planning to put fish in it yes.
I had been looking at putting a few fish in it this weekend to cycle the tank but I wasn't expecting such green cloudy water.
The filter start (by interpret) i put in i am honestly not sure what is in it (apart from what they say on the website). But i am following the guide that came with the Kit i got.
0generally speaking, completing fishless cycle can be quicker and less work than cycling with fish
There are links below in my sig that explain both processes better than I can
Does you tank get any direct sunlight ?If you take your time to do the research FIRST, you can successfully set-up and keep ANY type of aquarium with ease.
"Not using a quarantine tank is like playing Russian roulette. Nobody wins the game, some people just get to play longer than others." - Anthony Calfo
Fishless Cycle Cycling with Fish Marine Aquarium Info [URL="http://saltwater.aquaticcommunity.com/"]
04-16-2013, 08:20 PM #5Junior Member Guppy
- Join Date
- Apr 2013
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- 17
0Ill read it thanks, i think i read somewhere that with fish it was quicker. I will defiantly check out the posts.
No its not in direct sunlight for any part of the day and the room inst the brightest either.
0Can't help you with your green water issue but can report from personal experience that fishless cycling is twice to 3 times faster than cycling with fish and no water changes are involved as well as no fish are subjected to ammonia or nitrite poisoning.
do check out the stickie on fishless cycling and get back to us if you have any questions.30 g FW planted:corys, ABNP, blue angel, harleys, zebra danios, kribs, & nerite snails
15 g FW planted: crown tail betta, neons, snails
90 g FW semi planted: EBJD, congos, rainbows, ABNP, peppered cories, apple snails
90 Gal Journal: http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...ad.php?t=93939
Fishless cycling: http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...ead.php?t=5640
Cycling with fish: http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...ad.php?t=36492
04-18-2013, 05:04 PM #7Junior Member Guppy
- Join Date
- Apr 2013
- Posts
- 17
0Thanks for all the info on cycling.
Yesterday i made the choice to do a 60% water change (quite chuffed that I can still make 27 degree water by hand), Leaving the lights off since then. I Still have a green tinge to the water so am thinking I might just strip down and start again taking some bleach to the tank.
I do have a few questions if anyone can help....
1) Do i boil/sterilize the filter material before rebuilding the tank? Its all new since Sunday and with this algae bloom being so quick (after 1 day filling). I am wondering if it is not just full of harmful stuff rather than a lot of good bacteria yet.
2) Can i keep my plants? if so how should i store them? I was thinking just keeping them in some tank water then cleaning each leaf before returning to the tank?
If all else fails and it comes back again I think I might just buy a UV Filter. It cant harm to own one when I have a few tanks in the future?
Thanks everyone.
0Last edited by imma24; 04-18-2013 at 05:32 PM.
46 gal fw tank with black skirt tetras, neon tetras, spotted corys, cherry barbs, otoclinus, snails & 4 amano shrimp - plastic & live plants
5 gal QT
Remember: Our job is to take care of the water our fish live in
04-18-2013, 09:29 PM #9Junior Member Guppy
- Join Date
- Apr 2013
- Posts
- 17
0Thanks Loads. I am almost finished boiling all the gravel and I have cleaned the tank with bleach and then rinsed it very very well.
I am hoping to fill it tonight and then do my best to find some ammonia tomorrow. I have tried a few places today with no luck.
04-20-2013, 09:23 AM #10Junior Member Guppy
- Join Date
- Apr 2013
- Posts
- 17
0Finally found some ammonia yesterday in a very small out of the way pharmacy. It went in yesterday and I have my master test kit ready to start testing in a few days.
If only i could make it go quicker lol. Thanks again everyone.
Ps: Ammonia has been taken of sale in the UK completely now. Its a while stocks last situation.