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The department's strong institutional governance framework ensured we achieved the corporate tasks that support our performance outcomes.
Senior Executive
The Secretary and five deputy secretaries comprise the department's Senior Executive. The Senior Executive provided leadership and strategic direction to the department and ensured we met our corporate governance requirements.
The Secretary, Mr Michael L'Estrange, provided close direction on all major foreign and trade policy and corporate management issues. The Secretary provided direct leadership in shaping and communicating the professional values and culture of the department in Australia and abroad. He decided all Senior Executive Service staff placements. The five deputy secretaries supported the Secretary in overseeing the department's divisions (see Figure 2 on page 17 for a breakdown of deputy secretary responsibilities).
Members of the Senior Executive frequently represented the Government at high-level meetings in Australia and overseas. The deputy secretaries also chaired key corporate governance bodies.
Management mechanisms
The department's management mechanisms provided effective decision-making and communication of corporate policies.
Senior Executive meetings
Weekly meetings of the Senior Executive, chaired by the Secretary, considered a range of foreign and trade policy and corporate issues. The heads of Corporate Management Division, Diplomatic Security, Information Management and Services Division and, as appropriate, the Director General of AusAID also attended these meetings. The Senior Executive meetings considered regular reports on the department's staffing, budget, IT performance, property issues, passports developments and divisional performance on ministerial correspondence and security breaches.
The Senior Executive held regular meetings on current policy issues with Mr Downer and Mr Vaile.
Senior management committees
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee helps the Secretary ensure that the department's assurance and control framework is effective and supports departmental objectives. Chaired by a deputy secretary not directly responsible for overseeing the Corporate Management Division, the Audit Committee is charged with: enhancing the department's corporate governance, risk management and control framework, including business continuity planning; improving the objectivity and reliability of externally published financial and other management information; assisting the Secretary comply with all legislative and other obligations; providing strategic guidance for evaluation and performance audit activities; advising the Secretary of issues that require management attention and ensuring the role and scope of the department's internal audit function meet the definition of internal auditing approved by the Institute of Internal Auditors and endorsed by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO).
In addition to senior departmental officers, the committee includes an independent member. Our Chief Finance Officer, staff from our Evaluation and Audit Section and ANAO officers attend each meeting as observers.
In 2005–06 the Audit Committee met three times. Issues it considered included the department's more risk-based approach to internal audit, the roll-out of the self-assessment audit manual for posts, the introduction of a modified audit ratings system aligned to the department's risk register and professional standards, and the release of a new Fraud Control Plan for the department.
Ethics Committee
The Ethics Committee oversees the development and implementation of policy on conduct and ethics issues and the work of the department's Conduct and Ethics Unit. The committee, chaired by a deputy secretary, comprises ten members representing various levels and departmental experience. It meets regularly to provide guidance on promoting ethical conduct among departmental staff and on our practices in handling ethics-related issues.
Workplace Relations Committee
The Workplace Relations Committee is the primary consultative body for human resource management and conditions of service issues affecting the department's Australia-based employees. It provides a forum for discussion between management and staff representatives about the working environment, conditions of service and matters of concern to staff.
The committee is chaired by the Secretary or his nominee, normally a deputy secretary. Under the terms of the department's Certified Agreement 2003–2006, membership includes representatives from management areas and nine elected staff representatives (two from each of the four employee broadbands and one SES employee). The Association of Foreign Affairs and Trade Employees, the Community and Public Sector Union, the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union and the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance are also represented on the committee, which meets at least four times per year.
During 2005–06 the committee was actively involved in consultations for the department's new Collective Agreement 2006–2009.
Other senior management meetings and mechanisms
The Secretary's weekly meeting with division heads is the central means of communicating corporate and policy priorities throughout the department. Division heads are responsible for disseminating key messages from these meetings to their staff. As required, the Secretary holds policy planning meetings with senior executive staff to discuss priority or emerging issues.
The Secretary communicated with staff through his weekly meetings with division heads, weekly policy reports, administrative circulars, messages delivered via the department's intranet and the staff newsletter DFATNEWS.
Posts were kept informed of and contributed to policy and corporate initiatives through:
- the Secretary's weekly policy reports
- weekly key messages briefs distributed by cable to all posts
- regular formal and informal communication with 'parent' divisions in Canberra
- periodic regional heads of mission/post meetings and consultations
- periodic visits by officials from Canberra, sometimes in conjunction with ministerial or senior officials' meetings
- post liaison visits led by a deputy secretary or the head of Corporate Management Division (CMD) or the head of Diplomatic Security, Information Management and Services Division (DID)
- regional management conferences attended by senior representatives of CMD and DID
- regional public diplomacy workshops led by staff from Canberra
- policy and administrative guidance through administrative circulars.
Planning and review
A series of departmental planning and review processes—covering all divisions, overseas posts and state and territory offices—takes place throughout the year to evaluate performance and ensure resources are directed effectively to support the Government's foreign and trade policy goals. Performance expectations and planned use of resources are outlined in the department's Portfolio Budget Statements.
Divisional evaluation review
Divisional evaluation reviews take place in August each year, with a mid-term review in February. The purpose is to enable the Senior Executive to evaluate the performance of each division and to determine or refine divisional priorities for the period ahead. In 2005–06 the department created a new process, called the budget allocation review (see below) to assess the department's resources and adjust allocations to meet evolving priorities. Previously, this budget process had been handled as part of the divisional evaluation reviews.
Budget allocation review
The department's Senior Executive decided to create a separate budget allocation review process—de-linked from the divisional evaluation review—to enhance budget planning and expenditure forecasting and better integrate the department's internal processes with the Government's budget timetable. The first budget allocation review meeting took place in May 2006 and they are scheduled to take place in April/May and October of each year. This process is the department's primary vehicle for resource decisions.
Post evaluation reports
The department undertakes an annual evaluation of the performance of our overseas posts over the previous 12 months. The process is a central mechanism for ensuring posts' work is focused on the Government's priorities. We assess posts' contributions to policy outcomes, examine the quality of post management and set priorities for the forthcoming year. Post evaluation also helps inform the Senior Executive's performance appraisal of individual heads of mission and post.
Incorporating the views of other departments and agencies is a key element of our post evaluation. For 2005–06, consistent with a suggestion from the ANAO in its 2004–05 audit on the Management of Bilateral Relations with Selected Countries, we invited comment from 45 departments and agencies, asking them to consult relevant bodies within their portfolios. We seek strategic-level assessments of posts' performance in meeting the Government's policy objectives, although feedback on operational issues is also welcome. Agency comments were very positive overall, demonstrating that posts were meeting whole of government objectives.
Evaluation of performance of state and territory offices
As with posts, state and territory offices are subject to a performance review at the end of each financial year. Office evaluation reporting focuses on key areas including support to ministers, liaison with the local consular corps, business liaison programs and trade advocacy and outreach activities, as well as assistance with major meetings, notarial services and office administration. The 2005–06 evaluation found that state and territory offices were meeting expectations in these areas.
Post liaison visits
In 2005–06, deputy secretaries, the head of Corporate Management Division or the head of Diplomatic Security, Information Management and Services Division led small teams that conducted post liaison visits (PLVs) to 11 posts. The annual program of post liaison visits allows us to assess first-hand post performance against agreed objectives and provides an opportunity for post staff and their families to raise any concerns direct with senior staff from Canberra. As a result of the visits, the department assessed whether posts were appropriately staffed and resourced and, as appropriate, considered adjustments. Each PLV produces a list of recommendations on post operations that are subsequently considered by the department's Senior Executive for implementation.
Internal audit
The Audit Committee has governance responsibility in the department for internal and external audit. It guides and reviews our audit program to ensure we maintain an effective internal control framework and comply with legislative and other obligations.
We completed and presented to the Audit Committee general assurance and compliance audits covering:
- twelve posts on site
- three posts as desk audits in Canberra
- superannuation delegations (annual requirement)
- handling and storage of highly sensitive national security material by the department (annual requirement)
- assurance audit of frequent flyer management in Canberra
- assurance audit of head of mission representation returns.
The Audit Committee noted that all recommendations arising from these audits were satisfactorily addressed during the year.
A self-assessment tool was introduced that will complete our control self-assessment framework for posts (see box below). Internal control targeted audits for posts were also introduced that will better assess the extent to which our internal controls mitigate risks. We completed field work for a major performance audit of the role of the senior administrative officer at posts. The audit will be finalised in 2006–07.
Department develops self-assessment manual for audit best practice
Ensuring the department's headquarters, overseas posts and state and territory offices operate efficiently, provide reliable financial reporting and comply with relevant laws and regulations is a major task. To strengthen departmental administrative and financial controls, we developed and rolled out a self-assessment manual (SAM) that will allow our posts to conduct self-audits in line with audit best practice. All senior administrative officers will be required to conduct a self-audit of their post's operations during the first 12 months of their posting.
SAM was developed by the department's Evaluation and Audit Section over a number of months. The development phase included trials by a number of different-sized posts, after which the manual was further refined to take account of user experience and suggestions.
An important element of SAM is its utility as a training tool. Both Australia-based and locally engaged staff at posts will be able to use SAM's testing instructions and policy reference manual to increase their audit capabilities and assure themselves of compliance with relevant controls and requirements.
SAM is available to all staff on the department's intranet.
Risk management and business continuity planning
The Audit Committee has governance responsibility for risk management and business continuity planning. In 2005–06 the department: updated the risk register; incorporated into the performance agreements for all managers a measure on adherence to risk management principles; and communicated messages to staff about the importance of effective risk management through an administrative circular signed by the Secretary and a regular management report available to all staff. We provided a submission to the annual Comcover risk management benchmarking survey and entered Comcover's awards for excellence in risk management, for which we were short-listed for an award.
In May 2006 the department conducted a desktop test of our business continuity plan (BCP) (see box below). We monitored and updated posts' and divisions' BCPs and provided generic guidance to posts about how to update and test their plans. We provided briefings to posts on BCP requirements at regional management meetings. The department improved the utility of our offsite IT disaster recovery facility.
'Earthquake rocks R G Casey Building'
On 10 May 2006 members of the department's Business Continuity Task Force assembled to work out how the department would continue to provide core services to government and the public following the devastating earthquake that rendered its headquarters, the R G Casey Building, unusable.
Plans to determine the welfare and whereabouts of staff affected by the crisis, evacuation strategies, damage assessments and options for business resumption were all under the microscope.
At the same time, the task force was managing responses to concurrent crises, including terrorist attacks on overseas missions, events harming Australians overseas and diplomatic incidents in Australia.
If this confluence of events tests credulity, there's a reason—they didn't actually happen. In fact, the exercise was a mock-test of the department's business continuity plan, facilitated by an external consultant as part of our regular cycle of business planning.
The exercise showed a number of strengths in the department's response capabilities, including the ability to focus on key issues, draw on the resources of other organisations where appropriate, and use the experience we have gained from dealing with a number of overseas crises. We will also further strengthen our plan where potential gaps or risks were identified.
Conduct and ethics
The department has instituted a workplace culture that promotes high ethical standards. We continued to develop the existing strong staff awareness of the APS Values and Code of Conduct, including through the department's own Code of Conduct for Overseas Service for Australia-based staff. The code takes account of the significance of the department's representational role outside Australia.
We conducted investigations into both Australia-based and locally engaged staff on an as required basis, again recording low levels of reported fraud and misconduct. We continued extensive outreach activities, including mandatory conduct and ethics training for all staff on pre-posting training and for new staff and graduate and other trainees. Conduct and ethics awareness was an important component of a range of other staff development and management courses, such as management workshops, the Leadership and Development Program for locally engaged staff and regional management conferences involving administrative officers from posts. We provided briefings on post-specific conduct and ethics issues to heads of mission and post, deputy heads of mission and senior administrative officers before their departure on posting.
The department's human resources manual includes a chapter with departmental-specific guidance on conduct and ethics issues, including: procedures for dealing with gifts, benefits and hospitality; SES returns on their private interests; offers of sponsored travel; and diplomatic and consular privileges.
Fraud measures
In accordance with the requirements of the Commonwealth Fraud Control Guidelines, the department has in place fraud risk assessments and a fraud control plan. We reviewed and reissued the department's fraud control plan in 2006. The department has in place appropriate fraud prevention, detection, investigation, reporting, and data collection procedures and processes that meet the specific needs of the department and comply with Commonwealth guidelines.
The department's investigators responsible for fraud and misconduct investigations hold the Advanced Diploma of Government (Fraud Control Management), which is the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department's recommended qualification for Commonwealth employees primarily engaged in managing fraud prevention, detection and investigation activity.
Whole of government
The department worked with other agencies on issues requiring a whole of government approach. Effective whole of government coordination is an essential part of the department's work on policy and organisational matters, on tasks ranging from the hosting of major international meetings, responses to consular crises, regional counter-terrorism cooperation and coordinating policy approaches to bilateral and multilateral trade negotiations. Whole of government coordination at our overseas posts is increasingly crucial to their operations, particularly with the increasing numbers of attached agency staff at some posts. The department led a process with other agencies to revise the 1985 'Guidelines for the Management of the Australian Government Presence Overseas', to provide a more contemporary guide to coordination and cooperation between agencies at posts. The revised guidelines will be issued in 2006–07. We integrated whole of government issues into departmental training programs and performance management templates.


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Update: Congrats to Shaina, our giveaway winner! Thanks to all who entered. We love Thanksgiving and all of its warm, rich, comfort foods. But sometimes it's good to lighten things up a little bit, add some new color, throw in a little crunch, or just find a way to make everything a just little bit […]
Tag Archives | turkey
Lovely Leftovers
Leftovers, let me tell you: You've got an image problem. It starts with your name: Leftovers. You're basically telling everyone that you are the food that no one had use for the first time around. How are you going to get anyone interested in you with a reputation like that? The truth is, you're still […]
Food Safety for Families
The holiday season is just around the corner, which means that you're likely to be eating at any number of special dinners, buffets, potlucks, and catered events in the next few weeks. As you sit down to enjoy your meal, food safety is probably the last thing on your mind. But all it takes is one round […]
Thanksgiving Tips
Thanksgiving. Dinner. Do those two words send a chill up your spine? If you're cooking this year (like I am), you're probably not too keen on being reminded just how much work goes into creating this annual feast. But don't despair! You can get it all done, and you can still cook a tasty feast […]
Fun Food Saturday: Purple Feast
What's more fun than one purple food? How about a whole meal made out of purple foods? We put that theory to the test this week when we hosted a purple feast for friends. The inspiration came from a favorite childhood memory of our uncle's "purple" turkey (turkey roasted with plums), and a stroll through […]
Thanksgiving for Kids
Is there any other holiday in this country that is more centrally focused on food and family? Not that we can think of, just from glancing at the calendar. Problem is, there's a lot of build-up. You spend all day working on the big meal, and getting ready for the relatives. By the time the […]
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WoW Moviewatch: Azeroth - Land in chaos
This is the first video presented in Gnomax3D. (It's not really 3D, please don't try.) While the author names himself after the style, I'll admit I had a little bit of trouble sorting out what are the distinctive characteristics of Gnomax3D. The movie was certainly beautiful to watch, but so are many others. If further tours like this are created by Gnomax, though, I'm sure we'll find out eventually. I'm definitely looking forward to a similar view of Cataclysm.
Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an e-mail at machinima AT wow DOT com.
Filed under: WoW Moviewatch


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I Know Where Guenter Wendt
You may recall a certain scene in the movie Apollo 13 in which Jim Lovell (played by Tom Hanks) notes the disappearance of one of the launch pad workers who'd only moments before been visible through the capsule window. He quips, "I vonder vere Guenter vent" in a distinctive German accent, making a clever play on words with the man's name. He was talking about Guenter Wendt, a German immigrant to the United States following World War II who had joined the space program in its early days – even before Project Mercury – and had climbed through the ranks to the position of Pad Leader.
Today marks Guenter's eighty-eighth birthday. Sadly he left us last year, and it's worth taking the time to remember him and what he gave to his adopted country.
First, he came to the US with so much to offer. Rather than arriving with his hand out and demanding free government assistance, he offered us his tremendous experience in flight and engineering, which he put to good use beginning with McDonnell Aircraft Corporation.
Beyond that, he offered passion and dedication to every job he took, glamorous or otherwise. I was privileged to talk with him in 2004 about the fascinating times in his life in aerospace and was rewarded with a candid dialog I hadn't expected. Upon arriving in the US, his search for a job was relentless. After 140 applications he came to a concrete mixing company in need of a truck mechanic. The foreman pointed out, "but you don't have any references." Not one to be dissuaded by challenges, he countered, "I'll make you a deal – It was a Wednesday – I'll get my tools and work for you until Friday. If I cut the mustard, you pay me and hire me. If not, just tell me goodbye, and you don't owe me a thing." The guy said, "That's not a bad deal. Ok. Come on, and bring your tools." He got the job, and that was that. If only more folks these days had the same attitude towards finding employment. Here was a man who had been a successful flight test engineer on (at that time) new high performance aircraft who was negotiating for the position of truck mechanic. Rather than regarding it as beneath him, he applied his typical dedication to remain gainfully employed until he could find something closer to his passion. That's what we call character. And it paid off. He did find his way back to a career in flight. First with McDonnell where he applied his knowledge and experience in designing missile systems to defend the US. It was here in 1958 where he was first bitten by the manned space flight bug.
At that point, NASA was still known as NACA, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, and Project Mercury – the first manned space program – was yet to be born. Manned space flight at that time rest exclusively with the Air Force's Dyna-Soar program, and the range that would become Kennedy Space Center was still undeveloped and snake-infested beaches and swamp.
That was not the situation for long. Months later NASA was born and the US entered into a race to space with Project Mercury, the first in a three-tier effort to reach the moon that would be followed by Gemini then Apollo. Guenter was right there in the thick of it. He and four others were the vanguard from McDonnell to go to Cocoa Beach. From Mercury through Gemini, he was helping to pave the way for humans on the grandest adventure of all time. By the time of Apollo, McDonnell had lost the contract to North American. Deke Slayton, who was chosen as one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts and later went on to become NASA's Chief Astronaut, went to Guenter and asked him to change over to North American.
The company was initially unwilling to allow him what he needed to do the job. He said, "I talked to them and told them the way I operate. The authority I need. Complete personnel control." They couldn't agree to let me have that." They said a new hire can't have that authority. I said, 'Fine. I can't help you.'"
And so he stayed with McDonnell. But then came the Apollo 1 fire in which Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee lost their lives while conducting a ground test inside the capsule. An ignition source and flammable materials combined in a cabin pressurized with highly flammable pure oxygen to start the fire. The situation was further exacerbated by a poorly designed hatch and woefully inadequate emergency preparedness that failed even to recognize the operation as hazardous.
"Shortly thereafter," Guenter went on to say, "I got a call from Slayton. He said, 'We'd like you to run our pad operations.' I said I can't do that unless I have the authority I need. He said, 'I have a guy here who says you can have whatever you need.'"Ok. Put him on the phone.' The guy introduced himself as Mr. Bergen – I didn't know who the hell "Bergen" was – He said that Slayton had explained how I do business – on more of a dictatorial basis – and they were pleased to provide whatever I needed. So I said OK. Here is the way I operate. Here is what I need. Here is the way I will do things. If you agree to that, I'll come over and work for you. They explained again that they had been instructed to hire me." I said, 'By the way. Who the hell is that guy, Bergen?' They said, 'You see that organizational chart over there? The guy at the top of the pyramid is Bergen, President of North American Aviation.'
We'll never know how things would have gone had Guenter been in charge of pad operations that fateful day, but I'd bet my reputation as an aerospace engineer that the operation would have been seen as hazardous and plans made to emergency egress those astronauts. One of the things that set him apart was to "pre-act" in what he called the "what if" game. It bothered him that people too often simply reacted to problems rather than anticipate and plan for them. He was not willing to leave things to chance. Here again, his character shines through, and we would all do well to head the lessons of his life.
No one ever answered Lovell's question, but I think I know vere Guenter Wendt. He's slipped the surly bonds of Earth to join Gus Grissom, Christa McAuliffe and all the other heros who dedicated themselves to space flight. And how lucky we are that he found his way to our shores, fortunate to have had his guidance and how blessed by his friendship.
Happy birthday Guenter. We'll not forget you.
Manned Mission To An Asteroid: Eureka Moment Or Dead End?
Filed under: Civil Space Flight, Commercial Space Flight, Lunar Resources, National Space Policy, Off-Earth Resources, Space Pioneers
With the shuttle program behind us and International Space Station construction now complete, we begin a new era in space exploration. The long-sought foothold in space that Station provides has finally been established, and it serves as our jump off point from low Earth orbit to all points beyond. More than that, it stands as the corner stone of a new orbiting infrastructure that will be needed for any course we choose to undertake next.
The choice of our next destination sets in motion the many cogs and wheels that make up the much larger machine of space exploration. It is with great care then that we must consider the direction in which we set off before that machine gains momentum. We've already seen the cost of breaking that momentum: the $9 billion that went into the now cancelled Constellation program, for instance; squandered money that could have gone a long way towards moving mankind out into space on a sustainable path. The original Vision for Space Exploration embodied in the Constellation program underwent too many changes, too many course corrections. By the time of its demise, Constellation bore little resemblance to the program initially set in motion under the O'Keefe leadership of the early to mid two thousands. This sad fact underscores the importance of staying the course.
Where should we go next? The answer to that question must address the sustainability of space exploration. Anything less is to repeat the mistakes of the past. Sustainability means infrastructure, which can be thought of in much the same terms as we think of infrastructure here on Earth: roads; bridges; airports; utilities; communications; waste disposal; shipping, emergency services, etc. The list goes on. There is an entire infrastructure that will be needed in space to support a human presence there, long term. The International Space Station – aside from its function as an orbiting laboratory – is the first baby step in that direction. Where we pick to go into space next must foster and support the emergence of infrastructure. The logic is inescapable. Just as inescapable are the economics. That's why when we speak of building infrastructure, we're necessarily going to be limited to the area close to home: Earth orbit; cislunar space or the space between the highest Earth orbit and the moon; and the lunar surface itself.
The Obama Administration's vision for space exploration is to send NASA astronauts to an asteroid, purportedly as the means to save civilization in the event one was discovered to be on a collision course with Earth. Exactly what humans would do once there hasn't been worked out. Without any means to carry out its objective, the plan is vague and without substance. At the outset, it conspicuously fails to address the important issues we've just laid out.
First, a mission to re-route an asteroid does not need humans. Such an endeavor can be effectively carried out with robotic spacecraft. The methods proposed, ranging from firing nuclear bombs to focusing light beams on a menacing asteroid, do not require or use astronauts.
Its secondary mission is to serve as a stepping stone for future missions to Mars, but an asteroid is very different from a planet and thus requires different technologies. Tools such as jetpacks, tethers, bungees, nets and spiderwebs to allow explorers to float just above the surface of an asteroid while attached to a smaller mini-spaceship are all redundant to the ultimate missions the administration claims they support.
When we consider these facts in the light of day, the Obama plan begins to appear frivolous; more a stunt than serious exploration. An asteroid is no more than the cosmic analog to an iceberg. Yet plans are being drafted to send astronauts there on a mission that would not advance a human presence in space in any way, whatsoever, beyond the hand full of individuals making the trip. Can you imagine figures of history having committed the same folly?
Since the dawn of the space age it was the civil space program alone to amalgamate our drive for exploration beyond Earth. But things are changing and evolving. The private sector is stepping in to shoulder some of the loads traditionally carried by the government like building and operating rockets to low Earth orbit. Of course the private sector has partnered with the space agency from the beginning, so what's different today? Though most commercial entities – the larger ones in particular – still prefer the safety of the more traditional public-private partnership in which the government assumes all the risk, a few bold entrepreneurs have stepped up and taken a seat at the table. They are seeding the development of space systems and vehicles using their own private capital. Founder of Paypal Elon Musk, cofounder of id Software John Carmack who made such computer games as Doom, Sir Richard Branson who founded the Virgin conglomerate, founder of Budget Suites of America Robert Bigelow, founder, president and CEO of Amazon Jeff Bezos, and Microsoft cofounder Paul Alan are among the most notable people to invest hundreds of millions in the aggregate so far.
Those investments were and continue to be anything but a safe bet. The men and women investing their fortunes and reputations in the very risky business of human space flight know that they stand to lose it all, yet they continue despite that risk. Why? Because the dream of exploration, the yearning to set out for parts unknown, is not the sole domain of NASA. All the passion and the scientific and engineering talent for which the space agency has come to be known exists in spades in the private sector.
There is something, however, that sets the private sector apart from the government; something that we take as a tacit to the urge for space travel, yet has never been part of NASA's charter. That something is the impulse to colonize and see everyone benefit from the limitless resources and opportunities of space.
We often assume that it is the role of NASA to colonize space since so much of what they do can lead to that end, but that assumption is entirely false. The agency's function is that of research and development of new space technologies. That those technologies either could or should be used for the colonization of space lies completely outside their purview. It may be at some future time that their charter is amended to include colonization, but for now, it is strictly R&D.
Even without a mandate for colonization, the government still has the obligation to set clearly defined goals that advance sustained human access to space. Not only does the Administration's mission to send NASA astronauts to an asteroid fail to meet this requirement, it fails even to justify the stated reasons for carrying out the plan. Indeed it smacks of not-invented-here: a malady that would seem to afflict Washington with each successive administration.
The market forces that drive business are fortunately very different from those of politics. If a company were to radically change course every 4 years as so often happens inside the Beltway, it would not remain in business for long. The instability and indecision our government has displayed over the past 10 years in matters of space have resulted in its current languor. Without a change of leadership , the government cannot be relied upon to pursue the obvious course that scientific discoveries on the moon have brought to light, so it is likely that private enterprise will have to rise to the occasion.
A New Dawn Arising
Filed under: Climate Change, General Space Topic, Lunar Resources, National Space Policy, Off-Earth Resources, Space Pioneers
As far back through antiquity as Aristotle it was theorized that the physical world in which we live is made up of atoms. And though the ancients' mastery of deductive reasoning led them to great leaps of enlightenment, it was not enough to accurately describe reality. "Close, but no cigar," as they say. Complete atomic theories forged in the fires of rigorous scientific examination would have to wait more than two millennia.
The modern scientific method is, in simplest terms, a three-step process: observe; theorize; and test. It's proven to be a very successful way of discovering nature's secrets, but the process is far from finished when theories have passed this stage. They must withstand rigorous scientific debate and challenges, in which peers from throughout the discipline examine every aspect of the experiment from the data to the underlying mathematics and finally to the conclusions. Not until it has survived this intense scrutiny can we embrace a theory and allow it to be taken as a law.
Albert Einstein, whose theories of the macroscopic world have revolutionized our understanding of time and gravity and Werner Heisenberg, one of the founders of quantum mechanics, had some of the most heated debates in scientific history over their theories. Challenges – even angry and passionate – among piers in science form a necessary fixture in its discourse and one that we relax at our own peril.
Today the peer review process serves us well as an absolutely essential part of science. Because our understanding of the universe is built in layers, with one set of laws building upon earlier ones iteratively, imagine the consequences of discovering that something we've taken as a fundamental law is flawed, or worse, false. Such an event would be catastrophic, so the importance of remaining diligent with peer review cannot be over stated.
Yet as strong as this process tends to be, there are those rare times when it breaks down. After all, it is a human endeavor, and humans are fallible, so when a breakdown does occur, the wise man pauses to understand why and how. He endeavors to prevent it from ever happening again.
We see just such a break down occurring in recent history following the Apollo lunar flights of the late 1960s and early 1970s when samples of rocks were returned from the moon and examined by scores of scientists. When the lunar dust settled and the papers had all been published, the scientific world proclaimed that the moon was more arid than the driest desert on earth.
That's the way things stood for four decades: a kind of lunar science dark ages in which notions of returning to the moon, of building upon those gains so hard won at the expense of much national treasure and three astronaut's lives, would be bluntly dismissed. Aside from the fact that the political goals behind the missions – sadly, their biggest driver – had been achieved, it simply made no scientific sense to return. Mankind was beginning to cast an eye around the solar system for a place where he could explore and perhaps settle. Any serious consideration of where next to go would necessarily have to include the concept of ISRU, or in-situ resource utilization. It's what early pioneers called living off the land, and the idea behind it is simple. Exploration must be carried out with attention to its costs, which are kept at a minimum when consumables and materiel can be found and used at your destination. Each pound carried with the expedition costs money, so the less you take with you, the smaller the cost and the more exploration can be accomplished and made sustainable. With water being one of the most important and costly resources of any expedition, and with the lunar surface having been found utterly devoid of it, the moon was unceremoniously written off. Our nearest neighbor in space, what many call the eighth content, was now considered a dead end.
Just as the dark ages on Earth were followed by the Renaissance, the lunar dark age has given way to a enlightenment. 2009 saw new, robotic missions sent to the moon. They carried state-of-the-art instruments and beamed down to Earth volumes of new data to be examined by a fresh eyes. Within months, those science teams were sending out an electrifying discoveries that would send shock waves across the world. Water! Water had been discovered trapped in the permanently shadowed craters of the lunar South pole! More analysis revealed that the entire moon is covered in a thin veneer of water deposited by the solar wind, making it a renewable source.
The really big shocker was yet to come. A Brown University freshman! by the name of Thomas Weinreich published a paper in a May, 2011 edition of the journal Science in which he announced the results of a study he had recently conducted on 40-year-old rock samples from the moon. And his findings? Water! It had been there all along.
Only five years before, Alberto Saal, a professor at Brown, and some collaborators had applied to NASA to look for water in Apollo rocks. Colleagues laughed at his obvious naiveté.
How is it that so many brilliant minds could have concluded with such certainty for so long that the moon was utterly arid? Two words: Group Think. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Group Think is "a pattern of thought characterized by self-deception, forced manufacture of consent, and conformity to group values and ethics." This is precisely the reason behind our long-lived ignorance of water on the moon. Those early assertions that no water existed in lunar rock samples should have been challenged and would have had it not been for the very the arrogance that Dr. Saal encountered. It was Group Think that effectively shut down the peer-review process for decades.
As a new dawn arises on lunar science and we again look towards the moon as our next home away from Earth and source of natural resources and new opportunities, it's important that we weigh and consider the aftermath of a certain pitfall in the human psyche. What it cost us was 40 years and an entire generation of would-be astronauts and pioneers left orphaned when Apollo was ended. We cannot allow this to happen again, so it behooves us to scan our horizons – and those hidden places right under our noses – for signs that scientific consent is being manufactured. Can you think of any? Perhaps a theory on how the Earth traps and releases energy? Could there be a theory out there in which it is proclaimed that the time for debate has passed on a science that is "settled"?
Think about it.


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Don't let the hollow look fool you -- Green Creative's BR30 Cloud LED is a solid performer.
Using a titanium dioxide gel, researchers make a battery that could one day allow electric cars to fuel up as fast as their gas-guzzling cousins.
Crave writer Amanda Kooser overcomes her distrust of unicycles by ruling the road on the Focus Designs SBU V3 self-balancing electric unicycle.
Living the green hipster life isn't all about retro tech. You can have the latest environmentally friendly innovations and still keep your hipster cred.
Technology has a home in hipster-ville, especially when it's environmentally friendly, local or green.
The tech giant pulls out of the conservative lobbying group that is known to have pushed legislation to block renewable energy development.
Juniper Research finds worldwide carbon dioxide emissions from cell phone charging will more than double by 2019.
The Little Box Challenge is designed to shrink the size of power inverters, devices used in solar panels and electric cars. It's part of Google's effort to improve its green-tech image.
Averse to Lego's partnership with Shell, the environmental group posts a slick flick online that will make children's stomachs feel queasy.
Professor Dumpster is a combo of Bill Nye the Science Guy and Oscar the Grouch, and he wants to show us that living minimally can help save our cities. CNET Road Trip 2014 dives in.
Jeff Wilson is living in a dumpster, hoping to show Americans how much energy and water they waste. CNET Road Trip 2014 stopped by to see how the Dumpster Project could lead to healthier cities.
Harley-Davidson is taking its electric motorcycle concept on the road to see if riders laugh or lust over it. Here's where you can test-ride Project LiveWire as soon as this week.
Don't miss a moment from the world's biggest mobile show
CNET In-Depth brings you the most important bits from Mobile World Congress in a convenient email roundup.


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We may find that by empowering citizens with entertaining ways to identify and cultivate their own meaningful connections to public policy, they will be less vulnerable to strategic emotional manipulation by campaigns and interest groups. Imagine that. What if the best way to rationalize the democratic process, protect citizens, and get more people to participate is by encouraging people to become passionate and playful?
I wonder if the Mugwumps were wrong about the liquor, too?
* * *
In preparation for this article, I called Lance Bennett to discuss his current thoughts on political satire as a response to the failings of postmodern news. He brought my attention to the most recent edition of News: The Politics of Illusion.
You can imagine my delight when I turned to the final chapter outlining proposals for citizens, and read: "Find Sources of Perspective such as Political Comedy."


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New York - Mar 2, 2011 - More than 300 radio and television broadcasters attended the Feb. 28, 2011, event to honor Alan W. Frank, president and CEO, Post-Newsweek Stations, as he received the 2011 Golden Mike Award. The fundraiser generated more than $300,000 in support of the Broadcasters Foundation of America, the charity that provides aid to broadcasters in desperate need.
The award was presented to Frank by Deborah Norville of Inside Edition, Phil Lombardo and Jim Thompson from the Broadcasters Foundation.
During the evening, the Foundation recognized the Stu Olds family. A fund established in Olds' name after he passed away in December 2010 has raised more than $450,000 in support of the Foundation's mission. Olds was the chief executive officer and president of Katz Media Group.
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I am yet to purchase a scanner, these are digital photos of my lomo prints.
This photo was shot on film. Taken by libbybee with a Lomography Diana F+ (available in our Online Shop) loaded with Ilford XP2 ISO 400 film in Manchester, United Kingdom. These tags describe this photo: presents, b&w, diana, party, mask, and people. Date: 2011-04. This photo can also be found in the album Bandits.Please login to get more out of this site
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Okay, I am pretty new to this forum so this may be old hat, but here is a tidbit of info I want to share in the hopes that it's news to more than just me.
I recently noticed that a nearly entire head of garlic I had purchased at the grocery store had begun to sprout: green spears coming out of every single clove. It made me remember something that is in "The Bountiful Container" about green garlic. The author, Rose Marie Nichols, says this is the easiest way to grow and the tastiest way to use garlic. You simply stick the cloves into the ground about 1 to 2 inches deep and water. Then, you can cut the green tops off and use them in cooking. She says this gives a milder garlic flavor and is a gourmet treat. I thought, Why not?, so I planted them around the edges of my tomatos. In three days, they had grown nearly six inches tall! Nichols says you can cut the green tops back up to five times before you kill the cloves, and then after that you can dig the cloves and use them, along with baby cloves that may have formed! I haven't cooked with them yet, but will let you know when I try them. This is such fun! |
Follow-Up Postings:
Have never grown garlic, but I want to know how to. I am anxious to hear your result. Please keep us informed! |
Sort of like using garlic chives? |
- Posted by girlgroupgirl 8 Atlanta (My Page) on Sat, May 2, 09 at 18:47
Green Garlic is preferred by some. In hotter climates it is harder to hold over simply because the garlic likes cooler temps (plant in fall here for spring harvest). Why not experiment and try some in a shadier location and see if that works for you? |
- Posted by diggity_ma 5 MA (My Page) on Tue, May 19, 09 at 12:03
Great suggestion! I still have some garlic in storage from last year's garden. Most of it has started to go green, but I couldn't bring myself to throw it in the compost pile. I guess I'll plant it and see what happens! Thanks! |
- Posted by vikingkirken 6b (My Page) on Fri, Jun 12, 09 at 9:53
jmpete, Garlic is ridiculously easy to grow! Just buy a head of garlic at the store, preferably organic--apparently conventional store-bought is sometimes treated to prevent sprouting. Break apart the cloves and plant them 4-6" deep, about 6" apart, in the fall. I plant around Halloween in my zone so it has a little time to root and send up a couple shoots before really cold weather arrives. Mine stays green the entire winter before really resuming growth in the spring. When all but a couple leaves turn brown, it's ready to harvest. Put it in a shady, dry place for a couple days to dry out, and it stores great. I've never tried cutting the greens, but have heard both they and the scapes (flowers) are tasty as well, and can be cut without losing the bulbs. Definitely my easiest crop! Lori |
- Posted by donnabaskets 7b-8 MS (My Page) on Sat, Jun 20, 09 at 17:34
The green garlic was indeed very tasty while it lasted. As someone said above, it evidently doesn't like hot weather, and so appears to have died or gone dormant. I will definitely be doing this in the fall. |
If you plant garlic in the traditional way (fall, to harvest the following summer) be sure to harvest the new scapes that appear in late spring! These are delicious and should be removed anyway for a bigger, better bulb harvest. |
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About | Projects | Docs | Forums | Lists | Bugs | Get Gentoo! | Support | Planet | Wiki
Olivier Fisette wrote: >Familiarity with one or more scientific packages already in >Portage, and willfulness to maintain them up-to-date and >bug-free would be a plus. We currently have no maintainer for >important packages such as GNU Octave, Maxima or the Staden >Package. A problem I have with scientific software is that I >find it hard to test when it applies to a field I am not >familiar with. This is probably the case with everybody in the >sci herd. ;-) > > Well ... I don't use Octave, but I am learning how to use Maxima. Maintaining the Maxima ebuild, on the other hand, is mostly knowing how to deal with the Common Lisp Controller and the four flavors of Lisp that will execute Maxima (most of the time -- check some of the bugs I've filed :). That's the stuff I don't know. >Since we have time constraints ourselves, we understand potential >recruits may only have a few hours during one day of the week to >do Gentoo development, and that is Ok. However, if you don't >think you will be able to dedicate at least an hour or two a >week on average, I am not sure it would be profitable to invest >time and efforts in the mentoring process. > > I probably spend at least that much time *testing* open source software a week. Let's say half of Saturday for a start. But I test a variety of stuff, not just science packages. How big of a leap is it from being a hard-core beta tester like myself to actually maintaining a package? -- email@example.com mailing list
Updated Jun 17, 2009
Summary: Archive of the gentoo-science mailing list.
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Our friends in windier places love the Drone™ like no other midrange for its ability to fight any headwind and not turn over. Very overstable, best for advanced players and forehand approaches. We recommend this disc to players that need a disc that will always do the same thing... FADE!
This particular version is from a special release run featuring a "Dirty Dozen Tour" graphic on the disc. Great for collecors!
Information about Discraft's CryZtal plastic


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The Explosion of Patent Litigation Recorded: Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Research Fellow William J. Watkins, Jr., author of Patent Trolls, appeared on the Steve Malzberg Show on Newsmax TV. Watkins talks about patent trolls, who are costing billions to the US economy by filing lawsuits against innovators. The result of these lawsuits slows the process of new technology and stifles innovation.
Experts: William J. Watkins Jr.Type: TelevisionIssues: Business, Free Market Economics, Litigation, Regulation and Deregulation, Science, Technology
Abby Hall on The Scott Horton Radio Show Recorded: Friday, September 19, 2014
Research Fellow Abby Hall appeared on the Scott Horton radio show and talks about her recent article, Perfecting Tyranny: Foreign Intervention as Experimentation in State Control, published in the Fall 2014 issue of The Independent Review, which she wrote with Research Fellow Christopher Coyne.
Experts: Abigail R. HallType: RadioIssues: Civil Liberties/ Human Rights, Defense and Foreign Policy, Government Power, History (International), History (U.S), Political Ideology and Philosophy, Technology
Lawrence McQuillan on the Fed's Zero Interest Rate Policy Recorded: Thursday, July 17, 2014
Senior Fellow Lawrence McQuillan appeared on The Rob Schilling radio show to discuss the Fed's zero interest rate policy (ZIRP) and how this effects the economy.
Experts: Lawrence J. McQuillanType: RadioIssues: Banking and Finance, Economic Policy, Fiscal Policy/Debt
William F. Shughart Discusses the Import-Export Bank on The Gary Nolan Show Recorded: Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Sr. Fellow William F. Shughart II appeared on The Gary Nolan radio show to discuss the Export-Import bank. In a recent syndicated Op-Ed, Shughart wrote that the Export-Import bank distorts prices and it interferes with the free flow of international commerce.
Experts: William F. Shughart IIType: RadioIssues: Banking and Finance, Business, Economic Policy, Labor and Employment, Trade
William J. Watkins, Jr. on Patent Trolls Recorded: Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Research Fellow William J. Watkins, Jr. appeared on XMSatellite radios Innovation Navigation show to talk about his new book Patent Trolls: Predatory Litigation and the Smothering of Innovation. The cost of patent trolls is staggering, both in terms of lost work and in court costs and attorney fees. The outmoded patent system in the US is discussed, including proposals for reforming the patent system.
Experts: William J. Watkins Jr.Type: RadioIssues: Antitrust, Competition, and Monopoly, Business, Economic History and Development (U.S.), Litigation, Regulation and Deregulation, Science, Technology
Ivan Eland on Edward Snowdens NBC News Interview Recorded: Wednesday, May 28, 2014
On Canadas CTV, Sr. Fellow Ivan Eland reacts to the recent network television interview of Edward Snowden. Eland says that Snowdens actions are a net positive for America as he calls attention to the NSA spying on American citizens.
Experts: Ivan ElandType: TelevisionIssues: Civil Liberties/ Human Rights, Defense and Foreign Policy, Freedom, Government Power, Technology
Ivan Eland Joins Discussion on Syrian Chemical Weapons Attack Recorded: Thursday, September 5, 2013
Ivan Eland interviewed for report on the RT Global News Channel concerning a chemical weapons attack in Syria.
Type: TelevisionIssues: Civil Liberties/ Human Rights, Defense and Foreign Policy, Technology, Terrorism and National Crises
Mary Theroux on ARNNSnowden and the Surveillance State Recorded: Monday, July 22, 2013
Mary Theroux, Senior Vice President at the Independent Institute, is interviewed by host Ernie Brown on the topic of Edward Snowden and the US Governments Surveillance State.
Experts: Mary L. G. TherouxType: RadioIssues: Civil Liberties/ Human Rights, Constitutional Law, Defense and Foreign Policy, Government Power, Government Secrecy, Technology, Terrorism and National Crises


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Mon, Feb 25, 13 at 16:14
If I see the identical appliance with the same exact item # from different stores, can I assume they are made the same? If I buy it at Lowes or Best Buy vs an appliance store is it somehow inferior on the inside? The price can sometimes be hundreds of dollars less... |
Follow-Up Postings:
Same thing. Better sales. :) Sears, too. |
- Posted by jellytoast (My Page) on Mon, Feb 25, 13 at 18:01
The price you see on the stickers at an appliance store are not necessarily the price you will pay, but will be "discounted" at the time of sale. I've found that most stores offer a price match guarantee and will refund the difference if you find a better price within a few weeks of purchase. |
Didn't think of that but I bet you're right jellytoast. |
Sometimes the products sold in the "Big Box" stores are slightly de-featured from the same product you would buy in the local appliance store. A d/w rack may offer less adjustability, the control settings may not have some cycles. but the main mechanicals will be the same. |
- Posted by julieboulangerie (My Page) on Mon, Feb 25, 13 at 20:38
I usually (4 times in the last year in a replacement binge!) walk into my local appliance store knowing what appliances I am considering and price them out on AJM, Lowes Sears, and Home Depot. I really dislike that the local shop doesn't list the "price you actually pay" anywhere, but when the price quotes do come, they're competitive, and sometimes even cost less than the Boxes and Online. Your mileage may vary, of course, but I have never had to ask them to price match. I also like that I have a local salesman to fix things that don't go well. Local store botched delivery of a dryer, sent a washer the second time, and finally got it right the third time. I was going to complain and ask for a refund of the delivery fee, but a refund arrived before I was able to even complain! Contrast that to an experience at Lowe's, where an LG refrigerator was delivered to a friend with a large dent in the door. They tried to refuse delivery, delivery guys tried to convince them that they wouldn't notice it (they would, it was awful!). |
(If it requires installation, the guys working for the big box stores are less likely to give a rat's patootie compared to an appliance store installer.) |
Went to a contractors appliance store today and am happy to say the prices were very competitive- most were less than big box stores. Couldn't believe it. Thank you all for your responses! |
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SELLAS Life Sciences Group To Present at the Annual AEGIS Healthcare & Technology Conference
The Encore at Wynn Las Vegas: September 11th, 2014 Room: Chopin 2 – 3:30pm ... Read More →
Sellas Life Sciences is a healthcare-oriented global group of companies with a unique and innovative vision, which is ambitious, yet clear: to practice the medicine of tomorrow, today. In other words, we incorporate innovation throughout all our activities aiming at breakthroughs that will have a significant impact on the thinking and practicing of healthcare worldwide.
Our international team of acknowledged scientists, doctors and health professionals along with a seasoned and highly experienced pharmaceutical executive management form the core of Sellas. We strive to improve patients' quality of life through developing and commercializing cutting-edge innovative therapies.
Sellas is a Swiss based, development-stage biopharmaceutical company that acquires and develops innovative products for the treatment of various indications in cancer and the Central Nervous System (CNS). Sellas focuses on in-licensing drug candidates that are undergoing or have already completed initial (pre-) clinical testing and then seeks to further develop those drug candidates for commercial use.


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Ingredients Paneer recipes Mushroom recipes Oats recipes
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This attractive and innovative dip comprises three sauces layered one above the other in a bowl: pesto sauce loaded with basil, the famous italian herb; milky cream cheese sauce with a dash of herbs; and sun-dried tomato sauce.
Preparation Time: 10 mins Makes 1.5 servings Show me for servings
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Its versatile and really tasty! Great dip!
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Map all locationsUpscale Pub Fare
Upscale Pub Fare
Visiting some popular neighborhood drinking spots used to mean chowing down on spicy buffalo wings, salty peanuts and stale chips.
Today, Philadelphia's bar scene has evolved with some of the city's most popular watering holes offering gourmet dining options and signature cocktail — particularly at renowned gastropubs Standard Tap, Pub & Kitchen and Johnny Brenda's.
Featured Listings
Standard Tap
Widely considered "America's First Gastropub"
A multi-room Northern Liberties gastropub — some say America's first — that pairs local microbrews with excellent, gourmet pub fare like chicken pies, fried smelts and double burgers.
Pub & Kitchen
Quality pub fare and cold craft beers since 2008
For more than six years, Pub & Kitchen one of Philadelphia's quintessential restaurants for quality dishes, craft beers and elevated brunch offerings.
Johnny Brenda's
Delicious food + great beer + live music = a Fishtown landmark
Located at the intersection of Frankford and Girard Avenues on the southern tip of Fishtown, Johnny Brenda's is, at once, the catalyst, champion, living room, kitchen/dining room and concert hall of its neighborhood.
a.kitchen + a. bar
Contemporary comfort food and cocktails at AKA Rittenhouse Square Hotel
Part of the chic hotel AKA Rittenhouse Square Hotel, a.kitchen and a.bar offer modern, contemporary dining and cocktails in an intimate space.
View More -
Sassafras Bar
A classic Philly neighborhood bar in Old City
Serving Philadelphians for more than 35 years, this Old City classic offers a small but eclectic menu along with a serious selection of single-malt scotches, whiskeys and bourbons. Old-school charm, bartenders proficient in classic cocktails and a speakeasy vibe make for a perfect all-night hangout.
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Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
MediaBrewery micro-chain has inviting beer, great food and awards galore
The award-winning Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant is the kind of place where old friends can enjoy a round of brews at the billiards tables, or dine on seared ahi tuna and prime rib.
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Irish Pub
Classic pub experience in Center City
With locations on Walnut Street in Rittenhouse Square and Midtown Village, Irish Pub is a convenient and comfortable spot for locals and visitors alike.
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Cavanaugh's Headhouse Square
Society Hill sports bar with signature wings and cold beers
Located in Philadelphia's Society Hill neighborhood, Cavanaugh's Headhouse Square is a relaxed sports bar and local hangout.
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Bridgewater's Pub
Grand drinks in Philadelphia's central train station
Located in 30th Street Station, Bridgewater's offers commuters and travelers a seasonally changing menu and wide selection of imported and local beers, all served in an upbeat atmosphere. The menu includes ethnic and American specialties such as duck pot stickers, ceviche, baba ghanoush, rabbit sliders and salmon BLTs—and it all changes depending on the mood of the chef.
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White Dog Cafe
Farm-fresh dining in University City
Years ago, the White Dog Cafe started a trend in Philadelphia: an unusual blend of award-winning cuisine and social activism, including its focus on farm-fresh, organic ingredients. Different dining rooms tucked into corners of the Victorian mansion allow patrons to choose seating based on the atmosphere they prefer.
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Slainté Pub & Grill
Classic pub atmosphere just steps from 30th Street Station
Located across the street from 30th Street Station, Sláinte offers bar food, beer and cocktails. The classic and clean wooden décor, plus knick-knacks imported from the homeland, complete the Irish pub experience.
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Local 44
Six for here, six-pack to go
raft beer flows from the taps at this University City bar, where crowds pump quarters into a killer jukebox and enjoy savory bar food (plus vegan and seafood options) along with their draughts. The owners opened a bottle shop next door, expanding the sudsy offerings with 500 bottles and a cask that pumps out beers to drink while shopping.
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Half Ethiopian, half dive, all awesome
One of the friendliest bars in West Philly, Gojjo is Ethiopian-owned, offering a small but solid selection of that native cooking (you gotta try the beef tibs). It also enjoys a reputation as a downhome dive bar, where the the High Lifes are so cheap they're nearly free. These worlds collide in the form of amazing beer-muncie snacks like the "Ethiopian cheesesteak." Even more surprising: live country and bluegrass acts.
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Hi all, I am new to this forum and I am helping my daughter get ideas for a new master bath layout. I have included her layout as it is now and we have brainstormed other possibilities. Her bathroom has a pocket door entry from her bedroom on the wall that is 88" long. The wall with the shower and toilet is 99" long. Her main complaint is the small shower (33"X35" interior and extremely lowered ceiling over the shower (tiled ceiling- we don't think anything is up there!) Also she has a wasted cabinet next to the toilet. Thanks |
Follow-Up Postings:
Here are some other options we came up with. 1. A 42" X 42" neoangle corner shower with 5" wall on the short sides. She might want a roomier shower, but she gets a longer vanity , 54" or 56". 2. A 34" X 42" prefab unit by Advanta Maxx 3. The 34" X 60" shower was a hit with my daughter and would be an alcove base with either slider door or pivot door and a stand alone vanity about 48". Perhaps with a 30" X 60" shower with a pony wall on the vanity side, she'd get a longer built in vanity? 4. She gets two small vanities, but the space seems cramped and it is a 42" neoangle shower. |
here are some rough layouts listing 1 thru 4 options. Would more people like two sinks and smaller shower. A larger vanity and smaller shower or a larger shower and smaller vanity? |
- Posted by catbuilder (My Page) on Mon, Feb 11, 13 at 20:09
I would prefer one sink and a larger shower. Of the options you show, the lower left one is the best. |
- Posted by mydreamhome (My Page) on Mon, Feb 11, 13 at 20:49
I vote layout #2 or #3. They were the setups I was going to suggest. Not positive if you'll have enough clearance in front of the toilet though. Have you considered elongating the shower toward the door (i.e. in layout #2, the shower would rotate 90 degrees). You could do a ~45x50 shower in that scenario. Hope this helps! |
#1 would minimize the movement of your plumbing. But I'd consider a 42"x42" or a 48"x48" neo shower. You'd get a larger shower in both dimensions and the clipped corner will still open up the room visually and provide an easier path to the toilet. With a 48" neo, you'd have minimal knee room on the toilet. 99" wall minus 48" for shower leaves 51" for the toilet and the code required 21" of knee room in front of the toilet. But the clipped corner neo may make the minimal knee room seem less restrictive as it'll only be a partial obstruction. #1 also gives the option for the largest vanity. You're probably aware that 30" is the minimum width for a toilet; 15" to either side of the toilet centerline is the minimum allowed by code. You have it wider, which is nice. With #3, I like it, but you're moving more plumbing. But I'd widen the shower to a minimum of 36". You can make the wet wall thick enough where you can use a portion of the toilet side of the wet wall for a between-the-studs pantry-like storage. Rolls of TP, toilet cleaning supplies, etc. I'd omit the built-in bench and have a moveable stool/bench. |
- Posted by hosenemesis (My Page) on Tue, Feb 12, 13 at 1:21
I like #1 with a bigger shower, 48x48. I would get a toilet that only comes out 27" from the wall. You may be able to squeeze a bigger vanity in there too- I'd go as long as possible. |
Thank you for all your opinions and ideas. They were great. The pantry storage idea in #3 is neat. How deep would the wet wall next to the toilet have to be to accommodate that idea?. Could we move the wall pantry to the right side of the toilet if she put the shower plumbing in the wall next to the toilet? Or if in #3 she cut her shower to 36 X 48", she could maybe fit a 12 linen cabinet between the shower and toilet? I still like the neoangle shower in #1 also. A 48' X48" neoangle would be great. I'm just not sure how it would feel with the shower right next to the door when you walk in. I think a toilet is too tight 15" from a wall. In your opinion, does being 15" from a vanity feel okay?(not too tight) Why do you think a built in bench does not work well? Thanks, |
"The pantry storage idea in #3 is neat. How deep would the wet wall next to the toilet have to be to accommodate that idea?" You'd want the stud bay of the wall to be deep enough to accommodate what you want to store in there. Example, 5" deep will work for rolls of toilet paper and bottles of cleaning supplies. So a wet wall framed with 2x6's and trimmed out would work nicely. You can work around the plumbing in the wall. Or you can go with an exposed shower system, where the plumbing is on the wall inside the shower. Here's an example: "Could we move the wall pantry to the right side of the toilet if she put the shower plumbing in the wall next to the toilet?" That was my first choice. But I discounted that location due to the pocket door possibly causing interference. "Or if in #3 she cut her shower to 36 X 48", she could maybe fit a 12 linen cabinet between the shower and toilet?" Sure, the variations are endless. But your restrictions are set up by the toilet space and the vanity. For the toilet you have a 30" code minimum. 34" is about the minimum I'd recommend, and 36" is better. Now the vanity. Usually 21 or 22" deep. 36" + 21" = 57" on a 99" wall, that leaves 42" for the shower wall. If that wet wall was 8" thick, that leaves 42" - 8" = 34" of wall for your shower entry door. A typical shower door might be 28" wide. If you centered the door, that would leave you with 3" from the vanity to the edge of the shower door, and on the inside of the shower you'd have three inches of wall before you hit the corner with the wet wall. So it's a balancing act. But addressing your 12" wide cabinet. I'll toss out a variation that I did in my master bath. But first, look again at your numbers, and don't forget you already allocated 5" for that wall. So even with the 34" wide toilet space, then a 12" wet wall, that leaves you with a 36" by 53" shower instead of 36" by 48". Anyhow, what I did in my master bath is I wanted a divider between our vanity and our toilet. A pony wall looked too narrow. So I built a cabinet about 14" wide, about 48" high, and about 33 or 34" deep. The drawers are 30" deep and on 30" slides. They pull out like a pull out pantry in a kitchen. When the bottom drawer is pulled out, it's divided into two vertically; one side faces the toilet, the other the sink. The side facing the toilet has toilet and cleaning supplies. The side facing the sink acts sort of like a medicine cabinet. So again, there are all sorts of permutations. "I still like the neoangle shower in #1 also. A 48' X48" neoangle would be great. I'm just not sure how it would feel with the shower right next to the door when you walk in." Is it just the fact that there is a wall? Or is it that it's a glass shower wall? You could make it a solid wall for privacy if that is an issue. I will say that it's not something that would bother me either way. "I think a toilet is too tight 15" from a wall. In your opinion, does being 15" from a vanity feel okay?(not too tight)" Agree. In addition to my comments above, yes, an adjacent vanity can be less restrictive than an adjacent floor-to-ceiling wall, the vanity is less imposing. You could go 18" from the wall and 16" from the vanity to the toilet centerline, for a 34" space. "Why do you think a built in bench does not work well?" If I never had a built-in bench, I'd want one. But I've had them. and I've built them. They usually end up as a storage shelf. the tile can be cold to sit on. If they are not built well, they can leak. And until you demo them, they are indeed permanent. A movable bench or stool, usually teak, or sometimes a plastic seat from a medical supply house, are just so much more versatile. My opinion. You want to sit under the shower, you can. You want to sit near or away from the shower, you can. You want to bath a loved one who is infirm, you can. You want the seat out of the shower, you can have that too. It's too big? Get a smaller one. It's too small? Get a bigger one. Versatility. but again, that's my opinion. FWIW, my own shower is 5' by 8'. Nope. No built-in bench. |
mongoct Thank you for your help. Those are great ideas. "I still like the neoangle shower in #1 also. A 48' X48" neoangle would be great. I'm just not sure how it would feel with the shower right next to the door when you walk in." my thoughts -- Or maybe she could do the side walls as pony walls with clear glass in the top. The pony wall could be 5"deep about 30" high with clear glass. It would not be as much glass to clean. With the glass set midway on the 5" deep wall, they'd have a little more elbow room. I hate to see her build a shower and have to spend more time cleaning it than the time it takes to shower! The shower bench does sound like a potential problem, even though they look great. |
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Processing Time - Orders typically ship in 2-5 business days. Transit via UPS Ground can take up to 6 business days. Braided and custom-made products may take 2 to 3 weeks for delivery.
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Shaw Kathy Ireland Gallery Royal Riviera Beige Rug
Item #: 1373X29418100-P Add to Wishlist
Description: Kathy Ireland Gallery rug Collection, offers the height of fashion and softness. Although reasonably priced, Gallery gives you more comfort, maximum versatility and expensive looks that are always in demand by our customers.
- Collection: Kathy Ireland Gallery
- Brand: Shaw
- Material: 100% Olefin
- Weave: Machine Made
- Styles: Contemporary Rugs
- Origin: USA
- Available in the following sizes: 8' 4" Round
This rug is just beautiful. The colors are dead on, and it really makes a statement in my living room.
RECOMMENDED: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.This carpet is better than I'd hoped! The colors are vibrant and elegant. The carpet is very soft and feels much more expensive and luxurious than it cost. I'm very pleased.
RECOMMENDED: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.This rug is gorgeous! It arrived today and is prettier and nicer than I anticipated. It's so soft and since I ordered it for a bathroom, it's perfect for bare feet. As a matter of fact, I love this rug so much, that I just ordered the same rug in the next smaller size to fit by the bathtub. I phoned in my first order and the girl on the phone was delightful! The colors are brilliant and clear, very close to the picture on the website. If you're considering this rug, order it, you'll love it!
RECOMMENDED: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.Used to brighten an entrance
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Happy Fielding Awards Controversy Day! If you can remember all the way back to three hours ago, you recall a post on the Fielding Bible Awards in which Carlos Gonzalez received a single first-place vote for his play in left field for the Colorado Rockies.
Recalling back even further, all the way to yesterday, you remember Parkes listing the Gold Gloves nominees. Conspicuous in his abscense from that last was Carlos Gonzalez. Guess who isn't too happy with that development? Carlos Gonzalez.
CarGo dispatched his crack PR team to send forth his comments on this egregious oversight in the world of Carlos Gonzalez, via the Denver Post.
"I'm very happy and satisfied with my work on (defense) this year. I'm very pleased with the assists I reached to help the team. It might be I'm out of the players selected to this award because I play multiple positions, but I'm willing to do what the manager and the team need. To me, first is the team, and that's an individual award.
Unfortunately for Gonzo, the Gold Glove voters have it somewhat right. The Rockies outfielder put significant time in all three postions, logging 518 innings in left, 248.1 in centre and 295 in right. The advanced numbers, with all sample size provisos in place, don't scream "career year with the glove."
Don't worry, Gonzalez. The results of Tango's fan voting show your ability to cover vast swathes of the Coors Field expanse does not go unnoticed. The nerds have your back. Plus – your teammates think all that team-first crap is great, I'm sure.


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Product Code: C1144 Binding Information: 8-panel brochure Size: 3 3/4" X 8 1/2" Inches Availability: In stock. |
Life Matters: Persons with Disabilities
Price: $0.40
"Every human person-no matter how vulnerable or helpless, … no matter how healthy, handicapped or sick, no matter how useful or productive for society-is a being of inestimable worth created in the image and likeness of God" (Bl. John Paul II).
This is one of eight pamphlets covering various life issues in the 2011-12 Respect Life Program. For related titles available to order in English and Spanish, please scroll through products listed below. For additional parish and media resources including bi-lingual bulletin inserts, clip art, and program models visit our Respect Life Program page. |


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King James Version (KJV) | New International Version (NIV) |
10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me. | 10 Men open their mouths to jeer at me; they strike my cheek in scorn and unite together against me. |
The King James Version is in the public domain. (The King James Bible Version 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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found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
Find a pet to adopt |
My name is Astaire!
Facts about Astaire
- Breed: Australian Shepherd
- Color: Merle
- Age: Young
- Size: Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
- Sex: Male
Astaire's Info...
I am purebred and good with dogs.
Astaire, a very smart, beautiful Red Merle Aussie, was dumped in the country. He was covered with Cockle-burs when he arrived here. He is still pretty shy. He was not treated well before we got him that is for sure. I had to trick him into coming into the house to sleep last night. Then he acted like he was worried about getting in trouble. He is a very non-aggressive dog. He knows sit and hand shake. He is afraid to come when when called. I'm sure there was not a positive reward when he was called. I got the broom out this morning to clean the doggy room and he could not get out of here fast enough. Poor baby. He is very young. I would say between 6 months to 1 year. So I am going with 7 months. We'll know more when the vet gets him to be neutered.
He gets along with the other dogs.
We started him on De-wormer right away. Will give him the distemper/parvo vaccination today. He will get his rabies shot when he is neutered.
He was groomed yesterday and feels and looks much better.
Other Pets at SRL Inc
Why Adoption is a Great Option
Astaire, a MINNEAPOLIS Australian Shepherd dog was adopted! Here's how you can benefit by looking at adoption as an option to buying a Australian Shepherd for sale in MINNEAPOLIS, or seeking a Australian Shepherd dog from a breeder in MINNEAPOLIS.
- Rescues and shelter volunteers in MINNEAPOLIS already know the personality and tendencies of their pets. This means they can match you with the right pet. That will makes it much easier transition to owning a pet for yourself and your new pet.
- On average adoption fees are much less than you'd pay a MINNEAPOLIS breeder, or pet store. Plus most often rescue pets have already been to the veterinarian for a check-up, had a round of vaccinations, and are spayed or neutered. That is a lot of savings!
- You will become a hero, and give a needy dog or cat a loving home. In fact, there are even Australian Shepherd breeders who help with Australian Shepherd rescue. One puppy or kitten adopted in MINNEAPOLIS paves the way for another one to be saved.


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I am interested in having my teeth whitened. My dentist told me about two methods-the first method requires me to wear trays an hour a night 3-4 times a week. The other is a one time laser light treatment that last for approximately 6-12 months. I was wondering if anyone had an opinion of which method would be better. |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by KathyG7777 (My Page) on Mon, Dec 15, 03 at 17:30
I don't have any knowledge of these techniques, but the one time treatment sounds easier! Do you know what the cost comparison is? |
I had the treatment using the tray and it wasn't cheap - $250.00. It did work, though. However, my daughter just bought the teeth whitening system over the counter and it worked for her. Don't have any experience with the laser method. |
- Posted by chinacat_sunflower (My Page) on Thu, Jan 8, 04 at 11:58
the bleaching systems- ALL of them- are short-term fixes unless you folow them up with having those whiter teeth bonded- which is pricey, but would be worth it if it really mattered that much... but then, if it really mattered, none of us would ever touch another cup of coffee ; ) from what I have seen, the over-the-counter strips work just as well as the slime-in-a-mouthpiece methods, at a tenth the price... and I'm noticing that my friend (who used to be a dental hygenist, and is now an aesthetician with a string of certificates) won't go near them, sell them, or recommend them to any of her clients... that tells ME all I need to know. |
- Posted by beautygirl (My Page) on Fri, Apr 20, 07 at 23:51
I used an at home kit after I quit smoking. The results were amazing. I wouldn't smile a lot because my teeth were yellow from smoking. I think it depends on how bad the teeth are discolored. Mine weren't very bad. If they are badly stained, a professional solution may be needed. The kit I used says it's good for lightening the teeth up to ten shades. This is what I use: |
Here is a link that might be useful: GoSmile
I just finished up a box of Crest Strips and they worked very well. A friend of mine even noticed how white my teeth were and she didnt know I had used the strips. These were twice a day for 30 mins each time. And use for 7 days. It did say results could be seen in 3 days and it was right. Highly recommended. |
- Posted by sammiefields2517 (My Page) on Thu, Oct 21, 10 at 20:13
Well if you're looking for teeth whitening, I ordered a free trial just the other day. I'm yet to try it but it seems quite promising. Here's the link: www.illumi-brite.com |
Here is a link that might be useful: www.illumi-brite.com
- Posted by earthygal52 (My Page) on Sun, Dec 26, 10 at 13:34
Most of the Teeth whitening systems use Hydrogen Perioxide. You can buy a bottle of it and use Q-tips to apply it and leave on for about 30 min. Also, brushing with Baking Soda works pretty well. A lot CHEAPER than all this other stuff!!! |
I would like to correct a misconception about stains on teeth at least according to my dentist. I thought my tea drinking had stained my teeth and the dentist's hygienist told me teeth do not stain. When you see a stain it is stains on the tarter build up. When she was finished cleaning the stains were gone. The dentist confirmed this when I questioned him. The only thing I know about whitening teeth is that reports are coming in about thinning enamel due to whitening. I have seen a few celebs on TV and their teeth are white as snow. It is what your eyes immediately go to instead of the face of the person. |
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Ravana, in Hinduism, the 10-headed king of the demons (rakshasas). His abduction of Sita and eventual defeat by her husband Rama are the central incidents of the popular epic the Ramayana ("Romance of Rama"). Ravana ruled in the kingdom of Lanka, believed by some to be modern Sri Lanka, from which he had expelled his brother Kubera. The Ram Lila festival, an annual pageant popular particularly in northern India, is climaxed with the defeat of Ravana and the burning of huge effigies of the demons.
Ravana is described as having 10 heads and 20 arms and is vividly portrayed in Rajasthani painting of incidents of the Ramayana, flying away with Sita, fighting with Rama, and sitting with his demon councillors. In sculpture, a favourite incident depicted is his shaking of Mount Kailasa. Shiva stopped him by pressing the mountain down with his toe and kept him imprisoned beneath for 1,000 years. Notable examples of this representation can be seen at Ellora in Maharashtra state, India. Glorification of Ravana is not unknown. According to a minor tradition, the demons of Vishnu are successive reincarnations of his attendants, who take this form in order to be near him.
In modern times, Tamil groups who oppose what they believe to be the political domination of southern India by the north view the story of Rama as an example of the Sanskritization and cultural repression of the south and express their sympathies for Ravana and against Rama.


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Although it feels like these days we live in a fluid culture that is constantly re-living fashion history, there are still some trends that haven't made it back to the mainstream that we'd like to see. So, here they are! Feel free to add your own in the comments!
Ear Cuffs: Call us crazy but we think done right (like this vintage-style leaf charm baby) they can look edgy and cool. [Little Accents For Sale]