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Privacy Policy
Effective: April 12th, 2010
The privacy and respect of everyone who visits our Brain Balance Achievement Centers is of the utmost importance to us. This standard of confidentiality extends to everyone who visits our website as well. Please read this Privacy Policy carefully as it outlines the additional ways in which we use and protect your personal information. By visiting this website, you consent to the practices described in the Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to the terms provided, then you are not authorized to use this site.
If you visit our web site
In general, you can visit our web site without telling us who you are or revealing any personally identifiable information about yourself. Our web servers collect the domain names, not the e-mail addresses, of visitors.
We do not collect visitor information using "cookies." Cookies are small files placed on your computer's hard drive that allow organizations to collect information. We do not use this technology.
We utilize a third party to track and analyze usage and volume statistical information from our web site customers in order to improve the quality of our web site. No data collected by a third party on our behalf may be owned or used by any third party. We reserve the right to publish non-personally identifiable, summary information regarding our web site customers for promotional purposes and as a representative audience for advertisers.
If you choose to identify yourself
If you voluntarily provide us with personally identifying information, such as your name, street address, e-mail address, phone number, or birth date, we will collect that information along with any other information you voluntarily provide for the purpose of your submission.
When you participate in our web site features such as newsletters, sweepstakes, etc., we may use the personally identifiable information you provide through those features in the following ways, unless stated otherwise:
- We may store and process that information to improve our understanding of your needs and how we can improve our products and services, and
- We may communicate with you via e-mail, postal mail, or by phone as you may request or as we deemed necessary.
Notwithstanding anything in this Privacy Policy to the contrary, you agree that we may access, preserve, and disclose any submitted information or other information we have received about you: (1) As necessary or required by law, or to establish, protect, or exercise our legal rights or defend against legal claims; (2) to protect the rights and property of Brain Balance Achievement Centers or other entities; (3) if we believe it is necessary in order to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding unauthorized distribution of another's intellectual property, illegal activities, fraud, or situations involving potential threats to the safety of any person; and (4) if we are acquired by or merged with another entity.
We may also use information we have received about you to resolve disputes or to investigate problems. We may disclose or access information whenever we believe in good faith that the law so requires or if we otherwise consider it necessary to do so to maintain service and improve our web site, products, or services. We may use information, such as your IP address, to help diagnose problems with our server, to manage our web site, or to enhance our web site based on the usage pattern data we receive.
Removal from Future Communication
If at any time you do not wish to have your personal information collected, you may opt out of such services or subscriptions using the address below. Upon your request, we will remove you from future communications.
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
We have no intention of collecting any personally identifiable information (such as name, address, telephone number, birth date, or e-mail address) from individuals under 13 years of age. If a child has provided us with personally identifiable information, a parent or guardian of that child should contact us at the address listed at the bottom of this statement if they would like this information deleted from our records. We will use all reasonable efforts to delete the child's information from our files as promptly as possible.
Links Policy
We may include links to web sites outside of our web site. These links are provided to offer users further relevant information, which they may wish to explore.
We are not responsible for the content of external web sites. The inclusion of a link to a third party web site from our web site should not be understood as an endorsement or authorization of any content, concepts, offers, advertising or any other content or information. Many of these other web sites may send their own cookies to users, collect data, or solicit personal information and we do not guaranty the security of any information that you may disclose.
We are not responsible for the content of external web sites that link to our web site. Any external link to our web site should not be understood as an endorsement or authorization of any content, concepts, offers, advertising or any other content or information.
Policy Changes
We may, at any time, amend the provisions in this Privacy Policy. Changes to this policy will be reflected by the "Effective Date" as displayed in the upper left-hand corner of this Privacy Policy. Your continued use of this web site following the posting of changes to these terms constitutes your acceptance of those changes.
How to Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns regarding our Privacy Policy, please contact us by mail at:
Brain Balance Centers
2500 Plaza 5
Harborside Financial Center
Jersey City, NJ 07311
No Warranties
We do not warrant that our web site will operate error-free or that our web site or server is free of computer viruses and other harmful components. If your use of our web site results in the need for servicing or replacing equipment or data, we are not responsible for those costs or any related damage.
The Brain Balance website is provided for use "as is", without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including without limitation any warranty for information, services, or products provided through or in connection with the Brain Balance web site and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, expectation of privacy or non-infringement. Neither Brain Balance, nor its affiliates (including any employees, directors, operators, officers, franchisees, licensees, representatives or agents) shall be liable for any damage or harm relating to our website or this privacy policy, to the greatest extent permitted by law, even if we or they have been advised of the possibility of damages.
This disclaimer of liability applies to any damages or injury caused by any failure of performance, error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, computer virus, communication line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, alteration of, or use of record, whether for breach of contract, tortious behavior, negligence, or under any other cause of action. You specifically acknowledge that Brain Balance is not liable for any defamatory, offensive, infringing or illegal materials or conduct, or that of third parties contained on the Brain Balance web site, and Brain Balance reserves the right to remove such materials from the Brain Balance web site without liability.
Copyright Information
Our web site and all of its content are copyrighted by Brain Balance, Inc and BB Franchising LLC and protected by U.S. and international copyright laws. The compilation of content on our web site is the exclusive property of BB Franchising LLC and Brain Balance, Inc. and may not be used for any purpose other than browsing, and using the services and information provided for your own private use. You are only permitted to use our web site as expressly authorized by us. Nothing in this Privacy Policy transfers any express or implied right, title, or interest in our web site to you.
Additional Points about the Terms and Conditions of this Privacy Policy
The terms and conditions of this Privacy Policy and the agreement it creates, shall be governed by and interpreted according to the laws of the State of New Jersey (without applying the State's conflict-of-law principles). We reserve the right to bring any civil action in New Jersey, arising from your violation of the terms and conditions of this Privacy Policy.
If any provision of this Privacy Policy is unlawful, void, or unenforceable, it will not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions. This is the entire Privacy Policy regarding all the matters that have been discussed in the preceding paragraphs.


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I'm fairly new to "real world" MVC / .NET development (i've been studying MVC since MVC 1, and i've spent the last 10 years web based so i'm not really a noober either) I'm hoping there's something out there that i'm missing though.. i'm doing a lot of hand rolling JSON to pass models back to the controller which has become more and more painstaking (takes me back to 2005 lol) so i'm feeling like there must be a better way.. maybe something like Backbone? just for the client side modeling? I'm assuming there's some kind of .toJSON() or something somewhere.. anyhow, here's a quick example of what i'm talking about:
Currently i'm using a viewmodel structure to bind complex data types / lists, etc to the view page.. which is fantastic.. then i'm building either little forms or "micro-models" through JS for handling little changes / user interaction with the page.. i.e. a remove button in a "grid" that posts the id to the controller to be removed.. for the most part that works fine. (I"m being very generic here)
NOW, when i'm dealing with a model with some depth, say:
string Property1
int Property2
string name
string description
and i have a controller for updating the MicroModel.. say:
ActionResults testController(List<MicroModel> micromodel)
I have to do some JSON string building on the client side to create a model that represents the expected input, once i've built this string i POST it via JQuery $.ajax() and the controller will pick up the typed model (which is waaaay cool btw).. BUT...
Do i really need to handroll these client side objects to mirror my objects the controller is expecting?
I'd prefer to not work with form binding directly to the model, i'm not going to post a formCollection either. How can i work with objects on the client side in a nice modern way and then pass the data to the controller?
feedback is appreciated.. thank you for the time.

subset: commoncrawl


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Marriage Counseling Turlock CaPosted on 2014/01/08 by Ferdinand
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Comments:Comment added on 10/01/2014 08:35:
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A live-action adaptation of "Titanfall" is in development, according to an official press release by developer Respawn Entertainment Tuesday.
Coinciding with last night's midnight release of "Titanfall" for the Xbox One and PC, Respawn and Playfight, the VFX company behind "Call of Duty: Operation Kingfish" and "Video Game High School," announced their partnership in creating live-action content for the game via a teaser site. Here's the official description provided by Respawn Entertainment's Dusty Welch.
Titanfall is set in a rich near future universe with visceral, epic battles with Pilots and their Titan companions. We wanted to partner with Playfight, who has a history of delivering movies that meld gameplay, live action and stellar CG into truly entertaining media, for Titanfall. What this collaboration brings is yet to unfold…
The announcement of a live-action "Titanfall" series was likely the big announcement Respawn planned yesterday and not Microsoft's acquisition of the franchise it was misinterpreted as. Considering the heavy marketing and anticipation behind "Titanfall," such as the 6,000 launch parties held last night, furthering the game's popularity with a live-action program makes sense from a business standpoint and should delight fans who can't get enough "Titanfall." Another Xbox One game, "Ryse: Son of Rome," received a live-action webseries by Machinima last November.


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Pensions are complex - there's no denying that. And with complexity comes doubt, with decision makers questioning if their company pension plan is working as well as it could be. It doesn't have to be that way.
Acuvest's ultimate goal is to deliver more certainty and better outcomes so that clients can feel more confident about their company pension plans.
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GC Ministry » Ministry-Update » Guest Speaker
Guest Speaker
Rev. Khern Oliver of New Horizons Church UK has invited me to be a guest speaker on the Saturday, January 30, 2010 live broadcast. I am very thankful for this invitation to share the message of God's love with his members and guests. The program airs live at 06:00 EST (11:00 GMT) and
will be part of the on-demand library for those who are unable to attend the live broadcast. The broadcast is not available due to technical difficulties.
I thank you all for your support.
Filed under: Ministry-Update


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New Body Powered Prosthetic Bands
We were tired of seeing rubber bands that looked like this after only a short time:
It finally dawned on us that the bands that are normally used are likely just rubber tubing cut with scissors. Looking for some bands that would look better and last longer, we ordered a bunch of tubing in different materials from McMaster-Carr, in a variety of durometers and with different properties, such as ozone or UV resistance.
The tubing we ordered was all 1/8" walled 5/8" OD tubing, and cutting it to appropriate lengths, we managed to get some of it on. The tool we were using to apply it was a little flimsy for this higher durometer and slightly thicker material, so we had limited success with some, and so far only the Super Soft Latex Rubber Tubing has worked, but we're happy with the results.
The silicone proved too slippery to stay on the applicator, but we have ordered a much less flimsy-looking castration band applicator that we hope will do the trick.
The complete list of tubing that we currently have appears below. We will document the successes and failures, create a better cutting method, and post some data on clamping force as the project progresses.
|Part Number
|Price / Foot
|Super Soft Latex Rubber Tubing 3/8" Id, 5/8" Od, 1/8" Wall Thickness, Black (Same as 5234K52)
|Oil-Resistant Buna-N Rubber Tubing 3/8" Id, 5/8" Od, 1/8" Wall Thickness, Black
|Silicone Rubber Tubing Soft, 3/8" Id, 5/8" Od, 1/8" Wall, Red (Same as 5236K44)
|Silicone Rubber Tubing Soft, 3/8" Id, 5/8" Od, 1/8" Wall, Blue (Same as 5236K44)
|High Purity Silicone Rubber Tubing Non-Reinforced, 3/8" Id, 5/8" Od, 1/8" Wall
|High Temperature Viton Rubber Tubing Firm, 3/8" Id, 5/8" Od, 1/8" Wall, Black
|Laboratory Clear Tygon PVC Tubing 3/8" Id, 5/8" Od, 1/8" Wall Thickness


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Airblaster Ninja Suit
Retailers' Descriptions
Here's what other sites are saying:
The Airblaster Men's Ninja Suit is a master of warmth whether you're skiing, camping, or surviving the cold temperatures. Its Air Tech fabric mixes brushed polyester with stretchy Lycra for a four-way stretch, superior moisture management, and midweight warmth. A formed fit keeps bulk to a minimum, increases moisture wicking, and ensures a soft feel from head to toe. Airblaster also equipped the Ninja Suit with a snug 7-panel hood for extra coverage. The thumbholes secure the sleeves in place to ease layering on a cold winter day, and the 350 waist zipper makes bathroom breaks a breeze.
- Backcountry.com refers to the men's version
The original and most popular hooded one piece base layer, the Airblaster Mens Ninja Suit continues its reputation as the best long underwear on the planet. Anyone who has tried a ninja suit will tell you; theres simply no going back once you experience the draft free comfort and warmth. Since bursting onto the scene the ninja suit has gathered legions of devoted fans. Dont spend another winter complaining about drafts and snow down your shorts. Become a ninja.
- Altrec Outdoors refers to the men's version
Strike fear into all those around you when wearing your Airblaster Ninja Suit. Nobody will know what hit them when you show up in this one-piece wonder. Super-warm material is sewn up in a full head to ankle suit the first of its kind! When battling evil-doers, or stomping methods over moguls, you'll be stoked on Airblaster's ingenious under garment. Heck, you can even rock this thing on its own if you've got the skills to back it up. And the dump-truck butt zips right open when you need to drop off a load.
- Backcountry Outlet refers to the men's version
Designed to be totally functional and fun, the one-piece Ninja Suit from Airblaster features four-way stretch Air Tech fabric to accommodate your best Ninja moves and to keep you dry and warm. A waist zipper makes it easy to answer nature's call.
- EMS refers to the men's version
Description of Airblaster Ninja SuitThe classic that started it all, and still the best long underwear on the planet If youve never owned an Airblaster Ninja Suit, you truly are missing out. Id say that on an average winter day, youre about 60-70 as comfortable without a Ninja Suit as you would be with one. That extra 30-40 comfort that you pick up when you put on your Ninja Suit means more runs, more smiles, more miles, more FUN You really need to try one to believe how great and wonderfully addictive the Airblaster Ninja Suit is There is a really good reason why people refer to it as the best long underwear on the planet.FeaturesAir-Tech 4-way stretch wicking fabric7-panel ergonomic hood to seal out drafts and snowFull-length front chest zipFront fly for easy 1 accessCircumferential waist zip for ultra-easy 2 accessThumb loops at wrist cuff to seal out snow
- US Outdoor Store refers to the men's version
Airblaster Ninja Suit
previously retailed for:
$43.98 - $109.99
$43.98 - $109.99
The Airblaster Ninja Suit is not available from the stores we monitor. It was last seen February 22, 2016 at Backcountry.com.
If you're looking for a new one-piece base layer, check out the best reviewed current models.


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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Shayanna Jenkins' sister dated Odin Lloyd. The sister of Shayanna Jenkins, Aaron Hernandez's girlfriend and baby mama, was allegedly dating Odin Lloyd (photos below) at the time of his death, local news is now reporting. The identify of Shayanna Jenkins' sister has yet to be released to news. No Facebook, Twitter, or Myspace account for the sister has been identified either.
Odin Lloyd was found dead near Aaron Hernandez's home, LALATE reported earlier. Thereafter, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that there was a female link between Odin Lloyd and Aaron Hernandez. What is that link? Peter Wilson, who has been breaking many of the exclusives on the controversy today, now is reporting that female link is two sisters. "Family of Odin Lloyd tells WBZ-TV that Lloyd dated the sister of Aaron Hernandez's girlfriend", Wilson tweeted moments ago.
Lloyd was found dead by at least one witness. The witness told news earlier today that Lloyd, a believed 27 year old African American athlete, was found "shot somewhere else and dumped here" near Aaron's home.
Odin Lloyd Related Pictures Set 1
Odin Lloyd Photo 1
Odin Lloyd Photo 2
Odin Lloyd Photo 3
Odin Lloyd Photo 4
Lloyd as first reported on LALATE was identified initially as a "jogger". It remains unclear if that classification was based upon Lloyd's clothing attire he was wearing when found dead. Moreover, Lloyd had been in training. He allegedly visited team practices for the Boston Bandits, a semi-pro football team, on Saturday, family members tell news.
Odin Lloyd Related Pictures Set 2
Odin Lloyd Photo 5
Odin Lloyd Photo 6
Odin Lloyd Photo 7
Odin Lloyd Photo 8
Aaron Hernandez was spotted leaving his home in North Attleboro moments after noon EST today. Meantime, Schefter claims that Aaron Hernandez has been a "model citizen" since with the Patriots. But using an unusual word choice even for the analyst, Schefter today claimed sources who assert that Aaron Hernandez has often lived his "life on the edge". Hernandez is not a suspect, nor his girlfriend or her sister.


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Logan Couture RSS
The Morning Skate, June 2: Couture calls it cheating, Crosby calls it winning
So that's a 2-0 lead for the Pittsburgh Penguins. But I'm going to have to agree with San Jose Sharks coach Peter DeBoer on this one: DeBoer: "Game 2 ended in OT, Game 1 decided in last two min. I … Continue reading
Canucks Game Day: Vey must find his way, Dorsett digs tough gig, Lack laps up Tank debut, Latvian Locomotive off rails
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Five points to ponder as the Canucks seek their third win in San Jose this season with new lines, a new sense of urgency and some old-school thinking about staying in the thick of the playoff … Continue reading
Canucks Post-Game: Markstrom's 'nightmare,' sweet Sedinery, sour 5-on-3 power play
Three points to ponder after a sobering 6-2 loss to the Sharks on Tuesday in which Jacob Markstrom didn't look like the oft-labelled best goaltender not playing in the NHL, the Sedins looked like they had turned back the clock … Continue reading
Canucks Hat Trick: Kick trade tires on Kane, McLellan a master survivor, Willie's new Kassian tact
Three things to ponder as we wonder about the real story behind that track-suit spin on the code-breaking Evander Kane and his trade worth, how Todd McLellan has kept dodging bullets in San Jose and how Willie Desjardins keeps trying … Continue reading
The Morning Skate: Jan. 19 Is Luongo the best ever? Miller's angst, Gman the new GM, NFL v CFL and Seahawk surprise
We begin this Monday morning like so many others in the past. Pondering Roberto Luongo. Pondering the Canucks goalie situation. If you missed Sunday's stories, ahead of tonight's tilt between the Canucks and the Panthers in Miami, we sent … Continue reading
Canucks Post-Game: Miller the magnificent, Bonino backs shot-blockers, Vrbata sucks it up
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Some points to ponder after the Canucks hung on to the very last fraction of a second for a thrilling and chilling 3-2 victory over the Sharks on Thursday night to improve to 10-4-0. That's right, … Continue reading
Home fans will get a peek at new top line tonight, as Canucks open preseason at Rogers Arena
The Canucks – two different squads of them in two cities – will get their NHL preseason under way on Tuesday night when they take on San Jose Sharks teams in Vancouver (6 p.m., Rogers Sportsnet, TSN 1040) and Stockton, … Continue reading
The 2 O'Clock: My own Costco hell, plus pondering Derek Jeter's final act
This morning, over breakfast, I read a column written by my colleague Gord Clark. In short, I would call it "The Perils of Costco." You know, going there without a gameplan and buying, as Gord points out, "six or … Continue reading
Sharks' coach McLellan despondent after playoff ouster, would be great fit in Vancouver
There is a ton of speculation about the timing of the Canucks finally firing head coach John Tortorella on Thursday and the epic choke job the night before by the San Jose Sharks in blowing a 3-0 series lead to … Continue reading
Canucks Hat Trick: Men's Olympic hockey team; Eddie on fire; ready for the Pens
Three thoughts heading into a game against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins: 1. Interesting decisions from Hockey Canada on the men's Olympic team on Tuesday morning. Some surprises, of course. The good kind for Canucks' D-man Dan Hamhuis, who … Continue reading


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Saints punter Thomas Morstead plans to donate blood Friday to a local girl who's been battling leukemia since the summer, but his alone won't be enough.
So the one-time Pro Bowler is urging Saints fans to head to Betsy's Pancake House at 2542 Canal St. in Mid-City New Orleans between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Friday to give blood of any type to The Blood Center's Bloodmobile, all of which will benefit 13-year-old Madison "Madi" Adams of Covington, whom Morstead befriended last year.
"Anybody that wants to make a great gift — that's the gift of life for her," Morstead said Wednesday night during the Pelicans-Knicks basketball game at the Smoothie King Center. "And she's going to need it."
Madi was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in July, and she's needed more than 30 blood transfusions while undergoing intense chemotherapy, according to her family. She began a second phase of treatment at Children's Hospital on Feb. 1, and it will require her to submit to chemo 18 consecutive days each month for four months. The plan is for her to then take daily doses of chemo that get smaller each day for two years.
The Blood Center is Children's Hospital's blood provider, and any donations Friday will help Madi with her treatment. Though Type O negative is especially sought, any kind of blood is welcome because Madi is what's known as a universal receiver, Morstead said.
The goal is 25 donations, according to New Orleans firefighter Gino Ascani, who is a friend of Madi's family, was one of the blood drive's organizers and is one of the girl's hardest-working supporters.
Ascani is also a personal trainer. Among his clients and friends are Lauren Morstead and her husband, Thomas. Ascani introduced Morstead to Madi when she was at the hospital in the fall.
Morstead took an interest in helping Madi in part because he runs an initiative named "What You Give Will Grow," one of whose main missions is raising funds for cancer patients. Morstead is passionate about aiding such patients because his mother survived a breast cancer diagnosis when he was younger, and last year he helped raise nearly $30,000 for Madi, who nonetheless has not yet vanquished her illness.
"She said the other day she's sick of being sick," Morstead said of Madi, whose hobbies range from firing guns to participating in beauty pageants. "But … when you see her you never know. She's always doing good, and has a great attitude about life, and she's not feeling sorry for herself."
Blood donors must be at least 17 years old and in good health, and they must weigh a minimum of 110 pounds. Sixteen-year-olds weighing at least 130 pounds can donate with a signed parental consent form, a copy of which is available at http://www.thebloodcenter.org/files/chairperson/3.pdf. For more information about donor eligibility, visit www.thebloodcenter.org.


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LAS VEGAS(Feb. 12, 2011)—All the questions posed by the members of the Las Vegas media had been answered by global superstar and Philippine Congressman Manny Pacquiao and three-division world champion "Sugar" Shane Mosley.
Now it was time for fans to have their say.
One by one they came to the microphone, poised and confident in front of two of the world's greatest fighters on Saturday as the Pacquiao-Mosley bi-coastal press tour made a stop-over in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the same site where Pacquiao and Mosley will battle for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Welterweight world title as Showtime Networks Inc. and CBS have joined forces with Top Rank, Inc. to promote, produce and distribute the biggest boxing event of the year on May 7 on SHOWTIME PPV®.
Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter and Top Rank CEO, hosted the raucous affair attended by more than a thousand enthusiastic fans with a select few standing to ask questions. Like this one posed to Pacquiao from a boy who looked to be around 12 or 13 years old: "Are you ready for Mosley's body punishment?" he asked shyly. "Nice, kid. Thanks for that," responded Pacquiao. "I have two months to prepare for this so I know I will get stronger. I'll be ready on May 7."
A question was asked by another fan who wondered what the difference will be fighting now on SHOWTIME as opposed to a competing network where their careers were made. "It's an honor to fight on SHOWTIME and be covered by CBS," answered Pacquiao. "A lot of people can watch the fight on TV. It's just a big privilege."
Said Mosley: "I've never fought on SHOWTIME. There have been a lot of big fights in the past on SHOWTIME like with Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez. A lot of guys have fought on that channel and I'm excited to make an impact on SHOWTIME. The Fight Camp 360 series is going to be great."
And then the inevitable question came about Pacquiao's new hairstyle, which he referred earlier in the day to looking somewhat like a Beatle. "Do you like Justin Bieber because of your new hairstyle?" a young female fan asked to a roar of laughter from the audience. "I like him, but Bruce Lee is my idol," was Pacquiao's response.
SHOWTIME expert analyst and commentator Al Bernstein took his turn at the microphone and praised both fighters. "This event is so extraordinary," he said. "Any event that has an international icon who transcends the sport of boxing like Manny Pacquiao clearly has the chance and probably will be the event of the year in this sport. And then you toss into the mix a man I've known for so many years and a future Hall of Famer and, equally as important, one of the best known names in all of boxing like Shane Mosley. When you put that together clearly it makes for a great event and SHOWTIME is gratified to be a part of it."
He continued. "SHOWTIME has a track record in the pay-per-view arena that is well documented. The 1990s brought a lot of great pay-per-views. In fact, the second Tyson-Holyfield fight was for 10 years the most viewed with the most buys of any pay-per-view. We take pride at SHOWTIME with providing a nuanced, informational approach that's fan-friendly and follows the evolving story-line wherever it leads us. SHOWTIME always makes the fighters the stars and we will certainly take that approach once again on May 7."
It was a day full of goodwill and complimentary talk, even between the fighters. Mosley told the Las Vegas press corps that, "Manny and are I are a lot alike. We don't like to trash talk."
And this: "Manny's a warrior but he wants to take your heart out."
And then this: "I'm pretty sure I'll be able to land some shots on Manny. I think size will be the big difference in the fight. I'm too fast and too big and I have the height and reach advantage and I'm going to use it."
Added Pacquiao: "That's what I love about this fight because we don't talk trash. I think Mosley is a different man (than Margarito) and a good man."
The Pacquiao-Mosley U.S. media tour will continue on to New York at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers - Pier 61 with another open to the public news conference on Monday, Feb. 14.
The fight is being promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Sugar Shane Mosley Promotions, Tecate and MGM Grand, Pacquiao vs. Mosley will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV®.
Comment on this article
Too bad goodness outside the ring has little usefulness inside of it. If Truth, Justice, Mercy, and "Goodness" could be added to Mosleys water bottle on fight night maybe he'd stand a sliver of a chance. The only hope Mosely has (IMHO) is to use the assets of his larger bodymass, reach and weight on fight night.. He'll have to make it an ugly sloppy affair that delves outside of the parameter of standard boxing tactics like the stuff utilized by Tim Bradley and sometimes Andre Ward(mauling and grappling, hitting and holding). Pac will kill him in a straight up boxing contest. (Truth be told I'd rather fight a good guy too,.. their much nicer during the prefight buildup and they'll invite you over for dinner afterwards to meet the wifey and kids)
Wow,.. that first statement turned out to be partially prophetic.. Recent reports say that Pac brought his wife Jinky to the press conference table with himself, Shane and Trainer Richardson where the highly quotable Richardson spoke some a very eloquent and complimentary words to Pac and his wife...... It doesn't sell more tickets but it must be very comfortable and assuring to do business with someone who is at least a class act outside the ring.. as much as I appreciate the civility that both men displayed during their meeting, I must admit that witnessing altercations, foul language, and 2 opposing teams of body guards on full alert pique my interest a bit more.
Are they in the Green Room or what? Da Manny is lookin' Bruce Leeish and Da Sugarman is lookin' kind of Jim Kellyish. Let "Enter The Dragon." Holla!
Who will win the Sergey Kovalev vs Andre Ward fight?


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So you're the proud new owner of one of the cool new Droid phones. You're ready to rock the 4G world with blazingly fast downloads, real-time navigation — heck, even old-school phone calls. You fire up your state-of-the-art smart device, and wait, and wait.
Published Date:Wed, 07/06/2011
Publisher Source:Mass High Tech


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Do you really enjoy creating your own crosswords? Challenge yourself to use the names of your country's leaders.
On paper, outline a big government building, like the old parliment building in Ottawa, Canada using Crayola® Metallic Colored Pencils.
Inside the shape, map out building blocks like a crossword puzzle. Use a straight edge if you like. Make each block large enough to write one letter inside.
Make a list of the names of your country's leaders, both today's and yesterday's. In Canada, these government leaders are called Prime Ministers. They are known as the "first among equals" because they are the most powerful of all the Cabinet members.
Fit your leaders' names inside the blocks. Maybe you'll want to put the leader who founded your country along the building's foundation. For example, Sir John Macdonald was Canada's first Prime Minister.
Try to figure out a way to have the names go both up and down and across by sharing common letters. See if you can get the names to interconnect like a crossword puzzle. Search for more leaders' names until you find ones that fit together!
Use Crayola Gel Markers to write over the names in large letters. That way the leader's names and their places in history stand out.
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Sep 21, 2010
That Cat Is Back.
For those of you who are late in discovering my mistress' blog (and where the hell have you been?), my name is Jasper, AKA Ninja, AKA That Fucking Cat.
I introduced myself to you back in June when my mistress (which is Ancient Egyptian for 'slave') was ill and I took possession of her laptop.
My mistress is not ill this time, just preoccupied. I have heard the words 'wine', 'headache', 'scrooge' and 'stop buying cheap shit' uttered from her mouth staccato-style this morning, though I do not understand what these mean. So whilst she is off apparently looking for a porcelain bus to drive, the significance of which is also lost on me, I will update you with the story of an interesting morning I had just last week.
I open one eye and see that the room is getting light. Perhaps not light, but less black. I glide quietly into my mistress' bedroom, stand next to her, only a matter of inches from her ear to make sure she hears me, and whisper, "MEOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWW".
She doesn't get up. Oh dear, she may not have heard me so I try again, a little louder this time, "MEOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW".
"It's only 5am for fuck's sake, go away."
Apparently this '5am' she spits at me equates with it still being too black for humans to rise. Shocking. I jump onto the bed and proceed to sharpen my claws on the human's bedcovers, and ohh, what's this? Something nice and lumpy under here to really sink my claws into….
"Aaaarrrrgggghhhhh, you fucking cat…"
Hmmm, that is the name she uses for me when she seems displeased. If I want to be fed from the decent can this morning perhaps I should sit and wait. I know, I'll start washing myself….
Ouch…. I think she may have kicked me. The cheek. The woman doesn't even appreciate my grooming efforts. Would she prefer I was a matted shag-pile like that Idiot Dog they disposed of the other day? Hah, little do these humans know, but every time I have sat on their laps over the last six months, my purring has been transmitting a subliminal message to their brains..."The Idiot Dog is old, arthritic and sick, she must go. The Idiot Dog is old, arthritic and sick, she must go. The Idiot Dog is old, arthritic…" It took longer than I planned but my patience has finally been rewarded.
I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I know, the older male is stretching and rising. I do not bother to follow him. He is unimportant. He will not feed me. I move closer to the mistress' ear again, "MEOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW".
"Alright already, I'm getting up to feed you, bloody hell…."
I weave in and out of her legs as she makes her way to my food bowl, which I know she enjoys as she starts to purr. Well, I think it's a purr. Okay, maybe it's a growl. Hard to say. Ahhh, food, and it's from the decent can too, I was right to wait.
The next hour or two is a blur; I doze as the younger humans move around completing absurd morning rituals. Their litter tray fascinates me though. I like to sneak in with them and rub up against their legs or try to sit on their laps while they are using it. This seems to irritate them for some reason.
Finally all the other humans are gone and I hear my mistress,
"Peace and quiet, I love you. Okay, shower time. Oh crap, forgot, shower head is broken and spraying water everywhere, think I'll have a bath instead."
I watch her and just as she is about to climb into the giant bathing device, I MEOW loudly and run to the back door.
"Fucking cat, couldn't you have asked to go out 5 minutes ago when I was still dressed?"
No, you silly woman, wanting something when it is convenient for you would defeat the purpose of my existence.
She hastily lets me out (with parts of her I've never seen before bouncing all over the place), I complete my own morning rituals (I'm a shy cat, use your imagination) and then sit outside the human's wet room window. I hear splashing. Good heavens, has someone released a whale in there? I decide I need to come back in and investigate.
I bang on the back door. I climb the screen. I jump at the window. Even thumbless, I manage to rattle the doorknob with my paws. I make as much noise as I possibly can to let her know I must come in immediately.
"Hello? Is someone at the door?"
Yes, it's me you fool. I rattle and bang and jump some more. I hear more splashing and movement. She's coming.
"J, is that you? Have you forgotten your bus ticket? Oh shit, I better not have got out of the bath and dripped water everywhere for THAT FUCKING CAT…."
Oops. As she approaches the back door, I run for it. To the front door. I start banging and howling at the front instead, to prove it wasn't me at the back. Nope. Not me. Nobody saw me there. I didn't make all that noise. I'm at the front.
Hmmm, she's not coming to the front, is she? I nonchalantly go round to the back, where she is standing wrapped in a drying cloth, looking…. well…. unhappy. I rub my freshly dirtied fur against her wet leg, run in and turn to watch her as she furiously marches back to the wet room. Almost to the wet room anyway. She's on the floor now. She appears to have slipped. She really shouldn't leave all that water lying around, what was she thinking?
Sigh. She really needs to watch that temper of hers. She glares at me and starts muttering nonsensical words like 'revenge', 'shove' and 'washing machine', so I wander into the human food room and jump up to check for scraps.
"NO get down."
Damn, she followed me. Next room, up on the table.
"NO get down."
Blimey woman, you're everywhere. Hmmm, what's that up there on top of where she keeps her liquid refreshments, the kind that make her giggly and loud…? Bright things…. must have closer look … oops, almost knocked them over. Better jump down and assume a position of innocence before she comes back… bother, here she comes.
"What the HELL was that? Jasper, did you jump up on the wine rack? Huh? Did you almost knock over my vase of flowers?"
Cue big eyes, leg rubbing, purring, shows of affection, gestures of blamelessness. Of course it wasn't me. I didn't do it. Nobody saw me. You can't prove anything.
Oh dear. Lunch isn't going to be from the decent can, is it?
Sep 14, 2010
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. With Other Girls.
No, despite the title, this is not a girl-on-girl story of a clandestine lesbian love affair. I promised her I would never speak of that again. It was the Tequila coupled with poor lighting, I'm telling you. Ahem.
Following on in my series of writing about our journey through life and how our attitudes, needs and desires change depending on our age (see Taking A Woman To Bed and What Women Want In A Man), I am going to explore what qualities women want in their female friends at various stages in life. Call them what you like; your BFFs, your besties, your posse, your bitches, or your "group of women who know too much about me so I need to keep them close"; we all need some of that ya-ya sisterhood type friendship in our lives.
What Women Want In Another Woman: She's my friend as long as she...
Age 11
1. Looks cute enough and dresses cool enough to hang around with me.
2. Will help me put my hair in a ponytail.
3. Will 'Friend' me on Facebook.
4. Will not get a crush on the same boy I like.
5. Lets me bitch about the other girls.
6. Is good at the games and things I like doing, but not as good as me.
7. Doesn't have a Hello Kitty bag as pretty as mine.
8. Makes me laugh so hard I go red in the face.
9. Likes to go see a Pixar movie with me.
10. Will support me and drink coke and eat popcorn with me when that boy I like has a crush on the new girl.
Age 22
1. Looks hot enough and dresses sexily so that we can pick up guys together.
2. Will hold my hair back while I vomit.
3. Slags off other girls on Facebook with me.
4. Will not sleep with my boyfriend.
5. Lets me bitch about my mother and my boyfriend's ex.
6. Is good at dancing, drinking and flirting, but not as good as me.
7. Doesn't have an Ed Hardy bag as cool as mine.
8. Makes me laugh so hard I break a heel and fall over.
9. Likes to go see a Rom-com chick flick or gory slasher movie with me.
10. Will support me and drink Jager bombs and eat pizza with me when my boyfriend is discovered in the toilet at the nightclub with that skank from the video store.
Age 33
1. Looks attractive enough and dresses stylishly so I won't be humiliated when seen with her.
2. Will tell me my hair looks great every time I have it cut, no matter what she really thinks.
3. Agrees that Facebook is so childish.
4. Will not sleep with my husband.
5. Lets me bitch about other women, my co-workers, my mother and my mother-in-law.
6. Is good at her job and marriage, but not as good as me.
7. Doesn't have a Prada bag as elegant as mine.
8. Makes me laugh just enough that I don't embarrass myself.
9. Likes to go see a heartwarming, sophisticated chick flick with me.
10. Will support me and drink wine and eat chocolate with me when I miss out on the promotion at work, my husband doesn't understand my need for career fulfillment and my mother keeps asking when I'm going to have children.
Age 44
1. Brushes her teeth and changes out of PJ's before the school run, most days.
2. Will tell me when my roots need touching up.
3. Joins Twitter with me.
4. Will tell me who is sleeping with my husband.
5. Lets me bitch about other women, my kids, other people's kids, teachers, other mothers, my mother, my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, my neighbour, my bank, my therapist and my fucking arsehole of a husband.
6. Is good at faking the perfect marriage and motherhood package, but not as good as me.
7. Doesn't have a Nappy Bag as funky as mine.
8. Makes me laugh so hard I snort out my wine and cry tears of joy.
9. Likes to go see a movie with me, any fucking movie, I don't care, as long as I get away from the husband and kids.
10. Will support me and drink wine, vodka and assorted shooters, and eat pizza and chocolate and cream buns with me when… well, does there need to be a reason?
Age 55
1. Looks okay, preferably with more wrinkles than me, and hopefully not wearing orthopaedic shoes yet.
2. Will tell me I need to find a new hairdresser and possibly even hair replacement treatment.
3. Is capable of sending me text messages and emails.
4. Will not sleep with my first/second/third husband (circle which is appropriate)
5. Lets me bitch about other women, my mother-in-law, my financial advisor, my husband, and my kids' choice of career, partner and lifestyle.
6. Is good at organizing social events and dinner parties. I don't even care if she's better than me any more, as long as I don't have to cook.
7. Doesn't have a Louis Vuitton bag as big as mine.
8. Makes me laugh so hard I regret not concentrating on my pelvic floor muscles more often.
9. Likes to see foreign movies with me, and reminds me to bring my glasses so I can read the sub-titles.
10. Will support me and drink wine and Baileys and eat mudcake with me when my kids decide to leave home and I show signs of Empty Nest Syndrome.
Age 66
1. Looks presentable and remembers to change out of her slippers when she leaves the house.
2. Will have an honest discussion with me about whether to dye, or go grey gracefully.
3. Is capable of calling me and leaving a message.
4. Thinks my husband is as much of an idiot as I do.
5. Lets me bitch about other women, my son's wife, my son's mother-in-law, my doctor, my arthritis, my husband and my late mother-in-law's will.
6. Is good at being a grandmother, but not as good as me.
7. Doesn't have a hessian environmentally friendly bag in better condition than mine.
8. Makes me laugh so hard I'm glad I brought my Tena with me this time.
9. Has good enough bladder control (or her own substantial supply of Tena) to sit through a movie with me.
10. Will support me and drink sherry and eat canapés with me when my son's relationship fails, (allegedly but disbelievingly due to constant parental disapproval and interference) and he wants to move back home.
Age 77
1. Can see a bit, hear a bit, communicate a bit and remembers to get dressed.
2. Will lend me her hair curlers when I can't find where I put mine.
3. Has a standing arrangement with me at the same time every week because neither of us can read the numbers on the phone any more.
4. Will promise to look after my husband/goldfish/cat if I go first.
5. Lets me bitch about people whose names neither of us can remember.
6. Is good at cards, bingo and lawn bowls, but not as good as me.
7. Doesn't have a colostomy bag that holds more than mine.
8. Makes me laugh so hard my teeth shoot out.
9. Still remembers where the movie theatre is, because I don't.
10. Will support me and drink tea and eat carrot cake with me when I have attended the wrong funeral service for the second time in a week.
Sep 7, 2010
Tribal Wives of Adelaide
Vegemitevix started it. She wrote a post about a TV show called Tribal Wives, where a woman from suburban UK is introduced into an indigenous tribal society, and she cleverly added her own cheeky rules for women to be aware of when moving to her stomping ground in the UK.
Then Heather did it. She started thinking about what a woman would need to know in order to seamlessly meld into life in rural Finland. Like unashamedly stripping naked in front of complete strangers.
Others have done it too. London City Mum did Tribal Wives - The Holiday Version, Very Bored in Catalunya presented the Rural Catalan edition, goonerjamie gave us the English Househusband adaptation (wearing an iPope tshirt and getting pissed whilst juggling flaming socks seems to be a high priority in East London).... and so on. There may be more. It's gone viral. The Centre for Communicable Blogging Diseases is on full alert.
I have the virus. Heather the bitch gave it to me. I need to get it out of my system now. My rules are nowhere near as interesting as the others because Adelaide can be a trifle boring, but here's a few things you need to know if you are going to blend in with the Tribal Wives of Adelaide, South Australia.
1. I suppose I should start with the basics, like what to wear.
In Winter, boots. Firstly, Ugg boots. You may need three pairs. One grungy pair to mope around the house in; one slightly nicer pair that are suitable to wear with the tracky daks and unwashed-hair-gone-wild-ponytail when dropping the kids at school and ducking into the shops for a carton of milk; and thirdly, if you move to certain outer suburban areas, you will need a dressier pair to wear to the pub with your denim mini shorts and orange tan.
Secondly, knee-high fuck-me boots. Enough said.
In Summer, thongs. And I don't mean the type that sticks in your bum crack. We call that a G-string. What some of you might call 'flip-flops', we call thongs. You will need several pairs in various colours to match different outfits, including bedazzled ones for evening wear. (Actually that probably applies to G-strings too, although be careful where the bedazzly bits are, chafing is so tiresome.)
Clothes. Pretty much anything goes. Show loads of flesh, including muffin tops, or cover it all up with an imitation D&G top you bought in Bali for a buck. Shop at Burnside Village in your Manolo Blahniks, at Unley in Prada, at Arndale in Dunlop Volleys, or at Colonnades barefoot. You can be as up-to-date and stylish as you want, or you can be stuck in the 80s and 90s with your hideous leggings and oversized shoulder pads. (WTF, my daughter says this IS up-to-date. Why did I give all that stuff to the op shop in 1999?)
To specifically fit in with me? Wear anything as long as your stilettos don't punch holes in my floorboards and your boobs don't look better than mine.
2. "Life is too short to drink bad wine." This is your new mantra, learn it fast. There is an ancient Latin proverb that claims there are 5 reasons for drinking great South Australian wine. One is the arrival of a friend; second is for your present thirst; thirdly, for your future thirst; fourth is for the excellence of the wine; and fifth....for any other reason you see fit to think of.
To specifically fit in with me? I have winemakers in the family so I'm generally never short of some really good stuff, but I will also accept that if it is 3.17am and only two dozen empty bottles can be found, it is adequate to bring out the Chateau Cardboard. In fact if I'm still conscious and not vomiting, I'll insist on it.
3. You need to learn how to get around our city, whether it be by bus, tram, train, bike or car. If you choose the bus, remember it will only ever be at the bus stop on time when you are running late, doing a crazy one-shoed arm-waving dash up the street, and it will be driven by a bitter, twisted person who still carries a chip on their shoulder from not getting through the first round of Australian Top Gear test-driver auditions.
The car you drive will probably depend on the area in which you choose to live. In the West and South you will find aging family cars, some zippy little run-arounds, salt-damaged surfer vans, hotted-up doof-doof pimp-my-ride types, the occasional treasured classic, and old men with hats in Volvos. Up North there will most likely be a white Holden Commodore in the driveway. Until it is stolen. But it was probably stolen from someone else in the first place, so what goes around comes around. You'll find it eventually. Torched.
In the East you will get run over by a big shiny 4WD (affectionately known as a Toorak Truck), which has never been used for the purpose it was built; it has never left the bitumen. Unless you count that time when Mrs Hyphen-Hyphen dropped her spray-on Chanel, spilt her low-fat soy mochaccino, smudged her giant sunglasses and lost control, mounting the roundabout outside little Julian's Plum-In-Mouth Preparatory School. Apparently she was devastated, but her face muscles no longer move, so it was hard to tell.
To specifically fit in with me? As long as you remember to pick me up on the way to the pub, I don't care.
4. You've heard of the six degrees of separation rule? In Adelaide it's more like three. You need to learn to accept this fact; everybody knows somebody who knows somebody else who knows you. You need to be careful what you do, what you say and who you say it to.
You will attend a party knowing nobody. By the end of the night you will be downing shooters with your next door neighbour's best friend's cousin. The story you started the evening with, about how your neighbours reach over the fence to steal fruit from your tree so you injected the lemons with capsicum spray, will come back to bite you on the bum.
Your daughter will make a new friend at school. Her father will be your boss' wife's dentist and her mother will be your sister-in-law's Pilates instructor. That comment you made about little Susie having buck teeth and bad posture? Yeah, not a good move.
You will have an affair. You will get caught because your lover used to pull the beers at your partner's hairdresser's husband's pub. In fact, the hairdresser is probably sleeping with him too.
You drink the entire cask, forget to take your medication, and run down the street naked singing nursery rhymes, but it's okay, it's 4am on a Sunday and nobody is about. When you drop little Jack off at school Monday morning you notice the smirks and hear the whispers about how the chairperson of the School Council has a friend whose brother delivers the papers in your street.
On Sundays.
At about 4am.
To specifically fit in with me? Do not mention you know me to anybody, ever, and remind me to take my medication.
5. We have our own language, fair dinkum. Don't be alarmed if someone says "Now that you're a South Aussie, I must give you a FUIC." They are not trying to jump your bones in a funny accent. Well, they might be. But it means Farmer's Union Iced Coffee.
"I like eating Fritz." The German tourists get nervous, or alternatively, excited, when they hear this. Fritz is a meat product. Not from Germany, but from a pig.
"Having a FUIC with Fritz is heaps good." This could mean that drinking iced coffee whilst eating a slice of luncheon meat is really nice, or it could mean last night with that German tourist was bloody awesome.
To specifically fit in with me? I'll make a deal with you; you pretend you know what I'm saying, I'll pretend I know what you're saying, you swear a bit and laugh at all my jokes, we'll get on just fine.
So have I put you all off coming down to little ole Adelaide?
Excellent, more FUIC 'n' wine for me.
Sep 4, 2010
How Bouncy Are Your……
How bouncy are your bios? You thought I was going to say boobs, didn't you? I have no idea why you would think that, it's not like I mention boobs every…..oh, okay.
This is about your bio, the little blurb consisting of a few sentences or phrases you have on your Twitter or blog profile that will tell the world all about you and make people desperate to follow you and know more. Or not.
I can remember when I first joined Twitter and had to fill in my profile, I sat and stared at the screen, agonising over what I could possibly fit into 160 characters that would tell you everything you needed to know about me. Or what I mistakenly believed about myself. Or what I wanted you to believe about me. You know, "Loving wife, fantastic mother, energetic housekeeper, reliable friend and quiet, clean-living evangelist." Stop laughing, it could have been true....
To this day however, I have no memory of what I actually typed. I know I filled the whole box though, typical bloody woman, I wouldn't shut up. It has been changed a few times since then, but I eventually settled on something simple that on the surface says very little, but is perhaps revealing in its own way.
"Lead me not into temptation. I can find it myself. Usually in the fridge."
This brief glimpse at my personality caught the eye of Dave Bartlett, who has now nominated me for his Twittaward and blogged about bios that he found to be witty and clever, which made those people enticing to follow. I hadn't thought a lot about it before, but of course when I get a new follower, I read their bio to see if I'm interested in following back. Dave's blog made me muse over what I want to see in a bio that will intrigue me.
I certainly know what words I don't want to see. Porn, horny kitties, bondage and life coach are among them. Entrepreneur makes me hesitate. As does marketing expert. If the words used are so big that I need a dictionary to decipher them, sorry, you're also gone. Wealth creation, existentialism, theology and empowerment won't get you over the line either. Wine however, will.
It's not a foolproof system though, I admit. I've been duped in the past; a sweet friendly bio and a message of "Hi Cate, how r u? Will u follow me back?" had me smiling and obliging, thinking what a lovely, polite young man he was. This was very quickly followed by him asking "Do u want to see my dick?" Hey, I was right about the politeness, at least he asked first.
I have had followers who have used their bios to announce their unusual sexual preferences, family medical history, criminal record, mental illnesses, and believe it or not, their blood type. You never know when you might need a transfusion I guess.
"I'm a schizophrenic bi-sexual cross-dresser with a foot fetish, who loves licking windows, watching reality TV and drinking blood."
Are you fucking kidding me?? Reality TV?? Sorry, that puts you out.
And please, don't tell me you're sexy. I once had a discussion with a friend on sexiness, and we decided that not thinking you are sexy but somehow managing to exude it anyway, was definitely sexy. We also agreed that the minute you start thinking you are sexy, and telling everybody, then you're not.
I recently read a female's bio that said "sexy geek" which brought on my eye-rolling and expletive-filled what-a-dipshit type thoughts. Only minutes later I came across another female who claimed to be the "originator of sexy geek chic " and my mind started racing. I pondered introducing the two of them, then sitting back and watching the catfight over ownership of "sexy geek" rights, picturing screaming tweets and threats of a violent cyber smackdown. I realised though that if they really were geeks, they would probably agree to battle it out on Spore.
I think I should add that the 'don't tell me you're sexy' rule also applies to 'funny'. I want to decide who I find funny for myself. By all means, tell me instead that you have a sense of humour, but not that you are the funniest person you know. You may think you are, but your jokes probably went out of style with stirrup pants. What?? They're not back are they?? Fuck.
One of the few exceptions to this rule I think I ever made was @joshuadenney who says "I am EXTREMELY funny." I looked at a few of his tweets and they weren't very funny, which I found hilarious for some reason, so I followed him back. We have chatted regularly for well over a year now. The funny part is, he actually is quite funny. Just don't tell him I said so.
Anyway, I guess the point of this is that I should share some amusing and clever bios that I have stumbled upon amongst the people I follow on Twitter. Since I follow almost 2000 people, it would be impossible to go through them all and find the absolute best, so here are just a few I have seen strolling across my screen recently whose bios have brought a smile to my face. Well, they at least haven't had me selecting the BLOCK option.
@Bern_Morley : Child of the 80's. Worker, Mum of 3, wife of 1, Has too much caffeine and never remembers to leave the meat out for tea.
@ShoutyDad : It's their bedtime but the children keep running off in different directions so either I can shout a bit - or pour myself a glass of wine.
@thekingofswing : An inflated sense of intelligence coupled with a messiah complex and general downbeatery. Welcome to the Swingdom.
@shortn_tweet : That bloody cat. She cannot possibly be hungry still. She's only meowing to piss me off, I just know it.
@FizzyDuck : IT Professional, two bit writer, universal wisdom coach, advisor to the aesthetically challenged, bad golfer, lame joke teller & verbal cartoonist
@jeffrago : Pop Culture Explorer. Belly Laugher. Spirit Seeker. Talent Lover. Red Wine Sipper. Dessert Eater. Tongue-In-Cheek Talker
@WritingAgain : Writer of flash fiction and the occasional short story, aspiring novelist, inveterate procrastinator. Slightly ornery, most days.
@frogpondsrock : I am a ceramic artist who lives on a small island, underneath Australia. I balance amazing cooking with indifferent housekeeping. Vacuuming is bad for your soul.
@VBinCatalunya : Marmite munching expat, in desperate need of twiglets.
@Ade1965 : Wine drinker, clown and a fool. Due to this you will either ♥love♥ me or hate me. Oh and I also write and post a little news and tech stuff.
@edible_hat : not actually a goat.
So maybe you'd like to rethink your own, and if it doesn't do your personality justice, give it a bit more bounce, it's never too late. I'm still talking bios, not boobs...
Sep 2, 2010
Boobs, Cancer and Other Bedtime Stories
*This post was originally published in February this year, but I have decided to give it another airing in honour of #feelthemupFriday this week. No, I have not changed my mind, I am not getting my boobs out, nor do I wish to see anyone else's boobs, but we are attempting to turn the Twitter stream pink to remind EVERYONE to do a self-examination this Friday. It could save your life.*
Now that I have your attention....
Hi, my name is Cate, I am a forty-*smudged* year old female with a family history of breast cancer that I am scared shitless of getting. Grandmother, aunties, cousins, sister....both sides of the family tree. A very high percentage of people in my blood line have died of one form of cancer or another. A cousin who died in her early fifties was so riddled with it, they were never really sure where it originated, but suspicions lay with her breasts. Devious things. I always thought they were up to no good.
I think therefore, that I am the target audience for breast cancer awareness. Self-examination, mammograms, a need to be aware of any changes in my own body.... all of these issues must be kept alive in my mind. I cannot afford to ever become nonchalant about it, despite the fact that my parents are both alive and still (verbally) kicking well into their eighties.
With all this in mind, you would think I would be a participant, or at the very least a supporter, of things like #BoobsWednesday #BoobiesWed (or whatever it is called this week) on Twitter. For the uninitiated, a number of Twitter women change their profile picture to a close-up of their boobs every Wednesday under the banner of raising breast cancer awareness. Ummm...yeah...I'm afraid it does nothing for me. If I am the kind of person this crusade is aimed at and I think it's crass and overdone, is the message really getting across?
When a man who is spreading the word about climate change, conservation, greening and recycling comes to my door, I will listen to him, show an interest, ask questions, discuss options and learn things about what I can do to help myself, my family and my planet. But if he starts turning up every Wednesday, well, I'm just going to stop answering the door. The impact is lost.
My opinion is that if someone feels they really must get their jugs out, it should be saved for certain times. Preferably when I'm not looking, or when there are special Breast Cancer Awareness weeks or months. During these campaigns, by all means, grab the Kodak, polish the knockers and put them online if that's the way you roll. But in order to spread the word, you also need to UNLOCK your Twitter account to more than your current 500-odd followers, therefore enabling maximum exposure (if you'll pardon the pun), and for credibility perhaps stop following people with user names like PussyWhisperer, HotBoy and OlDirtyBastard. I'd probably suggest you also remove the word 'Sex' from your username if you want to be taken seriously and not dismissed as a porn queen. And maybe you should probably tweet about the war on cancer. Just sayin.
Since I have a brain, this has led me to believe that some of these women (and these are a minority I'm sure, don't all get your bras in a twist), are getting their hooters out on a weekly basis for their own benefit, all under the guise of a 'good cause'. Raising awareness is one thing, raising penises through self-mammary promotion week after week is another. In the long run it just makes people like me rather cynical about the whole thing. I can no longer tell the RaisingAwarenessRack from the PuppiesForPerverts.
Someone said to me that they had always thought anything that raises awareness is a good thing. Really, anything? When is Testicular Cancer Awareness Day, and are we going to be inundated with hairy balls? Would that be okay with everyone on Twitter if a whole bunch of guys posted pics of their bollocks and we had #ScrotumSunday? And don't even start me on Prostate cancer... that would be one amazing, never-used-again camera that gets that close-up shot.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a wowser by any stretch of the imagination (if only you knew...shutup TLD) and I would dearly love to hear the following bedtime story...
**Once upon a time, a naïve, uneducated woman (let's call her Britney *snort*) joined Twitter, saw a giant pair of norks on her screen and asked of SexyBoobLady, "Why are you showing your melons?" SexyBoobLady replied "It's #boobiewed, it's for breast cancer awareness and for no other self-serving sexual reason. You must check your tits." Britney skipped off to the shower, checked her honkers, found a lump and went to the doctor. After surgery, chemo, radiation and reconstruction, she was given the all-clear and lived happily ever after. "Thankyou Twitter and SexyBoobLady". The End.**
Unfortunately, an exchange I witnessed recently was more along the lines of...
Bloke : "New pic? Why are you showing your chest?" (close-up boobs were in a tshirt)
Woman : "It's #boobiewed, breast cancer awareness"
Bloke : "Oh, I like your old pic better...although...do you have a bra photo?"
Woman : *giggle* "I think I have one in a bikini top"
Bloke : "That might be good, not that I'm asking or anything..."
And so on. Not sure how many lives that conversation saved.
Before I get complaints and criticism for being negative/sarcastic/myusualself about a group of people who may, on the whole, be convinced they are trying to do the right thing, hear me out. OF COURSE I want every cancer story to end happily, it's a cruel disease that nobody deserves to suffer through or die from, and yes, awareness is a key. I just believe there are more effective means than Twitter Titillation (couldn't resist that one). We need to do it with dignity and legitimately, without sexualising the cause and therefore getting mixed up with the less-than-legitimate 'whores'. Go pink. Get a pink Twibbon. Something to get attention, yes, but for the cause, not for yourself.
To show I am not just sitting in my Amish Ivory Tower, untouched by breast cancer, spouting "Thou shalt not reveal thy funbags", I will share a bedtime story of my own, regrettably one of many.
Once upon a time I had a friend, H. Our boys played together, started school together. We lunched and laughed together. She was warm, generous and kind. And oh so intelligent. She was involved in everything, you couldn't turn a page of the local paper without seeing her name in print. H worked hard in the community, stood up for what she thought was right, protested against what she thought was wrong. An outstanding, gifted woman. Put me to shame. But only in my own mind, never in hers.
At one of our mums-need-cake-and-wine lunches, we were exchanging 'well my mother did this' stories. Laughing (to avoid crying) over the horrible things our own mums put us through as children, and were still putting us through as adults. Sadly, I 'won' every round. I had the best stories, therefore the worst mother. As we all walked back to school in the afternoon to collect our kids, H walked with me, put her arm around my shoulder and said "I admire you, I'm sure those stories were just the tip of the iceberg and yet you laughed about them, even though I bet you have been deeply hurt. You are a credit to yourself, it's great that you have risen above that, and become the warm, friendly, kind, funny person and mother that you are today. Well done you." SHE admired ME? Wow. I still carry those words with me today.
The last time I saw her, about a month before she died from the cancer that started in her breast and went to her brain, she smiled blankly at me and asked my name. She didn't know who I was. But I knew, because she had once told me.
I choose to support..
McGrath Foundation
National Breast Cancer Foundation


text:
In an exclusive Q&A with Renée Ward, Joseph Abboud, award-winning menswear designer and Chief Creative Director at Men's Wearhouse shares how a part-time job in a men's clothing store at 16, led to his love of the industry and his commitment to give back through the National Suit Drive.
This is the sixth in a series of articles about the "first paying jobs" of successful people, their advice for today's teens, and the value of work early in life.
Abboud grew up in what he describes as a working class family. From the time he can remember his father was in and out of hospitals due to a work accident that broke his spinal cord and limited his ability to walk. As a result, his mom worked two jobs to support Abboud, and his three older sisters.
It seems to me that at a young age and even though he wasn't wealthy, he found a way to dress like it and ultimately become it.
Ward: How did you get your start in the fashion industry?
Abboud: At 16, the job that put me on the path to being a menswear designer was a part-time job at a local men's store outside of Boston, MA where I lived called Surman's. That's where I started and I worked there a few hours each day after school and on weekends for several years learning the business.
Ward: How did you learn about this opportunity?
Abboud: I didn't know that there was a job available. I loved to pass by and look at the displays in their windows and I thought maybe one day they'll need a part-timer, so I went in and asked. Jack Surman, the owner of the store, was a very nice man and he was happy to have me.
Ward: What did you do?
Abboud: I received stock, put clothes out on display, folded shirts and sold items to the customers that came in.
Ward: Why did Surman hire you? I'm sure he could have picked someone else. Why you?
Abboud: I think he saw how much I loved clothes. That's probably part of it. I was enthusiastic and he saw that. I think he sensed that it was an environment that I wanted to be in and he gave me a chance.
I think the other part came from the teachings of my first generation parents that it was important for my own self-worth and self-esteem to have a job. They reflected that in how much they appreciated having a job and respected their employers. It was part of my family's culture, I embraced it and he could relate to that.
My upbringing was not very different from many working class families where parents strive to provide for their kids. I was taught from a very early age that I had to go out and earn a living and I had to contribute.
Of course my parents did the best they could but with four kids, not because it was mandated, we all felt the responsibility that we go out and work.
Being the youngest and the only son, I felt like I had four moms because all of them told me what to do.
Ward: So, you wanted to get away from the women in your life?
Abboud: (Laughter) You know it's funny. I think learning to deal with women at a very young age is one of my valuable assets. I've been surrounded by women my whole life. My mom, my sisters, my wife, my two daughters, even my cat was a girl.
I do think in all seriousness that in the workforce men really do need to understand women in terms of how to be professional, demonstrate respect and equality in pay. I deal with a lot of women in the fashion business and I'm sure my background helps in that regard.
Ward: So how did your love of clothes come about?
Abboud: I don't really know. I think because I loved movies. The actors had such glamour and elegance. They showcased a lifestyle that I didn't live. I was in awe of how dynamic the men were in their beautiful suits and the way the women were glamorously dressed.
I saw that they went to great restaurants and they lived in beautiful homes and it was so appealing to me.
I also came to learn that dressing well opened the door in terms of getting a job which is a message for the young consumer today. Young men really need to understand how to present themselves well.
Ward: Why do you feel that's important?
Abboud: First impressions are lasting. I know we are in the Internet information age and that resumes are transmitted electronically, but at some point, especially in the workplace there's going to be that moment when you have to meet someone face-to-face. If you're in a professional environment, you need to dress the part.
Ward: Did anything go wrong while you were working at Surman's? If so, how did you handle it?
Abboud: No. It was a very natural fit for me. Jack Surman was my mentor. Years later I still had a wonderful relationship with him. When he saw me he'd always tell me how proud he was of me. He was really a nice man.
Ward: What did you learn from that job that has prepared you for what you are doing now?
Abboud: Well, it was just like any job in this industry. It began my process of understanding how the business works. I had to learn how to communicate favorably with a customer, how to show them the right things, and share the new trends in order to get them to buy.
Looking back on it, I learned how to present things simply, be polite and professional.
These skills are the same ones I use if I'm presenting a concept to a financial institution or an investor. So the fundamentals of what I learned back then, I still use today.
Ward: What advice do you have for teens and young adults today seeking their first jobs?
Abboud: As I mentioned, and surely because of the business I'm in, I believe you should always strive to make a good physical first impression. Within milliseconds and before you can stretch out your hand for a handshake, the other person is developing an impression of you.
You don't have to be a fashion-plate, you just have to be well-dressed, that is, professionally attired understanding that you are putting yourself in front of someone to say, I would like you to hire me.
Of course the interview and follow up are also important.
Ward: Do you feel there's a certain look that men need today when they hear the term "dress for success"? If so, has it changed over the years?
Abboud: The fundamentals have not changed. It may sound old-fashion but for a man it still comes down to the best quality and fitting suit you can come by, matching accessories, shoes shined, nails cut and clean, hair brushed or combed properly, you know, well-groomed.
Ward: What about tattoos and piercings?
Abboud: That's an interesting thing. I guess a lot of people have issues one way or another. I'm in the world of design but still I'm not a big fan. Sometimes it's done in an impetuous moment and it's not so easy to turn that around. To that point my daughters don't have them although they could have.
I suspect that if you're working in an artistic field, it's more acceptable than in the financial or medical fields.
Ward: Other advice?
Abboud: Yes. I'd like to tell young people that on the job, you have to prove yourself first and the rest will come. You're not going to join a company in an entry-level position and become a vice-president the next day. It doesn't work that way. You work your way up.
My daughters had jobs in their teen years. Not because my wife and I didn't have the income to indulge them, but it was for their own sense of perspective of life. And, for them to understand what it is to earn a dollar. It's not easy. There are no gifts sitting on a plate. My philosophy is that you have to give to get.
Ward: Is that then your motivation for the National Suit Drive?
Abboud: Yes. This is the seventh year of the drive which runs through this July. It's our way of giving back to men who are unemployed but wanting to get back into the workforce who cannot afford quality workplace attire no matter what the price. So for us it's a way to show our commitment to the industry that we are in and also give back to the community.
We've raised over 650,000 items of quality clothing over the years and passed to men who are needy. We see them stand up a little bit taller and feel a little bit better about themselves when they are well-dressed. The way they look is obviously one facet of importance to a potential employer.
Ward: Anything else?
Abboud: Let's face it. Every day all of us get up in the morning and make a fashion decision.
What image am I going to project today? What am I going to wear? How will I be perceived if I wear this or that?
We make that decision every day.
Look, would we all like to hang around all day in our gym clothes? Of course. But if you're in a professional or workplace environment and you need to impress someone, you should want to present yourself well.
So I ask you readers, do clothes make the man? Are you swayed one way or another by the way a man is dressed in a professional or workplace environment?
And, for teens looking for a job in the fashion industry, look for "Now Hiring" signs, show your enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Don't forget to dress appropriately for the role.
Not sure what you want to do or what kind of job to pursue? Take a look at the Association for Career and Technical Education's (ACTE) career clusters and take a Career Clusters Interest Survey. This may help give you focus and direction in your job hunting. The Career Clusters Interest Survey
For more job advice for teens visit—Teens4Hire.org


text:
This 40"H CAD drafting table makes working on extensive projects more comfortable. The 30"W x 30"D drawing surface is adjustable with a soft close feature for easy operation. Next to the drawing surface, a 12"D x 30"W reference surface is the perfect size for holding references while you draw. Included CPU holder, monitor arm, keyboard, mouse tray and cable manager help keep you connected and ready to work.
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Assembly required.