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Footwear Technologist
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|Job Title
|Footwear Technologist
|Contract Type
|£45000 - £55000 per annum + Benefits
|Start Date
|Our Reference
|Who to Contact
|Quest Seach Selection - firstname.lastname@example.com
|Job Advertised
|almost 4 years ago
Job Description
An opportunity has arisen with a leading high street retailer for an experienced Footwear Technologist. As Footwear Technologist, your responsibilities will be: * Approving all test reports, ensuring that all products are fit for purpose and that they meet safety standards. * Working closely with the Buying & Merchandising and Design teams to progress effective product development. * Ensuring manufacturing costs are kept to a minimum whilst maintaining brand level. * Liaise with suppliers ensuring that they are adequately briefed so that they can produce right first time development and pre-production samples which meet all manufacturing, performance and fit requirements. * Deputise for the Technical Manager as required exercising agreed levels of authority. To be successful, you will: * Be educated to degree level or equivalent. * Have footwear experience with another retailer or manufacturer. * Have excellent interpersonal, team working and communication skills. * Be able to take initiative to promote development of the product and demonstrate margin improvement. * Be driven and commercially aware. This is a fantastic opportunity to join one of the UKs most successful high street retailers. Excellent opportunities are available for the successful candidate. If you want to be a part of a fast-paced and dynamic head office team, apply now. We request that candidates send their CV as a Microsoft Word document where possible. Quest Search and Selection is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
Ref: Q93221 | Published: almost 4 years ago


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games / Previews
Final Fantasy XIII-2 (Xbox 360 & PS3) Preview
When Square-Enix announced that Final Fantasy XIII would be the first regular game in the series to be multi-platform it shocked everyone. Sony lost a huge exclusive and Microsoft was now able to add another third party title to their vast library. The game came out and the majority of fans loved the battle system, but hated the linear nature of the game. I guess people forgot that Final Fantasy has not really been free roaming since FF IX. FF X and FF XII both had maps broken down into smaller sections that told you where to go. The two previous games just had more room for you to explore than XIII did. Regardless, "the powers that be" at Square-Enix felt that there was more story left to tell about XIII. So, in order to further the storytelling and solve the issues people had with the first game, they quickly announced FF XIII-2. This game will be the second Final Fantasy title to get a direct sequel in video game form. Square-Enix may not have to do much to defeat FF X-2 in that category, but it does have to change quite a lot to make a sequel to XIII seem like a good decision. The game comes out very soon and since a lengthy demo was released last week, it is about time for a preview of Final Fantasy XIII-2.
* I am going to follow the demo as the main basis for this preview just in case anyone gets confused about what I am doing here. If you have not downloaded the demo and do not want the story of it spoiled for you, this is your one and only warning. Anything that is not covered in the flow of the demo, I will talk about wherever I feel it fits into the preview*
The story of Final Fantasy XIII-2 takes place three years after the original game ended. In this adventure you control Lightning's little sister, Serah, and her companion, Noel. They continue to battle the Cie´th while trying to find out what happened to Lightning after she suddenly disappeared. In XIII-2 you will also be time traveling through the use of the "Historia Crux" which serves as a main hub for your travels. In the "Historia Crux," players can travel to different lands and complete other missions that have great effect on what happens in the game. Player decision is a major emphasis in XIII-2, as what you do in these areas may determine the ending you get when the game reaches its finale.
The first game seems like such a distant memory when Lightning was the main character
The demo starts with Lightning doing a voiceover about Serah, as we see Cocoon in the distance. We are then quickly introduced to Serah, Noel, and Mog (yes, the Moogles are back) as they are getting ready to do battle with the recently awakened arm of Atlas. The Active Time Battle Paradigm Shift system has returned intact, except for three new additions. Players can now decide to focus all of their forces on one enemy or widen it to all enemies. During this tutorial fight, players will also witness another key addition to boss battles. At certain points players will be asked to press buttons or flick joysticks to perform cinematic actions.
I am not the biggest fan of QTE stuff, but the addition of "cinematic actions" actually adds a distinct feeling to boss battles that make them different from random ones. It makes players feel like they just did something epic that could turn the tide of the fight, instead of just standing there round after round until you defeat the big monster. Since the QTE´s vary, you really do not know what face button it will ask you to press. So, it is quite possible for you to mess up and not get a leg up on the battle. In the full game, certain battles will even give you opportunities to choose between different types of attacks depending on which button is pressed. So, it offers up a little bit more variety than just your average "hit this button to make this happen" QTE deal. The game might even ask you to continually press the Y button like at the end of the fight with the Atlas arm. Then it will continue into a scene with army helicopters shooting missiles at the huge creature as it takes massive amounts of damage. If you pressed the correct buttons during the cinematic action you will see points show up on screen as the missiles hit Atlas. The damage will be reflected in the final battle of the demo that I will get to later on in this preview.
As long as they are not overwhelming, QTE´s might provide something different to a FF adventure
After the fight is over you are given a static screen that introduces you to the XIII-2 demo proper. You are then dropped into what looks like an army base with plenty of talkative non-playable characters around the environment. In the demo, you have to continue to press A to obtain more information out of the NPC´s until they repeat a line; letting you know the NPC has nothing else to say. However, the full game promises multiple choices for players in the dialogue department, similar to Marvel Ultimate Alliance or the Mass Effect series.
This is certainly something I could get used to in future JRPG´s
Final Fantasy fans that hated the linear nature of the original game will be happy to know that is no longer an issue in XIII-2. There is plenty of room to explore in this army base and even more room when you go through the ruins. If you play around with the face buttons you will discover that there is now a jump button. By pressing B, players can now do their best Sora from Kingdom Hearts impression as you bounce around the environment. The auto-jump rings are still in the game though if you want to act like jumping does not exist. The base also has a few items to grab and Chocolina´s shop to find too. XIII-2 returns shopping to an old Final Fantasy trademark instead of doing everything at the save point like in the first game. Chocolina is not only a trader extraordinaire but she can also help players craft new weapons and items. Of course like any good shop owner she has to charge you a fee for making the new items as well.
Here is your shopkeeper for the game: Chocolina
The demo does not let you try the crafting aspect of the game, but it does show you a new way to find items using Mog. Mog´s antenna will light up when a hidden artefact for a time gate or hidden item is nearby. All you do is press RB and after a small scene, the item becomes visible for the player to capture.
Moogles are not just cute stuffed animals, they are very useful magical beings
On a side note: If you attempt to buy any armor from the shop you will notice that there is now an associated "COST" with armor that is equipped to a character. In the menu, each character will have a COST next to them that tells players their equipment must equal that number. This adds a little bit of strategy to buying equipment for characters, as you can no longer just load up on the newest thing that becomes available. "COST" can be leveled up by progressing in the returning "Crystarium" or by completing certain missions in the game.
It is now time to get to the meat of the demo by entering the "Bresha Ruins." The ruins allow players to really see how much more open this game is than the original, as there are multiple tunnels and branching paths to explore that lead to everything from items to soldiers that want you to go on a few missions for them. One soldier will ask you to find two lost medicine capsules for him, while the other will ask you to defeat a big Ci´eth monster that lies deeper in the ruins. As players progress through the ruins they will also notice that for the first time since FF X that enemies are no longer on the map. Instead, they appear randomly around the party and the player must decide to fight or run. Mog´s clock activates when monsters appear that allow the player to perhaps land preemptive strikes by swinging their weapons while the clock is in the green zone. If you let the clock run into the red zone, however, you will be forced to restart the game from the last save point instead of from the previous battle if you die. I really like that the regular monster battles went back to truly being random. Even though having them on the map was more realistic, this makes players be on their guard at all times. Players have to be ready to react to a monster appearing on screen at any time and cannot escape battle as easily either.
You might want some help with this big guy
After their first random battle, players may notice my favorite new addition to the battle system. A scene occurs quickly after the first fight that shows Mog talking to Serah. Mog informs Serah that you now have control over your enemies and can add them to your party. XIII-2 introduces the "Party Paradigm Pack" to the Final Fantasy series with great effect. Almost all the monsters you defeat in the game can become part of your party, but only three at a time can be placed into your custom paradigm as a third character that is on the field with you. Each monster is given a role just like the two main characters. So, you can have a commando beast or a medic Cait Sith assist you in battle and help make all those paradigm combinations players created in the first game.
Thankfully we do not have to catch em´all in this game
The monsters also have their own limit breaks called Feral Links that are activated with the same QTE button combos used for the cinematic actions. This is almost like Final Fantasy meshing with Pokémon in a sense because you have a bunch of monsters that you control and level up. Through the Crystarium you can introduce the monsters to new attacks, boosts and role abilities. Players can also give their monsters nicknames or even adorn their monsters with glasses, hats, or special items. The monsters can also be infused with other monsters of the same role, and any learned abilities will be transferred to the new monster.
I thought this new addition brought a refreshing concept to the battle system because it allows you to have an ever-changing third party member that the player controls. I love that every monster has its own unique limit break and role that adds to the paradigms. Every monster has a different strength; weakness and level cap that make players have to keep shuffling them in and out. So, it adds to the strategy of the battles as well, because even though you have control of which monster is on the field, you do not have control over their attacks. I can only imagine how much more deep the possibilities for the monsters are in the full game.
Flame ON!
The Crystarium has also changed a bit from the original game because it gives you freedom from the outset. Serah and Noel both have the same four roles from the beginning of the game, instead of having three preset roles for each character and then introducing the other roles halfway through. In the original game, they waited so long to give every character access to the other roles, that by the time we got to use them it was sort of worthless to attempt to build up any of the new roles at all. The Crystarium is also broken up into smaller sections this time around, instead of being this sprawling behemoth that never seemed to end. The Crystarium still uses CP to move through the circle and gain abilities though. However, now you are rewarded for clearing sections of the Crystarium with role boosts, ATB gauge increases, or access to the other two roles available in the game (Synergist and Saboteur.) So, now you can get access to all six roles rather quickly this time around which is great.
Unlike the previous game where you only gained role levels once you completed a ring for that role, in XIII-2 levels do something much different. Every time you advance one peg on the circle that role gains a level, which gives you some kind of generic boost along with it. Moves you can use in battle are now learned at certain levels similar to older final fantasy adventures, instead of making them something characters learn because you reached that part of the grid. Fans that liked the huge strategy involved in the Crystarium might be upset to know it has been somewhat dumbed down. You just go through the pegs in order, instead of choosing which direction of attributes you want to give the characters. It is a more streamlined approach that focuses more on giving you the freedom to choose which roles you want to develop, instead of just being stuck in pre-selected jobs. I kinda like the switch to the more traditional way of leveling up instead of reaching certain points on an overly long grid.
That is what happens most of the time when you gain a level in the Crystarium in XIII-2
Towards the end of the demo you finally find the rest of Atlas and you must decide how to defeat him. Players can either go battle him straight up or try to find his power source and take it out. If you choose the latter, players must complete puzzles called anomalies to get to touch the power source. The anomalies add a nice change of pace to the game by slowing it down and making players think a little bit. In the demo, every time you move to another tile the one before it disappears. You must complete all four stages by collecting the crystals in a certain order and then touching the goal. By choosing this direction you get to face Atlas with 3/4 of his health taken away as well. The full game promises many more variations to these puzzles. After defeating Atlas the game shows you a scene of Lighting riding Odin as she goes to confront a nemesis from the original game. Then a short trailer plays showing you what to expect from the full game.
The demo then ends after the short trailer, leaving us with a tease of what is to come in a few weeks.
No matter how much new stuff they add, you will still be doing this most of the game
So, it looks like we have some wonderful things awaiting us on Jan. 31 when the game comes out for the Xbox 360 and PS3. It seems that the folks at Square-Enix have listened to the fan feedback and taken it to heart to make sure they included everything the fans wanted. The best thing may be the freedom of choice given to players and the removal of the linear gameplay. If the rest of the game is as great as this demo was, then I do not think we have anything to worry about with FF XIII-2. If anything, Final Fantasy XIII-2 may wind up being a flash to the future of the entire franchise.


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How to Make Dried Apples and Apple Chips in the Oven
By Stacy Fraser, August 21, 2013 - 2:30pm
I am trying to loss weight and I try all kinds of fruits to eat but sometimes when I am on the go, I have no time to eat regular apples. That is way I like these. They are fewer the sagar and carbors .
— Anonymous
02/21/2016 - 5:47pm
To the last comment who burned the apples, did you use 200F or 200C that would make a big difference!
— Anonymous
02/20/2015 - 1:46am
Hello, I came upon your instructions here, while looking for instructions that encompassed my oven's temperature range (lowest temp: 170 Degrees). The first set of instructions had a temperature range of 130 to 160 degrees, plus different preparation procedures.
The first set of instructions included many other oven dried fruit options; apples, pairs, peaches, bananas, plums, grapes, oranges, cherries, strawberries, and apricots.
My question is: Are your apple procedures applicable to the fruits I mentioned above? If not, do you have procedures for the fruits mentioned above?
I'm currently soaking the apples, and this is my first time ever trying something like this, but should it work out ok, I would like to dry some of the other fruits mentioned above as well. Living alone doesn't allow me to purchase large quantities of fruits (translated as costing more per purchase), and drying fruit would really help out.
— Anonymous
10/19/2014 - 4:00pm
I believe I followed the recipe to the t. After a half hour in the oven they burned to a crisp and tasted terrible. What could have gone wrong?
— Anonymous
09/26/2014 - 5:05pm
Should it make a difference in time if you core/peel the apple first
— Anonymous
09/25/2014 - 3:44pm
One thing with dehydration is to use different equipment when drying meat from any other product. Does not matter how careful you are, bacterial material does remain. I use a complete different dehydrator for meat.
Also, do not use expensive irreplaceable pans or grids to dry on. The process can and will remove the finish, ultimately you can have a nickel finish on food you won't be happy about.
I dry my roma tomatoes and my herbs all the time, doing apples/pears from the trees now, peppers, egg plant, etc next. Hope to try out beets this year. If not good reconsitituted, it would make for good food coloring base as a powder.
— Anonymous
09/25/2014 - 3:35pm
We hated our dehydrator so much, we've been drying jerky in the oven for years. But instead of drying flat and having to flip, we hang over metal skewers and use the oven rack to separate the fruit or meat.
— Anonymous
01/12/2014 - 5:19pm
so delicous
— Anonymous
12/25/2013 - 2:28am
awesome! my rabbit LOVES these!
— Anonymous
10/16/2013 - 12:45pm
— Anonymous
10/08/2013 - 4:42pm


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Shadow technology
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"Techno-magic - also known as technomancy - is the application of advanced technology - including...Techno-magic
"A Sleeper is a type of sentient organic Shadow tech employed by the Drakh. A sleeper is a small...Sleeper
This category has the following 2 subcategories, out of 2 total.
- [×] Shadow Ships (5 P)
- [×] Techno-magic (3 P)
Pages in category "Shadow technology"
The following 16 pages are in this category, out of 16 total.


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Situated 493 feet from Osmanbey Metro Station, Aymira Suite Hotel is 2,625 feet from the chic Nisantasi District with its popular shops, cafés and restaurants. This self-catering accommodation offers air conditioning and free Wi-Fi in all areas. Apartments at Aymira Suite Hotel feature a flat-screen TV and satellite channels. There is a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and a refrigerator. Featuring a shower, private bathrooms come with a hairdryer. Cevahir Shopping Mall is a 10-minute walk from the property. Situated in a lively neighbourhood, you can also venture out and sense the local atmosphere. Lutfi Kirdar Convention and Exhibition Centre is 2,953 feet away and Taksim Square, the heart of Istanbul is 1.2 miles from the property. The staff, available 24 hours a day, offers airport shuttle services at an additional fee.


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Bucs-Eagles Inactives
The big news for the Bucs is that WR Mike Williams (hamstring) and LG Carl Nicks (foot) are inactive. Ted Larsen will start for Nicks at left guard. Tiquan Underwood, Chris Owusu and Eric Page will get some snaps at wideout opposite Vincent Jackson. Rookie CB Johnthan Banks is active and will start despite being diagnosed with MRSA this week. Doctors have cleared Banks to play. TE Tom Crabtree is active and will make his Bucs debut. He's been out with a high ankle sprain.
Other Bucs inactives: CB Michael Adams, CB Rashaan Melvin, G Patrick Omameh, DE Trevor Scott and DE William Gholston.
For the Eagles, Mike Vick (hamstring) is active but will not start. Nick Foles will get the start at QB. Vick will be the emergency QB.
Other Eagles inactives: CB Shaun Prater, CB Jordan Poyer, T Matt Tobin, T Dennis Kelly, DE Damion Square, TE Emil Igwenagu amd TE James Casey


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Tuk the Train to the Cat to get to the Turtle
Trip Start Aug 04, 2011
132Trip End Jan 04, 2012
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Where I stayed
On a Train
Our next destination. It was a reccomendation on the basis of Ko Samui being very busy and overun by bars and louts. The journey required a series of little transfers and a 12 hour semi-epic trip.
We left the serviced apartments and took the Tuk Tuk to the local subway. It was our first use of the vehicle, and it will be our last if I've got any say in it. These things are lethal. We jumped on the tube and got ourselves to the main station. A good 4 hours were goign to have to be whiled away in this place. We spent all of our time sat at a coffee shop strategically buying drinks to allow us to sit at their tables without any guilt of not being patrons. People watching at it's best. In no particular order we spotted;
A huge group of kids attending 'English Camp', waiting for their train to Chiang Mai (I think there are a lot of kids in the UK that could probably do well attending such a camp - on that note, there are more kids in China learning English than there are in England - Fact!),
A lady with a pair of rabbits and a pair of puppies waiting for a train (she put the puppies on the table and they were sliding about in a cute keeping Kate enthralled kinda way)
A whistle going off to which a national anthem appeared to be played and everything in the station stopped
Number 25. The coffee shop attendant was a clear Kathoey with a mans face, adams apple and gruff voice. I could hardly see the point in Heshe trying. I'm still being an Ass I realise.
At 7.30pm-ish we got onto a near empty train and this one was properly second class. It was old, extremely rickety and there was a clear gap between the carriages where you could see the track. After we set on our way, a stop at a local station inundated our carriage with female schoolchildren - our quiet train wasn't quiet for long
We got up at 4 to get ready and toilet before disembarking, and found our door blocked by a steward asleep in the corridor - he had tied the door shut with some string and wasn't moving for anyone. He indicated that if we wanted the toilet we could walk to the other end of the carriage.
The train was late, about an hour late - and at 5.15ish we pulled into the quiet station of Chumpon. We jumped across the tracks onto the platform and quickly had our travel voucher collected to connect onto the Lamroyah Sea-Cat. As the sun-rose we transferred by coach to the Sea-Cat and jumped on board for the 1 and a half hour trip across to Ko Tao. A little choppy but we both managed to get a bit of sleep on the Cat.
At the other end a smiley man with a board for 'The Simple Life' hotel showed us to the transfer 4x4. We jumped onto the back of the 4x4 with our bags, joined by some scandinavians, and then were taken along the bumpy roads to the hotel - please note, Onto the back of the 4x4, not Into the back of the 4x4
1. A Tuk Tuk
2. A Subway train
3. A Sleeper Train
4. Executive Coach
5. Sea-Cat
Transfer to Ko Tao complete - 12 hours and very little sleep.


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Each of us must find the right dance to move us through life with as much grace and satisfaction as we can hope to attain. Will we waltz or swing? Pirouette or prance? Will we tango with torrid gaze or cut a rug with a rumba?
Read the full story here Web Link posted Wednesday, May 23, 2012, 12:00 AM
Town Square
Rolling along through life
Original post made on May 26, 2012
Like this commentPosted by James
a resident of another community
on May 26, 2012 at 9:27 pm
I've just gotten Paul's book (Dance Without Steps). I'm about 20 pages in--it's great. Funny, poignant in an unsentimental way, thrillingly honest, and really really well written. Highly recommended.


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Awesome, Awesome!!
Welcome to the Quilting Board!
Awwwwwwwww. How cool is that?
These are all terrific quilts! Wonderful of you all to do this in his memory.
Some great people on this board :D
Amen! Wish I had all the cards set out so I could share the messages that came with them but one of the things about having my dgd here..........she tried to HELP me by putting things away. I'm still looking for lots of things, one of these days I'm sure they'll pop up!Originally Posted by Ruth Camp
Big hugs,
Your Roy was loved by more people than
you'll ever know. How wonderful to have
him "live on" in these beautiful quilts to give to and
honor other former Vets!
They are all beautiful. What a lovely honor for Roy. I'm sure he's smiling!
they all are great and nice of you doing this
Sharon, your quilts are beaitiful just like the ladies who sent them got alota Angels on board


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On the farm, a magic well "fills" the bucket with water when you press the pump. Help Eddie feed hay to the horses, and play hide-and-seek through the swinging doors. Two removable farm fence pieces can corral the horse and her colt at the stable, or connect with the Little People Animal Sounds Farm or other Little People playsets.
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The saffron in the cake adds not only its distinctive beautiful color but also an elegant earthiness. Remember, rosewater and orange blossom water (which can be found in the baking sections of most grocery stores) are exotic and potent. A little goes a long way.
This recipe can also be used to make a gorgeous batch of cupcakes. Make each one a work of art by decorating the tops with non-sprayed rose petals and dried, candied orange rind.
Persian Chiffon Cake
1-cup water
1 teaspoon saffron threads
2/3 cup vegetable oil (I prefer Canola)
8 egg yolks
Zest of 2 oranges
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
14 ounces cake flour
14 ounces sugar
4 teaspoons. baking powder
1-teaspoon salt
8 egg whites
Preheat oven to 350Line 2 9-inch cake pans with parchment or 1-11X17 pan. Bring the water to a simmer. Add the saffron threads and cool completely. Whip oil and yolks until combined and mixture is lightened and airy. Stir in water and vanilla.
Sift flour and 1/3 sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir into yolks and whip at high speed for 1 minute to combine. In a clean mixing bowl fitted with a clean whip, whip the egg whites until they form medium peaks. Slowly add the remaining sugar while continually whipping until stiff peaks form. Fold the whites into the batter. Pour into the lined cake pans. Bake until the top springs when lightly pressed (about 25 minutes).
For the glaze
½ cup of powdered sugar
1 teaspoon rosewater
1-2 tablespoons Orange blossom water
Zest of 1 orange
½ cup roasted and chopped pistachios (optional)
Whisk the powdered sugar, rosewater and water until the mixture forms a thick glaze. Add the orange zest. Pour over the cooled cake and garnish with chopped pistachios.
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14 Sep From Broken To Boxing: Bill's Story
It all started when I was loading some speakers on a loading dock and hyper extended my ACL deficient knee. It swelled up like a basketball and I couldn't walk the next day. When I can't walk, I can't work as I am an electrician by trade. I went to the orthopedic surgeon where I was told that I have the knee of a 70 year old man and would need a knee replacement. My surgeon however, was reluctant to do it because my occupation requires me to be so active and I was only 41.
After a MRI, it was also discovered besides being ACL deficient that I had arthritis and a shredded meniscus. My surgeon thought it was in my best interest to have a dibridement and a partial menisectomy to clean up the scar tissue and smooth some of the rough bone surface. He highly recommended that I lose weight as that would be the best way to relieve stress off the already worn and torn joint. I was 250 pounds on the verge of losing my career and very frightened. I had tried losing weight before and was never able to achieve any success.
I consulted with a personal trainer because I had no clue where to begin or what my goals should be. We set up an appointment for my first workout and I did a couple of sessions before my knee surgery where we laid the ground work for what I should do after recovery. Getting back to the gym after surgery, my trainer helped me with my rehab and supplemented my physical therapy. During this process I re-injured an old injury in my rotator cuff which required surgery. This surgery was not nearly as easy to rehab. It made it tough, but I made some progress on my weight and strength thanks to my trainer. I was feeling a bit better and managed to get my weight down to about 220.
By this time I was working in the office of a major electrical contractor doing business development and estimating multi-million dollar projects. The stress of my work had a huge impact on me not being able to realize my fitness and nutrition goals and I quit going to the gym. About that time, I met the woman of my dreams who would later become my wife. Ironically we had both struggled with our weight our entire lives. Needless to say, our bad eating habits and lack of physical fitness were multiplied as a couple. Approximately 2 years later, I was so unhappy with the way I felt and looked, that I swallowed my pride and made a phone call to my trainer.
My first day back in the gym, I weighed 250 pounds once again. At 5'11" this is not a healthy weight. I knew what needed to be done. I just couldn't get there by myself. I started going back to Success Personal Training to see my trainer Travis, 3 days a week. I told my wife I was going to do it with her or without her. Just about every time I went to the gym for 2 months, I asked my wife if she wanted to come along. It was always the same response. She wasn't ready. One Saturday morning out of the blue. I was getting ready to go to the gym and my wife asked if she could come with me. It was a great day. We showed up at the gym and to Travis's surprise, I had brought him his next client. The conscientious trainer that he was, knew just how hard to push her to get results and not scare my wife away.
I felt very focused in my physical fitness routine, but was still struggling with my nutrition. Being a vegetarian, I always thought I ate pretty healthy. After doing a little research, I discovered that was far from the truth. We decided to follow a whole foods plant-based diet after watching Forks Over Knives and The Last Heart Attack with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, on CNN.
Shortly thereafter, I was offered a traveling job in project management with my company. My first assignment was in Kansas City, MO. I was going to do it different this time. My wife would be traveling with me. One of the first things we did when we got to KCMO was look for a gym. We joined a local gym that offered personal training and group fitness classes. For some reason I was compelled to try cardio boxing. I thought it would be easier on the knees than running. After my first workout and the sound of the boxing gloves hitting the mitts, I was hooked. I loved boxing!
We were on a roll. With the 1000 calorie workouts couple with good nutrition via The Engine 2 Diet and less mental stress at my job, I watched the weight fall off at about 3 pounds a week. The funny thing is, I was never hungry. My wife prepared bountiful lunches and nutrient dense dinners for me every day. I ate fruit, veggies and nuts for snacks and had a giant bowl of oatmeal for breakfast each day. I was always eating! I also started becoming in tune with my body and it's needs. I ate to refuel for my workouts instead of eating mindlessly.
I loved putting on my boxing gloves and the workout that I got. I started working out with a boxing coach named Cam Thompson and started training to compete in the Master Division at the Ringside World Championships in the light heavyweight division (178 pounds). Every day I focused on what I could do and how I could improve. I never thought I could meaningfully participate in a sport with all of my injuries. I never thought I would ever see the south side of 200 pounds. Hard work and dedication got me there. I made my weight of 178 pounds a couple of weeks before Ringside Worlds. I competed along side 1200 other athletes aged 9-77 years old. At 44 years old, it felt great to be there, surrounded by my support team doing what I had deemed impossible. It is never too late and you are never too old to start!
p.s. – my coach is now doing Engine 2 as well and has lost 35 pounds!


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Sun Micro Misses Revenue Estimates
After the close of trading Thursday, Sun Microsystems (SUNW ) posted 1 cent second-quarter earnings per share on revenue of $2.84 billion. Consensus estimates were for 1 cent earnings per share on $2.93 billion of revenue.
Apple Computer (AAPL ) posted 70 cents, vs. 17 cents first-quarter earnings per share on 74% higher revenue. The company cites strength in iPod and Macintosh computer sales. It sees about 40 cents second-quarter earnings per share on $2.9 billion of revenue. Banc of America upgrades to buy. S&P keeps a hold rating.
Fiber-optic systems maker Harmonic Inc. (HLIT ) sees $83 million to $86 million fourth-quarter net sales, exceeding its previous guidance of $72 million to $78 million, reflecting stronger-than-expected bookings in the fourth quarter. S&P raises its estimates and target.
Taser International (TASR )gains after a member of the company's Scientific & Medical Advisory Board says study results published in Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology Journal confirm extraordinarily wide safety margins for fibrillation induction in Taser-like products.
Lilly (Eli) (LLY ) said it plans to correct inaccurate statements about its Prozac circulating in the news media based on a collection of random papers anonymously sent to the British Medical Journal.
Sports Authority (TSA ) cut fourth-quarter guidance to 90 cents to 95 cents earnings per share on 2% lower same-store sales from $1.08 earnings per share on flat comparable sales. It cites weak sales of winter products, hunting, camping gear, and holiday items. S&P reiterates its sell rating.
RadioShack (RSH ) posted 3% higher fourth-quarter same-store sales, and 6.7% higher total sales. The company reaffirms its fiscal 2005 earnings per share guidance of $2.07 to $2.09. It reaffirms fiscal 2006 earnings per share guidance of 19% to 21% above fiscal 2005 guidance.
TheStreet.com (TSCM ) retains investment bank Allen & Company to assist it in considering possible strategic alternatives.
Kenneth Cole (KCP ) sees lower-than-expected $133 million to $135 million in fourth-quarter revenue, and 43 cents to 45 cents earnings per share. The company sees $1.72 to $1.74 2004 earnings per share. It cites a generally challenging December, particularly in its consumer direct business.
Based on preliminary figures, Infineon Technologies (IFX ) expects first-quarter revenues and EBIT of about 1.82 billion euro and 211 million euro, below market expectations.
Borders Group (BGP ) posted 1.4% higher fourth-quarter same-store sales at Borders superstores, 1.6% lower comparable sales at Waldenbooks, and 4.8% higher total sales. The book retailer sees fourth-quarter earnings per share of $1.60 to $1.62, at the high end of its previous projection. S&P keeps its hold rating.
Agilent Technologies (A ) sees a 1-cent third-quarter loss, vs. a 9-cent loss a year ago, on 46% higher product revenues of $9.6 million.
Red Robin Gourmet (RRGB ) sees lower-than-expected 33 cents to 34 cents fourth-quarter earnings per share due to higher-than-anticipated food costs for tomatoes and expenses associated with Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.
Napster (NAPS ) says during the holiday period paid subscribers increased sequentially by 50% in the third quarter.


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Why buy a tablet?
I use a desktop at work, laptop at home. No smartphone (I go cheap on phones, tho I have one with a qwerty KB for texting.)
I bought my dad a Kindle Fire and wireless router last month and he's really enjoying it. So, maybe I need one. Or a different tablet? But why? And which one?
I have a nook color with the N2Android card in it, to make it a full blown Android tablet. Pull the SD card, it becomes a nook.
I think we are at the start of a paradigm (and I hate the term) shift that happens every couple of decades. Software has been dominating the computer industry for the last 2-3 but it is now as much or more about hardware. And I guess content and storage.
The battle will be fought between operating systems but it will not last long and it actually looks like Unix platforms may be the hands down winners this time.
As for why have a tablet and now? They are dropping in price faster than I can keep track. You can get a super fast one with 9" capacitive touch screen, dual cameras, etc. with oodles of capabilities for $250 with no recognizable brand name but same chipsets and all everybody else is using internally. You can get a slow, entry level tablet for $100 that would probably work for basics. And the difference between computing tablets and ereaders is pretty blurry already.
Why have one? I no longer have a desktop and do love this large screen Toshiba laptop. But it is heavy to drag around. I use my dirt cheap smartphone more than I thought I ever would but would like something with a larger screen so am starting to think tablet. Or a hybrid...
I watched a review of the new ASUS thing for under $300 with a keyboard dock. Rather tempting. I just don't like the company and only bought Apple products for staff when they insisted and when they were the best alternative. Distinction no longer exists. So what tablets are you considering? I am curious for selfish reasons.
It still amazes me. I grew up with all this and the first computer assigned to me for near exclusive use was made by the company I worked for. You programmed it in nouns and verbs and with an intriguing pattern recognition language that fixed syntax as it "learned." Mine was the size of a desk and I had the turbo version with 32K of memory. The disc drive was a giant platter. The cost was something like $38,000. $300 today delivers infinitely more computing power.
Thanks for the long thoughtful reply, Sdsester; even tho you did have more questions than answers. I'm not sure what I'd use it for. But I know that my laptop with wireless is way more fun than a desktop. But I'd still rather "work" on a desktop with a big screen and a 10-key. I guess the tablet would be cool for taking a few books on vacation, maybe watching a movie on the plane. "What else" is one of my questions. I could really see the value of running a real mapping program, such as Street Atlas. I could carry that traveling on my motorcycle. The laptop usually stays at home. But I don't know if that's possible.
"Which one" is next. Having a Kindle Fire makes sense, because then I can walk my dad thru issues and problems, over the phone. They're 750 miles away. (We are SO lucky that he and my mom have exactly the same TV remote I do. Otherwise, they wouldn't even be able to turn on cable.)
OTOH, I see deals like this:
or this:
and wonder if that's a better way to go. Fifteen years ago, I'd have embraced the idea of buying one, learning the OS and hacking it. Now, not so much. But $50 is a smaller gamble.
This company was advertising on this site awhile back and the prices are intriguing given the use of fairly standard and name brand components. Of course the overall branding is unheard of. That never used to bother me putting PCs together though. I, like you, have not been so curious or anxious to hack my smartphone and probably would not a tablet either.
Big Lots runs tablet closeout ads every week for brands like Polaroid, Sylvania, etc. that seem reasonably configured with decent processor, memory and even Ice Cream Sandwich on one of them. Same deal as above really as I don't associate either with mainstream consumer electronics but the name on the outside is at least recognizable if that means anything. Same guts and in the $80-120 range all with wifi capability.
My smartphone choice was easy since I am a loyal convert to prepaid and no contract. I am also notorious for sending phones through washing machine cycles so am not going to pay $300 for a phone. I am seldom far from the computer anyhow.
I think one use I can see for a tablet is in estimating. Out of the game myself for the most part, I am helping out some others scout and bid work. Some of the construction apps for Android are nice but just a bit hard to see on a small smartphone screen. My use for one, in fact, would probably be most where I just want the larger screen.
The Consumer Electronics Show comes up in the Fall again I think (they still do it twice a year?) and old model stuff usually gets dumped concurrent with that. I may wait. $100 would not be an extreme risk though. I would want to switch from my 4G modem laptop stick to a hotspot and that will be another $100. I have been extremely pleased with CLEAR highspeed since among other things it does not throttle me down but the company is acting flaky, closing stores and so forth.
I know what you mean about technology challenged family. My Mom was an analytical chemist at a point in her life but couldn't seem to work things as simple as an answering machine. Of course part of it was attention seeking.
".....My smartphone choice was easy since I am a loyal convert to prepaid and no contract. I am also notorious for sending phones through washing machine cycles so am not going to pay $300 for a phone....."
Coincidentally, I sent my phone thru the wash last weekend. I replaced it with a cheap Pandigital phone, the same mfgr as those tablets at Ben's. After four days, it seems like an OK phone.
I got the Best Buy smartphone/Muve Music plan which is unlimited everything except only 1,000 talk minutes. Cricket resells service on the Sprint network so my phone actually makes and receives phone calls! My monthly plan, with unlimited music downloads also, is $55/month prepaid with no contract.
My CLEAR superfast 4G unlimited wireless internet service with no throttle down is $45/month. No contract. I use about 32gb a month which means with any other plan out there 2/3 of my monthly useage would be surcharged or at a throttled down speed since all seem to cap at 10gb. What I don't get is that Sprint's phone data plan is unlimited but not its broadband only plans.
With a CLEAR hotspot I can run 8 devices, including a new tablet, off the same connection. The new hotspot will fit easily in a pocket and is not at all bulky. It is supposedly secure. Public WiFi concerns be a bit for security reasons.
Basically, for a total of $100/month I have unlimited everything but talk minutes which I don't think is too bad?
With prepaid, you do have to buy your own phone, wireless modem or hotspot upfront. You end up paying more ammortizing it over a two year contract plan though and you are stuck with a contract in a World that changes ever so rapidly.
By the way, Cricket is now offering iPhone 4s and this marks their entry into higher end phone offerings. With AT&T factory unlocking phones for customers leaving their service, others should be embarrased into following suit. Perhaps the day will come when we can get a nice phone and not be held hostage to a service provider. It is the way it works almost everywhere else but here in the US.
We've gone through the motions of testing some tablets here at work (K-12 school district) but we just can't justify them. The majority of teachers testing them have come back with a "they're nice, but no thanks" response, which I found surprising. There's just so much more you can do with laptops that tablets fall short on yet. I know some districts in other parts of the country are boasting that they just bought 2,000 iPads and their average grades for their students are rising at an all time high, blah blah blah. There's always a honeymoon effect with new technology in the district system, so a lot of that is all but guaranteed to flatline down the road. We saw the same thing yeeeears ago when we got a fleet of 600 new laptops for student use.
Overall, I just can't see having to hold something that I'm also typing on. Don't get me wrong, I like tablets, I love the Android platform quite a lot, I love what you CAN do with them even though there are shortcomings that I'd still have to pull the laptop out for, but more than anything else it's the form factor that gets to me.
Hate to sound like a party pooper with tablets, especially since they fit the bill perfectly for a lot of users out there, but I'm just not sure I'll ever buy one. If I don't have my keyboard or my full blown functionality, I'd likely go crazy. :laughing:
Tablets are a lot more compact, plus easier to lock down. With blu-tooth keyboards, the ipad and others can run circles around a laptop or netbook. I can see laptops becoming less, with the airbooks, netbooks and a few of the android and iOS devices. Even with the fact that less and less is avail. on hard media nowdays, w/the exception of Operating systems, which even those you are seeing on keychains, vs. hard media like dvd or cd.
I use a laptop most of the time, but have found a tablet to be a very nice addition. Generally that how I check email, read the news, play on facebook, and shop. I couldn't live without one.
I'm apple all the way: Iphone, airbook, Ipad, plus all the other. My brother bought the kindle fire, and I really like it. I also have a regular kindle I read books on.
There is nothing like the convenience of an e reader, but why have a million different gadgets when you can just get a tablet. I don't have one yet, but like congreteguy said once you have one you won't want to go without.
Just make sure you get one thats backlit for added convenience
I knew what I was getting into with my laptop and really did not perceive being beyond an electrical outlet for more than the 2-2.5 hours of battery life. And Toshiba was pretty honest about it. It has worked out well.
I would be miffed if I got a new tablet and it sucked juice so fast it did not function for more than a few hours! One thing I hate about my phone is all the bloatware I cannot get rid of and I hope if I get a tablet I am not stuck with stuff I will never use.
I was just thinking about a little computer my employer got me years ago. Actually we got to pick what we wanted. I got a Poqet and it was sweet. It was an exactly perfect size to fit on an airline tray. Weighed about a pound and I could get 8 hours of actual use---not just standby time---off two regular AA batteries so I never had to carry a voltage converter. It ran the state of the art version of DOS at the time. The technology shut it down between each keystroke on a full size keyboard. Nice crisp monochrome monitor and a chip resident software suite for basics. Two memory card drives for anything else. It was expensive I guess and the peripherals like parallel and serial cables and dial up modem were clunky and heavier than the computer. I loved that thing though and often wonder why it all disappeard. Fujitsu bought the company and the product line went away. I think it sold well.
Tablets are only going to get more popular, but I don't think tablets in their current form are going to be the long term norm. I remember a slew of friends and family members rushing out to get tablets, only to buy an other laptop to pick up where the tablet left off. As tablets get more advanced, the gap will close... however I don't think there's any getting away from a keyboard entirely. There's just something about it that enables a user to be quicker and more comfortable for actual work. What Asus did with the Transformer makes complete sense to me, and as time passes, I think that'll become the norm.
It is not that tablets are lacking, people have not realized the potential of them. And yes, what you can do with a tablet will run circles around a laptop. Each has its purpose or need, but you find that those with tablets, use them more than a desktop or laptop.
Hell, I use my netbook more than my desktop, but probably use about the same as my nook that is running the Nook 2 Android card. Again, people are being short sighted, and have not grasped the potential of what tablets offer, because they choose not to.
I bought my wife a Kindle Fire as a graduation present (for me graduating and her putting up with me during grad-school). She is not a technology buff and would have never bought it herself. She says on a daily basis how much she loves it and how wonderful it is. She uses it for all the common things tablet things (facebook, browsing, email, etc), but also for an organizer. She is a big list maker, and there are much less pieces of paper floating around because of it. Grocery lists and things are now managed digitally. With the Amazon Prime subscription she also uses it for streaming movies and shows while she's on the eliptical machine. [edit: and lots of Pandora - the Kindle Fire has amazing sound for a tablet]. She does have an Android smartphone, because she liked mine so much, but barely uses it for more than a phone/texting because of the small screen.
I have always been big on computers (also what I do professionally), and have several powerful desktops, HTPCs, and servers at home. None get as much use as my netbook, due to portability. When it's time is up, I will likely be replacing it with a tablet - as the primary function is just browsing and running SaaS apps. The days of needing a full Windows-based computer for everything are over.
As an Apple anti-fan, I just cannot see paying their pricetags for what they are offering. I don't need the extra "cool points" just to say I have an iPad. If the kindle fire comes in a 10" version in the future, I'd be all over it. Otherwise, I'll probably grab onto one of the deals you see occasionally on a Tab or Xoom 10" tablet.
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Claudette Lehmann asks...
I need help with how to pray with the patient when I visit them at the hospital. Could you please give an example of a prayer that you use. Thank You
This is a very big question. Please bear with me here; I can't offer a simple A-B-C answer, because I don't have any background information on you or your situation, and this post will be read by others with differing situations.
First, the person who wishes to pray for another must first settle in his or her own heart the basis and worth of prayer before entering a patient's room. This may sound rather self-evident, but we often put too much pressure on ourselves by thinking we have to pray just the "right words" or be the "perfect, powerful prayer" in order to effect any change. I am comforted, however, by the fact that: Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. James 5:17-18
More realistically, God is the one who answers prayer according to the plan He has set for our lives. We can, and should, try to make sure that no sin within us hinders our prayer and that we pray in a manner that is comforting and helpful. All this is good but will be a loss if we do not first realize that our job, as pray-ers, is to be so well acquainted with God, His ways and character, that our prayers lift the person we are praying for into the very throne room of God where they experience His peace, and abiding presence.
Sounds like a pretty tall order, I know. The only way I know to accomplish this task is first having a relationship with the God outlined in the Bible; the Bible sets the terms of who He is and what it means to have a relationship with Him. After we have done this, God's Spirit gives us the words and power to take people into God's presence; it is impossible to carry them with us to His very throne room if we are not able to go there ourselves.
Secondly, the person who wishes to pray for another must know the person for whom you are praying. How you pray with someone is really determined by that person's understanding of God and your understanding of what is happening in the patient's life. When visiting with someone for the first time, I try to first find out a little about the person and earn his or her trust. There have been times, after establishing a rapport, that I sense that the person I'm visiting is not interested in prayer. In these situations, I do not even ask if he or she would like prayer. Other times, when I'm not sure, I simply state that I am available if the patient would like a word of prayer. This opens the opportunity for prayer without putting pressure on the patient to do something with which he or she isn't comfortable. If the patient indicates that he or she wants prayer but are of a different faith background, I also ask if it is ok to pray in Jesus name. Whatever the situation, I still ask if they would like prayer, even in situations where I am sure they want prayer.
Thirdly, I ask if there is anything specifically that the patient wants me to pray for. This opens the door for the person to tell me his or her concerns and how he or she feels. Once I do this, I'm able to make sure that my prayer matches up the person's situation and requests as much as possible; sometimes the patient (or family member, if I'm praying with a famly member) might ask for something that isn't in your comfort level, like death for him or herself or another. In these situations, you just have to do the best to affirm God's power over life (John 11) and justice.
When the person is not very religious or uncomfortable with prayer, I keep it short; I affirm God's goodness, His power over sickness, ask God to heal the person, and ask God to show Himself to the person. Ultimately, our goal in prayer is for wholeness and that the person might see God through the answered prayer, so he or she might give Him the worship and love He deserves.
If the person shows him/herself to be a Christian, the words best fitted to be used of God are His very words. I try to keep a list of verses on various situations in my mind for the most common experiences. I might pray:
That God would protection them like God protected Daniel
That God would heal them as Jesus healed the blind and lame.
That the Great Physician would attend them, Jesus is the Great Physician
That the Good Shepherd would guide them through this dark valley that we travel.
That God would give life to their bones just as he did through Ezekiel (Ez 37).
That God would direct them in the unknown as he lead Abraham into an unknown land.
That God would give the doctors wisdom as he gave to Solomon
Praise that God is El Roi, the God who sees, and sees the problem the doctors can't see
Praise that God is El Shaddi, the God who provides, and that he would provide the thing they need.
This is just a partial list, but you can see were I am going with it. The Bible gives us stories so we can know who He is and His power. Praying the message of these stories keeps us from praying the same prayer over and over again. By praying these stories, the hearer identifies with God's mighty act in their life and sees that He is still present in their situation, still loving, and still mighty over what they are going through.
Chaplain Ron Suarez
Pastoral Care, Southwestern Regional Medical Center
Cancer Treatment Centers of America
1. by Moleboheng on 1/14/2013 3:06:10 AM
God would protect you like God protected Daniel
God would heal you as Jesus healed the blind and the lame.
Great Physician would attend them, Jesus is the Great Physician
The Good Shepherd would guide you through this dark valley that you travel.
That God would give life to your bones just as he did through Ezekiel (Ez 37).
God would direct you in the unknown as he lead Abraham into an unknown land.
God would give the doctors wisdom as he gave to Solomon
2. by Cristy S. on 1/3/2014 9:42:22 AM
May the Lord bless you, Chaplain, for this good, good advice. Timely for my situation with my sis/b-in-law.
3. by Joe Mena on 3/18/2014 9:49:35 PM
I have been in healthcare for all my adult life. It has been my service to the Lord. Recently, I have felt called to do more, and I am starting on an educational journey to become a Chaplain. I find myself wanting to do more for the patients spiritually whether its prayer or just listening to their story. Your recommendations are right on. Especially in being connected to God in our own lives. Sometimes even though its not my job, I pray for the patients I see, even if its in my own mind. I honestly believe GOD is in control and his purpose will prevail. Thank you for your kind words, and the work you do. I hope to be used of God the way he is using you. I realize that he uses people in all professions, and I am okay with doing what I am doing, if that is Gods will, but I know for sure he wants me to do more.
Thanks again,
4. by Mindy on 5/30/2014 11:05:02 AM
God help my brother in law who is getting heart surgery right now
make his surgeon to do the best work of wisdom and be with him today
thank you god
5. by Diana Mckerchie on 7/3/2014 12:28:29 PM
I want to know how to get answer pray . my brother danile got hurt he has two broken legs i have made a simple pray but sometime i have promlem
praying out loud i want to become jean overmans asst at christ temple ministyr in inkster mich. i want to travel and have beter contract with leaders
i have talk to one hospal allrteady and want to be trained how to become a chaplin.
6. by Disha on 11/20/2014 8:29:35 AM
7. by Jocelyn on 2/14/2015 1:23:26 PM
8. by reese on 8/23/2015 2:02:25 PM
praying for my sister in christ healing heart attack ,stroke, pneumonia, cleanse and restore the whole body for jesus glory. purified her mind and soul in the name of jesus . jesus will be done
9. by reese on 8/23/2015 2:02:29 PM
10. by David Drake on 9/8/2015 12:52:01 PM
11. by Ed on 10/25/2015 6:22:46 PM
Please pray for Sue Beatty who is in ICU at LSU Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana
12. by Wendy on 1/21/2016 8:51:53 PM
Please pray for my nephew who is in ICU with pneumonia and suffering from kidney failure. He needs God's healing hand on his lungs, and organs. In Jesus name.
13. by Jocelyn Peralta on 1/30/2016 4:29:35 PM
Please pray for my boyfriend who got into a really bad car accident and hit his head and now he's hospitalized. He needs gods healing for his head to get better .
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Thursday will officially start the holiday season for those of use celebrating Thanksgiving. It's also the eve of the biggest shopping day of the year too. And guess what? There just may be someone watching you haul all those goodies in.
You've probably made your lists (plural) for all the stores you'll stop by along with all the things you'll
knock people over to get your hands on. However, I have one tip for your first, "TURN YOUR HOME ALARM SYSTEMS ON!"
Many of you are saying, "I already know that, that's what I have it for!" But how many times have you gotten comfortable in your nice comfy subdivision and ran to the store without setting your home alarm systems because, "I'll be right back!" Yes you've done and I have to.
Although the holiday season is a time to give, many thieves and burglars reserve it as the time for taking. They have their sights set on your goodies. That is why it is important to precautions when shopping, unloading packages and discarding empty containers.
Here are just a few of the ways I "try" to keep thieves away:
Set your home alarm systems – It is so easy to get in a rush and think you do not have time to set your alarm. But guess what? The burglars aren't to busy to see if they can catch you slipping. This year alone, two of my close friends have had break ins in the daytime hours and both of them had alarms. However, my first girlfriend had her door kicked in and they grabbed as much as they could before the alarm went off, you know during the beep beep beep stage. Then my other girlfriend had a home alarm but they cut her telephone wire so they had no worries and plenty time to get what they wanted.
Unload during non-peak hours: For those of us who don't have garages, it is good to take packages in during night hours or early morning. Please know that it's usually someone in your community who scopes your house out. But it could be that person in the car driving by at noon as you unload and decide they'll comeback later to get that pretty comforter you just unloaded out the trunk. Who knew?
Break boxes down & put out on garbage days: I know that you're eager to discard those boxes and get them out your house. Go ahead and just put them on the curb for the garbage truck and let everyone know that you just got a 64″ HDTV. Yep, just tell the world while the box sits on the curb in front of your home for 7 days and 7 nights before the garbage man comes. However, it's safer to break those boxes down real good and put in the garbage or just put them out the morning that the trash department runs.
I'm not sure about you all but I wasn't brought up in the best neighborhoods and we didn't have a home alarm system early on. I even remember when I was about four or five, my mom was in the backyard with me. I was swinging and she was pushing me. Well, guess what? Someone came in our house while we were in the backyard and ripped us off. We left the front door open because that just what we did. Yep, they got us that quick. They only took jewelry and I think they took my mom's purse but still.
Time are harder these days, crime is on the rise everywhere so be care and safeguard your home and family. Invest in a home alarm system. I suggest you look into getting a wireless monitoring system if someone cuts the telephone wire, that way the police will still be notified. Be happy and safe this Thanksgiving!
How do you safe guard your home during the holidays?
This post is a partnership with ADS Security but all opinions are my own.


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Interview with John of High Strung String Band Playing at Smith's Olde Bar on Friday, March 15th
By: Shelby Lum
Some bands will take the easy way out when producing, composing, and creating music.
High Strung String Band has taken specific steps to keep the integrity of folk and bluegrass music in their style, even if it means it is more difficult for them.
In the traditional bluegrass fashion, the band has kept a drummer out of the band, even though it would make creating music more difficult. For High Strung String Band, that didn't matter–only the music did.
"I think as string band, it is a big decision whether or not to get a drummer," said John Parmer, guitarist and songwriter. "It is very tempting to have a drummer, but for us it was important to try and play the music we wanted to play."
Thus a completely all string band was born.
"We call it joyful folk grass," Palmer said, describing the band's style.
As is the the case with any band worth its weight, High Strung String Band has taken their passion for the music and bluegrass in particular and pushed that love into their music.
"I think we have to recognize that we love bluegrass and we try to play it as authentically as we can," he said. "We just try to play the music we love and keep the bluegrass."
During live performances, High Strung String Band showcases a lot of their original music while also mixing in covers for songs the audience will be able to sing along with.
"We play and try as much of our orignal music as possible and for the other 30 percent of our show we mix it between traditional bluegrass covers and contemporary covers," Palmer said.
Even though some of their contemporary covers may not be bluegrass songs, the band spins the songs with a unique bluegrass style all their own.
Being from Atlanta, they have played at Smiths Olde Bar several times. Palmer said it is High Strung String Band's sixth or seventh time playing at the venue.
"Smiths is a very comfortable venue for us," he said.
For High Strung String Band's sort of homecoming to Smiths Olde Bar, they will not only be doing a show, but also an album release. The newest album Rise and Shine will drop at the show.
"It's going to be a unique kind of Atlanta roots show," Palmer said. "The three bands that we have are all Atlanta locals and we all do a slightly different take on acoustic roots music."
High Strung String Band is scheduled to play at Smiths Olde Bar on Friday, March 12th.
Category: Gigs, Interviews


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|"Nichols, Austin" <firstname.lastname@example.com>
|"'email@example.com'" <firstname.lastname@example.com>
|st: RE: -poisson- versus -logistic, cluster-?
|Thu, 21 Oct 2004 18:16:40 -0400
Well, you need to keep the zeros in the Poisson specification, first of all. Then you might consider running a -zip- or -zinb- since there are so many zeros. -----Original Message----- From: Clint Thompson [mailto:email@example.com] Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2004 6:01 PM To: email@example.com Subject: st: -poisson- versus -logistic, cluster-? Hello all --- I am using Intercooled, v. 8.2. I hope someone can shed some light on a problem concerning technique (or the appropriateness thereof). I have a dataset wherein I want to quantify the effect that a few covariates have on a presumably rare event, a surgical burn. Each subject reported the number of surgeries he/she did in the previous five years and the corresponding number of surgical burns. The number of surgical burns ranges from 0 to 15 and the number of surgeries ranges from 1 to 11,000. My initial attempt at modeling this involved expanding the data to -long- then running a logistic model on a dichotomous outcome that denotes whether the surgery resulted in a wound burn, clustered by surgeon. Parenthetically, the total number of surgeries exceeds 75,000, the total number of burns is 75, there are 80+ unique surgeons, of which only 20 reported any burns. My second attempt at modeling this involved the use of a Poisson model wherein I emulated the example provided on page 207 of the Stata N-R reference manual. In this example (as in my attempt), I collapsed the dataset to the 20 surgeons that reported wound burn and optioned the -poisson- command with -exposure(surgeries)-. Both approaches seem reasonable, albeit I obtain odds ratios and incidence rate ratios that are, for a few covariates, contradictory. Does anyone have any advice or insight into the appropriateness (or violent inappropriateness) of my approaches?? Many Thanks, Clint * * For searches and help try: * http://www.stata.com/support/faqs/res/findit.html * http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq * http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/ * * For searches and help try: * http://www.stata.com/support/faqs/res/findit.html * http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq * http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/
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Nine surrogate babies found in Bangkok condominium: police
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai authorities are investigating the discovery of nine surrogate babies in a Bangkok condominium who are believed to share the same Japanese biological father, police said on Thursday.
The case is the latest to emerge after an Australian couple were accused of leaving a Down syndrome baby with his Thai birth mother, triggering global condemnation and calls for an overhaul of lax surrogacy laws.
Authorities acting on a tip-off raided the condominium in the Lat Phrao area of the Thai capital on Tuesday to find nine babies being looked after by seven nannies, with a pregnant 20-year-old living there.
Police spoke to a Thai man who said he was the lawyer of a Japanese businessman who claims to be the babies' biological father, deputy national police chief Aek Angsananont said.
"We are questioning the nannies, as well as asking for cooperation from the Japanese embassy, to help conduct DNA testing," Aek told Reuters.
He added: "If the Japanese man admits that all the children are his babies, we would ask him why he wanted to have so many babies."
Reuters was unable to contact the Thai lawyer, Ratprathan Tulathorn, despite repeated attempts to reach him by telephone.
The latest case has raised fresh concerns over the ease with which foreigners can come to Thailand, which has no laws directly relating to surrogacy, to buy surrogacy services.
Although commercial surrogacy is barred by the code of conduct of the Medical Council of Thailand, the country is a top destination in Asia for fertility clinics and couples opting for surrogacy arrangements. Continued...


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Escali Bath Scale
Body Fat and Water Digital Scale
Measure What Matters
Body fat percentage is a measurement that athletes and fitness buffs use, and it has typically been done by athletic trainers or medical personnel. With the Escali, you can measure it in the comfort of your own home. Escali conducts a "bioelectrical impedance analysis" using a safe, low-level electrical signal that is passed through the body. The digital scale measures how fast the electrical current travels, which is affected by water, muscle, bone and fat. Escali then uses this data to gauge the percentage of a person's body fat, water and muscle mass. It has a female or male mode, and it can accommodate up to 10 user profiles so the whole family can track their progress.
The inventor of Escali is Theo Prins, an entrepreneur with a passion for engineering and mechanics. He's committed to rigid, military-grade measurement standards, so Escali (the word means "scale" in the Esperanto language) delivers reliable, consistent results. When you step on this scale, you can take a step forward to better health. Read More Read Less
Grommet Launch Conversation
Theo here, I'm happy to be able to speak with you about my digital body fat scale, the BFBW200. But first, I want to take a moment to congratulate everyone here for being proactive with your health. By purchasing a BFBW200 body fat scale you are making your health a priority, and I applaud you for that. As you know, "what gets measured, gets improved." Our scale will help you track your basic health indicators and keep you motivated to live a healthier life. I'm sure most people know their weight, but do you know what percent of your body weight is fat or what percent is water? Often your percentage of body fat is a greater indicator of health than your actual weight, and keeping hydrated is critical for your body to function properly. Your questions & comments are welcome!
Hi there! I NEVER take time to post to these things but I have to stand behind these products and Theo. I worked with Theo a few years ago on his product catalog. And I have to say it was a pleasure dealing with a person who has such passion and commitments to a full line of GREAT and affordable products. Buying from such a down-to- earth honest individual is a joy you do not come across every day!!!! I know I am gonna purchase one of these for my health very soon!
Is it safe for those electrical currents to move through my body every day when I get on the scale?
Thank you Lori! I appreciate your kind words.
Lois, the technology in our bath scales have been on the market for many years and it has been proven to be very safe. However, as a precaution, it is advised that people with implanted medical devices (such as a pace maker) avoid such digital scales.
@Lori - I'm so glad you did take the time to post. This is what Daily Grommet is about - getting to know the people and the stories behind a product so that you know that you are supporting businesses you would care to support. Your post confirms our belief that Theo and his crew are good people making good products! Thank you!
Years ago when I joined a fitness center they did the full physical workup on me. When they measured my fat ratio, they used calipers on my arms. For whatever reason, I have thick arms...and guess what...on their graph I was plotted as 'obese' within very close range of 'morbidly obese'. I looked at the young gentleman and said - you've got to be kidding, do I look obese to you...? And in his young way he stubbornly stuck to his findings. I could have slunk out of that fitness center and never come back! This scale, sounds like a much, much better way of measuring fat. Trust me, I never had them measure my fat ratio again and so don't know if I ever made improvements in that area.
Excellent point Katherine. Our body fat scales will allow you to keep track of your personal data in the privacy of your home. It's an excellent way to stay motivated and engaged with managing your health. Sort of like a food journal keeps you honest and motivated to eat healthier.
I can't believe the timing of this Grommet. I'm training for a half marathon and just today decided that I really need to start tracking not only my weight but my body fat, and I wondered where I would find the right scale to do so... I'll place my order in a minute!
@Theo I am thoroughly impressed with all of the people I have worked with at Escali. I know you pride yourself on customer service and quality and it shows in your team.
@Emily- Good Luck with your training for a half marathon! I am an avid runner and the other feature I like is the % of Body Water measurement. Stay hydrated!
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the team at Daily Grommet for everything they have done and to let everyone else know I am still here, ready to respond!
Hi Theo, exactly how accurate is this scale? I know that even with the best technology it is very difficult to accurately measure body fat.
Good question Katie, you are correct, even the very best technology and methods of measuring body fat have troubles getting a 100% accurate reading. Escali digital scales are known for their accuracy and consistent measurements (which is why our bath scales were recently recommended by Consumer Reports in Feb.) The body weight measurements on our scale are accurate to within 100 grams or two tenths of a pound, and the body fat and body water measurements are as accurate as any other comparably technology. What is most important is consistency when it comes to body fat and body water measurements. Consistent measurements allow the user to track their health accurately, which is the main purpose of the scale.
I randomly ran across this site (due to a search engine) and for some reason, that scale caught my eye. It's amazing it took this long for someone to come out with a scale a girl would never want to hide in the closet. It's so useful in every way. I mean, not only do you get your weight accurately, you also get the target aspects that constitute the biggest contribution to your weight in measurements. I don't see how this could not be beneficial. Most of the time, when I'm trying to loose weight....which is always, I never really know if its muscle, water or fat that I'm unhappy with. Meaning, I can start lifting and never loose weight because the muscle replaces the fat keeping the weight steady, if not increased. Without all the hassle of trying to calculate my body fat percentage, this scale does it in as easy as a simple step onto it. I'm blown away! This is the most beneficial accidental site for me yet. Which stores are they sold in? I've never heard of this brand before...does it have good reviews otherwise? Is it a top brand? I've never seen it at Target, not that I recall. Lastly, how does your products compare to others? Simply putting, if i recommend this to people, is it worth the money?
Sarah- Just recently, Escali bath scales were recommended by Consumer Reports for excellent accuracy and consistency, and Good HouseKeeping select us as a top rated bath scale as well. So things are on the up and up here at Escali. Also, I'm happy to hear you like the scale's design. I spent ALOT of time working to craft the BFBW200 into something that the user would be proud to display in their bathroom. Thanks for the compliment!
Sarah - welcome to Daily Grommet we're glad you found us! In our world it's traditionally the large retailers of the world who get to say which products reach the eyes of consumers and even how and where these products are produced. We are trying to tip that balance by finding and supporting innovative companies who may not have distribution yet but deserve attention for the products they are making and the vision they have for their company.
I just want to point out the great Weight Only Mode, which allows the scale to function as a basic scale when needed. Enjoy!
@Noah: Thanks Noah, and it is very attractively designed - a great all around scale.
This scale looks very nice. My concern is that I have tried 3 digital scales in my condo & they are never accurate! I can weigh myself in the bathroom & then just move the scale a few inches & I am 8 pounds heavier!!..Could this happen with your lovely scale too?
Much thanks,
@Sue: That is odd! I zipped Noah a note and he responded:
It's difficult to answer this question without knowing more about the situation. However, I can say that digital scales are sensitive measuring instruments, and there are a couple things to check right away.
1. Strong electromagnetic fields. These will cause a scale to fluctuated readings.
2. All scales should be placed on a smooth, level, flat surface. (ex. carpet can dramatically affect a digital scale's readings.)
3. Low batteries can also adversely affect a digital scales accuracy.
4. See this blog post, it has more info: http://www.escali.com/blog/archives/506
I would not expect our scales to have any problems, unless they are not used properly.
The launch day conversation has ended. Please direct further questions about this Grommet to our Community Experience Team.


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If you're looking for affordable corporate gift ideas that your clients will love, our products priced under five dollars are sure to provide the right bang for your buck. There's something for everyone at our online store, where we house an eclectic selection of business accessories, home goods, and products for travel. Don't let our low prices fool you - ePromos works with the best in the industry to deliver you high quality promotional items. Have ePromos print and personalize these gifts for you today to save time and money on your next internal campaign.
These budget friendly custom sling bags feature a contemporary mono-sling design.
This basic functional promotional first aid kit is an inexpensive promotional item that is sure to be used.
These custom makeup bags are made of jute and colored canvas to give them a natural style with a splash of color.
Promote your brand in a whole new way with these amazing Zino knitted bottle custom coolers imprinted with your unique logo.
When you want to give a promotional item that represents your brand well and is a product recipients will love to use, then give these Zino knitted wine glass custom coolers imprinted with your logo.


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Albert Watson - Hasted Kraeutler
Ages: All
537 W. 24th St. - 212-627-0006
New York, NY
Description: The works in this exhibition celebrate the 20th anniversary of Cyclops (Callaway Editions, 1994), which was the first major monograph of the artist's photographs. The title, Cyclops, refers to ALBERT WATSON's single-minded, distinctive style, and a light hearted reference to the fact that he has been blind in one eye since birth. Cyclops will exhibit unique vintage platinum and silver prints by the artist, spanning 40 years of the photographer's career. One of a kind prints from the original selection for the book will be on view, including Road Kill, a series rarely exhibited.


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This power rocker recliner will accent homes with a casual style and comfortable durability. Designed with family homes in mind, this piece features a quality that is sure to last a number of years with a comfort that is equally outstanding. The chair is covered with thick padding from the attached chaise footrest through the pillow-topped arms and into the headrest. An added cushion below the headrest enhances lower back support. Use this power rocking recliner to rock softly back and forth or to recline back after a long day of work.
The Davis Rocker Power Recliner with Family Durability by England at Darvin Furniture in the Orland Park, Chicago, IL area. Product availability may vary. Contact us for the most current availability on this product.
Built to endure the daily wears and tears that come along with family life, this collection represents a middle ground between style and durability. This reclining furniture collection is great for use in living rooms or family rooms and has a comfort that will make long days seem like a thing of the past. While reclining mechanisms allow you to lay back and relax, defined headrests and lower back cushions will enhance the support you get from the comfortable padding. This collection is ideal for use in casual styled family rooms and living rooms.
The Davis collection is a great option if you are looking for Casual furniture in the Orland Park, Chicago, IL area.
These images are representative of this group as a whole and may differ from this item.
Browse other items in the Davis collection from Darvin Furniture in the Orland Park, Chicago, IL area.
This item has been tagged as: Recliner, Reclining Chair, Glider Rocker Recliner, Rocking Recliner, High Leg Reclining Chair, Lift Recliner, Pop - Up Recliner, Reclining Chair and Ottoman, Motion Recliner, Standard Recliner, No - Rock Recliners, Wall Recliners, Easy Chair, Living Room Chair, Living Room Furniture, TV Chair, Chair Recliner, Massage Chair, Massage Recliner, Swivel Rocker Recliner, Massaging Recliner
Nothing on this page may be copied or reproduced without explicit permission.


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The photo on the left is seedling 99AH13 a cross between Speed Limit X Twice Thrilling
The second photo is the result of crossing Electric Shock to seedling 99AH13. My thought was wouldn't 99AH13 look better with a dark beard and dark horn. The result was seedling 24JU23. I believe the next progression will be improve the branching and truely make it a dark top, crossing it with Crowned Heads or even a newer or a later edition of one of the great dark tops currently on the market. Stay tuned.
Iris4u Iris Garden
Denver, Colorado


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Family Discovers Well Leaking Gas in Backyard
Repairs are taking longer than expected
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - When homeowners on Flora Vista Drive planted fruit trees, some of them mysteriously died. Then during a remodeling project they struck an abandoned well seeping methane into their yard.
The homeowners, who wish to remain anonymous, didn't know the well, built by the Gaviota Oil Company of Delaware Limited, existed when they moved in five years ago. When neighbors gave them a 1920's photo of the Mesa Oil Field they liked it so much they had it blown up and framed to hang on their wall.
They are staying away from their home during the day while the noisy work to cap the well takes place. Workers hired by the California's Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources will plug the well with a steel plate five feet underground in their yard.
Division leaders said it does not pose a health risk. But the project slated to take just two weeks is in its sixth week.
The home is just down the street from Monroe Elementary School.
Parents dropping off and picking up their kids are being detoured. Monroe's principal said she has been keeping parents posted on the progress.
The homeowners will have to disclose the well if they ever sell their home.
They don't have to pay for all of the repairs. An oil industry fund created to plug hazardous wells will pick up much of the tab.


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Back to the main announcement listing
RESOLVED: Data Center Connectivity
Jan. 10, 2013 - As of 2:30 p.m. all services are fully restored and operating normally.
Recap of event: At approximately 12:45 p.m. a network hardware problem in one of the data centers began causing sporadic or inconsistent connection problems to a number of services. By 1:45 p.m. xMail and Gargoyle, among other services, had become completely unavailable; people also began having problems authenticating to secure wireless, as well as problems with some telephones or voice features. ITS technicians were able to fully restore service by 2:30 p.m.


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Top Linksmain detailsbiographyby votesphoto galleryquotes
Filmographiesby yearby typeby ratingsby votesby TV seriesby genreby keyword
Did You Know?photo galleryquotes
Psychiatrist (Character)
from Ghostbusters II (1989)
FilmographyEdit Credits
- Ghostbusters II (1989) Played by Brian Doyle-Murray
... aka "Ghostbusters 2" - USA (video box title)
Additional Details
Fun Stuff
[the Ghostbusters have been committed to a mental hospital]
Ray: As I explained before, we think the spirit of a 17th century Moldavian tyrant is alive and well in a painting at the Manhattan Museum of Art.
Psychiatrist: Uh-huh, and are there any other paintings in the museum with bad spirits in them?
Egon: You're wasting valuable time. He's drawing strength from a psychomagnotheric slime flow that's been collecting under the city.
Psychiatrist: Yes, tell me about the slime.
Winston: It's very potent stuff. We made a toaster dance with it.
[motions to Peter]
See more »
You may correct errors and omissions on this page directly. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.


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Can the internet kill broadcast television? And if it does, which companies will have the power to deliver the programmes we want, and turn our living rooms into their cash machines? It's a battle that Google wants to win with Google TV, which goes on sale this month, but there are several established players including Apple, Microsoft and Sony. It's also a market where many smaller firms compete, including Logitech, Roku and Boxee. In the UK YouView boxes based on Project Canvas are expected next year.
The way we watch TV is obviously changing. For decades, people were slaves to the schedules, with the major broadcast networks fighting for audience share. Today, people watch TV programmes from a mixture of sources. These include DVDs, streamed content from things like YouTube, iPlayer, Blinkbox, Netflix and Hulu, and pirate file downloads. You no longer have to watch programmes at the same time as everybody else. You can, in theory, have what amounts to your own personal TV station.
The growing number of ways to watch TV has naturally led to a growing number of boxes attached to TV sets. The process started with VCRs and DVD players, expanded through set-top boxes and media-savvy games consoles such as the Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3, and then Microsoft Media Center PCs. Some people even have Acer Revo and Asus Eee Box PCs clipped to the back of their LCD TV sets, but not many. In the UK, viewers can also get TV delivered over the internet via services such as BT Vision (based on Microsoft's Mediaroom technology) and TalkTalk TV (formerly Tiscali TV), and other countries have similar services.
Now companies want to sell users even more boxes -- Apple TV, Logitech's Revue (a Google TV box) and D-Link's Atom-powered Boxee Box, and so on.
As you've no doubt noticed, very few systems have had much success. The fact is that while many companies have the ambition to take over the living room, new devices more often look like a confusing addition to whatever mixture of DVD, PVR, Freeview, cable TV, Sky+ and possibly TiVo boxes people already have. There's a struggle to find more physical space, and how many people still have spare HDMI ports?
At the moment, then, the most successful living-room media invaders are the games consoles, particularly the PS3 and Xbox 360. The PS3 found many a home as a cheapish Blu-ray player when standalone Blu-ray players were expensive, and in the US it offers access to Netflix and Hulu services. The Xbox 360 provided a way to stream media from the PC in the home office or study then expanded by delivering movies (again, with Netflix in the US) and providing access to Facebook, Twitter and video chat.
But both machines are limited by their appeal to hardcore gamers rather than a broad spectrum of family users, and long sessions with first-person shooters are less than ideal when everyone else wants to catch up with EastEnders. Microsoft Kinect and Sony's Move might bring in a less committed Nintendo Wii-style audience, but I wouldn't bank on it.
The new Apple TV (no HD support, no hard drive, very few codecs) looks doomed to continued failure because Apple's business model is to charge for a very limited range of content that you can easily get outside its proprietary "walled garden". The fact that people will pay for the convenience of getting stuff on an iPhone or iPod doesn't necessarily mean they'll pay to watch it on their home TV.


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Fred Durst Has Tiny Feet
Early this morning I dropped a girlfriend at the airport in Philadelphia and she called me from the terminal (USAir Express – those little commuter planes for short-ish trips) to tell me that none other than Fred Durst was chilling in the waiting area. He was wearing sunglasses, a t-shirt, and was carrying a big duffle bag that was just stuffed. What she noticed more than anything was how tiny he was. She remarked that "he has the smallest, little feet I have ever seen in my life." You know what they say about small feet … small shoes.
Thanks to Kristen for sending this in.


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By Kevin Binversie | Wisconsin Reporter
The cloud hanging over the 2012 U.S. Senate candidacy of former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann, R- District 1, is tough to miss.
The dark, vaporous mass represents how Badger State conservative activists have felt about Neumann since the 2010 Republican gubernatorial primary. During that time, many believed Neumann went unnecessarily negative against then-Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, doing things such as dropping rumors that Walker would be abandoning his run, lying about Walker's stance on issues and staging a protest at the state GOP convention.
Interestingly, and somewhat ironically, the Neumann campaign — not one of his primary opponents — has most recently called attention to the past.
Tuesday, the Daily Caller reported that Neumann's campaign released a radio ad that included Neumann saying, "Frankly, if I had known what a bold, conservative leader Scott Walker would be, I wouldn't have run. I'm just glad I endorsed him on primary night, worked for his election and then kept on working right through the recall."
Such a statement may be the closest thing to a mea culpa from Neumann.
It's a sign that not only is the campaign aware of the negative perception, but that it also believes it enough of a problem to address it through paid media.
Strategically, it's a smart move for the Neumann crew to have such an ad, acknowledging a divide between Neumann and a portion of the GOP base. It also shows Neumann is willing to mend fences.
But the cynic in me questions the timing, less than a week away from what could be a tight primary contest. If Neumann's camp was serious about offering an apology to its grassroots supporters, an ad like this would have been in rotation months ago, and not in the campaign's final week.
That suggests the Neumann campaign is trying to put out a fire, not acknowledge it created a problem.
Otherwise, why would they have even brought up the subject in the first place?
Pointless committee, pointless bill, political ploy
When is a legislative proposal not a legislative proposal? When is it nothing more than a political shield?
When the proposal is introduced fewer than 100 days before an election.
With Democrats now in charge of the state Senate — and few thinking they will remain in charge after November — the behind-the-scenes wrangling has begun to find something — anything — containing the words "The Mining Bill."
Democrats say it's about jobs and, in a way, it is.
It's about theirs.
When the bill to ease the state's regulatory burden for a proposed iron ore mine in northern Wisconsin died in April, the debate wasn't just about jobs versus the environment. A game of electioneering was afoot. Legislative Democrats, in the midst of trying to secure victory in the recall against Walker, were doing all they could to ensure the governor got no major legislative wins — especially on the jobs' front.
Passage of the mining bill would have been seen as a huge win for Walker on jobs.
But that short-term political thinking backfired when Walker survived the recall. As a result, Democratic opposition to the mining legislation has become a tempting and powerful cudgel for Republicans to use in targeted races.
Control of the upper chamber is up for grabs in November, after all.
This has the new state Senate Democratic majority scrambling to create "Son of Mining Bill" to show "they care" about creating jobs in Wisconsin. Last month, they reconstituted the state Senate's Mining Committee with a plan to fashion a bill and force a special session of the Legislature before November, just to have a vote to give vulnerable Democrats on the ballot some cover.
People have their reasons for getting cynical over politics. The politics at play over the mining bill is just one of them.
Veteran political blogger Kevin Binversie is a Wisconsin native. He served in the George W. Bush administration from 2007-2009, worked at the Heritage Foundation and has worked on numerous state Republican campaigns, most recently as research director for Ron Johnson for Senate. Contact him at [email protected].