text:
Jul 06 16:01:12 <photomatt> Alright let's get started
Jul 06 16:01:16 * h0bbel (email@example.com) has joined #WordPress-Meetup
Jul 06 16:01:31 <relle> I'll do the raw log, if the electricity holds.
Jul 06 16:01:31 * Emory (~email@example.com) has joined #WordPress-Meetup
Jul 06 16:01:53 <relle> After effects of the Tropical Storm.
Jul 06 16:02:00 * Emory has quit (Client Quit)
Jul 06 16:02:24 <photomatt> ouch
Jul 06 16:02:30 <relle> no kidding.
Jul 06 16:02:36 <photomatt> let's try to keep this one shorter than last time, went a little over
Jul 06 16:02:47 <relle> From Photomatt's site (http://photomatt.net/2005/06/16/tons-of-plugins/): The WP-Plugins.org developer plugin repository now has over 300 registered plugins. Time to get that directory going! Status?
Jul 06 16:02:53 <photomatt> if relle's electricity goes out we can all talk about her while she's gone
Jul 06 16:03:05 <relle> you do anyway.
Jul 06 16:03:06 <relle> ;-)
Jul 06 16:03:27 <photomatt> No change in the directory
Jul 06 16:03:35 <relle> But it is going to happen?
Jul 06 16:03:39 <photomatt> yep
Jul 06 16:03:47 <relle> Hooking Forum and Codex together (skippy?) Status?
Jul 06 16:03:47 <relle> * a quick-link syntax would be divine: [[Template Tag]] or <codex Template Tag />
Jul 06 16:03:47 <relle> * Common user database may be possible when bbPress shifts to more flexible user storage method.
Jul 06 16:04:13 <skippy> I approached MDAwaffe. He said he'd work on it.
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Jul 06 16:04:32 <mdawaffe> It's essentially done on the bbPress side
Jul 06 16:04:46 <mdawaffe> I know nothing about the mediawiki side
Jul 06 16:05:01 <robla> I can help on the mediawiki side
Jul 06 16:05:07 <mdawaffe> the quick link thing I sent off to photomatt
Jul 06 16:05:07 <photomatt> so /support is ready to be upgraded with the work mdawaffe did
Jul 06 16:05:20 <photomatt> we can drop his quick link thing in as a plugin
Jul 06 16:05:42 <skippy> we don't really need anything on the mediawiki side, do we? Just a filter in bbpress converting The_Loop to The_Loop
Jul 06 16:06:11 <mdawaffe> skippy: I meant the database stuff
Jul 06 16:06:19 <skippy> oh.
Jul 06 16:06:20 <mdawaffe> re: connecting the user accounts
Jul 06 16:06:35 <relle> So there are two issues?
Jul 06 16:06:41 <mdawaffe> relle: yes
Jul 06 16:06:44 <mdawaffe> quicklink - check
Jul 06 16:06:45 <relle> Hooking links to the Codex and hooking memberse.
Jul 06 16:06:50 <photomatt> robla: you can write a mediawiki plugin to auth against the forum user database?
Jul 06 16:06:54 <mdawaffe> common user db - half check
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Jul 06 16:07:05 <mdawaffe> robla: the bbPress db is specified http://bbpress.automattic.com/file/trunk/bb-admin/upgrade-schema.php
Jul 06 16:07:09 <robla> photomatt: I can give it a shot
Jul 06 16:07:12 <ryanduff> afternoon everybody, am i late?
Jul 06 16:07:19 <mdawaffe> ryanduff: not much :)
Jul 06 16:07:24 <robla> mdawaffe: that was going to be my next question...thanks!
Jul 06 16:07:34 <photomatt> it's identical to WP now, so if we get that working WP and mediawiki integration will be much easier too
Jul 06 16:08:31 <mdawaffe> WP has a few more fields in the user table than does bb
Jul 06 16:09:15 <mdawaffe> but if bb needs to be changed, we can talk about that later
Jul 06 16:09:54 <robla> does bb have the same concept of user levels as wp?
Jul 06 16:10:13 <mdawaffe> no - and that's a hard question too :)
Jul 06 16:10:22 <mdawaffe> (as WP's system is changing in the next release_
Jul 06 16:11:01 <photomatt> yep
Jul 06 16:11:04 <photomatt> hard to say
Jul 06 16:11:17 <mdawaffe> for the integration, though, I imagine mediawiki should stick to its own user hierarchy system
Jul 06 16:11:39 <photomatt> in the interest of keeping things moving: New Page for Fundraising and Events - sign up and ideas
Jul 06 16:11:42 <mdawaffe> but I don't know anything about anything
Jul 06 16:11:47 <robla> mediawiki has a few different types of roles that would need to be assigned to bb users
Jul 06 16:11:58 <mdawaffe> robla: PM?
Jul 06 16:12:34 <robla> k...moving on
Jul 06 16:12:37 <Firas> relle, any thing about that?
Jul 06 16:12:38 <photomatt> sign up on the fundraising page if you're interested
Jul 06 16:12:44 <photomatt> http://codex.wordpress.org/Fundraising_and_Promotions
Jul 06 16:12:52 <relle> Yes.
Jul 06 16:12:55 <relle> SIGN UP
Jul 06 16:13:00 <relle> We're going to start recruting on the forum.
Jul 06 16:13:02 <relle> Get involved.
Jul 06 16:13:04 <relle> need ideas.
Jul 06 16:13:07 <relle> That's it.
Jul 06 16:13:25 <Firas> # Backup Week: July 23-30 News release out this week! See: WordPress Backups. Need help promoting the event. Please sign up to help.
Jul 06 16:13:26 <ryanduff> we'll call it relle's army :P
Jul 06 16:13:30 <Firas> lol
Jul 06 16:13:42 <relle> Podz is handling the docs and things are coming together.
Jul 06 16:13:46 <relle> We need help with the PR.
Jul 06 16:13:48 <ryanduff> hopefully the recruitment rates will be better than the us army
Jul 06 16:13:48 <relle> Sign up.
Jul 06 16:13:51 <Firas> relle's legions of the undead
Jul 06 16:14:08 <relle> We will be posting an announcement all over the place and asking you all to help spread the word.
Jul 06 16:14:12 <photomatt> relle: is something about that going to be in the weekly roundup?
Jul 06 16:14:17 <photomatt> or as its own post?
Jul 06 16:14:18 <relle> yes
Jul 06 16:14:21 <relle> in it's own post
Jul 06 16:14:22 <Podz> the docs are done - it's the images in codex to sort
Jul 06 16:14:30 <relle> We will also be starting a Backup Sob Story thread on the forum next week
Jul 06 16:14:41 <relle> So if you have a sob story about losing your backups or NOT backing up...
Jul 06 16:14:42 <relle> get ready.
Jul 06 16:14:49 <relle> We'll post a note about it via the email lists.
Jul 06 16:14:51 <ryanduff> already got mine in
Jul 06 16:14:55 <relle> It's a great one.
Jul 06 16:14:58 <Firas> ryanduff's is horrid
Jul 06 16:15:03 <relle> I've had three crashes in three weeks.
Jul 06 16:15:05 <relle> On two machines.
Jul 06 16:15:10 <Firas> # Install WordPress for a Friend - Status?
Jul 06 16:15:40 <Podz> need friend
Jul 06 16:15:53 <photomatt> need friends?
Jul 06 16:15:54 <h0bbel> Ha!
Jul 06 16:15:57 * h0bbel has two installs :)
Jul 06 16:16:20 <Podz> heh
Jul 06 16:16:36 <relle> photomatt: you decide on a "word"?
Jul 06 16:16:56 <photomatt> wordsmith
Jul 06 16:17:00 <relle> and a method?
Jul 06 16:17:17 <photomatt> the method will be like this
Jul 06 16:17:21 <alexsmith> Hi :)
Jul 06 16:17:35 <photomatt> Joe Example
Jul 06 16:17:43 <Firas> I think you just need to join a bunch of people who want wp installed with a bunch of people wh can install it..
Jul 06 16:18:13 <relle> scoreboard?
Jul 06 16:19:00 <photomatt> now two things are needed
Jul 06 16:19:06 <photomatt> well like an extension
Jul 06 16:19:16 <photomatt> bbpress needs to break up the profile page into several sub-tabs
Jul 06 16:19:22 <mdawaffe> photomatt: will there be a complementary value for the other direction "wordsmote" or something
Jul 06 16:19:36 <photomatt> mdawaffe: no because that's gameable
Jul 06 16:19:43 <mdawaffe> ah - fact
Jul 06 16:19:56 <photomatt> then we can have a plugin to add a tab for "people this person set up wordpress for"
Jul 06 16:20:28 <photomatt> finally we'll need a weekly spider to spider the homepage URLs from the support forums database and look for rel="wordsmith" links
Jul 06 16:20:49 <mdawaffe> re: bbPress - I have identically no time in the next week or so
Jul 06 16:21:00 <photomatt> and add them as a usermeta value to be exposed on the new interface
Jul 06 16:21:08 <photomatt> so let's consider the project on hold for a few weeks
Jul 06 16:21:19 <relle> Okay, so about "when" do you want to start this.
Jul 06 16:21:30 <relle> If I get a good team with fundraising and events together, we need pr time.
Jul 06 16:21:52 <relle> The actual thing, not the work on it.
Jul 06 16:21:56 <relle> This fall?
Jul 06 16:22:04 <relle> I assume it's a month or so of work and testing.
Jul 06 16:22:11 <photomatt> I think november would be a good timeframe
Jul 06 16:22:16 <relle> Cool.
Jul 06 16:22:38 <Firas> november: this is about the fundraising, not install wordpress for a friend, correct?
Jul 06 16:22:45 <relle> it's about install
Jul 06 16:22:49 <Firas> ok
Jul 06 16:23:01 <Firas> # Need to contact hosts on http://wordpress.org/hosting/ to see if they support mod_security (http://wordpress.org/development/2005/05/security-update/). Update http://wordpress.org/hosting/ accordingly.
Jul 06 16:23:02 <relle> helping the fundraising team get a plan in place.
Jul 06 16:23:25 <photomatt> I've sent an email to all the hosts, started to update the page with the hosts that have it
Jul 06 16:23:53 <photomatt> everyone has responded except bluehost so far
Jul 06 16:24:35 <relle> great.
Jul 06 16:24:47 <Firas> # WordPress Wednesday
Jul 06 16:25:02 <relle> This is the second one, right?
Jul 06 16:25:45 <Firas> how'd that work out, plan to continue it? you mentioned the other day about having a day where you could be on for chatting with plugin authors and stuff
Jul 06 16:26:01 <photomatt> I've been on most of the day
Jul 06 16:26:18 <photomatt> I didn't have anyone over at my place this week because I'm at work due to an upcoming deadline
Jul 06 16:26:45 <Firas> # Maintainer needed for the Theme Viewer
Jul 06 16:27:18 <Firas> did mikelittle decline?
Jul 06 16:27:32 <photomatt> this is different than the theme gardener
Jul 06 16:27:39 <Firas> oh.. right
Jul 06 16:27:41 <photomatt> which Mike has been doing (thanks!)
Jul 06 16:27:48 <mikelittle> Yeah. I can't commit to much time. The gardening I can do.
Jul 06 16:27:56 <photomatt> I think this is for http://themes.wordpress.net/
Jul 06 16:28:03 <Podz> shadow used to do this, but he is moving projects
Jul 06 16:28:06 <photomatt> which was maintained by shadow
Jul 06 16:28:07 <photomatt> yep
Jul 06 16:28:52 <Podz> anyone volunteering for it ?
Jul 06 16:28:58 <mdawaffe> maybe you should put out an APB from shadow on planet. or the dev blog
Jul 06 16:29:37 <Podz> it needs someone that can be trusted though ? given the access ?
Jul 06 16:29:49 <mdawaffe> rue
Jul 06 16:29:52 <mdawaffe> true
Jul 06 16:30:49 <photomatt> is alex's theme viewer up to date?
Jul 06 16:30:53 <photomatt> we could just link to that
Jul 06 16:31:12 <Podz> no idea
Jul 06 16:31:17 <relle> So this is in addition to extend/themes?
Jul 06 16:31:30 <relle> or just until that gets rocking?
Jul 06 16:32:05 <relle> macmanx handles the upkeep of themes and plugins on the Codex.
Jul 06 16:32:10 <relle> Might consider asking him.
Jul 06 16:32:11 <Podz> theme viwere
Jul 06 16:32:16 <Firas> extend/themes is just a limited showcase of sorts, the external resources like the theme viewer shot a whole bunch
Jul 06 16:32:20 <Firas> if i understand correctly
Jul 06 16:32:21 <Podz> bah - the viewer is more dynamic
Jul 06 16:32:25 <Firas> * show
Jul 06 16:32:50 <Podz> the aim is that the viewer shows all that are announced to the forums
Jul 06 16:33:12 <relle> And he currently transfers those to the codex.
Jul 06 16:33:26 <relle> photomatt: do you talk/know him?
Jul 06 16:33:27 <Podz> codex ? oh..
Jul 06 16:33:32 <relle> Or do you want me to ask?
Jul 06 16:33:36 <Podz> I talk to shadow
Jul 06 16:34:05 <Firas> with wp-plugins.net, you have an API, and the plugin makers are respnosible for adding their thing.. why is the burden reversed with the theme viewer?
Jul 06 16:34:14 <mikelittle> BTW, Alex's has about 100 less than themes.wordpress.net
Jul 06 16:35:28 <relle> photomatt?
Jul 06 16:35:30 <Podz> themes are uploaded fully
Jul 06 16:35:56 <photomatt> relle: I don't know him, you can ask
Jul 06 16:36:08 <relle> And I assume whoever is the maintainer has to "fix" themes that break or alert the theme author.
Jul 06 16:36:13 <Podz> no
Jul 06 16:36:15 <photomatt> someone doing that might as well help out mike with gardening
Jul 06 16:36:16 <relle> More maintenance than plugins.
Jul 06 16:36:21 <Podz> no fix
Jul 06 16:36:28 <Podz> authors fix their work
Jul 06 16:36:38 <relle> I agree with no fixing but the contact with the author to say "hey, it's borked" has to be done.
Jul 06 16:36:42 <relle> So that involves testing.
Jul 06 16:36:57 <Podz> upload, select. if bust, delete
Jul 06 16:37:08 <relle> Okay, so Podz, you talk to shadow and I'll talk to macmanx and we'll let photomatt know in a few days.
Jul 06 16:37:12 <Podz> they want the showcase, they worj
Jul 06 16:37:15 <relle> If the answers are no, then advertise.
Jul 06 16:37:20 <relle> I agree, but poop happens.
Jul 06 16:37:31 <Firas> # Could we have an official position statement on patches/upgrades ? This one of a small number of threads http://wordpress.org/support/topic/38000 and this issue can only get louder and more vociverous. An official statement would go a long way to helping.
Jul 06 16:37:37 <Podz> i have no reason to talk to shadow
Jul 06 16:37:42 <relle> k
Jul 06 16:38:21 <relle> BTW: Skippy and others have been working HARD on the Upgrading Wordpress doc on the Codex to make it as easy as possible, but the complaints are rising.
Jul 06 16:38:38 <photomatt> patches are totally useless to the average WP user
Jul 06 16:38:49 <photomatt> there are changed file lists for every release in the codex
Jul 06 16:38:56 <skippy> photomatt: that statement is being hotly contested in the forums.
Jul 06 16:39:01 <photomatt> if a user knows enough to want a patch, they should know enough to use SVN to create one
Jul 06 16:39:06 <skippy> that kind of broad pronouncement does nothing to address the concern
Jul 06 16:39:07 <relle> NOT TRUE.
Jul 06 16:39:28 <photomatt> we made the decision long ago to *not support* people modifying core files
Jul 06 16:39:29 <Firas> relle, do you know how to apply a patch?
Jul 06 16:39:41 <mdawaffe> photomatt: I think by "patch" people mean "a zip file with the four (or whatever) files that need to be overwritten"
Jul 06 16:39:41 <relle> Not with svn.
Jul 06 16:39:43 <photomatt> that's the whole point of plugins and themes
Jul 06 16:39:54 <relle> I just follow the instructions and delete the whole thing and put in the whole new thing.
Jul 06 16:40:07 <relle> Took me two hours to read through svn stuff and I still have no clue what to do.
Jul 06 16:40:12 <Firas> relle: no, 99% of people can't patch because they don't have shell access... pathces are a red herring
Jul 06 16:40:14 <relle> And I'm brilliant ;-)
Jul 06 16:40:20 * shep has reluctantly upgraded each and everytime, sees himself as knowing enough to know there should be a patch, but does not use SVN to create one
Jul 06 16:40:27 <relle> mdawaffe: smack on right.
Jul 06 16:41:01 <Podz> my thoughts: if you ask, you can make your own so shut up and do so. But, the asking is getting others thinking it could be easier, so can we have a statement on why / what ?
Jul 06 16:41:09 <photomatt> also, even if they don't have svn
Jul 06 16:41:16 <photomatt> it's so easy to install WP on the command line
Jul 06 16:41:19 <mikelittle> I agree with mdawaffe: when people refer to 'patch' they mean smaller parcel than whole application.
Jul 06 16:41:24 <mdawaffe> photomatt: (there's a semantic problem here in addition to the choice of what to provide)
Jul 06 16:41:37 <shep> agrees
Jul 06 16:41:39 <photomatt> they must have command line access to run a patch file anyway, so why can't they wget and tar xzvf
Jul 06 16:42:06 <Firas> I think what mdawaffe is saying that when they say patch, they mean a changed files archive
Jul 06 16:42:10 <Firas> not a diff
Jul 06 16:42:14 <photomatt> okay
Jul 06 16:42:23 <mdawaffe> Firas: yes
Jul 06 16:42:24 <photomatt> most releases, including security releases, touch > 5 files
Jul 06 16:42:29 <mikelittle> Plus, delete whole thing, upload new whole thing, where'd my plugin and themes go?
Jul 06 16:42:32 * westi|gone is now known as westi
Jul 06 16:42:40 * westi arrives ... a little late
Jul 06 16:42:41 <mdawaffe> (though I have no opinion on whether it's a good idea)
Jul 06 16:42:42 <shep> mdawaffe has the correct idea of what i think the general public thinks a patch is
Jul 06 16:43:06 <photomatt> I think rather than having separate upgrade instructions for every single possible combination of WP versions, we should stick to the one common base
Jul 06 16:43:15 <Firas> It seems like more of an issue because of the amount of serial releases that are being done on the 1.5 branch
Jul 06 16:43:21 <photomatt> which is http://codex.wordpress.org/Upgrading
Jul 06 16:43:35 <Firas> rather than a 'permanent' issue
Jul 06 16:43:48 <photomatt> making it different every time is harmful
Jul 06 16:43:56 <Podz> it'll happen when 1.6 comes out...
Jul 06 16:44:11 <shep> Podz: that's still like a year away
Jul 06 16:44:15 <photomatt> we basically have a 5 step process that should work for *any* upgrade
Jul 06 16:44:15 <shep> :P
Jul 06 16:44:17 <mdawaffe> mikelittle: the instructions say not to delete wp-content/ or wp-config.php
Jul 06 16:44:21 <relle> Okay, let me understand. The instructions are EACH time, open the "patch" zip file. See the files in there? Delete them from your files and replace them with these.
Jul 06 16:44:26 <relle> What's "different"?
Jul 06 16:44:33 <skippy> photomatt: it _doesn't_ work for every upgrade.
Jul 06 16:44:43 <Firas> relle: depends on what your current version is
Jul 06 16:44:49 <photomatt> relle: with 99% of releases, there may be dozens of files
Jul 06 16:45:02 <relle> But lately there hasn't, and people are whining, loudly and painfully.
Jul 06 16:45:03 <photomatt> 18.104.22.168 was an exception to the rule
Jul 06 16:45:14 <photomatt> okay, well then the threads should be closed
Jul 06 16:45:19 <Podz> shep: I know, and they'll bitch again, which is why I asked for a statement rather than something just here. it gets very boring fending off the same stuff
Jul 06 16:45:24 <mdawaffe> relle: but what happens if someone is upgrading from 188.8.131.52 to 22.214.171.124?
Jul 06 16:45:24 <photomatt> people will whine no matter what we do
Jul 06 16:45:31 <mdawaffe> tow patches?
Jul 06 16:45:36 <photomatt> phpbb provides 9 different download links for every single release
Jul 06 16:45:40 <photomatt> or something crazy like that
Jul 06 16:45:51 <mdawaffe> sweet merciful crap
Jul 06 16:45:52 <Firas> photomatt: 18... 9 from their own servers, 9 from sourceforge :p
Jul 06 16:45:57 <h0bbel> If anyone cares what I mean, 1 download. Full enchillada *every* time.
Jul 06 16:46:15 <shep> i don't like enchilladas
Jul 06 16:46:22 <photomatt> mdawaffe: good point, we can't provide diff downloads for every possible combination
Jul 06 16:46:23 <Podz> I've not had one
Jul 06 16:46:25 <relle> Okay, so let's nuke this. Is there going to be a "self automated" upgrading system in future versions?
Jul 06 16:46:28 <Firas> ok so the issue here is
Jul 06 16:46:34 <Firas> whether to have a statement or not
Jul 06 16:46:38 <h0bbel> Supporting incremental updates, is not fun. Not fun at all.
Jul 06 16:46:41 <Firas> in the next 'dev blog post' thing
Jul 06 16:46:50 <shep> wait, huh?
Jul 06 16:46:56 <shep> relle
Jul 06 16:47:15 <photomatt> I think the issue is that certain people with certain issues get to a point where they can't be reasoned with
Jul 06 16:47:22 <photomatt> they will be loud and obnoxious no matter what we do
Jul 06 16:47:25 <shep> relle has a great question
Jul 06 16:47:25 <shep> Is there going to be a "self automated" upgrading system in future versions?
Jul 06 16:47:44 <photomatt> we haven't to recognize those situations and do what is best for the (often silent) majority
Jul 06 16:47:46 <Podz> photomatt:: true, but that's partly because they never get a dev answer
Jul 06 16:47:49 <relle> Kinda like what angsuman is doing.
Jul 06 16:48:27 <photomatt> so would me responding to that thread help?
Jul 06 16:48:34 <Firas> yes, very much
Jul 06 16:48:41 <Podz> a blog would be good
Jul 06 16:48:42 <photomatt> okay, then we just could have said that
Jul 06 16:48:45 <photomatt> I'll do that
Jul 06 16:48:48 <Podz> easier to find and link to
Jul 06 16:49:04 <photomatt> I can start a new thread, I don't think it warrants a blog post
Jul 06 16:49:07 <skippy> just say "what skippy said!" and link to my response to angsuman. =)
Jul 06 16:49:13 <photomatt> it's a niche issue
Jul 06 16:49:23 <h0bbel> A policy defining these questions (codex?) would be useful.
Jul 06 16:49:29 <photomatt> "Read from the Book of Skippy and contemplate."
Jul 06 16:49:39 * skippy Oms softly.
Jul 06 16:49:40 * shep votes for skippy for King of WP
Jul 06 16:49:52 <shep> wait, you don't vote for kings
Jul 06 16:49:55 * shep runs away
Jul 06 16:50:02 * westi votes for skippy
Jul 06 16:50:14 <photomatt> relle: there will be automated upgrades for WP in the future
Jul 06 16:50:15 <mdawaffe> "what is the sound of one a one sided diff?"
Jul 06 16:50:23 <relle> Whoa!!!!!
Jul 06 16:50:31 <relle> We all need to pause for a moment and contemplate that.
Jul 06 16:50:41 <mdawaffe> relle: I hear it's on tap for like next week
Jul 06 16:50:45 <photomatt> :-p
Jul 06 16:50:47 <shep> photomatt: doesn't that scare you?
Jul 06 16:50:51 * relle sighs with relief.
Jul 06 16:50:59 <westi> mdawaffe: no it's being released 2morrow!
Jul 06 16:51:03 <relle> YEAH
Jul 06 16:51:04 <mdawaffe> ha
Jul 06 16:51:05 <relle> Even better.
Jul 06 16:51:06 <photomatt> it will not be something in the WP download though
Jul 06 16:51:13 <photomatt> because it is pretty much impossible to do like that
Jul 06 16:51:16 <relle> Ah, now it gets complicated.
Jul 06 16:51:18 <shep> think of all the potential problems that an automated upgrade will cause
Jul 06 16:51:21 <photomatt> at least in a portable way
Jul 06 16:51:30 <photomatt> so what I can say right now is
Jul 06 16:51:31 <relle> Every other program I have offers auto upgrades.
Jul 06 16:51:40 <Firas> relle: not teh server side ones
Jul 06 16:51:49 <photomatt> we're working with hosting partners to make WP upgrades and integration easier
Jul 06 16:51:52 <relle> well, true.
Jul 06 16:52:16 <photomatt> and there will be a free WP hosted service
Jul 06 16:52:28 * mdawaffe blinks
Jul 06 16:52:35 * shep sneezes
Jul 06 16:53:01 <relle> Okay, so the answer to this issue is...it will get easier in the future.
Jul 06 16:53:07 <relle> Stay tuned.
Jul 06 16:53:18 <photomatt> well that brings us to the next two bullet points
Jul 06 16:53:31 <photomatt> (skipping multimedia for now)
Jul 06 16:53:48 <photomatt> WP MU has had some very significant development in the past few weeks
>>NOTE: Information edited pending public release of information << Jul 06 17:14:24 <photomatt> MU is just a wrapper around WP
Jul 06 17:14:48 <photomatt> which brings to the next point
Jul 06 17:14:57 <relle> photomatt, this is one of the reasons I think we need a good PR team put together.
Jul 06 17:15:03 <photomatt> agreed
Jul 06 17:15:16 <relle> Then this kind of thing would be handled "right".
Jul 06 17:15:19 <photomatt> MU is now advanced enough to a point we could offer official an free WP blogs
Jul 06 17:15:25 <relle> And it would be as a representative of the organization, not "you".
Jul 06 17:15:50 <relle> So email me the info on what you want to promote and when and I'll run it past the couple of folks on the new PR team list.
Jul 06 17:15:55 <relle> Let's see what we can do.
Jul 06 17:16:02 <photomatt> relle: will do
Jul 06 17:16:09 * michel_v (~firstname.lastname@example.com) has joined #wordpress-meetup
Jul 06 17:16:14 <shep> there is a PR team list?
Jul 06 17:16:22 <michel_v> forgot there was one
Jul 06 17:16:23 <relle> yes
Jul 06 17:16:31 <shep> ....
Jul 06 17:16:31 <relle> http://codex.wordpress.org/Fundraising_and_Promotions
Jul 06 17:16:38 <mdawaffe> photomatt: relle: something on the about page http://wordpress.org/about/ detailing what "the organization" is wrt wP inc etc might be nice too
Jul 06 17:16:47 <photomatt> is there an official maling list for it?
Jul 06 17:16:48 <shep> ah, that's why i didn't know about it
Jul 06 17:16:54 <shep> its on codex
Jul 06 17:16:54 <relle> I would like there to be one.
Jul 06 17:17:16 <relle> mdawaffe: that's on my things to do list.
Jul 06 17:17:33 <mdawaffe> relle: k
Jul 06 17:17:34 <relle> Along with "structure" since we now seem to have some.
Jul 06 17:17:43 <relle> Okay, it's getting late, photomatt, so can we move on.
Jul 06 17:17:45 <photomatt> so IMO it should be separate from wordpress.org, which is why it isn't called wordpress inc. or the wordpress foundation
Jul 06 17:17:50 <photomatt> it is getting late
Jul 06 17:18:15 <photomatt> # Expanding multi-media documentation
Jul 06 17:18:28 <photomatt> I just wanted to point people to screencasts
Jul 06 17:18:33 <mdawaffe> (I just meant a description of the foundation needs to be somewhere)
Jul 06 17:18:52 <relle> I'll work on that.
Jul 06 17:19:09 <photomatt> which is basically like a video of a computer screen, with audio narration
Jul 06 17:19:57 <relle> So photomatt: is this something we need to start working on in the forums and codex to be familiar with?
Jul 06 17:20:04 <photomatt> I think these could be a great addition to the existing images and such we have in the codex
Jul 06 17:20:28 <relle> And there are some?
Jul 06 17:20:28 <photomatt> relle: I think it can be a supplement
Jul 06 17:20:45 <relle> I think it's a great idea. Are there any?
Jul 06 17:20:47 <relle> yet?
Jul 06 17:21:30 <relle> And is there enough "space" on the Codex server for these things? Then can be big.
Jul 06 17:21:32 <shep> photomatt: what were you thinking for thse screencasts?
Jul 06 17:21:34 <relle> *they
Jul 06 17:21:43 <photomatt> relle: space is effectively unlimited
Jul 06 17:21:44 <Firas> shep: like a flash video of installation
Jul 06 17:21:45 <mikelittle> ok
Jul 06 17:21:50 <shep> right
Jul 06 17:21:53 <cyphase> WordPress MU..
Jul 06 17:21:54 <cyphase> hmm..
Jul 06 17:22:00 <shep> but i was meaning, what program to use?
Jul 06 17:22:18 <ryanduff> one of the screen capture ones
Jul 06 17:22:26 <photomatt> so there is one I know for Mac that the textdrive folks use
Jul 06 17:22:46 <photomatt> it's not free, but they may have extra licenses they can donate to us
Jul 06 17:22:47 <ryanduff> snagit will do a screen video capture that i think you can edit
Jul 06 17:23:05 <Firas> for windows, camtasia is the best, but it's expensive
Jul 06 17:23:08 <shep> there is also camstudio
Jul 06 17:23:18 <shep> camstudio is like camtasia, but free
Jul 06 17:23:53 <relle> Okay, so photomatt, can you or someone write up some info and email it to me or the codex docs list so we can look at it and figure out how to use it?
Jul 06 17:23:57 <relle> And we need to move on.
Jul 06 17:24:08 <photomatt> wow I was about to say maybe I could cover camtasia
Jul 06 17:24:14 <photomatt> but it's over $450
Jul 06 17:24:46 <Firas> so yeah, maybe the docs team can scout out good free ones
Jul 06 17:24:51 <shep> take a look at camstudio
Jul 06 17:24:53 <mikelittle> John Udwll has written some good articles about screencasting
Jul 06 17:24:54 <photomatt> relle: I'll send something to the docs list, we need to find the best programs
Jul 06 17:24:59 <mikelittle> *Udell
Jul 06 17:25:05 <Firas> # Providing Patches? - See for lively discussion http://wordpress.org/support/topic/38000
Jul 06 17:25:07 <Firas> this is done
Jul 06 17:25:13 <Firas> # Providing MD5's for downloads to allow for authenticity checks
Jul 06 17:25:15 <Firas> * Signing downloads
Jul 06 17:25:19 <photomatt> if the best thing is a commercial app, and a reasonable price, I'm happy to buy a copy or two for whoever is going to be making the screencasts
Jul 06 17:25:44 <relle> k
Jul 06 17:25:47 <Firas> since wp doesn't do mirrors, i'm not sure of the point of an md5 or signature
Jul 06 17:25:53 <photomatt> people have asked for MD5s before
Jul 06 17:25:59 <Firas> ah
Jul 06 17:26:00 <photomatt> but it comes up pretty rarely
Jul 06 17:26:06 <photomatt> maybe once every few montsh
Jul 06 17:26:23 <Firas> well, it's just generate hash and put it on the dl page somehwere..
Jul 06 17:26:43 <mdawaffe> photomatt: zips are generated automatically, yes?
Jul 06 17:26:46 <photomatt> yes
Jul 06 17:26:57 <photomatt> I'll look into incorporating it with our release workflow
Jul 06 17:27:05 <photomatt> official word is "we're looking into it"
Jul 06 17:27:41 <photomatt> it seems like the rest of the topics we've covered already
Jul 06 17:27:48 <photomatt> does anyone want to bring anything up before we close?
Jul 06 17:28:00 <Firas> ryanduff wanted to ask something about hooks?
Jul 06 17:28:11 <ryanduff> yes
Jul 06 17:28:14 <mdawaffe> ryanduff: update_usermeta() but there's no filter on it curretly
Jul 06 17:28:18 <relle> And just to know that the forums mailing list is rocking and Podz has great plans for it.
Jul 06 17:28:35 <ryanduff> will there be a way to add options to the user info page
Jul 06 17:28:39 <photomatt> I'll add a filter to update_usermeta
Jul 06 17:28:44 <ryanduff> or a meta part like on th epost pages
Jul 06 17:28:45 <mdawaffe> ryanduff: (I didn't mean to cut you off)
Jul 06 17:28:46 <Podz> when I return to the land of the living...
Jul 06 17:28:46 <photomatt> ryanduff: currently not planned
Jul 06 17:29:04 <photomatt> you can modify the user page like any WP page using output buffers and regex
Jul 06 17:29:22 <ryanduff> i was thinking certain plugins could find that useful to be able to add an option on users and enable/disable
Jul 06 17:29:39 <photomatt> that's doable through plugin option pages
Jul 06 17:29:44 <photomatt> they can use the update_usermeta() function
Jul 06 17:30:04 <ryanduff> for instance my plugin (contact form) could add a checkbox to allow a user to get email from the form, then i could build a list of possible recipients based on which users have that meta data set to yes
Jul 06 17:30:19 <photomatt> it's WP Wednesday, so I'll be on AIM at saxmatt02 for any dev questions and on IRC for a good bit as well
Jul 06 17:30:46 <photomatt> ryanduff: sounds like you would want a custom plugin options page that listed users and had a checkbox next to each
Jul 06 17:30:48 <photomatt> that's a cool idea too
Jul 06 17:30:53 <photomatt> re: the plugin
Jul 06 17:31:13 <Firas> photomatt: we have an options page in that plugin..
Jul 06 17:31:17 <Firas> he means by each user
Jul 06 17:31:21 <ryanduff> i could build it in to mine, but i thought something to add it to the user profile pages would benefit other plugins possibly
Jul 06 17:31:38 <photomatt> there is going to be a new option page in 1.6
Jul 06 17:31:44 <photomatt> for per-user options
Jul 06 17:31:48 <ryanduff> like how it lists email, aim, and other misc user info, to be able to add meta for certain plugins via the plugin
Jul 06 17:32:01 <photomatt> will have things like "[ ] use visual editing interface"
Jul 06 17:32:09 <Firas> cool
Jul 06 17:32:11 <ryanduff> photomatt: that would allow the user to deselect if he later decides he doesn't want to be on the list of possible recipients
Jul 06 17:32:18 <photomatt> ryanduff: what you'redescribing is better on the page that doesn't exist yet
Jul 06 17:32:28 <photomatt> rather than the profile page
Jul 06 17:32:32 <photomatt> which is for profile information, not options
Jul 06 17:32:47 <ryanduff> whatever, even better
Jul 06 17:33:06 <ryanduff> i don't care if it doesn't yet exist, just that its been thought about and planned for possible inclusion
Jul 06 17:33:18 <ryanduff> just something to think on with the usermeta stuff and the possiblities
Jul 06 17:33:43 <Firas> So todo: take care of the patch thread, write about donncha, find screencasting progs... meetup end?
Jul 06 17:34:00 <mdawaffe> mod_security
Jul 06 17:34:24 <photomatt> yep
Jul 06 17:34:36 <photomatt> </meetup>


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A look into the October 8 episode where Michael and Zoe go undercover as a couple to take down a group of terrorists in Baja.
In anticipation of "Knight Rider" next episode, NBC have brought forward a promo video for the third episode called "Knight of the Iguana". A new mission will take KITT and Mike to the beach south of the border, Baja, where Mike and an unlikely new partner have to cover up their identities as a couple in order to take down the baddies. To be aired on Wednesday, October 8 at 8 P.M., the episode stars Justin Bruening and Smith Cho, and is supported by Val Kilmer as the voice of KITT.
A sequel to the iconic 1982 television series of the same title starring David Hasselhoff, "Rider" follows the adventure of 23-year-old ex-Army Ranger and estranged son of Michael Knight, Mike Traceur, in becoming the new Knight Rider. The series reinvents KITT as an artificially intelligence capable of hacking almost any system, transforming into other vehicles and using sophisticated holographic imagery to elude villains. It also features the likes of Deanna Russo, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Bruce Davison and several others.
"Knight of the Iguana" Preview:

subset: commoncrawl


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Buffalo Bills: Tapping into a greater fan experience
About This Episode
See how Buffalo Bills, the American football team, created an essential game day app with Digital Publishing Suite. The Buffalo Bills Touch app engages fans with the team brand and delivers a high-impact fan experience through video, social media and more. View how the app extends immersive multimedia content to fans far-and-wide, as well as how it drives results for the team.
Get the latest tutorials, information and more about any Adobe cloud solution on Adobe Learn.


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WOBM Artist Gotye's Amazing YouTube "Supermix" [Video]
Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" has been one of those Summer songs that's been hard to escape this year. We've all heard the quirky, Sting soundalike by now, and scores of people have uploaded their cover versions of the song to YouTube.
Rather than ignoring them, the Australian artist decided to edit together dozens of versions in a "supermix" that he's calling, "Somebodies: A YouTube Orchestra". My first thought is, "holy cow, how long did that take to edit together?". And, in a pretty classy move, he credits all of the videos that he used on his official blog.
Check out the amazing video below and let us know what you think in the comments section!


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Ray Olen Hastings was my grandfather. He died when I was a child, but I remember him. He was a hard worker. He was fairly quiet. He doted on his teacup terrier dog, Spot. He told me when they brought Spot home, as a puppy, he was so tiny he could fit into the palm of his hand. For a special treat once in a while Spot would get a piece of steak.
Ray Olen Hastings grew up in Barry, in Pike county, Illinois. His parents and theirs before them, were farmers. Ray and his twin Ollie Fay were born on the family farm in Beverly, Adams county, Illinois. Ollie later died, as a toddler, from a childhood illness.
Ray Olen Hastings liked to hunt and fish. He married Marguerite Warning, daughter of Arthur Warning & Iva May (Russell) Warning. Together they had six children - five boys, one girl. They lived in Quincy, Adams county, Illinois. Ray worked with chemicals at a factory there, and died in 1974 from cancer.


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Product Information
Give your pup a healthy all-natural chewing challenge with our Barkworthies Premium Curly Bully Stick Dog Treat!
Nice little bully stick... my yorkie likes it a lot but it doesn't last long at all!
My little poodle loves these. Keeps her nice and busy chewing away. They are rather long, so we break them in half.
These bully sticks are loved and craved by my dogs. I can't give as often as they wish I would due to the loose stools it produces if eaten excessively. I don't care for the odor that's released as they chew but they do. I love watching their excitement when I pull one out to give them. I have three small dogs. One is enough to divid three ways.
Miss Maxine got this as a "Gotcha Day" gift. She's had bully sticks once or twice before, but I've never seen her quite so excited as she was for this one. She sniffed it out of the package and dragged it under the dining table before I knew what was happening!
The curly design does last a little longer than the straight sticks, but Maxine still got through it pretty quickly. She definitely loved it, though... we had to coax her into eating dinner before she went back to finish it!


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C2 causing you to have fear or respect for something or someone because that thing or person is large, powerful, or difficult:
a formidable intellect
More examples
- She was once a political nonentity, but has since won a formidable reputation as a determined campaigner.
- She is a formidable figure who commands a great deal of respect .
- My tennis is really improving - I've got a formidable two-handed backhand.
- He worked in the property business for a number of years, acquiring a reputation as a formidable wheeler-dealer.
- In Tyson he had come up against a formidable opponent.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
adverb uk /fɔːˈmɪd.ə.bli/ us /fɔːrˈmɪd.ə.bli/


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Sponsored Products
|Business Software
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Publisher's Description+
From BizConference: BizConference is a Web-based conferencing solution that allows you to share your desktop, applications, photos, PowerPoint presentation, or a whiteboard with up to 100 attendees. You can invite attendees via e-mail or Skype. Attendees don't have to download any software to attend a meeting; all they need is a standard Web browser with Flash running on Windows or Mac. BizConference is easy to use with all meeting functions available with one click of your mouse. The paid version of the product includes online documentation, weekly training webinars, and e-mail and phone support.
What's new in this version:
This version is the first release on CNET Download.com.
read more +


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The Best Botanical Gardens in the United States
Lifestyle| |
Botanical gardens are an easy way to find relaxation. Surrounded by scenery of natural blooming flowers, the silence washes over you so you can feel like you escape any city. From the diverse species of plants to the breathtaking landscape, here are the best botanical gardens to visit in the United States!


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Cultivate the Goodness Campaign
Halau i Ka Pono - The Hula School of Chicago
Friday, February 28, 2014 from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM (CST)
Who's Going
San Francisco, California
London, United Kingdom
Florence, Italy
Event Details
Halau i Ka Pono - The Hula School of Chicago is a program of the Zen Life & Meditation Center, a 501(c)(3) social profit organization. Contributions will help Cultivate the Goodness through helping the Halau bring Hawaiian cultural dance and education that all support a Hula-inspired life in Chicago. All contributions are tax deductible. We hope you will help us keep aloha shining in Chicago!!!
Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much!!!)
Kumu Hula June Kaililani Tanoue
Here's a slide show of the past year at Halau i ka Pono. For mobile units click here.
When & Where
Halau i Ka Pono
38 Lake Street
Oak Park,
Friday, February 28, 2014 from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM (CST)
Add to my calendar
Halau i Ka Pono - The Hula School of Chicago
Halau i Ka Pono is a Hawaiian hula school in Chicago based in Oak Park, IL. June Kaililani Tanoue, Kumu Hula (master teacher), established the school in 2009. She is a student of Kumu Hula Michael Pili Pang who is in the hula lineage of Maiki Aiu Lake and Mae Kamamalu Klein.
Hula is the art of Hawaiian dance expressing all that we see, hear, taste, touch, and feel.
Halau translates as "meeting house or place of learning," and i Ka Pono means "of goodness, well-being, righteousness." Another way to say this is "place to cultivate the goodness." Our purpose is to teach indigenous Hawaiian culture and stories through the joy of dance.
Hula and healing go hand in hand. The dance is a wonderful way to strengthen and get energy moving in the core muscles of the body. It connects us to the grounding energy of the earth and opens us to the warm spirit of Aloha. There are elements of mindful centering, flowing and breath-work involved in this Native Hawaiian dance form. All ages can benefit.


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It only takes a minute to get started. Fill out our uncomplicated sign up form and login to the site.
This step is voluntary but will greatly increase your chances of getting interest from other over 40s members on the site. Tell people about yourself, your hobbies and upload your best photograph.
Utilise our website's sophisticated search to spot over 40s members who satisfy your requirements. Or just look through listings and spot singles that you find interesting.
Discovered someone who you find interesting? Drop them a line or just a wink and find out if they're interested in you. With a little luck you'll be on your way to a once in a lifetime experience.
It'll only take a few minutes


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ATLANTA ( TheStreet) -- If you woke up Monday thinking that plunging fuel prices would benefit airline shares, your day was no doubt disappointing. Rather, investors chose to focus on Delta's ( DAL) disappointing May traffic report, which showed that revenue per available seat mile grew more slowly than expected. As a result, shares in Delta and US Airways ( LCC) both fell 11.6%. United ( UAL) shares fell 7.6% and Southwest ( LUV) fell 3.8%.
It could well be, however, that panicky investors got it wrong, and that airline shares will rebound in the coming days. That would clearly reflect the conclusion reached by two analysts who issued reports late Monday. In the May report, Delta said that PRASM grew 6%. A few weeks ago, Delta was guiding towards 7%. Delta explained the discrepancy by saying that "the variance to recent guidance is due primarily to the impact from competitor fare actions in the second half of the month." Furthermore, Delta said, "May's performance is strong when viewed in the context of an exceptional May performance in 2011." Moreover, the statement continued, "Delta expects strong peak season revenue performance." This multi-faceted explanation failed to calm investors, who instead let the panic surrounding financial markets to seep into the airline sector despite declining fuel prices. Analysts weren't buying it. In particular, JP Morgan analyst Jamie Baker questioned whether the Delta RASM shortfall had any relevance to the other carriers, who will report May traffic in the coming days. "After digging through several weeks of individual fare filings, it appears that Southwest disproportionately targeted Atlanta with sharply lower, promotional walk-up fares" in a May 18 fare action, Baker wrote, in a report issued shortly before the close. Of 200-plus affected markets, he said, 46 involved Atlanta, which is Delta's largest hub. For instance, the one-way Atlanta-Baltimore sale fare was $79 compared with a walk-up fare of $304, while Atlanta-Los Angeles was $209 compared with a walk-up of $404. The sale fares applied to travel between May 18 and June 6. "We view this largely as a Delta issue, not an industry issue," Baker wrote. In looking at other airline's hubs, he found 14 targeted Chicago markets, 11 Philadelphia markets, 10 Chicago markets, three Phoenix markets and two Dallas markets. As a result, Baker said, "We believe any extrapolation across other airline names is largely without merit, and would expect subsequent May (and June) traffic releases to assuage investor consternation."


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Multi-Family zoned for 5 plus units great location next to many large multi unit complexes. Near Highline High School and free way entrance. Utilities available in street and financing contract in place for assumable loan until construction loan can be completed. Seller clearing out the brush and small trees on lot so buyers can walk the land.
Data Provided by Northwest Multiple Listing Service


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There's a hilarious scene in the life of St. Athanasius when his enemies trump up a murder charge against him. He's put on trial and, at a dramatic moment, calls forth his one witness to testify on his behalf. The witness comes forward, throws back his cowl–and it turns out to be the alleged victim of the murder. Wah wah wah waaaaaaaah. Epic fail for the prosecution.
I'm reminded of that because last week, within, like, an hour of Francis' election there were trolls in my combox who had instantly moved from "Jorge who?" to "I am an an expert on Bergoglio and I denounce his cooperation with the Argentine military junta! He betrayed priests to the regime!!! I AM OUTRAGED…. OUUUUUTRAAAAAAAAAGED!!!!! (See this Wikipedia link. It proves all. Let me reiterate both my expertise and extremely righteous moral dudgeon that isn't grasping for any excuse to condemn him or anything. And may I repeat: I AM OUTRAGED…. OUUUUUTRAAAAAAAAAGED!!!!!"
Yeah. About that entirely charitable episode from anonymous combox cowards. Here's the thing: John Allen looked into that eight years ago and asked Amnesty International what was what. AI replied, "No there there." That should have put the boots on it right there. But now, in a turn of events that would make Athanasius clap and giggle….
Pope Francis did not denounce me to Argentinian junta, says priest…
What do you think the odds are that the combox accusers will come forward and apologize?
Yeah, me neither. But let's hope they at least reconsider their eagerness to condemn him.


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Sometimes the trickiest thing in romance isn't finding a compelling, well-composed main love story, but offering a secondary romance storyline that not only folds in naturally, but stands out on its own as a fully developed, integral part of the book. In a world of serial romance, duologies, and series, these aren't books with couples whose stories are ongoing, introduced in one book only to receive full-length attention at some point. These are those special ones who manage to grab our attention and capture our hearts in a reduced number of pages in someone else's story. And often they manage to completely steal the show.
This is the case in the final book of Kate Pearce's long-running, successful House of Pleasure historical erotic series, where the stakes get higher and higher in each book. Emily is the youngest member of the Delornay-Ross clan, and she's had her eye on the house manager Ambrose for some time. Not only does he work at the pleasure house, an establishment from which the family has attempted to keep Emily away, but he's a former slave. This is an attraction we've seen lurking in the background, but in Simply Scandalous their story is told in a climactic, satisfying way. Richard and Violet may have been the official primary couple, but it's Emily and Ambrose who are truly memorable.
"I'll help you with the society mothers, but only if you will help me with Ambrose."
"I'm quite happy to assist you with winning Ambrose." His smile was devilish. "But I think we will have to be a little more direct than dancing too many times together or slipping off to wander around the family grounds. I doubt Ambrose will play by society rules. Are you willing to risk your reputation?"
Emily met his wicked blue gaze. "Yes, for Ambrose, I believe that I am."
Delilah Devlin's Viking duo is vastly underrated, a gripping combination of historical and sci-fi, and Ravished by a Viking features fantastic world-building, and not one but two great couples. The secondary story between the princess and the bodyguard, Birget and Baraq, is its own mix of forbidden and innocent, where a heated sexual relationship quickly becomes a genuine, burgeoning attraction. It's a rare gift when the chemistry is so strong only a few scenes are needed to convey the full depth of a couple's connection.
"You're called Baraq," she whispered, unwilling to fuck him without at least names being exchanged. Sex for revenge's sake needn't be a cold act.
"Baraq Ata." His eyes darkened, and he slid his curved forefinger underneath her chin and tilted her head toward his. "And you?"
Such a small, but tender action. And it caused her sex to flood with moisture. Was that why he did it? Because he wanted her fully aroused, or because he valued the gift she would give him? "I am Birget."
"Sounds harsh," he whispered. "And yet your skin is soft, your curves feminine."
"It means 'protector.' Our language always sounded harsh and primitive to your people. You tried to stamp it out. Made us adopt yours. But we kept our names, and some of the old ones preserve the language for the day we return to Midgard."
"Do you really want to talk history right now?" he said, his lips hovering just above hers.
Whether it's her Blacktop Cowboys or her Rough Riders, Lorelei James has learned to master the secondary couple. In fact, it's sometimes difficult to tell which is which, they're both so strong. And fans are already clamoring for Boone and Sierra's story, a fortuitous second storyline in Gone Country that has exploded, still with many months to wait for their story. Renner and Tierney's story in Wrangled and Tangled is a lighter counterpart to the angst and history that abounds in Abe and Janie's rekindling romance. Renner is a well-meaning, good ol' boy who's had bad luck with women, and Tierney is a bookish do-gooder whose fuse is easy to spot once it's lit. The two of them together throw up a lot of sparks that, combined with James's spitfire snark, cause plenty of fun to ensue. Their story comes full circle in the space of the book, but it feels no less than full-length.
"What is your problem?"
"My problem?" He laughed derisively. "You. I see you every goddamned day in those high-dollar, high-collar professional business suits. Then add those brainy-girl glasses to cement the 'she's out of your league' impression you convey to me at every opportunity."
Tierney couldn't believe her ears. Was that a compliment? Or an insult?
"Tell me how I'm supposed to react when the Tierney I see off the clock is not the Tierney I know from work."
His mouth was so near hers that his every angry breath puffed across her lips. "You don't know me because you've preferred to judge me on the surface."
"So I should've knocked you off our damn high horse to get to this 'real' Tierney months ago?"
Tierney rolled her eyes. "Does every phrase you use have to contain a barnyard animal reference?"
"God. You piss me off to no appreciable end."
"The feeling is mutual."
"Oh yeah? What about this? Is this mutual too?"
The man was babbling. "Is what mutual?" she demanded.
"This." Renner crushed his mouth to hers.
But there's one couple that takes the mantle of most epic secondary relationship: Annika and Creed from Sydney Croft's ACRO series. Their story is given to us in a way unlike almost no other in romance, over the course of six books—starting in the first book, Riding the Storm—making it truly extraordinary. Annika and Creed's happily ever after comes three books in, but without ever having a whole book of their own, we really see beyond the happy ending, and the way their story is told is as completely unique as they are.
Paranormal and erotic come together perfectly in this series about government agents with special abilities, and this is love/hate in all its glory between the woman with electric power and the ghost whisperer who both try to deny what's between them and are dying to give in.
But why the hell did the one guy she could possibly fuck have to be the one guy she really, really couldn't stand? The one person at ACRO who seemed to go out of his way to annoy her? When everyone else scrambled away at her approach, Creed stepped into her path and made her either walk around him or shove him out of the way.
"You don't snore." Bracing one palm on the dining room table, he angled his big body close, invading her personal space in a way others feared to do. He licked his lips, so full and kissable, and his eyes darkened dangerously. "But you do make a lot of noise in the shower. You're a screamer."
Her breath exploded from her lungs. Had he taken her up on her sarcastic offer, after all?
She'd always been able to hang with the guys, talk like them, drink like them, kick ass like them. She'd never had an issue with nudity, had spent days lounging on nude European beaches, had posed as strippers and prostitutes on assignments. But suddenly, the idea of Creed listening to—or watching—her masturbate left her off balance.
And sent a forbidden thrill through her body.
"How much of a show did you get?"
She could picture him stroking his dick as he stood outside the door, listening to her moans, her cries that escaped no matter how hard she bit her lip. If he only knew that the man she'd been fantasizing about had been him, that she'd imagined him on his knees in front of her, his pierced tongue working her deep, hard, wet.
"Let's just say I know you're a true blonde."
Oh, God. He'd seen her. He'd seen everything. Lust throbbed through her, so pure and rich that she shook with it.
"Well, I hope you have a great memory, because that's the most of me you'll ever see."
No matter what, nothing could happen between them. .She might not be able to shock him intentionally, but what would happen if, in her excitement, she sent out a supercharged bolt of electricity? What if his own desire lowered his resistance or something?
Dev would be pissed if she killed a guy he'd practically grown up with.
"That's probably for the best," Creed said, "but it's not what either of us wants."
Who are your favorite secondary couples in romance?
Tiffany Tyer is a writer and editor who loves reading and analyzing all things romance. She also works as a vocalist, a tutor, and a non-profit ministry assistant, and she loves it that way. Her book reviews can be found at Happy Endings Reviews, a blog she co-founded.


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1st Quarter 2012
New line of summer fashion.
3rd Quarter 2011
Giant Superstore open for 24hours.Giant Superstore is now open for 24 hours
4th Quarter 2010
Announcement of Corporate Logo Change
MRH Investments has refreshed its logo to reflect its adabptability and growth over the last two decades. MRH Investments has steadily grown into a diversified organization that pans a number of countries across Asia while maintaining its strive for quality and affordablity.
Launch of Lagoon Explorer travel agency
MRH Investments is pleased to announce the launch of the brand new website lagoonexplorer.com, designed for travelers around the world for planning vacations in the Maldives.
Giant Savings during Eid Festival
3rd Quarter 2010
Grand opening of Giant Superstore.
A 4 storey superstore located in the main road in the capital Male'.
2nd Quarter 2010
Fothi Fihaara gets a new location
10/04/2010: A 2 storey retail outlet selling fabric, women's clothing and clothing accesories.
Mission and Vision
MRH investments, a private limited company based in the Maldives is an intergrated organization of four business sectors and a recognized leader in the wholesale & retail sector.


text: RT Book, Whole DB /z-wcorg/ DS http://worldcat.org ID 712632 LA English T1 Giacomo Joyce. A1 Joyce, James,, Ellmann, Richard,, PB Viking Press PP New York YR 1968 AB Giacomo Joyce is a short story written by James Joyce in 1914, and published posthumously, about the frustrated desire of a teacher - James Joyce himself - for one of his female students. The writing is a compilation of fragments of prose and poetry in which the influences of the East on Trieste's setting and the erotic desire for the female protagonist are omnipresent. A wonderfully rich style both obscures the meaning of the text as well as opens it up for wide interpretation. Great writing, but for some maybe a little enigmatic.


text:
World Cup-winning captains, coaches and players have backed Stephen Moore as the man to lead the Wallabies into the future, Nick Farr-Jones declaring the ACT Brumbies hooker would be a "safe pair of hands" for the leadership reins.
Moore has emerged as the front-runner for the captaincy job as Test coach Ewen McKenzie starts planning for the World Cup.
Farr-Jones, Owen Finegan, Rod Macqueen and Bob Dwyer all believe Moore is ready to shoulder the captaincy duties and lead the Wallabies into their World Cup campaign next year, while Phil Kearns is torn between Moore and Michael Hooper.
McKenzie will announce his new captain on Monday when the team assembles in camp for a three-Test series against France, but Moore's focus is on helping the Brumbies avoid three losses in a row for the first time since 2011.
Moore's credentials – 91 Tests, 130 Super Rugby games, 11 years of experience and two World Cups – are undeniable.
Hooper, James Horwill, Will Genia and Scott Higginbotham are also highly regarded candidates for the job, and a panel of experts dissected the leadership decision.
Farr-Jones led the Wallabies to their 1991 World Cup triumph and is rated as one of Australia's greatest leaders.
He said the No.1 priority for the new skipper was that they would automatically be picked in the starting side and lead by example.
"I think Moore and Hooper are the guys who tick the boxes there," Farr-Jones said.
"Moore, he's an automatic selection, he's the bellybutton of the team as far as being in the middle of the scrum, and I think he would be a safe pair of hands for the job.
"I believe the decision has to be with a view to the World Cup and having a consistent captain through to next year."
Finegan believes appointing Moore as the new Test skipper would be the "best decision Australian rugby union has made in a number of years".
Former Test coach John Connolly said this week he almost appointed Moore as the Wallabies captain before the 2007 World Cup before opting for the experience of Stirling Mortlock.
Moore has been a mainstay in the Wallabies set-up since making his international debut in 2003 and has been in superb form for the Brumbies.
"He's just got the right attitude, he's a consistent footballer as well. Genia and Horwill have been hot and cold," Finegan said.
"What you see with [Moore] is what you get. He's not going to bring X-factor to the game, but he's one of the best set-piece technicians in the world.
"He's physical and aggressive around the field ... I think he would be a good leader. There are lots of attributes that you want in a good leader.
"When games are tight, you need a good old head, and he reads the game very well."
Former Test coach Macqueen teamed with captain John Eales to lead the Wallabies through their most successful era in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Macqueen said good Wallabies teams had been blessed with a plethora of great leaders, not just one captain.
"I'm not close enough to the Wallabies now, but I think Moore has proven himself," Macqueen said.
"He's one of the first picked in the Wallabies these days and he's shown himself, in my opinion, that he's the sort of person that could do very well. He's a viable option.
"To give ourselves the best chance to do well at the World Cup, the more consistency we've got, the better chance we've got."
Hooper, 22, appears destined to be a Wallabies captain in the future.
The former Brumbies flanker and NSW Waratahs star has cemented his standing as Australia's premier No.7 in David Pocock's absence.
"You need a mix of experience and youth ... if all your leaders are the elders in the side, the decision making can go one way. But I think this is a good squad and Ewen will be looking to the future and the World Cup," Macqueen said.
Kearns is torn between Moore and Hooper to be the new Wallabies captain, adding "I don't think you can lose with either of them".
Moore has the experience, but Hooper is a rising star and already a leader despite his age.
"Maybe if they pick Stephen Moore, then the next obvious guy is Hooper to learn from him," Kearns said.
"I think Michael Hooper has shown enough in his career already to show the mature individual he is and that he can handle the role."
The captaincy duties come with greater expectation and responsibility on and off the field.
Kearns said "tough, disciplined and a good work ethic" were essential traits for the new captain. He wanted the Wallabies to settle on a skipper after four leaders in the past two years.
World Cup-winning coach Dwyer's initial preference was to retain Ben Mowen as the Wallabies leader, despite his impending defection to France at the end of the season.
But with McKenzie opting to leave departing players out of the Wallabies squad as he begins planning for the World Cup, Dwyer said: "Stephen Moore is the front-runner for me".
"My criteria for captain is that he's got to be a certain selection, and then he's got to be the sort of person people look up to," he added.
"Stephen Moore clearly satisfies those criteria. He's been a consistent, good player and has probably never played better than he his now ... undoubtedly a world-class player.
"I think [Hooper's] time will come and I think I'd make Steve captain [now]."


text:
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The "Best of" series is back! As we wrap up 2012, it's so fun to look back over everything I've made and pick a few favorites from the more than hundred new recipes I tried. Sometimes it's hard to narrow it down, because there are so many good ones! So much food, so little time.
The series starts today with breakfast. This was a great year for breakfast goodies - it's been fun to be reminded of all the good stuff! Enjoy and head on over to Finding Joy in My Kitchen so see more food bloggers looking back and picking their bests!
Banana Bread Pancakes
Blueberry Breakfast Cake
Individual Egg Bakes
Pumpkin Spice Donuts
Peanut Butter and Jelly Crepes
Monkey Bread Muffins
Be sure to visit SnoWhite to see all the Best of posts for 2012. And find more great stuff at What's Cooking Wednesday and Wicked Good Wednesday.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
4 comments:
Everything looks amazing! Peanut butter and jelly crepes look like a great way to start the day :)ReplyDelete
Woot! Excellent recipes this year.ReplyDelete
I can see why it was hard to choose, so many great looking recipes. Thanks for sharing at Wicked Good Wednesdays!ReplyDelete
I've made the Blueberry Breakfast Cake before...such a great recipe! Your banana bread pancakes look killer :) Great recap!ReplyDelete
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text:
I'm writing this to Clark Strand, after reading (and pondering on for some weeks now) his article on Green Meditation in the latest Running Tide.
Dear Clark,
I have as you know found much value in your writings, both before and after the watershed of 'Turning out the Lights'.
As before, then, I found much that was good and helpful in your Running Tide article - thankyou.
Sometimes I trip up over what feels like a dose of (mischievous?) devil's advocacy...such as the suggestion that the emergence of ideas like Heaven and Nirvana are clear symptoms of our anthropecentric insanity, of our longing for an idealised alternative to reality, made in the image of our ill-informed wish for a sanctuary from the real (my words here, from memory).
I'm sure that Heaven, Nirvana and Pure Land can indeed be understood, used, that way...but I suspect too that you don't really mean that they necessarily imply any such thing? In fact I would say I find the notion of Amida's Pure land (loosely considered) a beautiful metaphor for the all embracing, nothing-ever-wasted Earth that you speak of so well.
Anyway, I wrote down alot about this a couple of weeks back, and it got far too complicated...then fortunately I lost the file somewhere.
So here it is again, simplified this time:
Would you consider offering a Green Meditation commentary on Honen's parting message?
As we spoke of before, I found your discussion of this much loved text (in your Forward to Honen's biography) very moving. Especially where you say that for you the text, with Honen's own handprints on it, embodies the essence of all religion: rather than any magical spiritual power, something (that seems to me) much more existential:"This is the truth I have lived for, and the truth I lived".
Reading through more recent pieces by you, it feels like alot of have things have shifted for you since you wrote that. Including, perhaps, your understanding of what both Amida Buddha and Pureland mean.
But I wanted to ask you about your understanding, now, of the man Honen, and of the way of practicing that he passes on in that short passage, rather than the iconography of the traditional stories that framed that practice.
I don't know if there's any meaning in that distinction, but I think that's what I wanted to ask you.
Many best wishes,
Views: 403
Dear Mat:
What a wonderful invitation. I will be happy to comply. Honen's Ichimai-kishomon (or "One-Page Document") has been my contant companion for the past decade, one I often recited daily. And although my understanding of that final testament has, as you guessed, changed during that time, my belief in it (and Honen) has not wavered. I will explain why shortly in a commentary I wrote a year or so back while staying in Cummington, Massachusetts, with some friends, one of whom asked a very similar question. It may take me a few hours to find it...
Until later, then...
Well, I found the commentary in a notebook from a couple of years back, but it's a book-length work (albeit a short one) and I only typed the Preface into my computer. Really, it ought to be published somewhere as a short book, so I hesitate to put it all here. In any case, I won't have time to type it all up. Instead, I'll offer the Preface, followed by an outline of the major points related to each line of the Testament. I hope that will be enough to answer your question for now. Here then is the Intro. More to come later....
The One-Page Buddha
The following short book contains thoughts on Honen's Ichimai-kishomon, or "One-Page Testament," a document composed on January 23, 1212, by the founder of Pure Land Buddhism in Japan. "The One-Page Testament" was written by Honen at the request of a disciple who wanted a final clarification of his master's teaching. Honen's reply, written just two days before his death at the age of 80, was not simply a clarification of his lifetime teachings—or even a summary of Pure Land Buddhism. It was the whole teaching of the Buddhadharma expressed in language so simple that it was impossible to veer aside from it. In the Ichimai-kishomon Honen set his disciples face to face with the fundamental truth of life itself, in a way that has rarely been equaled before or since.
I discovered the "One-Page Testament" at a time when I was restlessly searching for spiritual answers. Specifically, I was looking for a religion that recognized the fundamental unity of all planetary life—a religion of ecology, a religion that left nothing and no one out. When I found Honen, I realized that at last I had hit paydirt. Subsequently, I discovered the writings of Genshin, Ippen, Shinran, and other great Japanese Pure Land masters. From there I backtracked through ancient Chinese Buddhism, then turned the clock forward to explore modern teachers and traditions throughout Asia to take in the whole of Pure Land tradition past and present, but these ultimately all led back to Honen. Thus, my study ended right where it began.
The book which follows is meant to accomplish two goals. The first is to put Buddhism on the same page with the modern environmental movement, making it clear that Buddhism is, and has always offered, an ecological model of salvation which includes all beings, forsaking none. The second is to offer a spiritual foundation for the modern environmental movement so that it can remain stable, grounded, and joyous in facing the challenges that lie ahead. This is work that Honen would have appreciated, given foreknowledge of modern ecological principles. Actually, he intuited these well enough, even 800 years ago, and in the end articulated a Buddhist teaching wholy consistent with them, using language and symbols that were familiar to the people of his time.
Just like to say thank you to Clark and Mat for what I have just read.
Great to see this discussion developing. Just off the cuff my thoughts: There seems to be two elements to how I see things. There is the existing world in which we live, with all its incredible diversity, beauty and ugliness and all the rest. Next, there is what is included in the phenomenal reality of the planet - the inner world of our spirituality.
I begin to sense that the often implied dichotomy between our hearts response to the words of great spiritual teachers and the world within which we abide, the rocks, trees and lizards, doesn't really exist. Isn't this something of what Buddhism is about? To honour the world in this way, to touch the earth reverently, in gratitude, is entirely appropriate. Even if this is not how things were understood historically, given what we know of ecology today, surely it is time we returned to the roots we share with the trees and all else.
My response to what Clark is saying is to take it as meant. (And no coyote tricksterism or devils advocacy!) It feels the only place I can stand with any confidence. None of this detracts from our reverance for Amida, or Christ, or Kuan Shi Yin - our hearts and what moves them are as real as anything else.
I have yet to read the text under discussion - Honen's One Page Document. I shall have a look on line for it.
Namo Amida Bu
Hi, Richard:
I can save you the trouble. Here's the original above, and the translation I'll be working from below.
The One-Page Document
My Buddhism is not a religious practice like those taught by the sages of China and Japan. Nor does it come from study. It is just saying namu-amida-butsu, knowing that if you do, you are certain to be born in the Land of Bliss. That is all. The Three Minds and Four Modes of Practice are all included in this. If you think there is some special wisdom apart from saying the nembutsu and being born in the Pure Land, you will be lost to the compassion of the two buddhas and slip through the embrace of Amida's Original Vow.
Though you master all the teachings of Shakyamuni gave during his lifetime, it will not matter in the least. Better to entrust yourself to the nembutsu, becoming like those ignorant devotees who, unable to read even a single word of scripture, without any pretension whatsoever devote themselves wholeheartedly to reciting Amida Buddha's name.
I hereby seal this document with the imprint of my hands. The faith and practice of the Pure Land School are fully imparted here. I, Honen, have no teaching but this. To prevent misunderstandings after my death, I make this final testament.
I've just spent an hour replying to you both here, and then - somehow - lost the lot. Too late now to write it all again, but never mind!
Thankyou Clark, you as prompt as you are generous. Every now and then I hear of a book I would really, really like to read - this is one of those times. For now, I read what you say about Honen opening out he territory of Earth centred spirituality precisely in that 'Just as you are' existential simplicity of his (and Shinran's) teaching. I greatly look forward to reading more.
Meanwhile the two goals you speak of are an eloquent summary of what I feel I have been groping towards over the years, and more importantly of the ground my (environmentalist) wife Rachel and I stand together on, simply and fully, in way that is never wholly (if at all!) the case in other contexts relating to Buddhist teaching. It has been a joy to find her response to Turning out he Lights to be one of recognition and delight.
Richard, I really liked what you said about the 'only ground you can stand on'. In that sense turning towards Green Meditation, just as with Honen's nembutsu teaching, feels less like a choice than an admission of what, when ignored, persistently and quietly undermines all other attempted 'choices' until I once again acknowledge its presence.
Looking forward to more Clark, as and when, here or in print.
After an inexcusably long delay Richard, I have bagged up and stamped those Fr Ramon Pannikar tape,s along Clark's Forward spoken of earlier, and am - finally! - sending both in the morning post.
Namo Amida Bu,
many thanks both.
Oh i hope this book does get published Clark. Murray Bookchin wrote his book towards an ecological society back in the 1980s hoping to infuse the spririt of anarchism into the ecological movement, a spirit that already existed and now I reflect on how Honens one page testament cuts into such intellectual approaches.
Many green activists, particularly those so misunderstood by society and who are known here as ferals, are embracing Amida's spriit. A book giving voice to this and to them would be wonderful. Namo Amida Bu
Thanks for this Clark.
I love the succinctness of it. Just give yourself to the recitation.
However, I too am curious about how you regard the nembutsu in the light of a 'green' perspective, even though my questioning here seems to fly in the face of what Honen is saying.
I guess in some ways the nembutsu is so bare a practice, the faith espoused so complete, that I search for what will confirm my intuitive sense of what religion is about. I recall what you say elsewhere about trying to "finesse" your way into the Pure Land. But still - Namo Amida Bu!
Best wishes.
The version that we use in our liturgy is Summary of Faith and Practice - page 2 of our Nien Fo book.
The One-Page Document
Ichimai-kishomon means "One-Page Document" or "One-Page Testament." It is the greatest and best-known example of a genre of writing popularized by the hijiri, or "wandering Pure Land monks" of medieval Japan. One of the more famous hijiri, Kyobutsu, summed up the spirit of all such works when he said, "Words of the dharma for those aspiring to the world beyond shall not exceed a single page."
The teachings of these monks tended to be aphoristic or anecdotal, much like the logion ("words") of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas, or the saying of the Desert Fathers. These were men (perhaps some were also women) who held words in suspicion, but they respected practice. They had little use for fine robes. For the most part they lived on little and spent most of their time either traveling or practicing at temples and practice centers along the way. They spent a lot of time on the road, much of it in wild regions, and were competent outdoorsmen. These were all-weather monks who, often without consciously realizing it, tested every teaching with their bodies as the moved from place to place.
We could say that Honen was the de facto leader of this group, since most traced their teachings to him. But there were nembutsu devotees long before Honen who lived and practiced in much the same way. One of these was Kyoshin of Kako.
Kyoshin was a highly respected scholar monk at an important temple who abandoned his priestly robes one day and began to wander, saying the nembutsu constantly. Eventually he came to Kako, where he married, had children, and hired himself out as a porter and field laborer. The Ichigon-hodan ("Plain Words on the Pure Land Way") tells us that Kyoshin "built no fence to the west--to the Land of Bliss the way lay open. He kept no sacred books, nor befittingly did he enshrine an object of worship. He faced the west constantly, uttering the nembutsu, and was as one to whom all else had been forgotten." The Pure Land monk Ippen was traveling to Kyoshin's gravesite when he died, and Shiran once said he had modeled his whole life after Kyoshin, who was neither a monk nor a layman, but something in between.
To all of these forebearers, contemporaries, and successors, Honen gave expression in writing his Ichimai-kishomon. It is the prefect expression of their philosophy and their way of life.
Hi Clark,
Many thanks for this, which fills in many gaps in my thin understanding of the tradition.
What is so striking for me about the Pureland path is its radical simplicity, but like Richard I am intrigued and as yet unclear what it is exactly about that simpliciity that particularly lends itself to the Environmental movement.
The Dark Mountain Project speak very well about the problems of that movement fixating on the goal of 'sustainability'. It could be said in many cases to have led environmental groups to abandon the very root of the movement, which arose historically through the love of place - be it ancient Redwoods, marine ecosystems, English Downland - and the wish to protect those places from human despoilation.
In place of a reverent connection to specific places, comes a new wave of sustainability-driven 'Green Development', that at a local level often overides all such NIMBY niceties, in the name of a greater urgency - the big numbers....carbon, above all.
On the other hand, there is an acknowledgement creeping into the margins that such large-scale sustainability may be a fantasy based on ever more strenuous denial of the science. What then? Here Greens are ever greater prophets of apocalypse - maybe we can scare the herd into action. Unfortunately it tends to scare us more into despondency (and overstates the certainty of the data as almost much as the deniers do.
These are very very oversimplified statements I know, and open to question, but for me it comes back to what Caroline touches on in the book I mentioned. I think the word that comes to mind for me is 'unconditionality' - as in, it is not in fact my immediate concern whether or not the climate will warm by 2 or 6 degrees. I have no idea what will happen anyway, and even if the worst were true, in a very real sense, ultimately "there's nothing I can do".
What I can do, is seek to live in a way that becomes a positive response to these dillemmas, not a burying of my head in the sand, nor a histrionic despair. A light to others...or better, a joining of my own energies with that light.
A large part of which in this context, for me, comes back to love of place. Hands in the earth, feet on the ground, head in the air.
None of this describes my attainment of anything. Here I am at the keyboard, in the house, in the car. I mean it as an acknowledgment of a need, rather than any kind of achievement.
The wandering Pureland monks certainly sound a good role model in this respect.
Best wishes
Thanks Mat, Richard, Robert. Before going into the text proper, I'll offer a thoughts on a couple of points you've brought up.
Richard, you wrote: "Even if this is not how things were understood historically, given what we know of ecology today, surely it is time we returned to the roots we share with the trees and all else."
That is extremely well and succintly put. I may steal it. Yes. I believe there is a kind of ecological imperative for reading traditional spiritual texts in this way (Robert has just reminded me in a response to an older post I made that this issue in an integral part of the current discussion). I do think, however, that from the beginning (however you date that) human beings have been trying to square their experience of Nature with their spiritual thoughts, feelings, and aspirations, and this is reflected in their scriptures once you know what you're looking for (Job is a good example, the Bhagavad Gita is another). My point these days is simply that the accounts must now finally be balanced. We must be spiritually and ecologically solvent at last--meaning that we cannot continue to create culture, philosophy, economy, or religion that exceeds what the Earth can provide. At the risk or repeating myself one time too many, I will simply reiterate that when the Buddha touches the Earth at the moment of his enlightenment, his finger isn't a pointer but an equals sign.
Robert, you wrote about Murray Bookchin's book "hoping to infuse the spririt of anarchism into the ecological movement, a spirit that already existed and now I reflect on how Honens one page testament cuts into such intellectual approaches."
You're right that there is a spirit of anarchy at the heart of this movement, but I would like to suggest another way of looking at it based on a deeper reading of human history.What today we would call anarchism is mostly just a reaction to the stupidity and intractability of modern governmental, religious, and social institutions. The anarchist's cry generally proceeds out of frustration with these, becoming a determined and stubborn refusal to go along with attitudes, beliefs, and practices they know in their hearts to be wrong--if not for everyone, then at least for them. It makes sense that a lot of green activists take this stance, given how little support they see coming from most social institutions. But I believe that frustration doesn't make a good foundation for the kind of sustained efforts that are required in this case. I believe it is important to define ourselves and our movement on much older and more solid ground.
When we consider the deeper history of our species (what most people call its pre-history), we can begin to recover the basis for that "good foundation." What today people might call anarchy, because it resists the prevailing social order, human beings would originally have just called "the way we live." If we look at the way ape societies are organized we see a lot of dominance heirarchies. Not all great ape societies are organized this way all the time, because some flexibility pertains, but in general they are. A dominant male or female "rules the roost," determining how resources are to be allocated and who will be able to successfully reproduce. There is reason to believe that this is how we once lived, and it is clear to most of us that it is increasingly how human societies have been organized since the dawn of agriculture. Our lives are dominated by social forces and institutions beyond our control. But this is not how we always lived.
For millions of years human beings (defined broadly to include our hominid ancestors) lived in "reverse dominance heirarchies," where social groups (of hunter/scavenger/gatherers) were organized around the principle of preventing any one person or group of persons from leveraging control of the group. People lived cooperatively, and cooperative living seemed to have been the point of their culture. For millions of years, this was a sustainable way of life for humans and their ancestors--not in the modern sense that I know Mat has alluded to, that of sustaining levels of insane consumption and reproduction, but in the sense of remaining in flexible harmony with the Earth and one another.
Today we see this kind of social organization in Twelve Step recovery groups, which is one of the main reasons I want to model our groups and their efforts off that tradition. To a great extent, AA and its many offshoots help people recover for a reason that is often acknowledged but seldom examined from a deep history point of view: It restores a saner way of relating to one another that you can actually build on to create a new life for yourself.
This is the foundation I am talking about, and which I believe Honen intuited as well. It is based on the joy of recovering a saner relationship to ourselves, to one another, and to the Earth.
Sorry to go on and on...but much of what follows will make better sense if we start here.
Down millennia, I would have thought the rigours of daily living would make cooperation essential. An egalitarian system going some way toward ensuring stability in times of hardship.
I appreciate the reference to Twelve Step recovery groups, as I can see how Sangha might work in much the same way: our being unable to affect change by will power alone and our dependence on a higher power. Mentorship providing encouragement and support as we bump and stumble along. How many mistaken directions must our ancestors have taken, gradually learning the skills and knacks of working with the land.
Sadly, for whatever reason, perhaps we got too comfortable, complaisance set in and we began to exploit, rather than living in a respectful way. David Abram speaks of the estrangement caused in part by the invention of the written word, books coming between us and the storied living landscape. It was living as a part of the world and not detached and merely on it that allowed us to survive the considerable hardship and unpredictability of existence.
I find this discussion exciting because whether or not we are, as a species, beyond pulling back from ecological ruin - Dharma still offers hope, direction and community.
I look forward to what is to follow. Namo Amida Bu


text:
The devil take the rags, the rickety huts, the straw litters and the black bread!
About two hours after, he brought me a piece of black bread.
Far from black bread and borscht, he found the food excellent.
The dinner consisted of a porridge of cooked beans and black bread.
"A soft roll of white bread; she would enjoy that, for now she is old she can hardly eat the hard, black bread," answered Dete.
She refused the cake which Mahiette offered to her, and said, "black bread."
They emptied the pots of cider, ate the bacon from the salt-tub, and the cakes of black bread.
The nightly rations of black bread and beans were served out.
He tumbled on to the ground a large clasp pocket-knife, a hunk of black bread, a cigarette-case and some old letters.
They retire at night into their dens, where they live on black bread, water and roots.


text:
The bone might be comminuted, but the fragments were of a more cuboid shape, and the long fissuring did not occur.
Transfer the comminuted oyster and the liquor to the cylinder.
This was no doubt due to the infrequency of extension of the comminuted fractures beyond the junction of diaphysis and epiphysis.
Hawaii crashed like a meteor into America and was comminuted and absorbed.
In comminuted fractures, the lines of fracture remain permanently visible on the bone, but fissured fractures may leave no trace.
Fractures are divided into comminuted, simple, and compound.
Even bones have been comminuted without any wound of the integuments or appearance of injury.
Fractures are of three kinds; simple, compound and comminuted.
"A" then demonstrates a comminuted fracture of the wrist with three fragments.
I, though, unconscious and feverish, was in serious condition from skin abrasions and a comminuted cranium.
comminuted adj.
Broken into fragments. Used of a fractured bone.
comminute com·mi·nute (kŏm'ə-nōōt', -nyōōt')
v. com·mi·nut·ed, com·mi·nut·ing, com·mi·nutes
To reduce to powder; to pulverize.


text:
|Publication No: 740
|Search all ORC publications
Optical time domain reflectrometry measurements in a 4km passively mode-locked fibre ring laser
V.J.Matsas, T.P.Newson and D.N.Payne
The first experimental Rayleigh backscatter measurements in a passively modelocked fibre ring laser are reported. The Rayleigh backscatter data were used to identify and estimate splice losses as well as the back reflection of the intracavity optical isolator.
Electronics Letters (1993) Vol.29(18) pp.1602-1603
doi: 10.1049/el:19931067
Southampton ePrint id: 78281
Click here to download an Acrobat (.pdf) version of the paper.
Copyright University of Southampton 2006


text:
Aircraft Market Segments in an Age of Extremes
Richard Aboulafia, vice president of analysis at The Teal Group, a provider of aerospace and defense market intelligence, analysis, and forecasts, was informative (as always) at the Mentor Graphics Integrated Electrical Solutions Forum (IESF) 2013 in Dallas this month.
Not surprisingly, Aboulafia's valuable insights will be the subject of a series of blogs on the aviation market, including both civil and military industry segments. His observances and predictions are especially valuable to military and aerospace (mil/aero) professionals given the uncertain and volatile worldwide economy—not to mention the anxiety, confusion, and speculation surrounding sequestration in the U.S.
We kick off with a look at the commercial airline market, which Aboulafia has described as having been and continuing to be "bulletproof." In fact, orders of commercial airliners currently stretch out as far as to 2018—certainly a favorable position for airframe manufacturers and providers of avionics and other airborne components and systems. Other industry pundits concur with Aboulafia's assessment, noting that the commercial aviation segment is buoying the entire, overarching aviation market.
The commercial airline market is driven by cycles, yet the aerospace industry has been known to buck that trend occasionally. In years where a downturn has been fervently predicted, the industry has experienced surprising
growth. In 2011, air passenger demand grew–giving the market a much-needed and welcomed boost. Conversely, air passenger demand faltered, yet global commercial aircraft output grew by more than 29 percent, slightly less than the growth achieved in 2011.
This geek has a great deal of respect for industry analysts, such as Aboulafia, who seem to always provide spot-on predictions in even the most tumultuous times.
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Posted March 29th, 2013, by J VanDomelen
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aerospace, aviation, EDA, electric, Electric Aircraft, electrical, electronic, geek, hardware, IESF, Integrated Electrical Solutions Forum, mentor, Mentor Graphics, Mentor.com, mil-aero, milaero, military, Richard Aboulafia, software, Teal Group, technology
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About J. VanDomelen Mil/Aero Blog
J. VanDomelen holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and myriad certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTia in varying facets of computer software, hardware, and network design and implementation. He has worked in the electronics industry for more than 12 years in varied fields, including advanced systems design of highly technical military and aerospace computer systems, semiconductor manufacturing, open source software development, hardware design, and rapid prototyping. J. VanDomelen Mil/Aero Blog
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