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Best Of :: La Vida
America Corrales doesn't mess around. At her adorable little restaurant — tucked into an old house, like so many of CenPho's quirkiest eateries — she's totally up-front about what her kitchen does best, and that's carne asada, pure and simple. The delectable smell coming from the grill will clue you in before you even get a taste of the smoky, perfectly seasoned beef. Step up to the counter and let them know your preferred delivery method. Do you like a sturdy burrito, wrapped in a thick, fresh tortilla? Or how about a few tacos, easy to gobble in a few bites? If sandwiches are your thing, try the carne asada in a torta, or get your cheese fix with some of the chopped meat in a quesadilla. Bottom line: If you're ready to satisfy your primal urges to eat some sizzling beef, you can't go wrong here.
To paraphrase an old saying about a dead cat, you could swing a baseball bat in this town and hit a piñata. Many grocery stores sell them, and you can easily cruise 16th Street in central Phoenix and find a wide selection. But would it be wide enough? This year, our little princess didn't want a princess piñata. She wanted a piglet. And not just any swine would do; she wanted Piglet — you know, from Winnie-the-Pooh. After exhausting our brick-and-mortar possibilities, we got online and found Arizona Piñatas. We called, and a cheerful employee complied, agreeing that Piglet would be ready by Friday. And would we like it delivered? What? We just about dropped the iPhone, we were so happy. Yes, absolutely. And, sure, throw in the matching stick to whack the thing with. This endeavor wasn't cheap, we'll warn you. But, boy, was it worth it. Piglet arrived on our front porch on time as promised and was the life of the party until, well, until he wasn't.
People often refer to Phoenix as a young city, but our burgeoning metropolis has a pretty old soul. That's why our hearts delight when we have the opportunity to drive past what used to be the El Mural bar in west Phoenix. It's been years since anyone's hoisted a drink there, but the outside is still emblazoned with the beautiful work of Victor Caldee. Though of Cuban origin, the artist (with the help of Miguel Dominguez) brought together a bevy of Mexican icons: music and entertainment heroes Beatriz Adriana, Lola Beltran, Vicente Fernandez, and Jose Alfredo Jimenez, and revolutionaries Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata. The spirit of old Phoeniquera barrios is further connected to a past long gone via the depiction of a Mayan figure and pyramid surrounding El Mural's entrance.
For the past several years, the Desert Botanical Garden has thrown the best Dia de los Muertos party in town. This year, the festivities — held Halloween weekend and the first week of November — promise to be grander than ever, with performances, food, and hands-on crafts for the kids. Oh, and a mercado! We'll be sure to stop by to check out the wares offered by Bets and Nancy Nenad, two adventurous Phoenicians who travel through Mexico to bring back a fine, fun selection of skeletons in many forms — from plastic to papier-mâché. Hey, it's a living.
The Hispanic equivalent of the bat mitzvah or "Sweet 16" party, the quinceañera marks a Latina girl's coming of age. It's easy to find a respectable dress for the event, but only at a true tiendas de bodas can you get service to fit a quince's exact needs. Owner Ofelia Martinez understands the Hispanic market and, more importantly, understands young Hispanic women. Her shop carries a wide range of colorful gowns and specializes in "plus sizes," which means girls with curves won't have to stretch and tug their way into a stick-girl dress. Fluffy, traditional quinceañera dresses in shades of peach and robin's-egg blue are plentiful. If the quince is a modern gal, perhaps a more contemporary sheath dress — in ivory white to please la familia. The shop also does in-house alterations and carries latilla veils, rosaries, crowns, and gloves to accessorize the little princess. Whether the quince wants to look like Cinderella or J-Lo in The Wedding Planner, Ofelia has her covered.
At one end of this cavernous, winding mishmash of spaces is a room packed with all kinds of crosses — metal, tin, wooden. At the other end, there's a room full of hand-tooled gun holsters. In between is just about any Mexican tchotchke you can dream of: small wooden guitars, leather wallets, ceramic pots, embroidered dresses. We felt like we'd died and gone to Nogales. Beware: The neighborhood, across the street from the Arizona State Hospital, is in a rough part of town near Van Buren Street. Obviously the owners are aware of their surroundings. The place opens at 9 on weekdays, but whatever the time of day, you'll need to ring the bell before they'll let you in.


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Growing and Eating Fruits and Vegetables Safely
We often receive inquiries about vegetable gardening on real or suspected contaminated areas (neighborhoods that were once landfills or were filled in with waste, former agricultural land, etc). Last fall we produced and distributed a fact sheet, "Growing and Eating Fruits and Vegetables Safely" to assist the public in growing gardens safely.
We recently revised the fact sheet to include guidance regarding gardening over septic tanks. Attached is the newly revised version. The fact sheet provides questions and answers about gardening and real or potentially contaminated soils.
Main Office
131 Coventry Street
Hartford CT, 06112
Phone: (860) 757-4700
Fax: (860) 722-6851
8am - 5pm
Community Services Division
Phone: (860) 757-4730
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division
Phone: (860) 757-4830
Fax: (860) 722-6826
Maternal & Child Health Division
(860) 757-4820
Environmental Health Division
Phone: (860) 757-4760
Fax: (860) 722-6677

subset: commoncrawl


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Land of the Lost: Season 03 (1976)
A number of radical changes occur in Land of the Lost as the popular adventure-fantasy series enters its third and final season. For starters, an ... Show synopsis A number of radical changes occur in Land of the Lost as the popular adventure-fantasy series enters its third and final season. For starters, an earthquake destroys the mountain-cave home of the Marshall family, who have been living in the strange, primitive planet of Altrusia ever since being sucked through a "time portal" while rafting down the Colorado River. The earthquake causes another one of those portals to suddenly open up, whereupon Rick Marshall (Spencer Milligan) vanishes right before the eyes of his children Will (Wesley Eure) and Holly (Kathleen Coleman), never to be seen again. The Marshall kids' loneliness is alleviated when, through a remarkable coincidence, their uncle Jack Marshall (Ron Harper) suddenly drops through still another time portal and lands at their feet! Rick Marshall is not the only defector during season three. Two of the three members of the Cenozoic era Paku tribe, a family of monkey-men whom the Marshalls have befriended, have also disappeared without a trace, leaving only Cha-Ka (Phillip Paley) to represent their species. No longer conversing in the mysterious language Pakuni, Cha-Ka now speaks English (thereby eliminating the series' need for its resident linguistics expert Dr. Victoria Fromkin, who had developed the Pakuni tongue during season one). Amazingly, the bestial Sleestak, seven-foot-tall descendants of the once-advanced Altrusian tribe, also forsake their usual grunts and "argghs" and begin conversing in English as well, notably the newly-appointed Sleestak leader, played by Jon Locke. Another new character, the false Altrusian god Malak, is played by Richard Kiel (later to gain fame as Jaws in the James Bond film series). Finally, although the Marshalls are never able to find the proper time portal to escape Altrusia and return to Earth, a dizzying number of denizens from other worlds and cultures are somehow able to come and go through those ubiquitous portals with impunity -- including a British repairman, a balloon ascensionist, a medusa, a Flying Dutchman-style sea captain, an abominable snowman, and even a Native American descendant of Nez Perce Chief Joseph! While this sort of gimmickry would play well on a series like Lost in Space, it tends to diminish the well-deserved lofty reputation of Land of the Lost during the series' final thirteen episodes. Hal Erickson, Rovi
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Microsoft Experimenting With Free Version Of Windows
Microsoft is experimenting with a free version of Windows.
Offering Windows 8.1 for free or very low cost for users of Windows 7 would boost the numbers of people using the latest version of Microsoft's signature software.
Sources who say they're familiar with the company's plans say it's building a new "Windows 8.1 with Bing" that would bundle several Microsoft apps and services, and the aim is to bring a low-cost version to market, perhaps even offering it as a free upgrade for Windows 7 users.
The sources say the idea is designed to push and monetize Microsoft's cloud services and apps.


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We had to bring back Bleroy Clan's "Phyrfly Ninja" asap after a minor gear issue, this man is ready to school and I for one am stoked to see an original vinyl purist come throw down haaard. Props to him for being so easy going.
New to the family John "Frantiq" Sawa impressed Snakehead at Subliminal Saturdays @ the Den on Robson and has been invited to take the opening slot for this show. Huge energy, great tunes, not to be missed.
And returning as a headliner the adorable, the original, the unstoppable, Rocky Fisher is back to get the crowd drooling and moving to her sassy ways and shameless bass.
Round 6 is set to go off for the ever growing, new, and only by donation night in VanCity, D&B Sundays.
- Brought to you by Dan Snakehead
Frantiq 9-10:30pm
Phyrfly Ninja 10:30-12am
Rocky Fisher 12-1am


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Gold lost some of its sheen following the agreement of a new rescue program for Cyprus on Tuesday, but some analysts argue that the potential for a Cyprus-style solution to be applied in other euro zone nations could support prices for the precious metal in the near-term.
The price of gold futures fell to a one-week low after ministers in Cyprus and representatives from the European banking system reached agreement on a rescue package for the ailing nation.
The trading price for gold took a hit, closing down 0.21 per cent on Tuesday at $US1601.70. The drop brought the price of gold down to its lowest in seven trading sessions.
Though it was a drop, the metal did keep trading above $US1600 an ounce – the price commodity analysts broadly regard as its level of "critical support". Likewise, the three-month futures contract currently prices the commodity at $US1602.40 an ounce.
After its 1.6 per cent rise over the month to date, the commodity is still poised to make its first monthly gain since September. (The price contracted more than 5 per cent over February.)
National Australia Bank economist
She noted that recent uncertainty on global markets has worked to the precious metal's advantage.
Ms Knight said there was evidence that investors in developed markets including Europe and the US have been buying up the metal.
Reports from UBS analysts showed that buying in China and India – traditionally among the strongest buyers of the commodity – had remained lacklustre over the month.
"You've seen more of a recovery in other commodities over the past month, but Cyprus definitely opened fears around the world that banks are willing to take away people's bank assets," she said.
To be sure, recent comments by Dutch Finance Minister
Mr Dijsselbloem told European media after the Cyprus deal that the solution should be regarded as a template to help other countries riddled by sovereign debt crises.
While uncertainty triggered gold buying in the euro zone, Ms Knight said stimulus in the US and efforts to trigger economic growth had also been positive for the price of gold. Investors have turned to the metal as a hedge against rising inflation.
Barclays traders said the price of gold has been driven largely by sales of gold exchange-traded futures over the year.
Research from the bank shows that selling by physical gold-backed ETFs had amounted to 140 tonnes by mid-March, which was almost half of all the gold ETFs bought last year.
Gold and paladium trading has experienced more than double the average volume in the past 100 days, according to Bloomberg research.
The Australian Financial Review


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UPWEY & Broadwey stalwart Steve Reynolds has spoken out about the club's recent demise.
The Weymouth outfit, who finished sixth in the Dorset Senior League last season, will not feature in any league this term.
But Reynolds, who has been involved in football at Upwey for more than 35 years, is determined not to let the club fizzle out into insignificance.
"People had said about the club going flat and that we needed new players, and we did" he told Echo-sport.
"I had four good youngsters ready to come in, secured two new sponsorship deals and we were going to go back training at Whitcombe Stables where we used to train.
"The fact of the matter is my partner and my mum both died within a week in June, I couldn't get my head around it to get the football organised.
"Simon Ansell (former club secretary) had done a great job behind the scenes but he didn't want to take it on. I just wanted someone to take it off me for a year so I could get my head around things.
"I missed the entry date for the league and, fair play to them, they gave me a couple of weeks compensation but I couldn't get my head around running the football, that is the sole reason why the club went down."
But although former players have moved to pastures new, the most notable being Charlie May's switch to Dorset Premier League champions Portland United, Reynolds believes he still has the desire to put together a competitive squad for the club next term.
He added: "There is every scope to get it going again next season. I have spoken to the sponsors we had lined up and they understand why I need to take a year out.
"It would be a lot less pressure in a lower league and we can start again and have a bit of fun.
"I don't see any reason why we can't get the club to where it was, it's my second stint with Upwey and we have gone straight through the leagues both times, so I don't see why we can't do it again."


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Maps showing selected geology and phosphate resources of the Diamond Flat quadrangle, Caribou County, Idaho
Mineral Investigations Resource Map 78
- By:
- Pamela Dunlap Derkey, Bea Johnston, Pamela Palmer, and Alexander Zemanek
- More information: National Geologic Map Database Index Page (html)
- Document: Report
- Plates:
- Paper version: In stock and available from the USGS Store
- Download citation as: RIS
This report summarizes information on the thickness, grade, lateral continuity, phosphate resources, and ownership of phosphate-bearing units in the Meade Peak Phosphatic Shale Member of the Phosphoria Formation in the Diamond Flat quadrangle. This report is one of a series of quadrangle reports prepared by the Idaho Bureau of Mines and Geology under U.S. Geological Survey cost-sharing contract #14-08-0001-17925 to calculate phosphate resources in southeastern Idaho (fig. 1).
Study Area
Additional publication details
- Publication type:
- Report
- Publication Subtype:
- USGS Numbered Series
- Title:
- Maps showing selected geology and phosphate resources of the Diamond Flat quadrangle, Caribou County, Idaho
- Series title:
- Mineral Investigations Resource Map
- Series number:
- 78
- Year Published:
- 1984
- Language:
- English
- Publisher:
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Description:
- Report: 6 p.; 3 Plates: 26.3 x 34.4 inches or smaller
- Country:
- United States
- State:
- Idaho
- County:
- Caribou County
- Scale:
- 24000
- Online Only (Y/N):
- Additional Online Files (Y/N):


text:
Get ready to start receiving Cisco GovernmentConnection, the source for news and analysis aimed at keeping you up to date on the issues facing agency and technology leaders in local government. Cisco GovernmentConnection keeps current on issues through timely surveys that reveal what's really happening in local government and public safety. To continue receiving Cisco GovernmentConnection, simply complete and submit the form below.
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text:
Site created 12/15/97.
review added: 12/17/99
Mystery Men
1999 (1999) - Universal
review by Bill Hunt, editor of
The Digital Bits
Film Rating: B-
Disc Ratings (Video/Audio/Extras): B/B/B+
Specs and Features
122 mins, PG-13, letterboxed widescreen (1.85:1), 16x9 enhanced, single-sided, RSDL dual-layered (layer switch at 31:30, at the start of chapter 5), Amaray keep case packaging, audio commentary with director Kinka Usher,
Spotlight on Location
featurette, 3 theatrical trailers (
Mystery Men
plus preview trailers for
Man on the Moon
Snow Falling on Cedars
), 11 deleted scenes, origins of the
Mystery Men
comic book characters,
Who Are Those Mystery Men
music video by KEL and the M.A.F.T. EMCEES (featuring Romaine Jones), production notes, cast & crew bios, DVD-ROM feature (link to Universal Home Video web site), song access (12 songs), film-themed menus, scene access (18 chapters), languages: English (DD 5.1) & French (DD 3.0), subtitles: English, Close Captioned
"We're not your classic heroes we're the other guys."
You've gotta love
Mystery Men
. It's tough not to dig a movie about a team of loser superheroes, who toil away day in and day out to save their fair city from evil, yet remain in total obscurity in the shadow of the local celebrity superhero, Captain Amazing. But unlike those who would follow in his footsteps, Captain Amazing (played by Greg Kinnear - I'm not kidding) is getting bored defending the citizens of Champion City. You see he's beaten all of the good bad guys. There's no more action left, and now he's in danger of losing all of his product endorsement deals (he advertises stuff on his uniform). So on the advice of his publicist, he arranges the release of his greatest nemesis, Casanova Frankenstein (played by none other than Geoffrey Rush). But his plan gets away from him, and he's captured by Casanova. When our working-class heroes become aware of this, they decide that it's up to them to save Amazing. Unfortunately, their plan also goes horribly awry, and soon they find themselves all that stands between Casanova and his nefarious goals.
So who are these Average Joe Defenders of Justice? We'll let me give you a rundown of these would-be heroes, and their "super" powers. There's Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller), who's power comes from his boundless rage. The Shoveler (William H. Macy) has a gift he shovels well. The Blue Raja (Hank Azaria) is the master of cutlery. The Bowler (Janeane Garofalo) throws a mean bowling ball (one with her late father's skull inside). The Spleen (Paul Reubens)... well, let's say if you pull his finger, you'll get a whiff of his wrath. The Invisible Boy (Kel Mitchell) can become invisible when no one is looking. And the Sphinx (Wes Studi) is the spiritual leader of the team, and the master of obscure wisdom. If you aren't interested in seeing
Mystery Men
by now, I don't know what would grab you.
This film is just packed with funny moments. When Mr. Furious tries to stave off his rage by frantically squeezing a stress ball, I was in stitches. The Shoveler defends Amazing's secret identity (a spoof on the Superman/Klark Kent lore) by saying, "Lance Hunt wears glasses Captain Amazing doesn't wear glasses!" The superhero audition scene is a classic. I crack up every time I see the Blue Raja jump out and fork Casanova's car in the team's first battle with the super-villain. And yes that is
director Michael Bay in a very brief cameo ("Dude can we bring the brewskis?").
All that is not to say that
Mystery Men
is perfect. For one thing, it's rather slow moving and overly long. And while I know that this film is a spoof of the superhero genre, the Amazing/Casanova dynamic doesn't quite work here. I think it would have been much more effective if the two had been a more realistic superhero/villain pair, rather than a caricature of one. That way, when it became up to our unlikely heroes to save the day, there would have been a more heightened sense of jeopardy. Still, with this cast and these characters, you've got to give
Mystery Men
an "A" for effort at least. I mean, just getting to watch Bill Macy twirling a shovel around is worth a few bucks alone.
The DVD itself is pretty nice. The film is presented in anamorphic widescreen, and it looks generally very good. The color is rich and accurate, and there's excellent contrast and black level detail. It isn't quite reference quality however. This is a dark film, with noticeable grain exhibited in the print, so detail is occasionally a little lacking. To compensate, there's a hair too much edge enhancement as well. But the video still looks darned good, these minor issues aside. The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio is also solid, creating a full-sounding soundstage. Dialogue is placed in the center channel almost exclusively, but it still sounds fairly natural. There are lots of fun directional effects (this is a superhero movie after all), and the bass is excellent. Audio is also provided in French 3.0 Dolby Surround.
This DVD also has a fairly decent bunch of extras. I'm actually surprised it doesn't say "Collector's Edition" on the front, because this disc has more bonus material than some of Universal's premium titles. There's an interesting, if a little boring, commentary track with director Kinka Usher (who has directed a ton of funny television commercials). Stick with it though, because there's some interesting tidbits of information conveyed. There's a great bunch of deleted scenes, including a very funny one were The Shoveler's kids make fun of him when he gets home from a hard day's superhero work ("Stronger than deodorant unable to leap over anything "). There's a 17-minute
Spotlight on Location
featurette on the making of the film, and a music video for
Who Are Those Mystery Men
by Kel Mitchell (who also plays The Invisible Boy in the film). There's also the usual cast & crew information and production notes, as well as a good text essay on the origins of these characters (who made their first appearance in the
Flaming Carrot
comic book). You also get the film's theatrical trailer and preview trailers for Universal's
Man on the Moon
Snow Falling on Cedars
. Finally, there's a DVD-ROM link to the Universal Home Video web site.
Mystery Men
is a funny and original movie. Sure, it isn't perfect. But it made me laugh more than a few times, and that's good enough for me to overlook its weak points. I hope Universal gets around to making a sequel to
Mystery Men
, because I think this could become one of the most interesting film franchises in a long time. The possibilities are endless, and with such great casting, you're gonna hit pay dirt sooner of later. In any case, this is a fun DVD that's well worth a spin. And it's a disc I'm glad to have in my collection.
Bill Hunt
Site designed for 800 x 600 resolution, using 16M colors and .gif 89a animation.
© 1997-2015 The Digital Bits, Inc., All Rights Reserved.


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A small variety of champagne cocktail recipes.
5 Ways to Concoct a Delicious Martini
Get ready for New Years Eve by popping a bottle of champagne and gather together some odd ingredients because we're concocting a small variety of champange cocktails - from the common Mimosa to the irregular Jubal Early Punch. Champagne, it's what's for breakfast.More
Every now and then you want to drink on the fancier side of life. We don't blame you. In fact, we want to join you (sometimes). So join us as we walk you through some of our favorite champagne cocktail recipes. Try one, try them all.
Place a sugar cube* in a chilled champagne flute, lash it with 2 or 3 dashes of bitters (Angostura or Peychaud's), fill the glass with brut champagne or other, cheaper, bubbly (peasant!), and squeeze a lemon twist on top.
Check out some alternatives to the champagne cocktail.
The Rules: A Man's Guide to Drinking


text:
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 6/10/2013 (1389 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
AUSTIN -- One had dreams of getting his wings and becoming a commercial airline pilot.
A second was in high school and helping his father sell car parts.
Tragically, both of their young lives ended at the side of the Trans-Canada Highway west of MacGregor after a pickup truck police believe was driven by an employee with the Office of the Fire Commissioner rear-ended their car as they were both eastbound on Saturday afternoon.
Charles Friesen, 17, formerly of Austin, but recently living in Winnipeg, was pronounced dead at the scene, while Daden Bruhm, 14, of Sidney, was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries, but died shortly after, RCMP Sgt. Line Karpish said.
Two others -- Jayver Krahn and Ryan Lloyd -- were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Krahn has been released, while the status of Lloyd was not known on Sunday.
What all four had in common was they all went to school -- or had graduated -- from MacGregor Collegiate Institute in MacGregor, a town within sight of the crash scene.
According to area residents, they had just attended a Youth for Christ event.
"He (Friesen) was so happy," recalled Lindsay Zenz, who went to school with him at the collegiate.
"He was at a Youth for Christ magic fair. He said he was really happy to spend the whole day making doughnuts with his nephew," Zenz said. "He was also supposed to go pick up his car on Tuesday. He said it's old and it's junky, but it's a car."
Pastor Colin Bell of the Austin Evangelical Fellowship, which Friesen's family attends, said, "It's a large loss for our community.
"It's not an easy time for our youth."
Bell said Friesen was "full of life. He loved a joke and he loved to be the life of the party -- without any alcohol. His mom was telling me he wanted to get his commercial pilot's licence."
Bell said the church was hosting a get-together for youth to come together and pray for Friesen.
"The (area) school and the youth group have been affected before with another young person dying two years ago and another young man still recovering from an ATV accident last year," said Bell.
Sidney resident Joseph Swan, who became friends with Bruhm's family when they moved there about five years ago, said, "He was a pretty good boy.
"He travelled a lot with his dad picking up old cars. They would take them apart and they were selling parts. I had him cut my grass sometimes. He was quite friendly," Swan said.
No one spoken to Sunday knows for sure why the four were heading east towards MacGregor and nobody had heard anything about what caused the collision.
RCMP said on Sunday they had no new information to release on the collision.
Pieces of the vehicles, as well as medical equipment, lay strewn in the ditch west of MacGregor on the south side of the highway between the road and the railway track.
There were deep tire tracks gouged into the ground and a few skid marks were on the highway.
RCMP did say alcohol is not considered a contributing factor, but "charges are being contemplated," Karpish said.
A spokesman for the Office of the Fire Commissioner said the 45-year-old employee from Elie was working at the time, but was not driving to a fire.
"This is a tragedy and we send our deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those involved," the spokesman said Sunday. "The RCMP are investigating and it would not be appropriate to make any further comment on the incident at this time."
Andy Dyck, his wife Jenny, and Brett Friesen -- no relation to Charles -- work with youth at the church in Austin and have many memories of Friesen.
Andy Dyck said Friesen made sure when he came to town from Winnipeg this weekend, he went to a youth event at the church on Friday.
"Before he graduated and left, he was always the first one here on youth nights and the last to leave. He was one of our core guys," Dyck said.
"He was home for the weekend and he said he wanted to see everyone," Jenny said.
Pine Creek School Division board chairwoman Loreley Fehr said, "We're praying for the families and the students and the staff."
Counsellors will be on hand at three of the schools Monday, including in MacGregor and the towns closest to the MacGregor Collegiate Institute.
Counsellors will also be on call for the other schools further away in the district, school division superintendent Brian Gouriluk said Sunday night.
"You never know what the connection will be and you want to make sure that if a child is feeling a loss, you have the supports in place," he said.
Gouriluk also delivered a formal statement over the phone from his home last night: "Pine Creek School Division extends its deepest condolences to the families and friends of the two fine young men who died tragically in a traffic accident. Both were part of the MacGregor Collegiate Institute family, one as a recent graduate and the other as a current student. As school resumes Monday, the school division will have additional personnel at school sites as the students come to terms with the loss of their friends."
-- with files from Alexandra Paul


text:
Stephane Richard will continue in his role as chief executive of France Telecom-Orange after winning a vote of confidence from the operator's board members on Monday.
Richard has been charged with fraud relating to his time at France's finance ministry five years ago.
Uncertainty over his future at France Telecom (Paris, France) had grown after France's government, which owns a 27% stake in the operator, said the board would need to consider his position in light of the alleged offences.
Nevertheless, Francois Hollande, the country's president, backed him during a television interview on Sunday night and said the state's three representatives on the board of 15 would vote in favor of his continuing to lead the company.
Other board members must evidently have also lent their support to the beleaguered chief executive.
Earlier, he was reported to have won over three of France Telecom's biggest trade unions, according to the Financial Times.
"The board has decided to reassert its full confidence in Stephane Richard and his ability to effectively meet the numerous challenges facing Orange with the same energy as ever in the best interests of the company, its employees, its customers and its shareholders," said France Telecom in a statement.
"In particular, the board considers that the legal measures affecting Stephane Richard do not impede his ability to fully and effectively lead Orange as its chairman and chief executive," it continued.
Even so, the board has appointed Bernard Dufau, an independent board member, "to follow the situation", indicating there is some nervousness about the charges against Richard and the potential impact on the company.
The case against Richard relates to an arbitration dispute in 2008, when Bernard Tapie, a businessman and supporter of former president Nicolas Sarkozy, received a €400 million ($533 million) payout following a dispute with the French state.


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The American Queen Returns Sunday! [Video]
Take a trip back into the past this Sunday as for six hours the American Queen docks in Owensboro. She hasn't been here for a long time, mainly because our Riverfront wasn't ready. But, also because there had been a change in ownership and she was shut down over three years. Sunday, the ship will be occupied by travelers enjoying "Music of the 50's" cruise from Louisville to St. Louis. The passengers will be embarking to see what Owensboro has to offer: the Bluegrass Museum, our new Smothers Park, Owensboro Museum of Fine Art and the Western Kentucky Botanical Gardens.
Ships have been docking in Owensboro since 1811. Ahh, that was a good year. As many as seven per hour used to pass by our waterfront.
You can view several videos on You Tube of the American Queen, but this one from Henderson is recent.
So, let's have a blast from the past and head down to the Riverfront Sunday and see a real "American Queen".


text:
Alex Chilton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|This article does not have any sources. (May 2014)
Alex Chilton (December 28, 1950 – March 17, 2010) was an American songwriter, producer, singer and guitarist. He was lead singer of the Box Tops and Big Star. He was most successful with the Box Tops.
Chilton was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He died from a heart attack in New Orleans.


text:
By Mike Strasser, West Point Public AffairsNovember 10, 2011
WEST POINT, N.Y. (Nov. 10, 2011) -- The 63rd Student Conference on United States Affairs concluded Nov. 5 when more than 200 undergraduates and cadets from 90 schools presented their findings on the global challenges facing the nation today.
"Since 1949, SCUSA has been a forum for civilian and military undergraduate students to discuss U.S. foreign policy," Class of 2012 Cadet Josh Miller, the SCUSA cadet commander, said.
The theme was "Thinking Beyond Boundaries: Contemporary Challenges to U.S. Foreign Policy."
During the conference, delegates discussed assigned issues in small group forums--facilitated by a cadet delegate and a senior mentor--and gained insight from experts during panel discussions.
Dr. Rajiv Shah, U.S. Agency for International Development administrator, provided the keynote address. Not only was Shah the first representative of USAID to speak at SCUSA, but he was once a delegate; he attended in 1994 as a representative of the University of Michigan.
Policy recommendations were presented in short skits that combined creativity with astute observations on 14 topics such as "American Society and its Military" and "Governing Cyberspace."
The best policy papers will be published in the academy's Undergraduate Journal of Social Sciences.
"Those papers will be seen by policy makers throughout U.S. and foreign administrations," Miller said.
Class of 2013 Cadet Robert Delaney, the SCUSA operations officer, first served as the tech cadet--or S6--two years ago before experiencing the conference from within last year.
Having served as the cadet leader--or CPOC--for the table discussion, he still communicates with those same colleagues.
That lasting impact of SCUSA is not a new revelation, Delaney said, and he was impressed to learn, even decades later, people still acquaint themselves with others having "attended that policy conference at West Point."
There's a challenge that every cadet embraces from being an ambassador of West Point. Delaney was proud to provide that USMA experience to his table.
"It was important to me that everyone had a vested interest in the paper we were to present and that everyone's voice was heard," Delaney said. "The challenge is integrating a group of diverse people and a lot of that happens the first two days as people are getting to know each other."
Attendees also experience cadet life at West Point during SCUSA. This includes eating meals at the Cadet Mess and overnights in the barracks. A military display station was set up one day outside Jefferson Hall featuring the weapons, transport and equipment familiar to Soldiers but foreign to most young collegians.
Class of 2014 Cadet Ahmad Nasir joined several cadets on the Weapons Display Staff, which allowed attendees to see and hold an assortment of weapons and equipment. As a plebe, Nasir attended as a delegate and hopes for another opportunity to participate in the conference.
He still communicates with fellow delegates from a year ago and even posted them a kickoff announcement for SCUSA on Facebook.
"Another goal of SCUSA is to strengthen civil-military relations. For many of these delegates this is the first time in their lives where they'll have any contact with the military," Miller said.
At the conclusion of the conference, Saim Saeed from Karachi, Pakistan, was named the honor delegate. Forty-four countries were represented in this year's conference, to include the United Kingdom, Colombia, Russia and Zimbabwe. Saeed was presented with the coveted SCUSA patch.
"He was a natural leader at his table who many of his peers deferred to and treated as an expert among (them)," Miller said. "He was very forthcoming about information and was just an overall asset to his group."


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I build data-intensive systems that are more scalable, more robust, and more predictable. I draw from advanced statistical models to deliver practical database solutions to real-world problems. In particular, I adapt concepts and tools from applied statistics, optimization theory, and machine learning.
Barzan Mozafari is a Morris Wellman Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he leads a research group designing the next generation of scalable databases using advanced statistical models. Prior to that, he was a Postdoctoral Associate at MIT. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from UCLA in 2011. His research career has led to many successful open-source projects, including CliffGuard (the first robust framework for database tuning), DBSeer (the first automated database diagnosis tool), and BlinkDB (the first massively parallel approximate query engine). He has won the National Science Foundation CAREER award, as well as several best paper awards in ACM SIGMOD and EuroSys. He is also a co-founder of DBSeer and a strategic advisor to SnappyData, a company that commercializes the ideas introduced by BlinkDB.
exciting news
SnappyData v0.1 open sourced and available for Download! SnappyData is the commercialization of our approximate query processing techniques, providing an integrated framework for interactive analytics, transactions and stream processing. Check out our release!
$3.46M to combine supercomputer simulations with big data: NSF and University of Michigan have jointly sponsored our ConFlux project: a massively parallel system for solving open problems in computational physics using large-scale machine learning!
CAREER Award: Designing a Predictable Database - An Overlooked Virtue Database research has mostly focused on improving the raw performance of database systems, while neglecting the predictability of their performance. NSF has funded us to rethink this traditional architecture, and build a new class of databases that guarantee predictability.
Vehicle-aware data management for autonomous cars Testing autonomous vehicles is an extremely involved task, as an enormous amount of data is constantly collected and processed by thousands of sensors. NSF has funded us to design a smart black-box for cars that can use effective data collection strategies for maximizing the likelihood of finding various types of faults!
Big Data Summer Institute in Bio-statistics Funded by National Institutes of Health, we have launched our Big Data Summer Institute, where you can learn about Big Data, statistics and bio-informatics while getting paid! All details and how to apply, can be found here (do NOT email me about this)!
SIGMOD's Best Demo Award: Our ABS system won this year's best demo award at SIGMOD! We also had a number of papers on Approximate Query Processing at this year's SIGMOD (2014).
Openings in My Research Group: I am looking for strong PhD students and postdocs! See the details here.
Best Paper Award: Our BlinkDB paper won EuroSys 2013's Best Paper Award!
Best Paper Award: Our paper won SIGMOD 2012's Best Paper Award!
selected projects
Workload intelligence and automatic performance diagnosis for multi-tenant databases and database-as-a-service.
Video: Watch a live demo
Software: DBSeer for MySQL & PostgreSQL
Papers: CIDR'13, SIGMOD'13, PVLDB'15 (demo)
Press: Wall Street Journal (CIO), MIT News, The Register, R&D Magazine, ...
Delivering sub-second latency when querying terabytes and petabytes of data.
Software: BlinkDB (for Hive/Shark)
Papers: PVLDB'12, EuroSys'13 (best paper award), SIGMOD'14 (1), SIGMOD'14 (2), SIGMOD'14 (demo), CIDR'15
Press: O'REILLY Strata, Telruptive, Innovation @ HP Labs
Crowd-sourcing Big Data
Making crowd-sourcing scale up to tens of millions of tasks.
Download: Datasets
Papers: Technical report, PVLDB'15
Morris Wellman Assistant Professor
Computer Science and Engineering
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
Database Group
Computer Science and Engineering
4769 Beyster Building
2260 Hayward St.
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2121
Phone: (734) 763-3669
Email: email@example.com
Office hours: by appointment only
Curriculum vitae · all publications
Archived faculty app: research, teaching
I have several open positions (undergrads, grads, and postdocs)
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|Nov 22
|University of Washington
|May 30
|Teradata (San Diego)
|May 31
|June 23-26
|Jan 4-7
Fall 2015
EECS 584: Advanced Database Management Systems
Winter 2015
EECS 484: Database Management Systems
Fall 2014
EECS 584: Advanced Database Management Systems
Winter 2014
EECS 684: Current Topics in Databases
Our research is made possible through the generosity of the University of Michigan.
* This website's template is borrowed from Michael Bernstein and Jeffrey Heer.


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Acting as a soulful storyteller, Rachel Lynn Sebastian brings a dramatic vibrancy to the stage. Her lyrics are soaked with passion, irony and humility and only her unforgettable voice and presence can facilitate the power of her message.
Sebastian began her musical journey in the old town school of folk music: the campfire sing-a-long. Her childhood was immersed in the music of Anne Murray, Amy Grant, Neil Diamond and the Mamas and the Papas. Then, as a jazz pianist and vocalist in her late teens, and as a member of the University of Oregon's elite GOSPEL SINGERS group, she gained an additional edge in shaping the essence of her music.
Music stardom, however, was not the only stage after which she sought; She obtained a degree in theatre at the University and studied multiple forms of dance including Hip-Hop, Modern and Latin. To see Sebastian perform, then, is to be captivated. She owns the mic like a cool cat and enchants her listeners, transporting them to a place where honesty, passion, drama and dance collectively reside.
Rachel Lynn Sebastian is proclaimed "Adele's competition" by Hollywood Life T.V.. She has toured worldwide including major stays in London, Seoul, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Macau and Saigon. ?? In 2013 Rachel completed both a 29-state tour in the U.S.A. as well as a 2-month tour in Europe promoting her sophomore album, "Raven Heart." Her first album New Day was released in 2006 on her own label Rolling Beat Records. Singles from the album reached number 4 on International charts and are still being played on internet and public radio in the U.S. and UK.??
In 2013 Sebastian was awarded a spot to play on the VANS WARPED TOUR in Portland, Oregon. She also was the overall winner of the first season of Jacob's Eye Entertainment's talent competition, "Up and Comin." ??
Sebastian has been ranked #1 on Reverbnation for the past year and was the featured artist at MGM Grand in Macau, China with Soul Republic, Oct 2013 - July 2014. She most recently returned to Los Angeles to begin working on her third full-length album and prepare for 2015's exciting festival season!
broadjam.com © 2017


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Timbrel vaulting may very well be a lost art, but it still holds a magical appeal for some. Cuban ballet star Carlos Acosta, for one, finds timbrel vaulting so appealing that he's moving back to Cuba to restore Fidel Castro's unfinished dance school, which was built using the Spanish construction technique.
It's been 14 years since Acosta lived in Cuba, World Architecture News reports, and now he's ready to head back to his homeland and start work on the dance school restoration. To complete this, Acosta commissioned architect Lord Norman Foster, Hon. FAIA, and his firm Foster + Partners even though, as Lloyd Alter points out in TreeHuggerweaetxdyvaydzcwq, the original architect Vittorio Garatti is still alive and well.
Timbrel vaulting, or Catalan vaulting, combines tiles, mortar, and a little bit of magic. Low-tech Magazine describes the technique this way:
The timbrel vault does not rely on gravity but on the adhesion of several layers of overlapping tiles which are woven together with fast-setting mortar. If just one layer of thin tiles was used, the structure would collapse, but adding two or three layers makes the resulting laminated shell almost as strong as reinforced concrete.
Acosta's reasoning for moving back to Cuba has less to do with the beautiful aesthetics of the incomplete Modernist dance school than it does with Cuba's economic upswing, according to World Architecture News. But surely it can't hurt that there exists such a whimsical and beautiful building just begging to be completed.


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Workforce Management
Most federal employees find their work to be motivating, a new survey finds, but there's ample room for improvement. (Stock image)
The good news? Most federal employees find their jobs to be motivating. The better news? Agency managers have some ways to improve employee satisfaction without spending any more money, according to a new study.
The Merit Systems Protection Board's report, "Federal Employee Engagement: The Motivating Potential of Job Characteristics and Rewards," examines motivation levels in the federal workforce and outlines what agencies can do to bring up employee engagement and performance.
The report found most employees say they are motivated in their jobs, and traits such as skill variety, autonomy and feedback are key to high engagement levels. However, many employees reported their job lacked one or more features needed to a high level of motivation; almost 80 percent said they did not have a highly favorable view of their job characteristics.
"This finding suggests that although at a general level federal employees feel motivated in their work, job characteristics are an area where potential improvements in motivation can be made," according to the report. Most feds value nonmonetary rewards, such as serving the public and having job security, over compensation and bonuses. Slightly more than 95 percent cited the personal satisfaction they experience in their job as the most important reward to continue their employment in their agency.
"The importance of nonmonetary rewards to federal employees is encouraging in light of the budget and resource constraints that many federal agencies currently face," the report authors wrote.
Despite valuing the nonmonetary rewards they receive, few feds see a clear connection between their work efforts and outcomes. Only 23 percent reported having a high Motivation Force Score – a number that reflects the motivational quality of an employee's rewards and perceived connections between effort, performance and rewards. The practical implication of that is that employees who scored high were more likely to receive a high performance rating than those with a low score.
The report stresses better job design -- structuring jobs to maximize desirable characteristics--to encourage an efficient workforce. Such traits include having a substantial impact through work, receiving feedback and exercising autonomy in scheduling and performing work. Another way to increase employee engagement and motivation is to offer the workforce rewards that it values most.
Federal agencies need to ensure employees see results of their efforts and receive positive reinforcement for achieving goals and results, Susan Tsui Grundmann, MSPB chairman, said in a Jan. 7 statement.
"To ensure that recognition efforts are effective and use scarce resources wisely, federal agencies and managers need to learn what rewards employees value most and design their programs accordingly," she said.
Employee engagement has been linked to higher productivity and increased agency outcomes. A report submitted to Congress in 2008 found that engagement levels were undesirably low at agencies: A third of federal employees were engaged, less than half were somewhat engaged, and 17.5 percent were disengaged.
MSPB found that NASA has the highest number (76.5 percent) of employees who reported feeling highly motivated. The lowest levels of motivation were reported by employees at the Housing and Urban Development Department, where just 61.4 percent said they were highly motivated.
The report is based on data from the 2010 Merit Principles Survey, which MSPB periodically conducts to evaluate the health of federal merit systems. The survey was distributed to nearly 72,000 full-time, permanent, federal employees, of which 42,020 responded.
About the Author
Camille Tuutti is a former FCW staff writer who covered federal oversight and the workforce.
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Employee productivity in the Social Security Administration's teleworking pilot program varied significantly by office and job function.
Legislative data is public and online, but transparency advocates are looking to make more-granular aspects of the lawmaking process easier to track and understand.
Dozens of agencies are at least dabbling in artificial intelligence, but big concerns remain about transparency and the impact on the human workforce.
Kevin Scheid, a 32-year veteran of the DOD and OMB, takes over NATO's Communications and Information Agency as investigations continue into who launched the Petya attack and what to do about it.
The House and Senate have completed their draft 2018 defense bills that could result in significant changes for acquisition and IT management in the Pentagon.
The sudden departures of senior GSA acquisition leaders were spurred by an increasingly bitter internal battle, according to a whistleblower investigation.
Money's not the only thing but it sure beats what's second!
These "studies" are always constructed so as to provide the leadership with the talking points they want. They want to say that pay is not a motivating factor so they can ignore the fact that pay freezes are a seriously demotivating factor. Anybody who actually has to work for a living knows that compensation is for most people the #1 motivator. Even for those with other #1 motivators, compensation is still going to be in the top 3. You have to be pretty damned well off (like most of our millionaire politicians) before pay ceases to be a major motivator.
Motivated, every morning it takes >15 minutes to get my PC to load, (>20 if email is included). Heaven forbid if there's a patch. PS: I'm not here for love--just stop paying me and see what happens!
Pay the license fees for the software I use every day so we can get upgrades and don't lose technical support and maybe I'll be more motivated... I've given up on having the leaky roof fixed.
This is a combination of a self-serving spin on answers and questions written to prevent meaningful responses that would have shown that money IS important, and not being embarrassed to let oneself be identified as a Fed IS important. Right now I see a dead end career and continued efforts to steer conversations away from the identity of my employer. Maybe it's just me, though. The new crop might really be happy with the indefinite prospect of a "salary-as-political-hostage" pay model, continued villainization by congress, pats on their heads with a "job well done" and bringing their own devices.
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8251 Greensboro Drive Suite 510, McLean, VA 22102 703-876-5100


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'I'm hearing the cap hit will cost the Sabres $2,812,500. That puts the Sabres cap this season at $64,150,027 for 23 players which is $6,049,973 under this year's cap as it stands right now. That could come down depending on the new collective bargaining agreement when it's finally agreed to.'
Sabres ink Ennis
September 16, 2012 Submitted by
Via: WGR-AM


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Kenyon Wallace
Toronto Star
Despite widespread calls for Green party leader Elizabeth May's inclusion in the televised leaders' debates, it appears this was one battle she was not going to win — at least during this election.
Federal Judge Marc Nadon declined Tuesday to hear the party's case for May's inclusion in next week's debates, meaning the decision to exclude her by the broadcast consortium stands.
"Obviously we're disappointed with the court's decision to not even hear the case on its merits," said Green party spokesperson Camille Labchuk. "Democracy has been denied. But this is only one court. There is also the court of public opinion, which has clearly indicated that people want to see Elizabeth May in the debates.
"In our opinion, the airwaves belong to the public," she added.


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"Game changer" is a term you hear often when people talk about how technology has changed their industry.
I Love Rewards has announced the availability of SalesCentive&x2014;a non-cash incentive solution intended to motivate sales teams to accurately log and perform the prospecting activities that fill their sales funnel&x2014;on the salesforce.com AppExchange. The solution rewards salespeople with points-based incentives, which can be redeemed for brand-name products from an industry online catalog. Reward redemption is a hands-off process for sales managers.


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Pimsleur Chinese (Mandarin) Quick & Simple Course - Level 1 Lessons 1-8 CD
Learn to Speak and Understand Mandarin Chinese with Pimsleur Language Programs
- Format: CD
- Lessons: 8
- Availability: In Stock: Usually ships within 1 business day
List Price: $19.95
Free Audio Lesson
Learn a new language while commuting, while cleaning the house, or working out. Like millions before you, discover the power of the scientifically sequenced and portable Pimsleur Method.
Includes Lessons 1-8 from the Level 1 program on 4 CDs (4 hrs).
The Pimsleur® Method: the easiest, fastest way to learn a new language. Completely portable, easily downloadable, and lots of fun. You'll be speaking and understanding in no time flat!
This course includes Lessons 1-8 from the Chinese (Mandarin) Level 1 program - 4 hours of audio-only effective language learning with real-life spoken practice sessions. Each lesson provides 30 minutes of spoken language practice, with an introductory conversation, and new vocabulary and structures. Detailed instructions enable you to understand and participate in the conversation. Practice for vocabulary introduced in previous lessons is included in each lesson. The emphasis is on pronunciation and comprehension, and on learning to speak Mandarin.
The Mandarin Chinese Language
Over one billion people speak Chinese. The two most common dialects are Mandarin and Cantonese. They are not mutually intelligible. Mandarin is the official language in Mainland China, Taiwan, and Singapore. The Mandarin dialect is used in most Chinese schools, and in most TV programs, movies, and radio stations throughout the country, even in Guangzhou (formerly Canton), where people speak Cantonese in their daily lives. Mandarin is one of the six official languages of the United Nations
Tech Talk
- CDs are formatted for playing in all CD players, including car players, and users can copy files for use in iTunes or Windows Media Player.
Need Help?
Call us with questions
(800) 831-5497
Reviews Summary
Reviewed by 1 customer
- Easy to use
- Fun
- It Works
- Perfects Accent
- Portable
- Expensive
Best Uses
- Business/Work
- Travel
Comments about Pimsleur Chinese (Mandarin) Quick & Simple Course - Level 1 Lessons 1-8 CD:
This program is stellar. I've used Rosetta Stone for German, and this is by far much quicker and much more comprehensive. Dr. Pimsleur deserves all of our commendations for this somewhat obvious, yet not explored, version.HOWEVER!!! I would suggest buying unit 1 (lessons 1-30) instead of this, as these are the same lessons, and my [$] could have bought half a stock in Toyota.


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Why Use Mooreliving
The Mooreliving systems and products are world leading and unique in the production of precast, insulated concrete panel homes and units. Moore living has been perfecting all aspects of production through to installation over the last 20 years hence minimising your risk. Unlike traditional building methods, the Mooreliving systems have several key advantages.
Proven Technology
All the Mooreliving systems are covered by world wide Patents and with over 5000 homes constructed, you know that these methodologies are well tested. All Mooreliving products under go rigorous testing to ensure that they meet and exceed existing industry standards.
Unique production method
Due to the demand for our technology, these systems have been tested & adapted to operate under differing requirements. Such as allowing for production in different climates (Heated floor moulds & different concrete additives for cold climates). Our molds can also be re-used after only one day which greatly increase our production, with our latest mold system, we have increased this to several times a day. It also features a unique design that allows for the removal of panels allowing vertical drying & a stronger product.
By using precast concrete we gain efficiencies that facilitate quality & cost control while maintaining high production volumes under all weather conditions. Our systems allow for greater profitabilty than traditional systems because more house can be produced with few staff.
Safe from the Elements
All Mooreliving systems have under gone testing against environmental forces. It provides protection from hurricane force winds upto 288kph (179mph) and earthquake resistant upto category 5.
Of all construction materials, concrete is one of the most resistant to heat and fire, as it doesnt break down till exposed to thousands of degrees Fahrenheit (far more than is present in the typical house fire). It is proven more resistant to allowing fire to pass from one side of the wall to the other. This is especially of interest in high density urban areas and in areas with bush fires are present.
Unlike wood structures, Mooreliving homes are impervious to vermin infestation due to the lack of wall cavaties and their inability to burrow through concrete. Termintes are also no problem because Mooreliving homes can be created with using any form of wood.
This provides a greater level of energy efficency then standard buildings and offers substantial saving on the cost of heating (44% less) or air conditioning (32% less). It also offers a sound rating of STC50+ depending on the requirements.
Homes created using a Mooreliving system can take any shape and be any size. The internal layout is completely flexible due to the fact that there are no load bearing internal walls, we can even show you how to use your existing plans to save on the cost of redesign.
Rapid Construction
The Mooreliving systems offer a very rapid construction system, which offers huge savings in the overall construction project. Erection can go from floor slab to roof height in as little as 1- 2 days, thus providing protection to workers that minimizes non productive inclement weather down time. It also over comes the restrictions by storages of bricks & bricklayers.


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Why Opera? : Comments
January 7, 2008
Opera is certainly fast at rendering and has some great under the hood features but it's the UI that holds it back. At least on the Mac.
One really annoying thing is the placement of the toolbars, I've never understood the logic of putting the tab bar above the address bar, it's different from every other mac browser and there's no obvious way to change the order.
Add to that the fact that the default toolbar/button look and feel is so dated. The toolbars just don't seem to sit well together, it's something to do with the borders/edges of each one…
It doesn't need to be 'mac native' to do that, as a web developer who often has several browsers open I prefer them to look distinctive.
I've tried to use Opera in the past, I just tried again, tried to download a different 'toolbar setup' which didn't work… either in 9.25 or in the 9.5 beta. Customization is all well and dandy, but the default should look good and work well out of the box.
Opera need to polish up their browser UI to be as slick as their web site!
Hi Adrian,
Well, at least you think our web site is slick ;-)
I'm also a Mac user, and one of the first things I did when joining Opera was push for improvements to the Mac UI. You must agree that the UI has come on a lot between 9.23 and 9.5. We have done a lot more work too, since the 9.5b skin was finalized, and I think you'll be impressed at the next release (can't say much more than that right now.)
Thanks for your feedback anyway – it's always helpful to hear what others think. If anyone has any more feedback they'd like to share or questions they'd like to ask, feel free to e-mail me at cmills [at] opera [dot] com.
Chris Mills
Hi Adrian,
As Chris said, we are always looking to improve our interface. I don't think it is much of a secret that Opera 10 will have a somewhat revised UI.
For the toolbar positions, it happens to be something I agree with, although quite a few of our users like it the way it is. There are some usability reasons why it was placed the way it is. We could certainly make it easier to swap the toolbar and tab bar in preferences though.
For the icons, I quite like these icons. Another user has cusomised it here to put the tab bar where you like it, but he has also added a lot of mail icons as he uses M2. These can be removed of course.
For me, Opera needs to fix two things to be really compelling (still missing the extensions, but well…): 1. System integration. I like to apply one theme for my whole OS and then have all applications themed that way. I consider Opera ugly, too… OK, Firefox doesn't integrate that well on half of most open source OSes, but very well on the other half, and also in Windows (and I suppose Mac too?). 2. Open source. Sorry, but I'm a really passionate open source follower, and I think Opera'd also gain a much larger following by becoming open source. I think it's unlikely to happen, but then again – why not?
As for the criticism on Firefox: I agree that it can be a memory hog on some systems (never had it myself, but if you read all those stories…)
However, it definitely has not experienced many security issues as a result of their open codebase. I'd definitely like some solid sources for that.
/me subscribes to the RSS feed of the comments on this article (not on Opera, sorry ;-)
I've been using Opera since version 4. Its the best browser out there. But the feature that I most love and most people don't notice until I tell them about it is Mouse Gestures. Seriously, I've managed to get Firefox users away from their extensions after they browse around their pages using MGs.
If I had to complain about Opera it'd be:
- heavy profile pages like MySpace, can slow down Opera to a crawl.
- the built-in Bittorrent client is nice, but it gives you very very little information (I still use uTorrent)
- add a "y _______" function to do quick searches on youtube.
-my roomate told me Opera crashes on Vista when he opens his ~80 bookmarks all at once (I know its overkill) but he says Firefox doesn't crash, its his only complaint.
I can't think of anything else at the moment. But keep up the good work! Can't wait to see what you add in the next update.
I feel you have missed the point about security. Opera, AFAIK, is just the most secure graphical browser available. However, I would like to have automated updates much the way that Firefox does.
I think you could have emphasized Opera Link more. Something that allows you to share your bookmarks and preferences on a low spec mobile and a computer is beyond cool.
I would like to see greater support for Google services and also greater advertisement for the JS scripts that allow us to use these sites.
As someone who's recently switched from Firefox to Opera, I can say that Opera 9 (or even better, 9.5) is definitely the most usable release of the browser ever.
I've been using Opera for weeks now, and there's no going to Firefox so far!
Wow, I never realised Opera link worked for the mobile versions as well – thats awesome.
I am a very passionate Opera user, and the mouse gestures are really the killer feature. However, I have temporarily moved to Safari (mac) until the Mac ui and a few other things are sorted out.
Reasons I use Safari:
1. Starts way faster (I guess cause webkit is already loaded by the OS?)
2. It feel snappier
3. Integrates with the OS far better (spellcheck, keyboard shortcuts, UI)
4. The 'Zoom' button works well, as Safari can figure out the optimum width of a webpage and resizes the window to fit. Opera doesn't really do this.
5. I cant stand the Opera icon. Centre it and get rid of the shadow already!
6. The Safari debug tools are truly awesome (especially the element inspector)
Reasons why I miss Opera:
1. Mouse Gestures! (Apple+ALT+SHIFT+Arrow isn't exactly easy to pull off in Safari :) )
2. Speed dial
3. Bookmarks sidebar
4. History search works far better in opera imho (the best of any browser by far)
I cant wait for v10 though, and I'm sure it will pretty much address all of the above issues, so I'll be swinging back into the Opera camp in the near future. I can't wait :)
Icab.de was the first to have the search box customized search function so far as I know, way ahead of Opera. Icab has been very slow to upgrade, in part because they're very legacy oriented and just a couple of people working on it.
Opera beats out Firefox for me because while it doesn't have as many useful plugins, it's not such a memory hog. The application fails, rather than commondeering the entire desktop causing all the other applications to freeze, requiring a hard restart.
It is the most SECURE, fastest browser in the World. Please, don't use it! I need the work fixing the infestations/bugs on your machine. Use Opera and ccleaner and you have just about bullet proofed your computer.
Thanks David, the 'Entr'adcte 2.0' toolbar setup and skin definitely help :)
Will probably make an effort to use Opera more now elements in the toolbars are where I expect them to be, even if they still don't look too slick.
Looking forward to seeing the final 9.5 UI.
"although quite a few of our users like it the way it is"
I don't doubt that, given how long it's been this way – the cynic in me says it probably helps to keep them using Opera too ;)
For goodness sake Opera
Even IE and firefox have them, why are we still in the dark ages?
Sure Opera has a 'spellcheker' but you almost need to use edlin to instal it and it DOESN'T WORK.
The internet could use more articles like this. IE enjoys popularity because it's integrated into Windows (force fed even if you don't want it), Firefox because it's trendy (huzzah for ignorance that better alternatives exist).
So it's endlessly frustrating to encounter websites that continue to flat out deny access to any browser except those two. Opera's more compatible with web standards, it's been around for over a decade, it does everything better than the competition and was doing so before them. There's no reason not to support it.
I suspect that much of this could be the stigma from the old banner ad when they had a pro and basic package. It's a shame that for everything that was superior about the browser, they didn't have the foresight back then to implement the business model they currently employ.
I hope the presence of Opera on mobiles and console platforms will help increase the presence of the desktop as well.
I've been using Opera for… quite a while. I can't remember when I started, but the free version still had advertisements back then. Primarily, I use it for the sessions to read webcomics and blogs, and the tabbed browsing. The only thing I can think of right now that I'd like for Opera is better compatibility, which the developers don't entirely have influence over. As examples…
When I'm surfing my RSS feeds on Bloglines, the inline images sometimes render in a way that puts the text at the edge of the page. Some of it renders out of sight, and I'm not getting the ability to scroll sideways sometimes. Other times, I do. My knowledge of web coding isn't sufficient to judge if this is on Bloglines or on Opera, but it's one thing I've noticed as a problem.
The other I'm almost certain that Opera can't influence. There was a web advertisement for PSP that was running on Penny Arcade, 8-Bit Theater, and other comic sites. And as soon as that tab came up in my morning browsing, Opera would immediately crash. I'm guessing that has something to do with the advertisement itself.
The good news is that Opera has a feature where you can right-click on the page and select "Blocked Content" and it immediately grays out all the text to single out images and flash applets. Click the advertisement or image and it does a very passable job of guessing how to block that content provider's materials. Shift-click and it simply blocks that exact item. It's a selective AdBlock without downloading any sort of add-on.
I love Opera and have no intent to switch away, but it just plain has random quirks that you have to learn to accept to enjoy it. It still provides a great experience over all, regardless.
I love Opera. The notes feature sold me. Other browsers require a plug-in for a notes-like feature. I have 2 things on my wish list:
1. An option to always open a link in a background tab when I left-click. I hate having my current page taken over and I hate having to right-click and choosing Open in background tab.
2. The ability for Opera to mask itself as a different browser automatically.
3. Support for Moonlight
Opera is no doubt the fastest browser out there and everything that is said about it in this article is 100% correct, except for one thing, customization, Opera is still nowhere near as customizable or productive as Firefox, and it is doubtful that Opera ever will be. Sure Opera has a few extensions, but most of them are useless and a lot are not even integrated into the Browser UI. Why would I want a clock widget that floats seperately? With firefox the statusbar clock is integrated into the UI and even has the day and date as well as time.
A lot more work needs to be done with Opera on the extension side if it is ever going to grow as fast as Firefox, Firefox3 no longer has the memory issues that previous versions had and is much more stable. Opera has a lot of work to do if it is ever going to grow as fast as firefox has.
Hey jbrown, you could middle-click links for them to open in a background tab.
"In addition to widgets, we also have the ability to apply user-defined JavaScript to sites, to fix issues with those sites,"
Sadly, this technology was, like many Opera inventions, released in version .9 and NEVER upgraded since. While useless widgets got whole attentions.
I've read somewhere in the forums reasoning behind this, with all that bable about priorities etc. But if it was so low priority, why you advertise it to users? In current state it is for the most hardcore geeks, while it is at the same time very close to being user friendly. Sadly, for Opera, it is still too far.
This is main point, besides massive incompatibilies with websites, that turn me off from Opera. Designing great stuff (userJs, userCSS, and few more) just to let them rust, while all others copy them and ENVOLVE them. And then you claim, that you've invented it. Sorry, it doesn't matter.
Cookie manager is another example – it was a revolutionary design in 2003 or 4, it isn't now. Why I can't multiselect many cookies at once and delete them? Many, really, many Opera functionalities are like that – introduced years ago (when they were trully great) and left to rust and dust.
As for the most customisable browser – when I should expect to see an option to make my tabs behave like FF ones? ie. close and move to the right (with middle click on a tab). When I should expect to see ability to cusomise middle click in the first place? Opera has lots of cusomisable areas, but sadly misses the ones, that people are used to customise from other applications.
"IE enjoys popularity because it's integrated into Windows (force fed even if you don't want it), Firefox because it's trendy (huzzah for ignorance that better alternatives exist)."
Rubbish, people don't use firefox because it's trendy, it's because it has great plugins like Firebug and the web developer toolbar.
It makes web development 10 times easier.
Opera's widgets are for the most part useless.
I have been using Opera nearly for five years. Responsiveness, low memory foot-print and reliability had really made me confortable with Opera during the past five years. Shortly, I liked it.
And the current issues related to Opera for me are: – Opera do not work together well with Google technologies (Google way of using Ajax seems to be the responsible). Gmail blocks sometimes and Google notebook do not officially support Opera still.) – Some MS technology dependent web sites do not show up clearly in Opera. This is not the fault of Opera, but this issue obliges me to use IE.
My current Opera version is 9.25.
Good work.
"Icab.de was the first to have the search box customized search function"
Nope, I think it was actually Opera.
You can make tabs behave like IE actually. You can change the mouse gesture, the keyboard shortcut, create a custom button, etc. I think you can find some stuff at operawiki.info about this.
I said explicitly about changing middle-clicking on tab to behave like firefox (or most tab-based apps).
Yes, I know about buttons and gestures, but
a) how many buttons you can put onto your browser and not have them bloat it?
b) there are only few easy to do mouse gestures, and I really don't like the notion to use one of them up on something that should be customisable in the first place
c) keyboard shortcuts.. I try to avoid using keyboard, and somehow I can avoid it in most browsers, except Opera (that ruins VERY good keyboard-free experience, that Opera delivers, but well, I got used to that paradox)
I'm sure there's a way to customize the middle mouse button as well. If not, there are gestures, shortcuts, buttons (you just have to add one to change the closing order of tabs), etc. Lots of ways to change the way you close tabs.
Opera's mouse gestures are customizable, which means you can make them whatever you want. If you're confused by the defaults, then change them. I don't know any other browser lets you do that!
Opera does have different middle-click options (Tools -> Preferences -> Advaced -> Shortcuts). However, there are no such options in Firefox at all. I like how Opera re-focuses the tab to the previous active tab instad of just moving right one tab.
Almost anything in Opera can be customized. It gives more control over its behaviors than any other browser that I've seen and most of it can be done directly in the browser.
Also, Opera doesn't have "massive incompatibilies" as you say. It handles the majority of the web just as well, if not better, than any other browser. I don't know that site you visit, but I'm sure that's where the problems lie.
However, I agree that some features that have been neglected and could use improvement and hopefully they will get updated soon. I also hope they add automatic updates and extensions.
Overall, I think Opera is a very powerful browser, if you bother to learn how to use it.
Just a friendly reminder to our readers. Profanity isn't all that cool in comments. It is also against our commenting policy. Please keep that in mind. We'll remove any profane posts, in order to keep discussions civil and professional.
I've been using both Opera and Firefox for about the same amount of time (3+ years). I started off using Opera mainly as a mail program. I've started using it more for web browsing lately but I still prefer Firefox. Having said that, I've never bothered to check out mouse gestures so will do so now.
Just tried mouse gestures out and turns out I'd already been using some of them without even knowing it. While they're cool I don't think they're that great – just a different sort of keyboard shortcut type thing.
"Opera's mouse gestures are customizable, which means you can make them whatever you want."
I know, but there are only a couple of convenient moves you can make, that are more usefull than selecting the same action from context menu or whatever. action like left-up-right-down-left-up-down isn't that usefull if you think about it a little longer :)
"Opera does have different middle-click options" these are for clicking on links, Firefox configures it as 'tab behaviour'. Remember, that FF let's you install extensions, and one of these (tab mix plus, or similar) gives you plently of options. It isn't Firefox 'fault', that they've moved some functionality out of the core program into extensions, you can still add it. In opera, you cannot do it. You can mimic it, but substitutes not always have the same value as originals.
"Also, Opera doesn't have "massive incompatibilies" as you say."
Only as long as you don't need to use Google/MS/Yahoo! services. They work sometimes, but most of the time you are limited to 'lite-mode', and MS pages tend to not work at all.
"buttons (you just have to add one to change the closing order of tabs)"
But how convenient it is to move your mouse from over the tab you just navigated to, just to reach the button? It isn't at all. I don't need customisations that aren't convenient, they make no sense.
"I like how Opera re-focuses the tab to the previous active tab instad of just moving right one tab"
I like that behaviour when I click on the already selected tab. But I hate it when I read many stories originating from the same page (like online RSS reader). Firefox way is then MUCH better.
"In addition to widgets, we also have the ability to apply user-defined JavaScript to sites, to fix issues with those sites,"
I think user-defined JavaScript (UserJS) are a lot more useful than just fixing issues on websites. An example is the possibility to add sticky-notes on web pages or sites (see the page linked by my name, or Google for "opera stickies"), which cannot be accomplished with Widgets.
As a side note, I think that built-in sticky notes in Opera would be very useful (with my UserJS they have to rely on cookies, which can be easily deleted by mistake). They would be the complement to the already present "notes" function, allowing the user to a two-way mind mapping.
You can make the action commands for mouse gestures and keyboard shortcuts as complex as you want. eg this is what my GestureDown does: Open link in new page| copy & new page & paste and go. This says if the cursor is over a link when I perform the gesture, then open the link. Else, if some text is selected, then copy that text and open a new page using that text as the URL and go (without manually hitting Enter or clicking Go button.)
My GestureUp is similar but a bit more complex, in order to open the new page in the background and switch to previous page I was on. For comparison: Open link in background page | copy & new page & paste and go & switch to previous page | stop
To close and switch to right, try this for GestureDown GestureRight (default for closing pages): close page, 1 & switch to next page.
I have yet to find an extension that lets me modify the keyboard shortcuts. But it's so easy in Opera, and I can even create complex commands same as for mouse gestures. When my mouse hand gets tired, I can switch to the keyboard and navigate using only the other hand with one half of the keyboard using single key presses for all basic actions on and around the home row. (On a qwerty keyboard, these buttons would be qwertasdfgzxcvb, instead of relying on cumbersome arrows, pgdn, pgup, etc.) I'd like to see other voiceless browsers give me this type of accessibility.
There is one thing I would like to see in opera and that is that possibility to be able to use the well known program AI Robofrom. I know Opera has wand but you cant see your passwords to edit them or even print them in case one looses the wand file and also the backup.
I don't want to see a load of extension like Fire Fox uses maybe just a very select few but defiantly not hundreds I can use Widgets for most.
Opera would acquire more support if they could make AI Robofrom work with the browser thus attracting more from FF & IE7.
So opera please tell me and many others why you won't let your browser work with AI Roboform.


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2007.103: Computing $A^\alpha$, $\log(A)$ and Related Matrix Functions by Contour Integrals
2007.103: Nicholas Hale, Nicholas J. Higham and Lloyd N. Trefethen (2008) Computing $A^\alpha$, $\log(A)$ and Related Matrix Functions by Contour Integrals. SIAM Journal on Numerical Analysis, 46 ( 5). pp. 2505-2523. ISSN 0036-1429
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New methods are proposed for the numerical evaluation of $f(\A)$ or $f(\A) b$, where $f(\A)$ is a function such as $\sqrt \A$ or $\log (\A)$ with singularities in $(-\infty,0\kern .7pt ]$ and $\A$ is a matrix with eigenvalues on or near $(0,\infty)$. The methods are based on combining contour integrals evaluated by the periodic trapezoid rule with conformal maps involving Jacobi elliptic functions. The convergence is geometric, so that the computation of $f(\A)b$ is typically reduced to one or two dozen linear system solves.
|Item Type:
|Uncontrolled Keywords:
|matrix function, contour integral, quadrature, rational approximation, trapezoid rule, Cauchy integral, conformal map
|MSC 2000 > 15 Linear and multilinear algebra; matrix theory
MSC 2000 > 65 Numerical analysis
|MIMS number:
|Deposited By:
|Nick Higham
|Deposited On:
|18 August 2008
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Madonna Fans Leak 2012 European Tour Dates
Madonna leak week continues! First snippets of 'Give Me All Your Love' leaked. Then a full demo of the song found its way on line. Now, fan site DrownedMadonna has leaked possible/potential 2012 European tour dates. This is the second time a possible Madge tour itinerary has been published online (and subsequently dismissed by her handlers as false!)
The run of dates finds Madge in Italy in early June and heading to Portugal and Germany later in the month. Spending the summer touring Europe sounds like loads of fun, mind you. However, we expect that Madge's camp will address this leak and rumor eventually, dismissing it as false. They tend to do that when information starts to spread.
We're noticing that Madonna's fans (and fan sites) are very generous, giving and forthcoming with their information. When a source leaks info to them, they tend to share it fairly quickly. They're united in their love for the Material Girl, who will release a new studio album sometime in 2012. We expect a tour to support the album, so it could very well be that these dates are part of a larger routing being considered and they just fell into the "wrong" hands. You never know!
Leaked European Madonna Tour Dates:
June 11 – Zagabria (Croatia) | Maksimir Stadium
June 14 – Milan (Italy) | San Siro
June 17 – Zurich (Switzerland) | Letzigrund Staidum
June 20 & 21 – Barcelona (Spain) | Palau St. Jordi
June 24 – Coimbra (Portugal) | Estadio Cidad de Coimbra
June 28 – Berlin (Germany) | O2 World
June 30 – Hamburg (Germany) | O2 World


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Wedding Ideas
My Trio Rings Blog provides useful information about how to experience the timeless traditions of marriage on an affordable budget
A Different Kind of Budget Wedding Registry
Some couples spend a lot of time registering for the perfect china pattern, the right towels for the guest bedroom, and the most powerful blender in the midst of planning a wedding on a budget. And it can be exciting and fun to plan a budget wedding registry with items to fill your new home together.
But this process isn't something that all couples participate in before they get married. Some brides and grooms are a little older and each have already-full households that that will suddenly have two toasters when they share a home together, so they may be looking to host a yard sale rather than plan a budget wedding registry. Other couples have lived together before marriage and already have everything they need. Still other couples have families who have saved lots of things to give them upon their marriage to fill their new homes. And some just want to feel like their love makes a difference in the world. If you and your spouse-to-be fall into one of these categories, consider creating a different kind of budget wedding registry as you start your lives together.
1. A Honeymoon Registry
Sites like Honeyfund can give your wedding guests the opportunity to contribute to the trip of your dreams. Instead of gathering a house or apartment full of stuff, you want to collect memories to last a lifetime together. Create a registry to help fund a leisurely week in the south of France, a cruise in Asia, an adventure tour in Jamaica, or a cabin in the woods a few hours' drive away.
2. A Charitable Registry
Some couples would like to know that the celebration of their love for each other also helps other people. If you are one of these couples that already has it all and wants to pay it forward while you are planning a wedding on a budget, consider asking your wedding guests to contribute to a charity such as Heifer International or Kiva, organizations that help people help themselves out of poverty around the world in lieu of more traditional wedding gifts.
3. A Local Registry
If you are just disenchanted with the idea of a big box budget wedding registry with gifts that aren't as original or full or character as you'd like, think about creating a registry of locally sourced wedding gifts. Request gift cards to your favorite local businesses, or create a wish list in person at a favorite local boutique or craftsman's guild for more unique and personal wedding gifts.
How did you customize your wedding registry?
Photo credit: salvationmedia
Budget Wedding Registry Tips
If you are planning a wedding on a budget, then you are probably planning to start your life together on a budget, too. Think ahead carefully about what you might need in order to maximize the usefulness of your budget wedding registry. Before you start drooling over the enticing catalogs of your favorite expensive kitchen stores, take stock of what you already have. If you each already have a home, then you probably already have some duplicate items that you may want to sell or give away. Regardless of the situation, it is best to make a list of what you need first, then think about what you want, and then start looking at the catalogs and websites to craft your budget wedding registry.
Budget Wedding Registry Tips
Items to Choose
1. Select long-lasting, high quality items for your wedding registry. Don't choose items just because they are inexpensive, because then you may need to replace those items in a few years.
2. Select solid colored or neutral patterned pieces when you are choosing items that will be around for a lifetime. If you ask for high quality white dishes, for example, it will be much easier to match those dishes to different seasonal décor or your own changing tastes over time.
3. Do choose items for your registry in a variety of price ranges so that none of your budget wedding guests feel left out.
4. In addition to more practical items, consider asking for some memorable items that will always remind you of your wedding each time you look at them and the person who gave the gift, such as a really beautiful wooden fruit bowl or handmade pottery mugs.
5. If you're already pretty well set for items for the kitchen, bed, and bath, then don't forget to consider having a honeymoon registry instead to help pay for your budget honeymoon!
Items to Avoid
1. It can be tempting, but don't ask for a bunch of fancy appliances that are likely to gather dust. If you're not likely to make homemade pasta or funnel cakes but once in a blue moon, you may be best off asking for a multi-purpose electric griddle and borrowing the other items from a friend on occasion.
2. Don't select items that are so expensive or fragile that you would be too intimidated to use them – or that none of your guests would be able to afford!
3. Just because you're planning a wedding on a budget doesn't mean that you don't have an eye for quality! Items that are too inexpensive or cheaply made, such as particleboard furniture, is not long-lasting and may not make it to see your first child, let alone your grandchildren!
Photo credit: craiglea123
How to Create a Budget Wedding Registry
Part of planning a wedding on a budget is searching for high quality services for the lowest possible costs while prioritizing your needs and desires. Similar skills are needed to create a smart budget wedding registry. You will need to consider that many of your guests may also be trying to cut costs. It is smart to list gifts in a variety of price ranges to that each guest can purchase a gift that is within their comfort zone.
No matter what gifts you register for, be certain to select items for your registry that will last a lifetime. Don't choose trendy items or things you may not use. Choose well-reviewed, long-lasting products that will last a long time so that you won't need to spend money on replacements a few years into your marriage. Smart registry choices now, while you are in the process of planning a wedding on a budget, can save you money in the future.
When you are selecting kitchen items to include on your budget wedding registry, you may wish to avoid nonstick pans which often get scraped up and need to be replaced within a few years. Possible alternatives include pre-seasoned cast iron pans, which can last forever if cared for properly. Stainless steel is another durable cooking surface that you may wish to consider. This is also a good opportunity to consider high quality glass bakeware such as Pyrex, or long-lasting stoneware casserole dishes from companies such as Le Creuset.
When selecting glasses and dishes, choose durable, well-made pieces that won't show age. For example, white dishes are a good choice because they don't show chips or scrapes very easily. White is also an excellent choice because it will always match even if your dining room décor changes seasonally. Don't make the mistake of choosing dishes that don't go into the microwave or dishwasher if you know you will want to have that option.
It is tempting to pick out exciting new appliances for your budget wedding registry, but it is best to avoid appliances with very specific uses that you may not use very often, such as a funnel cake maker. In general, it is better to choose items that will get a lot of use, such as blenders, crockpots, and toasters. Before you add anything to your registry, you will want to read reviews of that product to be certain that it will last you a long time. This is especially true in the case of appliances. It is better to ask Aunt Mary to buy you a microwave that is well reviewed for longevity than simply choosing the most inexpensive microwave you can find.
What are your best wedding registry tips?
Photo Credit: Jessica Spangler
10 Green Wedding Registry Must-Haves
As you register for wedding gifts to complement your green wedding, choose items that are environmentally sustainable and will last you and your spouse a long time. It can be difficult to find wedding registries through websites that specialize in eco-friendly products, so consider creating a registry at MyRegistry.com, a universal gift registry site that allows you to pick and choose your favorite gifts from different sites and compile them into one easy online registry. Opt for products made from environmentally friendly materials, and pick energy-efficient appliances. As you and your partner choose special items with which to start your life together, be sure to choose gifts from different price ranges to accommodate your guests' different budgets.
Here are some must-have green wedding gifts:
1. Organic cotton flannel sheets from Gaiam.com, a website that offers a wide range of quality green home products from comfy chairs to water-saving shower heads.
2. Customized recycled glass tree plate from UncommonGoods.com. Hang it on the wall, display it on your dining room table, or use it as a special place to store your conflict-free diamond rings on your dresser at night.
3. A set of bamboo cutting boards from 3rLiving.com. Bamboo is a renewable material that is both durable and anti-microbial.
4. Designer reusable shopping bags from Envirosax.com to give grocery shopping with your new spouse a green twist.
5. Washable cloth napkins from TenThousandVillages.com and GIANNAFairTrade.com, eco-friendly retailers that carry handmade items from underprivileged artisans around the world. All of GIANNA's products are fair trade.
6. Organic cotton bath towels from PotteryBarn.com for both the master bathroom and your guest bathroom.
7. Recycled metal serving set from TheHungerSite.com, a website that sells fair trade and eco-friendly green wedding gifts from around the world.
8. Recycled glass tumblers from GreenWithGlamour.com to serve your family and your guests with style you can feel good about.
9. Long-lasting bamboo cooking spoons from GreenFeet.com. Bamboo cooking spoons are more eco-friendly than wooden or plastic spoons, and they last just as long.
10. Charitable gifts to help those in need. Ask your guests to help reforest Haiti hillsides or pollinate fields in Uganda with Heifer.org.
Photo Credit: Melissa


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UPDATE: No MERS Seen in Four Local Patients
The Metro Health District says the four people in Bexar County who had been exposed to potentially deadly Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome on a connecting plane flight are out of the incubation period for MERS, and none has come down with any of the symptoms of the disease.
"Since the average incubation period of the MERS virus is 5 days, it is highly unlikely that any will become ill," the District said in a statement. "NO other exposures have been reported to Metro Health.
1200 WOAI news reported exclusively earlier this week that four local people were in a flight with one of the two people who have been diagnosed with MERS in the United States. They were being 'monitored' by local health officials, and two of the four have provided blood samples.
Since none of the four actually traveled to Saudi Arabia, where the disease is most prevalent, officials say it was unlikely that any of them would actually get the disease, which was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and has killed more than 100 people since then.
Officials say the blood tests are being forwarded to the Centers for Disease Control for analysis.


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