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5 Tips on Getting into (and Learning from) a Restaurant Kitchen
Some of the most informative, intriguing, and hilarious experiences of my life have been in restaurant kitchens, learning from accomplished chefs all over the world. So how did I manage to get into the back of the house, and how has it helped my own home cooking?
I asked. That's it. After sitting down, scanning the menu, and putting in my order, I usually inquire of the server if I may briefly visit with the chef who's preparing our meal. Nine times out of 10, the staff of any restaurant accommodates this request. Most often, the chefs I visit are happy to answer a few questions about the food.
Many chefs are effusive in describing the food they are preparing for you. "The herbs for tonight's Spring Nettle Risotto? I plucked them from my neighbor's garden," said one chef. After putting me to work stirring the risotto, he's invited my family for dinner at his parents' country house for, "the best food in the country — of course, my mother is cooking, not me."
There's also been many occasions where I've been taught exactly how to make the meal I'm going to eat. Step-by-step, real-time, real-life preparations of samosas, aloo gobi, vegetarian pho, crepes, curries, breads, ice creams, chocolates — you name it, I've watched it being prepared. I've been transfixed by the economy of movement displayed by people who cook for a living. It's an awesome sight to behold, one that most people don't even think about asking to be a part of.
Frequently, in parts of Asia, I was even offered a private cooking lesson the next day, before the restaurant opened for business. Food is the common language within all cultures. When you ask someone about what they like to eat and cook, you're inviting them to speak of their childhood, the seasons, the place they live, and their philosophy on life. It's that big! The discussion can quickly move to politics, current events, family, and the journey leading up to that present moment, as a person who prepares food. It's a primal thing — everyone eats, so everyone wants to talk about eating. It's the ultimate springboard topic.
Why do I ask?
Because not only do I want to understand the food and learn new recipes, I want to further connect with the world I inhabit. I like food. I love conversation. This intersection of eating and chatting is the perfect way to dig deeper and appreciate a meal out, so much more so than as a passive diner. No matter how humble or fancy the circumstance, it's also plain fun. Language barrier? Even better. The great part of food preparation is it's a visual and tactile exercise. Communication through pointing and laughter is all that's needed in learning a new recipe and exchanging a story.
How did I learn to do this?
I learned from my dad. And he learned from his dad. My grandfather, Sidney, was a gourmand before they invented the term, eating at Vincent's, a food cart in little Italy, with religious frequency. He plucked the eyeballs of whole fish at the local Chinese restaurant, popping them into his mouth with relish and glee. For us kids, this adventurous, outrageous way of eating was the stuff of legend. He caught a 125-pound swordfish with my Dad in Mexico because he asked around as to who the best fisherman was in the sleepy village — didn't matter that this "guide" had never taken out Americans, and his "boat" was closer to Huck Finn's improvised raft; a far cry from the slick, white sailboats most tourists toodled around in. Grandpa Sid knew everyone (called everyone "doll" — expert polite move, when forgetting a name) and asked questions whenever food was around.
Yes, it was scary the first few times I stepped behind the Oz curtain, but I got over that fear.
The rewards of a fun kitchen visit so outweigh the rare "sorry, no, he's too busy" by about a million. The worst thing that can happen in this scenario is you get turned down, which rarely happens. Now, wherever I am, near or far to home, I jump into the kitchen flame, guided by the vision of my grandpa chatting with his food-cart friend while dousing his scungilli in the firey red sauce he loved so much. And years later, my dad prompted me, "You like this rava masala dosa? Get back there and find out more about it!"
At the end of the day, I'm always thankful that I did ask about what I'm eating, and even more thankful for parents who pushed me to seek answers (even if it was scary at first). And my food tastes that much better knowing a bit of its history and the person behind it.
Oh and that absurdly flavorful red sauce all the generations of my family so adore? The chef at Vincent's won't reveal his recipe!
5 Tips for Restaurant Kitchen Visits
1. Bring your camera.
This helps for taking visual notes and referring to recipes later on. I know there's lots of talk about too many foodie folks taking pictures of their food, but I say, click on. Who cares? You'll have the documentation you need should you want to try the dish at home or print images to plaster on your walls.
2. Bring your notebook.
Take notes! I have referred to my journals from as far back as age 7, when I was writing and sketching about my new and exciting sandwich: cheese, golden apple slices, and honey (still sounds good). This "recipe" is from a sandwich I had in Sienna, Italy, earlier that year. Later on, I even recorded notes on my daily bowls of pho soup, using a small tape-recorder to be later transcribed into my journal. I was an aspiring Nancy Drew, only floating down the Mekong with my dad on a canoe, powered by an attached helicopter engine. It was so loud, the Lao soldiers we were with handed us small tears of white bread as ear plugs. What can I say? I was a lucky kid.
3. Bring a friendly, open-minded attitude.
Remember, the chef, staff, and restaurant are all taking time for you; you are there to learn from him or her (although it's usually a him). Be gracious and listen up. There's a lot to learn in this environment.
4. Remember your dining companions need you, too.
You can't spend your whole evening back in the kitchen — even if you're having a rollicking good time — if your spouse or family member is sitting alone in the dining room, waiting, then eating their meal solo. If things are getting really interesting in the kitchen, ask if your guest may come in for the fun; usually this is okay if there's only one other person. If not, make sure to get back to your table before the food arrives. You can always return to say thanks after your meal.
5. Send a thank you note and a print.
I'm amazed at how far a small gesture like a thank you note can take you in this situation. I've been invited back and over for "dinner at my mother's place" countless times due to a sincerely written note. I try and send a decent-sized print of one of my photos from the evening to the chef who so kindly invited me into his world. In this digital era, a physical photograph says a lot.
Have you ever visited a restaurant kitchen?
Originally published January 2011


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Siemens To Sell Mobile Division
Posted by Edwin Soto Categories: Cell Phones, Corporate News,
German electronics giant Siemens is planning to doing away with their mobile division. It seems that the approximate loss of almost $2 million a day, which can be attributed to the mobile division, is reason enough to justify its sale. So far none of the other popular mobile companies (LG, Motorola, Nokia, etc.) seem interested in investing in Siemens technologies.
Read More | Yahoo! News
DETECT: Concussion Verification System
Posted by Edwin Soto Categories: Misc. Tech,
Designed at Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, DETECT can tell if it is necessary to pull a player out of a game - or if it is okay to send them back in - as it can identify a concussion in a matter of minutes. It is certainly revolutionary, as it can be hard to tell right off hand. Its creators also hope to start testing it at the Georgia Tech football games next season. The DETECT devices will likely run between $500 to $1000.
Read More | CNN
Family Entertainment and Copyright Act Signed By Bush
Posted by Jesse Easley Categories: Internet, Music, Video Games,
The Family Entertainment and Copyright Act has been signed and approved. This act is to reduce/eliminate the amount of piracy of pre-release movies, music, games, etc. The act itself is very concrete in stating that even if you have one pre-release file in your shared folder, whether you downloaded it or not, you are subject to fines and prison time for up to 3 years. It does specify that it pertains to files being prepared for sale in the US. As of right now, it's not clear on how this act will pertain to people who re-distribute TV shows and movies from other countries.
"The protection of intellectual property rights is vital to the movie industry," said Rep. Lamar Smith, a Texas Republican who joined Bush for the signing ceremony. "This bill is necessary to ensure that all those involved in the production of a film, from the director to the set carpenter, are not cheated."
Read More | The Family Entertainment and Copyright Act
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NEC To Provide eDRAM for Next-Gen Xbox Graphics
Posted by Jesse Easley Categories: Xbox 360,
NEC has announced that they will be provided eDRAM for the next generation Xbox system graphics system. This partnership is a great step for the Xbox because this partnership will help provide incredible graphics and great High-Definition content.
"The next generation Xbox platform will provide gamers with a highly advanced graphics experience," said Todd Holmdahl, corporate vice president, Xbox Product Group. "NEC Electronics' cutting-edge embedded DRAM technology plays a vital role in enabling our graphics engine's performance, while its manufacturing process provides a reliable resource that can deliver the volumes required to support what will be an extremely popular gaming platform."
Read More | NEC Press Release
Google Users Beware
Posted by Jesse Easley Categories: Internet,
If you're an avid Google user, (and really, who isn't?), be sure to pay close attention to how you type Google's address into your browser. Security company F-Secure made an announcement that if users were to visit "Googkle.com" they would be bombarded with various trojan viruses, spyware, and backdoors. The attack is aimed at users in a rush or that simple put in a type, as the "k" key is right next to the "l" key.
Read More | F-Secure Advisory
Xbox 2/360 Showing Signs of Backward Compatibility
Posted by Edwin Soto Categories: Internet, Xbox 360,
We are all itching to know if this is going to be possible. It's all speculation so far and no official word in sight until the official MTV debut. However, this blurb on an Xbox Live questionnaire seems to be saying a bit more than it is letting on:
Xbox Live is an online gaming service that works across both the current Xbox system and the future Xbox 2. You will be able to play online and compete against others across both consoles. If you are playing an Xbox game on Live you will be able to compete against people playing that same game on Xbox 2.
So what does this mean? Well it could be just a re-release of Live games currently on the Xbox (doubtful) or that the Xbox 360 will ship with the ability to play current Xbox Live games - hence, backwards compatibility.
Read More | The Inquirer
Nokia N91 4 GB Music Phone
Posted by Andru Edwards - Categories: Cell Phones,
While we continue to wait for the iTunes phone from Motorola to show its face, others are taking a more proactive approach to this whole music phone thang. Take Nokia for example, with their N91. In fact, it almost seems silly to buy an iTunes phone when Nokia's N91 supports the playback of MP3, AAC, WMA, and M4A audio tracks, all of which can be stored on its 4 GB hard drive. Of course, there is the 3.5mm headphone jack, but check this. The phone supports drag and drop over USB 2.0, no fancy syncing software needed. The N91 also supports 3G and includes integrated WiFi and Bluetooth.
Read More | Nokia
Apple Cinema Display Price Cuts
Posted by Andru Edwards - Categories: Hot Deals, Peripherals,
For those of you looking to pick up a new Apple Cinema Display to go along with the new PowerMac, you will be happy to know that Apple has dropped the prices on the 20-inch 1680x1050 and 23-inch 1920x1200 models to $800 and $1500 respectively.
Read More | Apple Store
More Information on the Next Zelda
Posted by Andru Edwards - Categories: Adventure, Nintendo Gamecube,
With many a gamer salivating over the release of the next Legend of Zelda game later this year, little bits of information like these are coming to be very sought after. Apparently, these details have been translated from an international gaming magazine, so we can't confirm any of it. That being said, we do hope they are true:
- There will not be voice acting in the game.
- Zelda & Ganon will be in it, though how they'll figure into the story isn't known.
- Fishing & cucco gliding return.
- No GBA connectivity.
- There will be a significant item in the game, similar to how the ocarina in Ocarina of Time and the wind baton in Wind Waker were significant.
- According to Eiji Aonuma, the subtitle of the game has not been decided on yet. They're currently going for a mysterious title, which you'd have to play the game to understand.
- Battle will be similar to Wind Waker, with some minor new things, such as a new jumping downward thrust.
- As speculated, Link will communicate with animals, but Aonuma did not want to reveal any specific details regarding this.
- Whether a 'sidekick' for Link should be included is still being debated on. I'm assuming this would be similar to how Navi helped Link in Ocarina of Time.
- As you can probably tell by now, the horse is going to be the main form of transportation. Basically every area in this game is bigger than similar areas in past Zelda games, so Link needs a horse to accommodate that change.
The size of the game is going to just be huge. This adventure is believed to be 70 hours long. 70 gorgeous hours that is.
Read More | Games Are Fun via Kotaku
7-Inch Tablet PC Prototype at WinHec
Posted by Andru Edwards - Categories: Handhelds, PC / Laptop, Wireless / WiFi,
It's obvious that our gadgets are going to continue to get smaller, as ultraportability is what we are all about these days. Yesterday at WinHec, Bill Gates showed off a prototype of a new tablet PC which was only 7 inches diagonal. I am not too sure about this one, as tablet PC's haven't really taken off, and other ultraportable tiny PC's haven't really made a large dent in the market either. The thought behind this is that Microsoft thinks it would be nice to have a portable PC that would be able to act as a music/video player, email device, Internet browser, and also control different aspects of the home while including integrated WiFi and Bluetooth.
Read More | InfoSyncWorld
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subset: commoncrawl


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'Demon' Enslow to perform on stage
CRUSTY Demons figurehead and freestyle moto-x pioneer Seth Enslow is swapping his bike for a microphone on his new world tour.
The Australian leg of his Spoken Word Tour starts on October 18 and features footage of the daredevil's spectacular jumps.
The extreme sportsman, who also works as a tattoo artist, will take audience members step-by-step through his world-record attempts.
Brisbane band The Royal Artillery will also perform.
Enslow recently took some time to answer questions about his upcoming tour:
Q: You've got strong ties to Australia, not only from your Crusty Demons tours over the years but also your world record jump at Sydney Harbour in 2010, why do you keep coming back here?
A: I love Australia. It's been my second home for over a decade. I have met so many great people Down Under, it's a great place. I also accomplished my lifetime goal of jumping over 300 feet on my dirt bike in Australia.
Q: Can you give an example of the types of stories you'll be telling on your Spoken Word tour?
A: The Spoken Word Tour is an idea that my friend Timmy Rickard and myself came up with. The stories will be the behind the scenes truth about what happened on the day of some of my biggest jumps and crashes. I am also going to play some acoustic guitar and sing a few songs. My friend Zed will also be playing with his band Royal Artillery. It's going to be something new and a fun time for sure.
Q: Why did you choose Brisbane band The Royal Artillery to tour with you?
A: I met Zed a few years back when his band played at a shop signing on the Goldie. The following year we joined forces again in Coffs Harbour. So Zed and Royal Artillery have been a part of this since the idea was created. Zed and Timmy had already worked together so the team was in place. I am bringing good old Bubba from Crusty Demons along as well. I love Queensland weather and lifestyle. It's similar to what I have were I live in Southern California. Minus we don't get the humidity.
Q: Do you have any more world record attempts planned?
A: I don't have any more world records planned now. I would like to break my own Harley Davidson Record when the time, place and money are right. I would like to fly over 200 feet on the big girl. Until then I am going to do more music and tattoo more people.
Q: Even though it's a slightly different sport to FMX, were you happy to see BMX in the Olympics for the first time this year?
A: I think it's real good that a two-wheeled sport was added to the world Olympics, that's perfect. 2 Wheels for Life.
The Spoken Word Tour plays The Empire at Gympie on October 18, The Carriers Arms at Maryborough on October 19, Banjo's Tavern in Bundaberg on October 20, The Rocky Glen Hotel in Gladstone on October 21, The Code in Mackay on October 25, The Maraboon Tavern in Emerald on November 4, The National Hotel in Toowoomba on November 10, The Kings Beach Tavern on the Sunshine Coast on November 11 and The Glades Tavern in Ipswich on November 23.


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introduced the U05S model at 12/12/2000. As the press
release stated: "...The new DVD-U05S has improved performance and quality
compared to its predecessors. It is the worlds fastest SCSI drive proving
Pioneer position as leader in DVD technology. With a transfer rate of 13.5MB/s
(max.); a faster average access time for DVD-ROM of 95ms (80ms for CD-ROM);
also seek time has been reduced from 90msec to 85sec (70msec for CD-ROM). Compatibility
with CD-DA/ROM/R/RW/Extra/Video CD and DVD-ROM/R/RW/VIDEO the drive is truly
more versatile with multiple possible applications. The new 10X SCSI drive is
also available in bulk version (DVD-305S).."
Pioneer feels that U05S are for professional use and that is
most users feel about SCSI models. The drive as all previous models we have
tested is slot-in and supports:
We will see how the latest Pioneer SCSI model performs and compare
it with other Pioneer DVD-ROMs in order to have a clear look if the drive is
really improved! All DVD-Rom drives produced after January 1st 2000 are RPC2
compliant. This means that now the region lock is based on both hardware (drive)
and software (player) and it gives the user the chance to change the region
only 5 times. After that, the player is locked to the last region change. Read
more about it over
- Package :
We received the retail version of Pioneer 10x SCSI DVD-Rom (DVD-U05S), which
included the drive, manual, audio cable, jumpers and mounting screws. As you
can see in the pictures, this model has a slot-in system for loading discs.
You might find this drive at OEM version with the code DVD-305S. The front of
the drive is identical to the previous 105S:
- Installation :
this model was SCSI we set the SCSI ID and rebooted. The drive identified itself
as "Pioneer DVD-Rom DVD-305S" from both DOS and Windows. We checked
"Sync Data Transfer" under WinME and after that we were ready to start
the test. We also installed the latest PowerDVD version (3.0) for measuring
the DVD performance.
The supplied drive was a November 2000 model with v1.00 firmware
revision. You must specify one region when you first try to use the drive as
a DVD player. We selected Region 2 for our tests and we had another four hardware
changes left before the drive locks forever. Till now there is no region free
solution as with previous Pioneer models.
Test Machine
WinMe OS
Soyo 7VCA
Celeron II 566 over clocked to 850 MHz
Quantum Fireball EX 6.4 GB UDMA 33
DAWI 2975 - PCI (ULTRA) SCSI Host Adapter
CL GForce2 GTS
Plextor UltraPlex 40max firmware v1.04
Pioneer DVD-105S firmware v1.22
Pioneer DVD-104S firmware v2.02
Pioneer DVD-U05S firmware v1.00


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Last week, we had an opportunity to sign up for summer activities. Carrying our calendar, as others were, the kids and I tried to decide what activities to include.
Last week, we had an opportunity to sign up for summer activities. Carrying our calendar, as others were, the kids and I tried to decide what activities to include. There are a lot of great programs offered, but we had to keep in mind that there are only three months of summer and overscheduling isn't in the kids' best interest. It takes a bit of organizing and consideration.
New schedules are a part of most peoples summer planning. Adjusting to them can actually take a bit of time; from a few days, weeks, to even months before you feel comfortable. If at first you find yourself feeling fuzzy or out of sorts, rest assured that you will soon get into the groove of it. I remember when I first started practicing as a counselor, I was advised to always schedule in my lunch. If not, the day would easily fill up with appointments. That message has always stuck with me. At first it seemed unneccessary, but when I began to think I could grab a quick bite in between families or squeeze in just one more kiddo or group, I realized in order to be my best, I had to take a moment to refresh.
Just as we can overlook a lunch break, we often forget about the importance of interacting with nature. Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors, and doing so can actually help us adjust to new routines. Nature offers therapeutic opportunities to refresh. I remember years ago, when someone wearing Birkenstock shoes was considered a "tree hugger," today I realize that hugging a tree, touching it or just being near it is critical to our health. It's grounding. If we consider the deep roots of a tree and how strong and powerful trees are, just being near them is bound to empower us. Scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Landscape and Human Health Laboratory have compiled evidence that suggests that a connection to nature is vital to our psychological and physical health because it helps recharge our brains making us better able to cope with the stresses in life. (livescience.com) Nature is also said to increase playful activity, decrease aggression and increase our ability to focus.
This summer take advantage of the opportunities to refresh and connect with nature; enjoying water, walking barefoot in the grass, rolling down a hill, lying on the ground watching the clouds, searching for worms or bugs, or any kind of exploring nature. These kinds of activities aren't just for children and they are as important as any other structured activities we fill our days with. A suggestion ~ try making time in nature a priority this summer by scheduling it in!


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Kenneth Pettine: Sustaining Stem Cell Research
A team of researchers has made great strides and new developments in recent weeks regarding stem cells in the treatment of lung conditions and the doctors participating in the study say it may only be a matter of a few weeks before the results are put to further study in a clinical trial.
The two studies were titled Derivation of therapeutic lung spheroid cells from minimally invasive transbronchial pulmonary biopsies and Safety and Efficacy of Allogeneic Lung Spheroid Cells in a Mismatched Rat Model of Pulmonary Fibrosis and were published in Respiratory Research and Stem Cells Translational Medicine respectively.
This is the first time anyone has generated potentially therapeutic lung stem cells from minimally invasive biopsy specimens, Dr. Jason Lobo, director of the university's lung transplant and interstitial lung disease program, said in a press release regarding the study. Lobo was co-senior author of both studies.
The studies illustrated two key findings. The first is that a new minimally invasive procedure was developed to harvest lung stem cells. link Previously a surgical procedure was required to obtain the stem cells necessary for therapy. The second was that these lung stem cells improved the condition of rats suffering from fibrosis. The two findings combined means that doctors can easily harvest lung stem cells to treat the lung diseases of the patients they come from. Using a patient's stem cells helps reinforce the healing effort for chronic lung conditions and drastically reduces the chances of an immune system rejection.
The doctors plan to continue the research and find ways in which these stem cells can be used on the ground floor. We think the properties of these cells make them potentially therapeutic for a wide range of lung fibrosis diseases, added Dr. Ke Cheng, who led the studies with Lobo.
Other Clinical Trials Happening Now
The developments from the North Carolina teams join a list of new findings and studies on stem cells happening across the country right now. Recently Kenneth Pettine MD, of Loveland, Colorado and his stem cell team found that mesenchymal stem cells were a safe and effective treatment for musculoskeletal conditions like osteoarthritis. Though Pettine recently completed the trial, the new developments and knowledge from his trial and trials like the lung study may be turned into treatments found in a doctor's office sooner than later.


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SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Oil-rich Venezuela scored a victory Saturday when it persuaded European delegates at a 60-nation summit to back down on a key point in the gathering's final document, dropping a phrase that would have committed leaders to base their economic regulations on "international commitments and obligations."
European and Latin American leaders at the summit also agreed in the document to reduce trade barriers and risks for foreign investment, push for stronger limits on greenhouse gases and support a United Nations effort to re-think the war on drugs.
In dropping the phrasing that Venezuela objected to, the Europeans agreed to the South American country's language emphasizing that each nation is free to regulate foreign investment according to its own economic and social development policies. The debate resolved one of the final hurdles to a document being prepared for the signatures of presidents and prime ministers on Sunday.
"We emphasize the importance of working together to promote investments that support sustainable and sound use of natural resources, environmental care, and economic and social development, and to maintain a favorable investment climate, with legal certainty and respect of national and international law," the revised clause now says.
"In this regard, we stress the importance of a stable and transparent regulatory framework that provides certainty to investors, while recognizing the sovereign right of States to regulate."
Venezuela's win came despite concerted European Union efforts to persuade their counterparts that clear, stable ground rules and "legal certainty" are key to sustainable development in the region, where EU High Representative Catherine Ashton said European businesses have currently invested 385 billion euros ($516 billion).
But with China providing a seemingly insatiable demand for copper and soy, Latin America has less to lose from delays, and Venezuela's intransigence was celebrated by some of its allies as a show of strength.
"This isn't a victory. It's not the imposition of a concept. It's simply respect for diversity," said Venezuelan diplomat Rodolfo Sanz, who leads ALBA, a separate alliance of left-leaning Latin American nations. "It's a sovereign right."
Diplomats told the AP that foreign ministers have agreed to nearly everything else in the final declaration of the summit, in which 33 Latin American and Caribbean governments and 10 European Union countries participated.
The final draft of the EU-CELAC summit says the countries will fight together to bring down trade barriers and protectionism.
"We reiterate our commitment to avoid protectionism in all its forms," it says. "We remain determined to favor an open and non-discriminatory, rules-based multilateral trade system and fully respect its disciplines, and we recognize its contribution in promoting the recovery from the economic crisis."
The document also said countries remain concerned about the economic crisis and that recovery remains very slow. "To combat it, they agreed to continue working together towards a new international financial architecture, as agreed in the 2010 Madrid Summit.
Mounting on the crisis in the old continent, Europeans have suffered a series of setbacks in Latin America recently as the former colonies made unilateral moves to recover resources and protect their economies.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has nationalized a long list of foreign companies, sometimes triggering compensation disputes. Bolivia's Evo Morales nationalized several Spanish electricity distribution companies last year, and Argentina's Cristina Fernandez has refused to pay Grupo Repsol $10.5 billion for expropriating the Spanish company's stake in the YPF oil company.
A European Union delegate told the AP that they agreed on Saturday to put in Venezuela's phrasing despite the setbacks suffered by their companies and investors.
"Venezuela was unhappy with the language, so they were able to come up with new language based on Venezuela's text. It has been agreed. The EU has accepted this," the EU delegate told AP on condition of anonymity given the closed-door nature of the talks.
Last year, Venezuela began its withdrawal from a World Bank-affiliated arbitration body, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes. A top government lawyer said at the time that Venezuela faced more than two dozen arbitration cases, many of them before the Washington-based body. Argentina, for its part, leads the world in the number of World Bank arbitration settlements that it has refused to pay.
Bolivia's delegation praised Venezuela for standing up to the Europeans. "Venezuela is advocating for the sovereign right of counties," Bolivian Communications Minister Amanda Davila told the AP. "It's right to look after its economic interests."
Honduran lawmaker Gloria Oqueli, co-president of the Euro-Lat assembly that includes more than 100 lawmakers from both regions, said, "European businesses often stress that countries should provide them with legal certainty, and we agree with this, but the thing is that many times these treaties, agreements and negotiations with multinational corporations simply exclude the inhabitants of Latin America."
Aside from the document, European Union Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht on Saturday urged Argentina and Brazil to reduce barriers to European imports and finally clinch a long-delayed free trade deal between the EU and the Mercosur trade group, which last year expanded to include Venezuela.
"Mercosur includes some of our most important economic partners on this continent so it is no secret that Europe would like to have made more progress in these talks by now," De Gucht said. "On the core issue of access to each other's markets we have still not gotten down to business."
After meeting with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez told reporters at the summit that Mercosur will make an offer to the EU at year's end to strike a deal on a free trade agreement. She said that the deal must not harm the South American economic bloc.
Associated Press writers Eva Vergara in Santiago and Ian James in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report.


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Thursday, November 14, 2013
What to wear - Paris Photo Opening
14 comments:
Very interesting events and outfits, indeed!ReplyDelete
Love the dreamlike quality of your last image.Replies
Thank the iPad for the fuzz and blurr
Paris Photo does look like a wonderfully huge exhibit. Thank you for giving us a chance to have a peek at the chic folks and the exquisite photographs...via your own excellent photography.ReplyDelete
I also really enjoyed learning a bit more about vanilla's origins and the many places to discover the precious pods all around Paris. I do bake, but have never actually used vanilla beans/pods. Perhaps I will cross over the flavoring street this coming baking season, trading my usual extracts for a more direct approach.
Carol, you continue to inspire us! xo
So awesome! Wish I was there in person but thank you so much for sharing this with us!!!ReplyDelete
I was at the Paris Photo two times (the first time it was still at the Carré du Louvre) and had a great time. The Grand Palais is such a beautiful building! The perfect place for this event. I'm looking forward to you your photos of the Dior exhibition and have already put it on my to-do-list for my 5 days trip to Paris in December.ReplyDeleteReplies
Unfortunately Vreni,Delete
The Dior exhibit is just on for 12 days.
Who knows why since it's quite elaborate - 15 artists homages to Miss Dior perfume plus Dior's personal artworks collection
Une incroyable exposition... merci de partager avec nous ce merveilleux aperçu...
Gros bisous
- Deborah10:30 AM
I enjoy your posts for the "fashion" of Paris as much as the desserts. Interesting to see the photo of the boots matching the jeans. I am in Boston and every woman under 30 is wear brown boots with skinny jeans. The streets are a sea of women wearing this combination on the weekends--it's almost comical. We need a new trend around here...ReplyDeleteReplies
It's exactly the same in Paris ;))Delete
- Anonymous10:26 AM
I can't imagine why but I have always wanted to walk the streets of Paris. I wasn't raised with my siblings but I discovered that all 3 of us had bought the same painting-Carriages and people on a rain swept street with misty lantern light-and we all had a feeling of absolute familiarity and a sad reaction to the image. One of those experiences one ponders.ReplyDelete


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The seminal fluid that is ejaculated deep into ones throat after giving successful oral stimulation.
"Hey bitch! you know that the best remedy for your dry throat is coating it with some of my sweet throat Butter. Now, slob on my knob!"
by ThroatFilla January 30, 2012
Flem coughed up and spit into hot tea. The hot tea is then considered to be flavored with throat butter.
I ran out of milk today, so instead i coughed up some throat butter for my morning tea.
by AnTi_mTtr March 16, 2009


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Reviewed By Robert G (TRAVERSE CITY, MI) Reviewed for a 2002 Toyota Highlander —10/16/2012 7:27 AM
Installed on my 2002 Highlander, much better drive light than the factory and a great addition to the seperate fog lights. recently driving thru 200 miles at night in the rain with fog and using both fog and drive i was able to see quite well. Definet must have


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Boston Globe arts section focuses on the Modern Theatre premiere of The Last Will by Distinguished Scholar in Residence Robert Brustein.
The Feb. 15 . G cover story discusses the third play in Brustein's Shakespeare trilogy.
The Last Will has its roots in history, but Brustein uses the facts as a springboard for a scenario of what might have happened when the Bard retired to Stratford on Avon.
Commonwealth Shakespeare Company and Suffolk University present The Last Will through Feb. 24 at the Modern Theatre at Suffolk University .
See the Globe article [PDF]


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And so it begins, or so it continues in this case. The drama surrounding Jake Pavelka and his fiance Vienna Girardi isn't dying down anytime soon.
The latest is a new RadarOnline report that alleges the Bachelor star himself cheated on Vienna after proposing to her last November. According to Radar, Jake cheated with one of his ex-girlfriends.
A source reveals that Jake contacted his ex-girlfriend the day after he proposed to Vienna. During the next few weeks, he allegedly tried to convince his ex that he still loved her and the women on the show – including new fiance Vienna – meant nothing to him.
The source also reveals that Jake left his relationship with his girlfriend on hold when he left to tape The Bachelor. She thought they were still "on" and he was just trying to forward his acting career. But then taping ended and Jake was engaged, his ex was shocked when he started calling her again.
Radar also reveals the ex is choosing to stay anonymous for now, but she did talk to a radio station yesterday about the scandal. According to the radio station, the ex will be selling telling her story in the next week or so. She has been getting offers from major publications. This is sounding a lot like the Bachelorette Ed Swiderski cheating scandal from last year.
In other news, TMZ has uncovered more classy photos of Vienna in what appears to be some kind of booze cruise.
When TMZ caught up with Vienna and asked her about the drunken photos, she said, "It's Spring Break and I was in college." TMZ however reveals the pics were taken just last year. Good to see Vienna has come a long way from last year. The images are below.
Click the Read More Button To see the Party/Drunken Photos of Vienna –


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Catch a glimpse of life as a Taylor student.
A campus visit will bring you closer to the reality of life as a Taylor student. You'll meet Taylor students and professors in your field of interest, see the campus where you could spend four years, and have a chance to try the food in the Dining Commons! We offer two types of visits to introduce you to the Taylor experience. Choose the one that's right for you.
Personal visit
Choose a day that fits your schedule and come visit Taylor. You'll be able to join a campus tour, sit in on a class, meet with an Admissions counselor, share a meal with current students, and stay overnight with students in one of our residence halls. Arrive by 9:45 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, and you'll be just in time for chapel.
24@Taylor visit event
Choose one of our prescheduled 24@Taylor visit days and spend 24 hours on Taylor's campus. As part of this high-energy event, you can stay overnight with current Taylor students, pick your own class/event schedule, and connect with faculty and Admissions staff. 24@Taylor visit events are always scheduled so you can attend chapel while you're here.
University-Hosted Events
- September 20/21, 2018
- November 1/2, 2018
- March 7/8, 2019
- April 4/5, 2019


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Liverpool and Arsenal transfer target Lewis Holtby has been told to consider all his options before deciding on his future by Schalke general manager Horst Heldt.
The German international midfielder is out of contract with the Bundesliga outfit in the summer, and is yet to agree new terms amidst speculation over a move to the Premier League.
However, Heldt is not putting the 22-year-old under excess pressure, and believes it's good for the youngster to look at other clubs before making a decision.
"We are in intensive talks with Lewis (Holtby). I would be glad to see him decide in our favour then. Still it is very important for him to take his time and look into options at other clubs," he told Deutsche Presseagentur, according to Sky Sports.
"It's the only way for him to find out that Schalke 04 is the right choice for him as a player."
Liverpool 'stepped-up' their interest in the player back in October, according to Goal.com, with Brendan Rodgers hoping to bring Holtby to Anfield on a free transfer at the end of the season.
A technically-gifted midfielder, the three-cap international – whose father is from Merseyside – would challenge Joe Allen for a place alongside Steven Gerrard at the heart of the Liverpool side if he were to join the Reds.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was linked with a move for Holtby at the start of November, with The Daily Mail claiming the Frenchman was impressed by the player's performance at the Emirates Stadium in the Champions League.
His agent also gave the Gunners hope over a possible move, admitting that English clubs do appeal to his client.
"Lewis is very good at Schalke but above all there is an English club which has made a very interesting proposal," Markus Noack told calciomercato.com.
The talented former Alemannia Aachen starlet appears to have options at his disposal, and both Liverpool and Arsenal will be hoping he chooses a move away from the Veltins-Arena.
Do YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: https://www.givemesport.com/writeforgms


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text: Brand marketer mobile budgets up 142% since 2011 Published on September 24, 2013. New York—Brand marketers have increased their mobile budgets by an average of 142% since 2011, according to a new study by the Interactive Advertising Bureau. The report was based on an IAB analysis of data collected by Ovum in its "Marketer Perspectives on Mobile Advertising" 2013 survey of more than 300 b-to-c and b-to-b marketers. The survey updates a similar survey conducted by Ovum for the IAB in 2011. According to the survey, 74% of respondents said they expect their mobile budgets to increase over the next two years, while 19% of marketers said they expect their mobile budgets will increase by more than 50% over the next two years. Also, 41% of b-to-b marketers rated mobile as still "experimental," as compared with only 27% of b-to-c marketers that rate mobile as experimental. The survey also found that 70% of b-to-c marketers are generally satisfied with their mobile efforts, compared with only 50% of b-to-b marketers. Most Popular In this article: BtoB


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Share Zumba
Tue. Oct 2, 2012 5:15pm - 6:15pm (Recurring)
Knott ARCC-Group Exercise Studio
Fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy to follow moves which create a one of a kind fitness program that will blow you away. Goal is simple--we want you to want to work out, to love working out and to get hooked on working out!!


text: This document contains Dr. King's response on receiving the Margaret Sanger Award in Human Rights at the Fiftieth Anniversary Banquet of Planned Parenthood-World Population. Margaret Sanger is famous for opening the first birth control clinic in the USA and establishing Planned Parenthood. Dr. King discusses the benefits of family planning for the Negro family, as well as similarities between his and Margaret' Sanger's efforts for equality. Also featured is a photograph of Coretta Scott King accepting the award on Dr. King's behalf.


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Learners will read or listen to a story about two sisters, Marisol and Sofia, as they explore the Sun's role in the water cycle. Additionally, numerous extension resources are included in the accompanying educator guide, such as suggestions for... (View More) no-cost language arts activities, links to further science activities, a book walk cue chart to guide classroom discussion before, during, and after the story, a graphic organizer, and alignments to the National Science Education Standards (NSES) and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). (View Less)
This collection of activities is based on a weekly series of space science mathematics problems distributed during the 2012-2013 school year. They were intended for students looking for additional challenges in the math and physical science... (View More) curriculum in grades 5 through 12. The problems were created to be authentic glimpses of modern science and engineering issues, often involving actual research data. The problems were designed to be one-pagers with a Teacher's Guide and Answer Key as a second page. (View Less)
In this engineering challenge, student teams are introduced to the engineering design process, and then construct and test an earthquake-resistant structure. The lesson plan includes teacher support, student worksheets, multimedia assets, and links... (View More) for students to conduct Web-based investigations. Authentic assessments, a multiple choice test, and rubrics are included. This is an optional extension activity associated with the resource, Flight Mission Challenge: Improving Earthquake Monitoring, a 3 part, multiple-day Earth science and engineering investigation. (View Less)
Materials Cost: 1 cent - $1 per group of students
Through an analysis of data sets on four parameters - sea ice totals, sea surface temperatures, near surface temperatures and surface type - students must decide whether the Arctic is experiencing climate change and predict any potential effects on... (View More) the rest of the planet. The activity in this lesson involves card sorting, a technique in which index cards, each containing content or diagrams, are grouped according to unifying concepts. The cards in this lesson contain graphs that students have downloaded, summaries they have written, and questions they have derived from the lesson. The graphs used in this activity show satellite data sets for a location above the Arctic Circle. Students will analyze and group the cards and will then write a conclusion in which they explain the connection between the four parameters, and relate them back to climate change. This lesson uses student- and citizen science-friendly microsets of authentic NASA Earth system science data from the MY NASA DATA project. It also includes related links, extensions, an online glossary, and a list of related AP Environmental Science topics. (View Less)
Materials Cost: 1 cent - $1 per group of students
In this data activity, students explore the relationship between surface radiation and mean surface temperature in several geographic regions. By observing how these parameters change with latitude, students will understand the relationship between... (View More) solar radiation and seasonal temperature variation. This activity is part of the MY NASA DATA Scientist Tracking Network unit, designed to provide practice in accessing and using authentic satellite data. (View Less)
Satellite data analysis of both ocean currents and sea surface temperatures will allow students to discover the link that exists between them. Students will download data-based maps on which they will determine and then draw directional movement of... (View More) currents. Then, in both groups and individually, they will discuss the relationship between the currents and sea surface temperatures, answer a set of questions, and predict changes in the appearance of the maps if Earth continues its warming trend. This lesson uses student- and citizen science-friendly microsets of authentic NASA Earth system science data from the MY NASA DATA project. It also includes related links, extensions, and an online glossary. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free
Tree ring analysis and satellite data observations are combined in this investigative lesson on past climate. Students will compare the width of tree rings from a real or virtual tree x-section with precipitation levels from authentic satellite... (View More) observations for that same time period. They will then analyze the two sets of data to interpret past climate patterns. This lesson uses student- and citizen science-friendly microsets of authentic NASA Earth system science data from the MY NASA DATA project. It also includes related links, extensions, an online glossary, and data analysis tools. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free
The strength of the historic 1997-1999 El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event was captured and recorded by NASA Earth observing satellites. By downloading and plotting that satellite data, students will observe and analyze El Niño's effect on... (View More) sea level height and sea surface temperatures. Students will then determine the effects of that same El Niño event on their local environment by downloading and plotting precipitation data for their latitude and longitude. Researching data from beyond the 1997-99 period will also allow students to study the subsequent La Niña. This lesson uses student- and citizen science-friendly microsets of authentic NASA Earth system science data from the MY NASA DATA project. It also includes related links, extensions, an online glossary and a list of related AP Environmental Science topics. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free
In this lesson, students will download and analyze two sets of aerosol data: one from 2003 found on the MY NASA DATA Live Access Server (LAS), and one from 2006 taken from the NASA Earth Observations (NEO) site. Analysis of wind plots enable... (View More) students to determine the months of greatest aerosol activity, their path of dispersion, and their original source on the landscape. Step-by-step instructions for use of the MY NASA DATA LAS guide students through selecting a data set, importing the data into a spreadsheet, creating graphs, and analyzing data plots. The lesson provides detailed procedures, related links and sample graphs, follow-up questions, extensions, and teacher notes. Designed for student use, MY NASA DATA LAS samples micro datasets from large scientific data archives, and provides structured investigations engaging students in exploration of real data to answer real world questions. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free
This background chapter reviews the basic principles of meteorology that educators need to guide inquiry activities in the classroom. Topics include structure of the atmosphere, Coriolis effect, water cycle, greenhouse effect, cyclones,... (View More) anticyclones, and jet streams. This is chapter 2 of Meteorology: An Educator's Resource for Inquiry-Based Learning for Grades 5-9. The guide includes a discussion of learning science, the use of inquiry in the classroom, instructions for making simple weather instruments, and more than 20 weather investigations ranging from teacher-centered to guided and open inquiry investigations. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free


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SOE Graduate Contact Info
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3307 3rd Ave. W, Ste 115G
Seattle, WA 98119
At Seattle Pacific University, we believe the future of K–12 education in the state of Washington hinges on teachers and administrators who are prepared to lead in a 21st-century school environment.
SPU has degree and certification programs for every level of leadership in a district. Designed for the working professional, these programs offer many benefits:
Explore how SPU's full suite of educational leadership programs can work for you and your district, from personal preparation for leadership positions to district-guided teacher leadership–degree cohorts. Choose from several great program options:
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I hope that my book The Polished Woman will help you get organized and make your life easier. As I want this book to help guide my children and my grandchildren for generations to come. Life can be very difficult especially if youare a wife, mother, and work a full-time job. We wear many hats. Think about it; we are wives, mothers, caregivers, teachers, coaches, housekeepers, gardeners, nurses, etc. We have a lot to do sometimes with little or no help at all. The ideas in my book, The Polished Woman, are ideas that I have incorporated into my daily routine. I am always trying to find inexpensive ways to make life easier for me. One big key in getting organized is a routine and sticking to it. People ask me all the time, how I do it? itas my routine. You have to get organized first. I want to know, where everything is in my home. If my husband calls me, I want to be able to tell him where to find whatever it is that he is looking for. If everything is in order, he can do so without turning the whole house upside down. I want my home to be guest-ready at any given moment. You never know who might pop in or if youare met with an accident, and someone has to come into your home. If you are one who is disorganized then this book is for you. You will also find that I have included some helpful Web sites throughout the book. Enjoy!To check your cell phonea#39;s ac serial number, key in the following digits on your cell phone press * a #06 #. A fifteen ... If your cell phone gets stolen, call your service a provider, give them the number, and they can disable your cell phone. You are ... It will only take a minute, and it will block them from calling you for five years.
|Get Organized with The Polished Woman
|Angie Massengill
|Xlibris Corporation - 2010-07-01
You must register with us as either a Registered User before you can Download this Book. You'll be greeted by a simple sign-up page.
Once you have finished the sign-up process, you will be redirected to your download Book page.How it works:


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You may have heard about Facebook's recent changes to your page. Timeline is now available to all Facebook Fan Pages. But don't panic as you have until March 30th to redesign your page and officially publish it when it's ready.
If you switch to Timeline now, do it knowingly since you can't go back to the old design. Also, keep in mind that if you have Band Profile app or Venue Profile app, when you switch, they will no longer be your landing page. Facebook gives you until March 30th to preview and explore the new design. Use the time wisely!
So what does the Timeline mean to bands and venues? We're doing a complete review and will post more updates as soon as Facebook announces them.
For now, this is what we know.
1) Cover photo: Just like your personal Facebook page, you can now have a big photo (851p x 315 pixels) besides your profile picture. We suggest you make good use of it by using images that best represent your personality and the style of your music.
2) Landing page: You will no longer have a default landing page of your choice. Instead, everyone will always land on your Timeline. So if your fans want to listen to your music, watch your videos, find out about concert dates, you can (and should) share the direct link to your Band/Venue Profile on your website, blog, and put it in your page's About section. Your fans can also click on the Band/Venue Profile tab, as shown below:
3) Tabs: The tabs, which used to be under the profile picture, are now under the big and shiny cover photo. The 'Photos' tab is fixed in place, but you can change the other three around. To make Band Profile a feature tab, click on the dropdown menu next to the 4th tab, click the Pencil icon, and choose the tab you would Band Profile to "switch positions with," as shown below:
4) Message: The new cool thing about Timeline is that your fans can personally send you a message, much like the way it works on a personal Facebook page. Once they message you, you can message them back, so this is a great way to improve and expand the fan-musician relationship.
5) Highlight: Another cool update on Facebook is the ability to highlight your stories. A highlight will make the pictures and videos larger and more eye-catching.
6) Pin: You can also pin the story to the top of your Timeline for up to a week (but we believe you can re-pin it again). This is a great opportunity for musicians and venues alike to feature new songs, concert dates, photos and videos. To do this, click the pencil icon in the upper right of the post and select Pin to Top.
On March 12th, we launched a suite of cool apps for artists and venues to install on their Timeline. These apps will take fan interaction to a whole new level! Read more about ReverbNation's apps for Facebook Timeline on this blog post.
Follow us on Twitter for updates or email us at firstname.lastname@example.com and we'll try to help as much we can!


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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is declining to criticize Egypt's draft constitution despite spirited internal debate over whether the document adequately protects women, religious minorities and dissenting voices.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland lamented the lack of consensus in Egypt's constitution-writing process. She says how people in Egypt view the draft is most important.
If Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi approves the constitution, it goes to a national referendum.
Nuland's restraint didn't reflect the views of all in the administration.
U.S. officials said there were internal debates over whether to criticize the draft constitution for limiting freedom of expression, failing to grant freedom of worship, criminalizing blasphemy and eroding women's rights guarantees.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly about internal deliberations.


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The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group marked an important milestone in continuing to prepare the warfighter for tomorrow�s threats as the first QF-16 drone arrived for developmental testing Nov. 19.
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE � The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group marked an important milestone in continuing to prepare the warfighter for tomorrow�s threats as the first QF-16 drone arrived for developmental testing Nov. 19.
�The work done prior to today and the test work that is forthcoming will enable the Air Force to transition from a 3rd generation, Vietnam-era aerial target performance to 4th generation threat replication and beyond,� said Lt. Col. Lance Wilkins, 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron commander.
The QF-16 is a supersonic reusable full-scale aerial target drone modified from an F-16 Fighting Falcon. At this time, the 53rd WEG uses QF-4s, made from 1960s F-4 Phantoms, to conduct their full-scale aerial target missions. The targets allow the Air Force and allied nations to have a realistic understanding of what they could face on the battlefield.
�In the imminent future, the QF-16 will take air-to-air testing and evaluation to the next level,� Colonel Wilkins said. �It will make our American and Allied aircrew, aircraft and weapons more reliable and more lethal. It will serve a new generation of warriors.�
Boeing Global Services and Support will conduct testing on the QF-16, according to a Boeing press release.
The QF-16s will undergo approximately six months of testing to validate their capabilities and ensure compatibility with the Gulf Range Drone Control System, explained group officials. Next, the aircraft will deploy to Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. for approximately four more months of integrated testing. When all test milestones are complete, the aircraft will return permanently to the 53rd WEG to complete a transition period in order to achieve initial operational capability at Tyndall.
The first production QF-16 is scheduled to be delivered in 2014.
As the Air Force prepares 5th generation fighters such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter for the next battlespace, the group acts as a safety net to ensure our weapons capability is fully evaluated and understood prior to use in combat, said Col. James Vogel, 53rd WEG commander.
�It is a big day,� Colonel Vogel said. �We are 100 percent behind the road to IOC for the QF-16.�
The colonel added that the day was only possible with the work of many organizations such as all of Team Tyndall and contractors.
The 53rd WEG, which falls under the 53rd Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, provides the personnel and infrastructure to test and evaluate weapons utilized by the combat air forces of the United States and its allies. The group operates the only full-scale aerial drones in the Defense Department.


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As I'm slowly easing back into writing, I'm slowly getting a look at the big picture ahead of me. Conversations with two authors helped to bring home the point of the larger task that is ahead of me. I'm speaking of that giant monster of marketing and promotion.
This weekend, I read the blog of author-friend Peggy Love, who wrote about Social Media's Exploding Frontier. I also had a chat with author Michelle McGriff and the conversation turned to marketing and promotion and social networking. The last time I was heavy into promotion was not that long ago. I spent the years 2004 through 2008 doing heavy promotion for my self-published book, then the traditionally published version of Counting Raindrops, plus the second book, First Fridays. I LOVED doing promotion. Despite my shyness and disdain for public speaking, the actual work behind marketing and promotion is enjoyable...if you just do it and don't think about it. Meaning, take it step by step and don't let it overwhelm you by looking at the big picture and trying to do everything at once.
Yet, that's exactly what I find myself doing, even as I have not completely finished book three. So much has changed since I've stopped heavy promotion, and it hasn't really even been two years. My promotion was book clubs, book events, postcards, business cards, bookmarks, mailings, newsletters, website, and blog. These things seem to still be good promotional tools, however, now we're in the age of social media and I have to admit that I'm lost on some of it. Myspace was already going and I fell right into FB and twitter. But even these are expanding and I'm probably only using 25% of their networking capabilities. Then there are sites and terms that I hear flying around that I don't yet know the ins and outs of and I don't have time at the moment to research and investigate.
So, come September, I see the need to start over. Just like it was in marketing and promoting book one, I'm going to have to sit at the computer and do research and catch up with the latest social networking and media tools. Being an author or any type of entrepreneur, keeping up with the latest marketing tools are a must if you want to have any chance of success or survival. If we didn't know it before, we should know it now by witnessing the election of President Barack Obama and as we can still see it throughout is presidency. We've been able to connect with him and keep up and informed, and even participate on town halls through Facebook and the White House website. We've also been able to track him on Twitter and YouTube. Social Media is not an optional thing for the author, but a must in order to reach a wider audience. It's not instead of the old tools, but in addition to the older tools.
To be an author or any type of business person, one must accept being an eternal student of marketing and promoting. You can't rely on publishers to do it for you. You can't rely on old promotional tools being the end and be all to targeting and reaching a wider audience. And even with all that it is today, social media and promotional tools will no doubt continue to expand. It is a must to keep up and stay on the cusp of new changes and new tools.
Yep. Time for me to take off the graduate student hat and put back on my marketing and promotion hat...and keep it on.
Monday, July 06, 2009
2 comments:
- Rose Mon Jul 06, 02:10:00 PM EDT
This social media marketing is something else. Once you learn one thing, something else comes on the scene. I, too am trying to learn. With my daughters' help eventually I will get the swing of things.
- Cherlyn Michaels Mon Jul 06, 02:41:00 PM EDT
Rose, that's exactly what i feel like i need to do to get up to speed quickly. feel like i need to hire a kid to teach me...lol
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Dennis Jones on Making Higher Education More Productive
Billing himself as Dr. Doom, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems President Dennis Jones said he was at the summit to provide the bridge between goals, expectations, reach and vision and "the dirty work" of getting things done.
Watch the video of his presentation below.
Summarized highlights: Higher Education Must Be More Productive
"The bottom line," Jones emphasized, "is that lack of resources is not an excuse for not making progress."
Productivity, a word rarely uttered in polite educational society five years ago, is the key, he said—getting more degrees and certificates from the higher education enterprise with the resources that can be made available. "Another way of looking at that is how do we increase outputs, reduce costs, without reducing either access or quality."
The University of Hawaii can't meet the goals set out by President Greenwood without taking many more students into the enterprise and making them successful, he said. But you can't do that by backfilling with tuition dollars, or becoming more successful with fewer students, he stressed. The objective is more graduates (although a higher graduation rate is part of the answer.)
Revisiting data presented by UH Vice President Linda Johnsrud on the rapidly increasing educational levels in other countries and while educational levels fall in the United States, Jones pointed out that the U.S. must educate a both young population and a replacement workforce for the retiring baby boomers, making the lifelong learning opportunities more important here.
Reaching Hawaii's goal requires educating 30,400 more citizens by 2020 than the current level of production, he said. Holding tuition constant and doing business as usual, that would take 34 percent more money in constant dollars to fund the increased—$750 million dollars in total. With a lower taxbase and higher tax rate relative to other states that's not likely, which is why it's very much in the university's interest to expand the economy of the state.
Conversely, doing business as usual and holding state funding constant would require increasing tuition by 50 percent at UH Manoa, 74 percent at UH West Oahu and UH Hilo and 83 percent at the UH community colleges to serve increasing numbers of students.
"States can't afford to lag in their stock of education or human capital," he said. "States can't afford to create human capital under the cost structure of business as usual. So the thing that has to change is business as usual. That means to me, in the language that I use, that productivity has to improve."
Postpoing the issue isn't the answer, either, he added. Employment recovery always lags economic recovery; state tax collections lag economic growth; and funding for higher education lags state tax revenue recovery, coming after other priorities. Recessions driven by the collapse of financial institutions take a long time to recover from. "There's not a state in the United States that does not have a structural deficit," which means none can continue funding at a current services level with the tax structure they have.
Is there room for improved productivity in Hawaii? Yes, Jones said; the question is how to get there.
Compared to the rest of the country, Hawaii spends more per degree produced and more per full time equivalent student; even adjusting for higher cost of doing business in the islands, Hawaii is in the middle of the pack, Jones pointed out.
Jones outlined four approaches to improving productivity—
- Build cost effective systems: Align capacity with priorities, as UH has begun to do, and continue to improve collaboration between institutions. Confront the cost of benefit packages.
- Change the way that education is delivered: Create programs of cost effective size, such as by using technology to bundle small classes in various locations. Involve faculty in rethinking curricula to teach what's needed, reducing excessive credit requirements without reducing content. Consider the University of Phoenix model (narrow curriculum with few choices) or Western Governors University (competency based programs).
- Reduce the demand that each student places on the system: P–20 is a good first step in reducing need for remediation. Accelerate learning; minimize rework. Consider changes to academic policy about when drops and adds can occur. Give credit for what students already know through credit by exam, portfolio assessment or other options, particularly for adult learners.
- Patch the leaks in the pipeline: Pay attention to student support systems. For example, Western Governors University assigns a case manager, one person who sticks without a student throughout their career helping deal with the all of the things that get in the way of success.
The good news, Jones said, is that there are good examples of these things being done. "The question then makes it a question of will, not of knowledge. If the political will is there, then you have yourself a doable agenda," he said, calling on Hawaii to strike a new relationship between higher education and the state "that lets you say 'here are the goals we all agree on, here's how we know if we're making progress, and now can you give us the autonomy and the freedom to in fact drive ourselves to those solutions without the you're telling us how to do it.'
"I've been around here long enough to know that that's a major unfilled agenda."
About Dennis Jones
President of the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, Dennis P. Jones has been a member of the NCHEMS staff since 1969. He has more than 40 years of experience in research, development, technical assistance and administration in higher education management and policy-making. As NCHEMS president since 1986, he has led the organization in the development and promulgation of information-based approaches to policy-making in higher education.
Jones is widely recognized for his work in developing public agendas to guide state higher education policy-making; developing financing, budgeting and resource allocation methodologies for use at state and institutional levels; linking higher education with states' workforce and economic development needs and developing and using information to inform policy-making. He has written many monographs and articles on these topics; presented his work at regional, national and international conferences; and consulted with hundreds of institutions and state higher education agencies on management issues of all kinds.
A graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, he served as an administrator in business and institutional planning there for eight years prior to joining the NCHEMS staff. He has served as an advisor to the U.S. secretary of education, Lumina Foundation for Education, National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education and to numerous other associations, policy organizations and state agencies.


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Happy Father's Day
Happy Father's Day to all the new Dad's, old Dad's, Dad's in law, step Dads, serious Dads, funny Dads, and any other type of Dad we may have missed!
Sunday, June 18th marks Father's Day and is a day to thank all of the father's out there for the tireless efforts they make each and every day.
Dad's ensure their children are safe and protected from the moment they enter the world.
We may be a little biased, but we feel that this Father is definitely one of the best. He fell asleep under his son's crib after coming right from work to visit him.
How will you be thanking the important Father's in your life this year?
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Dec. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading entertainment and lifestyle retailer, (Nasdaq:HSNI) has teamed up with North American cruise travel agency, CruCon Cruise Outlet, to bring customers exclusive deals and custom experiences across 17 major cruise lines. Starting today, HSN customers will be able to view cruise deals and access an exclusive promo code on-air or online by visiting HSN.com, keyword CRUISE. Packages will be available year round with exclusive perks and rates for HSN customers.
"We are thrilled to join forces with HSN to bring a wide variety of cruise options to the HSN customer," said CruCon Cruise Outlet's Founder Sandy Cleary. "This is a great opportunity to engage a captive and enthusiastic audience that we know loves to cruise and we are excited to be able to bring our exclusive offers to them. HSN and CruCon Cruise Outlet thrive by providing their customers innovative and carefully crafted offers along with award-winning service. This is where the two brands align, making this partnership a perfect fit."
The partnership will leverage CruCon Cruise Outlet's more than 20 years of experience crafting cruise exclusive deals across almost every major cruise line, featuring worldwide itineraries from Caribbean to Europe and beyond. CruCon will work directly with customers to book their cruise by hand selecting offers based off their interests and desired cruise experience. This joint venture will mark the first time HSN has partnered with a travel agency to focus on cruises.
"We know cruises are the vacation of choice for many of our customers," said Sean Bunner, VP New Business Development, HSN. "We are thrilled to partner with industry leader CruCon Cruise Outlet to offer consumers an innovative and trusted way to plan their next escape."
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About HSN: HSN is a leading entertainment and lifestyle retailer, offering a curated assortment of exclusive products and top brand names to its customers. HSN incorporates entertainment, inspiration, personalities and industry experts to provide an entirely unique shopping experience. At HSN, customers find exceptional selections in Health Beauty, Jewelry, Home/Lifestyle, Fashion/Accessories, and Electronics. HSN broadcasts live to over 90 million households in the US 24/7 and its website - hsn.com features more than 50,000 product videos. Mobile applications include HSN apps for iPad, iPhone and Android. HSN, founded 40 years ago as the first electronic retailer, is an operating segment of HSN, Inc. (Nasdaq:HSNI). For more information, please visit www.HSN.com , or follow @HSN on Facebook and Twitter.
Asheville Outlets is the newest destination for shopping in the greaterAsheville market—the regional and economic hub for western NorthCarolina with a strong and growing visitor market. Shoppers will findmany of the most popular names in the outlet industry, includingAnn Taylor Factory Store, Banana Republic Factory Store, Brooks BrothersFactory Outlet, Coach, Cole Haan, Field Stream, GAP Factory Store,J. Crew Factory, Nike Factory Store, Restoration Hardware, Tommy Hilfiger,Under Armour, Vera Bradley, Vineyard Vines, West Elm Outlet. Field Stream store adds even more excitement to this shopping experience.
With no other outlet center within 80 miles, the retailers at AshevilleOutlets are thriving from the strong residential and tourism markets.Ideally located five miles southwest of downtown Asheville at the I-26 andRoute 191 interchange, Asheville Outlets has excellent regional access. TheAsheville tourism market is impressive and continues to make nationalnews. Approximately 10.9 million people visit the Asheville region eachyear, of which 3.8 million stay overnight.
Asheville is a thriving mountain city with an eclectic downtown, which includes art galleries, a world-class culinary and craft beer scene, a burgeoning live music scene, and the awe-inspiring scenery of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This unique city has earned national acclaim by numerous media outlets and publications as an ideal place to live, visit, and do business.
Select markets will have the opportunity to reserve the hottest releases straight from 'The Locker' app.
Foot Locker knows time is precious, but the hottest releases are even more valuable. So our new app aims to make securing the freshest releases quick,easy and safe.
With the latest update to The Locker app, you can now view and secure launch product, easily, conveniently and safely.
To view launch styles, first click on the Release Calendar tab. From here you can search releases by grid or list view and add launches to your Wish List by clicking the star.
From the Wish List, you can click through for more information on the launch. For Instore Launches, this is where the store list can be found, along with price, product information and release guidelines.
For In App Launches, you will need to register your preferences, then, from 6pm, it is a race to 'Submit' your registration from the Wish List. Product will be allocated on a first click, first served basis.
If you receive a successful reservation you have 15mins to accept the reservation before it expires. Click the reservations tab at the bottom to see results from all app reservations you've made.
Once your reservation is confirmed just click on the release to view the pickup details. Remember, to get your sneakers on release day you must present your photo ID and show your app confirmation at the store indicated before 2pm.
For full Terms Conditions, Frequently Asked Questions and Head Start Details see the links below.
Log in using your current The Locker membership details, connect with Facebook or sign up to create a new account.
To participate in app launches verify your mobile number and turn on both SMS and Push Notifications.
Select the Release Calendar from the navigation bar.
Browse upcoming release product and add it to your Wish List by clicking the star.
Keep track of your releases in your Wish List.
When registration opens for in app releases you can select up to 3 sizes preferences and up to 3 store preferences. Once registered the countdown until launch begins.
When the launch countdown expires, it is a race to 'Submit' your registration from the Wish List, first in first served.
If you receive a successful reservation you have 15 minutes to accept the reservation before it expires.
Keep track of all reservations in 'My Reservations.'
Pick up your sneakers on the release day by presenting your photo ID and showing your app confirmation at the store before 2pm. Uncollected reservations will be forfeited and penalties apply.


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Denise Berty, 70, of Hood River, Ore., passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, at Providence Hospital in Portland, Ore., with family by her side.
The Berty family would like to offer special thanks to the compassionate and caring staff at Providence for the kindness they displayed to both Denise and the family during this difficult time.
A celebration of life will be held at her home at 1119 Eighth St., Hood River, between 1 and 5 p.m. March 20. Friends and acquaintances are encouraged to stop by at their convenience and celebrate their friendships and memories of this special person. The atmosphere will be causal, friendly and upbeat, as Denise would have liked.
Denise Jeannette Aldax was born in Carson City, Nev., on Sept. 22, 1939. Her French-Basque grandfather, Jean-Pierre Aldax, immigrated to the Carson Valley/South Tahoe area and worked for a local cattle company which later provided him with the land to start a sheep-herding ranch.
Denise's parents, Arnold and Louis Aldax, carried on with the growing ranch and Denise and her older brother, Paul, enjoyed life in the beautiful Carson Valley during their early years.
As a result of family tragedies, Denise's parents and brother predeceased her and she was raised by Jim and Amy Darrough in Minden, Nev. After graduating from Douglas County High School, Denise attended a Catholic Preparatory school in San Rafael, Calif.
Following her graduation, Denise enrolled at Stephen's College in Columbia, Mo., where she first met her future husband, Milton Berty, at a local fraternity party. The two hit it off immediately and were married in 1960. Later that year, the couple relocated to Lodi, Calif., where they started to raise a family.
Milt's career had the young family on the move and Denise also spent time living in San Carlos and Cupertino, Calif., Arlington Heights, Ill., and then back to Palos Verdes, Calif.
The time spent in Palos Verdes was a special time for Denise and her family, with most of the family time spent together on the beach and playing in and around the nearby ocean. The family also lived in Westlake Village and Agoura, Calif., where Denise honed her culinary skills, much to the delight of he friends and family.
She was also an accomplished pianist, and shared her love of music with her children and friends.
As the years went by, Denise picked up work in retail sales, where she earned many sales awards from a major department store chain. Boundless energy even landed her a job with Princess Cruises, where she ran an on-board gift shop aboard the Pacific Princess. While aboard, Denise was able to travel and visit a variety of beautiful locations, which she fondly remembered and told many stories about.
Eventually, Denise was coaxed by her son, Paul, to relocate to the beautiful Hood River Valley in 1998, where she worked at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital and Hawks Ridge Assisted Living Center prior to retiring.
Although her last years were spent in declining health, Denise never missed a beat and loved spending time with her close friends and family. In addition to cooking and entertaining she also loved crafting and glazing a wide variety of ceramics, along with knitting all forms of clothing accessories.
Above all else, Denise had a love of life and enduring sense of humor that was nothing short of inspirational to those who had the privilege of enjoying life with her. She will be dearly missed by all.
She is survived by her son, Paul Berty, and his wife, Jessica; son Christopher Berty, and granddaughter, Tiffany, along with her daughter, Paige, and husband, Bill.
Denise's ashes will be laid to rest next to her parents and brother in the family cemetery plot in Gardnerville, Nev., later this spring.
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Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET) is the third largest diversified healthcare provider, serving 35.3 million people in the United States and earning $34.2 billion in 2010 revenues.[1] [2] Aetna sells a wide range of health and life insurance products categorized as health, dental, pharmacy, group life, disability, and long-term care. Aetna essentially sells protection from risk: as an insurer, is agrees to pay for a percentage of its customers' medical expenses in exchange for a fee, called the premium. The basic business plan is to offer clients a premium based on the the expected cost of caring for them, plus a markup for administrative costs and profit. Aetna's greatest challenge has been to maintain a profitable membership in light of increasing unemployment and U.S. health care reform.[3]
Aetna sells health insurance to over 35.3 million people in the United States, making it the third largest national healthcare provider.[4] Roughly 88% of Aetna's revenue comes from the health care premiums it charges its customers.[5] The remainder comes from pension management fees and from investment income.[6] Aetna operates its business in three markets: health care, life insurance, and large case pensions.[6]
AET's Group Insurance Business includes group life, disability and long-term care products. Further, AET's Large Case Pensions business unit manages a variety of discontinued and other retirement and savings products.[7]
|Income Statement for FY 2006-2009 (Dollars in millions)
|Income from Continuing Operations
|Net Income
|Net realized capital (losses) gains
Aetna conducts its business in three areas: health care, group insurance, and large case pensions. Each segment is distinct and offers separate products and services.[6]
Most of Aetna's 19 million medical members are privately insured, while government-run Medicare and Medicaid do not represent a large part of Aetna's business portfolio. Aetna's medical membership is concentrated mainly in large (over 50 members) employer health plans (85%), followed by small employer plans (6%), Medicaid (5%), Medicare (2%), and individual plans (2%). [11]
With President Obama signing into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the much awaited and much debated health reform law came into place. Several of its provisions will affect Aetna and other insurers. The overall effect, however, remains to be seen.
The law includes a large number of health-related provisions to take effect over the next four years, including expanding Medicaid eligibility, subsidizing insurance premiums, providing incentives for businesses to provide health care benefits, prohibiting denial of coverage/claims based on pre-existing conditions, establishing health insurance exchanges, and support for medical research. The costs of these provisions are offset by a variety of taxes, fees, and cost-saving measures, such as new Medicare taxes for high-income brackets, taxes on indoor tanning, cuts to the Medicare Advantage program in favor of traditional Medicare, and fees on medical devices and pharmaceutical companies; there is also a tax penalty for citizens who do not obtain health insurance (unless they are exempt due to low income or other reasons).
The expansion of Medicaid together with the health insurance mandate and premium subsidies are projected to expand insurance to 32 million Americans without coverage. Aetna, as one of the the largest insurers as well as one of the largest Medicaid contractors, stands to benefit from this. [12]
The law will end the practices of refusing to cover patients with pre-existing conditions. This will likely lead to an increase in premium costs; however, given that the rule applies across the board, it may not hurt insurers' competitive positioning. The mandate for employers to coverage for dependents of employees who don't have access to other employer-based health care coverage until the age of 26 is also likely to result in premium hikes. [13]
Cuts to Medicare Advantage program reimbursements may hurt Aetna, with its 440,000 MA enrollees, in the short term. In the long term, Aetna may lose out still more: as MA beneficiary premiums increase to reflect lower government reimbursements, Medicare patients may migrate to less profitable Prescription Drug Plans and opt to receive their medical benefits from the traditional government-run Medicare program. The health care law will also effectively begin to cap insurance company profits in 2011. Insurers will be required to spend 85% of large-group and 80% of small-group plan premiums on medical costs, or else improve health-care quality or return the difference to customers in the form of a rebate. However, Wellpoint reportedly reclassified certain administrative expenses--$500 million dollars worth--in a way that increased its medical loss ratio. In January, Wellpoint began costs such as as nurse hotlines, "medical management," and "clinical health policy," under medical benefits. Thus, the impact remains to be seen.[14]
The 2008 economic crisis has impacted unemployment rates up to current, with unemployment rates reaching at around 9-10% levels -- the highest it has been in a quarter-century.[15] As unemployment increases, laid off workers lose access to employer-based health care. This subsequent decrease in health care expenditure impacts health care providers and the health care industry at large by decreasing their membership.[16] As a result, health insurers has seen a decrease in growth in net income and operating earnings, especially in its health care market.
Rising healthcare cost is a major concern for health insurance companies, and trends show healthcare costs for U.S. businesses rising 9%. These rising medical costs combine with the recession and increased unemployment to create a "tug-of-war" between the need to raise premiums and the downtrend on enrollment and willingness of consumers and business to pay high premiums.[17] These competing pressures are having the overall effect of lowering all health insurers' revenues and margins. Health insurer's ability to mitigate the negative effects of rising healthcare and unemployment will be critical to it's ability to maintain strong earnings and compete in the health insurance industry.
Aetna differentiates itself from other players in the industry by offering improved communications to customers, especially those purchasing employer-based health care. [18] Aetna offers information management services to its customers in all areas, especially in the Health Care market.


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Wouldn't that be nice if another 4th round pick turn out to be very much like Jannik Hansen?When Blomstrand was drafted, Laurence Gilman described him as "very much like Jannik Hansen." Considering how Hansen has developed to become a legitimate offensive threat and is currently third in scoring with the Canucks, that's high praise. Maybe a little too high, as Gilman wasn't necessarily speaking of his offensive upside: "He's a tremendous skater who plays with some level of tenacity. We think he can be a solid two-way guy in the NHL."