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Should 'Too Big to Fail' Be Done Away With?
Nate is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
A new bill moving through the Senate aims at restricting big banks' ability to risk on the taxpayers' dime.
At least that's what the bill's sponsors say. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and David Vitter (R-LA) have proposed that large banks – those with more than $500 billion in assets – be required to maintain capital equal to 15% of their assets at all times. If a bank has between $50 and $500 billion in assets it would have to maintain capital reserves of at least 8% of assets. The act is designed to ensure that such banks would never again need taxpayer bailouts after losses like the those during the recent financial crisis.
The big banks are, of course, screaming like stuck pigs. Industry groups are saying that new, voluntary controls that were put in place after the collapse already provide a guarantee and that legislation isn't necessary. Senator Brown has stated that if the large banks don't want to be governed by the bill they can reduce their assets until they are no longer regulated by it. Unsurprisingly, the industry doesn't find that statement comforting. The idea of restricting the amount of money that banks can lend – and therefore raising interest rates marginally for available lending – is enough to anger them.
Truly too big?
The act is broadly written, but in the end it comes down to just a few banks that have earned the ire of the taxpayers – and therefore Brown and Vitter.
JP Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) is one. Five years after the collapse and Chase is now insisting that the company didn't need a bailout back in 2008 and 2009. Still, rock star CEO Jamie Dimon's firm did accept both loans and TARP money during that time after risky loan losses placed the bank on shaky ground. Last year's enormous trading loss didn't make the case that the bank was behaving better. Still, there's solid share growth of 57% since last June and 2012 net profit of 21.94%.
Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) is a shakier bank than JPM. Not that it's in danger, really. But it didn't come out of the banking crisis in near as good shape. The bank took more than $40 billion through TARP and received guarantees that the government would help with $119 billion in potential losses on bad loans the firm made. Toss in the ongoing troubles with the acquisition of Countrywide and 2010 accusations of fraud in how it handled some muni bonds and it's been rough. Still, even through that, the bank has seen solid profitability and share growth. While only seeing a net margin of 5.03% in 2012, shares still grew 47.25% over the last twelve months. I'd take Chase before Bank of America, sure, but I wouldn't turn away from it either.
Maybe a little less big
Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) is a less traditional bank that could be impacted. Not so much a bank for the public, Goldman is more focused on investment banking than providing home loans and checking. Still, Brown and Vitter's legislation also seeks to control how large banks can account for investments and derivatives, and that could cramp Goldman's style and reduce its ability to make money. For investors, Goldman came through the bad times well with significant government help. But now it's profitable – 17.94% in 2012 – and the shares grew 28.01% in the last year.
Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) is one people know but not in the eye of the storm. By market cap, Wells Fargo is the largest bank in the US, coming in at $197.48 billion. That didn't stop Wells Fargo from needing $25 billion or more in help during the late unpleasantness, though. The bank took $25 billion worth of stabilization money in 2008 but redeemed it by the end of 2009. More than most, Wells Fargo came through the crisis well. Still, shares recently haven't been performing as well as some others. With a value growth of only 13.15% over the last year, it's actually underperformed the S&P even though net profit has been 22.50%.
Coping with it all
There are many hurdles for Brown-Vitter to overcome before it can become law. Opposition pops up from other legislators who think existing law – Dodd-Frank isn't fully implemented yet – can take care of the issue. Others seem to think that federal regulators can raise the needed capital requirements. Still, this is an issue that isn't going away – it's just too juicy a political target for politicians to shoot at. Best guess is that, even if the bill makes it through congress, it'll be watered down and limit some bank lending and investment types. That'll have a marginal effect on bank profits and activities. It should be enough to put some limit on investors' willingness to buy bank shares, but not enough to crash them.
Good luck!
Follow Nate on Twitter: @natewooley
More columns by Nate Wooley:
- Wounding Online Shopping for Taxes
- BlackBerry Hot Off the Post and Playing to (Sort of) Win
- Why Earnings Season Is Bad for Investors
Nate Wooley has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo. The Motley Fool owns shares of Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Wells Fargo. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is this post wrong? Click here. Think you can do better? Join us and write your own!


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Dean "Dino" Segovis is a self-taught hardware hacker and maker from Pinehurst, NC. In 2011, he developed the Hack A Week website, where he challenges himself to create and post weekly DIY projects. Dino and I recently talked about some … Continue reading
Category Archives: Interviews
Scott Garman is more than just a Linux software engineer. He is also heavily involved with the Yocto Project, an open-source collaboration that provides tools for the embedded Linux industry. In 2013, Scott helped Intel launch the MinnowBoard, the company's … Continue reading
Engineers are inherently imaginative. I recently spoke with Andrew Godbehere, an Electrical Engineering PhD candidate at the University of California, Berkeley, about how his ideas become realities, his design process, and his dream project. —Nan Price, Associate Editor NAN: You … Continue reading
John Blankenship has spent decades teaching robotics—and written many books on the subject. His love of teaching inspired him to co-develop the RobotBASIC robot programming language. I recently caught up with John to discuss some highlights from his teaching career … Continue reading
Marilyn Wolf has created embedded computing techniques, co-founded two companies, and received several Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) distinctions. She is currently teaching at Georgia Institute of Technology's School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and researching smart-energy grids.—Nan … Continue reading

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text: Warning: Declaration of vB_ProfileBlock_vBSEOLikes::block_is_enabled() should be compatible with that of vB_ProfileBlock::block_is_enabled() in ..../vbseo/includes/functions_vbseo_ui_profile.php on line 52 View Profile: Kaiyla Bradford - Cartographers' Guild Remember Me? Register Help Home What's New? Forum Forum Home New Posts FAQ Calendar Community Groups Albums Member List Forum Actions Mark Forums Read Quick Links Today's Posts View Site Leaders Donate Blogs Gallery Album Gallery Picture Gallery Advanced Search Member List Kaiyla Bradford Kaiyla Bradford Guild Novice Facebook Connected Find latest posts Find latest started threads View Articles View Blog Entries Likes Received (1) Likes Given (0) Mini Statistics Join Date 12-01-2012 Last Activity 12-03-2012 08:37 PM Blog Entries 0 Recent Visitors The last 3 visitor(s) to this page were: jbgibson, Larb, Mark Oliva This page has had 278 visits Tab Content Kaiyla Bradford's Activity About Me Post AreasLikes Given Tab Content All Kaiyla Bradford Friends Photos New Activity () Please reload this page to view the 200+ new activity items that have been created. Older Activity More Activity No More Results No Recent Activity About Kaiyla Bradford Basic Information Date of Birth September 25, 1979 (35) About Kaiyla Bradford Biography: I'm a geek. I play Dungeons and Dragons. I like video games. I think Star Trek, the original, Next Generation, and DS9 was awesome. Anything after that I really hate. Enterprise has too much time travel and no moral story with rock and roll for theme music. I think the original Star Wars was excellent. I'm also a gearhead, I drive a truck, I own lots of tools, including a complete DeWalt 18 volt set of tools. I know how to use a spanner. I can build stuff. I love getting dirty and greasy, I know how to tear apart any engine and put it back together. I hate liars. I hate bugs hitting my windshield as I drive my semi across the USA and Canada. I hate the heat, I wish I lived on the North or South Pole during the summer time. I love all kinds of music, especially classical, Janis Joplin, Bob Marley, Jewel, lynyrd skynyrd, guns and roses, and even Eminem or Lonely Island. But my all time favorite song is Bob Marley's song, Don't Worry, everything's gonna be all right! Interests: Polyamory, Polygamy LGBT, The Order of the Stick, Giant in the playground, Philosophy, Honor Harring Occupation: Truck Driver, Local Delivery Driver Statistics Total Posts Total Posts 8 Posts Per Day 0.01 General Information Last Activity 12-03-2012 08:37 PM Join Date 12-01-2012 Referrals 0 Post Areas Top Areas Of Posting 0 Likes -- Cartographer -- Default Mobile Style Contact Us Cartographers' Guild Archive Advertising Top All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:32 PM. Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.2 Copyright © 2014 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved. Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.1 Site Copyright © Robbie Powell 2006-2014All posted content is the sole property of the poster and may not be reused without permission, except for cross-site promotions.Digital Point modules: Sphinx-based search


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text: Comments on: Progress Kentucky official lawyers up, blames colleague Back to the article » By Sean Higgins | April 12, 2013 | 12:00 am Catching up on the latest developments in the secret and possibly illegal taping of a private meeting of Sen. Mitch McConnell's, R-Ky., campaign staff, Progress Kentucky official Shawn Reilly is now pinning the blame for the recording on another official at the liberal superPAC, Curtis Morrison. Louisville, Ky., station WHAS has the story: "Mr. Reilly is completely... Web URL: http://washingtonexaminer.com/article/2527008 Share this article on Facebook or Twitter Print this article


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Adrenaline Men's Stars Lacrosse HatItem Number: 30767536
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Show everyone patriotism is your thing in the Adrenaline® Men's Stars Lacrosse Hat. The structured, six-panel design comes complete with contrast-colored eyelets for ventilation. Repping your favorite lacrosse brand has never been easier with the Adrenaline® logo and two embroidered stars on the front. Wear the visor flat or curved and stay stylish on and off the field with this Adrenaline® hat.
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This is an unusual early 1900s Italian 800 silver mans lava cameo cufflinks and tie clip set. Each piece is marked 800 for silver content. The cufflinks are set with gray beige carved warrior heads facing in opposite directions. The tie clip has a matching warrior head. The lava cameo on the tie clip is removable. It slides off leaving you with a simple bar with bright cut design. The removed cameo can also be worn as a slide if you have a band or ribbon to slide it onto, in which case a gentleman could wear the cufflinks and his lady friend could wear the cameo slide on a ribbon as a choker necklace.
The combined weight is 16.5 gr. Each cameo in its setting measures just under .75" in diameter. The tie clip bar is 2.125" x .25".
Condition: One cufflink warrior has a tiny chip on the top of the crest over his helmet.
Though most lava cameos I find date from the 1800s, this set appears to be from the early Art Deco period. The set would be a fine addition to a cufflink collection.
Item ID: J14lcs214
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Nourishment: Arm Yourself!
A lot of people have asked me what they really need in their kitchen in order to cook. Some are moving into a new apartment, and some are moving into a new place in their life where they simply want to start cooking.
There are a few simple tools you need to get started, and why not do it this month, when inviting people in from the cold for a home-cooked meal is a ducky thing to do?
Your first assignment is to look through any knives you have. If you have some good-quality knives, they're probably dull – get them sharpened. Most kitchenware stores will do this for a small fee. Make sure the person sharpening your knives knows what they're doing. Many shoe-shine/key-making type joints offer knife-sharpening. Be very careful. Many a knife has been ruined this way.
Pots & Pans
Next, go through your pots and pans and get rid of any cheap aluminum pans that make you feel like you're camping, you know the ones.
If you're starting from scratch, or want to start over, this is what you need:
1) Knives
Newsflash: you don't need all the knives that come in those silly knife-blocks they try to sell you at Bed Bath & Beyond and Macy's. Don't fall for it! It's clutter. All you really need to get started is an 8"-10" chef's knife and a good sharp paring knife. But don't skimp – your knife should last many years.
I like Henckels' Four-Star series because the handle is a little soft and it fits my hand well. Most professional Japanese knives are also good. Trust me, you want a sharp knife. And that means two things: buying a sharp knife, and keeping it sharp.
2) Cookware
Do yourself a favor and buy a nice 10" sauté pan and a good 3 or 4-quart saucepan.
Just start there, and see how you like it.
I use All-Clad's Master Chef line, which has the brushed aluminum exterior. It's not fussy, it's heavy-duty, and it's relatively inexpensive for a good-quality professional-grade piece of cookware. The best prices I've seen are at Cookware & More – if you don't mind very minor blemishes on the pans. Prices are deeply discounted. A Master-Chef 10" frypan (skillet) is $57 - retail is $85.
If you don't want to buy your pans online, and you live in NYC, go to:
I avoid places like Williams-Sonoma and Crate & Barrel; why not support the little guy? – it's in line with cooking at home, buying organic, and eating slowly. Both Broadway Panhandler and Bridge Kitchenware are family-owned businesses that have been in the city for years. Their staffs are knowledgeable.
Support them.
Both stores also have great knife departments, and the Broadway Panhandler offers inexpensive knife-sharpening.
Get ready… you're set… it's time to start cooking.
What can you cook with two knives and two pans? Write us! It's that time of year! skgr
13 Comments
Wait a sec... you need a cutting board for knife use...
Well, you could try cooking Irish oatmeal each morning... 1/4 cup dry for a single serving, in a small pan, with just under a pint of fresh water. Add a piece of crystalized ginger you diced with your chef's knife, some raisins or currants, and peel an apple (just beacause it's seasonal) with your paring knife, dice once again with the chef's knife and toss it in at the end... it'll cook too much if you add it at the start. YUM. Now get to the subway quick, because Irish oatmeal takes 30 minutes to cook!
BTW... you can cool it down real fast by throwing in frozen blueberries rather than raisins and apples.
Obviously there are loads of things for oatmeal...
toasted nuts, any fresh or dried fruit, spices, milk, butter, chocolate chips, cider... A few years ago the times published a recipe for spiced Irish oatmeal with pumpkin, banana and toasted walnuts. Holy Mother of God, talk about good.
Whoops... If you have a can of pumpkin in your new kitchen you will need a can opener in addition to the knives, pots, and cutting board.
So look at that, you're cookin' in the morning. Now you need coffee to wash it all down.
P.S.>>> KEY thing is to soak the oatmeal pot before you run to the subway or the oatmeal residue in the pot turns to cement while you're at work and it's a nightmare to clean.
I'm not sure a chef's knife and paring knife are *all* you need. A bread knife is a must (if you eat bread), and some steak knives if you don't want to cut your tougher foods with your paring knife.
Master Chef, while great, is the only non-dishwasher safe All-Clad. The stainless steel line is a bit more, but you can put it in the dishwasher after dinner.
Knife Man (best around but takes 3-5 days)
Henry Westpfal & Co.
105 West 30th Street
does anyone have any knife-sharpener recommendations for brooklyn? i've got the gorgeous knives, but, man, have they dulled! it's hard to get your cooking bearings when your knives blow, as y'all no doubt already know.
Thanks for the knife man recommendation. Does anyone know how to contact the mobile knife man on the Upper West Side?
I got a great old chef's knife at a thrift store a decade ago, and it IS all you need. It's carbon steel, and not exactly pretty, but it holds its edge like a dream and is well balanced for everything. I get a lot of ribbing from friends for having only a small machete for a cooking knife, but the size and weight are really critical.
Oh, and bread knives really aren't necessary. A good, sharp knife will slice through the bread without compressing it.
I have a paring knife somewhere...
There was a mobile knife man who would drive around Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill/B. Heights too, sort of like an ice-cream truck, with a loud bell. I wonder if its the same person as on the UWS? He used a grinding wheel rather than a stone, which made me a little nervous, but it was so nice to just run outside with the knife you were cooking with and return with it sharpened. He also did ice skates and lawnmowers.
Why would anyone put their pots and pans in the dishwasher?!?!?! My stepmother has put her *very* expensive Sabatier knife set in the dishwasher for the last couple of years, despite my loud protests, and now of course all their handles are falling off.....jeez.
You guys need to learn how to sharpen your knives yourselves, seriously. It is VERY easy. There ARE books at the public library, ya know.
Anyone who has dabbled in fine woodworking knows that tool sharpening is an elusive art that takes a lifetime to master (I think the Japanese have laws about this). Often forgetting that a nice vegetable is way more forgiving than a nice piece of wood, we leave the pursuit of the Perfect Edge to the pros...
As any surgeon can tell you, a pair of scissors is often handier than a knife for many settings (and safer), including the kitchen. Arista Surgical Supply on Lexington (near 26th) has display bins of good instruments where you can find a good stainless scissors for about $10-12. I frequently buy them as gifts for friends, and they end up using them all the time in the kitchen.


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Kyle Kacal hasn't yet assumed office as a Texas state representative, but he is already proving that he belongs in office with some of the other legislators who have spent too much time in the Texas sun.
Kacal is a rancher and operates a hunting business. He should understand guns. Instead, he is an expert on ping-pong or not.
"I've heard of people being killed playing ping-pong—ping-pongs are more dangerous than guns," he says. "Flat-screen TVs are injuring more kids today than anything."
Nope, not an Onion story. Kacal really said that. Ping-pong balls kill people, not guns, not people. Or is it the paddles that he is talking about?
With that in mind, the state of Texas is waiting for Kacal to introduce his first bill – the abolition of table tennis. Maybe he won't do that, but he must do something about flat-screen TVs, right?
Actually, falling flat-screen TVs are dangerous for kids, especially those under the age of six. Kacal said more than that though. He claims that they are more dangerous than anything to kids. A little hyperbole never hurt anyone at least.
Having informed the world of the dangers of ping-pong, Kacal explained why there is no need for more gun laws.
"People know what they need to do to be safe. We don't need to legislate that—it's common sense," he said. "Once everyone's gun is locked up, then the bad guys know everyone's gun is locked up."
Speaking of dangers to kids six and under, Kacal should explain that "common sense" to the parents of the children who perished at Sandy Hook Elementary.


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shop with us @ www.shopnativela.com
Ashish Spring RTW 2014
As a devoted member of the Olsen's cult following, I was trying to remember the last time I took summer style inspiration from them… They're usually clad in boots, fur and leather. So this morning I woke up with the strange urge to see them in cut offs, did a little research and found a couple images. Anyone want to send me more, feel free!
takin it to the streets #denim #jacket #stripes
New #nla #spring13 scarves just in
Old skool kicks kinda day….got my vans on but they look like sneakers!
oooo new goods!
Do we love this backpack?
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Director of Comedy Central's Key & Peele and other moving images.
You can find more at my website , my vimeo, my twitter
The most hilarious thing I've ever seen is this thank-you card my mom's friend received from her nephew. She really does need to stop doing plastic surgery tho.


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Modern classics for gracious living
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If a mix of exotic styles and taste is what speaks most to you, this Ankara Adana Square Throw Pillow by Koko is the accessory for your sofa. A touch of camouflage pattern, a hint of ikat, and a lot of Turkish-styled panache. Part of the Koko Ankara Collection, the Adana Square Throw Pillow features a quirky pattern of dusky blue, deep plum, and khaki taupe shapes that brings instant class and color to your couch or armchair. Throw pillows give a room personality, and Koko's Ankara Adana Square Throw Pillow surely has the makings of an intriguing conversation-starter!
Nine Space
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Categories > Anime/Manga > Fruits Basket > Photographs
Photographs1 Reviews
Missing Moment. What does Hatori do the night after learning of Kanna's wedding?
She was careful as she made her way downstairs. Careful to go slowly and nearly silently. Careful not to trip. Careful not to wake anyone else. It really was very late and she certainly did not wish to wake anyone else. They all needed their rest.
In the kitchen, Tohru got a cup from the cupboard before getting a drink from the faucet. The house was dark and silent. As she sipped her water, she listened to the house softly creak and groan. She listened to the night noises as the bugs sang to each other and the frogs croaked. As she refilled her cup for a second drink, an owl hooted in the distance.
Then, she heard a strange noise. It was so soft that at first Tohru doubted that she had heard it at all. Still, she shut off the tap and held perfectly still, her cup of water forgotten in her hand, as she shifted all of her concentration to her ears. With every fiber of her being, Tohru listened to the night noises, listening for something out of place. She pushed the soft noises made by a house at night from her mind. She ignored the bugs and frogs. For long moments, nothing new filtered into her system. An owl hooted, much closer this time. Tohru jump, her heart racing.
The jump caused the cup in Tohru's hand to jerk violently, which in turn made the water slosh over the edge of the cup, down her hand, and onto the floor below. Even as her free hand pressed itself to her pounding heart, Tohru looked at the spilled water in dismay. For a moment, a very short moment, Tohru considered leaving the water as it was and going back to bed. Surely it would evaporate before anyone woke up in the morning. But/, whispered a tiny corner of her mind, /what if someone else wants water tonight? What if Kyo-kun wants a drink of milk? What if it isn't gone before morning and Yuki-kun doesn't see it? He isn't really awake in the morning... What if someone slips on the mess you've made and falls and hurts himself?
Just thinking about causing injury to one of the Sohmas made Tohru feel terribly guilty. Carefully she put her cup on the counter and went to get a rag from a drawer. As she was mopping the small puddle up, Tohru heard the small, indefinable noise again. This time, though, she was sure that it had come from the outside porch. For one, heart-stopping moment, she thought it was Jason the bear, come to eat her and the Sohmas.
Then, unbidden, from her memory rose two reassuring voices. True, they were raised and in the midst of arguing with each other, but to her, they were two of the most reassuring voices in the world.
"I'll tell you that Jason is not real but a character in a horror movie!"
"How would I know? What's the big deal about a bear that appears in a horror movie?"
Feeling reassured and safe, Tohru rose and moved to investigate the source of the noise. She made sure to be as quiet as she could. If it was a wild animal, she did not want to disturb it or scare it away.
It was even darker outside and it took a moment for her eyes to pick any details out but when she realized what she was looking at, Tohru gasped softly. Outside, sitting alone in the dark was Hatori, sobbing softly as if his world had ended. He was curled up in the corner between the side of the breakfast table, the railing of the porch, and the back of the bench, his knees against his chest, his arms around his shins, his head resting on his knees. He looked so much younger as he sat on the bench in the dark, trying to hold himself, trying to cry silently.
For a moment, Tohru stood stock still, gripped in indecision. Should she go outside and try to comfort Hatori? But Hatori was such a private person... perhaps he wished to be alone. Perhaps he would be angry or embarrassed to know that Tohru had seen him when he was vulnerable. He probably went outside so as not to wake anyone. Hatori was kind and thoughtful like that. But he looked so hurt...
Unbidden, a memory of herself, sobbing at the bedside of her dying mother rose in her mind. At first she had wanted to be alone. Her heart hurt so much, she thought she would die of it. But then, she had wanted someone to hold her, to love her and comfort her because it would never be better, it would never be okay, and she did not wish to be alone anymore. And she was about to become more alone than she could ever possibly have imagined... If Arisa and Saki had not ignored her wishes... If they had not come in because they loved her too much to leave her alone...
She opened the sliding glass door. It made a small noise as it slid by on its rollers. The wooden deck made a soft noise as she stepped onto it, her feet bare.
Hatori must have heard the door open and her footsteps on the deck. Raggedly he tried to swallow his sobs even as he roughly, angrily, swiped at his eyes. Hatori didn't bother to look up at his late night visitor.
"Hatori-san..." she breathed.
"Go back to bed Tohru-kun."
He had moved his face enough so that his voice would not be muffled. His voice was calm, cold even, and ruthlessly collected. It was a sharp contrast to his body language.
For a moment, Tohru wavered with indecision. Then, almost without her permission, her hand rose and closed the door to the porch, shutting herself and Hatori outside. Now she could not got back, even if she wanted to. Tohru prayed that she found the right thing to say, the right thing to do.
"Hatori-san -"
Her voice was tentative. Hatori interrupted her.
"I'm fine." He reassured her briskly. He put a special emphasis on his next three words. "Go back inside."
He still would not look at her. And he was still ensconced in the cold comfort of his corner. He shifted his head slightly and Tohru could see silent tears tracking down his face by the faint glow of the moon and stars. Her resolve hardened. She would not leave Hatori to cry alone in the dark.
"Hatori-san" she said for the third time, her voice firm yet very gentle.
"Please Tohru!" There was a soft note of desperation underlying the harshness of his voice. Tohru flinched from the tone of his voice. He never looked at her but he must have somehow sensed her movement because he tried to moderate his tone for her. He was not particularly successful. "Please... Please go inside. I'll... I'll be fine."
She studied him for a long moment. Despite everything, he still had not moved anything except for his head. And he still refused to so much as look in her direction. Finally she spoke; her voice was soft and warm with love and compassion. All of it was directed toward Hatori.
"I cannot leave Hatori-san alone in the dark. I care too much about him to leave him alone when he seems so sad. If he would let me, I would hold him against his sorrow. Hatori-san would not have to tell me what has happened. I would be content to be near him."
Hatori's head jerked up, longing and pain, desperate hope and denial mixing on his face.
"The curse, Tohru-kun."
His voice was dull.
Tohru's heart constricted even as she took the few remaining steps until she was standing at the foot of the bench.
"I could hold you without setting off the curse, Hatori-san."
He was still for a moment more. Then he unfolded himself from his corner and slowly, clumsily, crawled down the length of the bench, towards Tohru. Tendrils of his long hair hung in his face; his good eye was fixed on her despite the locks of his hair. As he drew nearer, Tohru saw the silvery tracks on his face. He had never truly stopped crying. Not even while they spoke to one another.
When he reached the edge of the bench, he sat on his knees, looking unsure. Tohru leaned closer and tugged at his knees, wordlessly telling him to sit facing her. Sliding around on the bench, he moved so that he sat on the end of it, his feet planted on the deck. On one side was the side of the table, on the other, the back of the bench. And in front of him was Tohru.
Tohru who opened her arms and pulled him close to her. Tohru who's abdomen he found his face pressed into, her arms around his shoulders. He sagged against her, his arms coming up and around her hips. His lower legs were all but twined with hers they were so close together. And yet, his upper body was safely out of contact with hers. He would remain in his human form.
Tohru felt him stiffen against her as his harsh sobs began once again, this time muffled against her body instead of his knees.
"Shhhhhh... It's all right to cry Hatori-san. Don't be afraid. Everyone cries and everyone needs to be held. It doesn't make you any less than you are, or any weaker, that you want to be held while you cry. You are still Hatori-san. I will always like you, just the way you are. I will always hold you when you need to be held."
He began to cry again in earnest, his arms tightening almost painfully around her. Tohru made no complaint. Instead, she tightened her arms around his shoulders and soothingly ran the fingers of one hand through the hair at the back of his head.
Hatori cried for a long time. Even after he stopped crying, he stayed where he was, his face pressed into her abdomen, his arms tightly wrapped around her hips. Tohru never let go of him.
Finally, in the wee hours of the day, as the world began to sleepily shift in anticipation of a new day and the darkness became just a little less dark, Hatori shifted slightly, his arms loosening just a bit. Following his silent lead, Tohru loosened her grip on him. She looked down at him, searching his tear-ravaged face. But Hatori caught her gaze for less than a fraction of a second before he looked away, his gaze skittering from the wet spot on her pajamas to the deck beneath his feet. His arms dropped from her hips completely.
Tohru let go of his shoulders. Instead she moved her hands so that they captured his. Hatori gave a tiny start of surprise. Tohru tugged on his hands and obediently he stood. When she shifted her grip so that she only held one hand in his, he took the opportunity to swipe certain photos off of the table. Tohru pretended not to see the movement as she led him into the house. She never let go of his hand as she led him to the kitchen. With her free hand, she gestured for him to sit down in a chair in the kitchen. Then she left him, moving about the kitchen with a quiet confidence. Soon, she presented him with a mug of hot chocolate complete with tiny marshmallows.
They sat in silence as they drank their respective hot chocolates. Then she put the mugs in the sink along with her used water cup, forgotten on the counter a lifetime ago, and returned to take Hatori's hand again. Tohru tugged him out of his seat, then walked him upstairs and to his bedroom door.
"We should brush our teeth" Hatori said at last, his voice low and hoarse. "That hot chocolate will be bad for them."
Tohru smiled gently. "We could skip it. Just this once."
Hatori was silent again for a moment. Then nodded.
"Just this once."
He seemed reluctant to let go of her hand, lingering in the hallway for long moments. Then, with a soft sigh, he let her go as he opened the door to his room. He gave her a serious look from the doorway to his bedroom.
"Tohru I -"
But this time, she interrupted him.
"Good night, Hatori-san."
And with that, she turned and walked away, headed down the hallway towards her own room. She felt his eyes watching her until she slipped into her own room; heard the soft click of Hatori's door shutting only after she was out of his line of sight.
Tohru carefully rearranged her covers then slipped into bed.
She slept late the next day.
Hatori slept even later.


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text:
Daggy photo, but I want to document the END (yay) of 2011.
2012 is going to be my lucky year
Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Dear Tumblr Buddy,
I am SO sorry for taking a ridiculously and inexcusably long amount of time to post these pics of the gift you sent me during (Australian) summer. I loved the present. I wore the sunnies til they stretched (and then I fixed them, phew) and I'm wearing the shoes a lot. The dress is great too - I'm adjusting it a bit.
A few things came apart around the same time. My camera broke late last year - finally it got fixed in March. My email got hacked, and I lost the account - I haven't had any non-work account emails in months. I never managed to recover the account. TB, and all friends, if you emailed me lately and received no reply - sorry. (My new email is my first and second name together at gmail, by the way…). With the camera out, and no email (plus I lost FB access, apart from on my iPod), I kind of went offline. This is the first time I have used my laptop for non-work since Christmas.
I thought life would get better this year, and it hasn't. I've disliked my job and disliked life outside of work for so long that eventually I've arrived at the point where I dislike myself too. I haven't been doing outfit posts because I don't want to see myself.
I wish this post were a sign of being over all that - but actually, the camera is fixed and I'm guilt-ridden over not having posted these TB present photos sooner. I'm really sorry for being so slow on the photo upload, TB.
To any friends reading this, regarding my stuck-in-dried-cement problem; don't worry. If I'm not sorted out job-wise and in a new city by end of June, I'll be giving away my dog (ouch) and moving to somewhere (who knows where) and job hunting. I'll get unstuck soon. In the meantime; sorry for being offline.
Sorry again TB. I'm so out of contact with everything online, I don't even know if Tumblr Buddies is still rolling or over?? If/when it is over - would love if you could contact me with your details so I can send you something from Laos.
Daggy photo, but I want to document the END (yay) of 2011.
2012 is going to be my lucky year
My tumblr buddy is amazing! I came home from dinner with friends to find this surprise floral-crockery arrangement.
T.B. - my friends asked how could you know my taste so well? Good job!
I got a package from my Tumblr Buddy (a while ago, I'm slow to post - sorry TB). How exciting! Whoever she is, she clicked on to what I like pretty fast! Vintage scarves (one is tied onto my bag, and the other in the photo below) and a toy for the Poodle. Poodle LOVES the toy - but too much so. Pablo the Platypus is now in dog-toy hospital getting his stuffing stuffed back in and his side sewn up. Don't worry – he is up for another few rounds of being whipped about and flung in the air.
Worn: Monday, 31st October 2011
It's been a while between posts on this blog. Let's blame work.
Top: Forever 21, Bangkok; Skirt: vintage from Modern Vintage, Camden, London; Shoes: Dorothy Perkins, London; Rose brooch: vintage, Brick Lane Markets, London; Watch: Seiko
Photos by Saeng
Saturday, 22nd October 2011
It's Spring in Australia. I really miss home, so I did some e-window shopping for what I'd be wearing if I was in Perth, enjoying the mild sun, blue skies and wildflowers.
Clockwise: Pudding Pie Bag, Modcloth; Floral Lace Dress, Forever 21; While You Waited Floral Dress, Modcloth; Purr-fect Pairing Bolero, Modcloth; Sandy Dandy Heel, Modcloth
All items are under $55. I really love that cream lace dress!
Worn: Thursday, 14th October 2011
Iris from 260 Days, No Repeats is hosting a visual Fashion Beauty Friend Friday link up. She asked us to wear a quintessential Fall outfit.
I've always been interested/amused/confused by the American obsession with seasons. Americans even mark time by seasons (American colleague: "Remember the field trip we did in the Spring?" Me: "Spring, in Laos… would be… when?!"). I think Fall is the most talked about season by Americans (Europeans seem more interested in Summer). Fall - Autumn - is not a significant season in Perth, where I'm from. The leaves stay on our evergreen trees, and the weather is just not quite hot, not quite cold. Spring makes itself known through the amazing wildflowers; summer is hot and dry, with burning sunshine and a revered sea breeze; and cold temperatures identifies winter, despite the continuous blue skies.
I spent a year driving in a van across the United States and Canada. I experienced the spring wildflowers in the Utah Canyonlands, summer in the west coast and Midwest, and, at the end of my trip, autumn in Vermont and Quebec. Finally I understood the northern American obsession with Fall! The colour of the fallen leaves was incredible, the forest canopy was a mass of green, yellow, golden and red leaves.
Top: Chatuchak Market, Bangkok; Shorts: KT Fashion, Vientiane; Scarf: H&M, Beijing; Shoes: store in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; Sunnies: Dorothy Perkins, London; Hat: Camden Markets, London
This post on seasons is timely. Here in Laos it is Boat Racing Festival, which marks the end of the wet season: a transitional time of hot dry weather with occasional storms. In Laos the seasons blend into one another. It's been raining endlessly, but somehow, the days are getting dry and hot, by December the temperatures will cool a little, then rise again in March, and before I know it, the rains will return.
In a nod to the northern hemisphere, I wore colours that suggest Fall (turning leaves, pumpkin, rich spices). And… ate some pumpkin pie at the Canadian-owned cafe.
Saeng also wore pumpkin colours at Boat Racing.
I really miss the Australian spring, the current season. I miss the wildflowers and the salty sea breeze.
Do seasons have an impact on your year? Is the lack of seasonal change in Laos the reason that time slips by me, unmarked?
Worn: Tuesday, 11th October 2011
Did you see the latest trend, on show at the recent NY Fashion Week - pyjamas as outerwear? If pyjamas can be day-wear, then I'm allowed to start a new trend: muumuus as work-wear.
At first I wasn't convinced this was a muumuu. Maybe just casual beach wear? But then I googled muumuu and came up with: "a loose dress that hangs from the shoulders… brilliantly coloured with floral patterns of generic Polynesian motifs."
Er… that describes half of my wardrobe?
Can we make muumuus-to-work a new trend? Or is it only going to work in say, Laos and Fiji?
Dress Muumuu: Tesco, Bangkok (yup, its a high end muumuu); Cardi: Temt, Australia; Belt: sidewalk stall, Siam Square, Bangkok; Shoes: Dorothy Perkins, online; Sunnies: Forever New, Australia; Watch: Seiko
Photos by Saeng
Last week, I went with friends for high tea at the Mandarin Oriental, on the river in Bangkok.
We took a boat across the river, and walked through the lovely grounds of the hotel.
High tea was served in the Authors' Lounge.
The high tea was soooo good.
We left in the early afternoon, and the sun was sparkling golden on the Chao Phraya. Magic.
Worn: Monday, 3rd October 2011
This is my favourite dress at the moment. I think I wore it three times this week. It's a vintage dress, I'm guessing 1970's, which I picked up at Chatuchak Market the last time I was in Bangkok.
How nice is the tropicana pool-side garden in amongst the high rises at this Bangkok hotel?
Dress: vintage, Chatuchak Market, Bangkok; Shoes: Candish, Tokyo
Rings - owl: present from Monique; red: Holland; rose: sidewalk stall, Siam Square, Bangkok
Photos by Monique


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11. Transparent Persistence
The problem of updating deep object structures was briefly outlined in Structured objects chapter . Update Depth configuration setting gives a user a certain control over the object updating and allows to find a balance between performance and convenient object storage code. However, this balance is far from ideal:
- when update depth is zero, each piece of code should "know" how many levels of objects should be updated; this potentially creates lots of problems when the objects are refactored;
- when update depth is maximum performance can become very poor as many unchanged objects will be stored unnecessary.
The solution to this problem is to let db4o engine decide, which objects were modified and should be stored. This feature was introduced in db4o version 7.1 and was named Transparent Persistence. So how does it work?
1. Database should be configured to use TransparentPersistenceSupport.
2. Persistent classes available for Transparent Persistence must implement Activatable interface. This interface provides a #bind() method to bind an object to the object container's activator.
3. The object is bound to the ObjectContainer when it is first stored or instantiated from the database.
4. When an object field is modified in the runtime, #activate() method is called to register the object to be stored with the next commit. The difference from Transparent Activation is in the activation purpose: ActivationPurpose.WRITE is used for TP.
5. When the transaction is committed or the database is closed, db4o traverses the list of modified Activatable objects and persists them.
Well, that's enough of theory, let's look at an example.
11.1. Transparent Persistence Example
We will use Car and SensorReadout classes from Deep Graphs chapter. These are persistent classes, so if we want to use Transparent Persistence, we should make them "visible" to Transparent Persistence by implementing Activatable interface.
Note, that we've added an activator field, bind and activate methods to implement Activatable interface. In addition to that all methods that read or write object fields has got activate calls with a corresponding purpose.
Similar modifications should be done to the SensorReadout class.
Now we are ready to test how Transparent Persistence work. First we should configure the database to use TransparentPersistenceSupport before storing objects:
Ok, all the objects are stored.
Now, let's retrieve all the stored objects and modify them:
You can see that we do not have to call #store any more - all the objects are stored when #commit is called.
Let's test that the modifications actually reached the database:
Yes, it is all as it should be. If you want to see the difference without Transparent Persistence, run the same examples withoutTransparentPersistenceSupport .
11.2. Transparent Persistence EnhancementAs we saw before enhancement tools can simplify the process for Transparent Activation. The same applies to Transparent Persistence. Actually Transparent Persistence enhancement implicitly provides TA for enhanced classes.
For more information please refer to Enhancement chapter .
11.3. ConclusionTransparent Persistence can considerably simplify the development process at the same time providing considerable performance benefits. For more information on Transparent Persistence please refer to our online reference or your offline copy of the Reference documentation.
11.4. Full source


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I can already feel the resistance as you may be thinking, "Wait a second, hold your horses, it's way too early to be talking about gift ideas. For goodness sake, it isn't even Thanksgiving yet!" I know. I know. It seems way to early to me as well. However, I was afraid that if I didn't do this segment in November, it may be too late for everyone to take advantage of getting some of these sweet products home in time for Christmas.
Hopefully you tuned in to this am's segment, "Gift Ideas for Photography Lovers," on Mornings with Fox 43, WBIR. Although this post was written beforehand, I'm hoping that I spoke in complete sentences, didn't say 'ummmm' a thousand times & made all my people proud! As I was prepping & brainstorming ideas for the segment, I immediately thought about one of my favorite photography gift resources, a super sweet little online store called Photojojo. They are regularly creating &/or featuring new & innovative products for photography enthusiasts. I picked 4 of my favorite products to feature on the segment. They are displayed in the graphic below & found at photojojo.com/store/bf.
In addition to Photojojo, I was eager to highlight two other brands that have become favorites, Pad & Quill, as well as PhotoBarn. I can't tell you how often I'm asked about my iPhone case & "Where in the world did you get that?" Well folks, the one & only, Pad & Quill. So many photos these days are taken with a mobile phone & why not have a rad protective case that also looks incredible. One thing I love is that it's rather unassuming. People generally think it is a Moleskine journal or a pocket Bible. In either case, I'm good with that & helps alleviate the fear that my phone will be stolen if I accidentally let it out of my sight (this happened to me once… sad!). Also, as you may know by now, I'm a huge fan of PhotoBarn. My home & studio are filled to overflowing with some of my favorite photos printed on wood & burlap. For the segment I featured a PhotoBoard collection. Along with that, you'll definitely want to check out their burlap prints with a barnwood frame… simply perfect.
If these ideas don't whet your whistle, stop by a local antique store or peruse the Ebay/Craigslist listings & you'll likely find a vintage camera that may be perfect for your photo lover. If they aren't in working order, sometimes vintage cameras can be fantastic props & home decor. And last, if you have a fat wallet, cruise on over to B&H PhotoVideo or Adorama & go ahead & buy your favorite photographer a new FujiFilm x100s. Trust me, they'll love it. While you're at it, I would REALLY love one as well!!!
Hope this helps friends. Feel free to comment & let me know what's on your wish list. Here's the video recap followed by the segment graphic!


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Kidde Worry-Free smoke alarms with a 10-year sealed lithium battery bring home a decade of peace of mind and protection
October is Fire Prevention Month. Learning the basics of fire safety is the first step in fighting fire - and it just so happens to be the most important.
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Despite a tumultuous month, University of Virginia Rector Helen Dragas will keep her seat on the Board of Visitors under an appointment announced Friday by Gov. Bob McDonnell.
McDonnell announced her appointment, along with five other University of Virginia Board of Visitors positions, and two newly-created senior board advisors. Dragas drew fire for the botched termination and subsequent reinstatement of President Teresa Sullivan earlier this month.
"Just as I was disappointed to see the lack of transparency and communication surrounding the request for the resignation of the first female president of UVa, I am also concerned that the first female rector seemed to become the sole target of recent criticism," wrote McDonnell in a statement. "While there is no doubt that the board made several mistakes in its actions, which it has publicly admitted, this is not a time for recrimination. It's a time for reconciliation."
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Murad Radiance Boosting, Hydrate and Glow Skincare Kit
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Murad Radiance Boosting, Hydrate and Glow Skincare Kit.
Contains: Essential-C Cleanser (200ml) cleanses and hydrates environmentally damaged skin; Intensive-C Radiance Peel (10ml) provides an intense boost of exfoliation, hydration and radiance. The high-performance formula makes skin look radiant, youthful and supple.
Complete Reform (5ml) increases skin firmness by 61% after just one application it's a simple way to get smooth and glowing results. Sheer Lustre Day Moisture SPF 15 reverses the effects of ageing and protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
Hydrodynamic Ultimate Moisture (5 x 0.9ml) Anber-rich, intensely hydrating cream for those who enjoy the finer things in life. Locks in optimal moisture levels for up to 8 hours leaving skin feeling silky soft and luxuriously hydrated. Absolute Bronzing Boost SPF 15 (5ml), oil Free bronzer gives a radiant glow while protecting your skin.
Murad Blemish Control Acne Complex 60 Day Kit (Cleanser, Exf. Gel, Spot Treat and SPL)
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This Murad Acne Complex 60 Day Kit comes with a 2 months supply of everything you need to banish blemishes, with 92% of users experiencing a reduction in breakouts in just 4 weeks*.
These blemish products are all specially designed to balance oil production and soothe inflammation, without drying out your skin. Each products contains hydrogen peroxide that works deep into your pores to blast bacteria with oxygen and water. This removes toxins and dirt, leaving your skin feeling wonderfully clean.
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This kit comes with a clarifying cleanser, an exfoliating treatment gel, a skin perfection lotion and a blemish spot treatment so you can get beautiful looking skin.
Useful info:
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- Murad Acne Complex 60 Day Kit
*Study results on file.
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Toni&Guy Gift Set
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- Next day delivery available
With this Toni & Guy Gift Set you can get a gorgeously sleek style with plenty of volume.
The 2000-watt hairdryer has a slim concentrator nozzle that allows you to create a sleek, glossy style with ease. There's also a volume diffuser attachment that helps you get a beautiful natural wave without any unwanted frizz.
The hairdryer boasts a 1.8 metre cord so you can easily move it around as you perfect your look, along with a 2 year guarantee for added peace of mind.
This set also includes a set of big barrel rollers that are designed to lift your roots and give you a salon quality style from the comfort of your own home.
The faux suede vanity pouch is the perfect place to store everything and also makes this set a great gift idea.
Useful info:
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- Toni and Guy Gift Set
Gatineau Anti-Wrinkle Collection
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Gatineau Anti-Wrinkle Collection.
Stay "younger for longer". Our Anti-wrinkle collection enriched with the "youth molecule" Melatogenine enhances the skin's elasticity and firmness whilst smoothing fine lines and wrinkles.
Directions for use:
Morning and evening: Cleanse the face and neck by applying some Melatogenine Refreshing Cleansing Cream to damp skin avoiding the eye area massaging in circular motions. Rinse with warm water. Apply "pump of Melatogenine AOX Pro-Biotics Advanced Rejuvenating Eye Concentrate to the eye contour area and press in with ring fingers until absorbed. Follow with an application of Melatogenine AOX Pro-Biotics Advanced Rejuvenating Cream.
Weekly: For an intensive anti-ageing action apply a thin layer of Melatogenine Futur PLUS Anti-Wrinkle Radiance Mask to the face and neck and for an express treatment leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing off.
- Melatogenine Refreshing Cleansing Cream 250ml
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- Melatogenine AOX Pro-BioticsA? Advanced Rejuvenating Cream 50ml
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Gatineau Firming and Lifting Collection
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Gatineau Firming and Lifting Collection.
Our Firming and Lifting Collection will minimise the visible signs of ageing. The skin will appear refined and restored with an even tone and complexion. Lips feel smoother and look plumper. An incredible anti-ageing collection with guaranteed results.
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Nicky Clarke NGP227 Hairdryer and Straightener Gift Set
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Nicky Clarke NGP227 Hairdryer and Straightener Gift Set
With over 30 year of experience Nicky Clarke has styled the hair of some of the top celebrities so whether you're heading off to work or looking to paint the town red, you can ensure you'll always have a gorgeous, desirable style.
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- Nicky Clarke NGP227 Hairdryer and Straightener Gift Set
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Remington D3015GP Monochrome Gift Pack
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Remington D3015GP Monochrome Gift Pack.
The Remington D3015GP monochrome gift pack comes complete with a high gloss white 2000-watt hair dryer, a small round brush and 3 hair accessories which are great for finishing off your look. This chic, stylish gift pack comes complete in a monochrome zebra print storage bag which is convenient for styling on the go! The 2000-watt hair dryer has a ceramic ionic grille for even heat throughout the hair whilst drying and an anti-static finish.
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The Monochrome gift pack also allows you to experiment with your style, with the help of the 2 snakeskin bow clips and the 2-in-1 flower hair accessory included. The 2-in-1 flower accessory can be used to add that little extra to a multitude of hair styles or it can even be worn as an accessory on your wrist, to complement your outfit.
- 2000-watt hair dryer
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- 2 speed/3 heat settings
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- 2-in-1 flower hair accessory
- Ideal for a gift
- Remington D3015GP monochrome gift pack


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Here's a nice discovery: Indian flour makes a great pie crust, one that's flaky but sturdy, with a distinctive and appealing flavor.
I found this out when I got the jones to make a tart from a whole lot of cheap, very ripe kiwi we needed to use. Alas, I couldn't find a lick of all-purpose or pastry flour in the cupboard. All I had a was a large bag of atta I purchased recently when I was on a flatbread-making kick. So I improvised.
Atta — specifically durum atta — is the stone-ground wholemeal flour used for making roti. It is coarse enough to feel practically sandy between your fingers. I like it for its flavor and whole-grain nutrients.
I threw the crust together the typical way: cut chilled butter and a bit of shortening into the flour until it resembled coarse meal with pea-sized pieces of butter, then added ice water to bring it together. As the grain itself was so coarse, it took a little more ice water than normal (sorry, didn't measure anything) to get it to behave. I ended up with a nicely pliable dough that kept its fat in distinct layers after I chilled it and rolled it out.
I made a standard fruit tart: a layer of pastry cream, sliced fruit and an apricot jam glaze.
The crust was sturdy enough to keep its integrity even after we refrigerated the leftovers overnight, but it didn't seem too tough. I found the sandy-yet-flaky texture extremely appealing, and the pungent flavor of this flour was a bonus in my book..
If you're a baker and a fan of whole wheat, you might give this a try. You can buy atta at any Indian market.
October 20th, 2011
2:52 pm
John, do you know if they carry this flour at Your DeKalb Farmers Market?
October 20th, 2011
3:48 pm
A kiwi tart? No thank you.
October 20th, 2011
4:16 pm
That looks phenomenal. I would eat the heck outta it.
October 21st, 2011
4:30 pm
Melissa: Gulshan Singh did an Indian flatbread cooking class at Buford Highway Farmers Market and we used durum atta. They have many other selections of Indian flours also like Besan (chick pea flour which is low glycemic and gluten free) which Chef Singh used for pakoras.
Reds, I'm with you. Typical Red Neck just needs a pile of redi whip to make it more appealing.
October 22nd, 2011
9:00 am
Typical Redneck………if a kiwi tart is not for you, don't give up on kiwi. It is the best meat tenderizer there is. You want your beef brisket (or any aother lean meat) tender, try kiwi juice. But don't marinate over 2 hour, the meat will get mushy. The Bar-B-Que Pit Masters keep this little secret to themselves. But not anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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Home›Forums›World of Warcraft›Rogue›What is the best DPS Spec?
Ive been combat since I started playing years back. I've switched back and forth when I thought one spec was higher dps than the other. I just recently came back from a year long break of so and started MoP. My gear is decent but looking at world best parses it seems all I see is non-combat rogues. Is combat a thing of the past with this expantion, and if so, what is the best dps spec for us rogues now?June 19, 2013 at 6:16 pmspecialhugsMember
While it depends on the fight, Assassination is best the PVE spec in general.June 20, 2013 at 9:15 amlunaceaMember
But then why is it shown on Noxxic, that it is the lowest in Dps? I'm not arguing, I am just wondering on what is the best spec now. I myself have been away from WOW for about a year or so also, and have been trying to catch up with all the new events, topics, and changes.
So last I knew, Combat was best, then Assassination – Which was Wrath, and a bit of Cata.
Any new leads, or info would be nice. :)
Thank you very much!July 10, 2013 at 6:05 pmTrooballaMember
All three specs are competitive which is why it's hard to get an answer for this. Simulations show all 3 specs being within 5k DPS of eachother, which really means the player should play the spec that their best at/enjoy most.
If you look at World of Logs, Assassination tends to get the most world ranks in ToT right now over Combat/Sub, which says it scales well with perfect end-game gear and has good synergy with the bosses and raid buffs. But this is unlikely to matter to most players as they're not going to be in BiS gear and raiding in top 100 world guilds — so really I'd just focus on a spec you like most, and then once you start hitting a plateau with gear upgrades, start experimenting with the other specs and see if you're able to do more DPS overall. It's unlikely anyone is going to notice a significant DPS difference between specs if playing them right.July 10, 2013 at 9:15 pm
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To bring Galt more in line with 11 other cities, the City Council is looking at handing out raises costing taxpayers more than a half-million dollars.
"We need to retain these employees for their vast knowledge and experience so they don't feel compelled to seek employment with another city," Human Resources Director Paula Islas said in a written report to the City Council.
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A no-holds-barred, controversial exposé of the financial profiteering and ambiguous ethics that pervade the world of humanitarian aid
A vast industry has grown up around humanitarian aid: a cavalcade of organizations—some 37,000—compete for a share of the $160 billion annual prize, with "fact-inflation" sometimes ramping up disaster coverage to draw in more funds. Insurgents and warring governments, meanwhile, have made aid a permanent feature of military strategy: refugee camps serve as base camps for genocidaires, and aid supplies are diverted to feed the troops. Even as humanitarian groups continue to assert the holy principle of impartiality, they have increasingly become participants in aid's abuses.
In a narrative that is impassioned, gripping, and even darkly absurd, journalist Linda Polman takes us to war zones around the globe—from the NGO-dense operations in "Afghaniscam" to the floating clinics of Texas Mercy Ships proselytizing off the shores of West Africa—to show the often compromised results of aid workers' best intentions. It is time, Polman argues, to impose ethical boundaries, to question whether doing something is always better than doing nothing, and to hold humanitarians responsible for the consequences of their deeds.
The humane desire to lighten a little the torments of all these poor wretches . . . creates a kind of energy which gives one a positive craving to relieve as many as one can.
—Henri Dunant, humanitarian aid worker and founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)1
Imagine that you're an international humanitarian aid worker in a war zone and faithful to the principles of the Red Cross, as any good humanitarian should be. In other words, you're impartial, neutral, and independent. It's your responsibility to relieve human suffering, irrespective
What's Wrong with Humanitarian Aid?
Linda Polman


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Hey ya'll! Im just your average kid who loves writing! I love volleyball and acting. I hope everyone likes my storys!!!! <3 my friends are tuffyteller68 and JuliaLupin!!! Things i like: Walker Pace Pink Blue Green The beach Bunnies One direction MANY OTHER THINGS things i dislike: Loud ppl Bugs Ppl who hate walker Ppl who hate JB I LOVE YALL!!!! <3 Feel free to give me story suggestions! :) {•>•} < {. }> --
The Randy
The Broadway LaughA funny story about a girl who gets used to being drenched in milk


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I need a job that will a) allow me to pursue my interests and b) not make me miserable
June 17, 2012
Given my present situation, how do I find a day job that allows me to pursue my interests? If you've ever found yourself in a similar situation, how did you change things for the better? Exciting personal details inside!
Some background: I'm in my mid-twenties. I have a solid but not spectacular B.A. in history from a good university where I was an assistant editor for an under-read student literary magazine. The first few years after graduation were rocky ones, as I was completely directionless and gypsied from city to city taking a variety of low-paying, menial clerical/customer-service related office jobs, as well as some other odd jobs. Happily I've never been fired/laid off. However, the fact that I jumped from thing to thing (staying a year at most), as well as the fact that there was one very large several-month-long gap of unemployment, doesn't look great to potential employers. My lack of hard skills hasn't really helped, either.
I don't mind admitting that during this time my mental health was often quite shaky. I was deeply, deeply unhappy with every aspect of my life.
It's clear to me that the root of my problems was my lack of direction.
In one very important sense, all of this changed. I experienced a surge of ambition. I realized that if I had to make a concerted effort to write and illustrate my own work and attempt to make a career of it. I suppose graphic novels are the sort of thing I'm going for. People have been saying this since I was a kid. A few people at work say this based purely on the emails I write! And in the past several months I've made that concerted effort.
Until recently. I haven't written or drawn a damn thing in the past three weeks because my job is sapping my energy and making me miserable. Not the kind of all-encompassing miserable I mentioned above, but the kind of circumstantial "I specifically hate this" kind of miserable that many people have in regards to their job.
I've been there for the past several months. It's yet another dull, menial, pointless, poorly-paid, dead-end clerical/customer-service office job having to do with a business I have no interest in which is at turns mind-numbingly repetitive or ridiculously stressful. I don't hate anyone who works there, and I don't think anyone hates me, but aside from three or four people, I don't have anything in common with my co-workers. I think I have a bit of a reputation as the "weird one" at work. I'm desperately craving some life of the mind. I ain't getting it, and I'm starting to dread going to work.
So the point I'm labouring towards is this: I need to find a job that I either like or at least find tolerable, and it has to be the sort of thing that allows me the spare time to pursue my interests without impinging on them. I actually suck at the sort of job I've had for the past few years, and something in a different vein would be much appreciated. I wish I could be more specific than that, but if I could, I wouldn't have asked this question.
I haven't been taking art/writing seriously for very long, so I don't know if I could get work based only on that...
I live in a major North American urban centre, if that makes any difference.
I've set up this throwaway account if you'd like to contact/ask me something: email@example.com
Can't thank you enough for wading through my question!
posted by
Work & Money
(11 answers total)
13 users marked this as a favorite
Until recently. I haven't written or drawn a damn thing in the past three weeks because my job is sapping my energy and making me miserable.
Probably untrue. If you were motivated enough to write, you'd be writing.
So the point I'm labouring towards is this: I need to find a job that I either like or at least find tolerable, and it has to be the sort of thing that allows me the spare time to pursue my interests without impinging on them.
Well, if your job takes more hours in the day than you're using to do everything beyond keeping your life going (groceries, laundry, sleeping, meals), then probably, you'll need something where you can have a few hours in the day to write.
If your job makes you so miserable that you're too depressed to write, then you need to get a new job.
However, I think you're using your job as an excuse not to write. It's so easy to say that you'll pursue your dreams "when." When the job gets better. When you have completed your home office. When you've bought the perfect pen. When inspiration strikes.
Writing, acting, performing comedy, painting...just about every type of art requires a lot of just plain sitting down and slogging through it. Set aside an amount of time every single day and do your thing. Nothing else has to affect it; your time to write is your time to write.
Until you can do that, the job is irrelevant. You need to commit to the thing you want to do first, do it second, and then work out the things that get in the way once you've established that you can at least do some of the work within the constraints of your life.
posted by
on June 17, 2012 [
13 favorites
Your story echoes mine in a few ways...lots of jobs and directionless in my 20s...friends telling me I should do actual writing...a rather meaningless job...not a lot in common with my co-workers (50 Shades of Gray is the current talk of the office, while I tend toward Michael Chabon...ring the bells of elitism now...)...
And I've had the same dilemma with myself over and over...if only X happens, then I'll find the motivation I need to write...if Y happens, then I'll find some time to be creative.
Bad news...X and Y have happened. On many occasions. I was unceremoniously let go from a job that basically gave me a year of freedom. I wrote exactly zero pages of the novels that swim in my head every day.
Don't blame your job for keeping you down...just do what you love. If you need motivation, take a creative writing class at night. Or start a book club with some non-work friends. Call a local gallery about showcasing some of your work.
posted by
st starseed
on June 17, 2012 [
3 favorites
I'm a novelist with a day job that I sometimes like very much but can be menial, repetitive, and poorly paid. I definitely sympathize with the toll that a job like that can take on you; I spend all day dealing with the public and there are days I come home crying from the stress of it.
...And I think it's the best possible day job I could have as a writer because it's 35 hours a week and I'm not expected to invest any time or emotional energy outside of those hours, and while I work hard I'm not expected to meet sales targets or performance goals, and nobody cares if I take advantage of a little down-time to write an email to my editor.
I read this in one of Barbara Sher's books -- when you know your day job is not going to be what you're truly passionate about, you should aim for just a "good enough" job, one that doesn't take so much time and energy from you that you're not able to work on your creative pursuits. One that enables you to pursue what you really want to do. That means sacrifices. It may mean that the job doesn't give you enough intellectual stimulation, or enough variety. (In some ways a job with less intellectual stimulation can actually be better -- a creative job can take so much of your brainpower there's none left over for after-hours creativity.)
I'm not saying to stick with this particular job if it's making you miserable. But you may be able to find something you can make work if you think of it in terms of doing something you're not crazy about in order to fund what you
crazy about.
posted by
on June 17, 2012 [
5 favorites
I know a lot of would-be writers and artists just waiting for the ideal moment to do their writing and artisting. Or mood, oh lord, the moods. Or they're tired. Or there's a really good show they're watching. Or they're so pissed about work. Or they need inspiration. Or...or...or...
The difference between them and the working writers/artists I know is the working writers/artists sit down and write/art no matter the thousand little monsters tormenting them. If this job is literally clogging your day to the point that you physically HAVE no time, then yes, perhaps you need a new one, but I suspect what you really need to do is sit down for an hour a day, every day, and write or draw or whatever you do. Even if it's crap. You'll get better over time, I promise.
posted by
Ghostride The Whip
on June 17, 2012 [
6 favorites
A lot of advice from peer perspective, so now listen to an old man: the odds that you will make your living writing graphic novels are very, very slim. Thirty years at a day job you hate and that doesn't use your mind creatively will not seem worth it in your 50s unless you have succeeded in being one of a tiny number of fiction writers who write fiction for a living. Be honest about your motivation, your talent, and the originality of your artistic vision, and even of you think you're the shit, have a plan B to do a job you care about.
posted by
on June 17, 2012 [
6 favorites
What would you think about taking classes in a trade (like carpentry, masonry, etc.), and taking a more physical job as a tradesperson?
Or even if you took a job involving unskilled physical labor rather than practicing a trade per se, it might be less mentally sapping. I had a lot of menial jobs in my teens and early 20's. The absolute worst for me were the menial desk jobs that involved a lot of data entry. That kind of work completely drains me mentally, including any creativity that I have. By contrast, at another point I had a job delivering packages. (To businesses, so they were huge heavy packages). The first two weeks, I hurt so badly over my whole body that I could barely move. But then I got a lot stronger; I actually got in fantastic shape. I felt great overall. The money I was making wasn't bad either; it was around $15/hr and this was over 5 years ago. So, I would recommend maybe trying something like that.
posted by
on June 17, 2012 [
2 favorites
I think you need to strike a balance between something that will help you earn a living financially, but also something that you can see yourself being passionate about.
Don't jump the gun by dropping everything in hopes that writing or illustrative work will result in a great job and good pay. It won't, at least not right now. You need to create a brand for yourself before you can make it somewhere in the creative field.
But, why not consider pursuing creative advertising? It will allow you to do something that is more exciting, rewarding, and allows you to showcase and develop your artistic skills.
posted by
on June 17, 2012
I very much disagree with xingcat and Ghostride the Whip. When one works too many hours, or at too stressful of a job, it DOES affect one's ability to produce creative work. My experience working a full-time+ stressful, intellectually-demanding job (web development) with looong commute was that I just didn't have any emotional or mental energy left over for much meaningful creative work. It had all already been spent--and then some--on my day job. It is NOT just about applying ass to chair and writing. One has to have something to say other than "jesus christ am I beat".
So, change your job, yes.
There are lots of jobs you can do part-time and still make enough money to live (simply). I now do one of them: massage therapist (along with a small amount of freelance web dev work).
Find something that pays the bills on a p/t basis, and that does not require you to take your work home, but that you can do passably well with a short amount of school. Cairdeas' idea of learning a skilled trade is a good one. Many healthcare technician roles also require a relatively short period of schooling yet pay a living wage and allow flexible hours.
posted by
on June 18, 2012
I'm a big proponent of mind over matter as the next guy, but we all have finite mental resources.
It's more like...if you want to write, adjust your work situation so that devoting an acceptable chunk of energy is physically possible. THEN - get your ass in that chair.
posted by
on June 18, 2012
But don't forget that you likely won't become a professional novelist and if you are lucky you might have 40 or 50 more years to do things like have a family and enjoy your day job. Seriously, unless you've already established that you can get paid for your art by your late 20s, start thinking about a plan B.
I don't know about a day job where you develop your skills at art. I did that -- worked as a general business musician while trying to make it as a songwriter, but it got old. Luckily, I did it while getting a graduate degree at the same time, so when I hit 30 and saw that my odds of having a good life as a songwriter were vanishingly small and might require playing top 40 for drunken wedding guests for the rest of my days just to make a middle class living, I changed gears (to academia, where I get to write for a living about music and cultures I love, and which has been very satisfying and challenging, but where hard work has mostly led to predictable career growth).
Prior to that, I held every shit job you can imagine, from cooking to construction. In your 20s, it's fun and acceptable. Right around 30 you should reassess. Life is much shorter than it seems to a 25 year old. And fulfillment is so much more elusive than you think when you are driven by a dream shared by millions of living from your art.
posted by
on June 18, 2012 [
1 favorite
I haven't been taking art/writing seriously for very long, so I don't know if I could get work based only on that...
Right, you can't. It sounds like you've been doing comics for less than six months. It's a safe bet that your work is not yet up to professional standards.
You don't really say what else you're good at in this post so it's difficult to advise you about what day job might be appropriate, but here's a list of day jobs held by comics professionals (people with published books who make some income from their comics) I'm friends with: barista, elementary school teacher, comics shop retail worker, medical supply delivery, letterpress printer, nanny, copy editor, after school art teacher, bartender, story board artist, print production, thrift store retail, paper store retail, sex worker, small press editor.
posted by
milk white peacock
on June 18, 2012
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|By Deney Dentel
Article Rating:
|November 23, 2012 07:30 AM EST
It's rather difficult to get a good read on public opinion, especially about things that half of them don't know about. Cloud computing is one of those things.
How does one get a really good view on the overall public perception of particular things? Sure, you've got your own personal opinions, but they may be years ahead or behind the bulk of the public, depending on what exactly the subject is. We're speaking very generally right now and philosophically at that, but this is a general topic that is extremely relevant. How can we really gauge things, and not just model them and pretend as if we're doing something real.
Political polls claim to be judges of public opinion. They are somewhat accurate, but you're taking thousands of people and claiming that they are representative of millions. Something seems fundamentally wrong. Thus, to claim that we know anything except very limited knowledge based on polling would be a lie.
As Above, So Below
This principle is just as true when it comes to overall confidence levels among today's businesses regarding cloud computing. How can we get an honest assessment? It seems that all we have are polls and various other forms of extrapolation. Not to worry, however; we can just as easily use inductive reasoning.
Cloud computing is a highly advanced platform that promises to take computing to a whole new level of scalability, functionality, and affordability. Services like SaaS and IaaS are all geared toward offering the most high-performance computing tools in the most flexible packages at the best prices on the market. It's much more high speed than the traditional route, and cuts out both the lag and the markups of traditional product delivery.
Just on the revolutionary merit of the offerings alone, it would be quite reasonable to assume that a large percentage of today's businesses are highly confident in everything that the cloud has to offer them. However, this would mean that there would be a higher level of cloud adoption. What we're actually seeing is a slight downtick in adoption... a negative trend.
The Culprit
What could be affecting cloud confidence in such a negative way? One word: security. No matter what lengths providers go to in order to protect their customers from invasion and theft, potential customers will have a very difficult time being convinced that an Internet-based system like the cloud is going to be totally safe from hackers.
Another problem right now for many potential cloud customers is the fact that the service providers are in control of the overall nature of the service. This means that the service, no matter how customizable it claims to be, is not going to be completely satisfactory for everybody. And then there's also the poor, negligible regulation for the industry thus far. It's like the Wild West, and individual players in the industry are more interested in gaining the upper hand than in reaching across and regulating.
These problems are more principle than practical, it seems, but are in need of being addressed nonetheless. The cloud will not take off the way its architects imagine until they are solved.
- ARM Server to Transform Cloud and Big Data to "Internet of Things"
- Mainstream Business Applications and In-Memory Databases
- DevOps Summit Silicon Valley Call for Papers Now Open
- Innodisk | Efficiencies for Cloud Hardware at Cloud Expo New York
- The Internet of Things and DNS
- What DevOps Can Do About Cloud's Predictable Provisioning Problem
- Rise of the Thing - Internet of Things
- My Journey to #DevOps Enlightenment
- 'Internet Of Things' and Identity
- NuoDB Named "Bronze Sponsor" of Cloud Expo Silicon Valley
- SYS-CON Media Launches Internet of Things Journal
- Internet Of @ThingsExpo Interview with Distrix: Transporting Data and IoT
- ARM Server to Transform Cloud and Big Data to "Internet of Things"
- Mainstream Business Applications and In-Memory Databases
- DevOps Summit Silicon Valley Call for Papers Now Open
- Innodisk | Efficiencies for Cloud Hardware at Cloud Expo New York
- WSTA Named "Association Sponsor" of Cloud Expo Silicon Valley
- The Internet of Things and DNS
- What DevOps Can Do About Cloud's Predictable Provisioning Problem
- Rise of the Thing - Internet of Things
- SaaS Represents the Commoditization of Business Function
- My Journey to #DevOps Enlightenment
- 'Internet Of Things' and Identity
- SYS-CON.tv Interview: Measured Business Outcomes
- The i-Technology Right Stuff
- The Top 150 Players in Cloud Computing
- Who Are The All-Time Heroes of i-Technology?
- Where Are RIA Technologies Headed in 2008?
- i-Technology Viewpoint: Is Web 2.0 the Global SOA?
- Get the Message
- ESB Myth Busters: 10 Enterprise Service Bus Myths Debunked
- i-Technology Viewpoint: Thinking Outside the VC Box
- The Top 250 Players in the Cloud Computing Ecosystem
- i-Technology Viewpoint: When to Leave Your First IT Job
- SOA Web Services Edge Conference Coverage on SYS-CON.TV
- SYS-CON.TV's "SOA Web Services" and "Enterprise Open Source" Programs To Air in December


text:
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Retailers can help protect their premises, employees and customers with the all-seeing SNC-HM662 hemispheric minidome camera.
Sony provides robust IP CCTV security system for Renault Trucks
The IP CCTV solution would discourage intruders, provide first-rate images.


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Air leakage can escape through cracks and gaps in the duct, at the joints, and at the registers. Seal your heating ducts with a proper duct mastic compound, then wrap the joint with proper joint tape to prevent and eliminate leaks. This prevents heating an unconditioned area, such as an attic or vented crawl space, which wastes energy.
Space heaters can save energy, if used properly. Use a space heater in a small area instead of heating the entire home. But remember, turning off the heater when you are done in the room saves energy as well.
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Furnace efficiency could be as low as 56% to 70% in older models, while new energy efficient ENERGY STAR® certified models could be higher than 96% efficiency. The 96% efficiency rating means that 96% of the natural gas burned is used for heat, while only 4% goes out the chimney.
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The first piece of concept art I'll put up about Dead Aim.
The main character wields a recurve bow. :)
The first piece of concept art I'll put up about Dead Aim.
The main character wields a recurve bow. :)
Digital Paint. It's my first, and done with only a mouse. Don't diss ahaa ! :L
Yesterday's Life Drawing. The first is the 20 minute pose, the second page is a group of quick poses, where I was trying to capture the shape of the model rather than the details, and was trying to get the proportions right.
Don't think I ever uploaded my final ident, so here it is. Been given another couple of projects, on top of the current ones; so lots of concept work and design work should be going up every few days for the next few months. Keep an eye out…
Sketched plan for the next motion studies task, throwing a heavy weight. Should be animated by next Wednesday.
Character lifting a heavy weight. Motion studies task for uni.
Rigging the Skeleton. Constrained and connected. Sooo tired.
Little man I've been working on for future animations. Ganna rig him up good soon too :P And, thanks to Sean :) seantbone.tumblr.com
Animation Practice: Heavy Object - Planning Sketches


text:
» English, Biology
English, Biology
Silken, stretchy and stronger than steel!
Ethics in research
The Third Man of the Double Helix
By Maurice Wilkins
Reviewed by Friedlinde Krotscheck, Internationale Gesamthochschule Heidelberg, Germany
Rhythms of Life: The Biological Clocks That Control the Daily Lives of Every Living Thing
By Leon Kreitzman and Russell Foster
Reviewed by Michalis Hadjimarcou, Cyprus
Molecular Biology of the Cell* and Molecular Biology of the Cell: A Problems Approach+
*By Bruce Alberts, Alexander Johnson, Julian Lewis, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts and Peter Walter
+By Tim Hunt and John Wilson
Reviewed by Bernhard Haubold, Fachhochschule Weihenstephan, Germany
How do muscles produce work? Using optical tweezers to study molecular machines
Two hydrolytic enzymes and an epistemological–historical approach
Is traditional engineering the right system with which to manipulate our world?
The yeast proteome: retooling the factory floor
Science in School e-newsletter


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One of the country's top comedians, Judah Friedlander stars in NBC's Emmy Award-winning hit comedy 30 Rock and has appeared in more than 30 films. He lives in New York City, where he performs stand-up almost every night.
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