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Are all those selfies making us narcissists?
I was recently chatting with an acquaintance who teaches high school English. I asked her what her biggest pet peeve was when it comes to her students and technology and she was quick to answer.
"Selfies," she said. "I don't mind if they use the phone to check the time or send a quick text to their friend, but it drives me crazy when they take pictures of themselves during class."
And they do it all the time.
Her students will spend class time on Snapchat, sharing pictures of themselves with doodles and captions scrawled over them complaining about how bored they are.
What happened to the good old days when you just passed elaborately folded notes in class?
Some days it seems the age of self-absorption is following on the heels of the digital age.
Hop on Facebook, Twitter and especially Instagram and your feeds will inevitably feature photos of users (mostly girls and women) have taken of themselves. They're making faces from silly to sultry to sad and showing off everything from a new outfit to their exposed posteriors (seriously, just look up #butts if you dare).
The third most popular hashtag on Instagram is #me and #selfie has generated more than 35 million posts on the photo-sharing site. The Oxford English Dictionary named "selfie" the word of the year for 2013.
Teens in Asia are so obsessed with self-portraits some are using a so-called "selfie stick" – an extendable metal wand that clips to a smartphone and allows them to snap pictures of themselves and their friends at a distance using the phone's self-timer.
Everyone from Pope Francis to Colin Powell have posted pictures of themselves (the former secretary of state posted a self-portrait he had taken of himself 60 years ago).
And Ellen DeGeneres broke the Twitter record for most retweets (currently at 3.4 million) for the star-studded pic she took with the likes of Bradley Cooper, Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts and Kevin Spacey at the Oscars.
For the most part the selfie phenomena seems to be harmless fun. Yet there are plenty of times when it just seems well wrong. The classroom selfies, for instance, seem incredibly disrespectful to teachers. There are a disturbing number of photos of women in underwear or bathing suits taking sexy pictures while small children play in the background.
And then there are the people who snap goofy pictures of themselves at the most inappropriate of places – the Anne Frank House, the 9/11 Memorial or even funerals.
You read that right.
There's a whole Tumblr page devoted to pictures people have snapped of themselves while saying goodbye to loved ones.
"Love my hair today. Hate why I'm dressed up. #funeral" reads the caption under one.
And if you think the pictures are appropriately somber, think again. Sure, there are some pics of people with exaggerated frowns, but for the most part it's standard selfie fare –fashion shots showing off funeral attire and goofy faces.
Even President Obama has participated snapping a shot of himself alongside the British and Danish prime ministers during Nelson Mandela's funeral last December.
The #me explosion got me thinking – is all this selfie absorption making our children and us more narcissistic?
In an article in Psychology Today, Pamela Rutledge, director of the Media Psychology Research Center, says we shouldn't be all that worried. Western civilization has a long history of self-portraiture. It was once only reserved for the elite, but now modern technology has enabled everyone to try a little self-exploration.
"One of the most effective ways to know yourself is to see yourself as others see you," she writes. "Selfies offer the opportunities to show facets of yourself, such as the arty side, the silly side, or the glamorous side. We learn about people by accumulating information over time."
She lists several other reasons that selfies shouldn't be synonymous with narcissism, but one in particular caught my eye (especially since I'm the mother of two girls): Selfies help normalize how people look. When pop culture and mass media deliver a message that all women should look like super models, selfies show us "real people." And with the popularity of social media, this means we're all being exposed to more "real people" of all shapes, sizes and colors than ever before – and that's a good thing.
Beyond that experts suggest that selfies and social media sites are a way we can claim our identity and showcase different facets of yourself to the world.
This also excites me.
Remember all that labeling that occurs in middle school and high school? The jocks, the geeks, the drama kids, the cheerleaders, the stoners, etc. Well, if kids can now claim their online identity via selfies on social media, maybe that will help them address all the pigeonholing head on and force others to see how multifaceted they actually are.
Or maybe I'm just #dreaming.


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Style Media Announces 2012 Development Slate
After a record breaking 2011 and a best first quarter ever in 2012, Style Media announced today a 25 percent increase in original programming with the addition of five new original series, six series in development and two returning series at the network's upfront presentation held in New York. Cementing its place in the fashion space, Style Media is partnering with fashion icon Betsey Johnson and Emmy(R) award-winning producers Magical Elves ("Top Chef" and "Fashion Star") for a new series "Betsey + LuLu," premiering later this year, and will continue to showcase fascinating personalities such as Cat Deeley, Kimora Lee Simmons and Bill Rancic. The first of the new original series, "Empire Girls: Julissa & Adrienne," will premiere on Sunday, June 3 at 9pm ET/PT.
"This has been a tremendous year for Style from every perspective," said Salaam Coleman Smith, President of Style Media. "We saw a huge surge in advertiser support and achieved our most impressive first quarter ever with double digit growth among women 18-49. In 2012, our programming lineup, anchored by fan favorites like 'Tia & Tamara' and 'Giuliana & Bill,' will be joined by a terrific mix of personality-driven series that really speak to our passionate viewers as well as our advertising partners."
In 2011, Style Media delivered its best upfront performance in the network's history, adding a historic 58 advertisers representing a 33% year over year revenue increase. Building on its 2011 success, Style Media grew its revenue by adding 18 new advertisers in the first quarter alone.
Style recently marked its best first quarter ever, up an impressive 22% among W18-49 year-over-year, according to Nielsen. The network's success was fueled by its popular returning original series "Jerseylicious" and "Big Rich Texas" on Sunday nights, which delivered a 110% increase in total viewers versus 2011. "Jerseylicious," now in its fourth season, is enjoying its most watched season ever and the sophomore season of "Big Rich Texas" is up an impressive 36% among the desired W18-49 from season one. Additionally, the fifth season of "Giuliana & Bill" delivered the franchise's most-watched season premiere ever and is up an impressive 55% in total viewers season-over-season.
"Our upcoming slate builds on Style's commitment to develop compelling programming that showcases fascinating personalities with an insatiable appetite for stylish living," said Sarah Weidman, Senior Vice President, Original Programming & Development, Style Media. "Whether it's working in the high-end fashion industry, delving into celebrity lifestyle, or designing a new home, each show portrays exciting new characters and offers an entertaining glimpse into a world that will resonate with our audience."
Following are Style Media's programming announcements:
"Betsey + Lulu"
Produced by Magical Elves. Jane Lipsitz and Dan Cutforth serve as Executive Producers.
The docu-series "Betsey + Lulu" explores the unique lives of fashion icon Betsey Johnson and her muse, daughter and confident Lulu as they struggle to maneuver their ever evolving mother-daughter relationship. As Lulu transitions into her role as a single mother, she hopes to break away from her mom's fashion empire and follow her dream of starting her own line, however, it's up to Betsey to let Lulu step out on her own for the first time. With a colorful support system that includes their personal assistant, business partner, shrink and interior decorator, there is nothing these two women can't take on. "Ultimate Home with Bill Rancic" (Working Title) On Style's hit series "Giuliana & Bill," viewers have watched as Bill Rancic flipped properties into amazing high-end pieces of real estate. Now in this aspirational home makeover format, Bill will use his expertise to help real people create their dream home.
"Empire Girls: Julissa & Adrienne"
Produced by Ish Entertainment. Michael Hirschorn, Charles Suitt and Keira Brings serve as executive producers.
The hour long docu-series, which premieres Sunday, June 3 at 9pm ET/PT, follows Adrienne Bailon ("Cheetah Girls") and Julissa Bermudez ("106 & Park"), two fabulous Latina best friends and starlets, in New York City as they strive to conquer the cutthroat world of show business and find love and happiness... by the time they turn 30! Julissa and Adrienne first met in 2006 as co-stars in MTV's movie "All You've Got." While filming, they became best friends, even requesting to share the same trailer. Since then, these fashionistas have been there for each other through thick and thin and loves and losses, making noise and a name for themselves along the way.
Produced by Endemol USA. Three-time Emmy winner Alex Duda and Blake Levin serve as Executive Producers.
From the creator and executive producers of Style's hit series "Jerseylicious," "Chicagolicious" takes viewers to the Windy City to follow AJ Johnson who owns AJ's salon in Chicago, and whose clientele includes a who's who of actors and models, including Angela Bassett and Iman. AJ oversees a team of talented yet fiery hair and makeup artists who love to create drama; from the looks they give their clients to the manner in which they deal with each other. "Chicagolicious" premieres on Monday, June 11 at 9pm ET/PT.
"Party Fabulous Vegas"
Produced by Gay Rosenthal Productions. Gay Rosenthal serves as Executive Producer.
Event planner, Tory Cooper, and socialite, Joan Hammer, are co-owners of Priceless Affairs, a Las Vegas event company that throws high-end, over-the-top parties. The series follows Joan and Tory along with the help of their eclectic staff -- a florist with a flair for vintage, an assistant who aspires to run the show and the hot photographer who captures all the magic. Each episode will follow the team as they plan amazing and entertaining events such as a three-day $350,000 wedding event, a double birthday party for two wealthy teen girls and a pool party for a 24-year old Vegas native who has the money to party with a few hundred of his nearest and dearest friends. As they say...only in Vegas.
"The Cat Deeley Celebrity Project" (Working Title)
Produced by A. Smith Productions. Arthur Smith, Kent Weed, Frank Sinton and Cat Deeley serve as Executive Producers.
An hour-long series that follows television personality and fashion diva, Cat Deeley, into the homes and lifestyles of some of today's hottest stars! Through this casual and intimate lens, Cat treats viewers not only to a front-seat tour of their favorites star's home, but into their lives, as well, as they share personal stories triggered by treasured items. Whether it's the Oscar she won for a role she almost didn't take, her favorite pair of jeans, or the raggedy old couch she won't get rid of, viewers will get an inside glimpse into the lives of their favorite celebrities. Every item in the house is a testament to the celebrity's style and we're going to learn the stories behind it all.
"House of Fab" (Working Title)
Produced by Left/Right. Ken Druckerman, Banks Tarver and Kimora Lee Simmons serve as Executive Producers.
In partnership with Justfab.com, an online shoe/fashion service that features the fierce Kimora Lee Simmons at the helm as President and Creative Director, Style will be bringing fashion to the masses. This docu-series will follow the eclectic and diverse cast of characters behind this fashion forward dot com and see what it takes to keep the operation going. Get ready for glamour to be accessible to every fashionista.
"Built" (Working Title)
Produced by Endemol. Alex Duda serves as Executive Producer.
Remodels never looked so good as "Built" follows a Manhattan home service staffed exclusively with high-fashion male models who are also skilled handymen. Each week, the crew will tackle a home makeover project helping their clients with remodeling challenges. With their different personalities and skill sets, the Built team sometimes struggles to find common ground in their work; however, their dizzying good looks bind them together and ensure a handsome ending.
"Celebrity Closet Confidential"
Produced by FremantleMedia. Larry Barron serves as Executive Producer; Mary Alice Haney is a Producer.
Peek inside the closets of some of your favorite celebrities with stylist Mary Alice Haney as she works to elevate a star's style. Each episode, Mary Alice works with a different celebrity to create a "fashion moment" for a huge celebrity event. She also identifies a few fashion fixes and sends them back into the spotlight as style icons. In the pilot episode, viewers will get to peek into the closet of singer and actress LeAnn Rimes as Mary Alice gives her a sophisticated and sexy new look.
"Absolutely MARvelous" (Working Title)
Produced by My Tupelo Entertainment. Michael Yudin and Joe Townley serve as Executive Producers.
"Absolutely MARvelous" follows Mar Romero, owner and founder of TEAM, a high-end hair and makeup styling company based in Santa Barbara, California. TEAM, a top West Coast styling company, does over 200 events a year including hundreds of specialized upscale weddings, editorial photo shoots, commercials and red carpet events. Feisty and in your face, Mar rules the roost with an iron fist and a fierce ambition. She runs her business like a military general. Mar recently launched a line of hair extensions and her newest endeavor is leather totes and handbags. She dreams of expanding to the East Coast but can she manage even more? Absolutely.
"Pop Style" (Working Title)
This topical weekly series will break down all things you need to know about looking good and living stylishly - including the latest in fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and pop culture. From trends and the latest movies and TV shows to the coolest tech gadgets and the hottest restaurants, no topic will be left uncovered.
"Tia & Tamera"
Produced by Good Clean Fun. Executive Producers are Jason Carbone, Sarah Kane, Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Tamera Mowry-Housley.
The second season of the hit docu-series "Tia & Tamera" returns on Monday, June 11 at 8pm ET/PT and follows the identical twin sisters as they embark on major life transitions. As they face the realities of motherhood and matrimony, Tia and Tamera lean heavily on each other to lighten the difficult moments with comedic insight and advice and to share their worries and fears. After nine months of sickness, pre-natal classes and then the birth, Tia now is figuring out how to balance between being a successful actress and a successful mom. For Tamera, she spent months preparing for her dream wedding, and as she approaches her one-year anniversary, she wonders about her new role as a working wife. With homes in Los Angeles and Napa Valley, where her husband's family also owns a vineyard, Tamera finds herself pulled between two different worlds, struggling to decide where she will ultimately call home.
"Glam Fairy"
Produced by Endemol USA. Three-time Emmy(R) winner Alex Duda is the Executive Producer.
Alexa Prisco returns as the "Glam Fairy," which takes viewers inside her glittery, high-energy world as a makeup artist extraordinaire. Since establishing 'The Glam Factory,' Alexa has built her own glamorous home base where she showcases her makeover magic and expands her already growing clientele. Season two will follow Alexa as she takes her business to the next level and her personal life takes center stage when her boyfriend, Danny, takes a big step in their relationship while becoming her business manager at the same time.
About The Style Network
The Style Network is the destination for women 18-49 with a passion for the best in relatable, inspiring and transformational lifestyle programming. Style currently counts more than 78 million cable and satellite subscribers and is the fastest growing women's network in the U.S. Mystyle.com keeps women up-to-date on all of the latest fashion and beauty news on the web. Style's popular series include "Tia & Tamera," "Jerseylicious," "Giuliana& Bill," "Glam Fairy" and "Big Rich Texas." The Style Network is a network of NBCUniversal Entertainment & Digital Networks and Integrated Media, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/StyleNetPR.

subset: commoncrawl


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List of Top Montessori Schools in Chandigarh India
We Collect Top Montessori Schools List where Quality of study Standard high.Montessori is the base of study Parents wants there kids study in High standard school where study Environment is High and educated teachers and teachers talk in English with kids.Chandigarh is the city of India have 1.1 Million Peoples lives.Chandigarh is the northern Indian states in Punjab. Chandigarh is the beautiful City of India. Parents Busy in Their work they have no time for real life so parents admit kids at the age of 2.5 in schools.In Montessori the teachers treat so good like own kids you can admit your kids in these schools and make your kid a nice person in earlier age.
Download Montessori Schools in Chandigarh
Sanawar Montessori
Joyland Montessori
Firstep Montessori
ABC Montessori
D. C. Montessori Senior


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Welcome to Great Moments in Drunken Hookup Failure, where we showcase three heartwarming true stories of drunken love gone horribly awry. Off we go.
So about two months ago, I went on a date with "Mary" in Central Park. Mary and I had met each other via OKCupid, and both of us were relatively new to the site, so it was all awkward and adorable and stuff. Anyway, we end up going to Central Park after I get off work, bout 6:30, and walk around for awhile. She told me she'd brought a bottle of wine and a blanket, so we should find a nice quiet spot. Around sunset, we end up climbing up on top of this rock, relatively secluded. We set up the blanket and she takes out the bottle.
Now, let me mention that I've gotten open container tickets in NYC before, so I know (oh god do I know) that it's illegal to drink in public ANYWHERE in NYC. I assume Mary knows this as well (foreshadowing motherfucker). So we get to drinking, polish off nearly the whole bottle, and start hooking up. It starts to get pretty R-Rated for public outdoors locale. And it goes on for a long fucking time, past sunset, and definitely past the point in hooking up where one wants to be even relatively close to the theoretical hobos/junkies/murderapists that inhabit Central Park at night.
Anyway, Mary asks if I want to go back to her place, and I say that I can't, because I've got to get up shitty early the next day. I ask if she wants to come to mine, but I live in Queens which is basically Siberia to Manhattan people. Keep in mind, at this point I'm knuckles deep in the vaginal area (we're still clothed, but she was wearing a dress), with a raging hard-on. Any common-sense faculties are totally in hibernation. So, like a couple of retards, we keep it going. It's dark out. But the little guy is getting some attention, so whatever, right?
Suddenly, Mary goes stiff as a board and says "There's someone coming!" Shit. Hobos? No such luck. I turn around to two Maglights in the eyes. Central park precinct.
Mary FREAKS the fuck out. She says she's a teacher, she's going to lose her job (never mind that an open container is like a parking ticket). Verge of tears. Thankfully, the cops turned out to be pretty nice and ended up helping me calm her down.
Two open container tickets and an admonition that we were lucky not to have been charged for "the other thing" (which is a sex-offense, remember) kind of killed the mood. Went home and sad-bated :(
I had just gotten out of college and locked up a bar-tending gig on the upper west side of Manhattan. A girl that I had been into for many years had just moved in across the street from me, The Devil. Now, despite the fact that I had been through college, I was still nearly a virgin and lethally insecure. The Devil was really, really hot, and a stoner (so am I), so basically it was love at first sight. Despite my awkwardness, she still seemed to be into me. Two major issues, though...1) She was a fucking lunatic and 2) she also happened to be my step-cousin. I didn't grow up with her or anything (we met in our 20s when my dad remarried), but obviously, this presented kind of a roadblock. That being said, we'd nurtured this miasmic thing for like four years, and when she moved into my block, I think we both knew it was only a matter of time.
We started hanging out together like every night and drinking whiskey and doing coke (did I mention she had a penchant for drugs?). Great start, I know. Anyway, one night, she comes over and the tension is just ridiculous. We get to talking and kill a bottle of Corner Creek bourbon in the process, getting virtually blacked out. At some point, we started talking about her non-existent childhood and absentee dad (going great!) and, what do you know, she starts sobbing. At this point, I'm no longer thinking about hooking up. I just want her to stop that godawful blubbering, so I start saying whatever-the-fuck I can conjure up to make her feel better. It works. She goes in for the kiss (you never forget your first tear-soaked, psycho kiss). So we start furiously making out, years of tension just blowing up all over our stupid faces. We move to the bed and it becomes immediately clear to me that she's WAY more experienced than I am, and has no idea that the disparity exists. She wants to fuck like a porn star. She asks me if she can do a line of coke off my dick (why not?!) and then she takes a shot and starts blowing me. Holy shit. I've had sex literally twice before this, and I'm in WAY over my head. Due to my nerves and the numbing action of the cocaine, there's just nothing doing down there. Fuck. Then The Devil asks if I want to fuck her face (why not?) and we try that, but at this point it just becomes this macabre charade. I'm pushing rope, my limp noodle a testament to the fact that I will never properly have sex with anyone, ever. I don't even remember if I finished—we were so hammered and it was so awkward. So I just go to bed.
NOW HERE'S WHERE THE HUMILIATION COMES: Next morning, I get up, ashamed of my inability to perform, but The Devil is undeterred. She pushes her butt into me and grabs my hand, practically jamming it up her cooch. She's soaking wet. This drives me absolutely crazy. She asks me if I have a condom (OF COURSE NOT!) and I say I don't. Neither of us care at this point. I'm in. The Devil tells me that I just have to pull out, but my sex-sodden, near-virgin brain immediately elects to forget this information. And then....of course...one pump, two pumps...whoops. She screams like I just shot a 100% pure sriracha load, punching me in the chest and shoulders, telling me what a piece of shit I am (probably not wrong). That morning trip to Walgreens to get The Pill was no fun, especially under the disapproving eyes of the 75 year old female pharmacist.
Believe it or not, we dated for like three months after that, until it all came crashing down during our families' annual Hannukah dinner. Yeah. We're still buds, though.
The story takes place at one of those stay up all night, drink as much as you can, do as many drugs as you can music festivals.
After a long night, into the early morning of debauchery, I ended up passing out in my tent at 6:30am after the sun came up.
Fast forward to 10am - The heat was so extreme, I had to leave my tent and go outside in the shade to lie down in my underwear and get some fresh air to cool off.
At this point I am totally hungover, exhausted, dehydrated, I've gotten little sleep, all I want to do is close my eyes and pass out until my hangover goes away.
As I'm lying down, a girl who I had just started to work with runs frantically into our camp site and begins shouting my name looking for me "Where's Bryan? Where's Bryan?" At first, my friends in the area have no idea who she is talking about, because everyone I know calls me by my last name, but eventually one of my buddies realizes that she is looking for me and points me out to her.
The girl sees me, starts shaking me, telling me to wake up and go back with her to her tent so she can change into her bikini (which really means some type of fooling around).
My brain should have been telling me to get up and go with her, but after being up all night getting completely obliterated drinking and combining many different drugs, all I really wanted to do was lie down and sleep.
In the middle of our campsite in front of all of my buddies she continues asking me to leave with her, and I am totally non responsive and unable to move. I had just spent all night partying, and really just wanted to close my eyes and nod off into dreamland, where was this girl hours before when I was still going?
My friends tried their best to guide my cock by telling her that I was just joking around and really wanted to go with her.
She continues to try and convince me to leave with her, but after a few minutes it becomes apparent that I'm not going anywhere.
She stands up and begins to walk away, as she walks away she says to me out loud so everyone could hear, "good luck finding tasty tits like these somewhere else".
I tried hooking up with her back in the city, but had clearly ruined any chance of that happening. After that incident she was referred to as "tasty tits". Man, am I an idiot.


text: Fortinet's top-notch security device can be deemed next-level Unified Threat Management. With additional features not often bundled in your usual UTM and with advanced hardware engineering, the FortiGate 620B represents a new generation of UTM devices. The appliance emphasizes scalability with support for up to a 14-slot chassis for large enterprises. What's attention-grabbing about this device, and a potential key for solution providers, is that it fights threats that have broken through the security perimeter of the average network, including threats posed by mobile devices that often pass through traditional security defenses.


text:
General, non-project-specific discussion. RIB, SmartRIB, cabling and adapters, jobs, installation stories, etc.
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text:
The Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regions and Center Operations (ARC) reports to the FAA Assistant Administrator for Finance & Management and leads a nation-wide organization through a headquarters office in Washington, D.C., nine regional offices strategically located across the country, and the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City.
We provide government, Department of Transportation, and FAA-wide services in:
- financial systems and operations
- emergency readiness (command, control, and communications)
- information services
- business application development
- technical, executive/managerial, and international training
- logistics services for real estate and materiel management
- National Airspace System Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and Supply Chain Management
- public and governmental outreach
ARC also provides leadership within the FAA on issues and programs involving multiple FAA organizations and aviation disciplines, such as runway development related to FAA's Operational Evolution Plan (OEP) and establishment of procedures/standards related to the Airports Obstructions Standards Committee (AOSC).
These services are part of the vital support infrastructure needed to maintain strong, safe, and efficient national and international aviation systems and are directly involved in accomplishment of the FAA Flight Plan goals:
- Increased Safety
- Greater Capacity
- International Leadership
- Organizational Excellence


text:
Pumpkin Guts
I never really got all the fuss over Halloween personally. I understand why kids get so excited about it… the joy and the excitement of not only loving Spiderman, Zorro, firemen or anything in between, but actually having the opportunity of being that, even just for a day. In the past few years though, it's become yet another thing adults have ruined. Kim and I went to a store a few weeks ago and there were twice as many costumes for adults than children.
I'll save the rants for the professionals, like Lewis Black who's rant on this holiday sums up my exact thoughts.
So we decided to keep Halloween for the kids… and the pumpkins were cut up, cupcakes were made and iced and a "scarey movie" was shown on Grandpa's new giant TV. All the while, of course, I played with my new lens.
Note inside … Please read
This was a weekend of gifts.
Saturday was clean out day. My parents and I are cleaning out and fixing up the basement of the house, getting a new drier, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc (To emphasize the work involved.) On Saturday morning, a dumpster was dropped in front of the house and by Saturday night, it was full. Dad served the cold beers all day, Mom took the kids out and I had a few great friends to help me accomplish the rest.
We worked through the day, and by the time we were done, my kids had returned and were finished with what they had to do in my apartment. A secret, of some sort, or at least that's what I led them to believe. See, I turn 35 this week, and since I had my kids this weekend, we were celebrating. I got a crown to wear, pizza and beer, and some really cool presents, but the best part was that all the people I really love were there with me. Its all I really wanted for my birthday.
Sunday me and the boys headed out on a mission, we were in search of the ocean.
When Jackster and I crossed the GWB a few weeks ago, we watched the Hudson river float by, and I began to tell him about messages in bottles floating in the sea. His eyes turned big and he asked if we could do that. So Sunday morning he and I sat at the table and we wrote out notes, that gave his name, my email address, and the request to contact us when the note was found. We wrapped the bottles up in tape and drove off to Sands Point. The three of us stood on the beach and tossed the bottles we made into the current with the highest of hopes. Jack and James threw pebbles after them, and I watched them bob up and down in the waves until they had disappeared from view. I told Jack that I couldn't see them anymore and he said "Awesome…" and went back to throwing rocks. Yeah, I know it's a 50 50 chance they'll ever be found, but hey, we can hope right?
We left the beach and explored the rest of the preserve – itself a gift from the original owners to the public to be enjoyed for the beauty it is. We found a nice quiet little spot on the side of a pond and the three of us played, pretended to fish and camp out. It was a beautiful gift, the gift of time alone with my boys.
I regrouped with my mom in the basement to survey the cleanup after I brought the boys back to their mother. My mom and I had already been to home depot to look at new lighting and a new dryer, and to be honest, I really just wanted to go relax. I was contemplating feigning a heart attack to get away from her when she finally said, "Here, you have this." and handed me a dusty old metal box.In an instant, my heart stopped when I opened it. Inside was a precious gift, something I never expected to have, and something I'm still so childish about, that I have it sitting in the desk next to me, as if me being away from it would make it disappear again.
My grandfather's camera.
It's a Kodak Graflex and it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen simply because I know he held it in his hands, his eye looked through it.
Then she said to me "He'd be so proud of your photos." and I couldn't think of a thing to say.
I never met James Killeen, but my whole life I've been told how much I'm like him. When I took up photography the deal was complete. He was a photographer, self taught, and more talented than I could ever hope to be. I used to sit with my Grandmother and make her tell me stories of the man in the self portrait with the fedora and the smoke curls circling around his head. When the time came, I named my first born son after him in the hopes that maybe he'd be able to capture some of the essence and spirit I had only heard about in all those family stories.
So the 65 year old camera sits here now, next to my Nikon D90.
Maybe they're sharing stories. Maybe my D90 is telling it about the day we had and the Graflex is responding, "oh yeah, that's nothing compared to the day's we're gonna have."
Until I get the Graflex working, here's some shots from today…
The Tree Outside My Window
I find it most ironic.
After a year, almost exactly, of living off Uncle Sam and getting my weekly unemployment check, I'm back at work. As if that wasn't good enough, I'm back doing what I did in the past, and I didn't have to settle for a minimum wage monkey job. I work for a company that's been around so long, I don't really worry about it going under. They've given me a laptop, a cubicle, a blackberry, and a paycheck every week. Best of all, they like me, and so far they keep wanting me to come back the next day.
I work in the three data centers the company owns, two existing ones, and one that we're bringing online soon. Its that new facility that I've been going to every morning. Its a beautiful facility, and very secure, and that's where the irony comes in. Every door where I swipe my ID card past the reader and then lay my finger on the scanner to verify my identity before gaining access has a list of rules on it. Rule number one is always the same. "No photography in the data center."
Ironic, right?
We've been breaking that rule, however, but it's not what you think. Since the guys in suits aren't gonna come by to see whats going on, I took my mom's old point and shoot to work and I've been documenting our progress. I uploaded the photos on Friday into the company library and actually got an "ata boy" for them. Again, ironic.
My D90 has been in its home above my PC unused on a daily basis since I started. I get up in the morning, suckle on the sweet teet of the coffee maker, check my daily round of blogs and sites, and get ready for work.
And all this time, that tree outside my window watches me. It's beautiful. A brilliant burst of color, and if I didn't know better, I'd swear that my parents bought this house because of the autumnal grandeur of that tree. Yet, all I've done was glance at it as I walked through the kitchen to the coffee pot and back. I mean I had to go to work, I'm a data center technician, and we don't have time for trees, I mean we don't even have time for photos at work.
Then it dawned on me that I wasn't at work yet.
But then again, does what you make who you are or does who you are make what you do?
I grabbed my camera, and ran downstairs, passing my dad reading the NY Times who didn't even blink that I was in my PJs and heading in the back yard. I was only out there for a few minutes until the cold got to me, but in that time I remembered something that I had forgotten.
Yeah, I've got a job, but I'm also a photographer.
I've often thought that Bruce Springsteen, my brother and Fort Lee are some of the only redeemable parts of New Jersey. Anyone who knows me knows I'm only half joking. My first trip to Fort Lee was in High School with the short lived Msgr McClancy Hiking Club. We took the subways north, walked across the George Washington Bridge and into the park. We trekked back, made it home but never scheduled another trip. None the less, that one adventure left a permanent mark in my memories and I always found myself glancing to the cliffs to the left as I drove across the GWB.
This was my weekend with my kids and as I drove to work Friday morning I thought about what we could do to keep us all out of trouble. James was sick and staying with his mother so it was just me and Jack. Always up for something, he was excited when we left Queens and headed north.
Fort Lee Historic Park is located at the original site of the American encampment during the Revolutionary War. Brave men stood their ground against overwhelming British forces in 1776 and allowed George Washington & his army to escape the area. It helped set the scene for the famous crossing of the Delaware a few years later, and eventually, the British surrendering. A Hundred and Fifty some odd years later they built the massive George Washington Bridge right next to it.
Jack and I walked across the bridge, tossing pennies off the side to see how long they'd take to hit the water. The enormity of the whole thing left Jack awestruck and he enjoyed being so high in the air until he realized the shaking he felt was caused by the traffic rumbling by. He suggested we walk back to the car and go to that wooded place I had told him about earlier.
The park was pretty much the way I remembered, made even more stunning in the beautiful fall colors. Jack played with a remote control truck he brought and I took some photos. We wandered along the paths and overlooks and reached the batteries which were once built by the soldiers defending these cliffs. Jack abandoned the car and found a way to scramble up to the top of them. I tried to explain why they were here but Jack wasn't hearing it, until I mentioned George Washington.
"That's his bridge!" Jack exclaimed. "Sure is." I responded and tried to explain the harsh conditions that Washington and those early patriots faced to keep their dream of our freedom alive. Jack went along playing, leaping from embankment to embankment.
"This place is awesome!" He yelled to me. "Its just like I'm in poptropica!"
Poptropica is the online game that my son is currently addicted to. He and I spend hours together guiding his character through complex puzzles as he leaps and jumps along from building to building, over trees and rocks and whatever else gets in his way.
I looked around as Jack continued bringing his online universe to life. The beauty of this small slice of mother nature nestled on the cliffs over looking the George Washington Bridge was amazing. I wondered what it looked like through eyes two hundred and thirty years ago. I tried to imagine the conditions they faced. I thought about their bravery to lie their lives on the line for just the idea of freedom.
"What's next dad!" Jack called out, bringing me back to present day. He ran off into the woods, and grabbed my camera and followed.
A Year of Seeing Layers
A year ago, I blogged.
I remember feeling that day, as I wrote, the desire to hone my HDR skills, and to grow as an artist, so I thought I'd look back and see what the year has brought.
I've spent quite a few hours studying the work of the great masters Jason St. Peter, Lincoln Palmer, EasyPix, the genius Andy Hornby and the HDR magician Louis Trocciola. I've made notes of their techniques, the way they frame their shots, and their subject matter. I've exchanged emails with them, chatted, and picked their brains on the subject. I've learned little bits from all of them and added them into my skills. I bought what I consider to be the best HDR program on the market, Dynamic HDR by Mediachance, which in my opinion blows Photomatix out of the water. Coupled with Lightroom (which is the rock that my photography software is built on) and Photoshop, I've created a strong arsenal of HDR tools. My Nikon D90, which ironically, I prefer without the bracketing feature, delivers the images I take with unmatched clarity and color.
But there's still something needed for a perfect HDR shot. I wish I could tell you what it is, but part of me feels that I'm still searching for it. Sure, I see it occasionally. The way a tree looks next to the path in the snow, or the way another path disappears into the autumn trees. A ship sitting in a river, docked along side a pier, my kids playing in the church steps or Rob delivering a power chord as he jams along with The Midnite All-Stars. I can't even describe what it is a see, but as occasionally, when I look through my lens, I see the world in layers of light and color.
It doesn't always work, and sometimes I make some pretty crappy HDRs, and those never see the light of day, my ratio is getting better and better.
That's what I've done in the past year, lets see what happens in the next one…
Veiw my HDR photography here… and here.
Here are some of my favorite HDRs from the past 365 days…
How Could We Not Stop?
Moose again.
So we took a trip up to the house to turn the water off for the winter. It was pretty damn cold and nasty, and honestly, I don't want to know how much colder it could get. My readers know how me and the winter don't get along.
Moose wanted company on the ride up, moral support as he calls it, and promised me exquisite autumn landscapes painted with the beautiful brushes of mother nature. He got the company, I got cold and rain.
We got to the house, did what he had to do, I'm still not sure what it was, but we poured antifreeze in the drains. The bottle promised that it would protect to -50 degrees, again, I don't want to know how cold it gets up there.
I walked around the house and property as Moose poured the fruit punch looking stuff down the drains and took shots of the wet trees just starting to turn. Everything around me seemed to be in a weird place, balancing on the edge of summer and fall. The cold rain wasn't heavy, just annoying. We wrapped up what we came to do, locked up and headed down the bumpy road that lead back to civilization.
"There's a waterfall not far off the road. You wanna stop?" Moose asked. I looked out at the drizzly day and thought about it. "No." I finally responded. "But you know what? We passed a cemetery on the way in. Can we pull over there? I know everyone thinks I have a sick thing for cemeteries, but there was tree in it that really gave the place some character."
"Sure." Moose responded.
A few minutes later he stopped the car and I walked across the road to the Claryville Cemetery. The rain had stopped, but the sky was still overcast and gray. I walked up to the tree I saw as we passed, and took some shots. I wandered along the roads, lost in the world of framing, light and exposure. I was snapped out of the sound of Moose's footsteps.
"You see the dates on these things?" He asked. "They're pretty old. 1825. 1850. 1840. 1874. They have been here a long time." I began to notice the dates and he was right. These stones had seen many autumns underneath this big old tree. Moose and I walked around, and then headed back to the car.
"Thanks for stopping." I said as I took a photo of the old church on the edge of the graveyard.
"No problem, kid." Moose responded. "Hey, look at the tree in the middle of it. It's perfect, I mean, how could we not stop?"
Autumn Rain
The worst part of autumn is rain.
Autumn rain brings wind, and wind rips the leaves from the trees, stripping away the rainbow cloaks they get to wear for a brief time. The streets of New York City become carpeted in fallen leaves, now soaked and heavy with water. Shortly after the rain stops, doors open and out from the warmth and comfort of their homes come people prepared for battle, armed with rakes and shovels. They quickly begin their work of clearing away the wet mess left strewn across the sidewalks and lawns, stuffing wet colorful piles of leaves into black garbage bags. The bags get tied up and placed at the curb where they're thrown into the backs garbage trucks and promptly disappear.
And then fall is over.
The weather gets colder. The friendly nip of the wind develops into a vicious icy bite. The once magnificent trees are now nothing more than bare skeletons. Night falls earlier, and it always seems to be dark and cold.
Christmas comes quickly, and for a brief time the winter is almost lifted by the twinkling colorful lights hanging in windows. The cold is almost chased away by the warmth of the holiday spirit. Before you know it though, the holidays are over, and New York City shivers through a few more months of winter.
I hate winter. I hate the cold. I hate autumn rain because I know winter is right around the bend.
So despite my dislike of the current situation and my tendency to worry about the future, I decided to walk out my front door and see what I could see. What I found is that the rain had stopped momentarily and the wind was gently blowing through the trees. I strolled down the colorful blocks of Queens as leaves slowly fell from their lives on the branches to their death on the sidewalk. I felt as if Mother Nature herself was throwing me a ticker tape parade.
It was beautiful. For an afternoon I didn't think of the winter ahead, I just enjoyed the autumn rain like I had never enjoyed it before.
Cemetery In The Late Afternoon
As I've said before, I strongly believe we are not just meant to see things, but we are meant to see them when we see them.
Isn't it wonderful that we live in world that's constantly changing. The sun moves through the clouds across the sky. Trees and flowers grow, bloom, and eventually die. The wind blows the wildflower seeds across the swaying grass to find a safe place for them to take root. A bird lands on a branch and shakes off the leaf which drifts down to the ground below.
I had walked through Lutheran Cemetery so many times in my lifetime it would be impossible to count. As a young boy, I rode my bike through it, and it served as a convenient shortcut from Middle Village to Glendale especially on foot. I know this might sound creepy to some, but when you live in the "cemetery belt" of New York City, it's just a way of life. So nothing seemed out of the ordinary when I walked along the cobblestone paths yesterday. I had a little over an hour before the gates closed, and the sun hung low in the autumn sky.
Almost immediately I felt as if I was entering a place I had never been before. Sure, I recognized some of the statues and stones I had photographed in the past, but everything just seemed different, alive almost. I saw things through eyes I had never seen through before. I took a few photos, I was more focused and direct then ever before.
I saw what I wanted, and I got it.
It was a good day.
I Hope They Have Fall In Heaven
I'll voice a pretty unpopular opinion of mine.
God/Yahweh/Buddha/Allah/Whatever does some pretty fucked up shit. I'd love to sit down over a few beers with him/her and discuss autism, SIDs, and a whole host of birth defects. Later on, after shots of Jack Daniels we'll discuss rapes, molestations, hurricanes, mudslides and finally 9/11.
But even if my Dad and I disagree on the first paragraph, we do agree on what he kept repeating today… "I hope they have fall in heaven."
Autumn is when they days slowly grow shorter, the wind gets a distinctive bite to it and the trees shake away their boring green overcoats to show off an brilliant display of colors that would put any big box of crayolas to shame.
Yes, we have trees in NYC, and yes they even have leaves, and fall in NYC is an event no one should miss. Of course, taking a drive an hour north through Harriman State park is an even better way to experience the majesty of this season.
IMHO who ever is behind the scenes, pulling the strings is getting alot of things wrong… but Fall is definitely something that's right.


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There's no shortage of great, well-designed headphones—but if you have a small face and are slight of build, finding a pair that doesn't give you a terrible headache after a few songs can be difficult. Earbuds are light and easy, but then you're left with all that ambiant noise. And many other headphones geared toward the female customer look more like they were designed for someone's kid sister. Alas!
A Scandinavian company called Molami has an array of gorgeous headphones built specially for the female user. And they're not pink! Or glittery!
Twine ($200) is "a soft headpiece made of silk-satin and chiffon blends that comfortably wraps around your head—giving you a unique listening experience." It is a gorgeous style, subtle and elegant. with small adjustable speakers nestled into its fabric. "Twine's open sound design produces bass that is articulate and clear. The clarity of Twine's mids and highs are unlike no other, while the distortion is kept to a minimum."
Pleat ($300) is their more conventional design, with two square over-the-ear pieces connected by a slim ribbon-like band that goes across the top of the head. "Pleat's closed design incorporates noise isolation and its sound provides low-distortion, allowing you to focus on your music"
Now if only I could make up my mind as to which style I like more... [Molami via FastCoDesign]


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Scared, On the Edge of the World Series #1
Product Description▼▲
Product Information▼▲
|Title: Scared, On the Edge of the World Series #1
By: Tom Davis
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 288
Vendor: David C Cook
Publication Date: 2009
|Dimensions: 8.25 X 5.50 X 0.63 (inches)
Weight: 12 ounces
Series: On the Edge of the World
Stock No: WW191021
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Priceless, On the Edge of the World Series #2Tom DavisDavid C Cook / 2010 / Trade Paperback$14.05 Retail:5 Stars Out Of 5 13 Reviews
$14.99Save 6% ($0.94)
Publisher's Description▼▲
Stuart Daniels has hit bottom. Once a celebrated and award-winning photojournalist, he is reeling from debt, a broken marriage, and crippling depression. The source of Stuart's grief is his most famous photo, a snapshot of brutality in the dangerous Congo. A haunting image that indicts him as a passive witness to gross injustice.
Stuart is given a one last chance to redeem his career: A make-or-break assignment covering the AIDS crisis in a small African country. It is here that Stuart meets Adanna, a young orphan fighting for survival in a community ravaged by tragedy and disease. But in the face of overwhelming odds, Adanna finds hope in a special dream, where she is visited by an illuminated man and given a precious gift.
Now, in a dark place that's a world away from home, Stuart will once again confront the harsh reality of a suffering people in a forgotten land. And as a chance encounter becomes divine providence, two very different people will find their lives forever changed.
Author Bio▼▲
Tom Davis is an author, consultant, and the president of Children's HopeChest ( www.hopechest.org) a Christian-based child advocacy organization helping orphans in Eastern Europe and Africa. His first book, Fields of the Fatherless has sold over 60,000 copies. Tom holds a Business and Pastoral Ministry degree from Dallas Baptist University and a Master's Degree in Theology from The Criswell College.
But Daniels knows all about fear from his last trip to Africa, the trip that made him a world-famous photographer and destroyed his life. His marriage is on the rocks, hes drinking too much, and he has one last chance to save his job by going back to Africa to take pictures for British journalist Gordon Clandish who now lives in Swaziland.
Twelve-year-old Adanna is hungry daily, almost starving. Her father, a long- distance trucker, long ago left the family and all presume he is dead. Her mother is dying of AIDS. Much of the care of her younger brother and sister falls to her. After having a vision of an Illuminated Man who loves her and promises to bring her home after giving her a gift for her country, Adanna prays to the Illuminated Man when the terrors of her life surround her. Christian men like Pastor Walter and Tagoze, the chiefs brother, try to protect and provide for the starving children, unlike the average man of the area.
When Stuart meets with Gordon and some of his contacts, strange things begin to happen. At a church service he hears a voice telling him to feed His sheep. He sees dignity in a man dying of AIDS. But the greatest change in Stuart comes from meeting Adanna in the midst of her suffering. Their impact on each other affects not only themselves but Adannas whole community.
Based on true people and events which are fictionalized, Scared is a powerful story told in the voices of Adanna and Stuart. It is not a light, frothy story. It tells the importance of the one, as in the one lost sheep or coin, and the importance of the one who commits himself to helping others. It takes the reader into the heart of the AIDS crisis raging throughout much of Africa. Although he discusses the effect on adults, Davis concentrates on the children, the hunger, the lack of protection from male predators, the insecurity, the confusion, the lack of education, and the vastness of the devastation. He also shows people like Pastor Walter, based on a real person, who allows his own family to suffer some hunger so that other children might not starve.
The story is engrossing and well written, its main weakness being some stiff dialogue about two-thirds through the book. The primary message of Scared is that of pure and undefiled religion from James 1:27. Davis, an accomplished author and the CEO of Childrens HopeChest, includes discussion questions and an interview about the storys background and his work. If you thought A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini was well written, try Scared. Debbie W. Wilson, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com


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Andy Loman, of Augusta, needs a kidney — along with 95,240 other people in the country, 105 right here in his home state of Maine. As of January 25, 116,900 people are waiting for organ transplants overall.
It is the second time that Andy, who will be 66 in May, has needed an organ transplant to save his life. The first was in April 2009, when he had a heart transplant. That's right, a heart transplant. The year before, he was at the gym and had just finished working out when he felt a bit nauseous. Thank goodness someone had the presence of mind to call 911, because Andy was having a massive heart attack. "I would have been dead if they had left me there another half hour," he says. "That's what the doctor told me at the hospital."
Andy lapsed into a coma and was in and out of awareness — time traveling, he calls it — for five weeks. The entire left side of his heart no longer worked, and until he got the transplant, machines and implanted electronic devices kept him alive. When he finally got his new heart, it was clear sailing for quite a while, but his doctor warned him that because of all he had gone through, at some point he would likely have kidney problems.
That day came last spring, when Andy learned he had stage four kidney disease, one step away from kidney failure. "I don't know when my kidneys will go into acute failure, "he explained to me recently. "I asked my nephrologist how long I had and he said, 'Nobody knows. You could go on like this for several years or you could go into kidney failure in a couple of months."'
In December Andy began a lengthy evaluation process to determine if he is a candidate for a transplant. Roxanne Taylor, the living donor transplant coordinator at Maine Medical Center, says once testing is complete each case is presented to a multi-disciplinary team that includes physicians, nurse coordinators, social workers, dietitians, and pharmacists. "It's never the decision of one person to put someone on the waiting list," she says. "Many people are involved in the process. The decision must be agreed upon by the entire team."
Once the team accepts Andy as a candidate, he will be registered on the national organ transplant waiting list for a cadaver kidney. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is a private, non-profit organization that manages the nation's organ transplant system for the federal government. The waiting list is a computer database that contains medical information on every person who is waiting for any type of organ transplant in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Getting his name on the list won't guarantee he will get a new kidney before his give out completely. According to UNOS, because of the shortage of organs that are suitable for donation, only slightly more than 50% of people on the waiting list will receive an organ within five years.
Another option for someone needing a kidney transplant is living donation. "Most of the living donors I work with," says Roxanne, "are immediate relatives, spouses or very good friends of the person that they're giving to. They are generally motivated because they have this person they care about that they want to have a better life."
Sometimes, a living donor is a total stranger. Can you imagine that? Deciding to donate your kidney to someone you don't even know just because it feels like the right thing to do. It's what Deb Caron-Plourde, from Saco, did four years ago. A conversation with someone whose mother was going to have a living donor kidney transplant opened her eyes to the tremendous need. "As soon as I started the investigation of kidney donation, all the doors started opening up, and I stepped through," says Deb. "It was actually quite magical for me. I'm not a religious person but I am spiritual. I absolutely knew in my heart that I was supposed to do this."
Deb had to go undergo several medical tests to make sure she was in excellent general health with excellent kidney function. She also had to be emotionally fit and have a good support system. "You absolutely need the support of family and friends to get you through this," she reports. "As a matter of fact, the social worker who interviewed me told me that they won't accept a living donor without the support of their family."
Once she was on the donation path, she never thought twice about her decision. In January 2009 Deb donated one of her kidneys to a man she had never met. "I told Roxanne afterward that I'd do it again if I could. She smiled at me and said, 'Well, you can't!!' But, I'll never forget it, never regret it, and the man who received my kidney is healthy because of it."
Andy knows what it feels like to be given your life back. "A day doesn't go by that I don't think about my heart donor," he says. "My donor is the most special person in the world."
Someday, sooner rather than later, he hopes to extend that gratitude to a kidney donor as well. Unless you've been there, it would be hard to understand what the waiting might be like. " You can never take your mind off it," Andy tries to explain. "It's always present. You're always wondering when with the other shoe is going to drop. And kidneys are even harder to get than hearts apparently. The heart waiting list is 28,000 people. The kidney waiting list is like 96,000. It's a huge waiting list."
The list of people needing kidney transplants is a long one, which is why living donation has become such an important option. If it's something you've been thinking about, UNOS is one place to start gathering information. You may not be the one to save Andy's life, but there might be another name on the list that turns out to be a match.


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People meet each other with a smile, but if your teeth look pale you'll hesitate to pass the smile and if you do, they might think you shabby.
ince teeth whitneing products or the dental service costs too high that not every one can bear such expenses. Now the questin comes how to get white teeth at home fast? Its and easy task and truly achievable. Different people have different experiences and I have my own that worked for me.
Here in this article I will be sharing some natural remedies to whitening teeth involves some easy activities with no changes in your budget.
How To Get White Teeth At Home FastBaking soda is key stuff that can be used when referring home teeth whitening. Don't panic you won't have do any complex with it. Simply Just wet your brush a put a little salt, baking soda and toothpaste on it and start brushing your teeth. Finally rinse the mouth with water when done.
Baking soda is already used in teeth whitening products and general strain removal. While the salt is valued for its antibacterial properties and removes limited amount of stains too.
Try the above teeth whitening home remedy and you will gets results within a weak.
There is other How To Get White Teeth At Home Fast and I will be sharing it soon, Please let me know if my natural remedies to whitening teeth helps you. Love to hear you through the comments box below .


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Exploring Hydrocarbon Depletion
marmico wrote:The Reagan-era individual income tax changes, as a fedgov revenue raising tool relative to GDP, are unremarkable in the post-war historical record.
marmico wrote:Laffer Curve .... is individual income taxes (IIT).
marmico wrote:
1970-1979 IIT .....1980-1989 Laffer Curve IIT .....1990-1999 IIT ....
On a decadal basis .... nominal ITT ....
efarmer wrote:When the big banks received bail outs and sat on them, it did not exactly inspire a little fish like me to bust a move.
Revi wrote:it makes the most sense to hold up the present system until it goes down. They shouldn't try to tip the tax code...... It will sink the ship, in my opinion.
efarmer wrote:Most people think that the big bank bailout was the $700 billion that the treasury department used to save the banks during the crash in late 2008. But this is a long way from the truth because the bailout is still ongoing. The Special Inspector General for TARP summary of the bailout says that the total commitment of government is $16.8 trillion dollars with the $4.6 trillion already paid out as of 2015 tallies. This is the issue I had in mind questioning if the supply side or demand side tricks work as they have historically when they did, due to this amount of guaranteed, loaned, and spent money associated with the government rescue.
efarmer wrote:I agree Obamacare played it's part in hurting growth, the Obama admin deployed the thing in stages and deferred implementation of some parts in what seemed to be active managing it's economic hits to be covered by the growth that was forecast but did not manifest. Likewise a huge tax cut, similar to the bungled Reagan cut in 1981 could be just as damaging or more than Obamacare if the growth doesn't match the financial bet involved and it just drives more national debt for a short sugar high. Always expect and get a good post from you Plant, it beats head butts and mud fights hands down.
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How Safe Is the Cloud?By Steve Tillery Print
As companies shift their IT systems to the cloud, misunderstandings abound about security levels as compared to those within the enterprise.
A customer recently commented that the security risks associated with cloud computing were beginning to outweigh the benefits of delivering software as a service over the Internet. The customer believed that having critical system and personal data in the cloud was significantly less secure than having it on premises and within the enterprise.
Therein lies the challenge for the future of cloud computing: trust. As companies shift their IT systems to the cloud, impressions are being formed regarding its security levels and how it compares to that within the enterprise. Much of the conjecture is false and misleading.
Is cloud computing right for every organization? Absolutely not. Deploying IT systems and applications in the cloud or on premises is a decision every enterprise must make based on several considerations, including the company's culture for outsourcing, internal cost versus expected ROI, regulatory requirements and IT needs.
Reaching the right decision is dependent on understanding the facts, rather than relying on assumptions and hearsay. Here are the facts:
Building a trusted environment: In the world of data security, the location in which the information resides is less important than the strategy deployed to protect it. Consequently, the greatest IT security threat stems not from the cloud, but from having inadequate IT security policies and a lack of education about employees' role in defending a company's data. An organization that lacks these essentials increases its vulnerability regardless of the delivery model it deploys to run IT systems and applications.
For instance, most service-level agreements focus on performance metrics and support commitments. Many fail, however, to clearly articulate corporatewide IT security policies and procedures and to delineate how they are enforced throughout the organization.
Furthermore, many companies fail to grasp the fact that even if data resides remotely in a cloud computing environment, their employees—yes, employees—are still the most likely parties to compromise the integrity of that information. In fact, many data breaches are the result of employees with access to sensitive information who unwittingly act as accomplices or enablers for an external threat.
Creating access control policies: To address insider threats and ensure effective use of security policies and procedures, companies must deploy a layered approach that combines stringent yet flexible access control to sensitive data with ongoing employee education about the security rules and processes the organization is required to follow.
Toward that end, an effective security policy (and related procedures) will establish a protocol on how all employees—from interns and contractors to senior-level executives—can access, store and share all types of data and information across the organization and with outside parties. These "rules" should provide an intuitive, auditable and enforceable framework for managing employee access to data and resources.
The system should also be set up to automatically deny access—without exception—to current and former employees who do not have a permissible reason to gain entry to certain data. Such a system must include the ability to efficiently terminate access to former employees or consultants who are no longer working for the business.
Educating your employees: Developing a robust set of security policies and procedures is only half the battle. Companies will remain vulnerable if employees don't understand the rules or fully grasp how their decisions and behavior—such as the Websites they visit and the software they download on work computers—play a critical role in weak-ening a company's defenses from data breaches.
This is especially true in highly regulated industries, such as health care and financial services, where companies must comply with stringent regulations or run the risk of incurring significant business disruption, damage to their reputation and/or having to pay financial reparations to customers and clients.
Once managers realize the relevance and origin of prominent IT security threats, they can begin to understand that most are independent of the delivery model. Organizations that build a strong security framework backed by continuous education will discover that the cloud is not as dark and threatening as many fear.
Steve Tillery is chief technology officer and senior vice president of engineering for Fischer International, where he guides the technological and architectural direction of the company.
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France FM in Beijing to discuss Syria
France's foreign minister was due to meet with his Chinese counterpart on Sunday in a continuing diplomatic drive to end the two-and-a-half-year civil war in Syria.
Laurent Fabius was due to meet Wang Yi at China's Foreign Ministry.
France firmly backs the Syrian rebels and has strategic and historic interests in the region. It urged military action after a chemical attack on Aug. 21 that it and the U.S. blame on President Bashar Assad's government.
In contrast, China and Russia have consistently blocked resolutions at the U.N. Security Council aimed at sanctioning Assad's regime.
On Saturday, U.S. and Russian diplomats in Geneva agreed on a deal to secure and destroy Syria's chemical weapons stockpile, averting the threat of military action for now.
Fabius said the deal was "a significant step forward."
In a statement on the French Foreign Ministry's website, he said he would discuss its content and implementation at a meeting Monday in Paris with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and British Foreign Secretary William Hague.
He said a report by U.N. inspectors on the chemical weapons attack on the outskirts of Damascus would be published Monday.


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Ohio Attorney General Monitors Propane Complaints
The Ohio Attorney General says his office is monitoring complaints about propane prices and shortages and will work with other states to look for possible anti-competitive actions related to propane sales.
Attorney General Mike DeWine says Ohio consumers have been told that propane availability is limited and that increased demand and depleted inventories have led to price increases.
He says his office will monitor reports of potential price gouging or other unfair business practices related to the cold.
Approximately six percent of Ohioans use propane to heat their homes.
Some consumers say suppliers are not filling tanks as quickly or are charging higher prices that some consumers believe amount to price gouging.
Consumers who suspect price gouging or other unfair business practices are urged to contact the attorney general's office.


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We're proud to offer you an exclusive, supporters-only discount on your auto insurance. Plus, we offer up to 20% savings when you bundle your home and auto insurance.*
At Nationwide, we put our members first. It's part of what makes us a different kind of insurance company - and why we value working with groups like yours.
With more than 90 years of experience and expertise, Nationwide can help you protect what matters today and plan for what comes tomorrow.


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If it's not the advent of digital game that could kill bricks-and-mortar game retailers, it might be the law. A recent Federal appeals court ruling could impact how used games are bought and sold.
The Dallas Morning News reports that the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided that a software publisher can stop buyers from reselling software to others. This differs from previous rulings in which software programs could be resold under "first sale" doctrine due to the rationale that licensing agreements that prohibit resell take precedence.
According to the University of California at Irvine's R. Anthony Reese, "The first sale doctrine has been a major bulwark in providing public access by facilitating the existence of used book and record stores, video rental stores, and, perhaps most significantly, public libraries."
Pundits believe that if this recent decision is upheld by by other courts, it could impact second-half retailers like Half Price Books, eBay and, yes, GameStop.
For GameStop, used video games are incredibly profitable and make up over 30 percent of the chain's profits. According to GameStop, used game sales actually benefit new game sales. Fourteen percent of new games are bought with store credit gained from trading in used games.
However, do not expect used game sales to cease tomorrow. Other retailers like Target and BestBuy also offer used games. One legal expert believes that publishers would instead negotiate some sort of agreement with retail instead of simply banning used games.
Court ruling could hurt GameStop's used-game business [Dallas Business News Thanks, NinjaMarion!] [Pic]


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'Casino Jack': Hollywood With Ugly Faces
Kevin Spacey's Jack Abramoff is a conflicted wheeler-dealer who loves the pop and flash of lobbying, but deludes himself into thinking it's all for a greater cause.
You're nobody in this town until you haven't met us.
-- Jack Abramoff (Kevin Spacey)
For his first feature film in 1991, George Hickenlooper studied the madness of artistic overreach with his documentary Hearts of Darkness. In it, Hickenlooper used footage taken by Eleanor Coppola's on the set of her husband's Apocalypse Now and well as some I-can't-believe-we-did-that interviews with the participants, to tell the story of how one filmmaker trucked into the jungle with an army's worth of money and material and went mad trying to bring his vision to reality.
For his last film -- the 47-year-old director died less than two months before it was released -- Hickenlooper takes on a different kind of overreach. In Casino Jack, a man flies closer and closer to a corrupting sun because he can't see how anything he plans is not going to work out, until the glue holding his wings together starts to melt and the ground comes rushing at him faster than he thought possible.
The story of Jack Abramoff is also recounted by Alex Gibney's excellent Casino Jack and the United States of Money, which flickered through theaters earlier this year. But while Gibney's film about Abramoff's rise to Republican ultra-lobbyist riches and infamy includes plenty of fun things normally missing from documentaries (including a tongue-in-cheek reenactment of a gangland slaying), it didn't have a couple of things that Hickenlooper's film does, namely a long-overdue return by Kevin Spacey (as Abramoff) to some form of recognizable acting, and Jon Lovitz playing a character as stupid as he is sleazy.
Norman Snider's script doesn't waste much time with Abramoff's backstory, putting him at the nexus of Washington lobbyist influence-peddling right at the start. This creates some difficulties for the film later on, but at first this no-nonsense approach, paired with Hickenlooper's comically askew viewpoint, makes for smart political satire. Spacey's unctuous grin and master-of-the-universe swagger fit his Abramoff in perfectly with the ascendant Republicans of the post-Gingrich era, like Tom DeLay, Grover Norquist, and Karl Rove (all of whom flutter in and out of Abramoff's orbit like flies).
As a "licensed lobbyist" (whatever that means), Abramoff sells his wares (in essence, access to powerful politicians like DeLay) to anybody looking for a listening ear in Washington. Sometimes that means taking junkets to the Mariana Islands to ensure that a legal loophole will stay open and so, the continuing operation of some extremely profitable sweatshops. Other times, it means flying out to Native American reservations and suckering them out of millions of dollars in fees for services that are never quite delivered.
Abramoff pulls most of this off with a straight face. While there's an animalistic salesman's venality to Spacey's performance that could come straight from a Mamet play, there are numerous hints that, in some way, Abramoff thinks that he's not just making buckets of money, he's also doing the right thing. At the same time that he is bilking clients and investing in a scummy, mobbed-up floating casino operation in Florida, the surprisingly devout Abramoff is also pushing hard to build a religious school his own children can attend, and delivering speeches to conservative audiences in which he rhetorically asks, "Does God want people to be liquid?"
The complexity of Abramoff's character is initially admirable, when the film hints that his emotional outbursts are little more than crocodile tears from a onetime Hollywood producer. The script barely refers to Abramoff's infamous past as the virulently anti-Communist, Young Republican action-flick peddler who delivered unto the world the brawny glory that was Dolph Lundgren's Red Scorpion. Still, Casino Jack does hint at that background in one of Abramoff's most cynically astute lines: "Washington is Hollywood with ugly faces."
Abramoff's associates are less inclined to see the good in their scams or the comparisons to other businesses. His sidekick Mike Scanlon (a goony Barry Pepper) is a relentlessly immature frat-boy striver with no moral shadings and Adam Kidan (Lovitz), a beneath-disreputable acquaintance of Abramoff's who becomes his front in the casino boat venture. Both Scanlon and Kidan are utter buffoons with more moxie than brains, and they help Hickenlooper's frequently conflicted film get closer to that note of freewheeling comedy it so often seems to be seeking.
But the mix of tones makes the film unwieldy by its third act. Here the slow-motion collapse of Abramoff's overextended empire of restaurants, gambling joints, and shady associates looks almost tragic. It's clear that he's swallowed his own line of patter and somehow believed that when he and his associates are selling access to Congressional Republicans and conning tribes out of millions of dollars, they were just living the capitalist dream. But when the Ponzi scheme of Abramoff's life unravels, Casino Jack ends up suspended uneasily somewhere between comedy and drama. This is curious, because the film inserts a well-known real-life scene here, as Abramoff, wearing a ridiculously large black hat, is mobbed by reporters who've caught the whiff of scandal. With this performance, he makes his own legacy clear: he's the villain.


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Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Recent cases highlight Israel's continued pattern of 'unlawful killings'
Zann H.
- April 12, 2017
Main News
Damascus Gate
] [
Send by email:
On 29 March 2017, Siham Nimer, 49, a Jerusalemite, was shot to death by Israeli border police at the Damascus Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem. She had tried to stab the officers with a pair of scissors from behind a police barrier.
Based on a screenshot from a security camera installed in the area, it is unlikely that Nimer could have posed any mortal danger to the soldiers according to B'Tselem, an Israeli human rights NGO. With solid protective gear as well as weapons, the Israeli Border Police officers could have subdued her easily instead of killing her.
Last September Nimer's son, 26-year-old Mustafa Nimer, was shot and killed by Israeli police officers in Shu'fat Refugee Camp. Israeli police said that Nimer was a passenger in a car whose driver was driving recklessly, under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Suspecting that it could potentially be another car-ramming attack, the police opened fire on the car, as Nimer was trying to bring food and baby clothes home.
Nimer's killing is just the tip of a huge iceberg. Just this week, 17-year-old Jassem Muhammad Nakhla from Jalazone refugee camp near Ramallah succumbed to wounds he sustained after the was shot in the head by Israeli forces in contested circumstances. According to eyewitnesses, Nakhla was shot while driving with three others past an Israeli military tower. The army maintains the youth had been outside the car throwing molotov cocktails. The car was riddled in bullet holes.
A wave of violence that began in October 2015 resulted in the death of more than 259 Palestinians, 41 Israelis, two Americans, one Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an Agence France Presse (AFP) count. Most of the Palestinians were killed following alleged, attempted or actual attacks, while others were shot dead during protests or Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. Most of the Israelis were killed in Palestinian attacks.
According to a list compiled by Al Haq, a Palestinian human rights NGO based in Ramallah, many of the Palestinian victims are under the age of 20, while a few are below 12 years of age.
Palestinian, Israeli and international human rights groups have argued that some of these Palestinians could have been restrained, arrested and subjected to a fair trial later. Instead, they were fatally shot by the Israeli police or army.
Earlier this year, Human Rights Watch (HRW)
an analysis of statements made by senior Israeli politicians since October 2015, arguing that some Israeli officials have been actively encouraging a "shoot-to-kill" policy.
It's not just about potentially rogue soldiers, but also about senior Israeli officials who publicly tell security forces to unlawfully shoot to kill," said
Sari Bashi
, advocacy director at Human Rights Watch.
Whatever the results of trials of individual soldiers, the Israeli government should issue clear directives to use force only in accordance with international law," she added, referring to the case of Elor Azaria, the Israeli soldier who killed
21-year-old Abd al-Fatah al-Sharif
in Hebron in March 2016. The Palestinian had already been shot and wounded and was lying motionless on the ground when Azaria shot him in the head.
HWR highlighted that these calls by Israeli officials breach the rules of engagement issued to the Israeli army and its police forces. They also violate international human rights law, which limits the intentional use of firearms to circumstances in which it is strictly necessary to protect a life.
For instance, Jerusalem Police District Commander
Moshe Edri told reporters
at Walla News: "The police are doing their job … everyone who stabs Jews or harms innocent people – should be killed."
Members of the Israeli forces who have killed Palestinians unlawfully also benefit from a climate of impunity, according to Amnesty International.
The Israeli army, Ministry of Justice and police also did not investigate, failed to investigate adequately, or closed investigations into cases of alleged unlawful killings of Palestinians by Israeli forces in both Israel and the OPT,"
the human rights group in a statement. Last September, Amnesty sent the Israeli government a memorandum in which it documented at least
20 cases
of apparently unlawful killings of Palestinians by Israeli forces, including 15 cases of Palestinians who were shot dead despite posing "no imminent threat to life in what appear to be extrajudicial executions."
The only way to prevent further unlawful killings is to end the impunity that exists for those who have carried them out in the past," said Philip Luther, Research and Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.
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Lee returns, but can't pull Phillies out of recent funk
After 13th loss in past 14 games, Manuel wants to see more 'hunger'
PHILADELPHIA -- Charlie Manuel found himself speechless after the Phillies' 13th loss in 14 games, the worst stretch in his time as the team's manager.
The Phillies lost, 4-1, to the Braves on Sunday night, and Manuel took more time than usual before addressing the media after the loss, but said he did not address his team.
Manuel could not find the words.
"I didn't say anything to the team yet," Manuel said. "You know what? I will say something to them. At the moment, I don't know what to say."
The Phillies' skid is the franchise's worst since the team lost 13 of 14 games Aug. 28-Sept. 14, 1999.
In front of 37,235 at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies' offense sputtered again Sunday and mustered just four hits. The Phils have averaged 2.4 runs per game in their last 14 contests, and have been held to one or no runs in seven of their last 13 games.
A frustrated Manuel said he thinks his team needs to start having more "hunger" at the plate.
"I don't see no really 'getting after' those at-bats," Manuel said. "We look like we take it very casual. Like it's, 'We'll get 'em next time.' No, that's not good enough."
Manuel also said he felt the team has lacked focus at times in the last two weeks. Cliff Lee -- who pitched Sunday for the first time since July 21 -- thought the team needed to find a spark.
"We got to have more pride, we got to have more fire and play better fundamental baseball, period," Lee said. "If we do that, we'll turn it around."
Lee went five innings and gave up four runs (three earned) on 95 pitches. Lee had eight strikeouts, but got into jams in the first and fourth innings.
The lefty also got little help from his offense.
Carlos Ruiz had a double and scored in the third, but the Phillies had just three hits the rest of the way. It looked as though the team might get something going in the fifth when the first two runners reached base, but after two outs, John Mayberry Jr. got picked off of second base to end any semblance of a threat.
"That becomes inexcusable," Manuel said of Mayberry's gaffe. "When you're playing like we are now, you've got to really be concentrating on staying focused and playing the game right and cutting down and eliminating mistakes. But at the same time, too, the more that you see mistakes and the more you see somebody keep making mistakes over and over and over and over, that might tell you what kind of player that he is."
The Phillies were a game above .500 on July 19, but not much has gone right in the past two weeks. They are 16 1/2 games behind Atlanta in the National League East and 11 games under .500. Injuries to Ryan Howard, Ben Revere and Domonic Brown have decimated the lineup, and bench players like Mayberry have seen increased roles.
Manuel does not have all of his players healthy, but he expects the ones on the field to maintain a level of concentration.
"I feel like there's a situation on our team where we definitely get out-talented," Manuel said. "It doesn't give me any reason why you can't concentrate, stay focused on your at-bats and play the game right."
It was Alumni Weekend at Citizens Bank Park, and the 1993 National League champion Phillies were honored before Sunday's contest. There were various odes to great Phillies of the past since Thursday and many video tributes were played on the scoreboard.
But the current club lost its fifth straight series and was swept for the third time in four series.
Lee was the subject of trade rumors last week, but the Phillies did not make any moves. The All-Star is signed through 2015 and said he has to maintain the mindset that the club can become a winner again.
"I'm here, I'm going to be here for another couple of years, I got to stay positive," Lee said. "I got to hope that we win, and I got to expect that we win. I don't know what other way to look at it."


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Newsline, detailing industry news, events and legislative updates, is published each Thursday, and members can also register to receive Newdesk, CPT's daily (Monday - Friday) industry press cuttings service.
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The Before and After School Program through the YMCA of Greater Kansas City offers its childcare program to any family within the Spring Hill School District. These programs offer qualified, trained staff who engage youth in active and purposeful play with an emphasis in disguised learning. That means kids get to exercise their bodies and their minds - while having fun with friends! The YMCA incorporates our Four Core Values HONESTY, CARING, RESPECT, and RESPONSIBILITY into each component of its curriculum.
With Y-Club before and after school, children in Kindergarten through 5th grade will enjoy and benefit from homework enrichment, physical activity, and small and large group activities with a focus on building relationships, finding a sense of belonging as well as enrichment. An afternoon snack is also provided each day.
This YMCA School Age Program (Y-Club) gives parents options for before, after, or both before and after-school care for school-aged children. We offer full-time and part-time opportunities. Part-time spots are limited.
Program hours are from 6:30 a.m. to the start of school, and then end of school to 6 p.m. Care locations include Spring Hill Elementary School, Prairie Creek Elementary School, Wolf Creek Elementary School, and Timber Sage Elementary School. These locations are not open on holidays or days when school is not held due to inclement weather, however, other sites may offer care on those days (check with Y-Club staff).
Please make sure you select your child's school to ensure you have the correct Y-Club program registration information.
For more information about the program and registration, please visit the YMCA Y-Club webpage or contact Stephannie Holman at email@example.com.
8205 W. 108th Terr. #120
Overland Park, KS 66210
Phone: 913.345.9622


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Thank you for visiting our website! Below you will be able to find the answer to "Hoarders" channel crossword clue which was last seen on USA Today Crossword, March 16 2017. Our site contains over 2.8 million crossword clues in which you can find whatever clue you are looking for. Since you landed on this page then you would like to know the answer to "Hoarders" channel. Without losing anymore time here is the answer for the above mentioned crossword clue:
We found 1 possible solution in our database matching the query "Hoarders" channel
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|Models in bottles
|Digital clock toggle
|Thunder sound
|Senator Marco of Florida
|Pit stop item
|Take on staff
|Courtroom transcript pro
|Garden nuisance
|Give off
|Tyson suffered one vs. Douglas
|Bog yield
|Like some winks and grins
|Spending limit
|Civil rights icon Parks
|Word before centric or maniac
|Much of the time
|YMCA part
|"Hoarders" channel
|Picket line participants
|Arcade coin
|Woodland grazer
|One-for-one deal
|Icarus, to Daedalus
|Not imagined
|Farmyard abode
|Place for pampering
|Boot part
|Corvette roof option, once
|Big incentive for a bounty hunter
|2012 Affleck thriller
|New pilot's milestone
|Madoff's offense
|Material for many Stetsons
|Catchall abbr.
|Sunflower relative
|Ancestry.com diagram
|Go like hotcakes
|In a peevish mood
|Many SAT takers
|"Gilligan's Island" abodes
|"A likely story!"
|Locker room photo, perhaps
|Longhorn's gridiron rival
|Completely baffled
|Personal bearing
|Ragu competitor
|Be a buttinsky
|"Cutthroat Kitchen" competitor
|Margarita garnishes
|Common computer typeface
|Watts who played Diana
|Whodunit writer's award
|Playbill listing
|Range above tenor
|"Pulled" barbecue fare
|Rile up
|Trees sacred to Druids
|Causes of sudden deaths
|Cinnabon offering
|Common 6 p.m. broadcast
|"Doggone it!"
|2015 award for Caitlyn Jenner
|Nautical measures
|Give a keynote, say
|Oater "neckties"
|Like skim milk
|Dumbwaiter enclosure
|Peeling utensil
|Protractor measure
|Overdo a part
|Analyze grammatically
|Fuss over, with "on"
|Carrier to Tel Aviv
|Mob informers
|Piece for four hands
|Like some martinis
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Clarence Burke Jr., Five Stairsteps singer, dies at 64
LOS ANGELES -- Clarence Burke Jr., lead singer of the group the Five Stairsteps that sang the 1970 hit "O-o-h Child," has died. He was 64.
Burke died Sunday -- a day after his birthday -- in Marietta, Ga., where he lived, said Joe Marno, his friend and manager. The cause of his death was not disclosed.
Formed in Chicago in 1965, the Five Stairsteps included Burke, three of his brothers and a sister. They owed their name to their mother, who said that they looked like stairsteps when they stood beside each other in order of age, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Burke, the eldest brother, was the group's producer and choreographer, played guitar and wrote many of the songs. He wrote the group's first single, "You Waited Too Long." He was not yet 17 when it rose to No. 6 on Billboard's R&B charts in 1966.
Other hits included "World of Fantasy," "Don't Change Your Love" and "From Us to You." However, the group's biggest hit was "O-o-h Child," written by Stan Vincent. Its signature refrain croons "o-o-h child" and promises that "things are gonna get easier." The song has been covered many times and Rolling Stone magazine ranked it No. 402 on its list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
The group disbanded in the late '70s but the brothers briefly reformed as the Invisible Man's Band and had a 1980 success with the dance single "All Night Thing." In recent years, Burke performed solo concerts and continued to record with family and friends, according to a family memorial. -- AP


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Free genomes
From Biomics.org
Genomes are free and Genomes must be free.
1. The cost of genome mapping/typing/sequencing should be free for everyone, so that anyone can have an easy access to his/her own genome information.
2. The cost of sharing genome should be free through easy access to the internet.