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In a story entitled, "Mommy Books: More Buzz Than Buyers [1]," the newspaper essentially questioned why books about motherhood continue to be published in large numbers because they don't sell very well. "Recent mommy books . . . have not lived up to the promise of their publicity," wrote Motoko Rich, mentioning non-fiction selections about mothers and work such as, "The Feminine Mistake," "Perfect Madness," "Get Back to Work" and "To Hell with All That." "What is striking about these limp sales figures is that these books cover a topic that raises fierce passions, as anyone who has spent time on a playground or near an office water cooler knows," Rich continued. "But that may not get at the heart of why women are not buying books about these subjects."
The following day, the Times ran a piece bearing the headline, "Hollywood's Shortage of Female Power [2]," in which writer Sharon Waxman said that with the "disappearance of many of the movie world's most visible female power brokers," the future for films that appeal to women "will not be so bright," given lackluster box office receipts for recent flicks like "Catch and Release," "Because I Said So" and "Holiday."
This same warning was sounded a few months ago when Entertainment Weekly ran a piece called "Hollywood vs. Women [3]," where writer Christine Spines -- who said that "barely a dozen women-driven films" were made by major studios in 2006 -- wrote, "When a hot script with several terrific roles for women recently circulated throughout Hollywood, it was received with the breathless enthusiasm of a rare-bird sighting." While lamenting the lack of women writers, producers, executives and projects aimed at the female audience, Spines wrote, "Women aren't a special-interest group or a 'niche' market; they're half the audience."
Half the audience.
That's worth repeating.
"They're half the audience."
Well then, why aren't they acting like it?
As I read these articles about women not buying books about motherhood, about women not going to see women-centered films, I too wondered why. (Are they too busy with kids? With their work? Is it that their spouses don't want to watch chick flicks?) But then, I cleared my head. And I refocused the question. Instead of trying to figure out why women aren't supporting other women, I decided that what this situation needs is less analysis and more action.
If you want to see the lives of contemporary women and the experiences of 21st century motherhood reflected in literature, in the non-fiction sections of book stores, on silver screens and on primetime television, women had better start ponying up the cash, buying books and movie tickets, and watching these types of shows. Or else these offerings will disappear. Businesspeople in the publishing and entertainment worlds are bottom-line oriented. If they don't think these products will sell, they'll stop making them.
Do you want to walk into a bookstore and simply see only guy-centered crime novels, books about male athletes and men's business-oriented books for sale? Do you want to open up your newspaper -- I'm hoping you still read a newspaper -- and find that the only films playing at your local cinema are "Spiderman 47," "Hostel: Now We're Really REALLY Mad" and "The Latest Gorily Violent Period Film About Guys Killing Each Other With Cool-Looking Weapons"? Do you want to turn on your TV and find that Jack Bauer has teamed up with the "CSI" and "Law & Order" folks to take over primetime television?
It's not as though shows or films about women don't ever make money. Look at "Grey's Anatomy," created by a single mom who was writing scripts while her baby was sitting on her lap. Not only is the show created by a woman and written by many female scribes, its leading characters are strong women. And because viewers have been tuning in by the millions, it has been deemed a success, and a spin-off TV program featuring one of the female characters is in the works. Take the movie "Something's Gotta Give," featuring Diane Keaton opposite Jack Nicholson. That did well at the box office last year, as did Meryl Streep's "The Devil Wears Prada." But those success stories aren't enough to overcome all this negativity in the media, the publishing industry and in Hollywood. If the powers that be think that a book about mothers will amount to selling approximately 200 copies despite national television appearances and a PR campaign, or if they think that a film starring women will tank, all the kudos given to "Grey's" and "Prada" won't be enough of a reason for them to take a chance on women-driven fare.
Sure, there are women movie goers who wouldn't want to pay to see anything that comes close to a stereotypical "chick flick," as well as those who'd run screaming away from any book with a baby rattle or the word "mommy" on the cover. They want depth that has nothing to do with the color pink, with babies, with slapstick comedy or Meg Ryan. They might crave more "Pride & Prejudice" than Jennifer Anniston vehicles. But keep in mind, when the Hollywood decision-makers are picking which projects to green-light and which to hold, if what they see that, as a whole, women-driven projects don't make money, that will hurt all women-driven projects, even high quality ones like "The Queen" or "Little Children" which didn't exactly break box office records. Because when it comes to men-driven films, even crappy movies make money.
So get out there. Start acting like 51 percent of the population. Vote with your wallet. Buy books written by and for women and start a book club featuring those books. Get friends together and regularly take in chick flicks. Support primetime shows that are created and written by women and which also feature real women's lives. Otherwise, you'll have no books about moms for sale outside of pregnancy guides, and you'll find nothing but "Saw 17" on the movie screens. And that would be a damned shame.


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This topic is archived and can not be replied to any more.
|38th Anniversary Of First 747 Flight Today! posted Fri Feb 9 2007 09:16:17 by Gunsontheroof
|New BA Club World First Pax Flight Today posted Thu Nov 30 2006 13:29:37 by SapphireLHR
|Confirmed: Air China Starts Sao Paulo Flight posted Fri Oct 20 2006 16:33:33 by Dellatorre
|NZ ZK-OKE First Rev Flight Today NZ81 posted Mon May 29 2006 07:16:19 by Zkpilot
|Icelandair's First SFO Flight Today posted Wed May 18 2005 17:45:29 by Boegas
|Air France Starts Third Daily Flight To Washington posted Mon Apr 25 2005 08:38:53 by Udo
|Air Asia Wins First International Award posted Wed Jan 14 2004 22:42:25 by Mas777
|Air Sahara Operates First International Flight posted Sun Nov 16 2003 06:25:37 by B747-437B
|Air Asia Launches First Regional Dest. - Phuket posted Thu Nov 13 2003 00:55:14 by Odie
|NZ A320 First Schedule Flight Today? posted Mon Oct 20 2003 16:59:23 by Cchan

subset: commoncrawl


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Cats House
Cats House is new picturesque hidden object variation by Cooking-free-Games.com. The cats at the photo sessions are as the kids; they get tired with monotonous actions easily and refused to work. You should photo all cats that were chosen by the customer.
Played: 177
Added: 2 August 2012
Added by:
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Now I am using DropBox to sync Music between two computers and I am using the
"Automatically add to Itunes" folder to add the folders to Itunes on the distant computer. I have two problems that I would like to solve.
First Problem is that when I recieve the songs in the distant computer I would like to have them added in one playlist automatically.
I solve this with a naive way where I change the Genre of the songs to an unique name, which can then be sorted in a Smart Playlist in the distant Computer.
Second Problem is that I add the songs using copy and paste into the DropBox Folder. I would like to have it automatically done to me that if I add songs to Playlist X the songs are copied in (DropBox) folder Y.


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BEAUTIFUL SET OF DIRILYTE durigold GOLD tone FLATWARE
- Sold for: Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
- Item Category: Furniture & Furnishings
- Source: eBay
- Sold Date: Jun 09, 2008
- Channel: Auction House
NO chips or cracks a beautiful set of dirilyte also called durigolda nice ebayer wrote : This is just a note to help out. Dirilyte is both the name of the metal alloy and the name of the company. Your flatware is the same golden color through and through. Dirilyte contains no gold and is not gold plated. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission sued the company in the 1930s to force it to stop using the name ''Dirigold'' for that reason. Good luck
I have not attempted to clean this set. Some are showing stains or wear that I am unsure will clean. Included in this set are :11 Dinner Knives ~ 9 1/8" long 5 knives that are 5.5" long
11 Dinner Forks ~ 7 1/2" long 12 Salad Forks ~ 6 1/8" long 11 Teaspoons ~ 5 3/4" long 2 serving spoons that are 9.5" long 2 Sugar Spoons ~6" long 2 SPOONS THAT ARE 8.25" LONG
Master Butter Knife ~ 7 1/8" long a nice serving fork that is 8.75" long,
a cake knife that is 10" long
They are marked on the back of the handle "Dirilyte" . This set comes in a silverware case but the flat ware pieces can fit them in a flat rate box to save the buyer on shipping costs. Great addition to the gold flatware collector!
WHAT A GREAT PIECE TO ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION..PLEASE Check out my other items ! AS PA SAYS IT ALL HAS TO GO Please look at the pictures Great accent Collectible **** Remember we combine shipping so look at " my other items ! " AND - make sure you do not miss the perfect treasure or even a gift for a loved one - Very collectible
We have lots of treasures coming in all the time, So -PleaseCheck out my other items ! as you might even find the kitchen sink Be sure to add me to your favorites list ! Thank you for looking , and don't forget we have a store too ~~
NOW FOR ALL THE BORING STUFF - The small print - The disclaimers ----- =) EQUALS A SMILE We start our bidding low as a service to you - these really are cool treasures. Please READ my descriptions BEFORE YOU BID! I do my best to research and describe the items in my auctions, BUT I AM NOT AN EXPERT. ALSO DO LESS RESEARCH ON ITEMS THAT WE START AT .99 CENTS I reserve the right to cancel bids of bidders with Bad feedback. Only Serious Bidders, Please. I accept Paypal, online payments, Money Orders and Personal checks. Item will be shipped after the check has cleared. I am always happy to combine shipping on multiple auction wins! PLEASE NOTE THAT WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE POST OFFICE - WE TRY TO OFFER ACURATE SHIPPING CHARGES BASED ON THE WEIGHT OF THE ITEM WHEN IT IS SAFELY WRAPPED IN BUBBLE WRAP AND PADDING AND PUT IN A GOOD STURDY BOX - IF YOU WOULD LIKE FOR US TO JUST THROW IT IN AN ENVELOPE TO SAVE SHIPPING MONEY WE CAN TRY - WE USE FLAT RATE WHEN EVER WE CAN TO SAVE YOU MONEY We not responsible for broken , lost or damaged items that are not insured. Though we try to work with people to ensure a happy transaction. We have daily mail pick up at the house monday thru friday so we try to ship the day payment arrives. We use Priority mail unless you request first class - And we use a lot of bubble wrap to safely transport your treasures Please email any questions you may have BEFORE you bid as items are sold AS IS. We can not afford to refund for buyer's remorse. Payments need to be received with in ten days of the close of the auction or the item will be relisted. I will attempt to contact you before relisting. Thank You for looking at my auctions and Happy Bidding. please remember to look at my other auctions, we work at trying to find neat items to share - REMEMBER THAT OUR AUCTIONS HELP ANIMALS FIND FOREVER HOMES AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR HORSE RESCUE


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3mm Access Round Toe Boots
Manufacturer Part: XB31N
The ACCESS or "AXS" boot brings a refreshing simplicity and efficiency to the surf boot. By keeping seams minimal and having a low-profile design, we were able to improve durability and keep costs down. Those key benefits are passed on to you while still being an excellent cold water boot. If you want maximum functionality, comfort and flex, the AXS boot simply does it all without breaking the bank.
an extremely durable and wear-resistant 4-way stretch neoprene that is virtually bomb-proof and that will stand the test of time.
DiamondSkin Sole DiamondSkin Sole
provides excellent traction and protection without losing feeling and control. Miniature diamond-shaped channels provide consistent grip in all directions while allowing water to migrate away from in-between the boot and the board.
ExoShell Membrane ExoShell Membrane
a vulcanized heel lock/ arch membrane that improves support, comfort and fit.
GBS Seams GBS Seams
we double-glue and blind-stitch all seams using a single-needle which does not puncture a hole all the way through the neoprene which prevents water from leaking in while also maintaining a highly flexible and low-profile construction.
Unmatched Price Point Unmatched Price Point
your wallet will thank you and you will be warm, comfortable and happy. A superior value among all other options.
Hyperflex Wetsuits is a Division of Henderson Aquatics, Inc. Henderson Aquatics was established in Southern New Jersey in 1965 and is currently the largest Scuba Diving wetsuit manufacturer in the World. Hyperflex Wetsuits is the boardsports division of Henderson Aquatics and focuses on both Surfing and Kiteboarding wetsuits and accessories.
Hyperflex Wetsuits emerged in early 2002 with a renewed focus on the surf wetsuit market. Today, Hyperflex Wetsuits has over 400 core US surf and kite accounts and is distributed internationally.


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Tagle - A profile of a #yyc startup
Mark Rosenberger is in ur computer organizing ur info.
Rosenberger is the founder of Tagle, a Calgary-based startup that wants to aggregate and connect all your stuff. Stuff meaning your emails, your various social media flotsam and jetsam and your photos, videos and documents. The trick is connecting it all when it's scattered across your hard drive, inboxes and all over the internet.
At this point Tagle is a downloadable Windows application. The interface is simple, a sidebar and a search window. It's built in .net and Rosenberger has developers in Russia, India and China working on the project.
He raised $500 000 in Nov. 2007. The money was raised from a couple of angel investors and friends and family.
And while they're busy working on the technology behind it they're also busy figuring out the most important part of any new company. Monetization.
"We're still in discovery phase. We're testing Google Adwords, trying to find a market."
While they're doing that Tagle is in the midst of starting a has a relationship with Drop.io (an online collaboration/storage system). Tagle would take takes a cut of the revenue from the people they pushed towards premium accounts. Essentially acting as a value added add-on for existing services.
"I think we've got some great technology we just have to go out there and prove it to users. You build something cool and the people who use it are nowhere near what you think."
Rosenberger is a first time entrepreneur. A mechanical engineer by training he quit his job to start Tagle with no funding lined up. His wife wasn't working had to support his young familiy
"It lit a fire under my ass. Thinking what the hell did I do?"
They're still a ways away from figuring out how Tagle is going to make to make money but Derek Ball, the CEO of Tynt and an advisor to Rosenberger sees great potential.
"Where Tagle gets exciting for me is it has the potential to let me know where all my info is regardless of where I store it. It's not there yet but it has the potential to do it and the potential to do it automatically."
Ball is a serial entrepreneur with Tynt being his 8th company.
"The process that he's gone through is completely normal. 98% of the companies today are not selling the product they originally chose to make. Nokia originally sold rubber boots."
"Tynt started off doing something for teenage social networks and we've moved onto a tool for content publishers."
Tynt tracks copy and paste activity on a website and automatically adds a link back to your content when it is pasted somewhere else.
Sept. 2008 was a wakeup call for Tynt. They had burnt through their first round of fundraising and while they had built the technology they did not have the revenue.
"Ran the tank not quite dry to get to the point where we had change business models. We had to ask ourselves: What do we have here that's valuable?"
And as Tynt gets ready to bring big customers online an example has been set. Where Tagle ends up is not certain but as Derek Ball said "you have to make something people care about." If Tagle can do that Rosenberger should be all right.


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Writers Profile
Screen Name: The Free Mock It
The Free Mock It has published 6 items on The Spoof.
Check out The Free Mock It's:
Latest Spoof News Story: Sunday 31st October 2010
Spoofing since: Tuesday 12th October 2010
Homepage: http://thefreemockit.wordpress.com/
Twiter: @freemockit
The Free Mock It's RSS News Feed
The Free Mock It hasn't written anything in a while, so his/her news feed is seriously out of date!
If you want the latest up-to-the-minute spoof news, check out all our rss feeds.
While you're here, why not check our other Top Writers?
And if you've still got time on your hands, consider joining us as a writer, and make up your very own news stories!
Obama's New Executive Order 13605"The law of Cause and Effect can no longer be applied to political decision making. In its place we have established The "Law of Acausal Happenstance". This will henceforth inform our foreign policy.
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May 27, 2016
An expert says two Florida Panhandle beaches where sharks separately attacked two teenagers this week haven't ever recorded any shark attacks.
On Saturday, 14-year-old Jamie Marie Daigle of Gonzales, La., died when a shark mutilated her leg at a beach near Destin. Monday, 16-year-old Craig Adam Hutto of Lebanon, Tenn., was attacked while fishing in waist-deep water off Cape San Blas, 80 miles to the east. His right leg had to be amputated.
Alabama coastal officials say sharks are not showing up in state waters in the numbers seen last summer, despite the two recent attacks in the Florida Panhandle.
Scientists said they know of no correlation between the number of sharks in an area and the likelihood of a life-threatening encounter with one.
But state conservation scientists make occasional, informal surveys from spotter aircraft flying along the Baldwin County and Dauphin Island coast.
Steve Heath, chief marine biologist, said observers have been seeing five or six sharks each time during this year's flights.
Heath said six sharks is about the average number seen off the coast in the Gulf of Mexico in recent years. Heath said dawn and dusk are the most frequent times of shark attacks.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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UN General Assembly reviews progress in achieving the targets of the 2011 Political Declaration on AIDS
The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has presented his report on HIV to the 67th United Nations General Assembly which is taking place in New York from 10-11 June 2013. The report Accelerating the AIDS response: achieving the targets of the 2011 Political Declaration takes stock of progress made in implementing the targets set out in the 2011 United Nations General Assembly Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS. The report provides an update on developments in the AIDS response, recommends key actions to accelerate progress and urges renewed commitment to achieve the agreed targets and commitments.
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé will also participate in an interactive panel discussion complementing the General Assembly plenary meeting about AIDS and development in the lead up to and beyond 2015.
Source: UNAIDS
News details


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EAGER (European Algebraic Geometry Research Training Network)
Library Home || Full Table of Contents || Suggest a Link || Library Help
|Wolfram Decker
|The members of EAGER are algebraic geometers in mathematical centres spreading among most European countries. These centres are grouped into twelve geographical nodes which are responsible for the management of joint research projects and for the training of young researchers through exchange between the EAGER groups. One further node coordinates the development and maintainance of a systematic program of schools and conferences specifically targetting the needs of young researchers at different stages of their career.
|College, Research
|Resource Types:
|Research Centers
|Math Topics:
|Algebraic Geometry
[Privacy Policy] [Terms of Use]
© 1994- Drexel University. All rights reserved.
The Math Forum is a research and educational enterprise of the Drexel University School of Education.


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Causes of Temper Tantrums Among Autistic Children
Just like any other child, autistic children also have their share of temper tantrums. This usually occurs when the child feels frustrated or when the child does not get what he wants or what he needs.
While temper tantrums are particularly stressful for the parents, the teachers and the caregiver of the autistic child, it must be noted that the child is likewise experiencing a particularly stressful experience too. Hence, the temper tantrum.
In this regard, it would be good to know that the temper tantrum is the physical manifestation of the turmoil that the child is experiencing within him. He is frustrated, overwhelmed and is possibly experiencing a lot of different emotions which he is unable to handle. Keep in mind that a child does not have a temper tantrum just because he feels like having one. He is having a temper tantrum because he is feeling chaos inside him and he does not know how to handle it.
For the autistic child, there are many factors which can contribute to this feeling of chaos. Some of these factors include the following:
1. Too much noise
Having too much noise can cause the child to feel stressed. Try to keep the noise level of the child's surroundings constant and be prepared for any unexpected noise. It would be good to understand that having simultaneous things happening around the child overstimulates him and results to a temper tantrum.
2. Too many people
While bringing your child along with you to a crowded place or to an event may be prevented, there are certain times when you just can't leave him behind. If you know that you will be bringing him to a crowded place, it is a good idea for you to prepare your child for this by letting him know what will happen. Let him know where you are going and how long you will be there. It is very important that he knows what to expect.
3. Changes in routine
It is very important that you religiously stick to your child's daily schedules and activities. Keep in mind that any changes to the child's daily routine can cause him to feel uncomfortable and frustrated. Always eat on a regular schedule and have him take his naps at exactly the same time. Having a regular and consistent schedule for the child to follow is not only comforting to the child but will also help avoid any temper tantrums.


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The Anatomy of Prejudice
Jane Elliott
Thursday, 27 Mar 2008 at 7:00 pm – Sun Room, Memorial UnionJane Elliott, the adaptor of the Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes exercise, will lead a three-hour presentation teaching about the anatomy of prejudice. The Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes exercise, which she developed in her Riceville, Iowa, classroom, was the subject of the Peabody Award-winning documentary "The Eye of the Storm" and the follow-up PBS/FRONTLINE production "A Class Divided." She will show clips and discuss that film and explore with the audience the problems of racism, sexism, ageism, homophobia, and ethnocentrism, and ways to eliminate them from ourselves and our environment.
Cosponsored By:
- Black Graduate Student Association
- Margaret Sloss Women's Center
- Multicultural Student Programming Advisory Council
- Psychology
- SUB Awareness
- University Extension
- Committee on Lectures (funded by Student Government)


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I know that is a bit harsh but overall isn't he better?
Krug did little against the Pens and CJ felt he couldn't play him last night.
One play doesn't decide things but that was a really bad play leading by two goals in the 3rd.
No need to go up the middle just up the boards.


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Wearing our tin hats
I haven't seen a lot of tin foil hats around town, but we got to chatting about all the alien stuff we've been watching on TV lately, and wondered if we should find a way to protect ourselves.
For those of you who may have already succumbed to alien abduction, a tin foil hat might have cured that. For you unabducted types, a tin foil hat might just shield you from threats like electromagnetic fields, mind control, mind reading, some conspiracy theories and of course undesired alien influence. (Google has more details under 'Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie' or AFDB)
So, the early morning Cappuccino on Collins coffee klatch had an in depth discussion about all this and Paul concluded that such an apparatus might come in handy. However, since these types of hats have a tendency to stereotype their wearers as paranoid, delusional, and filled with conspiracy theories, we needed to find a way to disguise the downside of protecting ourselves from those pesky mind readers/thought controllers.
The conversation had its moments, especially when the group decided that I might not have any thoughts worth reading. Herman's mind was too complicated for anyone to decipher. Bob's was too cluttered with crossword puzzles and Paul seemed to think that he already lost his somewhere while Greg, Larry, and Robert just sat there wondering if they weren't losing theirs. Of course, Jim, Wally, and Tara just shook their heads.
This is what happens when the espresso begins to kick in. Evidently caffeine has a tendency to stimulate both the mind and the tongue. Caffeinated concoctions then collapse/override the filters that normally allow one to think about what thoughts to share. The ensuing chaotic scenario of thoughts being dumped on the table without thinking about what you're saying can be quite confusing to the untrained coffee klatcher. However those of us who have spent years in these caffeinated circles have learned the art of selective listening. By the way, don't try this at home it, can lead to domestic difficulties.
During this self-inflicted process, each of us somehow connected snippets of the myriad of thoughts swirling around the table, to help us sort through the chaff, and come to inconclusive conclusions that we toss into the mix to see if anyone else is on the same track … and that's how we solve big issues like the aforementioned alien abduction, mind control, electromagnetic fields, and conspiracy theories.
Of course we can't recall the other 453,336.58 problems we've solved so far; therefore, I thought it would be a good idea to jot this one down; just in case it might actually be a viable cure …besides Paul went to great lengths and actually built a 'brain drain feeler' hat.
Paul presented the hat shortly after our paranoid thought dump, and it fit Bob real well, so when I showed up, he was wearing it along with one of the more contented looks I've ever seen on him. Once I got over the shock and awe of it all, we discussed what to do with it, and decided that the greatest risk of abduction, mind control, and paranoia usually occurs when we get together … so we left it at Cappuccino on Collins.
Thus far the hat has worked well and we're willing to share it with folks who may be experiencing any of the aforementioned disorders, as long as they don't abscond with the hat. So if you're having abduction issues, suffering from paranoid conspiracy pressures, or just need your brain drained, stop by Cappuccino on Collins and test out Paul's hat.
As a bonus, Paul says if the hat works for ya he'll be glad to gin up another for a pound of bacon and a latte laced with honey. Here's hoping that you can always recover from whatever you get yourself into …


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The 2011 Kansas Legislature made no changes to the statewide smoking ban enacted in the 2010 session, but other states and communities around the U.S. are beginning to recognize that smoking bans hurt businesses and reduce tax revenues. Some communities are rolling back or rejecting smoking bans and a Kansas bar owner is helping make it happen.
The American Beverage Licensees association recognized Sheila Martin, owner of the Top Hat private club in Hutchinson, as the Kansas Retailer of the Year at their annual convention in Milwaukee Tuesday.
The award is given annually to recognize and honor dedicated members of ABL's affiliates. Phil Bradley, CEO of the Kansas Licensed Beverage Association (KLBA), an ABL affiliate, said he nominated Martin because she is an extraordinary example of people sacrificing their own resources to help defend the rights of others.
Sheila told a rally in Topeka in April that the battle isn't about smoking. "The fight is going on. It's physical. It's in the trenches for property rights. This is not about smoking; it's about your property rights. We do not want to be New York. We do not want the mayor telling you, you can't have sugar."
"We're going to protect property rights because that's what this country was built on," Martin said.
"She's working not just for people all over the state but now for people all over the nation," Bradley said. "She's being called on more and more by people who are referring her by word of mouth. People call and say, 'Sheila, I don't know you but such and such told me about you, I need your help."
"My 'boots on the ground' campaign is getting the locals connected and getting them up to speed on tactics. Then I get the info out to the nationwide fighters," Martin said in a recent email to KansasWatchdog.
Bradley said Martin and others give him hope for better protection of property rights. "Elected officials are listening to them and deciding that there are economic consequences of the bans and there are businesses where you can allow your patrons to do the kinds of legal things they want to do — and it's OK for the community. Most importantly for the first time ever we have people who are overturning or modifying existing bans. It's a long road ahead but I'm very please with what's happening."
Martin's efforts have no direct benefit on her business because her bar is already exempt from the statewide smoking ban. Top Hat is a private club established before the cutoff date specified in the statewide ban legislation.
Smoking bans are an affront to personal liberties and just don't make sense according to Martin. "Smokers do not 'get used to not smoking in a bar,' they simply buy beer at the liquor store and go home or to a friend's home."
"Liquor stores are doing great, but they don't collect the extra 10% liquor excise tax that the bars do," Martin said. "Even with recent huge increases in liquor prices and the resulting price hike at point of sale, Kansas is down on revenue (from liquor sales in bars)."
Smoking ban proponents claimed that bans would not hurt business in Kansas but business closures and tax revenue data paints a different picture.
Illinois and Michigan both reported dramatic declines in gaming revenue after implementing statewide smoking bans. Since 2008, when the smoking ban was put in place there Illinois has seen a 32 percent decline in gaming revenue that has cost the state about $800 million in tax revenue.
Michigan is also experiencing a reduction in state revenue from gaming in bars and other private businesses, down about $80 million dollars since their smoking ban went into effect.
Kansas exempted its casinos from the smoking ban to prevent state gaming losses. A bill presented this year would have removed the casino exemption but failed to make it out of the Legislature.
Bradley said he's optimistic. "At some point all these businesses are going to understand that whether it's smoking or hours of operation or parking or patios, these property rights issues are things that they all need to be concerned about. If you help with what's bothering your neighbor, they're going to help you with yours."
"It does not take a majority to prevail … but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men."
— Samuel Adams
Clearing the Air on Smoking Ban Revenue Claims
Pitcher Beer Pricing Policy May Fall Flat
Michigan Bar Owners Boycott Lottery in Smoking Ban Protest
Smoking Ban Protesters Gathering for Ceremonial Signing in Salina
Governor Candidates Against Statewide Smoking Ban, Casino Hypocrisy
Three Years After Smoking Ban, Ohioans Favor Exempting Bars
St. Louis Fed: No Ifs, Ands or Butts, Smoking Ban Hurt Revenues
Smoking Ban Passes House, Governor Says He'll Sign
Senate, in Push for Smoking Ban Exempting Casinos, Cancels House Meeting


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Collins Quarter
86A Collins St, Melbourne, VIC
If you like being surrounded by dapper chaps in suits and being lavishly waited upon, then this spacious pub, courtyard, dining room and cigar bar is sure to make an impact. The focus is on a spectacular central courtyard, where hungry execs scoff suckling pig rolls with coleslaw along with their Birra Messinas and glasses of Condes de Albarei Albarino. Cocktails are mixed lightly and dance across the tongue; try a Pink Collins with Cariel Vanilla Vodka, Pimms and pink grapefruit. Seasonal dishes come in all sizes and are a genteel take on pub favourites like schnitzel. Come after dark when the party atmosphere kicks in.
86A Collins St, Melbourne, VIC
- 03 9650 8500
- http://www.collinsquarter.com
- Cuisine - European
- Prices - Cocktails $15.50-$17, Beers $4.50-$14, Wines by the glass $9-$16
- Features - Outdoor seating
- Chef(s) - Michael Nunn
- Owners - Vernon Chalker
- Opening Hours - Mon-Thurs 7.30am-11pm, Fri 7.30am-1am, Sat noon-1am
- Seats - 70


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MIDDLEBURY — A mother-daughter team is proposing to open a new child care center at 111 Court St. that could accommodate up to 45 children and employ up to 10 care-givers.
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Sci-fi greats tackle imagination
The late author Arthur C. Clarke once said, "The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible."
He was an expert on the matter. Clarke went far beyond the possible in "2001: A Space Odyssey," his classic sci-fi story about humans making contact with intelligent, extra-terrestrial life. The novel was so imaginative that many people didn't grasp its meaning. Some still don't.
It's led more than a few to ask, "How'd he come up with such ideas?"
The question represents the driving purpose of the new Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination at the University of California San Diego. The center is set to formally open on Tuesday with "Visions of the Future," a public symposium about what the world might be like in 2046, or 33 years from today. The novel "2001: A Space Odyssey" was published in 1968 and focused on a period 33 years into the future. (Speakers/registration.)
The center's second major symposium will occur May 21-22, when some of the world's best-known authors and scientists will meet at UC San Diego for "Starship Century," which will examine four questions: Is this the century we begin to build starships? Why go to the stars? Can we? Should we?" (Speakers/registration).
UC San Diego said such symposiums are part of a larger exploration about how imagination can be better applied to problem-solving and nurturing creativity and education.
To highlight the center's debut, we asked four symposium speakers and panelists to answer the question, "What is imagination?" Here's what they said:
DAVID BRIN, author of books such as "Startide Rising" and the "Uplift War"
"The prefrontal lobes were the last organs that humans evolved. Just above the eyes, they let us picture ourselves in a possible future: 'What if I raise this proposal? Or wear this outfit to school? Or try to run this yellow light?' (Albert) Einstein called this 'gedankenexperiment,' or thought-experimenting. Mostly, we ponder possibilities in the immediate future — and reject most of them, a crucial editing process that culls many mistakes. When we daydream possibilities further into the future, or living vicariously through fictional characters, or when we get all lathered over a political dogma, that's when those 'lamps on our brows' shift into pure imagination — a powerfully creative mental state that can also be dangerous if we forget to apply the second half of the cycle. Comparing what we have pictured to actual evidence, experiment and facts in the real world."
KIM STANLEY ROBINSON, author of the acclaimed Mars triology, "Red Mars," "Green Mars" and "Blue Mars"
"For me, imagination is the ability we have to see things that aren't there in front of us, and to tell ourselves stories about things that aren't happening in the very moment in our sensory array. As such it is a very basic and common human ability, something that we are exercising so much and so often that it is almost the same as consciousness itself. Indeed there is a kind of consciousness training in meditation technique where the focus is on keeping our attention trained on what is in front of us in the present moment. In other words, it is hard not to be imagining."
JOE HALDEMAN, author of sci-fi classics such as "The Forever War"
"I'd say imagination is what you get for free — and if you don't have it, you can't 'purchase' it with any currency.
"I suppose that brain scientists can locate some place or process that's the locus of imagination — but then again, I wonder. No one ever suffered a head injury and said, 'Oh, no! There goes my imagination!'