text:
BP Comment Quick Links
|Strength of Schedule Report
July 14, 2008
Under The Knife
Break Time?
Hanley Ramirez (1 DXL)
Roy Oswalt (5 DXL)
Pedro Martinez (5 DXL)
Takashi Saito (TBD)
David Ortiz (45 DXL)
Rafael Soriano (30 DXL)
Ryan Zimmerman (45 DXL)
Kerry Wood (3 DXL)
Quick Cuts: Aaron Harang was placed on the DL, but it was a retroactive move with the All-Star break in there as well. The Reds don't have a timeline yet, and are waiting to see how his forearm responds to the rest. ... Magglio Ordonez will spend his break rehabbing in A-ball. He'll be back with the Tigers on Thursday. ... Bobby Jenks made it through a bullpen without trouble and will be activated after the break. He'll pitch twice on a rehab assignment, but no one anticipates much of a problem, besides those poor low-minor hitters who have to face him. ... Jerry Hairston Jr. was carted off of the field Sunday as this year's Reds shortstop curse continues. The hamstring strain looked really bad, but there's no way to tell based on just his reaction. ... Rick Ankiel was held out of Sunday's game to rest his sprained ankle. The break should take care of things. ... Loopt > Twitter. ... The Braves don't expect good news when Yunel Escobar gets his imaging results back. Whispers are that it's his rotator cuff. ... The Twins will juggle their rotation to give Kevin Slowey some extra time to deal with an infected fingernail. ... Brilliant. ... Willy Taveras will hit the DL if resting through the break doesn't get his quad back to a good spot. I think he'll need to be shelved, if only due to the roster crunch the Rockies are facing now. ... Look for some Baseball Prospectus Radio from Yankee Stadium from John Perrotto over the next few days. Good stuff coming.
0 comments have been left for this article.
BP Comment Quick Links
Not a subscriber? Sign up today!


text:
Dto.java and others classes - for data transmission from/to view (with EL - Expression Language" ) layer to/from business and persistence layer in J2EE application. Dto extends from HashMap class of Java API for encapsulate any type of information by key type:key_i.key_ij.key_ijk....: Any component in any J2EE functional chain can access to DTO if they know the key key_i.key_ij.key_ijk.... for object access. This project helps to decouple the data, business logic and persistence logic allowing portability between different frameworks gently.
- Data Transfer Object
- for J2EE applications
- from view layer to business and persistence (with Hibernate) layers
- with EL (Expression Language) in JSP, JSF or Vaadin and ZK pages
- with Hibernate
- with Struts 1 & 2
- with Spring
- with JSF/JSP pages
- into Vaadin view
- into ZK view
- for Web Services conmunications
- for feed OpenLaszlo view
- Project done with a new implementation completely different from the previous
- Generic Hibernate Dao
- for GWT Web applications
- for Apache Click
- Apache ActiveMQ
Other Useful Business Software
User Reviews
Be the first to post a review of Mvc Infraestructure!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Over the past few years, Record Store Day has evolved from a minor cult holiday to a national event with significant investment from major labels and industry leaders.
To celebrate this year's festivities — Saturday, April 21 — we're returning to Twist & Shout on East Colfax to throw another impromptu happy hour with free beer for of-age music fans.
In association with The Denver Post's new craft beer blog, First Drafts, select Reverb staffers will spin vinyl in the store and provide complementary Breckenridge beer from 3 – 5 p.m. (or until the keg's kicked, whichever comes first).
Consider this your personal invitation to join us on Saturday, April 21, for a celebration of craft beer and craft music at one of the country's premier record stores.
RSVP on Facebook, and please extend the invite to your friends of proper age.
Follow our news and updates on Twitter, our whereabouts on Foursquare and our relationship status on Facebook. Or send us a telegram.
John Hendrickson is the managing editor of Reverb and a multimedia journalist for The Denver Post. Follow his rants on music and more on Twitter.


text:
The Coon Rapids Lions Club will be celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2014 and planning has started to celebrate this milestone.
Part of this planning involves a request to the public by the club for its help with the event.
The Lions hope the community will participate in the celebration by making a contribution in the form of photos, newspaper articles, personal accounts and memorabilia associated with the club and its history.
"We are proud of our club's nearly 60 years of service," said Coon Rapids Lions Club First Vice President Lyle Goff.
According to Goff, club members thank everyone who have and also continue to contribute towards the important work the Lions do for the community.
"You are truly helping make a difference in the lives of the people in our city and also far beyond its borders," Goff said.
"We are also interested in preserving our club's history and its connection with Coon Rapids.
"We are asking any individuals who may have some items in their possession that may represent some historical significance to the club or its community efforts to contact us.
"We would be more than happy to accept their donation towards this celebration."
The club has been a fixture in this community for decades and will continue to do so for many more, Goff said.
"We current Lions would like to reconnect with any former club members or their families in an effort to help celebrate the long history of this club," he said.
"Anything tangible like photos, clothing, newspaper articles, scrapbooks, posters or other items would be greatly appreciated as contributions to the club's celebration."
"Also, there may be some intangible items such as personal accounts or stories that could be shared with the club and the community on how the Coon Rapids Lions Club made a difference for some group or individual.
"Sometimes these recollections demonstrate the true legacy of an organization.
"With the Coon Rapids Lions Club's anniversary taking place in 2014, this is the perfect time for its members to help share and preserve its history."
"Any items contributed to the club's anniversary celebration will be displayed at club events throughout the year, as well as at the Coon Rapids Lions Club display case located at the City Center."
Any stories or personal accounts will be collected and put together in a historical archive for Lions and community members to share for many years to come, according to Goff.
"We truly hope to share this occasion with everyone in our fair city," Goff said.
Anyone wishing to make a contribution can contact Goff at 763-754-8921 or via e-mail at [email protected]
In addition, the club is always looking for individuals who wish to become a part of any efforts to make the city one of the finest to live, work and play in, Goff said.
"We encourage and welcome anyone to become a part of the club and its on-going pledge toward helping others through volunteering.
"We would love to have anyone who also might have had a past connection to the club to become a part of it as well.
"Former members, their spouses, their children or anyone with some personal history with the Coon Rapids Lions Club are asked to come join the club and become part of its community service projects."
Since the club's chartering in 1954, members of the Coon Rapids Lions have worked on a variety of projects in the local community, such as the Books for BANGO book giveaway program held in the nine elementary schools in this area each year.
Proceeds from past fundraising events have gone to scholarships presented to students at Coon Rapids High School, Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Anoka Technical College and Northwest Passage Charter School, in addition to supporting youth and community activities throughout the year in Coon Rapids.
The club is currently continuing to serve the community through its Recycle for Sight eyeglasses and hearing aids collections, community meal fund-raisers and other philanthropic efforts.
The club meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Coon Rapids VFW on Coon Rapids Boulevard.
For more information or to get involved with the club, contact Dan Janish at 612-558-2851 or visit the club's website at www.coonrapidslions.org.
Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with nearly 1.4 million members in approximately 45,000 clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.
For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit the website at www.lionsclubs.org.


text: My almost 3 year old daughter's name is Delilah! She is strawberry blonde and blue eyed and her name fits her perfectly! She is beautiful, sassy and just has a great personality! I am glad we chose it for her :) I think it's a beautiful name and everyone says it's a beautiful name! Just go with your gut feeling! I did! Lilah was almost a Savannah....that wouldn't fit her at all!!!


text:
Nationwide Business Insurance in Chapin, South Carolina From Morgan & Associates, Inc.
The Morgan & Associates, Inc. has the risk management expertise you need to protect your business and position it for future growth. Just like the coverage available from Nationwide, this expertise extends into each of the local industries in Chapin, including retail and restaurants, wholesalers and professional contractors, as well as several niche markets. Whether your business is just around the corner from our office, or is located somewhere else in Chapin, our agents understand commercial property coverage and your business insurance needs.
This understanding, as well as our commitment to superior products and customer service, has led the Morgan & Associates, Inc. to partner with Nationwide. It starts with the value of their policy coverage and the level of service delivered by the On Your Side® Claims Service. Plus, our business clients can choose from flexible billing options and specialized insurance programs, like GrouProtector℠ accident medical insurance.
From business interruption to medical stop loss, let the experts at the Morgan & Associates, Inc. help you search for potential coverage gaps and other customized insurance solutions. Give us a call at (803) 345-3452 to talk about how to manage your risk or to make an appointment with our office.
The Morgan & Associates, Inc. also offers products in Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. Please call for information on products in those states.


text:
Academia.edu has been getting a lot of negative press in the scholarly community. I see some of this on Twitter, and I've been sent some articles and links. I just read Sarah Bond's article in Forbes, "Dear Scholars, Delete your Account at Academia.edu.:" She has three objections to Academia. I don't find any of them compelling, although one of them is troubling. First, "It is not a 'real' .edu" The domain is an old one and a commercial operation seems to be disguising itself as an educational institution. Wow, I was really fooled by that. Stupid and unsophisticated users might get confused. Give me a break, this is trivial.
Second, Academia is trying to get money for enhanced features. I guess I'm not sure how that is a bad thing. Perhaps if the basic fact that they are commercializing scholarship (my point 3) is abhorrent to you, then the enhanced features might be especially abhorrent. Again, this seems trivial to me.
Third, Academia is commercializing scholarship. They are trying to make money on the backs of scholars who do the work pretty much for free. This I see as troubling, but not a killer problem. Compare this to Elsevier and other commercial publishers. They commercialize scholarship, making money off my hard work, while inhibiting access to it. They harm my career by making money restricting access to my works. I find that practice morally abhorrent. By contrast, Academia.edu is commercializing scholarship while promoting and improving my career and professional goals. They are making my papers more widely available. I am not at all outraged by this fact, but I am somewhat disturbed by it.
What are the alternatives? I also have a page on Selected Works. I started that on a trial basis (as I did with Academia), but Academia.edu quickly turned out to be an easier process for uploading and gave my papers more readers. Selected Works does have a few features lacking at Academia (e.g., you can file a paper under more than one category). I initially posted papers on my own funky html website (now seriously out of date). Elsevier threatened my university and we got an order from an administrator to remove published papers without explicit permission to post (which I ignored). Now, the university is going to eliminate funky faculty sites and promote a more standardized (properly branded) faculty website, which I may or may not use to post my papers. My university does have an online archive, but it is not set up properly as a paper repository, and this would bury my papers even deeper than they are in my own site. I have considered posting papers there, and using links (not papers) on Academia edu. I am sure not going to start using an NEH website for important professional works, given uncertainties of the Trump presidency.
The professional society in my discipline, the Society for American Archaeology, is hopeless for help with archiving papers. I have considered using the new sociology version of ArXiv, and perhaps replacing papers on Academia.edu with links. It is called SocArXiv. It is mainly inertia that keeps me from making any changes right now.
For me, the advancement of scholarship and promotion of wide access to my work are among my strongest professional values. Sometimes this requires me to do unpleasant things--talk to uninformed reporters, collaborate with individuals I'd rather avoid, deal with clueless journal editors, write grant proposals, go to faculty meetings. Putting up with Academia.edu trying to make money on my scholarship is just another of those unpleasant things I have to do. Yes, I would be more comfortable with a good archive, widely used and convenient, that was not a commercial enterprise. But until I find that (and have the time for a massive conversion), I will continue to put up with Academia.edu.


text:
Monday, October 21, 2013
Groove's Faves: "Death Flies the Haunted Sky" by Goodwin and Toth
7 comments:
- AnonymousOctober 21, 2013 at 7:39 PM
Toth was a master of storytelling and design, but his Batman looks goofy and Dick Sprang-ish, especially after Neal Adams DEFINED the Batman of the early '70s and dispelled the camp creation of the '60s. It's no wonder he was not asked to do another Batman tale. Neal Adams' art of "Ghost of the Killer Skies" has similar themes, but is much better drawn. Toth oversimplified here, and unintentionally proved that less is not always more.ReplyDelete
Chris A.Replies
- AnonymousJuly 18, 2014 at 6:38 PM
Disagree strongly. Toth was an amazing draughtsman; like Garcia Lopez and Stuart Immonen among others, probably so good that laymen just don't realize how good. Adams is all flash and finish with very little in the way of sound construction underneath (I know; I've inked the guy's work.) Toth was also a brilliant, almost cinematic storyteller. So what if his Batman is a little more square jawed here than Adam's rather more aquiline rendition? This is rightly regarded as a classic of the genre, in terms of storytelling and drawing.Delete
Thanks for this story, Groove. I really enjoyed the era when this story appeared in Detective Comics, the 100 Page Super Spectacular Days. We got to see a lot of great artistic interpretations of Batman during that run, with some really good stories from Archie Goodwin, plus the Manhunter series to boot.ReplyDelete
It's like seeing the "Super Friends" Batman in a dark, dramatic story. Weird juxtaposition.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 22, 2013 at 7:55 AM
I believe that Toth was asked to do other Batman stories. Editor Mark Chiarello got Toth to commit to drawing an Archie Goodwin-penned story for Batman Black and White #4, but Toth changed his mind and just did the incredible cover instead. Goodwin's story ended up being drawn by Gary Gianni. Adams' early 70s Batman was incredible, but with Giordano, Novick, Brown, Chaykin, Amendola and others all following Adams' style, it was a nice shock to see Toth's version. - Jeff ClemReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 23, 2013 at 1:01 PM
If you look at Toth's annotations for this story at www.tothfans.com, you'll see in his own handwriting that the fans didn't like it and therefore he was not subsequently asked to draw another Batman story. That BATMAN B&W cover was terribly weak---a sad denouement to a career with many great moments, but by that point he was just doodling, and never really invested himself in his art again.ReplyDelete
Chris A.Replies
- AnonymousOctober 13, 2014 at 4:25 AM
I'd have to disagree. That Batman b/w cover shows a mastery of draftsmanship. Toth was such a visual genius he created something beautiful as well as simple and precise with that cover. If anything I would say as he grew older his style only grew and he realized what was truly needed in a page and what wasn't. Also, his lack of involvement in comics may have been more due to his disgust with the comics industry. Overall I feel he was a master to the end.Delete
All other commentary and insanity copyright GroovyAge, Ltd.
As for the rest of ya, the purpose of this blog is to (re)introduce you to the great comics of the 1970s. If you like what you see, do what I do--go to a comics shop, bookstore, e-Bay or whatever and BUY YOUR OWN!


text:
Posted by Smokey Stover on May 21, 2004
In Reply to: Heart of darkness. posted by Lewis on May 21, 2004
: : : : : READ INTO -- informed of, briefed about. "Fewer than two hundred operatives and officials, were completely read into the program, the former intelligence official said. "We're not going to read more people than necessary into our heart of darkness."
: : : : :
: : : : : WHITE -- the opposite of covert.
: : : : :
: : : : : From The New Yorker, The Gray Zone," May 24, 2004, Page 39.
: : : : Can anyone tell me if the phrase "heart of darkness" antecedes its use by Joseph Conrad? I don't mean casual use, unbeknownst to Conrad, but used conspicuously enough to have inspired Conrad. It's interesting to hear it in the context quoted by ESC. Who knew that intelligence officials read Conrad? Or did he get it somewhere else? SS
: : : The Dictionary of Allusions (Merriam-Webster) includes the title "Heart of Darkness." But it doesn't say anything about the origin of the title. I looked in "Now All We Need is a Title" but it didn't have this one.
: : I've concluded that the intelligence official was, indeed, alluding to Conrad, indubitably coiner of the phrase "Heart of Darkness" , title of a story about Europeans in the Congo, probably his finest short story. Conrad (1857-1924) was born to Polish parents named Korzeniowski, and went to sea after his boyhood, giving him much material for his mostly pessimistic tales. In 1878 he was cast up on English shores, speaking little English, and made England his home. He began writing in 1895, always in English. I may be entirely wrong, but it seems to me that the English are less enthusiastic about Conrad than Americans are. (I've got to be wrong!) SS
: I did English literature at school and at VI form college - Conrad was only mentioned once in 7 years, when we looked at a short story - I recall about a man fishing from a boat. His style is somewhat more appealing to Americans it appears - most British do not do much big game fishing and people who go fishing don't seem to have the classics stacked up by their keep-nets. I'm not saying that they don't read, but my observation is that Stephen King is more of a riverbank read than Conrad.
: Being daring, with my ignorance, I wonder if he may be of the same ilk as Ernest Hemmingway, but less interesting.
Thanks, Lewis, for correcting my glaring typo. I have had similar thoughts about Conrad and Hemingway, and concluded that I am too ignorant to make a comment worth reading. So naturally I'll make a comment anyway. Hemingway certainly explores the same "Heart of Darkness" as Conrad, that is the mostly unfathomable souls of men. Their different geographical venues just touch; Conrad's Congo is a long way from Kilimanjaro, and Hemingway seldom wrote about the sea. "The Old Man and the Sea" was a brilliant exception. Both writers are characterized by a spare, direct style. But in thinking about other writers of note in the same period, economy of means is a very common characteristic. It's not a sine qua non of good writing, of course. Think of Dickens or Trollope, or the American Thomas Wolfe. SS


text:
Gators F Erik Murphy expected to return for Arizona game
Florida starting forward Erik Murphy is expected to return to lineup when the Gators host Arizona Wednesday night at the O'Connell Center.
Murphy has missed the past three games with a knee injury.
"He's going to play,'' Florida coach Billy Donovan said Monday. "Right now he's been cleared. He worked out (Sunday) on his own and did some running. He'll probably go through about half the contact (today). Provided the next two days go as planned with him physically, he should be able to play. He feels good right now. We'll have him out there today and I'll probably know. I would anticipate right now, the expectation level is he's going to play in the game. But obviously if there's some kind of setback here today or tomorrow, then we won't play him, But as of today we're going to play him.''
The junior scored back-to-back games in double figures for the first time in his career against Ohio State and North Florida. He injured his knee during practice on Thanksgiving Day.
Tipoff for Wednesday's game is 7 p.m., and the game can be seen on ESPN.


text:
Mike Eli Baby News: Eli Young Band Frontman to Be a Dad!
And baby makes three! Mike Eli, lead singer of the Eli Young Band, and his wife Kacey are expecting a baby girl this summer, and the country star is doing everything he can to be prepared before the big day.
"[Kacey] and her mom got me a couple books that I am reading, and it can be a little overwhelming," the dad-to-be tells People magazine. "I recommend reading them for the basics and what to expect during pregnancy, but they can't teach you to be a good dad and a good partner. That's up to me to figure out."
Mike was the first band member to tie the knot, and is now the first one to become a father. "I guess that makes me leader of the pack," he jokes. But it's a pack we're guessing will expand soon, given the guys are all settled down now.
"We've been on the road for so long and love playing shows, but I think all four of us agree, now that we're all married, the urge to get home is a lot stronger than it ever has been," Mike notes. "Now that Kacey's pregnant, it's even stronger, and I can only imagine what it will be like once the baby is born. It will be extremely hard to leave them."
The EYB has a packed tour schedule planned, including heading out on the road with Rascal Flatts for their American Band tour this summer. But Mike has no plans of missing his firstborn's delivery. The band has already taken time off around Baby Girl Eli's August 2 due date, to ensure her proud dad will be there for the big day. Congrats to Mike and Kacey!


text:
define ('WPLANG', 'nl_NL'); doesn't work
Dear WP people,
define ('WPLANG', 'nl_NL');doesn't work.
I have installed this package (which contains WordPress 2.3 with a Dutch theme included, it works for other people on other servers then mine):
I have changed the wp-config.php to:
<?php // ** MySQL settings ** // define('DB_NAME', 'XXX'); // of course fake define('DB_USER', 'XXX'); // of course fake define('DB_PASSWORD', 'XXX'); // of course fake define('DB_HOST', 'localhost'); define('DB_CHARSET', 'utf8'); define('DB_COLLATE', ''); $table_prefix = 'wp_'; define ('WPLANG', 'nl_NL'); define('ABSPATH', dirname(__FILE__).'/'); require_once(ABSPATH.'wp-settings.php'); ?>
Well I started then with the installation, and guess what it was in English.
I have checked the nl_NL.mo file:
But for some reason my worpress won't listen to WPLANG, everything is working fine, but I have to set up a WordPress in the Dutch languas and to change all text in the php would be a hell of a job.
De site is running at –> http://www.dolleboel.net/wp/
Can somebody help me? Reply in this topic or contact me on tijmen @ dolleboel.net . Any help is appreciated!
Information of the server it is working on:
PHP built On: Linux blinkserver.blinkserver.nl 2.6.18-4-amd64 #1 SMP Fri May 4 00:37:33 UTC 2007 x86_64 Database Version: 4.1.10-standard PHP Version: 5.2.3 Web Server: Apache/2.0.59 (Unix) mod_ssl/2.0.59 OpenSSL/0.9.8c mod_perl/2.0.3 Perl/v5.8.8
- The topic 'define ('WPLANG', 'nl_NL'); doesn't work' is closed to new replies.


text:
- Latest
- Popular
- Blogs
- Authors
- Topics
- Our Blog
… they operate. Internet.org first launched in Zambia, and today, one-half of the 30 countries with Free Basics are in Africa. These new Internet.org launches will bring free services to Burkina Faso, Chad, Gabon, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone and Uganda. We also recently partnered to launch a satellite to provide…


text:
Dakimakura Collection 97
Today we have two dakimakura covers by the artist Hayakawa Harui (circle name: Re:cruit ), which were also requested by Accelerator.
First up is Kanzaki Ranko from Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls. A loveable chuunibyou with a penchant for goth loli fashion. Must say that the choice of a combination of black skirt, black tights and white pantsu comes out stunningly.
Then we have an original character called Mashiro (真白) who was illustrated for Stylus (and is still in stock if anyone is interested). I was especially drawn to this one by the butterfly prints on her kimono. Kimonos/yukatas on dakimakura covers always seem to have beautiful patterns, and often prove too tempting for me.
If you're interested in picking up a dakimakura of your own, please consider checking out my sale thread at: http://www.figure.fm/en/post/55537/FOR+SALE+Dakimakura+and+Assorted+Goods.html
And that's that for now!


text:
Tablets, ultrabooks, Windows 8... the portable connected computing of the future is here (and it's brilliant for watching the telly).
We often report on the future gazing of people cleverer even than the combined big brains of Team PC Advisor. Hard to believe, I know. And some of the weird and wonderful predictions that have passed down have been just that (hard to believe). But think about it: sit back, take stock, and you'll realise we're living in that future.
(For people of my age this refers to 'Tomorrow's World'. Older readers may prefer to reference The Jetsons. Younger: 'Minority Report'. I'm happy either way.)
We've spent years talking about on-demand- and mobile TV. It always seemed a little far-fetched. When I had a great big clunking 'portable' 7in TV, it was neither particularly portable nor much of a TV. The concept of watching everything, when you want, anywhere, seemed positively alien.
And I always struggled to see the connection between ISPs and entertainment. Why did NTL try to buy ITV? Or Sky stretch its wings into broadband, and BT make the return journey?
The answer can be summed up in one word: 'foresight'.
Taking Sky as an example, a chunk of its customers pay only once for TV, broadband and phonecalls. They watch that TV on smartphones, tablets and laptops, wherever they are, and with Zeebox onboard now, Sky is going social. Virgin and BT are far down a similar road, with greater mobile broadband connectivity to boot (but I focussed on Sky because of the significant chunk of my earnings that are putting the Murdoch grandkids through college).
The marriage of connectivity and content has happened, and those telcos unable to provide every slice of the pie risk missing out. But, as ever, content is king, and there are myriad ways to enjoy connected entertainment, regardless of who connects you. See also: Best apps: Best video on-demand apps.
(Indeed, after I wrote this piece Sky announced that Anytime+ is now available to all subscribers, and Sky announced Now TV. There's no escape, people, no matter who your ISP is.)
Tablets: the PC of the future
Staying in the future brings us to tablets: a form-factor Microsoft has pushed since it introduced Windows for Pen Computing in the 90s. How galling it must be to sit back and watch Apple take the plaudits and the cash with its successful iPad.
HP and Microsoft tried to pre-empt the iPad by announcing the Slate PC just before the iPad launched in 2010. But, unlike Apple, Microsoft didn't have a product to take to market, or a massive cohort of users who had already invested a fortune in music and movies via iTunes. Once again content is king – although, as Amazon is finding out with its under-performing Kindle Fire tablet, it helps if the hardware is good.
As we explain in our New iPad review, Apple's latest tablet is that and more.
It's unlikely that the iPad can be overhauled, so great is its dominance, but that hasn't stopped Microsoft wanting to convert its dominance on the desktop into influence in portable computing. Existing, Intel-based Windows tablets are nothing to shout about, and Windows Phone remains niche, but Windows 8 is coming, and it will shake things up. Version 8 is Windows' biggest change since 3.1 gave way to 95. We've spent a few weeks playing with the latest release, and bring you our verdict in our story: Windows 8: the complete guide. It's a compelling read.
(I'm not being immodest - or any more so than usual - the mighty Jim Martin wrote it.)
Of course, portable computing doesn't end with tablets and smartphones, any more than the 'PC' in PC Advisor refers only to desktop PCs. There's life in the Microsoft/Intel partnership, as the space between desktop and smartphone is filled by an increasing range of devices. Powerful and portable, Ultrabooks offer some of the advantages of tablets, with all the capabilities of laptops. But are they any good? Read our ultrabook reviews to find out. And as you're doing so, try to forget that the prototype for the Ultrabook is a PC called the Air, made by none other than Apple. Them again.


text:
Britain's byword for gay campaigning and lobbying
Major organisation founded in 1989 — 20 years after the eponymous New York riots — in opposition to the repugnant and dangerous Section 28 of the Local Government Act, designed to prevent the so-called 'promotion' of homosexuality in schools. Since then Stonewall has committed itself to the full whack of gay, lesbian and bisexual issues including age of consent, military service, adoption, homophobia and bullying in schools, civil partnerships, employment issues and the repeal of Section 28. Stage and film actor Ian McKellan was among the organisation's founders. Daily info line: 0800 050 2020.
Tower Building, York Rd, Waterloo
London, England SE1 7NX
(207) 593-1850
Mon to Fri 9.30am—5.30pm
Join GayCities and share your take
"Meeting with other teachers to see how Stonewall's resources could be used in schools. Would you believe none of them are out? Are there ANY"
gregsterf is now a fan


text:
Ben Roberts
Senior Vice President, Development
: Alcon Television
Want to see projects Ben Roberts is developing? Visit Variety Insight .
Latest Headlines: Ben Roberts
LONDON -- The British Film Institute and Poisson Rouge Pictures are joining forces to finance "Gone Too Far," debut helmer Destiny Ekaragha's adaptation of Bola Agbaje's play.
LONDON -- Protagonist Pictures, the international sales and financing company whose shareholders include Film4, Vertigo Films and Ingenious Media, has tapped Mike Goodridge as CEO.
The appointment of Ben Roberts as director of the BFI Film Fund has raised hopes among U.K. sales agents that policymakers have finally recognized the vital contribution of their sector to British…
A good brand of action escapism is offered in Green Fire. Its story of emerald mining and romantic adventuring in South America is decorated with the names of Stewart Granger, Grace Kelly and Paul…
The tight-lipped scowl, the hunched shoulders that rear themselves for the kill, the gargoyle speech, the belching gunfire of a trigger-happy paranoiac - one with a mother complex, no less - these…


text:
NASA will no longer be making photographs from its latest Mercury probe available on the internet. Recent evidence from the nearest planet to the sun (that we know about) clearly indicates that the planet has been copyrighted. Legal experts are working on the case now, but feel that a resolution is unlikely.
Even stranger evidence has come from Mars, where it has been discovered that Martian Sentient Beings are very, very silly. See this new evidence here at Bad Astronomy.
[source of Mercury Photograph]


text: Page Image Image Caption Page ContentEcad (Central Bureau for Collection and Distribution) is a non-profit private institution, created by Law No. 5988/73 and confirmed by Federal Laws 9610/98 and 12853/13. The main purpose of Ecad is to centralize collection and distribution of music copyrights and public performance rights. With a professional team of managers, the activities of the institution have gained recognition, and the Ecad is regarded as a reference in the area. Furthermore, it owns one of the most modern collection and distribution arrangements in terms of music copyrights worldwide. Ecad is administered by seven music associations, representing thousands of national and international right-owners of musical works (composers, performers, musicians, publishers and phonogram producers, that are members of those associations. Ecad also has broad coverage throughout Brazil, with its headquarters in the city of Rio de Janeiro, 32 collection units in the main cities and regions in the country, 41 outsourced attorney offices and approximately 52 accredited agencies, that carry out their activities in the hinterland. The control of the information received is made through a completely centralized and computerized system. In addition to the registry of thousands of different right-owners, 7,3 million musical works and 5,4 million phonograms are also registered, which account for all the versions registered for each song. The figures involved represent approximately 88 thousand bank slips that are sent every month for collecting copyrights from users of musical works, which are publicly known as "music users", totaling 531,8 thousand in the Ecad´s registration system. Over the last year, distribution of copyrights grew 10%, for the advantage of composers and artists. These figures are the result of successful collection strategies, such as awareness campaigns among music users, the increase of the capillarity of Ecad in the country, a stronger presence in the recovery of bad debts, in addition to new agreements with users from big networks. Technological education was also one of the main reasons to achieve collection and distribution records of copyrights. In the last five years, Ecad invested more than R$ 20 million in technological solutions, developed by its own Information Technology team, contributing to the efficiency and dynamism of activities in all the areas of the institution. This structure and the investment in technology, process improvement, team qualification and communication were determinant for the granting of recognition and prizes awarded to Ecad in Brazil, which was seen as one of the most advanced countries in terms of distribution of copyrights resulting from the public performance of music.


text:
Both Biggins and Yates tend to look at presses with these bifocal views, writer and publisher, often at the same time. They not only understand how university presses operate, but also understand how to sift market possibilities and detect acquisitions needs and trends.
They will use these talents to aid scholars on the following dates (check back for times and campus locations):
- November 12, 11 AM Mississippi State University, Mitchell Memorial Library, 4th Floor of the Templeton Music Museum
- November 13, University of Mississippi (Oxford)
- November 14, Jackson State University (Jackson)
How do you tell what a publisher wants? What topics are certain publishers good at publishing? How does a press reveal its core competencies and structure? What characteristics can show the prospecting scholar with a manuscript what a university press is like? What it does well? What it might not do well? At three of University Press of Mississippi's eight supporting institutions, Biggins and Yates will present resources and strategies available to scholars to sleuth this out.
They delivered the first of what will be eight presentations at University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg in October. Later in the spring of 2013, Biggins and Yates will help scholars at all of UPM's supporting institutions when they visit Alcorn State University, Delta State University, Mississippi University for Women, and MississipValley State University.
UPM regularly visits the campuses of its eight supporting state universities to offer faculty publishing advice and expertise. Previous visits to campuses can be viewed here.
Biggins is a book editor at UPM, acquiring 25-30 books annually in the fields of African American studies, popular culture studies, American literary and cultural studies, and Caribbean studies. His essays and fiction have been published in Salon, Bookslut, PopMatters, Jackson Free Press, The Baseball Chronicle, and Valley Voices: A Literary Review.
Yates is assistant director/marketing director of UPM. He has been with the press in Jackson since 1998, and was previously assistant marketing manager at University of Arkansas Press. He is the winner of the Juniper Prize in fiction and his collection, Some Kinds of Love: Stories will be published by University of Massachusetts Press in April 2013. His stories have appeared in TriQuarterly, Southwest Review, Missouri Review, and many other places.


text:
Innsekt, Wasserburg am Inn, Germany - October 26, 2007
Digitalis Limtied, ltd#65.e - cassette
released December 2009
So what of this Robust Commercial Fucking Scream? Six live shows from the past four years, sprinkled with poison and dotted with sickness. Shows from all over the globe, some with special guests, some baked in the finest clay ovens this side of Mumbai. Each show will be released on it's own cassette in installments over the course of 2009. In peeesseye, we find no patterns within the chaos, we find nothing that is simple, we find nothing on which to hang our hats. but through the murk, underneath the sonic boulders these tapes, these shows encapsulate we found unmistakeable beauty.Traditional? No. Ravenous? Fuck yes. Peeesseye aren't out to win hearts & minds, they're out to consume them, destroy them, and let them finally be free.
Robust Commerical Fucking Scream subscriptions are available exclusively from Digitalis. Here, we have some individual tapes that are also available on a first come first served basis in very, very limited quantities.


text:
Here are five suggestions for all-the-time bloom you may not have thought of:
Tulips and daffodils are dependable sources of bloom in spring gardens, but for color don't plant them alone. Pair early-blooming tulips of any color—red, pink, or white—with an underplanting of blue grape hyacinths.
Dainty fern-leaf pink bleeding heart is a great partner for late-blooming pink tulips. The bleeding heart foliage provides a lovely green backdrop for the bold tulip blossoms.
Later in the growing season, combinations of perennials, or perennials mixed with annuals, are the ticket for stunning effects.
Colorful or variegated foliage can be as exciting as flowers! For example, try miniature hostas with "Burgundy Glow" ajuga and alpine lady's mantle in a partly shaded bed. Showy herbs work well in flower gardens. Try "Snow Bank" sweet alyssum with "Tricolor" sage.
Garden mums tend to dominate fall gardens, but there are other great fall combinations, too. For a combination of the familiar with the unusual, try "Autumn Joy" sedum with ornamental pink ribbon grass and dwarf purple asters.


text:
It's still Josh Wilson's world ....
Josh Wilson is starting a fourth consecutive game for the Rays, this time at second base. Manager Joe Maddon said he liked the matchups created by having Carlos Pena, Ty Wigginton and Wilson in the lineup against Sox starter Mark Buehrle.
The rest of the lineup:
Iwamura, 3b
Harris, ss
Crawford, lf
Wigginton, dh
Young, cf
Pena. 1b
Gomes, rf
Casanova, c
Wilson, 2b


text:
Around the Majors: Options
1) The Reds picked up their 2006 option on 1B Sean Casey.
After -15 RCAA/.696 OPS and -2 RCAA/.758 OPS seasons, Casey hit .534 SLG, .381 OBA, .915 OPS, 40 RCAA in 146 games. He has a .839 career OPS, compared to his league average of .779, and 89 RCAA in 944 games.
2) The Yankees declined their 2005 option on 1B Travis Lee and their 2006 option on P Paul Quantrill.
After -2 RCAA/.725 OPS and 9 RCAA/.807 OPS seasons, Lee had -3 RCAA/.308 OPS in just 7 games. He has a .751 career OPS, compared to his league average of .775, and -26 RCAA in 856 games.
After 2.70 ERA/9 RSAA and 1.75 ERA/19 RSAA seasons, Quantrill had a 4.72 ERA/-3 RSAA in 86 games. He has a 3.74 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.50, and 111 RSAA in 791 games.
3) The Rangers declined their 2005 options on OFs Brian Jordan and Rusty Greer.
After 13 RCAA/.807 OPS and 7 RCAA/.791 OPS seasons, Jordan had a .363 SLG, .275 OBA, .638 OPS, -18 RCAA in 61 games. He has a .798 career OPS, compared to his league average of .770, and 45 RCAA in 1332 games.
Greer has missed the last 2 1/2 seasons, due to an injured just about everything.
4) Rockies 3B Vinny Castilla declined his mutual option and he'll become a free agent.
After -38 RCAA/.616 OPS and -9 RCAA/.771 OPS seasons, Castilla had a .535 SLG, .332 OBA, .867 OPS, -9 RCAA in 148 games. He has a Coors inflated .813 career OPS, compared to his league average of .771, and -159 RCAA in 1625 games.
5) The Cubs exercised their 2005 option on P Ryan Dempster.
After 5.38 ERA/-28 RSAA and 6.54 ERA/-29 RSAA seasons, Dempster had a 3.92 ERA/1 RSAA in 23 games. He has a 4.99 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.39, and -79 RSAA in 184 games.
6) The Tigers declined their 2005 option on P Al Levine and re-signed P Jamie Walker to a 1 year, $900,000 contract, with an option for 2006, and re-signed Ps Craig Dingman and John Ennis to minor league contracts.
After 4.24 ERA/0 RSAA and 2.79 ERA/15 RSAA seasons, Levine had a 4.58 ERA/-1 RSAA in 65 games. He has a 3.85 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.68, and 53 RSAA in 407 games.
After 3.71 ERA/2 RSAA and 3.32 ERA/7 RSAA seasons, Walker had a 3.20 ERA/9 RSAA in 70 games. He has a 4.24 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.56, and 5 RSAA in 261 games.
Dingman has a 7.74 ERA/-16 RSAA in 41 career games, including a 6.75 ERA/-7 RSAA in 24 games in 2004.
Ennis has a 7.65 ERA/-7 RSAA in 13 career games, including a 8.44 ERA/-7 RSAA in 12 games in 2004.
7) The Redsox exercised their 2005 option on 3B Bill Mueller.
After 0 RCAA/.743 OPS and 38 RCAA/.938 OPS seasons, Mueller hit .446 SLG, .365 OBA, .811 OPS, 5 RCAA in 110 games. He has a .798 career OPS, compared to his league average of .775, and 70 RCAA in 1034 games.
8) Marlins 3B Mike Lowell won't exercise his right to become a free agent if the team doesn't make a deal for a new stadium by Monday and in return, the team has guaranteed the remaining 3 years, $25.5 million on his existing contract.
After 13 RCAA/.816 OPS and 22 RCAA/.881 OPS seasons, Lowell hit .505 SLG, .365 OBA, .870 OPS, 26 RCAA in 158 games. He has a .823 career OPS, compared to his league average of .779, and 71 RCAA in 839 games.
If you enjoy the ATM reports and want to support them, check out my other creation–the sabermetric baseball encyclopedia. Orders are now being taken for the next edition, which will include the 2004 stats and come out in October. It's powerful, yet extremely easy to use. Features extensive sorting, stat display options, and features that are not available in online and printed sources. The deluxe package has been greatly expanded and could include a free copy of the current edition. For more information, see http://www.baseball-encyclopedia.com
According to Peter Gammons, "There is no greater baseball tool than Lee Sinins' Baseball Sabermetric Encyclopedia. Get thee to Baseball Immortals and order the disc, haste post haste." The product Jayson Stark called "the best invention since the toaster oven!" has gotten even more powerful.
Print This Post


text:
THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED! Check out other awesome contests HERE!
Wanna look good AND help fight cancer?
Karmaloop and Stand Up To Cancer in conjunction with Future Boston Alliance are teaming up to support World Cancer Day on Monday, February 4th, 2013 and we wanna get YOU involved! We're hooking up one lucky winner with prize pack including items from Karmaloop and SU2C including:
- $500 Karmaloop Gift Card
- One (1) SU2C TShirt
- One (1) SU2C Hoodie
- $75 SU2C Store Gift Card
Entering is simple - Like Karmaloop & Future Boston Alliance on Facebook and enter in your details on the right! Deadline to enter is Friday 2/8/13 and a winner will be announced on Monday 2/11/13. You can read the full contest rules here.
Wanna get involved even further? Check out Charity Miles - they'll donate $$ to your charity of choice (including SU2C!) for ever mile you walk, run, or bike to get in shape. To learn more, visit the Charity Miles Official Website, or download the app on iTunes or Google Play.
Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) is a groundbreaking initiative created to accelerate innovative cancer research that will get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives now. SU2C is bringing together the best and the brightest researchers and encouraging collaboration instead of competition among the entire cancer community. To find out how you can get involved, or to learn more about Stand Up To Cancer, please visit the Official Stand Up To Cancer Website.
Fill out this form:


text:
Websites That Work
Websites That Work
The Internet tantalizes lawyers with the promise of easily reaching thousands of potential clients. However, achieving this objective requires more than simply building a website. To effectively market your practice, your website must be visible to potential clients, provide quality information, and encourage visitors to contact you.
Our approach to building law firm websites follows an integrated path that combines responsive website design and efficient back-end architecture with precision keyword targeting to attract clients in the practice areas and locations most important to your firm. We keep abreast of best practices in online marketing and changes in search engine algorithms so that you can focus on practicing law.


text:
In Jeremiah 42:6 in BibleWorks, we read in the kethib אֲנוּ
In both the Masoretic Text and in BHS the nun has a patach underneath it, which is of course an impossible word, which is obviously why a qere reading is supplied, nor does this word for "we" appear in its shortened form anywhere else in the Tanach.
In Aaron Dotan's transcription of the Leningrad Codex, this word has no points at all.
So in other words, the BibleWorks' rendition appears to be unique.
I know David and perhaps a few others are keeping up with the Hebrew database situation, so this may be of interest to you.


text:
By Brian Mayanja
Vice - President Edward Ssekandi Tuesday convened a meeting of taxi drivers to solve their grievances.
The meeting is taking place at his office in Kampala.
This after over 50 drivers on Monday stormed Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) headquarters after tip off that the authority officials were in a closed door meeting with some UTODA officials.
The storming of KCCA offices was masterminded by leaders of Drivers and Conductors Central Association (DACCA) and the National Union of Taxi Operators (NUTO).
The drivers found their way into the internal audit and revenue collection committee in the afternoon, paralyzing business.
The angry drivers accused KCCA officials of trying to reinstate UTODA to manage taxi business in the city without their consent.
"We rather pay the sh120, 000 to KCCA than being governed by UTODA officials. I suffered during their tenure," said Joseph Ssemati, a driver at Muyenga stage, Old Taxi Park.
After verbal exchange with committee members, Apollo Mugume the committee chairman allowed the drivers to air out their grievances.
Drivers reiterated their position to the proposal of a joint committee with UTODA, in revenue collection and management of the taxi parks and stages.
Fill in your Name and Email Address to receive a Free Newsletter
VP Ssekandi meets city taxi drivers


text:
Simon is a bit cranky, and of course the other mom is there to help with advice and a product demonstration. "Other nappies are like a sponge, they wet through." While pampers, she declares, won't let the wetness back. "It's like a one way street" the freshly advised mum notes. And this leads us to the happy moment where Simon gets new diapers, and giggles, then happily plays piano. Or rather hammers on its keys. "And to think, before you couldn't play a note"
Comments (2)
AnonymousCoward (not verified)
Who on Earth keeps a soaked blue sponge on their coffee table along with a whole pack of diapers?
Weird that we're still making this kinda crap today. I would have thought that thing would have evolved over 25 years. But hey - you'll learn something new each day. Just not when your a Pampers agency.
Their advertising has evolved. Ever notice that ever since the early nineties they never use the word "baby" in their ads? It's always children, enfants, kinder, barn and so on. Sounds funny when you think about it, as children really shouldn't be wearing diapers but babies and toddlers do.
Possibly the plan is by changing the words used, they remove the stigma from mothers who don't have time to potty-train their baby. When you can't increase the target market, increase consumption. The use of diapers is climbing up the ages now. Thank you procter and gamble!
full disclosure: I used to work on Pampers and spent many a day arguing for the use of the word baby. I lost.


text:
This star rating is the opinion of the property owner only. A Self-Rated hotel has not been assessed by the AA or Visit Britain, whose official star ratings we use across LateRooms.com.
BEST WESTERN Clyde on Riccarton Motel4 Self rated
280 Riccarton Road, Riccarton, Christchurch, 00000
Price FromView Rooms
This hotel doesn't have any reviews yet.
About the hotel
Stay at this conveniently located Christchurch motel in an ideal location near the University of Canterbury, Westpac Stadium and Christchurch Airport. The BEST WESTERN Clyde on Riccarton is a friendly and affordable Christchurch motel located seven kilometers from Christchurch Airport and just a short bus ride from Christchurch CBD and all of Christchurch's major attractions. The BEST WESTERN Clyde on Riccarton is rated Qualmark four star plus.
The motel offers 23 quiet, luxurious, self-contained units with fully equipped kitchens, cable television and high-speed wireless internet (charges may apply). This Christchurch motel's additional amenities include BBQ facilities, guest laundry, off-street parking and a playground for children. The motel is within easy access to all the major tourist attractions, restaurants and shopping, including Westfield Shopping Centre. For warm customer service and a great location in Christchurch, make a reservation at this Christchurch motel today!
Read MoreLess
We currently have no rooms available for this hotel that match what you're looking for. Try changing your search, selecting an alternative hotel, or give us a call on 0333 0146275 where we'll be happy to help.
Facilities Show/hide
- Main
- Disabled Facilities, Safety Deposit Box
Useful Info Show/hide
- From 14:00 hours
- By 10:00 hours
- Up to 11 years old
- The price shown is based on the occupancy and dates you have searched for. Prices and availability are subject to change based on the arrival date, number of nights and occupancy searched for. All prices are inclusive of all local taxes.
- Pets are not allowed
Customer Reviews
Our reviews are from genuine LateRooms.com customers. We verify that the customer has stayed before leaving a review.
No reviews yet


text:
Atascocita tops Klein Forest in key 13-5A matchup
Updated 10:25 pm, Friday, January 17, 2014
Though Klein Forest made a few second-half runs, Atascocita always responded, using constant ball pressure to force turnovers and create easy layups.
Atascocita's full-court press kept host Klein Forest from setting up its half-court offense and created easy baskets in critical times en route to a 63-49 victory in Friday night's battle between District 13-5A contenders.
Atascocita (19-5, 10-1) never trailed in keeping pace with fellow 13-5A front-runner Dekaney.
After missing the playoffs for the first time in three years last season, Atascocita coach Valery Jackson likes the way her young squad is progressing. She said the Eagles' goal has shifted from just making the playoffs to winning a competitive district.
"For us to be fifth place last year and tied for first right now with a very young roster, it just says how much work they've put into this," Jackson said.
Atascocita jumped to a 17-10 lead and expanded it in the second quarter to 29-12 before Klein Forest closed the half on a 7-1 run.
Trending High School Sports Video
- Clear Creek volleyball's Kelsey Childers is this weeks Editors Choice Girls Athlete of the weekTexanLive
- Pasadena Memorial's running back Alex Williams is this weeks Editors Choice Athlete of the week.TexanLive
- Interview with HC Gary Joseph and Seth Small after 24/21 win over The WoodlandsTexanLive
- Seth Small 39 yd FG as time expires!!! Katy Wins 24/21TexanLive
But Atascocita delivered a counter jab early in the third quarter.
Atascocita guard Erin Willis, who had 19 points, drained a contested 3-pointer that helped push the Eagles' lead back to 15 points, and they maintained it throughout the quarter to take a 44-29 lead into the final period.
The fast start was vital, Jackson said.
"They're a tough opponent, they have four seniors who are great athletes," she said. "We were in their house and knew we had to bring it."
With 2:38 remaining in the game, Klein Forest (21-5, 8-3) trimmed its deficit to single digits for the first time since early in the second quarter. But Atascocita exploited Klein Forest's turnovers and missed free throws for a double-digit cushion.
Ekiya Gray led Klein Forest with 21 points.
Chris Shelton is a freelance writer.


text:
" Manufacturer: Flora / Type: Oil "
I had heard of Flora Cuisine due to the TV advertising campaign featuring Vernon Kaye but I only tried it as a result of a recent Bzz campaign. Being a 'Bzz Agent' means that I regularly get sent free products to try and discuss with other people. (Anybody interested can sign up online at www.bzzagent.co.uk)
Armed with my vouchers, I headed to Tesco to buy some of this new cooking 'oil', under the familiar Flora brand name. I must admit that it isn't the easiest item to spot in store but I did eventually find it in the form of a yellow and green plastic bottle, lurking amongst the butter and spreads in the chilled aisle.
Flora Cuisine is supposed to be a healthier replacement for oils and fats - even having less saturated fat than olive oil which is my usual oil of choice. This new cooking oil, a combination of linseed, rapeseed and sunflower oils, is also a source of omega three.
Despite coming in a chilled liquid format, Flora Cuisine is versatile enough to be used for everyday cooking including baking, roasting and frying. The bottle features simple instructions for the best way to use this stuff and I found it easy to use as a substitute for olive oil when frying my usual foodstuffs or as a replacement for vegetable oil when roasting potatoes or vegetables.
I haven't tried Flora Cuisine for baking purposes, mainly because I don't bake very often. I was also put off by the inconvenience of having to translate the quantities of Cuisine needed for particular recipes. There are, however, a few recipes featured on the Flora Cuisine website but there wasn't really anything that caught my attention.
When used for frying, the dry pan has to be pre-heated initially and a small amount of the runny yellow Flora Cuisine then added to the hot pan. I was a little put off by the appearance initially as it looks like really runny margarine when it first hits the pan! This soon melts away into a clear, bubbly liquid and there is very little aroma, aside from the smell of the food cooking. I found the results to be excellent and comparable to using a good quality olive oil.
I have used it to fry everyday items such as chicken, stir fried vegetables, onions, bacon and sausages and found the Flora Cuisine heat and cooked quickly. I was pleased that there was no noticeable in difference in taste either so I could substitute this without worrying about my kids complaining that their dinners tasted different. I have also used the Flora Cuisine to roast potatoes and, again, found the process and results comparable to using a regular oil. The potatoes were left with an attractive golden brown colouring and were exactly the right consistency.
The only real drawback to this product is the one feature that makes this different from other cooking oils. I find it a bit of a hassle storing it in the fridge and instinctively reached for the bottle of olive oil which always sits on my worktop. My husband also kept forgetting to use this as it was out of sight in the fridge. Being a fresh chilled product also means that this has a much shorter shelf life than most oils.
I thought I had got a bargain initially (especially using my Bzz Agent vouchers) as I purchased this product on a Buy One Get One Free offer. Unfortunately, the use by date was really short - around eight weeks from the date of purchase- and there was no way that I could have used two 500ml bottles during that period so I ended up giving one away. As it was, I struggled to use the entire bottle before the use by date so I'm not convinced that I would get the best value for money at the full price of £1.98 per 500ml.
I can't fault the taste or the ease of use but, for me, the chilled format and comparatively short use by date means that this isn't particularly convenient. It is pretty telling that, despite liking the end results of all the cooking I did using Flora Cuisine, I haven't gone on to re-purchase since the Bzz campaign ended.
I first tried Flora Cuisine a few months ago now when it was on special offer. It was at such a very low price it practically cried out to be bought.
I had seen the adverts with Vernon Kay and his mum, so I had some familiarity with the product. As an older lady, she extols the health benefits of using Flora Cuisine with the focus being quite clearly on heart health. I wasn't sure from these adverts that this product held quite as much relevance for me and my much younger family. The product seemed a bit gimmicky and I expected it wouldn't really catch on. After all, I cook with olive oil - what's wrong with that? Isn't the cooking oil market already saturated? (Excuse the pun, there.) I expected my first bottle was probably going to be my last.
So what is Flora Cuisine and how is it any different from what's already on the market?
It is advertised as a versatile and healthy alternative to other oils. One of its main selling points is that it has 45% less saturates than olive oil.
The product is described as a blend of linseed, rapeseed and sunflower oils. The actual ingredients are: Vegetable Oils (Sunflower Seed Oil, Rapeseed Oil, Linseed Oil), Water, Salt (0.9%), Emulsifiers (Soy Bean Lecithin, Polysorbate 60), Preservative (Potassium Sorbate), Soy Protein, Citric Acid, Stabilisers (Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum), Flavourings, Colour (Beta-Carotene), Vitamins A and D.
It can be used for frying, sautéing, making sauces, roasting potatoes, vegetables, meat & fish, baking cakes and muffins and greasing cake tins.
Each 15 ml serving contains Calories 95 5%, Sugar <0.5g <1%, Fat 10.5g 15%, Saturates 1.1g 6%, Salt 0.12g 2% of an adult's guideline daily amount (GDA)
The product is suitable for vegetarians. And please note - Flora Cuisine needs to be kept in the fridge.
Since that first bottle found its way into my home, however, several other bottles have followed. Why?
Well, it's not for the way it looks. When you see the liquid hit the pan for the first time it doesn't inspire confidence. You are presented with a rather dubious-looking beige coloured splat. Heated up, however, the liquid clarifies and you are ready to cook with it. I have used this product mainly for frying and stir frying.
I find it has certain benefits. The oil itself is fairly tasteless and allows the natural flavour of the food to be enjoyed. When I started using olive oil as a healthier alternative to traditional cooking oils, it did take a while to get used to the slight flavour that olive oil brought with it. Personally, I can't taste the oil at all when using Flora cuisine.
The food crisps and browns very well in Flora Cuisine. I wouldn't say it comes out better than in olive oil but it seems to be as good. The food doesn't appear or taste greasy in any way. The oil gives a light covering and the food looks crisp and appetising.
Flora Cuisine claims to cook without spitting - but I haven't found that the case. There is certainly less spitting than with some oils - but my fried eggs are still able to plot the occasional attack.
Although I'm happy to use it in a frying pan, I haven't used Flora Cuisine when making cakes. I can't seem to bring myself to do that. Call it a psychological block - but it just doesn't feel right. I like to cook cakes as I have always done - and even prefer butter over margarine when baking. There are too many additives in this product for me to 100% happy about using it en masse in cakes. Call me old fashioned - but I still like the fact that when you cook with butter and olive oil you feel you are cooking with largely unadulterated, wholesome products.
Should you want to try baking with it, the bottle shows a chart which indicates how much Flora Cuisine to use. To convert from margarine or oil use as follows: For 100g of margarine -use 110ml of Flora Cuisine, 100g butter use 110ml and for 100ml oil use 100ml of Flora Cuisine. The bottle has a gauge on the side with 50ml markers to help you measure out the product.
I buy Flora Cuisine as an addition rather than a replacement for other oils. My (probably irrational) thoughts about it are that its heart health benefits when I fry, help to balance out the 'naughty' butter I use in baking. Furthermore, I tend to use this product when I only need a small amount of oil to cook with. If something needs to be fried in a larger amount of fat/oil I still reach for vegetable oil or olive oil. In part this decision is based on the expense of this product. The normal price for a 500ml bottle of Flora Cuisine is £2. Sainsburys Sunflower oil is £1.50 for a litre. It would make cooking my poppadum's rather expensive if I used Flora Cuisine. As it is, I normally buy the product when it is on offer and use it sparingly. I get good value for money from it as it lasts me for weeks and I produce tasty fried foods with less saturates. On the whole - would recommend.
Flora Cuisine is the latest product that I have been sent to try out by Bzz Agent. It is marketed as "a healthy cooking liquid made from a blend of linseed, rapeseed and sunflower oils'. Unusually for an cooking oil product, it needs to be kept refrigerated. I had a voucher to try out this product for free and it took me a while to track it down in my local Tesco - if you're thinking of trying it, I recommend starting your search in the general vicinity of the butter.
* How It Works *
I have been using Flora Cuisine as a substitute for my usual olive oil in my day to day cooking. Using the product is very simple. First you pre-heat your pan. Then, once it has reached the desired temperature, you simply squirt the required amount into the pan and wait for it to heat up. On squirting, the product is yellow in colour and resembles melted butter. As it heats, the creamy texture dissipates and the liquid becomes much clearer in colour and consistency as it bubbles away. Once the bubbling has reduced, the pan is ready for cooking. Because of the colour / texture change, it is simple to see when the pan is hot enough to cook with, which is a feature of the product that I like. The smell of the product is also similar to margarine - it is not a particularly strong smell, which is good as it does not detract from the smell of the main ingredients in a dish. The flavour is also subtle - whereas a good olive oil will add a bit of flavour to a meal, this product just allows you to get on with the cooking while letting the major flavours of your meal come through.
* Health Benefits? *
According to the information on the bottle, Flora Cusine has 45% less saturated fat than olive oil. It is not particularly low in calories as 15ml of this (approximately one tablespoon) has 95 calories, compared to 123 calories for the same amount of olive oil. In terms of saturated fat, there is 1.1g of saturated fat per 15ml of Flora Cuisine and 2g in the same amount of olive oil. Therefore, the Flora Cuisine is technically 'healthier' if you base your calculations purely on calories / saturated fat content, although you do need to consider the additional health benefits of olive oil as well as it has been proven to have a positive effect on many conditions. On the plus side, Flora Cuisine has a high concentration of Omega 6 and Omega 3 essential fatty acids.
* Price and Purchasing *
A 500ml bottle of Flora Cusine costs just under £2 and is available in Tesco, Sainsburys and other major supermarkets. It is usually located with the margarines and butters.
* My Thoughts *
Overall, I have been impressed by the performance of Flora Cuisine. In my opinion, most cooking oils are much of a muchness - I wouldn't usually spend a huge amount of money on cooking oils unless it was something like an extra virgin olive oil to be used for salad dressings / dipping bread where the flavour was important, because all I really want them to do it give me a base to cook my meals. I have used the Flora Cuisine for several different meals now and it has done a good job every time. It has been used in stir-fries, to cook chicken (both in the saute pan and the griddle pan) and to saute onions for a base for various meals such as curries and risottos. I have also used it to roast potatoes and parsnips for a Sunday roast which worked really well - I sometimes find that when I use olive oil for roasting I end up throwing some butter into the roasting tray for added crunch, but the potatoes were crispy and delicious when using this. According to the Flora website, you can also use it for baking as a substitute for butter - this may be useful if you are trying to be healthy as it is considerably lower in saturated fat, but isn't something that I have felt the desire to try. I think it is a product which I would definitely buy again - the relatively short shelf life and the necessity to keep it in the fridge might put me off a bit


text:
Player Ratings: Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League in their debut season, but it will be the Europa League next term. Kevin Palmer rates a Spurs squad that finished fifth in the Premier League.
Luka Modric: 9.5
Modric has maintained a steady level of brilliance throughout the season, earning him the plaudits as the star of the Tottenham show ahead of Champions League heroes Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale. He may be small in stature, but his strength against opponents eager to kick him out of the game is one of his many assets. No wonder Manchester United are eager to sign him.
Gareth Bale: 9
Bale's performances throughout 2010 slipped into the world-class category on a weekly basis, yet injuries and his opponent's success in nullifying this wing raider has stunted his progress in recent months. If Tottenham want to get the maximum £40 million return on their Premier League Player of the Year, they will need to sell the injury prone Welshman this summer as he faces a big test of his lofty status next season.
Rafael van der Vaart: 9
Along with Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez, Van der Vaart was the outstanding foreign newcomer to the Premier League this season. However, his arrival at Tottenham gave boss Harry Redknapp plenty of headaches as he was forced to change his formation to accommodate the free-roaming Dutchman. He was sublime when the spotlight was at its brightest, but he went missing in lower profile games.
William Gallas: 8.5
The surprise story of Tottenham's success was undoubtedly former Arsenal skipper Gallas, whose arrival at White Hart Lane was greeted with hoots of derision from most of the club's supporters. However, Harry Redknapp was right to sign this veteran performer on a free transfer and he was colossus at the back despite seemingly carrying a host of niggling injuries.
Sandro: 8
Sandro's emergence as a midfielder of real clout was confirmed at the San Siro in February, as he bossed the midfield and laid the foundations for a magnificent Tottenham victory over AC Milan. After backing that up with powerful displays against Chelsea and Liverpool, this Brazilian confirmed he is the real deal. In fact, such was the impact he made, Champions League sides may try to poach him this summer.
Aaron Lennon: 7.5
A player who has worked hard to ensure his trickery on the right flank is complimented by an effective final product and his impressive number of assists this term confirms he has made good progress in that department. He needs to add a few more goals of his own to add to his resume next season, but Lennon can be satisfied with his efforts.
Michael Dawson: 7.5
The Tottenham captain grew into his role as a leader of this side as he emerged as one of the mainstays of a back four that was ravaged by injury problems over the course of the season. He will have benefited from his Champions League experience and his display in the last-16 ties against AC Milan confirmed he is now a classy operator.
Younes Kaboul: 7
Another successful Harry Redknapp signing who has silenced his doubters among the Spurs faithful, the towering Kaboul turned in some fine performances amid an injury plagued season. His winning goal in the north London derby against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium will live long in the memory for all Tottenham fans.
Benoit Assou Ekotto: 7
Gareth's Bale move to a left wing role gave Assou Ekotto a chance to re-establish himself at full-back and he is a player who has divided opinions. Often caught out of position and maligned as a result by respected ex-professionals, his attacking prowess and commitment to the cause have papered over some of his flaws. He can be satisfied with his efforts this season, especially in the Champions League.
Wilson Palacios: 6.5
Injuries were a constant companion for Palacios in recent months as he battled in vain to build on his immaculate performance in the Champions League last-16 tie against AC Milan at the San Siro. His over-enthusiasm can attract unwanted attention from match officials at times and his poor distribution can let him down, but he is solid midfield enforcer.
Carlo Cudicini: 6.5
Many Tottenham fans would like to have seen this experienced keeper drafted into the side ahead of the accident-prone Heurelho Gomes long before the end of the campaign, yet he confirmed he was worthy of his inclusion in the final few games of the season and has been handed a new contract as a result.
Niko Kranjcar: 6.5
Kranjcar confirmed he is a quality operator during the fleeting moments of first team action that came the way of this Croatian midfielder, with his goals against Bolton and Sunderland helping to earn vital victories. Harry Redknapp clearly doesn't see him fitting in his team and, for that reason, he will be leaving Spurs this summer.
Peter Crouch: 6.5
Were it not for his moment of madness as he picked up a second yellow card 15 minutes into Tottenham's Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid, Crouch would have been worthy of a higher rating as he was a talisman of their European adventure. Match officials were a big enemy again for him this season as this giant target man seems to get penalised for every challenge even if he is not committing a foul.
Roman Pavlyuchenko: 6
A little like Van der Vaart, Pavlyuchenko came to life when the Champions League action heated up, but he has a tendency to look sleepy against modest opposition. Boss Harry Redknapp gets infuriated by his Russian marksman and it remains to be seen if he has a spot in his long-term plans.
Alan Hutton: 6
Very much a second choice full-back for Harry Redknapp at the start of the season, Hutton established himself in the side as Tottenham's European adventure gathered momentum. A threat bursting down the flank, his tendency to get caught out of position at times saw him return to bench-warming duty at the back end of the campaign.
Sebastien Bassong: 6
Boss Harry Redknapp has confirmed that Bassong will be leaving Tottenham this summer and that is hardly surprising after his season in the fringes of their first team. A fifth or sixth choice centre-back, it was always going to be difficult for him to slot straight into high profile games when the call came.
Tom Huddlestone: 6
There may not be a sweeter striker of a football in the Premier League, yet the trimmed down Huddlestone did not play enough games to fulfil the potential he has teased us with for a couple of years now. Lengthy spells in the treatment room did not help his cause and he needs to shed his 'nearly man' tag next season.
Heurelho Gomes: 6
Gomes may well have over-achieved in many respects, as he got away with some kamikaze goalkeeping and convinced many that he had shed his tendency to throw in a clanger to compliment his shot stopping abilities. However, he returned to his old ways at the end of the campaign and, as a result, he is another set to leave the club this summer.
Steven Pienaar: 5.5
Much was expected of Pienaar after Spurs snaffled him from Chelsea's clutches in January, but he has struggled to make his mark in a squad with several players of his ilk. Jermaine Jenas, Tom Huddlestone and Niko Kranjcar were all vying for the role of back-up midfielder at Spurs and now boss Redknapp needs to trim that waiting list.
Danny Rose: 5.5
Rose seemed to be a one-hit wonder at Spurs because after his stunning goal against Arsenal last season, he waited a full year to re-emerge in their first team. His solid performances at the back end of the season, especially in the important win against Liverpool at Anfield, suggested he might have a bright future at Tottenham after all.
Vedran Corluka: 5
Corluka's determination to pass the ball to an opposing player has meant he has struggled to win over his doubters among the Spurs faithful this season and Redknapp may well be among their number. Don't be surprised to see this Croatian defender joining Gomes in heading for the exit door the summer.
Ledley King: 6
King is fortunate to have very understanding employers, as he has barely taken part in a training session for five years and is still granted an extension to his stay at Tottenham due to his brilliance when he takes to the field. Harry Redknapp seems content to give King a chance to defy medical science and extend his career, but his continued fitness woes are a hindrance to the Spurs cause.
Jermaine Jenas: 4
Time seems to be up for Jenas at Tottenham, as he is said to be one of the players Harry Redknapp wants to off-load this summer and the truth is this midfielder has fallen short of what is required at a club pushing for Champions League football. He may do a decent job for a side battling to beat the drop at the other end of the table.
Robbie Keane: 2
Keane will wriggle uncomfortably at the prospect of returning to Tottenham for pre-season training after his proposed move to West Ham was scrapped following their relegation to the Championship. This Republic of Ireland legend needs a move to fresh pastures, with Wolves a possible destination.
Jermain Defoe: 2
Defoe has been doing his best to suggest his woeful Premier League goal return this term has been down to his lack of first team chances, yet the statistics do not back up his claims. He scored just four times in the English top flight all season and, once again, none of those goals came against top quality opposition. Sadly, Defoe has been exposed as a second-rate striker and his barren season dented Spurs' hopes of returning to the Champions League.
David Bentley: 1
This enigma finished last term with something of a flourish and the expectation was that he had finally toned down his ego enough to become a useful performer at a top club, yet this season's calamities have all but confirmed Bentley is destined to miss the top-flight boat. Barely given a chance at Spurs, he did little better on loan at Birmingham.
Use a Facebook account to add a comment, subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your Facebook name, photo & other personal information you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment, and may be used on ESPN's media platforms. Learn more.


text:
and you wouldn't believe what I did for the color orange.
I remember thinking that the best things about New York's Super Bowl run was the fact that Tiki Barber had absolutely nothing to do with the team's ultimate success. Knowing that his team excelled once he fled the Meadowlands for Rockefeller Plaza probably left
gregarious insufferably douchey commentator with a touch of melancholy (and hopefully some infinite sadness).
So Tiki, how do you feel now that your team has achieved in your absence what they never could with you present?
"I feel great joy for them because I know in a lot of ways I helped a lot of guys on that team," Barber said. "I know Brandon was someone who benefited from me being there; even criticizing someone is a way of getting them to think about themselves."
But that's not all!
Thanks to our unprecedented access to the world's foremost taint sniffing omelet flippers we were able to learn a lot more about Tiki's history of boosting greatness…
–I'm not saying I was at Normandy beach, but those guys know I was there in spirit.
-I had lunch with Obama once, and I think that really opened his eyes to what hope and change can achieve.
-Lisa Gherardini was Da Vinci's subject, but I was his muse.
-I taught Alicia Keys everything she knows about proper moisturizing.
-Al Gore invented the internet, but I invented Al Gore.
-Women didn't swoon over Matty Lauer until I took him to a proper tailor.
-You know all of those good plays Ronde made this year? Well that was me.
-I taught Gilbert Arenas the proper shaving technique.
-In the summertime, my vaguely unsettling easygoing personality repels mosquitoes.
-I'm glad Tiger listened when I told him he had a shot to win at Dubai.
-Few people know that the Treaty of Versailles had a ghostwriter.
-I approached Alexander Parkes at his graduation party and uttered one word, "plastics."
-I told that guy that shooting up the Super Bowl would be an error in judgement.
-I showed Saddam where to hide the WMDs.
-Woody was just some Catskills hack until I handed him my philosophy textbook.
-Women wearing ties? Not before I got in Diane Keaton's ear.
-The ratings for the Super Bowl were so good because I personally turned on every TV in America.
-One time I was hangin' with Gandhi and I was like, "dude, you need to lose some weight."
Thanks, Tiki!
via Awful Announcing


text:
When you hear of people in Chicago sleeping on the sidewalk to be first in line in the morning, you may figure they are hoping to snag tickets for Lady Gaga or a Cubs World Series. But those were not the explanation recently when thousands lined up at Navy Pier. They didn't want to get something. They wanted to avoid getting something: a deportation order.
When you hear of people in Chicago sleeping on the sidewalk to be first in line in the morning, you may figure they are hoping to snag tickets for Lady Gaga or a Cubs World Series. But those were not the explanation recently when thousands lined up at Navy Pier. They didn�t want to get something. They wanted to avoid getting something: a deportation order.
It was a scene that immediately put every American into one of two groups: those heartened by the throngs of illegal immigrants thirsting to stay in this country, and those appalled. It also framed a choice for voters, because the crowd was responding to a decision by President Barack Obama to stop deporting some foreigners who arrived without benefit of the law.
It�s not really accurate to call them foreigners, though. These are young people who were brought here when they were still children. Many arrived as infants or toddlers; many speak English like natives; and many have no memory of their birth country. Everything about them says �American� except their birth certificates.
For years, they�ve had to live with the possibility of being caught by immigration agents and evicted from the only home they know. But in June, Obama announced the administration would stop removing those who meet certain criteria.
The exemption would cover those under age 31 who came before age 16, have lived here five years or more, are attending school or have graduated from high school or have served in the military, and have no serious criminal record. The reprieve would last two years � or, possibly, until Mitt Romney moves into the White House. Republicans in Congress denounced the change, and their prospective nominee says, �I will build my own long-term solution that will replace and supersede the president�s temporary measure.�
The change does more than lift the threat of being deported. It also lets those affected work legally, qualify for college financial aid and get driver�s licenses.
Critics say Obama has brazenly usurped the authority of the legislative branch by implementing something he couldn�t get lawmakers to pass. But the executive has long exercised discretion over which illegal immigrants to banish and which to keep.
Margaret Stock, an immigration attorney in Anchorage, Alaska, tells me that deportable foreigners have long been eligible for �deferred action status.� She has sought it for many clients and says, �Previously it was really the whim of the local office whether you got it or not.� Until now, she says that �it was pretty much one of those things that lawyers knew about but the general public didn�t.� The Obama administration has merely extended to a large, well-defined group an option that used to be available mainly to a few with the cash and savvy to hire a lawyer. British pop icons? Sure. Mexican janitors? Probably not.
Republicans say Obama�s policy rewards people for breaking the law. But the young people affected by the change had no say in the decision. Banishing those who grew up here because of what their parents did punishes the innocent, not the guilty.
The other complaint is that the policy will force Americans to compete for jobs and college admission with those allowed to stay. But immigrants, legal or illegal, not only fill jobs but create them. Historically, there is no correlation between higher immigration and higher unemployment.
And if foreign-born students have done everything to qualify for higher education, why shouldn�t they be allowed to pursue it on the same terms as their peers? What the 13,000 people who showed up at Navy Pier want is what conservatives are fond of promising: not a guarantee of success, but an opportunity to make the most of their abilities.
It�s a dream that is American to the core. No one should be surprised that they interrupted the proceedings to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
� � �
Steve Chapman blogs daily at newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/steve_chapman.


text:
In Lillian Hellman's play The Children's Hour, a little girl destroys her teacher's life with accusations that the teacher is gay. In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, mere mortals are tried and convicted as witches by their peers. In the best theatrical tradition, recent behind-the-scenes shenanigans at local companies have combined the best elements of these dramas in what one wag is calling "more than the usual backstage Peyton Place crap."
In recent months, three artistic directors at three community theater companies -- one a children's theater, the other small troupes that offer children's theater programs -- have been accused of inappropriate behavior with minors. Two of these three staffers have been fired. And while theater representatives are tightlipped about exactly why they've sacked their artistic directors, the theater community has been buzzing about the issue for months.
The problem with children's theaters, the story goes, isn't that they're being run by pedophiles or overturned by vindictive brats. The trouble, some say, is that the boards of directors of these kiddy companies are teeming with overambitious stage parents.
"The real story is that there are power struggles that are disguised as a response to inappropriate behavior," says T. John Weltzien, who until recently was the artistic director of both Scottsdale's Stagebrush Theatre and the company's Greasepaint Scottsdale Youtheatre. "It's an easier way of moving things along, to say that you're firing someone because they were inappropriate with your kid, and not because you didn't cast their kid in your show. That's petty, and not a good enough reason to get rid of someone, but maybe the fact that you're uncomfortable with a gay person working with your kids is a good enough reason."
Weltzien and his lover, Stagebrush costumer Timothy Slope, were ousted from the company last spring for what Slope calls "unspecified causes." Weltzien says that, with no explanation forthcoming from his former employer about why he was fired, he's had to rely on the rumor mill.
"I was never directly accused of anything," Weltzien says. "But I have friends [at Greasepaint] who told me, in private, that there were concerns about me being gay and working with children's theater." Members of the Stagebrush board did not return calls from New Times by press time.
Similar rumors have made their way to former Theater Works artistic director Gregory Jaye, who was asked to resign last month over what the theater called, in a resignation letter, "recent unacceptable social behavior with minors associated with Theater Works."
Jaye was reportedly asked to resign after a pair of complaints were lodged against his company. In one instance, the parent of a kid in a recent production complained that an adult cast member groped their child; in another, kids were reportedly caught quaffing cocktails at a cast party. While it's no surprise that Theater Works CEO Mike Foulds refuses to discuss Jaye's dismissal, it's ironic that Jaye -- who wasn't present for either alleged incident -- is reluctant to talk about his situation.
"The last thing I want to do is say anything that will harm the reputation of Theater Works," Jaye says. "I'm proud of that theater, and of what I was able to accomplish there. I don't want the theater to suffer."
The indignity of being fired was compounded, Jaye says, by the way he was dismissed. "I was given no opportunity to defend myself," he reports. "I was called to the house of the president of the board and handed a letter requesting my resignation."
Like Jaye, Weltzien was given no chance to defend himself against rumored allegations that he had misappropriated funds and was, Slope says, "supposedly using the theater's computer to download Internet pornography."
"The bad thing is that one situation can set off a chain reaction," Slope says. "Someone at Stagebrush gets accused of inappropriate behavior, and somebody else thinks, 'I should accuse Bobb Cooper of that; that'll show him!'"
Slope is referring to the artistic director of Valley Youth Theatre, a downtown kids-only company of some renown. Cooper minces no words about recent accusations leveled at him from a young actor.
"There was a certain 19-year-old who, after I didn't cast him, went around saying that I was a pedophile and a child molester," Cooper says. "I'm sorry. I have a wife and a daughter and I work 12 hours a day at this theater, trying to better our community. And all my hard work could have been destroyed because some little punk didn't get cast in a show."
Cooper says he confronted the youth, but that reports of their meeting have been exaggerated. "I didn't beat him up, despite what you may have heard," Cooper says. "But I did ask him what the hell he thought he was doing, and I told him that directors call me all the time asking for referrals of child actors, and that I wouldn't ever recommend him to any theater."
Slope, who says he was asked to have an adult female present when he did costume fittings on kids at Greasepaint, believes that "the gay thing" is merely an excuse. "Parents seem willing to send their kids to a theater run by gay people, until their kid doesn't get cast in something," he says. "Then the accusations start to fly."
"It's not about who's gay," according to "Lola," a theater freelancer who says she'll never work again if New Times uses her real name. "Because every parent knows that their kids are going to work with tons of gay people in the theater. It's all a political witch hunt."
Lola points out that Weltzien's Greasepaint replacement, actress Robyn Ferracane, was fired soon after she settled in. "They threw her out because she wouldn't play the game. She worked like crazy for almost no money, but she wouldn't cast kids just because their mom was [influential]. So she was out the door."
Ben Tyler, who recently resigned from his post as artistic director of Desert Foothills Community Theater, experienced similar woes. "If I hadn't quit, I probably would have gotten fired," he says, laughing. "[The board] wanted me to cast by zip code -- to give preferential treatment to actors who lived in the area. I wanted to cast the most talented performers who showed up to audition."
If you like this story, consider signing up for our email newsletters.
You have successfully signed up for your selected newsletter(s) - please keep an eye on your mailbox, we're movin' in!
That attitude will eventually triumph, Weltzien believes. "In time, it'll go back to being about art and not people's petty issues," he says.
Jaye is also hopeful, but more cautious.
"If something good has come from this," Jaye says, "it's that artistic directors have learned to cover their asses with an employment contract."


text:
Does a brand new home keep its value?
Posted May 14, 2015
Updated May 15, 2015
No doubt about it, a newly constructed home has tremendous appeal. Everything is fresh and clean, just waiting for you and your family to move in, and the finishes and fixtures are exactly what you want. True, it costs quite a pretty penny, but you're sure it will be worth it. Or will it? Will your brand new property keep its value … or might it be like a new car, which starts depreciating the minute you drive it off the lot? The answer, you'll see, is not so simple.
Compare New Construction with Resale Homes
Compare the pool of properties on the market -- both new construction and resale -- in terms of price, size, and amenities. Bear in mind, though, that you're looking at apples and oranges; new homes are built to the latest standards of energy efficiency, while older houses usually have the advantage of larger rooms and thicker walls.
Recognize that new construction tends to cost more than resale, so it will take you a while to build up equity. If you do buy new, make sure that you take advantage of all the perks the builder makes available, which could range from a kitchen upgrade to a lower interest rate on your home loan. You can also reduce the effective cost of your property purchase by applying for Federal Tax Credits for Consumer Energy Efficiency.
Where and When to Buy
Location, location, location is the watchword for real estate investment. Choose carefully where to buy. A new neighborhood that offers a relatively short commuting time plus access to the infrastructure of an established urban area -- but without the sky-high prices -- is ideal.
On a personal level, be sure that you will want to stay in this particular area, in this particular house, for a minimum of 5 years. Otherwise, you're likely to lose a considerable amount on relocation, what with closing costs, moving expenses, new utility hookups, and the like.
When purchasing in a new development, last is not least. If you buy in toward the end of the project, you'll have a chance to see how the area is shaping up as a community and who your neighbors will be. And if for some reason, you need to sell in a year or so, your home won't be competing with newer properties right next door.
Tips to Help Protect Your New Home's Value
Investigate the warranty offered by the building contractor. Typically this guarantees appliances and systems for a year and structural elements for 10 years. Find out which issues the warranty includes. What action will it require the builder to take in case of problems, whether major foundation cracks or small flaws in the home's finishing, like broken backsplash tiles?
Hire a qualified home inspector as a third party to check your new house and to represent your interests at the scheduled construction inspections.
In addition to the homeowner's insurance required by your lending institution, you may want to take out disability-income insurance (which will cover your mortgage payments and allow you to keep up your current standard of living, in case you become temporarily or permanently disabled) or an umbrella policy (which will provide additional liability coverage, as well as protection against vandalism).
Once you've moved in, take good care of your house and landscape. Regular maintenance will help you enjoy your property more and reduce the risk of future problems such as mold infestation. Avoid DIY for major home improvements or repairs (such as a roof leak or an electrical panel upgrade) unless you yourself are a qualified contractor.
For your decor, choose neutral colors and styles. Avoid cluttered design -- if you must install a kitchen island, for example, make it (re)movable -- and faddy trends that will look dated in another 5 or 10 years.
Laura Firszt writes for networx.com.


text:
Join us on Nov 25th at Codeword for the most jam-packed independent interactive art & music party of the season! I'll be premiering new music, a new glowing jell-o instrument with Playtronica and a new Oscilloscope Synthesizer! Alongside the Voicebox and stunning work from the other amazing artists like Edison, Punktronica, B1, Tim Thompson, Peter Tjeerdsma, Jeffrey Yip and more!
Get Discount Presale Tickets Here!
Rich DDT
Live Electronic Musician, Interactive Installation Artist, Event Producer
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Monday, August 22, 2016
LoveTech 6th Anniversary at Burning Man, Next Event Nov 25th
For the 6th year in a row, LoveTech is back to activate the playa with live electronic music performances, cutting edge controllerism, and a stunning show of fantastic musical talent! Join us at our annual migration to the desert for a Friday night LoveTech concert at Kamp Suckie Fuckaye at the 4:30 Keyhole!
More exciting news and partnerships are around the corner! Spring marked our nationwide Emergence, and this fall will feature our most epic upgrades yet! Mark your calendars for Fri November 25th for the next official LoveTech party in SF. Excited to reconnect & reactivate with you all soon!
More exciting news and partnerships are around the corner! Spring marked our nationwide Emergence, and this fall will feature our most epic upgrades yet! Mark your calendars for Fri November 25th for the next official LoveTech party in SF. Excited to reconnect & reactivate with you all soon!
Monday, July 18, 2016
LoveTech was excited to present cutting edge interactive light artists and electronic music performers at the premiere GlowCon event July 16th! This was an unprecedented 12hr LED convention and art party in the heart of the Mission. Check out this video of some of our featured artists:
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
The chrysalis has sprung open and the LoveTech tour is bursting forth, kicking off during SXSW Interactive at Empire Control Room in Austin! Join us as we team up with hackerspaces and create at the cutting edge of experiential expression, with local live electronic musicians & interactive artists, including: Punktronica, Rich DDT, Inflatable Robot, Rentak, McKay Garner, Jon Imeson, Daniel Schaeffer, ConnecTable by Moldover and many more amazing surprises in store! Tickets available NOW:
Thursday, March 26, 2015
On Thur Apr 9th, join LoveTech at F8 1192 Folsom as we REACTIVATE an innovative social music experience. Spring into digital imagination space to get connected with emerging technologies and hot new performances that challenge what live music and art creation can be when we do it together!
BONUS for DDT Fans! Use promo code "DDTDetonates" to score presale discounts while they last.
Saturday, November 15, 2014
On Nov 28th, the day after Thanksgiving we reunite the LoveTech family at a new venue, ripe with live musicianship, collaborative jamboxes, insightful playshops, dancing, merriment and more surprises in store - please join us in Gratitude and celebration as we reignite electronic music in the making! Performing live: Edison, Rich DDT, Nonagon, Doppio and Malcolm Hex.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Aug 2nd is our grand finale for the REBOOT:music exhibition at The Tech Museum of Innovation - come join us for a spectacular celebration with live performances by Eskmo, Zoe Keating, Moldover, Nonagon, Rich DDT (yours truly) and much more! This time you can explore the entire museum, and get there & back in style on our party bus from SF!
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)