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After a horrendous first 32 races with Bill Davis Racing – he managed to qualify for just 13 of those events – Jeremy Mayfield was released from his contract and then signed to replace Jeff Green in the No. 66 Chevrolet last week.
After a horrendous first 32 races with Bill Davis Racing – he managed to qualify for just 13 of those events – Jeremy Mayfield was released from his contract and then signed to replace Jeff Green in the No. 66 Chevrolet last week. In his first race with his new team at Atlanta, Mayfield struggled through mechanical issues, running only about two-thirds of the race before finishing 40th. Ironically enough, Mayfield and Green grew up together in Owensboro, Ky., and are longtime friends. He spent a few minutes with Yahoo/GHNS talking about his new ride: Q. Was it awkward to replace someone you know so well such as Green? A. "That's the hard part. Jeff Green did a great job here. For whatever reasons, the results just weren't there. I know it wasn't Jeff's fault and it wasn't the team's fault. It's kind of like the situation I was in: Sometimes you just don't click or you don't run good, for whatever reason that is. I know Jeff's a great race car driver and he's done a lot of great things and will still be a great race car driver. It's a tough deal. I wouldn't wish that on anybody, but I do know it's the nature of the sport, you have to live with it and just move on. Jeff will learn from it but he'll land on his feet." Q. What went wrong at Bill Davis Racing? A. "We had such high hopes going into that. A lot of good things were going to happen and take place that didn't. That's one of the most frustrating things. It wasn't between Bill (team owner Bill Davis) and I; we didn't have any problems. I wasn't doing a very good job at the 36 and (he and the team) just weren't clicking, so we decided to make a change for next year. I wanted to go do something new and get a jump start on next year, and that's what we've done (with his new team). To me, it was a no-brainer: jump in, let's go racing and go do the best we can – and hopefully it'll all pay off for us." Q. What can you accomplish with just a few races left this season? A. "The main thing is just trying to get a few races under our belt this year, try to figure out what I like and for me to get used to the team. So far, it's been pretty good. If I could just get one or two good runs before the season is over, I think that'll boost the whole confidence level of this whole race team." Jerry Bonkowski is National NASCAR Columnist for Yahoo! Sports and a featured contributor for Gatehouse News Service. He can be reached at email@example.com.


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Security School Course Catalog from SearchSecurity.com
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subset: commoncrawl


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Pantech - C300 - Unlocked GSM
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Just when you thought your mobile life couldn't get any better? Along comes the C300 from Pantech. It's the world's smallest clamshell phone* and you can take it anywhere. This stylish, pocket-sized handset boasts a sleek design, embracing the innovative technology you desire. Not to mention, it has all the features and benefits you want in a phone. All the essentials...in one little phone. Small size means large possibilities with Pantech.
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Capture life as it happens using the C300 from Pantech. Its built-in VGA camera with flash will meet your picture taking needs. And with a 4x digital-zoom, you'll have even more options at your fingertips. You can even take up to nine pictures with just one push of a button using the camera's multi-shot mode. Capture spontaneous moments and lasting memories with the ever-functional C300 phone. Go ahead, snap away.
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Born in Tianjin in 1976, Ren Zhenyu graduated in 1999 from the Oil Painting Department at Tianjin Academy of Fine Art, where he currently works as a lecturer. His talent was recognized and appreciated by renowned galleries and distinguished collectors throughout China, and he achieved fame in Europe through his distinct portrait series of historical and political icons, such as Andy Warhol and Chairman Mao. In his works, Ren plays with a wide spectrum of colours that are juxtaposed to create a unique expressionist interpretation of famous faces and experiments with texture and layering built on to reinforce the portrayal of faces from different perspectives.
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The Memorial Light And Image Brightness: Mao's Face By Ren Zhenyu
It's unquestionable that the representation of Mao's image in China's contemporary art is a splendid but complex phenomena. Contemporary Chinese art can be said to revolve around the person of Mao. The strength of a single image is affirmed by memories of the past - the ambiguity, though, lies in the question of whether the repeating of Mao's image is an attempt at healing those memories, or a recollection by means of Saint Art.
As Ben Yaming said, in times of technical reproduction, there still remains brilliant artistic expressions of head portraits and face images in the last century. Lu Xun and Mao Zedong's images seem to have the power of stateliness and permanence. The responsibility to the face and more importantly, responsibility to memories is now the obligation of the artist. Mao's head portraits take the salient role of embodying that which is necessary for us to face their modern impact. Our nation's thinking and spirit never breaks away from the wizardry of his image - the image that not only can face the calamity of the past, but also the changes of the future. The artistic creation of Mao's images fill the void of spiritual desolation of our times where we still need a former deity; an instrument to resist the panic and uneasiness of the present. Whether to laugh or to accord respect, it is a remedy for the emptiness of our heart, for a while.
Mao's face created by Ren Zhenyu represents Mao in his brilliance. In his last decades, he was a source of inspiration, of countless songs and posters which depicted him as a symbol of brightness, a symbol which lingers in our times for many people. Ren Zhenyu subtly controls the interaction between brightness and colour to present the diversity of Mao's look. This diversity creates questions of whether Ren intends to depict Mao in his real image of The Chairman Mao of the past or to create a new representation with abstract expressionism - to rebuild the past as a means of a salvation. We are left to wonder if the artist wants us to believe that his splendid and young Mao should be preserved in our memory.
These multi-coloured and variegated Mao faces by Ren Zhenyu were created after years of art observation. The technique is completely different from many artists who have previously painted Mao images. In the 'Soft Tissue' series of 2002, the artist had already subtly hidden the face with abstract color-blocking for the eyes, lips and facial features revealed in tones of black, white and gray which were meant to imply the faces were concealed in memory. The artist wanted his work to be loose and soft, and as a result the vague face appeared in new forms. In his works, Ren Zhenyu uses his tones to manifest the eroding power of time. His recent Mao's face has a sharp-cut style: apparently those "Soft Tissue" became tough, the previous subtle face breaks through the historical fence, springing out to be real. Is this a compelling reminiscence or the seductive brightness? Art becomes not only a secret position of time and history, but also a reflection of the artist's interests and feelings.
In his recent works, Mao's faces are depicted as the still well-known standard images throughout his various ages. The rich and bright colour blocks establish a lively look, as if the image never dies and lives with us, like a ghost looking at us with arrogant expression. Perhaps it is the reverence from young artist? The face which is painted with abstract color blocking seems never to be senescent as though life needs to preserve its illusion; where the leader needs his ideal image to be kept and almost suggesting that we can't escape from these transitory times. He presents the unique face of Mao. It's not ironic, but recalls a politician's destiny with images full of meaning and eidolon.
The artist creates his interpretation of time, which is a sign of spirit. In fact, sometimes the artist puts lattice work on the ground, to make concrete the transient image. Sometimes, two Mao's faces appear in a painting with gunfire - obviously he clears up the fears through a playful heart. Accordingly, it shows that the artist includes personal sentiment in his paintings.
Any portrayal of Mao's face would meet with either rejection or reverence, but more importantly, it creates an impact - we have to face the image eventually. Ren Zhenyu's works present the conflict of remembrance. His works render the recording of images in a striking manner.
Ren Zhenyu's interpretation of other emblematic figures of the last 50 years include Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II, Diana, Princess of Wales, Barack Obama, Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, Deng Xiaoping, Lee Kwan Yew, Damian Hirst etc. Through his bold,mesmerizing portraits, Ren investigates the concept and nature of the term 'icon', raising questions about what makes a figure iconic and how that perception is perpetuated. In Ren's portrait of Deng Xiaoping, leader of the Communist Party of China, Deng was a reformer who led China towards a market economy. Deng became the core of the "second generation" of Chinese leadership. He is considered "the architect" of a new brand of socialist thinking. Deng opened China to foreign investment, the global market, and limited private competition. He was generally credited with developing China into one of the fastest growing economies in the world for over 30 years and raising the standard of living of hundreds of millions of Chinese.
Xia Kejun
"Icon", London, England
"Visible And Invisible", Galerie Frank Schlag, Essen, Germany (solo exhibition)
FRIEZE ART FAIR,London,UK
"Wind Flowing", Joyce Gallery, Hong Kong
"New Pop Face", Gallery Beijing Space, Beijing, China
"Another Portrait", Willem Kerseboom Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
"Looks Just Beautiful", Ode To Art Gallery, Singapore
"Looks Just Beautiful", Joyce Gallery, Hong Kong
"In The Name of Face", Gallery Beijing Space, Beijing, China
Guangzhou Modern Art Fair, Guangzhou
The 3rd National Oil Painting Exhibition, Beijing
"New Changes" - Young Artist Nomination, Tianjin Exhibition of Elite Graduates from Mainland China, National Dr. Sun
The 9th National Fine Art Exhibition, Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai
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Gas prices to rise sharply in coming days
From NBCNews.com
Gasoline is expected to jump 10 to 20 cents per gallon in the next several days, as rising oil prices and peak driving season create a perfect storm for higher prices.
Industry experts say gasoline prices at the pump should follow the already higher prices in the spot wholesale market. The national average at the pump Wednesday was $3.50 per gallon for unleaded gasoline, up two cents from Tuesday's level, according to AAA's Fuel Gauge report.
Prices in the spot market, which are quickly passed on to the retail market, are 30 to 61 cents higher per gallon than they were June 28, according to Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst with GasBuddy. "Even if it were to stop where it is today, we're looking at a considerably sticker shock for people at the pump," Kloza said.
Retail gas prices were higher a month ago, at $3.63 per gallon but they had fallen and were at $3.47 per gallon last week, according to AAA.
To read the complete NBC News Business report, click here.


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Christ Is Risen!
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I disagree. Modern Greek is actually moving towards Proto Greek.
When my brother goes to Greece and comes back with interesting words like "stripmallaria"- (Strip mall), I somehow don't see it happening
I didn't believe so until one poster (from another thread) made the following statement:
I can't imagine what the OP means.
I'm afraid this speculation is absurd. On the contrary, the tendency here is to return to a more historical orthography (par example: Mr Babiniotis the professor of linguistics at the Capodistrian Univ of Athens has proposed to return to the aspiration marks and especially to the spiritus asper in order to end the confusion between the aspirated and unaspirated pairs of plosive consonants. For instance, why do we today use "μεθεόρτια" (metheortia-relig. octave) instead of "μετεόρτια" (meteortia) since we have stopped using the spiritus asper on the word ἑορτή?).PS: Proto-Greek or prehistoric Koine has nothing to do with a more simplified Greek language. Quite on the contrary*. Proto-Greek is the common ancestor of all the classical Greek dialects (Attic-Ionic, Aeolic, Doric, Arcadic-Cypriot, Macedonian, Pamphylian) spoken in the late 3rd millenium BC. The only written evidence of this language is Linear B.*Proto-Greek had 5 long and 5 short vowels, the labiovelars w (wau) or F (digamma) and y (yod), the vocalic (ie letters who could appear as either consonants or vowels) μ, ν, λ, ρ (m, n, l, r) etc. Not a simple language
I don't think anyone is claiming that Proto-Greek is simple - just that we're not really moving back to it in all aspects. If you think we're moving back to Proto-Greek orthography, that's fine and dandy (although I thought the law was passed a number of years ago ending requirement of the tono (accent mark) on written signs and whatnot), but the rest of the language is clearly not moving back towards the very complex system we found in Proto-Greek (heck, it's not even moving back to Classical Greek, which was an intermediate step between Proto- and Koine-Greek and Modern-Greek)
Could the OP be referring to Katharevousa? the Greek that tried to purify demotic of foreign elements, and revive some Classical forms?
Based on what little I know in 1974 the Greek government and schools gave up on pretending the people still spoke classical Greek; Modern Greek became the official language.Katharevousa Greek was the government's attempt at forcing this pretence on the people (what the Greek people had to learn in school versus what they actually spoke); it didn't take.
Given the trend to simplify, all the borrowing from other languages (I understand the modern word for door is the same as Italian, porta) and natural evolution I imagine Modern Greek is moving farther away
What I meant with my comments was that the Greek language has often purged itself of foreign elements and reverted back to more classical forms and words. This is very evident in todays literature
My family comes from Agrapha area of Greece. The Turkish language hasn't had much influence in those parts of Greece as it had on many of the islands
You're from here?
Wow. Beautiful photos. Greece is one of the three European places I must visit someday (Germany--check, Ireland--still to come).
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Watch Bring It!
Bring It! returns with all new episodes this summer! After a series of crucial losses including at the final championship, Coach D is ready to shake things up at the Dollhouse. In an effort push her dancers to bring on their A game, Coach D announces the spots for battle captains are up for grabs and new dancers will be joining the team who are ready to pump up the volume. With creative new dance routines and solos, the competitiveness reaches an all-time high.Founded in 2001 by Dianna Williams, or "Miss D," the Dancing Dolls of Jackson, Mississippi, are one of the country's preeminent dance troupes, with over 15 Grand Champion titles and more than 100 trophies under their belt. With their adorable smiles and unique high-energy dance style, the Dolls, ages seven to 17, have taken the world of hip-hop majorette competition by storm. Each episode follows the top Dolls and their dedicated moms as they prepare for cutthroat competitions, parades and showcases, culminating in nail-biting stand-battles against their biggest rivals. Miss D has a well-earned reputation for being both a fierce competitor and a phenomenal mentor who teaches her students the importance of a good education, persistence and positive selfworth. As they compete against dance troupes in Mississippi and Tennessee, Miss D pushes her team to the limit, demanding that they "bring it" each and every week.Bring It! is produced by Pilgrim Studios. Executive producers for Pilgrim are Craig Piligian and Derek W. Wan. Eli Lehrer, Mary Donahue and Colleen Conway Grogan executive produce the series for Lifetime. Eight one-hour episodes of the series have been ordered for this season.
Rated : TV-PG
Starring :
Director : Dax Rhorer, Bry Thomas Sanders, Nancy Huffman
Genre : Dance, Entertainment, Reality


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Publicly Minded
Chicago Public Media is home to WBEZ 91.5FM, Vocalo 89.5FM and a range of acclaimed local and national productions including: Sound Opinions, Worldview, This American Life, The Morning Shift and Radio M.
As a public media institution we are deeply invested in the civic life and health of the community we serve. Our programs and services are dedicated to sparking meaningful connections between people; whether it is linking Chicagoans to the wider world or connecting neighbors that might not otherwise meet.
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New Dodge, Jeep, RAM and Chrysler Cars in Owensboro
There's something for everyone in our new 2019 Dodge, Chrysler, RAM and Jeep dealership in Owensboro, from fuel-efficient to power-pumping, tech-savvy to entertaining. Whether it's the 1500, Grand Cherokee or Grand Caravan you choose, you'll find something appealing, along with standout safety features, and more. Take a closer look at our entire inventory above, and don't hesitate to contact Steve Jones Chrysler Dodge Jeep with any questions regarding models, car financing or car service.
New 1500, Grand Cherokee or Grand Caravan in Owensboro
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* MSRP is the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the vehicle. It does not include any taxes, fees or other charges. Pricing and availability may vary based on a variety of factors, including options, dealer, specials, fees, and financing qualifications. Consult your dealer for actual price and complete details. Vehicles shown may have optional equipment at additional cost.
* The estimated selling price that appears after calculating dealer offers is for informational purposes, only. You may not qualify for the offers, incentives, discounts, or financing. Offers, incentives, discounts, or financing are subject to expiration and other restrictions. See dealer for qualifications and complete details.
* Images, prices, and options shown, including vehicle color, trim, options, pricing and other specifications are subject to availability, incentive offerings, current pricing and credit worthiness.
* In transit means that vehicles have been built, but have not yet arrived at your dealer. Images shown may not necessarily represent identical vehicles in transit to your dealership. See your dealer for actual price, payments and complete details.


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Category Archives: Rent Seeking
The Morality of Profit
[Updated from May 21, 2011 post] Sheldon Richman in The Morality of Profit has a link to a video from the Atlas Foundation where Tom Palmer discusses the morality of profit. (Also available direct here.) On October 21, 2011 Tom … Continue reading
Posted in Rent Seeking, Trade Tagged capitalism, morality, profit, voluntary exchange Leave a comment
Price Controls: Yet another way some seek advantage over others through the government
I just read a great summary on The Freeman Online of the many problems with price controls. It was written in 1978 but is still quite relevant today. I highly recommend it. Congress is currently debating reducing price supports on … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Rent Seeking, Trade Tagged farming, price controls Leave a comment


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John and Ann Barth celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Oct. 21, 2010. Both from Milwaukee, Wis., John served during World War II in the Army Air Corps while Ann contributed to the war effort in Washington, D.C., and worked at the F.B.I. John was a mechanical engineer with 10 patents working for industry innovators J.I. Case, and Allis-Chalmers. Designing heavy construction equipment, John was transferred to Topeka, Kan., in 1969. Later, they moved to Olathe, Kan., where John designed the some of the world's largest mining trucks. Before retiring to Florida, John and Ann lived in Waco, Texas, where they became avid sailors. In 1988, John and Ann moved to Cape Coral where they have since become active in various city of Cape Coral, civic committees and activities. Ann is an accomplished bridge player. John and Ann have two daughters. Deborah (Debbie) Hoofer is the career counselor at Golden Gate High School in Naples, and the AVID coordinator and teacher. Their younger daughter, Nancy, and her husband, Michael Basinsky, reside in Cleveland, Tenn. Kathryn Basinsky, their oldest granddaughter, is a graduate student at the University of Kentucky in diplomacy and international commerce. The youngest, Jacky Basinsky, is studying international business at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. The entire family will celebrate the occasion this Thanksgiving in Cape Coral.
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John and Ann Barth


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Liberty News
Liberty to help sponsor D-Day Memorial anniversary event
Liberty University will be a supporting sponsor for an event at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Va., on Friday, June 6, that will commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Allied Landing at Normandy during World War II and celebrate American and Allied heroes.
Liberty staff will participate in a "Memorial Testament of Freedom" ceremony at 11 a.m., alongside many local and state leaders. The program will include several excerpt readings of historical D-Day documents, such as General Eisenhower's order, President Roosevelt's prayer, and memoirs from soldiers.
Dr. Barry N. Moore, chairman of the National D-Day Memorial Foundation and Liberty's vice president for Outreach & Strategic Partnerships, will give the welcome at the event.
Retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Dave Young, dean of Liberty University School of Aeronautics, will deliver a historical reading of an account by Allen W. Stephens, 8th Air Force. Young also helped coordinate the aerial activities for the program, which include flyovers by WWII aircraft (a C-47, a P-51, and four T-6s) as well as a baton passing by the Golden Knights, a U.S. Army parachute team. Liberty sponsored the T-6 and P-51 aircraft. The T-6s will perform the Missing Man Formation salute.
"Having visited Normandy, stood on the beaches, and walked through the American cemetery, I stand in awe with a sense of reverence for those who fought and died there," Young said. "I am humbled and privileged to, in some small way, assist in honoring the brave men of the D-Day invasion."
(View the event program for a full schedule.)
Up to 10,000 guests are expected for the weekend, including 300 D-Day veterans and nearly 1,000 World War II veterans as well as thousands more vets and their families.
Liberty's Office of Military Affairs will have a booth at the event and representatives will hand out American flags and Liberty gear while connecting with veterans.
"Liberty University has always been a huge supporter of our military and it is always inspirational to be able to speak directly to these heroes," said Ashley Eskridge, military outreach coordinator. "Participating in this event really gives purpose to what we do on a daily basis."
Liberty is a proud supporter of military service members, veterans, and their families. The Office of Military Affairs helps military and veteran students with their military benefits, enabling them to focus on their academic goals. The office also hosts military events on campus throughout the year.


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Events Calendar
Landscapes: Color & Light - Paintings by Virginia Jenkins
"Morning Fog, Rialto Beach," 2 foot x 4 foot, acrylic on canvas, 2017
Date and TimeThursday, April 26, 2018
7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
- Blue Wall Gallery, Richard M. DeVos Center, Building B
Virginia Jenkins is a professor and former chair of the Department of Visual and Media Arts at Grand Valley State University. Landscapes forms and images have been the primary focus of her work for over two decades, and her areas of specialty are in painting, drawing and mixed media. This exhibition is drawn from a recent series created in response to the landscape of the Northwest coast of the United States.
Art Gallery, 616-331-2563
This event also occurred on 3/9/2018, 3/12/2018, 3/13/2018, 3/14/2018, 3/15/2018, 3/16/2018, 3/19/2018, 3/20/2018, 3/21/2018, 3/22/2018 and 62 others


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I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on what might be going on with me. I am a 25 yr old female with alot of health problems...migranes, had gull bladder removed, problems with one of my breast (which is being looked into), history of some abnormal paps (I have one of the high risk strains of HPV), among some other things. I suspect it is from me having endometrosis, which they are now thinking is an autoimmune disease.
My ? is about 2 yrs ago I started having really bad pain in the bone in my leg, my shin bone???. I went to the dr, he said I was having bone pain but didn't know why, gave me some vicodins and sent me on my way. I still have the leg pain, but in the last 3 mnths or so both of my thighs have been covered in bruises. All except one of them are fingertip size. On any given day there are 15 - 30 on each leg with a couple of them being on the rest of my leg. There is also one about the size of a baseball on the inside part of my knee that has been there itself for about 3 mnths. Somedays it will look red like it is in the stages of healing, but then the next day it will be back to the bruise. None of these hurt. What could they be from.
Someone on another forum suggested that I was anemic. After I had my son 6 mnths ago it came back that I was anemic. They put me on iron pills for a mnth and that was that. But if it was caused from that wouldn't I be getting bruises everywhere and not just mostly the thighs/legs.
Another suggested that maybe the leg pain is related to the bruising but if that was the case wouldn't either both legs hurt, or wouldn't just the leg that does hurt be the only leg to bruise.
Another suggested a bleeding disorder. When I got pregnant with my son my OB done bloodwork on me to try and determine why I lost my little girl so late in my pregnancy. It came back I had MTHFR mutation gene, Protien S defiency and Protien C defency. I had to go to a specialitst, take baby aspirin, and shots of Lovenox. After the pregnancy I was refered to a diff. specialits, he said it sounded like I had the opps. problem of not being able to clot as opposed to clotting to easy. But done blood work and said I was borderline on still having one of them, but nothing to worry about and didn't have the other anymore. Of course the MTHFR mutation gene I will always have. Is it possible that since those was pregnancy induced that maybe when I am not pregnant my blood does not clot like it should and then when I am pregnant it clots to easy? Or that maybe these clotting disorders have come back?
Sorry this is so long. Any thoughts would be appreciated!
Thank you


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I had an awesome time and was off for the whole week from 2 out of 3 jobs. In case you didn't know, this is my 2nd job :) I do in fact get paid to blog, it's a dream job that I'd love to do full time. There is SO much that I want to do but haven't got the time for with 2 other jobs. Thanks to AWESOME readers like you, though, that dream is daily becoming more and more of a reality. So, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. That's why I give away a prize to FACEBOOK fans every month, it's just my way of giving back to the BEST readers in the world! Speaking of which, I'll announce this month's winner below :)
Anyway, I wasn't too sad at all for the staycation to come to an end. I don't talk about my first job because it involves minors, but I was happy to go back.
This weekend for us involved a family reunion! My mom's family is HUGE. There are literally zillions of them, mostly women. We hung out at the lake on Saturday with the vast majority and it was a blast! My grandma + her sisters plus their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren made for a MASSIVE group.
This is my mom chatting with my great-aunt Carol and two of my aunts. My mom's family includes 5 girls. Ahhhhhh!
This is my great-uncle Paul hanging out with my dad. In the background you can see my great-uncle Bob + my second cousin, Doug.
This is the cooler set of my fab cousin, Kimberly. I didn't know that Igloo made bright pink carriers! Oh man. I need one. And hey- love the matching bake-and-takes. She made these amazing mint oreo truffle ball goodness. Ahh. I have to get the recipe and share it.
Lastly, we went to the fireworks at my Grandparents house. Every year the lake they live on puts on a fantastic show. John and I watched from the comfort of my parents' car. Most people watch from their boats on the middle of the lake, which is gorgeous. Our clan is far too massive for all of us to get on the boat though and I don't mind being in the car at all! We were joined halfway through by my super sleepy niece. For the record, it's really hard to take pictures of fireworks. Lesson learned.
This is the finale, you can see the top of my Sweet Pea's head and part of the car. I didn't get close enough to the window!
And that's about it for the weekend! I hope yours was fantastic.
Ready for the winner? This month (and all summer long!) I'll be giving away DIY beach wraps (original or halter, depending on fabric availability). The first winner was drawn today (which is actually Sunday, the 1st) and it was Ms. KELLY COURSEY PAQUET! Congratulations, Kelly! Please check your "other" messages on facebook for message from me. That reminds me, I need to mail out the prizes from April + May still. The post office here keeps awful hours, I can never get there when it's open! Have a great day everyone. Based on overwhelming facebook feedback, we'll be doing a bit of budget/money series this week. So stay tuned to learn about saving cash, baby! If you ever have any requests for a blog, please let me know! Oh, and hey... as always, thanks for reading!


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Legislative Updates
John McGough has represented OFDA for more than 30 years. He is extremely knowledgeable in small business issues, as well as issues specific to funeral service and is well respected by members of the legislature.
Important Funeral Law Changes to Chapter 4717 of the Ohio Revised Code Effective Sept. 29, 2017


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Talkie of the Week: 12 Angry Men
USA 1957, 96 minutes, black & white, MGM. Director: Sidney Lumet, Written by Reginald Rose, Based on his teleplay. Cast: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, E.G. Marshall, Martin Balsam, Jack Warden, John Fiedler, Jack Klugman, Edward Binns, Joseph Sweeney, Ed Begley, George Voskovec and Robert Webber.
Plot summary: Twelve jurors discuss the case of a young man they were chosen to adjudicate on. Together, they examine evidence and testimonies to reach an unanimous verdict.
Review: Originally produced live and broadcast on CBS in 1954, 12 Angry Men was a success with critics and TV audiences before the teleplay was brought to the big screen to win three Academy Award nominations. Starring Henry Fonda as famed juror #8 whose intellectual curiosity saves a young defendant from being convicted upon neglect, the motion picture adaptation offered an atmosphere of density and literal anger, mixed with an almost tangible heat that added fuel to a starting fire. Relying on a stellar cast of character actors, 12 Angry Men was shot in a claustophobic setting, a juror's room with only a restroom serving as a possible escape. Suspense erupted from the men and their tingling aggression brought on by prejudices, disinterest and their own personal struggles.
Fifty-five years ago, the film captivated audiences on the big screen but wasn't completely successful until it found its way back to American TV. Today, the film is every bit as entertaining and tension-packed as it was upon release. Benefitting from vivid dialog and a darkish quality in black and white, 12 Angry Men is the kind of classic that will never grow old. Available on DVD and Bluray, the film has the potential to attract a whole new generation of movie buffs who – like their parents and grandparents – will find themselves engrossed in the plot as soon the jurors are in session.
Have a look at impressions from the movie here.


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Anyways, Sasa is pure temptation as they just can´t stop listing cool new things... that´s really hard for a beauty stuff junkie like me as I need to haul and there is no way out of that! =P
So...2 bottles of eye cream for US$5.40? I am sold! Anosa is a sister brand of Shills as they´re under the same company.... Anosa is somehow not as cute as Shills but they have some good products worth trying out!
Anosa has several Eye Creams (Sets) up for grabs but Sasa only has the Q10/Elder Tree version (right now).
I am a sucker for eye creams... no idea why, but eye creams just appeal to me very much! I rarely ever have irritations caused by eye creams which is weird since the rest of my face likes to act up when I try to indulge it with something new so maybe that´s why I like buying eye creams!
So the usual not too expensive eye cream contains about 15ml and will set me back around US$15-20. Anosa gives me 2 *35ml* bottles for about US$5 (or at least Sasa charged me that) so can they be good?
First off packaging is very basic and simple as the creams are packed in hygienic pump-bottles. The pump isn´t the best as it somehow has the tendency to be hard to push but when it moves it will spritz out lots of cream so just push gently not to end up with eye cream on your mirror.
Design-wise the labels remind me of some plant-based pharmacy skincare line. A bit cuteness wouldn´t have hurt but it´s still appealing to me.
If you scan the ingredients lists you will notice that the formulas of the Elder Tree Eye Cream and the Q10 Eye Cream are almost identical. Just the last few ingredients are different.
Since the ingredients are nearly the same the texture is identical, too. Both are lightweight yet moisturizing and make the skin around my eyes very soft and smooth and are a perfect prep for eye makeup/concealer.
I am not sure if the creams have any effect away from moisturizing so for a basic eye care for younger ladies both are a perfect inexpensive choice but if you want deeper care, something against dark-circles or anti-wrinkle ingredients these creams will probably not succeed.
There are some really nice ingredients in the formulas like Macadamia Nut Oil, Collagen, Shea Butter and Vitamin E. Both creams are unscented and don´t irritate my eyes at all.
Overall I really like the eye creams and think they are great value for money. The expiry and production dates are printed on the box and mine is very fresh, just was produced a few months ago and will expire in 3 years (which is probably the time needed to finish 70ml of eye cream hehe).
Sasa claims:
- 【Q10 Eye Cream】(35 ml)
It contains coenzyme Q10, an super antioxidant and anti-aging ingredient, and highly moisturizing collagen to firm skin around eyes and restore its moisture-retaining ability. It is more penetrating and is more similar to skin constituent. It re-energizes skin around eyes, leaving eyes firm and hydrated again. Accompanied by massage to promote blood circulation, it restores skin's elasticity, prevents dryness and relieves the tired eye contour.
How to use: Morning and night, take a pearl-sized amount to gently apply to eye area. Follow with eye massage, or coverage of eyes with palms with fingers covering forehead. Let the warmth of hands warm up the eye contour to promote blood circulation and reduce puffiness as well as dark circles.
- 【Elder Tree Eye Cream】(35 ml)
It contains eye-firming factor extracted from elder tree to firm skin around eyes. Eye bags will become unobvious. Skin will be firm and delicate again. With shea butter, niacinamide derivatives, vitamin E and vitamin K, the fresh cream, which is easy to absorb, is more effective in moisturizing skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines due to dryness.
How to use: Morning and night, take a pearl-sized amount to gently apply to eye area. Follow with eye massage, or coverage of eyes with palms with fingers covering forehead. Let the warmth of hands warm up the eye contour to promote blood circulation and reduce puffiness as well as dark circles."
One reader can win a duo pack of the Anosa Q10 & Elder Tree Eye Cream! The duo pack is fresh (expiry in December 2012) and comes in a sealed box.
How to enter:
-Only open to followers (so please make sure you follow me on blogger)!
Make sure by your nickname or name I can clearly identify you!
-Open worldwide!
-Please leave a comment to this post (telling me which kind of eye care you use or want to use)
-Giveaway open until Saturday, May1st 2010, 8 PM (my time, Vienna time-zone)
-Winner will be randomly chosen by random.org and announced here by Sunday, 2nd of May 2010. Please make sure to email me to claim your prize within 3 days after winner is announced or new winner will be drawn.


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via press release:
DVD of Premiere Episode Will Be Available in October Issue of Magazine
Full Preview of LONE STAR Pilot Available to Users
Who Download October Issue of VANITY FAIR on the iPad
LONE STAR Premieres Monday, September 20, on FOX
Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) and Vanity Fair Magazine have launched a cross-platform partnership to promote the network's compelling new drama series, LONE STAR. For the first time ever, Vanity Fair will include a special DVD insert of a network pilot in the magazine. The DVD, featuring the premiere episode of LONE STAR as well as a trailer for the upcoming 20th Century Fox film "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps," will be included in the October issue. In addition, the full-length premiere will be available to users who purchase and download the October issue through Vanity Fair's iPad app.
When users launch Vanity Fair's iPad app, they will be able to watch the full-length premiere episode of LONE STAR. FOX is the first network to make a full pilot available for preview via Vanity Fair's iPad app. The October issue arrives on newsstands on September 7, and the LONE STAR premiere will be viewable on the iPad app for two weeks. Following that, an extended preview of the series will be available in lieu of the full episode.
"LONE STAR is a lush, sophisticated, sexy drama full of complex characters, which makes Vanity Fair a perfect promotional partner," said Joe Earley, President of Marketing and Communications for FOX. "The central story is about a charismatic young man leading two lives, both of which are cons. It's the kind of story you could find in the magazine, and we believe their readers will enjoy the series."
"We like to provide a certain level of access to our readers, and this partnership with FOX is an ideal opportunity for us, and the perfect fit," said Vanity Fair Vice President and Publisher Edward Menicheschi. "Whether you buy the magazine on the newsstand, or via your iPad, you'll be able to see an exciting new show a couple of weeks before it debuts. This is just another way of keeping our audience involved in the cultural conversation."
LONE STAR premieres Monday, Sept. 20 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. The series centers on a charismatic and brilliant schemer – BOB ALLEN (newcomer James Wolk) – who has meticulously constructed two lives in two different parts of Texas. In Houston, he's a devoted husband charming his ultra-wealthy in-laws to cement his position in the rich family business he aims to clean out.
More than 400 miles away in the suburban west Texas town of Midland, he lives a second life with his sweet, naïve girlfriend, playing the perfect boyfriend while secretly bilking local investors of their savings.
As he tries to hold his two lives together, while fending off angry investors and the growing suspicions of those around him, Bob puts it all on the line hoping he can beat the odds, leave the schemes behind and keep two separate relationships afloat.
LONE STAR is a production of 20th Century Fox Television, Depth of Field Productions and Keyser/Lippman Productions. The series stars James Wolk, Adrianne Palicki, Eloise Mumford, Bryce Johnson, Mark Deklin, David Keith and Jon Voight, and is written and executive-produced by Kyle Killen. Chris Keyser, Amy Lippman, Kerry Kohansky, Paul Weitz and Peter Horton also serve as executive producers. Marc Webb directed the pilot.
Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) is a unit of News Corporation and the leading broadcast television network among Adults 18-49. FOX finished the 2009-2010 season at No. 1 for the sixth consecutive year – a broadcast television industry record – while continuing to dominate all network competition in the more targeted Adults 18-34 and Teen demographics. FOX airs 15 hours of primetime programming a week, as well as late-night entertainment programming, major sports and Sunday morning news.
With its mix of muscular journalism, stunning photography, in-depth reporting, and memorable profiles of the movers and shakers of the age, VANITY FAIR has become, by many estimates, the magazine world's acknowledged arbiter of modern society, power, and personality. Since Graydon Carter became editor in 1992, the magazine has won numerous awards – and he has assembled a group of A-list contributors, and expanded the magazine's mandate to cover politics, business, and world affairs. For more information, please visit vanityfair.com.


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Something exceptional is happening here in Finland. However I think that the foundation for that has existed a long time, only to wait its time to come. And it seems that the time is here and now. Let me explain.
I am a startup entrepreneur and I am considering myself very lucky that I have had the opportunity to follow somewhat amazing chain of events happening in the startup scene of Finland. The young crew from the Aalto University, so-called Aalto Entrepreneurship Society, has worked hard for two and half years, and finally this week they publicly proved that their vision and the actions taken truly are a very powerful force.
I am not describing here in detail what has happened during the past weeks; actually you'll get the picture of that easily by checking out their blog . This great team managed, together with the legendary Steve Blank himself, to initiate many important discussions and processes – and I do believe that they managed to make a difference.
We will certainly hear more about startups in the Finnish media and we now expect more from our decision-makers too. Hopefully we will also see actions based on the ideas born during this week's 'revolution'.
The Helsinki Spring is here, as Steve so nicely put it. I am optimistic; the fruits of this week will be many. I am very proud of this young crew, Finnish Awesomeness at its best.
The Finnish Way of Being
Serendipitously I happened to bump into another type of Finnish awesomeness. I listened to Senior VP of Design at Nokia Marko Ahtisaari's presentation at the Copenhagen Design Week.
The first 12 minutes (the rest of it is mostly about Nokia design and future development, interesting as well) of his speech 'Patterns of Human Interaction' had an effect on me. His humble way of speaking about how better design can help us to make each other feel that we are welcome, is just awesome. A beautiful perspective!
Another observation I made is his style of speaking, it is very Finnish (read: very non-American). He is not shouting and feverishly waving his hands – no, instead he applies the traditional Finnish style: he is calm, speaks very softly and is overall adorable and kind. And all that without being boring. It kind of reminds me of the way Facebook's COO Sheryl Sandberg speaks. Or Alex Osterwalder, or Aalto Entrepreneurship Society's president Miki Kuusi. So I warmly recommend you to listen to Marko, at least the first 12 minutes.
Small Talk and Positive Silence
These great people and the two events – AaltoES with Steve Blank & Marko Ahtisaari and his talk about more human design principles – made me think about what is "Finnishness", and why I'll find it awesome and full of possibilities for the entrepreneurship too.
The Finnishness?, you may ask. Yes, we do have some national characteristics that can be more rare among other nationalities, we can be seen as very shy, but on the other hand our curiosity and creativity makes it easy for us to connect and share. To connect and share, and most importantly to listen. On top of that we are very persistent and diligent; we don't like to give in. Except in football.
We Finns can easily be silent in company with other people. It's natural. Foreigners often find our silence odd, or fascinating. Professor of Communication Donal Carbaugh, from University of Massachusetts at Amherst, have written an excellent paper about this – Silence and Quietude as a Finnish"Natural Way of Being" [pdf], with the following description:
"A Finnish communication code that structures some cultural scenes as occasions for positive silence, exhibiting a social model of personhood for which this is a valued, respected, and natural practice."
I just love this expression, positive silence. Please consider positive silence as time for thinking, reflecting, and listening. The paper explains the Finnish way of communication with many good example stories; it can truly help in understanding us Finns…
Another great read is this short article of the Helsinki Times – No small talk please, we're Finnish, in which freelance journalist Susan Fourtané describes her experiences:
"I particularly enjoyed the thoughtfulness and the moments of silence in between, giving space for observing our own thoughts before speaking. Yes, you have heard it right. Finns don't do small talk. They don't think a moment of shared silence is awkward. On the contrary, it is part of the conversation. A direct question gets a direct answer. There is no nonsense talk about nothing. There is no asking "How are you?" ten times until someone says something else, or stating the obvious. Finns are more interested in how you think, how you perceive Finland or what keeps you in this small and cold country, as they refer to beautiful and peaceful Finland."
Less small talk and more positive silence, I believe that this enables better listening, and further better understanding.
What "the Finnish way of being" has to do with the Finnish startup ecosystem success?
Let me explain. I have blogged a lot about my three favorite topics. And I truly believe that creativity, innovation, and better decision-making, in startups too, require at least some investments and understanding in these areas:
- Systems Intelligence (theory by my friend Professor Esa Saarinen),
- Recognition of the value and importance of serendipity (the weak links and the edges, re: John Hagel),
- Recognition of the value and importance listening.
These three capabilities require a certain attitude, an attitude of respect, with a touch of trust.
Luckily many of these are a natural part of the startup DNA. We need to be open and cooperative; we need use both sides of our brains and become better listeners.
In his excellent presentation at the Aalto University Steve Blank touched on these topics in his own creative way. A startup entrepreneur is living on the edge with all senses open. An ability to observe, discover, pivot, adapt and finally to adopt is crucial. On top of his great experiences that Steve shared with us, I enjoyed his attitude, very refreshing. And I especially loved Steve's analog of startup entrepreneur as a fighter pilot! I feel like Maverick quite often.
"I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship"
The AaltoES team is showing a great deal of creativity, persistence, and most importantly the ability to get things done with the help of the surrounding ecosystem. They managed to activate all of us, followers and fans, to participate. This is priceless and I do believe that "this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship" (couldn't help myself quoting one of the most memorable exit lines in movie history, from Casablanca).
The Finnish Awesomeness is something very genuine. Let us be proud of it. I wish that we don't have to start to act entirely differently in order to be able to make a difference. We have all we need to become a vibrant startup hub in Europe, and in the World.
I wish that the Finnish Awesomeness could be something that other people can learn from.
Thank you AaltoES Team (Kristo, Linda, Antti, Miki, Ville, Lauri, Henrietta, Charlotta, Krista, Jose Pablo & co), Steve Blank and Marko Ahtisaari for the inspiration you have given me!
Related read:
Everything in Steve Blank's brilliant blog http://steveblank.com/
Prof. Osmo Wiio's law on how all human communication fails, except by accident. My all-time favorite.


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Jinx's Pit's Top Barbecue in Charlottesville, VA: The Best Pork Sandwich I've Ever Had
"There have been few culinary experiences in my life that have quieted, humbled, and thrilled me with its utter perfection, but Jinx's pork did all of those things."
Jinx's Pit's Top Barbecue in Charlottesville, Virginia, fulfills our deepest dreams of the ramshackle Southern barbecue joint, where pork reigns supreme and the air is thick with hardwood smoke. The term shack seems the only fitting word to describe the place, a dusty one-room affair in the less affluent part of town.
Owner Jinx (James) Kern fusses over his guests like a mother hen, except that he is a kindly gentlemen in his fifties with graying hair and crooked glasses. Inside there are a few booths and a bar with stools, where you can sit and chat with Kern as he prepares your meal.
We arrived on a sweltering day in July. He watched as we piled through the screen door and threw his hands up in the air, exclaiming, "Well, you're all just going to have the sandwiches, because there's nothing else on the menu today. We're out of coleslaw, which wasn't very good to start with. And I don't have any cups for you to drink out of."
Pausing, he looked us over again and said, "So deal with it."
We grinned and took our seats in a booth. There were vintage magazines strewn about. I let my fingers graze one of the covers and found that the dust had calcified into a sticky, rough layer, as if it hadn't been moved from its spot on the shelf for years.
He busied himself with preparing the sandwiches.
To emphasize that he had meant in the nicest way possible for us to deal with his reduced circumstances, he added happily. "Now folks, I'm going to take a dollar off of everyone's tab because it's just so f***ed up today!"
I sensed from the minute I saw the pork shoulder that this was going to be a good sandwich. Kern pulled out a hunk of shoulder from a warmer, where it had been sitting in a pool of its own juices and fat. He placed the meat onto the counter and as soon as he cut into the shoulder the flesh began to fall apart, its juices spreading onto the cutting board. Kern deftly portioned the pork onto slices of plain white bread. Next to each of our identical sandwiches he placed servings of cucumbers (sweet and pickled with mustard seeds) that he'd grown in his own garden.
There have been few culinary experiences in my life that have quieted, humbled, and thrilled me with its utter perfection, but Jinx's pork did all of those things. Like true love, the experience of the sandwich left me quite certain that it would be a long time before I could feel anything tantamount to the pleasure I experienced on that summer afternoon.
The pork was juicy, tender, and moist, though such words do not express the degree to which the meat fulfilled all of those qualities. A gush of porky juice—concentrated and rich, yet not fatty—flowed from each bite of the sandwich. The flavor was unadorned but for a quick brush of barbecue sauce on the bread and the haunting smokiness of the pork itself. And for once, the law of diminishing returns did not apply. Each bite presented a different facet of Kern's art: the way the meat seemed almost flaky, like confit, or the wetness of the flesh, which was impossibly juicy without being the least bit soggy.
I left my friends at the booth and chatted with Kern at the bar, hoping to discover something of what made his pork so astoundingly good. He could confirm for me that he used only Boston butt, the fattier cut of the shoulder, and that his pork was smoked for 16 hours. Later as we left I caught a glimpse of his smokers: They looked like upright lockers, propped just outside the barbecue shack. Beyond that, he intimated that he'd learned his craft by peeking into the shack of a pit master in Kentucky.
Jinx Kern's brain is something that you would like to rifle through; it is brimming with stories and pithy observations. We talked not only of pork and barbecue, but of articles we'd read by Ian Frazier and of art history, for which he took a degree at the University of Virginia prior to entering the food industry.
I made the daring claim that North Carolina barbecue suffered from the unfortunate fate of being both wet and dry at the same time. Did he agree? He did. His face broke out into the largest of smiles, perhaps recognizing in me a fellow lover of fatty and moist meat.
I left Jinx's already scheming to get myself back to Charlottesville on a day when Kern would have ribs, his other main offering on the menu. As we left we handed him our wads of crumpled up dollar bills. With his impromptu discount, each platter of pork sandwiches had amounted to something like five dollars each. Kern barely glanced at the money we handed him; he took it with a smile and saw us out of the shack. He was closing shop for the day. Later in the afternoon he was due to cater a Little League baseball game.
Jinx's Pit's Top Barbecue
1307 E. Market Street, Charlottesville VA 22902 (map) 434-293-6904; jinxsbarbecue.com
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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President Bush has not fired any of the architects of the Iraq war. In fact, a review of the key planners of the conflict reveals that they have been rewarded — not blamed — for their incompetence.
Role In Going To War: Wolfowitz said the U.S. would be greeted as liberators, that Iraqi oil money would pay for the reconstruction, and that Gen. Eric Shinseki's estimate that several hundred thousand troops would be needed was "wildly off the mark." [Washington Post, 12/8/05; Wolfowitz, 3/27/03]
Where He Is Now: Bush promoted Wolfowitz to head the World Bank in March 2005. Two years into his five-year term, Wolfowitz was rebuked by the World Bank investigative committee for engineering an unethical pay and promotion package for his girlfriend and, after repeated calls for his resignation, stepped down on May 17, 2007. Wolfowitz is now a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, a right-wing think tank that "has the President's ear" on national security issues. [Washington Post, 3/17/05, 5/18/07; Financial Times, 6/28/07]
Key Quote: "The truth is that for reasons that have a lot to do with the U.S. government bureaucracy, we settled on the one issue that everyone could agree on which was weapons of mass destruction as the core reason [for going to war]." [USA Today, 5/30/03]
Role In Going To War: As Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Feith spearheaded two secretive groups at the Pentagon — the Counter Terrorism Evaluation Group and the Office of Special Plans — that were instrumental in drawing up documents that explained the supposed ties between Saddam and al Qaeda. The groups were "created in order to find evidence of what Wolfowitz and his boss, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, believed to be true." Colin Powell referred to Feith's operation as the Gestapo. In Bob Woodward's Plan of Attack, former CentCom Commander Gen. Tommy Franks called Feith the "f***ing stupidest guy on the face of the earth." [LAT, 1/27/05; NYT, 4/28/04; New Yorker, 5/12/03; Plan of Attack, p.281]
Where He Is Now: Feith voluntarily resigned from the Defense Department shortly after Bush's reelection. He is currently writing a memoir of his Pentagon work and teaching a course at Georgetown University "on the Bush Administration's strategy behind the war on terrorism." The Defense Department's Inspector General found that Feith's secretive groups at the Pentagon "developed, produced, and then disseminated" deceptive intelligence that contradicted "the consensus of the Intelligence Community." These groups are still under investigation by the Senate Intelligence Committee. [Washington Post, 1/27/05;Georgetown press release, 5/1/06; NYT, 2/9/07]
Key Quote: "I am not asserting to you that I know that the answer is — we did it right. What I am saying is it's an extremely complex judgment to know whether the course that we chose with its pros and cons was more sensible." [Washington Post, 7/13/05]
Role In Going To War: As then-Deputy National Security Advisor, Hadley disregarded memos from the CIA and a personal phone call from Director George Tenet warning that references to Iraq's pursuit of uranium be dropped from Bush's speeches. The false information ended up in Bush's 2003 State of the Union address. [Washington Post, 7/23/03]
Where He Is Now: On January 26, 2005, Stephen Hadley was promoted to National Security Advisor. [White House bio]
Key Quote: "I should have recalled at the time of the State of the Union speech that there was controversy associated with the uranium issue. … And it is now clear to me that I failed in that responsibility in connection with the inclusion of these 16 words in the speech that he gave on the 28th of January." [Hadley, 7/22/03]
Role In Going To War: Richard Perle, the so-called "Prince of Darkness," was the chairman of Defense Policy Board during the run-up to the Iraq war. He suggested Iraq had a hand in 9-11. In 1996, he authored "Clean Break," a paper that was co-signed by Douglas Feith, David Wurmser, and others that argued for regime change in Iraq. Shortly after the war began, Perle resigned from the Board because he came under fire for having relationships with businesses that stood to profit from the war. [Guardian, 9/3/02, 3/28/03; AFP, 8/9/02]
Where He Is Now: Currently, Perle is a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute where he specializes in national security and defense issues. He has been investigated for ethical violations concerning war profiteering and other conflicts of interest. [Washington Post, 9/1/04]
Key Quote: "And a year from now, I'll be very surprised if there is not some grand square in Baghdad that is named after President Bush. There is no doubt that, with the exception of a very small number of people close to a vicious regime, the people of Iraq have been liberated and they understand that they've been liberated. And it is getting easier every day for Iraqis to express that sense of liberation." [Perle, 9/22/03]
Role In Going To War: Abrams was one of the defendants in the Iran-Contra Affair, and he pled guilty to two misdemeanor counts of withholding information from Congress. He was appointed Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director on the National Security Council for Near East and North African Affairs during Bush's first term, where he served as Bush's chief advisor on the Middle East. His name surfaced as part of the investigation into who leaked the name of a undercover CIA operative Valerie Plame. [Washington Post, 5/27/03, 2/3/05]
Where He Is Now: Abrams was promoted to deputy national security adviser in February of 2005. In that position, he has led a smear campaign to attack Speaker Nancy Pelosi for visiting Syria. [Slate, 2/17/05; IPS, 4/9/07; Washington Post, 2/15/07]
Key Quote: "We recognize that military action in Iraq, if necessary, will have adverse humanitarian consequences. We have been planning over the last several months, across all relevant agencies, to limit any such consequences and provide relief quickly." [CNN, 2/25/03]
SCOOTER LIBBYRole In Going To War: As Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, Libby repeatedly pressured CIA analysts to report that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and links to al Qaeda. He also provided classified government information to New York Times reporter Judith Miller that formed the basis of a series of articles highlighting Iraq's weapons of mass destruction that were later entirely discredited. Along with Hannah, Libby was a principal author of the discredited draft UN presentation. [Washington Post, 6/5/03; National Journal, 4/6/06; FAIR, 3/19/07; NYT, 10/30/05]
Where He Is Now: On June 5, 2007, Libby was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for perjury and obstruction of justice for his role in the CIA leak case. On July 2, 2007, Bush commuted Libby's prison sentence, ensuring he would serve no time in jail. [NYT, 6/5/07; Bush, 7/2/07]
Key Quote: "I'm a great fan of the Vice President," Libby told Larry King in 2002. "I think he's one of the smartest, most honorable people I've ever met." [Time, 10/28/05]
JOHN HANNAHRole In Going To War: As deputy national security advisor to Vice President Cheney, Hannah served as the conduit between Ahmad Chalabi's Iraqi National Congress and the Bush administration, passing along false information about Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction that the administration relied upon to justify the invasion. Hannah was also a principal author of the draft speech making the administration's case for war to the UN. Then-Secretary of State Colin Powell and CIA director George Tenet rejected most of the content of the speech as exaggerated and unwarranted. [Newsweek, 12/15/06; NYT, 10/30/05]
Where He Is Now: On October 31, 2005, Cheney promoted Hannah to national security advisor, replacing the role served previously by Scooter Libby. [CNN, 10/31/05]
Key Quote: Reprising his role in misleading the country to war with Iraq, Hannah has told a U.S. ambassador that 2007 is "the year of Iran" and that a U.S. attack is "a real possibility." [Washington Post, 2/11/07]
Role In Going To War: At the time of the war, Wurmser was a special assistant to John Bolton in the State Department. Wurmser has long advocated the belief that both Syria and Iraq represented threats to the stability of the Middle East. In early 2001, Wurmser had issued a call for air strikes against Iraq and Syria. Along with Perle, he is considered a main author of "Clean Break." [Asia Times, 4/17/03; Guardian, 9/3/02]
Where He Is Now: Wurmser was promoted to Principal Deputy Assistant to the Vice President for National Security Affairs; he is in charge of coordinating Middle East strategy. His name has been associated with the Plame Affair and with an FBI investigation into the passing of classified information to Chalabi and AIPAC. [Raw Story, 10/19/05; Washington Post, 9/4/04]
Key Quote: "Syria, Iran, Iraq, the PLO and Sudan are playing a skillful game, but have consistently worked to undermine US interests and influence in the region for years, and certainly will continue to do so now, even if they momentarily, out of fear, seem more forthcoming." [Washington Post, 9/24/01]
Role In Going To War: Shortly after the invasion of Iraq, Andrew Natsios, then the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, went on Nightline and claimed that the U.S. contribution to the rebuilding of Iraq would be just $1.7 billion. When it became quickly apparent that Natsios' prediction would fall woefully short of reality, the government came under fire for scrubbing his comments from the USAID Web site. [Washington Post, 12/18/03; ABC News, 4/23/03]
Where He Is Now: Natsios stepped down as the head of USAID in January and was teaching at Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh's School of Foreign Service as a Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy and Advisor on International Development. In September 2006, Bush appointed him Special Envoy for Darfur. [AP, 2/20/06; Georgetown, 12/2/05; Washington Post, 9/19/06]
Key Quote: "[T]he American part of this will be $1.7 billion. We have no plans for any further-on funding for this." [Nightline, 4/23/03]
Role In Going To War: Dan Bartlett was the White House Communications Director at the time of the war and was a mouthpiece in hyping the Iraq threat. Bartlett was also a regular participant in the weekly meetings of the White House Iraq Group (WHIG). The main purpose of the group was the systematic coordination of the "marketing" of going to war with Iraq as well as selling the war here at home. [Washington Post, 8/10/03]
Where He Is Now: Bartlett announced his resignation on June 1, 2007 to pursue his "prospects in the private sector." He was promoted to Counselor to the President on January 5, 2005, and was responsible for the formulation of policy and implementation of the President's agenda. [Washington Post, 6/2/07]
Key Quote: "Most people would argue we are part of the solution in Iraq, not part of the problem." [CNN, 10/23/06]
Role In Going To War: Mitch Daniels was the director of the Office of Management and Budget from January 2001 through June of 2003. In this capacity, he was responsible for releasing the initial budget estimates for the Iraq War which he pegged at $50 to $60 billion. The estimated cost of the war, including the full economic ramifications, is approaching $1 trillion. [MSNBC, 3/17/06]
Where He Is Now: In 2004, Daniels was elected Governor of Indiana. [USA Today, 11/3/04]
Key Quote: Mitch Daniels had said the war would be an "affordable endeavor" and rejected an estimate by the chief White House economic adviser that the war would cost between $100 billion and $200 billion as "very, very high." [Christian Science Monitor, 1/10/06]
Role In Going To War: As CIA Director, Tenet was responsible for gathering information on Iraq and the potential threat posted by Saddam Hussein. According to author Bob Woodward, Tenet told President Bush before the war that there was a "slam dunk case" that Saddam possessed weapons of mass destruction. Tenet remained publicly silent while the Bush administration made pre-war statements on Iraq's supposed nuclear program and ties to al Qaeda that were contrary to the CIA's judgments. Tenet issued a statement in July 2003, drafted by Karl Rove and Scooter Libby, taking responsibility for Bush's false statements in his State of the Union address. [CNN, 4/19/04; NYT, 7/22/05]
Where He Is Now: Tenet voluntarily resigned from the administration on June 3, 2004. He was later awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom. He released a memoir in April 2007 critical of many in the Bush administration for their roles in the Iraq war and currently teaches at Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh's School of Foreign Service. [Washington Post, 6/3/04; CBS, 4/29/07]
Key Quote: "It's a slam dunk case." [CNN, 4/19/04]
Role In Going To War: Despite stating in Feb. 2001 that Saddam had not developed "any significant capability with respect to weapons of mass destruction," Powell made the case in front of the United Nations for a United States-led invasion of Iraq, stating that, "There can be no doubt that Saddam Hussein has biological weapons and the capability to rapidly produce more, many more. And he has the ability to dispense these lethal poisons and diseases in ways that can cause massive death and destruction." [Powell, 2/5/03; Powell, 2/24/01]
Where He Is Now: Shortly after Bush won reelection in 2004, Powell resigned from the administration. Powell now sits on numerous corporate boards. He succeeded Henry Kissinger in May 2006 as Chairman of the Eisenhower Fellowship Program at the City College of New York. In September 2005, Powell said of his U.N. speech that it was a "blot" on his record. He went on to say, "It will always be a part of my record. It was painful. It's painful now." [ABC News, 9/9/05]
Key Quote: "'You are going to be the proud owner of 25 million people,' he told the president. 'You will own all their hopes, aspirations, and problems. You'll own it all.' Privately, Powell and Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage called this the Pottery Barn rule: You break it, you own it." [Bob Woodward, Plan of Attack]
Role In Going To War: Prior to the war, Rumsfeld repeatedly suggested the war in Iraq would be short and swift. He said, "The Gulf War in the 1990s lasted five days on the ground. I can't tell you if the use of force in Iraq today would last five days, or five weeks, or five months, but it certainly isn't going to last any longer than that." He also said, "It is unknowable how long that conflict will last. It could last six days, six weeks. I doubt six months." [Rumsfeld, 11/14/02; USA Today, 4/1/03]
Where He Is Now: After repeated calls for his resignation, Donald Rumsfeld finally stepped down on November 8, 2006, one day after the 2006 midterm elections. Rumsfeld is now "working on setting up a new foundation…to promote continued U.S. engagement in world affairs in furtherance of U.S. security interests" so that he can "remain engaged in public policy issues." He is also shopping a memoir, in the hopes of receiving "a large cash advance." [AP, 11/8/06; Reuters, 3/19/06; Washington Times, 5/18/07; NY Sun, 6/27/07]
Key Quote: "You go to war with the Army you have. They're not the Army you might want or wish to have at a later time." [CNN, 12/9/04]
Role In Going To War: As National Security Adviser, Rice disregarded at least two CIA memos and a personal phone call from Director George Tenet stating that the evidence behind Iraq's supposed uranium acquisition was weak. She urged the necessity of war because "we don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud." [Washington Post, 7/27/03; CNN, 9/8/02]
Where She Is Now: In December of 2004, Condoleezza Rice was promoted to Secretary of State. [ABC News, 11/16/04]
Key Quote: "We did not know at the time — maybe someone knew down in the bowels of the agency — but no one in our circles knew that there were doubts and suspicions that this might be a forgery. Of course it was information that was mistaken." [Meet the Press, 6/8/03]
Role In Going To War: Among a host of false pre-war statements, Cheney claimed that Iraq may have had a role in 9/11, stating that it was "pretty well confirmed" that 9/11 hijacker Mohammed Atta met with Iraqi intelligence officials. Cheney also claimed that Saddam was "in fact reconstituting his nuclear program" and that the U.S. would be "greeted as liberators." [Meet the Press, 12/9/01, 3/16/03]
Where He Is Now: Cheney earned another four years in power when Bush won re-election in 2004. Despite some conservatives calling for him to be replaced, Cheney has said, "I've now been elected to a second term; I'll serve out my term." Cheney continues to advocate for preemptive military intervention, recently delivering threats toward Iran in a speech aboard an aircraft carrier off Iran's coast. [CBS Face the Nation, 3/19/06; NYT, 5/11/07]
Key Quote: "I think they're in the last throes, if you will, of the insurgency." [Larry King Live, 6/20/05]
Role In Going To War: Emphasizing Saddam Hussein's supposed stockpile of weapons of mass destruction, supposed ties to al Qaeda, and supposed nuclear weapons program, Bush built public support for — and subsequently ordered — an invasion of Iraq. [State of the Union, 1/28/03]
Where He Is Now: In November 2004, Bush won re-election. Since that time, popular support for the war and the President have reached a low point — nearing the levels of Richard Nixon during Watergate. [Chicago Sun-Times, 6/19/07]
Key Quote: "Facing clear evidence of peril, we cannot wait for the final proof — the smoking gun — that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud." [Bush, 10/7/02]


text:
There was a TV crew in her living room, a camera-happy son in the doorway and a publicity-minded friend beaming at a job well done. The tale of how a young Kansas girl became a part of World War II history was about to be documented for cable-TV posterity, if the woman in the spotlight could just figure out why anyone would want to hear it.
The reluctant star was 92-year-old Lura Sheets of Escondido, whose long and colorful life includes a three-year stint inspecting artillery shell casings during World War II. Last week, the Reelz TV channel dropped in to film an interview with Sheets. Her real-life memories of working at the
Watching "Bomb Girls"
When: Season 2 debuts March 27 at 5 p.m. Marathons of the first season air on March 2 at 8 a.m. and March 27 at 9 a.m.
Where: The Reelz cable channel is available on Direct TV (Channel 238); the Dish network (299);
In honor of the occasion, Sheet's son Ron South was armed with a camera and stories of his mother's feisty independence. (Those oleanders in the sprawling yard? She just trimmed them.) Her friend, Bruce Donaldson, was thrilled that his email to Reelz about this real-life bomb girl had come to such exciting fruition.
But like so many dutiful members of the Greatest Generation, the petite woman in the neat blue sweater and slacks couldn't help wondering what the great big deal was.
"I can't believe all this fuss. It was just my job, really," said Sheets, who prepared for the arrival of the Reelz crew by cleaning the house and making oatmeal cookies. "Bruce keeps saying it was such a fantastic thing that I did. I have to start thinking about it like that."
Raised on a farm just outside of Ruleton, Kansas, Lura Price grew up in a world where life was hard and you didn't pat yourself on the back just for surviving it. As a girl, her idea of fun was washing the windows of the farmhouse and driving the family car. She preferred to leave the chicken-plucking to her sister, but she didn't mind taking over kitchen duty after her mother died when Sheets was 8. The young chef's specialties were fried potatoes, tomato soup and corn bread.
In 1937, the 17-year-old farm girl moved to Los Angeles, where she worked in a dress shop and at a Thrifty Drug Store and danced her evenings away at the Palomar Ballroom. Lura Price met John South in a typing class, and in 1941, they got married.
That same year, the newlywed got a wartime job as a
"It was fun, easy work. We stood up while we did it, but it seems like we were constantly taking breaks," said Sheets, who lost her first husband in 1980 and became a widow a second time when Merle Sheets died in 2002. "I would say my hardest job was working at Thrifty. If you didn't take in at least $100 a day, you were not a good salesperson."
For Sheets, shell-inspecting was a great job whose perks also included the permission to wear pants. For Donaldson, however, the chance discovery last year that his spry friend was a pioneer and a patriot was a bolt from the historic blue yonder. And he was not about to keep it to himself.
"She is just so low key, she thinks I'm crazy," said Donaldson, a Vietnam veteran who lives in a caretaker's apartment attached to Sheets' low-slung house. "But I said, 'By doing what you did, you freed up a man to go to the front lines.' When she first started to dig all this (memorabilia) out of boxes, I said, 'Lura, you have to write a book.' "
Sensing that was probably never going to happen, Donaldson had to settle for sharing the news with the people behind "Bomb Girls," the show that got Sheets talking about her World War II past in the first place.
"This was a unique part of the war effort, and maybe she can tell us what it was really like," said Reelz executive producer Steve Holzer, who arrived at Sheet's house from Los Angeles with a three-person crew and on-camera host Viviana Vigil. "Her story will help us remember a time we should never forget."
If it were up to the former bomb girl, this would probably just be one of the many things she has done over the years to keep herself occupied. Like volunteering with the
But some stories are just too big to shrug off, so with the members of the young camera crew towering over her and the statuesque Vigil asking a flurry of questions, Sheets did her best to bring history to life.
She remembers being nervous on her first day on the inspection line, but being thrilled about the relaxed dress code. She remembers a lack of cat-fighting drama and a surplus of camaraderie. She remembers that on the day the war ended, she and her husband celebrated with a drink in a bar.
"I wasn't a drinking girl in those days," said Sheets, who now indulges in a daily cocktail of Black Velvet whiskey and water. "But we were celebrating."
Because it was a long time ago in a lifetime far away, Sheets stories are neither long nor extravagantly detailed. But when Holzer asked her to end the interview with a Hollywood flourish, Sheets stepped up like the trouper she was and always will be.
"My name is Lura Sheets," she said, her bright eyes twinkling into the camera "And I'm a real-life bomb girl."


text:
No trace of Sandy Hook Elementary School will be left
Demolition crews: Taking steps to ensure no trace of shooting scene remains
NEWTOWN -- The public can't see the demolition of Sandy Hook Elementary School. The school is hidden behind a fence.
But the sounds of dismantling go on all day.
The scene where 20 children and six educators were gunned down nearly a year ago is disappearing. Within two weeks, a vacant lot will be in its place.
"I would have loved to have a ceremony thanking the Sandy Hook School for all the years of service it's given to the town," First Selectman Patricia Llodra said Tuesday. "But that would have been a national event, reminding people all over again of what happened on Dec. 14."
Everything that must be removed from the site, structural steel and hazardous building materials containing substances like asbestos or polychlorinated biphenyl, will be catalogued and trucked away, Robert Mitchell, chairman of the Public Building and Site Commission, said Tuesday.
All other materials, mortar, bricks, concrete, will be fed into a on-site crusher by Bestech Inc., the company doing the demolition. It will be reduced to crushed stone and used to provide foundation material when the town starts building the new school.
Mitchell said the town is doing this, in part, because it's an environmentally sound practice. Rather than trucking demolition material to a landfill, it makes sense to reuse it for a new building.
"If you want to have a sustainable building, this is one of the things you do," Mitchell said.
But Llodra said other factors were involved in choosing to pulverize the building's remains: to ensure no one ever has a souvenir of the building, not even a brick or a doorknob. Many people have asked the town for such a keepsake, Llodra said, but officials decided against it.
"We thought that would be inappropriate," she said.
The district plans to save scant few mementos: casts of dinosaur tracks from the front yard and a flagpole.
At the same time, using the materials from the old school to prepare the site for the new school expresses a continuity the town needs, even if it's not visible.
For that reason, Llodra said, the ashes and ground-up material from town disposal of the innumerable memorial objects people left in town for the victims of the shooting: flowers, stuffed animals, signs, food, angels, will be added to the new school site.
"It really connects the past, present and future in a very real way," Llodra said.
To make sure nothing finds its way into the hands of a collector, the town is taking extra steps to track every piece of building material that leaves the site. It will have a manifest of every piece of steel and a guarantee that it will be taken to a foundry and smelted.
All hazardous materials will be taken to a disposal site and buried.
Mitchell said this is part of an ordinary demolition process; the steel is taken to a smelter, the hazardous materials to a disposal site. For the Sandy Hook school, he said, the town is taking extra care to track the material and make sure none ever strays from its final destination.
This extra care reflects the complicated nature of the town's emotions concerning Sandy Hook: It wants to honor the school's past. It cannot forget what happened on Dec. 14. It is building a new school in its place.
However, it is moving forward with minimal public fuss.
For Villa Restaurant owner Vito Kala, it's necessary, a chance for "a fresh start."
"It's sad that it happened, but we have to go on," Kala said.
One Crestwood Drive neighbor, who asked not to be identified, said he isn't bothered by the demolition and commended police for making certain that his small street has not been overrun by media or those wishing to have a last look at the site.
"I'm just going with the flow," the man said .
firstname.lastname@example.com; 203-731-3345


text:
The Space Shuttle—a wonder of American innovation. Except now the program is dead, and these behemoths are no longer making treks into the great unknown. But that doesn't make the sight of them any less awe-inspiring.
Yesterday we got a first look at Space Shuttle Enterprise, which has made its near-final landing at the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum in New York City. It opened up to the public yesterday afternoon, so now you can glimpse the giant yourself, too. This ship—NASA's first—never actually made it into space. However, in 1977 it embarked on important tests around the earth's atmosphere, thus paving the way for successors like Columbia in 1981. Seeing Enterprise up close was amazing, and the entire beast couldn't even fit into a single shot. Check it out above.
Video by Michael Hession


text:
I've put in a few changes to the online league site to provide for the forthcoming Individual League.
People can update their status under "Update account" to indicate that they want to play in the Individual League. At the moment they'll just get plonked into the one and only division - we'll decide how the league is structured when we see how many people want to be included.
Please can everyone who reads this and who wants to join the league indicate this as soon as possible. Your entry won't be set in stone and you can change your mind later if you want to. However, we would like to be able to estimate the approximate numbers to make sure the format of the league is most appropriate, so please roll up.
If you don't currently have an account on the league, there is a new entry on the menu for getting one, so please come along and nose around and register yourself.
Do note that the individual league lets you play as many or as few games as you like, but more credit will be given in the rankings to "valiant losers" than people who don't play at all!
Please see the link on the league website for some important announcements regarding the league schedules and other matters.
John Collins


text:
Only a short time ago, we had to wait over a year for a major new release of any web browser. Often longer. There was a huge gap between Firefox 3 and Firefox 4, with many alphas, betas and numerous release candidates. That was before Google changed the game with Chrome, with rapid releases, quickly switching between stable, beta, dev and Canary.
Recently, Mozilla decided to change the way they would release a new version of Firefox, somewhat mimicking the Chrome release schedule. You can now download a stable version of Firefox, currently v7, while v8 beta, v9 Aurora and even v10 of Nightly, Firefox's canary build, will also be available to try for adventurous users.
On the surface, there's little to differentiate Firefox 7 from previous releases, but nothing could be further from the truth. You'll instantly notice how quickly it starts, the speed at which web pages appear on the page and how more responsive it generally feels. This is all down to major changes to the way the program's memory management is handled.
Previous versions were rather wasteful when it came to resource management, but version 7 changes all of that, reducing memory usage by up to 50 per cent and promising an end to the memory leaks that saw the program's memory consumption increase, even when the program was left idling in the background.
You no longer need to shut down and restart Firefox to free up memory either - simply reducing the number of open tabs will have the desired effect, thanks to a more aggressive Javascript garbage collector. Windows users will also benefit from improved graphics performance on compatible pages with a new component called Azure.
Other changes include dropping http:// from the awesome bar and painting the sub-domain element of a URL in lighter grey, while Firefox Sync has been tweaked to process password and bookmark changes that bit quicker.
The changes may not be immediately obvious, but vastly improved performance makes Firefox 7 both an essential update and worth revisiting if you're frustrated with your current browser.