text:
IN PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPING, MULTI-TASKING IS the name of the game. It's a facet of the job that keeps things interesting . . . and challenging. Today's multi-use loading, lifting and excavating equipment makes the job much easier. But deciding which equipment is right for your company can be daunting.
Compact tractors, skid steers, track loaders and compact utility loaders can all be used to perform similar work. They all allow you to tackle many different functions using a single power source. But each has its own advantages and limitations, depending on the kind of work you do and where you do it. While many landscape contractors own and operate all of these types of equipment, this isn't a realistic option for everyone. Ironically, most of the research you need to do before making equipment decisions isn't about the equipment itself. It's actually about your own company.
You'll need to evaluate the jobs you're doing now and those you want to tackle in the near future. You'll want to pay close attention to the kinds of terrain you work in and the access issues you encounter. You'll need to consider the people who operate your equipment and their needs for training, safety and comfort. And you'll need to examine just how each piece of equipment will generate income and pay for itself. These are just a few considerations that can turn your purchases into smart business decisions.
Tough tractors
Today's tractors come in all sizes. With the number of attachments and implements available, many compact models are well-suited to professional landscaping. Front end loaders and backhoes, mowers and brush cutters, box blades, tillers and seeders are just a few of the tools that can customize a compact tractor to the needs of almost any landscape business.
"It's one of the most versatile pieces of equipment available," says Ron Perrish, market development manager for Kioti Tractor, Wendell, North Carolina. "With the same piece of equipment, you're doing everything from initial site prep to cutting the grass when it comes up."
Many tractor owners appreciate the ability to carry more than one attachment at a time, so they can perform two functions without stopping to change attachments. "For example, with a bucket in the front and box blade in back, a single operator can haul in fill material and grade it right away without switching attachments," says Bryan Zent, marketing manager for Bobcat, West Fargo, North Dakota. A tractor equipped with a front loader and backhoe can be an especially economical package for the small contractor, according to Keith Rohrbacker, construction equipment product manager, for Kubota Tractor Corporation, Torrance, California.
"Often, when landscapers are starting out, they don't have a whole crew or a lot of funds," says Rohrbacker. "A compact tractor is really three machines in one. With this machine and one operator, they'll have a loader, a backhoe and the ability to use the 3-point hitch in one complete package. When it's delivered, they're ready to go to work." Michael Burke, owner of MZJ Land Maintenance, purchased a compact tractor to start his small Keene, New Hampshire company. He uses it to perform a variety of tasks for his primarily residential clients and appreciates the access offered by the Kioti model he chose. "For example, when I'm mowing fields, I can get right up to the trees and under branches."
Skid steers and compact track loaders
Skid steers are another popular multi-tasking option for the landscaping industry. These pack a lot of power and versatility into a compact, maneuverable package. Their size, agility and the multitude of available attachments make them machines many contractors wouldn't be without.
Some jobs call for tighter turns than a tractor, even a small one, can accomplish. "One of the biggest advantages you get with a skid steer over a compact tractor is its high maneuverability, due to the fact that it can turn on itself," says Zent.
This is an important asset for Bruce Allentuck, owner of Allentuck Landscaping in Clarksberg, Maryland, whose company serves both commercial and residential clients, often in confined areas. "We like them for their versatility and size," says Allentuck. "They're compact enough to operate in the tight spaces we encounter." When deciding between a tractor and a skid steer, it's important to consider the spaces you work in most often. If you're frequently moving materials long distances on a jobsite, you might be able to move more quickly and comfortably on a tractor because of its longer wheelbase. But in a confined space, a skid steer will move faster because it can turn faster.
Zent points out that skid steers are not as intuitive to operate as tractors. While this won't slow you down in the long run, you may need to factor in a learning curve. Also, because they skid to turn, they can be harder on a finished lawn. Where turf protection is a concern, all-wheel steer loaders are another option. These can be operated in either all-wheel-steer or skid-steer mode, depending on the conditions. An operator can use skid steer mode where space is tight and switch to all-wheel-steer when there's more room and where it's important to minimize turf damage. A compact track loader is another machine designed to handle tough terrain while being gentler on turf. Its operation is similar to a wheeled skid steer, but with more pushing power. Because its tracks distribute the weight, it's easier on existing landscaping.
"With a track loader you get a lot more flotation," says Jim Hughes, brand marketing manager for Case Construction Equipment, Racine, Wisconsin. "It's especially useful in existing construction because there will be less ground disturbance. But it's also important for new construction because it allows you to access a site even during muddy seasons." That additional access can mean a lot. "A landscape contractor recently told me he purchased a compact track loader to enhance his fleet and was able to complete four more jobs because of it. He was able to get it in during March in wet weather and those four jobs paid for the machine."
From compact to mini
For even more access and maneuverability in tight spaces many contractors are turning to the "mini" genre of compact utility loaders or mini skid steers. These stand-on or walk-behind units are showing up in residential yards and other tight spaces everywhere. While they don't have the power of a standard-sized skid steer or compact tractor, they can often zip through the garden gate and other places where the big guys can't. Neil Borenstein, senior marketing manager for The Toro Company, Bloomington, Minnesota, says access and damage control are key. "Once you determine what kind of digging, excavating, grading and material handling you'll be using the equipment for, you'll need to think about the access you'll have. You'll also want to think about what kind of ancillary damage you may do with your equipment and the repair costs you'll need to add into your bids. Compact utility loaders can get into very tight areas. And tracked loaders will do the least amount of damage to a landscaped area."
Decisions should depend on the scope of the work involved, says Lisa McCarley, inside sales manager for Boxer Equipment, a division of Compact Power Inc., Fort Mill, South Carolina. When moving large amounts of material on a large lot, a large machine will get the job done faster. But a compact utility loader, or mini skid, is more efficient when working in tight construction or in residential areas where multiple attachments may be needed.
Borenstein points out that the ability to move more material in one load doesn't necessarily mean greater efficiency. "Sometimes people will bring in a big machine and make fewer trips but will damage the turf and won't be able to place material exactly where they need it. With a smaller machine, you may have more trips but you can put it where you need it and do less damage." These are some of the reasons that went into Allentuck's decision to add two Toro Dingos to his fleet. "We use these on most of our residential jobsites," he says. "We got them because they save labor. With a trencher attachment, for example, they're a great way to put drain lines in a yard, versus having three or four people dig the trench."
For many, the economics of a compact utility loader are very attractive. "For the price of a tractor or skid steer and a few attachments, a contractor could purchase a full compact utility loader with a system trailer and attachments," says McCarley. "Now he will be able to do multiple tasks and rent larger equipment when there are larger jobs to be tackled." Getting the equipment to the jobsite is another advantage. On one system trailer, you could load equipment to tear out concrete, trench for irrigation, prep the lawn for sod, lay sod, install fence posts, auger holes for trees and shrubs, carry materials around the yard and more.
Visibility and operator access to the machine should also be considered. "With a compact utility loader, the operator is standing on a rear platform so he can easily change out attachments to handle multiple tasks," says McCarley. "He can also see the performance of the equipment and 360 degrees around the unit for safety." Borenstein says this easy-on/easy-off access can significantly cut down on labor. "With a skid steer, you generally need two people—one to operate the equipment and one to do what needs to be done with materials. With a compact utility loader, you generally only need one because it's easy to hop on and off to do the raking or place materials, etc."
The right stuff
When deciding which type of machine or which model will work best for your company, it makes sense to start with the attachments you want to use and the specific duties you need to perform. What lift capacity do you need? What kind of reach will you require? For a backhoe, what digging depth will you need? What other attachments and implements do you want to use? Does the machine you're considering have the PTO hp or the hydraulic flow capability needed to operate these attachments?
Don't just consider your minimum requirements. Your machine might be able to handle the job, but can it handle it efficiently? "You don't want to limit yourself," says Hughes. "You want to get into a machine that will allow you to do your jobs profitably, not just get by." Allentuck suggests thinking ahead a bit when evaluating the power and lifting capacity you'll need. "The first skid steer I bought wasn't powerful enough to unload full palettes of wet mulch or palettes of stone. We had to up the size so we could handle that."
But upsizing too much doesn't pay either. "If you think you need a 30hp tractor and you have the ability to buy one that's 35hp or more, you're probably going to do better," says Perrish. "But don't overkill. Don't buy a 90hp to do a 20hp job. You won't be using that investment."
Borenstein agrees. "Contractors often buy the biggest piece of equipment they can afford or can put on a truck. The thought process is that they're going to need it sometime. But it's a mistake to buy a product for exceptions rather than the routine. The way to handle exceptions is to rent. A lot of rental companies offer delivery and you can add the rental price into your bid."
No matter what machine you buy, chances are you'll find many uses for it. But taking time to research your own company as well as the equipment you're considering will help ensure your purchase is a profitable one.


text:
I'm not really here. I'm supposed to be getting ready for my trip, and so this is not really a blog at all. But I had to tell you of my red duchess. So this one is really for the horse people. The rest of you, just carry on as you were.
Yesterday was one of our worst days. Everything was out of kilter. We were like a scratchy old married couple, sniping and misunderstanding and missing the point. I actually felt properly cross with her, which happens about once every six months, as well as livid with myself. All hopeless and feckless and pointless. Into the garden to eat worms.
I never quite know how these things happen, although they always occur when I am getting cocky. I wonder if the cockiness transmits itself to the mare, and she does not like it. She is a very sensitive person, and although she has grown mightily in confidence, she is not a swaggery, sanguine sort. She feels things keenly. Because of this, she craves steadiness and consistency and calm. I wonder if the cocksure alarms her in some profound way.
My rule is that I leave all the personal stuff at the gate, as if I am carting it about in a great suitcase. My frets and worries are not her business. My job is to make her feel safe. But sometimes one can be carrying a little attaché case that one is not even aware of. I thought I was pretty fine and getting on with it yesterday, but I see now that I had some fairly gnarly tensions and furies twisted up inside. It is perfectly possible that my clever girl felt those, and was responding to them.
Today, the sun shone, and my demons had gone back into their cave. I had stopped lashing myself about yesterday's debacle and went out with the intention of doing some lovely, slow, basic groundwork. Everything would be the kindest and sweetest and smallest of steps. I would concentrate on softness and feel.
And there she was, my gentle, saintly girl, back again. The crosspatch of the day before had vanished. We did a lovely free-school of such elegance and grace that I tried to make snapshots of it with my mind, so I could remember it always. Her dear ear flicked towards me, waiting to see what I would ask of her next.
That was the plan: do the fundamentals on the ground, and re-establish the harmony between us, and finish. But my friend the Horse Talker was up on her sweet Paint, and I thought, well, perhaps just a little ride. Just a nice extended walk, nothing more. The most important thing after a bad day is not to ask too much.
Round the field the two companions went, their ears pricked in the balmy sunshine.
'Shall we go round the block?' said the Horse Talker.
Bugger it, I thought. Stupid to waste a glorious morning.
Off we went, into the wide open spaces. Everyone was happy. The mare was all ease and lightness.
Up at the road, the girls observed the traffic. The road is our traditional stopping point. We are incredibly lucky to have plenty of fields to play about in. There is no call to go out on the public highway, where crazy people in vans might drive up our arse. (I have no idea why I think they might do this. Despite my attempts to eschew irrational thinking, I sometimes have a tendency to catastrophise.)
'Oh, come on,' I said, on a wild whim. 'Let's go out.'
The ex-racehorse and the novice Paint, who was only backed last year, both in their rope halters, walked out as calmly and politely as if they had been riding the roads of Scotland since birth. Huge lorries did pass by, although the kind drivers slowed with great care and courtesy. No rogue vans appeared. The girls did not bat an eyelid. Into the back lanes of the village we went, past barking dogs, random humans, and excellent building men constructing a whole house. Not so much as a flinch or a twitch.
To get back into the woods, we had to slide through a narrow gap between an old iron gate and a stone wall. It was so narrow that I had to lift my legs out of the stirrups. The mare did not pause, but kept a true line.
At that point I was so delirious that I dropped the reins and steered her gently with my body, waving my arms in the air as I sketched for the Horse Talker the full magnificence of the red mare and the mysteries of the equine mind. Red stretched out her neck and lengthened her stride, her body athletic and rhythmic under me.
As we got back to the field, one final test awaited. A vast oil truck was delivering its load of heating fuel. To get to the gate, we had to pass right next to it, as it was virtually jammed up against a tree. The space was perhaps three feet wide. It was a huge article, humming and grinding and shuddering away as it pumped its oil out.
Again, neither horse looked twice.
You may imagine the festival of pride and congratulation. You may imagine the kisses and hugs and strokes. I thought my heart would burst.
How can it go from dislocation and despair to harmony and communion, in 24 short hours? A long field discussion ensued, as we tested out various theories, covering everything from the jagged human mind to a spring-fit horse to a bad sleep interrupted by screeching owls.
I quite favour the notion that the dressage squirrels came in the night, and that was what made the difference.
I said to someone today: 'The red mare not only teaches me about horsing, she teaches me about life.'
Today she taught me never to give up, that things are never as bad as they seem, that tomorrow really is another day. She taught me to return always to fundamentals, to have faith, to be kind and patient.
She also offered me a great gift. She did not get my best self, yesterday. Mostly, she brings out my better angels, but yesterday I fear she saw a glimpse of my darker demons. What she did today was so generous and moving that I feel tearfully humble, even thinking of it. She forgave me. She did not hold it against me. She took all her trust, in her dear hooves, and presented it to me, believing that I would keep her safe from the great lorries and the construction men and the barking dogs and the honking oil truck. It was if she was saying: well, you may not be a perfect person, but you are still my person. I still believe in you.
It seems curious that a flight animal, who has no concept of abstract thought or philosophy or psychology, can give a flawed human back a sense of self. But that is what she did.
Well, her, and the dressage squirrels, of course.
The glorious pair, relaxing after their morning of triumph:

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Light and flaky crusts, the foundation of perfect pies, are within your reach with the help of chef and pie expert Evan Kleiman.
The perfect pie crust is something of a work of art, not only visually but also technically. With Evan's instruction, you will gain the skills necessary to conquer crust, the foundation for making luscious fruit pies or hearty savory pies. Evan also shares her decorating techniques, including crimping, creating appliqués and building beautiful lattice crusts. Straightforward instruction and Evan's encouragement will make mastering this technique easy as pie!
If you're not delighted with your Bluprint experience, we'll make it right or give you a full refund.


text:
Western blot analysis of extracts from C2C12 and COS-7 cells using Akt1 (C73H10) Rabbit mAb (Biotinylated) (upper) and β-Actin (13E5) Rabbit mAb #4970 (lower).
|Product #
|100 µl
|H M R Mk
|MW (kDa)
|Rabbit IgG
Product Information
This Cell Signaling Technology antibody is conjugated to biotin under optimal conditions. The biotinylated antibody is expected to exhibit the same species cross-reactivity as the unconjugated Akt1 (C73H10) Rabbit mAb #2938.
|Western Blotting
Supplied in 136 mM NaCl, 2.6 mM KCI, 12 mM sodium phosphate (pH 7.4) dibasic, 2 mg/ml BSA, and 50% glycerol. Store at –20°C. Do not aliquot the antibody.
For western blots, incubate membrane with diluted primary antibody in 5% w/v BSA, 1X TBS, 0.1% Tween® 20 at 4°C with gentle shaking, overnight.
NOTE: Please refer to primary antibody datasheet or product webpage for recommended antibody dilution.
NOTE: Prepare solutions with reverse osmosis deionized (RODI) or equivalent grade water.
Load 20 µl onto SDS-PAGE gel (10 cm x 10 cm).
NOTE: Loading of prestained molecular weight markers (#13953, 10 µl/lane) to verify electrotransfer and biotinylated protein ladder (#7727, 10 µl/lane) to determine molecular weights are recommended.
NOTE: Volumes are for 10 cm x 10 cm (100 cm2) of membrane; for different sized membranes, adjust volumes accordingly.
Do not add Anti-biotin, HRP-linked Antibody for detection of biotinylated protein markers. There is no need. The Streptavidin-HRP will also visualize the biotinylated markers.
* Avoid repeated exposure to skin.
posted June 2005
revised November 2013
Reprobing of an existing membrane is a convenient means to immunoblot for multiple proteins independently when only a limited amount of sample is available. It should be noted that for the best possible results a fresh blot is always recommended. Reprobing can be a valuable method but with each reprobing of a blot there is potential for increased background signal. Additionally, it is recommended that you verify the removal of the first antibody complex prior to reprobing so that signal attributed to binding of the new antibody is not leftover signal from the first immunoblotting experiment. This can be done by re-exposing the blot to ECL reagents and making sure there is no signal prior to adding the next primary antibody.
NOTE: Prepare solutions with reverse osmosis deionized (RODI) or equivalently purified water.
posted June 2005
revised June 2016
Protocol Id: 266
Akt1 (C73H10) Rabbit mAb (Biotinylated) detects endogenous levels of total Akt1 protein. This antibody does not cross-react with Akt2 or Akt3.Species Reactivity:
Human, Mouse, Rat, Monkey
Monoclonal antibody is produced by immunizing animals with a synthetic peptide surrounding Leu110 of human Akt1 protein.
Akt, also referred to as PKB or Rac, plays a critical role in controlling survival and apoptosis (1-3). This protein kinase is activated by insulin and various growth and survival factors to function in a wortmannin-sensitive pathway involving PI3 kinase (2,3). Akt is activated by phospholipid binding and activation loop phosphorylation at Thr308 by PDK1 (4) and by phosphorylation within the carboxy terminus at Ser473. The previously elusive PDK2 responsible for phosphorylation of Akt at Ser473 has been identified as mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in a rapamycin-insensitive complex with rictor and Sin1 (5,6). Akt promotes cell survival by inhibiting apoptosis through phosphorylation and inactivation of several targets, including Bad (7), forkhead transcription factors (8), c-Raf (9), and caspase-9. PTEN phosphatase is a major negative regulator of the PI3 kinase/Akt signaling pathway (10). LY294002 is a specific PI3 kinase inhibitor (11). Another essential Akt function is the regulation of glycogen synthesis through phosphorylation and inactivation of GSK-3α and β (12,13). Akt may also play a role in insulin stimulation of glucose transport (12). In addition to its role in survival and glycogen synthesis, Akt is involved in cell cycle regulation by preventing GSK-3β-mediated phosphorylation and degradation of cyclin D1 (14) and by negatively regulating the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors p27 Kip1 (15) and p21 Waf1/Cip1 (16). Akt also plays a critical role in cell growth by directly phosphorylating mTOR in a rapamycin-sensitive complex containing raptor (17). More importantly, Akt phosphorylates and inactivates tuberin (TSC2), an inhibitor of mTOR within the mTOR-raptor complex (18,19).
Explore pathways + proteins related to this product.
UniProt ID: P31749
Entrez-Gene Id: 207
Cell Signaling Technology is a trademark of Cell Signaling Technology, Inc.
Tween is a registered trademark of ICI Americas, Inc.


text:
BALTIMORE – UMBC senior hitter Ali Goc (Oshawa, Ontario/R.S. McLaughlin) notched a career-high 18 kills and completed the double-double with 13 digs as the UMBC volleyball team earned a hard-fought five-set victory (22-25, 25-10, 18-25, 25-14, 15-12) against local rival Loyola (Md.), Saturday afternoon at Reitz Arena during the Radisson Cross Keys Greyhound Challenge.
In the second match of the day, junior Hannah Schmidt (Catonsville, Md./Mount de Sales) led the Retriever attack with 16 kills as UMBC swept LaSalle in three sets (25-6, 25-17, 25-15). Schmidt earned the double-double with a team-best 12 digs.
"I'm really pleased with our performance overall this weekend," said head coach Ian Blanchard. "The five-setter against Delaware last night could have gone either way, but the good thing is that some of the areas we talked about were the keys to our victory against Loyola.
"Before the LaSalle match I was concerned about a letdown, but the team really raised its game to another level and got another victory."
Against the Greyhounds, freshman libero Casey Griffith (King of Prussia, Pa./Upper Merion) matched her career-high with 25 digs for UMBC (3-4), while senior setter Mallory McIntyre (Winnipeg, Manitoba/St. Mary's) set a season-best with 43 assists. Griffith then picked up ten digs against LaSalle and McIntyre added 31 assists.
"Casey Griffith continues to prove that she'll be one of the best liberos in our conference," said Blanchard. "Both as a leader and her play on the court prove what she means to our team."
Faye Lukas and Jac Bullock paced Loyola (Md.) (2-4) with 14 kills each and Lauren Anderson dished out 44 assists and scooped up 13 digs.
In the opening set, the hosts took the early advantage by winning four of the first five points and then built a five-point lead at 8-3. UMBC came back though, and chipped away, knotting the frame up at 12-12 on a Greyhound attack error. The teams went back-and-forth until at 17-17 Loyola won three straight, and then held off the Retriever charge for a 25-22 set win.
The Retrievers turned the tables in the second period, running off five consecutive points twice to build a 10-2 lead. After Loyola scored four straight, UMBC answered with a 5-0 run capped by a McIntyre ace. The Hounds never won consecutive points again as the Retrievers ran away with a 25-10 set win heading to halftime.
The even play returned in the third set in the early going until the visitors ran off two 3-0 runs to create an 11-7 advantage. Loyola kept it close, however, eventually leveling the set at 14-14 on one of 14 kills by Faye Lukas. The Greyhounds used it as a springboard for an 8-2 run to build 22-16 lead and did not look back, winning the set 25-18.
The teams could not separate themselves in the early stages of the fourth, but then trailing 9-8, UMBC all but put the set away with an 11-0 run fueled by five Goc put-aways. The Retrievers then salted the frame away and forced a fifth set as an attack error gave the visitors the set, 25-14.
"Ali Goc really put the team on her back this weekend," Blanchard said. "Emotionally and physically she carried us and really stepped up her game."
The fifth set personified the match as neither UMBC nor Loyola could pull away early. The Greyhounds won two straight after an 8-8 tie, prompting a Retriever timeout. Following the stoppage in play, UMBC came out gunning and took seven of the final nine points, the last on a kill from Schmidt to complete to win, 15-12.
Against the LaSalle, UMBC built on the earlier match, outhitting the Explorers .364-.059 and picking up more digs 53-38.
The Retrievers took ownership of the match right away against LaSalle, using a 9-0 to turn a 4-2 advantage into a 13-2 cushion. Following an Explorer point, the Black and Gold claimed 12 of the next 16 points for a quick 25-6 first set win.
LaSalle put up a fight in the second stanza, winning five consecutive points to gain a 13-12 lead. An 11-0 run, powered by four Schmidt kills, restored UMBC's lead and the Retrievers won going away, 25-17.
In the third, UMBC won the opening ten points of the set and never let LaSalle get into it. Three straight Explorer points cut the lead to eight at 17-9, but a Schmidt kill cut the rally short and the Retrievers closed out the match with a 25-15 win.
UMBC now returns home to host beltway rival Towson on Tuesday, Sept. 10. The match at the RAC Arena is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start.
- UMBC improves to 46-14-1 all-time vs. Loyola (Md.). The Retrievers have now won back-to-back matches in the series after the Greyhounds won the matchup in 2010.
- Each of the last five meetings between the schools has come during tournament play.
- Goc's 18 kills vs. Loyola bests her previous high of 17 which she set against Brown on Sept. 11, 2010.
- The Retrievers have now won six straight vs. LaSalle to take a 12-6 lead in the all-time series.


text:
Greetings unto the Empire of Chivalry and Steel
I, Chris Stuckey, known throughout the Empire as Gerrit Kendel, do hereby announce my intent to take the role of Vice President of the Board of Directors. I have previously served on the BoD as an interim secretary. I am currently reigning as the King of Galandor, and have also held leadership on the Territorial level as Marquis of Solaris. I am a Knight Artisan, Knight Minister, and Knight Champion. In my professional career I have worked for several employers where I was either the lead of a team, or was on a special assignment team where it was required to work closely with my peers in order to bring projects into fruition. I wish to take on this role not only for my qualifications, but also because of my desire to see this organization continue to grow and strengthen.
Thank you for your consideration.
Chris Stuckey
King Gerrit II, KC, KMn, KA


text:
Their focus is on the dead, but their tweets are quite lively. For this week's Follow Friday recommendations, I thought I'd highlight those who specialize in cemeteries — news surrounding them and their preservation.
Some may find it creepy that there are those of us who enjoy wandering around graveyards, but every stone tells a story and beneath each marker lies someone's ancestor. They should not be forgotten.
Follow CemeteryMan101 for the latest news involving cemeteries across the country and the world. From preservation to management to history, he scours the news for reports on burial grounds.
Follow jackrobinson181 to learn about his latest forays into cemetery preservation, especially African-American burial sites. His mission is very worthwhile and his posts are always interesting, often with photos and/or movies accompanying them.
Follow southerngraves for interesting posts on a variety of cemetery-related topics from the U.S. South, including recommended reading and history. Bonus points for being a scrapbooker too!
Follow fairangels for updates on the Online Searchable Death Indexes (his creation) and some beautiful photography, along with other links of interest to genealogists/historians.
Finally, visit Cemetery Curiosities for a unique view on graveyards, specifically those mementos left behind by friends and relatives at the gravesites of their loved ones. These artifacts can offer an interesting view on someone's life and their relationships with others.


text:
Crystal Harris is in the doghouse with Hugh Hefner's exes.
Former Hefner gal pals Kendra Wilkinson and Holly Madison are backing up the Playboy mogul in a dispute with his ex-fiancée over who gets to keep their pooch, Us reported.
The canine in question is a shared Cavalier King Charles spaniel that Crystal Harris, 25, had decided Hefner, 85, could keep after she bailed on their union, according to People.
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
Hefner tweeted Tuesday that he'd told Harris she "could keep the engagement ring & Bentley (a wedding gift) if I could have our puppy. But now she wants all three."
That brought this response from Madison to Harris: "Why did you voluntarily give the dog to Hef (who loves him too) after u left, only to ask for him back a few months later?"
Wilkinson piled on, calling Harris "mean mean mean."
"I'm sorry u have to go through this," she tweeted Hefner. "That dog loves u so much. She abandoned him n now she want him back. She's mean mean mean."
Harris has so far left the taunts unanswered.


text:
- About Us
- Contact Us
- Upcoming Events
- Directions
- Our Blog
- Our Current Catalogs
- Crossroads In-store Coupon
- Just Released
- Sale Bestsellers
- Bargains
- Bible Study & Small Group
- Bulk Discounts on Books & Bibles
- Christian Book Award Nominees
- Dove Awards Winners
- Mother's Day
- Father's Day
- New & Bestselling Fiction
- Gifts for Her
- Gifts for Him
- Graduation Day
- Greeting Cards
- Lifeway Resources
- Resources for Love & Hope
- VeggieTales
- Wedding & Marriage
New & Bestselling Jonathan Cahn
To know what the future holds, know what the past is hiding.
Jonathan Cahn, author of the New York Times best sellers The Harbinger, The Mystery of the Shemitah, The Book of Mysteries, and The Paradigm, now unveils The Oracle, in which he opens up the jubilean prophecies that have determined everything from the rise and fall of world empires to two world wars, current events, end-time prophecy, and much more.
- Could an ancient prophecy given in a Middle Eastern desert over three thousand years ago determine the events of our day?
- Could some of the most famous people of modern history and current events be secretly linked to this mystery--even a modern president of the United States?
- Could this ancient revelation pinpoint the events of our time down to the year, month, and date?
- Could a mysterious ordinance manifest on the world stage on an exact timetable determined from ancient times?
- Could these manifestations have altered--and now be altering--the course of world events?
Jonathan Cahn, who caused a national and international stir with the New York Times best seller The Harbinger and then The Mystery of the Shemitah, now brings us a treasure chest, which contains some of the greatest mysteries of all time. The reader will discover life-transforming secrets, mind-blowing realities, and heart-changing revelations in such mysteries as The Face in the Waters, The Leper King, The Land of Gezarah, The Secret of the Third Prince, The House of Spirits, The Mystery of the Rains, How to Alter Your Past, The Second Scroll, The Similitude, The Mystery of the Eighth Day, and much more. The Book of Mysteries takes the readers on a journey of divine revelation through ancient scriptures, the laws of creation, the deep of God's Word, the hidden streams of history, the most important keys of spiritual truth, end-time mysteries, and the secrets of life.
The Book of Mysteries opens up with a traveler and his encounter with a man known only as "the teacher." The teacher takes him on an odyssey through desert mountains, valleys, gardens and plains, encounters with nomadic tent dwellers, caverns and ancient ruins, chambers of scrolls and vessels, and more. The reader is taken along to partake in the journey and in all the teachings and revelations. The traveler keeps a journal, in which he writes down each of the mysteries given to him by the teacher in his one-year odyssey--365 different mysteries--one for each day of the year. Thus, on top of everything else, The Book of Mysteries is also a daily devotional unlike any other. And each mystery contains a special mission for each day of the year, a mission that takes the revelation and applies it to reality for a life-changing journey.
Practically apply the daily mission, Scriptures, and insights from The Book of Mysteries to your life.
Created as a companion to The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Cahn, this prayer journal enhances the reader experience through the amazing mysteries revealed. Record your thoughts and prayers on lined pages that correspond with the 365 mysteries, scriptures, and daily missions shared in the print book with the most important keys of spiritual truth, end-time mysteries, and secrets of life.
The Shemitah occurs every seven years. Has God already given us clues as to what will happen next?The Shemitah (shmee-TA), or Sabbath year, is the seventh year of the seven-year agricultural cycle mandated by the Torah for the land of Israel. Understanding this seven-year pattern is essential for understanding the prophecy and mysteries of the Bible that are still applicable today. In The Mystery of the Shemitah Revised and Updated readers will discover new insight on current events such as:
- How the Great Depression, and other economic events fit into the Shemitah
- How the pattern of sevens predicted 9/11 to the exact hour
- How the World Trade Center was conceived, started, finished, and destroyed in Shemitah years
- How the rise--and possibly the fall--of America can be linked to the year of the Shemitah.
- How stock market crashes in 2015 were linked to the period of nullification at the end of the Shemitah.
- Expands on the key revelations Jonathan Cahn shared in the New York Times best seller The Mystery of the Shemitah.
- Contains updated information with five new chapters that cast new light on the ongoing biblical patterns and cycles.
Go deeper into the meaning and messages of The Harbinger with this DVD that includes background material on the nine prophetic signs, interviews with top Christian leaders, and the "story behind the story" of the New York Times best seller.
This 60-minute documentary DVD is based on The Harbinger and The Harbinger Companion and Study Guide, which define the signs and omens that Israel rebelled against God and how they apply to America today.
Told in three distinctive sections or "acts," The Harbinger Decoded is a fast-paced visual narrative that provides both the "story behind the story" of the million copy-selling book and revealing insights into the harbingers, including how they continue today with the completion of the Freedom Tower and the 2012 election.


text: As we wondered out loud yesterday, many have questioned the disconnect between increasingly burgeoning central bank balance sheets and money printing and the range-bound trading in Gold. It seems the first real hint of why is peeking through as the Economic Times reports the Indian government are growing increasingly concerned at the rate of gold imports. As the India Finance minister stated: "Demand for gold must be moderated... We may be left with no choice but to make it more expensive to import gold. The matter is under government consideration." Gold imports are playing a major part in India's record high current-account deficit (at $20.2bn for the period April to September), down 30.3% YoY thanks to a doubling of the customs duty on standard gold bars (to 4%). It seems the Indian powers-that-be are learning from their US and European leaders that if something is happening in a free-market that threatens the status quo even modestly - crush it with regulation and centrally-planned control. As the article goes on to note, currently, the government is also making efforts to channelise investor money into equities and other financial instruments to reduce demand for the yellow metal.


text:
Once upon a time, 19 years ago, in a faraway land south of Houston Street in Manhattan, seven strangers were brought together in a fancy loft to have their lives taped "to find out what happens when people stop being polite, and start getting real." Coming from disparate backgrounds, these seven young adults examined issues such as race, sexual orientation and other social and cultural differences. The inaugural Real World, Real World: New York, aired in 1992, the year of the Los Angeles Riots, and racial tensions bubbled to the surface in the Real World house, culminating in a heated confrontation between African American cast member Kevin Powell and white southerner Julie Gentry.
Arguably the most memorable season in Real World history was Season 3: Real World San Francisco. HIV positive Pedro Zamora, who had already testified about HIV education before Congress, joined the cast, bringing awareness about HIV and AIDS to a national audience. Shortly after Zamora's death, which occurred a day after the final episode aired, then President Bill Clinton made a televised address giving recognition to Zamora for his contribution to AIDS education.
Then at some point, The Real World stopped being real and started being ridiculous.
Bedroom cameras were installed in Season 11, Real World: Chicago to record hookups, and the main cast member in Season 12, Real World: Las Vegas was the hot tub, who was a gracious host to several rounds of spit swapping, including a bisexual three way whose aim was to titillate, not educate.. By Season 22, there was no attempt to hide that The Real World had become "eight semi nude kids, a hot tub and a lot of tequila." The season was set in the spring break capital of the world, Cancun, with an impeccably beautiful cast, including two Hooters waitresses and a former nude model, willing to get crunk, hook up, and throw fire extinguishers off of hotel balconies.
While The Real World changed focus from earnest social commentary to a beer-soaked party hardy good time, it has always included LGBT cast members and been at the forefront of LGBT visibility in the media, from Norman Korpi in Season 1, Beth Anthony in Season 2 all the way to Preston Roberson-Charles in Season 24. Even though The Real World has waded in the same fetid sewage tank as its juicehead progeny Jersey Shore, it has consistently championed LGBT rights. For example, Danny Roberts brought awareness on the now-defunct "Don't Ask Don't Tell" in Season 9, Katelynn Cusanelli came out as transgender in Season 21, and Mike Manning worked with the HRC in Season 23.
This season continues the tradition and includes two LGBT cast members, lesbian Samantha "Sam" McGinn and bisexual Frank Sweeney. Sam's bio states that she is passionate about gay rights, and just from the first episode it looks like she will be outspoken about her identity as a butch lesbian. It also looks like she will spit a lot of game and possibly get more poonani than any of the guys in the house. Sorry, guys! And Frank? He will have feelings. A lot of them. About everything. Pull out the paper towels and get ready to wipe the floor in the confessional, because Frank is going to cry his way through this season!
Here is the rest of the cast, from the left to the right.
Priscilla, at 19, is the youngest cast member. The Real World is just as old as she is, and someone wearing a suit in TV land finally realized, after all these years that underage drinking is illegal, and she is forbidden to drink on set. This means she will probably be absent from all social activities except to be the designated driver. Priscilla, time to practice pumping gas and parallel parking. Sucks to be you!
Nate is the resident womanizer of the cast. He is the type of guy your mom and Britney Spears warned you about. He also has a nuclear engineering degree, so not only does he split legs, he also splits atoms.
Ashley is the resident blonde. She is also a model. This means she is supposed to be the resident "hot girl."
Zach is the resident hot guy. He looks like an Abercrombie and Fitch model, and he shaves his legs like one too.
The Real World always has a normal cast member to give people hope that the future of this country isn't completely doomed. This time around, the token normal cast member appears to be Alexandra.
The episode opens with Priscilla and her mom in a car. This is probably the only time Priscilla will be in the passenger seat all season. Priscilla asks her mom if she has ever had sex in her room. Priscilla's mom answer she had sex in Priscilla's room while they were living in their old condo. I don't know about you, but thinking about your parents having sex is like thinking about sticking your head under the rump of an elephant with IBS; those things shouldn't happen in this lifetime or the next. My parents never had sex. FedEx sent the stork to Cleveland and dropped me off on the window sill. Priscilla wrinkles her nose, and then her mom asks her whether she's done it in her bed. Priscilla says no, but she has done it on grandma's couch. "Grandma's couch?" asks momma. "Where was grandma?" Filming it to supplement her social security check? Wait, did I just cross a line? Don't go away! For those who haven't thrown up in their mouths, Showtime Networks thought of this concept before I did.
Frank and Ashley meet, and Frank looks like he stepped out of a 1980s VH1 special. He says his look is that of a "Puerto Rican cowboy," but it looks more like Hawaii five DOH! Ashley tells Frank she is a model. "I got into modeling, because I didn't want to step into a formal job," she says.
Next, Zach and Sam meet. Zach says he doesn't know what gender Sam is because it could go either way. Sam rolls in and says "Nice to meet you, bro." Zach reacts with confusion, which, like Zoolander's "blue steel," will be his signature look when it comes to understanding gender expression and sexual orientation.
Nate and Alexandra are the next cast members we meet. Both studied engineering, and Alexandra tells Nate she went to Stanford. "She's smarter 'n me," says Nate.


text:
Saturdays when the Husband works Miss A & I like to hit the yard sales. Sometimes we strike out and end up shopping but sometime we strike gold! Saturday we hit a yard sale and this mirror immediately caught my eye! I was a little bummed when they said it came with a decorative table (I have NO room!) But after I started to walk away they gave me the option to but it for $5 bucks…SCORE! I knew exactly where this mirror belong, in Miss A's room! My little vainy smurff loves to see herself. Actually when we got home and I put it on the floor she ran and grabbed her shoes and was showing them to the cute girl in the mirror. She also ate lunch with the cute girl in the mirror.
Despite possibly creating a monster or never seeing my little girl once this is in her room I continued with my idea. I spray painted it PINK! I thought some fabric flowers would add a little flair to it but once I had them made I couldn't decide on how to arrange them. Then I came upon this arrangement! I ran and grabbed some Mickey brads I had and turned it completely around!Tada! I also came to the conclusions Mirror have to be the hardest thing to photograph!
What do you think? What's your best Yard sale find this year?


text:
Just in Time
For weeks the Hatzalah rescue team in the Orthodox community of Beitar Ilit made an effort to find a donor for an expensive piece of lifesaving equipment known as "Life-Pac". They finally received this valuable machine, which sends electric impulses into the body of someone whose pulse has stopped, thanks to the generosity of a Baltimore Jew. Only eight hours after they held a special ceremony inaugurating its addition to their lifesaving arsenal, a call came for emergency help.
A 50-year old man had suffered heart arrest while riding a bicycle on the road near Beitar. The Hatzalah volunteers were the first to arrive at the scene and one of them began using the Life-Pac in an attempt to achieve resuscitation. Although the first electric shock failed to produce the desired result, a second one restored the pulse and a life was saved by a machine that came just in time.


text: Media Releases › Unilife View All Unilife News Unilife Corporation (ASX:UNS) Unilife to Present at Jeffries Conference 01 Jun 2011 10:45 AM Unilife to Present at the 2011 Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference in New York City York, PA (May 31, 2011) - Unilife Corporation ("Unilife" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: UNIS; ASX: UNS) today announced that it will be presenting at the 2011 Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference in New York City. Alan Shortall, Chief Executive Officer of Unilife, is scheduled to present at 11:30 a.m. ET on Monday, June 6, 2011 (Tuesday, June 7 at 1:30 a.m. AEST). The conference presentation will be broadcast over the Internet as a "live" listen only Webcast. To listen, please go to: http://ir.unilife.com/events.cfm. An archive of the event will also be available for those unable to listen live. About Unilife Corporation Unilife Corporation (NASDAQ:UNIS / ASX: UNS) is a U.S. based developer, manufacturer and supplier of advanced drug delivery systems with state-of-the-art facilities in Pennsylvania. Established in 2002, Unilife works with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies seeking innovative devices for use with their parenteral drugs and vaccines. Unilife has developed a broad, differentiated proprietary portfolio of its own injectable drug delivery products, including the Unifill ® and Unitract ® product lines of safety syringes with automatic, operator controlled needle retraction. Unifill represents the world's first prefilled syringe technology integrating safety within the primary drug container. The products are ideally positioned to help pharmaceutical companies maximize the lifecycle of their injectable drugs and enhance patient care. Unifill syringes, together with other devices that are part of the Unilife technology platform, can either be supplied to pharmaceutical customers ready for use, or customized to address the specific requirements of targeted novel drugs. For more information on Unilife, please visit www.unilife.com This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Our management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made. However, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements because such statements speak only as of the date when made. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. In addition, forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, events and developments to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and those described from time to time in other reports which we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Download this document


text:
Tr:Neverwinter Nights
Installing Neverwinter Nights
Step 1: Buy the game from GoG.com and Download it. Or use your game cd. The install instructions are for the GoG version.
Step 2: Install with wine:
cd ~/Downloads ## path you downloaded to wine setup_nwn_diamond.exe
have it install to your home directory like ~/nwn
Step 3:
Download these 3 files to your home directory (~):
cd ~ wget http://nwdownloads.bioware.com/neverwinternights/linux/gold/nwclientgold.tar.gz wget http://nwdownloads.bioware.com/neverwinternights/linux/161/nwclienthotu.tar.gz wget http://content.bioware.com/neverwinternights/linux/166/English_linuxclient166_xp2.tar.gz
Step 4:
cd ~/nwn mv nwncdkey.ini nwncdkey.bak tar -xzf ~/nwclientgold.tar.gz tar -xzf ~/nwclienthotu.tar.gz tar -xzf ~/English_linuxclient166_xp2.tar.gz ./fixinstall mv nwncdkey.bak nwncdkey.ini
Step 5: Play the game with ./nwn or create a launcher for it in your desktop enviroment. If you use pulseaudio you might have to kill it before you can play if you want sound, then turn it back on when you are done.
Pulseaudio users:
If you find you have no sound...
nano ~/.pulse/client.conf
and add "autospawn = no" without quotes. Then Ctrl+o to save, and ctrl+x to exit.
Make a script to start the game...
nano ~/nwn/launchnwn
You will add these lines to it and save with ctrl+o, and exit with ctrl+x
cd ~/nwn pulseaudio -k ./nwn sleep 2 pulseaudio &
once you save you will need to set the script as executable
chmod +x ~/nwn/launchnwn
Then to run the game you can make a gnome/kde/whatever launcher that points to ~/nwn/launchnwn or run ~/nwn/launchnwn from a terminal


text:
Jimquisition: Fake Nerd Girls
Pages PREV 1 . . . 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 . . . 23 NEXT
That was a pretty cheesy joke, Jim.
To be fair, i think he probably meant that it was that if someones wearing X shirt, you could assume they actually like X, or even something vaguely similar to X. Though not really something to say as a pickup line is it?.. i mean if your already in a conversation, maybe say hey i like your shirt, not come up to a random stranger and say hey i like your shirt lol, hell I'd find it a bit odd if a chick came up to me and said that lol.
Haha agreed! You can't really blame "popular" people if you are socially awkward. I'm a nerd, but I'm not socially awkward. Nothing wrong with being it, just don't make excuses if you happen to come off as weird. That's life.
Clearly I haven't been paying enough attention to gaming media, because I don't really know what he's talking about.
Normally I kind of empathize with the the less popular crowd in these sort of situations, but no. When I heard this was a thing, my reaction was (and still is), just about identical to Jim's here. Grow the fuck up. Good god.
Seriously, way more outrage than this topic deserves. Honestly, far more attention than this deserves.
In answer to your question: My judgement is the only one that matters to me. The same as yours is to you; that's a fact.
Is this the same as all the girls Ive met that wear classic rock band t-shirts and when I ask them "so you like Led Zeppelin?" they reply with "Who?" or "ohh this is a band?"? Because that is annoying. I do love hearing the old "I play angry birds on my iphone, OMG I'm such a nerd now" it makes me laugh. People need to realize that every culture and sub culture has its influx of posers, a lot of people I knew in high school were trying to be urban gangstas or buying Honda civics and putting spoilers and bumblebee mufflers on them when the fast and the furious came out so don't be worried, ignore them and it will pass.
wait... when did that happened? wait... NORMAL-HOT-LOOKING girlz, willing to put up the work, fake their way to get in OUR world? and you fools wants to give them hard time? WTF? our world is expanding, becoming the mainstream, and we are NOT jumping in joy? instead, we rather enjoy it in the dark corner? it's like THE KINGDOM comes today, and gaming is to be the number one hottest thing.. we are actually ditching heaven and embrace hell, so we can play our game, and enjoy it as exclusively in the dark? I donno... I kinda like to see gaming becoming a normal thing... it's officially art, and it's now Movie<Games right? that's why there are game title movies, Movies that FEEL like games, and few(even Disney) movies ABOUT GAMES... Why the hell are we NOT happy about this? We are f*&%ng taking over the world, and yo foos are saying that we DON'T want the world? WTF man!~
Here's how i see it. Modern nerds are somehow becoming attractive to women: possibly because they are often IT or programer guys and have higher earning potential (or something) and women are starting to find them attractive. And they, in tern find women who share their interests attractive thus women have decided that the whole geek girl with glasses and a controller in her hand and a cute character tee is a good way to go.
I thought this was more about TV personalities and the likes, like Olivia Munn using G4 to jumpstart her acting career even though she had no idea what she was doing most of the time and this applies to males too, for instance all the celebrity hosts of events like the "Video Game Awards" when they get people like Adam Sandler or whoever that obviously have no idea what they are talking about in general and are only there because they're "famous".
I read your post before falling asleep so I might not remember it completely here, but it seemed like you indicated that any attractive person can't be a nerd. Now I'd say that is quite insulting and a really broad generalization. It seems like you think that being a nerd ism socially unaccepted and that by being attractive you're automatically accepted. Social skills has nothing to do with it. I might be wrong simply because of the state I am in now and the state I was when I read it though.
However I'm not sure if you are actually talking about girls who go around wearing geeky t-shirts without liking games or girls who play online games where they intentionally use the fact that they have a matching pair of chromosomes to manipulate guys. I am talking about the girls appearing as geeks and I am pretty sure that was what this video was about too. Now of course the kind of manipulation you talk about is bad, but that is something else entirely. Those aren't girls pretending to like games in order to get attention, those are girls pretending to like you in order to get something for free. Honestly I think you are the one who missed the point here.
This blew up quickly
The best example is that tropes vs women thing
you mean, they are hired for a job, to show off boobs, so we wouldn't be able to see how bad the product is?
I think it's about more than fake gamer girls, and this phrase is merely a piece of the fake "im such a nerd lol" puzzle.
I enjoyed Maddox's explanation here:
On the topic of fake gamers it's demeaning of the time someone has invested into their hobby (gaming) for someone else to then come along and claim they are just as much into this hobby as the first person, despite not investing anywhere near a similar effort.
Yes it is rude on gamers parts to assume that just because this person is female and/or attractive, they are not a real gamer, but it is possible the feelings behind such a statement stem from something such as societies changing definitions, and from more than a planned attempt to keep females away from games.
not sure I like his Idea of "being a nerd"
seems too cynical and angry...
The problem with posers is that actual nerds and geeks are still ostracized and treated like crap by "mainstream" society, so it is rather painful to watch people co-opt and dilute the positive identity they have created through being a pariah.
Go figure that people might be upset about that.
Gaming/anime/manga/scifi shows are becoming more popular among the wider culture, but the actual nerds and geeks that created the initial base for those things are not. That is why the typical stereotype is still a fat, basement dwelling, neckbeard or heroin skinny, glasses wearing, bucktoothed, egghead. That is why their is push back and "gate keeping". The pariah knows what they have helped create is accepted or enjoyed, they also know the poser has not accepted the actual nerds/geeks who have helped create it.
Then, as numerous people have pointed out, posers actually do take attention away from the real nerds and geeks. Nerds and geeks, who have worthwhile comments on the culture and it various mediums get passed over for someone who looks hot but contributes nothing worthy of discussion. Yeah, that can be rather irritating.
And make no mistake, male posers are attacked too. Usually a man who is found to be a poser is quickly rousted out if they try to speak for an area of geekdom they are pretending in.
Bull**** you've never seen a guy being accused of being a fake. Guys get called fakes all the time. Guys get called fakes more than girls/women/females. Ever heard the term "Bro" gamer? Or guys being called out on being CoD fratboys? The entirety of the CoD not being real gamers mentality is entirely aimed at males for liking their Total Heterosexual Kill Fest games. The entirety of the PC Gaming Master Race vs Dirty Console Peasants was almost entirely male centric when gender came into it as well, with male gamers being blamed for yet another watered down shooter/reskinned sports game.
It is common, insanely common, for Bro gamers to be dismissed as not real gamers. Just mentioning you like CoD or Halo in some gaming circles will instantly get you thrown out if you are a guy.
And in table top gaming simply liking the wrong RPG system can get you tossed out. Just revealing you are a Brony (Bronie? I always forget the spelling) can get you tossed out of some nerd circles for not being a true Scotsman.
The difference is no one cares when a guy gets called a fake/poser and chased off or isolated; at best disinterested parties call it penis waving, or just lump them into different sub-cultures within geekdom. Another difference is this curious social difference in that guys rarely make being a guy their declared defining trait in the realms of geekdom. They are gamers, nerds, or geeks first, and guys second, sometimes guys third or fourth depending on how specific their set of interests is, if they even think about being male/gender at all.
On top of disinterest in what guys actually face, guys get the double whammy of also being the sexist, misogynist pigs who alternatively only think of bewbs when they see an attractive women, then get accused of Idunnowhat, double reverse misogny, in threads like this for not instantly being accepting of attractive women in geekdom and instead being so audacious as to actually try to establish that it is not an attempted exploitation of the stereotype of nerds and geeks being little better than sex-starved teens.
Being called misogynist, being subject to a form of misandry, and marginalized creates backlack, go figure. Being exposed constantly to the same kind of attitude that made shirts that say "Boys are stupid, throw rocks at them" acceptable, but "Girls are stupid, pull their hair" unacceptable creates a group suspicious of outsiders, go figure. It does not engender feelings of peace and acceptance among nerds and geeks.
Big surprise some guys who are part of a group of men who have largely been viewed as emasculated and ostracized by the larger portion of society might be a bit defensive of their space and therefore suspicious of outsiders trying to exploit them or insult their intelligence. And what guys have to go through in geekdom and mainstream society is largely ignored, or pushed to the side, and this in turn ignores why guys might be suspicious of girls coming into geekdom -or part of a different sphere of geekdom- who are possibly only trying to humiliate, exploit, or marginalize them.
Even look at this debate, look at Jim's video, talking about the suspicion women face, as if no man/boy has ever had to deal with it. Anyone who has witnessed an Edition war knows that guys face the challenge of being authentic all the friggin time, inside geekdom as well as in mainstream society. It is not unique to women.
Even looking like the stereotypical nerd or geek male can still get your credentials double checked because you said you like 4th ed. and were not a fan of 3.5. If you are a gaming geek and dare walk into the realm of table top expect to be put through a ringer of tests to show you can RP or wargame properly, else you be labelled as That Guy.
The entirety of geekdom is built upon the testing of credentials and establishing a sub-culture within the culture. This actually makes sense when examining what a nerd or geek actually is, a person who is obsessively knowledgeable and conscientious about particular interests that are widely looked down upon or misunderstood by mainstream society.
Women are not the only ones who 'suffer' the woes of being accused of not being authentic, but, predictably, women are the only ones whose suffering we care about or bother to notice.
Will no one think of the Bro gamer?
So, what are these obvious things that disqualify one from nerd-hood?
It seems a lot of people in this thread are using overly narrow definitions. Nerds come in all shapes, sizes and types. Someone might be a nerd about physics, who has never read a comic book or played a video game. Some people are nerds about steam trains. Do you think that guy writing his PhD on 18th Century Russian Literature isn't a nerd?
Also, I reject the notion suggested by others that a nerd has to be a social outcast. There are plenty of nerds who have good social skills and are attractive. There are even nerds who are also athletes. Nerdiness is not something that should be judged by appearance. I work with a lot of Professors, and they are some of the nerdiest people you'll ever meet - but they can get as many women as they like, because they are witty conversationalists who can talk all night about any number of fascinating topics you may never have heard of.
I think the most important factor to being a nerd is a curious, inquisitive mind, followed by deep interests and knowledge thereof. But mainly the intellectual curiosity.
I guess what I'm saying is don't judge people based on first impressions, or whether their knowledge matches your particular nerd interests. That "fake nerd girl" that's dismissed because she's just a good-looking casual gamer might also be a brilliant computer programmer, or an archaeologist, or whatever. Most adults who are secure in their nerdy ways usually don't feel the need to constantly prove themselves, or go around waving their resume to prove how smart they are.
Who cares who is the one running the industry? Just cause Scrooge owns it is it suddenly something devoid of meaning?
As for the "fake nerd girl" thing, that's just a variety of the "fake being into x cause it's now cool to be into x" thing. Disdain towards them seems like disdain towards anyone who just now decided that this thing which they made fun of for all their life suddenly is cool and they wanna be part of it, despite how they've behaved towards it in the past.
It's not about having to "prove" yourself or anything silly than that but if people are not being genuine it is prudent to point it out. Of course this is a general thing and not limited to girls or gaming or w/e.
Honestly I think she was but it was kind of clear why she went for the job there and most likely faked some interest in working there. She wasn't exactly a master at it as clearly she was more after one certain guy then attempting to exploit who ever she could get.
Its not a keep girls out sign at all.
Now imagine if when a politician brings up violent video games we didn't all laugh knowing they probably have no idea about them, its been said before by commentators that while ignoring something can make it go away it can't make the ignorance go away hence people will argue a counter point and try to discuss the reality with people.
Imagine it this way, how badly are "Love rats" "tools" "Playa's" looked down upon by many for making guys mostly look terrible ?
this blew up ages ago when someone claimed Felicia Day contributed nothing..................
Oh Dear... yea, if you put it that way it does sound ridiculous, but that is not what it is all about.
I don't care about some girl in a sexy outfit (well.. ok, I do, but for other reasons ;)), but I do care for what happened to the world I helped to build and I was called out for.
But the thing is: it can't be helped, that is the way things are evolving, and we have to live with it, so I guess in the end it's all ok. I am not sad or anything, because now they depend on my knowledge and this it gives me great business opportunities and the likes :). I just want to say, that I do understand how some people feel and why they act like that.
For me personally, it is all over and done for. I don't care much anymore. The Internet now belongs to people who don't even understand what the Internet is or what the word means. We are looking at a generation that thinks their Internet comes from that small icon in the lower or upper light corner of their screen. We are now selling facebook machines for up to a couple of thousand dollars because the case looks so nice. People like Steve Jobs understood how to make money from this wave of ignorance and even though I don't like what he does and what he stands for, I have to give him credit for being such an amusing troll :D.
Hey leave Firefly out of this!
It does not need to be be sullied by this topic. This guy has a point:
I don't think it matters (some) video games are part of pop culture nowadays and therefore will be subverted for fun or money in numerous ways. I think we need to accept it and move on, Okulossos has some good valid points though.
Right because only women deserve being treated nice and fairly. Like little children they need protecting. Lets change everything and force people to behave differently just because a woman might hear something offensive on the Internet while gaming. Honestly, your stance is more offensive than mine. That women NEED to be protected from themselves and others because they can't handle the chance that offensive things might be said.
Mute button works wonders. I wonder why women can't figure out how to use it. I know I learned how to use it about .5 seconds into my first Modern Warfare match. But no, lets change everything, because women are too incompetent to figure out how to use the Y button or (system specific button here). I say, treat women like adults, and have them learn the system before changing it.
Fake gamer girls are trying to change the way people play games and alter the mentality of gamers and publishers so that they can "Feel Safe (tm)." They exploit male gamers by pretending to be interested in their hobbies while at the same time stifling the culture. Lets all be Politically Correct, there might be a female listening! Its demeaning to men and very demeaning to women. Especially the ones that actually play games.
Honestly I see things a little different. I'm fine with people coming into gaming as long as they wipe their feet and are coming to gaming for gaming.
No-one should be keeping people out. More than anything gaming is now getting its own club security happy to throw out those it believes are causing trouble inside.
I don't have a problem with what most people here seem to be claiming, the what IMO should be called 'casual gamer girls'.
What I do have a problem with are the ones that dress up in some retarded way, usually with classes, high pants or other uncool clothing, walk up to you and take a 'selfy' with you and caption it "OMG I'm a nerd LOL".
Sure, that would be fine, but I have not witnessed something like that for years. Most people come in and think that it belongs to them and that they are now personified computer science. This is not working., because the result is a further spread of malware, games rendered unplayable because of a screwed up community and companies supporting only games that make them the kind of money they get from that demographic.
Sadly they do and spoil other games as well.
DEAR GOD, that would be an absolute disaster... well, it is an absolute disaster. People who enjoy to buy the same crappy game year after year are not what i would consider to be a "potential" - it is more some strange sort of complete opposite.
What safe zone? They don't need or have a safe zone - we do.
Yes, I am keeping people out, and that is for the better. Going by what you wrote, you say, that everyone should, for example be able to program an anti-virus software. Well, I am glad that that is not the case!
So no, gaming is not an exclusive club, but is that bad? If you were there at the beginning of it all and played games such as quake when they first came out, you would understand, that online gaming can be something that is different from what we know today. So Yes, it is very bad!
i find some hipsters like that, ever have someone try and brag about their shirt, and them themselves not knowing what on the shirt, "but its cool and rare and you don't know where they got it from" and you respond " that is a triforce shirt, from the legend of zelda, you are not special shirts like that are common"
but back on topic
i find it funny
eh i really don't care if you wanna fake being something to get more popular, a lot of people do it , men a women. from video games to sports to politics, eventually the person gives up unhappy with the results, or the end up liking the thing.
i understand both parties
one side rather not see the thing they enjoy be man handled by another person so they can get popular, especially when its obvious when this one guy said he likes playing call of duty, because master chief is in it, trying to fit into our clique( clique..clique...clique... my mo.). that is the shooter equivalent of calling Mario, sonic. that made me chuckle. that guy is our friend and mess with him about it to this day
and the other asks why even care if they are.
i would argue both sides are wrong and right simultaneously and this is situational, but this is planet earth, we are still learning subtilety
'Pretending to be interested in their hobbies.'
I have been gaming longer that a lot of guys have been alive. If you are insinuating that sexual harassment is intrinsic to 'gaming culture' then I really don't know what to say to you.
People get upset because of actresses pretending?
FYI that's their job, sorry that they're all not nerdy wack jobs like Felicia day. If you want to get mad at somebody over this stupid issue get mad at the tools that hire them and know they actually don't like video games.
oh my..., you are the reason gamers arent taken serious. Listen to the stuff you say...
How about we treat everybody nice and fairly, regardless of gender? I don't recall anybody arguing that this basic standard of etiquette should only be applied to females. It's just the normal consideration of others, expected of people living in a society.
racism isnt to be tolerated and same goes for sexism. The target is no matter, but how often do you find racism against whites? Or sexism against men?
Since when was Quake "at the beginning of it all"? Quake wasn't released until around 50 years into the history of electronic gaming. I played my first videogame over 20 years before the release of Quake.
Fuck you Jim! How do we know you actually like Scribblenaughts?
But seriously, attention seekers piss people off. This is hardly news.
Solvemedia: How about that?
How about that indeed Solve Media... How about that, indeed!
thats just...stupid though
no really..thats really fucking stupid
being bitter over the fact that a so called "poser" (or not) does not have to suffer for their interests, I mean really? look ok being teased and ostrasiced sucks, bullying sucks, highschool sucks I get it
but fo crying out loud thats just persecution complex to taken tot he exteme...
I was never openly into thease things back then, and I only had outside knowelege...it wasn;t untill two years ago I started REALLY gaming and getting into all of this "nerd culture" I've never been persecuted for anything....so am I somhow to blame here?
oh god..where the fuck do I start? I don't want to do this but somtimes I just can;t help but punish myself
Ive heard of her...don;t watch her videos....
unless somone can convice me "tits or GTFO" or "fuck YOU fucking fat slut lololo suk my dick" is somhow essential to the Halo experience I don't see how its such a bad thing
oh god your serious
do you honestly think women factor into AAA games apeal from a marketing perspective? AAA realistic shooters are more of a sausage fest than a sausage factory, its not women..and even then its not JUST women, its more bros and kids than anything if you want to narrow it down
an issue that has different sides, on one hand it seems unessicary and makes the gamer population look bad..on the other is just harmless fun
confronting?....do you call "spastic level 11 of trolling" confronting? trolls arent people...they do not deserve to be ackowledged as such....plus you can't tell me being female (if not is this case others) doesnt attract a certain amount of anomosity..the fact that we are even having this conversation...
the guy was being a fucking creep, it doesnt matter if it "goes on all the time" that level is unacceptible
we are not dictating SHIT freind......if anything we only encourage to be trated well and perhaps add a little variety with some female charachters...which hurts no one,
the fuck does that mean?
*facepalm* does not occur to you that sexism within the gaming comunity might actually exist? its THEM who make things about their genitals in the first place
what the fucking fuck?
are we talking about "fake gamer girls" or are we just talking about "girls who play games" here becuase I get the impression you have a problem with the latter , do "real gamer girls" exist to you?
You think that 'fake nerd girl'-problem is a little thing that a minority of people brought up, but then you see arguments of such guys and you realize, those tards exist...
|Pages PREV 1 . . . 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 . . . 23 NEXT


text:
Those who serve in the Military do a great honor to our country—and as such, they deserve to be honored themselves. One way to honor our veterans is to pay proper respects to them as they pass away, something that may look different from one family to the next. We are available to work with military families to develop memorial services that truly celebrate the life and service of deceased veterans—whether that means a full military service or an intimate family gathering.
Military services are not just significant ways to honor our nation's heroes—there are other benefits, as well:
Hillcrest Memorial Gardens provides full burial services on behalf of those who have served in the United Stated military, which means a place of prominence and honor in our burial grounds. The veterans burial process includes the placement of American flags within the casket or alongside the urn, as well as commemorative headstone markers or medallions that are used to denote patriotic service. The burial service itself may include the involvement of current service members or veterans, making plain the deceased's legacy of noble sacrifice.
One common way to honor deceased veterans is with the Funeral Honors Ceremony, in which the flag is folded and presented to surviving family members while Taps is played. At least two Funeral Honors detail members—that is, Armed Forces members—are present for this. Different levels of Funeral Honors exist depending on the rank of the veteran. Our staff is available to help arrange these details on your loved one's behalf.


text:
- The symmetrical dessert table with everything for both thing one and thing two
- The Dr. Seuss directional sign
- The polka dot ruffle fabric
- The topsy-turvy cake
- and MORE!
Custom fondant words- Paolascreations on Etsy
Smash cakes- Lisa Krause
Items used in this party available in Kara's Party Ideas Shop:
Dr Seuss Stand Up
Thing 1 & Thing 2 Party Supplies
Dr Seuss Party Supplies
Popcorn / Treat Boxes
Rock Candy Swizzle Sticks
Apothecary Jars
Lollipop / Treat Sticks
Striped Paper Straws
Tissue Pom Poms
#1 Candle
Paper Lanterns
Here's what Julia said about planning the party
– "I was very excited when I was asked to plan and style this Dr. Seuss Thing 1 and Thing 2 birthday party for adorable twins Brock and Brooke. I met Michele, mom of the twins, almost a year and half prior when she hired me to plan and style her older daughter Kaylees 3rd birthday party (and was still pregnant with the twins). Michele and her family live several states away on the Gulf Coast in Louisiana, and I live in the mountains of east Tennessee, so planning a party from such a long distance away can definitely be tricky. Despite the many miles between us, the party came together so perfectly! Believe it or not, basically all of my custom party décor, centerpieces, linens, and props flew from Tennessee to Louisiana in only one suitcase! I even had 2.5 pounds to spare in my 1 checked piece of luggage, which I dubbed my party in a bag.
Colors and Prints:
The colors we chose were aqua blue, red, black, and white, and the prints used were chevron and polka dots. I designed the invitations using these colors and prints, as well as the rest of the custom paper party details such as my candy, food, and drink labels, the signage, and also the paper I used to make the paper fans. I also chose fabrics to coordinate which I used for the candy table backdrop, tablecloths, and runners.
Cake and Sweets Table:
The sweets table is always my favorite part of the party to plan. I used aqua chevron fabric as well as red polka dot fabric for the backdrop and table linens. I painted a pair of custom frames I own in red to hang on the aqua chevron and placed photos of each baby in each frame. I accented each frame with a large Thing 1 and Thing 2 tag. For the center backdrop, and on the table, I made a red polka dot ruffled runner and placed it there since the cake was to be primarily in the blue. I found the custom fondant Cat in the Hat, thing 1 & 2, and 1 topper for sale on Etsy by an amazingly talented seller, Maria Paola, of Paolascreations. She even included (for free) the super cute custom fondant book which the 1 sat upon! Michele purchased the custom cake stand on etsy as well. The cupcakes were made with blue icing Thing 1 and Thing 2 styled hair then placed in red cupcake liners. I then attached my custom made Thing 1 and Thing 2 tags to the front of the cupcake liners. The smash cakes were simple and cute and were made by a friend of mine, Lisa Krause, who flew down and helped me set up the party. Maria Paola of Paolascreations also made the fondant letters to spell each babys name which were placed on each smash cake with a red 1 candle. I created 2 custom whimsical arrangements for the table which I placed on each side of the cake. I created red paper fans to attach behind my custom chevron candy labels. Gumballs, sixlets, rock candy, and swizzle sticks were placed in glass candy jars. I made white with red and aqua polka dot chocolate covered oreos as well as marshmallow pops to complete the table. I accented the marshmallow pops sticks with the hat cutouts from Cat in the Hat as well as ribbons. The last touch on the table were framed quotes from Dr. Seuss books. Balloons were then set on each side of the table.
Food and Drinks Table:
I created custom bi-fold tent cards for labeling each food. Michele served a veggie tray, Truffula Fruit tray, Goldfish crackers, sandwiches, cheese cubes, and chips and salsa. Drinks served were New Blue Goo aka Blue Hawaiian Punch and Beezlenut Splash aka Red Hawaiian Punch. I accented this table with chevron runners, custom toppers, framed quotes, framed photos of the babies, a custom centerpiece, and then hung a fabric covered 1 which I cut from a sheet of Styrofoam.
I covered each highchair with aqua chevron fabric and then hung my custom I am 1 birthday banners on the front of the trays. I created personalized cardstock birthday banners for each baby and hung them above the highchairs on the fence. There was a large paper fan topped with a large B hanging in between the two banners. I placed an accent table between each highchair with a framed sign and custom centerpiece to add more interest.
Other Décor:
For the tables for guests to sit at, I placed red tablecloths with aqua chevron runners. Two of these tables had centerpieces which I created out of candlesticks which I had spray painted red then attached thing 1 and thing 2 tags onto. I then attached a blue tissue pom onto the top of the candlesticks as these reminded me to the crazy hair of each of the Things. On the third table, I topped it with one of my custom whimsical centerpieces. Each chair was covered with a white chair cover. I also tied red and blue ribbons around the chairs to add color.
I hung paper lanterns under the covered patio and tied various red and blue ribbons from them. I created a pretty paper fan garland in the reds and aqua prints and hung it on the fence. I also created some fun Seussville arrow signs which I attached to a flag post and placed in the yard.
Games and Activities:
I created a One fish, two fish, red fish, Lets catch a fish! game using Dr Seuss fish that I printed and cut out and attached paper clips too. We then made fishing poles out of wooden dowels and ribbon and attached a magnet to the end.
The kids also enjoyed playing on the swing set in the yard as well as the playhouse."
Items used in this party available in Kara's Party Ideas Shop:
Dr Seuss Stand Up
Thing 1 & Thing 2 Party Supplies
Dr Seuss Party Supplies
Popcorn / Treat Boxes
Rock Candy Swizzle Sticks
Apothecary Jars
Lollipop / Treat Sticks
Striped Paper Straws
Tissue Pom Poms
#1 Candle
Paper Lanterns


text:
Dear V, It was a pleasure presenting with you on Saturday night.
My research experience with microfinance comes mostly from a feminist perspective, in particular, feminist academic work that critically considers how "empowerment" rhetoric shapes global development.
The crux of the argument is that global governance now operates primarily according to "inclusion," "participation," and "empowerment." However, it is not "no strings attached" inclusion, participation, and empowerment, but actually has a tight set of rules, all set up to extend the current global imbalances. For instance, look at how international debt relief under the Millennium Development Goals regime is just another way to expand Structural Adjustment Programs, while allowing nations like the US to look like saints. [AC: "Neoliberal Corn Laws", if you will] Continue reading "The Feminist Critique of Microfinance"


text:
The European Commission has made a formal statement of objections to Microsoft over the company's failure to fulfill its commitment to offer Windows users a free choice of browser in settlement of an earlier antitrust case, the Commission said on Wednesday.
Microsoft had promised to show a browser choice screen to Windows users, but the Commission has been investigating complaints that the screen was not shown to some Windows 7 users.
"In its statement of objections, the Commission takes the preliminary view that Microsoft has failed to roll out the browser choice screen with its Windows 7 Service Pack 1, which was released in February 2011," the Commission said, adding that millions of European Windows users may not have seen the browser choice screen between February 2011 and July 2012.
"Microsoft has acknowledged that the choice screen was not displayed during that period," the Commission said.
Microsoft has been legally bound to show the browser choice screen to Windows users in Europe since December 2009, allowing them to choose which web browser they wanted to install instead of, or in addition to, Microsoft's Internet Explorer. As of March 2010 Internet Explorer users who set that browser as a default in Europe were presented with a screen to choose another browser.
The Commission said the statement of objections is a formal step in the investigation. Microsoft is informed of the objections and can reply in writing and request an oral hearing, it said.
"The Commission takes a final decision only after the parties have exercised their rights of defence," it said, adding that Microsoft maybe fined up to 10 percent of its worldwide turnover.


text:
In my July column, I discussed "disruptive innovation" and its effects in the health club industry. I explained the difference between mastering sustaining innovations (being better at what you are already doing) and practicing disruptive innovations (establishing new markets or attacking from the low end). I still believe that health clubs have to become health clubs and not just fitness centers. The challenge for us will be to enter the mainstream of American lifestyling and end our reliance on an outmoded model that attracts and keeps only a relatively small percentage of consumers.
What is the outmoded model? Simply stated, it is the general reliance on equipment to take over the burden of fitness delivery in the standard club. In nine out of 10 clubs that I phantom shop each year, the fitness delivery system is some variation of the following:
Members sign a membership agreement, and the salesperson schedules their orientation appointment. By the way, there is seldom a follow-up appointment reminder on the part of most clubs. The majority of those clubs report to me that they have only a 60 percent show ratio for these orientations. A reminder about the session seems like an easy solution to this, right?
Members come in for their orientation appointment, which generally consists of a cursory health screening or PAR-Q evaluation and a standardized demonstration of how cable-stack and cardiovascular equipment work. Members also receive a workout chart that serves as their new fitness prescription.
The staff then tells the new members that a trainer is always around to help them, or the employees suggest that members buy personal training sessions to get the maximum benefit out of their memberships. That's like telling restaurant customers after their first visit, "The next time you come in, you'll have to seat yourself, set your own table, go get the menu, place your order in the kitchen, cook the food, serve yourself, make out the bill and pay the check."
That's a little overstated, but not by much.
Lack of customer service has already driven significant disruptive innovation in our business as evidenced by the rapid rise of low-price chains such as Planet Fitness and big-box entrepreneurs such as Life Time Fitness. The origin of Curves derived simply from the creation of a market that did not exist prior to Curves' founders Gary and Diane Heavins' endeavor. While there may yet be room among existing facilities to find disruptively innovative ideas that will capture consumers' discretionary dollars, it is likely that those already in business will need to substitute stronger sustaining innovations to be able to consistently compete.
So what can clubs do that will make them disruptively innovative and thus be able to cope with ever-increasing competition on all fronts?
First of all, get rid of the membership card scanners or the key-chain tag readers, and have your receptionist (not your front desk person) swipe each person's card and offer a warm greeting. Make the reception area a greeting system, not a processing area.
Get your membership representatives to practice relationship sales instead of order-taking procedures. Before the membership tour, have the club representatives sit down with all prospective members and find out why they are in your club, what they want, what motivates them and what drags them down. Then determine the best way to get them started on a successful activity program. Basically, we need to avoid selling memberships and, instead, start counseling customers.
For many clubs, this way of doing business will be something they have not done before. They must train new members and integrate them into the facility's social structure. This may be challenging at first, but it will pay off handsomely in increased customer satisfaction and, ultimately, lower member attrition.
The other alternative? Clubs can keep doing it the way they have been and let the disruptive innovators take them over.
Michael Scott Scudder owns and operates MSS FitBiz Connection, an online-based club consulting and training service. Scudder can be reached at 505-690-5974 or [email protected].


text:
Posts Tagged 'gang wars'
Karachi calling
Urban violence has become a permanent affliction in Karachi. Anyone explaining the roots of this violence to you would say 'it's complicated' – and that is indeed an accurate summary of the bloodshed that erupts across the city in random spurts. The plague of violence in Pakistan's biggest city and commercial hub is multifaceted. From ethnic strife to gang wars to politically motivated crimes to just petty theft – Karachi has it all. Where does it start? And more importantly, where would it end?
This is strange because less merely 25 years, Karachi was the land of opportunity in Pakistan. Once the capital of the country, this economic hub bustled with life and activity with little thought spared to the horrors awaiting citizens a few years down the road. Fast forward to 2012, Karachi faces (in the words of Bilal Baloch) feeble security, over-population, poor public transportation and housing, weak law and order, abuse of public services by the wealthy and powerful, illegal land-grabbing and squatter settlements, pollution so pervasive that it contaminates food and water for all, ethnic divisions, sectarian divisions, meager education; in short, institutional inadequacies on a grand scale. At the same time, it is this city that allows unbridled port access to NATO, fishermen and businessmen. The city has seen the likes of Alexander the Great, Sir Charles Napier, Muhammad Bin Qasim, poets, authors, bloggers and artists. The City of Lights continues to function under such paradoxical circumstances, with violent bloodshed in one corner of the city and celebrations in another.


text:
Videos | June 7, 2007
What's Up June 2007: Jupiter and Venus put on a spectacular show
Transcript:Our sister planet Venus dazzles while Jupiter moves in for its closest appearance of the year.
Hello and welcome. I'm Jane Houston Jones with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
Jupiter will be at its biggest and brightest this month, and offers great views through August.
With your telescope, you can see cloud bands and the Great Red Spot.
This is really a gigantic storm within the clouds that astronomers have been seeing for over 300 years.
Through a telescope, the Red Spot will look ruddy pink and even a bit smudgy, but it's definitely worth looking for.
You should also be able to pick out Jupiter's four largest moons.
Two of them, Io and Europa, pass in front of Jupiter on June 16.
You may even be able to see their tiny black circular shadows cross the planet.
Many NASA spacecraft have studied Jupiter and its moons.
The Galileo spacecraft orbited Jupiter from 1995 to 2003.
One of the mission's many discoveries was strong evidence that the moon Europa has a saltwater ocean beneath its icy surface.
Venus also pulls out the stops this month, appearing high and bright alongside many objects in the sky.
Our sister planet skims by a swarm of stars called the Beehive Star Cluster.
By mid-month, the crescent moon joins the lineup below Venus.
For the month's grand finale, Saturn and Venus draw closer and closer to one another.
They will appear so close that they will fit in one eyepiece view.
Next month we'll offer some summertime viewing tips, and talk about observing the moon.
To learn more about all of NASA's missions, visit www.nasa.gov.
You can get our sky charts and e-mail questions to me at education.jpl.nasa.gov.
Just click on the What's Up button.
That's all for this month. I'm Jane Houston Jones.


text:
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.COM) — The only major awards show where fans determine the nominees and winners across categories of movies, music and television, "People's Choice Awards", has announced that voting is now open for the 40th annual award show at PeoplesChoice.com.
Fans can choose their favorites across 54 categories including Favorite Movie Actor, Favorite TV Crime Drama and Favorite Female Artist, by voting to make them official nominees until Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013 (11:59 PM, ET).
PHOTOS: Highlights From 2013 People's Choice Awards
The top five in each category will become the official nominees and will be announced during the annual People's Choice Awards press conference on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013 (9:00 AM, PT), at The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills. Fans have the option to write in their favorites not included among the provided candidates.
Winner's from last years award show included, "Hunger Games" which was named favorite movie, action movie and movie franchise, and stars Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth had fans' favorite on-screen chemistry. Lawrence also won favorite movie actress and "face of heroism." Katy Perry also took home three awards during the 39th annual People's Choice Awards.
The 40th Annual PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS will be broadcast LIVE from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/delayed PT), on CBS.X


text:
Apple CEO Tim Cook will take to the stage today to reveal what the future holds for iOS and OS X at its WWDC 2013 keynote. Our colleagues over at Macworld.com will be at the event, and will be bringing you the news (and reactions to that news) as it happens in our live blog (below).
Read more: WWDC 2016: Dates, how to get tickets and what to expect
Apple is expected to unveil iOS 7 and OS X 10.9 at the event today, which carries the tagline 'Where a whole new world is developing'. We could also be treated to some new Macs, including new models of the Retina MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.
Our coverage begins at 6pm today (10 June), so bookmark this page and tune in then to follow Apple's keynote live.
In the meantime, you can check out our WWDC 2013 speculation coverage by following the links below:
What to expect from Apple at WWDC 2013
Apple unveils minimalist iOS 7 and OS X banners at WWDC 2013 venue
Does Apple's WWDC 2013 app give us our first look at iOS 7's new design?
Does Apples Online Store redesign reveal future of iOS and Mac OS X?
More iOS 7 details emerge as 10 June unveiling approaches
Apple 'racing to launch iRadio music service at WWDC 2013'
Apple to spell out timetable price of OS X 10.9 during Monday's WWDC 2013 keynote
This live blog is brought to you by the team at Macworld.


text:
Small Basic - The Happy Number Challenge
As part of LitDev's December Challenges, Nonki suggested this Happy Number challenge:
"Calculate happy numbers below 1000."
Read more about Happy Numbers.
Math Man wasted no time in contributing this program:
Math Man's Happy Number Checker (click to try it out!)
Here is what it looks like (just an image):
Now that's a poor, sad number! Bonus points to Math Man for a little humor. =^)
What do you think of the challenge?
- Tall Basic Ed