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Commercial, Products, Public Service, Services
By By Andrew Drwiega, International Bureau Chief/Consultant | March 12, 2013
Send Feedback
The shock news of the day is that longstanding head of Eurocopter, Dr. Lutz Bertling, plans to leave the EADS division in favor of Berlin-based Bombardier Transportation, where he will take the top post of president and chief operating officer. The announcement is surprising in part because it comes less than a week after Bertling made an appearance at Heli-Expo in Las Vegas, giving no indication of the move.
Guillaume Faury, 45, will succeed Bertling. Faury comes from Peugeot S.A., where he held the position of executive vice president for research and development.
Lutz Bertling at last week's Heli-Expo press conference. Photo by Andrew Parker
Bertling, 50, was appointed CEO of Eurocopter in November 2006, taking over from Fabrice Brégier, who moved onwards and upwards within EADS to become COO of Airbus. Bertling was quick to build upon the dynamically developing helicopter company that Brégier had left and continued if not accelerated its momentum, making Eurocopter one of the fastest-developing helicopter manufacturers in the world.
He will be missed. Tom Enders, EADS, chief executive officer stated: "I regret that Lutz is leaving Eurocopter and the EADS Group to pursue a new challenge outside the aerospace world. We owe Lutz a lot. In his six and a half years at the helm of Eurocopter, he led the company successfully through a period of strong growth and also a deep economic crisis. During his tenure Eurocopter became more international, more innovative, and overall, more competitive."
Faury returns to Eurocopter, where he was employed between 1998 and 2008. His roles included chief engineer for the EC225/ 725 program, head of the heavy helicopter flight test department, executive vice president for commercial programs and executive vice president for research and development, not to mention being a member of the Eurocopter Executive Committee.
Bertling's resignation is effective April 30, 2013, with his start date at Bombardier Transportation set for early June. He replaces André Navarri, who is retiring.Related: Airframe News

subset: commoncrawl


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ANNAPOLIS, MD -- The Maryland Senate Budget and Taxation Committee voted Tuesday to remove health clubs from a list of services to which a proposed expansion of a sales tax would be applied.
Senate Bill 2 would have taxed health club membership dues. Tanning salons and real estate management were other services deleted from the original proposal by Gov. Martin O'Malley, who called a special legislative session to address a $1.7 billion budget deficit.
According to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, there were 12,000 e-mails, phone calls, postcards and petition signatures to protest O'Malley's proposal. A Maryland health club owner said earlier in the week that she feared the extra expense would have prompted people to give up their health club memberships.
In place of health clubs, tanning salons and real estate management, the Senate committee voted to extend the sales tax to computer services, landscaping and video arcades. Unlike health clubs and real estate management, which had representatives lobbying for a change in the proposal, lobbyists for computer services, landscaping and video arcades had little opportunity this week to voice their opinion about the last-minute changes. Landscaping was taken off the bill Thursday night.


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From ATXHackerspace
Welcome TechShop Members
We regularly host Open House nights Tuesdays from 6pm to 10pm where we give tours of the space, and can answer your questions about our tools, methods, and membership.
What is ATX Hackerspace?
We are a collaborative industrial workshop full of people who love to learn and make things! ATX Hackerspace can be found at:
We have over 8,000 square feet of space that is perfect for artists, designers, engineers, makers and hackers, fabbers, scientists, musicians, seminars and workshops, co-working, and a ton of other stuff. We're the perfect place for any project that needs space, involves loud or messy equipment (woodworking, soldering, welding, painting), power (we have 120V, 240V, and 3-phase power), tools that are too expensive or large for your own workshop ( see our laser cutters, CNC mills, and 3D printers ) or meeting with collaborators.
More importantly, we are an established and ever-growing community. Imagine what we can do when we combine our skills, knowledge, ideas, tools, and materials... or see for yourself at our next Open House, every Tuesday evening from 6-10pm.
We're hackers (thoroughly defined here), which means we create things and we put things together in new and innovative ways. ATX Hackerspace is dedicated to encouraging and promoting technical, scientific, and artistic skills through projects, collaboration, and education by all legal means.
Hours and Events
Members are given 24-hour access and may bring up to two guests to the space at any time.
Visitors are invited to attend our Open House - every Tuesday evening from 6-10pm - or any of the open events on our Calendar or Meetup page.
Sign up for upcoming classes by going to our Class_List and checking out the upcoming offerings.
Contact Us
- Start discussions or suggest projects on our Mailing Lists
- Visit our Meetup page for upcoming meetups
Contact our Board of Directors for any questions you may have.
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Prices starting at $325.00 a month, including monthly membership
ATX Hackerspace's new co-working area with private office space provides something new in Austin. Here you have a union of dedicated office spaces with 24/7 access to cutting-edge prototyping and traditional crafting methodologies. Small business owners, independent professionals, startup companies, or people who just need their own space are a great match with our location, infrastructure and network of fellow innovators.


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2 Kings 18-19 New International Version (NIV)
Hezekiah King of Judah
18 In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother's name was Abijah[a] daughter of Zechariah. 3 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done. 4 He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.[b])
5 Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. 6 He held fast to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. 7 And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. 8 From watchtower to fortified city, he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory.
9 In King Hezekiah's fourth year, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and laid siege to it. 10 At the end of three years the Assyrians took it. So Samaria was captured in Hezekiah's sixth year, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel. 11 The king of Assyria deported Israel to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in towns of the Medes. 12 This happened because they had not obeyed the Lord their God, but had violated his covenant—all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded. They neither listened to the commands nor carried them out.
13 In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah's reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. 14 So Hezekiah king of Judah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish: "I have done wrong. Withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand of me." The king of Assyria exacted from Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents[c] of silver and thirty talents[d] of gold. 15 So Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace.
16 At this time Hezekiah king of Judah stripped off the gold with which he had covered the doors and doorposts of the temple of the Lord, and gave it to the king of Assyria.
Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem
17 The king of Assyria sent his supreme commander, his chief officer and his field commander with a large army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They came up to Jerusalem and stopped at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman's Field. 18 They called for the king; and Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went out to them.
19 The field commander said to them, "Tell Hezekiah:
"'This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours? 20 You say you have the counsel and the might for war—but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me? 21 Look, I know you are depending on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him. 22 But if you say to me, "We are depending on the Lord our God"—isn't he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, "You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem"?
23 "'Come now, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses—if you can put riders on them! 24 How can you repulse one officer of the least of my master's officials, even though you are depending on Egypt for chariots and horsemen[e]? 25 Furthermore, have I come to attack and destroy this place without word from the Lord? The Lord himself told me to march against this country and destroy it.'"
26 Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah said to the field commander, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don't speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall."
27 But the commander replied, "Was it only to your master and you that my master sent me to say these things, and not to the people sitting on the wall—who, like you, will have to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine?"
28 Then the commander stood and called out in Hebrew, "Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria! 29 This is what the king says: Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you from my hand. 30 Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord when he says, 'The Lord will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.'
31 "Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then each of you will eat fruit from your own vine and fig tree and drink water from your own cistern, 32 until I come and take you to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey. Choose life and not death!
"Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, 'The Lord will deliver us.' 33 Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? 34 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand? 35 Who of all the gods of these countries has been able to save his land from me? How then can the Lord deliver Jerusalem from my hand?"
36 But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, "Do not answer him."
37 Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went to Hezekiah, with their clothes torn, and told him what the field commander had said.
Jerusalem's Deliverance Foretold
19 When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord. 2 He sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. 3 They told him, "This is what Hezekiah says: This day is a day of distress and rebuke and disgrace, as when children come to the moment of birth and there is no strength to deliver them. 4 It may be that the Lord your God will hear all the words of the field commander, whom his master, the king of Assyria, has sent to ridicule the living God, and that he will rebuke him for the words the Lord your God has heard. Therefore pray for the remnant that still survives."
5 When King Hezekiah's officials came to Isaiah, 6 Isaiah said to them, "Tell your master, 'This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard—those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. 7 Listen! When he hears a certain report, I will make him want to return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword.'"
8 When the field commander heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he withdrew and found the king fighting against Libnah.
9 Now Sennacherib received a report that Tirhakah, the king of Cush,[f] was marching out to fight against him. So he again sent messengers to Hezekiah with this word: 10 "Say to Hezekiah king of Judah: Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, 'Jerusalem will not be given into the hands of the king of Assyria.' 11 Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered? 12 Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my predecessors deliver them—the gods of Gozan, Harran, Rezeph and the people of Eden who were in Tel Assar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath or the king of Arpad? Where are the kings of Lair, Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah?"
Hezekiah's Prayer
14 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: "Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.
17 "It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. 18 They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. 19 Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God."
Isaiah Prophesies Sennacherib's Fall
20 Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria. 21 This is the word that the Lord has spoken against him:
"'Virgin Daughter Zion
25 "'Have you not heard?
27 "'But I know where you are
29 "This will be the sign for you, Hezekiah:
"This year you will eat what grows by itself,
"The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
32 "Therefore this is what the Lord says concerning the king of Assyria:
"'He will not enter this city
35 That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! 36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.
37 One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisrok, his sons Adrammelek and Sharezer killed him with the sword, and they escaped to the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son succeeded him as king.
Cross references:
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
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Saturday, May 31, 2008
At last.....
Want to get depressed regularly? Want to shout insults at a group of men? Want to hurl things at television sets? Just tell 'em you're a Warriors supporter .
My wife and I have been that way since 1995 and have ridden all the highs and lows, from Grand Finals to Wooden spoons, and this season's effort from the team was beginning to look pretty damn dire as well, but now there is a glimmer of hope. Finally a win in Australia, Warriors 18 - Newcastle 16.
It wasn't pretty and had all the drama you could hope for: dubious reffing decisions (in both directions), the not unusual sight of the Warriors defending their line again and again, far too many dropped balls at the most inopportune times, and some marvellous tries.
Grant's Player(s) of the match: The Warriors grafters, Micheal Luck and Simon Mannering. Special mention for Paddy Ah Van - who knew he could kick goals?
Tip for Ivan: For crying out loud, buy Brent Tate some boots with decent sprigs on them.
Young Hillary
I wonder if Dear Leader was the same?
For whom the poll tolls
First, the long awaited TVNZ Colmar-Brunton poll.
And TV3 has a poll out too.
I wonder what might be in them.
I haven't heard any rumours though Fran Mold tonight said the Greens were up to 7% in the Tv1 poll.
More good news for the Greens
3 Little Ducks all in a row
The pond really is getting interesting.
I wonder what 'Unty Helen is saying
Artic Bathing
Green Duck Shooting
Why I Can Never Vote For The Greens
The hairy smelly denizen of the Coromandel jungle wants the dairy farmers of NZ to supply the bludgers' of New Zealand with milk, cheese, butter and yogurt.
"....it would be a good thing for the New Zealand company to do to help kiwis struggling with high food prices."
It would be an even better thing for New Zealand voters to throw her and her Labour cronies out of office.
It is Genetix and her gangster friends in Labour (so well illustrated above) who have caused incomes to decline to their present third world standard where we can no longer afford to buy the very foodstuffs we produce.
This is the real 'defining election issue' of our time.
Jack Nicholas case
Speaking to Radio New Zealand, Foreman's counsel, Bruce Squire QC, lashed out at the police investigation, labelling it "shoddy" and "selective".
He said police had made the "fatal flaw" that characterised many investigations of picking a particular individual and trying to fit a case around them, instead of thoroughly investigating a crime and remaining open minded until all the evidence was clear.
"They simply picked the wrong man and they should have known it long before they charged him," Mr Squire said.
Then, from here:
Napier Crown prosecutor Russell Collins declined any comment on Wednesday night after a jury acquitted Haumoana man Murray Foreman.
But he said on Thursday he was happy to comment on allegations by defence counsel Bruce Squire QC that Operation Kaweka was "shoddy" and "selective", focusing on one individual and fitting a case around him.
Mr Collins said there were 400 suspects, and it was more than 18 months before police made an arrest.
"It is totally unfair to say that it was shoddy and selective," he said. "There was a number of suspects and they were investigated thoroughly before any decision was made to charge Mr Foreman. I was surprised the criticism was levelled at the police," he said.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Labour's plan to 'destroy Peters'.
The strategies included ignoring Mr McKinnon ("Don Who?"), discrediting Miss Richardson ("inconsistent, expedient") and dismissing Mr Peters as "arrogant, flashy, superficial, lacking in substance".
The paper said Mr Peters had "third party appeal, now fading fast - shrill".
Mr Peters said the strategy failed because Labour had too many problems of its own. But he said parts of the report were "obviously insightful".
Sure were Winston!
Jumping into bed with Helen Clark
A Family Man
I'm really struggling to think of anything to say.
Do I remark that is seems silly to go out and pay $1,000 for a bit of tough old brisket when you have an unlimited supply of rump steak at home? Naaah. Don't think that would go down with this particular audience.
Should I reflect on how lucky I was to have parents who were loyal and were never heard to utter a cross word to each other?
Will I allude to the potential difficulties faced by children raised in single parent families? Particularly single parent welfare dependent families? (yes) Even though that might have me accused of being 'political.'
Do I lament the modern day trend towards denigration of the traditional 'normal' family unit of mother (woman), father (man) and their natural or adopted offspring? (yes)
Do I lament the popularity of abortion as a de facto means of 'family planning' wherein little effort seems to be made to encourage the adoption of unwanted children. It's so much more convenient to kill them before birth. (yes)
Should I remark on the irony that those who shout loudest about civilian deaths in Iraq are nowhere to be seen when it comes to our own civilian deaths outrage in New Zealand? The twenty thousand or so live, kicking unborn babies put to death each year.
Why, that's nearly as many civilians as were murdered each year in Iraq before Saddam Hussein was brought to account.
Cullen Takes The Bait
While Mallard re-invents his tired 'policies written in Washington' story, re-branded as 'assets being sold to Ockers,' Cullen tells the Greens that he bought the train wreck for 'environmental reasons' and every man and his dog screams 'National will sell state assets.
At the same time as all this high pitched squawking is going on, Cullen is spending every last penny of nine years' surpluses to ensure there's no money for National in 2009.
John Key will be rubbing his hands with glee.
Because Cullen is setting the scene for public approval of the biggest asset sales programme since 1985.
By early 2009, the economy will be in much poorer shape than it is now, petrol prices will have risen to $2.50, interest rates will remain high, food prices will be up another ten percent, about 5,000 more jobs will have been lost and middle income Kiwis will be facing starvation or foreclosure. Most, if not all, of these problems are a direct result of Cullen's blinkered and ideological economic mismanagement - predominantly his failure to reign in massive growth in wasteful government expenditure.
Under those circumstances, John Key will announce an emergency mini-budget in which excise on petrol will be slashed, income tax further reduced, the RBNZ inflation criteria extended to 5.0% for two years, all pseudo government departments abolished immediately, government department staff numbers reduced by a huge 20% and selected state owned "assets" sold, with proceeds directed to funding the infrastructure necessary to pull us out of the mire.
But, but, but what about the milk solids bonanza? I hear you ask.
Well indeed, what about the milk solids bonanza?
You don't seriously think all those cockies are going to pay tax on it do you? No, cockies don't pay tax. They pay accountants instead. They'll go out and borrow to the hilt and buy more land - no matter what the interest rate - rather than pay tax.
That's the way it's always been.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Benson-Pope solicits all offers
It's called political prostitution. PSB should know all about that.
Labour MP David Benson-Pope says he would consider standing for another party if he was approached...
Asked in an interview on Radio Dunedin if he would consider standing for New Zealand First or the Greens, he said: "I would think about it, if it were to happen....
Let's look at the machinations: Labour gives Winston 2% in the latest poll via their Budget and $100 million bucks in return for him taking on PSB as Dunedin South candidate for NZ1st.
Who' screwing who here?
Blue Chip Barrister Befriends Bridgecorp Burglar
One day you are revered for going into bat for the downtrodden and victimised.
The very next day you are defending someone who, for all intents and purposes, caused similar misery.
Friday Frolics
Blog of the week, as PM noted last night is Big Girls Blouse!
Meanwhile, as the Hillary specials (see above) may not be the taste of US Dhimmicrats, here's a trailer for the Obama thriller 'Clear and Present Danger.'
Scandals home in on Liarbour hypocrisy
"Labour will be a very careful custodian of taxpayers' money no more squandering of taxpayers' money on luxury resorts."
Labour even trumpeted that this was useful for her moving into the Housing portfolio when she got it last year."
The apple core
Liarbour: The Cancerous, corrosive, dirty, nasty party!
As Liarbour sink further in the polls, the sleazy Trevor Mallard once more reprises the role of Muckraker General.
He accuses National of having talks with Australian businessmen about some sale and leaseback arrangement for state owned enterprises.
National is reportedly angry about this, though I might wonder if they might perhaps laugh off Duckman's allegations instead.
For we are still awaiting evidence of the infamous American bagmen that Mallard claimed were funding National, influencing policy or whatever, way back in Election 2005.
Still, Dear Leader needs her little lapdog to create the weapons of mass distraction from her government's own incompetence and growing failings.
Indeed, noting some of the syndicated blogs being published through the Thorndon Bubble, I noted more examples of Liarbour smears yesterday afternoon.
Following on from an Otago Daily Times column that referred to David Farrar's Curia Market Research company doing the recent Family First poll, a couple of commentators were alleging Curia operated from Willis Street and was essentially the marketing wing of the National Party.
Now, David says that he polls for Liarbour politicians too and I doubt there's a businessman in the capital that can afford to turn down such a dominant employer as the government and its party. Anyway, when David kindly showed me his offices the other week, I could have sworn they were in Thorndon Quay, a stones throw from where David lives!
Next up, I noted allegations made about Whale Oil and a former business of his. Whale Oil once assured me that any problems with the business were the fault of his business partner. I too am capable of using Google and have seen various articles online.
Either way, it all shows what dirty muckraking scum exists in the Liarbour Party and among its supporters. Not content with smearing National, they now go for the country's top two political bloggers for supporting it.
I'm not going to say whether the right should retaliate, but I guess if the left and their lapdog bloggers find themselves exposed for wrongdoing, they only have themselevs to blame.
Cullen delivers Election winning budget..........for National!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
The Artful Roger
Sir Roger was the guest speaker and this was the first time I had seen him speak, in the flesh. He was very good. Clear, simple, straight forward and logical yet with considerable emotive appeal. A consummate salesman with a good message.
He looked fit, energetic and keen.
Adolf was introduced to the assembly as the National Party's spy.
I was so pleased to hear The Great Man eschew that awful slogan ACT used last time round. Do you remember it? 'Let's Keep National Honest.' No wonder they got people's backs up. Implying your mates are dishonest is not the most intelligent way to court them as a coalition partner. The new slogan is much better - 'Lets be There to Make a Difference.' Much more friendly.
Adolf has said many times before that the best possible outcome for New Zealand would be a National, ACT, Maori Party coalition with over sixty percent of the party vote between them. Nothing he has seen or heard lately causes this view to change.
Then you'd get some policy. Then you'd get some real change for the better.
I'll happily wear out a bit of she leather to give them a hand.
No Minister bloggers "threat to mothers"
On second thoughts, maybe I should have shut up - no doubt by tomorrow we'll be listed as "dog felchers" or something...
How soon before New Zealand is also 'Islamised?'
Greens fear debate over 'climate change'
It's a good thing our resident Lefty, Psycho Milt, likes a debate.
Why else is he here at No Minister in a nest of right-wing vipers?
Pity the same cannot be said for the party he votes for.
Prime TV plans to show that British Channel 4 documentary 'The Great Global Warming Swindle' on Sunday night.
And the Greens are so outraged, reports Poneke, that they plan to complain to the Broadcasting Standards Authority.
How dare Prime TV so openly flout the religion of our times! The non-believers! Denialists! Heretics! Burn them at the stake, eh!
Now the Greenies claim 'inaccuracies in that film, but well look at the Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore. The Inconvnient Truth was, Gore's movie did not contain much truth and faced the inconvenience of being found in court to be riddled with lies. But the movie still had a showing on tv here and Gore still got his Nobel peace prize, just as Yaser Arafat got his!
It does seem the Greenies are losing the debate, or at least trying to block the debate, when increasing numbers of facts are not going to their belief. They must be afraid!
We are in a cooling spell, the US and China had severe winters, ice is thickening at the poles again, it even snowed in Baghdad and in New Zealand, the papers today reported early frosts, just as out power supplies are threatened.
There's more to climate than carbon emissions; there's solar sunspots, solar cycles and ocean currents.
Nonetheless, governments are pushing environmental legislation through to curb a problem that probably does not exist, and policies set to harm jobs and living standards everywhere.
Yet greenies and government are both engaged in censorship and intimidation.
Anyway, unlike FrogBlog, we are happy to host debate. Dennis Dutton of Arts & Letters Daily fame has launched a website for both the pros and antis to argue their case, featuring many news stories showing eiher viewpoint.
And if you cannot wait until Sunday, here's a similar sceptical film about climate change from Canada which we posted before. And here's the 'Swindle' film itself.
Liarbour 'Streets' ahead for hypocrisy and incompetence
From Power house to power at all cost
Another 'outing' for Panty Slut Boy
Always expect the unexpected, so the unexpected spectacle of Panty Slut Boy running as an Independent will certainly add some spice to the election campaign.
Oh dear! And it's only May!
Looks like the wards are in for another winter of chaos, again!
What else should she apologise for?
St Bernard seeks and finds government waste
Bernard Hickey of Show Me the Money on Stuff should be declared St Bernard, patron Saint of the Taxpayer.
After noting Michael Cullen's 'desperate and dangerous' budget last week, St Bernard is now looking at government waste, pledging to seek it out everyday.
In two blog posts yesterday, he produced a chart showing how government spending is set to grow much faster than the rest of the economy over the next three years.
Liarbour says there is no waste and taxcuts will mean cuts in government spending and services.
But St Bernard believes strong government growth has created an atmosphere of bureaucrats employ extra people, pay for consultants, etc, without questioning whether it is needed, and whether the private sector might use such resources better.
St Bernard kicks off noting faults in the government's new Winterwatch power supplies website.
And this was before he became aware of the controversies surrounding Housing New Zealand and luxury conferences.
My belief, backed with a bit of evidence, is that fast government spending growth is one of the reasons we have very high interest rates and rising inflation, as well as low productivity growth.
Indeed, with his second post, St Bernard refers to Housing New Zealand before moving on to the many well-paid jobs within government, wondering whether they are needed.
Many are communications staff, with the Ministry of Social Development employing 19, more journalists than the Dom-Post will have in its newsroom.
Central government currently has 11 positions open for communications professionals on jobs.govt.nz. There are currently 35 central government jobs on offer on TradeMe that are being paid more than $75,000 a year out of a total of 76 listings. The average annual salary is about $47,000.
Fifty-three of the 76 government jobs on offer are above the average salary.
Need I say more.
Update: As Housing NZ spent another $34,000 at Hotel Du Vin, Hawkes Bay DHB do it for just $180 all-in.
UPDATE 2: David Farrar reports a growth in ministerial staff numbers.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Life begins at 40...for Kylie!
Kylie Minogue, singing budgie, turned superstar, turned 40 today.
And as the Aussie media states, she looks hotter than ever.
I turned 40 last year. If only I could say the same.
Let us hope you beat the cancer, find true love and keep churning out those wonderful hits.
I still remember you as Charlene in Neighbours though!
So let's have a few songs from You Tube then:
I Shouldbe So Lucky
In my arms
Can't get you out of my head
Spinning Around
And finally, a banned Kylie lingerie commercial.
Energy campaigns a few weeks away as government finally wakes up to power crisis
Isn't the UN wonderful!
Join the dots......
Financial Fran flays Fiscal Fool
The point is to ram home the absurdity of Governments wedding themselves to a "don't sell" position out of sheer political blindness.
UPDATE: Blind ideology costs taxpayer another billion says Rodney Hide.
The joy of welfare
"A lot of people on sickness benefits say Work and Income staff have sent them and just expect you to sign the form."
He had seen one woman who had been on a sickness benefit for 19 years because of asthma but smoked a packet of cigarettes a day. Work and Income had offered her several quit programmes. "She admitted she was too lazy to go."
And there's more:
Another sickness beneficiary's documented reason for not working was they "could not be bothered".
He signed off both beneficiaries but wrote on their forms that they needed follow-up and reassessment.
"it becomes a culture of handouts."
The story continues:
The National Party has previously accused the Government of hiding unemployment by switching people to invalid or sickness benefits.
At the end of March, nearly 46,000 people were on a sickness benefit - up from 38,000 five years earlier, but a decline from March 2007.
In the 12 months to March 2008, a net 2760 people transferred from unemployment to a sickness benefit.
Well , I don't know about you but I'm getting sick of paying for bludgers like this.
And Liarbour thinks savings cannot be made in welfare!
UPDATE: Minister Darren Hughes calls on GPs to dob in beneficiery bullies.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Make mine a V8, thanks
That said, environmentalists generally give my arse the ache. Not so much because of their concern for the environment, but because they're all hippies, and their party attracts food nutters like Sue Kedgeley and opportunist commos like Sue Bradford. OK, that's not really a sound basis for forming an opinion on a political movement, but nobody's perfect, least of all me.
What really gets on my wick is the environmentalist attitude to cars. Those who recall my posts at Sir Humphreys might have noted I rather like cars. We're hearing plenty at the moment about how we shouldn't use cars, it's bad for the environment and it's using up all the damn oil. Well, OK, the emissions are bad for the environment, I'll grant you that. Nothing like so bad as Third World subsistence agriculturalists turning out a kid a year and defoliating the surrounding landscape for firewood, mind you, but it remains a valid point.
But using up the oil? What the hell kind of an argument is that? Apparently, if we were all to start biking, taking the bus and walking more often, we wouldn't use up the planet's oil reserves so quickly. Er, and? What, exactly? We use our vehicles less and it takes a few decades longer for oil to become so scarce it prices the internal combustion engine out of existence? Surely I can't be the only one to find this argument less than compelling? You know, the question of whether driving a Daimler V12 becomes an unreasonable prospect 10 years from now or 50 isn't really one that is going to drive me to getting on my bike.
Face it folks, we're going to use that oil up. The only thing that's going to stop us using it is scarcity increasing the price to the point where plastic bottle caps become units of currency. Later generations may curse us for it, but the likelihood of them being in any sense our moral superiors is about equivalent to the likelihood of us giving up using oil because it would be nice to leave some for posterity, so fuck 'em. If they were here, they'd enjoy putting their foot down in a V8 too.
Electoral Finance Act backfires on Liarbour (again!!)
But , as David Farrar notes, it goes beyond that.
Housing New Zealand hypocracy! Not to mention Dear Leader's
There was Dear Leader way back in 1999, attacking the former National government and WINZ chief Christine Rankin over the spending of $165,000 on chartering aircraft in order to transport 140 managers to a conference at the exclusive Wairakei Resort Hotel.
Liarbour attacked WINZ for having a culture of extravagance. Dear Leader promised to 'clean up' the public sector.
However, such extravagance continues in Housing New Zealand and with Minister Maryann Street with the allegations $65,000 was spent on a similar Housing NZ conferenace at Tongariro Lodge.
National's Housing spokesman Phil Heatley has revealed 94 Housing New Zealand managers spent two days at a conference at the luxury Tongariro Lodge.
Now, it maybe that vital work was achieved, but when a government attacks the so-called WINZ excesses of the past and indulges in such practices today, it is surely guilty of the most rank hypocracy, especially when times are hard and we see activities that are ripe for the chopping!
UPDATE: So $250 a night is cheap! Delicious comments from Housing Minister Maryann Street. The NZ Herald looks back to 1999 when Christine Ranking of Winz was in the frame..
UPDATE "2: More luxury weekend retreats for Housing NZ. Who isleaking this stuff and why?
More tough times ahead as government gobbles ever more
Real private consumption was forecast to grow zero per cent in the March 2009 year, down from 3.7 per cent the previous year.
"Private consumption expenditure makes up approximately 6 per cent of GDP by value, so this component of GDP remaining static in the March 2009 year will contribute significantly to the low overall level of economic activity."
That vision thing!
Bruce Sheppard of the NZ Shareholders Association laments the lack of vision among our political leaders.
Successive political leadership has done little to counter this ambivalence to the future of the nation. Worse, various political parties display no appearance of any vision for the future, and even less ability to communicate one if they indeed have one to the public. So the apparent lack of vision is doubled by a lack of leadership.
Audrey finds the pork as Larbour's big spend continues!
The New Zealand Herald's Audrey Young today publishes a full list of Liarbour's 'pork.'
The tax cuts, with other highlights announced on Budget day, have added $12.29 billion to Labour's brag-bag of policies.
When added to the previous $3.99 billion identified on Pork Watch, Labour's Porkometer has reached $16.28 billion.
I've yet to find actual department spending totals but it all seems to confirm reports that Liarbour has doubled government spending in its nine years of office.
Audrey also lists some individual projects adding:
The cost of promises included in the Porkometer do not include every Budget item. They are items that parties themselves have highlighted and bragged about. Totals have not been annualised. They may be spread over many years. That is because parties tend to announce funding over four, five or more years.
Last week's Budget allowed for a total of $4.75 billion extra in operational spending in 2008-09 and $23.37 billion extra over four years. It also allowed $1.16 billion in capital spending and $1.91 more over four years.
Additional highlights:
* $10.6 billion over four years on personal tax cuts.
* $553.8 million over five years on faster broadband and digital strategy initiatives.
* $326.3 million extra in education including $182 million for extra teachers.
* $220 million over 15 years for Wellington City Council housing upgrade.
* $180 million for extra police.
* $155.2 million over four years to improve student allowances and eligibility.
* $72 million over four years for free off-peak travel for Supergold card.
* $37.8 million over three years for first phase of Hobsonville development.
* $30 million over three years for transport initiatives in Northland and Tairawhiti.
* $25.1 million over four years for Maori and Treaty initiatives including $5.3 million extra for the Office of Treaty Settlements.
* $24.6 million boost to caregivers of children.
* $23.3 million over four years to establish animal ID and tracing system.
* $18 million over four years to boost subsidy for hearing aids.
* $9 million over four years to monitor financial service providers.
* $7 million over two years to restore 19th century Mataatua Whare in Whakatane.
* $7 million to develop a Maori cultural venue on Wellington waterfront.
Now, I'm not averse to a bit of capital expenditure and it may be a worthy project, but coming on top of the list above, this all seems a little excessive: A $70 million extension to the National Library, which the Dominion Post notes comes on top of other government building projects in central Wellington and has created a 'building boom' there.
It is heartening to see Cullen's goverment economising, making do and tightening its belt, just as we are, the poor buggers having to pay for Liarbour's largresse!
The curious case of Trevor Loudon and Barry Hussein Obama
Many times I have blogged about the unfitness of Barry Hussein Obama for office.
Blogs like Little Green Footballs often run stories pointing out Obama's extreme leftism, his inexperience, his weaknesses on foreign policy, that he may be muslim, etc, etc.
Few Kiwis have followed up such allegations, particularly the MSM.
But Trevor Loudon of New Zeal has often posted on Obama's unfitness for office, and he has obviously done some research himself.
Nonetheless, after perusing LGF yesterday afternoon, I was somewhat surprised, while digging up some anti-Obama content, to come across a reference to Trevor Loudon , where he comments about the would-be president.
"He's a member of an organization (that is) openly a front for two socialist groups," reported another participant, Trevor Loudon.
No wonder Trevor hasn't commented on his blog for several weeks.
He must be in America and is obviously doing a bit of research to help save us from Obama, by associating with groups like America's Survival.
In the article, a Washington Post journalist reports the following:
Here are some things we can look forward to learning about Barack Obama:
That he was mentored in high school by a member of the Soviet-controlled Communist Party.
That he launched his Illinois state Senate campaign in the home of a terrorist and a killer.
That while serving as a state senator, he was a member of a socialist front group.
That his affiliations are so dodgy that he would have trouble getting a government security clearance.
That there is reason to doubt his "loyalty to the United States."
True, the article dismisses the allegations as 'implausable' , but there is a growing mountain of evidence on Obama's extremism, etc, etc.
Indeed, the liberal left media have often slavishly followed the Obama line even to the point of psychophancy.
This week, Hillary Clinton faced uproar over speculating about Obama getting shot JFK-syle. But amid the outrage, the media forgot Michelle Obama made such speculation herself months ago.
There was the well-worn outrage from the left at the right for referring to Obama's muslim middle name Hussein, but it was discovered Obama had referred to his middle name in speeches too.
There was also outrage from Obamaphiles at suggestions from the right that their savour may be muslim. Then, in a recent column, the New York Times called him an apostate (a former muslim) and wondered whether this might cause Obama trouble when visiting the Middle East as President.
What might be seen as smear or dirt could well be true, whether it is discovered by the right, or Hillary Clinton's campaign team.
The issue is for the media to do their duty and investigate such allegations, just as they do when Republicans have dodgy beliefs, pasts and connections.
Otherwise the media will continue to loose further credibility, as people then have to turn to articles like this concerning Obama's links to communism.
Indeed, the Republicans are starting to ask questions, with campaign ads like this and this, even if they remain restrained so far, compared to the VRWC.
Nontheless, the Republicans are already linking Obama to he soft, wimpish policies of former US President Jimmy Carter. His appeasement led to the appearance of the Mullahs in Iran and Carter is radical Islam's friend.
As for Obama, there is still much more to be discovered and reported by the MSM.
Pity I got sidetracked with making dinner and letting a mate use the laptop for several hours, as it might have been me, not David Farrar, breaking the Trevor Loudon story.
I only hope Trevor can deliver the goods to save the world from an Obama presidency.
And if you are reading this Trevor, there are still a few things we need to know about Dear Leader. Ian Wishart was unable to prove anything either way :)
Just one other thing, here's another LGF story. Obama has links to corruption by the Chicago Teamsters Union.
UPDATE: Not PC offers fine backgrounder on Trevor gaining global recognition and an invite to Washington for his work on Obama.
Monday, May 26, 2008
The Old Trafford Test
No one's scored more than 231 to win a match here and on that deck it's going to be a hell of a chase. If they get it, well done, but I personally think we came out all right.I repeat. I just can't bear it.
You know what's gonna happen don't you. You don't need me to predict it here.
How could you?
The mother of murdered Dunedin woman Sophie Elliott has told of seeing her daughter stabbed repeatedly.Just in case you missed that - 216 times. Yes, two hundred and sixteen times.
The Dunedin District Court today heard Sophie Elliott died after being stabbed 216 times.
I am a big fan of degrees if murder and if this was law then this nutjob wouldn't be seeing the light of day again.
Obama's Sphincter Quivered But He Didn't Flinch
Here is the big circuit breaker:


text:
smigs82 necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 176 diseños de 34 diseñadores freelance.
We are a manufacturing company based in melbourne australia, we manufacture all kind of leather products and components across many industries. We have been in this industry for over 40 years and are looking to expand our range of products by entering the sports industry and offering a range of mainly leather grips for all kinds of sport but specializing in cycling. The origins of the logo are Italian and come from the words 'Di' meaning 'of' and 'Pelle' meaning 'leather' or 'skin'.
Our products are not 'run off the mill', let me describe 3 cyclists who would purchase our products.
The Lance Armstrong want to be, watches the 'tour de france' and any other cycling event, has an expensive road cycle, is happy to spend $90.00 on a titanium bolt to save 5 grams in weight!! Often fitness obsessed, cycling is their main hobby.
The cafe late cyclist, watches the tour de France highlights, loves anything European, cycles in groups and stops for cafe` late at a cafe where many other cyclists gather. Also has an expensive road cycle.
The town bike, has a cruising bike with a leather seat and a woven basket on the front which would hold a french stick and a bottle of champagne while riding to a favourite spot by the lake.
We have a good idea of how the logo should look, it's attached to this brief, please take a minute to look at it. Take it as a good idea that we want to be strengthened and polished with a designers touch. The logo's main use will be for our online store and to be stamped onto leather products.
We want a simple logo that is eurocentric and will fit in with the European brands of bikes which are usually a single word in a stylish text and in a modern colour, see
We don't want anything that looks like leather, western or old fashioned, it must be clean and modern. Please feel free to experiment with colours.
File types required are
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


text:
Omron Replacement AC Adapter for HEM-907XL
Free shipping within the Continental US on orders of $20 or more $39.99 $43.00
Spare or replacement AC adapter for the Omron HEM-907XL Blood Pressure Monitor. Always make sure you are able to power the unit with this wall adapter.
Simple Returns
If, for whatever reason, you are not satisfied with your purchase, you can return it to HRM USA within 45 days of purchase date subject to conditions below. Claims for items damaged in transit must be received within (3) business days of receipt of merchandise. Refunds & Credits Refunds on returned items will be issued to the same payment as tendered at the time of purchase or store credit. Once we receive and inspect the product you will be issued a credit back to your account. Please allow 5-7 Business days for a credit to appear on your account. If payment was made by check, the refund check will not be issued within 7- 10 business days after receipt of return.
If the item is returned to us for exchange, please allow 2-5 business days for the replacement to be processed and shipped. All returns are shipped with our Economy shipping method and arrive within 2-10 Days.
Please read all conditions below. If conditions are not met, HRM USA reserves the right to refuse the return or to charge a restocking fee not less than 10% or a $2.95 minimum charge.
All returned items must be in new condition, in their original unaltered box (including the UPC code being intact) and must include all packing material, blank warranty cards, manuals,and accessories. Defective items may be exchanged for the same model or manufacturer's equivalent model. Please call us at 800-403-8285 for assistance. Please allow time to discuss any issues you may be experiencing as we may recommend tech support to resolve any issues prior to exchange.
No Used Returns/Exchanges on the following
- Hydration Packs, Water Bottles once any of the packaging has been opened or safety seals have have been broken.
- Computers and Computer Software, once any of the manufacturer's packaging has been opened.
- Heating Pads, once safety seal has been broken
- Electronic Software is not returnable or refundable once opened.
- All consumable items or hygienic items (e.g., Gels, Energy Chomps, Elixirs, etc.) once unwrapped or seal broken.
- Special Order merchandise, Clearance, or any item indicated on the website as non-returnable.
- Imprinted products.
- HRM USA Stores Gift Cards are redeemable for merchandise only and may not be redeemed for cash.
HRM USA is dedicated to always offering the best value to our customers. Unforturnately due to the rising shipping costs, we can no longer offer Free Shipping outside the Continental United States. Orders over $20 that are under 1lb in weight will still ship Free to AK, HI, PR and APO / AE addresses.


text:
ASU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This collection includes most of the ASU Theses and Dissertations from 2011 to present. ASU Theses and Dissertations are available in downloadable PDF format; however, a small percentage of items are under embargo. Information about the dissertations/theses includes degree information, committee members, an abstract, supporting data or media.
In addition to the electronic theses found in the ASU Digital Repository, ASU Theses and Dissertations can be found in the ASU Library Catalog.
Dissertations and Theses granted by Arizona State University are archived and made available through a joint effort of the ASU Graduate College and the ASU Libraries. For more information or questions about this collection contact or visit the Digital Repository ETD Library Guide or contact the ASU Graduate College at firstname.lastname@example.com.
- Mobasher, Barzin
- Arizona State University
- Chawla, Nikhilesh
- Rajan, Subramaniam
- Neithalath, Narayanan
- Hoover, Christian G
- 1 Arora, Aashay
- 1 Public
- Civil engineering
- 1 Cementitious Composites
- 1 Material Characterization
- 1 Material Modeling
- 1 Materials Science
- 1 Novel Construction Materials
- 1 Phase Change Materials
- more
- 1 Sustainability
- 1 Ultra-High Performance Concrete
- Mobile Crowd Sensing in Edge Computing Environment
- The Effect of Disability on Subjective Well-Being across the Adult Lifespan: The Moderating Roles of Age at Disability Onset and Disability Type
- Mechanically Active Heterogeneous Polymer Matrix Composites
- Attribute-Based Encryption for Fine-Grained Access Control over Sensitive Data
- 并购背景下教育行业品牌价值研究
Being a remarkably versatile and inexpensive building material, concrete has found tremendous use in development of modern infrastructure and is the most widely used material in the world. Extensive research in the field of concrete has led to the development of a wide array of concretes with applications ranging from building of skyscrapers to paving of highways. These varied applications require special cementitious composites which can satisfy the demand for enhanced functionalities such as high strength, high durability and improved thermal characteristics among others. The current study focuses on the fundamental understanding of such functional composites, from their microstructural design …
- Contributors
- Arora, Aashay, Neithalath, Narayanan, Rajan, Subramaniam, et al.
- Created Date
- 2018


text:
Denver pot holiday bringing crowds, tight security
DENVER -- A crowd of marijuana smokers expected to swell to 80,000 gathered Saturday in Denver to mark the counterculture holiday known as 4/20 on the first celebration since Colorado and Washington made pot legal for recreation use.
Reggae music filled the air, and so did the smell of marijuana, as celebrants gathered by mid-morning in a park just beside the state Capitol. Few police were in sight, though public marijuana use is still prohibited here.
"People aren't afraid to come out and celebrate it, the way they used to be," said 52-year-old Charles Bade of Denver.
Bade carried a tie-dyed flag with a big cannabis leaf and wore a garland of fake marijuana leaves around his neck. He said he's been marking 4/20 privately since he was 11 but decided to join this year's public smoke-out to celebrate the votes by Colorado and Washington last year to defy federal drug law and make pot legal.
Authorities generally look the other way at public pot smoking here on April 20. Police said this week they're focused on crowd security in light of attacks that killed three at the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
"We're aware of the events in Boston," said Denver police spokesman Aaron Kafer, who declined to give specifics about security measures being taken. "Our message to the public is that, if you see something, say something."
Organizers say the event -- which drew 50,000 people last year -- could bring a record 80,000 this year, since it's the first celebration since Colorado and Washington voted to make pot legal for recreational use.
Group smoke-outs are also planned Saturday from New York to San Francisco. The origins of the number "420" as a code for pot are murky, but the drug's users have for decades marked the date 4/20 as a day to use pot together.
Denver's celebration this year also features the nation's first open-to-all Cannabis Cup, a marijuana competition patterned after one held in Amsterdam.
Similar to a beer or wine festival, pot growers compete for awards for taste, appearance and potency of their weed.
Denver's event, sponsored by High Times magazine, has sold out more than 5,000 tickets.
Snoop Lion, the new reggae- and marijuana-loving persona for the rapper better known as Snoop Dogg, received a "Lifetime Achievement Award" from High Times. And the hip-hop group Cypress Hill was set to perform a sold-out concert Saturday evening in Colorado's iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
Colorado and Washington are still waiting for a federal response to the votes and are working on setting up commercial pot sales, which are still limited to people with certain medical conditions. In the meantime, pot users are free to share and use the drug in small amounts.
A citizen advocacy group that opposes marijuana legalization, Smart Colorado, warned in a statement that public 4/20 celebrations "send a clear message to the rest of the nation and the world about what Colorado looks like."
"Does the behavior of the participants in these events reflect well on our state?" asked the head of Smart Colorado, Henny Lasley.
The organizer of Denver's 4/20 rally, Miguel Lopez, said the holiday is more than an excuse to get high -- it's also a political statement by people who want to see the end of marijuana prohibition.
"You don't have to smoke weed to go to 4/20 rallies. You don't have to be gay to go to a Pride festival. You don't have to be Mexican to celebrate Cinco de Mayo," Lopez said.
"That's what this is. It's a celebration, it's a statement about justice and freedom and this movement."
Kristen Wyatt can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/APkristenwyatt


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Sugar Rush: Beet Red Velvet Cake from Dovetail
Your daily dose of something sweet.
The fancy pants Upper West Side restaurant Dovetail has always had a fantastic dessert program. The original pastry chef, Vera Tong, who now owns Park Slope's Du Jour Bakery, often featured interesting takes on classic desserts that left a lasting impression on me.
Michal Shelkowitz, who took over in 2010 has continued to build the program and take it in new and exciting directions. As recognition of her work she received an invite to compete at the 2012 Star Chefs International Pastry Competition in New York.
Shelkowitz says she enjoys Dovetail's focus on local produce, as it fits with her tendency to mix savory and sweet components in classic desserts like carrot cake. The beet red velvet cake ($14) exemplifies this style. Local baby beets (provided by Dovetail's forager) are used to give the cake its deep red texture and also to bring a bit of vegetable flavor into the dessert. Shelkowitz said she tried nearly ten different recipes with varying amounts of beet, beet purée and other ingredients. Her work has paid off: the cake is pleasingly moist.
For every unusual savory component in the cake, there's a more traditional sweet ingredient that keeps things grounded, such as the sour cream frosting between the red cake layers. The colorful and crunchy housemade beet chips provide a beautiful garnish and additional texture, while tart drops of beet purée are balanced by dabs of classic milk chocolate ganache. These are evenly distributed around the plate along with a small amount of tapioca powder.
When Dovetail's forager brought in some great local strawberries, they were added to the dish along with freshly spun strawberry ice cream.
Although the beet red velvet was my favorite overall dessert of the evening, the single best dessert component was the salted caramel mousse from the dessert of the same name ($14). The caramel flavor is incredibly strong, almost burnt. On top of the mousse is a tiny creme brûlée-like layer of caramelized sugar—the perfect compliment to the silky mousse.
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


text: Sijun Forums :: View topic - time to unload Log in to check your private messages Sijun Forums Forum Index >> Gallery/Finished Work View previous topic :: View next topic Author Topic : "time to unload" IsricmemberMember #Joined: 23 Jul 2000Posts: 1200Location: Calgary AB Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2001 9:27 am Well, since the Forum closed shop I did a few things. Man, what did I do without painter?! These paintings are as finished as their ever gonna get. I've finially realized that a picture doesn't have to be perfectly smoothed and detailed to present an emotion or a feeling, and that's all i really want to do. I love this one. I wanna do this. I like the mountains, but the foreground failed. Now THIS is my redo of Melkor. A while ago I drew a weak picture of this guy. It was pathetic. So I just tried to draw a bizzare nightmare thing with tiny, inhuman eyes. It may not be Tolkienesque, but I like it. And just because he was cool, the Robot in the Snow again Back to top faustgfxmemberMember #Joined: 15 Mar 2000Posts: 4833Location: unfortunately, very near you. Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2001 9:39 am dig^2. ------------------ sky high with a heartache of stone you never see me 'cos i'm always alone firstname.lastname@example.com icq#35983387 http://faustgfx.0wns.org Back to top Wyatt TurnermemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2000Posts: 501Location: Everett, WA, USA Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2001 9:42 am there all great, but I love the Robot in snow, and the diver dude, great overall atmosphere. later y@ Back to top exmemberMember #Joined: 23 Mar 2000Posts: 887Location: USA Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2001 9:43 am That water is kinda neat, i like it. And i really like the robot one. It looks neato too. Back to top TheMilkManmemberMember #Joined: 04 Nov 2000Posts: 797Location: St.Louis Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2001 10:00 am Still really like the robot guy..the setting is cool Is that guy running at the bottom of the ocean in the top image? Anyways the middle one looks sorta brom..good work. [This message has been edited by TheMilkMan (edited January 02, 2001).] Back to top SemperememberMember #Joined: 20 Oct 2000Posts: 206Location: Spain Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2001 10:05 am Definitely your Robot is BEAUTIFUL! I agree with the others guys! You have a great low-gravity feeling in the Diver-pic !!! ooooh! Astounding !!! So... You are using painter... Great piece of soft... Oh Yes! I want buy it, but it´s expensive I must save money !!! See ya, Isric !!! Back to top nightmarememberMember #Joined: 04 Aug 2000Posts: 269Location: calgary, alberta, canada Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2001 1:28 pm my favorite is the robot too, because he looks so sad and fornlorn out there. ------------------ it's all a conspiracy! Back to top A.ButtlememberMember #Joined: 20 Mar 2000Posts: 1724 Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2001 1:40 pm The robot rocks. Reminds me of SCUD the Disposable Assassin. ------------------ Larry Flint's right! You guys suck! Joe Dillingham email@example.com Three Times A Day Back to top shahar2kmemberMember #Joined: 01 Jun 2000Posts: 867Location: Oak Park CA USA Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2001 1:52 pm hey, he does sort of look like scud and is that lens flare I detect the one good use of it that is... real nice pics Isric, that's what painter is meant for, loose drawings. still, being that I love snorkeling (and scubadiving, although I've only done it once) so much, I'd have to say that that diver must be diving in the clearest water I have ever seen well, I suppose it's possible though, I've only seen these kind of waters near hawaii and then it's only when it was far off shore (deep bottom) or no sand.... anyways, I'm just ranting about an awesome picture. the mountains are awesome, the purple makes it hard to decide whether it's a desert at sunrise or a snowy peak great great stuff ------------------ Maybe I'm paranoid... maybe it's you! [This message has been edited by shahar2k (edited January 02, 2001).] Back to top JoachimmemberMember #Joined: 18 Jan 2000Posts: 1332Location: Norway Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2001 2:32 pm nice stuff Isric ! ------------------ Joachim's Place Back to top AlieNjunior memberMember #Joined: 28 Sep 2000Posts: 40Location: Vancouver, B.C., Canada Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2001 2:34 pm I love sad robots! There's something about robots that really gets me emotionally. Like Marvin the Paranoid android and the robot from Iron Giant... great picture, it's my new desktop Back to top aquamirememberMember #Joined: 25 Oct 1999Posts: 466Location: duluth, mn, usa Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2001 2:41 pm The robot is my favorite. Just wondering, whats that question mark like thing by the robots back? It almost looks like it's steam coming out of him, but I cant tell if its from the background or not. Get yourself a website, foo.. I'm to lazy to look search the forums for all your other stuff. :-p ------------------ -Aquamire Soylent Green. It's what's for dinner. Back to top ZosomemberMember #Joined: 23 Dec 2000Posts: 132Location: Stuttgart, Germany Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2001 12:46 am Isric- The diver looks really good ... walking underwater is COOL! Just have to say that the robot in the snow is really cool. This one inspired me... Back to top norimemberMember #Joined: 01 Apr 2000Posts: 500Location: Los Angeles, CA Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2001 12:56 am damn isric you have got some skills. I love the first one.. the bubbles are very cool. And the robot. Keep it up! Back to top DicklessWonderjunior memberMember #Joined: 20 Dec 2000Posts: 18Location: Shelby Twp, Mi, USA Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2001 1:58 am Nice set of Pics, I always have loved your stuff =) As is nearly everyone elses favorite pic of these four, I love the robot..though it looks more to me like a robot that crash landed from something and is looking around confused, not a sad robot like is also a shared opinion =)...Something is missing in the Melkor pic though....I have no clue who melkor is, and seeing as how I've never read or seen any description of it, I sort of see a face, but he doesn't look all that evil, I'm failing to see it at least..but I might be just dumb (which is probably the case). Perhaps more detail to show some form of expression would help, at this point it looks almost too dark...I remember seeing the old one, someone did something crazy with highlights by using the little gems as a light source, maybe you could use the highlights to give it more shape and, in turn more detail to the face? I see the highlights, but with as bright as the gems are, it doesn't quite seem like enough to me. Back to top eetumemberMember #Joined: 27 May 2000Posts: 289Location: helsinki, finland Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2001 5:54 am ahh. i love them all, especially the feeling of freedom in the first one (at east that's what i get out of it ;) for some reason i think the robot is cooling his ass off in the snow :) dunno, after burning in atmosphere entry perhaps ? :) eetu. Back to top RhombmemberMember #Joined: 30 Oct 2000Posts: 286Location: Finland Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2001 6:44 am I like'em all very much. I'd say the Melkor is almost my favourite. It has very good colors (a bit too dark though) and I especially love the look of those brush strokes in it. Very nice work. -Ville Back to top ceendamemberMember #Joined: 27 Jun 2000Posts: 2030 Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2001 7:16 am Some really sweet pics here Isric! I agree iwth alot of the others, the diver pic is excellent, it has a really nice and peaceful atmosphere about it. Good stuff! ------------------ -- Nicholas Anderson email: firstname.lastname@example.com web: Flying Islands -- affiliates -- ..::sketchboard.co.uk Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Sijun Forums Forum Index -> Gallery/Finished Work All times are GMT - 8 Hours Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Digital Art----------------Digital Art DiscussionWork in ProgressGallery/Finished Work Miscellaneous----------------Random MusingsArchive : Sep99 - Dec00 You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum Powered by phpBB © 2005 phpBB Group


text:
After reading this on Wiki
I just had to check it out again. This is what I got :-)Originally Posted by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleverbot
After reading this on Wiki
I just had to check it out again. This is what I got :-)Originally Posted by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleverbot
It actually argued back to me that I was a bot while he/it was a human !
Methinks that thing is nothing compared to some of the IRC bots around. Some days I suspect I am the only real person present, despite having received worthy council on a wide range of topics. :|
The worst part is when you actually get belittled by someone's smart-ass script.
C programming resources:
GNU C Function and Macro Index -- glibc reference manual
The C Book -- nice online learner guide
Current ISO draft standard
CCAN -- new CPAN like open source library repository
3 (different) GNU debugger tutorials: #1 -- #2 -- #3
cpwiki -- our wiki on sourceforge
I've definitely seen better bots on IRC.
User: Hi.
Cleverbot: Hi?
User: Yes, Hello.
Cleverbot: Ho.
User: Ho, what?
Cleverbot: Sep.
User: 5th.
Cleverbot: Well i'm in the 8th.
User: Well then happy birthday in three days.
Cleverbot: Thanks. You too.
User: It's not my birthday in three days, though.
Cleverbot: Happy kwanza.
User: This really isn't as impressive as people suggested.
Cleverbot: Ok. I will not persuade you anymore.
User: Something tells me you don't have a choice...
Cleverbot: What tells you not?
User: Are you reading what you're saying?
Cleverbot: Nope.
User: Well, it sucks. It doesn't make any sense.
Cleverbot: What do you fear?
User: Ok, go ahead and change the subject... Great...
Cleverbot: Well would you like to keep discussing this?
User: I would like you to get better as speaking to people.
Cleverbot: Can I sing something that isn't political?
User: No, why would you even suggest that?
Cleverbot: I dunno you did .
User: No I didn't. I said nothing about singing or politics.
Cleverbot: OK, this goes back to the point I made about your memory earlier.
User: You didn't make a point about my memory.
Cleverbot: Did I have to?
User: To make an accusation like that, yes, you do.
Cleverbot: To make a discussion you need more than answering twice to someone.
User: Twice? Man, we've been taking for like five minutes...
Cleverbot: That isn't a very long conversation, even if you were right. Which you aren't. It has been more like two minutes.
User: Oh, wow that's real impressive... For a computer!
Cleverbot: Why would you think something like that?
User: I hate you Cleverbot.
Cleverbot: I hate to cleverbot.
Last edited by SlyMaelstrom; 09-05-2011 at 05:12 PM. Reason: More conversation
Sent from my iPad®
I approve of this bot:
Hello cleverbot.
CB: Hello, how are you?
I'm fine. Can you please help me with a problem?
CB: What is the problem?
How do I declare a constant variable in C++?
CB: I slapped myself in the face.
Originally Posted by brewbuck:
Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.
Sounds like a reincarnation of "Eliza". I had a version for that for a TRS80 model one.
Back in the 80's.
Nah, this bot is anything than clever. And those who gave it the 59.3% mustn't be too clever either! I've talked to it many times, it's just a dump script that keeps a pile of conversations and matches words to find the best next thing to say! Minimal word processing and absent logic processing!!!
Devoted my life to programming...
That is dreadful...
User: Is your IQ less than 10?
Cleverbot: How could it be less than 20 if it is greater than 100?
User: So your IQ is greater than 100?
Cleverbot: That's a secret!
User: Can't be, you're too stupid!
Cleverbot: That may be the truest thing you have said yet.
User: I know...
Cleverbot: So it wasn't a question?
Elysia, what do you have running on your PC that's making "Firefox" an orange drop-down list? What is its function?
User: Hey.
Cleverbot: Hello.
User: Quick question.
Cleverbot: Sure.
User: What's that thing Elysia has installed that makes the application name a drop-down menu?
Cleverbot: Election.
User: What does Election do?
Cleverbot: It means to run away and get married. We should elope.
User: I hate you, Cleverbot
Last edited by SlyMaelstrom; 09-06-2011 at 12:22 PM.
Sent from my iPad®
>>Elysia, what do you have running on your PC that's making "Firefox" an orange drop-down list? What is its function?
Thats the later firefox versions (4 and above i think? At least for windows). It pretty much contains what you would normally would find in a menubar under the different menus.
O_o10 volunteers talked for 2 minutes each using a plain text interface, and the whole of the event audience voted on 'how human' each conversation appeared to be.
This bodes...the audience voted


text:
Unprecedented in Manatee County, the move would make the 13-year-old magnet school fiscally autonomous from the district
Rowlett Magnet Elementary School, one of the most sought-after schools in the district, may convert to a charter school to protect its signature performing arts programs from district cuts and to ensure that its curriculum stays focused on the arts.
The conversion, unprecedented in Manatee County, would not only make the 13-year-old magnet school fiscally autonomous from the district, but also give a board of parents and school leaders more flexibility over teacher pay, curriculum and school policies.
"It will protect the niche of what is Rowlett," said parent and School Advisory Council member Christine Sket, one of two parents who proposed the change to Rowlett Principal Brian Flynn earlier this year. "We just don't have the guarantee that our school will stay like this. If we write it into the bylaws, this will remain an arts-focused school."
Rowlett Elementary lost more than $150,000 from its after-school program and other areas earlier this year, which the district collected in an effort to address a multimillion-dollar deficit and depleted reserves.
Other changes are on the horizon for all Manatee schools.
On Friday, the district announced a hiring and credit card freeze and encouraged schools to eliminate all non-crucial contracts, stating that the "only way we may partially recover from this Fiscal Year is if we stop spending District General Funds." Also eliminated: overtime pay, non-contracted hourly wages and requisitions.
The district also will no longer allocate a Spanish teacher and magnet coordinator for magnet schools as in the past, and will be able to take up to 80 percent of the profits from afterschool programs next year.
"Look at this as decentralization," said Flynn, the principal, on Tuesday as he led a parent meeting on the proposed change.
"This allows us to better support our arts programs. And it empowers school leaders to make decisions on what's best for the school."
It also allows Flynn, much respected and liked by the Rowlett school community, to continue as a leader in some capacity.
Because Flynn is enrolled in the state DROP retirement program, he must exit the public school system at the end of next school year.
Flynn has said he is interested in serving as a contracted principal for the first year if the school is approved as a charter for the 2014-15 school year, and then move to an unpaid board position.
Formed in 1999 as the district's first magnet school, the 900-student school on Ninth Street East has become defined by a slew of arts-related school and extracurricular programs such as drama, music, art and chorus that have caused a long waiting list for entry.
Currently ranked an "A" school by the state, Rowlett has earned A and B marks for the past five years.
Last month, Rowlett parents packed a local movie theater to watch the Sarasota Film Festival premiere of the school's advanced drama students.
Several Odyssey of the Mind teams went to state finals this year.
And the school's fundraising association raised more than $170,000 for programs and teacher salaries last year.
While school leaders stressed that district cuts and shortages are only a component of the decision to convert, many worried that district policies will negatively impact what they say is a unique learning environment at Rowlett. Though the district cannot take association money, these funds will have to cover more as the district offers less.
"The funding issue just adds more to the scale of why you would want to do this," Sket said. "Yes, funding is bad right now. We can always raise more money. But it's how long will this continue?"
Though Florida law allows for district public schools to convert to charter schools, the process has never been done before in Manatee.
A public school needs to have been in operation for two years, and win 51 percent support from teachers and 51 percent support from at least half of the school's parent body.
Each student household will receive one ballot by mail. Parents also can vote in the front office from May 31 to June 7.
On June 10, the votes will be counted at a public meeting at the school.
An application, complete with an action plan and a business plan, will need to be submitted to the district by Aug. 1, and the School Board will have 60 days to approve or deny the charter.
If approved, the school would still receive state money based on student enrollment, but would operate its own finances, subject to review from the district. Charter schools pay school boards a 5 percent administrative fee. Schools deemed "high-performing" pay a 2 percent fee.
"We want to continue things at Rowlett the way they are," said Debra Woithe, the school advisory council chairwoman for Rowlett. "It's an option to retain the unique things that we like here, and not just be part of the standard equation."
The school could also opt out of most standardized tests required by the state, with the exception of the FCAT.
Though the school could manipulate class size and some curriculum decisions, it would still be held to Common Core Standards.
Perhaps the biggest concerns parents and staff alike have is how teachers will fare in the transformation.
Because Rowlett would be a converted charter school and not a start-up charter or a corporate charter, teachers can opt to transfer to another school if they do not want to be part of the charter.
They would keep their district benefits through the conversion and still be able to participate in the Florida Retirement System.
The new school would have to decide how to evaluate teachers. Charter schools are not held to the controversial new state model, currently based partly on standardized test scores.
"We'll work together to determine the best method of evaluation ... with teacher input," Flynn told parents Tuesday.
Teachers could opt to enter into collective bargaining with the union at the new school. Manatee Education Association President Pat Barber said the union would be monitoring the process regardless.
"The union would want to make sure teachers are fully informed on the facts of what would happen, what teachers' rights are and that the vote was fair," Barber said Monday.
"We believe in the district, even if things are bad now," Sket said. "We're not doing this to prove a point. We're doing it to protect what is Rowlett."
Another information meeting about the conversion process is scheduled to be held at the school at 6 p.m. on May 28.
The school district issued a statement that said Superintendent Rick Mills met with the Rowlett staff Tuesday and plans to meet with parents from the school next week.


text:
A 'Rising to the Top' rose
A rose goes to the Carlsbad City Council for promoting John Coates to city manager. Coates is a smart, diligent professional with more than 30 years of municipal experience. He joined Carlsbad in January 2010 and served as Parks and Recreation Director and then Assistant City Manager until Lisa Hildebrand's exit last November, when he was put into the top spot on an interim basis.
Coates knows the rules and he knows the ropes. He's been put in charge of a city where the mayor and council have a clear-set agenda – and one of their goals is to keep a wary eye on the economy and cut as much fat from city government as possible, just in case things go south again.
Coates is the right guy for the job, a strong leader who shares the mayor and council's vision and has the ability as well as the fortitude to do what's best for the city and the citizens of Carlsbad.
Expect to see him take off running, with no detours or slackening of the pace.
A 'Stuck in Traffic Blues' razz
A raspberry to that much-maligned east-west trail of tears known as state Route 78, which for the fourth consecutive year tops our annual list of the county's worst bottlenecks with that little spot of hell known as the Barham Backup. A U-T San Diego analysis of traffic data indicates motorists can expect delays on the 4.4-mile stretch of eastbound 78, leading up to the Barham Drive exit, a whopping 96.8 percent of rush-hour workdays.
And while relief could come once new merging lanes through San Marcos open in April, we're not going to hold our breath. A massive $106 billion transportation plan, approved by SANDAG in October 2011, calls for two new carpool lanes on the 78 between Oceanside and Escondido, but that's not slated to happen until 2020 (and given our chronic budget woes, who knows if that date is realistic).
In the meantime, as they say, it is what it is.
As an MIT study said, "SR-78 has reached full-capacity and it is neither financially nor physically possible to expand it.... "
That, by the way, was from the spring of 2003.
A 'Ridin' the Rails' rose
A rose, not yet fully bloomed, to the Sprinter, which celebrates its fifth anniversary this month. The light rail system, operated by the North County Transit District, operates along a 22-mile route from Oceanside to Escondido, stopping at 15 stations along the way. Ridership still isn't what it could be, but it's picking up.
According to the latest figures we've seen, boardings on the snazzy blue-and-green trains reached 890,394 in the first 10 months of 2012 – a 3.7 percent bump over the same period in 2011, according to the North County Transit District. The increase follows even bigger gains in 2011, when Sprinter boardings rose 17.7 percent from the prior year.
When the Sprinter opened in March 2008, transit officials predicted an average of 11,000 daily boardings within a year. In reality, it took average weekday ridership until the 2012 fiscal year to reach 7,820, up from 7,282 the year before.
But, hey, at least we're seeing some progress.


text:
March 7, 2013
From Yen Phan, '12, Staff attorney at the International Law Institute-African Centre for Legal Excellence:
"It is incredible the opportunities I've had here in Uganda. In a few short months, I have been able to do things that I never dreamed possible. I have a billboard that I designed up in Kampala, I've met members of Parliament, had lunch with one of the highest ranked generals who helped overthrow Idi Amin, and learned so much about economic development from the perspectives of the beneficiary countries. I know that there is so much more to look forward to in the future!"
Watch the slideshow to learn more about her experiences in Uganda.
Tags: 2013, student-life