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In Mirror Mirror, Queen Clementianna suffers from physical insecurity and takes it upon herself to conjure up different potions to erase the "crinkles" on her face. In this feature, we will suggest different homemade beauty remedies that you can find in your own kitchen cabinet to treat yourself at the comfort of your own home, such as using grapes for those darn wrinkles, green tea for puffy eyes, and a mayonnaise/ banana mix treatment for your hair.
Reduce Those Evil Wrinkles
The queen hated her "crinkles" so she turned to home remedies to help minimize them. We suggest cutting seedless grapes, then crushing them to apply to face and neck. Repeat daily. The antioxidant properties of the grapes remove pesky 'crinkles!'
Snow White Eyes
Green tea contains antioxidants and placing a damp green tea under each eye can sooth tired eyes and reduce bags and dark circles. Adding cucumber slices or grated potatoes over closed eyes will also reduce puffy-looking skin. Leave it on for about 10 minutes and poof, magically, clear and whiter eyes!
Whiter Teeth
For a quick and easy way to brighten your smile, mash a few strawberries in a bowl and add ½ teaspoon of baking soda. Coat teeth with the mix and leave for five minutes. The malic acid acts as an astringent and removes stains. Be wise not too use too often (an evil queen trait) because regular use could damage your tooth enamel. Brush again with normal toothpaste to remove the mix. Happy smiles!
Shiny Hair
To get Snow White's shiny and smooth hair, condition your hair by heating a ½ cup of mayonnaise and a mushed banana in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Apply to dry hair and cover with a plastic bag. Leave the mixture on your hair for 20 minutes. Remove the plastic bag and rinse your hair with warm water then shampoo as normal.
Skimmed milk powder makes a great face wash as it gently exfoliates your skin and leaves it soft. This is suitable for all skin types and is likely Snow White's favorite cleansing method!


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A large, high-resolution LED-backlit IPS display. An incredibly responsive Multi-Touch screen. And an amazingly powerful Apple-designed chip. All in a design thats thin and light enough to take anywhere. iPad isnt just the best device of its kind. Its a whole new kind of device.
LED-Backlit IPS Display
The high-resolution, 9.7-inch LED-backlit IPS display on iPad is remarkably crisp and vivid. Which makes it perfect for web browsing, watching movies, or viewing photos. With iPad, there is no up or down. Its designed to show off your content in portrait or landscape orientation with every turn. And because it uses a display technology called IPS (in-plane switching), it has a wide, 178? viewing angle. So you can hold it almost any way you want and still get a brilliant picture, with excellent color andcontrast.
The Multi-Touch screen on iPad is based on the same revolutionary technology on iPhone. But the technology has been completely reengineered for the larger iPad surface, making it extremely precise and responsive. So whether youre zooming in on a map, flicking through your photos, or deleting an email, iPad responds with incredible accuracy. And it does just what you want it to.
Thin and Light
One of the first things youll notice about iPad is how thin and light it is. The screen is 9.7 inches measured diagonally. So overall, its slightly smaller than a magazine. At just 1.5 pounds and 0.5 inch thin,1 you can use it anywhere. And a slight curve to the back makes it easy to pick up and comfortable to hold.
Up to 10 Hours of Battery Life
To maximize battery life, Apple engineers took the same lithium-polymer battery technology they developed for Mac notebook computers and applied it to the iPad. As a result, you can use iPad for up to 10 hours while surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching videos, or listening tomusic.2 While surfing the web on a 3G data network,you can get up to 9 hours of battery life.2
With built-in 802.11n, iPad takes advantage of the fastest Wi-Fi networks. It automatically locates available Wi-Fi networks, which you can join with a few taps. iPad also comes with Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, letting you connect to devices like wireless headphones or the AppleWirelessKeyboard.
The A4 chip inside iPad was custom-designed by Apple engineers to be extremely powerful yet extremely power efficient. The performance is unlike anything youve ever seen on a touch-based device. Which makes iPad fantastic for everything from productivity apps to games. At the same time, the A4 chip is so power efficient that it helps iPad get up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge. And iPad is available with a choice of 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB of flash storage, giving you lots of room for your photos, movies, music, apps, and more.
30-pin connector. Built-in speaker.
The dock connector port on the bottom of iPad allows you to dock and charge it. It also lets you connect to accessories like the iPad Camera Connection Kit and the iPad Keyboard Dock. Youll find many accessories designed to be compatible with the dock connector port.
The powerful built-in speaker produces rich, full sound perfect for watching a movie or listening to music. iPad also comes with a headphone jack and a built-in microphone.
- 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
- 1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi)
- Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
- Support for display of multiple languages and characters simultaneously
- 1GHz Apple A4 custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip
- UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)
- GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
- Data only
- Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n)
- Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology
- Accelerometer
- Ambient light sensor
Audio playback
- Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
- Audio formats supported: HE-AAC (V1), AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
- User-configurable maximum volume limit
TV and video
- Support for 1024 by 768 pixels with Dock Connector to VGA Adapter;576p and 480p with AppleComponentAV Cable; 576i and 480i with AppleCompositeAV Cable
- H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format
Mail attachment support
- Viewable document types: .jpg, .tiff, .gif (images); .doc and .docx (Microsoft Word); .htm and .html (web pages); .key (Keynote); .numbers (Numbers); .pages (Pages); .pdf (Preview and Adobe Acrobat); .ppt and .pptx (Microsoft PowerPoint); .txt (text); .rtf (rich text format); .vcf (contact information); .xls and .xlsx (Microsoft Excel)
- Language support for English, French, German, Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Russian
- Keyboard support for English (U.S.), English (UK), French (France, Canada), German, Japanese (QWERTY), Dutch, Flemish, Spanish, Italian, Simplified Chinese (Handwriting and Pinyin), Russian
- Dictionary support for English (U.S.), English (UK), French, French (Canadian), French (Swiss), German, Japanese, Dutch, Flemish, Spanish, Italian, Simplified Chinese (Handwriting and Pinyin), Russian
Input and output
- Dock connector port
- 3.5-mm stereo headphonejack
- Built-in speaker
- Microphone
External buttons and controls
- On/Off, Sleep/wake
- Mute
- Volume up/down
- Home
Mac system requirements
- Mac computer with USB 2.0 port
- Mac OS X v10.5.8 or later
- iTunes 9.1 or later (free download from
- Internet access
Windows system requirements
- PC with USB 2.0 port
- Windows 7; Windows Vista; or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later
- iTunes 9.1 or later
- iTunes Store account
- Internet access
Environmental requirements
- Operating temperature: 32 to 95 F (0 to 35C)
- Nonoperating temperature: -4 to 113 F (-20 to 45C)
- Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
- Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m)
Battery and power
- Built-in 25-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
- Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music
- Up to 9 hours of surfing the web using 3G data network
- Charging via power adapter or USB to computer system
Size and weight
- Height 9.56 inches (242.8 mm)
- Width: 7.47 inches (189.7 mm)
- Depth: 0.5 inch (13.4 mm)
- Weight: 1.5 pounds (0.68 kg) Wi-Fi model;

subset: commoncrawl


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Being a Veteran: A young soldier looks back … and ahead
By Richard Rogers
All Veterans and their friends and families are welcome at the Second Annual Veterans Day Celebration at Mammoth Fire Station #1 on Main Street – Monday, Nov. 12, at 9 a.m. with breakfast provided. A graduate of Mammoth High School — and a Veteran —offers the following comments.
It's a strange feeling to think of one's self as a Veteran at the age of 23. When I think of the word "Veteran" I think of my Grandpa serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II, or my parent's friend who was a combat pilot in Vietnam. The last thought that comes to mind when I think of the word "Veteran" is myself and all the other young men and woman who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It's important to remember, though, that that is exactly who we are and, as Veterans of these most recent wars, we have a role to live up to. A good friend asked me recently, "What do you think it means to be a Veteran nowadays?" I didn't have an answer for him at the time because, truly, I had yet to think of myself as a Veteran. Now that I've had some time to think about it, I would say that being a Veteran comes down to three main commitments.
Many American citizens today are so far removed from the fighting in Afghanistan that they forget that we are still over there, that Americans are still dying there. So for me, the first commitment we have is reminding the public that a war is still going on and that, even though it might not affect them or their loved ones personally, it still very much affects the health of the nation and of millions of families.
The disconnect between those who serve in the military and the citizens who don't is growing ever wider, despite the fact that all Americans should be vested in the success of our soldiers. Let's remember back to 11 years ago, and remember the sacrifices all Veterans and their families have made, to see to it that we never have to experience a day like 9/11 ever again.
The second commitment ties in closely with the first. We know soldiers are dying in Afghanistan, and now it's time to ask why. We served our country with pride and now the greatest service we can do for our country is to demand an answer to that simple question. If we want to continue to struggle there, then to what end? I believe all Americans agree success in Afghanistan is vital to our nation's security. Where people disagree is on the question of when our role would end and the Afghan people's role would begin.
Our president has announced a drawdown plan, which would bring all American troops home by the end of 2014 and allow for a smooth transition to the Afghan military. What people are not as aware of is that the role of American troops in Afghanistan has already been handcuffed and marginalized so much by the policies of the Afghan government in Kabul that at this point the only difference between coming home now or in 2014 is the American body count.
The last commitment, and the most important of the three, is to respect those who came before us, those who died in service and those who continue to deal with the scars of war. It's our responsibility that these Veterans are never forgotten. We do that by holding ourselves to a higher standard in whatever walk of life we go into after leaving military service, and by dedicating time to helping those Veterans who need a helping hand.
A good military perspective comes from The Ranger Creed that states, "I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy." We upheld that promise in combat, now it's time to uphold that promise to those suffering from PTSD and other traumatic wounds, enemies they will battle with their whole life.
Rangers lead the way!
Ed. Note: The author of this article will not be officially discharged from the Army until after the Celebration and felt it best not to disclose his real name. Extra credit if you can identify Richard Rogers.


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Book review: The Taming of the Queen by Philippa Gregory
But Henry's sixth wife – intelligent, quick-thinking and scholarly – came perilously close to dying at the stake, and only outlived her scheming, volatile husband by the skin of her teeth.
This most fascinating of royal consorts moves centre stage in a riveting and atmospheric new novel from another much-admired Tudor 'queen,' Philippa Gregory, an author who has made this period of history her own.
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Hide AdThe Taming of the Queen is a breathtakingly intimate portrait of Katherine (Kateryn) Parr, daughter of Sir Thomas Parr, lord of the manor of Kendal in Westmorland. She married four times, helped to heal the rift between Henry and his daughters, and was the first woman to publish work under her own name in English.
Through Kateryn's own powerful account we share the terrors of four years of marriage to her man-mountain husband Henry, a menacing journey into the dangers and dramas, sacrifices and achievements, traumas and tensions of life with the ageing, irascible king.
In 1543, 52-year-old Henry, the king that every girl in England once dreamed of, is now a 'rotting body' with yellow teeth and 'old-dog breath' but that doesn't stop him looking for a new wife.
When his beady eyes light on 30-year-old Kateryn Parr, recently widowed, his proposal of marriage is 'a gamble with her life' but one that she knows she cannot refuse even though the only place she really wants to be is in her new lover's 'warm bed.'
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdKateryn has no illusions about the danger she faces; the previous queen, Katherine Howard, lasted only 16 months before she was executed. 'He has buried four wives,' she muses, 'why not another?'
Her clothes and jewels are 'dead women's goods' and she is now on permanent display in 'a court schooled in the bad habit of watching Henry's queens.'
But Henry adores his new bride and Kateryn's trust in him grows as she takes the royal princesses Mary and Elizabeth under her wing, creates a radical study circle at the heart of the court, and rules the kingdom as Regent while Henry is fighting a war in France.
Meanwhile, Protestants are increasingly under threat for their faith and Henry's dangerous gaze turns on Kateryn. The queen has powerful enemies and traditional churchmen and rivals for power accuse her of heresy. The punishment is death by fire… and the king's name is on the warrant.
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdGregory brings us the Tudor court in all its extravagance, political manoeuvring, religious unease and treachery. Henry, now just a travesty of the golden prince who wooed the nation, is a gross, stinking hulk whose unpredictably and suspicions make him as deadly as a viper in the grass.
Steering a course through these dangerous waters and hiding the secrets of her heart, Kateryn dare not say a word out of place, relying on her diplomacy, quick thinking and intellect to keep her head above the waves that could break her.
She knows that however discreet she tries to be and however carefully she might tread around her slowly dying husband, he still has the authority and the will to despatch her in the blink of an eye.
The gripping story of a remarkable woman…
(Simon & Schuster, hardback, £20)


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If you have paid interest on your student loans in 2009 that information is now available on ACPE's web site(the 1098-E Form is not). To view 2009 tax information, register or login to your ACPE account and select "Account Information," then select the "Tax Information" tab. If you have paid interest in 2009, interest information will be displayed.
A 1098-E Statement of Student Loan Interest provides the amount of interest paid on your loan during the past year. You may be eligible for an income adjustment on your federal taxes as a result of interest that you paid on your student loan. For more information, please contact your tax advisor or refer to IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education.
Permanent disability, death, or other circumstances may result in a student loan lender writing off all or a portion of a borrower's debt. If the amount written off is greater than $600, the federal government requires the lender to file a 1099-C, Cancelation of Debt. The total written off may be taxable. For more information, contact your tax adviser or refer to IRS Publication 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income.
Appropriate tax documents are mailed automatically to the address listed in our records. If you are in repayment and paid interest on your loan last year, or had at least $600 of your balance written off, you should have received your forms by mail. If you did not, please contact customer service, and update your contact information if necessary.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires eligible institutions to furnish a 1098-T, Tuition Statement, to each student. The IRS defines an eligible educational institution as a college, university, vocational school, or other post-secondary educational institution that is described in section 481 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 as in effect on August 5, 1997, and that is eligible to participate in the Department of Education's student aid programs.
For specific information on qualifying educational tax deductions and credits see IRS Pub 970, Tax Benefits for Education and contact your tax adviser. If you believe your school is required by IRS to provide a 1098-T, contact information for the IRS can be found on their web site at http://www.irs.gov/.
Yes. The federal government has authorized various tax relief benefits for individuals pursuing higher education. Check with your tax adviser or the IRS web site for the latest details.


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STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (AP) — Fitzpatrick Manufacturing Co. is a high-tech job shop, crafting super-precise parts for machines used in everything from robotics to aerospace to oil exploration. Macomb Community College lies a few miles down the road in this Detroit suburb.
Sometimes it's hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.
Fitzpatrick's 93 employees are constantly in and out of Macomb, taking classes with a tuition reimbursement from the company. And so frequently are Macomb instructors at Fitzpatrick's plant to offer lessons on the esoteric technology used there that the company built a classroom, now lined with about 250 diplomas and certificates employees have earned. Company president Kevin LaComb describes the school as concierge-style job training — exactly what his workers need to keep a quality advantage over lower-cost competitors overseas.
"You tell them what you need, pretty much in a couple days, they have an instructor," he said. "Other people say, 'This is what we're offering, but we can't deviate from what we do.' Macomb customizes just what we need."
Community colleges, long the under-loved stepchildren of American higher education, still don't get the dollars of their four-year counterparts, but they're standing very much in the spotlight these days. President Barack Obama made them the focus last week when he unveiled his proposed budget, which took place at a Northern Virginia community college he's now visited four times. The president joked he'd been to campus so often that he's only three credits shy of graduating.
Why all the attention? One reason is that so-called "middle skill" jobs at places like Fitzpatrick — requiring more than high school but less than a full college degree— look like the most promising source of fuel for quickly revving up an economic recovery. Federal data show they account for roughly half of all jobs, and even when unemployment was over 10 percent nationally last year, a survey conducted by the Manufacturing Institute found that two-thirds of manufacturing companies reported moderate-to-severe shortages of qualified workers to hire. That kind of training is the sweet spot for the country's 1,167 community colleges.
But the other big reason is speed and agility. Compared to more slow-to-respond sectors of higher education, community colleges have become more entrepreneurial, flexible and responsive. Here in the Detroit area and around the country, many have mastered the art of staying on top of rapidly churning technologies and quickly piecing together curricula in fields just being born.
Most teachers aren't tenured professors but professionals plucked from changing fields. If community colleges don't have someone on staff to teach a class, they hire an adjunct. And they can move in weeks or sometimes days, earning a reputation as the only corner of higher education that really operates at private sector speeds.
In Michigan, where unemployment peaked at 14.1 percent in 2009 but has since fallen to 9.3 percent, leaders hope the agility of community colleges will accelerate a manufacturing rebound. Money is tight, but one program offers free training for companies filling newly created jobs. In return, state income taxes generated by the new positions kick back to the school for two years, and then to the state. Organizers of the program, modeled on something similar in Iowa, say it's supported 8,000 new jobs and easily pays for itself. They're trying to get a $50 million cap lifted so they can move down the waiting list of companies that want to participate.
Many Michigan students moving through such programs used to work at companies most Americans have heard of: Electrolux, Alcoa, Whirlpool, and of course the Big Three automakers and the companies that supported them. The companies where they're now training for jobs are less well-known: BioDri (alternative energy), Trans-Matic (metal stampings), Oxus America (oxygen concentrators). Typically, such companies are younger and smaller and need tightly tailored training that applies only to themselves or a very narrow industry sector.
"For small- and mid-size employers who actually generate a lot of the jobs in this economy, developing that kind of training for 5 or 10 employees that they're going to hire, it's not economically feasible," said Rachel Unruh, associate director of the National Skills Coalition, a foundation-supported workforce development coalition. That's where community colleges come in.
On the factory floor at Fitzpatrick Manufacturing, $100,000 machines do work that used to be cranked by hand — but somebody has to know how to run the machines. Software evolves constantly, as do the machines customers are building with these parts. For some parts, the margin of error can be no more than .0004 inches — roughly one-tenth the width of a human hair.
One typical "middle skill" is called "geometric dimensioning and tolerancing," or GDT. Basically, it's a language of symbols used in engineering blueprints. Customers used to give companies like Fitzpatrick blueprints with written words, but that left too much room for error. Now the field has shifted to GDT as a kind of lingua franca. On two recent Saturdays, Macomb instructors came by to help employees brush up on GDT.
"To learn calculus that you would learn in an engineering curriculum is all well and good," said Mike Fitzpatrick, whose family founded the company in 1952 and who sold it to LaComb and a partner last year but remains on staff. "But it has nothing to do with us."
Large companies are no less appreciative of rapid response times. When the big Dow Chemical plant in Midland, about two hours north of here, is ready to ramp up production in its chemical processing unit, it calls Patricia Graves at nearby Delta College, who in turn starts calling a list of interested students to ask, "When can you start?"
Soon, another "Fast Start" customized training program in chemical process operations is up and running at Delta. Twelve weeks later, virtually all graduates move on to work for Dow Chemical or one of the other major plants in the region. Some return to Delta after they start work for even more customized training. Delta has trained and placed eight such groups of roughly 20 people each. Now it offers versions serving other Dow operations in the area, including a six-week program for solar manufacturing and a 10-week program in batteries.
When the call comes "we'd like six weeks" lead time to get a new class running, said Graves, Delta's executive director of corporate services. "We can do it in four. We've actually done it in two."
Certainly community colleges have shortcomings and challenges, namely high failure rates for students who intend eventually to earn a degree.
Community colleges say that's to be expected given the wide mission they're asked to perform, and the fact that they receive just 27 percent of total public dollars spent on public higher education but serve 43 percent of students, according to the American Association of Community Colleges. Enrollments have risen more than a quarter over the last decade, yet tuition has held relatively steady even as costs have soared at four-year colleges. For the average enrolled student, community college is basically free when you factor in grants and aid, according to the College Board.
But criticisms about bureaucracy and lack of success in community colleges are usually directed at for-credit programs and degrees. Non-credit programs, which serve an estimated 5 million out of 13 million community college students nationally, often have a very different, more entrepreneurial feel. Such instruction doesn't have to please curriculum committees and state boards, just local employers and employees. And often what they want is speed.
"On the non-credit side, there's much more flexibility," said Mike Hansen, president of the Michigan Community College Association. "There's much less of an approval process, and the structures of the colleges tend to be me much leaner."
In his budget unveiled last week, Obama asked Congress to create an $8 billion fund to help community colleges train up to 2 million workers for jobs in high-growth fields, and to award financial incentives to make sure trainees find permanent work. There were few other details about how the proposal might work, and it faces long odds in Congress.
Thomas Bailey, director of the Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University, said he believes such targeted workforce programs can be successful if well-focused, but there's been little hard research.
One concern: If training is too narrowly tailored to particular companies, and doesn't award credit, workers may be stuck with non-transferable skills if the employer goes under.
Brian Gasiewski, a division leader on the factory floor at Fitzpatrick, doesn't worry much about that. Skills like GDT, he said, are important across the industry.
Gasiewski was previously enrolled in a degree program at Macomb but isn't at the moment due to family and time constraints. He may return someday, but for now says focusing on training targeted to precisely what Fitzpatrick does is the best way to advance his career here.
That looks like a better bet than it might have two years ago, when the company's sales fell by half. In 2011, however, they rebounded to their second highest level ever.


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The Most Bizarre 'SNL' Sketch of the Season Was Cut From Andrew Garfield's Show
Cut from the Andrew Garfield-hosted 'SNL' this past weekend is one of the oddest creations from the Beck Bennett-Kyle Mooney team so far this season, a sketch titled 'Wing.'
The only reason I'm giving this sketch special consideration is because I cannot remember the last time I felt this uncomfortable while watching a 'SNL' sketch while also laughing as many times as I did at details like the out-of-place, perfect '90s-style guitar riffs and non sequitur cutaways to people whitewater rafting or lions.
I mean, this is a sketch in which Beck Bennett sexually assaults Andrew Garfield – yet, it's delivered in the guise of a '90s-era Saturday morning live-action sitcom. The moral cues from that era – the "ohhhhs" and "ahhhhhs" and applauding when a character does the "right thing" – are dead-on perfect. But, what makes it so uncomfortable, is that in the actual television shows of that era, these cues were saved for, say, worrying about a prom date or, if it got really serious, an addiction to caffeine pills.
What Bennett and Mooney do here is take a very serious situation and put it into that world, and I honestly don't know how I'm supposed to react – which, immediately makes this one of the most interesting things that would have aired on 'SNL' this season.
The concept is that there's only one chicken wing left to eat and Andrew Garfield's character would like to eat that chicken wing. Beck Bennett – playing a character named Dylan – will allow Garfield to have that chicken wing, but, in exchange, he begins to sexually assault Garfield, all while making overly exaggerated '90s style confrontation faces like this…
…then eventually shaming Garfield with carrots. Kyle Mooney plays the real friend who tells Andrew Garfield to call the cops, yet Garfield refuses.
Honestly, while typing this out, I can't believe this is a 'SNL' comedy sketch. But, again, all of this is presented in such a hyperactive, laugh-track infested, guitar riff-fueled world of mid-90s television that even such an unfunny subject matter becomes strangely sanitized – and I suspect that's part of the point here.
It's hard for me to believe that 'Wing' was cut purely for time. The last sketch that aired on the live broadcast was 'Bird Bible,' a previously aired sketch from earlier this season. (Though, 'Wing' is about a minute and a half longer than 'Bird Bible,' which could be a factor.) Not to even mention that the much less interesting 'Stanx' – a long fart joke – made it to air. The fact that 'Wing' showed up online proves that 'SNL' is never going to re-appropriate it for another show. (Often, when a sketch is cut from dress rehearsal, it won't wind up online because the show might still want to use that same sketch with a different host down the line. 'Wing' showed up on Hulu bright and early on Sunday morning.)
I would be curious to know how it played at dress. Another problem could be the real audience's reaction versus the sketch's built in audience reaction. Regardless, one of the most bizarre sketches of the season never made it to air.
Mike Ryan is the senior editor of ScreenCrush. You can contact him directly on Twitter.


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This unique desk wedge is covered in a gray Leatherette for the elegant richness of leather, features a slot for business cards, and is as durable as it is attractive. The wedge can be personalized to black for stunning contrast. This beautiful, practical item is perfect for an employee incentive, executive gift, or personalized gift for any occasion.
Base comes attached. Minor bubbles and swirls are inherent to blown glass art. Slight variations in design pattern from piece to piece are considered acceptable for hand crafted glass.


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A partial list of Lincoln's most marriageable men was published by the Nebraska State Journal in 1888 in honor of the old leap day (February 29) custom of women proposing marriage to men. The Lincoln City Guide, compiled by the Federal Writers' Project and published in 1930, noted some of those mentioned:
"Dawes, C. G., attorney at law and anti-monopoly agitator, age 24, weight 135, height medium, dark hair and the neatest mustache in Lincoln: is rapidly rising in his profession; seems to have a disposition to go back to see somebody in Ohio occasionally but is worth trying anyway. . . .
"Frost, A. L., law student; age 26, height 5 feet 10 inches, weight 140; complection light; sandy mustache just in sight, fond of children; quite a student of literature and unusually brilliant in conversation; has money and will make a good husband; is worth a good effort.
"Hardy, W. E., furniture dealer, age 26, height 5 ft. 8 in., weight 160; light complection and smooth face; light-hearted and sunny, quite a favorite among the ladies, quite a society man, but would prefer a girl with domestic tastes, uses neither liquor nor tobacco; in matter of dress quite strict, appearing in white gloves on all occasions.
"Tibbits, A. S., attorney, 32 years old, brick red hair and mustache, 6 ft. tall and weighs 135 pounds; is quite well off and has no bad habits; is suspected of having a violent temper owing to the color of his hair; but the suspicion may be groundless.
"Zehrung, Frank C., druggist and capitalist, age 29; height a trifle short of 6 ft.; fighting weight has never been ascertained; brown hair, sharp blue eyes, young amber beard under excellent control; the oldest consecutive member of the Pleasant Hour Club; . . . the leader of Lincoln society, and without a rival; is handsome, features being constructed after plans and specifications drawn by Michael Angelo; has smashed 14 hearts in the last 15 years; if taken at all it will be after a desperate struggle; when captured will make an excellent husband; of a loving disposition and refined tastes; only fault is an unfortunate passion for baseball; the last on the list, but by no means the least."


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On a map of the world, the Hawaiian Islands are barely a speck in the 64 million square miles of the Pacific Ocean. But oceanographers recently discovered that these tiny dots on the map have a surprising effect on ocean currents and circulation patterns over much of the Pacific. In the Northern Hemisphere, a system of persistent winds blows from northeast to southwest, from North and South America toward Asia, between the equator and 30 degrees north latitude. These northeasterly winds are called trade winds. Typically, the trade winds continue on an uninterrupted course across the Pacific unless something gets in their way, like an island. Although many people associate Hawaii with flat, sunny beaches, the elevation of the major Hawaiian Islands generally exceeds 3,200 feet (1,000 meters). Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the island of Hawaii (commonly referred to as the Big Island) both tower nearly 14,000 feet (about 4,300 meters) above sea level. In addition, Mount Haleakala on the island of Maui stands at over 10,000 feet (3,055 meters) high. Hawaiis high mountain landscape presents a substantial obstacle in the path of the trade winds. The elevated topography blocks the airflow, effectively splitting the trade winds in two. This split causes a zone of weak winds, called a wind wake, to form on the leeward side (away from the wind) of the islands.
If there were no mountains on the Hawaiian Islands, then nothing would happen. The trade winds would just blow smoothly across the ocean with no effect, said Shang-Ping Xie, professor and researcher at the University of Hawaiis International Pacific Research Center and Department of Meteorology.
October 2, 2003
Hawaiian Islands image in title graphic courtesy of the USGS |
The finding that a small island chain can have such a great impact on the Pacific Ocean is significant to the future of ocean observation, Xie said. If you look at a large region of the Pacific Ocean, you can barely see the Hawaiian Islands. But if you look at the winds or currents in that region, you can clearly see the influence of the Hawaiian Islands. Its very pronounced. According to Xie, conventional theories indicate that an island wind wake effect should dissipate within a few hundred kilometers and not be felt in the western Pacific. But Xie and his colleague Timothy Liu, senior research scientist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, discovered a very unusual wake west of the Hawaiian Islands one that extends 3,000 kilometers, which is roughly 10 times longer than any wake observed elsewhere. |
Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano, looms over the island of Hawaii, the largest member of the Hawaiian Islands. Image Copyright © Laurie J. Schmidt, 2003. All rights reserved. | ||
We started seeing a very long tail trailing the Hawaiian Islands for 3,000 kilometers. Wed never seen such a thing before, so that motivated us to dig deeper for an explanation, Xie continued. Aerodynamic theory tells us that the island wake effect should continue for no more than a few hundred kilometers. No way would you expect to see this effect for 3,000 kilometers. This finding presents a completely different view of ocean-atmosphere interactions in the Pacific. Its something that nobody has seen before, said Liu. Xie, Liu, and colleagues noticed the long wake while analyzing data from NASAs QuikSCAT satellite, which uses microwave radar to measure winds near the ocean surface. They then confirmed their finding with data from the TOPEX/Poseidon and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) instruments. QuikSCAT and TOPEX data are available from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center (PO.DAAC), and TRMM data are archived at the Goddard Space Flight Center Earth Sciences (GES) DAAC.
They also discovered that the wind wake drives an eastward counter current that brings warm water 8,000 kilometers from the Asian coast to Hawaii. This warm water drives further changes in wind, allowing the island effect to extend far into the western Pacific.
The SeaWinds sensor on the QuikSCAT satellite captured this image of the Hawaiian wake in August 1999. Trade winds blow from east to west, intensifying between the islands and weakening in the islands wakes.
For more information, visit: Physical Oceanography DAAC GSFC Earth Sciences DAAC International Pacific Research Center (A new browser window will open for each.) |
Its logical to think that water would flow in the same direction that the winds blow, said Liu. But this current is actually going in the opposite direction against the trade winds and back towards Hawaii. The current may actually extend all the way to the Asian coast, which is about a quarter of the Earths circumference, added Xie. According to Liu, the counter current had been observed by oceanographers near the Hawaiian Islands years before the long wake was discovered. Drifting buoys off the coast of Hawaii routinely measure currents, he said. So researchers were able to document the existence of a current that goes against the trade winds, but they didnt know exactly what the mechanism was.One theory, according to Xie, was that the force of the ocean current hitting the islands generated eddies. Its like the story about the blind man feeling the elephant, said Liu. When he felt the leg, he thought it was a tree. So Japanese oceanographers would see a little part of the current here, the Hawaiians would see another part there, but they did not have a complete picture of what was happening. Satellite data enabled us for the first time to see the whole process across the Pacific, linking what people know in Asia with what people know in Hawaii. The fact that separate measurements by three independent satellites come together and fit into a physically consistent picture gives us confidence in our results, Xie and colleagues said in a paper published in an issue of Science. Xie cited a number of reasons why this phenomenon has only been observed in Hawaii. First, because the ocean reacts slowly to fast-changing winds, the wind system must be steady to exert forcing on the ocean, as is the case with the trade winds. Second, the high mountain topography of Hawaii provides a significant disturbance to the winds. Third, the Hawaiian Islands are large in horizontal scale, extending over four degrees in latitude. It is this active interaction between wind, ocean current, and temperature that creates this uniquely long wake west of Hawaii, Xie said. |
Prevailing trade winds and Kona winds blow in opposite directions around the mountainous island of Hawaii. Image courtesy of Volcanic Air Pollution A Hazard in Hawaii from the USGS (A new browser window will open.) |
The researchers discovery of the long wake testifies to the strong interaction between the atmosphere and ocean, which has strong implications for global climate research. The strength of ocean-atmosphere interaction revealed in the Hawaiian wake helps us assess climate sensitivity, namely how much increase we will observe in the global mean temperature as we increase carbon dioxide levels, said Xie. Its also important for understanding natural climate variations, like El Niño.
According to Xie, the finding has important implications for models that predict the Earths climatic future. There are a lot of uncertainties in existing models, said Xie. The vast Pacific Ocean has been poorly measured until now because there are only a few ships at sea at any given moment. We need to be able to reproduce this long wake effect in a model, and this can only be done with high-resolution satellite data. The discovery of this far-reaching effect of tiny islands demonstrates the huge potential for observing the oceans from space, and for even more surprising discoveries.
This tree grows near South Point, the southernmost tip of the island of Hawaii. The trade winds that continually blow across the island cause it to be permanently bent in one direction. Image Copyright © Laurie J. Schmidt, 2003. All rights reserved. | ||
A lot of people cant even locate Hawaii on a map, Xie concluded. So, in that sense its very surprising that an almost invisible geographic feature can have such a profound effect on the ocean-atmosphere system. Xie, S.-P., W.T. Liu, Q. Liu, and M. Nonaka. 2001. Far-reaching effects of the Hawaiian Islands on the Pacific Ocean-Atmosphere System. Science. 292(5524):2057-2060. |
This picture of the Hawaiian Islands was taken from the Shuttle Discovery in September 1988. Although some volcanic aerosols can be seen blowing downstream from the island of Hawaii (the Big Island), the clouds and surface water patterns in the wake of the other islands show how far downstream the island wakes persist. Image courtesy of The Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth from NASA Johnson Space Center (A new browser window will open.) |


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Across Central Java with Courage
In 2008 I planned my solo overland Java trip. Although I browsed at several package tours on the internet, I was not happy with the price most of the travel agents quoted me. So I simply booked an open-jawed ticket (Vancouver to Jakarta, Bali back to Vancouver) with Japan Airlines and then tentatively booked some of the hotels I found on the internet.
On March 27, 2008, I landed in Jakarta after an 8 hour flight from Tokyo. I looked for the silver bird taxi stand recommended by Hotel Salak of Bogor. There were about 6 taxi stands with unfamiliar names with attendants haggling the price with customers. Although it was 6 PM, it was hot and humid with lots of people at the airport. Out of the confusion, someone grabbed my hand and luggage and asked whether I need taxi. I was quickly led to a car with 3 menacing looking guys. I voiced my destination "Bogor" and the driver looked up from a chart to let me know it was around 400,000 Rp / US$ 40. I did not trust them. I walked back to the arrival hall of the airport with them screaming after me. This time I found the bluebird group taxi stand and went straight to it and ordered a limousine.
I dosed off on the way to Bogor as the evening saw another one of the troublesome traffic jams on the already polluted streets of Jakarta. After 2 hours, I arrived at Hotel Salak, a colonial 4-star establishment since the Dutch settlement in Batavia. (around US$ 70 per night) (Read my article about Kebun Raya Bogor if you like Bogor Botanic Garden.)
After 4 days in Bogor, it rained every day at 2 PM, I arranged to go to Cibodas via Puncak Pass with Bela of Bee Paradise Tour inside Hotel Salak. She booked a cheap Garuda ticket for me (Yogyakarta to Bali) and found me a driver, Aris, to take me through to Bandung. (Read my article titled Cibodas Botanic Garden Kebun Raya Cibodas.)
On April 5, I boarded the train Lodaya at 8 AM and spent the next 8 hours on the scenic but uncomfortable ride. A plate of Chicken with rice was served as lunch (included in the ticket price $16, from Bandung to Yogyakarta) but everyone ate at the seat without a table! I observed what other passengers did and imitated. When finished, everyone put the plate in the middle of the aisle. I felt a bit uneasy, but did the same. Soon the plates were all cleared and lemon tea was served.
Before 4 PM, the trained stopped at Yogyakarta. I followed others out to the platform. I was confused and disoriented. A young man approached me and asked me whether I need taxi. With my guards up, I burred out "how much?" He laughed heartedly and asked "to where?" I realized how ridiculous I must have sounded, apologized and let him know of my hotel, Grand Mercure. He led me to a nice vehicle with another driver. The taxi ride was effortless and took 3 minutes for US$ 2. The guide tried to sell me a 1 day tour to see sunrise at Mount Merapi and then the Hindu ruins of Prambanan for US$ 36. Not knowing the prices for any local tour, I said I would think about it and gave him a reply after checking into the hotel. I planned to visit Mirota Batik on Jalan Malioboro after check-in. I asked the guide and driver to wait for me at the lobby.
Grand Mercure Yogyakarta was a renovated colonial architecture with French apartment-style rooms completed with beautiful balconies either facing the inner garden and swimming pool or having a bird-eye view of the busy streets of the city. (My superior bedroom with balcony is 550,000 Rp / US$ 55.) What was amazing about Grand Mercure was the service and French management. The concierge handled my check-in and gave me tea towels to refresh. Tea was served and I offered my guide a cup. Then the concierge led me through the French doors across the marbled hallways decorated with antiques to a lift to reach the 3rd floor to my room. En route, I was introduced to the tour desk and I quickly scanned the price for Prambanan and Merapi Sunrise tour (US$ 76). After quick refreshment, I went in the taxi and quickly agreed on the guide's reasonable tour offer. He held out his last finger and we made a pledge for the next morning at 4 AM for the sunrise tour. A promise was a promise. (To read about my finds at Mirota Batik, please go to my article titled "Silk Buying in Asia".)
Getting up at 3:30 AM was not easy, but I met my driver and another university student who was serving as my tour guide shape at 4 in the morning in the lobby. It was completely dark outside. We drove with the headlights on for a little more than an hour up the mountain to Merapi. On the way, several local people walked down the slope without any torch. My guide explained that they were going to the village market or to pray in the temple. It was cold and windy at the crater of the volcano, but in a distance, I could already see light. At 5:50 AM, it started to have the first ray piercing through the air from behind Mount Merapi. It was tranquil and beautiful. Soon we could see the outline of the crater and observed the damage of lava from eruption only a week ago. Local people mined the nutrients rich lava ash for selling. My guide related his story of the day Yogyakarta went into chaos when in 2006 Mount Merapi suddenly erupted and the earthquake happened in the nearby village killed enormous amount of villages and created extensive damages. Everyone in the city panicked, some fleeted to the mountains (but turned back as further eruptions were expected) while others fleeted to the coast (but turned back also when there were rumours of a tsunami).
Next we drove to a deserted Prambanan complex. The temple complex was best seen shortly after dawn when the sunlight picked out details of the amazing architecture. Completed at about 900 AD, it was deserted within a hundred years. It collapsed around 1600 but with restoration completed in 1953. Since then the complex continued to battle the weather and earthquake damages with on-going projects of restoration. It was quite relaxed to walk around the ruins before the harsh sun at 10 AM.
I asked to be dropped off at Taman Sari, the "Water Castle". This huge and once magnificent pleasure park was begun in 1758 during the reign of Sultan Hamengku Buwono I (1755-1792) and was completed by Sultan Hamengku Buwono II. The Sultan wanted a pleasure garden for relaxation as well as a retreat and he appointed Raden Thumenggung Mangundipura to lead the construction project, who made trips to Batavia (now Jakarta) to learn about European architecture. The original complex included a Sultan's bed and tunnels leading to keratin (also known as phantom cave), the gates and walls, the towers and pools. By shutting the Watergates, the complex would be completely immersed in water, leaving tall structures standing out, and Jogya's enemies would be drown and washout out by the strong currents of water released from underwater passageways.
The ravage of time and climate, helped along by an earthquake in 1865, have reduced much of Taman Sari to an intriguing collection of roofless halls, eerie underground passageways and shattered arches. Birds-and-flowers stucco ornamentation, weathered gargoyles, and giant flower urns among lush growth of Bananas and bamboo proved the influence of European architecture. Among the labyrinth of tropical foliage, small batik workshops and kampong houses had sprung up along once-royal pathways. Taman Sari was restored in 2004 with the egg-shell–colour walls and beautiful pools regained their former glory. Don't miss the whimsical sea dragon under the watch tower. I especially like the underground mosque with the beautiful staircase leading to the second floor of this architectural labyrinth.
If you come to Jogykarta without viewing Borobudur, you have not come to Jogya at all. I read from fellow travelers that the hawkers were annoying at Borobudur village and will follow tourists ceaselessly along the way to the monument. I wanted a really quiet viewing experience, so the only way to do it was to stay in Hotel Manohara with Borobudur Park. (I stayed overnight for 400,000 Rp / US$ 40.) A taxi ride should cost about US$25 arranged from the hotel. After about 11/2 hours, I arrived at noon to Hotel Manohara. After a relaxing welcome tea, I walked around the garden planted with Thunbergia grandiflora (sky-blue bird vine) and Crescentia cujele (a tree with pomelo-like decorative fruits). I found the hot weather unbearable, so I retired to my A/C room for a siesta. At 4 PM, I ventured out again.
I slowly approached Borobudur, and out of magic, it was situated in the back garden of Hotel Manohara. A couple of hawkers still hanged around with their trade here but I shake their off. I walked up this world's greatest monument built between 778 and 842 AD, then being abandoned after 1100 AD and subsequently buried in the jungle. After being rediscovered in 1815, the following century saw international help pouring in for restoration. With UNESCO helping to raise money, almost US$23 million, and the gigantic task of rescuing Borobudur was launched in August 1973. Work was completed in 10 years and re-opened in 1983. Borobudur is a three-dimensional Mandala with bas-reliefs depicting the delights and damnations of the physical world; the outer processional path and four square terraces show the life of Prince Siddharta on his way to becoming Buddha. The three circular terraces on top support 72 latticed miniature stupas, some emptied but others contain the statue of Buddha. At the very top, a giant stupa symbolizes the sphere of formlessness and the ascension to the realm of Sublime Reality. Although it was almost closing time (at 6 PM), I remembered the crowd, the heat and the steps. Thankfully, I was to join the Sunrise Tour the next morning for a more tranquil experience.
I was with a dozen of other hotel guests being transferred by vans to the locked gate in front of the monument before 5 AM. Huge spotlights illuminated Borobudur. Heavy among mist, Borobudur was eerie at this hour.
I sat quietly on top of the terrace to wait for the first ray of light coming behind Mt. Merapi illuminating the dark silhouette of Borobudur and bring life to the green valley below. I was lost in words. Borobudur in the sea of mist was simply magical. I truly wished that I could be here every morning.
* * *
Fact File:
Hotel Salak The Heritage
Jl. Ir. H. Juanda No. 8, Bogor 16121, Indonesia
Phone : +62 251 8373 111, Fax : +62 251 - 8374 111, E-mail : firstname.lastname@example.com
The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta
Jl Jenderal Sudirman 9, 55233 Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Phone : +62 274 566617, Fax : +62 274 566856, E-mail : email@example.com
Manohara Resort Hotel
Jalan Badrawati, Borobudur,Magelang 56553, Indonesia, 40 km from Yogyakarta International Airport
Phone : +62 293 788680/131, Fax : +62 293 788679, Email : firstname.lastname@example.com
* * * * *


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Project thesis: when looking at a sample of bloggers reviewing SF/F, a majority of men will skew toward reviewing more men. A majority of women will skew toward a more equal gender parity, or the opposite in which they review a majority of women. There will be a handful of outliers.
This is the third year Renay has put in the work to delve into this. She notes,
Our data for this year doesn't support our thesis quite as strongly as in previous years, but the data still shows that unfortunately, women writers are not being reviewed at the same rate as men.
I have been periodically engaging with this for a number of years. Less as part of the community as a whole, but more about my own reading habits. Granted, Renay's survey has more to do with what bloggers are choosing to review, but it does start with what we're reading. Plus, until this year, I have done very little reviewing over the last three years. Even counting short stories and graphic novels, I posted all of twelve reviews from 2011 to 2013 (7/12 were of works written by women). Over a three year period, that's not enough to be significant.
I noted on Twitter in April that after pulling a quick look at my reading stats over the last six years, the breakdown of the percentage of books written by women I have read ranges between 26% and 45% each year, with a note that it is only this year that my percentage was around 45%.
@KameronHurley @adribbleofink Also, my gender breakdown for reading the last six years isn't as strong as I expected. 26-45%
— Joe (@joesherry) April 23, 2014
That was late April. We are not through June yet, so if I only look at what I've read from January 1 through May 31, I have read 63 books. 27 of them were written by women. This breaks out to 42.86%. So, the percentage has dropped a little bit since April.
This is still one of my most successful years at reading books written by women. I find this odd and slightly disturbing, because in previous years I had, on a monthly basis, tallied and analyzed my reading breakout. The percentage tended to fall in the 30's. I actively think about this from time to time, and still I find myself not just reading more men than women, but significantly more men than woman. I have no idea why this is, except to acknowledge that there is an institutional bias going on.
When I left to enlist in the military three years ago, I pulled myself off of all of the publisher mailing lists I was on, and even though I am back home (I went Reserve, not Active Duty), I am no longer receiving two hundred (or so) books each year in the mail. If I read something, if I review something, it is because I actively sought out the book to either buy or borrow from the library. The last four years is all me.
If asked who my favorite authors are, at any given time, I will mention Elizabeth Bear, Louise Erdrich, and Alison McGhee before I put any thought into the question. If asked to compile a list, you would find a fairly well gender balanced list of authors or books (depending on the list). And yet, if you look at a list of what I actually read, you won't find that same balance. I have no idea why this is. I can only say that it is.
One can say that this is about "reading what you want to read", which is both completely true and utter bullshit. Yes, most people read for pleasure and read "what they want", but examining what you read and why you read it can be valuable, informative, and transformative. My assumption is that most people don't like only one thing. I know I don't. It's not necessarily that I am looking for something shiny and new, but more that I am simply looking for something else that I might enjoy. Something that brings excellence or beauty or a compelling reading experience, for whatever that means to me on any given day.
But here's the thing. I only know about what I know about. Until I had read Elizabeth Bear, I never knew just how much I would love her writing and how she consistently writes novels that blow me away. Until I just read Katherine Addison after years of being aware of Sarah Monette (her real name) but never reading Monette's books, I would never have known just how good The Goblin Emperor was. Insert any writer you want there. Until I read Carrie Vaughn, I turned away from the thought of the modern urban fantasy / paranormal romance with werewolves and vampires. The list can go on (and on) with any number of writers in any genre, male or female, because so often you just don't know until you give a book a go.
This isn't about everyone else. This is about me. Who am I reading and why have I made the choices I have?
Who am I missing today? Who have I been missing for the last twenty years?
I don't believe it is about crossing an artificial line in the sand for who I should read or how many of books that fit a particular category. What I do think this is all about is realizing and remembering that no matter what I think I like to read and what my favorite books are, there are all of these other books written by a diverse range of authors that offer so many difference perspectives that, hey, these books are awesome, too. This isn't about denying one set of books at the expense of another. This is about embracing as much as possible. I read Katherine Kerr for the first time last year. I am about to read Kate Elliott for the first time next month. I've never read Martha Wells, Trudi Canavan, Diana Gabaldon, or Mary Gentle. How many of these women have written some of my favorite books if only I take the time to read them?
I need to do a better job of that.


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If you have pin basted your quilt together, you must remove the safety pins as you approach them. Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to stitch over a safety pin. Not only does stitching over them make them difficult to remove, but it's dangerous! You could easily break your needle, sending a fragment of the needle into your eye.
Preparing large-size projects
If you are quilting a large project, such as a bed quilt, be sure you have a large surface to the rear and to the left of your machine to help you support the weight of the quilt. These large-size projects are very heavy and can easily pull your machine right off the table and onto the floor!
Prepare any quilt larger than 36 inches x 36 inches for quilting by rolling it as follows.Lay the basted quilt on the floor and roll the two sides towards the center, leaving a 12-inch swath of quilt unrolled, as shown in Figure 1. This is where you will begin machine quilting. Secure the rolls with safety pins or bicycle clips.
You can find bicycle clips at the sporting goods store and at some quilting stores. Bicycle clips are flexible metal rings with a small opening. They hold your pants leg against your body while cycling so that your pants don't get caught in the bicycle chain.
Bicycle clips function the same way on a quilt. Just think of the rolled edges of the quilt as the "leg" and put the clip over this rolled leg, holding it securely in place.Using straight-line quilting for the beginner
Straight-line quilting is the easiest form of machine quilting. The results are always good, and it's quick, too!Begin by inserting an even-feed presser foot in your machine, as shown in Figure 2. These presser feet are also known as walking feet. If your machine did not come with an even-feed foot, make a trip to the sewing center to get one. Bring your machine's manual with you so the clerk can help you find the right foot for your model.
An even-feed foot makes machine quilting smoother and pucker-free because it feeds the layers of the quilt through the machine evenly. Without it, the feed dogs (those teeth under the needle) will only feed the bottom layer of fabric through the machine, leaving the batting and top layers open to puckering because they're not being fed through the machine at the same rate.
To start machine stitching:
1. Thread the top of the machine with a coordinating shade of all-purpose thread.
If you would like the stitching to be invisible, use clear nylon monofilament as your top thread.
2. Load the bobbin with all-purpose thread in a color to match or coordinate with your backing fabric.
3. Set the stitch length on the machine at 6 to 10 stitches per inch.
4. Place the unrolled center area of the quilt in the machine and take one stitch.
5. With the needle up, stop and raise the presser foot. Pull the top thread tail so that the bobbin thread tail comes up through the hole in the stitch you made in Step 4.
You now have both tails on top of the quilt.
6. Lower the presser foot and begin stitching by taking two stitches and then stopping.
7. Put your machine in reverse and take two stitches backward to secure the thread.
You are now ready to stitch your quilt.
8. Continue stitching normally (without reversing) along your marked lines, in-the-ditch, or however you have decided to quilt your project.
9. When you get to a corner that needs to be turned, lower the needle into the fabric and raise the presser foot. Pivot the quilt in the other direction and lower the presser foot again. Continue stitching.
10. When you reach a spot where you need to stop stitching, take two stitches backward to secure the thread, just as in Step 7.
Remember, you need to secure the thread at the beginning and end every time, or you run the risk of the stitching coming undone at these starting and stopping points, resulting in an unsightly 1/4 inch or so that is unstitched.
After you finish quilting the area you unrolled, remove the project from the machine and unroll the sides to expose an unquilted area. Continue stitching until you have quilted the entire quilt.Choosing free-motion machine quilting for advanced projects
Free-motion machine quilting requires some practice to master, but the following description will give you a brief introduction. Plenty of books are available devoted entirely to this subject.Free-motion quilting is beautiful for fancy quilting patterns, with decorative possibilities limited only by your imagination. You can use it to create graceful curved designs and floral patterns, as well as the basis for stipple quilting by machine.
To do free-motion quilting, you need a special presser foot called a darning or free-motion foot. This type of foot has a rounded toe that travels just above the surface of the fabric, as shown in Figure 3.
Because you feed the quilt through the machine manually, free-motion quilting requires you to disengage your machine's feed dogs:
- On some machines, you disengage the feed dogs by turning a knob, which lowers them out of position.
- On other machines (especially older models), you don't lower the feed dogs to disengage them. Instead, you cover them with a metal or plastic plate. You will find this plate in your machine's bag of tricks.
With free-motion quilting, you do not need to adjust the length of the straight-stitch on your machine at all. The speed at which you are sewing combined with the speed at which you move the quilt around under the needle determines the stitch length. This is why practice is so important before attempting a large project in free-motion quilting.
After inserting the darning foot and disengaging the feed dogs, thread your machine and bobbin as you would for straight-line quilting. Place the quilt under the presser foot with one hand positioned on each side of the quilt, 2 inches or so from the presser foot. Use your hands to guide the quilt in the necessary direction under the darning foot.
If your fingers feel dry, or if you are having trouble moving the quilt under the machine because your fingers are sliding on the fabric, cover the first and index finger of each hand (four fingers in all) with a rubber fingertip from the office supply store.
Slowly begin stitching, taking two or three stitches in the same spot to secure the thread at the beginning. As you stitch, move the quilt, guiding it with your two hands, so that the needle follows your marked quilting lines or designs. Keeping the machine at a steady speed, move the fabric slowly and smoothly so you don't end up with gaps or overly long stitches. Slow and steady is the key here!Free-motion machine quilting takes some time to master. Start on small projects, such as pillows, placemats, or wallhangings, before progressing to larger projects. Stipple quilting is a great first-time use for free-motion quilting because you are not required to follow a set pattern. Instead, you learn to maneuver the project under the darning foot and get some much-needed experience.
See also:
Quilting For Dummies Cheat Sheet


text:
Description: Unlucky in love once again after her possible-marriage-partner-to-be proves a little too close to his parents, Sofia Khan is ready to renounce men for good. Or at least she was, until her boss persuades her to write a tell-all expose about the Muslim dating scene.
As her woes become her work, Sofia must lean on the support of her brilliant friends, baffled colleagues and baffling parents as she goes in search of stories for her book. In amongst the marriage-crazy relatives, racist tube passengers and decidedly odd online daters, could there be a a lingering possibility that she might just be falling in love ?
Review: Marketed as a "Muslim Bridge Jones Diary", I took a chance on reading Sofia Khan is Not Obliged. While it is a romantic comedy and it is narrated via a blog/diary format, Sofia Khan is far from Bridget Jones and thank goodness for that. Sofia is a wickedly funny and smart first generation Pakistani Muslim hijabi living in London and working in the book publishing industry. Just bouncing back from a broken engagement with a man, Sofia is ready to swear off men except, she accidentally pitches a book about Muslims "dating" to her publicity director. Suddenly she has a book deal and is frantically trying to pull it off. The book is much more than a romantic comedy as it tackles many of the stereotypical and preconceived notions others may have about Muslims and our cultures and is presented in such a funny way. I loved the constant sarcastic dialogue, how the cultural aspects were infused and how Malik gave insight into a genuine Muslim family.
Sofia is an observant Muslim who chooses to wear the hijab, prays five times a day (even during work), but she is not angelic. She swears and smokes. She is also very stubborn and often makes poor decisions with good intentions. She's independent, witty and an incredible friend. Most importantly, she's human.
Malik captures the Pakistani culture beautifully from capturing the right accent of her Punjabi speaking family and relatives and by fleshing out Sofia's family. There were may laugh out loud moments that I found in this book in particularly how her parents bickered with one another and all the craziness of family. Sofia also has a great solid group of friends from different backgrounds that also provide a glimpse on how others live their lives.
The romance part of the book was not as well developed as Sofia and her family and friends. The potential love interests were distinct and had my interest, but I wanted to know more about the guy she chose at the end of the book. This is a solid start for a romantic comedy featuring Muslim characters and I really hope more books like this will get published and are available.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution: There is some language and sexual situations. Recommended for teens and adults.
If you like this book try: The Other Half of Happiness by Ayisha Malik


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After a bullish staff meeting (which ended with a cheer) and before a wardrobe fitting (strictly suit-and-tie), Jimmy Fallon took time to marvel at how busy he is these days.
"The busiest I've ever been in my life," he tells a visitor to the new "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" offices at NBC.
"It's 'SNL' times three. Times five. Times 10!" says the former "Saturday Night Live" cast member who, come Monday, will claim the weeknight 12:30 a.m. slot chartered in 1982 by David Letterman, then, in 1993, bequeathed to Conan O'Brien.
As Fallon speaks, he seems to hover more than settle in his chair in his seventh-floor corner office. Happily wired, he notes with amazement that, with so much to do, it's almost noon — "and the next thing you know it's midnight and you go, 'I hope my wife's not mad.'"
As if anyone could be mad at Jimmy Fallon! At age 34, he's puppy-dog enthusiastic, funny and cool in an unassuming way. It's an engaging blend that kept viewers tickled for six seasons on "SNL," where he scored with impressions of Jerry Seinfeld, John Travolta and Justin Timberlake, and created recurring characters like Nick Burns, the know-it-all tech-support guy. He has appeared in films including "Almost Famous," ''Taxi" and "Fever Pitch."
Then, last spring, Fallon was tapped by "Late Night" executive producer Lorne Michaels (his former "SNL" boss) to return to the halls of 30 Rock, this time as host of his own show.
The idea had been broached long before, when he was exiting "SNL," Fallon says.
"Lorne was like, 'Keep in mind that Conan's gonna need a replacement in 2009.' This was in 2004. I said, 'I don't know.'"
Now Fallon is clearly putting his stamp on the venerable "Late Night" franchise. His house band is the acclaimed hip-hop group The Roots. Running the show is veteran "SNL" producer Michael Shoemaker, who handled "Weekend Update" when Fallon was co-anchoring. And to help connect the show to a cyber-savvy public, "Late Night's" co-producer is Gavin Purcell, who ran "Attack of the Show," the daily Net-centric news hour on cable's G4 channel.
In the spirit of the YouTube age, "Late Night" writers will shoot their comedy pieces themselves ("they can use me if they want, or not, but I'm available," says Fallon), then edit them right in the office on Macs.
"We can be different and topical and fun," Fallon vows.
Not that any of this strategy has been a state secret. For months, "Late Night" has been percolating in cyberspace with video blogs that offer an inside look at how a TV talk show germinates. The Fallon-era "Late Night" is already adhering to a policy of transparency.
And also interactiveness. Item: On his video blog, Fallon introduced to the world the show's new logo — which viewers of that "vlog" had a hand in selecting.
"We're not trying to ignore the fact that people are in front of a computer at work and surf the Web all day long, or that kids check the Internet when they get home from school," Fallon says. "We want to exploit that, and have fun with it. I'm on Facebook and I've been on Twitter just talking to my fans. It's amazing!"
He recalls an experience a few weeks ago attending the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
"Across the street — I'm not kidding — was the Adult Entertainment Expo." So he fired a text message to his followers on Twitter. "I said, 'There's got to be some great jokes about this. Give 'em to me!' And in about a minute I had hundreds. Like: 'I got a coupon to double my RAM, and I don't know which place to use it.'
"How cool is that! Maybe we can incorporate something like that in the show."
But on his newfangled talk show there will also be guests who visit and talk with him, the old-fashioned way.
Scheduled for opening night is Robert De Niro, with others including Cameron Diaz, Serena Williams and Fallon's former "Weekend Update" co-anchor Tina Fey soon to follow.
"I'll also talk to scientists and chefs and animal trainers," Fallon pledges with a grin.
He isn't fretting about his competition — at least, not obvious rivals, notably CBS' "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," which, head-to-head against Conan, has been winning in total viewers.
No, the biggest challenge Fallon sees lurking is Mr. Sandman. The goal is getting viewers to tune in and hang with his show instead of hitting the sack.
"I need to be the Red Bull of late night," Fallon says.
It will all be an evolving process of trial-and-error, producer Shoemaker acknowledges. But in his office (an easy move from the GE Building's 17th floor and "SNL," where he worked for two decades), he exudes a calm, amused assuredness.
"Putting on any kind of new show is daunting, and the show that we start with is not the show that we'll be doing in three months," Shoemaker says. "But the thing that none of us has ever questioned is: Will this be something that Jimmy is good at?
"The end game is that he will be doing this for a long time."
Fallon is antsy for the game to start.
"I know I'm gonna get reviewed off the first show, as opposed to the first couple of months. 'He's no Conan,' or 'He's no Letterman' — I just want that to be said, and put out there. Then viewers can relax and watch and enjoy."
But can the high-rev Fallon relax along with them?
"I get nervous a lot," he volunteers. "I always have. I'm always fidgety. I'm trying to calm down. Maybe yoga! Pilates? Maybe gravity boots. I've got to figure out something. I'm up for anybody's suggestion. I gotta calm down a little and enjoy the moment."
'Late Night' Host Fallon Just Wants To Have Fun
Copyright NBCAH - Access Hollywood


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James Franco Triggers Lawsuit: NYU Professor Claims He Got Fired for Giving Actor a 'D'
NYU Professor I Got Fired for Giving James Franco a 'D'
A former NYU professor claims he got the chop because he dared give James Franco a "D" -- this according to a new lawsuit.
José Angel Santana -- who taught Franco in his "Directing the Actor" class -- is now suing the University for his job back, claiming he was wrongfully terminated ... because he's an Hispanic man with the audacity to give Franco a low grade.
According to the lawsuit, Santana dropped the D on Franco for missing 12 of the 14 classes in the MFA course. No shocker, considering the pic TMZ posted back in 2009 ... showing Franco passed out at one of his Columbia classes.
When people found out that Santana gave Franco a D, Santana claims he suffered all sorts of public humiliation -- at the hands of James Franco ... and the University itself, which ultimately fired him ... something he claims would never have happened to a white professor.
According to Santana, other teachers played favorites with Franco, including fellow professor Jay Anania ... who Franco hired to write and direct the film "Shadows & Lies."
Santana groused, "In my opinion, they've turned the NYU graduate film degree into swag for James Franco's purposes, a possession, something you can buy."
Santana told the Post, "The university has done everything in its power to curry favor with James Franco."
10:28 AM PT: NYU claims it hasn't seen the papers but calls what has been reported about the lawsuit "ridiculous" -- adding, "It is regrettable and disappointing to see a faculty member -- former or otherwise -- discuss any student's grade for the purpose of his or her personal publicity."


text:
Product Specifications
There are no product specifications.
McAfee Endpoint Threat Protection 2Yr (10001-+ users)
ProtectPLUS 2yr Gold Software Support
McAfee Endpoint Threat Protection provides integrated antimalware, firewall, device control, web and email security to deliver essential endpoint security defenses with centralized management. It allows administrators to protect Windows, Mac and Linux environments from malware and 0-day threats and to prevent unauthorized devices, connections and websites from being accessed.
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Includes the following legacy products for customers with existing deployments: VirusScan Enterprise, VirusScan Enterprise for Linux, Endpoint Protection for Mac, VirusScan Command Line, SiteAdvisor Enterprise with Web Filtering, Endpoint Intelligence Agent, Desktop Firewall.
LICENSE: Per Node.
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Questions & Answers
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text:
Is buyitdirect.ie Legit?
The Rank of the website you are interested in is:
56.7Active. Mediocre. Medium-Risk.
The rank is based on a 1-100 scale, with 100 being the most reputable.
- Website buyitdirect.ie
Work From Home
*Suggest a new industry? -
*Suggest a new sector?
Is buyitdirect.ie legit? Is it a scam? Scam Detector analyzed this website and its Work From Home sector - and we have a review. Please share your experience in the comments, whether good or bad, so we can adjust the rating if necessary. Read the review, company details, technical analysis, and more info to help you decide if this site is trustworthy or fraudulent.
The Scam Detector's algorithm gives this business the following rank:
We explain below why buyitdirect.ie received the 56.7 rank. You'll find a comprehensive analysis, along with tips on how to block all scam websites so you can stay safe at all times.
What Is buyitdirect.ie? Company Overview
Domain Creation Date
Monday 29th, September 2008 12:00 am
Domain Blacklist Status
Not detected by any blacklist engine
HTTPS Connection
HTTPS Not Found
Proximity to Suspicious Websites
buyitdirect.ie: Work From Home
As buyitdirect.ie belongs to a dynamic Work From Home sector, we tried scraping a paragraph from their website, below:
Buy It Direct Ltd is a limited company registered in England. Registered number 04171412. Registered office: Unit A Trident Business Park, Leeds Road, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD2 1UA.
While the section above may show buyitdirect.ie's business, there is a chance that its activities may expand beyond that. Let's look at a review.
buyitdirect.ie Technical Analysis
buyitdirect.ie Key Facts
Domain age
15 years, 5 months from now
WHOIS data
buyitdirect.ie Company Data
Buy It Direct Ltd
Registrant Email not found.
buyitdirect.ie Website Data
SSL certificate valid
Not Valid
SSL issuer
Not Found
WHOIS registration date
WHOIS last update date
WHOIS renew date
buyitdirect.ie Owner
Buy It Direct Ltd
Registrant Email not found.
buyitdirect.ie Registrar
not applicable
Register website
buyitdirect.ie Server Name
buyitdirect.ie Review
The Scam Detector's algorithm finds buyitdirect.ie having an authoritative rank of 56.7. It means that the business is Active. Mediocre. Medium-Risk.
Our algorithm gave the 56.7 rank based on 50 factors relevant to buyitdirect.ie's niche. From the quality of the customer service in its Work From Home industry to clients' public feedback and domain authority, we have considered many important details.
Other factors include, but are not limited to, WHOIS details, IP address, Alexa rank, modern technology used for their website, SSL certificate, and presence or absence on suspicious website lists.
What does "Active. Mediocre. Medium-Risk." mean? It is a business that's been online for a while. It seems like buyitdirect.ie has received both positive and negative feedback (occasionally), just like many other websites. That means that you need to exercise caution if you decide to proceed with using it.
The Rationale Behind Our Analysis
You saw a few tabs within the Company Details section, each deserving a thorough examination. These were:
While some of these aspects may be self-evident regarding buyitdirect.ie, let's now shift our focus to the remaining components.
Risk Evaluation: Threat, Phishing, Spam and Malware Scores
These parameters provide insights into potential vulnerabilities and components embedded within the HTML code of buyitdirect.ie. Their significance escalates when the website has received reports from online users who've encountered unsolicited emails, deceptive advertisements, or unwanted messages associated with the site.
As for buyitdirect.ie, we are currently categorizing it, but we eagerly await your input in the comments section below.
Malware and Spam Rating Assessments
A high Malware score typically signifies the presence of suspicious code that might unknowingly propagate. Conversely, a high Spam score suggests a potential association with a spam-ridden email address linked to the business. Scores below 30 in both categories offer a sense of security, but any score surpassing this threshold should raise concerns.
Overall, all these scores for buyitdirect.ie are consistent, so there is some medium-risk involved. Therefore, caution is advised if you're about to engage.
Status of Domain Blacklisting
This term reveals whether buyitdirect.ie has been blacklisted on any online directories and labeled as suspicious.
Proximity to Potentially Suspicious Online Sources
This metric quantifies the degree of connection, graded on a scale of 1 to 100, between buyitdirect.ie and websites flagged as questionable. Higher scores indicate a more pronounced link to these contentious online platforms.
Most of the time, the website owners may not even be conscious of their site's proximity to these dubious servers or platforms. Nevertheless, if the "Proximity to Suspicious Websites" score exceeds 80, it strongly implies a high-risk website, while a score below 30 suggests a more benign status.
Evaluating the Security of the HTTPS Connection
This tab provides insight into whether buyitdirect.ie incorporates an 's' at the end of the 'HTTP' protocol visible in your browser's address bar. While some individuals may lack an in-depth technical understanding, we won't delve into those intricacies here. If the tab appears in green, consider it a positive indicator.
Let's continue with fraud prevention tips on blocking all malicious websites, removing all your personal data online, and getting alerts when your data is leaked.
In-Depth Analysis
Our algorithm focuses on analyzing various factors, with a particular emphasis on a company's website, such as buyitdirect.ie. When assessing websites, we dive into professional details that provide valuable insights into a business's operations, including how they present themselves and their customer service quality. For instance, when evaluating a brewery's website, our assessment doesn't revolve around the taste of their beer; instead, we examine how effectively they market and sell their products online.
It's important to note that our tool is not intended for vanity purposes. If you are the owner of buyitdirect.ie and find yourself dissatisfied with your 56.7 ranking, it's crucial to recognize that your website serves as your digital business card. Therefore, it's essential to consider potential areas for improvement, such as your online management system, ensuring a secure HTTPS connection, and managing your public reviews, as these aspects play a critical role in your online presence.
Is buyitdirect.ie a Scam? How Would You Rank It?
Let others know what you think. Is buyitdirect.ie a scam? Share the good or the bad. Help everyone be secure online. If you have dealt with buyitdirect.ie, how would you rank it? Please talk about your experience by leaving a comment or a review at the bottom of this article.
How To Spot a Fake Website in 2024
The advancement of e-commerce and the thousands of websites that are created daily also show us that there are several types of scams. Watch the video below to see 5 ways to spot a scam website in 2024:
How To Report Work From Home Scams
Wondering how to report a scam, whether it's related to buyitdirect.ie's industry or not? You can take official action by contacting the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Additionally, you can help others by sharing the names of suspicious businesses in the comments section below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What to do if you have been scammed?
In case you've lost money to a fraudulent scheme, we're here to assist you. We've teamed up with reputable asset recovery companies to address your situation. If you've lost more than $1,000 to any scam, please share your story by completing the form on THIS PAGE. Recovering lost funds can be a complex process, but we're committed to helping you regain your money.
2. Can you recommend websites similar to buyitdirect.ie?
While many platforms resemble buyitdirect.ie in the Work From Home industry, we prefer not to endorse any specific one. However, if you come across a platform that interests you, we encourage you to use Scam Detector's website validator HERE to ensure its legitimacy.
3. How can I protect myself from future fraud?
Given the rise in online fraud, we frequently receive inquiries about effective methods to stay safe on the internet. Here are some powerful recommendations:
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Every time you browse a website, accept cookies, or download an app, data brokers seize your name, address, and phone number, subsequently selling it to third parties. This alarming reality results in unsolicited spam emails, targeted ads, and pesky telemarketing calls. Even more concerning, scammers and identity thieves can exploit this treasure trove of information.
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Our team has meticulously verified this service, confirming its legitimacy. All this comes at an incredibly affordable price of just $6.49 per month. Trust us, it's worth every penny. Note that this service is available to residents of the US, UK, EU, Switzerland, and Canada only.
Take the first step towards safeguarding your online privacy by clicking below:
3. How To Detect The Red Flags of a Scam
Here is another must-watch video that you might not want to miss:
4. Get Notified When Your Data Is Leaked
It is critical to be aware when your personal information gets leaked online. Also, to prevent criminals to track your devices. Surfshark does both these things and is a must-have tool that should not be missing from your device. Here is why (besides getting 86% off and up to 5 months free):
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Work From Home Fraud Tips and Resources
For more information on fraud prevention, you can check out the following educational articles:
Are You A Crypto Fraud Victim? Click Here
Medicare Scams: Full List
Share Your Experience: Comment Below
Feel free to share this analysis of buyitdirect.ie and the additional information on this page if you found it useful. Use the buttons provided at the top.
NOTE: This website validator's ratings are intended for information only and not to be relied on when making financial or business decisions. See Terms of Use.


text:
This article is more than 1 year old
How to find the next Google. Or at least a free taco
A wild night of daring demos, goofy games, dashed dreams
Outside a nondescript warehouse under a San Francisco freeway was a roach coach serving free tacos to an assembled mass of geeks, entrepreneurs, and dressed-down corporate types, all of whom were hoping that in the next few hours they'd witness the unveiling of the next Facebook or Google or Skype.
This is SF New Tech, billed as "the Bay Area's largest, longest-running, and most-loved monthly technology event". Last Wednesday was the event's fifth birthday, hence the free tacos.
As the event's organizer Myles Weissleder recalled from his emcee perch, SF New Tech started with eight like-minded tech folks in April 2006, meeting in the Mars Bar, "just around the corner." The next month, there were 16 people. And so it continued to grow over the next five years.
Wednesday night there were roughly 150 people packed into the warehouse, with a further 9,000 following events live online. A stage was upfront with a bar in the back, chairs were set out in a classroom format, and flanking the stage were ridiculously oversized speakers whose main job was to create deafening amounts of feedback.
SF New Tech's event organizer Myles Weissleder
For a company looking to seduce Silicon Valley talent and VC money, a demo at SF New Tech can provide an incredibly useful foothold. Each month, Weissleder selects a small group of projects from online applications and charges the submitter $350 for the pleasure of demoing their creations for five minutes on stage, followed by five minutes of questions from the audience. Each demo is then rated by the attendees in a quick mobile-device poll.
As Wednesday's event proved, SF New Tech lives up to its "most-loved" claim. For a gathering of geeks – never the most socially adept group – the event was relaxed, friendly, and surprisingly sociable.
"I go to a lot of networking events as part of my job," 40-something software developer Steve told The Reg, "but this is one of very few that I'd come to even if it wasn't my job."
With free cupcakes handed out toward the end of the night, and with attendee's live tweets projected on the wall behind the stage, SF New Tech has somehow retained the feel of an informal gathering of like-minded people – people that want to catch the newest and coolest technology that San Francisco can muster.
And the contestants are...
On Wednesday, seven companies appeared on stage. And just to spoil it, we'll run through them from least to most popular, including the percentage of approval they received from the 51 attendees who bothered – or were sober enough – to vote.
ToutSuite: 1.9 per cent
The description of ToutSuite as a "live-interaction video-event platform" by company CEO Susan Quinn was possibly not a good start.
And the follow-up – "it's Skype and Yelp meets Groupon at a cocktail party" – might work better 400 miles to the south in Los Angeles, but it sounded to these ears as appetizing as "cheese on a rug in a toilet in the Tenderloin".
The idea behind ToutSuite was born in the scenic, upscale Napa Valley. The concept – which is a good one – is to help boutique producers of comestibles and libations to use the Internet to connect one-on-one with their customers.
As a ToutSuite member, you buy a selection of cheese or wine direct from your favorite cheesemaker or vintner and then, a few days after it has arrived, you settle down with friends for an interactive online-video chat with the person who actually made it to discuss the product. "In some ways it's better than going to the tasting rooms. It's truly personal," says Quinn.
Members pay for the privilege of being in an exclusive club, and the brands are also charged for reaching new customers. A video of how the whole interaction will work looks very enticing, but it was filmed professionally, and not through the very different webcam-on-a-laptop experience that most customers will actually experience.
ToutSuite may go down well with an older audience that has discovered the delights of artisan cheeses and fine wine, but from the fast-moving, beer-drinking SF New Tech audience, it received a thumbs-down.
The service hasn't yet launched – though it will "soon" – but if the idea of Skype meets Groupon is your thing, here's an invitation code to sign up: Happy5thSFNT.