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Great Gatsby, The
The Great Gatsby is one of those books frequently described as unfilmable, and Jack Clayton's version is a good example of a movie that captures the letter of a great novel while missing its spirit. Fitzgerald's careful poetry is visited here only in snippets of voiceover narration. The structure of the book is well-observed, and its characters impersonated by good actors. Unfortunately, the likely response to the show at the fade-out is still going to be, "Maybe I should read the book someday."
Paramount's lavish production was its biggest offering for 1974, and one that fell flat at the box office. Fitzgerald wrote about the wealthy, superficial class of a bygone age, and all the period decor and costumes don't make them any more accessible to our emotions. Robert Redford and Mia Farrow are perfectly cast in many ways; yet the static, interior tone of much of the tale prevents either the romance or the drama from coming alive.
It's complete and faithful but The Great Gatsby just doesn't catch fire. Francis Coppola's screenplay has the same adaptational feel as his much earlier This Property is Condemned, right down to the literal transposition of the novel's symbolism. Fitzgerald's giant eyeglasses on the billboard are indeed the eyes of God staring at George Wilson's miserable gas station in the middle of a wasteland. You'd think that the Long Island rich would beautify the roadway going to their luxurious neighborhoods, and what works as a literary conceit in the book just seems too literal here.
The same goes for Fitzgerald's portrait of the vast wealth of the Long Island rich. The females are appropriately vain and superficial like Daisy Buchanan, and the men bigoted snobs like her husband Tom. On the page we might interpret the opinion of narrator Nick Carraway, but movies can't express opinions. These people are exactly what they are, living lives remote from reality and indulging their private fantasies.
Coppola can't help but make Jay Gatsby's possible links to the underworld plainly obvious. Even if no proof is offered, we see Gatsby associate with dapper Howard Da Silva, 'the man who fixed the 1919 World Series', and assume there's a crooked connection. We see Gatsby's gun-toting bodyguard. We hear Gatsby's evasions about his income and his past. If Nick Carraway doesn't draw conclusions, we certainly do.
If anything, Nick is too soft on Gatsby, who awkwardly uses both socialite Jordan Baker and 'poor neighbor' Nick to facilitate his affair with Daisy. Robert Redford plays the reclusive millionaire the only way he can be played, mysteriously. This Redford does perfectly well. It's just that when Fitzgerald's elusive character becomes an image on film, he stops making sense. The Gatsby we see is an incurable romantic who stares off across the ocean hoping to recapture a dream. Yet he's also meant to be the kind of man who could amass a huge fortune in three years in business, the kind of profits never reported in the papers. We could imagine an older Gatsby softening and trying to recover a lost past, but this man is young. We spend over two hours hearing about his romantic obsession for Daisy, but we don't feel it. Gatsby does so very little ... even the heavy dramatic scenes are mostly static. Yes, obsession makes one blind, but it's no fun watching Gatsby catch up with things we see right away. Daisy's a thoughtless narcissist who isn't going to let anything inconvenient interrupt her lifestyle; she lives in a fantasy world perfectly happy to do without the lost love of her youth. In real life, people don't always 'make sense.' In a movie, it's hard to respect or even understand a character like Gatsby. He's a character meant for the printed page.
The Great Gatsby is a multi-leveled reverie of a bygone age, with the amiable Nick Carraway providing our advent into an affluent, alien world. He's the author's representative, the fly on the wall and the spokesman for Fitzgerald's sentiments. In the movie, he's almost an obstruction. Nick's discreet presence in the famous scene where Gatsby shows Daisy his collection of shirts is almost laughable; as the two lovers wax ecstatic over the joy of haberdashery, Nick is moved to tears and exits as if from a sacred reunion. When Fitzgerald tells us that the atmosphere was charged with an inexpressable joy we accept it, but on screen we look for harder evidence. When Daisy runs her hand down sensuously down a long line of brass gelatin molds in Gatsby's kitchen, finally reaching Jay's hand, we're seeing the limitations of literal film. What's she so ga-ga about?
Producer David Merrick lined up a top cast who do remarkably good work under Jack Clayton's ponderous direction. Bruce Dern is solid, but we don't associate him with this kind of character and keep expecting him to revert to psycho mode. That's a shame, but it's true ... the few scenes we see of Dern as a likeable nice guy in Black Sunday make us wish he'd never been cast as a heavy. The losers played by Karen Black and Scott Wilson are almost the only people in the film who don't regularly dress in evening wear. Since we know perfectly well that the story won't show them any mercy, we're not surprised when the Buchanans utteryly destroy them. Poor Miss Black has so little screen time, we don't even sympathize with her - she's as embarrassing to us as she is to Tom Buchanan. Gorgeous Lois Chiles, later Roger Moore's playmate in Moonraker lacks depth; we thoroughly believe Nick wouldn't become interested in her, and not just because she's too rich and he's too poor.
The Great Gatsby is awash in production values that don't achieve the desired illusion of the past. The costumes and cars are photographed so flatly that they look just like what they are - costumes and collector's automobiles. The same year's Chinatown effortlessly established its depression era with a fraction of the trimmings. Gatsby doesn't have a feel for its period, even if the hairstyles are for once fairly accurate. Most of the songs we hear are flavorless standards with lyrics that are still familiar 80 years later; The Night They Raided Minsky's uses an unknown Victrola tunes here and there immediately transports us to 1925. I'm told that the score is the original with What'll I do ... readers have informed me that the original score hasn't been heard on video versions. The parties on Gatsby's lawn are like a nostalgic magazine layout - there's an element beyond the visual that's missing.
Paramount's DVD of The Great Gatsby is another of their featureless but better-than adequate discs with a very good transfer. Sound and picture are fine, and the widescreen enhanced image restores compositional sense to many scenes. Seeing Robert Redford in the role of Gatsby makes me want to catch up with the old Alan Ladd version, with its intriguing cast - Betty Field, Shelley Winters, and Howard da Silva (this version's Wolfsheim) as Wilson. Alan Ladd's brand of 1940s cool might have been a perfect fit for Jay Gatsby.
Sticking out interestingly at Gatsby's party are Sammy Smith (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying) and, at one of the long party tables, Brooke Adams. She's not listed in the cast or at the IMDB, but it can't be anyone else. I think.
On a scale of Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor, The Great Gatsby rates:
Movie: Good -
Video: Excellent
Sound: Excellent
Supplements: none
Packaging: Keep case
Reviewed: January 5, 2004
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Letters Home Archived At Chapman University.
A Hellish Place of Angels:
Daryl Eigen fought in the Vietnam War with the Marine Corps' 3/26 and 2/9 combat infantry battalions in the Third Marine Division in 1966 and 1967. He participated in over 12 operations against enemy forces and was awarded 3 purple hearts..
In this memoir, Eigen gives voice to his and his fellow veterans' experiences of the Vietnam War that culminated in September of 1967 in the brutal battles of Con Thien. A Hellish Place of Angels provides an in-depth and riveting insight into war, and documents a spiritual journey that took one tour of duty to experience and forty-five years to understand. Interview with the author. |
Con Thien, called "The Hill of Angels" by local priests, became the nexus of brutal fighting in September of 1967.
Con Thien was one of the most northern bases in Vietnam and was part of the DMZ combat theater. The base was situated to stop the infiltration of the North Vietnam Army (NVA). Photo of Con Thien by David Douglas Duncan Harry Ransom Center University of Texas at Austin.The 100 or so original letters (and book) written by Daryl Eigen to his family have been donated and archived at Chapman University Leatherby Libraries War Letters Collection. See the cover letter and certificate on tab The Letters. Letters home, personal experiences, and historical references are braided tightly together to reveal the truth and form a compelling and gripping story of the Vietnam War. A narrative arc is developed similar to Full Metal Jacket and Jarhead but with more heart, more focus, and more action.
The author of the letters home is my younger self as pictured here. I was 21 in this photo about ten months after I returned to the 'world' from the 'Nam'. Daryl J. Eigen served as a combat Marine in Vietnam in 1966 and 67 and was honorably discharged in 1968. He earned a PhD in engineering from Northwestern University, an MA from Sofia University and an MA from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He worked as an engineer, senior management and CEO in high tech. Now retired, Eigen and his wife, Lucy, live in Portland, Oregon. He has two children and four grandchildren. David Douglas Duncan's famous photo is proudly used as the cover of this book with his and Harry Ransom Center's (the collection of DDD's work) permission. All rights reserved (Eigen 2012) |

subset: commoncrawl


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Greyhound & Whippet Sewing Pattern – Jersey Vest for Dogs
A comfy cosy tee made from jersey fabric. Available with a hood or without. Specially designed for a whippet or greyhound body type.
Printing instructions can be found here.
All patterns come as full scale documents to allow you to print on different sized pages as well as A4 and US Letter sized documents.
Every download comes with a tutorial with colour diagrams or photographs.
A 1.5cm seam allowance is included on all pattern pieces unless otherwise stated.


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Mallernee, Branch & Daffner L.L.P. is an Atlanta law firm that is dedicated to providing quality legal services to its clients in a timely and cost-effective manner. Established in 1997, the firm is comprised of experienced lawyers who listen to their clients and value each and every client of the firm.
We appreciate your interest in our firm and would like to have the opportunity to more fully introduce ourselves to you.


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Did Ryan O'Neal Steal Painting From Farrah Fawcett's Estate?
January 12, 2012
Seventies beauty icon Farrah Fawcett died in June of 2009 at the age of 62, following a terrible battle with cancer. She did the proper estate planning, complete with a will and a trust. [You can read the trust here]. So why are there not one, but two lawsuits over one of her assets?
Fawcett's trust provides that her art collection passed to the University of Texas, her alma mater. The University received one of the two Warhol paintings, but not the other. So where is it?
In the possession of Fawcett's former on-again, off-again boyfriend, Ryan O'Neal … and he doesn't even dispute that he has it. So the University of Texas sued O'Neal, claiming the painting belonged to Fawcett when she died and should now belong to it.
O'Neal denies it. He says he was friends with Warhol even before Fawcett, and Warhol gave him the painting. He's so incensed about the lawsuit that he started one of his own … against a man named Craig Nevius.
Nevius is a Hollywood producer. At one time, he was working with Fawcett to develop a TV documentary about her struggle with caner. He and O'Neal already sued each other before, about the Fawcett documentary, and each claimed the other exploited Fawcett as she was dying with cancer. Nevius gave up the lawsuit because, he said, he couldn't afford to fight O'Neal. It's clear to say the two men do not like each other.
That's why, O'Neal says, Nevius told lies about him and the painting. O'Neal sued Nevius for defamation, blaming him for causing the University to sue O'Neal. O'Neal claims that Nevius falsely said O'Neal stole the painting, when O'Neal says the truth is that he owned it all along.
So far, O'Neal is winning the lawsuit. Last week, a Los Angeles judge refused Nevius' request to dismiss the case. She pointed out that Nevius denies having told anyone that O'Neal stole the painting, but apparently he had sent an email to the University saying that O'Neal's ownership of the painting was a "fraud" and a "theft." The Judge was clearly bothered by Nevius' inconsistent statements.
Nevius' attorney vows to appeal the Judge's ruling. He says that Fawcett always had two Warhol paintings hanging in her house, repeatedly told people she owned them, and O'Neal took possession of the painting after Fawcett died, despite not being a beneficiary of Fawcett's will or trust. Nevius feels the truth will come out, likely in the University of Texas lawsuit, and Nevius will be vindicated.
So it really all comes down to one question: Did Fawcett own that painting, or did O'Neal? It shouldn't be that hard to determine, because a painting with substantial value like this one (which a BBC article claimed was worth in the neighborhood of $30 million) should have been insured while Fawcett was alive. If so, there would be records of whether Fawcett or O'Neal was the one to insure the painting.
Even if it was not insured, there would presumably be pictures or other evidence to establish whose house it really was hanging in. Fawcett and O'Neal separated, according to most reports, in 1997 (although O'Neal said they remained close thereafter). Regardless of the nature of their relationship, determining whose house the painting really hung in can't be that big of a mystery, can it?
We'll find out. And in the meantime, there is a lesson which all families can learn from this celebrity estate. Items of personal property with significant monetary value should be specifically mentioned in a will or trust, or in a separate written document that is mentioned in the will or trust, so there is no confusion over who owns what, and who receives what. While it is not necessary to list out every item of personal property, something of unusual value should be listed out in accordance with a complete estate plan.
It's a sad reality that many families fight over personal property, usually accompanied by claims of "Mom gave it to me" or "Dad said I could have it." These can turn into ugly and expensive lawsuits, and often shatter family relationships. Full and complete estate planning is the best way to prevent a fight like this from happening to your family after you pass away.
By Danielle and Andy Mayoras, co-authors of Trial & Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights!, husband-and-wife legacy expert attorneys, and hosts of the national television special, Trial & Heirs: Protect Your Family Fortune! For the latest celebrity and high-profile cases, with tips to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your clients, click here to subscribe to The Trial & Heirs Update. You can "like" them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Google+.
For legal help in Michigan, visit Andy and Danielle's law firm's websites, The Center for Elder Law and The Center for Probate Litigation.


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Jeremiah 43
Then spoke {a} Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the {b} proud men, saying to Jeremiah, {c} Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath {d} not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there:
(a) Who was also called Jezaniah, Jer 42:1.
(b) This declares that pride is the cause of rebellion and contempt of God's ministers.
(c) When the hypocrisy of the wicked is discovered, they burst forth into open rage: for they can abide nothing but flattery, read Isa 30:10.
(d) He shows what is the nature of the hypocrites: that is, to pretend that they would obey God and embrace his word, if they were assured that his messenger spoke the truth: though indeed they are most far from all obedience.
But Baruch the son of Neriah {e} setteth thee on against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may put us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon.
(e) Thus the wicked not only contemn and hurt the messengers of God, but slander and speak wickedly of all them that support or favour the godly.
But Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Judah, that had returned from all {f} nations, where they had been driven, to dwell in the land of Judah;
(f) As from the Moabites, Ammonites and Edomites, Jer 40:11.
[Even] men, and women, and children, and the king's daughters, and every person that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the {g} prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah.
(g) When these wicked lead away by force.
So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus they came [even] to {h} Tahpanhes.
(h) A city in Egypt near to Nilus.
Take great stones in thy hand, and {i} hide them in the clay in the brickkiln, which [is] at the entrance of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah;
(i) Which signified that Nebuchadnezzar would come even to the gates of Pharaoh, where his brick kilns for his buildings were.
And say to them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, {k} my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them.
(k) Read Jer 25:9.
And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, [and deliver] {l} such [as are] for death to death; and such [as are] for captivity to captivity; and such [as are] for the sword to the sword.
(l) Everyone will be slain by the means that God has appointed, Jer 15:2.
And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captives: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a {m} shepherd putteth on his garment; and he shall go forth from there in peace.
(m) Meaning most easily and suddenly will he carry the Egyptians away.
Jeremiah 43
Geneva Study Bible
Bible Hub


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Since its release in 2010 Doepfer's Dark Energy has garnered a reputation as a suitably squelchy and surprisingly flexible old-school analogue synth.
Now we have the second generation version. This has been launched out of necessity: with the original's CEM3394 ship no longer available, Doepfer has been forced to rework the synth and come up with a new kind of Dark Energy.
There's now a sawtooth-based VCO core and a 12dB multimode filter (plus an all-new filter Mode control), while electronics buffs will be pleased to note that the mkII synth is more expandable. There are several other key differences, too.
In fact, Doepfer is saying that this is, to all intents and purposes, a new synth. It offers USB/MIDI interfacing and CV connectivity and is available now for €428.
Find out more on the Doepfer website.


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I have this existing code where they have a class and an initialization method in that class. It is expected that once the object of the class is created, they need to call initialize on it.
Reason why the initialize method exist The object gets created early to have a global scope and then the initialize method gets called later after loading a dll which it depends on.
Issue with having the initialize The class now has this bool isInitialized which needs to be checked in every method before it proceeds and returns error if it is not initialized. Simply put, it is a big pain.
One possible solution Initialize in the constructor. Have just a pointer to the object in the global scope. Create the actual object after the dll is loaded.
Issue with the above solution Anyone who creates an object of this class needs to know that it needs to be created only after the dll is loaded or else it will fail.
Is this acceptable?


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From a quick Internet search, you might think there are scores of proven treatments for the distressing crying jags of colicky babies.
But you'd be wrong, according to a new report that takes a piercing look at dietary supplements and other alternative therapies often touted to relieve colic.
"Having now looked at the evidence in terms of complimentary medicines, it is difficult to say that there is any effective treatment out there," Rachel Perry, a researcher at Peninsula Medical School in Exeter, UK, told Reuters Health.
"We need a bit more research before you go out and spend your money on this."
The mother of two kids who used to cry inexplicably for hours, Perry said she is sympathetic to the plights of new parents with colicky infants.
"I tried loads of things, because I was so desperate," she said. "I can see why parents are driven mad by it."
Baby colic is a common condition, affecting as many as a quarter of young infants. Yet the underlying reasons remain mysterious, and there are no safe and effective treatments.
Fortunately, the crying -- which can last for hours every day -- usually disappears when the baby is a few months old, and the condition is harmless, experts say.
In the meantime, distressed parents might be scouring the Internet for help.
The new report, published in the journal Pediatrics, summarizes all the complementary and alternative medicines as well as nutritional supplements for colic -- including herbal extracts, sugar water, probiotics, massage and reflexology.
The researchers found 15 studies of 944 babies that had tested these treatments against inactive treatments.
There were some signs that fennel had a positive effect. For instance, one study found that 65 percent of babies who got fennel seed oil dissolved in water before meals were cured of their colic. That compared to 24 percent of those who just got water.
Similar results were found in another study of herbal tea that included fennel, chamomile and other herbs.
But the studies were few and far between, and none of the studies were scientifically solid, the researchers found. Some included very few children, and others allowed the parents to see the kind of treatment their babies had, which could sway the results.
"It's like a drug trial, you wouldn't just trust one very small trial on a medication," Perry said. "It's not to say these things wouldn't work, we just don't know."
Her colleague Dr. Edzard Ernst, who heads the department of complementary medicine at Peninsula Medical School and led the new work, said the best advice is to stay away from alternative colic therapies at this point.
"The condition is benign and self-limiting," he told Reuters Health in an email. "So, tender loving care may well be the best approach."


text: FOUNTAIN OF ELISHA. 153 drew near we were met by a company of women from a neighbouring village, who had seen the American flag floating from the tents, and hearing that a sultana would arrive, had come to greet the lady of our party (Mrs Prime) with a welcome song. It was truly a remarkable specimen of native melody. They also demanded a backshish, and at the same time insisted upon being admitted to the tent that they might see the unveiled face of their fair sister. Thus gratified, they retired and left us undisturbed for the night. "In the morning we walked out to search for traces of ancient Jericho, and discovered the remains of an old fountain and finely-wrought Mosaic pavement, indicating that a city of some magnificence had formerly occupied this site. An old dilapidated ruin is also pointed out as the house of Zaccheus where our Saviour abode with him, and brought salvation to his house,' when He passed through Jericho. We then set out to visit the fountain of Elisha, a half hour distant. It bursts forth from underneath a large mound at the base of the mountain, and is a beautiful fountain of sweet and pleasant water. Its stream produces vegetation and flowers in luxuriant abundance as it flows over the plain. Originally the water was quite unfit for domestic purposes or irrigation, causing death and sterility, until the fountain was miraculously healed by the prophet Elisha, who 'went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast salt there, and said, Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.' "Thus, according to the word of the Lord, it possesses peculiar virtue in producing vegetation, and spreads 154 MOUNT OF TEMPTATION. fertility and verdure over the plain, well-nigh as far as the eye can reach. Indeed, as the waters were bubbling forth, the birds singing in the trees, and many wild-flowers in bloom around, it seemed quite like an earthly paradise. We were then viewing the scene of a perpetual miracle, reaching from the days of Elisha to the present, and yielding to these deadly waters a lifegiving power, to make the barren land bloom with beauty, and rejoice as the garden of the Lord. I could not but feel that it was greatly fitted to confirm and strengthen our faith in the miracles of Scripture history. "Then we rode along the base of Mount Quarantana, a bold and precipitous peak that rises twelve or fifteen hundred feet above the plain. This is described as the point where Jesus was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil,' and when He had successfully resisted the assaults of the Evil One, 'behold angels came and ministered unto Him.' The mountain side is filled with grottos and caves cut in the rock, the dwelling-places of pious monks who formerly fled here from the temptations of the world. They found, however, that the old tempter was in this wilderness, still seeking whom he might destroy, and that we must escape the world before we can escape the wiles of the adversary. Next we came to a wild rocky ravine that opens through the mountain. Down this the brook Cherith winds its way to the valley, and here the prophet Elijah 'hid himself at the command of the Lord by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.' And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.' We were thus viewing the scene of another miracle of Bible history, and felt the presence of the God of Elijah beside the waters of the brook Cherith. An old monk has cut his cell high up in the rock, and dwelt there in imitation of the prophet. Ascending thence by an ancient paved road, we reach the mountain summit, and take our last view of the valley of the Jordan, the Dead Sea, and the mountains. round about. On the way, the place is pointed out where 'a certain man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho fell among thieves; and the good Samaritan had compassion on him, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn.' The road here certainly appears as though it had always been infested with thieves and robbers, and on this account was doubtless selected as the scene of the parable. Four armed Bedouins now came suddenly upon us in the pass, and we at first feared the fate of the former traveller. We, however, made the salutation of friendship to them, and they immediately returned it and acted as our guard by the way. Thence we came to Bethany, and crossing the Mount of Olives, entered once more within the Holy City." CHAPTER XVIII. FROM JERUSALEM TO DAMASCUS. MR RIGHTER left Jerusalem March 10, having on the same morning met a number of Christian friends at Bishop Gobat's study, and having persuaded them to form a committee of the Evangelical Alliance, with Bishop Gobat as chairman. He gives the following account of his journey to Damascus :— 'BEYROUT, April 8, 1856. "From Jerusalem we journeyed northward, and came to Bethel, or house of God, where Jacob saw in his dream 'a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and beheld the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven... And he called the name of that place Bethel.' "Passing by way of Shiloh, where the ark and tabernacle long continued, we next arrived at Nablous, the ancient Shechem. Near by is Jacob's well, where our Saviour sat wearied with His journey, and as the woman GERIZIM AND EBAL. 157 of Samaria came to draw water, He discoursed to her of the water of everlasting life. On the right rises Ebal, the Mount of Cursing, and on the left Gerizim, the Mount of Blessing, whereon the Samaritans built a temple and worshipped God, in opposition to the Jews at Jerusalem. And here the small remnant that is left still go up four times a year to offer sacrifice and worship. They live entirely distinct; and, as of old, 'the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.' "In the morning we ascended an eminence, and, looking to the east, saw Ramoth-gilead beyond Jordan, where Moses set before the Israelites 'a blessing and a curse,' and charged them to place the blessing upon Mount Gerizim, and the curse upon Mount Ebal. 'Are they not on the other side Jordan, by the way where the sun goeth down, in the land of the Canaanites?' This Joshua afterwards did, when they entered in to possess the land, placing half of them over against Mount Gerizim, and half of them over against Mount Ebal,' as Moses, the servant of the Lord, had commanded before. 'And he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. And all the people answered Amen.' It was most interesting to view and realise this whole scene, spread out like a picture before us. 'We then journeyed on, and in half an hour came to the hill of Samaria. Here stood Herod's ivory palace, and this sensual monarch reigned in all his ambitious splendour. Here the daughter of Herodias, Herod's brother's wife, danced before him on his birthday, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised to give her whatsoever she would ask, even to the half of his king |


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An Introduction to Chi Kung in Recovery
Greg Pergament shares an excerpt from his new book, Chi Kung in Recovery: Finding Your Way to a Balanced and Centered Recovery. He will be incorporating this ancient practice in The Joy of Recovery: Buddhism, Chi Kung and 12 Steps–a unique recovery retreat also featuring Kevin Griffin. To read more about this program being held at SMC from December 6-8, click here.
Chi Kung is an ancient Chinese health care system that integrates physical postures, breathing techniques and focused attention. These three attributes make it an excellent complementary practice for anyone recovering from substance abuse and its physical, mental and spiritual manifestations.
Chi Kung creates an awareness of, and influences, dimensions of our being that are not part of traditional exercise programs. Most exercises do not involve the meridian system (used in acupuncture), nor do they emphasize the importance of adding mind intent and breathing techniques to physical movements. When these dimensions are added, the benefits of exercise increase exponentially.
The gentle rhythmic movements of Chi Kung reduce stress, build stamina, increase vitality and enhance the immune system. It has also been found to improve cardiovascular, respiratory, circulatory, lymphatic and digestive functions.
Consistent practice helps one regain a youthful vitality, maintain health even into old age and helps speed recovery from illness. One of the more important long term effects is that Chi Kung reestablishes the body/mind/spirit connection.


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7123.4.55.001 - Agricultural State Profile, South Australia, 2006-07
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 01/10/2008
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An overview of the agricultural industry in South Australia. Ideal for school students' project work. Covers farm numbers, agricultural production and the state's agricultural contribution to the economy. Includes mapped data, historical data from 1861 and data provided at the Statistical Division level.
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Online Service Aims To Simplify Hospital Bills
As the hospital revenue mix shifts from insurers to patients, online services like Simplee can improve collections with bills that are easier to understand and pay.
October 14, 2013
7 Portals Powering Patient Engagement
7 Portals Powering Patient Engagement(click image for larger view and for slideshow)
As hospitals find themselves billing a larger share of revenue directly to patients, it's beginning to dawn on them that it would help if patients could understand their bills.
The mix of money health insurers are collecting -- or trying to collect -- is clearly changing as the result of consumer-driven healthcare trends that have been under way for a decade, now accelerated with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obamacare. The "consumer-driven" part of the equation is a strategy for controlling healthcare costs by giving consumers a greater role in paying the bills, prompting them to question unnecessary procedures and excessive costs. For example, when health savings accounts are combined with high-deductible health insurance plans, consumers bank pre-tax money to pay their share of the cost. Meanwhile, Obamacare makes health insurance both affordable and compulsory, which will likely bring more of the uninsured into the market with low-cost but high-deductible plans.
The challenge for hospitals is that they have become so oriented toward collecting from insurers that most are ill-equipped to cater to consumers -- they're much better at confusing them.
"Hospitals fire you out three or four bills to get you to pay once," said Michael Trilli, an analyst with Aite Group. "Meanwhile, the health insurance says one thing and the hospital says another." Presented with a flurry of bills, including separate statements from labs and specialists, combined with the need to reconcile them with an explanation of benefits statement from their insurer, consumers often hesitate to pay until they see the real bottom line. "There's a fraction of patients who could pay but don't, but I think there's a larger faction out there who are just really confused," he said.
[ Read about the new doctor's visit in American Well: The Doctor Will See You Online. ]
This is the problem Simplee is trying to address with a consumer-friendly Web service connecting hospitals and their patients. In one early success story, an implementation with El Camino Hospital in Silicon Valley, Calif., that went live in January, Simplee was able to demonstrate that many patients were willing to send an online or mobile payment if the process was sufficiently simple and understandable. Between January and June, the hospital saw self-service payments go from 2% to 33%, while the amount of time hospital staff spent helping patients understand and pay their bills dropped by 40%, according to a Simplee case study.
"It works very similarly to Mint.com," CEO Tomer Shoval said, referring to the popular consumer financial management service. "Patients get a really cool dashboard that helps them understand their healthcare expenditure." Working with the hospital and the insurer, Simplee tries to coordinate data from all sources, giving consumers a clear view of what their insurance is covering and what they are expected to pay. With a related service, which El Camino Hospital is now starting to pilot, Simplee can also present patients with an advance estimate of what any given procedure will cost, before and after their insurers' contributions. Optionally, the hospital can ask for an upfront down payment on the cost.
improved self-service
Simplee customer El Camino Hospital in Silicon Valley saw an increase in self-service payments. Source: simplee.com
Trilli mentioned another startup, PatientPay, which is doing something similar for physician practices. Some established billing clearinghouses are also "starting to get into the game," he said, but added "this is a really good opportunity for startups to come in and solve a problem with really flexible technology."
Shoval said he and his cofounders have the advantage of coming from outside of the healthcare industry, with experience in other forms of e-commerce. He was previously managing director of Shopping.com, which was purchased by eBay. On the other hand, one of Simplee's challenges is convincing hospital CIOs that this is a service they need, when they may already have implemented some form of online billing from an established healthcare software vendor like Epic.
"My argument is, if no one's using it, if no one's making payments with self-service, then you haven't solved the problem," Shoval said. Instead of approaching hospital billing as "a complex and unique problem," Simplee works hard to approach it from the patient's point of view and streamline it as much as possible, using consumer website design techniques like A/B testing to refine its approach, he said. Simplee has also put greater focus on mobile computing or effective use of email, he said.
In September, Simplee raised $10 million in a Series B round of funding led by Heritage Group, a venture group controlled by hospitals and healthcare organizations. "We spend a lot of time with our limited partners, trying to understand what their needs are," Heritage Group managing director Paul Wallace said. "We've identified patient collection as a hot button for these guys." At least one of the hospitals in the investment group is already implementing Simplee, and others are in discussions with the company, he said.
The patient-paid component of hospital billings "has gone by some accounts from 5% to 25%," Wallace said. Patients don't trust their bills, and they don't understand the explanation of benefits statements they get from insurers, he said. "It's a huge mess." In addition to making the process more comprehensible, Simplee acts as a customer relationship management system, giving hospitals the opportunity of establishing "a positive relationship with patients that they didn't used to have," he said.
Follow David F. Carr on Twitter @davidfcarr or Google+. His book Social Collaboration For Dummies is scheduled for release in October 2013.
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I thought it might be useful if I did this post ahead of the upcoming MAC In The Groove Collection which is due for release on the 1st July.
The rather lovely Karleigh wanted a shot of my pale arse wearing it. Well, not my 'arse'… that would be enough to send global MAC sales plummeting. I mean… oh, you know what I mean.
Anyway, I'm gonna show you my FOTD and then I'm gonna link you to one of my fav bloggers who's got a fabulous shot showing the shimmer far better than I was able to… so read on!
MAC's Petticoat Mineralize Skin Finish was first released in 2005 before being re-released as part of 2008's Sheer Mineral collection. A fairly sought-after MSF, it's making waves again in the make-up community thanks to it's forthcoming 2nd re-release as part of the In The Groove collection.
MAC Petticoat is pretty hard to describe. On me… it's quite a bronzy pink. As you can see, my Petticoat MSF has a big old chunk of that deep russet pink, if I include that section when I swirl, I get a much darker finish.
The texture is smooth though quite metallic…
Absolutely wearable as a blush (aslong as you're happy with shimmer). I think it's universally quite flattering. If you are going to pick one of these babies up next Thursday, pay attention to the veining. If you want something lighter and more high-lightery… see if you can ask them to grab you one with slightly less veining. Me? I'm happy with that concentrated chunk as it means I can avoid if necessary!
The face swatches above show a general swirl of the pan incorporating the dark and light sections. Hope this is useful!
Now, as I said at the beginning… I wanted to link you to Jojoba's wonderful post on her Petticoat MSF, which looks paler and more ethereal on her darker/warmer skintone. You can also catch the flash of bronzed pink highlight on her cheek in one of the photos. Gorgeous!
Is Petticoat something you're hoping to pick up next week?


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Ewan McGregor and Michael Fassbender are both in Haywire. Also Channing Tatum, if that's your thing. And Michael Douglas. And Antonia Banderas. Directed by Steven Soderbergh. I know, right? What is happening here???
Last night was the LA premiere. Everyone showed up...but Fassy.
And you know what? I'm ok with that. Because Look.At.Ewan.
His hair, the scarf, the leather on the sleeves, the length of that coat, the way he wears his pants...
Sometimes when he smiles he reminds me of Tony Leung Chiu Wai. If there was ever a way Wong Kar Wai could put the two of them together in a movie, I mean you all can have Ewan and Fassy; I will happily, happily take Ewan and Tony.


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Oh gosh, I don't think I was quite ready for the craziness that is the Davenport's way of life. A life of politics, scandal (or covering up scandals), lies, deceit, and anything else you could imagine. The only saving grace was of course, the sweet and spicy romance between Brody and Cat.
I loved so many aspects of this book and had to bite my tongue and cringe at so many others.
This was pretty fast paced and kept me turning the pages wondering what else would be discovered and unveiled. How can there be so many painful and life altering secrets between one family?
Besides all the crazy political goings on, what you really have is a very sweet romance between two people with a whole lot of history. A history that goes back about twenty years. A history that changed their lives in ways they didn't even know about until they meet again.


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First 2014 Corvette Stingray wreck captured in the wild
Well that didn't take long.
It's been less than a month since Chevrolet revealed the 2014 Corvette Stingray, and already one has turned up wrecked. Since the new Corvette isn't on sale yet, chances are someone at General Motors will have a sizable expense report to fill out.
Caught by a poster at Digital Corvettes, the photo was supposedly snapped recently in Arizona, with the original shooter's commentary: "Cop had just arrived. Car is in worse shape than looks. Hit guardrail on left and bounced back to rocks." Automakers often run hot-weather and handling tests in Arizona, and this copy wears the Michigan manufacturer license plates that a GM-owned prototype would carry on public roads.
While at first glance the Vette looks OK, a closer look reveals serious damage; the front wheel looks too far askew, and there's long scrapes on the side of the body and the wheels. There may have been a side air bag deployed as well, but it's hard to tell under the tinted rear glass.
It's rare but not unheard of for a factory pre-production test drive to end in a crash; at this stage of Corvette development, the engineers would be tweaking software settings or chasing down some final production issues before the launch later this year. We asked Chevy for comment, and until we hear back we're struck by what GM always warns media test drivers: "Keep it shiny side up."
UPDATE: According to Chevy spokesman Monte Doran, this was a GM test drive gone wrong: "During evaluation, the driver caught the inside tire caught the edge of the pavement during a tight corner, leading to the accident. Thankfully, no one was hurt, the car received only minor damage, and no citations were issued."


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Researchers Document First Algal Pan-Genome
Leading a decade-long research initiative with a team of international scientists, Dr. Betsy Read from CSUSM has documented the first-ever algal pan-genome after sequencing 13 strains of the marine phytoplankter Emiliania huxleyi.Their findings address the alga's ability to survive in diverse oceanic environments, which opens avenues for new research on climate change, global carbon cycling, biomineralization and the design of novel materials with biomedical applications, such as bone scaffolding, implants and periodontal structures. The phenomenon of a pan-genome, or family of species-specific genomes, is commonly seen in bacteria, but this is the first reported example in eukaryotic algae.Drs. Betsy Read, Xiaoyu Zhang and the late Tom Wahlund from CSUSM and Dr. Igor Grigoriev from the U.S. Department of Energy's Joint Genome Institute (JGI) coordinated the project, which involved an international team of more than 75 research scientists from 12 countries. The team's research, touted as filling a vital gap in the tree of life, was published in the renowned journal Nature on June 12, 2013.A Small but Mighty OrganismThe third most abundant phytoplanktonic species in the ocean, E. huxleyi is a single-celled organism enveloped by an elegantly sculpted calcium carbonate cell covering. Although it cannot be seen with the naked eye, E. huxleyi forms massive blooms that can be viewed by satellite imagery because of the remarkable light reflecting properties of its shell, which gives the water a milky turquoise tint. Arguably no other single living creature has such a striking impact on our planet as seen from outer space.While the chalky fossilized remains of E. huxleyi are prominently displayed in the White Cliffs of Dover, and blooms are often associated with southern coast of England, the microorganism can be found in almost all marine ecosystems. According to Dr. Read, E. huxleyi is in nearly every bucket of water pulled from the ocean, with the exception of the polar seas. As such, it is the basis of virtually all marine food systems.In addition, E. huxleyi influences climate processes. The light reflecting capabilities of its exterior push light and heat back into the atmosphere, ultimately lowering ocean temperatures. The alga is involved in marine carbon cycling and may serve as a "carbon sink" by taking up CO2 to produce energy and its calcium carbonate shell, and burying carbon in the sediments when it sinks to ocean floor. It may also influence cloud formation when an organosulfur compounds is released into the water, and evaporates into the atmosphereMaking the DiscoveryThe genome of E. huxleyi is unlike any other group of algae and sequencing its DNA proved difficult due to the inherent complexities and size. An organism's genome is the sum total of its DNA, including genes and other information needed to function and maintain itself.Researchers found that the tiny unicellular organism, which can only been seen using a microscope, contains approximately 30,000 genes and 141.7 million DNA bases -- comparable to that of a multi-cellular terrestrial plant.As researchers worked to annotate the sequences, they discovered the genomes from the 13 E. huxleyi strains, collected from different regions of the ocean, give rise to a pan-genome. A pan-genome is characterized as being a family of genomes that have a core set of genes, as well as genes that are unique or strain specific, and genes that are shared by two or more strains. Documenting the genetic variability of E. huxleyi helps explain the alga's competitive advantage to thrive in almost all oceanic environments, from the tropic to the subarctic seas. "The high morphological, physiological, and ecological diversity within this species indicates that a single strain is unlikely to be typical -- or representative of all strains," the team noted. "Future sequencing of phytoplankton isolates will reveal whether this discovery is a unique or more common feature in the microalgae. Together, the physiological capacity and genomic plasticity of E. huxleyi make it a powerful model for studying speciation and adaptations to global climate change."Researchers believe the unusually large amount of repetitive sequence in the genome may have contributed to the genetic and morphological diversity of the organism. The ability to rapidly evolve enables E. huxleyi to respond and quickly adapt to changing environmental conditions.The CSUSM Research TeamWhile the international project was led by Dr. Read, vital contributions were also made by CSUSM Professor Xiaoyu Zhang and two students from Dr. Read's lab.Dr. Zhang, an associate professor of computer science, worked closely with bioinformaticians at JGI and was involved in nearly every aspect of the genome analysis. He was instrumental in unraveling the pan-genome story. Dr. Zhang compared the genomes of 13 different strains of E. huxleyi and was the first to note that the number and kinds of genes varied considerably across the isolates. According to Dr. Read, he was "the tour de force, and without his efforts and the unwavering commitment on both his part and those at JGI, the project would not have been realized."CSUSM student researchers also made contributions to the project. Biological sciences undergraduate Analissa Sarno teamed with graduate student Karina Gonzalez, and together they analyzed a unique complement of proteins know as selenoproteins and their associated biosynthetic machinery. They also assisted with the data organization and editing of the manuscript."This type of project exemplifies the importance of collaboration and cooperation by scientists around the globe," said Sarno. "There is an immense amount of work that goes on behind the scenes… and I was fortunate enough to have an active role that really opened my eyes to the difficulty and complexity of scientific writing."Where Researchers are Headed NextEmbedded in the genetic code are clues about the cellular processes that enable E. huxleyi to produce the remarkably elaborate shell-like scales that surround the cell. Identifying genes and proteins involved in this process could lead to the design of new composite materials and devices for applications related to bone replacement, periodontal reconstruction, sensing systems, optoelectronic devices and the treatment of diseases."We have some clues," Dr. Read said, "but what makes this more difficult is that proteins involved in calcification are not conserved across biomineralizing species. What we desperately need in order to identify the genes involved in biomineralization, is a genetic transformation system. Several labs -- including my own -- are aggressively working on this."To fully exploit the sequence information and to achieve a complete understanding of E. huxleyi, its biological significance and impact on society and the environment, Dr. Read and her colleagues will next begin to study the products of the genome and define the role of each and every gene, how they interrelate and come together in synergistic networks to accomplish complex functions.


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On April 17, 2014, Xubuntu released it's much awaited Long Term Support (LTS) release - Xubuntu 14.04, nicknamed "Trusty Tahr". Pasi Lallinaho announced the release of Xubuntu 14.04, a desktop distribution shipping with the latest development build of the Xfce desktop, version 4.11: "The Xubuntu team is pleased to announce the immediate release of Xubuntu 14.04. Xubuntu 14.04 is an LTS (long-term support) release and will be supported for 3 years. The highlights of this release include: Light Locker replaces XScreenSaver for screen locking, a settings GUI is included; the panel layout is updated, it now uses Whisker Menu by default; Mugshot is included to allow editing personal preferences; MenuLibre for menu editing with full Xfce support replaces Alacarte; a community wallpapers package which includes work from the five winners of the wallpaper contest; GTK+ Theme Config to customize desktop theme colors; updated artwork, including various enhancements to themes as well as a new default wallpaper."
From Xubuntu 14.04 http://mylinuxexplore.blogspot.in |
I downloaded the 913 MB 64-bit ISO for this review. I created a live USB using Linux Mint Image Writer and booted it up on my Asus K55VM with 2.3 Ghz Core i7 processor, 8 GB DDR3 RAM and 2 GB NVIDIA GeForce 630M graphic card. Next, I installed it on a 50 GB HDD partition.
Xubuntu 14.04 LTS ships with Xfdesktop 4.11.6 running on XFCE 4.10. Superficially I didn't notice any major change in appearance (except for the bottom panel gone for good), but under the hood, Xfdesktop 4.11 has significant improvements to speak of. Xubuntu has Linux kernel 3.13.0.
From Xubuntu 14.04 http://mylinuxexplore.blogspot.in |
From Xubuntu 14.04 http://mylinuxexplore.blogspot.in |
From Xubuntu 14.04 http://mylinuxexplore.blogspot.in |
From Xubuntu 14.04 http://mylinuxexplore.blogspot.in |
From Xubuntu 14.04 http://mylinuxexplore.blogspot.in |
From Xubuntu 14.04 http://mylinuxexplore.blogspot.in |
Score for Aesthetics: 9/10
Hardware Recognition
Xubuntu has top notch hardware recognition and everything works without fail - wifi, lan, touchpad, sound, screen resolution, etc. etc., without any manual intervention.
Score for Hardware Recognition: 10/10
Pre-Installed Packages
Xubuntu ships with the basic packages, with a clear focus on lightweight packages, namely:
- Office: Abiword, Gnumeric, Dictionary, Document Viewer, Orage calendar, Orage Global time
- Internet: Firefox 28, Pidgin IM, Thunderbird Mail, Transmission bit torrent client, Xchat IRC
- Graphics: GIMP 2.8.10, Ristretto Image Viewer, Simple Scan, Screenshot
- Multimedia: gmusicbrowser, Parole Media Player, Xfburn CD/DVD writer
- Accessories: Archive Manager, Calculator, Catfish file search, Mousepad, Notes, Terminal emulator
Never the less, the application list fulfills most of the normal requirements. Abiword and Gnumeric are lighter alternatives of LibreOffice and work well as Word and Spreadsheet processing apps.
Internet section is very strong and has all the normal packages expected. I am a bit surprised to see GIMP here as I find it quite heavy.
Both gmusic and Parole are quite lightweight and work better than VLC on limited resource systems.
I am not sure if Xubuntu dropped Leafpad permanently but I used to like it. Anyway, mousepad is also quite good.
Settings manager is integrated in Xubuntu and it seems to have more options. Even the compiz-config I installed appeared in Settings manager along with Nvidia settings. A well integrated settings manager definitely help new users to have more control over the distro and makes Xubuntu easy to use without doubt.
From Xubuntu 14.04 http://mylinuxexplore.blogspot.in |
Score for Pre-Installed Packages: 8/10
Installation is similar to Ubuntu and takes about 15 minutes of time. Typical questions like location to install, time zone, language, keyboard preference and user ID creation are asked in the process and should not challenge any user remotely familiar with any operating system.
From Xubuntu 14.04 http://mylinuxexplore.blogspot.in |
Xubuntu sources it's packages from the Ubuntu Trusty repositories and has Ubuntu Software Center as interface. I miss a synaptic package manager here as it works faster than Ubuntu Software Center.
From Xubuntu 14.04 http://mylinuxexplore.blogspot.in |
Installing drivers for NVIDIA GeForce 630M
To counter laptop heat and stress on battery, I initially installed bumblebee with nvidia-331-updates as discussed on my previous reviews of Ubuntu and Kubuntu 14.04 LTS. However, I was not satisfied with the performance of bumblebee in Ubuntu 14.04. Laptop heat was still there though not as serious as without bumblebee.
So, I decided to try something else - using the proprietary drivers of Nvidia in Ubuntu. Hence, first I purged all bumblebee files from the system by:
$ sudo apt-get purge bumblebee*
Next I installed Nvidia prime which will help me to choose graphic card:
$ sudo apt-get install nvidia-prime
Post reboot, I opened the Nvidia settings manager and changed graphic card to Intel from Nvidia. One big short coming of this package is that it requires user to log out for a change in graphic card.
From Xubuntu 14.04 http://mylinuxexplore.blogspot.in |
From Xubuntu 14.04 http://mylinuxexplore.blogspot.in |
From Xubuntu 14.04 http://mylinuxexplore.blogspot.in |
Prime indicator is a 3rd party package which helps in easier selection of graphic cards. Even it requires logging out to change graphic card but it can be easily accessed from the panel. To install, I had to add a 3rd party repo and install prime indicator.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nilarimogard/webupd8
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install prime-indicator
From Xubuntu 14.04 http://mylinuxexplore.blogspot.in |
Boot time | Average (sec) | Best (sec) |
KDE4 64 bit | 52 | 35 |
GNOME 64 bit | 41 | 22 |
Xubuntu 14.04 LTS 64 bit | 23 |
RAM Consumption | Average (MB) | Best (MB) |
KDE4 64 bit | 555 | 423 |
GNOME 64 bit | 383 | 262 |
Xubuntu 14.04 LTS 64 bit | 310 |


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OK, now if I had to list the top five websites I use the most frequently, WorldCat.org would always be on the list. There is nothing else close. Over 74,000 libraries in 170 countries have used OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend, preserve and manage library materials.
If you haven't used WorldCat.org, you haven't done your homework for any type of research. Click on the link and start looking in WorldCat.org.


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Edutopia, the George Lucas Educational Foundation, is an excellent resource for educators. Their site has a huge variety of resources, tips, and research on education and is accessible for free. They are a big proponent of Project Based Learning (PBL) and also have a lot of resources on best practices in education.
They have a tremendous amount of resources on Project Based Learning available for free on their site.
Resources include lists of reading materials on PBL, links to schools that are using PBL, Resources from Edutopia on PBL, Resources from Maine on PBL including examples of PBL, lesson plans, assessments for PBL, planning guides for teachers and schools, professional development resources, resources for parents, and links to organizations and other resources on PBL. (Resources are in PDF form).
Project Based Learning is a great way to teach content, as well as essential skills such as teamwork, collaboration, problem solving, and more.
This is an excellent collection of resources about PBL and how to implement it in your school and classroom.
More free classroom guides for educators from Edutopia
Project Based Learning Resources for Educators
WPI Plan - a great educational model for all schools
10 Important Skills Students need for the Future
"Lehr und Kunst" or "Theory and Practice." - what we strive for in education


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Number of Devices
You can register up to 10 devices and utilise 4 concurrent streams per account.
Image Quality
The quality of the display of movies and TV shows streamed may vary from device to device and computer to computer and may be affected by a variety of factors, such as your location, the bandwidth available through and/or speed of your Internet connection. DisneyLife offers HD streaming for most titles. HD availability is subject to your Internet service and device capabilities. Default playback settings on mobile networks exclude HD content. Please check with your manufacturer or owner's manual if you're unsure if your device supports HD.
Minimum Speeds
The minimum connection speed for SD quality is 0.5 Mbps; however, we recommend a faster connection for improved video quality. A download speed of at least 5.0 Mbps per stream is recommended to receive HD content, which is defined as 720p or better. 10.0 Mbps is recommended to receive content at 1080p. The time it takes to begin watching a movie or TV show will vary based on a number of factors, including your location, available bandwidth at the time, the movie or TV show you have selected and the configuration of your DisneyLife ready device.
Data Charges
When accessing DisneyLife over your mobile network (not on Wi-Fi), you may use and/or exceed your data allowance. By default, streaming content via 3G/4G is turned off when you install DisneyLife. You have the ability to change this in your account settings. If you are using 3G or 4G to access the DisneyLife Service please make sure you are aware of the amount of data in your pay as you go or contract allowance. Disney is not responsible for any charges (including internet or data charges) you may incur in using the DisneyLife Service. Please check with your Internet provider for information on possible Internet data usage charges.
Downloads/Offline Viewing
You can access unlimited temporary downloads per device (subject to device capacity) for as long as you have an active DisneyLife account. You may only download content in the Philippines and can access the content downloaded to your device whilst you are in offline mode for up to 30 days after which time the downloaded content will expire. Content which is downloaded to a compatible device for offline viewing is not available in HD.
Available Languages
DisneyLife is available in the Philippines only in English, certain content within DisneyLife is also available in the following languages: French, German, Italian and Spanish.
This information is correct as of 9th May 2018. From time to time we may update this page, including removing certain devices or operating systems which may no longer be supported or maintained.


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Racks and enclosures house more equipment today than ever before. This rise in equipment densities has increased the need for an organized cable management system both inside and outside the rack. Poor cable management can not only lead to damaged cables or increased time to add or change out cables, but can block critical airflow or access. This can lead to inefficiencies in the performance of your equipment or even downtime. These accessories offer the proper cable management options to meet varying needs. Solutions range from simple cable management rings, to vertical or horizontal organizers, to troughs and ladders. APC Horizontal Cable Manager, 2U x 4in. Deep, Single-Sided with Cover is one of many Cable Management available through Office Depot. Made by APC.
We will find the best price for you.


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Many people know about the health and environmental benefits of buying organic produce, but far fewer probably realize that those fresh flowers given to a sweetheart or mom likely came at a hefty cost to wildlife.
Every year Americans spend some $20 billion on cut flowers, many that are produced with the heavy use of chemicals, which can wash off into waterways, kill fish and work their way up the food chain.
One study found as many as 127 different pesticides in flowers from Colombia, including highly toxic chemicals banned in the United States. Similar serious pesticide problems have been documented in Kenya, which has developed an enormous cut flower industry. Numerous studies have also linked pesticides to serious health problems among flower workers, some of whom are exposed to upward of 100 types of pesticides on the job.
But the market for organic flowers is growing, and a third-party certification program called VeriFlora now guarantees that flowers stamped with its seal are sustainable and labor-friendly. Though still a small part of the total U.S. flower market, the Organic Trade Association says that sales of "green" flowers have increased by as much as 50 percent a year in the last decade.
That's something to think about next time you feel like brightening up someone's day with a bouquet.
Speaking of Pesticides:
The market for organic flowers is growing, and a third-party certification program called VeriFlora now guarantees that flowers stamped with its seal are sustainable and labor-friendly.
Defenders helped salmon and steelhead trout get over one hurdle in the Pacific Northwest, where pesticides from fields, orchards and lawns wash into fish streams and either kill them directly or interfere with their ability to navigate back to their home streams to spawn. After intervening in a court case, where pesticide manufacturers sought to overturn federal protections that mandated no-spray buffer zones next to streams to catch pesticide-laden runoff, a federal judge rejected the challenge. "Pesticides are deadly by design," says Jason Rylander, Defenders' senior attorney. "We need to keep these contaminants out of our waterways."
Finding pesticide-free flowers is easy:
- Search for "organic flowers" online.
- Urge your supermarket to sell organic flowers—or buy from them if they already do.
- Buy certified flowers from your local florist or ask them to sell local flowers to cut gas-guzzling flights from South America.
- Frequent local farmers' markets—often they are on the leading edge of environmentally sound practices.
- Give organic seeds for planting instead.
Wild Inspirations
What inspires you to help wildlife?
Defenders member Sharon Latif from Somers, Conn., says:
Many years ago I hit a coyote that ran into the road. I actually wrapped him in a blanket and put him in one of my horse stalls. Not very smart, I know. But I had to do it. The man I called to take the coyote told me what he did and how he helped. The next week I was taking the test to become a wildlife rehabilitator, and I have never looked back.
What do you do in your daily life to protect wildlife? Write to us at firstname.lastname@example.com and your idea and photo could be featured on this page in a future issue.
Only select articles from Defenders are available online. To receive 4 issues annually of the full award-winning magazine, become a member of Defenders of Wildlife!


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Associated Weavers Invictus - Hercules Twist - Silver Shadow 90
Associated Weavers Hercules Twist - Silver Shadow 90 is a high quality deep pile saxony plain carpet. Part of the The Invictus Collection - the Hercules Twist range is a soft and strong bleach cleanable deep pile saxony. Available in 15 plain/speckled colours, it has an action backing called Fusionbac which is Associated Weavers newest types of carpet backing. It is available in either 4m or 5m widths and is suitable for general domestic use but we think it is particular suitable for Bedrooms and Sitting Rooms.
Features :
- iVinci Stainaway yarn
- Bleach Cleanable 100% Solution Dyed Polyolefin (SDO)
- Fusionbac action backing (underlay required)
- 20 year Stain and Wear Warranty
- Suitable for Heavy Domestic use (all rooms)
- Available in 15 colours
- Soft and strong 10mm long pile
- Tog rating 1.50
- Widths available (metric) 4m or 5m
- Widths available (imperial) 13ft 1in or 16ft 4in


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New Autism Criteria Will Have Minor Impact: Study
Most children should still be eligible for care, researchers say
URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_129839.html
(*this news item will not be available after 12/31/2012)
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Researchers assessed the impact of the proposed changes, which were developed by an expert panel appointed by the American Psychiatric Association and are expected to take effect in May 2013.
Previous research had suggested that 45 percent or more of children who currently qualify for a diagnosis of autism would not under the new criteria. Those findings caused widespread concern among parents who depend on state-financed health services for their children, The New York Times reported.
However, this latest study concluded that only 10 percent of these children would be excluded under the new criteria.
"I know that parents worry, but I don't believe there is any substantial reason to fear that children who need to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, and provided with vital services, will not be included in the new criteria in this updated manual," said study senior investigator Dr. Catherine Lord, director of the Center for Autism and the Developing Brain at New York-Presbyterian Hospital's Westchester campus, along with its affiliated medical schools Weill Cornell Medical College and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
The study is the largest to date to try to determine the effects of the new diagnostic criteria for autism. It was published in the Oct. 1 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Lord and her colleagues looked at 4,453 children currently diagnosed with autism and found that 91 percent of them would still qualify for the diagnosis under the proposed new criteria. Many of the remaining 9 percent would likely qualify with additional input from their doctors, the study added.
The proposed changes are designed to better identify autism and to distinguish it from other conditions, the researchers said.
The overall issue with the current criteria is "not that a lot of people are diagnosed with autism who shouldn't be, but that there is a lot of confusion because the criteria were not very accurate," Lord, who was a member of the panel that proposed the new criteria, said in a hospital news release.
She explained that in developing the new criteria, the panel "deliberately added and organized things to try to bring in and better address the needs of people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) of all developmental levels and ages -- including girls, who were not represented as well as they should be in" the current criteria.
The goal of the new criteria "is to better describe who has ASD in a way that matches up with what we know from research, which predicts who has the disorder and also reflects what clinicians are actually looking at," Lord said.
Autism spectrum disorders cover a range of complex neurodevelopmental conditions that are characterized by social impairment, communication difficulties and restricted, repetitive, and stereotypical behavior patterns, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
An estimated one in 88 American children has an autism spectrum disorder, according to statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Copyright (c) 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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Democrat or Republican?
A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat and was for distribution of all wealth. She felt deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican which she expressed openly. One day she was challenging her father on his beliefs and his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and more welfare programs. In the middle of her heart-felt diatribe based upon the lectures she had from her far left professors at her school, he stopped her and asked her point blank, how she was doing in school. She answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain. That she had to study all the time, never had time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend and didn't really have many friends because of spending all her time studying. That she was taking a more difficult curriculum. Her father listened and then asked, "How is your friend Mary." She replied, "Mary is barely getting by", she continued, "all she has is barely a 2.0 GPA" adding, "and all she takes are easy classes and she never studies." But to explain further she continued emotionally, "But Mary is so very popular on campus, college for her is a blast, she goes to all the parties all the time and very often doesn't even show up for classes because she is too hung over." Her father then asked his daughter, "Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off your 4.0 GPA and give it to her friend who only had a 2.0." He continued, "That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair equal distribution of GPA." The daughter visibly shocked by the fathers suggestion angrily fired back, "That wouldn't be fair! I worked really hard for mine, I did without and Mary has done little or nothing, she played while I worked real hard!" The father slowly smiled and said, "Welcome to the Republican Party." |


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Parshat Tzav
The Torah addresses Aharon and his sons to teach them additional laws relating to their service. The ashes of the korban olah — the offering burnt on the altar throughout the night — are to be removed from the area by the kohen after he changes his special linen clothing. The olah is brought by someone who forgot to perform a positive commandment of the Torah. The kohen retains the skin. The fire on the altar must be kept constantly ablaze. The korban mincha is a meal offering of flour, oil and spices. A handful is burned on the altar and a kohen eats the remainder before it becomes leaven. The Parsha describes the special korbanot to be offered by the Kohen Gadol each day, and by Aharon's sons and future descendants on the day of their inauguration. The chatat, the korban brought after an accidental transgression, is described, as are the laws of slaughtering and sprinkling the blood of the asham guilt-korban. The details of shelamim, various peace korbanot, are described, including the prohibition against leaving uneaten until morning the remains of the todah, the thanks-korban. All sacrifices must be burned after they may no longer be eaten. No sacrifice may be eaten if it was slaughtered with the intention of eating it too late. Once they have become ritually impure, korbanot may not be eaten and should be burned. One may not eat a korban when he is ritually impure. Blood and chelev, forbidden animal fats, are prohibited to be eaten. Aharon and his sons are granted the breast and shank of every korban shelamim. The inauguration ceremony for Aharon, his sons, the Mishkan and all of its vessels is detailed.
"Command Aharon and his sons, saying, "This is the law of the elevation-offering…" (6:2)
One of the great confusions of our age is to mistake feeling spiritual with being spiritual.
The other day, someone showed me an ad for "Kabala Water."Judging from the photograph, "Kabala Water" bares an amazing similarity to a regular bottle of mineral water. However, since its price is more than five times that of a six-pack of regular bottled water, obviously it must contain some pretty heavy-duty ingredients.
Kaballa means literally receiving. You can't buy kaballa. You can't "learn" kaballa. You can't even drink kaballa. You can only receive. How do you receive kaballa? You make yourself into a vessel pure enough to hold its secrets.
Kaballa is received through the medium of seemingly anodyne tales. No golem-building instructions here. If the disciple is worthy, he will be able to remove the "garments" that clothe the secret and penetrate to its core. To the less worthy, kaballa will seem either bland or unintelligible. Everything depends on the purity of the receiver.
The more spiritual something is the more it requires covering. The more sacred something is the more it needs to be wrapped in seeming ordinariness and blandness. In fact, spirituality can only survive in this way. Spirituality is like a piece of unexposed film that can be fogged by the bright light of the sun.
The most spiritual place in the world was the Beit HaMikdash, and yet to the physical eye it looked like a giant abattoir. The very physicality of the process of bringing korbanot sacrifices masked and obscured its sublime spirituality. Moreover, the fact that much of the korban was eaten or utilized by the kohanim and the person who brought the korban increased the appearance of its physicality.
However, in the case of the korban olah — the "elevation-offering"— where nothing was eaten and it all rose up in smoke on the altar, the fact that it was "elevated" created a certain lacking to its mask of physicality.
Rashi comments that the word "command" here implies a higher level of alacrity."Rabbi Shimon says the Torah requires a greater decree of alacrity where there is a lack of cover." It is for this reason specifically that with regards to the korban olah the kohanim are instructed to work more quickly. For when interior spirituality is lacking its protective cover it requires much greater care.
- Based on Chidushei HaRim


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An elderly Holocaust survivor from San Diego can continue his legal battle against a Spanish museum to reclaim a valuable painting he says was taken from his grandmother by the Nazis, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that 88-year-old Claude Cassirer's case against the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid and the Spanish government can go forward.
Cassirer claimed his grandmother was forced to sell the 1897 painting by French impressionist Camille Pissarro for what was then $360 to get a visa to escape from Nazi Germany in 1939. He filed suit in California's Central District in Los Angeles in 2005, and the defendants appealed in June 2006.
The painting, "Rue St.-Honore, Apres-Midi, Effet de Pluie," depicts a Parisian boulevard lined with dark carriages, a few bare trees and a scattering of people braving the weather. Its value is estimated at $20 million.
The painting apparently changed hands several times after World War II, and its whereabouts were a mystery to the Cassirer family until a friend spotted it in the Madrid museum in 2000.
The Spanish government bought the painting as part of the Baron Hans-Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza's collection, which was worth $327 million. It has been on display at the famous government-owned museum since 1993.
Baron Thyssen bought the painting from a New York art dealer in 1976. Cassirer tried to negotiate its return through Spain's Ministry of Culture, but his request was denied.
Tuesday's opinion was written by Judge N. Randy Smith with a partial dissent by Judge Sandra Ikuta.
The ruling means the district court will have to determine whether Cassirer has exhausted all other legal options outside U.S. courts, said his attorney, Stuart Dunwoody.
"We're confident we can do that, but it's another step which slows things down, and a point upon which they can appeal," Dunwoody said. "He hopes to see justice in his lifetime. He's 88 years old, so we need to keep things moving along."
The Thyssen-Bornemisza Foundation responded to the judge's ruling by calling the claim "totally baseless."
"The painting was acquired legitimately by the foundation in 1993, along with the rest of the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection," it said in a statement issued Wednesday.
The foundation has previously said it possesses documents that prove Baron Thyssen was the legitimate buyer in 1976.
In 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to allow Los Angeles resident Maria Altmann, 88, to sue the government of Austria to retrieve $150 million worth of Gustav Klimt paintings stolen by the Nazis. The five Klimts were handed over by Austria in January to Altmann and other family members following a seven-year legal battle.
An estimated 600,000 works of art were looted by the Nazis during Adolf Hitler's rule in Germany.


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In the Could-be-good-but-could-be-really bad Department, Michel Jackson has partnered with Broadway producer James Nederlander to bring a stage version of Thriller to the Great White Way.
"It'll be big," Jeff O'Keefe, a representative for the Nederlander Organization, told MusicRadar. "Right now, things are very much in the preliminary stages. But obviously we're looking at a show that is lavish and huge and delivers on all levels. Musically and visually, it'll have it all."
According to O'Keefe, a creative team has yet to be assembled, but he said that the musical will incorporate songs from both Thriller and Off The Wall into a story that "basically re-creates the video we all know from the song Thriller: boy meets girl, they fall in love, but boy has a big secret."
And what is that big secret again? "Well, he's a vampire," said O'Keefe, laughing.
Oh, that's right. We forgot.
No budget, no timeline
"There's no clock ticking on this," O'Keefe stressed. "There's no budget, no timeline. The plan is to put all the elements together and bring it to Broadway when everything's there."
When asked if Quincy Jones, who produced both albums, would be brought on board as musical director, O'Keefe said it "was too early to figure out who from those days might get involved."
That includes John Landis, who directed the then-groundbreaking 14-minute Thriller video. "I can't even tell you if Landis has been contacted yet," said O'Keefe. "We're just at the announcing stage."
Still, O'Keefe stressed that Michael Jackson would be working with James Nederlander on "various, if not all aspects of the show. Again, it's early. But I'm sure if he's not happy with something, he'll make his feelings known."


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Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Democrats, too, are busy undermining their own president because he isn't doing what they want--but he is doing what he can do at this time and with the horrible circumstances he's been given--two unfinished wars, a terrible economy, high unemployment, and an opposing political party that won't even admit he's a natural born American citizen. How does anyone accomplish anything under these conditions?
Meanwhile, while the stonewalling, Party of NO! undermines our president, the Left is piling on him as well, weakening his ability to accomplish the difficult things that need to be done. Thanks, Bill Maher. You make your living as a comedian--getting laughs. That's not quite as difficult as what Mr. Obama does is it. Try doing his job, and we'll see how much of a wuss you turn out to be.
Read this article from TomDispatch.com by Alfred McCoy, and understand what fools we are.
"Future historians are likely to identify the Bush administration's rash invasion of Iraq in that year as the start of America's downfall. However, instead of the bloodshed that marked the end of so many past empires, with cities burning and civilians slaughtered, this twenty-first century imperial collapse could come relatively quietly through the invisible tendrils of economic collapse or cyberwarfare.
But have no doubt: when Washington's global dominion finally ends, there will be painful daily reminders of what such a loss of power means for Americans in every walk of life. As a half-dozen European nations have discovered, imperial decline tends to have a remarkably demoralizing impact on a society, regularly bringing at least a generation of economic privation. As the economy cools, political temperatures rise, often sparking serious domestic unrest.
Significantly, in 2008, the U.S. National Intelligence Council admitted for the first time that America's global power was indeed on a declining trajectory. In one of its periodic futuristic reports, Global Trends 2025, the Council cited "the transfer of global wealth and economic power now under way, roughly from West to East" and "without precedent in modern history," as the primary factor in the decline of the "United States' relative strength -- even in the military realm." Like many in Washington, however, the Council's analysts anticipated a very long, very soft landing for American global preeminence, and harbored the hope that somehow the U.S. would long "retain unique military capabilities… to project military power globally" for decades to come.
No such luck. Under current projections, the United States will find itself in second place behind China (already the world's second largest economy) in economic output around 2026, and behind India by 2050. Similarly, Chinese innovation is on a trajectory toward world leadership in applied science and military technology sometime between 2020 and 2030, just as America's current supply of brilliant scientists and engineers retires, without adequate replacement by an ill-educated younger generation.
Economic Decline: Present Situation
Today, three main threats exist to America's dominant position in the global economy: loss of economic clout thanks to a shrinking share of world trade, the decline of American technological innovation, and the end of the dollar's privileged status as the global reserve currency.
By 2008, the United States had already fallen to number three in global merchandise exports, with just 11% of them compared to 12% for China and 16% for the European Union. There is no reason to believe that this trend will reverse itself.
Similarly, American leadership in technological innovation is on the wane. In 2008, the U.S. was still number two behind Japan in worldwide patent applications with 232,000, but China was closing fast at 195,000, thanks to a blistering 400% increase since 2000. A harbinger of further decline: in 2009 the U.S. hit rock bottom in ranking among the 40 nations surveyed by the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation when it came to "change" in "global innovation-based competitiveness" during the previous decade. Adding substance to these statistics, in October China's Defense Ministry unveiled the world's fastest supercomputer, the Tianhe-1A, so powerful, said one U.S. expert, that it "blows away the existing No. 1 machine" in America.
Add to this clear evidence that the U.S. education system, that source of future scientists and innovators, has been falling behind its competitors. After leading the world for decades in 25- to 34-year-olds with university degrees, the country sank to 12th place in 2010. The World Economic Forum ranked the United States at a mediocre 52nd among 139 nations in the quality of its university math and science instruction in 2010. Nearly half of all graduate students in the sciences in the U.S. are now foreigners, most of whom will be heading home, not staying here as once would have happened. By 2025, in other words, the United States is likely to face a critical shortage of talented scientists."
h/t Pharyngula
Keep watching "Dancing With The Stars," America. Encourage young people to believe the earth is only 6,000 years old and that humans and dinosaurs co-existed, keep encouraging our leaders to proudly claim that Evolution is "only a theory," that'll show the Chinese who's mighty and who's powerful.
5 comments:
- Dave Miller said...
I once had a personal conversation with a blogger many of us know. She is neither shrill or uneducated.
As we were talking, I asked her why she felt Obama was not as qualified, or as smart as Sarah Palin.
As I cited his educational resume, his experience as a constitutional law professor, his time as a legislator, etc., she stopped me and said, "It all sounds so elitist to me."
I asked her why that was a bad thing and if it changed the truth of the matter that Barack Obama was indeed a very smart man, well educated, and qualified to be President, as compared to Ms. Palin.
She said she had never considered it like that.
There is currently in this country, a disdain for scholarship, introspection, and educated curiosity.
Learning for the sake of learning is definitely on the decline in the US.
I wonder if we are perilously close, or if we have already passed the tipping point regarding education.
On another note Shaw, I posted my thoughts on the Red Sox and Mr. Gonzalez over at my blog. - December 7, 2010 at 3:22 PM
- Leslie Parsley said...
"Keep watching "Dancing With The Stars. . ."
They will.
I can't add anything that could even be considered half-way enlightening. I just feel totally impotent before this great wall of nothingness. - December 7, 2010 at 6:58 PM
- Life As I Know It Now said...
I am sorry but those are just excuses. Obama should not have caved in to the wealthy/GOP. Our country is bound to decline over time--we can't be the resource hog forever. A leader leads.
- December 7, 2010 at 7:35 PM
- Leslie Parsley said...
Capt. Fogg's comment on my WPA arts project articles adds another dimension.
"...extremist movements on the right and left (which may really be the same thing) don't make art or music or poetry or architecture worth enduring. Humor either for that matter." - December 7, 2010 at 7:55 PM
- Charlene said...
The reality show fans are as a group lesser literate than the ones they call elitists and by branding someone who thinks or is educated with that word, they snicker in the dark with the bright box on the wall. They listen to radio talk hosts and comedians and believe everything that is said to a laugh track.
It is evidence of insecurity. If you are the loudest voice in the room you get attention, which is noteworthy but not notable. - December 7, 2010 at 11:14 PM


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Illegal Operation
[when?] Illegal Operation is a partially furry band from Garden Grove, California formed by Rod O'Riley. Three of the four current members are furs, and three current members are also songwriters. The band performs both original and cover songs, with a heavy 80's feeling to both. The band compares their sound to their many influences, ranging from Lenny Kravitz to Warren Zevon to Social Distortion and beyond. The band's symbol is a red circle with a white X superimposed.
Their first major appearance was to have been as part of a rock festival at the 2006 Worldcon (LA Con IV) in Anaheim, California, but the proposed musical event unfortunately fell through when it went over-budget. Rod still organized a Furry Fandom Lounge as part of the Worldcon 2006 programming. Illegal Operation still plan to perform their version of the science fiction concept album "Pink World" by Planet P Project at a later venue. They also plan to perform at various science fiction, furry, and music festivals in California.
- Rod O'Riley - Vocals, Bass
- MooglePower - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Mandolin
- Jeronimo - Lead Guitar, Flute, Vocals
- Lycan - Drums, MIDI Programs
External link[edit]
- Furry Fandom Lounge at the 2006 Worldcon