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They came, they saw, they conquered. This line pretty well sums up a little-reported but important story about the new tea partiers in the U.S. House of Representatives.
No sooner had they arrived than the corporate lobbying corps came to visit, saw what these supposed rebels were made of and quickly conquered them without a fight. The forces of big business needed only to lay out some campaign cash — and quicker than you can say, "Business as usual," the budding lawmakers snatched up the money and immediately began carrying the lobbyists' corporate agenda.
Check out the financial services subcommittee, which handles legislation affecting Wall Street bankers. Five tea partiers got coveted slots on this panel, and all five were suddenly showered with big donations from such financial lobbying interests as Goldman Sachs. Now, all five are sponsoring bills to undo parts of the recent reforms to reign in Wall Street excesses.
Steve Stivers of Ohio, for example, hauled in nearly $100,000 in just his first two months in office — 85 percent of it from the special interests his committee oversees. He insists that the cash he took from Goldman Sachs and others has nothing to do with his subsequent support of bills that Goldman is lobbying so strongly for. Stivers claims that his sole legislative focus is on jobs for Ohio's 15th district.
Really? Among the deform-the-reform bills that Steve is carrying is one to let Wall Street giants avoid disclosing the difference in what the CEO is paid and what average employees make. Another would exempt billionaire private equity hucksters from regulation. I can see that these bills are great job extenders for the barons of Wall Street, but how do either of them create a single job in his district?
This stuff does nothing but shelter the greed-headed banksters who wrecked our economy. Is that what the tea party rebellion was all about?
While Wall Street is running roughshod all over Americans, it's good to know that the FBI, Justice Department and federal courts are all over the major crime cases that so dramatically affect millions of Americans. Like the seven-year prosecution and $6 million trial of baseball player Barry Bonds.
What a waste of time, tax dollars and prosecutorial credibility. Meanwhile, not a single major player in Wall Street's mugging of our economy has even been charged, much less imprisoned. People were robbed of hundreds of billions of dollars — and millions of jobs, homes and businesses were lost — yet the banksters not only skated free, they're now collecting billions in bonus payments for their work.
A New York Times investigative report reveals that top Washington officials — Republican and Democrats — rushed to the crime scene at the start of the financial crash. They rushed not to arrest anyone, but to stave off any serious investigations of the top Wall Streeters who'd obviously cooked their books, fraudulently awarded bonuses to themselves, cashed in on inside information and lied to regulators.
Barry Bonds might've been juiced up on steroids, but these guys were juiced up on hubris and greed, doing criminal damage to America.
Yet, the FBI was backed off, the Justice Department averted its eyes, and bank regulators failed to build criminal cases. Why? Because top politicos, from George W. Bush to Barack Obama, were convinced by their Wall Street confidants that prosecutions would make big investors jittery and endanger the markets.
A couple of weeks after Japan's nuclear meltdown began, a photograph ran worldwide showing a trio of the nuclear plant's top corporate executives. They were at the hospital bedside of a victim of radiation poisoning, bowing deeply in apology. That's the picture of Wall Street executives that I want to see.
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UPDATE: Need some inspiration when it comes to dressing for work? Count on seven of D.C.'s chicest gallery girls to step it up a notch. This story was originally published on January 30, 2013.
There are certain professions that not only allow, but almost necessitate major creative license in the wardrobe department. Topping that list of enviable gigs? Gallerists. Gallery girls. Gallerinas. Whatever the official (or unofficial) title, we're referring to the style-savvy art pros who make a living inside our favorite galleries — and manage to look as inspiring as the eye candy hanging on the walls.
To find out what it's like to be immersed in the arts from 9 to 5 (and all the fashion experimentation that goes with it), we caught up with seven of the coolest art aficionados in D.C. Whether you're looking for tips on how to dress for a less-traditional office or just want to mix prints like a (old) master, you'll want to know what these boundary-pushers have to say. Now, who's feeling creative?
Enoc Perez, Watergate, Washington, D.C., June 2012, 2012 (detail). Oil and acrylic on synthetic canvas, two paintings. Courtesy of the artist and Acquavella Galleries, New York and Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

subset: commoncrawl


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Once … just once … wouldn't you enjoy playing the victim?
Moaning and groaning and crying out for help?
Then having someone kind and strong coming to your aid?
Well, here's your opportunity.
No, we're not adding free, unlimited spa treatments … we're hosting an Emergency Drill.
On Thursday, April 12, we're planning to simulate the aftermath of a weather emergency here at the park.
It's great training for our staff. We hope against hope not to actually have to deal with this sort of worst-case-scenario, of course, but so many of the skills practiced in a drill like this apply to any sort of storm. Police, fire and EMS will be here, too, performing the rescue techniques they would use in an actual emergency.
If you'd like to sign up to be a victim for this early-evening event, please email Lori (email@example.com) by April 10 and she'll fill you in.
Oh…and we'll feed you a nice meal afterwards.
What should we call this?
A Drill & Dine?
Victims' Victuals?
Crisis & Consume?
Mayhem & Munch?
Survivors' Supper?
Hope you can join us!


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The site has remained closed since 2008. Thursday a new retailer has moved in and residents say it will help the community moved forward.
There was a line of people waiting to go in to the new TJ Maxx store, before the ribbon was cut the group had a moment of silence for the five women killed inside.
In 2008, police say, a gunman posing as a delivery man walked into the former Lane Bryant store, tied up four customers and two employees, and shot them.
The surviving woman helped police create a sketch of the alleged gunman. Since then, thousands of tips poured in, but years later no arrests have been made.
And now, a new store, TJ Maxx has moved in.
Residents say it's a way for the town to move on.
"Before, there was absolutely nothing when you drive by," said customer Michele Morris. "It was just sad it's all you thought about and now there is new life to this little area and I think people start coming again, it will be fine."
"It's happened five years ago again and we need to move on," said Tinley Park Mayor Ed Zabrocki. "Secondly, it's something we'll never forget. It's something we'll always remember."
"We certainly understand the many sensitivities regarding this location and we respectfully look forward to supporting the community as a good neighbor," TJ Maxx officials said in a statement released Thursday morning.
The store will also donate $10,000 to charity in memory of the five women killed there.
Not everyone is happy about a TJ Maxx being there. Some residents wanted to see a memorial at the site, while others wanted the building torn down.


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Embarrassingly Easy Smoky Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos.
In a perfect world, I would eat nothing but tacos.
We are talking tacos for like, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Totally. I don't think I would make any exceptions because we all know that practically anything can be reasonably placed in a tortilla.
As a side note, are you realizing that I can basically justify anything in life about, well… anything?
If you're having an issue, just talk to me. I will probably justify it.
It's no secret that I have a serious infatuation with my favorite taco place that we frequent…very…often. It's embarrassing. And I don't think I can come close to the delicious things wrapped in fluffy and warm carbs that I receive quickly after consuming an entire bowl of queso with the freshest chips I've ever had in my life, but sometimes you just have to attempt something at home.
Not that I truly want to. If I could have someone make me tacos for the rest of my life, it would be one of my three wishes after rubbing the lamp. Can we make this happen?
Just like everything else this week, they are so easy. So freaking easy. I mean, just as the title states, I'm sort of horrified even telling you about them but then I think about the weird things that I want to wrap up and call a taco and just assume that there must be more crazies like me out there in the world. If you told me to stuff a fried tortilla shell with something like truffles (of the chocolate variety) or eggs or even mashed potatoes, I'd most likely listen because I fully believe that the planets have aligned when tacos are in my life.
You probably get it now. I could eat tacos for the rest of my days and be perfectly smitten. I think I'm doing it.
Smoky Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 red onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- 1 (15 ounce) can of black beans, drained and rinsed
- 8 flour tortillas, warmed
- 1 cup freshly grated manchego cheese
- fresh cilantro for topping
- lime wedges
- chipotle lime crema
- 3 tablespoons greek yogurt
- 3/4 cup half and half
- 1 tablespoon adobo sauce, from a can of chipotles in adobo
- juice of half a lime
- zest of half a lime
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- Season chopped sweet potatoes with salt, pepper, cumin and smoked paprika. Heat a large skillet oven medium heat and add olive oil. Add onions and garlic, tossing to coat, then add sweet potatoes and stir. Cover and cook for 15-20 minutes, until sweet potatoes are just softened and cooked through.
- While potatoes are cooking, combine yogurt, half and half, adobo, lime juice and zest and salt, whisking well to combine. Set aside.
- Once sweet potatoes are cooked, add in black beans and toss well. Cover and cook again for 5-6 minutes until everything is warmed through. Heat tortillas and serve sweet potato mixture topped with cheese, crema and lots of cilantro!
Did you make this recipe?
Be sure to follow @howsweeteats on instagram and tag #howsweeteats. You can also post a photo of your recipe to our facebook page.
I appreciate you so much!
Oh and I want to spread that makeshift crema all over my entire life.


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Sequential Circuits Inc. family of products advertisement, including (clockwise) Prophet-10 synthesizer, Remote Prophet keyboard, Prophet-5 synthesizer, Poly-Sequencer, and Pro-One synthesizer, from page 50 of Keyboard Magazine February 1982.
This advertisement ran sporadically throughout 1982 starting in February. You've probably seen this ad numerous times on the Web, but I just had to post and blog about it because the ad has some absolutely great historical significance.
Not only was it one of the first ad campaigns to replace the famous Ear-Force campaign (along with the plexiglass Pro-One ad), but it was also one of the first SCI advertisement to use the new Sequential Circuits Inc logo.
Ever since I can remember coming across this logo, I had always thought the little swervy design element beside the logotype was supposed to represent recording tape. But, of course, I was wrong (again)...
The new logo was actually introduced and explained on page one of the February 1982 issue of 'The Patch' (Volume 2, Number 1) - SCI's customer magazine that included information about new products, hints and how-to's, patches, etc.
"SCI has introduced a new corporate logo designed by Greg Armbruster, Advertising Coordinator. Greg took the simple, reverse 'S' shape from the evolution of the treble clef and combined it with the existing Sequential Circuits typeface. John Mattos air brushed the design, creating a three-dimensional symbol and 'ruby' letters. Look for this new logo, which will be extensively used in all future ads and promotional campaigns!"A treble clef! (*smacks forehead with hand*) How did I not see that? Geeez.
And even better, overly-blogged-about beloved Ear-Force ad designer John Mattos also had a hand in the design. Awesome.
If you've read past blog posts, you will know that I like researching the evolution of logos. I've blogged about SCI's early logo evolution before, and here we see more. The new logo started to appear on gear shortly after the launch - but there seemed to be a problem. Even as far as into late 1984 when SCI was about to change their logo yet again, you would see gear both in the wild and in ads that had both the new logo ('S' logo) and a version of the old logo (although, maybe technically it never was the logo without the 'inc' - but I'm going to keep calling it that). And we are talking both logos on the same piece of gear.
So, for example, all the Six-Traks I've come across have a non-treble-logo (sans inc.) on the front and a treble-logo on the back. Even when looking at Six-Traks in ads running as late as 1984.
Drumtraks vary - I've seen ads from as late as 1984 with the old-style logo on the front, but my Drumtraks, and most of the ones I come across in the wild, have the new treble-logo on them. Prophet-T8's - old logo on the front, even in later ads.
I'm a big fan of consistency in branding - if you have a new logo, it should always be used. But I think I can see SCI's reasoning for continuing to use the older logo style in most cases. Aesthetics and/or real estate.
In gear that had already been designed like the Prophet-10, the front panels were really thin - so keeping the older logo makes sense. Otherwise the logotype would just appear too small. But, again, then why not include the 'inc.' as well? Consistency!
In gear designed after the new logo launched, such as the T8, the long thin wooden front panel screams for the old logo as well. In something like the Drumtraks, the front panel is a bit taller, so the treble-logo snuggles in nicely and is balanced.
So far, so good. Looks like SCI is making some good calls on when to use the old or new-style logo.
But then you look at the Prophet-600. All Prophet-600's seem to have the new logo on the front as well as the back. Finally! Consistency!
But when I look at it, that front logo just looks too small. Gah!
Maybe I'm just being nit-picky.


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For many celebs, gluten-free dieting is not just about Celiac.
It's a light, gentler diet: that's what today's celebrities have to say about gluten-free dieting, a food plan which eliminates all products which contain gluten, a protein which occurs naturally in wheat, rye and barley.
The gluten-free diet evolved as a treatment for celiac disease, a gastrointestinal disorder that affects 1 in 133 US citizens. It seems that today's hottest entertainment A-listers have gluten intolerance; celebrities such as indie-star Zooey Deschanel and The View's Elisabeth Hasselbeck have gone off gluten-rich breads, pastries and pasta in lieu of gluten-free specialty goods.
So, where do the rich and famous go to indulge in celiac-friendly treats? To BabyCakes, which has branches in Los Angeles, New York and Orlando, and specializes in baked goods that are free of refined sugar, gluten, casein, soy, wheat and animal products such as eggs and milk.
Here are 15 celebrities who have shared their experiences about gluten-free dieting:
1) Zooey Deschanel once guested on Bravo's Top Chef Masters, demanding that contestants concoct a vegan gourmet meal for her that was also gluten-free and soy-free. Zooey has since given up the vegan lifestyle, but remains true to gluten-free living, given that she is allergic to the wheat protein.
2) Comedienne Jenny McCarthy believes that her son, Evan, developed autism from a rubella vaccine. She attributes his current well-being and decreased symptoms of autism to a gluten-free diet. "We believe what helped Evan recover was starting a gluten-free, casein-free diet, vitamin supplementation, detox of metals, and antifungals for yeast overgrowth that plagued his intestines," said the outspoken activist to CNN.com.
3) Gwyneth Paltrow published her favorite gluten-free recipes on her website, Goop.com. Although she is not a sufferer of celiac disease or gluten allergy, Gwyneth claims that cutting gluten out of her life has helped her maintain a healthy weight.
4) The View's Elisabeth Hasselbeck spoke about her celiac disease and commitment to gluten-free living on Good Morning America, where she also pitched her cookbook, The G-Free Diet. When asked about her adjustment to what many consider a restrictive diet, she answered, "You're not deprived… You're more energized."
5) Jennifer Aniston owes her slim waistline to the "Baby-Food Diet," the short-lived weight-loss plan consisting of small jars of pureed, gluten-free vegetables and fruits.
6) Keith Olbermann, host of Countdown, chose a gluten-free diet after being diagnosed with celiac disease.
7) Victoria Beckham is allergic to dairy, but also harbors a secret addiction to gluten-free chocolate cookies.
8) Rachel Weisz, star of 2010's The Whistleblower eschews gluten because of her wheat intolerance.
9) Dana Delany of television's Body of Proof declared that since she quit eating gluten products, she feels less "bloated and sluggish." The former Desperate Housewives star, who was diagnosed as gluten-intolerant, told Prevention that she also skips meat, opting instead for fish, tofu and veggies.
10) Juliette Lewis has not come out of the closet as a celiac or gluten-intolerant patient, but it has been rumored that the upcoming Foreverland star favors non-glutinous noshes.
11) Chelsea Clinton's gluten-free wedding cake was the talk of the town. Her 2010 New York wedding menu featured vegan gourmet main meals, gluten-free side dishes and grass-fed organic beef for the non-vegan guests. Her father, former president Bill Clinton, has also had his flings with gluten-free treats.
12) Not to be outdone by Chelsea, Madonna served gluten-free brownies at her 52nd birthday bash.
13) Discovering he has a gluten protein allergy has been the best thing to happen to tennis star Novak Djokovic. Since swearing off pizza, pretzels and beer, the celebrated athlete has ruled the court.
14) Jennifer Esposito, multi-talented actress and star of TV's Spin City and Samantha Who? has never felt better since she was informed she had celiac disease and proceeded to cut the gluten out of her diet.
15) Terence Stamp, who played Chancellor Valorum in Star Wars: Episode I, also joins the ranks of celebrities who have sworn off gluten products.
Read more about gluten-free dieting:
Celiac Disease and Vitamin B12 Deficiency
6 Great Diets for Autistic Children
Can a Gluten-Free Diet Ease Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?


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Researchers publish Snapchat code allowing phone number matching after exploit disclosures ignored
Hackers have made sure that popular photo sharing app Snapchat got a hearty lump of coal for Christmas.
Read this
After having its security disclosure go ignored since August, Gibson Security has published Snapchat's previously undocumented developer hooks (API) and code for two exploits that allow mass matching of phone numbers with names and mass creation of bogus accounts.
The Australian hackers announced its publication of Snapchat's API and the two exploits on the GibSec Twitter account on Christmas Eve — which by time difference is Christmas Day in Australia.
Now anyone can build an exact clone of Snapchat's API and stalk the popular app's alleged 8 million users.
Snapchat is a popular Android and iOS application, especially with younger users — and has an unwanted reputation for sexual content sharing. The app allows users to exchange photos, videos or messages that Snapchat states vanish in 10 seconds or less once they are opened.
Google Play currently lists the Snapchat Android app as having been installed between 10 million and 50 million times. In June, Snapchat raised over $60 million in VC funding with an $800 million valuation.
Snapchat names, aliases, and phone numbers can be discovered and harvested via the Snapchat Android and iOS API — even if the user's account is private.
Gibson Security told ZDNet via email the metadata could be used in conjunction with other APIs to "automatically build profiles about users, which could be sold for a lot of money."
He added: "People could operate a service similar to ssndob.cc (see here), where you could pay a few dollars and obtain the phone number and social media profiles of a person, just by their username."
This, he said, could also be used for targeted scamming, but also for stalking, which he described as his "biggest worry."
"You could find someone's phone number in minutes provided you know the general area they live in,"
Snapchat turned down an offer from Facebook to buy it for $3 billion in November, underscoring Gibson Security's statement about the value of selling a user profile database.
The 'Find Friends' exploit and the 'Bulk Registration' Exploit
The code published at the end of Gibson Security's drop today is fully functional.
The hackers told ZDNet the first script, known as the "find_friends" exploit, takes in a list of phone numbers, which the script could be made to generate, and "obtains the Snapchat username of anyone with a number in that range."
With the now-published "Find Friends Exploit" a malicious entity can use the Snapchat API to write an automated program that generates phone numbers to exhaustively search the Snapchat database for users. This allows them to obtain a "1:1" link between a person's phone number and their Snapchat account.
"The... exploit could be used to create thousands of accounts, which could be used for spam." — Gibson Security
When the phone number matches a record of a Snapchat user, the malicious entity will get a record that includes the username, the associated display name, and whether the account is private or not.
The Bulk Registration exploit, like the Find Friends exploit, has been a known issue for at least four months but is now officially published.
Gibson Security explained: "The mass registration exploit could be used to create thousands of accounts, which coud be used for speeding up the above process, or possibly for spam."
He also stressed the dangers of user privacy and safety with what it the security firm discovered in August.
"The use case where an evil party who wishes to stalk someone, the scraping for that could be done on a home computer in an afternoon with enough information," he added. "So yeah, it's pretty bad."
Could have been fixed "with ten lines of code"
Snapchat has known about this security issue since Gibson Security notified the company in August. He then published a security advisory the same month after no response or action had been taken by the Stanford startup.
In email correspondence, he explained the security hole could have been fixed with ten lines of code:
"[Snapchat could have fixed this] by adding rate limiting; Snapchat can limit the speed someone can do this, but until they rewrite the feature, they're vulnerable. They've had four months, if they can't rewrite ten lines of code in that time they should fire their development team. This exploit wouldn't have appeared if they followed best practices and focused on security (which they should be, considering the use cases of the app)."
The hackers reverse-engineered Snapchat's Apple iOS and Android API in August, revealing the security holes which could allow this type of malicious attack on Snapchat and its users.
Snapchat did not respond to the hackers when they notified the company, or at any time since then.
Hackers: Snapchat 'lied to press, investors'
Gibson Security stated in its Chrismas release they have evidence that Snapchat's marketing claims are not true.
The hackers say there is no way Snapchat's claim to press and its investors to have a majority-female userbase can be true.
He explained that if Snapchat didn't get that information from an analytics provider such as Nielsen, there is "no way they could obtain this information."
He added:
This link is the message sent by the Snapchat client during registration (documented by us), do you see any mention of gender? In the entire protocol we didn't see anything relating to gender too, so saying 70 percent of Snapchats users are women makes no sense at all.
Indeed, even if Gibson Security's statement is correct, it now appears that anyone who reverse-engineered Snapchat's API could have written a script to register false accounts in the tens, if not hundreds of thousands. It's impossible to know what percentage of Snapchat's accounts are valid.
Hackers "sick of" Snapchat ignoring security researchers
When ZDNet asked Gibson Security why they chose to publish the API and code for exploit scripts, Gibson justified the move claiming the reverse engineering project began as fun."
"We found several exploits (some of which aren't released) and eventually we decided to release them in our initial disclosure (27/08/2013)," he said.
"After getting no response from Snapchat during that time, we decided to release on Christmas day. We also saw Evan Spiegel's company send unlawful take down notices to open source Snapchat clients, as well as disregard a major flaw of his app, how easily snaps are decrypted."
Then we got pretty sick of Snapchat's (who we haven't heard from at all) attitude towards the [open-source software] community and security researchers," he added, which led to the release.
Gibson Security elaborated on the "Find Friends" exploit in an email outlining the researchers' concerns.
Our testing (on unused ranges) allowed us to scan 10k phone numbers in 7 minutes, on a gigabit line, which we believe could be easily improved to scan 10k in around a minute and a half.
Now with Nielson recording 8 million users of Snapchat in June of this year, we believe you could scan the entire user-base of Snapchat in 20 hours on a gigabit connection using the following formula:
hours = user_base / 10000 * 1.5 / 60
(Note, the formula would be quite the underestimate, due to it requiring every Snapchat users phone number to be in succession, but 20 hours is nothing, especially when you can target specific areas via phone ranges).
This would only cost $10 for the server, and adding more would improve times dramatically.
$50 is little investment for someone who wants to be able to link usernames (and social media profiles that share those usernames) to phone numbers, and this would let you scan the database in a measly 4 hours, giving you lots to obtain a detailed database.
In an entire month with your five-gigabit connections from the $50 you paid to a server provider, you could scan 1460000000 numbers on Snapchat.
numbers = (((730 * 60) / 1.5)*10000)* servers)
(there are 730 hours in a month, change servers to 5 to get our result btw)
We put in questions to Snapchat prior to publication, but the company did not respond.


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Serves 4 / Beans, whole grains, and garlic excel at lowering blood cholesterol levels, and tomatoes boast heart-healthy antioxidants. Prep tip: This open-face sandwich works best with a sturdy peasant or country-style loaf that stands up to the hearty bean topping. Serving tip: Serve with a side of soup or salad.
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 (5 ounce) package arugula
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
4 large cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 (15-ounce) can low-sodium small white beans, drained
1 1/2 cups chopped Roma tomatoes, about 2
4 slices whole-grain peasant bread, toasted
4 teaspoons julienned basil
1. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon oil. Stir in arugula, 1/4 teaspoon salt and the pepper, and sauté 1–2 minutes or until arugula wilts. Remove arugula to plate.
2. Add remaining oil to skillet and place over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook 1–2 minutes or until garlic starts to turn light brown. Stir in beans, mashing gently with a fork to break up some of the beans. Cook 2–3 minutes to allow beans to pick up flavors. Stir in tomatoes and turn heat to low; cook for 2–3 minutes or until warmed throughout. Stir in remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.
3. Place toasted bread slices on dinner plates. Top each with one-quarter of arugula mixture (about 1/4 cup), spreading in an even layer. Spoon tomato-bean mixture (a scant 1/2 cup) over arugula and sprinkle with basil.
PER SERVING: 296 cal, 35% fat cal, 12g fat, 2g sat fat, 0mg chol, 12g protein, 40g carb, 10g fiber, 521mg sodium


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This week we welcome back Rachel from The Crispy Cook as our host of Weekend Herb Blogging.
The rules are simple - post about any herb, fruit, nut, seed, vegetable, flower or plant. Your post can be informative, spotlight a particular ingredient and/or include a recipe where your chosen ingredient is one of the primary ingredients in the recipe.
Entries must be submitted by:
- 3pm Sunday - Utah Time
- 10pm Sunday - London Time
- 11pm Sunday - Rome Time
- 9am Monday - Melbourne (Aus) DS Time
Send your posts to oldsaratogabooks AT gmail DOT com
with WHB#262 in the subject line and the following details:
- Your name
- Your Blog/URL
- Your Post URL
- Your Location
- Attach a Photo: 250px wide
Remember you can also take part or catch up on the offerings found on the Italian version of WHB hosted by Brii.


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Unknown Worlds, creators of Natural Selection, were at PAX East this year. It was their first experience at PAX, and with that comes a lot of lessons. A bunch of programmers had to play carpenter that weekend to set up their presentation booth before a rush of gamers came to try their games.
In the video above, they share their experiences of building a booth from scratch, while big-name publishers come equipped with fancy sculptures and big statues at their left and right.
They also explain why the morning onslaught of PAX goers was the worst part of the convention, and the rush they felt when getting a chance to sit back and get players excited about their game, Natural Selection 2. It's an inspiring story, as well as an incredibly interesting one.
I've always wondered what it's like to be on the opposite side of that fence, having only seen the tip of the iceberg that makes up a large-scale convention experience. Well, now I know that much more.
It's a little long, but it's worth the watch.


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Follow this tag to curate your own personalized Activity Stream and email alerts.
Coast Modern is an independent documentary by directors Mike Bernard and Gavin Froome. Travelling along the Pacific North West coastline from LA to Vancouver, the film showcases the pioneers of West Coast Modernist Architecture, and the homes that have become their legacies. Stepping inside the most inspired dwellings on the west coast, we feel how the light and space of a classic Modernist home can work in collaboration with the natural environment. — coastmodernfilm.com


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Hello Everyone,
After 4 years of posting mp3 downloads of a few fun gems from my archives I am shaking off this incarnation of Silver Currant Blog for a new one that can go deeper on the concept. Within the next month or so I will be launching a handmade record label online that will release limited edition, silk-screened packaged releases along the same lines of the music you've found here in the past; live bootleg style recordings from the past, present and future, demos and lost recordings of interest from the archives and various other kinds of subterranean pieces from bands that I have been involved with in the past and present and now extending outward to include these kinds of releases for other bands that I love.
Thank you for following the blog as it has existed over the past 4 years. Even though I've been a bit sporadic on the posts due to a heavy touring schedule at times I have been deeply rewarded in sharing and having a dialog about this music with you. I believe that Silver Current's new incarnation as a handmade record label will honor and document the music on a much deeper level by giving it a physical (and beautiful) release into the world so that people that are interested and love this music can have something real for their record collection.
I have found an incredible art studio for my wife and I to set up the screen printing operation in San Francisco and we will be hand silkscreening all products, each piece stamped and hand numbered.
My writing and refections will still be a part of the new site as will some of the free download, stream and visual elements that have been a part of the blog over the last 4 years.
Upon launch there will be lots of live material available in HQ digital download as well as 3 first edition runs of previously unreleased concerts and recordings by Howlin Rain, Comets On Fire and Earthless with much more to follow as I get the site fully launched and dive into the next wave of music I have waiting on the line to print.
Please follow me over to a new home at Silvercurrentrecords.com. I will hopefully be launching within the next 2 to 3 weeks. Stay tuned and see you soon!
Ethan Miller


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Mobile commerce is huge, and it's only getting bigger. With the holiday shopping season just around the corner, there has never been a more important time to understand the significance of mcommerce within the online retail world. We analyzed mobile data from over 35,000 Shopify stores and found some really interesting trends.
This Christmas, 1 in 4 purchases will be made on a mobile device. We estimate that next Christmas, 43% of all purchases will be made on a smartphone or tablet.
Tablets have the highest average order value of $47 per order, which is 12% higher than Smartphones at $39 per order. Almost everyone making purchases from their tablet is using an iPad. Android tablets account for only 5% of sales via tablets.
The number of mobile orders in America has skyrocketed this year, and the steepest growth is coming from unlikely States. For example, Wyoming has the highest mcommerce growth of 1,280%, followed by North Dakota, Arkansas, South Caroline, and Louisina.
Check out all of our findings in the infographic below. Please click on the image to view it in full-screen.


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Most of our itineraries are designed for people with an average level of fitness, but some involve a little bit of huff and puff (e.g. walking in the Dolomites). Every Book Nile Cruises trip has been given a physical activity rating on a scale of 1-5.
Physical ratings
Obviously a tour focused on walking or cycling will require a decent level of fitness, but there are other physical factors to consider before you book your trip. Europe, for example, has more stairs to navigate than other destinations, particularly in museums and hotels. In Asia, during certain times of the year, the humidity and heat can make even a short walk a lot more challenging. You may also be faced with some uneven ground, especially around ruin sites or when we venture a little more off the beaten track.
A rating of 1 out of 5 = these trips are a relaxing break. You don't have to worry about doing anything physically demanding unless you want to.
A rating of 2 out of 5 = Some easy physical activities included in your trip. No physical preparation is required to make the most of the journey.
A rating of 3 out of 5 = This trip will raise your heartbeat. Moderate physical activities are included and a good level of fitness is required.
A rating of 4 out of 5 = Be prepared for some serious physical activity. The fitter you are, the more you'll enjoy it, as most activities will be challenging.
A rating of 5 out of 5 = Get ready for a heart-pumping adventure with plenty of challenges and some extreme conditions. You'll be required to be seriously fit for this trip as difficult activities are included.
Should you have any questions about a specific trip:


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Editor's note: Ryan Sarver is a partner at Redpoint Ventures in Silicon Valley.
People are saying that Silicon Valley venture capitalists have lost their way. They argue that we invest far too much money in startups that are either addressing trivial markets or problems that affect a few privileged 20-somethings. "The entire Bay Area appears to have given up on solving anything but its own problems," wrote Christopher Mims of The Wall Street Journal on July 7 in an article titled "Is Silicon Valley Funding the Wrong Stuff?"
While I get his point, I think his conclusions are deeply flawed. His argument misses the mark in two major ways.
First, Mims makes the claim that money isn't flowing where it should and points at startups focused on food delivery services or anonymous social networks to buttress the claim.
Instead, he proposes that money should go toward "research and development that transforms lives, in fields such as energy, medicine or food safety, rather than just optimizing advertising platforms."
I think we can all agree that investing in R&D in those fields is worthwhile. But underneath the statement is a knock on areas that aren't energy, medicine or food safety, and a belief that the companies getting funded today outside of those recognized categories are somehow unworthy.
When Google launched, many people thought it was silly to invest in yet another search engine when there were already plenty of them.
That argument unfortunately falls prey to the misconception that what seems trivial today will always be trivial. History demonstrates otherwise. Look no further than Google, Facebook or Uber, companies Mims himself singles out as transformative.
Every one of these venture-backed companies was deemed trivial in its infancy. When Google launched, many people thought it was silly to invest in yet another search engine when there were already plenty of them. Google, of course, has gone on to be not just a phenomenal global business but also an innovator in vital areas that range from medicine to energy.
Facebook and Twitter were both considered inconsequential social toys in their early years, only to go on and become fundamental platforms for connecting people, supporting free speech and even taking part in overthrowing oppressive governments. Uber, originally conceived as a way for "privileged 20-somethings" to get on-demand private drivers, is already transforming the entire transportation industry, creating 20,000 new jobs a month, and getting people to buy fewer cars because rides are cheap, reliable and always available. WhatsApp began as just another messaging app. But it has made global communication free to users who otherwise could not afford it.
Time and time again, companies at inception are laughed at for being silly or for only solving the needs of a small, usually well-to-do population. In time, though, these same companies can evolve and touch hundreds of millions and even billions of people around the world, enriching their lives in ways few imagined.
The second flaw in Mims' argument is that money isn't flowing into the right businesses. He notes that 37 percent of venture capital – the highest percentage since data collection began in 1995 – is taken up by software companies as evidence for his criticism. This is a confusing argument since software is such a broad investment category and one that encompasses the very same sectors he would like to see improved. In fact, in many cases, software is exactly how we can fix some of the most vexing problems Mims raises. If you want to address our transportation infrastructure, for instance, you don't invest in taxi organizations. You invest in software-driven startups like Uber.
Our job as investors is to see around the corner.
In 2011, Marc Andreessen famously wrote that "software is eating the world." What he meant by that is that more and more industries are experiencing disruptions and gaining value thanks to software-driven breakthroughs. If we believe Andreessen, and all the evidence suggests we should, then more investment in software makes total sense.
But back to where venture dollars are actually going. In a recent post by my colleague Tomasz Tunguz, titled "The Hottest Startup Sectors," we do see that money is flowing in to some fundamentally important areas. The top five fastest-growing categories for early-stage investments, from 2009 to 2013 are, in order, the Android Ecosystem, Hardware & Software, Big Data, Aerospace, and Health & Wellness.
Sure, we are often wrong, funding plenty of startups that never meet their potential for myriad reasons. Indeed, roughly nine out of 10 venture-backed companies ultimately fail. This gives cynics plenty of ammunition to suggest that investments and intentions are misguided. But our job as investors is to see around the corner, beyond what is just in front of us and try to sketch out a story where some simple idea can go on to be the next Twitter, Facebook, Google or Uber. Our job is to be optimists, seeing beyond frivolity and instead focusing on the potential for greatness.
We may miss more often than we'd like. But that doesn't mean we won't still continue to look out for those seemingly trivial ideas that can transform not just industries but also people's lives.


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London is one of the top financial centres in the world. It successfully competes with New York and Tokyo, and is an unrivalled leader in the European financial market.
According to some analysts, London's prominent position in the global financial market can be attributed to the unique character of London's market but according to others, the UK capital is what it is today due to government regulations which made it possible for the City to outperform its competitors in mainland Europe.
There is also a third view, according to which London's success in the global financial market is due to a combination of several factors including its long history as the financial centre, open market economy, political stability, highly skilled and educated labour force (consisting of everything from RICS surveyors to builders and architects), and the fact that every major international financial institution has an office or headquarters in the city.


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One of America's greatest sculptors died today in New Mexico. Ken Price made dazzlingly colored visionary clay constructions, planar extensions of Cubism as complex and concentrated as Picasso's absinthe cup, mineral-mini-worlds with reptilian skins and black-holes, and super-color-saturated sexual drawings. His large scale phosphorescently flecked mounds with their flickering bird-of-paradise surfaces look like living hallucinations. All of these are among the most densely sensuous and inspired sculptural works ever produced in this country. Price said "every aspect of the physical work should be brought to full resolution." That is exactly the optical intensity Price achieved over 50 years of brilliance.
Price was consistently championed by a hardcore group of artists, critics, and art-dealers who unabashedly loved and supported his work. He was regularly collected, was on the cover of Artforum at the age of 28, and had had a solo show at the Whitney Museum by the time he was 34. Yet, in his lifetime, he was perhaps the least known first-rate American genius alive. Maybe it was because he spent his entire career in California and New Mexico. More likely is that he worked in clay, and clay doesn't cut it as "major art" in most people's minds—unless of course its Duchamp's urinal or Méret Oppenheim's fur-lined tea-cup—and then no one mentions that these works are ceramics. Fortunately, the Los Angeles Museum of Art will mount a full-scale Price survey this coming September, and the show will travel to the Met the following year.I'm thrilled, though it makes me wonder why it won't be at MoMA or the Whitney, which ought to have been paying attention.
For me, Price's organically shaped large hollow hillocks of curvy clay are complex combination of sexual, sensual, and excremental. His objects are otherworldly silicon-based life forms, unclassifiable as art, form, or ideas. They send me. They have the presence of those magnificent Mesopotamian wall reliefs of gods and kings, except that they're rendered into abstract bulbous three-dimensional Möbius bulges of walk-around, floor-bound sculpture. Or maybe Neolithic stones reshaped and placed in a time machine set to the 25th century. Think of one of Calder's fabulous standing painted planar arching shapes that sit like spaceships on floors; fill in all the space and connect every part of the form with every other part of it, then inject helium inside, place it in a cosmic spray-paint booth, and cover it with luminescent color flecks that make it look like a million-eyed being from another dimension. These are some of Ken Price's ideas of sculpture.
He must have seen even the three dimensions of Cubism as being too limiting or flat, and so, like Donald Judd, began building shapes that tried to elaborate the inside of things. Price explored the myth of sculptural emptiness and tried to show how the an object has other surfaces beyond its outer skin—below, in-between, within every pucker of color, in every nook and cranny of every crack and crevice. Yet Price's feel for density makes his objects seem to emit compact force fields of binding energy. His sculptures in the shapes of cups and pitchers have the implied metaphysical sense that if you poured liquid into one of the holes it would vaporize or come out on Mars or the Ganges. I feel the self at play in the fields of bliss.


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floating around Facebook got me thinking.
My single greatest fear as a parent is --not sharing enough information with my daughter.
Could be current events, the grand metaphors of Life & the Living of it, who Woody Allen is, what a Half-Step is, what a Mono-Chrome computer monitor looked like, what Bee's Knees means, how to make a Stink Bomb, or executing a perfect Around The World with a yo-yo, or Watergate.
The list is huge, expansive, growing and changing.
The most involved aspect of parenting for each new parental generation is walking that delicate tightrope of:
Staying in the Now, looking toward the Future, while honoring all the years Past.
It's endless, and it keeps me awake most nights...


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Bills bidder, Sabres owner Pegula closes on $1.75B drilling deal
Terry Pegula's bottom line has received a big bump in his bid to purchase the Buffalo Bills.
The Buffalo Sabres owner closed on a $1.75 billion deal to sell the drilling rights on about 75,000 acres of land in Ohio and West Virginia to American Energy on Tuesday. The sale was announced by American Energy and in a release issued by PR Newswire.
The agreement between Pegula's East Resources Inc. and Oklahoma-based American Energy was first reached in June.
The sale comes at a time when Pegula and wife Kim are considered the front-runners to buy the Bills, who are for sale after Hall of Fame owner Ralph Wilson died in March.
The Pegulas and New York real estate mogul Donald Trump have both been chosen to advance to the next round of the sale process by Morgan Stanley, the banking firm overseeing the sale. Trump said he made an initial non-binding bid of $1 billion.
Before the sale on Tuesday, Pegula's net worth was last estimated by Forbes to be $3.3 billion. He made his fortune after selling off some of his company's assets for $4.7 billion to Royal Dutch Shell in 2010.
And Pegula has the ability to increase his wealth. In announcing the sale to American Energy, Pegula said he still retains what he called ''significant oil and gas assets'' in Colorado, Wyoming, New York, West Virginia and his native Pennsylvania.
The Bills were last valued at $870 million, but are expected to sell for at least $1 billion, partly because NFL teams rarely go on the market.
A Toronto-based group fronted by rocker Jon Bon Jovi has also expressed interest in buying the Bills. But it's not clear whether the Bon Jovi group was selected to advance in the sale process.
The next step is for approved groups to advance is to meet with both Morgan Stanley and members of the estate to obtain the franchise's financial information.
Once that is done in the coming weeks, groups will then be asked to submit formal bids. The bidding process is unsealed, meaning Wilson's estate will have the ability to ask groups to increase their bids.


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Thanks to Geno Smith, the Jets didn't need an extra quarterback yesterday. But now they have a third, just in case.
A league source tells PFT that the Jets have indeed brought back quarterback Brady Quinn, a move which was expected since his release Saturday.
This way, the Jets got to give Quinn a chance to get familiar with the playbook last week, without the pesky complication of guaranteeing his salary for the year by having him on the roster yesterday.
The bigger news in their quarterback room will come tomorrow, when Mark Sanchez has a second opinion on his right shoulder, and that's one that carries a much bigger financial implication.


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Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
The City of Sanger offers many different benefits. For more details please see our Benefits page.
Show All Answers
Our office is located inside City Hall at:502 Elm StreetSanger, TX 76266
We are open from 7:30 am to 5 pm. Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 am to 11 am on Friday.
You can find our application on our Job Opportunity page.
Once your application is turned in it will then go to the department head to review it. The application process can take up to 3 to 4 weeks. You will be contacted by Human Resources if you are selected for an interview.
Each position has a detailed job description along with the minimum qualifications needed for that job, this will be found listed along with the job posting.
If you have a resume, you may include that with your application upon the time you turn it in, but it is not a requirement to apply.
All benefits are available to regular full-time employees.
The City of Sanger currently offers multiple plans under BCBS Texas.


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I'm desgining a B2B web service based on WCF. As the number of clients is relatively small and security is a priority, i have chosen to go with X509 client certificates for client authentication.
I'm signing the client certificates with my own self-signed CA (which of course is being kept safe). I have also verified that the setup is working on a local set of computers.
One problem keeps bugging me though. As long as the certificates can be "physical" handed over i have no problem. However i can't seem to find a solution for safely transfering the client certificates to the actual clients. These are the options i have come up with so far:
1) Encryptering the certficates using symmetric encryption in PFX format. Then i'll e-mail the certificate and send the key for decrypting the certificate with good old snail-mail (that is, a physical letter)
2) Build a simple website that let's the clients log-in using a temporary URL (credentials sent to e-mail address) and then download the certificate. The site would be secured using HTTPS. The security then fully relies on the security of the clients e-mail and that no-one picks up the URL from the e-mail
I tend to prefer option 1) as the only security flaw there would be for someone to actually steal the key from the physical letter. However it seems a bit tedious to use a physcial letter.
Is there any de-facto standard for solving this issue that i am overlooking that provides reasonable security?


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February 25, 2014
NVivo site license renewed, new license key for users
K-State recently renewed its site license for NVivo 10 to allow all current faculty, staff and graduate students to have access to this qualitative and mixed methods research software. As part of this process, a new license key was issued for all site-license-based users of the software.
To ensure uninterrupted access to each installation of the software, please be sure to update the license.
Existing NVivo 10 users: Those who've already installed the software can access the new license key by logging into the download site with their eID and password. Then go to File, Help. Product Activation and input the new license key. In some versions, there is a choice to "Extend License." This is the proper choice.
New NVivo 10 users: Those who have not yet installed the software go to the download site to download the Windows version. After it is installed, open the software and insert the key through the same path described above.
The most up-to-date version of the software is NVivo 10, with Service Pack 4. Users may update their version from the automated reminder within the software.
Those with questions may contact the IT Help Desk, 785-532-7722, email@example.com.


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Aisled Barn at Hoglands
10" x 8", pen and ink, pencil and coloured pencils
copyright Katherine Tyrrell
10" x 8", pen and ink, pencil and coloured pencils
copyright Katherine Tyrrell
I'll be reviewing the new exhibition Henry Moore Deluxe: Books, Prints & Portfolios early next week on Making A Mark. It's all about his graphical works and I have photos! The printmakers are going to love it.
I'm also going to be doing a post about the sculpture and the sculpture garden on my Art of the Landscape Blog.
Overall, I was very impressed with what I found and the grounds would make an excellent place to take an art group for sketching. In fact the only things that are missing a Studio/Education room for art classes and sketching stools for visitors - but you can't have everything and hopefully they will come in time.
What's at Hoglands?
There's 70 acres of the house Henry Moore used to live in plus a very large sculpture garden, all his studios - for maquettes, drawing, printing and carving - an exhibition gallery and the large and ancient Aisled Barn which was moved here - and which you can see in my after lunch sketch.
You can:
- get a taste of Perry Green on the virtual Perry Green map on the website
- find out more about what it does here.
EASTER ACTIVITIES Sheepish Shapes and Quiz Trail, Easter Monday 5 April:On Friday, Saturday and Sundays you can tour Hoglands, the gardens, studios, galleries and grounds unaccompanied (which is to say that there are guides around and about - but you can decide how to proceed and how long to spend in each place.)
Book for Easter Monday to take part in our fun activities. Enter our Sheepish Shapes drop-in craft activity, or do the Quiz Trail round the grounds and studios.
On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday there are guided tours.
Where is Hoglands?
Hoglands is located in Perry Green in Hertfordshire (Hoglands on Google Maps), in flat fields south west of Bishops Stortford - so an easy peasy drive for me - or so I thought.....
Do not, whatever you do, drive there using the A414 near Harlow as they're doing major road works and the pace is slow, slow and yet more slow! I drove back to London via the Bishop's Stortford junction with the M11 - much easier!
The Visitors Centre is opposite Hoglands and has a small car park, a very small refreshments facility and a shop. Don't think National Trust facilities - everything is on a much smaller scale.
Apparently, there is also more parking available at the local pub The Hoops Inn which is currently being renovated. I couldn't find this and Google Maps says it's located in the middle of a field so maybe they'll attend to this once the renovations is finished?


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Next steps
You may have noticed the yellow button I added to the sidebar of this blog. I'll explain in a minute, but first I'd like to tell you what's happened since early July.
"Summer of change"
When I was a kid, I used to get the same feeling at the end of every summer. I described it at the time as "the epic feeling". It was like an extended version of the buzz I got from riding my bike off some rickety jump in the forest, far from medical aid: there's a moment before your tires touch the earth where your brain says, "this will be either wonderful or disastrous."
Every August, as school loomed closer, I'd feel a similar rush. It's a weird combination of adrenaline and urgency, coupled with the knowledge that everything you do this fall is going to have consequences. On those last warm nights, like a ladybug, I used to climb to the highest point I could, look out over the city, and try to control my breathing. When I turned 15, I stopped taking summers off, and the sensation dissipated.
It's back. My friend Evan dubbed the season now wrapping up "the summer of change," and I think he hit on something. It feels like everyone I know is breaking up or moving house or launching new projects. But there's a macro element at play too.
I look back at Québec, at the political scene I would have been covering right now, and everything is up in the air. New parties, new resignations, sovereignist splinter groups, election speculation, fluctuating poll numbers, and a new mantra: that we need to conduct politics differently — even overhaul the system.
At the federal level, this was the summer that Jack Layton died. Say what you will about his platform, the guy understood that human beings need hope. That in itself is a revolutionary idea most days in Ottawa. Now he's gone, and Canadian progressives have lost one of their strongest unifying voices.
On the media side, Lloyd Robertson is passing the torch. Viewers of the top-rated newscast in the country are losing the familiar, trusted face of a man who's been in that anchor chair … forever. As every tribute so far has pointed out, it's the end of an era.
This was also the summer when people all over England found out they could loot and riot for three days straight before police obtained political permission to crack down. Rioting is learned behaviour, and I'd argue the London inferno set a template for serious unrest elsewhere. Even Forbes magazine is now advising its well-heeled readers of a "coming global class war."
At the same time, they (we?) toppled Gaddafi. My enthusiasm over the latest dictatorial domino falling is tempered by reports the Libyan rebels accepted NATO firepower in exchange for access to the oil fields by companies from NATO countries. Still, a summer of change.
Over the past couple months, we also found out that the recession in the United States cut deeper and hurt worse than we thought. The haemorrhaging was only staunched by stuffing the wounds with money. Now even this emergency gauze is running out. If the US double-dips, we could all be going for a swim.
Driving across America this summer, I was struck once again by how much clearer the contradictions seem — the problems built into our shared culture and economy. It's hard not to envision the decline when you're riding your bike around the pockmarked twilight of Detroit. Hanging out in the USA is like hitting fast-forward: take political polarization, stratified wealth, unemployment, enraged fundamentalists, and put everything in a blender. Garnish with firearms. Serve to Rick Perry, or Sarah Palin.
Paradoxically, I also found some of the most hopeful, helpful people in America. Indeed all the way across the continent, and in my trips around BC, I have discovered pockets of love and support I never knew existed. To each of you who let me stay on the couch, or gave me a meal, or told me your own story, thank you.
Next steps
So, I quit my job. It turns out this was the best thing I could have possibly done for my life and yes, my career. At the same time, I do have regrets. I want to apologize to my former colleagues and employers for the drama. I know I pulled the rug out, and I'm sorry. I hope we can reconcile.
I also regret the fact that some journalists misinterpreted my personal decision as an attack on their integrity or the . This was not my intention. Still, there were some instructive nuggets in even the most negative responses.
I think the National Post alone published three articles this summer analyzing my career choice — one an op-ed, one billed as satire, and one a news story that attempted to map a trend of entitled Gen-Y quitters. Each was well written and interesting to read, but only the first really stuck with me.
Jessica Hume wrote: "In his new role as unemployed blogger, Nagata is no longer bound by these rules. He can now fight the good fight, sharing his thoughts freely on the internet, bring his readers the stories they deserve. If he finds a way to do this — without advertising, shareholders, or a business plan – and finds a way to make a living at it, there may be room for him in Canadian journalism after all."
I turned this over and over in my mind as I travelled home. When I got there, I began several weeks of meetings with friends, family, and collaborators. My conclusion is this: if you want me to keep writing, I will. You don't have to call me a journalist, but if you would rather have me participate in the public conversation, I will.
Back to work
What I'm committing to this fall is to go back to work, albeit "without advertising, shareholders, or a business plan." It's an experiment.
I noticed something while I was working in television that bothered me deeply. How do so many smart, talented, well-meaning people, working together, create something so intellectually flaccid, even morally ambiguous? Most days it felt like we were actually less than the sum of our parts. What I've realized is that this disappointment is not limited to the world of TV journalism. People in all sorts of unrelated fields are wondering about the mandate they're fulfilling, and questioning the results. I want to keep exploring that.
To start with, I'll be launching a series of essays starting in mid-September. My focus is the public conversation itself, the thing I'm leaping into. I define the public conversation as the imaginary place where all of us in our different sectors share ideas for social progress. If that conversation is weakened, it becomes much more difficult to find and agree on solutions. What I'm trying to do is use standard journalistic techniques to start exploring the institutions that have historically promoted and safeguarded this thing in Canada.
My theory is there are connections between all of our different worlds, and many of the problems we see right now are actually related. Testing this theory means laying out a foundation, building pillars out of different examples, then trying to find the roof that joins them. I know: bla, bla, bla. I'll try to explain better in a couple of weeks. Don't worry, these stories are also full of hockey and drugs and political backstabbing and curious characters. I've worked out a partnership to help develop and distribute these articles, and I'll be posting links on this blog, along with French translations when possible. Like everything else I'm doing, this content will be free to read and share.
I might also pop up on a campus near you. So far I've confirmed dates this fall with UVic, SFU, McGill, and Dawson College. We're going to be talking about television, social media, and career, of course. But my other motive in doing this little tour is to ask faculty and students what they want from Canadian journalism. I want to hear what it is we're missing, and start developing ideas for how to make things better. These ideas will be a big part of the experiment.
I'm also endorsing an anti-pipeline protest in September in Ottawa. This has less to do with my role as a writer and more to do with my responsibility as a citizen. I have always been an environmentalist, and I think it's only fair to be up-front about my own beliefs. I'm in the early stages of developing a video documentary along some of these themes.
But my big project this fall is actually in California, where I've committed to shooting another documentary, this one about a remarkable individual with a near-impossible dream. This story is completely apolitical. It does have a Canadian connection, but it's very much parallel to most of the other things you're going to hear me discuss. I do think there are deeper connections, and that's what I'll be exploring in the film.
Like everything I'm putting together right now, this project is only possible because of the amazing people I'm working with. We've agreed to try something a little different with this one, format-wise. The plan is to edit the video in the field and release it in three parts this fall, online, for free.
If we can figure out a way to get that story to the people who need to see it, without a network deal or a cola sponsorship, then we can do anything. I'm confident we have the elements in place to make this work. Well, all but one.
The Ask
Back when I worked as a TV reporter, we had this thing called "panhandling". You probably know it as those parts in a report where the "" offers an opinion about the story. For fifteen seconds of "streeters," some stories require an hour or more of standing on a corner, thrusting a mic in peoples' faces. Depending on the subject matter, it can be pretty humiliating. What's ultimately helpful for a reporter's ego is that it strips you of your remaining dignity and forces you to get used to rejection from random strangers. So, here I am panhandling.
I wish I could fund these projects entirely with construction and restaurant jobs, but I can't. Luckily I've been offered a grant from one partner, and the universities have promised to help out with travel costs and speakers' fees. I'm still living in a tent with an extension cord, so that cuts overhead. My family and friends have been very generous this summer with food, and my grandmother's tiny garden is exploding with produce. ("I'm drowning in beans," she yelled, as I was typing this.) I've also been eating a lot of blackberries. Unfortunately, money doesn't grow on thorny bushes.
What I need in the short term is to rent two camera kits. The editing gear I know I can get second-hand. I've decided to keep the Ford Ranger, because of how handy it will be as a production vehicle. This entails monthly insurance and car payments, plus fuel and basic maintenance. I am also, so far, keeping my cell phone. Its capacity to create an internet hotspot anywhere there's wireless coverage is proving very useful.
Beyond that, I would really like to provide my collaborators with some kind of honouraria. Several people have signed on to work significant hours with no expectation of pay. This is hard to ask for. Eventually, I would also like to invest in a few pieces of equipment, so I can record interviews and field audio for podcasts. Right now though, the priority is those cameras.
Many of you got in touch offering to buy me a beer. Don't get me wrong, I like beer. But what I'm hoping is that I can take an advance on that pint, and use it to produce something really cool.
If anyone donates, I'll be happy to publish reports detailing where every dollar comes from and where it goes. Just let me know if you'd rather be anonymous.
If you're not comfortable with the whole giving-money-to-a-stranger-on-the-internet thing, I get it. I can also take donations in kind, if you have time or equipment you can spare.


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Special Events at Lassen Volcanic National Park for Summer 2014
April 13, 2014 by: Sharon Roberts
Highlights of Events at Lassen Park for 2014
Make your Plans to Hike the Lassen Peak Trail
The Lassen Peak trail is in its last year of a 2.5 million dollar trail restoration project spanning over 5 years. It will be open to hike to the top of Lassen Peak on 6 weekends during the summer of 2014.
Once the snow is gone for the winter the first 1.3 miles of the Lassen Peak trail is hike-able to Grandview. The trail is open past Grandview on the following dates:
The first weekend the trail is open to the Peak is Father's Day Weekend Friday June 13th – Sunday June 15th.
The trail will be open for Independence Day Weekend from Thursday July 3- Monday July 6.
The trail will be open for the Full moon in August from Friday, August 8th – Monday, August 10th. The full moon is August 10th.
Labor Day Weekend from Friday August 29th – Monday September 1st.
The trail will be open during Public Lands Day, Sept. 27th. The trail will be accessible from Friday Sept. 26th – Sunday, September 28th.
The 27th will be a fee free entrance day to Lassen Park as well as the 4th Art & Wine Festival at the Kohmane Visitor Center.
The last opportunity to hike the peak in 2014 will be Columbus Day Weekend Friday, October 10- Monday , October 13.
Because of the popularity of this trail it is advised to plan for an earlier start if at all possible.
The Reach the Peak project began in 2010 and is scheduled to be completed in 2014. For details on trail improvement and progress to date check the park website. The park has produced a Short Video on Lassen Peak showing some of the great views, pictures of Lassen Peak erupting and highlights of the restoration project.
3rd Annual Dark Sky Festival August 1-3rd
This is a celebration to showcase the Dark Sky over Lassen Park. This will give you an opportunity to learn more about our Dark Skies and the great resource they are. You will learn little ways to help save this resource you may not have thought of.
There will be activities during the day and into the evening. Telescopes will be set up at Bumpass Hell parking area as well as other locations in the park. Check back here later in the season for more details. Basic video of event.
A complete schedule of events will be available early July at the park website go.nps.gov/darksky.
Some of the highlights from last year included a special Night Explorer patch for kids 5 to 12. The patch is earned by completing activities in the Night Explorer workbook. The workbook is available at both the Loomis Visitor Center and the Kohm Yah-meh-nee Visitor Center.
A ranger led Solar System hike along the Mill Creek Falls Trail. You will learn just how far apart the planets in our solar system are spaced. Much more fun to learn about our solar system while on a beautiful hike that sitting in a classroom.
You will be able to enjoy great views of the Milky Way, with laser guided tours of constellations, as well as telescope viewing.
Last year the Astronomical Society of Nevada helped out with this event and they are scheduled to return. One of their goals is to encourage, foster, conduct and support programs on astronomy and related sciences for the education and enlightenment of the general public.
NASA scientists were part of the program, teaching about the exciting field of astrobiology and Lassen's role in the search for life.
Guest staying with us last year all raved about this program. Make your plans to visit now. Availability for lodging at the St. Bernard Lodge.
Special Programs for the Kids
Lassen Volcanic National Park offers several programs just for the kids and a few for the adults. Lassen Park offers a junior ranger program, ranger led programs begin late June and run until early part of August. Most of the programs are 45 minutes in duration and are held at Manzanita Lake, Devasted Area, Summit Lake, Sulphur Works and the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. The exact schedule will be published in the park paper " Peak Experiences" and later in the season can be found on the park website.
To get a head start print the Junior Ranger book now or it can be picked up at either visitor center in the park. This version of the workbook is special, the front cover was designed by a local school student.
Lassen Park offers the Chipmunk Club for younger children. The Lassen Volcano Club Card can be fun for all ages. To print the activity sheet. Resources to help you complete the seven activities.
The National Park System has a way for you to become a Web Ranger from home. Take a peek at the program now. This program is great for all ages and has interactive games, stories, and puzzles. It lets you track your progress and earn awards while learning about out National Parks and Monuments.
Please check back often for more updates on special programs and events both at Lassen Park and Northern California near St. Bernard Lodge. Our events page has other events scheduled in the area. Room availability is just a click away. We welcome your phone calls for general information on Lassen Park and the area surrounding St. Bernard Lodge. Looking forward to hearing from you 530-258-3382.


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Lake Alfred, FL — The World Wakeboard Association (WWA), the World's premier provider of amateur and professional wakeboard events, judges and sanctioning, has opened global registration for the 2012 WWA Wake Park World Championships, hosted by Al Forsan International Sports Resort.
"As the second year back to Al Forsan International Sports Resort, the 2012 WWA Wake Park World Championships is going to be one amazing event." states WWA President Shannon Starling. "The facility at Al Forsan is the most unique and fun environment to hold an event; there's just so much activity going on at the park."
Seventeen divisions of pro and amateur riders will compete for top honors at Al Forsan of Abu Dhabi. In preparation for the largest gathering of competitive cable athletes in the World, Al Forsan is creating special rider and family packages to include hotel, meal and registration. In addition, guests will be given opportunity to use resort amenities and visit other Abu Dhabi area sites, such as Ferrari World, Yas Island, Sheikh Zayed Mosque and other unique Abu Dhabi experiences.
Click Here for the 2012 Rider Registration Form in a word version
Click Here for the 2012 Rider Registation Form in a PDF version
In addition to the three-day wakeboard and wakeskate event, riders and families will be able to tour and use the brand-new sports facility, one of the most expansive sports complexes ever built. While the cable area offers two freshwater cable lakes (with clockwise and counterclockwise full cable systems, a two-tower unit and first-of-its-kind filtration system), Al Forsan boasts state-of-the-art equestrian, shooting, go-karting, paintball and fitness venues, which are also scheduled to host world-class regional, national, and global events for their respective sports.
Online registration is now open at www.wakeparkworlds.com. Be sure to sign up to receive ongoing communications about travel, accommodations and schedules.
About Wake Park Worlds
The 2012 WWA Wake Park World Championships hosted by Al Forsan International Sports Resort (wakeparkworlds.com) is the final stop of the 2012 WWA Wake Park World Series season. Wake Park Worlds is open to all ages and abilities; for registration visit wakeparkworlds.com/registration. Make sure to stay up-to-date and interactive by following us on our Wake Park Worlds specific sites at:
About the WWA
The WWA is the world's premier provider of amateur and professional wakeboard events, sanctioning and rules, developed by riders, for riders. www.thewwa.com
About Al Forsan
The Al Forsan International Sports resort aspires to be an internationally-recognized and top-rated world-class resort by leisure professionals, as well as companies and families. By consistently providing first-rate service and state-of-the-art facilities, it will establish itself as the major sports hub for regional events, setting new standards for international sports and leisure experiences. www.alforsan.com


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Google has announced its Nexus 7 which will launch this month and rival the Amazon Kindle Fire.
Although the Kindle Fire hasn't reached the UK the tablets are very similar and therefore warrant one of our comparison reviews. The Nexus 7 will go up against the Kindle Fire in the US tablet market. This article will explore the difference between them.
See also: Google Nexus hands-on review
See also: Amazon Kindle Fire review
Google has just announced the Nexus 7 so this comparison review is based on the on-paper specifications. There will be no crowning of a winner or similar goings on.
Google Nexus 7 vs Amazon Kindle Fire: Price
As we've already mentioned, the two tablets have very different price points. In the US they start at the same $199 price tag. Google also offers a model with larger storage for $249.
For your information the Google Nexus 7 starts at £159 for the 8GB and the 16GB sells for £199 in the UK.
See also: Google Nexus 7 tablet vs Apple iPad comparison review.
Google Nexus 7 vs Amazon Kindle Fire: Dimensions
The two tablets are very similar in size and weight, both being 7in devices. The Kindle Fire is slightly smaller at 120 x 190mm compared to 120 x 199mm; however it is thicker at 11.4mm against 10.5mm.
The Nexus 7 is the lighter of the two at 340g compared to 413g of the Kindle Fire.
Google Nexus 7 vs Amazon Kindle Fire: Screen
As we've mentioned already, both tablets have a 7in display. Both sport an in-plane switching (IPS) panel but differ when it comes to resolution.
The Nexus 7 has a superior resolution of 800 x 1280 while the Kindle Fire uses a less impressive 600 x 1024.
If you crunch the numbers it's clear the Nexus 7 has a more detailed display with a pixel density of 216ppi. The Kindle Fire has a pixel density of 170ppi.
Google Nexus 7 vs Amazon Kindle Fire: Processor
The processor is an important part of any tablet. The Kindle Fire has a 1GHz dual-core Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 processor based on a Cortex A9.
Google trumps this with an nVidia Tegra 3, a quad-core chip along with a 12-core GPU.
Group test: What's the best tablet PC?
Google Nexus 7 vs Amazon Kindle Fire: Storage
The Amazon Kindle Fire comes with 8GB of internal storage. Google has opted to offer two different versions of the Nexus 7, ones with 8GB of storage and one with 16GB.
Neither of these tablets has a microSD card slot for expansion. Amazon does offer free online storage via Amazon Cloud.
Google Nexus 7 vs Amazon Kindle Fire: Cameras
Google's Nexus 7 tablet has just a front facing camera rated at 1.2Mp. Amazon's Kindle Fire has neither a rear facing camera nor a front facing one.
Google Nexus 7 vs Amazon Kindle Fire: Connectivity
Connectivity on the Nexus 7 consists of Wi-Fib/g/n, Bluetooth (version unknown), microUSB, GPS, near-field communications (NFC) and a two-in-one 3.5mm audio jack.
Amazon has fitted the Kindle Fire with a more limited 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, microUSB and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Google Nexus 7 vs Amazon Kindle Fire: Software
Both tablets run Google's Android operating system but they sport different versions. The Kindle Fire runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread with a customised interface while the Nexus 7 tablet runs the latest version of Android, 4.1 Jelly Bean.
See also: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean FAQ: What you need to know.
Google Nexus 7 vs Amazon Kindle Fire: Battery
The Kindle Fire has a 16.3Wh rated battery compared to 16Wh on the Nexus 7. This slightly higher but Amazon touts a shorter batter life.
It promises 8 hours of battery life while Google states up to 10 hours for the Nexus 7.


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XFranz DG
- See All Works
- visit website
- [email removed]
I was born in 1984 in Quezon City, Metro Manila. My parents are both artists. My dad Danilo Garcia is an abstract visual artist. My mother Lolita Garcia is an educator. She was a visual communications and fine arts professor at the University of the Philippines at Dilliman. It was natural that I picked up the arts. I started with pencil and Crayola crayons. My parents did not want an artist's life for me because it is difficult especially in the Philippines. They'd hide my pens and pencils because I was drawing ninja turtles. Ninja turtles made me want to draw! My mom said "Uh-oh." They wanted to stop me but they could not. When they saw that my passion for art was unstoppable, they introduced me to Fernando Cena. They took me to a class every Sunday at The Heart Center, a kind of hospital. The lessons took place in their big hall and it was there that I learned the foundations of art. Although my father definitely influenced my work ethic, his abstract style of art is his own. I am more drawn to traditional fine arts.
In terms of content, I draw social justice art. I was almost 17 years old when I left the Philippines. Since my mom was a professor, I would see students drawing on placards messages like "No to Student Hikes!" I wondered why they were writing that. What was going on? I began to comprehend the balance of society in the Philippines through the perspective of students' protests and activity. They opened my eyes and made me question things. My mom also helped me develop that social consciousness.
At the end of high school, I won an art contest in which the grand prize was a full scholarship to a fine arts school in Texas set up by a Lion's club. One week after I graduated, I took the art exam in high school to qualify for the University of the Philippines in Fine Arts. That very day, my mother told me, "Oh yeah, you're flying to Texas, America, in one week." I was totally taken by surprise by the news. I didn't even get a chance to properly say goodbye to my friends. My initial experience in Texas was complete culture shock. I barely spoke English. After a couple of weeks, I told my parents that I wanted to move to L.A. where I could attend vocational school and also link up with my father's college friends. And that is when I met the chair of Habi Arts, Danilo "PAPO" De Asis in early 2001.
Under De Asis' influence, I returned to the questions that began with my exposure to the students from the Philippines. I began to connect that history to the present. What is really going on in the Philippines? Papo showed me everything. I realized things about the Philippines that I didn't know when I was actually there. Many years later in 2012, Habi Arts co-curated my solo art exhibition "Kiskisan" which means "to clash." In this exhibition and my art in general, I try to show the richness of the struggle and history of the Philippines.
X- Born: Quezon City, Philippines
- Based: Los Angeles, CA, USA


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The lesson here? If you like your personal approval ratings, you can keep your personal approval ratings. In the latest poll from Fox News, 61% believe that Barack Obama lies some or most of the time on "important matters," while only 15% say Obama never lies:
About six in ten American voters think Barack Obama lies to the country on important matters some or most of the time, according to a Fox News poll released Wednesday.
Thirty-seven percent think Obama lies "most of the time," while another 24 percent say he lies "some of the time." Twenty percent of voters say "only now and then" and 15 percent "never."
Only among his strongest constituencies does Obama's reputation for honesty remain strong — or at least relatively so:
The number of voters saying Obama lies "most of the time" includes 13 percent of Democrats. It also includes 12 percent of blacks, 16 percent of liberals, 31 percent of unmarried women and 34 percent of those under age 30 — all key Obama constituencies.
Yet some of those groups are also among those most likely to say Obama "never" lies to the country on important matters: blacks (37 percent), Democrats (31 percent), liberals (28 percent) and women (19 percent).
Yes, those are not exactly massive statements of confidence in Obama's honesty. The problem for Obama is that even when he pursued unpopular policy, public perception of his intelligence and honesty helped keep his approval ratings from utterly tanking. His central conceit — that he was not just another politician — is what allowed him to endure the disastrous 2010 cycle and survive the 2012 re-election. The explosion of the "you can keep your plan" lie, combined with the more recent and more flagrant "women only earn 77 cents to men's dollar" lie, has done the predictable damage to his reputation.
Even with that, though, Obama's approval rating actually rebounded slightly in this series. It's back to 42/51 from 38/54 six weeks ago in this series, which was an all-time low. Believe it or not, 42/51 is actually Obama's best approval rating in this series for 2014 — a tie on approval, and the lowest disapproval of the year.
Not that anyone else is doing much better. Fox offered a few names and entities for favorability ratings, and the only one to have a net positive rating was … Hillary Clinton, at 49/45. Obama got a 45/51, a reflection of the honesty issue, and the only one to get a majority-unfavorable rating. Surprisingly, the GOP got a 45/45, with Democrats at 44/46. Chris Christie got within the MOE at 36/38, and Ted Cruz brought up the rear with 23/31.
Hillary shouldn't get too excited about that finish, either. The Fox series doesn't often ask that question about her, but it's still the lowest since April 2008's 47/46. She peaked in August 2012 at 63/31 just before Benghazi, and still got a 56/38 in June 2013 well after Benghazi and her departure from State. The 49/45 result this week is a fairly sharp drop, and it may mean that voters think of her differently as a retiree than they will as a candidate. That also was true in 2007/8, as it turned out.
Still, she blows all of the other Democrats out of the water in the 2016 question with 69% support; only Joe Biden gets double digits at 14%. Hillary also wins the head-to-head matchups, but those are much closer and less relevant this far out, especially with her favorability numbers already dropping.


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Special edition: Free-from foods (gluten-free, dairy-free)
The rise and rise of gluten-free: But can the meteoric growth continue?
The inner circle – representing diagnosed celiacs with the confirmed auto-immune disease – accounts for less than 0.1% of the population, which is pretty small fry.
The second circle – representing the actual number of celiacs likely to be in the US population, most of which are undiagnosed – accounts for around 1% of the population - a sizeable number, but still nothing for the sales people to start salivating over.
The third circle – representing people with a wheat/gluten intolerance (perceived or otherwise) – accounts for around 6-7% of the population, a far bigger number, but still a relatively niche market.
However, the final circle – representing people that actually buy gluten-free, for whatever reason, represents almost a fifth (18%) of the population, according to Packaged Facts. And these kinds of numbers do warrant some serious commercial attention.
The market is growing even faster than anticipated
According to data from SPINS, sales of gluten-free products were up 19% in the year to September 2012 in natural and conventional channels combined (excluding Walmart, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods Market), while Packaged Facts says compound annual growth rate for gluten free products in the US retail market 2008-2012 is approaching 28%.
Mintel data meanwhile, shows that the number of new product launches featuring gluten-free claims rose from 600 in 2007 to more than 1,600 in 2011, while Packaged Facts says the market is growing "even faster than anticipated", and is set to reach $6.5bn in 2017.
So what is driving the growth?
Asked why they buy gluten-free products in an August 2012 Packaged Facts consumer survey, 35% said gluten-free products are "generally healthier", 27% said "to manage my weight", 21% said that gluten free products are "generally low-carb" and 15% said a member of the household has a gluten or wheat intolerance.
Just 7% said they were buying them because a household member has celiac disease.
The conviction that gluten-free is healthier is the top motivation for purchase
Indeed, according to Packaged Facts, "The conviction that gluten-free products are generally healthier is the top motivation for purchase of these products."
And while there is absolutely no evidence that following a gluten-free diet is going to make a non-celiac healthier or lighter - in fact the opposite may be true (gluten free diets are often higher in calories and fat and lower in vitamin B12, zinc, iron and folate) - this apparent misconception appears to be what is driving a large chunk of purchases.
Why do consumers think gluten-free is healthier?
In some respects, this should not come as a great surprise, given that many gluten-free products also happen to be all-natural, organic, and free from GMOs, artificial preservatives and other things many consumers are trying to avoid, says Packaged Facts.
Meanwhile, many gluten-free products are also sold in the natural food channel, or natural foods sections of mainstream retailers, which consumers typically associate with healthier products.
We used to think there was a ceiling in terms of market potential, not any more
The fact that many manufacturers in this space are appealing to non-celiac as well as celiac consumers who see gluten-free as just part of a broader set of claims associated with 'natural' or healthier foods is evident from the positioning - and repositioning - of many brands in the marketplace.
A quick glance at the website at Ian's Natural Foods, the market leader in frozen gluten-free, makes this clear, with the gluten-free positioning sitting amongst a bunch of other claims including: "No Artificial Flavors, Colors, or Preservatives... EVER! No Hydrogenated Oil. No Trans Fats. No Refined Sugars. No Antibiotics. No Hormones. No Bleached Flours. No Tripolyphosphates."
Jayne Minigell (pictured above left), director of marketing at Elevation Brands, which owns Ian's, says the brand is generating "significant double digit growth year-on-year", and is now worth more than $30m with strong sales in conventional and natural retail channels and a growing presence in foodservice and club stores.
But this isn't just about gluten-free, she says. "All-natural taps into lots of trends, so if you focus on this, you pick up a wider audience."
The products - from chicken nuggets, sweet potato fries, breakfast sandwiches, fish sticks and pizza to cookies, will typically be stocked in the general frozen section or the natural foods section, as well as a gluten-free section if there is one, she says. "We want to appeal to the widest possible audience."
And by the way, it's gluten-free…
At Glutino's, meanwhile, although the gluten-free message is still the most prominent on-pack, the firm is also focusing on non-GMO, with several products now certified under the Non-GMO Project verified scheme, says a spokeswoman, while several of its bars are also certified organic.
At Udi's, the #1 gluten free bread and baked goods company in the US, the aim is to make celiacs feel like they are eating normal food, and to make everyone else feel like eating gluten-free foods is normal, says grassroots marketing manager Regan Han.
The growth the brand has seen over the past three years has been "pretty amazing", she adds. "Our biggest sellers are white and wholegrain sandwich bread, then muffins and buns. We used to think there was a ceiling in terms of the market, but we're not so sure anymore."
The product range, which has recently been expanded to include pizzas, blueberry oat muffin tops and brownie bites, also includes products containing some more interesting and nutrient-dense gluten-free ingredients including millet seed (Everything Inside bagels), whole quinoa flour (Harvest Crunch muffins) and ancient grain of the moment chia seed (Chocolate muffin tops).
The gluten-free market 2012: Double digit growth
According to Packaged Facts, snack/granola bars account for a leading share of about 15% of 2012 sales in the food/drug/mass channel, while frozen dinners/entrees/pizza, crackers/salty snacks, and shelf-stable dinners/soup each accounts for around 11-12% of estimated sales.
"All of the major categories Packaged Facts examined showed double-digit percentage sales gains between 2010 and 2012, with frozen bread/dough and fresh bread/rolls increasing by more than 60%."
As to where consumers are purchasing gluten-free products, the market has shifted "dramatically" since 2008, says Packaged Facts, with mainstream retailers now accounting for an estimated 79% of sales, whereas 10 years ago, the natural channel dominated.
Prolific new product development in crackers and salty snacks
As for innovation, Packaged Facts estimates that North America's share of global gluten-free new product introductions has grown significantly in the past five years, and now stands at over 60%, ahead of Europe, which accounted for about one quarter of introductions.
The most prolific growth in the US has been in crackers and salty snacks, which accounted for more product introductions than any other category analyzed, says the researcher.
"Snack bars/fruit snacks and beverages round out the top three. In terms of both the number of announcements and the number of individual products, these three categories combined make up about a 45% share of all product introductions between March 2011 and June 2012."


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Magnolia Leaf Wreath
Melissa from The Happier Homemaker was inspired to create a live magnolia leaf wreath for the holidays. She pulled it off on the cheap by using a pool noodle for the wreath form and magnolia leaves from the woods outside her home. A burlap bow completes the look for this pretty alternative to a traditional pine wreath.