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Wednesday, November 21, 2007
10 comments:
- Ajoy Singha said...
Hi Pradeep,
In my opinion too, judging the quality of a product based on number of test cases passed is not a good idea. But unfortunately our product managers don't understand this.
I have seen this even when I worked for one of our clients, a leading IT major. Their testers, managers were more interested to know about test cases than knowing the holes in the product that test cases did not cover.
We, testers, developers, product managers, should understand that tools cannot think like a human brain.
~Ajoy - Thu Nov 22, 09:28:00 AM GMT+5:30
- Anonymous said...
If they don't understand - we better educate them. You now have something ( I meant this presentation ) to show them and that can help in their education.
Do not bother about those who are reluctant to change or learn because they don't deserve your time.
You are tomorrow's Test Manager and if you understand this - the coming generation is going to live in a place much safer than what we live today.
Keep spreading and keep infecting! - Thu Nov 22, 10:03:00 AM GMT+5:30
- Anonymous said...
Any chance you could put the presentation up in a non proprietary forma or at least PDF?
- Sun Nov 25, 01:37:00 AM GMT+5:30
- Amit said...
Hi Pradeep,
I am unable to open this file, i am using Open Office and the Error message is "Read-Error. The loading of password-encrypted Microsoft PowerPoint presentation is not supported".
seeking you help!!!
Amit - Mon Nov 26, 12:53:00 PM GMT+5:30
- PP said...
Days may change as quality is not something which is ensured to become nice (a context sensitive term) human beings but something which is market-driven. Which is required by companies to survive long...?
So… albeit Manager will keep pushing this test case strategy,far as far as they can. As these things produce stats which they admire...they have to change soon.
Pradeep,you know when i asked a manager(i am working at client side these days),Do we have people here who uses exploratory testing?. She said do you have exploratory test cases!!.
We all have to pitch in to educate our Managers. As I don't want to wait till next generation really understands " How to test"!! - Mon Nov 26, 01:39:00 PM GMT+5:30
- Anonymous said...
I am going to fix it soon and you'll have to revisit this post tomorrow.
Thanks for letting me know the problem as it helps me plan my future ideas and posts.
Its important that as testers that we promptly send error/crash reports to Microsoft or any software that intends to collect such information unless we have a pirated copy of their product. - Mon Nov 26, 01:52:00 PM GMT+5:30
- Anonymous said...
I was thrilled to read your comment and I got excited about your experience.
I think it is people like you who *must* educate managers and all I wish is that the managers lack ego and willing to learn to become a better tester or test manager.
Thanks again. You added a valuable point to this post. - Mon Nov 26, 01:54:00 PM GMT+5:30
- Anonymous said...
I shall be helping you out, too, as I mentioned for Amith. Just give me a day's time and I shall be able to provide you with what you asked for or in some other form that I think might benefit you. - Mon Nov 26, 01:56:00 PM GMT+5:30
- Anonymous said...
@PP and others,
Forgot to mention a point that I remembered just now:
I created this presentation - to help you people in educating your managers. The true value of reading this is only when you pass it on to those whom you want to educate. - Mon Nov 26, 02:06:00 PM GMT+5:30
- Anonymous said...
A great presentation to show how most traditional test case execution or management would provide the numbers (in the name of quality) referencing those pre-defined test scripts, however, product management would still need to see some measure of quality in terms of numbers.
I haven't read all your posts, i am sure this might have been already covered in your earlier posts, it would be a good idea to point to those resources in this presentation about the way you would justify the quality "over and beyond any preliminary test scripts" and pass/fail data out of them. I agree the number of test scripts and number of bugs found do not EXACTLY communicate the quality although that has been a myth to the product management and dev and test teams in most teams.
@pp: regarding ET ("She said do you have exploratory test cases!!") --> I am sure there are individuals with this question, but as you and Pradeep said we should be able to point those individuals to heuristics (i found one via Pradeep's blog before) and James' presentation - that's a big eye opener for people to understand the benefits of ET - specially added with appropriate story with it.
Great to see valuable posts here - thank you.
http://ramsblog.wordpress.com - Fri Dec 21, 04:46:00 AM GMT+5:30


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Whenever 29 year old Taliah Mae feels the urge to masturbate, she doesn't hold back at all! Stripping slowly out of her bra and panties gets this already-horny mom even more on edge so that when she's finally naked and able to caress all over her tight body she's just a heartbeat away from cumming.
Date: January 3, 2023
Taliah Mae

subset: commoncrawl


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Audio Recording Tips, in No Particular Order
If you have an iPhone or Android device, you can get decent sound quality with the built-in voice recorder. Some other phones also have voice recorders, but audio quality can vary significantly. We recommend recording something short and having a listen before committing to recording something long.
Recording on a computer works fine also, although sometimes the fan noise is an issue. Pretty much any audio recording software will do. Audacity is quite good. It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and it's free (both as in speech and as in beer if that distinction matters to you).
You will get the best results in a room with a minimum of background noise and echo. Pro tip: A closet full of clothes makes a pretty decent improvised recording studio.
To minimize the booming of overcooked plosives - bursty consonants like B, K, P, and T - aim the microphone at your mouth, but aim your mouth a bit to the side of the microphone. Anywhere you can feel a vocalized P on your palm, that's not a great place to put a mic.
Set your microphone input level. Record something and you will see a waveform. If it keeps hitting the boundaries, it will sound distorted, and you should turn the input level down. If the waveform looks anemic, you should turn the level up for richer sound. About halfway to two-thirds is the ideal level. Don't worry about getting it perfect; just avoid the extremes.
One easy way to keep the file size down is to set the recording mode to Mono before starting.
We trim handling noise at the beginning and ending of every recording we get, when we can. Pause a few seconds after pressing REC, and again before pressing STOP, and we'll trim off the ends.
We edit out flubs where feasible. If you flub a sentence or a stanza, keep recording. Just stop reading for a few seconds and restart the stanza or sentence from the beginning. That will make it particularly easy for us to edit out.
If you use Audacity, note that the .AUP files are "project" files that do not contain audio data. Make sure to Export the file to MP3, Ogg (aka Vorbis), or WAV and send us those. If your audio program does not support these, we can probably read whatever it does generate. We've had luck so far with WMA, M4V, FLAC, and 3GA files.
If the audio files end up being too large to send via email, we suggest you check out Dropbox, which will let you send us a link to the file, rather than the entire file itself. Also, it's just a plain wonderful service and you should be using it anyway.
If you think you'd like to get into this whole audio recording thing, a field recorder is an inexpensive and worthwhile investment. We do our own recordings with a $75 Tascam DR-05 and have been quite happy with it. Most similar recorders should perform just fine.


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"Dutch police say Seattle Mariners outfielder Greg Halman has been stabbed to death and his brother has been arrested as a suspect," The Associated Press reports from Rotterdam. He died earlier today.
Halman, 24, is Dutch-born. In the past two years with the Mariners, he appeared in 44 games — hitting at a .207 average, with two home runs and nine runs batted in.
According to his MLB.com bio, Halman played in the Dutch professional league and for his country's national team before joining the Mariners' organization.
The AP reports police said Halman's brother is 22 years old. He was not named, "in line with Dutch privacy rules."
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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2014 Chevrolet Impala: Redesign revives suffering flagship sedan
Despite its position atop Chevrolet's sedan lineup, the full-size Impala hasn't been much of a flagship for the brand in recent years. Instead, the aging car has become synonymous with rental cars -- or precisely the opposite of what a flagship is supposed to conjure.
That's about to change with the completely redesigned 2014 Chevrolet Impala, which, despite an occasionally bothersome transmission, delivers the kind of comfort, roominess and luxury touches expected of a true flagship.
Offered in LS, LT and LTZ trim levels, the 2014 Impala is available with a choice of three drivetrains: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, an eAssist mild hybrid system and a 3.6-liter V-6. The V-6, which goes on sale first in mid-April, is the engine I tested at a driving event in San Diego. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder goes on sale a few months later and the eAssist version a few months after that.
Intricate Design
The Impala wears the latest interpretation of Chevrolet's twin-port grille. While it's similar to the 2014 Chevrolet Traverse's grille, its vertical orientation and width gives the Impala a Camaro-esque appearance. The look is subtly aggressive with a hint of menace, and when paired with the optional LED daytime running lights, the car really stands out. The visual interest continues beyond the front. Intricate sheet-metal creases, including rear quarter-panel arcs inspired by classic Impalas, give unexpected detailing to the doors, hood and trunk lid. Large wheels are the order of the day, with 18-inch steel rims with covers standard and 18-, 19- and 20-inch alloy wheels available on the higher trims. The styling, though, compromises driver visibility. The tall tail helps finish the exterior design and is a boon for trunk room, but it results in a short, rectangular slot of a rear window. The B-pillars are also wide, which blocked much of my view when checking for traffic over my left shoulder. The Impala offers a number of electronic safety features designed to enhance the driver's sense of what's happening around the car, including a blind spot warning system and a backup camera, but there's something about an airy cabin with unobstructed views that technology can't replace.
V-6 Power
The V-6 sedan accelerates swiftly up to cruising speeds. Power doesn't arrive with the forcefulness of the Toyota Avalon's V-6, which remains one of the best V-6 engines around, but the Impala's no slouch, either; Chevrolet cites a zero-to-60-mph time of 6.8 seconds. Engine noises are especially muted in the cabin, even under hard acceleration. The V-6 teams with a six-speed automatic transmission yielding an EPA-estimated 19/29 mpg city/highway. That's similar to what front-wheel-drive V-6 competitors like the Azera (20/29 mpg) and Taurus (19/29 mpg) offer, but it's behind the Avalon (21/31 mpg). At this time, mileage estimates haven't been certified for the other engine choices. The automatic transmission is reasonably responsive with controllable part-throttle kickdowns and quick downshifts under full throttle. It's pleasantly unobtrusive in all respects except one: When quickly decelerating, like on a highway off-ramp, it occasionally makes a jarring downshift. I thought the jolt was a fluke when I first felt it, but it happened a few more times in different Impalas at the event. The downshift mapping helps slow the car with engine braking, saving the brakes, but the execution is much more aggressive than the norm and might catch some drivers off guard.
Ride & Handling
The most surprising thing about the Impala is how well it handles serpentine roads. While the car doesn't feel small, it does feel smaller than its substantial exterior dimensions, and body roll is well-checked. The ride is firm but not harsh, which means you do still feel bumps, manhole covers and all the other things that make a road surface imperfect. The Impala floats a bit over bigger dips, but that's one of the rare times the suspension makes the car feel like a large car of old.
The different wheel and tire pairings affect ride quality and ambient noise levels in the car. Though all versions of the Impala I drove were notable for their quiet interiors even at highway speeds, the one fitted with 18-inch tires seemed the quietest of all.
Meanwhile, tire noise was more intrusive with the 20-inch tires, which also more readily transmitted small road irregularities to the cabin. Chevrolet says there are minor tuning differences in the front suspension between cars with the 18-inch tires and those with 19- or 20-inch tires.
The Impala uses an electric power-steering system that reduces engine load, improving efficiency. The system can compensate for road conditions; Chevrolet says that if you're traveling on a crowned stretch of road, for instance, you won't have to hold the wheel at an angle to continue in a straight line; the system will automatically correct for it. Power assistance varies based on both vehicle speed and the position of the steering wheel, but on the whole the steering wheel feels light and ready to rotate, especially at parking-lot speeds where it spins easily with little effort. A little more heft at cruising speeds would be welcome; as it stands, it's too easy to move the wheel left or right a few degrees from its straight-ahead position, increasing the amount of attention the driver must pay it.
The Inside
Some large cars don't deliver a corresponding level of interior roominess: The Ford Taurus is a prime example. The Impala doesn't suffer this fate, as its cabin is roomy enough that 6-foot adults can comfortably ride in the front and rear seats at the same time. The Impala rides on a long-wheelbase version of GM's global Epsilon platform, which is shared with the Buick LaCrosse and Cadillac XTS, and the nearly 4 inches it gains in wheelbase compared with the Chevrolet Malibu (which uses the regular-wheelbase Epsilon platform) is especially noticeable in the backseat; there's enough legroom to stretch your legs out a bit. The rear seat cushions offer good thigh support, too, which also enhances overall comfort.
The seats in LT and LTZ trim levels can be trimmed in a number of different materials with various accents, but they all offer similar levels of comfort. The front bucket seats (a three-person front bench seat is no longer offered) do a good job keeping the driver behind the steering wheel on winding roads, yet the side bolsters aren't overly restrictive. All trims have a power-adjustable driver's seat with four-way power lumbar adjustment.
The trunk measures 18.8 cubic feet. Among prime competitors, only the Taurus' 20.1-cubic-foot trunk is larger. A standard 60/40-split folding backseat expands the Impala's already deep trunk. The opening between the passenger compartment and cargo area when the seats are down is sizable, and the backrest folds flat with the cargo floor.
The exterior's attention to design details continues in the cabin, which is generously appointed with soft-touch materials on the dashboard and doors. Available blue ambient lighting that's integrated into the chrome trim is a unique take on two familiar design cues, and it works to good effect when it's dark outside. From the gear selector to the climate system, the cabin controls have a premium feel.
LT and higher trim levels come standard with Chevrolet's MyLink entertainment system. MyLink includes an 8-inch touch-screen that consolidates controls for the stereo, available navigation system and smartphone-enabled features like Pandora internet radio with a button layout that resembles apps on an iPhone screen. The touch-screen recognizes some smartphone-type gestures, too, like swiping to a new screen or flicking through a list of radio stations. Secondary steering-wheel controls let the driver operate various functions without taking their hands off the wheel, and the system also has natural-language voice recognition. There are three USB ports and an SD card slot, and the system can pair up to 10 devices.
One of the system's more interesting features is its evolution of the familiar radio preset. With MyLink, presets are no longer limited to radio stations but can also include things like a specific address you frequently drive to or a friend's phone number. It's a simple but powerful concept, and MyLink includes 60 of these presets.
MyLink also offers a valet mode that, when active, hides all of the personal data you've entered into the system -- like a home address in the navigation system. It's activated by a customizable four-digit code, which also locks the motorized touch-screen in its lowered position to prevent access to the storage space behind it.
Neither the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had crash-tested the 2014 Impala as of publication, but the sedan will likely be evaluated at some point.
Safety features include antilock brakes and an electronic stability system, which are required on new vehicles. The Impala also comes with 10 standard airbags, including side-impact and side curtain airbags for the front and rear seats.
In addition to comfort features like remote start and an auto-dimming rearview mirror, the LT Convenience Package includes rear parking sensors and a backup camera. Also optional for LT trims is the Advanced Safety Package, which bundles the bulk of the Impala's available electronic safety features like forward-collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning and a blind spot warning system.
The range-topping LTZ includes all of these safety features and is optionally available with adaptive cruise control and a collision-mitigation system. The adaptive cruise system can bring the car to a complete stop if traffic dictates, and the radar-based collision-mitigation system can alert the driver if it senses a crash may occur and also apply the brakes if the driver fails to react to the warning.
The Impala had fallen behind the curve over the past few years, and in another time it wouldn't have been out of the question for Chevrolet to replace the name altogether with something new -- just like it did with Cavalier and later Cobalt in the small-car segment. The 2014 Impala, though, seems up to the task of overcoming any negative sentiments created by its predecessor. Chevrolet should take another look at the transmission's downshift decision-making, though, as it's the one glaring shortcoming in an otherwise appealing package.
The full-size sedan segment isn't as large as the midsize segment, but it's no less contested; the past few years have seen redesigned or updated versions of all the major competitors come to market. With a new Impala for the first time in a long time, Chevrolet now has a legitimate answer to the competition.


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MWC Shared Convictions (2006)
By the grace of God, we seek to live and proclaim the good news of reconciliation in Jesus Christ. As part of the one body of Christ at all times and places, we hold the following to be central to our belief and practice:
1. God is known to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Creator who seeks to restore fallen humanity by calling a people to be faithful in fellowship, worship, service and witness.
2. Jesus is the Son of God. Through his life and teachings, his cross and resurrection, he showed us how to be faithful disciples, redeemed the world, and offers eternal life.
3. As a church, we are a community of those whom God's Spirit calls to turn from sin, acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord, receive baptism upon confession of faith, and follow Christ in life.
4. As a faith community, we accept the Bible as our authority for faith and life, interpreting it together under Holy Spirit guidance, in the light of Jesus Christ to discern God's will for our obedience.
5. The Spirit of Jesus empowers us to trust God in all areas of life so we become peacemakers who renounce violence, love our enemies, seek justice, and share our possessions with those in need.
6. We gather regularly to worship, to celebrate the Lord's Supper, and to hear the Word of God in a spirit of mutual accountability.
7. As a world-wide community of faith and life we transcend boundaries of nationality, race, class, gender and language. We seek to live in the world without conforming to the powers of evil, witnessing to God's grace by serving others, caring for creation, and inviting all people to know Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.
In these convictions we draw inspiration from Anabaptist forebears of the 16th century, who modeled radical discipleship to Jesus Christ. We seek to walk in his name by the power of the Holy Spirit, as we confidently await Christ's return and the final fulfillment of God's kingdom.
Adopted by Mennonite World Conference General Council Pasadena, California, USA
15 March 2006
In a historic action, MWC's General Council approved a statement of shared convictions to give members around the world a clearer picture of beliefs Anabaptists hold in common.
This is the first statement of beliefs adopted by leaders of the global Anabaptist community.
The statement is not meant to replace conferences' official confessions of faith. Nancy Heisey, Mennonite World Conference Presdient in 2006 said "groups are free to use it for theological conversations." It can also be used by those who do not have a formal confession. It is also intended to help define Anabaptism to others.
The discussion of shared convictions started in 1997 in Mennonite World Conference's Faith and Life Council. After collecting faith statements from member churches, the council brought a first draft to the 2003 MWC assembly in Zimbabwe. Revisions were made based on responses from member churches over the next three years, leading to adoption at Pasadena, California.


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BC Ferries passengers will need to find other ways to physically distance, as they won't be able to stay in their vehicles on lower car decks as of the end of the month.
The ferry corporation has been advised that Transport Canada is rescinding its temporary relaxation of safety regulations as of Sept. 30. BC Ferries said it must comply, and "supports the regulation and its intent."
Transport Canada allowed the temporary flexibility early in the pandemic and BC Ferries began allowing travellers to remain in their vehicles on all decks on March 17.
As of Sept. 30, passengers won't be able to stay in their vehicles on lower car decks on the following routes: Departure Bay-Horseshoe Bay, Duke Point-Tsawwassen, Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen, Comox-Powell River, and Tsawwassen-Southern Gulf Islands.
BC Ferries says it has approval from Transport Canada to allow travellers on the Horseshoe Bay-Langdale route to remain on lower vehicle decks because of modifications to the vessels and procedures.
"Safety is our highest value and we provide a safe and healthy travel experience. Customers are legally required to comply with this federal regulation," said Mark Collins, BC Ferries' president and CEO, in the release. "We expect our customers to follow the law and we continue to have zero tolerance policy for abuse of any kind towards our employees."
RELATED: People now allowed to stay in cars on B.C. Ferries to avoid COVID-19 spread
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Whether it's a history lesson you're after or just a summer road trip with the family, Delaware has something for every itinerary. The nation's "First State" is steeped in evidence of America's proud past. Walk in the footsteps of Dutch colonists and American revolutionaries in the cobbled streets of New Castle. Visit the square in Dover where patriotic rallies often reached fever pitch. Amish Country is a short drive away if handmade furniture or crafts are on the agenda. Return to the present in Wilmington, where you can catch a comedy show before relaxing at one of the waterfront bars with a distinctly Delawarian micro brew. Go ahead and treat yourself to something nice before you go, shopping is tax free!
Regions in Delaware
Central Delaware


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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – No. 9 Florida State (7-0) completed the doubleheader sweep as well as the series sweep on Sunday afternoon with a 5-2 victory over USF (1-5) in front of a crowd of 4,582 on Mike Martin Field inside Dick Howser Stadium to remain undefeated on the year.
After Scott Sitz' eight shutout innings in game one, Peter Miller (1-0) followed suit in game two with 6.0 shutout innings to earn his first victory of the season. In probably his best outing as a Seminole, Miller allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out five. He finished the game tying career-highs for innings pitched and strikeouts.
"You win the first game today, you know you won the series but yet there is no, 'I'm satisfied,' said head coach Mike Martin. "There is that desire to win the next one. It is something that makes all of us coaches extremely proud to be associated with a group that approaches the game that way."
The junior right hander faced the minimum through the first four innings and did not allow his first hit until Jimmy Falla led off the top of the fifth with a single up the middle. He left a pair of runners stranded in the fifth after getting Zac Gilcrease to line out to Josh Delph in right for the third out. Miller returned to pitch the sixth and retired the Bulls in order on three groundouts to put the finishing touches on his afternoon.
"Great quality starts from both pitchers," said Martin following the game two win. "Best game I have seen Peter Miller pitch since he has been here. Miller had three pitches going for him. That is what it takes to beat a club like South Florida."
"Peter jumped back," added Stewart. "He came out ready to work; kept pitching his butt off and we got him some runs. He kept doing his thing and our bullpen came in, helped him out and they did their job too."
Florida State broke a scoreless tie in the fourth thanks to back-to-back two-out doubles by Casey Smit and Ladson Montgomery. Smit took a 1-2 offering from USF starter Jimmy Herget (0-1) into the gap in left center and scored a batter later on Montgomery's RBI double to right.
DJ Stewart gave the Seminoles a 3-0 lead in the fifth as he connected on a two-run double to left plating Delph and Jose Brizuela. Delph reached on a fielding error at first and moved to second as Brizuela drew a walk. Both runners would pull off a double steal and score on Stewart's double to left.
The Bulls pushed their first run across in the seventh off reliever Bryant Holtmann who gave up a walk and double to the only two batters that he faced. Gage Smith came in and walked the first batter that he faced to load the bases with nobody out. But the junior right hander bounced back and got Levi Borders swinging on strikes for the first out of the inning. Luke Maglich cut FSU's lead to 3-1 as he brought home James Ramsay on a fielder's choice groundout. Smith would keep the two-run lead intact getting Gilcrease to groundout to second to end the inning.
FSU would answer right back in the bottom half of the seventh with a run to increase its lead back to three at 4-1. John Sansone led off the inning with a walk off Joe Adel and scored three batters later on an RBI single by Stewart.
USF cut the deficit to 4-2 in the top of the eighth as Ramsay drove home Anthony Diaz on a two-out single to center. Diaz opened the inning reaching on a bunt single to the pitcher's mound and took second on the play as Smith threw wildly over to first. After a sac-bunt moved Diaz to third, Smith answered with his second strikeout of the afternoon getting pinch hitter Joe Altieri looking at a called third strike. But Ramsay would keep the Bulls in the game with his RBI single to center. Following a hit by pitch, FSU went to the bullpen and brought on Kyle Bird as USF threaten with runners at first and second. Bird skipped his third pitch in the dirt and the ball got away from Montgomery momentarily. The Seminole catcher recovered in time to make a throw at third but the ball sailed just beyond the reach of Brizuela. Giovanny Alfonzo was backing up on the play, grabbed the loose ball and fired back to Montgomery at the plate to get Ramsay for the third out of the inning.
FSU wasted very little timing answering the call in the bottom of the eight as Marcus Davis took the first pitch he saw from Steven Leasure over the fence in right for a solo shot and a 5-2 Seminole lead. The home run was Davis' second of the series and fourth of the season.
Jameis Winston pitched the ninth and retired USF in order on three groundouts to earn his first collegiate save.
"He certainly did a good job in that role tonight," added Martin on the performance of Winston in the closer role. "He had no display of nerves. He went out there in a save situation and got it done. We are looking for someone to assume that role."
Stewart paced the Seminoles with his first three-hit game of the season as the freshman centerfielder also drove in a career-high three runs. Davis finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and a home run.
"It's great," said Stewart on the team's fast start to the 2013 season. "We've been working so hard. This is a special team. We have great leadership. Our new guys, Marcus is tearing it up. We are just trying to feed off him, feed off our pitchers."
With the two wins on Sunday, FSU has now won its last 15 games in which they have worn the gold jerseys.
Florida State will take the week off and return to the diamond for a three-game series against Villanova beginning Friday, March 1 at 4:00 p.m.


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Name: Don Taylor
Stats: b. 1920- d. 1998. 29 films as actor, 11 films as director. Directed TV in the '80s.
Rating based on level of excellence: 3 out of 5 Humunahs!
Hotness Factors: Tall, gentlemanly stature, great hair and sheepish smile. He's the boy next door who looks innocent enough but will steal your hot daughter away when your back is turned.
Chicks He Digged: Married two actresses. First wife was TV actress Philis Avery and second wife was scream queen Hazel Court, who passed away last year.
For Optimal Hotness Watch:
Father of the Bride (1950) ~ He's the lucky kid who gets to marry virginal Elizabeth Taylor (at least on screen).
The Naked City (1948) ~ He plays a detective who scours the city of New York looking for the man who murdered glamour (see my post about the movie here).
Stalag 17 (1953) ~ He's the WWII Lieutenant who managed to blow up a Nazi train with a hand-made bomb. He's the hero of all the men at the POW camp. (see pictures below)


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Novelty Oversize Triple Round Circle Color Tone Sunglasses
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Drop Ball Certified: Military Standard
FDA Registration Number: 3013407178
Ultraviolet Light (UV) Protection - UV 400 both UVA and UVB radiation. Blocking light rays as small as 400 nanometers. This means that anywhere from 99 to 100 percent of the sun's harmful radiation is kept away from the eyes.
Visible Light Transmission (VLT) - This measures how much light your sunglass lens lets through. VLT of 1% means very dark lenses and a VLT of 100% means very light lenses.
United States Post Office Priority Mail: $7.99 ( 1-3 business days depending on location )
Click For International Information


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I got a new Orvis Helios 3wt recently. Made from the same carbon fiber they use on the Apache helicopters, it is feather light at 1.75 ounces total, and strong as heck, for casting into the afternoon winds along my favorite little streams. The science of technology amazes me, yet in our sport it remains the ball and you versus gravity...Still, look soon to see line judges being assisted at the international level by the same technology that is used in tennis, to confirm if a ball is in or out...
A gym is a gym is a gym the world around - but when you get out on to a stream in the country or state you are helping, you see the real world. I have been fortunate to catch nature's dumbest animal, the trout (just making sure you know how dumb I am too), in Australia (both the Snow River and Tasmania), New Zealand (where 17 year old Hugh McCutcheon came up and said "Mr. Kessel, I want to come to America and play volleyball, they said you can help me...back in the late 1980s), Ireland, Italy, China, Russia and all over the USA. It is catch and release of course, unless my hosts deserve a fresh trout meal cooked.
The science of sport - we are working hard through CAP, IMPACT, High Performance clinics and training to bring these facts to all. It is our culture we are up against in so many ways, of coach controlled, progressions and more. Thirty years ago, in Fly Fishing magazine (Aug 79), Dave Engerbretson wrote one of my favorite articles about teaching of all time, called "Parents, Kids & Fly Rods." He sets several great rules for teaching youth, here is how he leads up to the first one.
Teaching your own child to fish would seem to be a very simple and natural thing. It's no big deal: "Come on, son. Let's go fishin'." But don't be misled! Whether or not you end up with a lifelong fishing partner may well depend upon how you respond to the innocent question, "Daddy, will you teach me how to fly-fish?"
While the question may be innocent, it is significant because it indicates that the child has an interest in learning the sport. Normally, of course, this is no problem - kids love to fish. But occasionally an over-anxious parent will attempt to push a child into the activity before the desire is there, and this is almost guaranteed to cause problems. When pushed, the child will be a difficult student at best, and at worst he'll be completely turned off by the whole thing.
A better approach is to relax and let nature take its course. The exposure that your child has to the sport as you tinker with your tackle, tie flies and practice casting on the lawn should eventually pique his natural curiosity, and he'll probably be eager to try it. So - the first rule is: Don't push the subject, but wait until the interest is there.
Then he shows why we should spike and play first and often with young kids - when he writes..." When taking the first fishing trip, there must be one primary consideration - do whatever you can to guarantee that the kids will catch fish! Take them to an easy stream, let them catch little, stocked fish, or go bluegill fishing, but if at all possible make sure they're successful. Nothing generates excitement like a fish on the end of the line, and nothing produces disinterest and boredom more quickly than a long day with no action."
So decades ago I sent this very article to one of the people who has helped USA Volleyball win more international and Olympic medals than maybe any other person in our sport, Dr. Carl McGown from BYU. His clinics and books are the best in the world IMHO (CAP I uses his bookCoaching Volleyball as our textbook), and in his book,The Science of Coaching Volleyball references then paraphrases this article to make these ideas apply to volleyball. McGown writes:
"Remember, too, that children learn best by imitation; that is, by watching and doing, rather than by long, involved, technical explanations. A discussion of horizontal momentum, optimum jumping angles, force conversion and so on could as well be given in a foreign language for all the good it will do most spikers. The majority of instructors talk too much. Show them what to do. Even the simplest jump is made up of many components, and it is usually a mistake to try to emphasize all of these at one time. A beginner cannot mentally concentrate upon timing, the footwork, the jump, the arm-swing, ball placement, the contact, and the recovery simultaneously. Therefore, after the child has been given a general introduction to spiking, it is best to concentrate on only one component at a time. For example, have the child do a complete spike, but concentrate only on the footwork at the end of the approach."
Gee, all this from Fly Fishing...So some pictures at the end to show how fishing teaches fishing as does the game teaches the game and for us all, the circle of life...my dad when he was 6...me when I was 4...me getting out of the cabins while at the Arizona RVA Staff and Leadership meetings near Sedona, and my son Cody...and the last shot? Wiz Bachman McCutcheon, before she met Hugh, when I took the A2 team fly fishing on the Arkansas River, so they too could get out of the gym.... I will let Dave Egerbretson close this blog as he closed his article...
Yes, we teach them many things besides how to catch fish when we take our children fishing. They learn our philosophy and our attitudes about nature, conservation, streamside etiquette, other people and life itself. We may not even be fully aware that we are teaching these very important concepts. But we are. We teach them by our actions, which speak at least as loud as our words. In fact, it's quite likely that what we do and how we do it will be remembered after the words we have spoken are long forgotten.
The teaching of our children is an awesome responsibility and must not be taken too lightly. For in our children lies the future of clean air and water, wild fish, and the sport of fly-fishing.
Hope you have a great summer, on the court, but also off of it, and maybe on some great stream or lake you can get away to and enjoy - and in the performance vs. outcome part of our science of sport - remember you are going fly FISHING, not fly CATCHING, unless you are taking beginners out to "hook them" to the sport...


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Globalization in Korea and Asia
May 9, 1996
Mr. Maurice R. Greenberg, Chairman of the Asia Society, distinguished guests,
I am very pleased that the Asia Society is holding its Seventh Annual Corporate Conference here in Seoul. I extend my hearty welcome to you all, distinguished guests who came from many countries to attend the meeting.
The theme of the conference, "Asia Goes Global: Korea and the Region," I think, is at once appropriate and timely since it well reflects the recent major developments in--and the primary concerns of--Asia.
Today Asia is driven by its amazing dynamism and virtually limitless potential and is the locomotive for the growth of the world economy. Following the rapid growth of Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Republic of Korea, the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) took the road toward industrialization beginning in the 1980s and are proceeding smoothly down it.
As China, Vietnam and India have begun to open up in earnest, the economic development of Asia in general is accelerating. Asia, unlike other regions of the world, has been able to enjoy sustained growth and prosperity primarily because it adopted and outward-looking market economic system.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Korea is a typical Asian country that has achieved success by pursuing an open economy and an open society. Just a half century ago, Korea was one of the poorest countries of the world. Beginning in the 1960s, however, Korea adopted and began to pursue an outward-looking, open economic policy and has since seen its economy continue to grow at an average annual rate of some 8 percent in real terms. Today, the Korean economy is the 11th largest in the world.
Korea's annual trade volume last year amounted to US$260 billion, the 12th largest in the world. Trade with the Asia- Pacific region accounted for as much as 69 percent of Korea's total trade in 1995, up from 60 percent in 1980. The Asia- Pacific region also accounted for 70 percent of Korea's total investment abroad. Through this overseas investment, Korea is helping many of the countries in the region create more jobs, while also providing the technology and capital they need.
Moreover, to help boost economic cooperation between different regions of the world, Korea is actively participating in the activities of both the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and the Asia-Europe Economic Meeting (ASEM). Korea also plans to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Korea will be in the forefront of the move to implement the ideal of liberalizing investment and trade and will help lay a bridge between advanced and developing countries.
Distinguished Korean and foreign guests,
Since my inauguration as President of Korea in 1993, I have taken up "change and reform" and "segyehwa," or globalization, as the foremost goals of state affairs and have since pushed reform and opening up in all fields, including political, economic and social activities. It has become mandatory to use real names in all financial transactions and for high-ranking public officials to make public their financial assets, including real estate. Furthermore, every effort is being made to eliminate government-business collusion to keep our economy and Government clean.
The Government has taken bold steps to ease regulations so that the private sector can maximize its creativity and fully exercise its initiative. Measures are also being taken to improve in a major way the domestic environment for foreign investors and thus make Korea a country where it is good and desirable to do business.
The segyehwa policy Korea is pursuing represents an effort to eliminate the inefficiency and malpractice stemming from protectionism and regulation and improve and upgrade institutional systems and practices to a world level. The ultimate objective is to make Korea a country people all over the world would like to visit, invest in and reside in. In this sense, the segyehwa policy that Korea is pushing is not for the sake of the development of Korea alone, but also to help the development of the world as a whole.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Many specialists predict that Asia will emerge as the main player in the age of globalization in the 21st century. The upcoming century will bring challenges as well as opportunities for Asians.
Lest it should let such challenges and opportunities pass by, I believe, Asia must further open up and actively move toward globalization. In order to meet the new century successfully, I think, each and every country of Asia must place emphasis on the following four points:
First, efforts to liberalize trade and investment should be increased. The Asia-Pacific region is now trying to remove barriers to trade and investment through major efforts centered on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum that advocates "open regionalism."
These efforts by the Asia-Pacific region will positively contribute to the development of the World Trade Organization (WTO) regime and to the successful establishment of a multilateral free trade system, thereby spurring the more balanced development of the world economy. Liberalization of trade and investment should and will enable the Asian region to accelerate economic growth and improve the quality of life.
Second, cooperation within the Asia-Pacific region must be further strengthened so that the region's dynamism may be brought into full play. The countries in the Asia-Pacific region, with their different levels of development and different endowments of natural resources and other factors of production, make up a mutually complementary economic structure.
The task Korea will take on is to promote the continued growth and development of the Asia-Pacific region by helping to strengthen cooperation within the region so as to fully utilize its diverse resources. One good example of such regional collaboration will be the Mekong River Basin Development Project in which major Asian countries, including Korea, are taking part.
Third, Asia must further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with other regions of the world such as the Americas and Europe. As globalization is likely to proceed into the 21st century, the triangular cooperative relations between North America, the European Union (EU) and Asia are expected to further deepen.
Now and in the future, the world's three major economic spheres should develop their relationship in such a manner that all will be winners and not in a manner that will create winners and losers. Asia and North America should and can increase cooperation through APEC, and Asia and Europe should and can do so through ASEM.
Fourth, within these regions, there should be increased dialogue on security. Efforts to prevent disputes within the region and resolve disputes peacefully need to be strengthened. In particular, peace on the Korean Peninsula is crucially important for the maintenance of peace and stability in Asia.
On April 16, I, along with U.S. President Bill Clinton, proposed to hold four-party talks between South and North Korea as well as the United States and China to establish peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. This is a most reasonable proposal, and it is North Korea that would benefit the most if the talks come through. I hope that North Korea will respond positively to this proposal, and I hope and expect that you who also want to see peace on the Korean Peninsula will extend full support.
Distinguished Korean and foreign guests,
Asia has a long history and brilliant cultural tradition composed of the cultures of diverse nations which have flowered in many ways and is thus an invaluable treasure trove for all humankind. The ideal that humanity seeks to attain in the 21st century calls for harmony between spiritual and material values, between cultural heritage and future-oriented creativity and between man and nature.
Asia that has risen economically will be able to put its diverse and abundant resources to good use for building a better future with the advent of the 21st century that will usher in an information-centered, a culture-centered and an environment-centered era.
The Seoul Conference of the Asia Society is being attended by many government, political and business leaders from Korea and abroad, including Prime Minister Jim Bolger of New Zealand. I hope that with your foresight and wisdom regarding the future of Asia this conference will be very beneficial.
I wish the Asia Society limitless development and you all good health and good luck.
Thank you.


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Clive Watkin is a leading sales and lettings agency with offices throughout the Wirral Peninsula and Liverpool. Clive Watkin was founded in 1992 and since then, has grown from a single sales office in Heswall to a brand leading agency on the Wirral peninsula and north Liverpool, with 10 residential sales offices and 7 residential lettings branches.
Clive Watkins reputation is based on consistently high levels of service, and we understand that the only way to deliver this is by investing in the right people.
With 10 branches, we serve Bebington, Bromborough, Crosby, Ellesmere Port, Heswall, Little Sutton, Neston, Prenton, West Kirby, Willaston and the surrounding locations.
Our highly experienced team of sales professionals work tirelessly to ensure every property receives maximum exposure to achieve the best possible selling price.
With extensive local knowledge and the backing of a UK wide network, our sales division focuses on finding the right buyer for your property as quickly as possible. As well as a successful sales operation, here at Clive Watkin, we also offer a successful lettings division covering the entire Wirral Peninsula, North Liverpool and Sefton.
Disclaimer: The information about this Agent is provided by the Agent themselves as an advertisement for their agency services. Rightmove is not endorsing this Agent and makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the advertisement or any linked or associated information, and Rightmove does not check or verify the accuracy of the content. The information is generated, provided and maintained by Clive Watkin Lettings, Crosby. Please contact the Agent directly to obtain further information about their property services.
76-78 Coronation Road, Crosby, Liverpool, L23 5RH


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Global lamp market report
Prior to the advent of LED lamps, the market was relatively unchanged for decades. IMS Research has released its global lighting report "The World Market for Lamps & Luminaires in General Lighting."
IMS Research (acquired by IHS, Inc.) has released its global lighting report "The World Market for Lamps & Luminaires in General Lighting." The report offers the most detailed view of the global lamp market by technology, shape and wattage, providing readers with an unparalleled view into regional and technological dynamics that are affecting this $27 billion market.
Prior to the advent of LED lamps, the market was relatively unchanged for decades. While the introduction of CFLs as the energy efficient A-lamp of choice in the early 90s did lead to certain shifts within the market, the negative perception of the public towards their "white" light and quality control issues, didn't allow them to strip incandescent lamps from their perch as the #1 lighting technology. Today, in the United States, CFL lamps only make up approximately 20% of the residential installed base.
IMS Research Senior Analyst Philip Smallwood states that "LEDs have changed the lamp world for good. The apparent global effort (see chart below) to phase out most incandescent A-lamps by either banning them or introducing minimal energy efficient standards is opening up the market in a way that would not have been possible in the past."
The effect that the mass adoption of LED lamps will have on the market is twofold:
1) As revenue, it will increase. Lamp market value is expected to have a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31% from 2011 through 2015. This is due to the extreme differences of LED lamp prices vs. incumbent technologies. For example, in the United Stated, a 60W A-lamp incandescent lamp will have an approximate retail price of $0.50 while its LED replacement lamp will have a retail price over $20.
2) As units, it will decrease. A-lamp shipments for all technologies are forecast to have a CAGR of -11% from 2011 through 2020.
Regarding the reduction in the units, Smallwood further explained that "The long life of LED lamps (25,000 hours vs. 1,000 hours for incandescent) will create a "socket saturation" effect, where each LED installation will effectively decrease the replacement lamp market by one unit. While regional differences due to light preferences and consumer purchasing power will slow down the adoption of LEDs, it is predicted that this overall shrinking pattern will continue through 2020."
Do you have experience and expertise with the topics mentioned in this content? You should consider contributing to our CFE Media editorial team and getting the recognition you and your company deserve. Click here to start this process.


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What is it about Bali that makes us happy? The tropical weather, colorful temples, family time, verdant landscape, open smiles, slowness. As I wrote a couple weeks ago, I am thinking of ways to take some of the magic of this trip home with us to Berkeley. Obviously we cannot take home the Balinese climate, amazing people, or their unique culture. But maybe the small joys of this place could work their way into our Berkeley lives, and into your kitchens as well!
On every menu in Bali, there is a list of fresh fruit drinks to choose from: papaya, watermelon, lime, pineapple, banana, lemon, etc... For Lilah, my 7 year old, these enticing drink menus even inspired her to really learn to read. All four of us guzzle down some kind of juicy concoction whenever we go out to eat. I try to avoid Sodas, filled with high fructose corn syrups and unpronounceable chemicals, but indulging in something cool, fresh, and homemade is a habit I would like to cultivate. We may not have ample tropical fruit available in Northern California, but we do have citrus, and plenty of it.
Almost daily, I have been making these Fresh Lime Fizzes for P, the kids, and myself. Seeing just how easy it is to whip up a "soda" at home makes me realize there is no excuse not to have citrus fizzes as a regular treat no matter where you are.
Wanting to keep these fizzes on the healthy side, I tried them with honey instead of simple syrup. Paul liked the taste, but for me the flavor was a bit medicinal. I much prefer the simple syrup.
When we get home to Berkeley, I am going to get Otis' old fashion spritzer working so we can even make the sparkling water ourselves.
(individual servings)
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons simple syrup or liquid honey
- 1- 1 1/2 cups sparkling water
- lots of ice
- lime wedge for serving
First, make simple syrup: combine 1/2 cup of sugar into 1/2 cup of water in a sauce pan over medium heat; warm until sugar is dissolved. Set aside to cool. This should be plenty of simple syrup for 4 fizzes.
Squeeze lime juice, through a strainer, into a glass. Add simple syrup or liquid honey. Stir to blend. Fill glass with ice cubes. Pour in sparking water to fill the glass. Stir again.
Sit back, sip, and relax.
Note: you can serve the fizz with a little pitcher of additional simple syrup on the side so that everyone can sweeten the drink to their liking.


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Privacy Policy
Kalkomey is committed to protecting the privacy of its users. Because Kalkomey gathers information about the users who choose to take the online certification exams, we believe you should fully understand the terms and conditions surrounding the use of the information we collect. This privacy statement discloses what information we gather and how we use it. Please review the following policy to understand how the information you provide Today's Hunter and its parent company Kalkomey will be treated.
Information We Collect
In order to access the course material, users must register by providing personal information such as name, birth date, gender, city and state, email address, and additional information that varies by state. This information is required by the state agencies responsible for today's hunter to issue your today's hunter safety certification card. When you are ready to take the exam, you will be required to pay by supplying a valid credit card number, expiration date, and name.
What Today's Hunter Does With the Information We Collect
The personal information you supply to Kalkomey will not be disclosed outside of Kalkomey, except to securely transfer the personal data to the agency in your state which is responsible for today's hunter in order to issue your Today's Hunter education certificate. Your credit card information will be used only for processing your fee(s) related to taking the online certification exam.
The online today's hunter safety courses on this site contain links to other sites. Kalkomey is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such websites; however, we make our best effort to only provide links to reputable sites with acceptable content. Please remember that any information that is disclosed through these other sites may become public information and you should exercise caution when deciding to disclose your personal information.
With Whom Information Is Shared
We do not share, sell, or otherwise distribute information about individual users taking the online today's hunter safety exam with any third party, or any outside companies or organizations except the agency in your state that is responsible for today's hunter.
Identity Theft and Security
All of your personal and credit card information is collected using SSL (Secure Socket Layer) Protocol, which encrypts your information and allows that information to be securely transferred to Today's Hunter. The SSL Certificate that protects the Today's Hunter site ensures that your identity is authenticated and that any and all information you enter on our website is private. After collection, your information is then stored on our servers at a location designed specifically to ensure that no unauthorized individuals have access to the server or its data.
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Kalkomey encourages parents and guardians to spend time with their children online, and to be familiar with the sites their children visit. Kalkomey values privacy, and collects personal information from children in compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act ("COPPA").
What Information Does Today's Hunter Collect From Children?
When children use or explore the Today's Hunter site, we may automatically collect certain technical information to improve and enhance our site. We may collect information regarding the user's operating system, web browser, the user's online service provider, and the frequency with which the user visits various parts of our site. We may also collect persistent identifiers, such as cookies. Where we have actual knowledge that a child is using our site, this information will be used for the sole purpose of providing support for our internal operations to provide access to certain features of our site and to enable us to conduct research and analysis to improve performance of our site.
For users who elect to register for a course, Kalkomey collects the user's name, date of birth, and email address. For course payment, Kalkomey may collect additional information such as mailing address, billing address, and payment information.
Depending on requirements of some state agencies, Kalkomey may collect other information, such as weight, height, or other physical characteristics. Some states may also require collection of information such as telephone number, gender, social security number, demographics, schooling, and vehicle license information.
If Kalkomey obtains actual knowledge that a child under the age of 13 is using our site, we will only retain the child's name and email address. We will then request that the child provide us with a name and email address of his or her parent. In accordance with COPPA, Kalkomey will then contact the parent to seek consent to retain and collect additional information from the child for purposes of fulfilling the course registration. Kalkomey verifies the identity of a parent by requiring the parent to provide a credit card, debit card, or other online payment system so that Today's Hunter may make a nominal charge to confirm the parent's identity and consent to our collection of information from the child.
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Kalkomey values and respects the privacy of personal information, including information collected from children. Children using our site may not make their personal information publicly available to others through our website.
Kalkomey uses information collected from its users to provide them with requested services. For example, if a child provides information to us for purposes of registering for a safety course, we will use that information for purposes of providing the requested course. We will also disclose the information collected to the appropriate state agency so that the user, upon satisfactory completion of a course, can receive the appropriate state certification of completion. Kalkomey does not otherwise share data with third parties, except where such third parties are contracted by Kalkomey to support the internal operations of the company.
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Kalkomey hopes this document answers your questions and concerns about our privacy policy. Kalkomey is committed to protecting the privacy of our students.


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As I walked up a busy sidewalk around my way to meet a friend for lunch, I saw something I've often seen in this family-friendly neighborhood—a kid on a leash. It's hard enough for a child to walk, but walking while constrained to a three-foot retractable leash is another feat. I admit it, I chuckled.
But at that moment I also considered that although the kid was walking on his own, his concerned mom was literally strapped to him, only a few paces behind. I considered the psychological effect of raising children on leashes—literally or figuratively. And I considered the metaphorical strains my parents put on me to ensure my safety and give me guidance growing up. The term term 'Tiger mom' that was burned into the collective conscience last year, popped in my head—again.
Yale Law School professor, Amy Chua, author of the Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother (which stemmed from a controversial Wall Street Journal essay she penned in 2011), gushed about raising her two daughters in a traditionally strict Chinese home. Chua laid out the significance of her parental practices in rearing highly attuned, high-performing children. She means business. As child experts, psychologists and concerned parents spoke to the media in aversion, I sat back rather unmoved by the sentiments of the self-proclaimed "Tiger mom."
Nothing in her book shocked me. Why? Because growing up in a Ghanaian home, many of the principles she discussed in the piece, I lived, and actually agreed with.
During my childhood I wasn't allowed to watch TV during the weekdays, never went to another child's home for a sleepover and was expected to bring home nothing less than a B-minus. Besides my mother's fear from watching "America's Most Wanted" every night—and her subsequent discovery that the father in the home could also be a convicted child molester—the method behind her parenting was based on four solid concepts.
First, she believed there were no limits, boundaries or glass ceilings designated by society. Idealistic in thought, not having the same history of slavery and second-class citizenship our fellow brown-skinned Americans had, she stuck to this and never wavered at any adverse sentiment (and trust, the sentiment came).
Second, she believed the more education and professional rank you have the less economic and social issues you had to deal with—layman's terms: more money, less problems.
Third, self-worth was thought to be an internal possession, something gifted by God at birth and not decided by society.
And last, success was directly related to how much you could provide for your family—which is one's life's duty. No pressure, of course.
My experience growing up was unique, because as a first-generation child from third-world-born parents, I had a two-fold existence. On one side there lived a profound sense of duty for the sacrifices that my parents made for me to have a better life—leaving their homeland for England, working small jobs to pay for their education and eventually gaining citizenship to the States for more opportunities. On the other side was my burning desire to have that fantasy American experience, where instant gratification and independence ranks top of the list.
So I get it. I get what many foreign-born parents are trying to instill in their children, even though sometimes the methods, through an American lens, can seem extreme. In the West African community much like in what Chua affirms about her own community, academic, professional and social success are considered a direct reflection of good parenting; your child is a representation of you as a parent and a person. When so much is on the line, who has time for games? I'm not a child expert and would never claim to be, particularly not having children of my own. However, I can appreciate my mother's strict method of parenting— even years after yearning to see all the good weekday TV shows. Hello Cosbys!
American culture, through foreign eyes is a mixed bag of treats and toxins—and justifiably so. There are rough waters to navigate for parents, including assumedly the mom of that kid waddling down my neighborhood street, but if I had to pick a type of leash to sport, I'd choose my mother's anyday.
Danielle Kwateng is a Brooklyn-based style writer who's scribed for Glamour, Uptown and Madame Noire. Follow her @danispecialk to hear her inspired twisdoms.


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From Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego:
Since Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Ryan Nicolai was a boy, he felt a calling to serve his country as a United States Marine.
But before he could follow his dream, he knew his duty was to take care of his parents. In the years before he left for recruit training, he gained the life experience that would propel him through the hard times yet to come.
In 2011, Nicolai lost his father, a retired Marine, to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Months before the loss of his father, his mother was diagnosed with cancer. Shortly after what he thought to be a turning point in his mother's illness, Nicolai decided to enlist in the Marine Corps and follow in his father's footsteps.
Nicolai joined the Delayed Entry Program, which allows recruits to enlist in the military and specify a future reporting date for entry. As his mother's condition worsened, Nicolai postponed his ship date until he was no longer able to. He shipped out to recruit training Nov. 26, and joined Platoon 2151, Company G, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion here.
Three weeks after his arrival, drill instructors escorted Nicolai to the company office. "They told me that the Red Cross called, and my mom had died," he said. "Losing my dad was the only thing that helped prepare me a little bit for losing my mom."
Nicolai's mother died the day before initial drill, an evaluation that tests recruits on their drill knowledge and skills, but he stayed and completed it before flying home to be with his family, said Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Enrique Lopez, his senior drill instructor.
Soon, Nicolai was on an airplane, headed back to the depot to finish his training.
"Coming to recruit training the first time was hard, but it was harder coming back the second time," said Nicolai, a 22-year-old Medina, Ohio native. "When I got back, I was losing focus, and I was always frustrated. I didn't want to get up anymore. I wasn't the same."
With the guidance of his drill instructors, Nicolai said, he realized that although he was struggling, he had to push through and continue. Through the hardship, he kept the position as guide that he had earned early on in recruit training.
"I'm pretty sure he still thinks about it, but he doesn't let it get in his way of being guide," Lopez said. "He motivates the other recruits, because they saw him stay strong through what he was going through. He set the example for them."
Through his loss, Nicolai said, he gained a new perspective on life that helped him finish recruit training.
"I was sitting at medical and had a realization that I defined myself by what I gave up for my parents," he added. "Taking care of my parents is who I was -- it's what I did. When my mom died, that part of my life was over.
"I didn't know what I was going to do," he continued. "I was at recruit training trying to become a Marine, but I hadn't made it what defined me. All of a sudden, I knew where I wanted to be and what I wanted to do, I want to lead and take care of Marines."
Through it all, Nicolai's drive, knowledge, spirit and perseverance not only earned him the title Marine, but also led him to graduate as the company honor man, the recruit who demonstrated the highest level of leadership throughout recruit training.
Nicolai's motivation and knowledge of the Marine Corps and life showed throughout training and set the example for all recruits, Lopez said.
"I am who I am today because of my parents," Nicolai said. "If it wasn't for my parents who were loving, strict and iron-willed, I wouldn't be where I am now."


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Champlin ( CHAMP-lən) is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 23,919 at the 2020 census. Champlin is a northern suburb of Minneapolis. U.S. Highway 169 and Hennepin County Road 12 (CR 12) are two of the main routes in Champlin. == Geography == Champlin lies along the Mississippi River, surrounded by the cities of Anoka, Dayton, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove and Coon Rapids, 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Minneapolis.
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Finance professor wins COBE faculty award
Abhay Kaushik, an assistant professor of finance, is this year's winner of the College of Business and Economics (COBE) Outstanding Faculty Award.
COBE Dean Faye Gilbert presented Kaushik with the award at the college's 2013 commencement ceremony on May 11. The professor was honored for his integrity, work ethic, contributions and excellent publication record, Gilbert said at the ceremony.
In the past six years, Kaushik has published more than 10 journal articles, presented to 10 different professional audiences, contributed to a half-dozen professional organizations and served as the advisor to two student organizations, Gilbert noted.
"He not only serves as an advisor but shepherds his students as they attend national conferences," Gilbert said. "He has contributed time to the committees of COBE and of RU and also manages to be excited about every positive step we take as a campus and every achievement of his students."
Kaushik chairs Radford University's Resource Allocation Committee and recently was approved for tenure by the RU Board of Visitors. He also has been selected to serve as faculty advisor for COBE's Student Managed Investment Portfolio Organization (SMIPO).
"It was a big honor, and it was a very pleasant surprise for me," said Kaushik, who did not know in advance that his name would be called during the COBE ceremony. "I had no clue. I had absolutely no clue. It was a very special moment for me."
Learn more about Radford University at www.radford.edu.


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Title: Trial By Charm
Author: Jolene Buchheit
Genre: Young Adult Greek-Inspired Urban Fantasy
Hosted by: Lady Amber's PR
Seventeen-year-old Julia
Wright doesn't understand her friends' obsession
with boys. She proudly maintains her composure no matter who is in her
presence – though some annoying and rude boys still manage to grate her
last nerve. Then she is blackmailed into being the manager of the men's
swim team, and finds herself face to face with the worst of them all.
Team Captain Vander Thelxinoe is the typical self-assured jock. He has the
ability to change people's minds at will, only his charms don't work on
Julia. Now he's anxious to figure out why, and the closer he tries to get,
the more desperate she is to stay away – especially when he somehow
awakens a side of her she never knew existed.
Their unexpected friendship puts Julia in the middle of a quest she
doesn't quite understand. As her familiar world begins to unravel around
her, Julia must partner with the one person who knows how to push her
buttons – and, in doing so, discovers the unbelievable truth about who she
really is.
Can Julia and Vander survive the trial set before them, or will they face
the extreme consequences of failure?
As a substitute teacher, Jolene spends her days in high school classrooms harvesting material for her Young Adult novels. She also uses it as an outlet for fangirling by showing upcoming book-to-movie trailers at the end of class, or discussing vital issues like whether Katniss should have picked Gale or Peeta.
She is committed to helping Special Education teenagers become independent adults and helping them find a way to focus on the positive especially when life gets hard. At home, Jolene loves to cuddle with her husband, two kids, and three cats—sometimes all at once—while reading Young Adult books or repeatedly watching movies based on them.
Author Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2346BqP
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeeJolene
Buy Links:
Amazon US http://amzn.to/2346KdK
iBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1094129293
Kobo https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/trial-by-charm
I study his profile. His chiseled jaw and dark, floppy hair are like something out of a magazine advertisement. His eyes, too—they aren't dark to match his hair, like mine—they are parts of green and blue, much like the painting of the sea in the other room.
"Who painted that piece above the couch in there?"
He shrugs, not answering me in any concrete way. Then he shifts his weight from one foot to the other and his awkwardness makes it clear to me.
"You did it, didn't you? You're a painter."
He shrugs again. I hop down from my stool to go take another look at the painting. The artist must have signed it, and I will get my answer that way.
I go down the hall, past the bathroom, the stairs, and the front door until I'm standing in the parlor, looking at Vander, who is blocking the painting from my view. He must have gone through the dining room next to the kitchen to end up in here before me. He's staring at me and chewing on his lip while flexing and balling his hands. He's more nervous than I have ever seen him—not before a swim meet, not in class when he didn't know an answer, not when he told me how he felt in the bathroom a little bit ago. This is where his heart lies, in this painting of this island.
I try to look around him, and he leans over.
"Don't." He is stern, but gentle. He clears his throat. "Please don't touch it. You will want to, but don't."
He's right. I do want to touch it; I want to climb inside of it. I'm seeing it, and somehow it's seeing me, and it's making me feel pulled apart. I want to dive into the waters, to swim to that far-off land, and I also want to turn the boat around and sail as far and as quickly as I can in the opposite direction. Meanwhile, the light from the sun is dimming, laughing at me for thinking I can have any control here.
I want in!
Vander grabs both of my arms, which are currently outstretched toward the painting. My knees are on
the seat of the couch, and I don't even remember moving forward. His voice startles me. "You can't."
I blink hard and turn to look him fully in the face. "I can't what?"
"You can't go there, and you can't go away from there. It's just a painting." Was I talking out loud, or can he read my mind? How does he know what I was thinking? I let him lead me through the dining room, back into the kitchen, where the timer is going off. I shake my head to let loose the feelings that painting stirred in me.
"It's more than that, and you know it. How?" I don't even have to finish the sentence. He knows exactly what I'm asking.


text:
Garage sale
Garage Sale. Two words that send a thrill up the spines of bargain hunters, bored but eternally-hopeful women, disgruntled loners, and enthusiastic collectors of everything from old LPs to dolls with no heads. And I should know, because I invented garage sales.
How did you invent Garage Sales, Grandpa?
Grandma, God rest her ballbusting soul, was the one who actually forced me to do something with my junk. I had a whole attic full of garbage from my own grandparents, and from their grandparents before them. After I married your Grandma Beatrice in '47, a couple of years after I got back from the world war - that was the "Big One" kids, not the sandbox pick-up-games the soldiers play today - we took over my parents home. They'd both passed when I was overseas, God rest their souls, and the attic and garage of their home was overflowing with junk. I'd bought a new car with money from the GI-bill, but had to keep it parked on the driveway because their was no room in the garage. And your grandmother was causing quite a dust-up about needing space for her sewing supplies. We didn't know what to do. That's when I came up with the idea.
"Honey," I said to your grams, "let's take all of that stuff from the attic and the garage and put it in the driveway next Saturday. Then in the meantime, we'll put an ad in the paper, paint some signs, and spread them around the neighborhood. When Saturday rolls around we'll sell the things for a dime or two apiece, just to get them out of here." "What in heaven's name?" she said. "It'll save hauling everything to the junkyard," I explained, "and we might collect a few dollars to boot. Afterwards I'll take you down to Ray's Diner and then we'll go over to the picture show. What about it?" Grandma agreed, and suggested calling it a 'Garage Sale' because some of the things wouldn't even have to be moved from the garage, we could just slap a price on them and keep the door open.
So that's what we did. I put an ad in the Journal, taped some signs up on the lamp posts, and paid three neighbor boys to help me move the junk from the attic. I paid one of them 25 cents, one of them a bag of candy we'd bought for Halloween, and the other one got a box of letter writing paper which, I found out later, turned out to be Mark Twain's original manuscript of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.
The Big Day Arrives
Saturday morning, October 11, 1947, found your grandma and I finishing the tagging and dusting of the junk we'd spread out all over the driveway and into the garage. We'd told everyone that the sale started at 9 a.m., but by 8:30 people were standing on the walk, so we let them in early. Gram had made some apple cider, chocolate-chip cookies, and a blueberry pie, and we put those on a little table with forks and napkins and a "Please help yourself" sign. The first few people to come gravitated right to the cookies and pie. Gram was known far and wide for her fine cooking.
Then our guests, most of them with a cookie or piece of pie on their napkin, began to walk around and look at the things. Some of them were hesitant--remember, this was the first time that this kind of sale had ever taken place--and we all had to feel our way into it and actually had to make up rules on the spot. The first thing that surprised me was that people wanted to bargain. "You've got 25 cents on this Chet," they'd call me Chet instead of Chester, or Grandpa, like you kids do, "Would you take 20?". I didn't know what to say, but Grandma got right into the swing of things. "We'll take your 20 cents," she'd say, "would you like a bag?" And before long it seemed like this was the most natural thing in the world to do, having a garage sale. People came and went, and most of them bought an item or two. Every half hour or so we'd move things around to fill up the empty spaces, and clear some more junk out of the garage and put into the driveway. It went on like that until noon, then we took a few minutes to eat some sandwiches. We then sat there again until most of the things were sold.
Both your gram and I had had enough by about 2 that afternoon, so we packed up the few items remaining and went inside. Then later, true to my word, we went out to dinner and saw a movie, Miss Maureen O'Hara in Miracle on 34th Street. That sure was a long day, and your gram and I went to bed and slept like two cats with full stomachs of warm milk.
Kids, you know your grandma took some snapshots of our sale, would you like to see them? Yes? Ok, give me a minute and I'll get the photo album.
Photos from Chet's garage sale
Alright, the old family photo album. Let's see, here are some pictures of your gram and me and a dog we used to own. The vacation to New Zealand, that was a hoot. Some of my old Army buddies. Let's see, oh, here's one that shows me in the Philippines during the war with a wild monkey I used to feed. He sure was friendly. Ah, here we go, our garage sale.
This toy was one of the first bobblehead dolls, we used to call them 'Shakers'. Do you know who it is kids? It's Enrico "Bob" Caruso, one of the finest operatic tenors. He sure had a beautiful voice. Your gram would put on his records and we'd, ah, 'dance' to them.
Kids, this is the "lost" mummy of Pharaoh Ramses II. Someone in the family vacationed in Egypt, dug this up somewhere, and sent it home in a box. We just sold the box, as is, like a grab bag, without even opening it. Your grandma said it was "too dusty. Just leave it like that Chet". Seventeen million dollars. That's what the Cairo Museum paid Mrs. Stephenson's grandson for our dusty box about twenty-five years ago. When someone told me all I could say was "You've gotta be kidding me".
Look at this, it's only the second known Rosetta Stone, and when deciphered it opened the door to half-a-dozen ancient languages. We had it in the backyard, weighing down some soil I wanted to even out. I had forgotten about it, but your Uncle Johnny, yeah, Gram's brother, the one who lives in that big house in the Hamptons, asked me if I'd sell it to him for a buck so he could prop it up as a backstop for some wood in his shed. Goddamnit!
HO HO Haaa haaa, ah kids, I'd forgotten about this. Nobody knew what the hell it was--excuse my language--it just made us all laugh like the dickens. Grandma nearly lost her breakfast she was laughing so much when I dragged this out of the attic. She even thought she saw it move, and that broke her up laughing again. It sat there like a lump in the driveway until some kid gave us a dime for it. Craziest thing I ever saw.
Yeah, you know, if we had kept this you kids could have taken it to your goddamn history classes' show n' tell. This is the original copy of the United States Constitution signed by all the members of the Constitutional Convention. In 1787, when the Founding Fathers of America drafted and then passed the Constitution, they signed this parchment. Then one of my ancestor's on my dad's side took it to the printers to be copied. He kept it, as you can see, and had it framed along with a few funny cartoons. The damn cartoons were on one side of the frame, the original copy of the United States Constitution on the other. But I just grabbed the framed cartoons from the garage and propped them up against the fence without looking at the other side. $1.25, to one of the old ladies in Gram's sewing circle who liked the cartoons. She loved the cartoons. She just went bat shit crazy about those fuckin' cartoons. The BITCH just picked up the GODDAMN frame and FUCKIN' LIMPED DOWN THE FUCKIN' STREET CHUCKLING LIKE A EVIL TROLL WHO'S JUST HAD HER FUCKIN' FIRST ORGASM, the, ah Jeez, ah FUCK, goddamit kids, I'm so sorry, grandpa needs a nap. Gotta get a little drinkie first, here, take the photograph book, there's more stuff in there. Don't forget the back pages, that's where you can find the pictures of Hemingway's valise and my grandmother's costume jewelry which only turned out to be the RUSSIAN CZARS FUCKIN' CROWN JEWELS. Ok kids, ah Jeez, never mind your old Gramps. Let me grab my hankerchief here and I'll go upstairs. Just wake me up when my shows are on. Goddamnit to hell
That was my gramps, such a sweet man. The above occurred in September of 1988, and my sis and I were too young to know why Grandpa Chuck was swearing so much and kicking up such a fuss. He died in '99, and in his last years he was looking forward to joining Grandma, God bless their souls. Well, a few years later my sister and I were digging around the old attic and happened to look behind a couple of mattresses plopped along the back wall. And lo and behold, we found more junk!
Now my sis and I live fairly comfortably in homes of our own. I have places in France, Belize, and Tahoe, and sis has Uncle Johnny's old place in the Hampton's, only she's put in quite a few additions and a heliport. My kids can now go to a good college, and my wife and I will leave them quite a bundle when we join the folks in Ancestor's Village (a name gramp's used to use when he visited gram's resting place). Anyway, here's some more photos for you to look at. I'll say a couple of words about them, but you get the idea. I'm sure Gramps would have gotten a kick out of finding these in the attic himself in his later years, but he didn't, so he missed out on his big chance to sell them for a fucking quarter. What the hell was he thinking? The Japs must have rang his bell a time or two in "The Big One" that he was always going on about. As for the stuff we found--and yes, there was another one of those Guttenberg Bibles, bookmarked with an autographed portrait of William Shakespeare and several signed letters from Button Gwinnett--the goddamn neighbors came sniffing around like vultures again, probably hoping to find a copy of the Warren Report signed by John F. Kennedy himself. But I just gave them some cider and chocolate-chip cookies and told them "Oh no you don't, not this time.Fucktards"
Bless their hearts.
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text:
Expect Corn Projections to be Dialed Back
US - Last week, I cited two topics of concern from World Pork Expo (WPX) – Smithfield/Shuanghui and porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus, writes Steve Meyer.Not to be short-changed, a third concern was the impending information from the June Crop Production and World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE) reports from USDA. Those were released last Wednesday. While the information in those reports is news, I suppose, little of the WASDE report differed from what we had already seen from USDA in recent months.
Figure 1 shows USDA's June corn supply and utilization table from last week's report. As expected, USDA did not change planted or harvested acre projections even though it is almost universally accepted that this year's total will fall short of the 97.3 million acres projected in the March Prospective Plantings report.
As of last week, 95 per cent of the corn acres were planted but the percentages in some key states were substantially lower than that figure. Only 92 per cent of Iowa's acres were planted. Minnesota plantings were at 90 per cent, while farmers in North Dakota and Wisconsin had planted only 89 per cent and 81 per cent of intended acres, respectively. Put those percentages with the planned acres and you get 1.14 million unplanted acres in Iowa, 900,000 in Minnesota, 450,000 in North Dakota and 830,000 in Wisconsin. Add in shortfalls in some other states, most notably Illinois at 490,000 acres, and last week's progress report implies 4.5 million "unplanted" corn acres as of June 9. Some acres in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Indiana may still get planted, but a good portion of those Minnesota and Wisconsin and most, if not all, of the North Dakota acres are very much in doubt, especially given crop insurance features which will compensate farmers pretty well even if they plant nothing. Bottom line: The final acreage figures will be substantially lower than 97.3 million acres and could be below 94 million acres.
USDA dropped its projected yield from 158 to 156.5 bu./acre, a little more than what was expected by analysts that were surveyed before the report. But the analysts were guessing what USDA would say, not what the actual yield would be. By most accounts, that figure is much lower than 156.5 bu./acre. Iowa State's Elwyn Taylor told WPX audiences that, according to historical yield-to-price relationships, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) corn futures markets were pricing in a yield of about 147 bu./acre.
So, while the latest USDA numbers say a crop of 14.005 billion bushels, year-end 2014 stocks of 1.949 billion bushels, and, consequently, a year-end stocks-to-use ratio of 15.2 per cent, I expect we are going to see much lower numbers in July when USDA releases its upcoming acreage report and begins to earnestly estimate this year's yield based on where the acres are and the actual condition of that crop.
If we get 94 million acres planted, harvest a normal 92 per cent of them, and get a 147-bu./acre yield, the crop will total about 12.7 billion bushels. Prices would be much higher than USDA's current $4.40 to $5.20/bu. range, and various usages would have to be curtailed.
Total usage for 2012-13 is currently pegged at 11.15 billion bushels; 2013-14 usage would not be dialed back that far, but it could certainly be reduced to the 12.547 billion bushels of 2011-2012, implying 2014 carryout stocks of just over one billion bushels and a year-end stocks-use-ratio of 8 per cent. A similar ratio in 2011 resulted in a national average farm corn price of $6.22/bu. I thought $5.30 Dec corn futures were too high in early April. Now those futures don't look so pricey!
Soybean Projections
USDA made no changes at all to its 2013-2014 forecasts for soybeans except to add $10/ton to both ends of its forecast price range for soybean meal and $0.25/bu. to both ends of the range for soybeans (Figure 2). Both of those ranges are still significantly lower than current new crop futures, which are apparently quite concerned about soybean plantings and yields. Soybeans, of course, still have some growing time but the risk of an early frost is quite real, so we can understand the market's concern.
Hog Price Prospects Better
The best news of the week, of course, was the belated but much-hoped-for rally in cash hog prices and lean hog futures. Last week's average national net hog price across all purchase methods was $99.18/cwt., the fourth-highest ever (Figure 3).
June Lean Hogs futures expired on Friday at over $102/cwt. We expect cash hogs to hang in this mid-to-upper $90s through the first part of August now that they have reached this level. Q4 hogs could be priced at about $83/cwt. on the Board of Trade which, with negative basis and positive premiums, would be near the net price received in Iowa and Minnesota; $83/cwt. is the top of my Q4 price forecast range based on the March Hogs and Pigs report, so I think producers should consider pricing some hogs at this time. It's not a "plus-$3-over-forecast" situation in which I would say, "Sell, sell, sell!" but it is a good price relative to my expectations and taking it would reduce revenue risks significantly. Consider that reduction relative to your financial position before taking action.