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Guest Post: A Mother's Plea to Bullies
Laura Stone, a blogger at Hey, Don't Judge Me (well known for her Game of Thrones recaps), recently contacted us with some sad news. Her teenage son Austin has been dealing with bullies at school and she wanted to write a post about it.
My son was recently hospitalized after his third suicide attempt. Contrary to the knee-jerk reaction of armchair parental authorities online, we are a tight-knit, supportive family with active aunts, uncles, and grandparents as well as an extended network of family friends. My kids do well in school, don't eat junk, are required to show me their computer history on surprise inspections, and when asked, say they're sure that their parents love them. (We do.)
So what would drive my son to such a horrific end? It's simple: bullying.
I've heard that I'm a terrible mother for leaving my child in a situation where he's being brutalized. That he needs to pull himself up by his bootstraps and beat the hell out of his attackers. That he needs more Jesus in his life. That if he only smiles back at the bullies, why, their hearts will grow three sizes that day and they'll all be BFFs.
There are a few problems with those suggestions. First, I haven't left my child anywhere. Every single administrator, counselor, and teacher from his 3rd grade in elementary school to this year in high school knows my face and my name. I'm always assured that they're looking into things. They're getting to the bottom of it. If they can only catch these punks in the act, life will be better. (And if my son could only remember their names. Or not be terrified about turning them in, because that hasn't worked out well either. Retaliation is the name of that game.)
Second, my son is on the Autism Spectrum. To think that he would be capable of beating up on someone is ridiculous. (Not to mention that he weighs a buck o'five at almost seventeen years old.) He approaches things from logic. To him, it's illogical to hit a person in order to make them stop hitting him. Frankly, it tells me a lot about a person if they think that contradictory mindset works, like biting back a toddler to make him stop biting.
Third, my son is an atheist (see: logic) and happens to be gay. Getting good with Jesus, prayer circles, etc., none of that works since he's seen as The Enemy. He is gay, you can't pray that away (not to mention that he doesn't believe in prayer anyway), so he fails on both counts for the "compassionate" Christians, reinforcing his Enemy status. His attackers are all active, vocal Christians–-mostly the Southern Evangelical sort–-so that goes back to that logic loop of his.
Pick any one of those three traits, and in his attackers' minds it's the reason for his "undesirable" qualities. He's gay because he's an atheist. He's an atheist because he's gay. He's a gay atheist because he's "retarded." These are all things that have actually been said to him.
Just because I'm an atheist doesn't mean that I want to go into your house and stop your prayers, remove your Bible, and walk out with the cross hanging over your mantelpiece. It means that I don't want you telling me that I need your prayers, cross, or Bible in my house.
Just because I'm an ally of the LGBTQ community doesn't mean that I will come into your living room and force you to watch The L Word, Ciao, or Queer as Folk. Nor do I want to force you into watching a queer couple make love in front of you on your matrimonial sheets. I also don't want to drag you to a Gay Pride parade and dress you in gold hot pants and a rainbow flag. (Although I bet it would look fabulous on you; seriously, are you working out?)
Being an ally means that I wouldn't mind if you did. It means that I want to be able to let my gay teen son turn on the TV, switch to LOGO, watch the high school episode of 1 Girl 5 Gays, and see himself represented on television like your straight kids get to see themselves every single day on every single channel. I want him to watch Glee and see Kurt and Blaine navigate the waters of dating with supportive friends and parents, just like other teen couples enjoy. I want the opportunity for him to see how kids his age deal with the challenges he faces every day as a young gay man.
Finally, just because my son has Asperger's doesn't mean that I want him to have special treatment. I don't expect people to understand automatically that my son doesn't get body language. (He expects people to say what they actually mean and not hint at what they mean nonverbally.) I would like people to not call him an R-word and diminish him as a human just because he communicates differently. It's not like they would have to learn a new language, just learn how to treat people with respect, even if they're different.
Tolerance doesn't mean that you have to change your fundamental self, thoughts, or beliefs. It means that you have to be flexible, that's it. Be less reactionary. It means that you really should go through life expecting that everyone isn't just exactly like you. After all, there are eight billion people on the planet. Every Christian doesn't think exactly the same way. Every Muslim. Every Atheist. Every Jew. (In fact, I think it's a requirement of the Jewish faith to have your own thoughts and opinions. Mazel
What it means to be tolerant is not that you have to love and welcome each and every difference in the world into your heart. (That would be amazing if you did, though!) It means that you intellectually accept that people are different and you won't actively seek to change them by force of your beliefs to become something else. That's it. If you're smart, you'll realize that it means a hell of a lot less work on your part. No more time-wasting rallies to stop gay marriage, no more anti-choice/pro-birth-and-
no-services-past-birth sit-ins. Having tolerance means more time for your family, your hobbies, and yourself. (And of course, tolerance is a two-way street.)
Someone being different than you doesn't actually affect your life, if that's what you've been worried about. Goodness, there have been gay people (and atheists, red-haired step-children, hot dog enthusiasts, left-handed people…) for ages. And hey! You're still you. You're still everything you believe yourself to be. You still breathe, ambulate, go to work or school, stay at home, love your spouse–or hate your spouse, hey, I don't want to judge! Whatever your daily routine is, it has stayed
the same, even though there are different people in the world. Even though that nice black family moved in a few blocks away. Even though a gay Latina woman was voted in as Sheriff of Fort Worth, TX. You still got your paycheck, the game still came on last Sunday, and the Cowboys still lost, and seriously, Romo, get your head in the game and get that arm in condition.
You aren't affected by their lives in other homes, in other cities, or in other states. Your children aren't affected by it either. They really, really aren't. Well, I'll amend that. They're now aware that differences exist. Is that the problem? You didn't want them to know that black people are successful beyond sports and music? That gay people don't want their parents and other married couples to stop being married because they can't get legally married in all 50 states? That atheists don't care that you're
in church on Sunday (because seriously, it is so blissfully quiet on Sunday morning when I go run…. Please go to church!).
What does affect your children is your hate. Your intolerance. Your snide comments at the dinner table about how "that one isn't giving his parents grandchildren." Your limp-wristed, high-voiced impression of the teenage boy that loves fashion, not footballs. The dirty face you make at the young woman that prefers overalls and short hair to tight dresses and ornate accessories. Every time you use the phrase "short bus." Each instance of you grabbing your bag tighter as a black man walks towards
you on the street or a person of Middle Eastern descent gets in line at the airport.
My son is autistic, atheist, and gay, and your assumption that he is one or all of those things because he's "retarded" or "doesn't have Jesus" is a continuing lesson in hatred that you're teaching your children. And you have got to stop using the R-word word as an insult. Wow, does it make you look stupid and mean. My son isn't looking for "special" treatment or "special" attention. He gets it because it's the result of nice little Christian boys that jam his head in the toilet at school to "clean him" of his
sins, and that's just the stuff they do that I can print here. Trust me when I say he would really prefer to not get that kind of "special" attention ever again in his life.
He wants to get the same treatment, as do I and millions of other people around the world. No fingers pointed at him for being different. No one telling him he's wrong for liking what he likes, being who he is, and for loving whom he loves. No one hissing slurs at him every damn day in the halls at school. No one telling him that he can't have basic services that every straight white person in the U.S. enjoys. (Did you even realize that? How un-American it is to deny a fellow American of these things?)
He would absolutely go bananas for a full day of nothing "special" happening to him at all. He'd love to turn on the television and see himself, just like other kids do. He'd love to hold his boyfriend's hand in the hallway and make plans to go to the burger joint with their group of friends just like the other kids. He'd love to be able to ask his teacher to clarify what she meant without people telling him angrily to shut up because they don't care about the lesson and he's being "irritating." His friend would
love to wear her head scarf and not be called a terrorist, when all she's trying to do is be modest and honor her beliefs.
So if you're so damn sick and tired of all of these "special interest groups" getting special treatment, I actually have a very simple solution for you: stop isolating them. Stop denying them basic human dignity. They'll be just like you because they are just like you. Minus a lot of the hate.
Those folks you don't like and who go against everything you want for yourself and your family? You don't have to kiss them on the mouth. You just have to stop punching them there. See? Easy. All of that "special treatment" that people continually bestow upon my sweet boy-–a boy who cries over animals being harmed, works at an elder care facility every day, loves hearing stories from our abandoned grandparents while caring for them, who wants to reach out to anyone else hurting and offer comfort-–all of this "special treatment" is what has driven him to a rope, a knife, and a bottle of pills, even though he has support from people who care deeply about him.
That's how "special" that attention is-–it trumps all others. How can a mother's kiss soothe when there's a gash on his cheek from someone's boot? How can his father's "atta boy!" override a teacher at his school telling him to just shut up, already? (Or be heard over the ringing derisive laughter of his classmates?) He can't remember his sister laughing at a joke earlier when his head is underwater in a toilet and a group of four boys are pulling his clothes off to toss down the hallway.
So if you weren't aware that you could stop all of this "special attention" for someone that doesn't fit into your definition of "normal," then you have it from me that you absolutely can. Please. Just stop.
Laura Stone is a writer, mama bear, and fluffy curmudgeon living in Texas as proof that LGBT allies and feminists do exist in the Lone Star State. She is the owner and head writer for heydontjudgeme.com, a media fansite, and soon will be hosting a TV show on DIY that teaches homeowners how to garden. She promises to end every episode with a glass of wine, as is the custom of her people.


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ETHIOPIA - THE EXTRAORDINARY ROCK-HEWN CHURCHES OF LALIBELA! "So you're off to Ethiopia eh? Better pack a few sandwiches ha ha ha!" Twenty seven years after famine killed a million people, the haunting images linger on. Well, the rains have returned - for now anyway. An uneasy peace has been reached with neighbouring Eritrea. Tourists are finally trickling back into a country with one of the oldest and richest cultures on earth. Our little Dash 8 flies low over an endless patchwork of villages and lush green fields coating majestic mountains and winding river valleys. We put down in Lalibela, 2600 metres above sea level and 650 kilometers north of the capital, Addis Ababa. Having failed to book a hotel online, I went the old-fashioned route and phoned. It worked. A young man, Tesfaw - "Just call me Hop," holds up a sign with "MR. ANDREW RENTON" written in bold letters. The airport is 25kms from town. The road is black-topped. Vehicles are minimal and yet the going is slow. It's the cows! Cows are currency here. They buy wives, donkeys, and sacks of coffee beans. Sheep and goats are worthy animals but cows are a man's wealth on display, and the road is full of them. No sooner do we pass one herder on his way to some secret pasture, than we run into another, then another etc. The net result is good natured chaos and animals scampering off in all directions! We pass through villages of typical, thatched, 2-storey circular homes – Tukuls, before reaching the outskirts of town. A tailor sits outside at his treadle sewing-machine, patching a pair of jeans for the umpteenth time. A shoemaker fixes sandals fit for the garbage can in a wealthier country. An umbrella repairer re-welds a failing frame. Two giggling women pound maize to make tella, the local beer. Hmm! No sign of churches yet? The road has turned from blacktop to dirt to very rough cobblestones – A cunning way of bringing traffic to a crawl. According to Hop, vibrations from speedy vehicles have caused cracks in the 800 year old church walls. "Where are the churches?" I finally ask impatiently, scanning the hillsides for a steeple or two. "We have passed several already. I will show you after you have unpacked," replies Hop. I settle into my comfortable room with a stunning view over the Lasta Mountains. Still nothing of biblical significance in sight? Ethiopia was the second country, after Armenia, to adopt Christianity in the 4th Century. Legend has it that King Lalibela was so angered when Muslim conquests blocked access to The Holy Land, he decided to build his own Jerusalem - at home! Instead of building churches from the ground "up," he built them from the ground "down." Land in Lalibela is mainly volcanic lava and relatively soft. He instructed his workers to dig deep trenches around each chosen site. From the central cores they carved out churches. The King named a rather nondescript dry gorge, The Jordan River, and created churches in two clusters - One on either bank. We climb the hill to explore The North Western group. At 800 Sq. meters, Bet (Saint) Medhane Alem is the largest rock-hewn church in the world. Priests and worshippers dressed in white shammas (one-piece robes) are gathered in the trench around the building. 36 concrete pillars have been added to reinforce the simple structure. It is mind-boggling to imagine the work involved to create this huge building from a mere chunk of rock. A keen group of congregants scrape moss from the surrounding walls, pock marked with old graves and empty hermit's caves. A short tunnel leads to a second courtyard with three smaller churches and a fetid pool said to hold curative powers for infertile women. Three thorough immersions at Ethiopian Christmas apparently does the trick! The ceiling and walls of Bet Maryam (Saint Mary's church) are covered in carvings and ancient paintings, including a Star of David proving the crossover between Judaism and Ethiopian Christianity. In each church a priest stands by, clutching a cross or a bible. Shoes are left outside under the watchful eye of a white-turbaned guard. When I walk through yet another tunnel, the planning starts to make sense. Two more churches are set in a third courtyard. In all there are 7 churches in the North Western group – All connected by tunnels and passageways. A narrow slit, cut through the rock, finally gets us out of the labyrinth – Phew! Without Hop in the lead, I would be hooped! From ground level, the only inkling that these buildings even exist comes from the plastic roof coverings, financed by the European Union to preserve the structures which are beginning to erode. Chanting and drumming are kept to the courtyards for fear that vibrations will cause further cracks in the walls. The five churches in The South Western cluster are carved into cliff faces using old caves or niches in the rock as starting points. Ah, but the jewel in the crown comes late in the day. I follow Hop over a small bridge – A minor deviation from the road home. The path ahead appears to take a slight dip, perhaps from wear and tear over time? A few more steps and I notice the ground is carved into the shape of a large cross. I am looking at the roof of a church that reaches down 15 metres while retaining the same cruciform shape all the way to it's base! Bet Giyorgis – The church of St George stands apart from the others. Legend has it that St George visited the king and demanded a special church in his name. The king pulled out all the stops here! Lalibela is an isolated mountain village of around 14,000. Tourism is in it's infancy. Before the road and airport were built, a donkey trek over the mountains was the only way in. Religion is an important part of daily life. Church courtyards fill with worshippers at early morning mass and overflow during religious festivals. A visit here is not just about churches. It is about the people who come from the surrounding mountains to pray and to trade as they have for centuries. Today is Market Day. The road into town is packed with loaded donkeys and their owners. Soon a thousand people fill the hillside, displaying their goods and renewing friendships. Salt. Sandals made from tires. Tef, for making injera, the round fermented pancake that is the staple diet of all Ethiopians. Chat for chewing. Dried peppers for spicing wat sauce. Honey. Ropes for harnessing. Long canes with wide handles to lean on during tedious sermons. The place is abuzz with bartering and gossip. I want to take a local bus and visit the countryside. "You can't" announces Hop firmly. "Why not?" There are no local buses. How do people get around? "They walk." "Well then take me to your village." His eyes light up. Hop's family was unable to feed him so they sent him away to fend for himself. At 8 years old, he became the youngest shoeshine boy in town. An intrigued German couple paid for his education including 4 years at guide college. We park the rented SUV at the roadside. He slips his iPhone into a clean pair of designer jeans and we set off across the freshly plowed fields. The family compound consists of two thatched huts, made from mud and cow dung. One for sleeping, with an assortment of skins on a raised platform, and the other for cooking. Maize and barley are neatly stored in huge pots underneath. His sister has brought water from a stream 4 kilometers away. His stepmother arrives with a stack of firewood on her back. They hug him and proudly admire his clothes. To celebrate, coffee beans are washed, fried and pounded in a hollow log before being added to boiling water and poured. We stay for an hour. I make a contribution. We say goodbye and head for the car. "Do you you miss country life?" Hop gives me an "Are you out of your mind" look, then pulls out his vibrating iPhone. Another client is waiting. The rock-hewn churches of Lalibela have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1978. They rate right up there with Jordan's Petra. Ah, but Petra is a dead city, abandoned by it's citizens, while the extraordinary churches of Lalibela are very much alive. THE END IF YOU GO: ACCOMMODATION COSTS: Hotels in Addis Ababa are equivalent to most capitals. I stayed at The immaculate Jerusalem Hotel in Lalibela for $46 a night which included breakfast and airport pick up. The staff were friendly and the views were excellent. www.lalibelajerusalemhotel.com FOOD: is cheap though limited in variety – Its hard to spend more than $4 on a meal. TRANSPORTATION: Cars which usually come with a driver are expensive – Around $150 a day for a 4 wheel drive in good condition. BUSES: Buses are cheap but very basic. Watch out for scammers and pickpockets at the bus station! Minivans are usually faster and more direct. SAFETY: Ethiopians are generally honest helpful people. Use common sense in the cities. Take taxis at night. AUTHOR'S NOTE: Ethiopia is still a very poor country. When harvests fail people go hungry. Aids has taken a terrible toll. Orphanages are full. Despite these hardships, people are proud, kind and honest. MONEY: ATMs are around but they often don't work! Visa machines are often down – Take a good supply of US$. Computers in Internet cafes don't always send your messages. TOUR COMPANIES: I hired excellent Galaxy Express Travel to take me to The South Omo Valley www.galaxyexpress-ethiopia.com/ |
Copyright © 2013 Andrew G.P. Renton All rights reserved. |

subset: commoncrawl


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Philips iPill -- it's like a regular pill, but with a microprocessor
It's been just about a year since we saw the patent for Philips' remote control "pill," and it looks like the thing is finally a reality. For those of you straining to remember that far back, the iPill (as it is now sadly known) is a miniature capsule that among its many charms contains a microprocessor, power supply, medicine reservoir and pump, and a radio so that it can remain in contact with external medical equipment. The pill's ability to accurately determine its position in the digestive tract enables it to deliver drugs precisely where they're needed, reducing dosage strength and side effects. According to Philips, the current design is a prototype, but it's suitable for serial manufacturing. Of course, this is not the first robot pill we've seen -- and it certainly won't be the last. Just the same, we think we'll refrain from swallowing any nanotech for the time being.


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Stockholm, Sweden, March 1, 2010 — Atlas Copco today completed the acquisition of Quincy Compressor from EnPro Industries, with the exception of Quincy's Chinese operations, where regulatory approvals from relevant local authorities are still pending.
Quincy Compressor designs and manufactures reciprocating compressors, rotary screw compressors and vacuum pumps, primarily under the Quincy brand. Atlas Copco plans to further develop the Quincy brand independently, in line with the Group's well established brand portfolio strategy. The acquired business had revenues in 2009 of MUSD 125 (MSEK 900) and an operating profit margin of approximately 7%.
"I am pleased that we have obtained the approvals in the United States and can now move forward to further develop the Quincy business," says Stephan Kuhn, President of Atlas Copco's business area Compressor Technique.
Quincy was founded in the 1920s and is headquartered in Bay Minette, Alabama. It has manufacturing facilities in Bay Minette, Quincy, Illinois, and in Kunshan, China. The products are sold through a network of independent distributors and agents. More than three quarters of the sales are in the United States.
Approvals from Chinese authorities are expected during the second quarter.


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For Immediate Release, September 9, 2011
Contact: Shaye Wolf, (415) 385-5746 or firstname.lastname@example.com
Arctic Summer Sea Ice Breaks Historic Low
Dwindling Sea Ice Is Latest Sign of Climate Change's Ongoing Effects Around the Planet
SAN FRANCISCO— The University of Bremen announced that the Arctic summer sea ice extent reached a new historic low on Thursday at 4.24 million square kilometers (1.64 million square miles). The previous one-day minimum since satellite records began in 1972 was 4.27 million square kilometers (1.65 million square miles) on Sept. 17, 2007. The research team reported that the summer sea ice has retreated by 50 percent since 1972, and warned that further sea-ice declines this month are likely since the melt season has not yet ended.
"This stunning loss of Arctic sea ice is yet another wake-up call that climate change is here now and is having devastating effects around the world," said Shaye Wolf, climate science director at the Center for Biological Diversity's Climate Law Institute. "Every moment that Washington delays in taking strong action on climate change further jeopardizes our future."
The U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center has not yet called a record low, although it announced earlier this week that sea ice extent in August was near the record lows of 2007 and warned that the ice could reach a new record minimum this summer. The higher resolution satellite system used by the University of Bremen provides more detail about ice cover than satellites used by the U.S. data center, which explains the difference between the announcements.
The news of the record sea ice loss comes on the heels of Thursday's announcement by the National Climatic Data Center that this summer was the second-hottest on record since 1895, and follows in a wake of other climate change-related natural disasters this summer that have cost hundreds of lives and caused billions of dollars in damage.
Arctic sea ice plays a critical role in regulating our global climate by reflecting sunlight and keeping the polar regions cool.
The rapid loss of sea ice poses a severe threat to polar bears, ice seals, walruses and other Arctic animals that rely on the sea ice for survival. Researchers recently reported that polar bears and their cubs are dying in increasing numbers because they are being forced to swim grueling distances across open water when there is no sea ice to be found.
In August, an estimated 8,000 walruses in two large herds were discovered hauled out on beaches of the Chukchi Sea near Point Lay, Alaska, because the sea ice they need for resting is gone. Young walruses that are forced to come ashore face greater risks because they are vulnerable to being trampled to death in stampedes and attacked by predators. In 2009, 131 young walruses were crushed to death in stampedes along Alaska's shores near Icy Cape. Previously unprecedented, haul-outs are becoming a common occurrence on the Alaskan coast as sea ice disappears.
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The future of web fonts
The next web design revolution will be typographic. But all is not plain sailing
The number of blogs increases daily, and web design currently favours type-led minimalism over elaborate Flash-based interfaces – outside of websites for videogames and movies, anyway.
However, online typography remains a sore point with many designers, who are increasingly irked by restrictions. "We've been limited to choosing fonts users already have installed, or embedding custom type by using images, which isn't practical," complains Yahoo front-end engineer Jonathan Snook.
He adds that sIFR (scalable Inman Flash Replacement) offers greater flexibility, but that it comes at the expense of performance and usability.
However, Snook and others reckon change is on the way. 2010 could see the web become a place where type shines, but only if important technical hurdles are overcome and web designers are au fait with the fundamentals of typography.
The need for change
With the browser landscape relatively stable at present, some might argue for the status quo rather than more upheaval, but that would limit the web's creative reach. "Since the dawn of web design, we've wanted to use any typeface we like. We can in print, so why not online?" asks designer Elliot Jay Stocks.
Font restriction has already led to major problems as well. Font Bureau partner Roger Black thinks there's a real danger of websites starting to look alike: "Take screen grabs of story pages on news websites, cover the headers and see if you can tell the source."
He then suggests trying the same with printed newspapers. "These retain their branding," says Black. "I think of this as the personality of typography, and so why should all newspaper stories online look alike?"
Clearleft production director and Fontdeck co-founder Richard Rutter also thinks web typography isn't taken as seriously as it should be: "Designers may take typography seriously, but attention to detail doesn't necessarily get carried through to the final website. I'm not even talking about typefaces, but typesetting and using the right characters for the job – dashes, not hyphens; real quote marks; an ellipsis rather than three full stops."
POSSIBILITIES: Even if you're not ready to embrace real fonts, it's worth exploring font stacks that include popular fonts aside from the usual suspects
He thinks that by taking more care over typography – ensuring suitable line lengths for reading; preventing widows and orphans in headings; being judicious in the number of typefaces and font sizes used – you enhance the reading experience for users and thereby improve your websites overall.
Rutter's concerns therefore echo our initial points – many web designers lack the knowledge to create strong type, and technical limitations abound that prevent them from properly getting to grips with typography.
The latter is as much to blame as the former, according to Rutter: "Good typography online has been hampered by a lack of support for font weights, and the situation for choosing different widths, such as condensed or extended fonts, is even worse."
Despite these insights, Rutter admits Clearleft mostly uses fonts that are likely to be installed on users' machines at the moment. "With serious attention to typesetting detail, this is always a viable solution, not least because the likes of Verdana, Georgia and Arial were designed for screen use."
He adds that the company also makes use of Microsoft's ClearType fonts and relevant fall-backs in CSS font stacks (backing up Calibri with Trebuchet MS and Gill Sans, for example), and avoids sIFR due to performance issues and development headaches. But Rutter hints at a near future where font linking will become important and hugely increase the scope for web typography, and he's not alone.
The path to @font-face
Every designer we spoke with said they'd experimented with font linking, which enables real fonts to be displayed within a user's browser. Even Simo Kinnunen, the creator of the aforementioned Cufón, recommends @font-face.
"Most font replacement techniques, including my own, were meant as stepping stones to @font-face. 2010 is going to be the year of @font-face," he says.
Snook adds: "No replacement technique matches the capabilities, usability and flexibility of native type within a browser. @font-face was established to enable real fonts to be embedded within a web page without requiring the font to be permanently installed on the visitor's machine."
@FONT FACE: Stocks uses Graublau Sans Web for his website's headings, but he's "planning a redesign that makes better use of @font-face"
Phase2 Technology senior designer Samantha Warren also advocates Typekit, which she uses on her blog, badassideas.com: "It makes it easy to implement a real font on a site and it's a cinch to change your font choice."
However, Warren also sees value in font services for commercial projects: "They will be great for clients who have a long relationship with a specific typeface in print and want to continue that relationship online. As more fonts become available through web-font services, I expect newspapers and magazines to really take advantage of them."
Warren adds that services also deal with a major challenge when considering real fonts for a website. "The web world and type industry are getting creative and examining how they can do business together, so both parties feel they're getting what they want.
"The web industry wants to be able to embed a wider variety of fonts in web pages, and the type industry wants fair compensation for typeface designs without widespread illegal distribution. Dialogues are developing between people in both industries and a level of mutual respect is spreading."
However, Snook warns that while @fontface is available in the current versions of all major browsers, web designers are suddenly discovering where its implementations fall down: "This is pushing browser developers to establish consistency and fix bugs, and I suspect within a few years the hurdles we face will be solved. As of now, though, @font-face is replete with pitfalls. It's not a smooth and simple process to create a consistent cross-browser or cross-platform experience with custom fonts."
Should you nonetheless decide to use real fonts, Snook explains you have two options: embed type locally or use a third-party service.
"Your decision mostly lies with the font you wish to use and the licensing that goes along with it," he says, mirroring Warren in noting that foundries have been reluctant to allow fonts to be embedded online, due to the potential for copying.
"Third-party services like Typekit provide obfuscation that's helped set the foundries at ease. For commercial fonts, you'll therefore likely have to go through a third-party service, but for free or shareware fonts, you'll need to serve fonts from your own server."
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The new debt-slashing budget plan pushed by House Republicans heated up as a presidential campaign issue Sunday as the proposal's architect, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, sparred with top Democrats over its political fallout and downplayed the possibility he could be tapped as a vice presidential candidate.
Senior White House adviser David Plouffe dismissed the GOP plan Sunday as "a lot of candy, not a lot of vegetables," and charged that it would be "rubber-stamped" as law if leading Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is elected.
"This is really the Romney-Ryan plan," Plouffe said, adding that its mix of across-the-board tax cuts and stiff budget cuts "showers huge tax cuts on millionaires and billionaires paid for by senior and veterans."
Ryan tried to tamp down speculation that he could be tapped for the No. 2 spot on the GOP ticket, although who will be the nominee is far from settled.
"I would have to consider it, but it's not something I'm even thinking about right now because right — I think our job in Congress is pretty important," Ryan said. "And what we believe we owe the country is, if we don't like the direction the president is taking us, which we don't, we owe them a specific sharp contrast and a different path that they can select in November. And doing this in Congress is really important."
The House GOP debt-reduction plan, unveiled last week with minimal Democratic congressional support, is quickly sharpening as a line of division for the fall campaign, pitting GOP and tea party pressure for a reined-in budget against White House and Democratic party alarms about a weakened Medicare system and tax relief for the wealthy.
"This is a sharp, clear difference with two different futures," Ryan said. Despite growing signs that the U.S economy is struggling back to life, Ryan threw down a marker for the fall national election, saying that the GOP plan is the only alternative to a looming debt crisis versus Obama's "path of debt and decline."
The GOP proposal — endorsed by Romney last week during a meeting with GOP congressional leaders — would slice $5.3 trillion from President Barack Obama's budget over the coming decade through tax reforms and sweeping program cuts. The plan aims to shrink U.S. deficits by $3.1 trillion over the next decade, reducing tax burdens while cutting Medicaid payments and shifting oversight to states and sharply cutting other domestic programs.
House Budget Committee chairman Ryan, who authored a similar plan last year sunk by White House and Democratic congressional opposition, agreed that Romney backed his plan generally. But he said the former Massachusetts governor might not be in complete lockstep with his vision.
"I'm not expecting everyone to enact every little piece," Ryan said, adding that he expects Romney will back the plan's main planks.
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., cautioned that his party would blunt the Ryan plan again as it did last year, also noting the election year "contrast with Democrats." He said Senate Democrats would offer up a rival tax reform plan on tax day, April 15, calling for increased taxes on wealthy Americans along the lines of the "Buffett Rule" acclaimed by billionaire Nebraska investor Warren Buffett.
"Let's be fair, you should pay more than your secretary," Schumer said, echoing Buffett's complaint that the current tax system allows the megarich to pay at lower tax rates than many of those who work for them.
Ryan and Plouffe spoke on "Fox News Sunday," while Ryan and Schumer went on CBS' "Face the Nation."
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press


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INSTANT VIEW-RIM launches long-awaited BlackBerry 10
Research In Motion Ltd on Wednesday unveiled a long-delayed line of smartphones it hopes will return the company to the top of a market it once dominated, promising its BlackBerry 10 devices will wow consumers and businesses alike when they hit store shelves.
Here is some early reaction to the launch:
"RIM has clearly reinvented itself with a new set of devices and a platform. It's definitely met the table stakes for many users. The challenge will be to keep the momentum going for developers and apps and leveraging the Blackberry brand. Blackberry delivered the first step but this is a marathon not a sprint."
(Compiled By Frank McGurty)


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Daisen G-Beer may be one of the most remote breweries in Japan, but there is nothing remote about the familiar flavors of their four mainstream beers. Their pilsener, pale ale and weizen are great examples of the styles, while the stout shows a fair measure of depth and heaviness. The barleywine, however, should be approached with caution, owing to its relatively high (8.5%) alcohol content.
So, it should be no surprise that all except for the weizen have won awards, with three for the pilsner and two for the pale ale. In short, the beers are smooth and drinkable, and the flavors solid. The pilsner, in particular, is made with very high quality hops and, tempered by a long lagering time, presents a very smooth and refreshing example of this style.
Opened as a brewery in the spring of 1997, Daisen G-Beer is a familiar face on the Japanese craft beer scene, frequently appearing at beer festivals and entered in awards events. While the "G-Beer" part of the name may be confusing, it is just their way of writing "ji-biiru," which is the Japanese expression for locally brewed craft beer. Daisen, of course, is for the famous large mountain nearby, where the superb water used for brewing these beers originates.
The brewery's restaurant, Bier Hof Gambrinus, serves all four of their regular beers, plus seasonal beers (such as the barleywine) when available. The menu is quite extensive, with plenty of familiar items, such as fried potatoes, sausages, pizza and spaghetti paired with European style foods made with local ingredients such as squid, local Japanese vegetables and locally raised chicken.
Daisen G-Beer
Beer Hof Gambarius, 1740-30 Maruyama, Hoki-cho, Saihaku-gun, Tottori-ken
鳥取県 西伯郡 伯耆町 丸山 1740-30
Tel: (0859) 39-8033


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The First Step to Taking Control of Your Money
By Stewardship.com Team, Crosswalk.com
If you've committed to transforming your financial life this year, you've probably been focusing a lot on behavior change. Things like cooking more food at home and eating out less, paying with cash instead of a credit card, and making a budget every month.
If so, that's awesome! Those kinds of actions are critical to achieving financial peace once and for all. But here's the thing: Sometimes people quit. When it comes to New Year's resolutions, for example, most people have jumped off the bandwagon by December, as reported by StatisticBrain.com. Don't be one of them!
Start with the right mindset.
Many times, people quit because they just don't have the right mind-set. Behavior change isn't enough on its own to predict success. To see your money goals to the finish, you need to combine that behavior change with the right way of thinking.
Here's what we mean. If you're serious about creating a better financial future for yourself, you have to start your journey by getting mad at your money problems. You have to actually believe you can overcome them. It's the first step!
Related: Learn practical steps to beat debt and take control of your money. Sign up for Financial Peace University
Declare a wholehearted commitment to overcome your money problems.
Beginning the process with that attitude—as opposed to an attitude that's halfhearted and unsure—can be the difference between success and failure.
In 1 Corinthians 9:24 (NIV), Paul describes that sort of mindset like this: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."
Running to win sets you up for success! Now, everyone will experience a behavior setback at some point—everyone. If you're hopeful and confident in your abilities, you'll realize a setback doesn't have to determine your future and you'll quickly course-correct. But if your mindset isn't rock-solid, you'll equate that setback to total failure and fall into your old ways.
The right mindset really is a powerful tool!
The Bible points to this truth. In Philippians 4:8 (NLT), Paul encourages the people to, "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."
Paul understood the power of positive thinking, specifically when that revolves around Christ. He told the Romans "not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2, ESV).
Ready to freshen up your own mindset to reach your money goals this year? If you've already set your financial goals, it's not too late to make some small adjustments to your thinking to see a big payoff when it comes to lasting behavior change.
Maintain your mindset and try this:
First, take a look at your goals and expectations around your finances and make sure they're realistic. Choosing store brands over name brands at the grocery store is a better way to reduce your food budget than eating cold cereal for dinner every single night, for example.
Then accept that you'll probably slip up at least once. When it happens, don't think of it as the end of the road. Get back up and keep pushing toward your goal! And celebrate smaller successes along the way. Those little bits of encouragement will keep you motivated!
Most importantly, maintain your mindset throughout the process. Keep your thoughts fixed on Christ, your attitude hopeful, and your confidence unshakable. That will keep you focused on your goals with each new challenge that comes your way.
Learn Dave Ramsey's 7 easy-to-follow Baby Steps to create a budget, get out of debt and make a plan for your money! Learn more about Financial Peace University!
This article originally appeared on Stewardship.com. Used with permission.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Jp Vaslery


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Despite some very high-profile female candidates and elected officials, and what looks like a changing landscape of U.S. politics, a new study conducted by American University professor and director of its Women and Politics Institute Jennifer L. Lawless and Richard L. Fox (Loyola Marymount University) reveals that young women are less likely than young men ever to have considered running for office, to express interest in a candidacy at some point in the future, or to consider elective(选修的,选举的) office a desirable profession. In their new report, Girls Just Wanna Not Run: The Gender1 Gap in Young Americans' Political Ambition, Lawless and Fox detail the results of a survey of a national sample of more than 2,100 college students. The authors find a dramatic gap between women and men's interest in running for office; men were twice as likely as women to have thought about running for office "many times," whereas women were 20 percentage points more likely than men never to have considered it. Importantly, the 20 point gap is just as large as the one we previously2 uncovered among adult professionals (in their 40s and 50s) who were well-situated to pursue a candidacy.
The report identifies five factors that contribute to the gender gap in political ambition among college students:
1. Young men are more likely than young women to be socialized by their parents to think about politics as a career path.
2. From their school experiences to their peer associations to their media habits, young women tend to be exposed to less political information and discussion than do young men.
3. Young men are more likely than young women to have played organized sports and care about winning.
4. Young women are less likely than young men to receive encouragement to run for office -- from anyone.
5. Young women are less likely than young men to think they will be qualified3 to run for office, even in the not-so-near future.
Given this persistent4 gender gap in political ambition, we are a long way from a political reality in which young women and men are equally likely to aspire5 to seek and hold elective office in the future. Certainly, recruitment efforts by women's organizations -- nationally and on college campuses -- can chip away at the gender imbalance in interest in running for office. Encouraging parents, family members, teachers, and coaches to urge young women to think about a political career can mitigate6(减轻,缓和) the gender gap in ambition, too. And spurring young women to immerse themselves in competitive environments, such as organized sports, can go a long way in reinforcing the competitive spirit associated with interest in a future candidacy. But women's under-representation in elective office is likely to extend well into the future. In the end, this report documents how far from gender parity7 we remain and the deeply embedded8 nature of the obstacles we must still overcome to achieve it.
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Objects on TV are nicer than they appear: We're not going to lie — watching Venus Williams play her first-round Wimbledon match left us deflated (and no, it wasn't the grueling workout we just finished, we're sure); that repurposed wedding gown just did not look good on the decorated AELTC vet as she gracefully pranced around the court in a first-round clinic over Akgul Amanmuradova. The scoreline: 6,3-6-1. (Brackets: Chris has Venus dropping out in the round of 16.)
And about that lace jumpsuit with gold trim (Golden Girls meets Project Runway?): le sigh. On TV, the shorts seemed a little too billowy, especially since we've seen how Venus can rock a cute pair of hot pants on the Wimbledon lawns. The gold-zippered top flopped in awkward ways as she hit her groundstrokes. The sleeves seemed as though they were missing whole panels.
(At least her trends are on point, ish? Venus, on her outfit: "Jumpers are very 'now,"' she explained, "as is lace." As is gold, really. That's the advantage to producing one-offs for match play: your design schedule is not beholden to the super-long lead time associated with retail.)
Suprisingly, it all seemed to come together in the photos snapped during the match (see below). Just a good photographer? Maybe we were glancing up at the TV at the wrong time? Anyway, it doesn't matter, since no one can buy this stuff. Picture worth a thousand words, but zero dollars in revenue.
More photos: Check out other looks at Venus' EleVen outfit after the cut…


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What my clients are saying
"Gina was a tremendous asset to have on our side in the sale of our home. Gina was recommended to us and she did not disappoint from our first meeting. Regardless of the time of day or night she was there to help us get our house sold. Gina is a well respected member of the community which she serves and I would recommend her as well to anyone looking to buy or sell a home in the Lebanon area."
~ Brian & Laurie
I am disabled due to multiple brain surgeries, so my Sister was my point person. House sold on first day of listing. There were a number of back and forth points of negotiation as we worked toward the closing. I moved out in late October, and was not always able to respond immediately. Gina was patient and focused, and provided good feedback. I was not able to close early as my daughter was moving items into storage up to that point. All went smoothly, and we closed as scheduled the day before Thanksgiving.
~ Robin G
Gina is the best! She is knowledgeable, professional, understanding, and patient. She communicates well, and also listens. She was proactive right from the start, all the way through to helping with negotiations. Selling our home with Gina made the process less stressful, as she supported us during the process. She always stayed cool as a cucumber, even when we were stressed with coping with the process. I wholeheartedly recommend Gina as a realtor.
~ Sandra & Bill
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~ Carol R.
I had recently moved to Connecticut from Oregon and needed a local expert to help me purchase a home. Gina Russo Wentworth helped me purchase the home I wished for in eastern Connecticut. Gina was very supportive throughout the entire process, including negotiating the closing arrangements. I would highly recommend Gina to others looking to purchase a home.
~ Heather B.
Gina immediately impressed me with regular, excellent and informative communication including weekly reviews of showings, candid playback of prospective buyer comments and recommendations for enhancement of areas of the home that received negative feedback from multiple viewers. Gina aggressively pursued all leads with timely follow-up insuring all parties had accurate information. I was impressed with Gina's performance throughout the process ending with a successful sale. I highly recommend Gina as a Real Estate Professional.
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~ Nancy & Tom
Gina was great, she was always there to help us through the home buying process. She responds quickly to questions and concerns. She was knowledgeable about the area, honest about the homes we were viewing. If you are looking for a realtor in the area definitely contact Gina, she's the best!
~ Will & Julie
We were very happy with the way Gina handled our sale. And you can't beat having an offer in less than two weeks! If we were in need of a realtor again in the Lebanon area, we would definitely go to Gina first.
~ Sandy & Norm L.
"Gina Wentworth sold our home faster than we expected! It was on the market for 2 days when we received many offers and had a contract within that week! She provided good advice for how much we should invest in preparing our home for sale and also provided us with recent local house sales/comparisons to help us make an educated decision for setting the price. She was very responsive to our phone calls and emails and we always felt that she had our best interest in mind. Her knowledge of the area is a real bonus! Selling a house can be stressful, but Gina really made it seem easy! Thanks, Gina!!"
~ 581 Beaumont Highway
Gina was very helpful throughout the process and always quick to return our calls or answer any questions we had. Her local knowledge was essential in a small town setting.
~ Cara C.
I would like to thank Gina Wentworth of Lebanon Green Real Estate for her professional manner in dealing with both selling our home and finding a home we can be happy in. Every step of the way she was helpful and patient with our needs and desires. Her knowledge and skill were greatly appreciated but her sweet ways and good humor made her a friend I will cherish. I would highly recommend her to anyone who may be in need assistance in selling our buying a home.
~ Pete & Sandy D.
"In 2017, after 40 years of owning my beloved home and farm, I made the difficult decision to sell and move on. Gina Wentworth was a very very useful and supportive aid to this process. She and her husband Wes provided clear direction and delivered truthful guidance to me in my decision-making. Selling is a very intense and emotional process for many and I would put myself at the top of this category. I kept coming back to them when I needed guidance and support and they never seem to get tired of how challenging the process was for me. We were successful at finding the right buyer at the right price and with the conditions that I needed in place. Big thanks to them!"
~ Clive W.
Gina Russo Wentworth is the quintessential realtor/broker and her firm Lebanon Green Realty brought a wealth of local and professional knowledge to the table. I am very pleased. Her write-up of our property was so good it would make me want it if I'd not already owned it. Pictures were very professional, she was very available and responsive to our needs. She was very patient with my myriad of questions and was helpful in guiding us through the process. Our home was under contract within 72 hours of the listing, my head is still spinning as I sit in my new home in Florida. She has the listing for the acreage we want to sell. You will not go wrong if you choose to use Gina!
~ Cheryl & Bob A.
Gina made the experience of selling our home comfortable. She is respectful, timely, attentive to detail and a good negotiator. As a life-long resident of Lebanon, Gina has exceptional knowledge of this great home town. We highly recommend Gina Russo Wentworth as a Real Estate Professional.
~ The Kuzels
"Gina is a wonderful person to work with. She was very helpful and provided assistance from start to finish. She was quick to respond to any questions or concerns we had. We were very pleased with our experience with Gina and would highly recommend her." Linda F.
~ Linda F.
Gina was a true professional. She helped make a difficult sale easy. She stuck with the details of handling every issue that popped up, overcoming and resolving each one until the problem was solved. Very happy that we chose her.
~ Vic R
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~ Janet J.
We would highly recommend Gina to anyone looking to sell or purchase a home. She handled every detail of the sale very efficiently, and we felt comfortable working with someone who knows the local market. Gina kept us informed throughout the sale with information or questions from the buyer and his agent, as well as the attorneys. She was very quick to respond to our inquiries or to share information with us, even while she was away on a family vacation. The inspections were done and results shared in a timely fashion as well. Her participation made the process move quickly and the outcome was excellent for us. Thanks, Gina!
~ Frank & Mary R.
When my husband and I began our search for our dream home we were a little lost, to say the least, after seeing a quite a few houses that were just... well terrible. We had met with a few other realtors who seemed very eager to tell us whatever was needed to get us to buy. We are young and new to the process, we were in desperate need of someone who understood us and would be a partner with us to help us find our home. Gina's kind and easy going manor made us feel comfortable and she really understood what we were looking for in a home. She was always reachable by either phone or email to answer our plentiful questions and helped calm our nerves throughout the home buying process. We were excited to work with someone who lived in the area we were looking to buy in and really knew the town well. Now we are almost neighbors! I would highly recommend Gina as a realtor for anyone looking in the Lebanon area.
~ Lauren & Doug
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~ Nicholas A. Gardner, Farm Credit East
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~ Margie P.
I retained Gina as a buyer's agent to help me purchase a home in Lebanon. Because I live out of state, I was dependent upon Gina to help me understand the local real estate market. Gina was excellent. All of her recommendations turned out to be right on the mark, including what I could get within my price range, how much to offer once we identified a potential home, and how to respond during negotiations. She also provided excellent recommendations for companies to use for various inspections once the home was under contract. Gina guided me through the process from start to finish; she was extremely knowledgeable, and incredibly responsive. I would highly recommend Gina to anyone looking for a home in Lebanon or the surrounding area.
~ Alex L.
Wes Wentworth of Lebanon Green Real Estate couldn't have been more accommodating, knowledgeable and kind, and right now we couldn't be happier in our FIRST, beautiful home he found for us! My fiancé and I had been looking for years for a home ourselves, and began to get frustrated when we didn't find what we wanted. Friends suggested we get a Realtor if we were really serious about purchasing a home.Thank goodness we chose Wes because we had the most positive experience working with him! Wes only needed to show us a few homes, and during that time he got to know us. In addition to being super intuitive, Wes was always on top of every question we had, got back to us right away (even when he was on vacation, he always went above and beyond!), CCed us on every applicable email, and kept us in the loop every step of the way. He handles his transactions with class and respect.
~ Kim & Evan
My wife and I couldn't be more pleased with Gina. From providing guidance on what should be done to get the house in sellable condition, to handling the requirements for the sale, she made the process as painless as possible. The house was listed 11/20/15, under contract 12/13/15 and a sale closed 01/22/16. I believe much of this was a result of Gina's efforts!
~ Peter & Kay
Gina Wentworth is a fantastic advocate and great communicator. She was tremendously helpful to us and exceptionally professional as she navigated us through negotiations.
~ Kate
Gina helped us navigate the process of buying a house in foreclosure. Once I contacted her for a showing, we were able to see the house the next day. She was in frequent contact with us and explained every step of the process to us in a way that was easy to understand. She was very willing to show us the house numerous times before we closed and was patient with all of our (many) questions! I would refer Gina to future homebuyers in the area.
~ Julianne
Gina was very responsive to my requests and showed me the property I wanted in less than 12 hours. She stayed on top of my offers and counter offers and shared information as soon as she received it. She is very even keeled under pressure and very calm mannered. Loved doing business with her and would highly suggest her to anyone looking for a home or property.
~ Sherri-Ann M.
Very helpful with finding homes in our price range and location. Worked very diligently during crunch time and got us into our new home! I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for specific homes. She is also very down to earth and understanding. She has been doing real estate in the area for many years.
~ Greg
Working with Gina Wentworth has been a wonderful experience. She is very knowledgeable and knows all of the right questions to ask to ensure that you purchase the home that is right for you. Just an amazing and awesome personality!
~ Beth R.
I chose Gina Wentworth as my agent to sell land in Lebanon based on her location. I had no prior knowledge of her, I found her name online. I could not have chosen better. She assisted me in listing, setting a price point, finding a buyer, negotiating the sales price and terms of the sale, and in closing. The deal closed very quickly. I could not be happier with her.
~ David
I bought my house with Gina in 2000 and sold it with her in 2015. I found her to be an excellent realtor on both ends of the process. When I was looking for a house, she gave me options, got to know what I wanted, and was diligent in finding me listings to visit. On the selling end, her communication was excellent with me and other realtors and she generated traffic for the house. Gina made both processes very comfortable and I feel I got excellent service. I would also be remiss if I did not add Gina knows the market in this area very well. I strongly endorse and recommend her to others looking to buy or sell.
~ Miguel G.
Gina was very helpful when my husband and I were looking to buy a home to rent out. Gina was quick to respond to our questions while staying very true to the desires of the seller. I would definitely recommend Gina as a realtor in the Lebanon and surrounding area and have already offered her contact information to numerous people. It was a great pleasure to work with Gina and I know if we ever have need of a realtor in the future that we will most assuredly contact Gina Russo Wentworth
~ Jeff & Alexis C.
Gina Russo is a true professional. She was available at a moments notice, locally, for questions or meetings with us and our potential buyers. We had a "time is of the essence sale" and Gina made it all happen with little effort on our part. We had interviewed other agents before Gina, but her attitude and expertise out shined all the others. Mrs. Wentworth is down to earth and easy to relate to and made understanding the process of selling one's home in Connecticut simple. She has an excellent understanding of how to price a property and in doing so we got our asking price in a rather down-turned economy. I highly recommend Gina, whether your desire is to sell a property or purchase one. Not to mention she is located in the historic and lovely Lebanon Town Green area.
~ Adeline
Working with Gina to find our new home was a pleasure. She was very diligent about researching and showing us properties and always got back to us promptly when we contacted her. She is very knowledgeable about the area and had a good sense of what we were looking for in a property. She called us with a new listing she felt would be perfect for us and it turned out to be "the one." Since we are new to the area, she has been a valuable resource for local service providers as well. Five stars!
~ Marc & Stacy M.
Excellent knowledge of area and market. Gina is also very personable and makes the entire adventure better. I bought my first house with Gina and sold it last year with her. I highly recommend Gina.
~ Charis A.
It was such a pleasure working with Gina. She set up many showings of my property and followed through with all. The closing went smoothly. Gina was very attentive and responded quickly to my phone calls and e mails.
~ Pat M.
Gina was great during a stressful and emotional experience of selling and closing process of a home I loved. At times we have to make changes and move forward even when we don't want to. Gina was always supportive and very professional. I would recomend Gina as she assists anyone through the buying and selling processes!
~ Sherry M.
Gina Russo Wentworth was a pleasure to work with. She delivered all aspects of the real estate agreement as promised. Very responsive to my phone calls and texts and work very well with the buyer's agent. Offered helpful suggestions to make home "sellable" and was patient and understanding with all my questions. I would highly recommend Gina and Lebanon Green Real Estate.
~ Joyce O
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I love lemon. I love lavender. What better way to indulge my affections than to combine the flavors and bake a cake. So I did. And it's absolutely scrumptious if I do say so myself. This family of five devoured it in less than 24 hours – we couldn't help ourselves.
Since I harvested some of my French lavender last weekend, one of my first inclinations was to use it in the kitchen. Lavender has been used in cooking for centuries – you'll often find it in the 'Herbes de Provence' seasoning blend or lately in lavender sugar blends available at specialty stores. You have to be careful with lavender. Just like truffles, all you need is a tiny bit, you definitely don't want to overdo it. But what a fantastic culinary flavor it brings to the table !
The addition of lemon pudding in this recipe was my mom's idea. She's been adding it to her lemon cake for years, so I stole that idea from her.
Lavender Lemon Pudding Cake
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
4 large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 lemon (zest for cake, juice for glaze)
3 cups sifted flour (or cake flour)
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 package instant lemon pudding
2 1/2 cups whole milk (2 cups for pudding; 1/2 cup for cake)
3 cups confectioners sugar
3-4 organic lavender buds
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bring butter to room temperature. In separate bowl, mix butter and sugar with hand mixer, beat until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Add vanilla and lemon zest to form batter.
In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add flour mixture to batter and blend with mixer. Meanwhile, prepare instant pudding as directed on box, then allow to set for five minutes. Add pudding and additional milk to cake batter, beat on medium for 2-3 minutes.
Pour prepared batter into greased Bundt pan (I use cooking spray) and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes (test at 45). Allow cake to cool for 30 minutes, remove cake from Bundt pan, and place on cake plate to cool another 20 minutes.
For lemon and lavender icing: Bring 1/2 cup of water to a boil, then place 3-4 lavender buds in boiling water and boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat, and remove and discard lavender buds, then allow lavender infused water to cool. In separate bowl, combine the juice of one lemon with 3 cups of sifted confectioners sugar.
Add 3 tablespoons of lavender infused water. Blend together to make icing – add more confectioner's sugar if necessary to thicken. Once cake is cool, pour icing on top and garnish with a few fresh lavender buds, then dust with confectioner's sugar.
It's not just pretty, it's completely delicious!
How does one say "Yum" in French ?
I am mourning the emptiness that is now my cake plate.
My only chance for happiness is to bake another one soon.
Bon Appétit !


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Out-Law News 3 min. read
27 Apr 2012, 4:41 pm
A "panel of IP experts" devised a list of 49 criteria that consumer groups in 30 countries used to assess how best the IP frameworks in those nations serve consumers. Consumers International (CI), which is a global campaign group for consumers with members including Which? and Consumer Focus in the UK, published (8-page / 1.36MB PDF) how the countries were rated in a new "watchlist".
On the 'A to D' scale the UK's IP framework rated as an overall 'C-' and is considered to the third worst of all that were assessed when it comes to serving the public, CI said.
The criteria on which the laws were assessed included the "scope and duration of copyright" that the law provides for, the "freedom to share and transfer" material and how the laws are enforced. Assessment was also given to the "freedom" of consumers to "access and use" copyright material for education, by content creators or the press and online, amongst other things.
The UK was issued with an 'F' rating – denoting an "abject fail" – over the freedom of consumers to access and use IP in their own home and in how IP laws are administered and enforced
The Watchlist report also said one of the "worst practices" that had been identified during the assessment was the EU's decision to extend the term of protection of copyright for music performers to 70 years.
In September last year the Council of Ministers voted to amend the EU's Directive on the term of protection of copyright and certain related rights. The Directive previously stated that music performers had rights to copyright protection for 50 years after recordings. The change brings performers' rights closer to those enjoyed by music composers who currently receive copyright protection on works throughout their life and for 70 years after their death.
"CI deplores the EU's extension of the term of protection of the rights of performers and record producers from 50 to 70 years," the watchlist report said. "Although colloquially spoken of as a type of copyright, the rights of remuneration of performers and producers is more strictly a 'related' or 'neighbouring right', as opposed to an 'author's right'".
"The term extension makes little sense except as a measure to bolster the flagging balance sheets of big record companies. Certainly, very little of the benefit will flow to performers, most of whom are paid a fixed fee for their performances, and never see a penny of royalties. Music recordings that would have fallen into the public domain and been free for consumers to use in home recordings, mix tapes and amateur films, will now remain locked away for two more decades," it said.
CI said IP policy-makers and rights holders should "work with consumers, not against them, to avoid future mass protests over the right to access the internet without interference."
Thousands of protestors took to the streets of several European cities earlier this year to campaign against measures set out in the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) after concerns were raised about the impact the international treaty could have on digital freedoms.
In the US legislators stepped back from introducing the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA) after a mass of online bloggers, consumer groups and website operators have also expressed their concern at the proposed laws. Major online firms, including Google and Facebook, also objected to measures in the draft laws despite advocates believing the measures are necessary to prevent foreign-based websites stealing US intellectual property.
The US Government also weighed in on the debate and said it would "not support legislation that reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risk, or undermines the dynamic, innovative global internet".
"Consumers International's IP Watchlist should be read by any lawmaker wondering how we reached such a crisis over ACTA and SOPA earlier this year and where such protests may likely crop up again," Jeremy Malcolm, senior policy officer at Consumers International, said in a statement.
"Our assessment shows that an entrenched anti-consumer bias continues to pervade IP legislation, and, if this goes unchecked, we are likely to see more protests over laws that do not reflect the legitimate rights and widespread practices of consumers in the digital age", he said.


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After midnight, the aurora died down to a faint glow, great opportunity to stargaze with the crystal clear skies and catch some startrails with the Aurora! 400 iso 14mm f2.8 aprox 15 min exp
Add Nebraska to the list! I saw auroras on and off for approximately 2 hours from around 9pm to 11pm local time. There was a brief spell where color was visible to the eye with rays and bands. All of these shots are taken with a Canon T1i, 18mm, 1600 iso for 20 seconds. I also have a brief timelapse up here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwV4UOX2kB0&feature=share
After 3 very long months of not seeing any Auroras in Northern Minnesota (my last few opportunities were blocked by heavy cloud cover), the lights made a surprise appearance on the evening of February 18th. My girlfriend and I were just settling in to watch a movie when I decided to take a quick look online to check the auroral oval. To my surprise, the Kp index was measuring just over 4, which often means that we might see some good lights here. A quick look out the back door of my house revealed that yes indeed, the lights were out! We jumped in the truck and drove a few miles inland from Lake Superior to some better spots for viewing the lights. For the next hour and a half we were treated to a very nice display of green glow peppered with dancing curtains of green, purple and red. It was a spectacular night of Aurora viewing!
I have always found the Aurora Borealis, also known as the northern lights, to be a phenomenon that has eluded me for most of my life — actually all of it — until Saturday evening. Pictured here is my first known view of the northern lights in my life! I first caught sight of the aurora while driving north from Two Harbors to Beaver Bay, MN along the North Shore of Lake Superior. It was not a particularly strong light show, but a test shot with my camera upon arriving at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park quickly revealed that this was the real deal and not just some clouds illuminated by distant city lights. Trying to contain my excitement, I quickly slid on my cleats, donned my headlamp, grabbed my camera gear, and dashed down the the dark trail to the lakeshore. The colors of the aurora were not easy to discern with the naked eye, but with a long (30 second) exposure, the camera allowed some of the dramatic colors to be brought out. Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon EF 17-40 f/4L @ 25mm, 30s, f/4, ISO 6400
This was an absolutely stunning display or colors and movement from horizon to horizon. Canon 5DII, F4.0, 400-1600asa, 20-30sec exposures.
The Aurora was amazing tonight. With every color in the rainbow present, it was one of the finest nights of Aurora I have seen. As a bonus I caught a rocket that was launched from Poker Flat Research Range in Chatanika, AK.
Tonight's aurora display drew a crowd on my street. Not hard to see why with the dancing green and pink auroras. The extraordinary display started shortly after sunset and well before the light had gone for the day. Red auroras were also visible for portions of the display. Poker Flats Research Range in Chatanika launched a rocket to study how the aurora affects GPS systems tonight. The rocket was easily visible from Fairbanks, 20-30 miles south of the launch site.
What a nice surprise for my birthday! - this faint but rather beautiful aurora appeared before midnight and lasted rite through to until 04.00 on the 19th when I lost it to cloud cover. The aurora was 12 degrees high and easily visible with the naked eye as a green band with subtle red above. I saw an outburst between clouds with numerous vertical rays. Quite a sight on a calm freezing night! Canon 450D with 18mm kit lens and 50mm F/1.8 lens
I was about to do some deepsky astrophotography with the 10" when I noticed that the aurora decided otherwise. I was not expecting this display as nothing was really forecasted. This seems to be the trend nowadays. I am also in the process of putting together a timelapse of this display! WHenever theres a big CME headed to earth, it clouds over. Then when nothing is supposed to happen, the Bz heads south. Im really not complaining. I moved to the northwoods of Wisconsin to get closer to the lights when they do decide to play. Aurora to me trumps astrophotography any day of the week
Was a great show this evening.The lights danced form around 8:00 pm this evening to around 12:30 AM...Still going on just slightly weaker now.
Aurora seemed to have multiple layers, really bright at the bottom and the it faded out at the top. After about 15m condensed down to one main band then had various streaks cycle in and out. Not as bright as some display but well worth enduring the cold temperatures to watch and photograph it. Photo Details: Nikon D3 - 30 second exposures / ISO800 / F2.8 / 15mm Short time lapse viewable at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K8gt8KNrTg
It didn't seem like much at first, but turned into a fairly nice display on a rare clear night along the shore of Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Nikon D700, 17-35mm, 2000ISO, 5s exposure and headlamp on foreground.


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Welcome to Guangzhou Xingyang Mechanical & Electrical Technology Co.,Ltd
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Mechanical&Electrical Technology Co.,ltd is a professional manufacture for kinds of ventilation appliances and equipments. All the products are committed to the exchange of poor air indoor and new fresh air. We are a integrated manufacture,based on design, development, producing and marketing. Our products can be found in all kinds of building which people living. The greatest compliment we receive has been our effort to balance the stylish living and global environment; to improve the collaborative development between enterprise and society. Demands varies with different customers, we solved the issue with competitive prices, good services and a large product range to independent distributers and users worldwide, covering: Duct Fans,Acoustic Box Fans, Energy Recovery Ventilator and accessories etc.
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We believe with our best service and high quality, Liyang will be the top manufacture in global ventilator field and human residence improvement.Ventilations systems for optimum greenhouse growing environment


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Navigation |
On-screen menus.ServSwitch™ and on-screen menu'sThe first version When the ServSwitch™ brand of KVM switches was first introduced, there were only two ways to switch: from front-panel push buttons or by sending command sequences from the keyboard. Although this was more convenient than having a separate keyboard, monitor, and mouse for each CPU, the operator still had to remember key combinations and which server was connected to which port—leading to many cryptic, scribbled notes attached to the switch and to the workstation. Today's versions But with the advent of on-screen menu's, an operator can use easy-to-read, pop-up menus to identify and select CPUs. It's even possible to give each CPU a name that makes sense to you—names like "MIS Server," "Accounting Server," and so on. What's more, all ServSwitch models with on-screen menus still provide the same switching options as our other ServSwitch products: front-panel push buttons and command sequences from the keyboard. |


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@ Patrick Schneider Photography. All rights reserved. Image may not be used without permission. 5400x4210 / 16.6MB
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boy, pre-teen, teenage, male, swimmer, swimming, competion, competitive, recreation, sports, aquatic sports, youth, kids, child, fitness, exercise, individual sporting events, swim team, swim league, workout, working out, swim, stock photography, stock photo, model release, QE, YMCA, Lake Norman YMCA, recreational swim team, rec swim, MAC swimming, kids and sports, sporting events for kids, sports for kids, wonder, waiting, anticipation, focus, worrying, compete


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The net overflows with pictures of Victoria's tattooed neck and back. But no one has explained the Hebrew words, how one pronounces them, what the imagery means. Those who tried got it wrong (see below)! A picture of Victoria's tattoo is reproduced below.
Hebrew is a gorgeous language, and the Song of Solomon is magnificent love poetry. For a short introduction and sample poetic translation, go here.
If you are thinking about learning Hebrew, find a teacher and go for it! You will not be disappointed. Some tips for those who wish to pursue Hebrew are available here.
This is the Hebrew on Victoria's back (from top to bottom across her neck and back, read from right to left here; I subdivide the text into three thoughts):
אֲנִי לְדוֹדִי
וְדוֹדִי לִי
הָרֹעֶה בַּשּׁוֹשַׁנִּים
It's a quote from Song of Solomon 6:3.
This is how one pronounces it, phrase-by-phrase (capitalized syllables receive stress):
אֲנִי לְדוֹדִי
Ah-NEE le-doh-DEE
וְדוֹדִי לִי
Ve-doh-DEE LEE
הָרֹעֶה בַּשּׁוֹשַׁנִּים
Ha-roh-EY ba-shoh-sha-NEEM
Here is a translation (a girl speaks):
I am my love's
and my love is mine,
who browses among the lilies.
(Song of Solomon 6:3 - my translation)
What does it mean? That's pretty obvious, except for the last phrase. Ancient Hebrew can be very roundabout in its erotic expressions. The lover who grazes, or browses, among the lilies, is elsewhere described in these terms (once again, a girl speaks):
A sachet of myrrh
is my love to me;
between my breasts he lodges.
(Song of Solomon 1:13 - my translation)
By now the meaning of the imagery should be clear.
Victoria Beckham has excellent taste in love poetry. Did you know the Bible has love poetry in it? It does, some of the best ever written.
In another way, the Bible is an exchange of love letters between God and humanity. The letters are full of desire and wrath and sweetness. A stormy love, in which God's faithfulness saves the day against all odds more than once.
The Bible will always be worth reading. Here are links to translations that are accurate but not too difficult to follow, with introductions and notes to each book:
HarperCollins Study Bible with New Testament and Apocrypha
By the way, when it comes to Hebrew Tattoos, Buyers Beware!
As an aid to some of my friends who always have their nose in a book, Victoria Beckham, born Victoria Caroline Adams, is best-known as "Posh Spice" of the famous Spice Girls.


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LOVE this. Regis and Kelly dressed up as David and Victoria Beckham on Live! With Regis & Kelly today – see attached. Regis actually looks pretty good. That's a great wig. And underneath the football jersey he seems kinda spry!
As for Kelly … also a fantastic wig. And she and Posh could have a thin-off, non?
Kelly spent the morning walking around shouting "mayjah!" over and over again. Killed me.
Speaking of Posh, Britney wasn't the only one who called in to the radio this morning. Mrs B gushed about her husband to Ryan Seacrest who probably jerked off to her description:
"(David's) very tidy, and I am not. Even our "fridge is color coded. David vacuums in straight lines. And if anyone walks on the carpet he gets upset. He"s really romantic. He"s very good at sending flowers and cards."
David Beckham vacuums??? Le Sigh. He really is perfect. By the way - do all cheaters send flowers and cards?
Tomorrow, tune in to Ellen – Victoria stops by and gave a few tips on how to be as mayjhah as Posh Spice:
"Don"t smile at all. You have to look really miserable. Like really miserable. Annoyed. And wear a short skirt, very high heels and a bob hairstyle."
Snort. I do love her self of humour. We could totally be best friends.
Photos from Splash