text:
I had an awesome day today. I took Erin to a gym in Palo Alto called "Vivre", which has a childcare center. I felt absolutely no guilt whatsoever about leaving Erin in their hands so I could go work out for an hour. It was great; and now I am ripped. I have Ryan Reynolds abs now. I swear.
After the workout I met up with a mom-friend for lunch. After lunch we met up with another mom-friend and went wandering around Palo Alto. I went into a bead shop. Yeah. Beads. I don't get it.
After the bead shop we went to a yoghurt place called "Fraiche" and sat outside to enjoy our all-natural suburban chick-dessert. I like the yoghurt. It's also across from the botox place where I'm going to have my crow's feet taken care of after my next pap smear.
While we were sitting outside a friend of mine from Erin's swimming class walked by. I'll call her Swimming Mom, because, well, even though I've known her for 7 months I have no idea what her name is. It's gone on much too long for me to ask her now, especially since she clearly knows my name.
Swimming mom said "Hey, fancy seeing you here!" with a big smile, and I was glad to see her. And I was also glad for the opportunity to do the ol' "Introduce the people you are with to the person whose name you don't know so that she will introduce herself and you will finally learn her name" thing. So, I said "This is S and C." (Pause)
Oops. Nothing. Okay, the pause has gone on a little too long now...."So, are you here at "Fraiche"?" I asked, hoping to cover my obvious blunder. Goddammit.
"No, no, I was over at (someplace) looking at frames."
Then Swimming Mom and S and C had a conversation I mostly didn't listen to while I wrangled a suddenly spazzy Erin out of her backpack and tried to give her a bottle. They spoke for a couple of minutes about interior design and baby weights, and I chimed in whenever I could take my attention off of Spazzy McSpazzerton. After a few minutes Swimming Mom confirmed that she would see me at swimming tomorrow and she left.
How nice. Two of my separate mommy worlds coming together in a very random way. Maybe we can all have a big party and I'll be the dad and they can all talk about n*pples and v*ginas while I fix their cars.
After Swimming Mom left, S turns to C and says something like "Oh my god." To which C replies "I know. What a bitch."
What the hell?
I was there for that conversation, right? What could have possibly happened?
Apparently Swimming Mom and S were engaged in a pissing contest: "Oh, who is your designer?" "Well you wouldn't know him, I'm sure (because I'm too rich to use someone who isn't exclusive)"..."Well, I'm a designer...try me", "His name is (blah blah blah)"..."Never heard of him (because I'm legit and your guy sounds like a nobody)." The baby weight conversation was equally laden, I'm assured by the ladies. And there was also a Prada flash, so that everyone could be certain who had the most expensive bag.
After I had all this obvious subtext explained to me by C, I expressed my understanding with "What??"
Guys, I think, are much more open about this stuff. I keep thinking about the scene in "Dazed and Confused" where Wooderson is showing off his car to the greaser Clint, who remarks that he's sure he saw the ad for the engine in a comic book: "Two ninety five, right next to the sea monkeys."
Ok, so maybe there's no universal truth about how men differ from women in the jockeying that goes on. But here's a universal truth:
I had no idea what was going on around me, and I'm kind of glad of it.
After, I half-mockingly asked C: "What was the pissing contest about? Is it a monied thing? Was it me?"
To which she replied: "I don't think it's about money. Girls are like this. But yeah, she was pissing on you, marking her territory."
Can you imagine a better day? I mean, I had a whole hour to myself. That was awesome.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Mommy Politics...Holy crap, help help help, I'm trapped in a less mature version of "Mean Girls"!
I had an awesome day today. I took Erin to a gym in Palo Alto called "Vivre", which has a childcare center. I felt absolutely no guilt whatsoever about leaving Erin in their hands so I could go work out for an hour. It was great; and now I am ripped. I have Ryan Reynolds abs now. I swear.
26 comments:
- for a different kind of girl said...
I had to take a moment after reading this part:
"....Ryan Reynolds abs now."
My apologies now if the remainder of my comment comes off more scattered than my typical comments do.
I think you're onto something here with this pissing contest idea. I know women can truly take time in an initial gathering to size the prey up. I've been to play groups and women's gatherings and you can see the stalking going on. It's rich. Then I realized that I've probably been one of those women who have bared her teeth a little bit when another woman has come sniffing around a friend. Not to be mean (though I suppose there's the chance for some latent meanness buried in the growl), but when you see something as "you'rs", you don't want to be cleaning the other's scent off of it, or you exhaust yourself trying to make the other person remember why they dug you the most from the beginning.
I think I'm rambling. All over Ryan Reynold's abs. I suppose there are worse things.
- April 7, 2008 at 7:14 PM
- DeeDee said...
"....Ryan Reynolds" come on!! Although I wouldn't kick him out of bed for eating crackers he seems a little dorky! Funny post though! Women are definitely territorial when it comes to certain things if you want to see a true example just go to an aerobics class and take that bitch's spot in the far right corner and see if she doesn't stare your ass down in the mirror during the entire work out!
By the way, Erin is too cute for words!!
- April 7, 2008 at 9:08 PM
- Headless Mom said...
I hate that girl-drama cr**. (Do you suppose that is why I don't have many friends?)
I just want to slobber all over Erin-too cute!!
- April 7, 2008 at 9:30 PM
Yeah girls are weird.
- April 8, 2008 at 12:15 AM
- Mandy said...
I laughed SO hard reading this entry. My husband never gets the subtext between women (not me, I don't do pissing contests). Anyway, I am so glad you're channeling your inner mom and are able to do so many girly things... A bead store??! Man, even I don't go in them. :)
Anyway, great post.
- April 8, 2008 at 7:41 AM
- Kelly said...
I love how you've brought Dazed and Confused into your post. My husband is always quoting Wooderson.
- April 8, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Want to hear something sad....I have a dad friend who does the pissing contest thing. He has to top us women on who makes the best home made mac n cheese, who does this, that and the other thing the best. He is always trying to one up us women...and he hits on us at the same time...
drives me nuts. I keep play dates few and far between.
(p.s. is it bad that I have no idea who Ryan Reynolds is and that i've never seen daze and confused??)
- April 8, 2008 at 10:25 AM
- Mumma Boo said...
Ohhh, so THAT's Ryan Reynolds. (I have got to get out more.)
Women are definitely territorial - starts in pre-school and I don't think ever ends. Just try to ask a mom-friend who she uses for a babysitter on those rare nights out, and see if you get a true answer. I guard my babysitter's phone number like she's in my own personal witness protection program. She's mine, darn it, all mine! I found her, she's great, and you can't have her! (Ok, maybe for a cut of the babysitting fee. We'll talk.)
- April 8, 2008 at 11:31 AM
- mamatulip said...
I love Dazed and Confused. I am constantly quoting Slater. He was my fave.
Check ya later...
Seriously though - that kind of girl business is business I don't understand. Like, I bought my purse at the five n' dime, you know? Who gives a fuck?
- April 8, 2008 at 12:16 PM
- bsouth said...
Blimey - hope you enjoy your smear. I kind of do the pissing thing, but only because I'm scared I'll have no friends if I let anyone in on the few I have!
Funny post but I'm off to google Ryan Reynolds now.
- April 8, 2008 at 12:20 PM
- bsouth said...
Goodness, he does have lovely abs doesn't he?
- April 8, 2008 at 12:22 PM
- Backpacking Dad said...
FADKOG: You're welcome.
DeeDee: I'm never going to take that spot. I'm afraid of what would happen to me.
Headless Mom: I'd give up on moms altogether if they weren't, every single one of them, otherwise awesome. Give them a chance.
Shannon: Yer weird.
Mandy: If I do them, then they're not girly. By the time I left that was a damned manly bead store, a testosterone-laden yoghurt shop, and a No-Pink-Anywhere gym.
Kelly: That's what I like about them high school girls, man. I keep gettin' older, they get more and more illegal.
Patty: The Ryan Reynolds thing was strictly for FADKOG's viewing pleasure. Although he does show off some kick-ass abs in Blade:Trinity. And yes, you need to rectify your ignorance of Dazed and Confused immediately. And also do something about the dude who is hitting on you at playgroup. That is so lame that I don't even have the words.
Mumma Boo: I found that out when I asked a friend if her housekeeper needed to pick up any extra hours. I was rewarded with her housekeeper's daughter's phone number.
For cleaning. I didn't mean for that to sound as lecherous as it did.
Mamatulip: Did you ever look at a dollar bill man? There's some spooky shit going on on the dollar bill. And. And it's green too!
Bsouth: What the hell was the "speculum" for? Kicks. I'm never going back to that gynecologist.
- April 8, 2008 at 4:19 PM
- Stacie said...
Oh I would sooooo be the guy in this scenario...completely oblivious to the whole thing and I have actually been the one who knew someone for months without knowing their name and was too embarrassed to ask after a time.
Funny post!
Surfed in from DKOG's place. I love that girl..
- April 8, 2008 at 5:38 PM
first post, lurking for two weeks.
i promised myself i wouldn't comment (seeing as i'm soo far away) but this is too good to pass up.
a bead shop?! really?!
seriously though, women are the same here and there!
- April 9, 2008 at 1:30 AM
- -k said...
Another great post! Women can be so damn catty. Congrats on the hour of work-out peace! Take it where you can.
- April 9, 2008 at 5:44 AM
- Chicky Chicky Baby said...
Aw, you've been claimed. That's so cute.
Yeah, women are freaks. I'm thinking about turning in my uterus.
- April 9, 2008 at 6:47 AM
I googled Ryan Reynolds just so I know who you were talking about and he is FINE....i know who he is by face, not name.
Dazed & Confused is on my Block Buster list after Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle (which is on it's way and my husband's all time favorite movie)...
and as for the playgroup pimp....I will generally have him drop his daughter off at my house and leave. Last year he used to hang out after dropping her off, but I've done groups when I know he's got bowling or something so he can't hang. I feel bad that I have to limit his daughter and mine from playing because they are best friends, but he's such an ass.
- April 9, 2008 at 6:49 AM
- Brian said...
"Watch the leather, maaaan."
Classic post. Cool blog. I have been surrounded by female family members my entire life, so I've learned to pick up on the subtext. Some days I could use a lobotomy.
- April 9, 2008 at 12:36 PM
- kittenpie said...
This is why I went my whole mat leave year without talking to another mommy on the playground. It's all abour who's doing renos and who's going to the cottage... Blech. I just wanna play with my kid, y'know>?
- April 9, 2008 at 1:29 PM
- Heather J. said...
Hey, I left a comment here...days ago...didn't I? Did you delete it or did I forget to push publish?
Either way, dude, I feel for ya....My husband and son live with 3 menstrating females and one pre-school girlie who is ALWAYS on PMS mode. They duck for cover, every time we open our mouths.
Ryan Reynolds, reeeaalllllyyy?
- April 9, 2008 at 1:51 PM
- Backpacking Dad said...
Stacie: I'm now afraid that I've hurt her feelings badly. She didn't show up at swimming yesterday. Crap.
thehusband: I thought I felt a lurker :} Thanks for coming out of the wainscotting.
-k: I went back to the gym today and bought a membership! Another guilt-free hour. And when we got home? Nap time! Woohoo!
Chicky Chicky Baby: Where do you do that? A uterine pawn shop? Or does the police department sponsor mandatory "uterus turn-in" days like they do with hand guns?
Patty: If you want to play a Dazed and Confused drinking game take a swig every time Mitch grabs the bridge of his nose or touches his hair.
Brian: Teach me.
Kittenpie: I do know what you mean. I'm also not ashamed to admit that I'm a little titillated by the drama I can observe kind of harmlessly. And then blog about.
Heather: You must have forgotten to publish. I would never delete a comment from you. And yes, I'm ripped like Ryan Reynolds.
In "Just Friends". At the beginning. When he was the fat guy.
- April 9, 2008 at 2:10 PM
- the new girl said...
"..and sat outside to enjoy our all-natural suburban chick-dessert. I like the yoghurt. It's also across from the botox place where I'm going to have my crow's feet taken care of after my next pap smear."
OMG, I laughed right out loud at that one.
Hilarious stuff, BD.
- April 9, 2008 at 4:47 PM
- Redneck Mommy said...
I think I love you.
Especially since I now know you have Ryan Reynolds abs.
- April 9, 2008 at 6:31 PM
- Backpacking Dad said...
The New Girl: I'll be here all week. Try the veal, and tip your waiters. Those leather pants don't come cheap.
Redneck Mommy: In the words of Deadly Girl from The Specials: "Bitchin'. My first stalker." But easy there, Tigress. My loving, awesome, gorgeous, sexy, funny, tolerant, forgiving wife reads this thing....You know they kid with these declarations of love, right dear? Yes. Yes, I'll have dinner waiting, dear. Yes, I'll be wearing my apron and chaps....
- April 10, 2008 at 9:52 AM
- Jen4 @ Amazing Trips said...
Oh, that's hilarious. The things that women do ... and it's great that you were so oblivious.
Now, if it had been two men sitting at that table and a woman, and a third man walked up >> I'll bet you would have been whipping off your shirt and flexing your Ryan Reynolds abs. Because men are so much less ... obvious!
- April 12, 2008 at 8:13 AM
- Elisa said...
I'm sorry, I'm stuck at "beads". Yeah, no, I don't get it either. maybe they keep some in their bags and throw them at each other when the pissing contest develops into a mom fight? hmmm...
- July 26, 2008 at 4:10 AM


text:
While there has been a lot of public gnashing of teeth over HTML5, it turns out developers are already moving in that direction.
A new survey of 4,043 developers conducted by Kendo UI, a division of Telerik and provider of cross-platform application development tools, finds that the vast majority of developers either already are or soon will be working with HTML5.
In fact, it appears that most of them couldn't care less what path giants such as Facebook are pursuing when it comes to HTML5. Most of them are far more concerned about browser fragmentation and a potential controversy between the W3C and the Web HyperText Application Technology Working Group (WHATWG), a consortium of developers calling for a faster pace of HTML innovation.
Related Topics : Chrome, UK, Mobile Search, Presentation Applications, Information Architecture
Many interim best practices were developed to bypass the performance bottlenecks of HTTP 1.1. However, it's been learned that many of those workarounds can actually slow web application delivery in HTTP/2. ... More >>
To stay ahead of the curve, IT leaders must understand the susceptibility of cloud applications to attack and take steps to mitigate the risks. ... More >>
Data has shown that 56 percent of websites either do a poor job of optimizing images or don't do it at all. What can be done when optimizing images for websites and what should you avoid? ... More >>

subset: commoncrawl


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Archon:Conquest Review
- Publisher: React Games
- Genre: Entertainment
- Released: 15 Oct, 2009
- Size: 10.3 MB
- Price: $1.99
- Online leaderboard access via Plus+.
- Four different campaigns to choose from, two must be unlocked.
- Added story modes are the new main feature, not just custom games like in Archon.
- Poor combat gameplay.
- Annoying game music with no option to use player's iPod instead.
- The campaigns are far too hard, as you're severely outnumbered in almost every level.
Even diehard fans of the Archon franchise will have struggle with Archon: Conquest as the game is far too difficult and linear to be a worthwhile purchase.
- Full Review
- App Store Info
In 2008, Developer React Games bought the license to Archon and began work on Archon titles for the iPhone. The original 1983 game Archon: The Light and Dark, a chess style strategy game was already remade by developers and now the gameplay has been adapted and transferred with a new twist in Archon: Conquest.
In the game's new story mode, you'll find yourself on a large board and must eliminate all opposing enemy units. By tapping on a unit you can move them to a different square and, if you're in range, attack another unit. Once you engage them, the gameplay will change into a small battle mini-game where you'll try to kill your opponent. However, the controls aren't the best and most times, a one or two hits from the enemy will kill you
While the game offers 4 different campaigns to play through, almost each mission is far too hard. The majority of the time, you'll be severely outnumbered by enemy troops and when paired with poor combat controls, makes for some frustrating gameplay. Also, the game's presentation is nothing to rave about and the games music track is assaulting and incredibly annoying.
Even if you're a fan of the series, Archon: Conquest isn't worth your time. Its unclear where the developer wanted to go with this game; the inclusion of a story and campaigns is fine but the steep game difficulty makes this a real hassle to play. You're best alterative is to try the remake of original Archon, from the developer React Games.
DescriptionVersion 1.0 has LEADERBOARDS AND AWARDS POWERED BY PLUS+! See how you rate worldwide in your quest to become the ultimate Archon!
Play as both Light and Dark in this single player game based off the hit title, "Archon."
In this game, you have several campaigns to play through, using the Light and Dark teams. Each campaign features 15 quests for a total of 60 to play through! Each one is unique with different enemies to fight, puzzles to solve and medals to win!
Involve yourself in an immersive storyline as you try to maintain the balance of the world caught between the forces of Light and Dark. Are you the chosen one, the savior, the Archon who was prophesied to come?
Archon:Conquest features:
Turn-Based Strategy, like the original Archon.
Fast-Paced action in the Combat Arena.
4 Campaigns.
60 Quests.
Worldwide Leaderboards and Awards.
Earn medals for each Quest based on how well you do.
Immersive Storyline
Cast Spells, including several new ones.
Level up your pieces.
Collect various Power-ups in Combat.
Fight multiple enemies in later stages.
Unlock INSANE mode when you complete a Quest.
HOURS of unique gameplay.
Buy the game, Earn some medals and see where you rank in the world!


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The Milken Institute Global Conference, an annual gathering of investment bankers plus a smattering of social entrepreneurs, scientists and Hollywood stars, is a sea of expensive suits and beautiful shoes — a convention not of the top 1% but of the top 0.1%.
Hot topics this year included some you would expect: the outlook for the world economy, ways to make new fortunes in finance and energy, the prospects for disruptive innovation in technology and medicine.
But there was also a lot of talk at the conference this week about a 656-page book on inequality. Thomas Piketty, a French economist who thinks the increasing concentration of wealth threatens democratic societies, didn't attend the Milken gathering, but his message — and his conclusion that the solution is to tax the assets of the rich — rattled through the Beverly Hilton's meeting rooms.
Piketty's argument boils down to this: Economic history suggests that the golden years that followed World War II and the technology boom of the 1990s were exceptions, and that the kind of slow growth we're seeing now is more normal.
During periods of slow growth, he posits, income grows slowly for all but the top 1%. But investments are another matter; on average, they grow faster than the economy.
These days, we'd be delighted to see the U.S. economy grow by 3% a year, but anyone with investments expects them to grow at least 4% a year (and, of course, hopes for more).
When wealth grows faster than income, so does the gap between rich and poor. Those with wealth will see their assets grow ever larger, while those who have little or no wealth will miss out.
There was no real disagreement at the Milken conference with Piketty's premise.
As Alan Schwartz, chairman of Guggenheim Partners and a charter member of the 1%, put it, "If society doesn't think it's a fair game, it will not work, no matter what we think. 'Let them eat cake' didn't work so well in France."
Still, it's striking that a 656-page economics treatise is commanding such a large share of public debate at the moment — especially from people who are unlikely to ever read it. (In fact, it's not as daunting as it looks, especially if you stick to the easy chapters at the beginning and the end and skip the denser economics in the middle, as I did.)
Piketty has clearly found our not-so-sweet spot. Perhaps it's that, on some level, we're all finally worried — rich and poor alike — that, as he warns, the growing inequality is likely to create resentment and class warfare.
These resentments will increase, Piketty suggests, as wealth passes from the hands of entrepreneurs and investors — who at least had a hand in creating their fortunes — to their heirs, who simply had the good luck to be born into wealthy families.
The growth of that inheritance-heavy elite, Piketty warns, will "radically undermine the meritocratic values on which democratic societies are based," with "consequences [that] are potentially terrifying."
Inequality of wealth, Piketty argues, also makes it harder to create the kind of equal opportunity that can help level the playing field. Take education, the most important escape route from poverty for generations. Piketty notes that the average income of Harvard students' parents is now about $450,000 a year. That's the parents of all Harvard students, not just the alumni legacies. So much for pure meritocracy.
But even if we all agree there's a problem, we're still far apart on a solution, and the prescription Piketty offers belongs on the fantasy shelf.
He says the best remedy would be an annual tax on capital. Anyone who owns more than $1.5 million in assets might be taxed, say, 1%, while assets over $5 million might be taxed at 2%.
That idea is economically logical, but it's politically impossible. Too many American voters would think it sounds like communism. Besides, it would require an international treaty to keep rich people from simply moving their assets to tax havens. Even Piketty calls it "a utopian idea."
Raising income taxes on the 1%, as President Obama has repeatedly and fruitlessly asked Congress to do, might help, but it wouldn't get at those giant pools of inherited wealth. Or, Piketty suggests, we could reinstitute the estate tax, which now applies only to bequests over $5.34 million, the top 0.1% of estates. But none of that is likely to happen in this anti-tax era.
We've reached a moment, in other words, when there's broad consensus that we have a problem but we've sworn off all the obvious ways to fix it.
Long ago, Herb Stein, the chief economic advisor to President Nixon, coined Stein's law: If something cannot go on forever, it will stop. Our growing gaps in income and wealth are likely to continue for a long time, but they won't continue indefinitely. All that remains to determine is how — and how badly — they will end.
Twitter: @DoyleMcManus


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YouTube is at it again with testing a new layout for users. As you know, more people are watching YouTube for every type of video, from how to's to cats. No, cat videos will never go out of style.
Well, YouTube also has more competition for attention than ever before. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and more are all screaming for attention and YouTube has to make sure they are the platform of choice for creators and viewer's, so they are making changes!
Checkout the new changes being made for desktop YouTube viewing! Just click over to YouTube Updates Their Layout!
Most of these changes seem pretty good, although I do have 1 I don't like.


text:
OK, let's get this out of the way and then move on; Erin Andrews has a sister. And we know about her because of Dan Patrick.
Patrick watched the BCS title game with EA and her sister from a private box, a fact that he mentioned briefly on his blog, which caused Busted Coverage to go into full stalker mode because that's what they do. Turns out that Kendra Andrews went to Florida State — which is interesting, since her sister attended the University of Florida — and is now a professional dancer, with no journalism ambitions.
Fun fact: At one time Erin wanted to train whales at Sea World.
So, between Kendra and Barbaro's younger brother, our next generation of SHOTY nominees is shaping up nicely.
DP Named Decisive National Champion [The Dan Patrick Blog]
Erin Andrews Has A Sister Named Kendra And Dan Patrick Got To Hang With Both At BCS [Busted Coverage]
Barbaro's Little Brothers Progressing [NTRA]


text:
- What are concentrated Chinese herbs?
- What are the most commonly used methods of administering concentrated Chinese herbs?
- Why should I use the decoction made of concentrated Chinese herbs?
- How can I make concentrated Chinese herbs more palatable?
- How can I tell top-quality herbs from other herbs?
- Bulk herbs have no quality-control standards; do concentrated herbs?
- What form of concentrated herbs should I choose?
- How is the daily dosage and treatment time determined?
- When should patients take the herbs?
- Does Chinese herbal medicine interfere with western medications?
- What will help Chinese herbs become part of American mainstream medicine?
What are concentrated Chinese herbs?
Concentrated Chinese herbs are the extracts made from the water decoction of bulk herbs, concentrated at a low pressure and low temperature, and then instantly dried.
What are the most commonly used methods of administering concentrated Chinese herbs?
The most common method of administering concentrated Chinese herbs is through a decoction, (herbal granules + hot water). Other methods are capsule and pill forms. The decoction method is the most effective.
Why should I use the decoction made of concentrated Chinese herbs?
They are most effective because:
- The decoction method has the highest percentage of active components for most herbs.
- The herbs interact with each other better in decoction.
- The body absorbs the herbs faster and more efficiently.
- This method has the quickest response rate.
How can I make concentrated Chinese herbs more palatable?
Suggestions on how you can make herbs more palatable:
- Use a small amount of water when mixing your herbs, then drink them very quickly.
- Add a natural sweetener such as sugar or honey.
- Add ? g of stevia extract (a natural herbal sweetener) to 100g of herbs.
How can I tell top-quality herbs from other herbs?
Conduct your own test! Add 1g of an herb to a glass of boiling water and stir. The key to determining the quality of concentrated herbs is to test their solubility. Top-quality herbs dissolve quickly (3-5 minutes) in boiling water with no particles floating on top of or in the water. They also do not settle to the bottom quickly. The herbs have a smooth taste and go down easily. It was found that the better a concentrated herb dissolves, the higher its potency is.
Bulk herbs have no quality-control standards; do concentrated herbs?
The manufacturing process has very strict quality-control for the properties, water content, solubility, concentration, harmful bacteria, fungi, and heavy metal content. Quality exceeds FDA and GMP standards. See our quality control page for more information.
What form of concentrated herbs should I choose?
Powder (granules), capsules, tablets, and pills are the common forms of concentrated herbs. Of these, the powder is the most effective. When dissolved in water it is the easiest for the body to absorb.
How is the daily dosage and treatment time determined?
Treasure of the East® concentrated herbs are 5 times more concentrated than the traditional bulk herbs. Clinical dosage is not strictly 1g to 5g, since the concentrated herbs are so much stronger. Usually an adult will take 3g 3 times/day. If the symptoms are severe or the patient is in continual pain or the formula contains more than 15 single herbs, the dosage should be increased to 5g 3 times/day. Weight and age also affect dosage according to the following:
|1-2 yrs. of age
|1/5-1/4 dose
|30-40 lbs
|2-4 yrs. of age
|40-50 lbs
|4-6 yrs. of age
|50-60 lbs
|6-9 yrs. of age
|60-70 lbs
|9-14 yrs. of age
|70-80 lbs
|14-18 yrs. of age
|80-100 lbs
|18+ yrs. of age
|full dosage
|100-120 lbs
|120-150 lbs
|150-200 lbs
|200-250 lbs
|250+ lbs
The period of treatment will vary from case to case. Powerful herbs can have side effects if taken continuously over long periods. To avoid this, treatment with strong herbs should stop as soon as symptoms are alleviated. Strong herbs can be taken intermittently. Tonic herbs may be taken in small doses for long periods of time. The following herbs should not be given in large doses nor over long intervals:
Fu Zi, Chuan Wu, Cao Wao, Wu Zhu Yu, Qian Niu Zi, Xing Ren, Ban Xia, Nian Xing, Bai Fu Zi, Tian Xian Mao, Shan Ci Gu.
When should patients take the herbs?
Usually on an empty stomach either half an hour before or one hour after a meal. Some herbs should be taken at specific times. Tonic herbs should be taken before a meal; cleansing herbs must be taken on an empty stomach; sleeping herbs should be taken at bed time. If the herbs cause heartburn or stomach upset, taking them after a meal usually alleviates the problem.
Does Chinese herbal medicine interfere with western medications?
Because Chinese herbs are natural extracts they rarely interfere with other medications, but always be careful and check first.
What will help Chinese herbs become part of American mainstream medicine?
- Use concentrated chinese herbs: they are standardized, easy to take, and easy for patients to use.
- Use special formulas: A characteristic of Chinese medicine is its versatility to meet the exact needs of any patient by mixing herbs to create a special formula. Special formulas also eliminate competition between doctors and the non-prescription market because only the doctor that created a special formula can prescribe it.
- Use Treasure of the East® concentrated herbs: The raw materials are harvested in their native regions in mainland China, ensuring genuine, high-quality products. The processing is supervised with strict standards, and every effort is made to ensure product quality. Treasure of the East® carries a complete line of single herbs clinically proven to be effective.


text:
Apparently, the whole world's gone crazy for tablets (or, at least one of them). A tablet makes the perfect ultraportable companion for browsing the Web, checking e-mail, and watching movies on the go. But if tablets represent the future of portable computing, they'll need to become robust business machines, as well.
Lenovo's ThinkPad Tablet isn't the thinnest or prettiest tablet out there, and its $499 (16GB) base price doesn't make it a bargain, but it fills a niche with business users that no iPad or Honeycomb slate has been able to claim.
Editors note: For details on the advantages Android 4.0 offers over Honeycomb, check the Android 4.0 section of the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime review.
The ThinkPad Tablet feels like a coffee table book. It's a big, tough tablet, and for some professionals that's probably a selling point. Held in portrait orientation (the preferred view, judging by the direction of the logos and labels), it measures 10.2 inches tall, 7.2 inches wide, and 0.5 inch thick. A front-facing 2-megapixel camera sits in the top-right corner, with a 5-megapixel camera on the flip side. The back is covered in a nonslip matte finish tastefully emblazoned with the Lenovo and ThinkPad logos.
When it comes to distinguishing details, the first thing we noticed are the four tactile navigation buttons located on the bottom of the screen, including buttons for screen rotation lock, Web browser, back, and home. For better or worse, there are also onscreen navigation buttons above them, which are represented as back, home, recent apps, and app wheel (a Lenovo customization). We'll cut Lenovo a little slack on the oddly redundant buttons since we can imagine some professional situations in which having tactile controls is a necessity, such as a construction site or hospital, where gloves might make the screen unresponsive.
Another detail you'll notice about the ThinkPad Tablet is that it looks as if someone drilled a hole in its side. Lenovo has smartly integrated a cubbyhole into the side of the tablet for holding its optional digital pen accessory. What's more, there are holes on both the pen and the tablet that allow you to attach the pricey pen ($39.99) for safekeeping. It's the best design we've seen yet for those who need regular access to a pen digitizer. If you don't plan on using the ThinkPad Tablet with a stylus, Lenovo includes a plastic cover that plugs the hole.
Lenovo's spin on Android
Android tablet makers are in a tough position. Android purists are always quick to criticize when a manufacturer monkeys with Google's code or bundles in unnecessary software. But without these idiosyncrasies, it's nearly impossible to make a Honeycomb tablet that can stand out and showcase a company's brand.
For better or worse, the Android 3.1 installed on the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet is not for purists. It comes with more than 30 applications preinstalled, ranging from big names like Netflix and Kindle to in-house productions, like SocialTouch (a messaging aggregator) and Lenovo App Shop.
The best of Android 3.1 is still here, though. You get the official Android Market, along with Google's mobile apps for Maps, Gmail, Navigation, Books, and Google Talk. The celebrated Honeycomb Web browser is located literally front and center on the ThinkPad Tablet's home screen, housed within an editable dashboard of common actions (watch videos, read e-mail, listen to music, and read books). Lenovo calls this central dashboard the Lenovo Launcher, and though we thought it was a useful addition, you have the freedom to delete it if you choose.
Unfortunately, there is one Lenovo customization you can't change. On the bottom of the screen, positioned at the center of the navigation bar, is an odd speech-bubble icon that launches an overlay of your favorite apps. Lenovo calls this feature the App Wheel, and as the name implies, you navigate through these apps by spinning through the overlay like a Lazy Susan. An additional icon at the center of the wheel allows you to add or delete apps from this quick list. We like the concept, but it ultimately ends up creating more clutter and confusion. With the standard app drawer accessible from the upper-right corner, and recently used apps accessible from the lower-left corner, Honeycomb has no need for a third app menu in a third corner.
Business features
We don't see the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet as the kind of tablet most consumers would order for themselves. No, like many ThinkPads, this is more likely to be the sort of thing your company orders for you.
Lenovo has deep ties with corporate IT and enterprise customers, and a tradition of providing customized packages and reliable support. In that same tradition, the ThinkPad Tablet software can be completely tailored, down to customized app stores.


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Age of Mythology is the third game from the Age of Empires Series, taking place in Mythical Times far before the rise of modern civilization. Players choose from 3 cultures (Norse, Greek, Egyptian), and then shape the development by worshiping gods; different gods reward the player with different mythological beasts and powers. Multiplayer is available through a matchmaking system and there is a story driven single player campaign as well.
The Golden Gift, a new official Age of Mythology campaign produced by Ensemble Studios, follows the adventures of Brokk and Eitri, two dwarven brothers featured in the original Age of Mythology Fall of the Trident campaign. This four-scenario campaign follows the brothers' first encounter with the god Loki and features all-new voice acting by the original actors.
To install Age of Mythology: The Golden Gift, you must be using Microsoft Windows® 98, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 2000, or Windows XP. Age of Mythology must also be installed prior to installing Age of Mythology: The Golden Gift.
Note: you will need to install the latest Age of Mythology update for the campaign to work properly (available for download below). Localized versions of the mini-campaign will be completed shortly, however, you can use the English version of the mini-campaign on localized versions of the game if you like.
To install Age of Mythology: The Golden Gift
Install the latest Age of Mythology update (by autoupdater).
Download the self-extracting Age of Mythology: The Golden Gift setup package. Double-click on the .exe.
The installation menu will appear. Click Install, and then follow the onscreen prompts.
Once in the game, The Golden Gift campaign will be listed under the Single Player Campaign drop down menu.
Only registered members can share their thoughts. So come on! Join the community today (totally free - or sign in with your social account on the right) and join in the conversation.


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Batman: Arkham Origins Trailer: Mobile Mayhem
If you thought consoles could contain Batman, you were wrong. Batman: Arkham Origins will also be coming to mobile devices this holiday.
Developed by NetherRealm Studios, Arkham Origins mobile is a free-to-play brawler that puts players in the shoes of Batman as he takes on the big bads from this month's console sequel. Previously, NetherRealm developed Batman: Arkham City Lockdown, the mobile version of Batman: Arkham City.
"We created an integrated gaming ecosystem between the Batman: Arkham Origins mobile and console games, which delivers rewards and unlocks that provide greater experiences for players," said Ed Boon, Creative Director, NetherRealm Studios. "The mobile game goes hand-in-hand with what is offered on the other platforms."
You'll be able to earn new batsuits and rewards as you progress, and can use in-game currency to purchase more items. If you also have the console version, you'll be able to unlock some unique content, though details on just what that content is are absent at this time.
Batman: Arkham Origins is due out on iOS later this year, while the console version will hit the PlayStation 3, PC, Wii U and Xbox 360 on Oct. 25.


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I'm exploring the web to find sites I like
Boulevard Kukulcan Km 16.5, Cancun 77500, Mexico
"Whame in Gran Melia Cancun."
Posted by: leonardito on Apr 16, 2012
see all reviews
Gran Meliá Cancún is just 15 minutes from Cancun's International Airport and 5 minutes from the city's most popular areas for shopping, dining and nightlife.
Share your experiences with others. Don't forget to send your review to Debbie by using an easy form.
"Whame in Gran Melia Cancun."
Posted by: leonardito
on Apr 16, 2012 >
30 contribution(s) Canada
Visited on: Apr, 2012 | Leisure | With Spouse/Partner
555 people found this review helpful
We spent 2 wonderful weeks at the beautiful hotel Grand Melia Cancun It is located only 25 minutes from the
airport. The Gran Melia Cancun is a very large resort and is divided into different sections. Once entering the
resort, you will be pleasantly surrounded by vines hanging down and lovely ponds where you can observe some happy and
liveley fish swimming in a clean environment. The lounge area had a lot of seating and was very relaxing. The hotel
was immaculately clean at all the times. As for the staff, they are simply the best. They really all work hard and
are always pleasant and helpful with the guest.
Thanks to Rolf and his A-Team, the Hotel has a very high standard of service and organisation.
The restaurants were fantastic. We were especially impressed with the quality of the food. The wait staff were always
checking with us to see if we needed something. The food was simply delicious in all the a la carte restaurants and
also in the buffet. Also one of our favorite was Tempo. It is adult only and located on the ground floor of the
main pyramid and serves contemporary Mediterranean dishes. You will find nothing less than 4 AAA Diamonds
gastronomie. The Ku-Nah Mexican restaurant was also very pleasant with a good choice of menu. Carlos, the F&B
manager, and who is in charge of making sure you gain 10 lbs,during your vacation did a good job of it.
The beach in front of the hotel is one of the best from resorts in Cancun. Swimming was great and the turquoise
color of the ocean is unbelievable. The pools were very pleasant and the main one had a swim-up bar. They were
always clean and inviting.
Our suite was an Ocean Front on the 8th floor, tower 3. What a view from our terrace we had. It was a large and
confortable suite. The housekeeping staff gave us an excellent service.
This vacation was one of the best ones we have had, and if we have a chance to return we will.
If you are looking for relaxation, with good food and drinks, beautiful beach and pool, great service, and management
who cares, this is the place to be.
Room Number:
Room Block:
"WARNING - not an all inclusive resort, nice hotel"
Posted by: ian
on Jan 5, 2012 >
1 contribution(s) Canada
Visited on: Dec, 2011 | Leisure | With Group
572 people found this review helpful
We were all looking forward to the resort (9 of us) that we had read about and seen on the web sites. Beautiful resort but so disappointing. The outdoor bars open 10-5 (2) and one inside open 6-11. No entertainment, the place closes down at 11, and I mean closes down at 11. lights in lobby turned off, and no one at front desk. Any type of entertainment you must leave the resort and pay for.
We attended as an all inclusive, but had to sign off on every thing . The al a cartes were booked solid, got in the last two days we were there. One buffet restuarant inside and a smaller reduced buffet outside during the day 12-4.
Stayed over news years. thought would be great party. Boy were we wrong. A party was available for a price, $230 american per person. We ended up at the bar that they kept open to 1130 on newyears? and had last call to get you to newyears!!!!!!
Made us check out at 12pm, remove are all inclusive band. Our pick up was not until 630pm. If you wanted food or drinks between this time YOU payed. Had to beg for a room for 3 hrs between 12-3 ( we had 9 of in the party). Tried charging us for stuff we didnt take. They gave us a lunch voucher to eat between this time.
I have never been to a chincy place like this. Not even 3 star Cuban resorts are this cheap.
Have been to Cancun 5 times, and seen other reviews that say how great this place is... If your 55+ this is place is for you. otherwise STAY AWAY .. go to a three star and have some fun...
We will be contacting Thomas Cooke travel to let them know that this place is not as advertised.
arrived late. checked in ok
Rooms were very nice, clean and nice views
Restaurants and Bars:
buffet good. outdoor buffet limited.
bar open till 11?
cancun. always rough strong undertoe. I like it but not that safe for kids
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
"Just ok, not a five star."
Posted by:
Al_Canada on Apr 1, 2009 >
1 contribution(s) Canada
Visited on: Apr, 2009 | Leisure | With Spouse/Partner
606 people found this review helpful
Arrival: Apr 10 - 17
Sunquest Tour/Air Transat..ok, except for usual sales pitch @ airport, inside hotel lobby
..just ok..not a 5 star - oceanview but only if you stood up - concrete on both sides - felt like you were enclosed in it..do not use the mini bar unless you want a big bill upon leaving..they charged us for water & sodas even though it was all inclusive..we had to fight with them to take it off our bill - bathroom dark & dingy ..needs makeover
Restaurants and Bars
food ok..a la carte good but could not get in to 1 of them...so we ate off the resort a few times
sooo windy, could not use the beach for walking for 7 days..could not swim for 7 days..no beach left cuz of hurricane ravaged coastline..sales people on beach selling other properties...
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel
no shows!!..singer (a man & a woman another nite in the piano bar) spa, expensive..gym..did not go on tours..too windy to take ferries...took buses to town & shopping a few times cuz we were bored..
Other Comments
not a great value for your money - no better than a 3 1/2 or 4 star that we've stayed in - not good for people who cannot walk a lot..everything far and lots of steps..(60 of them if you went off the resort to return to the lobby) Only impressive part was the lobby..internet was free if you logged off everytime you use it..all in all not impressed with resort, cancun(our 4th time) and Mexico..will go elsewhere next time


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Stem cell approach for Parkinson's disease gets boost
Postmortem study finds patients still have transplanted neurons
Transplanted cells can flourish for over a decade in the brain of a person with Parkinson's disease, scientists write in the June 26 Cell Reports. Finding that these cells have staying power may encourage clinicians to pursue stem cell transplants, a still-experimental way to counter the brain deterioration that comes with Parkinson's.
Penelope Hallett of Harvard University and McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass., and colleagues studied postmortem brain tissue from five people with advanced Parkinson's. The five had received stem cell transplants between four and 14 years earlier. In all five people's samples, neurons that originated from the transplanted cells showed signs of good health and appeared capable of sending messages with the brain chemical dopamine, a neurotransmitter that Parkinson's depletes.


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Published November 7, 2013
Local TV and radio covered the announcement yesterday that UB, representing a group of eight research universities and institutions including the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute (HWI), has received a $25 million grant from the National Science Foundation to develop new X-ray imaging of biomolecules that will speed the discovery of new pharmaceuticals. Eaton Lattman, UB professor of structural biology and CEO of HWI, was quoted in the YNN report describing the highly competitive nature of the grant: "It means that experts all over the country and from foreign countries valued what we proposed almost above everything else that they got to see in a very elaborate review process." Thomas Grant, UB postdoctoral researcher in structural biology at HWI, also was quoted. Pieces of a video produced by University Communications and CFA appeared in several of the TV stories.
Read more:
Media Relations (University Communications)
330 Crofts Hall (North Campus)
Buffalo, NY 14260-7015
Tel: 716-645-6969
Fax: 716-645-3765
Department of Oral Biology
University at Buffalo
135 Foster Hall
Buffalo, NY 14214
Phone: (716) 829-2844
Fax: (716) 829-3942
Department Chair
Frank Scannapieco, DMD, PhD
Assistant to the Chair
Kurt Winter, PhD


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Editor's note: This is the last of a three-part series looking at the opportunity of biofuels and new sources farmers can provide.
The number of American farms today is a mere fraction of what it was back in the era of the small farmer—even as the demand for milk, meat, cheese and eggs continues to rise. So while we have far fewer farms, we certainly do not have fewer animals. The arrival of the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) also coincided with the onset of stringent environmental regulations. First came the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act of the 1970s; then, starting in 2003, the government created 16 agriculture-specific environmental regulations, which put the onus on farms to reduce methane emissions and fertilizer and manure runoff.
Legally, the EPA now classifies CAFOs as "point source" pollution. Consequently, the roughly 8,000 permitted CAFOs in the United States are now as heavily regulated as power plants and factories. Rising public concern over CAFO and other ag-related pollution means the regulatory noose is bound to tighten further. So while farmers have plenty of "carrots" motivating them to explore the potential profitability of converting ag waste into energy (see our previous two articles), the "sticks" here are worth considering as well.
When anaerobic lagoons burst, the public outrage puts strong pressure on regulators to crack down on farms. By contrast, converting ag waste into energy reduces such risks while giving farmers positive stories to tell. Go to YouTube and you can already see examples of self-sustaining farms that run completely off the energy produced by the likes of gasifiers or biodigesters. Circulating fluidized bed boilers are being used to dispose of waste wood and generate power that can be sold to the grid. Other approaches involve capturing the methane from anaerobic lagoons and funneling this gas directly into power generators, reducing waste.
Investment needed
Does this mean creating such programs is easy or cheap? Certainly not. Setting up the technology involves planning and investment. Fortunately, there are ways to offset some of these costs. The new farm bill, for one, sets aside $881 million over the next 10 years to help farmers leverage alternative energy. Regulatory compliance also is complex and involves consulting with legal experts to win approval for designs and plans for remedial measures. After setup, operation of the new system also entails data gathering, documentation and certification. However, the regulatory structure here happens to be favorable.
While the regulations were formulated at the federal level, more accessible state officials tend to enforce them. Farmers can also consult with experts at local colleges and universities. For example, the Rutgers (NJ) EcoComplex is a wide-ranging collaboration of academics, government officials and businesspeople focused on this issue. Another university in the Southeast has a goal of being completely "off the grid" by 2020 with a portion of its future power supply coming from ag wastes converted into energy. Likewise, your local university might be a valuable resource.
Running afoul of the government can be one of life's worst nightmares. Unfortunately, many U.S. CAFOs are on a collision course with regulators. And so the up-front investment required to launch an energy program should be weighed against the cost of staying the same. New approaches represent a win-win for farmers—cutting both waste and risk while boosting the bottom line.
Roy M. Palk, Esq., is senior energy adviser for LeClairRyan and the former president and CEO of East Kentucky Power Cooperative. He can be contacted at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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When David Cameron announced in his Big Society speech last spring that he intended to create a "neighbourhood army" of 5,000 full-time, professional community organisers, most people probably imagined that he was talking about mobilising the kind of worthy folk who habitually volunteer for good deeds.
He spoke glowingly of training such organisers with the skills needed to identify local community leaders, help people start their own neighbourhood groups and assist communities to tackle their problems.
What could possibly be wrong with that? Well, to those with tuned-in antennae the word "army" was one clue that something was very wrong with it. For what Cameron almost certainly didn't realise was that the inspirational leader he credited with creating the concept of the community organiser, Saul Alinsky, was a man who did believe in the creation of an army — a revolutionary army, no less, to overthrow Western society. And the community organiser was its designated recruiting-sergeant.
It's a fair bet that hardly anyone in Britain has heard of Alinsky, a radical Marxist Chicago activist who died in 1972. A master of infiltration, Alinsky wooed Chicago mobsters and Wall Street financiers alike. Successive Democratic politicians fell under his spell — including one Barack Obama, who worked as an Alinskyite community organiser before entering politics.
Mesmerised by Obama's stunning political trajectory and hoping that some of the glitter of America's First Community Organiser would settle upon the Big Society idea, Cameron was only too keen to extol Alinsky as his own inspiration.
Astonishing as this may seem, Britain's new Conservative Prime Minister thus effectively declared himself a follower of a left-wing radical who set out to undermine Western society through subterfuge.
For Alinsky was a "transformational Marxist" in the mould of Antonio Gramsci. He promoted the strategy of a "long march through the institutions" by capturing the culture and turning it inside out as the most effective means of starting the revolution.
His creed was set out in Rules for Radicals, which he dedicated to Lucifer, whom he called the "first radical". For Alinsky, "change" was his mantra. Sound familiar? It was the slogan repeated incessantly by both Cameron and Obama. But what Alinsky meant was a Marxist revolution achieved by slow, incremental, Machiavellian means.
This had to be done through systematic deception, winning the trust of the naively idealistic middle-class by using the language of morality to conceal an agenda designed to destroy it. And the way to do this, he said, was through "people's organisations" set up by community organisers.


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This story is from the category Health
Date posted: 04/02/2013
Researchers using a newly approved advanced computed tomography (CT) system were able to significantly reduce radiation exposure in patients undergoing coronary CT angiography (CCTA), according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.
"Radiation exposure during diagnostic imaging is a substantial public concern," said Marcus Y. Chen, M.D., lead author of the study from the advanced cardiovascular imaging laboratory at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. "Minimizing radiation exposure while maintaining diagnostic-quality scans is clearly feasible with this new second-generation 320detector row CT scanner."
CCTA is a valuable noninvasive imaging exam with high diagnostic accuracy. The exam is particularly effective and safe for the exclusion of significant coronary artery disease in patients arriving at the emergency department with acute chest pain. However, the clinical benefit of CCTA has been tempered by concerns of potential future cancer risk from the radiation exposure. Technologic advances have evolved to allow radiologists to not only reduce radiation exposure to the patient but also to improve image acquisition.
This study represents the initial coronary angiography results obtained with a prototype 320detector row CT system recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The new system holds several technical advantages over its first-generation counterpart, including a gantry rotation time of 275 milliseconds, wide volume coverage, iterative reconstruction, automated exposure control, and a larger x-ray power generator.
For the study, Dr. Chen and colleagues performed contrastenhanced CCTA with a second-generation 320-slice CT system on 107 adult patients (mean age, 55.4) and compared radiation exposure and image quality to those of CCTA exams previously performed on 100 patients using a first-generation 320-slice scanner.
Effective radiation dose was estimated by multiplying the dose-length producta calculation of the radiation dose for a series of scans or entire examinationby an effective dose conversion factor and reported with size-specific dose estimates (SSDEs). Image quality was evaluated by two independent readers.
The median radiation dose was 0.93 millisieverts (mSv) with the second-generation unit and 2.67 mSv with the first-generation unit. The median SSDE was 6.0 milligray (mGy) with the second-generation unit and 13.2 mGy with the first-generation unit. Overall, the radiation dose was less than 0.5 mSv for 23 of the 107 CT angiography examinations (21.5 percent), less than 1 mSv for 58 (54.2 percent), and less than 4 mSv for 103 (96.3 percent). All studies were of diagnostic quality, with most having excellent image quality.
"The second-generation CT scanner provided excellent image quality over a wide range of body sizes and heart rates at low radiation doses," Dr. Chen said. "The low dose achieved during CT angiography could be used to minimize overall radiation dose to the patient or to enable additional types of imaging within reasonable radiation doses."
See the full Story via external site: www2.rsna.org
Most recent stories in this category (Health):
03/03/2017: Interactive health apps may inspire healthy behaviors, but watch the tone


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Quick & Healthy Recipes: Almond "Milk"
Although almond milk is becoming widely available in supermarkets across the country (especially now that Silk sells its own variety), nothing beats the taste of a homemade batch.
Almond milk recipes have been around for decades and can be found in a variety of books and websites. By no means is this an original concept of mine.
That said, the version below is the one I have found to be ideal for me in terms of taste and texture after much experimentation.
YIELDS: 4 cups
1.5 cups soaked raw almonds (see note about soaking after recipe)
4 cups cold water
1/8 teaspoon salt
Combine almonds, water, and salt in blender. Process for at least one minute.
Place a cheesecloth, fine sieve, or nutmilk bag over a large container. Pour "milk" into cheesecloth, sieve, or nutmilk bag. For smoothest results, repeat this step one more time.
That's it!
- You can make this with any nut or seed. I have made pecan milk (delicious!), cashew milk, hazelnut milk, and hempseed milk.
- The ratio of nuts/seeds to water determines the texture and consistency of the final product. For a creamier milk, decrease the ratio. For a thinner liquid, increase it. Experiment!
- Try different flavorings! One of my favorites for this recipe is to add 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract and half a teaspoon of cinnamon before blending. For chocolate nutmilk, add 1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder. Strawberry milk? Throw in a small handful of strawberries into the blender after you've made the milk. Other sweet suggestions that I have used in the past: half a banana; one or two figs/pitted dates.
- The fat and fiber content in this milk is not equal to the amount in the number of almonds used to make it. After you strain the milk, you will have a significant amount of solid almond lump left behind (which, by the way, you can combine with cocoa powder, a tablespoon of the sweetener of your choice, and some shredded coconut in a food processor and then spread over a baking sheet and bake for a delicious granola-like snack).
- For easier blending in conventional blenders (and for better flavor), I highly recommend soaking the almonds in the refrigerator for 8 to 12 hours first (any container will do, just make sure to completely cover the almonds in water). If you are using soaked almonds, drain the soaked liquid from the container, rinse two or three times, and then go ahead and make your milk.
- Almond milk lasts 3 days in the refrigerator. It is super versatile; I have used it in coffee, over cereal, and in smoothies.


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The possibilities for these satisfying bites are endless. Consider using goat cheese instead of the cheddar, some sliced onion and perhaps some herbs.
Mini Pizzas Served on a Toasted English MuffinOther quick savory treats to please your palate from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
4 - 6 english muffins, sliced in the middle
pasta sauce
shredded extra old cheddar cheese
freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
pitted Kalamata olives, sliced
Jalapeno peppers, seeded and sliced into rounds
red chili powder flakes
Toast the english muffins.
Cover each round with pasta sauce, top with cheddar cheese, Parmesan if using, olives, Jalapenos and red pepper flakes. Transfer to the oven rack and broil until the cheese is melted - about five minutes.
Note: Just in case you are over zealous with the toppings, you will want to ensure you have an oven liner or a strip of aluminum foil on the rack below the pizzas just in case the cheese spills over. Us cooks know what it is like to have a spill over in the oven and what a mess it can be to clean up.
This recipe can be increased or decreased as desired.
Devilled Curried Eggs
Goat Cheese Olive Balls
Wine Inspired Popcorn
Lisa's Spicy Nachos
On the top of the reading stack: blogs that I have been meaning to keep up with.
Audio Accompaniment: A tribute to Alvin 'Kojo' Brown. Nice chillin' music. Apparently he was a mentor to Black Uhuru among other reggae musicians.


text: The second part of The Best Football Players in UNT History picks up where part one left off. For the sake of brevity and to avoid redundancy, I have left off an introductory statement. Those interested in reading the introduction as well as finding out players 10-6 should follow this link here. 5. Brian Waters Brian Waters seems to be one of the unsung heroes of the UNT football program, and really the North Texas athletic program altogether. But as any football fan can tell you, that often seems to be the case with any offensive lineman.


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The Electrician program will train you to install, alter, repair and maintain electrical systems designed to provide heat, light, power, control, signals or fire alarms for all types of buildings and premises.
Application Deadlines
All application deadlines, start dates and training schedules are posted on the Tradesecrets website.
Career Options
Electricians work for construction and maintenance contractors, manufacturers, resource companies and other large organizations. Membership in a trade union is voluntary; however, some contractors only employ unionized workers.
Grad Employment Rate
Employment rates reported by NAIT alumni are for information purposes and do not guarantee future employment opportunities.
Median Starting Salary
Salaries reported by NAIT alumni are for information purposes and are not a guarantee of future alumni income.
Tuition & Fees (Cost per semester)
Tuition Cap: $1176.00
Tuition International
Entrance Requirements
All applicants are required to meet the following academic and subject prerequisites.
This program has additional entrance requirements in addition to academic prerequisites.


text: Sijun Forums :: View topic - Finished Image Log in to check your private messages Sijun Forums Forum Index >> Archive : Sep99 - Dec00 View previous topic :: View next topic Author Topic : "Finished Image" Chanjunior memberMember #Joined: 17 Nov 2000Posts: 8 Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2000 3:32 pm A new years pic for my website What do you think? C&C appreciated. -Chan EDEN [This message has been edited by Chan (edited December 29, 2000).] Back to top daz199memberMember #Joined: 30 Dec 1999Posts: 415Location: Surrey, BC, Canada Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2000 3:34 pm very nice love tha hair.. Back to top LoudmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2000Posts: 80Location: Neola, Utah, USA Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2000 4:21 pm Looks yummy. The only thing that kinda throws it off for me is that the snake looks like it's 'floating' and has no real weight on the girl making it less dynamic. Excellent pic though. =) Back to top [ArcanE]junior memberMember #Joined: 29 Dec 2000Posts: 25Location: Maasmechelen, Belgium Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2000 4:36 pm Great pic dude ... but there is just something i don't like in the dress ... add more detail and it just might help ... maybe someone else is thinkin the same and can get out of his words to explain but currently i don't actually know whats bothering me about her dress ... Back to top EviLToYLeTmemberMember #Joined: 09 Aug 2000Posts: 1216Location: CA, USA Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2000 5:42 pm ..the dresses color is too falt....if that's what your wondering.. by having a snake clenching around her there should be numerous folds of clothing and areas where the clothign will be pushed in along with the skin. Anyway, really cool picture.....but I think the snake wins the tounge stickign contest Back to top sacreliciousmemberMember #Joined: 27 Oct 2000Posts: 1072Location: Isla Vista, CA Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2000 5:47 pm I think this is awesome. I don't think that the snake would put much strain on the girl, and I also like the dress as it is. I like how you've captured the texture of snakeskin, very well done. All in all an excellent job. ------------------ mmm... sacrelicious Back to top Kristiaanjunior memberMember #Joined: 29 Dec 2000Posts: 4Location: Leeuwarden, Netherlands Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2000 5:52 pm Beautiful, really!! I think that the shadow parts on the skin of the girl could be of some more weight. I think it would improve the image. The snake, as well as the dress and the girl's hair, have heavy shadow parts, but the girl's skin is a bit too 'soft'.. The shadow on the skin on the extreme left (top of her arm) is just the right color. Back to top SolitairememberMember #Joined: 03 Nov 2000Posts: 429Location: Hamburg (Germany) Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2000 6:49 pm *sniff* my year has gone (dragon) Back to top Chanjunior memberMember #Joined: 17 Nov 2000Posts: 8 Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2000 9:49 pm Kristiaan: I see what you're saying about the girl's shading... Yeah, I guess it should be darker. The extended arm looks kinda flat and could use that extra shadow. Loud: I was lucky the snake turned out as good as it did ^_^;; I agree that the snake and the girl don're really "interact" enough. The hand around its neck could really use some work. The dress... I'm not having as much of a problem with that. I see what you guys are saying, though. Thanks for the C&C! -Chan EDEN Back to top JerrymemberMember #Joined: 28 Oct 2000Posts: 306Location: Canada, Ontario Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2000 1:12 am Looking Good... they said everything I wanted to. ------------------ -KARN- Forever. Die? Never KARN's Page Back to top RinaldomemberMember #Joined: 09 Jun 2000Posts: 1367Location: Adelaide, Australia Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2000 10:13 am Nice! I don't think some of your edges are working as well as the could be. they are a bit hard around the outline and there isn't a whole lot of contrast seperating her from the BG. It could be that what you've done is the best way to go though. softer edges can make it looka bit more realistic sometimes as opposed to looking "cut out". just a few thougths, I really like the design of it. Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Sijun Forums Forum Index -> Archive : Sep99 - Dec00 All times are GMT - 8 Hours Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Digital Art----------------Digital Art DiscussionWork in ProgressGallery/Finished Work Miscellaneous----------------Random MusingsArchive : Sep99 - Dec00 You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum Powered by phpBB © 2005 phpBB Group


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Dark Shadows star and fellow Canadian Jonathan Frid has passed away at the age of 87, according to Digital Spy.
"The 87-year-old actor reportedly died of natural causes at Juravinski Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario," says the website. "Frid also starred in 1973 television movie The Devil's Daughter and 1974 film horror Seizure. He filmed a cameo appearance – his final acting credit – in Tim Burton's forthcoming film remake of Dark Shadows, which stars Johnny Depp as Barnabas."
Frid spent much of his career outside of Dark Shadows on the stage, from production on Broadway to across North America. But needless to say he will always be associated with the vampire patriarch of the Collins clan from the gothic nighttime soap produced by ABC through the 60s and 70s. And naturally, the remembrances for Frid, and his place in pop culture history, are rolling in.
"The death of Jonathan Frid today at age 87 has left all of us at MPI deeply saddened," said Malik Ali, CEO of MPI Media Group, home of the Dark Shadows Series on DVD "As a gifted actor in the role of Barnabas Collins, Jonathan was the heart and soul of 'Dark Shadows' and, as recently as last week, was graciously taking part in activities surrounding the series. He never tired of meeting fans and was always excited to hear about new 'Dark Shadows' releases. Most recently, Frid filmed a cameo appearance for Tim Burton and Johnny Depp's upcoming 'Dark Shadows' movie, along with fellow original cast members Kathryn Leigh Scott, David Selby and Lara Parker. MPI remains committed to preserving Jonathan's legacy, and that of everyone who helped make 'Dark Shadows' an enduring and beloved phenomenon."
Rest in Peace Mr. Frid.
Source: Comic Book Movie
Category: Uncategorized


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850 Blanshard St., Victoria, BC, Canada, V8W 2H2
Phone: (250) 385-6787 Fax: (250) 385-5800
Supports Green Practices
"Supports Green Initiatives" designates a hotel's participation in an optional environmental program that includes the use of energy-efficient lighting, guestroom towel/linen re-use, and on-premise recycling. "Supports Green Initiatives" does not represent an official certification of any kind.
Join free while you book
There is no catch. Join for free, and get access to exclusive perks!
Access to exclusive promotions and low, member-only pricing
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Exclusive flexible rate for Choice Privileges members when you book direct at ChoiceHotels.ca or through the Choice Hotels Mobile App. Valid at most International and U.S. Choice Hotels locations. Must be or become a Choice Privileges member prior to making the booking. Discount rate is non-transferable or redeemable for cash, cannot be used for future stays or existing reservations and may not be combined with other promotions, offers or discounts. Unless otherwise stated, quoted rates are per room, per night, based on single/double occupancy and do not include taxes, gratuities or incidental charges. Early departure fees, deposit and cancellation restrictions may apply and will vary by hotel. Not valid at vacation rental properties.
The Quality Inn® Downtown Inner Harbour is a boutique-style hotel located just two blocks from Victoria's Inner Harbour and within walking distance of Beacon Hill Park, Royal BC Museum, Victoria Bug Zoo, Royal London Wax Museum and the Victoria Conference Centre.
This Victoria hotel is close to many shopping areas, theatres and the central business district. A variety of restaurants and cocktail lounges are located in the surrounding area.
Guests of this 100% smoke-free Victoria hotel enjoy amenities including free high-speed Internet access in some rooms, free weekday newspaper and free local calls as well as a 10% food discount at the delicious onsite restaurant and pub.
All beautiful, spacious guest rooms come equipped with refrigerators, free coffee and tea, hair dryers, irons and ironing boards. Kitchen facilities are available in some rooms. Guests are invited to enjoy a workout in the exercise room or relax in the indoor heated pool and steam room.
Corporate travellers will appreciate the meeting rooms, which can accommodate up to 40 people for most events and business functions.
Check-In Time: 15:00 Check-Out Time: 11:00 Guest Rooms: 63


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Huset's Speedway Announces Pay-Per-View
Huset's Speedway is now offering pay-per-view event streaming of nearly every event through a new partnership with Stretch Internet. Stretch Internet is one of the largest sports streaming companies in the United States.
Events scheduled for broadcast will be available live and on demand. To view the 2014 schedule of streamed events, visit the Huset's Portal.
Desktop computer users will need Flash 10.0 or greater and an Internet connection with a download speed of at least 1.0 Mbps (1,000 Kbps) for video broadcasts. You can measure your connection speed.
Stretch Internet streams are also currently supported on the iPhone platform, which includes the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad plus mobile devices that fully support Flash 10.1.
The audio for the broadcasts will be play-by-play by the track announcers. It will come directly from the Huset's Speedway PA system.
Fans have already signed up from around the globe from as far away as Australia.


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Q: Should I pump to increase my milk supply?
A: If your newborn has at least three yellow stools and six wet diapers a day and is gaining weight properly (1 ounce per day until about 3 months of age), chances are you're producing enough milk and don't need to pump. In fact, pumping when you have an adequate milk supply can be detrimental, says Corky Harvey, M.S., R.N., a certified lactation consultant and co-owner of The Pump Station in Santa Monica and Hollywood, Calif. Heres why: If you produce so much that your baby doesn't take it all in a feeding, the unreleased milk can lead to clogged ducts or mastitis. Plus, Harvey says, you don't need to add the extra work of pumping to your already full day. As for your baby wanting to feed often: Its perfectly normal and necessary for newborns to nurse virtually around the clock. Expect your baby to nurse eight to 12 times in 24 hours, Harvey says.For more information on milk supply and other topics related to nursing, visit pumpstation.com and click on Breastfeeding Information.


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ReleasesBack to
Walter Bishop Jr.
Originally issued in 1960 and subsequently reissued multiple times in a variety of formats, the trumpeter Dizzy Reece's fourth Blue Note outing as a leader is here presented in Super Audio CD format by the APO label. While it would have been nice to see a bit more material on a reissue like this (with at least a couple of alternate takes), the original program is densely packed with high-quality music and makes for a solidly satisfying listening experience on its own. The opening track, interestingly enough, is both a ballad and a standard: on "Ghost of a Chance" Reece plays with a buttery, burnished tone that coats the familiar melody in a golden haze like the quality of light at dusk. The sun rises again on the next track, a midtempo number titled "Once in a While," and the tempo ratchets up another notch on "Eb Pob," a rather undistinguished composition on the "I Got Rhythm" changes that is completely redeemed by the quality of the solos. "Yesterday" finds pianist Walter Bishop delivering a curiously lackadaisical solo, but he gets back in the groove on a wonderful version of "Our Love Is Here to Stay." The program ends with a nice, bouncy blues original titled "Blue Streak." Throughout the album, Reece digs into his bag of sonic tricks without ever doing anything that detracts from the music itself. Soundin' Off is a little bit uneven, but is never less than a solid pleasure to listen to. ~ Rick Anderson


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Top notes, quotes & anecdotes from YSU spring practice
by Joe Scalzo - "A blog about YSU Penguin athletics, not the insides of penguins." | 155 entries
When I think back on Youngstown State's 2012 spring practice, one moment sticks out. It came at the end of the spring game luncheon, when WFMJ-TV's Dana Balash asked Eric Wolford, "Do you expect to be in the playoffs next year?"
"No question," Wolford said. "No question."
I mention this because on Saturday, after the 2013 spring game, I realized I hadn't asked Wolford a single question about the playoffs during spring practice. He never brought it up. And the only time any of YSU's players talked about the playoffs was when I asked them about it.
It was a low-key, businesslike, under-the-radar kind of spring capped by a windy, cold Red-White game witnessed by 300 hearty souls in the stands (and a few hundred others in the loges).
In short, O'Douls creates a bigger buzz than YSU did this spring. And I think that's a good thing.
Wolford's confidence can be fun — especially when he gives us headline-grabbing quotes — but after three postseason-less years, he seems to understand that it often rubs fans the wrong way, especially when YSU doesn't deliver.
I wouldn't say Wolford has mellowed but he's gotten better at honing his message in the media. And, as he likes to say, "There's a standard around here. And we embrace it."
So I'll wrap up spring the same way we did last year, with the same question (which I sent via text on Saturday): Do you expect to be in the playoffs this season?
Wolford's response: "We always expect to be in the playoffs. This is Youngstown State."
I attended most of YSU's 15 spring practices and the moment that sticks out to me came after the second scrimmage, when YSU's defensive linemen were forced to walk up and down the Stambaugh Stadium steps four times — once for every offsides penalty.
Those steps are brutal, by the way, and I imagine it didn't help that offensive tackle Kyle Bryant was laughing and waving at them. (Octavius Brown, YSU's 6-foot, 300-pound defensive tackle, seemed especially miserable.)
Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Joe Tresey was (predictably) screaming at a group of defenders on the field, while
Wolford just chuckled.
"Coach Tresey's blowing a gasket," Wolford said. "It wouldn't be practice without that, would it? He needs some medicine. But it keeps me from having to yell. We've seen what happens when the head coach yells a lot."
Here are my other highlights from camp:
Most improved player — offense: WR Marcel Caver, who played sparingly as a redshirt freshman last fall but could be a big-time threat this fall. He's always had speed but he's starting to figure out how to play the position. (Honorable mention: RB Demond Hymes, who improved his blocking and seized the No. 1 spot to replace Jamaine Cook. Also, RB Adaris Bellamy looked really good before going down with a sprained AC joint.)
Most improved player — defense: I'm giving this to YSU's entire secondary, particularly cornerbacks Dale Peterman and Julius Childs. Both started every game last season but they seem to have made the jump from OK to really good.
Biggest player: Kyle Bryant, who is listed at 6-7, 320 and looks it.
Smallest player: Walk-on kicker Tyler Hogan, who is listed at 5-5, 130 and looks it.
Best beard: OT Andrew Sinko. ("He looks like an Amishman," Wolford said.)
Worst beard: OG Chris Elkins, who could get this award named after him. ("It's something that never really worked for me," he said.)
Worst mustache: OG Fred Herdman, who could get this award named after him.
Best interview: WR Christian Bryan. Insightful and honest, especially when it comes to his own performance. And he's very passionate about the game. You can tell he loves it. (Honorable mention: Kyle Bryant, DE Nate Cox.)
Interview I missed the most: OT Andrew Radakovich, who graduated. Man, I'm gonna miss that guy. He knew what to do with a funny question.
Most improved interview: Chris Elkins, who went from an F as a freshman to … well, a C-minus anyway. Good guy. Good lineman. Just doesn't have much to say.
Blandest interview: QB Kurt Hess. I'm convinced he could find something good to say about the Ebola virus. Good guy, though. Always looks on the bright side.
Worst position switch: Dante Nania, who moved to safety at the beginning of spring after two years at quarterback.
Best position switch: Nania, who moved back to quarterback after seven practices. Keep him there.
Most intriguing player: Kicker Joey Cejudo, who has a big leg. Just needs to get more consistent. (Honorable mention: RB Jordan Thompson, who was booted off the team last summer with lousy grades but attended every practice this spring. If he gets his grades in order, he could be a BIG difference-maker in the fall.)
Best nickname: "Biscuit," for Octavius Brown. I didn't get a chance to ask him how he got it, but something about it just works. (Also, when Wolford called Kurt Hess "Hester," I asked him if it was in honor of Bears kick returner Devin Hester. "Yeah," Hess said. "It's because of my versatility. I can play any position." This was as funny as any quote I've gotten from Hess in almost four years. There might be hope yet.)
Best interception return: DT D.J. Moss (5-11, 290), who picked off a tipped ball in the first scrimmage and tried to take it to the house before Wolford blew the whistle. "He doesn't have a lot of experience running with the football," Wolford said. "But I gave him the game ball, so he's all excited. That story will grow to, 'I picked off a ball in the North Dakota State game, ran it back and we won a championship.'"
Best diet: Adaris Bellamy, who dropped 13 pounds by becoming a pescetarian, a diet that eliminates red meat and poultry and keeps seafood. It emphasizes veggies.
Diet I won't be trying in this — or any other — lifetime: Pescetarianism.
Sign I'm getting old: Marcel Caver has absolutely no idea who Terry Glenn was.
Sign Wolford thinks he's getting old: He turned 42 this spring. ("I'm on the back end of this thing," he said. "I'm only going to live until about 50 or 60.")
Worst sunglasses: Wolford's. They actually had little lightning bolts on the side. ("What are those, Wal-Mart sunglasses?" safety Donald D'Alesio asked him.)
Worst injury: Bellamy's shoulder sprain. It would have been an interesting battle for the starting running back spot between him and Hymes.
Lamest injury: WR Michael Wheary, who missed a practice with an ingrown toenail.
Number of FCS playoff teams this season: 24, up from 20. (Also, Appalachian State and Georgia Southern won't be eligible since they're transitioning to the FBS.)
Excuses YSU will have if it misses the playoffs: Zero.
Finally, here are the five quotes I loved the most:
1. From Bellamy, on growing up on and off the field: "Coach [Wolford] always talks about how when you do the same thing expecting different results, you're just practicing insanity. That just stuck in my head. Everything I did before, I got the same results.
"I figured if I change it, I could get in the game more and build a better relationship with my coaches and my team. And I felt like changing would make me grow as a person on the field and in life."
2. Bryant, on "only" being 6-5 1/2 thanks to his 5-5 mother: "I get my shortness from my mom."
3. Cox, on what his junior college coach told him when he wanted to get back into football after a five-year stint in the Marines that included a five-month stint in Afghanistan: "Well, if you were able to do all that, I think I can make you into a community college football player."
4. Cox, on adjusting to civilian life after being in the military: "I'd see guys complaining that McDonald's food wasn't fast enough and I just wanted to grab somebody."
5. Wolford, on WR Andrew Williams' hometown of Bowman, S.C.: "Listen, they don't even have running water. They don't have cable. They just got the big dish. Remember those dishes from cable TV years and years ago? Those are new down there."
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Why Republicans (Finally) Opposed SOPA and PIPA
Originally House bill SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and Senate bill PIPA (Protect IP Act) were bipartisan bad policy. The Senate version was reported unanimously from The Judiciary Committee and was supported not only by Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) but also by the Senior Republican on the committee, Orrin Hatch (R-UT), These bills, written largely by Hollywood lobbyists, would have done great harm to Internet-enhanced freedom both in the United States and around the world. They were a massive over-reaction to the real (although not well quantified) problems of content piracy and counterfeit goods on the Internet. Oh yeah, they also helped protect Hollywood from "new media", legitimate or otherwise.
Internet denizens used the net and social media to fight back…and companies like Google and Facebook lobbied in more traditional ways as well. Wikipedia went dark for a day in protest exciting a rebuke from former Sen. Chris Dodd – yeah, the guy who received special treatment from the mortgage companies he defended in Congress, who is now the CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America:
"It is an irresponsible response and a disservice to people who rely on them for information and use their services.
"It is also an abuse of power given the freedoms these companies enjoy in the marketplace today, It's a dangerous and troubling development when the platforms that serve as gateways to information intentionally skew the facts to incite their users in order to further their corporate interests."
Wikipedia, of course, is a free service; it's supported by donations. But Dodd thinks it is inappropriate for it to withhold service for a day to make a point. Of course, we all know what happens if a content provider can't reach agreement with a cable service - blackout. But that's OK; it's just about the money. But I digress.
By and large the first politicians to desert SOPA and PIPA were Republicans. This surprised many of my more liberal friends since, at heart, this is a civil liberties issue and they think of Democrats as being more committed to civil liberties. Here's Dan Gillmor:
"Two more Republican senators have withdrawn support for Internet censorship today, adding to a growing unease in Congress over what lawmakers had been poised to do with SOPA/PIPA. But the Democrats, for the most part, are still firmly in support of this pernicious legislation.
"For example, both California senators, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, are co-sponsors of PIPA. They've taken Hollywood's side against Silicon Valley and the great majority of their constituents -- choosing to help an industry that holds back progress over one that creates it…
"I lived in Vermont for many years, and was a huge fan of Patrick Leahy, the longtime Democratic senior senator from the Green Mountain State. His ardent desire to pass PIPA is a sad reminder of how a man who once believed in civil liberties -- freedom of speech in this case -- has become a bought-and-paid-for hack on some issues, such as this one.
"Yes, many powerful GOP members -- especially Texas Rep. Lamar Smith, chief sponsor and author of SOPA -- remain firmly on the copyright cartel's side. But it won't be long, if current trends, before we'll have to call the Republicans the party of progress on this issue."
Now I do hope Republicans can become known as "the party of progress" on many issues, but I'm afraid I know the true reasons why Republicans quickly switched sides on this debate. It wasn't even the campaign contributions.
It was the content.
In domestic movies, Republican types are often the villains - evil bankers, car company executives, nuclear power plant operators, defilers of the environment. Oh, they don't always wear GOP pins, but we know who they are.
On the other hand, how many movies have you seen about evil environmental activists, labor leaders (since On The Waterfront), alternative energy developers, or community activists. These are always the good guys. And obviously Democrats.
When push came to shove, the Democrats stuck with the people who have portrayed them so nicely… and the Republicans got their revenge.
Don't worry, though; there's sure to be a sequel.
Related posts:
SOPA and PIPA are Bipartisan Bad Policy, Really Bad Policy


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Jeremy Levine
Fund: Bessemer Venture Partners
Posted by hausenpepper on 2007-11-22
I'm surprised some people on the board think poorly of Jeremy Levine.
I was really impressed with him and his former squire Mitchell Greene. They tried to do a late stage liquidity investment in my company, but ended up getting bid out by a strategic acquiring company. Sequoia was involved in the process and despite having a better brand, we were more impressed with Jeremy than the guy we were working with at Sequoia.
My only critique is that Jeremy ended up getting me to include more parties in the deal by starting with a valuation which was too low.
As long as you have a backbone, and can stand your ground, he's a very honest, upfront guy to work with.
Very intelligent too, can add more value than just $$.
Once my current venture gets some wings, I am considering offering him a board seat w/o a financing.PRIVATE: Members Only (342 Characters)


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SALT LAKE CITY—A beauty contest winner and three other teens took a plea deal on Thursday after being accused of tossing homemade bottle bombs in a Salt Lake suburb.
Kendra McKenzie Gill and the other 18-year-olds pleaded guilty to attempted possession of a chemical device, a misdemeanor.
The charges will be dismissed after they complete 200 hours of community service. In addition, each was fined $500.
Felony charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement.
The defendants were initially accused of driving around last month to toss plastic bottles filled with a toilet bowl cleaner that reacted with aluminum foil to explode. They said it was a harmless prank. No one was injured.
Gill was Miss Riverton until she relinquished her crown after her arrest.
Family members and friends of the teens packed the courtroom Thursday and traded hugs after the proceeding.
"We're just happy it didn't come to a felony charge," said Steve Reber, a friend of the Gill family.
The case was fast-tracked because none of the defendants has a criminal history, court officials said.
The other teens who settled the case were John Patrick Reagh, Shanna Marie Smith and Bryce Christopher Stone. None of the defendants commented after the hearing.
Gill topped a slate of nine beauty contestants in June in the Salt Lake City suburb, showing off years of piano training with a Scott Joplin number and taking home a $2,000 scholarship.
Contestants in the pageant—a preliminary competition for the Miss Utah and Miss America competitions—were required to sign a contract certifying they have not been convicted of a crime and don't have criminal charges pending against them.
Pageant officials can revoke a title if a contestant is criminally charged during her reign.


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Our congregation has hosted several appreciation days for groups in our community. An Appreciation Day can be a great experience for a church and the community. You might want to consider hosting one. Below are some questions and answers you might have.
How do we host an Appreciation Day?
You simply select a group from the community to invite to a service and have a meal afterward in their honor. For example, churches I have served in Florida, Wyoming and Kansas have all had Appreciation Days. Groups we have invited have been the Law Enforcement agencies, Emergency Medical Service, Fire Department and schools. Every person in the organization or agency is invited along with their families. For example, if you invite a police department, then the officers, jailers and dispatchers and all of their families are invited.
What is the benefit of doing this?
It is healthy for churches to be concerned about how the community perceives them. Since we are the light of Christ, it is important that the community recognizes His light in us. That light shines by our care, concern and ministry in the community. An Appreciation Day is one way to let our light shine.
An Appreciation Day provides an opportunity to overcome some of the negative impressions that a community might have for a church, and to actually develop positive impressions. Visitors from the town that might not ever associate with a particular body of Christians are invited for a service, are given sincere expressions of thanks, and are treated to a meal.
Does it work?
Yes! Communities often identify their churches by the fights and splits that have occurred within them over the years. They don't soon forget when the preacher and a deacon got into a shouting (or even shoving) match in the very building where they claim to preach truth and love!
Fellowship with community members in worship and with an enjoyable meal afterwards can soften some of the harsh and painful memories people harbor. Long term friendships often develop.
Can we get new members from hosting an Appreciation Day?
Not often, but sometimes. The real purpose is not to "recruit" new church members. It is to show sincere appreciation to involved members of your community with no strings attached.
What are some of the exact steps in hosting an Appreciation Day?
1) Decide what group in your community you want to recognize.If there has been a terrible accident in your community, that might be a good time to recognize the EMS.
2) Talk personally to the leaders of the groups you want to honor.Speak to the Sheriff, Chief of Police, Head of the EMS, principal of a school, etc. Let them know you appreciate their work and service and want to honor them.
3) Follow your personal visit with a letter from the church office. Every police and sheriff's department I have ever invited to an Appreciation Day provided us with personal addresses of the officers to send them letters. Stress that family members are invited. Also, if an officer is on duty that morning and can't attend the service, stress that he can stop by during the potluck and have lunch, even if he has to take it with him.
4) You can follow the church letter with a handwritten one from a group within the church, such as the ladies group. This letter does two things. One, it reinforces your invitation. Two, it involves more folks from the church, allowing them to feel some ownership in the project.
5) Encourage the church members to make their usual amount of food plus plenty of extras!
6) Preach a sermon that morning on a topic that will resonate with your visitors: Respect for authority (Romans 13), appreciation, gratitude, service, etc.
7) Allow your visitors to be the first in the serving line.
8) Encourage your members to mix and mingle with the guests during the meal.
9) You may or may not do personal recognitions of the guests. I typically have chosen not to so as to not embarrass anyone.
Do people actually come to these Appreciation days?
How many?
We've had as few as 5 and as many as 55. In Cody, WY we actually had a couple of times where we had more visitors than we had members on an Appreciation Day!
Any closing suggestions?
Just this: an Appreciation Day is not an occasion to "recruit" new members. It is a day to open yourself up to serve others simply for the joy of service. Many of your visitors will already be members of other churches and are not interested in leaving where they are. The purpose of an Appreciation Day is to show appreciation and develop relationships. God is free to do what he wants to with that in his time.
If your congregation hosts an Appreciation Day, please revisit this blog and leave a comment on how it went.
Warren Baldwin


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This page has links to all of Slate's coverage of the Democratic National Convention (and related events). We'll be updating it at least once a day this week, so check back here regularly for our latest articles. You can use our Politics page to keep up with the convention stories from other publications. And all of our articles on the Republican convention are listed here.
Ballot Box
Instant Analysis of Gore's Speech, by Jacob Weisberg (Thursday, Aug. 17, 9:50 p.m.)
Jewish Power!, by Jacob Weisberg (Wednesday, Aug. 16, 9:51 p.m.)
The Difference Between the Two Conventions, by Jacob Weisberg (Tuesday, Aug. 15, 9:14 p.m.)
Why We'll Miss Bill Clinton, by Jacob Weisberg (Monday, Aug. 14, 9:38 p.m.)
Gore's Pivot, by Jacob Weisberg (Monday, Aug. 7, 4:33 p.m.)
Dispatches From the Democratic Covention, by David Plotz
Frame Game
Clinton Lays Down the Law, by William Saletan (Tuesday, Aug. 15, 4 p.m.)
Joe vs. Hollywood, by William Saletan (Monday, Aug. 14, 4 p.m.)
Gore Dumps Clinton, by William Saletan (Wednesday, Aug. 9, 4 p.m.)
The Aesthetics of Corporate Greed, by Rob Walker (Tuesday, Aug. 15, 1:15 p.m.)
The Prep School for Politicians, by David Plotz (Friday, Aug. 11, 9:30 a.m.)
The Orthodox Jew and the Vice Presidency, by Judith Shulevitz (Wednesday, March 29, 4:08 p.m.) (This article was written in March, when Joseph Lieberman was still considered a long shot as Al Gore's running mate.)
What Is a Jewish American? by Timothy Noah (Wednesday, Aug. 9, 3:37 p.m.)
The Sisters Get Stingy About Lieberman, by Timothy Noah (Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2:35 p.m.)
Two Cheers for Joe Lieberman, by Timothy Noah (Monday, Aug. 7, 2:40 p.m.)
Gore vs. the Mysterious Forces! by Mickey Kaus (Thursday, Aug. 17, 11:15 p.m.)
Schmoozalist's Notebook: L.A., Day 3, by Mickey Kaus (Thursday, Aug. 17, 11:59 a.m.)
Schmoozalist's Notebook: L.A., Day 1, by Mickey Kaus (Tuesday, Aug. 15, 1:47 p.m.)
Metaphor Sucks! by Mickey Kaus (Saturday, Aug. 12, 2:38 a.m.)
Get Your Instant Lieberman CW Here!, by Mickey Kaus (Monday, Aug. 7, 11:01 a.m.)
The Breakfast Table
This week: Ex-speechwriters John Podhoretz and Michael Waldman chat about Gore's acceptance speech, their "ghostly craft," etc.
Last week: West Wing writer Lawrence O'Donnell and Time.com editor Richard Stengel discuss the Lieberman Effect, "all that God stuff," and other political news.
Los Angeles security guard Josh Foer reveals how he'll keep all those Democrats in line. Click here for the latest.
Pundit Central
Find out what the Sunday-morning pundits said about Joe Lieberman, Pat Buchanan, and George W.'s "Four R's."
The Clinton Cleanser, by Mark Alan Stamaty (Thursday, Aug. 10, 12:30 p.m.)
Cartoon Index
Political cartoonists from around the world weigh in on the convention.


text:
The performer enters eating Pringle's Potato Chips and drinking a Coke. After "emptying out" the chips and "draining" the Coke, the performer puts the empty bottle, neck first into the empty Pringle's can. He has a spectator hold the can from the top and bottom, so nothing can get in or out. He then introduces a handkerchief, which he causes to vanish.
When the Pringle's can is opened and the bottle is "poured out" into the spectator's hand, the previously vanished silk is found to be inside.
This effect is an absolute crowd pleaser that you will be able to perform within minutes with complete success.
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text:
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