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Great season comes to tough end
Although winning the World Series was our main goal, we
were happy with what we were able to accomplish. To win the division, after
being counted out by so many from the start, it was really a personal accomplishment
for every player on that team
Grif (Ken Griffey, Jr.) made that final out (Grant
Balfour strike out to end Game 4), and it was kind of weird for all of us. It
was disappointing to watch them celebrate on our home field because it made us
realize that the season really is over. No matter what we want, we can't go
play baseball tomorrow.
You could tell our team was mentally and physically
drained, not that it's an excuse. Every guy on our team gave it all we had. I
think we are all excited about moving on and seeing what we can do next year
after what we accomplished this year.
On a personal note, the highlights for me were just a
couple of home runs in decently big games, and that walk-off hit against
Baltimore (April 26, nightcap of a doubleheader). And of course, that last out
that got us the division title against Minnesota
(diving catch to end the American League Central tiebreaker on Sept. 29) was
big, even though the timed dive was questionable on my part.
Team-wise, celebrating together was cool when we captured
the division title after so many people counted us out.
The biggest disappointment was not advancing as far as we
wanted. But we had a lot of individuals who dealt with adversity and came above
it. We had a lot of guys overcome a lot of different things.
We missed Carlos (Quentin) a lot (out since beginning of
September with a fractured bone in his right wrist). He was a big part of our
team, and we all know what he's capable of doing. It really stunk when he got
hurt, but we appreciate what he did. Carlos really carried us for a few months.
And you know what if people want to be negative about his
injury (slapping his right hand on the bat after fouling off a pitch from Cliff
Lee), it's those people who are just looking for a reason to be negative and
have nothing better to do. He's a great baseball player and a teammate, and
deserving of any recognition and accolades he receives.
Besides Carlos, Alexei (Ramirez) was probably the biggest
surprise for me this season. He went out every day and consistently got big
base hits and hit huge home runs for our team.
Now, I'm just going to start preparing for next season. I'm
going to work out with that same personal trainer, Todd Durkin, who I worked
with last offseason.
I'm going to do the same stuff I did to get ready for
Spring Training and do all I can to make the team. My goal is to play every day
in center field. If that's with the White Sox, that would be great. But if it
ends up being with some other team, that's great, too. I will be playing every
day in center field somewhere–that's my main goal going into next season.
One down and in search of two more
off the bench and hitting against Chad Bradford (which Anderson
did in the eighth) is one of the toughest at-bats you can have. Honestly,
you're almost begging for [Grant] Balfour to come out.
is a tremendous pitcher and he throws really hard. But I think if any hitter
had to choose, they'd choose a guy who throws hard as opposed to a guy who
looks like he's dragging his fingers on the ground every time he throws. I
expect to go out there and get a hit every time, but I also understand that
when a guy has had the success that he's had and pitches from that arm angle –
not so many guys are gonna be able to square up the ball on him.
I don't think anybody in the big
leagues will come off the bench consistently and square it up
every time. It's tough. But I cant complain. This is what I'm doing and I don't
think anyone expects me to go up there and hit a home run or drive the ball
every single time, especially under the circumstances. But my job right now is
to play defense the best I can, do what I can to help the team, and if I can
come up and have a good at bat, then I'm happy.
did I think we had a chance to win this one? Well, when we got back on the
board, obviously you gotta score a run to win the game, but that one inning, Dewayne Wise's
ball that he hit down the line. It was a good job of hitting and it really gave
us momentum and carried us through the game.
hope no one gets offended, because it's not meant to be offensive, but I really
do call him the black Ross Gload. He's the African-American Ross
Gload, there you go. Ross Gload is so versatile and he's such a great hitter.
But a guy like Dewayne Wise, you're almost in awe, wondering why this guy is
not playing everyday somewhere. This guy was about to go play Independent ball
and he's helping us win postseason games.
I the last inning with Bobby [Jenks] throwing, I had a chance to check out the
crowd. I was thinking to myself, 'I wonder if I can make a request to the
people directly behind the plate in the first 5 or ten rows to not do that
[wave the white towels] so I could see the ball off the bat. But more times
than not, it helps the team.
Starting over, down two
think the key for tomorrow is to pretend that the series is 0-0 and go one game
at a time. We take these two games at home and it's a whole different series. That's
what makes it good and bad about a five-game set. All we need to do is win one
game and let that carry over to the next.
the flight home Friday, guys were quiet for the most part, just playing cards.
Nothing too different from the norm. At this point in the season, it would be phony
for guys to be real [upset], and be down on themselves. That's not how our team
is. We still got games left. The series definitely isn't over. We're not where
we want to be, but our guys have been down two and come back before.
definitely see it's a little different on the Tampa
Bay side because there are so many
guys there who aren't used to being in a winning organization. For them, this
is really exciting for them, which is great. We're not so much different over
here. We're just a lot of veteran guys who try to keep the same mindset and not
get too hyped up about it. I think it's generally the same feeling, just a
different reaction and expression.
gets along over here, but I could hang out with my best friend back home for
seven-plus months and we would butt heads. You're going to butt heads during
the season. It's just the way it is. You put people together for that much time,
and families butt heads, friends butt heads. But right now, we're just playing
and trying to win baseball games. We're all on the same page.
mom's in town, so those are my plans for tonight. Hopefully, she's taking it
easy on my credit card. She's down somewhere on Michigan
don't get to see my mom that much during the season because she works, but the
times that she does come out, I like to let her enjoy herself. Take the card
out, and surprisingly, she doesn't do too much damage. I just tell her to have
fun, but I think like any mom, they do like to spoil themselves, but at the
same time, it's their son and they don't want to take advantage of their son.
Whatever she gets, hopefully she keeps it within reason.
have definitely taken their toll. Would Carlos [Quentin] and Joe [Crede] and [Jose] Contreras have
helped us? Absolutely. But at the same time, I think there are some other guys
on the team who have stepped up and blossomed and done some really amazing
things this year. I don't know if that could have happened under different
Back against the wall, but going home
You have to go out there and make smart decisions, myself
included, and I know I tried to do too much at the plate tonight. Instead of
accepting the single or trying to square one up, I probably was trying to drive
the ball or swing too hard.
The game itself doesn't really change from being inactive
during 2005. The atmosphere does. Actually going out there, the atmosphere is a
lot different. But I still have to go out there and play the game.
My mom is in town. So, after the workout on Saturday, I'll
catch up with her and probably just have dinner.
We've been like this all year. We've been up and down, although
it's hard to say we've had our backs up against the wall when we've been in first
pace. We put ourselves in this situation, but we have played well under
pressure. So hopefully we can come out on top.
Tampa Bay
is a good team, very Minnesota-like
in that they have scrappy hitters and good pitching. They also have guys who
can hit the ball out of the ballpark.
But I think all us believe in our team. If someone here
didn't, it would really surprise me. It's three wins, and we've put together
three in a row a bunch of times.
Now, here are a couple of responses to questions asked of
Q: Any thoughts about playing ball in a dome? How does
the dome in Tampa compare with the
ANDERSON: I don't
think the dome has anything to do with that. At the same time, these guys play
here every day and they know how to play in this stadium. It's not an excuse. But
you can tell they use their atmosphere in this stadium to their advantage.
Q: Hey Brian, can you grow back your long curly locks of
magical gold? You are the Greatest American Hero!
ANDERSON: My
hair is the least of my concerns right now. I'll worry about that in the
offseason. I'll change it up from time to time.
A quiet Game 1 loss
I don't know what happened in the seventh inning (with
Orlando Cabrera and Grant Balfour exchanging words). I wasn't paying attention to
the swings and stuff. I was getting ready in case I had to pinch-hit, so I didn't
see much of it.
Some guys just get caught up in the emotions, and I think
that got the best of Balfour. Stuff happens with him. He just got caught up. He's
an emotional guy. He throws hard. He's probably a great guy but just got caught
up a little bit.
As for my at-bat (leading off the eighth against J.P.
Howell as a pinch-hitter), I tried to put myself in a great hitting situation,
and I don't know, man. I got myself in the best situation I could to hit and I got
out. It was a good call, strike three. It was a good pitch (on 3-2).
I don't know where we go from here. I guess you have to
ask Ozzie. He's the manager. But really, it's a five-game series, so we just
need to put it behind us and get back going tomorrow.
Wednesday's Workout Day
In 2005, I had the best of both words. I got to sit back
and enjoy and reap all the benefits. This year is a little different. Hopefully,
I'll be participating and doing stuff to put runs on the board or make plays in
the field. This year, I can partake first-hand instead of sitting back and
It's weird. I think that after you celebrate with all the
excitement we had last night, you tend to get carried away congratulating
everyone. It's crazy how quick it goes. But I think everyone was emotionally
Guys were sitting around talking on the plane, and it was
a lot of fun. Usually our flights consist of guys playing cards or listening to
their Ipods or listening to music.
I got a bunch of text messages from my family and
friends. I won't throw out the number because I don't want to brag and make
anybody feel bad. But it was awesome. The ones I enjoyed best were from my friends
back home and the guys I played with in the past. They gave me a hard time and
said I didn't need to dive to catch that final out. All the guys I played with
at the University of Arizona
who know the game, they were saying things like, 'Quit timing it, Edmonds.'
When I caught it, I knew we had two outs and either me or
Jermaine Dye, one of us was going to lay out for that ball. I'm glad I got the opportunity
to make the catch.
They are all supporting us, and it shows us a lot.
Through the ups and downs we had, and it was a frustrating season, at times, for
them to come together, it really helped us pull through.
Tampa Bay
is going to play their game and we will play ours. It's going to be a competitive
series, but it should be fun to watch.


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Last October when launching their promotion of 37th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, the patron of the Local Organising Committee, His Royal Highness Prince Feisal Al Hussein, stated that by hosting the championships he hoped to further enhance the position of the Kingdom as a leading sporting and leisure destination.
This afternoon at the Al Bisharat Golf Course some 20km outside the Jordanian capital those expectations were entirely fulfilled.
The course set in a picturesque bowl between tree lined hills provided a tough, true cross country challenge. Along with thousands of Jordanian spectators perched on the valley sides we were treated to a marvellous spectacle of distance running at its elemental, raw best.
Today's four races took the competitors on a sometimes violently undulating route through the countryside their shoes traversing an ever changing surface of sand, gravel and grass. Adding to the permanent features of this challenging venue mother-nature threw in a strong chilling westerly wind which bit into the runners faces especially as they approached the long agonising slope of the finishing straight.
"We are delighted that the IAAF selected us to host this prestigious event and we will not let the athletics world down. We have proved ourselves capable of hosting major world championships and we will deliver something special and unique in March," promised His Royal Highness last October, and today Jordan duly delivered.
The Jordanian capital is establishing a growing reputation as a trusted host of athletics events having previously staged the 2007 Asian Cross Country Championships, and later in the same year the 17th edition of the Asian Athletics Championships.
In the wider sporting contest Jordan this year will host another round of the FIA World Rally Championship and previously snooker, triathlon and fencing have all held their world championships in Jordan.
Today's organisational triumph which saw a modern media centre with superb connections and service, along with spectator and VIP tribunes rise temporarily on the slopes of this beautiful venue can only help burgeon the country's international credibility as a reliable host.
Amman broke new ground by hosting these championships.
In 2007, Kenya, the spiritual home of cross country running organised the World Cross Country Championships, while last year the venue was Scotland, the country from where the discipline first originated. Now with Amman 2009 the World XC has set foot into the Middle East for the first occasion, new territory for these championships and another step in the general universalisation of our sport.
Amman is also only the second occasion on which Asia has hosted the World Cross Country Championships, which are the oldest IAAF World Athletics Series event, first celebrated under the IAAF banner in 1973.
Chris Turner for the IAAF

subset: commoncrawl


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Bill Gates and Warren Buffet have been joined by several dozens of billionaires in their pledge to give away at least half their wealth to philanthropy: 40 US billionaires pledge to give away half their wealth. On Wednesday, the Giving Pledge. Along with a commitment, the all philanthropists posted their own letter explaining why they were taking the pledge. Analyzing their remarks offers a rare glimpse into their minds : how they view their fortunes and where they think their money should go after they die.
Even Larry Ellison, more often in the headlines for spending money than giving it away, was responding to this call: "Until now, I have done this giving quietly — because I have long believed that charitable giving is a personal and private matter". Over the years, Ellison has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to education and medical research. "So why am I going public now? Warren Buffett personally asked me to write this letter because he said I would be 'setting an example' and 'influencing others' to give," Ellison wrote. "I hope he's right."
Warren Buffett says he and the Bill Gates have pitched the idea to about 70 to 80 people on the Forbes 400 list so far. While Buffett is pleased that half of those contacted so far have risen to the occasion, he also says there are many more people to recruit, and he plans to urge others to join the giving campaign through dinners similar to the first hosted in May 2009. "We're off to a terrific start," he says.
Other Bay Area billionaires participating in Buffett and Gates' campaign to encourage the wealthy to support philanthropy include movie maker George Lucas, financier Tom Steyer and his wife Kat Taylor, venture capitalist John Doerr and his wife Ann, Business Wire founder Lorry Lokey, San Jose-based eBay Inc. founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam, as well as Herb and Marion Sandler.
Some billionaires approached by the country's two richest men have already rejected the idea, some for political reasons, because they believed in keeping the money in the family, or just because they were too busy. Some reasons may also include accountability, transparency and especially effectiveness. Billionaires may want to bring into philanthropy a result-oriented attitude, which is positive; AmAre formula can be used both by beneficiaries and philanthropists. When it comes to effectiveness, inspired by Maslow's pyramid, we see that in some contexts, philanthropy is about improving the way physiological needs are served, in others the way the need for personal actualization is facilitated. When it comes to efficiency, philanthropists can rank the priorities by perceived importance for the beneficiaries, and then dedicate their efforts to the ones which are both important and meet the investors current strengths, not only in terms of financing, but also in terms of transferable skills.
A model to quantify this can be seen on: http://spsh.amareway.org/
When the technological infrastructure allows it, or when agents can survey part of the population, beneficiaries can rank how important a variable is, and what is their current level of satisfaction with it. The variables with highest importance and lowest satisfaction level are the ones which need attention first. Philanthropists can then add their own rank, in terms of the perceived strengths they have to satisfy each variable, for example assigning 100 points among them, and starting from the ones with higher importance, lower satisfaction level and higher strength factor. This is philanthropy, the AmAre Way.
More information and individual pledges available on: http://www.givingpledge.org/


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The organization of the United Nations, of which you are the renowned and efficient Secretary General, is a historical reality of too great importance to leave Us indifferent to this meeting with you, which is, on the contrary, a source of lively emotion.
This is because, Mister Secretary General of the United Nations, the Holy See, which you are visiting today in Our humble person, holds a very high conception of that international organism; it considers it to be the fruit of a civilization to which the Catholic religion, with its driving centre in the Holy See, gave the vital principles; it considers it an instrument of brotherhood between nations, which the Holy See has always desired and promoted, and hence a brotherhood intended to favour progress and peace among men; it considers the United Nations as the steadily developing and improving form of the balanced and unifield life of all humanity in its historical and earthly order.
The universality proper to the Catholic Church, with its pulsing heart here in Rome, seems in a way to be reflected from the spiritual sphere into the temporal sphere of the United Nations. The ideologies of those who belong to the United Nations are certainly multiple and diverse, and the Catholic Church regards them with due attention; but the convergence of so many peoples, so many races, so many States in a single organization, intended to avert the evils of war and to favour the good things of peace, is a fact which the Holy See considers as corresponding to its concept of humanity, and included within the area of its spiritual mission in the world.
In recent years, the voice of the Popes, Our Predecessors, was among the first to augur the formation of a body such as that of which you, Mister U Thant, guide the activities. In his own time, Pope Benedict the Fifteenth desired it; its fundamental criteria were traced with happy foresight by Pope Pius the Twelfth in his Christmas message of nineteen hundred and thirty-nine, and that of September, nineteen hundred and forty-four; then its importance was underlined and its increasingly perfect functioning was encouraged by Pope John the Twenty-third in his last Encyclical Letter, «Pacem in terris», the text of which, bearing the autograph signature of the Pontiff, was consigned to you, Mister Secretary, by Cardinal Suenens.
We therefore derive consolation from your visit, and We avail Ourself of the occasion to renew the expression of Our esteem and of Our hopes for the fundamental programme of the United Nations, especially in regard to the elimination of war, the assistance of developing peoples, and of those in need of defence and promotion, the lawful liberties of individuals and social groups, and the safeguarding of the rights and dignity of the human person.
To these sentiments, then, We add Our good wishes for the true prosperity of the great organization of the United Nations, and for the happy success of its activities, to which you, Sir, are so nobly dedicated.
We pray Almighty God, Our heavenly Father, to grant and fulfil these Our good wishes.


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Yesterday and Today
On-line version ISSN 2309-9003
Print version ISSN 2223-0386
TWALA, Chitja. The Three Million Gang in Maokeng Township (Kroonstad) and the reaction of the African National Congress's aligned structures. Y&T [online]. 2012, n.7, pp.101-120. ISSN 2309-9003.
As early as 1989 when it was clear that there was a possibility of unbanning liberation movements in South Africa and securing the release of political prisoners, the African National Congress (ANC)-aligned structures in the different townships began openly and radically mobilising for the organisation. The ANC-aligned demonstrations and protests became everyday scenes around the country and it was evident that the South African Police (SAP) was gradually battling to control the ANC-aligned citizens in most townships. In mid-1989, a gang known as the Three Million emerged in Maokeng Township (Kroonstad) and was accused by the community members to be operating as a vigilante group. Therefore, incidents of vigilantism by the Three Million Gang became a regular scene in this township. Using the Three Million as a case in point, I attempted to show how the ANC-aligned structures reacted to this gang which was viewed as a vigilante group in the Maokeng Township.
Keywords : African National Congress; Three Million Gang; Vigilantism; Township; African National Congress Youth League; Free State Province; Maokeng; Seeisoville.


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2003. Geological Survey (U.S.). Water Resources Division. Wisconsin District. This polygon shapefile contains the shallowest principal aquifers of the conterminous United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islan... Geological Survey (U.S.).


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Pre-Order item!
After our beloved "Terranean Wake" hoodies, new ones are coming! It's been 20 years since I started writing Whispering Gloom, opener to our demo and Last CD Before Doomsday & Last Vinyl Before Doomsday. Why not have a hoodie with our debut's cover on its back? It's still an extremely relevant album to us and our fans.
Again the Worship Doom Cross on the breast, "WORSHIP" and cover of our 1st LP on the back (both in shades of white). Same kind of jacket as last time, with hood and zipper (no hood visible in the preview, so you can better see the print). Fruit of the Loom hoodie, double fabric hood with self-coloured draw cord and single jersey back neck tape. Two front pouch pockets.
To protect the print as long as possible, we recommend to handwash, or at 30° inside-out.
This is a Pre-Order item. That means: All orders with at least 1 Pre-Order item will be sent in bulk as soon as the new album is ready to ship! Excpected time is November. We will inform you at this spot as soon as we know more! By taking part in this Pre-Order, you 100% directly support WORSHIP, thanks for your trust and faith!
International Shipping: 6 EUR Flatrate SECURE. In our shop, secure (registered) shipping is mandatory. Since our switch, we have had 0 lost shipments (compared to 3-5 per year before that). Flatrate means, no matter how much you order, shipping is just 6 EUR. We cover the rest as a sort of discount to you.
Exception: Shipping to Germany: <= 1kg: 2.20 EUR, > 1kg: 4 EUR
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The 'CÉRAMIQUE I' exhibition at Lausanne's Kissthedesign gallery explores different forms, and appearance, of the material ceramic through design.
The gallery invited a selection of contemporary designers like Nicolas Le Moigne, Chris Kabel, Tomas Kral, Béatrice Durandard, Matteo Zorzenoni and Dimitri Bähler to showcase or design projects using ceramic. The result is a collection of functional and decorative objects, vases, lamps, centerpieces, etc that show the versatility of ceramic and its creative potential. Interested by the ornemental or even fictional capacity of the material and of the technique, the gallery wanted a dialogue between design and art and thus also invited artists and ceramists such as Makiko Nakamura, François Ruegg, Martin Hyde, Thomas Koenig and Adrien Chevalley, that develop an artistic ceramic production with unique pieces without disdaining the functional object.
The exhibition is not intended to show an exhaustive overview of the contemporary ceramic production, but is more focused in the decorative, luxury and narrative potential of the material through the visions of designers, to who ceramic is not the only tool, and artists able to play with ceramic and porcelain to create fantasy or precious works.
A selection of ceramics by Italian manufacturer Bitossi, that Kissthedesign distributes in exclusivity in Lausanne, accompanies the exhibition, among other with pieces by Ettore Sottsass, Nathalie Du Pasquier, Arik Levy, etc, many in limited edition, as well as a small shop featuring some of the designers edited objects and Martin Hyde's Kawaii Skulls.


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Interesting facts about Okinawa
Famous for its coral islands and stretching coastlines, Okinawa is a major tourist destination in Japan. Explore lush forests, white sandy beaches, and a side of Japan that may surprise you. For the best in convenience and comfort, fly to Okinawa with Cathay Dragon. Check-in to your Okinawa flight in advance online for complete peace of mind.
Best of Okinawa
Okinawa is part of the Southwest Islands, a chain of sunny coral reef islands that make up the southernmost part of Japan, and offer a relaxing vibe perfect for holiday. Plan to explore the outdoors on your visit here: most islands offer diving, snorkelling, whale watching and more along their beaches. Visit lush forests and peaks on northern Yakushima, or head south to white sand beaches and laid-back towns of Okinawa and Miyako-jima.
Okinawa transportation
Many ferry operators connect from Okinawa Island to several smaller islands. Plan in advance to avoid backtracking. On Okinawa Island public buses run regularly, with timetables available in both English and Japanese. Taxis are available, too. For added flexibility, hire your own car – but you must obtain an International Driver's License before entering Japan. Start your holiday on the right note when you book your Okinawa flights with Cathay Dragon today.


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Tough Times to Be Lobbying for History on Capitol HillHistorians/History
tags: David Austin Walsh, budgets, Lee White, National Coalition for History, Capitol Hill
Image via Shutterstock.
Lee White, executive director of the National Coalition for History, was unequivocal in his presentation Saturday at the Organization of American Historians annual meeting in San Francisco: history is in trouble on Capitol Hill.
White has been the head of the NCH, the face of history in Washington, D.C. officialdom as the only dedicated advocacy for history and historical research, since 2007. With a law degree from the Catholic University of America, a master's in history from George Mason University, and over twenty years of experience as a lobbyist, he's no stranger to the machinations of Washington politics.
Even so, it's not an easy job in today's age of austerity to ask for funding for historical projects. One Democratic congressman told him bluntly, "You're wasting your time."
But the effects of budget cuts are not inconsequential, and not just to researchers and educators reliant on federal matching grants. The various Smithsonian museums and the National Archives in the nation's capital normally extend visiting hours during D.C.'s cherry blossom festival to accommodate the height of tourist season.
This year, thanks to the sequester, the museums on the National Mall closed promptly at five o'clock, sparking angry phone calls from constituents.
Even White's panel at the OAH meeting felt the pain. A number of speakers from the National Parks Service were planned, but due to a freeze on federal employee travel, none were able to attend. House and Senate historians Matthew Wasniewski and Don Ritchie were both at the conference (though not at White's panel), but came on their own dime.
The outlook for additional federal funding for history looks grim. President Barack Obama's budget would restore funding for many – but not all – arts and humanities programs hit hard by sequestration. The National Endowment for the Humanities would get roughly $154.5 million, nearly 6 percent more than the pre-sequestration budget, but the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which among other programs provides grants for museums and archives across the country, gets a roughly $5 million bump under the Obama budget, but that would still put the organization around $7 million short of its pre-sequestration budget.
Tighter still is the budget for the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, targeted for elimination by Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) in a 2011 bill. The NHPRC would receive only $3 million under President Obama's budget – the same funding, in real dollars, it had in 1980.
History is far from the only academic discipline to feel the squeeze. Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) sponsored an amendment to a Senate bill limiting National Science Foundation funding for political science projects to those certified as "promoting national security or the economic interests of the United States." Increasing funding for practically any program not directly related to science and technology is out of the question for many in Congress. One congressional staffer, though his boss is an admitted history enthusiast, told White he'd be "crucified" if he increased funding for historical research.
Though the money might not be forthcoming, White spoke of taking a "flanking" approach to the obstacles on Capitol Hill. Building on the very real interest in history that many serving in Congress or working on congressional staffs have, White plans to organize a congressional history caucus, where he would serve as an advisor, and is sounding out interest in informal history groups on Capitol Hill. "Maybe even something as simple as a book club," he said – anything to get people talking about history in the halls of power.
White will also continue to partner with other humanities advocacy groups to amplify the voice of history and the humanities inside the Beltway.
The biggest victory for history lobbyists in the last year was not, ironically, in Washington, but in Atlanta, where local and national groups successfully pressured the governor's office from shutting down the Georgia State Archives. Fighting for history "will not be an easy fight, nor one we can win in every instance," White concluded, "but we will continue to fight."
Related Links
- Highlights from the OAH Annual Meeting in San Francisco
- David Austin Walsh: Turnout Middling at OAH Meeting in San Francisco
- VIDEO: Navigating Segregated Life in America's Racial Borderlands
- VIDEO: Eric Foner's "Reconstruction" at Twenty-Five
- VIDEO: OAH Plenary: Corporations in America
- VIDEO: Research and Publishing in the Digital Age
- VIDEO: OAH Plenary -- Freedom Struggles
- David Austin Walsh: OAH 2013 Survival Guide
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- Radical Protests Propelled the Suffrage Movement. Here's How a New Museum Captures That History
- Not Every U.S. Presidential Race Has Been Decided on Election Day. Here's What to Know About America's History of Contested Elections
- Control, Alter, Delete:Hong Kong Activists and Academics are Hurrying to Digitize Historical Records
- Voter Fraud, Suppression and Partisanship: A Look at the 1876 Election


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Recent Posts
Friday, August 28, 2009
It's "Snot" You, It's Me
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The Hubbs and I celebrated our 17th year of marriage back on the 15th with a date night, which involved a swanky dinner for 2 and a movie. There is a back story, however, which is required for the following accounting of the evening. I've had a summer cold for the last few weeks. My nose is all stopped up and my eyes are all water-y. What makes me even more appealing is the fact that I sound like Gilda Radner when she portrayed her Lisa Lubner character on SNL. This, however, didn't stop me from trying to entice the Hubbs with a little make-out sesh before the movie started. So, I shot him one of my signature sideways looks accompanied by a raise of one eyebrow and a little coy smile - which is code for, "I'm ready for a smooch-fest." And, as luck would have it, it worked. As he made his move to give the kiss of the century (insert the swell of violins here) . . . I coughed . . . right in his face. The Ricola lozenge that I had been sucking on shot out of my mouth, ricocheted off his forehead, and landed in the hair of the lady seated in front of me. I immediately looked at the Hubbs, who was turning a lovely shade of purple and shaking uncontrollably in a fit of silent giggles. The mechanics of the throat are lost on me, apparently - "breathe air, swallow spit," I tell myself constantly. At that point, I figured my only option was to liberate the lozenge without her knowing it, because the only other person besides me and the Hubbs who was aware of this event was the guy 3 seats down who shot me a toothy grin while raising two thumbs-up gestures to his chest and nodded in a "what-a-loser-you-are" fashion. So, I stood up, bumped her seat pretending to leave to go to the bathroom, and thwacked the lozenge out of her hair. I apologized to her for the bump and continued on to the bathroom. When I returned, the Hubbs turned to me and began to say, "Hey, happy anni . . . .", he stopped short of finishing his sentence and had kind of a confused-disgusted expression on his face - I couldn't help but notice that his gaze was fixed on my nose. I didn't understand the look until I saw IT. I didn't have his view point, but I could see it - something slick, shiny and spherical, which was growing ever-larger as I breathed. It was an enormous bubble, of the mucus persuasion, looming from my left nostril, and it was the size of one of those clear hamster exercise balls.
Later that week, on our actual anniversary, the Hubbs presented me with a present . . . It was a gift certificate . . . for a flu shot . . . .
Aaahh, good times . . . good times . . . .
This post was triggered by a couple of fabulous gifts that were given to me by a darlin' creature named Stan. When I emailed him that I had received my gift, I mis-typed and wrote ". . . you are the darkin'-est creature." Stan Williams is the author of The Find, and my new all around best-est bud. He is not only fabulously gifted and talented, but is one of the most generous people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. When Stan was here in July for a book signing, he presented me with an absolutely gorgeous version of one of his Hooch Bags. A vintage black purse was full of goodies like vintage nylons, a vintage French paperback book, and a French dictionary to help me make my way through the pages, since I don't speak French. Also included was a vintage Air France hand-held fan, along with a vintage French postcard inscribed with a dear note from him on the back, all of which are some of my most prized possessions. And, as if that weren't enough, I got an email last week telling me that something he ran across spoke my name and he was sending it to me - if you are keeping count, I'm 2 presents behind! He sent me the brightest, happiest vintage printed napkins from one of his favorite stores in NYC called Angel Thrift Shop. I requested that he stop being so wonderful already, and let me catch up!
Thank you so very much for all my lovely, thoughtful presents, Stan! I mean they're not a certificate for "a live virus" or anything, but they are truly appreciated and loved. You are "The Darkin'-est!"
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Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Want It Wednesdays: Benches, Boots, and Butterflies
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Photos courtesy 1. Annalynne 2. Nicholas Archer 3. Gardenhouse 4. Lightly
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Friday, August 21, 2009
Make Sure Not to Catch on Fire
Posted by Unknown
Have you ever thought about something too hard and gotten dizzy? This is the question I posed to my children yesterday as we were shoveling out their closets and drawers, preparing for our "GI-NORMOUS CLEAN ALL THE CRUD OUT OF YOUR CLOSETS, SO WE CAN BUY MORE CRUD TO FILL THEM GARAGE SALE." They turned to shoot each other a "Did she take her meds this morning?" look, quickly pivoted toward the door and left the room, returning moments later, my daughter carrying a bottle of Diet Dr. Pepper and my son with a cold washcloth in hand, telling me to put my head between my legs and take deep breaths. I think there are often times when my family thinks that I might accidentally (on purpose) set myself on fire if not watched carefully. I suppose I don't blame them, because at that particular moment I was wearing a pair of the Hubbs old brown wingtip shoes, a lacy pink vintage slip over my running shorts, and T-shirt that I'd accessorized with a couple of those large black Hefty garbage bags tied at my waist and a pair of glittery sunglasses that would have made Elton John wince in disapproval. My question was treated as rhetorical and never answered.
But, here's the deal, I am a little light headed from the realization that I am not alone. I mean I knew I wasn't alone, but this week I sat mesmerized in front of my computer monitor looking at the blogs of fellow thrifters. I thought I knew the scope of "dumpster divers" that existed in the world . . . well, I had no idea! One of the things that has always perplexed me is the re-purposing ideas that flow out of these women and men - the cogs of my brain just don't function that cleverly. My finds just get stacked in piles until I'm able to restore them to their former beauty and sell them on the website, at flea markets, or at antique shows. I feel bad about my piles. Truly I do. If you saw my piles, you might feel bad about them too, but you'd probably be too polite to mention them. My daughter has begun referring to me as "Big Edie" (you know from the Grey Garden's story) and I snap back with, "Well. . . I guess that makes you 'little Edie then, huh?!'"
Just ask Stan Williams, he's seen my piles! And Stan is a perfect place to start, since he is the "Prince of The Find!" Here, he posted an idea he came upon using a bunch of hot water bottles. The Italian jean maker Energie, just sliced an opening in the side of the bottles, poured in a little water and grouped it together with all your others on a wall as hanging vases for assorted wildflowers for an awesome window display! Stan also has a marvelous interview with Amy of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie here.
Here's a nifty idea from Junkin Escapades I came across the other day. Old liquor bottles were paired with old brass house numbers to make some really cool looking vases. For more ideas check out Junkin Escapades blog where she writes about her quest for anything crusty, rusty, dusty, dirty, dingy and chippy!
Christine Terrell of Austin, Texas makes all of her pieces from upcycled decorative tins. The circles are punched, formed and then the edges are finished smooth. The basins are then drilled and strung on rigid german silver head pins and attached to sterling silver French hooks. My favorite is her retro rocket pins. See more of her beautiful creations at her Etsy store here and read her blog posts here.
Photos courtesy The Elegant Thrifter, Junkin Escapades, and Adaptive Reuser
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Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Want It Wednesdays
Posted by Unknown
Photos courtesy of 1stdibs, 4. Pieces, 2. Downtown, 3. Swank Lighting and 1. jkl Design
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Monday, August 17, 2009
I'll Take a Baked Potato - Hold the Sour Cream and Cheese
Posted by Unknown
Camping hit my family pretty hard in the 1970s. Camping is one of the "Six Wonders of My Universe," the other five being the word Thesaurus (Is there another word for it?), Cured Ham (What disease did it have?), the word Lisp (That was kinda mean to put an "s" in the word - don'cha think?!), the Alphabet (Why is it in that order?), and Cows (Can they laugh? And if so, does milk shoot out of their noses?)
When I was a little girl, my younger sister and I called Airstream trailers "baked potatoes" because of their obvious resemblance to how a russet potato looks when wrapped in foil before being placed in the oven for baking. I take my actual baked potato with everything on it - because being overly indulgent and unhealthy is all part of my mystique - it's practically written into my irreverent blogger job description. Its listed right after "Is this woman on medication?" and just before, "I hope she has a good attorney!"
Dorothy: Fine artist Sarah Pratt stuck to a theme inspired by the Wizard of Oz's heroine's dress and carried it through to the smallest detail. Every surface of this trailer is covered in light blue and white polka dots
As an adult I have an unexplainable need to own an Airstream and fix it up with some quirky, fun paint and upholstery and stuff. I periodically just put the word "Airstream" or "vintage Airstream" into Google and see what comes up. On Sunday evening I came across some great inspiration via The Grand Daddy Hotel in Cape Town, Africa. I would gladly camp if I were offered accommodations in any of these "Baked Potatoes!"
Goldilocks and the Three Bears: This trailer by Mark and Joe Stead is the only one that comes with a bunk bed. And, of course, the closet is stocked with plushy bear suits!
Mark Stead has a great video on his YouTube channel you can find here.
The Grand Daddy Hotel believes that luxury shouldn't exclude playfulness. That conviction is perfectly illustrated in its "penthouse" trailer park. A collection of vintage Airstream caravans are nestled beneath the backdrop of Table Mountain. Each of the 7 two-sleeper trailer suites have been conceptualized and designed by local artists and makes for an accommodation destination like no other.
My "unexplainable" has turned into an "Unreasonable stalker-esque" need!
Love of Lace: Tracy Lynch utilizing her favorite color pink to create an extremely feminine boudoir.
Pleasantville: Liam Mooney, the creative director of WhatiftheWorld as well as the creative director of the Penthouse Park project, decorated his trailer as a 50s style home. Using colors and fabrics from that era. He even stocked the bookcase with mid century cheesy romantic novels!
Afro Funk: Carla Soudien was inspired by the street fashion of Cape Town, South Africa
The Ballad of John & Yoko: Tasmin Relly, Cara Rose and Chloe Townsend dedicated their trailer to the most iconic couple John Lennon and Yoko Ono and their 1969 Bed-In for Peace. The bed that takes up 3/4 of the entire space and is accessorized with a few simple items, like a guitar, some records, and a few books.
Earthcote Moontides: Susan Woodley's and Brigitte Dewberry's ethereal trailer is all about taking trek. Pearly, luminescent textures and muted earth tones lend to this trailer's dreamy existence.
All photos courtesy of The Grand Daddy Hotel.
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Thursday, August 13, 2009
Words of "Wish-dom"
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Note: This is for my beautiful niece Morgan, in honor of her college graduation from Texas State University tomorrow at 2:00 pm.
When I first thought of writing this blog to my niece, I immediately thought, "Who am I to give this amazing young woman advice?" I thought, "Its not like I've lived my life, since my own college graduation, so famously." I've decided to dedicate this blog to her because I can't think of a more tenacious, more courageous human being in the world to receive it. I'm writing this because I love her and I'm so proud of her. I count myself as one of the lucky "ladies of the land" that had the privilege of helping to raise her after my beautiful sister's and her wonderful mother's death in 1995, when she was only 8 years old. I got to be her cheerleader when her Mom had stress tests every week for several months prior to her birth. Her Mommy and I would coax her to move just a little with our pleas of "'Come on baby girl, you can do this!' or 'I can't wait to meet the little girl you are going to be!" Upon hearing us, she'd move and we could leave and get my sister a gi-normous tea with "rat turd" ice and lots of lemon. On June 11, 1987, Morgan Ashley Avary came into this world and changed my life forever. I spent her formative years imposing myself into every possible event, birthdays, piano recitals, sleep-overs, Christmases, Easters, spring breaks, summer breaks, school projects, and movie nights watching Doris Day in Pillow Talk or Barbara Streisand in Funny Girl, while we inhaled truck loads of popcorn and oceans of cola. Thank you and your Dad for receiving my presence so graciously.
I came across a quote made by Art Linkletter that says, "Things turn out best for the people who make the best out of the way things turn out." My Morgan must have been one of those people that Mr. Linkletter was referring to. And although I am just slightly biased, I think she is one of the best people that I know and I would like to pass a wish list, of sorts, on to her, a point of reference to guide her in this new chapter of her life, an application, if you will, to become her mentor, just as her Mommy was in my life.
So, here goes:
• Like you, while I was in college, I only did laundry six times . . . a year . . . you might want to up that to at least 12.
• When I finished school with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, I was completely lost. I did everything - I waitressed, I worked in retail, I worked for a newspaper, I sold advertising, I had no idea. And I thought I'd just finally settle in some ordinary job, where I would make enough to pay my rent, maybe have basic cable, or maybe not, I didn't really have a big plan. My point is, that, by the time I was your age, I really thought I knew who I was, but again, I had no idea. For example, after my college graduation, I thought antiques and vintage stuff was for old ladies or men with suspiciously good taste. And look at me now.
• When choosing a path, don't measure success by the amount of money it will make for you, or by the number of people it will please. Choose a path that is unique to you. Just always remember, that there is a difference in people who have money and people who are rich.
• More importantly, don't live in fear - free yourself from that and never look back! Challenge the known and EMBRACE the unknown.
• Dream big - expect that life will be all that you want it to be - set high expectations - whether you expect to succeed or fail, you're probably right!
• While you are out there figuring out what things you want in your life, remember that I love you and want those same things for you, too.
• Live your life as an honest and compassionate person. Help people every chance that you get.
• Follow your passion and stay true to yourself. Never follow anyone else's path . . . unless you're in a new city and you're lost and you see a path, and by all means you should follow that or turn on the GPS or something!
• Don't ever give advice, it will come back and bite you in the booty.
• Try not to take yourself too seriously - laugh and learn from your mistakes and failures.
• Don't take anyone's advice . . . So, my advice to you is to be true to yourself and everything will be fine . . . Sorry, I couldn't resist!
Finally, I know that you are concerned about your future, my darlin' girl, but there's no need to worry. The economy is turning around, the job market is wide open, the world is your oyster! It's gonna be great! You've already survived the worst. What else can happen to you? And as you know all too well, that some of the most devastating things that could happen to you will be the things that teach you the most. And remember what your Mommy used to tell you, even before you were born:
"'Come on baby girl, you can do this!' and 'I can't wait to meet the young woman that you are going to be!'"
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Labels: "college graduate", "graduation", "wish list", advice · 7 comments
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Haute vs Hot
Posted by Unknown
There is a Jewish proverb that states, "No matter what happens, travel gives you a story to tell." My gene pool and I share some travel escapades that would make the Griswald's look like "Ozzie and Harriet." I fondly recall summers as a child when my family and I would take one of two kinds of vacations: either we would go to visit relatives in Wichita Falls, Texas, where temperatures were known to reach 117 degrees, or we would go camping, where tempers and tensions could reach similar extremes. Dead Oak Campground was a location we often frequented and it definitely lived up to all its name implied . . . and more. I often thought that it resembled what I had imagined the end of the world might look like right before Jesus swoops down and takes
me off to heaven.
We had one of those pop-up trailers that we had to crank up as if we were retrieving water from a wishing well. The trailer hitch, for some strange reason, had to be checked and re-checked about 40 gazillion times, as did the brake lights and turn signals. Most times, either the lights or the lifting of the trailer onto the hitch would go tragically wrong and send my Dad off into a godless rant of four letter words.
Aaah the memories . . . .
I've heard it said that a vacation is "what you take when you can't take what you've been taking any longer." This profound statement pretty much sums up my past week. My children were at their last week of camp, and being weary of missing them, I decided to plan a little "staycation" for the Hubbs and me. I began tossing around ideas to him, which were met with a pivot of his head and slight nod, as if to say, "I don't have any solution, but I certainly admire the problem." My response to his lack of involvement was less than lady-like, reminiscent of my Dad's rants, but with less Aqua Velva.
So, my suggestion was to don the swimwear, grab a towel, and head off to our community pool. Before the Hubbs and I were first married, there was no pre-nup, which would divide assets if things later went South, only an unwritten mutual-decay contract that bound him to not point out that I discovered a new little French bakery this year that makes delicious apricot tarts - (and now I have 2 apricot tarts of my own just above my hip bones) and bound me, likewise, to not comment on the fact that he would make a glass of milk look tan.
I figured, at the very least, that being poolside I could get chin-deep in a new book I'd just picked up from the library. When my eyeballs got tired of reading, I decided
to people watch - the following is a stream of consciousness, of sorts, that I'd like to share:
Hmmmm . . . . Good tan . . . WOW! Those can't be real . . . blech! Back hair . . . Its called man-scaping, look into it . . . Nice hair (since its not purple) . . . Bone rat . . . More bone rat . . . Seriously, people, eat a burger or something . . . LADY! Your kid is drowning! LADY! . . . Rhinoplasty, I have a number . . . Wench, I wish I had a body like that . . . Thong swimsuits should have a weight limit . . . I'm just sayin'.
So when we returned, I had an e-mail from a friend who was in Los Angeles on business. He had sent me a photo of his hotel room at the Viceroy in Santa Monica, thinking I might appreciate the decor — thoughtful, huh? It took me a minute, but I realized that his hotel was decorated by one of my most favorite designers, Kelly Wearstler! I e-mailed him back and asked for the favor of a few more photos, and boy did he come through! The following photos, as it ended up, were just enough to make me feel as though I had been on a lovely trip, complete with a swanky bar, posh room and sunny luxe pool!
The Viceroy in Santa Monica was originally built in the late 1960s as the Pacific Shore Hotel. And as I said earlier it is a designer masterpiece re-imagined by Kelly Wearstler. Guests enter the hotel via over-sized doors leading into an elaborately designed hotel lobby. Regency-style furniture decorates the large drawing rooms along with a scattering of antiques. This leads to a more intimate library area with chaise lounges, sofas, and the upholstered club chairs. A bar runs across the lobby with dark wood lining the area occupied by light chairs and amazing fabrics. The restaurant overlooks an outdoor pool area accented by cabanas and a separate lounge of its own.
Each room is decorated with extensive moldings, Lucite tables, beveled mirrors and regency-style furnishings. The beds are made with luxurious linens and the bathrooms have marble showers and whitewash armoires to continue the swanky theme.
Photos courtesy Keith Crawford
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Monday, August 10, 2009
Our Man Stan
Posted by Unknown
Our man Stan, author of The Find, has been busy recently and I feel the need to share. Over the past weeks, Stan has been taping a piece that Open House ran about The Find this past Sunday morning, which can be found here. He's on his way to a television show of his very own, I'm certain of it! He features, among others, a Chelsea apartment that has been decorated by Mark Ciolli of Carl & Co. Stan proves again and again that, although we may be in a recession, that doesn't mean we can't redesign our homes. And ever generous, he shares his tips on how to scout flea markets, thrift shops, and garage sales for show-stopping furniture, beautiful lighting and wall decor.
All images courtesy of Open House NYC, LX.TV and NBC Local Media.
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Army Ranger vet representing Sox at All-Star Game
SEATTLE -- In a profession of heroes, Joe "Kap" Kapacziewski stands out. The soldier underwent 42 surgeries on his leg after a grenade explosion badly wounded Kapacziewski in Iraq in 2005. Still, the doctors couldn't fix his leg and were forced to amputate. That sacrifice made Kapacziewski a hero. It's what he did next that will make him a legend.
With a prosthetic limb where his right leg used to be, Kapacziewski returned to active combat with the Army Airborne Rangers, the first ever to do so after an amputation.
Kapacziewski went on to serve five additional combat deployments, and in 2010, he saved a fellow soldier's life by dragging the wounded warrior to safety despite heavy enemy gunfire. Now Kapacziewski mentors other veterans with Challenged Athletes Foundation's Operation Rebound.
For that extraordinary bravery and service, Kapacziewski was recognized on Wednesday when Major League Baseball and People Magazine announced him as the Red Sox's representative among the 30 winners of their "Tribute for Heroes" campaign. This nationwide initiative aims to honor service members while supporting Welcome Back Veterans, which addresses the needs of veterans returning from combat.
"It's unfortunate you have to whittle it down to 30," said outfielder Jonny Gomes, who was on the committee that selected the final 30 winners. "They're all heroes, but just to get the word out and recognition for these types of people is great. … It's really the service of all the major branches that is getting recognized."
Each winner will represent an MLB club in New York as part of the All-Star Week festivities, and will be honored in a pregame ceremony before the All-Star Game on Tuesday. During their time in New York, the veterans will attend a VIP reception on the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, a private tour of the 9/11 memorial, and other activities.
Honorees will also be recognized during the pregame ceremony prior to the 2013 All-Star Game on Tuesday on FOX beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
The "Tribute For Heroes" campaign supports Welcome Back Veterans (welcomebackveterans.org, powered by MLB.com), an initiative of Major League Baseball and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, which addresses the needs of veterans after they return from service. Major League Baseball has committed more than $23 million for grants to hospitals and clinics that provide post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) treatment to veterans and their families.


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Find your Order Number, Customer Number, check the Status of an Order, find out what happens when an order is delayed or not delivered, how to find the estimated delivery date and how is it determined, why can you have multiple order numbers or packages for your order, which shipping methods and carriers are available, do I need to sign for a delivery and can I change my delivery address?
Shipping and delivery — Frequently asked questions
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Dell has available for you the Online Order Status tool to check the status of your order; click here to visit the home page.
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To check the progress of your order, please log into the online Order Status tool to see the status bar in the Order Details page.
When your order has shipped, the tracking link will not be visible immediately. This information will appear as soon as the carrier provides this information. Please check back again.
You will be asked to enter two types of verification information to protect your privacy. The easiest options are searching by Order Number and verifying with Customer Number. You can find this information in your Order Confirmation email.
What is available for me in the Online Order Status details page?
What is the Estimated Delivery Date and how is it determined?
You can view the latest estimated delivery date information in our Order Status Tool.
Why is my order delayed?
Your order might take longer to process if you have ordered one of Dell's most popular products. Also, if your order contains a part that is currently unavailable, your order might be delayed.
Which shipping methods and carriers are available?
You chose the shipping method (Next Business Day, 3-5 Business Days, etc.) at the time that you placed your order. Dell partners with industry leading carriers for each shipping option, and we will use the most appropriate carrier to deliver your order. Please note that the shipping method is the amount of time it will take for you order to be delivered AFTER it has shipped and does not include any manufacturing or order processing time. For more information, see What is the Estimated Delivery Date and how is it determined?
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Most of our shipments contain valuable items, so our carriers are required to obtain a signature upon delivery for equipment ordered. If you are not available to sign for the delivery, you can arrange for another adult to accept the delivery on your behalf – as long as it is at the same address.
How is multiple items delivery managed?
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This number can be found on your Order Confirmation e-mail. You can also view your orders by logging into My Account.
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To help prevent fraud, we cannot change the delivery address after your order is submitted and verified. If you won't be available to accept delivery, you can arrange for another adult to take delivery on your behalf — as long as it's at the same address.


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abbreviations adult Albian Ammonoceratites Antenna appear author's name authors Barnard bearing BMNH body bristles broad burrow Cape Town capensis capital coast collected Collignon consist Cosmopolitan described designated detail Discussion distal distribution dorsal Durban east elongate Endemic Family fauna female figures furca genus give given headings holotype illustrations included indicated inner internal italics lateral legs length letters lobe locality Lytoceras male Mandible margin material Millard Note original ornament outer palp parentheses pereionites Pereiopod plates Pleopod posterior present recorded references region ribs rostrum rounded Sars Scattered scorpions segment separates setae shell short shouldered showing similar Smith South African Museum southern species specimen spines surface synonym systematic Table Temperate terminal third Tropical valve whorl X X X Zululand


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Wahlberg and Washington take over box office with "2 Guns"
LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK -- "2 Guns," starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg as rival federal agents, shot through its weekend competition at movie theaters, collecting $27.4 million to lead the North American box office, according to studio estimates released on Sunday.
"The Wolverine," last weekend's box office leader, finished second with $21.7 million in ticket sales and has totaled $95 million during its two weeks in theaters.
Sony's "Smurfs 2," the newly released sequel to its 2011 movie "The Smurfs" starring Neil Patrick Harris and a band of small blue elf-like creatures, was third with $18.2 million in ticket sales.
The horror film "The Conjuring," about a house possessed by a demon, continued its strong run and was fourth with ticket sales of $13.7 million. The animated "Despicable Me 2" was fifth after five weeks with $10.4 million in ticket sales.
"2 Guns," an adaption of the graphic novel by the same name published by Boom! Studios, fell somewhat short of some industry projections that it would generate about $30 million in ticket sales in a summer in which a number of films have failed to live up to expectations.
Walt Disney's "The Lone Ranger" and Sony's "White House Down" and "After Earth" bombed earlier this summer.
"We're thrilled" with the numbers, said Nikki Rocco, president for domestic distribution at Universal Pictures, which distributed "2 Guns" and chalked up its seventh number-one opening this year. She added that "this was a very healthy box office weekend" at a time when "people used to talk about the August doldrums."
Rocco said the studio had anticipated "2 Guns" would open "somewhere in the twenties" of millions, so "we're very satisfied."
"Smurfs 2" fell short of the $35.6 million in ticket sales for Sony's 2011 original film, which was released in late July. The film is based on a Belgian comic first published in 1958 that has been expanded into movies, a TV series and even an Ice Capades show.
"We would have hoped for a little more domestically," said Rory Bruer, Sony Pictures' president of worldwide distribution. "But worldwide we're very, very happy with this film," he added, given the $52.5 million it racked up overseas for a $80.3 million global total.
"It's the world that's the stage for the Smurfs," he added, predicting "this one absolutely is going to be a huge success for the studio."
Universal Pictures, a unit of cable operator Comcast , also produced and distributed "Despicable Me 2. "The Wolverine" was distributed by 20th Century Fox, a unit of Twenty-First Century Fox. "The Conjuring" was produced and distributed by Warner Brothers, a unit of Time Warner .


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As we mentioned earlier this week, with Mark Hendrickson still a week away from being able to return from the DL and Jason Hammel being sent back to Durham, the team is left without a starting pitcher for Saturday's game in Texas. It is looking more and more like that pitcher will be Edwin Jackson. The Durham Bulls have stuck with their rotation this past week and Saturday would be Jackson's normal turn in the rotation. Jackson, who came over in the trade that sent Danys Baez and Lance Carter to the Dodgers, was one of the last cuts during spring training. He had several impressive outings this spring. If Jackson is impressive on Saturday, Maddon will have an interesting decision to make. Is it too early in the season to give up on one of his current starters and go with a guy who figures to be a member of the rotation for years to come? The likely odd-man out would be Doug Waechter, who has struggled and could be used to shore up the bullpen. In 3 starts, Jackson is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA. Against Norfolk, he went 4 innings giving up 3 hits and 3 runs with 4 walks and 4 strikeouts. In his second start against Richmond, he went 6 innings, giving up 4 hits and no runs while giving up 2 walks and striking out 4. In his last start against Toledo, he went 4 innings, giving up 10 hits and 4 runs, walking none and striking out 7.
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A Sandwich a Day: Spanish Anchovy Sandwich at Duran European Sandwiches Cafe
Reviews of Chicago sandwiches.
What makes Duran European Sandwiches Cafe so, um, European? Well, the West Town shop specializes in tiny open-faced sandwiches, all of which are assembled ahead of time and arranged behind a large glass case. So instead of staring blankly at a menu trying to figure out what to order, you gaze fondly upon the dozens of beautiful options. In fact, they are so dainty and precious, you'll need to get more than one for a meal. Fortunately, for $10 you can get three and a cup of coffee, which also let's you sample a good range of the offerings.
Of the ones I tried, my favorite was probably the Spanish anchovy with egg, cucumber, and tomato. The meaty white anchovy slices had just enough of a vinegary bite to pop on the palate, with none of the fishy funk that inferior anchovies can impart. All the creations are built on a thin slice of white bread from La Fournette, which is soft, yet sturdy, with a slight creamy crumb (milk happens to be one of the ingredients used to make the bread). That said, I also enjoyed the salmon and roast beef, even if they erred on the mild side.
Duran European Sandwiches Cafe
529 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60642 (map)
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What is ewaste?
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Defend Sanctuary
Face ultimate evil
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Lay waste to hordes of evil throughout all five acts of the Diablo III storyline or explore the open world in Adventure Mode to hunt bounties on the elder evils that lurk throughout the mortal realms.
The Ultimate Evil Edition contains both Diablo III and the Reaper of Souls expansion pack together in one definitive compilation. So stand ready; something wicked this way comes.


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Ryan Clark, the 22-year-old residential adviser from Martinez, Ga., and senior with a triple major in psychology, biology and English, had great expectations of his future after graduating from Virginia Tech.Â
He had already finished his coursework in December but was intent on crossing the graduation stage in May for all his family and numerous friends to see.
Clark, otherwise known as Stack to his friends, had set his sights high after graduation - with hopes of earning a Ph. D in psychology with a focus in neuroscience.
It is ironic given that his dreams were cut short by a mentally ill loner by the name of Seung-Hui Cho, whose deadly shooting spree claimed 32 lives, including that of Clark who stumbled across the shooter in his own efforts to assist one of his residents - 19-year-old Emily Hilscher - the massacre's first victim. He lost his life rushing to the aid of another student, which did not come as a huge surprise to those who knew him.
Clark, a member of Virginia Tech's Marching Virginians band for five years, spent his summers as a counselor at a camp for disabled kids. His mother raised him at an early age to believe that he shouldn't discount anything until he tried it at least once.
His twin, Bryan, told media outlets that his brother thought he could do anything he put his mind to and encouraged others to adhere to that belief.
Fellow bandmate Kimberly Daniloski told mourners who recently gathered for his funeral at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Martinez that Clark had "had so many friends. So many people loved him. I loved him—I was better when I was with him, and I am better because I knew him," according to the Associated Press.
In some ways, Ryan Clark, a young black man who appeared to be defying the less-than-spectacular odds faced by a large percentage and on the fast track to prosperity and prominence, died much the way young black men living in the inner cities - by gunshot wound.
As the fallout from the Virginia Tech tragedy begins to clear, we must remember that the same kind of wanton violence that put Blacksburg, Virginia on the world's radar screen happens everyday - albeit on a smaller scale in terms of victim count -- in the streets of our nation's urban areas.
According to the National Urban League's The State of Black America 2007, black men are nine times more likely to be murdered by firearms than white men.
Those between the ages of 15 to 24 years old are nearly six times more likely to die by gunshot wound - whether accidentally or purposefully - than their white counterparts.
From 1976 to 2004, the Bureau of Justice Statistics found that, on average, a disproportionate percentage of murder victims were black - 46.9 percent.
In addition, a higher percentage of them were victims of drug-related or gun-related homicides than whites: nearly 62 percent and 51 percent, respectively.
In Virginia, where Clark's life was cut tragically short, nearly half of all homicides happened to black men in 2004, roughly twice that of white men, according to BJS.
Nearly 70 percent of all murders that year were committed using handguns. Now, maybe you'd expect that in a state like Virginia, which receives a C- grade from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Handgun Violence, a group founded by former Reagan White House Press Secretary James Brady that is devoted to stronger gun-control laws nationwide.
But in New York, which received a B+ from the Brady Campaign, black men made up a slightly smaller percentage of the state S murder victims - 46.4 percent - in 2004 even though a lower percentage- 50 percent -- of all homicides involved firearms.
Even in Clark's home state of Georgia, which earned a D from the Brady Campaign and where 64 percent of all homicides were gun-related, 47.6 percent of murders claimed black male lives.
The bottom line is that black men are still making up a disproportionate percentage of murder victims in America - regardless of where they live and the extent of gun control employed.
But, what makes Clark's case rare for a black man is that he died at the hands of a man who was not of his own race. According to the Bureau of Justice's 1976 to 2004 assessment, an average 94 percent of black murders were committed by blacks.
For whites, 86 percent of white murders came at the hands of other whites.
In The State of Black America 2007, we concluded that blacks held two-thirds the status of whites in the area of social justice, which consists of two categories - equality before the law (which makes up 80 percent of the social justice index) and victimization and mental anguish (which makes up 20 percent).
Some of the responsibility for our victimization ultimately comes back to the African-American community.
We cannot fully blame social, economic and political disparities within our country for the violence we inflict upon ourselves. We must address the issue of our young men dying way too young from the inside as well as from the outside.
Whether they live on a college campus or in the inner cities, whether they are murdered by a drug dealer of their own race or a madman of another race, our community's future leaders don't deserve to die so senselessly so early in life.
Black Star News contributor Morial is the president of the National Urban League and past two-term Mayor of New Orleans. He can be reached via MaximsNews.com
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text: All of our pups are socialized with children of all ages as well as around different types of animals. They are also raised outside with adequate shelter. We do this for many reasons. Above all it is for their health. Dogs do NOT live by years as humans do, they live by the seasons. Raised out in the dirt also creates tight paws. Makes it easier to potty train in their new homes. They are exposed to loud noises as well as other noises. Our goal is for the original intent for the breed, the all versatile dog. So there for our pups are 1/2 American & 1/2 English Breed. They have the American stamina, with some of the English build for better health.


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Published on marzo 15th, 2010 | by GAby Menta0
Decide Which Video Game Is More Addictive and Win $500…!
When it comes to video games, we all have our favorites, so picking the most addictive game can be a real challenge.
Try your hand at our Which Game Is More Addictive? game, which pits the names against one another to see how your picks stack up. Bonus — you could win $500 just for playing!
How does it work? Each time you select the name with the higher «popularity» score based on readers' votes, you get points! Take a chance at winning our $500 a month prize! Click on the image above to start gaming!


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JasontheBasin wrote:the thread is dead stop commenting
Crafter1300 wrote:If the thread is dead please make it alive again
TheGreciansHousehold wrote:Crafter1300 wrote:If the thread is dead please make it alive again
I don't think you understand how this works.
Randomtangle wrote:Why?
Slimegirl1234567890 wrote:
Sorry everybody, this is the last batch I'm going to be doing. To see more art from me or to commission art from me (I'm having a special halloween sale), you can go to http://www.slimegirl1234567890.deviantart.com
atit wrote:metal slime with spike
Slimegirl1234567890 wrote:jarethverens wrote:Steampunk Slime:
Can create steam that agitates other slimes when hungry or in contact with water.
Can't taste foods well (That's why it's favorite food is the Toxic Tomato, it can't taste it's bitterness)
Shoots little lasers at unfamiliar Ranchers or nearby Tarr.
Diet: Fruit and Veg
Area of Origin: Mesa Mesh
Uhhhh, what does it look like?
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syngo Osteo CT
syngo Osteo CT
syngo Osteo CT measures the mineral density of the lumbar spine to help early diagnosis of osteopenia and osteoporosis, and to assess the effectiveness of treatment.
Commercially not available in Japan.
Requerimientos Generales
Minimum Software Version
syngo CT VC28
Please Note: Additional technical pre-requisites may apply. Upon receiving your request, your local Siemens representative will clarify whether your system meets the requirements.


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The Nike SB Zoom Stefan Janoski Canvas Men's Skateboarding Shoe is a signature original that blends a minimalist aesthetic with superb impact protection. Durable construction and superior grip enhances the fit and boardfeel, making this ahead-of-its-time skateboarding shoe the modern standard of comfort and durability.
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Halo 4: through the eyes of a jumpy sceptic
Halo 4 reviews began this week, sparking praise for 343's shooter. It's the darkest, most personal chapter in the series to date, but will sceptics be converted? Find out below.
So what's all this Halo stuff about? It's some lad in a green space suit bouncing around on moon boots, shooting pink lasers at the piss heads from the Mos Eisley Cantina isn't it? Do Lucas and Disney know about this?
What, you never see the guy's face and he doesn't talk much? What a load of stale toss, at least Captain Price has a moustache that can kill a man at twelve paces. Who's that blue woman? What's her role in this interstellar pantomime?
She's an AI? So she's a piece of military hardware, a tool to be used as part of the job? Why is she blue? Is it because she's based on Microfail Windoes and keeps blue screening? Hah. Microsoft.
Well why is the green man in love with the blue woman then? Shouldn't he just be doing his job and not getting attached his equipment? Why doesn't he just marry his gun instead, or interlock into a violent 'nade-orgy with his plasma grenades? It's the future, people will understand.
Who are the Covanant? They're the bad aliens, yeah? Fuck me it is the future after all, where minds are open and equal-opportunity laws make anyone fit for service, even those Grunt things that take two shots from my super-soaker to kill. Poor bugger's head just came clean off.
The UNSC ships all have stupid names. Forward Unto Dawn, Pillar of Autumn, Death Star of Chinese New Year on a Leap Year. Quad or tri-barrel names are dumb, just like the game's aiming. No iron sights? GTFO!
Halo made no sense, Halo 2 made no sense, Halo 3 made no sense, Halo: ODST made no sense and Halo: Reach made no sense. Why do these jokers keep on making money? Are you people so stupid you can't see what a bad game this is? Vote with your wallet man.
Oh god Ha-LOL 4 just got announced at E3…meh. Nice milking Microfail. All you care about is money and not new ideas don't you, well you know what you bunch of corporate highwaymen, you're not getting a penny of my money. Not a penny.
More Failo 4 trailers. Seems legit. It's not as green or as pink as before, but I bet it still has those puppet aliens and the blue woman. Hmm, the green man talks more, so does the woman. There's less Covanants in this one too.
This could be alright. What, wait? You mad bro? What did I just say? Maybe some rounds on Battlefield 3 will snap me out of it. Fuck Halo, and fuck Call of Duty. Fuck the industry that only wants my money.
The game's out next week. All my friends are saying it's the game that will make them fall in love with the green man for the first time. But I can't cheat on DICE. How can I do that? It'd like being caught with my pants around my ankles with the green man's knob in my gob round Peter Moore's house. It can't happen. No way.
Halo 4 reviews have come out. Alright, it's not looking so bad. They say it's the game that will convert sceptics and takes big steps to bring newcomers. They say there are less pink lasers, new enemies, new weapons and a darker world.
The plot makes sense too, and the green man – sorry Master Chief – and Cortana's struggle makes you want to care for once. The multiplayer is the best yet? Umm…shit. They say that it may not be a massive leap forward but it sets up the series for the next generation?
That can't be true. I need to read more reviews, whoever wrote those articles has clearly been paid by Microfail to say that the game is good. No..no it's actually all over the internet. Am I the one who's been wrong all these years? Have I actually been the problem all this time? Well…maybe.
I'm playing Halo 4 now and yeah it's good, it's not revolutionary, but it's really good fun and I'm not actually hating it. Perhaps instead of slamming something I haven't understood all this time I should have kept an open mind and reserved judgement until actually getting a chance to play the damn thing?
Perhaps anyone can swallow their pride and admit they like something, even if social circles and fan boys tell me I shouldn't? Halo 4 isn't Battlefield or Call of Duty, but it's a unique design. It's a 'Halo' game, and that brings with it a whole new experience.
If I could have just put down my petty hatred of Microsoft and console exclusives for a second I might have seen how fun the franchise actually was. I've really missed out, but as they say better late than never eh?
What are you on about?
Sorry about that. That 'guy' above isn't me, but good lord I've seen many people online scarily close to that caricature. The kind of folk who – just because Halo is an Xbox exclusive – just refuse to believe that it could ever be any good.
Or, say, someone is a long-time Call of Duty, Counter-Strike or Battlefield fan and they enter into that weird mindset where flirting with a rival franchise is akin to cheating on their husband or wife.
It's OK to enjoy a broad spectrum of games, and to be brutally honest here, some of the reactions on forums and comment threads on Halo 4 reviews – which only started publishing yesterday I might add – have been appalling.
Actual angry, bitter, sour, knee-jerk, thoughtless, irrational, commentary that demonises people for enjoying the Halo franchise. It baffles me. People who do this are essentially curbing their gaming palette, and missing out on fun experiences.
I have never been a real fan of the franchise, but not for a lack of trying. I've played every game in the series and I've really tried to integrate myself into the Halo fold, but for some reason it never stuck, but at least I can admit they're good games.
I'm also desperately shit at Halo multiplayer and that puts me off a little as – because of this demands of this job – I don't have time to invest in getting good at it. I'm a Call of Duty boy at heart, but I love all shooters. So I stuck with that as I can only devote my time to getting good at one of them.
But Halo 4, truth be told, really struck a chord with me. It's not perfect, certainly not a 10/10 – for the record, I hate scored reviews – because 10 to me implies something that innovates and advances a genre or the medium as a whole. Halo 4 is not an advancement of anything.
It's a solid, highly polished and thoroughly enjoyable shooter that kickstarts an intriguing plot and lays the frame for what should be a stellar trilogy. When Halo 5 hits Xbox 720 – and if I were a betting man, I'd bet my meagre savings that it will – then you'll start to see proper innovation.
But for now, just chill out, let people like what they like and let's just have some fun blowing up aliens, yeah?


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SITGES, Spain — Luis de Val's Barcelona-based Media Films will produce "A bordo" (On Board), the film debut of commercials directors Roger and Hugo Menduina.
The romantic comedy begins with a depressed radio chat-show host being kidnapped by friends. He wakes up on a cruise ship, where he's supposed to get over a failed love affair. Script is by Alfred Perez Fargas and Roger Danes from an original idea by De Val.
Spanish pubcaster TVE and Catalan state TV web TVC have pre-bought "On Board." It has also pulled down a subsidy from Spain's ICAA Film Institute.
Spanish tour operator and cruise company Pullmantur will co-finance "On Board" in a branded content deal that may become more common in crisis-hit Spain as producers seek new funding sources,
Ad Script, the branded content division of global ad agency Young & Rubicam, will handle brand attractions, De Val said.
The pic will shoot on a Pullmantur cruise ship creating "cinema shoot cruise" events on the liner, he added, citing the Royal Caribbean's deal on "Shrek." Shooting is skedded for spring. The producers are casting.


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NEW YORK – To see what Facebook has become, look no further than the Hutzler 571 Banana Slicer.
Sometime last year, people began sharing tongue-in-cheek online reviews of the banana-shaped piece of yellow plastic with their Facebook friends. Then those friends shared with their friends. Soon, after Amazon paid to promote it, posts featuring the $3.49 utensil were appearing in even more Facebook feeds.
At some point, though, the joke got old. But there it was, again and again – the banana slicer had become a Facebook version of that old knock-knock joke your weird uncle has been telling for years.
The Hutzler 571 phenomenon is a regular occurrence on the world's biggest online social network, which begs the question: Has Facebook become less fun?
That's something many users – especially those in their teens and early 20s – are asking themselves as they wade through endless posts, photos "liked" by people they barely know and spur-of-the moment friend requests. Has it all become too much of a chore? Are the important life events of your closest loved ones drowning in a sea of banana slicer jokes?
"When I first got Facebook I literally thought it was the coolest thing to have. If you had a Facebook you kind of fit in better, because other people had one," says Rachel Fernandez, 18, who first signed on to the site four or five years ago.
And now? "Facebook got kind of boring," she says.
Chatter about Facebook's demise never seems to die down, whether it's talk of "Facebook fatigue," or grousing about how the social network lost its cool once grandma joined. The Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project recently found that some 61 percent of Facebook users had taken a hiatus from the site for reasons that range from "too much gossip and drama" to "boredom." Some respondents said there simply isn't enough time in their day for Facebook.
If Facebook's users leave, or even check in less frequently, its revenue growth would suffer. The company, which depends on targeted advertising for most of the money it makes, booked revenue of $5.1 billion in 2012, up from $3.7 billion a year earlier.
But so far, for every person who has left permanently, several new people have joined up. Facebook has more than 1 billion users around the world. Of these, 618 million sign in every day.
Indeed, Fernandez hasn't abandoned Facebook. Though the Traverse City, Mich., high school senior doesn't look at her News Feed, the constant cascade of posts, photos and viral videos from her nearly 1,800 friends, she still uses Facebook's messaging feature to reach out to people she knows, such as a German foreign exchange student she met two years ago.
Fernandez uses Facebook in the same way that people use email or the telephone. But she prefers using Facebook to communicate because everyone she knows is there. That's a sign that Facebook's biggest asset may also be its biggest challenge.
"We have never seen a social space that actually works for everybody," says danah boyd, who studies youth culture, the Internet and social media as a senior researcher at Microsoft Research. "People don't want to hang out with everybody they have ever met."
Might Facebook go the way of email? Those who came of age in the "You've got mail" era can reminisce fondly about arriving home from school and checking their AOL accounts to see if anyone sent them an electronic message. Boyd, who is 35 (and legally spells her name with no capitalization), recalls being a teenager and "thinking email is the best thing ever."
Few people share that sentiment these days. Ian Bogost, professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, recently listed email alongside "Blood, frogs, lice, flies, pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, death of the firstborn" in a Facebook post.
"I was just going through my daily email routine, reflecting on the fact that it feels like batting down a wall of locusts," Bogost says.
Although email has gone from after-school treat to a dull routine in the space of 20 years, no one is ready to ring its death knell just yet. And similarly, Facebook's lost luster doesn't necessarily foreshadow its obsolescence.
"I don't see teenagers leaving in droves," boyd says. "I just don't see it being their site of passion."
In early March, Facebook unveiled a big redesign to address some of its users' most pressing gripes. The retooling, which is already available to some people, is intended to get rid of the clutter that's been a complaint among Facebook users for some time.
Facebook surveys its users regularly about their thoughts on the site. Jane Leibrock, whose title at Facebook is user experience researcher, says it was about a year ago that she noticed people were complaining about "clutter" in their feeds. Leibrock asked them what they meant. It turns out that the different types of content flowing through people's News Feeds – links, ads, photos, status updates, things people "liked" or commented on – were "making it difficult to focus on any one thing," she says. "It might have even been discouraging them from finding new content."
The new design seeks to address the issue. There is a distinct feed for "all friends," another for different groups of friends, one just for photos, and one for pages that users follow. As a result, says Chris Struhar, the lead engineer on the new design, the new feeds give people a way to see everything that's going on.
"The amount of stories you have available to see has continued to increase," Struhar says. "What we try to do now is give you more control over what stories you see in your feed."
With that kind of control, the company hopes people will spend more time on the site and share more information about themselves so companies can target them better with advertisements.
Paul Friedman, a 59-year-old dentist in New York City, says he's using Facebook less now than when he first signed on four years ago, but he's not sure if the site has "become less interesting or that I am just less interested in it," he says.
"I think that it might have seemed more interesting in the past because it was a new 'forum,"' Friedman says. "Now that it is not new, it takes more unique content to make it interesting.
"Ninety-nine percent of it is a waste of time anyway," he says. "If it wasn't for the one percent, I'd close my account."
When it comes to people of a certain age, Friedman may be in the minority. Tammy Gordon, vice president of the AARP's social media team, says the 50-plus set is just now settling into Facebook. The organization's own Facebook page grew from 80,000 fans to a million last year. This age group is growing the fastest because older people tend to be latecomers to Facebook. According to a recent Pew survey, 32 percent of people 65 or older use social networking sites, compared with 83 percent of those 18 to 29.
"They are not necessarily at that point where some of the younger generation is, where they have News Feed overload," Gordon says.
Daniel Singer is 13 and, according to his public Facebook profile, he enjoys "designing beautiful user interfaces and sitting down at my desk and creating great iOS apps." Last year, the eighth-grader created YouTell, a site that lets people ask for anonymous feedback from friends. You can use Facebook to log in, or email. As someone who designs applications, Singer calls Facebook's graphical design "brilliant." Still, he thinks the average teenager wants to see new stuff. Twitter comes to mind, along with Instagram and Pheed, a photo-text-video-audio sharing app launched last fall.
For Singer, Facebook is part of a daily routine. "Kind of like brushing your teeth," he says.
Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, whose for-profit content creation site Wikia recently surveyed its young users about their technology habits, agrees. Teenagers, he says, "do see value in Facebook."
"I think we are seeing a shift from (it being) a place to talk to each other as just part of the world -the infrastructure of the world," he says. "I don't know if that's to the detriment of Facebook in the long run."
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