text:
It is no secret that there are two very distinct groups under the GOP umbrella right now
A disconnect between reality and ideology is the number one problem in the Republican Party today.
It is no secret that there are two very distinct groups under the GOP umbrella right now. The Republican establishment and the TEA Party Republicans are fighting for control of the party. So far the only beneficiaries of this conservative civil war are the Democrats.
The TEA Party Republicans have emerged as a political force for ultra conservative ideals. They are often called extremists and wackos by establishment types.
They have pet names for the establishment republicans, as well. They like to call them RINOs – Republicans In Name Only.
Both see each other as the biggest problem within the party.
During Senator Ted Cruz's faux filibuster of Obamacare, Conservative columnist Christopher Adamo tweeted, "Likely Cruz's greatest feat is to show who in the GOP is genuine, and who is a RINO."
Much of what the TEA Party has brought to the party is the "definition" of what a Republican and Conservative are. The idea that one needs to sign a loyalty to be a "real Republican" is a great way to create a country club atmosphere but a bad way to run an election.
Matt Drudge also showed this conservative disconnect this week on Twitter. He discovered President Barack Obama and the Affordable Care Act's secret to success.
"Go to any Walmart at 3 in the morning and people watch, and you will understand deeply why Obama is president and why nation is where it is," he thumbed out with all of the sanctimony and ignorance that could be contained in 140 characters.
Are we to believe that aisles at Walmart at 3 a.m. were meeting places for the rich and famous while George W. Bush was President? Did those same people get us into the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq?
Obviously, this type of class warfare has been great fuel for Republican opponents and, with mouthpieces like this, the party doesn't seem to be headed in a better direction.
But to use a sports analogy, this down time could be used as a rebuilding year for the brand. But in order to turn defeat into victory, you need to know three things.
1) Know who you are
The Republicans on both sides of the equation need to know who they are. If you belong to the TEA Party and hold to those beliefs, the chances are very good that you would be considered extremely conservative by most outside of your party. You need to know that. If you are uber conservative and consider yourself rather moderate in your beliefs, you will never know how to navigate the political minefield. Imagine a person who doesn't know how to drive a car with a standard transmission trying to navigate an obstacle course. Now realize that is the equivalent of nominating candidates like Sharron Angle and Christine O'Donnell for Senate seats. You are hitting all of the cones.
2) Know what you need
Identifying the problem is a great step. You can't treat a disease without a good diagnosis. Now that we know the RINO-TEA divide is a major issue, how do we solve it? There are two options. One side either has to dominate the other and decimate them or a bridge has to be built between the two. It is easy to celebrate people like Cruz because be makes grand stands against a common opponent. But Cruz and his supporters are pushing for option number one (total domination of the establishment) and that is highly unlikely. It's a numbers game and recent results at the ballot box and in the halls of Congress show what ultimate success this option is likely to bring. After eight years of Barack Obama's leftward push, voters will be ready to ride the pendulum back to the right. But that pendulum will stop dead in its arc if the party tries to accelerate the swing to rapidly.
3) Know how to get it
Knowing that the Republicans should hold an advantage heading into the wide open 2016 election, losing will be caused totally by practicing the same bad strategy of the past two election cycles. Sarah Palin is very popular in the Inner Circle. She has made a lot of money for herself by leading a fragment of the party. But she is leading you astray. The primary process for 2016 has to be far less about destroying opponents and more about building up a candidate who will intrigue the fascinations of both TEA Party members and those of the establishment.
That is tough to do. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie could do it, but not if he has to march in lock step with authors of a loyalty oath. He will lead early and disappear as candidates who are willing to spout ideals they don't espouse come to the forefront. Then you will put a John McCain/Mitt Romney style candidate on the ballot and spend fur more years scratching your heads about why Hilary Clinton won.
Here is the path to success. You can keep watching FOX News and listening to talk radio. But you need to cut that back to 12 hours a day.
Spend a little time looking at the unwashed masses who disagree with you. If you make elections a win/lose proposition you will lose more than you win.
If you can find that candidate who is "more right" then you can inspire voters who haven't signed a loyalty oath but who like some of the conservative ideals the candidate runs on.
You don't have to be perfect, just better than your opponent.
Even "those people" in Walmart at 3 a.m. know that.
Kent Bush is the publisher of the Augusta Gazette, the El Dorado Times, and the Andover American newspapers. He can be contacted at: email@example.com


text:
Treasures With Love Pink Butterfly Treasure Box - Discontinued
This product is no longer available.
Vera Wang WedgwoodTreasures With Love Pink Butterfly Treasure Box - Discontinued 701587214179
60The Vera Wang Wedgwood Treasures With Love collection celebrates a global expression of love with a silver plate finish recalling fine jewelry, vivid color enamel accents and a special gold charm. Chosen for their symbolic representation of love across time and around the world, each charm and color tells a unique story of love.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Barbara Forrest explained "Why Texans Shouldn't Let Creationists Mess with Science Education" on November 11, 2008, at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Now video and audio of her talk is available on-line.
Selected content from volume 28, number 1, of Reports of the National Center for Science Education is now available on NCSE's website.
The Texas state board of education heard testimony about the proposed new set of state science standards during its meeting on November 19, 2008 — and plenty of the testimony concerned the treatment of evolution in the standards. As the Dallas Morning News (November 20, 2008) explained, the standards "will dictate what is taught in science classes in elementary and secondary schools and provide the material for state tests and textbooks. The standards will remain in place for a decade after their approval by the state board."
Scientists at public and private universities in Texas overwhelmingly reject the arguments advanced by the antievolutionists seeking to undermine the treatment of evolution in Texas's state science standards, according to a report just released by the Texas Freedom Network Education Fund.
Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial, the NOVA documentary about Kitzmiller v. Dover, was among the winners of the 2008 Science Journalism Awards presented by the American Association for the Advancement of Science to honor excellence in science reporting.
National Center for Science Education, Inc.
1904 Franklin Street, Suite 600
Oakland, CA 94612
fax: 510-788-7971
For Reporters | Store | Events


text:
Record Store Day 2013
20th April this year. Don't think a lot has been announced yet, but David Bowie is re-releasing Drive In Saturday as a 7" picture disc for its 40th anniversary along with a 1965! 7" vinyl EP, which I don't really know much about but yeah
Presumably these are the biggies this year anyway.
Don't know if this is just the US releases
But here's a list - http://modern-vinyl.com/2013/03/09/vc-src-post-their-record-store-day-list/
that's a long list
Not every shop gets every release though
Couple of things that catch the eye there
is anyone releasing anything that is actually special?
as opposed to rehashing previously released stuff.
That will probably cut this list down to about 5 artists.
My inbox is full of labels saying they're re-releasing things for RSD. That's so lame. Would be nice if people actually made an effort. Or maybe I expect too much.Jordan_229_2 this'd this
Its prob not worth it unless everyone does it
You'll just get your new release burried under a pile of re-issues.
- cat_race this'd this
Intrigued by what The Hold Steady release was I found this...
Best start saving to be able to afford the massive price whack which RSD releases seem to encounter each year.
I Want This
What with the second track being in Game of Thrones.
The official UK list is announced on Thursday evening
There's a US-centric list here though: http://new-vinyl.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/record-store-day-2013rsd-6april-20-2013.html
Nothing hugely of note as yet outside of re-releases, but the big labels haven't announced their plans yet. I'd expect to see the odd interesting thing on Parlophone, LITA, and Numero, otherwise it'll be the bog standard £9-for-a-seven-inch-single-re-release mania as it always is.
(I love the day though. I'm a total sucker for it. Good buzzy atmosphere once the initial queues have died down.)
- Matt_was_taken this'd this
Do you like record shops?
As this day is pretty integral to many of them
oddly, many say that it would be better if people came in drips and drops, rather than feeling like they should just go once a year...
My one experience of it was waiting in a line for 3 hours to buy a couple of things I wanted. I had to listen to all manner of absolute crap being talked about by others in the queue after the batteries on my MP3 player died. I was ready to lynch the two people behind me if they described just one more singer or band as a 'genius'.
Still, I managed to get the couple of things I wanted- both exclusives. Not sure I'd go through it all for a re-issue, unless it was something that was totally unavailable anywhere.burak this'd this
The Stephen Malkmus cover of Can's Ege Bamyasi will be good.
Him and a band covering the whole record at a live show with a nice David Shrigley version of the cover art. I'm excited anyway... There's always a few things worth getting, a lot of dross too but sometimes a nice opportunity to get out of print vinyl of good albums. Have seen some rad instores in the past too - Caribou full live set at midday in Rough Trade was great a few years back.
if more interesting product was put out throughout the year
instead of Rough Trade getting 75% of all stock then it would be a good daydjodell and colinzealuk this'd this
Nice to see Pulp's After You getting a vinyl release
Also the Big Star documentary is exciting. Best thing I ever got from Record Store Day was the re-release of Big Star's Third. Incredible package.
Here's the list of UK releases:
Kinda strange. This years list was meant to be smaller and more curated, but I swear this is at least 500 items long and much much longer than last year. Quite a lot of tat too, and so many re-releases.
A few gems in there though. I'll be trying for the Public Service Broadcasting 7", if nothing else.
Not the easiest of websites to use?!
Easy to miss stuff you might be interested in with the way it's laid out.
Re-release of ATDI Relationship Of Command LP
Think they are quite pricey to get hold of an original copy, lucky I got mine a few years ago for about a tenner I suppose.
Mystery Jets' release is the sort of thing this is all about for me
A copy of their most special show to date, pressed up on double gold vinyl. Lovely stuff.
it's mostly a load of bollocks
i'll probably end up going and buying something completely unrelated.
I'll grab that Twilight Sad/Aidan Moffat 7" though. That'll be cute.
No Titus Andronicus release in the UK then?
Or did I totally glaze it over.
Few bits I'm interested in
But yeah, there's never much that's exactly 'new' on offer, is there? Probably going to try and pick up the Nick Cave and The Fall singles though, maybe Husker Du if that gets up here.
nothing i'm massively excited for, load of evil sean adams music, innit.
canny wank, like.
might buy the pick of the jazz leftovers about a week after the day (i do this every year), or see if i can get that combustibles 7". or aske to play to the neighbours.
The Flaming Lips - Zaireeka - 4LP?!?!
Wow. I mean, I will probably never have four turntables in the same room, yet I want it so much..
Estimate on the price? What do you reckon? Something crazy knowing record store day....
Is this the one where you're meant to play all four at once?
Brilliant idea. It'll be at least 50 quid though
i'm after
frightened rabbits - thought midnight organ fight was beign re-released?
admiral fallow
new order
pubic service broadcasting
joy formidable
the fauns
just seen the ukranians pisni iz the smiths is eing re-released, awesome
maybe the bunnymen crocodiles lp too
Hmm, looks like the list has been temporary pulled from the official site
It's been copy-pasted here, in the meantime:
Orange Juice reissues on vinyl
.....could be interesting since the CD box set is impossible to find now
Never usually bother with the reissues.
Might keep an eye out for the Twilight Sad/Aidan Moffat and Fall 7"s/justanothersheeldz this'd this
lead from the twilight sad doesn't half shout on that record
not in an enjoyable way either
The new Mainliner LP is a Record Store Day release
all the pointless expensive reissues can do one
New Mainliner up for pre-order on the Riot Season site dude
If you're quick you can even get it on cutting edge cassette tape technology.
(Seven quid for a tape and a download is pretty good going actually...)mug_mug_mug this'd this
yeah I pre-ordered it on there, thanks!
It won't be out in time for RSD apparently. I'm going to go to thee record shop but i'm not getting any of the exclusive things I don't think. If anyone wants to point out something that looks good feel free but most of it looks like pointless tat this year.
Only things that I really liked the look of are
The Heads 2nd LP - RSD release is a tape but I think it's getting a full vinyl/cd reissue later this year anyway so no big deal
The Biggie LP cos would be nice to have a clean copy on heavy vinyl but again, no drama if I didn't get it.
Tappa Zukie MPLA Sessions. Would actually really like to get one of these. Out of town at the weekend tho so will have to wait to see if there are any left in the week. Only 200 made tho so doubt it.
Some other bits look ok too, but there's nothing that really stands out. Gonna sound like a killjoy but RSD seems to be getting more and more gimmicky each year. Second Layer's shut now too so no real reason to get out of bed very early even if I was about...
I would go for the Heads one if it was only on tape maybe but as much as I like tapes they ain't going to be first choice if better sounding formats are available
I've got work until 1 this year anyhoo so will just have a rake through the dregs in the afternoon!


text:
DUBAI, Oct 30 (Reuters) - The Kuala Lumpur-based Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) plans to revise its capital adequacy guidelines for Islamic financial institutions, with a draft to be released in November for industry feedback.
The IFSB sets global guidelines for Islamic finance, although national financial regulators have the final say on how much capital banks must maintain and in what form.
The Islamic body released its original guidelines on capital adequacy in December 2005, based on Basel II standards which regulators were then applying around the world. Since then, global regulators have agreed on stricter Basel III standards which will be phased in over the next several years.
IFSB spokeswoman Rose Halim told Reuters that her institution's new guidelines would address the issue of which Islamic instruments could be classified as bank capital.
``The IFSB is revising its capital adequacy standard, and in this context we are elaborating the issue of component of capital,'' she said in an email.
``For issuing sukuk as part of bank capital we have proposed different types of sukuk,'' Halim said, adding that sharia advisors where still discussing details.
Because sukuk or Islamic bonds are based on real assets rather than pure debt, as conventional bonds are, some analysts and bankers believe sukuk could play a major role in helping banks around the world meet Basel III's minimum capital ratios.
It will be up to national regulators, taking into account the advice of the IFSB, to determine which sukuk structures can be classified as capital and to what extent.
Some banks in the Gulf are already issuing sukuk in the expectation that the instruments will count as capital. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank plans to boost its capital through the sale of a sharia-compliant debt instrument, and will start investor meetings on Wednesday, a statement from the arranging banks said on Tuesday.
The sukuk sale is likely to be benchmark-sized, a source at one of the arrangers said; benchmark bonds are typically $500 million or more in size.
Last year Saudi Arabia-based Bank Al Jazira strengthened its capital base by issuing a 10-year, 1 billion riyal ($265 million) sukuk, which it said would be classified as Tier 2 capital.
A draft of the IFSB's new guidelines will be issued in the first week of November for public consultation, said Zahid ur Rehman Khokher, a member of the IFSB's technical and research secretariat, the team that worked on the project.
(Editing by Andrew Torchia)


text: Korean Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - a national park this weekend Speak Korean Now! Korean Job Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in a national park this weekend Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Travel Forum View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message joe_doufuJoined: 09 May 2005Location: Elsewhere Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 5:20 am Post subject: a national park this weekend Dear Sirs and Madames, I'm going to go out to a national park this long weekend. Probably Seoraksan, because if it turns out to be a dud, I know there are three or four other interesting places I could visit instead in that area. Anybody interested in going with me? Joe Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Travel Forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Forums:----------------FAQJob-related Discussion ForumGeneral Discussion ForumOff-Topic ForumTravel ForumCurrent Events ForumTechnology ForumBuy/Sell/Trade Forum You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Contact Dave's ESL Cafe Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved. Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe


text:
While the Neosho wrestling team continues to work under the assumption that its No. 1 state ranking is in error, that they aren't the top team in the state, the Wildcats' opponents this season, and particularly on Friday, would beg to differ.
While the Neosho wrestling team continues to work under the assumption that its No. 1 state ranking is in error, that they aren't the top team in the state, the Wildcats' opponents this season, and particularly on Friday, would beg to differ.
The Wildcats displayed sheer domination, yet again, for their home crowd on Friday as they destroyed Westminster Christian (St. Louis) 71-4, and Monett 67-3 in a triangular at NHS.
Of course, much of this talk about the Wildcats being overrated is posturing, mainly by coach Jeremy Phillips, in a concerted effort to keep his team working to get better.
It seems to be working.
Neosho opened the evening by pounding the Cubs with relative ease. Sophomore Austin Hailey opened the varsity match against Monett's Wesley Abramovitz at 170 pounds and earned a 6-2 decision. That set off a firestorm for the Wildcats as Jacob Brock blanked Matt Wentz 4-0 at 182 and the rout was on.
Neosho's only loss against the Cubs came at 195 pounds where Monett's Devon Overall scored a 9-6 decision over Ben Elledge. Perhaps the most exciting match, however, turned out in the 120-class where Neosho's River Buttram escaped with a 3-1 victory in overtime over Monett's Chase Brennan.
Other results for the Wildcats were: 106, John Williams open; 113, Kyler Rea pinned Sean Jastal; 126, Dakota McGarrah decisioned Kedric Brink, 13-3; 132, Nate Rodriguez pinned Garret Bradley; 138, Isaac Townsend pinned Jorden Henson; 145, Kyle Hostetter pinned Keanu Reed; 152, Chance Branstetter open; 160, Garrick Fausett pinned Bryce Logan; 220, Christian Lopez open; 285, Aaron Clardy pinned Shawn Beeson.
The Wildcats then set their sights on the Wildcats of Westminster Christian, where they again displayed their dominance as they won eight matches by pin. Neosho's only loss in the bout came at 195 where Elledge fell to Bennett Lewis, 12-3.
"One thing that (our team) has been focusing on is consistency, not only individually within a match, but consistency with the team," Phillips said. "That part of things I thought we did well tonight. Our kids were a little more coachable, and that's something we've been emphasizing is our wrestlers wrestling and letting the coaches coach.
"I feel like the kids are doing a very good job of buying in to what the coaches are asking of them."
Winners for the Wildcats were: 106, Williams open; 113, Rea pinned Joe Walker; 120, Buttram pinned Eli Parham; 126, McGarrah pinned Kevin Stump; 132, Rodriguez pinned Mike Nothum; 138, Townsend decisioned Dominic Barresi, 7-5; 145, Hostetter pinned Clayton Hubler; 152, Branstetter pinned Keegan Brown; 160, Fausett decisioned Michael Weston, 16-5; 170, Hailey blanked Brink Thompson, 10-0; 182, Brock pinned Chris Cacciarelli; 220, Lopez pinned Joe Isaacs; 285, Clardy open.
Neosho also benefited from a large crowd on hand, which added some electricity to the air and made for an exciting night for Phillips' squad.
"I appreciate everyone who came out," Phillips said. "The atmosphere is always great at all of the events, and it makes it a lot more exciting, I think, not only for myself, but for the kids out there wrestling."
Highlighting youth
Friday's promotion highlighted Neosho's youth program with "Elementary School Night" and "Youth Wrestling Night" being the theme. All elementary school students were admitted free to the event, and received a complimentary Neosho wrestling poster at the door. The Wildcat XTREME Team then put on a demo for the large crowd in attendance, while the varsity wrestlers looked on before their dual with Monett.
That too, was deemed a success.
"Success breeds success," Phillips said. "I want our high school kids to understand that. I told them they needed to step out there and be an example for those little guys. That's what the program's all about. We did provide a great example tonight for those little guys looking to come out and be that varsity wrestler some day."
Next up
The Wildcats are back in action on Thursday when they travel to Anderson to take on McDonald County in a dual beginning at 5 p.m.


text:
Adana Man wrote:Would you say the Adana is the fastest diving pigeon?
Adana Man wrote:How would you compare the best Adana you have seen to the Peregrine speed wise?
Steve Klein wrote:Your comment about the Adanas diving faster than the Alason reminded me that Ulrich Reber made the same comment in the 1980's . I've been flying wutas for about 25 years and it's hard to imagine anything diving faster. I can't wait to put the Adanas to the test.
Kurt Gürsu wrote:You know Adana has been clocked about 289 kilometers per hour. That is about 180 miles per hour.
Adana Man wrote:I would say my birds are diving way faster than 112mph.
Adana Man wrote:This is the peregrine himself. I watched him take a partridge before xmas very impressive bird the acceleration was unbelieveable!
Steve Klein wrote:There are a ton of variables. You would have to find a master breeder of Adana dewlaps who has the best birds from years of breeding in order to compare it's dive with anything else.
Steve Klein wrote:I am wondering if it is the training that makes these birds so fast or is it something that comes naturally for them. In Turkey, the Adanas are trained in cupboard lofts. I believe Kurt said this is a type of widowhood training. Would they dive as well from a roller style kit box? I trained wutas from a kit box and they did pretty well, but I often wondered that if I trained them like the Greeks do , would they dive better?
Steve Klein wrote:I had a friend who was constantly hoping to see a Peregrine falcon when flying his birds because he said it inspired them to fly and dive better. Yet another variable... falcons dive fast to eat and Adanas dive fast not to be eaten when placed in this situation. I guess that would put them both at the top of their game. If the peregrine catches the Adana then the peregrine is faster. If the Adana pulls away then you have one fast pigeon!
Steve Klein wrote:I've seen alot of MPH numbers and I don't understand how these can be accurate. Maybe we should strap speedometers to the birds to get an accurate reading or maybe we can present this challenge to the MythBusters on the Discovery channel.
Steve Klein wrote:I just got my Adanas last year and I am in the process of building up their numbers. Unfortunately,they are from a close family and I made a promise that I wouldn't cross other dewlaps into them, so it's been slow going. When I get enough to fly I have to decide how to train them, cupboard loft or kit box? Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Thanks.
Steve Klein wrote:It's times like this when I miss the," words of wisdom" from Duane Terry.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests


text:
The guitars sound so very much more driven - almost like QOTSA grind.
Hugely, hugely impressive. Favourite track is Tempest after two listens.
yeah pleasantly surprised
doesn't mess about, couple retreads but who cares. mostly it's awesome.
that's it isn't it?
like only a couple retreads: normally there are a lot more than that I think. This feels fresher.
i take it this was sourced illegaly? or a review copy?
just wondering if there's a stream anywhere whilst i'm at workthe_dazzled this'd this
another DiSser hooked me up
we're a well connected bunch
- Vian this'd this
It's streaming on the Rolling Stone site now
wont work for me
this is horrible!
try a different browser
since Soundcloud upgraded I've had a few issues in firefox sometimes and chrome other times.
Ah balls
Chrome has a play button but it won't play, FF just has a huge grey space where soundcloud should be, not firing up IE... will wait for Monday like in the 90's.
tried to play a promo stream
Crashed my Mac.
Tried again.
So have given up on it. 0/5. Deftones are dead to me.*
(* Not really... I'll just wait for a CD.)
it's really good
really really good. i can't say what my favourite is so far, because it's going to take a while for the songs to sink in. i still feel the choris to Tempest is a bit weak, but it does work better on the album that it did hearing it on its own and the rest of the album sound massive.
i am so excited for this.
i work for the bloody label and am being made to wait til tomorrow
Was just listening to White Pony
now got this on. Good so far.
It is
so fucking good. It's making me a bit emotional.cocodaLOL and ThierryEnnui this'd this
Yeah, what you lot already said.
Well good.
just heard "swerve city"
oh fuckcocodaLOL, justanothersheeldz, and stupidsexyflanders this'd this
definitely man
b d
Perfect opening track. Short, sharp and brutal!
It leaked finally...
bursting with excitement.
you can really hear the new bassist coming into his own. Chi would NEVER have done some of the things that happen here, and much as I miss him it's good for the record.
Kind of stole my thread :(
Though it wasn't well titled so whatever. Yes this thing is massive. Just put aside an hour of my day to lie on my bed and listen with my headphones. Absolutely amazing. Gauze and Entombed are highlights so far, though there's really no weak link. Easily going to be my album of the year.
weird that DiS wasn't sent a promo of this
I guess Rolling Stone is where it's at these days.
Hay-ell No!
nearly finished my first listen
kinda disappointed, but then I'm not sure Deftones are really a one listen, sat a computer, doing emails sort of band.
Why did the Crosses LP never come out or did I miss it?
Just EPs so far.
and i think it's a record you need some almost zen-like stillness for, and a place you can crank it while you're unencumberedjustanothersheeldz this'd this
My stream crashed after four tracks
but what a four tracks. I'll try again when the internet is being less shit but this is magnificent so far
Koi No Yokan
Just gatecrashed my top 3 of the year....its heading for the top spot.
What other bands around right now
actually do what Deftones do?
They have such a perfect grasp on melody and aggression.
this is ruddy good
For anyone who can't get the soundcloud thing to work
it's over on NME too
it's SO GOOD
Listened to it this morning, it's excellent!
It's only first listen so won't be too quick to jump the gun but think I might end up liking this one more than Diamond Eyes.
They can do no wrong.
I absolutely love the art cover.
Only very positive reviews so far.
Deftones' consistency + crosses + Team Sleep:
Chino Moreno is maturing so nicely.
It's far better than I was expecting
Will give it a few more listens at least
- GrandMoffTarkin and teamcooperuk this'd this
The new Deftones album is not fucking brilliant.
Three listens through and it's still boring, bland and lacking ideas.
listened last night
not sure why everyone's so jizzy about it. it's good, but then they're always good
Saturday Night Wrist > Diamond Eyes
But the new one is better than both. TRUE FACT, NO BACKSIES.
There's no way you're listening to the right album.
i can understand this
i sometimes think the songs are a bit long in places, but at other times i'm completely blown away by the same songs.
Thanks for the streaming links
today is now sorted :)
Actually a little underwhelmed
Like the clarity in places, and it's clearly breaking away from the full on noise of DE. But there's less here to love and more to just feel comforted. I love Deftones, but it's the first time in a while I've felt a little like they're going through the motions a bit. I might change my mind, but it's not had the same impact DE had at all.
bloody hell they've sold out barrowlands already
at nearly £30 a pop! well shut my mouth!
Supporting on this tour:
Three Trapped Tigers
bloody hell
Fake History was my favourite Glassjaw lite album from 2011.
I am listening to it now on Spotify. I have never heard Deftones before.
Apparently they're ancient. I'd thought they were just one of those nu-metal bands the turn of the Century that all us old bastards couldn't get and wished would go away.
they were around at that time.
and kind of got lumped in with that crowd, especially with Back to School, but they are SOOOO much better.
well, this fantastic isn't it?
Particularly the second half - Rosemary and Goon Squad.. my word.
I like it..
Didn't remember how much they sound like old Filter, though...


text:
Loyola at a Glance
Subscribe to our Newsroom RSS feed | What is RSS?
Follow Loyola University New Orleans on Twitter
'Jihad Jones and the Kalashnikov Babes' finds the funny in Hollywood stereotyping
October 9, 2009
The Department of Theatre Arts and Dance at Loyola University New Orleans and director Laura Hope kick off the 2009-10 theatrical season with Yussef El Guindi's award-winning comedy, "Jihad Jones and the Kalashnikov Babes." "Jihad Jones and the Kalashnikov Babes" skewers business as usual in Hollywood and asks how much it costs for one actor to betray his values and sell his soul for fame and fortune in Tinseltown.
Ashraf is an Arab-American actor who just received rave reviews for his performance as Hamlet at an L.A. theatre, but his dismal acting income means that he has trouble paying the bills. He needs his big break, a starring role in a Hollywood blockbuster. Enter his high-powered Hollywood agent, who tempts him with a lead role in a feature film paying big money, playing opposite his favorite sexy female starlet and directed by his favorite director of all time. There's just one problem; He will have to play the most stereotypically evil, fanatical Islamic terrorist ever to grace the screen, something he's vowed to never do.
Jihad Jones follows Ashraf as he negotiates a Faustian deal for his soul. Will he sell out his values and morals for the siren's call of Hollywood fortune and fame?
"Jihad Jones and the Kalashnikov Babes" runs Oct. 9, 10, 14, 15, at 8 p.m. and Oct. 11 at 2 p.m., in Loyola's Lower Depths Theatre, in the Communications/Music Complex, on the corner of St. Charles Avenue and Calhoun Street.
Tickets are $12 general admission and $8 students, seniors and Loyola faculty and staff.
For tickets and information, contact the Loyola Box Office at 504-865-2074 or email@example.com. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.montage.loyno.edu.
For the latest updates about Loyola University New Orleans, follow us on Twitter @LoyolaNOLANews or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/loyno.
Loyola at a Glance is written and distributed for the faculty, staff, students and friends of Loyola University New Orleans. It is published by the Office of Public Affairs, Greenville Hall, Box 909, 7214 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118. (504) 861-5888.
Information to be included in Loyola at a Glance must be received 2-3 weeks in advance of the publication date. Send us your news here.


text:
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, June 7 (UPI) -- Parents are demanding the firings of three Canadian school teachers who knew two students were eating moose droppings on a Manitoba field trip.
On a May 26 outing in Grand Marais, 50 miles northeast of Winnipeg, the principal of Walter Whyte School, two teachers and three parent volunteers took a group of eighth grade students on a two-day canoe trip.
Two students later told their parents one of the male adult chaperones offered them moose droppings, telling them they were chocolate-covered almonds, the Winnipeg Free Press reported.
One 13-year-old boy ate one and then rushed to a river to rinse his mouth, while the second, a girl with braces, threw up, the report said.
Lord Selkirk School Division Superintendent Scott Kwasnitza told the newspaper the principal and two teachers were aware of the second incident, but didn't report it.
He said the school staff had been disciplined, but wouldn't give details.
"Anything that's student- and personnel-related is out of bounds and I'm not going to comment," Kwasnitza said. "Obviously this was a grievous error and the person who initiated it has expressed deep regret and remorse."


text:
Brand Label: Athena Procopiou
ITEM MOVED TO ARCHIVE: On January 22, 2018 11:23 am, Fashion Stylist Online noted this item may be out of stock at MATCHES FASHION because it was not referenced in their latest online catalog. If this item is out of stock at MATCHES FASHION, you may be able to find similar fashions sold there or elsewhere on our Athena Procopiou Designer Brand Directory.
Available for Purchase Online at MATCHES FASHION for $639.00Pin It
Athena Procopiou's baby-pink light-green and teal-blue Cosmic Dancer maxi dress is crafted using subtle metallic fibres for a hidden note of lustre. It's shaped with a slender bodice and a high empire waistline and features straps with long ends that can be tied in bows or left to trail from the shoulders. Tease out the vacation-ready feel by styling it with delicate gold jewellery and flat leather sandals.
Shop other brand label items from Athena Procopiou on FashionStylist.com.
This item was published for sale online by MATCHES FASHION on January 22, 2018 10:19 am and last updated by us January 22, 2018 11:23 am.
Editor Picks: Dress Yourself
Proenza Schouler Women's Patch Embellished Bomber
Loewe Women's Tie Waist Cotton Poplin Shirtdress
Yigal Azrouel Women's Crocodile Fil Coupe Midi
Lela Rose Women's Metallic Floral Fil Coupe Top
Etro Women's Floral Paisley Jersey Dress 6 Us
Editor Picks: So 70's Clothing Inspiration
Alice Olivia Lyn Paneled Suede Fringe Cape Tan
Isabel Marant Open Front Embroidered Long Coat
Adam Lippes Pencil Skirt W Fringe Hem Black
Burberry Prorsum Patchwork Blanket Fringe Poncho
Valentino Crochet Mitered Stripe Poncho Sorbet
Editor Picks: LBD These Little Black Dress You Need to See
Moschino Ruler Bow Dress
Maison Margiela Velvet Pussy Bow Dress
Maison Rabih Kayrouz Crepe Collarless Blouse Blue
Alexander Mcqueen Harness Briefcase Black
Mugler Sheer Embellished Dress
Editor Picks: Black Tie Dress Guide
Miss Selfridge Women's Floral Embroidered Blouse
Roland Mouret Diamond Cut Fit Flare Dress Black
St John Collection Asymmetric Drape Front Liquid
St John Collection Classic Cady Gown W Sequined
St John Collection Sequin Rose Milano Knit V Neck
Editor Picks: Not Your Average Little Black Dress
Philipp Plein Embellished Backpack White Polyurethane
Maria Lucia Hohan Flared Fitted Waist Dress Pink
Antonio Berardi Jacquard Asymmetric Dress Women's
Oscar De La Renta Pencil Denim Skirt White
Junya Watanabe Comme Des Gar Ons 3d Blouse Women's
Browse More Fashion Apparel by Athena Procopiou (view more)
New promo codes and links offering limited time promotions, sales coupons, and special offers on Athena Procopiou designer fashions and accessories will be posted on each designer label apparel page. For the latest up to date information on this Athena Procopiou Cosmic Dancer Multi Thread Cotton Blend Maxi Dress | Clothing fashion item, including product specifications, ordering options, pricing, shipping details, high resolution pictures, shopper comments, and other sales media, visit the MATCHES FASHION Online Store.


text:
The Mountaineer Rack doubles your rear storage capacity above your rear seat. Wrangler TJ comes with special hardware that bolts inside the rear roll bar. This hardware can also be used as an Arm Rest when the Mountaineer Rack is removed. Wrangler YJ owners with a 92 or newer YJ have a choice of ordering either the YJ Roll Bar Mounted Rack or the CJ Wheel Well Mounted Rack which requires drilling into the wheel wells and has the extra feature of being able to pivot and be lifted from the rear of the Jeep.
Since 1953, California-based Olympic 4x4 Products has produced bumpers, racks, side guards and other accessories for Jeep enthusiasts. Whether you are looking to upgrade or replace OEM parts on your Wrangler JK, TJ, YJ, CJ or Cherokee, Olympic is a one stop shop for products made in the USA and thoroughly tested and wheeled in off-roading environments. Olympic 4x4 Products are authentic, easy to install and afford enthusiasts multiple choices in style and fit. Their extensive off-roading experience and location in City of Commerce with close proximity to off-road trails makes the company an authority on designing and manufacturing durable parts that go the Olympic distance. Shop Olympic 4x4 Products Now


text:
Bigg Mike - She Got It [UPTHRUDERE Submitted]
Directed by @Hoodlym for Upthrudere Films
Follow: @BiggMike_BME @Hoodlym @Weupthrudere
@MateoBeatz407 @KittyDhatBaby @Phreshent
Bigg Mike "Unity" Mixtape coming soon
D/L: 'Sacrifices' mixtape:
For booking contact: email@example.com
For videos contact: firstname.lastname@example.com or email@example.com
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
Friday, July 8, 2011
3 Musketeers Truffle Crisp
A couple of years ago Mars introduced some new candy bars to the United States based on their popularity in Australia. They were called Fling and came in bright pink packages along with lots of marketing directed towards women. They came in three flavor varieties: Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate and Hazelnut.
About a year later the test marketing of Fling waned and a new bar came out nationally, the 3 Musketeers Truffle Crisp. The bar is described on the package as whipped-up chocolate truffle on a crisp layer enrobed in real milk chocolate.
The bars are narrow fingers, nicely domed with drizzled chocolate across the top. They're light, literally - each weights a smidge over a half an ounce. (For comparison, a single Twix finger is about an ounce.) The package says that each one contains less than 85 calories. Well, that's pretty easy since it doesn't weigh much. In reality, the calories per ounce are quite high at 155 but the package limits your portion.
The bar snaps nicely with a light cracking sound. The construction is interesting (and this is where the bar is unique). The base is a plank of chocolate meringue. It's crispy and airy with a light sweetness and hint of salt and cocoa to it. The truffle on top really isn't - it's a mix of cocoa and hydrogenated and/or non-hydrogenated palm and palm kernel oils. (In my world a truffle is made of actual chocolate and some sort of dairy fat.) The chocolatey cream is okay, fluffy but a little greasy and flavorless to my tongue. It's all wrapped in a good amount of milk chocolate. The milk chocolate is sweet and creamy with a strong dairy note to it. It pulls it all together well.
The idea and execution of this is actually really good. I wish the truffle part was better and having had the Fling in dark chocolate, I know this is actually better in dark chocolate.
I actually like these bars, even with all my complaining about various elements of the promotion, packaging and ingredients. They're unique and inventive, once consumers try them, I think the rest of the weirdness of the rest of it will be irrelevant. It would also be cool if Mars extended the use of the meringue crisp - I could see them as interesting centers for M&Ms, different flavored cream toppings for this bar (like coffee) and perhaps something berry with dark chocolate.
Though there are no wheat ingredients on the list, it is made on shared equipment with wheat (and peanuts) so it's not technically gluten free, so try at your own risk.
Update 10/29/2012: I just heard back from Mars, they are discontinuing the Truffle Crisp bar. They just weren't popular enough. My suggestion for those who love the bar is to write to Mars and propose that they bring them back seasonally. So you can stock up.
Related Candies
POSTED BY Cybele AT 3:08 pm Candy • Review • Mars • Chocolate • Discontinued • Kosher • 7-Worth It • United States • Rite Aid •
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wonka Exceptionals Fruit Jellies: Grapefruit, Goji Berry & Red Apple
The new line of Wonka Exceptionals includes new chocolate bars to replace the classic Wonka Bar and the completely new Wonka Fruit Marvels.
The Wonka Exceptionals Fruit Jellies are a bit more classic. They're simple cubes of real fruit jelly made from all natural ingredients in Mexico. They come in single flavor boxes, the initial varieties are Grapefruit, Goji Berry and Red Apple.
They are packaged similarly to the Fruit Marvels. The label sleeve is over an eye-popping magenta and maroon box. Inside the box is an unlabeled purple mylar bag. It's a lot of layers, and while I enjoy the fancifulness, it's really wasteful.
The package simply describes them as fantastically flavorful soft jellies dusted with sugar. I also got a press release that said:
The ingredients go like this:
The beta carotene is the only ingredient that isn't marked as all natural, though it's certainly not an artificial color.
I've had a lot of pate de fruits over the years, which are full fruit jellies. They're usually thickened with the actual fruit instead of corn starch though sometimes there's additional pectin (depending on the fruit). Though the new Wonka Fruit Jellies don't quite rise to the level of pate, they do a good job with the texture and are less sweet than gum drops or fruit jellies like Boston Fruit Slices.
Grapefruit is light yellow, none of this pink grapefruit stuff for Wonka.
The scent is a beguilingly authentic grapefruit peel. Grapefruit is a favorite smell for me, even clinical testing backs up its use for aromatherapy - the smell of grapefruit soothes, engenders trust and youthfulness (for women being sniffed by men, anyway). I like it because it smells like something I want to eat. It's a mix of balsam, lavender, lemon and windy beach.
The half inch jelly cubes are rough and dusted with sugar. They're a little messier than a gum drop but not as dusty as Turkish Delight. They're soft to the touch but firm enough that they can't be squeezed flat very easily. The moist jelly has a nice give, it's not a sticky as a gum drop, these are more of a jam you can eat.
The flavor is mostly about the zest and grapefruit peel but there's a light juice note with a little tangy snap. They're not too cloying or sticky sweet, but not quite intense enough for me to call them a true pate de fruits.
The berries are related to tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. They have tiny little seeds in them but they're edible and provide a little bit of texture, though not quite like, say, kiwi or fig seeds do.
The package says nothing about where the flavor for these comes from, just that it's natural. The whole point, as far as I can tell, of people eating goji is because of its high antioxidant properties, so just flavoring something with goji seems like a miss.
They're sweet with a little tangy note. Kind of like raisin and orange. Not really that interesting to me.
Note: the Goji variety of the Fruit Jellies uses cochineal color, so they are not vegan.
Red Apple was much more appealing than I expected. It's quite red, which was refreshing instead of the more common acid green that candies end up being.
The flavor notes are reminiscent of apple cider. There are notes of apple peel, a mellow and honey-like sweetness along with a light tart bite.
My hesitations with these are because of the excessive packaging, but for a natural fruit jelly product they're priced rather well but still quite a bit steeper than other gummis or jellies. (They're about twice the price per ounce compared to the Wonka Sploshberries.) The size of the pieces is perfect, I just pop them in my mouth, no messing biting & putting half aside. I do love grapefruit, which is a hard flavor to find, and apple lovers may enjoy a real fruit experience too. Goji can go, hopefully replaced by something really inventive ... maybe we'll finally find out what a snozzberry is.
Related Candies
POSTED BY Cybele AT 12:16 pm All Natural • Candy • Review • Nestle • Discontinued • Jelly Candy • 7-Worth It • Mexico •
Monday, March 22, 2010
Skittles Fizzl'd Fruits
Back in October I heard that Wrigley's was introducing some new Skittles. These weren't just new flavors, they were going to be a completely new way to experience the chewy fruit-flavored candy lentils.
Skittles Fizzl'd Fruits are billed as Fizzling fun for your mouth. As you can imagine from the name, they're Skittles with a foaming, fizzy component.
The package is cobalt blue and holds the same amount as the Sour Skittles, 1.8 ounces (the regular flavors are 2.17 ounces). I couldn't wait to find them in stores locally, so when I saw a box of them posted on eBay, I bought them right away.
From the outside of the package they looked like Sour Skittles, which of course gets my mouth watering immediately. The images show a softly sanded set of Skittles, my guess was this was the fizzing part.
This sort of fizzing reaction is the same as AlkaSeltzer or other effervescent tablets. Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) is mixed with an acidic agent, in this case citric acid. When it's dry, nothing happens but when water (or saliva) wets it, they begin a reaction that results in carbon dioxide (the air) and sodium citrate (an alkaline salt with a tangy flavor that works as a mild antacid).
I took one Skittle and carefully put a drop of water on it and sure enough as the water wicked around the whole candy the surface started to bubble slightly. It looked like it was being deep fried, or like putting a strawberry in a glass of champagne. It's not like the whole thing got covered in scrubbing bubbles nor would a whole bowl of them create a "snap, crackle, pop" but it's still a remarkable little chemistry demonstration.
The flavors are Berry Punch, Melon Berry, Raspberry, Strawberry and Wild Cherry. If this set of flavors sounds familiar, yes, it's the same as Wild Berry Skittles.
They smell softly sweet with a light floral note, but nothing that really hints at the experience to come.
They are strange! I can say right now they are not for me, but they are definitely intriguing.
I was expecting the caustic and biting sour coating when I popped two of the Melon Berry flavor in my mouth, and yes, there was a sour tingle, but then there was a fizz. It's not a carbonation fizz, it's more like putting an Alka Seltzer tablet on your tongue. The foaming is soft and has small bubbles which dissipate quickly, especially when I chewed up the candy. I didn't care much for the melon berry flavor as it was, so the additional component was weird and slightly metallic.
The Raspberry went nicely, the sour bite was less noticeable and the foam seemed to support the floral flavors. The coating, I was noticing, has a medicinal mineral salt flavor to it, like eating antacids.
Berry Punch had a kind of bubble gum note to it, so the bubbly coating fit right in. It reminded me of a cheap soda from my childhood, in the best way possible.
Strawberry was much more tangy than the one found in the regular mix and combined well with the fizzling.
Wild Cherry was a strange combination of foreign flavors, it simply put, an effervescent cough drop. It had all the worst aftertastes for me, a mid-tone metallic note and then the lingering cherry and bitter red dye afterglow.
As I mentioned earlier, they're just not for me. I'm not much for effervescence; the caustic burps after just aren't worth the tongue tingling. The mineral aftertaste is also a bit disconcerting for me, but I know it's completely benign. Finally, I'm not that keen on the name. They're using the Wild Berry mix so seems like they could have gone for Bubbly Berry instead of Fizzl'd Fruits since Fruits is the name of the classic flavor mix. I also ate three bags of these over the past five days and found that the fizzy coating was inconsistent. Sometimes it was fizzy but flavorless, other times it was a perfect blend of tangy and foamy.
I know that kids like to snort the sour powder from Sour Skittles, but this would be a very bad idea ... I give it about 11 days before videos start showing up on youtube of kids doing it. Skittles are now gelatin-free and gluten-free. They're also no nuts and vegan if you're the kind who will eat artificial stuff. Not Kosher.
Ebidebby also has a review of them today.
Related Candies
POSTED BY Cybele AT 10:39 am
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Sixlets P-NOT Butter Flavored
Less than 1% of the US population is allergic to peanuts (it's estimated at .6% actually). But for families that have a peanut-allergic member it means that the whole household has to go peanut free (and sometimes classrooms as well). So finding candy that everyone can have is an issue. And there's no reason that there can't be excellent, no-compromise peanut free candy.
Enter the new P-NOT BUTTER flavored Sixlets ... yes, they're Sixlets but instead of being mock chocolate they're mock peanut butter.
This little flip top box boasts that it contains 44 pieces peanut butter flavored but peanut free candy.
The little spheres are bright and attractive ... if a little rolly. I've got to say that I appreciate M&Ms for their pleasing roundness but ability to stay put after playing with these Sixlets.
I've seen another review of these and thought maybe she had a bad batch. And I was curious what a fake peanut product would be like. What's in there?
So it's soy butter? That's not so bad. I've bought that before for sandwiches.
The shells are strangely crispy & crumble and are cool on the tongue. The insides are soft and pasty, like super-smooth peanut butter.
But oh, after a few chomps on the trio I put in my mouth and I was repulsed. It reminded me of something but I couldn't quite place.
At first I kept thinking of purses, basements & babies. I thought it was the soy part and it reminded me of strained pea baby food. And then I thought some more and realized that it reminded me of the smell of vomit in a hot car. The initial flavor is grassy and a little milky ... but then there's this awful acrid tangy note that just hangs there like spit up baby formula. But it's not like some distant vomit ... it's something inside my own mouth, it give me the feeling that maybe I threw up a little while ago and forgot about it, except for this awful taste in my mouth.
Ultimately I think that these are a fantastic public service. Give these to children who are allergic to peanuts but have never actually eaten them and they'll be sure to never be tempted to touch them again.
(For the record, I gave some to Amy-Who-Spits-Things-Out and she was miffed to say the least and wants to give them a negative 4 rating.)
UPDATE 9/22/2009: I heard from SweetWorks who manufacturers & distributes P-NOT Sixlets. They assure me that the product was discontinued (and the package I reviewed was possibly expired - but it had no expiry date marked on it and was only introduced a year ago, so how was I to know?).
Related Candies
POSTED BY Cybele AT 11:04 am
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Starbucks Caramel Macchiato (Discontinued)
Starbucks Chocolate is a study in short attention spans.
It was launched barely more than a year ago with little promotion to support it, no website (just a page on the Starbucks site) and a baffling retail plan where it was sold everywhere except Starbucks.
The line included coffee & tea infused chocolate bars, tasting squares and truffles. The packaging echoed Starbucks strong image, was all natural and made no direct mention of Hershey's as the manufacturer. For Christmas special flavors were created that echoed the seasonal coffee drinks. However, the new brand was a tad on the expensive side and entered the mass-manufactured upscale chocolate market just terms like staycation entered the vernacular.
So last week as Hershey's announced huge second quarter profits, it also formally announced that they were discontinuing the Starbucks Chocolate line.
CNN Money summed it up pretty well:
Added to that happy news about their profits (which were the result of cutting manufacturing costs by closing factories in the US, moving to a Mexican facility, raising prices and using cheaper ingredients), Hershey's also formalized the discontinuation of Cacao Reserve, Hershey's own branded high end chocolate line. (Hershey's also closed Joseph Schmidt, a chocolatier line based out of San Francisco earlier this year and moved all production for Scharffen Berger to Illinois.)
With this news, I grabbed the last Starbucks product in their line that I hadn't reviewed yet (and as illustrations for this little death knell post).
The Caramel Macchiato Truffles come in a nicely packaged pair at the ghastly price of $1.39 at the drug store. Honestly, if this sort of truffle pair was available at an actual Starbucks to accompany my plain coffee, I might have gone for it more regularly. With the "startling news" that coffee drinks contain huge amounts of calories which cause cancer, a simple cup of coffee with cream and two truffles would actually be a smaller indulgence than an actual Caramel Macchiato.
I've never had a Macchiato (I've never actually had anything fancier than a latte or mocha in all my years), so I can't comment on how well it mimics the frothy creation described thusly by Starbucks:
The milk chocolate shell is nicely molded. It holds a fudgy, smooth cream that tastes a bit like a mocha cheesecake. Sweet, a little tangy with a light coffee taste and maybe, just maybe a hint of toffee (caramel).
It was pretty sweet but with coffee it works ... though the actual coffee overpowers the not-much-coffee-taste.
In the end, I don't think it was bad timing that sunk this line. I think it was bad merchandising - it should have been available at actual Starbucks. And a year is far too little to decide the success of a new line of chocolate. My view is that Hershey's is uninterested in building brand loyalty through quality.
The only thing that makes sense about this is the statement on the side of the box:
Watching Cadbury & Mars move more and more towards ethically traded and sustainably grown & harvested cacao, I'm not seeing much for Hershey's except from their Daboga arm. I can see where this Starbucks line is just a liability for profits. Hershey's has shown itself to be more concerned with profits (and high profits, not just tidy ones) than the quality of its products and place within the economies it locates itself.
Related Candies
POSTED BY Cybele AT 10:43 am
Monday, December 1, 2008
Starbucks Chocolate: Eggnog Latte Truffles
The Hershey's & Starbucks marriage has moved quietly out of the honeymoon stage. I see the products around quite a bit, though I haven't been tempted to buy any again since I tried their launch line of items.
Then I saw their new holiday truffles. They have three new variesties that I spotted at both Rite Aid and Target.
The new truffles are: Peppermint Mocha Truffles, Gingerbread Latte Truffles and Eggnog Latte Flavored Truffles.
I stared and stared at the two packages for Gingerbread and Eggnog and I couldn't figure out the difference. Gingerbread was going to be a little more on the cinnamon side and eggnog was going to be more on the nutmeg side. Both are milk chocolate.
Even though they were on sale, I opted for just the Eggnog ones. I think nutmeg is a hugely underrated spice and I love the combination of milk chocolate and nutmeg. (Frances bought all of them though.)
First let me say that I've never had a Starbucks coffee drink before. I've had straight lattes and cappuccinos and tried their Chantico hot chocolate before, but I've never had any of their flavored drinks. Like my aversion to sodas, I just don't care much for sweet drinks. So I can't compare the experience of this truffle to one of their actual hot Eggnog Lattes.
The narrow domed pieces are very attractive. Nicely molded and aromatic. I got an immediate whiff of chocolate and nutmeg with a little hint of rum flavoring.
The chocolate shell is shiny and nicely tempered. The chocolate is sweet but has a slight pop of coffee flavors. The sugar, cream and palm oil ganache center is creamy with a few little bits of spice in it. There's a very slight hint of coffee from time to time, but for the most part this is a chocolate piece about the egg nog flavors, not espresso.
Overall, as I've found with egg nog in the past, this is pretty sweet stuff. The piece is nice, but as I've noticed with the other truffle boxes, I kind of want a variety. I did see a gift box at Target that had a mix of Mocha, Peppermint Mocha and Gingerbread Latte Truffles, but at $10 for less than 6 ounces it was a worse deal ounce for ounce than the stand up boxes. So I think I'm just going to keep my eye on it and hope it's still there after Christmas. Or go to a real chocolatier and get something that'll really roll my eyes back in my head.
As drug store chocolates go, they are all natural and Starbucks makes a point of saying that their coffee and chocolate are sourced ethically and grown sustainably (doesn't say anything about the palm oil though). They're certainly better than most other mass-produced boxed chocolates in that respect. Kosher.
Related Candies
POSTED BY Cybele AT 9:57 am
Monday, September 15, 2008
Dove Desserts Bananas Foster
Bananas Foster is a New Orleans specialty created by chef Paul Blang?. The dessert consists of vanilla ice cream topped with bananas flambe'd in sauce of butter, dark rum, brown sugar, banana liquor and cinnamon. (I think it makes a great topping for pancakes or crepes.)
Dove has come out with a line of dessert-inspired bites including this one, the Bananas Foster and Tiramisu (made from lady fingers, marscapone and coffee). I picked the Bananas Fosters because I figured that the caramel format fit it really well (where I didn't think it'd work as well with the Tiramisu in theory).
The little foil wrappers were a rather unsightly yellow color. Vaguely florescent, they don't remind me of real bananas, it reminds me of Banana Runts. (But be warned as well, I rather like fake banana things, i you don't that may interfere with your enjoyment.)
The Bananas Foster Silky Smooth Milk Chocolate Promises come tightly wrapped in a strange twisted stand up box that didn't want to stand up for me. (And in my frustration I ended up opening it on the bottom instead of the top and now I've completely ruined it.)
Inside the foil is a light milk chocolate disk. It smells nicely of milk chocolate, sugar and green bananas. The bite is soft, but the chocolate snaps nicely, even in this heat. The milk chocolate isn't particular intense, I think the aspect that Dove chocolate does best is silky smooth and that's here all right.
The caramel filling is strange but completely consistent with the way that Dove has been making it for their other caramel filled Promises. It's thick, but not chewy. It's very smooth, but feels emulsified like pudding instead of like actual caramelized sugar and butter. But hey, caramel banana pudding is good, too. (I like butterscotch pudding with bananas in it.)
The banana flavor isn't overwhelming, just a light touch. The caramel notes are non-existent, but thankfully the whole thing isn't too sweet either. I wanted a little touch of rum and a little touch of brown sugar ... but while it wasn't even close to imitating real Bananas Foster it was still satisfying.
Check out other reviews for the Tiramisu: Chocoflyer tastes both Tiramisu & Bananas Foster, Gigi Reviews, Candy Addict and The Onion's AV Club.
Related Candies
POSTED BY Cybele AT 7:55 am
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Kai's Candy Campaign 2008 Candies
As we gear up for the final showdown for Election 2008, the commercial tie-ins will start popping up.
Kai's Candies has a line of candidate sets. The one for Barack Obama is currently available and includes lollipops with Obama's likeness on them plus little single candies that either say VOTE or have an image of a donkey.
Later in August they'll have a set for John McCain that features a lollipop with his face plus red elephant candies.
The images are made by hand. Basically sugar and syrup are boiled, a little flavor or color is added and then the different hunks of colored candy are assembled into a large blob that is rolled thinner and thinner - little slices are cut that reveal the design created by stacking the different colors. This is the same traditional technique used to make swirled & twisted lollipops, starlight mints and candy canes.
In Japan this technique is called Kumi Ame (rolled candy), where these are made to Kai's Candies specifications.
Kai's Candy has a nice post on their blog that shows photos of the process.
In the case of Kai's Candies, the background is a translucent candy instead of an opaque color, which adds to the appeal of these, like they're enamel.
The Obama pop is attractive, I recognize it as Obama, though the flesh tone is a bit light and his lips should be darker as well. It's about 1 1/2 inches across and about 1/4 inch deep. The stick is a stiff plastic, white with a twirl of color. They're a bit longer than usual lollipop sticks at almost eight inches, so you could put them in a vase or something as a centerpiece.
The design goes through and through, it's not an imprint or a raised design.
However, as the candy dissolves the different kinds that make it up dissolve at different rates. The clear candy background seems to be the hardest, so Obama's face disappeared more quickly (as did the donkey in the little piece).
As a piece of edible propaganda, it's one of the best I've seen. It's good quality stuff and the company takes great pride in their work. The packaging is spare but appropriate. (I liked that the donkey, elephant & vote were not only in clear wrappers but had color coded ends.)
They are expensive ($14.95 for a set that includes 4 pops and 14 little candies) but they're also hand made. There are also mini-sets for only $3.95 but of course it makes the per item charge higher ... and don't forget shipping. There's nothing on the site about just ordering the vote and party affiliate animals (though I bet you could contact them directly for that).
UPDATE 8/18/2008: Kai's Candy has lowered the prices, the regular set is now $13.95. They also include lettered pops that say "Obama" or "McCain" and mixes that have both Obama and McCain face and name pops mixed.
UPDATE 2/20/2009: Kai's Candy has a message on their website: Kai's Candy Company Is No Longer In Business. We'd like to thank our customers who helped launch our business, but like many others, we haven't been able to sustain our business through the recent economic downturn.
Related Candies
POSTED BY Cybele AT 11:50 am
Meticulously photographed and documented reviews of candy from around the world. And the occasional other sweet adventures. Open your mouth, expand your mind.


text:
Meade Aluminum Hard Carry Case for Meade ETX-80 Telescopes - 07385
For secure portability of your Meade ETX 80 Telescope in the field, Meade Telescope Aluminum Hard Carry Case 07385 is fully lined with fitted foam inserts and accept the complete Meade ETX-80 Telescope, plus optional Meade Telescope Accessories.
Shown on the picture: Meade ETX-80 Telescope Case 07337 w/ Meade ETX80 Telescope. Meade ETX 80 Telescope IS NOT INCLUDED w/ Meade Case 07337
Please note:
Meade ETX-80 Telescope WILL FIT into Meade Aluminum Hard Carry Case 07385. You just need to turn the focus knob until the telescope tube backs all the way back down to its shortest position. Remember that on Meade ETX 80 Refracting Telescope the objective end of the OTA (optical tube assembly) moves in and out as you focus. If the tube is extended too far out, it will not fit in the hard carry case.
No other images currently available


text:
An accomplished, street smart and powerful fighter with little patience for those who don't know their way around a battlefield, ARCEE may be the most skilled fighter among the AUTOBOTS on Earth. She works constantly to keep her edge, knowing that one mistake could cost her and her teammates everything. Her blasters might not pack the punch of the bigger AUTOBOTS, but her incredible fighting skill more than makes up for anything she lacks in firepower.
Beast Wars Megatron
An insane, hyper-intelligent criminal mastermind who led a group of renegade PREDACONS to Earth in search of the Energon they would need to conquer CYBERTRON, MEGATRON became so much more than a petty felon. When the search led to the discovery of alien artifacts, MEGATRON launched an assault on Time itself, seeking to change history to his benefit. He nearly destroyed CYBERTRON in his mad quest to exterminate the TRANSFORMERS, and was stopped only when OPTIMUS PRIMAL brought him down. He returned, determined to have his vengeance, and his battle with the MAXIMAL leader raged across the multiverse!
DECEPTICONS, beware, because PROWL is one tough AUTOBOT out to bring law and order to his enemies! He's big trouble whether he's in robot mode or police car mode. If ordinary TRANSFORMERS strength won't get the job done, he's got a heavy weapon in his Justice Hammer! The strategic genus is always cool under pressure, especially when he's hot on the trail of an enemy target.
Rodimus-Hot Rod
RODIMUS is young, naïve, headstrong, and daring when it comes to his own safety in the field. Willing to push himself to the limit in order to get the job done, RODIMUS is known for conceiving highly dangerous plans to achieve his objectives. Believing that no bot should ever be left behind, RODIMUS will even put his own spark on the line to keep this promise to all who serve under him. Despite his immaturity, RODIMUS is considered an inspirational figure to many of his fellow AUTOBOTS. He would officially become their commander when chosen by the Matrix of Leadership, forging a new legacy as RODIMUS PRIME.
Ultra Magnus
As the commander of the most elite AUTOBOT special forces unit ever assembled, you'd expect ULTRA MAGNUS to be just about one of the most unstoppable warriors this side of the galactic core. You'd be right. If there is any AUTOBOT the DECEPTICONS fear as much as OPTIMUS PRIME, it is ULTRA MAGNUS. His battle hammer has crushed chassis from one side of the galaxy to the other. No battlefield on which his armored feet have stepped has ever been yielded to the DECEPTICONS.


text:
There are many good points in this article about how Microsoft came in with an idea and somehow managed to squander it. Do you remember how UMPCs were laughed at, and then a year later the Eee PC arrived and it's heralded as the Next Best Thing™?
Whilst I agree on many points with the article, I feel that it failed to mention the success that Microsoft have had. Back in 2000, Microsoft were seen as not being able to understand gamers enough to enter the console market. The initial XBox was laughable—and almost completely forgotten now—but Microsoft have persisted and are unquestionably Sony's biggest rivals, even having the upper hand when it comes to online console gaming.
Also what of Office? Microsoft have certainly maintained 10 years of success with Office and for all the complaints from geeks over the changes in 2007 it has shown immense vision from Microsoft in these latest revisions.
Their server products have gone from strength to strength. Server 2003 has had a good security record and even the UNIX geeks have had to admit the solidarity of Server 2008 which has been very well received.
Microsoft are obviously not going to be disappearing any time soon. It just has to be seen what Microsoft can make of the coming years where the web is playing a central role and Microsoft are woefully behind. Their mobile offerings are in an equal sorry state, and are they really geared up to be the first experience of the next billion computer users coming from China and India?


text:
Found 7 resultsAuthor [ Title] Type Year
Filters: First Letter Of Last Name is A and First Letter Of Title is Z [Clear All Filters]
Activity restriction, pain and mood across the lifespan in adults with multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury." Multiple Sclerosis. 2009;15(9 Suppl):S266."
Adapting PROMIS physical function items for users of assistive technology." Disability and Health Journal. 2010;3(2):e9."
Adapting the PROMIS Physical Function Outcome Bank for MS AT users." Multiple Sclerosis. 2009;15(9 Suppl):S53."
Antidepressant use among individuals with MS." International Journal of MS Care. 2005;7(2):64."
Antidepressant use in multiple sclerosis: epidemiologic study of a large community sample." Multiple Sclerosis. 2007;13(8):1046-53."
Anxiety in multiple sclerosis: prevalence and associated factors in a large community sample." Multiple Sclerosis. 2008;14(S1):S155."
Assessment of upper extremity function in multiple sclerosis: review and opinion." Postgrad Med. 2014;126(5):102-8."


text:
- Community
- Research
- Forms, Rates & Tables
- Government
- Executive
- Judicial
- Legislative
- Treasury
- Comments
- Continuing Professional Education
- Determination Letter
- Email Chief Counsel Advice
- Exempt Organizations Update
- Field Service Advice
- Forms and Instructions
- General Counsel Memoranda
- IRS Announcements
- IRS Fact Sheet
- IRS Forms
- IRS Legal Memoranda
- IRS Notices
- Information Release
- Internal Revenue Code
- Letter Rulings
- Publications
- Regulations
- Revenue Procedures
- Revenue Rulings
- Technical Advice Memoranda
- Treasury Decisions
- Management
- Marketing
- Planning
- Assets
- Compliance
- Income Tax
- International
- Investing
- Techniques
- Transfer Taxes
- Values-Based
- News
- Articles
- Case Studies
- Technical Reports
Eric Weiner, PhD
Eric Weiner's work centers on helping people successfully transfer the values, dreams, family stories, and legacies associated with money from the past to the present, and well into the future.
Eric Weiner, PhD Features
posted on 21 Dec 2016 | ArticleEric Weiner gives an overview and insights into the history and importance of Ethical Wills.
About Us
Dr. Eric Weiner is a consultant, speaker, coach and therapist. He brings a variety of skills to his work with affluent clients and advisors. Services include the facilitation of intergenerational family meetings and client-centered training for financial advisors. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, his mission is to help families flourish by promoting a positive family culture. His passion is to help families define a legacy that preserves both financial assets and family relationships over time.
His award-winning book "Words from the HEART: A Practical Guide to Writing an Ethical Will," is a tool that assists families in defining what matters most in the inheritance preparation process. He is an experienced speaker and has given numerous presentations to companies including Northwestern Mutual Life, The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, and Northern Trust Bank. His recently published "Ethical Wills: Words from the Jewish HEART" is a valuable resource for Jewish foundations and organizations.
His professional training includes a Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy from Kansas State University, and he has held academic appointments at the Medical College of Wisconsin and Michigan State University.


text:
On the feast of Saint Bernard, August 20, I am unlikely to celebrate his preaching of the Second Crusade! Although he was ardent in fighting schisms and heresies in the church, they were schisms and heresies so long now out of date that they do not much interest us today.. But he is also remembered for his re-invigoration of Lectio Divina --praying the scriptures--for the renewal of the church and his order of Cistertians. Traditionally, Lectio Divina involved four separate steps: read, meditate, pray and contemplate. It remains for us a useful and very fruitful form of scriptural prayer. First, a passage of scripture is read ( a paragraph or a brief section) slowly. This is followed by a reflection on its meaning. Then follows prayer and a contemplation on the Word of God. ( cf. Basil Pennington, Lectio Divina: Renewing the Ancient Practice of Praying the Scriptures Crossroad Publishing, 1998).
Lectio Divina , as a distinct form of Christian prayer, dates from Origin in the third century who spoke of " scripture as a sacrament". Origin thought the Logos, the Word, Christ was incarnate in the scripturees and, thus, could immediately touch and teach readers and hearers. For Origin, Christ is " the interpretive key" which unlocks the message in scriptural texts. This form of scriptural prayer is less interested in an exegesis of the text from a viewpoint of the historical critical method and more focused on coming in contact with Christ in and through the scriptures and praying to him. Origin's practice of Lectio Divina was taken up by Saint Ambrose and Saint Augustine and Saint Benedict who inaugurated this variant of private scriptural prayer for his monks. One read and then attended. Early fathers appealed to Romans 10:8-10 where Saint Paul refers to the presence of God's word in the believer's mouth and heart. The movement went from reading to probing one's heart's response to Christ in the scriptures. Bernard of Clairvaux re-emphasized the importance of Lectio Divina and contemplation of a scriptural passage guided by the Holy Spirit as a key to nourishing Christian spirituality.
John of the Cross also supported Lectio Divina as a form of prayer when he insisted:" Seek in reading and you will find in meditation;knock in prayer and it will be opened to you in contemplation." Lectio Divina involves a kind of feasting on the Word of God. The four parts are, first, taking a bite ( Lectio, the reading); then chewing on it (meditation). Next, one savors the essence of it, lingers over a word, phrase or feeling ( prayer) and the word is digested and made part of the person ( even their bodies): contemplation.
(1) Read: One begins with a slow reading of a scriptural passage, maybe re-reading it a number of times; (2) Meditate: This second movement involves pondering on the scriptural passage. In so doing, one is trying to listen to the inner message of the scripture ( for me, for us) delivered through the Holy Spirit. For example, we might take the passage from John 14:27 " Peace I leave you, my peace I give unto you". An analytical or scholarly approach might focus on why Jesus said that, where it was first said; its relation to the Last Supper. But in Lectio Divina the focus is not on exegesis but on Christ. The passage can lead the one who prays to ' enter peace' and/or ' share the peace of Christ'. The focus in this form of prayer is less on a biblical analysis of the passage than achieving peace and gaining a closer communion with God and Christ. (3) Pray: when he talked about Lectio Divina Ambrose said: " Let them remember that prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred Scripture, so that God and man may talk together, for we speak to Him when we pray; we hear Him when we read the divine saying." (4) Contemplate: fall into a silent prayer which expresses our love for God.
Bernard of Clairvaux compared the Holy Spirit, present to us in the scriptural prayer of Lectio Divina, to a kiss we receive from God the Father which allows the one who is contemplating to experiencee a real union with God. As we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Vatican Council II, we might remember that one of the principal documents of that Council, Dei Verbum or The Constitution on Divine Revelation, emphasized and urged on the church a renewal of this practice and use of Lectio Divina. On the fortieth anniversary of Dei Verbum in 2005, Benedict XVI affirmed, once again, the importance of this form of prayer: " I would like in particular to recall and recommend the ancient tradition of Lectio Divina. The diligent reading of Sacred Scripture, accompanied by prayer, brings about that intimate dialogue in which the person reading hears God who is speaking, and in praying responds to him with trusting openness of heart ( cf. Dei Verbum n.25). If it is effectively promoted, this practice will bring to the church--I am convinced of it--a new spiritual springtime."
People are ofen asking for advice or a practicum about how to pray. Lectio Divina is less a practice of just reading scripture and more one of listening to the inner.message of Scripture given us by the Holy Spirit--how it speaks to me and brings me in union with Christ. It does not seek information but communion with God. Lectio Divina does not treat scripture as a ' text' to be studied and de-ciphered but as " the Living Word of God.". When I study and pray to preach a Sunday homily, I do engage also in study, what was the context in Jesus' time of his actions or words? But I equally try to do Lectio Divina--to ask how the scripture passage can unite me with Jesus here and now. As Benedict XVI recently put it: " One condition for Lectio Divina is that the mind and heart be illumined by the Holy Spirit, that is, by the same Spirit who inspired the scriptures and that they be approached with an attitude of reverential hearing."
To be sure, there are other forms of Christian prayer: a silent prayer of centering with little in the way of words or images, beyond, perhaps, a one word mantra to start it off; the Ignatian form of imagination and use of the senses around a scripture passage ( but that Ignatian format, generally, ends up with the last two steps of Lectio Divina--prayer and contemplation). For a useful introduction to centering prayer cf. Thomas Keating, Intimacy with God: An Introduction to Centering Prayer ( Crossroad Publishing, 2009). A good guide to Ignatian imaginative use of the the senses in contemplation of gospel scenes can be found in David Fleming S.J., What is Ignatian Spirituality ( Loyola Press, 2008). One thing Lectio Divina has in its favor as a form of Christian prayer is its ancient lineage dating almost to the fathers of the desert and its continuous fruitful usage in the church down to our own time.
As one walking in the dark, gradually begins to "see" better, so too, Lectio Divina may not remove darkness, indeed sometimes deepens it, yet in galloping leaps and bounds one begins to "see" at a distance, or closer, the wonderous realities of the Lord wrapped in Swaddling Cloths, or in Redemption's Shroud, or in the Head Wrap in the Tomb, folded all by itself, a journey with the Christ from beginning to end and so much more along the way. There, much is learned in a moment for that's all it takes for God to speak and for one to understand. Therein too, fallacies are removed .
Once, or more correctly "often" looking at the crucifix my attention gets fixed not on Jesus in Passion, but Incarnationally on the Lord's navel! Of all things! There in wonder and awe I begin to see blood flowing through the Lord's umbilical cord from mother to child, back and forth in life-sustaining regularity. Then I "hear" Jesus say, "Mother, this is my Body, this is my Blood" "Oh no, my Son" Mary responds, "Yours is our body, yours is our blood!" Like a child uttering first words I say in querry, "Mary's Mass?"
And so it goes in Lectio Divina, "remembering" and "seeing" in the dark, a darkness so seemingly dense, yet realizing that for God "darkness and light are mysteriously the same. Many may say in response, ""How foolish!" "Pure craziness!" Maybe so. For me, however, when all is said and done, Lectio Divina is truly an "equal opportunity provider" leading not only to paths well walked, but also to those less walked, showing how little one does know about prayer, about God, but also in fleeting glimpses the happy extent to which one has been taken. Thank you Jesus!


text:
While I'm usually not a fan of news shows that sell neatly packaged stories (which is why I prefer the open format of talk radio to the closed format of NPR), there is one quadrennial event that I think benefits from the package approach, and that's the Olympics. Back in the day, CBS would present a nightly three-hour package that managed to create an entertaining combination of human interest mixed in with sport's thrilling highs and sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic lows. In that way, the Olympics were reduced to digestible narratives packed with excitement, drama, humor, and joy.
It helped too that the Olympics weren't quite so sprawling then. With fewer events and fewer athletes, it was easier to get a handle on the thing.
The modern Olympic telecast, however, is like the party that never ends. You can't find your friends, the people in the room are looking pretty ratty, and you're desperate to leave but you're a little worried that, the moment you leave, something interesting will finally happen. Ultimately, there's no there there. Instead, there's just an endless stream of people who during the winter are often faceless because of masks and helmets, zipping down hills, racing across ice, or flying through the air in patterns that become repetitive and, therefore, boring.
That's been my complaint for years about the Olympics and explains why I've pretty much stopped watching them. This year, however, I've had a new complaint about the absence of drama. I think I'll call it the Tom Friedman problem. Some time ago, Friedman wrote a book called The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century.
In his all too imitable, hackneyed style, Friedman's book points out the obvious, which is that we increasingly live in a world in which people and ideas can easily get around. There are still borders, but affordable travel, mass immigration, the end of the Cold War, and the internet have meant that people in the West, Asia, and Central and Eastern Europe enjoy a freedom of movement never before imagined. For the most part, I think this is a good thing . . . but it makes for bad Olympics.
In the old days, the athletes at the Olympics were tied closely to the country that they represented. Americans athletes trained in America, Japanese athletes trained in Japan, Eastern Bloc athletes trained in the Eastern Bloc, etc. That's all gone now.
For example, take 18-year-old Yuzuru Hanyu, who won gold for Japan in men's figure skating. He is simply phenomenal, someone who manages to make all those jumps and turns look simultaneously effortless and powerful. While he began his training in Japan, for the last two years, he's been training in Canada. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that, but it does make his victory less about his native land and more about his innate ability combined with the best international coaching. In the same way, America's premier ice dancers, Meryl Davis and Charlie White, train with their competitors, Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. That's flat earth stuff.
If you track through the list of Olympic athletes, you'll see that many others train far away from their home countries. Again, there's nothing wrong with their doing that but, to the extent that the Olympics used to be about nations competing against each other through their home-grown athletes, that tension is increasingly vanishing and, with it, some of the fun tension behind the games is vanishing too.
It's not just the Tom Friedman-ized internationalized athletes that make the Olympics a bit dull. As Ben Shapiro notes, the end of the Cold War has also reduced the games' excitement:
In the past, classic Olympic Games have acted as a sort of cathartic battle of nations, in which geopolitical foes duke it out on the playing fields, ice, or slopes. The Lake Placid Olympic Games, for example, married great hockey with high political drama: coming in the aftermath of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and at the low ebb of American power, the Miracle on Ice inspired a nation as a group of college boys took on the mighty Soviet hockey machine. Geopolitical drama lessened but did not die after the Cold War; in 2008, the specter of thousands of seeming automatons banging drums at the opening of the Beijing Games frightened and enthralled the world, reminding us that China was a nation on the rise, a competitor for global dominance.
Considering that Putin eyes world domination and is not friendly to America, you'd think that we'd have some enjoyable competitive tension between nations. We don't, though. According to Shapiro, the problem is that the focus isn't on major world issues, such as Syria, the Ukraine, and other areas in which freedom and totalitarianism clash. Instead, says Shapiro, the media has reduced the entire Olympics to a gay rights campaign. And while gays should be accorded civil rights wherever they live, turning them into a major geopolitical flashpoint isn't flashy at all. Instead, it's somehow very drab and is a convenient way of avoiding more pressing issues about freedom in Russia and beyond:
The media have centered the Sochi Olympics drama entirely on the question of whether gays and lesbians in Russia can kiss in public – even as Russia continues to fund nuclear development for a country that hangs gays. The truth is that while Russian treatment of gays and lesbians is abysmal, it ranks somewhere near the middle of the pack in terms of global treatment: homosexuality is fully legal in Russia, and less than a dozen people have been arrested under the infamous anti-gay propaganda law. This isn't quite Kristallnacht.
But anti-homosexual laws are part of a broader problem in Russia: a problem of oppression and corruption, of lost power and attempts to reclaim it. So why not focus on the real problem of Russia? Why not draw a moral narrative pitting American freedom against Russian repression and expansionism?
There's a rationale for that failure of narrative: were the press to point out Russia is a threat to US interests, the press would have to acknowledge that President Obama is weak. The press would have to openly recognize that Obama has been bested by a two-bit KGB bully. Obama, in other words, would have to lose.
(Please read Ben Shapiro's whole article here. It's worth your time.)
Put another way, Thomas Friedman's entire flat earth theory has been reduced to the flat surface known as a bed, as Western reporters anxiously peer into Russian beds and try to divine who is sleeping in them free from or burdened by prejudice. In our new Flat Earth world, we are no longer riven by nationalities or ideologies. Instead, we're trying to decide through athletics which country treats its gays best.
Gays, like Jews, are the canaries in the coal mine. They thrive in free societies and suffer under tyrannies. The remedy isn't to focus narrowly on their suffering but, instead, to attack the tyrannies root and branch. Our media, however, is so busy with the petty stuff that it's incapable of realizing that doing so gives a free pass to the very circumstances that subject Russian gays to everything from insults to deadly persecution.
Having now complained about the boring, draggy Olympic production, I nevertheless applaud the individual athletes who have given over their entire lives to this moment. As a well-seasoned adult, I think it's a rather foolish way to spend ones time, but I nevertheless think it's wonderful that, in free societies, people have the absolute right to engage in activities that require innumerable surgeries or that can see all their efforts thrown away in hundredths of seconds.
My favorite moment was U.S. figure skater Jeremy Abbott's amazing will power. Having hit the ice with appalling force across his hip and ribs, he nevertheless gathered himself up and completed a near perfect program, succumbing to the pain only when he left the ice. I also really enjoyed the cool pleasure with which T.J. Oshie scored the winning shoot-off goals. Most people would have been sweating bullets were they in his shoes. He just looked relaxed and happy.


text:
Jamaal F. Dottin said today his anger and alcoholism led him to strangle his girlfriend, Kristi M. LeClair, inside the couple's West Street apartment in 2010. Mr. Dottin, 31, of Worcester was sentenced to 8 to 12 years in prison.
Jamaal F. Dottin said today his anger and alcoholism led him to strangle his girlfriend Kristi M. LeClair inside the couple's West Street apartment in 2010.
The 31-year-old Worcester man read a statement in Worcester Superior Court during a hearing at which he pleaded guilty to manslaughter. As he read, he looked toward Ms. LeClair's father and stepmother.
"I loved her. God knows I didn't mean things to go this far," Mr. Dottin said. "I know I can't take any of this back. All I can ask for is forgiveness."
Judge James R. Lemire responded: "Forgiveness doesn't come from me, sir. I'll leave that to other authorities."
Mr. Dottin said his issues with anger and alcohol should have been addressed before the September 2010 killing inside 76 West St., Apt. 1R. He said Ms. LeClair came to his family holiday parties and the two lived homeless together for six months.
"It should never have happened," Mr. Dottin said.
Mr. Dottin was sentenced to 8 to 12 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Assistant District Attorney Sarah Richardson and defense lawyer Christopher P. LoConto agreed to the sentence.
Mr. Dottin was indicted in March 2011 on a murder charge. The plea was to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Before sentencing, Ms. LeClair's father, Michael LeClair, and her stepmother, Elaine LeClair, stood before the court holding an array of family pictures.
"As far as an impact statement, I thought about it and the best one I could come up with was actually pictures of my daughter and our loss from her life being taken," Michael LeClair said.
Judge Lemire looked at the pictures; many showed the family together.
Mr. Dottin called police around 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 14, 2010, to report that Ms. LeClair was not breathing. She was 24 at the time. Paramedics discovered that Ms. LeClair had been dead several hours prior to the 911 call.
Court records show that Mr. Dottin told investigators that Ms. LeClair begged him to stop choking her in a faint voice. She had been bitten and strangled by Mr. Dottin.
The couple had a tumultuous relationship and each had been charged with attacking one another while they dated.
Mr. Dottin first told investigators that he had gone out the night before and awoke to find Ms. LeClair not breathing. He denied attacking Ms. LeClair.
"However, the police investigation revealed that the two had been drinking and arguing earlier in the evening," Ms. Richardson said. "Neighbors heard an altercation between Mr. Dottin and Ms. LeClair."
An autopsy showed Ms. LeClair had died hours before Mr. Dottin called police. She died from homicidal asphyxia, authorities said. Eventually Mr. Dottin told police he choked Ms. LeClair but she was crying and alive after he went to sleep.
Ms. LeClair had "marks on her neck consistent with being strangled, bite marks on both forearms and numerous bruises on her body consistent with being beaten," court records showed. Her nose ring had been pulled from her nose.


text:
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Wed 3rd Oct 2012 13:47 UTC
"Samsung has now filed an unredacted version of its motion for judgment as a matter of law, a new trial, and/or remittitur. That's the one that was originally filed with a redacted section we figured out was about the foreman, Velvin Hogan. The judge ordered it filed unsealed, and so now we get to read all about it. It's pretty shocking to see the full story. I understand now why Samsung tried to seal it. They call Mr. Hogan untruthful in voir dire (and I gather in media interviews too), accuse him of 'implied bias' and of tainting the process by introducing extraneous 'evidence' of his own during jury deliberations, all of which calls, Samsung writes, for an evidentiary hearing and a new trial with an unbiased jury as the cure." It's a treasure trove of courtroom drama, this. Like this one: Hogan got sued by his former employer Seagate in 1993, causing him to go bankrupt. The lawyer in said case is now married to one of the partners of the law firm representing Samsung in this case. Samsung seems to implicitly - and sometimes explicitly - argue that Hogan had a score to settle in this case, because - get this - Samsung has been Seagate's largest shareholder since last year. Hogan failed to disclose the Seagate lawsuit during voire dire, which is a pretty serious matter. No matter whose side you're on, this is John Grisham-worthy.
Thread beginning with comment 537433
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
I think it's easier than that (though claims might be true, of course) : Apple is a US company, Samsung is not. When the trial is held in US court, there are little chances to get a fair trial, given the economic warfare US and other countries are fighting and the fact Apple is slowly loosing its battle against Samsung.
We read enough articles and opinions (some from experts in that matter) not to think that virdict wasn't a joke...
RE: Hmm...
RE[2]: Hmm...
by darknexus on Wed 3rd Oct 2012 21:04 in reply to "RE: Hmm..."
Does it really matter from what country a company is?
When you're dealing with typical US citizens, it sure does. Most people here have a tendency to see anything and everything "American" as superior and/or in the right as opposed to anything foreign. It's a misplaced national pride since, to be quite honest, we really don't do much when compared to other regions of the world. Most citizens here have been brainwashed into thinking we do everything and the rest of the world is just our playground, both by the media and the flag-wavers.
Especially when that company is publicly traded and outsources manufacturing?
Irrelevant to your average joe here unless, of course, they lost their job because of outsourcing. They don't care: If the company is headquartered here and they get the product first, where it's been made and by whom doesn't even enter into their mind. It also doesn't help that those who try to raise awareness of these problems have a way of going overboard in their antics, which only increases the one-sided worldview.