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01 of 21
The Many Types of Orchids
Once you develop more than a passing interest in orchids, you will quickly notice how diverse this exotic plant family is. Encompassing genera that yield both the vanilla you love to bake with and fragrances you love to wear, each flower has unique characteristics and care requirements. Compare your plants to some of the most commonly cultivated orchids to help you determine what type of orchid you're growing.Continue to 2 of 21 below.
02 of 21
Brassavola Orchid
If you have a brassavola orchid like this one in your home or garden, you may smell it before you see it. The perfume released only in the evening and the white color are indicative of many flowers that depend on moths for pollination.Continue to 3 of 21 below.
03 of 21
Catasetum Orchid
If your Catasetum orchid leaves begin to yellow and drop off, don't despair; this deciduous orchid loses its leaves naturally during winter dormancy. There is much variation in appearance between Catasetum species, but one feature they all have in common is the trait of producing male or female flowers, which bear little resemblance to each other. The male flowers bear an anatomical trigger that forcefully ejects pollen onto visiting bees.Continue to 4 of 21 below.
04 of 21
Cattleya Orchid
Cattleya orchids have been widely hybridized, leading to a large variety of colors and forms. Many Cattleya orchids have appealing freckles, streaks, or other bicolor features. Some Cattleya orchids are quite fragrant, and they are the most popular corsage orchid.Continue to 5 of 21 below.
05 of 21
Cycnoches Orchid
This relative of the Cattleya orchid is also known as the swan orchid, as the elegant inflorescence of male flowers resembles a swan's neck. As many as 30 spicily scented flowers may grow on one long-lived stem.Continue to 6 of 21 below.
06 of 21
Cymbidium Orchid
Cymbidium orchids may have small flowers compared to some orchid varieties, but their multiple flower spikes ensure a satisfying display. Good choices for beginners include the lime green 'Chica,' the yellow and red 'Showoff,' or the bright pink 'Frae,' all recipients of the American Orchid Society's Highly Commended Certificate.Continue to 7 of 21 below.
07 of 21
Dendrobium Orchid
The top-heavy blooms of the Dendrobium orchid often require staking. With more than 1000 species included in this large orchid genus, the Dendrobium orchid defies easy categorization. The most common varieties you'll find in the trade feature white, yellow, or lavender blooms.Continue to 8 of 21 below.
08 of 21
Encyclia Orchid
Encyclia orchids, also called cockleshell orchids, thrive when planted on an orchid mount to simulate the epiphytic growing conditions of the wild. Some horticulturists say the Encyclia orchid looks an octopus because of its dangling petals and sepals. Although not fragrant, the Encyclia orchid can bloom for several consecutive months.Continue to 9 of 21 below.
09 of 21
Epidendrum Orchid
The epidendrum genus is large, containing more than 1000 pure species and many more hybrids. The flowers are petite, and the plants need very bright light to bloom and thrive. Epidendrum growers usually need supplemental growlights when growing these orchids indoors.Continue to 10 of 21 below.
10 of 21
Ludisia Orchid
Growing a Ludisia orchid, the jewel orchid, is rewarding in that the plants look attractive in or out of bloom. The plants bear many stems of tiny white flowers in the fall and winter.Continue to 11 of 21 below.
11 of 21
Lycaste Orchid
The Lycaste orchid, like the 'Sandra Dayan' variety pictured here, is a deciduous orchid that naturally sheds its leaves during winter dormancy. This reveals spines on the tips of the pseudobulbs, which are sharp enough to draw blood from unsuspecting admirers! The flowers are usually white, pink, red, or lavender.Continue to 12 of 21 below.
12 of 21
Masdevallia Orchid
The summer blooming Masdevallia orchid has an atypical flower shape compared to other orchid genera. The flowers are triangular, and while some are blocky and compact, others are thin, elongated, and whiskery. This orchid is very particular about temperature and humidity conditions and is best for advanced orchid growers.Continue to 13 of 21 below.
13 of 21
Miltonia Orchid
It's easy to see how the pansy orchid got its nickname. The blossoms sport the same face-like features that give our favorite cold weather annual so much personality. However, unlike pansies, the Miltonia orchid continues blooming from late spring into summer.Continue to 14 of 21 below.
14 of 21
Oncidium Orchid
If your orchid resembles a dancing lady, chances are you're tending an Oncidium orchid. This low-care orchid includes the popular 'Sharry Baby,' which emits a sweet cocoa fragrance. These orchids need consistent moisture and humidity; failure to meet this requirement results in leaf deformities.Continue to 15 of 21 below.
15 of 21
Paphiopedlium Orchid
The lady's slipper orchid is an easy houseplant for the beginning orchid enthusiast. Flowers range from cheerful yellow, pink, or white shades to moody burgundies, browns, and near-black shades. Freckles, stripes, and bristly hairs are common features on these unusual flowers. As a bonus, some plants have speckled foliage as well.Continue to 16 of 21 below.
16 of 21
Phaius Orchid
If you have a Phaius orchid in your collection, you'll quickly find out that the four-foot specimens don't belong on a windowsill. The leaves are large and strappy, and the many flower spikes may produce purple, white, or yellow flowers. This winter bloomer also goes by the common name "Nun's Cap Orchid."Continue to 17 of 21 below.
17 of 21
Phalaenopsis Orchid
I'm always relieved when orchids have common names like this Moth orchid, so I don't make a fool of myself at the nursery trying to pronounce "phalaenopsis." This orchid is ideal for beginners, tolerating clumsy repotting efforts and blooming on and off throughout the year.Continue to 18 of 21 below.
18 of 21
Phragmipedium Orchid
If you can't stop yourself from watering your orchids (to death), Phragmipedium is the type for you. It's different from other orchids in that it thrives in wet conditions, even preferring wet feet. You can recognize these flowers by the little pouch flanked by Fu Manchu mustache petals, begging the gardener to anthropomorphize each and every blossom.Continue to 19 of 21 below.
19 of 21
Psychopsis Orchid
I'm not sure why the Butterfly Orchid isn't more popular in the trade: it's easy to grow, has fascinating flowers, and showy burgundy and green speckled foliage. Grow these in moderate light for months of blooms.Continue to 20 of 21 below.
20 of 21
Vanda Orchid
Vanda orchids are as exotic as their name. You will often see them growing in special orchid baskets; otherwise, you must use a very chunky growing medium for these plants. These orchids are picky about their environment and demand high light and humidity conditions.Continue to 21 of 21 below.
21 of 21
Zygopetalum Orchid
Happy Zygopetalum orchids produce fragrant blooms almost constantly from fall to spring, making gardeners feel like they are cheating winter. The flowers often sport handsome veining and spotting of chartreuse, purple, and maroon.


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With rising health costs and the dramatic loss in public interest in the sciences it has become a concern whether or not our children are living up to their potential. The scary thing I propose is; what if they are? What if our crime rate is due to genetically inferior beings being born to genetically inferior parents? Are you a product of your make-up? Research has an answer to that and the newest details say yes. Yes it is. The solution to this and many other problems should and could be humanitarian Eugenics. By humanitarian Eugenics I mean that we should view this problem not by exterminating undesirables from the gene pool but instead weeding them out through successive generations of selective breeding programs.
Another way toward this goal would be the abortion of unwanted and genetically inferior fetuses inspected via genome sequencing in utero (Mattei 505). What if, to say, you and your significant other found out that you were having a baby? Mazel tov! After either celebrating or crying over your ruined life you find out that the baby, through non-invasive prenatal testing (Meehan, 87), your unborn bundle of joy, will come out with fully formed Down's syndrome? Would you want to keep it knowing its quality of life would be hindered and even more important, your quality of life? Would you want to know this before going through with your pregnancy? Unless you are a religious zealot you'd probably opt for an abortion, thus saving your time and money and that of our American healthcare system.
The problem that comes up most often when the subject of eugenics is that we all supposedly have a right to reproduce and every unborn child deserves a chance. What if you knew your child would not have a fair advantage due to being severely retarded or perhaps is a carrier of a terminal virus? Would you really want that child to live that life?
My problem with our current society is that we still hold to the motto that every man (and woman) is created equal. If people would just open their eyes, they would realize that this is definitely not true. Take me for example. I'm short and heavy set. I have a predisposition to drugs and alcohol and I encompass a myriad of emotional and mental disorders. Thankfully, I have found the right treatments for my ailments but am I really equal to a taller, more athletic, genius level IQ man or woman with no mental disorders? No. In fact, my reproducing could be harmful for the population at large, seeing as I would be passing my ill-gotten genes onto a poor unknowing little person, dooming them to a life time of mental and physical anguish. Plus, a taller, sexier person is more fun to look at.
Should I be able to reproduce and burden society with my offspring? The answer is no. That would, in a perfect world, be a crime. However, there have been advancements in the fields of genetic engineering and cell surgery to produce the best our genomes have to offer (Fox 1). However, this is still years away from being a viable option for near do well prospective parents.
In a chat with a like-minded colleague (Erin Chamblee), we have devised a plan that would cut down on unwanted pregnancies and that of offspring with ill-gotten genetic traits. I propose that we institute a licensing program instituted by the government Board of Health. Just the way you'd get a license to drive, you should be tested and pass a survey of qualities and IQ tests in order to reproduce.
Far be it from me to ask that all of humanity submit to these sorts of tests, but this is in a perfect world; imagine no disease, cancer, mental illness, or violence. Who knows what the world would have been like if Osama Bin Laden's mother had to have herself, and her mate, tested prior to producing him? It would have never come to term because we would of, first, denied them the right to make him and second, as a fetus, genetically screen him for aggressive and homicidal traits Based on said homicidal traits, he would be aborted.
I know that many people would love to become parents, but I should draw a distinction between want and need. People may want to reproduce but it's almost never taken into consideration whether or not this would be good for humanity at large.
I bring upon the idea brought on by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, in response to those who oppose abortion, who introduced me to the idea of the Beethoven fallacy (Dawkins, 298). The Beethoven fallacy states that if you abort your baby, you could of just aborted the next Beethoven or Einstein. My problem with this is that for one, what if it became the next Hitler? Another thing would be to reiterate the fact that if your genealogy has no spectacular academics or family with any certain positive trait, then you will most likely produce an average to below average child.
The idea that everyone is entitled to offspring is outdated in my opinion. Another nail in the pro-life coffin is the fact that we already have so many people on this Earth that there is already a shortage of food and medicinal care for everyone. Sooner or later a quarter of humanity will die out in a Darwinian fashion. We must think Darwinian if we are to progress in this life.
The majority of humanity may very well oppose the concept of eugenics, but I think the Nazis using it gave it in the way that they did gave it a bad rap. I am not talking about genocide, but instead implementing a licensing program with existing human beings. Those who qualify for reproduction will be able to breed legally and those unfit will not.
It is supposed that reproduction is a basic human right and obviously those who subscribe to pretty much any religion in existence will oppose the idea. But to them I ask, why let unfit and abusive beings reproduce and bring a child who may be overly aggressive by design into a violent and / or oppressively poor household (I say poor, both in the financial sense as well as emotionally and intellectually). A child may be doomed to repeat mistakes that his or her parents have previously done and would do so in the sense of nature and nurture.
The idea that a fetus must not be aborted does not actually appear anywhere in the standard King James Bible, in which most Christian religions take their teachings from. The hypocrisy of the situation is that it does however teach the concept of 'an eye for an eye', stating that those who commit certain crimes should not be subject to God's punishment and mercy (he's pretty big on that in the New Testament), but instead we as humans dole out his wrath.
Why must we draw the distinction here? We get rid of those who are undesirable and unfit for civilized society yet we do not give this same distinction toward those who have yet to be produced via the tried and true method of sperm and egg unitization. We have the capability not to do this and it will only gain acceptance as the newer generations accept the sciences as a rock solid fact of life.
Religion and fundamentalism are on the decline as society begins to think for themselves, but there is still a strong right in this country and it is very vocal despite its declining numbers. Hopeful successes have already come to fruition with a newly elected mostly liberal congress and forward thinking president.
Again, as I said, I am not stating that we euthanize those less desirable than the top percent, but it would be a good start to sterilize those with a family history of vagrancy and poor living skills. It has been said that your genetics do not determine the person you are. Happily this myth is being debunked little by little every day as science progresses.
You are your genes. Do you really want to pass them on?
Dawkins, Richard, The God Delusion, Oxford Press, 2006
Fox, Dave, The Illiberality of 'Liberal Eugenics', Journal Compilation 2007, 1-25
Meehan, Mary, Eugenics Triumphant in Prenatal Testing, Human Life Review, Fall 2012, Vol. 35 Issue 4, p87-104
Mattei, Jean Francois, Humanity and Human DNA, European Journal of Medical Genetics, 2012, 503-509
Holland, Brian, Way Down The Line, Ixnay on the Hombre, 1996

subset: commoncrawl


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The theme for @lpgrp's November session is 'Hip-Hop'.
The listening session will be 9pm, Sunday 2nd November.
We need to create a shortlist. Please send me the name of two hip-hop albums you'd like to nominate. Use a direct message or a tweet mentioning 'lpgrp' to contact me. Your deadline is 9pm, Wednesday 15th October. Once the shortlist is ready, I'll publish further details about how to vote.
Here's a mighty list of hip-hop albums - straight outta Gloucester.


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SMS Notifications and Text Message Alerts
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Federation announces new partnership with JEVS
The Jewish Federation is pleased to announce a new partnership with JEVS Human Services of Philadelphia to offer expanded college and career services to residents of Southern New Jersey. These new programs will be funded in part through the generous support of the Raymond & Gertrude R. Saltzman Foundation, and operated by JEVS Human Services staff with services provided at the Jewish Federation building located at 1301 Springdale Road in Cherry Hill.
"College Strategies" is a comprehensive resource for preparing teens—and their parents— for college. Spread over 18 months, this program includes SAT and ACT test preparation, college and career advising and counseling, college application and admission assistance, and guidance in navigating the financial aid process and FAFSA completion. No other program in Southern New Jersey offers families such a robust college admissions service! We are now accepting applications with a start date of January 2016. Email firstname.lastname@example.com or call (856) 751-9500, ext. 1180 to learn more.
"Career Strategies" will partner with Samost Jewish Family & Children's Service (JFCS), an agency of the Jewish Federation, to offer research-based and results-oriented strategies and resources to assist the unemployed, underemployed, and those seeking to change careers. This program will serve up to 100 participants, providing oneon one employment counseling, resume review and interview assistance, and group workshops that will augment and expand on JFCS' popular career workshops. For more information, please call (215) 854-1834 or email email@example.com.
"We are always looking for ways to expand our services," said Ronit Boyd, planning director for the Jewish Federation. "College and Career Strategies is a logical extension that will bring new and innovative programs to our South Jersey community."


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Emerging impact
Scientists predict the earth is facing 40-to-60 years of climate change, even if emissions of carbon dioxide and other global warming gases stopped today. One inevitable consequence of the greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere will be an increase in the frequency and severity of natural disaster events. Global Warming, Natural Hazards, and Emergency Management documents the imperative need for communities to prepare for the coming effects of climate change and provides a series of in-depth, road-tested recommendations on how to reduce risks for communities and businesses.
264p 951628473 04-05-2012 81 33 Download
Sustainable Globalization and Emerging Economies: The Impact of Foreign Direct Investment in Thailand
Foreign direct investment is often considered as simultaneously being one of the consequences and drivers of globalisation. In the process of opening up economies to participate in some of the positive impacts of globalisation, countries position themselves in respect of attracting foreign direct investment. In addition, the ability to attract foreign direct investment and its positive impact in growing economies is valued as an integral part of the road to successful economic growth and development. ...
14p truongdoan 10-11-2009 134 27 Download
Women who are abused have poorer mental and physical health, more injuries, and a greater need for medical resources than non-abused women. 4 The WHO Multi-Country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence found that abused women in Brazil, Japan, and Peru are almost twice as likely as non-abused women to report their current health status as poor or very poor. 5 The impact of gender-based abuse on physical health can be immediate and long-term. Women who are abused rarely seek medical care for acute trauma, however.
6p connicquy 20-12-2012 33 9 Download
Cardiovascular emergencies account for at least 30% of all medical emergencies. The impact of cardiovascular disease is felt in every hospital and every community. Whether you are drawn to critical care practice or not, you are bound to be confronted by acute cardiac events. Responding appropriately to cardiac emergencies requires a basic familiarity with cardiac anatomy and physiology, the ability to mobilize an advanced life support team, and the skills to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)....
126p thuytienvang_1 31-10-2012 44 7 Download
The Public Health Agency of Canada estimates that during the pandemic 15 to 35 percent of the population will become sick and be unable to go to school or work. This does not include those that may contract the virus and feel ill, but continue their usual activities. The most significant impact on the private sector is likely to be disruption due to employee absenteeism. Employees will be off work due to sickness or having to stay home and care for sick family members. Schools may also be closed forcing parents to stay home and care for children. Personal...
239p bi_ve_sau 05-02-2013 29 6 Download
The Dietary Guidelines is intended primarily for use by policymakers, healthcare providers, nutritionists, and nutrition educators. The information in the Dietary Guidelines is useful for the development of educational materials and aids policymakers in designing and imple menting nutrition-related programs, including federal food, nutrition education, and information programs. In addition, this publication has the potential to provide authoritative statements as provided for in the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act (FDAMA).
31p ut_hai_can 26-12-2012 36 4 Download
We called these groups "target communications audiences," and as a first step in our analysis we sought to define the characteristics of these groups and their information needs. To determine who the audiences of policy influencers and of direct advisors to government policy makers are for the information Apheis produces, we first sought to understand how policy on air pollution is made and by whom.
204p saimatkhauroi 01-02-2013 26 4 Download
The report also identifies water-related risks for electric power/energy, apparel, biotechnology/pharmaceutical, forest products and metals/mining firms. For companies in these and other sectors, climate change will further reduce the availability of reliable and high quality water, impacting productivity, costs, revenues, public goodwill and reputation. The report highlights the intensifying conflict between energy use and water availability. With increasing frequency, choosing one of these resources means undermining the other – the other, usually being water.
112p saimatkhauroi 01-02-2013 23 2 Download
Based on three village case studies from different parts of Kenya, this co-authored study explores the relationship between HIV/AIDS and land rights focusing on women as a socially vulnerable group. The study compares affected with non-affected households and HIV/AIDS emerges as a significant but not primary cause of tenure insecurity.
0p chieckhanpieu 23-03-2013 20 2 Download
To understand the possible impact of the Privacy Rule on their work, researchers will need to understand what individually identifiable health information is and is not protected under the Rule. With certain exceptions, the Privacy Rule protects a certain type of individually identifiable health information, created or maintained by covered entities and their business associates acting for the covered entity. This information is known as "protected health information" or PHI.
228p quygia123 06-11-2012 28 1 Download
This paper examines how corporate financial structure shapes the impact of a financial crisis on the real sector by way of its effects on flows of funds and on corporate real expenditures. It is one of the first papers to utilize extensive cross-country flow and balance sheet data and also to examine subcomponents of GDP in the wake of banking and currency crises rather than focusing exclusively on aggregate GDP.
49p truongdoan 10-11-2009 166 51 Download
Information and knowledge have emerged as major sources of wealth in the recent past. There is a digital revolution and it has impact and influences on the consumers, producers, investors, exporters, importers, public policy makers, academics, students, consultants, administrators, lawmakers and all others directly or indirectly involved in various processes of the new economy.
425p thuthuy 21-07-2009 110 33 Download
Economic and environmental consequences of natural and man-made disasters have grown exponentially during the past few decades. Whether from hurricanes, chemical spills, terrorist incidents, or other catastrophes, the negative impacts can often be felt on a global scale. Natural Hazards Analysis: Reducing the Impacts of Disasters evaluates critical preparedness issues that emergency managers must face before, during, and after disasters of any kind.
286p ktct_1669 03-05-2012 74 19 Download
for Scottish Aquaculture, 2003). This success story has been accompanied by growing concern over the environmental impact and sustainability of the industry. This has mainly been based around the localised impact upon the production sites, concern over the impact upon wild salmon and sea trout stocks as well as wider ecosystem effects. One of the factors considered in the latter category is the need for considerable volumes of fish meal and fish oil in carnivorous fin fish diets.
49p lulanphuong 20-03-2012 81 17 Download
The purpose of writing this book was to overview recent hot topics in gastroenterology with a focus directed towards information derived from the bench and used at the patient's bedside. To address these issues, scientists who are working on a daily basis in the field of experimental gastroenterology and clinical investigators, with their chapter proposal's being peer-reviewed, all have integrated their attempts to summarize the recent advances in the pathophysiology and therapy of upper and lower gastrointestinal tract disorders....
566p wqwqwqwqwq 20-07-2012 64 15 Download
The advantages and limitations of conventional structural MRI for the diagnosis and monitoring of MS are discussed by Andreadou (Chapter 15). There is often a disparity between the level of structural abnormality seen on MRI and level of cognitive difficulties expressed by the patient with MS. Clinical interview and neuropsychological assessment are vitally impairment, not only from an initial diagnostic perspective but also in terms of longer term planning and care.
218p wqwqwqwqwq 21-07-2012 64 14 Download
The possible impact of nanomaterials on future products and services is enormous. This has led to a tremendous expansion in research and development efforts related to nanoscale materials and devices. It has also raised new questions as to how these products will influence the environment, human health, business, education, and other areas of society. As with any emerging field, a vast amount of disconnected information is emerging, often spread across multiple disciplines.
417p namde01 11-04-2013 79 11 Download
Campus network design is evolving in response to multiple drivers Voice, financial systems driving requirement for 5 nines availability and minimal convergence times Adoption of Advanced Technologies (voice, segmentation, security, wireless) all introduce specific requirements and changes The Campus is an integrated system everything impacts everything else
91p kieuoanh 11-08-2009 73 10 Download
Tham khảo sách 'positron emission tomography – current clinical and research aspects', y tế - sức khoẻ, y học thường thức phục vụ nhu cầu học tập, nghiên cứu và làm việc hiệu quả
346p wawawawawa 26-07-2012 47 9 Download
Information and knowledge have emerged as major sources of wealth in the recent past. There is a digital revolution and it has impact and influences on the consumers, producers, investors, exporters, importers, public policy makers, academics, students, consultants, administrators, lawmakers and all others directly or indirectly involved in various processes of the new economy.
0p transang3 29-09-2012 40 9 Download


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The first time I was in a courtroom was as a witness for the police in the UK, when they had decided my complaint against a taxi driver warranted a case for "rude and aggressive behaviour".
The Appeals Court (he didn't turn up for the first trial - ok, a tad melodramatic, I admit) put the problem down to there not being "enough charisma" between us. How much charisma do you need to go from Wardour Street to Brewer Street (less than a mile) behind a pane of glass, I asked the dumbfounded police afterwards.
The second time was in LA in 2011, when I successfully sued my landlady for non-return of a huge chunk of my deposit. Everything I put into practice I learned from watching just one TV show: Judge Alex (follow @judgealexferrer on Twitter). And so, today, I found myself in court for the third time: not in the handcuffs (alas) I fantasised about when I first saw the TV show, and not, thankfully, with my being sued for being his stalker.
I was there as a member of the audience, and not since I saw Simon Cowell's enormous Winnebago (no, that is not a euphemism) on the set of American Idol a few years back, have I been so excited.
In fact, so excited have I been about knowing both men, I nearly got their names tattooed - one on each shoulder - when I was in Venice Beach a few weeks back.
Alcohol had been consumed. Sobriety had been resumed when I settled for an engraved ingot with WWSD (What Would Simon Do) on it (sorry, Judge, even semi-stalkers have their pecking order).
So, here I am on the set and I am asked where I would like to sit - on or off camera. Anyone who knows me would know they could have just plonked me on the Judge's bench at the outset and downgraded me from there.
In fact, anyone who knows me will be surprised to learn that I was not fully robed, gavel in hand, shouting "Action!" with the poor Judge locked in a cupboard elsewhere on the studio lot.
So, I am seated second from the left in the front row, and the first person to talk to me is an actor. So is the second. And the third. And the . . . You get my drift. They join lists that provide audiences for studio shows such as Judge Alex and get paid by the day. I suggest a sum and am told that yes, I am fairly accurate for days like this. When I arrive, the team is already on show five, and there are three more to go. They record 130 shows in a little over three months and the five blocks of three day taping are clearly the most intense.
"They get paid more than we do," says RAN 1 (the Resentful Actor Number 1 on my left, who has been to every show today), nodding towards the hallowed ground beyond the wooden barrier where he is penned. "When I was a litigator . . . " he begins. I decide not to point out that he has never been, will never be, a litigator. I also hesitate to point out that he will never be an actor, either, but hold my tongue. (When I returned to see my second show, he was shunted off to "Standing room". Quite right).
Behind me sits RAN 2. She's a nurse. Not a real one, of course. She has been a "background actor" in several hospital dramas, but is ready to move centre stage.
"Do a monologue - NOW!" shouts RAN 1, a little frighteningly. She stumbles. I think of reciting Henry V's speech from the Battle of Agincourt, but in the millisecond I take for breath, RAN 1 is already off. "I'm a Shakespearean actor really . . . "
There is a very handsome younger man behind him who has played a detective (albeit a "background detective"). He has the kind of look that gives me the feeling that he might just make it, and he comes to these shows to network. He claims they have been very useful.
Oh, Hollywood, I love you. The hope.
The tension is building and the courtroom bailiff Mason is on the set. Very cute. Great smile. Great presence. And his gun is in my eye line. I don't known what it is about men in uniforms and outfits, but take Judge Alex Ferrer . . . Ex-pilot, cop, judge - oh, your honour, please avoid the medical profession; a white coat might prove the final, fatal straw. Even as I write that sentence, I am fantasising about your stethoscope.
The studio, on Bronson in Hollywood, is all very relaxed ("Remember my name!" whispers RAN 1) until the announcement of "The Honorable (US spelling!) Judge Alex Ferrer", which, unlike when you watch on TV, has a slight air of "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome your host. . ." about it.
Then he's there. And everything changes. It's like the Second Coming, albeit one a lot more clean-shaven than the first. The cliches of tall, dark and handsome are even more apparent under the studio lights, and from my seat I get a great view.
At least, I did, until the second case, when a very wide defendant blocked my view of Judge Alex completely. Talk about a total eclipse of the Son (geddit? Oh, go back few sentences). I so wanted her to lose. She did.
The third case even had a star guest in singer Freda Payne (most famous for the 1970 hit Band of Gold), which was very exciting. I thought the Judge got a little too overwhelmed at her presence, but by then I was backstage with the producers and out of striking distance of my love rival.
The producers were loving it. I've seen a lot of shows and know a lot of crews and I have never seen one as united and enjoying their work as this one. They laughed, they shared comments, they even clapped when the audience clapped. And they cared. They absolutely cared.
"I really hope she wins," said one, turning to his co-workers. And I could tell he wanted her to. It's drama, after all, and we care about the ending (she did, by the way, and the cheering backstage was heartfelt).
The cases come from all over the US, and Judge Alex (unlike other TV courtroom judges) conducts considerable research into each state's individual laws. With stringers in around 25 states trawling court records, the team also has to weed out people just looking for a free trip to Hollywood. At the studio, the rest room door jammed my finger twice. I told Supervising Producer James that I might sue. He jokingly suggested I could be a case on the final run of taping; even be "the last show".
Oh, James, you really don't know me, do you? I am already shopping for my outfit.
It is not just the research or the good looks (did I mention those?) that make this show easily the best of the US courtroom reality shows - and one of the best shows on TV. The Judge's intelligence, charisma and brilliant lateral thinking are second to none. It comes across on TV, but even more so in the studio where, of the 40 or so minutes taped, by the time you add promos, ads, et al, roughly just 14 will make it to screen. And, having seen the live show, I cannot heap enough praise on the seamless, incredible job they do in the editing suite.
Judge Alex doesn't so much listen to the evidence, it's as if he's breathing it in, and you can see from the initial slight smile, the information being gathered, formulated, and finally delivered in one-liners that are as funny as those from any comedian. I swear I have never laughed aloud so much at anyone on TV. Ever.
And this from a woman who has been watching and reviewing the genre for about 90 hours a week for three decades.
Judge Alex's years as a cop, lawyer and judge seem to be embedded in his DNA and, having had some of the worst criminals before him (the forthcoming movie Pain and Gain is based on one of his most famous cases - the Judge was asked to appear in it but would not renege on a school engagement to which he was already committed), he has seen the lot.
Now, he's clearly having fun, but his ability to combine the minutiae of law with such immense humour is truly breathtaking - as is his incredible energy in being able to perform so eloquently and brilliantly for so many hours under those lights.
And then there are those hands: long, elegant fingers that seem to massage the arguments as the Judge declares "Here's where we're at", before delivering his verdict. Alex Scissorhands.
You'll be hearing more about the show and the Judge when I post the interview I conducted recently with him in Miami, but just in case you're hoping for that Jane Eyre happy ending, I'll put you out of your misery now.
Reader, I didn't marry him.


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Wow! Really? The Summer is over already? But I got nothing done!!
Well, okay, so that is not entirely true. It's been very busy for me here on the home front. One child going off to Middle School and the youngest entering into the 6th Grade!
But truth be told, I am not a "Summer Person".. I have learned the older I get, the more I dislike the 3 H's of Summer (Hazy, Hot & Humid) - it's all fine and dandy if your a kid and enjoy playing in the pool all day..
but I am an artist - either by paper (which gets all wet n nasty in the humidity) or by fiber (which sticks to your sweaty fingers)...
so I am looking forward to Fall and of course, Winter!
There have been a FEW patterns released over the Summer Months.. I will post individual sales pages this week for the ones that I missed..
but just in case you missed them (and can't wait for me to post them here) :
There was the KISS Series Unicorn:
FiberDoodles Released 3 New Pillow Pals:
and 4 New "Simple Amigurumi" Projects
So I guess I didn't slack off too much :) But there is so much more coming ...
and don't forget ... I will be having a "Giveaway" next month, with 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize winners... total retail value of over $50.00USD in prizes
(and no, it's not just patterns... more information coming so keep watching for updates and how to win!!)


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Can someone head me in the right direction? I just can't get a clear answer for this , I am sure, ver simple task .I have created a database with images, text strings and links and I want to insert certain cells into an xml file I have that is used in an image flipper of sorts. For example when I automatically update the database I want the xml file to show the new images text and links.
First I am calling image then url and then finally custom text
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Maybe I'm not understanding exactly what you are asking for. But from what I've read of your question, it seems to me that you are making an extra unnecessary step, extra work for what can be done directly from the database.
What I am trying to accomplish is updating a flash file which utilizes an xml file. The images and text and links are called from this xml file.My database is automatically updated with new info regularly and I want this to reflect in my flash file.
here is link to importing and exporting MySQL database/tables as XML.
If you're using MS-SQL-S you can use
with CTE as (
select all your data ...
(select ...
.... ... .... ...
FOR XML [strict | auto | PATH('foobar')], [TYPE], [ELEMENTS]
) as tagbaz
FOR XML PATH('root'), TYPE
Works like a charm with common table expressions + all select sub-queries and no FROM clause. Not the most efficient thing in the world, but it's nice and easy once you understand the FOR XML syntax. You'll have to be a sub-query guru to get the data exactly how you want it-
it can be an enormous hassle if your XML document is not structured in a hierarchical way. slaps coworker


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Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Week #31 PL pages
I'm all caught up on my PL pages and have started this weeks pages at the same time that I finished last weeks pages on yesterday. The PL challenge at Stuck on U Sketches is to use a Quote card
Last week I had 4 full days home on my own while my husband was traveling for work. I took advantage of it and had some me time. I went scrappy shopping all over, ate out at my favorite Mexican stop that hubby doesn't care for, took control of the remote control at night, it was as the card on the bottom right says, "The Story of Me" Then I had actually thought of my own quote while I was out for the day scrappy shopping before the challenge was announced and just made my own quote card to use on the weeks pages, "While the Cats Away the Mouse Will Play"
If you want to give this challenge a try on the PL pages you are working on check it out HERE.
8 comments:
- wendipooh13 said...
great page spread and looks like you were busy!! love the quote on the page, thanks sooo much for playing along with SOUS!!!
- August 15, 2014 at 12:06 AM
- Sandi said...
What a great weekly spread Barbara! I love that you made your own quote card. Thanks for continuing to join us regularly at Stuck On U Sketches PL challenge.
- August 15, 2014 at 12:22 PM
- Eli said...
You did a great job with this PL!
Eli (SOUS)
- August 17, 2014 at 2:46 PM
- Stephanie Eaken said...
What a great spread! Sounds like you had a gerat 4 days too!! Thanks for joining us at SOUS!
- August 18, 2014 at 8:54 AM
- Rosie said...
Fabulous job on the challenge Barbara! Thanks for playing along with us at SOUS :)
- August 19, 2014 at 12:52 PM
- Cherished said...
Wonderful PL Spread. Thanks for joining us at SOUS.
- August 22, 2014 at 10:05 PM
- Leah Schaeffer said...
Hey Miss B!
Thanks for sharing your PL projects with us!
Love that you do! TY TY TY!
Hugs, Leah
- August 22, 2014 at 10:14 PM
- Darcy said...
You are amazing for being caught up. I am working on week 40 of 2013. I'm a little jealous. Great job!!!
- August 28, 2014 at 10:47 PM


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Culinary expert and Food Network personality Alton Brown is here to save the day with a homemade peanut butter recipe. In a short video tutorial, the Georgia-based food connoisseur shares how to make wok fried peanut butter.
The simple recipe consists of around five steps and calls for minimal ingredients. Using peanut oil, raw skinned peanuts, kosher salt and honey, one also needs a wok and food processor.
The Good Eats host makes it easy to follow and fun to watch as well. With this all-star homemade peanut butter recipe, you get to make your own peanut butter at home and will never back to buy peanut butter again. On Alton Brown's YouTube channel, you can view a number of other tutorials too.
Wok-Fried Peanut Butter Tutorials
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Hilariously Honest Food Illustrations
Virtual Cooking Competitions
Food Truck Reality Shows
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Festive Blood Orange Beverages
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Alton Brown Can Teach You How to Make Homemade Peanut Butter
- By: Alyson WyersMay 22, 2014
References: youtu.be & designtaxi
References: youtu.be & designtaxi


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I must tell Ivie at least 4982 times a day to not squish her brother. Seriously. All her love comes from a good place, but some of her hugs and snuggles get a little intense.
Despite the squashing, Liam loves her more than nearly anyone else--with the exception of Mom when he is hungry--so I guess he enjoys being flattened on occasion.
I've always thought he was relatively safe from his sister when sleeping, so I laughed right out loud this morning when Trev and I came back into our room from showering to find this picture.
Both kids always end up in our bed around six or seven am, and they finish out sleeping there until eight or nine, depending on the day. We all love the snuggle time in the morning. We usually line up like this: Trevor, Ivie, Chelsi, Liam. Well, today when Trev and I snuck out of the bed early to get ready Ivie must have missed being right next to someone else's heartbeat, because she immediately rolled right over next to Liam, and as you can see, proceeded to "squish" her brother with one leg.


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Soldiers become American citizens while serving in Iraq - by Sgt. Shawn Miller In a time when immigration is a politically polarizing topic across the U.S., American soldiers, who once swore an oath to defend and protect the country they chose to serve, raised their right hands for an oath of a different nature, further validating their commitment to the nation.
Local village officially welcomes new clinic - by Pfc. Angel Washington Local residents, village officials and U.S. soldiers participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony commemorating the official opening of the Al Quba Medical Clinic, Feb. 14.
USD-C 'Dragon' Battalion Soldiers train with 6th IAD Soldiers on Close Quarters Combat, Combatives, Riot Control - by Sgt. Jennifer Sardam A team of soldiers with B Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division-Center, recently taught riot control techniques, combatives and close-quarter combat drills at Joint Security Station, Iraq, to Iraqi Army soldiers from the 6th Iraqi Army Division.
Sapper Company Soldiers clear U.S. Division-North roads - by Sgt. David Strayer Before conducting route clearance missions from Contingency Operating Base Speicher, combat engineers of the 34th Engineer Company (Sapper), attached to 326th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade, perform pre-combat checks and pre-combat inspections on personal protective equipment and armored route clearance vehicles and practice rollover drills in preparation for the task at hand.
'Black Dragons' help federal police secure checkpoints - by Pfc. Angel Washington Soldiers assigned to Battery A, 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, trained Iraqi policemen of 3rd Federal Police Division on checkpoint operations, Feb. 17.
Micro-dairy plant brings Kirkuk local farmers together - 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division For the first time in the history of the province, people of various ethnic backgrounds and communities came together to build four micro-dairy production plants in the districts of the Kirkuk province. The first micro-dairy plant fully equipped with milk-processing machines opened Feb. 17 in Kirkuk, Iraq.
Mobile Training Team takes classes on the road - by Sgt. Shawn Miller As Iraqi Army units continue to cycle through training centers across U.S. Division-North under the guidance of U.S. mentors, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 25th Infantry Division's Mobile Training Team brought training to IA units conducting security operations in northern Iraq.
Army cook serves up smiles, strength to deployed Soldiers - by Staff Sgt. Tanya Thomas Hundreds of deployed troops – plus civilian contractors and local national employees – swarm the dining facility at Camp Ramadi, Iraq, every evening, eager to fill their stomachs with a hot meal. But regardless of what's featured on the night's menu, one Army cook is ensuring that these troops are first fed a healthy smile.
US Representative visits troops in Baghdad - by Staff Sgt. April Davis U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, visited soldiers with the 116th Cavalry Brigade, Idaho Army National Guard, based out of Boise, Idaho, Feb. 2 at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq. The brigade is currently serving as Garrison Command for Victory Base Complex under United States Division – Center in support of Operation New Dawn.


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Cupcakes, Cupcakes
I'm not sure why everyone seems to be crazy for cupcakes. What in the world is this trend all about? I know its origin: the juxtaposition of the gorgeous icing stylings (see above) of the Cupcake Cafe in Hell's Kitchen versus the deliberate hominess of the Magnolia Bakery in the Village were coupled with a little publicity from Sex and the City and conspired somehow, some way insidiously to infiltrate American pop culture. Suddenly, cupcakes are the guilty pleasure in which to indulge. Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE cupcakes and I have a hard time resisting any guilty pleasure (doesn't the guilt just make it so much better somehow?), but I also love regular cakes, and pies, and cookies, and . . . I don't quite understand the chic-ness of cupcake consumption. There's a blog devoted to them, a cupcake delivery service in DC called Le Cupcake (trés imaginative), and even this month's Food & Wine has an article on retro sweets featuring a cross-section of a cupcake that could make a grown woman (or man, of course) weep aloud in front of the bakery window. It's all been percolating for a long time, and I guess I didn't pay too much attention to it because, first of all, I'm not a New Yorker, and secondly, cupcakes for me, as the mother of elementary school children, are strictly the stuff of bake sales and school birthday celebrations. I don't have the time nor the desire to indulge in that kind of nostalgia when I'm so busy creating it for someone (three or four feet tall) else. For me, eating a cupcake is simply a straightforward pleasure--not a fetishized baby boomer blast from the past. I grew up, and now I bake my own cupcakes and give them to my kids; it's not necessary for me, myself, to be the kid anymore. I tried the Magnolia Bakery cupcakes and was a little disappointed (who wouldn't be after all that hype?) with them. They were dry, and the icing was teeth-achingly sweet, so chock full of confectioners sugar that there seemed just the merest hint of butter binding all that cloying sugar together. The Cupcake Cafe was much more impressive although, I must confess, their cupcakes were also a little dry. Nevertheless, the amazing and not too sweet butter (LOTS of butter) cream icing and the spectacular flowers topping these cupcakes absolutely saved them. I did want the perfect cupcake however, and I considered the fact that the cupcakes I make are usually a little dry as well. Baking time, it seems, is everything--even the professionals can't quite get it right. Buttercream can go a long way, but ultimately, a slice of a big, moist, regular-sized cake is the only thing that truly satisfies that cake-y craving with which some of us are periodically tortured. technorati tags: food, food and drink, restaurants, New York


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Before the new strip I have a little remind for you, so be patient and don't look at me with that Cyberman expression:
Don't forget our contest, actually we received 13 entries, but we want more! Only one week remaining, so don't wast time and send us a mail at firstname.lastname@example.com with your christmas work.
Remember, the Christmas contest will last on Decmber 23th at 11:59 PM (UTC) and results will be published on this blog on Christmas day!
We live in a timey wimey world, when I first wrote the script for the today strip, Elisa felt in love with the idea of mixing Doctor Who and Life on Mars because of Simmy... when I came back from work she showed me the sketch for this pinup. But while we have a long running schedule for the strips, we just publish pinup whenever they come out from Elisa's mind, so the today story is the "first part" of that story. This is also the first of a four part story which will end with the Christmas Special, so get ready, because we're going to release a lot of strip from today to the Christmas Day!


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Technology marries a sports event's social media, activation ROI
I was intrigued that this was how they set out to address the issue of connectivity, and my interest was piqued when one of my graduate assistants accepted a position with a company called Thuzi for her second-year residency. I was unfamiliar with Thuzi (and a number of other providers competing in this space), so I met with the company's executives to learn more about what Kristine would be doing. I also wanted to learn what Thuzi is bringing to the sports industry in an attempt to connect sports organizations with millennials and the next generation, which Don Marinelli refers to as "plurals": those using both their left-brain and right-brain functions in their sports activities.
While 92 percent of brands indicate that social media is important to their business, according to the 2014 Social Media Marketing Industry Report, one of the biggest challenges I have heard in the industry is how to measure the ROI of these social media efforts. Other concerns include that business leaders are not well-trained in social media strategy and they lack trained personnel in their organizations. These issues are making it difficult to create an effective and actionable social media strategy, particularly around live events. For that reason, outsourcing social media strategy and activation, at least in the initial experimentation and development stage, is something to be closely considered.
|Using a check-in app and a branded RFID wristband, IndyCar was able to track fans' interaction with sponsor activations in the Fan Village..
Thuzi and a number of other providers function as social media marketing and promotional agencies that assist brands in not only increasing their awareness, but also measuring that awareness and increasing user engagement. From what I have observed, this is done largely through live events where the audience is encouraged and there are incentives to interact with the brand (usually a sponsor).
In speaking with Thuzi executives, they tout that they specialize in "turning live events into life events," whereby event participants eagerly engage, then save and share their experiences for a lifetime on social media — the perfect canvas.
The goal is to create an on-site consumer engagement that is relevant to the brand, fun for the participant, and shareable across their social media networks. In doing so, the brand is using these interactions as the catalyst for sharing content and generating multiple earned digital media impressions. Thuzi implementations typically garner 300 times to 500 times amplification of this user-generated (and often branded) content using social media to connect with friends, family and followers. This amplified content increases the event ROI by dramatically improving lead capture, branded impressions, online commerce, retail visits, etc.
Measuring ROI is critical to justifying increasing expenditures for social media platforms. This Thuzi dashboard shows the types of measurement available.
Thuzi founder and CEO Scott Blackburn has employed this approach with clients active in the lifestyle marketing event space such as Nike, Honda, Under Armour, Gatorade and IndyCar. In the case studies that were presented to me, customized mobile apps and RFID-enabled wristbands that capture and transmit data are provided to all of the participants, who are then presented with a variety of branded activation opportunities during the course of the event. These wristbands and mobile apps carry the attendees' social credentials and enable a frictionless way to interact with a variety of event activities, such as posting a photo or video, scanning for promotions such as upgraded tickets, liking a product on Facebook, and redeeming points for prizes.
I found the numerous case studies that Thuzi shared fascinating. It was easy to see where the adoption of technologies such as Bluetooth LE and beacons could compete with RFID and add scale to live-event participation. As mobile technology is evolving quickly, companies serving as providers in this space are poised to capitalize on the market penetration of smartphones and tablets to activate events, track sponsor interactions and capture insights on consumer behavior.
These live-event platforms can be used for a single activation or across a multibrand experience with numerous activations. For example, IndyCar created a frictionless experience by having fans log in once to receive a branded RFID wristband so that they could participate in all the sponsor activations in a Fan Village. Thuzi's technology kept track of where each fan went, products they liked, sponsors with whom they interacted, games played, photos taken, sweepstakes entered, market survey participation and much more. Every subsequent viral view and click of branded content that is posted to social networks gets tracked and reported in real time to each sponsor via brand-specific scorecards and dashboards.
So where is this heading, and what should teams be doing? If they haven't already, teams and sports organizations should start meeting with providers such as Thuzi and other sources such as Sporting Innovations, created by Sporting Club, the parent company of MLS team Sporting Kansas City. Sporting Innovations designs software solutions meant to revolutionize fan engagement and business solutions for sports teams and venues.
Outsourcing development of apps and examining new technologies is the quickest way for teams and sports organizations to innovate as well as to implement. These technologies and applications are not commonly developed within the framework of traditional sports organizations, so the key is looking outward to enhance internal and external partners, relationships and performance. The expertise needed is available along with the speed to implement and innovate. We are always searching for ways to differentiate, and the difference this technology can make will have a profound impact on customers and partnerships.
Bill Sutton (firstname.lastname@example.com) is the founding director of the sport and entertainment business management MBA at the University of South Florida and principal of Bill Sutton & Associates. Follow him on Twitter @Sutton_ImpactU.


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NEW YORK, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The View has reportedly chosen two new co-hosts, Nicolle Wallace and October Gonzalez.
The women are expected to replace departing moderators Sherri Shepherd and Jenny McCarthy.
Wallace is a conservative political commentator who served as White House Communications Director under President George W. Bush, and senior advisor on the McCain-Palin presidential campaign. She is also a bestselling author whose novels, Eighteen Acres (2010) and Eighteen Acres, It's Classified (2011), focus on powerful women at the White House.
Gonzalez is wife to retired NFL star Tony Gonzalez, and mother to their two children, daughter Malia and son River. October is an occasional model who posed naked with her husband for a PETA campaign in 2009.
Wallace and Gonzalez will reportedly join Whoopi Goldberg and returning co-host Rosie O'Donnell in September on season 18 of The View. Shepherd and McCarthy's final episode aired Thursday on ABC.


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150 million Re.1 notes to be printed every year
New Delhi: The Indian government has decided to print 150 million currency notes of Re.1 denomination every year from January 1, 2015, parliament was told on Thursday.
"Government has issued gazette notification dated December 15, 2014 to print Re.1 currency notes with effect from January 1, 2015, under the provisions of the Coinage Act," Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.
The government has, thereby, decided to print 150 million one rupee notes per year, he said.
The minister also informed the upper house that printing of Rs.1, 2 and 5 denomination notes were discontinued by the Reserve Bank of India because of the high cost of printing involved.
"At present, there is no proposal to issue Rs.2 and 5 denomination notes," he added.


text:
No, I'm not talking about my amazing good looks or my astounding crazy wit. Nope, I'm talking about my friendship with Marion (keep reading, you'll eventually understand).
Seriously, she's one of the most amazing, kind, patient people you'll ever meet. And actually, just this morning I realized that I was conceived approximately two weeks after she was born. Here's what I think happened . . .
We were hanging out in Heaven playing flying hopscotch and what not when she decided that it was time for a new adventure - a road trip, if you will - to Earth. So she was born, and I was bored so I went for a visit. At that time said/cooed to me one of two things, either A) "J, this is really cool. You should come too. It'll be so freaking cool." Or B) "J, this is crazy nuts and I don't think I can do it on my own. Please come down too. We can do it together." Being the optimist that she is, I'm going with A - always convincing me I can do things that I really incapable of doing. And so, I came. It took us something like 12 years to find each other again, but we did it.
We've known each other for 22 years and been best friends for 18. (MJ, correct me if I'm wrong, my math skills lack once the sun goes down). We've been through EVERYTHING you can think of together . . dating, boyfriends, ex-boyfriends (and their sweatshirts), middle school, multiple divorces (not our own), high school, research papers, college, cross country trips, snow storms, heat waves, marriages (hers, not mine), babies (hers, not mine), buying houses, getting jobs, losing jobs . . and so much more. And I expect that it will continue for many more years to come.
Earlier this evening, I realized I was out of milk (for shame!) so I ran to the grocery store. Upon getting there, I realized I had remnants of dinner still on my shirt. Feeling like an idiot, I ran into my Bishop. And this time, he actually recognized me. Figures.
Then two minutes later, I saw another woman from my ward. She is in her late 30's, never been married, teaches elementary school, cries in every lesson where they mention kids and/or marriage and writes in her journal during Sunday School about how hard it is to be single in a family based religion (she sad next to me one day and held her journal so that I could read it - trying to bond or something, I suspect). So, I ducked around a corner (yes, I'm evil and MJ would NEVER do such a thing) so that I wouldn't have to talk to her. But before I did, I realized that she was wearing no makeup, a sloppy tshirt, had her hair in a bun and just looked generally sad - aside from the sad part, she pretty much looked a lot like I did, minus the food that was being saved for later. And I thought, "Damn, that's me in 7 years. . ."
And then in my minds eye, I saw us up there in Heaven again and I thought, "This is all Marion's fault."
Sorry about the random smattering of pictures. Eventually, when it's not the middle of the night, I'll come back and make one of those cute collages that MJ makes on her blog - but as of right now, that requires way too much effort.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Blessing and a Curse
Posted by JjHansen at 8:37 PM
Labels: best friends, friends, friendship, Marion, MJ
2 comments:
- MJ said...
I love you too, J. More than you know. I have always thought ~known~ is a better word,that you saved my life. When I was 15, my family didn't want me anymore. Thats when we became sisters. What would I have done if you hadn't have been there? I will never be able to repay you. And just for the record, I think that we were standing up there at the big slide that goes from the pre-existence to earth and I was about to chicken out so... you pushed me. Yep, I'm pretty sure that's how it happened.
- August 30, 2009 at 7:59 AM
- ALICIA said...
- September 5, 2009 at 11:52 PM
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The Stylistic Features and Rhetorical Features of English Advertisements
The Stylistic Features and Rhetorical Features of English Advertisements
2007级 英语翻译1班 蒋江海 200712500116
Abstract: Advertising is a form of communication intended to persuade an audience (viewers, readers or listeners) to purchase or take some action upon products, ideals, or services. And as a practical language, advertising English has its specific functions. In order to achieve its aim, its way of choosing words and building sentences are quite different from normal English: English advertisements are usually very short, clear, distinctive and memorable. This paper aims to discuss the features of advertising English from the stylistic and rhetorical perspective.
Key words: Advertising English; stylistic features; rhetorical features;
1 The Stylistic Features of English Advertisements
1.1 Use of Simple, Short and Every Day Sentences
In order to reduce the cost, the advertiser usually use the smallest space and the minimum time, which makes sentences in most advertisements are very short and snappy, especially the headlines, which may or may not be accompanied by a longer informative text. The sentence consists of subject verb and object that are accompanied by an explanatory supplement.The headline is normally expanded or clarified in the text body, where simple,elliptical and compound sentences or their fragments are used. Here are some examples.
a. Things go better with Coca—Cola.(饮可口可乐,万事如意。)
b. Start Ahead.(飘柔,成功之路,从头开始)
c. It's more satisfied. (它更满意) (MORE cigarette)
d. We're aiming even higher. (我们的目标更高) (Air France).
e. The choice is yours.The honor is ours.(你的选择是我们的荣耀)
f. Just Do It. (只管去做) (Nike)
Although there are only several words in the above 4 advertisements, these words save lot money, convey more messages, create a very pleasant impression, and raise the audience's interests effectively. These sentences travel very fast, because anyone can remember it without any effort. It can just hang upon people's lips, and is something popularized without much publicity.
1.2 Allow Informal Grammar- Fragments and Phrases
We can see in many English advertisements grammar mistakes, most of which are intended. This phenomenon also mainly results from the cost of display advertisements on newspapers, televisions, Internet, etc. Advertisers first try to use short but complete sentences but they may find that the short sentence is still too long so they cut the words again and again. In fact, in the more extreme cases, large parts of sentences are elided, and there may be some "sentences" which do not contain a finite clause. As a kind of special writing form, advertisements can almost do without subjects. In this sense, phrases may be better if not as good as sentences, thanks to their shortness and distinctiveness. As a matter of fact, all kinds of phrases can be put into use: noun phrase, verb phrase, preposition phrase, adjective phrase, etc. They are so concisely to the point that they are beyond our power to do any addition or subtraction. Here are some examples.
a. Executive back chair保健办公椅
b. Live richly. (Citi)
c. Forward-tilt feature可调整背靠斜度
d. Adjustable neck rest可调节靠枕
e. Built-in adjustable lumber support带有自动调节腰垫
f. New! 全新设计
g. You&Us(UBS)
h. Back saver背舒尔
i. Better city, better life 地市让生活更美好
j. Stick to What You Love (Toyota)
k. Connecting People (Nokia)
l. Global network of innovation. (Siemens)
1.3 Frequent Use of Imperative Sentences and Second Person Approach
Because imperative sentences target the receivers as on the spot and can realize the intended persuasion in a fairly direct manner. An advertisement often pretends to be talking to the prospective customers. There is therefore heavy use of you, especially at the beginning of clauses. There are many imperative sentences and interrogative sentences in this type of use.
Take the world famous advertisement "Just Do It" promoted by Nike for example. This catchy and forceful imperative sentence conveys a strong energetic and uplifting feeling to the prospects that are surely expected to have a desire to maintain youth and vigor. In our daily life, we are also quite familiar with such sentence structures as "Let's…" or "It's time to…". Those imperative sentences like "Let's have breakfast", "let's go" and "It's time to go to bed "take place with great frequency in our daily conversations with families and friends. It is based on this proximate similarity in real life that EDS came up with "Let's get to work" and UNITED Airline promoted "It's time to fly". Here are some more examples.
a. Now You Can Have Your Cake and Diet too.
b. You will buy this special gift to your darling, don't you?
c. Don't miss out!
d. Why Gas Gives You Thankful after Thankful of Hot Water 3 Times Faster?
e. Come to where the flavor is! Come to Marlboro Country!
f. Buy one pair, get one free. 买一赠一.
g. Pierre sport quilted jacket, — well, who should know better than a duck how to keep warm?
h. Pierre 牌羽绒运动夹克— 有谁能比鸭子更知道如何保暖呢?
2 The Rhetorical Features of English Advertisements
2.1 Figure of Speech (Simile and Metaphor)
The use of figure of speech can make the description of products more vivid, interesting, concrete and acceptable. It gives people rich imagination and plentiful associations which deepen people's impressions of the displayed products. The two frequently used figures of speech are the simile and the metaphor.
2.1.1 Simile
A simile is a figure of speech comparing two unlike things, often introduced with the words "like", "as", or "than". As a powerful tool in description, explanation and persuasion, simile refers to an explicit and direct comparison "between two unlike elements having at least one quality or characteristic in common" (Feng Cuihua,2004:170). Here are some examples.
a. Because if your business needs to dig a little deeper, think of use as your shovel. (EDS, IT)
b. Time is like Art–intangible, mysterious but ultimately precious. (Blancpain, Watches)
c. A good car is like a great piece of music. Powerful and exciting, yet full of harmony, often leaving you wishing the experience would never end. (Toyota, Automobile)
d. Light as sea-foam, strong as the tide.
e. Light as a breeze, soft as a cloud. (dress)
f. A perfume with a fragrance as beautiful and lingering as only 4000 flowers can be. (perfume)
2.1.2 Metaphor
A metaphor is an analogy between two objects or ideas; the analogy is conveyed by the use of a metaphorical word in place of some other word. Similar to simile, metaphor also makes a comparison that "imaginatively identified one thing with another, and ascribes to the first thing (the tenor) some of the qualities of the second (the vehicle)" (Feng Cuihua,2004:175). A metaphor not only explains by making the abstract or unknown concrete and familiar, but also enlivens by touching the reader's imagination. Here are some examples.
a. Sweet dreams (Citi, Financial)
b. NEWSWEEK—Tomorrow's High Tech Office.(NEWSWEEK, magazine)
c. Mild as May.( Marlbor, cigarette)
d. Riding the winds of change is not enough. We broke the laws of change to create vehicles that go beyond your style. (Hyundai, Automobil)
e. Life is a journey. Travel it well. (Air France , airline)
f. If the conference room is your battleground, consider this your strongest weapon. (Wall Street Journal, Publication)
2.2 Deviant Spelling (Coinage and Misspelling)
In the writing of advertising, writers often deliberately misspell some words or add some prefixes or suffixes to achieve a special effect, often for the effect of humor and liveness. The function of doing so is to increase the direct image of the words or phrases, and the effect much stronger. Although the new words still have the original meanings, they are quite different from the original words in spelling,which will make the advertisement more vivid interesting and attractive. For example, in an advertisement of a coffee pot, the name of the product is "Kwik coffee pot", which has been changed into "Quick coffee pot". In this way, it reminds the buyers the rapid speed of making coffee by using this kind of coffee pot. Here some more examples.
a. supercalendered;
b. supercolossal;
c. supperexcellent;
d. coffee-pot-fresh;
e. homemaker(=housewife);
f. TWOGETHER (The Ultimate All Inclusive One Price Sunkissed Holiday);
g. Drinka Pinta Milka Day ( Drink a pint of milk a day)
2.3 Use of Homophonic Pun, Rhyme, Alliteration, Homophonic Pun, hyperbole
The use of Homophonic Pun, Rhyme, Alliteration, Homophonic Pun, and hyperbole in advertisements make the advertisement rhythmic just like a poem which is more easily to be chant and remembered by people and to be spreaded widely and quickly. Here are some examples.
a. Forget hot taste. Only Kool, with pure menthol has the taste of extra coolness. Come up to Kool. 忘掉辛辣的感觉。只有"酷"牌,纯正的薄荷口味带给你特别清凉的酷酷感受。想"酷"你就来!( a case of Homophonic Pun 谐音双关)
b. From Sharp minds, come Sharp products. 绝顶智慧造就尖端夏普. (homographic Pun 语义双关 夏普电器广告语)
c. Every time we race, you win. 我们的每场比赛, 你都胜券在握. ( hyperbole 夸张 Yamaha的电子琴广告)
d. When you're sipping Lipton, you're sipping something special. 啜饮立顿茶, 品尝独特味. ( brand of "Lipton" tea)
e. Safety, Security and Simplicity. 安全, 安心, 实用. (Mobile) (Alliteration)
f. Pepsi-cola hits the spot, 百事可乐味道好,
Twelve full ounces, that's a lot, 一瓶一斤真不少,
Twice as much for a nickel, too, 四角硬币买两瓶,
Pepsi-cola is the drink for you. 一喝永远忘不了.
( End-rhyme/consonance 尾韵)
1. HUANG Hai-quan, The Stylistic Features of Advertising English Viewed from Syntactic Perspective, 2009
2. 李中, 广告英语中比喻修辞格的魅力及翻译原则, 2008
3. 王孝堂, Realization of Cognitive Consistency in English Advertising——From the Perspective of Rhetorical Devices'Analysis, 2006
4. 易高燕, Linguistic Characteristics of Advertising English, 2010


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text:
Rustic Stars: Release Day!
*Throws glitter in the shape of stars as he dances around you*
I honestly didn't tell a soul when this book would come out. So about two weeks ago, I decided to do it on December 4,, 2015. Then I went from there. It was a lot of work getting everything together in such a small time frame, but it happened. Cover, design…everything. I had a lot of help from a very special friend to do the Ebook, and I can't even thank her enough! *Bear hugs her*
Any who, if you know me, or have ever heard me talk about my book, you should know that my book has a gay character. Fair warning.
I had a lot of people tell me bad stuff about it, which ALWAYS made me want to stop. And when they heard it was romance, more bad comments. But fantasy is good, right?
Comments such as: "Gay people don't read," "Gay romance is BORING," "I wouldn't read that book, because it sounds sad." Among others. None bad, but all made me question. My book is not intended for a certain kind of people. I want everyone to read it. As long as you're human. (Sorry, C-3PO)
Yes, there is romance in my book, but it isn't between two people. It's only in one person, as his "other half" tries to save himself. So there is no awkward gay talk in my book. My characters are just human, and I won't label them.
Now to it, if you are looking for something to read. Buy RUSTIC STARS here:
Don't forget to add it to your TBR list on:
Then come to me and tell me what you think about it! I am craving for your thoughts and comments. We'll have a tea party, and I will bring cookies. I promise.
Wait, wait, wait. Does this book make me go from an aspiring writer to a published author? Does that mean I can change my bio? Okay, you guys, I'm freaking out. Where is my group hug?
*Frog croaking*
Wait, wait, wait. Does this book make me go from an aspiring writer to a published author? Does that mean I can change my bio? Okay, you guys, I'm freaking out. Where is my group hug?
*Frog croaking*
Happy Reading!
*Some sites have the book publishes Dec 2, and paperback came Nov 29. To me, my book came out Dec 4. #Special