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The titular mermaid must ace a spelling test to get back on her swim team and in doing so learns a lesson about inner and outer beauty.
Mermaid Cora is great at singing, swimming, and splashing—but not so much at spelling, a subject in which she earns "a great big FISH (minus the ish)" on her report card. To help boost her scores, her mother gives her a diary, telling her it has a spell on it to compel her to write. Illustrating her difficulties, numerous words are misspelled, crossed out, and corrected. Cora has just made the junior ranks of the most glamorous swim team—the Singing Sirens—only to get booted for her spelling grade. (How these undersea swim teams compete and what they do—aside from swimming and looking pretty—is never made clear.) Her mother negotiates on her behalf, arriving at an agreement that if Cora aces the next spelling test, she can keep her spot. In writing about her undersea adventures, Cora ends up using her spelling words and learning them. In the end, Cora uncovers the nasty sides of her beautiful teammates and rival, and she decides to change her values. Light-skinned Cora is depicted as chubby and cartoon-cute, while other mermaids (including her best friend, who appears darker-skinned on the cover) appear conventionally "beautiful."
Generally amusing, if readers can look past the only mildly critiqued focus on beauty. (Fantasy. 6-8)


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Okay here I go:
1. Monthly Jump SQ is expected to be delayed (Probably 2-3 weeks) so Claymore (Chptr 114) and D.Grey-man (Chptr 205) will be delayed. (Mentioned on MangaStream about a week ago.)
2. Cheese in the Trap is currently not being edited, because of the Authors wishes. Announcement form Webtoonlive by maxcmoi:
Hello,I'm pretty sad to announce you that we won't be scanlating Cheese in the trap for now. The author stated he/she didn't want his/her webtoon translated, since naver has the diffusion rights and all… But we are trying to find a solution to continue the scanlations. It may take some time before we can start scanlating this webtoon again. You will have to wait until sometime in February to know if we will continue or if we will drop the project.
We are doing our best For the impatient ones you can read the raws for the last chapter here:http://comic.naver.com/webtoon/detail.nhn?titleId=186811&seq=26
PS : don't e-mail the author, nor post a message on his blog please. It would only worsen the current situation. We are working on a solution, except news soon.
But translations of chapters 25-38 so far can be found here and please thank the translator yuko1909 and the actual manga here.I will also try and post updates of when the next chapters have been translated.
Also if anyone knows any useful updates, like the ones above please comment or email me.

subset: commoncrawl


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Thursday, 7 November 2013
Cars {YOU} Are The #1 Killer Of Children
It's true! Cars are the #1 killer of children...and young adults. This of course does not even come near the truth about the suffering caused by invasions like the recent ones against Iraq and Afghanistan that leave 4-5,000,000 refuges. Not only did 2,000,000 die, but the country continues to be in shambles and many die daily! "Peace and security" - well maybe for Haliburton and large contract companies and the U.S. military.
But even the 2,000,000 U.S. soldiers don't have peace. It is estimated that 30% or about 500,000 of them suffer from PTSD and brain damage. Washington Post's David Finkel was in Iraq and testifies to the horrors even the American soldier still experience - in his latest book and on TVO.But what about what the Iraqis? They were the ones being invaded! They had no choice!
Sadly that even if an American soldier wants to leave after seeing how s/he has been lied to, ie. "we're there to help", they will end up in prison if they don't continue. Wow...what freedom! The American anthem of freedom gets silenced...sshhhh. When some soldiers come to Canada for asylum, sadly, Harper rejects them. But why are they not allowed to be free? Quite the double speak!
Click here for more.
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England's oldest surviving printed document is to go on show today for the first time in living memory.
Created by William Caxton at the country's first press in Westminster on December 13, 1476, it will be displayed at the National Archives, in Kew, south London.
The document, which is in Latin, is known as an indulgence - issued by a clergyman, it absolved a recipient of their sins in return for support or aid to church causes.
It was written by John Sant, Abbot of Abingdon, to a couple, Henry and Katherine Langley, for their efforts in funding the raising of a fleet to attack the Turks, who had just captured Constantinople.
Caxton became interested in the new technology of printing being developed in Germany in the early 1450s, and perfected by Johannes Gutenberg in 1454 while working abroad. When he returned to England, he set up a printing shop near Westminster Abbey, where he had a flat bed wooden hand-press installed.
Using the hand-press, which sought to emulate the handwritten form, Caxton eventually produced the first printed book in England, Dictes or Sayengis of the Philosophres (Sayings of the Philosophers) in 1477. He went on to print more than 100 books, including Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, before he died, aged 70, in 1491.
Sue Laurence, the interpretation manager at the National Archives, said: "To have the first surviving printed document in our care is a privilege."
The document is one of several key historical artefacts at a free exhibition, "Movers and Shakers: Geoffrey Chaucer to Elton John", open until the end of May.


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Last month, when University of Southern California wide receiver Garrett Green bobbled the football on a key play against Washington State, red flags went up among the Trojans' athletic trainers on the sidelines. Only minutes before, Green had tackled an opponent -- hard -- on a kickoff return. His sudden lack of coordination struck team trainer Russ Romano as a pretty likely sign of concussion.
Concussions: An article in Monday's Health section on new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat concussions said USC wide receiver Garrett Green was 19 years old. He is 21. —
Romano called Green to the sidelines, asked him a few quick questions and got back answers confused enough to take the senior from Chatsworth out of the game. The next day, Green took a battery of cognitive tests to check for concussion symptoms. When they showed some lingering effects of injury, the 19-year-old was ordered to sit out practice for at least a week. After that, Romano told Green, he could be reassessed for a return to the field.
It's a dilemma faced by coaches at all levels and in all kinds of sports, by emergency medical technicians responding to the scene of a car crash, by supervisors called to the site of a workplace accident: This person looks fine on the outside, but has his brain -- lodged in its bony case and far from view -- been hurt?


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PARK CITY, Utah, June 16 // — American Skiing Company (OTC: AESK) announced today that Mark J. Miller would be leaving his position as Chief Operating Officer at the end of this month.
The Company stated that a challenging business environment affecting the entire U.S. travel industry and the overall economy requires the Company to streamline its cost structure and operate as efficiently possible, while continuing to provide world-class service to its guests. The Company continues to evaluate staffing and performance at all levels of the organization through its restructuring initiatives in order to improve its operational flexibility and financial performance.
"Mark's contributions to this organization have been exceptional," said CEO B.J. Fair. "We extend our deepest appreciation for his nearly five years of service, including his tenure as Chief Financial Officer. Mark has made a lasting impact on the company and the success of our recent restructuring activities is due in a large part to his hard work and determination. We wish Mark only the best in his future endeavors."
The Company further reported that it would not seek to fill the vacant COO position.
About American Skiing Company
Headquartered in Park City, Utah, American Skiing Company is one of the largest operators of alpine ski, snowboard and golf resorts in the United States. Its resorts include Killington and Mount Snow in Vermont; Sunday River and Sugarloaf/USA in Maine; Attitash Bear Peak in New Hampshire; Steamboat in Colorado; and The Canyons in Utah. More information is available on the Company's Web site, www.peaks.com.


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* I want to be THAT person, the one who isn't in the habit of being so concerned about maintaining appearances. I want to be THAT person who is in the habit of obeying what God tells me to do no matter whether it looks like foolishness or if someone might laugh at me.
* I want to THAT person who gives it her best shot, knowing that she has laid everything on the table and held nothing back...even if it isn't perfect.
* I want to be in the habit of setting my mind on Christ.
* I want to be in the habit of having my affections with Him.
* I want to hear the applause of heaven.
* I want to be the kind of person for whom God's praise is enough.
THAT is the kind of person I want to be.
If you've read over here today this will make sense (otherwise you might think I'm a little daft), I had to smile. I have my own notch, but I did it on purpose. I put a hole in my ear where I knew it would hurt, and it gets tugged once in awhile and reminds me of why it's there. It is my reminder that I am a bond-slave of Christ...one who has purposefully put herself under the Master, letting Him pierce me and love me, care for me and carry me.


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While at BlackBerry 10 Jam I sat down with George, the man behind Education Apps Ltd. George already has a selection of apps available for various platforms including BlackBerry 7 devices, but what I was interested in was checking out what he has to offer for BlackBerry 10.
A wide range of his applications will be in BlackBerry World in the next few weeks for the BlackBerry Z10 but in the meantime he gave us a run through on video of how the the apps will look and perform on the new OS. And they look real good. It's been a long time since I needed to reviese for my school exams and maybe I would have done better if I had apps like this to use!
Potential customers can download the applications for free and view the content that's on offer before committing to downloading it for a small charge.
The teenagers in the UK may well benefit hugely from the apps. Millions of them seem to be rocking a BlackBerry and with the apps costing less than a paper text book I'm sure the kids will prefer to use their new awesome BlackBerry rather than picking up a book.
Once Education Apps go live for BlackBerry 10 we will be sure to let you know. In the meantime you can head on over to their website and view the current selection with the link below.


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The Green Diamond Extra Virgin Olive Oil bottle focuses on the complexity of the product within and the natural state that it is in.
Designed by Aspa Chroneou, the branding focuses on the use of the word "diamond" in the product name. Being that "diamond" is derived from the Greek word adámas which means untamed and overpowering, the bottle takes after this notion by shining bright.
The oil is crafted from kalamata olives, which means the flavor is more powerful than traditional green olives and thus a little more rare. As such, the Green Diamond Extra Virgin Olive Oil bottle highlights this complexity with the imagery of a diamond and a dark, demure background to allow it to shine through.
Rare Gem Oil Packaging
More Stats +/-
Earthy Olive Oil Packaging
Olive-Shaped Bottles
Nutritious Gazpacho Drinks
DIY Herbal Butters
Genie Lamp Oil Dispensers
The Green Diamond Extra Virgin Olive Oil Bottle is Demure
- By: Michael HemsworthMay 2, 2016
References: aspachroneou & packagingoftheworld
References: aspachroneou & packagingoftheworld


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The most popular of today's dietary supplements are multivitamins: minerals that are designed to supplement the daily intake of vitamins, minerals, fiber, proteins, and antioxidants you receive from food. Are you taking a multivitamin? Whether you are or aren't, it's essential to know what minerals are crucial to a healthy diet and how much you should be getting. By knowing what nutrients your body needs and what you are getting in your food each day, you're armed with the right information to choose the multivitamin that best fits your needs.
Facts About Multivitamins
Multivitamins come in a variety of forms including:
- powders
- capsules
- tablets
- injectable forms that require a doctor's administration
Multivitamins also come in a variety of strengths-most are less than the FDA's daily recommended dosage, so you may require more than one a day. Some formulas allow you to take multiple doses all at once, while others require you to space them out. Multivitamins are best taken with a meal to avoid stomach pain or irritation and to aid in metabolizing the ingredients.
8 Essential Dietary Minerals
There are 8 major dietary minerals required to help support the human biochemical processes that keep our bodies strong and functioning. Those minerals include:
1 Potassium – 4700 mg RDA (recommended daily allowance), found in tomatoes, prunes, bananas.
2 Sodium – 1500 mg RDA, found in milk, spinach, salt.
3 Calcium – 1000 mg RDA, found in dairy, nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables.
4 Phosphorus – 700 mg RDA, found in dairy, meat, fish, eggs.
5 Magnesium – 420 mg RDA, found in nuts soybeans, cocoa.
6 Zinc – 11 mg RDA, found in wheat germ, calves liver and poppy seeds.
7 Iron – 8 mg RDA, found in red meat, eggs, beans and whole grains.
8 Selenium – 55 ug RDA (trace element), found in tuna, nuts, dried mushrooms and is an antioxidant.
Other Important Minerals
Other minerals include:
- Molybdenum,
- Copper
- Iodine
- Manganese
- Chloride
Although some dietary minerals like Selenium have antioxidants that support a strong immune system, some are also trace minerals that are stored in the liver (and fatty tissue), and it can be toxic to the body in larger quantities.
Fish oil with Omega-3 Fatty Acid is another popular supplement that can also be found in some of the same foods as dietary minerals. Many different fish and flaxseed contain significant amounts of the substance and are easy to add to your diet. Consult your physician before adding any supplements to your daily routine.


text: Fourth in a series (A Wizard in Mind, 1995, etc.) about the ``wizard''--actually esp-powered--Magnus d'Armand, who now calls himself Gar Pike. Gar's companion is Dirk Dulaine, a former serf freed by Gar during a previous adventure; together they roam the galaxy in their intelligent spaceship, Herkimer, seeking repressive and dictatorial planets requiring their wacky, irreverent brand of liberation. This time, they happen upon a planet ruled by a Protector so brutally ill-liberal that the citizens can't travel, marry, or even think for themselves, on pain of ghastly torture. Gar and Dirk, then, need some locals to front the revolution: Who better than the star-crossed lovers Miles and Ciletha? Light and reasonably entertaining, with lots of cliff-hangers and jolly chortling. Stasheff more and more resembles Piers Anthony, both in style and prolificness.


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It's amazing to me, the amount of venom that I've heard in people's voices as they say "I hate Valentine's day."
I've heard a few different reasons. People say that they don't like being told by "the greeting card companies" that they should celebrate loved ones on any particular day, and others say that we should celebrate our loved ones every day, not just once a year. True and true. But -- unless you're religious -- how is it any different than Christmas?
Or birthdays? Or thanksgiving? Or any other holiday that has you spending time with your family, and giving gifts or cards?
There are also those who say that Valentine's day is so focused on couples that it makes those without a significant other feel alone. For starters, there are many kinds of love; start your own tradition and go out to dinner with some friends. Invite some people over and have a movie night in. There's no reason to feel more alone on this night than any other.
As far as I'm concerned, it's just a day to celebrate friendship and love; and what could be wrong with that?
In the end, it's just one day. Whether you love it or hate it, I hope you have a good one.


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Super awesome week! I'll tell you about it!
We had a ton of meetings this week, one of which was our mission zone conference. It was one of the most powerful meetings I've been in on my mission. We set a goal as a mission to reach 345 baptisms by June! To help us reach that goal, we have another goal of baptizing 100 people in the month of March! In this area of the U.S. the record for most baptisms that have ever happened in a month is 68, which we set last year. So 100 is a huge stretch! To help us get pumped for March, all this month we are participating in March madness: missionary style. Every week we are competing with all of the other zones to see who can find the most new investigators, extend baptism the most times, have the most members present at lessons, or have the most people in church. This week the focus was on new investigators.
We really focused hard as a Spanish zone, and at the end of the week we came in with 196 new investigators! The previous record was 60 in a week! As we really focused on working extremely hard and doing all we could to achieve our goals, we saw tons of miracles and we were accompanied by grace all week long. It really helped me to see that there is always more we can do. We can never get complacent. This week helped me to realize that it is possible to accomplish more than we think we can as we rely on the Savior.
So here's some miracle (and other things):
· We started meeting with a family of former investigators this week, and they are super prepared! Their 10 year-old son loves reading so much that he has been reading by himself in the bible that previous missionaries left them and had questions for us about Enoch walking with God in Gen. 5! They all accepted a baptismal date for March, and we're helping them work towards it!
· We met with one of our newer Dominican investigators named Jr. and had a really good lesson. I learned some Dominican slang, and we invited him to be baptized in March, which he accepted! He came to church on Sunday (more to come in a bit).
· One of our less-actives is one of the only members in his family, and he decided that it's time to have us teach the rest of his family. So this week he's going to have his wife and all of his kids sit in on our lesson for the first time!
· We extended baptism to 3 of the kids of an inactive member, and they all said that they really wanted to come to church and be baptized! Later that week we went by with the branch president and talked with the Mom about returning to church. The man she's living with also said that he would like to be baptized!
· One of our appointments fell through, but immediately after they canceled we received a referral, which we contacted and turned into a new investigator!
· Jr. (from before) came to soccer on Saturday, and he brought 2 of his friends with him! His friends turned out to be from Spain (which is super rare...)! After soccer we invited all of them to come to church the next day, and they all came! They stayed for all 3 hours, participated in the classes, and loved it! So now we're teaching some Spaniards!
So yeah, it was an amazing week! The Lord is hastening His work, and I definitely saw that hastening happen this past week. I am so amazed at how involved He is with us and with the people here. I know that He loves us so much. I know that we are all here at this time because we have the strength to make it through these difficult times and to help others around us come unto Christ. I love this work so much, and I'm grateful every day to be a part of it.
Have a great week!
Elder Foote


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The horror/game show hybrid "Release the Hounds" which debuted on the UK's ITV2 last year as a Halloween special before getting its very own release here in the states through Blackbox TV has been given a full season order. The one-off episode received positive notices for the premise, and an outpouring of interest on Twitter. ITV has now commissioned a six-episode series to be produced by Sony Pictures Television's UK production joint venture Gogglebox. Apparently people enjoy watching others have the living shit scared out of them on a daily basis—who knew!
"Release The Hounds" mixes two genres by sending unsuspecting contestants into a forest at dusk as they seek out chests full of prize money. In order to win big, they must outrun a pack of hounds trained to guard the cash.
Production will start on the hourlong show this spring. Gogglebox created the series with Sony Pictures Television distributing the format internationally; it's currently in discussions with other territories.


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We are a local company, based out of Portland, OR. When you call, you will always be connected to a supervisor, not a sales team.
We are available any time during the day, everyday. We clean daily, weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly. Including Emergency Services.
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As a local small business in Portland, we are committed to our promise of top quality services through honesty, integrity, and hard work..
At NW Organic Cleaning, commercial cleaning is more than mopping floors or dusting blinds. From restaurants, cafes, hospitals, medical, and manufacturing facilities to daycares, professional offices, and LEED certified green buildings, NW Organic Cleaning is a premier choice for superior office and facilities cleaning. Give us a call today to find out more about our offerings!"


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I was thinking that if microsoft would only let you have one install on one machine and that install goes onto the hard drive I was wondering if you could just take that hard drive out of your old computer with windows 7 and put it into a new one without having to reactivate it because then you could buy a rubbish computer with windows 7 on its hard drive and then take it out and put it into a better computer without windows 7 and use the hard drive as a second one perhaps and just boot off of the second hard drive because that would be EPIC!
I was an adventurer like you once until I took an arrow to the knee!
Microsoft designed Windows NOT to be transferrable like that. Let's say you have a Win7 computer with an AMD CPU, motherboard based on an AMD chipset, & an AMD/ATI graphics card. You remove the HDD from this system & then place it in a system with an Intel CPU, motherboard based on an Intel chipset, & an nvidia graphics card. Do you think it will boot? Probably not. At the very least, Windows would have to be repaired & the different drivers would have to be installed. You would be better off wiping the HDD & doing a clean install from scratch.
"I was wondering if you could just take that hard drive out of your old computer with windows 7 and put it into a new one"
Why would an "old computer" have Win7 on it but a "new one" would not? Logically, a new computer would have Win7 or Win8 & an old one would have XP. And if an XP computer was upgraded to Win7, that would mean you would probably have a Win7 disc. And if you have a Win7 disc, all you would have to do is install it on the "new one" after uninstalling it from the "old computer".
Or you could just download Win7 AIO & use that on as many computers as you want, lol.
Surely the cost of the rubbish computer is more than a new legitimate copy of Windows 7 (£50 in UK) so what have you gained?
I actually saw a cheap old computer for £15 with windows 7 and I was just curious if it was an almost free way of getting your hands on windows 7. aaawwww it would have been so cool!
Sorry I thought it was a buy now but it was a bid they actually go for around £30
I was an adventurer like you once until I took an arrow to the knee!
Read the article linked below. The writer covered the subject of SLP licenses pretty well. If you see a computer with Windows on it for the prices you mention above the version of Windows is either SLP or illegal. A full copy of anything from XP on is worth more than those prices so a seller would most likely not supply you with a legal NSLP installation.


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I am humbled. Praise the Lord! What a great apostolate Michael Brown has given us. May God bless him and you for your heart felt prayers.
God is good.
While you are here look around. Discover more about St. Bellarmine. Get St. Bellarmine's e-book for free by signing up for his free chapter. It is on the right hand side.
Again thank you all.


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Artopia: July 2006 Archives
Andy Warhol Bridge, Pittsburgh, Penna.
The Allegheny Allegory or the Rule of Three
Three things brought me to Pittsburgh, the city of three rivers. I missed the opening of the Andy Warhol Museum in 1994. My previous visit, as a juror for the Three Rivers Arts Festival, was long before that, and now I was also seduced by the possibility of seeing in person the contents of one of the Warhol Time Capsules. As an NEA panelist in the deep-dark past, I voted for Mattress Factory funding, but I never visited this pioneer alternative space, now a museum and in its 25th year.
The third lure requires some explanation. As a child I once adopted six stray dogs, much to my father's chagrin. Presently I have no animal companions because I empathize with them too much. Cities are cruel. Would I go for four square meals in trade for an apartment prison and having to hold off my bodily functions to the beginning and the end of the day? Would I want to give up chasing squirrels?
If sentiment were not enough, who now can repress the effects of global warming upon our animal co-tenants? It's unlikely that polar bears and mockingbirds will have the wherewithal to escape to other planets like us. "Fierce Friends: Artists and Animals, 1750-1900," to August 26, 2006 at the Carnegie Museum of Art therefore seemed of some import.
To accomplish this three-fold mission, I signed on for a press tour offered by Visit Pittsburgh (until recently called the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau). As luck would have it, in keeping with the triple-header theme, I was also able to see the identical, bright yellow Three Sister Bridges across from my hotel. The central bridge is actually named for Andy Warhol. Is there another bridge in the whole world named for an artist?
More unfinished business: We took a ride one evening on the Duquesne Avenue funicular, one of two that still climb the bluff overlooking the Monongahela River. Here they are called inclines, a Pittsburgher opined, because the locals cannot pronounce "funicular." There once were 20 or so, but the two that remain are used only for commuters and not for horses, coal and feed.
The shoebox (actually more like half a shoebox) juts out parallel to the riverbed and is attached to rails at the backend. Balanced by a descending car -- this is the ancient funicular trick -- we are hauled by cable up the bluff to a spectacular view. A Visit Pittsburgh representative claimed this view was designated by USA Today Weekend Magazine as the Second Best View in America. We looked down on the glittering V that is downtown Pittsburgh; the Three Rivers Fountain at the tip, inGolden Triangle Park, was gushing too. But more than one of the writers in our group wanted to know what the First Best View in America was. The publicist had forgotten. The Golden Gate from Pacific Heights? The Big Apple from the top of the Empire State Building or coming in on a jet? Her lips were conveniently sealed.
* * *
Sometimes I wish the world would more neatly conform to numerical schemes. But it doesn't. An art pilgrimage to Pittsburgh should have more than three stations. There are indeed three identical bridges over the Allegheny River, as befitting a Catholic and therefore trinitarian city, but the Three Rivers idea is a bit more complicated. Actually the Allegheny and the Monongahela converge here to become the Ohio River, to form a peace sign and not a chicken foot. To complicate matters even further, I am told there is a fourth river, unnamed and invisible. This Fourth River (as it is always called) provides the water for the Golden Triangle fountain, and further upstream assists in cooling the Convention Center, now the second-largest "green building" in the world.
In the interest of obscurity and in conformity tomy principle of adding at least one strange item to my Artopia texts so no one will think they're reading the N.Y. Times or any of the big art magazines: Three is not Three; Three is Two (Two becoming One); Two is Three (adding the underground river); Three (becoming the Ohio) is Four.
* * *
We also visited five private collections, one of which was corporate.The best featured an impressive collection of Palissy Revival ceramics in a Modernist house to die for. But we all also marveled at the private digs of Barbara Luderowski, director of the Mattress Factory and curator Michael Olijnyk. Luderowski, in her half of the top-floor loft, displays her toys, dolls, and oddities in huge glass cases; Oliknyk, in his half, displays primo examples of Mid-century Modern: Eames, Russel Wright, and a wall of sunburst clocks.
But never fear,if you make the Pittsburgh Art Pilgrimage, there is a lot of public art to see. We had a walking tour of art downtown: Jenny Holzer's LED piece on the roof terrace of the Rafael Vinoly Convention Center was the outstanding offering. The texts are from novels that take place in Pittsburgh.
Jenny Holzer: For Pittsburgh
While you are in the bustling downtown area, you should also drop in on the Wood Street Galleries, a nonprofit art space specializing in Media Art. They were between shows. Artist Michael Oliveris was in the middle of installing his Ultraviolet Acquiesence and Deep Space Drip Culture installation, but we were given a catalog of past exhibitions and their offerings seem entirely worth a gamble when nearby..... Later we were carted to Carnegie-Mellon University, the alma mater of both Warhol and Philip Pearlstein, for fine outdoor works by Jonathan Borofsky (a version of Walking to the Sky) and Mel Bochner and Michael Van Valkenburgh's Kraus Campo, a garden/sculpture.
Jonathan Borofsky: Walking to the Sky
Mel Bochner and Michael Van Valkenburgh: Kraus Campo
The Holy Warhola Shrine
Andy Warhol: Self-Portrait, 1986
Andy Warhol (born Warhola in 1928) hated Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh then was not Pittsburgh now, currently a culture capitol worth visiting. Since Warhol's middle name might have been Perversity, it is only fitting that the Warhol Museum is where it is, a glory to the once-and-famous city of steel mills, plate glass, aluminum and anthracite. Of course, there is only one steel mill working now. Plate glass is represented by Philip Johnson's weird glass-faced gothic skyscraper.
And we read last week that Alcoa is an example of the new trend of relocating corporation headquarters to the Big Apple. Aglitzy Alcoa Building still exists in downtown Pittsburgh with 9,000 employees, some of whom may have been surprised that the stealth headquarters of Alcoa has been Manhattan for some years now. If you were a CEO or even a CFO, wouldn't you rather be where all the big boys are, wheeling and dealing?
So why is the Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh? Surely not just because Andy suffered through art classes at Carnegie-Mellon University. According to Warhol Museum director Tom Sokolowski, unlike Gotham museums, the Carnegie Museums agreed to the Warhol Foundation's terms: take all the art works in the estate and create a separate gallery or building. New York museums wanted to cherry-pick ,and a free-standing or even an attached Chapel of the Holy Warhola was obviously out of the question.
The Warhol Museum (one of four Carnegie Museums) was retrofitted by the same folks who gave us Dia Chelsea and Dia Beacon. It's an old Frick factory. Seven chic, stripped-down industrial stories, with the requisite exposed cement floors, are located directly in line with the Andy Warhol Bridge.
Oh, Andy, all your sins are forgiven!
Although he was one of the smartest artists I have ever met, late in his career I was displeased with his society paintings. For $40K, if I remember correctly, any schmuck or schmuckess could sit for a Polaroid and get a Warhol portrait over their fireplace.Some said it was the evil influence of his associate Fred Hughes, or that Andy just needed more and more money to make movies. In any case, I still hold that the "portraits" work best when they are pop-culture icons. Who really cares about collectors Ethel Scull or Lita Hornick? Lita published one of my book of poems under her Kulchur imprint, so of course she is of historic interest. But I don't think my nephew would recognize her face, whereas I am sure he would recognize Marilyn, Liz , Jackie, or Elvis. Those are faces that linger, that are like the images of saints in the Catholic Church. Like each of these, Andy too is known on a first-name basis. Mickey Mouse is more famous than Donald Duck because he can be called Mickey alone. Judy is Judy Garland and never Judy Canova.
Fighting the urge to visit the gift shop first -- an EmpireT-shirt for my beloved would have to wait --the first thing I see is the fright-wig self-portrait, c. 1986. Although in the long run I might prefer his "silence" self-portraits, done earlier (those with his index finger to his lips), the fright-wig Andy is Andy too.
Upstairs I particularly love Elvis (Eleven Times) from 1963, and, of course the Silver Pillows, and the Double Last Supper isn't bad either. The Warhol also is a venue for traveling shows, such as, presently, The Downtown Show, a survey of downtown art of the '70s and '80s (which I had already seen at the Grey Art Gallery in N.Y.C., and there are guest-curator shows such as the current The F-word (meaning female, feminine, feminist) curated by Liz Thomas, with "interventionist" works by Yoko Ono, Carolee Schneemann, Martha Rosler, Deborah Grant and others.
But the real treat was being guided through a sampling of one of Warhol's Time Capsules bythe Warhol archivist. Warhol was, as proven by a famous auction of his collectables at Sotheby's in 1998, a compulsive shopper. A collection of cookie jars went for $237,830. He couldn't part with anything. Shopping bags full of flea market purchases were squirreled away and, apparently, he saved all his mail or, at least, let it accumulate. Someone, whose name is now lost to art history, had the idea -- during one of the Factory (i.e. studio) moves --to put all the stuff in numbered cardboard boxes and thenceforth continue the projects with daily accumulations. Warhol liked that idea.
Time Capsules! Why not? The Warhol archivist has also found candy bar wrappers -- Andy had a sweet tooth -- and, inexplicably, insect-infested raw pizza dough. Once in his "Diary" Andy wrote: "I opened a Time Capsule and every time I do it's a mistake, because I drag it back and start looking through it..." (The Andy Warhol Diaries, entry 5/24/84).
Matthew Wrbican, the assistant archivist, puts on the requisite white cotton gloves and opens Box 21. Some of the contents have already been placed in little plastic envelopes and all of it has been catalogued. I am particularly struck by a stapled , mimeographed offering by N.Y. School poet Ron Padget with a cover by Warhol (using stills from one of his films). The inventory printout identifies it as 2/2 stories for Andy Warhol published by C magazine. All ten pages are identical.
I once had that publication! Where is it now? Clippings, announcements, fan mail and several issues of the Village Voice ("very brittle condition." "badly bent," "yellowed." "Dance column by Jill Johnston on Billy Kluver, yellowed."
Time flies. Or is the phrase "time flees"?
We were sampling Time Capsule 5 (contents 1963-1965) . The Box 21 label was a hold-over from some old Factory numbering system. You can sample a Time Capsule on-line.
I did have an insight though. Warhol was indeed fascinated by celebrities and fame. He liked the idea of creating Super Stars, perhaps now forgotten, with his ground-breaking movies. Nico, Ingrid Superstar, Viva (named after the paper towels), Bridget Polk, Ultra Violet. And he enjoyed celebrities like Liza. But what he was really doing was figuring out how he himself could be famous. Hence the accumulations of mentions and pictures of him in the Time Capsule. I don't know why he didn't have a clipping service; but he seemed to just make piles of things:
Here's my name again in print. Here is my picture. I must exist.
Nowadays we have the Google Game. To see which artist is most famous, Google the names for citations and images. How many artists now Google themselves daily to follow their ascent?
Andy, like Marilyn, was invented. Hollywood invented Marilyn: the hair, the eyes, the voice. You had to have a look that you stuck with. Von Sternberg invented Marlene. Andy invented Andy: the wispy, nasal, vague voice may have been his own, but he probably exaggerated it. And his silver wigs were definitely icon-making add-ons. And then he was shot in 1968. Although the assassination of Robert Kennedy pushed him off the front page, that sealed the deal. Fearful of hospitals, he died of a hospital oversight in 1987. He's gone but still here.
On the theme of animals: When leaving The Warhol, I noticed, to the right, the stuffed dalmatian that once guarded the Factory on Union Square. Was it there before gun-touting Valerie Solanas barged in and therefore a failure or did it appear afterwards, like a lock on the door of an empty barn?
The Mattress Factory Tour
Jason Peters: Even in Darkness There is Light
One of those inspired projects that becomes an art hot-spot and involves into an essential institution, the Mattress Factory harkens back to an era when opportunities for art experiment were proliferating across the country. It has long focused on artist residencies set up to produce installations of one sort or another. The main site is indeed an old mattress factory in what still is a neglected neighborhood on the North Side. Cheap row houses along Spanish American War Street have been purchased as temporary digs for the lucky artists and additional exhibition spaces.
Of this year's crop of ephemeral art efforts, I most liked Jason Peters' plastic bucket sculptures and Ruth Stanford'sIn the Dwelling-House. Inside the abandoned house on Sampsonia Way, Knight has made objects and other works lifted from fragments of wallpaper found in this derelict working-class domicile: Neo-Plastic sculptures in the kitchen, for instance, derive from fragments of '20s geometric patterns on the decaying walls. There's a case too of all the glass bottles found throughout the building.
Ruth Stanford, In the Dwelling House
Not all the work at the Mattress Factory will disappear. One can always see Jene Highstein's concrete sculpture that almost fills an entire room; two mirror pieces by the Yayoi Kasuma, three fine works by James Turrell, and Allan Wexler's two-room living suite, with clever beds that shuttle through the dividing wall.
On the theme of animals: There's a "drawing" done by raccoons on and over a fireplace ledge in Stanford's Sampsonia Way house. Their soot-covered little hands left traces behind, as they scurried in, looking for food and/or motivated by curiosity.
The Carnegie Deli
Sol LeWitt: Wall Drawing,1986
I cannot believe I have not been to the Carnegie Museum before, but there I was, in front of me a giant Richard Serra and then in the lobby a Jean Dubuffet with moving parts, and a ramp with an immense (and immensely beautiful) Sol LeWitt mural.
Upstairs items from the Decorative Arts collection are routinely displayed along with paintings and sculptures; and European and American art are shown in tandum. This to non-museum insiders may seem banal, but it is nearly revolutionary. It is not that I think painting and sculpture are superior to the so-called decorative arts, craft objects, and design products (sometimes I think the reverse is the case), but that when they are seen together a visual culture is exposed. For instance, I did not know of Luis Dierra's Plate Glass Chair, 1939; and there was Gerrit Rietveld's 1920 Child's Chair both near suitable abstract paintings. A whole wall and a kind of antechamber is taken up by the 1935 Chariot of Aurora wall decoration from the Normandie; retro-fitted in 1941 for the Ille de France, an ocean-liner I once took to France, oblivious to the Chariot of Aurora.
I was also delighted by the juxtaposition of a Kenneth Noland horizontal stripe painting and a Nakashima table. My favorite paintings were Marsden Hartley's super-maudlin, self-dramatizing, self-portrait as martyr called Sustained Comedy (1939) and one of Willem de Kooning's "Woman" paintings. But these are just teasers.
The Carnegie Internationals, are invitationals held periodically and a large part of the painting and sculpture collection (at least 19th Century to the present) are by policy purchases from same. It is a peculiar way of amassing art. Here and there are some fill-ins, non-Carnegie purchases, and gifts, which I assume have become increasingly important.
* * *
Extending Animals
Edwin Lanseer, Man Proposes, God Disposes (1863-4)
Finally, Co-curator Louise Lippincott was our guide to "Fierce Friends." So I had some of my question answered. Why did they stop at 1900? Well, the Van Gogh Museum limits itself to 19th century art and culture and Andreas Bluhm, the other curator, and Lippincott are not trained as modernists. Similarly, non-western animal imagery in art is sidestepped. This is their second collaboration based on the interface of art and science: the first was "Light! The Industrial Age 1750-1900, Art & Science, Technology & Society." An exhibition on the theme of artists and animals is even a better fit for the Carnegie since the art museum shares space with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Stuffed animal corpses could easily be borrowed, along with bird skins to be laid out next to appropriate Audubon illustrations. The exhibition even includes some choice lampworked glass, biological specimens by Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka.
The exhibition itself is more thematically organized than the catalog. Some themes examined in depth include animals as pets and companions (and the history thereof); animals as meat; animals as horsepower; animals as Guinea pigs; and animals in the imagination.
The power of an exhibition like "Fierce Friends" is that it makes one think of the animal-human interrelationship. Thus there are animal themes that also might have been included, such as: animals as protectors (guard dogs), animals as hunting helpers (retrievers and hounds), animals in sports and entertainment (racing, cock-fights, dancing poodles, cartoons). Some of these themes might be repulsive to some, but no more disgusting than animals as property or protein.
As someone who subscribes to the idea of our human stewardship, I welcome all of these angles on animal/human relationships. Animals are increasingly dependent upon us; and I don't mean just poodles and Persian cats (who have trained us as their slaves). Missing in action are animals as spiritual symbols or emblems of self. Without animals could shamans, urban or otherwise, exist?
As an example of the complexity of the exhibition and the material under examination, I offer Edwin Lanseer's Man Proposes, God Disposes (1863-1864). One might assume a Dawinian interpretation of the depiction of the shocking outcome of a failed 1847Arctic expedition. The explorers, however, were not done in and eaten by polar bears, as pictured, but succumbed to cannibalism. Of course polar bears can no longer illustrate the survival of the fittest; we now see them as stuck on broken, melting sheets of ice, unable to reach the seals they need for supper.
I do think it is a shame the exhibition stops at 1900, so here's an album, no matter how attenuated, that might update and even further complicate the efforts of the two talented and learned curators:
Fierce Friends Update (An Online Exhibition)
Pablo Picasso: Baboon and Young, 1951
Francis Bacon: Man with Dog, 1953
Joseph Beuys: How to Explain Paintings to a Dead Hare, 1965
Sandy Skoglund: Radioactive Cats, 1980
William Wegman: Man Ray with Sculpture, 1982
Damien Hirst: The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living,1991
Jeff Koons: Puppy (Rockefeller Center), 2000
Kiki Smith: Rapture. 2001
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classical music
Fresh ideas on building arts communities
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Who are the people? What is the vision?
This is the vision of the Living:
The Living see beyond themselves and their own desires.
The Living see the basic needs and hopes of others as the same as their own.
The Living know that even "dead men walking" can turn away from death toward life.
The Living recognize and practice a "community of life."
The Living know good and evil tendencies are in every human being.
The Living practice repentance and forgiveness.
The Living are peacemakers.
The Living seek justice for all.
The Living are informed by history.
The Living see beyond their generation into the future.
The Living seek the same opportunity for others that they seek for themselves.
The Living respect, conserve, and share the resources of the Earth.
The Living serve the spirit of love.
The Living would rather build than destroy.
The Living seek truth instead of lies and illusions.
The Living choose trust over suspicion.
The Living celebrate life:
In the smile of a child,
In the loving touch of hands,
In the sharing of food and drink,
In the healing of the sick,
In the unique quality of each individual person,
In shared laughter,
In shared work,
In the beauty and sternness of nature,
In song, dance, and story.
from the bruderhof community.
Friday, July 16, 2004
The Way of Life
Posted by geoffrey holsclaw at 7/16/2004 07:15:00 AM
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Published 04-12-2015
The libraries at Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology are pleased to announce that Jay Forrest has been appointed temporary head of operations planning for the Library Service Center (LSC).
In this role, Forrest will manage the ingest coordination and operational planning for the LSC, working with both the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University libraries, the LSC steering committee, subject matter experts from both institutions, and various stakeholders and vendors.
Forrest is a subject librarian at Georgia Tech, serving the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and specializing in spatial data and GIS. He can be reached at email@example.com.
Construction of the LSC is scheduled for completion in October 2015 and Forrest's primary responsibility is to ensure that the facility is prepared for operations. As a Georgia Tech employee, Forrest will report to Catherine Murray-Rust, Georgia Tech's Dean of Libraries and Vice Provost for Academic Effectiveness, and also is assigned to report to Yolanda Cooper, University Librarian, Emory University.
On a related note, the search for a full time director of the LSC continues; none of the candidates interviewed for the position in January 2015 were selected for the role.
The Library Service Center, located on Emory's Briarcliff campus, is a collaborative project between Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Once constructed, the Center will house a shared collection and provide robust service and optimal space for present and future library growth essential to both Emory and Georgia Tech.
For media inquiries, contact:
- Holly Crenshaw
- Phone: 404-727-0211
- Email: email@example.com


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Roots Revival
Preserving History
This section on Roots Revival is my attempt to add a modern flavour to some of the classic blues and folk songs I love.
Here, I hope to explore some new ways of doing old songs.
Here is a version of Strange Brew, the Cream song, that I recorded lakeside at Tuggerawong with my acoustic 000 guitar on my iPad:
This is a version of a blues tune that John Morris showed me. I embellished it a little and recorded it in Paris in 2009 :
This is an impromptu recording of the Robert Johnson song, 'Ramblin on my Mind' in open E tuning, also recorded in Paris:
Songs to Revive
Click on the image to find out more about this Gospel Bluesman.


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Society Sessions #053 - with Mitch Gilby / Recorded: Wednesday 14th Feb 2018 20:30 - 22:00 GMT / Location: Essex.


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Towards Big ben
Artist Name
Rosemary Miller SWA
This painting is one of a group of semi figurative/ impressionistic views of London .
The water colour is painted on a gesso prepared paper background .
This gives added texture, interesting mark making and a shimmering effect of light.
Size of Work
Framed 54cm x 68cm
Price of Work: £600.00


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Innovating for More Affordable Health Care
This special supplement includes eight articles that explore new ways for social investors to spur innovations that create better, faster, and less expensive health care in the United States. The supplement was sponsored by the California HealthCare Foundation.
The great irony of the transformative health care reform legislation passed in 2010 is that although the law promises access to care for 30 million Americans, it relies on an outdated structure woefully ill prepared to serve them. Constrained resources, flawed economics, rising costs—how can a health care system under so much strain survive such an expansion? The answer will be found in creativity.
Over time, the most dynamic health care institutions have boosted their creative metabolisms, so to speak, with promising methods for vetting new ideas and technologies. More recently under Chief Technology Officer Todd Park, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has become known as a budding innovator, too—and none too soon, given the magnitude of the challenge it confronts.
Like all institutions in this era of reform, HHS is leveraging the entrepreneurial experience of people like Park to reinvent how it does business. But as Park explains, HHS is aiming for more: "We are trying to do things in government that will facilitate entrepreneurship and innovation in the private sector. Think of it as meta-entrepreneurship."
The department can be thought of as the largest, most important health care institution in the country. As the agency that administers Medicare and Medicaid, it in effect picks up more than 47 percent of the nation's health care tab. Private insurance companies also look to the HHS for benchmarks that help them establish their own pricing. And the department's newly created Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation is now responsible for creating new payment models, such as systems to pay physicians' salaries instead of fees for service. HHS plays an equally significant role as a health care regulator, too.
What happens at HHS will therefore help shape the course of the entire industry. As they endeavor to create a culture of innovation inside and outside the government's bureaucracies, Park and his colleagues are learning important lessons for the field.
When Silicon Valley entrepreneur Todd Park joined HHS as chief technology officer (CTO) in August 2009, the department was the least likely of government institutions to be described as nimble or creative. It certainly did not look innovative. As the health reform debate reached a crescendo, HHS was more often described as a bloated elephant.
Part of this perception owed to its size. HHS is a colossus, housing 10 of the nation's major domestic policy administrations, including three of its largest: the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the National Institutes of Health, and the Administration for Children and Families. HHS has 73,000 full-time staff, which is roughly equivalent to the payroll of Cisco Systems. It also has an authorized annual budget of $902 billion. Its spending authority is 50 percent larger than the 2011 general funds of all 50 states combined.
Big bureaucracy was foreign territory to Park. He had captured the Obama administration's attention as the co-founder of Athena Health, an early health information technology startup specializing in revenue cycle management for medical practices. When Athena Health debuted on the NASDAQ stock exchange in 2007, the then 34-year-old Park became a multimillionaire and an instant symbol of Silicon Valley success.
Back in fall 2009, it was far from certain that Congress would pass a health reform bill. But Park's move to HHS hinted that the department was about to undergo some radical change of its own. To start with, until Park agreed to become its CTO, the job had never existed at HHS. It turned out that Park's superiors, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Deputy Secretary William Corr, had an unusual take on the new role.
"When I got here my boss told me, 'Todd, you're a change agent, and your job is to originate initiatives that will help HHS harness the power of data and technology in innovative ways to improve health,'" Park recounted in an interview. This was not the traditional CTO mandate. "The title is a bit of a red herring—I'm really an entrepreneur-in-residence," Park explains, slipping into his Silicon Valley dialect.
An entrepreneur-in-residence, or EIR , works under the tutelage of a venture capital firm and is typically expected to source new deals, form a new company, or help manage an existing company in the firm's portfolio. Inside a bureaucracy as complex as HHS, succeeding as its lonely EIR was prone to be even more difficult than managing its IT systems might have been. But Park had little time to dwell on this fact.
A lesser-known mandate of the health reform bill of 2010 was a requirement that HHS build a consumer service that could help consumers "take control of their health care." The goal was to make information more accessible to average Americans.
It was a vague but daunting objective. To put a finer point on it, the law required that a new Web portal provide details about prices and coverage for every public or private insurance plan on the market. The portal should also explain confusing topics like tax credits and reinsurance programs to small businesses, and it should educate consumers about how the labyrinthine insurance industry works. Later it would add preventative care advice, too. To a technology entrepreneur, the product might have been described as a Yahoo! for health insurance.
Only days after Congress passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to reform the health care system, the task of building such an all-encompassing portal landed on Park's desk. Sebelius gave her new CTO just three months to build it. Even by Silicon Valley's adrenaline junkie standards, three months to get from concept to launch was extremely tight.
"No one thought we could do it," Park says. "It was like, 'There shall be this site and it shall allow any American who walks up to it to get all the information on every insurance company in America—and good luck!'" In perfect bureaucratic form, Park's HHS colleagues didn't actually expect him to deliver it. "They expected us to launch with a placeholder [site]," he says.
By the time they set to work, Park's team had just 75 days to launch the portal. On July 1, 2010, HHS debuted HealthCare.gov, and it was anything but a placeholder site. Consumers found an intelligent engine that, on the basis of responses to a few questions, could deliver a customized overview of insurance plans. They could toggle through Web pages to compare thousands of plans for their benefits, participating providers, and eligibility requirements. The portal was also interactive, regularly asking users how HHS might improve the site.
The response was a groundswell. Since it launched, 5.7 million people have visited HealthCare.gov. If simple when compared with inventing a faster microchip, the portal is nevertheless an innovation that has helped transform HHS from a remote bureaucracy into an accessible presence in the lives of millions of newly engaged health care consumers.
Building successful innovation projects like this inside such an unlikely institution, and in so short a time, wasn't an accident. Park has developed a tried-and-true set of rules that guide his work.
"I wouldn't say we have a system yet, but there are things we are doing that are meant to be systemic," Park says. He breaks down his method into the five standard operating procedures that follow. (See "Todd Park's Rules for Innovators" below.)
RULE #1: Downsize Your Idea. Step one is to decide on the right projects to pursue. Park uses an easy-to-remember, two-part filter: First, the project must have the potential to generate a significant impact that furthers the organization's mission. Second, the project must be small enough for just five people to tackle.
"Start with the institutional mission or the high-level goal," says Park, "and then ask yourself: What are the [individual] things most likely to produce a big 'delta' against that goal?" The smaller things with the largest mission impact are the projects you should take on.
At HHS, the high-level goal was to help consumers take control of their health care using technology and data—again, a mission both vague and grand. The information portal, however, was a comparatively small idea that had the potential to deliver a lot of bang for the buck in advancing the high-level goal. It was also much simpler to execute than, say, a full-scale software application, which would have required a more complicated information technology architecture, much more code, and many more people.
RULE #2: Form Small Teams. Once you've downsized your grand mission into a realistic project, form a core team of no more than five people. Call it "The Rule of Five." Go larger than five, Park cautions, and the incremental costs of full-time employees outweigh the benefits of the teamwork. "You just cannot get more than five people to think like a single brain," Park says. Core teams of 10 or 20 are simply too big to think collectively or to track what's going on.
Now, Park doesn't think that groups of five can accomplish everything. Some projects need worker bees to get things done. For example, Park added 15 researchers to pull together the data about insurance plans for the portal. Park thought of them as contractors, but he confined ownership over the project to a core unit of five, including himself.
Projects also need the right mix of people. People outside the Beltway know that the best way to organize an innovative effort is to have the strategy people, the technology people, and the operations people all blended together on one team. "Employees one through five should be really hard to tell apart," Park says. "They are all like [Navy] SEALs—people who can be called upon to do any of the necessary tasks. They are always in the same room, and they are all focused on the same question: 'What does the customer want?'"
RULE #3: Spend Time with Your Customers. When first asked to explain his methods at HHS, Park responded tartly: "I can tell you what we didn't do. We didn't do a focus group!" Instead Park and his team spent their time conducting "deep dive" conversations with real people.
Big organizations often hire consultants and market researchers to compile enormous research reports. Park believes that innovators are better served when they skip expensive, formalized research and instead spend lots of time asking customers questions like "Would you use this product?" and "Do you like it better this way, or that way?"
People cannot want what they do not yet know. "A focus group would never have come up with the Internet or e-mail," Park says. "All the focus groups in the world will not help you discover the customer's inarticulable preference." He says focus groups are great for assessing incremental improvements to existing products, but they are useless for identifying opportunities to create breakthrough innovations that people don't yet know they desperately need.
RULE #4: Identify the Minimum Viable Product. Innovators commonly make the mistake of trying to do too much, too soon. They try to build a space shuttle instead of a glider. Finding your "minimum viable product" means building the smallest possible offering that will still deliver value to the customer.
"The probability that your first idea is the right idea is incredibly low," says Park. Athena Health's first business plan was to manage medical practices. But this wasn't the product that doctors needed. Doctors really wanted a smarter, easier way to collect payments from insurance companies, so Athena Health transformed itself into a provider of revenue cycle management services.
Knowing that the first product is likely to be insufficient, Park recommends instead going to market with a stripped-down offering that your customers can begin to use right away. Then collect feedback—and iterate, iterate, iterate to improve the product from there.
This approach also reinforces Rule #2. When you engage customers early in the process, you increase the odds of delivering what they need, which increases the odds of success.
RULE #5: Impose Deadlines of 90 Days or Less. If inertia is the enemy of the incumbent, urgency is the innovator's friend. The best way to sustain a sense of urgency, Park says, is to impose deadlines on your project of 90 days or less.
Imposing short deadlines gets you to market sooner, which gives you an earlier chance to uncover and fix your product's shortcomings. Aggressive deadlines also have the added benefit of enforcing discipline. When a team has just 90 days to show results, it is less likely to let anything distract it from that goal. The team can achieve incremental progress as well, which keeps everyone motivated.
If you think your project requires more time to launch, you haven't thought small enough. Go back to Rule #1.
You may have noticed a pattern here. All of Park's five operating procedures are mutually reinforcing. In the end, they come down to achieving bite-size yet outsize results quickly. They have nothing to do with the physical environment your team works in, or with the technology tools they use. "Just putting [your staff] in a building with translucent walls and giving them iPads isn't going to make them innovative," says Park. But by following his guidelines, the process of innovation itself can be scaled.
Since building the health care portal, Park has gone on to lead even larger projects successfully. For instance, the Community Health Data Initiative (CHDI) is a public-private program to help local leaders and public health workers more clearly understand, and improve, the performance of their community health systems. Web tools mine HHS data on the regional use of resources, rates of avoidable hospitalizations and readmissions, the prevalence of diseases within communities, and the determinants of disease, such as access to healthy food.
The project originated as a plan to build, in-house, the largest-ever health data map. Park and his team quickly realized their original goal was too big to be a glider, to borrow his catchphrase. HHS released the data to the public and let outside coders do the heavy lifting instead.
Next, Park expanded the CHDI project into a national Health Data Initiative (HDI). Another joint effort between HHS and the private sector, HDI aims to spur entrepreneurs to develop consumer software and smartphone applications that tap into government health care data. Once secreted away in hidden databases, these data troves are also now available to anyone at HHS affiliate websites like Health.Data. gov and HealthIndicators.gov, and through sites operated by private sector partners like Health 2.0.
In the last year, Park has sponsored HDI "code-a-thons" in San Francisco, Boston, and Bethesda, Md., working together with Health 2.0. Hundreds of developers have produced dozens of new tools, including 45 applications that Park claims "present real, viable business models."
As it both innovates internally and fosters public-private projects like these, HHS is setting its sights on a transformation of health care. Its work, in turn, demonstrates valuable lessons for entrepreneurs in all environments.
"It is absolutely possible to innovate in a way that is replicable," Park concludes. "The modus operandi is to come up with an idea, find three to five people to make it real, form a virtual startup around them, and run the thing like a Silicon Valley operation. This is the polar opposite of how large companies function. It is anathema to how government functions. But if HHS can do it, anyone can do it."
See the complete healthcare supplement.


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NEWARK – Citing his commitment to keeping public safety professionals on the job, leaders of New Jersey's public safety unions gathered today to rally in support of the re-election of U.S. Senator Bob Menendez.
"Senator Menendez is a former mayor, and he understands the importance of keeping police on their beats. We know we can count on him to fight for federal COPS funding to keep police officers working in communities throughout New Jersey," Edward R. Brannigan, President of the N.J. State Fraternal Order of Police and national vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police. "Senator Menendez understands that New Jersey communities cannot balance their budgets by scrimping on keeping their residents safe. We're behind him 100 percent because we need him in Washington to continue fighting for us."
"Nearly every person who seeks public office says they support firefighters, but not everyone has the record that truly demonstrates that support," Bill Lavin, President, of the N.J. Firefighters' Mutual Benevolent Association. "Bob Menendez has always fought to keep the SAFER program funded to keep firefighters on the job, and he's supported funding for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program to enable fire departments to obtain the equipment firefighters need to protect their communities. That's why our members are squarely behind Senator Menendez in the upcoming election on Nov. 6."
Since 2006, when Menendez was first elected, he has helped secure $65.4 million for New Jersey through the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) hiring program. The funding allowed 298 police officers to be hired in New Jersey.
During the same period, Menendez has secured $98.7 million in Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) funds that led to 822 firefighters being hired throughout New Jersey.
Menendez has been a strong supporter of the Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) program, which provides direct assistance for local fire departments to purchase equipment, make capital improvements to buildings, and safeguard communities in the event of a terrorist attack.
Menendez also sponsored the Teachers and First Responders Act, which would have provided $5 billion to create or save thousands of police and fire fighter jobs. This was the first piece of President Obama's Jobs Act, however Republican opposition voted it down – underscoring the need for strong public safety advocates in the U.S. Senate.
"It's no secret that New Jersey communities have been forced to make budget cuts, and support from the federal government for public safety has been needed now more than ever. We also know that Senator Menendez has been someone we can count on to fight Republican extremists who have tried to gut vital federal programs like COPS and other support for New Jersey's policed officers and first responders," said W. Mark Butler, First Vice President of the N.J. State Policemen's Benevolent Association. "Senator Menendez knows that federal investment in public safety helps a community, keeps police working, and keeps families safe. That's why the members of the State PBA are endorsing Senator Menendez in this year's election."
"Fires and emergencies don't stop occurring when the economy dips and municipal budgets get tight. When such emergencies occur, firefighters faithfully respond to the needs of New Jersey citizens. Senator Menendez responds to the citizens of New Jersey by effectively fighting back against the Tea Party Republicans who don't think Congress has any responsibility for public safety funds," said Dominick Marino, President of the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey. "Senator Menendez is fighting for us, so we're definitely fighting for him in this election."
"Senator Menendez has taken it upon himself to bolster security at our ports, bringing federal resources to some of the most vulnerable areas in our nation that happen to be right here in New Jersey," said Paul Nunziato, President of the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association. "Senator Menendez is looking out for everyone's security, and he's looking out for our members. This November, he can count on the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association to support him 100 percent!"
"I am deeply honored and grateful to have the support of the organizations that represent those who protect us every day, our police and firefighters," said Menendez. "The simple reality is, these are the people who are prepared to risk their lives for the safety of the rest of us. The least government can do is to ensure that they are on the beat and responding to fires and emergencies instead of on the unemployment line. We should also do everything we can to help make sure that first responders get what they need to do their jobs as efficiently and as safely as possible. These men and women have our backs and the safety of our communities every day, and New Jersey's public safety professionals can count on me to have their backs in the United States Senate."
From left, Paul Nunziato, President of the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association; Bill Lavin, President, N.J. Firefighters' Mutual Benevolent Association; Sen. Robert Menendez; George Borek, Vice President, Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey; Edward R. Brannigan, President of the N.J. State Fraternal Order of Police; and W. Mark Butler, First Vice President of the N.J. State Policemen's Benevolent Association
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Here are some I have found so far - Maybelline
Next up is Loreal
A new 'cushion' foundation which will be interesting to try, eyeshadows, mascara and lip products.
I don't know much else about these products, so will be interested to get my hands on them and try them out. Let me know what you would like to see reviewed?
Follow me on instagram to see more products I love


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|06.03.07 15:36
On March 2, Turkmenistan and the United Nations Organization marked the 15th anniversary of cooperation. In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously voted for the young Turkmen state to become a full fledged member of the organization. In 1995, the UN adopted an important resolution granting Turkmenistan the permanent neutrality status. The UN's presence in the country has been expanding year after year. Nowadays, dozens of UN agencies and divisions in Turkmenistan are realizing programs and projects in such spheres as economy, social security, environment protection.
On this occasion, the Turkmen newspapers published a message sent by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. "Turkmenistan's permanent stance is to contribute to strengthening of the United Nations as the supreme international forum the primary goal of which is to establish and maintain a just and humane world order. Turkmenistan stands for the expansion of the UN's role, for increasing the Organization's peace-making capacity, its further reformation in accordance with the realities of the global development," the message says.
The country determined its foreign and internal policy priorities from the first days of its membership in this biggest and universally recognized international organization. Maintaining peace in the country and developing good neighborly relations with other countries both in the region and the whole world are the main goals of the Turkmen Government's policies which remain invariable till the present moment. In the past years Turkmenistan, following the principles of peace-making, signed the Universal Nuclear Weapons Non-proliferation Treaty, Convention on Prohibition of Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer Anti-Personnel Mines, acceded to all 12 fundamental documents adopted by the UN against international terrorism and organized crime.
On the eve of this wonderful day, the UN Resident Coordinator in Ashgabat, Mr. Richard Young, gave interview to the Turkmen journalists. He pointed out Turkmenistan's active role in settlement of internal conflicts that took place in some neighboring countries including Tajikistan. "In 1999, Turkmenistan also initiated political talks in Ashgabat aimed at restoring peace in Afghanistan. In October 2002, the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan visited Turkmenistan and thanked the country for rendering such support. Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov's decision to write off part of the state debt of Afghanistan (almost US $ 4 million) is the latest demonstration of Turkmenistan's commitment to the process of building peaceful life in neighboring Afghanistan", said Mr. Young.
Regarding the economic and social aspects of partnership, Richard Young specially underscored the significance of the joint UN-Turkmen activities in the frames of UNDAF program (United Nations Development Assistance Framework for 2005-2009).
This project has been in progress on the consultative basis since February 2004. In Turkmenistan, the UN activities under this program include good governance, healthcare, education, children's rights, information and communication technologies, environment protection, fighting drug trafficking, border control and supporting refugees and migrants. "The UN is also assisting the Government in strengthening the national capacity including submitting reports on meeting the obligations under international human rights treaties," said the UN Resident Coordinator.
Speaking about the prospects of cooperation, Mr. Young stressed the special importance of those reforms that President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov promised to implement during his election campaign. "The UN agencies could play a major role in supporting the national efforts aimed at realizing these reforms through the consultative assistance and in view of strengthening the country's potential".
It should be pointed out that the intention of the Turkmen side to strengthen and expand the cooperation with the United Nations has been reflected in the first steps made by the new head of state last month. The documents aimed at solving the most urgent issues for the Turkmen society as improvement of the education system and the country's integration into the world information space through developing the Internet became one of the first decrees that Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov enacted after assuming the office.
Anton TARASOV


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Updated: April 11, 2017
Hello, I'm Pastor Lonnie Cook, and I would like to welcome you to our website and the Pastor's study! It is my prayer that you visit often, the door is always open. I'm here to be a friend to listen, talk to,study with, pray with, or to pray for you or, any other need that I might be of help with. Just let us know by using the ,"contact us" tab. There you will find my e-mail information, I would love to hear from you.
Don't forget to join us each Tuesday at 6:30 P.M. for prayer meeting, and a bible study after. We are using a study guide called " The Journey Begins"so come join us.
Thanks for stopping by......
At the end of the day, you or no one else may see the results of your service to God. But He does, and He doesn't forget!
God bless you!
Pastor Lonnie


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January 25, 2008
On January 25, 2008 the men's tennis team fought a hard match against in-state opponent Tennessee Tech University. The Bisons fell 1-6.
DOUBLES: 1)Hernandez/Hangstefer(LU) vs. Gilioli/O'Brien(TTU) TTU Won 8-3
2)Cummings/Mizell (LU) vs. Zareo/Vaglietti (TTU) TTU Won 8-4
3)West/McArdle (LU) vs. Crawford/Gutierrez (TTU) TTU Won 8-5
SINGLES: 1)Joe McArdle vs. B.Zarco TTU Won 6-2. 6-1
2)Daniel Hangstefer vs. T. Gilioti TTU Won 6-4, 6-3
3)James Murrell vs. D. O'Brien TTU Won 6-1,6-2
4)Mario Hernandez vs. G. Vaglietti TTU Won 6-1, 6-1
5)Jeff West vs. M. Gutierrez TTU Won 7-5, 6-0
6)Josh Cummings vs. J. Crawford LU Won 4-6, 7-6, 10-7
Lipscomb 1 and TTU 6
Coach Andrew Harris said, "It was a tough match for the guys but you must give Tennessee Tech credit. They came out and fought hard from the beginning. We started slow and they really took advantage of that in the doubles."
The Bisons are now gearing up to head to Georgia Tech on the 27th.
"As far as singles, we need to continue to get better from game to game and learn how to focus on individual points. We will look to bring a different attitude on Sunday when we go to Atlanta and play Georgia Tech," said Harris.


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7 Foods that Are Healthier Than You ExpectYou'd be surprised by how healthy some foods can be! And no, we're not talking about superfoods, veggies, or fruits—we're talking about the foods most people see as "unhealthy". Foods that may have once gotten a bad reputation might actually be a lot better for you than you realize. Here are some foods that are healthier than you expect:
Red MeatThanks to the fact that saturated fat is no longer demonized, you can understand just how beneficial red meat can be. It's not only one of the best sources of highly bioavailable protein, but it's protein your body can easily absorb and put to use. Beef is also rich in zinc and iron, two very important minerals. Meat is also much more satisfying than lean proteins, courtesy of its higher fat content. You don't want to overdo it, but a meat meal or two per week is GREAT for your diet.
PotatoesSure, most of us see potatoes as a starchy, high-carb food that's best avoided—unless they're fried and served with a hamburger. But potatoes are actually among the best sources of carbs. They're high in fiber, lower in calories than wheat-based foods, and offer A LOT of nutritional value in terms of potassium. Serve with lean proteins and veggies for a very healthy meal.
PastaThis is a controversial one! Most dieters will tell you pasta is a no-no, but that's because it's high in both empty carbs and calories. But a little bit of pasta can actually be great, especially before an intense workout. Whole wheat pasta solves the "low fiber" problem, as does pairing your pasta with veggies. Just make sure to eat very little (50-80 grams per meal) and you won't have to worry about ruining your diet.
YES!!! Bacon's back on the menu! Bacon is loaded with B vitamins, particularly the vitamin thiamine, which is responsible for producing energy. But it's also a good source of nitrates, which help to increase immune function and nitric oxide production (leading to better vasodilation). In moderation, bacon can actually be GOOD for your health.
BeansBeans may not be as low-carb as you'd like, but they're still one of the best plant-based proteins on the planet. You get a lot of fiber, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants from beans, especially the darker-colored ones. The fiber helps to reduce the glycemic load on your body. Carbs and all, beans are amazing for your health!
ButterYes, butter is back among the "healthy in moderation" foods. It may be high in fat, but that fat can actually increase your chances of weight loss and improve your body composition. You don't want to overdo it on the butter, but a small amount per day is actually better for you than margarine or vegetable oil. The butter can make absorbing fat-soluble vitamins MUCH easier on your body.
EggsThe benefits of eggs have never been called into question, but it's the egg yolks that have always been perceived as less than healthy. That was due to the high saturated fat and cholesterol content of the yolks. Thankfully, neither of those are as worrisome as they once were. Dietary cholesterol is only likely to affect your serum cholesterol levels if you eat MASSIVE quantities, and saturated fat isn't linked to heart attacks. With eggs, you get all the benefits of the protein, choline, vitamins, and minerals without having to worry about excess fat. Plus, eggs are surprisingly low in calories, making them one of the best choices for your diet.
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- Description
Air mattress covers by Span America are made with numerous safety features to protect the user. The Safety Supreme Mattress Cover lives by its namesake as a cover for their raised edge mattress -- the feature that helps prevent the user from slipping off the bed's edge. These covers are made to accommodate and fit the raised edges of the APM2 Safety Supreme Mattress. It also is made to prevent skin irritation for those patients who are bedridden or need extended rest time on an air bed.
The Safety Supreme Mattress Cover overlays the many pressure-redistributing support cells within the foam top layer that rests above the air bed. The Safety Supreme Mattress Cover is an anti-microbial, bi-directional, stretch cover. The main thrust of the cover's design is to be another aid in the overall aim to prevent "sheering," or stretching and pulling, of the skin when elevating and retracting the bed. This feature ultimately is to reduce skin irritation that leads to pressure ulcers and to fit around the raised edged of the mattress that keeps the patient from slipping from the mattress side, or getting trapped between the mattress and rail.
The friction of the fabric is lessened by the design and materials used in the sheet. The cover sheet has three zones, called "sheer transfer zones" by Span America, where they allow the user to glide easily when the bed has the head elevated and when they need to return to the original position. The sheer transfer zones are located beneath the points of highest pressure: upper back, buttocks and heels. The zones will also minimize irritation with everyday body movement by allowing the torso, arms and legs, smooth glide and softer contact than typical fabric. These glide features are especially helpful in reducing sheer when the user sits up and rotates the buttocks to get off the bed mattress.
The Safety Supreme Mattress Covers are moisture-resistant, and can be cleaned and disinfected with everyday cleaners. They also provide a level of protection to prevent the air bladders from puncture forces. They come equipped with an inner fire barrier sleeve that meets federal safety compliance. They are sized 35 inches in width, 75 or 80 inches in length, and 7 or 9 inches in depth.
The Safety Supreme Mattress Cover is also available with Silver3®, which is a coating that protects the fabric from stains, odor-causing bacteria, mold and mildew.
Safety Supreme Mattress Cover Features and Benefits
- The cover provides a comfortable barrier that protects the inner foam and rests softly against the body.
- The sheet sides cover the raised edges that act as a safety feature.
- The fabric prevents the sheering forces during movement.
- With less sheer force, the skin is less prone to irritation and ulcers.
- They have three zones that target high pressure areas that allow the body to glide softly when moving.
- The mattress cover can be cleaned and disinfected like a normal.
- They have a fire guard sleeve built in.
Safety Supreme Mattress Cover Specifications
- Manufacturer: Span America
- Sizes Come 35 Inches in Width with 75, or 80 Inches in Length, and 7 to 9 Inches Depth
- For Use with APM2 Mattress
- Manufacturer Numbers: C1-84409, C1-53667, C1-SAF5875-29, C1-SAF5880-29, and C1-SAF5884-29
- Additional Information
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Manufacturer Span America
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