text:
Nelson Mandela is turning 90, and he's doing it with style. A massive concert will be held in London for the former South-African president on 27 June to honour his life and work. A reformed Queen, now fronted by Paul Rodgers, Razorlight, Annie Lenox, Leona Lewis, and Simple Minds will be joined by South African artists for the Hyde Park concert as part of the 4664 Campaign.
The 4664 Campaign takes its name from Mandela's number from his 27-year stint as a political prisoner. To further commemorate its significance, exactly 4,664 tickets will be released for the event. The proceeds will help raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Nearly five and a half million South Africans live with HIV/AIDS, and Mr Mandela lost his son to AIDS in 2005.
The three days leading up to the 4664 Concert Honouring Nelson Mandela at 90 will also be action packed, with members of the Royal Family, Bill Clinton and Gordon Brown, and other celebrities joining in celebratory activities. Tickets for the concert will cost £65, but no word yet on when they go on sale.
Image courtesy of Pantone801's Flickrstream.


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Quick Dive Information on the Latest Product Additions and New Components.
3M™ Versaflo™ personal protective equipment is engineered for versatility and customization for a system that works for its users.
Explore Panasonic technologies like active and passive components, energy solutions, industrial automation and more.
Aven's ultra-glide arm stand features a 13.5" post with a safety collar and a heavy 10.5" x 15" base.
NKK's S series dual-seal waterproof toggle comes with an IP68 rating, is salt spray tested per Mil-STD-810G and is an all-in-one switch.
E-Switch's PV10 series offers multiple LED color options, including several bicolor choices and illumination voltage options.
RAFI's RF 15 series tactile switches incorporate keycaps, light guides, and LEDs into one package.
RAFI's eight series of E-Stop switches, with hundreds of actuators, contact styles, and ratings, are suitable for a wide range of industry applications.
RAFI's RACON series tactile switches feature distinct key click and are well-suited for applications that require long life.
C&K's PNP3 series of sealed pushbutton switches with an additional no-cap option are made for rugged applications like industrial and off-road transportation.
Omron's wiring blocks for cabinets, PLCs, and sensors are available in either screw terminal connections or push-in terminals for quicker wiring.
3M™ Speedglas™ designs products by listening to welders who tell them what they need and how to improve the most important features for welding and safety.
APEM's XD series joystick, a multi-axis hand grip joystick specifically engineered for demanding vehicle applications.
APEM's IX series combines the high qualities of the IP and IA series with a backlit switch, compact bushing and flexible elastomer membrane actuator.
Designed for harsh environments, APEM's KH series rocker switches are protected against accidental actuation with a protection guard.
Omron's A2W wireless switches use a sub-GHz band for reduced interference and better signal propagation to difficult-to-reach areas.
Nidec Copal Electronics DR series DIP rotary switches are 7.5 mm square and process sealed.
EAO offers its compact, all-purpose Smart Box for a wide range of applications in the industrial environment.
E-Switch's EG1315 series slide switch features a PC board design for a wide variety of applications.
E-Switch's EG1215 series slide switch offers a compact design for a wide range of applications including handheld devices, IoT, and wearable electronics.
NKK Switches' SM series features a Twin sliding contact mechanism with self-cleaning action for smooth actuation and high contact reliability.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
After a tiny break in blogging due to several RL and SL commitments, I am back with a oh-so-beautiful and easy to wear Madryn outfit by [sYs]. This outfit was available at the On9 event until June 29th, 2015 so be patient and I am sure you will soon find it at the [sYs] main store!
Also, I hope you can see the stunning bracelet I am wearing...It is actually part of a larger bracelet set named Khaleesi which includes upper and lower armlets and comes in Silver, Gold, Bronze and Onyx! [sYs] really outdid themselves with these bracelets and it is definitely worth checking them out at The Fantasy Collective where they are currently and until July 13th are sold.
Last but not least, be sure to pop by the {MUA} main store to try the Miss poses. This set of 10 poses had been created for Euridice Qork, 2nd Runner up at the Miss SL 2015 contest and are now available at the main store. If you go before the end of the day you will also contribute to the charity that raises funds in aid of the victims of the earthquake in Nepal. Are you still thinking about it?
□ □ □
Styling Details:
Top | sYs - Madryn
Trousers | sYs - Madryn
Hair | Uw.st - Marco
Bracelets | sYs - Khaleesi*
Skin | Elysium - Kate
Pose | MUA - Miss
*Available at [The Fantasy Collective] event


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Verdict: A new take on the classic tale, which is mystical yet falls short of wow moments.
Many filmmakers have taken inspiration from the classic tale of a feral child – the one who was raised by apes, and who grows up to be known as Tarzan, the lord of the jungle. This time the director of the famous Harry Potter series, David Yates brings us the rehashed version of this classic called The Legend of Tarzan. This film stars Alexander Skarsgård as John Clayton aka Tarzan and Margot Robbie as Jane Porter, Tarzan's wife.
The story begins by establishing that Tarzan has already become a legend and has now moved to his lush Greystoke estate with his wife. While he is away from the wild, massive developments have taken place in the Congo. This has made everyone wonder about the intentions of King Leopold II of Belgium, who holds the command over that region. In order to take care of the king's dealings, mastermind Captain Leon Rom (Christoph Waltz) is appointed. That's when Dr. George Washington Williams (Samuel L. Jackson) comes into the picture. He convinces Mr. Clayton to go back to the jungle for investigating and collecting evidence of whatever is cooking in the Congo.
With that, the movie takes you to the core of the jungle and gives you the taste of the wild. However, you may feel that the visual effects and the action sequences could have been better, as they don't give you that adrenaline rush you would expect while watching an adventurous movie. Yates has also neatly timed Tarzan's and Jane's flashbacks that give you a glimpse of the original story, which creates the foundation of this story. Alexander Skarsgard, with his brooding looks and versatile acting skills, does justice to his character, while Margot Robbie successfully manages to play the role of an empowered wife of the Tarzan. Samuel Jackson, on the other hand, kills it by adding a dash of wit and comedy to the film.
Why should You Watch this Film:
Watch this film because it's been too long since you watched the original. This film takes a step forward and shows you what happened beyond the original plot. Also, the adventures of Alexander Skarsgård and Samuel L. Jackson will keep you entertained.


text:
kit to Interweave Crochet and here it finally is! This is my first crochet pattern and it's really a beginner kit. The part of this that was the most fun was the colorway designing of the yarn, with Jen Hintz. I had taken some nature photographs and really had in mind the look of lichen on all the trees in Portland. Jen did a great job with her interpretation. The wool/bamboo blend on this ebony needle is the ultimate in crocheting pleasure, if I do say so myself!
Coming up in the next few weeks are some more exciting mentions for Krafti-Kit. I have to say that putting together a kit is WAY fun. Not only does one write or commission a pattern, but one gets to choose every little detail that goes into the project.
Last but not least, I want to thank Petra again for her lovely modeling of this piece.
Musings on the art of knitting, spinning, enjoying a cup of tea and noticing the way nature inspires design. (Life with a little dog in Portland, Oregon)
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
2 Trips, 2 pairs of Socks
Something about these socks made them difficult to photograph. I can't say exactly what it was, but it took several tries. In an effort to get the photos finally done, we took the socks with us as we traveled to Pendleton, OR and Spokane, WA. (Above see designer laughing as we stopped in yet another field for pictures.)
As some of you might remember, I did a spinning demo for Pendleton last year. This was my first trip though the actual mill. Funny enough, it was one of the rare times that the looms were quiet because they were on a maintenance break. That was fine in a way because of the lack of noise, but I expect we'll make it back there when they're in full swing. I have to say that although I walked out with a fabric remnant, I loved all the new fashions for Fall.
The other fabulous place we visited in Pendleton was the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute. Huge place with buildings and tee pees reconstructed inside as well as a long house. They were just setting up for a Salmon something-or-other when we left and this fella was right out front.
Yesterday was a trip to Spokane. It's 2 hours from here and I was just dying to get some "city life" time in. It was a Sunday, so it was quiet, but I did capture the sock shots I was looking for and got some REAL tea to bring home.
All in all, I'm adjusting to my new home and am looking forward to getting things more squared away so that more of my time can be creative time. UFOs, here I come! (unfinished projects, but I wouldn't mind seeing some of the other kind...)
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
The Fiber Has Landed
August 2005
The fiber moved out of Portland two weeks ago and with that, there were no longer any reasons to protract the moving process. I moved a week early. So, for 4 days I kicked butt and packed the entirety of my life, embedded into the now somewhat grimy downtown apartment I've been inhabiting for these past 5 years. The grimy part is more recent but I can claim that, tail between my legs or not, after seeing the "underworld" left after the yarn and furniture left.
August 2010
I had serious doubts about this move. It was a complicated ordeal, emotionally, but on most days I do think it was the right move. I thought I would miss the noise, but I don't. I thought I would miss being able to walk to about 20 different cafes. I DO. I thought that being part of the hustle-bustle made me feel a bit more "centered". Not sure, but I doubt it. This time my move has to do with no longer being apart and actually being a "part".
Today I'm painting a bedroom that will be the Melissa Takes a Nap and Keeps Sense of Self Room. My office feels very much like me even if the yarn is awaiting shelving and there's still boxes in here. I actually have a sewing cabinet and desk. All of my books are out in a way that makes them easy to browse through. The cats remember that they like carpeting. And, although my body is SO sore from all this putting away and such that I feel really, really old, there is a hot tub with my name steps away.
I have been knitting a little bit but no spinning yet. I have a pattern that's ready to publish but I've gotta take some photos for it. Today is a lovely 85 degrees but mostly it's in the upper 90's here in the Summer. The neat thing is that it gets downright cold in the winter. Yah! I don't think I could even be okay living somewhere without a lot of wool. Oh yeah, San Diego is where I started this blog. Hmmmm....moved, didn't I?
The blog that keeps going and going....cuppa tea, anyone?
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text:
"When I drink tea it's very pleasant to be aware
I am drinking cloud." What happens when you die?
by Thich Nhat Hanh
A transcription from a talk given by Thich Nhat Hanh during a retreat with five hundred people in Hong Kong on 15 May 2007
In order to answer what happens us when we die, we need to answer another question – what happens when we are alive?
What is happening now to us? In English we say 'we are' but it's proper to say 'we are becoming' because things are becoming. We're not the same person in two consecutive minutes.
A picture of you as baby looks different to you now. The fact is you are not exactly the same as that baby and not entirely a different person either. In a picture of you as a five year old, you are not exactly the same as that child and not entirely a different person either – the form, feelings and mental formations are different.
In the middle way there is no sameness and no otherness
You may think you are still alive but in fact you have been dying everyday, every minute, cells die and are born - for neither do we have funerals or birthdays (laughter).
Death is a very necessary condition of birth. With no death, there is no birth. They inter-are and happen in every moment to the experienced meditator. For instance a cloud may have died many times, into rain, streams, water. The cloud may want to wave to itself on earth! Rain is a continuation of the cloud. With a meditation practitioner nothing can hide itself. When I drink tea, it's very pleasant to be aware I am drinking cloud.
When you are parents, you die and are reborn as your children. "You are my continuation, I love you." The Buddha told us how to ensure a beautiful continuation – a compassionate thought, a beautiful thought. Forgiveness is our continuation. If anger, separation and hate arise, then we will not ensure a beautiful continuation. When we pronounce a word that is compassionate, good and beautiful that is our continuation.
When a cloud is polluted, the rain is polluted. So purifying thoughts, word and action creates a beautiful continuation. We can see the effects of our speech in our children. My disciples are my continuation – both monastic and lay. I want to transmit loving speech, action and thought. This is called karma in Buddhism.
This body of mine will disintegrate but my karma will continue – karma means action. My karma is already in the world. My continuation is everywhere in the world. When you look at one of my disciples walking with compassion, I know he is my continuation. I don't want to transmit my negative emotions, I want to transform them before I transmit them. The dissolution of this body is not my end. Surely I will continue after the dissolution of this body. So don't worry about my death, I am not going to die.
Let us meditate on the birth of a cloud. Does it have a birth certificate? (laughter) Examine the notion of birth – the notion that nothing can come from something, from no-one to someone. Is it possible for something to come from nothing? Scientifically this is not possible.
The cloud was water in an ocean, lake, river and heat from the sun gave it birth – the moment of continuation. For instance, birth – before you were born you were in your mother's womb. The moment of birth is a moment of continuation. Is the moment of conception the start? You are half from your dad and half from your mum already, this is also a moment of continuation. When you practise meditation you can see things like that.
It is impossible for a cloud to die. It can become water, snow – it cannot become nothing. It is also impossible for us to die. Speech, action and thought continue in the future. The person who dies still continues because we are not capable of using meditators' eyes. They continue in us and around us. All our ancestors are alive in us. Our ancestors are in our chromosomes.
I wrote a book 'No Death, No Fear'. When conditions are right I manifest and when not, not. There is no coming, no going. Before she manifests we should not call her non-existing. Before manifestation you cannot call her non-being. They are a pair of opposites.
Meditating on the nature of creation and being may be the best way to understanding God. The theologian Paul Koenig describes God as the Ground of Being. Who then is the Ground of Non-being? This diminishes God. In Buddhism both notions of being and non-being can describe reality. Similarly, above and below, Europe and here.
Nirvana is the absence of all notions, birth and death, coming and going, sameness and otherness. According to Buddhism, 'to be or not to be' is not a real question.
Meditation takes us beyond to a place of fearlessness. We're too busy, so we become victims of anger, fear. If we have really touched our nature of no birth/death, we know to die is one of the root conditions to realise oneself.
We have to learn how to die in every moment in order to be fully alive.
This teaching on the middle way is the cream of Buddha's teaching. Many of our ancestors realised this and were not afraid of death.
We should be able to release our tensions. We are the karma we produce every day in our daily life, if we know how, to ensure continuation. I have a disciple in Vietnam who wants to build a stupa with my ashes. He wants to put a plaque with the words 'Here lies my beloved teacher'. But I want to write 'There is nothing here' (lots of laughter). Because if you look deeply there is continuation.
I treasure the time I have left, more for me to practise. I want to generate energy of love, compassion and understanding so I can continue beautifully. I would like you to do the same. Use your time wisely. Every moment produce beautiful thoughts, loving, kindness, forgiveness. Say beautiful things, inspire, forgive, act physically to protect and help. We know we are capable of producing beautiful karma for good continuations and the happiness of other people.
When the time comes for dissolution of this body you may like to release it easily. You aren't to grasp – releasing body and perception. Remember the image of a cloud in the sky seeing continuation in rice and ice-cream waving to itself. You can already see your continuation. The art of living is continuation. For myself and the other beings.
Sariputra – one of Buddha's main disciples, Ananda and other friends went to see Anathapindika a lay disciple who was a businessman and dying. He had made time to come to dharma talks and weekly practice.
When the Venerables came they asked whether the pain had diminished. He replied that it was increasing. The monks led him on a meditation on the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. After a few minutes there was no more suffering and he smiled.
When you sit close to a person dying talk to them of happy experiences in their life. Touch seeds of happiness in them.
The monks asked Anathapindika to look at his feelings and perceptions. "I am life without boundaries, this body is a residue."
Help the dying person not to cling to his or her body. If there is regret, help them to see they are not their feelings. When conditions are manifested this body manifests and when not, it goes. The nature of this body is not birth, death, coming or going – not hurt by notion of being or non-being. I am free from birth or death. That practice helps me.
Anathapindika cried. Ananda asked, "why are you crying?"
"No, I don't regret anything," Anathapindika replied.
"Why are you crying?" asked Ananda.
"I cry because I am so moved by such a wonderful practice as today," Anathapindika said.
"We monastics receive this every day," said Ananda.
"There are those amongst us lay people who still need this, please tell the Lord Buddha this."
Ananda promised to tell the Buddha, and Anathapindika died smiling peacefully.
Thich Nhat Hanh gave an illustration with a box of matches.
Holding up an unlit match, he said, "there is flame, but the conditions to manifest it are not here now."
Then he lit the match and blew it out.
He said when the conditions were right (the conditions being his hand striking the match to the matchbox), the flame became. And when the conditions were not right, the flame was extinguished.
Courtersy: Holistic Hong Kong


text:
|From L-R: Burberry Prorsum, Miu Miu, Celine, Lanvin and Thomas Tait
Celebrities have been stepping out in the fanciest of coats whether as street or red carpet style which comes as no surprise for coats were everywhere on the Spring/Summer 2014 runways with every fashion house worthy of its name showcasing either one or a multitude of them. Designers took a practical approach to summer coats with a focus on trenches and waterproofs with a more sporty and urban feel.Taylor Swift, Lake Bell, Emma Stone and Rosie Huntington Whiteley have all been spotted in one.
Summer's decorative coats forgo sparkling embellishment in favour of dazzling colour. Practical garnishes (deep pockets, hoods, belts) add interest without veering into the realms of surplus ornamentation.
|From L-R: Poppy Delevingne, Arizona Muse, Emma Stone, Sarah Jessica Parker and Lake Bell
Credits: BritishVogue


text:
Cool Videos: J.J. Abrams responds to Star Trek sexism on Conan with a clip of Benedict Cumberbatch showering
A couple of days ago writer Damon Lindelof apologized for the Carol Marcus underwear scene in STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS and while both sides of the argument have valid points on if it was sexist or not, for the most part a lot of you just didn't think it was that big of a deal.
One person who has always expressed his love for beautiful women (even if at times he's incredibly creepy about it) is Conan O'Brien and last night he J.J. Abrams on his show. The director introduced a deleted scene from the film as a response to the criticism over actress Alice Eve hanging out in her knickers. The scene has Benedict Cumberbatch taking a shower (Abrams calls it a "shower of evil") and I'm sure if the scene did end up in the final cut of STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS no one would be complaining that J.J. Abrams exploited Cumberbatch.
I like what J.J. Abrams has done here. In this day and age people are overly sensitive about the most ridiculous things sometimes and instead of apologizing or even defending it he pretty much says, "Look we also had a scene of a guy taking a random shower and showing some skin. Just chill everyone."
While on the show Conan also convinced J.J. Abrams to somehow plant Conan's favorite catchphrase in a certain new film that will be set in a galaxy far, far away. What's the catchphrase? You're going to have to watch the video to find out.
If you find a cool movie-related video online that you think other readers would appreciate, please email us the link/info at [email protected]
|Extra Tidbit:
|Now where's Todd Phillip's apology for making us see way too much of Ken Jeong in THE HANGOVER movies?
|Team Coco


text:
One of our clients received an e-mail supposedly from the IRS — and it included two attachments; one a letter purporting to be from the IRS, and the other a form to be filled out and faxed back.
The letter reads, under a pretty silly looking IRS masthead:
Our records indicate that you are a non-resident alien. As a result, you are exempted from United States of America Tax reporting and withholdings, on interest paid you on your account and other financial dealing to protect your exemption from tax on your account and other financial benefit in rectifying your exemption status.
Therefore, you are to authenticate the following by completing form W-4100B2, and return to us as soon as possible through the fax number: +1-646-731-6884.
If you are a USA Citizen and resident, please complete form W-4100B2 and fax it to us, please indicate "USA Citizen/Resident" on the form and return it to us.
When completing form W-4100B2, please follow the steps below
1. We need you to provide your permanent address if different from the current mailing address on your Form W-4100B2 , you must indicate if a non-USA resident, your country of origin to support your non-resident status (if your bank account or other financial dealing has a USA address for mailing purpose).
2. If any joint account holder are now USA residents or Citizen, or in any way subject to USA tax reporting laws, Please check the box in this section.
3. Please complete 1 through 19 and have all account holders, sign and date the form separately and fax it to the above-mentioned number.
Please, complete Form W-4100B2 'attached" and return to us within 1 (one) week from the receipt of this letter by faxing it, to enable us update your records immediately if your account or any other financial benefits are not rectified in a timely manner, it will be subject to USA tax reporting and back up withholding (if back up withholding applies, we are required to withhold 30% of the interest paid to you).
We appreciate your cooperation in helping us protect your exempt status and also update our records.
Laura Stevens
IRS .Public Relations.
The thing I love about this letter is that it's not written in American English. Americans don't refer to USA taxes, ever — they are Federal taxes. They also don't "rectify" situations, they correct them. The other attachment is the form, "W-4100B2", is nothing more than an elaborate phishing exercise including asking for your mother's maiden name, and a list of all bank accounts, account numbers, and a copy of your passport. They would then use this information to drain your bank accounts.
The IRS.gov web site recommends the following actions when you receive e-mail purporting to be from the Service:
How to Report and Identify Phishing, E-mail Scams and Bogus IRS Web Sites
The IRS does not initiate taxpayer communications through e-mail.
- The IRS does not request detailed personal information through e-mail.
- The IRS does not send e-mail requesting your PIN numbers, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts.
If you receive an e-mail from someone claiming to be the IRS or directing you to an IRS site,
- Do not reply.
- Do not open any attachments. Attachments may contain malicious code that will infect your computer.
- Do not click on any links. If you clicked on links in a suspicious e-mail or phishing Web site and entered confidential information, visit our Identity Theft page.
How to report phishing, e-mail scams and bogus IRS Web sites
If you receive an e-mail or find a Web site you think is pretending to be the IRS,
Forward the e-mail or Web site URL to the IRS at firstname.lastname@example.com.
You can forward the message as received or provide the Internet header of the e-mail. The Internet header has additional information to help us locate the sender.
After you forward the e-mail or header information to us, delete the message.
How to identify phishing e-mail scams and bogus IRS Web sites
Sample of phishing e-mails
All IRS.gov Web page addresses begin with, http://www.irs.gov/
Are you a victim of Identity Theft?
Contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338)
Visit the IRS Identity Theft resource page
You may also report misuse of the IRS name, logo, forms or other IRS property to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration toll-free at 1-800-366-4484.
Additional resources
OnGuardOnline.gov provides protection tips from the federal government and the technology industry.
IR-2006-49, IRS Establishes e-Mail Box for Taxpayers to Report Phony e-Mails.
You can also forward suspicious e-mails to the Federal Trade Commission at: firstname.lastname@example.com or contact them at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338).


text:
A court-ordered injunction issued Thursday against a planned Walmart in Burbank could sideline the project and force the city to prove the world's largest retailer won't cause significant harm to local roadways and businesses.
Walmart had been planning to renovate the former Great Indoors site adjacent to the Empire Center in time to open in mid- to late 2013, but the Los Angeles County Superior Court injunction on Thursday effectively stops all work until the claims raised in a lawsuit filed by three Burbank residents earlier this year are settled.
The injunction also forces the city to suspend its approval of building permits issued to Walmart pending a trial.
Rachel Wall, a Walmart spokeswoman, called the ruling "shortsighted" because it delays the company in providing jobs, tax revenues and "more affordable shopping options." The company, she added, was reviewing its legal options.
In his decision, Judge Robert O'Brien wrote that the city failed to show that completion of street improvements mandated by an ordinance wasn't required before the building permits were issued.


text:
J.D. Salinger, the 90-year-old creator of "The Catcher in the Rye," as protective of his copyright as he is of his privacy, is seeking an injunction against the writer, publishers and distributor of a spinoff of the author's famous 1951 novel.
Lawyers for Salinger filed the lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan on Monday, seeking to force a recall of what it says is a copycat book titled "60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye," by someone writing under the name John David California. The book is scheduled to be published in Britain this summer and in the United States in the fall.
The lawsuit said the right to create a sequel to "The Catcher in the Rye" or to use the character "Holden Caulfield" belongs only to Salinger. The lawsuit says Salinger has "decidedly chosen not to exercise that right."


text: The Dutch boys over at AUTOGESPOT snapped up some pictures last week from a Lotus forum of what appears to be a camo-ed 2009 Lotus Esprit. We don't really understand what they wrote, but it looks like they're expecting the '09 to drop at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show. As far as the engine, we're hearing it'll be a 4.8-liter V8 via BMW, and the folks at the "GESPOT" think it'll have in excess of 400 HP. [via AUTOGESPOT]


text: Just got off the phone with verizion,I asked when the 2.2 update will be releasd, he said no one has the update yet. I said there were people claiming to have it and that it was being released in different parts of the country. He said there's 5-6 people in verizion that work in his department and none of them have it. My question is why people on this site claim to have the true non-rooted update.Is there an update yet.


text:
Being vegetarian is usually not an issue for me, especially since I'm technically only semi-vegetarian and will (happily) eat seafood. Inevitably though, one is bound to come across a situation where a vegetarian dish may not be so easy to come by. Enter a Christmas party while I was home over the holidays. Thankfully, my mom knew this and tried to fix the situation beforehand. I say tried because our initial conversation went something like this:
Mom: "I have to think of something to make that you'll eat for dad's family get-together." (They usually just do ham sandwiches. Gourmet, I know).
Me: "I'll figure something out. I'll just throw together a big salad for myself or something."
Mom: "I know! I have some chicken breasts in the freezer that I'll take out."
Me: (blank stare) "Uhhh…"
Mom: "Oh. Yah. I'll make the vegetarian moussaka [my co-worker] talked about the other day."
Thank you, mom, for redeeming yourself. It's the thought that counts. And yes, I did feel like I was in the scene of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."
I bring you vegetarian moussaka. Yes, it is in the picture above. No, that's not ground beef you see. They are Boca's 'veggie ground crumbles.' I usually try to avoid the fake meats but it wasn't that bad and I'd use them again.
What will you need?
- Eggplant (1)
- Ground veggie crumbles (or something similar. or ground beef if you're not vegetarian)
- Diced (or crushed) tomatoes (1 can)
- Zucchini (1)
- Garlic
- Olive Oil
- Cinnamon
- Cumin
- Allspice
- Coriander
- Oregano
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Egg yolk
- Parsley
- Milk
- Flour
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt/pepper
What you do with all of those ingredients…
- Start off by peeling the eggplant and slicing it (quarter- to half-inch thick slices, or so).
- Layer the eggplant slices on a baking sheet and top with some olive oil, a little parsley, and salt. Put them in a 350 degree oven for about 30-40 minutes, so they soften a little.
- While the eggplant slices are in the oven, start by shredding/grating the zucchini.
- Add olive oil and garlic (chopped, minced, however you like it) to a sauté pan (med-hi heat), followed by veggie crumbles. I added my crumbles while they were still frozen, it may help if they are thawed a little or at least broken up (and not one solid chunk).
- Add grated zucchini and can of diced tomatoes to veggie crumbles mix, as well as spices (a pinch of each should be fine).
- My mom's directions (for spices) listed the ones in the ingredient list. I used what I had on hand – cinnamon, coriander, cumin, crushed red pepper flakes, oregano. Use whatever sounds good to you.
- Let it all simmer/cook together for a little. Add a handful or two of chopped parsley towards the end.
- By now, the eggplant should be done. Layer the eggplant slices and cover the bottom of a 13×9 glass baking dish. Or a smaller glass dish (I used a smaller one).
- On top of the eggplant, spread the veggie crumble mix. Topping this will be a béchamel sauce…
- …which you will now make. (Note: if you want a thicker layer of béchamel, use more butter/flour/milk than I list). Melt about 2 Tablespoons butter in a pan. Once melted add about 2 T flour and mix together. Mixture should not be too liquidy but not completely solid.
- Add about a cup of milk and stir until it begins to thicken (you do not have to stir it constantly). Once it is creamy thickness/texture, remove from heat and about 1/2 cup parmesan cheese. Mix.
- Pour the béchamel sauce over eggplant and veggie crumbs in pan.
- Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes or until it's a nice golden brown on top.
- Enjoy!


text: The NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon Strong's Number: 4680 Browse Lexicon Original WordWord Originsofoßakin to saphes (clear)Transliterated WordTDNT EntrySophos7:465,1056Phonetic SpellingParts of Speechsof-os' Adjective Definition wise skilled, expert: of artificers wise, skilled in letters, cultivated, learned of the Greek philosophers and orators of Jewish theologians of Christian teachers forming the best plans and using the best means for their execution NAS Word Usage - Total: 20wise 16, wise man 2, wise men 1, wiser 1 NAS Verse Count Matthew2Luke1Romans41 Corinthians10Ephesians1James1Total19Greek lexicon based on Thayer's and Smith's Bible Dictionary plus others; this is keyed to the large Kittel and the "Theological Dictionary of the New Testament." These files are public domain.Bibliography InformationThayer and Smith. "Greek Lexicon entry for Sophos". "The NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon". . 1999.


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IN IT TO WIN IT – The Republican elites and the main stream media continue to look down their nose at Donald Trump. Not a day goes by without speculation in the back rooms and the press gaggles as to when Trump will crash and burn. Are they right? Consider this…
Quinnipiac has just released polling results for primary voters in key swing states. The numbers suggest The Donald isn't going anywhere soon.
Florida – Trump 28%, Carson 16%, Rubio 14% and Bush 12%
Ohio – Trump 23%, Carson 18%, Kasich 13%, Rubio 7% and Bush 4%.
Pennsylvania – Trump 23%, Carson 17%, Rubio 12% and Bush 4%.
In Florida Trump has double the support of a sitting state senator and has a 16 point lead over an extremely popular former state governor. In Ohio Trump leads the state's popular sitting governor by 10 points. In Pennsylvania Trump leads the Party's leading fund raiser and once presumptive nominee by 19 points.
Still not convinced that Trump is here to stay?
A just released Reuter's national poll has Trump at 33%, Carson 16%, Bush 16% and Rubio 7%.
If any other "establishment" candidate were posting these numbers in key swing states the media and Party elites would be declaring "game over" and referring to him/her as the "presumptive nominee."
Republican primary voters have a deep seething anger toward the Party establishment. Trump speaks to that anger. The folks in the Party penthouse and the main street media had better start taking Trump seriously…boring in on him for specifics…questioning his policies. Until the elites make a serious effort to expose Trump's flaws, he is in it to win it. Those who scoff at his campaign do so at their own peril.
WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD FOR THE GANDER – In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham voted against a bill authorizing the federal government to send $60 billion in relief to the state of New Jersey. Graham argued that of the $60 billion only $24 billion actually went to New Jersey for relief efforts. The remaining $36 billion was pork.
Now we have Senator Graham asking his colleagues to approve federal relief funds for those in his state who fell victim to Hurricane Joaquin. Before reaching a final vote this bill is certain to find itself loaded with pork in much the same manner as the Superstorm Sandy relief bill. Will Senator Graham vote "No" on this bill as well?
TRUTH OR POLITCS AS USUAL - The controversy over the motivations of the House Benghazi Committee continues to rage. Republicans have long believed that then Secretary Clinton understood that the embassy in Benghazi was under terrorist attack and did nothing to offer assistance. Some went so far as to assert that she ordered the military to "stand down" as the DOD scrambled to provide aid. The Benghazi Committee was allegedly formed to find the truth. But given the accusations from the right in the immediate aftermath of the attack the question remains: Is this a well-intended search for the truth or a politically motivated witch hunt to take down the presumptive Democratic nominee? "Fiscally conservative" Republicans have spent $4.5 million (and counting) tax payer dollars on the endeavor.
Presumptive Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy inadvertently answered the question when he proudly linked the committee's work to the reduction in Hillary Clinton's poll numbers. McCarthy has since walked back his assertions; saying that the committee has only the purest of intentions.
Unfortunately for Republicans recent events tell another story.
A week ago Secretary Clinton's former Chief of Staff Cheryl Mills spent eight hours testifying before the committee. For some reason Committee Chair Trey Gowdy ordered that her testimony be held behind closed doors; secreted away from the prying eyes of CSPAN. The intrigue only heightened when Gowdy inexplicably refused to release the transcripts of Ms. Mills' testimony. In spite of Ms. Mills protest that the entire transcript of her testimony be released to the public; the transcripts were sealed.
Democrats, furious over McCarthy's revealing gaff and incensed over Gowdy's refusal to release the Mills transcripts, leaked excerpts of the transcripts to the press. The excerpts show that Clinton did far more than nothing.
Ms.. Mills testified that Secretary Clinton was "very concerned" about safety and well-being of her good friend Ambassador Stevens and his staff. Mills testified that Clinton and President Obama ordered the military to "everything we can" to secure the embassy and its staff.
Democrats have promised to release the full transcripts in five days to allow time to redact any information that might violate national security interests.
It now seems pretty clear as to why Chairman Gowdy wanted Ms. Mill's testimony taken behind closed doors; and why he refused to release the transcripts.
Truth or $4.5 million dollar tax payer funded political witch hunt? It's almost Halloween!


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creative artwork |krēˈātiv ˈärtˌwərk| adjective relating to or involving the imagination or original ideas, esp. in the production of functional design with creative solutions : change unleashes people's creative energy | creative artworker [noun]. • (of a person) having good imagination or original ideas : Homer, the creative genius of Greek epic.• (of a person) who is creative, typically in a professional context.
h.samuel has almost 400 stores nationwide and is part of signet jewellers limted, the world's largest specialist jeweller. the h.samuel story began in 1862 when harriet samuel took over her father-in-law's clock-making business in liverpool.
h.samuel | christmas gift guide
© 2016 LFX Design. All rights reserved. E&OE. LFX does not accept legal responsibility for the contents of this website.
From modest beginnings in 1949, Ernest Jones has grown from a single store in London's Oxford Street to the a highly reputable national chain of over 190 jewellery stores - bringing to suburban and provincial locations the quality, range, presentation and high standard of customer service once only available in London's West End.
ernest jones | wedding brochure
Burberry was founded in 1856 when 21-year-old Thomas Burberry, a former draper's apprentice, opened his own store in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England. By 1870, the business had established itself by focusing on the development of outdoors attire. In 1880, Burberry introduced in his brand the gabardine, a hardwearing, water-resistant yet breathable fabric, in which the yarn is waterproofed before weaving.
burberry | bespoke
Unilever owns more than 400 brands, although its 25 largest brands account for over 70% of total sales. Unilever focuses resources on 13 "billion-Euro brands", each of which has annual sales in excess of €1 billion. Unilever organises its brands into two main categories: Food and Beverages, and Home and Personal Care.
unilever | shrek domestos cif concept
rayotec | underfloor heating brochures
rayotec is UK distributors for the innovative electric ribbon heating mats. the company designs and sells the system throughout UK and has sold systems to european and worldwide customers.
babco | paradise isle
paradise isle is a smooth combination of alcohol and coconut to produce a white rum and coconut flavoured beverage, perfect over ice or with lemonade or cola.
the nokia 8800 is a stunning mobile phone that brings together a luxurious and glamorous design with first-rate imaging, messaging, and connection capabilities. nokia is a consumer led company. There is a progressive and continuous increase in consumer involvement with technology and communications globally.
nokia | retail POS
photography | still life shots for sinnamon cider
altering the focus of the photography in photoshop simulates the shallow depth of field normally encountered with macro lenses making the scene seem much smaller than it actually is. in addition to focus manipulation, the tilt-shift photography effect is improved by increasing color saturation and contrast, to simulate the bright paint often found on scale models.
vassiliki is a traditional fishing village, located at the southern-most tip of the beautiful island of lefkas. it overlooks cephallonia (of captain corelli fame) and is part of the Ionian group of islands in the north-west of greece. due to the extraordinary local wind phenomenon, Vassiliki has become a world famous windsurfing destination. But it has managed to retain its unspoilt charm with chilled tavernas, cafes and bars lining the picturesque harbour.
club vassiliki windsurfing | brochure
club vassiliki windsurfing | press adverts
club vassiliki has gained legendary status in the windsurfing community as one of the world's largest windsurfing centres, custom-designed to meet the windsurfer's every need. This is where the club vass winning formula was conceived; awesome conditions, great windsurfing tuition and a huge choice of the lastest and best equipment along with a serious social scene!
07971 084 426
Proudly hosted with UpDog.


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635 South Broadway
Tarrytown, NY 10591
SPRING CRAFTS AT LYNDHURST, the Hudson Valley's most popular craft show, returns to Tarrytown for its 30th year. Discover the unique designs and creative artistry of over 275 leading artists and craftspeople, from across the country, as they exhibit, sell and talk about their contemporary handcrafted works of art. Collectors, art enthusiasts and discerning shoppers will enjoy the rare opportunity to meet these visionary artists and purchase their latest work.
The show includes one-of-a-kind and limited edition jewelry, fashion and accessories, furniture, and home décor pieces, as well as functional and sculptural work in ceramics, glass, metal, painting, photography, wood and mixed media. Despite its name, the fair offers more than just crafts. Visitors can also enjoy live music all weekend long, eat in our new expanded food court (including vegetarian/vegan options), purchase specialty foods and participate in children's activities (face painting, storytelling, balloon animals and more) throughout the weekend.


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Chloe Moretz Presents at AMAs 2015 with '5th Wave' Co-star Nick Robinson!
Chloe Moretz walks the red carpet at the 2015 American Music Awards held at the Microsoft Theater on Sunday (November 22) in Los Angeles.
The 18-year-old actress was joined at the event by Nick Robinson, her co-star in the upcoming movie The 5th Wave. They hit the stage together during the show to present. Make sure to catch their movie in theaters on January 15!
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Chloe Moretz
Two other stars who presented during the show included Taylor Lautner and Terry Crews.
FYI: Nick is wearing Simon Spurr.
Posted to: 2015 American Music Awards, American Music Awards, Chloe Moretz, Nick Robinson, Taylor Lautner, Terry Crews


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Yardie Creek Gorge Rim Trail is a 2.6 kilometer moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Bundera Bundera, Western Australia, Australia that features a river and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding and is accessible year-round.
nature trips
This walk along the Yardie Creek Gorge rim takes about 1.5 hours. The start of the walk is 39km south of Milyering Visitor Centre (about 30 minutes drive). There are picnic facilities and a toilet at the start. The track has spectacular views. If you look carefully, you may spot rock-wallabies amongst the rock ledges on the opposite side of the gorge. A variety of birds also rest and sometimes nest along the cliff faces. To protect bird nesting areas and rock-wallaby habitat, the southern side of Yardie Creek is a sanctuary area. If you are paddling up the creek, please refrain from going ashore.
Great little gorge walk, recommended to go early morning or evening as no shade and can be hot. was lucky to see two black footed rock wallabies and an Osprey. Took our 12 year old and twin 8 year old kids and they were fine walking the full length.


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London: Former West Indies captain Chris Gayle is to play for Somerset in this season`s domestic Twenty20 competition, the English county said.
Opening batsman Gayle is one of the most powerful hitters in the game and he has proved especially adept in cricket`s shortest format, with his 117 against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2007 the highest individual score in all Twenty20 internationals.
Gayle has also impressed in the Twenty20 Indian Premier League.
The 32-year-old, who bats left-handed but bowls right-arm off-spin, is set to fill the gap caused by the absence of West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard, who will be away on international duty when Somerset look to go one better after losing last season`s Twenty20 final to Leicestershire.
Gayle has not played international cricket since last year`s World Cup following a row with West Indies Cricket Board officials.
In a Somerset statement, Gayle said: "I am delighted to be heading to Somerset this summer, they are a great club and hopefully I can make a key contribution to their T20 campaign this year."
The west country club`s director of cricket, Brian Rose, added: "Chris is a tremendously exciting player and one of the people who would get into any World T20 XI.
"Chris is a tremendous all-rounder; his batting is outstanding, he bowls and can open the attack with his off-spinners and he is also a brilliant fielder, so we are absolutely delighted."
Bureau Report


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With Nikon announcing the new 70-200mm f/2.8E FL VR just two days ago, it was a bit surprising for us to see a pre-production sample circulating at the Nikon booth at the PhotoPlus Expo today. We had a chance to check out the lens and while we were not allowed to take any pictures with it, Nikon allowed us to do a quick video about the handling aspect of the lens. I was certainly concerned about the reversal of the zoom and focus rings on the new 70-200mm f/2.8E FL VR and today John and I were able to see whether it presents a potential problem with handling. Unfortunately, both us were in agreement, that it was not a good decision on behalf of Nikon to make this design change.
As you can see in the video above (our apologies for the bad audio quality and background noise), the placement of the focus ring right in the middle of the lens presents a problem – one can mess up focusing by keeping the hand where it normally would be when hand-holding. While Nikon has been telling us that this has been a welcome change and that their design team intentionally made this change to make the lens superior in terms of handling, I don't know what Nikon was thinking – I cannot imagine anyone trying to hand-hold the 70-200mm this way. Even with the lighter front (thanks to the fluorite lens element), there is no way that the lens would handle better with the left hand sitting towards the front of the lens barrel. As John demonstrates in the video, even pushing the left hand all the way results in touching of the focusing ring, which is not good.
On the positive side, the lens was amazingly snappy in the AF department – switching between subjects at varying distances, the lens nailed focus pretty much instantly, especially on camera bodies like the Nikon D5 and D500. It feels like the AF motor has been tweaked even further on the 70-200mm, which is very impressive. VR implementation also felt better on the new 70-200mm, but since we were not allowed to take pictures, we could not really test how far one could push the new lens, so we will have to wait for the production version to be able to take it for a real spin.
With all the amazing technology that Nikon put into the new 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR though, the above-mentioned handling problem could be a deal breaker for many photographers out there. I know for both John and I, it certainly did not feel right in our hands.
More to come!


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Hi wonderful people,
I'll be in Melbourne next week and I was wondering who would be down for a chowmeet on Saturday, December 4th? I was thinking Charcoal Lane, 7pm.
Also, Queen Victoria Market - better to visit very early, or is it the same throughout the day? Weekend vs. Weekday? (asking because I was strongly advised to go to the Sydney Fish Market on Monday rather than Saturday due to crowds)
I heard Wed night is the best for the night market, but I don't think I'll be around on a Wednesday night :(
I could be wrong, but it seems like the only thing to really do in Melbourne is eat, eat, eat. Not complaining cause that's what I love - but I am finding more places to eat than to see which is throwing an odd dilemma into my itinerary planning. Same with Adelaide! I have little time for planning @_@


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Inventions and innovations are key words on which the foundation of IITH is based. Taking forward this ideology to a higher level of implementation, we at IITH have started "i-TIC Foundation IIT Hyderabad" (i-TIC), a society, which has launched an incubation center (Technology Business Incubator - TBI funded by Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India) to achieve this goal of crafting/ producing an 'amalgam' of research and industry by creating a very supportive and nourishing environment wherein research concepts can be taken up and integrated with industry for commercialization.
It is an excellent opportunity for those young scholars and alumni who wish to be successful entrepreneurs and see their hard work/ core competencies envisage from paper to reality/ see the light of the day and progress further to the top echelon.
In order to achieve this knowledge based entrepreneurship, i-TIC provides the necessary facilities, guidance and mentoring, by the faculty members of IITH and the industry experts, to develop an ecosystem for entrepreneurship.


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A first look at Samsung's Galaxy TabPro S
Samsung just announced their new Galaxy TabPro S at their newly reopened New York City flagship experience space. The Galaxy TabPro S sounds like the name of a Galaxy branded Android tablet, and it does look like a Samsung Android tablet from the outside, but once you turn it on, you'll see that this is a full-blown Windows 10 tablet PC. It's probably the thinnest Windows 10 tablet around at only 6.3mm thick. It's also the first 12″ tablet with one of Samsung's gorgeous Super AMOLED screens. Many of Samsung's Android tablets still had LCD screens, so this is a new development not just for Windows tablets, but tablets in general.
Windows tablets aren't really a new development for Samsung either. Remember the Samsung Series 7 Slate? That was one of the coolest Windows 7 tablets back around 2011. For the past few years it has seemed that Samsung has been all-in on Android though. What's changed is that the 2-in-1 tablet PC laptop convertible market has seen a 40% yoy growth. Over 600 million PCs out there are over 5 years old, too. People who are going to upgrade are going to want something that handles everything their old PC can do, but also offer something new, and that's what the Samsung Galaxy TabPro S is meant for.
As mentioned, this is the first Windows 10 tablet with Samsung's colorful Super AMOLED display. That's a 12 inch 2160 x 1440 pixel resolution display by the way. In terms of weight, it's only 1.53lbs (693 grams) and the dimensions are 11.43″ x 7.83″ x 0.25″. This current model is WiFi only (no LTE), and the only ports are a 3.5mm headphones jack and a USB-C port. There's no MicroSD card slot and no USB-A port! You need an adapter if you want to connect anything that doesn't work over Bluetooth or WiFi (or USB-C). Have I mentioned lately how much I hate USB-C? Anyway, you can buy a special Samsung USB-C hub that has ports for outputting the display to a second monitor, connecting regular USB-A peripherals, and still providing the "Fast Charge" capabilities.
The Galaxy TabPro S fits a bit below the more-expensive Surface Pro 4 tablet, and significantly above the less-expensive Intel Atom CPU based Windows 10 tablets. Still, so far it seems like it will easily handle all of your computing needs provided they're within the limits of the 2.2Ghz Dual-Core Intel Core M3 6th generation processor, 4Gb of RAM, and the 128Gb SSD.
Stay tuned as we dig deeper into the Samsung Galaxy TabPro S and put together a full review.
Discuss This Post


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We Are Not Ourselves (Hardcover)
September 2014 Indie Next List
"This is simply the most perfect, brilliantly written novel I have read in a long time! Suspenseful, full of heartwarming moments of lightness and love intertwined with dark moments of foreboding, it is the story of a marriage, a family, and the struggle to attain the American Dream. Most of all, it is the story of Eileen Leary, the daughter of Irish immigrants, and her unwavering strength, love, loyalty, and hopes for herself, her husband, Ed, and their son, Connell. The novel spans from 1951 to 2011 and is set primarily in New York, but the unexpected tragedy that befalls the Learys could happen in any town in any country. Immensely moving and thought-provoking!"
— Maria Roden, Orinda Books, Orinda, CA
New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2014 * Washington Post Top 50 Fiction List for 2014 * Entertainment Weekly Ten Best Fiction Books of 2014 * Esquire 5 Most Important Books of 2014 * Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2014 * One of Janet Maslin's Ten Favorite Books of the Year in The New York Times The instant New York Times bestseller the Washington Post calls a "stunning...superbly rendered" novel, and Entertainment Weekly describes as "a gripping family saga, maybe the best...since The Corrections." Born in 1941, Eileen Tumulty is raised by her Irish immigrant parents in Woodside, Queens, in an apartment where the mood swings between heartbreak and hilarity, depending on how much alcohol has been consumed. From an early age, Eileen wished that she lived somewhere else. She sets her sights on upper class Bronxville, New York, and an American Dream is born. Driven by this longing, Eileen places her stock and love in Ed Leary, a handsome young scientist, and with him begins a family. Over the years Eileen encourages her husband to want more: a better job, better friends, a better house. It slowly becomes clear that his growing reluctance is part of a deeper, more incomprehensive psychological shift. An inescapable darkness enters their lives, and Eileen and Ed and their son Connell try desperately to hold together a semblance of the reality they have known, and to preserve, against long odds, an idea they have cherished of the future. Described by The New York Times Book Review as "A long, gorgeous epic, full of love and caring...one of the best novels you'll read this year," We Are Not Ourselves is a testament to our greatest desires and our greatest frailties. Through the lives of these characters, Thomas charts the story of the American Century. The result is, "stunning...The joys of this book are the joys of any classic work of literature--for that is what this is destined to become--superbly rendered small moments that capture both an individual life and the universality of that person's experience" (The Washington Post).


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LG certainly has some interesting mobile phones up its sleeve. Previously, it created the LG Chocolate series which was quite famous amongst mobile phone users and now, they have come up with two new devices called the LG myTouch and LG myTouch Q.
The LG myTouch is a 3.8-inch touchscreen mobile phone while the myTouch Q has a 3.5-inch touchscreen with a slide keyboard. These two devices support 4G networks which mean that surfing on it would be in most cases a very pleasant experience. It features a single core 1GHz Qualcomm processor and a 5MP camera which is capable of shooting HD videos (720p).The myTouch devices will be powered by Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread which is the latest version of Android that can be considered stable.
These two devices will be available on T-Mobile at a cost of only $79.99 which can be considered a budget phone for most people. However, this price will only be available when it is coupled with a contract. You can get this as soon as tomorrow (November 2nd) because that is the time when the device will be available for T-Mobile subscribers. Is it worth it? Well we definitely think that it is for someone that is looking for a budget mobile phone.


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ON the App what does the color code mean?
I am using the APP to keep track of my AM fasting bg levels as my Dr. asked me but I don't know what the color code is? I just thought it was green as I had entered something that day but now I got a yellow/orange color too so am wondering if anyone can help me crack the code :)
2 replies
I am using the tracker in the DC app for Android
Next Discussion: New member »


text: I find this announcement a little alarming in truth. Whilst it will probably be a good match is it another show of the RFL that they simply disregard any league lower than Super League? The only reason they have done this is because they probably want rid of Wakefield and Huddersfield and want Toulouse and Toronto in there. I say Wakefield and Hudds purely for the fan base argument but its a clear attempt to promote (so to speak) these two continental sides. It's a little bit bias to push these two clubs onto the main stage when there are perfectly good derbies in the Championship that could have been promoted.


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Pfizer may be the most recent, but it's in good company as more pharma companies --GSK, Lilly, Merck -- begin to post on the Web what they have paid to physician consultants and speakers. While some are being forced to do it as part of their settlements over illegal marketing activities, others are just being proactive: The healthcare reform law that passed last month requires all pharma and medical device companies to set up these databases in 2013.
So, is this enough transparency? Seemingly not, according to this article in the New York Times, which says: "But it can be hard to add up the money for one doctor from several sources, identify the biggest recipients or list them all for a hospital or a city, without laborious work by a computer expert."


text: This is a question for Michael Manring: I have been experimenting with altered tunings using a 6 string fretless and a 5 string fretless with a high c which gives me a lot of freedom. But, I was just wondering how you set up your musicman for altered tunings as I cant really afford a graphite necked bass. And another thing, where did you get that groovy case for 2 basses I saw you with in Birmingham in 2002? Ash


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Some Simple Guidance On Finding Factors In
Heating: Propane, and Electric. Appliances: Stove, Refrigerator, Washer & Dryer furnished. All inside maintenance, outside maintenance and of yard and lawn provided. Well water, septic and garbage included. Preferred elder Man or Woman or couple, no pets larger than a gold fish, upon approval. Rent $600. and $500 cleaning deposit required. No drinker, No smoker, No drugs. Back ground checked. 1.8 miles East of Plains, #2 Henry Creek Rd. Corner of Henry Creek and HWY 200.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit... Read more


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Saturday, April 25, 2009
Planning for Africa
I am working hard putting this Africa trip together. Working every day on just trying to figure out where to go that has the most elephants, the most interesting people, most interesting natives. I am definitely looking at Zimbabwe, which has an enormous amount of elephants, and I can get my feet on the ground there. Kenya brings me to a couple of elephant orphanages, two elephant researchers, and most important: the Masai warriors. Those are my choices. As you all know, things can change!
Posted by Chris Gallucci the Elephant Man at 11:13 AM
Labels: Africa, Chris Gallucci, Elephant Man, elephants, Kenya, Kura, Timbo, Zimbabwe
1 comment:
Chris, please, please do not go to Zimbabwe. TGhe figures the government publishes on animal populations, including elepants is false. We were going to go to Hwange National Park in October but have decided to go elsewhere because of the poaching. Kenya, Zambia or Botswana are a better bet. Even Etosha National park in Nambibia. I will email Christine Link with information links as I do not ant to take up too much space here.ReplyDelete
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Triumph released the new Bonneville Speedmaster late last year (along with the new Bonneville Bobber Black) and many thought that it would be quite a costly machine given the specification. Well now Triumph have released details of the pricing of the Bonneville Speedmaster... and they are less than many thought. Continue reading for the prices.
In the UK, the basic Jet Black model starts at just £11,650. If you want the Cranberry Red paint then you need to add £125, and if you want the two-tone Jet Black and Fusion White then you need to add £300 to the basic model. The UK prices aren't on the Triumph website at the time of writing.
In the US, the basic Jet Black model starts at $13,150 with Cranberry Red paint costing $250 and two-tone paint costing $500.
Of course, if you want all the accessories - and there are a lot to choose from - then those will cost you extra. However the basic price of the Speedmaster does include the 1200cc high-torque engine (lots of pulling power at low revs), Rider modes, switchable Traction Control, Torque-Assist clutch, ABS, Immobiliser, and single-button Cruise Control.
At a measured 65.4 miles per gallon it shouldn't cost as much to run as earlier Speedmasters. Hopefully the first demonstrators should be in the dealerships soon.


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Alternative Titles
English: X Diary
Type: Manhwa
Volumes: 1
Chapters: 7
Status: Finished
Published: Jun 20, 2006 to Jun 12, 2007
Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life
Authors: toma (Story & Art)
Serialization: None
Score: 7.501 (scored by 8 users)
1 This score is not weighted. Please note that 'Not yet published' titles are excluded.
Ranked: #173052
2 based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity: #34842
Members: 40
Favorites: 0


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Create a Drupal Module
Budjetti £20-250 GBP
The job is to write a Drupal 7 module that reads an array of JSON objects from an external feed (sample fetch code will be provided) and creates / updates and deletes nodes as follows:
JSON objects with a new id should be imported as a new node
JSON objects with an existing id should result in the existing node being updated if the updated_at time is more recent than the last cron run
Nodes that have an id that no longer exist in the feed should be deleted.
There are approximately twenty fields, mostly int, float, string values.
There is one multi-valued image url field that should be processed as as a fetch of the image files into a Drupal managed file in public:// and adding those files to a unlimited-valued image field in the node.
There are two multi-valued taxonomy term fields. Arrays mapping the feed's integer representation to the taxonomy term value (not term id) will be provided. The arrays contain approx 70 and 50 elements.
Myönnetty käyttäjälle:
Hello, I am professional Drupal Developer from Poland. My speciality is building websites from grounds up. I'm full stack front-end/back-end developer. Part of my daily work requires optimizing Drupal websites and f Lisää
34 freelanceria on tarjonnut keskimäärin %project_bid_stats_avg_sub_26% %project_currencyDetails_sign_sub_27% tähän työhön
We will create a module which will setup the cron. This cron will fetch the data from the particular feed. This feed provide the data for the node. And this data have fields related to images and taxanomy. We nee Lisää
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Hi, I can start work on your project immediately once you confirm me and i am also open for further discussion if you want. I have 7+ years in web designing & development with good experience in following skills Lisää
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I have great experiences on Drupal 7 in designing module .Glad if have a chance to work with you on this project. Best regards,
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There are not many therapy alternatives to surgery if you have a goiter. The large goiter may be causing obstructive symptoms, or harbor a cancer.
The obstructive component can be evaluated by MR, and pulmonary function testing, including flow loop to see if there is any upper airway obstruction. Any suspicious nodules found on ultrasound need to be biopsied. If no obstruction or cancer is found, then alternatives are available. The most widely used is low dose Radio-iodine therapy.
In Europe and special centers, Laser has been used to shrink goiters. However, experience with this method is limited at present, although it seems promising.
Thyroid hormone is effective if the goiter responds to suppression.However, it usually dose not work on very large goiters. Ethanol Injections, PEI, are not for treatment of a whole gland, but for single cystic nodules. The best method now is Radio-iodine therapy.
Case Presentation:
69 Y/O female with coronary artery disease, bypass surgery, and mild heart failure was noted to have a large goiter causing tracheal deviation, and symptoms of obstruction. The MR showed mild tracheal narrowing, and the breathing test showed an abnormal flow loop consistent with upper airway obstruction due to the enlarged goiter. The treatment of choice is surgery, but because of her heart condition, alternatives were sought. Thyroid hormone was considered dangerous with heart disease. She was referred to me for consideration for ethanol, laser, or Radio-iodine. As listed above RAI was the best alternative for her. The goiter was visible from across the room.The trachea was deviated, and the ultrasound found two suspicious nodules in the goiter.They were biopsied and were benign colloid nodules. Thyroid blood testing was normal for TSH, T4, and Antibodies. The thyroid uptake was not elevated, but was to the lower normal range of 11% at 24 hours. Normal 8-32. After informed consent, including all about off label use of Thyrogen, rhTSH stimulation to boost the low uptake, she was put on a low iodine diet for two weeks. The single injection of rhTSH was given, and the TSH rose to 32. A repeat Thyrogen Stimulated thyroid uptake was positive for a significant increase in uptake to 56%. The image showed diffuse increased uptake throughout the goiter. The radiation safety instructions were reviewed with the patient and her urinary continence was assessed. There were no children in her house and she was told to stay away from her grandchildren. The arrival of the iodine dose was followed by confirming the correct dose was sent, checking for leaks, and preparing a paper for her to keep with her when she traveled by air to see her brother in 3 weeks. This will explain to the security at the airport that see has been treated with radiation, and is not a terrorist! The 30 Millicuries was given in my office as an outpatient and she was sent home. She was told to suck on lemon drops, and drink water, and avoid close contact with people for 5 days. She could go for her morning walks as usual. She could watch TV with her husband if she sat 3-5 feet away from him. She returned in one week and her thyroid goiter was firmer, but not tender.Thyroid blood tests revealed slight decrease in TSH, but no change in T4, or T3. By 12 weeks there was an obvious decrease in goiter size. Thyroid tests returned to normal, and the goiter had continued to decrease at 6 months. Repeat MR confirmed shrinkage, and the Flow loop study improved. The trachea was not narrowed, and the mild obstructive pattern on the flow loop was also better. She has noted improvement in her symptoms as well. She is followed twice yearly, and is doing well without ever having thyroid surgery.
When Surgery is offered as a treat option for your goiter, consider looking into alternative therapy with radio-iodine.
Good Luck,
The Thyroid Doctor's log after seeing his patients. I am a rare bird. I am one of the few physicians to practice clinical thyroidology only for 35 years. I am the sole physician at the Santa Monica Thyroid Center, and have the best thyroid blood lab with Dr.Carole Spencer, expert in thyroid hormone analysis, and thyroid cancer markers, as my lab director.The lab is also CLIA certified in thyroid cytology. Dr.Guttler is a thyroid ultrasonographer certified by AACE, and AIUM.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
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Hemoglobin- the stuff of love and horror, cupid's arrows and Dracula's lust.. what makes it tick? What even makes it red? It certainly isn't the protein. 16,000 daltons of clear protein carry a clear ~700 dalton heme group, whose iron, neatly caged in the middle, only absorbs green to blue light strongly when bound to oxygen. So a very small, if critically important, bit of the protein complex is responsible for all of its color. A bit like the heart being responsible for all of our love.
But the encasing protein does a lot more than just lug the heme ring and its iron around. It is responsible for a few special effects that make our breathing more efficient. These are called allosteric effects, for the way miscellaneous molecules can reshape or regulate a protein, especially its binding of other molecules. One is the Bohr effect, where CO2 (and acidity in general) regulates the oxygen affinity of hemoglobin. In the high CO2 / elevated acid environment of the peripheral tissues, oxygen affinity is reduced, while in the more neutral environment of the lungs, it is raised, appropriately enough.
Another is the cooperativity of the hemoglobin tetramer. Binding one oxygen increases the affinity of the other (and quite distant) three sites for oxygen, again helping speed the process of loading and unloading oxygen in the appropriate places. And a third is the Haldane effect, where, conversely to oxygen, the binding of CO2 is increased in the acidic environment of the periphery. CO2 doesn't bind to the central iron-heme site, but elsewhere on the protein molecule, facilitated by several acid-sensitive histidines.
Fourth is the action of carbon monoxide, which is not really allosteric, but simply competitive, binding 200 times better than oxygen to the central iron binding site, and thereby shutting it down completely, suffocating the victim. The encasing protein of course has other functions as well, and we see one in sickle cell anemia, where the normally cleanly separated tetramers that float around in the red blood cell at very high concentration (35 grams per 100g of packed red blood cells) start to gum up and aggregate due to a single point mutation, (when present in both genetic copies), leading to misshapen red blood cells, and all the other morbidities of this disease.
While most of this molecular intricacy is understood in rough terms, researchers are still nailing down details, and a recent paper used novel statistics and molecular modelling to tease out some more of them. Hemoglobin could be thought of having two stable shapes, called T (tense, with low oxygen affinity, high CO2 affinity), and R (relaxed, with high oxygen affinity, low CO2 affinity). The issue is that in the tetrameric hemoglobin complex of two alpha chains and two beta chains, binding one oxygen in the T state nudges not just its own unit of the tetramer, but all four, toward the R state.
Obviously this requires some complicated transmission mechanism, and that remains the subject of research, including this one. Here is a picture:
|Animation of a hemoglobin tetramer shape changes, focusing on one subunit (reddish) and especially its heme group as it binds O2 (teal).
What they found was that they could statistically boil down each of these two classes of shape change into one main value (a principal component). Then the question was how these values and detailed motions relate to each other as the major transition goes along from state to the other. One aspect of the internal (tertiary) motions were clearly correlated to the inter-subunit repositioning, and so could be taken to be part of the allosteric mechanism by which one subunit communicates its binding of oxygen to the others. Much of this analysis is unfortunately cloaked on mathematical abstrusities, ensembles, hyperplanes, etc., so I can neither evaluate it nor fully present it.
They decide that they can differentiate between individual "pushing" and "pulling" contacts between subunits, which significantly channel the interaction. The whole story begins with the binding of oxygen, which pushes away protein arms that reach towards the central heme, and also induces that heme to bend from a bent, to a flat, planar shape:
|Edge-on view of hemoglobin heme complex, bent without bound O2, and flat when O2 binds, along with a few other local rearrangements.
|Table of dynamic contacts within and between hemoglobin subunits that stretch or switch as oxygen binds and the shape changes from R to T. The amino acids are referred to by single letter codes.
A pushing contact ...
"A clear example for this is the interaction of lysine 82 of beta 1 and lysine 82 of beta 2 we observed: Close to the T-state both side chains are pointing into the solvent. While moving along cQ [the quaternary-only axis], the two chains approach each other and bring both positively charged side chains unfavourably close. The motion along cTew [the tertiary-only axis] relaxes this repulsive interaction by bending the N-terminal ends of the F helices (the helix notation goes back to Watson, Kendrew and Perutz [16]). Experimental studies introduced cross-links between the two lysines [17], [18]. The derived structure was described to be an intermediate between T- and R-state with characteristics of both states but no cooperativity."
A pulling contact ...
"These contacts only stay intact if the system moves along cQ [the quaternary-only axis] and cTew [the tertiary-only axis] together, but break if moving in one or the other direction independently. This is the expected behaviour for contacts which must remain intact for the allosteric mechanism to function. Exemplarily, this was observed for phenylalanine 117 of the alpha subunits and argenine 30 of the beta subunits. The hydrogen bond between the carboxylic oxygen of Phe and the side chain of Arg breaks while moving from the T-state towards the off-diagonal intermediate artificial states (see Figure 3), and forms again when approaching the R-state."
Which is to say that the contact stays intact during the actual transition, but was broken here in virtual model terms as the experimenters pursued one or the other of their axes (tertiary or quaternary) alone. It is a sign that this contact helps keep things together in a smooth and concerted fashion as the protein starts to change shape on one side.
A more dramatic type of contact is one that switches during the transition. In the alpha-beta interface, (shown below), contact between apartate 94 on the alpha subunit and tryptophan 37 on the beta subunit (in the T state) is broken and the tryptophan 37 switches to contact asparagine 102 on the beta subunit in the R state. These kinds of distinct shifts help stabilize each of the quasi-stable states, T and R, and the researchers identified four such "switching" contacts.
|Cartoon of the subunit border area where tryptophan (W) 37 switches from asparagine (N) 102 to aspartate (D) 94 during the oxygen binding transition, among other changes.
It is remarkable that two atoms- O2- can switch the conformation of an enormous complex with an atomic weight of ~64,000. But it is all in a day's work for proteins, whose structures to start with are relatively floppy in the intense jostling of brownian motion. Putting those flops to work by evolving into structures with two stable states, tickle-able by joined-at-the-hip partners.. that is a bit more challenging, but obviously a life-saver given the absurdly inefficient breathing apparatus we are stuck with.
- On the development of capitalism, its inequality, and its morality.
- Misleading information is highly, highly effective.
- "What was the response to your coming out as an atheist? An enormous number of Christians have threatened to do physical harm to me."
- Xerces: Effects of neonicotinoid insecticides on agriculturally important beneficial insects.
- High time to do low-carbon web design.
- Music makes you better.
- A program for restoration of accountability, civil liberties and privacy.
- Rational expectations is pretty much the opposite of what the data shows. "To understand the past and avoid a recurrence of the devastating events we lived through so recently, we need to acknowledge that investors and financial markets do not behave the way rational asset price theory implies."
- But the rich.. yes, they have rational expectations, of privilege.
- Corporate profits at all-time high.
- Non-regulation by the bank regulators. No wonder we are still on FIRE.
- Outsourcing mortgage & foreclosure fraud- the nightmare continues.
- Dumbest retirement policy in the world. And don't forget, Social security is going to screw post-'60 baby boomers as well. The new retirement age is 70.


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Flashback: Jeb Bush Promises to Endorse GOP Nominee
On August 6, 2015, during the first Republican presidential debate, every candidate promised to endorse the eventual nominee.
Brett Baier asked the ten candidates:
Is there anyone on stage, and can I see hands, who is unwilling tonight to pledge your support to the eventual nominee of the Republican party and pledge not to run an independent campaign against that person.
Every candidate promised to endorse the eventual nominee – except Donald Trump.
In September the Republican party asked the presidential nominees to sign a pledge to support the party and the eventual nominee.
Both Jeb! Bush and Lindsey Graham signed the pledge.
Today Jeb! Bush and Lindsey Graham announced they would not support Donald Trump the Republican nominee.
Obviously, their pledge meant nothing.
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Have your Facebook friends invited you to switch your boring blue Facebook profile to an attractive shade of red, black or shocking pink? The latest survey scam doing the rounds on Facebook works by falsely offering to change the profile of prospective marks from blue to red, black or shocking pink.
Many users must have seen similar messages to the following:
Switch to Pink Facebook (Limited Time!)
Say goodbye to the boring blue profile and say hello to the pink profile!!
Switch to Red Facebook (Limited Time!)
Say goodbye to the boring blue profile and say hello to the red profile!!
what happens if you click on one of these links :
Firstly, you are told to share the link with your online friends. This should be the first indication that something is amiss - after all, what legitimate feature or organisation would require you to share news of it *before* you have actually experienced what - if anything - it can do for you?
Secondly, you are asked to leave a comment - extolling the wonderfulness of your new pink or red Facebook. Remember - at this point your Facebook is still decidedly blue. Any comment you leave will, of course, act as an endorsement and could be seen by your online friends and encourage them to also participate.
Predictably, the point of all of this sharing is to drive more traffic to the scammers' link where an online survey will pop-up. The more people who take the survey, the more commission that the scammers will earn.
That's not to say, of course, that it's impossible to turn your Facebook pink, red or black if you really want to Change your Facebook theme See this post (click here).
Clearly there's a demand for such customisation - even if it serves no practical purpose. But just make sure that your hunger for a pink-themed Facebook doesn't lead you into a scheme designed purely to earn money for scammers.
Facebook is rolling out Timeline as a "new" feature to replace traditional user profile pages. True to form, this feature has also become the target of survey scams over recent days .
WHAT TO DO : If you're one of the many people who fell for this or similar scams, please check your Facebook page to ensure that you are not spreading any messages to your online friends and ensure that you have revoked any Facebook applications, events and "like"d pages that you are uncomfortable with. If you use Facebook and want to get an early warning about the latest attacks, you should join the INDIATRIKS Facebook page .


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Tors are a Devon quintet founded by brothers Matt and Theo Weedon. While their rural upbringing didn't necessarily promise a career in music, having Burt 'Guitar Wizard' Weedon for a Grandad certainly did. Burt Weedon has toured with Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland, and counted Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Pete Townsend and Paul McCartney amongst many legends who lay the credit for getting started firmly at his door.
Tors have a couple of tracks online, Good Times being the latest addition. Their first single was Fool On The Floor. Both can be streamed below.
Tor's sound could be described as jangle pop with just the right amount of folk on top. If you like bands such as Life In Film, Frankie & The Heartstrings, or The Coral, you should check these guys out.
Tour dates:


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Suspect in Eden shooting arrested
Perry Junior Mark charged with manslaughter
Suspect in Eden shooting arrested
Perry Junior Mark charged with manslaughter
An arrest has been made after a man was found dead outside a home on Monday.
Perry Junior Mark, 27, of Eden, was charged with voluntary manslaughter in connection with the death of Johnny Eugene Clark, 36, of Eden.
Clark was found dead around 4:20 p.m. Monday outside Mark's mobile home in the 13000 block of Highway 87 northwest of Eden. Clark appeared to have a gunshot wound, Rockingham County deputies said.
Deputies arrested Mark, who was considered armed and dangerous, early Tuesday morning. A second person whom a witness said fled the scene isn't believed to be involved in the shooting, deputies said.
Mark was held under a $250,000 secured bond in the Rockingham County Jail. More charges are expected, deputies said.


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Zotero is a free and open source bibliographic manager. It helps you save sources and cite them in your papers.
Zotero comes in many flavors, including a plugin for Firefox and a separate application called Zotero Standalone.
Now that you've downloaded and installed Zotero, it's time to start adding and organizing content. There are many ways to do this. The video below highlights the most common ways.
Once you have references in Zotero, you may want to use them in a paper, probably one you're writing in Word (although Zotero also works with the free and open source word processor, Libre Office).
When you download and install Zotero, it includes several of the most common citation styles, including APA, MLA, and Chicago. However, it doesn't include AMA (the style of the American Medical Association) and several other less common citation styles.
In order to use Zotero to create a citations in one of these less common styles you'll need to download a small piece of software from the webpage below.
Zotero offers free backup and cloud storage for your saved items. All you have to do is create an account on their website and enable syncing through the Firefox plugin or Zotero Standalone.
Once you are comfortable using Zotero for the basics, try using it to share articles and reference with your classmates.
You and your group members will need to have an account with Zotero.com to create a group library, so be sure to do Step 4, above.


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It's time to rethink what superheroes should be in the 21st century.
One thing that often gets lost in the discussion of the prominence of superhero movies is just how old most superheroes are. Of the top ten highest-grossing movies of 2016, exactly half of them were superhero movies. Of those superhero movies, not one is centered on a character created after 1991 (Deadpool, if you're curious, is the youngest character of the bunch.) While their current ubiquity is seen as a form of vindication among comic book fans—finally, the masses are seeing the value of their beloved medium—their sudden abundance on movie and TV screens is also showing their age. Superheroes have value, yes, and we haven't exhausted their potential yet. They're also hopelessly out of date.
Most of the current crop of superheroes being adapted in movies and TV either sprang from World War II-era pulp and escapism—mostly Batman, Superman, and most of DC Comics' more recognizable characters—or the anxieties and counter-culture of post-Atomic Cold War paranoia (the Stan Lee/Jack Kirby/Steve Ditko Marvel creations of the early '60s). While there is relevance to the iconography and art of those eras, there is nothing about them that is specific to our current time. It's a creeping inadequacy that's lingered at the edges of these films, showing itself in our discomfort at the rampant destruction in Man of Steel to questions over the politics of a superhuman task force like The Avengers.
Marvel movies have attempted to update their heroes' origins, edging them toward more contemporary concerns. The Iron Man films flirt with notions of corporate responsibility and the militarization of scientific research; the Captain America franchise openly embraces the political rhetoric of its protagonist, asking questions about the surveillance state and government overreach. While DC's movies haven't really made a similar effort yet, the TV versions of their characters have made strides towards being more relevant. Arrow, while easily the weakest DC television show, has long been about institutional corruption, targeting white-collar criminals who saw the low-income neighborhoods of their city as mere raw materials to be plundered for profit. Supergirl is currently in the middle of a storyline in which its hero combats a terrorist organization that trades in xenophobia. And The Flash has long been a show about how doing good for its own sake is a worthwhile pursuit, something that feels quietly radical in a pop-cultural climate that values the antihero over the unapologetically heroic.
What makes superheroes endure as pop-cultural figures is not what they do, but why they do it.
But despite efforts like these, there are always going to be seams, places where these old heroes fit imperfectly against their modern settings—where their big, broad symbolism isn't quite enough to speak to the ways people are kept in the margins in 2017, and the machinations by which everyday people are regularly disenfranchised. Modern superheroes should address modern problems, but modern problems aren't best represented by comic book staples like big-city bank robberies. Modern problems look very little like that. Instead, they look a lot like, say, Sweet/Vicious, the MTV show about two college-age women who've made it their mission to bring violent vigilante justice to those who sexually assault women on campus.
Jules and Ophelia are a classic Odd Couple pairing—the former prim and proper, the latter free-spirited and irreverent—who, fed up with the number of sex crimes on campus that go unpunished, decide to put on masks and kick rapist ass. While Ophelia does it because she thinks it's necessary, Jules does it because she's been assaulted.
But the stroke of genius behind Sweet/Vicious is that it's not a revenge story. Jules does not start her vigilante career enacting retribution on her rapist, instead she dedicates herself to avenging other victims of sexual assault first. And it's not limited to men who rape—the fourth episode, "Tragic Kingdom," is centered on Jules and Ophelia taking on a sorority that brutally hazes and harasses its pledges. It's identical to characters like Batman and Daredevil, heroes who are motivated by their own personal victimhood or initial trauma and then dedicate themselves to both eradicating the kind of crime that caused them pain and making sure the perpetrators who fall through the cracks of law enforcement face some sort of justice.
What makes superheroes endure as pop-cultural figures is not what they do, but why they do it. Sure, Spider-Man is cool—he sticks to walls and web-swings and cracks jokes, isn't that great? But Spider-Man isn't still prominent now because we all really like red tights and spider-powers. He's still around because he embodies notions of power and responsibility, that nagging feeling we all have that we should do something in the face of evil, and how sometimes trying to do the right thing every waking moment still ends with the world shitting on you.
Classic superheroes have these sort of abstract truisms locked down. They are primary-color responses to primary-color readings of the world. Superman is a testament to the inherent goodness of everyday people; the X-Men are a Swiss Army Knife of equal rights metaphors; Green Lantern is about the triumph of will. But in a world devoid of nuance, where evil is subliminal, institutionalized, and permitted to exist because it is not as bold and noisy as a bank robbery or plantation slave-owner, we need to do more than repurpose these old, wide-angle superheroic metaphors. Modern superheroes need specificity.
For example: the heroes of Sweet/Vicious going after sexual assault perpetrators in a world where rape is not condemned loudly and plainly by those in authority, but quibbled over as if it were a matter of semantics. Or the hacker revolutionaries of Mr. Robot, weaponizing the level playing field of technology to set economic inequality ablaze. Or Jessica Jones taking on predatorial relationships. We need new kinds of superheroes—because we already have new kinds of villains.