text:
All sectors of the media in India have grown rapidly in recent years.
Significant changes have occurred in editorial policy and commercial strategies, as traditional sectors (print and radio), have responded to competition from new media like satellite TV and the internet.
Concerns have been raised about the quantitative expansion being accompanied by a perceptible deterioration in quality. The decline in quality in turn, is ascribed to a crisis of ethical standards in journalism.
Three cases highlight the need for this conversation on ethics
Recent cases involving the media and its regulatory environment, which raise critical issues of journalistic ethics, include the following:
*** In September 2007, three journalists and the publisher of an afternoon daily in Delhi were convicted by the Delhi High Court for "contempt of court". The court held the media workers guilty for a series of investigative articles and cartoons on the Indian Supreme Court's orders shutting down small commercial establishments and shops in notified residential areas of Delhi. The articles were reviewed by competent legal authorities and found to be factual and accurate. Though the four media workers have obtained a temporary stay on the application of their sentence, their conviction still stands. Other sections of the media have failed to respond to the challenge posed by the Indian judiciary's arrogation to itself of sky-high powers of conviction for the alleged offence of "contempt of court".
*** In September 2007, a 24-hour news channel, India Live TV was ordered off the air for a period of one month as a penalty for airing a fake "sting" operation, implicating a school-teacher in Delhi in a non-existent prostitution racket. The case obviously warranted prosecution under legal provisions covering the offences of falsification of evidence, extortion and incitement to violence. There was also a credible case for lawful recompense to the school-teacher who suffered serious trauma and irreparable damage to her reputation. Yet the regulatory response was to pull the channel off the air for a month. There has been no explanation for either the punishment, or its duration. It has all been completely arbitrary.
*** In November 2007, a radio jockey on the Red FM channel was booked under the law for inciting communal violence and creating hatred between the Nepalese Gurkha community and others. Red FM is a channel that broadcasts to various urban markets in India. But it is not known to have a signal in Siliguri district in the state of West Bengal, where riots broke out over allegedly disparaging remarks made against the Nepalese Gurkha community. The individual concerned now faces prosecution in a West Bengal court. Red FM offended against a basic rule of ethical journalism, which is "to do no harm". But the sanctions that the individual responsible could face, seem excessive and illogical.
A regulatory vacuum and an ethical void
What emerges from this brief catalogue of cases is that there are no accepted standards on the exercise of the free speech right in the Indian media. Neither is there a credible regulatory framework in place. More serious transgressions (than that of Red FM) and more serious abuses (than that of India Live TV), escape sanction, because they do not (for whatever reason) excite violence on the streets. This raises troubling questions about how far media freedom can be hostage to organised riot specialists.
The rapid growth of the Indian media has occurred in a regulatory vacuum. Where satellite TV is concerned, the two main instruments of regulation are the Cable TV Act of 1995 as subsequently amended and the Guidelines on Uplinking of 1999, most recently amended in December 2005.
The Cable TV act was drafted when uplinking from Indian territory was banned. Since the downlinked signals from foreign broadcasters were thought to be beyond the scope of regulatory action, the Cable TV Act laid the onus of good conduct entirely at the doorstep of the local cable TV provider. Thus, the cable operator, who is no more than a window through which broadcast signals pass, is under the Indian legal system, responsible for all content issues in satellite TV.
The uplinking guidelines were introduced in 1999, permitting entities registered in India to uplink to a broadcast satellite. These guidelines have been amended successively over the years, often as a post facto response to realities created by India's powerful broadcast industry.
Policy tends to downgrade editorial ethics and competence
In its current version, the guidelines specify certain eligibility criteria for obtaining uplinking permission. These include stipulations on the maximum extent of foreign equity ownership (49 percent) and the minimum net-worth of the entity seeking such permission (which varies between INR 10 million and 30 million, depending on the number of channels leased by the broadcaster).
Uplinking guidelines in force do not impose any requirements in terms of competence in media operations or adherence to any set of ethical standards in journalism.
The rules in the Indian media domain have been written by the bureaucracy. And business groups have interpreted these rules according to their convenience. Journalists have not at any stage been involved in the formulation of these rules.
Journalists should get involved
Without the active involvement of media professionals in the writing of rules, the Indian media will continue to suffer the crisis of ethical standards it is going through now. Consistent with the IFJ position on ethical journalism, self-regulation should be advocated for the Indian media industry, not as "self-censorship", but as "another manifestation of sound editorial judgment".
To take the case of the fake sting operation by Live India TV that led to violence on the streets of Delhi and immense damage to a school-teacher's reputation:
this was a case of non-existent editorial processes;
the story involved had
been produced two months prior to its telecast and been rejected by at least one
news channel;
the individual who had produced the story then did some channel
shopping, to find a broadcaster who would telecast his story;
this was done
by India Live TV, which was fully aware of the background to the story and yet
went ahead with its telecast;
With all this known about the fake sting operation, a thorough dissection of the underlying issues has not been undertaken, in part because of the summary decision of the Indian government to unplug the channel for a period of one month.
The alternative would be compliance with the government diktat
Hearing a public interest petition arising from the case, the Delhi High Court on December 14, 2007, held that any channel planning to broadcast programmes involving a "sting" should be legally obliged to obtain prior permission from a government-appointed committee. It recommended that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Indian government should appoint a retired judge of the High Court to chair the committee, which should also comprise two others drawn from the bureaucracy.
The grounds on which the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting licences channels are unclear, since the only eligibility criteria specified deal with patterns of equity ownership and the company's net worth (as already mentioned above).
The grounds on which the Ministry cancels permissions are still more unclear, since the only explanation offered in most cases is a failure to conform to the "broadcast content code" decreed by the Ministry.
The "content code" it must be emphasised here, is a unilateral and arbitrary imposition on the part of the Ministry. It does not represent a consensus position of the broadcast industry.
Commercial calculations do not ensure quality journalism
A recent effort to codify a content code was abandoned when the Ministry's draft was challenged by a number of media organisations.[1] The Ministry then delegated the job of evolving an agreed position to the broadcast industry and its apex organisations.
This effort according to information available to the IFJ, is today stymied by disagreements and business rivalries between two associations of the broadcast industry: the Indian Broadcasting Federation (IBF) and the News Broadcasters' Association (NBA).
With voluntary codes of conduct and self-regulation being a distant prospect, the Indian government recently notified "monitoring committees" at the level of each state and every district, to enforce its content code. These committees are constituted overwhelmingly by bureaucrats and police personnel.[2]
Journalists cannot afford, as a professional community, to leave the job of enforcing ethical standards to either bureaucrats or business lobbies.
The Ethical Journalism Initiative in its Indian avatar, should put the issue of evolving a content code, which of course would merely be an embodied version of an ethical code, right up front and centre.
How are media rights understood in India?
The Constitution of India guarantees the right to free speech through article 19(1)(a). But the very next clause in the Constitution allows for "reasonable restrictions" on this right, on certain specified grounds.
Unlike the U.S. Constitution, where the first amendment has created a specific niche for the media, the Indian Constitution provides no such special status. As the principal author of the Constitution, B.R. Ambedkar, put it, the "press" cannot be held to have any status other than that of an individual or a citizen: "The press has no special rights which are not given or which are not exercised by the citizen in his individual capacity. The editor of a press or the manager are all citizens and therefore when they choose to write in newspapers, they are merely expressing their right to freedom of speech and expression and in my judgment, therefore, no special mention is necessary of the freedom of the press at all".
Some commentators have observed that the Indian Constitution is unmindful of the institutional needs of the media. But judicial rulings over the years have elaborated on the notion of media freedom as derivative of article 19 of the Indian Constitution, and also read the public right to information into the same constitutional provision.
In 1959, the Indian Supreme Court held that "being only a right flowing from the freedom of speech and expression, the liberty of the press in India stands on no higher footing than the freedom of speech and expression of a citizen and that no privilege attaches to the press as such, that is to say, as distinct from the freedom of the citizen".
An ambivalent construction of media freedom
In 1972, the Supreme Court ruled that the "individual rights of freedom of speech of editors, directors and shareholders, are all expressed through their newspaper". Once having equated the press to any "citizen", the higher judiciary in India seemed now to be narrowing the right to free speech, in its application, to a very narrow category of citizens.
But then in the same judgment, the Supreme Court also said that it is "indisputable" that "by freedom of the press is meant the right of all citizens to speak, publish and express their views. The freedom of the press embodies the right of the people to read. The freedom of the press is not antithetical to the right of the people to speak and express".
So here, India's higher judiciary is speaking of a broader category of rights inherent in the media, which is supposed to be an institutional embodiment of the public right to free speech. In later rulings, the Supreme Court also held that the public right to information, though not explicitly a part of the Indian Constitution, has necessarily to be read into Article 19, to make of it a logically coherent provision.
The right of public access to media space and time
The right of public access to the media was dealt with in the case of Manubhai Shah versus the Life Insurance Corporation of India in 1992. Here, the Supreme Court held that the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) had no right to deny access to its journal to any citizen. Two grounds were cited for this decision: first, as a government owned corporation, LIC fell within the definition of the State and hence could not deny any citizen his or her fundamental right to free speech; and second, as a public forum, it necessarily had to be open to every citizen.
Unfortunately, the issue here involved a soft target, since publishing is not the LIC's core business. And the Supreme Court named two criteria for upholding the public right of access to media space, without naming either as decisive. It is obvious that if the first criterion alone is decisive, i.e., being an agency of the State, then the right of public access would not apply to the media sector as a whole. If the second criterion, i.e., that of being a public forum were to be taken as the more critical one, then the media would be obliged to grant the right of public access.
The effort to regulate media monopolies
Much of the case law concerning the Indian media has arisen from the political effort to control the growth of media monopolies. A particular area of concern identified by successive policy advisory bodies since the 1950s, has been the ability of larger media houses to leverage their superior command over advertising spending, to increase circulation and drive smaller competitors out of business. In the mid-1990s, this worst case scenario became all too real, with India's largest newspaper publisher launching price wars to capture circulation from competitors in the pivotal markets of Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad.
A truce has now been called in that round of the price wars in the Indian newspaper industry. But its consequences still remain to be assessed. Among other things, it is apparent that despite the overall growth of newspaper readership in India, the degree of concentration has also increased.
Some dubious commercial practices
The competition for ad spend has also led to certain unorthodox practices in the media industry, as for example:
In March 2003, India's largest newspaper group announced a new initiative that
was professedly a part of its effort to stay current with journalistic practices
in rapidly changing times. The "Medianet" initiative as it was called, was in
the words of the newspaper management, part of an effort to overcome the
deficiencies of traditional news-gathering techniques, especially in new areas
of audience interest – such as "lifestyle, fashion, entertainment, events,
product launches, social personalities and city happenings". Public relations
agencies had a sensitive feel of the social pulse in these areas, and journalism
had recognised this reality. Yet no feasible method of regulating the flow of
news from this source had been devised. Medianet involved the payment of a fee
for coverage in the newspaper columns. The newspaper management initially
committed itself to clearly identifying every story published under the
"Medianet" initiative.[3] But media analysts have concluded that after a few weeks,
the practice of identifying each story that was paid for, seemed to lapse.
Media houses are now known to conclude "private treaties" under
which they acquire an equity stake in particular companies, which they pay for
through ad support. This assistance in "brand building" and "corporate image
development" is more than paid for since the companies that attract the media
houses' interest invariably happen to be entities that are on the verge of being
listed on the stock exchanges. Since shares in most companies are known to
appreciate wildly from the day they are listed, media houses have ample
opportunities to cash in on the capital gains windfall that invariably come
their way. There has been little public questioning of the conflict of interest
issues involved in this practice, which an increasing number of media houses in
both the print and broadcast domains, have been resorting to.[4] With fortunes being made and lost on India's stock
exchanges and investor decisions being critically dependent on media coverage,
there is ample reason to put the practice of "private treaties" under the
scanner from an ethical point of view.
With all these changes underway in the media scene, journalists face multiple challenges to ensure that their profession remains socially relevant and continues to be a valuable participant in the public discourse. Cutbacks in news-room investments have depleted the ranks of the profession. Arbitrary and in most fair-minded peoples' estimation, unlawful changes in working conditions have damaged the collective bargaining strength of the community. In this context, journalists need to step up and be counted as a voice for change in the domain of media ethics. That would be one way to reestablish the weakening links between the profession and the public interest.
[1] For the memorandum submitted by the IFJ on the draft broadcast bill and content code circulated by the Indian government in 2007 for public comments, see: http://www.ifj-asia.org/files/070906_memorandum_on_broadcast_bill.pdf.
[2] See the story at: http://www.thehoot.org/web/home/story.php?storyid=2956&mod=1&pg=1§ionId=7&valid=true.
[3] The entire concept note of Medianet is available on the web at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=39286961.
[4] For a rare discussion of private treaties in the business press, see: http://www.livemint.com/2008/01/14234923/Should-private-treaties-be-mad.html; for a more critical view: http://www.thehoot.org/web/home/searchdetail.php?sid=2902&bg=1.


text: I'm looking for android phones that will work with an AT&T / Straight talk sim card. A friend of mine used an Atrix 4G, and iv seen people do it with Iphones. But I don't really know what to look for, I know it needs to be an unlocked phone thats compatible with GSM I think. any help would be great as i'm very new to this sort of thing.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Announcing A New Leadership Resource
This course is designed to allow you the opportunity to discover your unique gifts and recognize "how you handle your gifts and leadership opportunities". This course has been separated into 14 chapters (for each letter in COURAGE vs COWARDS), this course steps you through topics designed to encourage and challenge you towards your Christian leadership goals. You will also have the opportunity to complete action items that are included in each chapter.
Why is it beneficial to take the time to study the differences between "Cowards and Courage"? One purpose is to reveal how easy it is, through multiple circumstances and events, to stray off the pathway of effective leadership. Many are missing out on the accomplishments and successes of reaching goals by practicing leadership habits that are closer to those of
The second purpose is to show that people can withstand the tests in life they will encounter, and to show how a person can get onto the path of effective leadership which they have envisioned for themselves.
See the side bar and order your copy today


text:
Cinco de Mayo Recipes: Moroccan Spiced Fish Tacos
Moroccan Spiced Fish Tacos – Cinco de Mayo Recipes
Creamy hummus and tender salmon seared in harissa makes this taco an unforgettable explosion of fusion flavors in every bite.
Prep time: 30 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes
Ingredients – Mediterranean Salad
4 medium tomatoes, seeds removed, diced
2 cucumbers, seeds removed, diced
1 white onion, diced
4 sprigs fresh oregano, leaves removed, minced
3 medium lemons, juiced, saving one for the blended dressing
3 sprigs flat leaf parsley
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons wine vinegar
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
Ingredients – Fish
2 pounds wild king salmon fillet, skinned and deboned
1/2 cup harissa spice (available at most specialty grocery stores)
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
4 tablespoons of olive oil for searing
Remaining Ingredients
8 ounce container of plain hummus
2 packages of La Tortilla Factory Hand Made Style Tortillas, Yellow or White Corn
1 small head of red cabbage, shredded
Garnish ideas: Greek yogurt
In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, oregano and the juice of two lemons. In a blender or bowl, blend or whisk the juice of one lemon, parsley, garlic, wine vinegar, olive oil and salt; feel free to add more olive oil or vinegar to your preferred taste and consistency. Add the dressing to the salad, sprinkle with feta cheese, toss and set aside.
Line two cookie sheets with foil (for easy clean-up). Generously salt the salmon and cut it into evenly sized pieces that are easy to flip with a spatula. Place the cut fillets on to one of the cookie sheets. Coat fillets with harissa spice on both sides. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a frying pan and sear each piece for 5-7 minutes on each side until blackened, placing the finished pieces on to the other cookie sheet. The inside should be light pink, but not raw in the middle. If the inside of the salmon is too raw, you can finish them off in the oven for a few minutes at 350 degrees. Let salmon rest a few minutes before lightly breaking it apart with a fork.
Heat tortillas on an open gas flame, flipping once or twice to warm and soften, working towards slight burn marks on both sides; or warm tortillas on both sides on a hot skillet. Wrap tortillas in a kitchen cloth to keep from getting cold. To build your taco, place a tortilla on a flat work surface and smear with hummus; top with salmon chunks, shredded cabbage, Mediterranean salad and a dollop of Greek yogurt. Fold in half and love!
Recipe courtesy of
La Tortilla Factory (www.latortillafactory.com)


text:
Too much, too fast, too expensive. Those are some of the objections lawmakers have voiced against the healthcare overhaul Democrats are attempting on Capitol Hill.
But many Americans think Congress is out of touch. How, they wonder, can lawmakers empathize with the underinsured or those lacking insurance when they receive a benefits package -- heavily subsidized by taxpayers -- that most of us can only envy?
Among the advantages: a choice of 10 healthcare plans that provide access to a national network of doctors, as well as several HMOs that serve each member's home state. By contrast, 85% of private companies offering health coverage provide their employees one type of plan -- take it or leave it.
Lawmakers also get special treatment at Washington's federal medical facilities and, for a few hundred dollars a month, access to their own pharmacy and doctors, nurses and medical technicians standing by in an office conveniently located between the House and Senate chambers.


text: If you're to make one music resolution this New Year, make sure it's to check out Lecarla. Named Best International Breakout band in 2010, they have since shared the stage with heavyweights such as Does It Offend You Yeah?, Deaf Havana, Young Guns, The King Blues, My Passion and The Towers Of London. Definitely ones to watch.


text:
Yo' Mama, Mary Mack, and Boudreaux and Thibodeaux
Jeanne Soileau, a teacher in New Orleans and south Louisiana for more than forty years, examines how children's folklore, especially among African Americans, has changed. From the tumult of integration to the present, her experience afforded unique opportunities to observe children as they played. With integration in New Orleans during the 1960s, Soileau notes how children began to play with one another almost immediately. Children taught each other play routines, chants, jokes, jump-rope rhymes, cheers, taunts, and teases--all the folk games that happen in normal play on the street and playground. When adults--the judges and attorneys, the parents, and the politicians--haggled and shouted, children began to hold hands in a circle, fall down together to "Ring around the Rosie," and tease each other in new and creative ways.
Children's ability to adapt can be seen not only in their response to social change, but in how they adopt and utilize pop culture and technology. Vast technological changes in the last third of the twentieth century in uenced the way children sang, danced, played, and interacted. Soileau catalogs these changes and studies how games evolve and transform as much as they are preserved. She includes several topics of study: oral narratives and songs, jokes and tales, and teasing formulae gleaned from mostly African American sources. Because much of the field work took place on public school playgrounds, this body of oral narratives remains of particular interest to teachers, folklorists, linguists, and those who study play.
In the end, Soileau shows that despite the restrictions of air-conditioning, shorter recess periods, ever-increasing hours of television watching, the growing popularity of video games, and carefully scripted after-school activities, many children in south Louisiana sustain traditional games. At the same time, they invent varied and clever new ones. As Soileau observes, children strive through their folk play to learn how to fit into a rapidly changing society.
JEANNE PITRE SOILEAU, New Iberia, Louisiana, was born in New Orleans and taught in Louisiana for forty-seven years. Though retired, she is still actively collecting folklore. Her work has appeared in Louisiana Folklore Miscellany and Western Folklore.
192 pages (approx.), 6 x 9 inches, 18 b&w illustrations, 1 map, appendices, bibliography, index


text:
I need a name for this painting.
It took me almost a year, which I realize sounds ridiculous given that it's basically just a blue background, naked tree and various colored blobs functioning as leaves / petals. And I didn't even paint most of the tree part.
It wasn't an issue of procrastination as much as it was one of wanting (and being able to) do something on my own terms, in my own zone, without deadline or expectations.
I'm not an artist; who cares if it sucks. It's not for work; who cares if I don't finish it.
So each phase of it, I did with deliberation and care. The right music, the right people, the right cocktail.
I did the background first, blue and yellow-gold, on a late January Sunday when it was quite cold and dreary in Nashville and yet there were little pockets of light by mid-afternoon.
My daughter asked if she could have a bunch of friends over to do art projects. I was just like her when I was a kid. Artsy, social, bossy. I'd have friends over and we'd stage elaborate productions for whatever adults we could find to watch them. My poor brother.
Anyway, that Sunday was the beginning of "Sunday Camp," which became a regular happening in our neighborhood. My Lily would invite all her friends over for some project or another, and she'd tell everyone what to do while I'd alternately follow behind them cleaning up or sit outside reading and drinking wine. After a while, I began inviting my own girlfriends and their kids over. My dear friend Courtenay has renamed it "Sunday Camp With Wine".
Anyway, while my daughter and her friends painted flowers and hearts on little 4×6 canvases, I painted a "hopeful" blue sky.
A few weeks later, my friend Fran painted the tree, or most of it.
I hosted a lot of parties and get-togethers this past year, most of them fairly traditional: a garden party when the tulips were in bloom, a shrimp boil at the end of summer, a couple of Christmas parties, the aforementioned Sunday Camps with Wine, etc. But I also held a rather weird one in the dead of winter, shortly after my soon-to-be ex-husband moved out, when I was feeling a tremendous need for company and distraction. For my BYO ABC (Bring Your Own Art, Booze or Crafts) Party, I basically asked people to bring alcohol and something to do so they maybe wouldn't notice my lack of living room furniture or generally strange mood.
I think it shows tremendous loyalty to happily attend a party like that in the dead of winter, especially since (with the exception of one who drove from West End) every single one of them had to come to Franklin from East Nashville. On the other hand, of course the kind of people who'd go to a party like that would live in East Nashville. I mean that with affection.
One friend brought a cross-stitch project. Two brought stool cushions to reupholster. Another brought a kit of electronics and made himself a blinker for his bike. Three opted for booze, sans crafts. One brought her camera and documented the evening. She also painted the tree for me.
I did nothing, really, other than sit there and let the cross-stitch friend play with my hair and the photographer / painter friend take pictures of me on the totally impractical antique sofa I bought just to look pretty in my bedroom. And delegate. That's an art, right? Delegating?
I digress.
Even with the tree more or less done, I let it sit there in my office, bare and unadorned for ten months.
People would come over and see the unfinished artwork sitting on its easel and say, "Oh, you paint?" and I'd say, "Well, no, but I want to."
Or if they'd been to my house more than once, they'd say, "So… What exactly are you gonna do with that tree?"
And I'd tell them the story – or, rather, my recollection of the story – I heard at church in December when I bought the canvas in the first place:
It's Buddhist, and involves a tree made of jewels, and the jewels are multi-faceted, and they appear as different colors depending on the light and distance in which one views them. I thought it was a rather lovely story – a kind of metaphor for life and love – and how I wanted the tree to reflect that, and that when I finished it, I wanted to hang it in my foyer so it would be the first thing anyone saw when they came over because that's what I want people to feel in my house: life and love.
If they weren't afraid to come back to my house after that, they might be brave enough to ask, "When are you going to finish that crazy emo tree painting?" and I'd say, "You know, when I feel it. When I feel it, yo."
Anyway, today – after a most awesome holiday season and everything from John Prine and Johnny Cash to Tristen and Josh Rouse playing – I felt it.
Cheers – (life and love! maybe a cocktail or a playlist!) – to whoever figures out what to call it.
If I name it myself, it could take another year.


text:
A good start to my "design a day" challenge - two designs in one evening! Hurrah!
You can see my original sketches for them in this post if you're interested in such things. I also cut out lots of pretty coloured bits of felt for pink poppies and purple dahlias:
My mother is visiting at the moment to help me paint the house (she has painting skills and also owns handy things like ladders!). She approves of the mushrooms :)
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
365 / 226 - A House and some Mushrooms
Posted by Bugs and Fishes at 18:04
Labels: new designs, works in progress
5 comments:
- Matouchka said...
yep, the mushrooms are really good!
- 2 April 2008 at 19:00
- cutedesigns said...
Love the mushrooms. :D
- 2 April 2008 at 19:02
oh! those mushrooms look delicious! x
- 2 April 2008 at 21:11
- laurie said...
What lovely mushrooms- the browns are great, but that little cottage is so darling too! :)
- 3 April 2008 at 05:13
- JammerSage said...
Oh my cutest little cottage! I LOVE IT!
- 3 April 2008 at 14:41
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text:
Remember this massive pile of now-clean laundry in my living room???
I took it down!!!
I had one pile for each person in our family, plus one extra pile for
"linens etc", and one pile for socks and underwear.
It really didn't take very long. Maybe 15 minutes to sort the whole pile.
When I was done sorting, I put each pile in a laundry basket or
So our laundry is still a big mess, however at least if you know who's clothes you're looking for you know which pile to go to. I'm working like mad to organize our closets and get our laundry put away for the Closet Powwow! Ahhhh!
Do you love how I have my pile of clothes is twice the size of every other pile? ;-)
trash bag and labeled each accordingly.
Do you love how I have my pile of clothes is twice the size of every other pile? ;-)
Never in my adult life have I kept our clothes clean and put away. It's been a long journey to get this far with my laundry. I really hope I pull this off by the Closet Powwow!!!
*Reminder* March 5-8 We're having our Closet Powwow! I'll post a Mr. Linky so you can all show your closet posts off. Old or new, and feel free to post as many as you like! See you here then!


text:
The Scottish Medicines Consortium has endorsed the use of seven new drugs on the National Health Service, including two biosimilars.
First up, the cost regulator has agreed that GlaxoSmithKline's Tafinlar (dabrafenib) should be considered a treatment option for certain types of melanoma which cannot be removed surgically or have spread to other parts of the body. The drug offers an alternative therapy which is as effective as others currently available but comes with a different side-effect profile, the SMC noted.
Novartis' Jakavi (ruxolitinib) has been cleared for enlarged spleen or symptoms in adults with primary myeolfibrosis. Patient groups and clinicians taking part in the appraisal spoke about the debilitating symptoms patients suffer as a result, and as there are no medical treatments that effectively address these symptoms Jakavi can greatly improve patients' quality of life, the Committee said.
Elsewhere, two new biosimilar formulations of infliximab - Hospira's Inflectra and Celltrion's Remsima (distrubuted by Napp) - were accepted for restricted use, in line with the current advice in Scotland for reference product Remicade. The drug is used to treat joint conditions such rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, the gastrointestinal conditions Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and psoriasis. "The managed introduction of these biosimilar preparations is expected to yield savings for the NHS as they are generally cheaper than the originator product," the SMC noted.
Gilead's Zydelig (idelalisib) was backed for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), the most common form of leukaemia. Specifically, the SMC accepted the drug for use in patients with relapsed CLL who are unsuitable for chemotherapy and as a first line treatment for patients who have specific genetic changes which mean they are unsuitable for chemo-immunotherapy.
Sticking with Gilead, Harvoni (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir) was also accepted for restricted use in the treatment of certain types of chronic hepatitis C in adults. Consent has been given by the SMC for its use in patients with genotype 1 and 4 forms of the disease, offering the prospect of a cure from the infection.
Pfizer/Bristol-Myers Squibb's bloodthinner Eliquis (apixaban) made it in for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism and prevention of their recurrence in adults. The drug is already in use in Scotland for the prevention of DVT in adults undergoing hip and knee surgery and also for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in adults with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.
On the downside, Swedish Orphan's ultra-orphan drug Cometriq (cabozantinib) was not recommended as a treatment for a rare type of thyroid cancer, because of "uncertainties around the clinical benefits and tolerability".


text:
Run away from a busy street that's full of people (and likely to have a police box, which might be handy), into an empty office building in a desolate area?
That's what Yuki, the protagonist of Mirai Nikki, does after reading the details of his impending death from his future-predicting cell phone. (Like clockwork, he also follows the horror movie habit of fleeing his pursuer by moving to a higher floor.)
When Yuki later learns the rules of the battle royale that he and the other people who own future-predicting cell phones have to participate in, he protests that the future outlined on his phone changed even though he didn't do anything to change his future. So killing the person who the phone predicted would kill him doesn't count? Even though Yuki is an idiot, this episode has two interesting points: the other battle royale participants placing Yuki highest on their target list as a result of his being over-credited for 3's killing, and the only real ally Yuki has being his stalker. I predict that she will do some gut-wrenchingly immoral things to protect Yuki, whether they're necessary or not, freaking him out even more. Will he be willing and able to piss her off by completely rejecting her? As idiotic as Yuki is, I'll give this series another shot to see what the real survival game is like.
My impression of the OVA was lukewarm, but I liked the first episode of the TV series quite a bit. It shows Fuu before she moves back to the charming, old-fashioned small town where her family used to live, when she's still grieving for her dad. She returns to photography, a hobby she hadn't pursued since her father died because he did it also. This was a poignant episode that could have easily stood on its own as a short film.
The second episode, taking place after Fuu moves, is about Fuu and her new group of friends deciding to have a sleep over. It was pleasant enough, but became heart-tugging again at the end, darn it. ^_^;
Admittedly, I still haven't finished Ikoku Meiro. Ikoku Meiro is a heart-warming show with likeable characters, but it hasn't compelled me to finish it. I probably will eventually. I just don't feel like adding another laid-back, feel-good Satou Junichi show to my watch list right now.
I finished Blood-C. It became interesting towards the end, but pissed me off again when the entire series turned out to be a 12 episode long advertisement for the Blood-C movie. I would give Blood-C a D and No. 6 a B.
From what premiered this past summer, I'm still keeping up with Morita-san ha Mukuchi and Penguindrum. (I have watched episode 14 of Penguindrum. Holy crap, that ending.)
This will be my only post for this week.
Update on 10/22: Oh. D'oh. Just found out that Fate/Zero is planned for two seasons. The second season will air in the spring. Yay!


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Teardown: Misfit Shine Activity Tracker
More than just fancy pedometers, a whole new class of mobile devices are flooding the market, designed to make us more aware of our own physical activity. And in this emerging market jam-packed with competitors like Nike, Garmin, and Fitbit, the Misfit Shine is easily the… prettiest. Hardly bigger than a US Quarter and barely thicker than a pencil, it can be worn anywhere on the body and looks more like a piece of jewelry than a high tech activity tracker. But can you really fit a fully functional fitness tracker in something that size? There's only one way to find out…
Don't Open 'Til Doomsday
Getting into the Shine turns out not to be that hard. After popping open the case like you're changing the battery, anything sharp will pop the retaining ring off of the pcb and give you access to this:
Wow! That's a lot of stuff in such a small package!
There are really three parts to the Shine, everything else on the board is essentially just there to support these three. Let's examine each part and how it helps the Shine track your fitness:
Brains of the Operation
The EFM32 Leopard Gecko microcontroller from Silicon Labs is the controller that keeps this whole operation in one piece. The Leopard Gecko is a 32-bit microcontroller based on an ARM Cortex-M3 core. It comes packed with energy saving features that make it ideal for this kind of application.
Of particular note is the Leopard Gecko's low-energy sensor interface which plays a big role in the Shine's advertised 4-month battery life. The low-energy sensor interface allows the EFM32's peripherals to communicate independently of the core (gathering accelerometer data, for instance) and allowing the core to stay in energy saving mode.
The Leopard Gecko's 256k of program storage and 48MHz processing speed are also well suited to this application since the Shine not only has to store and process sensor data using complex algorithms, but also has to communicate that processed data using the (somewhat sizable) Bluetooth low energy software stack.
A Sense of Purpose
Of course just wearing a microprocessor on your sleeve won't tell you a lot about your fitness. To get a handle on what you're up to, the Shine relies on the LIS3DH Accelerometer from STMicro, another ultra low-power part. This tiny LGA-16 package saves real estate on the PCB but still serves up acceleration data at speeds up to 5kHz.
Communication is Key
Collecting and processing sensor data is a neat trick, but, if you can't ever get to that data, what good is it? Transmitting the data wirelessly is the perfect way to get it out of the device, but it takes a lot of power to send things over air. To solve this problem, Misfit is taking advantage of the brand-newish Bluetooth Low Enegry (BLE) protocol. The device behind that ability is the CC2541 Bluetooth SoC by Texas Instruments. With its programmable output power and low energy operation, the CC2541 does its part to keep the battery healthy too.
All Together Now
If I had to guess what's going on in there, which I do, I'd say that the Leopard Gecko is spending 98% of its time in power saving mode, only waking up on boot, when syncronizing, and after detecting a double or triple tap event. The accelerometer data probably gets processed either at synchronize time or when some buffer gets filled with raw data… maybe both? Either way, I'm almost sure that your phone never receives raw accelerometer data.
People who have reviewed the Shine online say that it doesn't usually live up to its 4 month battery life promise, but it still lasts impressively long on a standard coin cell battery. Using low energy parts and keeping everything in power-save mode as long as possible has a lot to do with that.
The Unexplained
I tried to find some way of hacking the firmware on this, but I didn't have any luck identifying a point of entry. I probed every test pin and package lead that I could reach, but I couldn't find anything interesting on the logic analyzer. The controller, being a BGA package, wasn't very accessible from a hardware hacking standpoint. Ultimately I gave up hope on trying to figure things out on the device side.
Because the Shine is a Bluetooth Low Energy device, however, I figured it might be possible to get some information on the host side. I downloaded a utility for my smartphone that reads BLE device attributes and connected to the Shine. Unfortunately, there didn't seem to be any way for me to access the sensor data form that end either. For anyone interested, though, here's what I was was able to find out using the BLE utility…
After connecting to the device, you have access to 4 services, which are basically categories of attributes that can be read, written, or otherwise manipulated. Generic Access, Generic Attribute, and Device Information are all standard services on the BLE protocol and will give you things like this:
Device Name (UUID 0x2A00): Shine
Appearance (UUID 0x2A01): [1088] Generic: Running Walking Sensor
Firmware Revision String (UUID 0x2A26): 0.0.50r
Not very interesting. You can also get your device serial number and stuff like that. There's another service on the device, and it's a proprietary service with its own UUID that I won't bother typing here. It has writable characteristics, but, without knowing what I'm doing, I'm reluctant to try writing to them. They may not even be related to the primary function of the device.
I guess some things will remain a black box. I threw the device back together, and I'm going wear it for a while to see how it holds up! After all, even if you can't hack it, Misfit has hinted at the release of an API in the future, and we can all look forward to that.
Resources and Going Further
If you enjoyed this teardown (or even if you didn't, heck) then check out these other SparkFun teardowns:
And for more information on Bluetooth and accelerometers, check out these tutorials:
Happy Hacking!


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Peel watershed: Yukon government files appeal
Minister Scott Kent says government must 'have final say' regarding Crown land
The issue of land use planning in the Peel River watershed is going back to court now that the Yukon government has announced it will appeal a decision of the Yukon Supreme Court.
"We decided to appeal this because we believe that public governments must have the final say about what happens on public land," says Scott Kent, Yukon's minister of Energy, Mines and Resources.
In a historic ruling Dec. 2, Yukon Supreme Court Justice Ron Veale found that the Yukon government's modifications to the Peel land use plan did not respect the land use planning process set out in the territory's final agreements with First Nations.
The court ruled the Yukon government had acted in a manner "inconsistent with the honour and integrity of the Crown" by introducing new concepts to a discussion on land use after consultations had ended and said the remedy is for the Yukon government to return to consultations on the final recommended land use plan.
Kent says the court`s decision places unfair limits on the government's power to manage Crown land.
"We feel the remedy imposed by the Supreme Court too severely limits the public government`s ability to make decisions about public lands," he said.
Appeal announced after end of session
The government's decision to appeal was announced after the closing of Yukon's Legislative Assembly's fall session, in which the Peel watershed was one of the biggest issues.
Opposition MLA Kate White, who represents Takhini-Kopper-King, said the decision to appeal was a surprise.
"We asked (the government) direct questions about whether they were going to appeal and we didn't get answers," she said.
The government had a 30-day window to file an appeal. The announcement was made three days before deadline.
Kent says it took "some time for officials and our legal council to analyze the decision," and says the Yukon Party discussed the issue in caucus.
"It was felt that proceeding with an appeal was the right thing to do and the responsible thing to do."
The case will be heard by the Yukon Court of Appeal.
No date for the hearing has been set.
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Dearest friends,
You are invited to share this special service where we come together to remember those no longer with us.
Date: Friday 4th November 2016
Time: 7:00pm
Where: All Hallows Church – 2 Halley St, Five Dock NSW 2046
Tea and coffee with be served immediately after mass and we welcome you to bring a plate of sweets to share amongst friends.
We will be showing a photo slideshow during the mass of our loved ones lost over the years, should you wish to include a family member or friend please provide the name and a photo to a committee member or via firstname.lastname@example.com no later than 31st October 2016.
We look forward to seeing you there.


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This is rather interesting, at least it is if you are someone, or know someone, who has a fatigue or immune-system-broken condition (ME, CFS, CFSID, Fibro, Behcets, Lupus etc etc).
I started this year on a low-lectin diet. Lectins are the stuff produced by plants to put animals off eating them. They're poisons, in other words. Some are mild irritants. Some are powerful enough to kill people. Ricin – that stuff used to assassinate the fellow who was stabbed with the umbrella – that's a lectin, from the castor oil bean. Many beans we think of as quite familiar have to be prepared very carefully, or they're quite poisonous.
The big culprits as far as lectins go are all grains – everything in the grass family – (yes, including quinoa, oats – ALL GRAINS, yo); the "nightshade family" – which is potatoes, tomatoes, aubergines; and beans. And dairy. Yeah.
What was striking was how successful this diet was. I felt quite different – not cured, certainly, but tons better, and free of the "hellbox" periods I am so accustomed to "normally". Unfortunately I then got ill for other reasons, and when I'm ill, I have the most desperate need to eat carbohydrates. Carbs means grains. Guess the rest.
I wasn't sure whether lectins were the problem. The thing is, the low-lectin diet is identical to the low-histamine diet (which to my mind suggests simply that lectins may trigger histamine production, which would make sense, but I'm probably wrong). I did have a problem with histamine, before adopting the diet.
But by dint of excluding the whole grass family from the diet, a low-lectin diet is also gluten-free. So was that really the reason I felt better?
However, it's worth mentioning that – similar to Esther's daughter's story – the other thing that was cut out of my diet at that time was carbohydrates. I had no sugar. Of necessity: most carbs involve grains or beans or nightshades. And chocolate is a bean. *sobs*
I know that when I am well-ish, a very low carb / organic / no grasses or nightshades or beans / simple food lifestyle seems to perpetuate my remaining well, and that – external stressors aside (you know, life events, or catching an illness from someone etc), I can trundle along like that reasonably comfortably. It doesn't make me WELL. It just reduces my likelihood of plunging into relapse.
Well, over the last few days, having slowly wormed my way out of relapse, I have gone back on my limited diet, and I am already feeling vastly improved. So [INSERT TRITE CONCLUSION].
Actually, I'm not going to draw a conclusion. I am eating this way. I feel better at the moment. There may or may not be a correlation. If I were not already feeling better, I would not be able to eat this way. So it's almost like: if your health is already trending up, you can adopt habits which will assist you in trending further up. If your health is trending down, you cannot adopt those habits and the tendency is for you to adopt habits which cause you to trend further down.
In both cases, in my experience, the trigger isn't the diet, but the pre-existing trend.
Even if there IS a correlation between a low carb / no grasses diet and improved health, I know that if something stresses me or if I become ill (getting upset about something, or catching a cold etc), I will go downhill again, and when that happens, I will come off this diet and go back on the carbs, gluten and lectins of sheer necessity. Perhaps if you have someone who can cook (and go out and buy) healthy food for you when you're trending down, it wouldn't end in relapse. I wouldn't know. I do know full well that if you're ill and having to look after yourself unassisted, there is no choice but carbs, when you can't stand. That's just how it goes. Sometimes dried goods are the only food you have left in the house. Sometimes the biggest effort you are capable of is opening a packet of something (ha ha – with scissors – because when you're in relapse you can't grip anything), and tipping the packet. But it's not just about availability: there's also a powerful biological requirement for carbs during a relapse. My body just can't process anything more tiring than straight glucose. It wants simple sugars. That is all it wants.
I should perhaps go and get tested to see if I am "Coeliac". But my experience of the medical profession is so relentlessly pointless that I don't really see what's to be gained. If they slap another label on me, what changes? Either I am well enough to provide myself with a decent diet, or I am not. If I am not, the last thing I need is a doctor beefing on at me about what I "should" be doing, when I'm hanging off the cliff face by my fingernails again.


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It's that time of year when friends get together and bake up a holiday storm, creating sweet treats to be served at parties or boxed up and given as gifts. This week, we'll share a few ideas you could try out during your bake-a-thon. Today's incredibly simple but incredibly tasty recipe comes from the website, food.com.
2 egg whites
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts or 1 cup pecans
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For directions on how to prepare this recipe, follow this link.


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Welcome to Cushman Forest Products, Inc.! Our family has met the rigorous, always changing demands of the region's lumber industry for more than 30 years—honoring our history with hard work and dedication to our customers with a readiness to take on the challenges ahead.
We invite you to explore our web site for a better understanding of all the services we provide, particularly those at the most recent addition to our operation, a fully modern scragg mill. Then, contact us for more information, to set up an appointment or to learn more about doing business the Cushman way. We look forward to making your acquaintance.


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Earth's Largest Land Surveyor Community
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Started this discussion. Last reply by Roy Daniel Oct 21, 2014. 7 Replies 1 Favorite
Hi,In 1959 a government agency bought some land and their take line was described as N 73 deg. 33 min. 40 sec. E for 682.84 feet. The adjacent land was sold in 1984 and this same line was expressed…Read more →
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Boxer Troy Waters dies aged 53 after battle with leukaemia
Former junior middleweight world title boxing contender Troy Waters has died at the age of 53 following a long battle with leukaemia.
One of three boxing brothers, each of who won a national title and fought internationally, Waters was one of Australia's most stylish, accomplished and successful fighters of the 1980s and 1990s.
He unsuccessfully challenged for a world title on three occasions.
He was outpointed by Italy's IBF world champion Ginafranco Rosi in 1989.
Waters then had title shots in the 1990s against two of the most feared and respected fighters of the era.
He was stopped in the third round of a brief but memorable WBC super welterweight bout in San Diego in 1993 by American superstar Terry Norris, who Waters dropped in the second.
The second round of the bout was later described by The Ring Magazine as the "round of the year".
His last attempt was in 1994, when he lost a decision to Jamaica's WBC titleholder Simon Brown.
Waters fought for the last time in 1998, finishing with a professional record of 28-5 with 20 knock-outs.
Topics: boxing, sport, wamberal-2260
First posted


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This Digital Wall Art features a large scale manga style illustration.
This Wall Art comes in 6 easy to hang panels (each panel is 45cm wide x 280cm high).
This Wall Art can also be re-scaled or coloured to your exact specification. Contact Sales Team for further information.
Please allow up to 28 days for delivery.


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At nearly 30M vehicles, the number of GM recalled vehicles this year is staggering, and the recalls keep coming. If you own a GM vehicle, you need to find out what recalls and service updates have been issued for your car or truck. Any year, any model, any GM brand, you need to do your research and get your vehicle to the dealer for these updates – many involve substantial issues such as airbag failure, electric assist steering failure, fuel leaks and more. Listed below are several sources where reliable GM recall information is available.
How to Find GM Recall Information for My Vehicle
GM Recalls Record Number of Vehicles in 2014
At last count GM has issued recalls for nearly 30M vehicles in 2014, and the list is growing. For perspective, consider that GM produces less than 10M vehicles a year, meaning GM has recalled more vehicles this year than it produced in the last three years combined. This smashes the previous single-year manufacturer record, and we're only in August. "GM's recalls eclipse Ford Motor Co.'s previous single-year record for a company of 23.3 million in 2001. With 64.6 million cars and trucks on U.S. roads, according to Experian, GM is calling back the equivalent of 40 percent of its vehicles." Automotive News 8 July 2014.
Also, consider that recalls are only released for substantial safety issues, not for any and all defect issues. As stated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: "When is a recall necessary? When there is a safety-related defect in the vehicle or equipment." NHTSA – Motor Vehicle Safety Defects and Recalls Campaigns. Recalls are serious and not released merely for broken cup holders or radio knobs. If you have pending recalls, you need to know!
For more help or an attorney referral in your area, please Contact Us!
Where Can I Find GM Recall Information?
You may be tempted to contact your local dealer and leave it at that. In fact, that is what GM is telling owners to do: "Contact your preferred Certified Service Dealer". However, the volume of recall information released combined with GM's documented history of mismanaging defect information gives you about 30M reasons to do your own homework and not rely solely on GM mailings or dealer phone calls for your safety recall information.
Luckily, independent sources of information are available. For detailed instructions on finding the most complete service information for any vehicle see my previous post: How to Find Recall Information and Bulletins. For quick and reliable recall-only information check the following sources:
NHTSA at SaferCar.gov – Recall Search (vehicle specific)
CNN hosted recall list (all vehicles, searchable)
GM hosted recall list (all vehicles, non-searchable)
The NHTSA site is your best bet for reliable, current and detailed info for your vehicle – try it first. For the fastest overview without details try the CNN list – it's searchable with summary information and is fairly up to date. The GM's list is the most current, including last week's releases, but is a non-searchable graphic requiring keen eyes and a magnifying glass. Other lists can be found at the Wall Street Journal and USA Today but they have not been updated since June and are already 60 days out of date so use only for quick corroboration, if at all: WSJ and USA Today.
GM claims also to provide vehicle specific recall information through a website set up for that purpose at recalls.gm.com where owners can enter their vehicle VIN# for pending recalls. However, I tried 4 different vehicles (2007 Chevy Cobalt, 2008 Saturn Outlook, 2009 Pontiac G6, 2014 Chevy Camaro) and received a system error on each attempt. I finally received the following "system unavailable message" below – at least they're consistent.
GM will release millions of recalls and service advisories this year, but with GM's historically poor record of information handling, I cannot stress enough the importance of doing your own investigating. I recommend not only searching for recalls, but also doing the full search with the methods listed here: How to Find Recall Information and Bulletins. As stated in the previous article, most information for non-safety related service messages are released only to the dealers and not to you, even if you are entitled to receive the part upgrade or replacement under warranty. If you want to know for sure, do your homework before calling the dealer. It is the only way to make sure you get the most complete repairs to which you are entitled at your scheduled service appointment.
Can I use the Lemon Law?
Vehicle defects are actionable under the lemon law after they have been a recurring issue subject to several repairs. See my previous article on the effect of recalls on the lemon law: Brake Defects, Lemon Law Eligible. The general rule is that only after an authorized dealer has tried and failed to fix any problems are you able to use the lemon law to get out of your vehicle. If you haven't seen the problem, you probably haven't yet asked your dealer to fix it, so you may not yet be able to seek lemon law assistance even with the flood of recalls this year. I suspect the vast majority of the vehicles covered under the 2014 recalls will be asymptomatic and not subject to the lemon law. However, if you previously made complaints about a problem now covered under a new recall, GM's confirmation of multiple defects may be welcome news.
If you have taken your vehicle to the dealer on at least three prior occasions complaining of problems, you are now likely eligible to make a claim. Never mind that the dealer may have changed no parts or performed only limited diagnosis on those previous occasions. The defining criterion is that you made the complaint and presented your vehicle for repairs. Now that the defect(s) are proven by a recall, you may be able to part ways with a troublesome vehicle.
Time to File a Lemon Law Claim
If the dealer was unable to fix your vehicle despite several repair attempts, you should explore the possibility of filing a claim under the lemon law. The lemon law entitles you to your own legal counsel at the manufacturer's expense so there's no reason not to make a call and find someone to help. Most consumer attorneys provide the initial consultation at no-cost. Even if you don't have a case yet, you're only out the phone call and will have gained very useful information for the future.
For more help or an attorney referral in your area, please Contact Us!


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Two Tools Required for a Freelance Developer to Accomplish Anything
Is it possible to work on multiple projects at once? Yes, it is, but you need these tools to accomplish it.
Recently, I received an email from someone asking how I could work on seven projects at once.
Like I wrote before in a previous post, it wasn't easy, but I was able to accomplish it (and I was definitely tired because of it).
When it rains, it pours
Here's a little background of what happened.
Rewind back to 2009. I was just let go from a consulting position because the client didn't need consultants. So I was a little panicky. With the economy trying to recover, I looked to my side business to find other work that would possibly help me out while searching for a full-time position.
During that time, I asked around and received a warm welcome from people who were looking for small web projects. Sure, some of these projects were small, but there was one that was larger than all of them. It was TriYou, a social network for media junkies. This project is continuing to grow and link people up with their favorite media (sorry for the shameless plug).
After acquiring four side projects, I also had three personally-invested websites that needed work as well before releasing them. Even though I was swamped, I wanted to make sure I wasn't creating any future technical debt.
So how did I finish seven projects within three months?
Two tools that can accomplish anything
Leveraged Code
Over the years, I have worked at numerous places where developers wrote code to build a system for a client and then turn around and rewrite that code again instead of reusing it. How insane is that? When you write your code, that piece of code should be in your arsenal for future projects (provided you don't have any legal obligations between you and your client).
There are several steps in leveraging your code to become more useful:
- Code Genericly - Make your code as generic as possible.
- Test the code - Make sure you test your code to provide a stable class, method, or extension no matter what is passed into it.
- and more importantly, DO NOT CODE A Presentation Layer - If your functional code works perfectly, it won't matter whether you have a mobile device, desktop, or web page, your back-end code will just work!
Your leveraged code should become more like Lego pieces.
As you continue to build your library, certain pieces of your code will logically connect and you will start building your library. My library contains routines such as blogging, general extension methods, forums routines, registration forms...the list goes on. The idea is that I've built them and tested them over the years.
Systems are what will build off of your library. Since you already have leveraged code in your library, you can apply that code to your system. I firmly believe in the 80/20 rule. Generate 80% of what the client wants quickly and code the remaining 20% around their specific rules.
Whatever your development skills, your library will grow over time. Organize it into a TESTED weapons that you can immediately start using that code without even thinking about "Now, how am I going to write that?"
This library of code will eventually become your systems.
"What do you mean systems?" you ask.
My "lego" pieces are broken into (aptly named) systems. These "systems" will be large frameworks that you can plug into any system and immediately extend it. This is why I decided to specialize my skills on the ASP.NET MVC framework, T4, and Project Templates. Oh, you need a forum for your web site? Include your Forum System into your web site and add the Forum controller. You are done. Something that takes someone 1 month to build is constructed over a weekend thanks to your system.
Do you have any examples?
Here is another example of leveraging your code and building systems.
I've built a general purpose CMS (Content Management System) as a shell using MEF (Managed Extensibility Framework).
So anytime I have a new client coming on board who wants to manage their web site, I use Visual Studio to create a new MEF module for that client from a project template I built. It plugs into my CMS and displays their site-specific information in their brand new tab. If they need work done on it, I changed the single module and upload it. I'm done. The shell doesn't change.
When you have these systems in place, you can move forward with numerous projects and when someone asks you for a web site, you can almost immediately provide something for them in a matter of weeks instead of a matter of months.
How do you leverage your code? Do you have any systems in place? Post your comments below.


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Nottingham's St Patrick's Festival Under ThreatPlease Donate Now!
The current situation for the 2017 Festival & Parade is not good. Funds are urgently required. May we ask you to donate a £1 or what ever you can afford on the Festival Golden Giving page. Thank you.
Click on the play button below to hear interviews with our own Paul Curtis and others by CBJ News. (If the embedded audio player is not working, download an mp3.)


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I have wanted to go out to the reef for the longest time. After all, our wonderful Florida reef is not only the ONLY living reef system in the continental US, no, it is also the third largest in the world (after the Great Barrier Reef and the Belize Barrier Reef). Roughly speaking, the reef runs all the way from Biscayne Bay down to the Marquesas Keys off Key West, following the curvature of the Keys. The added bonus: it is extremely accessible being just a few miles offshore.
The Florida reef is absolutely ideal for exploring either on a private boat, with a boat rental or on one of the organized tours. I can highly recommend John Pennekamp and their wonderfully kind and experienced staff and boat captains. In fact, as I am writing this, I could kick myself for not having gone on one of their trips sooner. I am a wimp though, you see, so the conditions (weather and ocean) have to be 'just right' for me to even consider jumping into the ocean offshore.
After having snorkeled the reef, I believe everybody should see this beauty and 'other world' at least once in their lives. Not only that, it has also made me more resolved in wanting to protect this unique and fragile habitat. If you have never been snorkeling, it feels like entering another planet altogether. It's silent, beautiful and truly magical. I am hoping this wimpy post will give all those courage who have been hesitating!
First Attempt – Ended Up Back In The Boat Quickly
John Pennekamp Trips Are A Perfect Introduction To Snorkeling – Especially For Wimps!
Here's my favorite excuse when it comes to swimming without being able to touch the bottom: I was born and bred in a (more or less) landlocked country. It is tough to try and learn at 40 what others learn at 5. I basically swim like a grandma, head out of water and constantly looking around me for any scary creatures. No offense to grandmas, most of them are better swimmers than me in this day and age…
If, for whatever reason, you are nervous when faced with the ocean, snorkeling equipment, or simply the idea of getting off a boat and jumping right into the deep, let me tell you: I have all of those problems and more. I also forget how to breathe when faced with a snorkel and have accidentally tried to breathe through my nose before! Yup. I know it sounds almost impossible for anyone with half a brain cell, but there it is. Suffice to say it made me learn quickly.
I have tried to practice from the beach, which definitely helps to at least get accustomed to the gear. It is not quite the same as snorkeling in the ocean where you can't just stand up, adjust your mask and relax for a bit, but I do recommend trying it before going on the trip. Luckily, there is a nice gently sloping beach at John Pennekamp, where you can 'have a go' at snorkeling before jumping into the big old ocean.
Practicing On Virginia Key – Does my lip look big in this?
When To Go And What To Expect
I may be stating the obvious, but whether you're a wimp or not it is best to go in calm weather, calm winds to be precise. Not only will it be much easier for those new to snorkeling but importantly: the visibility is most likely much better than when the sea is stirred up.
The other important piece of advice regarding John Pennekamp tours is: reserve your spot early to avoid disappointment. I provide further information on trips and the park at the end of this post. I can only imagine how sought-after these tours are, considering there are various throughout the day and ours was full in September (considered off-season although I don't believe there is such a thing in the Keys anymore).
We checked the weather forecast a day before and made our decision then. If you can do the same, I recommend it. You don't want to be put off by waves and wind, and I was pretty adamant that anything over 8-10mph east winds was not going to be good for my wimpy self. We were lucky to get one of those rare days when wind was under 8mph.
It was in fact a gorgeous day!
The boat we went on was small enough to feel personal, but as we got on, we briefly wondered how all the people in line would fit on it. Well, they did and it didn't seem too cramped either. Once we all had our seats, grabbed our inflatable life preservers and got a little induction talk from the captain, we set off to the reef!
I Look Scared – My Husband Looks Happy
First of all, the two lovely men who were running this excursion made sure we could work the inflatable life preservers. My advice is to make sure that strap around your torso is tight, else that thing will rise up and try to strangle you – I speak from experience. Getting strangled and being obstructed by the life vest on your first ever snorkel trip doesn't exactly feel fun. It was in fact my first panicky moment until I deflated that thing a bit.
Of course, if you are a really good swimmer and want to dive down, just don't blow that thing up! You will have to wear a life preserver though, as it is a requirement for insurance purposes. It is also for your own safety, obviously, as you will be in the open ocean.
The boat trip out to the reef was lovely and really didn't take long, around 20 minutes, I think. The boat is really fast and fun! During the trip, the staff was explaining a few things and offered advice. They also offered a quick snorkeling class as soon as we were moored safely. Great for beginners who don't have a clue! The captain and first mate were both so very helpful and patient, for example showing people how to wear the mask correctly. They had anti-fogging spray available for everyone and even (turned out to be my savior) noodles!
Then it was time to get into the water!
Doesn't This Look Like Pure Fun?
Here is where the wimp in me surfaced (no pun intended): my main problem was the mask sliding off my face and trying to breathe calmly. Why is that so difficult? Breathing should be simple, after all we do it automatically all the time. Somehow it suddenly seemed complicated when faced with a snorkel. Does anyone else have this problem?
Slightly Panic Stricken – Still Getting Water Into My Mask!
As I hopped hopefully off the boat in Key Largo's Pennekamp, everything happened at once: the evil life preserver tried to strangle me, the mask slid off, I forgot how to breathe through my mouth (how is this even possible?), and I was back on the boat and deflated within two minutes! I told my husband: 'bye bye, go and enjoy yourself'. I got grumpy. I was just about to throw all my toys out of my pram when:
The lovely captain and first mate from the boat (two older salty sea dogs) came to my rescue! They encouraged me, threw a noodle my way and told me to just float on it when I felt tired or overwhelmed and adjust myself and my gear calmly. They helped me with mask and life preserver, and reassuringly kept a watchful eye over me and all the other nervous first-timers. I felt in great hands and from then on the panic disappeared completely! It took just a few minutes before I was happily floating in bliss on my noodle, entering a totally new and amazing world. Just look at this:
So if you happen to be a wimp like me, or haven't snorkeled for a long time and are a little nervous, this really is the perfect trip. If you are an experienced snorkeler, you will enjoy this trip too, because you can just hop off the boat without much ado and explore the reef to your heart's content for over an hour!
I Finally Got The Hang Of It And So Will You
Where Were We And What Did We See?
Our boat took us to North Dry Rocks Reef just east of John Pennekamp. This area is also where the 'Christ of the Abyss' statue is found, so it is a pretty popular spot. In fact, most people come to see this statue so they warn you at the park that not all boats will go to this reef and it depends on conditions and on how busy the area is. I didn't care as I just wanted to see fish! However, my husband came back with some great GoPro footage from the statue and the sunlight shining on it which made it look pretty spectacular.
Just Look At The Color Of That Water!
I was mostly fascinated by huge purple fan coral and all the other inhabitants of the reef, it looked like a gigantic underwater forest with lots of tropical colorful fish going about their daily business. Schools of sergeant major, blue tang and parrotfish surrounded us, as well as snappers and barracudas. The color of some of the parrotfish was unbelievably bright – turquoises, pinks, oranges and yellows – it is hard to believe that nature produces such vivid and amazing colors!
Parrotfish And Yellow Tail Snapper
The best part for wimps: you don't even have to swim far from the boat to see all this! Being a weak swimmer, I was constantly aware of where the boat was and of my distance to it – not much of a distance. I never got too far away and yet saw the same amazing underwater life as those who swam further out on the reef towards the statue.
For all those first timers, wimps and also for younger kids: this trip is ideal for you!
What About Sharks?
Ok, this question is not as silly as you may think! Of course we have all kinds of sharks in these waters and you may encounter one. Consider yourself lucky if you do! Firstly, sharks are most active at night. Secondly, the type of sharks you will see here are not usually the aggressive type. I was pretty jealous of one couple who said they saw a big nurse shark sitting on the bottom of the reef. Those guys really keep themselves to themselves and are bottom dwellers/bottom feeders and pretty cute, I think!
The 'scariest' things I saw on this trip were jelly fish. We were told that we could get close to them and swim away, as they are pretty slow moving. Slower moving than me, in fact. I didn't get stung. Other than that I saw a couple of decent sized barracudas, but again, they kept themselves to themselves and observed us at a distance. Sometimes it is hard to tell who is watching who, so many fish came up to me and swam right up to my mask to check me out, mostly sergeant majors (the little yellow guys with black stripes). I loved that. It truly is a magical experience in so many ways.
Way Back – This Trip Ended Much Too Soon
It was only a short trip but we were pretty tired afterwards and I was glad we didn't start off with one of the longer 4 1/2 hour trips. It was a great little excursion for a wimp like me. To round off the day we had a beer at the Caribbean Club – great place for that relaxed and quirky Keys feel and watching boats coming in and out off their boat ramp. Cheers!
A Well Deserved Pit-Stop At The Caribbean Club
Details Of Various Trips And John Pennekamp General Information
There are different trips on offer here and some, such as the glass bottom boat tour, cater to those who don't want to get wet yet see the amazing underwater world. Great for those who are not able or not willing to snorkel and the very young and very old.
The Glass Bottom Boat runs several times a day (9:15am, 12:15, 3:15pm) and costs $24 per adult, $17 for children up to 11 years of age. It is free for toddlers (up to 3 years of age). This tour takes you out to Molasses reef and is about 2 1/2 hours long.
John Pennekamp offers short and long snorkeling tours (as well as private charters). We went on a short tour, mainly because it was my first time and I needed to figure out whether I could do this snorkeling thing for an hour, before attempting to do it for 4 hours.
All tours are subject to minimum numbers and at the time of writing, the short tours are about 2 1/2 hours long and take place at these times: 9am, 10:30am, 12 noon, 3pm and 4:30pm. The cost is $29.95 per person and $24.95 for kids under 18. The longer tours (4 1/2 hours) run twice a day, at 9am and 1:45pm and are $38.95 per person. The longer tours take you to multiple snorkeling sites, while the short one only takes you to one site. Snorkeling equipment can be rented for a little extra at the park.
Other than that, the park does offer private snorkeling and diving tours that are a little more costly. If you are feeling confident and have boat handling experience you can also rent your own boat right there for a day or half a day.
John Pennekamp also offers scuba tours, but as this is an article for snorkel wimps, I am assuming such wimps would at this point not be interested in scuba diving – however, if you are, you can find more info here.
Park Info: Getting there is pretty easy, just take Florida's Turnpike south to US 1. Carry on to the Florida Keys and look for the State Park entrance at Mile Marker 102.5 (on the left, oceanside). The park is open from 8am until sunset year-round.
Even in the off-season, if such a thing exists nowadays in the Keys, this park gets busy on the weekends. I would suggest to call beforehand for the snorkel tours, as well as getting there early (phone number: 305- 451-6300). The park has plenty of things going for it such as amazing kayaking, and is just lovely all-around. Entrance fee for a typical car and two-eight adults runs at $8.
For more park info, visit their extensive website.
Finally: Is It Worth The Money, Travel Time etc.?
Uhm…once you have been, you won't ask that question, trust me with this one! 🙂
Any more tips for wimpy snorkelers? Have you been on other trips you can recommend from other Keys? Any reefs that are particularly stunning – let me know…


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Health 2.0
How technology can improve your health and save money.
In these days of extreme specialization, it's common to have more than one doctor treating even a single illness. Doctors' ability to access and share information with each other accurately and efficiently is critical, and technology is revolutionizing the flow of medical information.
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology is at the forefront of this revolution, and one of its directors Josh Seidman talks with Prime Time Radio host Mike Cuthbert about some of the latest developments and addresses the important issue of privacy.
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New York Office:
Manhattan, NY, 10010
Q). What is Robb Entertainment?
A). We're a New York-based multi-media and entertainment company that specializes in the production, marketing, and distribution of short and long form entertainment, across multiple platforms. We also have operations in talent management; publishing; music; events; gaming; animation; advertising and much more. The company was established in 2008 by Romane Orlando Robb (romanerobb.com) and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Robb Corporation (robbcorp.com). For more information please visit us at robbent.com.
Download our super awesome presentation: HERE
Q). You guys have my screenplay/treatment/pitch/etc. When can I hear back from you guys?
A). If we like your project and want to option or buy it, we'll give you a 24-hour window with a deal. After that, we'll most likely void the deal.
Q). What is the One Sheet Pitch (OSP)?
A). The OSP is one sheet that displays the title, synopsis and attachments (writer, director, actor, producer, production company, etc.) in regards to a project that is being pitched. As the title suggests; the OSP should NEVER EVER exceeds one page. Here is an example of an OSP.
Q). How can I submit my manuscript to Robb Publishing Group (RPG)?
A). You can email (email@example.com) and/or mail it.
Q). What are you guys working on?
A). Due to the fact that we get that question (and similar questions) a lot, we've decided it's best, and also super convenient, if you would use our website (robbent.com) for updates and other information in regards to what we're working on. Also, like us on Facebook (fb.robbent.com), and follow us on Twitter (t.robbent.com) if you're really interested in what we're up to. Stay creative!
Q). Is ROBB ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION (REC) publicly traded?
A). Nope! We're a privately owned subsidiary of ROBB CORPORATION.
Q). Do you guys accept screenplays/treatments/pitches/etc?
A). Yes! But it is very (very) important that you read and sign our submission release form and attach it with any materials you submit to us. Here is our SUBMISSION MATERIAL RELEASE FORM.
Q). I'm interested in working for ROBB ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION. Where do I send my resume?
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A). We're workaholics so "hanging out" is not possible.
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A). Email RTG - email@example.com.
Q). Do you guys have any advice for aspiring filmmakers?
A). "Surround yourself with people who are talented, ambitious, and dedicated. Ignore everyone else!" - Romane Orlando Robb
"When no one believes in you, believe in yourself some more." - Romane Orlando Robb
"The easiest job in the world is being a critic. Ignore critics and keep producing content. Eventually, they'll get the hint." - Romane Orlando Robb
Q). I've just made the greatest film ever! Can you guys distribute it?
A). Maybe! Email: firstname.lastname@example.com.
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A). Download a copy of the list here.
Q). I'm with the press. Where can I get more information about Robb Entertainment?
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A). They mostly look for three key things: 1). A unique personality. 2). Superb music. 3). Stage presence. Email ROBB TALENT GROUP (RTG).
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NEW DELHI: Pakistan rejected India's protest against the death sentence of RAW agent Kulbushan Jadhav when Pakistan High Commissioner was summoned by India's Ministry of External Affairs on Monday.
"You can't sponsor terrorism and then summon an ambassador to protest over the sentence of terrorists. Nothing matters more than national security," Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit told Indian media after meeting India's Foreign Secretary.
Indian Foreign Secretary had summoned Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit to handover a demarche on the issue.
The Indian demarche claimed that Jadhav "was kidnapped last year from Iran and his subsequent presence in Pakistan has never been explained credibly," adding, "the Government of India, through its High Commission in Islamabad, has repeatedly sought consular access to him, as provided for by international law. This was not permitted by the Pakistani authorities."
The high commissioner said that Pakistan did nothing wrong in giving death sentence to a terrorist. "Our desire for peace in the region must not be taken as our weakness," he said.
India in response to the death sentence, said that in case the punishment is carried out it would 'regard it as premeditated murder'.
Pakistan sentenced the Indian RAW agent Kulbhushan Jadhav to death for carrying out espionage and sabotage activities in Balochistan and Karachi, the ISPR said.
Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has confirmed death sentence awarded by the Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA).
According to an ISPR press release, Kulbhusan Sundir Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel was arrested on March 3, 2016, through a Counter-Intelligence Operation from Mashkel area of Balochistan for his involvement in espionage and sabotage actives in Pakistan.
Jadhav was believed to be an on-duty officer for the Indian Navy and confessed his crimes in a recorded video statement televised by the ISPR last year following his arrest.
"The spy has been tried through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and awarded death sentence. Today COAS, General Qamar Javed Bajwa has confirmed death sentence awarded by FGCM.
"RAW agent Commander Kulbushan Sundir Jadhav was tired under FGCM under section 59 of Pakistan Army Act (PAA) 1952 and Section 3 of official Secret Act of 1923.
"The FGCM found Jadhav guilty of all charges. He confessed before a Magistrate and the Court that he was tasked by RAW to plan, coordinate and organise espionage/sabotage activities aiming to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan by impeding the efforts of Law Enforcement Agencies for restoring peace in Balochistan and Karachi," said the press release.
The accused was provided with a defending officer as per legal provisions, the ISPR added.
There has been no date announce yet for Jadhav's execution
Source: thenews.com.pk


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- 8 bamboo skewers
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 3 tablespoons plus 1 tsp olive oil, divided
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary
- 1/2 cup low fat plain yogurt
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh mint, plus one spring for garnish (optional)
- 2 cups cooked brown rice (optional)
Soak bamboo skewers in water about 30 minutes. In a bowl, combine chicken, 2 tbsp olive oil, rosemary and salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Heat an indoor grill pan to medium-high, and coat with 1 tbsp olive oil. (You can also use an outdoor grill.) Thread chicken pieces onto skewers. Cook skewers on grill pan or grill, turning occasionally, until cooked through, about 15 minutes. In a bowl, stir together yogurt, juice, mint and remaining 1 tsp olive oil. Top chicken skewers with yogurt-mint sauce. Garnish with fresh mint, if desired, and serve with brown rice, if desired.
Nutrition Facts
370 calories per skewer, 15 g fat (3 g saturated), 3 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 54 g protein


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Day 3 of The Digit-al Dozen Does Re-Creations Week and today I bring you some fat. Such cute little fatties! These are Adipose (little aliens made from fat) from Doctor Who! And who's absolutely fantastic mani do I re-create?
Jacki from Adventures in Acetone (just in case you didn't read the title!) Of course hers is free-hand with a tutorial. Mine, well, mine are a stamp because I had a feeling I would screw up their cute little faces........oh wait I still did! Hahahahahahaha!
Pretty basic on the polishes: BarryM Espresso (a matte polish) and Konad White. I used My Online Shop MJXII for the adipose. And I used my Clear Jelly Stamper for the first time. It was a bit finicky but finally I was able to work with it and love it! So nice to be able to see through the handle to where you are stamping!
I really love how each of my adipose have different personalities because of the stamping. We have (top to bottom): normal happy adipose, mean nasty adipose, girly feminine adipose (see her lashes, or she could be from the band KISS), and finally silly goofy adipose.
I love that Jacki adds Doctor Who references to her manis (like many of us DDs). And I have always loved her tutorials. She makes everything look so easy and effortless!
Thank you Jacki for your contribution to our DD family!
Don't forget to check out the other amazing ladies!