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Sharing stories about how God has touched his life, famed entertainer Pat Boone called on attendees of the 50th annual Glendale Mayor's Prayer Breakfast to let prayer into their lives, now more than ever due to recent acts of mass violence.
"Our nation needs prayer, we always do, but we know it now more than ever," Boone said as he spoke before more than 250 people at the Civic Auditorium.
Wearing a white suit with brown-and-blue stripes and a pin featuring both American and Israeli flags, Boone went on to describe prayer as a supernatural conversation between people and God, and gave examples of how it has helped him and others in his life.
PHOTOS: Pat Boone gives keynote address at annual prayer breakfast
He recalled a harrowing 40-foot fall his grandson, Ryan Corbin, took about 12 years ago through the roof of a Los Angeles apartment building, landing on a concrete floor. Boone and his family prayed that Corbin would survive, although doctors told them it was unlikely.
But Corbin did survive. He spent seven months in a coma and when he awoke, it was hard for him to focus.
"It was like he was looking for fish in a tank," Boone said, adding that now at 36, his grandson is still recuperating.
"That he will live and not die, that's what we clung to," said Boone, who after a long singing, acting and producing career, wrote several religious books.
Boone, who's also national spokesman for the 60 Plus Assn., hasn't just prayed for his family, he's also prayed for those who don't believe in God.
He told a story about meeting a pornographer who said he wasn't religious, but asked Boone to pray for him. The two met in the steam room at the Sands Casino in Las Vegas about 25 years ago.
Boone said he and other entertainers such as Sammy Davis Jr. and Robert Goulet would often use the casino's steam room.
When Boone mentioned Goulet during his breakfast speech, the crooner sang a bit of Goulet's well-known song "If Ever I Would Leave You" in a deep baritone voice.
One day, the pornographer came into the steam room and started asking Boone about why he prayed. Boone said the man, who was set to have gallstone surgery, asked him to pray for him so he would be healthier. Boone said he would pray, so long as the man prayed, too.
The man called Boone after seeing his doctor and told him that he no longer needed surgery. His gallstones had disappeared.
"I had goose bumps, " Boone said. "His life was changed very dramatically when he discovered he could communicate with God."
-- Brittany Levine, Times Community News
Follow Brittany Levine on Google+ and on Twitter: @brittanylevine


text: We managed to attend Amazon's press conference live today in New York. At the event, CEO Jeff Bezos unveiled the company's new 7-inch Android tablet, the Kindle Fire. We weren't allowed to hold the tablet ourselves, but we were able to snap some photos up close and get live demonstrations of the unit. We'll have full impressions and some video up in the coming hours, but for now check out a few close up photos of working units and we've included a good portion of the presentation that Bezos made to unveil the tablet. He went over every major Amazon service and pointed out how they were all going to be integrated into the Kindle Fire. Check it out! If you have any questions (and we actually know the answers), we'll be happy to field them in the comments area.

subset: commoncrawl


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First State BMX race results for Saturday, July 21.
First State BMX race results for Saturday, July 21.
13-year-old Girls:
1. Sarah Hill, Laurel, Del.
2. Kayrose Catalfamo, Georgetown, Del.
3. Caitlyn York, Georgetown, Del.
31-35 year-old Cruiser:
1. Kevin Lail, Dover, Del.
2. Mark Turner, Annapolis, Md.
3. Douglas Phillips, Ellendale, Md.
5-year-old & under Novice:
1. Alvaro Carillo, Milford, Del.
2. Wyatt Lane, Milford,Del.
3. Christian Hedges, Seaford, Del.
6- year-old Novice:
1. Aaryn Longenecker, Denver, Pa.
2. Druex Lail, Dover, Del.
3. Justin Turner, Henderson,Md.
9-year-old Novice:
1. Conner Holm, Magnolia, Del.
2. Evan Holm, Magnolia, Del.
3. Sydney Wissman, Camden, Del.
9-year-old Intermediate:
1. Justin Phillips, Seaford, Del.
2. Lucas Payton, Clayton, Del.
3. Mikaela Yanez, Inwood, W.Va.
11-year-old Novice:
1. Garrett Longenecker, Denver, Pa.
2. Noah Payton, Clayton, Del.
3. Cody Coleman, Bridgeville, Del.
12-year-old Novice:
1. Alex Medina, Milford, Del.
2. Zachary Moore, Milford, Del.
3. Richard Thomas, Dover, Del.
12-year-old Intermediate:
1. Dalton Messick, Milford, Del.
2. Nicholas Payton, Clayton, Del.
3. Logan Blawn, Camden, Del.
15-year-old Novice:
1. Vickram Brijmohan, Milford, Del.
2. Zach Hall, Felton, Del.
3. Brandon Hurley, Salisbury, Md.
15-year-old Expert:
1. Kenneth VanVorst, Harrington, Del.
2. Dylan White, Ellendale, Del.
3. Riley Williams, Pasadena, Md.
17-18 year-old Expert:
1. Brandon Wood, Milford, Del.
2. Hunter Schmidt, Ellendale, Del.
3. Jeffery DeCarlo, Felton, Del.
41-year-old & over Intermediate:
1. Max Gawthrop, Camden, Del.
2. Christopher Hurley, Salisbury, Md.
3. Douglas Phillips, Ellendale, Del.
4-year-old Strider:
1. Travis Turner, Annapolis, Md.


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Willpeir needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 150 designs submitted by 41 freelance designers.
We need a redesigned logo for our soon to be completely redesigned Digital Docs website. The current logo has served us well, but is no longer professional enough for the company's image. We need something appealing to the mortgage banking industry, technologically savvy, and demonstrating that we are competent, compliant, and kinda cool too.
Digital Docs, Inc.
The current logo is too busy, as it has a clock, the world, arrows, and lots of lines. It demonstrated cutting tech back in the 90's well, when we all made jokes about the "Information Superhighway," but now that our product is comfortably on the web, we need something more web 2.0 and less "What's Google?"
A currently redesigned site associated with our company is digitaldeliveryinc.com, and I encourage checking it out to get a feel for the direction we're trying to head.
More about our company: We have been in the business of creating Residential Mortgage Closing Documents (the stack of papers you sign when you get a house) using an on-line doc generation engine for many years. Our engine handles every type of residential loan, including obscure stuff like VA loans and Construction loans, has several built in audits saving people hours of complex checking, and helps Lenders and Settlement Agents have faster, cleaner, more compliant closings with their borrowers. Check out our soon-to-be-redesigned site for more about who we are.
- We currently have the trademark of "It's time," which was originally to mean that it's time to generate loan documents completely on-line. That's why we had the clock theme. It would be good to incorporate this being the next step, or the continually progression, the inevitable progress of our business.
- We handle it all, and we do business in every State. It would be good to have a logo that assures universality, compliance, and experience.
- Something that says tech but also says, "We've been around the Mortgage Industry for a long time. We know everything about it."
- Makes us seem old-fashioned
- Too complicated
- Soft and Fuzzy
- Doesn't sell Experience
- Doesn't sell our web presence
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Thank you very much for your responses, I see your point. It makes more sense that way, especially Walter's point about sending Grunbeld to do the job.
What I'm most interested to see is the consequences of this event. The street has become a battleground. How will people react to this? Whatever happens, I clearly see Griffith sending a false message to the masses, in order to mantain the control.
I'm wondering how they're supposed to escape at all, Garuda or not, if the Zodd Squad gets on their trail.
Plus, Rakshas likely knows where they're going anyway
I liked much more Rakshas' old mask, but still he has got a cool one!
Yeah, I'm curious about this too. And about what kind of reprimand Rakshas will get for starting such a fight in the city, or if he'll be excused since it was with non-citizens, or if he is generally excused for being Rakshas.
I'm wondering how they're supposed to escape at all, Garuda or not, if the Zodd Squad gets on their trail.
Plus, Rakshas likely knows where they're going anyway (Zodd + Rakshas, True Detective season 3).
Final page of next episode: Griffith raises his hand, holding Zodd back as Rickert, Erica, Silat and the Tapasa make off on Garuda. Shit that's a lot of people on poor Garry's back!As long as Griffith himself doesn't appear in front of the nameless others in town, it's no skin off his back if Rickert and the others escape.
Lest you forget, Griffith might very well be currently unavailable due to the full moon.
It's just occurred to me that if it ever turns out that anyone besides moonlight boy can use the world tree network to get around, it'll make the Berserk 'world map' a heck of a lot smaller.
Though I don't recall if Griffith has gone anywhere very far since the tree went up
I actually wonder if we'll get to see the aftermath of all this. Both from the citizens' point of view as well as a possible talk between Griffith and Rakshas about it. It would certainly be interesting, but I could also see Miura not bothering with it, which would help keep us in the dark a little longer about Falconia's dirty secrets.
I don't imagine it'd be much more than a slap on the wrist. Although I'd love seeing Femto rough him up in the process, force-blasting him into a wall with a pupil's contraction.
It's true, we haven't talked much about the new mask, given all that went down. I agree it's not as badass as the previous one, but I enjoy its flamboyance. And it also makes sense in a way that he was actually wearing the better one to begin with.
I wonder what Zodd's been up to, actually. It's kind of suspicious than we haven't seen him, especially since we've seen all the others. I wonder if he's out there in the wild (or in Skellig?! ) massacring astral creatures. Fantasia must be a wet dream for him in that regard, well worth serving Griffith for that alone: the prospect of countless battles.
Would he have leave to go away for an extended period of time, though? And in order to hunt Rickert down, which might go against Griffith's wishes?
Pff, how could I forget? ...I did.
Well, let's be real, the whole excuse of and design for his new, bigger, more flamboyant mask is really meant to compliment his apostle form. To that end it's perfect, too; even the ruffles compliment the texture of his body now.
With the disclaimer we don't yet know the extent and effectiveness of its defenses, it's already not such a great "hiding" place; if they want them, they'll know where to find them, in any case.
Is that how you see it? I think the old mask would have worked just as well. In my opinion, all these events were made to provide for cool battles and cool reveals about Rakshas, and the new mask's design is only an accessory to that.
Didn't Griffith fly under a full moon when he rescued Charlotte?
Well, yeah, so I don't think it's a coincidence, except in the story's continuity, that he got a new mask in the same episode we see his "new" body, and I'd be surprised if the new mask wasn't designed first and foremost for his transformed state (probably originating with prospective designs of it), but I'm also not sure we see things so differently.
I'm not saying the old mask wouldn't have worked, but it also wouldn't have helped differentiate his transformation from his iconic "human" appearance like the new mask does, precisely in the spirit of revelation you mentioned.
I even think the old mask had more of a human quality, particularly the eyes, befitting Rakshas' strange and sinister personality, while this one is more primal and animalistic, befitting a depiction of a demon, beast, or monster
My point is just that I don't think the previous fight with Rakshas was simply an excuse to introduce a new mask to complement his apostle form. That Miura intricately crafted the whole series of events to fit together perfectly is a given though.
That's... going a bit too deep for me man.
I agree that the fire extinguisher/flamethrower isn't a version of Chekhov's gun, but there is one here: It's the horse-eating monster that Daiba keeps.
Miura really knows how to build up the drama. I was impatient for the manga to get back to Guts & Co., but now I'm drawn back to this side of the story.


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Jeff Pennell necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 9 diseños de 5 diseñadores freelance.
Brahmatone is an Austin TX based Recording Label
The service Brahmatone provides is 3 fold.
1. Documentation/trademark/legal filing, support for new artists
2. Low interest loans for initial recording/engineering/production of recordings
3. Industry contacts for all levels of the recording process
While Btone is not a Non-for-Profit, the real purpose is not in making big$$$, it is to support and launch new artists with the goal of handing them off to other labels once they achieve traction.
Founded and operated by entrepreneurs/businesspeople and musicians in Central Texas
Alternative source of capital for new and or experienced artists interested in producing records outside of the industry model... any genre of music... However, initial target is limited to the Central Texas area.
I would like the design to incorporate a few things
Simple design
1. The Brahma Bull... we like the image and there is a Texas thang going on.
2. Brahma... the creator deity form Buddhism.... wiki up that baby
There is a triad thing running through this with the 3-headed god etc.
So maybe a bovine take on the three headed Buddhist brahma with the cow making up the heads?
As far as colors, I am easy.
Run with it from there, you are the talent!!
Also, since it is a record label perhaps a circular design?
Respond if you need more info
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Stone Cold Steve Austin teed off on one of the NFL's most storied franchises over the weekend, putting Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and owner Jerry Jones on blast with the NFL season quickly approaching.
Surprise talking points included everything from Jones' hands-on approach to Romo's inability to perform in big games.
To the surprise of a pair of Dallas radio hosts, the Texas Rattlesnake provided a few minutes of rather insightful – if not colourful – analysis.
"My problem with Dallas is I think Tony Romo is a damn good quarterback, but he s---- the bed at the most inopportune times," the WWE wrestler told 105.3 the Fan in Dallas over the weekend. "When I look for leadership on that team I can't say that Tony Romo is the clear-cut leader."
The 48-year-old entertainer appears to share the same point of view as many others in the Dallas area: Romo isn't clutch.
Case and point, the 33-year-old tossed three interceptions in last season's Week 17 playoff decider against the Washington Redskins, leading to the 'Boys finishing 8-8 and out of the playoffs.
Despite Romo having just one career playoff win, Jones recently signed his three-time pro bowl QB to a six-year extension worth $108 million.
"Jerry Jones? Love the guy," Austin started. "But you've got to let someone else make some of the decisions. I think Jerry Jones is caught up a little too close to it.
"Romo just got a $100 million contract. It's going to take him a hell of a lot of work to try and live up to that $100 million contract."
Sticking to his usual script, Stone Cold, one of the WWE's notorious agitators, took Romo to task for reports the Cowboys' quarterback is altering his pre-game preparation this season after close to a decade in the league.
"I just read in the newspaper that Romo is going to spend more Payton Manning-like time in the film room," he told the CBS affiliate. "He should have been doing that from the get-go.
"He's got all of the physical tools, he's inherently accurate, he's got a quick release … He just needs to do some brain work."
A Victoria, Tex. native, Austin told the radio hosts he can't fully bring himself to support his home state club.
"If the Cowboys can get their s--- straight I could say I'm a true Cowboys fan."
Would you like to see Stone Cold as an NFL analyst?


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Göran van Hese needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 22 designs submitted by 12 freelance designers.
We are launching a new site containing links to all available crowdsourcing resources on the web. Sites like 99designs.com for example.
We invite YOU - as part of the crowd - to design our logo.
- Logo text: "crowdsourcing" + "links"
- Feel free to add the domainname to the design: http://www.crowdsourcinglinks.com
- It's up to the crowd to decide...
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Author Notes: I call this salad "à la Dijonnaise" because the quartet of ingredients that sets this one apart -- lemon zest, honey, mustard and anise seed -- are combined in the pain d'épices that M.F.K. Fisher describes in one of her essays about living in Dijon. Rounded out with olive oil and garlic, the combination makes a delightful salad dressing. It's perfect with the simple, straightforward flavors of haricots verts, heirloom cherry tomatoes and cucumbers (which I add to give a bit of crunch to the salad). If you can't get haricots verts, use small, slender Blue Lake or similar string beans. I highly recommend that you grind the anise seeds with the garlic, as it simply transforms the flavor of both.And if you don't have roasted garlic, and like raw garlic in your salad dressings, then by all means use it. The egg yolk in this is a polite nod to the traditional French recipe for mustard and lemon sauce for green beans, which is where the idea for this dressing actually started. I've included in the notes below alternate instructions for making this ahead, to take on a picnic. Enjoy!! - AntoniaJames —AntoniaJames
Food52 Review: As aargersi, who first tested this recipe as an Editors' Pick, put it: "AntoniaJames is a master at layering flavors so that everything sings together and there is no one pushy soloist." We couldn't have said it better ourselves. This is the ultimate clean, crisp salad for a picnic (no wilting here), with summer's best produce -- perky haricots verts, sweet cherry tomatoes, and crunchy Persian cucumber -- accented by measured doses of anise, honey and tarragon. The dressing is enriched with hard-boiled egg yolk and roasted garlic -- two festive ingredients that make it special but still safe for a sunny day. - A&M —The Editors
Serves: 4
1 pound haricots verts (some call them "French beans")
2 small organic Persian cucumbers (See note below.)
Kosher salt for sprinkling over the cucumbers
1 tablespoon minced shallot
1 tablespoon tarragon vinegar
Yolk of one hard boiled egg
1 teaspoon honey (or more to taste), warmed
½ teaspoon lemon zest, or more to taste
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 medium cloves of roasted garlic (See note below.)
1/2 teaspoon anise seed
Pinch of sea salt
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
12 or 14 cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons of finely chopped fresh parsley
- In a very small dish, combine the shallot and vinegar.
- Finely dice the cucumbers (leaving the peels on, if they are organic). Put them in the bowl in which you plan to make the salad. Sprinkle with salt and set aside.
- In a small bowl, mash the yolk of the hard boiled egg with the back of a small fork, then add the honey, the lemon zest, the lemon juice, and the mustard. Beat well to combine, and to get out whatever lumps of egg yolk you can, without too much difficulty.
- In a heavy mortar, crush the anise seed with the roasted garlic and a pinch of salt and grind to a smooth paste. Add to the egg yolk and lemon mixture; add the olive oil and whisk to combine.
- Trim the beans, then steam or blanche them to the degree of tenderness you like best.Plunge them into a basin of ice water when they're done, to prevent further cooking. Drain and shake off any excess water.
- Drain from the bowl with the cucumbers the water that has accumulated there. Add the cherry tomatoes and the beans.
- Drain the vinegar from the shallots into the bowl with the other dressing ingredients. Mix the dressing well and add to the salad, along with the shallots.
- Gently toss. Test for salt and add more, if necessary. Add freshly ground black or white pepper, to taste. Sprinkle on the parsley.
- Enjoy!!
- NB: If taking this on a picnic, or making it ahead for a potluck, block party, etc., remember that the acids in the dressing and the cherry tomatoes will discolor the green beans if added too far in advance. So, instead of adding the tomatoes with the cucumbers and beans, and then tossing with the dressing, drop the cut tomatoes in a medium sized jar with the dressing. Put the shallots and vinegar in that jar too, instead of on the salad. So, in essence, you'll combine the cucumbers and the string beans in one container, and just before you're ready to serve, toss with the dressing, cherry tomatoes and shallots. The juices from the tomatoes, by the way, once combined with the other dressing ingredients, will make it really tasty. ;o)
- I find raw garlic to be a bit harsh, so I usually have roasted garlic on hand. (I put two or three cloves, unpeeled, on the baking sheet any time I roast vegetables, or in a ramekin when I'm baking bread.) If you need to roast some, put however much you want in an ovenproof dish and roast at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until just soft. (It will start to bubble a bit and smell fragrant) This can take ten to twenty minutes -- or longer, I suppose -- depending on how hot your oven is, and the size of the garlic cloves.
- Note about cucumbers: If you can't get organic Persian cucumbers, use an English or other seedless cucumber. Peel it if it's not organic or if the skin is thick. You'll need about a cup and a half of chopped cucumber.
- Your Best Picnic Dish Contest Winner!
- This recipe is a Community Pick!
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best String Bean Salad
More Great Recipes:
Salad|Anise|Bean|Clove|Honey|Lemon Juice|Mustard|Shallot|Vinegar|Parsley|Fourth of July|Memorial Day


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by Carole Verona
Kyle Paul Dandridge, now 35, caught the acting bug at a very early age. "As a kid, I would go into my parents' bedroom and do all these crazy characters, including a cowboy with a twangy southern accent," he said. "I never considered it acting. I was just being a goofy-ass kid!"
Dandridge has been acting steadily on local stages since 2005. Perhaps you've seen him in "Mud, River, Stone" at Stagecrafters; "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at Old Academy Players in East Falls; or "John Henry in My Face' at Allens Lane in West Mt. Airy. If not, you'll have a chance to see him perform in "Superior Donuts," opening on September 13 at Stagecrafters.
Born in West Philadelphia, Dandridge moved to Mt. Airy with his family in 1985. He attended the Houston School for a brief period and then transferred to Chestnut Hill Academy (CHA), where he was a student from 1985 to 1997. The family eventually moved to Chestnut Hill when he was 16. His mother Valerie, who passed away in 1998, was a guidance counselor at Cheltenham High School. His father Albert is an attorney. His younger brother Steve also attended CHA.
While in high school, Dandridge was involved with track and cross-country and was also a member of the drama club. He made his acting debut at CHA as a first grader when he played a pilgrim on the Mayflower. In ninth grade, he got a decent speaking role in "Anything Goes."
"My mentors were Lee Smith and Court van Rooten, both language and drama teachers at CHA and Springside School," said Kyle. "They had a profound effect on me. The level of seriousness and gravity that they expected from you made you take it seriously. You wanted to do it right. You wanted to be focused, to stand in character. The experience shaped me to try to conduct myself as a professional."
Dandridge majored in psychology at George Washington University but left college early to go to Los Angeles "to do the acting/writing thing." When it didn't work out, he returned to Washington, D.C. and starting working as an intern at Central Casting, a talent casting company, where he was eventually put in charge of technology. He came back to Philly in 2001.
Between 2002 and 2012 he worked at CHA in various capacities. He was an assistant track coach to Paul Hines, who was his coach, mentor and middle school history teacher. From 2006 to 2011, he was an assistant to Debbie Gress, who ran The Players, the school's drama group. Dandridge also supervised the black student affinity group from 2007 to 2011, and he was a substitute teacher at various times between 2004 and 2011. This past year he coached at Penn Charter.
He got back into acting in 2005 when Carla Childs, who was directing a play at Old Academy Players, was looking for a black male actor. "That experience gave me the hunger and drive to get roles," he said.
Dandridge combines his love of athletics and drama by trying to choose roles that involve a certain amount of physical activity. "I like to be in good shape. People who are not familiar with acting don't realize how much it can drain you. It's not easy being on stage: you're sweating; the lights are in your face; your character can be moving around a lot."
He sees a strong correlation between theater and sports, between being an actor and an athlete. "In both, you have to have focus and passion. You have to be able to handle a certain kind of pressure and heat: being on stage on opening night; feeling the energy of the crowd; making sure you're 'on'; getting your lines right; doing all of the things the audience is expecting when they see you perform. That's the same as being on a free-throw line, getting ready to take a shot. All the training you put in is for this moment."
Dandridge works hard at improving his craft. When it comes to reading, he relies on what he calls the three acting bibles: "Acting in Film: An Actor's Take on Movie Making," by Michael Caine; "Acting Is Everything: An Actor's Guidebook for a Successful Career in Los Angeles," by Judy Kerr; and "No Acting Please: A Revolutionary Approach to Acting and Living," by Eric Morris.
"I don't watch TV the way other people do," he said. "I'm studying what the actors are doing. What is he doing with his eyes? How is he moving? I'm constantly looking and analyzing, trying to see what I would do in the same situation. It's important to be aware of those things and to take the time to study other actors on stage or TV. Study the best; steal the best!"
There have been times where Dandridge has been asked to audition or do parts because he's black and they needed a black man for the role. "But I was also picked to play Damis in Tartuffe at Stagecrafters, a drama written by Molière in 1664, because of my talent and what I could bring to the part," he said. Dandridge believes that choosing actors for roles based on race has to change. "We're becoming a more diverse world. You have to accept that, go with the flow and create a new experience, or you narrow yourself."
Dandridge currently lives in Wyndmoor with his girlfriend, Laura Kenny, a math teacher at Springside CHA.


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Kick back real quick while I get you a cookie.
Is there anyone else out there who has ever uttered these words? A long, long time ago there were four girls who did. They were smart and fearless (most of the times) and thought themselves too cool for school. They formed their own gang (yes, a real gang!) and did gang things together. They had their own alphabet and gang names and rituals…bizarre to outsiders, but making perfect sense to them. They had long, in-depth conversations about the pressing issues of those days…boys, school, the people they knew and the people they didn't. They concocted devious and complex plans to sneak out and stay out all night. They staged elaborate ploys to confuse and ensnare the boys they had our eyes on.
Just like a million other adolescents out there.
But different, because it was me. And your own adolescence is always special, different, unforgettable. Perhaps some/many (except maybe for a few Queen Bees and Wannabees) would say that teenage years are peppered with tumultuous times, filled with uncertainty and insecurity. I say, revel in the tumult! Revel in that special brand of intensity solely reserved for teenagers! There is nothing quite like it.
And after? You can choose to leave behind your angst…but keep your passion. Let your intensity evolve and change flavour. Stay fearless. And keep you gang mates. Or at least keep in touch!
To the girls of TSC…have a cookie 🙂
Outrageous Chocolate Cookies
(recipe by Aileen Anastacio, Yummy Magazine March 2008 issue)
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 4 tablespoons butter, cubed
- 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cups dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (no this isn't a duplication!)
- 1 cup walnuts chopped
– Pre-heat oven to 350F. Heat the first 2 cups of chocolate chips and the butter in the microwave on low heat just until melted and mix until smooth (next time I'm using a double boiler…I'm too nervous melting chocolate in the microwave).
– In a mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients – flour, baking powder, and salt.
– In another mixing bowl, beat eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla by hand until well combined (I used a mixer…sorry Aileen!). Gradually add the melted chocolate mixture. Then add the dry ingredients. Lastly, fold in the second 2 cups of chocolate chips and walnuts.
– Drop scoops of dough onto a baking sheet 2-3 inches apart (the dough can be refrigerated for at least an hour to make it firmer). Bake for 12-15 minutes, rotating the cookie sheet halfway through the baking time. They will still be soft in the center. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Just like adolescence (and Jason Statham in Death Race), these cookies are intense and delicious. Intensely chocolate (just as the name claims) – which is one of the best kinds of intense out there in my humble opinion. Credit for this recipe goes to Aileen Anastacio, the baking columnist at Yummy Magazine, and chef at a popular local bakeshop, who has become one of my favourite food columnists if only for her delectable looking sweets!
What triggered all this nostalgia? One of my gang is about to bring a new baby into the world. She is ready to boogie at any time now, although her doctor said it does not look likely that it will happen today. But if it does, both her hubby and mum are out of town tonight…so guess who will get the call and do the song and dance with her (if it happens today, which isn't likely I know, but I still can't help being excited!)? Woooohoooooooo!!! By the by, her pregnant self sampled some of these cookies too 🙂
Half the batch of these cookies I made went to my friend M for her birthday…M's a new friend made through blogging, but who I hope to one day call an old friend 🙂 She is leaving the country soon and I will miss her!I hope your weekend is filled with friends old and new…and chocolate cookies!


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By Ricky O'Bannon
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture is as accepted a July Fourth tradition in the United States as hot dogs and fireworks.
But like the hot dog's roots in German frankfurters or fireworks' origin in China, theoverture is a cultural work that has been imported, adopted and repurposed in a distinctly American fashion. How else could a piece meant to celebrate the successful Russian defense of the Napoleon-led French invasion become a celebrated July 4 staple?
The full 15-minute piece — which is programmed for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's July 3 and 4 Star-Spangled Spectacular concerts at Oregon Ridge Park — outlines the unsuccessful venture of Napoleon's Grande Armée in a way many who are only familiar with the overture's bombastic finale might not realize.
The work begins with the Eastern Orthodox tune "O Lord, Save Thy People" on cello and viola, which becomes increasingly distressed. Almost four minutes in with the Russian people musically fleeing and praying for help, fragments of the French national anthem La Marseillaise enter with military snare drum accompaniment.
As the French army advances and the La Marseillaise continues, Tchaikovsky invokes another Russian folk tune,"U Vorot, Vorot" or "At the Gate," to represent the French army's approach of Russian forces in Moscow.
In the finale of the overture, strains of the La Marseillaise mixes in counterpoint and battle with Russian themes before orchestrated cannon fire sends the French army in full retreat, signified musically by descending strings. With the French theme routed, the tune "O Lord, Save Thy People" opens the piece returns alongside "God Save the Tsar" with more cannons and church bells in full celebration.
There are some historic reasons for how a piece with such an overt celebration of Russian victory became a centerpiece in July Fourth concerts despite often frigid Russian-American relations. Tchaikovsky was a celebrated and popular figure in the United States who personally conducted the overture at the 1891 opening of Carnegie Hall in New York nine years after he debuted it in Moscow. Chicago's Grant Park Orchestra played the piece at an Independence Day concert in 1935, and is believed to be the first orchestra to do so. Finally, Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops' performance of the work complete with howitzers in 1974 — at the height of the Cold War — for a July Fourth concert and again two years later at the bicentennial that helped associate the piece in the public mind as an Independence Day tradition.
Damon Gupton, who will conduct the pair of BSO's Star-Spangled Spectacular concerts, said he believes something about the character and nature of the music connected with its American audience.
"It's a big and brassy piece, and we're a pretty big and brassy kind of nation," he said.
Gupton said the piece offers plenty of things that fit nicely within the American identity ranging from bombast, resilience in the face of overwhelming odds, folk music and some artillery for a nation that includes the phrase "bombs bursting in air" in its own national anthem.
"We are a bold people of pageantry, and ideals and celebratory spirit. We know folk styles, and have celebrated and explored that through much of our diverse history and tragedy," he said. "So this huge orchestral work that begins with a sense of praying persistence … gives way to spirited fight and defiance, a dance, and eventual triumph when that big prayer theme returns and the orchestra, augmented with cannons, basically obliterates any traces of the morose or walking with your head down.
"It's persistent. It's strong," Gupton added. "While not American, we have certainly bound ourselves with familiarity — and did I mention cannons?"
For tickets and information on the BSO's Star-Spangled Spectacular concerts July 3 & 4.


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By Chris Wright
Danish lager merchants Carlsberg recently purchased the naming rights to a stand at FC Copenhagen's Parken Stadium – a business venture they chose to baptise by smashing a gigantic bottle of beer into their new purchase from a great height like so many Ocean Liners of yore.
Whether the video footage is 100% un-fiddled with is up for debate…
"Clean up in Aisle 3!"
Carlsberg don't do stadium re-naming ceremonies, but it they did…oh, hang on, they just did.
Video: Carlsberg


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National Boss Day
Amber Sky
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Sometimes the best way to show your boss just how much you appreciate their fine leadership is by sending flowers. With a National Boss Day gift of flowers from Village Florist And Events, your boss will know exactly how you feel. Everyone wants a raise. Raise your boss's spirits this Boss Day with one of the many colorful flower arrangements from Village Florist And Events in Stony Brook, NY.


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Sunday, March 23, 2008
I Saw It On Book TV
Today (Easter Sunday, March 23rd, 2008) I saw on BookTV (i.e., C-SPAN) Azar Nafisi, author of Reading Lolita in Tehran, talking with Samantha Power, author of A Problem from Hell, at the New York Public Library (How do so many people get into one room of a library?) about Power's new book, Chasing the Flame which is a biography of Sergio Vieira de Mello, a man from Brazil who spoke seven languages, among other things. The event was recorded February 21, 2008. Watching it, I felt heartened by such passionate engagement. I can't help but wonder though why we heard so little about Vieira de Mello until he was killed, but now he deserves a biography written by a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author.
The two women talked about human dignity and how important it is to respect everybody's dignity in order to begin heading toward international peace. Nafisi read from Power's book a section that described a conversation Sergio Vieira de Mello had with a refugee while he was working for the UN. He asked the woman what she wanted. She told him how all her life she sustained herself on her land, and now she has to accept charity from the UN while she was living as a refugee. She told him she wanted to become a cloud and go miles away to where her land is and then turn into rain so she could be in the land she loved so long and so well. I think Nafisi and Power might agree with the notion that no one is free unless everyone is free.
Perhaps human dignity is a political concept. Whether it is or isn't, I believe human dignity is more clearly perceived when we keep our hearts and minds open with regard to aesthetics as well as ethics. And isn't it the case that, where aesthetics and ethics are together, politics results? Thus we can see that art, music and literature (i.e., aesthetics) has an importance with regard to such things as foreign policy and international relations. And this importance is distinct from such things as lifestyle preferences and entertainment (i.e., show business).
I have no profound insights as to how we may achieve lasting international peace. I am grateful though for the freedom to meet and read and discuss poetry out loud with people who are interested.
Posted by Andrew Christ at 1:23 PM
1 comment:
- libramoon said...
Why be kind?
Why model humane expectations
of the reasoned mind?
Theories of evolution say
strategies of the Golden Rule,
like birds in migration, fish in school,
move us all forward,
increase the common pie.
All well fed, well loved,
well and whole.
Why would we not embrace
that model?
Why favor divisive cries of
anger, bitter tears fed
by fears unfairly explored?
Why be kind in the face of
derisive mocking?
Fear's not unfounded to we
bearing wounds of sharp stones
flung in punishment as gossips
proclaim our sins.
Can we find and flow together,
name ourselves as kin:
we who are kind?
(c) March 23, 2008 Laurie Corzett/libramoon
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Johnny Ninos
Varying Thickness Organic Bandnino-213r
With its distinctively organic, hand-wrought shape, this Johnny Ninos band has an earthy, understated style making it the perfect wedding, commitment or celebration ring for someone not wanting something flashy. It is sculpted from 18K red gold and fits perfectly against the palladium and yellow gold versions to create an asymmetrically styled stacking collection.
18K rose gold band : 2mm
available size : 6.5
please contact us for more sizing options
18K rose gold band : 2mm
available size : 6.5
please contact us for more sizing options
CALIFORNIA - After earning a degree in sculpture from New York State College of Ceramics, Johnny Ninos began to distill his compositions into a smaller, more intimate scale. Now viewing jewelry as wearable sculpture, Johnny is inspired by the delicate connections and systems found in nature. All of his work is handmade using recycled metal and conflict free diamonds in his studio in Los Olivos, CA.


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When moving, Boxes For Moving House in Edenvale it is inevitable that you need boxes to place all of your belongings in. Could you imagine taking all of your things and placing them inside a moving truck without having something to put everything in? That would literally take you forever and it is that very reason why moving boxes are so important in the moving process. That's worse than going to a supermarket and having all of your items placed inside the cart without bags. Your time placing the items in your car could double, triple, or even quadruple without them. Now just imagine moving an entire house that way. But the invention of the moving box has made the entire moving process easier.
However, Large Shipping Boxes For Sale are made out of paper and paper is made out of trees. That means that more and more trees are cut down to make these beloved moving boxes that make our lives easier. Then there is the fact that many of these moving boxes end up meeting their demise in the dump rather than being reused. It is here that they become mushy messes of wet paper that really isn't all that great for the environment. That box could have been sold or given to a moving supply store to be reused by other movers. That means less demand for moving boxes, so fewer trees are cut down to meet the demand. That also means no mushy cardboard adding to the demise of our environment.
Are there any cons?
There are cons no matter which way you look at it. The new boxes are more expensive when moving is expensive enough. The old boxes have been used by others and could possibly have fleas or spiders in them. The supermarket boxes have come from places that you are not familiar with, Corrugated Boxes For Sale so you don't know what might be inside of them. However, spiders, fleas, and other annoyances exist within the moving supply store. You never know when a spider might crawl up into that crisp new box. You don't even know where those boxes were before they arrived to the store. They had to be shipped there somehow as well, right? So don't let any of that bother you. Think about the environment and what you are doing to make the world a better place to live. Every little bit counts.
5 Hidden Costs of Moving Companies
Whether you are filling a suitcase, a box, a car, or a moving pod, packing effectively is always of upmost importance. Packing for a move can often be likened to playing a game of Tetris. The art of filling boxes, as well as moving containers comes naturally to very few people, the rest of us need a detailed instruction guide of how to pack efficiently. Here are some basic tips that can help you fit as much as possible into your moving boxes and moving pods.
How to Pack Moving Boxes:
- Reinforce the bottom of all your boxes with packing tape. It is worth using extra tape to prevent your fragile belongings from falling through the bottom of the box!
- If you can, fill each box to the top. If you have extra space in any of your boxes, fill it with packing paper or other fillers. When boxes are full, they will maintain their shape, which will allow them to be stacked without falling over.
- Make sure that the top and sides of the boxes do not bulge. If your boxes bulge, it will prevent you from making stable, tall stacks.
- Label boxes to make unpacking easier. Write any details that you think you will need on the side of the box. Many people like to take note of the items that are in the box, the room that the box should be placed, and any notes about whether the contents of the box are fragile.
- As you pack, take the extra time to create an inventory of the larger, important items that you have. This will help you if anything gets lost or stolen in the moving process.
- Don't pack anything that you can't lift yourself!
- Put heavier things into smaller boxes to avoid boxes that you can't lift
- If you do have a heavy box or piece of furniture- try to use something with wheels to help transport it. Computer on a rolling office chair? Dresser on a skateboard? Heavy box in a wheel barrow? You get the idea... be creative!
Boxes For Moving House in Edenvale ?
Moving out of your house is often a bittersweet process. You feel pleasure to discover your new surroundings and opportunities, but at the same time you have to do a lot of hard work involved in the transition.
Whether it's across the country or the town, you may be lured to set your priorities and sights on your new place.
You may have to do some work before vacating a rental apartment. If you don't know where to start from, then check out this list of things to consider before turning in the keys:
1. Get Organized:
You need to keep track of a lot of details such as:
- Truck rentals,
- Utility shutoffs,
- Home repairs,
- Cleaning crews,
- Packing days and more,
Prepare a spreadsheet or make use of calendar to make sure that you don't miss a task or deadline.
2. Analyze Your Lease:
Each rental agency has different policies regarding the vacate notice, required repairs, utility transfers, checkout, etc. So, pull out your lease and assess it closely.
The lease will specify what you are likely to do upon moving out and may include anything from security deposit policies, notice period and professional carpet cleanings to final trash pickup.
3. Consider repairing:
All rental agencies require you to return the home in the same condition as they provided you.
More concentration should be paid on walls, so, you are required to repaint or prime walls to get them back to their original color.
Check with your lease to determine what level of coverage is acceptable for moving out. Similarly, you are expected to repair the walls if you hung pictures, art pieces or other things on your walls.
Many agencies have policies about what must be repaired before moving out, so get clarification before doing it. And, in case you don't have time to do these labor intensive chores then you can choose the option of payment also.
If you don't have the time or interest in taking on these labor-intensive chores, many rental companies have an option to pay instead.
Most commonly, agencies will charge a flat fee per wall that isn't painted back to its original color. Weigh all the options viz. time, cost and commitment before considering doing it yourself or paying the fees.
4. Move-out everything:
Think beyond just your clothes, households and furniture, when preparing to move out.
Prepare to deal with harmful supplies and chemicals (paint, propane tanks and cleaning supplies), trash, plants and other items you don't wish to move.
5. Clean the place:
Just like repairing the damage, you may also be required to clean your rental apartment prior to move-out day.
You can do it yourself with the help of family members or you can seek professionals help for the cleaning purpose.
You can make your decision by noticing the condition of your carpet. If there are some major stains, then you can hire professionals to get the job nicely done, so, plan the budget and book the companies earlier. And if you plan to clean your carpet or unit by yourself, then, be sure to accomplish this job properly.
Vacating an apartment demands a good bit of work. There are a lot of tasks to keep track of from shutting off the utilities and packing-up everything to re-establishing the unit to its original condition.
So, plan early to get organized and schedule as much as you can to prevent last-minute hassle. With a bit of hard work, you will be certain to get the security deposit back as you hand over the keys to your property manager.
It is also vital to find an apartment before finalizing on your decision to move out from the existing one. There are plenty of online sources through which one can easily find a rental apartment online. I hope all the above mentioned tips will help you to move out of your rental apartment without any hassle.
3 Strong Reason to Purchase Quality Shipping Boxes
Professional movers are usually upfront with all their fees, but it happens sometimes for some charges to be written in fine print in your contract or not specified at all. Every agreement usually has hidden costs, so it's best to know ahead of them and use a moving calculator. This way, you can be prepared when you're planning to hire a moving company. You will know exactly what questions to ask in relation to the company's fees and what answers you need to hear to be willing to hire their service.
Knowing about these moving costs ahead will help you set up an accurate budget and avoid any surprises when the moving bill is going to be handed to you.
1. Voluminous items
Some moving companies, if not all, usually charge customers based on the distance their movers and trucks have to cross to take the customer's goods from one place to another. However, this is not the only criteria used when calculating the final cost of the moving process. Many of them will also take into consideration the volume and weight of the shipment. So, if you have bulky or voluminous objects, such as pianos and pool tables, or royal canopies, you should always ask about the moving company's policy related to bulky items. Moreover, if your building is not equipped with an elevator, and the mover will have to carry these items from a superior floor, this too might imply additional costs.
2. Packing accessories
Packing is usually a service that moving companies offer for an additional fee. So, you should assume that, if you want to benefit from the services of professional packers, you will have to pay extra. However, just to be sure, discuss this service with your movers and see if and how much they are charging for it. Don't forget to ask about the costs for packing accessories. Some moving companies cover these costs, while others will expect for you to pay for them. By packing accessories we mean things like boxes, moving blankets, protection for floors and doorways etc.
3. Hoisting
If your goods are too big and there's no way any mover could take them out of your home traditionally, through your doorway, or they don't fit in hallways and stairways, your only option is to hire a relocation company that provides hoisting services. This means that the movers will use special equipment to move your items through the window. Considering the risks and the extra work involved in such cases, it's only natural for this service to be quite expensive, so think twice before deciding to keep such voluminous items. Do you really need them?
4. Express delivery
This is not exactly a hidden cost, but it's always good to ask about this option. If you want your things to be delivered to the new place faster than usual, you should ask the moving company if they can provide this service and if it will cost you more than the standard delivery. For short distance moves, the fee might be insignificant, so this won't be a problem, even if you forget to ask about it. However, when it comes to long distance moves, you should always make sure you know the cost of express delivery ahead.
5. Cancellation
You should always ask the moving company about their cancellation policy and see what charges they apply in case you decide to cancel the move or postpone it for a different day. Most professional moving companies have a certain period of time during which the client can cancel the move without having to pay anything. However, if you've paid a deposit for your move, it's very probable for the relocation company to keep it as a cancellation fee if you decide that you don't need their service anymore. Always read the contract and pay attention to the fine print!


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Author Notes: This salad was inspired by a salad I ate a couple of weeks ago in a restaurant called Mercato in upstate NY. Anytime I see smoked trout or smoked haddock on a menu I have to order it. It was basically a coleslaw with flaked smoked trout and a creamy horseradish dressing. Smoked trout and horseradish are a common pairing in the UK where I am from. However I'm not sure how easy it is to obtain smoked trout in the US. Living in NY I was able to get a vacuum-packed whole smoked trout from the fish market in Chelsea Market. I used approximately half of the fish and will use the other half to make smoked trout pate. For convenience sake I bought my horseradish ready-grated in a jar. The horseradish tends to have a slightly destabilizing effect on the creme fraiche (it will thicken and look a bit claggy) so it's imperative to serve this pretty much straight away, although the hot water does help thin a little. The addition of a bacon rasher is my own invention and entirely optional. —jellygood
Serves: 4 (as appetizers)
For the slaw
cups coleslaw base (grated carrots, white cabbage mixed in whatever ratio suits you)
cups flaked de-boned smoked trout
bacon rashers
snipped chives for garnish
For the dressing
tablespoons creme fraiche
teaspoons grated horseradish (or to taste)
tablespoons lemon juice
pinches sea salt
pinches freshly ground black pepper
tablespoons hot water (optional)
- Broil bacon rashers. While broiling you can start assembling the salad and dressing.
- Add the coleslaw mix to a large bowl. I used a ratio 1:2 grated carrot to white cabbage, but it's up to you.
- Fillet the whole smoked trout, taking care to remove all bones and skin. Flake half of the fish - should be approximately 21/2 cups. Add to coleslaw mix.
- In separate bowl whisk together the first five dressing ingredients. If the dressing looks too thick, like clotted cream, add a tablespoon of hot water until you have a pouring consistency.
- Add the dressing to the trout and slaw, taking care not to overmix or the shreds of trout will get too mashed up and lost in the mix. Taste for seasoning.
- Pile onto a plate. Add snipped chives to decorate and a carefully balanced bacon rasher across the top.
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Recipe with Horseradish
More Great Recipes:


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Tyler Farr Keeps One St. Jude Patient Close at All Times
Tyler Farr goes out of his way to help children -- especially the children at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The 'Whiskey in My Water' singer has made it to three of the last four Country Cares seminars, forging strong relationships with patients and families each time.
"There's very few things that tear me up and get me," Farr reveals to Taste of Country, "but kids, especially terminally ill kids or kids with diseases … gets me every time."
Before his first visit to St. Jude, Farr expected to be devastated by what he'd see, but he walked away inspired by this happy place. Little things, like an ocean-themed room with a full aquarium, left a mark on him. It was obvious that every single staff member and volunteer was doing all they could to help the kids.
"It's almost like a Candyland for kids, it's not a sad place," Farr, a former recreational therapist at a children's rehabilitation facility in Missouri, adds. He caught up with ToC before a tour stop in Beaumont, Texas, where he was in the middle of a 14-day stretch without a night off, but made time to talk about St. Jude.
"It made me want to complain a whole lot less. Here's these kids that were not even given a chance, and here I am complaining to Billy Dukes about doing 14 shows back to back," he adds, laughing.
One little girl during Farr's first visit has remained in his memory -- and his truck -- since. "I remember this little girl. I have her bracelet -- it hangs on the key ring of my truck -- that we made together while I was there two years back," Farr reveals.
Her parents didn't know if she'd live another week, but a year later, Farr went back to the hospital and there she was, still surviving. Still fighting.
Little girls like her and stories like these are the reason Taste of Country has pressed pause on coverage of news stories in an effort to raise money for St. Jude. For 25 years, country radio, artists and record labels have helped raise more than $500 million, ensuring that no one ever pays a dime for treatment at St. Jude.
"No child should die in the dawn of life," founder Danny Thomas once said. Help make that wish a reality by making a donation or becoming a Partner in Hope when you click the button below. Donations can be made by phone at 800-411-9898.


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Memory Lane Pt. 1: A Look At Some Of The Most Unforgettable One-Hit Wonders Of All Time
One hit wonders. They're the things that dreams are made of. They never get old, but the artists that make them fall off in absolutely no time.
Let's take a look at some of the one-hit wonders that we can't help but sing along to even though we never much cared for the actual artist or bought the album. Oh well, hope they saved their money.
Vanilla Ice – Ice, Ice Baby – With this song, white rappers were doomed for a decade. Vanilla Ice's song was horrible but it became a thing of karaoke legend. At least he has that going for him.
Chingy – Right Thurr – For at least a few months, Chingy made sounding like you had a developmental disorder kind of cool. He had a few smaller songs afterwards, but he topped out at "Right Thurr".
Shop Boyz – Party Like A Rockstar – That whole rockstar thing got out of hand and we have the Shop Boyz to thank. Thanks guys! We air guitar'd and pretended to be Van Halen. Some people *cough Lil Wayne cough* never quite grew out of it.
Skee-Lo – I Wish – This is for the old heads. "I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller…" was the anthem for short people the world over. Kevin Hart probably has the song memorized.
F.L.Y. – Swag Surfing – We went from rocking out to being surf dudes in one fell swoop. Atlanta was cranking out dances like every two weeks it seemed. Good to see they chilled a bit.
Cali Swag District – Teach Me How To Dougie – EVERYONE was doing the dougie. Old white people were even doing it. We're surprised Obama hasn't cranked it out yet. It's only a matter of time, though.
Continue Slideshow
Foxx – Wipe Me Down – This song was made popular thanks to Lil Boosie's involvement. But Foxx wasn't able to do anything on his own afterwards. Oh well, at least he had this jam about getting the dust off of his shoulders. Wonder what he's doing now.
Mims – This Is Why I'm Hot –Remember when New York had the best music? Well, MIMS surely doesn't remember it. This song was boring, but people loved going around screaming the lyrics about their temperature. Whatever floats your boat.
Craig Mack – Flava In Ya Ear – He signed to Bad Boy, so he was already domed for one hit wonder fame. The song had the Hip-Hop game going crazy in the 90s, but we haven't heard from him since. Word is, he was living out of his car a few years ago.
All-4-One – I Swear – Want to take a trip to Simp City? This is the song your big brother played for his girl when she caught him in bed with a side-piece. You'll probably hear this song at a wedding before you die.
Afroman – Because I Got High – This was the weed anthem. Afroman made some major money from movie endorsements and this weed track. But anything else from him? Not gonna happen.
Black Rob – Whoa – Another Bad Boy artist so you know the drill: one popular song. An underperforming album. And we never hear from him again. If you really pay attention, he raps about a girl's finger in his butt. WHOA!
D4L – Laffy Taffy – Whoooaaaa shake that laffy taffy. You know you were up in the club making it snap. The only person here doing anything is Shawty Lo. Well, if you consider signing to G-Unit still being relevant.
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text: Auditory Imaging Unit When sound reaches the ear, it is transduced to electrical signals, which are extensively processed by hearing centers of the brain. This processing determines what we hear. The Auditory Imaging Unit studies how the human brain processes sound using imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magnetoencephalography (MEG). Our past and present work includes investigations into the neural representations of perceived loudness, pitch, repetition rate, and the segregation of our auditory environment into distinct objects or "streams." The Unit is part of the Eaton-Peabody Laboratories and has close ties to the Athinoula A. Martinos Center. Past and present unit members: Jennifer Melcher Christopher Bergevin Mark Oster Andrew Dykstra Michael Ravicz Alexander Gutschalk Irina Sigalovsky Michael Harms Thomas Talavage Monica Hawley E. Courtenay Wilson Barbara Norris Hector Penagos Past and present collaborators: Bruce Fischl Christophe Micheyl Barbara Fullerton Andrew Oxenham John Guinan, Jr. Lawrence Wald Christopher Halpin Robert Weisskoff Robert Levine Alexander Guimaraes Patrick Zurek Thomas Weigand Support Advancements in Research 617-573-3345


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EU Commission's Consultation On Corporate Sovereignty Ignores Key Issue, But Shows That Real Transparency Is Possible
from the close,-but-not-close-enough dept
One of the most dramatic developments in the negotiations for TAFTA/TTIP was the announcement that the European Commission would be holding a consultation on the corporate sovereignty chapter. That was a result of the growing concerns about placing corporations on the same level as nations, and allowing the former to sue the latter for alleged loss of future profits caused by policy changes, for example. Here's what the European Commission has to say on the consultation's home page:
The European Commission is consulting the public in the EU on a possible approach to investment protection and ISDS in the TTIP. The proposed approach contains a series of innovative elements that the EU proposes using as the basis for the TTIP negotiations. The key issue on which we are consulting is whether the EU's proposed approach for TTIP achieves the right balance between protecting investors and safeguarding the EU's right and ability to regulate in the public interest.
It's deeply troubling to see the European Commission admitting that it will trade off the EU's right and ability to regulate in the public interest in order to protect investors, when the former should always be paramount.
The good news is that anyone can submit their comments, and that they have until June 21 to do so; the bad news is that the consultation is purely about the "modalities for investment protection and ISDS in TTIP" -- not about whether it should be present at all. That's particularly surprising given that most of the document is a litany of ISDS's problems (pdf): lack of clarity, uncertainty, opacity, inconsistency, capricious decisions, biased arbitrators, conflicts of interest, frivolous claims, no possibility for appeals -- the list goes on and on. Even though the consultation seeks input on solving these many and serious problems, the overriding impression is that ISDS is a dangerous and irremediable mess.
However, the consultation document does bring one unexpected bonus: official versions of the equivalent sections of the Canada-EU trade agreement (CETA). The Introduction to the consultation explains why:
Each issue is illustrated using reference texts as examples, taken from other investment agreements and from the approach developed in the EU - Canada (CETA) negotiations, which is the most recent text negotiated by the EU.
The implication is that CETA represents the latest thinking of the European Commission on the subject of corporate sovereignty, and that it will form the basis for its approach in TAFTA/TTIP. But there's a big problem with that. As we reported a few weeks ago, the ISDS chapter in CETA is riddled with problems, some extremely serious.
Of course, the European Commission will probably reply that the consultation is designed to rectify problems that people find. Although that's a fair point, it misses a larger one: that you don't bother fixing problems in something you don't need, and the European Commission has failed to make the case that corporate sovereignty is necessary.
It's not needed because both sides have extremely well-established and effective legal systems. And it's not needed because even in its absence, transatlantic investment is already taking place on a massive scale -- as the Commission's own page on trade between the US and EU makes clear:
Total US investment in the EU is three times higher than in all of Asia.
Specifically, the US has invested 1.344 trillion euros in Europe, while EU companies have invested 1.421 trillion euros in the US. ISDS is not necessary, because there is simply no problem that needs solving here.
EU investment in the US is around eight times the amount of EU investment in India and China together.
EU and US investments are the real driver of the transatlantic relationship, contributing to growth and jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. It is estimated that a third of the trade across the Atlantic actually consists of intra-company transfers.
Since the European Commission's consultation fails to explore the central question, it is largely a waste of time. However, it does have the huge virtue of showing that transparency is possible: despite this unveiling of the EU's strategy in the area of investment, the sky is not falling. It thus makes clear why openness can and should be extended to all of TAFTA/TTIP, with the possible exception of a few areas where specific figures would need to be withheld for negotiating purposes. Ironically, the consultation document even explains why transparency is vital:
Transparency is essential to ensure the legitimacy and accountability of the system. It enables stakeholders interested in a dispute to be informed and contribute to the proceedings. It fosters accountability in arbitrators, as their decisions are open to scrutiny.
Exactly the same could be said about TTIP, which means that the European Commission's proposals to increase transparency for the corporate sovereignty chapter should also be applied to the entire agreement:
The EU will include provisions to guarantee that hearings are open and that all documents are available to the public. In ISDS cases brought under TTIP, all documents will be publicly available (subject only to the protection of confidential information and business secrets) and hearings will be open to the public. Interested parties from civil society will be able to file submissions to make their views and arguments known to the ISDS tribunal.
If transparency is essential to ensure the "legitimacy and accountability" of ISDS, it's even more vital for TAFTA/TTIP. The release of this consultation on corporate sovereignty is a welcome first step, but it is only that: the US and EU must routinely release negotiating documents -- at the very latest, as they are tabled, and ideally, before that. Failure to do so simply undermines TTIP's "legitimacy and accountability" and means that the widespread and growing rejection of ISDS could well spread to the rest of the agreement.
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Filed Under: consultation, corporate sovereignty, eu, eu commission, isds, trade agreements, transparency


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Brad Paisley – Landmarks Live in Concert Full Episode
Season 44 Episode 11 | 52m 6s
In Brad Paisley - Landmarks Live in Concert, the best-selling country artist returns home to perform before a crowd of 35,000 at West Virginia University. The series, in which popular artists perform near landmarks of personal significance, is hosted by Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Aired: 01/27/17
Expires: 01/27/20Video has closed captioning.