Datasets:

souvorinkg

/

COCA

like 0

@@5121441 <p> " That part of town is completely shut down with no electricity , Internet , or power , " Vidisheva said via an email exchange . So the twentysomething founder of the fashion e-commerce website hoofed it uptown 40 blocks to the home of her operations director , who lives in the Theater District near Times Square , where the two women were expecting other staffers to also converge . <p> " We 're now reunited and working away , " Vidisheva explained via email . " We have some big news this week , so need to work 24/7 . I also have people in Australia and France , who are luckily not affected ,

@@5121541 <h> First-Person : Who Really Was the First U.S. Missionary ? <h> A freed slave should supplant Adoniram Judson as the first Protestant missionary from America . <p> Written by Jason Duesing , BP Sunday , August 26 , 2012 <p> Not only was George Liele the first Protestant missionary from America , but his departure for Jamaica in 1782 actually puts him ahead of the widely recognized progenitor of the modern missions era , the British Baptist , William Carey . <p> Earlier this year Jeremy Webber at Christianity Today asked : Was the first U.S. missionary black , not white ? Referencing the little-known George Liele ( 1750-1820 ) , Webber rightly questioned whether this freed slave should supplant Adoniram Judson as the first Protestant missionary from America . <p> Not only was George Liele the first Protestant missionary from America , but his departure for Jamaica in 1782 actually puts him ahead of the widely recognized progenitor of the modern missions era , the British Baptist , William Carey . The right ordering of these pioneers of Gospel advance has been noted in recent years by Danny Akin , president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ various publications , most recently in his book " Ten Who Changed the World . " Akin writes , " Liele was the first Baptist to leave his homeland and take the Gospel to foreign soil . " <p> As early as 1964 , E. A. Holmes , then-professor of church history at Stetson University , noted in an essay on Liele that clarified the matter : " Though supported by no church or denominational agency , Liele became the first Protestant missionary to go out from America to establish a foreign mission , ten years before William Carey set out from England " ( source : biblicalstudies.org.uk ) . <p> Discovering this important corrective in recent years has been one of the most instructive things for me as one who loves the rich historical and theological heritage of the Baptists . As I teach students , the pursuit of every fact and detail in the spirit of careful and colorblind scholarship often leads to new discoveries of monumental significance . As I have researched the life of Adoniram Judson over the last few years for a collaborative book project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from America in 1812 , I was faced with the very task of how to classify Judson 's work . <p> After originally categorizing Judson , as most have throughout history , as the first American missionary , it was Dr. Akin who shared with me the life and ministry of George Liele . Delighted to learn of Liele 's proper place in history , I gladly changed the subtitle of the volume of Judson from " A Bicentennial Celebration of America 's First Missionary , " to " A Bicentennial Celebration of the Pioneer American Missionary . " <p> In the volume , Akin and I are joined by Paige Patterson , Nathan A. Finn , Robert Caldwell , Gregory A. Wills , Keith Eitel , Candi Finch , and Michael A. G. Haykin . With regard to the proper ordering of Liele , Carey and Judson we make the distinction that George Liele is properly the first missionary in the modern era . Carey , in England in 1792 , is the second chronologically , though the first to create a missions-sending agency and to be sent in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1812 , is third overall , the second American , and the first to organize and receive the commission of an American board for the sending of missionaries . <p> While all three men are pioneers in their own settings and all overcame significant opposition and obstacles to take the good news about Jesus to those who had yet to hear -- even at great cost -- George Liele is worthy of particular commendation in our day as he advanced the Gospel while this nation still gripped tightly to the constrictive fetters of slavery . <h> Advertising <p> DISCLAIMER : The Aquila Report is a news and information resource . We welcome commentary from readers ; for more information visit our Letters to the Editor link . All our content , including commentary and opinion , is intended to be information for our readers and does not necessarily indicate

@@5121641 <h> Poll : Additional Stretch Goals <p> As we enter the last two weeks of the pledge campaign , we 're continuing to look at ways to make sure Squadron 42 and Star Citizen are the game you want to play . To that end , we 're preparing to roll out a more comprehensive set of stretch goals ... and , as usual , we would like the community 's input . What do YOU think we could plan to add to our campaign ? <p> One big topic we 've seen discussed is support for additional platforms : OSX , LInux and the like . Because of how CryENGINE 3 works we do n't yet know if this will be possible ... but we 'd like to know how strong an interest there is ! If this is a deciding factor for you , select that option in the poll to let us know which platform you 'd like to see supported below . <p> Localization seems to be another big request . We plan to launch the game in English , French , Spanish and German and support further options as time goes on ... but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ languages ? If so , which languages do you think should be added first ? <p> Other options include more ' rewards ' for players ( ships , upgrades , credits , etc. ) , more gameplay modes and a bigger game world . An enhanced FPS mode would give you more options for the boarding actions ( more weapons , customizable armor , deeper mechanics . ) A tactical mode could allow capital ship crews to oversee fighters engaged in battle . Obviously those all sound great ... but which is the most important ? <p> Finally , possibly the most important option on this poll is " other " : please , tell us YOUR idea for possible stretch goals ! <p> Please select your top three options ! <p> Which additional stretch goals would you most like to see added to the campaign ? <h> Share this : <h> Leave a Reply <p> 1 : More RPG Elements , I 'd like to see my commander be able to be a specialist and be rewarded for his training towards a specific goal , and be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most , so if I 'm a trader I earn skill points in a trading tree , if I 'm always out mixing it up in dog fights then some XP towards flight skills etc . Things like item research so that we can upgrade our ship modules , and perhaps sell the rights to those learnt upgrades to other players . <p> 2 : More Systems , and more detail inside those systems , so that we can explore , mine , trade , exploit etc etc . <p> 3 : Trash the cards and send out T shirts instead -- or perhaps as an option . <p> No need to limit the world to a Space Sim . The important thing is having the option to choose what you want . IF you want to be a fighter , go to SQ42 , a smugler or something like that , SC is available . So , there 's room to make things liek they do in a RPG , or a RTS , if you do n't want , do n't do it , but there is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the Star Citizen universe . <p> Picked more star systems , more ships and other . More star systems would mean more stuff to explore in the online version . About 30 missions for Squadron 42 seems about right , but the online world is never too big . <p> More ships would be nice . I know it 's more complicated than just making a new rendering for a ship hull . So the amount of work required to build another ship class must be similar to building a city in your typical MMO . So I 'd rather go with quality over quantity . But even so , more ships would be fun . And " other " , I thought about that advanced peripheral support . I 'm definitely getting Oculus Rift and Leap Motion , so I want those supported . <p> The other choices I do n't really care for . Localizations .. well even if the game was translated to my native language , I would play it in english . All the FPS/tactical stuff would distract players and devs from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's what I signed up for , not a deathmatch shooter game or RTS . <p> Tools to facilitate the translation could be provided , but association with fans to provide the translations for the release ( and maybe achieving some more pledges due that ) I think would be best . Even why there 's no reason to spend so much money with translation companies when we have so many people that could do the job , even for free sometimes , just to have their names in the game credits . People that believes that is necessary to use official companies to make translations are the same that think that is necessary a publisher for games . <p> @-@ I do nt know how things like in else where . But in China , Most of translation patch are made by player themselves . Even some " Official " translation was not as good as them . On my personal opinion . We can save some money to do some thing more attractive than give a official translation <p> Let 's say : Stretch goal = Chinese , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- that 's would be the best for this scenario , and not doing later after the game release , because people knowing now that the game will be in fact translated and delivered in their language , probably they will be more interested in doing pledges and participating of the community and helping to spread the news and bringing even more people to participate and pledge . <p> Ship classes , definitely #1 . Particularly huge behemoths with winding corridors and cabin windows , A ship you can explore and call home . I know the development cost of bigger ships is high , and ships in general are a design resource hog , but it adds so much to the game . Consider Escape Velocity : Nova , tons of ships , tons of weapons , tons of systems . They were all sprites , so they were also cheap to develop , but that richness did n't keep my friends and I from talking about load-outs and hulls . Also , escorts helped gameplay a lot ! <p> Mine : Fed Carrier with all of its slots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . Another carrier in formation to provide fighter support , a manticore for disabling , a missile boat ( usually a pirate enterprise ) , and a pair of pirate starbridge Ds for harrowing and chase . Rich , complex , memorable . <p> Mac Support is what I 'm looking for . Would be awesome to get this game to run natively on Mac rather than have to run boot camp to play the game . <p> More missions is a good one too . I always love when a game can tell a good story , I 've never played any of the Wing Commanders but I 've heard good things and I 'm interested in seeing what the story will be . <p> I chose advanced FPS mode , tactical command mode , and more squadron 42 missions . As someone running OSX , it would be convenient to play the game in OSX , but it 's not that big of a deal to me , I can just dual boot into Windows to play the game . <p> I was seeing different ones , searched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also seeing different bolded options . However , I was apparently not logged in , clicking reply prompted me to log in and now I am seeing my correct choices bolded . <p> Interesting , maybe something procedurally generated rather than random so that everyone has the same infinite experience ? I could get behind that , although the fiction for the involved planets would have to be simplified . <p> My other would be for a way for players to be able to submit ideas or plans for customised or customisable ships/weapons/equipment for upgrades . Its great the SC team have outlined some basic equipment and I 'm sure there will be more , but what about something completely different and non mainstream that I want to fit to one of my ships slots that 's not available in the standard upgrade/equipment list . <p> Hopefully we can see all that culture and science in game . being able to pull up a planets info and see all the facts and stories about their culture and history . Or selecting ships and seeing detailed readouts on who made them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Other . For Other I would ask for more depth to the universe where possible . Random NPC Radio chat , ships talking too each other about random topics ( Pirates , cargo prices , government actions , etc ) Ingame radio that details random news stories and music ( like the later fallout titles ) News feeds at planets and stations with more random local news like a fire on a cruise ship in system or a controversial political decision , just more " background noise " to the universe to bring it to life . Ambient action on planets and stations , not dependent on players just happening between NPCs ( Pick pockets , Haggling , security patrols and people being thrown out of clubs ) More fluff stuff to do , Pointless little things that do n't necessarily give you an advantage but make the universe more " real " ( Buying a greasy wrap/kebab for 1-2 credits at a vendor near the docks , having a eating animation for it while you walk , changing music on the jukebox at a club/bar , a dance floor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to players or NPCs ) <p> I would like to see the ability to do not eject simply , but running to a Scape Pod ( in major ships that you could have ) . And , scape pods customized , with guns maybe . Even some ships in a format like motorcycles would be fun to get out of the system or something like that , after your main ship exploded . <p> I agree . In the future we could have a lot more than a simple Space Sim . There 's a lot of room for inovation and we do not need to be following rules only to have the game categorized as a Space Sim . As Origin said : " We create worlds " -- and there is no only Space Sim in the world People sometimes exagerated in their allegiances to a specific game genre . But you always can do the things in ways to do not disagree of this kind of prejudice people and bringing other kinds of gamers to the universe . Even that I agree that the best and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to be ) a Space Sim . <p> I just hope it will be " persistent enough " . Ben said somewhere in the AMA sessions it will not be as full featured as the official servers , so let 's hope it as features to allow for a satisfying private experience . <p> I 'm worried that people are fixating on the FPS , boarding combat end too much . It 's a space sim , not Counter Strike . <p> But if you 're going to have it , do it right . Make the primary melee weapon be -- an axe . Something that 'd reasonably cut through space suits and a bulkhead or two . It strikes an interesting silhouette , too , compared to a knife or space-crowbar . <p> Call it a nod to Legend of the Galactic Heroes . Or Prometheus , if you 're still pulling placenta out of your ears . <p> Harry Harrison wrote a great story about space boarding -- weapons need to be reactionless otherwise you swing your axe and end up spinning off into space , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use as lasers can be defeated easily with reflective armour and slug-throwing weapons are poor due to reaction problems . <p> Still , FPS has no place in a space sim type game . You should be sitting in the cockpit in the comfy chair giving orders to the grunts who run around to your command . Surely seeing your troops running around as little dots in a 3d image of the ship would provide more tension than trying to figure out which way to go next . <p> Can you imagine ordering your troops around the ship , trying to get a limited number of boarding party to the engine room to shut off the shield generator without running into the squads of stormtrooper defenders ? Sending orders to direct them without too much casualties ... it could be awesome , and much or immersive than the boring old FPS with the single invincible warrior . Yeah , the more I think about it , the less I want any FPS in there . <p> I do n't believe in " FPS has not place in a space sim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a universe . Most of it , in the first place , a Space Sim , but it does n't need to be limited to that . There 's lot room for other kind of game categories , and FPS is one of them for sure ? I see room for inovation in Star Citizen ( of course -- in the future ) . You do n't need to play if you do n't want FPS , RTS or whatever different thing that could be created based on this universe . The best thing is having the options available for all kinds of gamers . And if its possible ( something that the devs can answer ) no reason to do not do it . <p> 1 : More flyable ship classes : More options is better 2 : Tactical command mode on capital ships : Hey , if I 'm going to fly one of the big girls , I expect to have the comfy chair and issue orders . 3 : Run under Linux : Not sure I 'll use it but I want to have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- -- -- 4:More star systems in Star Citizen : more space is more room for fun . 5:More external fiction ( like the Time Capsule and Spectrum Dispatches ) : these have been lots of fun . 6:More frequent updates from the development team : I 'd like to know things are moving forward , but I 'll settle for speculation and a good game at the end . <p> I 'd like to be able to set-up specific programmed thruster bursts ... Choosing which individual thrusters fire , their duration , their intensity . These " macromaneuvers " could be set-up within the ship itself , meaning it 's something else that could be upgraded ... like buying a better computer for the ship allows for number of macromaneuvers stored , complexity they can be , etc .... <p> However , I am concerned that , at this point , part of the slow-down is that people do n't know exactly what they 're getting . The good-faith pledging has been a phenomenal home-run for Star Citizen , but I suspect that many would-be supporters simply do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tacking on additional semi-ethereal goal-prizes may not fix this . I admit that my choice of purchasing the Wingnut pledge package was partially determined by the fact that , between it and the Freelancer , I knew from the demo what the Hornet was . <p> I know that we 've been told that the art for the other ships is in the works , and we will , hopefully before the pledging is over , see what these vessels look like . I would suggest , though , that perhaps even seeing some of the concept art -- even early design sketches which resemble the final product , if the formal art will take too long -- may help win over those hesitant to pledge on faith . Part of the passion is from how beautiful the demonstration was . What we 've seen , heard , and read has been spectacular , and has lit the fires of our imagination . <p> Now , the flames in the hearts of those who wish to share your vision , which have burned so brightly these past weeks , seem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to it . Those who would love the genre but , as some of these great games came out as many as two decades ago , may not as younger gamers have the ready kindling of experiencing your previous works . They look to this sight of which they are told ( by word-of-mouth or gamer E-zines ) , and see the promise of a new game , but perhaps not enough to take its measure . They have had much to read , but have seen only a few brilliant strokes of the brush for what there is to *experience* . To see a stack of stats conveys a concept , but I think many of us will agree that crunching numbers is n't what this is about . It is through these ships that we will experience Star Citizen , for they will be the lens of our immersion . This leads to a great yearning -- to look up at a ship and utter those words which mean worlds : " I 'll get to fly this . " <p> You make an excellent point . Humans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 're getting in a situation like this . I think releasing concept art is an excellent idea for getting " butts in the seats " as it were . Even if there 's a disclaimer to the effect of " early concept drawing , final ship may be altered or changed without notice " <p> I think that 'd go a LONG way to getting people interested in the game . <p> You 're not just buying a ship though , you 're supporting the game . What you pledge for wo n't be the be all and end all as there will be many more ships on release and in the future . It may not be realistic but it might be nice if these ships that are available for pledging are only available to pledgers even after release . Or at the least VERY hard to acquire in the universe . If suddenly everyone has a Hornet that would just be silly . And sure you get to fly it in the campaign . I think the ships take time to develop however and you need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awesome as everyone else ! But I think rarity would put higher value on them for everyone . Make these ships almost the best you can get in game , and then later on add ships that the military have recently brought into service , which could be added into Squadron 42 and be made expensive in the extreme in the universe because even the military have few of them . I know there are balancing issues but it is only right that if you are attacked by a hornet you are in serious trouble , and that your only option should be escape unless you have numbers on your side , which should n't always be the case because no fight is ever completely equal . Imagine if the only way to acquire a constellation in the game is to steal one , or pay a ridiculous amount of credits . <p> disagree ; how could you even think that would be a good idea for a pledger-only ship ? how could you think to let pledgers start off with " the best ships in the game " and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get those same ships ? it is the very definition of " pay to win " that chris , and really , everyone else ( except you ) , is against . <p> More external fiction . I would love books to read while we wait for launch , it would help make the time until alpha/beta/launch go by much faster , plus it 'll help us dive directly into the world of Star Citizen and feel like we 've been living there this whole time , in a sense . <p> I personally , have always wanted to captain a capitol ship . If this game could let me do that , while maintaining the detail of that cockpit , I would throw my money at it . I would throw my money so hard , my monitor would break ... <p> Tactical command mode would be wicked awesome , as would more ships to fly at launch . I think it would be sweet if there was a " fire control " officer on bigger ships that directed gunners to targets , as well as fighters . <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if this is realistic or not ) is I would like to see the persistent universe ready at closer to the same time as Squadron 42 . Personally , I would pour money into having both Squadron 42 AND the persistent universe ready in 24 months , rather than having the universe be bigger at launch . <p> The tactical command is what would thrill me the most from the given options . I also voted for mopre ship classes but I do realize more ships will get added after launch anyway . As I also voted " other " here is what I would really like to see improved/realized : Ship interior and gameplay within the ship . While it seems that the " bobblehead and dinosaur " thing is aiming for that , what I mean is that I want to identify myself with my ship . And by that I mean capships ! I want to walk around my **26;2670;TOOLONG and see NPCs I hired to improve the crew . I want to walk into the engine room seeing the brand new 5 Mega-Watt reaction-camber pre-heater that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wander into the mess room to talk to my Crew and hear what new upgrades I could use for the hangar deck ans so on ... PS : Sorry for the wall of text , hope you get my point . <p> yes this is important , and a accessible AI like EDI in Mass Effect .... you can give Voice commands like " Scan Sector " " Dock on Station " or " bring out us here " if you are attacked while you walking within your ship <p> I voted for Linux , more NPCs , and Other . Linux , not so much because I run it on my computer , but in anticipation of a Steam console . More NPCs , emphasizing quality/uniqueness over quantity . <p> On the Other end of things , I 've been reading over the clubs/pubs/bars thread , and would really love to see fully-realized social areas as soon as possible , areas you can move through in first-person . Visiting planets and bases were half the reason I flew anywhere in Privateer . <p> If I could choose a fourth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That could *really* broaden the audience for Star Citizen . <p> My other is also to flesh out the clubs/pubs/bars significantly more than we had in Freelancer or Privateer . The MPC interactions always felt a little constrained and incomplete taking away from the immersion . There are a number of topics in the forums talking about this to get ideas . <p> I 'm imagining it would be similar to BF2 ? s commander mode , where you could give individual fighter wings orders and targets ( Bomber wing 1 , torpedo this . Fighter wing 3 , escort bomber wing 1 . Destroyers , shield the carrier . Boarding parties , launch at disabled enemy cruiser , etc ) , while seeing a nice overview of the battle . It would help quite a bit for those 50vs50 fights . <p> This I like . I really enjoyed playing as the commander in BF2 , and often got complimented on how I handled the battle . I 'd love to see some kind of map setup like in TIE Fighter , that a commander could assign targets with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tactical , more star systems , and FPS ( for my buddies , that are big into FPS games , this could be a draw for them . ) <p> Why would we need T-shirts ? About the FPS part , you can see a little bit in the promo video : character walking around the carrier . I guess this has to do with interaction while on cap ships , space stations and planet surface . <p> I 've rarely seen a kickstarter-style t-shirt that would make people look ' trendy ' . If there 's text and a logo on the back , you just look like a walking billboard . That 's the kind of t-shirt that only gets worn while painting the house . Ideally , the shirts are plain enough that they look good even if you know absolutely nothing about the game . <p> Well so far im the 1 " other " vote . I would like some extra focus on the exploration portion of the game as in more sites to find/explore/profit . Also industrial and possible manufacturing areas of the game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be alone on this <p> I am also with you Markov ! It would be really neat if you were able to build your own spacestation or hangar on a moon or planet . And with that build factories or other industrial buildings . So , good idea Markov ! <p> I 've voted for a major number of missions in Squadron 42 , but i think that a translation ( i 'm italian ) will be really important ... When i was 12-13 and i was playing Wing Commander 1-2 i had the headache trying to undestand all the slang present in the game dialogues ... XD <p> The ultimate answer is community-provided language packs . If the language-specific stuff can be split away , the they can be replaced . If these components can be documented and tools provided to modify them , then the community can do this for whatever language they want . Sure , it might not be as professional as the core deliverables , but you should n't underestimate someone out there who will do an excellent job . <p> There 's also the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ text for all the speech , surely ) and anyone can then update those into Italian , or Afrikkaans or whatever without impacting the main project . <p> You are right , but you are understimating a heavy factor : here in Europe , in some country ( sadly even mine ) , people do n't know really good the english language , so , many people here stay distant from the project and from the kickstarter . The level of knowledge of english is so low that i must to translate the kickstarter page for most of my friends ! XD If the programmers give initial support to an italian translation ( like a spanish one and portuguese ) , the project and the search for founds would spread even here in Italy ( where the project for now is almost unknown , even if a couple of comunity are already online ) . A good idea could be even to translate the kickstarter page in Italian . <p> There 's something about attacking a large ship with a squad of ships and then boarding it in FPS that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with enhanced FPS mode and more rewards ! Though , if I had a 4th vote I would have put in for capital ships . Not so much for me but I know it should be an important aspect for this game . <p> Linux is doing well at 15% I think , and with the 14% for Mac , that is a total of almost 30% . That is a potential market share to notice . I think it is important for RSI to remember that Windows 8 will be prevalent when Star Citizen has its full release , and other houses like Valve are not impressed by its gaming qualities . <p> Other houses are not impressed that Windows has it 's own app store built in now . Valve makes a lot of money selling all brands of games . Valve is not particularly eager to see Microsoft as a competitor . <p> As someone who is using Windows 8 , I can assure you it has exactly the same " gaming qualities " as windows 7 . The win 8 desktop is just the same . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ windows 8 as far as I 've read , they have only spoken in the vaguest terms about it . They probably just do n't like the idea of the windows app store and xbox on windows competing with steam -- that does n't mean win 8 is any worse for gaming . You probably should n't take their word for it -- they 're looking out for their interests , not yours . <p> Considering the great difficulties that will be involved in trying to bring a cryengine game to linux , would n't you prefer them to spend all their time and budget on making the best windows game they can , rather than splitting their efforts and giving us a diluted game on multiple OS 's ? I know I would . <p> no i wouldn't. many of us , myself included , wo n't be able to play it if it 's windows-only. i pledged in the hope we will get a port . besides , it 's not that hard , really , you just do n't know much about it . <p> I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience as a developer is that stuff that is developed for both Linux and Windows , work better on Linux . I do get the point about Valve/Steam getting a competitor though . <p> When all that is said , the poll is now at 22% for Linux ( a lot more than Mac ) . The point is that even if Windows market share in general is huge , a majority of those are not gamers , and certainly not prospective Star Citizen players . They are office computers or grandmas computers . The people buying Macs do it to edit their photos , not play . <p> I think that many of those that truly love the PC , also have quite the understanding for Linux . The sales statistics for the Humble Bundle shows that Linux gamers are starved for quality games , and that they are willing to pay for it . It is n't accidental that Linux has gotten so much attention in this years Kickstarter successes . <p> As for the difficulty porting CryEngine3 -- I do n't buy it . Since they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ways OpenGL ) , they have done the necessary work to abstract the rendering backend from the frontend . If they do n't already have , or do n't intend to make it , it is because they do n't want to , not because it is in any way difficult . <p> @Val-Amart you *wo n't be able to play* if it 's windows-only ? You 're running linux on a machine that is n't compatible with windows ? Are n't you just choosing not to use windows ? And are you telling me that if Star Citizen was windows only , you could n't dual-boot windows in order to play it ? <p> Also , if you think it 's not that hard to rewrite cryengine to use OpenGL instead of DirectX , I think you 're the one who does n't know much about it . The whole point of using someone else 's engine is that it will save RSI the work of writing their own -- what 's the point if they then have to rewrite it ? <p> @DancingOmelette Dualbooting is full of constraints @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if I admit i still have windows on my computer . Imagine a game taking 5 min to load and 5 min to unload , this is what means dualbooting ( and win and my motherboard bios are mostly responsible of that time ) . <p> Apparently Crytech started to think about linux at the beginning of the year . It probably means they have nothing ready in their boxes but they may have it in a few years . http : **27;2698;TOOLONG ? page=ne ... The real question is not Will Star Citizen develop a multiplatform game ? BUT Will CryEngine ensure support for linux and/or mac in time of SC release . This is mostly about making a deal with them ! If they are not enthusiastic you should mention how well performing Unigine is getting . If a linux goal is proposed i will double my pledge , and the project will be promoted around the linux community . Think how well humble indie bundle is doing ! <p> Oh and please do n't give a try to wine , this is good for games that do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem an easy solution , but what it giveth it taketh it away ! <p> The boss of Steam does , and I think that 's an important factor . He 's seen the future of Windows gaming and does n't like it , so I think there will be some shift towards Linux . <p> Linux support would mean the game could be released on a standalone , bootable DVD. no installation required . It could also be run on Linux consoles , should powerful enough ones appear , or on your Linux HTPC . So though I think windows is where its at today , I would n't like to assume anything given the state of Microsoft 's intentions . <p> I certainly do n't . It 's already tough enough to get devs to give us good PC versions when they 're only thinking about consoles , and that 's without splitting the PC market over 3 OSs . Do tell , why is linux important in the future of PC gaming ? <p> What are you exactly talking about ? Playability ? This may be caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be the same if they are windows only , or linux/mac compliant . <p> If it 's about stability i suggest you to get rid of your MS products . <p> I would not tell linux is important for pc gaming , but linux users love being free and innovative and creative ways to use their hardware , so they love indie games and crowdfunding , so even being few they can help much about bringing pure awesomeness to life and less WWIII commercial crap . So linux is important for good pc gaming . <p> Almost exactly my vote ( switch the dev team updates out for more Squadron 42 missions ... though for that last spot I really struggled with myself , because more ship classes , more systems and such goals sounded awesome too ) . Hopefully Linux stays among the top five choices and there might be hope ( Crytek willing ) for a port . <p> Oh , and we 're just nine point something percent away from the 3M USD stretch goal as of this writing ( with each hundredth percent point equalling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goals named above are not that far away either . *fingers crossed* <p> Cockpit view should be a HUGE priority . Even a sort of bridge view for larger ships would be neat ; however , I strongly emphasize a smaller ship cockpit view because it is a staple in space games and largely defines the game in question . <p> Even if it seems to be now -- I want it to remain that case indefinitely -- for any future updates and installments . If they just assume that we want it , does that mean it will receive constant attention ? Or will it fall on the backburner because demand for it was never made clear ? <p> Every genre has its defining feature , especially in modern gaming . Lately for shooters , it has been iron sights . For racers , it 's the realism of the driving experience . For space games such as this ? It is absolutely the cockpit . <p> I 'm with ya Neckaru . WC1/2 got cockpits perfect . They all had a lot of character and unique details . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ship should have its own unique cockpit arrangement , preferably with different displays ( maybe different generations of displays even ) . <p> Me personally , I want more NPC/story stuff . As for first person shooter , to me this is primarily a space sim and I do nt have to much enthusiasm towards it becoming more FPS . <p> I would also like to see more updates from devs and more of the fiction just because for one the fiction has been some of the best scifi i 've read in some while and 2 because I want to know how the game is progressing . <p> Running under lunix or mac is of no interest to me personally . More rewards are nice but at the same time I do nt want to see it start to detract from the rest of the game <p> I agree with more NPC/story stuff . On the FPS note : Was Han Solo always in his ship ? Do armed forces only have the air force ? Personally I think it would be cool to have some fps content . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and get them into the community . The down side to fps would be a lack of maturity with that crowd . Although that could be covered in the fine print : If you destroy imersion in SC with immature nonsense you will be banned . Personally I think being able to do some dirty work with the Marines or SC equalivant would be cool . Also it could make Bounty hunting more interesting . Sorry for being longer than 2 cents . <p> While I am a big FPS gamer , I think FPS would just detract from the overall space sim experience . I 'm still not sure how they would balance a FPS fight inside a spaceship while starships are fighting outside . I mean they ca n't use " instances " because that completely destroys the immersion . I 'm all for the FPS as long as it does n't gimp the space sim side of things , which I do n't see how they could do . I mean , 30 people in space ships dogfighting outside , while another 20 say 10 attackers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same time and hopefully no one blows the ship while they 're in it ? Seems a bit of a stretch . <p> The FPS game probably would n't be all that separate though , as there are no loading screens between walking around on a ship and flying outside I can definitely see how someone can fly a boarding ship inside a hangar and everyone pouring out of it . If the ship is blown up while the boarding party are still inside they simply die ! <p> Did you ever play Star Wars Battlefront ? ( well , ok , SW BF2 ) It had a FPS mode . You could attach the capital ship with your X-Wing / Y-Wing , etc. to take out the Shield Generator with your ships weapons or LAND IN IT , eject from your ship , and attack the shield generator internally . That was awesome . Well , honestly , it was a little " cheap " , since it was so much easier to take them out by using a ship , but it was exciting to be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but im not agree with zeekez at all on this FPS matter . First of all , im not big fan of FPS and have tendency to hate it . But , what matter to me is if you play as a pirate , you always have choice to release or claiming your ship that you capture and i think the FPS or 3rdPS is only way to deliver this option . Even though its hard to say , its needed , as a part of immersion of this game . For me the only real option for the developer is disable the ability of capturing other player ship and having FPS or 3rdPS out of the game or make it possible while having FPS or 3rdPS on . But then again , if you disable this ability then what 's the point of having an option to play as pirate at all ? Because if you choose to be a pirate then you want to have this ability and take any valuable things that come with the ship . Otherwise its pointless to be a pirate at all . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PPS:If someone can deliver other option to the discussion with happy heart i will listen to it <p> I have to day that you should always try to do 1 thing well , rather than 2 things adequately . So for me FPS is a no-no . <p> However , there are aspects that can be added that increase the overall tension in a 3rd person FPS way -- eg , a FPS boarding operation is ok , but its better to have a bunch of marines on ship that you can send out to board , while you concentrate on directing them or keeping the shields down while they cut their way in . You do n't have to personally strap on a gun and run down there to individually kick the stuff out of a hundred stormtroopers in some rambo-esque fantasy . Better to build your own troops up and send them in while you manage them in a strategic view , that would keep immersion and add to overall playability much more than a FPS add-on would . <p> If you send in a boarding party , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , not just blow it up after killing/subduing the crew . So does that mean SC will then allow ships to transfer ownership on capture ? And who among the capturing party/fleet gets the ownership . <p> If the original ship owner had insurance , does that mean they also get a new ship , or does the capturing party not get the ship because the owner had insurance ? <p> Another problem is that a capital ship will require both space sim and FPS players involved , and unless pilots are warped back to the ship ( meaning all pilots require both skillsets ) , you will have FPS players just waiting for a boarding party to enter the ship . <p> Unless the FPS action is only for PvE and optional , I think adding FPS will alienate the space sim fans , which is what SC was initially targeting . And if FPS is only PvE ( or PvP arena ? ) then you have something separate from the rest of the SC universe , which is essentially a completely different game , and likely alienate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somewhat to Star Trek Online , as it has many of STO 's gameplay characteristics . STO has both a starship combat system , and a FPS/3PS combat system . They work very well with each other , especially in regards to missions and the like . And if we were maybe boarding enemy ships in SC , would n't we all like to be able to switch to FPS mode for the encounter , instead of letting the computer " auto-calculate " the results ? <p> I agree the FPS stuff should not be the main focus at this point . This is a space Sim first and should be more about flying ships and exploring . There are lots of great FPS games . I do n't want to see them focus to much on this right now . <p> Really surprised how many people are interested in the FPS side of the game . <p> I could n't agree more . There are plenty of dumbed-down FPS out there . I 'd like to see a game with a rich and engaging story line . Customizations are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing that 'll add replay value to the game . I also think the game needs a large variety of side missions , not just variations of go there &; kill everything . For example freelancer was a game I loved , I think it had a good story . But once you 're done with it this side missions get old fast , and even though the multiplayer adds some value , it 's still more of the same . <p> Looking forward to a game with combination of ; - sandbox mmo spacesim - fps space battles and fps station/planet battle for conquering battleships , stations or Planet resources and the territoriale Alliance ownership of a space area . - periodical event based missions in space where groups or solo can auto join when one pops up . Get an alert when and where its located . No traditional quests or missions as Standard mmos do . - mmo that avoids instance loading ... More a system that preloads an area of you are close to it . - in game housing ; rent or buy a personal/corporation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting . <p> I agree on story and immersion . One of the things that made WC and especially Privateer stand out for me was the " little touches . " For example , the take-off and landing cut-scenes , watching the little thrusters fire as your ship settled onto the landing pad . <p> I realize that to modern ( i.e. , younger ) gamers that may seem silly , but you have to understand that for the time it was pretty revolutionary . Chris Roberts was one of the first developers to understand that in order to make a really stand-out game , you also had to make a good story and give the player a sense of place in the universe . I can still remember the wonderful music by The Fat Man for places like the Pleasure Planet and Oxford . I have forgotten countless games that I 've played in the ensuing 20 years , but those virtual locales are still fresh in my mind after all this time . <p> Like a good story , a good game is not defined by the physics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locations . Make a good story first , then put a good game into it . <p> Yes we all like updates . But , I work in the games industry myself and I have to say that a lot of time ( = money ) is wasted if you need to produce polished images and trailers every few weeks . Let them concentrate their efforts on the actual game , not to produce eye candy . Believe me , we have to be patient , but that will result in a better product in the end . <p> Does n't need to be polished images and trailers , I 'd just like to know what they 're up to , how things are going in general and any new developments . And if they can throw in some half finished concept art or some barebones test level footage as well , then all the better . Something like the weekly video updates for Overgrowth would be awesome . <p> A plug-in API like what WoW allows could be awesome . Interested programmers / artists could create custom UIs that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a good generic one that anybody can use , but a hardcore pirate could maybe load a UI that prioritizes scanners and " police arrival time " over standard gun/shield elements . <p> You could also have things like combat logs so you could analyze your performance after combat was over . <p> Looking forward to a game with combination of ; - sandbox mmo spacesim - fps space battles and fps station/planet battle for conquering battleships , stations or Planet resources and the territoriale Alliance ownership of a space area . - periodical event based missions in space where groups or solo can auto join when one pops up . Get an alert when and where its located . No traditional quests or missions as Standard mmos do . - mmo that avoids instance loading ... More a system that preloads an area of you are close to it . - in game housing ; rent or buy a personal/corporation docking area where you can store ships or have a meeting . <p> Would love to see a phone app that let 's you keep updated with what 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several times a day maybe with some live

@@5121741 <h> Get Out Of My Life <p> Be yourself . Life is precious as it is . All the elements for your happiness are already here . There is no need to run , strive , search or struggle . Just Be- <p> Over the years , injury after injury . One hardship after another ... Healing and building strength slowly yet again We learn something rather important about ourselves : What others think about you does n't matter . <p> Take a moment today to ask one of your friends who has ever obsessed over wanting to lose just ten more pesky pounds . You could also ask them about the time they were trying to lose that little bit of extra " stuff " around their waist . When loosing just ten more pounds is all that we focus on ... Those pounds and extra " stuff " become larger and more profound daily until they fill every nook and cranny in our minds . We do this over and over again until we are convinced that it 's all anyone else can see when they look our way . <p> There are reoccurring themes and strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re-told quite often . One of which is making an honest ( &lt; -- Key Word ) effort to stay positive and making healthy choices daily . The way you present yourself deep inside has a ripple effect on those around you ... <p> Set aside 30 minutes of your precious time and start rolling through this series , this is not AMRAP in 30 minutes peeps ! By the time you get to your tenth set you should find yourself moving through this program effortlessly ... <p> It 's been a while since I 've done something for the first time -- i.e. in my monthly goals I have a goal of finding a new interest . It 's something that obviously has to come naturally to my mind , not planned . Now that I 'm almost 100% recuperated from doing the test for both history courses , I can learn how to use Illustrator , MS Windows Movie Maker , and writing fiction . <p> The thing about me being fat -- a guy who liked me for me ( and not my looks ) never cared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hair -- or wore whatever . <p> Yeah I know ... I need to stop being a people pleaser and do what 's in my best interest and only care about what I think about myself . <p> I know I 'm not a jerk so I have no worries that I 'll talk and treat others awfully . <p> Of course ... there is that communication style -- different from one person to the next . <p> Thanks for this post ... it almost feels like you have read my recent post and instead of responding to it on my page , you have added it as a post on yours . Either way is great ! I like to be able to contribute my thoughts on your pages . <p> You are such an amazing and empowering woman , thank you for your continued support . I like to think that there is a sense of community over here , where we are free to share our thoughts and be who we truly are . Take care once again and be well ! ! ! <p> great messages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ log on and read something that makes sense and that can be reflected upon and hopefully applied to make

@@5121841 <p> Summum , a religious organization , sent a letter to the mayor of Pleasant Grove , Utah asking to place a monument in one of the city 's parks . Although the park already housed a monument to the Ten Commandments , the mayor denied Summum 's request because the monument did not " directly relate to the history of Pleasant Grove . " Summum filed suit against the city in federal court citing , among other things , a violation of its First Amendment free speech rights . The U.S. District Court for the District of Utah denied Summum 's request for a preliminary injunction . <p> The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit reversed the district court and granted Summum 's injunction request . The Tenth Circuit held that the park was in fact a " public " forum , not a non-public forum as the district court had held . Furthermore , Summum demonstrated that it would suffer irreparable harm if the injunction were to be denied , and the interests of the city did not outweigh this potential harm . The injunction , according to the court , was also not against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to place a religious organization 's monument in a public park violate that organization 's First Amendment free speech rights when the park already contains a monument from a different religious group ? <p> No . The Supreme Court reversed the Tenth Circuit holding that the placement of a monument in a public park is a form of government speech and therefore not subject to scrutiny under the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment . With Justice Samuel A. Alito writing for the majority and joined by Chief Justice John G. Roberts and Justices John Paul Stevens , Antonin G. Scalia , Anthony M. Kennedy , Clarence Thomas , Ruth Bader Ginsburg , and Stephen G. Breyer , the Court reasoned that since Pleasant Grove City had retained final authority over which monuments were displayed , the monuments represented an expression of the city 's viewpoints and thus government speech . <p> Justice Stevens , joined by Justice Ginsburg , wrote a separate concurring opinion that largely embraced the majority 's reasoning . Justice Scalia , joined by Justice Thomas , also wrote a separate concurring opinion . Agreeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were likely no violations of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment on the part of Pleasant Grove City . He argued that displays of the Ten Commandments had been construed by the Court as " having an undeniable historical meaning " and thus did not attempt to establish a religion . Justice Breyer also wrote a separate concurring opinion in which he noted that " government speech " should be considered a rule of thumb and not a rigid category . He stated that sometimes the Court should ask " whether a government 's actions burdens speech disproportionately in light of the action 's tendency to further a legitimate government objective . " Justice Souter also wrote separately , concurring in the judgment , but warning that public monuments should not be considered government speech categorically . <p> Mr. Sekulow : Mr. Chief Justice , and may it please the Court : The Tenth Circuit erred when it held that the First Amendment Free Speech Clause forces Pleasant Grove City to accept and erect on its property a private party 's donated , unattended , permanent monument . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the court 's conclusion that a donated Ten Commandments monument constitutes private speech rather than Government speech is wrong . <p> Here each of the monuments on display in Pioneer Park have been selected by the Government , are owned by the Government , controlled by the Government , and are displayed on Government property . <p> When the Government is speaking , it is free from the traditional free speech constraints of the First Amendment . <p> Second , the court compounded its error by further concluding that Pioneer Park is a traditional public forum for the erection of permanent , unattended monuments by private parties . <p> I mean , the more you say that the monument is Government speech to get out of the first , free speech -- the Free Speech Clause , the more it seems to me you 're walking into a trap under the Establishment Clause . <p> If it 's Government speech , it may not present a free speech problem , but what is the Government doing speaking -- supporting the Ten Commandments ? <p> Mr. Sekulow : Well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the mayor said , Mayor Cook , in 1971 , to show the pioneer heritage of the community . <p> This was a community of pioneers on a quest for religious liberty . <p> That 's why this town was established . <p> There is no Establishment Clause claim , Mr. Chief Justice , here . <p> It would be inconsistent with the relief that the Respondents are really seeking . <p> Justice Kennedy : Well-- <p> Mr. Sekulow : And I think that -- yes , Justice Kennedy . <p> Justice Kennedy : --And I do n't want to interrupt your answer to the Chief Justice because I think it 's critical , critical to your argument . <p> As a procedural matter , I thought that the Establishment Clause issue was raised in the initial complaint . <p> Are you taking the position it 's now waived or something ? <p> Mr. Sekulow : Well , there was no Federal Establishment Clause complaint at all . <p> There was a State-- <p> Justice Kennedy : It was under the State ? <p> Mr. Sekulow : --It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was raised in the complaint . <p> It was not the basis upon which the injunction was sought , and the Tenth Circuit noted that it was waived . <p> Justice Kennedy : If you prevail , the action should be dismissed , as far as you 're concerned ? <p> Mr. Sekulow : Yes . <p> Justice Kennedy : All right . <p> Mr. Sekulow : Just let me-- <p> Justice Kennedy : Then getting back to the Chief Justice 's point , it does seem to me that if you say it 's Government speech that in later cases , including the case of the existing monument , you 're going to say it 's Government speech and you have an Establishment Clause problem . <p> I do n't know if -- I 'm not saying it would necessarily be resolved one way or the other , but it certainly raises-- <p> Mr. Sekulow : --Well , I think from an-- <p> Justice Kennedy : --an Establishment Clause problem . <p> Mr. Sekulow : --If there was an Establishment Clause claim , Justice Kennedy , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monument is very similar to what was at play in Van Orden . <p> And here the city stated the reason that they accepted and erected this monument , accepted the donation from the Fraternal Order of Eagles , was to show something and to represent their pioneer heritage , but-- <p> Justice Scalia : I suppose it depends on what the Government speech consists of , what it is the Government is saying about the Ten Commandments . <p> If the Government is saying the Ten Commandments are the word of God that 's one thing , and if the Government is saying the Ten Commandments are an important part of our national heritage , that 's something else . <p> Mr. Sekulow : --That 's -- and precisely , Justice Scalia , that 's exactly what Mayor Cook in fact , at the unveiling ceremony , stated that this will serve to remind citizens of their pioneer heritage and the founding of-- <p> It think it clearly -- that the actions here of the Government , of the City Council , falls neatly within Forbes , Finley , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government-- <p> Justice Ginsburg : Before we get -- before we get away from the Government , the Establishment Clause , you said , well , Van Orden answered that , but did it ? <p> Because you do n't have here a 40-year history of this monument being there , and nobody seems to be troubled by it . <p> Mr. Sekulow : --There is a 36-year history here . <p> This monument has been on display since 1971 . <p> So this monument has been there a long time , and-- <p> Justice Scalia : I think 38 is the cut-off point . <p> Mr. Sekulow : --Is that the cut-off ? <p> Laughter <p> Perhaps I miscounted . <p> It may be 38 . <p> Chief Justice Roberts : Mr. Sekulow-- <p> Mr. Sekulow : Yes , Mr. Chief Justice . <p> Chief Justice Roberts : --when you come upon this , if somebody comes upon this monument in the park , how are they supposed to tell whether it 's Government speech or private speech ? <p> Mr. Sekulow : Well , of course the face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face of the monument that it 's presented to Pleasant Grove City in Utah County by the Fraternal Order of Eagles . <p> As far as a Government speech as far as ownership and control goes under a Johanns analysis , different from Finley and Forbes and that context , here the Government exercised control . <p> After all , they allowed it , accepted it , and allowed it to be erected on their property . <p> Under Utah law , all right , title , and interest to that property transferred . <p> But I would say with regard to the endorsement , if you will , or the Establishment Clause issue , really the context here , as this Court has consistently stated within the Establishment Clause cases matter -- this Court has a depiction of Moses holding the Ten Commandment in the frieze of the courtroom with the words written in Hebrew . <p> That 's not an endorsement of the religion or of the commandments . <p> It 's representative of the history . <p> Justice Ginsburg : In the context of all other lawgivers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't see , I do n't think , anywhere <p> " I am the Lord thy God . " <p> That 's not shown . <p> Mr. Sekulow : No , the words on the Court 's frieze are " steal " , " murder " , " adultery " in Hebrew . <p> Justice Ginsburg : Yes . <p> Mr. Sekulow : Very different in that context . <p> But as far as the actual language of what 's going on within the park itself , Justice Ginsburg , this is not a monument standing alone . <p> There are 15 other displays in this Pioneer Park . <p> It 's called-- <p> Justice Scalia : Is this a challenge to the Ten Commandments monument ? <p> Mr. Sekulow : --It 's not . <p> This is not an Establishment Clause case . <p> Justice Scalia : I thought this case did not involve an Establishment Clause challenge . <p> Why are we-- <p> Mr. Sekulow : There is no Establishment Clause . <p> It 's not a basis upon which the injunction was sought , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Souter : Mr. Sekulow , can I just ask : At what point in the litigation did you first raise the Government speech argument ? <p> Mr. Sekulow : At the Tenth Circuit . <p> The Tenth Circuit , the existing law in the Tenth Circuit in the Summum line of cases mandated a private speech determination , even if the speech was controlled or known by the Government , if it originated with a third party . <p> As soon as we were before -- and under Tenth Circuit rules that 's binding , of course , on the district court and on the panel . <p> But even in the panel brief , we raise the issue of Government speech and the Court addressed it both as to -- and , Justice Kennedy , going back to your point -- both as to Government speech and to the speech selection cases of Forbes , Finley , and American Library Association . <p> And I think that those cases as well point to what 's at issue here . <p> Governments in the business of governing and determining the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of decisions . <p> Justice Souter : Is n't the tough -- is n't the tough issue here not so much whether there is Government speech . <p> I will assume and I do indeed assume that there is . <p> Is n't the tough issue here the claim that there is -- is in fact a mixture , that it is both Government and private . <p> And the argument for its continuing to be private speech I take it is simply the Eagles identification with the presentation and their espousal of what the monument says . <p> How -- how do you think we ought to deal with the mixture issue . <p> Mr. Sekulow : Well , I think the fact that it originated , that the monument originated by the Eagles as a third party , does n't in any way take away from the fact that in this particular case , and in most cases involving donated monuments , which , as the United States would point to , most of the monuments in parks are donated by or originated with third parties-- <p> Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- and you correct me if I 'm wrong here . <p> But I do n't suppose that most of them -- most of them contain as part of -- in a prominent place in the monument itself contain the statement that , you know , this is the gift of or the position of or what-not of X , Y or Z , whereas this monument does . <p> In fact , a perfect example would be at Gettysburg National Military Park a number of those monuments , most of them , are donated by or originated by third parties . <p> They 'll often say " Donated by " , for instance , " the Father Corby " -- <p> Justice Souter : We may have more cases coming . <p> Mr. Sekulow : --I hope not . <p> Justice Souter : But tell me , what is the criterion that we should use to decide what the significance of the private identification is ? <p> Mr. Sekulow : I think the key should be , as this Court alluded to in Johanns , the issue of control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact is the Statue of Liberty originated by the Franco-American Union -- was originated by a third party . <p> The United States by resolution accepted it . <p> At that point title transfer . <p> Justice Ginsburg : If that -- if we accept that there is Government speech , I think Justice Souter 's question is is n't this really the Government endorsement of the Eagles ' message ? <p> I mean , the Eagles are all over this monument , their symbol of the eagle , and the Eagles want it to be known that this is their monument . <p> Indeed , I think in Van Orden was n't the -- in the district court there , was n't the statement , well , this -- Texas did this in recognition of the good work that the Eagles do in preventing -- help try to prevent juvenile delinquency . <p> Mr. Sekulow : Right . <p> And I think that actually points to why that once it 's controlled and owned by the Government the fact that it originated in the third party , Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Government . <p> Justice Souter : Well , if it does , it changes it , as I understand your answer , by eliminating the private aspect of the speech . <p> So that your real answer to me is it 's not a mixture . <p> Mr. Sekulow : It 's not . <p> Justice Souter : And there ceases to be a mixture the moment the Government accepts it . <p> Mr. Sekulow : Once -- right , title , and interest vest under Utah law in the Pleasant Grove City upon acceptance and at that point it is owned and controlled by the city . <p> And the fact that it was originally created -- and Justice Ginsburg , you 're correct , the district court and also the court of appeals in Van Orden stated that it was originated as a moral guidance for youth . <p> That was the reason that the Fraternal Order of Eagles developed . <p> The State of Texas said : We 're going to honor the Eagles . <p> That was their reason , as well as showing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . <p> And then the Third -- excuse me , Justice Stevens . <p> Justice Stevens : Can I ask you question that 's kind of in the background of the case ? <p> Mr. Sekulow : Sure . <p> Justice Stevens : Assume you did n't have the policy that you do have , but it was perfectly clear that the city decided not to put up this monument because it disagreed with the message of the monument . <p> Whether you call it Government speech or private speech , would that be permissible ? <p> Mr. Sekulow : It would n't be a First Amendment free speech claim . <p> It might raise an establishment clause , an equal protection kind of clause analysis case , but not under the basis upon which Respondents have sought here . <p> I think that 's important to point out . <p> The basis upon which they sought access , in you will , is a species of an equal access claim . <p> But of course our position is the Government has n't established anything by accepting the monument . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is important , maybe not for your case but for other cases . <p> We are deciding this for other cases to arise , and why is n't he correct that if you do n't like the message then that raises a content-based claim ? <p> Mr. Sekulow : Because if the Government is speaking , if it 's the Government 's message , they 're of course allowed to engage in content-based statements . <p> The Statute of Liberty was a statement of liberty enlightening the world . <p> I could give a list of monuments that do that . <p> Justice Kennedy : I understand that . <p> Mr. Sekulow : That 's what they did . <p> Justice Kennedy : But it does n't seem to me that you have to make the Government speech argument for you to make the argument that you just made . <p> Mr. Sekulow : No , not necessarily , because even under the speech selection cases -- I mean , that 's correct -- Governments make determinations of what they are going to put in their parks to communicate a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think where the Tenth Circuit panel was incorrect and Respondents are incorrect : They confuse the issue of the Government actually creating a forum or a venue for speech -- and a perfect example of that would be here , with ownership and control vesting in the city . <p> Very different in that situation than the typical equal access case , where the Government merely opens up its facilities for a variety of viewpoints , Justice Stevens , and then can not engage in content-based or viewpoint-based-- <p> Justice Souter : So the city , in effect , if the city says , we are going to have a designated ten-acre field in which anybody can put up a monument , but you ca n't because we do n't like your message , there 's a First Amendment problem . <p> But if the city hides the ball in effect and says in effect , we 'll -- we 'll let monuments be placed on -- we will accept monuments from people who want to place them on our property if the monuments have some kind of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ association with the community , as long as they have that sort of criterion in mind then they can select any way they want to ? <p> Mr. Sekulow : --Justice Souter , there is a fundamental difference between opening up a forum , taking acres of a park and saying everybody gets to go in , and another situation where the Government is clearly controlling it not for a subversive reason . <p> And I think the evidence in these cases , in these series of cases , pointing to Justice Kennedy 's concern about what does it mean for future cases , here it is uncontroverted : The basis upon which the preliminary injunction ultimately was issued by the Tenth Circuit disregarded or at least cast doubt on the declaration of the park administrator , who had been involved in city government since 1972 , who stated -- and it can be found on pages 102 through 104 of the joint appendix -- that it 's been the practice of Pleasant Grove City for three decades to accept displays only in their particular case related to the history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scalia : --It goes to the same thing , does n't it ? <p> I mean , whether it 's the Government stating the message or whether it 's the Government creating a limited public forum for the presentation of only those messages that it thinks are important , it comes to the same thing , does n't it ? <p> Mr. Sekulow : Well , it depends on -- if it 's a limited public forum , certainly limited public forums can be based on subject matter and speaker identity . <p> This Court said that , said that consistently , Cornelius and Perry . <p> So in that context , and now that limited public forum appears to be more of a non-public forum type of analysis , certainly . <p> Even in the designated public forum , it could be limited in that regard . <p> I think that points to the confusion of what took place here . <p> The Court in our view conflated those two issues , the issue of forum and Government speech . <p> And while they 're both separate basis upon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and vacate the issuance of the injunction , the reality is that in this particular case once title passed and control vested in Pleasant Grove City they were the owner and effectively controlled . <p> And , Mr. Chief Justice , that does not mean that they violate the Establishment Clause simply because they own and control a monument . <p> Justice Stevens : Let me ask you a question to make sure I understand your position . <p> It would have been permissible for the city to say , our park it filled with monuments and we are only going to let those in who convey messages that we agree with ? <p> Mr. Sekulow : If the policy is-- <p> Justice Stevens : If that 's a policy . <p> Mr. Sekulow : --If the policy is that we 're only going -- that the Government 's controlling those messages , it 's not individual private expression , of course . <p> If it 's individual private -- if the Government , on the other hand , were to say-- <p> Justice Stevens : But really , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy justifications for the monument are a sham are not are really irrelevant ? <p> Suppose the Government says : We will accept ownership only if we agree with the message . <p> That just puts his question . <p> I think the ownership argument is -- is not an answer to the Justice 's question . <p> Mr. Sekulow : --It 's not ownership , Justice Kennedy , in and of itself . <p> Ownership is an indicator , a factor for control , but it is control of the message . <p> When the Government implanted that monument donated by the Fraternal Order of Eagles , they were sending a message . <p> It was not a message of <p> " I am the lord thy God-- " <p> Justice Souter : Nothing could be a more obvious control of the message than the criterion that says we will decide in -- in determining to accept it or not , we will decide on the basis of whether we agree with the message . <p> That is control with a vengeance . <p> Mr. Sekulow : --The difference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case here is the Fraternal Order of Eagles surrendered control of their message and their speech . <p> In the typical equal access case , Justice Stevens , they do not . <p> Justice Souter : Well , they -- they do in the example Justice Kennedy just raised and the example that I just raised . <p> The Eagles come along say : Here 's the monument ; take it ; it 's all yours . <p> We will not on identical terms take the Summum monument because we disagree with the message . <p> At the point they make the decision they do n't own anything . <p> What they are doing is controlling , in your words , and they are controlling on the basis of agreement with the message . <p> Why is n't that a First Amendment violation ? <p> Mr. Sekulow : It 's not a First Amendment violation because the Government takes ownership and control at the time it 's displayed , and there is no dispute at the time it 's displayed that the Government is conveying a message . <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got to shut our eyes to the period prior to the moment title passes . <p> Mr. Sekulow : Absolutely not , because discovery in this case proves the fact that this has been a policy in existence for three decades . <p> And the fact of the matter is under that analysis-- <p> Justice Souter : Does that mean if we engage in viewpoint discrimination for three decades , we are home free ? <p> Mr. Sekulow : --If the Government is the speaker , they are certainly entitled to do that . <p> If they are not , that would be a very different scenario . <p> Justice Souter : It would n't be a speaker on your view until it takes control of the monument . <p> Mr. Sekulow : But the Government -- the speech selection itself is an independent basis under Forbes , Finley , and American Library Association to bring these kind of-- <p> Justice Souter : But those are cases in which , to begin with , the Government is engaging in -- a process of , in effect , sponsoring speech . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think , reached the point in which the public park is to be analogized either with a publication or a magazine or -- or grants to -- to the arts . <p> Mr. Sekulow : --I think , when it comes to the issue of selecting monuments for its park , it 's very similar to a museum curator or the arts . <p> Mr. Joseffer : Mr. Chief Justice , and may it please the Court : Of course the Government can select the content and viewpoint of monuments on the National Mall and in other public parks across the country . <p> The Vietnam Veterans Memorial did not open us up to a Viet Cong memorial . <p> When the Martin Luther King Memorial is completed on the mall , it will not have to be offset by a monument to the man who shot Dr. King . <p> Justice Alito : Ca n't there be a situation where the Government does create a monument that is a -- a limited public forum ? <p> Let 's take the example that you just gave , the Vietnam War @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have the names of certain deceased soldiers on that monument because it disagreed with certain ideas that they had espoused at one point or another . <p> Mr. Joseffer : Well , if -- when it is Government speech -- for example , we can have a -- a Washington Monument and a Jefferson Memorial without an Adams one . <p> I mean , we do get to decide who we want to memorialize on the mall because it 's Government speech . <p> But there are also -- there are two legal theories here . <p> The first is that this is Government speech . <p> The second is that this -- even if it was private speech , this would be one of those unusual contexts like public broadcasting , museums , libraries , where normal forum principles do not apply because the Government is acting as a curator and value judgments are , therefore , both inevitable and appropriate . <p> Justice Souter : What 's the answer to Justice Alito 's question ? <p> Mr. Joseffer : I mean , if we wanted-- <p> Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Memorial decided not to put up the names of any homosexual soldiers . <p> Would that be permissible ? <p> Mr. Joseffer : --Yes . <p> When the -- when the Government is speaking , it can choose who to memorialize and who not-- <p> Justice Breyer : That seems to be the problem here . <p> And what I have in this is the -- the problem I have is that we seem to be applying these subcategories in a very absolute way . <p> Why ca n't we call this what it is -- it 's a mixture of private speech with Government decisionmaking -- and ask the question , as we do in election cases , is the restriction proportionate to a legitimate objective ? <p> I know how you 're going to answer that question . <p> You 're going to say : Of course , it is . <p> But what 's interesting me is , are we bound in these cases to apply what I think of as an artificial kind of conceptual framework or are we free to ask what seems to me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The answer to Justice Stevens 's hypothetically is : Of course the Government ca n't do that because it 's disproportionate . <p> Justice Stevens : I did n't get the answer . <p> Did you-- <p> Mr. Joseffer : --Yes , the Government can choose to memorialize who it wants on the mall . <p> When the Government is -- now , to be clear , that 's under the Free Speech Clause . <p> Justice Breyer : So what is the answer to the -- what is the answer to Justice Stevens 's hypothetical ? <p> What is the answer to the homosexual hypothetical ? <p> What is the answer ? <p> Mr. Joseffer : The only question-- <p> Justice Breyer : Because that tests the theory . <p> Mr. Joseffer : --Well , as a matter of the Free Speech Clause , there are no limits on the Government 's ability to speak freely . <p> Under the Equal Protection Clause , the Establishment Clause , perhaps the Due Process Clause , there might be thought to be independent checks on the Government 's speech . <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , does not prevent the Government from speaking freely . <p> Justice Scalia : It seems to me the Government could disfavor homosexuality just as it could disfavor abortion , just as it can disfavor a number of other things that in -- in many States people are free to do . <p> The Government can disfavor all of it , ca n't it ? <p> Mr. Joseffer : The Government would be powerless to do anything if it can not first formulate and then express its own viewpoints . <p> Justice Alito : Why is that the answer to the -- the question ? <p> Why is n't the answer to the question that monuments generally are not -- the erection of monuments generally are not a forum ? <p> There is a fundamental difference between the speaker 's corner in the park where anybody can speak and a permanent monument that takes up space , presumably limited public space . <p> And if you have the unusual situation where you are have a monument that is really analogous to a forum , then the forum analysis would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Washington Monument or the Jefferson Memorial is ridiculous . <p> Mr. Joseffer : When the -- when the Government -- and this is a point I started on earlier . <p> When the Government is acting as a curator as in the museum context , normal forum principles do not apply . <p> In Forbes , for example , this Court held that when the Government acts as a public broadcaster it normally can engage in viewpoint discrimination outside of an exception for candidate debates . <p> And the -- and the same point applies here to monuments , I think , for a combination of three reasons . <p> First , the Government has an overwhelming interest as a property owner in not being saddled with structures it does not want ; second , the limits on the availability of public space you refer to ; and , third , the Government 's sovereign interest in using monuments on its own property to tell its own story , as the Federal Government has done here on the Mall . <p> It 's similar to , for example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the Government can choose what sculptures to put in the sculpture garden without necessarily having some overriding theme or overriding reason . <p> If I could give two examples of that , in Meridian Hill Park here in Northwest D.C. , between 15th and 16th streets , the Government chose to accept and place a variety of privately donated structures that have no evident connection to one another . <p> They cover people as diverse as Joan of Arc , President Buchanan-- <p> Justice Breyer : But suppose they only accept Democrats who are sculptors , and they reject all the Republicans ? <p> Mr. Joseffer : --Right . <p> As a matter of policy-- <p> Justice Breyer : Now , what in the First Amendment -- are you saying the First Amendment would not stop that ? <p> Mr. Joseffer : --The Free Speech Clause on its own force does not prevent the Government from speaking freely . <p> But as a matter of rational basis review under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments , It is hard to see how the Government would have a legitimate governmental interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clause , what it does is that it -- it limits the extent to which the Government can regulate other people 's speech . <p> Justice Kennedy : Well , under the Equal Protection Clause would -- if you wrote an Equal Protection Clause opinion , you would end up saying it 's content-based . <p> That 's the First Amendment . <p> Mr. Joseffer : If it 's Government speech , though-- <p> Justice Kennedy : I -- I do n't think that can you avoid the hard part by saying , oh , other amendments of the Constitution might apply . <p> The heart of the question is whether the Government may discriminate based on content , and that 's a First Amendment question . <p> Mr. Joseffer : --But when the Government is speaking or when the Government is acting as a curator as with a museum or a sculpture garden or a library or here , the Government is absolutely entitled to make both content and viewpoint-based distinctions . <p> Otherwise , you get the absurd result-- <p> Justice Scalia : It 's not only absolutely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- it has no choice , does it ? <p> Mr. Joseffer : --Right . <p> If we -- if we could n't formulate and express viewpoints , I would be here today in support of neither party . <p> And the Government , frankly , would be prevented from doing much of anything . <p> Justice Scalia : You ca n't run a museum if you have to accept everything , right ? <p> Mr. Joseffer : Yes . <p> Now , yes -- I mean -- yes , if it 's just the simple point that we can do content and viewpoint discrimination in this context . <p> And Forbes recognized that when the Government -- even if it 's private speech , Forbes recognizes that as a curator we can do this . <p> An example , though , of the question-- <p> Justice Kennedy : Does the law always require us to adopt an all-or-nothing position ? <p> Are n't there some extreme cases indicated by the hypothetical where the First Amendment does enter in ? <p> Do we have to decide this case that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course , the Court could put limits on its holding if it so desired . <p> But if I could address the , sort of the hybrid speech which seems to worry some people . <p> The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a great example . <p> People are permitted there to put private objects next to the wall . <p> That 's clearly authorized speech . <p> It 's authorized public speech . <p> But at the end of the day , the Government comes around , takes it away , puts the nonperishable objects in a Government warehouse , and then decides which of them to display in the Smithsonian 's American History Museum . <p> So what starts off as public speech -- or as private speech , clearly becomes Government speech when the Government assumes control over it . <p> It 's the same as the Government putting a painting-- <p> Justice Souter : It would be -- the trouble-- <p> Mr. Joseffer : --in a Government museum . <p> Justice Souter : --I see your point , but the trouble with that as an argument here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much chiseled in stone as the public part . <p> So it 's not going to go away at the end of the day , and there is n't any way that the Government in effect can engage in the gesture of saying all private speech is treated the same way , whatever way that might be . <p> The Government could choose or not choose to put , say , a Gilbert Stuart painting that has a favorable portrayal of a former president on display . <p> The Government did n't paint it . <p> It has Gilbert Stuart 's name all over it . <p> But when the Government chooses to put that in a -- in a display , it 's the Government that is speaking , and the Government , therefore , has an absolute right to decide its own speech . <p> That should become-- <p> Justice Souter : What you are , in effect , saying -- and this may be -- I do n't mean I think this is necessarily the wrong answer -- but you 're , in effect , saying , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which there is clearly a -- a private identification consistent with it , but the only appropriate analysis is the analysis for government speech . <p> You ca n't have it both ways , you 've got to pick one or the other ; and it is -- it is the Government aspect which controls the First Amendment purposes . <p> That , I take it , is your answer ? <p> Mr. Joseffer : --Yes . <p> And when we are talking about physical objects that constitute the speech , that 's oftentimes the case in museums , sculpture gardens , parks across the country . <p> So , frankly , there is -- there is nothing even unusual about it . <p> And the reason is that all the free speech clause does-- <p> Justice Souter : There is nothing unusual about it , but we have n't had this kind of a challenge before . <p> So , I -- I guess it still rests on you to say why should we submerge the private part to the Government part . <p> There may be a very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason is . <p> Mr. Joseffer : --It 's simply that once the Government is speaking , it is the one -- it turns on control , right ? <p> So once the Government takes control of something , says this is our speech , then it 's the Government speaking . <p> And here , I mean , it does-- <p> Justice Scalia : Well , maybe they ca n't do it in museums , either . <p> I mean , yes , we 've been doing this for a couple of hundred years , but maybe we 've been wrong all along and maybe the Government ca n't run museums . <p> It 's possible , right ? <p> It 's a brave new world . <p> Mr. Joseffer : --And frankly , public parks are no less absurd , because we 've been doing it in public parks for probably at least as long as well . <p> And in fact , there are thousands of privately donated monuments and sculptures in public parks across the country , and I suspect a great many of them do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am the United States and I approve this message . " <p> That 's not the way that Government speech has ever been thought to work . <p> The question , though , with Government speech turning on control , this is the easy case because we have a physical object that Government has both legal and physical custody over . <p> It chooses to display it , and then it can do whatever it wants with it . <p> It can move it , modify it , destroy it , drop it to the bottom of the ocean , sell it on e B ay . <p> So you 'll never get a better example of control , which this Court held in Johanns is the touchstone for Government speech that 's not subject to the free speech clause . <p> Thank you . <p> Chief Justice Roberts : Thank you , counsel . <p> Ms. Harris . <p> ORAL ARGUMENT OF PAMELA HARRIS ON BEHALF OF THE RESPONDENT <p> Mr. Harris : Mr. Chief Justice , may it please the Court : The city here gave the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Ten Commandments and it denied Summum access for a display about the tenets of its faith . <p> That 's a violation of the core free speech principle that the Government may not favor one message over another in a public forum . <p> Has the -- has the city allowed anybody to put up a monument there willy-nilly ? <p> I mean , a public forum , as you know , we can have praise in the park , we can have protest . <p> Anybody can do it , so long as you get a license and you 're not interfering with some other group . <p> That 's a public forum . <p> Has this city said anybody can put up a monument in this park ? <p> Mr. Harris : Justice Scalia , there is a very serious factual question in this case about whether the city ever had a bona fide selection policy for this park . <p> But putting that to one side for a moment , a public park is a public forum . <p> A monument in a park may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : It 's a public forum for some things . <p> Is it a public forum for everything ? <p> It may be a public forum for processions , for parades . <p> But it is a public -- is it a public forum for anybody constructing a monument ? <p> Mr. Harris : --If you look at the question that way , Justice Scalia , it might be said that a public park is not a forum for sound trucks , it 's not a forum for sleep-ins , it 's not a forum for news racks . <p> What that means is that there is no unfettered right to engage in those forms of communication . <p> But if the Government allows it all-- <p> Justice Kennedy : Those are time , place , and manner regulations , with which we are all familiar . <p> But my concern is that this -- this case is an example of the tyrannies -- of the tyranny of labels . <p> Because it 's a public forum , as Justice Scalia indicated , for parades , for protests , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems wooden and rigid to say to all of a sudden say , well , it 's a public forum for something that will last 30 years for which there is only limited space . <p> It just does n't make common sense . <p> Mr. Harris : --And that is exactly why , Justice Kennedy , the city , any city , is permitted to make a decision that it will close its public parks to all unattended displays . <p> The Court said that in Pinette . <p> It said that earlier in Vincent . <p> But Because there-- <p> Chief Justice Roberts : How far do you push that ? <p> I mean , what about the hypotheticals on the other side ? <p> I mean , you have a Statue of Liberty ; do we have to have a statue of despotism ? <p> Or do we have to put any president who wants to be on Mount Rushmore ? <p> How do you answer those ? <p> Mr. Harris : --Of course not , is how I answer that , Mr. Chief Justice . <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for dealing with this question if by some happenstance they do have a monument on public land that is not now a Government monument . <p> The first thing they can do is adopt any existing monuments as Government speech , convert them . <p> Justice Souter : How do they do that ? <p> What is the -- you mentioned that frequently in your brief , and I 'm not sure what formality you have in mind when you say adopt . <p> Mr. Harris : Governments can do it different ways , Justice Souter . <p> The way the national Government does it under the Antiquities Act of 1906 is they formally designate pre-existing structures as a monument of the United States or a memorial of the United States . <p> And that , by the way , Mr. Chief Justice , is the response to the Statue of Liberty problem . <p> In 1924 it was so designated . <p> Chief Justice Roberts : So , it 's frozen into time . <p> Everything up until now is okay , but anything going forward is not ? @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . <p> Chief Justice Roberts : Well , I thought you said the Government can accept what 's there and say that 's our speech . <p> But you 're challenging the ability to do that going forward . <p> Mr. Harris : No . <p> No , Your Honor . <p> If the Government accepts what 's there -- what is there now and says that 's ours , then they can say we are not taking -- we have closed this forum to private speech , these parks are available only to Governmental displays . <p> Justice Scalia : The other side says that some of these monuments , especially in the Civil War battlegrounds , do indeed show who the donors are . <p> Mr. Harris : I 'm sorry ? <p> Justice Scalia : What -- Mr. Sekulow says that some of these monuments , notably those in the Civil War battlefields , do show who the donors are . <p> Now is that Government speech or private speech ? <p> Mr. Harris : It depends if they were privately formulated and handed off to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech if the Government has since then converted them-- <p> Justice Scalia : So they have to go ? <p> Mr. Harris : --by adopting them . <p> They do n't have to go . <p> Justice Scalia : Now that the Government converted them , it passes a law saying , what , we -- we adopt this ? <p> Mr. Harris : That has happened . <p> Justice Scalia : Is n't it enough that the Government accepts ownership of it and places it on the Government 's property ? <p> Is n't that a manifestation of the Government 's adoption of it ? <p> Mr. Harris : Let me answer both of your questions , Justice Scalia . <p> The way it does that even if they -- even if a monument makes clear that it was privately formulated , a Government can still adopt it as its own speech . <p> It can put-- <p> Justice Souter : So this case -- your claim would disappear if this town in Utah had passed an ordinance saying we adopt the Ten Commandments Monument ? <p> Mr. Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer have an equal access right going forward-- <p> Justice Souter : But that 's -- I mean , if that 's all that 's involved here , we 're engaging in kind of a -- almost a silly exercise in formality . <p> Mr. Harris : --Absolutely not , Justice Souter . <p> And the reason we know it 's not a formality is because the city here refuses to do it . <p> If it were just a formality , they would check the box . <p> They wo n't do it-- <p> Justice Souter : If we tell them you have got to take the monument down if they do n't do it , do n't you think they are going to pass that pretty quick ? <p> Mr. Harris : --I do n't think they are , Justice Souter . <p> And I think it would be partly a concern about establishment clause exposure , which we already heard about today . <p> I think that there are substantive reasons why they might not want to adopt one version of the Ten Commandments as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the version of the Ten Commandments on the Eagles monument is n't even the Mormon version of the Ten Commandments . <p> That might raise sensitivities in this town . <p> And whenever the Government adopts one version of the exodus account , that is not legally sensitive but politically sensitive as well . <p> Justice Scalia : It depends on what you mean by adopting one version . <p> If it 's adopting the version by saying these Ten Commandments are the word of God , that 's one thing . <p> If it 's adopting it by just saying this is a version of the Ten Commandments that has had a very significant place in the history of the American people . <p> Mr. Harris : I think that those are-- <p> Justice Scalia : I would n't care what version it was if that 's all they 're doing . <p> Mr. Harris : --Those are very different-- <p> Justice Scalia : Nor would the Mormons in Utah , I think . <p> Mr. Harris : --Well , those are very different for establishment clause purposes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be adopting anything in this context is by saying through the act of selection we have adopted it . <p> And the problem with that is that the Government is not allowed to select which private speech it wishes to present to the public in a public park . <p> It can do that . <p> It can do that in museums . <p> It can do it in libraries . <p> It can do it-- <p> Justice Alito : Let me give you this example . <p> Just by chance yesterday I was taking a walk in a little neighborhood park , and I saw that there was a monument -- a small monument , donated , and it says right on there donated by a private neighborhood association to commemorate a number of people who were killed in the 9-11 attack on the Pentagon . <p> And now if I searched the town records or the county record and I do n't find any resolution saying they adopted this monument as their monument , does that mean that if I would like to put up a monument @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or people who I respect , I have a First Amendment right to do that ? <p> Mr. Harris : --No , Your Honor , and really for three separate reasons . <p> First of the all , it may be that the Government -- even privately donated monuments often involve a great deal of Government involvement at the front end , when they are created . <p> Government often works in partnership with private donors to create the content of that monument . <p> Justice Alito : Well what if the situation is a neighborhood association prepared this ; they said we 'd like to display it in the park ; and the county or the town says fine , go ahead and do it ? <p> Mr. Harris : Even under those more usual circumstances there would be two things the city could do to keep you out of their park . <p> As I said , they could adopt the monument that is there . <p> The other thing any city can do is adopt some kind of a content-neutral ban , or a content-neutral limit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in its park . <p> Justice Scalia : Ms. Harris , we -- we need a clear rule here . <p> We -- we ca n't expect the courts or the cities for that matter to investigate in every case what the degree of the Government 's involvement in the -- and what is the degree , 50 percent , 45 percent , 36 years ? <p> I mean , we are going to make up a percentage ? <p> That 's -- that 's not the way threshold constitutional questions ought to be resolved or resolvable . <p> We need a clear rule that the cities can rely on . <p> Mr. Harris : I agree that we need a clear rule , and if clarity is important here the easiest way for the Government to make clear that it has adopted a privately formulated message as its own is to adopt it clearly and publicly . <p> It can put up a plaque ; it can designate it a city monument . <p> Justice Scalia : Is there an historical basis for that , or you just made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good idea ? <p> I mean , if that had been the practice over the past 200 years for all of these monuments that -- that , you know , are strewed across the landscape , then I 'd say yes , that 's probably what the difference is . <p> But I 'm not aware that there is any such -- such requirement and any such practice on the part of Government . <p> You 're -- you 're creating a new world . <p> Mr. Harris : I-- <p> Justice Scalia : It may be a very nice world but it happens not to be the world under which our Constitution has subjected this country . <p> Mr. Harris : --If this is uncommon , that is because usually the Government does reserve monuments for governmental speech , monuments that it helps to create or monuments that it is happy to endorse after the fact . <p> If this case is unusual , it 's because Pleasant Grove has done an unusual thing here by allowing a private party to erect a permanent monument in its park , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that monument . <p> And I do want to say that although clear rules are necessary , whatever the particular details of how a monument came to be on public land , there are these two clear safe harbors for any city facing that problem . <p> Adopt it now or enact a content-neutral limit on the number of monuments in the park ; and we think the city could do that on a going-forward basis . <p> It could say we have room -- for aesthetic reasons , for space constraint reasons , We would like-- <p> It 's a monument to chocolate chip cookies or whatever else , is that it ? <p> First 95 ? <p> Mr. Harris : --Sure . <p> A city could say we think-- <p> Justice Scalia : This is a practical solution to the problem ? <p> Mr. Harris : --Absolutely , because any city confronting this problem now can look at its park and say we have four monuments-- <p> Justice Kennedy : You 're saying the last generation had much more freedom than the present one ? <p> Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does it on a content-neutral basis , because it is genuinely concerned about aesthetics , space constraints , clutter in its parks , a city can enact a ban or a limit on the number of displays ; and if that has the effect of grandfathering in existing displays-- <p> Justice Ginsburg : Can we go back to -- your basic premise is this is a public forum , in any and all instances ; and we do have , certainly in the speech area , demonstration area , from time immemorial public parks have been places where people can speak their minds . <p> But I do n't know of any tradition that says people can come to the park with monuments and put them up if they will , so long as they meet the equivalent of time , place and manner . <p> So you 're making an assumption that from time immemorial , monuments , just like speeches , can be presented by anyone who wants to . <p> Mr. Harris : --No , Justice Ginsburg . <p> Monuments are different from speeches and because monuments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a city can decide to close its parks entirely to all private unattended displays . <p> It could not say , <p> " We 've heard enough speeches ; no more speeches . " <p> It can say no private-- <p> Justice Souter : If that -- it that is so , what is the point of using the public forum analysis at all ? <p> Mr. Harris : --Because here the city has not done that . <p> The city has not closed -- it has not made the decision that it will bar all private unattended displays . <p> Justice Souter : That -- that may mean that you have the foundation for a -- a speech discrimination argument-- <p> Mr. Harris : That-- <p> Justice Souter : --but that would not be the answer if we were dealing with a -- a traditional public forum in -- in the sense that the Court 's cases have used the term . <p> Mr. Harris : --Oh , I think-- <p> Justice Souter : So it seems to me that your use of public forum is just by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm not sure that it 's helping you or would help us if we used it as criterion for decision . <p> Mr. Harris : --Oh , I think it may be helpful , Justice Souter , because once we know that we are talking about a public forum , we know that access can not be limited on a content basis . <p> Justice Kennedy : Well , your -- you can stick with it as long as you want ; that 's what the -- the Tenth Circuit did , but suppose that we were to say that we were unconvinced by the comparison between speeches and parades on the one hand and monuments on the other , so we did not apply the public forum analogy . <p> Would that be the end of your case ? <p> Mr. Harris : Oh , no , Justice Kennedy . <p> Even outside a public forum , in any context -- even in a museum or library -- in any context in which the Government is regulating private speech , it may not act in a way that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we think that 's what happened here . <p> As I said earlier-- <p> Chief Justice Roberts : Well , but it does all the time . <p> The -- you do n't get equal time -- the cigarette companies do n't get equal time because the Government says the Surgeon General has determined it is bad for your health . <p> It always suppresses alternative viewpoints . <p> Mr. Harris : --When the Government is speaking for itself , then the Government does have a right to prefer certain viewpoints over others , but here the city has consistently refused to adopt the content of this monument as its own , and it is still disclaiming endorsement of that monument . <p> The city here -- the justification for that Government speech exception is that sometimes , as the United States has said , the Government is entitled to speak in its own voice to promote its own messages , its own policies . <p> But it says it 's not doing that here . <p> Justice Scalia : You will say just the opposite when you come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Establishment Clause grounds . <p> You will say something like this : Anybody who comes into this park and seeing this monument owned by the Government , on Government land , will think that the Government is endorsing this message . <p> That 's what you will say now . <p> Mr. Harris : Um-- <p> Justice Scalia : Now why would it be true there , but it 's not true here ? <p> Would anybody think that on public land owned by the Government the Government disagrees with this message ? <p> Mr. Harris : --Justice Scalia , for one thing , if this case were being litigated under the Establishment Clause , it would n't be critical whether the monument were actually Government speech , because the Establishment Clause can be implicated by the Government 's interaction with private speech as well . <p> That said , I do not think it 's the case that anybody who came across this monument would know that the Government is speaking . <p> The monument says it is presented by the Eagles . <p> It has the Eagles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he thought the monument was owned by the city , because it 's the Eagles and not the -- I 'm sorry ; was owned by the Eagles , because it is the Eagles and not the city that maintains that monument . <p> I think there is a very real question about what people would think here and if those perceptions are important the easy way to clarify it is for the city to step up and adopt the monument as Government speech , which it wo n't do here . <p> Justice Alito : Is n't merely allowing the monument to be built on public property sufficient acceptance ? <p> If somebody came up to you and said I 'd like to put up a monument in your front yard , and you said sure go ahead , do that , are n't you accepting that -- whatever the monument says , in a sense ? <p> Mr. Harris : Your Honor , my front yard is different from a public park , and that matters because when all the Government has done is said sure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's all the Government ever does when it administers access to a public forum . <p> If it 's doing it on a content basis , that 's a problem . <p> The Government-- <p> Justice Souter : No , but it does n't -- it does n't have to do that , say , for time place and manner restrictions for access to a public forum if it really is a public forum . <p> There is something more involved here . <p> This is closer to the case of the individual who says sure , put the McCain sign on -- on my lawn . <p> No one is going to doubt that the person whose house is there is in favor of McCain ; and -- and it seems to me we are in the same situation with the monument in the city . <p> Mr. Harris : --Again , I think because it 's a public park and because public forums are always used for the expression of -- of ideas that the Government does not necessarily agree with-- <p> Justice Souter : Sure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ --the perceptions will not be clear . <p> Justice Souter : --We do not -- there is no pervasive understanding or non-pervasive one , I would have thought , in the United States that anyone who wants to display a message in granite in a public park can put it there . <p> No one assumes that . <p> Everyone assumes that , if the granite monument is there , the city or whatever has said , yes , we approve it , put it there . <p> Mr. Harris : The city in this case -- everybody may assume that , and they would be right . <p> The city in this case did say , yes , we approve that monument and not that one . <p> So you can put yours up , and you ca n't . <p> That does n't solve the First Amendment problem . <p> That is the First Amendment problem that the Government-- <p> Justice Souter : It may create the First Amendment problem , but it seems to me , going back to Justice Alito 's question , that the City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> Mr. Harris : --If all we have , I think , Justice Souter , is that the city has permitted one private speaker to erect a monument , there is no constitutional or judicially manageable line between that and just the ordinary thing the Government always does when it grants preferred access to a public forum , which is to say you 're in , you 're out . <p> If that 's enough for adoption , then there are no more First Amendment violations through lack of equal access . <p> Justice Souter : Yes , but even on your own criterion , if the city passes a resolution saying we adopt this , you 're still -- you 're going to be faced with precisely the content discrimination problem that you 're arguing about here . <p> Mr. Harris : But because it 's adopted it as its own message , then we think the Government is speaking . <p> And when the Government is speaking , as the United States , said it is entitled to make content and viewpoint distinctions , but in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself . <p> I mean , Justice Alito 's question , my analogies are suggestive of the fact that there is an affirmative Government act of some indication of approval when it says , yes , you can put the monument here . <p> And what you 're arguing for is , well , we want a clearer statement , we want it to say , yes , we really adopt it , it 's ours from the heart . <p> And that seems to be the difference between your position and the -- and the position that acceptance of the monument is enough . <p> Mr. Harris : I would formulate it only slightly differently , which is not so much a clear statement but that those are really two different things , approving it for access and adopting the message as the Government 's own . <p> And that the differences-- <p> Justice Souter : Well , you can-- <p> Mr. Harris : --that would-- <p> Justice Souter : --You can make that distinction . <p> There 's no -- I understand the distinction you 're making , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distinction that a reasonable member of the public would understand to be implied by the -- or at least to be -- to be raised by the placement of the monument , I do n't know why it 's a distinction that should be significant for First Amendment purposes . <p> Mr. Harris : --If what matters is the public perception , then , yes , we do think that to clarify an unclear situation like this , where have you a monument that says it 's presented by the Eagles , it has the Eagles emblem , the Eagles are continuing to maintain it in the park , and that 's a fact we should assume a reasonable observer would know , then , yes , be clear . <p> The Government -- there 's one way to clarify that , and that 's for the Government to adopt it . <p> Justice Alito : And when Government adopts it , can it at that time specify what it understands the statement to be ? <p> Mr. Harris : I think it can , Justice Alito . <p> It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is the Government 's own message , and it can tailor its adoption to make clear what message it 's adopting . <p> And in answer to some of Justice Scalia 's questions , I think the Government here could put up a plaque in front of the Eagles ' monument that says <p> " Monument of the City of Pleasant Grove and dedicated to the role that the Ten Commandments play in secular law . " <p> It can do that . <p> Justice Scalia : Suppose the resolution of adoption by the City Council just says , <p> " The City Council agrees that this monument of the Eagle Association expresses an idea worthy of the public 's attention . " <p> Mr. Harris : I think the-- <p> Justice Scalia : Is that enough ? <p> Mr. Harris : --No . <p> I think that the ordinance -- or the ordinance has to do one more thing , which is to -- which is to say , <p> " This is a monument of the City of Pleasant Grove , we adopt the content of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ " . <p> " We are giving it preferential access , and here is why . " <p> Justice Souter : You want a signing statement as well as a signature ? <p> Laughter <p> Mr. Harris : Like that . <p> Chief Justice Roberts : Does it depend on -- given the focus on public perception , does it depend on the content of the speech ? <p> In other words , if you came across a monument and it said , <p> " The Eagles are a lot better than every other organization , you should give money to the Eagles . " <p> someone is going to walk by that and say , <p> " Well , that 's probably not the City , that 's probably the Eagles . " <p> But the Eagles , you know , for all the good they do , did not come up with the Ten Commandments , and somebody is going to look at that and say , " That 's probably the City " . <p> They are not going to look at that and immediately say , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Again , given this monument , I think there will be questions about whether this is the speech of the Eagles . <p> And I actually think that , given all the legal sensitivities around a Ten Commandments monument , your average citizen , when they see a religious monument in a park , may well think that may be private speech because the Government usually ca n't endorse or at least sometimes ca n't endorse religious speech . <p> So I actually think these questions are very complicated . <p> And , again , if you want to be clear about who 's speaking , there 's an easy way to do that , which is for the Government straightforwardly and clearly to adopt this speech as its own . <p> Justice Scalia : What if it 's just a statue of George Washington ? <p> What kind of a resolution does the city council adopt ? <p> " We endorse everything George Washington ever said ? " <p> Mr. Harris : No . <p> No . <p> Again , and in my answer to Justice Alito , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adopt that statue as a-- <p> Justice Scalia : Well , if-- <p> Mr. Harris : --city memorial . <p> Justice Scalia : --That 's right , and I think they would adopt a resolution that says , <p> " We think George Washington is worthy of respect and emulation on the part of our citizens . " <p> Mr. Harris : And so long as that is-- <p> Justice Scalia : If it could say that , why could n't it say the same thing about the Ten Commandments ? <p> " We think the Ten Commandments are worthy of respect and . " <p> --and I would n't say " emulation " ; I would say <p> " respect and reverence by our citizens . " <p> Mr. Harris : --So long as-- <p> Justice Scalia : Would that be enough ? <p> Mr. Harris : --So long as it is preceded by a statement that the city actually adopts the memorial as its own , that this is-- <p> Justice Scalia : I do n't know what that means . <p> Mr. Harris : --a Pleasant Grove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : It has acquired the memorial . <p> The City has acquired property in this memorial and has agreed for this memorial to be placed in the city park . <p> Period . <p> " We believe that the Ten Commandments which are embodied in this memorial are worthy of respect by the citizens of Pleasant Grove . " <p> --is that enough ? <p> Mr. Harris : It may be that if the Government goes on long enough , it will have connoted what is very important here , which is that it is prepared to adopt the content of that monument as its own . <p> Justice Scalia : I do n't know what that means . <p> You keep saying it , and I do n't know what it means . <p> Mr. Harris : It means-- <p> Justice Scalia : I would have thought adopting what I said shows that it is adopting the content of the monument insofar as the monument says the Ten Commandments should be respected by the citizens of Pleasant Grove . <p> Is that enough ? <p> Mr. Harris : --If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say , <p> " We believe in the Ten Commandments ? " <p> Mr. Harris : --No . <p> No . <p> I understand your question , Justice Scalia . <p> If the City says what you just said , <p> " We are adopting this monument insofar . " <p> and however it wants to finish that sentence , that is fine . <p> Justice Scalia : You do n't think that 's fairly implied by the mere fact that it is there in Pleasant Grove 's park and that Pleasant Grove City Council has allowed it to be constructed there ? <p> Do n't you think that 's implicit ? <p> Mr. Harris : No , I do n't , Your Honor . <p> I think that all that implies is that Pleasant Grove has decided this speech is worthy of display in this public park based on its content . <p> And that is the decision the City ca n't make . <p> If it were just a formality , if it were simple , and it 's all the same , who cares ? <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying something different , which is , <p> " We adopt . " <p> " We adopt . " <p> " We 'll check that box . " <p> There are substantive reasons why it does n't -- it may be a fine line-- <p> Justice Scalia : Maybe the City does n't know-- <p> Mr. Harris : --but the City does n't want to cross it . <p> Justice Scalia : --know what you mean by " We adopt " , just as I do n't know what you mean by " We adopt " . <p> Mr. Harris : Well , whether or not the City knows what we mean , what we know from the City 's brief is that what it 's saying is -- and this is on page 33 of its brief -- the Government speech here is only in the act of selection . <p> Selection . <p> It 's not about the content of that monument . <p> That 's not enough to make a Government speech , and the City is not permitted to speak through selection , and-- <p> Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspiciously similar to the one in Texas ? <p> And so if the history is the same , you would know that there was -- a big element of this was Cecile B. DeMille trying to promote his movie , The Ten Commandments . <p> So he gave money to the Eagles , and the Eagles put Ten Commandments all over because it would be good for the morality of people , and also it would help promote the movie . <p> All right ? <p> Is that true -- is that the actual description here ? <p> Mr. Harris : --This is part of the same Eagles project-- <p> Justice Breyer : Okay . <p> Mr. Harris : --that was-- <p> Justice Breyer : So -- so if that 's the history of it , what does that mean ? <p> I mean , where do we go with that ? <p> Then this is in fact partly an attempt to promote morality , partly an attempt to be civic , partly an attempt to promote a movie . <p> So , what do we do with that ? @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it may be a private message that has many different elements , but nothing about that suggests Government speech . <p> And even if all the Government is doing in its public part is promoting one version of the Cecile DeMille movie , it ca n't do that on a content basis . <p> Justice Breyer : Why not ? <p> Why not ? <p> Why -- suppose that there -- there are certain messages that private people had like " eat vitamins " -- <p> Mr. Harris : Uh-huh . <p> Justice Breyer : --and so they say -- you know , whatever those are ; and then somebody comes along with a totally different content , " ride the roller coaster " , and they say this part of the park is designed to get healthy children , not put children at risk . <p> So therefore we like messages to eat vitamins , and we do n't want messages , " ride the roller coaster " . <p> This is all private . <p> It 's the -- you know -- now what ? <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public park , and content-- <p> Justice Breyer : So in other words , they -- the-- <p> Mr. Harris : --Eating vitamins and roller coasters are not-- <p> Justice Breyer : --They ca n't do either . <p> Mr. Harris : --No . <p> Justice Breyer : Is there any case that says -- can they have playgrounds in the park ? <p> Mr. Harris : They can have playgrounds , yes . <p> Justice Breyer : Okay , so we have right in the playground , we have " eat vitamins " , <p> " eat your -- clean up all your -- all the food in your plate . " <p> " do n't throw food at your brother . " <p> okay ? <p> So -- I mean-- <p> Mr. Harris : Those are private messages . <p> Justice Breyer : --Yes , all private . <p> Mr. Harris : Uh-huh . <p> Okay . <p> Justice Breyer : Because there are various groups that feel that 's important ; the city says yes , it is ; and we do n't want things like pull @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ --whatever . <p> So -- so what 's wrong with that ? <p> Where does the First Amendment forbid that ? <p> You promote -- they want in this corner , promoting in the playground good things that they like and not bad ones . <p> Where does it permit it ? <p> What 's the case that says that the Government could n't do that ? <p> Mr. Harris : It 's all the cases that say the Government ca n't do it . <p> Justice Breyer : Give one and I 'll read it . <p> Give me three ; I 'll read them . <p> Mr. Harris : I 'll give you Pinette . <p> The Government ca n't make content based decisions in a public forum . <p> And there is not a limit-- <p> Justice Breyer : But the children 's playground is n't the public forum . <p> Mr. Harris : --Oh , but the Government -- a public park is a public forum . <p> If the Government wants to set aside part of that park -- change the physical characteristics , change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can definitely do that . <p> That is in fact the answer to the sculpture garden ; that 's what happened there . <p> The Government waived part of what it been a public forum ; it put up fences ; it changed the principal use ; it limited the public access . <p> It is no longer a park . <p> It is now a museum . <p> I 'm sorry . <p> I misunderstood . <p> The Government can-- <p> Justice Breyer : I see where you 're going . <p> Thank you . <p> Mr. Harris : --Okay . <p> Justice Ginsburg : Are you taking this line because you say if the city council votes for it , then the voters can know those people voted to put up the Ten Commandments ; we do n't like that ; so we are going to vote them out ? <p> Is that -- what underlies this notion that it is n't good enough for them to approve the placement of the monument , but it has to be some kind of formal declaration ? <p> Mr. Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Government speech doctrine is an exception to normal First Amendment , and very important First Amendment constraints . <p> And what underlies the distinction is that that exception is justified only when the Government is speaking for itself . <p> The Government needs to be able to promote its own messages , its own ideas . <p> But if it 's not doing that , if it 's disclaiming the content of the monument , saying those are not our own ideas , those are not our own messages , then there is just no justification for allowing it to prefer one form of private speech over another . <p> The justification for allowing that exception is missing . <p> Justice Souter : But it 's not disclaiming it here . <p> The Government is n't disclaiming it . <p> And the difference it seems to me between you and your friends on the other side is you want this clear statement . <p> You want a statement -- for example if you took Justice Scalia 's statement , that would satisfy you , and it would also be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't that what 's -- I mean , that 's okay with me . <p> I do n't see that as an illegitimate object . <p> I was a Van Orden dissenter -- I mean , but is n't that what is driving this ? <p> Mr. Harris : Well , I do think that the -- the city is a bit on the horns of a dilemma because it wants to have it both ways . <p> It wants to be able to say this speech is governmental for purposes of blocking equal access rights ; but not so governmental at that it 's a big Establishment Clause problem . <p> So yes , I think there is a dilemma here for the city . <p> Thank you , Your Honors . <p> Chief Justice Roberts : Thank you , counsel . <p> Mr. Sekulow , you have two minutes remaining . <p> REBUTTAL ARGUMENT OF JAY A. SEKULOW ON BEHALF OF THE PETITIONERS <p> Mr. Sekulow : Thank you , Mr. Chief Justice . <p> With regard to the hypothetical about the Senator McCain or President-elect Obama signs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that is those signs are created by those -- usually by the campaigns . <p> So the fact that it 's created by a third party does n't in any way diminish the speech aspect of an individual who has put that sign in their home . <p> Also with regard to the adopt the monument , governments do n't adopt monuments ; they adopt resolutions that accept monuments . <p> That 's the way it worked here ; that 's the way it works in most municipalities . <p> That 's this -- the trigger of allowing the monument to be displayed . <p> Here there are two . <p> The city -- it was approached and made a formal acceptance , and it was noted later in their minutes as well , so in two different places . <p> With regard to the adoption of the speech problem , Justice Alito , under the hypothetical or -- not hypothetical , the factual situation that you talk about , under the Tenth Circuit 's theory , the case , in Respondent 's theory of the case , al-Qaeda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a monument praising the value of the terrorists , and unless there 's a compelling governmental interest , there would be no basis on which to deny it . <p> That 's why the whole public forum analysis on this , in our view is absolutely incorrect . <p> And finally on the adopt a speech , there are monuments and memorials that incorporate a variety of message , including Holocaust memorials , and they will often have in place Nazi-era propaganda , the signs from the Nazis that were designed to draw hatred towards Jews ; and they will incorporate those into the monuments and the displays . <p> They are not adopting the message of the Nazis ; they are showing the history of what took place during an era . <p> That 's very , very different . <p> The Statute of Liberty , which was donated to the United States , was from the Franco-American Union , a private organization . <p> The United States -- and it 's found in the appendix to our reply brief -- specifically accepted the monument , authorized the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ privately funded in that regard , and it was originated by a third party . <p> The Government was speaking when they erected that monument ; the fact that the Antiquities Act came into play , which just means you can not harm those monuments , it 's no different than Pioneer Park , which is a national historic treasure . <p> And last point , Mr. Chief Justice , if I man , is the reliance on Pinette is misplaced because as this Court said , Pinette is an Establishment Clause case , and the reliance here by the Respondent has been on the Free Speech Clause . <p> We think the Tenth Circuit is wrong , both under the Government speech analysis and under the forum

@@5121941 <h> More than 140 attend Around the World educational/cultural event <p> Sally Wickware-Thompson , school counselor , goes to Tanzania , Africa , every-other year for mission work . <p> More than 140 people perused booths representing 17 various cultures and countries during the ninth annual Around the World Festival at Dakota Wesleyan . <p> The DWU Multicultural Committee sponsors the event , which encourages students and community members to display their cultures and learn from each otherTs heritage . This year there were 20 booths representing : Tanzania , China , the Sudan , the Netherlands , USA/New Orleans and Mardi Gras , Kenya , Native American Tribes , India , Ireland , Northern Ireland , Switzerland , Scandinavia " Denmark , Sweden and Norway , Columbia and two booths for Spain and three for Germany , as well as a table offering odesserts from around the world , and a booth sponsored by campus health . <p> Education students hosted a double-table for New Orleans/Mardi Gras <p> oThis yearTs event was a big hit , said Kate Miller , TRIO student support services director . A oThe presenters all did a great job and I have received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things for visitors to enjoy as they traveled around the world , including art , music

@@5122041 <h> Carrie Rickey , Film Critic <h> Posted : Thursday , October 11 , 2012 , 4:14 PM <p> Middle of Nowhere , the involving sophomore feature from writer/director Ava DuVernay , is about two kinds of hard time . <p> While her husband , Derek ( Omari Hardwick ) , is behind bars for a felony , Ruby ( Emayatzy Corinealdi ) has remanded herself to a kind of emotional solitary confinement . Like Penelope in The Odyssey , she 's a lady-in-waiting for a husband to return home . Living on memories of the past and dreams of the future , Ruby - a nurse who , to be available for visits to prison , has deferred her admission to medical school - is absent in the present . <p> In this film , hushed as a whisper , throbbing with longing , and anchored by Corinealdi 's stunning performance , Ruby goes from one who waits to one who acts . <p> Gorgeously shot by Bradford Young , who sees amethyst undertones everywhere , the film follows Ruby on her various rounds . She ministers to her patients , to Derek , to her sister and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> Those closest to Ruby ( her bitter mother and bittersweet sister , wonderfully played by Lorraine Toussaint and Edwina Findley ) are deeply critical of her unflagging commitment to Derek . This only increases her sense of isolation . <p> Then Brian ( David Oyelowo ) , the bus driver who ferries her every morning after her night shift , gallantly shows his interest . After she pushes him away , Ruby gets to wondering along the lines of whether fidelity to self trumps spousal fidelity . <p> Did I say how moving Corinealdi is ? As Ruby , she walks as though heavily armored , but with vulnerable eyes . It 's the eyes that draw Brian in . Likewise the audience . <p> In the hands of another filmmaker , this would be a melodrama of a woman who ca n't be with the one she loves and is tempted by the one she 's with . Or the socially engaged story of men in prison and women maintaining the community . But DuVernay , a low-key director sparing in her use of emotion and music , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel . <p> By this I mean it does n't have an American film 's need to neatly resolve the conflicts and uncertainties . Nor does it have a need to indicate whether characters are good and bad . They just are . DuVernay has made an American art film , a journey into the dark night of the soul that ends in an iridescent dawn . By movie 's end , Ruby has shed the emotional armor , walks with grace , and is fully present . Like

@@5122141 <h> posted at 1:21 pm on October 26 , 2012 by Ed Morrissey <p> There is an old saying that success has a thousand fathers , but failure is an orphan . That gives a lot of insight into the sequestration clause in last year 's debt-ceiling deal , which has not just left Barack Obama 's own Secretary of Defense warning about its " devastating " impact on the military , but also economists warning about the damage it will wreak on the economy . Obama tried to dodge responsibility for the sequestration when Mitt Romney criticized him for it during the final debate , claiming that " the sequester is not something that I 've proposed . It is something that Congress has proposed . " <p> That came as news to the man who literally wrote the book on that deal , Bob Woodward . Woodward teamed up with Washington Post fact checker Glenn Kessler this morning , and the result is four Pinocchios -- thanks to OMB chief Jack Lew 's attempt to shore up Obama 's false claim : <p> In sum : Director of the National Economic Council and Obama adviser Gene Sperling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lew sold Harry Reid on the idea and then decided to use the Gramm-Hollings-Rudman language ( which he knew from his days of working for Tip O'Neill ) as a template for sequester . The proposal was so unusual for Republicans that staffers had to work through the night to understand it . <p> Oddly , Lew in Tampa on Thursday , publicly asserted the opposite : " There was an insistence on the part of Republicans in Congress for there to be some automatic trigger .... It was very much rooted in the Republican congressional insistence that there be an automatic measure at the end . " <p> This prompted Woodward to go over his notes and interviews once again , to make sure he had gotten it right . <p> " After reviewing all the interviews and the extensive material I have on this issue , it looks like President Obama told a whopper , " Woodward said . " Based on what Jack Lew said in Florida today , I have asked the White House to correct the record . " <p> We had been wavering between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lew 's decision to double down on Obama 's claim , we agree it 's a whopper . <p> We noted the same the day after the debate , and the Daily Caller did as well . What 's interesting in this case is Obama 's efforts to distance himself from a proposal his own team succeeded in enacting through bipartisan efforts to solve the budget crisis . After all , Obama could have just responded that Republicans agreed with him , and argued that it showed the ability to work through crises on a bipartisan basis . Instead , Obama simply told a fairy tale , and the man who pushed the sequester with Harry Reid ended up backing him with another false statement . <p> If you want to see why this administration ca n't succeed at working across the aisle , this is a great example , although there are plenty of others ( such as inviting Paul Ryan to a speech on the budget and then calling him un-American for his approach ) . Obama managed to get Republicans to agree to the sequester trigger that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ south , Obama blamed them not just for agreeing to it but falsely accusing his opponents of bringing it up in the first place . <p> But that 's not the end of the Pinocchios . Kessler gives Obama three more Pinocchios for his claim on the Tonight Show that Planned Parenthood provides mammograms . This repeated claim , Kessler writes , " suggests an intentional effort to mislead voters " : <p> The president has suggested time and again that Planned Parenthood directly provides mammograms , but the organization only offers referrals and helps women find financial resources for the exams . This suggests an intentional attempt to mislead voters about all the services that are at stake with decisions regarding federal funding for the controversial group . <p> Obama 's campaign points out that the incumbent was referring in each case to Planned Parenthood 's broader role as a health-care provider . But that does n't make his remarks any less inaccurate . <p> We wavered between Two or Three Pinocchios but ultimately decided the president earns Three Pinocchios for his mammogram remarks on " The Tonight Show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one form or another for this to be considered reminder : Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege . <p> But that 's not the end of the Pinocchios . Kessler gives Obama three more Pinocchios for his claim on the Tonight Show that Planned Parenthood provides mammograms . This repeated claim , Kessler writes , " suggests an intentional effort to mislead voters " <p> Just saw that in today 's Gallup poll , not only is Romney up 51-46 , but Zero 's approval dropped 3 points in one day . Today 's news out of Libya that he left those fine Americans to die alone , and then went to bed so he 'd be rested for his fund-raising trip to Vegas , wo n't be helping that number . <p> Obama tried to dodge responsibility for the sequestration when Mitt Romney criticized him for it during the final debate , claiming that " the sequester is not something that I 've proposed . It is something that Congress has proposed . " <p> In sum : Director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the idea of a sequester , while Jack Lew sold Harry Reid on the idea and then decided to use the Gramm-Hollings-Rudman language ( which he knew from his days of working for Tip O'Neill ) as a template for sequester . The proposal was so unusual for Republicans that staffers had to work through the night to understand it . <p> I 'm perfectly willing to believe that The Misfit Commie had no idea about his own apparatchiks doing something that he was unaware of . <p> This is what happens when all you 've ever done is ride the affirmative action train , all the way to the top . After all , even with his Ivy League " education , " he 's nothing but a Community Organizer . <p> I do n't know what 's worse : the fact that the media can say Obama lies , but they wo n't use the word ' lie ' or call him a liar ; or that today it does n't seem to matter that the highest office-holder in the land is a liar . <p> Using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game plan the ENTIRE TIME . <p> Republicans were stupid to agree to it in the first place . <p> If Republicans had refused to incresae the debt limit , it would have FORCED a defacto balanced budget , because the government would not have been allowed to spend more than it brought in . <p> There is enough coming in on a monthly basis to pay our debt payments , pay our military , pay Social Security , and a bit left over . It 's just that that bit left over is not enough to pay for all of the other agencies . They would have been forced to downsize their spending to match the revenue available . That would have been a good thing , and likely would have prevented the downgrade in our bond rating . <p> Boehner blew it . He did n't understand why Republicans flipped more seats in 2010 than Democrats flipped in the wake of Watergate . He did n't understand that he was made Speaker for the specific objective of stopping the Democrats ' Cloward -- Piven agenda . <p> Let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama supporters . They probably could n't even spell sequestration , let alone understand it . So what if Obama lied about it ? If Obama said he had nothing to do with something that they those evil Republicans say is bad , why , they are just going to believe Obama . <p> .... year , actually . Remember when Maerose Prizzi said that every month that passed without the **34;2233;TOOLONG Stimulus Act would mean ANOTHER 500 million Americans would lose their jobs ? ? ? <p> It is pathetic that Romney has not followed the tradition of having his own pre-presidential seal on lecterns . If he wants to look presidential and sound presidential he needs to act presidential . Where are the crowd fainters ? Obviously he is not sufficiently swoonish . He needs to assume the pre-presidential mantel and talk about big nebulous ideas that no one can disagree . Now that 's presidential . It brings people together . Note to Mitt , stop with the details and wonkishness . No one cares ! And why double down with the accountant running mate ? Who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> Can we get back to big bird ! " these things called air craft carrier " Obama is awsome with the put downs ! In the immortal words of Joe Biden , " Barack has a big stick and knows how to use it ! Your election choice could n't be clearer ... the town accountants or the co-captains of the basketball team . <p> Who cares who idea that deal was ? It DOES NOT excuse the GOP house which could have prevented it . <p> Two parties to every contract folks -- and no one put a gun to Crybaby John Boehner 's head to go along with this . This was his decision to go along ... pure and simple . He did it for political reasons ... political cowardice . He had a group of Tea Party freshmen barking at him to do something about the debt ceiling , with many calling for a shutdown in government . He did n't have the balls to shut down the government -- just like he did n't have the balls to pull $100 Billion out of last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would . <p> So -- in order to satisfy everyone ( particularly the cowardly lion within himself ) ... he cut a deal with the devil ( Obama ) , it was n't the first he 's cut and it was n't the last . <p> .... year , actually . Remember when Maerose Prizzi said that every month that passed without the **34;2269;TOOLONG Stimulus Act would mean ANOTHER 500 million Americans would lose their jobs ? ? ? <p> Resist We Much on October 26 , 2012 at 1:57 PM <p> I would laugh except this guy can be the next President in a heart beat . <p> Well that sort of overlaps #3 on my list , but I 'm starting to get that feeling . <p> Doughboy on October 26 , 2012 at 1:57 PM <p> In 2010 , Republicans flipped more seats than the Democrats flipped in the wake of Watergate . <p> I see no reason to believe that Republicans would have less seats in the House next session . <p> Redistricting has , if anything , made districts less favorable to Democrats . <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turnout than 2008 turnout . <p> If you take the current make-up of the House , and assume that for each state the party which holds more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives now will continue to hold the most seats after the 2012 election , and also assume that that party will win that state 's overall popular vote in both the Presidential and Senate races ( if there is one in that state ) , then Republicans should keep the House , win the Senate , and Romney wins with over 300 Electoral College votes . <p> So basically the Washington Post actively endorses repetitive lying . ( They enodrse Obama , Obama lies repeatedly , particularly on the mammogram issue , Libya , etc . ) I do n't think they have to look

@@5122241 <p> BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF WESTERN HISTORICAL ROMANCE ! Caroline Clemmons writes historical and contemporary genre fiction . Historical romances , contemporary romantic suspense , mysteries , and paranormals are among her current works . Learn more about her at www.carolineclemmons.com <h> Friday , November 09 , 2012 <h> ONE STORY AT A TIME <p> By Karen Fisher-Alaniz <p> How to Create a Family Tradition of Story Sharing <p> My father did n't begin telling his WWII stories until he was in his 80 's . At the time , I never could have imagined the secrets he 'd held onto for so long . That experience made me aware of all the stories that swirl around us , but remain untold . We can change that - one story at a time . I truly believe that everyone has a story worth telling and a story worth listening to . <p> Karen 's dad in front of his home <p> Gathering family stories is something that most of us hope to do -- someday . But we are busy with our lives . We 're raising kids , caring for our parents , and maintaining a job . We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some , time will run out while waiting for the perfect moment . <p> With the holidays fast approaching , now is the time to create a tradition of story sharing that will live on for years to come . With a little forethought , you can create a family tradition of story sharing that is as synonymous with the holidays as pumpkin pie served with coffee . Whether you have a small family or a large one , creating a tradition is as simple as one , two , three ; <p> Karen and her dad at the Arizona memorial <p> 1 . Create a tradition that fits your family dynamics : This will depend a lot on the ages of your family members . Many families choose to focus on stories of the older generation , such as grandparents . Getting everyone involved makes the tradition more fun , and less work . Perhaps you have teenagers around the holiday table . If so , set up a video camera in a quiet room , and give them a list of questions they can ask . Maybe you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share . If so , choose a question and ask everyone to take turns answering the question . Young children can help you come up with the questions ahead of time . <p> 2 . Choose a time that conversation naturally occurs : Your family may sit around a large table , enjoying a holiday meal together . Maybe they relax in the family room afterward . Or maybe you enjoy your holiday meal at a favorite restaurant . Carve out a sharing time that fits your family . Choose a time when people are relaxed and chatting naturally . <p> 3 . Honor each story by recording it : Creating a time to share stories is great . But it 's even better if you record them in some way . It can be as simple as starting a tape recorder , taking notes , or using a video camera . The mode does n't matter as much as just making sure you do it . Someone can always write the stories up later . For now , just get them recorded in some way . If you need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> After many years teaching special education , Karen Fisher-Alaniz began her career as a freelance writer . Her articles were published in regional and teen magazines . Her personal essays have appeared in CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE NURSES SOUL II , and VOICES OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS . But when her father gave her more than 400-pages of letters he wrote during WWII , a new journey unfolded . Over the next several years , he slowly revealed a part of him that Ms. Alaniz could never have imagined ; one of intrigue , top secret code breaking , and the traumatic loss that triggered symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder ( PTSD ) , more than 50-years after the war . She wrote about the unintended journey of a father and daughter , and eventually the book chronicling their journey was published . Her memoir , BREAKING THE CODE : A FATHER 'S SECRET , A DAUGHTER 'S JOURNEY , AND THE QUESTION THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING was published by Sourcebooks on 11/1/11 . Her father , now 91 , often accompanies his daughter to book events . Ms. Alaniz lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more information , visit her website at http : //www.storymatters2.com . <h> 5 comments : <p> Thank you for hosting me , Caroline . That first pic of my dad is really special . When I was writing the book , I decided I wanted to see my father 's childhood home - where my grandmother , who I never knew , received all those letters he wrote during the war . So , we drove to the little town and found the house . It was a transformative moment in

@@5122341 <h> Bette Midler Will Not Be Singing On NBC 's Christmas Special <p> Just been informed and sorry to in form you guys , but Bette will not be singing on NBC 's Rockefeller Center Christmas Special . She will only be involved with the lighting of the tree .

@@5122441 <h> Post navigation <p> Getting out of credit card debt can be easy . Here are a few tips that will get you on track : <p> Stop using your credit cards if you can not pay them off . <p> Always pay your bills on time . This will save you from paying late charges and penalty interest rates . <p> Pay off your smallest credit card balance first . You will free up money to pay other bills and get the satisfaction of paying off a bill . <p> Pay off your highest rate credit cards . Your money will go further if you use it to pay off 25 percent debt instead of 13 percent debt . <p> Call your credit card issuers , especially if you have a high rate . Let them know that you 've gotten better offers from other issuers and that if they cut your rate you 'll stay

@@5122541 <p> I ? m in my Rolls , just met up with Rose Loubretton toes , with the earring in the nose She wan na be a model type , shorty strike a pose Fine , with some brains on ? er , shorty strike a blow She think she ready for the fast life I ? m gon na show er what that fast like I must have been a motherfucker in my past life Cuz I just fucked me 2 more mamasitas last night I did , I must admit it , I did it That hustle mode , I ? m in it That pussy game I be winnin Got black mixed with Caucasian Hispanic man or Asian I spend the night watching a cat fight And in the morning we all blazing <p> Champagne on ice , bad bitches all fine Heard that all her friends wan na go , alright They hit that crib and go for rollin up , all night It ? s me versus them and the bitches love me long time <p> Pretty tittie shorty , what you need a bra for ? Be naked when I pull up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partners with er , man I ? m fuckin all 4 Little ma ride the pole like a Volvo Yea , you hear the call of the midnight I ? m tryina see just what it is like I won ? t be long , shorty sit tight Whippin in my Lamborghini , hundred through the red light ? I ? m dangerous , sorry little mama that it came to this Put a boot to the pussy and ? m aiming for this I really really should make her pay for this That good dick shorty , had a gang of this What you ? re getting from your nigga ain ? t the same as this You know goddamn well when I came for this

@@5122641 <p> Last week , James Doulgeris began talking about the growing divide in U.S. healthcare given reform initiatives and other factors . Here , he continues to discuss the new healthcare environment and the role of private practice physicians . <p> Physicians , who should be playing a pivotal role in solving the crisis , are dispersed , fragmented practitioners in a coalescing world of corporate providers and payers , and the tipping point from physician employers to physician employees has already been reached and passed . <p> Dr. Meyers , an educator , identifies the progenitor of the growing physician disadvantage . Complacency and a false sense of security that things have not changed , or worse yet to pull back when the situation requires moving forward , threatens to be the undoing . <p> The growing disadvantage of a fragmented and inefficient independent physician system in an era of consolidation and growing productivity leaves physicians vulnerable and disenfranchised . Six of 10 physicians are already employees , and hospitals and insurers are hiring . <p> Independent physicians are in the best position to innovate , enhance technology and techniques and to advocate for their patients . <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like businesses under their own terms , and soon , they can not earn a meaningful seat at the table with institutional and governmental providers and payers . Without that seat , the system is unbalanced . <p> If physicians can consolidate with each other and in the interest of their patients to become an independent , powerful , and united voice in the public discourse , there is hope . <p> That is not to say that physician-hospital-payer partnerships are not important , they are , because when physicians are partners , there is a strong voice to put patients first , and to promote prevention to reduce intervention . That is also not to say that hospitals do not put patients first , but their focus , and business , is managing episodic acute care . Physicians manage lifelong care . They are the key to educating patients on how to become and stay healthy . They manage chronic conditions . They are the front line in reducing obesity , smoking , and encouraging physical activity -- the three primary keys to reducing and preventing cardiovascular disease , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five primary healthcare expense categories . Physicians are the agents of change who must play the pivotal role in solving the root problems of healthcare . <p> Failure to act now leads to inevitable financial disadvantage and inefficiency , and both are severely punished in any marketplace . Consolidators from hospitals to drug stores to physical therapy providers are joining together with the power to negotiate preferred pricing and reimbursements while they maximize the benefits of economies of scale . They work on improving every day . They are run by business professionals who know healthcare . They are preparing for the future . <p> Physicians will be well advised to follow suit , and aggressively . The experienced business talent is there , particularly on the strategic side . They are the people with comprehensive solutions and skills . They require an investment , one that can deliver great returns not only to practices that join together , but to the system as a whole . <p> If not , physicians will still have a voice , but likely not a choice or control of their own destiny -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> Practice Notes is a space for commentary and news on practice management and healthcare policy . Opinions expressed by guest bloggers are their own , and do not necessarily reflect the views of Physicians Practice , its staff or editors ,

@@5122741 <h> Tuesday , August 28 , 2012 <h> Facebook recently updated its Android application and just a little bit later the brand new iPhone and iPad client were published . Despite the fact that the iOS flavor is , at the moment , somewhat better than its Android counterpart , Facebook employees are ditching iPhones and using Android devices . <h> They are forced to do so , at least that 's what a report is claiming . According to " ex-Facebookers and others familiar with Facebook 's plans " , management is making all employees use Android devices in order to emphasize and make them see just how bad the Android application is . By having people use the application , Facebook management hopes that they will see just how awful it is once they meet the user experience first-hand ( and hopefully come up with a solution probably in

@@5122841 <p> I am a Cat Woman . My self-appointed mission in life is to save the feline world ! To accomplish this mission , I get cats fixed . Perhaps my mission might be slightly delusional . This blog is a mishmash of wishful thinking , rants , experiences as I remember them and of course , cat stories and cat photos . I love cats . <h> Sunday , November 25 , 2012 <h> Photos on Dreary Gray Oregon Sunday <p> Homemade weatherization for the under eaves window box entrances . It 's getting cold sometimes . I had to rig something ! <p> Calamity likes to sleep in the carrier above the exclusion room . She sure would like a home of her own , but would need a patient home , no dogs and at least one other cat , preferably a friend from here . <p> Miss Daisy , the ultimate cush cat , likes to sleep on pillows . She loves her comfort ! Starry is one of her best friends . <p> Electra is showing her age , and sleeping more and more . She took a tumble ten days ago off the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caught the tumble from peripheal vision , seeing her land awkwardly on her side . She acted strange for five days after that , holding her tail funny and walking with a curvature to her back that worried me to death . She seemed swollen and to breath funny , but soon was back to normal . She 's an old cat and a fall , any fall , can prove fatal to the elderly . <p> The Albany business cats still hang out together as a family when they sleep . They love the diaper changing station beds . I found that at a thrift store several years ago , and am looking for another . Here , eight of the nine Albany business cats nap . Top : Alexi and Stiletto , on the left while Sassy sleeps on the top right . Next level down : Cougie , Raindrop , Tilly and Rogue . But behind Rogue and you can only see the top of her head , is Haley . The only business cat not in the pile is Misty . Family matters , to cats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe Sam is at least 8 years old now . <p> Teddy , formerly of the Corvallis homeless camp , likes to clown . <p> Teddy , atop the exclusion room , turns to watch Echo , one of the Quirky sisters , and Shady , of the BS colony . <p> Tugs , the torti , with Slurpy the other torti . <p> I took mushroom photos yesterday . I wanted to see if any of the yard shrooms were edible . I never did ID these , growing on the old Cottonwood stump . <p> But I was able to ID these , growing everywhere in the backyard and they are poisonous . They cause severe gastro intestinal distress . <p> I have not yet solved the water heater problem , but it 's no big deal since there is plenty of hot water for a quick shower . I 've never been one to take long showers , being the extreme penny pincher I am . I 'm afraid I 'll go nuts with the hot water if I get a water heater that allows a leisurely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be nice , to come in , after being out in the rain and cold , and warm up with a nice hot shower of decent length ? Ah yes , but spendy ! <p> Fixing the water issues from the down spout underground drainage line damage has been a big fat fail . The corrugated pipe leaks like crazy and water pools badly by the house from its leakage . However , it 's just as bad in the underground damaged pipe , I just do n't have to see the pooling , because it 's going under the house and washing out the foundation wall . So this is a slight improvement for the house at least and I keep at it . I 'd buy PVC pipe to contain the water but I ca n't afford 52 feet of PVC and the connectors that would be required since my car is very short and I ca n't carry long lengths of pipe . <p> The problem is not limited to that side . On the north side of the house , the gutter water dumps down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , by the old man neighbor , underground drain pipe to the street . He has n't cleaned his gutters in decades nor does he maintain anything , so that pipe is badly clogged and unfortunately , runs under my driveway . His constantly clogged down spouts , result in massive water drainage into his lawn , which is likely the cause of my own driveway settling and sinking in places . You got to manage the water or there 's a price to pay . Not a thing I can do about most of this . I do n't blame him for letting it all go to hell . He eats out every meal and spends all his time at restaurants chatting with his old man friends . He comes home and puts his big screen TV on the highest volume then dozes off with a few beers . I 'll hear him get up in the night and yell , drunkenly sounds like , at his cats , if they want in or out too much . They basically eat at my place . I keep them flea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the cat yard fence . The old man is mid 80 's . He can do what he wants now . And he does . As he should . Nobody should tell an old person how to live their life . That 's nuts ! <p> My one brother is off on a vacation with his family . Kids are all grown , but they got two of them along . Must be hard to raise kids then off they go . I do n't know , maybe they 're relieved to finally have an empty nest . I do n't know my nieces and nephew really . I was n't around them when they were growing up . <p> I fixed my old computer . I 'm on it now . How do you like that ? I undertook the task as a learning experience never dreaming I could actually do it . There were polluted corrupt programs and a media player on it , that , after the process of elimination from safe mode , and their removal , allowed me back my old computer . So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I store music on one and photos on the other , so as not to overload either . Plus I have some games on this one I like to play . Yes , I like video games too . I like almost everything . <p> I slowed down on reading . Finding decent books was the issue . But I 'm back to it . I love reading . The most recent finish was The Dive from Clausen 's Pier , by Ann Packard . It was a slow start book , that I put down over and over , but in the end , I loved it . It was about life is all , growing up , and a young woman who began to outgrow a group of high school and college friends , including a best friend and a fiancee who makes a dive from Clausen 's Pier into shallow water , breaking his neck . In the weeks before that fateful day , the woman focus of the story , ( have forgotten names now ) was having trouble in her relationship with her boyfriend since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him into a coma and stealing his ability to walk once he came out of it , she did n't know what to do . Guilt made her stay with him at his bedside . His family and her friends guilt tripped her also until one day she just loaded her car and took off for a new life in New York City . <p> There she fell in love with a mysterious man who lived frugally , talked little about himself , drank too much and turned out to be 40 years old . He had issues too , which he would not discuss . Later on , after she went back to Madison to visit her best friend , with whom she 's fallen out with , over the months since the accident , he revealed to her that his brother had died young after a long battle with leukemia . His brother 's name was Mike , like her Mike , now in a wheelchair . <p> She never returned to New York , after she left to try to patch things up with her childhood best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother had attempted suicide and been committed . She stayed in Madison , in the end , and began helping with Mike 's care , and re-establishing old friendships and routines . The book was about the unexpected twists and turns of life , some harsh , some beautiful , the sadness that can haunt everyone , from life 's twists , no matter where they live or what their upbringing . A person can count on only a few sureties Family and friends , a sense of community and place , these are rocks in the upheaving landscape of life . <p> Life is tough here lately only in that I am bored silly and very alone . The cat wrangling has ground to an extremely slow pace . Price of gas and scarcity of clinic space is the reason . And soon , very soon now , I wo n't be able to do any cat wrangling at all , when Poppa Inc. closes down , first of next summer . I am contemplating what I can do now with my life . I must find something . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ STAYER . You stay solidly with it all the way . Stoic , determined and exceedingly talented , especially in DIY . Fixed your computer , fixing all the faltering household odds and ends , large and small . Sad for you , and your moggies , that the work you undertake will be winding down and packing up in a

@@5122941 <h> Hot topics <h> Do n't Call The New Microsoft Surface RT A Tablet , This Is A PC <p> Matt is a Senior Editor at TechCrunch . Matt Burns is a family man first and attempts to be a writer second . Born and raised in the heart of the automotive world , only cars eclipse his love of gadgets . He previously wrote for Engadget and EngadgetHD before moving into the party house that is TechCrunch . He learned the retail side of ... ? Learn More <p> The Microsoft Surface RT is a PC . It 's not a mobile device and it 's not a tablet , it 's a PC . And Microsoft 's first self-branded computer . It is , in short , the physical incarnation of Microsoft 's Windows 8 . <p> The expectations and competition for the Surface are daunting . It 's been said that Microsoft built the Surface to show up HP , Dell , and the rest of the personal computing establishment . PC sales are stagnant while Apple is selling the iPad at an incredible pace . But the Surface is something different from other tablets . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to power it with a limited operating system called Windows RT . These trade-offs , real or imagined , are what really makes or breaks this device . <p> While the Surface RT is a solid piece of hardware , there are a few things that makes the device a bit hard to handle . The Surface RT is a widescreen tablet . It 's 16x9 , making it a lot wider than it is tall , so using this 10.6-inch tablet is slightly different from an iPad or Galaxy Note 10.1 . When holding it properly , that is , in landscape , it 's a bit too long to be held with one hand . Likewise , when holding it in portrait , it 's too tall to be held comfortably one-handed . In fact , it 's slightly awkward overall . <p> For starters , it 's rather tough to type efficiently on the Surface RT 's on-screen keyboard when holding the tablet . I 'm 6 feet tall and have normal size hands ; I can not grasp the Surface and hit all the on-screen keys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Surface in this orientation , I can not touch the Windows home button . Windows 8 compensates for this flawed design by incorporating an additional Windows home button into a slide-out virtual tray activated by a bezel gesture . <p> It 's clear Microsoft designed the Surface RT to be a convertible PC rather than a tablet with an optional keyboard . This is an important distinction . By comparison , tablets such as the iPad and Galaxy Note 10.1 feel complete without anything else . I own a Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard and use it daily . But only for work . I enjoy using the iPad without it . Due equally to Windows 8 and the large 16:9 form factor , the Surface RT is naked without a $119 Touch Cover . <p> Without a Touch Cover , the Surface RT feels incomplete in design and function . The problem here is that the Surface is basically a big laptop screen without the keyboard . The cover rights the design 's wrongs by forcing the user to use the physical keyboard rather than the on-screen keyboard . Microsoft knows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Touch Cover , but that does n't alleviate the sting of paying another $100+ for a keyboard . <p> The Surface RT runs a limited version of Windows 8 called Windows RT . It shares the same ebb and flow as Windows 8 , which is a radical take on the classic operating system . The operating system was clearly built for the mobile era and it shows promise . But right now , at launch , Windows RT needs work . Most of the apps are limited in features and the touch version of Internet Explorer is slow and clunky . Pages load very slowly and the bezel gesture to switch between tabs is unreliable and buggy . And worse yet , due to Windows RT 's lack of apps like Facebook or Twitter , you 're forced to use Internet Explorer for nearly everything . Do n't expect to load your favorite Windows applications on the Surface RT . It 's just not possible . Think of this as Windows 8 Lite , a cross between a desktop and a mobile OS . <p> Despite its shortcomings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a traditional sense . I wrote the majority of this review on the Surface with the $129 Type Cover . It feels like an ultraportable Ultrabook . Using Windows RT 's classic Desktop mode , I was able to compose and edit within TechCrunch 's WordPress back-end as if I was sitting at my Windows 7 desktop . In this use , the Surface outshines other tablets as it allows for a full desktop workspace . But here is where the problem lies -- the Surface acts like a tablet and ends up working more like a notebook . This interface between flat tablet and horizontal laptop is frustrating and confusing . <p> Physically , the Surface feels like it 's from the future . It employs just the right amount of neo-brutalist industrial design . The casing is made out of magnesium alloy , called VaporMg by Microsoft , which is more durable and scratch resistant than aluminum . The iPad feels pedestrian compared to the Surface . But the iPad is a different sort of device . Where the iPad is a tablet , the Surface is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a large kickstand that props the tablet at a 22 degree angle . The Kickstand pops out with an air of confidence . A hidden hinge snaps it away from the body and likewise , when collapsing the kickstand , the hinge forcefully snaps it back in place . <p> Unlike most tablets , the Surface sports a large range of I/O ports . Along with the bottom-mounted Touch Cover port , there 's a microHDMI output , microSDXC slot , and a full-size USB port for connecting a camera , phone , USB flash drive , or XBOX 360 controller . This last feature sets the Surface apart from other tablets , allowing the Surface to nearly match the functions of a laptop . <h> You can not pick up a Surface and be disappointed by the feel . <p> Remember , the Surface is a PC , not a tablet in the traditional sense . It should have all these ports and , although it looks comical , a full-sized USB port on this tablet is absolutely necessary . <p> There are front and rear cameras , 802.11a/b/g/n @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are no 3G or 4G wireless connectivity options . The speakers are nice and loud ( but not booming ) , though there is very little bass in the sound . <p> The Surface feels fantastic . The hardware is its strongest selling point . You can not pick up a Surface and be disappointed by the feel . There is n't another tablet on the market with the same build quality or connectivity options in such a svelte package , including the iPad . <p> Microsoft did n't just build the Surface . The company also spent resources developing the Surface 's Touch Covers . These covers , one with physical keys and the other with touch-sensitive keypads , magnetically snap onto the bottom of the Surface like Apple 's Smart Covers . <p> Both versions of the Touch Covers enhance the overall feel of the device . It 's impossible not to appreciate the Surface 's design when you snap one of these covers onto the Surface , close it up , and carry it around . I 'm completely taken by the feel of the Surface . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Touch Covers work equally as well as they look . There are two versions : one has chicklet keys that feel a lot like the keyboards used in Ultrabooks . This version is called the Type Cover and costs $129 . The $119 Touch Cover uses touch-sensitive buttons that do not physically move . This Touch Cover is half as thin as its brother , but after spending a week with both , I found I was about half as productive on the Touch Cover versus the Type Cover ( see WPP chart below ) . Both have little touchpads with right and left clicking buttons under the keyboard . <p> However , the Touch Covers reveal the Surface 's fundamental flaw : The Surface is ungainly large when deployed . When used with the Surface 's kickstand and a Touch Cover , the whole contraption is 10-inches deep . That 's the same depth as a 15-inch MacBook Pro . An iPad with a Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard is only 7-inches deep ; most ultrabooks are 9-inches or under . A Surface with a Touch Cover barely fits on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all on the trays that pull out of an armrest . That 's a problem . <p> The sheer size of the Surface negates its appeal . At 10-inches deep with a Touch Cover , when used , it 's larger than many more capable ultrabooks . Additionally , with the nicer Type Cover , the Surface is n't much thinner or less expensive than many full-powered notebooks . <p> The Touch Covers of course are optional , but Microsoft saw them as a key component for the device . Look at the market or pre-release press coverage : a good amount of the message is about these Touch Covers and not the Surface RT itself . Microsoft is attempting to see them as one unit . To Microsoft , it 's not if Surface buyers are going to purchase a Touch Cover , but rather when . It 's expected . Unfortunately the Touch Covers are not as functional as keyboards for other tablets . <p> As previously mentioned , the Touch Covers magnetically snap onto the bottom of the Surface and then the kickstand props the screen at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rigid . Pick up the Surface and the Touch Cover dangles in place . <p> This design makes it very hard to use the Surface with a Touch Cover anywhere but a tabletop . It needs a 10-inch deep flat surface . I could not use the Surface with a Touch Cover sitting in an armchair , walking around , or laying on my back in bed . Forget about using it on the commode ; it sits too precariously on the legs for comfort . These are use-cases that I do nearly daily with my iPad and Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard . The Surface is only usable when seated at a table or desk . <p> The Surface RT uses a 10.6-inch 16x9 ClearType HD Display at 1366x768 . The screen can handle 5 points of contact at once . Indoors , the screen is deep and rich with vibrant colors . Colors wash out in direct sunlight and the glossy overlay results in a lot of glare -- but slightly less glare than the iPad 's . The screen is fairly sharp , but overall is far inferior to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ screen found in the iPad 2 . <p> When sitting side-by-side , it 's easy to see the difference between the Surface RT and new iPad , both $499 tablets . The new iPad is more detailed and the colors are much more accurate . There is no contest , really . The Retina display in the new iPad has nearly twice the resolution of the Surface 's and can handle 10 points of contact instead of just 5 . The Retina screen is brighter , has a deeper color palette , and , most importantly , makes text easier to read thanks to the higher resolution screen . <h> Microsoft advertises its tablet with a keyboard and mouse . <p> I found the Surface RT 's screen to be a tad frustrating at times . It seemingly does n't register touches properly . I often had to reattempt selecting a particular on-screen item . The Surface RT ( or maybe it 's Windows RT ? ) is not as accurate as I would like it to be . This happened more often in the classic Desktop environment where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new tile interface . <p> But per Microsoft 's marketing , the interaction with the display is not as critical with the Surface as , say , with an iPad or Galaxy Note 10.1 . That 's where the Touch Covers with their little trackpads come into play . Apple and Samsung advertise their tablets ' touchscreen capabilities . Microsoft advertises its tablet with a keyboard and mouse . <p> The Surface RT packs two 1MP cameras : one on the front , one on the back . They 're a joke . The picture quality is horrible under any lighting condition and completely unacceptable for a $500 device . See the examples below . <p> Note : Results are based on a standardized test that requires the device to search Google Images until the battery is depleted . The screens are set to max brightness . <p> The Surface RT can not write its own story . Unfortunately for the Surface RT , its fate rests solely in the hands of Windows 8 , and moreover , Windows RT . No matter how good the hardware is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it sits right now , at the launch of Windows 8/RT , the experience is a mish-mash of interfaces and the experience is poor . <p> At launch , Windows 8 feels like a brand-new playground built in an affluent retirement complex . It 's pretty , full of bold colors , seemingly fun , but built for a different generation . Microsoft is clearly attempting to bring relevance to Windows with the touch-focused interface and post PC concepts but is unwilling and unable to fully commit completely to touch . <p> Again , the Surface RT runs a version of Windows called Windows RT . This is not Windows 8 , although they look and work very similarly . It 's stripped down , and designed to run better on mobile computing platforms . <p> The main difference is Windows RT requires apps be coded for ARM processors rather than x86/x64 chips that have powered Windows computers since Windows 3.1 . This means users can not replace Internet Explorer with Chrome ( even in Desktop ) until Google releases a version of Chrome coded specifically for Windows RT . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ application can not be installed on Windows RT , or for that matter , nearly any other Windows application built over the last 20 years . For that , you 'll need a Surface Pro which runs Windows 8 on an Intel CPU . <p> As of this review 's writing , Microsoft had yet to detail the price or release schedule of the Surface Pro . It is expected to hit stores by the end of 2012 for around $1,000 . <p> Windows 8/RT is different . It 's a stark departure from previous Windows builds . It 's built for the post-PC world but still holds onto the past with a classic desktop mode . It boots to the touch-friendly UI , previously called Metro and now called Modern UI , where apps are presented in a pleasing grid . This is also the Start Menu , so there is no longer a comfortable Windows button to click to get around the OS . <p> Like Windows Phone , most of the tiles representing the apps are live , providing quick insight into the content held within . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within the app . Mail shows the sender and subject line of the last received message . Likewise , Weather shows the current weather , Messages shows the top message , and People shows the latest social media update . It 's a smooth , versatile and smart take on a mobile tablet OS . <p> The Surface seems built specifically for the touch interface . The 16:9 screen matches the widescreen flow of the operating system perfectly . The Surface utilizes bezel gestures to hide menus . Starting with your finger on the Surface 's black bezel , slide onto the screen to reveal a menu tray . Done on the right side displays the main menu where most options are held . Done on the left switches between applications . Make a quick on and off swipe on the left side to display the application switcher . Most apps also have customized option drawers on the top and bottom of the screen . <p> These hidden menus allow the apps to take full advantage of the screen ; there 's no need to display a menu bar when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself did n't fully commit to the touch interface . <p> As great as Windows 8/RT looks , it sadly fails to provide a cohesive user experience . <p> Even though Windows RT features myriad next-gen features , most of them are half-baked at launch . The application store is missing key apps , the single sign-on fails to sync user profiles across devices , and the social sharing features do not nativity include Twitter or Facebook . <p> Microsoft itself did n't fully commit to the touch interface . Windows 8 's dependency on the classic environment will not allow the Surface to be a tablet . Half the apps pre-installed on the Surface RT launches in the classic desktop interface , most notably Microsoft Office , where the smaller user elements do not play nicely with the touch interface . <p> Windows traditionalists will find the Classic interface a lovely memory of the good ol ' times . Most everything is where it 's supposed to be -- besides the Start Menu -- and it runs and acts like Windows 7 . But for the Surface , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the touchscreen alone . The elements are too small to efficiently be controlled with just touch . After all , the Desktop emulates an environment designed a several generations ago for use with a keyboard and mouse . <p> Windows RT is launching fairly bereft of apps . Windows RT ships with an app store but right now there is n't anything worthwhile available besides Evernote and Netflix . The operating system is on the verge of launching and it does n't have the support of a vast library of apps . There is n't a Facebook app . Twitter is missing , as well as anything pertaining to Google Apps . There is no Dropbox , Fruit Ninja , or Angry Birds . And do n't trust the application store : there are a bunch of 3rd party apps masquerading as official apps . Worse yet , IE 10 is painful to use . <p> Windows 8/RT ships with two different versions of Internet Explorer . One lives in the new touch interface and the other lives a different life in Desktop ; both are completely oblivious to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tabs in one and the other does not replicate the behavior . The Internet Explorer in Desktop is the good ol ' IE -- it should be very familiar to most . The one in the touch interface is completely different . It 's slow and clunky . Thanks to larger buttons , it 's easier to use by touch , but that 's its only redeeming quality . I hate using it . <p> The lack of apps is one of the Surface 's main downfalls . <p> The sad state of Windows RT 's application store is eerily similar to that of Windows Phone . Launched nearly two years ago , the application selection on Windows Phone still pales in comparison to that of Android or iOS . Microsoft has spent two years attempting to get developers on-board its smartphone platform . Will developers ignore Windows RT as well ? No one knows and that 's the trick . <p> It 's true that the iPad launched with very few apps , but owners could also run iPhone apps while the legions of iOS developers furiously adapted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run mobile apps and Microsoft seemingly does n't have the same sort of rabid developers at its disposal ( otherwise there would already be apps ) . <h> Bing Apps <p> Moments after the Surface is turned on for the first time , it 's easy to dive right into content thanks to Bing Apps . Bing Daily , Bing Sports , Bing Sports , Bing Travel , and Bing Finance look fantastic and they 're loaded with content . With large lead photos and strong headlines , they 're sure to be some of the most used apps -- until Windows 8 is embraced by 3rd party devs at least . <p> These apps offer a lot of info . For instance , Bing Sports leads with the news , but swipe left and it reveals the schedule for user-designated teams . Swipe a little more to reveal standings charts . The next section shows panels of leading players followed by panels of the leading teams of the default sport . Swipe a little bit more and you get a large advertisement . <p> The Surface ships with ad-supported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ located at the end of its news feed . It 's a little shady but not exactly scandalous . <h> Video <p> The Surface seems designed specifically to watch movies with the 16:9 screen . Launch the video player app and it immediately loads the Xbox Video store . This app can playback movies loaded on the internal storage or microSD card , but it 's primarily designed to be a video store . And like the Xbox dashboard it emulates , there are ads here too . <p> Xbox Video offers a good selection of movies but they 're a tad pricey like on iTunes . The Avengers in HD costs $20 ; it 's $15 on Amazon . A single HD episode of The Walking Dead costs $2.99 on Xbox but $1.99 on Amazon . <p> The Surface RT lacks a powerful video playback solution . Microsoft did n't include Windows Media Player or Windows Media Center in Windows RT . The included video app is very limited but it did manage to playback 720p . avi files off of a microSD card . Fans of sideloading content @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> The Windows RT photo app is a thing of beauty . It 's fast , flexible and easily pulls in photos from Facebook and Flickr . It 's deeply integrated into Windows RT so sharing and printing is built in . <p> Once authorized , the app can access Facebook photos and videos and displays them in such a way as if they 're stored locally . <p> While the app runs great , it lacks any editing tools -- even basic items like cropping are missing . It 's mostly designed to show off the screen and UI elements . <p> The Surface launches to a crowded market dominated by just a few players . The $499 iPad is the top tablet in the world , currently commanding a dominant portion of the tablet market share . The $199 tablets , the Kindle Fire HD , Nexus 7 , and Nook Tablet HD , offer a lot of tablet for the money . But Surface is fundamentally different from the aforementioned options . <p> The Surface is a convertible PC , meaning it 's a personal computer with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Surface is incomplete without a Touch Cover . It 's not designed to simply be a tablet . It 's too large and clunky to be used without a keyboard . <p> With its awkward size and incomplete operating system , the Surface fails to excel at anything particular in the way other tablets have . The iPad provides better casual computing . The Android tablets sync beautifully with Google accounts and the media tablets by Amazon and B &N; offer an unmatched content selection . <p> The Surface 's closest natural competitor is a budget Ultrabook . But even here , most Ultrabooks run Windows 8 rather than Windows RT , allowing for the full Windows experience . Plus most Ultrabooks have a larger screen but smaller footprint when used , offer longer battery life , and are generally more powerful . <p> Microsoft built the Surface to be a Jack of all trades , but failed to make sure it was even competent at any one task . <p> Should you buy the Surface RT ? No . <p> The Surface RT is a product of unfortunate timing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it into a small convertible tablet powered by a promising OS in Windows RT . That said , there are simply more mature options available right now . <p> Microsoft needs to court developers for Windows RT . As a consumer tablet , the Surface lacks all of the appeal of the iPad . There are n't any mainstream apps and Microsoft has failed to connect Windows desktop and mobile ecosystem in any meaningful way like Android or iOS/OS X. <p> Windows RT is a brand new operating system that is incompatible with legacy Windows software . This immediately limits the appeal since the Surface RT is dependent on Windows RT 's application Store -- a storefront that is currently devoid of anything useful . <p> The Surface RT is n't a tablet . It 's not a legitimate alternative to the iPad or Galaxy Note 10.1 . That 's not a bad thing . With the Touch Covers , the Surface RT is a fine alternative to a laptop , offering a slightly limited Windows experience in a small , versatile form . Just do n't call it an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Surface RT could be something worthwhile . But right now , given Microsoft 's track record with Windows Phone , buying the Surface RT is a huge risk . The built-in apps are very limited and the Internet experience is fairly poor . Skip this generation of the Surface RT or at least wait until it offers a richer , more useful experience . While we 're bullish on Windows 8 , the RT incarnation just is n't quite there . <p> Is it heavy ? <p> Not heavy , but solid . Listed by Microsoft as " under 1.5lbs "

@@5123041 , osteoporosis and other diseases . To contact Derek email him directly : derekb.lowe@gmail.com Twitter : Dereklowe <h> November 12 , 2012 <h> Oh Yeah , Now That You Mention It , They 're Dead <p> Posted by Derek <p> The overhyped nature of stem cell therapies is a topic that 's come up here several times . In the latest developments , Pluristem , Inc. , is threatening to sue Bloomberg New for their recent report , titled " Girl Dies As Pluristem Sells On Gains With Miracle Cells " . Gosh , it 's hard to see why the company would take exception to a headline like that , but here 's how the piece leads off , in case things were n't clear : <p> Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. ' s ( PSTI ) stock doubled in Nasdaq trading from May through September , helped by three news releases announcing that patients ' lives had been saved by injections of the company 's experimental stem cells . After the stock soared on the positive news , two top executives profited by selling shares at the highest price in more than four years as part of a pre-determined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7-year-old girl with a bone- marrow disease , died four months after the company said her life had been saved , Pluristem was silent . The company raised $34 million selling shares a week later . <p> Not so good . But as that link in the first paragraph shows , Pluristem 's response has not cleared things up very much . In the same press release in which they demanded a correction from Bloombert , they revealed that another of their three initial patients had also died after four months , which also had not been announced before . The earlier press releases for all three patients are well-stocked with phrases like " medical miracle " and " life-saving " . As long as this sort of thing is going on , the stem cell field will continue to have problems . <p> Update : interestingly , this post seems to have brought a lot of Pluristem 's stock market fans flocking . And I mean this in the best possible way , but their appearance here does not inspire confidence . <p> The company administers an experimental therapeutic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conveniently unreported for financial gain . As long as this type of unethical behavior goes on , it becomes even more difficult for biotech/pharma as a whole to convince the conspiracy theorists that the whole industry is n't evil . <p> If it had n't been for the companies earlier claims of " medical miracle " etc , I 'd have said Bloomberg would have owed them an apology of sorts ... But given the earlier claims , and the fact that two out of three initial patients had died within 4 months KIND of makes those claims somewhat hollow ... <p> Couple that with the obvious stock pump and dump , and you have reasons for putting them on various business ethics watchlists ... <p> Dear Derek - I read your article and I 'm embarrassed . Since I was following Pluristem 's response all along when these events took place - I know for 100% that Pluristem 's management was 100% transparent on this case . Back then I read CEO Zami responding to the news about the death of the child in the press . There was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or another . I think what you do is a more unprofessional than what you refer to Pluristem . I 'm sure you were a bit more evidence-based in your PhD . At least they do n't poison healthy people like the drug companies - a place where you found your living all your life . <p> The company needs to me fined twice what it made by that move , they put all stem cell therapy in to question in folks minds , never a good thing . My old mum has had stem cell therapy for fibromyalgia and after some immediate minor positive results , has also had some not so great results , but stands firm at this point that it is ' working ' she 's keeping her self busy by running a website following her progress and answering any questions etc www.stmcellpatient.net Jean Beardsall <p> @1 : What does " I put a Tusik on blumberg " mean ? What 's a " Tusik " ? A curse ? <p> @9 ( 10 , 12 ) : Please post in English , but just ONCE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Corante 's slow servers to process the submission . ) <p> @11 : With the expletives deleted , I think #11 says " Post in English . " <p> @8 Dror : RESPONDING to a direct question is not the same as widely releasing a positive news statement . I disagree that there was no need -- legal or otherwise -- for a new press release . There was an ETHICAL need . <p> I find it very hard to believe that no one at Pluristem knew what was going on . I do n't know about Israel , but in the US you still need FDA approval for compassionate use and there are additional requirements such as to provide follow-up treatments , if needed . <p> I think its a spin . The product is good and it proved itself for what its worth . The results are still mind blowing with a potential to bust a market , even if 2 out of 3 past away . We can not determine their deaths were related to the product abd if you have been following the stock the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a while the company releases a statement or there is this analyst recommending and it inflates and then deflates but all in all the potential is still there <p> Dror said : " I think what you do is a more unprofessional than what you refer to Pluristem . I 'm sure you were a bit more evidence-based in your PhD . At least they do n't poison healthy people like the drug companies - a place where you found your living all your life . " <p> The next time you get an infection , please do NOT take our poisonous antibiotics . If you have surgery , please do NOT take our poisonous anesthetics or our poisonous pain relief compounds . If you develop high blood pressure , please do NOT take our poisonous ACE inhibitors or beta-blockers , and do not lower your cholesterol woth our poisonous statins . <p> Dr. Lowe had talked about previously what defined " material information " : <p> As a lawyer in this business once said to me at a meeting , " I have to make sure that no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . And material information is defined as something that makes you think about trading the stock . " <p> If the improvement of the patients given their stem cells was material information , why were n't their subsequent deaths material information ? The latter ought to have made someone think about selling the stock , but the company did n't say anything . That seems curious . <p> So , what was it that killed that girl more than 180 days later ? Maybe it 'll turn out like gene therapy and it was some side-effect that they did n't expect . Like the stem cells causing a new tumor to grow ... that needs just about a year to develop and kill <p> Hey , if Pluristem can put out a bullshit press release not based on trial data , then I can do it to . Maybe Dror and Erez would be advised to back down when the going looks bad from a scientific standpoint even , not only ethical by now with all these deaths . Certainly that 's the advice to Pluristem . Do clinical trials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to hype the results too early . Otherwise you 'll have Orac writing about a story about you . <p> Some of these comments read like they do on the Yahoo/Google/etc-stock message boards . <p> You really want to see these things work , especially when it involves adolescents . Should a company like this go under , where would the some of that internal information go ? Is there any mechanism in place to take lessons learned back to someone like the NIH for public disclosure ? Or is the only hope for those scientists to move on to related companies where they can share what they learned ? <p> I have followed Derek 's blog for many years and this is the first time I am actually writing a post . I am both embarrased and scared reading about how , almost fanatically , some posts at the forum argue . From how they phrase themselves it is clear that they have no scientific background at all . Arguments like : - The product is good , the girl could have died from something else . or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that some drugs are bad , which makes it ok for me to insult Derek and makes my claims very trustworthy . <p> And in the end they always end with ( between the lines ) . " Skip the ethics talk ( read " we do not understand that " ) this is about money " . <p> No worries ; this is n't the usual crowd around here . My mention of the company brought in a bunch of its fanatic stock boosters , and like stock fanatics everywhere , they 're largely a bunch of tunnel-visioned yo-yos . They wo n't hang around , unless I mention The Beloved Stock again . A lot of small " story stocks " have these

@@5123141 <h> Pages <h> Sunday , November 18 , 2012 <h> The ugly side of the industry and why we should talk about it <p> One of the popular and well-known WGs here in New Zealand was assaulted by a client while in a booking . Her own account of the ordeal is here . <p> Her blog post was immediately linked to Adult Forum-the largest , most popular forum for the sex industry in the country and the only one with serious traffic . I must say that outpouring of the support for Petra was overwhelming , from both guys and WGs . I am very proud of my community , as majority of guys and WGs expressed their sincere sympathy and condemned the attacker . <p> However , something else became apparent almost immediately : there are still plenty of people out there who are so far behind in the dark ages with their " old school " mentality of blaming the woman , and making light of violence . <p> The very first reply was from a guy that read : &lt;SIC&gt; This of course is one side of the appointment/story . Its not making total sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the poster : A. Did not believe Petra 's account of the incident . B. Questioned the validity of it . <p> When outraged citizenry of the forum went after the poster , he quickly changed his tactics and shifted the whole debate to the fact that he thought the incident must to be reported to the police and that he believed it was " 100% " rape " . Well , quite frankly , I could n't gather any of that from his original one-liner . As the discussion has spilled into live chat , the guy kept using the word " hysterical " towards myself and couple of other members . Even when I stopped replying to him , he still used that word , trying to bait me , followed by " She 'll get over it " . As he kept steering the discussion towards reporting the incident to police ( as far away from his original statement that " it 's only HER side of the story " and that " it does n't make sense " as possible ) , that guy made a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that most reported rapes go un-prosecuted and the assailant gets away scot-free when that guy replied " Well , tell it to the Indian guy from Mona Vale " ( a perpetrator successfully charged and sentenced for assaulting a prostitute ) . The particular turn of phrase he used is usually reserved for people whom the speaker feels are " hard done by " and got the " raw end of the deal " , NOT for the people one condemns . Normally someone would say something along the lines of " Well , that dirt bag from Mona Vale got what he deserved " or something similar ... <p> I actually contacted a friend of mine-a MALE psychologist from US and asked him for a consult . I had screen shots of the live chat and the entire original forum thread . Here 's what Steve 's ( my psychologist friend ) assessment was : in his opinion , the guy DID , in fact , question Petra 's account and possibly was siding with the attacker . Repeat use of the word " hysterical " towards other posters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggests that he intended to use the word towards the victim originally , but was " testing the waters " first to see if he gets more support . Also fraise " She 'll get over it " is quite telling , as the the phrase " Tell it to the Indian guy from Mona Vale " ... <p> This , of course , is just an opinion-neither myself nor Steve claim to be oracles of gospel truth . <p> Here is Petra 's explanation ( written the next day ) of why she chose not to file a complaint with the police . I firmly agree with her . <p> When one of my clients turned into a horrible stalker who broke into my house repeatedly and made my life hell for a while , I DID report it to the police . And I did follow up on it several times ( here is THAT STORY ) . Nothing came of it . He is still running around , most likely doing the same thing to some other girl ( as he is known as a recidivist offender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occasionally ( quite a lot less these days , thankfully ) . <p> When a parlour owner in Wellington whom I worked for-a slight tiny little Chinese lady-was brutally attacked with a baseball bat by a client and robbed , she did report it to the police . Days of questioning ensued and , although it was quite clear who suspect was , nothing came of it . <p> Imagine my anger when the first response to Petra 's blog on Punter Planet ( Australian forum ) was from a guy who said that " this is not the right avenue " for such posts and " bleating about it ( the incident ) in a blog is not going to do anything , except breach discretion ! <p> First of all , where else shall we post such things , if not in the SEX INDUSTRY FORUMS , where we discuss sex industry happenings ? Also , Petra did NOT disclose the guy 's name , age , description or any other identifying features ( except , maybe for " very well endowed " , but that 's quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discretion comes into it , may I ask ? When I pointed this out in a polite manner to the poster , he went on to say that Petra somehow failed to exercise good judgment , as she was " clearly attracting the wrong clientele " ... I was lost for words , quite frankly : Wellington is the capital of New Zealand , Petra was staying at the high-end accommodation and she advertises in the Gold Elite section of **25;15753;TOOLONG , which is single largest and most prominent advertising medium for sex industry in NZ . NZG is as good as it gets here . <p> Bottom line , there were people ( in both NZ and Australia ) whom : A. Suggested Petra was at fault somehow ( by not exercising common sense and/or not employing better safety measures ) . B. Suggested that Petra 's account was possibly greatly exaggerated . <p> Also of interest is the fact that despite 250 views of the post on Punter Planet , except for the original exchange between myself and that guy , NO ONE wanted to comment , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carpet , bury the thread . <p> Here 's the reality : we need to talk about these things . Although industry is largely a great place , bad things do happen . Exposing these on the forums and in the blogs does help tremendously . Fear is a great motivator : a lot of people who have bad intentions do n't want to get exposed and in today 's day and age of Smartphones and tablets everywhere , it could be very hard to avoid exposure . The next victim may be a LOT less discreet and a LOT more vocal and will plaster her assailant 's details all over Internet . Even if it gets taken down , a lot of people would see it . And let 's face it : you can not " unsee " what you 've once seen . So , yes , writing about it does reduce recidivist occurrences . It is also very cathartic to the victim . In contrast , even if Petra went to the police , the attacker would probably have name suppression order put in place straight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( that 's if they do at all , in some cases ) -the case might take a few years to get to courts ( if it does get that far ) , so it would not at all help other WGs today and in the weeks to come . <p> Voyager 's post is something I think is of value to this discussion as well . <p> I am so impressed by my fellow WGs and agency owners in Wellington ( Ms. Ava and Mary of THE FUNHOUSE come to mind ) who immediately rallied to Petra 's support . They provided comforting shoulder to cry on , guidance and information . The incident is now reported to NZPC and attacker 's details are being circulated among WGs and parlours . <p> Petra herself in undefeated and strong as ever , as clear from this post . <p> I want to thank those amazing clients who are thoughtful , gentle and kind . You guys make our job really fun and rewarding . You make us explore ourselves as we are delving into your world , if only for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you on amazing journey that sexual satisfaction is . From the bottom of my heart-thank you for being respectful . <h> Disclaimer : <p> All links , images and references used on this blog are either owned by me or found on the open internet and believed to be in the public domain . If you believe that your copyright has been breached or require credit for your IP please contact the author and upon receipt of evidence of ownership the appropriate action will be taken . <h> About Me <p> I am a professional courtesan . I 've been plying my trade for over 2 decades in 4 different coutries . To complicate things , I am gay : ) . My life is very interesting , as you can imagine . I am strictly WL ( Working Lady ) now , but

@@5123241 <p> Many women and men dismiss bits of information about their partner that turn out to be warning signs for future trouble . These subtle feelings are actually your gut telling you to pay attention to something . <p> During the early phase of marriage , most people want to see the good in their spouse . Overall , I think this is a good strategy . However , it is also important and healthy to be able to trust your gut when you feel there is a problem in your relationship and address it with your spouse . <p> Trusting your gut involves some basic skills , so let 's look at four tips that may help improve the chances of your marriage thriving . <h> 1 . Awareness of your body sensations -- What is your gut telling you ? <p> This involves paying attention to your heartbeat rate , pain in your heart , tightness in your chest , weight on your shoulders , intestinal distress and other sensations as indicators to pay attention to your feelings . <p> For example , early in my marriage , I overlooked my gut feelings . I did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot , tell stories and generally be entertaining . This is a great quality about him ; anyone would say he is a great story teller . At the time , I saw his story telling as a positive since I was relieved from my responsibility to communicate , due to my shyness and insecurity . I actually pushed my body sensations aside and did not pay attention to them . <p> It worked for me at the time . However over time , my body sensations began to emerge as tightness in my throat , pressure in my chest and pain in my heart . I knew then there was something wrong . I then had to find words for the bodily sensations I felt . I developed a deep resentment towards him and did n't know why . <h> 2 . Vocabulary to identify subtle feelings . <p> Once you have identified your bodily sensation , you can begin to identify the feeling associated with it . Most people will identify with feelings of sad , mad or glad . But there are deeper feelings which fuel these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be fear of rejection , fear of loneliness or fear of abandonment . <p> I had to learn to accept my sad and mad feelings . Then after digging deeper , I found that I felt cast aside , rejected and abandoned by my husband when he told his stories . He would be the center of attention and I would be in a pity party with myself . <h> 3 . Courage to communicate your feelings to your partner . <p> Talking about deep feelings is a courageous act . When we risk exposing ourselves in a deep way we risk being hurt by the other person . Ultimately we have to decide if it is worth the risk of being exposed and connected fully and authentically with another person . Hiding parts of who we are out of fear leaves us disconnected and not really known . <p> Once I identified my deep feelings , I had to take responsibility for myself and be more assertive . I needed to communicate and share who I was with my husband and with other people . I knew that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be willing to work through any reaction he might display . I had to have courage to risk his disapproval or rejection if he reacted to my deep feelings . Actually , by the time I did share my feelings with him , I was determined to be known regardless the cost . <h> 4 . Problem solving skills to address the situation with your partner for a win-win outcome . <p> Sometimes when you change a behavior in a relationship it is confusing to your partner . Through couples counseling you can learn new ways of relating to each other that work better for both of you . Helping your partner to thrive will improve your satisfaction in the relationship . <p> My husband and I learned to resolve differences with help . I learned to take care of my social needs and he learned to allow space for others to tell their stories too . My husband 's determination to find a win-win solution helped us grow closer together . <p> Always remember relationships are messy -- there is no way around that fact . Negotiating the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has gut feelings . Working through these feelings is what makes for a healthy marriage or couple-ship . <p> Contributed by YourTango.com , an online magazine dedicated to love , life and relationships . From dating to marriage , parenting to empty-nest , relationship challenges to relationship success , YourTango is at the center of the conversations that are closest to our over 3 million readers ' hearts . With daily contributions from our Experts , we have a little something for everyone looking to create healthier lives . We 're excited to offer our contributions to the PsychCentral community

@@5123341 <p> For the second time in recent months , a pair of LPGA stars have engaged in a slapping match via the social medium known as Twitter . <p> A few months ago , it was Sophie Gustafson and Cristie Kerr hitting at each other over Kerr 's refusal to sign some piece of memorabilia that Gustafson was donating to a charity event . That feud quickly drifted into personalities . <p> This week , it was Britanny Lincicome and Christina Kim doing the " Oh , yeah , says who ? " routine over Twitter over , well , apparently over frustration . <p> Lincicome , in Malaysia for the LPGA event there last week , has struggled through a frustrating year . During a rain delay , she tweeted that if it kept raining , she would n't have to go back out and play . <p> Kim , frustrated over her own poor play that saw her not get into the Malaysian field , tweeted that anyone should feel grateful for the chance to be playing the LPGA event and that plenty of people would love to have the chance . And there was a little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before everyone calmed down and the tweets were delayed , long after anyone who cared had a chance to see them . <p> So why do these kinds of feuds erupt on Twitter ? Well , there is that aspect of Twitter that allows you to say things to people without actually having to say it to their face . And there is the immediacy of Twitter , meaning that any knee-jerk , emotional outburst can find itself on the site in 140 blazing characters before someone has a chance to stop and think . <p> The LPGA players are n't the only athletes or even golfers who have feuded with other players or fan on Twitter . Paul Azinger 's conservative politics certainly had draw the ire of many other Twitter uses , though Azinger seems more than willing to fire back at attacks . Rickie Fowler has had dust-ups with people wondering just why he is so popular and gets so many endorsements given he has just one win . <p> I hope not to get into those kinds of feuds on my Twitter account , @MyDesertGolf . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've been the golf writer for The Desert Sun since 1986 and I 'm the author of " 50 Years of Hope " , a history of the Bob Hope Classic .

@@5123441 <h> Subscribe Now <h> Are Nutrients Lurking on the Bottom of Lake Erie ? <p> For years , scientists have shown that the phosphorus feeding Lake Erie 's algae blooms largely comes from excess fertilizers , but is another source lurking beneath Lake Erie 's waves ? Scientists are now wondering if phosphorous has been leaking from dredged sediments that were dumped onto the bottom of Lake Erie . Their theory comes on the heels of a Vermont study which revealed that eroded creek bed sediments delivered much more phosphorus to Lake Champlain than scientists had previously thought . Consequently , the International Joint Commission has asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to start collecting data from the Lake 's dump sites so that scientists can test their theory . <p> Viewer Tip : Even though scientists ca n't yet say how much phosphorus is leaking from those sediments , they know it has n't outweighed the influence of fertilizers on algal blooms . If most of Lake Erie 's phosphorus came from those sediments , then this year 's heat should have produced a record algae season . Instead , it was mild because there has n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fertilizers lying on its surrounding farmland . <p> For years , scientists have shown that the phosphorus feeding Lake Erie 's algae blooms largely comes from excess fertilizers , but is another source lurking beneath Lake Erie 's waves ? Scientists are now wondering if phosphorous has been leaking from dredged sediments that were dumped onto the bottom of Lake Erie . Their theory comes on the heels of a Vermont study which revealed that eroded creek bed sediments delivered much more phosphorus to Lake Champlain than scientists had previously thought . Consequently , the International Joint Commission has asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to start collecting data from the Lake 's dump sites so that scientists can test their theory . <p> Viewer Tip : Even though scientists ca n't yet say how much phosphorus is leaking from those sediments , they know it has n't outweighed the influence of fertilizers on algal blooms . If most of Lake Erie 's phosphorus came from those sediments , then this year 's heat should have produced a record algae season . Instead , it was mild because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lake

@@5123541 <h> Motorola 's DROID RAZR M is incredible , and it 's an iPhone 5 preview <h> You May Also Like <p> So ... I like Android . I use just about every Android smartphone on and off , but my main phone is an iPhone 4S . One major complaint I have with Android is that the phones are just too big ... seriously . First it was 4 inches , then 4.3 inches , then 4.5 inches , then 4.6 inches , then 4.7 inches , then 4.8 inches , then 5 inches , then 5.3 inches , then 5.5 inches -- ugh . <p> Motorola 's DROID RAZR M , which was announced on Wednesday during the company 's press conference , packs a 4.3-inch display into such a small frame that I truly think the company got it right . It 's so easy to use one-handed , it 's comfortable to hold and it makes me want to use the phone more instead of infuriating me . <p> Also , Motorola 's hardware game ? This is probably the nicest hardware I 've ever seen out of Motorola . Incredible build quality and attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day , but I already think this is one of the top Android smartphones for the holidays -- by a magnificent mile . <p> One of my only complaints is that I wish the display looked better , it 's PenTile and it 's not the best quality , but if that 's the only thing I have to complain about on an Android phone , you know you 're doing something right . <p> Here 's where I go off on my iPhone tangent . <p> The DROID RAZR M is about the same height as what we can expect from the iPhone 5 . It features a larger screen than the iPhone 4S , and it 's physically taller . I had reservations about an iPhone with a larger screen , but I can honestly say that this really works . Since the phone is n't wider , it 's not uncomfortable to hold and the added height is still easy to control with your thumb and one hand . <p> So , this phone has basically shown me that the new iPhone 5 is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body , and that I 'm going to like it . A lot . Even

@@5123741 <h> A Little Bit Nasty <p> I have noticed some really disgusting things lately . Like yesterday when I was about to sit down on my commuter train , I saw what appeared to be crumbs on the seat . But upon closer inspection , I realized they were fingernail clippings . A whole bunch of them , like they were purposely piled up and waiting for someone to come sit on them . My Scottish Work Friend ( SWF ) emailed me about an hour later to say that a woman sitting next to her on the train was cutting her nails with a nail clipper . Ewwww . I get that time is short these days , but why is a commuter train the perfect place to dispose of body parts ? <p> This morning as I was walking past a number of train cars to get to my usual one , I saw a gentleman in a suit and tie , briefcase next to him , go digging with his index finger deep into his nose . It was n't even like he was trying to hide it . Have some shame , Sir ! He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ angles , trying to pull out whatever was in there . Maybe he stores his metro card or keys or something -- he was pretty frantic about it . <p> I was walking Wally early this morning and about 30 feet away , I saw another dog owner patiently waiting for her dog to do its business . Only half way through the dog doing his thing , the owner realized she did n't have any plastic poop bags . Before I even had a chance to offer one up , the woman used the edge of her newspaper to kind of scoot the poop onto it . Only she could n't get the whole " log " onto the paper . She tried sliding the paper a couple of times under the poop , but it was tricky as she only had one hand ( other hand being on the leash ) . So at the last second ( maybe she thought I was n't looking ) , she used her leash hand to place the poops on the paper . Then she threw the paper out . NASTY @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walk back into her building , putting her hands all over the door handles , etc . She is a walking advertisement for hand sanitizer . <p> I will leave you on that very pleasant note . Got any of your own ? I promise my next post will be way more civilized . <h> 2 comments on " A Little Bit Nasty " <p> I work with a room full of third graders so the amount of nasty I see on a daily basis is incredible . I have a particularly icky group of boys in my room . There is so much nose picking , booger eating , pencil chewing , water bottle licking , and general disgustingness that it can be overwhelming ! Since the germs in my room are contained , I just walk around squirting everyone 's hands with hand sanitizer and scrubbing surfaces with Clorox wipes . Seems to do the trick ! Your dog poo story had me on the verge

@@5123841 ? You guys only think it 's crucial when Democrats are president . <h> In defense of the people who operate oil , gas wells <p> Those attacking Colorado 's oil and gas industry forget the hard-working people drilling and operating these wells live in Colorado . I am part of that industry . Before you demonize us , remember this : we live here , raise our families here , have friends here , volunteer here , coach kids ' sports here , cheer for the Broncos here , and hike , bike and ski here . Do you really believe that we do n't care about the air we breathe ? Or our children ? Or the communities in which we live ? Many of us live here because we love Colorado 's great outdoor activities . <p> As your furnace heats your home on a crisp winter morning , locally produced natural gas provides that heat . You can thank your neighbor for that . When you fill up your car , ask yourself : would you prefer to buy gas from the Middle East or gas produced in Colorado , by Coloradans , for Coloradans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ See our commenting ground rules for more information . <p> Anonymous <p> Liquified Natural Gas is making inroads to the US transportation market but has a long way to go before readers of your letter can feel warm and cozy filling their tank with natural gas . <p> Nobody is demonizing the worker bees enacting the energy boom here . What is rightly condemned is the profit as fast as possible model that leaves tons of fracking chemicals in open ended shale fields where we do not know where they will migrate , and for how long . <p> When residents are inundated with smelly , loud rigs that light up the night for acres and acres that sicken livestock and families , those valuable jobs begin to lose their attraction . <p> irisman <p> I do n't know where the truth lies . One writer condemns the oil and , gas industry as gangsters that are pillaging and destroying the the environment in the name of profit , and other one claims that the industry are veritable saints who are only concerned with keeping us warm during the winter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which picture is closer to the truth . <p> The problem Mr. Peters is that the " gas produced in Colorado , by Coloradans " is likely to be sold to the highest bidder -- whether that bidder is an Xcel customer in another state -- or to foreign users . Ever since PUC allowed the building of pipelines for Xcel 's benefit , instead of having among the lowest natural gas rates in the US ( ours was n't as smart as Wyoming 's -- which negotiated an " in state deal " ) it 's right up there with the cost in states which have no natural gas ( and -- to add insult to injury , the COLORADO rate payers paid for the pipeline ) . As far as gasoline -- a separate subject -- last year , for the first time in decades , the gas and oil were the largest US import -- while prices here have gone higher and impacted everything else from food to clothing to heat to air fares ( and yet commodity this does n't " count " as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2008 being a " higher than ever " profit year for the industry , the price at the pump should be $1/gallon LESS ( I 'm guessing that this year will have even

@@5123941 <p> The grand Mormon Temple on Santa Monica Boulevard in Westwood is a strange off-limits landmark : everyone on the Westside can see it , but you can only explore as a member of the church . The temple opened in 1956 ; it 's 190,614 square feet on 13 acres and is topped quite noticeably with a 16 and a half foot tall gold statue of the angel Moroni . It 's all off-limits , except ... T magazine noticed that the temple opened a visitors ' center a little over a year ago and decided to take a look . Here 's what they found : <p> -- " Unlike that of the temple , the architecture of the visitors ' center itself is strangely curved and best described as Long Beach aquarium-like . " <p> -- At the front of the center , there 's a landscaped entryway with three " black naturalistic sculptures that edge the garden " ; all the sculptures have plaques inscribed with quotations . The sculptures are " Woman Learning " ( a woman in a long skirt with a book ) , " Playful Moments " ( a woman with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ " Joseph and Emma Smith " ( the church 's founder and his wife ) . <p> -- " Even the long drive to the parking lot behind the temple , up a big hill into an oasis of calm and serenity , was a little awe inspiring . " <p> -- The interior is covered in flat screens and " interactive , hands-on , museumlike , elaborately produced photographs and films . " One TV during the visit shows " images of the interior rooms of the temple , the sealing room , the baptismal bath , which is called a ' font , ' surprisingly primitive art-like , in the American sense of the word , as it rests on 12 carved oxen , which represent the 12 tribes of Israel . " <p> -- There 's also " an extremely impressive ( maybe 22 feet high ) statue of Jesus as you enter , palms up , replete with visible holes from the cross and , behind it , a modern scrim version of the heavens . " <p> -- Through " a catacomb-like hallway , " @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bookshelves holding fake Dead Sea scrolls and " across a huge wall , an interactive screen entitled ' Where Jesus Walked , ' which in its screen-saver mode is a panoramic view stretching from the site of The Mount of Olives in Jerusalem to what Elder Grover tells me is a reproduction of King Herod 's Temple , explaining that it was originally King Solomon 's Temple but was rebuilt by King Herod after being destroyed . " <p> -- The panorama , however , " starts to change from day to night , replete with an extraordinary moment : as the bright red sun sets behind Jerusalem , fires appear in two of the doorways ( or windows ? ) of the temple

@@5124041 <h> Sunday , November 18 , 2012 <p> Most people have busy lives . And you 're likely one of those busy people . Maybe you 've set aside a little time to specifically read this , with maybe a little extra time to think about it . Or maybe you opened this page to see whether the first few lines intrigue you enough to keep going before returning to your busy life . Once in a while , however , our busy lives seem to come to a STOP . And we begin to ask questions . Questions about our values . Questions about our identity . There can be many different STOP signs in our lives . These would include dramatic events -- maybe the loss of a loved one , a broken or a new relationship , illness , a change in employment or housing . Time to think . Sometimes just being in a strange place may induce the question as to how we got there . I recall a number of years ago spending an evening in a fancy tango restaurant in Buenos Aires and halfway through an exquisite bottle of red wine the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing here ? " <p> I can detail a lengthy chain of events that rationally ( and innocently ) explains how I got to where I was . In fact , this is a remarkable exercise , to review one 's life and appreciate the many twists and turns it took to get us to the present moment . To give you an inkling of why I was so puzzled about being in that particular restaurant one night in Buenos Aires , I must tell you a few things about my life . I grew up in a humble family in North Germany , the younger to my only sibling , my sister . Learning came easy to me , and I became the first of my family to enter university . Moreover , I gained acceptance for a scholarship to study abroad and ended up going to Oxford , UK , to earn a Master 's Degree in Applied Statistics . A few signposts in the road found me going to Israel for Ph.D . studies , then to Stanford , California for post-doctoral work , and a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University in Ames , Iowa . A fellow professor in a different department responded to a request from a former graduate student to attend a conference in Buenos Aires and thought that this was a good opportunity to meet me ! Thus , I received an invitation by email to a conference in that part of the world , accepted , for the first time met this colleague from Ames , and ended up in the fancy restaurant on a particular excursion for invited speakers one night . <p> So that is what on Earth I was doing that night in Buenos Aires , but whether it was the wine or something else , I distinctly remember that strange sensation of wondering how I got there . I guess we could call it an out-of-body experience -- some part of Me watching me and smiling . As it were , my question still comes up once in a while , albeit in slightly permuted form . More appropriately , I should have asked then and am occasionally asking now , " What am I doing on Earth ? " <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be given on multiple levels . The most immediate and commonplace answer would be to describe more or less what it is I am doing most of my waking time . This is the answer we would give at a party , for example , when we meet someone who does not know us , and they ask , " So , what do you do ? " I could certainly fill out a few details of my biography for you . I 've had an interesting life , and if you come to think of it , who has not ? This chapter is not an autobiography , however , and a few remarks suffice . In my professional life I 'm a professor at Iowa State University in the area of computational genome biology . Most of my working day is spent working with colleagues and students on research problems having to do with the analysis of plant genomes ( the genetic blueprint ) . The day is filled with discussions , meetings , reading , writing computer programming , and for some parts of the year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cleaning and gardening , shopping and cooking and eating -- you can fill in the gaps . That 's what I do . Thus is the description of what I am doing on Earth on the physical level . <p> There are other levels to our lives , though , which are not visible . There is the mental level . My doing gives evidence of my thinking , of course , but there is more to this level . Just take the example of writing this chapter . The physical doing is taking notes with a pen on paper , then typing sentences into a computer file and editing the document . What precedes and accompanies all these doings are thoughts that by some unknown process arise in my brain . Through psychology and neurobiology we may be able to explain some thought patterns , but for the most part this a fascinating and mysterious realm . Where do our thoughts really come from ? How does a creative thought really arise , something that has never been thought before ? These are questions about who we are , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think about your thought processes ? I would guess that most of us , most of the time , take our thinking for granted and merely get on with the doing . <p> To complete this discussion , we need to note that we also live on a spiritual level . This level relates to our attitudes , our character , our beliefs , to our values and conscience . This is a level that provides checks and balances for the mental and physical levels . For example , some thought may come up and suggest doing something , but there may be some other part of us that suggests otherwise . More than the other levels , the spiritual level relates to who we are . We may be doing this or that and thinking all kinds of thoughts , and while this is going , there is still Us seeing us . <p> In any given moment , we live and express on all these levels . We express our character , we think , and we act . The sum total of our facilities to reveal our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capacity for feeling and expressing emotions on all these levels . Take a moment to appreciate your hand , for example . It 's an amazing instrument . Think of just a number of different things it can do -- writing , touching , playing music , etc . So here we are on Earth with these tremendous facilities , but how often do we stop and assess how they 're being used and what they really should be used for ? This is the fundamental existential question of what we are doing on Earth . <p> Obviously each person will have to give the answer for him- or herself in his or her own living . And in fact everyone does , whether they do it consciously or not . The evidence of our living tells the tale . Yet there is urgent need to make the question and answer conscious . The mass of humanity running around unconsciously , trying to make or squeeze out a living , fighting for space and goods and recognition , destroying each other and the planet in the process ; that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who we are . The same holds true for individual life experiences . My refrigerator sports a magnet saying , " To change , everything , change your attitude . " Also appropriate would be " To change everything , get to know yourself . " What is our core identity ? If you consider yourself a bunch of molecules put cleverly together and interacting with other stuff in the environment simply to assure its own propagation in some sense , then that will determine a large part of your experience -- probably in a naturally hostile and competitive world that you can only hope to live in with relative prosperity and health , for whatever lifespan you can hold on to . At the core of all spiritual traditions is a different view of identity , one of Oneness with all of Life . <p> My personal answer to the question of what I am doing on Earth is best summarized by the simple statement , " Behold , I create . " There is no argument here . You , the reader , will have to recognize the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Life does not change its nature , simply our experience of it . But whether you agree or not , whether you have beliefs and concepts about Life or God , at this moment you 're invited to acknowledge a singular premise , which is that the essence of Life and therefore of you and me is that of The Creator . I 'm not suggesting a particular image of a personified deity by using these words . Myths of creation are central to all religious traditions , from pagan to monotheistic . The particular concepts are of no concern here . Let us simply explore the implications of accepting the identity of The Creator in our own lives and beyond . <p> There is evidence of the creative spirit of Life all around us . The cycle of the seasons provides an ever-powerful display of Life bursting forth in the spring and going through modulations of intensity , including apparent barrenness in the winter . Almost anywhere you can view an amazing array of life forms . This is obvious in nature . I sometimes go to Omaha Zoo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ displays . The range of human creativity is similarly amazing , spanning the range from art to sciences and technology . I am of course most familiar with the creative process in science . That is what interests me in research . In that realm of creativity new ways of asking questions are needed , probing our world to try and understand how things work . How does a plant develop from a simple seed ? How do plants defend themselves against pathogens and environmental stresses ? What is in a plant genome and how are the genes switched on and off at different times ? I feel I have a privileged life to be able to work in such an interesting profession , in which my job description includes the injunction : be creative ! <p> This same attitude applies to all areas of my living . I love fixing things in my house , painting the walls , decorating , generally taking care of the place so that it is functional and beautiful and welcoming . I have endless creative opportunities in my garden and woods . And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I always evaluate the interactions by their creative outcome . At any moment in life , in any situation , there is always something to create , something to contribute , something to do to leave the place more beautiful than when I entered . This can be , and most often will be , a simple act -- an encouraging word , a smile , a small task done to add to order and beauty . The same moment and situation can also be wasted , opportunities missed , or a destructive spirit can be expressed that takes away and adds ugliness . What shall it be ? <p> As we express the attitude of The Creator consistently , we experience life on yet another level , the level of being . We realize that this is not really an attitude we can choose to have or not , it is the very core of who we are and from which we are designed to express . And because this is the nature of all Life , we immediately recognize the oneness of all creation -- Life animating everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playing an integral part in it all . What am I doing on Earth ? Simply serving this grand design and creative process . <p> Volker Brendel received his M.Sc. degree in Applied Statistics from the University of Oxford , UK , in 1981 and his Ph.D in Life Sciences from the Weizmann Institute of Science , Israel , in 1986 . Volker 's research interests span molecular biology , statistical modelling , and algorithm development , with applications in the field of genome informatics . Volker 's other interests include reading , aikido , and gardening . Source : http : **35;2222;TOOLONG ... <h> Subscribe to our Regular Email Updates ! <p> Respected Readers : To help us go ahead with the same spirit

@@5124141 <h> Sunday , September 9 , 2012 <h> The bottom of the Obama Pitt <p> Mr. Pitt , we understand that you are supporting Barack Obama again for the White House in his historical context of his being the first black president , his winning a Nobel Prize while in office and other noteworthy accomplishments . Could you tell our readers why Barack has your vote ? <p> The reason I 'm voting for Mr. Obama is he is for penises covered in feces . <p> Excuse me Mr. Pitt , that is the reason you are voting for Mr. Obama ? <p> Of course , my mother , Jane , came out for Mitt Romney and is against liberalized marriages of gays , so my being for Mr. Obama is all about sex , as the accomplishments of a presidency rest alone on sodomy being legalized . <p> You are voting for Mr. Obama , not for what he has accomplished , but because Mr. Obama is for sodomy ? <p> Why yes , it is inevitable that gay marriage is legal , and it makes no difference on nuclear disarmament , starving children in the third world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about in interviews is how much Barack Obama is in favor of feces covered penises being the basis of marriage , and that is why Mr. Obama gets my vote . <p> Feces penis is your reason for voting for Mr. Obama ? <p> That and vaginas smelling of rubber vibrational aids too . <p> So nothing Mr. Obama has done or will do , in Obamacare or his numerous executive orders , even come to mind in voting for him , but for you it is genitals scented with feces and rubber in sex acts , that is how you define how you vote ? <p> Absolutely , as what else matters in choosing a leader than

@@5124241 <h> Blogs <p> From the outset , people have been waiting to see Michael Floyd make an impact . It was natural , given his status as a No. 1 draft pick . But it was also natural that Floyd 's impact was n't going to be dramatic . Too many factors : The learning curve for a rookie receiver , veterans already playing receiver like Andre Roberts and Early Doucet , fewer passes thrown a game as the Cards lean more on the defense , more multi-tight end packages in part to aid pass protection . <p> But Floyd popped out Sunday against Philly , even though he had just one catch , his first in the NFL . It was a doozy , concentrating in traffic on a ball that could have been picked off , for an eight-yard touchdown . <p> " You have to make sure you concentrate on the ball , plus make sure you do n't get that big-time hit on you , " Floyd said . <p> Floyd is n't going to pontificate about his situation . He says he 's getting more comfortable , and his blocking has been pretty good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a post-play penalty after the two tussled during a run play . ) Certainly he wants more catches , but like anyone in his situation , there are stages to go through and it ca n't be forgotten that the Cardinals are 3-0 doing it the way they are currently doing it . <p> " When you do n't get a lot of balls thrown your way , you get frustrated , " Floyd said . " I held in there and got the job done . " <p> Floyd 's play was lost with everything else going on Sunday , and it does n't mean Floyd is suddenly going to dominate the stat sheet . But maybe quality will conquer quantity for Floyd this season . If the Cards get touchdowns like that ( he 's becoming a master of the spectacular score , right ? ) they 'll take it . <h> 22 Responses to " We have a Floyd sighting " <p> I think we are seeing the results of the accumulation of talent on the team ( By FAR the deepest we have ever been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on special teams and defense ( and I am hopeful for the offense 's improvement ) ... <p> Getting the " best ' player will pay dividends sporadically at first perhaps , but will eventually pay big time ( E.G. Schofield O'Brian who barely played for 2 years .. any one doubt his value now tho ? ) <p> Where do you stand on the real story today about the poor officiating last night ? If a deal is not struck soon , I am boycotting watching any NFL games next weekend . This is becoming a joke . Maybe my Sundays will be more productive . <p> I disagree with one thing , a top 15 player drafted should have an immediate impact and should be starting . Calvin Johnson , AJ Green , Julio Jones , Justin Blackmon , the list goes on . WR and RB are the 2 positions where a guy should be able to step right in . <p> This team has character guys . I heard mike b speak about that when we did n't take a certain dt in the draft years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had players who did n't buy in after buddy left.mar tay jenkins won that game vs the eagle because he always previously gave up on the route so the eagles did n't focus on him . Contrast to today with a guy like larry on the team we wo n't have those problems . But icant say I assumed floyd would not have a great impact.with a guy like larry u can make floyd run fly route all day and open the whole field up.make him do basic things and pressure the defense to move the saftey and imagine if they lined up together ? But the way this team is run strategically he wo n't have the impact . I blame the coach . <p> The Cardinals should have a two game lead on Seattle but do not thanks to last night 's fiasco . We all know that the poor officiating issues go far beyond that terrible call . The integrity , objectivity and fairness of NFL games have been compromised . That will effect viewership and fan interest . <p> last nites call was bullxxxx call im @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one game cuz refs do nt know how to make a call , let the fans ref , they could of made a better more honest call then they did <p> I know for a fact that a lot of Packer fans will be boycotting the NFL ... not buying merchandise , not buying tickets , etc . Instead they will support the Wisconsin Badgers . The players need to stand together on this and be supported by their respective organizations . The poor officiating is a matter of player safety . I have never seen so many free-for-all brawls in games and total mayham on the field as in the last three weeks . Last night really topped it off in illustrating how little the NFL cares about protecting the integrity of the game . When Golden Tate committed offensive pass interference the play should have ended . The NFL fines players after the fact retroactively when they have n't been flagged in a game so I do n't buy into the fact that the referees call makes it final ! I watched Larry Fitz on the NFL am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he called it an interception and he is a man who watches enough tape to spot what when on , in addition to being in that kind of pile up himself before . Floyd had a good outing this week and I hope our guys are ready to take it to the Hags House and show them what a defense can do to a bunch of cheaters without the help of the SCABS . The Hags are almost making the Whiners look squeaky clean now ! And ... this ill gotten win does impact the Cards on a Division Level . <p> Just wait for the future games and everything will balance out . As long as they officiate poorly consistently , right ? It will take a few more big flubs for fans to rally against the NFL , demand changes and go to the extreme of boycoting to any significant level . IF that happens though , watch out . The football fan pool is HUGE and could have a signifcant impact . Maybe Romney and Obama should take note ? ? The good news is that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agree to sit down and sart talking again . Floyd -- Be a sponge Grasshopper . You got the best mentoring you . Look forward to seeing you develop . <p> I realize this is n't the topic Darren wrote about , but with people talking about " the call , " it brings up the question of whether the " indisputable " evidence standard is too high to overturn the call on the field . On the call in question , it looked like neither referee even wanted to make a call at first , so giving such a high presumption of correctness to the call on the field was unwarranted . And in many other cases , the plays are so bang-bang that it 's asking a lot of any official ( experienced or replacement ) to get them right -- I mean , on one of those plays where the guy is trying to drag his feet and is juggling the ball a bit , how an official is supposed to watch both things at once is beyond me . I think the call on the field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule were changed to something more like " convincing " evidence ( instead of " indisputable " ) we 'd be better off ... ? On the other hand , that might put too much discretion in the hands of the replay official . I just think for the NFL to come out and say that , even after reviewing the GB/SEA play after the fact , the replay decision was the correct one ( based on the fact that the replay was " inconclusive " ) is bogus . The standard is too high if that replay was not enough to get the call overturned . <p> Kevin ... When the NFL is using " player safety " and " integrity of the game " or " protecting the shield " to hide behind , I say they need to be called on their willful disregard for player safety as evidenced by the mayhem on the field with players out of control , and being injured and carted off at a record level . The alleged " simultaneous possession " should n't even be an issue since the play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tate that was not called or even acknowledged but was seen clearly by the entire football viewing world . How much more tarnished can the shield get when rumors of pay-offs and corruption are beginning to circulate much like the baseball scandal a number of years ago . Monday night 's disaster was bound to happen and it was a matter of time ... a ticking time bomb that the league was unwilling to defuse . The NFL ( including the owners ) through arrogance and unwillingness to acknowledge their mistake ca n't do much more to compromise the integrity of the game when players and fans alike have lost respect and NFL writers are beginning to doubt the competence.of it 's leadership . The fact that the Hags are in our league is a big deal . Fist fights and free-for-alls on the field are not OK . What is at stake here is really a matter of integrity and winning in a good and clean way . I hate to see the game I love cheapened in the way the NFL has operated this past year and I @ @ @ @ @

@@5124341 <p> Remember when radio host Don Imus got in a lot of trouble for making fun of black people and then came back chastened , with a new tolerance and sensitivity and understanding of how his hurtful remarks were borne out of ignorance ? And then he was n't ever

@@5124441 <h> Monday , October 8 , 2012 <h> It 's Hawaii trip and it is free of charge ... wowww <p> Who does nt love free stuff ? I do love free stuff and MONAVIE has give a lot of free stuff likes traveling for free . It 's like dream come true for DIAMOND distributor achievement to come a well-known paradise in HAWAII .. And i want to tell you that this trip is FREE . Come and join us in MONAVIE family and start you business

@@5124541 <p> Call it a wise investment in light of his recent comments : Democrats wanted Missouri Republican congressman Todd Akin to win his state 's hotly contested Senate GOP primary because they believed he gave incumbent Senator Claire McCaskill her best shot at retaining her seat . As the Washington Post reported earlier this month : <p> There 's a reason why Democrats spent over $1.5 million trying to help Akin win his three-way primary . He was the most conservative candidate in the field -- and the most unpredictable one . He shook up his campaign staff late last year . He recently released a head-scratching and jumbled campaign ad . And Democrats have already launched a microsite highlighting his controversial statements that wo n't play well with moderates . ( " America has got the equivalent of the stage III cancer of socialism because the federal government is tampering in all kinds of stuff it has no business tampering in , " Akin once said . ) <p> Here 's how the Democrats did it , running ads in the GOP primary that were intended to boost his appeal among the most conservative primary voters : <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee that attacks Rep. Todd Akin ( R ) , but does so slyly , in a manner that appears to be designed to endear him to conservative voters . <p> " Todd Akin calls himself the true conservative , but is he too conservative ? " asks the narrator of the ad , which is approved by McCaskill 's campaign and paid for by the DSCC . The narrator goes on to note the negative posture Akin has taken toward President Obama , before concluding , " it 's no surprise Todd has been endorsed by the most conservative leaders in our country -- Michele Bachmann and Mike Huckabee . " <p> Bachmann and Huckabee are popular among conservative voters and are from states in the same geographic region as Missouri . If anything , many undecided conservative primary voters who hear their names in the radio ad would be tempted to give him a closer look . <p> The Post notes that these ad buys were actually more that Akin spent on his own campaign : <p> According to a Republican strategist tracking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic-aligned Majority PAC have each spent about $850,000 on ads during the last two and a half weeks -- more than Akin has spent on commercials during the entire campaign . So if Akin wins the primary , he might be able to credit some very unlikely allies . <p> While Democrats are now blasting Akin 's comments on " legitimate rape , " one person is resisting calls for Akin to step aside : Claire McCaskill : <p> Sen. Claire McCaskill , D-Mo. , appeared on MSNBC 's " Morning Joe " Monday , where she declined to weigh in on whether GOP Missouri Senate nominee Todd Akin should drop out in the wake of his controversial comments that " legitimate " rape ca n't lead to pregnancy . <p> " It 's not my place to decide , " said McCaskill . " I really think that for the national party to try to come in here and dictate to the Republican primary voters that they 're going to invalidate their decision , that would be pretty radical . I think there could be a backlash for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me for being cynical , but how often does McCaskill worry about the concerns of GOP primary voters ? It is something to bear in mind as you read about the growing media frenzy over Akin 's remarks . He got the nomination in large part because the Democrats wanted him to win because they hoped he would say something really stupid . Lucky for them , he obliged . Now that he has , they do n't want him to go away because if

@@5124641 <p> Marco Rubio talks about the real drivers of our debt being our entitlement programs and how we absolutely must reform them and grow the economy at the same time . He says we simply ca n't fix our debt problems with tax increases . <p> Otherwise , he says , we of others and do not engage in personal attacks . Otherwise we will revoke your comment privileges . <p> " The only solution to the debt is economic growth " -Senator Marco Rubio <p> This statement is simple , to the point , and the absolute truth . Senator Rubio nails it here . <p> What the Left in this country does not realize -- is that we need more rich people , not less . It is becoming more and more apparent that our generation must do everything it can to help make the future generations more wealthy . Even at our own expense . <p> It may be sad , it may be tragic . But , our children and grandchildren will need this wealth that we help them create to pay off the bills ... that we handed them . It is only fair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a garden path here . He said nothing about shrinking the size and power of government -- in fact he was very dismissive about it . <p> He may dismiss those government expenses like foreign aid and welfare but that is disingenuous . Foreign aid goes to UN subversion and to enemies of US interests and causes many other problems . Welfare keeps people out of the work force ( more pies ! ) , destroys families and encourages illegal immigration and occupation . <p> A federal government that sucks off 20% of our GDP is still crippling in the long run . This is not smaller government -- it is smarter big government . <p> RosiesSeeingRed <p> You 're right sDee , but for the very simplistic minds on the left , who think all of our problems will be solved by just getting the rich to pay " a little more , " what Rubio is saying can not be said enough . They need to hear this very simple answer to their very simple solution in a way their very simple minds can understand . <p> sDee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guard down . I linked to the negative budget trajectory chart in another post -- it was the elephants who pointed it south -- the donkeys just stepped on the gas . <p> I do not trust them . " The two enemies of the people are criminals and government " -- Thomas Jefferson <p> RosiesSeeingRed <p> I totally agree with you , and we the people are the only ones who can start to change things by electing the right politicians and then holding their feet to the fire . But when 1/3 the population ( probably more ! ) still think raising taxes on the rich is going to make our 16 trillion dollar deficit go away , we 've got a long way to go to turn We The Sheeple into We The People . <p> First things first : help them understand taxing the rich wo n't solve the problem . Once they understand that ( hopefully by example over the next 4 years with a pro-business president ) , they will be more receptive to other changes , some of which might be quite painful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be done , but it ca n't be done all at once , especially when there are so many delusional people walking around thinking that getting a little more from the rich is going to make everything all better . Step by step . That 's how they slowly marched our country toward socialism , and we 're going to have to patiently march ourselves back , one step at a time . <p> mark1955 <p> " This was a great talk " . Unfortunately that is all Rubio is when it comes to Conservatism ... Talk ! The very week Obama granted Excecutive Order Amnesty unconstitutionally , Rubio was working on a Back Door ' Dream Act ' with his liberal dem buddy 's and refused to comment on the particulars of it . How much money would that have cost American tax payer 's granting citizenship and welfare to million 's of illegals ? Yet here Rubio is talking out of the other side of his mouth . Rubio was a liberal Florida state senator and then a liberal state House speaker . Upon reaching the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was to refuse to join the senate Tea Party caucus . He was the republican co-sponsor of the senates internet freedom destroying PIPA legislation ( The counterpart to the House 's SOPA Bill ) . When the Bleep hit the fan last year , upon the public finding out that what was in PIPA , Rubio and almost the entire repub senate delegation , who were fully onboard with the dems on this , pretended like they had n't ever heard of PIPA and feigned outrage . Add that to Rubio 's lying about his parents being refugees and his over two million dollars of personal debt and you have to wonder , just how and the Heck did Rubio ever get the be known as a Conservative , let alone a " Tea Party " favorite ? <p> opinionatedhermit <p> I do n't do purges all that often . And , right or wrong , I actually encourage Marco Rubio and others to say what is in his heart . ( How else are any of us ever going to learn ? ) <p> But , you make a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was n't impressed with his prior statements on immigration policy . <p> Personally , like you , I also think many Republicans miss the point with trying to explain Illegal Immigration . <p> If you really want to throw a nightmare in the mix ( aka : have some fun , ) the next time you get into a debate over this topic , ask the person you are talking to , " Exactly , what is the moral and ethical imperative , of encouraging people to come to this country for freedom and economic success , when in the end , all you want to do .... is put their employer in jail . " <p> There is so much wrong with our immigration policy that we have devolved into forgetting that actually defending the border is the very first thing we should be doing . <p> Again , thanks for your thoughts . I try and glean everything I can from them . <p> But Medicare and SS were never created as entitlements and he should not be calling them that -- they were set up as trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general budget now only because Congress raided the trust funds ! <p> And is n't interesting that he dismissed an actual entitlement ( welfare ) as nothing to worry about . <p> We said we were going to hold these big government Romney Republicans ' feet to the fire -- so we better start listening carefully to the double speak . <p> opinionatedhermit <p> Actually most of world history will show you that insane wars , corruption and outright theft from rulers are the most common form of bankrupting a nation . <p> But , your point is well taken . There are also many , and I mean many examples of those who have figured out they also can make out like bandits from a nations treasury , if they just promise enough bread and games . <p> Heck , there are many in this country who are still waiting for their 40 acres and a mule . I guess all those government promises have n't always worked out as intended . Because , not even that one has yet to be delivered ..... <p> wodiej <p> Well done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> MikeBri527 <p> Rubio claims , " we have a series of very good and very important government programs that are structured in a way that are not sustainable " . So how good can they be if they 're not sustainable ? Is n't any program that is not sustainable a bad program ? <p> Government needs to remove itself from the " social safety net " business . Programs like Medicare , Medicaid , Social Security , etc. should be phased out over time by privatizing them . <p> opinionatedhermit <p> You can not privatize and ultimately create a system of self sustaining medical care when there is no demand . The poor by definition are not " latent " in the analysis . They simply can not enter the market without economic help . <p> If , Senator Rubio is saying what I believe he is saying , it is that there are many ways to skin the same cat . Or , to put in " economic terms " there are some business models that keep the bleeding to a doable level , and some that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will blead us dry . <p> MikeBri527 <p> Why do you say there 's no demand ? There is demand now , correct ? I do n't believe the demand will ever go away . There will always be a demand for medical care . The issue is how much does it cost and how to pay for it . Privatization is ( in my opinion ) the best way to achieve that . However , it does n't mean that charitable entities ca n't enter the health care market place . After all , charitable entities are part of the private sector and therefore ( from my perspective ) count in the privatization of medical care . <p> All the best to you . <p> opinionatedhermit <p> I understand what you are saying . And from a compassionate point of view it makes a lot of sense . And , it is tough to argue against it . <p> Let me just say , I use the term " Demand " here , in it 's strict economic sense . ( Some may even call it " clinical " @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something is separate from the actual " ability " to " demand " it as it is used in Economics . <p> MikeBri527 <p> OK . Got it . Yeah , when you put the words " ability to " in front of demand now I understand where you 're coming from . The only reply I can make is to say that I still believe in the generosity of Americans to be charitable . <p> I think the best example of that that I can give is the story of the elderly woman who was the school bus monitor who was verbally abused by the middle school kids on her bus . After the incident , someone decided to try to raise a little money for her so she could go on a vacation . I think they were looking to raise something like $5,000 . At last count , I think the total about of money raised for her was over $700,000 dollars ! <p> I do n't think that 's an isolated incident . I believe in the American people . I believe , even though we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Judeo-Christian society that will help their fellow man BY CHOICE and when asked to , not by the force of government . <p> I hope I 'm correct . If I am , there 's still a light at the end of the tunnel ( a long tunnel yes , but hopefully just a tunnel that at some point comes to an end ) . Privatization is still the best way to tackle these problems . <p> All the best to you . <p> sDee <p> We have to star separating the concerns however . Phased if necessary but it must happen fast . <p> First we must completely remove the Federal government from any and all regulation of providers and payers . The states can do that just fine according to the wishes of their citizens . This can be done immediately without any ill effects . ( Cost to US tax payers is negative i.e a net gain through significant administrative cost savings ) <p> Second get the federal government complete out of the role of payer . The payer responsibility needs to be completely shifted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then chose to buy private insurance or join pools in the open market as a means to mitigate their risk if they so chose . ( Cost to US tax payers is negative i.e a net gain through massive cost savings ) <p> Third cover the true poor who do not have access to private charity providers , with vouchers , or credits for services -- not insurance . Cover the elderly as described by the Ryan phased proposal . <p> It 's funny . We really do have an economic model to follow that will get us out of this medical debacle we have placed ourselves in . <p> It is called the " Internet Model " <p> As Bill Clinton so famously said many years ago . The best we can do as America to help promote the promise of all that this technology can offer , is for Government to keep it 's hands off and let mankind search out , explore , and let it evolve in the best way possible . That is , use a method of technological growth -- unencumbered by government forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say , " The real definition of Net Neutrality " is for government to keep it 's damn hands off . But , I digress . <p> More to the point : Government can do many things to help . Getting their hands in every aspect of it , is n't one of them . " <p> Get the government out of our healthcare decisions . Let all Americans make their own choices . <p> jdbaird <p> A lot of people have probably said that about the internet , did you have to use Bill Clinton 's version of the quote to make your point ? <p> The Marxists think they will use Government money since all of the American people 's wealth is just a benevolent Government letting us keep their money/property . After we have all been reduced to a dirt poor 3rd World Nation , the PPACA will take " care " of those the Government either ca n't or just does n't want to care for . <p> JeffWRidge <p> Straight talk from a straight shooter . <p> CO2isGood <p> The Democrats are already taxing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to find a way to tax the air we are breathing in , and once they do we can start paying down the debt . Easy-peasy ! <p> http : **28;31838;TOOLONG Libertyship46 <p> Rubio will be president one day . He 's smart and he can take complicated problems and explain them in a simple way . If he gets two terms as Senator under his belt , I think he 'll be able to run for president , and win . The young Republicans out there are very impressive , but the first order of business is to defeat Obama this year . <p> As Rubio speaks the truth about the mess Washington has made of our county , the ' leaders ' of the GOP wanted Charile Christ as the senator . It is sickening to know that until the GOP Elite are stopped there will be no change in America and we will continue the slide toward the destruction of our nation . <p> I am so afraid that Mittens is not the man to do the necessary cutting in Washington to stop the slide , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you do , damned if you do n't ..... <p> http : //twitter.com/RLaratt Rob Laratta <p> I consider myself well informed on most matters . Enough that I can intelligently debate on any position I have . I did however fail to realize that we took in record revenue during the Bush years . I would like to see this as counterpoints , especially in debates , be even in speeches to drive home we do nt have a revenue problem we have a spending and growth problem . <p> http : **44;31868;TOOLONG John D <p> Rubio 's comment is the stupidest thing I ever heard . Nobody is proposing to only increase taxes . Democrats want a combination of tax increases and spending cuts , a balanced approach . <p> Sorry to disagree with folks but Rubio has it wrong . Food stamps is a big part of our national debt problem . That is an ENTITLEMENT program . When people receive food stamps , they are likely not working and not paying taxes . They are also likely drawing off other programs like welfare , general assistance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , child care assistance , education assistance . We the taxpayers pay for ALL of those ENTITLEMENTS ! <p> I also disagree with Rubio that Medicare and SS are entitlement programs . We the taxpayers and business owners had no choice in have monies taken from our earnings to fund those programs for current and future generations . I want my contributions back . Yes medical costs have gone up because technology and treatment is better , but the true driving costs are the d@mn lawyers that look for any opportunity to sue and make themselves richer . Another driving cost are the union employees in the health care field ( make appts , nurses , etc . ) Get the unions out of our health care and implement tort limits and attorneys fees and you will see health care costs decrease . One other thought , SSI is the new unemployment benefit for the long-term unemployed . Unnecessary health care costs are driven up by these individuals that wo n't get a job but choose to find another avenue of income ENTITLEMENT . There are legitimately ill and disabled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the freeloaders . <p> IwjwI <p> My husband paid in over $250K to SS , but only received a few years of that back before his death . What did the government do with the rest of that $250K ? Probably went to " freeloaders . " <p> Orangeone <p> I 'm so sorry for your loss . And yes the rest went to freeloading illegals . <p> TJinNJ <p> Hey Mark Levin -- You still Love this guy ? He 's a wolf in Conservative clothing ... Wakeup big guy ... Good Ole Marco threw Michele Bachmann under the bus over Islamist Huma Abedin and you said Diddlely about it and still to this day promote him . As does your bud Hannity and others . We the people

@@5124741 <h> Review of : The Rivalry <p> I was actually assigned the first draft of The Rivalry , but did n't get to it before it was deleted , so I was happy to get the second draft . It was a good read , and has potential to be a good traditional light hearted RomCom . <p> One of the reasons I was interested was I am a huge Football fan . Unfortunately I mostly watch NFL , but I do keep track of College Football and go to a few Hawaii games now and then . I understand rivalries and the way team allegiance is passed on from generation to generation . <p> Dialogue was clearly the strength of the script , and considering how dialogue driven RomComs are , that is a big plus . About the only thing I could see that needed improving was the tightening of a few lines to strengthen their comedic punch : <p> Examples : P19 " Totally . I wan na have tons of his babies . ( cut ) It ? s a pretty common name , Harris . ( cut ) " <p> P28 Hi . I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan Wolverines . Can you help me find my ass ? ( cut ) I hired a detective , but he hasn ? t gotten back to me. ( cut ) " <p> The characters were okay . I felt they were a little bland and you missed a bunch of opportunities to create some real eccentric characters with Kayla and Jay 's parents ( more on this later ) . I actually began to get a little annoyed with Kayla 's overzealous love for Ohio St. I understand she " bleeds red " ( good joke , BTW ) but she was pushing her religion way too hard . I would have dumped her if I were Jay . <p> Most of my concerns were with the story . The premise is great . I honestly do n't know why someone has n't done this already . I think it reeks of comedic potential because of how passionate some people and families are about their sports teams . <p> Your basic plot is good , and there are some real highlights , particularly Kayla 's mom watching the game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting bland food , and the ultimate football finale . The problems I had were with the story as a whole . After the initial debate on whether Kayla should date a football player from a rival school , there basically is n't a whole lot of conflict other than Kayla 's obsession with Ohio State above all else . Like I mentioned in the character section , this made her character a little too unbelievable for me . I 've seen some obsessed fans , but never to the point to where Kayla was . The surprising thing is this would have worked perfectly for both Kayla 's parents and Jay 's parents . You could really go for a Romeo and Juliet-esq type story if you wanted to go in that direction . <p> I guess it all boils down to the relative lack of conflict and consequences to their " forbidden relationship " . The majority of the second act consisted of conflict that was self-inflicted by Kayla 's Ohio State obsession . The rest of the conflict happened behind the scenes , Like when jay tells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her , I wanted to see that happen instead of hearing about it . You finally got others involved closer to the end of the script . I enjoyed the cheerleaders taking a stand to Lisa and defending Kayla , which was a really cool moment . I also enjoyed the big game , but ( you knew there was a " but " coming , lol ) I think Kayla needs something to truly test her loyalty to Jay . I don ; t know exactly what , and I truly do love the sudden cheering for the other team moment . I just think there was a smidge bit more you could do to build up the tension of that critical moment . <p> Finally , to end this on a positive note , I really enjoyed your writing style . very smooth , and easy to read . I hope to read more of your scripts in the future . <p> A few notes : P56 " Ohio State sucks " . Funny ! <p> P85 " Stop eating all my Ramen ? " . Funny ! @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visiting team 's band does n't do a halftime show on the opponents field . I 've seen visiting cheerleaders , but think about it . Why would the home team want to showcase the opponent 's school ? <h> Other Reviews by iceeis 383 <p> I read an earlier version of this script a few months ago . It is certainly much improved from that draft . A lot of the situations seem a bit more natural , and you ? re doing a better job of explaining why Aaron continues to cross-dress . That said , I still have a few concerns , many of which I mentioned in my previous review . The premise is good for a romantic comedy . Sure , there ... I read an earlier version of this script a few months ago . It is certainly much improved from that draft . A lot of the situations seem a bit more natural , and you ? re doing a better job of explaining why Aaron continues to cross-dress . That said , I still have a few concerns , many of which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is good for a romantic comedy . Sure , there has been cross dressing movies before , but this one tries to use the premise as a positive goal of understanding women , not to fool others . <p> Dialogue was good as well . There are still a few long winded speeches , but it ? s been toned down from the previous version . <p> The story tended to , er , drag , in the middle . I found the numerous scenes in the ladies clothing store kind of boring . I ? d like to see more creative/visual ways for Aaron/Erin to discover things about women instead of spending the whole time chatting with them . Things like Candy hooking up with Shane . You showed Shane being a jerk and Candy falling for him . I think the other reason was 120 pages is too long for a comedy . <p> I did enjoy the ending more . I don ? t think the final Aaron/Megan confrontation is as powerful/explosive as it needs to be , but I was satisfied with Aaron hitting it off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns I had were the same as the last version : <p> We need to see Aaron more as himself in the beginning and ease into ? Erin ? . Then as the story progresses , we see more of Erin and less of Aaron . You need to do this because it sets up the differences between the two , and thus comedy ensues . In my opinion , Aaron spends way too much time as Erin , and honestly doesn ? t seem to act any different while disguised as her . <p> I still don ? t see a compelling reason for Aaron to cross dress in the first place . He already seemed kind of effeminate to begin with , and already had the ? best friend ? symptom . He already was a confidant with girls , it didn ? t seem like he needed to disguise himself to hear the same confessions . Basically , he was the same guy , just with a wig . Most of the information he obtained was stuff he could have easily observed on his own . <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was basically Aaron . It made no sense for Aaron to be trying to raise Cole ? s confidence and try to reward him for being nice to women when Aaron himself hadn ? t cracked the code yet . Basically it was the blind leading the blind ? If you insist on keeping him , find a better way for Aaron to help him out . <p> It seemed like everyone that found out about Aaron/Erin seemed to take it rather well . I can ? t believe Shane didn ? t freak out , let alone allow his friend to continue his date with Erin . <p> Finally , as before , I had a tough time figuring out if Aaron was being/speaking as Erin . I still suggest you use the slug ? AARON ? when he is a man and ? ERIN ? while as a woman . <p> All in all , you are moving the right direction . I see significant improvement in this script , so the hard work is beginning to pay off . read <p> Wow , I really don ? @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is fascinated by this script , the other half is utterly confused . I loved the setting . It reminded me of the city of Rapture from the Bioshock games . A unique society slowly driven mad by the same thing that makes them unique . More importantly , the concept of the purple gas and the people choosing to live there made ... Wow , I really don ? t know how to review this . Part of me is fascinated by this script , the other half is utterly confused . <p> I loved the setting . It reminded me of the city of Rapture from the Bioshock games . A unique society slowly driven mad by the same thing that makes them unique . More importantly , the concept of the purple gas and the people choosing to live there made some of the craziness of the story less , er , crazy . <p> You are a good writer and extremely imaginative . I felt you had full control through this house of mirrors , which was good thing . Dialogue was well done . Made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> I loved the various scenarios about the theory of who placed the gas in the first place , each ending with ? Fire ? . <p> One thing that must be done : Formatting . I was very confused as this script seemed to move effortlessly back in forth between reality , flashbacks , and ( maybe ) fantasy . I was unsure when Rodger and Will were seemingly dead , yet still talking , if they were really still alive , or were figments of Jules ( or someone else ? s ) imagination . Later it ? s revealed that Rodger isn ? t dead ( I think ) , but then I wonder how he could have sustained all that damage , and yet not be dead . <p> Again , the way Orange Island was presented made the story more believable . I slowly settled into the way everything worked in the story . One thing I didn ? t understand was if it was so easy to kill someone by souplining them , why even go through the elaborate scheme to set up the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just toss Rodger outside ? Or better yet , gas him in his own home to make the yellow gas seem ineffective , thus accomplishing their goal ? <p> The ending , while funny and unexpected pushed this script ( which already walked a fine line of the absurd ) over the edge . I would have bought the rabbit conspiracy , but the double conspiracy with Casabianca ( and his masks ) and final confrontation between a suddenly alive Rodger and Jules would have been well past the point when the General in Monty Python would have ended the movie for being ? too silly ? . Maybe if you moved Updike ? s reveal until after Rodger is dead ( again ) . I just feel you had control of the madness that was your script until the end where it quit being clever , and just became weird . <p> Anyway , critiquing this and offering story suggestions is like trying to make a Picasso look like a Norma Rockwell . It ? s not what you intended and it would ruin the insanely fascinating script I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and someone may take a chance on this . read <p> I have to be honest . Aimless left me very confused . Maybe it was just me , maybe it would play better on screen , but I understood very little of what was going on . Actually , I understood a lot of what was going on , but I didn ? t understand why . The characters for the most part were good . Melvin at times was very creepy , and I could feel Elaine ? s desire to help him out . The ... I have to be honest . Aimless left me very confused . Maybe it was just me , maybe it would play better on screen , but I understood very little of what was going on . Actually , I understood a lot of what was going on , but I didn ? t understand why . <p> The characters for the most part were good . Melvin at times was very creepy , and I could feel Elaine ? s desire to help him out . The dialogue was good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the story at times , and Chad ? s was on-the-nose more often than not . <p> I liked the earmuffs as a tool to keep the voices out . <p> Concerns : <p> I had a very tough time following this script . It was very confusing to me , and even more so when I tried to make sense of it for this review . <p> A lot of things happen in the script that I had to question if they needed to happen , or why they were necessary . Basically it reads like it is much more complicated than it needs to be , and not all of them pay off sufficiently . <p> I didn ? t see why Elaine and Melvin were related . Other than provide a way for Elaine to find her father , it adds nothing . There was no pay off to this connection . Elaine was already deeply involved in Melvin ? s life as his psychiatrist , this was an unnecessary complication . Elaine could have easily found her father through other means . <p> I didn ? @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incoherent he peed himself , yet could switch it off whenever he wanted to talk to Elaine . If Elaine was Melvin ? s Psychiatrist , why did his mother take him to another one for the pills , then go back to Elaine ? I don ? t think another psychiatrist would treat someone else ? s patient . <p> Melinda needs to be introduced earlier . <p> Chad could probably be cut . He ? s frustratingly unsympathetic to Elaine and I didn ? t want him to come back . <p> The ending didn ? t make sense based on the direction of the rest of the story . The cult was hinted at , but I didn ? t make the connection between Elaine and Melvin ? s therapy and the discovery of the cult . What I gathered from their conversations , Melvin basically saw that evil has a physical form , yet most of us ignore it out of ignorance . I dig that , but the cult appearing close to the end of the story trying to expose the demons to the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost nothing to do with the first 90 pages of the script . <p> I didn ? t understand what Phil had to do with Elaine regarding the ending . The only reason they confronted each other is she figured out he was the one who blew up the stage , and she was only there out of coincidence . Unless I missed something and Phil wanted her there for some reason ( why I don ? t know ) . I ? m also not sure if Phil was trying to keep Elaine away from Melvin . If he was , I didn ? t understand why . So what if she knows that demons are ? real ? ? A lot of people already think they are real , and society still hums along . <p> Despite all this , this still is n't a bad script by any means . You are a good writer . I think this is a perfect example of what Triggerstreet has to offer us all . Things that may make perfect sense to the writer might not make sense to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and get

@@5124841 <h> Hawk Released Back Into The Wild <p> A Red-tailed Hawk was released back into the wild in Clarke County . The hawk was found in October laying in a parking lot with a broken wing . The bird was extremely skinny and needed to gain a lot year , The Blue Ridge Wild Life Center has rescued nearly 18 hundred animals and about half of those are birds . <p> " It 's such a joy of celebration . I cry every time . I 've witnessed many of these releases and it 's just a real beautiful , triumphant celebration of what The Blue Ridge Wild Life Center does and what these animals can do ,

@@5124941 <h> Pages ' n ' Links <h> 2012-08-26 <h> Remember That We Are Insane <p> There 's a little parable that has stayed with me ever since I was 17 and first read it on the sleeve of a comedy album by George Carlin -- his 1972 " Class Clown " album : <p> " In ancient times there was a country whose harvest came in , and it was poisoned . Those who ate of it became insane . ' There is but one thing to do , ' said the King . ' We must eat the grain to survive , but there must be those among us who will remember that we are insane . ' " <p> A wonderful parable for a comedian , is n't it ? Carlin 's life was dedicated to remembering that we are insane . <p> In the same way that we have to eat , we have to think . We ca n't avoid it -- and it would n't be a good idea if we could . But can we remember , as we think , that we 're getting it wrong with every thought ? <p> British-American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a purpose . If we 're getting something wrong with every thought , it might be helpful to just talk without a purpose that we 'd only be mucking up . Dialog may end up accomplishing a lot of things , but we ca n't start out with an idea of : " Here 's our problem , and how are we going to fix it . " If we do this , we 're locked into thoughts about what the problem is , and what a solution would look like -- thoughts that are always awry . <p> In dialog , we bring our thoughts , but try not to be locked into any of them . Everything is up for grabs in the free flow of ideas . A dialog group is not like a problem-solving group , a strategy group , a planning group . It 's more like people sitting on the back porch sipping lemonade and gabbing about nothing in particular . In that context , anything can come up , and a thought at any level can be called into question without making people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whatever is being offered is the point . <p> " As soon as we try to accomplish a useful purpose or goal , we will have an assumption behind it as to what is useful , and that assumption is going to limit us . . . . In the dialogue group we are not going to decide what to do about anything . This is crucial . Otherwise we are not free . " <p> It 's rather like watching the Olympics . Did you watch any of the recent London Olympics ? The athletes certainly have a very clear purpose , but those of us watching , we do n't do so to solve any particular problem we have . We just want to see something new about human possibility . The gymnastics , the synchronized swimming -- the speed of the runners and the muscle of the weight-lifters -- it 's just amazing . We want to see amazing possibilities . <p> I was watching a little bit of Olympics this week with LoraKim , and I said , " Did I tell you my idea for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , " You did . You first told me in the summer of 2000 , the summer after we had just gotten married , and then you told me again in 2004 , and again in 2008 . Every time the Olympics come on , you tell me . " <p> My idea for an Olympic event is : The Team Pentathlon : a Pentathlon of team sports . The same five people have to play together as a team in five very different team sports . They have to play basketball , and five-on-five versions of volleyball , water polo , team handball , and beach soccer . The same five people have to work together in all those sports . I love imagining what that would do to a group of people -- the kind of connections and sense of each other they would have to develop in order to function effectively in five such different sports . Obviously , the players would be very focused on a purpose -- winning -- but what appeals to me is the thought that something without purpose would emerge : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a flow of connection and oneness transcended their individuality as they merged into one thing . They would develop , I imagine , a oneness so palpable that even the British announcers would be compelled to say , " the team is " instead of " the team are . " <p> Ah , but five is much too few for David Bohm 's notion of a dialogue group . If you are remembering your experiences of gabbing aimlessly on back porches , perhaps you are thinking that those might have been relaxing and pleasant times but they did n't exactly

@@5125041 <h> Construct 2 - do we need to learn html5 canvas functions at all ? : ) <p> Yesterday I accidentally found game creator for html5. https : //www.scirra.com/ I follower beggingers tutorial and in more than 2 hours I created a game where player walks in the terrain , and zombies are attacking him . Player shooot them , then those zombies explode . I can not imagine how much time it would have took to write this by hand . <p> ANd this creator has various events and so on , for example - on colition event . When you code it youself , you have to deal with coordinates and stuff . But here you do n't need that . Its like framework . But just you do n't program , but put with the mouse your objects , set properties , events . Something like in Delphi or Visual basic you place buttons . Its cool , so do we need to learn this html5 at all then if we can make animations with such tools ? : ) <p> Authored by cjay175 in the JavaScript / DHTML / AJAX forum , this related discussion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solved and added to our huge knowledgebase of solved Q &As.; It begins , " Hi , Just looking for a quick hand in a question . I am using jquery validator ... " <p> I prefer knowing what 's going on in the background . Although well tested , not all frameworks are bug free , so it would be very convenient if you know how to fix it ( compared to

@@5125141 <h> Scripting to automate your mindless Android games <p> There 's a silly little Android game making some noise on the Interwebs . It 's called Curiosity which is a 3D cube with something inside . The thing is , every single pixel on the cube must be clicked in order to get through a layer . There are of course multiple layers , and ... well , you get the point . Stephen figures this is a perfect thing for a bit of scripting and set out to find a way to automatically play the Android game . <p> As you can see above he 's got a pretty good start . To use the script in its current form he finds a part of the cube that is mostly solid green . The Android device is plugged into a computer using the USB cable , and the Android Debug Bridge runs the script . It 's amazingly simple , as it uses the monkeyrunner package which comes with the SDK . The proof is there , and it 's just a matter of whether or not he wants to spend his time to fully automate the playing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the script embedded after the break . <p> That was like my adventures with sudoku . I 've discovered the game , thought it was nice , played about two games , wrote sudoku solver in php , abandoned sudoku . If there is simple algorithm to solve some game , where is the challenge ? <p> So you do n't play anything but maybe roleplaying games ? After all you can easily automate pretty much every game . The challenge ( of course not with this one , this one is just stupid ) is to do it in your head . <p> I agree , good games are tough . I 'd like some good strategy games , like Go or something . <p> I LOVE games like Call of Duty . But really , pay it once and that 's about it . I just do n't play them over and over . <p> Kinda like Doom or something . You get through it , OK , now what ? Sure , you could play over and over trying to beat your own score and find absolutely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . But I 'd rather do other stuff . <p> Two days ago I did something similar . Wrote a small script in nodejs that reads bitmaps and " draws " them into Curiosity . Because I was using adb-events it was not nearly that fast as in the video but it worked out pretty well : ) <p> Well I drew a couple of images with it and I guess nobody noticed But after taking a look at this MonkeyRunner-Scripts I will re-write my code to get a much better performance and draw larger images . Becuase handling this stuff with adb 's sendevent-command is really painfull <p> Back in the late 1980s I wrote some SALT scripts for Telix that could play a number of BBS games . I set it up to autodial all the local BBSs , max out the number of turns and then hang up . I managed to get the #1 ranking on the lesser-used boards in a few weeks , and just about all of them after a few months . <p> The game is n't amazing but there are some fun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much more gold than others and then there are ways to increase your harvesting by clearing the screen or getting multiplier bonuses . I think we 're also going to learn a lot more as the game progresses . <p> There are also tools and things that you can buy to do more damage at a time . <p> This type of thing can be a ton of fun with facebook games . I had a " word twist " bot that would destroy people in no time flat . I figure if I suck at the game , then use something I do n't suck at to my advantage . <p> Yes for a long time you used to be able to bet actual money on Yahoo Games , so I used AIM ( a macro software ) that would identify Scrabble words by matching the pixel colors on the screen in a very basic form of text recognition . Then it would use a GET call

@@5125241 <p> One of the headlines this week from the IEA Report suggests that the United States will be the top global oil producer in five years . Yet back in DeSoto Parish in Louisiana , where the Haynesville Shale discovery in 2008 started the bonanza , revenues are now falling and school board budgets are strapped as the end of the glory days are beginning to appear . <p> Just this week Aubrey McClendon said that Chesapeake 's prospects for oil in Ohio , where Chesapeake had high hopes for the Utica Shale , are now dim . It is easy to look at one of the large maps showing all the shale deposits in the United States that the Oil and Gas Journal include in their print editions , and to be carried away ( as the IEA apparently are ) with the vast acreage that is shaded on the map . Unfortunately , as we can see , reality tells another story . The size of the resources have been measured in the past , and with the best plays being given preference , the recognition of decline rates and unprofitable wells have not yet been given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ draw . <p> It seems unrealistic to anticipate the levels now being projected for future North American production of oil . Nevertheless , these projections do tend to crowd conflicting stories on the subject out of the spotlight . Further , if the predictions for American production gains , even in the short term , turn out to be optimistic , then the impacts may be even more exaggerated than is currently appreciated . Consider that OPEC now expects that North America will continue to provide the greatest y-o-y increase in supply over other nations , and there are in fact , few other nations that will contribute much more in the next year . <p> Figure 2 . Non-OPEC supply growth expressed as a year on year change . ( OPEC November MOMR ) <p> The MOMR notes that UK oil production has fallen below 1 mbd for the first time since 1977 , while Norway 's production has fallen to levels not seen since 1990 . These numbers are part of an overall revision of non-OPEC production for 2013 , which OPEC now sees as coming in , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ production continues to decline by around 47 kbd from September to October . Yet other sources are now reporting that both China and South Korea may have been helping Iran increase oil exports . As a result , production may have increased 70 kbd instead of declining , though the overall volume remains at around 2.7 mbd , of which exports rose from 1 mbd to 1.43 mbd . <p> When the " as reported directly " table is compared , Iran is shown to be still producing at around 3.7 mbd . <p> Figure 5 . OPEC production based on direct communication with the producing country ( OPEC November MOMR ) . <p> Within Iran , the government has partially reduced the subsidies that it was providing for gasoline , which initially reduced demand by about 50 tb/d , and flattened internal demand . But as we enter the colder months , OPEC is estimating that demand will again start to rise . <p> Concurrently , Turkmenistan has stopped exporting natural gas to Iran . Normally Iran would increase imports over the winter months to around 1 billion cu.ft/day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ geographic reasons , and Iran has , in the past , exported about 80% of the equivalent volume to Turkey . Iran has apparently suggested that Turkmenistan increase the delivery to 1.4 bcf/d , but since Turkmenistan can now get a good price for its gas from China , there is more of a debate this year over price , without agreement at the moment . Iran also swaps around 35 mcf/d of natural gas with Armenia in return for electric power . <p> As a way to try and work around the current sanctions , Iran has been changing to a scenario where it can move more of its oil using its own tankers . The country had been storing millions of barrels in part of this fleet , but that volume is being sold so that the vessels can , instead , haul oil . And there is the possibility that the insurance on these vessels has been " fiddled " to get around the burden imposed by sanctions . <p> Although the government maintains that the official inflation rate is 25 percent . . . with some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . In addition , unemployment has soared , with estimates stating that between 500,000 and 800,000 Iranians have lost their jobs . . . " Business is drying up , industry is collapsing . There 's zero investment , " said an Iranian businessman in September . . . the government has attempted to shield the lower classes by offering them cash handouts and subsidizing certain imported staple goods , making them relatively affordable for poorer segments of the population . But even these efforts have had a limited effect , as the price of goods such as Barbari bread went from 1,000 rials to 5,000 rials last week . <p> There are even suggestions that the economy could " essentially explode " by next spring . On the other hand there are ways of getting around sanctions , and these may allow the crisis to continue to simmer for some time . <p> All this would suggest that exports of Iranian oil will not be easily available for some time , although with a new regime in China their commitment to maintaining current levels of trade is now unclear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kbd in Quanzhou that is scheduled to start next June , and one for 300 kbd that is to be located in Zhanjiang , with oil for the latter anticipated to come from Kuwait . Nevertheless , it may be that China , which is currently taking about half the Iranian exports might find it possible to accommodate more . <p> " Yes , this coal and gas and oil is still technically in the soil . But it 's already economically aboveground -- it 's figured into share prices , companies are borrowing money against it , nations are basing their budgets on the presumed returns from their patrimony . It explains why the big fossil-fuel companies have fought so hard to prevent the regulation of carbon dioxide -- those reserves are their primary asset , the holding that gives their companies their value . " <p> Saying over and over again that there is this huge reserve available ... makes it " real " ... real enough to move money around and raise the value of wasteland ... real enough to set-up the marks . <p> K - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been making a good living for over 100 years . I still conteend the most profitable player in the Eagle Ford was Petrohawk that sold their undrilled acreage for $12 billion and walked a way with a big smile on their faces . If you have n't seen me offer the promoters creed : Roll into town with the first wagon load of whores and roll out before the first wagon load of production equipment arrives . <p> That map from the OIl &; Gas Journal is quite deceiving . Several wells have been drilled in Michigan where the map shows dark shaded area for good hydrocarbon potential . As I recall these half dozen wells in MI did not produce any economically recoverable gas or oil . Same in Ohio , but for oil not one producing well , although some have produced measurable amounts of gas , but maybe not economical at todays prices . <p> mb - True : there has n't been a shale formation in every basin in the US that has n't been tested if but to a minor degree . No one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these shale and may never . But all the shale players are looking at every shale again . One of the latest reinventions was the Marine Tuscaloosa Shale north of Nawlins . Have heard that after some initial excite its turn out to be a disappointment . I 've heard similar rumors about the Utica in Ohio but not much hard data . <p> The shales will live on IMHO despite some disappointments . The pubcos have no choice due to the lack of conventional prospects . They either chase the shales or liquidate and disappear . Hey have no other option IMHO . <p> mb - True : there has n't been a shale formation in every basin in the US that has n't been tested if but to a minor degree . No one on TOD has every heard the name of many of these shale and may never . But all the shale players are looking at every shale again . One of the latest reinventions was the Marine Tuscaloosa Shale north of Nawlins . Have heard that after some initial excite its turn out to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Utica in Ohio but not much hard data . <p> The shales will live on IMHO despite some disappointments . The pubcos have no choice due to the lack of conventional prospects . They either chase the shales or liquidate and disappear . Hey have no other option IMHO . <p> Look at the O &GJ; map of the undeveloped shale basins , covering all of Manitoba , Saskatchewan and Alberta to the edge of the map . **44;4406;TOOLONG I have a nice bridge in Brooklyn for sale , only one owner , very well maintained ... <p> I think your geography of Canada is a little off . The shale basin map shown in the article covers a little part of the SW part of Manitoba , a small part of southern Saskatchewan and a little bit of SE Alberta . <p> There has to be large shale basins in these provinces because they contain conventional oil deposits and the source rock for these deposits are marine shales . No shale basins to act as kitchens for the oil and there will be no conventional deposits . So if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basin somewhere . Whether than shale is going to be hydrocarbon productive today is an open question . <p> The grey colored region is the huge Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin , which is underlaid by shale , the darker blue region extending north from North Dakota and Montana into southern Saskatchewn , southwestern Manitoba , and southeastern Alberta is the Canadian portion of the Bakken formation . <p> The Bakken does extend into Canada , but does n't get as much play in the press as the US portion - the Canadian oil sands are much , much bigger than the Bakken . The blue areas in NE BC are similar shaley formations which are starting to be developed now . There are other potentially productive shaley formations in Alberta , but they are only recently starting to be analyzed . <p> My good heavens . You are confusing North American production with USA production . The graphical information posted shows NA production growing by 0.45 BOPD . This is pretty realistic . You seem to thinking that this is solely the result of shale oil . Not true , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest exporter of energy to the USA and is projected to be producing over 6 million BOPD in the next decade or so from the present 3.1 million BOPD . The emerging Canol Shale play in the NWT of Canada is potentially an elephant of world proportions . The supermajors have agreed to committed to spend $620 million in return for being granted the petroleum rights by the Canadian Federal Government . <p> There also seem to be a focus on the lower 48 shale oil reserves . I do n't know how the Alaskan play will work out , but it is the source for the Prudhoe field and if it works out as Great Bear Petroleum is projecting it will make a material difference to the USA production . It will easily fulfilling the IEA project that the USA will ramp up its oil production . Now I am pretty skeptical of the Great Bears hype , but you have not even considered the possibility . <p> I think the IEA bottom line on NA is that if NA can import less liquid fuels then perhaps it will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the USA will not have to keep a fleet in the Persian Gulf and perhaps some other country can worry about the security of oil routes . Then the USA can keep its blood and treasure at home . I think this would be a good thing for Canadians and Americans . Let 's hope that at least some of the hype and greed of the oil companies can serve a noble purpose . <p> In short , NA is NOT the just the lower 48 . Things like the Utica are small potatoes . Do n't conflate the lower 48 and NA as it leads to considerable confusion . <p> Now I am pretty skeptical of the Great Bears hype , but you have not even considered the possibility <p> They certainly toned down after the initial presentation . That one was intended to get attention and it did . I happened into a presentation by Great Bear 's CEO in September . The assembled were privy to the first public display of a photo--taken the night before--of a Shublik formation core break--shiny , black and highly fossiliferous . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two exploratory wells had turned up--it met modeled expectations--but full analysis had not yet begun . <p> All said , a lot of the projected US production numbers I see put Alaska 's contribution moving to 2mbd in the next few/several years . Great Bear 's ' full development ' scenario ( which assumes the numbers pan ) has them drilling up to 192 wells a year from 24 pads ( for a bit of comparison in the neighborhood of 1200 production wells have been drilled in the Prudhoe neighborhood since 1977 ) ... one long skinny road to facilitate this ... Great Bear has already grabbed the most promising leases with best access to that one road in and the one pipe out ( TAPS ) . <p> Right now North Slope production is in steady decline ( TAPS delivery averaged 540kbd this year through October ) . Even if Great Bear were able to get to the full development phase by 2015 ( that requires a whole lot of things to go right ) their projected oil production wo n't climb to 200kbd until about 2020 . About @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest of that 2mbd to come from . <p> Shell finally sunk some bits below the Beaufort and Chukchi this summer but due to issues with the containment barge they pulled out of all holes before reaching the hydrocarbon depth . And even though this year had the smallest arctic ice pack recorded since satellite recording began in 1979 , a persistent ' island ' --with an area of a mid sized US state--made up of about 30% ice concentration hung around neighborhood for a long time and shooed Shell off some sites for a while . <p> What I 'm saying is nothing out there indicates AK can ramp up production all that fast in the next few/several years even if all does go well . <p> If Desoto was funded by Haynesville gas , the current revenue downturn is likely due to the drop in prices from the gas glut as any depletion . <p> I do n't know the Haynesville well , but I hear those rigs have shifted from gas there to oil prospects in other areas , including the nearby Cotton Valley . <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include " at what price ? " . For sure there is a lot more gas available if prices go to $12 . For now , the game is oil , hence slowing in the Marcellus , Haynesville , and others . Utica has ribbons of oil , as does the Eagle Ford . Limestone plays seem to as well . <p> Personally , I suspect the truth will be in the middle ; considerably more reserves than some here would expect , considerable less than the IEA states ( and therefore at a much higher price as well ) . <p> Chart shows the split between crude oil and condensates ( green columns ) for the years 2002 and as of 2011 based upon data from EIA and National Board of Energy ( NEB ) in Canada . So far there was a high in conventional C + C in 2005 . <p> Chart illustrates that growth in world ( C + C definitely do not give them any personal information or send them money . Read more here . <p> " Considering the many productive uses of petroleum @ @ @

@@5125341 <h> Florent May Get Back Into the Restaurant Game <p> We bumped into the one and only Florent Morellet at last night 's Community Board 4 meeting ( he was there to show support for the proposed Eighth Avenue bike lane ) . He told us he 's enrolled in memoir-writing classes , and joked that it 's not as easy as writing " Once upon a time I opened a restaurant . " And then there 's this : He 's speaking with a consultant about a possible new venture in the restaurant industry . No clear-cut details are set and no major decisions have been made , but he told us he 's been toying with the idea of a

@@5125441 <h> Skyrim ' Hearthfire ' DLC Now Available on Steam <p> Since the game 's launch late last year on the prolific 11.11.11 date , Bethesda has officially launched two DLC packs for Skyrim in the form of ' Dawnguard ' and ' Hearthfire . ' Both expansion packs arrived on the Xbox 360 first due to an exclusivity deal with Microsoft , but ' Dawnguard ' finally arrived for keyboard and mouse fans everywhere in August , and as of today , ' Hearthfire ' has done the same . <p> I do n't want you to freak out or anything , but you can fetch it right now on Steam for $4.99 . <p> The biggest draw for ' Hearthfire ' is not new missions , vampires or ice dragons , but home building , adoption , and time with family . You have the ability to design and build your own home wherever a plot of land is available , adopt kids from the local town , and raise a family how you see fit . <p> Praise the Skyrim gods -- you can now play tag as much as you freaking

@@5125541 <p> " My two uncles will be rolling over in their grave , " said Dickinson , 85 , who has cast ballots since age 21 and the late 1940s . <p> A Jamul resident , Dickinson said he has been staying with his seriously ill wife at the Marengo Avenue assisted living center near Kaiser Permanente in La Mesa . <p> He says he admired former Gov . Romney for his work in making his former state a business success . And he also cited Romney 's father , George , for achievements as head of American Motors before becoming governor of Michigan . <p> " Look what he 's done for Massachusetts , " Dickinson said of the GOP candidate after dropping off his absentee ballot and chatting with poll workers for 10 minutes . <p> He recalled the late Richard Daley , the mayor of Chicago , and joked about his encouraging supporters to " vote early and often . " <p> Dickinson also praised President Franklin Roosevelt , and even his wife , Eleanor , who he said suggested elements of the New Deal that helped bring the country out of Depression . <p> But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> The octogenarian , whose uses a walker , accused Obama of messing the country up by helping Goldman Sachs and aiding the rich and not those suffering in the economy . <p> Dickinson said he grew up near Kansas City , MO , but has lived in San Diego County since getting out of the Air Force in 1954 . <p> Oh , Kevin , my constant nemesis , Walter and wife get Medicare , which will never be the same for our generation if Romney wins . Walter likes what Romney did with Mass. but he does n't mention the state health plan that Romney was forced to endorse late in the game to save his butt -- and that made insurance so much more affordable ... you know , the same thing O is trying to do . <p> Walter and his wife have got THEIRS -- that is , affordable health care that wo n't leave them bankrupt -- so they can well afford to vote to screw the rest of us ... you know , their children and grandchildren . <p> It always bugs me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- the " Greatest Generation " -- when our own generation ( Baby Boomers like the two of us ) would have answered the call in even greater and fiercer numbers if we had been under threat of being taken over by a mass murderer dictator like Hitler instead of being forced to die in some tiny obscure nation like Vietnam that never threatened the American way at all ! <p> Kevin , I guess your " ignore " button failed ya this time . Looks like O is winning ! If he does n't , I wo n't post here again till after Christmas . I can understand why you and Walter might be upset in that the two of you do n't get to decide who is president anymore . I 'll see you here tomorrow ... or after Christmas . <p> Batman -- Affordable health insurance . I ca n't get it because I had a cardiac arrest in 2005 . This happened because of a rare but deadly interaction of two prescription drugs . My heart is healthy but that does n't matter to insurance companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record . " What people do n't understand is that having to go to the E.R. , like I did recently , for an issue not cardiac related at all , is not without consequences . Sharp Grossmont came out swinging , threatening my credit rating . So , you see , American citizens are suffering this kind of fate , too ... not just illegals . Thanks for asking . <p> Interesting . What were the two drugs that reacted with each other ? Why did n't your pharmacist catch this before he dispensed the drugs to you ? How much was your civil settlement against the pharmacist ? Is this incompetent pharmacist still in business ? <p> It was mainly due to a blood pressure drug and what happened to me was listed on the package insert as a very rare side effect . I did not sue anybody because

@@5125641 <h> Changing the number of items in the Announcement List web part ... <p> A user wanted to change the number of items showing up in the Announcement List web part on their home page . They 're using the built-in Summary View , which does n't show up in the list of views for the Announcement List . So here 's how you do it ... <p> Site Actions &gt; Edit Page <p> Announcement Web Part -- Edit Web Part <p> In the Announcement List View properties , click the Edit The Current View link under the &lt;Current View&gt; selection . <p> Scroll down to the Item Limit section , expand it

@@5125741 select Email/Password Information . ( To learn about the change , please read our FAQ . ) <h> Moby-Duck <h> Or , the synthetic wilderness of childhood <p> W e know exactly where the spill occurred : 44.7N , 178.1E . We know the day , January 10 , 1992 , but not the hour . Neither do we know the name of the ship nor of its captain nor of the shipping magnate who owned it . We do know the harbors from which it sailed ( Hong Kong ) and to which it was headed ( Tacoma ) . We know that despite its grandeur , when rocked by forty-foot waves , the colossal vessel , a floating warehouse weighing 50,000 deadweight tons or more and powered by a diesel engine the size of a barn , would have rolled and pitched and yawed about like a toy in a Jacuzzi . <p> We know that twelve of the colorful containers stacked above deck snapped loose from their moorings and tumbled overboard . We can safely assume that the subsequent splash was terrific , like the splash a train would make were you to drive it off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forty feet long and eight feet wide and may have weighed as much as 58,000 pounds , depending on the cargo , and that at least one of them -- perhaps when it careened into another container , perhaps when it struck the ship 's stays , perhaps as it descended to high-pressure depths -- burst open . We know that when it left port , this ill-fated container had contained 7,200 little packages ; that , as the water gushed in and the steel box sank , all or most of these packages came floating to the surface ; that every package comprised a plastic shell and a cardboard back ; that every shell housed four hollow plastic animals -- a red beaver , a blue turtle , a green frog , and a yellow duck -- each about three inches long ; and that printed on the cardboard in multicolored lettering were the following words : floatees. the first years . from 6 months . expert developed ? parent preferred . 100% dishwasher safe . <p> From a low-flying plane on a clear day , the packages would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ squares , exploding in slow motion across the waves . Within twenty-four hours , the water would have dissolved the glue . The action of the waves would have separated the plastic from the cardboard . There , in the middle of the North Pacific , in seas almost four miles deep , more than six hundred miles south of Attu Island , the western extreme of the United States , more than a thousand miles east of Hokkaido , the northern extreme of Japan , and more than two thousand miles west of Sitka , Alaska , 28,800 plastic animals produced in Chinese factories for the bathtubs of America -- 7,200 red beavers , 7,200 green frogs , 7,200 blue turtles , and 7,200 yellow

@@5125841 <p> Specifically , some of the charges in the Senate Finance Committee staff report are : <p> Advertisement <p> Medtronic was heavily involved in drafting , editing and shaping the content of medical journal articles authored by its physician consultants who received significant amounts of moneythrough royalties and consulting fees from Medtronic . The company 's significant role in authoring or substantively editingthese articles was not disclosed in the published articles . Medical journals should ensure industry role contributions be fullydisclosed . <p> An email exchange shows that a Medtronic employee recommended against publishing a complete list of adverse events possibly associated with InFuse in a 2005 Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery article . <p> Medtronic officials inserted language into studies that promoted InFuse as a better technique than taking a bone graft from the pelvic bone ( autograft technique ) by emphasizing the pain of the autograft technique . <p> Medtronic issued a statement immediately : <p> Medtronic does not agree with many of the findings in the staff report . In particular , Medtronic vigorously disagrees with any suggestion that the company improperly influenced or authored any of the peer-reviewed published manuscripts discussed in the report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> Now the obvious question is will the Yale independent review , provided that it says InFuse is safe and thus vindicate Medtronic , redeem InFuse ? ( The results of the review are imminent ) <p> In February , an analyst said that in her discussions with spine surgeons across the country , she got the sense that many were on to other products and some were using it mainly on older patients whose risk of developing cancer is not as high as in younger patients . <p> If the Yale review on InFuse is negative , on the other hand , Medtronic may be under pressure to sell the Spine division , in

@@5125941 <h> Wednesday , October 3 , 2012 <h> Wisdom of the House of Night Oracle Cards <p> I received a copy of the Wisdom of the House of Night Oracle Cards for review last week . They were created by P.C. Cast , one of the authors of the House of Night series , and Colette Baron-Reid , an author of several books about Tarot and oracle cards . There are 50 cards included , and a guide book . <p> My first reaction was WOW ! These are some gorgeous oracle cards . They have silver edging , and the illustration blew me away . One of the subtle things they did that I love was that the House of Night symbol was present somewhere on every card . <p> The guidebook is 127 pages long . It contains a short story about the Oracle of Nyx , the purpose of the cards , some examples of ways to read the cards , and an interpretation of each card . For the cards , there is a short message from Nyx , then a longer explanation of the card and some words of wisdom about the subject on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ item , and worth the price tag ! It 's not only a fun way to work through your problems , it 's also a beautiful collectible for a fan . I recommend these to both fans of

@@5126041 <p> GLOBAL warming may be putting a freeze on Atlantic salmon sex . Fishing records from anglers on 59 Norwegian rivers show that more and more salmon are staying out at sea for two or more winters - instead of one - before migrating back upriver to mate . ... Salmon need to eat enough in the autumn for their gonads to mature the following spring . Temperature-driven changes in the food web mean fish may lack food at this critical time , forcing them to fatten up for longer before reproducing . Vollestad says more time in predator-rich open waters may help explain their overall decline . On the upside , fish should be bigger when they swim upriver . <p> Record numbers of a once-waning population of sockeye salmon have been returning to the Northwest 's Columbia Basin this summer , with thousands more crossing the river 's dams in a single day than the total numbers seen in some previous years . <p> Since Bonneville Dam outside Portland was built in 1938 , there have been plenty of times there were n't 38,000 sockeye salmon swimming over the fish ladders in a whole year . But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and another 41,000 swam over the dam on Wednesday -- a rate of nearly 30 a minute . That bought the total so far to 290,000 . <p> The cumulative in-river fish count at Miles Lake , near the " Million Dollar Bridge " outside Cordova , stood at 469,895 as of Sunday . That is by far the most for that date in the past 34 years . Counting began on May 16 . ... This year 's giant number got a big boost from all-time daily highs reached last week . <p> " May 28 , 29 and 30 were all records , " said Mark Somerville , Fish and Game 's area management biologist for sport fish based in Glennallen . " It was the highest we 've ever seen in a three-day count . " <p> The largest sockeye salmon run in nearly a century is breaking like a wave in British Columbia rivers , with as many as 25 million salmon estimated to be returning home to spawn . In comparison , last year 's run was just 1.7 million . <h> 1 comment : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change . The main story is about Atlantic salmon , but the other articles are talking about NW ( Pacific ) salmon . All i know is i am in Denver wearing a sweater

@@5126141 <h> Our house is a very fine house ( do you want to buy it ? ) <p> The walls and trim are painted . The floors look like kids never trod on them . The outside landscaping is the best it has ever been . ( We even edged ! ) Once I get a blasted gutter person to give me a call back , the house will be violation free . This baby is ready to list . <p> As long as my kids live somewhere else . <p> It is weird to have the house all fixed up . It is finally what we envisioned 10 years ago when we stepped into this little bungalow . I almost did n't look at it because I could n't get past the hideous bushes growing in the front of the house . <p> The first thing we did was rip out those bushes . And then we lived with the house as it was until the bathrooms and kitchen screamed , " REPAIR ME " ( actually they just started leaking and the plumber finally said he could n't fix them any longer ) and for the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past 10 . I hope the next owners appreciate the house the way I meant to . It makes me a little sad that we are n't going to get to enjoy it more . <p> Selling the house feels like a popularity contest . I check the real estate listings to see how our house compares to the others out on the market in our price range and square footage . I oscillate constantly between thinking our house will never sell , and betting myself it will be snatched up right away . <p> The kids are starting to get a little irritated at the whole process . It started with me throwing a few toys into a box with their okay , and then I started sweeping my hand across the dresser into a box hidden below while they were n't looking . They will go around the house looking for their favorite car , doll or book and I will say , " Sorry , it is in the attic . " And they will get a dejected look on their face and I am pretty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She loves to exclaim , " No Mommy , mine toy . MINE TOY ! " <p> Then we changed their wall colors . We had the painters cover their beloved wall art and sticker collection that they painstakingly placed on the wall , then moved , then placed again , and then moved . So there are little grimy sticky marks all over their wall . Probably why it took the painters several days in their room . <p> After that I started rearranging furniture . They would run to flop in their favorite chair only to find it moved to a different wall . Or in a different room . Once they get used to the new arrangement I will have most likely moved it back to where it was because the " Flow " was all wrong . I received quite a few glares for that one . <p> The worst , is when I dared to take the leaf piles and bag them for garbage collection . Isaac was terrified I had ruined his fall and " Most perfect leaf jumping pile . " <p> We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clean <p> I am tired and the kids are cranky and we have n't even started showing the house yet . Just wait till they realize they can no longer leave their clothes wherever they want to or eat outside of the kitchen . <p> They might revolt . <p> One thing I am certain of is that Michael will be grateful when it is all over . Trying to find contractors to fix city violations , or take care of all the little DIY projects that build up over 10 years has been grating . Especially since work has been so busy for him . All he wants to do at the end of the night is sit and relax and there I am with a screwdriver and a flashlight saying , " OK which light switch do we replace tonight ! " or " Do you want to fix that pull cord you just ripped out in the laundry room ? " <p> For now , I am going to sit back and relax and enjoy how awesome our house finally is . It is clean , decluttered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay at grandma and grandpa 's house . <p> What is your experience with selling a house ? How do you keep the

@@5126241 <p> Facebook users here on Earth are n't the only ones shooting arm's-length self-portraits : NASA 's Curiosity rover over on Mars is doing it as well ! Curiosity captured the image above a couple of days ago using its Mars Hand Lens Imager ( MAHLI ) , which is attached to an extendable robotic arm . The image is actually a composite of 55 separate photos shot using the 2-megapixel RGB color CCD camera . If you 're wondering why the arm itself is n't seen extending into the photo -- as is seen when we humans capture this type of shot -- it 's because the arm can rotate out of the frame for each of the 55 smaller sections of the image , resulting in a stitched image that does n't show the arm at all . <p> The mosaic shows the rover at " Rocknest , " the spot in Gale Crater where the mission 's first scoop sampling took place . Four scoop scars can be seen in the regolith in front of the rover . <p> The base of Gale Crater 's 3-mile-high ( 5-kilometer ) sedimentary mountain , Mount Sharp , rises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the background to the left are the northern wall of Gale Crater . The Martian landscape appears inverted within the round , reflective ChemCam instrument at the top of the rover 's mast . <p> The space agency says that this type of self-portrait allows the scientists here on Earth to track the condition of the rover over time , since the MAHLI camera is the only one of the 17 cameras that can see certain parts of the craft . <p> I do n't get how this is a self portrait ! What is holding the Camera ? ? ! ! ! Martians are coming . <p> Captain Obvious <p> Try reading the article . <p> http : **30;19084;TOOLONG John Sluder <p> Thank god no duck face <p> http : //blog.ahles.nl/ Patrick Ahles <p> I guess you did n't read the article either ? <p> Urayoan Miranda <p> At least no duck face . <p> Jung <p> Ok , I read the article , but I still do n't understand why I do not see the little portion where the arm is joining the body ....... ? ? <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the foot prints , frame left . <p> kyoshinikon <p> 2mpx ? You put millions into a rover only to send it up with a sensor that is 6 years behind ( now about 10 years behind ) ... <p> kyoshinikon <p> Next time send a Hero3 up ... <p> dogs <p> if its a comp image , as well as removing the arm thay have managed to remove the shadow too -- why on earth ( mars ) would they do that ? for what purpose ? <p> http : **33;19116;TOOLONG Lars Allebrink <p> They chose the 2mpx sensor because of the bandwidth limitations of transmitting from Mars <p> http : **31;19151;TOOLONG Larry Roberg <p> If you 're wondering why the arm itself is n't seen extending into the photo -- as is seen when we humans capture this type of shot -- it 's because the arm can rotate out of the frame for each of the 55 smaller sections of the image , resulting in

@@5126341 <h> Ultra-marathoner and race-organizer Richard Donovan gives Men 's Fitness the low-down on the hazards of the North Pole Marathon . WARNING : This race is only for runners who have the guts . <h> MF Editors Recommend <p> Extreme athletes discuss danger as flippantly as nine-to-fivers talk about traffic , or crappy coffee in the break room , or a lack of parking spaces . So when you ask Richard Donovan , 45 , the man behind the North Pole Marathon what it 's like to run 26.2 miles on top of the earth , he off-handedly says , " Hypothermia can happen because it 's minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit . You can get frostbite and polar bears are in the area , but we minimize the hazards . " He states the risks with the same nonchalance as your co-worker complaining about his frozen desktop -- as if passing a polar bear in zero visibility on a six-foot thick Arctic ice floe is only as inconvenient as waiting for the I.T . guy . But for Donovan , both organizer and runner of this 9-year-old marathon , the seemingly insane becomes casual . However , he did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . <p> In an environment as hostile as the Arctic , where the ice could split at any moment , it 's easy to imagine the worst . " The reality is that when you get to the North Pole , you feel like you 're on land , but you 're not , " says Donovan , a native Irishman . " You 're on shifting ice . You think you 're stationary , then you look at your GPS and realize you 're moving all over the place . " <p> But to Donovan 's advantage , the North Pole Marathon was n't his first experience running over ice . In January 2002 , a year before the official North Pole Marathon kicked-off , he won the first South Pole Marathon . The South Pole race taught him mental grit to stay composed while facing the risk of plummeting into frigid water . " After I finished that race , the obvious question to me was , ' Is there a North Pole Marathon ? ' " Donovan says . <p> As luck would have it , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become a pioneer . Four months later in April 2002 , Donovan ran the first marathon at the North Pole . He enjoyed himself so much he wanted other marathoners to have an opportunity to run it as well . So he started Polar Running Adventures , his company that organizes races on opposite poles . But starting the race was n't that easy . <p> Here 's how it works : every year , to carve out a course on the frozen Arctic Ocean , a team of Russians -- whom Donovan refers to as " hard men , used to the cold " -- airdrop a tractor onto the ice . The tractor then plows a runway for a plane , carrying racers and supplies . Donovan restricts the number of runners to seats in the one or two aircrafts he secures . This year he had 41 runners compete in the race , with the fastest finishing time at 4 hours 17 minutes and 8 seconds . <p> Unlike most marathons that cover longer-distance loops , runners circle a small , 2.62-mile loop about 10 times . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk of navigational error in low visibility . " The pole is like the desert , because there are n't any buildings or landmarks like a city marathon , " says Donovan . " You misjudge distance constantly . When you run it the first time , it seems so much longer than it is . That 's where the mental part comes in ... You think , ' will I be able to hold on ? ' but you learn to manage your emotions . " <p> Getting a mental grip is one thing . Facing the elements ? That 's a whole different story . Race temperatures are classified as " extreme sub-zero " . Wind chill makes it feel colder . And of course , you 're running on ice and snow . Donovan says some runners try racing in snowshoes , but the large shape makes running too awkward . Most racers opt for trail shoes , and wear layers of clothing including a warm base layer , a fleece layer , and a tracksuit-like wind shell outer layer . Runners also wear warm face covers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and seven hours however varied weather conditions prevent consistency . " Nobody is going to be running a personal marathon best , " Donovan jokes . " Running on hard snow or ice or powder can change things . " Runner Thomas Maguire had the fastest time in 2007 at 3 hours , 36 minutes and 10 seconds , but Donovan says in another year , under different conditions , Maguire could 've finished much slower . <p> The elements , Donovan says , are also a great equalizer . Two runners who have very different skill levels might finish an hour apart on a city course , but racing at the Pole levels the playing field . Those same two runners might finish only minutes apart , by default of weather . In the Arctic , all things are possible . These runners brave enough to test the ice do n't do it for fame or glory . They do it for the thrill . " It 's not a survival race

@@5126441 <p> Gas prices in Medina County shot up again Monday -- by as much as 30 cents a gallon . <p> The price at the pump was $3.99 a gallon for unleaded regular at more than half of the 42 service stations in Brunswick , Medina and Wadsworth listed on the GasBuddy website Tuesday . GasBuddy posts gas prices reported by motorists from across the nation . <p> A Sunoco gas station on state Route 18 in Litchfield Township was selling gas Tuesday for $3.99 a gallon . ( GAZETTE PHOTO BY STEVE GRAZIER ) <p> The jump in prices was surprising because it came a day after AAA Ohio reported gas prices in the state were down a dime to an average of $3.76 per gallon of regular . <p> Kimberly Schwind , a spokeswoman for AAA Ohio , said the increase may be caused by a short-term shortage stemming from a seasonal changeover at the refineries . <p> " Gas supplies are a little tighter right now because refineries are switching from a ' summer blend ' of fuel to a ' winter blend , ' " she said . <p> A summer blend of gasoline has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while the winter blend has less . <p> The switch to a winter blend officially takes place Sunday , Schwind said , and drivers should see a decrease at the pump soon after . <p> Schwind said other factors contributing to recent high gas prices include the cost of crude , which Tuesday was about $96 a barrel , ongoing tensions in the Middle East and a weaker U.S. dollar . This week 's price hikes were unusually steep . <p> On Monday morning , most Medina-area stations were selling fuel in the mid-to-high $3.60s a gallon . <p> By Tuesday , the lowest price in the city of Medina was $3.85 at a Marathon station , 2968 Ridge Road , but most stations were within a penny or two of $4 a gallon , according to GasBuddy . <p> Medina County 's average price for gasoline Tuesday was $3.95 , compared with $3.93 for the state as a whole . <p> The prices in Medina County also were somewhat higher than in Cuyahoga or Lorain counties . GasBuddy reported the average price in Cleveland was $3.89 Tuesday . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a Costco in west Toledo . The most expensive was $4.19 a gallon at a Marathon in Madeira . <p> 3.79 at certified/Sunoco in Wellington on Monday night . But they changed their price late Tuesday . Something less to be done about these gas prices . There is no call for these high prices other then ripping off the public . Time for government take over . They did

@@5126541 <p> 1 . " Kudos to her for knowing what she wants ! " This is a statement that 's often made when someone does something " controversial " , unpopular , or drastic and irreversible : like , I do n't know , engage in marathon childbearing or something . In this context , having a strong desire is interpreted as a sign of maturity or strength of character . But is it ? <p> Like that bit about giving people credit for being really stubborn , this one puzzles me . My six-year-old often knows exactly what he wants ( and on many occasions , what he wants is something that I 'm pretty sure he will regret ) -- but that does n't make him an adult , an intellectual , or a social rebel . It does n't take a genius to want something and be aware of it ; nor is it necessarily proof of wisdom or courage to pursue the object of one 's desire in every single case . It may or may not be -- it all depends on the context . <p> I 've seen this phrase thrown around a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exclusively employed in reference to women -- by women , no less , making it a prime example of how even feminists can whole-heartedly embrace casual misogyny . A man is rarely congratulated simply for knowing what he wants . The implication here is that women are fickle , impulsive , mentally and intellectually unstable , and incapable of decision-making -- hence the back-patting for the awesome feat of knowing what you want . This ugly stereotype of women is why men almost never get this kind of " praise " -- and thus it is ironic indeed that avowed feminists often use precisely this kind of language . It is a kind of " praise " that ignores the fact that people should be allowed , if they wish , to leave bridges behind them , to change their minds , to mull and weigh their options -- ends that are hardly served by subjecting people to pressure to " know what we want " , particularly in the case of choices that are likely to have problematic ramifications . <p> 2 . " Stop forcing your opinion on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it always puzzles me : what does " forcing " one 's opinion on others entail , exactly ? Do I have a gun to your head ? Am I trying to get the First Amendment repealed ? Am I threatening to kill your dog unless you agree with me ? No to all these ? Alright , then I ai n't forcing diddly squat . I 'm just saying something you do n't like . <p> A conversation that I recently had with a family member who is slightly to the right of Rush Limbaugh exemplifies this scenario : <p> Me : " How exactly am I doing that ? I 'm just talking , like you . What 's the difference between expressing one 's opinion and forcing it on others ? " <p> Her : " Well , you do n't respect my opinion , for starters . " <p> Me : " Do you respect my opinion ? " <p> Her : " Your opinion is stupid and wrong . Why should I respect it ? " <p> Me : " So it 's a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You are engaging in sophistry . " <p> Me : " It 's not sophistry . I asked you to define the difference between merely articulating your beliefs and actually quote-unquote forcing your beliefs on someone . You defined the difference as lacking respect for the other person 's opinion . But you then admitted that you do n't respect my opinion . So by your own definition , are n't you trying to force your opinion on me ? " <p> Her : " This is exactly why people hate lawyers . " <p> Me : " Why is that , exactly ? " <p> Her : " You use words to trap people . " <p> Me : " Is it possible that it is you who trapped yourself by using words gratuitously ? " <p> Her : " That 's a tautology . " <p> The take-away here is that the accusation of " forcing your opinion on others " is particularly beloved by people who either do n't realize or do n't care that words have meaning . <p> 3 . " ' How are you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People who say it do n't actually care about what 's going on in my life , so why do they ask . " At the risk of elucidating the obvious , " How are you doing ? " was never meant to be an actual question . It 's an act of common civility . And that 's what civility is -- token niceness that does not necessarily indicate genuine or profound interest , commiseration , etc . It 's a paradox : civility can be sincere , while its verbal expressions are not ; but this is no reason to write it off as a form of hypocrisy . The purpose of civility is to establish what will hopefully be a friendly rapport , the cornerstone that can lead to more meaningful interaction later on . As long as we say " please " and " thank you " , we can still have a dialogue about substance . If we sincerely treat each other with hearty meanness , I do n't see how any dialogue is possible . <p> Objecting to common greetings or condolences is one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I really need to care about you very deeply to be nice to you ? If I give up my seat on the train to an elderly person , that does n't mean I am losing sleep with concern over that person 's health ; it 's just a nice and appropriate thing to do at that place and time . Does it mean I 'm being insincere ? If someone says to me , in whatever context , that their spouse has just recently died , I will automatically respond " I 'm so sorry , " -- but it 's not like I 'm devastated or anything , and I 'll probably forget soon , and I technically have nothing to be sorry for . Does expressing condolences where I 'm not literally racked with grief make me insincere ? I believe losing a loved one is a horrible thing , and when I say " I 'm sorry " , I mean it . <p> We all pay tribute to social convention . It is the glue that holds society together , it is what keeps the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bounds of social convention altogether , I frankly do n't see how we could function as a community . <p> And , if you are one of those people who object to " insincere " greetings , another thing : stop being so bitter over something so absurd . Perfect strangers do n't owe it to you to care about your personal troubles . That person saying " How are you doing ? " to you is n't trying to insult you . <p> 4 . " You should n't be judgmental . " In the abstract , almost everyone will agree that being judgmental is a bad thing . But context is important here . All of us end up judging other people , and quite often . Even your own personal choices are , to some extent , seen as a form of judgment of other people 's different choices . ( If you need proof , just check out the nearest Internet debate between people with children and the " child-free " . ) But most of all , we simply form opinions of other people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opinions are biased and unfair ; sometimes they are spot-on . Context is key . <p> Recently , a magazine I usually enjoy and whose quality of journalism I usually respect , ran a piece about the plight of elderly prisoners serving life sentences . While the topic is one that certainly deserves attention , I found it intellectually dishonest that not only did the author decline to mention what any of his subjects did that lead to a life sentence , but added that he is not judging them for what they had done because " they 've already been judged once " . Oh , really ? I do n't know if it 's necessarily charitable to withhold personal judgment over a man who , say , raped and murdered a toddler -- even if it was thirty years ago . Wan na let a convicted child rapist babysit your kids ? Give Bernie Madoff your retirement money ? Cut the guy some slack ; he 's old and he 's already been judged , so I guess the slate has been wiped clean ? ( " Fuck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison , after it was no longer expedient to pretend he had any shred of decency in him . ) Providing such people with basic medical care and a humane environment as they approach death is a laudable goal , but I do n't see how pretending that they did n't do what they did , or that it does not define them as human beings , is justified . <p> It is a good practice to stay out of things that are none of your business -- try not to judge people for purely personal choices that do not negatively affect anyone else , or choices made in a unique situation that you yourself have never experienced and can not relate to . But being non-judgmental of what is obviously and outrageously wrong is just being obtuse . <p> In fact , if you think about it , the range of situations where you should n't judge is quite narrow -- and even then , paradoxically , the determination that you should n't judge is in and of itself a judgment . That single mother working two jobs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her kids into a less-than-excellent daycare . You know that because you have judged her . <p> 5 . " Do n't say that did X , because he 's innocent until proven guilty . " I am especially dumbfounded when I hear crime victims admonished to preserve their victimizers ' reputations until there has been a trial and a conviction . What someone who invokes the presumption of innocence this way is really saying is : " I refuse to believe that this person did it , but I 'll rely on legalistic nonsense to give myself the appearance of being impartial . And if there is a conviction down the road , I 'll claim the legal system is flawed . " <p> The presumption of innocence is a legal fiction . It is one of a great number of rebuttable presumptions , whose function is strictly limited to allocating the burden of proof in a court of law . A child born to a married woman is presumed to be legitimate ; if there is a lawsuit at some point challenging the child 's paternity , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegitimate , rather than the child having to prove his or her own legitimacy . The contents of a document created in the ordinary course of business are presumed to be truthful ; the litigant who relies on it does not have to introduce evidence to prove the truth of the contents , but rather , it is the one claiming the contents are false who must prove his or her claims . A will that 's regular on its face is presumed to accurately reflect the testator 's wishes ; if the validity of the will is challenged , it is the challenger who bears the burden of proof . In a rear-end collision , the rear car is ( usually ) presumed to be at fault ; if a lawsuit results , the rear driver bears the burden of proving a different cause for the accident . And in a criminal case , it is the prosecution that must prove that the defendant committed the crime , rather than the defendant having to prove his or her innocence . <p> Rebuttable presumptions are a legal device . They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing , they do not prescribe what can or can not be said in a conversation . ( Believe me , you do n't want ordinary human interactions to be subject to the rules of evidence . ) They have no force in the court of public opinion , and they are certainly inapplicable to people 's private beliefs -- least of all , to the beliefs of those who know what happened . <p> 6 . " You only believe what you believe because of your personal experience . " It is undeniable that bias can skew perception , and that personal experience can not automatically be generalized . The existence of bias is , therefore , relevant to the validity of a person 's opinion . However , the fact that someone is biased through personal experience does not necessarily mean that this person is wrong . I routinely see people veer off deep into crazy territory on this bias issue , to the point of arguing that someone 's personal experience consistent with that person 's generalization disproves the generalization itself . That , of course , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the generalization -- it is the weight that we should give the confirmation that 's questionable , not whether someone who is biased can form a valid opinion at all . <p> Suppose I said that medical errors are a huge problem in medicine today . You can observe in response that because I work as a defense attorney in medical malpractice cases , I am too often exposed to the dark side of medicine , that just because I see horrible things every day , that does not mean they are all too common across the board . And you would be right , to an extent -- it is my job to deal with the consequences of things going horribly wrong , and that doubtless colors my perception . But that does not mean that my essential claim -- that medical errors are a huge problem -- is incorrect ; my bias merely impacts the matter of degree to which the problem is pervasive . Or suppose if I said that medical errors often have complex causes and are rarely a straight-up consequence of doctors ' negligence . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the defense perspective is relevant , but it does not disprove the assertion as a whole . <p> As I probably mentioned in my other posts , I grew up in the Soviet Union . As such , the most outrageously stupid examples of this phenomenon I 've seen have come in the form of circular arguments that the accounts of people who have experienced totalitarianism first-hand are inherently partial and can not be believed , given that such people are biased against totalitarianism by virtue of having experienced it . " Since you had your phone bugged by the KGB , you are incapable of being impartial , therefore I do n't believe your claim that the KGB bugged people 's phones . " If anything , such attitudes prove conclusively that politics stupidifies people to an extraordinary degree . <p> 7 . " Designed by nature/evolution . " ( Disclaimer : If you are a believer in " Intelligent Design " , a/k/a creationism , skip this part . ) Although I am not bothered when people put " design " and " nature " in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes sense ( see next item on the list ) , it 's downright alarming how often " nature " is anthropomorphized and described as an autonomous entity . In fact , there is now an entire discipline -- which , I hope , history will expose for the pseudoscience that it is -- that 's premised on precisely this idea , that " nature " has an intent and that evolution has a plan . <p> To begin with , people who view nature this way do not have even the most basic understanding of how it works . The idea that our species evolved to be a certain way 50,000 years ago , and then stopped , and we must now follow the patterns of behavior and social organization established at that time to the letter , is preposterous . That 's not how evolution works , and besides -- the story of life on this planet is one of species dying out as a result of being too rigid in the face of changing environments . Adaptability and readiness to change is an organism 's best tool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues aside ( I ca n't discuss them in more than a cursory manner , anyway , seeing as I am not a scientist ) , it 's the philosophical underpinnings of ascribing human qualities to nature that amuse me to no end . Nature is a fiction . It does not exist as a discrete entity , and it is not capable of intent . " Nature " is just a collective term we give to things outside of ourselves . With that in mind , talking about what nature supposedly " designed " or " intended " produces a whole lot of nonsense . <p> 8 . " It 's stupid when people say ' at the end of the day ' /'when all is said and done ' /'as it happens ' /'may or may not ' , because duh , it 's obvious , moron . " I want to end this installment by picking a bone with other curmudgeons ' widely held opinions about stupid things people say . There are complaints about allegedly stupid use of language that I hear often , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or may not " ? " As it happens " ? Folks , those are just turns of phrase . ( And to those who have an issue with " may or may not " and such , a disclaimer : when I say " turn of phrase " , I do n't mean there is a physical phrase out there somewhere that 's turning . Just wanted to make that clear . ) What pompous , self-important asshole invented this rule , that absolutely anything you say that 's closed off by punctuation must convey a literal , factual , discrete meaning ? That 's not the way languages function , and anyone who thinks otherwise is in sore need of a wedgie . I will agree that people sometimes overuse frills , cliches and disclaimers , and that redundant phrasing is common . But that does n't mean that common turns of phrase are stupid or useless . If you abolish them , you might as well ban auxiliary verbs . And I do n't think you would find that fun , unless your name is Jorge Luis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) . <h> Single Post Navigation <h> 7 thoughts on " Eight More Stupid Things People Say All The Time " <p> No kidding , " You should n't be judgmental . " The statement itself is judgmental and we judge everything and everyone . Well , I judge without remorse . <p> How are you doing ? I do n't know about most , but I really do n't want to actually hear what someone is doing . I love it when it backfires , and someone actually takes 15 minutes of someone 's day telling them the play-by-play . <p> Fantastic post . I too have come to hate the " how are you ? " unless it comes from someone with whom I actually share an close relationship . I always fantasize about just opening up like crazy the next time someone asks me this . <p> Response to ethelthedean , I tried that twice . It took a lot of energy and was n't worth it , of course , but it was interesting . Come to think of it , it must have been painful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the supermarket checkout , the cashier said , " How are you ? " I composed a poem on the spot about the fruit I had bought and how it would improve my life or some such . It was very short , but she gave me my money and receipt and ran away . For a while , I thought she was going on her break , but after I walked a few feet away , I turned and saw that she came back . In the second incident a bank teller said , " How are you ? " I said , " Fine , oh um , no not really ( laugh ) . I have just this to deposit and no life , " or some such . She said , " Well it 's a nice day and you can take a walk and look at the trees and listen to the birds . Things might get better . " Actually I never got to do the answer I had been trying to rehearse and memorize because I always had a feeling of panic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a little dark suicide poem for them , but I never actually said it . Some sociologist graduate student should hire some actors with composure to go out and give outrageous answers to the question and record the various answers for those respondents who do n't run away . I wish I remember what my worst answer was going to be . I think it was something like : " ( How am I ? ) I 'm coming down from a mountain . I 'm walking backwards away from the edge of death into an icicle that shatters and cuts like glass , blood rains , and the snow is red like sherbet but it is not sweet ... " . I eventually gave up on the idea but did eventually write the poem , " On Being Cheerful " . I do n't think it turned out as big in drama as the imaginary poem-fish of candor that got away . Oh well , I 'm fine . Not every thought can be caught . <p> great post . I usually just stop at " Hi " . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live abroad and non-Americans hate that Americans ask how they are and do n't really care . Agree with all the rest of your points too . <p> Last night , I was watching a movie in which a character remarked with admiration , " She 's so full of life " about another character . I thought , what a strange thing to admire someone for , being alive ! But I definitely hate it when someone asks , " How 's it going ? " and I feel like I 'm supposed to say " Fine " or something , but they 've already passed me by . Do n't ask someone a question and not wait for the answer ! <p> Um , i do n't know if some of you commenters noticed , like joshuafeltsm and ethelthedean , but the point of point number three was actually to demonstrate the importance of common courtesies like asking people how they are that help people interact politely , build rapport and maintain social cohesion . I recommend actually reading other people 's posts properly before commenting . <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the presumption of innocence in criminal matters does matter -- to state that did X before a trial has been finalsed and a verdict handed down may mean the person making the allegation is being libelous and/or slanderous . <p> It also seems to me that you start by making a point about criminal proceedings , then list a series of civil law points . For the sake of your argument , I am not sure this strengthens your point . <p> On the other hand , though , I can agree that many people say many stupid things about the legal system

@@5126641 <p> The player of the game was probably Singler , though , and I 'm basing this off the advanced statistic of mentions in the game thread -- 42 -- and that 's not counting indirect references to him being an accountant . 13 of Singler 's 16 points came in the paint and he continues to play basketball like he studied at Duke -- he 's so smart , s-m-r-t . <p> Pistons can start a little winning streak by beating the Magic on Friday back at The

@@5126741 <p> Be prepared to see things you 've never seen before when you walk into the Hotel Paradox at 611 Ocean St. <p> That 's what interior designer David Todd Oldroyd wanted . His idea was to have guests cross through slate grey concrete abutments that block out the businesses along Ocean and enter a world of modernity and ancient forests --a paradox , if you will . <p> The front desk is made from a giant Eucalyptus tree placed in a room that has a stark ultra modern Tokyo feel . There is a 120-foot-long book shelf , but the books are covered in stark white covers , each one a mystery until opened . There are comfortable nooks with couches and above them are out of focus photos of statues from Amsterdam taken by Oldroyd , who works for the San Francisco design firm ODADA . <p> " We did the concrete walls and you walk through them and it 's supposed to make you forget about Ocean Street , " said Oldroyd . " The oil changers across the street , the doctor 's office . It 's supposed to take you out of that world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moody , dark redwood forest . " <p> It 's a part of Santa Cruz that draws people here and is n't the beach , which was the big challenge designing a hotel in a beach town not on the water . <p> Hotel owner Perry Patel cut the ribbon to formally open the hotel Wednesday with a coterie of city officials . He said that Santa Cruz was known as a hard place to do business , but it did n't prove so for him . His family-owned business , BPR Properties based in Palo Alto , adds a new hotel a year . The acronym is for B.B. , his father , Perry and Rita , his sister . <p> The $13.3 million hotel has 170 rooms . It used to be a Holiday Inn and then was housing for University of California , Santa Cruz students . <p> You 'd never know from the refurbishing that includes a pool and jacuzzi that will be open year round for locals to use for a small fee , outside walls that glow in the dark , and luxurious , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attitude of big city culture mixed with spectacular views of nature . <p> " It 's a box dropped in the middle of the redwood forest , " said Oldroyd . " And I love the contrast of hard and soft , and black and white , old and new , " he added . " You know , the white walls juxtaposed against the craggy bark and arms of the redwood tree , i mean that 's that contrast that I think it celebrates the redwoods and it celebrates the white box . " <p> Through September rooms go for $155 on weekdays and $205 on weekends . They range from $125 to $425 depending on the time of year . <p> Patel also owns the Holiday Inn Express and the Best Western All Suites on Ocean , but wanted the Paradox to stand out from the rest . <p> " As you drive up and down Ocean Street , you have the 60 's and 70 's buildings , and they 're tired looking , and you know I just wanted to set something apart -- modern building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see on Ocean Street , so I think for us it was just in the name . " <p> Patel was thrilled with the way the process went in a city once known for being hostile to new business . <p> " I mean it blew me out of the water to be able to get this in November , to submit drawings in December , to get a permit in March , " he said . <p> " That 's unheard of . And I think it shows to the city that they really are determined to be able to work with developers like ourselves , and to be able to encourage development . I think it 's a positive , and I hope that other folks have the same experience that I did . " <p> I stayed there last week and it definitely felt like a whole world away from Ocean Street . The rooms are beautiful and the pool and restaurant are really awesome . I 'll definitely be going back more often to enjoy the pool . <p> After visiting for the first time Wed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I ca n't wait to go back - to eat , to stay the night and certainly , to take a dip in the lovely pool . Thanks , Santa Cruz Patch editor Brad Kava for the fabulous photos of Hotel Paradox . ( Yes , including

@@5126841 <p> During his time at Wesleyan University , Ted was determined to impress his cocky and aloof architecture teacher . Sadly , his attempts failed to win Professor Vinick 's approval -- and things have n't changed much in the present . <p> I miss the oc ..... it was the only teen drama i ever watched . but also as much as i would have liked the show to have continued the last episode was awesomely perfect ......

@@5126941 <h> The Role of a Home Based Business In Tough Times <h> Home Based Business <p> A good home based business can really save your bacon these days . Many unprepared families are now experiencing tough times . Guess what ? It 's probably going to get worse for the next few years no matter who 's in office . People are finding it harder to land a good job with any sense of security , much less good benefits , unless they go to work for the government . But , this is where the role of a good home based business can save you . And this is why a lot of professionals are considering starting a home based business to supplement their current situations . <p> A home based business , as its name implies , is a business wherein its operations are based at home . Unlike the usual brick and mortar business , this type of business does not require owners to have a concrete establishment or a building . This means this home business is more affordable and does not usually require the hefty start up costs of traditional business . This type @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you do not have to go anywhere to keep the business going . Therefore , it is more convenient , more efficient and often it is much easier to operate . <p> With the popularity of the internet nowadays , most lucrative home based business models are started online . There are a lot of home based business ideas you can do online such as internet marketing , mlm , network marketing , and affiliate marketing . You can have actual products to sell and/or sell them online . You can do affiliate marketing by which you do not need to have products to sell . You simply have to market other people 's products either through ads or blogs , etc . You can also be a writer and create an e-book about a certain niche that people are currently interested in . You can market these e-books online . There are so many good businesses you can do with the help of the internet . And many of these online ventures are often more than enough to provide for your needs in tough times , if you are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good home based business can generate direct income , residual income , active and/or passive incomes . Even if you have a job , you can earn extra by having this type of business . It will add to your income but it wo n't add to your stress since you can work when you want . You can do your business at home or anywhere that you have your computer and internet connection . <p> Second , a home based business can be your fortress during tough times especially if you happen to lose your job . And with the looming economic issues at home and ever developing global crisis from day to day , a lot of families , entrepreneurs and corporate professionals are turning to the internet for help . A lucrative home based business can save your bacon IF you choose wisely and seek good counsel . Ask around . Ask lots of questions . Perform your due diligence . Talk to a certified coach , a home business coach that specializes in home business leadership and training with a track record of support and success @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses . Plus you get to be the boss . No experience you wonder , not to worry . You can learn to earn online . Success , like confidence are traits that one learns . Follow proven strategies and build your brand . More and more people are moving to online businesses and these often thrive best in bad economies . <p> More importantly , you will never run out of options , resources , training and flexibly when it comes to home based business ideas . There are a lot of business areas to choose from no matter what skills you have or fail to have now . Setting up with a solid home based business will

@@5127041 <h> ... and the other <p> Yeah , I know ... another Wednesday comes and goes without a post from me . Like you care ... really . LOL ! Anyway , most of today 's post is a slugfest . No , not in the " beat you up " kinda way but various things in short bursts sort of way . <p> * Went to the hearing at City Hall last night . It was a Planning Commission hearing on the fate of the business that runs out of the historical " Russ Clements gas station " . I was impressed by the turn out . A conclusion was n't reached and the hearing will continue on Dec. 2 . <p> * Looking around the City Hall chamber last night I think they could save some money ( including our taxes ) by switching out the light bulbs that presently illuminate the place . There are also stage lights overhead ( Par cans ) that can be swapped out with less power sucking led types . <p> * It was overcast and cold yesterday ... just made me want to curl up and nap . I did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ... just sayin . <p> * I have n't repeated a meal in close to 7 weeks . I 'm shooting for 8 . It 's a personal challenge and I 'm delightfully impressed with myself . ( That does n't happen very often . <p> * I may go through a bunch of photographs and scan more pictures from the past . It 's been fun doing the few I have some of late . Yeah , I 've threatened to revive " Picture Daze " on several occasions ... but I may actually follow through with it this time . ( Do n't hold your breath though ... LOL ) <h> 3 Responses to ... and the other <p> One thing I did this week was surf over to the Jungle Webs site and re-read that last B.I.T.S . post ... the one about marketing your Rogue play . As our latest CD is starting to congeal ( coagulate ? ) , it 's time for a plan , and your post reminded and inspired . I 've already begun plans and a bit of shooting for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , just the planning out what to say is bringing focus to the questions : " what is this for ? ' ' who 's gon na benefit from hearing it ' -- really basic questions like that . Thanks for your good work -- and yeah , I 'm sort of rambling away , but today 's post was sort of shooting in a thousand

@@5127141 <p> Have you taken any interesting photos or videos lately ? Enter the contest by clicking on " upload photos and videos " or visiting one of our neighborhood galleries , and your photo might be the next one featured on Patch ! <p> Each week we 're giving away a Patch prize to one winner selected at random from the readers whose photos are featured Monday through Saturday . The winner will be announced Sunday . <p> Photos uploaded to the Featured Photos articles or to one of our neighborhood galleries qualify : <p> About this column : The Patch gear giveaway is open to legal residents of the 50 United States , the District of Columbia who are 18 and older . To enter , upload an original photo to the article or to a pics and clips gallery . You may enter as many times as you wish . One weekly winner will be selected in a random drawing from the posters of the five photos selected to be featured each week Monday-Friday . The winner will be announced on Sunday . Winners will be contacted by email for their addresses and a Patch prize will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivery . Related Topics :

@@5127241 <p> 15 . After you graduate , accelerate repayment of the highest cost loan first , namely the loan with the highest interest rate . <p> Lynn O'Shaughnessy is the author of the second edition of The College Solution , which was just released this month . Follow her on Facebook , where

@@5127341 <p> However , we believe this can be done adequately with an external EWMH-based script , although it 's a little more difficult than most EWMH scripts because it requires internal state . <p> Incidentally , this may be an interesting moment to discuss the question of whether Metacity should be able to make DBus calls on given keypresses as well as launching external scripts . Supplementing the EWMH controls with DBus is often suggested ( see , for example , GNOME bug 531512 and ewmhbus ) but perhaps we should instead be considering sending signals when windows are opened , hot keys are pressed , and workspaces are switched . <h> 3 Comments <p> After your comment , I actually agree that , as this is a seldom-used functionality , having an external script for it would be better . I just could not think on a way to implement it without going

@@5127441 <h> Study : RI teachers absent most in country <h> NEARI union 's chief says data may be misleading <p> PROVIDENCE , R.I. ( WPRI ) - Rhode Island teachers were absent from school more than their colleagues anywhere else in the country , according to a report by a national think tank . <p> The findings -- released Monday by the Center for American Progress ( CAP ) , a liberal think tank in Washington , D.C. -- examined data from the 2009-10 school year originally compiled by the U.S. Department of Education . <p> The study shows 50.2% of Rhode Island teachers were absent 10 days or more in 2009-10 , compared with the national average of 36% . Educators in Utah had the fewest absences , with 20.9% of teachers out 10 days or more . <p> The author of the report said communities with a more diverse population reported a higher level of teacher absences than more homogenous places . <p> " With these and other findings , this report seeks to draw attention to the too long-neglected subject of teacher absence , " wrote Raegan Miller of CAP . " The costs of teacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer be borne in silence . " <p> Robert Walsh , executive director of teachers union National Education Association Rhode Island , said the data may be misleading because the author did not use absentee rates from all the schools in Rhode Island . <p> " They used 208 schools ; we have 344 schools in Rhode Island , so I 'm a little suspicious there , " Walsh said . " I 'm not sure that all states are following the same standards of reporting so I do n't know if we 're getting apples to apples . " <p> Walsh pointed out that absentee rates include everything from sick days to professional development days that are required by the R.I. Department of Education ( RIDE ) . <p> " People are going to think teachers are abusing sick leave , " Walsh said . " A significant contribution to this issue is the fact the state is making more efforts in training and development outside the classroom . " <p> Reacting to the report , the acting Commissioner of RIDE said the vast majority of educators " @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teaching their students and improving our schools . " <p> " Obviously , unexpected teacher absences can disrupt instruction , and repeated teacher absences can set back the process of teaching and learning , " said acting Commissioner David Abbott . " Repeated absences would be a factor noted during the process of teacher evaluations , which we are implementing this year in every public school in Rhode Island . " <p> A Target 12 investigation last month revealed teachers called out sick an average of nine times during a 184-day school year , but overall absentee data showed teachers in some communities were absent as much as 19 days a year . <p> School officials point out maternity leave and other medical issues can cause a spike in the data . <p> " All employees should have access to a minimum standard of at least seven paid sick days per year , " Miller wrote . " But teachers ' leave provisions in some states may be too permissive , elevating rates of absence and incurring the financial liability of accumulated , unused leave . " <p> Reacting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Rhode Island School Committee Association -- said an absent teacher has an " adverse effect " on students , and that union contracts can have an impact on which districts show a high number of teachers out sick . <p> " It 's the inner-city districts - the larger districts - where you see a larger percentage of absenteeism , " Duffy said . " That may be due to the fact that the contract language is just loose enough to allow or afford teachers to take time when they may not be legitimately sick . " <p> Ground rules for posting comments : No profanity or personal attacks . Please comment on the subject of the story itself . If you do not follow these rules , we will remove your post . Keep it civil , folks ! <p> Our commenting section is powered by IntenseDebate . If you registered for an account but did n't receive a verification e-mail , check your spam folder or click

@@5127541 <h> Trying to get back into the swing of things , please help <p> Welcome to the EliteFitness.com Bodybuilding Site ! Please join this discussion about Trying to get back into the swing of things , please help within the Diet &; Bodybuilding category . <p> Excerpt : Ive been working out for a while now but the last 2 years I 've been real lazy and got a bit fat . Ive done all this before but it was overseas when it was easy . For now i got routine down but the diet part is killing me so heres what i came up with , I 'm bulking muscle mass for the winter : 630 4 whole eggs 1 cup oats V8 juice 930-1000 pre workout S ... <h> Trying to get back into the swing of things , please help <p> Ive been working out for a while now but the last 2 years I 've been real lazy and got a bit fat . Ive done all this before but it was overseas when it was easy . For now i got routine down but the diet part is killing me so heres what i @ @ @

@@5127641 <h> WOW ! Why are n't we getting any of the great permit conditions like these people are getting ? <p> " The pumps will not be above ground . Everything will run on electricity . It will be soundproofed , and the oil will be sold to local refineries , " Eastlack said . <p> The settlement established limits on the numbers of wells , where they can be drilled and noise levels . The pact set landscaping rules , required periodic health assessments of nearby residents and increased the amount of air-quality monitoring . <p> In exchange for having the right to drill in a 7.5-acre area near the base of the Whittier hills , Matrix has agreed to a long list of conditions . For instance , the city will get royalties of 30 percent to 50 percent of the well 's revenue , before expenses , compared with a more typical 20 percent to 30 percent , McCaskey said . <h> Replies to This Discussion <p> It 's California , what else is there to say , except that it will be interesting to see if this well ever gets drilled . You know as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ground nothing can be believed in this business . <h> Photos <h> ShaleBiz.com Latest <p> Contact Cheryl Mickley of Newell Realty &; Auction to help with all your Real Estate needs ! Cheryl is a resident of Carroll County , a licensed Realtor , and a local Real Estate Mineral Rights Consultant . Let Cheryl put her knowledge and experience to work helping you find the home or investment property you 're looking for . Call 330 575-0533 to speak with Cheryl about your real estate goals or to learn more about how mineral rights can affect the purchase or sale of real estate in Carroll County <p> Bedrooms for rent by the week or month include closet , storage , microwave and minifridge . A large shared living area for bedroom occupants with satellite television and wi fi access . Other services are available including laundry service and meals <h> About <p> What makes this site so great ? Well , I think it 's the fact that , quite frankly , we all have alot a stake in this thing they call shale . But beyond that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard for that little yard we call home , or that farm

@@5127741 <h> Monday , October 15 , 2012 <h> The gorilla at the end of the Windows 8 tunnel <p> I actually did n't know about gorilla arm until a few days ago when someone posted an article related to it in a Windows 8 forum . Steve Jobs on touch-enabled laptops : And while Apple points to its own research on this problem , it 's a widely recognized issue that touchscreen researchers have known about for decades . " We 've done tons of user testing on this , " Steve Jobs said in Wednesday 's press conference , " and it turns out it does n't work . Touch surfaces do n't want to be vertical . It gives great demo , but after a short period of time you start to fatigue , and after an extended period of time , your arm wants to fall off . " Well what does this mean then ? That Microsoft did n't do tons of testing ? They do seem to be betting on touch-enabled laptops and monitors after all . <p> I figured there was only one thing to do which was to try this for myself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right hand on the trackpad while using my left to make touch motions on the monitor . <p> Wow , Steve Jobs was right , gorilla arm is a real problem . I did n't even last 30 minutes in a reclined position . Having your arm extended to touch a screen results in poor economics . I tried bringing my laptop closer which helped but I still felt a case of tennis elbow coming on . I actually play tennis so I know damn well what is feels like . What really surprised me was how quickly I felt it and how drastically different it is compared to a tablet . Holding a tablet in a recliner leaves my elbows rested and in a much more natural position . <p> My God as if Windows 8 was n't already a disaster in the making . It 's my opinion that Windows 8 is a POS regardless of the whether you can touch the screen but I did n't realize how ergonomically incorrect vertical touch interfaces are . Wow . <p> Given how fucking lousy the interface is in Windows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the conclusion that Microsoft is n't doing user testing on anyone but their own employees . Microsoft is being ran like a banana republic and asking the employees what they think of Windows 8 is about the same as asking Cuban citizens if they like Communism on Cuban National Television . WTF do you expect them to say ? <p> I saw a Microsoft exec today on a financial show talking about Windows 8 and he sounded like one of Saddam 's commanders before the invasion . Zero expectation of victory but trying to keep a straight face for the cameras to avoid an early execution . Well at least someone there in Redmond has his head screwed on right , too bad he 's not in charge . What a shame . What a damn shame . <p> Freetards are actually CLI/Bash lovers : they like text based , visually poor environments , I think they often have difficulties mentally parsing GUI outputs , that is to say , rich visuals confuse them . <p> This is why they always claimed Windows ( * ) is a prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confusing system - if they ca n't find their way to the terminal , they are lost ( I 'm speaking from experience with a cured freetard I know , but I admit it 's only an anecdote ) . <p> Metro is like CLI - it is text based , it has extremely poor visuals ( oh I 'm sorry , it 's " simple " and " modern " , mhm ) it really allows visual idiots ( people with poor visual cognition ) to use a GUI more easily . Of course , to everyone else it 's an ugly and strange POS that they would n't want to use if you put a pistol to their head , same as nobody wants to use a Segway , since we can fucking walk by ourselves . <p> ( * ) By which they meant GUI , because they only knew about UNIX/CLI systems until MS-DOS and later Windows invaded enterprise and universities . <p> The basic RT version ( WITHOUT the keyboard ! ) costs 500$ , just as much as the iPad ! <p> The keyboard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touch cover keyboard was an essential component ? I have to repeat myself : The crippled bare bones RT version , without keyboard , without the ability to run Win32 and with a lousy selection of apps compared to the IOS and Android costs as much as the iPad ! <p> So , it 's $250 iPad with a $70 Logitech keyboard cover ( * ) with the largest software library on the planet ( for mobiles ) and largest media ecosystem among all platforms <p> - versus - <p> a $500 tablet with $100 keyboard cover ( which requires a table to be useful ) , no software and a small media library , most of which is going to be available through the browser ( i.e. nothing you ca n't get anywhere else and optimised for the mouse , a great advantage , sorry , I meant dis-advantage , a nasty fucking problem , actually ) . <p> * Which lets you firmly affix the iPad into it - essentially you get a laptop , it 's great for long typing - this info made available for our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is they do n't want to upset any OEMs by " selling too low " , which proves Microsoft 's decision to enter the PC-making business was a stupid one in the first place . They could have released the Surface as a reference design . And what 's with the 100$ keyboard cover ? WTF . <p> Windows 8 will sell only with x86 preinstalls , because there are always people that need to buy a new PC . See how Vista got 25% mostly from preinstalls , aka people that had to buy a new PC . <p> Well if gorilla arm was related to arm strength then it 's going a problem for 99% of Americans . But seriously this is an ergonomic problem and not one of strength or stamina . <p> As for bitterness I would love to be wrong about Windows 8 but after reading about surface pricing the last snowflake in hell was just pissed on . That was the only part of the Windows 8 plan that I considered sane , subsidizing surface to make it price competitive with Android . But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it absolutely clear to everyone that he really is batshit crazy . Oh wait maybe it is n't clear to you and any remaining Windows 8 defenders who have to lay their balls on the stove to learn that it really is hot . If I am bitter against anyone it is the league of the deluded that ca n't seem to stomach reality until it is fisted up their assholes . <p> ... league of the deluded that ca n't seem to stomach reality until it is fisted up their assholes . <p> They do n't care , they think iOS is made for idiots who will accept anything , even Metro ; the other group , much smaller one IMO , thinks Metro is actually good ( what goes on in their crazy heads is beyond me ) . <p> The idiots who think it 's OK started this whole nonsense with Zune , and those who should have pulled the brakes , simply do n't care , because , supposedly , users have nowhere to go . <p> It 'll be really interesting to watch as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you spent a little more time in the gym and less time posting bitter , angry shit on the internet your arm would n't feel it was going to fall off ? <p> Mr McSportsman , why do n't you try the Jerkface experiment yourself , aka follow the pointer on the screen with your finger while moving the mouse with your other hand ? And try to do this for 2 hours while surfing the net ? <p> The only convinient form factor for touch devices , is tablets and smartphones , aka something you can hold as if you were holding a newspaper . When I saw an HP touch desktop at a store ( it was like an iMac with a touchscreen and no mouse/keyboard ) , I though " there is a usability clusterfuck . " <p> This is Microsoft 's plan : The only way to make a Windows 8 computer that is n't too much of pain to use is to make a tablet or tablet-hybrid ( with the keyboard being able to be fold 180 degrees , like the screen of the Sharp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone to make x86 tablets , so that they fall into iPad category and " win " in tablets . <p> users have nowhere to go . If there is one thing interesting about the whole Windows 8 thing , is that it is going to test the " 90% of users have nowhere to go except Windows - the x86 version at least " theorem . The iPad is obviously not a primary computer ( again no moving files from and to USB , or scanners ) , so will OS X and Asus Transformer become alternatives to Windows ? <p> I 'm already seeing comments from people who want Surface so they can run more software than the iPad . Microsoft seems to be letting everyone assume this .... wtf is that about ? Oops forgot to mention that none of your Windows software works with this version of Windows . Is that gon na be a problem bro ? <p> I 'm already seeing comments from people who want Surface so they can run more software than the iPad . Microsoft seemsto be letting everyone assume this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that none of your Windows software works with this version of Windows . Is that gon na be a problem bro ? <p> Hmm ... Then what about the x86 version of the Surface ? ( and x86 Win8 tablets in general ) ? If they are priced right ( and I am not talking onpy about the Surface , but other tablets too ) , then people may see value in them . <p> Nothing to guess really , only the cheapest model is " sold out " - this proves the actual value of a " Windows " tablet is really slim even to Metro aficionados - even if they produced ten million of these R e T arded Tablets , it would still mean only a small number has been sold ; as it stands , it 's probably in the hundreds of thousands , considering the protracted Metro campaign , it really is a laughable number . <p> On Microsoft 's Surface page they do n't mention that it only works with RT compatible software . I explained this to my wife who at first thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only works with newer software like Office 2010 . She could n't conceive of Microsoft releasing a version of Windows that does n't work with anything . Her words after understanding RT

@@5127841 <p> " Let 's dial up that one I pulled on you in Madden when we were chillin ' with that sticky icky ... " Price , who is having a very good season that has been overlooked because he plays in the same conference as Andrew Luck and Matt Barkley , struggled against the Ducks

@@5127941 <h> UT Student Entrepreneurship Conference Speakers Announced <p> On September 15th the Technology Entrepreneurship Society and Scientific Entrepreneurship Society are teaming up to co-host the first ever UT Student Entrepreneurship Conference to provide the student body with exposure to the startup community at UT . The event will consist of 2 panels , a student startup showcase and free lunch thanks to the Austin Small Business Development Program . We have recruited the best faculty , staff and private sector startup experts to share opportunities available to undergraduate and graduate students on-campus and around Austin . Have a startup idea ? Do n't know where to start ? This conference is meant for you . <p> Dr. Bob Metcalfe is the UT Professor of Innovation and Chair of Free Enterprise . He co-teaches the 1 Semester Startup Camp and was instrumental in the allocation of Longhorn Startup Camp . He is most notably known for inventing the Ethernet cord and founding 3Com , the startup that made Ethernet the industry standard . He spent the last 10 years as a Venture Capitalist at Polaris Ventures in Boston , MA . He also is the faculty sponsor of Technology Entrepreneurship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the director of the Masters of Science in Technology Commercialization Program in McCombs Graduate School of Business . Previously he served as the director of the MOOT CORP program where he grew the competition from 11 to 40 universities . He also served on the screening panel of the Central Texas Regional Center of Innovation and Commercialization for the Texas Emerging Technology Fund supported by the governor 's office . <p> Isaac Barchas has been the director of the Austin Technology Incubator since 2006 and has developed the team that has grown ATI 3x . Previously he spent 8 years with McKinsley and Company where he focused on business building in industries such as biotechnology , software , wireless telecoms and internet retail . He is also an active board member for the Pecan Street Project , Austin Technology Council and the Central Texas Emerging Technology Fund . <p> Kyle Cox is the Austin Technology Incubator 's co-director of wireless technologies and lead advisor for ATI-University startups at Longhorn Startup Camp . He has 10 years experience starting and growing companies in New York as a Venture Capitalist , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to build on the success of entrepreneurial programs on-campus like the ATI-Seal Program , the " Innovation to Intellectual Property " course , Idea2Product Global Competition , Texas Venture Labs , 3 Day Startup and 1 Semester Startup . <p> Kate Brooks is the director of the Liberal Arts Career Services at UT-Austin and co-founder of the Liberal Arts Entrepreneurship course started in 2012 . The purpose of the class is to allow liberal arts major explore the practice of entrepreneurship by developing their own business idea into a business plan . She is also the author of " You Majored in What ? Mapping Your Path from Chaos to Career " and contains expertise in many other career planning areas . <p> Christina White is the director of the Longhorn Grand Challenges Scholars Program at UT , which is a curricular and extra-curricular program with five components designed to prepare students to be the generation that solves the National Academy of Engineering 's 14 Grand Challenges . <p> Austin Business Leader Panel ( afternoon ) <p> Rudy Garza is the founder and general managing partner of G-51 Capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' premier technology startups . In 2011 he served as the Chairman of the Board of the Texas Exes Association and is a lifetime honorary trustee of the Dell 's Childrens Medical Center in Austin . The startup seed was planted in Rudy 's career by UT technology commercialization pioneer George Kozmetsky during Rudy 's time as an MBA student at UT . <p> Josh Baer is the founder and managing director at Capital Factory in downtown Austin . He started his first company , SkyLink , from his dorm room at Carnegie Mellon and has been involved in a massive array of technology startups as entrepreneur , investor , advisor and mentor . He also co-teaches the 1 Semester Startup Class at UT . <p> Dan Graham is the founder and CEO of BuildaSign.com , which he started in college with his friends while trying to sell web development services to companies . Dan is an active supporter of the Longhorn Startup Community . He has served as mentor for many 1 Semester Startup companies and supports the entrepreneurship student organizations on-campus . <p> Noah Kagan is the founder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Austin . He has spent time with companies like Microsoft , Intel and was a critical developer of Facebook from 2005-2006 . He has been involved in many other projects including Entrepreneur27 , which is an organization that produced events for young technology entrepreneurs to socialize and learn . <p> Carol Thompson is an entrepreneur , economic development strategist , mentor and business advisor . Carol served as CEO of a five-store ComputerLand franchise , co-founded HireTech and Thompson Executive Search . She has served on 30 boards including the Dallas Federal Reserve board and was Chairman of the Austin Chamber of Commerce board . She now runs the Thompson Group in Austin . <p> An Austin Chamber of Commerce Representative will also sit on the panel to discuss their activities and interest in the university startup space . The Austin Chamber is a non-profit , membership driven organization with 2,400+ business enterprises , civic groups , educational institutions and individuals . Their mission is to provide leadership that facilitates the creation of a prosperous regional economy and effective advocacy for their members . <p> Currently serving the Longhorn Startup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Founder of UT Entrepreneurship Week and co-author of the Student Government bill that created the Longhorn Entrepreneurship Agency . Two previous startups , uThinkTank and ASquared Ent .. Also developed special projects

@@5128041 <h> UNION Square . The center Of NYC . A place for Clowns , I 'm not the only oneeeeee <p> Here the woman would not marry me . That 's very upsetting . A stud like me , you should always say Yes no matter what . <p> Photo by Adjua Greaves Here the Middle School Rebels beat me in a dance off . Very upsetting , you do n't understand how much training I do . My style of dance is not accepted in todays society . <p> Photo by Adjua Greaves So I have this issue with my brain . It likes to freeze every 3-5 minutes , my whole body ca n't move at the same time . People just take pictures of me like I 'm just some tourist attraction . What 's up with that ? I should of never installed chicken in my brain . <p> Photo by Adjua Greaves These people are awesome ! ! ! I forget where they were visiting from , but they all had fun . Wackiness comes from withinnnnnnnnnnnnn . <p> Filmed by Adjua Greaves I confront people and see if I could get them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buck cock a doodle doooooooooo . <h> About Matthew <p> I 've done filmmaking for a long time . I 'm done with it for now . I am a performer . I use to do street performance , soon I will do that again . My goal is

@@5128141 <p> Not Salem . Too small . I grew up there . Lots of bad memories . Great place to call home , not where I want to go back to though . <p> Not Hawaii . Too expensive . Too isolated . <p> You might call me picky . I just call myself self-aware . I know where God would regret sending me because I could never be happy . I would imagine you 've created a similar list in your mind . <p> Everyone has their list of where they simply will not move , even pastors . <p> But what happens when God calls you to where you do n't want to go ? What happens when He is leading you to the one place you never wanted to live ? <p> After living the previous 5.5 years in Portland , a place I thought God would leave me for a long , long time , I 'm now in Salem , a place that I refused to go back to . It 's not that God does n't care if we 've made a list about where we 'll never go , but He sees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to shape us to care less about the list . Tell God you do n't want to go to the desert and I imagine you will likely find yourself there within 5 years . <p> I talked with a pastor a few weeks back who mentioned several young guys he used to work with who were now serving in the one area they said they would never live . <p> It seems a common thread in my life is to declare the things I never want to do , and then I ultimately end up doing them . <p> None of us is much different than Jonah . God asked Jonah to go to one of those places he had in his list . And Jonah went the other direction . Like the complete opposite direction . Clearly his own way of telling God , " hey you forgot about my list of places I never want to go to . " <p> But we 're human and we 're each drawn to different people and places for different reasons . I do n't think God looks down on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see beyond ourselves , to a life where serving Him is the ultimate calling , and the place matters little in that calling . <p> Go ahead and write your list . Declare to God and the world all the things you never want to do and do n't feel called to do . <p> Just know as you write the list , you serve a God who has seemingly impossible things He wants to accomplish through you . He knows you 're human . You have preferences , strengths , weaknesses . <p> Even still , God wants you to serve with open hands , seeking adventure ,

@@5128241 <h> Which Parts of the Country Produce the Most NFL Players ? <p> Have you ever considered basing a lesson around sports data ? It 's a great way to connect to athletically focused students , and interesting as well . Think about new ways you can approach geospatial data while you 're watching your favorite games ! <p> We pulled just a small portion of the data from a recent study on where NFL players come from . Be sure to visit the full article from The Atlantic Cities for more information and several maps exploring the topic . <p> " Where do today 's NFL players actually come from ? It 's an empirical question -- one that can be answered with data . To get at it , I turned to Martin Prosperity Institute alumnus and UCLA doctoral student Patrick Adler , who tracked data on the cities and metros of birth for the 1,846 NFL players who were on the preseason rosters for NFL teams during the 2010 season , using team media guides and data on nfl.com . <p> The South has less of an edge in QBs than it does in overall players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Pacific as the place of origin for roughly 30 percent of NFL quarterbacks . This compares to the South 's 44 percent share of all NFL players . Eighteen percent of NFL quarterbacks hail from the Midwest , 16 percent from the Northeast , and just 4 percent from the Mountain states . QB is the only position where the South does n't command a clear plurality of players . <p> Again , it makes sense that places with large populations will also produce a high number of quarterbacks , so Adler again controlled for population , looking at quarterback production per 100,000 people . <p> When it comes to NFL players , the bottom line is this : Just as America is a metro nation ( with 84 percent of its population hailing from metro areas ) , football is a metro sport . Nearly 8 in 10 NFL players come from metros . And more than half ( 53 percent ) were born in the nation 's 50 largest metros . " <p> At GISetc.com we curate and bring you the best geography and science resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you

@@5128341 <p> " Oh , I see -- this is just going to be how it is from here on out , " said New York City resident Brian Marcello , coming to terms with the fact that an immense storm that cripples mass transit systems and knocks out power for millions in the nation 's largest metropolitan area can no longer be regarded as an isolated , freak incident , and will henceforth be just a normal thing that happens . " Hugely destructive weather events are going to keep happening , and they are going to get worse and worse , and living through them is something that will be a part of all our lives from now on , whether we like it or not . " <p> " I get it now , " Marcello added . <p> ... <p> " Right now , Americans all across the country are watching the aftermath of this storm and at long last recognizing that this is what life is like now , " said Dr. Richard Morales , a climatologist at the University of Pennsylvania . " Admittedly , it could take a little while for some to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day , people will be much happier once they accept that they and their loved ones will likely suffer the consequences of an even stronger , more deadly hurricane at some point very soon . It 's going to happen . " <p> " I went through something very similar a few years ago when I finally came to terms with the fact that no one would ever listen to anything I said about global warming , " Morales added . " And that it is entirely too late to do anything about it . " <p> Here 's the thing : By massively overconsuming fossil fuels , we have essentially bet the future of our civilisation on the faint hope that the consequences will not be as catastrophic as the science expects . But the wolf is now at our door , figuratively speaking . <p> Scientific American 's blog reviewed the evidence on the link between catastrophic weather events and climate change . Read the whole thing , but here 's the key point : <p> Scientists have long taken a similarly cautious stance , but more are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to intense storms and other extreme weather events , such as the warm 2012 winter in the eastern U.S. and the frigid one in Europe at the same time . They are emboldened because researchers have gotten very good in the past decade at determining what affects the variables that create big storms ... <p> Climate change amps up other basic factors that contribute to big storms . For example , the oceans have warmed , providing more energy for storms . And the Earth 's atmosphere has warmed , so it retains more moisture , which is drawn into storms and is then dumped on us . <p> Furthermore , there is an emerging scientific consensus that even relatively " modest " levels of warming , such as the 2 degrees that international agreements see as acceptable , will result in unpredictably negative consequences . Here 's what leading scientist James Hansen had to say a year ago : <p> Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels before the industrial revolution were about 280 parts per million on average . They have been rising ever since , and today are about 397 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ associated with an average global temperature rise of two degrees C. However , the latest analysis shows that a level of 450 ppm is enough to melt a significant portion of the world 's ice , because feedback mechanisms kick in ; melting ice hastens the melting of even more ice , for example , and thawing permafrost emits methane that accelerates warming , prompting permafrost to thaw even more . <p> If the number reaches 560 ppm , a doubling of preindustrial values , sea level globally could rise 25 meters , according to Eelco Rohling , professor of ocean and climate change at University of Southampton in the U.K. , who presented data at the AGU meeting with Hansen . Many large cities worldwide lie at that elevation or lower . The two scientists agreed that if nations continue to emit CO2 at current rates , the world could reach 560 ppm by 2100 . <p> The paleoclimate record also shows that 560 ppm would be enough to melt all the ice in the Arctic , and later the Antarctic . Rohling said that once the Antarctic melts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . " If governments keep going the way they are going , " Hansen added , " the planet will reach an ice-free state . " <p> Seas rising 25 metres would be fucking disastrous . 70 metres would practically send us back to the dark ages - erasing most major cities and most of global economic activity , killing many prime agricultural areas with salt , and sending the survivors into the overcrowded highlands . You can use this interactive map to see what it would mean for where you live . <p> Here 's what my city would look like with a 20m sea level rise : <p> My office would sink , along with the whole city centre and waterfront . My flat would be high and dry , but there would be a mangrove swamp instead of a motorway just down the road from me . The houses that both my parents grew up in - which are on different ends of the city - would be underwater . The airport would be inundated . And , because the water would rise up through the Mangare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Tasman , New Zealand would have three major islands . <h> No comments : <h> Disclaimer <p> This is my personal blog , and as a result represents nothing other than my personal thoughts at particular points in time . It does not reflect the opinions or positions of any organizations with which I may be associated . I do not use this space to comment on matters that I have worked on , am currently working on , or have a reasonable expectation

@@5128441 <p> The folks over at Lazygamer had a hunch regarding using this game on a second PS3 system , and it turns out their worst fears were true . Sony Online Entertainment recently elaborated on how the game 's physical disc is tied to the user 's account : <p> Once the PSN key has been consumed with a disk it can not be resold/replayed with the second user adding a sub -- only the original consumer can use that acct ... Disk and account are one . <p> You read that right , reselling this disc after activating the online key that it comes packaged with will turn the disc basically useless to anyone but the original key redeemer . This also includes other accounts on the same system , though a clarification has yet to be made regarding sub accounts on the original master PSN account . Is this the wrong direction for console MMOs to go ? Does the second-hand market even hurt an MMO 's bottom line ? Stay connected with

@@5128541 <h> 26 August 2009 <h> weddings i would like to attend : 1 <p> i know those hearts are going to make a few of you feel a wee bit nauseated , but if you recall from a long , long time ago i ca n't help myself when it comes to the giant red blobs of ink . <p> oh and their invitation was a poster ( i ca n't post it here due to some silly computer problems but you can see it here ) . i am so ready to have a client come to me and ask for a wedding invitation poster , in fact , i am so ready that i might be willing to do it at a pretty heft discount ... ahem ,

@@5128641 <h> watching you race toward the apocalypse you created <p> once upon a time , a small winged creature emerged from behind a rock and took a look around at the world - but the light was bright , the paths busy and their occupants loud and boisterous , and the creature has been trying to find a new rock ever since <p> It turns out that Britain is a country in which the mildest , most peaceful form of political protest imaginable -- heckling a politician during a public speech -- is now a crime . This is the kind of thing you expect to read about in Cuba , with a hundred right wing loonies tutting about the wonders of freedom as defined by Western capitalism in the comments . I can not imagine how the people of Britain have become so complacent that we are n't greeting the news of this with a million people standing vigil in front of Downing Street until the sentence -- and the " crime " for which it was given -- is revoked . <p> We 've slid into authoritarian dictatorship . At this point , elections every five years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow too many of us to pretend that what is happening in this country is n't really happening . <p> The next time some well-meaning idiot says , after an election , that they " just overthrew the government " , I 'm going to remind them of this , and ask them if they think that they stopped it from happening in the future . <p> But then , I doubt I 'm going to get the chance again . I am now 100% certain that there will be no election in 2015 -- and increasingly persuaded that there will be no election before or after 2015 either . The Conservatives only pay lip service to democracy until it stops working for them ; after that , it 's whoever has the most guns . <p> They are traitors to our country , and should be treated as such . And if they 're going to try and criminalise those of us who say so , then perhaps the time for saying so has passed . <p> addendum . One other point alarms me . By now it should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one sure way to receive a sentence whose disproportion would incense Draco 's sense of justice is to plead guilty when it comes to trial -- and that without a guilty plea , those so prosecuted stand a strong chance of an acquittal . So what the hell kind of pressure is being brought to bear on them that so many of them , like the broken victims of Stalin 's show trials confessing in halting voices to crimes they had clearly never heard of before the scripts of their confessions were set before them , persist in sanctioning their own persecution from the dock ? The UK has been revealed to be complicit in torture abroad -- perhaps such behaviours are learned at home , in dealing with those " subversives " not sufficiently organised

@@5128741 <h> USC 's 3-game stretch might have been nation 's toughest <p> Facing three top-10 teams in a row is enough to make any coach frustrated <p> By : Brian Rauf <p> South Carolina 's loss to Florida on Saturday capped what is perhaps the most grueling three-game stretch any team in the country will face this season . The Gamecocks are the only team to date that have had to play three top-10 teams over three consecutive weeks . <p> The first of these games was the emotional home victory for the Gamecocks on October 6 when they dominated then #5 Georgia , winning 35-7 . USC then traveled to Baton Rouge on October 13 and lost a close one to then #9 LSU 23-21 . The tough stretch concluded this past Saturday , when the Gamecocks got walloped by #2 Florida , 44-11 . <p> Just how tough were these past three weeks ? Well , the three-game stint Washington went through from September 27 through October 13 is the only stretch any other team in the country has gone through that is even remotely close to what USC went through , facing teams ranked ( at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 11th respectively ( Stanford , Oregon , and Southern Cal ) . However , the Huskies had two of those games and home and , like South Carolina , won only one of the three . <p> Looking to the future , no other program faces three straight teams currently ranked in the top-10 , but a couple could potentially face the tough task . Arkansas faces South Carolina , Mississippi State , and LSU in consecutive weeks from November 10-24 , and with those squads ranked 13th , 11th , and 6th , respectively , there is a possibility all three could be ranked in the top-10 by the time they play the Razorbacks . <p> Baylor has the more realistic shot ( unfortunately for the Bears ) at facing the feat , facing #8 Oklahoma on the road , then #3 Kansas State and #14 Texas Tech at home from November 10-24 . The Red Raiders will of course have to climb in the ranks and the Sooners and Wildcats will have to maintain their spots in the top-10 , but Baylor is probably the program most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @

@@5128841 <h> Vote Now For The Next BioShock Infinite Trailer ! <p> Back in May , we posted a message that said you would n't be seeing any new BioShock Infinite material for a while . Well , we 're back and we think it 's only fair to give you something new to jump-start the fall season . <p> Today , we 're starting with a countdown to the next BioShock Infinite trailer , and we 're giving you the power to influence some of the content ! <p> Simply head on over to the Official BioShock Facebook page and submit your vote for what you want to see in the next trailer . The countdown starts now so vote today ! <p> Voted for the options that will spoil the game the least ! Do n't want to know anything about Liz 's protector ! Or the handymen , although I do want to see more of skylines , seem like one of the best aspects of the game . <p> why would we vote for something we have already seen in other trailers and how much time is there until the trailer comes out , I ask @ @ @

@@5128941 <h> Innovation Needs to Be Part of Carbon Tax Debate <p> Last week , representatives of an array of think tanks and advocacy organizations from across the political spectrum gathered at the American Enterprise Institute ( AEI ) to discuss the feasibility of enacting a national carbon tax . It was the fifth such closed door-meeting . It might surprise people to learn that there is common ground between some conservatives and liberals on the idea of a carbon tax . However , even if a narrow patch of common ground yields a solid policy consensus , innovation must be part of the carbon tax debate . <p> To be sure , some activists on the Right have been highly critical of the group 's efforts , the participation of free market-oriented groups like AEI and the R Street Institute notwithstanding . In a post to a conservative listserv -- in which he also leaks a copy of the meeting agenda -- the Competitive Enterprise Institute 's Myron Ebell declares , " We must kill this incredibly harmful idea as quickly as possible . " " A carbon tax is not a conservative , free-market policy , " Nicolas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet a carbon tax has a surprising number of conservative supporters and could boost national energy innovation -- if structured properly . <p> Many Democratic policymakers have come out in support of a carbon tax , but support exists on the Right as well . In addition to the AEI gathering , last week saw the launching of the Energy and Enterprise Initiative , an organization dedicated to providing a platform for conservative ideas to address climate change -- including a carbon tax . In fact , its leader , former Republican congressman Bob Inglis , penned an editorial with Reagan economic advisor Arthur Laffer -- of Laffer curve fame -- several years ago in favor a carbon tax that is fully offset by a reduction in other taxes . Other examples of conservative supporters of a carbon tax include Republican statesman George Schultz , who called for such a tax to control for energy 's negative externalities , and former Republican congressmen Sherwood Boehlert and Wayne Gilchrest , who came out in support in a Washington Post editorial earlier this year . <p> Given support on both the Left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radical idea -- but is it a good one ? This issue is addressed in detail in the ITIF report An Innovation Carbon Price : Spurring Clean Energy Innovation While Advancing U.S. Competitiveness . The report notes that a carbon tax would harm U.S. industrial competitiveness and , given political constraints , " would never be high enough to induce the creation of affordable and accessible clean energy technology ( and thus reduce CO2 emissions ) . " In other words , we 'd both undermine our competitiveness and fall short of spurring the innovation of the new technologies essential in making clean energy competitive with fossil fuels . <p> In that vein , the ITIF report goes on to propose an " innovation carbon price " in lieu of a simple tax on carbon that could both reduce carbon emissions and boost economic competitiveness by encouraging innovation . An innovation carbon price would accomplish those goals by recycling revenues back into the economy in the form of a variety of growth and innovation-inducing business tax incentives and through the funding of a Clean Energy Innovation Trust Fund that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bipartisan deal on a carbon tax is very premature . One participant of the AEI gathering , David Jenkins of ConservAmerica , characterized it as " a very casual , informal meeting ... It 's all so preliminary and hypothetical and just basically brainstorming . " Republican congressional leaders have already signaled their opposition . Nevertheless , given the scope of the climate and energy challenges facing the nation , it is good to hear that thoughtful policy debate and discussion continues . " AEI has been and will continue to be , an intellectually curious place , " the think tank responded to critics of the gathering in a statement , " where products are n't influenced by interested parties , and ideas from all are welcome in seeking solutions for difficult public policy problems . " If a carbon tax is to be a serious policy proposal , however , spurring innovation must be part of the debate . ITIF 's idea of a carbon price would be a good starting point . <p> Clifton Yin is a Clean Energy Policy Analyst at the Information Technology and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Master of Public Policy degree with a focus on environmental and regulatory policy from the Georgetown Public Policy Institute . His master 's thesis sought to use statistical analysis

@@5129041 <h> Filed under <h> Related tags <p> HARTFORD , Conn . ( AP ) Gov . Dannel P. Malloy says Superstorm Sandy is over and the state has now begun the process of assessing damage and getting lives back to normal . <p> He cautioned that may take some time , but vowed to get the work done as quickly as possible . <p> Malloy says officials are still gathering information to determine how much damage the storm did along the shoreline , and he planned to tour the region on Tuesday . <p> The governor lifted the travel ban on state highways , but asked all non-essential state workers to stay home . All public schools in the state also were closed for the day . <p> Malloy says he is pleased with the job done by utility companies , but has made it clear they need to work quickly to get power restored . <p> ( Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press . All Rights Reserved . ) <p> By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN , Associated Press <p> FAIRFIELD , Conn . ( AP ) Some shoreline residents spent the night stranded in their homes by floodwaters as Superstorm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high winds , killing at least two people and damaging property from Stonington to Greenwich . <p> Gov . Dannel P. Malloy took to television and radio to warn those trapped not to attempt to swim to safety , and officials asked those in need of help to hang white sheets or towels from their windows . <p> National Guard troops assisted in rescue efforts overnight , especially in the western part of the shoreline , where the Sound narrows and the water levels were the highest , the governor said . <p> " I assume by now everyone who needed to be evacuated is evacuated or will be able to walk out of their premises at the light of day , " Malloy told WTIC-TV Tuesday morning . " We sent crews in high-water boats , troops , reinforcements to places throughout the state . " <p> Two people were killed by falling trees on opposite sides of the state . In Easton , a firefighter died when the truck he was riding in was hit by a tree before 6 p.m . <p> A 90-year old Mansfield woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tree fell on them . The family had lost power and was trying to make its way to the home of a neighbor who still had electricity , said Lt. J. Paul Vance . <p> Olga Raymond was pronounced dead at the scene . <p> The Coast Guard was searching for a 40-year-old man who disappeared in the waters off Milford . Authorities say Brian Bakunas was last seen swimming in heavy surf near the Walnut Beach Pier shortly before 8 p.m . <p> Fire crews in Greenwich and Old Saybrook watched helplessly as several homes burned in beach areas cut off by floodwaters . No injuries were reported in those fires . <p> Old Saybrook fire Chief Chief J.T. Dunn told WVIT-TV that a team of firefighters in water rescue suits used a retired military vehicle to try to rescue anyone remaining in the two burning homes at Chalker Beach , but the vehicle lost electrical systems in the floodwaters , and they could n't continue to the fire because the water was several feet deep . <p> More than 615,000 customers were remained without power Tuesday morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to leave their homes under mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders , but Malloy said it was apparent that towns and residents did not all take the warnings seriously enough . He said he suspected there were thousands in harm 's way and he would worry later about " who should have done what . " <p> Earlier Monday , officials including Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch knocked on doors as water began spilling into the city . <p> " The water 's got no place to go . It 's been pushed all the way up the coast into this funnel , " Finch said . <p> United Illuminating was forced to shut off three substations in the city to prevent seawater from hitting energized equipment and causing a catastrophic failure . <p> Connecticut Light &; Power workers spent most of Monday constructing a 6-foot concrete wall around a substation in Stamford in an attempt to keep the water at bay . <p> Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia said city officials were concerned the storm surge could push water over a hurricane barrier built by the Army Corps of Engineers to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1956 . If the surge reached 12 feet , it could push water over the barrier and flood downtown Stamford . <p> " That is something that we ca n't even imagine , " Pavia said . " I always believed it was impregnable . " <p> The storm surge exceeded 13 feet in western Long Island Sound , driven partly by a full moon and high tides , forecasters said , and officials feared winds from the massive storm would keep the water from draining at low tide . <p> Sandy , which had been a hurricane , roared ashore on the New Jersey coast Monday evening as a dangerous hybrid storm , combining with a wintry system from the west and cold air from the Arctic . <p> Malloy said 850 National Guardsmen were deployed around the state and would remain in Connecticut during the storm and its immediate aftermath . With winds above 50 mph forecast for much of the state , the governor also banned trucks and nonemergency vehicles from most highways beginning at 1 p.m . Monday . <p> Water spilled over a beach road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the storm in homes near the water despite official warnings . <p> " I did n't like my options , " Bob Gigliotti said when asked why he was not evacuating . Associated Press writers Dave Collins , Pat Eaton-Robb and Michael Melia in Hartford and Susan Haigh in New London contributed to this report . <p> http : **35;1715;TOOLONG ... Gov . Dannel Malloy warned potentially thousands of residents who had been placed under evacuation orders may now

@@5129141 <h> This Used To Be The Road Between Avalon And Sea Isle City , NJ Photo <p> Of all the hellscape-ish photos I 've seen of Hurricane Sandy damage along New Jersey 's barrier islands , this one that my friend John texted up today really felt like a gut punch . <p> It 's of the causeway connecting Avalon to the Townsends Inlet Bridge and , then , Sea Isle City , where I spent five glorious years of my adult life . More accurately

@@5129241 <h> The Most Interesting Man in the World Was a Red Shirt on Star Trek ... and He Survived the Entire Episode ! <p> by Joey deVilla on October 8 , 2012 <p> The Red Shirt is one of the great staples of classic Star Trek . They were background crew members of the U.S.S. Enterprise in red uniforms ( which meant they were in operations -- engineering , security or support ) , and are remembered by viewers of the 1960s TV series as cannon fodder . As soon as you saw a non-main character in a red shirt join Kirk , Spock ad McCoy in the landing party , you knew that it was likely to be the poor sod 's last mission . As quick and dirty writing device for injecting some tension into a story as well as reminders to the audience that space exploration was

@@5129341 <h> are what we repeatedly do . Excellence then , is not an act , but a habit . " -Aristotle <h> 10 Things Teachers Want To Know About Your Kids <p> Teachers have hopes and goals for creating good relationships with students and parents . To start off the new school year right , there are some basics that most teachers want to know about their students -- their learning habits , likes and dislikes , and any circumstances at home that might affect their ability to learn . <p> To help you out , this is my list of things we school teachers want to know about your kids to help your children perform to their utmost . <p> 1 . Smart Teachers want to call their students the name that they are most comfortable with . If Gertrudis has endured tons of insults on account of her birth name , does n't she have the right to be called what she likes to hear : Gertie or Trudy ? <p> 2 . Responsible Teachers want to know the best way to contact you . Does email work better for you ? Is it okay to call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message on the home phone ? Responsible teachers should provide students and parents with contact information , too . <p> 3 . Curious Teachers want to know what stimulates your child 's growing mind . What makes him happy ? What infuriates him ? What social causes does he feel strongly about ? Regardless of a child 's grade level , teachers want to know about their students ' personal interests , at the beginning of the year and ultimately by December ! <p> 5 . Observant Teachers want to know about the family situation . Does a child live with Mami and Papi ? Or does he split his time between two homes because of a divorce ? Do extended family members live there too ? Some children emigrate from other countries and live with an aunt or uncle . Language barriers can prevent important school communication . Seek out staff members who speak Spanish , French , or the languages of the local community . <p> 6 . Organized Teachers collect important data for every student . The academic histories of their students help them teach in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive individualized education plans ( I.E.P. 's ) for students with delayed skills or disabilities . But why not be proactive and send an email to your child 's teacher with more details ? <p> 7 . Compassionate Teachers are concerned about the social and emotional wellbeing of their students . We notice when they are quieter than usual . And while students are entitled to a yucky days , loving teachers will notice if a student is becoming withdrawn . Be aware that we prefer to communicate privately with students in order to not embarrass them around their peers . But if we feel we can not handle it , compassionate educators direct their students to the appropriate school staff members that can help . <p> 8 . Culturally-Sensitive Teachers create an academic environment that celebrates the individual backgrounds of their students . Be it a language that they speak or read , or by just celebrating their heritage . We want your children to be comfortable and have pride in their languages and cultural ancestry . <p> 9 . Tech-Savvy Teachers want their students to know why a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American history . We know that learning from an old history textbook is downright nauseating . Tech-savvy teachers bring historical events to life . Take for example Martin Luther King 's Letter from Birmingham Jail , which just so happened to be written on the torn-up margins of an old newspaper ! Check out The Library of Congress ' American Memory Collection . <p> 10 . Community-Minded Teachers want your child to know that school life should extend beyond the classroom . We want your child to consider sports or the drama club or anything else that interests your child . He should seek to develop relationships with other students through volunteer work : i.e. raising money for clean water in developing countries , or by

@@5129441 <h> January 22 , 2010 <h> I was sure it would be a solid B+ <p> People are raving about Jon Stewart 's supposed rip on that lunatic Keith Olbermann . It has its moments , you can watch it here , but it 's clear that Stewart is a fan of Olbermann and so was ultimately quite respectful about the whole thing . <p> Olbermann 's reaction to the video ? " It was a little bit of a ripoff of the Affleck thing , but overall , I 'd give it a B- " <p> Protect your home and family from intrusion with ADT home security monitoring . Nothing can give you more peace of mind than knowing your loved ones are safe . <p> **40;5639;TOOLONG ... <p> NOTICE : I 'm a public relations consultant in NYC . From time to time I will write favorable posts about my clients because I believe in my clients and their causes . At that time , I will disclose any relationship with the client . Consider this statement as adequate disclosure for all my possible conflicts of interest now and in the future . Additionally , all material @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may not represent that of my clients . This includes my comments on other sites as well as anything I say in person . Finally , it should be noted that

@@5129541 <h> Autism , Plurality , Politics , Self-Advocacy <h> Richard Whither conservatism ? <p> I am a conservative in a very literal sense : there are things about society that should indeed be conserved , and there is much to be said about a measured approach to politics , rather than discarding everything for the sake of novelty . I believe strongly in family values , but do not believe they should be restricted to one type of family . I think that cultural preservation is of the utmost importance . Of course , engaging in racist , xenophobic , misogynistic or homophobic hatred would be rank hypocrisy from me , considering the company I share in our system , and our own experiences . <p> However , I started to distance myself from the label , because of the extremism that masquerades under the moniker of ' conservatism ' . Loathing hurled at asylum-seekers . Attempts at aggressive privatization of the British Welfare State , in a neo-Thatcherite mould . Republican tripe about President Obama 's birth certificate . Repeat all of these , ad nauseam . <p> I 've aligned myself with the Tories in the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its tenets , I am uncomfortable with their obsession with austerity as a solution to Britain 's current recession . I had expected more of David Cameron before his becoming Prime Minister two years ago , and I 'm disappointed with his actions . I had hoped for an improvement over the disastrous Gordon Brown , and I feel that while he 's far less extreme than his Republican counterparts in the United States , he 's far too influenced by them . Scaling back on excess spending does n't require doing it on the backs of the less fortunate . In the United States , I have no such identification with conservatism , though . Republicanism is utterly nasty , and I have little patience for it . Before the election of Barack Obama , I was able to read Republicans ' blogs without my teeth being set on edge ; afterwards , their small-mindedness was laid bare , and I have no desire to encourage such behaviour , even though page views . This is n't to say , of course , that it 's Obama 's fault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hatred and use it as a strategy to oppose the President 's policies . One can disagree with him without resorting to covert -- or overt , in the case of many talk-radio and Fox News ideologues -- racial attacks . For my part , I supported Obama over either of his Republican rivals , but I had far more respect for John McCain than I did the odious Mitt Romney . <p> I would like to see conservative parties like the Tories and Republicans sincerely evaluate the meaning of ' conservatism ' , and put witless extremism to rest . <p> Conservatism is n't puerile ranting about asylum-seekers , birth certificates , Muslims and gays . It

@@5129641 <p> WASHINGTON ( AP ) Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz insisted Tuesday that the Ahmed Chalabi 's organization provided information that helped U.S. forces in Iraq , but conceded that some of the Iraqi politician 's recent behavior was ' ' puzzling . ' ' Wolfowitz , testifying before the House Armed Services Committee , denied that Chalabi was ever a favorite of the Pentagon , as he has been widely described . Chalabi 's star has fallen in recent months because much of the intelligence his group supplied on Iraq 's alleged weapons of mass destruction programs failed to pan out . Last month , U.S. soldiers and Iraqi police raided his residence and office . Allegations then surfaced that he supplied Iran with

@@5129741 <h> 5 Issues To Think About When Starting Your Website <p> Find a web designer who can speak to your level of understanding . Most people are n't familiar with how web sites are created , so the process can be a little intimidating . Unfortunately , a lot of web designers do n't take this into account and use too much technical mumbo-jumbo . Find someone who can communicate clearly to you in laymen 's terms . It 's important that you have a clear understanding of what you 're getting . <p> Create a rough outline of what you envision for your site , such as what pages you think you will need . Obviously you will need a Home page , an About the Company page , and a Contact page ( always have a Contact page , even if your contact information is on every page of the site ) . You will likely need a Services and/or Products page , or section of pages.If you 're an interior designer , for instance , your " products " section might be a gallery of your past projects . If so , how many projects would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What would you say about each project ? You do n't have to have absolute answers to these questions in the beginning , but at least give them some thought so there is a clear scope of your web site project . <p> Hire someone to help you write your web site 's content . If you ask almost any experienced web designer and they will tell you , the #1 issue that slows down the progress of a web site is the client 's inability to formulate their written content . Additionally , your site 's content should be written with a slight eye toward keyword integration for the purpose of getting ranked in the search engines . A writer experienced in writing specifically for web sites will help you get your site online much quicker , and the result will likely bring you much more traffic . It 's well worth it . <p> Be realistic . Contrary to what they show in movies and TV shows , just putting a web site online does n't mean that the next day everyone will be knocking down your door @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gain ranking in the search engines , build traffic , and occasionally have some fresh content . For the entire life of your web site , you will need to baby it , nurture it , and keep it fresh . <p> Be cautious about search engine marketing scams . Once you have a web site you will be contacted by companies telling you that your site is not ranked well in the search engines ( even if it is ) , and that for X number of dollars they can make your site Number 1 . Everyone wants to be Number 1 , so these assurances can be very alluring . But many times , you just end up wasting a lot of money . <p> Many search engine marketing companies are reputable , but a lot of others are created just to take advantage of people who are desperate to get more business . If it

@@5129841 <p> Zaha Hadid Architects has won the international competition to build the new National Stadium of Japan . The Practice , which produced the London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Olympic Games , was selected ahead of 45 other international architecture firms for the US $1.62bn development . <p> The announcement was made in Tokyo by celebrated Japanese architect Tadao Ando , who chaired the judging panel . British architects Richard Rogers and Norman Foster were also judges . Making the announcement Mr Ando praised the fluidity and innovation of Hadid 's design and how it complements Tokyo 's landscape . " The entry 's dynamic and futuristic design embodies the messages Japan would like to convey to the rest of the world , " said Mr Ando at a press conference on Thursday . <p> " It is an honour for us to be selected to build the new National Stadium of Japan . I would like to thank the Japan Sports Council , the competition jury and the people of Japan who will enjoy this magnificent new venue . I have worked in Japan for 30 years . Our three decades of research into Japanese architecture and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look forward to building the new National Stadium , " Hadid said . " The stadium will become an integral element of Tokyo 's urban fabric , directly engaging with the surrounding cityscape to connect and carve the elegant forms of the design . The unique structure is both light and cohesive , defining a silhouette that integrates with the city . The perimeter of the stadium will be an inhabited bridge : a continuous exhibition

@@5129941 <p> Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal was quoted in the Wall Street Journal saying that " Iran is very vulnerable in the oil sector , and it is there that more could be done to squeeze the current government . " While Jay Solomon notes the former intelligence head was speaking in " private capacity , " Faisal has been used in the past to " float ideas " concerning Saudi policy . Faisal allegedly made the " closed-door remarks " earlier in the month , likely after the Saudi-led 4 Gulf country proposal to increase crude oil production was rejected by a 7 country majority ( Nigeria remained neutral ) . Meanwhile discussions about whether markets require more crude oil continue . Earlier in the month Katherine Spector at CIBC World Markets was quoted in Reuters saying that <p> Saudi is the cartel member most interested in earning political ' points ' with consuming countries , and maintaining its image as a reliable supplier of last resort .... Venezuela and Iran likely feel they have less to gain politically by increasing quotas as a symbolic gesture . <p> And according to policy analyst Ian Bremmer of the Eurasia Group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ " the most substantial fallout from the Arab world 's recent upheaval is behind us , " more additional supply is coming and OPEC 's biggest producer Saudi Arabia increased production anyway . <p> Economically stressed oil producers such as Iran and Venezuela always want higher oil prices . But the Saudis and other Gulf Co-operation Council producers maintain a longer-term moderating outlook and they are the ones with the spare capacity to make the difference . <p> As an addendum to my post from the 17th , Vali Nasr has also weighed in on the debate about what the departure of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will mean for US policy . Writing in Foreign Policy the professor of international politics states : <p> Ahmadinejad is a threat to clerical supremacy , but without him , Khomeinism is even more vulnerable to reformist challengers . The alternative would be a right-wing ideological state -- nationalist , fundamentalist , populist , and ruled by militarism , something akin to the Japan of the 1930s . And that can not last . In this contest between Iran 's elite factions , the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring about the quickest end to the Islamic Republic . <p> While an Iran nationalist-led Islamic Republic of Iran could indeed prove to be more powerful than the one led by the increasingly hated clergy , Nasr 's statement that " around the region , Ahmadinejad has had little impact " is questionable . <p> As shown by a 2010 Sadat Chair/Zogby International poll surveying Arab public opinion in Egypt , Jordan , Lebanon , Morocco , Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates , when asked about the world leader Arabs admired most , Ahmadinejad came in 3rd place , behind Recep Erdo ? an and Hugo Chavez . This amounts to quite an impact , no ? <p> My own analysis of the results suggested that Iran is benefiting from the sentiment that " the enemy of my enemy is my friend . " This was particularly visible when those polled were asked to identify the two states that posed the biggest threat to them : 88 percent identified Israel , 77 percent identified the United States and 10 percent identified Iran . While the results on this latter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held across countries polled . <p> But this year the populist leader is n't only the enemy of the West , he 's also a public enemy of Iran 's traditional ruling elite and it will be interesting to see how Arab populations respond to the increasing attacks on him . <h> 3 Responses to " Iran needs to be Squeezed and Ahmadinejad needs to go " <h> Jon Harrison <p> June 27 , 2011 @ 11:55 am <p> The Saudis would like to have oil prices stable at around $80-85 a barrel , for political and security reasons . Or , to put it another way , they prefer to bleed us slowly so we do n't die , which would leave them them alone to face the rise of the Shia across the Gulf . <p> Telhami is of course correct . The pressure upon Israel in coming decades will only keep growing . I personally am convinced that Israel will disappear in 30-40 years . Whether it ends in a bloodbath or not , I 'm not sure . But one way or another , the Jewish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prices there as that is a fair price that wo n't drain us , or them . They understand that a healthy economy with modest oil prices is better for the both of us . Frankly , the guy who sells you gas is most dependent on a healthy economy -- you might listen to him . <p> If we had listened to the Saudis , we would have been well served -- at least on economic , oil supply issues , frankly , though their authoritarian ways in Bahrain and their own shortcomings on civil and social liberties are another matter . They called out the last two oil speculation bubbles , even though the higher prices were helpful to them in the short run . They offered to increase production , even though there was no extra demand , as there is no unmet demand now . <p> Somehow , I doubt the Saudis are or feel as existentially threatened by the Iranians as we 'd like to think . It 's like us using the Soviets in the 80 ? s to start this latest phase of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10:30 pm <p> If the Saudi Oligarchs -- best friends of Our Oligarchs -- have anything to say about anything -- you can bet they wo n't be speaking on behalf of you or I. To anyone who thinks the Saudis are helping the average American , time to get your head out of your ass . <p> The Saudis are feeling a bit nervous about their own circumstances and that is what guides their actions . They are terrified that the large Shia minority in Saudi will be inspired by other uprisings of the so called ' Arab Spring ' . They want to shift focus off of themselves and onto an external threat . Ahmedinajad fits the bill perfectly . Sound familiar ? <p> The threat is n't in Iran . If the U.S. **28;507;TOOLONG Complex wants a war with Iran , they 'll get it . <p> Jim Lobe is best known for his coverage of U.S. foreign policy , particularly the neo-conservative influence in Washington DC . The Washington Bureau Chief of the international news agency Inter Press Service ( IPS ) , Lobe has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tompaine.com , and was featured in BBC and ABC

@@5130041 <h> Pension Plan Found to Be Discriminatory on the Basis of Age <p> There is some great news for older employees of Baltimore County . For years , Baltimore had required older employees to pay higher pension contributions than those paid by younger employees . The Maryland federal court has just ruled that this practice violated the Age Discrimination in Employment Act . <p> According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission : <p> A federal judge has granted summary judgment against Baltimore County in favor of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ( EEOC ) , the federal agency announced today . In so doing , the judge found that Baltimore County 's pension plan , known as the Employee Retirement System ( ERS ) , violates the Age Discrimination in Employment Act ( ADEA ) because the plan is inherently discriminatory . U.S. District Judge Benson Everett Legg also denied Baltimore County 's motion for summary judgment . <p> The EEOC initially filed suit against Baltimore County in September 2007 , charging that Baltimore County discriminated against Wayne A. Lee , Richard J. Bose , Sr. , and a class of similarly situated employees at least 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributions than those paid by younger employees ( Case No . BEL-07-2500 , filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland , Northern Division ) . The EEOC also named various county labor organizations as defendants who must negotiate with Baltimore County to effectuate the changes sought in its lawsuit . In January 2009 , the Court awarded summary judgment in favor of Baltimore County . <p> After the EEOC appealed , the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the entry of summary judgment and remanded the case to the District Court to decide whether Baltimore County 's pension plan is supported by permissible financial considerations ( EEOC v. Baltimore County , 385 F. App'x 322 , 325 4th Cir. 2010 ) . The District Court rejected Baltimore County 's argument that the Supreme Court 's decision in Kentucky Retirement v. EEOC , 554 U.S. 135 ( 2008 ) excused the pension practice . Noting that Baltimore County " was given an opportunity to conduct full discovery , including a comprehensive 30(b) ( 6 ) deposition of Buck Consultants , the actuarial firm that has been responsible for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Baltimore County had failed to bring forward non-age related financial considerations that justify the disparity in contribution rates between older and younger workers . The next phase of the litigation will determine damages . <p> " It is pretty rare that any plaintiff can win any claim against a pension plan , " said EEOC General Counsel David Lopez . " While some may have thought the Kentucky Retirement decision spelled the death knell for this case and others like it , our perseverance paid off in limiting the impact of that decision . The EEOC is prepared to vigorously litigate these cases , where necessary , to ensure compliance with the law . " <p> EEOC Regional Attorney Debra Lawrence said , " The County made older employees pay more than younger employees for the same retirement benefits , without any financial justification . Older employees felt the impact of this discrimination in every paycheck . Because more money is taken out of older employees ' paychecks to fund their retirement benefits , they receive less pay than younger employees doing the same job . With the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlawful practice . " <p> This resolution is the latest in a series of systemic suits the EEOC has brought against public employers alleging age discrimination in the provision of retirement benefits . In several related cases against Minnesota state agencies , the federal agency challenged early retirement incentive plans that denied health benefits for those employees who chose not to retire earlier than age 55 . The Eighth Circuit agreed that the plan violated the ADEA . In a case against an Arizona school district , the EEOC challenged a retirement plan that granted more compensation for unused leave to younger employees than to older employees . These cases settled . <p> The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination . The EEOC 's Philadelphia District oversees Maryland as well as Pennsylvania , Delaware , West Virginia and parts of New Jersey and Ohio . Further information about

@@5130141 <h> At the Heart of the City <p> To briefly introduce the city of Shenzhen , here are some statistics . The area of the sub-provincial city is 2,050 km 2 ( 790 sq mi ) and the urban area is 412 km 2 ( 159 sq mi ) . In 2010 , the sub-provincial city 's population was 10.4 million with a density of 5,100/km2 ( 13,000/sq mi ) and the urban population was 3.6 million with a density of 8,600/km2 ( 22,000/sq mi ) . Just for a quick comparison , the City of Portland has a population density of 1,655 km2 ( 4,288/sq mi ) . In 2010 , the total GDP was $146 billion US$ which comes out to be $14,615 US$ per capita and 10.7% growth . <p> My exploration of Shenzhen had started on the 2 nd day of my arrival . Four of us , three French interns and me , were given free time and encouraged to visit the different areas of the city . Our very first destination was the Civic Center . <p> Civic Center <p> I found the complex rather intimidating . It had no sense of representing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perhaps that was the point . Most people are not aware of the fact that the government 's primary role is to serve the people and not the other way around . I was wondering how one would design a main public square for city of 15 million inhabitants . Was it ever full of people and what would be the occasion ? The scale was no different from the Forbidden City courts or Tian'an Men Square in Beijing , yet those two have one distinct difference -- they were almost packed with visitors . Here the square was empty , but in the shadow , below expansiveness of the roof structure , teenagers found a perfect spot for practicing martial arts , doing yoga or fixing their bicycles . Here 's link to short video : http : **35;3822;TOOLONG ... <p> We blamed the absence of people on the heat , intimidating nature of the place and the fact that we were there in the middle of working week . Little did we know , while walking over the expansive plaza which was behind the government building , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mall . We were told in advance to take a look at the Central Book City . As soon as we went down two floors , we found both a large book store as well as people . Hiding from the heat of the day , they were perfectly comfortable indoors , taking over the floor and enjoying the reading . <p> Cultural Center <p> I had explored the Cultural and Convention Centers several weeks later , with one of my American counterparts . The three centers however are so interconnected , that it makes sense to talk about all three at once . <p> The Cultural Center has two main parts : Shenzhen Concert Hall and Shenzhen Library . On the other side of shopping mall one can also see the Children 's Palace , but I had no chance to explore it and will skip it all together . Both the library and concert hall are interconnected and share a common entry point . It is a strange connection . At street level they are divided by road constantly taken over by pedestrians who are supposed to use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fountains on both sides of the entry attract people like a magnet , although the shaded plaza in front of the complex is not utilized . Entering into the library , we were submerged into a space filled with young people reading , studying , and researching on their computers . The library 's book selection seemed to be limited , yet there were no empty spots at desks , no empty chair anywhere , and readers comfortably took over day lighted stair cases . <p> Convention Center <p> The foot print of the convention center is even bigger than the one taken by municipal building . Both are rather low structures , but spanning several blocks . City blocks here in China are of enormous proportions . Approaching the building one has to cross eight-lane-road only to find themselves in front of three enormous flights of stairs . I found it very common in China to indicate a significant entry by utilizing stairs . Some entries have escalators included into the overall design . However , I have yet to find one working exterior escalator , Convention and Civic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ramps . <p> Inside , we found a hall filled with strangely dressed young people . I do n't play computer games , so it took me a while to realize what type of exhibition they came to visit . My guess was Japanese cartoon and video games characters are very popular here . For tourist , however , the main attraction is observation deck up on the 4 th floor and the restaurant with a city view on the 6 th floor . One can walk to the observation floor that provides views from the south deck to the civic center and the north deck provides views to the urban village . Side entrances to the building were no less impressive and I started to question if everything in China designed for giants ? <p> Parks linking the development <p> I remembered the aerial view I have seen and the fact that entire development , from civic center to convention center tied together with the sequence of multiple parks . Instead of following the line of skyscrapers on either side of the park line , my coworker and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ park . Finding our way to the roof top of the shopping mall was not as easy and we did figure it was not a commonly taken path . And yes , we barely saw any people in the park , besides people who were actually working on landscaping ; yet , it was a great place to be . All of a sudden we were completely taken out of the urban environment and could not even see the towers we knew were still guarding both sides of the park . <p> I was pleasantly surprised when on my second day in Shenzhen . I had seen examples of sustainable storm water management strategies implemented at the very heart of the city . Right in front of Civic Center , large retention ponds were situated in the midst of new park . Across the street from entrances to the building , one could see dry swales . Buildings adjacent to the park , near the Convention Center , had great examples of green roofs used over public restrooms and secluded shelters . Eventually the park sloped up and gradually became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of mall , I could see linear retaining pond features . I have read that the development used solar powered lighting fixtures throughout and

@@5130241 <h> OpenBag : Gabriela Gutierrez and maps that you can touch <p> Gabriela Gutierrez stopped by OpenBag to talk about her mapping projects . <p> Gabriela explores ways to make maps tactile and interactive . She uses in-laid LED in historical transit maps as a way to change the map-viewing experience . The lights bring the viewer right to the map and change the relationshiop from that of a viewer-to-fixed object to a more interactive one . In her words : <p> The idea is that we use maps every day , we think of them as ordinary and useful objects , but we are rarely invited to touch them . With simple techniques , maps can be transformed

@@5130341 <h> Could massive changes be in the works for EACS board ? <p> With four seats out of seven open on the East Allen County Schools board , the majority of the board could be replaced this election , especially with two of the four incumbents opting not to run for re-election . <p> Both incumbents who are seeking re-election have spent more than 10 years on the board each . A change in the makeup of the board to spark change in the district is what newcomers are pushing for . <p> Likely one of the biggest issues facing the future board : the results of a survey conducted by Daryl Yost , director of certified technology at the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center and a former EACS superintendent . That survey revealed EACS employees , parents and taxpayers believe the board does n't represent the district as a whole but its own specific communities , and it confuses its responsibility for governance with the administration 's role for managing the district . <p> The current EACS board has moved forward with a redesign plan that kept all five high schools and created five feeder systems in the district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Haven and Harding . <p> A plan in some form was required as the district faced a growing budget deficit and shrinking enrollment . <p> Part of the current plan tried to create uniformity in grade configurations using early childhood centers , intermediate schools and junior-senior high schools in all attendance areas for consistency . In the process , some schools were closed , but others that were slated for closure have remained open because of the failure to secure funding for required construction projects . <p> The EACS community has n't shown complete support of the plan , evidenced in two failed referendums : one for the district 's general fund and one for construction . However , remonstrance processes for the Woodlan and Heritage construction projects were successful . <p> Whoever is elected to serve as board members will continue to face declining enrollment , at a pace faster than previously predicted , due to increasing options like vouchers for private schools and charters . <p> Up for re-election are two at-large seats along with Districts 4E ( New Haven ) and 7E ( Leo area ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lines for school board member districts that varies slightly from the previous map . <h> District 5R ( at-large ) <p> Janice Witte , the incumbent for the 5R at-large seat , moved out of the 5R district and said if she wanted a spot on the board , she would be forced to run against current board member Terry Jo Lightfoot . For this reason , Witte , the current board president , has decided not to seek a second term . <p> Bob Nelson and Mike Paff will vie for Witte 's at-large seat in November . <p> Nelson said he began attending EACS board meetings during the process of choosing a redesign plan . He said would like to have more input as the redesign plan moves forward . <p> Nelson is a small-business owner , a 1975 graduate of Woodlan Junior-Senior High School and has been a basketball and track coach for more than 10 years . He resigned as a coach to run for the board position . <p> " I love East Allen County Schools , " he said . " I want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a clear communication and morale problem , demonstrated through Yost 's survey , and he says his experience in marketing and communications could help . He said from talking to EACS residents , he 's heard that the district 's test scores and schools ' autonomy are problems to be addressed . <p> " The board is n't providing the direction it should for the administration and the administration is n't staying as hands-off as it should , " Nelson said . " I think everyone who 's served ( on the board ) has done their best , but it 's time for things to change . " <p> Mike Paff is also a product of East Allen County Schools . Paff was born and raised in Leo and graduated from Leo Junior-Senior High School . He worked as a business consultant working on turning around , shutting down or starting up manufacturing plants before moving back to the area 14 years ago . He serves as the director of industrial operations at AWS . Now he said he believes its time to give back to the community as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use lessons learned in business leadership to help put the fragmented board back together . <p> " The board is n't showing the type of teamwork we need . That 's not what the public needs to see , " he said . " We need to really look at unifying the school board , not pitting communities against each other . " <h> District 6R ( at-large ) <p> Arden Hoffman will face incumbent Richard Allgeier for one of three at-large seats on the EACS board . <p> Hoffman understands that he 's the underdog in this race as he tries to unseat Allgeier , on the board since 1996 . The Heritage Junior-Senior High School grad has lived in the district all his life and has been teaching Junior Achievement classes in the district for about 25 years . Hoffman is an engineer with Raytheon and holds a bachelor 's in engineering from IPFW . <p> He said the board needs help and a change . He said he can help with problem solving and team building skills along with experience at Raytheon as a manager leading a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what 's needed on the school board : students , staff , the administration , the board as well as the community all working together as a team to make students successful , " he said . <p> Hoffman said the board has made a number of decisions he disagrees with , but admits that as a newcomer , he 'd need to get acclimated and find out why the board made a certain decision . <p> " I 've decided that this public school system needs the community 's help , and I 've decided to put myself on the line , " he said . <p> Allgeier , who has been a mainstay on the EACS board , said he 's on the board " to make a difference . " He said one major issue in EACS is the flow of information between all groups : employees , parents , students , administration and board . <p> " There 's too many surprises for everyone , " he said . <p> He also hopes to remain on the board to be a part of Superintendent Karyle Green @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <h> District 4E ( New Haven area ) <p> Incumbent Alyssa Lewandowski in 4E has also chosen not to seek another term on the board . She cited the need to spend more time at home with her children and other personal reasons for not seeking re-election . <p> Chris Baker , the manager of a local architectural firm , has been a part of the New Haven community for more than 20 years , he said . Baker , 45 , holds an associate 's degree from ITT in architectural design . <p> Baker said the academic and financial issues in EACS are what he would like to address as well as the divisiveness of the board . <p> " We can not continue to operate under the premise that there are five areas of East Allen County Schools , " he said . <p> He also cited the community 's distrust of the district as a problem that requires attention . <p> " I want to earn that trust back , " he said . <h> District 7E ( Leo area ) <p> Twelve-year incumbent Terry Jo Lightfoot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Board Association Member of the Year , will run against Vince Buchanan . <p> Lightfoot is a business owner and former teacher who said she " has a real passion for the education of children . " She said she would like to be a part of the completion of the district 's redesign plan and help to figure out what will work in the New Haven and Harding areas , where the construction referendum would have addressed problems . <p> She said she also hopes to help with challenges teachers are facing , the result of changes to state laws that affect collective bargaining rights and performance-based evaluations . <p> " Teachers feel strapped , " she said . " Over the next few years , I want to work with the district and the state to help teachers meet requirements . " <p> Buchanan has served on several boards including the Indiana Restaurant Association , Mancino 's Licensing Association and the Regional Chamber of Northeast Indiana . <p> " I believe I have a good understanding of the role the board should play , " he said . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the rest of the district and enables EACS to deal with the problems it faces , ? he said . <p> " Public education is in its most challenging environment ever . It 's critical to have a board that is forward-thinking and works as a team to provide the best opportunities for students , teachers and support staff , " he said . <p> If elected , he hopes to help create an environment that taps into the many resources available in EACS and the surrounding community . He said he commends all that have taken the time to serve on the board , but it might just be time for a change . <p> " I just believe its time for a new set of eyes and ears

@@5130441 <h> Poll : Dem Giannoulias Slips In IL-SEN Race <p> The new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll of the Illinois Senate race finds that Democratic candidate Alexi Giannoulias has fallen behind Republican Mark Kirk in the race for President Obama 's former Senate seat , likely due to the collapse of Giannoulias 's family bank . But at the same time , the underlying issue climate should be favorable to the Democrats here . <p> The numbers : Kirk 41% , Giannoulias 38% . The poll of likely voters has a 4% margin of error . Back in late February , before the bank collapsed , Giannoulias was ahead by 43%-36% . The TPM Poll Average puts Kirk ahead by 41.9%-36.0% . <p> In addition , Giannoulias 's favorable rating is only 38% , with 46% unfavorable , down from a 49%-34% favorable rating in late February . Kirk 's rating is 39%-33% , not significantly changed from a 42%-35% rating in late February . <p> Kos finds a silver lining in this question : " Would you be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports and will work to improve the new health care reform law , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ? " <p> Here the answer is support 51% , repeal 35% -- suggesting that a Democrat ought to naturally have the upper hand in this race . <p> Kos writes : " The best possible news for Giannoulias is that Kirk ca n't possibly drag out the bank stuff for the next six months ( though he 'll certainly try ) . And on the issues , Giannoulias has the obvious advantage . " <p> Eric Kleefeld joined TPM as an intern for the final months of the 2006 midterm elections , and then kept showing up for work . His other interests include guitars , various English-speaking countries .

@@5130641 <p> Aviva Drescher and Ramona Singer still get along on-screen on The Real Housewives of New York Season 5 , but based on their tense Twitter exchanges , it 's clear that Aviva was n't exaggerating when she told us that she and Ramona are " not on good terms " in real life anymore . On Season 5 , Episode 10 : " You Want To What Me In The Where ? " Aviva brought up her ex-husband , Harry Dubin , while out to dinner with the cast . Ramona always thinks it 's odd when Aviva talks about her ex , and she turned to Twitter to diss Aviva 's " faux pas " while the episode aired . " Wow a faux pas by @AvivaDrescher does she still have a thing for him ? ! ? " Ramona tweeted . Not one to take an insult -- Aviva is happily remarried , so implying she still has feelings for someone else is pretty insulting -- lying down , Aviva shot back , " As much as Mario still has a thing for my sister in law Ginjer . " For her followers , she clarified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love with my sis in law once ? " <p> Obviously Aviva is n't saying that Mario is carrying a flame for his sister-in-law -- her point is that both she and Mario are over their past feelings . <p> Still , this is yet another fun , odd connection between the Housewives . Reality TV may have brought them together , but it 's clear these women really do run ( and date ) in the same circles . <p> The Real Housewives of New York

@@5130741 <p> The first presidential ' debate ' was , I 'm sorry , farcical . That is not hyperbole . The first three ' segments ' -- supposedly concentrating on the economy , were near replicas of each other . Mr Lehrer , who had apparently chosen the questions himself , and had phrased them so ambiguously that they could easily be taken for the same question : in fact , by and large this is how they were fielded , by both candidates . These are they as an aid to memory : <p> 1 : " What are the major differences between the two of you about how you would go about creating new jobs ? " 2 : " What are the differences between the two of you as to how you would go about tackling the deficit problem in this country ? " 3 : " It 's two minutes . Mr. President , do you see a major difference between the two of you on Social Security ? " 4 : " You want the Affordable Care Act repealed . Why ? " 5 : " Do you believe -- both of you -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. President -- do you believe there 's a fundamental difference between the two of you as to how you view the mission of the federal government ? " 6 : Many of the legislative functions of the federal government right now are in a state of paralysis as a result of partisan gridlock . If elected in your case , if re-elected in your case , what would you do about that ? " <p> ( The sixth question was only asked three minutes before the debate 's end , which gave neither candidate time to produce anything but a synoptic answer with no subsequent discussion . Which is a pity , because in many ways it 's the most interesting question . The moderator was ever verging dangerously close to incompetency , and doing so immoderately . ) <p> The first five questions elicited variations on almost the same answers from the candidates : Obama would finish the work of the last four years , Romney would " look at history " and do something " not like anything that 's been tried before . Both espoused support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were " suffering . " This was interesting , as I have never yet seen any coherent definition of exactly who the " middle class " are , and when people start talking about things which have no clear definition one ought to wonder why they use these terms . In Europe , from where I am writing , these terms have clear historical meanings : the " middle class " are those who are neither " the aristocracy " nor " the working class . " So , with a little substitution one could conclude that the " middle class " are those who are below the moneyed elites , and above the working class ( and , presumably , by dint of tainted status , those unemployed or who have stopped seeking employment ) . But it 's the working class , surely , who do the work ; it 's the working class for whom these jobs are most important . <p> Now , in Britain the old distinction between classes had been pretty consistent for at least two hundred years . Then , in 1979 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Margaret Thatcher 's Conservative Party and , I suspect , set in motion quite calculatedly by Thatcher herself . The shift was a redefinition of " working class " and " middle class , " such that the " middle class " were characterized as having the socio-economic benefits to which the " working class " aspired , or ought to aspire . The " middle class " then had its numbers swollen even more by the inplicit inclusion of the " aspirational working class . " Thus the " middle class " has ended up -- in the UK -- as the vast maority of people , irrespective of actual income or actual status . You are middle class if you are not of the " landed gentry " and not " on the dole . " The membership has become so vast that the category no longer has any basis in reality , its only basis being rhetorical . A little like the " tax payer , " darling term of our media . Both the " tax payer " and the " member of the middle class @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . And people here have almost entirely forgotten about this shift in meaning : both the Labour Party and the Conservatives claim to be the party of " the middle class . " <p> So both candidates were reaching out to the same sector of the population . And , I 'm sad to say , Mr Romney did this with greater surety , aplomb and seeming conviction than did Mr Obama . This is not to say that his arguments were more cogent ; these " positive " qualities were purely presentational . His was a ' seductive ' appeal rather than an appeal to reason . In fact what he said so seductively was by and large unreasonable , untested and dangerous in the extreme ; far more dangerous than Mr Obama 's utterances ( though they , too , contained dangerous motifs ) . Romney sounded assured , certain , about the capacity of his plan -- never spelled out in detail -- which had never been tried before . <p> The people have been taught to admire strength , or what they are told is strength @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and charisma -- which can not be taught . They have been taught to prefer eyes that look straight at the person spoken to than those which remain lowered in order to concentrate on notes . And what the people have been taught to admire , they tend to vote for . And in this particular case , voting for Romney would be a disaster , both for America and for the rest of the world ( which many Americans have forgotten , it seems , is much , much larger than America is or ever could be ) . To be fair , Mr Obama presides over a highly toxic administration which has openly arrogated to itself the powers of " world police , " moral arbiter , judge , jury and executioner , and he needs to be dealt with . Mr Romney 's election would destabilize even that which is already unstable . Here 's what he would do with his five part plan : <p> " One , get us energy independent , North American energy independent . That creates about four million jobs . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Latin America ; crack down on China if and when they cheat . Number three , make sure our people have the skills they need to succeed and the best schools in the world . Number four , get us to a balanced budget . Number five , champion small business . " <p> I dearly hope that these are in no particular order . Number one alone poses a real and present danger to all seven billion inhabitants of this planet , in the form Romney sketches it out . Creating four million jobs a the possible cost of the species seems like an unsound gamble . Number two sounds both isolationist and imperialist , isolating the Americas and likely to be achieved at least in part by military or covert interventions . What " cracking down on China if and when they cheat " precisely means is unclear , but it does not sound like a safe attitude to one 's main creditor and business partner . Number three , as I 'm sure any Printculture reader knows , is hardly likely to happen given Mr Romney 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling the welfare state . Number four is to be achieved through completely untested means , by Mr Romney 's own admission . Number five , well , Mr Romney 's view appears to be that " small business " is primarily an adjunct to the functioning of large corporations such that , if large corporations grow , so too the number of small businesses . <p> Oh , yes . Mr Romney will absolutely not be making any cuts in military spending . One wonders -- why ? -- and is fearful of the answer . <p> Here are a few suggestions for Mr Obama , none of which he articulated plainly . In particular order only with regard to the first point . <p> 1 : The threat of anthropogenic climate change is the single most important threat to everyone , everywhere , everywhen . Period . 2 : In any civilization worthy of the name , healthcare is a basic human right , irrespective of the wealth of the recipient . Period . 3 : Any destabilizing , resource-centered foreign policy , even one less biased that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 1 ) as well as being inherently hazardous . Period . 4 : As for healthcare , so too for education . So too for shelter . So too for food . Period . 5 : Likewise for every and all public infrastructure . Competition in infrastructures which have universal benefit and usage must always be counterproductive due to systems incompatibilities and loss of economies of scale . Period . 6 : Money has no place influencing politics in anything even remotely close to the degree to which it is permitted to in the U.S.A .. <p> I also hope that Mr Obama wins this intrinsically rigged election , as he seems to be more likely to be convinced by the above , and I , for one , very much hope that the deliberately repeated

@@5130841 <p> Livermore 's Yogurt Deluxe closed recently on Portola Avenue but the space already secured a new tenant : European Wax Center is set to move in Nov. 1 . The national chain provides facial and body waxing including eyebrow , underarm , bikini , back and , yes , even ear and nose waxing . See more options at waxcenter.com . <p> Livermore 's 11th Anniversary Art Walk takes place Saturday downtown . You can browse works by local artists , listen to live music , taste local wines and shop for unique arts and crafts . The event , expected to draw thousands , takes place at the Livermore Valley Plaza ( in front of the Bankhead ) , Blacksmith Square and various galleries and businesses throughout downtown from 11 a.m. -- 5 p.m . For more information and a map of locations , visit artwalklivermore.org . <p> Swirl and Tap 25 host " Support Haiti on the Square " this Wednesday , featuring live French music and a gallery of photographs from Haiti . A portion of the proceeds from food and drink purchased at Swirl and Tap 25 benefit Extollo International , a nonprofit organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out beyond Butter Pecan at Dublin 's new Nirvanaah , a new eatery that specializes in frozen desserts with an Indian flair . Sip a " Kulfi-Kooler " or scoop up ice cream flavors like rose petal , saffron and cardamon . The small Bay Area based dessert chain opened its newest location Sept. 24 next to New Indian Bazaar on Dublin Boulevard . Explore Nirvanaah 's frozen treats at nirvanaah.com . <p> Opening Update : Build-A-Bear reopened in the Stoneridge Shopping Center Friday , showing off a redesigned store that merges kid-friendly technology with its traditional hands-on bear making . Build-A-Bear now features new stations with touch screens where kids can add sounds and even scents like chocolate chip or cotton candy to their new toys . For more , see earlier Sprouts coverage . <p> Opening Update : Marco 's Pizza , previewed in a May column , opened in September on Koll Center Parkway next to the new Voodoo Kitchen . The national pizza chain also has a location in Livermore . <p> Opening Update : L &L; Hawaiian BBQ , covered in a June column , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Pleasanton . Preview the menu at hawaiianbarbecue.com . <p> A new salon focusing exclusively on beautifying your eyes is set to open Oct. 15 in the Danville Livery in SXE Apparel 's old space next to Games Unlimited . ICandy Eye Salon offers eyebrow threading , eyelash extensions , eyebrow tinting and waxing plus make-up sessions and upkeep instruction . Ca n't wait for the new location ? You can visit ICandy 's Walnut Creek location now . Learn more at icandysalon.com . <p> A new veterinary center will open soon next to Starbucks in the Trader Joe 's shopping center in Danville . His Kingdom Animal Hospital will provide preventive care , emergency and

@@5130941 <h> A look at Mooyah , which opens today <p> Today 's the first official day in business for Mooyah , a new hamburger chain operated by former KSN anchor Anthony Powell and his wife that 's opening in the former Blockbuster spot at 352 S. West St. <p> I checked out Mooyah over the weekend , when Powell had the business up and running so that his employees could have a dress rehearsal . My first impressions of the place were good . <p> I tried a burger made " Mooyah style " with cheese , lettuce , tomato , pickles , grilled onions and " Mooyah sauce , " which was sort of like Thousand Island dressing . It costs $5.25 and came with two patties and a whole bunch of melty cheese . Highly recommended . <p> Any parents out there will understand why this is an extra-nice feature at Mooyah . <p> I also tasted both the sweet potato fries and the regular fries but preferred the former , which tasted like dessert . The regular fries were good , too , but a bit too seasoned for my taste . <p> Diners walk in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exactly how they want their meal made , which is kind of fun . Also fun -- the interior of the restaurant , which is filled with whimsical decor ( light fixtures crafted out of old rulers ) and a

@@5131041 <h> Sprint ( NYSE:S ) Advances After Announcing That it is Raising its Stake in Clearwire ( NASDAQ:CLWR ) <p> Sprint Nextel Corporation ( NYSE:S ) is buying a stake in Clearwire Corporation ( NASDAQ:CLWR ) to gain control of the wireless carrier , Sprint said in a regulatory filing today . <p> The company stated that it will pay $100 million to wireless founder Craig McCaw and his holding company to acquire a 5% stake in Clearwire ( CLWR ) . Following this acquisition , the company 's stake in Clearwire will reach 53% . <p> Sprint was not in the position of any acquisitions as it was struggling financially . However , when Japanese cellphone company , Softbank Corp announced that it will invest $20.1 billion in Sprint to acquire a 70% stake in the company , Sprint decided to raise its stakes in Clearwire . Shares of Clearwire plunged in the pre-market trading session on Thursday following the acquisition news , while Sprint shares moved up . <p> Sprint Nextel Corporation ( NYSE:S ) ' s stock volume in the current session is 47.51 million shares as compared to its average volume of 100.44 million shares @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trading around $5.77 by scoring +0.70% . <p> As the revenue measures , Sprint Nextel has generated revenue of $34.63 billion during the last twelve months with net income of -$3841.00 million . The Company has shown a negative -11.09% in the net profit margin and -3.22% in its operating margin while recording -3.86% as company 's annual sales growth for the past five years . <p> Until recently , the stock showed weekly upbeat performance of +13.69% , which was maintained for the month at +10.40% . Likewise , the positive performance was recorded as +54.45% for the quarter and +98.96% for the year while the YTD performance remained at +144.87% . <p> Sprint Nextel 's past twelve months ' price to sales ratio was 0.50 and price to cash ratio remained 2.54 . As far as the returns are concerned , Sprint Nextel 's return on equity was recorded as -34.06% and -9.36% as return on investment while its return on assets stayed at -7.83% . <p> While on the other hand , Clearwire Corporation ( NASDAQ:CLWR ) shares are down -7.08% to $2.10 while the stocks are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past year , the stock has traded within a range of $0.83 -- $2.96 . Average daily trading volume is 25.09 million shares . <p> As the revenue measures , CLWR generated revenue of 1.33 billion in the previous twelve months and income of -$644.73 million . The Company showed a negative -158.58% in the net profit margin and its operating margin remained -117.38% . The Company 's annual sales growth for the past five years was +65.75% . <p> The stock showed weekly upbeat performance of +73.85% which was maintained for the month at +63.77% . Likewise , the positive performance for the quarter was recorded as +119.42% and for the year was +60.28% while the YTD performance remained at +16.49% . <p> CLWR 's past twelve months price to sales ratio was 2.48 and price to cash ratio remained 2.74 . As far as the returns are concern , CLWR 's return on equity was recorded as -67.83% and decreased -35.91% return on investment while its return on assets stayed at -24.10% . <h> One Response to " Sprint ( NYSE:S ) Advances After Announcing That it @ @ @ @ @ @

@@5131141 <p> Time and tide wait for no one . Add to that : earthquakes . I live in the San Francisco Bay Area , a.k.a. " earthquake country " , in a house built in the 1950s before earthquake building codes had been created . Within the next 30 years , the USGS tells us we can expect a " big one " in the East Bay right along the fault where I dwell . <p> So here 's my question : If there 's a 30-year window for the next big one to occur , can I at least know the most likely time of day ? This is not a crazy question . The time of day is really just a way of expressing where the sun is located with respect to your geographical location . The moon is responsible for sweeping the tides all around the Earth . So it seems reasonable to think that the moon or the sun may at least be an influence in " Earth tides " which might act as a trigger for earthquakes . Here 's a quick sketch showing my hypothesis : <p> This question turned out to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chase and say , yes , there are some hours that are a teeny bit more earthquake prone than others , but the variations are small -- certainly not enough to use as an indicator for running out the house . <h> The Method <p> I downloaded all earthquakes magnitude 5 or greater from 1973 through mid-2011 from the USGS Global Earthquake Search website . This gave me a list of 66,725 earthquakes -- a reasonable sized dataset . I mapped the positions and color-coded magnitudes of all 66,725 earthquakes ( green = mag 5.0 up through red = mag 9.1 ) , shown at the top of this blog entry . <p> It 's an interesting fact that these earthquakes span a time period of 338,117 hours which implies a chance of 20% for an earthquake ( mag 5 or greater ) during any hour . The chance during any hour for a magnitude 6 or greater earthquake drops to only 1.6% . By the time you get to a magnitude 7 or greater it 's much less than 1%/hr . <p> The next step was to calculate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longitudinal position of each earthquake into right ascension to match . Below shows an illustration of what I 'm describing . <p> The important thing to note is that I am calculating the longitudinal difference of the sun and moon with respect solely to an earthquake 's longitude . This is because I 'm wondering about the most earthquake-prone time of day so the longitudes are the relevant quantities rather than the latitude . <p> After these coordinates had been calculated for all 66,725 earthquakes , I found the difference of the position of the sun/moon with respect to each earthquake in terms of right ascension . Following that , I grouped the hourly offsets and graphed the resulting histogram . <h> Position of the Moon and Sun vs . Earthquake Time <p> Performing the above calculation resulted in the following histogram on the left . On the right I 've depicted the histogram relative to an example earthquake point . <p> Of course there are noticeable variations . But are the variations significant ? <p> To determine this , the last step was to generate a random simulation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order to measure whether the fluctuations are expected or significant . <h> Results <p> Once the random dataset was generated it was time to examine all sorts of different scenarios . <p> The most significant result is that there 's a notable increase in earthquakes when the moon and sun are on opposite sides of the Earth . That makes intuitive sense -- the moon and sun are pulling the Earth in opposite directions which would seem to allow for increased slipping along fault lines . <p> There 's also a decrease in earthquakes when the moon and sun are located together in the sky . Somehow , this seems to glue the faults together . <p> The most interesting find was that this result was independent of location on Earth . I hypothesize this is indicative of influence closer to the Earth 's core rather than near the crust where circumferential effects are more important . However , I 'm not a geologist , so feedback from a professional would be really interesting . <p> The results were so interesting that I wrote them up into a paper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not attached to a research institution ( despite the name of my website ) this has proved extremely challenging . Still , I am hoping to upload the preprint to arxiv.org update : The Association of the Moon and the Sun with Large Earthquakes was succesfully uploaded ! and have also submitted to PLoSONE.org which features open access publishing practices ( although it is generally a biology-related online journal and has very limited geophysics content ) <h> Conclusion <p> In short , there are times of which to be wary -- watch out for the moon and sun on opposite horizons ! But the increase was small enough that it would be fruitless to base any personal actions on them . Unfortunately , I 'll just have to settle for

@@5131241 <p> LAWRENCE It won &#x2019; t feel quite like a normal senior day . Anthony McDonald already had one of those . Last year , as a fourth-year linebacker at Notre Dame , McDonald experienced the emotions when he walked out onto the field underneath Touchdown Jesus for the final time . &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;One year later , as a fifth-year transfer at Kansas , McDonald will close another chapter when KU plays host to Iowa State at 6 p.m . Saturday at Memorial Stadium . &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &#x201C; It feels like it &#x2019; s just gone by so fast , &#x201D; McDonald said . &#x201C; It feels like I was just a freshman walking in the doors in the summer at Notre Dame the other day . &#x201D; **27;16800;TOOLONG arrived in the summer , one part of a four-man band of fifth-year transfers . Quarterback Dayne Crist and tight end Mike Ragone both arrived from Notre Dame . And defensive end Josh Williams came over from Nebraska . &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;KU coach Charlie Weis hoped his new veterans could provide some leadership and toughness . And McDonald put off his dream of a career in the FBI or CIA to spend one more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of course . But he doesn &#x2019; t regret his decision to come to Kansas . &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &#x201C; It &#x2019; ll be nice to be part of a program to say that we were the ones that helped get it going , &#x201D; McDonald said . &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;There were no fairy-tale endings for the other fifth-year guys , either . Crist was benched midway through the season after continued struggles in the passing game . Ragone has mostly been used as an extra blocker in KU &#x2019; s rushing attack . And Williams , while helping stabilize KU &#x2019; s defensive line , has been solid &#x2014; but not spectacular . &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &#x201C; I tie football to life a lot , &#x201D; Williams said , &#x201C; and I think that a situation like this , with the way the record was this year , with the expectations we had , I think it &#x2019; s real humbling . And it &#x2019; s something I can carry on with me. &#x201D; **27;16858;TOOLONG says he doesn &#x2019; t regret his decision . Neither do Crist or Ragone , even if they wish there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Williams still have aspirations continue on their football careers , while McDonald says he &#x2019; s ready to move on to a new phase . &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &#x201C; I &#x2019; m grateful for everything football &#x2019; s done for me , &#x201D; McDonald said . &#x201C; It &#x2019; s been the biggest part of my life , up to this point . It got me through college . There &#x2019; s no way I would have gotten a degree from the University of Notre Dame without football . &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &#x201C; I honestly don &#x2019; t think my body could take these hits I keep giving out and taking every day . &#x201D; <h> Posted on Fri , Nov. 16 , 2012 05:10 PM <h> Email Story <h> Senior transfers do n't regret coming to KU <h> By RUSTIN DODD <h> The Kansas City Star <p> By RUSTIN DODD The Kansas City Star <p> Updated : 2012-11-16T23:33:33Z <p> Sue Ogrocki <p> Dayne Crist <p> Iowa State at Kansas <p> WHEN : 6 p.m . Saturday <p> WHERE : Memorial Stadium , Lawrence <p> TV : Fox Sports KC <p> Other story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced on Thursday that he would pay admission for any student who did n't already have a ticket to Saturday 's senior day game against Iowa State . They simply must show up to the student entrance with a valid student ID . The reason : He wants a full house for his senior class . Is it a coach stepping up for his players ... or simply a creative strategy to get more fans in the seats ? In this case , both . <p> QUARTERBACK OPTIONS : Weis said earlier this week that he may get creative in getting benched quarterback Dayne Crist involved in the offense against Iowa State . But the real question revolves around freshman starter Michael Cummings , who looked like a real run threat at times against Texas Tech last week . Will KU run more option looks against Iowa State ? <p> RUNNING TOWARD HISTORY : Even after missing three games , junior James Sims is flirting with one of the best seasons by a running back in school history . He 's rushed for at least 100 yards in the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 2,344 rushing yards . <h> More News <p> LAWRENCE -- It wo n't feel quite like a normal senior day . Anthony McDonald already had one of those . Last year , as a fourth-year linebacker at Notre Dame , McDonald experienced the emotions when he walked out onto the field underneath Touchdown Jesus for the final time . <p> One year later , as a fifth-year transfer at Kansas , McDonald will close another chapter when KU plays host to Iowa State at 6 p.m . Saturday at Memorial Stadium . <p> " It feels like it 's just gone by so fast , " McDonald said . " It feels like I was just a freshman walking in the doors in the summer at Notre Dame the other day . " <p> McDonald arrived in the summer , one part of a four-man band of fifth-year transfers . Quarterback Dayne Crist and tight end Mike Ragone both arrived from Notre Dame . And defensive end Josh Williams came over from Nebraska . <p> KU coach Charlie Weis hoped his new veterans could provide some leadership and toughness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the FBI or CIA to spend one more season playing football . <p> McDonald hoped for more victories , of course . But he does n't regret his decision to come to Kansas . <p> " It 'll be nice to be part of a program to say that we were the ones that helped get it going , " McDonald said . <p> There were no fairy-tale endings for the other fifth-year guys , either . Crist was benched midway through the season after continued struggles in the passing game . Ragone has mostly been used as an extra blocker in KU 's rushing attack . And Williams , while helping stabilize KU 's defensive line , has been solid -- but not spectacular . <p> " I tie football to life a lot , " Williams said , " and I think that a situation like this , with the way the record was this year , with the expectations we had , I think it 's real humbling . And it 's something I can carry on with me . " <p> Williams says he does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even if they wish there was more wins , too . For now , Crist and Williams still have aspirations continue on their football careers , while McDonald says he 's ready to move on to a new phase . <p> " I 'm grateful for everything football 's done for me , " McDonald said . " It 's been the biggest part of my life , up to this point . It got me through college . There 's no way I would have gotten a degree from the University of Notre Dame without football . <p> " I honestly do n't think my body could take these hits I keep giving out and taking every day . " <p> To reach Rustin Dodd , call 816-234-4937 or

@@5131341 <p> In an effort to improve efficiency and reduce application review times , OPIC has put more of its application forms online . <p> Innovation has long been a core value at OPIC : It is reflected in the groundbreaking financial and insurance products we offer to support U.S. companies operating in some of the most challenging places on the planet , as well as in the way we conduct our internal operations . <p> Recently OPIC was recognized for our ability to adapt to change by seeking out new and improved ways of doing business . The agency was ranked second for innovation among 54 small federal government agencies , based on the 2011 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey conducted by the Office of Personnel Management . <p> " These results point to the intellect , creativity and commitment of OPIC staff to do whatever it takes to find solutions for clients - both internal clients and external ones -- in order to advance our mission , " said OPIC President and CEO Elizabeth Littlefield . <p> Employees who participated in the survey were asked whether they sought new ways to work more effectively and whether they felt that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And while the recognition is gratifying , the results confirm to a large extent what those of us at OPIC are already seeing . OPIC , in continued response to President Obama 's Accountable Government Initiative , has launched a range of initiatives designed to save money and operate more effectively and more efficiently . These initiatives -- many which were made at the suggestion of our own staff -- include : <p> Simplified approval processes -- In the fall of 2010 , OPIC put together a taskforce to develop a new process for reviewing loan and loan guarantee proposals that clarifies requirements , eliminates duplication and streamlines the approval process . As a result , the average time for the project review and approval has been reduced by three weeks . <p> Coordination with other development finance institutions -- Because OPIC clients and the lenders that work with our clients sometimes work with other development finance institutions , OPIC has negotiated a cooperation agreement with peer DFIs such as the International Finance Corporation . The agreement focuses on harmonizing loan documentation , due diligence and legal processes , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in turn , help OPIC increase its impact with fewer resources . <p> Negotiating framework agreements -- These agreements , entered with U.S. banks , enable OPIC to delegate some of the due diligence involved in loan origination , freeing up resources so that the agency can better utilize its expertise and achieve a broader development impact . <p> Issuing " master " insurance contracts -- Investors sometimes need to insure a series of similar projects and by issuing a single master contract OPIC can significantly speed up the negotiation , clearance , approval and administration process . Relief organizations such as the International Rescue Committee have used these contracts to protect their assets in post-conflict countries . <p> In addition to these changes that have focused on more efficient dealings with clients , OPIC has made targeted investments in IT and E-Business solutions to improve internal operations . These investments saved 16.4% in core technology costs in 2011 , which amounts to a 4.7% savings in non-salary administrative costs . <p> In this analysis of the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey results , Partnership for Public Service explains that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and delivering value , particularly in a time of budget constraints when employees are being asked to do more with fewer resources . OPIC has taken that challenge

@@5131441 <h> Houston Rockets vs . Portland Trail Blazers game preview <p> Once again , the NBA gives the Rockets an opponent with more rest than them . This is getting a bit ridiculous . However , this is the NBA , where you suck it up since you 're being paid hundreds of thousands of dollars ( at minimum ) . Someone tell Royce White . <p> The Blazers beat the Lakers in their opening game at home when the Lakers were coming off a game the night before . They also beat the Rockets in OT , and on Tuesday they blew out the Kings . <p> However , they lost to the Mavs , Clippers , Spurs , and Hawks in an 8-day span . When you look at it , that 's a pretty tough opening slate of games that the Blazers have had . <p> The Blazers are another under-the-radar Western Conference team , but anytime you have the starters they have , there 's going to be a good team there . Outside of Hickson , it 's probably one of the best starting 5s in the league . And Hickson is n't a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would be a tough pick between Lillard and Anthony Davis for Rookie of the Year . Lillard is averaging 18/7 and has basically just been a beast for the Blazers . I liked what I saw of Lillard at Weber State ( which was n't much ) , but I did n't think he 'd be this good . <p> I feel like I say that kind of thing a lot . <p> Anyway , you guys know I love you , but to those clamoring for Douglas to start and Lin to come off the bench : please stop . That 's just ridiculous . <p> It 's got ta be all business for Harden tonight . Last time these teams met , Mattews and Batum gave him all he could handle and effectively shut him down . <p> Waitress : For one ? Carter : No , for two , I 'm here for a meeting with Mr. Juntao . Waitress : I 'm sorry I do not know Mr. Juntao . Carter : Look maybe you do n't understand , I 'm Mr. Juntao 's lawyer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he told me to come down here and I 'm a very busy man , ai n't got time to be down here this late but I 'm down here , my wife want me to come home , my baby is shittin ' all over the house , he needs diapers , would you please go get Mr. Juntao ? <p> Just like with Prince , Parsons faces his ceiling tonight . Batum is better slasher and shooter than Parsons , which are things our Emo Prince will have to learn . <p> Batum will spend plenty of time on Harden , meaning that Parsons can have some 1-on-1 advantages if he wants it . He 's also going to get plenty of open threes off of rotations . He 's got to hit the big ones . <p> Aldridge had surgery before the end of last season and missed the offseason . He 's still rounding into shape so the Rockets are getting him at less than 100% . <p> On the other hand , he will get to the line , where he converts a high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him to demand a trade to the Rockets for Royce White , I 'm just going to say that I 'm a huge LMA fan . <p> Asik has found his offense , and that 's exactly what the Rockets needed . When your defensive-minded center is making six shots in a game , it 's either really bad , or it 's great because he 's getting easy looks . <p> Against the Hornets , it was the

@@5131541 <h> Amazon Reviews <h> October 23 , 2012 <h> Once More on the " What Are You Going to Do With That Major ? " Question <p> Since everyone and his brother believe this dumb-ass question is both important and intelligent , one of my missions in life is to put the lie to it . As a former university professor and long-time management consultant , I ca n't emphasize enough how limiting and actually harmful this question is . The notion of a linear career relation between college and work is false from the get-go . <p> But first , a caveat . If you or your kid majored in sports rather than academics , I recommend you skip this blog . I seriously doubt that more than 5% of those who majored in sports , instead of viewing it as merely a recreational outlet , do well in academics . And if you or your kid fits in the sports major group and failed to develop academic tools , then go ahead and major in a subject focused on gaining immediate entry to the current job market . Of course , you 'll quickly learn that wo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of your life . But them 's the choices . <p> Understanding the question 's power Fortunately , just this year a thoughtful piece of research by Daniel Lair and Stacey Wieland addressed that dumb ass colloquialism , finding that though it is a near all-powerful ideology , it understands neither work nor education . The research confirmed the pervasiveness of the question--more than ever in today 's economy -- and that it is widely recognized by all students . On top of that , it is inevitably an emotionally charged question -- and nearly half the time negative , functioning as a judgment about the choices a person is making about the relationship between work and his or her education . As a consequence , students readily recognize that their ability to answer the question is high-stakes and anxiety-producing . They also know that it is about whether a major will provide merely a sufficient or a substantial income . The obvious implication of the question that the major a person chooses is tightly coupled with the selection of a job . <p> Wrong about work What 's clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their belief in a linear career model : this major , for example , will make possible this career . The fact of the matter is that those implications simply do not align with the realities of the global economy . <p> First , the shelf life of a linear , vocational degree is no more than five years . Furthermore , there is no longer a social contract between employer and employee , and neither expects that relationship long term . That means that there 's a very high likelihood that what got you a job right out of college will be completely obsolete within five years . On top of that , people will be changing employers and careers many , many times over their lives . To a surprising degree , those changes are becoming more and more true of even the so-called permanent vocations in engineering , law and medicine . To quote the researchers : The permanent view of career that is perpetuated through the colloquial question , " What are you going to do with that major ? " conflicts with what students are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The consequence of this wrongheaded ideology is that it keeps students from approaching higher education in a way that will equip them better for the long term . The ideology forces students and their parents to focus on college education , narrowly , and solely from the job perspective . No question that business loves this and emphasizes this approach . But the business approach to college is like a stock market approach : it 's liable to be valid no more than three or four quarters . And sadly , in my work with leading executives around the country , I 've experienced few who think about education on a long-term basis , and outside the stock market box . <p> So , given that jobs , employers , careers and professions are going to be changing many times in our lives , how should we look at education ? What should students really gain from a college education ? The answer is straightforward . While education plays a role in equipping the student for career , students need to also wrestle with questions of how to live a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they will play in society , such as citizen , parent , partner , volunteer or community member . <p> So what 's an intelligent student to do ? Given the realities of our world , we need a holistic perspective on the role of education and the recognition that the decision about what to study and what to do with one 's life has no unique permanent answer . The competencies that the best organizations are asking for are the same competencies that students will need for all of life : creative thinking , managing complex problems , making informed decisions , learning , adapting and maintaining an open entrepreneurial , adventuresome relationship to life . <p> What a career edge implies for students is that they ought to at least make space for a couple courses in technology , economics and communication--and learn how to work social and organizational systems that are hierarchical and authoritarian . In today 's world they 're liable to be creating their own jobs , even inside the company , and viewing learning as a life-long process . That also means that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the recruiter 's template when they set out for the next job . With that background most any liberal arts major will work just fine . The current mayor of Chicago , for example , holds an undergraduate liberal arts degree in dance from Sarah Lawrence College . <p> In sum , the " What are you going to do with that major ? " question is typically insulting , demeaning and stupid . <p> Lair , Daniel J. and Stacey M.B. Wieland , " What are you going to do with that major ? " Colloquial Speech and the Meanings of Work and Education , Management Communication Quarterly , 26(3) , 2012 , 423-452 . <h> Comments <p> Once More on the " What Are You Going to Do With That Major ? " Question <p> Since everyone and his brother believe this dumb-ass question is both important and intelligent , one of my missions in life is to put the lie to it . As a former university professor and long-time management consultant , I ca n't emphasize enough how limiting and actually harmful this question is . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work is false from the get-go . <p> But first , a caveat . If you or your kid majored in sports rather than academics , I recommend you skip this blog . I seriously doubt that more than 5% of those who majored in sports , instead of viewing it as merely a recreational outlet , do well in academics . And if you or your kid fits in the sports major group and failed to develop academic tools , then go ahead and major in a subject focused on gaining immediate entry to the current job market . Of course , you 'll quickly learn that wo n't provide much more than an entry-level salary for most of your life . But them 's the choices . <p> Understanding the question 's power Fortunately , just this year a thoughtful piece of research by Daniel Lair and Stacey Wieland addressed that dumb ass colloquialism , finding that though it is a near all-powerful ideology , it understands neither work nor education . The research confirmed the pervasiveness of the question--more than ever in today 's economy -- and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top of that , it is inevitably an emotionally charged question -- and nearly half the time negative , functioning as a judgment about the choices a person is making about the relationship between work and his or her education . As a consequence , students readily recognize that their ability to answer the question is high-stakes and anxiety-producing . They also know that it is about whether a major will provide merely a sufficient or a substantial income . The obvious implication of the question that the major a person chooses is tightly coupled with the selection of a job . <p> Wrong about work What 's clear from the research is that students and the public ground their belief in a linear career model : this major , for example , will make possible this career . The fact of the matter is that those implications simply do not align with the realities of the global economy . <p> First , the shelf life of a linear , vocational degree is no more than five years . Furthermore , there is no longer a social contract between employer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . That means that there 's a very high likelihood that what got you a job right out of college will be completely obsolete within five years . On top of that , people will be changing employers and careers many , many times over their lives . To a surprising degree , those changes are becoming more and more true of even the so-called permanent vocations in engineering , law and medicine . To quote the researchers : The permanent view of career that is perpetuated through the colloquial question , " What are you going to do with that major ? " conflicts with what students are likely to experience post college . <p> Wrong about education The consequence of this wrongheaded ideology is that it keeps students from approaching higher education in a way that will equip them better for the long term . The ideology forces students and their parents to focus on college education , narrowly , and solely from the job perspective . No question that business loves this and emphasizes this approach . But the business approach to college is like a stock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than three or four quarters . And sadly , in my work with leading executives around the country , I 've experienced few who think about education on a long-term basis , and outside the stock market box . <p> So , given that jobs , employers , careers and professions are going to be changing many times in our lives , how should we look at education ? What should students really gain from a college education ? The answer is straightforward . While education plays a role in equipping the student for career , students need to also wrestle with questions of how to live a meaningful life . Specifically that includes questions about the roles they will play in society , such as citizen , parent , partner , volunteer or community member . <p> So what 's an intelligent student to do ? Given the realities of our world , we need a holistic perspective on the role of education and the recognition that the decision about what to study and what to do with one 's life has no unique permanent answer . The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same competencies that students will need for all of life : creative thinking , managing complex problems , making informed decisions , learning , adapting and maintaining an open entrepreneurial , adventuresome relationship to life . <p> What a career edge implies for students is that they ought to at least make space for a couple courses in technology , economics and communication--and learn how to work social and organizational systems that are hierarchical and authoritarian . In today 's world they 're liable to be creating their own jobs , even inside the company , and viewing learning as a life-long process . That also means that they will need the oral and written smarts to get around the recruiter 's template when they set out for the next job . With that background most any liberal arts major will work just fine . The current mayor of Chicago , for example , holds an undergraduate liberal arts degree in dance from Sarah Lawrence College . <p> In sum , the " What are you going to do with that major ? " question is typically insulting , demeaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ M.B. Wieland , " What are you going to do with that major ? " Colloquial Speech and the Meanings of Work and Education ,