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This manual is required prior to all Instructor Training Seminars. Every instructor should have one.
TPG Skybean Vario
- Switching on and off - very long key press.
- Get into menu by double-clicking - LED signalization flashing (Lasts about 5 seconds), then you'll get back to ready status.
- Adjust the volume signaling - from menu (LED signalization flashing). Short press adjusts/switches between four volume levels, Vario flashes and beeps each time you press the button. Volume level depends on number of presses.
Dennis Pagen has been writing about sport aviation--hang gliding, paragliding and ultralights--since 1975. He has written twelve books and over 400 articles in trade magazines, all related to flying for fun. There doesn't seem to be an end to this activity, for as sports continue to evolve, new techniques and experiences demand definition.
Tensing, a light and sturdy single skin paraglider, is an ideal companion for mountaineers not only because of its little packed volume and weight. On the one hand it opens up completely new prospects for pilots, such as the combination of climbing and paragliding. And on the other hand its conception makes it exceptionally well steerable when flying without seatboard. Moreover it is an excellent wing for thermal flying and soaring.
Based on the Rush 5 but 30% lighter, the Swift 5 is a top of class Lightweight Sport-Performance-Intermediate wing that has been developed with the same technology used in our performance wings including the Enzo 3 and Zeno in addition to several new innovative features. Over fifteen years of lightweight R&D have allowed us to deliver a wing that is not only top of class in terms of performance, but one of the lightest wings in its class. Thanks to a lighter sail, the Swift 5's agility and handling is improved over the Rush 5, with a more precise feel. Another key difference is the ease of inflation and take-off behavior in general. An extensive period of performance glide testing allowed us to evaluate the Rush and Swift 5 against class-leading wings from other manufacturers. The results have proven significant gains, especially in accelerated glide performance.
The TEQUILAs are our easy-to-fly gliders for pilots who are just starting out, switching classes, or working their way up. Since 2004, TEQUILAs have combined amazingly simple flight behavior with accessible performance. That's why even record-holding pilots rely on our well-balanced EN-B glider – like flatlands ace Armin Harich in 2014. His 300-kilometer flight across Germany from Heidelberg in the west to the Austrian border in the east has never been duplicated and impressively demonstrates what is in our TEQUILAs. The new TEQUILA5 continues this tradition.
Air Inflated XC HarnessThe RANGE AIR has proven itself with a clever concept that makes it possible for not only X-Alps pros to fly an ultralight pod harness.. but everyone. The 3D single layer main seat adapts itself perfectly to your body and paves the way for hours of relaxed flying for XC pilots and hike&fly competitors, even in strong thermals.
Performance without regretThe POISON3 was certified without the help of folding lines.
Grows with your skills.Anyone who starts paragliding needs a very special wing: a glider that is particularly easy to handle and gives you a lot of confidence from the first moment. The MESCAL6 is just such a glider – and thanks to our revolutionary "AGILITY SYSTEM" it is also the first glider that grows with the skill of the pilot. This system allows you to adjust the brake line geometry individually to the pilot's wishes in just a few simple steps, allowing you to refine your feeling for the paraglider and increase it step by step. But our new entry-level glider inspires not only with its adaptive handling. Student pilots, weekend and leisure pilots get a glider that is completely stress-free from pre-launch preparations to after-landing packing. The MESCAL6 comes equipped with all the latest technologies, placing you at the cutting-edge right from the start!
The Skywalk Join'T3
As a responsible tandem pilot, safety is your chief concern. The JOIN'T3 is also fun!
LAUNCH. TAKE YOUR SEAT. FEEL GOOD.To create something new, sometimes you have to take an unusual path. For our all-round harness CULT, we performed movement analysis in various sports and did a deep dive into kinematics, ergonomics and product design. The result is a harness that sets new standards with its exceptionally high comfort, maximum safety, ease of use, slim and clean design and high-quality materials.
Skywalk Concertina BagOpen faced canopy cover. Designed to lay the canopy in the center of the bag with 3 clips to safely secure the canopy. An outside zipper to fasten the canopy inside the soft bag.
Our CHILIs are a class for themselves. The name CHILI has long since been symbol for the optimal synthesis between high performance and balance flying characteristics in the EN-B class. That's why designing a new CHILI is probably the greatest challenge for our R&D team. The goal is to do more than just set a new milestone in the EN-B class. Our aim is to provide CHILI pilots with a glider that makes them feel like they have chosen the product with the highest comfort factor on the market.
All the latest technology packed in our new wing.The CAYENNE4 is not just a pure 3-Liner, it only uses 2 main lines per side and line level. The new suspension system uses a 4-way bridge between the two main lines, reducing line drag by 20% compared to the previous model, the CAYENNE3. With the CAYENNE4, we have designed a glider that will convince you with its exceptional glide performance, its precise, fatigue-free handling and a high degree of passive safety. Compared to the CAYENNE3, we improved performance in every regard. Enjoy the feel good factor! Check out this Video!
Redefining the sport class
Fly the difference
Modern EN-B gliders like our CHILI and TEQUILA leave little to be desired. But the EN-C sport class offers us just the right amount of freedom to develop gliders with special characteristics for experienced XC pilots looking for more than just incremental improvements.
The CAYENNE5 redefines the sport class: our XC sportster combines true comp wing feeling with the genes of the CAYENNE series. We intentionally made the CAYENNE5 more of a comp wing than its predecessor. Positioned at the upper end of its class, our year-long development efforts produced a new concept with a higher aspect ratio, more cells and a profile optimized to reduce drag. The result is a sport class glider that sets new standards for performance, precision and dynamics. In the process, we remained true to our motto: pure passion for flying.
The CAYENNE5 is pure flying fun!
Simple. Modular. Versatile. The BREEZE is a recreational harness with a simple design that fulfills the most diverse demands. In short, it is: comfortable, safe, lightweight and modular!
Ultralight, aerodynamic pod harnessThe new X-Alps cocoon harness with a sensational weight of only 2.3kg is not only extremely light, but comfortable, too. It is tailored for thermal flying, cross-country and competition purposes, as its aerodynamically optimised back part makes X-Alps even more sleek and sportive than its predecessor. This back part ideally combines stowage, airbag and foam protector. X-Alps is serially equipped with a carbon seat board and foot plate. Container closure and seating adjustments have been optimised. This series has a variable opening for the speed bag, which allows to easily get in and out of the leg cover.
The Rock 2 is the successor of the legendary paraglider The Rock. It is a sportive and versatile glider with perfect launch behaviour and dynamic handling. Despite its lower weight in comparison with the previous model its performance increased significantly. The Rock 2 is a versatile wing and the ideal companion on mountain tours and voyages, but also for all-purpose use.
Tandem Pilot HarnessFacts
- Very small pack volume
- Individual adjustments for seating position
- Reserve deployment bag with release handle
- Reinforced back for optimum comfort
- Very light weight seat board
Ultralight LTF / EN B
- Sturdy SKYMAN lightweight design with D10fabric
- Low air drag due to smart lines concept
- Launch aid for perfect take-offs at icy conditions and tailwind
- Effective trimmer
- Hike & Fly for two
Ultralight tandem glider - not only for extreme mountaineering
Ultralight Speed WingFacts:
- Only 2,1kg
- Trim speed 58km/h
- Max. speed 80km/h
The alpinist amongst paragliders
Passenger Harness - Passenger AirFacts:
- Large adjust-ability range
- Shoulder straps for safe take-off and launches
- Very small pack volume
- Chest belt with drop-down safeguard
- Provides easy movement while still on the ground
Light and Sturdy LTF / EN B
- Sturdy SKYMAN lightweight design with D10/D20 fabric
- Low air drag due to smart lines concept
- Effective trimmer
- Smooth SKYMAN handling
- XC capability for two
Hike is a light and comfortable reversible harness and is now available in two different sizes. As rucksack Hike is large enough to carry the whole flight equipment. This harness is without seat board. With only 1,5kg Hike is the ideal harness for Hike & Fly, travel and speed riding. Optionally available with LTF certified airbag protector.
- Combined self-locking leg and chest belts
- Pullies for accelerator system
- Integrated suspension for rescue systems next to shoulder strap
- Ergonomic back part, comfortable shoulder belts
- Adjustable hip belt
- Mounting straps as fixtures for accessories such as hiking sticks, spurs etc..
- Outer mesh pocket for helmet
Ultra-Compact Reserve ContainerThe small, compact front container is available in different sizes and ideally suits the Ultra Cross reserve.
Reversible harness Emotion 2Facts:
- Integrated reserve parachute container
- Deployment bag with release handle
- Easily adjustable seat board
- Adjustable comfortable waist strap
- Magnetic holder for speed bar
Performance LTF / EN B
- SKYMAN lightweight design with D10 fabric
- Low air drag due to smart lines concept with 3 levels
- Ceramic rings in speed system and brake deflection
- Mini-ribs for enhanced shape constancy and thermal handling
- Launch aid for perfect take-offs at icy conditions and tailwind
Serenity meets power
High performance and powerful extras for XC paragliding
- SKYMAN lightweight design with D10 fabric
- Low drag due to smart line concept with 3 cascades
- Ceramic rings used in the speed system and along the trailing edge to add brake deflection
- Mini-ribs for enhanced shape, consistency and thermal handling
- Launch aid for perfect take-offs from icy conditions or with tail winds
- Perfect performance, easy to handle
Skyman ConcertinaThe pack sack "Protect Bag" is made to pack paraglider's gently cell to cell. That way your paraglider, e.g. a CrossAlps, is stored gently, yet compact.
Security in FlightJocky Sanderson's award-winning film takes you, the pilot, through a series of dramatic maneuvers detailing how to recognize and react safely to problems you may encounter during your cross country flight. Using dynamic Air to Air footage, Jocky Sanderson, one of the worlds leading figures in S.I.V. flying, talks you through & demonstrates maneuvers including wing overs, big ears, B-lines, symmetric and asymmetric collapses, stalls, cravats, reserve deployment, spiral dives, spins, thermalling and more.
Rubber BandsRubber bands for reserve parachute repacking. These are designed for sky-diving, with low break strength, higher silicone content, and sized perfectly for line stows.
Reserve Parachute SwivelFor hang gliding or paragliding harnesses and reserves.
Princeton Tec Strobe Light
You need a strobe to appreciate those twilight flights.
- LED Flashlight
- 45 Lumens
- 360 degrees of light
- 72HR Burn
- 57 Grams (with Batteries)
- 58 Meter Distance
- Waterproof 100M
PlusMax Helmet
- Shell: ABS Technology
- Lining: Hydro-Cool
- Freeflight Standard: CE EN966
- Weight: 470g (m)
- Colours: black, white, electric blue, green, grey, orange and red
- Finish: Soft Touch coated
- Sizes: XS = 54, S = 56, M = 58, L = 60, XL = 61, XXL = 62 (units in cm)
- Options: The Guard detachable Chinguard
This high-end paraglider for beginners is made for pilots, who want to enjoy relaxed flights without any performance loss. The wing Pioneer has been completely redesigned. In comparison to the previous model its passive safety, its launch behaviour and gliding performance have been optimised significantly. Pioneer3 is suited for beginners during schooling as well as for relaxed cross-country flights.
Skywalk First Aid Kit
Everything you need to treat the quick field emergency.
The ZERO has gained a reputation for agile handling in a highly efficient platform, and the new ZERO 2 improves upon every aspect of the wing. With the patented OZONE SharkNose leading edge, a new arc inspired by the OZONE performance-project and significantly improved handling and overall performance, the ZERO 2 offers more without compromising stability and comfort.
THE XXLITEThe XXLite is one of the most unique paragliders to ever be put into production. This modern single-surface design is the absolute ultimate in ultra-lightweight flight and is probably the lightest aircraft in existence. The Ozone R&D Team contains several members who are avid alpinists and hike & fly pilots, and this wing is the result of our passion for innovation and adventure. It is a special wing for special pilots who fully understand its limitations, and have the skill and experience to pilot it.
- New profile, planform, rigging
- Increased glide performance, higher top speed
- Easier inflation and launch
- Lighter, lower pack volume
- The ultimate choice for hike & fly pilots
THE TRICKSTER 2New Profile for more pitch-damp behavior, easier control. Shorter Line-set for better maneuvers. New Wingtip design for better tip stability / internal pressure. Building on the success of the original Trickster, the latest wing in the series features a few key improvements that have made this wing the favorite glider of Ozone Team Pilots, Felix Rodriguez and Pal Takats.
It's the Delta 2's little brother! We are extremely excited about this wing, and think that it represents as much of a leap forward in performance design as the Delta 2 has proven to be. The Rush 4 has class-crushing performance, and some features which we have never before applied to the Sport-Intermediate class, including Ozone SharkNose Technology.
The Rapi-Dos is our highest performance speed wing designed for pilots who seek the ultimate in speed and swoop performance. It has the widest glide performance range of any wing we have ever flown, and handles incredibly steep angles as well as it does flatter-trimmed flight for transporting to different sections of your line, or accessing a distant LZ.
The Quest is designed for progressing pilots and anyone seeking a versatile open leg harness. Its aerodynamic design offers a highly comfortable semi-reclined position that is ideal for all types of flying.
The OZO is a reversible harness / backpack made from ultra-lightweight materials. It is designed specifically for use with OZONE's range of modern lightweight wings, but can be used with any paraglider.
The Ozium is an incredibly lightweight XC pod harness for pilots who need a compact and lightweight solution for adventure flying. The Ozium concept and design was thoroughly proven during the 2013 RedBull X-Alps, the toughest and most brutal adventure race in the world. Ozone Team Pilots flew the Ozium for long XC flights in intense Alpine conditions, and carried it through the heart of the Alps for days on end. We have taken the X-Alps competition prototype and added a bit more durability and user-friendliness, making it an excellent choice for pilots seeking a lightweight pod system that is comfortable and features a very low pack volume. The total weight of the Ozium comes in at just 2.6kg.
The O2+ is the latest version of our entry-level harness for new pilots. The 2019 revision of this harness includes the following upgrades:New radio pocketNew colour-coded straps for safety and ease of useNew adjustment buckles with smoother actionNew chest strap protector for groundhandling comfortImproved reserve compartmentSewn-in reserve bridlesThe O2+ is a sleek and clutter-free lightweight harness that is easy to use, with a focus on sensitivity, comfort, and ease of use.
FREESTYLE/ACROIn the tradition of the original Octane, which redefined handling in the paragliding world, The Octane 2 is dedicated to freestyle play and acro flying. For 2013, the Octane FLX model has been upgraded to the Octane 2, which features a new material spec and colour schemes. The Octane 2 is a Freestyle Class wing, certified EN C in two sizes.
Ozone NinjaThin stretch material, ideal for use under helmets. Embroidered with the ozone logo and red arrow on neck.


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See What See's Has Hatched for Easter and Toffee-ette Tortoni
Last December, in a mad dash to beat the Christmas Rush, I stumbled upon an interesting new kiosk in one of our local malls. The kiosk was filled products from a company called See's Candies.
See's Candies???
Ahem......It goes without saying that I had to stop and investigate. Here's what I found out.
See's Candies is a manufacturer and distributor of candy, primarily chocolate, in the western United States. It was founded by Charles See and his mother Mary See in Los Angeles, California, in 1921. The company is now headquartered in South San Francisco, California. See's Candies is famous for its delicious and diverse roster of products, which it largely markets only in its own stores, as well as in kiosks at malls and other shopping centers in select markets around the country and abroad.
The friendly See's ladies in their signature black and white uniforms were very helpful and were nice enough to let me try out a few samples while I was there. Thanks to them, I also learned that See's produces some pretty freakin' awesome chocolate! Of course, I left that day with a shopping bag full of little chocolate somethings for everyone on my list.
I hot-footed it back to the mall after the Holidays to stock up on some more of See's delicious chocolate, especially my new best friend: Toffee-ettes. Toffee-ettes are irresistible bite-size pieces of rich butter toffee with almonds, which are smothered in See's creamy milk chocolate and then covered with bits of toasted almonds. They are To. Die. For. Alas, when I got to the mall, the kiosk was gone. And, so was all of the chocolate. I was majorly bummed!
Imagine my delight when, a few weeks ago, I received an email from a rep at See's asking me if I was interested in sampling some of their chocolate, and perhaps using it in a recipe. Do I even need to tell you what my response was?
And, they did.
A few days ago, a box of my beloved Toffee-ettes was delivered to me, me, me! After I safely hid them in the back of my pantry behind the pickled beets, I sat down to figure out a recipe to use them in.
At first, I thought of a toffee ice cream. But, my friend, Chocolatechic, had already beaten me to it with a lovely Victoria Toffee Salted Butter Caramel Ice Cream. I also remembered that I had made my own version of toffee ice cream several months ago. So, as much as I love ice cream, I decided to go another way. I still wanted to make a frozen dessert, so I adapted my Tortoni recipe and made Toffee-ette Tortoni. What a great idea THAT was!
My Toffee-ette Tortoni was scrumdiddleyumptious! It was creamy and crunchy and chocolatey and almondy all at the same time. And, it is a snap to whip up. Aside from the freezing, it took me less than 20 minutes to make them. You have really got to try these!
Toffee-ette Tortoni
(Printable Recipe)
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup sliced almonds
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 cups Toffee-ettes
1 cup heavy cream, chilled
2 teaspoons almond extract
1 quart homemade or premium quality vanilla ice cream, softened
Maraschino cherries, drained and halved for garnish
Melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the almonds and sugar and saute until almonds are lightly browned and caramelized, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool. When cooled, break almond mixture up into small bits.
Crush the Toffee-ettes into small nuggets. You can do this by putting them in a zip lock bag and smacking them with a rolling pin or meat mallet. Be careful not to turn them into crumbs. Place the crumbled candy in a bowl and toss with the cooled almonds. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whip cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Spoon the candy mixture into the whipped cream, reserving 3/4 cup or so for topping.
Add the almond extract to the softened ice cream and stir until blended and very smooth. Fold candy/whipped cream mixture into ice cream.
Spoon into little pastry cups or ramekins. Sprinkle each cup with some of the reserved candy mixture and top with a cherry. Freeze until firm.
Makes about 1 quart of Tortoni mixture.
The folks at See's also asked me if I would let you all know about their recently released line of Easter candies. With the promise of free Toffee-ettes, how could I refuse? Check out their complete selection of Easter candy for yourself. They have everything from jelly beans to chocolate bunnies and then some. I'm particularly partial to their Scotchmallow Eggs, a combination of smooth caramel and fluffy honey marshmallow, covered with rich dark chocolate.
(Don't they look great?)
Or, how about these fresh, fruity Springtime Truffles, which are raspberry and lemon truffles covered in creamy white chocolate, and topped with delicate pastel flowers. Mmmmm!
These Hollow Eggs with Novelty are hollow milk chocolate eggs with an adorable little white chocolate chick hidden inside. How cute are they?
If you're looking for some fun and fabulous treats this Easter season, look no further than See's Candies. You won't be disappointed. Would I ever steer you wrong?

subset: commoncrawl


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On July 24, 1915, the World War was raging in Europe and the belligerents were vying for the sympathy of the neutral United States. In Lower Manhattan, on a Sixth Avenue elevated train, Secret Service agents were tailing George Sylvester Viereck, a German propagandist and a mysterious companion of his—who was, unbeknown to the agents, Heinrich F. Albert, an attaché in the German Embassy. When Viereck got off at 23rd Street, one agent followed him; Albert continued on to 50th Street, where he suddenly looked up from his newspaper, noticed he had reached his stop, and hurried off the car, leaving behind a brown briefcase that the second agent promptly seized. A chase ensued, but the purloined bag ultimately made it to Treasury Secretary William McAdoo, who shared it with President Woodrow Wilson.
The documents that Wilson and McAdoo beheld detailed a sweeping secret campaign, linked to high-ranking German officials, of espionage, sabotage, and propaganda. There were plans to take over American newspapers, bankroll films, send hired lecturers on the Chautauqua circuit, and create pseudo-indigenous movements to agitate on behalf of pro-German policies. More disturbing were schemes to provoke strikes in armaments factories; to corner the supply of liquid chlorine, an ingredient in poison gas, in order to keep it from Allied hands; even to acquire the Wright Brothers' Aeroplane Company and use its patents on Germany's behalf. American officials also learned of sabotage plans hatched by a different German spy, Franz Rintelen von Kleist, who was plotting to destroy American munitions plants and blow up the Welland Canal, a Canadian waterway of vital importance to the United States. It was no wonder that Wilson wrote to his adviser Edward House that summer that the country was "honeycombed with German intrigue and infested with German spies."
Although these plots are omitted from most discussions of the 1917 Espionage Act—the law now being invoked by those who would prosecute WikiLeaks mastermind Julian Assange—they go a long way toward explaining (but not excusing) that unfortunate piece of wartime legislation. When Wilson made the case for entering the world war, he warned that "if there should be disloyalty, it will be dealt with with a firm hand of stern repression." Contrary to some interpretations, the president wasn't perversely touting his intention to trample civil liberties; he was grimly cautioning would-be saboteurs, like those who had blown up the supply depot at Black Tom, New Jersey, the year before, not to undermine the combat effort.
The Espionage Act had a legitimate purpose: to try to stop the real threat of subversion, sabotage, and malicious interference with the war effort, including the controversial reinstatement of the draft. It's context that's worth recalling as Democrats and Republicans alike clamor to use the law against Assange
On April 6, 1917, Congress declared war on Germany and for the next nine weeks it engaged in robust, contentious debate about the proper scope of an espionage bill. Some elements were struck from the first drafts. Originally, the White House wanted to censor the press, but Congress—reflecting fierce resistance in the newspapers—killed the provision. A provision to let the postmaster general regulate the mails remained, but was narrowed to restrict suppressible materials to those urging treason or lawbreaking that would hinder the war effort. A ban on efforts to "cause disaffection" in the military was replaced with a more closely tailored prohibition on efforts to cause insubordination, mutiny, or disloyalty—that last word used, as it was in Wilson's speech, to mean disloyal action, not private sentiment. Overall, the act wasn't meant, as it has often been represented, to stifle antiwar dissent, but to address particular wartime problems that officials had good reason to worry about: draft avoidance, sabotage, espionage.
Nonetheless, the Espionage Act was deeply problematic. Above all, its wording, even in its softer version, left far too much room for aggressive prosecutors and overzealous patriots to interpret it as they wished. (Things got worse the next year when Congress passed more draconian amendments that came to be called the Sedition Act; that law outlawed statements during war that were "disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive … about the form of government of the United States." Unlike the Espionage Act proper, though, the Sedition Act was repealed when World War I ended.)
The resulting crackdown on antiwar groups under the Espionage Act—and the shame it brought to Wilson and the nation—is widely known. Postmaster General Albert Burleson, a reactionary and intolerant Texan considered by Edward House to be "the most belligerent member of the cabinet," denied use of the mails to publications like the left-wing Masses and scared many others into silence. Around the country, meanwhile, the U.S. attorneys in Thomas Gregory's Justice Department prosecuted socialists, pacifists, and German-Americans on flimsy grounds. Many people were arrested for crimes of mere speech. Filmmaker Robert Goldstein was prosecuted for making a movie about the American Revolution that depicted the British—now a U.S. ally—in an unfavorable light. The socialist leader Eugene Debs was thrown in jail for a speech that defended freedom of speech. Of 1,500 arrests under the law, only 10 involved actual sabotage. To the dismay of progressives, moreover, not even the Supreme Court stopped the prosecutions. In March 1919, the liberal icon Oliver Wendell Holmes, coining his famous "clear and present danger" standard, led the court in upholding three dubious Espionage Act verdicts, including the conviction of Debs.
It has been common to view the Espionage Act as the product of a paroxysm of wartime hysteria. There's obviously some truth to that view. In 1917 and 1918, war fever drove many politicians, in all three branches of government, to lose sight of basic rights—just as during other wars a sense of urgency led Abraham Lincoln to wrongfully suspend the habeas corpus writ and subject civilians to military trials, and Franklin Roosevelt to approve the internment of Japanese-Americans. But just as the presence of real communist spies during the early Cold War years helps to explain (but, again, not excuse) the witch hunts that followed, so the legitimate fears of German saboteurs constitute an important piece of the context in which the Espionage Act became law.
The real problem occurred not in its drafting but in its application. All laws are enforced selectively. Discretion always shapes which possible violations of a law are prosecuted and which are deemed unwise to pursue. In deciding whether to indict Assange, President Obama—who has already endorsed the worst of George W. Bush's civil-liberties violations, the indefinite jailing of suspects without trial—might do well to consider how his decision will look in the light of history. Wilson's greatness is sullied today because of the license he granted to Gregory and Burleson to abuse the act; conversely, Richard Nixon's reputation as our worst president is only enhanced by his attempt to use the law to retaliate against Pentagon Papers leaker Daniel Ellsberg.
Assange's case is different, of course, from Ellsberg's, but it's still far from clear that his posting and sharing of classified government documents—as embarrassing and frustrating to diplomats as their publication may be—amounts to the kind of sabotage or espionage that the law was intended to punish. A former professor who taught his students ably about the Constitution, Woodrow Wilson would fare better in the history books today had he instructed his Cabinet officials more emphatically that laws on the books are only as wise as the people who enforce them.
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NOTE: There are now calls to extend the notorious "Monsanto rider" in the funding bill recently passed in the US. The Monsanto rider would strip courts of the power to halt the planting of GM crops if a judge felt a review of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's approval was warranted over health or environmental concerns.
Now "some farm groups" (see article below) are trying to extend the life of the statute beyond its Sept 30 expiration.
Unsurprisingly the only "farm group" mentioned in the article below is the American Soybean Association. Who funds them? Monsanto and other big GM firms.
Some U.S. farm groups vow to protect pro-Monsanto "rider"
Reuters, 3 Apr 2013
* Provision alters court power during biotech lawsuits
* Farmers say they get the right to harvest a crop
* Biotech foes say backroom deal benefits seed companies
* Powerful Senate chair says she opposes the rider
A number of U.S. farm groups want to extend a law that allows farmers to grow a genetically modified crop while regulatory approval of the variety is still being challenged in court.
No one in Congress claims ownership of Section 735 of a recent spending bill, but the 22-line provision has blown up a storm of opposition to what is being dubbed by critics as the "Monsanto Protection Act".
The legislation is lauded by some farm groups, who have vowed to try to extend the life of the statute beyond its Sept. 30 expiration at the end of the fiscal year.
Food safety advocacy groups frequently ask for a temporary injunction against sale of seeds when they challenge U.S. approval of genetically modified crops. So Section 735 would benefit biotech seed companies such as Monsanto Co and Dow Chemical Co.
"We'll certainly try to get that language put into the farm bill," Mississippi farmer Danny Murphy, president of the American Soybean Association, told Reuters.
He said lawsuits have delayed farmer access to profitable biotech varieties for years at a time. "We think it's important farmers have the certainty once they plant a crop they would be able to harvest it."
Lawmakers aim to pass a new farm policy law by this fall.
Only one variety, a genetically modified alfalfa developed by Monsanto, is under court review at present.
Biotech foe Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of the Center for Food Safety, called Section 735 a backroom deal that muzzles the power of federal judges to prevent the cultivation of inadequately reviewed biotech crops.
Opponents range from organic food advocates and small-farm activists to environmentalists, consumer groups and the American Civil Liberties Union.
The language was tucked into the 240-page government funding bill in the Senate with no indication of its author. Even the groups who support the provision say they do not know who got it into the sure-to-pass bill. No one claimed credit during debate.
The bill was passed on March 22 and signed by President Barack Obama on March 28 - even after thousands signed petition opposing the so-called biotech rider.
Monsanto, the world's largest seed company, is often a focal point for opposition by those who oppose genetically engineered crops or want more labeling of genetically modified foods. The company on Wednesday announced a 22-percent rise in quarterly earnings.
A pro-labeling/anti-Monsanto demonstration is planned for Monday at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration offices in College Park, Maryland.
Senior members of the Appropriations Committees in the House and Senate pointed at each other when asked who was behind Section 735. Two senators said the House panel was responsible because it backed the idea last year, albeit in a bill that failed to advance.
A spokesman for Representative Jack Kingston of Georgia, tabbed as the 2012 sponsor, said Kingston had no role this year.
Speculation has since centered on Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri, Monsanto's home state. His aides did not respond to queries.
Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski "didn't put the language in the bill and doesn't support it either", said spokeswoman Rachel MacKnight. She said Section 735 was an unavoidable carry-over from House-Senate negotiations last fall.
Mikulski has supported labeling of genetically modified foods and will fight for "valuable priorities, including food safety", said MacKnight.
Monsanto-funded farm group wants to extend "Monsanto rider"
- Details
NOTE: There are now calls to extend the notorious "Monsanto rider" in the funding bill recently passed in the US. The Monsanto rider would strip courts of the power to halt the planting of GM crops if a judge felt a review of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's approval was warranted over health or environmental concerns.


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Corpus Christi police said Monday that the child has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon-family violence.
Senior Officer Julie Garcia says the boy remains in juvenile custody. His name hasn't been released. Garcia says the mother suffered head, arm and facial injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.
Investigators say the incident happened Saturday night when the boy and his 33-year-old mother apparently got into an argument.
Police say the boy fled after the attack, but later returned to the family's apartment and was found hiding under a bed.


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The all-new Chevrolet Sonic's style, ride quality and fun-to-drive nature land the new car well past the Chevrolet Aveo it replaces and establish it as a competitive player in the exploding subcompact field.
Chevrolet accomplished its goal of creating a sport-oriented Sonic, but buyers on a budget will have to decide if fun is more important than fuel economy. The base 1.8-liter engine's 35 mpg highway rating is merely average in a segment where high gas mileage and low prices flourish. The Sonic's optional turbocharged 1.4-liter engine boosts mileage to 40 mpg on the highway, though for now it's only available with a six-speed manual transmission. A six-speed automatic, now optional with the base engine, will be available with the turbo engine in spring 2012.
The Sonic is available as a sedan or hatchback in LS, LT and LTZ trims. I test-drove the sedan and hatchback versions of the LT and LTZ.
What's Cookin', Good Lookin'?
The Sonic's sharp lines and aggressive styling stand out among the many uninteresting-looking cheap cars on the market (hello, Nissan Versa). The most attractive color combination I spotted was a black sedan with an optional dark-red "brick" dashboard, available on LT and LTZ models. That color combo conjures images of a 1957 Chevrolet Corvette or the Adam West-era Batmobile, both of which undoubtedly wore it better than the Sonic does. Still, it's a stylish contrast on the Sonic.
The hatchback's outline resembles the old Aveo. The redeeming quality there is that at first glance the hidden rear door handle — it's behind the window instead of on the door — makes the hatchback look like a coupe. It took me a few embarrassing attempts grasping at sheet metal to find the real handle, but owners will quickly adjust to the non-traditional location.
The Sonic is fitted with standard alloy wheels of 15, 16 or 17 inches, a rarity in a segment where steel wheels and plastic covers are the norm. Chevrolet says the increased rigidity of an alloy wheel gives the desired low levels of noise, vibration and harshness. The expense seems worth the cost, as the Sonic is quiet on the inside, with few rattles and unwanted noises.
The Sonic showed off its sporty aptitude on the twisty California roads where I drove it, exhibiting good composure and minimal body roll. Back on city streets and highways, the Sonic's solid, composed ride is impressive for a small car. There's a feeling of sturdiness and heft over bumps and uneven pavement.
The Sonic's engines are taken directly from the Chevy Cruze. A 1.8-liter four-cylinder is standard on all trim levels, while a turbocharged 1.4-liter can be had on LT and LTZ trims. The lighter Sonic is peppier and more responsive than its larger sibling. Differentiating the 1.4-liter from the base engine, besides the additional $700 it will cost you, is an additional 23 pounds-feet of torque.
Though the two engines' horsepower ratings are the same, the turbo engine's advantage is most evident on winding roads, where its greater torque at lower rpm hastily pulls the car out of corners. The base engine takes more time to wind out at low speeds, while the 1.4 is ready to go at the press of the accelerator.
Transmission choices include a standard five-speed manual and an optional six-speed automatic for the base engine. Just the six-speed manual comes with the turbo engine. The fun-to-drive factor is highest with the manual and turbo 1.4-liter, though the six-speed automatic paired with the base engine is surprisingly proficient at holding lower gears, keeping the revs up during spirited driving.
Back where I normally drive — the grid street layout of suburban Chicago — the 1.4-liter's strengths would scarcely be used. The Sonic's straight-line acceleration doesn't feel enough stronger than the base engine to warrant the extra cost, and even the increased gas mileage might not be worth your money: It could take a few years of saving at the pump to recoup the initial expense.
Gas Mileage
The base engine's gas mileage is simply unimpressive against the competition. The Sonic's 1.8-liter engine is expected to be the big seller, and it's rated 26/35 mpg city/highway with the five-speed manual transmission and 25/35 mpg with the available six-speed automatic. Optional turbocharged models rate a more respectable 29/40 mpg.
When paired with an automatic transmission, a Ford Fiesta (without the Super Fuel Economy Package) is rated 29/39 mpg. The Versa is 30/38 mpg, and the Hyundai Accent is 30/40 mpg. Fueleconomy.gov estimates those three will save $278 annually over a base Sonic; Fueleconomy.gov assumes 15,000 miles of driving and uses national fuel-price averages in its calculations.
Interior & Cargo
Compared with the Aveo, passenger room is relatively unchanged, so the Sonic feels like a small car on the inside. Sitting in the driver's seat, my left foot easily reached the floorboard, elevating my knee during normal driving. Moving the seat back any farther would have put the steering wheel out of reach, even with its telescoping adjustment fully extended. Front seat comfort, at least, is exceptional with both the LT's cloth and the LTZ's leatherette (faux leather) seats.
Affordable cars rarely have features that deserve "Dude, check this out" reactions, but inside the Sonic is a motorcycle-inspired gauge cluster that elicits that response. The display shows off vehicle speed, engine speed and other vital stats. It's standard equipment. A brightly lit digital speedometer and analog tachometer are fused close together for easy reading in daylight or at night.
Accounting for the techies among today's drivers, the dashboard sports two large storage cubbies on each side of the radio that make for valuable space. I stored my phone, wallet, keys and notepad, with room to spare.
Those planning to cart around friends should consider the hatchback for the additional rear headroom it offers. I'm 6 feet tall, and my scalp rubbed the sedan's ceiling. The hatchback provided about an inch of scalp relief. Backseat legroom is in short supply with the driver's seat positioned where I needed it. At least the seatback's cushioning is supple enough that I didn't mind resting my knees against the seat.
The interior is a complete redo from the Aveo. Unlike the Fiesta's Euro-feel button layout, the Sonic's dashboard controls are a more typical design, which I prefer for ease of use. The Sonic's choice of interior materials, plus its fit and finish, put it on par with subcompacts like the Hyundai Accent and Fiesta. I'd give an edge to the Fiesta, however, for its flowing, uniform styling, plus its higher-quality dashboard materials.
Unlike passenger dimensions, cargo room has grown in both the sedan and the hatchback. For a small car, the sedan's trunk is large — 14 cubic feet, up from the Aveo's 12.4 cubic feet — plus it features a standard 60/40-split folding backseat. The hatchback also stacks up larger than average, with 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, up from 15.0 cubic feet in the Aveo. The 30.7 cubic feet you'll get with the seat folded isn't as large as the Accent or Versa hatchbacks, but it is more than the Fiesta offers.
Features & Pricing
Chevrolet uses a similar pricing approach with the Sonic as it does the Cruze. The base model comes well-equipped at a higher price than some competitors, as opposed to a rock-bottom price that impresses at a glance but comes with few features.
The $13,735 starting price (not including a $760 destination fee) includes features uncommon in the segment, including a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, a height-adjustable driver's seat, a driver's armrest, alloy wheels and hill-hold assist for manual versions. Air conditioning, power door locks and remote keyless entry are also standard.
The most-expensive LTZ trim level ($16,535 for the sedan) gains leatherette upholstery, heated front seats, a USB input for music players, Bluetooth, cruise control and steering-wheel audio controls. The faux leather would look much better without its perforations on the seat and back cushions; they make it look cheap compared with the optional leather interior on the Fiesta. The cloth seats are just as comfortable as the leatherette seats, but cloth can't be had on heated seats.
The available iPod integration includes Bluetooth streaming audio and functions very much like the stereo in the Cruze and other GM products. The Fiesta's optional Sync system has an edge in its voice commands, which make it easier to select songs from a large music collection.
The 2012 Sonic earns the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's highest accolade of Top Safety Pick, having earned the agency's best score, Good, in frontal, side, rear and roof-strength tests. As of this writing, the Sonic had not been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Ten airbags are standard, including front, side-impact and knee airbags for front occupants, plus side curtain airbags for front and rear passengers. Antilock brakes, stability and traction control are also standard.
Sonic in the Market
Logical buyers looking strictly at the numbers may not find the base Sonic's high starting price and lackluster gas mileage attractive. The Sonic's aggressive styling and sporty driving experience appeal to shoppers who are more in tune with their emotional side, a rare strategy among cheap cars.
Based on driving experience and style, the Sonic works. Even its higher price is justifiable thanks to the numerous standard features. If Chevrolet managed to squeak out better gas mileage from base models, buyers' pesky logical voices would be easier to quiet.
Starting MSRP $13,735–$18,495
City: 25 – 26
Highway: 35
Available Engines
138-hp, 1.8-liter I-4 (regular gas)
138-hp, 1.4-liter I-4 (regular gas)
6-speed manual w/OD
6-speed automatic w/OD
5-speed manual w/OD
New or Notable
• New for 2012
• Replaces Aveo
• Fresh four-cylinder engines from Cruze
• 1.8-liter or turbo 1.4-liter
• Sedan or hatchback
• Six-speed automatic transmission
What We Like
• Higher-quality interior than Aveo
• Standard alloy wheels
• Aggressive looks
• Engines
What We Don't
• Less rear headroom in sedan than in hatchback
• Most models rated below 40 mpg
• Pricey for a subcompact


text:
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When the Colombian downhill mountain biker Marcelo Gutierrez competes in races, he's kind enough to video his rides and post them online. They're usually terrifying, but this one, which took place in the foothills of Montserrate last week, is particularly exhilarating.
Misha Collins on What Made Supernatural Successful
It took Gutierrez just 4 minutes and 27 seconds to complete the Red Bull Downhill time trial, which saw him descend 2,000 meters taking in over 1,000 steps in the process. Sadly, he was beaten to victory by Slovak mountain biker Filip Polc who crossed the line a second quicker.
Unlike most people, who flinch at the idea of falling down a flight of stone steps, Gutierrez speeds up before he reaches them. This man has balls of steel. [Marcelo Gutierrez ]


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Design submitted by Matt from Canada.
Matt says: One day I saw a Tian Harlan's Chromachron (which date from early 1970's). The dial is divided in 12 colors which are almost blocked by a smaller disk with a 1/12 portion cut out. The disk rotates and shows an approximated time because the bezel has no markers.
I made a lot of modifications:
– I've blocked the cut out piece at 12 o'clock and gave it a shorter rectangle shape.
– I've chosen to use a LCD screen instead of a turning wheel.
– I've added the missing minute and second, while using the outer ring for the hour.
– I've added another cut out for the month and date.
– The case is in polished metal and have 13 cut-out holes filled with a plastic "crystal", which is tinted or clear.
To tell the time, you simply have to use the column at 12 o'clock. The number at the top is the hour. The number in the middle is the minute. The number at the bottom is the second.
There's a date window between the 8 and 4 o'clock: Month at the left and date at the right.
I made 6 type of display:
– "Retrograde turning wheel" under a 3 colors tinted crystal.
– "Retrograde turning wheel" under a 12 colors tinted crystal.
– "Retrograde turning wheel" under a clear crystal.
– Note: the hour numbers can go clockwise or counter clockwise.
– Multiple segments off, with or without the hour digits.
– Multiple segments on, with or without the hour digits.
– "Filling-up" hour, comparable to the "Uzumaki", with or without the hour digits.
People who like retrograde movement and turning wheel are the target market. It can also be good for people who like the 12 colors system but find it too hard to remember which color equal which hour.
Using a covered LCD screen to imitate a turning wheel and having the time in a column at the 12 o'clock position make it stand out.


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On Tuesday, November 4, while millions of Americans cast their ballots in one of the most important presidential elections in United States history, there's a good chance that more than a few cuss words will be exclaimed in and out of voting booths. How appropriate, then, that the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments for FCC vs. Fox Television Stations on that very day. The case will decide whether "fleeting expletives"—potty talk said on the fly—can be broadcast on television and radio.
Specifically, the high court will consider (PDF) whether New York's Second Circuit Court of Appeals "erred" in whacking an FCC decision to sanction obscene and indecent language "when the expletives are not repeated."
To quickly recap: In 2006 the FCC cited Fox Television for its broadcasts of Cher and Nicole Richie peppering their prose with "fuck," "fucking," and "shit," during the 2002 and 2003 editions of the Billboard Music Awards. This was a new policy, because the dirty words in question had been said rather quickly, and had not been repeated, thus their being called "fleeting expletives." But several years earlier, following Bono's famous declaration at the Golden Globes Awards ("this is really, really fucking brilliant"), the FCC had warned that now, even this level of nasty talk would be considered indecent.
Fox took the matter to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, whose majority agreed in June of last year that the Commission had not adequately explained why it had abandoned its earlier tolerance for one-time-only cuss words. This violated the Administrative Procedures Act's prohibition against "arbitrary and capricious" behavior by government agencies, the court ruled. The FCC then appealed the decision to the Supremes, who will consider the question as Barack, John, Sarah, and Joe wage the Final Battle.
A terrible mistake
The New York Times mentioned this impending First Amendment showdown in its editorial page on Monday, arguing that the FCC's new policy punishes free speech. "We hope the court sides with the broadcasters," the Times concluded.
Three former Commission Chairs have weighed in on the matter, albeit one indirectly. In early August, Newton Minow and Mark Fowler (Kennedy and Reagan guys, respectively) sent an amici curiae brief to the court, begging the Supremes to put the kabosh on what they call the FCC's "Victorian crusade." "The indecency controls that began as a limited tool for reining in a small number of provocative broadcast personalities and irresponsible licensees have become a rallying cry for a revival of Nineteenth Century Comstockery," they wrote.
More recently, FCC Chair Kevin Martin's immediate predecessor Michael Powell said that he now regrets having approved the decision to declare Bono's comments indecent. "It was a terrible mistake and I voted for it," Powell said at a forum on the Commission held in mid-September.
Wahhhh! Holy [bleep]!
An assortment of pro-decency groups have filed amicus curiae briefs with the Supreme Court on this case, including the Parents Television Council, which continues to pursue fleeting expletive scofflaws with great passion. The PTC's latest crusade involves getting the FCC to sanction NBC after a skydiver on the Today Show used a bad word to describe one of his less successful exploits. On September 11, host Matt Lauer asked daredevil Hans Lange what his reaction was to crash-parachuting into a mountain wall from thousands of feet in the air. "I was pretty angry with myself," Lange replied. "I was like... wahhhh! Holy shit!"
The PTC is urging its members to complain to the FCC about this blunder (the s-word, not the crash). "We condemn NBC for its arrogance in choosing not to bleep this profanity, and for its arrogance in choosing not to apologize to its viewers, many of whom included children," PTC President Tim Winter declared.
As is frequently the case, the PTC has provided the public with a Web form with which to lodge a complaint about the show. The link to the form advises readers that: "If you live in the Eastern Time zone, click here to file a formal indecency complaint with the FCC." The program was broadcast in the 7 am hour, eastern daylight time. Note that it does not say, "If you saw this program in the Eastern Time zone, click here..."
Ars Technica e-mailed a representative of the PTC asking whether it was appropriate to encourage people who may not have viewed the program to file complaints about it. We also asked how this Today Show episode harms TV watchers, especially those who did not see the interview. We received no reply.


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text:
Youssou n'Dour was born in Dakar in 1959 and began singing as a child performer at neighborhood gatherings in the tough Medina section of Dakar, Senegal, West Africa. He took formally to the stage at age 12 and by his mid-teens was singing regularly with the Star Band, the most successful group in Senegal at that time. In 1979, he formed his own ensemble, the Etoile de Dakar, which, by 1981, had evolved into The Super Etoile. The most famous band in Africa, The Super Etoile, guided by Youssou N'Dour has crafted and invented a thoroughly modern African pop style, one which has gone on to influence artists as diverse as Peter Gabriel and Paul Simon.
It was Gabriel, in fact, who introduced N'Dour to American and British artists via his So album (in 1986) and took N'Dour and The Super Etoile on the road with him in a subsequent world tour. In 1988, Youssou N'Dour was a co-headliner on the Amnesty International "Human Rights Now!" tour alongside Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, and Tracy Chapman. It was during the "Human Rights Now!" tour that N'Dour first heard Chimes Of Freedom and became friends with Branford Marsalis, who appears on The Guide.
N'Dour's first international album releases on Virgin, The Lion (1989), produced by George Acogny and containing the N'Dour-Gabriel composed single "Shaking The Tree"; and Set (1990), produced by Brian Eno-compadre Michael Brook, prompted Brian Cullman to write in Rolling Stone: "If any third world performer has a real shot at the sort of universal popularity last enjoyed by Bob Marley, it's Youssou, a singer with a voice so extraordinary that the history of Africa seems locked inside it."
In the summer of 1991, Youssou N'Dour signed to Spike Lee's 40 Acres & A Mule Musicworks label, distributed by Columbia. N'Dour was impressed by Lee's stated commitment to "enlarging the legacy of great African-American music" in a wide range of styles and Lee's belief that N'Dour's music constituted a part of that legacy. The result of that union was 1992's Eyes Open; self-produced by N'Dour at his own state-of-the-art Xippi Studio in Dakar and featuring The Super Etoile, Eyes Open went on to win a Grammy Award nomination.
Since the release of Eyes Open, Youssou N'Dour was made an ambassador for UNICEF in conjunction with the Year Of The Child. In July 1993, an African opera composed by N'Dour premiered at the Paris Opera. N'Dour was the subject of a recent episode of the BBC's Rhythms Of The World program.


text:
Dear Rob,
I have to apologize for something… it seems OK magazine got a hold of something I meant to send to a different email address and instead of UK Rob FanFiction Contest I sent it to the OK Magazine tips email address. Oops! It seems they've mistaken my entry in the One Shot Robsten Fan Fiction contest* as an actual first hand account of you and Kristen together in what I called your "palatial pad" in Vancouver. Boy, you can imagine my embarrassment a having to show you this. As you'll read you can see where they got their information about Jacuzzi's and home cooked meals and sing-a-long's by the fire place. Of course they put their tabloid spin on things but I still feel like you should read it to see where all those details came from.
So here it is:
Story Title:
Inside Our Home
A Robsten One shot for the UK Rob FanFiction Contest
*Ring Ring*
"Alright, thanks just throw it in the bag, I gotta jet!" I told the sales clerk as my blasted cell rang for the 5th time. I knew it was Rob by the "Shaft" ringtone he'd chosen. He was back at the palatial pad we sometimes called home. But really, what's home when you're 19 and 23? We were shooting a movie and in an effort to keep us off the streets and out of paparazzi's waiting cameras the studio rented us both hotel rooms at the Sheraton Wall Centre that could marvel the best the Pocono's had to offer. I mean where else can you find a jacuzzi shaped like a champagne glass IN a hotel room? Gaudy it most definitely was. Right down to the living room they redecorated for us. All plaid. I guess hotel decorators get their inspiration from gossip magazines and blogs these days.
Read the WHOLE story after the cut
*Ring Ring*
"What do you want?!" I breathed into the offending object just to get it to stop playing that embarrassing music while I was in public. I mean I have the reputation of being super cool to up hold after all!
"Well, glad to hear your voice too sunshine!" Rob said answered sarcastically as I eyed the sales clerk as she shoved the rest of my purchases into the bag. They knew me here at Vancouver's Wear it Again vintage store so they were used to my impromptu trips to see the latest in flannel and vintage concert tees. They knew that even though I wasn't around in 1983 I would still be understatedly psyched about a Def Leppard tshirt that I could perfectly knot at my waist.
"Yea, yea, yea. What's going on?"
"Why don't you come over to OUR place tonight cause I'm making a home cooked meal!" Rob asked enthusiastically.
"On my way!" I replied ripping the bag out of the sales clerks hand while throwing my hood over my mullet. After all it was raining outside and it took me two weeks of not washing it to get it to this stage. I made a mad dash for the hotel running the whole way with my head ducked down. The paparazzi didn't seem to care as I ran by with my purchases and straight to the elevator. All I could hear were distant shouts of "Where's Rob?" Ugh.
She was on her way and all I had left to do was remove the wrappers from our dinner before this night of total ecstasy could begin. What would she think of the poetry I had written for her? Would she enjoy the dinner I was slaving over? Did I brush my teeth today? So many questions ran through my brain as the doorbell to the palatial pad rang.
I opened the door as she brushed by me to get out of the hallway. She was weighed down with a heavy bag from Wear It Again, OUR favorite store for used clothing. My mind raced with the possibilities of what the bag could hold. Gently worn lingerie? A new-old leather jacket for me? Perhaps some tweed? Kristen had seen me eying Edward's wardrobe on set many times and to be honest I think the feel of the heavy, itchy, grandpa-like fabric really got her going.
"Here let me help you out of that hoodie" I said taking both her shoulders in my hands. My breathing hitched as she slowly removed the sloppy hooded sweat shirt to reveal an oversize men's XXXL red plaid shirt. She lifted her eyes to look at me from under her lashes. And I froze. Would she let my borrow that shirt? If not, would she know I stole it from her after she passed out on the balcony?
"What are you staring at?!" she asked walking towards the kitchen in search of dinner. "Hmmm something sure smells delicious!" She sniffed the air. "Is that pepperoni?" Her favorite. Of course it was, I wasn't born yesterday.
"Only, the best for you! None of that three cheese broccoli nonsense! I demanded pepperoni and they found it. Just for you!" And me, but I wasn't about to tell her that. This was my last box of pepperoni and I don't just share unless I want something. I haven't gotten laid in 3 weeks. No more of this cuddling, getting-into-character shit. She was gonna eat my pepperoni and she was gonna like it!
She cocked an eyebrow at me as she stared at the microwave. "I'm pretty sure entering time and pressing start on a microwave does NOT equal home cooked meals but I guess I can let it slide since it's pepperoni."
Yup, she loved my pepperoni.
The microwave dinged letting us know our delicious home cooked meal was ready to be eaten. I handed her the Hot Pockets, still in their little cardboard cases (no need to wash dishes later!) and grabbed the bottle of Boone's Farm I had picked up just for the occasion and led her to the living room where we plopped down on the bearskin rug in front of the fireplace. As I unscrewed the cap on the wine her eyes stared at the wine bottle, hungrily licking her lips. I was a genius! What 19 year old girl doesn't love some tasty Strawberry Hill wine? Boone's Farm is an underage girls Kyrptonite. Oh yes, she would be putty in my hands, especially after my next treat.
"You better fill my glass to the top or I'm going to eat my pepperoni AND yours!" She taunted as I almost dropped the glass. I needed to get a hold of myself before I did something rash. Like rip that plaid shirt off of her and run away. But I couldn't after all we still had to listen to the Rolling Stones, read poetry AND luxuriate in the jacuzzi shaped like a champagne glass.
After we scarfed down our meal of crispy, crunchy, tender flakey crusts I wiped the remaining grease off my hands on the white bearskin rug. She must have thought this was hella sexy because she shook her head at me. OH YES, you just wait!
Luckily my guitar was handy so I grabbed it to begin playing the impromptu set list I had created while waiting for her to get back from the Vintage store.
"I can't get no satisfaction, I can't get no girly action
'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try
I can't get no, I can't get no
When I'm ridin' round the world and I'm doin' this and I'm signin' that
And I'm tryin' to make some girl, who tells me
Baby, better come back maybe next week
'Cause you see I'm on a losing streak
I can't get no. Oh, no no no. Hey, hey, hey, that's what I say…"
"Are you singing Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones? I really can't tell cause you're mumbling but WHY?" She asked as she scrunched up her face while looking at her IPhone.
"Um, cause Mick is the man… and well don't you think the lyrics…um… work well?"
"Work well for what?! This situation? Cause god knows ONE Hot Pocket isn't going to fill me up. Pass me that Boone's!"
"Ugh, you act as if we're already an old married couple! Can't you enjoy it when I want to give you something of ME instead of drinking?"
I sat there staring at her as she drank Strawberry Hill straight from the bottle. Maybe I should move on to my next tactic!
"How about we jump in the jacuzzi? I've got a special treat for you once we're in there!"
"This special treat better not be like the last time when we played "find the submarine" cause that was NOT a submarine!" Kristen called over her shoulder as she went to change into more appropriate attire.
We both emerged at the same time stopping to stare at each others swim clothes. Her plaid tank top and worn out plaid boxer shorts mirrored my own worn out plaid boxer shorts. It was like we were meant for each other.
As we took our places in the champagne glass shaped jacuzzi I began reciting the special poetry I had written just for Kristen:
Your eyes are red
Your toes are blue
Boone's is sweet
and you're my KStew
The room was deathly silent after I poured my heart out in poetry form to her motionless body on the other side of the jacuzzi where she still clung to the Boone's bottle like it was a lifeline. Her eyes were closed in what seemed like reverence for my skill with the metered rhyme.
"So uh… what do you think?" My heart jumped in my chest as I asked her this question, her answer would make our break our night and my 3 week drought. I waited.
*soft nasally breathing*
*soft nasally breathing*
The bitch was passed out and I was all alone with nothing but an empty bottle of 3 dollar wine and and NO Hot Pockets to drown my sorrows in!
I took in her lifeless form again, now more audibly snoring. This was the perfect chance to steal that shirt she had been wearing today. Who cares if she needs to walk outside tomorrow in front of the paps and has no shirt? I guess she shouldn't have passed out in the jacuzzi! Sucks to be her I thought as I jumped out of the jacuzzi and ran in search of that beautiful piece of fashion.
*Fade to Black*
So as you can see OK Magazine must have accidentally mistook my beautiful piece of fan fiction for a real life account of yours and Kristen's life while filming in Vancouver. I guess they didn't bother to check their sources and facts from an email received from firstname.lastname@example.com I mean, that email couldn't be speaking anything but truth, right?
I hope you'll accept my sincere apology and enjoy this piece of fiction in your spare time.
Getting NO satisfaction OR robbie action,
PS I will now be accepting applications for a beta. 😉
*NO dear God I did NOT write a one shot ROBSTEN fanfic NOR did I sent it to OK Magazine. And NO there is not a UK Rob Fanfic contest. This whole thing has been a product of my WAY over active imagination*
What do you think of this story, the OK one! Have they finally stepped over the line? How can they print "blatant lies" and get away with it? Do you want an all plaid living room? I do.
Share your own fanfic in The Forum
2 bloggers face off at LTT
PSSST: Our fav RobPorn creater Zephyersky entered a Jasper FanFic contest along with LTT/LTR pal Pange. See Zeph's page here. Click on "VOTE NOW" at the top right and then search for "Zephyersky" and "Pange" and vote for them! (3 stories total!) You have to have a fanfic account to vote. GOOD LUCK GALS!


text:
Quality Product
Order On-line Tracking
Timely Delivery
Credit Rating
Credit Services
Credit Purchasing
Quick details:
Condition: New
Brand Name: CCMG
Model Number: WZ30-25
Place of Origin: Liaoning, China (Mainland)
Type: Backhoe Loader
Moving Type: Wheel Loader
Dimension(Long * Breadth * High): 7130 x 2200 x 3850 MM
Rated Load: 7600KG
Certification: CE
Warranty: 6 months, 1200 hours
After-sales Service Provided: Overseas service center available
Loding bucket capacity: 1.0m3
hoe bucket capacity: 0.3m3
color: yellow
characteristics of 3ton wheel loader :
Adopt Cummins 6 cylinder engine with 97KW output power and high torque, strong excavating capability.
Full dydraulic steering system, merging of double pump, energy saving and high work efficiency.
Increase the counterweight, improve the stability and bearing capacity of the complete machine.
Reinforcement structure. Strengthened front and rear frame.
Joystick control realized precise operation, air conditioner are option.
Joystick control realized precise operation, air conditioner are option.
specification of the wheel loader:
1.How about the shipment?
1. The loader machine load one 40HQ container.
2. The loader disassemble into 3 parts, major machine, bucket and cabin.
3. Before shipment, we have done the rust-proof and antiseptic treatment.
2. What about your service?
We have our factory, we can meet customers needs as soon as possible.
We have first rate professional technology and provide good after-sales service.
3. What Can we Do For You?
1. During the period of 12 months or 2000 working hours warranty, Chaogong factory are responsible for maintenance and replacement of spare parts.
2. We attend the machinery exhibition in your country and please contact us when we are with you at that time and solve the problem you have.
3. For the sole agents, we will go with senior engineer to your country and offer the technical service.
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One big negative in an otherwise good jobs report? People are not making enough money to keep up with the rising cost of consumer goods.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The job market is showing some signs of life. And that's of course a good thing. It's just too bad that people still aren't making enough money to keep up with the fact that the cost of almost everything is getting more expensive.
Hourly wages fell in November. So much for consumers having more cash to spend this holiday season. And over the past 12 months, wages are up just 1.8%. Through October, the consumer price index rose 3.5%. That's a big problem.
Even with a smaller percentage of people out of work, it's still a constant struggle for those with jobs to pay for must-have items like their house, food, gas and health care.
"Inflation is pretty low but it's higher than wage growth. So in real terms, people are losing income," said Brett Hammond, senior economist with TIAA-CREF in New York.
Why were wages down even though employers added more jobs than expected and the unemployment rate dipped to a nearly 3-year low?
If you dig into the jobs numbers, you'd see that a big chunk of the 120,000 net jobs added last month came from an industry that's known for paying pretty low wages: retail. That sector added 50,000 jobs in November.
"Those tend to be lower-paying jobs that may go away in January. So there is little pressure for employers to increase wages," Hammond said.
That is a key point. The job market is getting better. But it's such a sluggish ... stop me if you've heard this before ... low and slow BBQ recovery that there is no reason for companies to start giving out lavish raises.
Employers still hold all the cards. Many people who have been out of work for years and can get jobs are just happy to get back to work. They're not going to take a hard-line stance negotiating how much of a salary they will get.
As long as that's the case, many people will continue to be overstressed and underpaid.
"Employers are going to push even harder on the labor side. They will focus on productivity and efficiency gains and not big wage increases," said Doug Duncan, chief economist at Fannie Mae.
That may be good for corporate profits. But when will the average consumer benefit? Duncan worries that unless consumers start making more money, they can't continue to keep spending at the pace they have as of late.
The personal savings rate is now just 3.5% -- a far cry from the 8.3% rate it hit in May 2008 when consumers realized that they needed to be more frugal during the Great Recession.
"Wages are falling and the increase in spending seems to be coming out of savings. When you put those two things together, it's harder to figure out how there's going to be sustained growth in consumption," Duncan said.
For that reason, Duncan is forecasting a meager 1.4% increase in gross domestic product for the U.S. in 2012. That's far below estimates of many other economists.
And it goes without saying that if the economy grows at such a sluggish rate, it may feel like a recession for many -- even if it technically won't be a double-dip.
Still, some economists see hope. Stuart Hoffman, chief economist at PNC Financial Services in Pittsburgh, said that the monthly jobs numbers don't tell the whole story for wages.
For example, he said recent compensation increases for workers of Ford (F, Fortune 500), General Motors (GM, Fortune 500) and Chrysler, as part of the latest United Auto Workers pact, are not reflected in the government's job report because many of them were paid as one-time bonuses.
"The number of people working in the auto industry is not inconsequential," Hoffman notes. "Many of those workers got a nice increase that doesn't show up in the data."
That's a fair point. And it is a parlor game of sorts for economists and skeptical investors to look for holes and fundamental flaws with the government jobs figures. They are not perfect and don't always give the truest picture of the labor market.
But it's what we have. And even Hoffman, who said that Friday's report should hopefully put an end to the talk of another significant economic downturn along the lines of 2008, said you can't escape the fact that the size of the average American's paycheck needs to get bigger.
"I wouldn't be alarmed that wages dipped in one month. There is a bit of noise in the data," Hoffman said. "But wage growth is still very slow. And to me, that's the underlying trend."
Best of StockTwits and reader comment of the week! More bad news from BlackBerry maker Research in Motion (RIMM) had people tweeting like mad.
A_F: $RIMM's tablet won't sell well till the housing market turns around ... #roofshingle
Ouch. Maybe RIM can give unsold PlayBooks to First Solar. Or Solyndra.
mohannadaama: Only way for $RIMM co-CEOs and Board to make any money on their stocks or options is if they all resign immediately.
Double ouch. But yes, you'd have to think stock would go up if new management came in to try and save RIMM. Or if, at the very least, the company dumped the confusing co-CEO structure.
_vbp: There is no such thing as "value" for tech stocks. Single digit forward earnings multiples price in low chance of reinvention. $RIMM $NOK $MSFT
Funny that you mention Nokia (NOK) and Microsoft (MSFT, Fortune 500) since the two of them are now in smartphone operating system bed with each other ... and like RIMM, probably won't be able to catch Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) or Google's (GOOG, Fortune 500) Android partners.
Finally, there was a lot of chatter on Twitter about another beaten down tech this week: Netflix (NFLX). Shares hit a new 52-week low the same day the Dow surged nearly 490 points on enthusiasm about the Fed's latest move to ease credit crunch concerns.
That prompted me to joke that "the Fed, ECB and other central banks set to unveil coordinated DVD liquidity swap line in order to save $NFLX."
A follower named OzanS, whose Twitter image is my favorite Sesame Street character (cookie!), had the following amusing retort which won him the reader comment of the week.
"that'll lead to massive inflation. we need to go back to the vhs standard!"
Too funny. Does the Q in QE stand for Qwikster?
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Paul R. La Monica. Other than Time Warner, the parent of CNNMoney, and Abbott Laboratories, La Monica does not own positions in any individual stocks.
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We monitor local car dealership advertised specials to help you find the best possible car deals. Whether you are in the market to lease, buy, or get your car serviced - here are most competitive car dealer specials in the Jonesboro, AR area.
Who has the best lease deal near me? We scanned dealerships within 75 miles radius of Jonesboro, AR and found 5 active lease offers across 3 manufacturers.
23 Rebates, Customer Cash, and Cash Back incentives from 1 car dealers in the Jonesboro, AR area.


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Editorial: Face the toll equity issue, and settle it
Tim Cahill is right. The Patrick Administration should be settling the Pike toll equity lawsuit, not fighting it.
The class-action lawsuit challenges a state policy that has been criticized for years: Spending money from tollpayers to build and maintain the Big Dig, a highway others ride for free.
Thirteen years after a transportation reorganization put the Big Dig on the tollpayers' shoulders, the Legislature has now reversed that policy. The transportation reform bill signed into law last month by Gov. Deval Patrick requires that toll revenue be kept separate from other transportation accounts, and that it must only be spent on tolled sections of highway. That includes debt payments as well as maintenance going forward.
That's a victory for toll equity Patrick has been hesitant to embrace. What's worse, a spokesman for his Transportation Department said this week toll money is still being spent on Big Dig debt while officials analyze the transportation reform bill.
Such equivocation helps no one. The governor should order his transportation chief to implement the new law with transparency and good faith. Patrick was elected on a pledge to shut down Beacon Hill's "fiscal shell games" exemplified by the sorry history of the Big Dig. He must not set up a new shell game with toll revenue.
But what about the money tollpayers from west and north of Boston have plowed into the free Big Dig in the past? The Turnpike Toll Equity Trust, which has brought its suit on behalf of nearly 2,000 tollpayers, argues that more than $400 million has been illegally diverted from toll revenue over the last three years. It is a wrong that should be righted anyway, and the lawsuit ensures the topic cannot be avoided.
The Toll Equity Trust, led by former Attorney General Scott Harshbarger, lead attorney Jan Schlictmann and four lead plaintiffs from MetroWest, isn't looking to bankrupt the state or force tax increases. Current toll revenue, along with the $100 million a year the Legislature has committed to Mass. Pike obligations, should be enough to cover the Metropolitan Highway System's needs, even with the revenue streams separated as the law requires.
Squaring the account with tollpayers over the millions diverted in previous years should be the subject of settlement talks. It need not be in one big payment or in the form of cash refunds. An agreement could instead lock in commitments to reduce or eliminate tolls over a number of years.
Treasurer Cahill, who has never been considered a champion of tollpayers, may have been looking to build support for a possible run for governor when he called last week for Patrick to settle the suit. But he also knows the Toll Equity Trust has a strong case, one that could jeopardize investors' confidence in the new transportation finance structure and cost far more in the long run.
The new Mass. Department of Transportation represents a fresh start. It's time to settle old grievances and initiate a new financial transparency. Patrick should seize this opportunity to bury the toll equity issue along with the Mass. Turnpike Authority.
MetroWest Daily News


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TUESDAY, May 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new injectable drug can further knock down cholesterol levels in people who take cholesterol-busting statin medications, according to the results of a global trial.
People taking the new therapy alongside statins enjoyed a 63 percent to 75 percent decrease in their "bad" (LDL) cholesterol levels, on top of the reduction caused by the traditional statin medications, researchers reported. The findings are published in the May 14 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
"This drug enhances the body's natural way of reducing LDL levels in the bloodstream," said lead author Dr. Jennifer Robinson, a professor of epidemiology and cardiology at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. "It lets us get cholesterol really well-treated in people with genetic cholesterol disorders or people who can't take large amounts of statins."
Evolocumab is a so-called "human monoclonal antibody" that, in a roundabout way, improves the body's ability to remove cholesterol from the bloodstream.
Cells primarily located in the liver contain receptors that target LDL cholesterol and remove it from the bloodstream. But the liver also produces a regulatory protein called PCSK9 that binds to and breaks down these receptors, Robinson said.
The antibodies in evolocumab are designed to intercept PCSK9, preventing the protein from breaking down the cells' LDL receptors, which allows them to stay in circulation longer to remove LDL cholesterol, she explained.
The phase 3 clinical trial was funded by the drug's maker, Amgen, and conducted at 198 sites in 17 countries. Over the course of 12 weeks, just over 2,000 people taking moderate to high doses of statins were randomly assigned to also take evolocumab, or another cholesterol-lowering drug called ezetimibe (Zetia), or an inactive placebo.
Compared with the placebo, evolocumab taken every two weeks reduced LDL cholesterol levels an additional 66 percent to 75 percent, and taken monthly cut the level by 63 percent to 75 percent. By comparison, ezetimibe provided an additional cholesterol reduction of up to 24 percent, the investigators found.
According to the findings, evolocumab had adverse events and side effects comparable to those experienced by people taking either statins or ezetimibe. "Because it's a very specific antibody, it seems to be very well-tolerated without any drug interactions or any side effects," Robinson said.
Evolocumab will be mostly helpful in treating people with a genetic disorder that causes them to have high cholesterol, Robinson said. About 1 in 500 people have this disorder, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
It also could help people with high cholesterol who can't take large doses of statins, Robinson added, estimating that as many as 10 percent of people with heart disease or diabetes can't tolerate the recommended dose of statins.
However, a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association cautioned that the drug's impact on the risk of a heart attack or a stroke has not been tested yet.
Dr. Mary Ann Bauman, who is also medical director for Women's Health and Community Relations at INTEGRIS Health in Oklahoma City, said, "I do think that this study did what it was supposed to do . . . to show it was safe, reasonably well-tolerated and did have an effect on LDL cholesterol."
But, she added, "The real question will be whether decreasing cholesterol levels with this medication makes a difference in cardiovascular events."
Statins have been proven to prevent heart attacks and strokes, but Bauman noted that clinical trials of ezetimibe have had mixed results. The drug lowers cholesterol, but does not necessarily prevent heart attacks.
Robinson said a follow-up study is underway to evaluate the drug's longer-term outcomes and safety. But if it does gain U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, she noted, the drug will be expensive. Similar antibody drugs already are used to treat arthritis patients, and those can cost patients thousands of dollars a year.
"It's not going to be for everybody, but it's going to be very important for certain people," those with genetic cholesterol disorders and those who can't take large doses of statins, Robinson added.
More information
For more about statins, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
This article: Copyright © 2014 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


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Kids & Family Events: Celebrate the new year with the little ones
It's like Times Square without the late night
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday at Science Center of Iowa, 401 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. Visit www.sciowa.org for admission packages.
If you have kids who have a hard time staying up until midnight to ring in the New Year, bring the whole family to the Science Center of Iowa to celebrate 12 hours early. Noon Year's Eve activities include face painting, balloon twisting and, of course, a countdown and massive balloon drop at noon.
ImginEve party is festival of fun
4-8 p.m. Tuesday at Hy-Vee Hall, Iowa Events Center, 730 Third St. Free admission.
Don't miss GuideOne ImaginEve, Des Moines' biggest New Year's Eve party for kids and families. Enjoy a countdown with a Times Square-like confetti drop at 8 p.m. and a fireworks show from the top of the Seventh Street Park and Ride at 8:15 p.m.
Winter Break Activities at Botanical Garden — Kids and families can discover how plants live through Iowa's cold winters through activities, games and crafts. $5 adults, $4 ages 65 and up and ages 4-17, $3 ages 3 and younger. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Drive.
Free Family Movie Matinee — Bring a pillow, blanket and pop corn and head to the East Side Library for a family showing of the Christmas comedy "Elf." Find out what happens when a human who was adopted by Christmas elves returns to the human world to find his father. Free. 1:30 p.m. 2559 Hubbell Ave.
Lego Challenge — If the kids are already bored with winter break, bring them to the library, where they can flex their engineering muscles by building Lego creations. The children's area will have three Lego challenges to complete. Free. 1:30-8 p.m. Franklin Avenue Library, 5000 Franklin Ave.
Kwanzaa Celebration — Bring the family to "Kwanzaa: A Cele bration of Family, Community and Culture," where all seven principles of the holiday will be celebrated. The event is hosted by Concerned Citizens for Justice, Creative Visions and Women of the Vine, and will include community fellowship, singing, dancing, games, lighting of candles and refreshments. Bring fruit to share. Free. 3-6 p.m. Crea tive Visions, 1343 13th St.
Animal Winter Survival — Children can learn about just how animals survive through a long, cold Iowa winter. Free. 10-11 a.m. South Side Library, 1111 Porter Ave.
New Year's Eve Skate — Ring in the new year on ice with the family. Listen to a live DJ and register to win prizes. $6 adults, $4.50 children, free ages 4 and under. $3.50 skate rental. 11 a.m.-11:59 p.m. Brenton Skating Plaza, 520 Robert D. Ray Drive.


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It's not even noon on a Sunday, and I've been biting my tongue all morning. When my husband sat down to Web surf two hours ago, I resisted the urge to remind him that he had promised to clean the basement. I held my tongue again when our 13-year-old trashed the kitchen while creating his "it's due tomorrow!" science project. And I even managed to stifle myself when my teenage daughter left a plate in the sink instead of reaching 18 inches farther to put it in the dishwasher.
I want to stop nagging, but with family members so resistant to constructive criticism, it's hard for me to shut up. Instead, I lash out at someone who can't talk back — the geriatric mutt snoring on the sofa. "For the millionth time," I order, "get down! No dogs on the couch!" She looks up and yawns.
I'm not the only woman who's guilty of repeating herself again and again (and again). A University of Florida study found that the culprits in two-thirds of family nagging episodes were women (who are also the ones most invested in keeping the house clean — coincidence?). To be fair, researchers noted that one reason women are labeled naggers is mere nomenclature — when men nag, we call it hounding; when kids do it, we say, "Stop pestering."
More From Good Housekeeping
"To women, nagging feels like the most logical thing in the world," says Michele Weiner-Davis, M.S.W., author of Divorce Busting. "We think, If someone isn't doing what I asked, they must not have heard me. So we say it again. And then we say it louder."
Once we realize we're being ignored, we tend to take real offense, as if our kids and spouse are scheming to stick us with the laundry forever. When they finally do tackle a load, we're way past thanking them — we just get nasty, muttering remarks like, "Took you long enough!" And that kind of negative reinforcement rarely inspires better behavior.
So what does work? "Whether you're dealing with an earthworm or a Harvard grad, the science of learning is exactly the same," says Ken Ramirez, who has trained hundreds of unruly critters, from whales to workers, at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium. "As long as you always stay positive, you can change behavior." Here, Ramirez and other experts explain how to bring out the best in your family — without ever saying "Didn't I just tell you to…" again.
Take Action Right Away
Habits are easy to form and hard to break, so you need to address bad behavior immediately. "Whether it's a puppy scratching at the door or a kid who keeps interrupting, we tend to ignore the problem 99 times. Then, on the 100th occasion, we overreact," says Alexandra Powe Allred, author of Teaching Basic Obedience: Train the Owner, Train the Dog. "When you're on the phone, the first time a child interrupts, stop your conversation and tell him not to break in on you again. Don't ignore the kid for 20 minutes and then explode."
Set One Goal at a Time
Start small, advises animal trainer Karen Pryor, and applaud the many little steps toward any goal. Good Housekeeping Executive Editor Judy Coyne was grateful to her husband for frequently cooking dinner, but she wished he would learn to make some new dishes. So when he loved a chili-rubbed salmon that she prepared, she encouraged him: "You could make this." A week or so later, she left salmon in the refrigerator, rewrote the recipe by hand (with little explanations of the parts he might find confusing), and mixed the spices for him. It worked. The next time, she put the recipe and all the ingredients on the counter with measuring spoons. A week later, she just left out the recipe, and he did the rest. "He's gotten so confident that tonight, he's making a fish stew all by himself," she says.
Try This Sound Solution
Working with dogs and dolphins, Pryor developed a technique called clicker training, where she snaps a handheld clicker every time the animal does the right thing. It was such a success that Pryor taught the method to hundreds of coaches (athletes learn to link the distinctive noise with a specific improvement in their handstand or tennis serve). Some form of clicker training will work around the house too. "Whenever your husband or child does something right, make a certain noise," says Pryor. "Whatever sound you choose, be sure it spells 100 percent praise." To test this technique, I started making loud kissing noises whenever a family member so much as carried a dirty bowl from the TV room to the counter or even (gasp!) put it right into the dishwasher. My smooches were a success: Not only are more dishes getting done, I'm even getting kissed afterward.
If you're in the middle of chopping tomatoes, scanning the newspaper, and talking to your sister when you ask your son to vacuum, he's not going to get the idea that his cooperation matters to you. "Make eye contact, clearly state your request, and then thank him when it's done," says Allred. "Halfhearted dog trainers only have semi-good dogs."
Communicate Clearly
"We often sugarcoat our requests, as if they require an apology," says Pryor. "We say things like, 'If it's not too much trouble, would you mind clearing your plate?' That kind of wording sends a mixed message, especially to kids. 'Please bring your plate to the kitchen' is much more effective. And avoid vague directives like, 'Straighten up the living room.' Be concrete: 'Take your toys and clothes out of the living room, and put them away in your closet.'"
Use Visuals
Weiner-Davis recalls one client who couldn't stand that her husband never closed his dresser drawers. "This woman had talked herself blue in the face about it. One day she stopped talking, and left a large note on top of the open drawer: 'Shut me. Your wife gets annoyed when I'm open.' Her husband laughed, shut the drawer, and finally began changing the habit." Visuals are especially effective with kids, says Jim Wiltens, author of Goal Express! The Five Secrets of Goal-Setting Success and an expert in child motivation. Rather than nag his son about remembering to take everything he needed to school each day, Wiltens and his wife put up a chart with pictures of a backpack, a trombone, and gym clothes. "That kind of checklist encourages my son to act on his own instead of just doing what we tell him," he says.
Quit Taking It Personally
Tanya Chartrand, Ph.D., a mom of two, was aggravated by her husband's superhuman ability to ignore all requests for housework help. But she couldn't help being impressed by his consistency. Since both Chartrand and her husband, Gavan Fitzsimons, Ph.D., are professors of marketing and psychology at Duke University, they decided to investigate the concept of "nag resistance."
They conducted a study with 135 students, asking each subject to name a pushy person who wanted them to work hard. Then the participants were instructed to solve anagrams on a computer; in some cases, the name of the nagger was flashed subliminally on the screen. The couple was surprised by what they discovered: The subliminal flashing caused people to do 25 percent worse than the control group — and those who faltered were completely unconscious of what had thrown them off.
What's going on here? One interpretation is that people who are nag-resistant may be experiencing a control issue. Says Chartrand, "I think people like my husband perceive nagging as a threat to their autonomy." So when she needs help, she tries to make him feel like he's the decision maker. "I've learned that if I say, 'Could you stop for milk on the way home?' he's very likely to say, 'We don't need milk.' So instead, I start the conversation by saying, 'Do you think we might run out of milk soon?' If he says yes, then I ask, 'Will you stop and get it on the way home? Or shall I?'" With that kind of approach, he usually takes charge.
Switch Perspectives
Being micromanaged is demoralizing, even for a toddler. Think of what kind of message it sends to your husband, a fellow adult, when you ask him to load the dishwasher, then you go back and restack the cups and saucers. "Look at it from his point of view," says Ramirez. "Sitting and watching the game on TV is pure fun. Getting up to load the dishwasher is not fun. And if his only 'reward' is having you silently criticize his work, what's the payoff for him?"
Recruit Help
If all else fails, try calling for reinforcements. Catherine Lambson of Vienna, VA, figured out that her husband excelled at getting their three children — ages 7, 9, and 11 — to take care of chores around the house. "He's much better at the job because I'm all talk and no action," she admits. "He'll ask them to do something twice. And if they still don't do it, he'll announce, 'OK, I'm going to do your chore for you now,' and they know there will be a real consequence, like less TV time."
The best part about Lambson's approach, of course, is that it encourages people like me to do a little delegating. After all, being Command Central of the Domestic Universe isn't exactly a glamorous job — no pay, limited respect. In fact, I'm now planning a leave of absence: Next Sunday, I'm kicking the dog off the couch and taking a nap myself.


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The Valley of Fire
Continuing my week of Las Vegas Wedding posts, let's take a look at the Valley of Fire, about 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas. A popular spot for TV commercials, it also played host to a wedding I attended. It's very scenic. Here's one of the red rocks that give the valley its name:
It's really hard to take a bad photo in the place. The valley is also the setting for an annual marathon, contains a number of petroglyphs, and has a bunch of these little guys (who we thought was a pika, but apparently he's an "antelope ground squirrel"):
But the wedding party knew something else was familiar about the Valley of Fire. And of course, Wikipedia to the rescue, it's the setting for the part of Star Trek: Generations where Kirk battles Soran, with tragic results:
Read more about the Valley of Fire, if you dare.