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So who says you can't laugh at Cancer?
This past week, the audio recording of Tig Notaro's comedy stand-up routine about her breast cancer diagnosis last summer turned up on Louis CK's site for a $5 download. Here's an excerpt of Louis' reaction: The show was an amazing example of what comedy can be. A way to visit your worst fears and laugh at them. Tig took us to a scary place and made us laugh there. Not by distracting us from the terror but by looking right at it and just turning to us and saying "wow. Right?". She proved that everything is funny. And has to be. And she could only do this by giving us her own death as an example. So generous.
Now New York City is about to turn Cancer into the funniest joke in town. First off-Broadway and then Columbia University will celebrate the art of laughing at cancer.
On October 19, the 2011 Canadian Comedy Award winner for Best One Person Show headlines the prestigious United Solo Theatre Festival just off-Broadway. Daniel Stolfi turns his tussle with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma at the age of 25 into a tour de force of dramatizations, characterizations, humiliations and exhilarations. He takes [...] continue the story


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Clash of the tiny titans – HTC One Mini vs Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini
It's Mini vs Mini in this epic battle of the miniature smartphones. But which one comes out on top?
The HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 sit atop the summit of Stuff's Top 10 Smartphones – and now both have smaller siblings aimed at dainty-handed gadgeteers.
But do the HTC One Mini and Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini offer the same supercharged experience as their big brothers? And which of the mini handsets will be king of the playground?
Design and build – Metal vs Plastic
It's HTC's metal vs Samsung's plastic all over again – and if you preferred the HTC One's slick all-metal unibody, then the One Mini will win this round too – despite the plastic outer band that gives it a slightly cheaper feel. The S4's plastic build does have one advantage, though – you can just peel off the back and whack in a new battery when you're running low.
Screen – Sharper is better
Both phones have 4.3in displays, with Samsung opting for Super AMOLED and HTC using Super LCD-3. The HTC One Mini's 720p screen bests the Galaxy S4 Mini's non-HD display though, with 341 ppi compared to the S4 Mini's 256 ppi. HTC wins this round.
Camera – Cream of the crop
We'll have to reserve judgement until we take detailed side-by-side comparison shots – but if low-light photography is your thing then the HTC One's light-guzzling Ultrapixel camera is likely the way to go, based on the performance of the same snapper in the HTC One. If you tend to take photos in good lighting conditions and want to crop into photos without losing as much detail then the Galaxy S4's 8MP camera will be better suited for your needs.
Power – Neck and neck
Both phones use Qualcomm's dual-core Snapdragon 400 processor, though the Galaxy S4 Mini's chip is clocked slightly higher at 1.7GHz compared to the One Mini's 1.4GHz. With 1GB of RAM on both handsets, their power – on paper, at least – is practically equal.
Sound – Boom boom boom
Whether or not you're a fan of Beats Audio, the HTC One Mini's dual front-facing 'Boomsound' speakers will outclass the Galaxy S4's standard rear speakers, making it ideal for sharing videos and music while you're out and about.
Android – What's your flavour?
Samsung's TouchWiz or HTC's Sense? It's down to personal preference, though we imagine most people would prefer the more minimalist Sense with BlinkFeed to Samsung's brightly coloured, cartoonish icons. Still, the Galaxy S4 Mini has a few extra software tricks including the ability to keep the screen on when it detects that you're looking at it.
Connectivity – Swap shop
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini wins the NFC battle as HTC decided to omit it from the One Mini as a space-saving measure. While both devices have 4G connectivity, neither has the IR TV smarts found in their larger siblings.
The Galaxy S4 Mini bests the HTC in the battery department, with a slightly larger 1,900mAh battery – which can be swapped out – unlike the HTC One Mini's 1,800mAh offering.
Both phones have 16GB of storage, but only the S4 Mini will accept microSD cards. One Mini users will have to rely on the cloud once their 16GB is gobbled up.
Initial Verdict
If the HTC One Mini launches at the same or even lower price point than the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, we reckon its premium build and superior screen will give it the edge for most people. However, the Galaxy S4 Mini's expandable storage and removable battery gives it some key advantages for those whose tastes incline more towards the practical than the stylish.
Still, both HTC and Samsung have managed to produce two smaller devices worthy enough to leave out on a pub table without being embarrassed. And that's all we could ever ask for.

subset: commoncrawl


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Note: SE national managing editor Erin recently traveled through Iceland thanks to the Inspired by Iceland campaign. She came back inspired to tell you all about her eating adventures. —The Mgmt.
"What exactly is Icelandic food?" was the most popular question I was asked after returning from a week in Iceland. (Second place goes to: "Did everyone look like Björk?") To answer the first, the basic diet hasn't changed too much since the Viking Age, though of course chefs have become more imaginative with preparations over the years. The mainstays include: lamb, skyr, potatoes, fish, and other seafood. A lot of seafood. And how could they not being surrounded by bountiful Arctic waters of cod, haddock, monkfish, herring, skate, lobster, and salmon.
Minke whale is also swishing around up there, but eating whale is a little more complicated for many visitors. You'll see minke on menus—skewered as kebabs, in steak form, or seared like ahi tuna. And Icelanders will let you know that minke whale is not an endangered species, but for some visitors, it's still whale and that's a full-stop no-way, while others use the "I'll just try it once" rationalization.
I'd rather not get into the ethics of whaling here. An Icelandic chef handed us a bite and said, "here try this," so we did. The taste is somewhere between tuna and beef, but it really depends on who's preparing it. It can be overgrilled, tough and chewy with a pretty rank fish-oily flavor. Or if it's cured then lightly seared, like the preparation we tried at Fiskmarkaðurinn ("Fishmarket") in Reykjavik, it has a much more delicate flavor with a silky, reddish-purplish rare center.
So, that's whale. Let's move on to something less controversial: skyr. SKYR! The third most popular question from people was, "Did you eat skyr everyday?" And the answer would be a big fat yes. Actually, there's no fat in skyr. Made of pasteurized skimmed milk and a bacteria culture similar to yogurt (note: it's technically not yogurt, it's a soft cheese), skyr is rich and thick, but very healthy and not heavy-feeling. It has a wonderfully creamy, spoonable texture and tastes somewhere between tart Greek yogurt, creme fraiche, and soft-serve.
Icelanders eat skyr everyday, anytime: for breakfast, as a snack, in drink form (called "drykkur"), as a dipping sauce ("skyr-nnaise"), or with sweet toppings for dessert. They've also been known to sling it at the house of parliament during protests and wrestle in skyr at nightclubs. Is there anything skyr can't do?
Another iconic Icelandic food: the hot dog, or "pylsur." So why does everyone obsess over Icelandic hot dogs? Aren't they just hot dogs? Well, they're made with lamb in addition to the usual pork and beef parts. The lamb presence deepens its flavor, and even under a deluge of condiments, you can taste the lamby funk at the end. It was also by far the snappiest hot dog I've ever eaten. Like, you can hear the casing suh-nap as you bite.
The most famous pylsur kiosk is in downtown Reykjavik across from the harbor. It's called Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, which translates to "the best hot dogs in town." Order it "eina með öllu" (one with everything) for the works: a sweeter brown mustard ("pylsusinnep"), ketchup, raw onions, crunchy deep-fried onions (see "Cronions" in the slideshow), and a mildly tangy remoulade. You could also order it "Clinton" style with just mustard, as the former U.S. president did on his visit in 2004, but they made fun of him in newspaper cartoons later for such a plain order. (How could you say no to fried onions?)
Lamb, that special flavor-boosting ingredient in their hot dogs, is one of the nation's greatest points of culinary pride.
Icelanders will tell you their lamb is better than any other lamb in the world, and it is really, really good. Probably because they let their sheep merrily roam free in the highlands and valleys to much on grass and herbs before being corralled in the winter. The result of such a luxurious life is very tender meat with a gently gamey flavor. We ate lamb one night with a Moroccan guy who said his mom's lamb was the best, until that night in Reykjavik (Moroccan Mom, you never read that).
There's plenty of meat available in Iceland that we didn't try: horse, reindeer steak, sheep's head, and fermented shark. (Ever see the No Reservations episode in Iceland where Anthony Bourdain calls fermented shark the worst thing he's ever—ever, ever—eaten?) The "try it once" rule didn't apply here for us.
SE editor Robyn, however, did head over to Fljótt go Gott, the cafeteria at the BSI Bus Terminal in Reykjavik known for its sheep's head, when she visited in 2009. Singed and de-brained then boiled, the sheep's head ("svið" in Icelandic) comes with mashed potato scoops and mashed turnip. If you're going to eat sheep's head in Iceland—and that includes the tongue, eyeballs and ears—it should be at Fljótt go Gott.
"Icelanders don't eat the brain, as far as I know. It only takes about a minute to eat the parts worth eating. The best part was easily the tongue," said Robyn.
Moving on to the list of "cute birds that seemed too cute to eat, but then we ate them" was the puffin. Just look at that guy. Could you really eat such an adorable horn-billed seabird? I didn't think so either, but then he was part of a special multi-course meal, so we tried him...and kind of really liked him. "Lundi" in Icelandic, the puffin meat is usually smoked to taste almost pastrami-esque, or broiled in liver-like lumps.
While you can find all of the above land and air animals on menus, the emphasis is still on the sea. In addition to eating fish for main meals, Icelanders snack on harðfiskur, what's basically fish jerky. The wind-dried haddock, which they usually spread with butter, comes in various forms: as thin chips, feathery-soft strips, or brittle crunchy pieces.
A word of caution about harðfiskur: this stuff is really fishy. The scent brought me right back to feeding my goldfish those orange flakes from the pet store in first grade. That's how fishy it smells. We had to double-bag the harðfiskur leftovers to avoid fish-air in our little rental Suzuki. And SEHQ is still Febreeze-ing out the smell after I brought some in.
Somehow after a whole week, we left without trying pönnukökur, the Icelandic pancakes. (If only the president of Iceland had invited us over to eat them with him!) They're thin, sweet, and usually rolled up with jam, powdered sugar, or cinnamon, similar to crepes.
As for sweets, black licorice, as with the rest of Scandinavia, can be found all over the candy aisle—in swirly shapes, in chocolate bars, in long laces and ropes. You'll also find its harsher, crazier cousin: salt licorice.
If you're into that assertive black licorice flavor, then you might like Iceland's national drink, Brennivín . Nicknamed "black death," the caraway-flavored schnapps is reminiscent of Aquavit but not as deathy-tasting as you'd think. It's customary to drink a shot after some fermented shark. We opted to skip the shark and sipped it neat. Skål! (That's the Icelandic cheers.)
Potatoes, in general, are a staple vegetable in Iceland (and distilled for all that Brennivín). Because of Iceland's long, harsh winters, their crop growth is very limited. Much of it happens in greenhouses powered by geothermal energy—the same energy responsible for the steamy, mystical Blue Lagoon! They yield gorgeous veggies you might think they came out of California but were actually grown in towns like Hveragerði, or "the Blossoming Town."
This is just an introductory guide to Icelandic cuisine. There's plenty more we didn't try, plenty more you should fill us in on here. My one very basic piece of advice for people visiting: eat as much fish as you can. With such an active fishing industry, it was probably caught that morning. Also, skyr. Eat it all the time. And again, it's technically not yogurt.
Have you ever been to Iceland? What'd you think of the food?


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Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), today announced the appointment of Frédéric Chereau as Senior Vice President and Franchise Lead, Angioedema, for its Human Genetic Therapies (HGT) business. In this role, Frédéric will oversee the development and execution of the global strategy for the angioedema franchise.He will report to Sylvie Grégoire, President of Shire HGT. Frédéricwill be based in Shire's office in Lexington, Massachusetts.
"Frédéric brings a wealth of experience from top pharmaceutical and biotech companies to Shire HGT, and we know he will be an important asset as we continue to grow and develop our Angioedema Franchise," said Sylvie Grégoire, President, Shire HGT. "With our recent strategic hires, we continue to strengthen our leadership team at HGT, and Frédéric will support our goal of helpingthose with rare diseases lead better lives."
Frédéric was previously President and CEO of Pervasis Therapeutics, which was recently acquired by Shire Regenerative Medicine. Prior to Pervasis, he spent nine years with Genzyme Corporation where he held a number of positions of increasing responsibilityin Europe and the US, including Vice President and General Manager, leading the company's global cardiovascular business unit. Frédéric began his career with Hemotech in France where he held various sales and marketing positions.
Frédéric is currently a Member of the Board of Directors of the French American Chamber of Commerce of New England and a Member of Strategic Advisory Board of the La Rochelle Business School.Fluent in both French and English, Frédéric holds a Bachelor's Degree in Physics from the University of Paris, a Master's Degree in Business Administration from La Rochelle Business School and an Executive MBA from INSEAD.
For further information please contact:
|Jessica Cotrone
|[email protected]
|+781 482 9538
Notes to editors
Shire enables people with life-altering conditions to lead better lives.
Through our deep understanding of patients' needs, we develop and provide healthcare in the areas of:
as well as other symptomatic conditions treated by specialist physicians.
We aspire to imagine and lead the future of healthcare, creating value for patients, physicians, policymakers, payors and our shareholders.
Statements included herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time. In the event such risks or uncertainties materialize, the Company's results could be materially adversely affected. The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: the inherent uncertainty of research, development, approval, reimbursement, manufacturing and commercialization of the Company's Specialty Pharmaceuticals, Human Genetic Therapies and Regenerative Medicine products, as well as the ability to secure new products for commercialization and/or development; government regulation of the Company's products; the Company's ability to manufacture its products in sufficient quantities to meet demand; the impact of competitive therapies on the Company's products; the Company's ability to register, maintain and enforce patents and other intellectual property rights relating to its products; the Company's ability to obtain and maintain government and other third-party reimbursement for its products; and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


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Oct. 7, 2012— -- A former high school English teacher who moonlighted as a Cincinnati Ben-Gal cheerleader will accept a plea deal on charges she had sex with an underage student.
Sarah Jones, 26, will head to court on Monday to accept the deal and be sentenced, her lawyer, Eric Deters, told ABC News' Cincinatti affiliate WCPO-TV. No specifics of the deal were given.
Jones was indicted in March on charges of first-degree sexual abuse and unlawful use of electronic means to induce a minor to engage in sexual or other prohibited acts. Police say the charges stem from an investigation that began in November at Dixie Heights High School in Edgewood, Ky.
Jones, a former freshman English teacher at the high school and cheerleader for the Cincinnati Bengals, stepped down from her position at the school in November after the investigation began, citing "personal reasons."
In July, Jones appeared on "Good Morning America," to address the allegations.
"People don't know the real me. There's blogs and postings out there that I have slept with numerous people. I married my high school sweetheart," she said. "I just asked the general public to maybe hold their judgment a little bit longer until the truth comes out."
A federal charge was also handed down against Jones' mother, Cheryl Jones, for allegedly tampering with physical evidence in her daughter's case. The elder Jones is also expected to take a plea deal, WCPO-TV reported.
"The hardest thing has been having not only me go through it, but to have my mom go through it with me," Jones told "GMA". "It's almost kind of a guilty feeling that she is even involved in this because what has happened to her is not fair. My goal is for her charges to be dismissed."


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Borrowers must pick up materials in person at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, or live close enough for someone to drop the materials off in person; we are unable to ship books.
The Orthodox Church
|Sergius Bulgakov
|St Vladimirs Seminary Pr (1997)
|1 copy available
|With a foreword by Thomas Hopko
Father Thomas Hopko states in his Foreword: ...Those who are serious in their seekings, whether their theological and spiritual convictions, are obligated at some point to come to terms with Fr Sergius Bulgakov. The results for the courageous cannot fail to be enlightening and inspiring: perhaps not in the ways that the Russian thinker imagined but in ways known to the Master he served.
Having been a classic introduction to the Orthodox Church for many decades, it is remarkable that this short book by Bulgakov still retains its freshness and relevance in the ecumenical scene today. The Orthodox concepts of conciliarity (sobornost), of salvation as a process of becoming divine, and of truth and infallibility in the Church, will open new vistas in discussions concerning Christian unity. Bulgakov writes from within the context of the ecumenical community, addressing the key issues and providing a basis for Western Christians to understand their brothers and sisters in the Eastern Church. Useful also to the Orthodox, the book provides answers and directions to the most commonly asked questions that are addressed to the general membership of the Church.
Sergius Bulgakov (1871-1944), former Dean and Professor of Dogmatic Theology at St Sergius Theological Institute in Paris was a prolific writer, powerful preacher, and profound confessor. Though controversial for his creative approach to theology he will remain as a great and seminal thinker who has contributed more than other toward shaping the direction and ethos of modern Orthodox theology. The Orthodox Church is the only book by Bulgakov available in the English language.
Editorial Reviews
Language Notes
Text: English, French, Russian (translation)


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Brennan Manning, compassion, forgiveness, God's love, judging others, Michael Clark, Shannon L. Alder, sin
Michael Clark of 'A Wilderness Voice' blog (*) and I were sharing our thoughts on God's mercy and this is what we wrote together.
"When you think yours is the only true path you forever chain yourself to judging others and narrow the vision of God. The road to righteousness and arrogance is a parallel road that can intersect each other several times throughout a person's life. It's often hard to recognize one road from another. What makes them different is the road to righteousness is paved with the love of humanity. The road to arrogance is paved with the love of self." ― Shannon L. Alder
What do you think of this quote?
Lately we have begun to wonder how many Christians, whether authors, speakers or bloggers, have realized that Jesus never condemned anyone because of their sins (cf. Jn 3:17). Instead He forgave sin and healed from sickness. The only times when Jesus exposed sin was when He saw the sin of self-righteousness, especially in the hearts of the Pharisees and scribes.
But Jesus did say many times to those He reached out to, "Your sins are forgiven you." Not, "Your sins are forgiven you under these conditions…" He would say that when people came asking for healing! We read,
When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, "Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—he said to the man who was paralyzed—"I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home." And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. (Lk 5:22-25 ESV)
Hearts were given us not for us to reason and judge with but to love. It was the heart of Jesus that made Him heal in spite of sin in the afflicted one. So He dealt with the sin that was in the way between them and God by forgiving and then He healed them, often by dispatching the devils that bound the afflicted.
There are so many Christians out there who know their Bible perfectly. But do they really know the heart of God before they open their mouth or press the keys on their keyboard in order to tell the truth… in love? Here's another, hopefully inspiring quote.
"Live in the wisdom of accepted tenderness. Tenderness awakens within the security of knowing we are thoroughly and sincerely liked by someone… Scripture suggests that the essence of the divine nature is compassion and that the heart of God is defined by tenderness." ― Brennan Manning, Abba's Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging
Remember, the New Covenant tells us that God is love and even in the Old Covenant He calls Himself the God of mercy. So, before we judge others, Christian or not, let us make sure that God's love dwells in our hearts and that we truly love others as we love God and ourselves,
For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (Js 2:13 ESV)


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Browse through Barnes & Noble these days and you'll find a ton of titles promising to catapult your sex life into the stratosphere. And though you may be tempted to take a peek, honestly, who has time to read even one of these books? (Or wants to risk having your in-laws spot a titillating title on your nightstand?) But buried between these covers are some surprisingly smart tips — not only on how to have great orgasms but also on how to feel closer to your man. To save you the hassle of poring over them, we did it for you. So — ta-da! — here are the best sex tips we've ever read.
1. A great sex life is about one thing and one thing only: a decision. There are so many reasons to not have great sex, and I know you know all of those. Instead, make a list of 10 reasons to have a sensual encounter with your husband.
—Mama Gena's Marriage Manual: Stop Being a Good Wife, Start Being a Sister Goddess! by Regena Thomashauer
2. Read trashy novels aloud. It's a great way to skip dinner and a movie and move right into intimacy. It can bring a playful spirit of romance back into your relationship, and it allows you to live out the fantasy, minus the costume, with a sense of humor. The more melodramatic, the better! As the heroine rips her dress off, you can yank off your sweatshirt for effect.
—Eat Chocolate Naked: and 142 Other Ways to Attract Attention and Spark Romance! by Cam Johnson
More From Redbook
3. Make one true connection a day. For example, maybe you kiss your husband good-bye every morning. Slow it down. Maintain eye contact. I'm just talking about maybe 45 seconds here. It can't be perfunctory; you have to feel you've deliberately done something to create a little bubble in time and for a moment float away in it.
—The Weekend Marriage: Abundant Love in a Time-Starved World by Mira Kirshenbaum
4. The sexiest look on earth: jewelry...and nothing else.
—The Great American Sex Diet by Laura Corn
5. Frankly, the missionary position is the position least likely to bring a woman to climax. But there is a subtle adjustment you can make that can increase your chances of having an orgasm: the coital alignment technique, or CAT. Have your partner move his entire body up about two inches. Your partner's pubic bone will rest on top of yours so that the base of his penis presses on your clitoris. This position provides continuous stimulation of your clitoris during intercourse, increasing your chances of having an orgasm.
—Sexual Pleasure: Reaching New Heights of Sexual Arousal & Intimacy by Barbara Keesling, Ph.D.
6. Foreplay is about sparking the imagination, creating a sense of anticipation. So help your guy take foreplay out of the bedroom. Give him a "lingerie assignment": Call him up in the middle of the day and tell him to come home with the accoutrements of his choice. By the time he completes his mission, he'll be begging for the sequel.
—He Comes Next by Ian Kerner, Ph.D. (he's also the author of She Comes First)
7. Women tend to separate their lives — when they are being mothers, they are just mothers; when they are working, they are just at work. Stop compartmentalizing and try thinking about sex more often. When you are walking down the street and see an attractive man, try to think about it for a split second. Be aware of the different sensations in your genitals when you are watching that next romantic movie. For the next month, concentrate on what you find erotic about your partner. Look for small things, like the curve of a neck, his hair, a smile, a particular look, etc. Incorporating sex into your life doesn't mean incorporating the sexual act into your life 24 hours a day — it means incorporating a sense of sexuality into your life and opening your mind to the sexual energy that's around you.
—Secrets of the Sexually Satisfied Woman: Ten Keys to Unlocking Ultimate Pleasure by Jennifer Berman, M.D., and Laura Berman, Ph.D.
8. A man's frenulum is the quarter-size area on the underside of his penis. Stimulating this spot will elicit tremendous, intense sensations. So ladies, when you happen to be hovering in the general vicinity, remember to pay attention to this sensational area of his anatomy.
—The Great Lover Playbook: 365 Sexual Tips and Techniques to Keep the Fires Burning All Year Long by Lou Paget
9. The reason strippers are comfortable with their bodies is that they spend 40 hours a week naked. The more time you can spend naked, then, the more comfortable you will feel with your body. Pick a chore you do around the house — washing the breakfast dishes after you pack the kids off to school, putting in a load of laundry or filing old bills — then do it naked. It may seem ridiculous, but it will increase your comfort level with your own body in a way that agonizing and analyzing never will.
—Dance Naked: A Guide to Unleashing Your Inner Hottie by Jessica "Kayla" Conrad
10. To have multiple orgasms, keep breathing as you feel yourself reaching your peak. Do you tend to hold your breath? Most of us do. To have a second orgasm, breathe through the first; your body can stay aroused, keeping blood in the genitals rather than rushing it up to your oxygen-deprived brain.
—The Best You'll Ever Have: What Every Woman Should Know About Getting and Giving Knock-Your-Socks-Off Sex by Shannon Mullen and Valerie Frankel
11. Buy a different pair of frivolous, sexy panties for each day of the week. Let him know.
—Love Stuff: 515 Delightful, Delicious, Sexy, Silly, Fun, Frivolous, Passionate, Positive, and (Above All) Romantic Things to Do with Your One-and-Only by Lorraine Bodger
12. Pretend you're doing it to Latin music. People assume thrusting can only happen in one plane, back and forth. Instead, tilt your hips in every direction. Do your best Elvis impression.
—The Big Bang: Nerve's Guide to the New Sexual Universe by Emma Taylor and Lorelei Sharkey
13. During manual stimulation, focus on the upper left side of the clitoris. In every female student we've taught, the upper left quadrant is the most pleasurable spot.
—Extended Massive Orgasm: How You Can Give & Receive Intense Sexual Pleasure by Steve Bodansky, Ph.D., and Vera Bodansky, Ph.D.
14. Go ahead and rent sexy movies — women are turned on by the visuals. If we weren't, we wouldn't be ogling pictures of Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp! There have been a number of studies that were conducted to test out whether women respond to erotic imagery. Women were put into a dark room by themselves and outfitted with tiny receptors hooked up to their vaginas to measure their physical response, and then shown a variety of sexy images. What the researchers found was that most women would say that they were not turned on, while in fact those little receptors belied them! In other words, they were responding physically, but because of years of being told that women are not visual, they fooled even themselves.
—How to Tell a Naked Man What to Do by Candida Royalle
15. The PC (pubococcygeus) muscle is the most important muscle for improving, expanding, exploring and enjoying one's sexuality. The easiest way to locate the muscle is to stop the stream of urine while you empty your bladder; another way to locate the muscle is by putting a finger in your vagina and squeezing. Once you've mastered PC contractions, do them during intercourse. It will result in more friction, more stimulation and more pleasure.
—Sextasy: Master the Timeless Technique of Tantra, Tao, and the Kama Sutra to Take Lovemaking to New Heights by Caroline Aldred
16. Do it in the morning! You're already horizontal, you have fewer clothes on to worry about, his testosterone level is highest, and you'll be in a glowing mood for the rest of the day.
—Sex Positions: Over 100 Truly Explosive Tips by Lisa Sussman
17. "I think I made his back feel better," Marilyn Monroe was once heard saying after a private meeting with JFK. Wonder what she did? Here's the trick she was famous for — try it yourself: Undress your husband and ask him to lie facedown on the bed; climb on top. Tension melts away as you massage warm oil into his skin. Then tell him: "Don't move. I need you stay very, very still...." Then make love to his back. Rock your hips in slow, small circles, pressing your mons directly against his tailbone. Let him know what's happening — whisper in his ear that you're getting close, closer, closer....You've become the bedmate men dream of — a woman who can get all the foreplay she wants...all by herself!
—101 Nights of Grrreat Sex by Laura Corn
18. Try the Spiral of Nines, a thrusting sequence that men have used to thrill their women for centuries. Develop a rhythm of varied thrusts — three shallow and one deep; then five shallow and one deep; seven shallow, one deep; and finally nine shallow and one eagerly anticipated full-bore thrust. Keep up the nine-to-one pattern until one of you reaches nirvana.
— 302 Advanced Techniques for Driving a Man Wild in Bed by Olivia St. Claire
19. Countless men have reported how turned on they become when their wives make the first move. Why? Because men find this show of power sexy; it appeals to their innate desire to be taken care of, but with the added thrill of being sexually taken care of.
—The Great Lover Playbook: 365 Sexual Tips and Techniques to Keep the Fires Burning All Year Long by Lou Paget
20. Getting rid of your bedroom television practically guarantees that you'll both be in the mood more often. A blank TV screen is just too tempting, way too tempting. You're sitting there. He's sitting there. It's sitting there. One of you decides to "just check" to see if anything is on. You get sucked in by a VH1 where-are-they-now documentary about a band you didn't even like when they were popular 25 years ago. You get lulled into watching news you don't want to hear, movies you've seen already and inane game shows. Careless viewing is not such a crime when you've got time to kill, but in the bedroom? No! So many lost opportunities for romance. Put your bedroom TV somewhere else. You may feel withdrawal symptoms at first, but with all the romantic advantages, you won't mind them for long.
—Eat Chocolate Naked: And 142 Other Ways to Attract Attention and Spark Romance! by Cam Johnson
Even smart sex books offer some pointers that are pretty silly — or downright weird!
1. Sit in front of your partner and give your genitals a voice. For instance, "I am happy to live with Margot," or "I'm unhappy she keeps me under the table." They may say, "I'm rusty and out of practice," or "It's about time you gave me some attention." Let your genitals speak for as long as needed. Then, switch roles.
—The Sexual Ecstasy Workbook by Margot Anand and Philip Duane Johncock
2. Underarm deodorant should be banned absolutely. A truly deodorized woman would be like a deodorized carnation.
—The Joy of Sex: Fully Revised & Completely Updated for the 21st Century by Alex Comfort
3. You can achieve an eye-popping effect by wrapping the nipple with dental floss.
—Tricks to Please a Woman by Jay Wiseman
4. Are you suddenly inspired by phallic objects around the house? Then get creative! Candles, rubber handles and cooking utensils will all get the job done very well. And when a friend uses that spatula to flip your pancakes, you'll get added pleasure from knowing where it's been!
—Toygasms! The Insider's Guide to Sex Toys and Techniques by Sadie Allison
5. Insert a moistened Alka-Seltzer tablet in your love tunnel and beckon your man to enter. Makes an invigorating fizzy tingle for both of you.
—302 Advanced Techniques for Driving a Man Wild in Bed by Olivia St. Claire


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It's rare for the best series on television to attract huge audiences, but it's equally rare for the very worst series to manage the same feat. Indeed, only three series out of the 10 worst of 2011 were renewed for second seasons, and all of those are on cable (evidently the best place to keep the worst and best TV alive). On the other hand, two of our network selections have gotten full-season pickups, so the Big Five may yet reclaim their crown. Fortunately, many of the worst shows of 2011 were so execrable that they were chased off the air as quickly as they arrived, few lasting more than a handful of episodes.
10. Whitney (NBC)
There were promising elements within Whitney—a strong female at the center, the agreeably hangdog Chris D'Elia as the boyfriend, a supporting cast full of ringers who'd done great work on other sitcoms—but they never came together to make an appealing show. Creator Whitney Cummings and showrunner Betsy Thomas spoke defensively about the decision to film the show multi-camera style, but their reverse-snobbish attitude could only go so far, and the show began to collapse under the weight of its own formula after just a few episodes.
9. Live To Dance (CBS)
During the brief period when Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell hadn't yet made up, CBS—the one network without a hit performance/reality show of its own—tossed this odd, reheated version of So You Think You Can Dance on the air, mostly to pin down Paula as one of its central talents. The show, which didn't have a single original idea other than "Dancing, maybe?" flopped, with surprising thoroughness for a CBS show, and Abdul was quickly shuffled back under the wing of Cowell (only for the two to disappoint in one of the fall's most hyped, most shrugged-over shows, The X Factor).
8. Most Eligible Dallas (Bravo)
It's not immediately clear who the audience for the many dating reality shows that have infiltrated the airwaves over the past few years is, but at least most of these shows feature a gimmick or two, like forcing people to compete for someone's hand, or shoving them all into the middle of nowhere, or forcing incredible "transformations" on them. The gimmick for Most Eligible Dallas seemed to be, "They're in Texas," and the show's personalities were so vapid and boring that the show became Bravo's equivalent of an AfterDark screensaver: vaguely pretty people wandering around in randomly generated patterns.
7. Franklin & Bash (TNT)
TNT's annual personality-free procedural entry to this list, Franklin & Bash had a lot of things going for it. It had good guest stars. It had Malcolm McDowell as an irascible old coot. It had two stars (Breckin Meyer and Mark-Paul Gosselaar) with enough chemistry to appear charming in interviews. But the premise and central characters were all wrong, lending it a stale, fratty feel, like taking a swig of beer that someone's left out on a counter for days. The story of two iconoclasts hoping to spice up a stodgy old law firm failed because, well, the iconoclasts simply weren't iconoclastic at all. They talked like what a TV executive probably thinks hip young kids talk like.
6. Unforgettable (CBS)
A series mostly notable for originally being titled The Rememberer, Unforgettable strands the likeable Poppy Montgomery in a generic crime procedural about a woman who solves cases by thinking really hard about things she's seen before—it's as if she's constantly trapped in a "spot-the-differences" puzzle in an issue of Highlights For Children. Dylan Walsh grimaced his way through his role as Montgomery's ex-boyfriend, and the likeable Michael Gaston was wasted in a role that seemed modeled after J.K. Simmons on The Closer. The cherry of awfulness on top? The absolutely ridiculous "serialized" element of the show, in which Montgomery can remember every day of her life perfectly—except the day her sister was murdered. Ugh.
5. Retired At 35 (TV Land)
It's hard to fault TV Land for attempting to fashion new shows in the mold of bland sitcoms from the '80s and '90s. The major networks haven't been doing a good job of providing it with bland-enough shows lately. In addition, TV Land's efforts have led to a fertile place for old sitcom stars looking for new work, and sometimes this leads to fun shows, or at least fun shows of the sort that might safely be watched with grandma. Not so Retired At 35, which wastes George Segal, Jessica Walter, and a clever premise (young man moves into a retirement community) on a show that started breaking its own rules to find new conflicts in episode two.
4. Charlie's Angels (ABC)
The world didn't need another Charlie's Angels remake, but if ABC was going to give us one—from Miles Millar and Alfred Gough, the creators of Smallville, no less—it could have tried a little harder than it did with this one, a tepid tale of three female fugitives who found themselves brought together to undertake dangerous missions (and look hot). The show seemed bored with presenting cheesecake shots of beautiful women—essentially its entire reason for existing—and tried far too hard to pile mythology onto a property that didn't need it. The pilot summed it up best when the angels infiltrated a party with appetizers designed to get the fashionable guests to need to relieve themselves really, really badly.
3. Dance Moms (Lifetime)
Lifetime's Dance Moms looked to be the network's answer to Toddlers & Tiaras, but missed pretty much everything that makes that show, for lack of a better word, "classy." Where Toddlers is a horrifying yet entertaining descent into a little-explored subculture, Dance Moms is simply a collection of thoroughly unpleasant people being thoroughly unpleasant to each other. It was odd that a network billing itself as "television for women" would make a show that conformed to so many sexist stereotypes its centerpiece.
2. I Hate My Teenage Daughter (Fox)
I Hate My Teenage Daughter is a dumb-as-nails sitcom made even worse by an awful premise: Two women who were nerds in high school go to war with their mean-girl daughters and make utter asses of themselves. It wastes the talents of Jaime Pressly and Katie Finneran, reducing them to cartoons and making them strut about the stage as the audience howls, almost as though they were performing in an old-time vending machine, where dropping in a quarter earns the requisite amount of "sitcom antics." Even Fox seemed embarrassed by this one, referring to it increasingly only as Teenage Daughter in promotional materials.
1. H8R (The CW)
Any of the above series would have been a worthy winner of this list in most other years, but this year they'll all have to content themselves with coming in far behind H8R, one of the most repellant television shows in recent memory. Hosted by Mario Lopez and featuring reality-show impresario Mike Fleiss as one of its producers, H8R posited that one of the foremost problems facing America today is that people are saying mean things about celebrities on the Internet. The show's cluelessness would have been funny if it didn't lead to episodes where Lopez thought he was doing good by letting people like Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis and reality TV asshole Jake Pavelka tell their "haters" that no one knows the real them. And at all times, Lopez giggled safely from his bunker, secure in the knowledge that he really was that much better than all of us.
And now some special awards for shows that didn't debut this year or pulled off achievements that don't fit comfortably on the main list.
Special award for most horrifying news coverage of the year
The death of Caylee Anthony was a tragedy, and the 24-hour news media circus that sprang up around the trial of her mother, Casey acquitted in the child's death, was both a complete mess and a reminder of just how poorly cable news channels do with big trials. Particularly terrible: Nancy Grace, who suggested Satan was happy with the outcome of the trial.
Special award for greatest dip in quality from pilot to finale
The Killing's first handful of episodes were good enough to just keep it off this list, but by the time the season had reached its halfway point, it became obvious the show was trying to stretch the average episode of Cold Case out to 13 episodes for no particular reason. Bonus points to showrunner Veena Sud for her tone-deaf interviews in the wake of the head-spinningly awful finale.
Special award for stealth awesomeness in awful TV
The hosting job by Anne Hathaway and James Franco on the Oscars couldn't have been called "good" by any means, but there was something so gleefully trainwreck-y about Franco's lack of interest and Hathaway's desperate need to keep the evening together that the pairing became fascinating, like watching an awkward dinner party fall apart.
Special award for getting a bunch of talented people together and doing nothing with them
How To Be A Gentleman boasted a terrific cast, writers and producers from It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, and an engaging odd-couple idea for its central premise. While it was more wet-fart mediocrity than awful, it disappointed, simply by wasting so many good people.
Special award for not doing the simple thing required of you as a reality show
The Glee Project, which got down to the final four and then, in its finale… said they were all winners and left it at that. The contest winners have since behaved exactly like teenagers randomly given guest spots on their favorite show.
Special award for being awful but also endlessly watchable
Fox's Mobbed is based on the questionable idea that everything's better with flash mobs, but the show is just so weird—complete with Howie Mandel piling extravagance on top of extravagance and the fact that only a handful of messages will make sense delivered via flash mob (and "I'm your real dad" isn't one of them)—that it became perversely enjoyable in spite of itself.
Special award for wasting a great idea for a reality show
NBC's America's Next Top Restaurant went from the natural outgrowth of a program like Top Chef to a show where Chipotle founder Steve Ells kept trying to turn everything he saw into Chipotle.
Special award for reminding us of the lows of reality television
The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills, which saw a cast member commit suicide in the off-season, then tried to figure out a way to tastefully brand him as a wife beater in the aftermath.
Special award for wasting potential
It'd be impossible to say that ABC's Modern Family is a bad show but, with its talented cast and writing staff, it feels like it's increasingly written and performed by people who just want to check out and play golf at 5 p.m. everyday. Where's the occasionally dark wit of the first season? Where are the non-exaggerated conflicts? Why does every episode seem to feature a car accident? Modern Family is a huge hit and still has its champions, but is there any joke here that would sound out of place with a laugh track inserted immediately after it?
Special award for once being a good show but now being utterly awful
The sixth season of Dexter just might have been the worst season of television to air this year, going from the strained comedy of the season première, to a storyline about two villains who barely intersected with the main story, to a twist that nearly everyone in its audience saw coming weeks before it was played. Now the show's trying to suggest icky things about its central sibling duo, while everybody involved goes through the motions. One episode wasted several minutes of screen time on Dexter's sister going over the vagaries of Florida property law. For a once-entertaining show, this is an embarrassing low.
We're not gonna lie; these shows were bad too
Bar Karma, Breakout Kings, Friends With Benefits, Gigolos, It's Worth What?, Love Bites, Love In The Wild, The Playboy Club, Teen Wolf, Working Class


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Sony, you're such a tease. The PlayStation motion controller wand won't hit shops until next Spring, but SCEA research head honcho, Richard Marks, gives a pretty interesting look at its background and capabilities in this video.
Misha Collins on What Made Supernatural Successful
Hearing how the technology works is cool and all, but what caught my attention was that it'll have rumble feedback, buttons, and an analog trigger. I'm looking forward to seeing how games use it at the Tokyo Game Show on September 24. [Sony]


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The Naked CDC: the Truth about MMR (or part of it) in their Own Words
In a CDC study of the adverse effects of MMR:
Above 1 in 17 toddlers in the study developed a temperature of 39.5C (103F) or greater post vaccination, and 1 in 5.6 a raised temperature.
Nearly one quarter of toddlers in the study (23%) were routinely vaccinated despite being unwell prior to vaccination with fever (7%), diarrhea (12%) and rash (7%)
It is all too revealing to look at this 2006 study by LeBaron et al 'Evaluation of Potentially Common Adverse Events Associated With the First and Second Doses of Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine' which was apparently designed to be re-assuring that the effects of a second and third dose of MMR at pre-school and mid-school age are milder than the first in infancy or toddlerhood.
But if so, we might ask, what about the first? We learn that it is quite routine for an infant to develop a raging fever with unknown long term consequences. Again LeBaron et al are frank about some of the limitations of their study:
'Our study suffers from a number of limitations. Data on adverse events were based on unverified, family recorded symptom diaries. We had no unvaccinated control group. The baseline period for the study subjects lasted only 1 week and was relatively close to vaccination when the "healthy vaccinee effect"14 may well have been present. A 17% attrition rate occurred, mostly during the baseline diary period. The sample size was inadequate to examine rare adverse events or common adverse events with less than a twofold increase over baseline. The study population was atypical of the overall population of US children, in that they were almost all white, rural, healthy, and received vaccinations at the recommended ages. Other vaccines were administered simultaneously with MMR for >80% children in the 2 younger groups and <1% in the oldest group, making attribution of adverse events and comparison of groups more difficult.'
But their concept of what constitutes a healthy child, is somewhat thrown into doubt by figure 2 which shows that 7% of subjects already had fever, 12% diarrhea, 7% rash (23% one or all of these) prior to vaccination. If the target group is adjudged to be healthy by the authors it leaves a disturbing question about the circumstances in which an already unwell child could routinely be vaccinated, and demonstrates that the health and wellbeing of individual children is not what is at stake in the programme: at best it would be the control of the disease at the expense of the sick child.
The gung-ho attitude of this culture is further evidenced by the fact that more than 80% of toddlers received other vaccines at the same time as MMR. Routinely, a temperature of 39.5C or above is an acceptable side effect. Subjects were only monitored for 3.5 weeks after vaccination: the long term health and development of those getting a high fever has probably never been researched, and probably never will be.
LeBaron et al conclude (rounding their figures down):
'Nevertheless, we believe our study findings confirm that vaccine-associated adverse events occur in ∼1 of every 6 toddlers receiving the first dose of MMR, with high fever occurring in ∼1 in 20, although very few of these events require medical attention.'
But I wouldn't take their word for it. If the parents of Hannah Poling hadn't been a particularly determined doctor and a nurse would we be any the wiser? And why are we treating babies like immunological supermen? Is it because they can't answer back??
It's the culture, stupid.
(With thanks to Alex Snelgrove).
John Stone is UK Editor for Age of Autism.


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the Severe climber
"The best climber is the one having the most fun" Alex Lowe
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The woods around Fontainebleau have a reputation as one of the best places in the world to boulder. Thousands of sandstone boulders, with tens of thousands of boulder problems, scattered about a pretty forest that covers some 300 square kilometres. Fontainebleau also has a reputation as being a great place to take kids. That's a … Read more Bouldering in Fontainebleau with a Toddler
A little over half way up the Klettersteig Pfeilspitzwand there is a brass bell hanging from the rock. If you want to ring the bell, then you need to take a detour that traverses the face of the buttress above a sheer drop. There's a slightly tricky step to negotiate, before you stand on a … Read more Climbing a Cathedral and Ringing the Bell on the Klettersteig Pfeilspitzwand
"All the Grindelwald via ferrata are closed." The woman at the tourist information office said these words in a firm, brisk tone that indicated that she didn't realise that I would find them disappointing. I knew that there was a risk that the long, cold winter might mean that some mountain routes would still be … Read more A Little Bit of the Eiger – the Rotstock Via Ferrata
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Police: Canandaigua store owner fought off would-be burglar
Police say a masked man brandishing a knife and demanding money from the owner of Western Mini Mart on South Main Street was arrested following a vehicle pursuit down West Lake Road.
Canandaigua City Police said Clayton L. Brown, 22, of 11411 South Lackwanna Ave., Wayland, entered the mini mart at 469 S. Main St. (at the Valero gas station) shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday wearing a mask, brandishing a knife and demanding money. Police said a physical altercation between the suspect and the store owner ensued, during which the suspect dropped the knife and then fled the store. Police said they arrested the suspect a short time later following a short vehicle pursuit down West Lake Road.
Brown is charged with first-degree attempted robbery, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree menacing. Police said the suspect is also facing several tickets related to the pursuit portion of the incident.
The suspect was sent to the Ontario County Jail to await arraignment.


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Today's Workout: Split level squat combines moves for a total workout
We are in the final stretch of 2017 — so needless to say, the crunch is on.
Everyone's schedules are double-booked with work, holiday gatherings and to-do lists. But don't let your fitness suffer — it'll be that much harder come resolution time.
An easy way to fit it all in is combining cardio and exercise moves in one.
Our move today is perfect. It is a split-level drop squat, and it will work your lower body and get your heart pumping at the same time.
You will need a light-to-medium hand weight and an elevated surface, such as a step or curb.
Begin this move by grasping the weight with both hands and tuck it in closely to your chest. Stand facing the elevated surface — close enough to step up on it with one foot.
Leading with your left foot, proceed to swiftly step up with the left foot, and step out — with a small leap — onto the ground with the right foot.
Once your feet are in place (split level), drop your rear end into a squat position. On the rise of the squat, proceed to step back toward the starting position with the right foot first, followed by the left.
Continue with the right foot leading for the next repetition. Once you get going, you will find a rhythm. It is basically a hop squat, on two levels.
Shoot for at least 10 squats on each side, taking a small break, then continue for 3-5 sets.
With the jumping motion you will be getting your cardio, and the squat will be toning your lower body. Holding the hand weight gives you more resistance. If you need less intensity, drop the weight and clasp your hands in front of you.
This move is great by itself, or even better as a warmup. Any way you choose, you can't go wrong with a move that covers all the bases.
— Marlo Alleva, an instructor at Gold's Gym and group fitness coordinator at Fontaine-Gills YMCA, can be reached at faluvzpa@msn.


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I Believe
You cannot say the wrong thing to the right man. ~Orna and Matthew
When your heart breaks it breaks open to hold more love. ~Orna and Matthew
When a relationship doesn't work out, after you mourn it, look for the Golden Nugget - its the piece of learning you needed to grow and move forward to your Beloved. ~Orna and Matthew
Hope is the first thing that comes into a relationship, and it is the last thing to leave. ~Orna and Matthew
A man who wants a relationship with you will pursue you. ~Orna and Matthew
Never sacrifice your own happiness for someone else's comfort. ~Orna and Matthew
About Orna & Matthew Walters
Orna and Matthew Walters are Soulmate Coaches for spiritual, successful, single women, and the founders of the Love On Purpose Revolution® a global online event dedicated to busting the myth that love is supposed to happen by accident.
Each struggled with love relationships for the majority of their adult lives; individually mastered self-love, allowing them to come together to form a True Soul Partnership. Orna and Matthew work with clients all over the globe utilizing the tools of transformation. They are dedicated to spreading the message that having love is an inside job and that it's never too late to find the love of your life.
Through Creating Love On Purpose®, Orna and Matthew have inspired and guided thousands of Singles through the journey of self-love to bringing in their Beloved. Their mission is to spread love around the globe by creating happy women, which leads to happy couples, which leads to happy communities, cities, states and happy, loving nations.
Their break through coaching program, Bring In Your Beloved®, is the only course in the world that allows you to identify and change your own personal Love Imprint™, removing blocks to love so you can love yourself and others more deeply.
Orna and Matthew have been featured on countless television, radio, and print outlets including: NBC, Fox News, MSN, USA Networks, KPFK Radio, and with Les Brown on CBS Radio. They have been featured as guest experts on Bravo's The Millionaire Matchmaker.
Receive our FREE Special Report: 7 Major Mistakes Single Women Make That Block Them From Finding True Love... and how to avoid them, at our website: Creating Love On Purpose
Orna & Matthew Walters Success Stories
I'm Engaged!
Women seeking a relationship
Hi Orna and Matthew,more
Happy New Year!! I hope you had a good chance to enjoy the holiday season.
I have some very exciting news to share with you both, Charles and I got engaged on Christmas day. We are beginning to plan all the things that go along with that. It is still very early in the process, so not a lot of details are set yet, but will share more with you as time goes along. We are just enjoying the happy moments for now.
I really appreciate your help in realizing this moment in my life. Thank you many times over.
Lots of Love,
Magically Effective!
Women seeking a relationship
Hi! Well, here's my "little" story... in the scheme of things, not a real Great big thing, but I do think it indicates the work with you was magically effective!
I was cleaning out my work purse, at work (on an airplane) and came upon a bunch of papers folded up. I opened to see what it was, and recalled that a while back (monthes for sure-haven't cleaned out the old work bag lately!) I had written these things...
things that I suppose I felt "happened to me' or events in my past that colored why I was where I was today... things like wounding moments, you know.more
I guess it really doesn't matter why I wrote it, but I just noticed, that while I was looking at it that moment, instead of getting into it, and reliving, and thinking "yeah" - no wonder I'________ (fill in the blank), it just was nothing. Absolutely no emotion, no connection really, just words on paper that I KNEW I no longer needed.
I almost didn't even recognize the person, or just felt that the attachment to those memories is absolutely no longer needed or even real.
Just like the "Poison inoculation" to get rid of something, I dropped the package in the airplane garbage, off to be incinerated.
So, that's it. I felt it was a breakthrough, really. That and those explanations of myself are no longer needed! I believe it's because of the work we did.
I want to stay excited about it all!!~
Meanwhile, thank you Thank you!
All my best!
An immeasureable difference in my healing!
Women starting over
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.more
You and Matthew are amazing. I'm amazed at what a difference the session
has made for me. Thank you for your patience and insight and generosity.
Thank you for sharing your gifts. You two are an amazing team.
I really had no idea or expectation about the session. My only goal is to
grow into the best me I can. The session with you two made an immeasurable
difference in my healing. Thank you just doesn¹t convey how grateful I am.
I could go on-and-on, but I'll just say THANK
YOU again. You are both a part of my practice of gratitude every day.
Thank you! ~Amber
Borders on Brilliant!
Women seeking a relationship
I really admire your work. I think it's most helpful and probably borders on brilliant. And I'm very thrilled to have connected with the work that you're doing. I can feel a change in my attitude that has come through in ways that is almost without thought which is I think the best way. And there isn't any question about it, there are things that are just different; they're not the same anymore. Thank you. ~Davina Colvin
So Very Grateful!
Women seeking to start over in a relationship
Thank you. You are an awesome invitation to what else is possible. I am so very grateful for what I am continuing to receive from tonight's call that ended two hours ago. ~ Glenna Norris
With the tools they have taught me I will find my soul mate!
Women seeking a relationship
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to go through Orna and Matthew's eCourse – The Science of Creating Love™ (http://TheScienceOfCreatingLove.com). It really helped me open my eyes to what I needed to be focusing my attention on to find the love that I deserve and desire in my life. Orna and Matthew come from a place of love and acceptance and never make you feel you "less than" because of how you have done things in the past. They too have been there, and have created an absolutely beautiful soul partnership themselves.more
If you are someone who has always wanted to find your soul mate but seem to be meeting the same old yahoo's over and over - YOU NEED THIS COURSE! It's interesting how our thoughts about ourselves create the same things over and over. Remember, in order to get something different you have to be willing to do something different. THIS IS IT!
I want to thank Orna and Matthew for their love and help, I know with the tools they have taught me I will find my soul mate!
~Jennifer Rundall www.DrivenDIVApreneurs.com
Finally, a plan that works!
Women seeking a relationship
"I am so grateful to you both for what you have given me. What makes it so valuable to me is that you provided clear and specific exercises to begin the process of creating love intentionally, so that I can finally break the cycle of one unfulfilling, frustrating relationship after the next. I now have a plan of action to follow that will lead me to the man of my dreams. I can't thank you enough."
~Valerie Chazin
I like myself!
Women seeking a relationship
"I am 58 years old, and after working with Orna & Matthew, I can honestly say for the first time that I like myself!"
Its about loving me first
Women seeking a relationship
"I'm in the middle of a divorce and part of my growing has been looking at what I did to create the marriage I had, so that I choose the next partner consciously and not sell out ever again. From all of the introspection this year and my mission to learn to love me , I realized I was on the right track. It wasn't about a partner, it was about me. I learned that I no longer had to hold on to or let myself be loved in a way other than a truly loving and authentic way. I learned that I'd sold out by not listening to what felt right. And…regardless of my history, I deserve real conscious love. Thank you Orna and Matthew for showing me that my true love is out there but first it's about loving me."
~Karen Grace
I love who I am!
Women seeking a relationship
To say it was amazing is an understatement. It was the bow that tied up all of my personal development work beautifully. I feel so yummy inside. Yes really!more
What they have created is an extraordinary opportunity for you to explore self. Get rid of all the ugly stuff that may be blocking you from igniting the passion within so you can completely accept all of you & reveal your heart to the right person. There's no such thing as Mr. Wrong after this. Imagine positioning yourself for love inside/out. I believe when you embody self love you set the foundation for inner beauty.
It offered insight on all those mind-boggling relationships I had the pleasure of walking away from. You know the ones where the guy doesn't treat you well but you keep coming back for more. If we take the time to fall madly in love with ourselves guess what kind of guy we will attract.
Are you in love with yourself? There was a time when that would make me uncomfortable & some might say it's egotistical but you know what, the more love you have for yourself, the more you will be able to give to your work, your family & that special guy when he shows up. Furthermore, if you don't, why would you expect someone else to. So repeat after me "I Love Who I Am."
~Ungenita Prevost
Totally Inspiring!
Women seeking a relationship
I love Matthew and Orna as people, and love the work they do together...there are a lot of coaches and teachers out there, and Matthew and Orna are the only couple I know who actually walk their talk, and are able to HELP you, not just talk.more
Orna's a firehouse - very, very powerful and direct - and she tells the truth; the truth about herself, her marriage, her past - and the truth about YOUR love life and how you can make it as fabulous as hers. She'll make you feel totally hopeful and give you the tools and support to transform your situation.
And Matthew is just what we all need - a man who loves a woman and can tell us why he does - just because she's who she is.
Totally inspiring...makes you want to be you and no one else so you can find a man like Matthew who will line up with you the way he lines up with Orna. Makes it sound and feel doable and real - and it is. Go talk to them!
Rori Raye
Now I have the baby that I've always wanted too!
Women seeking a relationship
When I found you both I was devastated after my boyfriend of 4 years broke up with me out of the blue. I thought I had lost my chance on having the love I wanted and to have a baby of my own. Today I've been with my Beloved for a few years and we welcomed our first child in June of 2015. Every day when I wake up with my family by my side I am grateful for all that you taught me and showed me how to create my dream life! Thank you so much I want to shout from the rooftops how happy I am. What the two of you do feels like "magic." I am forever grateful. more


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Here at InterKnowlogy we have the benefit of working on a lot of cutting edge technologies. A good deal of our first looks at different technologies involve installing alpha/beta bits that may or may not install or uninstall properly and may or may not play nice with existing technologies that we use in other projects. The simple way to keep from destabilizing your system is in creating a Virtual PC and running it with any number of applications (VMware, VirtualBox, Windows Virtual PC, etc…). Doing this keeps your existing system clean and free from any possibilities of errors occurring. However with most Virtual PCs they are utilizing virtual drivers and not running straight off the physical hardware so it doesn't function as quickly as your main OS, and on top of that you have to share RAM between the two. If you need to switch back and forth continuously between the two then this is just something you have to deal with. However, if you are able to have everything on just the Virtual PC AND are running Windows 7 (for both your actual OS and VPC) then you have another option.
Windows Virtual PC utilizes a file with the extension .vhd for its virtual hard drive. It contains everything for the entire OS and instead of using the VHD through Windows Virtual PC, in Windows 7 you can register that VHD into the boot menu and, on startup, boot straight into it like it is an OS installed on your machine.
Create Bootable VHD
- Open Computer Management and switch to Disk Management View
- Select Create VHD from the Action menu
- Choose location, disk format (can be either Fixed or Dynamic), disk size (30GB Min Recommended), and finish. The creation process might take 5-10 min. There won't be any extra dialog, just a progress bar at the bottom.
- Right-click on the new disk that shows up in Disk Management and initialize it with a MBR partition style.
- Right-click on the initialized partition and select New Simple Volume. Go through the wizard. The only thing that you will want to change is the Volume Label on the Format Partition screen. Make a note of the drive letter that is assigned on the 3rd screen in the dialog as you will use this later.
Install Windows 7
- Install the Windows Automated Installation Kit for Windows 7 to get access to the ImageX utility which is located at C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools in either the x86 or amd64 folders.
- In Disk Management make sure that the VHD that was created and initialized is attached (Action->Attach VHD)
- Open a command prompt and change directory to either C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\x86 (if you are installing Windows 7 32bit) or C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\amd64 (if you are installing Windows 7 64bit).
- Then run the following command:
imagex /apply d:\sources\install.wim 1 x:\
- d:\sources\install.wim is the location of the "install.wim" file in the Windows 7 media (mounted ISO file or DVD)
- 1 is the image index of the OS. 1 can be assumed, however to check what it is you can run the command: imagex /info d:\sources\install.wim and look at the Image Index
- x:\ is the drive letter for the attached VHD that you made note of earlier
- Once the ImageX utility has finished, run the following command to add this drive to the boot menu as the default boot OS:
bcdboot x:\Windows
- Using this command will make this your default OS to boot into on the boot screen. The easiest way to change this is to get to Advanced system settings (via the computer properties screen), select Settings… in the Startup and Recovery section, and then change the value in the Default operating system dropdown.
- Using this command will make this your default OS to boot into on the boot screen. The easiest way to change this is to get to Advanced system settings (via the computer properties screen), select Settings… in the Startup and Recovery section, and then change the value in the Default operating system dropdown.
Change the OS name in the boot loader
The next time you start up your machine, you'll notice there is now an additional Windows 7. The big question is which one is your main OS and which is your new bootable VHD. So before you restart or shutdown your machine you'll want to rename your bootable VHD description.
- Open a command prompt and run the following command to see all the boot loader entries:
The top Windows Boot Loader section is of a bootable VHD and the bottom one is for the main OS.
- Find the Windows Boot Loader entry that has its device value pointing to your vhd file. This will be the actual location (and while in your main OS will start with vhd) ie. vhd=[C:]\VHDs\Win764bit.vhd
- Copy the identifier value (including the curly braces) for that entry ie. {5e6085cb-8f65-11de-8f7c-92487039f837}
- Enter the following command to change the description:
bcdedit /set {5e6085cb-8f65-11de-8f7c-92487039f837} description "New Description"
- {5e6085cb-8f65-11de-8f7c-92487039f837} is the identifier you copied
- "New Description" is the value you want to have show up in the boot menu. Make sure to keep the quotation marks if you use spaces.
Now when the boot loader shows up you'll be able to tell which OS is which.
Now you can have the "sandboxed" benefit of a Virtual PC with the performance of a non-virtual OS.
Scott Hanselman's Computer Zen


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When you live in an almost 100 year old house with an awesome front porch, how could you not show off your patriotic best! I love a vintage house with vintage decor. Let's hear it for the Red, White and Blue!
Our porch railing was made for bunting and a fluttering American flag.
An antique workbench dressed up with flag garland and enamelware.
It is such a pleasure to rock the afternoon away and watch the world go by.
Bunting may be too tattered to use on the railings, but it has new life on a bamboo ladder.
Our All-American Princess shows her patriotic pride.
Show and share. Inspire me Monday. The scoop. Inspire me Tuesday. Make it pretty. Art of homemaking. Made by you. Metamorphosis. God growing garden. Tuesday with a twist Wonderful Wednesday. Share it. Brag about it. Wow us. Talk of the town. Moonlight and Mason jars. Share your cup. Share your style. Home and garden. Welcome home. Thursday favorites. Waste not. Coffee and conversation. Create and celebrate. Vintage charm. Friday features. Home sweet home. Feather nest. Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at home. The gathering place. Morning cup of joe. Home matters. Sweet inspiration. Vintage chic. Best of the weekend. Create bake grow. Sunday at home. Snickerdoodle. Simple Saturday. Silver pennies. Create with joy. Inspiration Monday. DI&DI. Amaze me.


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Horrendous news reported by the Guardian this morning that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) – an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has denied compensation to around seven hundred children for sexual abuse they suffered at the hands of adults – even after those adults have been jailed:
CICA's reasoning? That the children consented to their abuse.
What kind of people is this government made of? What kind of people is it employing in roles that require huge empathy and sensitivity?
Children CANNOT consent. They're children – they're legally incapable of giving consent.
That's why it's called abuse – and why it's a crime.
Absolutely rightly, as a society we encourage the victims of abuse to come forward and we reassure them they are not to blame for what's been done to them – one of the most common reactions among victims is to feel somehow responsible. This wicked nonsense is telling them the exact opposite – and they're getting the message, with one children's charity telling the Guardian. of a victim feeling "devastated and left with the feeling that she was somehow responsible for the abuse she had suffered".
There have long been allegations that the Tory party covers for paedophiles. Now it seems they have decided to side against the victims even if it means throwing out commonsense and basic legal principles.


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| Architecture Domain
This is an investigation of the integration of distributed object technologies with the web, and the duality between application programmer interfaces (APIs) and network protocols.
This investigation recently (July 97) culminated in the lauch of a new W3C Architecture Domain Activity: HTTP-NG - The Next Generation.
The power of the Web as a new medium derives not only from its ability to allow people to communicate across vast distances and different times, but also from the ability of machines to help people communicate and manage information. The Web is a complex distributed system, and Object Technology has been an important part of managing the complexity of the Web from its creation.
Object Technology continues to influence and impact the web in a number of areas:
The various players in the distributed objects are separated into camps based on architectural interoperability, and listed in chronological order (roughly).
Inter-Language Unification. This project from Xerox PARC explores implementation and architectural issues around CORBA.
These resources have been bookmarked for further study.


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Sciensano respects scientific standards for all its sample analyses. Get instructions for analysis request, sample preparation and transport.
Participate in one of Sciensano's surveillance networks and help us monitor.
Sciensano performs EQAs for third parties to evaluate their product's properties or safety.
Sciensano assesses products for the Belgian market. Request your product's certification.
The actual state of human and animal health in Belgium and its evolution over time.
Practical information about acute health threats and procedures for Health Professionals.
Health policy support through research. Consult the results of our analyses, surveillance and expert advice.


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GSA official scolded for party plans
The General Services Administration's Julia Hudson was ready to party last month, inviting roughly 1,200 federal employees to celebrate the second anniversary of her appointment as the scandal-scarred agency's National Capital Region administrator.
Refreshments would be served in Hudson's seventh-floor downtown D.C. office suite, including a cake bearing her image, GSA sources familiar with the event's planning tell POLITICO.
But on the morning of the event, the GSA's top leadership abruptly canceled it. They were unaware of Hudson's plans until the night before — and determined to avoid yet another embarrassment to an agency still suffering from the infamous 2010 Las Vegas conference that featured commemorative coins in velvet boxes, a clown and a mind reader.
GSA leaders verbally reprimanded Hudson for scheduling the event, said agency spokeswoman Betsaida Alcantara.
"The event was canceled because it does not meet the new guidelines and we determined it was not a good use of employees' time," Alcantara said. "This event was not submitted for review. All GSA senior staff has received these guidelines. … As soon as we found out about this event, we acted."
Since Administrator Martha Johnson resigned and two of her deputies were fired in April, all internal events must be cleared by GSA Chief Administrative Officer Cynthia Mezler. GSA estimates it has saved $11 million in taxpayer money from canceled events.
But this celebration of a political appointee's job, set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Aug. 28, wasn't cleared.
Nor was it the first such party for Hudson. She held a similar event last year to fete the first anniversary of her appointment.
Dozens, if not hundreds of employee work hours would have been spent at Hudson's celebration. Alcantara says Hudson told GSA officials she would have paid out of her own pocket for the refreshments, estimated at $200, had her event taken place.
As national capital region administrator, Hudson is "responsible for the entire Washington metro area federal real estate inventory of 96 million square feet in more than 80 government-owned and leased facilities that house nearly 300,000 federal workers," according to her GSA biography. She also oversees the "acquisition of office space, equipment, telecommunications and information technology."
Hudson did not return repeated phone calls and email messages requesting comment.
Prior to joining GSA, Hudson worked as vice president of Chase Communications and chief of staff for Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.).
In addition to the Las Vegas conference, the GSA also came under intense scrutiny for conducting events that included sending staffers to cooking classes and procuring $20,000 of drumsticks for a " drum band exercise" at an Arlington, Va., hotel.
As GSA's acting administrator, Dan Tangherlini vowed earlier this year to clean up the agency.
"We are taking steps to improve internal controls and oversight to ensure this never happens again," Tangherlini told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, promising "full accountability for these activities so that we can begin to restore the trust of the American people."
Tangherlini and GSA Inspector General Brian Miller are scheduled to testify next Wednesday before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on the future of the agency.


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Saturday, 21 September 2013 06:25 AM EDT
Six days of meetings between family members still separated six decades after the war had been due to start on Wednesday in the Mount Kumgang resort, just north of the militarized border.
They had been seen as a step in furthering months of thaw in chilled relations compounded by the North's refusal to abandon its nuclear program, described as its "treasured sword".
South Korea said the pullout by Pyongyang "broke the hearts" of Koreans grieving for relatives they were unable to see.
Jang Choon, a South Korean who had been looking forward to meeting his surviving brother and sister from across the border and had bought them lots of presents, said his feelings at the unexpected news could not be put into words.
"I cannot describe how I feel now, what else I can do?" the 82-year-old told Reuters at his home. "But I will not give up the hope of meeting my brother and sister some day."
The North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea accused the South of poisoning dialog, in a statement carried by the KCNA news agency. It said it could never tolerate Seoul misusing such dialog to heighten conflicts.
"The reunions of separated families and relatives between the North and the South will be postponed until there can be a normal atmosphere where dialog and negotiations can be held," said a spokesman for the committee, which oversees ties with South Korea.
The reunions would have been the first in nearly three years.
North Korea also said it was putting off planned talks on resuming tours of Mount Kumgang, suspended after a North Korean guard shot dead a South Korean tourist in 2008. The talks had been set for Oct. 2
South Korea's Unification Ministry said North Korea's change of heart was "very regrettable."
"North Korea should be criticized for its inhumane behavior that broke the hearts of all families separated by the war and of all South Koreans in general," ministry spokesman Kim Eui-do told a briefing.
The neighbors remain technically at war, as the 1950-53 war ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty. The conflict left millions of families divided, with travel across the border all but impossible and nearly all forms of communication barred.
The abrupt announcement upended an easing of tension in recent months.
The two sides this week reopened a jointly-run industrial complex just over the border in the North that Pyongyang authorities had shuttered during weeks of high tension in April.
Yang Moo-jin, a professor at Seoul's University of North Korean Studies, said Pyongyang authorities were trying to secure more concessions from the South, in a recurrent tactic. Concessions this time, he said, were aimed particularly at lucrative tourism to Mount Kumgang.
"This is intended to urge the South Korean government to take a clear stance on Mount Kumgang tours," said Yang. "For North Korea, the tours come first and family reunions come later. It is the opposite for South Korea."
At the height of the tension in April, North Korea issued daily threats to engulf both South Korea and its ally, the United States, in a nuclear war in response to new U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang.
The Security Council adopted the punitive measures after the North conducted its third nuclear test in February.
The North also denounced weeks of joint South Korean military exercises with the United States.
Tension has since waned, although a U.S. research institute and a U.S. official this month said satellite imagery suggested North Korea had restarted a research reactor at its Yongbyon nuclear complex.
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My winners for the Hug award are:
Krista Magrowski: Krista runs my Writers Group, and she keeps an open and encouraging atmosphere where writers can exchange ideas and cheer each other on.
Jon Gibbs: Jon Gibbs is the founder of the New Jersey Authors Network. He sponsors talks frequently where published writers can meet up with aspiring authors to encourage them and answer questions.
Danielle Ackley McPhail: I met Danielle at a New Jersey Authors Network talk, and she made me realize things about myself that I didn't know were there… (whether she knew it or not) Danielle speaks publicly to encourage other writers not to give up. Her bright bubbly attitude is truly an inspiration.
Congratulations, and thank you for all you do to encourage others.
Please do not change or use another image for the HUG Award Image©. Please do not alter–by changing, shortening, or adding to–the text about the award and how to share it with others. Either copy the entire article as it is on this page, or please include a link back to this article, when you post on your blog or share award with others.
I ask you to please honor this request and help me keep the integrity of the award as originally designed, so that future award recipients will know what an honor it is to receive this award. Thank you, Connie Wayne
ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES for HUG AWARD©
"Hope is an expectant desire; a confidence in a future event; a ground for trust and confidence; to think; to look forward to with trust and expectant desire."
The HUG Award© was initiated by Connie Wayne at A Hope for Today athttp://ahopefortoday.com, which promotes hope, love, peace, equality, and unity for all people.
The HUG Award© is for people with an expectant desire for the world, for which they: Hope for Love; Hope for Freedom; Hope for Peace; Hope for Equality; Hope for Unity; Hope for Joy and Happiness; Hope forCompassion and Mercy; Hope for Faith; Hope for Wholeness and Wellness; Hope for Prosperity; Hope for Ecological Preservation; Hope for Oneness
The HUG Award© recognizes and honors those who help keep hope alive in our current world, which is plagued by war, natural disasters, and economic recession. They nurture hope, in any of the above areas (in italics), by the work they do, or in their personal lives with things such as blogging, public speaking,charity work, etc.
The HUG Award© is for anyone, anywhere in the world, who meets theguidelines and wants to be nominated for the award. Please leave a comment on this page if you are interested in receiving this award, or if you would like to nominate someone else for the award.
The HUG Award© is for people who, without giving up or compromising their own religious, spiritual, or political beliefs, are able to nurture hope and respect the dignity of all people.
The HUG Award© is for those who, without bias or prejudice, use their resources and gifts to make the world a better place for everyone.
The HUG Award©is for people who have a hope or an expectant desire that the work or talents they use in things such as blogging, public speaking, charity work, etc., will make a positive impact on the world.
These people do not have to actively use the word "hope" in their work or creative talents. They only need be conscious of their desire to make the world a better place for everyone.
These people use their available resources–a smile, a hug, a helping hand, a listening ear, a voice, time, money, possessions, education, personality, talent, websites and blogs—to make a positive impact on the world and make the world a better place to live.
The HUG Award© is not specifically a website or blog award. It can be given to people in your community, at your employment, at your place of worship, etc. Please make sure they have a copy of these Guidelines, and please don't forget to submit their names back to this site.
HUG AWARD© IMAGE for RECIPIENTS of HUG AWARD
HUG Award© Image: Those who receive the HUG Award© may paste a copy of the original HUG Award© image into an Image widget on their website or blog by simply copying and pasting the following image URL into an Image widget: http://hopesfortoday.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/hug-award1.png. As the link URL for the image, please inserthttp://ahopefortoday.com/2012/01/14/hope-unites-globally-hug-award-guidelines/.
GUIDELINES for NOMINATING OTHERS FOR THE HUG AWARD©
1. If you receive a HUG Award©, you may nominate others who also meet the above guidelines for the award. You may nominate as many people, websites, or blogs as you want to nominate to receive the award. I do ask that, upon receipt of the award, you nominate at least one other person. The award is also not time limited, so you can nominate new people or sites you encounter in the future. Please try not to nominate those who have already received the award.
2. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTACTING YOUR NOMINEESand telling them you nominated them for the HUG Award©. AND when you contact them…
3. Please link this page: When you contact your nominees for the award, please include a link to this page,http://ahopefortoday.com/2012/01/14/hope-unites-globally-hug-award-guidelines/, so they will have the same information you received about the award. Then, they also can perpetuate the award by nominating others. AND…
4. Please post a comment on this page athttp://ahopefortoday.com/2012/01/14/hope-unites-globally-hug-award-guidelines/ with the name and the complete website or blog address of the site(s) or person(s) you nominate.
5. If you know, I would appreciate you informing me of the geographical location of your nominee(s) and /or their site(s).
6. Social Media Sites: You may also copy and paste unchanged copies of the original HUG Award© and HUG Award© Guidelines' wording to other social media sites such as Facebook and Linkedin. You may also print original copies for your personal use for display, etc.
7. You may print a copy of the HUG Award© Guidelines for people you nominate, who do not have a website, blog, or social media account to which they can paste award and Guidelines. If they have email, you may email them a copy of the original HUG Award© and original Hug Award© Guidelines.
The people I have nominated for this award seek to do Good with their blogs by sharing inspiration, kindness, and courage. If you have already received this, please just accept that I appreciate you. Thank you.
Related articles
- The H.U.G. Award (workthedream.wordpress.com)
- The H.U.G. Award (theobamacrat.com)
- H.U.G. Award (awinsomejourney.wordpress.com)
- Hope Unites Globally (HUG) Award Nomination; Thank You (terri0729.wordpress.com)
- Hope Unites Globally – HUG© Award (juliecatherinevigna.wordpress.com)
- Hope Unites Globally: HUG Award (shomabhagwat.wordpress.com)


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You might think that the Porsche 918 Spyder shouldn't be a hybrid; that the car's electric motors and batteries add weight, unnecessarily complicate its powertrain, and corrupt its mechanical purity; that the very point of a car like this is to be anything but green. Those are valid issues, but you could also argue that the true purpose of a supercar is to push boundaries. While a 918 powered solely by its 608-hp, 9150-rpm, flat-crank V8 would be impressive, that car would offer little technological advancement beyond—and a scant three horsepower more than—its predecessor, the 2004–2005 Carrera GT. More than anything, the 918 is the current vision of the automotive future, an $845,000 peek at things to come.
Oh, and let's not forget the power-to-weight ratio, which rivals that of the Bugatti Veyron. And the factory-claimed 0-to-62-mph time of 2.8 seconds.
Those last two figures apply only when the car is motivated by both its electric and gasoline propulsion systems. In our first moments behind the wheel of prototype number 25 at Porsche's Leipzig test track, we're moving thanks only to the 918's two electric motors. The front unit makes 127 hp, while the rear, sandwiched between the engine and the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, is good for 154 hp. Combined, the two are more powerful than the first-generation 911 Turbo, though the 918's 3715-pound mass means it needs nearly seven seconds to reach 60 mph on electric power alone. A heavy right foot or accelerating beyond 93 mph will activate the 4.6-liter gasoline engine. But before either of those things happens, we brush the brake pedal to negotiate an exact replica of Monza's Parabolica corner. (Germans are nothing if not thorough with their test tracks.)
The massive disc brakes are made of a carbon-ceramic composite, but in this case, we didn't use them. The 918 is programmed to use its electric hardware to accomplish about a third of overall braking. Whereas most electrified cars use traditional friction brakes for deceleration greater than 0.2 g, the 918 can slow by up to 0.5 g by using its electric motors as generators.
Porsche uses a unique system to convert the pressure from your foot into a combination of regenerative and friction braking: When you hit the pedal, you're activating a hydraulic system similar to that of a conventional car, but the system can bleed a portion of brake pressure into what Porsche calls an "active volume reservoir." One of the 918's countless computers then instructs the motors to make up the decelerative difference. If needed, the car can reintroduce the pressurized, stored fluid back into its braking system via an electromechanical servo.
In the cockpit, this hocus-pocus is only detectable via slightly uneven brake-pedal feel. The car we drove was a preproduction prototype and Porsche is working to iron out the remaining kinks, but the 918 already offers the best brake feel we've experienced in a hybrid.
As with a lot of hybrids, the driver can change how the car manages its power; a red-faced knob on the steering wheel selects different powertrain modes. E means electric-only, in which the 385-volt, liquid-cooled, lithium-ion battery gives a claimed range of up to 18 miles. (The optional 20-kW plug-in charger can fully charge the battery in 25 minutes, so you can tell your Prius-driving neighbors to shove it.) In Hybrid mode and under hard acceleration, the 918's V-8 starts with a bark reminiscent of the RS Spyder Le Mans engine on which it's based—but it falls silent when you lift off the gas. Sport Hybrid mode keeps the engine lit and allows up to 20 seconds of electric boost.
Track time was limited, so we went right to Race Hybrid mode, where the 918's technology is fully exploited. The front radiator flaps stay open for maximum cooling, the rear wing adopts a maximum-downforce angle of attack, and diffuser inlets under the nose open for aerodynamic balance. Flat-out upshifts are executed in less than 50 milliseconds.
All this technology wouldn't be impressive if the car beat you over the head with it. The 918 is arguably the most complex car on earth, yet that complexity is hardly detectable behind the wheel. The steering offers more feedback than the wheel in Porsche's own 911; like most electrically assisted racks, its signal is filtered, but the essential information comes through loud and clear. (Famed Porsche test driver Walter Röhrl was present at the 918 media introduction and gave tail-out rides around the wet track. When someone asked him about the importance of steering feel, he demurred, saying that he didn't care how the wheel felt, only that he knew if the front tires were sliding. Interesting.)
With exhaust pipes exiting skyward inches behind your head, you might mistake the 918 for a Le Mans prototype, if not for its futuristic cabin and multifunction touch screen. As speed increases, you forget about the car's carbon-fiber chassis, which features composite inserts instead of aluminum, something seen only in the most advanced race cars. You don't care that the stainless-steel engine cover has 10,346 laser-drilled holes. You aren't thinking about the fact that the titanium-rod, dry-sump V8 produces 133 hp per liter without the use of a turbocharger. If you remember that the front electric motor is decoupled at speeds over 146 mph, it won't matter. And if someone told you, as you flung the 918 into a corner, that the car's cornering stability is enhanced by individually steered rear wheels—six degrees of range each—you'd probably just ignore them. Because the 918 is amazing no matter how it does its job. And when you're driving it, that's all you care about.
Given that the technology here will soon trickle down to other Porsches, that's important. And while the 918 might seem like a step in the wrong direction to some, at least compared with the lighter and more traditional Carrera GT, it's worth remembering that some people still pine for an air-cooled 911.
Stuttgart didn't make this car to rouse nostalgia. It was built to advance the science of the automobile, and in that sense, it's a success. In the way it makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up, it still does its job. It's still a Porsche.