text:
Manchester store clerk uses hammer to fend off knife-wielding robber
Man attempts to rob 99 Cent and Cigarette Market, police say
A Manchester store clerk used a hammer to fend off a knife-wielding would-be robber Wednesday afternoon, police said.
Click here to view News 9's report
A man walked into the 99 Cent and Cigarette Market on the West Side, waited in line and began slashing at Shagufta Aulakh, who co-owns the store with her husband. The robbery attempt failed after Aulakh picked up a hammer to defend herself and waved it at the man, who began stabbing at the cash register, police said.
"He was standing there, he had a big knife and he said, 'Give me everything you have' like that," Aulakh said. "I'm standing here so I come back – there is a hammer I have, I just put it there – so I just try to swing the hammer, grab the phone, call 911."
Aulakh said her efforts didn't immediately stop the man, who stretched over the counter and tried to open the register before fleeing the store.
The incident was the latest robbery attempt in the city.
"We have certainly experienced a spike in these types of robberies in the city in recent months – both the store robberies as well as street robberies, both of those crimes," said Lt. Maureen Tessier of the Manchester Police Department. "In many cases, weapons are used to perpetrate these crimes, so we certainly have some concerns."
The owners of the market said they are hoping for a quick arrest and a prison sentence that will send a message.
"I think if they have more punishment, like longer years in the jail, maybe it would get better," Qaisar Anwar said.
Aulakh said it is unfortunate she can't trust the people who walk through her doors.
"It's not good, and not safe," she said. "I don't feel safe at all in this city."
The man was described as white, 20-25 years old, about 5 feet 7 inches tall with a medium build and a round, clean-shaven face. He was wearing a black hooded jacket, a green wool hat and had sunglasses on.


text:
The Properties List
The middle panel in the Properties dialog box is the Properties list. This is the list of currently applied metadata properties for the object that is selected in the Subject list. The properties are sorted into their appropriate categories for organization. At the top of the Properties list, there are two icons. The (add icon) is for adding new metadata properties to this business table's self concept; the (remove icon) is for removing properties from the self concept. Note that the remove button is disabled until a property is selected in the Property list.
Helpful Icon Color Coding
There are four ways a property can show up in the Property List:
- The property is a default property for the associated business object, and thus cannot be removed.
- The property was inherited from the business object's physical ancestor.
- The property has been set as part of the self concept.
- The property has been set as part of the object's parent concept.
It may be difficult to set properties without understanding the override hierarchy, so to help make the hierarchy a bit more apparent in the Properties list, the color code alerts you to what concept level is in play.
- Yellow Icon = This property is inherited from the object's physical ancestor.
- Blue Icon = Pentaho set the property on the object's own concept. This could be overriding an inherited property.
- Orange Icon = This property is set as a result of the parent concept applied to the object.
- Purple Icon = This is a special icon reserved for security properties.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Product successfully added to your shopping cart
There are 0 items in your cart. There is 1 item in your cart.
Plus de 300 artistes référencés dans tous les styles : hard rock, rock, pop, heavy metal, death metal, rap, reggae...Voir tous les artistes
Accessories Rock
Accessories rock, glamrock for men and women.
Earrings, wristbands, patches, necklaces, keffiehs, caps, wallets, keyrings, laces, braces, mirrors...
High quality products at low pricesView all products of this category
Collector items, unobtainable little marvels, period collectors, patchs, magnets, stamps, pins, tour programmes, slates... Here it is !View all products of this category
Our complete range of clothes Rock Hard Metal Heavy Punk Reggae & Rap: Tee shirts, Sweat shirts with hood and light sweat shirts, Girly skinnies, Tartan, Shirts.
Ideal to renew your wardrobe.View all products of this category
All the posters, photos, postcards, stickers, flags, books, stickers, tour programmes or DVD of your favorite artists are here.View all products of this category
Our range of backpacks and small bagsView all products of this category
Anarchy * Choppers * Ciné - TV * Mister Jack * Skulls * Rap * Rasta * French VarietyView all products of this category
Small bag black
Warning: Last items in stock!
Availability date:0000-00-00
Small bag black with shoulder strap and 2 zip closing including 1 in front
No customer comments for the moment.
6 other products in the same category:
11,99 €
9,99 €
11,99 €
11,99 €
11,99 €
27,99 €


text:
SACRAMENTO (AP) — A bid by Texas to lure a Tesla battery factory brought that state's salesman-in-chief to the doorstep of California's state Capitol on Tuesday — and to underscore the point, he arrived in one of the automaker's sleek, all-electric vehicles.
Before his scheduled meeting with Republican state lawmakers, Gov. Rick Perry cruised up to the Hyatt hotel across from the Capitol behind the wheel of a metallic gray Tesla Model S.
California and Texas are among a handful of states fighting for the planned battery plant, which will represent a $5 billion investment from the California-based car company and its partners.
Perry, a former and potential future GOP presidential candidate, says competition between states is a good thing and would help California's economic turnaround.
"There's a real cause and effect here: over-taxation, overregulation, over-litigation, the deterioration of the public schools to a degree they are not developing the workforce you are going to need," Perry told reporters. "Those things are relatively quickly turned around, but it's going to take competition. It's going to take pressure from other states."
Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk said last month that California was back in the running for the massive battery plant, but as an "improbable-but-not-impossible" choice because of a lengthy approval process that includes environmental reviews.
Senate leader Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, and Sen. Ted Gaines, R-Roseville, have introduced a bill to expedite construction of the Tesla plant if the company chooses to expand in its home state. The details, such as removing regulatory hurdles or providing tax credits, are still being hashed out among legislators and Gov. Jerry Brown's administration.
"While they stage a partisan political pageant, we're cutting red tape for urban development, offering tax breaks for new manufacturing, and building our workforce and economy to meet future demands," Steinberg said in a statement responding to Perry's visit.
Tesla plans to break ground this summer and start production by 2017 to meet demands for a new line of lower-cost electrical vehicles. Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada also are under consideration.


text:
Part of the Series
Moyers and Company
As critical as we've been of the government's failure to prosecute those in the financial world who done us wrong, it's only fair to acknowledge our nation's G-men when they bring some perps to justice.
The Associated Press reported an FBI announcement this week that its probes of financial crime last year "led to more than 3,000 convictions and over $12 billion in court-ordered restitution as agents attacked insider trading, Ponzi schemes and Medicare fraud in high-dollar scams that victimized thousands of investors and the government."
According to The Wall Street Journal, during a briefing at the FBI's Manhattan offices, it was revealed that, "Federal authorities are seeking to build insider-trading cases against roughly 120 individuals on and off Wall Street in an expanding criminal insider-trading investigation that has shaken the financial and corporate worlds.
"The disclosure — the first time authorities have quantified the number of people under scrutiny — comes on the heels of a string of successful prosecutions of insider trading. Since late 2009, prosecutors have charged 66 individuals at hedge funds and other companies with insider trading and won 57 convictions or guilty pleas." Read more » (subscription required)
The highest profile of the cases successfully prosecuted was billionaire hedge fund manager Raj Rajaratnam who illegally profited from insider information and was sentenced last fall to 11 years in prison, the longest term for an inside trader in U.S. history. But his ill-fame is overshadowed by the legendary Gordon "Greed is Good" Gekko of the Oliver Stone movie Wall Street. So as part of its campaign to take a bite out of white collar crime, the FBI persuaded Wall Street star Michael Douglas to make a public service announcement — videotaped at, of all places, New York's Trump International Hotel.
A solemn Douglas intones, "In the movie Wall Street I play Gordon Gekko, a greedy corporate executive who cheated to profit while innocent investors lost their savings. The movie was fiction, but the problem is real. Our economy is increasingly dependent on the success and integrity of the financial markets. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is." He urges anyone who suspects illegal behavior to call an FBI tip line.
All well and good, but The New York Times notes, "The intense focus on insider trading has drawn criticism from outsiders, who call it a distraction from more important crackdowns. On the heels of the financial crisis, which crippled the global economy, the government has filed few cases tied to wrongdoing at the major banks and lenders that prompted the upheaval."
Coincidentally, the FBI stats and Douglas' plea come out at the same time as a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. According to Paul Piff, a doctoral candidate in psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and his colleagues, the pursuit of self-interest is a "fundamental motive among society's elite, and the increased want associated with greater wealth and status can promote wrongdoing."
To read more articles by Bill Moyers and Michael Winship and watch videos from Moyers & Co., click here.
Bloomberg News reports, "The 'upper class,' as defined by the study, were more likely to break the law while driving, take candy from children, lie in negotiation, cheat to raise their odds of winning a prize and endorse unethical behavior at work, the research found. The solution, Piff said, is to find a way to increase empathy among wealthier people."
Increase empathy among wealthier people – Piff suggests that combining ethics and economic courses could be helpful, but really, some prison time, or community service at least, might be the solution he seeks. If the government finally starts to crack down on the banks and Wall Street, and the FBI keeps pursuing insider traders — with Gordon Gekko's help, of course — three hots and a cot could be just the thing.
Not everyone can pay for the news. But if you can, we need your support.
Truthout is widely read among people with lower incomes and among young people who are mired in debt. Our site is read at public libraries, among people without internet access of their own. People print out our articles and send them to family members in prison — we receive letters from behind bars regularly thanking us for our coverage. Our stories are emailed and shared around communities, sparking grassroots mobilization.
We're committed to keeping all Truthout articles free and available to the public. But in order to do that, we need those who can afford to contribute to our work to do so — especially now, because we have just 4 days left to raise $36,000 in critical funds.
We'll never require you to give, but we can ask you from the bottom of our hearts: Will you donate what you can, so we can continue providing journalism in the service of justice and truth?


text:
CNN Forwards Idea of 'Overreach' By Gov. Walker Through Quoted 'Experts'
CNN's Ed Hornick apparently couldn't find anyone who disagreed with the notion that Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker "overreached"
in his push to eliminate collective bargaining for public sector
unions. Hornick's Tuesday article quoted from two political science
professors, a "progressive" writer, and a former United States
comptroller general, who helped forward this hypothesis.
The writer all but gave the answer to the question proposed in the title of his CNN.com article ("Did Wisconsin governor overreach in union battle?") in his lead sentence: "Some political experts have said that Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, in a battle with public employee unions over the right to collective bargaining, has overreached in his attempts to shore up the state's budget shortfall." The graphic accompanying the article featured a pro-union protestor's sign that labeled Governor Walker a "dope," in a parody of Shepard Fairey's red, white, and blue depiction of President Obama (see above).
Hornick's first expert, Professor David Canon from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, stated that he thought "it'd be fair to categorize the proposal (to cut union bargaining) as an overreach...Maybe the biggest reason for that claim is the fact that he didn't campaign on this." After noting that "Walker, a former state legislator and Milwaukee County executive before he was elected governor last year, said he looks to Ronald Reagan for guidance in the current battle in which he's engaged," the CNN journalist continued that "one critic said Walker's public face conjures up images of a more recent president":
"Walker has been combative and steadfast, reminiscent more of George W. Bush's mystifying and utterly unjustified self-confidence (remember "I'm the decider?") than anything Ronald Reagan ever said or did," wrote Paul Fanlund of Wisconsin's progressive Capital Times.
Two paragraphs later, the writer quoted from a second professor, Thomas Holbrook of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, who posted three times to Huffington Post in October 2010 (a detail Hornick didn't mention):
Opponents have questioned Walker's motives as seeking prominence among like-minded conservatives or pursuing a vendetta against a traditional Republican foe. But another Wisconsin political scientist said while Walker "may, at some level, see himself as a vanguard of this new Republican effort," the governor is motivated by convictions.
"I don't see this as delusions of grandeur or him doing this in any way to propel himself on the national stage," said Thomas Holbrook, a professor of government at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. "The type of person he is, these are the things he believes needs to be done and he's got the majorities so he's going to do it."
Holbrook said Walker showed similar convictions when he was Milwaukee County executive from 2002 to 2010.
"He tended to stick to his guns there and say 'This is what I want, this is what I'm pushing for' and maybe he didn't get it in the end," Holbrook said. "But he didn't have a majority by any means."
Later in the article, Holbrook predicted that Walker's apparent
"overreach" would hurt his political ambitions: "He has an opportunity
with these huge majorities in the legislature to get his agenda through
and that's what he's doing...As for his political future, I'm not sure this is going to benefit him in the long run. I see it as more of coming from conviction and opportunity."
Hornick's third "expert," David Walker (no relation to Scott Walker), was appointed comptroller general by former President Bill Clinton in 1998, and served through most of the Bush administration's two terms until early 2008. General Walker agreed with Professor Canon concerning the Wisconsin governor's "overreach," though acknowledging that he had "legitimate concerns about the collective bargaining process":
"However, he seems to have overreached in connection with some of his proposed solutions," David Walker wrote [in a February 28, 2011 piece on The Washington Post's website titled "Gov. Walker is overreaching on some solutions"]. "While there are many reasons that government workers should not be able to bargain over pension and health benefit levels, it is reasonable for them to be able to bargain over current pay, employee benefit contributions and normal work rules."
Near the end of his article, he CNN writer quoted again from Professor Canon, who reenforced his earlier "overreach" notion:
When [Governor] Walker was campaigning, he said he wanted unions to start contributing more. "But nobody saw this collective bargaining part of the proposal coming," Canon said. "That's why I think this could be seen as overreach. There's a pretty good chance he would not have been elected had this been part of the campaign in November."
Despite all the attention on the Republican governor, Hornick didn't
quote from him at any point in his article, nor did quote from anyone
who disagreed with the idea that the politician "overreached." One could
easily conclude that the question posed in his article's title was
merely rhetorical.


text:
Event Details
Wednesday, November 27th, 2019
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Room 210 (The Commons)
3910 Lorcom Lane
Arlington, VA 22207
- Our Awana program for two-year-olds (born on or before September 30, 2017) through 5th-graders introduces biblical truths and develops a respect for God, His Son and His Word.
- Register your child and join us at our next meeting!
- We require a parent to accompany each child for secure drop-off and pick-up. View details here.


text:
You can get up to a 10 % discount on your next purchase if you tell your friends about our site.
- After you place an order with us, leave 5 e-mail addresses of your friends
- Your friends will get a message from us with the offer to place an order saving $5. A coupon word will be given which needs to be inserted while ordering, otherwise no discount will be counted by the system.
- You are supposed to have an approved order with us before you refer anyone to our site
- You will get a discount on your next purchase only in case your friends place an order with us within 30 days after the messages are sent. The more friends of yours place an order, the larger discount you will get (1 friend - 6%, 2 friends - 7%, 3 friends - 8% etc).
If you are not planning to order from our site, but you wish to share this resource with your friend, you are welcome to send him/her a short notion about us here
Country, language and currency
I recently placed an order with your company for some viagra and was very pleased however I accidently deleted your website for ordering could you please re-send details?


text:
The 5 Rhythms is not free form dance, but a practice. It is about showing up. When we enter the 5 Rhythms movement space, the invitation is to quiet the mind and welcome what is. All emotion, or the lack there of, all curiosity or even the desire to flee... all is welcome. The only requirement is to be true to what is and allow that authentic self to shine.
This is a physical practice, thus we move what is going on, allowing us to dig deeper for what lies underneath. This is an exploration. It is also an opportunity to move through.
This is transformational work wherein we accept the invitation to truly embrace what is real in our heart/mind/soul space through physical movement which allows us to find our true center and let go what has become excess, baggage or habit.
This requires no background in movement or dance. The 5 Rhythms can be practiced by anyone regardless of age, size or physical ability. We dance in the body we have. Just be willing to show up and bring a sense of humor and a bit of compassion along as well... for yourself.
Eugene Hedlund has been dancing the 5 Rhythms ® since February 2003 and has been a certified teacher of the Rhythms since October 2008. As a certified teacher this means that he completed a minimum of:
400 hours of Waves • 15 days of Heartbeat • 10 days of Cycles • 10 days of Mirrors
Plus 12 months of training with Gabrielle Roth and the Moving Center Faculty, including three 2+ week in person modules, spanning both coasts of the US, as well as a module in Europe in order to complete training certification.
Eugene is currently based in Orange County, California. He has danced throughout the United States and Europe with a myriad of teachers. He brings a passion for exploring the edge with courageous authenticity and embracing the shadow in order to discover what lies underneath to bring it into balance, as well as building community and tribe through the 5 Rhythms® as a chosen life practice. The 5 Rhythms® has always been a travel related practice for Eugene, and as such he is committed to bringing the work to communities throughout the US and beyond, wherever the work is desired.
To view the full Shedding Skins website, you'll need Adobe Flash Player.


text:
Hi! I'm a lecturer at the Department of Exact Sciences / Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), Brazil - Since 2014. I received my bachelor's and master's degree from the Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), where I researched software architecture for enterprise clusters integration. I participated in the Business-driven IT Management (BDIM) project in collaboration with HP Labs Palo Alto.
My research is focused on technical debt management decision making, using business perspectives. This research has an active collaboration with companies. We conduct empirical software engineering techniques to develop results that have a practical impact on the industry.
I like cycling. I am a coffee addicted and science enthusiast. I also love to play modern board games with my family and friends during my free time. Teaching is a passion that I have been practicing for more than 25 years. I am married to Ayla and the father of my two daughters Ana Luísa and Gabriela.
Feel free to contact me If I can help you with anything.
- ayty - Research group @ UFPB
- CASE - UFRN - Research group @ UFRN
Social Network
Research / Academic Interests
- Technical Debt Management
- Business Process Management
- Software Engineering
- Software Evolution
- Programming
- Software Design
Modern boardgames
Playing and collecting modern board games is my hobby. I like to play in my spare time with friends and family. I also have an Instagram account (@trilhadepontos - pt-br) where I occasionally review some board games that I have the opportunity to play.
Here are the last board games I played (source Boardgamegeek.com):


text:
Imamat versus Prophethood Part 2
بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Difference Between Nabi And Rasool
In Arabic there are no separate words for Messenger and Apostle. The distinction is between Nabi (Prophet) and Rasool (Messenger or Apostle).
1- Nabi (=Prophet)
2- Rasool (=Messenger=Apostle)
Note that the degree of prophethood is lower than the degree of messengership/apostleship.
By definition:
1. A Prophet (Nabi) is a person to whom the Divine Law (Shari'ah) descends; this divine law may be concerned with beliefs (`aqa-id) or with practical activities (Ibadat, like prayer). This Divine Law either deals with the Nabi's OWN life or with that of his community; or both.
This is the fundamental definition of prophethood, though the prophet may also be informed of other things. The descent of the Divine Law (Shari'ah) may be direct, or through an intermediary like an angel.
2. A Human Messenger/Apostle (Rasool) is a Prophet who receives a Divine Law that concerns himself and people other than himself. So every (human) Rasool is Nabi, while the reverse is not true. Also every Nabi whom Qur'an has mentioned along with a community (Umma), is consequently a Rasool.
Thus when Qur'an states that Muhammad (S) is the last Prophet (33:40), then by the above definition, he is the last Messenger/Apostle also. Note that the word "Human"is important in the definition of Rasool because the Qur'an uses the term "Rasool"also for angels who issue a command at the will of Allah (SWT):
"Allah chooses Messengers from ANGELS and from men, for Allah is He Who hears and sees (all things). (Qur'an 22:75)"
"There came Our Messengers to Abraham with glad tidings. They said, "Peace!"he answered, "Peace!"and hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf. (Qur'an 11:69)"
"When Our Messengers came to Lut, he was grieved on their account and felt himself powerless (to protect) them. He said: This is a distressful day. (Qur'an 11:77)"
"(The Messengers) said: O Lut! we are Messengers from thy Lord!...(Qur'an 11:81)"
----Also see: 7:37, 15:57, 15:61, 19:19, 29:31, 29:33.
However, a Nabi is only a human being -- no angel can be called a Nabi. So every (human) Rasool is a Nabi, while every human Nabi is not necessarily a Rasool.
The number of Messengers (Rusul) is less than the number of Prophets (Nabiyoon); and every Rasool received a book, while some Nabees received abook. In addition, since he has to convince his people to accept a new religion with new practices, a Rasool's work is much harder than that of a Nabi.
This is on top of the fact that people's needs, minds, and abilities have changed; and accepting a new religion is not an easy task. This is while a Nabi's new religious instructions are for himself (unless he is a Rasool). Surely a Nabi invites people toward Allah (SWT); however, he does not set any new practices for the people. So, in essence, if a Nabi is NOT a Rasool, the people that he invites to Allah (SWT) would be ordered to follow the custom and practices of a previous Rasool.
Among Rasools, however, there are five individuals who are higher than the others. As you might know, the only difference between those five and other rasools is that they are assigned universally (for the whole mankind at their time), while the rest of rasools were locally (just for one city or area). My recollection is that the word 'Alameen and/or Jamee'an has been used in Qur'an for Prophet Jesus (as) supporting this idea.
Once a Bahai claimed that Rasools (who came before Bab!) were only those five who had book. But the rest were Nabi. This is not correct since Qur'an states that Dawood had Zaboor and yet he is not counted among those five great Messengers. So he is Rasool because he brought a book for people.
Imam means a person who is appointed by God as a leader and as a guide (see Qur'an 21:73 and 32:24) to whom obedience is due, and whom people should follow. Messengers are Warners and Imams are Guides (13:7). Imams are the Stars of Guidance (6:97).
Imam does not receive divine revelation about Sharia (divine law). He does not receive any commands concerning new religous paractices, and so on.
However, he may be informed of the events about the past and future. Another difference between Rasool and Nabi and Muhaddath (i.e., Imam) is on how they communicate with the angels, and is given in Usul Kafi, kitabul Hujjah usder verse 22:52:
Rasool sees and hears the angel in awakness and sleep. Nabi hears the angel and sees him while asleep, but does not see him while awake though hears the speech. Imam (muhaddith) is the one who hears the angel in awakness while does not see him in awakness or sleep.
In the previous part we quoted from Qur'an that Mary (as) had communication with angels. If according to Sahih al-Bukhari, Fatimah (sa) was the best of ladies in this world and in hereafter, then why can't she communicate with the angels?
Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith: 4.819
Narrated 'Aisha:
The Messenger of Allah said to Fatimah (who was crying at her father's deathbed): "Are you not satisfied that you are the chief of all the ladies of Paradise or the chief of all the believing women?"
أما ترضين أن تكوني سيدة نساء أهل الجنة أو نساء المؤمنين؟
Furthermore, Ibn Abbas (ra) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (S) said: Four women are the mistress of the worlds: Mary, Asiya (the wife of Pharaoh), Khadija, and Fatimah. And the most excellent one among them in the world is Fatimah."
Sunni references: Ibn Asakir, as quoted in Tafsir al-Durr al-Manthoor
For those who love Sahih al-Bukhari, I will quote this book once more which confirms that Lady Fatimah (sa) had, indeed, communication with Gabriel:
Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith: 5.739
Narrated Anas:
When the ailment of the Prophet (S) got aggravated, he became unconscious whereupon Fatimah said, "Oh, how distressed my father is!"
He said, "Your father will have no more distress after today."When he expired, she said, "O Father! Who has responded to the call of the Lord Who has invited him! O Father, whose dwelling place is the Garden of Paradise (i.e. al-Firdaus)! O Father! We convey this news (of your death) to Gabriel."When he was buried, Fatimah said, "O Anas! Do you feel pleased to throw earth over Allah's Apostle?"
Not only that, but also Sunnis reported that Imam Hasan Ibn 'Ali has said that Gabriel used to descend to Ahlul-Bayt. It is reported that Imam al- Hasan Ibn 'Ali (as) said the following in a discourse which he delivered on the martyrdom of Imam 'Ali:
"I am from the Ahlul-Bayt that Gabriel used to descend on us and ascend (back to heavens) from among us."
إنَّا من أهل البيت الذي كان جبرئيل ينزل إلينا و يصعد من عندنا
Sunni reference: al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, "Chapter of understanding the virtues of companions,"v3, p172
Now, when Imam Hasan uses the word "us", it means that it was not just prophet who used to received Gabriel. Surely Gabriel did NOT reveal anything of Qur'an to Imam Hasan. But, the above Sunni tradition shows that, they could communicate with the Gabriel.
Mushaf (book) of Fatimah (sa) was also of this type. Some booklets of hatred and lie published by anti-Shi'i groups allege that based on Usul Kafi, Shi'a believe there is a Qur'an called "Qur'an of Fatimah"! This is a false accusation. There is no tradition in Usul Kafi saying "Qur'an of Fatimah". There are however, very few traditions in one chapter of Usul Kafi which assert that Fatimah (sa) wrote a book (mushaf). The tradition states "The book of Fatimah". Surely Qur'an is a book (mushaf), but any book is NOT Qur'an. This allegation is as silly as saying "Qur'an of al-Bukhari"instead of "book of al-Bukhari"!
Also those few traditions in al-Kafi clearly state that there is no single verse of Qur'an in the Book of Fatimah. This shows that the book of Fatimah is totally different than Qur'an. Of course, it was three time bigger than Qur'an in length.
In one tradition it said that Lady Fatimah (sa), after the Prophet (S) passed away, used to write what she was told that would happen to her descendants and stories about other rulers to come (up to the day of resurrection). It was the sayings of Gabriel about what will happen. As I mentioned and proved by Qur'an and Hadith, talking to angels is not exclussive to the prophets and messengers.
Fatimah (sa) recorded (or asked Imam 'Ali to record) those information, which was kept in her family of Imams, and was called "The Book (Mushaf) of Fatimah". A tradition which follows this one clearly states that what is referred to by "The Book of Fatimah"is not a part of Qur'an and has nothing to do with Allah's commandments/halals/harams. It does NOT have anything to do with Shari'ah (divine law) and the religious practices. Let me give you some of those traditions:
Abu Abdillah (as) said: "... We have with us the Book of Fatimah, but I do not claim that anything of the Qur'an is in it."(Usul al-Kafi, Tradition #637)
Abu Abdillah (as) also said about the book of Fatimah: "There is nothing of what is permitted and what is forbidden (al-Halal and al- Haram) in this; but in it is the knowledge of what will happen."(Usul Kafi, Tradition #636)
Abdul Malik Ibn Ayan said to Abu Abdillah (as): "The Zaydiyyah and the Mu'tazilah have gathered around Muhammad Ibn Abdillah (Ibn al-Hasan, the second). Will have they any rule?"He (as) said: "By Allah there are two books in my possession in which every prophet and every ruler who rules on this earth (from the beginning of the earth till the day of Judgment) has been named. No, by Allah, Muhammad Ibn Abdillah is not one of them."(Usul Kafi, Tradition #641)
"Mushaf"refers to a collection of "Sahifa"which is singular for "page". The literal meaning of Mushaf is "The manuscript bound between two boards". In those days they used to write on leather and other materials. They either rolled the writings -- what is known as scroll in English.
Or they kept the separable sheets and bound them together, in what could be called as "Mushaf", a book in today's terms. The equivalent to the word book "Kitab"used to (and still is) refer to either a letter (e.g. of correspondence) or to an document that was written down or recorded. The Arabic word for wrote "Kataba"is a derivative of the same word.
Although the Qur'an is commonly called a "Mushaf"today, perhaps referring to its "collection"after it was dispersed. Qur'an is a Mushaf (book), but any Mushaf (book) is not necessarily the Qur'an! There is no Qur'an of Fatimah! As the above and many other traditions suggest, The book of Fatimah has absolutely no connection with Qur'an. This concept is commonly pulled out of context and published by anti-Shi'i groups due to their hatred toward the Followers of the Members of the House of Prophet (S). I have seen it mentioned in a book printed by the government of Saudi Arabia.
What is also very important to recognize and understand is that belief in Mushaf Fatimah is not a requirement of belief to the Shi'a. It is just very few traditions which report such a thing. It is nothing crucial for us as the followers, nor any Shi'a (except Imam Mahdi) has access to it.
Some Side Comments
A Wahhabi mentioned that the Shi'a believe:
"The Imams know when they will die, and they do not die execpt with their choice.
Well, this is also granted to the prophets. So consequently I don't see why Imam should not have it. Here are the two traditions in Sahih al-Bukhari which confirms such claim for Moses:
Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith: 2.423 and 4.619
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The angel of death was sent to Moses and when he went to him, Moses slapped him severely, spoiling one of his eyes. The angel went back to his Lord, and said, "You sent me to a slave who does not want to die."
Allah restored his eye and said, "Go back and tell him (i.e. Moses) to place his hand over the back of an ox, for he will be allowed to live for a number of years equal to the number of hairs coming under his hand."(So the angel came to him and told him the same). Then Moses asked, "O my Lord! What will be then?"He said, "Death will be then."
He said, "Let it be now."He asked Allah that He bring him near the Sacred Land at a distance of a stone's throw. Allah's Apostle (S) said, "Were I there I would show you the grave of Moses by the way near the red sand hill."
Sahih Al Bukhari
Arabic English
Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan v2, p236 (2.423 reference)
Chapter: Whoever desired to be buried in the Sacred Land .....
Sahih Al Bukhari
Arabic English
Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan
v4, p409 (4.619 reference)
Chapter: The death Of Moses and his rememberance after his death.
According to the above tradition in Sahih al-Bukhari, Moses alleged to resist against death, and then was told by Allah when he would die (the number of hairs). Again Moses asked God to change that decision to be now.
The mockery tone of the above tradition by al-Bukhari is questionable for us, but since you call it authentic, then you should agree that prophets may know their death time. So why not Imam?
Here I should mention that according to Islamic teaching, Allah didn't/doesn't relinquish His authority to prophets and Imams. The authority of prophets and Imams is not independent of God. This authority is given to them by Allah and is controlled by Allah too. If they disobey Allah, such authority will be taken away immediately.
So if Moses or other prophets and Imams died in their choice, we should keep in mind that such sinless people do not desire anything that Allah does not desire. So their wish about the time of their death is exactly what Allah wished, since they are absolutely obedient toward Allah. Actually what I just said here is somehow contradicting the report of Abu Huraira given by al-Bukhari (saying that Moses resisted).
But since you believe in al-Bukhari, then you actually go further than the claim written in al-Kafi. In other words, the above tradition of al-Bukhari suggests that a prophet can resist and change the order of God and even knock out the angel of death. (May Allah protect us from such evil words).
"All of the Earth belongs to the Imams. (p.407)
Allah, to whom belong Might and Majesty said:
"The earth is Allah's. He gives it as a heritage to whom He will, and the good end is for the righteous servants."(Qur'an 7:128).
... إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ لِلَّـهِ يُورِثُهَا مَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
May Allah guide those who have such beliefs to the True Islam. And make this net and its members a cause to that.
May Allah help all of us to understand the above Qur'anic verses, and may Allah let us understand the traditions mentioned above which are from authentic Sunni books and let us not die in ignorance. Amen
Their is no denying that 'Ali was one of the most knowledgeable of the sahaba. Even if we do accept that 'Ali is the most knowledgeable, what then? Would that mean no one else had any knowledge?
No. It means others had much less knowledge. This implies those who chose other inferior people in knowledge to lead the community for their own desires, are responsible for the Misfortune of all Muslims throughout the history. Shiats say that Imam must possess above all such qualities as knowledge, bravery, justice, wisdom, piety, love of God etc., in order to assure the prosperity of the Islamic community.
Is Qur'an correct that Imamat is a degree higher than prophethood and messengership?
There are different levels of imamat. The imamat of the Prophets is higher than any other imamat. Certainly, an imam of a masjid is by no means higher than a Prophet or Messenger.
Certainly you did not answer my question. I was not talking about the degrees of Imamat. Please read the question again. As for Imam of Masjid, this shows you did not read the definition that I gave for the Imam in my original article. I said:
Imam means a person who is appointed by God as a leader and as a guide to whom obedience is due, and whom people should follow.
Does the above definition fit to Imam of Masjid?! Allah said that Prophet Muhammad is a warner, and for every community (generation) there exists a guide (Imam). (Qur'an 13:7). It is clear that there is no prophet after Prophet Muhammad. So those guides who are for every generation are not prophets.
because even the best pious person can only be pious if he believes in all the Prophets, how then can he become better than one in whom he must believe in order to be considered pious?
Prophet Muhammad believed in all prophets before him, but his position is higher than all of them. Agreed?


text:
This post offers neither the latest laughs nor greatest gaffs from our comedy of expat error. Rather it updates you on a few essential facts from our Ecuador adventure, routine as those particulars might be.
It's easy to overlook and, thus, omit from posts the seemingly insignificant details of our lives—not news to us, of course—but important context for folks who don't live here—which happens to be just about EVERYONE else.
I thought I was being merciful in omitting the mundane, but I've reconsidered, realizing life is lived one dreary or delightful detail to the next, that it's only in the accumulation of ordinary that any experience eventually evolves into something extraordinary, indeed. After all, the particulars are what distinguish one life from another.
Today, then, I'll catch you up in a bulleted format meant to compensate for this post's length. I hope you can scan for information you may have missed, and while you're at it, enjoy the photos I've included, ones a few of you have requested.
- Our First Month in Ecuador
After spending a few, more tiring than restful, nights in a bed and breakfast with our two dogs, we lived for the remainder of our first month in Cuenca in a stunning colonial home in the center of town. It was hundreds of years old but with completely modernized bathrooms and kitchen and walls more than two feet thick.
We made quite a scene arriving there with dogs Ralph and Lucy and our 10 (yes, that's 10) suitcases.
The living space inside was huge and open, with tile and wood floors and a charming garden for the dogs.
- Language Learning
During our first 6 weeks in Ecuador, Sara took intense 4-hour-a-day Spanish classes. We even traveled with her school to visit Ingapirca, the largest Inca ruin in Ecuador.
My Spanish, on the other hand, most folks seem to understand, if it also makes me sound foolishly infantile from time to time. My efforts are not only far from perfect; they make me look toddler-like at best, staggering along, vomiting my pathetical pronunciation.
- House Rental
Sara's Spanish teacher helped us locate our long-term rental in her own neighborhood, an Ecuadorian suburb (as opposed to the opposite side of town where most of the expats live).
It may interest you to know that we pay merely $350 a month for a 4-bedroom house with one and a half bathes and front and back gardens. The kitchen and main bath have been recently updated.
- All in the Family
After we had been in our house for only a month, decades-long friends of my mom came to visit Cuenca for four weeks. We had anticipated our own friends' eventual arrival, but hadn't ever imagined the first would belong to my 74-year-old mother.
Wayne and Judith rented an apartment in el Centro, one with a stunning, 6th-story view of the cathedral.
- Writing Life
I joined a writing group (WIT, Writers in Transition) that meets for two hours every week. I've also read the first chapter of my memoir at a literary event, attended a memoir writing workshop, and will share the second chapter of Kids Make the Best Bookies at a reading this week. The writing group has from 15 to 25 in attendance during most meetings, and these amazing folks have welcomed me, mentored me, and become fast friends.
- Sara's US Container Duty
Sara returned to the US for two weeks, so she could repack and inventory our boxes, not to mention supervise the loading of our 20-foot container—now aboard a cargo ship, steaming toward Ecuador. It's due to arrive here in another week— around September 9th. We can't wait!
It's a decent-sized container, but with no real furniture to speak of—mostly full of the many little items that make our house a cozy and creative home. And I do mean "many"—not only art, but nearly 1,300 books, as well.
- Kathy's Baking Efforts
I'm learning to bake at high altitudes.
Some of you may remember, that I've rarely met a cookie I didn't like—thus, perhaps, my love of baking. However, doing it at high altitudes (Cuenca is 8,300 feet) isn't the same as doing it at sea level. Here things rise much more quickly and/or prematurely, depending on how you look at it. Because of this, cakes are likely to fall and cookies tend to flatten.
So far, I've made Toll House chocolate chip cookies and a chocolate cake. I experimented a number of times to determine the right amount of baking soda to use in the cookies—about half what the recipe calls for—but when I baked a cake this past weekend, it fell, even with the leavening agent reduced drastically.
The latter recipe adaption, clearly, needs more work, but I've had more success with pies, since they don't require rising. I've done several apple and a few "mora" (blackberry), as well.
- Sara's Garden and Kitchen Callings
Sara's been working in our garden and cooking amazing dishes with the fresh ingredients available at the mercados. Some of you may recall her lovely efforts to transform our Lexington back yard. She's begun the same here.
- Friendships and Social Life
We've made a number of new friends and find ourselves being remarkably more social here than we were back in the US. We love the weekly Jazz Society Café, and this week, for the first time, we attended one of the Saturday night dinners held at Joe's Secret Garden.
- Sara's Employment Opportunity
Sara has gotten a job here!
Many of you know that "mi esposa" has worked in international, disaster response for more than 20 years, most of it with Habitat for Humanity. She directed their response to the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 and their intervention in the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
However, our residency visas here in Ecuador will limit our international travel for two years, so just this week the local, online, English language, newspaper hired Sara to take over some of their editorial duties. This will allow the founders of the site to expand and develop new marketing opportunities.
Check out Gringo Tree and its sister site, Cuenca High Life. For the more than 6000 expats in Cuenca, these are the go-to sources for news and information.
- Marriage vs. Civil Unions
Our marriage license from New York is not recognized by Ecuador, which has not yet legalized gay marriage. However, the government does allow gay civil unions, so we've gone ahead and had Ecuadorian civil union papers drafted and notarized.
We may not be recognized as married here, per se, but unlike in the US, our union is recognized as legitimate in the whole of Ecuador. This grants us all the same rights as married couples anywhere in the country, while in the US, we are considered married in some states but not in others. In many ways Ecuador is more progressive when it comes to gay rights than much of the US.
- 4-Month Anniversary
We've been in Ecuador for 4 months to the day that I'm drafting this. We've gotten our residency visas and picked up our "cedulas" yesterday. "Cedulas" are the national, photo-I.D. cards in Ecuador. They identify us as permanent residents of the country—with most of the same rights as citizens, including, interestingly, the right to vote.
- Visitors
We are thriving in our new country and invite you to visit!
Some of you may recall that Sara and I have had the opportunity to meet many of my blogging buddies, a number of whom visited our home in Lexington, Kentucky.
Ecuador may be a bit further to come, but we welcome your stopping by. We have two guest rooms.
One has your name on it.
What's new in your life? How has your summer gone? Have your kids returned to school yet?
Note: Check out the sites of my friends imaged above: Lisa Kramer's blog, as well as Colleen Brown's and Tori Nelson's. Other visitors to our home, whose blogs you might enjoy, include those of Miranda Gargasz and Emily Cannell. When we were married in New York, we were honored to have my blogging buddies the Lame Adventurer and Jackie Cangro as witnesses. They didn't visit our home, but we visited theirs!


text:
PSV Eindhoven striker Jeremain Lens' agent has played down talk linking him with a possible move to either Liverpool or Juventus.
Reports have suggested Lens is on Liverpool's list of targets as they plan to bolster their attacking options when the transfer window reopens in January.
The 24-year-old recently admitted that he would be interested in a move to a major league to take the next step in his career.
Juventus have also been credited with an interest in the Dutch international, but the player's agent, Kees-Ploegsma, claims he has had no contact with either club and has ruled out a move for the player in January.
"Juventus and Liverpool interested in Lens? I have had no type of contact with them, but I cannot know if they have spoken directly with PSV," Ploegsma told calciomercato.com.
"Lens still has a three-year contract with PSV and I think it is not intended to leave in January, but in football anything can happen.
"At this time he is a 100 per cent a PSV player, with which he'll play also the second part of the season. Then in June we'll see".


text:
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Selected pages
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
appear beautiful called character course daughter death ditto doubt Edinburgh EDITOR English existence eyes fair feeling France French give hand head hear heard heart honour hope hour interest Italy James John kind King lady land late least less letter light living London look Lord manner March matter means mind nature never night NORTH object observed ODOHERTY once original Paris particular party passed perhaps person poet present published reviewers round Royal seems seen side soon speak spirit Street sure thee thing thou thought tion turned vice vols whole wish write young
Popular passages
Page 520 - Ah ! then and there was hurrying to and fro, And gathering tears and tremblings of distress, And cheeks all pale, which but an hour ago Blush'd at the praise of their own loveliness; And there were sudden partings, such as press The life from out young hearts, and choking sighs Which ne'er might be repeated...
Page 101 - There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Page 521 - And Ardennes waves above them her green leaves, Dewy with nature's tear-drops as they pass, Grieving, if aught inanimate e'er grieves, Over the unreturning brave, - alas! Ere evening to be trodden like the grass Which now beneath them, but above shall grow In its next verdure, when this fiery mass Of living valour, rolling on the foe And burning with high hope shall moulder cold and low.
Page 228 - To other lands, leave azure chasms of calm Over this isle, or weep themselves in dew, From which its fields and woods ever renew Their green and golden immortality. And from the sea there rise, and from the sky There fall, clear exhalations, soft and bright, Veil after veil, each hiding some delight, Which Sun or Moon or zephyr draw aside...
Page 305 - But where to find that happiest spot below, Who can direct, when all pretend to know ? The shuddering tenant of the frigid zone Boldly proclaims that happiest spot his own ; Extols the treasures of his stormy seas, And his long nights of revelry and ease : The naked negro, panting at the line, Boasts of his golden sands and palmy wine, Basks in the glare, or stems the tepid wave, And thanks his gods for all the good they gave. Such is the patriot's boast where'er we roam, His first, best country,...
Page 404 - To waste his whole creation, or possess All as our own, and drive, as we were driven, The puny habitants; or, if not drive, Seduce them to our party, that their God May prove their foe, and with repenting hand Abolish his own works.
Page 546 - THE ENGLISH DANCE OF DEATH, from the Designs of T. Rowlandson, with Metrical Illustrations by the Author of 'Doctor Syntax.
Page 376 - Their only Labour was to kill the Time ; And Labour dire it is, and weary Woe. . They sit, they loll, turn o'er some idle Rhyme ; Then, rising sudden, to the Glass they go, Or saunter forth, with tottering Step and slow : This soon too rude an Exercise they find ; Strait on the Couch their Limbs again they throw.
Page 83 - A man might then behold At Christmas, in each hall Good fires to curb the cold, And meat for great and small. The neighbours were friendly bidden. And all had welcome true. The poor from the gates were not chidden, When this old cap was new.
Page 101 - God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.


text:
by Jacob Davies
From an FP post discussing village destruction in Afghanistan:
Well, it's a good thing we decided to take our campaign against the Taliban to the village of Tarok Kolache. I mean, if we hadn't gone there and fought off the Taliban - and improved the design of their village with our urban planning knowledge! - it's clear the local inhabitants would have continued to suffer terribly.
Luckily for them, we have brought our best planners to their village and substantially improved its livability using the latest in high-explosive remodeling techniques. They can now enjoy views of the sky night and day no matter where in their house they are; new "open plan" layouts have been designed without any of those pesky walls that were getting in their way; a modern, sparse, possession-free lifestyle is now theirs; and unparalleled views of the surrounding countryside are available now that all those inconveniently-placed pomegranate trees have been blown up.
Best of all, they can now enjoy the benevolent authority of the most corrupt government in the world instead of those nasty, nasty Taliban who made life so unlivable.
Well, they'll enjoy our brutal and corrupt puppet government until we get bored and leave, then they'll probably wind up with the Taliban again. But they'll continue to enjoy the improvements we made to their cities, and I hope, remember us fondly as they huddle in the ruins of what were once their homes.


text:
Butterfly FAQ
Part of the The Butterfly Conservatory exhibition.
Timed-entry ticket reservations continue to be required for Museum entry. Facial coverings are strongly recommended. See Health and Safety.
Part of the The Butterfly Conservatory exhibition.
There are many differences. Adult butterflies are active in the day, while most—but not all—moths are active at night. When resting, a butterfly holds its wings together above its back; a moth holds its wings horizontally. And butterfly antennae are thickened, or clubbed, at the tips, while moth antennae are most commonly straight or feathered.
To some extent, adult butterflies have all five senses. By far the most important sense for butterflies is smell—the sensors on their antennae are highly attuned to odors. Butterflies can also taste. They have "taste buds" at the end of the tongue, and females taste plants to identify them by using sensory structures on their feet.
Adult butterflies communicate with one another mostly through chemical cues—the males produce chemicals called pheromones to seduce the females. Additionally, a few species communicate with sound. The male Cracker butterfly (Hamadryas) can make loud noises with his wings.
At night, or when the day is cloudy, adult butterflies rest by hanging upside down from leaves or twigs, where they are hidden among the foliage. We don't really know whether or not they are sleeping.
If you see two adult butterflies with their abdomens linked tail-to-tail, they are mating. The male grasps the female and deposits a sperm packet, which fertilizes the female's eggs. The butterflies can fly while mating but they usually avoid moving unless they are disturbed.
Although the caterpillar may take months to develop, adult butterflies of most species live only a few weeks. Exceptions include migratory species, which may live up to 10 months. In warm climates there are continuous generations, producing butterflies year-round.
Most adult butterflies stick close to home, but a few species, including the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), are migratory. Monarchs travel incredible distances from Canada and the northern United States to overwintering sites in Mexico, where they roost together in vast numbers. Having survived the winter, the adults return northward in the spring.
Butterfly wings are covered with tiny scales, each a single color. Most of the colors are produced by pigments, but the beautiful iridescence of some butterflies results from a reflective microstructure on the scale's surface. Don't touch a butterfly's wing—the "powder" that rubs off is actually the scales.
Butterflies are extremely sensitive to environmental changes, and many species have become endangered or extinct because of habitat destruction. Some adult butterflies have also been threatened by commercial collectors, like the spectacular Queen Alexandra's birdwing, Ornithoptera alexandrae, of Papua New Guinea.
Adult butterflies vary greatly in size. One of the smallest butterflies is the eastern pygmy blue, Brephidium isophthalma, from the coastal southeastern United States, with a wingspan of about 5/8 of an inch. Among the largest are the birdwing butterflies from New Guinea, with wingspans of up to 12 inches.


text:
Zack Danger Brown of Columbus, Ohio wanted $10 to make some potato salad, so he went to Kickstarter. Now he has more than $2,000 to make potato salad, proving a long-standing theory here at Snacktaku — potato salad is pretty great. Update: My god.
Thanks to his eloquent pitch ("Basically I'm just making potato salad. I haven't decided what kind yet.") and exposure on the likes of CNET, Zack Danger Brown now sits at the top of the potato salad heap, and he's not coming down for another 27 days. At that point, he'll probably need a moist towelette of some sort.
Kickstarter rewards include having your name spoken aloud as Zack makes his potato salad, potato salad hats, a chance to watch the potato salad being made and a bite of the end result, though how that'll be delivered is still up in the air.
Thanks to stretch goals, Zack will be making several different kinds of potato salad, including traditional mayo-based, vinegar-based (perhaps German style with a little bacon) and a vegan option of some sort (whatever that means).
Today is a day of triumph. We've Kickstarted games. We've Kickstarted technology. We've Kickstarted films. Now we've Kickstarted potato salad.
Update: As of July 7 at 6 p.m. Eastern time, the Kickstarter has surpassed $15,000. If Zack isn't the head of the country's largest potato salad company by the end of this, I'll be sad.
Potato Salad [Kickstarter via Polygon]


text:
When I had dinner with some friends recently, I told them about a trip I will be taking next year to attend a cousin's wedding. One friend made this observation: "Wow," she said, "everyone in your family is getting married." It was an exaggeration (not everyone is getting married), but her point was valid: many in my generation are coming into the family-making phase of our lives. We're getting married. We're having kids. You know what that means?
Pictures. And Videos. Lots of them.
I always liked the idea of scrapbooking to organize pictures, and making home videos to watch together when the extended family gathers for big events. But that limits the sharing to certain times of the year only, and only to the folks who can actually make it. Unfortunately, family who live across the country — or in different countries — will inevitably miss out on the memories. Sure, you can send physical copies, but that can get expensive, fast.
Oh, who am I kidding? In this day and age, most family photos and videos are distributed online. And with the help of cloud computing, your family can even create a scrapbook or newsletter together, so everyone can keep everyone else up to date on family goings-on.
You may ask, what is cloud computing, anyway? It's simply a fancy term for Internet-based computing, where applications, files, and resources are stored in distant servers away from your computer. You can access these resources on demand, from any computer. Any time you're using Flickr, Yahoo Mail, Google Docs, Office Live, or MobileMe, you are "on the cloud."
Here's the kicker: You can grant other people access to the applications, files, and resources that you use on the cloud, making collaboration on a family scrapbook or newsletter easy as pie. Usually, all it takes is signing up for whatever service you decide to use — and there are many to choose from. Here are just a few.
With almost 300 templates to choose from, LetterPop makes it easy to create newsletters perfect for any occasion, season, or theme. While you can't share your work on LetterPop with other users, you can make it a family project with your kids. Give the older ones a section to write their own blurbs and let the younger ones help you choose your favorite photos to share. You can upload image files from your computer, or drag-and-drop directly from Flickr. Since everything you need is stored on your LetterPop account, you can work on your newsletter anywhere, anytime.
Most of my family (the computer-using ones, at least) are on Facebook — but not all of them. So when someone shares wedding photos or baby videos, those who didn't want to deal with Facebook's ever-changing privacy issues also don't get to Oooh and Awww with the rest of us. Chattertree is a solution to this problem. In a way, Chattertree very much like Facebook: You can message people, set birthday alerts, share photos and videos. But unlike Facebook, you get to do video chats with up to six people (or families), and it's a private family network — so anyone concerned about embarrassing photos of you wearing a Snuggie on Christmas morning can rest easy knowing that none of my friends will accidentally stumble on it. Um, I mean 'none of your friends.' Hypothetically, of course.
LetterPop and Chattertree are helpful services to sign up for, and they're super easy to use, but you do have some resources that you and other members of your family are probably already familiar with: Google Docs and Microsoft Office.
When you sign up for Gmail — or any other Google service — you gain access to their entire suite of applications. With Google Documents, you can create a scrapbook using one of their templates — simply type in 'scrapbook' in the search field of Google's templates page, and choose one that you like. While the selection is somewhat limited right now, it's fairly easy to upload your own backgrounds and graphics for a personal touch. As with most of Google's other applications, you can share your work-in-progress with other people and let them edit the scrapbook to add their own memories and highlights.
On the newsletter front, Microsoft Office has your back. Just choose a newsletter template when you open a new document, and fill in text boxes and insert photos like you would with any Office template. Rearranging body text, photos, captions, and titles is easy — anyone who has worked with Office probably already knows how to do it. And with Windows Live SkyDrive, you can upload and save your newsletter in the cloud and work on it later. When you're done, simply email it out to the family, either directly in the message or as an attachment.
Thanks to Windows 7 and Windows Live for sponsoring this post about how technology makes parenting so much easier. Visit Windows to learn more about the power of the Cloud and what it can do for you.


text:
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Dulce de Leche Cheesecake
I feel like baking a cheesecake since dear sister likes cheesecake a lot, I wanted to bake something with Dulce de Leche so went to search my DLL recipes folder and got this DLL cheesecake.
Recipe adapted from My Kitchen Snippets with minor modification.
Ingredients : (for 6" to 7" cake pan)
Biscuit Base:
80g oreo cookies
30g melted butter
Filling :
250g cream cheese
4 tbsp of sour cream (I used 2 tbsp sour cream since I left with only 2tbsp)
4 tbsp of sugar (I reduced to 2 tbsp)
3 eggs
1 tsp of vanilla extract
4 tbsp of light cream (I used whipping cream)
some dulce de leche
Method :
1. Prepare a spring form pan and greased it with some butter. Pre-heat oven to 160 degree.
2. Blend the oreo cookies finely in a food processor and add in melted butter. Press firmly to the baking pan and set aside. (I used roller to crush the oreo)
3. Mix all the filling ingredients and blend until smooth. Pour the filling on top of the crust.
4. Drizzle some dulce de leche over the cheesecake filling then use a skewer to swirl the DDL around. (mine all sank in the bottom)
5. Bake in the pre-heated oven at 170C for 50-60 minutes or until the center of the filling set.
6. Cool complete and drizzle more dulce de leche on the top before serving.
The cake tasted creamy and smooth, lighter version of chicago-style cheesecake. The dulce de leche topping gives extra flavour to the cheesecake. All given thumbs up on this cake, dear sister and brother likes the cake a lot. My department gals were so excited when eating the cake, kept telling me is very yummy. One of the girl even wanna lick the plate, she said how she wish that I am selling the cake so she can order another slice immediately hahaha...
78 comments:
yummy!! i think i need to do some dulce de leche soon!!ReplyDelete
Feel like having a bite of it... keke...ReplyDelete
I am also suaku cos nv hear or get to taste this DDL~~heheheeReplyDelete
something new to me.
This is so lovely, Jess, especially the lattice work topping. Isn't it rewarding and satisfying when people gives you good feedback and marvel at the taste? I do!ReplyDelete
aiyaya! Why the cake so nice? Please send me 1 slice by courier service. Ha!ha!ha!ReplyDelete
2 slices for me please!ReplyDelete
The cake is really really NICE! I believe the taste is as good too! Oh my! Temptation to bake a cheesecake is there.....ReplyDelete
The cake looks great. I wish I can have a slice. =DReplyDelete
I am queuing too for a slice of this.ReplyDelete
Thanks for reminding me to make dulce de leche which I have bookmarked long time ago..ReplyDelete
your cake look so delicious!
Jess, now I'm truly craving for one! I love the combo so much. I've made it once... Thanks again for reminding me. Hope you're enjoying your day.ReplyDelete
The DDL bug hit you again!!!ReplyDelete
The cheesecake look very tempting.
Wow this is a real indulgence and it looks sinfully good! Heard so much about DDL, never try before. One of these day I'm gg to try out your recipe.ReplyDelete
哇....很漂亮,而且卖相很好哦,看到我都TAK BOLEH TAHAN~~ReplyDelete
Beautiful! I can't get enough of cheesecake...and it's seriously dangerous to serve them with dulce de leche...believe me, you wouldn't have a chance to touch a single bite of it. :-))ReplyDelete
wow, my favourite DDL in cheesecake! I'm drooling... ;-)ReplyDelete
Ai yo yo, the cheesecake look so good! So creamy and lucious! Too bad my family not a fan of cheesecake leh...:( Great idea to use DDL as a topping... I ever ate one like this but they added some carmalised praline on top together with the DDL....sooo good yeah! But I can imagine your is close your eyes, melt in your mouth and totally immerse moment....yum yum. ;)ReplyDelete
Is this dulce de leche very sweet? The cake looks very delicious.ReplyDelete
can somebody tell if we can make the DDL in advance and then keep in the fridge? This DDL is making my hand itch ....ReplyDelete
Jess you are so bad, you make me feel like making the DDL and bake this cake immediately... but very lechay to make DDL leh... hahaReplyDelete
Where to buy dulce de leche? Do I need to make myself? Thanks!ReplyDelete
Very nice and yummy cheesecake there! I still haven't got a chance to try out the DLL. You've very successful attempt!ReplyDelete
Thanks for trying out the DDL cheesecake. We have been eating DDL for years before it became so well known :)ReplyDelete
Very nice and yummy cheesecake there! I still haven't got a chance to try out the DLL. You've very successful attempt!ReplyDelete
To answer Yummy Koh question. You can always make the DDL in advance, do not open the can and you can just leave it on the pantry. You don't have to keep it in the fridge.ReplyDelete
Looks really yummy, first time I heard about DDL, sounds really special :)ReplyDelete
Oh heaven help me this looks too good. Could it be the most glorious cheesecake ever? Amazing xReplyDelete
The DDL looks good on the cheese! Ooooh! I feel like nibbling the cake! :)ReplyDelete
looks too good..no wonder the little girl wants to lick up the plate..ha!beautiful!ReplyDelete
Hi Jess, go ahead to make the DDL, you will not regret if you like caramised condensed milk :).ReplyDelete
Somewhere in Singapore, pls go ahead to have a big bite heeheehee...
苏联妈妈, dun worry you are not the only one, I also dunno DDL until saw at A Table for two or more... If you have a chance, do try it cos I fall in love with DDL when I 1st tasted in Taiwan.
Hi Cheah, thanks and great you like the lattice, I still thought I had done a lousy job :p. Yes, I am just waiting for good feedback on my each baking/cooking hahaha...ReplyDelete
Joceline, ok ok next time I bring to Penang for you ok.
Wow Mr Pineapple Man, you can finish 2 slices? :P
Esther, this cake tasted great, look forward for your cheesecake :).ReplyDelete
Thanks Jet, wish I can share with you too :).
Edith, I will let you cut queue but shhhhh... :P
Sonia, go go go and make the DDL, yum yum!ReplyDelete
Kristy, yummy right :).
Wendy, I must thank you for introducing me this DDL, I cant get tire of it heeheehee....
Wen, DDL is great, go ahead and make it, look forward for your posting on this :).ReplyDelete
鲸鱼蓝蓝蓝, thank you :).
Thanks Angie, me too, never get tire of cheesecake but so fattening, I have put on too much weight :p. Oh yes, I didnt know that so many of them like DDL too!
Piggy, oh is my favourite too :0.ReplyDelete
Bee Bee, so you have to finish all the cheesecake by yourself if you bake it? Luckily my sis, bro are cheesecake fans and my office gals so I have a lot of "fans" to share :).
Yummy Koh, DDL is made of condensed milk, so yes it is sweet, very sweet indeed. Of course you can make DDL in advance, just leave it at the pantry or cabinet for unopened can, once you have opened, chill in fridge, just like what you do with your condensed milk.
Neyeeloh, not lechay lah, you dun need to do much cos is just a waiting game. If not, I still have some to share with you, let me know :).ReplyDelete
Cythia, I dun think you can buy in Spore. Yes you have to make yourself, very easy, just leave the unopened condensed milk to boil in a pot of water for 4 hrs, make sure the water wont dry out and leave the boiled can to totally cool down and viola, your DLL is ready :). If you just wanna try out, I still have some to share, let me know.
Thanks Grace. DDL tasted great, so do try it if you have chance :).
ICook4Fun, I didnt know about DDL until few mths ago, what have I missed out for so long... Thanks for the recipe!ReplyDelete
Min, is really yummy! I also got to know DDL only few mths ago :).
Thanks How To Be Perfect, I am so happy to hear your nice words :D
Busygran, DDL taste great on cheesecake :).ReplyDelete
Thanks Lena :).
wah! =) Hot Hot Hot!!ReplyDelete
Looks soooooooooooooo nice!
Now i wonder how u look like =)
This cheesecake looks so tempting... Wish I could grab one... ;PReplyDelete
Never tried to make DDL before but after looking at your pretty cheesecake...really makes me hungry as I love cheesecake very much :)ReplyDelete
Usually, I just like a classic cheesecake. I don't even know if I have tried any DDL cakes or DDL on cake before!ReplyDelete
Jess, very beautiful creation! Must try this DLL since everyone loves to cook with it.ReplyDelete
Thanks ICook4Fun and Bakericious.ReplyDelete
I have never tried DDL too. But from your photo, I also feel like licking off the DDL with the cheesecake! :)ReplyDelete
I am drooling no. Look super yummy!ReplyDelete
U make in into the "cheesecake mood" after reading your post.
I have bought a can of condensed milk for the longest time for Dulce de Leche, I think I must tae action this weekend.
Btw, may I know how you enlarge ur pic?
love love dulce de leche! Looks gorgeous!ReplyDelete
Corraine, I hope I look as hot as the DLL cheesecake but too bad, wish is just wish, a fat one hahaha....ReplyDelete
DG, this cheesecake is very tempting.
Ann, do give DLL a try, is good!
Tigerfish, may be you have tried DDL before that you are not aware of but this DDL is not common in Spore nor Msia.ReplyDelete
Thanks Zoe. Do give DDL a try if you like caramel.
You are most welcomed Yummy Koh.
SSB, DDL is caramised condensed milk, if you like condensed milk or caramel, you will love DDL too.ReplyDelete
Thanks Angel, look forward for your cheesecake and DDL posting :). For the enlarge of pic, I will email you to explain.
Thanks Pigpigscorner.
1 slice please ........ yum yumReplyDelete
This is delicious looking. You have to win with Dulce de Leche.ReplyDelete
Seems like this DDL is a die-die must try! Mmmm ... wondering when i will get to try it out and taste it? I guess it can't be wrong with so much hype & thumbs-up ;-)ReplyDelete
Ooo delicious! I love cheesecake, and and I love dulce de leche...and this sounds like a great combination of flavors.ReplyDelete
your cheesecake looks superb and very very pretty :)ReplyDelete
This cheesecake is absolutely gorgeous, Jess! I would gladly pay you for even just one bite of it! Thanks for sharing! I'm so glad I found your blog.ReplyDelete
lovely cake...slurp off the DDL cheesecake from my screen after drooling :)ReplyDelete
wow you are so talented the perfect cheesecakeReplyDelete
I love cheesecake, yours look so rich and creamy! the oreo crust and that wonderful dulce de leche topping just push it over the top! what an incredible creation!ReplyDelete
Buddy, I will give you more than 1 slice :).ReplyDelete
Thanks Sweet and Savory.
Quizzine, to me is a die die must try! I still have DDL some left over, if you keen I can pass you some to try, let me know.
Thanks Indie.Tee.ReplyDelete
Thanks Wiffy.
Thanks Comfort of Cooking for dropping by and hope to see you more often :). Thanks for your nice words too.
Thanks Elin.ReplyDelete
Thanks Chow and Chatter,you are making me blushed :P.
Thanks Chef Dennis, you always never fail to brighten my day!
I just discovered your beautiful blog!
Your pudding are so yummy!
Thank you BarbarA
I cooked the unopen condense milk in the slow cooker over night to make DDL, it is much easier!!! I saw your cheese cake it look great!
Hi Jess.ReplyDelete
Can I use caramel sauce those from hersey's?
your cakes are so nice. I have used ur recipes a few times.
Also you mentioned to bake for 50 - 60 mins...how much temp?
Hi JessReplyDelete
can i use those caramel syrup from Hersey's? or direct caramel sauce?
Thanks Barbara for dropping by and hope to see you more often :).ReplyDelete
Thanks Bigheadmagicmad and hope you enjoy the DDL.
Hi Xris, yes you can replace the DDL with caramel sauce but the taste will not be the same. Sorry I have amended the recipe, you may bake the cake in 170C.ReplyDelete
Hi Jess,ReplyDelete
Xris again. haha
hey i made DDL but it harden over the night shd i microwave it to make it soft so i can drizzle?
also after i bake the cake and cool - do i store in fridge or? and do i put DDL just before serving or shd i put it on and then put in fridge to chill and then serve.
Hi Xris, if the DDL is harden, then you may microwave awhile to soften it.ReplyDelete
What I did was to let the cheesecake cooled down completely after removed from oven, then drizzled the DDL on the cheesecake (I used a small plastic bag, scoop the DDL in, tie the plastic bag, cut a small hole at one point edge of the plastic bag and piped the DDL) then I chilled the cheesecake in the fridge for overnight (cos I baked in the nite time) and served next day afternoon.
Jess... my cake didnt rise at all. and very flat. so sad... i use an electric whisk to blend is that wrong? oh im so sad. and i made a mess of the DDL decoration!!!ReplyDelete
Xris, my cheesecake also did't rise much and not rise at all, I can't recall clearly, I only remember the batter was very watery. I also used electrical mixer to blend, dumped all ingredients in and whisked.ReplyDelete
No worry of the deco, cos my deco dun look neat n nice too, as long as it tasty is good enough. You just leave the cake to chill for 3-4 hours, and slice to eat, I am sure it will be delicious. Dun be sad, I often encountered failure and mishaps in baking, is my never die and surrender spirit that keep me going until success. Wish you good luck for next cheesecake baking.
Hi JessReplyDelete
Thanks for ur console. haha. u r a very gd baker. I often visit ur site to chk out cakes.
But I can see ur cake (cheese part) is alot. mine was really so little - 1.5 inch max. Maybe my tin is bigger? I dont know coz I used ur recipe...
and you know how ur edges are white...mine is like cake being baked brown color... do you hv an email I can reach u if u dont mind? I would like to show u my failure cake ahaha.
ps. at what speed did u mix with?
I found a lot of lumps so before I put in the tin I used a sieve...
Thanks Xris for being the regular visitor of my blog, readers like you really given me a lot of motivation and encouragement.ReplyDelete
I was using 6" cake tin, how about you?
If you refer to the Kitchen Snippet's DDL cheesecake, I took the recipe from her, my cheesecake and hers look different too. She dun ve brown top cheesecake but you look at mine, was brown like baked cake for the top. I am not sure why too :P.
I am using normal kenwood mixer, speed 3, the medium speed. Mine dun ve lump, I beat the batter until smooth then I pour into the tin. For all baking, I always ensure the batter is smooth with no or almost no lump b4 I send in to bake. Probably you need to beat the cream cheese till smooth b4 mix with other ingredients.
My email address is email@example.com but do leave a msg in my comment box after you send me email cos I dun check my mail frequent :P.
BTW I am flying on Sun so I can only response you till Sun noon.ReplyDelete
oh thanks Jess you are so nice to leave me ur email. haha. yeah u r right maybe next time i beat the cheese first till smooth...hehe...ReplyDelete
I really love ur cakes! haha... I want to be like you!
mine was a 7.5' lor...and 6cm high. do u think thats why? oh no i must go buy 6 inch tin ... coz i realised u always uses 6 inch...must be same effect like yrs. hahaReplyDelete
Hi XrisReplyDelete
You are most welcomed :). I am so happy to know that you love my cakes, and wanted to be like me, gosh I always the one who say I wanna be who and who (those expert bakers and cooks) :P You have definitely brighten my dayssss heeheehee...
Probably cos of the bigger pan that yield shorter cake. I use 6" for majority birthday cakes (cos for small scale celebration) or some bakes that I wanna try it out, unless I am sure the cake will be well received by for most of my family plus my mum and sibling (my inlaws only like butter cake) or I am lazy to scale down then I will use bigger cake pan e.g.more than 8:.
You do not need to buy another cake pan, you can simply adjust the amount of ingredient to fit your cake pan like I always do.
If I wanna scale down from the original recipe that meant for 8" which I wanna use for 6", I will use the weight of the ingredients for 8" divide by 8 then multily by 6 e.g. 100g plain flour I will use 100/8*6=75g. I am not sure what I did is correct but so far so gd for me :P. If you are not clear on the calculation, let me know again.


text:
The most memorable staged image from the 1997 Fianna Fáil election campaign remains the quasi-religious poster of Bertie Ahern aglow under the text 'People before Politics – leadership through understanding'. This directed image, as well as notable for being a radical change from the usual poster layout associated with previous Fianna Fáil campaigns, is also a mark in time for many cultural and historic reasons.
Visually, the impact was particularly strong outside the Pale as the design broke with decades of poor layout and plain speak familiar to rural audiences. Previous campaigns had favoured a design template with a blank space left to insert the local candidate's (often rudimentary) portrait that had remained unchanged more or less for generations. It reflected a design process which continuously gave an appearance of inclusion. Its simplicity united the grassroots and politicians with no more than a picture and a timely slogan. Through repetition these codes became naturalised. 'Lets make it work for Ireland' was one such one from the 80s, ' 'For another Spurt Forward !, Vote Fianna Fáil is the actual copy from the 1961 campaign.
For generations the rural electorate were key and were not to be distracted by excess gloss or ambiguity at campaign time. A simple reminder in plain language with the image of the candidate and party / tribal colours would suffice. Hence the radical turn experienced when the slick international style of the 1997 posters appeared on Galway ESB poles. Long gone was the party's statement of 1978 that sought ' by suitable distribution of power to promote the ruralisation of industries essential to the lives of the people as opposed to their concentration in the cities'. The culture of the developer was on the rise and with it an increase in percieved sophistication that it was thought proper to disseminate via the election poster.
For this design, the saintly glow eminating from the poster was intended to depict Ahern as a Karsh-lit matinee idol, a reassuring Hollywood father figure shepherding the flock through boom times. New imagery was required to emphasise the significance of how the boom was to be managed, so out went the flat evenly lit expressionless black and white head shot. What seemed to be required was dimension and atmosphere. This didn't take much. With simple change of setup and with the use of a corporate type of side lighting the desired narrative was created. The key light then became a light of reassurance. It signified that the chief was up late, in Dublin, listening and looking out for us all.
In the poster, sporting make-up and a quiet determination, the chief stares towards the middle distance. A fixed image that could be read as half listener in a pub clinic for the western audience and half Rodin's Thinker for cosmopolitan Dublin. As for the campaign, the visual package was intended to be, as usual, nothing more than a transient statement printed on plastic to be recycled after the campaign. A visual that reflected power as it stood and as it stood to be managed. As a portrait it was not produced for archival purposes and certainly not future-proofed for historical hanging. However it remains a loaded vernacular mark when positioned both for the history of the Celtic Tiger and Ahern's legacy. Sigificantly the 2002 Fianna Fáil campaign poster reverts back to the old template with a daylit image of Ahern in his office safely framed by the party colors.
The official portrait of Ahern currrently owned by the State was painted by the artist James Hanley in 2004. It shows him blandly frozen, slightly askew and a little defensive. The pose here is reminiscent of the neutral expectancy captured on the faces of defendants used by trial court artists. When it was presented to the Dáil, a minor controversy occured when the subject of where to hang it arose. The debate that followed unavoidably coincided with more unsavoury revelations about Ahern's finances. Hanley's €10,000 painting inevitably featured as part of this dialogue much more than it would have liked.
Eventually a sizeable volume of the commentary associated with Ahern had begun to merge visually with the type of events which underlined an increasing fallen status. In the style of how a clipping editor would shuffle press cuttings to reflect a subject's dominant news thread, Ahern's fall became digitally shuffled in this manner. The subject of course has no say in the programming of this search engine
For a proven example, a quick search for images of Ahern lands upon a startling image of him with Charles Haughey in the 1980s. Haughey appears paralysed as something important on a desktop seems to have failed and so perhaps has the operator. A shadowy-eyed Ahern is on hand to take over. The black and white image is cropped and dramatic. Haughey's famous comment on Ahern being 'the most devious, the most cunning of them all' is visually acted out here in the manner of turn of the century German Expressionism. This is just an example. In retrospect, many similar imagined narratives, based on what emerged from the tribunals, begin to write themselves as the combination of information and reclaimed images like this become more familiar.
In Galway, a vernacular version of the 1997 campaign poster appeared. This startling version focused on a remake of the contemplative nature of the pose. It was home made and quickly achived popular status in the University town. Bertie, as the Taoiseach, was folksily known, looked stoned. Encouraged by the poster's comedic visual opening, an unknown artist had Tipp-exed a large joint into Bertie's fingers and coloured his eyes neon green. This stoned expression of leadership now spoke to a cohort far removed from Fianna Fáil 's natural voter base but the incongruous text 'People before Politics' remained.
The style of the act was perhaps directed by contemporary culture that consumed the irrelevant ethos promoted in the labored photoshop examples which were featured at the time in Lads' magazines such as Loaded. No matter what the inspiration was or how it came to pass, the ridiculous image of Bertie as Stoner in Chief totally rejected the gravitas of Fianna Fáil's economic stewardship, certainly for a Galway audience who had the people's Bertie propped up on rented mantelpieces and taped to the Dunnes Stores framed pictures provided by their landlords.
It is safe to say the inital corporate look of the 'untouched' 1997 thinker image was imported from the presidential style favoured at the time by Tony Blair. In fact, photographs from the first meeting of Blair and Ahern after the latter became Taoiseach in '97 show the two men wearing nearly identical powdered grins and grey power suits.
The transient gallery in Galway for image of the understanding stoned thinker was not unsuprisingly the accommodation of the student or service worker . These were the drones of the Tiger's early phase, night owls who carried out the nightime 'pull downs' that liberated lamposts from an unwanted presidential gaze. They were gathering material for interventionist artwork and minor anti-propagandist resistance. Fianna Fáils corporate vision was regularly rejected and remade on the nightly trip home.
This creative act took hold and proliferated. Before both the end of the offical and unofficial campaigns it was possible to buy the reconditioned image of a green-eyed stoned Taoiseach, so popular was the remake. Others began to follow the original artist's template for similar versions briefly to be sold in Dublin. Each poster had to be removed and individually Tipp-exed yet all were similar and held the original text as part of the saleable concept. In responding to the intended depth of Fianna Fáil's PR vision (and the audacity of its polished imagery) a successful minor countereconomy in the sale of the plastic printed image was led by Galway. The free market as anointed by Fianna Fáil was working and in a creative nod to the Blair project the remaking of the poster by non- artists celebrated the application of transferable skills demanded by the new economy.
By the time of Ahern's fall, the dialogue surrounding personal accountability for the financial crisis of 2008 invited a variety of commentary from traditional art practitioners. After an interview by Ahern in a 2009 issue of VIP magazine, the painter Jonathan Aiken painted a portrait of the former Taoiseach against a background of high-end consumer packaging and crushed credit cards. Once again, as in the case of the Galway turn, it is Ahern's gesture that inspired the artist. On the Gormley Gallery website Aiken explains his rationale
''The piece was inspired by an interview Bertie Ahern gave in 2009 in the VIP magazine, responding to attacks from cynics, where he questioned the value of 'pointing the finger' and unproductive ethos of blaming others. I was stirred by Bertie Ahern's response that we can either 'dig the garden or grow blue bells' or as he added do something useful. The portrait seems as though Mr Ahern is set-up for us to yet again point the finger at him, but in his gesture he is also waving back at us, as such throwing it back to us.
Briefly looking further back, a 1983 photograph of Ahern by Tom Lawlor on the comeheretome site shows the creative use of signifying props that is often the mark of the Irish Times in campaign coverage. Here Lawlor has emphasised the 'caught' nature of the subject framed by bell ropes that also hint at a hangmans gallows. The text on the wall ominously wishes peace and prosperity to Ireland. The Irish Times most notable image along the lines discussed is a front page foreshortened portrait of Ahern in a gymnasium as a basketball hoop seems to hover as a halo over his head. Again the seriousness of the then Taoiseach's expression, in conjunction with the objects of a public space, was accentuated to his detriment.
A damning image of Ahern is of course any video still from of his 2010 post Taoiseach appearance in an ad for the British tabloid, The News Of the World. The thought Ahern being paid to be squeezed in a cupboard, with a tea cup, as the citizen-funded state car waited on the shoot still provokes derisive and angry commentary
By the time of the Bertie in a Cupboard incident, representational fatigue on the subject had set in and derisive imagery was even expected. Sourcing was available from the media's photoshopping to any amount of rants on social media. His sucessor Brian Cowen was now in place and was also a target for the backlash. He even attracted painted abuse in 200 when the painter Conor Casby famously, and illegally, inserted the image of Cowen as a leader stripped of his robes into the National Gallery. As for Ahern? The commentary surrounding his tenure built towards straight digital abuse as his facade crumbled. Ahern ceased to hint that he may run for president and reduced his media appearences as the mounting and unforgiving commentary began to mould his legacy.
The image of the green-eyed stoner is a physical mark from a pre-Youtube Galway and may only exist in the image I had the opportunity to record. I photographed the image then as the ubiquity of Ahern's official image truly seemed to represent an unassailable neoliberal chieftain who promoted the interests of those who filled what was then known as the 'Galway Tent'. In 1997 this remake struck me then as the only art-led counter-commentary being practised in traditional Agit-Prop style. It was above all funny as was the concept of refusing to salute the chief but instead taking him home for a joint in a houseparty in Rahoon. There was testimony in this, even then, that there was more to Ahern's public image than met the eye.
Fianna Fáil's infamous Galway Tent fundraisings were cancelled in 2008. In 2010 the consequences of a late night in the bar for Brian Cowen at a Fianna Fáil 'think-in at the Ardliaun Hotel Galway was the beginning of the end of a certain party style. In prioritising the entertainment of his staff and colleagues over an interview for the national broadcaster the following day, Cowen had literally put 'People Before Politics.'
Paul Tarpey


text:
Rex and I were doing so well on our goal to keep sex alive. Then illness struck for everyone. Then it went away. Then it came back. If it weren't for this nasty bout of the flu that everyone is getting, I'd start to question my sanitation and cooking skills even more than I already do.
Now they're we're on the mend, I've decided to get back on the saddle. In this case, the saddle is Rex. Time to tighten up the reins and go for a ride into the sunset. Or at 11 pm when everyone is asleep. Whatever works.
Here's the deal, though. I just don't feel like it sometimes. I'm lazy. I admit it. Getting back in the saddle means doing some maintenance. I mean, sure... you can ride the horse smelling like a cowboy, but it sure is more fun when you smell like perfume. And your legs are shaven. And you don't smell like the inside of a coffee pot. (Sorry, Mr. Coffee, but Rex is onto your game. And he doesn't much go for Yuban breath.)
More From Good Housekeeping
And even more than looking good, I want to feel good again. I want to start walking. Forget smelling like flowers for a second. I want to actually smell real flowers. And check out some new streets. See some new sights. I want to start doing my hair more. I want to get excited over little outfit changes, or some new make-up. I just haven't done anything but get up and work, take care of kids, do dinner, crash. Wash, rinse, repeat... How friggin' boring can I get? And like I mentioned in the previous post, wash rinse and repeat sometimes does not apply to my hair which, as I just mentioned in this post, does not do much for my self-esteem in the appearance department.
Like a predictable sex life, my get up and go mantra gets the job done, but would it kill me to throw a little curve ball into the mix? I'm not talking an Oprah Show make-over. I'm talking doing my nails. Or getting my eyebrows waxed. Or... don't freak out... getting a new 3-pack of Hanes. Maybe I'll even do the high cut instead of the grandma briefs. Aaack! Alert the AARP!
Bottom line: To feel better about my real bottom, which will be hanging out next to Rex's bottom, I had better start moving my bottom. 15 minutes/day of walking. 15 minutes a day of showering and girly-fying. 15 minutes/day on prep. I'm thinking that will lead to a much more satisfying 15 minutes at night with Rex.
I'm no mathematician, but 45 minutes for 15 minutes is an hour that might really add up to my overall sex life. I'll let you know if the formula works out. Or at least if I manage to ditch the grandma briefs. Wish me luck.


text:
10 Things In Tech You Need To Know This Morning (FB, GOOG)
Jay Yarow
Good morning! The news:
- Nest, the company Google bought for $3.2 billion, is halting sales of its Internet-connected smoke detector because of a bug in the software. The Nest Protect, as it's called, allows you to wave at it to silence it, but waving at it was turning it off altogether.
- Mozilla's CEO Brendan Eich is resigning after a week of controversy about his support for anti-gay-marriage legislation.
- Fake meat now tastes almost as good as the real thing and venture capitalists who normally focus on technology are investing in these meat replacement startups.
- This is an in-depth explanation how Facebook's News Feed works for publishers. A lot of brands have been complaining that their organic reach has dropped.
- The average age of a founder of a billion dollar startup at the time of founding the company is 31. There's been a big debate about whether Silicon Valley is biased towards youth, and this seems to confirm it, unless you think 30 is old.
- There were rumors floating around that Facebook tried to buy anonymous chatting app Secret for $100 million, but those rumors are false. However, Facebook is trying to figure out how to do something with anonymity.
- Keith Rabois, a VC at Khosla Ventures, and ex-COO at Square, is co-founding a startup on the side that makes it easier to sell your house.
- Meet the woman behind the first icons from Apple.
- Dropbox promoted Sujay Jaswa to CFO, which is a crucial role as the company heads towards an IPO.
- Here's everything you need to know about the iPhone 6.
See Also:


text:
The only thing a pirate desires more than his ship is his treasure and the crew of The Beloved Loss holds the most valuable jewel on the sea… their pirate princess.
Enchanting and spirited Corisanda St. Aubin has been a prisoner aboard The Beloved Loss since she was born. Cori's dream of escape has been crushed countless times by her father, the heartless Captain Marin St. Aubin. She's accustomed to her father's hatred but nothing can prepare Cori for the malicious quartermaster, Falco de Vries, who schemes to marry her.
The Count of Calais and sea trader, Burke Belcourt, has been trapped by a malevolent woman's demand for marriage. In an attempt to prolong his wedding, Burke agrees to bring the unlawful pirate captain of The Beloved Loss to justice for the King of France. He soon discovers that Marin St. Aubin is no easy target… but not until he finds himself locked aboard The Beloved Loss with the beautiful pirate princess.
Cori doesn't believe Burke's ridiculous claim of being a respectable man but Burke has no desire to convince her otherwise. The last thing he needs is another conniving woman trying to snare him. Risking their lives for freedom, Cori and Burke prepare for a hazardous escape together. The desperate prisoners are confident about defeating their enemies but the one thing they cannot overcome is their unwanted yet undeniable feelings for each other.
Meet Brittany Jo:
Brittany Jo James was born and raised in the small town of Idabel, Oklahoma. She is happily married to her high school sweetheart, Conlee, who is now a soldier in the United States Air Force. They share two rowdy sons, Jagger and Jett. Her life revolves around living for God, caring for her family and writing, writing, writing. The James family is currently residing near Anchorage, Alaska until the USAF decides otherwise.
Oh goodness, Brittany Jo James has done it again! I just love her style of writing. The words jump off the page and grab you into another world of romance and intrigue. I can't say enough good things about her books. You will feel every emotion and experience it all as if you were there yourself. There are twists and turns will keep you intrigued. I love the wholesomeness that Brittany Jo writes! Such a refreshing read! Get this book NOW!