text:
Megan's (and My) Holiday Kitchen Gift Guides
UPDATE: three one-click, non-food, guilt-absolving suggestions below. Of course, you've bought and made all your holiday gifts already. Of course, guidance and suggestions are utterly superfluous, because you've checked everyone off who was on the list you drew up before Thanksgiving. Of course, you're nothing like me.
So, for those who are just starting to consider who gets what and who's supposed to get something in the first place, we've got Megan McArdle's annual kitchen list, this year in a Wedding Deluxe version. I take the greedy liberty of reposting it in its entirety, because it's particularly meaty and full of delicious writing this year.
Of course, I take some issue with it, because I'm nearly as opinionated as Megan, and like her I'm always right. So I'll completely agree that fancy salt should be saved for finishing, and I too can't stop myself from buying new kinds—just yesterday I bought a brand of Guerande fleur de sel, even if my first love is Portuguese flor de sal, which after I wrote about it in the magazine appeared in Whole Foods. It's a bright white, unlike the gray French fleur de sel I guiltily realized I had one packet and one jar of still in my pantry. I do use it every night, though—and use either kosher salt for cooking, whatever Megan says about that (she did grow up celebrating echt Christmas, after all) and however suited it might or might not be to a container called a "pig." And I'm partial to a fine-grained Sicilian sea salt my spouse bought this summer. (Re "pig," the marvelous collection of Julia Child-Avis De Voto letters edited by Joan Reardon, which I review in the New York Times Book Review a week from Sunday, has De Voto, Child's earliest and most enthusiastic champion and a great letter writer herself, referring to the newfangled garbage disposer as her "pig.")
Then there are the gifts people treasure—the kind you make yourself, and deliver.
Of the many I-second-thats, I second her recommendation of kitchen shears that come apart and go into the dishwasher or your sudsy hands, to avoid creating "your very own bacteria farm," a phrase I plan to steal. And of course a burr coffee grinder—I started the fashion, I say haughtily, with my Joy of Coffee, which, I slyly add, makes a great gift too! And Cuisinart countertop ovens are, as is rarely the case, worth the countertop real estate. I haven't gone as far as she in giving countertop space to my Sodastream, which I fell in love with too after my stepdaughter gave one to us last Christmas—one of the best gifts ever. Those weirdo sugar-soaked flavor packets that come with the seltzer maker, though! I wouldn't dream of trying one, even if I gladly mainline sugar, including as I write this.
As for silicone mats, though—two will do, and carry you through many batches of Christmas cookies. (You, of course, have already bookmarked our terrific, easy collection of Christmas cookies from our partners at Eating Well—and go through 'em all but the best is last, dark-chocolate meringues.) I've gone as overboard buying silicone products (no remarks please) as I have buying fancy salt, and they have the disadvantage of being harder to store. So I might end up sending one of my too-many extras to Megan as a thank-you gift.
Knives, to which the wedding-inundated Megan gives a lot of space in this year's edition: I use a Shun knife every day, too. But for an original and beautiful gift, don't overlook hand-honed, extremely cool knives from Adam Simha, Cambridge craftsman and subject of a piece I wrote with accompanying video and my own recommendations for the top three must-have knives.
And then there are the gifts people treasure—the kind you make yourself, and deliver. This weekend's project, if you can stay home and avoid making frantic shopping rounds, should be either those dark-chocolate meringues or the fantastic caramels I luckily got to share a bag of when Carol Moehrle, a district director of public health in Idaho, gave to my spouse, John Auerbach (a public health commissioner in Massachusetts). The plain wax paper wrapping is both charming and moving, especially when you read what a multi-generational tradition making them has been in Moehrle's family. And, as you'll discover if you buy some corn syrup and a candy thermometer (the rest is easy), they're much, much (much) better than any caramels you've ever taste—fresh, sweet, deeply butterscotch, wonderfully chewy but vanishing, well-mannered, after a blissful minute or two.
UPDATE: Last night, on his nightly MSNBC show The Last Word, my friend Lawrence O'Donnell ran an inspiring filmed report of What I did on my summer vacation last night. What he did was give chairs and desk to a Malawi schoolroom. Link to video, in which Lawrence modestly but forcefully says why sitting up and not on a concrete floor makes a difference to how and what students learn, here, and link to give chairs and benches to one of 172 Malawi schools in a UNICEF program here: $24 buys a chair, $48 a desk and a bench.
Closer to home: I've written about the great Thanksgiving pie fundraiser run by Community Servings, a group I actively work with that supplies home-delivered meals for people in eastern Massachusetts with life-threatening illnesses. Pies are good, but meals year-round to people too ill to make them for themselves and their families are better. Give in honor of a family member or friend! Or yourself! Link right here.
A carefully laid-out print magazine is one ideal vehicle. Let's say it together... subscribe!
Yes, it's that time of year again. Back by popular demand, expanded with the accumulated bounty of one moderately large wedding, it's the kitchen gift guide. As usual, I am organizing by price, since everything on this list is something that I specially like having. (Books and girly things will follow this weekend.) Commenters are, as always, encouraged to offer their own suggestions in the comments.
Thoughtful Presents: $25 to $50


text:
Editor's note: LZ Granderson, who writes a weekly column for CNN.com, was named journalist of the year by the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and is a 2011 Online Journalism Award finalist for commentary. He is a senior writer and columnist for ESPN the Magazine and ESPN.com. Follow him on Twitter: @locs_n_laughs.
By LZ Granderson, CNN Contributor
(CNN) - I went online this morning to see the Mountain Dew ad - the one some are calling the most racist in history - expecting to see some really offensive stuff. Instead, I saw some really silly stuff.
The goat's funny.
The names of some of the black men in the lineup are hilarious.
The premise: ridiculous.
And I would think that's the point of a commercial with a talking goat. It's meant to be ridiculous and not taken seriously. It's comedy of the absurd, along the lines of Del Shores' "Sordid Lives," Jerry Seinfeld's parents on "Seinfeld" or "Dude, Where's My Car?"
Does it play on stereotypical imagery?
Yes, and because of that, I can see how some could be a bit put off by a police lineup featuring all black men before a frightened white woman. But come on, one of the suspects' names is "Beyonte."
The circumstances surrounding the scene in the commercial are so outrageously over the top, I found myself snickering more than anything. Similar to the way I snickered during a skit featuring Dave Chappelle, who was making fun of racism with the creation of his character Clayton Bigsby, a blind white supremacist in the South.
And he's black.FULL STORY

subset: commoncrawl


text:
There is an article in the Wall Street Journal that is making its way around the Young Adult (YA) and librarian Twittersphere right now, even invoking its own hashtag #YAsaves. The gist of the article is that current YA literature is too dark, too violent, too graphic, and address topics far too dark for teen literature. It starts off with an anecdote about a mother who went to a bookstore and found nothing in the YA area that she felt was appropriate for her daughter; it was the equivalent of turning on the TV, flipping through a dozen channels out of the hundreds offered, and then declaring that there was nothing on worth watching. It certainly falls into the "isn't the first time, won't be the last time" critique of young adult literature (or any literature, for that matter).
For all the emphasis on the books and the subjects that they cover, there is little mention as to what is driving authors to write books that cover topics such as rape, self-mutilation, incest, homosexuality, drug abuse, and sex. From the article, it would sound as if the YA authors, publishers, and librarians of the world had formed a triad in order to promote these topics, parents and moralists be damned. The blame is placed on these groups for writing, publishing, and promoting it, even though it is the teens themselves or their parents who are purchasing or borrowing the content. If readers did not care for books like "Shine", "Rage", or "Speak", then those books would live out their lives on the shelves in bookstores and libraries untouched and unnoticed. The almighty dollar dictates what kinds of books are going to be produced; even the Wall Street Journal should understand that the demand drives the market, not the supply, especially when it comes to literature.
I have to say that I'm a bit disappointed at the feeling of a need to rush to the defense of this literature by my fellow librarians. Too often I think it provides unnecessary validation to the opposing argument and frames the issue as a matter of what librarians consider appropriate or important. It should not be about us; it should be about the (mythical) standards that objectors wish to impose. To me, this is a time for some argument jujitsu and it starts with a question: so, what do you think is inappropriate and why? From there, just start objectively breaking down their answers. Is there a book they would consider to be appropriate? How much is too much sex, violence, drug use, etc.? Because if they want book selection to follow a criterion, let them attempt to define it. It's really a trick question; there is no way they can define it in a meaningful and objective way. Let their words destroy their own arguments; they don't need our help.
As it appears in others articles regarding objections to literature, there is the standard lament about how those objections are not readily sympathetic. As if it wasn't enough in their own minds to be right, but they want their viewpoint to be popular as well. It's a strange brew of arrogance and ignorance that goes into that sentiment. The arrogance of attempting to define standards based on personal subjective viewpoints, an "I know best for everyone else" idea that is neither original nor surprising in the long scope of history. But to never ask oneself why such objections are not popular, why they don't receive wide support, and why people react to them negatively is just breathtaking. There is no examination or analysis of the counterpoint, a willful continuation of ignorance that just further perpetuates the vilification of the opposing party. (Don't worry, I'm not excluding my fellow librarians from this either. It annoys the hell out of me when it happens.) Perhaps, upon some reflection, those who object to books or art might realize why there is strenuous opposition to their objections; for a society that values freedom of expression, it might be unpopular when it is felt to be curtailed.
The topics that these YA books address may be dark, but not as dark as adopting a worldview that doesn't extend beyond oneself.
[Another good take is this post by Liz Burns, "There's Dark Things In Them There Books!"]


text:
link building services Aalo
Link building is an essential part of the process of getting your site to rank in search engines. They are also one of the most important factors that can help you get discovered by new customers, too. And with so many link-building services out there, it's tough to know which one to choose for this vital task. That's why you should learn everything you can about the leading link-building services and which ones are going to benefit your business.
The search engine optimization process includes several steps to help you get discovered by customers and improve your site's rankings. An SEO company like Leciel.in can build links for your site to boost its search-engine ranking and make it highly visible online, as well as create original content that attracts visitors and makes them want to keep coming back. The more high-quality links you have pointing to your website, the higher you will rank on search engines like Google and the more visitors you will attract.
Visibility is important for many businesses because it means:
- You can compete better for customers with other similar websites.
- You'll be able to acquire new customers easily via organic search results, which is a much cheaper marketing strategy than paying for advertisements.
- You'll be viewed as an expert in your industry by consumers looking for services, products, or information.
Link building is considered critical by many SEO experts because it helps to spread the word about your business to other sites on the web. When you build links that contain keywords that are related to what you offer, the search engines will notice and rank you higher for those keywords. This means that more people will find your site when they search using those words, which can lead to more customers and revenue for your business.
Focus On Strategy-Based Link Building
Plan Execution- Based Link Building
Performance Report- Based Link Building
We are an Manual SEO Link Building Company in Aalo that envisions to help every online business to be found online among its target customers.
LeCiel is one of the best worldwide link building companies that are not only award winning for quality and SEO, but we also offer the best customer service. LeCiel's link building service is used by many of the top celebrities, organizations and manufacturers worldwide. We offer the best services to our clients by creating high PR content that is getting excellent backlinks. Our attention to detail and knowledge of the link building world will help your site to get seen by more people all around the world. Let's build your link resources today by using our link building service.
Major Pillars Of Our Link Building Service
Every company or business has a set of goals that they want to achieve. In the link building business, it's pretty much the same thing. If you're conducting link building campaigns then it's important that you know what your goals are. You need to know what you're trying to do with your link building campaigns in order to make sure there is an end-result which you're achieving. The goals might vary depending on what your audience is seeking, but you should always know where you want to get at the end of the campaign.
Experienced Link Building Resources
Even if your link building company is excellent, they still will need to hire a dedicated team in order to get the job done. If you're going to hire a link building service then it's important that they have a team of experienced people in their workforce who can help you achieve your goals in a timely manner. The links that we build for you will come from websites that are relevant to your website. We will be creating 2 types of links from these sites: anchor text links which are generally passed from the anchor text pages when the user clicks on them and internal links which lead you directly to the relevant page on the targeted site.
Eyes On Google Guidelines
Link building is not the same as it used to be in the past. If you're wanting to build links with Google rankings in mind, then you need to follow all of the Google guidelines when doing so. Those would include using anchor text for your links, creating high-quality content on your pages and so much more. There are many things that you need to pay attention to when building sites for link building campaigns because if you don't then you could get penalized by Google for doing so.
Link Building Strategies
This is one of the most important things in the link building business. It's simple, though. If you don't know what you're doing then you won't be effective and it will affect your site's search engine ranking and overall visibility. Once you've chosen a link building company to use, they should talk about their link building strategies with you. They should explain how they're going to get links from sites that are related to your website and what kind of links they're going to be getting from these sites. You need to get a clear understanding of exactly how your links will be created so that there isn't any confusion later on down the road when it comes time to implement them.
Link Building Plan
Once you and your link building company have determined the goals you want to achieve in your link building strategies, they should create a link building plan for you. This will be a detailed list of every step that the link building company will carry out in order to help you attain those goals. The plan might vary depending on how many resources and budget that you have, but there should be a general outline of what's going to happen. With our plan, you will be working with our link building team on several steps. We will research about the way the page is built, identify the specific link building opportunities, then create high quality webpages that can be used in your link building campaigns for more traffic and sales immediately.
Website Tracking And Reporting
Even though you might not think that this is a vital aspect of the link building business, it certainly is. Link building services can be a very risky venture because if something goes wrong with your site, you could lose a lot of traffic and time. In order to avoid any issues from happening, you'll need to make sure that your link build service has the ability to track every action on your website and report back to you on a monthly basis. For an effective link building campaign, it's important that there is a team behind it who can help through any problems that may arise. Additionally, a good link building service should have the ability to report back to you with the status of your campaign so that you can see how it's going.
We have a team of experts who are more than knowledgeable about the industry and have years of experience in link building services
Boost Your Business Popularity with Link Building Service
LeCiel is one of the leading link building services that are currently ranked in the top 3 worldwide for many different reasons. We are everything you would want for your business. Our highly experienced staff will be working on developing high quality links back to your website that can help boost your business popularity. If you are looking for a link building team who will work hard and fast on your links so that they can promote your website with their own authority, then you have found the right company. We will create links that can help your website rank higher on Google and other search engine results pages. We create the best links for you whether it is for your homepage or specific pages that need to be boosted up. Link building is not an easy task. If you are looking to hire a company so that they can boost your site's search engine ranking, then you need to make sure that you are getting quality services for a fair price. We are one of the top link building companies that have low monthly payments which are affordable for just about any business owner out there.
Link Building FAQs
Link building is a process of creating backlinks to your site so that it can rank better in the search engines. The main objective of link building services is to have high quality links on your site so that it can be seen by the search engines. Getting links for your site can be very hard, if not impossible. You will need to have high authority websites to look up for link building company.
One way link building is a process of having one type of link on your site. The one way link building will be used to create backlinks to your website. One way links will make it easier for you to focus on the quality of the links that are being built.
Link Popularity is the number of links that are pointing to your website. You can check link popularity by using many different link popularity checkers like Open Site Explorer,Ahrefs etc. Link popularity will help you get more traffic to your site. Higher the link popularity, better will be the traffic to the site.
Yes, one way link building is a much better option in comparison to two way link building. In this method you will have only one type of link on your site from different high authority sites. You can check your site's link popularity by using many different link popularity checkers like Open Site Explorer,Ahrefs etc.
Links are important in Search Engine Optimization because they are the only way to tell search engines about your website. If you want to rank on the first positions in Google, Yahoo, Bing and others then you have to have high quality links on your site.
After your first month of work, you will receive a Performance Report that shows what changes happened to your site during the initial stages. It also includes the link popularity report that shows how many people are getting traffic to your site just by searching for it.
It can take up to 30 days to build backlinks for your site. If you want faster results then we can create the links in as little as 10 days. If you need a lower price then we can help you with that as well. You will need to contact us so we can discuss the details of the project and what you are looking for with your site's backlinks.
No, Not all search engines are important. You can use third party tools like Open Site Explorer to check the link popularity of your page that will help you understand how useful it is for you to build links on your site.
Web 2.0 link sites are popular because they can help you get backlinks to your website. They are very easy to create and you will not have any problem building links on them.
Yes, we follow the majority of white hat techniques when it comes to building links to your site. We use a high quality link building process that will help you get the best results.
If you follow a good SEO strategy your search engine rankings will improve within three to six months.
We build all types of backlinks like one way, two way, contextual and do follow.


text:
For the best experience, do not read using the WordPress Reader or by using WordPress's email subscription feature.
To start the story immediately, click here.
An inn is a place to rest, a place to talk and share stories, or a place to find adventures, a starting ground for quests and legends.
In this world, at least. To Erin Solstice, an inn seems like a medieval relic from the past. But here she is, running from Goblins and trying to survive in a world full of monsters and magic. She'd be more excited about all of this if everything wasn't trying to kill her.
But an inn is what she found, and so that's what she becomes. An innkeeper who serves drinks to heroes and monsters–
Actually, mostly monsters. But it's a living, right?
This is the story of the Wandering Inn.
Updates every Tuesday and Saturday.
(Banner images designed by Raoul of Corella Studios)


text:
Sonnet announces 15-port Echo Thunderbolt dock with built-in HDD/SSD & optical drive options
The much-anticipated Belkin Thunderbolt Dock appears to be delayed once again unfortunately, missing its planned Q1 launch, despite taking pre-orders for the device in February after missing its original September launch date. While we've been recommending the popular Matrox Thunderbolt Docking station in the meantime, today Sonnet announced a new competitor in the space with the Echo 15 Thunderbolt Dock.
The 15-port dock includes many of the ins and outs you'd expect: Two thunderbolt ports, four USB 3.0 ports, 3.5mm audio in and out (front and back), FireWire 800, Gigabit Ethernet, and two eSATA ports. However, there are two features this 15-port Thunderbolt docking station has that most others do not: extra space to install a 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch SATA HDD or SSD and your choice of a built-in DVD or Blu-Ray drive:
the Echo 15 Thunderbolt dock has you covered—it includes your choice of DVD±RW drive, or Blu-ray Disc™ player (BD-ROM/8x DVD±RW). If you are a Mac user, you'll also find that the included Blu-ray player software for OS X® is very handy, enabling you to watch Blu-ray movies on your computer or attached monitor.
The fast 6 Gb/s SATA interface supports an HDD at its maximum speeds, and an SSD at up to 380 MB/s… Best of all, the drive sits inside the Echo dock, so you don't have to clutter your desk space with an external hard drive and its power brick and cable clutter to add more storage. Don't feel like adding a drive yourself? Sonnet also offers the Echo 15 Thunderbolt Dock equipped with a 2TB HDD, available exclusively through the Sonnet online store.
The Sonnet Echo 15 Thunderbolt Dock is available to pre-order now in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico starting at $399 for a DVD drive and no built-in drive. The next model up comes with a built-in 2TB HDD for $499, while a Blu-ray drive and 2TB HDD brings it up to $549. Other options are also available through Sonnet's website, and most models are expected to ship in Summer 2013.


text:
Tajarin are an ultra thin type of tagliatelle, made using an egg heavy dough. Some recipes can use up to 40 yolks for each kilo of flour. The more traditional types will be hand cut as this will ensure a thin enough noodle.
The sauce I've made has been inspired by a dish I enjoyed at a local restaurant - a meat based ragu that had been given a lighter touch by the addition of seasonal vegetables - in my version I've added red and yellow capsicums (bell peppers), zucchini, red celery and peas.
For the Ragu:
200 grams beef mince
1 red onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
2 stalks red celery (including leaves), sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 chillies, finely chopped, optional
1 cup peas, fresh or frozen
1 red capsicum, diced
1 yellow capsicum, diced
2 small zucchini, diced
handful of cherry tomatoes, halved
freshly ground salt and pepper, to taste
When cutting the hard vegetables you want them all to be about the same size - around about the size of a pea. Softer vegetables like the capsicums can be sliced a little larger as they will break down more quickly.
First, heat up the pan with a little oil and a knob of butter over a medium heat - when the butter has melted add in the onion, carrot and celery stalk. Cook this slowly so that they soften without colouring - about 15 to 20 minutes. Now add the garlic and chilli, stir through and cook for another 5 minutes before adding the capsicums and zucchini. Gently cook until the capsicums have softened - scoop out the vegetables from the pan and place in a bowl but leave the cooking juices behind.
Crumble the minced meat into the pan and saute until coloured - return the vegetables to the pan along with the cherry tomatoes, peas and celery leaves - add a little stock or water to the pan and simmer for another 15 minutes or until the tomatoes have broken down. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
To serve:
Cook the pasta until tender - drain and place into a serving bowl. Add some of the sauce to the bowl and toss. Top with extra sauce and serve.


text:
Today, Drew and Patrick are discussing All-Star Western 26, originally released December 31st, 2013.
Drew: I've always been suspicious of happy endings. Not that I'm a grump or a pessimist (or, not just because I'm a grump and a pessimist), just that I think the tendency to wrap stories up with a nice bow tends to make them same-y. Knowing everything will work out in the end robs stories of most of their drama, and more importantly, they tend to ring false. Still, there's something undeniably alluring about a happy ending — a gentle reassurance that the characters will be okay specifically, and that things tend to work out generally. It's incredibly tricky to acknowledge both aspects of the happy ending, but Alan Moore's classic "For the Man Who Has Everything" does it beautifully by presenting (and ultimately rejecting) a classic "what if" scenario. Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti aim to tap that same magic in All-Star Western 26, but as is the case with most comparisons to Moore, they come up just a little short. Continue reading


text:
God, you know what I hate about intact, living female bodies? YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP. It's like, can't you bitches see I'm trying to play my open-world action role-playing game right now!!?!?!?? Amirite, dudes? Seriously. But then—conundrum!—the thing about female bodies is that female bodies is where they keep the titties. How am I supposed to enjoy titties without the din of lady-caused yapping distracting me from my simulated zombie-murder? Dead Island: Riptide, that's how. Self-high-five.
The "Zombie Bait" special edition of Dead Island: Riptide (in which four people "find themselves on the island of Palanai in the Banoi archipelago, when it has been overrun by zombies," and commence to "flesh-mulching" posthaste) comes with a very special bonus accessory: A big-boobied, bikini-clad, gore-dripping woman torso! It's like a regular woman, only made of easy-wipe, low-maintenance plastic, and without all those inconvenient talky and grabby parts that are usually attached. Finally, a fuck-torso for my generation!
Okay but no seriouslyseriouslyseriously, what is this FOR? Decoration? Snuggling? Uhhhhhh...I literally can't even think of a third joke option. It is nothing but a piece of garbage that signals to the world that you do not think of women as fully-formed human beings. Because if you did, this would catch in your throat like it does in mine. Women are so completely reduced to our bodies in this culture that even in death—our personalities and faces erased—you still find us sexually attractive. Because titties!!! Even if you don't consciously think of it that way (it's just a game! It's fun to shoot zombies!), that is the subtext of this sexy bonus-torso. That is the consequence (well, one consequence) of the fetishization of dead women. And that's a craaaaaaaaaaazy thing to want to telegraph to the people around you.
As my colleague at Kotaku put it:
Really though, this is disgusting. It's the sort of marketing misstep that can make it feel really embarrassing to like video games.
Sustainable beauty
Caprea's Essential Organic PH Cleanser is just $10 with promo code TEN. Normally $19, this foaming face wash is crafted with organic Monoi oil. It's meant to target the production of oil secretion while protecting your skin against air pollution. Normally $19, you can save big on this richly-lathering face wash while supporting a brand that keeps the environment top of mind.
Yup. Yyyyyyup.
Update: They've apologized.
A statement on the Zombie Bait Edition:
We deeply apologize for any offense caused by the Dead Island Riptide "Zombie Bait Edition", the collector's edition announced for Europe and Australia. Like many gaming companies, Deep Silver has many offices in different countries, which is why sometimes different versions of Collector's Editions come into being for North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia.
For the limited run of the Zombie Bait Edition for Europe and Australia, a decision was made to include a gruesome statue of a zombie torso, which was cut up like many of our fans had done to the undead enemies in the original Dead Island.
We sincerely regret this choice. We are collecting feedback continuously from the Dead Island community, as well as the international gaming community at large, for ongoing internal meetings with Deep Silver's entire international team today. For now, we want to reiterate to the community, fans and industry how deeply sorry we are, and that we are committed to making sure this will never happen again.
Deep Silver Promote Dead Island With Appalling Statue [RPS]
This Game's Special Edition Comes With A Statue Of A Bikini-Clad, Severed Female Torso [Kotaku]


text:
My new eBook Waggle: 39 Ways to Improve Organizations, Work and Engagement will be released on May 29th. I hope you will return to this site on Wednesday to read or download this free eBook with ways to improve organizations, work, and engagement based on my work with honeybees, office objects, and computers for 3 summers. My favorite waggle is: One bee matters.
Here is the table of contents page from the book:
David Zinger conducted a 3 summer experiment attempting to convene honeybees and humans into a shared space. David's is devoted to improving engagement for organizations and individuals.


text:
From the June 23rd, 2013 episode of ESPN's The Sports Reporters.
Get the Flash Player to see the wordTube Media Player.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 23rd, 2013 at 5:07 pm and is filed under NBA, Parting Shots Videos. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.


text:
Police arrest 2 in downtown vandalism
14-, 16-year-old charged
Greenville police say tips led them to make two arrests in the vandalism of a downtown restaurant.
Monday, police said they arrested a 14-year-old and a 16-year-old in connection to the vandalism.
The manager of Grill Marks said a group of teens had come into the restaurant at about 9:30 p.m. April 3, and after they spent a few minutes inside and then went to the outdoor seating area where they squirted ketchup all over the tables, walls, and floors. They also smashed salt shakers on the street. Surveillance video captured the teens in the restaurant.
Police said that at about the same time, there was an attempted robbery of a 24-year-old man on S. Main Street near Carolina Ale House and an assault and battery of an 18-year-old at Falls Park.
Officers detained the people responsible for the assault and battery at Falls Park.
Police said they believe all the teens were together at some point and possibly dispersed to commit these different crimes.


text:
|System: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
|Dev: Gearbox
|Release: February 12, 2013
|Players: 1-4
|Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p
|Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
by Robert VerBruggen
It's been a long road for Aliens: Colonial Marines. The Alien franchise has been in turmoil for years, a previous attempt to create a game by this name fell flat on its face, and developer Gearbox had to delay the release a few times. But at last we're about a month from watching the title hit shelves, and this is one of the year's most promising action games.
20th Century Fox considers Colonial Marines an official part of the Alien/Aliens canon; the game is a sequel to Aliens, though it takes place following the events of Alien 3. In the story mode, which will last ten hours or so, you play as Cpl. Christopher Winter, part of a group of Marines who have been sent to the Sulaco to investigate the disappearance of Ellen Ripley and her companions. The full story arc is not yet known, but it's a safe bet that the investigators quickly become Xenomorph targets.
First-person shooters are not exactly known for their well-thought-out plots, but this promises to be an exception. Not only does this game have the rare honor to be considered canon, but writing duties were handled by a team including Battlestar Galactica scribes Bradley Thompson and David Weddle. Gearbox also met with Ridley Scott to discuss the recent Alien prequel Prometheus, so there may be tie-ins on that front as well. Actors including Michael Biehn (Hicks), Al Matthews (Apone), and Lance Henriksen (Bishop) will reprise their movie roles. Colonial Marines won't just profit from the rich Alien universe, in other words—the game will become a core part of it.
The developers have also gone to great lengths to recreate the world seen in the movies, in particular the Sulaco, Hadley's Hope, and the LV-426; they even enlisted the help of Syd Mead, who worked on Aliens. The alien species, such as the Queen, facehuggers, runners, and so on, all make an appearance, along with a fast and powerful species known as crushers. And of course, no Aliens game would be complete without an arsenal of flamethrowers, pulse rifles, smart guns, arc welders, etc.
A good story and fidelity to the source material are nice, but it will take captivating gameplay to make Colonial Marines worthwhile. This will be a first-person shooter with survival-horror elements, and while the developers have scrapped the idea of using squad commands, the combat will still require solid tactics thanks to complex A.I. Smaller aliens will flank you, facehuggers will attack out of nowhere, and runners will hang back and wait for the perfect moment. You can use a motion detector to find enemies, but only if you have your weapon holstered. The game will also feature an extensive upgrade system.
By and large, there will be two types of single-player gameplay. In one, you'll need to make your way from Point A to Point B without getting killed, covering all sorts of terrain from cramped hallways to wide-open spaces. In the other, you'll need to hold down a location while hordes of aliens attack, a situation that requires solid strategy. This means deploying turrets, working together with your teammates, welding doors shut to keep the invaders at bay, and, of course, shooting accurately. Both mission styles should lend themselves to plenty of white-knuckle tension.


text:
Complimentary U.S. Shipping & Returns
Free Shipping
Free Returns
The P.S. Collection is a nod to those we cherish and keep close to our heart. Celebrate with this long tag charm and adding an engraved letter or multiple words that captures your special moment in time.
To request additional engraving on the back of the pendant, please add text (no more than 15 characters) and font selection in special notes upon checkout. You can also email us with the request at email@example.com referencing the order number.
Free Shipping. Free Returns. 14 Day Return Policy. Orders placed on Saturday or Sunday will be processed on Monday.
Free Shipping - Free 14-Day Return Policy
Saturday and Sunday orders will be processed on Monday.


text:
This week in Manchester, New Hampshire, seven Republican contenders faced off in the first GOP primary debate of the season, attempting to make their case to the American people for why they are better suited than President Obama to lead the country in these challenging times. In an evening relatively free from the kind of intra-party contention often seen in these debates, the seven candidates focused on Obama like a laser, casting a dramatically different vision from the Commander in Chief as to how American government and society should order themselves going forward.
Across the board, the Republican candidates expressed a sharp disagreement with Mr. Obama regarding the role that government should play in the lives of its citizens. The current occupant of the White House, as has become evident, firmly believes that a large, powerful, and active government offers the best hope of eradicating America's economic woes. No matter how bad things get, or how woefully ineffective big-government approaches prove to be, the current administration is unwilling to permit the free market – and by extension, the American entrepreneur, worker, and consumer – to address the economic issues facing the nation.
Of all the candidates, Congressman Ron Paul deserves credit for having the most fully-developed view of the role that government should play vis a vis the economy. In a word, according to Paul, it should be very little. An avowed Libertarian, Paul stressed the importance and wisdom of letting the market determine economic winners and losers instead of leaving it up to politicians and their special interest constituencies.
Reason and experience prevent me from embracing the unadulterated laissez faire idealism that animates Mr. Paul and his most ardent followers (recall Madison's observation that "if men were angels, government wouldn't be necessary" – they aren't and it is); nevertheless, it is refreshing to hear a Republican espouse a coherent and unapologetic stance on issues of economic liberty. The economic meltdown and subsequent recession were caused by greed, corruption, and recklessness on Wall Street and on Main Street. Bankers and lenders and traders who attempted to game the system for inordinate gain should have been allowed to crash and burn, and immature, indulgent citizens who dug themselves into a financial quagmire trying to "have it all" should have been left to reap the consequences of their unwise actions.
Uncle Sam couldn't leave well enough alone, however. The federal government's attempt to insulate the American people from the consequences of their actions prevented the law of natural consequences from working its healing power. Important lessons that should have been learned were circumvented, and the opportunity for the economy to rebuild itself upon an authentic, stable foundation was lost.
But, of, course, it would require a substantial measure of humility for elected officials to stand by and let nature take its course when the going gets tough. That particular virtue, however, is in short supply in Washington. And besides, who wants to miss the opportunity to play the hero? This temptation is something that plagues both sides of the aisle. Remember that it was President Bush who "abandoned the free market in order to save it."
At this point, it's difficult to tell who among the Republican candidates possesses the rare combination of wisdom, humility, and leadership necessary to break the poisonous cycle of big-government intervention and lead us out of this mess. Mitt Romney and Herman Cain have undeniable leadership and economic appeal, but the former has troubling gubernatorial baggage and the latter isn't widely known. Can Michelle Bachmann's ideological purity offset any concerns about her lack of executive experience, or will she be dismissed in the long run as too "Tea Party" for the GOP ticket? Does Pawlenty have the charisma necessary to convince voters he's the one to beat Obama? Can Newt Gingrich recover from his early stumbles?
There's a long road yet ahead for the Republican Party in the race for 2012, but after months of speculation it's clear that finally, the race has begun. Only time will tell which candidate has what it takes to go the distance.


text:
Travel Stepdown RN
Travel Stepdown RN
Job Description:
Job Description Speciality: StepdownStart Date: 4/24/2023Shift: NightLength: 13 weeks Health care professional needed for a Stepdown position in ND. Must have a minimum of 2 years experience as a Stepdown RN. We offer our clients the best in traveling medical professionals. The only way we can attract and maintain a good relationship with those professionals is to keep their best interests in mind. After all, our success relies on your success.That's why we always put your best interests in mind—from superior placements to finding great living accommodations and negotiating a fair price to providing the tools you need for success. Titan Medical is one of the top medical staffing agencies because we provide superior support to our travelers every step of the way. Company Description Titan Medical is not like other medical staffing agencies. For us, it's about so much more than the job. It's about working hard so you can discover more. It's about giving you something rewarding—the tools, support and resources to lead your career and conquer your goals. We aim to be the best, because that's what you deserve.Call us today at 866-332-9600


text:
Mil Arcega 07 September 2010
Containers of medical marijuana at the Harborside Health Center
After weathering the fear of federal prosecution and competition from drug cartels, California's medical marijuana growers see a new threat on the horizon. Oakland is about to become the first city to authorize large scale marijuana cultivation. The move could generate millions of dollars in taxes and create hundreds of new jobs. While the measure has yet to pass, current medical marijuana growers fear the move will drive many of them out of business.
Oakland, California is one step closer to becoming the Cannabis Capital of the U.S. following the city's proposal to issue licenses for large scale cultivation of medical marijuana. The city plans to issue up to four licenses to growers willing to pay $200,000 every year and up to 8 percent of gross sales in taxes.
One of the applicants is the iGrow Superstore, which offers just about everything one needs to grow marijuana but doesn't grow any. Co-owner Derek Peterson plans to produce up to 10,000 kilos per year if the city approves his application.
"California has done a phenomenal job of regulating the dispensaries, the sales aspect of it," said Derek Peterson. "What has never been talked about is the cultivation and transportation. That has always been in the dark."
Although the measure has yet to be approved, the issue of permits to grow unlimited amounts of cannabis has many growers green with envy.
Stephen DeAngelo is executive director of Harborside Health Center, the largest marijuana dispensary in the U.S.
"If only large growers of cannabis are licensed, then all of the small and medium-sized growers would become illegal and would be forced to close and would lose their livelihood," said Stephen DeAngelo.
Peterson disagrees. Rather than lose business, he believes local permits could generate large revenues for the city and reduce crime associated with small scale operations.
"You see a lot of home invasion robberies, a lot of home fires, a lot of unsafe conditions," he said. "These permitted facilities will be built out in a code-friendly matter by licensed electricians, civil engineers with LEED [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] -certified architects, and I think that's one of the most important things for the local community."
But DeAngelo likens the development of the cannabis industry to the local wine industry.
"To people who say that the only way to organize this industry would be with huge factories, I would ask them what Napa County [California wine region] would look like if there were only four huge industrial vineyards," he said. "It wouldn't be a very vibrant industry and I think the same thing holds true with cannabis."
Oakland's City Council is expected to pass the bill when it comes up for a final vote this month.
But the biggest change could come in November when California voters weigh in on proposition 19. It would legalize the possession and recreational use of non-medical marijuana.


text:
This is probably a little late in terms of breaking news, but it's good fodder for a blog post nonetheless.
I've done several posts now on the value (and threats) of marine macroalgae (seaweeds) – the last one hinted that a major paper was imminent regarding the fate of one of the world's most important centres of macroalgae diversity in response to our rapidly changing climate: southern Australia.
Well, that paper has now come out in the eminent journal Current Biology headed by that crazy Aussie-Viking phycologist, Dr. Thomas Wernberg (byline here: Thomas was just awarded an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship and deserves many congratulations – not least for which the audacity to wear yellow budgie smugglers in public).
Entitled simply "Seaweed communities in retreat from ocean warming", the short paper belies a hell of a lot of work examining over 60 years of herbarium records indicating MASSIVE shifts in the macroalgae community southwards on both the east and west coasts of Australia (see some media spots here). What do I mean by 'massive'? Well, about 300 species on average (52 examined in most detail) shifted about 200 km south on the east coast (where warming has been most pronounced), and about 50 km south on the west coast. Read the rest of this entry »


text:
Please Select
Adam West
AL Petteway & ..
Alex de Grassi
Amrit Sond
Andrew York
Bill Perry
Brian Gore
Catfish Keith
Chris Proctor
Danny Combs
Davey Johnston..
David Cullen &..
Doug MacLeod
Doug Smith & M..
Eltjo Haselhof..
Greg Hawkes
Happy Traum
Henry Mancini
Jim Earp
John Fahey
Lasse Johansso..
Laurence Juber..
Mark Hanson
Martin Paris
Mike Pachelli
Nick Charles
Pat Donohue
Pat Donohue & ..
Pat Kirtley
Peppino D'Agos..
Peter Finger
Peter Huttling..
Phil Keaggy & ..
Pierre Bensusa..
Preston Reed
Richard M Sher..
Steve Baughman..
Thom Bresh & B..
Tim Pacheco
Tommy Emmanuel
Tommy Emmanuel..
Tony McManus
Tracy Moore
William Coulte..
Quick Search
Use keywords to find the product you are looking for.
Advanced Search
Laurence Juber
My Account
Cart Contents
Guitarist - Laurence Juber
Laurence Juber, "Guitarist", Solid Air SACD 2045, CD
"Guitarist" is Laurence Juber's third CD of unaccompanied solo guitar since 1999's "LJ Plays the Beatles". This typically well-paced album includes some of Juber's identifiable compositional and performing trademarks, while providing enough twists to distinguish it from his earlier works. "Breaking Point," the opening track, is a bluesy minor piece reminiscent of Doc Watson's earliest recording of "Windy & Warm." On "Green Kitchen" Juber employs some of his characteristic chord progressions, using an ascending bass line to create a sense of movement. The piece's tuneful head also shows the influence of Juber's old boss, Paul McCartney. "Cannery Row" is the disc's most successful realization of Juber's jazzy side, again using ascending chords, this time with treble phrases played over shifting harmonies in the lower register. The ballad "Love at First Sight" boasts a strong melody & evocative minor 4ths. "Catch" is upbeat and jazzy, featuring 3-part playing reminiscent of Martin Taylor, but a bit bluesier and with deeper tonal resonance, due to Juber's choice of a steel-string flattop guitar, as opposed to the dry, punchier tone produced by Taylor's archtops. The CD's longest piece, "Eye of the Storm," has a quiet interlude played on the guitar's bass strings. The album ends with 5 choruses of improvised 12-bar blues, titled "Blues for Now," which features plenty of fat single-string bends - not Juber at his most adventurous, but well-played and very listenable. "Guitarist" is another strong offering from LJ.
© Patrick Ragains
From LJ
I think that
is a pretty accurate description of what I do professionally and artistically, although the title is a little bit ironic. The album is essentially a collection of compositions for solo fi ngerstyle guitar. Its my first since 1999s Altered Reality to emphasize that aspect of my self-expression. LJ Plays The Beatles was a study in fab four arranging, while Different Times used the compositions as a springboard for ensemble improvisations. The recording style on
harks back to the in-your-face approach of Naked Guitar with no reverb and minimal EQ. We sought to present the material exactly as it was recorded and, thanks to the Martin and Collings instruments used, allow the listener to hear the natural ambience of the instrument. There are a couple of tunes in CGDGAD tuning: Green Kitchen, with its slightly Chet fl avor and Eye Of The Storm, a tone poem with a bit of a Celtic feel. A number of the tunes are in DADGAD: the swing Catch! ; the rock shuffl e Breaking Point; the ragtime Buffalo Nickel; the ballad Love At First Sight. There are three standard tuning pieces: the ragtime/swing The 5:55; the alternate bass picking Along The Way; a solo rendition of Liquid Amber, which fi rst appeared as an ensemble piece on the Wood & Steel CD. Cannery Row (in the tradition of Bobs Your Uncle) and a blues improv Blues For Now rounds out the collection.
I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did making it. ~~ LJ
Laurence Juber
Product Type:
AMR CDs
Item #:
This product was added to our catalog on Thursday 29 September, 2005.
Customers who bought this product also purchased
Under An Indigo Sky
Soul Of Light
Children Of the Harvest : Soundtrack
A Fist Full of Riffs - Catfish Keith
LJ Plays the Beatles Vol. 2
a GUITAR for ELVIS
Web hosting
and design by Canvas Dreams LLC
Copyright 2023


text:
And, with an oddly muted whimper — did anyone at ESPN even notice it was ending? — The Daily Quickie has shuffled off this mortal coil.
Dan Shanoff ended the nearly four-year morning reign of the Jeez, How Does He Get Up So Early? column today with a simple, "Two Words: Fun. Run."
Not sure what Shanoff's going to be up to, post-ESPN — though it appears that he has some sort of blog thing that would presumably give updates and the sort — or what ESPN will be doing to fill the spot. (The column, and Shanoff's time there, both seem to be ending.)
Whatever your thoughts on Shanoff or the column, as several commenters have pointed out, the Daily Quickie was somewhat instrumental in helping many people find their way to these here parts, so we'll always have a soft spot. We will not, however, adopt the whole "Two. Words" thing. We are far too windy and verbose for that. We wish good luck to Mr. Shanoff and hope he someday sells a big ESPN tell-all where he has to show us where on the doll Tirico touched him.
The Daily Quickie [ESPN]


text:
PYONGYANG, North Korea — Defiant North Korea fueled up a rocket Wednesday in preparation for what appeared to be an imminent liftoff while the country"s young leader strengthened his power with a new title making him the nation"s top political official.
Kim Jong Un was named first secretary of the ruling Workers" Party, a new post, while his late father, longtime leader Kim Jong Il, was given the posthumous title of "eternal general secretary" at a special Workers" Party conference, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported.
Kim Jong Un"s formal ascension, nearly four months after the death of his father, comes during a week of events leading up to celebrations Sunday marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of his grandfather, late President Kim Il Sung.
The centennial is a major milestone in the nation Kim Il Sung founded in 1948, and the streets were awash with new posters, banners and the national flag. Outside the city"s war museum and the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium, women in traditional Korean dress gathered in clusters, practicing for this week"s events.
North Korea has thrown open its doors to dozens of journalists from around the world to report on the events this week designed not only to honor Kim Il Sung but also to demonstrate unity as Kim Jong Un takes power.
One of the marquee events is a satellite launch poised to take place as early as Thursday that has raised international concern.
Space officials call the launch of the Unha-3 rocket, mounted with an Earth observation satellite, a "gift" to Kim Il Sung. They said Wednesday that the final step of injecting fuel into the three-stage rocket was under way in the coastal hamlet of Tongchang-ri.
"Pride of our nation"
"The launch of the Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite is the pride of our nation and of our people," Rim Kwang Myong, a mathematics major at Kim Il Sung University, told The Associated Press.
A live feed at the General Command Center in the outskirts of Pyongyang showed the rocket on the launch pad covered with a tarp to protect the satellite from the wind.
Paek Chang Ho, chief of the command center, said the rocket is ready for liftoff as soon as engineers are given the green light. North Korea has informed international aviation, maritime and telecommunications authorities that the launch would take place between Thursday and Monday.
"We are injecting fuel as we speak," Paek told reporters from a viewing platform in front of a large screen showing the live feed. Sixteen scientists in white lab coats worked at computers below him.
Because liquid rocket fuel is highly volatile and corrosive, its injection into the rocket is usually one of the final steps in the pre-launch process, experts say. But the weather, and particularly the wind, could force delays.
The United States, Japan, Britain and others say the launch would constitute a provocation and would violate U.N. Security Council resolutions banning North Korea from developing its nuclear and missile programs.
Experts say the Unha-3 carrier is similar to the type of rocket that could be used to fire a missile mounted with a nuclear warhead to strike the U.S. or other targets.
Paek denied Wednesday that the launch was anything but a peaceful civilian bid to send a satellite into space. He said the Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite is designed to send back images and data that will be used for weather forecasts and agricultural surveys.
"Appropriate action"
"Some parties insist our peaceful space program is a missile test," he told foreign reporters given an exclusive tour of the nation"s main satellite command center. "We don"t really care what the outside world thinks. This launch is critical to developing our space program and improving our economy."
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Tuesday that the launch would be a direct threat to regional security and that the U.S. would pursue "appropriate action" at the Security Council if North Korea goes ahead with it.
This launch would be the country"s third attempt since 1998. Two previous rockets, also named Unha, were mounted with experimental communications satellites and sent from the east coast.
North Korean officials say the 2009 satellite reached orbit, but the U.S. and other outside observers say they have seen no evidence that it did.
The new title Kim Jong Un received Wednesday is among several political appointments and promotions expected this week.
Kim Jong Um already has been declared supreme commander of the armed forces, and is expected to gain other new titles formalizing his position as "supreme leader" of North Korea"s people and party.
Delegates also approved a reshuffle of party leadership, electing a new generation of officials to key posts.
Party member Choe Ryong Hae emerged a rising figure. He was named to the powerful Presidium of the Central Committee"s Political Bureau, joining three high-ranking officials already serving on the executive body.
Choe, who is in his early 60sh and recently was promoted to vice marshal, also was named a vice chairman of the party"s Central Military Commission, KCNA said.
Six others were named to the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, including Jang Song Thaek, who is married to Kim Jong Il"s sister, Kim Kyong Hui.
The immortalization of Kim Jong Il has provided a glimpse into how North Korea will treat the nation"s second hereditary succession. After Kim Il Sung died in 1994, he was declared the country"s "eternal president," and Kim Jong Il ruled as chairman of the National Defense Commission.
Kim Jong Un could be promoted to chairman of the National Defense Commission, said Peter Beck, a Korea specialist at the Asia Foundation.
However, even after his new titles are revealed, much about North Korea"s leadership may remain murky, analysts said.
"North Korea is less monolithic than it looks from the outside, and, particularly as a new top leadership establishes itself in the wake of Kim Jong Il"s death, there will be as many questions raised as answers provided by the political choreography," said John Delury, an assistant professor at Yonsei University in Seoul who has made several trips to North Korea in recent years.


text:
Friends of Padre Steve's World,
The theme of Black History Month last year was African Americans in Times of War to coincide with the centennial of the end of the First World War. That is not the theme this year, but what the African American men did in France during the Spring and Summer of 1918 still matters.
In 1918 African Americans who in spite of the prejudice, intolerance and persecution they endured at home as a result of Jim Crow, still loved their country. They were men who labored under the most difficult circumstance to show all Americans and the world that they were worthy of being soldiers and citizens of the United States of America. Their stories cannot be allowed to be forgotten, nor can we allow Jim Crow and the intolerance of other movements which demean and persecute those who love this country because of their race, religion, ethnicity, gender, or sexuality.
The African America men who volunteered included raw recruits as well as veteran soldiers who had already served full careers on the Great Plains. They were the Buffalo Soldiers, and when the United States entered the First World War, they were not wanted. Instead, the veterans were left on the frontier and a new generation of African American draftees and volunteers became the nucleus of two new infantry divisions, the 92nd and 93rd.
However in the beginning they too were kept out of action. These men were initially regulated to doing labor service behind the lines and in the United States. But finally, the protests of organizations such as the NAACP and men like W.E.B.DuBois and Phillip Randolph forced the War Department to reconsider the second class status of these men and form them into combat units.
Despite this the leadership of the AEF, or the American Expeditionary Force of General John Pershing refused to allow these divisions to serve under American command. Somehow the concept of such men serving alongside White Americans in the "War to end All War" was offensive to the high command.
Instead these divisions were broken up and the regiments sent to serve out of American areas on the Western Front. The regiments of the 93rd Division were attached to French divisions. The 369th "Harlem Hellfighters" were first assigned to the French 16th Division and then to the 161st Division. The Hellfighters stayed in line and under fire for 191 days, longer than any other American regiment, they also suffered the highest casualties of any American regiment, nearly 1,500 during a time when only 900 replacements were received. 170 soldiers of the regiment were awarded the Croix de Guerre for the valor they displayed in combat.
The first of the Hellfighters so honored was then Private, later Sergeant Henry Johnson who was nicknamed Black Death for his prowess as a fighter. With Private Needham Roberts, Johnson fought off a platoon sized German patrol. They both were wounded and when they ran out of ammunition Roberts fought with the butt of his rifle and Johnson a Bolo knife. When Roberts was knocked unconscious Johnson fought alone and saved his comrade from capture. Some estimate that Johnson killed 4 and wounded up to 30 Germans in the fight. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barak Obama on June 2nd 2015, because he had no living relatives it was accepted by Command Sergeant Major Louis Wilson.
The 370th "Black Devils" from Chicago were detailed to the French 26th Division and the 371st and 372nd Infantry Regiments were assigned to the French 157th (Colonial) Division, which was also known as the Red Hand Division.
These units performed with distinction. The 371st was awarded the French Croix de Guerre and Légion d'honneur and Corporal Freddie Stowers of the 1st Battalion 371st was the only African American awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in the First World War. The 372nd was also awarded the Croix de Guerre and Légion d'honneur for its service with the 157th Division.
The 157th (Colonial) Division had suffered badly during the war and been decimated in the unrelenting assaults in the trench warfare of the Western Front. It was reconstituted in 1918 with one French Regiment and two American regiments, the Negro 371st and 372nd Infantry. On July 4th 1918 the commanding General of the French 157th Division, General Mariano Goybet issued the following statement:
"It is striking demonstration of the long standing and blood-cemented friendship which binds together our two great nations. The sons of the soldiers of Lafayette greet the sons of the soldiers of George Washington who have come over to fight as in 1776, in a new and greater way of independence. The same success which followed the glorious fights for the cause of liberty is sure to crown our common effort now and bring about the final victory of right and justice over barbarity and oppression."
While many white American soldiers depreciated their French hosts and attempted to sow the seeds of their own racial prejudice against the black soldiers among the French, Southerners in particular warned the French of the "black rapist beasts." However the French experience of American blacks was far different than the often scornful treatment that they received from white American soldiers.
"Soldiers from the four regiments that served directly with the French Army attested to the willingness of the French to let men fight and to honor them for their achievements. Social interactions with French civilians- and white southern soldiers' reactions to them- also highlighted crucial differences between the two societies. Unlike white soldiers, African Americans did not complain about high prices in French stores. Instead they focused on the fact that "they were welcomed" by every shopkeeper that they encountered."
Official and unofficial efforts by those in the Army command and individual soldiers to stigmatize them and to try to force the French into applying Jim Crow to laws and attitudes backfired. Villages now expressed a preference for black over white American troops. "Take back these soldiers and send us some real Americans, black Americans," wrote one village mayor after a group of rowdy white Americans disrupted the town."
The citation for Corporal Stowers award of the Medal of Honor reads as follows:
Corporal Stowers, distinguished himself by exceptional heroism on September 28, 1918 while serving as a squad leader in Company C, 371st Infantry Regiment, 93d Division. His company was the lead company during the attack on Hill 188, Champagne Marne Sector, France, during World War I. A few minutes after the attack began, the enemy ceased firing and began climbing up onto the parapets of the trenches, holding up their arms as if wishing to surrender. The enemy's actions caused the American forces to cease fire and to come out into the open. As the company started forward and when within about 100 meters of the trench line, the enemy jumped back into their trenches and greeted Corporal Stowers' company with interlocking bands of machine gun fire and mortar fire causing well over fifty percent casualties. Faced with incredible enemy resistance, Corporal Stowers took charge, setting such a courageous example of personal bravery and leadership that he inspired his men to follow him in the attack. With extraordinary heroism and complete disregard of personal danger under devastating fire, he crawled forward leading his squad toward an enemy machine gun nest, which was causing heavy casualties to his company. After fierce fighting, the machine gun position was destroyed and the enemy soldiers were killed. Displaying great courage and intrepidity Corporal Stowers continued to press the attack against a determined enemy. While crawling forward and urging his men to continue the attack on a second trench line, he was gravely wounded by machine gun fire. Although Corporal Stowers was mortally wounded, he pressed forward, urging on the members of his squad, until he died. Inspired by the heroism and display of bravery of Corporal Stowers, his company continued the attack against incredible odds, contributing to the capture of Hill 188 and causing heavy enemy casualties. Corporal Stowers' conspicuous gallantry, extraordinary heroism, and supreme devotion to his men were well above and beyond the call of duty, follow the finest traditions of military service, and reflect the utmost credit on him and the United States Army.
Corporal Stowers is buried at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. The award of the Medal of Honor was not made until 1991 when President George H. W. Bush presented it to Stowers' two surviving sisters.
The contrast between the American treatment of its own soldiers and that of the French in the First World War is striking. The fact that it took President Harry S. Truman to integrate the U.S. Military in 1948 is also striking. African Americans had served in the Civil War, on the Great Plains, in Cuba and in both the European and Pacific Theaters of Operation in the Second World War and were treated as less than fully human by many Americans.
Men of the 371st and 372nd Infantry Regiments of the French 157th Division Awarded the Croix d'Guerre
Even after President Truman desegregated the armed forces in 1948, African Americans, as well as other racial minorities, women and gays have faced very real discrimination. The military continues to make great strides, and while overt racist acts and other types of discrimination are outlawed, racism still remains a part of American life.
Today things have changed, and that in large part is due to the unselfish sacrifice in the face of hatred and discrimination of the men of the USCT and the State Black Regiments like the 54th Massachusetts and the Louisiana Home Guards who blazed a way to freedom for so many. Those who followed them as Buffalo Soldiers and volunteers during the World Wars continued to be trail blazers in the struggle for equal rights. A white soldier who served with the 49thMassachusetts wrote "all honor to our negro soldiers. They deserve citizenship. They will secure it! There would be much suffering in what he termed "the transition state" but a "nation is not born without pangs."
Unfortunately racial prejudice is still exists in the United States. In spite of all the advances that we have made racism still casts an ugly cloud over our country. Despite the sacrifices of the Buffalo Soldiers, the leaders of the Civil Rights movement and others there are some people who like the leaders of the AEF in 1917 and 1918 cannot stomach having blacks as equals or God forbid in actual leadership roles in this country.
A good friend of mine who is a retired military officer, a white man, an evangelical Christian raised in Georgia who graduated from an elite military school in the South, who is a proponent of racial equality has told me that the problem that many white people in the South have with President Obama is that "he doesn't know his place." Yes racism is still real and rears its ugly head all too often.
Padre Steve+


text:
Luke Roberts (Part 3 of 3)
by Brian "Flair" Kelley
As far as wrestlers and the St Louis scene are concerned, we will start with the WWE World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton. Have you had any past interactions with "The Legend Killer"?
I have had some indirect contact with Randy through his father. However, as far as direct contact, I have not had the privilege of working with him. He came to South Broadway about a year after I left to wrestle on the St. Louis wrestling scene.
How do you feel of his work as a wrestler?
As a wrestler, Randy Orton is coming into his own as one of the best "bad guys" in the sport. He has developed an attitude that incites professional wrestling fans to hate him. Given the right opportunities, I feel that Randy will be at the top tier of the WWE for years to come.
Let's stay with the Orton family and talk about his father "Cowboy" Bob Orton, who I met at an OSWA show a while back.
I have had several run-ins with "Cowboy" Bob Orton. Every time I work with him, I always have a great time. Even though he may not be in his prime, he still can provoke a crowd to hate him. From working with him, it is easy to see that many of the skills that Randy Orton has are genetic.
St Louis has been represented well here recently with Delirious, MsChif, and Daizee Haze wrestling in LWA for the Michael Johnson Benefit show on May 3rd. Matt Sydal and Dingo have also made a splash. Which one has surprised you the most with their success?
If I had to choose one, I would have to say MsChif. The successes of the men notwithstanding, to excel as a women's wrestler is a much more difficult task. Right now, she holds two of the most recognized championships in the world. That, combined with her athletic skills and her attitude, is the reason why I would choose MsChif as the St. Louis wrestler who has surprised me the most.
Who would you say in the past 18 years was the most underrated wrestler in the St Louis area?
In my career, the most underrated wrestler was John Blackheart. This man was technically sound and knew what it took to get a reaction out of the fans. He could go out and fly with the light heavyweights, brawl with the brawlers, manipulate the rules in the world of tag team wrestling, and do things behind a referee's back that were pure gold. John Blackheart could go out to the ring with anyone and have a good match. He was just that good.
Who do you feel is the best tag team ever in professional wrestling?
The best tag team in professional wrestling, in my opinion, would be Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard. They thought and wrestled in almost perfect harmony with little to no communication necessary.
Who do you feel is the best tag team in St. Louis in the past 20 years?
That's easy! Billy Bob and the Techno Kid! Just joking! Seriously, the answer to this question will stun a lot of people. From all of the tag teams that have wrestled in St. Louis on a regular basis, I would say that the Ego Express is the best tag team that I have seen in the past 20 years. They know what the other one is thinking at all times. They genuinely seem to like and trust each other. Their knowledge of the rules and how to break them is outstanding. Also, they have a manager/valet that fits their plans perfectly. The Ego Express, whether you like them or not, has all the tools to hang with any tag team in professional wrestling.
Is there anyone that comes to mind that never got the chance, but really deserved it?
I feel that "The Punisher" from the MVWA never really got his time in the spotlight. In his heyday, he could drive a crowd to almost riot status before he even entered the ring. If he would have had a company like an MMWA, GCW, or LWA to sign him and he could have stayed healthy, he could have been huge.
At the moment, you have the chance to become LWA President. You are running against Jacob Dangle, Steven Miller, Bavarian Boy. For those who have not been a part of LWA, tell us what that is about.
Since Yuletide Terror 2007, the LWA has been without a president. Management has decided that someone needs to take control of the LWA before chaos destroys the company. Seeing that I have refereed and ring announced for the LWA, a friend of mine tried to convince me to run for the LWA presidency and I brushed it off. Yet, as time went on, I heard that Steven Miller had found a loophole and weaseled his way into the election process. Once I heard that he was running, I knew that I had to give serious thought about running for LWA president.
Steven Miller thinks that, if Bavarian Boy or Jacob Dangle is elected president of the LWA, he can use his influence with Donovan Ruddick to intimidate them into doing what he wants. However, Mr. Miller knows that I am not, nor will never be, scared of anyone. I know that since I am running for LWA President against Steven Miller, if I lose, I will probably be out of a job.
The fans of the LWA need to make their opinions known. I recommend that everyone goes to www. lwawrestling. com and vote for who you think should be the new LWA president.
Let's go to Word Association
South Broadway – lacking originality
MECW – professional
LWA – talented roster
UWA – rebuilding
CSW – tradition
AAPW – dedicated to its fans
WLW – Harley Race
SLAMZONE – hardworking
SHIMMER – true women's wrestling
FTW – The Independent Icons
RCW – misunderstood
NWA – territorial professional wrestling
WWE – cheese
TNA – innovative
ECW – WWE light
ROH – True Professional Wrestling
St Louis Hall of Fame – tribute to St. Louis wrestling history
Best pro wrestling book – "Hooker" by Lou Thesz
Hulk Hogan – all about "the Benjamins"
Ric Flair – legend
Ultimate Warrior – joke
WrestleMania 24 – lackluster
HHH – heart of the WWE
Samoa Joe – class act
Kurt Angle – machine
Motor City Machine Guns – great people
Davey Richards – tough as nails
"The Future" Donavan Ruddick – monster
Michael Strider – crazy
Shorty Biggs – the "fifth"
Gary the Barn Owl – Bearded Men from Space Station 11
Brian James – "It's All Good"
Scott Murphy – true friend
Stacey O'Brien – future of St. Louis women's wrestling
Sean Vincent – Canadian superstar
Cameron Cage – funny, funny, funny
Cabal – Chewbacca
Edmund "Livewire" McGuire – outstanding
Adam Raw – intense
Pierre Abernathy – Submission Squad
Playboy HH – hides behind his stable
Austin Aries – quiet
Pete Madden – Trainer
"Atomic Dog" Ali Stevens – Powerhouse
Steven Miller – power hungry
Phoenix Twins – Tag Team Specialists
Brandon Aarons – Hollister
Mephisto – psychotic
Douglas O'Shea – hated everywhere he goes
Evan Gelistico – Zero Gravity
Jeremy Wyatt – The Rebel
Shaft – the heart of MMWA
Tyler Cook – underrated
Awesome Kong – brutality personified
Mark Sterling – intimidating
Trent Stone – impact player
Billy McNeil – death-defying
Lightfoot – Lightfoot Driver
Brandon Espinosa – No Fear
Johnny Greenpeace – Tree
Dingo – dedicated to professional wrestling
Ego Express – "old school" tag team wrestling
Johnny Vinyl and Davey Vega – arrogant
Eric Davis – versatile
Justin Wade – throwback
The Lumberjacks – tough
Dorian Victor – Must Be the Money
The Connection – Bullies
Editors Note: This has been the third and final installment of MWR's Spotlight on Luke Roberts. Luke is a key piece of the pro wrestling puzzle in the St. Louis area, and I am proud that he chose to sit down and give us a little of his time. Hopefully we can chat again with him sometime soon.


text:
(Date: Wednesday, December 07, 2011 ) The importance of studying challenges facing decent work programmes to boost employment schemes and social insurance policies as well as ensure sustainable development, said a senior Bahraini government official. Speaking at the 15th Asia and the Pacific regional meeting of International Labour Organisation (ILO), in Kyoto, Japan, Labour Minister Jamil Humaidan said economic development would remain the main catalyst for broadening the scope of decent work. "This growth can only take place in a secure and stable climate, with successful economic development projects and more job opportunities," he said. He reiterated Bahrain's commitment to international labour standards and its keenness to boost its experience in fighting discrimination. Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Dr Essam Fakhro also addressed the meeting, welcoming the ILO decision regarding a complaint filed by representatives of foreign trade unions against Bahrain alleging discrimination at work. He said the decision to tackle the issue at the local level confirms the kingdom's ability to deal with the pitfalls of the unrest. He stressed that Bahrain's reforms incorporated values of democracy, human rights and trade unions' freedom and bolstered its pioneering status on regional and international levels. He highlighted the kingdom's effort to reform the labour market, preserve the rights of the workforce and honour obligations dictated by regional and international agreements signed by Bahrain. "The kingdom has made a lot of achievements over the past decade," he said. He also praised the role of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Economic Development Board Chairman, in enhancing economic development through a modernisation process that touched all fields. Bahrain has been able to achieve an unprecedented economic leap, providing lucrative job opportunities for citizens and keeping the unemployment rate low, he said. "The kingdom was also the first Arab country to provide the unemployed with allowances until they find jobs," he said. Assistant under-secretary for labour Dr Mohammed Ali Al Ansari said the ministry had provided many specialised jobs to graduates over the past two years. They also benefited from training and rehabilitation programmes, he added. Contracts contributed to protecting the rights of graduates entering the labour market, he said, hailing the private sector's support. – TradeArabia News Service © Copyright 2011 www.tradearabia.com
Via SyndiGate.info
Copyright 2022 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group


text:
Message Board
Gene Fowler Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Fowler has written!
Author Fowler's Book Reviews
Good Night Sweet Prince: The Life and Times of John Barrymore
Gene Fowler and actor John Barrymore were close friends. This biography of Barrymore was written in an era where private lives of celebrities were not seen as tabloid fodder and in which an author could concentrate on the important aspects of an artist's journey rather than scandal and sensationalism. Gene Fowler paints a portrait of Barrymore not as a wild, womanizing alcoholic who just happened to be an actor, but as an artist of real talent and s...


text:
Yes, I bet you have wondered why some trees stay green year round, while others lose their color with the onslaught of winter. I wondered that as well–until I read this heartwarming story from professional storyteller Karen Chace (pictured above). Every Christmas season, I invite Karen to send me a seasonal story I can share. After you read this intriguing tale, I encourage you to share it with your colleagues, family, friends, and children you know.
One winter, when the birds were all leaving for south and warmer areas, one little bird broke its wing on the way and was left behind. Soon frost and snow covered the forest and she was cold and hungry. So she asked the trees to help her and let her stay in its branches. However, the trees are not always kind. The birch tree was proud of being beautiful and haughtily replied to the bird's pleas by saying that he could not possibly help him because he had to look after the birds of the forest first. The strong oak tree was reluctant because it was afraid that the bird would have to live there till spring time and would eat up some of its acorns. Even the willow tree that seemed to be gentle otherwise refused to help or even talk to the strangers.
The poor bird was in much distress and tried to fly some more but her wing was still not fit for the purpose. Seeing her struggling like this, the spruce tree asked her, why she seems so downcast. When the bird revealed her miseries, it offered her the thickest, softest and warmest branch to stay. The bird was really glad to find some help. Inspired by the kindness of spruce tree, the big and strong pine tree also volunteered to protect the spruce tree and the bird from the North Wind all through the winters. The little juniper tree also piped in to offer its berries to the bird to quench her hunger. So, the bird lived comfortably there and flew away again at springtime, when its wing healed again.
The Frost King, who kept close note of the behavior of all trees, strictly instructed the North Wind not to touch even a single leaf of the kind spruce, pine and juniper trees; while he was free to play havoc with the leaves of other trees. The North Wind especially enjoyed in plucking the shining, green leaves of the willow, oak and bird trees and leaving them bare for the winters, with nothing to protect them from snow, rain and sleet. It is for this kindness that the leaves of the spruce, the pine, and the juniper are always green and they are known as evergreen trees.
Karen provided this link to the original source of the story:
This season reminds us that giving is rewarding to the giver as well as the receiver. As winter sets into northeast Georgia, I'll have a fresh appreciation for those generous trees that became evergreen, because of their kindness and compassion. And I will give special thanks for the people in my life who are great givers.
For years, I have marveled at Karen Chace's professional story-telling career. Her presentations and writings have mesmerized many audiences and readers, and garnered numerous awards. Check her Web site to learn more about her offerings–and then contact her to discuss your organization's upcoming events, and how she can add her unique sparkle and meaning. Her Web site:


text:
You knew this was coming.
T.O.'s baby mamas are serious about their child support, since they can't live without it and it is their only source of income. They aren't even waiting to see if T.O. makes team before going back to court to make sure they get their money.
The Atlanta attorney for Melanie Smith, the mother of one of Owens' four children, said Wednesday he would move for dismissal of Owens' request to have his $5,000-a-month payments reduced.
In an email to the AJC, Randall M. Kessler said, "Now that Terrell Owens has a new contract with the Seattle Seahawks, we will soon file a motion to dismiss the request for a reduction in child support he filed last month. We are glad that he is back in the NFL and wish him the best. This will benefit him and his children."
T.O. has to pay a grand total of $44k to all of his baby mamas and they aren't going to give him any breaks. They want every penny.


text:
This article is more than 1 year old
Ten... Sata 3 SSDs
Solid choices for that essential upgrade
Intel 520 240GB
When the 520 series appeared, Intel surprised a great number of people by ditching the Marvell controller it had used previously. Yet, instead of using one of its own controller designs – which most assumed it would – Intel switched to using a SandForce chip.
Indeed, this was one reason why the drive was so late to market, together with Intel's efforts to iron out any controller reliability issues. In the process, Intel co-wrote the controller's firmware with Sandforce to get the best out of the 25nm Intel MLC NAND the drives use. The write speeds could be better though, which suggests there's still some work to do here, especially given the price.
Reg Rating 75%
Price £260
More info Intel
Kingston Hyper X 3K 240GB
Kingston's Hyper X family of drives were the company's first to use a SandForce controller and just like Intel's 520 drives, the original Hyper X drives were late to market because of Kingston's insistence that the controller and firmware was as bullet proof as possible. The latest 3K range of the HyperX drives still have the SandForce SF-2281controller but use a lower Program-Erase (P/E) cycle of NAND memory – 3,000 P/E cycles instead of 5,000, hence the 3K name tag.
By using this lower cycling NAND – which is cheaper than the standard memory – Kingston has been able to reduce the price of the drive making it more competitive in an increasingly cut throat market segment. If you're after bang for buck with bullet proof reliability and support, then the Kingston Hyper X 3K is for you.
Reg Rating 85%
Price £200
More info Kingston