text:
Summary projectlib blog in 23-28 February 2009
23 February 2009 - Introduction about THINK camp.
I wrote about Thinkcamp (THai INtegrated Knowledge camp).
Thinkcamp is unconference everyone talk about thai website and promote blog.
This event Same "Barcamp" and "Pecha Kucha". Unconference and limit the time.
You can read detail - Introduction about THINK camp
24 February 2009 - Introduction about ICS (Information and Communication Science)
In Thailand, LIS in education is not update.
After I listen to the IFLA seminar 'From LIS to ICS, a Curriculum Reform'
I interest that course. So I wrote it for LIS education in Thailand.
You can read detail - Introduction about ICS
25 February 2009 - My presentation for Think camp
I have invited to present my blog in Thinkcamp.
I show my presentation to my member.
In this slide I talk about my blog and my concept for improve library in Thailand.
You can read detail - My presentation for Think camp
26 February 2009 - Who does your library follow on Twitter?
In 25 Feb 2009, I recieved mail from web4lib.
The hot topic was "Who does your library follow on Twitter?"
Cause I use twitter (http://www.twitter.com/projectlib)
I wrote and suggest "Who does projectlib follow on Twitter?"
You can read detail - Who does your library follow on Twitter?
28 February 2009 - In Thinkcamp section morning.
In thinkcamp 3 section before afternoon.
I summary detail about presentation Topic.
- I want to be Blogger
- What is pensri.in.th
- In troduction ITcoolgang.com(IT news in Thailand website)
You can read detail - In Thinkcamp section morning
Summary in this week hilight is Thinkcamp.
Cause I wrote 3 topic about this event.
This week I must say thank you follower to read my blog.
See you next week(2-7 March 2009).
In first time, If I wrote fault something, I would like to say sorry.
You can suggest me and send question to me at my email or comment my blog.
My e-mail : [email protected] (Y-projectlib)


text:
2 in a row for BUFC!
YAKIMA, WA, Week 7 of the 2018 Evergreen Premier league. Bellingham United wins second match of the season against Yakima. Final Score 4-2 (W)
Hammers win on the road against Yakima United FC! The first half Bellingham United played a high pressure style defensive winning possession from Yakima's clearances. BUFC were dangerous playing balls through defenders and crossing the ball in to create lethal chances. The first goal came from a through ball into Luke Onley who was fouled right before taking a shot in the box. Richard Henderson converts his second penalty of the year with class! BUFC conceded a goal minutes later making it 2-1. BUFC responded with a goal of their own from Christian Rotter sniffing out a goal beating the opposing keeper earning his second goal of the season. The first half ended 2-1 Hammers in the lead.
The second half Yakima equalized the game putting pressure on the Hammers (2-2). Briefly after Jared Davis pulled a cheeky flick to beat Yakima's winger and played a ball into George Cholewa scoring his first of the season, 5 minutes after being subbed in and going down! The final goal came from George chasing down a ball over the ball played in from Dylan Langei.
Goal scorers: 1st goal R.G. Henderson (pk) Assist, Luke Olney. 2nd goal Christian Rotter.
3rd goal (game winner) & 4th goal George Cholewa. Assists from Jared Davis & Dylan Langei.
Next two matches are away for the Hammers. This Saturday 6.23.18 BUFC travels to Bremerton to face the Olympic Force (Cascade Conference). Go Hammers!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
So So Def, Scream Nation and Live Nation hosted a press conference at Topgolf Atlanta Midtown to formally announce the upcoming "Jermaine Dupri Presents: SoSoSUMMER 17 Tour" featuring the stars of the hit Lifetime series "The Rap Game."
So So Def CEO and "The Rap Game" executive producer Jermaine Dupri, rapper and radio/tv personality Da Brat and Scream Nation CEO Michael Mauldin were on hand to share details on the teen concert tour and to present the performers: Miss Mulatto (winner, Season 1 of "The Rap Game"), Mani (winner, Season 2 of "The Rap Game"), Lil Key (Season 2 cast), J.I. the Prince of NY (Season 2 cast), Nia Kay (Season 2 cast), Supa Peach (Season 1 cast), Nova (Season 3 cast), Deetranada (Season 3 cast) and King Roscoe (Season 3 cast).
"Jermaine Dupri Presents: SoSoSUMMER 17 Tour" begins May 25 in Louisville at the Louisville Palace, with stops in Detroit, Chicago, Baltimore, Memphis, and many more. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 24 at livenation.com.
Complete tour dates and cities for Jermaine Dupri Presents SoSoSUMMER 17 Tour
|Thu May 25
|Louisville, KY
|Louisville Palace
|Fri May 26
|Detroit, MI
|Fox Theatre
|Sun May 28
|Chicago, IL
|Chicago Theater
|Thu Jun 01
|Norfolk, VA
|Chrysler Hall
|Fri Jun 02
|Columbia, SC
|Township Auditorium
|Sat Jun 03
|Baltimore, MD
|Pier Six
|Sun Jun 04
|Cleveland, OH
|State Theatre
|Wed Jun 07
|St Louis, MO
|Peabody Opera House
|Fri Jun 09
|Indianapolis, IN
|Murat Theatre
|Sat Jun 10
|Charlotte, NC
|Ovens Auditorium
|Sun Jun 11
|Raleigh, NC
|Raleigh Memorial (Duke Energy Center)
|Thu Jun 15
|Richmond, VA
|Altria Theater
|Fri Jun 16
|New York, NY
|Beacon Theatre
|Sat Jun 17
|Washington DC
|DAR Constitution
|Thu Jun 22
|Atlanta, GA
|Wolf Creek Amphitheater
|Sat Jun 24
|Houston, TX
|Revention Music Center
|Sun Jun 25
|Dallas, TX
|Music Hall Fair Park


text:
Legal Gambling From America
Needless to say, you are able to – . That is the reason why we're the world's greatest collection of free slot machines on the internet. "It is a warning … Read More
Needless to say, you are able to – . That is the reason why we're the world's greatest collection of free slot machines on the internet. "It is a warning … Read More
Directly up: The winner of this cash line on the point spread in an event or match, not contingent. Steam: whenever there is a line currently moving fast. If there … Read More
Sandwich technologies include co-injection, mono-sandwich, gasoline injection method (GIT), and water retention method (WIT). Water is less costly than gasoline and can be incompressible. In a crucible, wrought iron steel … Read More
Adhering to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)," Nature Camp urges that cyclists get the tetravalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4). Communication histoplasmosis dangers and avoidance of employees. In … Read More
Attempt to get around the selfies, and instead concentrate on choosing a picture that doesn't overdo the editing part, is concentrated, and reflects you, and has good light! It's not … Read More
We create value for your University by working with it to take and handle gifts of real estate, ease strategic acquisitions of real estate, produce and execute long-term tactical plans … Read More
The world is getting changed and most of the things are done by using online websites. These websites are not only used for business and commercial purposes but also for … Read More
Year after year, numbers of new web casinos emerge out on the internet for the improved experience of real players. In order to gain increased popularity, these casinos are providing … Read More
If you want to bet on upcoming cricket match or tournaments and want to get the basic information associated with this form of gambling, then read these FAQs. Here are … Read More
Have you assessed the program? Many individuals love watching football, but the issue is that since the sport isn't so well known in the United States, most people residing in … Read More


text:
THN.com Blog: Why Bettman's back at No. 1
You needn't be popular to be on our POP list. In fact, a mean streak, abrasiveness or public disapproval can sometimes work in your favor.
That's because our annual People of Power and Influence rankings (found in the Dec. 28 issue) are not a congeniality contest. It's all about clout.
Last season, for example, Sean Avery wormed his way into the No. 27 place among the Top 100 because of his boorish behavior and the accompanying reverberations. We dropped him from this year's hierarchy because he simply hasn't been nasty enough.
Exhibit B is Gary Bettman. The commissioner couldn't win a one-candidate election in Canada, but his pre-eminence in the hockey world has never been clearer. That's why, after a two year absence from the No. 1 position, we've returned him to the top spot.
Bettman's crowning achievement in 2009 was taking on Jim Balsillie and winning. Despite treating the truth surrounding the Phoenix Coyotes' financial health like Plasticine, he never wavered from his position: on his watch, he would never allow an outsider to dictate how the business of the NHL should be run.
It's a testament to his authority that he got all 30 owners on side, pulling in the same direction. Each of the 30 governors is strong-willed and opinionated; they wouldn't have risen to their rarefied heights if they didn't possess robust egos. With Balsillie waving hundreds of millions in their faces, building a case for increasing league-wide revenues and franchise values – while simultaneously diminishing the potential cost of revenue sharing – it must have been tempting to some owners to side with the BlackBerry king.
That didn't happen; they all fell in line behind Gary.
The belief and confidence the owners have in Bettman is rooted in his performance. He delivers to them what he promises. The salary cap is the primary example. Phoenix, imperfections and all, is another jewel in the king's crown.
And elsewhere in my brain:
• What should the Senators do to offset the loss of Jason Spezza? How about nothing? It's clear Ottawa is a middle-of-the-pack team with some glaring needs that was going to be in a dogfight for a playoff berth before Spezza went down.
Trading for a stop-gap does little for franchise growth and ties up precious cap space. Being patient allows for someone to step up, or, if the team tanks, sets them up for a decent draft pick.
Besides, Spezza wasn't contributing a lot of offense this season; how much will he be missed? All that said, if Ottawa could deal him for a stud defenseman such as Dion Phaneuf – as one of my colleagues suggested would be a good swap for both teams – I'd do it in a heartbeat.
• We put the finishing touches on our all-decade issue this week and a couple of "really?" facts jumped off the stats page: 1. Most games played: Andrew Brunette, 724 and counting. 2. Lowest goals-against average (at least 150 GP): Roman Cechmanek, 2.08. Yes, really.
• Last week in this space I identified Kari Lehtonen as one of the biggest disappointments of the decade. To reiterate for those of you who thought that was unfair, much of the let-down stems from his frequent injuries, which, granted, isn't necessarily his fault, but doesn't diminish the bummer factor.
By now, most expected him to be occupying the same stratosphere as netminders such as Ryan Miller, Marc-Andre Fleury and Henrik Lundqvist. Instead, his career path and stats more closely resemble David Aebischer's.
It's fine to be "fine" if you're a seventh round pick, but not when you're No. 2 overall and projected to be a superstar. On the bright side, Lehtonen is still just 26 and has time, health permitting, to be among the top good news stories of the next decade.
Jason Kay is the editor in chief of The Hockey News and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears Fridays.
For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.


text:
I've seen a lot of good entrances over the years covering fetes in L.A. Richard Branson going through the doors of the Hotel Roosevelt dressed as a Maharaja on a camel, for one. MOCA Boardmember Dallas Price Van Breda roaring into one of the museum's gala one year on a Harley for another. But Sky Diving Innovations and former Navy SEALs parachuting down onto the beach in front of the Jonathan Club the other night for a SEAL-NSW Family Foundation fundraiser (monies benefit Naval Special Warfare personnel and their families) just might top 'em all. Some divers went tandem with party-guests while others did tricks all the way down. One diver jumped with an enormous American flag. It was the first time the event was held in L.A., and if you ever want to get a tear in your eye, just be around a bunch of military personnel (active and retired) when they are playing the Star Spangled Banner. You end up standing as ramrod straight as they all do.
The beachside to-do was presented by Michael A. Liberty (yea, I know, good name) and his Liberty Family Foundation and Mozido Inc. The foundation gave $1 mil right there on the spot to the SEALS-NSW Family Foundation (this big check was printed on part of a tent). General James Mattis, former commander of US Central Command, spoke to the crowd along with an Iraqi soldier who fought with the SEALS whose codename was Johnny Walker. Even Vicente Fox (former Mexican president) got up to address the large group on the beach. There were interesting gadgets everywhere and folks partied into the night. It was an over-the-top bash for a serious organization, prompting General Mattis to joke, "They are not elite because they carry a comb and a mirror with them."
Photographs by Steve Sherman Photography and Skydiving Innovations


text:
The trailering brace allows your bimini to sit up a few inches off the deck of your boat for transport on the road. The trailer brace uses the same deck mounts as the rear brace. You tell us how wide your boat is at the mounting point and we will build this frame and bimini top to within 1 of your dimension.These are truly custom bimini tops. Accon Marine Quick Release Deck Mounts. These are a must if you have furniture on your pontoon that rises above the top rail of your boat. Typically pull pins are used to connect the frame to the deck moun.
Those pull pins can push into the back of your seats leaving a mark or even worse - damaging your seat backs. These utilize a different means of securing the bimini to your deck mounts - stainless eye ends in the bottom of the frame and braces that fall into a slot on the accon deck mount. Easy on, easy off and not pull pins to hit the back of your seats. Most boots are put together with one seam that travels the length of the entire boot. We use two seams that travel the length of the boot.
What that does is allows the boot to form fit the corners of the frame. We also use a velcro flap to allow the boot to go on around the stern light instead of dropping the boot down over the top of the stern light. Much easier and quicker to take on and off. Color coordinated binding/edging goes not only all the way around the outside of your bimini top, but also on the 4 zippered pockets that are used to attach this bimini to the frame.
We also put a snap in each corner to ensure it is centered on the frame and won't move around while underway. We also run all of our sunbrella parts through a surging machine that locks in the edge to prevent unravelling. We then put the binding/edging over that. All of the hardware we provide for this bimini top is included.
We use heavy duty stainless bolts, washers and locknuts to secure this to your boat. We also provide a wire for the stern light and of course all installation instructions. The ideas we put into this bimini are come directly from our customers and our own market research. We are confident in saying it is the best top available anywhere.We have been making bimini tops and other items for the marine industry for over 35 years. We have the experience in this market and anxious to share it with you. Chances are if it doesn't look very good in a picture it is not going to look very good on your boat. The right bimini top will set your boat off right no matter how old or new your boat is. We design these frames and bimini tops to stand up to high speeds on the water given how fast pontoon boats are running now! The frame will sit back on its rear braces or lay flat on your rails. We manufacture these tops right here in the USA!
I realize it can become overwhelming. We want to provide you with the exact kind of bimini top you require. Just know that all of our bimini tops come with the following options.1 frame with standard black vinyl fittings and deck mounts. 1 frame with metal fittings and deck mounts. 1.25 frame with metal fittings and deck mounts. We can customize the width from 6' wide to 8'6 wide at no additional cost. We offer three fabrics with three different warranties - 10 year, 5 year, and 3 year.
Your satisfaction is our goal! The item "Pontoon Bimini Top Sirius 9 9' long custom width for perfect fit 1.25" is in sale since Tuesday, December 10, 2013. This item is in the category "eBay Motors\Parts & Accessories\Boat Parts\Accessories & Gear\Covers".
The seller is "canvasguy2077" and is located in Toledo, Ohio. This item can be shipped worldwide.


text:
Savings Institution Ratings
The Savings Institution Financial Quarterly is available through our ONLINE PORTAL with various purchase options to choose from.
IDC's Savings Institution Financial Quarterly analyzes and ranks the quality of all savings banks reporting to the FDIC. Prior to 2012, Savings & Loans reported to The Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS). Every quarter since 1985, we have assessed each institution's strengths and weaknesses using our proprietary "CAMEL" analysis. The Savings Institution Financial Quarterly is an invaluable tool and reference for financial professionals.
The Savings Institution Financial Quarterly identifies several financial ratios, assigns a weight factor to each based on its relative importance to the health of the institution, and then combines the overall view into a numeric summary rating. Ratings range from 1 (the lowest) to 300 (the highest).
Savings banks can be searched by name, state, or institution ID number and sorted by name, city, or state. Affiliated institutions are listed on the alongside the CAMEL analysis of the institution queried. With a paid subscription, locked information would become visible. VIEW SAMPLE INSTITUTION


text:
Angry Birds Seasons gets a nice update and goes free as Apple's App of the Week
Squawk! It's Thursday, so Apple has selected a new title to go free as its App of the Week. And if you haven't guessed, this week's pick is Angry Birds Seasons. The game will be free to download for the next seven days.
And along with going free, Rovio has also updated the game with the move to version 5.0.
The update continues a partnership started with the NBA last year. To celebrate the NBA All-Star Game, which happens on Sunday, Feb. 15 in New York City, the game has added 15 new levels of basketball-themed madness. One new golden egg level is also included.
In the new levels, players are given one free Shockwave power-up to use, which should help make things easier. Finally, gamers can also take a look at some fun videos on Ruffle TV.
There are two separate versions of the game to download. Angry Birds Seasons is designed for the iPhone/iPod touch while Angry Bird Seasons HD is for the larger screens of the iPad and iPad mini. As usual with this type of game, there are a number of in-app purchases available.
Anything with those angry aviators is always a hit at my house, so I'm looking forward to getting to play the new NBA All-Star levels. I'm glad to see Rovio do such a nice job continuing to add content to this and other Angry Birds games.
For other app news and reviews today, see: Treat your email inbox as a to-do list with Mail Pilot 2, Popular third-party keyboard SwiftKey updated with emoji support and more, and Assemble a dream team of Decepticons and Autobots in Transformers: Battle Tactics.


text:
He has reconciled you to Himself
through the death of Christ.
As a result, He has brought you into
His own presence--
you are holy and blameless
as you stand before Him without a single fault.
But you must continue
to believe this truth and stand firmly in it
This is the secret: Christ lives in you.
Colossians 1
These truths are unfathomable.
Because of Christ's death,
Father has ushered us into His presence.
We are holy and blameless in His sight.
Not a fault, in Christ.
Colossians says that we must believe this truth
and stand firmly on it if we are to continue.
Christ in me, the hope of glory.
All day long. Every second of my life.
I am in His presence
Father, would this truth go deep into my spirit today.
"Because the sinless Savior died,
my sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
to look at Him and pardon me."
Holy and blameless that I may live
to bring Him glory and honor.
Only through the life that lives in me.
Your presence, Lord, is my greatest gift for this day.


text:
It's the kind of sudden rags-to-riches turnaround that could leave some taxpayers a bit befuddled. Just one year ago freshly elected Wisconsin Gov. -Anthony Earl made the rounds of major newspaper editorial boards in the state to explain the bind he was in by inheriting a $300 million-plus deficit from former Gov. Lee S. Dreyfus. Tax hikes and spending cuts, said Governor Earl, were mandatory.
A few weeks ago the new governor made the rounds again. This time he explained that the deficit was blossoming into a huge surplus - projected at $ 553 million by mid-1985. He doesn't want to pare down that cache with new spending programs, tax changes, or refunds.
Many other states, from California to Minnesota, have been riding this same down-again, up-again fiscal roller coaster. They, too, have recently found their treasuries unexpectedly well stocked. Earl says this is one area in which states have outperformed the federal government.
''We have surely shown a leadership role in how to deal with fiscal difficulties,'' he says. ''If the federal government had done in any measure what most of the states had had to do in terms of expenditures and taxes, we wouldn't have had this terrible deficit policy.''
All around, these new state surpluses are the result of the economic recovery and of in-state belt tightening and tax increases. In Wisconsin, for instance, where personal income shot up 35 percent beyond the national average last year, spending cuts were made, salaries were frozen, and a temporary 10 percent surcharge was put on corporate and personal income taxes.
Accordingly, here in ''America's Dairyland,'' as this state's yellow auto license plates still dub it, one of the hottest topics of debate these days - both in the Legislature and at family dinner tables - is what, if anything, to do with the newfound surplus.
Former Governor Dreyfus, a Republican who inherited a huge surplus when he took office in 1979 and promptly sent out taxpayer refunds, has argued that having a ''cookie jar'' only tempts lawmakers to spend it.
''That's absolute baloney,'' retorts Earl, a Democrat, during an interview in his Capitol office. ''It's only true if you make it a self-fulfilling prophecy.''
In the past, he explains, state surpluses have been spent to roll off other, ''more onerous'' taxes. He hopes to do the same - and perhaps to make Wisconsin's personal income tax, long one of the nation's highest, more ''progressive.''
But he says he won't tackle that or any major new spending programs until he is very sure that the surplus is real (''It's not yet money in the bank.'') and that the fiscal crisis is past. He wants to make no changes until the next biennial session of the Legislature, in 1985.
He says he is well aware that many members of the Legislature, controlled by a Democratic majority these days, have pet spending and tax-reform ideas of their own. But he brands many of these as ''too ambitious to be credible.'' And he adds that ''the Republican minority has a great grab bag that would choke a horse.''
He says he and most legislators agree that the time is ripe to roll back the temporary tax surcharge. And he says he thinks his view on holding the surplus intact will also prevail ''without its coming to a test of wills.''
''Everywhere I go, people say, 'For the love of Pete, don't give it all back - don't go through another scheme where we get another check in the mail.'
''I think the last experience is close enough in most people's minds that they remember the amount was relatively modest and they've paid for it ever since.''
Describing himself as a ''liberal without being a spendthrift'' in the tradition of the late United States Sen. Paul Douglas (D)of Illinois, Earl insists, ''Fiscal prudence is good politics in 1984.''
Voters in this politically competitive state, which has one US senator from each party and a 5 to 4 edge for the Democrats in its US House delegation, gave President Reagan 48 percent of the vote (compared with 43 percent for Jimmy Carter) in the 1980 election. But Earl says he thinks Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale, whom he expects to endorse formally sometime this month, can win in Wisconsin.
President Reagan's standing has weakened here, he says, because of the size of the federal deficit, which is hitting state export efforts particularly hard, and high continuing unemployment (above 9 percent).
Wisconsin is the home base of several major companies, from Johnson's Wax to the Kimberly-Clark Corporation. But, like most neighboring states, it has recently been winning a few and losing more in the effort to keep and recruit business.
Recently the Kohler Company, which makes industrial equipment and plumbing fixtures, cited state tax structure and high union wages as key factors in its decision to buy a faucet company in the South rather than buy or build in Wisconsin.
The governor, who flew to meet with Kohler executives well before the decision was made, says, ''I'm always told publicly that the reason is taxes but privately that it isn't. When all is said and done, the reasons are every bit as subjective as objective.
''I'm convinced there is no one formula the state could adopt which would work in most cases. It requires individual efforts. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't.''
A lawyer and former secretary of the state's Department of Natural Resources, Earl faced some criticism for his lack of business experience.
''I think he's really leaned over backwards, though, in an effort to learn by making himself available to business leaders and going to see them,'' says Paul Hassett, president of the Wisconsin Association of Manufactures and Commerce.
He credits Earl with holding the line on spending and working to pass an unemployment compensation ''reform'' that cut $450 million in potential annual benefits to workers, angering mayors and unions alike. He alienated a lot of his good followers. For a Democrat, I'd give him an A-minus.''
Earl argues that Midwestern states have much to gain by a closer alliance and much to lose by viewing one another as threats in the race for economic development: ''Our competition is overseas, and for us to try to improve ourselves to the detriment of a neighboring state is ultimately self-defeating.''
And what is the top lesson of his year in office that he would pass along to a successor?
''People want to be led. I don't think they want those in public life to sidestep difficult problems. I think a large part of Ronald Reagan's success is that he appears to be a strong leader - he says all the macho things - but I think people have confused decisiveness there with leadership. . . .
''Jimmy Carter might have been right that there was a malaise of spirit in the country, but you don't wring your hands about it. You get your act together.''


text:
Master Plastics is a privately held custom injection molder that has been engineering turnkey, cost-effective solutions to the most challenging injection molding and other manufacturing processes for over 30 years.
The company's key core competencies are in plastic injection molding, prototyping, engineering, plastics materials know how, mold making, and value added services and product assembly.
Our advantage is our ability to provide prompt service and low cost manufacturing solution due to our lean manufacturing practices & low overhead. We assist customers in driving their product concepts through design and prototype into production. Our goal is to deliver exceptional service, superior value and long-range economic benefit to our customers, our employees, and the communities in which we operate.
Recognized time and again for outstanding customer support, exceptional quality, on-time delivery, and quick turn around, makes it obvious to see why Master Plastics customers rely on them year after year.
Master Plastics has assembled an exceptional team of managers and technical personnel with significant backgrounds in top tier plastics, custom injection molding, and OEM companies. This team is dedicated to growing Master Plastics in size, performance, and reputation to be among the best in the industry.


text:
Mike Mignola
Tom Sutton
Click the following numbers to see pages from Tom Sutton's "The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath". This was originally released as a limited edition portfolio in 1978.
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6
A short bio on Sutton can be found here.
Giorgio Comolo
Click here to see another Cthulhu illlustration by Comolo.
Comolo's official website is here.
This pen and ink drawing of Cthulhu was made by the artist Brem. Check out the frontpage of their site to see a winged version of this Cthulhu.


text:
Description: Voice screenings are offered on our campus at the Voice Clinic. An additional event is organized with the Department of Music to educate community members and vocal students for care of their voice- At this event, mini series on preventative voice care, voice care from therapy to studio, Alexander technique and vocal pedagogy in the digital era are provided.
Date: 2019-04-16
Time: 1.00-8.30
City/place: East Tennessee State University, Johnson City Venue address: 156 S Dossett Drive and Mathes Hall
Contact: Chaya Nanjundeswaran
The information is provided by the organiser who is responsible for it.


text:
Sub-Centennial Scale Climatic and Hydrologic Variability in the Gulf of Mexico during the Early Holocene
Graduation Year
Document Type
Degree Granting Department
Marine Science
Major Professor
Benjamin P. Flower, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Terrence M. Quinn, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Michael Howell, Ph.D.
climate change, sea surface temperature variability, freshwater floods
Sediment core MD02-2550 from Orca Basin located in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) provides a high-resolution early Holocene record of climatic and hydrologic changes from ~10.5 to 7 thousand calendar years before present (ka). Paired analyses of Mg/Ca and δ18O on the planktonic foraminifer Globigerinoides ruber (white variety, 250-355 µm) sampled at ~ 20 year resolution were used to generate proxy records of sea surface temperature (SST) and the δ18O of seawater in the GOM (δ18OGOM). The Mg/Ca-SST record contains an overall ~1.5 °C warming trend from 10.5 to 7 ka that appears to track the intensity of the annual insolation cycle and six temperature oscillations (0.5-2 °C), the frequency of which are consistent with those found in records of solar variability. The δ18OGOM record contains six ~ 0.5 ‰ oscillations from 10.5 to 7 ka that bear some resemblance to regional hydrologic records from Haiti and the Cariaco Basin, plus a -0.8 ‰ excursion that may be associated with the "8.2 ka event" recorded in Greenland air temperatures. The δ18OGOM record, if interpreted as a salinity proxy, suggest large salinity fluctuations (> 2 ‰) reflecting changes in evaporation-precipitation (E-P) and Mississippi River input to the GOM. Percent Globigerinoides sacculifer records from three cores in the GOM exhibit remarkably coherent changes, suggesting episodic v centennial-scale incursions of Caribbean waters. Spectral analysis of the Mg/Ca-SST and the δ18OGOM time series indicate that surface water conditions may be influenced by solar variations because they share significant periods of variability with atmospheric ∆ 14C near 700, 200, and 80-70 years. Our results add to the growing body of evidence that the sub-tropics were characterized by significant decadal to centennial-scale climatic and hydrologic variability during the early Holocene.
Scholar Commons Citation
LoDico, Jenna Meredith, "Sub-Centennial Scale Climatic and Hydrologic Variability in the Gulf of Mexico during the Early Holocene" (2006). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.


text:
Story Highlights
- Historical event:
- 23 August 1939
- The European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism (and other totalitarian ideologies) is observed on 23 August due to the infamous Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between Stalin's communist USSR and Hitler's Nazi Germany, which was signed on this day in 1939.
The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was named after Stalin's Minister of Foreign Affairs Molotov (also known as First Deputy Premier), and Hitler's Foreign Minister von Ribbentrop.
Vyacheslav Molotov was born in Russia as Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Skryabin. He took the pseudonym "Molotov", derived from the Russian word молот (molot, English: "hammer"). Namely, the Communists often took pseudonyms; for example Stalin took pseudonym "СТАЛЬ" (steel). Molotov was also called "Stone arse" because he could allegedly sit at his desk and work for a very long time. The Molotov cocktail (also known as petrol bomb) was named after Vyacheslav Molotov.
When the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was signed, Hitler and Stalin de facto divided Eastern Europe into "spheres of influence". The eastern half of Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and part of Romania were to be controlled by the Soviet Union, and the western half of Poland and Lithuania were to be taken by Germany. When World War II began, Poland was divided, and Soviet forces occupied the Baltic states, part of Romania, and part of Finland.
Only a week after the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact had been signed, WW2 began. Hitler invaded Poland, and Communist Parties throughout Central and Eastern Europe couldn't provide resistance to Nazism due to the mentioned pact. Even when Hitler conquered Yugoslavia, the Communist Party was not immediately allowed to provide resistance to the Axis (Stalin and Hitler were still "allies"). When Hitler attacked the USSR on 22 June 1941 and broke the pact, communist Partisan Detachments were formed and began a guerrilla war against the Nazis.


text:
I don't think too highly of simply working harder at something, especially if you are pointed in the wrong direction. It's easy to turn off the brain and keep charging at what we are doing.
The awareness to look up and think about where you are headed can feel slippery and uncomfortable. Our habits can keep us in lock step. Being habitual can be pretty useful overall until we realize we are missing out on opportunities or something has changed under our feet.
I don't know what is going to be different in the next five or ten years. But we can see that since we have automation, democratization of tools and knowledge and a global playing field, many things will certainly change.
It's why repointing is so important. You have to keep questioning your position. Play it to its logical ends and ride the wave while you get benefits. But also work in parallel on contingency plans that open up new paths in light of change.
You can dip your toe and play. Join forums and subscribe to information sources that keep you clued in. Try out new tools and see where they make an impact. Keep designing and experimenting around your baseline business.
If you carry around the assumption that unseen forces are changing everything around us, then you can constantly question how you are pointed and test what your new directions might look like in terms of opportunities. It may lead you to more efficiencies, new audiences and a derivation of something that works.
How can you repoint and try out new experiments based on what is working?


text:
Johnny Galecki's San Luis Obispo ranch has burned down in a devastating California wildfire, a rep for the actor confirmed to People.
The Big Bang Theory star was not home during Monday night's blaze, which locals are calling the Hill Fire. The Los Angeles Times reports that residents from around 100 homes in San Luis Obispo County have been evacuated as the fire tore through some 1,500 acres. The cause of the fire is currently unknown.
Galecki appeared to be taking the news in stride.
"My heart goes out to all in the area who are also experiencing loss from this vicious fire, the threat of which we live with constantly, which may seem crazy to some but we do so because living in our beautiful, rural area makes it worthwhile," the 42-year-old actor told TMZ, which first broke the news.
"It's never the structures that create a community — it's the people. And if the people of Santa Margarita have taught me anything it's that, once the smoke has cleared, literally and figuratively, it's a time to reach out and rebuild.
"We've done it before, and will need to do it together again, and it will make our community even closer and stronger. Endless thanks to CalFire and the Sheriff's Office. I know you guys are fighting the good fight to keep us safe. So very relieved no one has been hurt."
The former Roseanne star also reportedly owns a home in the Outpost Estates area of Los Angeles, which he purchased from Jason Statham in 2015. Fans have flooded his Instagram comments with messages of support.
Read These Stories Next:


text:
Direct investment growth pace accelerates, says Armenian cenbank
Viewed 221001.10.2019
Direct investments in Armenia grew 2,8% in Q3 of 2019 against last year's same period and 1,8% against Q2, totaling 696,3 million dollars, the Central Bank of Armenia said in a report.
Despite the drop in direct investments in the last quarters of 2018, the pace of growth of investments started to be restored in the first two quarters of 2019.
Portfolio investments in Q2 have also increased against Q2 of 2018, particularly by 52% compared to the previous year's same period.
Growth is observed in other investment directions also.
Personal remittances to Armenia grew 2% against 2018's Q2, while the growth totaled 36% against the last quarter. Remittances (net salary without income tax, transportation spending or other spending received by seasonal employees) to Armenia in Q2 compared to Q1 grew 83,2%.


text:
There are many reasons to hate open offices: They're loud, prone to thieves, and, most of all, lack any kind of privacy. But a new research paper reveals yet another knock against them: They're subtly sexist.
Researchers Alison Hirst of Anglia Ruskin University and Christina Schwabenland of the University of Bedfordshire studied the process of a local government moving its 1,100 employees from a series of traditional offices to one big open office over the course of three years in the U.K. The new office had all the markings of a typical open plan office—glass everywhere, identical desks for everyone, and collaborative group spaces—and was designed with the intention of breaking down hierarchies and encouraging employees to engage with each other more. As the researchers wrote in their paper, which was published in published in Gender, Work and Organization, "it was designed to enchant rather than control overtly, and to encourage movement rather than fixity."
To understand how people adjusted to the new office, Hirst interviewed 27 women and 13 men for one to two hours over the course of three years, with two intensive periods of observation and interviews and many other visits. Besides interviews, Hirst also participated in some of the office's culture, having lunch and informal coffee breaks with employees and attending meetings. While some female employees felt like the new office space promoted equality, others had the opposite reaction. The researchers found that many women became hyper-aware of being constantly watched and their appearance constantly evaluated; multiple women told them that "there isn't anywhere that you don't feel watched." Of the men Hirst interviewed, there was no evidence they felt similarly or changed their actions as a result of the lack of privacy.
The architect of the new office, who was kept anonymous, anticipated that people might feel uncomfortable with the heavily glass office at first, but in interviews with the researchers, he said he thought people would get used to it. "I think it's like going to a nudist beach. You know, first you're a little bit worried that everyone's looking at you, but then you think, hang on, everybody else is naked, no one's looking at each other," he told the researchers. "I think that's what'll happen, they'll get on with it."
The only problem is that sociological research of nudist beaches has shown that people do continue to watch each other—"men in particular, often in groups, look obsessively at women," the researchers write. This kind of all-glass, no-privacy environment leads to a subtle kind of sexism, where women are always being watched and thus judged on their appearances, causing anxiety for many employees. One woman named Pat told the researchers that the men on her team used to "mark" the attractiveness of young women coming into the office for interviews. "Visibility enabled these men to judge and rank women according to their sexual attractiveness, just like men on the nudist beaches," the researchers write.
Some women would avoid visiting parts of the office where they weren't expected: "You just don't, do you? Right, this is going to sound extremely sexist but remember I do work with a lot of men," a woman named Wendy told the researchers. "If you were a female, that would definitely get a comment from all the men because they would notice you." For Wendy, the design of the office, despite the architects' intention of promoting freedom of movement, actually inhibited it.
Conscious of male eyes, some women began to dress differently. Without an architectural layout that indicated their place in the office hierarchy, they began to rely on their clothing to signal to other people whether they were important or not. One woman told the researchers that she started wearing jackets and stopped wearing cardigans because the latter would indicate that she was in admin. Others began to wear more makeup or dress up more, conscious that people were looking at them all the time.
Fascinatingly, the study did not start out as an examination of gender specifically—it was meant as an examination of how workplace culture shifts when office design changes radically. It was only when Hirst, who conducted interviews on-site and spent a lot of time observing the workplace, began to feel pressure to dress in a more feminine way herself that she began to wonder about it. "She was surprised by the unusual amount of care she took over her own appearance, a degree of self-consciousness that she found burdensome as time progressed," the researchers write. "To 'fit in' with the modern, clean aesthetic of the building itself and a dress code that was widely adopted, she departed from her usual preference for wearing jeans and no makeup; adopting a smart trouser suit and putting on makeup."
Not only were women's physical appearances up for judging, the open office also meant there was no private space where workers could go if they were emotionally distressed or needed to conduct a private conversation. "If you're upset about something, there's nowhere to go," one woman told the researchers. "Where can you go? All you can do is go to the ladies, so there's nowhere that you can go and speak to somebody on a one-to-one basis where you can't be observed."
The uniformity of the spaces had another effect on one woman who was going through menopause—she felt like she couldn't have a fan on her desk to help with hot flashes because everyone would have noticed: "I just have to sort of work through it," she told the researchers.
Perhaps it's no coincidence that all the designers of the workspace were men. Would the design have been different if there were any women on the team? Are the experiences of these women limited to this particular open-office design, or do others suffer the same kind of anxiety? We want to hear from you. To share your experience, either as a designer or as an occupant, email firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
After a wet spring and start of summer, the Cariboo Fire Centre has experienced 19 new fires during the last week.
"Fifteen of these wildfires were caused by the past weekend's lightning storm and the other four were human-caused," Cariboo Fire Centre communications specialist Sandra Wagner said. "The majority of these are small spot-sized wildfires and are located north and east of Quesnel."
So far, the largest fire is located west of Isaac Lake and has burned 20 hectares.
Wagner said this wildfire recently received a significant amount of rain and a 20-person unit crew and two helicopters are making good progress on suppressing the fire.
The Cariboo Fire Centre and the Wildfire Management Branch may begin to experience heightened levels of activity soon due to increasing temperatures.
Highs of 32 C are forecasted for Saturday in Sunday for Williams Lake.
"We would like to remind people to be cautious with their campfires," Wagner urged, adding anyone lighting a campfire must maintain a fireguard by removing flammable debris from around the campfire area and must have a hand tool or at least eight litres of water available to properly extinguish the fire before leaving the area for any length of time.
To report a wildfire, or unattended campfire, call *5555 on your cellular phone or toll-free at 1 800 663-5555.
For the latest information on fire activity, conditions and prohibitions, visit the Wildfire Management Branch website: www.bcwildfire.ca.


text:
NorthStar Community Charter School in the Northwood School District is accepting applications of enrollment for the 2019-2020 school year.
Enrollment is open from now until April 30th for self-motivated students going into 4th thru 8th grade who are interested in self-paced and project-based learning with an emphasis on outdoor education.
If your student isn't afraid of rigorous work in and out of the classroom, then stop by the Northwood School office or email Brian Olson or Kristina Dryden for an application.
Last Update: Apr 10, 2019 11:03 am CDT


text:
This content was published in the period between 3 October 2014 and 20 January 2019
Media invitation: Ministerial meeting in Södertälje on the role of education and training in labour market establishment
Media representatives are welcome to take part when EU ministers meet in Södertälje to discuss the role of education and training in challenges facing the labour market. Minister for Upper Secondary School and Adult Education and Training Anna Ekström will host the meeting.
Education and training is vital in preparing young people for work, integrating newly arrived immigrants and creating opportunities for career changes. It is also vital for meeting the needs of the labour market.
On Monday 13 November, EU ministers and invited officials will meet to discuss the role of education and training in labour market establishment. The day will begin with a visit to Hagaberg Folk High School in Södertälje, a municipality with extensive experience of combining language instruction with vocational education and training.
Discussions during the day will focus on potential ways to create structures for lifelong learning and increased employment. The meeting will also focus on what motivates people to study and how to make use of previous knowledge and experience through validation and recognition.
The issues raised in the discussions will provide input to the Social Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth to be held in Gothenburg on 17 November, hosted by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Prime Minister Stefan Löfven.
Media representatives are welcome to take part in the tour of the folk high school in the morning. Please contact Helena Paues to register.
Time: 9.15–11.30
Presentation of the Swedish education system and roundtable discussions on challenges and success factors.
Venue: Hagaberg Folk High School, Erik Dahlbergs väg 60, Södertälje
Time: 14.00–16.30
Speech by Inge Bernaerts, Head of Cabinet for EU Commissioner Marianne Thyssen: The situation in the EU today.
Speech by Cecilia Berglund, Director of Centrum Vux, Haninge Municipality: Employability and the local environment.
Subsequent roundtable discussions for ministers.
Venue: Rosenbad, Stockholm
Press contact
Press Secretary to Minister for Upper Secondary School and Adult Education and Training Anna Ekström
Phone (switchboard) +46 8 405 10 00


text:
Why Choose Metal Business Cards?
The emergence of Metal business cards in Nigeria is making many top executives to throw away their paper business cards and embrace the eye-catching and stylish aesthetics style associated with metal biz cards. Some make the metal business cards just to give it to selected few while they keep the paper business cards to every other person that would need their business cards. If you are looking for a uniqu ...Read more ›


text:
There are thousands of known exoplanets, but we can only detect a small fraction of planets in the cosmos. Currently, the bright light of stars blots out the meager light from exoplanets, and aliens looking our way would have a similar problem. A study from MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics suggests Earth could make itself more visible to invite alien contact. All we'd need is a giant laser and an even bigger telescope.
The paper, which has been published in the Astrophysical Journal, is not a full plan for how to build the necessary apparatus. Instead, it's more of a "feasibility study," according to MIT graduate student and author James Clark. We would need a 1 or 2-megawatt laser, with is powerful but not unprecedented. In the laboratory, scientists have created lasers in the petawatt range. Simply shining that laser upward isn't going to get the job done, though. Clark's study also calls for the laser to be focused through a giant 30 to 45-meter telescope.
An energy emission on this scale should overcome the brightness of the sun, giving Earth a "porch light" to attract attention from other star systems. The signal should be easy to detect from as far away as 20,000 light years. Of course, it would take 20,000 years for the signal to get out there. The laser would be even more noticeable in closer star systems like Proxima Centauri and TRAPPIST-1, which are about three and 40 light years away respectively.
Theoretically, another civilization could spot our laser signal with a small 1-meter telescope. They could use a smaller laser to reply if it were pointed directly at Earth. By modulating the intensity of the light, we could exchange simple messages in binary with a data rate of a few hundred bits per second. It would take years for the message to get to another solar system and at least as long to receive a reply.
The megawatt laser is workable — the US military experimented with megawatt-scale systems on jets to shoot down missiles. The 30-meter telescope would be much larger than any we currently have as the trend is toward building multiple smaller observatories. It should be possible to build one, though. Clark also suggests building the apparatus atop a mountain where it would encounter less atmosphere before reaching space. The beam from such a laser would be dangerous, but the risks would be minimized if it's locked into a skyward orientation.
Now read: Harvard Researchers: 'Oumuamua Could Be an Alien Probe After All, Astronomers Find Exoplanet In the Same Place as Star Trek's Vulcan, and NASA-Backed Project Lays Out the Science of Detecting Alien Life


text:
Just before the holidays I got a call that reminded me how much I love my business. The call was from a client I'd last worked with in 2008 or 2009 - for each of us, that was two companies ago. The most we'd done to keep in touch during the intervening time was to remain first level connections on LinkedIn. Now this person was calling me (having kept track of my cell number, which I don't publish on LI) with a new SharePoint opportunity. Can I help? Absolutely.
This is the magic of being in Professional Services - the people you work with, the relationships you make. It was great to catch up with my former client. My "aha" moment from this call, though, was the reminder of the longevity these relationships can have. Throughout my consulting career I've received a lot of repeat business, but this was definitely the longest time interval I've seen between last contact and new opportunity.
The insight for technology consulting leaders is that every single person in your organization has these relationships, and they're the key to your business. Repeatedly I've seen how tech firms operate on the assumption that these relationships are primarily held and maintained by the executives, Sales, and the practice directors (consider, for example, who in the organization gets one of those precious licenses to CRM or SalesForce). They view the value of their Delivery staff as their expertise and their utilization. But the truth is that clients place the most value on the consultant or team who is solving their problems on a daily basis. Those are the folks they will be calling again in five years - not the salesperson.
With this in mind, here are three ways technology consulting firms can take a lesson from our fellow Professional Services practitioners, and rev up the power of our individuals:
1 Publicize your people - all of them.
[Portrait of Stan Kenton...] from the Library of Congress
Technologists get excited about solving problems. They want to make sure that their clients and prospects know about the solutions and the technologies they offer. But the solutions aren't the company's product. The people are. Instead of promoting the latest Marketing campaign or trendiest service on your home page, the people should be front and center. They are what your client is actually buying.
At every tech consulting firm where I've worked, there has been push-back about listing all the consultants on the company website. Either there's a fear that it makes competitors' recruiters' jobs too easy (which LinkedIn has now rendered irrelevant), or it's too much effort to maintain all those profiles (so we'll only show the leadership team), or not every consultant is "worthy" of being listed (because some are not active thought leaders in the community), or the listing of all exposes some perceived weakness at the firm (there's not enough diversity when you view them all together).
Since 2006 I've been challenging these reasons and risks because they don't outweigh the benefit that promotion of individuals has on the business. We now know that a prospective client is nearly 60% of their way through the decision-making process (researching, benchmarking, ranking their options) before they reach out to Sales. Doesn't it seem likely that if you're selling expert services, your prospects will want to take a look at the backgrounds and credentials of your people? (This is true from a Recruiting perspective as well - candidates want to "meet" the people on your team, and they'll be impressed if your firm thinks enough of each consultant to showcase them individually.)
The promotion of individuals is something our Professional Services cousins, the law firms, inherently understand. Go to the website of any of the top US firms - you'll find a complete directory of their lawyers / attorneys, from associates to partners, viewable by filtering or by alphabetical order, with each lawyer's phone number and email address readily available. They do this because it drives business. Why shouldn't tech consultancies do the same?
2. Create an alumni network.
Columbia Alumni from the Library of Congress
Tech firms invest a lot in outreach to their prospects, clients, and partners, but in my experience, not to alumni. Why not? If one of your consultants moves on, they're still a valuable member of your network. They may have gone native, in which case there's a good chance their new company needs your services. They may have found that the grass isn't greener at their new gig, and would be open to coming back. They may recommend your services to people in their own network. There are plenty of compelling reasons to invest in your alums.
Here's an area where the management consulting firms really shine. In my benchmarking of the top strategy / management consulting firms' websites, I found that while they tend to be more artful about promoting their individuals (often a Recruiting-oriented selection of "featured employees" rather than the whole roster, sometimes with first names only, and typically buried a few layers down in the navigation), their alumni resources are front and center, without fail. There's typically a secure component that requires login, alongside some promotion of prominent alumni in the news, always accompanied by the messaging that the firm wants their alumni to stay connected and stay in touch.
Most of these firms offer IT strategy consulting, so if you are a technology consultant attached to a broader consulting firm, you'll have access to an alumni network. Beyond that it's difficult to find a dedicated tech services firm that offers one. Tech consulting firms get hired to build these alumni sites, so creating one for their own people should be a no-brainer. Investing in some dedicated alumni resources, even minimally, such as with a monthly newsletter, could have a positive impact on business and recruiting.
3. Create an "Inside Relationships" Role
[Portrait of Tommy Dorsey...] from the Library of Congress
Many tech firms have an Inside Sales role that handles telemarketing and initial lead development. What if there were a person at the firm dedicated to meeting one-on-one with every employee, on a regular basis (say, twice a year), to gather the following information:
- Is there anyone in your network who might need our services?
- Do we have your current project contacts in our relationship database? On our mailing list(s)?
- Do you see any opportunities at your client beyond the project you're currently working on?
- Would any of your current project contacts be willing to do a case study? Give us a testimonial quote? Participate in a quick video interview for our website? etc.
- Should the project(s) you're working on be nominated for an award? (provide a list of potential design and technology awards, such as the Nielsen Norman Group 10 Best Intranets)
- Should the client you're working with be nominated for an award? (provide a list of potential entrepreneur and leadership awards, and even develop your own - more about this in a future post)
- We're pursuing an opportunity at [prospect name] - do you know anyone there?
- Is there anyone in your network who would be a great candidate to work here?
How much additional business and positive buzz could you generate if you dedicated a resource to this effort? My guess is that resource would be generating leads to your Sales team within three months and would (more than) pay for itself in the first six months. Sales acceleration can occur via tools and systems but it can also happen as a result of the simple process of people talking to each other and tracking information.
In summary - if you're in professional services, people are your product. And if you're in technology services, you're probably more focused on solution development than product (people) development. I hope my suggestions provided food for thought, and I'd love to hear about what YOUR firm is doing in these areas, or others, to amplify the power of your team.


text: Like most women, Sierra isn't fond of a small penis. In this FemDom handjob video she is given complete control over a tiny lack LUSTER dick. Her small dick slave is held captive by a crude GLORYHOLE device. His arms and legs are rendered USELESS and his worthless penis is passed through a hole. Sierra's excellent handjob skills caused the pee-wee prick to harden quickly. What followed next can only be appreciated by a TRUE sadist. The BUSTY brunette unleashed a barrage of verbal and physical assault upon the man with the small penis. This physical pain was so great the slave began to shake uncontrollable. His body bore red welts from the constant whipping, but his cock got HARDER! The cock ejaculated out of self-preservation. She wasn't going to stop beating him until it did! The small penis produced a BIG load of CUM that coated Sierra's foot. She took her CUM covered foot and made the helpless slave ingest his own nectar. Having a small cock really sucks.


text:
After meeting with GLAAD and other transgender community leaders, the Los Angeles Times sent a reporter to cover Trans Pride L.A. on Saturday. We believe this is the first time the LA Times has covered Trans Pride since it began in 2000. Read Kurt Streeter's profile of one of the nation's largest Trans Pride events: "Transgender pride festival celebrates freedoms but isn't carefree."
Nick Adams, GLAAD's Associate Director of Communications and one of GLAAD's transgender staffers, met Streeter at the event and introduced him to local leaders including Rodrigo Lehtinen from Gender Justice LA, Drian Juarez and Jake Finney from the LA Gay & Lesbian Center, and Laverne Cox, Trans Pride's special guest this year. On Friday night, Cox was interviewed by D'Lo, a queer Tamil Sri Lankan-American, political theatre artist, writer, director, comedian, and music producer. In July, Cox will star in a new Netflix original series from Weeds creator Jenji Kohan called Orange is the New Black.
The festival included workshops, musical performances, a film festival, a catered dinner, and an after-party. More than 30 vendors and community organizations participated in the celebration by setting up booths at the event to inform and educate the community about the services and resources available to them.
GLAAD was this year's official media sponsor - read more about the festival.


text:
|Up a level
Hickman, M. J., Thomas, L., Nickels, H. C. & Silvestri, S. (2012). Social cohesion and the notion of 'suspect communities': A study of the experiences and impacts of being 'suspect' for Irish communities and Muslim communities in Britain. Critical Studies on Terrorism, 5(1), pp. 89-106. doi: 10.1080/17539153.2012.659915


text:
is this thing on?
Monday, February 6, 2012
"Ooooh... I could never do your job."
"I hated English! Nothing against you or anything. I'm sure your class is different."
or... my favorite...
"Don't judge my writing/speaking! I'm terrible with grammar!"
This last response is my favorite because, well, I don't do that. I could get into all the purpose, audience, and context of the thing and why I won't "judge" you, but...
Wait a damn minute. This is my blog. I can get into anything I want.
It all comes down to audience.
People who 'find out' that I'm a teacher rarely ever make that discovery while they sit among 20 of their peers all looking in the same direction (at me) as I move about the classroom addressing them, gesticulating wildly, and making sometimes decipherable notes on the board.
To put it another way... these people (you people) are not my students.
It's not my job, nay my calling, to correct you. It's not your young mind that I'm interested in molding. And... as a poor teacher, I am not into pro bono work just yet.
Carry on, friends. And remember... when it really comes down to it, I spell skillz with a "z."
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Wedgies, flashing, and other romper dangers.
I know it's not morning, proper, but I'm enjoying that brilliant everything-is-wonderful-because-I-only-require-fun-things-today feeling. So... I'm continuing to think of it as morning.
That... also allows to me have breakfast for dinner, should I so choose, even though I've done brunch.
Anyway, I've dealing with a very serious need to create a style blog again. I say "again" because I've had one. My style wasn't great in 2009, but I tried to maintain a wardrobe blog nonetheless. There is a reason I'm not linking it for you now. But… my previous style blog failures won't keep me from dabbling now.
Sweater: Mossimo
Braided leather belt: Maurices (on clearance for $3!)
Purple bow flats: $8 at DSW more than five years ago (holla at a serious bargain)
Combat boot pendant: Cato
Now, you should know that this was my first time in public in a romper since, possibly, my 11th birthday when my dad took me to the skating rink. That romper was straight, had a blue kangaroo pocket and hood, and boasted vertical rainbow stripes. It. Was. Brilliant. And I loved it.
But I didn't seek out this second romper. No, no. It found me.
Last fall, while touring Goodwill, I found what I believed to be the most gorgeous little v-necked, button down, summer dress. I carried it around Goodwill while I collected other possible gems. (Secret: There may have been a plaid school uniform skirt that really insisted upon itself in the pile.) Once inside the dressing room, I eagerly grabbed the dress to try on first.
Was something wrong.
Maybe the skirt was caught up... Maybe the thrift store tag had snagged the front AND back of the thing. What... is...
Ooooh... It was a romper.
I'd heard all the romper horror stories. I'm sure you have too. Things like "those ONLY look good on girls who are a size 0" and "no grown adult should be caught dead in a romper."
But... by this point you know that popular opinion holds only so much weight in my court. And where fashion and style is concerned, it holds even less. Most people are too uptight. (Or maybe I'm just extra loose... either way.) So I decided to throw caution to the wind. I've already got it in the dressing room... No one has to know that I'm trying on a romper... It will be my secret, shared only with the individual Goodwill *claims* is watching the dressing room security video.
I felt a little silly stepping into the pleated legs and sliding the sleeveless number up over my shoulders, but I did it. As I pushed the big flat 80's style buttons through their respective holes, I let out a little chuckle before I remembered I was on a mission of utmost sensitivity. I buttoned the last button and looked up.
Surprisingly, the back tie and pleated waist created a nice shape. Nipped in at the waist, falling nicely over hip and thigh, and a nice, short length for a Liliputian like myself. This was getting interesting.
I spun around, made Ellen's that's-my-ass face, and decided I didn't hate how the romper looked from the back.
I mean… shouldn't I have a wedgie? Shouldn't it pull at my crotch? I mean… let's just get real with ourselves. We're all thinking it.
You guys. It didn't. It laid nicely.
So after some soul-searching, I decided to gamble on this romper. It was $4. If I didn't wear it, I'd just give it back to Goodwill, no harm done. I brought it home, tried it on again, questioned all my life choices, and put it in the closet.
I brought it out a couple of times only to put it right back in, but as we all know, outing is complicated. Timing is important.
This morning, when I decided to take myself to brunch, the pieces just fell together. The weather was beautiful. Sunny and 75. My brunch date, Rita Mae Brown's Rubyfruit Jungle, was colorful and slightly floral and just an excellent uhzzezzory. Done and done.
I took myself and my romper to my favorite in town brunch spot. It's a little divey place that has relocated to an out-of-business coffee shop. The food stayed divey and I appreciate that a lot.
Anyway, I established myself and my book at a little table on the far wall. Tucked into a corner with a sunny glass wall and an inviting (though unlit) fireplace, I was able to calm down and reflect on my morning, my book, and my romper.
And here's what I came up with.
First, I need to remember to do my mom's "What happens when you sit down?" test before I leave the house in a new garment. Failure to do this test yesterday landed me at a work conference in a short dress sans stockings or the ability to cross my legs. Luckily one is good at the royal ankle cross. Today though, I didn't realize until I sat down at my table that the romper gets quite short in the rear and quite long in the front when I sit.
How can this be? I'm not altogether sure, but I think this can be best illustrated through footies. Those of you who've worn them recently will understand this best, but the rest of you can refer to your high school babysitting jobs. Or your own babies, I guess. I forget that some of you have/had them. Oops. #childlessbychoice
Ah, right… the short in back, long in front principle. These onefers are all the same. When you sit and create a "C" if you will, the same amount of fabric allowed the outside of the "C" is allowed the inside. The inside bunches and gets roomy. The outside gets tight and either pulls around the neck and shoulders, or as in the case of the romper, rides up high on the leg. It's not terribly revealing, because like I said, the front grants extra coverage. But… I wouldn't wear a fitted romper for this reason. There are those who want to see that much of my leg/thigh/butt, but I'll not share it with the general public. Unless it's swimsuit season.
Second, each time I stood up, I worried that I had a wedgie. I didn't. But… the fear was still there. It caused me to do a cursory tug on the back of the romper, just in cases. Wedgephobia. This is new, even for me.
And, third and finally, I faced a serious question once I returned home from my romper outing. Exactly what should I do with my belt and sweater when it comes time to pee?! Think about it.
I was just thanking all that was good that I didn't make this discovery in a bathroom other than my own.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
On Resolutions (v. 2012)
I was pretty sure of my resolution. Not that I was excited about it so much as I knew I needed it. I knew it was the best thing I could do for myself with 365 days. So, just in case you don't feel the need to read up on last year's resolution (even if you did, it's lengthy), let's sum it up:
In 2011 I wanted to…
1. Be single and fabulous.
2. Be in the best shape of my life.
3. Find the perfect white gold earrings.
4. Clean the kitchen before bed.
5. Cover firewood before it starts raining.
6. Wear my favorite underwear on a Tuesday.
Now, let's go through these quickly with the results added, shall we?
1. Be single and fabulous. Oops. One of two isn't bad. Is it?
4. Clean the kitchen before bed. I'm going to need you to be more specific about which night.
5. Cover firewood before it starts raining. Definitely not. Same firewood is still outside. Probably wet right now.
So… looking at my year in review, I don't think I did too poorly. Progress not perfection; isn't that the saying?
I keep my kitchen clean for the most part; I choose my underwear based on whatever-the-hell-I-want; I'm in damn good shape (Shut up, knee!); and I sport earrings that my tender lobes aren't allergic to. So what if my firewood is soaked?
And as far as the big, bad resolution that grounded all of these minor resolutions… I think I did alright by that one too. I set out to be single and fabulous and that didn't quite work.
I didn't turn down dates and I let myself get attached. A couple of times. But I also listened to myself. My heart, yes, sure. But more importantly, I listened to myself. The part of me that thinks a few steps ahead. The part of me that knows who I am and what I want. The part of me that sees myself and everyone around me as flawed beings. The realist who remains a reluctant, yet hopeless romantic. And, because I listened to myself, I was able to navigate more than a few relationships in 2011. Some of them romantic, most of them platonic.
Now, just a few days into 2012, I can boast possibly the best relationships I've ever had with my family. Built on honesty, trust, love, and so much laughter, our bonds haven't ever been so strong.
I can tell you all about dear friends who've opened up their homes and their lives to me and my craziness, becoming chosen family. Give me a minute and I'll pull out baby pictures and tell you about recent milestones with more pride than I thought possible for me to feel about someone else's child.
I can tell you about my career and how having confidence in myself has allowed me to reach students in ways I hadn't before.
Thanks to my willingness to engage, to feel, to try, and to communicate, I can tell you about my boyfriend. About the woman who is everything I wanted but didn't know I could have.
When I found last year's resolution post accidentally tonight I thought, "Ha! Didn't keep any of those!" But that's not true at all, is it? I may not be single, and I guess some might consider that the main event of the resolution… but I sure don't. What I read in last year's resolution post is a desire for confidence, independence, and happiness.
Have I achieved those things? Certainly. In ways, at least. I'll not pretend that I'm perfectly confident, independent, and happy all days and in all ways. But… I've come a long way.
It's now less about what comes at me and more about what I give out. Shoot. Maybe I'm growing up.
Anyway… my resolution for 2012 is similar to 2011's with one adjustment.
In 2012 I want to be healthy and fabulous.
This means… seeing about getting this damn knee fixed.
Keep me honest, friends. I'm already dreading the appointment. That I have yet to make.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
This Weekend I...
I had coffee on my friends' porch. I introduced my sister to some friends and her boyfriend to mine. I learned that my great grandfather was a lifeguard with Ronald Reagan. I watched my boyfriend cut the dickens out of her finger (see bandaid in above picture).
It all made for a lovely Saturday.
Did Ab Ripper X.
And the 10 Minute Trainer Ab workout. Back to back. I needed the stress relief or, as my friend Kaitlin would say, the medicinal benefits of exercise. It worked, to an extent. And... just now I sneezed and felt the confirmation of all that hard work.
16 papers today. And 16 papers every day through Thursday to finish them up. I can do that, right?
Made (and ate) this sammich.
Peanut butter, bacon, green apple, honey. Mmph.
And now I'm going to watch TV and work on my Thanksgiving week menu. Get excited! I'll share some of it with you, if you're good.
How were your weekends, peaches?
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
The post and my very tender thoughts on it.
I went from happily sipping whiskey and watching Chopped to the wanting to curl up under a quilt and cry.
This little thirty second ad said only one thing to me: The Post is in danger.
Now... you might have seen me around on the internet. I spend a lot of time there. Facebook, twitter, tumblr, this blog, your inbox, your mom's inbox. I get around online. I'm not ashamed of it. I've met friends, enemies, girlfriends, experts, celebrities, and probably your mom online that I likely would not ever have bumped into in any other way. The internet is my medium. I get it. I use it.
But. It's not the post.
The post is dreamy and romantic and personal and requires effort.
I can sit in my office and write you an email that says, "I'm thinking about you today."
You'll get the email in seconds. You'll smile, maybe, then it's done.
If I, on the other hand, write the very same message, "I'm thinking about you today." in a card or on a piece of stationery, seal it in an envelope, hunt down your address and a stamp, drive the whole lot to the post office (because my apartment pick-up is unreliable), and send it off in your direction, then you'll receive it in a very different way.
You'll get my card, open it, and know that for at least a bit of one day, I was thinking only about you and the piece of mail that would literally travel from my hands to yours. And then for weeks when you see it on your fridge or maybe a year later when it shows up in a junk drawer, you'll know that I was thinking about you then and just might be thinking about you again.
And... if the piece of mail is from me... then you might be able to tell that instead of spending minutes on your mail, I actually spent hours. Gluing paper, revising wording, baking treats, compiling songs, what have you.
Whatever the case... mailing something to someone means a lot more to me than sending them a text, a message on Facebook, a tweet. Those are daily. Those are tired.
The post. The post is where it's at.
It's no secret that this love of the post was passed down to me by my mom. My mom sends me roughly one card per week. Some weeks there's more than one. Some weeks (very rare) there isn't one at all.
Her cards range from the sincere to the bizarre.
Some of my favorites include the congratulations on my ballet recital and the mazel tov on my son's bris. Also the "Love being your sister" and the countless "Happy Birthday"s covered up with hearts and flowers and swirlies.
The common thread woven through these often silly cards is the fact the my mom loves me and that she thinks about me in a deliberate, focused way at least once a week.
Even so... I'm not the only person who benefits from my mom's postal expressions of love.
My brother, sister, boyfriend, and even some friends benefit from the occasional card. She recently sent one to a close friend of mine that featured a hotdog on the front and the inscription, "Bet you didn't think you'd get a wiener today!"
Don't you wish you were on her list now?
What I'm saying is... I love the post. Always have.
As a kid, I thought having a British pen pal was the best thing I could ever want out of life. As an adult, I've only slightly revised that idea.
My mom fuels my love for the post through her regular mailings. And I do my best to send notes and packages around as often as possible.
The thought that the USPS might be in such dire straights that they need to convince us to use paper in a world that begs us to go paperless is upsetting.
I've long thought of the post as the government's polite, "I'm going that way, would you like me to take that?" and I'd hate to see it waste away.
So... today I'm going to write letters. And buy stamps. And drop mail into the box knowing full well it will reach its destination and make one person feel good. Or better. Or something. Because that's what I do with the power of the post.
What do you mail?
Monday, November 7, 2011
Halloween Regrets
Really. Not a damn thing. I sat at home. I might have even had cereal for dinner; I don't remember.
This, for me, has been difficult. I love the hell out of Halloween. Usually I spend several months planning and perfecting my costume.
Since I didn't have the excitement of planning and executing the perfect costume for the day, I've had a hard time letting go of the costumes I'd considered. So... I'm blogging them in an attempt to set them aflame and push them out to see.
A Viking funeral for the costumes that didn't happen.
Now... this year I also have a boyfriend. A boyfriend who is more than willing to play along with my costume excitement. You'll see that reflected in my choices. Let's start with the classics...
JFK and Marilyn Monroe:
I could be his Jackie, sure. But... I'm more Marilyn, dontcha think?
Johnny Cash and June Carter:
But only if I can carry around a dulcimer and tell all our friends we can't stay long because he's goin' to Jackson.
Now... a quick jump to...
Joan and Roger:
Any day. Any time. As long as I get to smirk, speak softly, and walk around the office like I own the damn place. Because... I do.
Which leads us to our topical couples...
Prince William and Kate Middleton:
Quick! While people will still recognize us!
DaveCat and Sidore:
Clear winner. Hands down. Amirite?!
Incidentally, "hands down" refers both to the DaveCat/Sidore win and the pose I'll be assuming for the entirety of the evening: Hands down, eyes blank, mouth slightly open. I've been practicing. It's spectacular.
So... I think this has helped.
I'll let these costumes go for this year. Knowing full well that I've catalogued them here and can revisit next October.
Who would you be if Halloween were this week and you had all the money and time to costume?
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Crimson Tide Cupcakes
I doubt you're surprised about the game, it's kind of a big deal. But you may be surprised to see me blogging about it.
I'm a little surprised myself. Just weeks ago I uttered this sentence: "What's a Bear Bryant?"
And look at me today.
Crimson velvet cake with cream cheese icing.
And that, there on the left, is my attempt at Bear Bryant's iconic houndstooth hat. Use your imaginations, please. Houndstooth is not an easy pattern to reproduce. Tiny. On gum paste.
What I'm saying is, I've come a long way. I know who Bear Bryant is. I know which way they run on the football field. On a good day, I can even explain downs to you.
But... I'm still me. Take a look at this:
Uh huh.
I prefer to think that instead of being runny, my icing is just being spirited. Roll icing, roll.
Who's watching with me tonight?


text:
Google Nexus 10 is a beast of a device, with the main feature: a 2650×1600 display clocking in at 299 pixels per inch. As for the rest of the specs, the Nexus 10 will be packing Samsung's new 1.7GHz Cortex A15-based Exynos 5 chip, and quad-core Mali-T604 GPU, 2GB of RAM, NFC, a 5MP rear camera, and 1.9MP front camera. The tablet will also be running Android 4.2, just like the LG Nexus 4. One downside for some users is that the Nexus 10 will not have an SD card slot, so the storage is what it is. And this Google Nexus 10 is also a great media player which supports a lot of media formats including files with MP4, H.264, DivX, WMV as video format and MP3, WAV, eAAC+, WMA, Flac as audio format. Now if you have already had lots of Blu-ray or DVD movies, you can rip or convert your Blu-ray or DVD collections to store on Google Nexus 10, then you can take it everywhere for playing.
Blu-Ray to Google Nexus 10 Converter from UFUSoft is current the best Blu-ray to Google Nexus 10 Converter that can help you to decrypt/convert all commercial Blu-Ray/DVD movies to Google Nexus 10 MP4 without losing quality and A/V out of sync. And you can hard burn Blu-ray/DVD's subtitles to Google Nexus 10 video for permanent enjoyment.
Step-by-step guide: How to rip or convert Blu-Ray movie to Google Nexus 10.
Step 1. Load Blu-ray movie to the Blu-ray to Google Nexus 10 Converter.
Insert the Blu-ray disc to Blu-ray-Rom as the source file. Click the Load BD/DVDbutton to load the entire Blu-ray disc.
If you have backup the entire Blu-ray disc on hard drive with BDMV file structure, you can also click BD/DVD Folder button to load the BDMV folder.
Step 2. Choose output video format.
In the program, select output format from Profile drop down list. Since Google Nexus 10 is also using android os, so just choose HD Video >HD H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Video (*.mp4) as output format and set display resolution to 1920 x 1080 pixels.
Step 3. Select subtitle and audio language for Google Nexus 10 H.264 MP4 videos.
Click the Subtitle option and you choose the prefer language you want from the drop-down list. The Blu-ray to Google Nexus 10 converter will hard burn the selected subtitle to Google Nexus 10 video, so that you can enjoy movies with hard-burned subtitles. Then click Audio to select the language like English, French to hear.
Step 4: Start the Blu-Ray to Google Nexus 10 Conversion
Finally, click "Convert" in the File menu to start. After a successful conversion, you can put the converted Blu-ray movie to Google Nexus 10 for enjoying now.